2012 BMW M6 Spied Testing, gets New M5’s Twin-Turbo V8

The Cygnet is on its way to becoming a true Aston Martin, but not in the sense you might think. We are referring to its price tag with the release of a new limited run special called “Cygnet & colette” that will set buyers back a whopping €48,995, equal to £43,800 and US$70,550!

That’s £18,000 or US$29,000 more than the entry-level Cygnet. This kind of money can buy you a Porsche Boxster in the UK and you would still have more than £7,000 left for spending! And all this for a car that is essentially a re-trimmed Toyota iQ…

As fashionistas may have already guessed by know, the limited edition Cygnet was created in collaboration with Parisian fashion and style boutique, colette.

On the outside, it features a Lightning Silver paint job with bespoke colette blue styling details including a race collection inspired front bumper and bonnet livery, mirror caps and diamond turned road wheels.

Inside, the Cygnet special gets a “Bitter Chocolate themed interior” with hand-trimmed leather and quilted details.

Other unique elements include:

• Stainless steel hand formed and engraved door handle badges
• ‘Cygnet & colette’ branded hand enamelled boot badging manufactured by Thomas Fattorini
• Quilted Alcantara sun visors to complement the quilted leather door and seat inserts
• Hand trimmed, quilted colette blue leather occasional cushions for the rear seats
• ‘Cygnet & colette’ branding on satellite navigation start up
• A unique ‘Cygnet & colette’ key ring machined from solid aluminium with blue enamelling

The British automaker said its Aston Martin Works Tailored division crafted the ‘Cygnet & colette’ and that more special editions are to follow.

“The colette car is the first of the exclusive ‘Cygnet &’ collaborations,” said Aston Martin Director of Design, Marek Reichman. “These cars will give Aston Martin a relevant platform to reach out to new customers in urban areas.”

Aston Martin plans to build only 14 examples of the ‘Cygnet & colette’ city car with first deliveries expected by the end of the year.

PHOTO GALLERY

New MINI JCW Coupe Racer to Debut at 24h of Nurburgring

Well, that was quick. Just three days after unveiling the MINI Coupe, the firm’s first-ever two-seater coupe model, and even though its flagship version won’t be available to the public before autumn, the company presented the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance (yes, that’s quite a mouthful, so we’ll just call it JCW) racer.

And, what’s more, its public debut will be in one of the most demanding endurance races of the world, the Nürburgring 24 hours at the legendary Nordschleife, the place which Jackie Stewart has famously christened “the Green Hell”.

The MINI JCW Endurance is powered by a tuned version of the standard 4-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine that features a twin-scroll turbocharger as well as direct injection.

Power is up to 250 hp, which results in a top speed in excess of 240 km (150 mph), while maximum torque -with the overboost function- reaches 330 Nm (33,6 kgm).

If there’s one thing, other than styling, that the MINI is famous for is its go-kart feeling behind the wheel. Of course, the British firm’s engineers have enhanced it by adding stiffened and adjustable dampers as well as the (obligatory) roll cage, racing seat, 6-point seatbelts and HANS system.

According to MINI the front spoiler, the rear diffuser and the adjustable rear wing of the JCW package generate increased downforce, while the Coupe’s more raked windscreen, compared to the 3-door version, reduces drag.

Last, but not least, and unusually for a racer, the MINI JCW Coupe Endurance features electronic stability control (DSC: Dynamic Control System), which is specially tuned for the track, and the Race ABS from the MINI Challenge.

_______________________________________________________________________

PHOTO GALLERY

Rumors: Mercedes-Benz to Gun for BMW’s X6 with New GLS

It seems that 2014 is going to be a good year for SUV fans: after the news on Audi’s Q4, Mercedes-Benz is also reportedly planning to release another crossover, according to Autocar. However, this one will be more up-market and will have BMW’s X6 (and Audi's Q6, which is expected in 2016) squarely in its sights.

An obvious movement since the controversially styled SUV from BMW has sold more than 120,000 since its launch in 2009. Like its archrival from Munich, Mercedes’s sporty SUV will be a four-seater with a sporty design.

The new model will probably be named GLS and will be based on the new M-Class, sharing its platform and most of its engineering, including the four-wheel drive system. However, it will differentiate itself with more aggressive styling, taking cues from Mercedes’ four-door sedan, the CLS.

Nothing is yet known about the engines, but expect the usual range of gasoline and diesel units, as well as a hybrid, with the top version being powered by a turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 fettled, predictably, by AMG to provide a challenge to the X6 M.

The GLS will most likely be manufactured alongside the M-Class in Mercedes-Benz’s US factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML CLASS

Jeep Survivor Concept Study - For the Man Who Has Everything

A cross between the Warthog from Halo and the pseudo-militaristic Mercedes-Benz M-Classes from The Lost World: Jurassic Park, is the best description I can come up with for Max Ostap's Jeep:Survivor [sic] concept study for the Art Center College of Design.

An off-road vehicle for the man who considers nature an enemy to be vanquished more than anything else, the Survivor draws its inspiration from the Jeep Bantam of WWII.

It’s difficult to deride this aggressive yet strangely attractive concept. It has a purposeful, muscular stance and its integrated front bull bar, roof mounted spare, factory fitted spotlights and a pickup-like rear tray (for your animals carcasses, presumably) are all clever touches.

It reminds me most of the Jeep Renegade Concept of 2008; a personal favourite of mine.

Check out our gallery and leave your thoughts below.

By Tristan Hankins

Designer: Max Ostap

PHOTO GALLERY