Until the SSC Tuatara delivers on its promise on being the world’s fastest road-legal car, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport will hold the crown. Either way, have you ever wondered what it must be like to drive or even see a Veyron Super Sport driving down the regular streets of the world?

Click here for more news on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.

Well, wonder no more. Thanks to the loaded Dubai citizens that fly their cars over to London every year to drive around and shop, we now get to see a Veyron Super Sport just hanging out on a regular day.

Follow the jump for the video.

Refresher: The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport makes a total of 1,200-hp (up from 1,001-hp) with a maximum torque of 1,106 lb-ft. Top speed for the production models will be electronically limited to 259 mph to protect the tires. The first five units will feature a special-series of their own with the same configuration as the landspeed record car.

- By: Omar Rana

A recall is being issued for close to 20,000 Cadillac SRX models by General Motors for potential problems with the crossover’s transmission.

A total of 8,789 units are being recalled in the U.S., while Shanghai GM is recalling 9,862 units, and the remainder are scattered amongst 20 additional countries.

Click here for more news on the Cadillac SRX.

All of the vehicles affected by the recall were made in Mexico at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant, for model years 2010 and 2011.

Problems with the transmission that have been noted so far are unwanted movement when shifting between drive and park and improper routing of the shift cable. So far no reports of injury or accident have been reported because of this issue.

Check out our review on the 2012 Cadillac SRX.

GM also announced that another model built in the Ramos Arizpe plant, the Chevrolet Captiva, has a recall issued for 3,150 units sold to U.S. rental car agencies for problems with the power steering overheating.

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: MSNBC

When the 5-series rolled into Re-Style’s Saint-Petersburg garage, it came in as an Alpine White 550i with an M Sport package. The tuning company fitted the model with AC Schintzer parts and a Hamann body kit to give it a more sporty appeal.

Click here for more news on the BMW 5-Series.

Color is what truly makes the model stand out, as it has been wrapped in chrome green color. Green shades tend to be reminiscent of unpleasant things if they aren’t picked right (ex. Boogers and mold), but Re-Style selected a bright, candy shade that’s defiantly loud, but not at all hard to look at. The car was first wrapped in chrome, and then given the translucent green wrap over top to achieve the effect.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: BMWBlog

Here comes another Ford F-150 recall. The Dearborn automaker has announced that it is recalling 2011 model year F-150 vehicles built from Sept. 9, 2011 through Sept. 22, 2011. The recall also consists of F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550 Heavy Duty models manufactured from Sept. 12, 2011 to Sept. 22, 2011. In total, the recall covers 16,091 units

The NHTSA said that the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, which is theft protection. Basically, the transmission can be shifted out of park without pressing the brake pedal due to a brake shift interlock switch problem.

“This will allow the operator to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian,” the NHTSA said.

FoMoCo will start notifying customers later this month. Dealers will inspect the brake shift interlock switch and replace the switch if necessary. Owners can contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

- By: Omar Rana

Fiat recently has been working very hard to clinch the US market with what seemed like a pretty good offering: the 500 Abarth, but their efforts seem to have been slightly in vain. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just ‘awarded’ three stars to the Fiat 500 for safety, though the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the car a top safety pick.

The NHTSA is still rolling out test results of other vehicles, but thus far, the Fiat seems to have scored the worse except for the outgoing Dodge Caliber and Ford Escape. This comes as a punishing blow to a retro car which has not been enjoying the sustained sales seen by BMW’s Mini Cooper. Speaking of which, the new Mini, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Spark and Toyota Yaris have not been tested yet. The Ford Fiesta has though: four stars.

Click here for more news on the Fiat 500.

The crash test data however is slightly more interesting: the car received four stars for rollover and frontal crash safety, but just two for side impact crash safety. The NHTSA side impact test involves hitting a pole and a wall at just under 40 miles per hour.

The Fiat comes with side curtain airbags and torso/pelvis airbags and while the front seats scored 5 stars in this simulated t-bone situation, rear seat passenger safety is rated only at two stars. The second part of the side impact test involves a 20 mph collision with a narrow pole, in this case the front seats got a score of three stars.

Chrysler’s reaction to the NHTSA test essentially pointed out the number of airbags and the aforementioned praise from the IIHS.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: AutoWeek

Hyundai sales have passed the 600,000 annual mark for the first time in the Korean automaker’s 25-year U.S. history – however, one hot product is leading the way for the whole brand – the new Hyundai Elantra.

So far this year, Hyundai has sold more Elantra units in North American than ever. Through October, Hyundai has sold a total of 216,331 units, a 43 percent increase from 151,735 last year.

Click here for more news on the Hyundai Elantra.

“Elantra has been an absolute phenomenon in the compact car segment,” says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America President and CEO. “In November, Elantra retail sales were up 37 percent, in spite of significant competition from all-new entries such as the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus and Honda Civic.”

The Elantra recently came under attack by Consumer Watchdog, which reached out to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about false EPA ratings on the compact sedan.

- By: Omar Rana

Previously, GM had its dealers maintain one or more Chevy Volts on lots to help increase exposure of the electric car. They have recently given dealers permission to sell the demos in order to create over double the current inventory, since production capacity has not been able to keep up with sales targets.

The Volt has a sales goal of 10,000 units, and will be better able to reach it with the 2,300 demos dealers have been holding on to. So far, GM is about half way to its goal. Dealers will be reimbursed $1,500 for the sale of these units, but they have to be replaced by before February.

GM’s Detroit assembly plant was recently restructured to double capacity, but it is still difficult for consumers to locate the car. A survey has reflected that 72 percent of interested buyers opted for another vehicle due to the availability issue.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Automotive News

The American Guardian features a ton of the brand’s accessories, including a RAM Mounts Laptop Stand System, a Police Interceptor iForce Kit, All-Season Brite-Tread Floor Mats, and Custom Window Bars for the interior.

Outside, the truck features Dee Zee NXt Running Boards, a Blue Series Black Crossover Tool Box, Tailgate Assit, and Grill Guards. Dee Zee also included a tailgate protector, side bed caps, and a bedmat for the truck bed.

Brian Taylor created the custom graphics, and additional highlights such as Bushwacker Fender Flares and a Custom Hood created by Reflexxion Build add to the unique look of this pick up.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Chevrolet will be displaying a line of customized Sonics and Cruzes at the 2011 SEMA Show.

“Most of the show cars wear conceptual Z-Spec styling enhancements, which are being evaluated for production,” Chevrolet said in a statement. ” Z-Spec is a line of performance, styling, and personalization accessories available at Chevy dealerships.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Sonic.

“The heritage of Chevrolet cars like the Corvette and Camaro is being expressed in smaller packages for the next generation,” said Chris Perry, vice president, global marketing and strategy for Chevrolet. “The Sonic and Cruze concepts demonstrate that performance comes in all shapes, sizes and displacements at Chevrolet.”

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Cruze.

Here’s what we’ll see:

Sonic Z-Spec #1 – Designers took a turbocharged Sonic five-door and dressed it with concept Z-Spec accessories. They added Z-Spec ground effects, a spoiler, unique grille and graphics package – then finished it off with a Torch Red exterior and Z-Spec concept 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Cobalt Red cabin features custom trim, including perforated black suede seat inserts, a Z-Spec sport pedal kit, sport shift knob and a racing-style flat-bottom steering wheel. Additional upgrades include performance brakes with four-piston calipers, a new high-flow exhaust system and performance suspension parts.

Sonic Z-Spec #2 – The next Sonic concept – in Flat White with Torch Red accents – builds on concept Z-Spec accessories with a more aggressive ground effects package, unique grille, rear spoiler and graphics package. It rides on Z-Spec concept 18-inch wheels and also includes a re-trimmed interior with Z-Spec sport pedal kit, Z-Spec sport shift knob and a flat-bottom steering wheel. It also features custom racing seats with the Z-Spec logo. The factory powertrain features the 1.4L turbo engine and six-speed manual transmission. Performance upgrades include brakes with four-piston calipers, a high-flow exhaust system and suspension parts.

Sonic Z-Spec 4D Concept – The more formal look of the Sonic sedan lends itself to a touring car-style motif, which this Ashen Grey Metallic concept picks up with concept Z-Spec ground effects, rear spoiler, grille, “Chevrolet” graphics and larger Z-Spec concept 18-inch wheels. As with its five-door counterparts, this Sonic features a re-trimmed interior – in Dark Titanium with Cobalt Red accents – Z-Spec sport pedal kit, aluminum sport shift knob and a flat-bottom steering wheel (trimmed with Cobalt Red suede). The factory turbo 1.4L engine and six-speed manual transmission are complemented by performance upgrades that include four-piston caliper brakes, a high-flow exhaust system and suspension parts.

Sonic Dusk – The most subtle of the Sonic concepts is the Dusk. It features a Berlin Blue exterior, with a mild concept ground effects package, unique grille treatment and 18-inch concept wheels in dark Galvano Silver. Even the lights are tinted blue for a sophisticated statement. The Mojave leather interior has custom seat inserts, Z-Spec shift knob with satin chrome trim, Z-Spec sport pedals and accessory interior trim kit. The Sonic Dusk also features a suede-trimmed, flat-bottom steering wheel, custom audio system and brake and suspension upgrades.

Chevrolet is keeping a few super-secret Sonics under wraps until the SEMA show, each representing an even higher level of performance and personalization.

Cool Cruzes

A pair of custom Cruze sedans demonstrates what is possible with conceptual accessories and a little creativity.

Cruze Z-Spec – Wearing concept Z-Spec ground effects, 18-inch custom wheels, an accessory spoiler and a high-flow grille, the Cruze Z-Spec has the looks and feel of a taut touring car. The exterior appearance of this Cruze is enhanced with a new stripe package that will be available soon, while on the inside are special seat inserts, a racing-style pedal kit, accessory shift knob and interior trim, as well as a new steering wheel.

Cruze Dusk – Complementing the Sonic Dusk concept, the Cruze Dusk suggests a more subtle and sophisticated approach to personalization, including a mild concept ground effects package, a unique grille treatment and dark-tinted wheels. The interior has custom seat inserts, along with an accessory shift knob, sport pedals, interior trim kit, a suede-trimmed steering wheel and a custom audio system.

- By: Omar Rana

This number also represents the 290 percent increase from the previous year, with the 2.0L EcoBoost engines accounting for 15 percent of sales.

Amy Marentic, group marketing manager, says “The Explorer continues to be one of the strongest vehicles in the Ford portfolio, and we are excited to see it surpass the 100,000 sales plateau for the first time since 2007. The success of this vehicle is further evidence that we are delivering products that people want.”

Click here for more news on the Ford Explorer.

Not only has the SUV passed the 100,000 mile mark, the SUV has either tripled or quadrupled sales in each region of the U.S., and the model’s retail share performance has increased by 4.5 points from last year.

Refresher: Power for the 2011 Ford Explorer comes from a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 engine making 290-hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission or the optional 6-speed SelectShift automatic. Ford will also offer an 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled EcoBoost engine making 237-hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Also mated to a 6-speed automatic, the EcoBoost Explorer is expected to deliver a 30 percent increase in fuel-economy. The 2011 Explorer will hit dealerships with three trim levels including base, XLT and Limited. Prices start at $28,190.

- By: Alexandra Koken

The Panamera’s exterior is fitted with a new hood, bumpers, door mods, and the body is widened by new fenders.

Click here for more news on the Porsche Panamera.

Inside, the seats are wrapped in premium leather, while crocodile patterned leather coats the center console, armrest, and extends to the dashboard. Offsetting the leather is a Karelian birch wood trim and abundant gold accents on switches, pedals, and more.

This lavish kit includes $204,465 of modifications, leaving the final price tag at $567,850.

- By: Alexandra Koken

The new BMW X3 is doing wonders for the brand in the United States. Sales of BMW (the brand only) were up 19 percent in the United States, helping it maintain its lead in the market.

BMW sold 1,853 units of the new 2011 BMW X3 last month – up from 146 units from the same period a year ago. Since its launch in January, BMW has sold a total of 19,167 units of the X3.

BMW brand’s overall sales were up to 21,750 units in September. Competitor Mercedes-Benz saw a 9 percent increase to 21,649 units while Lexus saw a 12 percent increase to 14,995.

Check out more news on the BMW X3.

So far in 2011, BMW’s sales are up 13 percent 177,679 units. Mercedes-Benz was up 6.5 percent to 170,058 units while Lexus has fallen 16 percent to 135,647 units.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

While sales of the Nissan LEAF slowed in September, the fully-electric cars still maintains a comfortable lead over GM’s Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

Click here for more news on the Nissan LEAF.

In September, Chevrolet sold a total of 723 units of the Volt, up from 302 units delivered in August. GM attributed August numbers to a changing over production at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant from the 2011 to 2012 model year Volt.

Nissan sold a total of 1,031 units of the LEAF in September, down from 1,362 in August.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Since Jan. 1, Nissan has sold 7,199 units of the LEAF while GM has sold 3,895 units.

Nissan’s target is to sell 25,000 LEAF units in 2011 – GM is aiming to sell 10,000 units of the Volt.

- By: Omar Rana

Production of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Linley will be limited to just 10 units with all going to China. Why China? Well, Bentley wants to thank China for its increasing demand and being its largest sedan market.

All Bentley Continental Flying Spur Linley models feature “Linley elements designed to appeal to customers who value pedigree and lineage, handcrafted quality and peerless design,” Bentley said in a statement. Linley took its special veneers in Santos rosewood and applied to the console, waistrail and roof console.

“Our collaboration with Linley brings a new element to the interior of one of our globally best-selling models,” said Christine Gaskell, member of the board for personnel, Bentley Motors. “The Continental Flying Spur has a unique executive style and elegance which is complemented wonderfully by the Linley veneers. We share an expertise in the use of natural materials and a commitment to superlative craftsmanship.”

Key features of the Linley for Bentley Continental Flying Spur:

• The distinctive marquetry inlaid Helix motif runs throughout the interior.
• Linley-designed box in the rear console – the humidor contains a humidification system, cigar cutter and ashtray.
• In-built fridge set behind the arm rest and rear console, with specially designed space for bottle storage.
• The picnic tables have a pop-up vanity mirror concealed within them, which is a standard option on the CFS.

- By: Omar Rana

Due to Cadillac’s recent success, the new ATS has the potential of being a very competitive alternative to the BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4. In fact, things were going so well, Cadillac was also planning for other body variants of the new ATS including a coupe and convertible version. However, there’s some new word that Cadillac has unfortunately scrapped the convertible version.

Last October, General Motors confirmed that three variants of the ATS were under development: a coupe, convertible, and sedan. A wagon version was also being planned but was cancelled before the ATS even got the green light.

Rumor has it from an inside anonymous source within GM that “there weren’t high enough volume projections of the car to justify the needed capital investment to build it.” There will still be a coupe version though.

Click here for more news about the Cadillac ATS.

All ATS’s will be built on GM’s new Alpha rear-wheel drive platform and the sedan version is expected to launch next summer. Supposedly, there will be two engine options: a 2.0L turbocharged four-banger and a 3.6L V6, both with six-speed cog swappers. All-wheel drive is expected to be optional.

The ATS coupe is projected for an early 2015 launch while there are clues that hint high-performance V-Series editions of the coupe and sedan are in the works. Either way, I have faith Cadillac will do the ATS well and once the V-Series variants come out, well, that will make the comparisons even more interesting.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: GMInsideNews

Let’s say you’re a young middle-aged man who’s moving up in the world. You’re ready to graduate from the jalopy that got you through college and the first couple years of your career. You have a need for extra room to occasionally shuttle colleagues back and forth from business lunches to conference meetings, but you don’t want to succumb to the wallpaper paste of mainstream Japanese sedans. Yet, you also yearn for driving pleasure and luxury for those longer trips. Ideally, you’d beeline it straight to the BMW 5-Series and rightfully so because of its legendary compromise of practicality, luxury and driving performance.

But almost 40 years have elapsed from when the first BMW 5-Series was released and since then, has gained more size and weight than a woman going through pregnancy. And what we have in front of us is the latest iteration of one of the best mid-sized luxury sports sedans money can buy. Does it have what it takes to live up to the legacy and remain the standard? Let’s find out.

2011 BMW 550i xDrive:

• Style: Sedan.
• Drive Type: All-wheel-drive (available in rear-wheel-drive as standard).
• Seating Capacity: 5.
• Base Price: $46,700 (Base BMW 528i).
• Price As Tested: $78,925 (BMW 550i xDrive with options).
• Engine: 4.4 liter TwinPower turbo V8 – 400-hp at 5,500-6,400 rpm / 450 lb-ft of torque at 1,750-4,500 rpm.
• Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic.
• 0 to 60 mph: 4.7 seconds.
• Top Speed: 155 mph.
• Curb Weight: 4,519 lbs.
• Fuel-economy (city/highway): 16/24 mpg.

All Photos Copyright © Nikolina Kostrevski – egmCarTech.

Exterior:

The last 5-Series, dubbed the E60, was a controversial one because of the back-then relatively new iDrive system and its looks. With a face that looked like Edna Everage’s eye wear and enough junk in the trunk that has earned its name in history as the “Bangle-butt,” the E60 definitely had presence. Though, that’s not necessarily a good thing…ask anyone who has gold teeth.

The hood is festooned with protruding creases, giving the 2011 BMW 5-Series an aggressive look. The rising shoulder line and creased doors mimics that of the current 3-Series – in fact as a package, the new 5-Series looks like an elongated E90 3-Series. Although the 3-Series looks a bit pudgy at certain angles, the larger proportions of the 2011 5-Series make far better use of the design cues. It gives of a sense of elegance and just enough muscle that’s by far more sophisticated than the outgoing model. And don’t be mistaken, this is a big car.

Interior:

Inside, you’re greeted with leather galore with hints of real aluminum and piano gloss finished wood. Gone is the bulbously curved dash, which in return goes back to a driver-oriented center console inspired by BMWs of the past. It is mounted further away from the front occupants making the 5-Series feel just as big as the exterior suggests. You feel less like you’re cocooned in the cockpit of a rocket ship like in the old E60.

The 18-way sport seats are comfy but aren’t as supportive as Bimmer La-Z-Boys of the past. Buttonage is well-organized and kept to a minimum with the most important functions such as radio volume and basic HVAC controls being the most prominent. The ergonomics are well thought out for a clean look and ease of use. The iDrive screen is much larger at 10.2 inches and receives a high-definition screen but is still a bit challenging to learn right off the bat, even if you are used to BMW’s infotainment system.

Performance:

Now for some fun stuff. Our 2011 BMW 550i xDrive tester was equipped with BMW’s new 4.4L twin-turbo V8, coded the N63. Being German and a BMW, the new V8 features the latest technology such as direct-injection and air-to-water intercoolers, which increase efficiency. The turbines are mounted in the valley of the engine to make it more compact. BMW’s second generation of variable valve timing, Valvetronic, is also still in the mix. The result is a seamless 400-hp with a maximum torque of 450 throughout the rev band with no observable turbo lag.

Channeled through ZF’s new 8-speed automatic with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel system, the 2011 BMW 550i xDrive can jet from a standstill to 60 in 4.9 seconds and onto a limited top speed of 155 mph. The rate at which the speed climbs is astonishing – but it doesn’t really feel that quick on the inside since BMW focused on making the 2011 5-Series more refined than previous generations of the model. The engine is barely audible by BMW standards and you don’t get that sensation of getting sucked into your seat like the old 550i. Here’s another kicker: despite being equipped with the non-M Sport Package, our tester wasn’t equipped with paddle shifters, so the only way to choose your cog was via the transmission stalk. Odd.

Measuring at 193.1 inches long and 73.2 inches wide, the 2011 BMW 5-Series gains two inches in length and a half-inch in width over the old 5er. Oh yea, I forgot add, a quarter of a ton to its curb weight. Yes, the new 2011 BMW 550i xDrive is a whole 551 pounds heavier than the outgoing 550i. Of course, the AWD doesn’t help, but still.

As cars grew more cumbersome, the boffins at BMW did a fantastic job keeping their cars nimble enough to handle like something a fraction of the size. However, this time around, its seems like they turned their focus more towards luxury than sport to a point where…dare I say, the BMW 550xi has lost some of its hard edge. But that’s not at all to say the 550xi is a wooly handler like something from Lexus. The feeling is similar to your misses gaining a couple pounds from the stresses of life and age. She may have lost the craziness that attracted you to her in the first place, but you still love her to death. Our tester was equipped with the $2,700 Dyanmic Handling Package, allowing for a more diversified driving experience. Cycling through the three modes of Normal, Sport and Sport+ however yielded very little in discernible difference. That said, I just kept the setting in Sport+ throughout most of our test. Compared to the previous 5-Series, the ride was wonderfully smooth and not nearly as harsh as the 550i of the past was. The 2011 BMW 5-Series maintains its legendary stiff-chassis German composure in the corners and at speed. But despite the handling package and BMW’s reputation, plain old physics take their toll from the added weight and size. Body lean was a bit excessive for something from the Roundel. And to perplex us even more, there was quite a bit of oscillation in the shock absorbers even in the Sport+ setting. So much in fact that it almost made us think our 550i xDrive was wafting a bit. Sure, the BMW maintains its position as being one of the best drivers in its segment. However, the 550 xDrive just never met my expectations like old BMWs have.

Overall:

Now, BMW said that their new goal was to make their cars cater more to the American market in order to boost sales. That can be very well noticed when driving the new 2011 BMW 5-Series. With that in mind, the new 5-Series moves closer to being more of a 7-Series rather than a 3-Series. As history tells us, the 5-Series was always more like a 3-Series but bigger. So because it has made its way to be more 7-Series than 3-Series, it doesn’t exactly tingle my insides.

No, the new 5-Series isn’t terrible. In fact, it’s far from it. The 550 xDrive is pretty well-built and drives great and because it dons the badge of Bavaria’s Motor Works, it will sell by the millions. But as a BMW enthusiast myself, it just didn’t excite me like the E60. Sure, the old one made your brain fart whenever you saw one, but when equipped with the proper wheels and bodywork, the E60 ended up being an attractive car fully representative of the badassery that the boffins at the Roundel are capable of. And it also offered a unique driving experience: it was a serious and comfortable executive luxury sedan and if you and your colleagues fancied some tire shredding hoonery, the E60 would reward with enough responsive handling to make Porsches piss their pants.

But the lacking isn’t in the numbers as the 550 xDrive will still make Porsches piss their pants…just not as much. And of course, BMW will still continue to be a buy word for performance in the luxury segment. But because Audi have accomplished a seriously balanced and confident ride with the aging A6 that had the new F10 5-Series in last place in several comparisons (despite the Audi’s age), I will have to say that those looking for a performance luxury mid-sizer shouldn’t limit their options to the 5-Series as the Audi A6 and Infiniti M are equally, if not slightly more exciting to drive. Those looking for more luxury can opt for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. And let’s not forget, we also have the gorgeous Jaguar XF.

All Photos Copyright © Nikolina Kostrevski - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

TechArt’s TA 097/T3 conversion kit for the 911 Turbo includes an installation of a sport air filter, new manifolds, the VTG turbo chargers, high performance intercoolers along with an ECU upgrade.

Click here for more news on the Porsche 911.

That allows the 500-hp Porsche 911 Turbo to pump out a heart-stopping 700-hp with a maximum torque of 649 lb-ft.

That allows the TechArt Porsche 911 Turbo to run from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in just 9 seconds. Top speed comes in at a nice 219 mph.

- By: Omar Rana

An aero kit has been fitted to the CLS 63 AMG with a new front spoiler and lip with black inserts on the stainless steel grille. The rear diffuser, trunk lid, and rear skirt have all also been fitted with new carbon fiber parts. The car rides on a set of 20-inch alloy wheels that compliment the exterior body kit.

Power upgrades are significant as Carlsson tuned the motor from 557-hp to 649-hp, cutting the 0-62mph time from 4.3 to 4.1 seconds. The exhaust has been upgraded to a stainless steel sport system with 4 oval ended pipes.

The CLS was also fitted with a C-Tronic Suspension, Carlsson’s patented version, and dropped 30mm in the front. An automatic device monitors the road condition and adjusts accordingly.

Click here for more news on the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

Inside, Carlsson used a variety of materials for its design including leather and Alcantara, root wood, and carbon fiber, along with other natural elements. All of the seats and door panels have been covered in Carlsson’s exclusive super soft leather. Carbon fiber accents the trim and velour floor mats have been added.

Carlsson also has a variety of additional options to select from for further customization.

- By: Alexandra Koken