Camaro coming to the UK

British politicians are forever going on about the special relationship that is meant to exist between the United Kingdom and the United States. (Don’t worry if you’re an American reading this; understandably you’ve probably never heard of it.) Anyway, Chevrolet has decided to do its bit for the trans-Atlantic alliance by confirming the Camaro is to be officially imported into the UK.

In this country, Chevrolet means different things to different people. Doubtless most still see the brand as offering a fairly cheap means of transport, a hangover from the Daewoo days. For some others, Chevrolet has the allure of Americana, conveniently ignoring (or being ignorant of) the fact that the cars sold in Europe are made in Korea. To motor racing fans, the main association is the marque’s continued competitiveness in the British and World Touring Car Championships.



The Camaro’s arrival will add yet another, albeit small, group to the mix: those who crave muscle car horsepower, and plenty of it. They certainly won’t be disappointed, because all UK cars will be equipped with the 6.2 litre LS3 V8 engine, coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. With 426 bhp (317 kW / 432 PS) and 569 Nm of torque, Chevrolet claims it’ll be good for a sub-five second 0-60 mph time, and have a electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.

Strangely, given the this country’s extortionate fuel prices, the marginally more economical 3.6 litre V6 versions won’t be coming here. Not that there’s much in it though, even according to Chevrolet’s figures: the V8 does 24 mpg according to the EPA Highway measure, while the V6 manages 29 mpg. Of course, those figures are based on US gallons, the slightly better looking imperial equivalents being 28.8 mpg (9.8 l/100km) and 34.8 mpg (8.1 l/100 km) respectively.



Sales are due to begin during the first half of 2011, and it will be interesting to see how many customers Chevrolet can find. A big part of the challenge should be in how the Camaro copes with UK roads. Fortunately it does have a modern chassis, featuring independent rear suspension, electronic stability control and traction control. Even so, our generally poor surfaces and numerous bends aren’t the car’s usual environment. And it’s a big car, too - over 15’ 10” (4.8 m) long and 6’ 3” (1.9 m) wide. To put those measurements into context, the Camaro is about the length of a BMW 5 Series but the width of a 7 Series.

The final specifications and pricing, to be announced closer to launch, will naturally be key factors in securing orders. Purely speculating, the entry level V8-powered model in the US is the Camaro 1SS, which costs $31,795 including freight charges. At today’s exchange rate, that’s around £20,900. It would be great to think that’s what Chevrolet will charge in the UK, but most likely the dollar symbol in front of that US price will just be swapped for a pound sign, before a few more thousands are added on.



Even if that is the case, it would still make the Camaro an awful lot of car for the money. And fair play to Chevrolet for choosing to bring it here - it’ll certainly be an outstanding halo car for its range.







All images © GM Corp.

C-Class DR 520 launched

If anyone thought the C 63 AMG could do with a bit more grunt, Mercedes-Benz UK has the solution. It has unveiled the DR 520, available as either a saloon or estate and guaranteed to be exclusive with a production run of only twenty units.

Power from the 6.2 litre V8 is increased from 451 bhp (336 kW / 457 PS) to 513 bhp. That’s equivalent to 382 kW, or 520 PS - hence the name (the ‘DR’ part apparently stands for ‘dyno rated’). Torque is similarly raised from 600 Nm to 650 Nm, so prospective owners might want to sign up to any loyalty schemes their local tyre shops are running.

The improvements come courtesy of the AMG Performance Pack Plus, which includes forged pistons, newly-developed connecting rods, a revised crankshaft and composite front brake discs. But that only accounts for an extra 30 bhp. Curiously, Mercedes-Benz isn’t being specific about where it’s getting the other 32 bhp from. Probably a re-mapped ECU?

As expected, it’s a bit quicker than the standard C 63 AMG, with the saloon’s 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time reduced from 4.5 seconds to 4.1 seconds (the estate lags just 0.1 second behind). The speed limiter has also been adjusted, meaning the DR 520 will top out at 187 mph (300 km/h), instead of the usual 155 mph (250 km/h).

The colour choice is between a black or white matt wrap, something that either looks the business or is a bit too ‘Max Power’, depending on your viewpoint. The alloy wheels and grille get a titanium finish, plus there are DR 520 badges on the wings and boot lid.



Available only from the Specialist Products Division of Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands, Surrey, prices are £62,430 for the saloon and £63,680 for the estate. That’s a premium of around £10,000 over the 451 bhp C 63 AMG, or £5,000 more than a C63 AMG fitted with the optional Performance Pack Plus.

Fiat 500 Abarth Ferrari Dealers Edition to 264HP

This is what happens aback Abarth and Ferrari accomplish love. Yep, this is the affiliated baby of the two Fiat Group firms and it looks like a fighty abridged rocket.


Based on a 500 Abarth, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari packs a 1.4-litre turbo acquainted by engineers from both companies to blaze out added than 180bhp. Out back, there's a snarly bankrupt with capricious flappy valves to accomplish it complete as alienated as possible. The flappy affair continues inside, with some paddles to change gear.


And of course, it comes in Scuderia Red with argent stripes like the ones on an F430 Scud.

The official blurb claims it could be a advancement car for Ferrari owners, a bit like the Aston Martin Cygnet. And why not? Why accident your 458 Italia on wet and glace anchorage aback you could be throwing this affair around?

Now watch Jeremy batter the 500 Abarth:




Pogea Racing Fiat 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition Later this year in the United States, we’ll get to adore the bunched Fiat 500 auto from Italy – however, there is no chat yet whether we’ll anytime get a Fiat 500 Abarth. If that didn’t make

New Chevrolet Cruze CS Sport

New Chevrolet Cruze CS Sport- done their thrifty little sedans with a ambush bargain suspension, rear addle-brain and allegory wheels, beeline from the factory. The attending helps the car resemble the Silverline Cruze currently bashing about the British Touring Car Championship. We absolutely dig on the white 18-inch multi-spoke alloys. They attending appropriate at home on the dejected car in the high-res arcade apparent here, abnormally accustomed the added advancing attitude served up by the reworked suspension.

General Motors is calling the amalgamation the CS administration kit, and those absent a little added annoyance with their Cruze bigger get accessible to carapace out £1,595, or $2,410 at accepted barter rates. As the Cruze starts at about $15,500, that's a not bush bulk of dosh, but it additionally adds a acceptable bulk of attendance to the visuals and hopefully improves handling.

Range Rover's New Creative Design Victoria Beckham

Former pop brilliant Posh Spice, or as she is formally known, Victoria [David] Beckham, has begin a new job; she's been appointed artistic architecture controlling at Range Rover. The advertisement was fabricated bygone during the 40th altogether celebrations of the Range Rover brand, at The Orangery, Kensington Palace, area Land Rover alien its new Evoque 'baby' SUV.

In her new role, the pop singer-turned-fashion-designer will accommodate her contemporary ascribe on approaching appropriate copy Range Rover architecture projects, starting with a Appropriate Copy of the Evoque.

Speaking at Range Rover's 40th ceremony event, Victoria Beckham said: "This is a actual agitative collaboration. The archetypal British ancestry of Range Rover and the effortless style, affection and adorableness is article I absolutely adore and additionally what I achievement to accomplish with my own brand. I am honoured to booty on this role and be allotment of the artistic team."

R8 Spyder with 4.2-liter V8, U.S

The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI archetypal rolls on 18-inch auto and comes with a accepted suspension. However, the V10 model's 19-inch alloys and alluring ride adaptive damping arrangement will be optionally available.

The German close did not broadcast any photos of the R8 Spyder 4.2 V8 FSI, but don't apprehend any noticable differences over the V10-powered archetypal featured in the angel arcade below.

The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro will be rolling into German showrooms in the third division of 2010 with a abject amount of €121,000 (approximately US$150,500), or €35,400 beneath than the V10-powered archetypal that starts from €156,400.

U.S. sales will alpha in the aboriginal division of 2011, with appraisement to be appear afterpiece to launch.

2010 Renault Modus Evian Masters Limited Edition - Renault Cars

Renault has release a new limited edition version of Modus which features the event celebrated colours, Renault Modus Evian Masters Tournaments 17th Edition. The new limited edition Modus is recognizable by its pink and white Evian Masters badging on the front wings, tailgate and logos of the Evian Masters on the front side and the trunk, as well as darkened mirrors and alloy rims.

2010 Renault Modus Evian Masters

This new limited edition version is based on the Dynamique equipment level of Modus, but comes with a number of exclusive appointments: a panoramic electric sunroof, automatic climate control, a 4x20W radio-CD with MP3 playback and steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote control, and a City Pack comprising electrically-folding exterior mirrors and a rear parking proximity sensor which, combined with the car's compact size, take the stress out of parking in built-up areas.

The limited edition Modus Evian Masters can be ordered with one of two high-end engines from the Modus range:

• the TCe 100, a feisty and flexible 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant which delivers responsive performance in all situations,

• and the diesel dCi 85 which, with CO2 emissions of just 114g/km, offers a remarkable trade-off between performance and fuel economy. It qualifies for the €500 'eco-bonus' subsidy system which operates in France.

For more than 10 years, Renault has been the official partner of the Evian Masters, the 2010 edition of which will take place on July 22-25.

As official supplier to the event, Renault will provide a fleet of 90 vehicles for use by the tournament's organisers, while the 10 former Evian Masters winners attending the event will be loaned a Modus Evian Masters for their transport needs for the duration of the competition. Renault will also have a Modus Evian Masters on display at the Hole in One, as well as a stand in the Partners' Village.

Only 500 Renault Grand Modus Evian Masters will be produced, with sales beginning on June 5, 2010 (French market only). Order books have already opened, however, and prices start from €17,150 (Renault Modus Evian Masters TCe 100). Renault Modus limited edition Evian Masters: panoramic electric roof.

The Renault Modus interior ambience is further enhanced by the split leather trimmed steering wheel and gear level knob, as well by the satin-finish chrome center console and air vent surrounds. Based on the Dynamique equipment level of Renault Modus, the limited edition Modus Evian Masters has a distinctly high-end feel to its appointments. It packs the following equipment :

- Panoramic electric sunroof

- Elliptical headlamps with dedicated cornering lights

- Foglamps

- Automatic climate control with chilled glovebox

- Automatic headlamp and windscreen-wiper activation

- 80W radio-CD MP3 with six loudspeakers (including two tweeters), steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote control and separate display

- Electric rear windows with driver-controlled deactivation for children

- City Pack (electrically folding exterior mirrors + rear parking proximity sensor)

Prices to the limited edition Renault Modus Evian Masters start from 17,150 Euro and represent a benefit in kind customers of 3.9 per cent. Only 500 cars will be produced. They will be available exclusive in France from June, although order books are already open.