Daimler AG announced today that they have chosen Kecskemet, Hungary, for its new plant that will focus on building entry-level Mercedes-Benz cars. Mercedes-Benz plans on increasing its entry-level option from two to four models with the next-generation A-Class and B-Class.

No engine details on the SUV are available as of yet, but according to previous reports the car will be built on the A-Class/B-Class platform and will be positioned under the upcoming GLK and with pricing to be around £22,000 ($43,061 USD).

Rumor has it that Mercedes-Benz will also build a new compact entry-level coupe at the plant

Daimler plans on investing 800 million euros into the new plant and says it will create around 2,500 jobs.

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Earlier this morning we brought you a leaked brochure that gave us basically all the info we needed to know about the new Alfa Romeo Mi.To. Fiat has now released the official press release along with a bunch of new images of its BMW MINI competitor. The Mi.To is the first car from Alfa Romeo since the iconic 8C Competizione.

The Alfa Romeo Mi.To will launch in all major markets in stages starting next month. The entry level model will be powered by a 1.4L 79-hp engine that gives the Mi.To a 0-62 time of 12.3 seconds. The top-of-the-line Mi.To will be powered by a 1.4L turbo producing 153-hp with a 0-62 time of 7.9 seconds.

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XM radio has been offered on the Porsche Cayenne since 2005. Porsche recently said that it will start offering XM’s award winning NavTraffic service as a factory-installed feature on all 2009 Porsche 911 models. Porsche has now announced that the XM NavTraffic will be available on the 2009 Cayenne SUVs as well.

Powered by NAVTEQ, XM NavTraffic offers coast-to-coast updates every minute with real-time traffic service.

The 2009 Porsche Cayenne will go on sale next month with prices starting at $45,495. The 2009 Cayenne S will start at $60,295 while the GTS starts at $71,795. The Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S start at $98,595 and $124,495 respectively.

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There is no doubt that Jeremy Clarkson is a big fan of the Audi R8. After taking it for a spin on Top Gear, Clarkson even wrote in his review of the car for TimesOnline that he likes R8 more than the Lamborghini Gallardo even though the Gallardo is louder and harder.

Following that, Clarkson and Hammond put the Audi R8 up against the Porsche Carrera S.

We’ve now found this video of from Clarkson’s Supercar Showdown DVD comparing the Audi R8 to the Porsche 911 GT3. Check out Sabine Schmitz, queen of the Nurburgring, as she takes on Top Gear’s Stig. Here we go Stigyyy.

About Cars:

• Audi R8: 4.2L FSI V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower. 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• Porsche 911 GT3: 3.6L producing 415-hp. 0-60 comes in 4.1 seconds.

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The 2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder made its U.S. debut in April at the 2008 New York Auto Show. We were lucky enough to be invited out by Porsche last week to take the new Boxster RS 60 Spyder, which pays tribute to the 1960 Type 718 RS 60 Spyder, around the Barber Motorsports Park track in Birmingham, Alabama.

Only 1,960 units of the 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder will be built; which coincides with the 1960 12-Hours of Sebring won by the 550 Spyder Type 718 RS 60. However, only 800 of those will make it over to the U.S. with prices starting at $64,900. Now you’re probably wondering if the extra $9,200 over the Boxster S (which starts at $55,700) is worth the ‘R’, ‘60′ and the ‘Spyder’ badging on the back.

Well on the outside you get the GT Silver Metallic paint work, a red convertible top, 19-inch alloy wheels and umm - that’s about it. On the inside, you pay for the beautiful Carrera Red leather interior (which we couldn’t get enough of) along with a plaque on the dashboard that reminds you that you own one of 1,960 limited edition models. Other than that you get a ‘RS 60 Spyder’ kick plate, body color paint work on the rear seat and a $700 sexy gear-shift knob that reminded us of Iron Man.

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As we prepare to wave goodbye to the current Fiesta, Ford has released a special edition ST to keep interest in its hot-hatch alive. A hard job indeed, with the stunning looks of the Verve concept being carried through to the next-gen car.

It hasn't stopped Ford trying hard though and, following in the footsteps of the Focus ST500 that was released in 2008, all Fiesta ST 500 models come in metallic black with a U-shaped stripe on the front. According to Ford, the new scheme is designed to echo the livery of the classic Escort RS2000 of the ‘70s. Alongside the 'U' come matching stripes down the ST500's flanks.

Performance will be identical to the standard ST’s. So that’s 7.9sec to 60mph and a top speed of 129mph thanks to the 2.0-litre 148bhp engine. Other new editions to the ST500 are a 17-inch, 11-spoke black alloys, red brake calipers and a carbonfibre pattern interior with heated leather seats. It's all yours for £15,000, a £1000 premium over the standard car. See you in Southend on Saturday night.

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These leaked, blinding lime-green photos of the new Ford Focus RS have surfaced on the internet today – nearly a month ahead of the planned unveiling of Ford's new hot hatch.

However, "Babes Fast Cars" has learned that they are computer-generated images of the Focus RS and do not reveal the finished item, which will be launched at the 2008 London motor show in July.

The three shots were used in an internal presentation in 2007 and insiders claim the finished car is considerably different. Come back to Babes Fast Cars Online on 4 July 2008 to find out exactly how different it is...

Ford's latest hot hatch will use the front-wheel drive chassis and powertrain of the regular Focus ST, but beefed up considerably by the boys in the RS division. That means a power output of nearer 300bhp – all put through the front axle and a clever Quaife diff.

What about the design? We reckon this shocking green hatch is a close guide to the finished thing; it's all butch bodywork and contrasting black trim on the grille. Compare it with the official teaser sketch issued in December 2007.

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Mitsubishi has unveiled its new Sportback today, in both Ralliart and hum-drum regular form. The former, the Ralliart version, is a cut-price hot-hatch with Evo looks, but a more mainstream price. It will also be available in four-door saloon form, but not in the UK.

Combined with the regular models, Mitsubishi reckons that the Sportback range will account for 80 percent of Lancer sales in Europe, and that Europe will also take 70 percent of global Sportback production.

The Sportback is the five-door version of the Lancer and closely follows the blueprint of the Prototype-S. The rear lamps are elongated and wrap around the rear to give the car a wider-looking stance; at the front, it gets Mitsubishi’s trademark black grille with a chrome surround.

There’s no Evo X version of the Sportback yet – but there is a £21k Ralliart version that’s essentially a baby Evo. The Ralliart features a detuned version of the 2.0-litre turbo from its bigger brother, delivering 247bhp and 260lb ft torque through a permanent four-wheel drive system.

The Ralliart’s four-wheel drive system is less sophisticated than the Evo X’s, with no Active Yaw Control, but the brakes are upgraded over regular models' with twin-pot ventilated front discs. The Evo’s dual-clutch gearbox will also be available on the Ralliart version, but it won’t have the Super Sport mode which speeds up the gearchanges.

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A lot of people and Car wash babes in bikinis and thongs.
Form more click here: Sexy Car Wash Babes

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With the development of the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model the BMW Group presents trendsetting solutions. Chris Bangle gives us a first impression of the ideas behind the process of sculpturing an experimental study. This is the story behind this innovation!

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When GM released the official horsepower rating for the Corvette ZR1, many expected the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, which is also powered by the supercharged 6.2L small-block V8 but with a smaller Eaton compressor, to have a horsepower rating higher than Cadillac original stated.

Originally Cadillac said that the new 2009 Cadillac CTS-V produces 550-hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. Well today the official specs for the BMW M5 and E 63 AMG fighter were released. The 6.2 supercharged V8 is officially rated at 556 horsepower with a peak torque of 551 lb-ft. 0-60 comes in just 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 171mph on automatic and 195mph on manual.

No wonder it’s reportedly the fastest production sedan to ever lap the Nurburgring.

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Hertz Does It Again; Company Rolls Out Corvette ZHZ, an Exclusive, Limited-Edition, Performance Car for Customers Seeking to Add More Fun and Excitement to Their Trips.

PARK RIDGE, NJ–Jun 9, 2008 — Get ready to start your engines! The Hertz Corporation (NYSE:HTZ - News) has teamed up with General Motors to launch the Corvette ZHZ, a special limited-edition, high-performance super-car now available for rental exclusively through Hertz. Equipped with a 436-horsepower, V-8 engine, the Corvette ZHZ is the newest showcase car in the Hertz Fun Collection, which features a series of sporty vehicles designed to make the drive a key part of the journey.

Recognizing the special appeal of Corvettes to owners and would-be owners, Hertz is adding 500 Corvette ZHZ models to its airport locations in 24 major metropolitan cities across 14 states and Washington, D.C. through June 16, 2008, so this summer you can take to the road in style, wherever your trip takes you. The first Corvette ZHZs debut this month at Hertz airport locations in major cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the limited-edition Corvette ZHZ as part of our Fun Collection fleet,” said Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Hertz. “With the launch of this exclusive program, customers can experience the thrill of renting a high-performance car that provides the utmost in driving experiences while adding a splash of fun with its distinctive look.”

Finished in Hertz’ iconic yellow with an exclusive center exterior black stripe, the Corvette ZHZ features a paddle-shift automatic transmission and 6.2-liter engine with plenty of reserve power for passing. The Corvette ZHZ also features a dual-mode exhaust system, magnetic selective ride control with “tour” and “sport” settings for a customized ride, and specific 18-inch front and 19-inch rear chrome seven-spoke performance wheels. The Corvette ZHZ’s performance exhaust system ensures the aggressive sound performance loved by auto enthusiasts.

The Corvette ZHZ also features a distinctive look, with dramatic fender forms and exposed headlamps combined with the grille and center-exit exhaust, round tail lamps, tapered rear deck, a rear spoiler and body color door handles to create a dramatic visual identity. In addition, the car comes equipped with a screen mesh package that provides side covers, exhaust plate screen and a grille mesh; under-hood blanket with the Corvette emblem and lamp kit; specific console armrest with ZHZ embroidery and a Hertz fender emblem and floor mat embroidery designed by GM.

The Corvette ZHZ will be available as part of the Fun Collection fleet at the following Hertz airport locations: Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa, FL; Savannah, GA; Maui and Oahu, HI; Boston, MA; Newark, NJ ; Charlotte, NC; Portland, OR; Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas and Houston, TX; Seattle, WA; and Washington, DC (Dulles Airport).

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Lotus today introduced a special edition version of the Elise SC in a tribute to Jim Clark, an F1 driver who won 25 Grand Prix races and was the first Briton to win the Indi 500. The Clark Type 25 Elise SC will be limited to just 25 cars in UK with donations of each unit sold going to the Jim Clark memorial fund.

The Clark Type 25 Elise SC gets many of its styling cues from the Type 25 F1 car that Jim Clark used to win the World Championship in 1963. The car gets a removable hard top as standard with British Racing Green with a yellow stripe with Lotus Sports wheels finished in historic black and silver design. The interior gets black leather seats with red leather trim finished with a retro wooden gear knob.

Power still comes from a 1.8 liter 218-hp engine that gives it the ability to go from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 148mph.

Pricing is set at £35,995 MSRP, which includes £5,750 worth of options for just £3,445.

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After a couple of images leaks with no details Pagani has finally release official pictures along with technical details of the upcoming street legal version of Pagani Zonda R. Called the Pagani Zonda Cinque, Pagani will build only 5 units, all of which have already been sold.

The Pagani Zonda Cinque is powered by detuned version of the 7.3L V12 engine to produce 678-hp with a peak torque of 575 lb-ft. The engine is mated to a Cima sequential 6-speed gearbox and is robotized by Automac engineering. 0-62 for the Pagani Zonda Cinque comes in 3.4 seconds while 0-124 takes 9.6 seconds.

Performance is enhanced with an ABS by Bosch, traction control and carbon-ceramic self ventilated Brembo brakes - front 380×34mm 6 piston calipers and rear 380×34mm 4 piston calipers. All that stopping power allows the Pagani Zonda Cinque to go from 62-0 in 2.1 seconds and 124-0 in 4.3 seconds.

Pricing starts at €800,000 (or $1,246,599 USD).

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The latest Ferrari California photos and details have just been released by the Prancing Horse. It’s the first time we've seen the California with its folding hard-top erected, and extra snippets of information - like the size of the 2+2 - have now been announced.

Its 4560mm length puts the California midway between an Aston Martin V8 Vantage and DB9, while the Ferrari’s 1900mm width means it is wider than both Brits. Compared to its Ferrari brethren, the California is 48mm longer than an F430 but 23mm narrower.

The folding metal roof is a two-piece unit that folds away in just 14 seconds. When the roof is up, the boot has a 360-litre capacity, shrinking to 260 when the hard-top is folded away.

The overhead shots of the California also give us the first glimpse of the 2+2’s four seats. Let's not beat about the bush - rear legroom looks a little tight. The wheelbase of the California is 2700mm, a mere 50mm shorter than a 599’s.

And if you’re thinking you don’t want your California in typical Ferrari blood red, then this car’s Azzurro California paint job could be just the ticket.

Number junkies will enjoy the California's 4.3-litre V8, 454bhp at 7500rpm and a 0-62mph time of less than 4.0sec - thanks to a new launch control system.

Emissions figures still haven’t been finalised, but Ferrari claims the California will release ‘around’ 310g/km of CO2. The combined mpg figure is 21.4, better than any other current Ferrari and not bad for a supercar with some towering performance potential.

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Our favorite BMW tuner, Hartge, has released its latest aerodynamic tuning kit for the BMW X5. The new package includes an aggressive front spoiler, rear skirt, side skirts and wheel arch extensions. Carbon fiber casings for the side mirrors are also available along with a mesh grille that gives the front end a sharp look.

Hartge is also offering an ECU upgrade for the X5 the increases power in the 3.0sd to 328-hp and 275-hp for the 3.0d. Stainless-steel exhaust tailpipes and a sport spring set are also available and lower the X5 by 30mm.

The Hartge BMW X5 rides on 10-spoke 22-inch alloys with Pirelli or Continental tires. Now you can stand out from all the other X5s on the road (of course, it’ll cost you a premium).

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For those that keep asking us - yes, the BMW X1 is real and it has been confirmed by CEO Reithofer himself. And today BMW confirmed that it will be building its X1 SUV at its Leipzig plant in Germany, which is now capable of assembling 700 cars a day.

“The exact time point of production start and the market launch of the X1 will be revealed at a later date,” BMW said in a German press release.

BMW also said on Friday that it plans investments of more than $155 million at the Leipzig plant where it also produces the 3-Series sedan, coupe and cabriolet as well as the coupe version of the BMW 1-Series.

The BMW X1 will be built on the 1-Series platform and will make its debut sometime in 2011.

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