Citroën DS3 Yves Saint Laurent

Specially for the Yves Saint Laurent, Citroen has created a very special version of the DS3 premium hatchback, that was shown to fashion and film stars at the Petit Palais in Paris on Wednesday 10 March.

DS3 Yves Saint Laurent features special paint job, complete with a big Yves Saint Laurent logo on the black roof. Unfortunately Citroen has not released any images of the interior, so we don’t know did this special edition receive any fashionable interior upgrades.

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Mazda MX-5 Black and Matte Special Edition

Mazda has released a special edition of their roadster to celebrate 20 years of Miata/MX-5 in France. The Mazda MX-5 Black and Matte Special Edition waw presented at the 21st annual Salon du Cabriolet, Coupe & SUV in Paris.

The special edition car was designed in partnership with fashion designer Laure Kczekotowska. Other highlights in addition to the matte black paintwork are darkened windows, black rims and different accessories crafted by jewelers.

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Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle also in Sunderland, UK

Nissan’s electric Leaf production in Japan will start end of this year. Production in US will start in 2012 and in addition this zero-emissions electric car will be produced at the company’s Sunderland plant in the UK in 2013.

The Sunderland plant will have a capacity of 50,000 LEAF units per annum. That is surely a big change towards electric future in the auto industry.

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Video: GM shows next-generation head-up display technology

General Motors R&D and several universities are working on a system that would use data gathered from an array of vehicle sensors and cameras and project images generated by compact ultra violet lasers directly onto the entire surface of the windshield.

For example if you are driving in the fog, the system could use vehicle’s infrared cameras to identify where the edge of the road is and the lasers could ‘paint’ the edge of the road onto the windshield so the driver knows where the edge of the road.

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Congratulations! 60 years of Porsche production in Zuffenhausen

Zuffenhausen has been Porsche’s home address for more than 70 years and more than one million Porsche sports cars have been built here in Stuttgart since 1950.

The Porsche Design and Construction office moved from Kronenstrasse 24 in downtown Stuttgart to the new group of buildings in the District of Zuffenhausen way back in June 1938. They did produce there a Beetle in 1938 and Type 64 in 1939.

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Video: Ferrari 599 HY-KERS Hybrid System in 3D Animation

Ferrari presented the vettura laboratorio (experimental vehicle) at the Geneva Motor Show based on the 599 GTB Fiorano equipped with an advanced new hybrid transmission.

Hybrid technology is one of the solutions examined by Ferrari in its on-going research and development into making its production cars ever more efficient.

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Restyled 2011 Scion xB starts at $16,000

Scion has announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for the restyled 2011 xB that will arrive at dealerships later this month. The 2011 xB is upgraded with an aggressive new look on the outside and added comfort and convenience on the inside.

2011 xB come with a $150 price increase over the 2010 model resulting with MSRPs of $16,000 for manual and $16,950 for automatic transmission model.

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BMW confirms future plans to build FWD models

BMW, the Ultimate Driving Machine is all about rear wheel drive, with few models also with all-wheel drive mode. Looks like some of the future models are going to get also a front-wheel drive.

At the Annual Accounts Press Conference for 2010, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW said: …we will launch more MINI and BMW models and variants – also in the small car segment. This segment is expected to grow further. And we will take advantage of this opportunity. We are exploring the possibility of developing a joint architecture for the front and four-wheel drive systems of these cars.

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BMW M division introduces: BMW M Bike

The BMW M Bike is a spectacular combination of state-of-the-art technology and exclusive design. This special limited edition bike will be available in June 2010 at select BMW dealers and online at www.bmw-shop.com.

The BMW M Bike’s saddle is made from the highest quality leather with a red inlay. The built-in Shimano SLX gear system is light and sturdy. The Manitou Match suspension fork on the front wheel is incredibly durable and the disc brakes make for a clean stop.

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New photos: Bugatti 16C Galibier concept

Bugatti has released new photos of the 16C Galibier concept, that made its debut last fall. First images Bugatti released showed this luxury sedan in a two-tone blue and silver paint scheme.

New images that Bugatti released this week show it in a much different shade - in black! Rumor is that 16C Gailibier will go on sale in late 2012 with a price tag around $1.5 million.

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ENCO Exclusive body kit for Audi Q5

The newly developed Q5 body kit by Enco Exclusive is based optically on its big brother the Q7 or in particular here the V12 TDI version.

ENCO body kit for the Q5 includes new front bumper with air inlets to, integrated LED daytime running lights, new hood with a sublime mid-section with two chrome air outlets, mudguards, door extensions, new skirts, oval end exhaust pipes and body-coloured spoiler above the rear windscreen.

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Volkswagen announces R GmbH performance subsidiary

The Volkswagen R GmbH will be the specialist for sporty exclusive models from Volkswagen in the future. Volkswagen AG has bundled the responsibilities and competencies for development, implementations and sales of individualised vehicle offers into Volkswagen R GmbH.

For example, its portfolio already includes the two new top models, the Scirocco R und the Golf R as well as the dynamic R Line design packages and luxurious Volkswagen Exclusive items.

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Happy birthday! Volkswagen Bus turns 60

Production of the Volkswagen Transporter van started in March 1950 and during the 60 years since then it has become one of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ best-selling models globally, the number one imported van in the UK as well as one of the most iconic and popular vans in the world.

After five generations over 10 million units have been produced with functional and practical bodystyles, each representing the ultimate multi-purpose vehicle of its time.

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2011 Ford Mustang GT packs 412 hp and impressive 26 mpg highway

Ford introduced the new more powerful Mustang GT end of last year. Now Ford has also released fuel economy numbers for this new pony car.

Numbers are impressive! New 412-hp 5.0-liter V-8 engine has an EPA rating of 26 mpg highway when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, giving it the best fuel economy in its class. In city Mustang GT is rated at 17 mpg.

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Limited edition Fiat 500C Pink announced for UK

In addition to the regular 500 Pink, Fiat has announced a convertible 500C Pink for the UK market. The hatch was limited to 500 units and the convertible is limited to 300 units.

“We reacted to customers’ requests earlier this year when we gave them the 500 Pink, and I believe we will find a new group of fans with the 500C version of this limited edition car,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland.

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