Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Porsche

Nestled in between Porsche‘s perennial favorite 911 Carrera S and audacious 911 GT3 is the automaker’s latest creation – the 911 Carrera GTS. It features the slightly wider body of the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 models, but only delivers its power to the rear wheels. Speaking of power, Porsche has upgraded the 3.8-liter flat-six to crank out 408 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and with added visual bits like 19-inch RS Spyder wheels and SportDesign front and rear fascias, this is indeed the middle child 911 that we’d be happy to live with.

The 911 Carrera GTS is making its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, and we’ve snagged some live shots of both the coupe and cabriolet under the auto show lights. Have a click through our high-res image galleries below to see the latest hotness.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is the middle child we can live with originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Africa recorded a trade deficit of R4.7 billion in August, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said on Thursday.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Land Rover, Design/Style, Luxury, Off-Road

Land Rover is very happy to show off its new Evoque. In fact, the automaker just commissioned an artist to create wire-frame versions of the little luxury crossover. The pieces, of which there are four, have been placed as art installations throughout Paris. The whole concept is designed to highlight the model during its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Four artists were chosen to create the pieces; André (a.k.a. “Monsieur A”), JCDC, Surface To Air and Yorgo Touplas. The unique units can be seen now through the end of September.

We’re big fans of wire-frame artwork because it presents a very unique perspective on an everyday object. It’s a smart way for Land Rover to get the Parisian locals and visitors talking about their newest model, especially since the city is currently filled with automotive journalists attending the Paris Motor Show and fashionistas in town for Paris Fashion Week.

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Range Rover Evoque art installations pop up across Paris

Range Rover Evoque art installations pop up across Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Nissan

Well look what we found tucked away in a glass-enclosed corner of the Nissan stand. What you’re looking at is the 2012 Nissan GT-R, complete with a fascia comprised of a restyled bumper, air-intakes and LED daytime running lamps. A new diffuser pulled from the SpecM is mounted out back, along with new lightweight wheels that may or may not be included in the final package. Our insider wouldn’t give us any details on power increases, but they did say we should keep an eye out for an official announcement in the coming months.

Paris 2010: Facelifted 2012 Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

The 2012 Mercedes CLS is the second act of the car that invented both the market segment and the grammatical quandary known as the “four-door coupe.” Made dramatically more bold for this go-round, it features an upright grille that flows back into a rump that disappears in photos but holds its own in person. The new sedan is also lighter, with aluminum doors that are 52 pounds less heavy and an aluminum hood, front fenders, trunk lid and parcel shelf.

Along with the design, the engines are the story. There will be four available, starting with two 3.5-liter V6 engines in Europe. One is a 265-horsepower diesel engine and the other a 306-hp gas V6 with standard stop/start. Next comes the 2.5-liter four-cylinder diesel with 204 hp, and last to arrive is the V8 CLS 550 putting out 402 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.

LED High Performance Active Headlights, Direct-Steer electromechanical steering, a tweaked suspension lifted from the E-Class, and a host of interior trim options that range from carbon fiber to high gloss brown burl walnut are among the many changes on the car. There are more details in the press release after the jump, and a gallery of live high-res photos below.

Continue reading Paris 2010: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS comes on strong

Paris 2010: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS comes on strong originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IT WAS the biggest salmon he’d ever caught, but the pride British journalist Charles Clover felt in catching the 10kg fish from the Welsh River Dee has long since dissipated. There is no longer a spring run along the river, most likely because anglers have caught so many salmon that there are too few left to breed.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Mini, Racing

When Mini first announced it was taking the Countryman to tango with the rest of the brawlers in the World Rally Championship, we had our doubts about the crossover’s ability to keep the pace. But judging by the look of the Prodrive-prepped machine, the Countryman WRC should have no problem locking horns with the big boys on the world stage. Mini gave the rally racer an official unveil at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but the company is keeping the drivetrain details to itself for now.

Not too long ago, the internets enjoyed a rash of videos showing a Countryman WRC prototype busting through the hills of Portugal, so we have some notion of the car’s capabilities off tarmac. Will Prodrive’s expertise be enough to help Mini keep its head above water in the WRC? Something tells us that all depends on who they stick in the cockpit. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Photos by Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: Mini Countryman WRC looks the part

Paris 2010: Mini Countryman WRC looks the part originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GIFT Mafuleka is sitting in a lush crop of baby garden peas, cracking pods open to check on their size and how far they are from harvest. In a few weeks, the juicy vegetables will be collected, frozen, packaged in a McCain’s bag, and be at a store near you.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Wagon, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Nissan, Design/Style

Nissan has revealed its Townpod EV concept, a sort of larger, more amorphous take on the Cube and Leaf. Singularly Japanese in feel, the Townpod is intended to bridge the world of private and commercial vehicles. According to the splendiforously indulgent press release (sample: “The innovative position of the headlights also allows a coupe-esque bonnet line, not dissimilar to Nissan Z, which feeds in to a visor-like wraparound, blue tinted glass house, reminiscent of Nissan Cube, while the galls to body proportions hark back to the rat-rods of the fifties.“), the Townpod targets everyone from young entrepreneurs to first-time home builders and retirees looking to turn their hobby into a paycheck.

The barn-doored concept has a bizarrely characterful and friendly looking animated marshmallow-like face, with headlamps that feature blue ‘petals’ that change position depending on whether they are being used as marker units or headlights. The interior is a flexible space that’s designed to accept third-party storage accessories and such, and it’s complete with a display that according to Nissan is designed to coordinate with the owner’s PDA (who uses a PDA anymore?).

Nissan says that the Townpod has been designed as an EV, though interestingly, it actually doesn’t explain the motivational technology underneath the vehicle’s sheetmetal. Its mystery powerplant is seemingly appropriate for such a blank-canvas concept, of course. After all, François Bancon, Nissan’s general manager of its Exploratory and Advance Planning Department notes that the same blank-slate mindset is true of the car’s intended audience: “What is more revealing is that Nissan Townpod users do not appreciate stereotypes or status symbols. For them, the ultimate status is to have no status.” Uh-huh.

Check out our high-res galleries below and be sure to hop the jump for more sage thoughts from Nissan.

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Paris 2010: Townpod EV concept continues Nissan’s obsession with car as appliance

Paris 2010: Townpod EV concept continues Nissan’s obsession with car as appliance originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hollywood actor Tony Curtis has died at the age of 85.

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