The Demo Site

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

In addition to the race-ready RMR Genesis Coupe, HKS and Street Concepts brought out their own rear-wheel-drive two-doors to the party.

The Street Concepts coupe builds off the 3.8-liter V6 model, coating the exterior in a "Stealth Fighter-inspired" paint scheme and matching it to a custom grille, tinted head and tail lights and an APR wing. 19-inch Volk hoops wrapped in Pirelli rubber fill the wheel wells and frame uprated Brembo brakes. The only substantive engine mods are a K&N cold air intake and Magnaflow cat back exhaust. Inside, it's more about show than go, with a pair of Recaro Sportster Topline seats, black suede accents and an Infinity audio system.

HKS received a turbocharged 2.0-liter model to build its masterpiece, and with a GT2835R turbo upgrade, HKS stainless tubular manifold, intercooler, sequential blow-off valve, carbon fiber air box and cat-back exhaust, the HKS Genesis is a good indication of what the first round of modded coupes could look like when it goes on sale this Spring. In addition to the engine upgrades, the suspension has been swapped out with HKS Hipermax III coilovers, along with a functional aero kit designed by Ken Style - HKS's Time Attack partner.

Hit the jump for more details and video of the reveal.

Though the new 2010 Mercedes Benz E Class was scheduled to be unveiled in January, the German carmaker forgot that the internet is one of the most powerful mediums and thanks to the guys from Autoscoops.eu we've got the first official photos of the car, one month before the official unveiling (which might happen sooner now). The first thing we notice is the heavy influence from the F700 design study, unveiled at last year's Frankfurt show and from the Concept FASCINATION, unveiled a couple of months ago, in Paris. Unlike its direct competitors, the BMW 5 Series and the Audi A8, which have sporty and power written all over, the E Class has always been about style and class, and you must admit, the new one has plenty of those. The only flaw we spot is the rear part, with those tail lights that remind us of the Citroen C5.

There was no official press release so far, but we expect the new E to be larger, longer and wider than the current generation, which means more space and comfort for the passengers. Under the bonnet, the new luxury sedan will probably be powered by new versions of Mercedes' current engine line-up, like the 200, 220, 250 and 300 CDI diesels, the 350 BlueTec, of course, and a range of petrol engine, including a top-of-the-line AMG powerplant developing around 600 hp. As you'd expect from a Mercedes, especially in this class, the car will be stuffed with all sorts of technologies, including Night Vision, blind spot and lane departure warning, plus a new set of safety features, like the new impact absorbing bonnet that pops up 5cm and protects to cyclists or pedestrians at low speed collisions, plus a new system that reacts when potential collisions occur.

As we said earlier, Mercedes planned on announcing the car in January, with the world debut scheduled for March, at the Geneva Motor Show. Along with the new generation, new versions of the E Class will debut: an E-based coupe (Geneva) and a cabriolet (next year's Frankfurt show).

One more photo is available after the jump.

December 3, 2008 – Car and Driver magazine has named the Infiniti G37 to its 10Best list for 2009. Out of a field of 56 vehicles, the G Coupe and G Sedan rose to the top, marking the fourth time Infiniti has won this award, in addition to 2003, 2004 and 2007.

Each year, Car and Driver selects its 10Best vehicles according to particular criteria: how well it does what it should do (for example, performance cars should be fast and exhilarating), how fun it is to drive, and how much of a good value it is. G Coupe and G Sedan showed that their breathtaking styling and thrilling performance features make them truly worthy of recognition.

2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe - Hi-res. Images

2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan - Hi-res. Images

It was my painful duty this morning to deliver a mild kicking to the latest incarnation of the Alfa Romeo GT, the Cloverleaf JTDm Q2.

At around £22k, this coupé has the looks and price advantage to worry the Audi TT, but falls hopelessly behind the Ingolstadt icon on refinement, fit and finish, and interior packaging. Oh, and it's the same price as a BMW 120d coupé, which is better in every area (if not prettier).

I can't help thinking, though, that Alfa's biggest threat comes not from brands that it might consider traditional rivals in the two-door market, but from Volkswagen's Scirocco.

Here's a £20.6k car with better packaging, far more accomplished road manners, a more refined diesel engine and, well, as close to a safe badge as you can get these days. It's plain better to drive than the GT, and it even looks pretty.

In the past, Alfa always seems to have found a niche for vehicles like the GT: price and styling have been the most common. But these days, it's under attack from more angles than ever. The sooner Alfa gets the Mito sorted and on sale, and then comes up with a more accomplished sporting range, the better.

Leslie Porterfield, the fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle!


The 32-year-old Leslie Porterfield has been riding bikes for 16 years, and if you ever meet her at a stoplight, you'd best not try to beat her off the line. That's because Leslie uses a much-modified Suzuki Hayabusa, which she recently rode at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials, hitting an impressive 234.197mph (374.715km/h). Yes indeed, Ms Porterfield is now officially the fastest female motorcyclist in the US.

Leslie, who's broken various land speed records and who's actually the first woman to enter the Bonneville 200mph Club on a conventional motorcycle (rather than one of those purpose-built land speed streamliners…), also won the 2008 AMA Racing Female Rider of the Year Award.

'I'm hopelessly hooked on motorcycles – I truly love motorcycles and the people involved in motorcycling,' says Leslie, who's also an entrepreneur and owns High Five Cycles, a used motorcycles dealership in Dallas.

Suitably impressed with her motorcycling accomplishments, we sent her an email with some questions, and she was nice enough to respond. Here's what she had to say:


"I try to keep my high speed on the salt at Bonneville," says Leslie...

On her 234mph Hayabusa

My racebike started out as a 2002 Hayabusa. It is now heavily modified, thanks to Scott Horner of Head's Up Performance and Rhys Griffiths of Apex Speed Technologies. The bike is turbocharged, with Airtech bodywork, a lock-up clutch and a really trick ECU from Apex. I have two motors for the bike built by Scott – one to run the 1350cc class, and a stroker motor for the 2000cc class.

On her 192mph Honda CBR1000RR

This year I also rode a CBR1000 in the production class. It had few modifications because of the limitations for the class. We re-geared it and put a Bazzaz tuner on it, and I was able to get the world record at 192mph! We had very little time to prepare it. I was drilling bolts for safety wire at Bonneville during Speedweek. I had some stiff competition against Rosey Lackey on the MV Agusta, but I ended up with the record.

On whether she actually works on her own bikes

I do work on my bikes, but Scott does almost everything to my Turbo bike. I'm learning more and more about the electronics thanks to Rhys. I am amazed at the amount of data that the ECU logs. It logs with GPS, throttle position, boost, fuel pressure, water temp, wheel speed and much more.

I help with minor repairs and maintenance, and an occasional motor swap. I own a used motorcycle dealership in Dallas that offers service, parts, and sales of used bikes. It's not uncommon to find me in my service department doing oil changes, cleaning carburettors, swapping chains and sprockets, or dismantling something we're sending to the painter. I've done a lot of car repairs, too - everything from changing starters to rebuilding an automatic transmission, to swapping rear ends. Most of my nine personal bikes are late model, and don't need much more than maintenance lately.

On how she got into motorcycle land speed racing

I started Land Speed Racing in 2007. Going to Bonneville was always a dream of mine – I have read about it for a long time. It is the only place on earth to find such a wide array of machinery, and the people who put on the events and other racers are some of the nicest people I've ever met. I started riding when I was 16 years old, when I bought a motorcycle for transportation. Took a road race school at age 19, and I was hooked. I road raced off and on for a while…

I also hold an SCCA car road racing license and I've pre-ridden the Baja 1000 – would love to participate in the race sometime soon. Got the opportunity to make a few passes on a pro stock drag bike last year, and I hope to get back out on the dragstrip again. I also tried motocross several years ago, and while I found it quite enjoyable, I'm terrible at it. I am not programmed to fly through the air on a bike!

On her everyday street rides

I have several bikes. Most of the time I ride my 2008 CBR1000, or my Ducati 998. I also have a CRF450 motard bike that I zip through town on. It's such a hooligan bike! I try to keep my high speed on the salt at Bonneville. I will say that I've had a few too many speeding tickets, and maybe one or two in the triple digits. But that was a long time ago!

On MotoGP

I love MotoGP. I have watched races in Motegi, Valencia, Laguna Seca, and Indy. They are all amazing riders on some of the most sophisticated machines. I love wandering through the pits looking at the bikes. I admire all of the riders.

On how she prepares for the races

I prepare myself before every run by mentally going through everything I have to do from the starting line. I make mental notes of body position and try to improve it every time. Aerodynamics are extremely important in this sport, so having as much of my body as I can out of the wind is important.

My first pass down the salt this year made me a little bit nervous. I looked down the track from the starting line and thought about the last time I was there. Last year I ended up coming off of the bike at over 100mph, and breaking seven ribs, puncturing a lung, and had a concussion. I was helicoptered from Bonneville to the hospital in Salt Lake City. Luckily, I was only in the hospital overnight. After a long drive home, I went back to work the next day, although I was moving pretty slow. Slept sitting up for a month and a half.

I had to put those thoughts out of my head this year. After my first pass down the salt, I was back into the groove and ready to break some records. In all competitive sports, there are risks, and I try to minimize mine as best I can. I made a pass at 231mph to qualify for the record, and on my return run I was at around 240mph when I threw a rod through the cases. I was lucky and thankful that nothing locked up. I still managed to average 234mph on that run, which put my new world record at 232mph. It also earned me the title of the fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle. I was thrilled, even though I had a gaping hole in my motor!

On her all-time favourites

Bike: the CBR1000, my souped up CRF50

Car: I like my BMW Z4 M coupe! I think I'm going to try to find a mid-60's Lincoln Continental with suicide doors next. I've always wanted one

Racing hero/heroine: Of course every other Land Speed Racer out there. And I have sooo many heros... and heroines... all of the fast women in motorsport

Food: Pepperoni Pizza

Drink: Water, an occasional vodka and cranberry

Music: I love everything from rock to blues, jazz, classical

Movie: I love old Audrey Hepburn movies - Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday (yes, I am a girlie-girl sometimes). And of course motorcycle movies - On Any Sunday, World's Fastest Indian

Holiday destination: I'm in Costa Rica right now, and I like it! I have a house in Colorado and love to ski, also. I love to travel, anywhere new excites me...

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe was originally scheduled to makes its world premiere at the 2008 LA Auto Show. However, low on cash at the time General Motors decided to cancel the debut along with the world debut of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.

Well, the General now has access to some government bailout money and will bring both cars to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month. Sources say that there will be little change from the CTS Coupe Concept we saw at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.

Insiders say that a CTS-V Coupe is under discussion. Power will come from the CTS-V Sedan's 556-hp V8. However, we're guessing executives may cancel or delay the model due to a shift in focus to smaller and fuel-efficient cars. We'll try to find some details for you at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept:

Renault is readying a high-performance version of the new Megane and we've caught the hot hatch testing just days after the regular hatchback and coupe's debut at last week's Paris motor show.

The new Megane five-door rolls into dealerships in November 2008 and the three-door coupe in January 2009 – but we've scooped the Renaultsport version a full year before it hits showrooms in September 2009.

You won't see the three-door-only Renaultsport version officially until the Geneva motor show in March 2009, but here's the full lowdown on what CAR knows about the French hot hatchback.

(from Volvo Press Release) An early Christmas present from Volvo Cars - a glimpse of the next-generation Volvo S60

A few days before Christmas, Volvo Cars treats the automotive world to an early unwrapping of a car that will shine bright in the streets for years to come. The Volvo S60 Concept gives the car world a glimpse of what the all-new Volvo S60 is going to look like when it arrives in 2010. The coupe-inspired lines that gave the original S60 its characteristic stance are even more pronounced in the next generation.

"The sporty design gives visual promise of an enthusiastic drive and I can assure you here and now that the all-new S60 will live up to that promise. The driving properties are better than in any previous Volvo. The car's technology will also help you to be a better and safer driver," says Stephen Odell. The concept car reveals that the Volvo Cars design team is stepping up to the next level in the development of the products' DNA.

"The concept car's exterior gives a clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new S60. On the inside we've been even more daring - there the focus has been on creating a vision of the future in the slightly longer perspective," says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

The engine that Volvo Cars has chosen for the Volvo S60 Concept is a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol unit using high-efficiency GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) technology and producing 180 horsepower. In a conventional petrol engine, fuel is injected into the inlet manifold ahead of the inlet valves. With direct injection, however, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under high pressure. The engine in combination with a range of other technical measures makes it possible to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 119 g/km (5.0 l/100 km).

© Source: seriouswheels

You can't afford to miss this. The lowest public-circulation car ever built with a height measuring only 19 inches(48.26cm). I say Public circulation because it is completely legal and you can roll it on streets, drawing all the attention!! Flat-mobile is all set to enter the Guinness record for owning the flattest sedan ever.

To add to this Batmobile, the revolutionary coupe is powered by a jet engine, it can ride with a speed up to 100 mph. The highlighting feature of coupe is its number plate that is bordered by two missile tips.

Hyundai's Genesis might be knocked as "generic," but some would argue that the car is the most balanced, handsome design to ever issue forth from the Korean juggernaut (at least until the Genesis Coupe rolls up). Range toppers often define the style for the rest of the range, and there's rumored to be a Genesis-y Sonata on the way. Carparazzi's renderings could be nothing more than wishful thinking, but it's claimed that the images are a cross between spy shots of the new Sonata, known internally as YF, and the Genesis. Given the styling epiphany that's been going on at Hyundai during the past few years, the handsome car in these renderings may well be on the money. Style, value, and potentially a hybrid powertrain point to a bright future for Hyundai's melodic sedan.

[Source: Global Motors]

While the 2010 Audi R8 V10 may attract a lot of attention at the 2009 North American International Auto Show next month, one of the most eagerly awaited of all Audi models may steal the show in Detroit. According to Detroit's Free Press, Audi will hold the world premiere of the A7 Concept in Detroit next month.

Other Audi models on hand will include the Audi Q5, a supercharged 300-hp version of the A6 sedan and wagon and the TTS coupe and roadster. Free Press says that Audi may also show a diesel version of the A4 for the U.S. market.

Insiders say that the four-door Audi A6 Concept has swooping lines and is close to what the upcoming production model will look like when it makes its debut next year.

Source: Detroit Free Press

 - The Audi A5 is identified as a "Best Buy" in the Premium Sporty/Performance list
- The Audi A3, Q7 and A8 are "Recommended" in their individual categories
- Evaluations were made by four Consumer Guide Automotive editors using an 11-point process

The four-door coupe is an interesting idea. It's for someone who need the functionality of four-door but wants to look like he/she is still cool enough to only need two. Jaguar has been putting a touch of this idea into its sedans for decades, but it has really started to become popular since Mercedes put out the CLS. So now Audi is throwing its hat into the sedan/coupe ring, and we're showing some rendered speculation about what the A7 may look like. This coupe-in-a-sedan's-body should (...)

While many carmakers are either scaling back their 2009 Detroit Auto Show presence, or pulling out altogether, Audi is set to buck the trend with a number of important unveilings reportedly planned for the event. The German luxury marque has already released details about its new V10-powered R8 supercar, and according to a new report a concept version of its upcoming A7 four-door coupe could also make an appearance. The information comes from a number of Audi insiders who told the Detroit Free Press that the A7 concept will closely mirror the lines of the production model due late next year.

Audi A7 first spy shots