We don�t know the wheres and whens of the incident and there�s a good chance that this video may not be new, but the commentator on the background appears to be speaking Portuguese (any help with translation would be appreciated). Watch the clip after the break.
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In this latest tune, Vilner crafted a bespoke Smart ForTwo for one of its local customers. The Lilliputian two-door model received extensive styling modifications built around a square motive that is visible inside and out. On the outside, the ForTwo gains a colorful wrap that includes a chrome finish at the back and orange wheels, while the interior has been completely reworked featuring new and more luxurious materials throughout. Follow the jump for more pictures as well as a video from the build.
The 58-year-old prime minister attended the unveiling of Lada�s budget model at the headquarters of its car manufacturer Avtovaz in the Volga River city of Tolyatti. In his usual confident style, Putin approached the car for a first look. The troubles started right from the beginning as one of the men accompanying the prime minister had a hard time opening the vehicle�s boot.
Then, in a marketing fail comparable only to Volvo�s unbelievable crash incident last year, Putin entered the car to take it for a test drive. He tried to start it once. He failed. He tried a second time, nothing. The same thing happened three more times until finally, the Lada came into life. Luckily for us, the entire incident was captured on film. Watch the video right after the jump.
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Today, the most potent G-Class model is the G55 AMG fitted with a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 engine developing 507-horses and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) of peak torque for a 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 5.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 210 km/h. But that may soon change if we are to believe a report from Dutch website Autoblog.nl on a new range topping G-Class model with the G65 AMG moniker.
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�Since it became clear that Hawtai was not able to obtain all the necessary consents, the parties were forced to terminate the agreement with Saab Automobile and Spyker with immediate effect,� Spyker said in a statement.
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In terms of design, Hyundai�s newcomer may look very similar to the latest Elantra sold in North America and other parts of the world. However, measuring 4.74 meters (186.6-in.) in length, the i40 approximately 380 mm or 15-inches longer than the compact sedan. Europe�s equivalent of the Sonata rides on a wheelbase of 2.77-meters, with Hyundai claiming it offers best-in-class room for front head, shoulder and leg. The Korean carmaker also boasts that the i40 will provide passengers with "the most comfortable ride available in the D-segment".
In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is planning a full attack this year starting with the launch of the second-generation CLS sports saloon in June. Today, the Stuttgart-based premium carmaker released a list outlining the arrival dates and the changes for its 2012 model year cars and SUVs in the States. Follow the jump to check it out in detail.
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When it goes on sale towards the end of 2012 or early 2013, the new 3 GT will join the existing body styles of the 3-Series, which include the four-door sedan, the two-door coupe, the five-door station wagon and the hardtop convertible, offering BMW a direct rival to the Audi A5 Sportback.
So what gives? Well, insurance companies are making bigger payouts thanks to litigation. Litigation! Roughly 200 claims a year to be exact, executed by those nefarious, �no win, no fee� lawyer-types. And this is in the UK; a country that I�d have thought would have more sense than that. Fortunately, it seems some people in the UK do have more sense than that as British Parliament has finally woken up to this litigation bully.
In this video, the Saab-loving crew were given the chance to get a first view of the new 9-5 saloon police interceptor as it was being prepared, and which is said to receive its initial public outing this weekend. Follow the jump to watch the clip.
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For those of you that still haven�t had enough of Ferrari�s four-seater model, we now bring you some fresh photos �as always, in high resolution- of the FF shot during the media presentation, which took place at the snow track in Kronplatz, and the winding roads of Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo in the Italian Dolomites. Check them all out in the gallery after the break.
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Now, Ford and GM are desperately trying to hold onto these �brand-less� customers. Accoriding to a report from the Wall Street Journal, in this year alone, 70% Pontiac owners, 71% of Saturn owners and 65% of Mercury owners who traded in their vehicles left with something other than a Ford or GM product.
BMW has a more down-to-earth approach to the show as its emergency models are based on mainstream vehicles that are more suitable for this line of work than the fast, but unpractical, SLS AMG. We're talking about the BMW 3-Series/5-Series Touring models and the X3/X6 SUVs, although the latter is not new, having premiered at the same show in 2008.
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The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused severe problems to automakers all around the world, mainly due to the lack of parts, but at least Toyota seems to be recovering at a faster pace than expected. Today, the world�s largest automaker said production at its North American facilities will rise to approximately 70 percent of normal in June, up from around 30 percent in May when it was forced to idle factories for several days or reduce shifts.
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The latest commercial in Chrysler's �Imported from Detroit� series follows the ads with rapper Eminem for the 200 sedan and more recently, the Homecoming spot starring Detroit Lions rookie, Ndamukong Suh, again for the 300 sedan. The US automaker also plans to air a commercial featuring artist, producer, label head and entrepreneur, Dr. Dre in the all-new 2012 Chrysler 300S. Watch the spot with John Varvatos in the video after the jump.
Entitled �La Forza del Toro� (Italian for �The Force of the Bull�), the exhibition consisted of a Lamborghini Aventador and five V12 engines from different periods of time. Nothing out of the ordinary so far, except the fact that builders of the 16th century building erected it without anticipating that a 2.03-meter wide, 4.78-meter long supercar would one day have to come inside�
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The model seen here is the five-door hatchback version of the new A-Class, which, if our sources are correct, will make its world premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this September. The production A-Class appears to be closely modeled after the concept version, albeit with less dramatic body surfacing and detailing. For example, the nose has been lifted up and is less aggressively styled than on the prototype study.
Marchettino attached a video camera on the rear corner of the Huayra as the supercar made a quick lap around the Adria International Raceway, which is located the Veneto region of Northern Italy. The result? Well, let�s just say that we weren�t exactly thrilled from the sounds of the V12, but keep in mind this may be due to the poor fitting or quality of the camera.
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"We laughed when the Japanese came. We laughed when the Koreans came. But we will not be laughing when the Chinese come. The Chinese are like a steamroller,� said Victor Muller, during a press event in Washington, D.C.
Muller said that if an agreement is reached with Hawtai, the Chinese maker could make use of Saab�s distribution network to sell its cars globally.
"It took 67 years to build up our dealer network. It is the biggest asset not on our asset sheet, and these guys buy into it for free. If they make the proper cars, can you image how much simpler it will be to push product through the distribution network that is already there? It is like a railway network that is already there," said Muller.
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Known for its brazen styling choices when it comes to dressing up cars, the German tuning house�s latest proposal is no exception to the rule. On the outside, the team over at Lumma Design developed an a full aerodynamic kit that includes M-style front bumper, more prominent side skirts and a new rear bumper with side openings and a diffuser that houses quad tail pipes. The deal is sealed with a carbon fiber rear wing, and carbon fiber trim in a checkerboard design on the double kidney grille, the exterior mirrors and the rear diffuser.
For the time being, and aside from the teaser rendering, we don�t get any additional information on the new Aston Martin Zagato but word has it that it could be based on the mechanical hardware and platform of the current V8 Vantage.
The station will provide hydrogen for the Toyota fuel cell hybrid demonstration program vehicles, as well as other manufacturers' fuel cell cars in the Los Angeles area.
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For those of you that would like a better view of the soft-top version of Mercedes� supercar, our spy photographers caught the SLS AMG Roadster out on the streets of Germany with almost no camouflage at all as the only parts of the car that were masked off were the lights and the logo on the hood. This particular example of the SLS AMG sported a black finish with a contrasting tan soft top.
Belmodono�s car is the red Fiat 131 Supermirafiori while his rivals are driving a black Peugeot 504. There are a couple of 180 degree turns, a handful of nice pit manoeuvres and the prerequisite shot of the Eiffel Tower for the non-Gallic viewers. The chase eventually moves to the grounds of the Palais de Chaillot, where we discover just how overused that, �driving a car down some stairs,� thing was before Jason Bourne got around to it.
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�Our analysis shows that luxury cars are more likely to be targeted by vandals, however, it's interesting to see the MINI One in the top three. The majority of vehicles in the top ten are what we call 'executive cars', likely to be driven by high earners who see their car as a status symbol, with just one 4x4 making up the top ten.�
