Nissan Motor announced that it has completed its 2.3 hectare extreme off-road track. Located at Nissan’s Motegi test facility in Japan, the new off-road test track will help the development of its four-wheel drive technology by allowing engineers to conduct repeated off-road performance and endurance tests in a safe and controlled environment.

The new facility includes a rocky section to deliver the same extreme conditions encountered on a rough mountain terrain, a desert road and a 30-degree incline slope.

## Source: Nissan ##

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One of two remaining original Auto Union Type D race cars from did not sell during a closed-bid auction held by Christie’s Auction House. The ultra-rare 1939 German race car is expected to be the most valuable car in the world. The Auto Union Type D is expected to go for around $12 million U.S.

The sale of the car was postponed to research its background, which revealed its history was not what was originally believed. This Type D was originally thought to have won the French Grand Prix, but another car with a less illustrious racing history. Though Christie’s didn’t think the revelation would alter the value of the car considering its rarity, apparently bidders disagreed.

This Type D was originally thought to be the winner of a Grand Prix race in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the last European race held in Europe until after World War II. The car however did race on the Nurburgring in 1939, recording a 5th place finish. It also finished 6th at the 1939 French Grand Prix, in which two other D-types finished 1st and 2nd.

Christie’s didn’t expect this car’s less successful racing history to substantially alter its value considering how rare the cars are. Christie’s plans to put the car up for auction at a later date.

## Source: CNN ##

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Jeremy Clarkson has hinted that the famous British automotive TV show Top Gear may be finished. Over the weekend, Clarkson closed the season’s final episode saying that, “We don’t know when we’ll be back.”

“After last week’s Top Gear, the TV announcer said it would be back in the summer,” Clarkson wrote in his column in the Sun. “Can I just say, it won’t be.”

The BBC claims Top Gear will be back and that Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will all return. “Top Gear will come back. A summer special is planned and Top Gear will return in the autumn,” said a BBC spokesman.

Clarkson, Hammond and May are rumored to be at odds with management over the future of the show. The show has departed from its original purpose, now focusing less on cars and more on celebrity appearances and crazy stunts (like the Shuttle project.

## Source: BBC ##

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Lotus Sport, the racing and performance arm of Lotus Cars, will unveil the Lotus 2-Eleven at the Geneva Motor Show. The 2-Eleven is a 1,477 lb track special based on a modified version of the aluminum chassis from the Elise. With a 252-hp supercharged and intercooled 1.8L engine, the Lotus 2-Eleven boasts a power to weight ratio similar to that of a 1960’s Formula One car.

Production of the Lotus 2-Eleven is scheduled to begin in April 2007 and will have a starting price of £39,995. The Lotus 2-Eleven will be available in a Road Going Version with front and rear lights, exhaust catalyst, single plane rear wing and other items for compliance with UK road legal requirements, and Track Only Version with an enhanced aerodynamics package including high downforce single plane carbon fibre rear wing, high downforce front splitter, brake lights and rear indicators and FIA approved driver’s race seat.

The Lotus 2-Eleven is aimed at the true track day enthusiast, taking Colin Chapman’s philosophy of ‘Performance Through Lightweight’ to its most extreme level yet.

Press release and high resolution gallery after the jump.

## Source: Lotus Sport ##

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In the saga that is the potential sale of the Chrysler Group, another automaker is said that it is not interested in acquiring the troubled American arm of DaimlerChrysler. Last week, China’s SAIC said it does not have any current plans for any overseas acquisitions. This announcement came in response to a Hong Kong newspaper report that China’s largest automaker carmaker had begun talks with DaimlerChrysler AG about buying Chrysler.

“We have no plans for acquisitions at the moment,” said SAIC spokeswoman Zhu Xianjun.

The potential sale of the Chrysler Group has lead to speculation that Chinese automakers, including FAW, SAIC and Chery Automobile, may be interested in Chrysler as an easy way of the entering the U.S. market.

However, it looks like SAIC is another automaker is in expanding list of automakers that is not interested in the Chrysler Group. Volkswagen, Fiat, Nissan-Renault, Hyundai, and now SAIC have all said they were not interested in Chrysler.

## Source: Reuters ##

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It was inevitable. It was only a question of when someone would be the first to crash their Bugatti Veyron. That is has taken this long is a testament to the supercar’s capabilities.

Their name is unknown, but you can bet that the individual behind the wheel, will live in infamy as the first private owner to crash their Bugatti Veyron. Despite the car’s aerodynamics, all-wheel drive and massive tires (perhaps because of the car’s massive tires), this Bugatti is thought to have hydroplaned on a wet roadway before before losing control and heading off the road into a ditch.

The car behind the A-pillar looks unscathed, but there is no news on whether the car is total write off.

## Source: SportBilen ##

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Ford has announced that Mike Rowe, creator and star of Discovery Channel’s highly rated show “Dirty Jobs” will join the automaker’s ‘Built Ford Tough’ team. For those of you that don’t know, ‘Dirty Jobs’ puts Mike Rowe in grueling, dirty jobs and celebrates those that do the jobs that make civilized life possible, including jobs like underwater lumberjacking, road kill removal, bat cave cleaning and catfish noodling, or bare-handed fishing.

Mike will star in a series of commercials that highlight the 2008 F-150’s improved towing and hauling capabilities.

Press release after the jump.

## Source: Ford ##

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Consumer Reports has released its automotive Top Picks for 2007. The list was announced yesterday and is published in the magazine’s April issue. The Top Picks for 2007 sees an overall domination by Japanese automakers, with all of the picks coming from Japanese nameplates for the second time in 10 years. The 2007 list includes five new models: the Toyota RAV4, Infiniti G35, Toyota Sienna, Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Honda Fit.

Top Picks 2007

• Fun to drive - Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Small SUV - Toyota RAV4
• Small sedan - Honda Civic
• Family sedan - Honda Accord
• Minivan - Toyota Sienna
• Luxury sedan - Infiniti M35
• Midsized SUV - Toyota Highlander Hybrid
• Budget cars - Honda Fit
• Green car - Toyota Prius
• Upscale sedan - Infiniti G35

Consumer Reports’ Top Picks list features recommended vehicles that have performed well in its own tests, and have at least average predicted reliability and adequate performance in government and insurance industry crash tests.

## Source: Consumer Reports ##

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If a Mercedes BLUETEC diesel isn’t green enough, Mercedes-Benz has another option with its 2007 line of bikes. Coming from Mercedes-Benz Accessories, th2 2007 Mercedes Bike Collection features “Fitness” and “Trekking” models and an ultra lightweight high-end racing bike with a carbon frame

Both Fitness and Trekking models come in mens and womens models, and feature aluminum frames and disk brakes. The Fitness and Trekking models cost 990 Euro ($1,300) and 1290 Euro ($1,700) respectively.

The price tag for the carbon fiber racing bike is 3,990 Euro ($5,200). While it sounds like a lot, it isn’t too bad for a bike that weighs just 15.4 pounds.

The Mercedes-Benz Bike Collection features a range of bicycling related accessories and, for the first time, a line of bike clothes.

Press release and gallery after the jump.

## Source: Mercedes-Benz ##

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The Mercedes-Benz Unimog was named cross-country vehicle of the year in the “Special vehicles” category by the readers of “Off Road” magazine. For a third time, the Unimog was voted “2007 cross-country vehicle of the year - Special vehicles category” by the Munich-based all-wheel-drive magazine.

Mercedes-Benz was winners in two of the eight categories: the Unimog was the top-scoring model among the “Special vehicles” with 59 percent of the votes, with the Mercedes G-Class took the “Classics” category.

## Source: DaimlerChrysler ##

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Mercedes-Benz has announced it is currently developing a new generation of its Pullman limousine. Named after the luxurious Pullman railroad sleeping cars, the Pullman limos have been transporting heads of state and monarchs for eight decades.

Based on the S600 long wheelbase Guard model with a substantially extended wheelbase resulting in an extremely large passenger compartment, the new Pullman Limousine is powered by the twin-turbo 5.5L V12 delivering 517-hp. Of course, all that power is just enough to move the heavy-weight vehicle with any sort of authority.

For the type of limousine required by governments, heads of state and royalty, simply stretching an S600 wouldn’t have ensured the strength to handle the heavy protective elements, so the chassis and the body are new. The Pullman Limousine will have a B6/B7 resistance level. Its armor can handle military-standard small-arms fire and also protection against fragments from hand grenades and other explosive devices. To achieve this level of safety, the protective elements are fully integrated into the bodyshell instead of being retrofitted. Additional safety features include run-flat tires, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.

The new State Limousine has a rear entrance offering increased headroom. Behind the partition, there is space for four passengers with luxurious face-to-face seats in the time-honored Pullman tradition.

The first Mercedes-Benz Pullman Limousines are due to be delivered in late 2008.

Full press release and high resolution photo gallery after the jump.

## Source: Mercedes-Benz ##

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Saab has ‘iced’ its 9-3 Convertible, encasing it in a garage made of ice at Sweden’s world famous ICEHOTEL. Saab customers, VIP guests and dealers will be greeted by the ‘iced’ 9-3 when they arrive for the Saab Ice Experience event, which is held at the famous hotel, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The 9-3’s ice garage is built from 60 ice blocks cut out of the nearby Torne River.

The frozen 9-3 Convertible is said to be visible from a kilometer away, with the illuminated reflections of the convertible’s blue paint giving an automotive interpretation of the Northern Lights.

As its name implies, the ICEHOTEL is an entire hotel made completely out of ice blocks from the nearby Torne River. The hotel only exists between December and April, and is unique every year, as it melts and is rebuilt from scratch.

Larger image after the jump.

## Source: General Motors ##

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BMW is planning to drop its new twin-turbo 3.0L six-cylinder diesel engine into its 6-Series coupe later this year. The restyled 6-Series will be available in a new 635d model, featuring the same diesel as the 535d sedan, according to U.K.’s Car.

The twin-turbo 3.0L six-cylinder develops 272-hp and 413 lb-ft of torque — more than the V10 in the M6. The 635d acceleration should match the 6.5 second zero to 60 mph time of its 535d sibling.

Back in November, BMW announced that it will begin selling its performance-oriented and efficient diesel-powered vehicles in the States starting in 2008. There is still no word as to what the first model will be, but we’ll take either the 535d or 635d.

## Source: Car ##

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As we reported back in October, Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn was appointed an honorary knight commander of the British empire for improving Anglo-Japanese relations. Apparently, the ceremony conferring knighthood took place on Monday by British ambassador to Japan, Graham Fry, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. The honorary knight commander of the British empire is awarded to individuals recognized as making significant and contributions in any field.

“The queen acknowledges Ghosn’s efforts in improving the relationship between Japan and the U.K.,” said Graham Fry.

“I’m proud and I’m humbled, and this is an acknowledgement of our 5,600 employees in the U.K.,” said Ghosn, speaking at the knighthood ceremony at the British embassy in Tokyo.

While Ghosn can’t use the title “Sir,” which is an honor only for subjects of the British queen, but he can call himself Carlos Ghosn, KBE. Cool.

## Source: Detroit Free Press ##

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Mazda vehicles claimed the top spot in a new study on vehicle reliability. Nearly 92 percent of the Mazda cars studied, including the MX-5 Miata, aged between three and nine years old, suffered no mechanical failure of any type.

The report, which was issued by independent automotive extended-warranty specialists, Warranty Direct, looked at more than 450,000 vehicles in the United States and United Kingdom that were covered by Warranty Direct’s policies. The resulting ‘Reliability League Table’ shows the number of failures reported for every 100 vehicles. Mazda was rated number one with a failure rate of just 8.04 percent of vehicles aged between three and nine years old.

“The exceptional build-quality and long-term reliability of Mazda vehicles is something we have been proud of for quite some time,” said Jim O’Sullivan, President and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. “The findings of this recent report reinforce what we’ve believed all along - that Mazda reliability is not just very good, it’s the best.”

Full results after the jump.

## Source: Mazda ##

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