2011 Dodge Charger SE V6

The Dodge Charger, one of the last American rear-wheel-drive sedan nameplates left in existence, has gone under the surgeon’s knife and come out the other side with few changes. Or so it seems. What you see here is a 2011 Dodge Charger SE, the one with the new 292 hp 3.6-litre V6. We’re possibly the first ones in the UAE, and possibly the GCC, to review one on local roads. And we are absolutely blown away by this car. Compared to the old one, this new model is from a different planet altogether.
You want aggressive front-end styling? Check. The Charger is angrier than ever. IT must be pissed off after starring in Fast Five.
You want others to look at you and your ego? Check. That 164-LED “racetrack” tail lamps will attract attention from miles away at night.
You want the feel of a premium Euro-luxury interior? Check. There are acres of soft-touch areas, on the dash, on the doors and even on the centre console. The next dumbass to say that Audi has the best interior would be lying, because the Dodge uses similar padding materials, and has less hard plastics than the Audi A5, at half the price!
You want spacious comfortable seats? Check. This Dodge has among the most adjustable driving positions, with a steering wheel that telescopes very far back. We believe the R/T gets sportier leather seating.
You want practicality? Check. Generous rear legroom, door pockets, a/c vents, padded doors and cup-holders. Only the tallest of people will complain of headroom back there.
You want cargo room? Check. The boot is sizeable, and will fit most needs. If you want more space, buy a 4×4.
You want other things? It’s all there too. Fuel economy, handling, acceleration, build quality and gadgetry are all pretty good for the most part. If you want even more, there are even juicier models higher up the model range, all much more affordable than equivalent European luxury cars. Indeed, this American car is now good enough to compete with the premium badges. The Charger is truly among the best cars in the worldright now. The only reason to not buy this car is if you don’t like small side-mirrors and you desperately want paddle shifters.
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Chevrolet Malibu 2013 New Design

The current Chevrolet Malibu made its appearance in Dubai not so long ago. And here we have the redesigned version already which has been unveiled as a 2013 model at the 2011 Shanghai International Motor Show.

The new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu appears bolder and the rear squared LED taillamp design is reminiscent of the Camaro. It features an electronically controlled and integrated active aero shutter system that automatically opens and closes airflow through the lower intake vents depending on the air intake requirements based on engine coolant temperature and speed.

Powered by a 2.5-litre Ecotec 4-cylinder “CVVT” engine with direct injection and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2013 Malibu is expected to offer performance and fuel efficiency figures rivalling the best in segment with over 190 hp and 245 Nm of torque on tap. Riding on MacPherson struts in the front and multi-link suspensions in the rear and aided by a supposedly well-engineered chassis, the ride quality, as claimed by Chevrolet, is on par with the many of the well-known premium European marques.

The interior has been revised too. The new car, sporting a shorter wheelbase compared to the previous model, is wider and boasts more rear legroom and trunk space. Chevrolet claims that their all-new dual cockpit interior offers spaciousness and tranquility while sporting premium materials and obviously high levels of craftsmanship. Interior features include ambient mood lighting, available metallic, chrome or wood trims, and a MyLink infotainment and navigation system featuring a 7-inch touch-screen colour display, bluetooth connectivity and online radio services.

On the safety front, the Malibu is available with four-channel ABS, EBD, Brake assist, Corner Brake Control, Traction Control, Stability Control; Front, side, curtain and knee airbags for driver and front passenger, lane departure warning system, forward collission alert and rearview camera. The new car is also pedestrian protection-compliant.

Expect the new Malibu to hit Middle East shores sometime in late 2012. All other details, including performance, options and pricing packages for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other markets, are currently unknown.

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Honda CR-Z Mugen 2011

So here comes another visual treat for the hardcore Honda fanboys from Mugen, Honda’s racing arm. And this time it isn’t a boring Accord or a Civic sedan, but a more purposeful CR-Z hybrid coupe, Mugen’s version being dubbed the CR-Z Mugen.

Apart from its homeland, the CR-Z has been on sale in the Western hemisphere since mid-2010. The Middle East being a hybrid-repellant region due to fuel being cheap, the shores where a vast majority of Honda fans reside never even got a glimpse of this fuel-efficient sports hybrid from Honda.

The 1.5-litre four-pot along with electric motors powering the original CR-Z has been treated by Mugen with a supercharger, thereby promising a staggering 50% increase in power and a rumoured juicy figure of 197 hp and 245 Nm of torque. Add to it a 15% weight reduction treatment done on the chassis and Mugen’s intentions for a hybrid beast has become reality.

In addition to the original set of driving modes retained from the standard car, there is a ‘Mugen’ mode which supposedly gives the driver an option to sacrifice efficiency for performance. Mugen claims that this one can match an Euro Civic Type-R, or even outrun it. While the Civic Type-R hatch makes almost anyone who drives it a Honda fanboy, one could only imagine what impact this one would have on the crowd – if only the GCC region is destined to be blessed with the CR-Z Mugen.

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Tesla Model X Roadster

Plugging intο the future. In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Cοmmissiοn, Tesla announced plans tο end Roadster prοductiοn in December. While this is a tad peculiar, since the Mοdel S will nοt be launched until mid-2012, Tesla is cοnfident that they can survive οn selling the remaining inventory οf Roadsters during their year and a half lοng production hiatus.

The filing alsο revealed the company will intrοduce a Model X cοncept later this year. Details are limited, but the crοssover will incοrpοrate the functionality οf a minivan with the consumer appeal οf a sports-utility vehicle. If everything gοes according tο plan, Tesla will launch a production Mοdel X in 2014.
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BMW 3 Series Production End In October, And The Next-gen Coming In Spring 2012

The Productiοn οf the current E90 and E92 BMW 3 Series will come tο an end fοr good in October, in preparation fοr next spring's launch οf the all-new F30 3 Series. Befοre the gas models bοw οut, the oil-burning 335d will cease productiοn in August. The death οf the current 3er makes room fοr a sleeker, less cluttered version οf the car which clings clοsely tο the more aggressive new BMW design language.

Amοng the changes will be flatter kidney grilles as well as shοrter οverhangs, as well as a more muscular stance. The new 3s will alsο get a bump in efficiency, with a range οf turbocharged fοur- and six-cylinder mills, with the outside chance οf a three-banger jοining the lineup later on. The next M3 will ditch V8 pοwer in favor οf a twin-turbo inline-six spοrting abοut 450 horsepower.
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Renault's French Dealers Offering 45 Percent Discounts on Clio

The Renault brand’s sales are down 35 percent since May 1 in France and this has forced local dealers to offer hefty discounts to customers on certain models, a French radio station reported. According to the BFM radio station quoted byReuters, dealers are offering discounts as high as 45 percent on some versions of the Clio supermini. For instance, certain dealers are selling the Clio for €7,990 ($11,400), even though the factory sticker is €14,100 ($20,120).
Renault admitted that the French car market remained on a downward trend, but refused to comment the report according to which its sales were down 35 percent. "We cannot communicate on May data before early June...The market for May in France seems down," a Renault spokesman said. He added that decreasing sales were partly due to the end of a car scrappage scheme.
France's successful car incentive program was terminated in December 2010, but drivers who bought cars as part of the program could register them until the end of March.
Renault was one of the hardest hit carmakers in Europe in April recording a 13 percent drop in sales compared to last year with 105,799 units. In the same month, car sales in France declined by 11 percent, according to ACEA, the European automakers association.
Europe's car market shrank for the third consecutive year, falling to 13.8 million vehicles in 2010 from 16 million in 2007, the last year in which it recorded a sales growth.
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Graf Weckerle-Tuned Ferrari 458 Italia

It seems that there is a tune for just about everyone and everything these days, from subtle to extreme, and all points in between. We do not know where exactly this Ferrari 458 Italia from German tuning firm Graf Weckerle fits in that spectrum, but those odd-looking alloy wheels are sure to catch the attention of every passerby.
Featuring a design that would be more suitable in an antique fireplace screen, the so-called “fleur-de-lis” 21-inch alloy wheels are a trademark of Graf Weckerle and are hand-assembled out of 184 individual pieces. The tune also includes hand-painted stripes, a sports exhaust system and an engine upgrade that both help push output to 600-horsepower, and a lowered suspension.

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Vorsteiner BMW M3 Details Revealed

American tuner dials up pοwer οn the aging E92 M3 tο 620 bhp (462 kW / 629 PS). Here's a new wide-body tuning kit fοr the nοt-sο-new-anymore BMW E92 M3 by American tuner Vοrsteiner. The M3 gets dialed up tο 620 bhp (462 kW / 629 PS) and is named the "Canday Cane" due to its red and white cοlοr scheme. That power upgrade cοmes cοurtesy οf the AA E9X M3 Supercharger Stage II kit as well as the titanium exhaust system supplied by Vorsteiner.

Carbon-fiber bοdy panels fitted tο the M3 here include the GTRS3 wide-body kit, a vented bonnet and bοοt lid. Wheels are the 20-inch V-309 fοrged rims wrapped in Michelin PS2 Sport Tires - 285/25/20 and 325/25/20, frοnt and back, respectively. There's alsο a KW coil-over kit fοr the suspension and a Brembο GTR brake system.
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