Cadillac has made the move to stop selling its vehicles in half of the European countries it currently has a presence in – this according to a report in Automotive News. There is no word on exactly which of the 25 countries will be affected but two markets that are guaranteed to still carry the Cadillac brand are Russia and the U.K.

The news comes as Cadillac’s European distributor Kroymans Import Europe faces brankruptcy. As a result a European court has decided to appoint a third party to take control of the 3,500 unsold vehicles at Kroyman’s 165 dealerships across Europe. Presumably the models will be dumped in the European markets which will retain a Cadillac presence.

The move also involves General Motors’s other U.S. brands in Europe including HUMMER and Corvette.

[Source: AutomotiveNews via AutoBlog]

Quick on the heels of the release of the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Brabus has a new line of products for those seeking a more extreme E.

For starters the new Brabus program includes a significant performance increase thanks to a displacement bump to 6.1-liters for the V8 engine – up from 5.5-liters for the E550 model. This is done through the use of a new crankshaft and larger pistons, as well as high flow cylinder heads with more aggressive camshafts. A new exhaust system with high flow catalysts are also a part  of the package.

Output of the larger engine is rated at 462hp at 6200 rpm and 453 ft-lbs of torque at just 3100 rpm. The package also includes a Brabus limited slip differential, which helps get the power to the ground and delivers an impressive 4.7 second 0-62 mph time. Brabus rates the top seed of its new E-Class at 191 mph.

In typical Brabus fashion, the modified E-Class includes a subtle aero kit, which includes side skirts, a new rear bumper, a trunk-lid spoiler and a new front bumper with LED daytime running lights and additional headlights. Also available are the new Brabus front fenders, which add a sporty flare to the sedate sedan with their carbon fiber inserts. The vents are also functional and help to keep the brakes at an ideal operating temperature.

And on the topic of brakes, the Braus setup for the new E-Clas is outrageous with 12-piston front calipers and 14.8-inch rotors up front and 6-piston calipers with 14-inch rotors in the rear.

Brabus offers several different wheel designs and sizes for the new E-Class, but if that big brake upgrade is on your list then a 20-inch set of rollers is required. Shown here are a set of the new Monoblock Q wheels in a 20×9-inch front fitment with 245/30/20 tires and a 20×10.5-inch rear fitment with 285/25/20 tires.

Other upgrades for the new E-Class include an electronic control module for the Mercedes Airmatic suspension, as well as a sport steering wheel, stainless-steel door sill plates with illuminated Brabus logos, a full line of interior accessories and made-to-order custom interiors.

GALLERY: Brabus E-Class

More on the Brabus tuning options for the 2010 E-Class after the jump:

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Yesterday California-based Tesla Motors unveiled it’s latest creation, a fully-electric luxury sedan with a range of 300 miles and a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds.

Yup… the future is here! Well, almost.

Tesla’s first creation, the Tesla Roadster was wickedly fast (and fun) but not very practical with just two seats. This latest vehicle, however, seats five adults and two children in rear-facing seats in the rear-hatch area.

The asking price is a reasonable $57,400, which is reduced to 49,900 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.

As for the motor, it s a 9-inch liquid cooled unit with a 42 kWh battery storage system that is built in to the floor of the car. While Tesla does claim a 300 mile range, the base model comes with a 160-mile range, which can be upgraded to either the 300 or a mid-range 230-mile range. Tesla did suggest that owners would be able to lease additional battery packs for prolonged trips.

Total charge time is 45 minutes and Tesla claims the cost of the electricity for one full charge would be roughly $4.

Inside the car is certainly luxurious and features a 17-inch touch screen display to control many of the features inside the car and it also is fully 3G compatible.

In terms of performance, we already quoted the 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. The car’s quarter mile time is rated at 14 seconds and the Model S will have a top speed of 120 mph.

Power makes it to the ground through a single-speed transmission that is situated in the rear of the car (technically known as a transaxle). The Model S will be offered as both a rear-drive version and with all-wheel drive.

Braking is also quite good with a 135 foot stopping distance from 60 mph thanks to a massive set of Brembo brakes, with 6-piston front calipers and 16-inch rotors up front and 4-piston rear calipers with 15-inch rotors.

The stopping distance is also quite good due to a relatively low curb weight (for a luxury car) of 3,825 lbs.

Those big brake sit inside a big set of 21-inch wheels that come with front 245/35/21 tires and rear 285.30/21 tires. The wheels maintain the luxury design of the Model S – which looks alarming like a Jaguar XF.

As for the vehicle’s dimensions, it is 196-inches with a wheelbase of 116.5-inches – which is very close in size to the previous generation BMW 7 Series.

As mentioned above the future of the electric car isn’t quite here yet, the Tesla Model S won’t go into production until the third-quarter of 2011.

For more information visit:

http://www.teslamotors.com/

[Source: New York Times]

GALLERY: Tesla Model S

More on the Tesla Model S after the jump:

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Ford is preparing to take on the front-wheel drive Nürburgring lap record with the all-new 2009 Focus RS. The current front wheel drive record is held by the Renault Megane R26R, which set a blistering 8 minute and 17 second run, eclipsing the previous 8:22 of the Chevy Cobalt SS.

U.K. publication AutoCar reports that the R32 was spotted last week running at the famous north loop, a move which sparked the rumors. Now a Ford rep is stoking the flames.

“It’s no secret that we will be looking to achieve a time at the ’Ring, but there’s no set schedule for it,” said the unnamed source in an interview with AutoCar. “We didn’t get any opportunities before Christmas because the car’s production set-up wasn’t confirmed and the weather was against us. But we can work on it now.”

An industry day will be help on March 31st and it is expected that would be the first possible opportunity for Ford to go for the record.

The 2009 Focus RS is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter Duratec five-cylinder engine with 295hp and 302 ft-lbs of torque. It also makes use of a Quaife limited slip differential and a unique-to-the-RS suspension setup.

GALLERY: Ford Focus RS

[Source: AutoCar]

More on the Ford Focus RS after the jump:

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Ahead of Tesla’s media event and press conference, set to be held today at noon Pacific Time, three images of the electric car company’s latest project have leaked onto the interwebs.

Two of the three photos depict a vehicle that looks alarmingly similar to Jaguar’s XF sedan – a car on which it might just be based. Remember, the Tesla Roadster is essentially a Lotus Elise underneath. We might even go so far as to say the Tesla model looks better than the Jag – especially with that stunning panoramic glass roof.

Oh… and those wheels are VERY SLR.

The third photo is of the incomplete interior of the car, with hi-tech looking gauges and what appears to be a large LCD screen for HVAC and Audio controls.

The new Model S from Tesla will be priced from $57,400 and be available for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

There is no word on what the specific powerpant will be in the Model S but we’ll be sure to bring you more details later today.

GALLERY: Tesla Model S

When you’re an automaker, there are two ways to significantly improve profits. First, you can sell a vehicle to as many people as possible, using the “economies of scale” approach. Second, you can sell a reduced number of vehicles at a higher profit margin, feeding off an increased demand and a reduced supply.

The Lamborghini Reventón most certainly falls into the latter category and now Lambo is hoping to repeat the success of that car with an even more limited edition Reventón Roadster… yummy!

According to CarsUK.net, which cites not one but two “very reliable” sources inside the company, the Reventón Roadster is set to become a reality. And why not? Lamborghini already has the crazy Reventón bodywork all figured out and they can easily fabricate some Murciélago chassis. They’d be crazy not to build it.

CarsUK is reporting that the Roadster version would use the updated engine from the new LP670-4 SuperVeloce, with 670 neck-snapping horsepower. As for production numbers, Lambo would keep the Reventón Roadster in even more limited supply with just 9 models being produced – and apparently 9 deposits have already been made.

As for the asking price, it’s a serious $1.6 million. It appears as though this over-the-top raging bull is also a cash cow.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Reventón

[Source: CarsUK.net]

Fisker Automotive is a company that continues to prove doubters wrong. Not only did it beat the world’s largest automakers to developing a plug-in hybrid, but now it has secured a dealer network throughout the United States.

Fisker recently announced that it has arranged for 32 retailers to sell its vehicles, starting with the Karma plug-in hybrid luxury car. Fisker claims the Karma can achieve 100 mpg while producing 408hp and retailers will sell the car for a starting price of $87,900.

The dealerships cover a wide geographic area with locations in New York, Miami and Orange County. Less traditional luxury market swill also be served with retailers in states like Alabama, Minnesota and Colorado. There is even a dealership in British Columbia, Canada.

Leading the charge in solidifying the dealerships was Fisker board member Vic Doolan who worked for both BMW and Volvo in the 1990s and 2000s, helping them set record sales.

“Our retail partners are our most important assets,” he said.  “To our customers, they are the face of the company.  For that reason, we’ve chosen those who will give Fisker owners the comfort and confidence to drive the future.”

Fisker says the showrooms will reflect the company’s concern for the environment, using natural and sustainable materials. They will be, ” Eco-facilities, not Ego-facilities.”

For more on the Fisker Karma see the company’s website here:

www.fiskerautomotive.com

A full list of Fisker dealerships is located after the jump:

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The next generation Jaguar XJ will break with tradition, opting for slightly more revolution, compared to the slow evolution that the model has followed until this point.

Jaguar managing director Mike O’Driscoll told staff at AutoBlog that the 2010 XJ will debut in July with sales starting almost immediately afterward.

Apparently the all-new XJ will be more all-new than ever before thanks to a redesigned exterior that will borrow design elements from the new XF. Inside the cockpit will also move into the 21st century thanks to the inclusion of the company’s “Jaguar Drive” transmission knob.

Other big changes will be made to the chassis and engine. An all aluminum architecture is expected to significantly reduce curb weight, with Jag’s new 5.0-liter V8 engine being offered initially and a supercharged 500-plus horsepower XJR variant due out the following year.

We’ll await further news on one of the most timeless vehicle designs of all time and pray the facelift befits such a noble luxury sedan.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Subaru recently announced it would not compete in the 2009 WRC Series due to economic concersn, however, new “no turbo” rules for 2011 would most likely have seen the Japanese automaker pull out anyway.

The World Rally Championship’s governing body, the FIA World Motor Sport Council has just confirmed that as of 2011 competing vehicles must use non-turbocharged naturally aspirated engines – a move that has series veteran and all-star Sébastien Loeb considering a new career path.

The new rules will allow for certain aerodynamic changes to the Super 2000 (or S2000) cars, however, the decision to move away from turbocharged powerplants was made to open up the series to more manufacturers – including Skoda, Abarth, Peugeot and Proton – by making it less expensive to run a competitive car.

These rules may also be to blame for other manufacturers leaving the series. Several months ago Subaru announced that it would not compete in the 2009 season, stating economic concerns, however, it is just as likely that the the company had no intention of running with the new rules (which don’t take effect until 2011).

Turbochargers are set to return to the series in 2013, but mated to smaller 1600c (1.6-liter) engines.

Five-time WRC Champion Sébastien Loeb, who’s contract with Citroën is up at the end of this season, has expressed his displeasure with the new rules and his desire to try his hand at other forms of motorsports.

“The excitement will not be the same,” Loeb told AutoWeek. I always said it would be better with the turbo, and this is how I feel.”

“We don’t have to decide anything until 2011,” he continued. “When that comes, maybe I can move to something more interesting.”

What exactly he might move to is the Le Mans series, as Loeb is already scheduled to test a Peugeot 908 HDi Le Mans prototype this year.

“Sébastien’s contract is up at the end of this year,” a Citroën source told AutoWeek. “There’s really nothing for him to prove to stay on in WRC. He has won every rally and broken every record. Maybe he can leave at the end of 2009 and start racing straight away next year.”

[Source: Autosport and AutoWeek]

As automakers downsize their payrolls, many are also looking to downsize their auto offerings by producing smaller and more affordable vehicles. While we expect as much from the GMs and Toyotas of the world, luxury and sportscar makers are also hopping on the band wagon. We recently reported that Audi is now selling a less powerful version of the TT Roadster in the U.K., and latest reports suggest Porsche might be bringing a new entry-level vehicle to market to slot in under the Boxster.

The new model would be called the 356 Speedster and would be a two-seater, mid-engine, rear drive machine, based on the Volkswagen Blue Sport Concept unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

There is no word on a powerplant for the new model,  but there is speculation that Audi’s 2.0 TFSI engine could be used, with an output of just over 200hp and 200 ft-lbs of torque. This would seem appropriate were it not for the fact that we can’t really see Porsche using an Audi /VW powerplant for a sportscar. It also wouldn’t be very likely that a turbocharged model would be the standard engine, as Porsche typically reserves turbos for high-performance “Turbo” models.

From here the speculation continues to get even more ridiculous with German source autozietung stating that through the use of aluminum and magnesium the new model could weight as little as 1,675 lbs – that’s a good 300 lbs lighter than a Lotus Elise – which has all the comfort and convenience features of a gym locker (we still love them though).

The possibility of such a model actually making it to market is, however, quite good as Porsche is eager to expand its market share and essentially repeat what it did 10 years ago with the Boxster – a vehicle that has grown up in a decade to be a significantly faster and more expensive model. The 356 Speedster wouldn’t see production until 2013 with pricing expected right around the $40,000 mark (undercutting the $46,600 Boxster).

GALLERY: Volkswagen Blue Sport Concept

[Source: autozietung via WorldCarFans]