2012 Lexus IS F: European Model gets Revised Chassis

Even though only a year has passed since Lexus revised its European market IS with a Euro 5 compliant 5.0-liter V8 and some minor styling tweaks such as the LED front lights and a new instrument panel design, the Japanese carmaker has just introduced a 2012MY version of its high-performance sports sedan.

The big news for the new model year IS-F is the updated chassis with Lexus promising a better overall driving experience and improved comfort thanks to the new shock absorbers, larger stabilizer bars and a revised suspension geometry.

The IS-F's 5.0-liter V8 engine with 423-horses that allows it to accelerate from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 270 km/h (168mph), remains unchanged.

In addition to the chassis tweaks, the Japanese automaker added two new features to the options list including a set of 19-inch alloy wheels in a 14-spoke design from BBS, and an available two-tone, black and crimson leather trim for the interior.

Lexus said that pricing remains unaffected with the IS F starting from €70,600 (equal to about US$101,500) in Germany.

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2012 Toyota Camry Official Teaser Shot No2

Toyota is gearing up for the official reveal of its all-important 2012 Camry with the release of the second teaser photo this month.

While the first image showed us the front end of the car, this latest picture gives us a cropped look at the next generation Camry's rear end with a clear view of the sedan model's tail lamps, which kind of remind the ones found on the Chrysler 200 (as always, feel free to agree or disagree in our comments section below).

PHOTO GALLERY

All-New Hyundai i30 Heading to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

Hyundai plans to unveil a brand-new C-segment model to replace the first-generation of its i30 at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Like the current model, the 2012 i30 is a product of Hyundai’s design and engineering center in Russelsheim, Germany and is designed exclusively for the European market. Hyundai's European design boss Thomas Burkle says the i30's styling represents the next evolution of the firm's form language, ‘fluidic sculpture’. What this means is that it shares a lot of common design features with Hyundai's more recent models like the ix20, the ix35, the Veloster and the i40

Frankfurt Preview: New Suzuki Swift Sport with 135HP

It's been a long time in the making, but Suzuki is finally ready to add a sporty variant to the Swift's range. The Japanese automaker released a single photo and details of the Swift Sport ahead of its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

The new Swift Sport is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 135HP at 6,900 rpm and maximum torque of 160 Nm (118 lb/ft) at 4,400 rpm. The four-cylinder engine was developed especially for the Swift Sport and it transmits power to the front wheels via a newly developed six-speed manual gearbox.

Subaru Teases Frankfurt-Bound XV Crossover

From the moment we saw the XV Concept at the Shanghai Motor Show last April, we knew that it was a thinly disguised study of Subaru’s new Impreza-based crossover. And we were right: the Japanese company announced today that the production version of the XV will make its world premiere at the opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.

Opel Introduces 2012 Insignia, Expands Availability of 140HP 1.4 Turbo and 250HP 2.0 Turbo

The Opel Insignia is entering the 2012 model year with some modest upgrades that include the broader availability of the 1.4-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engines in more markets across Europe and new technology systems.

Even though Opel makes word of a new 1.4-liter Turbo petrol that replaces the naturally aspirated 1.8-liter unit with the same output, as well as a new 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol for the 4x4 model with 30 more horses for a total of 250HP, we know for a fact that both engines were already available in certain market.

That said, we reckon Opel means it will roll out the new engine options to all markets across Europe with the 2012 Insignia.

GM's Low-Cost China Brand Baojun Begins Sales of New 630 Sedan, Priced Under $10k [61 Photos]

Not content with being China's largest foreign automaker, General Motors hopes to further increase its sales in the country with its newly launched low-cost Baojun brand, which the Detroit automaker developed with local partners SAIC and Wuling.

With the Baojun brand, GM wants to compete in the fast-growing market for new cars in smaller Chinese cities targeting first-time buyers with a budget of around $10,000. Domestic Chinese rivals include Chery Automobile, Geely Automobile Holding and BYD.

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Nissan UK Puts a Price on the Supercharged Micra DIG-S

The new Nissan Micra DIG-S -which stands for “Direct Injection Gasoline – Supercharged”- is available to order in UK with on-the-road prices starting at £11,500. First deliveries will take place on September 1.

The new version of the Micra, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder supercharged gasoline engine delivering an output of 98HP.

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Renault UK Expands Gordini Lineup with New Clio Models

Only a couple of weeks after the UK launch of the Gordini-badged Wind roadster, and Renault's flourishing Gordini line-up is expanding with the addition of two new versions of the Clio, priced from £14,000. Up until now, only the flagship 200bhp Clio RS could be had with the Gordini package.

The new Clio Gordini is offered in Britain with a three-door body style and a choice of two engines, a 1.6-liter VVT petrol delivering 128-horses for a 0-62 mph sprint time of 9.3 seconds and a combined fuel economy of 42.2 mpg UK, and a 1.5-liter dCi turbo diesel producing 106-horses that returns 62.8 mpg UK on the combined cycle.

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2012 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 Comes Complete with Snakeskin Leather

Since teaming up in 1999, the brand alliance between Ford and Harley-Davidson has produced 10 F-150 models, six Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models, as well as the first Harley-Davidson F-450 edition truck in 2009, resulting in more than 70,000 sales.

The latest Ford model to wear the Harley Davidson badge is the 2012 F-150, which like its predecessors, gains distinctive design tweaks and added standard features.

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Toyota Shows US Market 2012 Yaris Hatch at Lollapalooza Music Fest, Announces Prices

When an automaker is ready to launch a new model into the market, we usually receive a press release along with some initial or teaser photos before we see it in person at a major auto show.

But that's not the case with the U.S. market version of the 2012 Yaris as Toyota quietly unwrapped the car under a tent at the…Lollapalooza annual music festival in Chicago this past weekend while today, the Japanese company announced U.S. pricing without, however, releasing any photos or further details. Strange indeed.

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Audi Reboots its 1.8-liter TFSI Engine

Last month, Audi divulged the facelifted versions of its A5 range, which include the Coupe, Convertible and Sportback models.

While the cosmetic changes were minor, the Ingolstadt-based company introduced a new 1.8-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine that will power the entry-level A5 models. Now, Audi decided to share the full details of its new, more powerful and at the same time more frugal gasoline unit.

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Ford Celebrates 100 Years in Britain with New Fiesta Centura

If you haven't heard, Ford is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Britain this year. The first Ford to be manufactured in the country was the legendary Model T in 1911.

To celebrate the event, Ford is launching a new special edition version of the Fiesta called the Centura and like the original Model T, it too will be available exclusively in a black finish.

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Aussie Treat: FVP Falcon GT Black Enters Limited Production

Remember the murdered-out GT Black Edition concept revealed by Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) at the Australian International Auto Show in Melbourne back in June?

Well, responding to what the company describes as overwhelming customer feedback, Ford Australia's in-house tuning division has decided to give the green light for a limited production run of the GT Black Edition.

"We were totally blown away by the positive feedback received from fans and show-goers on our Concept," said FPV General Manager, Rod Barrett.

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Seat UK Expands Availability of FR Trim, Introduces New FR+ and Upgrades Cupra R in the Leon's Range

Banking on the success of the Leon FR that, last year, was responsible for one in four Leon sales in Britain, Seat introduced a new FR+ derivative, while also extending the FR badge to a broader engine range.

The Leon FR hatch is now available with a 1.4-liter TSI petrol developing 125-horses and linked to a manual transmission only, or a 2.0-liter TDI diesel with 140-horsepower and the choice of either a manual gearbox or a DSG dual clutch automatic transmission.

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New 2012 Porsche 911 Filmed on the Road…Again

Undisguised prototypes of the upcoming 2012 Porsche 911 are quickly becoming a more common sight than Bratwurst sausages in Germany.

In our latest encounter, a barely disguised 991 test car equipped with a sunroof was caught filling up at a gas station in Stuttgart before firing up its six-cylinder boxer engine and driving away.

Turn up the volume of your speakers and follow the jump to enjoy the video.

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Renault Samsung Motors Rolls Out Flagship SM7, Releases New Photos and Video

The South Korean unit of Renault has come out with full details on its new SM7 flagship sedan a week before the car officially goes on sale in the country.

The French carmaker, which bought a 70% stake in Samsung Motors back in 2000 to spearhead the brand's expansion efforts in the developing Asian region, said the SM7 will have a "radical effect on the big saloon car market".

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Jean’s Back: 2012 Delahaye USA Bella Figura Type 57S Enters Production

It may have taken three years but at last Delahaye USA’s Bella Figura Type 57S is available for purchase. The Long Valley, NJ based specialist vehicle manufacturer has taken its design inspiration from Jean Bugatti’s legendary Type 57S coupe of the 1930s and ‘40s and modified it to fit a stretched and widened platform.

Using cutting edge materials such as carbon fibre and polished aluminium, Delahaye USA’s describes their new offering as, “much more than a replica”.

With air conditioning, power brakes and steering, electric windows and a choice of engine and transmission options, this certainly appears true.

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GM Releases Pricing on 2012 Buick GS and Buick eAssist

This fall will see Buick adding two more offerings to its Regal range, namely the performance orientated GS that's powered by a turbocharged four, and the fuel efficient eAssist featuring a "light" hybrid powertrain.

Pricing for the 2012 Regal GS starts at $35,310 while the 2012 Regal eAssist at $29,530 , with both prices including $860 in destination charges.

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BMW Turbocharges X3 with Two New Engines

A pair of new turbocharged engines will soon be added to the range of the recently-launched BMW X3. These include a base four-cylinder gasoline unit and a flagship straight-six diesel.

The new entry level version of the X3, the xDrive20i, is powered by a 2.0-liter aluminum four cylinder gasoline engine featuring a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel injection, Double Vanos variable camshaft control and Valvetronic variable valve control system. It delivers 184HP at 4,800 rpm and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque from just 1,250 rpm.

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