On Monday, Honda announced Takanobu Ito as the new president and CEO of Honda Motor Corporation. He was previously positioned as a Senior Managing Director of the company. Former president Takeo Fukui will remain on as a director and advisor. Ito, pictured left: Other management changes were also announced and the entire press release can be read on Honda’s website . Read more from the original source:  Honda Announces New CEO

For all of you sports cars fans out there, you’ll enjoy this video of the new and improved Audi R8 V10 … Today the 2009 Boca Raton (Fla.) Concours d’ Elegance auctioned the first U.S.-bound Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro to raise money for the the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. The car went for a whopping $500,000. In 2007, an Audi R8 sold in a sealed-bid Bergdorf Goodman auction for $425,000. Regular MSRP is around $180,000. The 525 horsepower “monster machine” won’t officially arrive in dealerships until later this year. Excerpt from: Audi R8 Video, Sells For $500K in Auction

I just discovered that The Unofficial Audi Blog is listed at Alltop as a resource for Top Audi News . If you want to find out what’s going on with Audi, Alltop is definitely a place to get all the latest news in one place. Also, I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for reading the blog! If you have an Audi tip or resource to share, please send it to: maria [at] salondemaria [dot] info View original here: Audi Resource: Alltop – Top Audi News

With the 2009 370Z, Nissan has returned the Z car to its roots… I have always loved the Datsun 240Z. I have a soft spot in my heart for the mid-to-late 80’s Nissan 300ZX (Z31 for the enthusiasts). I really wanted to like the 2008 Nissan 350Z convertible ( reviewed here ), but I did not. When it comes to the 350Z, I’ve always felt that Nissan left some of the heart and soul of what a Z really is, on the cutting room floor. When I heard they were redesigning the car for 2009 I was cautiously optimistic. After driving the 2009 Nissan 370Z , how do I feel? To borrow a phrase from James Lipton (as portrayed by Will Ferrell), I am born anew in its splendor… Ok, that is a bit of an exaggeration but the 2009 Nissan 370Z is an instant hit. From the exterior design, to the performance and on in to the upgraded interior, Nissan has turned the 370Z into what the 350Z should have been. I typically prefer Black or Silver paint but this Monterey Blue looks really good. This 2009 Nissan 370Z, dressed very nicely in this gorgeous Monterey Blue paintjob, has a new exterior design that clearly recalls the lines of the aforementioned 240Z as well as the 300ZX. The designer’s inspiration comes through loud and clear. From the squat and wide rear end to the “angry catfish” face up front, the 370Z comes across as a true sports car that is ready for action even while it is standing still. The low nose of the car builds up and over the fenders shooting sharply up into an aggressive roofline that stretches backward to connect the bulging rear fenders to the rest of the car. It is an sharply styled car that looks brand new while still evoking great memories of Datsun/Nissan cars of long ago. The aggressive exterior does nothing to hide the fact that this car is a blast to drive. Nissan has upped the power of the slightly larger V6 (previously 3.5-liters, now bumped up to 3.7-liters) to 332 hp. I am harnessing that power via the six-speed manual transmission which features the all-new SynchroRev match system. Basically, the car simulates a heel-tow downshift when I reach for a lower gear. It took some getting used to and I instinctively blipped the throttle a second time with my foot by accident.  When I say it took some getting used to, I...

Here’s the latest Audi news from other bloggers… The German Car Blog posts the first real picture of the Audi R15 TDI . CrunchGear reports that an Audi dealership in Australia has employed a holographic sales rep Carscoop says that The Audi S5-based AS5-R from ABT Sportsline will be making its worldwide debut at next month’s Geneva Show. Green Car Congress shares info about the new Audi A4 All-road Quatro . AutoGuide.com reports that Audi is Western Europe’s Best Selling Luxury Brand in January . Read the original post: Bloggers Share Audi News

It's very early in the morning but I am wide awake… I’m up at dawn… I have coffee beginning to course through my veins but for the first time in a long time, I don’t need it. The air is brisk as I stand in the parking lot of a random southern California beach. My eyes are adjusting to the early morning light which is a beautiful blend of muted orange and a deep dark blue, however it is my sense of hearing that is causing my pulse to quicken. I hear a burbling exhaust note of an idle engine…potent yet patiently waiting. My coffee empty, my eyes open, I enter the cockpit of the 2009 Nissan GT-R and suddenly everything stops. The sun rises, the revs rise, my pulse rises… Right hand on the right paddle and 1st gear clicks into place with a loud and slightly disconcerting sound that is somewhere in between a clunk and a thud. The sky is quickly becoming more orange than dark blue and I don’t have time to waste thinking about what that noise means. I exit the parking lot and I am now traveling south on the Pacific Coast Highway. There are few cars on the road and the Super Wide HID headlights show me every line, crack, bump and pothole in front of me. If I do see something our there that needs a quick reaction the all-wheel drive system makes sure that I never feel out of control. I push further south with the urgency of a mission that has not fully revealed itself to me yet. Gear shifts are much crisper once out of 1st, especially since I have the dual-clutch, paddle-shifted six-speed transmission of this Nissan GT-R set to “Race” mode (the suspension too). As I climb through the gears the 3.8L twin turbo V6 begins to awaken and really starts to come alive once I rise over the 3,000 rpm mark. The turbos have spooled up and more pressure to the gas pedal pushes me deeper into the heavily bolstered, yet surprisingly comfortable, leather and suede driver’s seat. This experience is not simply “driving a car”, it is so much more than that… I am behind the wheel of a precisely engineered automotive masterpiece which has set the world on fire. No one finds this car merely “ok”, it is either loved or loathed – there is no in between. … I love it. More of a suggestion...

Jaguar have pushed the new XFR to its limits in a secret test at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and in doing so broke the record for the fastest ever Jaguar. The modified XFR reached a staggering 225.675 mph on its run, powered by a tweaked version of the newly launched 5.0 litre engine in the supercharged Jaguar XF . The engine was almost standard, save a new air intake, revised supercharger settings and new exhaust system, boosting the power from 503 to 600 horsepower, but all the engine internals were untouched, as was the standard gearbox, boding well for tuners to come along and liberate even more power. Jaguar also modified the bodywork with a new front skirt and a huge rear wing to give downforce and stability at speed, as you can see below: All this work was done in conjunction with American racing company Rocketsports, and the car was driven by Paul Gentilozzi, who raced the Jaguar XKR to 5 series wins in the US Trans Am series between 2001 and 2006. He was quoted as saying “During my career, I’ve raced worldwide from the southern tip of New Zealand to Le Mans, Along the way, I have been privileged to drive and own so many exciting cars but I’ve never driven one that was as exciting to drive fast as this Jaguar.” The previous Jaguar speed record was set by Martin Brundle in 1992 in a Jaguar XJ 220. View original post here: Jaguar top 225 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats

A four-door Jeep Wrangler? What's next, A hybrid Escalade? …oh, right . I am reading over the window sticker of the Jeep Wrangler that is waiting for me outside. Next generation Dana 44 Heavy duty rear axle, check! Four-wheel disc brakes, check! Shift on the fly 4WD system, check! Transfer case skid plate shield, check! Four-doors… wait, what? That’s right, the 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara is an off-road icon that now comes with an extra set of doors. This Sunburst Orange Pearl Wrangler is in front of me and it is surprisingly sharp looking. I feel like the designers didn’t simply stretch it and add a few more hinges, it is more like they somehow got a Cherokee drunk and convinced it to fool around with a two-door Wrangler. 9 months later and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited popped out. The good news is, if you are a fan of Wranglers, it drives just like a Jeep Wrangler should. It floats a bit on the highway and it is loud. It is also comfortable in the way a worn pair of jeans fits just right. The interior shouldn’t be as comfortable as it is but it works. I once drove cross-country, both ways, in a 1997 Jeep Wrangler with a good friend and not once did I feel uncomfortable-however I did get a little freaked out driving through Colorado…I had to shift all the way down to 3rd gear on the highway because the little four-cylinder didn’t quite have enough oomph for the Rockies. This 3.8L V6 is better than that old four-cylinder but not as good as the old 4.0L. This 2009 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara comes with a larger 3.8L V6. It is adequate power for passing on the highway in the middle of the city or cruising down a dusty trail in the middle of nowhere. I say adequate because it could use more power. As I press the gas, I long for the famous Jeep 4.0L inline-six cylinder engine which was (and still is amongst enthusiasts) a popular choice thanks to its torque and ability to withstand punishment. This 3.8L V6 feels like it would be better relegated to a more menial task. Being attached to a four-speed automatic transmission doesn’t make me enjoy the experience anymore. In fact, I feel that the automatic further exposes the weakness of the 3.8L engine. I could have enjoyed myself a little more with a manual transmission....

For this year’s Super Bowl, Audi paid homage to old school movies with your typical car chase scene. Thus, the name for this commercial: “Chase”. In case you missed it, check out the video below… I like that there was a humorous element to it. Audi really made the A6 look very glossy in this commercial – so much that for just a minute I actually liked the A6 better than the A8! Visit Edmunds.com for a full review of the 2009 Audi A6 … Cars.com also has a thorough review … What are your thoughts on the new A6? Originally posted here:  Audi A6 Commercial and Reviews

Following on from the XFR, Jaguar has also released the all new XKR. Featuring the same massive 5.0 litre supercharged engine also seen in the new Jaguar XFR, with 510 horsepower and direct injection making it cleaner and more fuel efficient than the smaller 4.2 litre V8 it replaces. To highlight the model changes, Jaguar has made some interior and exterior modifications to the familiar but still gorgeous Jaguar XKR shape. first of all we have the all new “supercharged” 20″ wheels with a turbine design that echoes the internals of the supercharger seen below: We also get a new front bumper with aluminium effect cooling vents replacing the previous fog lights, taking the look closer to the original Advanced Lightweight Coupe concept that the XKR was first shown as at Detroit 3 yrs ago. Following that the rear lights are now LED’s too. On the interior, more changes are to be found, with the drive selector from the Jaguar XF that rises out of the central transmission tunnel when the starter button is pressed. But visual changes aside, the real news is what going on underneath. That vast extra performance has turned the XKR into a true super car with Ferrari levels of power, so the suspension has been beefed up to cope, with new continuously variable dampers replacing the tradition CATS suspension meaning new owners should expect a rather firmer ride, but with vastly increased handling capability, thanks also in part to the new electronic rear differential, which also means that big power slides are on the menu should you want them, and we do! The all new XKR is at dealers in late March in the UK, and we cant wait to test it. Jaguar is also producing a non supercharged version of the 5.0 litre engine for the standard normally aspirated Jaguar XK models, which takes its performance to a similar level to the old XKR. Power is up from 300 bhp in the 4.2 to 381 bhp in the new car, with a 5.0 second 0-60 time. Prices are up a surprisingly small amount, making these new Jags both absolute bargains! We are yet to hear whether these engines will make it into the current Jaguar XJ saloon car, or whether Jaguar is saving them for the all new XJ, due to be shown in concept form at the end of the year. See the original post here: New 2010 Jaguar XKR...

Japanese car manufacturer Honda recently disclosed that it will be the end of the line for the Honda S2000 sports car after the production of the 2009 variant. The S2000 was introduced to the market in 1999 but was marketed as a 2000 model. The S2000 was a hit with car enthusiasts who enjoyed its effective manual transmission and its cool chassis work. Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson was reported being a huge fan of the S2000, and the car always did great in their annual car surveys! The first release of the Honda sports car was designed to pay homage to the company’s 50th anniversary. The S2000 was well received by consumers that the Japanese car manufacturer decided to produce the car.. The 2000 on its tag was coined from the 2000 cc engine that had an output of 240 horsepower. During that time, the horsepower per liter ratio of 123.5 was record breaking and was considered as very efficient. Revisions were very minor to the next releases of the S2000 through the years. The 2004 released received a facelift with cosmetics to the body panels and reconfigured suspension system to decrease the potential oversteering. In 2007 the Club Racer S2000 variant (photo above) was released and featured a removable hardtop. Its suspension was specifically designed to provide a smooth ride on the track. Honda is also discontinuing the program for the Honda NSX / Acura NSX super car amid the global financial crisis. Some other plans of Honda were also shelved including the V8 programs, rear drive development, and the CR-Z. The S2000 is marketed in 64 countries across the globe with about 110000 units sold. The S2000 of 2009 has a sticker of $35669. The rest is here: 2009 Honda S2000 – The Last Version!

New Jaguar XFR Launched Jaguar has finally launched the all new supercharged version of the XF – the XFR. Straight into the technical details for you: an all new 510 bhp 5.0 litre V8 motor, (known as the AJ V8 Gen III) with direct injection keeping CO2 and other nasty emissions down whilst boosting fuel economy. There’s 625Nm of torque available from very low revs means the XFR will have the M5 beat in most driving conditions, due to not just more power but more accessible power 0-60 takes only 4.7 seconds. Alongside this monster of a motor, the Jaguar XFR has some advanced chassis improvements over the standard Jag XF: a quicker steering rack gives a more responsive feel, and the standard CATS suspension has been replaced with expensive electronically controlled continuously variable Bilstein shocks which are linked to the new active rear differential as seen in the latest Ferraris, all controlled on board, meaning if you want to take the XFR to the track and produce some 100 yard powerslides then no problem. The pictures look good, but it looked even better in the metal at the Detroit show, What you can see in the pictures are the trademark R bonnet vents from the Jaguar XKR along with a much deeper front bumper with huge chromed air intakes to help the engine breathe and conduct air to cool the front brakes, and a deeper protruding front splitter-like lip to give front down-force. Sculpted deep side sills help the mean looks, as does a discreet boot spoiler and trademark R quad exhausts under the new rear bumper. finishing off the look there’s a gorgeous set of big 20″ alloy wheels in the style of turbine rotors. The XFR replaces the 4.2 supercharged SV8 in the XF range, and is described by Jaguar’s chassis Guru Mike Cross as taking the SV8 and increasing everything by 30%, but it still retains the trademark supple Jaguar ride and is meant to be more usable in everyday conditions than the BMW M5. We cant wait to try this beast of a car ourselves… Here is the original post: Jaguar Launches XFR

The 2009 Infiniti G37s sedan may just be the perfect new car (in the under $50k segment). Everybody has their own opinion in regards to what they feel is the “best” car for a given year. Now it’s time for me to throw my hat in the ring and tell you which car I think is the best car for 2009. I assume people would figure me to pick something like the Maserati GranTurismo (an instant classic), the Nissan GT-R (an all-around astounding automotive experience) or even the Volkswagen Jetta TDI (proving that diesel is a great choice). Those people are wrong though – my favorite car so far this year is the 2009 Infiniti G37s sedan . Why the G37s sedan? It does everything I want a car to do and it does it well – all while being packaged at a price lower than a comparable vehicle from its competitors. For 2009, the Infiniti G37s sedan now features the larger 3.7L engine which produces 328 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. Allowing me to control this wonderful engine via a seven-speed paddle-shifted automatic transmission allows me to provide a smooth ride for any passengers who wish to come along for the journey (which oddly enough is the trim level of the G37s I am driving). Once I drop those passengers off at their destination and have the car to myself I get to take full advantage of the optional Sport mode (Viscous Limited Slip, 18-in wheels, sport tuned suspension and sport brakes) and push this car to the limit. This paddle-shifter is just one of many pluses on the 2009 Infiniti G37s sedan. Traction control (VDC) is turned off with a push of a button and the, already fun to drive G37s sedan, turns into a full-fledged sports car. It may have an extra set of doors but I find that just allows me to invite more friends along for the exhilarating ride. I can turn hard, bring the tail out, bring it back in, stop safely and quickly and basically throw everything I can at the G37s. The whole time the car simply bellows a distinct, metallic exhaust note (for which Infiniti and Nissan cars have become identified with) which leads me to believe the car is mocking my driving ability, simply stating that it wants more and it will continue to deliver. It comes time for me to turn it down back below 11… this is where another shining aspect of the G37s...