Mercedes SLS Black Series Rendering

Mercedes SLS Black

A few days ago, we found that Mercedes would be adding a newer, hotter Mercedes SLS Black Series model to its lineup. This model is set to be launched in 2013 and will only be available in limited production. The new SLS will feature the same 6.2-liter V8 engine, but revised to deliver up to 600 hp and 500lb ft of torque.

Of course, it has a 50% boost in sales price so we can only assume 90% of these delectable beauties will end up in Dubai somewhere!

2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabrio

It's a beautiful spring across the country, and everywhere people are heading out for long weekend drives to enjoy their favorite stretches of blacktop the way they were meant to be--in roadsters and convertibles. But what do you do with your drop-top when those 100-plus-degree days hit, or worse still, once the sun has retreated to the inevitable onslaught of winter? Pack it in the garage and start dreaming about next spring? Not if you're a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabrio owner.

Disclaimer: Mercedes-Benz flew us out to the fantastic Blackberry Farm in eastern Tennessee and gave us some pretty sweet digs, access to a personal golf cart, and stuffed us to the gills with fine wine and food. Despite their best attempts to seduce us into a romantic stupor, however, we remained faithful to our mission of delivering accurate and insightful drive reports.

Audi RS3 spied during testing

Audi RS3
Audi?s hottest hatch ever is almost ready and we have the best pictures yet of how the brand-new RS3 flagship will look.

Spied testing at the famous Nurburgring race circuit in Germany, the mule captured in the pictures is wearing an S3 Sportback shell, but don?t let this fool you, underneath, the RS version is a different beast altogether.

As well as Audi?s trademark Quattro four-wheel-drive system, it is expected that the RS3 will get a modified version of the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the TT RS. As a result the RS3 will have no shortage of power, with over 330bhp and 450Nm of torque. The result of this will be a 0-60mph time of less than five seconds.

Mated to an S-tronic gearbox, the RS3 will also get a host of exterior additions over the S3, including a body kit, bonnet air-intakes and twin exhausts.

Audi luxury compact future car

Compact cars that are premium rather than second-rate, that is. Compacts admired for elegant, tailored looks as well as exceptional fuel efficiency. Luxury automobiles, yet distinctly athletic in character.

Today's Audi A3 TDI fits the description tidily.

Yesterday's Cimarron was compact, otherwise none of the above applied. It was an overdressed, over-priced version of the Chevrolet Cavalier peddled as a Cadillac through the mid-1980s to the detriment of the brand and to any subsequent compact that aspired to anything worthwhile.

The earlier successes of the BMW 320, Audi 4000 and Saab 900 among others inspired Cadillac's failed experiment. It may not have been coincidence that successive models of these European imports grew ever larger.

Who knows how many North Americans decided on the basis of having seen, heard, or even worse drove, a Cadillac Cimarron that no compact-sized car could ever merit a luxury price?

We'll soon find out, in any event, how many drivers are willing to rethink the matter as new fuel-efficiency standards beginning in 2012 surely will herald another wave of smaller vehicles.

The Acura CRX, BMW 135i, Mercedes-Benz B200 and Volvo S40, as well as the regular Audi A3, are current examples of luxury compacts. The A3 TDI moves a step beyond them in fuel efficiency. As the 2010 Green Car of The Year, this diesel-powered model (TDI stands for turbo direct-injection diesel) provides a model for every major manufacturer's product planning.

Audi A3 TDI

Audi A3 TDI

Diesel vehicles are starting to grow in popularity. Diesels offer up to 30% better mileage than comparable gas engines. But they were dismissed as smoky and noisy until the new generation of diesels went on sale in 2008. And even then, they had to fight through bias.

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI, seen here at the 2010 Denver auto show, was named Green Car of the Year at the 2009 LA Auto Show.

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

Along with a refreshed Phaeton, Volkswagen also pulled the satin off a refreshed Tiguan here in Beijing. Like the flagship, the Tiguan has adopted the new corporate horizontal bar grille that we've seen on other recent VWs, including the Mk VI Golf. As near as we can tell, not much else has changed. The new look serves the Tiguan well, giving its face a lower, wider appearance. We're guessing the refresh will hit U.S. shores this fall when the 2011 models arrive.

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

Along with a refreshed Phaeton, Volkswagen also pulled the satin off a refreshed Tiguan here in Beijing. Like the flagship, the Tiguan has adopted the new corporate horizontal bar grille that we've seen on other recent VWs, including the Mk VI Golf. As near as we can tell, not much else has changed. The new look serves the Tiguan well, giving its face a lower, wider appearance. We're guessing the refresh will hit U.S. shores this fall when the 2011 models arrive.

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

new 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton, that was unveiled at the Beijing auto show. The 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton comes complete with a classier front ? a pair of bi-xenon headlight units, re-profiled front bumper and bonnet, chrome strips and a new grille. The rear features a redesigned bumper, fitted with an intricate series of tail lights. On the inside, the VW Phaeton features a new steering wheel and an electronic display panel that are joined by new trim finishes. It also comes with the option of using, for the first time, Google maps on the RNS810 navigation system.

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

new 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton, that was unveiled at the Beijing auto show. The 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton comes complete with a classier front ? a pair of bi-xenon headlight units, re-profiled front bumper and bonnet, chrome strips and a new grille. The rear features a redesigned bumper, fitted with an intricate series of tail lights. On the inside, the VW Phaeton features a new steering wheel and an electronic display panel that are joined by new trim finishes. It also comes with the option of using, for the first time, Google maps on the RNS810 navigation system.

2010 Mercedes E63 AMG Price and Specification

2010 Mercedes E63 AMG

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG sedan has been released along with the first batch of official photos. The E63 AMG now makes 518bhp (386kW) and 465lb ft (630Nm) of maximum torque compared to the current car's 507bhp (378kW) and the same amount of torque. Mercedes-Benz is sticking AMG's 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V8 on this one. Performance should be similar to that of the outgoing E63 with figures of 4.5 seconds for the 0 - 62mph sprint and a top speed of 155mph (249km/h).

Despite the minimal increase in power the car is said to quaff 12 percent less fuel resulting in an average consumption of 22.4mpg. One of the components credited for this is the Speedshift MCT 7-speed gearbox found in the SL63 AMG. It has four driving modes namely Controlled Efficiency, Sport, Sport Plus and Manual.

The standard car comes wearing 18-inch AMG alloys with size 255/40 front and 285/35 rear tyres. There is an optional 19-inch rim available. In terms of exterior cosmetics the big AMG gets LED daytime running lights, a more aggressive front spoiler, a rear diffuser and four tailpipes as per current AMG standard issue.

Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid

A handout picture released by German car corporation Daimler shows dancers performing in front of a Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid during a Daimler event ahead of the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 22, 2010. China's booming auto market is increasingly important for the German auto maker and it is the number one market in the world for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. AFP

Audi R8 ClubSport Clubsports

Audi R8 ClubSport

Within the next two years, Audi plans to have five different variants of the R8 in production: V8- and V10-powered coupes and convertibles, and one harder-core variant tuned to play as well on the track as it does on the road. This newest, lightweight model ? likely carrying either a ClubSport (CS) or GT badge ? has been undergoing testing in Germany this week, and beyond the sinister matte-black paint scheme (with matching fuel door), there are a few choice modifications to the body to set it apart from its standard siblings.

The front fascia has been lowered slightly with the addition of a new splitter and reshaped winglets, while out back you'll notice the larger, round exhaust outlets, restyled rear bumper with new air outlets aft of the wheels and that shapely fixed rear wing. The rolling stock appears to have grown a bit and larger carbon ceramic brakes are fitted at all four corners.

Audi Extends The A8

The Audi A8 is a large car by most people's standards, but the A8 L, which makes its world debut at the Beijing Show, is larger still.

Compared with the standard A8, it's more than five inches longer, and all that extra room is devoted to the rear passengers, who also get heated seats, individual climate control air-conditioning and rear and side window blinds.

The A8 L comes with a choice of four engines. The three most familiar are 247bhp 3.0 and 345bhp 4.2 TDI turbo diesels and a 367bhp 4.2 FSI petrol. Above them all is a new version of the Volkswagen Group's W12 (basically two V6s joined together, and introduced several years ago in the Volkswagen Phaeton). This has now been extended from six to 6.3 litres and produces a maximum of 493bhp, giving the A8 L a remarkable 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds, with top speed limited to 155mph. Combined fuel economy has also improved, to 23.5mpg, and the CO2 rating is 278g/km.

The W12 is not available in the standard A8, and A8 L customers who choose it also get two individual rear seats which can be heated, ventilated, slid forwards and backwards and reclined to suit the occupants.

2010 Volkswagen Amarok Price

This car that you can see in the photo and that we have to talk about looks similar to the cars that you see all day long but we?re going to make it unique by talking about it. I would like first to remember that this 2010 Volkswagen Amarok debuted at the Geneva Auto Show.

Before starting to mention the prices of this car, I would like to say that they are applied on the German auto market. The cheapest one, the front wheel drive version is priced from ?26,200 having a 2.0 TDI engine which is able to develop up to 122 horsepower while the prices for the all-wheel drive version are starting from ?28,100. You can also opt for the switching all-wheel drive option.

For a rear-wheel-drive version with a 2.0 TDI engine which develops 122hp, you have to pay ?28,100 while the prices for the top equipment all-wheel-drive version are starting from ?37,160.

I want to say that when I look at the front lights of this 2011 Volkswagen Amarok, I remember the new Dacia Duster who has just been released on the Romanian market. The cars are not even axed on the same public but at that part, they just look similar.

2010 Volkswagen Amarok Price

This car that you can see in the photo and that we have to talk about looks similar to the cars that you see all day long but we?re going to make it unique by talking about it. I would like first to remember that this 2010 Volkswagen Amarok debuted at the Geneva Auto Show.

Before starting to mention the prices of this car, I would like to say that they are applied on the German auto market. The cheapest one, the front wheel drive version is priced from ?26,200 having a 2.0 TDI engine which is able to develop up to 122 horsepower while the prices for the all-wheel drive version are starting from ?28,100. You can also opt for the switching all-wheel drive option.

For a rear-wheel-drive version with a 2.0 TDI engine which develops 122hp, you have to pay ?28,100 while the prices for the top equipment all-wheel-drive version are starting from ?37,160.

I want to say that when I look at the front lights of this 2011 Volkswagen Amarok, I remember the new Dacia Duster who has just been released on the Romanian market. The cars are not even axed on the same public but at that part, they just look similar.

BRABUS VANISH Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series

On the inside, the SL65 AMG has red stitching and Brabus logos. The bonnet has also been replaced to cater to bigger turbos.