Ferrari 458 Challenge at the Track

If you love seeing the sight of Ferraris and hearing that ringing exhaust note, that video is for you. Despite being set by fire problems, we can forgive Ferrari – everyone has got to make a mistake sometime right?

The 458 Challenge is a special race model introduced in July at the Ferrari’s Annual Dealer Meeting in Maranello. The Annual Dealer Meeting brings together Ferrari’s dealers from the world over.

Changes focus on weight reduction and modifications to the V-8′s gear ratios that results in more torque available lower in the power band. Enough with technical stuff though…..

Honda CR-Z new

2011 Honda CR-Z – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Road & Track, Honda may have its heart set on cranking out a new droptop sports car to keep the brand alive in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the new racer isn't likely to be anything like the much-loved S2000. No, instead, R&T's sources point to a convertible version of the CR-Z. The recipe calls for the platform to retain its front-wheel-drive layout, though a more powerful drivetrain would likely be fitted to lug around the additional weight of bracing and a folding top.

We've heard worse ideas, but we can't remember when.

If the car made it to production, it would theoretically go toe to toe with the long-reigning Mazda MX-5 in a battle that we can only assume would be over before either car got to the track. Should the CR-Z-based car prove successful, Honda would then look into building a more potent, rear-wheel drive hybrid sports car. You know, what the CR-Z should have been all along.

Road & Track has worked up a rendering, and the curious/stout of stomach can check it out over at their

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Bavaria City Racing Moscow Forms Basis to Moscow Grand Prix 2012

The Moscow government is preparing a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the streets of Moscow for 2012. That was announced today by Mr. Vladimir Makarov, representative of the Moscow Government, during a press conference held at the 3rd edition of the Bavaria Moscow City Racing. The engineering company Tilke, specialist in race tracks, is working on the design. The Moscow circuit will be the fastest street track in Formula 1, with speeds up to 320 km/hour.

Bavaria City Racing Moscow has evolved into a big public event over the last three years. Despite the high temperatures in Moscow this year, a record number of spectators was counted. The first edition in 2008 had some 10,000s of spectators. Last year, the Moscow police counted a little over 100,000 people and this year over 200,000 spectators visited the race track. On the back of that, some 600 international journalists and camera teams were present in the Russian capital.

Bavaria board member Peer Swinkels thanked all partners during the press conference, the city of Moscow, Independent Media and the Formula 1 teams, for their support in organizing Bavaria City Racing Moscow. "We have started three years ago with organizing this event in Moscow. Today's popularity demonstrates that the city is ready for the next step. We are proud of having been able to contribute in preparing Moscow for the first Grand Prix ever held here. That is our biggest reward. We are already looking forward to next year's edition."

Also, Derk Sauer, director of Bavaria City Racing Moscow, was pleased with Mr Makarov's plans. "A city like Moscow deserves its own Grand Prix. The contracts have not been signed yet, but a major step has been taken."

Today, Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button drove his McLaren Mercedes with speeds over 200 km/hr through the Moscow city center. He told the media: "I consider it a privilege to drive my Formula 1 car through the city center of Moscow. This is not work, but pure fun." Also, Vitaly Petrov burned some of the rubber tires of his Renault in the streets of Moscow. Petrov is the first Russian Formula 1 driver ever.

Photo and video material is available on the special website: http://www.bavariacityracingmoscow.com.

The WORLD FEED by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will be at 15:30h GMT and is available on the following satellite links: Europe (W3A), the Americas (NSS806) and Asia (Asiasat2).

RTR-X Mustang

Team Need for Speed RTR-X Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Vaughn Gittin Jr. is mostly known for his ability to pilot Ford Mustangs in a sideways – he currently leads the points race in the 2010 Formula Drift season – but over the last year the Maryland native has also been busy launching his own car brand, RTR, beginning with last year's show at SEMA with the debut of the RTR-C Mustang.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Gittin will be following up the RTR-C with perhaps something even more impressive. In a collaboration with Team Need for Speed, the drifter/car builder will unveil another Mustang at the 2010 SEMA show dubbed the RTR-X. Based on a 1969 Mustang using a Dynacorn replacement body shell, the RTR-X will feature the 5.0-liter V8 from the 2011 Mustang GT and a one-off sub-frame from Art Morrison. You can follow the progress of the build until its debut at SEMA in November and even vote on the car's livery over at SpeedHunters. Hit up the gallery below to see Gittin's upcoming creation in more detail.

Gallery: SEMA Preview: RTR-X Mustang

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Blitz Toyota sector incentives at launch in March

When the American car market fell in the autumn of 2008, driven automakers incentives in a good way to erase a lot of bloated dealer inventories. But when cash deng Inventory - leaked to industry-wide incentives reached $ 3165 per vehicle - while almost 700,000 used cars taken off the market, car manufacturers are now familiar from incentives.

Steering clear of heavy incentives probably not too difficult for Toyota, the Japanese automaker, which is traditionally close to the EIA, the prices even in times thinner instead. That changed when Toyota was published interchangeably with the term "unintended acceleration." Toyota publicity nightmare scenario that the quality of traditionally wealthy manufacturer was forced to recover more than eight million vehicles. The sale fell like a stone in the first two months of 2010, while all other producers outside of Auburn Hills, MI substantial benefits, since 2009, more than a crude.

Toyota had to do something for the traffic to the showroom floor walk up, the Japanese car manufacturer has a terrible hand with zero-percent financing for most popular models. Analysts Edmunds and elsewhere tell us that the returns are positive by the first great discounts for Toyota said that sales of around 47 percent since March 2009.

But Toyota is rolling back, other car manufacturers looking for more revenue and incentives, in turn, seems the best way to do it. Detroit automakers have returned to zero, and Honda also spending large stimuli. Barclays Capital, said a new automotive of 60 months at no cost to percent on a loan of less than $ 30,600 Vehicles $ 4857 a car manufacturer. That is a lot of money, but the anticipated return of the money in the hood are positive. Edmunds said it was the beginning of March, the annual turnover of about 12.5 million, its highest level since the program thud.

It seems that Toyota has begun a potentially expensive and less stimulating long war. In the short term, customers will receive all the car manufacturers who make the best of these new incentives. Over long distances, but producers must make profits, so that more products would do likewise.

Toyota sued for full repayment of vehicles recalled

"When we talked, the owners of Toyota, which brought them all to convey the same desire - to take the car back the party, but their key and you get to go check it." Said Steve Berman, Seattle, a lawyer who has filed a class action lawsuit against the Toyota name, "tens" says the owner, Arizona and Washington. Fat chance, right?

Not so fast, replies Berman. "Fortunately, we think the law is precisely this solution, and we ask the court to make it." Although not accelerate closed the first class action lawsuit against Toyota after the revelations of the possible tendency of the car to ensure it is the first event that sold a full refund for every user car.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, most of these complaints are just looking back to $ 500 for the owner, or on the amount of Kelley Blue Book finds that the average Toyota has lost resale value because of the allegations go, vehicles are at risk. That was over 3 billion dollars would be needed. Suit Berman, but could add up to many times to be successful, whether that amount.

Although Berman cd class action suit fails, Toyota in more rough times courtesy of Toyota will be lawyers Action Consortium (ATAC), the extortion of some of their demands, adding. Northeastern University law professor Tim Howard, and coordination of ATAC, said: 'It's always clear that Toyota, the gains are not built on quality, but a pattern of willful misconduct, fraud and extortion. "

In any case, a panel of federal judges in San Diego is doing in a week to determine whether or not to be combined 110 or so class action against Toyota in a case and if the case go to trial. We'll see.

According to BMW

A little after a leaked brochure gave us our first taste of the lightly refreshed 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models, BMW rushed out an official release and a whole bunch of pictures. For the 2011 model year, the Bavarian automaker's bread-and-butter coupe and cabriolet models receive some minor cosmetic touches and updated powerplants.

The most notable - that is, if you're a hardcore bimmer fan- changes on the outside concern the widened kidney grille, reshaped LED headlamps, front and rear bumpers with restyled lower fascias, new exterior mirrors and finally, reworked tail light cluster with a new color scheme.

According to BMW, these modifications slightly extend the front and rear overhangs by 1.14 and 0.12 inches respectively.

The only change in the cabin concerns the convertible models and the use of sun-reflective technology to mitigate temperatures on leather seating, armrest surfaces, headrests, and gear shifter. BMW says that this new treatment is able to reduce surface temperatures on dark interior colors by up to 20 Celsius degrees (36 Fahrenheit degrees) and by as much as Celsius degrees (27 Fahrenheit degrees)on light-colored upholstery.

In North America (we'll bring you details on the Euro spec models shortly), the 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models will be offered once again in two flavors, the 328i and 335i.

As noted in our previous post, the 2011 335i is fitted with BMW's new twin scroll single turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six, designated N55, that replaces the previous model's N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six.

BMW says that even though output has remained the same as before at 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, the new single turbo engine is more responsive, more fuel efficient, and cleaner-running than its predecessor.

The rear-wheel drive 335i Coupe and Convertible accelerate from 0 - 60 mph (96km/h) in just 5.3 (5.5 coupe automatic) seconds and 5.5 (5.7 cabrio automatic) seconds, respectively, when equipped with a six speed manual gearbox.

The all-wheel drive 335i xDrive coupe is slightly faster at 5.2 seconds (5.3 sec for the automatic model).

The 328i's 230 horsepower, 200 lb-ft, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine has been carried over unchanged from the 2010 model.

No word yet on the sporty 335is variants with a tweaked 3.0-liter twin-turbo churning out 322HP that were mentioned in the leaked sales leaflet (click here for details).

In the U.S. and Canada, the 2011 3 Series Coupe and Convertible models will go on sale in Spring 2010, with pricing set to be announced closer to the on-sale date.