In what might be the first time the German auto market ever gets screwed over for the states, AC Scnitzer is providing their interpretation of the MINI Cooper S at 208 HP for the domestic market and bumping things up to 226 HP for export. Weird. Aside from the tuned engine, the car gets Schnitzerized bodywork, custom exhaust, adjustable-height suspension and modified interior baubles.

Henrik Fisker’s little coachbuilding shop will take the wraps off of the Fisker Karma production car at the Detroit Auto Show and will have a little something extra to show off their range of abilities. Fisker’s little something extra will actually be a little less by removing two of the doors and the roof from the Karma sedan. Officially dubbed the Fisker Karma S Sunset, the concept will feature the same plug-in Q-DRIVE lithium-ion battery powertrain good for 50 miles on a single charge and roughly 408 horsepower from two electric motors. A small gasoline engine turns the generator and should allow for extra range, though it’s not yet been determined what that range will be.

The Karma S Sunset Concept will feature a very similar design to its production sedan sibling, though the four-door setup will be replaced by two larger coupe-like doors and the roof will be missing, instead replaced by either a retractable soft or a hard top convertible. Other changes will occur to the lower rocker area with a newly sculpted body side and detailing. The front end design will likely remain the same in order to share the Karma family face, but could receive unique treatment if there should ever be a production version. The interior will be similar to the Karma production sedan, but rear seat occupants will be a little more squeezed due to the packaging of the convertible top.

The Fisker Karma S Sunset will officially make its debut on January 12th at the Detroit Auto Show, until then take a peek at the illustrations from KORSdesign.

New for the Mercedes S-Class and CL-Class: BRABUS 22-Inch Wheels and BRABUS Aluminum Sport Fenders

Size does matter after all: With the new 22-inch BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels BRABUS opens the door to a new dimension for the latest Mercedes S-Class sedan and the CL-Class coupe. The latest BRABUS development offers more than just spectacular looks; the new wheels also provide sporty handling with large safety reserves. BRABUS further refines the luxury sedan with strikingly styled sport front fenders.

Discerning automotive enthusiasts can choose from three popular BRABUS Monoblock designs. The most classic of BRABUS wheels, the BRABUS Monoblock VI light-alloy wheel with its six polished double spokes is available in this new king-size format as is the sporty- looking Monoblock S wheel styling with its five polished double spokes. The third BRABUS option in this size is the 22-inch version of the Monoblock E wheel family. It features nine strikingly styled spokes and a polished drop center.

The new 22-inch Monoblock wheels can be mounted on the luxury sedan and the exclusive coupe in size 10Jx22 front and back. The German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) approved high-performance tires in size 275/25 ZR 22 in front combined with size 295/25 ZR 22 tires on the rear axle. Thanks to a special tire design geared specifically towards luxury sedans and high-performance coupes, the new BRABUS tire/wheel combinations offer sporty and agile handling paired with excellent ride comfort.

To give the S-Class sedan an even more striking appearance the BRABUS designers have developed custom-tailored aluminum sport fenders that replace the production front fenders. The exclusive appearance is characterized by an air outlet made from clear-coated carbon and a horizontal brace that spans the outlet with embossed BRABUS signet and integrated LED lights. The latter are activated just like the ones in the BRABUS rocker panels via the keyless remote or by pulling on a door handle.

In addition, BRABUS offers specially calibrated suspension modules for these latest top-of-the-line complete-wheel sets. They are available in custom versions for vehicles with air suspension or with ABC active suspension. They give both sedan and coupe a sportier yet still comfortable ride, and lower the ride height by some 25 millimeters (1.0 inches).

The new large wheels naturally offer ample space for highly efficient fade-free BRABUS high-performance brake systems. Three different versions are available including a high-end brake system with 12-piston fixed aluminum calipers and vented and perforated front discs measuring 380 x 36 millimeters (15.0 x 1.4 inches). The rear axle features discs measuring 355 x 28 millimeters (14.0 x 1.1 inches) and six-piston fixed aluminum calipers.

Like all BRABUS light-alloy wheels the new 22-inch wheels are manufactured in OEM quality and represent state-of-the-art production technology.

[Brabus]

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S: Thrilling high-performance roadster
Stuttgart
Sep 29, 2008The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S opens up astonishing dimensions when it comes to open-top driving. Delivering 478 kW/650 hp, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 335 km/h, this two-seater cabriolet surpasses the existing benchmark among open-top super sports cars – the SLR McLaren Roadster. Both vehicles feature a fully retractable folding soft top capable of withstanding the high speed and are made of carbon fibre. This endows both models with a very high degree of safety and extreme torsional stiffness. In addition to increased power, the new SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S features even more dynamic suspension tuning and improved aerodynamics. While enjoying exceptional performance, the new roadster’s occupants in no way lose out in terms of comfort or the vehicle’s suitability for everyday use. With its sporty, premium-quality interior appointments and distinctive motorsport pedigree, the new SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S is limited to 150 vehicles and will inspire the most discerning automotive enthusiasts.
Spectacular dimensions in open-top driving are opened up by the new Mercedes-Benz SLRMcLaren Roadster 722 S. With an output of 478 kW/650 hp, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335 km/h, this open two-seater betters the standard set for open-air super-sports cars by the SLR McLaren Roadster. Both have a fully recessible soft top suitable for high speed driving, and are made from carbon fibre. This produces a very high level of safety and extremely high torsional strength. In addition to a higher engine output, the new SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S has an even more dynamic suspension setup and further aerodynamic improvements.
By naming this new model variant the SLRRoadster 722 S, Mercedes-Benz
is recalling the historic victory won at the classic Mille Miglia long-distance race in 1955 by British motor-racing legend Stirling Moss and his co-driver Dennis Jenkinson, in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with the starting number 722. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S continues the legend of the successful 1950s SLR racing sports cars, with innovative technology adopted from the world of motorsport.
Engine hand-built by AMG
The powerful heart of the SLR Roadster 722 S is a supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine which is hand-built in the Mercedes-AMG engine shop in Affalterbach. The special strengths of this high-performance engine include extraordinary responsiveness to movements of the accelerator, a high torque and an unmistakable V8 sound. Moreover, with an output of 478 kW/650 hp and 820 Nm of torque, power is on tap almost to excess (SLR McLaren Roadster: 460 kW/626 hp, 780 Nm). Accordingly the new model variant meets the wishes of the most discerning customers for even more sportiness combined with excellent day-to-day practicality.
The five-speed automatic transmission developed by Mercedes-Benz is designed for high performance. It is specially configured for a very high torque, and allows the driver to choose between two sets of shift characteristics. As a result the roadster achieves performance figures that are even outstanding for the high-end sports car segment: the SLR Roadster 722 S absolves a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in a breathtaking 3.7 seconds, and 200 km/h is reached in 10.6 seconds. The maximum speed is 335 km/h, which is unrivalled by any other series-production roadster.
Even more dynamic suspension setup
The spring and shock absorber configurations of the suspension are stiffer, and the body has been lowered by 10 millimetres at the front and rear. This ensures the greater handling stability of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S, with a significant improvement in handling dynamics. The lightweight, 19-inch forged aluminium wheels allow a view of the red-painted brake callipers on the highly-resistant carbon-fibre/ceramic brake discs, which make for impressive deceleration figures.
Sophisticated aerodynamics and a fabric soft top suited to high-speed driving
The outstanding qualities of the 722 S are complemented by the fully recessible fabric soft top, which blends harmoniously into the flowing lines of the roadster. The weave structure of this high-tech roof material reflects the carbon-fibre look, guarantees full day-to-day suitability in any weather conditions and allows the vehicle a top speed of 335 km/h – a unusual figure for a roadster. Thanks to favourable aeroacoustics, conversation during open-air journeys is still possible at well over 200 km/h.
The soft top opens and closes semi-automatically in around ten seconds, combining comfort expectations with the purist nature of the roadster. For opening, the roof needs to be unlatched at the windscreen frame and lifted slightly, after which it folds down electrically. The front section of the soft top features an integral aluminium cap, which effectively prevents "ballooning" at high speeds.
The handling and aerodynamics of this high-end roadster were optimised for high speeds in the wind tunnel. The aerodynamic concept follows that of the SLR Coupé, with an airbrake integrated into the boot lid, an enclosed underbody and a diffusor in the rear bumper to ensure the greatest possible downforce on the rear axle. The so-called airsplitter at the front end augments this downforce, while small wheel spoilers reduce turbulence at the rear axle. The result is precise handling and steering at high speeds.
Outstanding performance and safety thanks to carbon fibre technology
In technical terms the 722 S benefits from the long experience of Mercedes-Benz and its Formula-1 partner McLaren. With the exception of two aluminium frames, the body is completely of carbon-fibre materials (CFRP). This makes it highly exceptional among high-performance sports cars. Especially for the roadster, the sophisticated carbon-fibre technology was developed further for the monocoque. The result is low weight, exemplary energy absorption and therefore a high level of occupant safety, plus a torsional rigidity that is unprecedented for an open-top car. It allows outstanding handling characteristics that are otherwise only found in closed super-sports cars.
A high level of safety is provided by unique carbon-fibre crash structures, steel-reinforced A-pillars and two fixed rollover bars. Other safety features include adaptive airbags, knee and sidebags, belt tensioners and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
A thoroughly sporty appearance
The roadster has a crystal antimony grey paint finish, which highlights the sculptured look of this high-performance car particularly effectively. The carbon-fibre technology is visually complemented by the black, grid-like air vents on the bonnet and the front and rear light modules with palladium grey surrounds.
In the interior, outstanding lateral support is guaranteed by sports bucket seats upholstered in a combination of semi-aniline leather/Alcantara. Striking visual highlights are provided by the contrasting seams in 300 SL red, the embossed 722 S lettering on the head restraints and the likewise red seat belts. Frequently used controls such as the shift and parking brake levers are lined in particularly high-grip and moisture-absorbing suede leather. In the interior too, the generous use of carbon-fibre underlines the high-performance philosophy and adds a particularly puristic touch.
Exclusive appointments
The exclusive appointments include two-zone automatic climate control, a high-quality BOSE Premium sound system, a multifunction sports steering wheel with shift paddles and a navigation system with an integrated radio and CD player.
This limited edition of 150 examples is predominantly hand-built at the Formula 1 workshops of McLaren in Woking, England, and is available from January 1, 2009.

[Daimler]

Orders for the Interceptor SX are being taken now, and the buying price ain't for the faint of heart — £145,000, or right about $266,000 at today's exchange rate. As heart-stopping as that price is, you have to ask yourself: How many orders of magnitude more cool is this than your garden variety Bentley or Lamborghini? Our answer — many. [InnovativeCars]

Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the three fuel efficient 2009 Toyota Yaris subcompact models. MSRPs will range from $12,205 for the three-door Liftback Base model to $15,880 for the Sedan S model when the vehicles hit dealerships later this summer.

Estimated EPA fuel economy ratings are 29 mpg city/35 mpg highway/31 mpg combined for all three body styles with an automatic transmission and 29/36/32 mpg for the manual transmission models.

The excellent fuel economy, combined with extensive standard equipment and fun-to-drive features make Yaris an outstanding value. For 2009, Yaris is available in three body styles: a sedan, three-door Liftback, and an all-new five-door liftback, each in Base and Sporty “S” grades.

All Yaris grades will now feature a number of standard safety features, including anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags. New exterior colors for the 2009 Yaris include Zephyr Blue Metallic and Blue Streak Metallic on Sedan and Yellow Jolt and Carmine Red Metallic on Liftback.

Prices for the Yaris three-door Liftback models range from $12,205 for the Base grade with four cylinder engine and manual five-speed transmission to $14,825 for the S grade with four cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission.

The all-new five-door Liftback model prices range from $13,305 for the Base grade with four cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission to $15,125 for the S grade with four cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission.

Yaris Sedan model pricing ranges from $12,965 for the Base grade with four cylinder engine and manual five-speed transmission to $15,880 for the S grade with four cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission.

[Toyota]

Using three different zip codes from three different parts of the country (two major cities and Kansas City), we found that our metro Detroit Mini dealer had zero vehicles in stock; an ominous sign. However, an Atlanta dealership had ten in stock, but four of them were high-dollar JCW editions. Still, they count. Finally, our friendly KC-area dealer had a whopping 19 Minis in stock, but a big note at the top of the inventory page stating:

Our MINI's are Going Fast and Many of Our Cars are Already Spoken For - Call Now to Check for Availability!

We mean, why should we be getting excited over a Z06 for the same price or a 2009 Corvette ZR1 for 133% the price when we could get an S-Limited? Who seriously asks — man, why can't we get more mesh inserts from GM? [GM Japan Product Site]

Governor Schwarzenegger Celebrates Clean Technology Investment in California, Welcomes Tesla Motors Production to California

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined with State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Tesla Motors representatives to announce Tesla's decision to locate its new manufacturing facility for its Model S, Tesla's second-generation vehicle, in California. As part of the state's ongoing commitment to clean technology, the Governor also announced a new program that waives the sales tax on investment in new manufacturing equipment for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). This program was developed in conjunction with the State Treasurer and the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA).

"Today's announcement is great news for California, our economy and our environment. We want these cutting-edge companies not to just start in California and do their research and development here-we want them to build in California," Governor Schwarzenegger said.

"Tesla's announcement today is just one of many we will celebrate as we implement AB 32 and reach our greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. I have always said that we must protect our economy and our environment at the same time, and today it is clear that we are once again demonstrating to the world how to do that."

California's green-friendly atmosphere is encouraging clean businesses from around the world to invest in California, stimulating our economy and contributing to the fight against global warming. According to the California Green Innovation Index by Next10, a non-partisan research organization, in 2006 venture capital investment in energy technology companies in California was just shy of $1 billion, more than double the total from 2005.

Last Thursday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its AB 32 Draft Scoping Plan, the market-based roadmap which will guide California toward its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. This roadmap will motivate companies like Tesla to come to California and bring their innovation, reduced emissions and thousands of jobs with them.

Last Wednesday, CAEATFA approved a new program that exempts new ZEV manufacturers from paying sales and use tax on the purchase of manufacturing equipment to encourage ZEV manufacturing in California. For Tesla, these incentives will mean millions of dollars in savings when the company invests in building their new plant in California. And if they choose a city that is in an Enterprise Zone, they will save millions more. Tesla will also be eligible for at least $1 million in Employment Training Panel Workforce Development Funds to train employees.

Tesla's Model S will be a fully electric, five passenger, multi-use sport sedan with a driving range of approximately 225 miles on one charge. The projected cost of the Model S is $60,000.

"These vehicles can play a big part in helping California successfully implement its groundbreaking laws to fight climate change," said State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, who chairs CAEATFA. "By offering this financial incentive, our goal is to ensure zero-emission vehicles realize their full potential in our state. In the bargain, we believe the policy will bolster our emerging green economy, create good-paying jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I'm very pleased the policy helped convince Tesla to build its high-performance electric cars in California."

In addition, California's new Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicles Technology Program, AB 118 by Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), which the Governor signed into law last year, established a new program that will generate more than $100 million annually for development of new technologies, vehicles and fuels. Funding is expected to be available in March 2009.

California's ZEV program is the world's only enforceable requirement for the development and production of zero-emission vehicles. The following state and federal programs support ZEVs:

* Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program: Offers up to $5,000 for the purchase or lease of alternative fuel vehicles. Battery electric vehicles, such as a Tesla, typically receive the full $5,000 grant.
* High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Access: Vehicles are eligible to receive the white HOV lane access sticker allowing them to be driven in the HOV lane with only one occupant. This white sticker is different from the yellow stickers issued to hybrid vehicles in that their availability is not capped at a specified number of vehicles.
* California's Environmental Performance Label: Requires all new cars starting in 2009 to display a sticker to inform consumers about the smog forming and greenhouse gas emissions of each vehicle. Vehicles are scored on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. ZEVs will receive a score of 10 for both smog forming and greenhouse gas emissions.
* Federal Tax Incentives for Recharging Stations: A federal tax deduction of up to $100,000 per location is available for qualified electric vehicle recharging property used in a trade or business.
* Local Community Programs: Offers public charging, free parking and supportive building codes for installation of home charging units.
* Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Requires fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels sold in California. This first-of-its-kind standard firmly establishes sustainable demand for lower-carbon fuels without favoring one fuel over another. To start, the standard will reduce the carbon intensity of California's passenger vehicle fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020 and more thereafter.

Porsche today disclosed photos and details for the next generation 911 model series. Four new 911 models go on sale in September in North America - the 911 Carrera Coupe, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Coupe, and 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. All offer a higher level of performance thanks to their all-new flat-six engines displacing 3.6 and 3.8 liters respectively. And for the first time in a Porsche sports car, engines utilize direct fuel injection (DFI) and can be coupled with the new optional 7-speed double-clutch gearbox Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), racing inspired technology and a Porsche first. The result of these new technologies allows Porsche to once again boost performance of the 911, yet improve fuel efficiency by up to 13 percent as measured in the European driving cycle.

Maximum output of the 911 Carrera with its 3.6-liter engine is up by 20 horsepower to 345. The 911 Carrera S with its 3.8-liter engine is equally impressive, up by 30 horsepower to 385. With this extra power, the Carrera S now offers a top speed of 188 mph.The new generation 911 is available for the first time with the new Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), Porsche's double-clutch gearbox. The seven speed gearbox combines the driving comfort of an automatic transmission with the gearshift capacity of a sequential gearbox used in race cars. Since Porsche's double-clutch also boasts an automatic gearshift function, it replaces the former Porsche Tiptronic S automatic transmission on both the Carrera and Carrera S. PDK improves acceleration while reducing fuel consumption over the previous generation of Tiptronic S equipped 911s through optimized and adaptive gearshifts.
Porsche developed this gearshift principle for racing no less than 25 years ago. It features two parallel clutches to eliminate any interruption in power delivery and eliminates even the slightest break between gears. Porsche factory drivers benefiting from this technology were able to accelerate faster than their competitors and keep both hands on the wheel while shifting gears, thus avoiding even the slightest distraction. This pioneering achievement from Porsche's racing efforts now gives the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S even better performance. The Carrera equipped with PDK covers 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and the Carrera S reaches the same speed in 4.3 which is 0.2 seconds faster than with a manual six-speed gearbox. The customer in search of optimum driving dynamics even has the option to combine PDK with Porsche's optional Sport Chrono Plus including Launch Control. The result is high-speed acceleration free of wheel spin from a standstill and a racing shift pattern to further boost performance. The Carrera equipped with the Sport Chrono Plus accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds while the Carrera S sprints to 60 mph in an outstanding 4.1.

Exterior enhancements of the new 911 stand out clearly through innovations in design and technology. The refined front bumper has larger air intakes which signal an increase in power and the newly designed dual-arm exterior mirrors give a larger field of vision to the rear of the car. LED daytime driving lights and bi-xenon headlights will be standard on all new models, as well as LED tail and brake lights. This gives the 911 an even more distinctive style and a truly unique look from the front and rear. As a further option, Porsche now also offers Dynamic Cornering Lights on all models. In Porsche fashion, these new refinements do not change the drag coefficient of the 911 as it stays at a remarkable 0.29.

The latest Porsche Communication Management system, PCM 3.0, which includes a new touchscreen feature, will be standard on all new 911s. Along with this upgraded system, options such as a hard disk drive navigation system, XM radio with XM NavTraffic capability, Bluetooth® connectivity, iPOD® port, USB port, and aux jack will be available.

2009 911 U.S. pricing starts at $75,600 for the Carrera Coupe, $86,200 for the Carrera Cabriolet and the Carrera S Coupe, and the Carrera S Cabriolet is $96,800.

Lamborghini's Germanic capo di tutti cappi has spoken: There will be no retro-themed cars from Sant'Agata, period. That means no Miura based on the historical concept shown in Detroit this past year (pictured) no Espada, speculated seven ways from Tuesday morning on these and other pages, and no LM002 redux. Boss Stephan Winkelmann said recently, "Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won't do the Miura, even as a limited edition." Winkie left open the possibility of a 2+2 or an SUV in the future but none that would revive any past badging. According to the UK's Car magazine, cars in the works include a LP640 roadster, coming later this year, and stripped-down versions of the Murcielago and Gallardo, with a possible rear-drive version of the latter. Here's to hoping the ghost of Lamborghinis future lets us in on something soon. [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli

Lambo boss bans retro design [internal]

Related:
More on the prospective Lamborghini Espada 2+2 [internal]