With the release of a new selection of photos of its much-maligned Lagonda Concept, Aston Martin seems to be re-testing the waters to see if there is interest in a luxury SUV, marketed under the slightly more affordable Lagonda brand. The vehicle was first shown at the Geneva Auto Show last March and was not well received.

With the recession now on its way out and a new era of lavish spending around the corner (Aston hopes), it has decided to revisit the concept once again to see if moods have changed. No doubt, some will now be more favorable and we can certainly see there being some demand for the Mercedes GL-based SUV. But will such limited demand be enough?

According to a report on egmCarTech, Aston’s design team has been tasked with creating another concept to debut at an upcoming auto show. Perhaps this time we’ll get some sort of 5 Series GT sportback concept aimed at an expanding market segment, rather than an SUV in a segment that continues to shrink.

Aston Martin has said it intends to bring a production Lagonda model to market by 2012.

GALLERY: Aston Martin Lagonda Concept

[Source: eGMCarTech]

The first details on Indian automaker Tata’s Nana Europa model have been announced, giving us a closer idea of what the car might be like when it arrives in the U.S. in 2012. Famous for being the world’s cheapest car, the Nano sells for $2,000 in India, but the European model will cost far more than that at around $6,500 to $8,000 (£4000 – £5000) due to safety upgrades, creature comforts and a more powerful engine.

The body of the car is made entirely of steel, with a length of 3300mm or 130-inches. By comparison the Smart fortwo is 106-inches long – or two feet shorter than the Nano. Under the hood there’s a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine making 60-hp, up from the 35-hp unit used in India. A five-speed manual transmission is standard – an upgrade from the 4-speed unit in India.

Impressively it gets a fully-independent front and rear suspension, as well as ABS, traction control, electric power steering and two airbags.

The Nano Europa is expected to go on sale in Europe in 2011, with scheduled sales in the U.S. in 2012. Pricing in the U.S. is expected to be at or below $8,000.

GALLERY: Tata Nano Europa Concept Debut in Geneva

[Source: Autocar]

Before Mazda solidified its deal to buy up a 20 percent stake in Suzuki earlier this week, it was considering adding a different Japanese automaker to its lineup. A report in Automobile magazine dissects the decision by VW and why it eventually didn’t go with Mazda, which is now almost completely independent of Ford.

Despite being an attractive, performance-oriented brand, Mazda has a lot of overlapping product with Volkswagen and has very little experience in the small car and mini-car market - something that Suzuki most certainly does. Suzuki also has impressive penetration in emerging markets like India.

In addition, Mazda isn’t the greenest of automakers as the brand’s focus on performance has often resulted in lower than average fuel economy ratings – especially on important high-volume cars like the Mazda3. It also only recently announced a program to invest in hybrids, putting it several years behind much of the industry.

Mazda has been in search of a new partner ever since Ford sold off 22 percent of its stake in the company earlier this year, reducing its share of the Japanese automaker to just 11 percent. Just this week Ford president Mark Fields made Mazda’s situation all the more urgent, announcing that from now on the two automakers would develop platforms independently. This is a huge issue for Mazda as vehicles like the Mazda3, CX-7 and CX-9 are based on Ford products.

Mazda hasn’t officially made any comment in regards to finding a new partner in the auto industry, but some analysts have suggested it will need to do so in order to survive.

[Source: Fourtitude]

The team at German Mercedes-tuner Brabus have just announced that their V12-powered Mercedes GLK has achieved a world record for the fastest street-legal SUV at 322.3 km/h. In miles, that is a fraction over 200, at 200.3 mph!

The record-setting run was achieved at Italy’s Nardo high speed ring during an event hosted by Continental Tires.

Under the hood of the GLK V12 is a Mercedes 5.5-liter V12 engine that has been extremely modified. With two larger turbochargers and a displacement of 6.3-liters, it pumps out 740-hp and 811 ft-lbs of torque. The engine itself actually makes 995 ft-lbs of torque but is limited in order to avoid damaging the drivetrain.

In addition to the amazing top-speed run, the GLK V12 can also hit 62 mph in 4.2 seconds and takes just 12.8 seconds to hit 124 mph.

Brabus has held several past top speed records, with the Mercedes CLS-based Brabus Rocket the one-time fastest street-legal sedan in the world at 225 mph!

The GLKV12, which Brabus will debut at the 2009 Dubai Auto Show this week, is available to purchase at a cost of roughly $580,000.

For full specifications on the Brabus GLKV12, see after the jump:

GALLERY: Brabus GLKV12

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Mazda is looking to return to its roots when the next generation MX-5 Miata debuts. According to a report by InsideLine, the car will take inspiration from the MX-5 Superlight Concept and weigh just 2,200 lbs. Mazda has already announced that starting in 2011 it aims to cut the curb weight on all of its new models by at least 220 lbs.

Even more impressive is that it is expected to use the company’s new SKY-G engine, which Mazda debuted recently at the Tokyo Auto Show. Displacing just 1.3-liters, this 4-cylinder isn’t a hybrid or a diesel, but reportedly makes as much as 150-hp and can get anywhere from 50-mpg to 70-mpg!

Mazda has yet to reveal how it managed to get such a high fuel economy number out of this setup, but InsideLine is reporting that industry juggernaut Toyota is impressed and interested in the technology.

Recently Mazda did show a hybrid version of the SKY-G engine in its Kiyora Concept which debuted at the Tokyo Auto Show. Powered by the same 1.3-liter version of Mazda’s new SKY-G engine combined with a six-speed Sky-Drive automatic transmission, Mazda’s i-stop start/stop system and regenerative braking, Mazda says it can achieve 75 mpg.

[Source: InsideLine]

Dutch exotic car maker Spyker is likely the favored candidate in the resumed bidding for GM’s Saab division. Saab went back on the open market just a few weeks ago when a group led by Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg retracted its offer.

In an report published in Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet a source described GM’s top candidate in a way that almost certainly points to Spyker. Here are the details: the favored candidate has small scale experience in car production and it intends to keep production, design and development in Sweden. The source also said that the favored company is one that has already been mentioned in the press.

Last year Spyker sold just 43 vehicles, but they all came at a serious price, topping $294,200. It also has strong investment from Russian banking tycoon Vladimir Antonov. In the past, Spyker has even run a Formula 1 team and it continues to race its cars in endurance races in Europe.

General Motors had created a self imposed deadline of January 1st to sell-off the Swedish auto division and just recently company spokesman Chris Preuss has said that, “a decision about Saab is going to come very soon.”

An additional candidate in the running is China’s Beijing Auto (or BAIC), which is interested in the Saab’s tooling a technology behind the previous generation of cars in order to build those vehicles for the Chinese market. BAIC had agreed to support the Koenigsegg-led deal in exchange for those assets but when that deal fell through has offered once again to buy them.

It seems that the sale of some assets to BAIC, as well as the sale of current technology, production and design assets to Spyker is a possibility.

While there is hope for the future of the Saab brand, General Motors has had little success in parting-out its many divisions. The company is in the process of closing its Pontiac unit but couldn’t find a buyer for the Saturn brand after a deal with the Penske Automotive Group fell through. A deal to sell Hummer to a Chinese industrial equipment manufacturer has yet to be completed.

[Source: Reuters]

Nissan’s next generation of the iconic GT-R may be a hybrid sports car. According to a report in Japan’s Best Car magazine, the R36 GT-R could use a 440-hp gasoline engine mated to a 160-hp electric motor. This would allow the car to output as much as 600-hp in some modes, while attaining impressive fuel economy in another mode.

To us this sounds a lot like the Infiniti Essence Concept (below), which debuted earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show and has continued to captivate the automotive world since. It is powered by a 440-hp twin-turbo direct-injection 3.7-liter V6 engine and an electric motor to make roughly 600-hp. And just recently Infiniti execs admitted that there is still a possibility that the Essence could make it to dealerships in the future. Perhaps it was an early look at the next GT-R.

[Source: BestCar via Motor Trend]

The all-new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup has just been awarded Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the Year award for 2010.

“To have our all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty named Truck of the Year by the editors of Motor Trend really defines how great this new Ram Heavy Duty pickup is,” said Fred Diaz, Ram Truck Brand CEO. “The Motor Trend Truck of the Year Award is like a standing ovation for the Chrysler Group designers, engineers and planners who developed this incredible Ram Heavy Duty Truck.”

Editor-in-Chief Angus McKenzie said that, “The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty absolutely nailed the award in terms of our criteria, from the attractive exterior styling, to the plush and quiet cabins, to the tough and capable powertrains, especially the impressive Cummins diesel, which meets 50-state emissions standards without needing expensive after-treatment technology. It delivers the capability heavy duty truck users demand, with style and refinement they perhaps did not expect.”

Ram HD models range in price from $28,165 all the way up to $51,095. The Power Wagon also returns for 2010 at a price of $45,780. It comes exclusively as a 2500 4×4 Crew Cab with a 6-foot 4-inch box and includes electric locking differentials (front and rear), an electronic disconnecting sway bar, 32-inch BFGoodrich tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, a Warn 12,000-pound winch and a 4.56 axle ratio for serious off-roading.

In total the 2010 Ram HD gets three cab styles (regular, crew-cab and Mega Cab) and two cargo box sizes (6-foot, 4-inches and 8-foot), as well as single and dual rear wheels and five trim level s (ST, SLT, TRX, Power Wagon and Laramie). 2010 is the first year Dodge is offering the Ram HD with a crew cab.

The base engine is a 383-hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 400 ft-lbs of torque, while the real big dogs get a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel with 350-hp and 650 lb-ft of torque available at just 1500 rppm.

The Ram 3500 with the Cummins diesel offers a towing capacity of 18,500 lbs with a max payload of 5,110 lbs. Auto-box dually models with the 4.10 rear end get an increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 24,5000 lbs – up 500 lbs. The 4×2 3500 models increase from 23,000 lbs to 24,000 lbs. Both 4×4s and 4×2s get increased Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) due in part to larger front axle U-joints. Diesel 4×4s now have a rating of 5,500 lbs (up from 5,200 lbs) and diesel 4×2s get a 5,000 lb rating (up from 4,700 lbs.) The 2500 4×4 crew cab diesel trucks get an increase GCWR of 9,600 lbs – up from 9,000 lbs.

To help with towing, Dodge has equipped its new Heavy-Duty trucks with a towing mode as well as an Electronic Range Select, which lets drivers manually limit the highest available gear, and perform manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine rpm.

Outside, the new Heavy-Duty Ram models come with unique styling cues for 2010 and yet maintain the new Ram look. One particular change is in the size of the grille, with a larger front opening and taller hood to accommodate (and feed air to) the 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel. Heavy-Duty models also get a unique bumper design to allow better access to the tow hooks and winch on Power Wagon Models.

Inside, the Heavy-Duty models get heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel, memory seats, navigation, adjustable pedals and numerous audio/video options including a 10-speaker sound system and SIRIUS Backseat TV with three channels.

Heavy-Duty Mega Cab models also boast best in class interior room with the largest and longest cab (143.2 cubic feet and 111.1 inches long); the most interior  volume (72.2 cubic feet); the most cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet); the largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet); the most second-row leg room (44.2 inches); the largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5 inches high); the largest rear-door open angle (85 degrees); and first-ever reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).

Motor Trend Truck of the Year competitors are evaluated based on six criteria: design advancement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.

See AutoGuide’s 2010 Ram HD First Drive article here:

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty: First Drive

GALLERY: 2010 Dodge Ram HD models

For more on the new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 HD models, see the official release after the jump:

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In an effort to keep the Viper name alive after the iconic sports car is discontinued next year, Dodge has announced the introduction of the 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X track car, while simultaneously launching a new Dodge Viper Cup spec series.

The Viper ACR-X is a combination of the ACR street-legal but track capable machine, with the track-only Competition Coupe to come up with the ideal club racer. Unfortunately, it’s not street legal.

Under the long hood, the ACR-X retains the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 engine, but power gets a 40-hp boost to 640-hp thanks to a less restrictive exhaust setup. Additional modifications incldue a track-tuned suspension, a curb weight that has been cut by 160 lbs and several aerodynamic enhancements. A roll cage, fuel cell and race seats complete the package for racing in the SCCA and NASA Viper Racing League. Pricing is set at $110,000.

Recently Dodge made headlines when it introduced an updated ACR model for 2010, which reclaimed the Laguna Seca track record at 1:33.915. The ACR-X was also out testing at Laguna Seca recently and bested the street car’s time by almost three seconds.

The car will be the spec model in the new Dodge Viper Spec series that will begin in July 9th at Virginia International Raceway.

For more on the ACR-X, the Dodge Viper Spec series and a video of the making of the ACR-X, see after the jump:

GALLERY: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X

Official release after the jump:

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NASCAR and off-road racer Robby Gordon’s push for the SCORE championship in the annual Baja 1000 race is the focus of a new series of webisodes launched by one of the legendary racer’s sponsors MagnaFlow. Over the course of 10 weeks, MagnaFlow will release a new part in the 10-part “14 Hours To A Championship” series showing just what goes into a Baja 1000 race and how grueling the final challenge can be.

As the culmination of the SCORE series, the Baja 1000 isn’t about just one race either, but the deciding factor in a tough year of racing. And with Gordon poised to take the Championship, there’s a lot at stake.

The series promises in car cameras and a complete documentation of the race, including commentary from Gordon himself as he blasts through the desert in his Chevy CK1500 Trophy Truck.

Now if you’re a Robby Gordon fan, or a fan of off-road racing and the Baja 1,000, you likely already know the result of the race. Still, we won’t spoil it for anyone who doesn’t know.

View the series trailer above and see after the jump for the first intsallment in the “14 Hours To A Championship” series. We have also included schedule of the webisode releases dates, which can be viewed at MagnaFlow’s website or on the company’s YouTube channel here.

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