Author: EuroCarBlog.com

The Mercedes SLS AMG has been voted Germany’s car of the year by AutoBild readers, and so would we have done if we were Germans and AutoBild readers. The SLS AMG tops the rankings above the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, finishing second. It’s only the fifth edition of the competition but given some of the contenders over the last few years, we can safely say that the German auto brands are some of the best in the market.

103 cars, both series models and prototypes, were in the running and this year saw Mercedes win a second time: in 2009 the Mercedes E-Class sedan was the winner. In front of Audi, BMW and Volkswagen, this could be a sign that Mercedes, at least in its own market, is enjoying the spotlight.

Here’s the fourth episode of the Audi A1 Next Big Thing movie featuring Justin Timberlake and this is more of what we like to see – some serious A1 driving action. The guy in the rabbit jacket is gone, thank heavens and we can enjoy a car park drive off in our favourite A1 colour – red. Enjoy.

This leaked photo is the first official pic of the new Volkswagen Passat, according to AutoBild magazine who hasn’t revealed the source of the photo, though. If what we’re looking at is, in fact a photo and not a rendering or drawing, we can see the new Volkswagen front-end on display in what is clearly a Phaeton-inspired design.

Although rumours are that the new Passat could be presented at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, it has been earmarked as a 2012 model. We reported that a new 2.0 BiTDI engine would debut, and we could also see the more powerful V6, 3.6-litre engine with 300 hp appear. In the future, a possible BlueMotion hybrid model could appear.

Generally speaking, the new Volkswagen Passat won’t be lacking in technology. A seven-speed DSG gearbox and AWD options should be part of the package, along with Dynamic Light Assist, Lane Departure Warning, self-parking system and even a wiperless windscreen.

Source | Autobild via WCF

Here’s Dunlop’s first two awesome stunt videos to advertise their SP StreetResponse tires dedicated to city cars.

Called the Dunlop Challenges, the first video is the Loop the Loop” world record done in collaboration with British TV show Fifth Gear, where stuntman Steve Truglia using a specially prepared Toyota Aygo, takes the Japanese car up and around a 12,19 mt high loop.

The second ad uses three Citroen C1’s and the stunt drivers perform extreme all reverse driving manoeuvres: J-turns, jumps, slaloms to demonstrate the manoeuvrability of Dunlops StreetResponse tires.

Hit the the jump for the second video.

On first seeing this Fiat Mio concept, I will admit that the words “what the hell is that” crossed my mind. But it turns out it’s not such a silly idea after all. The Fiat Mio FCC III will appear at the Sao Paulo motor show in October 2010, having been designed with the help of collaboration from fans via the Fiat Mio site. The city car concept is 2.5 metres long and 1.5 metres high, with a futuristic design and high-tech cabin.

What you see in the gallery is only one version of the concept – called the ‘Precision’. By the time October rolls around, the definitive version will have been chosen from the various ideas and possibilities that appear on the website. The Mio will most likely be an electric drive car and by the time the concept stage is complete, many of the solutions will be adopted by the Fiat Topolino, expected for 2013.

Source | Autoblog.it

Here are the official pics of the new Audi TTS Coupé restyling, which shows a slightly changed Single Frame front with aluminium look. The rear bumpers have also been changed with Black Panther tint finish. The interior has also been slightly changed, with twin tone silver and black finishes.

The new Audi TTS Coupé is equipped with the 2.0-litre TFSI engine with 272 hp and 350 Nm. Combined with the S-Tronic gearbox, the car accelerates to 100 km/hr in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/hr. With dual clutch technology, the TTS consumes 7.7 litres of fuel per 100 km.

This rendering of the new Opel Astra GTC comes from the recent Calibra spy shots of a camouflaged version which will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, ready for sales to start in the spring of 2011. So far there are those commentators who love it, and those who say the Astra GTC looks too much like the Renault Megane Coupé.

The rendering has a few add-ons which would eventually only appear on the GSi and OPC sports versions. The name of this car is still under discussion and we could see anything from the Astra GTC, Astra Sport Coupé or Astra Calibra emerge. Whatever the case, the Astra GTC should be developed as the coupé version of the Insignia, with a shooting brake design.

Engine options are likely to include the 1.7 CDTI with 130 hp and the 2.0 CDTI with 160 hp, while the 1.6 Turbo engine with 210 hp should appear on the new GSi version. The top of the range sports model will be the OPC version with a 2.0 Turbo unit and 240 hp.

Source | Es.Autoblog

The new Alfa Giulietta is already making its first move towards sales success in its home market, after an open weekend in Alfa Romeo Italian dealerships. According to the company in just one weekend, 2,700 people placed an order for the new Giulietta, showing that it’s a new Alfa the Italians have been waiting for. Currently the most orders have been placed for the 1.6-litre JTDm with 105 hp, and the 2.0 JTDm with 170 hp, with white being the preferred colour.

While this kind of news is mostly an exercise in statistics, the snazzy Giulietta marketing campaign with Uma Thurman seems to be paying off, and there have been plenty of visits to the new dedicated Alfa Giulietta website, “Everyday Thrills” (perhaps a few too many slogans, though?). Only 200 Alfa Giulietta models are actually available to be test driven in Italy, making the 2,700 orders a good looking figure in comparison.

Source | Autoblog.it

When you look at these pics don’t you just feel like crying? This poor and injured Ferrari 458 Italia was spotted in Wroclaw, Poland after it’s young driver crashed into a Volkswagen Bora.

According to an eyewitness, the Ferrari was driving between 60-70 mph on “Armii Krajowej” street which has a posted speed limit of 30 mph. When the Ferrari approached the intersection, a small bus abruptly made a left turn in front of it. In an effort to avoid crashing into the bus, the driver of the Ferrari veered slightly to his left and bang … the result is Italian mincemeat.

Source | wreckedexotics.com via topspeed.com

With word out that top Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley will replace Megan Fox on the set of Tranformers 3, we were wondering what all this had to do with cars, given the auto blogging world’s interest in the story. Apart from the fact that Transformers is sort of about cars, we forget that Rosie already knows about this kind of stuff, having been a model for the 2010 Pirelli calendar. So there you go – that’s the link. Megan Fox gets booted off Tranformers, a movie about cars, and gets replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, a top model in the world’s most famous tyre calendar.

Source | Blogdolcevita

The Citroen DS3 gets four stars in Autocar’s ‘90 second’ verdict, mostly compared to the Mini Cooper S and Fiat 500 as its main competitors. The entry level engine model is a respectable 1.4-litre 94 hp, while the top of the range is the 1.6 turbo with 154 hp. The big plus for the DS3 is that it’s got more rear passenger and boot room than either of its nominated rivals – the Fiat 500 on the boot front is particularly cosy. The DS3 is also said to be easier to drive with better steering feel and comfort than the Mini. While in some ways you could see the car as just a ‘tarted up’ version of the Citroen C3, it does have more performance and more style and personality which justify its higher cost than the C3.

Ford has released these two videos of the 2011 Shelby GT500 Mustangs. The 2011 GT500’s come with a 5.4 liter all-aluminum supercharged V8 that pours out 550 horsepower and a massive 550 ft lbs of torque with a 10 horsepower increase compared to the 2010 model.

The engine loses a 102 pounds in weight and will deliver a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.

Hit the jump to see the coupe model and better yet, listen to more of that magical sound that will send shivers up and down your spine.

Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has revealed that the next Ferrari to be designed will be in honour of Pininfarina and dedicated to Sergio and Andrea, the latter who died in a scooter accident two years ago. In 2010, Pininfarina celebrates its 80th anniversary and Montezemolo was at the inauguration of the new Pininfarina Collection.

He remembered his friend as “a clear person, indefatigable and with pure ethical principles”, paying tribute to the long standing relationship between Ferrari and Pininfarina, which will be expressed in a new model. It will be called the Ferrari S.A and will be presented by the end of 2011 or early 2012. It should be the heir to the 612 Scaglietti, which is itself a homage to another historic Italian coach-building enterprise.

Source | Autoblog.it

After news that no Volkswagen Polo R will be developed in order to favour the new Audi S1 and a Volkswagen Jetta R model, we also learn that the S1 will have front wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive in a move likely to anger purist Audi fans. While the Audi S1 will be equipped with a 1.4 TFSI engine and 180 hp, the front-wheel drive option should keep prices down; although we reported yesterday that we could be looking at starting prices of about 29,000 euros for the S1.

In the meantime, the new Audi A2 is planned to be an ‘electric only’ model when it’s launched in 2012. The company is preparing itself to compete against the new BMW Megacity model which will be available only the following year in 2013. The Audi A1 and A2 will share some components, including the steel monocoque structure which will replace the expensive spaceframe from the original A2.

We had originally thought that the BMW Megacity (still under development) would be a showdown with the A1, but it’s clear Audi is preparing the A2 as the true competitor from the drivetrain point of view. Depending on style, although the A2 is set to follow the previous model, it won’t be until the BMW Megacity emerges that we can really start to check out the competitors.

New Audi A2 renderings

Source | World Car Fans and Autocar

Porsche Cayenne tv commercial which focuses on the different definitions of the Utility part of SUV. The Cayenne has never seemed particularly Porsche to me, but the success of this vehicle for the company shouldn’t be underestimated. This ad proves just how much Porsche believes (sales considering) that the Cayenne is really part of the family and represents the Porsche brand like any other sports coupé in the lineup. The new Cayenne is an impressive development on the previous generation and should prove every bit as successful.

We’re getting down to the serious business of the Fiat-Chrysler merger with Fiat USA using a Facebook competition to choose the new Fiat 500 US logo. The current Fiat 500 logo is the split numbered one at the top of the image above, while the competition offers the other five possibilities to choose from. If you’re that dedicated, go to the Fiat USA Facebook page to cast your vote.

Source | Autoblog.com

This mystery drawing of a future Lancia coupé prototype has appeared on the official Lancia site, under the “Storia & Design” and “Centro Stile” categories. There are a series of drawings under the ‘new concept’ theme, including a Lancia Ypsilon Bertolo model and other past concepts that never made it into production. This particular drawing is simply called ‘new concept’ and could possibly go the same way as the other nice drawings that never were. But if this were ever to take physical shape, it could be an interesting new concept from Lancia. We’ll keep our eyes open for more news….

Source | Autoblog.it

The Alfa MiTo has a new paint job – white with blue check stripes, belonging to Australia’s Sydney police force. While you might think that the Alfa MiTo has been chosen as part of a new acquisition of compact vehicles to fight crime, according to the police the purchase has actually been made because the new Alfa model attracts a lot of attention and is a talking point; meaning the police use it to connect with communities and build stronger relationships.

The police department says: “When it comes to visibility, the MiTo has proven to be an exceptional car, attracting attention and interest like no other car, with its primary role as providing a talking point from which we can discuss road safety.” Just a random excuse to buy new and interesting cars, maybe? Lucky them!

It’s not the first Alfa Romeo that has been used by Australian police who have also previously employed an Alfa Romeo GT Coupé. The Alfa models are part of an interesting lineup of cars that have been used in the past to attract attention to road safety campaigns, including the Holden HSV GTO, Lotus Exige and Chrysler 300C. But word is out that Sydney police are secretly hungering for their own police Lamborghini….

Alfa Romeo MiTo police car

Source | CarAdvice

Pricing of the new Audi S1, sports version of the A1, has been leaked by Audi itself on publishing the A1 price on the Spanish market. The Audi S1 is equipped with the 1.4-litre TFSI engine with 180 hp and 250 Nm of torque, which recently appeared on the Volkswagen Polo GTI and the Skoda Fabia RS. The S1 in Spain will cost 28,360 euros which includes the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

It seems that Spain tends to have favourable car pricing, meaning the Audi S1 could cost signifcantly more on other European markets, starting from at least 29,000 euros. It will also be interesting to see what is left out of the standard pricing and what is requested in terms of options and additional accessories. While the S1 will be a veritable pocket rocket competing fully with models such as the Mini Cooper and the Fiat 500 Abarth, it’s starting to look a bit pricy.

Source | es.autoblog.com via Autoblog.it

Would you be interested in a sports car equipped with not one, but two Ducati Desmosedici RR engines? This concept isn’t from Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse’s General Manager and the engineering genius behind the Ducati D16, but from Anthony Collard, a young independent designer who came up with this idea.

Collard’s concept as he describes it is based on a two seater sports car made up from high performance motorcycle parts, with
a mixed tubular and carbon body structure, the engine is in a central front position, just behind the front wheel axis, and it is a V8 made of two L4 Desmosedici engines that develop 420hp. Ohlin suspensions and Marchesini wheels complete the concept.

Source | localmotors.com via ducatinewstoday.com