The first results of VW's new strategy for the Skoda brand are beginning to show as the Czech automaker will launch a new affordable sedan model that will be placed between the Fabia and the Octavia. This new model will target developing markets and will most likely be a competitor for the Dacia Logan. The car will be launched sometime in 2012 but first Skoda will roll out a city car based on VW's forthcoming Up! series.

According to Skoda both the small sedan and the city car will be "practical vehicles with an optimal offer of space and an outstanding price/value ratio." The Czech automaker also confirmed the fact that the styling of their forthcoming cars will be influenced by the VisionD concept car that was revealed at the beginning of this month in Geneva.

Both models will play an important role in Skoda's plan to double its annual sales to 1.5 million cars by 2018. In 2010, they've managed to sell 762,000 units, a record for the company. Almost 50% of these cars were Octavia models (350,000 units).

Source: Skoda via Autocar via Carscoop

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Skoda Working On Up!-Based City Car And Low-Cost Sedan

1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R Microcar Replica

Your eyes are fine; you don't have to go to an ophthalmologist as this is a microcar replica of a 1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R coupe, which was created by Liberty Walk Performance, a Japanese tuning company. This scaled down, single-seater clone of the first gen Skyline GT-R is based upon a quad bike and it can be driven just like a regular car.

1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R Microcar Replica

This is not their first similar project as they've brought to the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon a down-sized version of the Lamborghini Murcielago, which has a starting price of $23,250. Unfortunately, they haven't revealed any pricing details of this micro Skyline GT-R.

1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R Microcar Replica

Source: Liberty Walk Performance via Carscoop

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1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R Microcar Replica

Click here to view the embedded video.

At the beginning of this week BMW released a teaser video of the 5^th generation BMW M5 (F10M) sedan. According to previous reports, the automaker will bring an M5 concept next month at the Shanghai Auto Show and judging by this teaser/preview video, there are strong chances that this could happen, although it could be mixed signals for the 5-Series New Energy Vehicle coming through. If the M5 will not make an appearance in Shanghai, our money is on the Frankfurt Motor Show which will be held in September.

The 2012 BMW M5 will be powered by the same twin-turbo V8 4.4-liter engine that can be found in the X5 M and the X6 M, but it will output 592 hp (600 PS / 441 kW), in comparison to the SAV's 547 hp (555 PS / 408 kW). This engine will be mated to a 7-speed DCT dual clutch gearbox featuring three shift programs, along with the fully automatic mode.

Our colleges over at Evo Magazine managed to test one of the prototypes and they've said that the steering, suspension and drivetrain have three modes: comfort, plus and sport-plus. The M Driving Mode (MDM) raises the threshold of DSC intervention, suitable for those drivers that prefer more control but still want some backup. Of course, for those of you that want full control, all of the driving aids can be turned off.

Source: BMW, evo.co.uk

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2012 BMW M5 Teaser Released

BAC Mono

The Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has just unveiled its new Mono sports car. Developed in order to be the ultimate track toy, the Mono is a road-legal car that comes with a lightweight carbon fiber body that covers an FIA compliant steel safety cell. The BAC Mono features an adjustable pushrod suspension, Sachs Racing dampers, AP racing brakes and sits on 17-inch alloy rims wrapped around in bespoke Kumho tires.

BAC Mono

The car is powered by a 4-cylinder 2.3-liter engine that develops 280 hp (284 PS / 209 kW) and 206 lb.-ft (280 Nm) of torque. The power unit has been mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox, allowing the Mono to do the 0-60 mph sprint in only 2.8 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 170 mph (274 km/h). It has a curb weight of only 1,190 lb (540 kg).

BAC Mono

The automaker said that they will roll out only 35 units and the starting price will be $106,825, before the taxes kick in.

Source: Briggs Automotive Company via Jalopnik

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BAC Mono Unleashed

Pininfarina Blue Car EV (Production Version)

At the beginning of this week Pininfarina announced that they have signed an agreement with Bollore and Cecomp to make 4,000 units of the Bluecar for France's Autolib car sharing service. Unfortunately the company did not reveal the specifications of the production version, but we do know that the concept has a lithium metal polymer (LMP) battery, good enough for a driving range of up to 155 miles (250 km) on a single charge.

Pininfarina Blue Car EV (Production Version)

The electric motor of the Bluecar allows the EV to do the 0-37 mph (0-60 km/h) in a decent 6.3 seconds, and hit a limited top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h).

Pininfarina Blue Car EV (Production Version)

If they don't ran into any problems, Autolib will ofer the Bluecar for rent in Paris, along with other 40 municipalities starting with October 2011.

Source: Pininfarina

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Pininfarina Bluecar, Gets Green Light For Production

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

VW has been trying for a while to buy Alfa Romeo but the CEO of Fiat-Chrysler, Sergio Marchionne, said no more than once. This time around, the VW Group s offering a little incentive in proposing that the Alfa Romeo marquee under the German group umbrella will benefit from engines borrowed from Porsche. To be more specific, a new 4-cylinder power unit that Porsche is developing for an entry-level roadster that will be placed under the Boxster.

However, a spokesperson for the Fiat Group said to Autocar, "we shut the door in their (VW's) faces and now they're trying to get in the window." Just a few weeks ago at the 81^st edition of the Geneva Motor Show, Ferdinand Piech who is the Chairman of Volkswagen AG, said that they will quadruple Alfa's sales to 400,000 units within 5 years if they could purchase it.

The Fiat Group and Sergio Marchionne have consistently affirmed that the Alfa Romeo brand is not for sale. More than that, Fiat is even planning to bring the Alfa brand to the North American market in the years to come.

Source: Autocar

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VW, Not Giving Up On Alfa Romeo

BMW M3 Pickup

Here is something that I'd thought I'll never see – a BMW pickup! Our colleges over at WCF have managed to take a couple of shots with what seems to be an M3 pickup doing some tests on the Nurburgring circuit. The car you see in these pictures has been registered to BMW and wears the standard black & white camouflage, preferred by the German automaker.

BMW M3 Pickup

The body of this car is in fact an M3 reduced to two doors and the rear half has been converted into a real pickup bed. Yesterday was the first testing day in 2011 at the Nurburgring and I guess that BMW had nothing else better to do than to take this M3 pickup for a couple of laps.

BMW M3 Pickup

Source: WCF

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BMW M3 Pickup In The Works?

The German automaker Mercedes is offering a few more hints about adding additional variants to both the A-Class and the B-Class range. In an interview given by Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes-Benz sales and marketing head; to Automotive News Europe, he said that the company is working on a three-door version of the A-Class, a convertible, as well as a shooting brake.

A while ago they've confirmed that a coupe and a crossover variant of the A/B-Class is under development, based on the same MFA platform on which it makes its entire compact range. The German manufacturer is in discussions with Renault-Nissan on sharing that platform with Infiniti for an entry-level car for that premium brand.

Source: autonews.com via WCF

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Mercedes Is Working On Three Variants Of The A-Class

GT Evolution

The tuners from Amari Design have been very busy lately as they've launched a couple of interesting projects. Their latest iteration is the GT Evolution, based on the Bentley Continental GT, the third tuning program revealed in the last six weeks.

They used high quality plastic and carbon fiber for various parts of the car, including the front bumper, bonnet, lip spoiler, fender, side skirts, quarter panel extensions, rear diffuser, rear bumper and exhaust. This Continental GT sits on Amari Design AD 1 rims, extreme deep concave 3-piece forged wheels. The tuning firm announced that pretty soon they will launch their own line of forged wheels.

GT Evolution

Under the bonnet they've added a hybrid supercharger, along with a remapping of the ECU and an exhaust upgrade. Thanks to these modifications, the GT Evolution packs over 750 hp (760 PS / 559 kW).

On the inside, they've used carbon fiber trimmings on the dashboard paneling, door grabs and steering wheel. The seats have been wrapped around in a mix of Alcantara and Napa leather.

The company announced that they will have their very first showing at the Amari supercars showroom in Preston from the end of this May.

Source: amarisupercars.com via WCF

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Amari Design Bentley Continental GT

We all know a couple's life is profoundly affected when children appear in the house: there are so many moments when you’re forced to sneak with your husband from the curious eyes of your little ones, when you must not forget to lock the bedroom door each time you need intimacy, plus that you have to refrain from waiting for your husband with breakfast or dinner ready in a semi-nude outfit.

So your life as a couple gets infinitely better when the children are all grown up and that they can go out unsupervised. The Consumer Reports' list of recommended car models suitable for teens is out, so you can send off your kid to get some ice cream or whatever it is they do these days.

The Consumer Reports’ list took into account safety, how you can take control of the car in crisis situations, acceleration and size (too many teenagers in a car = trouble). And, of course, price. For less than $12,000, you can buy:

• Hyundai Sonata
• Volkswagen Rabbit
• Hyundai Elantra SE
• Acura TSX
• Volkswagen Jetta
• Ford Focus Sedan
• Scion XB
• Mazda 3 Touring Hatchback

Check out the entire Consumer Reports video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo source.

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The best car for your teenage kid