Hot Cars

VW Unveiling IROC Concept In Paris

Volkswagen will reportedly be unveiling a concept called “IROC” at the Paris Motor Show, according to VWVortex.com. The name is an obvious tip-off that the concept will likely be the predecessor to the production Scirocco that Wolfsburg is planning.

VWVortex reports that the look will be a cross between the Eco-Racer concept with a Concept-A roofline on a coupe body. The front-engine, front-wheel drive Scirocco will be built in VW’s Portugal factory and has already been approved for sale in Europe.

While that doesn’t mean U.S. consumption is a given, response to the “IROC” concept in Paris and at upcoming auto shows in the U.S. will likely be a key factor in the company’s decision to bring the IROC back to the States.

Lexus Announces Pricing on 2007 RX 350 Option Packages

Lexus announced that the RX 350, the top-selling luxury SUV, is now available with a savings of $900 on its most popular option packages. The new RX 350, available as both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) models, features a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine that improves both performance and fuel efficiency. The 2007 models also offer advanced luxury and convenience options and additional refinements for enhanced drivability.

To provide customers a greater opportunity to experience even more customized luxury and comfort, reduced pricing is now available on the following: Premium Package, Premium Plus Package, Navigation System/Mark Levinson Package, Performance Package and Multi-Panel Moonroof Package.

The new pricing on the Premium Package is $1,245 and includes leather-trimmed interior, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory, roof rack with rails, illuminated entry system and one-touch open/close moonroof. The Premium Plus Package is now $2,060 and includes all options from the Premium Package plus High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with the Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS).

The Navigation System/Mark Levinson(R) Package has been reduced to $6,190. This package adds Lexus’ fifth-generation navigation system and the 11-speaker 210-watt Mark Levinson(R) Premium Audio System to the Premium Plus Package’s options. The navigation system includes the rear back-up camera, voice activation and Bluetooth(R).

Additional savings are offered on the Performance Package, now priced at $4,055. This builds upon the Premium Plus Package by adding the following: 18″ graphite-plated aluminum alloy wheels, air suspension, sequential automatic transmission and rain-sensing wipers.

The Multi-Panel Moonroof Package is now priced at $2,840. This package includes the multi-panel moonroof, leather-trimmed interior, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory, illuminated entry system and HID headlamps with AFS.

Additional options available separately include: Dynamic Laser Cruise Control, roof rack with rails, rear-seat entertainment system, heated front seats with headlamp washers, rain-sensing wipers, HID headlamps with AFS, navigation system, towing package and 18″ aluminum alloy wheels.

Produced in Kyushu, Japan, and Cambridge in southern Ontario, Canada, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the RX 350 FWD model is $37,400 and $38,800 for the AWD model. The Delivery, Processing and Handling fee is an additional $695.

2007 Pontiac G5 Comes To Dealerships

A rebadged twin of the current Chevrolet Cobalt, the new Pontiac G5 coupe features a 148 hp 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine and the G5 GT gets more powerful DOHC 2.4-liter powerplant. Both engines can be mated with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed Getrag manual gearbox.

The base level Pontiac G5 will come with standard AC, power windows and locks, carpeted floor mats, a CD player and a rear spoiler. It is already available at some dealer locations at a base price of $14,995.

More expensive Pontiac G5 GT may be ordered with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and that sort of trash. The G5 GT can be ordered at a sticker price of $17,795 which is slightly cheaper than the price of its sibling - the Cobalt SS Supercharged, KickingTires reports.

Elfin MS8 Streamliner Gets The Go Ahead To Production Line

After two years of struggle, Australia’s Elfin Sports Car Company has finally managed to drag its Holden-based roadster through the offices of local regulatory authorities and is now ready to put it into production.

Carpoint Australia reports that the car will be equipped with the Holden Gen III 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 333 hp and feature impressive torque of 465 Nm. The engine may lack horsepower, but being a two-seater with no roof and having a light body, the car weighs only 1090 kg, sporting a formidable power-to-weight ratio.

There will be no more than 100 Elfin MS8 Streamliners in the world, but don’t worry - the car will cost about $89,000 USD, so you can’t afford it anyway.

BMW Planning “Extreme” Next-Generation MINI Racecar

An all new MINI Mk2 racecar is reported to be under development by BMW for a new one-design racing series to start in 2008. 4Car reports that the new racer will be “more extreme” than the racing versions of the current MINI Cooper S, and built strictly for racing.

The Mk2 racecar sounds like it will follow in the wheeltracks of BMW’s other factory racers, like the BMW 120d and Z4 M Coupe, with more sophisticated aerodynamics, including a rear diffuser. The car will not be street-legal, with the interior completely stripped down to seat, instruments and a roll cage. Like BMW’s other customer racecars, the car will be ready to race, complete with a fire control system and car-to-pit radio system. We’re guessing that the racecar will use a version of the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine from the new Cooper S.

Good news for U.S. racers - BMW will be setting up a MINI motorsports division in the U.S. to provide organized support for customers interested in racing the new MINI.

The racing MINI is intended to compete in a new BMW-sponsored international one-design series, with championships planned for Asia and North America.

Mercedes-AMG Opens New Performance Studio

Mercedes-AMG GmbH is consolidating its activities. And with the AMG Performance Studio, the company is starting a new initiative to appeal to customers with very special wishes. In addition to the AMG high performance cars, which are available through the worldwide Mercedes-Benz sales organisation, the Performance Studio develops and produces special AMG vehicles in exclusive, limited quantities.

Offered as the Signature Series, Black Series and Editions, the unique special models stand out by virtue of their outstanding handling, motorsport performance, technical and visual distinctiveness and exclusive equipment features, depending on the vehicle type in question. The latest product from the AMG Performance Studio is the SLK 55 AMG Black Series, a purist’s lightweight version with a powerful AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine (294 kW/400 hp) and numerous components with technology borrowed from the world of motorsport.

In addition to its focus on thrilling AMG vehicles, the Performance Studio satisfies the customers’ individual requests - a traditional strength of Mercedes-AMG. To meet this demand, the Performance Studio team makes very specific technical modifications including AMG sports chassis, AMG high-performance brakes, AMG wheel/tyre combinations, limited-slip differentials and customised interior features, as well as unique, made-to-order models.

Given the growing demand worldwide for greater customisation and even more dynamic, motorsport-level performance, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has decided to upgrade and expand its range. “We are receiving more and more requests from AMG fans and sports car enthusiasts from around the world for even more dynamic vehicles, special equipment features and specific components. And the new Performance Studio makes it possible for us to meet these requests,” says Volker Mornhinweg, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

The company’s decades of experience in building high-performance automobiles and its wealth of know-how from the world of motorsport are invaluable assets in the concept and implementation stages. “AMG has its roots in international motor racing, and our customers benefit directly from the impressive success our AMG drivers are having in the DTM. And our engineers and technicians are constantly spurred on by our commitment to Formula One, for which we supply the FIA’s official Safety Car and official Medical Car. In the Performance Studio, we transfer the technologies from the race circuit into our vehicles,” adds Mornhinweg.