News from around the world

[qwertypoiu]

h1Porsche Panamera CLR 700GT By Lumma Design/h1

After TechArt revealed their customization package for the new Panamera, is time to move our attention to Lumma Design, who revealed today the first details on their tuning program for the luxury sedan.

But compared to the German tuner, Lumma Design is coming with an aggressive wide body kit with fender extensions, side skirts, new hood with air outlets, new bumpers, new rear wing and rear diffuser with quad exhaust pipes. And all that is crowned by 22-inch lightweight alloy wheels.

Further more, the ride height has been lowered by 35mm and the engine will be tuned to deliver around 700 hp.

[qwertypoiu]

h1Range Rover And Freelander 2 By Startech/h1

Expanding from their traditional lineup of modified Mopar cars, the German tuners at Startech recently showed off a fast feline at the Frankfurt Motor Show and are continuing their upscale trend of tuner cars with an exclusive take on the Land Rover Range Rover and Freelander 2 luxury SUVs. By upgrading the interior of their modified Rovers with everything from Alcantara to color matched leather and elegant wood paneling, Startech is offering a level of exclusivity that the factory could only dream of offering. In fact they also offer a customer dictated customization program that leaves the choices up to the final consumer.

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The exterior of the upscale off road Range Rover is left mostly untouched, the only upgrade to the body are a pair of LED driving lights molded into the front bumper that class up the SUV’s appearance without disturbing the conservative look. They did however find a set of their 22 inch Monostar IV light weight alloy wheels to fit at all four corners, these go a long way to adding a sense of sport to the luxury utility vehicle; something that is only accentuated by the trapezoidal stainless steel dual exhaust.

The more compact Freelander 2 wears a set of slightly smaller 20 inch Monostar IV rims and just like the larger Range Rover, the Land Rover got the LED driving light treatment, integrating it as part of the car’s factory front bumper. Out back Startech shows off their innovative sides by coming up with a lower hatch attachment that beefs up the Freelander 2’s behind and continues the factory lines across the tailgate and just below them are a familiar set of the trapezoidal tailpipes. So whether you are looking for an upscale SUV with a little sense of style no matter if it is big or small, Startech has something to brighten up your day.

Press release after the jump.

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Press release

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Until now the STARTECH brand stood globally as a synonym for exclusive tuning for the automobiles from Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. With the world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show IAA 2009 STARTECH expands its portfolio with a sophisticated customization program for Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover automobiles.

All STARTECH products are designed and manufactured in accordance with the strict quality guidelines of the ISO 9001 norm, and all are tested and approved by the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV).

The STARTECH product lineup for all makes of vehicles comprises the entire palette of professional tuning: Elegant and efficient aerodynamic-enhancement components as well as custom-tailored one-piece or multi-piece STARTECH Monostar light-alloy wheels characterize the outfit of a Jaguar, Land Rover, Range Rover, Jeep, Dodge or Chrysler refined by STARTECH.

To further improve active safety the STARTECH engineers have developed markedly comfortable sport suspensions and lowering kits. They offer more agile handling and easier controllability of the vehicle in extreme situations.

Special emphasis of the STARTECH activities lies on customizing and upgrading the interior. Exclusive accessories such as ergonomically shaped sport steering wheels, polished stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated STARTECH logo or classy interior completion sets are part of the product lineup as are custom fully leather interiors crafted from especially soft, breathable and yet highly durable leather and Alcantara. Another specialty are exclusive wood inlays that can be manufactured in any desired color using special bleaching and staining techniques. Genuine carbon-fiber trim sets are also available in numerous variations for all models.

STARTECH also offers custom-tailored multimedia systems for all models.

h3STARTECH Makes the Range Rover Even More Exclusive/h3

Owners of Range Rover vehicles are highly discriminating automotive connoisseurs. They can now find the perfect solutions for customizing their vehicles at STARTECH.

With stylishly integrated LED daytime running lights STARTECH lends the Range Rover an even more striking appearance and further improved active safety. The light inserts come in the same color as the door handles and the front grille, eliminating the need for costly painting.

The new STARTECH Monostar IV light-alloy wheels are another eye catcher. The five-spoke wheels feature a beautiful combination of grey and polished surfaces with a matte lacquer finish. The size 10Jx22 wheels are mounted with high-performance tires in size 295/35 R 22 front and back.

Immediately noticeable in the rear are the dual trapezoidal stainless-steel exhaust tips, which were developed to add some more visual pizzazz to the stock exhaust system.

The STARTECH designers demonstrated their ingenuity in the interior as well. Leather door panels on all four doors in the same color as the production leather complete the leather interior. Special contrast-colored cords create a particularly customized look.

The company upholstery shop fulfills requests for even more customization with entire interiors crafted in any color, upholstery design and from any material imaginable, including exclusive precious wood. Innovative bleaching and staining techniques allow the creation of perfectly matched or stunningly contrasted wood colors with various surface finishes.

The choices are virtually unlimited: The product lineup ranges from an upgrade for the stock wood trim in the form of a precious-wood molding for the center console to complete trim sets made from any desired wood grain or from genuine carbon fiber.

Upon customer request STARTECH transforms the Range Rover into an exclusive office on wheels or into a mobile multimedia lounge with state-of-the-art communication technology.

The development of the STARTECH program for the updated Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles of model year 2010 is already running at full steam. It will include a sporty yet elegant aerodynamic-enhancement kit, custom-tailored 22-inch wheels, suspension modifications and exclusive interiors with fully leather and Alcantara upholsteries and precious-wood inlays in any color and grain, all made exactly to customer’s specifications.

h3STARTECH Refines the Land Rover Freelander 2/h3

Following the development and implementation of a globally successful customization program for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep automobiles STARTECH now also refines British Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles. At the Frankfurt Motor Show IAA 2009 the Land Rover Freelander 2 with STARTECH design celebrates its world debut.

The face of the English SUV receives more character with the sporty yet elegant STARTECH front element with integrated LED daytime running lights. The new front element was designed to attach to the lower part of the production bumper.

The STARTECH attachment for the liftgate continues the contour of the rear bumper across its entire width. The result is an even more balanced rear appearance of the Freelander 2 compared with the production car.

The fully stainless-steel STARTECH sport exhaust system with chrome-plated tailpipes left and right adds yet another visual and acoustic highlight. Custom-tailored versions of the exhaust system are available for all Freelander 2 models.

STARTECH Monostar IV light-alloy wheels give the Freelander 2 an even more refined appearance and increase both driving fun and safety reserves. The one-piece five-spoke wheels in size 9Jx20 are mounted with size 265/45 R 20 tires front and back and make full use of the available space under the wheel arches.

[url=http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/range-rover-and-freelander-2-by-startech-ar79755/picture323871.html" type=image/jpeg][img]http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200909/range-rover-and-free-4_460x0w.jpg" width=440[/img]

The STARTECH program also offers a multitude of customization options for the interior of the smallest Land Rover model: The company upholstery shop can answer the exclusive requests of any Freelander 2 owner, perfect down to the last detail. The upholsterers masterfully handcraft interiors in any color and upholstery design imaginable. The materials of choice for the exclusive STARTECH interiors are especially soft and breathable leathers and Alcantara.

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[qwertypoiu]

h12010 Hyundai Equus Stretch Edition/h1

As other automakers are looking towards smaller more compact models to get through these tough economic times, the Korean car builder is rejoicing their recent success and are rewarding the world with the Hyundai Equus, an even better luxury bargain than last year’s Car of the Year Winning Genesis Sedan. The new to the U.S. Equus is well known as the automaker’s flagship sedan, being powered by a 366 HP V8 that gets as many as 28 MPG. The concept is similar to the Genesis, except the Equus has a bit more space inside.

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Adding excess to success, Hyundai has just released the Equus Limousine. Pumping a little more volume into their flagship luxury sedan by stretching it to almost a foot longer than the competition, Hyundai has come up with an affordable, attractive and sensible alternative to their German and Japanese luxury car building cousins. The stretched Equus is distinguishable by its horizontal cross bar grill that is exclusive to Hyundai’s most expensive product. For the first time, the South Korean automaker will power on of their cars with the all new 5.0 Liter Tau V8 that makes as much as 400 HP, making the Equus Limousine more powerful than both the Lexus LS460L andMercedes S500L.

Rest assured up and coming Korean hip hop super stars, Hyundai is also releasing a bullet proof version of the long wheelbase model. For those who aren’t so fortunate, but still want to ride in spacious luxury and comfort, Hyundai will offer an optional cost reducing 3.8 Liter V6 that will bring prices down closer to the $100,000 mark. Now going down to your Hyundai dealer and handing over a thousand Benjamins might be hard to fathom, but with being able to say that you are riding around in the same vehicle as the President of Korea might be worth it.

Press release after the jump.

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Press release

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Hyundai Motor Co. today began receiving orders for the long wheelbase edition of its most luxurious car, the EQUUS.

The stretch edition offers several upgraded features from the normal sedan version, including differentiated exterior designs and longer overall length. The engine and other functions have been reinforced to attain first-class performance, safety, comfort and convenience.

With the comfort of passengers at the forefront of its design principle, the EQUUS Limousine, as it is named in Korea, offers passengers unparalleled levels of interior volume. The vehicle’s length is longer than major competitors by as much as 310 mm, with backseat legroom as much as 376 mm longer, as well.

To differentiate it from the EQUUS sedan, the stretch version is equipped with an exclusive horizontal cross-bar radiator grille with an emblem in the center. Thus, the exterior image exudes an impression of strength and confidence, in line with the vehicle’s elegant image.

EQUUS Limousine comes with a choice of two sophisticated engines: The Lambda 3.8L engine and the Tau 5.0L engine. The Tau 5.0 engine, applied to the stretch version for the first time, is a reinforced version of the Tau 4.6L engine that won the 2009 Ward’s 10 Best Engines award.

With a maximum output of 400ps and a peak torque rating of 51.0kg, the stretch version outperforms its competitors, such as the Lexus LS460L and Mercedes S500L by 20ps and 12ps, respectively.

The power-driven footrest, the world’s first, along with Rear Seat Leg Support, Relax Posture Control and Massage System function, allows passengers the most comfortable driving experience found today.

The price for the long wheelbase edition EQUUS ranges from 135 million won to 146 million won (approximately US$113,000 to US$122,180, based on today’s currency exchange rates).

Additionally, Hyundai has successfully developed a bulletproof version of the long wheelbase EQUUS and has donated three units to the Blue House (the Korean Presidential Residence). Hyundai is the first Korean company - and one of a handful worldwide - to develop a bulletproof car with its own technology.

[url=http://www.topspeed.com/cars/hyundai/2010-hyundai-equus-stretch-edition-ar79742/picture323828.html" type=image/jpeg][img]http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200909/2010-hyundai-equus-stretc-8_460x0w.jpg" width=440[/img]

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[qwertypoiu]

h1Lamborghini Estoque Spotted In Germany/h1

It’s been a while since we last had any news regarding the Lamborghini Estoque concept car but now, it looks like the car long thought to have been scrapped has finally resurfaced.

These spy shots of the Estoque were captured recently in Cologne, Germany, putting to rest all those rumors that Lamborghini’s new super car has been shelved.

Details as to why the car was out on the road are still a mystery, although some folks have assumed that the Estoque was being taken out for a test run. This comes as great news for those who have fallen head-over-heels for the car since it was launched at the Paris Motor Show last October.

Although the car received overwhelmingly positive reviews, the sudden collapse of the global economy sparked rumors that the car would be permanently shelved despite Lamborghini’s later attempt at quelling the rumors by saying that “no decision has been made to produce the Estoque”.

But now that it has been seen running around the streets of Cologne, it looks like the Estoque is still far from the chopping block and that Lamborghini is still working doubly hard to make the Estoque more than just a pipe dream.

[qwertypoiu]

h1Future BMW M5 Will Be Powered By Boosted V8/h1

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The folks over at Inside Line have done the legwork and confirmed that the future BMW M5 will indeed be powered by a smaller turbocharged V8 as opposed to the super sedan’s current high revving V10 in an attempt to bring the luxury automaker’s fuel economy figures more in line with the new industry standard. Although the thought of a Formula One inspired 9,000 RPM ten cylinder engine screaming in a mid size sports sedan is too much to tempting to pass up, a smaller engine makes more sense for the future. In fact, BMW already offers quite a few cars with turbocharged V8 engines, this way the technology can trickle down more easily into the rest of the German automaker’s lineup.

[url=http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/bmw-could-create-a-twin-turbo-v8-powered-m5-ar78227/picture316171.html" type=image/jpeg][img]http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200908/new-article-7_180x0w.jpg" width=180[/img]

The X5M and X6M are already powered by a 4.4 Liter twin turbo eight cylinder engine that already makes a maximum output of 555 HP and 5000 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps an M badged model would receive a bit of an increase in bore and a stroke to see the engine displacing closer to 5.0 Liters thanks to a set of lightweight forged pistons. It would have to be built to handle the additional pressure from an upgraded set of turbochargers to make somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 HP. With a highly versatile modern day direct gasoline injection system, the high performance power plant can be tuned to run efficiently when not creating as much power as possible.

The other benefit of a super tuned future M5 is that every other owner of a turbocharged V8 Bimmer stands to profit from a host of possible second hand performance parts range from turbochargers and intercoolers to waste gates and engine programs that will make hot rodding a BMW with factory parts fashionable once again. Unfortunately for fans of smaller high performance German automobiles, the sleuths at Inside Line also uncovered that just like Audi, BMW isn’t planning on pushing a motor sport inspired 1 Series compact in the U.S. anytime soon.

[ToofaneBatameezi]

qwerty: Great posting! Thnx...

[2468]

Hyundai is really started to show some serious intentions

[RetardedBuddy]

The hyundai seems to be inspired from the Ls460, but i guess they have begun to overtake several other car manufacturers...

[Ducati]

APS ENERGISES GTI WITH 395 NM

VW’s latest Golf GTI a trifle too civilised for you? Too impatient to wait for the new Golf R? How about a simple ECU chip nearer to 200kW?

Northamptonshire-based VW group (that includes Porsche coincidentally) service and tuning specialist APS has released a stage one power upgrade for the Golf VI GTI.

The polished hot hatch receives a significantly remapped ECU, courtesy of the APS diagnostic technicians.

Power boosts from 155- to 186kW instantly, with peak rotational force increasing from 280- to a significant 395Nm.

These APS fettled outputs move Golf VI GTI closer to the like of Ford’s Focus RS and Mazda’s MPS, not to mention VW group family relation, Audi’s S3…

APS claims the newfangled power drops 0-100km/h acceleration times into the low six-second bracket, with top speed maxing out at 250km/h.

Perhaps the most attractive part of the APS stage one kit is not the price (£599 in the UK), but rather a parallel guarantee from APS which runs for the length of your official VW warranty. Nice.

[Ducati]

"FERRARI WILL BE MY LAST TEAM"

Fernando Alonso on Thursday said he hopes Ferrari will be his last F1 team.

The 28-year-old Spaniard made his debut as a teenager with Minardi in 2001, before racing for six seasons with Renault, winning back to back titles in 2005 and 2006.

In 2007 he completed just one season of an abortive multi-year contract at McLaren.

It was announced on Wednesday that he will switch to Ferrari in 2010 on a guaranteed three year deal, reportedly with contracted options for up to 3 additional seasons.

If he races with the famous Italian team through 2015, he will be 34.

"I really think that Ferrari will be my last team," he told reporters in the Suzuka paddock.

"Leaving Ferrari to change teams is always a step backwards. It has to be a step backwards because Ferrari is more than a team and I want to finish my career with them.

"The contract is three years now, and then with some options to continue. So hopefully I can continue as long as they want and I can finish the career here with a lot of wins," Alonso added.

[Ducati]

AUDI SHOWS LIGHTER SIDE WITH A5

Audi has chopped more than 100 kg from the weight of its A5 coupe in preparation for a future of heavier drivetrains and increased efficiency.

The latest prototype from the guys at Ingolstadt is in the interest of fuel economy, reduced emissions and handling agility, the company says, and a need to extend efficiency "beyond the engine bay" by swapping steel for aluminium and carbon fibre.

First step was to replace the A5's steel construction with an aluminium Audi Space Frame (seen on the A8 and R8). This drops the kerb weight of the car by about 40% to 1 310 kg.

This significant weight loss also means this car's standard V6 can be lumped in favour of a four-cylinder 2.0 TFSI engine with its inherent consumption and emission advantages. The smaller engine also has the knock-on effect of requiring smaller and lighter brakes and transmission.

The manufacturer already employs a host of other weight-saving techniques in the construction of its cars. Engines use aluminium and vermicular graphite cast iron to reduce the weight of the crankcase. Aluminium chassis parts, carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs on high performance models and aluminium for brake calipers, bonnets, boot lids and other components .

Audi considers lightweight design a key component in its drive to improve efficiency, conserve resources and reduce operating costs, especially since the electric drivetrains of the future will add weight to cars.

[Ducati]

KAWA'S POCKET SUPERMOTO

Meet the D-Tracker 125, a downsized supermoto soon to be launched for Europe’s roads. The name is somewhat of a misnomer, though, as there is nothing dirtlike about the Kawa.

Based on Kawasaki’s KLX125 European scrambler, which was unveiled at the same time, the plucky D-Tracker gets all the normal supermoto treats: 17-inch wheels, sticky rubber for the road and aggressive styling.

In Japan a 250cc version of the D-Tracker has been a major success, and Kawasaki is hoping for much the same response in Europe when launching the D-Tracker 125 at the upcoming NEC Motorcycle Show in Birmingham.

[Ducati]

MASSIVE RECALL ROCKS TOYOTA

Tokyo/Detroit - Toyota said on Tuesday it will recall some 3.8 million vehicles in the United States because of the risk that a loose floormat could force down the accelerator, a problem suspected of causing crashes that have killed five people.

The recall would be the largest ever for Toyota, the top global automaker that has built a reputation in the US market for safety and the latest in a string of much smaller recalls in the past year.

Toyota, which has been working to revamp its operations in the United States under new management, said it was too early to provide a cost estimate for the move.

Despite the US recall, Toyota shares were flat at 3 570 yen in Tokyo on Wednesday, compared with a 0.3% gain in the Nikkei stock average.

"This is an urgent matter," said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The US government said it has received reports of 100 related incidents that include 17 crashes and 5 fatalities involving Toyota vehicles.

Only vehicles sold in the US

Toyota spokesman Yuta Kaga in Tokyo said on Wednesday that the floormats subject to the recall are used only in vehicles sold in the United States.

The company is also checking whether the problem originates in the floormats or the process of placing them in the vehicles, he said, without naming the floormat supplier.

Toyota and US safety regulators warned owners to remove all driver-side floor mats from eight Toyota and Lexus models manufactured in the last six years - including the Prius hybrid - as an immediate safety precaution.

In August, an off-duty California state trooper and three members of his family were killed in the San Diego area in a crash of a 2009 Lexus ES350.

Before the crash, a passenger in the car had called 911 and told dispatchers that the accelerator was stuck and the car had reached 120 miles per hour (193 km per hour).

The recall will cover the Camry and Avalon sedans, the Prius hybrid, the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks and luxury Lexus models, the IS250 and the IS350 as well as the ES350.

Toyota's largest previous largest recall was in 2005 for a problem with steering rods. That recall covered about 900 000 vehicles.

Twice annual US sales

The pending recall will cover more than twice Toyota's annual sales in the US market. The automaker sold 2.2 million cars and light trucks in the United States last year. Sales this year dropped to 1.2 million vehicles through August.

"This is a negative issue and is going to cost (Toyota) very much. (It's) not good for advertising," said Yuuki Sakurai, CEO of Fukoku Capital Management in Japan.

"But I'm not worried much about this problem and whether it will remain a negative factor for Toyota in the long term. They can overcome it," he said.

In 2007, Consumer Reports revoked its practice, earned by Toyota's track record, of recommending all new Toyota cars and trucks after two models earned below-average rankings in its closely watched vehicle reliability study.

Previous investigations

Toyota's sweeping recall stems from a safety issue that has been under review for the past several years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed an investigation into floor mats in Toyota vehicles that began in 2007 and resulted in a recall of more than 50 000 cars.

That investigation, which focused on the Lexus ES350, concluded that grooves in the floormat could trap the accelerator if the mat was not secured with retaining hooks.

Federal investigators also found many owners were not aware that it takes three seconds to turn off the electronic ignition button that comes standard on that model and the Prius.

Many owners also complained that it was not obvious how to put a runaway vehicle in neutral because of the design of the Toyota gear panel.

One Toyota owner petitioned NHTSA in April of this year to begin a wider investigation, saying that anecdotal reports of unintended acceleration suggested the problem could not be explained only by the floormat problem.

Floormats not to blame?

NHTSA has not ruled on that request. One auto safety advocate said he also suspected that reported problems could have causes other than slipping floormats.

"Their response is that this is all floor mats," Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, a consulting and advocacy firm based in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, said of Toyota. "That's not terribly surprising. They would like it to be floor mats because that is an easily identifiable mechanical issue."

The San Diego Sheriff's Department has not completed its investigation into the off-duty trooper's crash. Federal safety investigators are also looking into the accident.

Toyota said it was waiting for a final report on the accident but wanted to act because of indications that a floormat may have been involved.

"Obviously the tragic accident in San Diego was certainly an eye opener for all of us and we've paid very very diligent attention to moving forward to try to make sure none of us will be reliving that kind of a very tragic situation," Toyota spokesman Irv Miller.

Toyota said it would issue specific recall notices as soon as it had a plan to address each of the models affected.

[Ducati]

TOYOTA SHOWS NEW SUPERCAR CONCEPT

Toyota must be tired of hearing its cars are dull. The Japanese manufacturer has revealed its FT-86 concept car showstopper for this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The concept is the result of the joint venture between Toyota and Subaru which came close to experiencing the chop on several occasions.

However, what Toyota is ready to show the world at its domestic motor show is a 2+2 sports coupe with rear-wheel drive, a Subaru-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Although Toyota hasn't released much information about its latest concept, keeping the weight down was said to be a huge focus. Using a boxer engine also allows engineers to place the engine lower in the bay, keeping the centre of gravity low and improving handling. The concept apparently also rides on an all-new platform.

Designed by Toyota's European design facility in France to appeal to Toyota aficionados hankering after something sportier, the FT-86 invokes the spirit of the popular Corolla AE-86 rear wheel drive coupe of the 80s. FT stands for Future Toyota, but this is unlikely to be the car's final name.

Styling is heavily influenced by the FT-HS concept shown at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show and is a desperate attempt by Toyota to inject some excitement into the brand after the culling of the MR-2.

In a recent media conference in Tokyo, Toyota president Akio Toyoda said the manufacturer would put greater effort into building more emotional cars. As a statement, then, the FT-86 concept looks promising.

The FT-86 concept will be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show running from October 21 through November 4. The production version is expected to make its appearance in 2011.

[Ducati]

PRANCING HORSE MEETS RED DRAGON

If ever you doubted the importance of China’s burgeoning auto demand, witness Ferrari’s China Limited Edition 599 GTB.

When the famous Italian marque starts pandering to the cultural whims of your country (or People’s Republic) in terms of its design statute, well, then it really is a sign of the global power shift from West to East.

Ferrari is always keen to cash in on some limited edition trinkets.

The Italian company has now taken its quite fabulous 599 GTB Fiorano, sharpened by the company’s latest GTE handling pack, and dressed it up to appeal uniquely to its Chinese customers.

To ensure the China Limited Edition is as true to marketed intension as possible, Ferrari invited Chinese artist Lu Hao to embellish it with all manner of culturally astute details.

Hao’s touches include a start button which glows jade green (instead of red) and an engine speed dial with ancient Chinese characters replacing the numerals.

We think it’s a shame the road speed dial was not converted in similar taste.

Other differentiating features include a Rosso Fuoco finish contrasted with a grey roof – which is a lukewarm attempt at passing the China Limited Edition 599 off as an 599XX of sorts.

The dozen Chinese customers (it’s a very limited edition production run) will also receive custom leather luggage sets embossed with a Silk Road map – the route taken by Marco Polo when he allegedly visited China.

For the rest it’s stock 599 GTB handling pack stuff.

A magnetorheological damping set-up with revised springs, supported by special compound tyres, ensure cornering G-forces should be negligibly up from a 599 GTB’s, hence the strengthened anti-roll bars…

The gearbox and engine management software has been upgraded too, rendering a more vicious shift and blipping response, with a revised exhaust system, featuring new tips, rounding off acoustic validity.

Under the elongated bonnet is 6l of Ferrari’s finest V12 engine architecture, producing 456kW at 7 600r/min and peak rotational force of 607Nm at 5 600r/min.

Both numbers should ensure you're never late for that critical Beijing business appointment.

[Ducati]

PORSCHE CONSIDERING SMALL CAYENNE?

Now a part of the happy VW family, Porsche’s future model portfolio might be a lot more SUV than supercar geared.

Since Porsche’s take over by VW, Zuffenhausen’s head of product development, Wolfgang Dürheimer, has refocused the company’s engineering resources to populate a host of broader market niches.

The idea of a model slotting in under the Boxster range (due for replacement in 2012) has now germinated to near certainty.

Dürheimer hopes an infusion of VW mass production manufacturing expertise will enable the new small Porsche to be seamlessly integrated into the company's production cycle and cost structure.

Manufacturing of the smaller Porsche models are a huge issue currently, especially as the Magna contract for Boxster manufacturing (set for 2013) has been undone by the Canadian company's bid to take over VW rival Opel.

Mini Cayenne?

Another product range allegedly being investigated by Porsche is a small SUV, competing against Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

The new mini-SUV will hopefully not cue any styling inferences from the company’s current Cayenne range.

Other Porsche engineering directives include all forthcoming 911, Boxster and Cayman models, with fuel-economy now the key design imperative. Dürheimer is aiming for double digit percentage fuel savings on outgoing models.

Most of the fuel savings are expected to come from advances in engine technology and surfacing efficiency (styling), whilst Audi’s lightweight aluminium spaceframe construction advances could melt away mass whilst retaining structural integrity and safety levels.

Concerning hybrid engine technology, Dürheimer says Porsche will only migrate pure electric power and hybrid drive to production vehicles after such technologies have proven themselves in a track racing environment.

The changes appear to tallying with intent around Zuffenhausen.

Remember when Porsche last dabbled in downsizing? Does the number 924 mean anything to you?

[Ducati]

HONDA AXES EUROPEAN DESIGN STUDIO

News of Honda’s pending closure of its European design studio at Offenbach will have many MacBook owners shifting uncomfortably in their contemporary office chairs.

The design office, part of Honda’s European R&D facility outside Frankfurt, has been operational since 1992, occupying two stories and 3000m² of floorspace.

Responsibilities at the design studio cover both car and motorcycle conceptualisation and finishing, with the Open Study Model one of the better known products to have been conceptualised there.

Whilst the design studio’s floorspace will be assimilated into the larger Honda R&D facility, we don’t know what happened to staff.

Honda’s other European design hub is a scant 200m² motorcycle drawing room in Milan, which could hardly absorb the personnel spill over.

Although industry pundits are talking up the motor industry, conjecturing that we have cleared the bottoming out phase and are now bound for recovery, Honda’s behaviour would auger otherwise.

The pending closure of the company’s Offenbach’s design studio is just the latest chapter in a raft of cutbacks for Honda – including the misjudged sale of its now all conquering F1 team, idling at assembly plants and an absence from major auto shows.

[salman_ksa]

PRANCING HORSE MEETS RED DRAGON

I've got feelings that China is the next biggest market for big names. Also it's worth mentioning that China is the biggest market for S-Class, almost 33% of the S-Classes goes to China.

But this Ferrari special edition might pisses off some Dubai Sheikhs!

[Ducati]

^^ Even with my limited knowledge of such things I'd tend to agree with you Given the size of the Chinese market, its relative affluence, and its rapid economic recovery from the recent global crisis compared to the Western world; I think their market will continue to expand at a faster pace.

Nice info on the S series sales in China what about other high end series are the ratios similar or are the Chinese exec's more fond of the S series ?

[salman_ksa]

Exactly. Nobody want to miss the chance to enter Chinese market. These special editions are nothing but excuses. and the prices of these premium cars will be cheaper in China compare to other countries, just like in America they get most cheapest cars in the world as currently it's the biggest market for any brand. I'm presuming that it will benefit Pakistani car enthusiasts as exporting cars from China will be much more easier and cheaper? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Don't know exact figures for other high end sedans, but Chinese do prefer S-Class over any luxury sedan.