The Demo Site

In 1938, one in five German passenger cars was manufactured in Zwickau, including legendary cars such as the Audi Type C Alpensieger.

The line between exuberant individuality and ostentation is a difficult and dangerous one to toe. Exhibit A: Witness the envious derision of Lamborghinisti by those who really just wish they had the money—or balls—to own a flamboyant Italian exotic. Exhibit B: Take a look at the Muron, a Porsche Cayenne body kit from Romanian tuner Maff that may have overshot the bounds of taste. You decide.

Hot Grille on Grille Action

Up front, the Maff Muron sports a grille that looks ready to suck down a dairy herd. Why bother with bumpers when you can add more grille area? Maybe for increased airflow? More air would be good, since Maff claims it can add 100 hp toany Cayenne engine and has packages to boost output to 700 hp in turbocharged versions.

Keep Reading: Maff Muron Porsche Cayenne - Car News

Featuring an eye-catching, Impreza WRX inspired bonnet scoop, the new generation Mazda 3 MPS will be powered by the same MZR 2.3-DISI Turbo engine as its predecessor. Mazda has chosen to withhold the technical specifications until March but should the final power output remain at 190 kW 380 Nm, rest assured that all this power will be better harnessed than the current generation Mazda 3 MPS.
The Mazda3 MPS sport compact pushes Mazda design further and its exciting driving performance perfectly represents Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom spirit. Carrying forward the MZR 2.3 DISI Turbo engine, Mazda3 MPS builds on the popularity and recognition of the previous model. It evolves the driving experience to an entirely new level of quality and pleasure with its emotional design and exhilarating performance.
The all-new Mazda3 Program Manager, Yoshiyuki Maeda, says, “These two models add extra value to an all-new Mazda3 lineup that has already shown strong appeal. The new Mazda3 series takes a significant step ahead in both the realms of driving performance and environmental technology to lead the way toward a new generation of motoring.”
© Source: zcars

Korea’s leading carmaker has shown great concept vehicles over the years, but the Hyundai ix-ionic concept (pronounced ““ik-sonic” and yes, written in lower case letters only) appears to be anything but far-fetched. In fact, it looks everything like the production-ready evolution of the i-mode concept (small letters again) that was unveiled in Geneva only last year.
The hexagonal front grille is quite similar but the profile and rear are definitely more realistic. Designed by Hyundai’s studio in Rüsselsheim, Germany, this stylish compact crossover is 4,400 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and stands 1,650 mm off the ground. All measures within a few whiskers of a BMW X3, a likely target and benchmark. The ix-ionic concept also splits the difference between Hyundai’s current Tucson and Sante Fe models in length and width. It is fashionably lower than the former by 8 cm, which is fine for a vehicle described by its makers as an “Urban Nomad”.
The ix-ionic seats five: save for the snazzy blue rear-lighting in the gauges, navi screen and radio display, as well as some bright magnesium accents, the interior is production grade too. Worthy of notice are speakers mounted much higher than usual in the doors for better sound quality. There’s also a ‘blind spot’ warning light in the rear-view mirror. And under the hood is a 1.6-litre, 168-horsepower, direct-injected four-cylinder gasoline engine with ‘stop-start’ mode, coupled to a dual automated clutch, six-speed gearbox and four-wheel-drive. Look for additional muscle if this one makes the trip over.
© Source: autoshow

(from Roush Press Release) Roush Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R
The Question:
What happens when you take the most sought after 1965 licensed reproduction Cobra replica and shoehorn in an engine built by a company that has more Ford wins than any other manufacture?
The Answer:
You get the Roush/Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R!
The Project:
The Roush/Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R was built specifically to tour the country and represent the bread and butter of what Roush Performance Engines and Superformance LLC have to offer. The plan was to build a one off display vehicle, but the project’s high interest quickly changed everyone’s mind and suddenly the car was slated for production. The Special Edition car was introduced to the public at the 2007 SEMA show in Las Vegas Nevada. The MKIII-R showed the public what it has always wanted to see - two industry leaders working together to produce the best of both worlds, a stunning double diamond with the roar of a lion under the hood. A car that is truly pleasing to all of your senses!
Now Available for Purchase:
The Roush components will be available as an upgrade package that will be sold separately from the standard Superformance MKIII roadster. The interior features a set of Roush embroidered leather seats, unique gauges, billet short-throw shifter, Roush embroidered floor mats, dual gauge pod, and a serialized plaque. Customers can choose from a variety of Roush crate motors including the 427 IR V8 that is dyno tested at 576 horsepower and comes with a 2-year/24,000 mile warranty.
© Source: seriouswheels

Ford has been touting its EcoBoost engine technology for more than two years now. The buildup began when the Lincoln MKR concept debuted at the 2007 Detroit show, hinting at the automaker’s plan to employ smaller engines equipped with turbochargers and direct fuel injection. In the same timeframe, early adopters such as Audi, BMW, and Porsche have been much praised for how the technologies have improved the power delivery, fuel economy, and emissions of many of their vehicles.

Fast forward to today, and Ford has officially—and finally—joined the party, with Lincoln taking the lead: the 2010 MKT crossover and 2010 MKS sedan are the first models to go on sale with available EcoBoost powertrains. Ford recently invited the media out to its Michigan proving grounds to get acquainted with the new cars—and engines. Here, we concern ourselves with the surprisingly good MKT.

We Don’t Need No Stinking V-8

Based on the Ford Flex—itself based on a stretched Taurus X platform— the MKT is a unique three-row crossover that the brand expects to compete with the likes of the Audi Q7 and Acura MDX. The MKT makes the boldest statement yet about Lincoln’s styling direction, specifically in the huge, split-waterfall grille. We don’t think the look quite works when the grille is this enormous, but perhaps it will grow on us in time. Ford says people who are fond of the box-tacular Flex don’t always connect with the MKT’s softer lines and boat-tail butt, but that the Lincoln is meant to make a statement about the brand rather than appeal to everyone.

Instrumented testing and real-world impressions will have to wait until our next rendezvous with the big Lincoln (it’s a half-foot longer than the Flex), but on Ford’s undulating ride-and-handling course and five-mile banked oval, it exhibited reassuring composure and had more than enough grunt to outrun the V-8–powered Audi Q7 on hand for comparison. Thanks to a pair of quick-spinning, grapefruit-sized turbochargers, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 pushes out a stout 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque—on regular unleaded—all of which is available from as low as 1500 rpm. Mated to a fortified six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and well-spaced ratios, the engine moves the 5200-lb MKT off the line quickly and with little effort. Upshifts—whether initiated in automatic mode or by pulling back on either paddle—barely interrupt thrust, which stops only when the electronic limiter kicks in at 120 mph to protect the 255/45-20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires. (Non-EcoBoost MKTs get 19-inch wheels and tires as standard.) All the torque makes passing maneuvers at highway speeds a snap. Engine noise is more noticeable than in the MKS, but is still hushed and pleasant in tone.

Keep Reading: 2010 Lincoln MKT With EcoBoost - First Drive Review

Thanks to a few sites breaking the embargo, we now have an early look at the 2010 Jaguar XFR that will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.

The 2010 Jaguar XFR is powered by 510 horsepower 5.0L AJ-V8 GEN III engine that features with a 6-generation Roots-type twin vortex (TVS) supercharger. That power propels the car from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

The XFR also features 20-inch Nevis alloy wheels and comes in eight colors: Botanical Green, Indigo, Kyanite Blue, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Porcelain and Salsa