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Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 21, 2005 –
Paying homage to the great Chrysler 300s of the late 1950s, the Chrysler Group announced today the new 2006 Chrysler 300C “Heritage Edition,” debuting Jan. 4 at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Available in dealerships this spring, the limited-production Heritage Edition is a performance specialty vehicle offering the power of the award-winning 5.7-liter HEMI® engine with the fuel-saving Multiple Displacement System (MDS), high-performance styling cues of the popular SRT line-up and exclusive features, including the first-time use of SmartBeam TM headlamp technology in a Chrysler vehicle.

Continue reading New 2006 Chrysler 300C “Heritage Edition” Debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Jan. 4, 2006

Muscle car lovers rejoice! One of our readers on Dubspeed Racing (Our European site) has posted new pictures of the Dodge Challenger Concept, which is set to debut at the 2006 NAIAS in just 3 weeks. These images look like official Chrysler photos, and clearly show that the Challenger would be ready to make the transition from concept to production quickly. Powered by a 6.1 liter HEMI producing 425 horsepower, the Challenger Concept is the first vehicle built on the successful LX platform to use a manual transmission. More photos at Dubspeed Racing

It’s official: an all-new Civic Type-R will return to British roads next year.

Honda (UK) has confirmed that a high-performance Civic will be launched at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show.

A concept vehicle will be unveiled at the event, giving the public a chance to see how the new beast will look. The Type-R will then go on sale in the UK in early 2007.

The news will be well-received by performance car enthusiasts across the world. The outgoing Civic Type-R (or CTR as it’s known to fans) helped change the image of Honda in Britain. It was fast, thrilling, racy and affordable. As a result, nearly 18,000 CTRs have been sold in the UK.

It’s also good news for Britain and for Honda in the UK Manufacturing (HUM), as the plant in Swindon will be responsible for building the hot Civic.

While technical details on the car are not yet available, the news of a sporting Type-R version of new Civic couldn’t come at a better time; the 5-door Civic has just been launched in Europe to a great reception, and goes on sale in January. It has been praised for its “precise handling”, “fantastic” cornering and “confidence-inspiring stability”.

And given the already incredible styling of the 5-door hatch, the Type-R version is sure to be as exciting to look at as it is to drive.

Volvo has launched a new minisite with a teaser for the upcoming C30. Volvo teased the media at last year’s NAIAS, saying this new model would be unveiled at the 2006 NAIAS (Detroit Auto Show) which is only 4 weeks away. The C30 is an all-new model that will be the smallest in Volvo’s lineup and will likely compete with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf, and Audi A3. Check out the site at http://www.volvocars.com/_campaigns/C30/Teaser/

Text from Teaser Site:

From the evidence that we’ve gathered the Volvo C30 promises to be the smallest car in the Volvo portfolio. The new 3-door sporty design was supposedly heavily influenced by two of Volvo’s most exciting concept cars: the SCC and the 3CC. Rumour has it that, in keeping with Volvo’s almost legendary reputation for safety, the C30 will feature an unparalleled level of occupant safety for this class of car. We’ll keep our ear to the street and keep you up to date on the inside story. Current release date for the Volvo C30 is signalled as late 2006. However, the C30 Design Concept might be shown much earlier…

RELATED: Volvo Official Press Release and Images of C30 Design Concept (NEW)

LOS ANGELES – General Motors increases its North American product pace by featuring seven new models for a number of its brands at the upcoming Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, plus a new concept, the GMC PAD.

“From economical cars, to sport coupes, to people- and cargo-haulers, the range of GM vehicles shown in L.A. demonstrates our commitment to meet many transportation needs,” said Mark LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.

Chevy will feature the newly redesigned 2007 Aveo sedan, the all-new 2007 Suburban flagship SUV and the Corvette Z06 Daytona Pace Car.

GMC is featuring the 2007 Yukon XL, and Pontiac will unveil the 2007 Solstice GXP performance variant.

Saab will present an ethanol-fueled concept vehicle and a 20 th Anniversary Edition 9-3 Convertible.

Continue reading GM’s Los Angeles Auto Show Lineup Emphasizes Fun, Function And Fuel Efficiency

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AUDI AG is once again one step ahead of the opposition: The inventor of ‘TDI’ will become the world’s first automobile manufacturer to fight for overall victory with a diesel engine at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The all-new Audi R10, which was unveiled on Tuesday in Paris, is powered by a totally new 5.5-litre, twelve-cylinder bi-turbo TDI engine, which is extremely quiet and economical.

The Le Mans Prototype, with over 650 hp and more than 1,100 Newton metres torque, significantly exceeds the power produced by the majority of previous Audi racing cars – including that of its victorious R8 predecessor. Audi ventures into previously unexplored diesel-engine terrain with the V12 power plant manufactured completely from aluminium. As with the TFSI technology, which triumphed initially at Le Mans before being adopted for mass-production, Audi customers should benefit once again from the lessons learnt in motorsport. Continue reading Audi R10 world premiere in Paris – Audi competes with diesel sports car at Le Mans

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Japan, December 13, 2005. Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the Mazda KABURA compact sports coupe concept vehicle, and the all-new Mazda CX-7, a crossover sports-utility-vehicle (SUV), at the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from Sunday, January 8 through Sunday, January 22, 2006.

Joining them on the Mazda stand will be a Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid concept vehicle — powered by a RENESIS hydrogen rotary dual-fuel-engine that can use hydrogen or gasoline, and offering both Zoom-Zoom driving pleasure and outstanding eco-friendliness. A Mazda Tribute Hybrid will also be shown. Continue reading Mazda KABURA and All New Mazda CX-7 to be Exhibited at the North American International Auto Show

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LOS ANGELES – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced details of its much-anticipated upcoming 2007 Mazda CX-7 crossover sport-utility vehicle (SUV). The company also confirmed that the car will make its public debut at the upcoming Greater Los Angeles Auto Show here, and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2006.

The Mazda CX-7 is the first of three all-new Mazda vehicles that are being designed and engineered specifically for the North American market.

Mazda’s five-seat CX-7 is a refreshing departure from the fleet of traditional SUV ’ s currently plying American roads. Produced on entirely Mazda-derived platform architecture, Mazda CX-7 embodies an astute blend of sports car verve and SUV practicality, resulting in a fun-to-drive SUV with Mazda’s trademark “Soul of a Sportscar” . It is a vehicle that brings together performance and design like never before. The Mazda CX-7 is just right for adventurous couples driven by the urge for discovery. Continue reading 2007 Mazda CX-7 – A Crossover with the Soul of a Sports Car

INGOLSTADT, Germany – The Audi R8 wrote motorsport history for six long years winning 61 from 77 races it contested – five of them at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its eagerly awaited successor is now raring to g the Audi R10.

There has already been a great deal of speculation concerning the new Audi sports car in the media. One thing is certain: Because of its new technology and numerous innovative details, the R10 is one of the most ambitious projects ever to have been implemented at Audi Sport.

On 13 December, the R10 will be presented to media representatives from all around the world in the city centre of Paris. The presentation and the following press conference can be followed “live” via the internet: From 12:00 noon onwards a video “live” stream from Paris will be available at www.audi.de and www.audi.com. The direct link to follow the broadcast will be www.audi.de/r10.

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MONTVALE, NJ – Mercedes-Benz is poised to enter yet another market with the all-new GL-Class, a seven-seat luxury sport-utility vehicle that will be produced in the company’s Alabama plant along with the M-Class and R-Class. Already offering the broadest and most diverse product portfolio in the automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz is launching its first large sport-utility. The new GL-Class will make its world premiere at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit, open to the public January 14 – 22, 2006.

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Continue reading The All-New GL-Class Premium SUV from Mercedes-Benz – World Debut at 2006 Detroit Auto Show ( NAIAS )