The 2009 Chevrolet Cruze has a coupe-style profile, while its wide stance, aggressive frontal styling and smartly shaped rear give it the appearance of a much more expensive and larger car, a feeling backed up by an attention to detail and level of build quality normally reserved for premium models.

Cruze will be offered with four different engine choices, two petrol units and one diesel with a choice of two different power outputs. The top of the range unit is the 2.0-litre VCDi diesel, initially available with 150PS, with a 125PS unit arriving in dealerships later in the summer. The commonrail turbodiesel unit offers incredibly strong performance throughout the rev range, with 0-62mph possible in just 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 130mph in 150PS guise. The 125PS unit offers a 0-62mph time of 10.3 seconds and a top speed of 122mph.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Ford ran the "10 Unleashed" promotion, which asked people to describe their ultimate Mustang dream experience in 250 words or less. A visually impaired gentleman was the winner of the Ford promo, Roger Keeney took a brand new 2010 Ford Mustang convertible on an amazing ride, doing donuts on the pavement and amassing speeds of up to 90 mph.

This would be a thrill for anybody but what makes this truly remarkable is that fact that Keeney has been blind for the past 20 years.

[Source: Ford]

New limited production Pagani Cinque Roadster takes advantage of the incredibly light carbon-titanium fibre body used in the previous Cinque to keep weight down at only 1 210 kg, that’s exactly the same as the Coupe.

Pagani Cinque Roadster’s got the 498 kW AMG engine, ceramic-coated titanium exhaust system, magnesium/aluminium wheels and a magnesium/titanium suspension. Pagani offers a zero to 100 km/h time of 3.4 and a zero to 200 km/h time of 9.6 seconds seconds from its 678bhp V12 Mercedes-sourced engine.

Produced in a limited run of five, the Cinque Roadster will set you back about £1.1 million before taxes.

[Source: Pagani]

Ford announced today that it has added a new trim-level to the 2010 Lincoln MKZ for those that want an even more luxurious MKZ. The 2010 Lincoln MKZ with the Executive Appearance Package offers more luxury appointments such as a genuine walnut wood trim and standard Navigation with Sirius Travel Link.

Inside, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ Executive Appearance Package is available with Dark Charcoal or Cashmere color, leather-trimmed seats, a unique door trim with stitching, genuine swirl walnut wood instrument panel accents and console and premium front and rear floor mats with the Lincoln star. Exterior colors include, Tuxedo Black, White Platinum, Brilliant Silver, Sterling Gray and Sangria Red.

[Source: Lincoln]

Spyker's factory race team, SNORAS Spyker Squadron, finished in fifth place in the 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Dutch team started yesterday from an eleventh position. The Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R was driven by the Le Mans Series' drivers Jarek Janis (CZE) Tom Coronel (NLD) and last year's LMP2 class winner Jeroen Bleekemolen (NLD).

Spyker Squadron was founded in 2001 to underwrite the performance of the highly exclusive hand-build Spyker sports cars. Spyker Squadron is a dedicated team consisting of engineers, drivers and supporting personnel that develops, builds and supports the Spyker GT2 race cars. The team is based in Zeewolde, the Netherlands, where it has a high-tech workshop to support its operations.

[Source: Spyker]

Nissan has launched the Nissan 370Z Yellow special version which will only be available in the UK. The Nissan 370Z Yellow features a special paint job in yellow, obviously, and has a number of design cues that hint to the European GT4 series race cars. The Nissan 370Z Yellow features 19-inch RAYS forged alloy wheels and special graphics.

There are mechanical upgrades with the 370Z Yellow using the same 331HP 3.7-liter V6 engine linked to a six-speed manual or optionally, a seven-speed automatic transmission, that launches the coupe from rest to 62mph (100km/h) in 5.3sec and goes on to a restricted top speed of 155mph or 250km/h.

The interior of the Nissan 370Z Yellow is dominated by black, with leather and suede, illuminated entry plates, special mats and a BOSE sound system.

[Source: Nissan]

With its agile, versatile and modern character, the BMW X1 guarantees a new driving experience in the premium compact segment. It expands and enhances the range of BMW X models by yet another innovative vehicle concept.

The BMW X1 lineup will start with the xDrive20d, which is powered by a 177-hp diesel engine. Second is the xDrive23d, which is powered boy 204-hp turbodiesel. The xDrive28i gasoline model is powered by a 3.0L 6-cylinder making 231-hp and a 199 lb-ft of torque. It will be the only model offered in North America.

[Source: BMW]

The stylish New Fiat 500 C pays homage to the original 1957 fabric roof Fiat 500, but today’s thoroughly modern interpretation offers customers innovative solutions in terms of mechanical design, engines and comfort. Having made its international public debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March, the new Fiat 500 C, a convertible version of the iconic Fiat 500, goes on sale in the UK on Thursday 2 July – with the UK being the first market in the world to receive the vehicle.

The Fiat 500 C offers a comprehensive range of proven, widely acclaimed engines: two are petrol (a 1.2 litre, 69 bhp 8v and a 1.4 litre, 100 bhp 16v). The third is Fiat’s award-winning 1.3 litre, 75 bhp 16v MultiJet turbodiesel with DPF. Each one offers different qualities, but all are combined with five or six speed manual gearboxes. A Dualogic semi-automatic sequential robotised gearbox is also available for the petrol engines, complete with steering wheel paddle shift on the 1.4 version.

[Source: Fiat]

With an unbeaten record of 16 victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the reputation of Porsche has been founded on success in the high speed, high pressure motor sport environment. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Porsche 917, the first Porsche to win Le Mans outright, and it is therefore appropriate that the theme of the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3-5) is ‘True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance’.

To commemorate this birthday occasion in style, a stunning selection of examples of the 917 – many on loan from the new Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany - will be present at Goodwood, including the 1970 Le Mans winner and the distinctively-liveried 917/20 ‘Pink Pig’.

[Source: Porsche]

The Sportec T80 builds upon the performance of the SPR1 range by increasing the power of its bi-turbo, 3.6-litre, 24-valve, flat six T80M engine to a staggering 858 bhp. The SPORTEC SPR1 T80 enjoys supercar performance, taking a mere 3.0 seconds to hit 62mph (100kmh,) with 186mph (300kmh) appearing in just 18.9 seconds. A top speed of more than 236mph has been recorded at Nardo, Italy.

[Source: Sportec]

The first Alfa Romeo 8C Spider production car to be seen on the move in Britain will participate at next weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Spider will be joined on the hill by several famous motor racing cars from Alfa's historic museum collection in Arese, Italy, including a 1924 P2 Gran Premio which won the first World Championship in 1925 and the 6C 3000 CM that was driven to second place by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1953 Mille Miglia.

The Italian firm which is a year shy of its 100th anniversary, said that it will also bring along two special concept cars, the wedge-shaped 1968 Alfa Carabo featuring hydropneumatic-powered gull-wing doors and multi-coloured one way glass windows, and the 1978 Najavo study.

[Source: Alfa-Romeo]

The latest version of the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s most successful model of all time - overall, more than 9,000 units of the model range have already been produced - boasts not only its own distinctive design and exclusive equipment, but its technology is unique too, as indicated by the model badge: the 550 stands for the power output in hp and the 2 is for rear wheel drive.

[Source: Lamborghini]

One of Formula One's truest stalwarts will have his 40 years in the top flight celebrated at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, as organisers pay tribute to Sir Frank Williams' contribution to grand prix racing.

Throughout the Festival weekend, a number of significant Williams Grand Prix cars and former drivers will be present, culminating on Sunday [5 July] with a gathering of each car and driver in the Goodwood F1 Paddock assembly area to honour the man behind the team.

[Source: Misc]

A new photo gallery of the very desirable Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

[Source: Bugatti]

The fastest Jaguar ever will make its UK debut later this week at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Jaguar's XFR Prototype made its record-breaking run at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah last November, reaching a stunning top speed of 225.675mph.

As well as performance enhancements and a louder exhaust, this one-off XKR, based on a MY10 vehicle, features 21-inch wheels and a lowered ride-height. The exterior also stands out with a unique Lime Green paint scheme and XKR exterior graphic along with satin graphite detailing to the front grilles, headlights, door mirrors, side window surrounds, rear signature blade and bonnet louvres.

[Source: Jaguar]

Building upon their five previous Seat Leon styling kits in various forms, JE Design has announced yet another new styling package for Seat’s recently updated Leon.

The company starts out by offering an extensive aerodynamic body kit that consists of a new front spoiler (€299), aggressive side skirts (€299), and a bold rear apron in mock carbon fiber (€349). Should that fail to spark your interest, JE Design also offers a massive rear wing (€459), a matt black grille (€119), "headlights masks" (€89), and a hood scoop (€149).

To give the Leon a sporty stance, JE Design offers a sport spring lowering kit (€159) that reduces the ride height 35mm up front and 15mm out back. If that isn't enough for your tastes, they also offer a more aggressive coilover lowering kit (€979) that reduces ride height by up to 65mm. Other styling options include the usual assortment of alloy wheels (in 17, 18 and 19 inches), a stainless steel dual central exhaust (€339), and a slightly sportier stainless steel quad exhaust (€899).

[Source: JE-Design]

The refreshed 2009 Mazda MX-5 soft top and Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe arrives in showrooms, armed with exciting new styling, a cleaner and greener line-up of powerplants, higher levels of standard equipment, a raft of enhancements to the cabin architecture and the option of the new PowerShift six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission.

Mazda MX-5 customers will now have a choice of four powertrains – the 126ps 1.8i; the higher-revving 160ps 2.0i with five-speed gearbox; the 160ps 2.0i with a revised six-speed manual gearbox; and the new 160ps 2.0i ‘PowerShift’ six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission with full-auto mode.

[Source: Mazda]

Like its hardtop brother the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Coupe, the Spyder receives power-boosting engine modifications, styling alterations, and chassis tweaks that earn it the LP560-4 badge.

Dropped into the Spyder is the same updated V-10 from the LP560 coupe. The major changes to the engine are an increase in displacement from 5.0 liters to 5.2, the addition of direct fuel injection, and a higher compression ratio of 12.5:1. The result is 552 horsepower at 8000 rpm (the 560 in the car’s name refers to PS, a European unit of power measurement) and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. Lamborghini predicts 0–62 mph times of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 201 mph.

[Source: Lamborghini]

It was a time to celebrate for Techart at this year's Tuner Grand Prix at Hockenheimring race track where the TECHART-modified 911 GT2 won with an average lapt time of 1:08.037 minutes over five laps driven around the small circuit. Thanks to modified VTG turbochargers, the engine generates 700 bhp / 515 kW at 7,000 rpm and puts down a maximum torque of 860 Nm onto the tarmac at 4,500 rpm. The car is capable of top speeds of up 350 km/h.

[Source: Techart]

In August, Peugeot will launch the new restyled 207. Featuring revised exterior and interior styling, new standard equipment and low CO2 emissions, Peugeot hopes the new 207 will further strengthen the 207’s position as Europe’s top selling small car (a position it has held for the last two consecutive years, 2007 and 2008).

The 207 has a deserved reputation for great style, and in August it becomes even more visually appealing due to the introduction of a number of new styling features. A redesigned front which combines the car’s natural dynamism with a softer visual look; increased use of exterior body colouring and chrome detailing and spectacular new rear lights which use panels of light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the hatchback and CC models.

[Source: Peugeot]