2010 Rolls Royce PR4 'Baby' Limo Captured on Film by Reader

During a skiing trip to Austria, Auto Cars 2011 reader Philipp Schmid and his female companion stumbled upon a BMW Group test-car convoy comprised of various future models including Rolls Royce's forthcoming 'baby' limo. Codenamed PR4, the four-door luxury sedan is based on the new BMW 7-Series platform and mechanics and according to sources, it will be positioned between the Bavarian automaker's flagship saloon and the larger Rolls Royce Phantom.

Despite the fact that the PR4 is heavily related to the 7-Series, the British firm has said that its entry-level sedan will powered by a new engine, unique to Rolls-Royce - most likely a V12.

Our reader's spy video and photos reveal that the PR4 will carry on many design cues from the larger Phantom, including the rear suicide doors from the Phantom and the high, squared-off shaped roof that helps provide enough headroom for the car's wealthy rear passengers.

"The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving," claims Rolls Royce Chief designer, Ian Cameron. "In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense."

Though this has not been officially confirmed yet, it is rumored that Rolls Royce will present a concept version of the PR4 at next month's Geneva Motor Show. The production version of Rolls Royce 'baby' luxury model is due to be launched in international markets during 2010.

Auto Cars 2011 thanks Philipp for the video and spy shots!

VW's New Beetle Convertible Gets All Red: 'Blush' Limited Edition

The latest special edition model to come out Volkswagen's American arm is the 2009 New Beetle Convertible "Blush" and as its names suggests, it features a red leather interior combined with a red ragtop. On the outside, it comes with an exclusive 'White Gold" paint that is not offered on the standard version. Noticeably, the "Blush" edition is the only current New Beetle Convertible available with genuine leather seating surfaces. Other unique features of the special edition include a red boot for when the convertible top is down, and newly-designed 17-inch alloy wheels.

Under the hood, the New Beetle Convertible the "Blush" edition gets the standard 2.5-liter engine that produces 150-horsepower, and 170 lbs.ft. of torque, hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission. If you're the kind of type that won't blush if you're seen in a New Beetle Convertible, then this special and limited run edition could be yours for $26,990.

Video: Smoking Hot 701-WHP Turbocharged Honda S2000

Honda's S2000 may be reaching the end of its life this year, but we're pretty sure that the rev-happy roadster will continue to draw our attention in the future with proposals such as this modified version that cranks out a jaw-dropping 701 wheel-horsepower. Built by T1 Race Development, the S2000's stock 4-cylinder engine benefits from a Borg Warner S372R turbocharger, a T1 race manifold and 1,000 cc Bosch Injectors. As you can see, T1 also rerouted the exhaust pipes to the side of the S2000.

In this video that ends in with a humoristic notice from the behalf of its creators, the Honda-licious S2000 Roadster smokes about anything that it meets on the road, including a Suzuki GSXR 1000 sportsbike - though it does seem that the latter kinda let off in the end.

Via: Diariomotor

Rumorville: Ferrari to Unveil New F450 in Frankfurt this October

Even though we're still months ahead of the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Britain's Autocar magazine has learned that Ferrari will take the wraps off its F430 replacement. Expected to be named F450, the new V8 Prancing Horse is said to be for the most part new, with only a minor components in the chassis or bodywork coming from the current F430 that was introduced back in 2004.

Autocar claims that the F450 will be the first model to come out of the Maranello factory to feature eco-friendly green materials and several weight reduction measures that were first seen on the firm's 2007 Mille Chili eco-concept that is seen in our image gallery.

Ferrari has not disclosed any information of the F450's engine, but it is said that the sportscar will benefit from a updated version of the F430's V8 with an enlarged capacity of 4.5-liters delivering somewhere north of 500-horsepower.

Via: Autocar

2010 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid Facelift Prices Announced

Shortly after their official premiere at the Detroit Motor Show in January, Toyota announced pricing for the updated 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid midsize sedans that will begin arriving at dealers in March 2009. The gasoline model's base MSRP will range from $19,395 for the Camry sedan with a new six-speed manual transmission to $29,045 for a fully equipped XLE with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Camry Hybrid carries a price tag of $26,150. Overall, the Camry's MSRP represents an overall increase of $281 or 1.2 percent over the 2009 MY.

The most significant change on the 2010 Camry concerns the introduction of a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for the standard, LE and XLE grades with 169-horsepower that can be combined with a six-speed manual transmission (excluding XLE) or a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift. Furthermore, the SE grade gets additional tuning and 179-horsepower, 21 more than its predecessor.

Toyota claims that fuel economy is improved with EPA fuel economy estimates of 33 mpg highway, 22 mpg city and 26 mpg combined for the 2.5-liter four cylinder engine with the six-speed manual transmission.

A 3.5-liter V6 delivering 268 horsepower and paired with a six -speed automatic transmission will continue to be available on the LE, SE and XLE grades. This engine gets EPA mpg estimates of 28 mpg highway, 19 mpg city and 23 mpg combined.

On the outside, the 2010 Camry gets a minor facelift with a newly designed grille and front bumper, an enlarged lower intake, larger projector headlamps and restyled tail lamps. Inside, the Camry and LE grades are available with a new optional audio system equipped with a new USB port for auxiliary music sources, Bluetooth(R), integrated satellite radio, single-CD, and MP3 and Bluetooth(R) streaming music capability.

Ferrari Recalling 1,950 F430 Spiders over Roof Top System Leak

It's not often that we hear about recalls from exotic marques like Ferrari, not because they don't have problems, but simply due to the fact that there aren't many out there. In one of those rare 'occasions', Ferrari is getting ready to send a letter to 1,950 MY 2005-2007 F430 Spider owners in the U.S. over a problem with the hydraulic hoses for the convertible top that are located inside of the engine compartment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) said that the engine heat could cause cracks to the hoses leading in fluid leakage.

In this case, the fluids may leak into the engine compartment causing smoke and quite possibly, a fire. Ferrari's U.S. dealers will install protective heat shields over the convertible top hydraulic lines to insulate them from the heat of the engine compartment. Understandably, this service will be performed free of charge.

Tesla Gives an Upskirt of its Model S All-Electric Sports Sedan

On March 26th, 2009, Tesla will unveil a fully-working prototype of its forthcoming Model S sports saloon, but until then, Silicon Valley's famed electric carmaker decided to tease us by lifting the covers on its all-electric sedan. Evidently, there's much we can say about the car's design from this photo, but it does look promising. The Model S will enter production in 2011 and according to Tesla's chief investor Elon Musk it will go up against cars like the Lexus GS 450h hybrid, the diesel Mercedes E-class, and the Chevrolet Volt.

As a gesture of gratitude for their early support, Tesla announced that the firm's Roadster owners will receive a $10,000 discount off the price of the Model S Signature series and automatically be first in line for the sedan when it goes on sale.

BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo Concept officially revealed: 36 High-Res Photos

Following yesterday's presentation of the new Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo to the members of the press, BMW went ahead and issued the first official photos and details of its 5-door study that will enter production later this year with minimal changes as the 5-Series GT. So what exactly is the GT we hear you ask. Tough question. The GT, which is based on the next generation 5-Series, will complement the sedan and Touring versions of BMW's mid-size executive model, supposedly offering buyers MPV-like practicality and 7-Series cabin space in a liftback package with a coupe-like roofline.

Then again, the GT which is described by BMW as the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS), comes with a four-seat layout (what's so practical about that?) and a design that is sure to create a new outburst of controversy, especially in what concerns its squatted and 'uber' Bangle-ized buttocks. All we can say is that if any other carmaker (e.g. Ssangyong...) were to introduce such a vehicle, the press would be cracking jokes like a drunk comedian.

But anyhow, time to see the Bavarian concept car in detail. The GT is a big car - larger than the 5-Series in every dimension. It measures 4.998 mm (197-inches) in length 1.901 mm (74.8-inches) in width and 1.559 mm (61.4-inches) in height with a limo-like 3.070 mm (120.9-inches) wheelbase.

Open the pillarless doors and you'll find a four-seat layout and a panorama glass roof with BMW promising that the GT offers the passengers at the rear the same legroom as in the BMW 7 Series and virtually the same headroom as in the X5 SUV.

If necessary, the rear seats can move fore-and-aft by up to 100 mm or more than 3.9-inches so that with the seats moved as far forward as possible, the occupants still enjoy the same legroom as in the BMW 5 Series Sedan, with luggage capacity increasing from 430-liters (the 3-Series has 460-liters) to 570 liters or almost 20 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded down, the luggage compartment increaes to 1,650 liters or nearly 58 cubic feet.

This car's flexibility is rounded off by a two-piece tailgate similar in design with that found in the Skoda Superb with separate openings for additional convenience.

BMW did not release any mechanical details on the 5-Series GT that will make its first public appearance at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March. Expect to see the production version of the PAS at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show in September with sales beginning in Europe towards the end of the year or early 2010.