Toyota Auris Gets Extra Trim as Midlife Cycle Refresh

Launched two years ago, the second generation Toyota Auris already reached its midlife and the automaker decided to show us what goodies it will feature for the next two years to remain in the buyer’s top three list.

In case you were wondering, no, the Auris “facelift” has close to no design changes, but it will come with extra features and more trim levels both for the hatch and Touring Sports wagon.

We’re not sure how the new trim levels will be named according to their market, but we can take a look at what the UK will get and try to extrapolate from there.

Most importantly, the 2015 Auris will be offered in the new Icon Plus version, which starts at £17,645. It builds on the Icon grade while adding newly designed 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, new Tungsten Blue metallic paint and a folding function for the electrically operated rearview mirrors.

The new Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system will be offered as standard starting with the Icon grade, while the more fancy Touch 2 with Go including navigation and advanced connectivity will be found on Icon Plus and Excel versions.

In case you want more extras on your Auris, you can tick-mark the boxes for a panoramic roof and leather upholstery if you have anything else than the basic Active model, while a reconfigured list of accessories can be considered for further customizing, including the Parking Pack, Protection Pack and Chrome Pack.

And due to customer demand, the Auris Hybrid will now be offered in three trim levels - Icon, Icon Plus and Excel - available for both the hatch and the Touring Sports version.

The 2015 Auris is now available to order, with first customer deliveries being scheduled in June.

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Over 200 Nissan Leaf Models Recalled for Missing Spot Welds

GM and Toyota managed to start the year with some huge recalls involving millions of vehicles world wide, with problems ranging from unresponsive lights to software glitches and even steering racks coming apart. But that can’t even hold a candle to the boo-boo Nissan did with some of its Leaf electric vehicles.

If you got unlucky enough to get a faulty car from GM or Toyota, their issues can be dealt with pretty quick at any dealership that handles the recall procedure. However, the problem the Leaf has requires the car to be replaced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that Nissan is recalling 211 Leaf EVs in the US and 65 more in Canada, all built this year between February 28 and March 12. The problem with them is that the automaker might have forgotten to weld some structural body elements up front, which can affect the vehicle’s performance in a crash.

In case you’re an owner with some mechanical knowledge, the missing welds should have been located on each side of the engine, just above the sway bar ends. If the series of six spot welds are there, your car is OK. If not, Nissan will replace it with a new, hopefully well-welded one.

However, the recall won’t start until the middle of June, so in the meantime, try not to have an accident. So far, no accidents or injuries have been reported. You can also contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) for additional information.

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) hasn’t fully rated the 2014 Nissan Leaf so far as it still needs to go through the notorious small-overlap crash test. The Leaf however is rated “Good” in all other tests.

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Watch Dogs Prank Gives People Hacking Powers over Cars and Traffic Lights [Video]

They say that Superman is the ultimate hero because of his power, but after playing Watch Dogs, many people will want to have hacking skills instead of super strength.

An open-world action adventure game set in the city of Chicago, Watch Dogs is all about controlling and manipulating everything that's digital using the power of a cellphone. The hyper-connected world we live in could be the dream playground for somebody with the right software. Hacking into people bank accounts? Too mainstream – how about hacking into the whole city with a choice to either do right or wrong.

In order to show people just how liberating and cool hacking into everything can be, the makers of the game got together with a prankster called Hassan Al Hajry. He fooled people into thinking their phones could change the world around the with a tap of the screen and the help of a 'special' app.

Spurred by the simple tricks Hassan shows them, the victims decided to use the phone to do bad deeds, like breaking into cars and changing the traffic lights. The power to cause an actual car crash or take somebody else's prized Ford Mustang is so bad that it's good.

In Watch Dogs, you play Aiden Pearce, a wiz kid who's criminal activities resulted in his family's death. The game revolves around hacking into ctOS, a central management system for Chicago that you exploit to gain access to the whole city.

 

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Nicky Diamonds' New Customized Wraith

Nicholas Tershay, aka Nicky Diamonds, the owner of Diamond Supply Company, has recently received his customized Rolls-Royce. Considering he is an ex skateboarder that started a small business in his San Francisco apartment in the late 90s, we have to admit this guy knows what he’s doing and is living the dream.

The designer recently posted an image with his freshly customized crazy Rolls-Royce Wraith, ordered four months ago. Considering the ex skater has a passion for blue diamond cars, it’s good to know the Wraith is still dressed-in its original color, black. Amongst the cars he wanted customized in this color, we’ll only remind you about the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Chevrolet 1969 El Camino.

Anyway, about the car. It has been reported to be the fastest British car to be built by Rolls-Royce, we don’t really believe there is anybody out there not familiar with its ferine features or its forbidding price tag. We’re looking at a 2-door coupe with a 8-speed automatic transmission with its crazy 6.6-liter V12 engine.

Just imagine holding that kind of power in your hands and pushing the gas pedal. It would only take 4.6 seconds to get the beast to its first 62 mph mark. We’re pretty sure Nicky enjoys the ride.

Just so you know, Diamond started his skateboarding hardware supply line out of his San Francisco apartment in the late 90s. After some time, he relocated to Los Angeles to build his brand. It was only a couple of years until he put his company on its feet and became popular amongst skateboarders, celebrities and other designers. Now that’s what you call “The American Dream” com true.

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MINI USA Teams Up with Tony Hawk for Birdhouse Skateboards Summer Tour

Former partners MINI USA and Tony Hawk have once again joined forces to bring joy to the world and smiles on our faces. The veteran skateboarder and the BMW subsidiary just announced that they will be teaming up once again for Hawk’s Birdhouse Skateboards Summer Tour.

Birdhouse Skateboards is Tony’s company and makes some of the best boards out there, in accordance to the legend’s beliefs. To mark the renewed collaboration, Hawk jumped over a moving MINI Cooper Hardtop, destroying a ramp in the process (more details in the video below).

“Tony Hawk is an original and an icon, who, over the years has built a loyal community of individuals around him and his brand who share a common interest and an active lifestyle,” said Lee Nadler, Manager of Marketing Communications, MINI USA.

“The MINI brand and the MINI community share many of those same passions when it comes to originality, customization and style. Our partnership was a natural fit,” he added.

A fleet of custom MINI Countryman models will be shuttling some of the best skaters in the world throughout the summer, during the Tour, motoring from city to city.

Not only that but, in collaboration with MINI designers, Tony will create a custom board for this event only, that will be handed out as prizes at their various stops around the country.

The culmination of the endeavor will be at the 11th annual action sports carnival Stand Up for Skateparks, set to take place on September 21, 2014, in Beverly Hills. Over there, skaters will meet up with the best BMX riders in the world and put on a show to remember, raising money for the Tony Hawk Foundation.

“Owning and driving a MINI is like skating and being a part of the skateboarding culture and community,” said Hawk. “MINI and skating are about design and self-expression; they are about building a community around something that is otherwise very individual.”

The Tony Hawk Foundation is a charitable, non-profit organization, established in 2002 that promotes and provides technical assistance and funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the US.

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Remus Launches M235i Aftermarket Exhaust [Video]

BMW’s latest little bundle of joy is part of the 2 Series range and is wearing the M badge on the boot (and 13 other places) but it’s not a proper M car. Confused? You should be.

The Bavarians created a new ‘breed’ of cars that they are selling under the M Performance Automobile badge. Namely, all the cars that have an alphanumeric number that starts with an “M” and has more than 2 characters are part of this range. For example, the M135i, M50d and M550d Touring xDrive are all part of this division, that aims at taking down Audi’s S range.

The M235i might very well be the best of them yet, offering plenty of bang for the buck and a sexy, sleek look to go with it. Unlike the M135i with which it shares almost all underpinnings, the 2er looks 10 times better and offers less practicality, exactly what you’d want, right?

There’s also another essential difference. The engine under the bonnet has the same design, with a 3-liter 6-cylinder architecture and a turbocharger attached to it but it makes 6 HP more in this application (320 HP vs 326 HP).

Maybe that, maybe the difference in weight makes the M235i a bit faster than the M135i but you don’t really feel that difference on the road, as we found in our testdrives.

For the Coupe, German exhaust specialists from Remus just launched a new system that is bound to make your car louder and more powerful with only one modification.

Their system adds 13 HP and 19 Nm (14 lb-ft) of torque to the stats, raising the total to 339 HP and 469 Nm (346 lb-ft) of torque, plenty for a small car like this one. Furthermore, it sheds 3.7 kg (8.1 lbs) of weight of the total, not much, but it’s good to have it.

The sound is the most important thing though, when buying an aftermarket system. In that department, the custom alternative really makes a difference and stands out while also keeping it quiet enough to be comfortable on long roads. Check it out, in the video below.

 

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Toyota and Taylor Swift Team Up to Promote Road Safety

As with other automakers, Toyota is working hard to make vehicles safer in a crash, adding sensors, complex passive safety systems, auto-braking and tons of airbags. But how useful are all these systems if people can’t even cope with the simplest one of them - the seatbelt.

Latest studies in ASEAN countries show that only 25 percent of vehicle passengers use the seatbelt all the time, whatever the seat they take in the car; 56 percent use it only when occupying the front seats, while the rest either forgets to buckle up or use it from time to time.

You might say that the percentage is OK as it is, but it gets pretty scary when you know that some 300 million people risk their life each day because they simply can’t stand a textile belt over their chest when traveling in a car.

And it’s not like we’re back in the days when the seatbelt was manually adjustable and once you have snuggly fasten it over your body, your mobility was restrained. All seatbelts now are pretensioned and will allow you to move freely, locking and restraining you only under sudden deceleration.

But if people don’t listen to the automakers’ advices, maybe they’ll start get safer if a cool celebrity delivers them the message. That’s what Toyota hopes to achieve by recently teaming up with seven-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift.

Part of her RED Tour in Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore this June, Taylor will help educate her fans on the importance of wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelt-wearing messages will be broadcasted via social media platforms and they will also be screened during concerts along with other traffic safety rules.

What Taylor Swift and Toyota want people to learn is the fact that only by fastening your seatbelt, the fatality rate in traffic accidents drops by around 15 times. And just because you have an inflatable “pillow” exiting through the dashboard at the moment of impact isn’t enough to keep you safe. Actually it's a hot balloon and you can also miss it by inches if the seatbelt isn't controlling your movement towards it.

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Next Volkswagen Phaeton Will Be a Chrysler 300 Rival

The Phaeton is a car made from the same mould as the first generation Touareg. Before these two ground-braking cars arrived, the idea of a premium Volkswagen was unfathomable and the brand probably wouldn't be what it is today. Yet while the Touareg flourished and spawned offspring, the Phaeton remained a relative recluse, enjoyed only by the purest of fans. A replacement has long been speculated, but never materialized because the Germans simply couldn't build a solid case for their expensive four-door.

All that has changed, as the Phaeton seems to be on the fast track to production. A report published by Edmunds suggests the new Phaeton will take on American mid-size premium sedans like the famous Chrysler 300 and its rival from Ford, the Taurus.

Volkswagen of America General Manager of Product Marketing and Strategy, Kevin Joostema, said they are working to determine the features which will be needed to attract typical 300 customers. Based on their latest all-new car in America, the Golf, we can expect LED lighting, lane-keeping systems and possibly even hybrid technology. He also said prices would naturally overlap with some Audi models.

The Chrysler 300C starts at $37,280, which is entry-level A4+toys money. Even the brand new A3 entry-level premium car can go that high if you go for the 2-liter turbo with quattro and check all the options boxes. If Volkswagen can give us a big sedan for that sticker, there should be no shortage of customers. Going up against the 300 actually means the Phaeton has been downgraded from a flagship to a sort of BMW 3 Series company man's car. However, if this is what's needed to keep big VW sedans alive and eek out better sales in America, then it's still for the best.

Expect the new Phaeton to come out in 2018 and be available as a plug-in hybrid, possibly based on the bigger version of the MQB that's going into the next Passat.

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White 850 hp Brabus S-Class is More Evil Than it Looks [Photo Gallery]

With over 37 years of experience in transforming your everyday Mercedes-Benz luxo-barge into a land missile that not only walks the walk but also talks the talk, Brabus was known until recently to have a rather high infatuation with the color black, especially when unveiling some of their most powerful cars.

Not to say that they are no longer in love with the darker side of life, but the pearly-white color of the Brabus-tuned S 63 AMG in the adjacent images would probably make you think otherwise.

Based on the already-powerful Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG, the 850 Biturbo S-Class is currently the most powerful luxury sedan in the Brabus lineup, its twin-turbocharged V8 delivering no less than 850 hp.

Starting from the 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged AMG V8 that is internally-codenamed M157, the crazy engineers in Bottrop increased the engine's displacement to 5.9-liters, replaced the stock exhaust system with one that delivers better flow, fitted larger compressors to the twin turbochargers, installed a gold-plated intake system and, last but not least, replaced the stock ECU with a bespoke unit that can make all the above work together.

The result is simply astonishing, especially since it comes with a manufacturer warranty: 850 hp and a monstrous 1450 Nm (1069 lb ft) of torque. For reasons which are most likely related to the fact that it could probably destroy the transmission and/or the all-wheel drive system, Brabus decided to electronically-limit the torque to “only” 1150 Nm (848 lb ft) of torque, which still more than you would need to tow your house.

Technically, everything related to this car now screams unholy, or evil. Everything apart from the milky exterior color, which would look more appropriate on a wedding limo from some points of view. We like it nonetheless, as the contrast between what lurks under the hood and what's on the outside is exactly what it needs to stand out from your average Brabus sedan.

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“Expendables 3” Cast Ride on Tanks into Cannes [Video]

When you see Silvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas and Jason Statham riding tanks to the Cannes festival, then you definitely don’t think about anything else for a moment. And that is the exact way they actually did their debut arriving on the famous Croisette, on Sunday.

Of course fans went wild. Well, that’s after they panicked first, considering all the things going on in the world (take Ukraine, for example). But the veteran action stars went round the streets of the beautiful French city riding on tanks with no problem what so ever.

Amongst the usual compliments, the celebrities were making to each other, the cast also made jokes. Age was, of course, the main target. “When you’re a$$ falls off, it’s time to retire. We’re children with arthritis! We’re young forever”, said Stallone when asked when the stars know it’s time to retire.

In case you didn’t know, since the first “Expendables” came out in 2010, the cast got bigger and bigger. Right now, almost every star that ever managed to fire an MP4 gun on film is playing a role. The third edition includes younger stars such as Kellan Lutz and Ronda Rousey, as well as Wesley Snipes and Kelsey Grammer.

About the tanks, according to The Telegraph, they were shipped over from Britain for the event, as the Hollywood celebrities promoted the latest sequel of the Expendables franchise.

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Podium for BMW Team Marc VDS in Fourth Round of VLN Endurance Championship

On the way to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race, BMW Team Marc VDS managed to claim another podium, in the fourth round of the VLN Endurance Championship thanks to Uwe Alzen and Jorg Muller.

Driving their number 25 BMW Z4 GT3 car, the two drivers finished on the second place in the aforementioned race on the Green Hell, marking the third podium so far, in four events. The other team, made of Dirk Adorf, Nick Catsburg and Las Leinders, driving the number 26 Z4, came in tenth.

The other Sports Trophy Team, BMW Team Schubert, was rather unlucky and missed out on the podium, despite fighting strong headwinds during the race. The number 20 BMW Z4 GT3, driven by Claudia Hurtgen, Jens Klingmann and Dominik Baumann finished fourth while the number 19 car driven by Alexander Sims, Dirk Werner, Dirk Muller and Lucas Luhr finished 19th due to a punctured tire.

In the BMW M235i Racing Cup, Adrenalin Motorsport claimed the checkered flag in the third event of the season, marking the second win this far for drivers Daniel Zils, Norbert Fischer and Uwe Ebertz.

“We now know our BMW Z4 GT3 so well and enjoyed such a smooth preparation that we can look ahead to the highlight of the season in five weeks with a good feeling. I am heading to Japan for another race before then, but will then be counting down the days to the Nürburgring 24 Hours,” said Jorg Muller, 2nd place, Number 25 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS.

The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife will take place on June 21st/22nd and it will be celebrated by BMW enthusiasts all over the world at the M Festival where plenty of surprises should await.

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N-Dubz Member Tulisa Pulls Crook Parking in Audi R8

English singer Tulisa Contostavlos seemed to be in a bit of a hurry Tuesday afternoon while going to a beauty salon in Manchester, England. The member of the now defunct London-based hip hop group N-Dubz had poorly parked her white Audi R8 right next to the salon. Now that’s not the way to treat a sportscar, is it?

According to Dailymail, Tulisa was seen demonstrating some poor parking skills, Tuesday Afternoon in Manchester, as she left her white Audi R8 hanging off a kerb. Celebrities nowadays look like they don’t treat cars like they should. When you own this 2-seater convertible you need to show a bit more interest and respect for the German tech.

We’re talking about a German beauty that is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 unit delivering North of 400 horsepower. Think about it: while enjoying your topless supercar mood, you’ll only need 4 and-a-bit seconds to reach the 60 mph mark.

On the other hand, it seems the 25-year old singer has some other things to think at, at the moment. One of those issues would probably be the court appearance she needs to attend when she will go on trial for allegedly assisting undercover reporters obtain 13.9g of Class A cocaine for £860. It happened last year, in May. A hearing is scheduled for June 25 and the actual trial will start on 14th July.

As a matter of fact, this is not the only scandal that is chasing Tulisa’s career. Her job as a judge on the “The X Factor” during 2011 to 2012 was close to being affected by another spicy event, only that one involved her former lover, Justin Edwards. After the British celebrity was granted an injunction that legally blocked the distribution of the 'dirty' tape, she also settled a legal action against Edwards, who then apologized for releasing the tape.

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World’s Largest Dinosaur Weighed as Much as 50 Limousines

Ever thought how much of a dinosaur you use in an average year of driving your car? What about how many cars' would the biggest dinosaur weight? Friday, scientists discovered that the latest specimen, recently found in Argentina, is actually the biggest one on Earth. Considering gasoline is made out of fossil fuels, we felt the need to do some math.

A farm worker in Argentina recently discovered the remains of a dinosaur that is reportedly weighing 100 tons, which makes it, according to the scientists, the largest specimen in the world found up to now. Considering a Mercedes S-Class weighs approximately 2 tons, that would be the equivalent  of about 50 limousines. Imagine that!

Not impressed? Well, what if we told you that the biggest dinosaur on earth equals 140,000 liters of gasoline? That, of course, if you’d hypothetically transform all of it into fuel. “How did we get to this crazy math?” you’ll probably wonder. Easy. The density of gasoline ranges from 0.71-0.77 kg/l (719.7 kg/m3; 0.026 lb/in3; 6.073 lb/US gal; 7.29 lb/imp gal).

Let us move forward with our little experiment. If you consider that a V8-powered S 500 model has an average fuel consumption of 9.1 l/100km, than means the biggest dinosaur in the the world would be enough for you to drive about 1.53 million kilometers (more than 950,000 miles).

The only really important question left without an answer is, of course: how much do you enjoy driving your car in one year? If the answer is "not a lot", than consider you're car pushes forward using controlled explosions of a fuel made from a monster the size of Godzilla.

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Peugeot to Launch 2008 RX /1008 3-Door Crossover Coupe in 2016

Crossovers have long been upgraded from a simple mode of transportation to a lifestyle choice, a "look at me" from literally millions of people who buy them. Going against the grain of logic, some models have even gone for a less practical 3-door look in the search for new market share, and it looks like Peugeot wants a pice of the action.

After the 5-door 2008, the French company plans to launch a shorter, more attractive 3-door version measuring just 3.9 meters, making it not only 300mm shorter (almost a foot) than the regular 5-door, but also one of the smallest crossovers around.

It could either be called the 2008 RX or the 1008. The latter is a name which we think is best avoided. A small MPV with sliding doors called the 1007 is widely considered one of the least inspiring Peugeot models of recent times and is best forgotten.

Does it Make Sense?

At first glance, the idea of a 3-door crossover is not a good one. Renault has ditched such configurations for its new Twingo and Clio models because, if given a choice, most people would rather go for the more practical 5-door if it cost the same. However, bespoke 3-door models are a different story. If you create beautiful coupe lines and jack them up a bit so they can mount a curb, it could be very successful. Just take BMW's X6 as an example!

A- and B-segment buyers rarely have 4 people in their car at one time. However, getting a baby seat in the back can prove to be a real hustle without easy access. This means the 2008 RX should be more of a niche char, like the MINI Paceman.

In the run-up to the unveiling of the 2008 production crossover, Peugeot showed as a huge variety of concepts. The first was the HR1, which best fits the description of the 2008 RX. It was a 3-door car "that blends together a number of genres (city run-around, coupé and SUV)." After that, a longer 5-door version called the SxC came out, which then transitioned into the 2012 Peugeot 2008 Concept you see in the photo above.

Any one of these can be considered a preview for the 2008 RX. We honestly hope that Peugeot will give us a much better design than its current smallest crossover, which we honestly think falls a bit short of its main rival, the Renault Captur, in the looks department.

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gets Destroyed by BMW 1 Series at Mille Miglia [Video]

With deep regret we have to inform you that this year's edition of the legendary Mille Miglia regularity race has claimed about half of the original parts from a gorgeous Mercedes-Benz 300 SL from 1956, courtesy of a rather serious impact between the Gullwing and a BMW 1 Series.

The crash happened on a winding road in Viterbo, somewhat near Rome, and the causes are yet to be determined, despite the fact that the damage marks on both cars show that at least one of them was engaged in the other one's lane.

Both the 300 SL's and the BMW's driver were taken to the hospital with concussion and fractures, but it seems that nobody was seriously injured from the accident.

According to Sicurauto, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was being driven by brothers Alexander and Konstantin Sixt, who are both heirs and part of the Sixt German car rental company's management.

In other words, the probability of the car being rebuilt from what pretty much looks like scratch is rather high, but that doesn't mean that our hearts aren't filled with sorrow just by looking at its remains.

As some of you know, just 1400 units were ever manufactured of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing between 1954 and 1957, with some of the ones remaining having a sale value of over a million Euro ($1.37 million).

The original Mille Miglia endurance race was banned in 1957, after two fatal crashes claimed the lives of driver Alfonso de Portago, his co-pilot Edmund Nelson and nine spectators, and has since been revived as a regularity race for mostly vintage cars, while normal traffic rules are to be upheld by all participants. 

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2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo Gets Looks and 7-Speed Auto [Video] [Photo Gallery]

Nissan might be working on a less expensive turbocharged Z car, but they can keep it for themselves because the 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo is everything a fan could ever ask for. The car was revealed during this weekend's ZDayZ enthusiast gathering in North Carolina and features tech upgrades and a new front end design.

Starting with the cosmetic pack, we'll mention right off the bat that the 2015 model year has a whole new front bumper, with a new design of LED running lights and a pair of red chin spoilers that remind us of an F1 car. The side air vents now bulge out in a new trademark Nismo design we've also seen on the Juke RS.

Other exterior changes include side skirts with red pin-striping, 19-inch alloy wheels in two tones and a small rear spoiler borrowed from a GT model.

Unfortunately, fans are actually divided on the 2015 changes. Some like the new front end while others say they wanted the big factory rear wing, which is now gone. Removing that will probably increase the top speed of the car, but the tradeoff is a reduction of downforce.

New Cogs for the Z

Power continues to come from the 3.7-liter V6, but Nismo now offers this with an optional 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching, Adaptive Shift Control and a manual mode via steering wheel mounted paddles.

Peak power for the 370Z Nismo continues to come in at 350 hp and 276 lb-ft (374 Nm) of torque. It's by no means a GT-R, but 18 hp more than your standard 370Z ensures bragging rights straight from your local dealer's lot.

Racing Buckets!

Moving on to the cabin, Nismo now offers the Z with Recaro bucket seats covered in leather and red alcantara. Also fitted is a alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and a red tachometer. Optionally available on the 2015 model is the "Tech" package, which adds a Bose audio system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a 7-inch touchscreen display with GPS navigation.

No word on pricing yet, though that will likely come in July, when the 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo hits the streets.

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Steve McQueen's Ferrari 275 GTB/4 to Cross the Block in August [Photo Gallery]

It's one of the rarest and most beautiful Fezzas ever made and it was once owned by renowned Hollywood icon Steve McQueen. The "King of Cool's" 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is headed for auction this August at RM's Monterey sale along with a track-focused FXX Evoluzione and a exquisite 250 GT N.A.R.T. Spider by Fantuzzi.

Even though he was a declared fan of Porsche and Jaguar, the American actor had a crush for Italian exotica as well. The 'Bullitt', 'Great Escape' and 'Magnificent Seven' star's car collection once included a magnificent 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso sporting a delicious chestnut tree hue.

After getting acquainted to the Prancing Horse, McQueen took his passion to the next level and bought the '67 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 in factory fresh condition. Chassis #10621 was originally delivered in a distinctive shade of metallic gold called Nocciola, but the Hollywood star got bored of the color very soon after delivery.

Therefore, McQueen sent the Fezza back to the Ferrari factory and repainted it in Chianti Red. The 275 was also equipped with Borani wire wheels from his beloved 275 GTB N.A.R.T. Spider, which was totaled in a crash. Other retrofitted features include a custom-designed driver's side rear view mirror, a retractable radio antenna and custom leather upholstery for the cabin.

The front-engined V12-powered exotica had a total power output of 300 horsepower when it was new, thanks to the '/4' in its nameplate. As opposed to the normal GTB, the '/4' indicates this vehicle is equipped with a four cam engine aided by six separate Weber carburetors. The 275-series was Ferrari's first ever model to benefit from a rear trans-axle system for improved weight balance and handling performance.

After four years of ownership, Steve McQueen sold the car in 1971 to fellow actor Guy Williams, best known for his appearances in 'Zorro' and 'Lost in Space'. This specific 275 had seen a small number of other respected owners through the years, while its current owner purchased it in 2010 and commissioned Ferrari Classiche to operate a full restoration job on the car. Since March 2013, McQueen's 275 was displayed at the Ferrari Museum as part of the 'From Cinecitta to Hollwyood, all Ferraris in the Cinema' exhibition.

“When it comes to cars with celebrity provenance, it doesn’t get any better than a Ferrari owned by Steve McQueen,” says Max Girardo, managing director of RM Auctions Europe. “The vehicle we have on offer ticks all the boxes when it comes to collectability: it is one of the ultimate Ferraris ever built; it was recently restored by Ferrari themselves; and it was delivered new to none other than the 'King of Cool.'

We’re both honored and excited to have been entrusted with the sale of this special car by its owner. There’s no doubt that it will be welcomed by the world’s most selective concours events and prove to be the centerpiece of any collection. We anticipate great interest in its offering, as we continue our strong track record for Steve McQueen cars in Monterey.”

RM experts estimate that chassis #10621 will change hands for at least $9 million (€6.5 million at current exchange rates). However, we'll have to wait for the two-day sale to start on August 15 in order to find out how much McQueen ownership is really worth for fans of the actor and Prancing Horse alike.

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Rolls-Royce Spied Testing Wraith Drophead Coupe

Should you fancy enriching your Rolls-Royce experience with a little bit of what the elements have to offer, you are in luck - the British automotive producer is currently testing the open-top version of the Wraith. To use Rolls-Royce language, this will be the Wraith Drophead Coupe.

Before we start getting into the details of the heavily camouflaged prototype we see here, we’d like to bring you a little reminder. Much like the senior proposal in RR’s line-up, the Phantom, the Ghost also gets its two-door derivatives. Rolls-Royce has already given us the Ghost, Ghost long wheelbase and the Wraith coupe, so the only missing part in this elegant puzzle is the Wraith Drophead Coupe.

The main visual change will take place precisely in the are where the Wraith uses a special approach, the roofline. While the Wraith comes with a fastback line, the open-top version is set to bring its own visual charms.

The Rolls-Royce Wraith Drophead Coupe appears to use a decklid element that brings a more classic look. Then again, it is only normal for the decklid to be at the same height with the rear wings, so that the rear visbility is not affected.

The big question here is if Rolls-Royce has any special plans for the canvas roof. During our Wraith review, we were a bit disappointed by the panoramic roof - the headliner was a tad noisy in operation and the fit and finish underneath, which is visible from the cabin, wasn’t quite top class. Still, we are expecting nothing short of perfect thermal and aural isolation from the Wraith Drophead Coupe’s canvas top.

Since we started comparing the Wraith and its Drophead Coupe sibling, we have to explain we see the latter as much more desirable. Once again, we weren’t exactly pleased with the Wraith’s behavior and we are referring to the massive bofy rolls here. Rolls-Royce itself talks quite a lot about the sporty nature of the coupe, but, due to the aforementioned roll, this isn’t quite there. The same roll was present on the Ghost and it was totally acceptable, since that was a luxury sedan marketed as... a luxury sedan.  In this respect, a Drophead Coupe has less sporting ambitions than the Wraith, so it should make for a more accurate keeping of its promises.

As for the technical side, the Wraith is not a light car by any standards - 5,200 lbs or 2,360 kg. Thus, we shouldn’t worry about the extra weight that will be brought by the usual chassis stiffening measures.

Under the hood, we shall receive the same 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 unit as that on the Wraith. We’ll remind you that, compared to the Ghost, the engine was tweaked in search for extra power and a small toque premium. The unit now delivers 624 hp (632 PS) at 5,600 rpm, with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), arriving between 1,500 and 5,500 rpm. That will be sufficient to provide elegantly quick progress towards the 155 mph (250 km/h) Rolls-Royce obeys.

The Rolls-Royce Wraith Drophead Coupe should come to the world in Spring 2015, probably at the Geneva Motor Show. This will be one flower that can bring spring.

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Mercedes-AMG Wins Rain-Filled DTM Race at Oschersleben [Photo Gallery]

After yet another disappointing performance in qualifying at Oschersleben, the speed-lacking Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe of Christian Vietoris took him to the finish line in none other than first place, as the rain-filled race equalized the performance of all cars on the grid.

In front of no less than 65,000 spectators, yesterday's Oschersleben DTM race provided all viewers with quite a lot of heart-attack moments, most of them happening because of difficult and changeable weather conditions.

Christian Vietoris' maiden win in his 34th race was made even more outstanding by the fact that the former Mercedes Junior had started from 16th position, therefore managing to gain no less than 15 places throughout the 44 completed laps.

Speaking of which, due to the three safety car periods and very difficult weather conditions, the race was stopped after the maximum race time of 75 minutes, with the cars completing just 44 laps out 51.

Christian Vietoris: “My first DTM victory! To have secured it under such difficult circumstances and in such an eventful race is simply incredible. I’m absolutely delighted. We had been hoping for rain because our pace in the dry still isn’t good enough. A wet weather race was our only chance of challenging for the win today, and we exploited this opportunity to the full. My team did a fantastic job today with the pit stops and strategy – this victory belongs to everyone in the crew. All the same, we need to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground. We are fully aware that we have to raise our performance under normal race conditions, and we’ll be going about that very systematically in the coming weeks.”

Thanks to Christian Vietoris' win, Paul Di Resta's fourth place and Gary Paffett's eight place, the Original-Teile Mercedes-AMG team is now in second place in the team championship, a single point behind Audi Sport Team Phoenix, while Vietoris himself is just five points behind Driver's Championship leader Mike Rockenfeller, from Audi.

Despite the good amount of points gathered at Oschersleben, pretty much the entire Mercedes-AMG DTM team is well aware of the drastically-low level of performance compared with both Audi and BMW in uneventful and dry races, so they must definitely catch up from that point of view until the next race in Hungary.

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2014 MotoGP: Marquez Wins at Le Mans, Makes It Five in a Row [Photo Gallery]

Road racing history in the making this weekend at Le Mans in France, with the defending Champion Marc Marquez winning his 5th victory in a row, and from pole position, too, one of the rather rare things to be seen on the iconic French circuit.

The race was a truly crazy one, with intense traffic and plenty of attacks across the historic turns of Le Mans, and providing a great show for the 88,000+ attendance. With the weather remaining fair throughout the weekend, it was expected that Marquez made a holeshot run and disappearing away into the distance, as Jorge Lorenzo got use used to on so many occasions last season.

Still, the start favored more his rivals, with Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso having a glorious start and leading the pack early into the race. Stefan Bradl also started exceedingly well, just like Pedrosa, who was 9th on the grid and managed to finish 5th at Le Mans.

Jorge Lorenzo has a rather dull race, despite the fact that he visibly fought for every place on the French track. He ran wide in Lap 1 taking Marc Marquez with him, on the exterior of the turn, causing the reigning champion to fall back into the pack. However, it looks like this was not enough to demotivate the Repsol Honda rider who charged on and managed to pass the new leader, Rossi after he made a slight mistake, and run a bit wider in a place where he did not expect Marquez to attack.

Rossi finished the race in the second position, for the third time this year, while the podium was complete with the rather surprising presence of Alvaro Bautista, on his GO&FUN Honda Gresini bike. Pol Espargaro had a very, very good race and fought valiantly for his 4th place, ahead of Dani Pedrosa, who was feeling uncomfortable after his arm pump surgery. Lorenzo was 6th, followed by Stefan Bradl, Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Epsargaro and Bradley Smith for the top 10.

The first man outside the top 10 was Cal Crutchlow, who experienced several run-offs this weekend. Andrea Iannone had some problems with his bike and crashed, just like Hector Barbera. Nicky Hayden went down in the first lap, battling Pramac Ducati’s Iannone in the heavy traffic in the early race. None of the three have sustained serious injuries.

Besides all the new achievements we told you Marquez could accomplish if he won at Le Mans, he has also reset the track records, with the Best Pole, Fastest Lap, Circuit Record Lap and Best Lap now under his name.

The current 2014 MotoGP world standing sees Marquez in the lead, with the maximum points possible, 125, still followed by Dani Pedrosa with 83, and Valentino Ross with 81 points. Andrea Dovizioso sits in the 4th place with 53 points, leading Lorenzo in the 5th position by 8 points. The next MotoGP race is in Italy on June 1st, at the Mugello circuit, the home round for Rossi.

Will the Doctor be able to beat the Honda rider and stop Marquez’ triumphant charge in front of the home crowd? We’ll find out in less than a fortnight.

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Quantum Compass to Revolutionize Sat-Nav Systems of Tomorrow

Scientists from the British Ministry of Defense are working hard on a sci-fi gizmo called a 'quantum compass', said to phase out the global positioning system widely used by drivers, smartphone users and the military.

At first, the British Ministry of Defense poured millions of taxpayers' money into this project for one reason only: the satellite-driven GPS doesn't work that great underwater, especially in military applications like nuclear submarines.

As opposed to its spatial predecessor, the 'quantum compass' is an earth-based technology which uses subatomic particles that interact with the Earth's magnetic field for pinpoint accuracy.

According to the organization, if a modern sub goes submersible a day without a GPS fix, headquarters will register a one mile navigation drift the moment it surfaces. But with the sci-fi 'quantum compass', scientists are adamant the futuristic gizmo will decrease the locating error margin to a mere three feet.

Another serious advantage of the gizmo over the traditional GPS system and the overworked satellite network is that it's interference-proof. Why? It's virtually impossible to be tampered with because it uses quantum mechanics, not the typical GPS L1 and L2 radio signals that won't travel through water or solid objects such as buildings.

Currently, the 'quantum compass' resembles a big shoe box, so it's not quite as compact as your car's sat-nav system. According to the UK-based institution, scientists are currently focused on miniaturizing the device so it can be carried by infantry troops, not just by subs and other military ships.

If the technology trickles down to consumer electronics like smartphones and vehicle sat-nav systems of the near future, quantum time, navigation and sensing technologies are sure to bring game-changing advantages to the table.

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Ferrari 458 Monte Carlo by DMC Is All Kinds of Exciting [Photo Gallery]

If you've already bought a 458 Italia or Spider, it's too late to enjoy that cool front end design of the more hardcore 458 Speciale. Or is it? The aftermarket specialists at DMC have just introduced their stunning body kit for the Italian supercar and as you can see, it bridges the model gap quite nicely.

The offering is called the 458 Monte Carlo, a name that's by no means coincidental. Before the 458 Speciale was revealed, "Monte Carlo" was its rumored designation.

Both coupe and convertible Ferrari supercars can now be fitted with a new front bumper, a custom front lip made from carbon fiber, side mounted bumper diffusers and some small other tweaks. Gone are the automatically adjusting flexible wings of the old front bumper, replaced by gaping intakes that scream aggression.

Changes are less obvious round the back, where the triple exhaust is a dead giveaway that this is not, in fact, a real Speciale.

All four corners of the car sport new wheels, 21-inch at the front and 22-inch round the back. These come from PUR and are shod in 255/30 and 335/25 front to rear Pirelli sport tires, respectively. Sports springs improve the stance of the car and should help with the handling characteristics as well.

For now, DMC doesn't offer a power kit to increase 458 output to the magic 605 hp number. But, we're confident that just like with the LP900 project, the engine will be targeted in the coming months. After all, the 458 is by far the most popular type of Ferrari, so the market is absolutely huge.

DMC is no one-hit wonder. The German tuner has pretty much delivered the coolest Ferrari and Lamborghini carbon fiber body kits around. They've even ventured into the world of SUVs with a Porsche Cayenne project last year.

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Skateboarder Rob Dyrdek Shares Matching Black Suburban and DC Shoe

When you post a picture on your Instagram Account with you badass Black street jet Chevy Suburban, please, try not to ruin it. Because that’s what we think the American skateboarder Rob Dyrdek did when he shared a photo of his newest murdered out colourway DC Shoe against his ride.

The American professional skateboarder and actor Rob Dyrdek has recently shared a picture on his Instagram Account while holding a pair of black DC Shoes right next to his “murdered out” Chevy Suburban. We think he just set a new record. The only problem is it’s not a Guinness World type of record.

Yes, we know, Rob is a DC creator, also being sponsored by the American footwear company. You’d say that is a good reason to pose with your black shoes. Well, yes. But why would you outshine your beautiful black 335 horsepower ride while you’re at it? And when you think Rob Dyrdek owns two Tahoe’s…

Just in case you forgot, we’re looking at General Motor’s 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine that generates 383 lb-ft of torque. It’s a $65,000 worth SUV. And that is the price you’ll pay without any extra options whatsoever.

When you are a 39-year old famous celebrity that sets twenty-one separate Guinness World Records for skateboarding and when you get labeled as one of the “Most influential skateboarders of all-time” by Fox Weekly (this year) it seems you can do whatever you want. Well…

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Rain Ruins Race for BMW in Second Event of the 2014 DTM Championship

It was a terrible afternoon in Germany yesterday for BMW’s eight teams involved in this year’s 2014 DTM Championship. After a great qualifying run that allowed two Bimmer drivers to start from the first two lines of the grid, the end result of the race was rather disappointing.

Marco Wittmann was supposed to start from second place for Team RMG on the Oschersleben at the wheel of his Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM, having finished just 0.509 seconds slower than the leader, Miguel Molina from Audi. However, the Audi driver was disqualified after the qualifying runs and Marco advanced into pole position. It seemed like a promising start.

In fourth place came Antonio Felix da Costa, at first, the rookie managing to finish on the same place as last week, in the season opener, at Hockenheimring. Behind the wheel of his Red Bull M4, the Portuguese driver delivered a welcome surprise Saturday. Due to the same disqualification, he too got to move up a place, on third.

Unfortunately, rain would get in the way of the race on Sunday, completely thwarting the plans for the day. Everything turned into a tyre lottery, every team looking for the best solution. BMW wasn’t amongst the lucky ones that got them right.

Bad luck caused not one but three safety car periods, one of them exactly when Martin Tomczyk, Antonio Felix da Costa and Bruno Spengler were fighting for the podium, completely ruining their hopes for more points.

Marco Wittmann was off to a good start, ever pulling away from the group at first, perfectly defending his first place. However, after the first safety car period he skidded onto gravel in turn one and lost valuable time getting back on track.

On top of that, he dropped further down the field with a technical problem later on, eventually crossing the line in 19th. It could’ve been worse though. Timo Glock was out after just a few laps, following a battle with Mike Rockenfeller.

In the end, only two drivers finished in the points, Augusto Farfus finishing fifth and Martin Tomczyk ninth, keeping BMW in the fight for the Manufacturer’s title. Christian Vietoris from Mercedes-Benz ended up winning the race, after a crazy run from 16th place.

“The weather conditions made that an unbelievably eventful and hectic race – certainly one of the most exciting in recent years. We are obviously not happy with the result. However, it does not reflect the performance of the BMW M4 DTM. When you start from pole, you obviously want to win,” said Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director, after the race.

“Things were going well on wet-weather tyres too at first, until the first safety car period. I got my braking a bit wrong when I tried to overtake Gary Paffett at the restart and lost a few places as a result. Later on the gears started sticking, which meant I had to make an unscheduled pit stop. There is a fine line between happiness and misfortune in motorsport,” said Marco Wittmann.

Following this disastrous race, the ranking changed rather drastically. In the Driver’s Standings, Mike Rockenfeller is now on first place with 30 points, followed by Christian Vietoris and Marco Wittmann, both of them with 25. In the Manufacturers’ standings, Audi is leading with 95 points followed by BMW with 66 and Mercedes-Benz with 41.

The next race is set to take place on June 1st, at Budapest, celebrating a comeback to the Hungaroring after 26 years of absence.

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BMW X7 Rendered. Not Quite What We’re Expecting

If you thought that BMW’s range of models is big enough, you’re not on the same wavelength as the management, obviously. The team in Munich decided it was time to create a new SUV, one that’s even bigger than the current X5.

We’re talking about the confirmed BMW X7, of course, a car scheduled for a 2016 launch that will also be built in the US, at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, alongside almost the entire X range.

The X7 is going to be BMW’s alternative to the humungous, luxurious trucks everyone loves in the States: the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Those two, alongside Mercedes-Benz’s GL-Class range are all alone in the higher hierarchies of luxurious SUVs and BMW couldn’t stay away from that little piece of pie, of course. The X7 will be all new and not a stretched version of the X5, as most people expect, at least according to initial official statements.

Having to fit 7 people inside comfortably, the design of the new car will be rather different from what we’ve been seeing from BMW. According to some insider info, the new model was previewed by the Vision Future Luxury Concept unveiled last month.

On the outside, the same huge kidney grilles will be used up front, just like we see here, in the redering created by Theophilus Chin, matching the car’s impressive size. Around the back, OLED lights could be a possibility, as an optional extra.

Inside, the 7 seats will force the designers to probably change some of the same old BMW interior look, unlike on the X5 where you get to seat 7 people but the two extra sitting in the trunk would have to be children or smaller, in order to fit. The materials used should also be more expensive and feel better to the touch than on the X5 and X6 brothers.

As for the engines, considering the size of the thing, we estimate the kerb weight will be somewhere above 2.2-2.3 ton, despite using CFRP and other lightweight materials. That means some serious torque and HP figures will be needed. The entry level version will probably be an xDrive40i model, using the 3-liter turbocharged petrol engine found on the 640i, making 320 HP and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque.

For the US, another petrol version could be available, in the shape of the xDrive50i, using the 4.4-liter V8 N63 engine that’s capable of 450 HP and 650 Nm (480 lb-ft) of torque.

Diesel versions would still be the best choice though, both because of the better fuel efficiency but also for the added torque. An entry-level diesel model could be the xDrive40d with 313 HP and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) of torque but the tri-turbo 3-liter diesel from the M50d X5 could also be fitted under the bonnet, making 381 HP and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque. If that’s going to be the case, we’re guessing it won’t be sold under the M Performance Automobile brand.

It’s also very possible that the X7 won’t be getting a manual 6-speed gearbox, as people wanting this car won’t be looking to take it to the track but rather use it for a comfortable cruise. For that sole purpose, the ZF 8-speed gearbox we’ve been getting used to will do just fine.

It’s GL-Class rival has a high-performance version available, in the shape of the G63 AMG that we tested a while back. Even so, its highly unlikely that we’ll be seeing an X7 M model any time soon. If that’s going to happen though, it will be only to combat the Swabian rival as it would serve to no actual other purpose.

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Bultaco Unveils Rapitan, Its Debut Electric Motorcycle

About one week ago, the word got out that the Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Bultaco is planning a comeback and will debut an electric road bike. As things were so much more than a rumor, let’s welcome the Rapitan, Bultaco’s all-new e-bike, a truly nifty presence and a bike we’d certainly like to see rolling down the street as soon as possible.

One of the cool things about the Rapitan is that Bultaco really tried to create a motorcycle which really looks like its internal combustion counterparts. To the untrained eye, it could in fact easily pass like a traditional bike, at least until someone figures out that there’s no silencer hidden in the belly pan. With no extravagant design, but sporting a rather inviting and tidy streetfighter attire, the Bultaco Rapitan proudly shows off its yellow trellis frame, and the telelever-like front suspension.

With a sporty, light feeling about it, the Rapitan also comes with a digital dash the size of a smartphone, adding to both the nimble feel and the modern looks. With a tubular swingarm and forks, the Rapitan is definitely an eye-catching presence and the bike’s look will surely be one of the strong selling points.

On the tech side, Bultaco says that everything under the hood is original componentry, including the BCU, which stands for Bultaco Control Unit - the brain of the Rapitan. The heart of the Rapitan is a PowerCore MK1 air-cooled brushless motor which is good for just north of 53 horsepower and can produce a maximum torque of 125 Nm (92 lb-ft).

The BCU is controlling how much torque is used for optimal riding, but at the same time it also manages the recharging using the regenerative principle. The Bultaco Rapitan uses an energy recovery system called EndurancePACK, similar to those in Formula 1. It packs together storage based on high-tech Lithium cells and ultracapacitors, making the most of the “stop and go” urban riding style.

Now, Bultaco claims a whopping 200 km (125 miles) city range, with 110 km (68 miles) on the highway and a combined range of 140 km (87 miles), which are definitely nice figures in case they turn out to be true. No capacity for the battery pack was revealed, but some expect it be over 10kWh. Dual-channel ABS is standard for the 320mm front and 240mm rear rotors, with the 800mm (31.5”) seat seemingly comfortable for pretty much all riders. The bike weighs in at 189 kg (417 lbs) and the top speed is electronically limited to 145 km/h (90 mph).

The fake fuel tank can accommodate a helmet or other belongings, and a charger is also present on board, with 3.5-5 hours for a full recharge, and 45-60 minutes for a quick load. We’re waiting for the price of the Rapitan, and we hope Bultaco gets it right, as selling ultra-expensive bikes is not exactly the shortest way to a solid comeback.

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What to Do When Your Tesla Model S Runs Out of Power

We've all been there, stranded on the shoulder of the road, without as little as a sip of gas in the car's tank. But that's a situation electric vehicle owners experience much more often than internal combustion motorists.

Even if there's no service station on a 50-mile radius from the place your car ran out of gas, fret not cause a friendly motorist is sure to offer a helpful hand in no time at all. However, if you're the owner of a pure electric drive car like the Tesla Model S, sourcing the zap to power the dead battery pack is a little bit more complicated than sourcing a few gallons of fuel.

Thankfully, Tesla Model S drivers have a very neat reserve feature hidden within their vehicles' electronic brain, which will get them an extra 10 to 20 miles of range starting from the moment the dashboard shows you an obnoxious '0' miles remaining. But what should you do when your battery pack is completely depleted and the car informs you to pull over safely because it will shut down in a few moments?

First of all, you have to engage neutral and put it into 'tow mode' to prevent it from rolling if the road has a bit of a gradient. During the half-hour or so you have to wait for the towing truck to reach you, the Model S in 'depleted power' mode will still offer you the possibility to access vital vehicle functions via its center console touchscreen.

Don't get yourself worried about the towing company. Tesla Motors commissioned towers that have been properly instructed on how to handle and jumpstart the Model S to get it on the truck's flatbed. After arriving to the nearest charging station, you have to wait for the car to complete a full charge cycle.

After the battery pack is full o' zap once again, you cannot just open the door, start the engine and drive away. Before you do that, remember to power off (Controls; E-Brake; Power Off) and reset the vehicle to get it out of 'depleted power' mode. If you forget to reset, the Tesla Model S won't allow more than 20 kW of power consumption and regenerative braking will also be deactivated.

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Sport Line BMW 2 Series Convertible Spied Naked

We really don’t understand what’s the point of camouflage in the case of some cars. Take this 2 Series Convertible for example: we already know exactly how the body is going to look like. The only new part is the roof.

Even so, the Germans decided to leave the folding top completely naked to the eye and use strips of camouflage in the most unnecessary places, like on the taillights, badges, headlights and the front bumper (but not all of it). Those are probably the places that will change the least (if any) from the coupe that we already know.

The 2 Series Convertible was, therefore, taken out for a couple of tests, wearing the usual “Werkstestwagen” on the rear bumper to let us know that this is not a completely finished product.

Despite keeping hush hush about the new model, we already know what to expect from the F23 Cabrio. It’s pretty obvious that it will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the 1 Series Convertible and it will be using a soft-top roof, to keep the weight in check.

Furthermore, the engine line-up, at least at first, will be comprised of 2-liter petrol engines in the US and a couple of extra diesel alternatives in Europe, next to the king, the 3-liter turbo unit on the M235i.

Our guess is that the US will get the M Performance Automobile and the 228i version, while Europe will also have the 220d and 220i models to pick from.

The transmission will also be a choice between the classic 6-speed manual and the relaxed, mind-reading automatic from ZF with 8 speeds, excepting North American territory, where the choice might be reduced down to the automatic, just like the Coupe before it.

Having tested the M235i ourselves, we expect the 2 Series Convertible to have plenty of space in the back for passengers and no more problems with headroom, since the roof can be folded. Keeping it up might be a different story, though.

Also, from the looks of things, rear visibility might also be hindered by the tiny window at the back that could limit the line of sight. Once again, take the roof down and all those problems go away.

The new 2 Series Convertible could be released later on this year, by the looks of things, as this prototype looks ready to go into production. No official info from BMW about the launch date but we are expecting a premiere at Paris, in September, at the latest.

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Mercedes-Benz MLC (C292) Could be Called ML Coupe

With under a year until the first “five-door coupe SUV” in the Mercedes-Benz lineup gets officially unveiled, speculations about the model's nomenclature have recently started being debated.

Until last year, the car was reported to be called Mercedes-Benz GLC, but that information soon changed to MLC, which sounded much more believable considering that it is going to share more parts with the M-Class than with the GL-Class.

Even more recent speculations, started by the Germans from MB Passion, state that the BMW X6-fighter from Mercedes-Benz will actually be called ML Coupe or M-Class Coupe.

While the new name has an even nicer ring to it than the others, it actually makes even more sense in the context of the S-Class Coupe, E-Class Coupe and C-Class Coupe. Plus, why confuse new clients even more with an entirely new nomenclature for every future model that is being launched, especially since the three-pointed start lineup is continuously expanding?

Whether it is going to be called Mercedes-Benz MLC or M-Class Coupe remains to be seen, but what is known for sure is that it will be based on the M-Class W166 platform, sharing most of its engines and interior design with the midsize SUV.

It will apparently be the first of at least two other similar “five-door coupe SUVs”, which will form a new “on-road line” in the ever-expanding Mercedes-Benz crossover/SUV lineup.

Technology-wise, expect the model to feature most of the latest features integrated in the Intelligent Drive array of systems, with head-up display and a touchpad infotainment controller to complete the new interior amenities.

The engine lineup should start with the new twin-turbocharged V6 with 333 hp and 480 Nm (354 lb ft) of torque on the gasoline front, while the only diesel available at launch should be the old and trusted three-liter V6, with 258 hp and 620 Nm (457 lb ft) of torque, both paired with the new hyper-efficient 9G-Tronic transmission.

The 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 should get the power output from the S-Class, with 455 hp and 700 Nm (516 lb ft) of torque on tap to make the MLC/M-Class Coupe get slightly ahead of the BMW X6 from this point of view. Expect more details about the upcoming crossover as soon as we receive them.

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Drag Race: BMW M4 vs Corvette Stingray C7 [Video]

Now that the new BMW M4 Coupe is out, the world of drag racing has yet another car to add to their favorites list. Even though M cars are usually built to be faster on tracks rather than on straight drag strips, that doesn’t mean they can’t handle themselves in every situation.

Usually, American sports car fall, by default, in the ‘muscle car’ category because of their pure grunt, huge engines and massive weight. The rumor going around is that they can’t really go around corners but they will eat you up in a drag race, Fast and Furious style, like Vin Diesel did a couple of years ago.

However, in recent years things changed and, while the Americans learned how to make proper suspensions for their cars and managed to get them around corners, the Europeans (mostly Germans) learned how to make their own cars more powerful and faster in the straight line.

The different cultures are still visible under the bonnet though. The race your about to see here, between a brand new BMW M4 and a Corvette C7 Stingray is more than it seems at first.

It’s a battle of new age tech that cares about eco stuff and the good-old fashioned ‘I don’t give a F’ mentality of the Americans that will simply fit any engine inside their cars, as long as it makes it faster.

Ergo, the BMW has a 3-liter, 6-cylinder bitubo engine under the bonnet making 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque while the Corvette has a 6.1-liter V8 naturally aspirated unit that makes 450 HP and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque. Notice the difference? The BMW makes roughly the same power using half the engine.

While the numbers might seem favorable to the Chevy, in a straight up race, the BMW takes the win, thanks to its marginally lighter construction and super-fast 7-speed DCT gearbox.

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The Big Pink Trucks of Britain: a Story of Creative Marketing [Photo Gallery]

Pink is used for all sorts of things in the automotive world. On a VW Beetle, it means the car belongs to a lady. On a Chinese car, it's there for luck and on a 1970 Chevy Impala, it means the owner is pimpin'. But what's it doing on a truck? Let's find out together.

A British transportation company called Robinsons of Worcester found pink was the best way to advertise their business in a highly competitive market. When the current owner of the business bought a brand new Scania tractor in 2009, he decided to have it painted pink because it was his daughter's favorite color.

People on the street started taking pictures with the pink truck, so he soon realized it was a great marketing tool. Now, lots more girly trucks have been added to the fleet and they even have a dedicated Facebook page where you can submit your own photo and win a pink beanie. What's more, these girly trucks all have equally girly names, like "Alice" and "Lady Helen", named after a member of the Royal Family.

"Our fleet of pink trucks certainly makes us stand out from the crowd and we have developed quite a following up and down the country!" says Edward Robinson.

The company largely focuses on the tipper business, but when it actually started out as a livestock and dairy farming business over 70 years ago. Wonder what the cows and sheep would make of this?

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2014 MotoGP: Marquez Leads FP1 in Le Mans

With the weather forecast indicating a nice and shiny weekend in Le Mans, the 5th round of the 2014 MotoGP championship kicked off this morning with the first Free Practice session. Even though Stefan Bradl has led on the time sheets for a good part of the outing, he ended up in the 6th place as Honda and Yamaha factory machines got in front.

Free Practice 1 saw Marc Marquez in the lead, with a 1m34s328 lap, and getting faster and faster towards the end of the session. His team mate Dani Pedrosa seems to be recovering very well from the arm pump surgery he recently had, and was the second fastest in Le Mans, .189 seconds adrift the defending champion.

Jorge Lorenzo had a very good pace behind Marquez and looked like he would finish FP1 in the second position, but both Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi turned out to be a bit faster. Rossi now sits in third, .253 slower than Marquez, and with a tiny .017 advantage over Lorenzo. Alvaro Bautista got the best of Bradl and was 5th. The top 10 was rounded up with Andrea Dovizioso, Pol Espargaro, Andrea Iannone and Aleix Espargaro.

Bradley Smith wrecked his bike in a rather nasty-looking crash in Turn 9 but it looks like he made it without serious injuries. Cal Crutchlow, Aleix and Pol Espargaro tested the runways of the Le Mans circuit as they ran wide in different sectors of the track. Like always, we’re definitely going to get a lot of action in the Dunlop area with Turns 3 and 4.

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How to Prevent Premature Tire Wear [Video]

The internal combustion car wouldn't have existed without the help of this simple invention, but have you ever wondered how much punishment a tire takes throughout its functional life span?

Let's not beat around the bush: it doesn't matter how great your car steers or the size of your brake discs, because the only thing between you and the road are your tires. Simply put, those four small footprints of rubber are fully responsible for the way your vehicle accelerates, handles and brakes.

If you don't treat and take care of them properly, abnormal wear will not just shorten the operating life of your tires, but also affect the dynamics of your ride of choice. Certain governmental reports estimate that 200 people are fatally wounded out of an overall 11,000 tire-related crashes occurring on a yearly basis in the United States.

Naturally, the vast majority of these crashes can be prevented through the proper maintenance of your vehicle's tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with the aid of the Department of Transportation launched a safety campaign in order to raise awareness on the issue.

Aiming to educate American motorists on tire safety, the "TireWise" campaign wishes to prevent needless deaths and injuries by showing drivers a few simple guidelines for keeping their tires in tip top condition.

Scroll down and press play to find out everything you need to know on how to prevent premature tire wear.

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