Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

Ferrari has chosen to unveil a limited-edition F430 Spider in celebration of its recent victory in the Formula 1 World Championship. Called the Scuderia Spider 16M, the car is available in black livery with grey trim, while a tricolor livery can be specified as part of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalization Program. A plaque on the rear grille also commemorates Ferrari’s 16th World title.

The exclusivity of the interior is underscored by the silver ‘limited series’ plaque just above the air vents at the center of the dashboard. Other exclusive features include a roll-bar with carbon-fiber outer shell and a specific audio system that can be combined with a customized removable Ferrari iPod Touch.

Benefitting from Ferrari’s latest mid-rear-engined 8-cylinder technology - with 510hp - the Scuderia Spider 16M is claimed to be the fastest open-top Ferrari road car. It tips the scales at 1340kg (80kg lighter than the F430 Spider), achieves 62mph from a standstill in just 3.7 seconds, and has a top speed of 195mph.

See the full gallery here

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Nissan NV2500 concept preview

Nissan has released a sketch of the full-size NV2500 van concept the North American division of the company will unveil at the NAIAS in Detroit in January. Billed as one of the largest concept vehicles ever created by the company, the latest NV2500 has been 'designed to highlight multi-purpose utility solutions in the real world'.

The new vehicle follows the NV200 van concept designed at Nissan's European studio in London under the direction of Stephane Schwartz. But while that vehicle featured an innovative storage pod that extended from the van's load area, Nissan is not divulging any additional information on the new vehicle; stating only that it previews the company's entry into the North American commercial vehicle market in 2010. We'll keep you posted.

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PGO Hemera

French independent automobile manufacturer PGO has added a new vehicle to its two-strong range. Called the Hemera, the new car is said to be a mix of a coupé and a shooting brake.

Based on the same technical specifications as the Speedster II and the Cevennes, the Hemera weighs 980kg and sits on a 2261mm-long wheelbase. It measures 3753mm in length, 1675mm wide and 1300mm high. But the Hemera is heralded as the carmaker's vision for the 'elegant' and 'refined', with the company stating the car has a 'distinct urban style'.

The most unique aspect of the design is the glass bubble at the rear of the cockpit, said to create 'a new driving experience'. The car's bodyshell is composite molded and the vehicle is handbuilt using 'noble materials'.

The Hemera is scheduled to go on sale in the first quarter of 2009.

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Ford Fiesta sedan

China's third main auto event, the Gunagzhou Auto show, marks the official release of the production version of Ford's four-door Fiesta. Having been previewed by the Verve Sedan concept less than a year ago - when it was planned predominantly for the Chinese market - the production model is of huge significance to the ailing US manufacturer.

The 2009 Fiesta sedan's design is nearly identical to the concept's, with a form that has a high deck point displacement, a good body-to-DLO proportion, and graphic boundaries on the headlamps. Only minor details such as the fog lamps, alloy wheels and front grille have been changed, and both head- and taillamps have been toned down for production.

Factories located in Beijing, Thailand and Mexico will build the four-door version for China, the United States and Canada respectively. And with reports of the Mexican factory expecting to produce 500,000 units alone, the Fiesta could play a major role in the uncertain future of its maker.

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New Car: Ford Verve sedan

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Ford Mustang

After teasing the public for months, Ford has finally revealed the first photos of the hotly-anticipated Mustang, leading up to this week's LA Auto Show.With the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger reentering the muscle car segment, Ford is now having to compete in what has suddenly become a congested field. As such, the company has improved the latest offering both inside and out.

The revised exterior design gives the new Mustang a lower visual center of gravity and a more aggressive DRG than its predecessor. Along the flanks, the dropping fender line continues into the kick-up in the beltline, accentuating the rear haunch. Surfaces are more refined and the more muscular feel evident, especially around the rear fender.

Improvements have also been made to the interior, which Ford claims is much higher in terms of quality and refinement, yet still resonates with the Mustang heritage. As before, the 2010 Mustang will be available with either a V6 or a V8 powerplant, with the V8 receiving an additional 15bhp over the current car thanks to a new cold-air induction system.

Go to the 2010 Ford Mustang photo gallery

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Nissan Cube

Nissan unveiled the new Cube in three separate countries today, clearly indicating the brand's ambitions to make the redesigned vehicle a global offering.

The innovator of the 'box' concept, the unique design features a long wheelbase and extremely short
front and rear overhangs. Its assured stance is atypical for a vehicle measuring 3980mm long, 1695mm wide and standing 1650mm tall, an achievement realized in part by the vehicle's wide 1475mm front/1480mm rear track and wheels pushed out to the corners.

Inside, heightened visibility is facilitated by curved A-pillars and a large DLO with 'photo frame' front windows and an asymmetrical rear wraparound window. The Cube's wide door openings and 'refrigerator-style' rear door reinforce the vehicle's practical aspects.

Read our review of the new Cube in our LA Auto Show Highlights

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Nissan Cube - Los Angeles 2008

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Honda FC Sport concept

Honda unveiled its vision for the future of transport at the LA Auto Show today with the FC Sport concept. The three-seat, hydrogen fuel cell-powered design study was created at the Japanese manufacturer's Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, CA.

The low-profile body is designed to convey a high-technology appearance and has been finished in white to communicate the car's environmental aspirations. Sculpting that combines angular shapes in the front of the vehicle taper into geometric hex forms in the rear. The rear hex forms house cooling radiators for the fuel cell, while Formula 1-style barge boards behind the front wheels enhance high-speed aerodynamics and convey the vehicle's racing pedigree.

The hydrogen storage tanks, visible from the rear deck, showcase the FC Sport's fuel cell technology in much the same way that a 'naked bike' motorcycle showcases its engineering.

Read our review of the design and see more photos of the concept in our LA Auto Show Highlights.

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Infiniti G Convertible

The second-generation Infiniti G37 coupe - badged Nissan Skyline in Japan - was previewed by the Coupe Concept at the 2006 NAIAS show and debuted in production form at the 2007 New York Auto Show. Now, at the 2008 LA Auto Show, the convertible version has appeared with a three-part folding hardtop, following BMW's lead with the conceptually similar 3-Series cabriolet.

Powered exclusively by a 3.7-liter V6, the G37 convertible comes with a specification that includes leather seats, a 'power walk-in' device that electrically moves the front seats out of the way to help ingress and egress to the rear, and air-conditioning that automatically detects whether the roof is up or down.

Although close to the G37 coupe, the design has new panels from the A-pillars rearwards, is 27mm wider and has unique rear lights with an inner 'circle of light', according to Nissan. Overall the G37 is a well balanced and attractive - albeit conservative - design that we'd expect to do well in the US and Europe when it goes on sale in spring 2009.

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Volvo S60 concept

This is the first look at the new S60 concept Volvo plans to reveal at the Detroit Auto Show in

January. The concept gives an indication of what the new sedan will look like when it's launched in 2010.

The new car's coupe-inspired silhouette follows on from the original S60's and is also underlined by entirely new shoulder contours and a gentle double wave that runs from headlamps to taillamps. "The inspiration comes from the Swedish coastline's cliffs and seas," explains Volvo Cars' design director, Steve Mattin.

"On the inside we've been even more daring - there the focus has been on creating a vision of the future," says Mattin. Among the interior features is a floating center stack made of hand-crafted Orrefors crystal. "Using pure crystal is a thrilling experiment. We may well see interior features in crystal-like materials in the future."

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Porsche Panamera

Porsche today revealed the first official photos of its new four-door grand touring sports car, roughly nine months before its scheduled market launch. Joining the 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars as well as the sporty Cayenne SUV, the Panamera is Porsche's fourth model series.

The designers of the Panamera sought to position their latest offering as a brand-new and truly different model while retaining the defining Porsche look. The design therefore is a symbiosis of Porsche DNA combined with the company's interpretation of a sedan. The proportions of the Panamera are also unique in the market segment: it measures 4970mm long, 1931mm wide, and stands 1418mm high.

Inside, the Panamera is a four-passenger car, with 'pilot feeling' front and rear seats and two 'firmly contoured' single seats at the rear. Porsche is calling the interior a 'variable space concept' because of the potential to reconfigure the luggage compartment via folding rear seat backs.

The new Panamera will be available in V6 or V8 guise - with power ranging from 300 to 500bhp - and all-wheel drive will supplement the standard rear-wheel drive layout. Porsche is also preparing a hybrid version.

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Preview: Porsche Panamera

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Suzuki Alto Lapin

Suzuki has just unveiled the second-generation Alto Lapin in Japan. Based on the automaker's Wagon R, the Alto Lapin has been popular among female buyers for the last six years.

The Alto Lapin retains the classic boxy shape of its predecessor and basic Kei car dimensions, measuring 3390mm in length, 1475mm wide and 1510mm wide. The diminutive vehicle is powered by a 54bhp 660cc VVT engine and an optional turbocharged version with 64bhp is available.

With the recent unveiling of the third-generation Cube in London, Los Angeles and Japan last week, the Suzuki Alto Lapin is yet another offering in the mini-MPV segment, which appears ideal for those commuting in congested urban milieus.

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Nissan Cube - Los Angeles 2008

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Porsche Panamera

Porsche revealed the first images of its new four-door, four-seat super sedan last week, and now we've got two new videos to supplement our updated gallery.

The video on the left is stock footage, while the car is put through its paces on a winding road perched high in the mountains in the video on the right.

See below for our previous news articles on the Panamera and our 23 image gallery.

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Mazda3 Hatchback

The new five-door version of the Mazda3 made its global debut on the eve of the Italy's Bologna Motor Show last night. Known as the Mazda Axela in Japan, the second-generation hatchback follows on the heels of the new four-door version recently unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Adopting the same design elements as the sedan - smiling front fascia, pronounced front and rear fenders and dynamic profile - the new five-door also incorporates design cues which bring it in line with the Mazda2 and 6, such as the rising shoulder line.

Design boss Laurens van den Acker explained that the aim was to evolve the design to be more emotional and expressive: "It's essential to have a strong frontal identity so we have a more sports car-like front and the front wheelarches have been inspired by the RX-8."

The Mazda3 will be powered by the existing 1.6- and 2.0-liter petrol engines and the 1.6-liter turbo-diesel, which will be joined by a new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine launched in the Mazda6.

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Mazda3 - Los Angeles 2008

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Volkswagen Golf Plus

Volkswagen unveiled the second-generation Golf Plus at the Bologna Motor Show today. The new Golf Plus, which has been improved over its predecessor, will be launched in the European market in March 2009.

Visually, the new Plus forges a link to the classic body style of the recently introduced sixth-generation Golf, also taking design cues from the new Scirocco. This is especially apparent at the front end. The rear bumper and roof rails were also redesigned, while new steel and alloy wheels round out the exterior updates.

Inside, the Plus features new upholstery materials, new generation instruments, a revised steering wheel and an improved user interface for the HVAC unit; details also implemented in the Golf.

Power for the new Golf Plus will be supplied via five gasoline engines or four new common rail turbo-diesel engines, ranging in output from 79hp to 158hp (petrol) and 89hp to 138hp (diesel). Conventional automatic transmissions have also been replaced by 6- and 7-speed dual clutch (DSG) gearboxes.

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Honda Insight

This is the first image of the US version of Honda's production Insight hybrid, scheduled to make its world debut in January 2009 at the NAIAS in Detroit.

The overall design of the five-passenger, five-door Insight hasn't significantly changed from the concept revealed in Paris earlier this year. The only obvious difference is that it has been toned down, with smaller wheels, more conventional door mirrors and the omission of LED headlamps.

Honda aims to sell 200,000 Insights globally, 100,000 of which in North America alone. The hatchback will be the first of a new family of Honda hybrids, followed by a production version of the CR-Z concept sportscar and a Jazz hybrid. The new Insight will be available in Europe in spring 2009.

Related Article:
Honda Insight - Paris 2008

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Nissan NV2500 concept

Nissan North America today unveiled the NV2500 concept at its Technical Center headquarters in Michigan. The van concept provides a preview of Nissan's entry into the North American commercial market in 2010.

"The Nissan NV2500 is a rolling idea lab - bringing a new perspective to the commercial vehicle segment," said Bruce Campbell, vice president of design for Nissan Design America, which developed the concept.

Measuring in at 5946mm long, 2012mm wide and 2438mm tall, the exterior design is highlighted by a wide grille, pronounced wheelarches, stepped roofline and an integrated solar panel on the roof. The concept also features 'multi-use' doors with integrated lower window cutouts and storage compartments: king-cab style on the driver's side, a 90-degree opening vertical door directly behind the front passenger door, and vertical 60/40 split cargo 'barn' doors at the rear.

Inside, the NV2500 concept features a '3-Zone' interior with a 'wall-less' mobile office/workspace design that includes a computer workstation, fold-down conference table, numerous storage compartments and an awning-style side panel that opens to create a standing outside workshop table. The interior elements have been designed to be multi-functional and highly durable.

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Leaked: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

It's hard to tell whether the pre-launch photos that increasingly spread like wildfire across the Internet are really the result of carelessness or have been leaked deliberately by the automaker to take advantage of an otherwise slow news week. Either way, here are the first images of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Judging by these low-resolution press shots it seems the new car has remained faithful to its Concept Fascination precursor, especially in terms of front-end treatment. More sculpted flanks give the E-Class dynamic flair and also bring it in line with the S-Class flagship. The executive sedan will be larger than the current model for improved interior space, but we're less convinced by the huge taillamps, which seem to over-encompass the rear end in a similar fashion to the larger Lexus models.

We'll just have to wait and see what the design looks like in the metal when it is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The new E-Class coupe (replacing the CLK) is expected to be unveiled at the show, while the wagon and convertible variants will make their debuts at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Review: Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination

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Fisker Karma

Independent green luxury automobile manufacturer Fisker Automotive has revealed its first production car, the Karma plug-in hybrid. The production example, which was designed in-house by Fisker Coachbuild (the design arm of Fisker Automotive), will debut at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) in January.

The production version is nearly identical to its concept precursor shown at the NAIAS in Detroit almost a year ago. Built from a combination of aluminum and composite panels, the exterior design features only minor revisions, most notable of which being the exhaust outlet for the hybrid's ICE unit, located just aft of the front wheels. Other graphic enhancements include a chrome strip around the DLO, an upper grille that is now slightly larger towards the outer corners, and an enlarged lower air intake. The vehicle's overall proportions, with a long hood, low-slung roof (with integrated glass solar panel) and short rear deck, have been retained. The Karma is 4987mm long, 1984mm wide and 1330mm high. It rides on a 3160m-long wheelbase. No details on the interior have yet been released.

"I'm proud to announce at this time that we are already sold out on the car until mid-2010," said Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2009.

We'll bring you the latest, up-to-the-minute details on this and other debuts at the 2009 NAIAS when we report live from Detroit from January 11.

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Rinspeed iChange

Known for producing eccentric concepts for the Geneva Motor Show, Swiss independent think tank Rinspeed has released sketches of the iChange, an innovative new sports car concept due to be revealed at the next Geneva Auto Show in March 2009.

The iChange is to be the latest in a long line of technology-packed, thought-provoking Rinspeed concepts designed to push the boundaries of design and imagination to its limits. Designers at Rinspeed created the '1-2-3-seater' iChange by employing an 'electronic trick-tail', which adapts to the number of passengers on board. The sporty, streamlined teardrop shape is typically a single-passenger vehicle, but thanks to an electronically actuated rear-end structure that rises, the sports car is able to transform into a compact sportsvan.

"Thinking about variability and the constantly changing energy demand, we have created an extremely flexible vehicle," said Rinspeed CEO Frank Rinderknecht. The zero-emission car is powered by a 130kW electric motor and features both extremely low weight and aerodynamic drag, further reducing power consumption. "If we want to preserve our individual mobility in the future we have to re-think our conception of cars," he added.

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BMW Z4

VIDEO: BMW Z4

BMW has just released details of the new Z4, set to make its global debut at the 2009 NAIAS next month. The new design takes on the look of a classic roadster and will now be offered with a lightweight electrohydraulically retractable aluminum two-piece hardtop, a first for the two-seater.

The design of the new Z4 brings the car in line with other offerings in the BMW range, with new head- and taillamp units that are reminiscent of those seen on the German automaker's larger models. All of the surface lines, including the character lines on the hood, strive towards an imaginary target point ahead. The car's shoulder line connects the front and rear wheelarches and accentuates the roadster's dynamic profile, while the horizontal lines and surfaces at the rear emphasize the Z4's width.

Inside, the cockpit features a driver-oriented instrument panel and center console. A contoured surface on either side of the steering wheel incorporates the controls for the lights and HVAC unit. iDrive (mated to a folding 8.8-inch display with high-resolution graphics) will also be available for the first time.

Photo Gallery: BMW Z4

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BMW Z4

VIDEO: BMW Z4

BMW has just released details of the new Z4, set to make its global debut at the 2009 NAIAS next month. The new design takes on the look of a classic roadster and will now be offered with a lightweight electrohydraulically retractable aluminum two-piece hardtop, a first for the two-seater.

The design of the new Z4 brings the car in line with other offerings in the BMW range, with new head- and taillamp units that are reminiscent of those seen on the German automaker's larger models. All of the surface lines, including the character lines on the hood, strive towards an imaginary target point ahead. The car's shoulder line connects the front and rear wheelarches and accentuates the roadster's dynamic profile, while the horizontal lines and surfaces at the rear emphasize the Z4's width.

Inside, the cockpit features a driver-oriented instrument panel and center console. A contoured surface on either side of the steering wheel incorporates the controls for the lights and HVAC unit. iDrive (mated to a folding 8.8-inch display with high-resolution graphics) will also be available for the first time.

Photo Gallery: BMW Z4

source : www.cardesignnews.com

BMW Z4

VIDEO: BMW Z4

BMW has just released details of the new Z4, set to make its global debut at the 2009 NAIAS next month. The new design takes on the look of a classic roadster and will now be offered with a lightweight electrohydraulically retractable aluminum two-piece hardtop, a first for the two-seater.

The design of the new Z4 brings the car in line with other offerings in the BMW range, with new head- and taillamp units that are reminiscent of those seen on the German automaker's larger models. All of the surface lines, including the character lines on the hood, strive towards an imaginary target point ahead. The car's shoulder line connects the front and rear wheelarches and accentuates the roadster's dynamic profile, while the horizontal lines and surfaces at the rear emphasize the Z4's width.

Inside, the cockpit features a driver-oriented instrument panel and center console. A contoured surface on either side of the steering wheel incorporates the controls for the lights and HVAC unit. iDrive (mated to a folding 8.8-inch display with high-resolution graphics) will also be available for the first time.

Photo Gallery: BMW Z4

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Mercedes Concept BlueZero

Mercedes Concept BlueZero

Mercedes-Benz has just released details and images of a new concept that taps into the German automaker's experience of sandwich floor packag

ing. Dubbed the Concept BlueZero and due to be unveiled at next month's NAIAS, the four-door hatchback is 4.22 meters long, seats five and is likely to form the basis of a new range of small eco cars slated for production in 2009.

The BlueZero's aerodynamic body borrows from the company's 2005 Bionic concept, featuring a monospace design with a closed front apron, converging character lines and rear fenders that partially cover the wheels. The DLO runs in a shallow arc from the steeply angled hood, tapering slightly at the sides and almost seamlessly (but for the roof spoiler) curving down to envelop a pair of high-tech-looking, inverted 'L'-shaped light clusters behind a transparent Lexan plastic screen/tailgate structure.

The car's modular, sandwich floor chassis layout - pioneered on the A-Class - has been designed to accommodate three drivetrain configurations. It can be propelled by a fuel cell, by pure electricity, or by a hybrid powerplant that combines the Smart's 1.0-liter combustion engine with an electric motor.

source : www.cardesignnews.com

VIDEO: Volvo S60 concept

We showed you a sketch of the Volvo S60 concept last month, and now the company has revealed more official images of the car, set to be unveiled at the NAIAS in Detroit. Previewing the all-new S60 scheduled for launch in 2010, the new car is a dynamic, flowing form inspired by its Scandinavian heritage, Viking longboats and the racetrack.

The S60 concept's vertically-oriented headlamps and sculpted fenders give the car its expressive face, while a new ‘double wave' shoulder line (inspired by Sweden's coastline) runs the length of the profile. "The car's lines do not end abruptly but instead forge a continuous flow pattern inspired by the fast sweeps of the racing track," says design director Steve Mattin. "This is particularly visible at the rear."

Devoid of a B-pillar, the concept's cabin is accessed via conventional-opening doors at the front and rear-hinged doors at sweep back toward the rear. Inside the four-seater cabin is a floating center stack made out of handmade Orrefors crystal, which repeats the ‘gentle wave' exterior theme from the instrument panel all the way to the rear. The car's slim, contoured seats continue the floating theme: they are attached to the center console's lower section and inner sill and don't actually touch the floor.

See our exclusive story on the design development of the new executive car here

Photo Gallery: Volvo S60 concept

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Preview: Volvo S60 concept

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Subaru Legacy concept

Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent of Subaru automobiles, has released a teaser image of its new Legacy concept. Scheduled to debut in Detroit next month, the Legacy concept celebrates 20 years of the Legacy sedan and showcases the future design direction of its newest iteration.

According to Subaru, the exterior design 'highlights the sportiness and dynamism befitting a car powered by 3.6-liter, low center of gravity horizontally-opposed engine.' From what we can see, the front face and wheelarches still evoke the wing motif first seen on the previous WRX. We'll just have to wait until the NAIAS to see the car and its 'high definition' interior.

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Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren have released photos of the new limited-edition SLR Stirling Moss, which will be unveiled at the upcoming NAIAS. Only 75 models will be made available to current owners of the SLR supercar.

This limited-edition V8 coupe was developed to commemorate British motor racing legend Stirling Moss's many victories in the SLR racecars of the 1950s. Notable design features of this 2009 edition include an arrow-shaped form, a muscular rear end, and bespoke surfacing on the hood – which runs from the tip of the nose right down to the interior, thanks largely to the absence of a windshield.

Production of the €750,000 Stirling Moss edition will begin when the last of the regular SLRs rolls off the line at the end of May 2009, ending in December that year.

Photo Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

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Aston Martin Rapide

These are the first images of the production version of the forthcoming Aston Martin Rapide, leaked months ahead of its anticipated debut at the

Geneva Motor Show in March. The Rapide, set to join the ranks of imminent and illustrious sport sedans like the Lamborghini Estoque and Porsche Panamera, retains the design attributes of its concept precursor and adds additional details that will begin to trickle down to other models in the range.

The concept's proportions and dynamic attributes are exem

plified in its characteristic Aston aesthetic: two-piece grille and stretched headlamp units with integrated LED strips. But the most unique attributes of the production design is the addition of a bold bone line, stretching from the front fender air vent through to the rear door, and the sweeping glass roof panel. At the rear, the production example is also instantly recognized by its bold and purposeful haunches, familiar taillamp design and integrated decklid spoiler.

Like the exterior, the interior is also expected to retain much of the concept's design details, which appeared very near pro

duction when we saw the vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2006. Speculation surrounding the new car's powerplant exposes further similarities to the concept car, which sourced power from a 6.0-liter V12 engine. It is expected to create 500bhp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

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