Ford of Austria Prices the 300HP Focus RS at €39,000 and Releases New Performance Figures

Despite the fact that we're still a few months away from the market launch of the all-new Ford Focus RS (click here for more info and 22 high-res photos) that made its world premiere at the London Motor Show this past July, Ford's Austrian arm has released plenty of new and important details for the sport hatchback including preliminary pricing and revised performance figures.

When Ford introduced the vehicle in London, the company said that the Focus RS with its 300HP 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 5-cylinder engine would sprint from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in under 6.0 sec and on to a top speed of 260 km/h (162mph) or more. According to the firm's latest tests, the Focus RS accelerates from standstill to 100km/h in 5.9 sec and achieves a maximum speed of 263 km/h or 164mph.

The fastest ever European Ford production car will be available in Austria from summer 2009 priced from €39,000 or $50,800 with the current exchange rates. Comparatively, the 225HP Focus ST which forms the base for the RS, starts from €29,980 in Austria.

The new Focus RS will be offered with three different exterior colors: "Performance Green", "Indianapolis Blue" and "Frost White" each with the choice of blue or green color matched interior. Alternatively, a full black leather option will be available for all three exterior colors.

ABT LaunchesTuning Package for VW Scirocco

*Updated with New Photos

ABT is one of the first tuners to get its hands on the new Volkswagen Scirocco which has just began arriving at the firm's European dealerships. The Kempten-based VW Group specialist has prepared an aggressive bodykit for the sport coupe that includes a new front bumper with a lip spoiler, side skirts with air inlets, a larger roof spooler, a rear skirt that incorporates a diagonally attached set of four tail pipes and a boot wing. The exterior package is complemented by new alloy wheels available in sizes 18 to 20’’.

To improve the coupe's handling, ABT has developed a new sport suspension that brings the Scirocco 30 mm closer to the ground. This particular package (combined with 19-inch alloys) will be available in Germany from January 2009 at a price of €5,990 or $8,300 US. Furthermore, the German tuner also offers a sport brake system.

Last but not least, ABT has developed power refinements for all the engines that are offered on the Scirocco. With the power kit, the 1.4-liter TSI’s output rises from 160 to 200HP, the 2.0 TSI’s from 200 to 240HP and the 2.0 TDI’s from 140 to 170HP.

Honda: No Flashy Press Events at Detroit Show

Even though Honda is planning to debut the all-so-important Insight Hybrid vehicle at the 2009 Detroit motorshow in January, the Japanese automaker has decided not to stage any of the traditional flashy press events because of the depressed business conditions. "Normally we have a great TV moment with special effects to reveal a new model," said Honda's U.S. spokesman Chris Martin. "That's a very expensive prospect. Given the economic times, we just didn't see that as appropriate this year."

Honda decision to cancel its press conferences and events comes after a series of automakers including Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Land Rover, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce pulled out of the 2009 Detroit show altogether.

Via: Automotive News (Sub. Req.)

Porsche Panamera Sedan: New Promotional Films

Saying that the new Porsche Panamera's design hasn't been well received is probably an understatement. Porsche of course has a totally different outlook as the Germans believe that with the Panamera they have redefined the "four-door, four-seat sports sedan theme". Whether you agree or disagree with Porsche, fact is that the Panamera is the talk of the (auto) town these days. Following the official details, the running footage and our new image gallery with 28 photos, we've now added two new promotional films to the mix that you can watch right after the jump.

PORSCHE PANAMERA DEVELOPMENT

PORSCHE PANAMERA SHORT PROMO FILM

Nissan 200SX Mobile BBQ Trailer

If you happen to have a mullet and a lifeless Nissan 200SX -or any car for that matter- laying around somewhere and you don't know if you should get rid of it or make something useful out of it, here's a 'nifty' idea; how about chopping it in half and transforming it into a mobile BBQ-trailer with an integrated tailgate grill? What an attention grabber...

Via: Core77

Mercedes-Benz GLK to Start from $33,900 in the U.S.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLK has been available for sale in Europe for some time now but in the U.S., the compact SUV will be arriving at the firm's dealerships in January 2009. Available exclusively with Merc's 268-HP 3.0-liter V6 engine, the five-passenger GLK350, with standard 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, will be priced at $35, 900, plus an $875 destination fee. Comparatively, the BMW X3 xDrive30i with its 260-HP 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine starts at $39,400 MSRP. For those that do not need an all-wheel-drive set up, Merc will also offer an entry-level GLK350 with rear-wheel-drive from April, 2009, priced at $33,900 with an additional $875 delivery fee.

Tacky Xmas Gifts: Limited Edition Nissan GT-R Toolbox

For the sake of conversation, let's say that someone -after a couple of drinks- finds the limited edition GT-R toolbox from Snap-On attractive and not in bad taste. Now, could someone please explain to us the logic behind the decision to make the toolbox available only to Nissan GT-R owners and only through certified GT-R dealerships when everyone knows that Nissan is exceptionally sensitive when it comes to fiddling around with its 473HP supercar? It doesn't make any sense at all does it...

Via: Autoblog.com

2010 Maserat GranTurismo Spyder with Folding Hardtop Scooped

Don't be fooled by the heavy camouflage; underneath the plastic black wrap hides the forthcoming GranTurismo Spyder that will be given the same-style retractable metal roof as its "sister" model, the Ferrari California. As you can see in our high-res image gallery below, our spy photographers have even managed to scoop a partially undisguised test mule revealing the GranTurismo Spyder's two-piece folding hard-top.

Even though the Spyder will be based on the GranTurismo maintaining the same engine options and mechanics it will use a shortened version of the coupe's platform meaning that it will be a strict two-seater. As for the car's looks, people go weak at the knees when they see the coupe variant and we expect nothing less from the Spyder which will be designed once again from the "Grandmaster" Pininfarina.

Like its four-seater tin top sibling, the GranTurismo Spyder will be offered in two flavors: the standard version with a 4.2-liter V8 engine producing 404HP and the sportier "S" model equipped with a 4.7-liter V8 cranking out 440HP. The latter will feature suspension and brake system upgrades along with minor aesthetic modifications like different alloy wheel designs and the refined interior trim.

According to Carscoop sources, the Maserati GranTurismo Spyder will most likely break cover at the 2009 Geneva MotorShow next March with sales following shortly after.

Mercedes-Benz Recalling 1,515 MY2007 S-Class Sedans

Even though it's not the best of things to happen, it's always useful to know when and why your vehicle is being called in by the manufacturer. The latest recall in the States concerns the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. According to the German automaker, due to a manufacturing process flaw from the supplier's side, the radial knuckle of the front strut may fail after significant mileage accumulation combined with exposure to high continuous stress by driving on rough roads. If the radial knuckle happens to fail, then the steering control of the vehicle may be affected. Merc said that the recall is expected to begin in December and that its dealers will replace any problematic front struts free of charge.

Porsche Cuts Production for December and January

As demands falls and inventories pile up, automakers from all four corners of the world are cutting down on production. The latest company to proceed to such a move is Porsche which announced that production at its main plant at Zuffenhausen, Germany, was stopped for the first time last Friday, November 21, 2008. The company said that it plans to shut down the factory for another seven additional days up to the end of January 2009. Luckily for the firm's employees, the cut down won't lead to short-time work. "Because the flextime accounts of Porsche employees are well filled due to the high production capacity in the last year, balance is possible without short-time work," the company said in a statement.

ABT Sport Package for the New VW Golf VI with up to 240HP

Every time the Volkswagen Group comes out with a new model, you can rely upon ABT Sportsline to present a full tuning package. Such is the case with the brand-new VW Golf VI that was revealed this past October in Paris. For the ABT Golf VI, the Kempten-based company has developed a sporty visual package geared to a series of upgraded mechanical components. With ABT's engine kit, the standard 122HP 1.4 TSI cranks out 160HP while the more powerful version of the same engine produces 200HP insetad of 160HP. For the diesel line-up, ABT's kit boosts the standard 2.0 TDI's output from 140 to 170HP. Even though the Golf GTI VI won't be introduced until next year, ABT has announced that the 2.0 FSI will produce 240HP thanks to a 30HP bump.

In terms of handling upgrades, ABT Sportsline equips the Golf VI with a high-perfromace braking system and a sport suspension. ABT also outfits the new German hatchback with a bodykit that comprises a front grill and apron, side sills, a roof spoiler and a rear apron in which the slanted 4-pipe exhaust is integrated. A set of 18 or 19-inch AR and BR rims round off the appearance.

ABT will showcase its tuning package for the new VW Golf VI for the first time at the Essen Motorshow on November 29.

VW Planning to Shut Down Largest Plant for More than Three-Weeks

Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen, could close it biggest plant located in Wolfsburg, Germany, for a period of more than three weeks due to sluggish car sales. A company official who declined to be identified, told Bloomberg News that the factory which builds the next generation of VW's best-selling Golf model, will close between Dec. 18 and Jan. 11 while there's also a strong possibility that the carmaker may also shutdown parts of the plant as early as Dec. 5. The Wolfsburg plant employs 44,000 people or around one quarter of its 175,000-strong German workforce.

Via: Bloomberg

New Renault Megane Achieves Best Score in Euro NCAP Crash Test

The new Renault Megane hatchback has scored the highest possible rating in Euro NCAP's latest crash tests gathering a perfect five stars and 37 points out of 37 - that's maximum points for protection of occupants in side and front impact tests. The only other vehicle to achieve a perfect score in adult occupant protection in Euro NCAP's 10-year long history is the Qashqai from sister company Nissan ,with which the Megane hatchback shares the same platform.

In the crash safety body's other tests, the French hatchback was awarded four stars for child occupant protection while we've yet to learn how many stars the Megane managed to gather for pedestrian protection.

Toyota iQ Convertible: World's Smallest Four-Seater Drop-Top

The creative folks over at Japan's Best Car magazine have come up with what appears to be a computer enhanced image that gives us an idea of what a Toyota iQ Cabriolet could look like if such a version were to be produced. While rumors across the pond make word of a more sporty roadster version of the iQ (see here), Best Car seems to believe that Toyota would most likely go for a more simple approach removing the front and rear parts of the hatchback's rooftop, leaving a center section that would not only act as a safety roll-bar, but also add to the structural integrity of the vehicle.

Since there aren't any other changes, the iQ would probably be able to squeeze in 3 adults and 1 child, making it the world's smallest production four-seater convertible.

Despite the fact that we have no official confirmation that Toyota is indeed planning to introduce a 3+1 convertible variant, we cannot see why the Japanese automaker wouldn't consider the development of a drop-top iQ especially since the minicar is scheduled to make its way into the States as a Scion -read more details here.

Pic via: Best Car

Porsche Panamera Image Galore with 28 Photos

Being the kind of people that we are, from the 28 photos (20 of them new) of the Porsche Panamera sports sedan that we've added after the jump, we decided to open the post with the one and only image that could spike plenty of testy comments from our readers... And just in case you've been living in Siberia for the past few days, click here for our previous article on the Panamera that contains all the initial information or if you're the kind of type that prefers a visual presentation, enter here for the official promotional video.