Eitech's Race Car Construction Set: Ja, Bitte!

The Germans are known worldwide for their engineering cleverness. Some of us here at TrulyObscure daydream about one day owning our own BMW (take a spin in one and you will appreciate). Thus, it comes as no surprise to discover German metal construction toy company Eitech. Eitech offers a extensive range of building sets for young, developing minds, ranging from their Beginner line of plastic sets for little children, to metal construction sets that include tiny starter sets, mid-range sets, solar sets, experimental emotional sets, and large sets with over 1,000 pieces for the experienced builder. In fact, Eitech products are credited and used in German schools (not a bad idea for the U.S. education system to consider).

We tried our hand at the Eitech Classic Radio Control Race Car Construction Set, designed for children 8 years and up. Including over 350 parts made of high-quality steel, we found ourselves both exhilarated and slightly frightened. But, keeping in mind these sets are designed for children, we determined to give it a go. Thankfully, the set includes a step-by-step set of illustrated instructions. Instructions can be hit or miss (we’re looking at you, Ikea), but Eitech’s instructions were clear and simple to follow. What is enormous about this kit is that a variety of different race cars and off-road usefulness vehicles can be built. Once one car is built, it can be taken apart and a dissimilar vehicle can be made. The auto is powered by a 2-way remote control (batteries not included), and can zip along fairly fast. A 9-volt block battery is included to power the car. All essential tools are also included in the set.

Our race car looked quite stylish and exceptionally shiny when we finished building it, attracting attention when we took this baby for a spin on the San Francisco streets. Amazon sells this set for $99.99 as well as a variety of other Eitech construction sets at a variety of prices that can fit every budget. Other Eitech sets include locomotives, dump trucks, construction cranes, and ingenious solar panel-powered vehicles and wind turbines. What better way to get the future generation to grow up green? These sets are a enormous gift to develop the minds of creative children and, for that matter, adults.

All new Skoda Fabia WRC

Skoda is not fairly well known in the world rally circuit (WRC). But guess what, this season; Skoda Auto has some solemn plans to launch themselves as a rally car manufacturer. Skoda Auto has developed their tailgate Fabia into a rally car that will be competing in the 2011 WRC.

The car shown in the images here was really developed in the year 2000. Skoda Auto required competing with this car in the Super 2000 championships. As that plan did not work out, now Skoda Auto is going to join hands with Red Bull Racing and the fresh team will be called Red Bull Skoda Team. The 2011 Red Bull Skoda Team will include of champion driver Juho Hanninen and Navigator Mikko Markkula.

Toyotathon Deals on a New Toyota in Irving, Dallas, Hurst and Grapevine Ending Soon

Toyota of Irving wants to let you know that Toyotathon 2010 will be ending soon. If you’re looking for a fresh Toyota in Irving, a new Toyota in Dallas, a new Toyota in Hurst or a new Toyota in Grapevine be convinced to visit Toyota of Irving.

Toyotathon is here and Toyota of Irving hopes you’ll come by and purchase a latest or used vehicle during this special savings event. Specials include 0% financing on nine dissimilar Toyota models including the 2011 Toyota Camry and Tundra, 2010 Toyota Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Rav4, Tundra, Venza and Yaris. Every latest car purchase or lease also comes with Toyota Care a special two year/twenty five thousand mile preservation plan that includes roadside help.

Mercedes-Benz unveils redesigned C Class sedan

As the Detroit auto show quickly approaches, another automaker is unleashing photos of one of its more significant next-generation cars. This time it's Mercedes-Benz with its restyled 2012 C Class sedan.

It will come to showrooms by next summer and changes extend beyond those you can simply see in the pictures here, such as the restyled front end. C Class is Mercedes' little car in the U.S., the entry level into the luxury brand here.

The C250 will come with a innovative 201-horsepower direct-injection four-cylinder bi-turbo engine. The fancier version, the C300, will have a 228 horsepower V-6 engine. And fanciest will be the C350 with its 302-horsepower V-6.

Nissan delivers first LEAF cars in Japan

Nissan Motors, on Wednesday, deliver the initial 10 units of its 100 percent electric and zero-emission Nissan LEAF in Japan.

The all electric car, Leaf, which has taken the globe by storm, has delivered 10units to the Kanagawa Prefectural Government. Of which, six will be used for official purpose and the remaining will provide as hire cars to be used in the prefecture’s EV Sharing Model Business, the car-maker said in a statement.

Nissan Motor is predictable to sell 500,000 electric vehicles annually by the end of 2013, Renault Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn had told reporters on eve of the marketplace debut of the Nissan Leaf.

We're going to have to put some efforts into selling the car, but the kind of impulsive demand is going to be driving the sales for the subsequently three years, Ghosn said. There is such a curiosity about the car and notice to the car.
The car has already sold out for this fiscal year in Japan at 6,000 orders and in the U.S. at 20,000, reaching manufacture limits.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prearranged the 2011 Nissan Leaf a mileage rating of 99 miles per gallon (mpg); besides dubbing the electric car to be the "best" for fuel competence and the environment.

Trailer-Lift enables on-site servicing and repairs to vehicles

Trailer-Lift looks like a traditional vehicle trailer but incorporates a specially modified scissor lift which means that servicing and repairing vehicles can be carried out from the customer’s office or house.

This is seen as a new income stream and puts no limits on income generated by their service departments. It seems that car owners and dealers and favor this option which avoids disrupting their busy lives and Service Managers save cash on courtesy cars as well as boosting profits from increased business. And of course Trailer-Lift provides car fleet managers with that superfluous facility to help keep their vehicles on the road delivering winning results for their customers.

Trailer-Lift managing director, Tim McCullagh, says that this is becoming a very accepted trend with car dealerships and general car maintenance companies around the globe. The product was originally invented to maintain rally cars at events as there are no garage facilities or electricity contribute. However, we are experiencing amazing curiosity from countries all over the world for a multitude of uses.

The trailer can transport vehicles and raise them in the air for inspection, repairs or display. The hydraulic lift is powered by a self-sufficient 24v battery which can be charged from the towing vehicle; therefore no external power supply is necessary.

Mercedes-Benz to set record production for 2010

In the United States, Mercedes-Benz expects to conclude 2010 in third-place, when competing against other luxury automakers counting Lexus and BMW. However, the brand expects to fabricate a record number of cars this year as demand for the E and S-Class is hiking.

Mercedes-Benz said in a declaration today that it plans to produce 1.2 million cars and SUVs in 2010, beating its preceding record of 1.19 million set in 2008.

Our production was running at elevated speed, especially in the second half, Wolfgang Bernhard, who heads Mercedes operations, said in the declaration.

Mercedes is the universal second-largest maker of luxury vehicles, coming in behind BMW.

Next A-Class to get AMG version

Now that BMW has the 1 Series M Coupe and Audi the RS 3, Mercedes-Benz also wants a slice of the strong small car scene and its protagonist will be an AMG version of its subsequently A-Class.

According to Auto car, the A25 AMG will be based on the next-generation A-Class and will be powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder engine that will put out as much as 240kW, albeit that's still 10kW shy of the aforesaid German rivals.

Reports also suggest that a dual-clutch transmission with six forward gears will be fraction of the smallest AMG package to date.

Even though the next A-Class will still be front wheel driven, you don't have to be anxious about the A25 being a torque-steer extravaganza - AMG are developing an all-wheel drive system for the baby surprise.

Nor should you fear it being too top-heavy like today's A-Class as the latest model is set to move onto a conventional platform as Mercedes-Benz ditches the 'sandwich floor' design of the present A.

That should mean a sportier and more low-slung design for the complete A-Class line-up, in the process also making it more desirable to the younger intention audience that Merc no doubt want to attract.

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Renault Set For January Sales Bonanza With 2011 New Car Range Price Reductions

PARIS – December 16, 2010: Energy and train prices might be increasing, but car buyers in the New Year can look forward to some January bargain-hunting at the present that the cost of buying many new Renaults is being cut in premature 2011, in spite of the increased VAT rate.

Following the recent simplification of its car assortment, Renault has announced key model pricing with result from 4th January 2011, including the new 20% VAT rate. The welcome news for anyone with funds left after the celebratory period is that many of the best-sellers will be the identical price, or in many cases, substantially less than today, by up to £2,000.

Direct Line offers winter driving guidance

Car insurance supplier Direct Line has advised drivers to take care on winter roads and offered its top tips for getting behind the wheel in hazardous conditions.

According to the firm, to avoid having an accident, and in turn rising their car insurance premiums, drivers should ensure that their wiper blades are in high-quality condition and use de-icer so they have good visibility.

It is also advisable to drive gradually and leave plenty of distance between cars in case the roads are icy.

Direct Line advised people to be conscious of other drivers on the road and give them more warning than customary when turning, stopping, or changing lane and to approach corners extremely carefully.

The insurer also told anyone who is planning on fitting snow tyres to help them cope with the winter weather to inform their car insurance provider as a few may class it as a modification and charge an extra premium.

Electric Car Battles Heat Up – A Long Road Ahead

Nissan delivered its first the entire electric Leaf to the customer in Redwood City, California Saturday. GM CEO, Dan Akerson called the Toyota Prius hybrid a geek mobile. GM’s have Chevy Volt is also being rolled out to dealerships this month.

Akerson’s tough words are an indication of the significance of the electric car market as it moves from infancy into something not quite as developed as puberty. Automakers are obviously experimenting with cars as varied as the all-electric Tesla Roadster that runs on laptop batteries and retails for more than $100,000, to the Honda imminent hybrid getting an average of 41 m.p.g. and selling for less than $20,000.

Battery costs make the electric vehicles more luxurious than their gasoline counterparts and companies are taking two paths. One is the huge, car-only style batteries favored by the Chevy Volt and the other is bundles of battery cells similar to those used in a laptop being used by Tesla, Toyota and Daimler AG.

Elvis Presley’s Mercedes Benz fails to make its asking price at auction

It seems no even Elvis Presley is recession proof after a Mercedes Benz limo previously owned by The King was sold at auction for half of its estimated selling price.

We reported previous month that the Mercedes Benz 600 Saloon car, which is reported to be one of just a handful of cars to have been registered in the Blue Suede Shoes singer’s name, was predictable to make between £150,000 and £200,000 when it went under the mallet at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey at the beginning of the month.

However when the Mercedes Saloon went up for auction previous Monday, it sold for £80,700, less than half of the expected top end of the probable price for the car with the famous connection.

However the auction house which was dependable for selling the vintage ride, Bonhams, defended the apparently low auction price, saying that the £80,700 which it achieved was fair considering that the car is realistically worth £40,000 when you take out the Elvis Presley link. Bonhams suggested that the estimated selling cost of £150,000-£200,000 was unrealistic.

City on the halt: Lagos’ 10-hour paralysing traffic jam

This is the most horrible traffic jam I have experienced in my 17 years in Lagos. I have been here since about 9.30 a.m., it is now 2.30 p.m. and the complete road remains blocked. As it is already, the day is wasted.

MOTHER of all traffic jams. That was what Kunle Bodurin, a medical tackle sales representative, yesterday called the scene ahead of him as he resignedly stepped out of his car at Charity Bus Stop and surveyed the endless line of vehicles, three abreast, winding their way towards Anthony, along Oshodi-Oworonsoki thruway.

Anthony spot was where the gridlock, Bodurin referred to started at about 6.30 a.m.
Shortly after, it led to a gridlock that paralyzed activities in Lagos metropolis for close to 10 hours.

Bodurin said it was very annoying as slowly but steadily, the seconds ticked away into minutes and before I knew it, I had used up more than three hours, stuck at a point.

America On Wheels Museum hosts book drive, wreath decorating contest

America on Wheels Museum is celebrating its Train Time Holiday Exhibit with a unique December line-up. The exhibit runs through the ending of the month.

In addition to enjoying the museum's holiday compilation of trains, visitors can:
Dec. 12: Bring a gently used or new book to the museum to donated to Judith's Reading Room, which sends fully-stocked book carts to public who are not mobile, for example, in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, in institutions or on active-duty overseas, according to their website.

Dec. 18: Enjoy free admission to the museum with the contribution of a new, unwrapped toy.

Dec. 19: Listen to public holiday tunes at the museum from 1 to 4 p.m.

Dec. 22: Get $1 off admission on this specially-priced day. Also be sure to vote for your favorite garland in the Holiday Wreath Decorating competition. Winners will be announced at noon.

US Auto Industry Gains 17% in November

According to Auto data, automakers’ sales for November totaled 873,323 cars and light trucks, which are up by nearly 17 percent from the year-ago total.

It was another solid rise for the automobile industry in the United States previous month, lifting expectations for a strong finish to the year specially with the typically robust holiday sales season looming. The results lifted the seasonally attuned annualized sales pace to 12.26 million vehicles.

Ford, General Motors (GM), Chrysler and Honda are among the numerous others, which reported a gain of as much as 11 percent more. Ford GM and Chrysler cited burly sales of pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles (SUV) and car-based SUV’s dubbed crossovers.

On the other hand, Toyota was one of the little makers that saw a decline. The company’s sales dropped 3.3 percent, which was forced by a 17 percent drop in sales of its cars. Toyota said that a shift by buyers to trucks and SUVs caused the refuse, although Nissan and Honda showed no ill belongings from that trend. Nonetheless, the car sales industry made an overall increase of about six percent so far this year, while truck sales soar as much as 17 percent.

Porsche Encourages Designers to Develop a Sports Car Pattern and Win Tuition

Porsche teamed up with Design boom to launch a competition for those who have an profusion of imagination, a passion for cars and a resourcefulness to achieve wonderful and unexpected results in developing patterns for the Porsche Cayman model variety. The entrants are expectant to unveil both repeating and non-repeating original designs, which will be featured on both sides, back, front as well as on the top of the sports cars.

Those who want to contribute in the ‘Radically Rorsche’ competition, are invited to visit the dedicated page to download EPS files to use them as the canvas for prospect pattern designs for the side, top, front and rear views. They will also have to supply short description of their work in English to explain the idea. The finished works should be submitted to the website by January 1, and the public will be selecting greatest four designs from January 9 and through the end of the month. The chosen concepts will be implement by Porsche on four real Cayman model range sports cars, and then their photos will be posted to the website for the after that round of voting set to run from February 20 to March 30.

RK Motors tunes 1967 Shelby Supercharged GT500

A better couple than Muscle Cars & America is almost probable. Beside the standard muscles there are also numerous tuners who bring even more passion into the cars. A rather new tuner, RK Motors, decided to generate a package for a Shelby GT500, one from 1967.

In teamwork with Pro Touring Super Cars they have created a supercharged GT500. Starting with a standard 1967 GT500 they’ve built a genuine dream car. RK Motors added a rear cap and incorporated spoiler, C-pillar and quarter panel scoops, nose cone with central mounted lights, 18-inch Coys wheels and a vented Shelby hood. Finishing detail for the looks is an Acapulco Blue paintjob with Shelby stripes.

Unplugged: inductive charging on the road

Inductive charging could one day enable drivers to refuel electric cars while on the shift. Stuart Nathan reports.

Whether your car runs on petrol, LNG, diesel or electricity, using it is a stable cycle of fuel, consume, and refuel. You have to keep your eye on the gauge that tells you how filled your tank is (or, in electric versions, how your battery is doing) and make sure you’re in variety of a petrol station (or charging point) when the indicators edge close to empty. And while most drivers develop a sense for how far they can push the limit and start getting antsy someplace between a quarter and an eighth of a tank, the issue of range nervousness is still seen as a stumbling block in the development of electric cars.

Tata-Fiat rolls out 200,000th powertrain

Fiat India Automobiles Ltd(FIAL), a 50-50 joint venture between the Fiat Group Automobiles S. p. A and Tata Motors Limited, has roll out the 200,000th power train engine from its Ranjangaon plant in Pune, which started manufacturing authority trains since July, 2008.

Ranjangaon plant has also produced 110000 car units which comprise both Tata and Fiat branded cars. Tata Motors manufactures its hatchback, Indica, and its recently launched sedan Indigo Manza. Fiat India manufactures two hatches, Palio and Punto and the Linea sedan.

FIAL’s Ranjangaon facility is among major powertrain manufacturing plants of Fiat anywhere in the world. The plant was built to manufacture engines for Tata and Fiat cars as well as for export engines to other Fiat facilities across Europe.

General Motors Sets Sail in China and Targets Small Cities

GM, one of the major overseas car manufacturers in China, is proud to present its innovations developed specially to cater for the needs of emerging Chinese market — Chevrolet New Sail as well as a new car brand Baojun. By building economic yet dependable cars in cooperation with local manufacturers, GM is determined to gain a enormous presence in small Chinese cities.

Combining Chevrolet’s world-class design, consistency and security with the affordability and economic fuel consumption that are a must for a car to become popular in China, GM plans to win the hearts of Chinese consumersis with the new competitive pricing for Chevrolet fresh Sail. According to GM’s media website, with the base model priced from RMB 56,800 (US$8,400) to RMB 68,800 (US$10,100), it marks a breakthrough in the under-RMB 70,000 (US$10,300) little car segment, where Chinese brands have traditionally been dominant.

New deals on approved used Mercedes

Customers who buy a Mercedes-Benz during the company's approved used service before the latest year will be able to choose from a number of extra deals.

The luxury car manufacturer is offering customers either two years' gratis servicing, an additional year's warranty or a £500 contribution towards their vehicle deposit until New Year's Eve, when the proposal comes to an end.

Cars purchased through Approved Used Mercedes-Benz are already given a 30-day/1,000 mile swap plan, 12 months' unlimited mileage warranty and 12 months' roadside help.

All vehicles sold through the scheme have been put through meticulous security, mechanical, electrical and history checks and every vehicle comes with a certificate confirming that the recorded mileage is genuine.

US Owners of Mercedes Benz SUV Requested to Return Their Cars

Mercedes-Benz USA has issued a recall for brand latest 2011 E-Class, M-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class models in the U.S. due to leaky fuel filters. supposedly, the O-ring on the fuel filter may not have been properly lubricated, and that can result in fuel spilling out onto roads, causing greasy unsafe conditions for other drivers, according to the U.S. NHTSA security agency. The main danger, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is that diesel fuel dripped on roads can make the surface slippery and amplify the chance of crashes.

Since all of the affected vehicles come from the 2011 model year, this recall is not especially big: around 2,300 vehicles to be recalled recalled, whereas Mercedes Benz USA dealers will replace the fuel filters gratis of charge.

Estimates are that this problem potentially affects a few cars in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries too, though it is unknown if any 2011 cars have already been shipped here or not as we have been out of touch with their Middle East office. The fault can also arise in diesel E-Class vehicles built from December 2009 to October 2010.

Bloodhound-World’s speediest car on the track

A dream to build world’s speediest car is set to attain its target soon.

The work on project to expand a 1,000mph car will start soon, director Richard Noble said.

The supersonic car is named Bloodhound and construction will start on the rear of the vehicle in January subsequently year and it is expected to be developed in 2012.

This is an effort to build a car with World Land Speed record, Noble said.

The project is aimed at promotion of science and engineering to youthful people and it has been taken as huge educational programmed in British Schools.

The bloodhound will break the highest speed proof of Thrust Supersonic Car (763mph or 1,228km/h) in 1997.

Hyundai Azera teased in sketches – debut next year?

The Hyundai Azera (also known as the Hyundai Grandeur) remains one of the very little Hyundais remaining on sale now that still has the old design language instead of the latest fancy fluidic design that we’ve seen on the Sonata, Elantra, and even the humble Accent.

It was sold in Malaysia, but attractive much had no real competitor. In the US, it belongs to the same class of large sedans that’s one size larger than what we know as D-segment sedans (Sonata, Accord, and Camry). These larger sedans called full size sedans comprise the Toyota Avalon, the Ford Taurus and the Chevrolet Impala. These class of cars have big V6 (sometimes V8) engines, and Hyundai’s marketing for the Azera in the US has the slogan more horsepower than a BMW 5, more internal than a BMW 7.

Murano CrossCabriolet is no mad-cap fad

THIS is another niche car from Nissan and it is debuting at this week’s Los Angeles Motor demonstrate.

It’s called the Murano Cross-Cabriolet, which, if you feel about it, makes sense starting with the MPV, then the city car, the crossover, the folding hard-top and even the four door coupe – now you have the crossover convertible.

This is based on the four-wheel drive Murano. Nissan is claiming it will offer room for four adults, space for golf bags or luggage and a best leather interior.

And don’t think this is a madcap notion: Nissan insists the car will go on sale next year.

Toyota has one small car and many big plans

Toyota lastly enters the compact car race in India. At stake is much more than the Indian marketplace.

Hot, grimy, full of noxious fumes and infrequently splattered with dog-piss, the road Yoshinori Noritake was staring at in Bangalore seemed forbidding. The chief engineer at present for Toyota’s passenger vehicles division, he tugged uncomfortably at his custom made suit. The Peace Boulevard in Hiroshima seemed a distant dream from one more time. But with the precision characteristic of Toyota, the company he works for, he positioned himself at that great icon of Indian democracy — the traffic signal.

Through the chaos, he could see hideous trucks hold court with quaint auto-rickshaws; government buses enforce the iron hand of the state; faux SUVs air-kiss the real McCoys; taxis in the center of a mutiny and small cars organizing a monocracy; handcarts, pushcarts and cyclists seemed desperate to secede, but nobody gave a damn really.

The new electric sports model from Audi that will sound as futuristic as Will Smith's car in I, Robot

Audi is developing an artificial engine noise for a revolutionary latest electric sports car that will sound just similar to the futuristic vehicle Will Smith drove in blockbuster sci-fi movie I, Robot.

The aspire is to warn pedestrians of the approach of the otherwise-silent vehicle.
Audi’s ‘brum, brum durch technic’ synthetic car-sound strategy comes as campaigners at Guide Dogs for the Blind this week called for all electric cars to be fitted with comparable warning noises to reduce the risk of accidents.

Guide Dogs for the Blind’s access manager, Carol Thomas, said: ‘We recognize the environmental benefits of electric and hybrid vehicles.

However, they are nearly silent and blind and partially sighted people rely on vehicle sound to assist with their mobility and orientation.

BMW World Singapore major showcase exhibition in festivity of 25th anniversary.

The BMW Group Asia opened BMW World Singapore, its main showcase innovation, design and legacy in Asia. The demonstration is open to the public from November 9 to 14 at Hall B of Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands in celebration of its 25th anniversary.

Covering almost 50,000 square feet of display space, BMW World takes inspiration from the iconic BMW Welt in Munich. The five day extended showcase offers a look at BMW’s eminent history as a German engineering icon and comprises the Asian opening of the all new BMW X3, also the much awaited unveiling of BMW M3GTS in Singapore. It also offers a sight into the future with BMW idea cars and a foretaste of the 2011 BMW Lifestyle Collection.

Skoda Fabia RS Limited Edition

You might not know this, but Skoda has been concerned in motorsport for nearly 110 years! Now to celebrate this, and also to mark the fresh victory at International Rally Championship (IRC), Sokda released a fresh limited edition of the Fabia RS inspired by the IRC winning Fabia S2000 rally car.

The car’s limited to 200 units, and skin texture the livery of the championship-winning Fabia S2000 which includes green, a white roof, white alloy wheels and stickers in S2000 colours. The technical specs are not dissimilar than the regular Fabia RS, which means it comes with 1.4 liter four-cylinder engine with double charging developing 132 kW.

Leading the (electric) charge in Houston

Houston, Tex., is generally better known as a capital of Big Oil. But things may be changing. Wendy Siegle reports on the city's efforts to turn into a leader in the electric car race.

In the case of bailing out General Motors, the government did everything right

Not even a week has passed since Election Day, when it seemed American voters obsessed on throwing the bums out because of the belief that the government does the whole thing wrong. Yet I want to tell you that, in the case of General Motors, I think the government has done most everything correct.

As someone who's been involved in the auto industry as an analyst and saver, I looked at GM as the business equivalent of a departed man walking.
It had lousy cars, too much capacity, high union salaries and valuable health care plans. Just a few years ago, it price GM about $2,000 more to build a car than Toyota or Honda.

GM also had thousands of wasteful dealers. The average Toyota dealer sold six times as several cars as the average GM dealer. This made Toyota dealers far more gainful. They could use up money to upgrade their facilities, while GM dealers looked increasingly shopworn.

New car sales fell 22 percent in October

Sales of new cars fell 22 percent in October compared with a year ago when an inducement scheme for trading in older models was helping demand, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.

The SMMT said on Thursday sales over 2010 as a whole were on course to rise by 1.5 percent on very last year. It saw improved confidence and demand during 2011 on the back of slow but steady economic enlargement.

There was a important fall in October's new car registrations, reflecting the impact of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme at this time last year and some worsening in consumer confidence, chief executive Paul Everitt said.

Sneak peek at McLaren's most lust-worthy car

McLaren announced production plans for its MP4-12C supercar former this year, and most recently brought the car to California so we could get a look.

Along with the car, which a McLaren representative said was 98-percent production ready; McLaren also put an open chassis on display to demonstrate off the MP4-12C's construction. The cockpit is housed in a thick carbon fiber tub, with aluminum deferral pieces bolted on front and rear. As these pieces make up the structural elements of the car, the body panels work for aerodynamics, not inflexibility.

GM improves reliability ratings among buyers in US; Honda, Toyota continue domination

Detroit-based automaker General Motors has improved its consistency ratings among buyers considerably, though Honda and Toyota continued to dominate in the newest reliability ratings of new cars, according to Consumer Reports' 2010 Annual Auto Survey.

While some GM nameplates had been among the least dependable brands in past years, they now rank above some main European competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, the survey said.

The key factors aiding GM's dependability improvement are its recent introductions, such as the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, Buick LaCrosse V6 (FWD), and Cadillac SRX.

Citroen C5: news and pics of 2011 facelift

Its facelift time for the Citroen C5. The Gallic family car gets a cosmetic fillip, latest safety toys and a range of engine revisions to keep it bright in the face of new competition from the new VW Passat and pepped-up Ford Mondeo.

The 153bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol nets inferior CO2 emissions, down 14g/km to 153, and economy is also improved, up to 42.2mpg from 39.8. This downsized turbo is currently the only petrol engine available in the Citroen C5 – and the Tourer estate range is diesel only.

The 3.0-litre diesel V6 with 237bhp is also revised, with carbon emissions down to 189g/km and mpg augmented to 39.2. Impressively, both economy figures are the equal for the saloon and estate.

Mercedes-Benz A Class Review

The Mercedes-Benz A Class is a city car and hatchback rolled into one. The newest Mercedes-Benz A Class is safer, greener and more attractive. It is obtainable in a three door and a five door version. It is deceptively spacious with a luxurious interior packed with safety features, innovations and equipments levels predictable from Mercedes-Benz.

The interior has been upgraded with larger stowage compartments and fresh fabrics. The rear seats can tumble forwards to extend luggage space and there are orderly storage areas around the cabin.

There are two petrol options, the A160 with a 1.5 litre 95bhp unit and the A180 with its 1.7 litre producing 116bhp. Performance is as modest as those power ratings propose with the A160 taking 12.6 seconds to reach 62mph from a standing start and the A180 able of 10.9 seconds from 0 to 62mph. The diesel options comprise the Mercedes-Benz A160 CDI 2.0 litre and the A180 CDI which has 109bhp.

1.5 million Toyota Cars Recalled Worldwide Due to Brakes

TOKYO – Japanese automaker Toyota said Thursday the recall of a million and a half cars universal because of a brake fluid leak, a few months after calling the garage ten million vehicles for a assortment of concerns techniques.

The manufacturer will remember 750,000 vehicles in the U.S., 582,000 in Japan, 60,000 Chinese, 50,000 in other Asian countries, 50,000 in Europe and 30,000 in Australia.

Aston Martin makes fast entry to the Turkish market

Aston Martin, the luxury car brand that has grown to be synonymous with James Bond, has entered the Turkish market with Borusan Otomotiv. The car, which will be sold starting from 250,000 euros, has previously received six orders.

Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on Wednesday, Agah Uğur, the chief executive of Borusan, said Aston Martin is distinctive in its class. The car will be showcased at the Istanbul Auto Show for the first time on Oct. 29.

Bill Donnelly, the worldwide sales and marketing director of Aston Martin, said the company has produced 50,000 cars since today. Aston Martin cars cannot be victims of vandalism, he claimed. Because the element of frills is minimized, nonentity will scratch this car. Donnelly also said the upcoming James Bond movie would make a positive effect on the Turkish market.

What Was The Most Stolen Car In 2009?

The 1994 Honda Accord ranks at the pinnacle of a list of the most stolen vehicles for 2009.

The vehicle tops the list because it is one of the most general cars on the road and in parking lots, and thieves find it has easy-to-remove parts that are also simple to sell.

The similar was true for other vehicles on the list, including the 1995 Honda Civic,ranked second; and the 1989 Toyota Camry, third.

Others on the list were the 1997 Ford F-150 good pickup, fourth; 2004 Dodge Ram pickup, fifth; 2002 Dodge Caravan, sixth; 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, seventh; 1994 Acura Integra, eight; 1999 Ford Taurus, ninth; and 2002 Ford Explorer, tenth position.

Buyers spurning Lincoln as serious luxury car

Just 12 years ago, according to Crain's, Lincoln was the peak selling luxury brand in the U.S. with sales of 187,121. Last year, it sold just 82,847 cars, putting it in seventh place, way at the back the luxury leader, Lexus, who sold 215, 975.

To add insult to wound, consumer awareness of the domestic auto business is at an all-time high thanks to the bankruptcies at Chrysler and GM and the bailout program. Prior to 2007, I would contend that possibly half of U.S. consumers did not know that Cadillac and Saab were owned by GM or that Ford owned Lincoln, much less Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin. But today, those numbers have to be much higher, which isn't probable to help the domestic carmakers, as even more consumers associate Cadillac’s with Chevys and Lincolns with Fords.

Audi TT RS racing car revealed

A new race-ready version of the Audi TT RS has been exposed that could signal the coupe’s return to Germany’s DTM touring car championship.

Developed in conjunction with Audi’s Technical and Quattro divisions, the rivalry car has been put together by Raeder Motorsport.

With its wide arches, lowered stance and big rear wing, the Raeder RS has caused speculation that Audi are considering swapping A4 for TT in the DTM and that it could also be the potential foundation for a customer motorsport package. Although Audi has yet to make any official comment on such speculation, the TT RS surely has the look of a DTM racer about it.

Though some components are shared with the larger R8 Le Mans racer, the recognizable 335bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged engine of its road going equivalent remains (meet evo's Audi TT RS long termer), while latest race-developed suspension and an aero package complete the transformation.

Mercedes-Benz India launches its seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle R Class

Luxury car maker Merceds Benz-India has launched seven seater multi-purpose vehicles R class priced at Rs 58.79 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The car comes with a 3,498cc V6 petrol engine. This is the company's eighteenth launch in India this year which includes models, variants and fresh editions.

After attaining enormous international success, Mercedes-Benz has introduced the all New R-Class in the Indian auto market. India is one of the first markets to witness the introduction of the R-Class and will be obtainable in the Long Wheel Base R350 4MATIC which has a 3498cc V6 petrol engine. The car will also come with bi-xenon headlamps, steel spring suspension in front and AIRmatic (Adaptive Intelligent Ride control) system featuring self-levelling air postponement in the rear to aid comfort and recover driving dynamics.

Paris Motor Show 2010

A genuine transition to cleaner driving is finally about to take flight, a fresh era in mobility that was confirmed by the displays at the 2010 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. There was a notable buzz – distinctly lacking in current motor shows - surrounding the final major international motor show of 2010.

It is a pivotal time in the car business. Now that we are well into the second century of the car, manufacturers are now finalizing their response to demands for clean mobility. Ecological car design had initial teething problems - premature proposals were awkward, impractical and often had very little familial similarity to the parent brand. The effort felt forced, a box-ticking exercise to please the legislators and ease public anxiety.

Car sales slow in US, Europe

Car sales in the United States, Europe and Japan stayed stuck in low down gear in September, while emerging markets like India raced ahead.

he loss of government incentives to buy fresh cars in Europe and Japan led to steep sales drops from a year ago, but US sales bounced back from strangely low levels in September 2009, the month after the US cash for clunkers program expired.

The international auto industry's recovery from the financial crisis has been patchy and largely reliant on growth in countries such as China and India, as well as government subsidies and incentives to revitalize demand.

India's top automakers reported strong September sales, fueled by the country's robust economic enlargement, but car sales in Japan fell for the first time in 14 months in September after government incentives dried up.

siness minister hosts 70 car makers at Paris

GOVERNMENT business minister Mark Prisk is tonight hosting 70 car makers at the British Embassy in Paris city.

He has invited them, on the eve of the Paris Motor demonstrate, to ‘take a fresh look at what the UK can offer possible investors.

He will be joined by Automotive Council co-chairman Richard Parry-Jones, who explain the pair were in Paris to meet the key decision makers in the international automotive industry.

The UK is a uniquely beautiful country in which to invest, especially in innovative low carbon transport R&D.

We have a very competitive, strong and diverse vehicle industry and companies from approximately the world are achieving their goals by taking full advantage of the UK’s world class universities, inventive companies and strong skill base.

2010 Paris Preview: Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Aston Martin will entrance a drop-top version of the V8 Vantage N420.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage draws stimulation from the company’s experiences at the Nurburgring 24-hour race, Aston Martin said. In the 2006 running of the annual Nurburgring endurance classic amid a field of mostly motorsport homologated cars, Aston Martin entered a near-standard, road-registered V8 Vantage. Driven by a group of employees, including Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez.

The model features wider sills with a carbon fibre splitter, side skirt and diffuser, while bold 10-spoke diamond curved alloy wheels complete with gloss black finish, black mesh vents and ‘Graphitic’ tailpipe finishers. It weighs 59 lbs less than the normal car and is available in Aston Martin ‘Race Collection’ paint schemes (optional).

Power comes from the similar 4.7L V8 in the V8 Vantage making 420-hp. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual or optional Sportshift automated manual transmission. Top speed comes in at 180 mph.

Pricing and additional details will be announced closer to launch.

Hyundai recalls about 140,000 2011 Sonata sedans

Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling close to 140,000 of its 2011 Sonata sedans because of concerns that an unacceptably assembled steering column could cause drivers to lose control, the company said Sunday.

The carmaker said it knew of fewer than 10 instances of drivers reporting issues with steering on the new Sonata, manufactured in Montgomery, Ala. No injuries or accidents connected to the problem had been reported at the time of the recall, the company said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigate the 2011 Sonata since late August, following consumers reported that they had lost the ability to steer the cars.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainer said the loss of steering control was a worst-case scenario for the defect, which has to do with a bolt that connects the steering wheel to the steering column. In common, owners reported the issue after feeling looseness when they were steering or heard a sound when turning.

Hyundai recalls about 140,000 2011 Sonata sedans

Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling close to 140,000 of its 2011 Sonata sedans because of concerns that an unacceptably assembled steering column could cause drivers to lose control, the company said Sunday.

The carmaker said it knew of fewer than 10 instances of drivers reporting issues with steering on the new Sonata, manufactured in Montgomery, Ala. No injuries or accidents connected to the problem had been reported at the time of the recall, the company said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigate the 2011 Sonata since late August, following consumers reported that they had lost the ability to steer the cars.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainer said the loss of steering control was a worst-case scenario for the defect, which has to do with a bolt that connects the steering wheel to the steering column. In common, owners reported the issue after feeling looseness when they were steering or heard a sound when turning.

Nissan stops taking Leaf reservations, has 20,000 on the books

Nissan has accepted 20,000 uncertainties for the Leaf electric car and said it has stopped taking orders until next year.

Nissan began taking reservations for the Leaf in May month.

The Leaf, which is about the range of a Nissan Versa, is powered by an 80-kilowatt electric motor that produces 107 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Nissan says the car's pinnacle speed is 90 mph.

The first Leaf deliveries in the United States are set to start in December. The first Leafs will be built in Japan. Nissan is expanding its meeting plant in Smyrna, Tenn., to assemble the Leaf there.

Toyota Debuting An All-Electric Compact Car...In China

Want a Toyota-branded compact EV? You'll have to go away to China. Green Car Advisor gossips that Toyota plans to mass-produce an EV in China by 2012.

There's just one catch: Toyota doesn't plan to sell the EV under the name. Even though the car will base on its Vios subcompact, the vehicle will be marketed under a dissimilar brand name as part of the company's joint venture with China FAW Group Corp. No word yet on precise pricing, but Toyota says it will be cheaper than foreign competitors.

U.S. consumers won't have to remain too long to buy Toyota-branded EVs. The company is releasing an electric RAV4 in 2012, and Toyota is supposed to be working on an all-electric supercar that could rival the E-Cell and e-tron. If sales of the Chinese EV are up to par, chances are that Toyota will import a parallel design to other countries as well.

Coda electric sedan to be priced at $44,900

Coda Automotive, the California based electric car corporation, is set to start delivering the first gesticulate of its electric compact sedans this December for a price-tag of $44,900, before state and federal incentives. Federal incentives will bring the starting cost down to $37,400, and with California state incentives considered, the final cost could be as low as $32,400.

Originally, the car will be marketed by way of 600-square-foot retail stores located in San Francisco and Los Angeles shopping malls, with a flagship store in Santa Monica slate to open in the spring of 2011. Coda expects a total of 17 retail locations up and operating by the end of 2011, when CEO Kevin Czinger expect 14,000 vehicles to have been sold. All of the locations will be factory-owned, which is a advantage to consumers, as it translates to no delivery or destination charges applied.