Mazda announced that the sales of the Mazda Demio, Mazda2 have begun in Japan. The new Mazda2 is the company’s supermini and the target sales for its home market is 6,000 units per month.
2012 BMW M5 Launched
A 553-horsepower, 4.4-liter Twin-Power Turbo V8 shared with the X5 M and X6 M behemoths, plus the small matter of 500 pound-feet of torque between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. Redline is now right around 7,200 rpm instead of the discontinued E60 M5's V10 that smacked us around at 8,250.
Source: http://www.autoblog.com/Lexus launches 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition
Lexus has offered its 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition with a new 19-inch wheels and a sportier body kit. The Touring Edition will be available for sale with a sticker price of $73,000 before destination charges.
Lexus is also adding a special mica paint job to the limited-production sedan which also features sport seats, matte-finish wood paneling and black leather upholstery with saddle leather accents.
Study of 2015 Toyota Prius Design
Industrial designer Eric Leong has produced an interesting take on the third-generation Toyota Prius.
By acknowledging that wind resistance is one of the key factors in improving vehicle economy, Leong’s Prius III hybrid is extremely slippery.
Maserati getting twin-turbo Pentastar V6
If you aren't happy with a Ferrari-sourced 4.7-liter V8 under the hood of your Maserati, we'd keep that sentiment to yourself, less your brand be saddled with a somewhat less inspired power plant in the near future. According to Inside Line, shadowy sources at the Italian automaker claim that in the near future, a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged Pentastar V6 (you know, from Chrysler) may replace the thirsty eight-pots.
Source: autoblog
Lotus to end production of NA-spec Elise/Exige in August
Lotus has decided to stop production of the North American-spec Elise and Exige models from August. The lightweight terror pushed the automaker back on the map in the States in 2004, but a federal exemption for a lack of "smart" airbags on the sports cars is about to run out.
The production for UK and the rest of Europe will continue with the new 1.6-liter four pot until the next Elise arrives in 2015. We can expect at least one or two more market-specific versions to roll out of Hethel before the taps are officially turned off.
2012 BMW 1 Series - Specifications and details
For the debut of the 2012 BMW 1 series, BMW chose to show the five-door hatchback model, but the range will eventually grow to include a three-door hatchback followed by the coupe, cabriolet and if the grapevine holds true, a longer and more spacious Gran Turismo version in the likes of the 3-Series GT we recently showed you in these spy shots.
Further down the line, the Bavarian automaker’s freshly launched 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with around 240-horses will most likely make it in the 128i replacing the current 130i that comes with a 3.0-liter straight six pushing out 258HP. BMW has not yet said if it will offer a straight-six engine on the new 1-Series.
Source: carscoop
Ford Pinto convoy celebrates 40th birthday
The owners of the Ford Pinto are taking to the roads in celebration of the car's 40th birthday. They are driving from Denver to the Carlisle Ford Nationals in Pennsylvania this week, a journey of approximately 1,600 miles.
Norman and Louise Bagi lead the caravan with their 1976 Pinto Runabout and 1977 Pinto coupe, respectively.