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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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.

source : www.cardesignnews.com

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."

source : www.cardesignnews.com

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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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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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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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.

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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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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.

source : www.cardesignnews.com

2005 Aston Martin DB9 (3)

First Drive: 2005 Aston Martin DB9
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Early on, Aston looked at ceramic brakes, active damping, and tubular control arms, but stuck to more cost-effective technologies. Exotic GT cars have to deliver some semblance of value for dollar even if the back seats in this 2+2 would be a tight fit for dwarfs and hobbits.

The DB9's beauty is clear to see, inside and out. It may be the highest-quality Aston Martin ever built; it exhibits jewellike attention to detail and combines high chassis technology and the cachet of a sonorous V-12 engine. Mahvelous. Simply mahvelous.

Convertible version of the DB9 will make its debut this summer, and a six-speed manual transmission becomes available next year. Look also for an eight-cylinder AMV8, built off the same platform and priced against the Porsche 911.

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