Morgan Motor Company marks its 100th anniversary for a new model called Aero SuperSports a "lightweight aluminum sports car with a luxurious specification".

The technology used on the anniversary model is the one introduced in the AeroMax coupes built in 2008 and 2009. Under the hood, the car uses an aluminum-block 4.8-liter V8 engine, sourced from BMW and mated to either a six-speed automatic or six manual transmissions.


The car’s interior cabin is full of leather and wood and because it’s convertible you can have full of air which means that you can save gas, and that’s all very nice. The new Aero Super Sports is due to enter production in early 2010. A deposit of £25,000 is required to ensure that you can have one of these exciting new models. It is anticipated to cost around £127,000 including VAT which is around €140,000 or $185,000.


Charles Morgan, Grandson of the Founder said in a release. "The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a luxurious flamboyant sports car which also remains true to Morgan’s philosophy of lightweight minimalist simplicity. It is a celebration of our love of cars and the romance of travel and is a fitting model to announce during Morgan’s Centenary year.”

During the North American New York International Auto Show the Dutch sports-car manufacturer Spyker unveiled the 2010 Spyker C8 Aileron just a few weeks after its world debut at the Geneva auto show. Spyker founder and CEO Victor Muller say that first deliveries of the new C8 Aileron will begin in May.

Power for the Aileron comes from an Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V-8 engine rated at 400 bhp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. Either a Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox or a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission can be ordered with the car. The chassis is new, an aluminum space-frame design with suspension designed and produced by Lotus. The front and rear aluminum double wishbone suspension carries 19-in. wheels that are slowed by 13.8-in. front and 12.1-in. rear brake rotors. C8 Aileron is six inches longer than the car it replaces, and the roofline is lower and longer for a cleaner look.


The front and rear unequal-length control-arm suspensions now feature forged aluminum components to help reduce unsprung mass at the corners, while the standard four-piston, cast-iron disc brakes from AP Racing measure 13.8 inches across in the front and 13.1 in the rear. An optional upgrade to carbon-ceramic discs will be available later in the year, the company says.

The manufacturer suggested retail price for the Aileron is $209,990 with the manual gearbox, and $219,990 with the automatic, both excluding options. Expect to see a convertible version in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance in Monterey, California.

A year after the unveiling of the GranTurismo, Maserati will be back at the Geneva International Motorshow with yet another world premiere, the Maserati GranTurismo S.

This new GT S version is packed by sinister alloy wheels and by its extra howl, coming from the exhaust pipes of the larger 4.7-liter V-8, up from the original 4.2 liters, which now packs a 440-bhp punch (up from 405).

Also new is an electro-actuated transaxle-mounted gearbox with sequential paddle shifters and an automatic clutch. The so-called MC-Shift system was adapted from Maserati’s exotic MC-12 mid-engine racer.

The GranTurismo S also benefits from new brakes, developed in conjunction with Brembo initially for the larger Quattroporte S sedan. The revised braking package feature front rotors made with a dualcast technology, which casts the units out of iron and aluminum. These discs are paired with aluminum mono-block calipers with six pistons.

The GranTurismo rides on a 115.9-in. wheelbase and is 192.3 in. in overall length.

The ultimate expression of the Trident coupé's sportiness shifts the emphasis onto performance and driving enjoyment.

Two main novelties are at the heart of the new Maserati: the 440 hp V8 4.7 engine and the electro-actuated gearbox with fast MC-Shift arranged in the transaxle layout typical of high-performance sports cars that represents the technological DNA of all Maseratis.

On the exterior the Maserati GranTurismo S is characterised by a number of aesthetic modifications that, although discrete, are highly effective and make the car body appear sportier without abandoning the sleekness of the lines masterfully designed by Pininfarina.

The interior upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather and Alcantara.

The 2008 Lincoln Mark LT will come in two models. This 4 door, 5-passenger luxury pickup, will be released in a 4X2 and 4X4 trim. “The 4X2 is equipped with a standard 5.4-liter, V8, 300-horsepower engine that achieves 12-mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway. The 4X4 is equipped with a standard 5.4 liter, V8, 300 horsepower engine that achieves 13-mpg in the city and 17-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.” This engine specification provides adequate acceleration, and enough muscle for most towing. With the Mark LT's powerful V8, reviewers find it to be very quick.

This car is generally handsome due to lots of gleaming chrome and extra detail. For 2008, the Mark LT received the addition of the colors of light french silk and clear coat metallic. “Standard exterior features include a 138.5-inch short wheelbase or 150.5-inch long wheelbase model, and comes outfitted with four full-size doors, power/heated mirrors and 18-inch seven spoke cast-aluminum wheels. Optional exterior features include chrome bed rails, a power moon roof, power rear window, running boards and 20-inch seven spoke chrome aluminum wheels.”

Some reviewers tagged it as the best pickup interior in the business in terms of elegance, sophistication and comfort. It has a spacious five-passenger seating arrangement which uses premium leather on its seats.

Among the many standard features equipped on the Mark LT are trip computer and theater dimming interior lighting, audiophile sound system consisting of a six-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability. Luxurious carpet completes the magnificence of the interior.

The 2008 Lincoln Mark LT, five out of a possible five stars for both driver and passenger protection in frontal-crash tests. The Mark LT also earned a rollover rating of four out of five stars.”

“Safety features included anti-lock all-disc brakes with electronic systems for brake-force distribution. In the front, dual airbags are deployed according to sensors that read crash severity and the presence or absence of a passenger.”

With the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT’s elegance and powerful performance it really does prove to be deserving of its “luxury car” designation.

The much awaited first production model from Nissan, the all-new 2009 Nissan Maxima, has rolled off the assembly line at Nissan North America's Smyrna, Tennessee manufacturing plant yesterday. The production underscores the indication of the return of Nissan's flagship to its origin as a superior 4-door sport car. The "Job 1" 2009 Maxima was brought down to the assembly line during a noontime festivity attended by several Nissan employees and executives. The car showcases a sporting bold new looks, with a revitalized and powerful V6 under the hood.

"The Maxima is an important car for Smyrna and for Nissan," said Greg Daniels, senior vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Nissan North America. "It's our responsibility to build a high quality vehicle each and every time. Our customers deserve it and expect no less."

There were several alterations applied in the seventh generation Maxima. The exterior showcases a more insistent facade that conveys a tough, first-class charisma. A "super" cockpit experience was matched generating an interior that merges a driver point of reference with elevated quality, spaciousness and accessible technology. A one-of-its’-kind performance component was added to the Maxima, some customers and owners called it as "Maxima-ness” because of its superior and convenient road performance.

"We set out to create one of the best performing front engines, front-wheel drive sedans in the world. The Maxima delivers on all levels offering the value, quality, and exhilarating performance consumers have come to expect from Nissan," says Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan division, Nissan North America.


The next generation Maxima is fabricated based on the company’s latest D platform that offers alert handling and nearly get rid of the torque steer linked with loaded horsepower front wheel drive cars. It features an innovative Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with manual mode as well. It is altered particularly for net generation’s sporty driving nature. A brand new "Ds mode" (drive sport) has been added to the CVT for 2009 intended for drivers desiring for the extreme in vehicle control. "Ds mode" is an electronic control logic that improves sport driving through amplified speed up feel with superior engine revolutions, maintaining engine speed during cornering and automatic engine braking.

The new generation Maxima is outfitted with a 3.5 liter DOHC 24-valve VQ series V6 engine which is presently rated at 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, increases of 35 horsepower and 9 lb-ft of torque over the 2008 Maxima.

The Honda Racing F1 Team announced that it has accomplished ISO14001 official recognition for its UK headquarters located in Brackley, Northamptonshire. It is the first time that the ISO14001 accreditation has been granted specifically to a Formula One team and as an integral part of its earthdreams programme. It also exhibits the team's dedication to captivating precise action on environmental matters for their F1 racing technology.

ISO14001 is the worldwide requirement for an EMS or environmental management system. Official approval to ISO14001 verifies the Honda Racing’s systems be conventional to the globally similar review standard. It also proves that the team has successfully employed its environmental management system.

"Obtaining ISO14001 certification is not an easy thing for a Formula One team to achieve. However our earthdreams initiative is at the core of our team culture and it is important that we, like our project partners, strive to do our best to minimise our impact on the environment in the course of our business. This is a step along the way and there are many areas where we can continue to improve but it's very pleasing that our efforts have been rewarded by the respected ISO standard and that we met its tough criteria at our first attempt. We are showing that running a business that is as highly pressured as Formula One and doing the right thing are entirely complementary,” says Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer of the Honda Racing F1 Team.

The effort towards ISO14001 started three years ago with management training schemes on environmental concerns. The legendary Honda F1 Racing team is now working on detailed goals to lessen its CO2 emissions. They will also report development on its website HondaRacingF1.com.
"Contrary to popular belief, the fuel that we use to race and test our cars forms around only 1% of our CO2 emissions footprint. The vast majority is from power use at our factory and air transportation of people and equipment around the world. This gives us some formidable challenges to reduce our consumption but we intend to see the same technology and ingenuity that we deploy on our F1 car to make a worthwhile contribution to reducing our CO2 emissions,” added Nick Fry with so much delight.

The changing of the Opel’s badge is part of improving the image of the brand.

The long-time badge of the world-renowned German auto maker is set to be replaced this coming July 2008. A report from John Revill of Automotive News Europe accounted that General Motors' Opel brand will reveal a new adaptation of its logo when it introduces the Insignia upper-medium car sooner this year. In addition to this, the new version of the lightning bolt symbol, which has been attached to Opel cars since 1963, will be showcased at the London auto show in July 2008.

The managing executives from GM further explained how they wished for to move Opel and move the brand upmarket by highlighting design and engineering supremacy based on traditional German manufacturing qualities.

The newest logo assimilates the brand’s name into an expanded boundary that surrounds the trademark lightning bolt. The latest badge to be obtained has a more molded design with sphere-shaped surfaces that provides the symbol three-dimensional deepness.

"Capturing that combination of beautifully-sculpted shapes together with German precision is very much consistent with the overall design language and philosophy of our vehicles," says Mark Adams, GM Europe's head of design, who led the team that re-designed the logo.

"The Opel Blitz evolved from a zeppelin – a symbol of progress at that time – which had been the radiator emblem of Opel vehicles since the beginning of the 1930s," said Heinz H. Zettl, manager of Opel Heritage & Institutional Communications.

A circle was added in 1937 to represent a wheel to symbolize mobility along with a representation of the endless innovation Opel has to offer all through the years.

“This evolution was also influenced by the brand name of Opel's light commercial vehicles, which from 1930 to 1975 bore the name "Blitz,” Zettl added. It also featured a lightning bolt as a distinctive symbol"

The company's sister brand Vauxhall will showcase a new version of its Griffin badge as well, along with a set of brand new models at the London show.