Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition Posts a 7:14" Lap Time Around the 'Ring

It takes a lot of confidence to name a special edition of your car after the most demanding and famous circuit in the world. Even if said car is not some run-of-mill model, but a limited edition supercar. Enter the world of the LFA Nürburgring Edition, a track-oriented, hardcore version of the already awesome V10-powered Lexus supercar.

According to Tweets from Lexus Europe, the LFA lapped the Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 14 seconds making it the fourth fastest production car on the 'Ring (according to Wikipedia's record book).

Read more »

Opel Teases Frankfurt-Bound Concept Model through Invitation

An electronic invitation to the press conference that Opel and sister company Vauxhall will hold at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 13 gives us our first sneak peek at the firm's upcoming concept model. Read more »

Ford Plans to double its Chinese Market Presence in all Segments

Since November 2009, China is the world’s top car market, surpassing the US. So it’s only natural for automakers to pay their utmost attention. Among others, BMW previewed the new M5, Peugeot the 508, Nissan the new Tiida and Audi the Q3 at the Shangai Motor Show . The most recent example is Ford, which is planning to more than double its model line-up in the Chinese market according to a senior company executive. Read more »

Eterniti Releases Teaser Photo of “The World’s First Super SUV”

A couple of weeks ago, we told you about the launch of an independent, boutique British luxury carmaker named Eterniti Motors at the Frankfurt Motor Show and revealed a sketch of the firm's first model, a luxury SUV called the Hemera.

Now, Eterniti has released the first picture of what it claims will be “the world’s first super SUV”. The London-based company says that Hemera will satisfy even the most demanding of customers, offering a limousine-like cabin for rear passengers with twin reclining seats, iPads and a drink chiller [sic…].

Read more »

Videos: Tony Stark Appears in New Acura Roadster Concept during NYC Shoot for The Avengers Film

The next Hollywood superhero blockbuster to hit the silver screen is The Avengers, which is due for a 2012 release.

The movie brings together Marvel Studio's greatest superheroes like Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and more.

And what does the movie have to do with an automotive site like Carscoop, we hear you ask? Well, we're getting there. You see, following recent filming in Cleveland, Ohio, the movie set moved to New York City and Central Park this week.

Read more »

Skoda Begins Production of Electric Octavia E Line Test Fleet

Skoda announced that it has begun production of the Octavia E Line, the company’s first fully electric car that was first saw in concept form at last year’s Paris Motor Show.

Starting this fall, the Czech automaker will manufacture a test fleet of 10 cars that will be used for evaluation of the emissions-free technology. This will help the Skoda collect valuable data to be used in future applications that will reduce its average CO2 emissions.

Read more »

In the Works: Become a Car Tycoon in New Automation Game

There are all sorts of games for car enthusiasts in the market ranging from racing to action, but a young startup from Melbourne, Australia, called Camshaft Software, promises to offer something entirely different in the form of a game that will allow players to become car tycoons.

The game, which is still under development, is named Automation and it's the creation of Caswal Parker, the Lead Programmer and Andrew Lamb, the Lead 3D Artist, with the additional help of Jayelinda Suridge, Games Engine Programmer, Bernardo Del Castillo, 2D/3D Artist/Programmer and Stephan Schutze, responsible for Sound Design/Recording.

Read more »

Guess Who’s Back Again? Bob Lutz Returns to GM as Advisor

No matter the age, a petrol head like Bob Lutz can't stay away too long from the car industry. In fact, even though GM's former vice president and product czar had retired in the May 2010, the 79-year-old has been providing advice to the firm's executives without pay ever since.

Now, GM decided to formally hire Lutz as an advisor to provide counsel to the senior leadership team of the company.

Read more »

BMW Tops Competitors for 5th Consecutive Month in the U.S.

BMW continues to expand its lead in the US luxury car market against its main rivals Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. August was the fifth consecutive month in which the Munich-based carmaker was at the top spot with 20,815 deliveries, an increase of 6.5% compared to the same month of 2010. Read more »

Canadian Police Confiscate 13 Supercars after Youngsters Speed Race [with Video]

Ocean’s 13 got away with stealing diamonds, earning millions of cash and ruining their adversary’s life. British Columbia’s 13, 12 young men and one woman, all under 21 years old, got away with racing each other, reaching speeds of over 125 mph (200 km/h) on a metro Vancouver highway with a $196 fine each.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced that the cars impounded had a combined value of $2 million. These are the supercars that were temporarily seized:

Read more »

Mad (Cow) Science: How Canadians Plan to Turn High-Risk Proteins into Bio-Plastic

In the wake of Canada’s 2003 bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak (that’s Mad Cow Disease to you and me), the Canadian government barred the use of BSE infected tissue – including the skull, brain, eyes and spinal cords of cattle – in the production of any and all byproducts.

Fearing that such tissue would merely end up in the landfills of North America, University of Alberta Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science associate professor David Bressler is looking to turn these waste materials into – among other things – bio-friendly plastic for the automotive industry.

Read more »

Fisker Signs Deal to get BMW 2.0-liter Turbo Engines

The man behind the design of BMW's Z8 roadster and now the owner of the brand that bears his name, Henrik Fisker, has announced a new deal with BMW that covers the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models.

Under the agreement, BMW will supply its new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code-named ‘Project Nina’, which are scheduled to enter production in the re-commissioned former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware at the end of 2012 and be on sale the following year.

Read more »

Chevy Brings Breast Cancer Fight to NASCAR with Pink-Themed Camaro Pace Car

A specially themed Camaro SS pace car dressed in a pink outfit will run in the forthcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway next weekend (September 10) to raise awareness on the fight against breast cancer. Read more »

VW Introduces Cylinder Shut-off System on 1.4-liter 4-Cylinder TSI Engine

Volkswagen is already at the forefront of fuel-saving technology, as evidenced by both its production models and frugal concepts that we will see at the Frankfurt Motor Show. But now the German are taking another step forward by introducing a new technology: the first ever application of a cylinder-deactivation feature on a four-cylinder engine.

The system, which is usually reserved for larger engines but will now be offered on the 1.4-liter TSI, works by shutting off cylinders 2 and 3 when the engine operates in low to mid loads, and as a result, reduces average consumption by 0.4 lt/100 km.

Read more »

Footage Shows Police Officer going Nuts on Man Who Declined a Search, but is it Real?

Video footage of a police officer first stopping a man in an SUV for speeding over the limit and then going on a curse rage because the driver declined to have his vehicle searched is making the internet rounds.

In detail, the cop pulled over the SUV for going 57mph in a 45mph zone. The driver initially cooperates providing his license. The officer then makes a background check and discovers a previous arrest for possession of marijuana; he returns to the driver and tells him that he'll "cut him through" for speeding but he would like to take a look at the vehicle.

The SUV driver declines the search without a warrant. The officer, who up to that point was polite, explodes and starts swearing at the man, and then leaves the scene.

Read more »

2012 Nissan Versa Sedan Outsells Competition in Sub-Compact Segment

While it may not be the car most dream to own, the low $10,990 ($11,750 including destination) entry level price tag of the 2012 Nissan Versa sedan seems to have piqued the interest of U.S. buyers looking for a cheap new ride.

According to data released by Nissan today, in August, the first full month of availability of the new Versa sedan, the subcompact model sold of 8,566 units beating all of its theoretical competitors, including the Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mazda 2 and the soon to be replaced, Toyota Yaris.

Read more »

VW's Anniversary Golf GTI Edition 35 with 235HP Arrives in the UK

For those looking for a bit more muscle in their GTI, Volkswagen has launched the special anniversary edition of its hot hatch in Britain. Created to celebrate the Golf GTI's 35th birthday and first shown at the at the Worthersee Festival in Austria this past June, the Golf GTI Edition comes with a tuned 2.0 TFSI delivering 235HP.

The 25HP increase over the standard model allows the Golf Edition 35 to complete the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 6.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 153mph (246km/h).

Read more »

Buick Launces eAssist Version of LaCrosse in China

The LaCrosse, Buick’s mid-size sedan offering, is doing quite well in China with 215,000 deliveries in the first seven months of the year alone. Now General Motors is adding the eAssist mild-hybrid version to the LaCrosse's Chinese line-up and is taking orders in 25 pilot cities, with the first cars scheduled for delivery in September. Read more »

New Honda Civic Hatch to Race in BTCC in 2012 [with Video]

We may be waiting for Honda to fully reveal the European market 2012 Civic hatchback, but the Japanese automaker announced today that the five-door model will compete in the 2012 British Touring Car Championship.

Team Dynamics, which has been a long time Honda partner, will prepare two fully works cars based on the new Civic with which it hopes to repeat 2010’s success of winning both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles.

Read more »

GM's New App Lets you Call your Car and Set a Destination

OnStar has announced a new mobile application for GM vehicles fitted with its RemoteLink system. The app allows drivers to search for a destination on their smartphone and send it directly to their cars via text message or voice mail. The system can store up to five endpoints.

Once the driver starts up his or her car, the route will be readily available and navigation will be activated.

Read more »