Volkswagen Up launched

Volkswagen Up has been officially unveiled. The production model of the five-door hatchback has been revealed just ahead of its European launch in March. The five-door Up! is the same as the three-door variant. It has the same size, features and the range of engine options. With the addition of extra doors, the five-door variant makes away with the rear rising window line for a more conventional glass house. The new five-door Up! also comes with an increased leg room space of 79.5cm and head room space of 94.7cm.The luggage space starts at 252 litres that can be extended to 951 litres.

For the European market, the Volkswagen Up! five-door specifications include a 1-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine which chucks out a power of 60PS and 75PS of max power. The Volkswagen Up! price will cost around 10,325 euros in the European market which roughly translates into Rs 7.25 lakh approximately. The new Up! will come in five models in Europe - Take Up!, Move Up!, High Up!, Black Up! and White Up!

The five-door version of the Volkswagen Up will also follow suit in India before 2013. One of the main tasks ahead of Volkswagen India would be to bring down the making costs of the car, especially to fight off competition from its own Volkswagen Polo. The company is planning to go for heavy localisation of the Volkswagen Up! in India. The five-door version is also expected to give rise to an India-spec Skoda Citigo.

Indian-market Up will get the fuel fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines ranging from 1 to 1.2 litre. The Up offers approximately 251 litres of luggage space, extending to 951 litres with the rear seats folded. For the Indian market however it will be a four-door version and will be positioned below the Volkswagen Polo. It is expected to compete with Hyundai i10 and Nissan Micra in Indian market.

BMW M6 Gran Coupe by 2013

20At the end of 2011 after unveiling the 6-Series Gran Coupe , BMW has started testing the most powerful version in the series: the M6 Gran Coupe. People who are interested to buy will have to wait until the end of 2012 before actually laying their eyes on it, but we can assure you that it will be worth the wait.


As with any other M6 model in BMW’s line-up, the Gran Coupe will be distinguished by a more aggressive and sportier look compared to the standard model. The list of changes will include more aggressive front and rear fascias with the usual M-type elements, larger wheels, and, of course, a quad-exhaust system.

As far as power goes, the M6 Gran Coupe will be powered by the same turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 engine found in the M6 Coupe with about 600 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque on tap. What’s better is that BMW will be offering the M6 Gran Coupe in both coupe and convertible versions.

Largest flagship store in China to open by Aston Martin

Recently, there was an announcement made by the British premium marquee Aston Martin for the opening of its largest flagship store, in the Pudong district of Shanghai. It was reported that the showroom has room for up to 18 new Aston Martins, as well as offering complete service with a café, lounge, Aston Martin merchandise display, sales area, fully equipped service centre, Jaeger-LeCoultre time-pieces and Bang & Olufsen Audi o/visual displays.

This is the seventh dealership to open in China for Aston Martin. Dr Matthew Bennett, Asia Pacific regional director said, "We are excited with Aston Martin's ongoing development and performance in China. This wonderful new dealership sets the benchmark for luxury car showrooms across Asia and the experience each and every visitor should expect. With our existing China network of experienced Aston Martin dealerships, further future growth earmarked across the coming year and a number of exciting product developments to be announced during 2012, our China business is expected to continue growing strongly."

World’s first Audi R8 V10 Limo is the fastest too

From the creators of the Ferrari 360 stretch limo comes yet another controversial supercar conversion, this time based on the Audi R8 V10.
Carbonyte UK will work in conjunction with Limo Broker to create the world's first super-stretched R8 and which it says is destined to become the signature model for the Limo Broker brand that also owns the Ferrari 360 Modena limousine .

The British company said that work on the Audi R8 V10-based model has already commenced with the launch expected to take place by the end of summer 2012.
In the meantime, Limo Broker's released the design renderings and a virtual video that outlines the concept behind the limo, while also providing an impression of how the finished vehicle will look like.

The limousine will be able to seat up to eight people and will retain the production sports car's 5.2-liter V10 engine with 528bhp.

Maruti Palette

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has displayed the Maruti Palette and Maruti MR Wagon B segment hatchback car models at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 . Both the new launching B segment Maruti cars in India having Wagon type body design which is innovative. The company will launch these new car models in India by the mid of this year.

Maruti Palette is hatchback body type B segment car which is expected to be offered in the price range of Rs.5 lakh to Rs.6 lakh at ex-showroom Delhi. First of all the company will offer this much awaited premium hatchback to the buyers only petrol engine model. Maruti Palette price indicates it major competitor of Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat , Honda Brio , Tata Indica eV2 and Toyota Etios.

The new launching B segment and wagon type body having Maruti Palette will have a 658cc, 3 cylinder petrol engine under the hood which churns out maximum power of 52 Bhp at 6500 rpm and sheer torque of 63 Nm at 4000 rpm. The engineis mated to a 5 manual transmission gearbox. Maruti Palette mileage is speculated 16 Kmpl in city and 20 Kmpl on highway. So is would be a fuel economical premium small car model in India.

Maruti Palette features are premium and the company is offering power steering and Windows, Techno meter,Two Trip meter, 2 Airbag, EBD, ABS, 3 Rear seat belts , Fog Lamps, AC without climate control, Centre locking, remote Boot and Fuel lead opener, power rear viewmirrors etc. as standard. Features wise, the expected Maruti Palette variants are three.

In near future Haval H5 SUV might come to India

Great Wall Motors , the Chinese car manufacturer, might bring in Haval H5 SUV in the country. Recently, the SUV was spotted on the roads of Chandigarh. The ICML , who also conceived the Sonalika Rhino MUV, is planning to launch Haval H5 SUV inIndia very soon. The newHaval H5 SUV is also identified as X240 in other markets and could be sold in India as five orseven seater vehicle with either automatic or manual transmission. The car has up-scaled exteriors, which make the car look chic, stylish and bold. Looking at the dimensions of the SUV, the Haval H5 SUV is 4649mm in length and has an 1810mm and 1735mm of width and height respectively. In various car markets, the SUV is available in both 4x4 and 4x2 versions.
Furthermore, Haval H5 has a wheelbase of 2700mm, which is same as Mahindra XUV 500 and a bit more than TataSafari Strome (2650mm) and slightly smaller thanTata Aria (2850mm). Internationally, the new Haval H5 comes with 2.4litre of petrol engine that would produce 134 BHP of peak power along with 20.3 kgm of maximum torque. The SUV is also offered in 2.5 litre of diesel engine thatchurns out massive power of 107 BHP and 30.5 kgm of peak torque. Looking at the soaring petrol prices in India, the diesel variant has more chances to be launched in India. Haval H5 will directly compete with Mahindra XUV 500, Force One and Tata Aria .

On February 15th Mitsubishi Pajero Sport might come

In the global auto market Mitsubishi is considered as a well known name and the firm is apparently going to launch its much awaited Pajero Sport in India around February 15th 2012. The new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is basically 2008 Challenger that takes on the ‘Pajero’ name in the Asian car bazaar.

This new car has been in news since a long time and now finally Mitsubishi has put an end to all the rumors of its launch. This SUV is masculine and bold and is expected to give a tough competition to others in the Indian automarket. The launch of Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was delayed too much because of the unfortunate floods in Thailand, but now the supplies have picked up the speed again and the SUV is ready for its official launch in February 2012.

Mitsubishi will bring in the Pajero Sport as CBU and is likely to go for the CKD kits if the response is good in the country. The CKD kits would result in Pajero Sport being manufactured at the HM’s plant located at Thiruvallur.

Coming to the technical specifications, the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will feature 2.5 litre of diesel engine that would generate 134 BHP of peak power along with 320 Nm of torque. The engine is further coupled with both manual and automatic gearbox and is said to be highly fuel efficient. The SUV has ample of space and could adjust 7 adults easily. However, talking about the price detailing,the company hasn’t revealed any, but rumor has it that the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will cost around Rs. 22 lakh. The SUV will directly lock horns with Toyota Fortuner and BMW X1.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder by 2012

Lamborghini in 2009, unveiled the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni - a 550 HP special edition limited to only 250 units. The following model was only offered in a coupe version, however at the 2011 LosAngeles Auto Show, Lamborghini has brought out a Spyder version to offer a"stunning level of open-air driving fun thatcan come only from a super sports car with a folding roof and an unbelievably agile and spontaneous handling." The new roadster model has dropped the"Valentino Balboni" name and is simply called the "Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder."
"With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder , we are expanding the Lamborghini lineup witha purist model that adds yet another dimension of driving fun. This will appeal in particular to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style andalso like to experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini."This special model with rear-wheel drive is a logical expansion of our lineup of spyder models with all-wheel drive."
Just like the coupe model, the Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder uses a 5.2-liter V10 engine that delivers a total of 542 hpand 398 lb-ft of torque. With a total weight of 3,351 lbs, the roadster will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds on its way up to a top speed of 198 mph.
The name for Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder says a lot about the car on its own; LP stands for Longitudinale/Posteriore, for the mid-engine builtlongitudinally in front of the rear axle. The 550 refers to the power output and the 2 stands for the drive to the rear wheels. At Lamborghini, the word "spyder" means the ultimate synthesis of a fascinating, powerfully expressive super sports car design, the ultimate open-air thrill and sheer pleasure for all the senses.

DC Avanti is ready to launch by 2013

India’s first ever supercar, DC Avanti was unveiled by ‘Shahenshahof Bollywood’ Mr. Amitabh Bachchan at the11th Auto Expo 2012. The supercar was revealed with a reasonable price tag andthe looks make the car a total stunner altogether. It was a joyous moment for all as the wraps weretook off from the new DC Avanti by Sr. Bachchan. But, if we go through the latest reports then this new Indian supercar will get into the commercial production in about a year. DC Avanti is expected to hit the Indian roads by the year 2013.
The dazzling supercar DCAvanti no doubt has fabulous looks. The exotic design has a marvelous low slung shape factor that has enhanced the overall look of the first Indian supercar. The front end of the car is stylish, edgy and robust. The front LED headlamps add more charm and glory tothe car. DC Avanti truly justifies its supercar tag and comes with twin doors and is two-seater. The compact form hem in the mid engine designvery elegantly. However,when looking at this new car, it shares quite alot of similarities to Audi R8.
Regarding the features of DC Avanti, under the hood, there is a Ford EcoBoost turbo petrol engine generating 240 BHP of maximum power along with 360 Nm of peak torque. This powerful and sturdy engine makes use of variable valve timing accompanied with the direct injection with turbo-charging. This engine is then coupled with six speed manual gearbox whereas the six speed automatic transmission model will come later.
The Indian supercar weighs around 1,560 kgs and will feature top class safety features, such as ABS with EBD along with airbags. The DC Avanti price is not as heavy as a supercar gets these days. The new DC Avanti carries a price tag of Rs. 30 lakh, which would surely help the firm to amplify its sales substantially.

Porsche 959

The Porsche 959 is a sports car bogus by Porsche from 1986 to 1989, aboriginal as a Group B assemblage car and after as a acknowledged assembly car advised to amuse FIAhomologation regulations acute that a minimum cardinal of 200 artery acknowledged units be built. In 1986, it captivated the appellation as the world's fastest street-legal assembly car. During its assembly run, it was hailed as the best technologically avant-garde road-going sports car anytime congenital and the advertiser of all approaching cool cars. It was one of the aboriginal high-performance cartage to use an all-wheel drive system, accouterment the base for Porsche's aboriginal all-wheel drive Carrera 4 model. In fact, it assertive Porsche admiral of the system's activity so able-bodied that they chose to accomplish all-wheel drive accepted on all versions of the 911 Turbo starting with the 993 variant. In 2004, Sports Car International called the 959 cardinal one on its account of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.

Unveils of new smaller version of Prius by Toyota

Toyota unveiled the Prius c, a new smaller and more affordable version of its popular hybrid, aimed at young, city-dwelling buyers.
The c, which stands for city, is set to go on sale in March and will be smaller, lighter and more nimble than previous versions. The subcompact hatchback also will also be priced under $19,000, more than $4,000 less than the starting price of the current version of the traditional Prius.
Jim Lentz, Toyota's top U.S. sales executive, told reporters at the North American International Auto Show press days in Detroit that the c is a gateway vehicle and a key part of its Prius strategy. It is designed to draw in young buyerswho may have previously thought that a hybrid was out of theirprice range.
Here are the details of the car:
POWER: A 1.5-liter in-line, four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 73 horsepowerand 82 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, a 44-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack is under the rear passengerseat, near the center of the vehicle. Combined, the engine and battery produce 99 horsepower.
SIZE: The c's is 19.1 inches (48.5 centimeters)shorter than the traditional Prius and 542 pounds (245 kilograms) lighter.
MILEAGE: It's expected toget 53 mpg (22.5 kpl) in the city and 46 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 50 mpg (21 kpl), making it one of the world's most fuel-efficient hybrids without a plug, Toyota said.
LOOKS: The c will be available in four trim levels. Its standard features will include automatic climate control, tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, information display and Bluetooth controls, along with remote keyless entry with illuminated entry.

Top 25 cars in the auto expo 2012

EcoSport
Modern and innovative, the Ford EcoSport was made to combine best-in-class design, technology, quality and safety aimed at attracting a new generation of consumers in different global markets. EcoSport will be made at Ford India's plant near Chennai. The vehicle comes with a new one-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with turbo charger and direct injection. The company says it will match the performance of a 1.6-litre engine ...

Ertiga

Maruti’s Ertiga MPV was arguably the most talked-about premiere at the 2012 Auto Expo. Powered by next generation K-series 1.4litre V V T engine, Ertiga will offer a mileage of 16.02 kmpl. This seven-seater will be available in diesel variant as well, powered by the 1.3 DDiS engine inherited from SX4. It will give a mileage of 20.77 kmpl. Built on an extended Swift platform               
                                

XA Alpha

XA Alpha combines ruggedness and muscle - the traditional attributes of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) with elegance, a certain finesse and compactness. In XA Alpha, the ‘Alpha’ represents trendiness and newness that the youth connect to. The ‘A’ signifies that this compact, 4 metre long concept, is designed for customers wishing to enter the utility vehicle segment and the ‘X’ denotes cross-over category.


                               

Nissan GTR 
Despite its blistering performance, the new GT-R’s advanced all-wheel drive chassis means it can be driven fast and skillfully by anyone. The extraordinary Nissan GT-R is one of the fastest vehicles in the world, capable of lapping the fearsome Nurburgring race in Germany in under 7mins 30 seconds, making it one of the fastest road cars in the world. The figures are mind boggling. In its latest MY12 guise, the 3.8-litre twin turbo V6
                            

Pixel

Tata has unveiled Pixel city car concept at the Delhi Auto expo and it was definitely the star at Tata’s pavilion. The Tata Pixel, with ‘Zero Turn’ drive and an innovative diamond-shaped door system, is a new city car concept for Europe from Tata Motors. Based on the Tata Nano, the Pixel – at just over three metres in length – is the most package efficient four-seater in the world, comfortably accommodating four adultsnext

Maruti’s Ertiga MPV was arguably the most talked-about premiere at the 2012 Auto Expo. Powered by next generation K-series 1.4litre V V T engine, Ertiga will offer a mileage of 16.02 kmpl. This seven-seater will be available in diesel variant as well, powered by the 1.3 DDiS engine inherited from SX4. It will give a mileage of 20.77 kmpl. Built on an extended Swift platform

                             

Skoda RS 2000

For the first time in India, Skoda presented a concept for an especially sporty variant of the Fabia: the Fabia RS 2000. Skoda’s designers took the successful rally car Fabia Super 2000 and turned it into a unique roadster made for dynamics, sportiness and pure driving pleasure. With its motorsport-oriented super wide layout, the Fabia RS 2000 has room for four occupants, each of who will find access to the car easy.

                              

Audi Q3

The car comes powered by a 6.0-litre 12-cylinder TDi engine that makes 368 kW (500 hp) and develops 1000 Nm of torque between 1750 and 3250 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed tiptronic transmission. As a true premium SUV, the Audi Q3 leads the way for the Four Rings to enter a new segment in India, with ever increasing customer groups demanding

                               

Renault Pulse

Since Renault and Nissan are partners, it makes sense for them to share platforms. Which brings us to the Renault Pulse, which is a V platform car based on the Micra. As one walks around the car, the penny drops - the Pulse looks like very, very similar to the Micra because it is a face-lifted Micra with Bridgestone 175/60 R15 rubber fitted to a classy set of alloy rims

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Chevrolet Sail

The Sail hatchback, which will go on sale later this year, is built for the world’s emerging markets. The Sail hatchback’s exterior and interior design exudes Chevrolet’s sporty styling. The interior of the Sail hatchback is spacious, airy and bright, with Chevrolet’s dual-cockpit design. The sporty instrument panel with chrome-plated accents contains a radio, CD player and music Aux-in interface. 

                              

VW XL 1

Pioneering construction techniques, an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain and innovative packaging all play a part in allowing the XL1 to deliver an unbelievable 111kmpl. Powering the XL1 is a compact 800 cc TDI two-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 48 PS. It’s linked to an electric motor producing 27 PS, resulting in a total of 75 PS

                              

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

The design and technology of this spectacular roadster are aimed at making the vehicle an integral part of a networked world. Comfort, safety and the infotainment experience in the vehicle can be precisely optimised by the innovative functionality, individually tailored to suit the requirements of both the driver and passenger. In addition to the dynamic charisma generated in typical BMW style

                             

Ssangyong XIV1

The XIV-1 (for "Exciting User Interface Vehicle") is a premium crossover/SUV concept meant to show that the Korean automaker can compete with the best in the global automotive market. The concept car has no B-Pillar and comes with opposite-opening rear doors and seats that can be moved or turned by the occupant for a very open-space ambiance.

                            

Land Rover DC100

Land Rover DC100 investigates the potential future direction of the iconic Defender. The Land Rover DC100 concept builds upon the essential elements of the car’s character and allows Land Rover to open the debate and inspire people to dream about the Defenders of the future. Production of a new Defender SUV is globally intended for 2015

                             

Hyundai Hexa Space concept

Hyundai has showed their new concept MPV Hexa Space for the first time. The vehicle has a seating for eight passengers and all the seats are shaped hexagonally to create optimum space utilisation. It has been designed for urban customers in the 30-40 age group, the firm said. It is too early to say when it could come in the market but it will take three to four years,

                                

Renault Duster

Duster will be part of a range of five vehicles launched between now and end-2012. Together, they will form the most youthful line-up on the Indian market. The Duster will be available in five variants, which include a base 1.6-litre petrol version at a price of approximately Rs. 7 lakh and the 1.5-litre diesel that currently powers the Fluence

                         

Peugeot RCZ

The RCZ was originally planned as a simple concept car but it received critical acclaim, capturing the imagination of the public and professionals. The car's lines and style have remained very close to the original concept so as not to disappoint public opinion, however a series of changes were made to the central dual exhaust system which was replaced by a dual exhaust to the left of the rear bumper. 

                          

Mini Cooper

While the new Maruti Suzuki Swift has many takers in India, now it would be interesting to see its original inspiration will gather how many customers though there are legion of fans waiting for the Mini Cooper’s arrival. BMW will bring in the entire range of the Mini - comprising its popular variants Cooper, Countryman, Clubdoor and the Cabrio. Prices will range from Rs 24.9 lakh to 31.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

                  

Jaguar C-X16

The Jaguar C-X16 concept epitomises Jaguar’s technological advancements and futuristic designs. The model has taken Jaguar’s traditional rear-wheel drive formula and front-engined engineering and has upgraded them for the 21st century. It has been developed on the theme of One plus One that gives a new direction for the alternatives of performance hybrid models for the future.

                      

BMW M5

The new BMW M5 is the fifth generation model, which will lure buyers with its sportiness, luxury and practicality. This sedan from BMW will showcase tremendous power as it is loaded with 4.4 litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology. Engine of this luxury sedan is capable of generating 560 hp due to which it can attain top speed of 250 kmph. In 4.4 seconds, the car can attain speed of 100 kmph from stand still

                     

Mercedes Concept A-class

Designed with influence from the wind, waves, and aviation engineering, the Concept A-Class features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine based on the new M270 series and a dual clutch transmission driving the front wheels. The engine developes 208 bhp (155 kW / 210 PS). Other highlights include full-LED high-performance headlamps, Mercedes' BlueEFFICIENCY package and radar-based collision warning system

                    

Evalia

Evalia’s combination of space, style and practicality makes it an ideal vehicle for larger families. Evalia is 4.4m long, 1.88m tall and 1.69m wide, offering good interior space. Its design adopts many styling cues from Nissan passenger cars but adds a few unique features of its own.however, Nissan has been tight lipped about the specifications of the car

                   

Safari Storme

Conceptualized as ‘Merlin’, the Storme is not an all-new Safari but a comprehensively revised version of the SUV. The Storme features a 2.2-liter 16-valve common rail (DiCOR) engine (140 PS power; 320 Nm torque) with a variable geometry turbo, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It comes with a new front grille, bulge in the bonnet and different side panelling, some changes on the handling front with new a 4-channel ABS

                        

GM EN-V 

EN-V is a two-seat electric vehicle that was designed to alleviate concerns surrounding traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability for tomorrow’s cities. EN-V is propelled by electric motors in each of its two driving-mode wheels. Dynamic stabilization technology empowers EN-V, giving it the unique ability to carry two passengers and light cargo in a footprint that’s about a third of a traditional vehicle

                          

Bajaj RE-60

The unveiling of the four-seater RE60 ended months of rumours that have buzzed around India's auto industry on the nature of the vehicle, which promises low carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. The vehicle resembles an over-sized hatchback with an elevated roof. With an expected top speed of not more than 60-70kph, the RE60 is meant primarily for cities

                              

Chevrolet MPV

The second model to be added to the Chevrolet line-up by mid-2012 is an MPV, which the company hasn’t christened yet. The MPV will initially be sold with a 94.6bhp, 1.4-litre petrol engine and a diesel engine will be available later

The new Ford Mondeo

Ford used to offer the Mondeo in India long ago, and if Ford ever decided to bring the car back it will be this, the Fusion. It is even sold as the Mondeo in Europe and other parts of the world this is the latest version, which was shown at the Detroit motor show and will go on sale in America this year.

The new nose is pretty striking. Some might say Aston-ish, but really no-one’s going to say ‘Oh gosh! Was that minicab you came in an Aston Martin Rapide?’ Anyway it’s very elegant, and we like.

And yes, it’s an all-new car, with techy innovations that include a new multi-link rear suspension. There’s also electric steering, which (if you switch the options on) can nudge you in the right direction if you drift out of lane, or will steer into a parking space for those who can’t be bothered or just plain can’t. But you can, oh skilled TG.commer, can’t you?

The engines will be much as per the recently revised ones on the current Mondeo: 1.6 and 2.0 Ecoboost Turbo, and diesels. There are also hybrid and plug-in hybrid options in the US, but don’t expect to see many of them over here.

What you’re looking at here the the American version, called the Fusion, which comes as a four-door.

On the inside, the dials are replaced by another colour screen. There’s also a big menu-driven info-music-nav-comms setup. You can control that by voice – but in our experience it works only if you speak fluent robot. Like all other voice-activation systems, there’s no evidence it understands humans. Ah well, you’ll be able to stretch out and relax as you shout into the void: to make the cabin feel roomier, the seats have thinner skeletons

427 Convertible Collector Edition 2013 Chevrolet Corvette

With the next generation Corvette around the corner, Chevrolet decided it would be appropriate to send the C6 model out with a bang, and as it turns out, they timed it perfectly. The Corvette is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary with a special 60th Anniversary Package that will be available on all 2013 Corvette models, as well as a Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition. The Collector is extra special because it is the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette’s history. Both models will make their world debut in late January 2012 at the Barrett Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona and will arrive at U.S. Chevrolet dealers in early summer 2012.

The new 427 Convertible Collector Edition is powered by an LS7 engine that delivers a total of 505 HP and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 190 mph.

"The 2013 model year will be historic for Corvette, marking its 60th Anniversary and the final year for the current ‘C6’ generation," said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet. "We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history – the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine."

Dodge Viper in 2013

Current generation Dodge Viper has the last model that already rolled off the assembly line, but instead of crying about it, we can take comfort in knowing that the next generation has already been confirmed for production. News of this came when the future sports car was shown at a private Chrysler dealer conference and then confirmed by Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles.

Insiders at the event said that the next Viper will come with a more aggressive design, featuring all-new bodywork painted 25 times in candy-apple red. They also said the car’s look had moved away from its race-car roots and evolved into a more traditional sports car.

More information was provided for the new Viper at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show when Ralph Gilles, head of Chrysler’s design, took the mic. When discussing the new Viper, he said that Dodge wants to "make it a renaissance of that vehicle," in order to attract buyers younger than 45. He also denied that the new sports car will use engines from Fiat’s Ferraribrand. That’s nice, but he failed to mention where the Viper’s power will come from.

Guess we’ll just have to be patient. We should be seeing the next Dodge Viper in 2012, pegged as a 2013 model, just in time for the next "Super Car Olympics." We can’t wait!

For Jeep factory in Russia by June Chrysler to finish plans

DETROIT -- Chrysler Group LLC aims to complete plans in the first half of this year to build Jeep sport-utility vehicles in Russia, the head of the brand said.

"Finalizing the solution on how to build Jeep" in Russia "is exactly where we are now," Mike Manley, Jeep's brand chief, said Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

He said Chrysler is looking at production partnerships in Russia. OAO Sollers, Russia's second-biggest automaker, terminated its agreement with Chrysler's majority owner Fiat SpA last year.

The effort is part of Chrysler's drive to boost Jeep sales outside North America.

The brand's deliveries in other parts of the world climbed 41 percent to about 105,000 in 2011, said Todd Goyer, a spokesman for Chrysler.

Jeep may build a vehicle in China as soon as 2013 or 2014, Manley said, and will start production of an SUV at Fiat's Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, next year.

The news service RIA Novosti reported last month that Fiat may build a car manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, under an agreement to be signed in the first quarter, citing Alexei Chichkanov, who heads the city's investment committee.

Fiat, which owns 58.5 percent of Chrysler, is in the process of building its first China factory in a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. and will start selling its first sedan in the country in the second half of this year.