Suzuki readying Swift S-Concept

With the Geneva Motor Show coming up in a matter of weeks, a whole mess of new debuts and concept cars are rolling in. The latest comes courtesy of Suzuki and its European operations.

Called the Swift S-Concept, the show car looks like it could be a pretty mean interpretation of the latest Swift hatchback in a higher-performance guise with a healthy dose of rally-inspired action. The Japanese automaker has released very little in the way of details, essentially announcing the debut accompanied by the preview rendering you see above.

We'll have to wait as the expo approaches for more, but for now you can check out the press release after the jump and click on the image above to view in high-resolution.

new Fiesta ST – which we've caught undergoing testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany

Feast your eyes on the hottest Fiesta yet. This is the new Fiesta ST – which we've caught undergoing testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

As you can see it boasts a wild bodykit with a Focus RS-style nose, which helps feed air to the intercooler – because this Fiesta is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine.

Producing around 200bhp, it should be able to do 0-60mph in around six seconds and hit a top speed of 140mph. Lowered suspension, widened front and rear tracks and two huge exhaust pipes poking out of an angry diffuser are further giveaways that this is no ordinary supermini.

According to our spy photographer, the ST was being benchmarked alongside its chief rival – the RenaultSport Clio 200. It will also compete with the VW Polo GTI, and Ford's engineers will be keen to ensure the Fiesta is a more entertaining hot hatch than both.

Inside the racy tweaks continue with a pair of sporty Recaro seats for the driver and passenger. There's no official word from Ford on when the ST will arrive, but expect an on-sale date of early 2011.

Bosal Muffler Single offset inlet and center outlet configuration; 29 in. L x 9 in. W x 7 in

Bosal Muffler - Natural, Aluminized steel, Direct OE Replacement, Standard OE Replacement
Part Number: BO163727
Manufacturer Number: 163-727
Bosal Muffler Bosal Muffler
Read all 21 reviews
List Price: $183.33
Our Price: $78.56
You Save: $104.77
Free Shipping
Info/Buy
BOSAL REAR MUFFLER, ALUMINIZED STEEL, NATURAL FINISH, SOLD INDIVIDUALLY -- Single offset inlet and center outlet configuration; 29 in. L x 9 in. W x 7 in. H; Oval casing; Standard direct fit OE replacement; Made to fit vehicle-specific requirements for backpressure, emissions, sound levels, and sensors; Precision-manufactured to high tolerances for long life; Easy installation.

Maybach Exelero concept

Maybach Exelero concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Often imitated, never duplicated. We're talking about the Maybach Exelero, the high-speed test bed commissioned from Daimler by Fulda tires. Unfortunately, only one was ever made, and it was subsequently sold for nearly $8 million, reportedly to an African diamond tycoon named André A. Jackson.

Since then, the Exelero has prompted a few wannabes in various forms, from the Brabus-tuned Maybach 57 Nardo top speed test vehicle to the "Black Ruby" and the latest Xenatech coupe. Now a company in Switzerland is apparently offering replicas of the original Exelero based on the Dodge Viper.

Little in the way of details is available at this point, save for the Viper's 8.3-liter V10 and 23-inch wheels. The manufacturer is offering the replicas – made to order to the buyer's specifications – on luxury classified site JamesList for €550,000 (about $670k). That may seem like a lot, but it's still a far cry from the eight million asked for the original.

Gallery: Maybach Exelero

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Ford to build seven-seat C-Max in Spain for export to U.S.

2011 Ford C-Max seven-seater – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ford announced its new seven-seat Grand C-Max last fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it also revealed that the new model would be coming to North America for the first time. In conjunction with the announcement today that Ford's plant in Valencia, Spain would produce hybrid versions of the five-seat C-Max, Ford also announced that the same plant would be exporting the seven-seater to America late next year.

The larger C-Max is based off of Ford's new c-segment platform shared with the Focus and is similar in size to the Mazda5. This marks Ford's return to the sliding door van market that was abandoned when the Freestar was discontinued in 2006. Ford hasn't said what powerplant will go into the C-Max for export, but we would bet on the same 2.0-liter direct injected four that will power the new Focus with an optional 2.0-liter Ecoboost. Now that General Motors has decided not to sell the Chevrolet Orlando in the U.S., Ford and Mazda are currently the only entrants in this small minivan segment, with vehicles like the conventionally doored Kia Rondo lurking on the fridges.

2010 Ford Grand C-Max

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Ford C-Max

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

First of 500 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition to be Auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson

First of 500 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition to be Auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson

First Carbon Limited Edition 500 Corvette Z06 at Barrett-Jackson auction


Continuing its tradition of offering the Chevrolet during the first production models of passenger cars on special Barrett-Jackson, GM announced today that 500 of the first retail-2011 Corvette Z06 Coupe Carbon Limited Edition goes to the highest bidder in an auction to Palm Beach, Florida, April 3.

"The Corvette Z06 Carbon would surely be a collector's immediate," says Jim Campbell, U. S. Vice President, Marketing Chevrolet. "For this reason, we see Barrett-Jackson, as the first of the first Z06 retail carbon.

GM said that the winner will also have the option of the Company's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan Tour for the car and look to the leadership of the Assembly of the Corvette in Bowling Green.

Special features of the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited, which has raised the carbon ceramic Brembo brakes, Michelin PS2 tires, improved cooling, Magnetic Ride Control, lights and mirrors blacks, a ZR1-style body color spoiler, Body color door handles, hood Carbon fiber and carbon fiber splitter and black rocker.

It should be noted that most of these features are also offered for the Z06 standard equipment in two separate packages (CFZ Z07 and Z06).

For more details and pictures on the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited, click here.

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

2011 Chevrolet Orlando spy shotsGallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Chevrolet confirmed early last year that it would bring a production version of 2008’s Orlando concept vehicle to North American markets sometime in 2011, reversing an earlier decision to only sell the vehicle overseas.

The Orlando is based on the same front-wheel drive Delta platform that underpins cars like the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt plug-in hybrid, and despite its compact proportions the upcoming crossover will be able to seat seven.

Being based on the Delta platform means the Orlando will most likely enter production at the same Hamtramck plant in Detroit that will build the Cruze and Volt sedans. However, the new crossover will be a crucial model in Chevrolet’s global lineup, with production planned for Europe and South Korea as well.

These latest spy shots capture a 2011 Orlando prototype undergoing cold weather testing in Europe. They reveal that the production Orlando will keep the boxy design, swept-back roof, and blunt front-end of the concept, although it appears that the sliding door and split tailgate configuration of the show car has been dropped in favor of a conventional four-door body and vertically lifting tailgate.

Expect a similar powertrain lineup to the one in the Cruze for North American markets, which means a range of four-cylinder gasoline engines in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. A plug-in hybrid version using the Voltec system borrowed from the Volt may also make an appearance according to previous comments from GM vice chairman and former product planner Bob Lutz.