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The 2009 World Car of the Year competition is back for its fifth run, and the jurors have determined their ten, no, 11 finalists. The WCotY is determined by the votes of over 50 journalists from countries the world over (none of which works for Autoblog). Some of the finalists include the award-hoarding Nissan GT-R and Jaguar XF, plus strong entries like the Ford Fiesta, Fiat 500, and Audi A4. Due to a tie for 10th place, there are 11 finalists this year. Judges will next narrow their choice to the top three vehicles by March 9, and the winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show on April 9. Hit the jump to view the the WCotY finalists, along with a short press release.

[Source: World Car of the… Read the rest of this entry

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Although BMW\’s flagship 7 Series sedan has traditionally been available with twelve cylinders under the hood, the latest F01 chassis has so far been headlined by the company\’s twin-turbo V8. If these spy shots are anything to go by, however, the eight-cylinder turbo is about to get some company,

A more aggressive front end, different wheels and a taped-up V12 badge on the front fender are the give-aways of the new range-topping model, which could employ the carryover naturally aspirated unit or get a pair of turbos bolted on for good measure. However, reports differ over whether BMW will offer an M7 performance version to compete with Audi\’s S8 and Mercedes\’ S63 AMG in addition to the V12 model. In the meantime, BMW is expected to unveil the new 760i at the Shanghai Motor Show in a couple of months from now.

[Source: Carpassion Forums via World… Read the rest of this entry

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If the planned deal between Chrysler LLC and Fiat S.p.A is sealed by the end of April, the new American-Italian partnership will see seven new vehicles heading towards North American shores, according to a report from Automotive News that cites inside sources who have seen the product-sharing agreement between the two automakers. These vehicles, two Alfa Romeos, one Fiat and four Fiat Group based Chrysler LLC cars that will be all built at Chrysler\’s North American plants, will be sold in the States through Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships.

The report claims that most likely, the three Fiat Group models to come to the U.S., are the retro-styled minicar Fiat 500, the sporty Alfa Romeo MiTo that is aimed towards the MINI Cooper and… Read the rest of this entry

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The next model in GM\’s vehicle line-up to bite the dust will be the Cadillac XLR according to a report from the Bowling Green Daily News. General Motors communication manager Sharon Basel, told the newspaper that production of the slow-selling XLR coupe-cabriolet will cease this spring, impacting around 40 employees at the firm\’s Bowling Green Assembly Plant. The factory that also assembles the Corvette will remain closed until February 23 as GM has been forced to adjust production to plummeting vehicle sales.

Cadillac introduced the XLR in 2003 as a rival for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and its likes, but the edgy-shaped roadster with the folding hardtop that shares its underpinnings with the Corvette, never quite managed to hit the mark in the luxury sportscar segment.

Will it be missed? We doubt it. Should Cadillac reveal… Read the rest of this entry

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With its chief-rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, having already been introduced, BMW is moving full force with the development of the sixth-generation 5-Series that will be available in both sedan and station wagon (Touring) forms. Our spy photographers captured a prototype version of the 5-Series Touring on public roads covered in a coat of riveted dummy panels. While it is extremely difficult to make any assumptions for the car\’s styling other than it will boast the latest interpretation of BMW\’s twin-kidney grille that has evidently grown in size, it is apparent that the Touring variant will retain the somewhat conservative shape of the current model.

Our inside sources state however that the new 5-Series will take several design cues from the all-new 7-Series (see high-res photos and details
here)… Read the rest of this entry

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As they say necessity is the mother of invention – or in this case, a wooden log that was transformed into a front bumper for a previous generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. Apparently, the Russian owner of this Jeep did not have the necessary funds to replace the bumper on his SUV so he used whatever was in hand. Well, if anything else, his approach to the problem was at least eco-conscious…

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Production of Honda\’s rev-happy S2000 will come to an end this year after being in the market for a decade. The rear-wheel drive roadster was first introduced in 1999 as a limited-edition tribute to Honda\’s 50th anniversary, however customer response \’forced\’ Honda to alter its plans and extend production. Available in 64 countries around the world, the S2000 sold over 110,000 since its introduction in 1999, with over 65,000 sold in the United States alone. Honda does not have any plans to replace the S2000 roadster in the near future.

\”The S2000 is a sports car designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts,\” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. \”It raised the bar for all future roadsters, and it\’s already considered a classic by many Honda fans.\”

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The all-new Nissan 370Z will be available for online order in the UK from Monday 2nd February with first customer deliveries in the country due in July. The range consists of three different trim versions, the entry-level 370Z priced from ?26,895, the GT Pack priced ?30195 and the top-of-the-line GT Ultimate that starts from ?31,895. The latest \’Z\’ coupe is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 engine rated at 331PS, while torque is 366Nm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox but buyers can opt for a new 7-speed automatic transmission that is priced at ?,1400.

The entry level 370Z comes equipped with Intelligent Key, engine stop/start button, power adjustable seats, climate controlled air-conditioning, 18\” alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlamps, curtain airbag, alarm, audio with auxiliary input and Bluetooth hands free phone connection.

The GT Pack… Read the rest of this entry

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As many anticipated, General Motors announced that it will take the wraps off an extended-range electric concept car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5-15). The five-door, four-seat Opel Ampera will feature GM\’s electric propulsion technology, called Voltec, that allows the car to run exclusively on lithium-ion battery power charged via a standard 230v outlet for up to 60 km (37 miles). For longer distances, the car will continue to drive on electricity that is generated by a small internal combustion engine.

\”With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving,\” said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer.

While Opel did not make any references to the Chevy Volt, judging by the mechanical and styling similarities between the two cars as seen… Read the rest of this entry

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Taking pride of place on the Mitsubishi stand at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show will be the i MiEV SPORT \’AIR\’ concept, a proposal for a miniature-sized, all-electric zero CO2 emission sports car. As its name suggests, the prototype is based on Mitsubishi\’s i MiEV, an all-electric version of the \’i\’ minicar. Details are still scarce, but Mitsubishi did note that the sporty concept with the clear removable top will sport a more powerful electric motor than its citycar sibling.