Beleaguered Indian truck manufacturer Mahindra has had their American launch delayed indefinitely, thanks to a series of legal battles between Mahindra and vehicle importer Global Vehicle Sales USA.

Global Vehicles argues that Mahindra wrongfully terminated the contract between the two companies. “The bottom line here is Mahindra now believes this is a huge project. They want us out of the way so they can go direct and save the money we were going to make,” Global Vehicles chief executive John Perez told the AP on Friday.

Mahindra’s managing director, Anand Mahindra said that the company has “no date” for entering the U.S.

[Source: Associated Press]

It’s hard to believe it’s been 16 years since Michael Schumacher stormed onto the scene. Seven Formula One championships later, you can own a piece of Schumacher and Formula One history… if you’ve got a couple million dollars lying around: $2.08 million to be exact.

Schumacher’s first driver’s championship Benetton B194-8 is is now up for sale for those that are pure Formula One junkies or Michael Schumacher addicts. The car is in near flawless condition still powered by the 3.5L Ford-Cosworth ZETEC R V8 powerplant that took Schumacher to the top of the podium.

We’re guessing if you have the money to spare, there are worse ways you could blow $2.08 million. Go ahead, own a piece of history and when you’re bored, take it around for a lap in the race track you’re having built in your backyard. You know you wanna.

[Source: JamesList]

Saab is planning on letting buyers watch their cars get assembled at their Swedish plant via a webcam link, as the company seeks to move back to a more personalized buying process.

Buyers will be encouraged to have their cars custom built, rather than picking from the dealer’s existing inventory. Buyers will be alerted to significant moments of the assembly process, and can then watch footage of the car’s build. Customers will also be able to collect their car from the company’s factory in Trollhattan, Sweden.

Under Saab’s previous ownership, General Motors sought to move to a more volume based model of production that many felt watered down the legacy of the company.

[Source: WhatCar]

Jaguar Land Rover has announced an ambitious series of plans, including an $8 billion investment in product, including a rival to the BMW 3-Series, a successor to the E-Type, an XF station wagon and a replacement for the Land Rover Defender.

Details were vague regarding the 3-Series rival, aside from that it would be a “niche product” that would “offer something different” that would set it apart from rivals. Jaguar’s E-Type revival is much further along the product pipeline, which should act as a halo for the brand.

Land Rover is also planning a Range Rover model to fit between the Evoq and Sport, as well as a replacement for the Defender. While the Defender is a low-volume, low profit vehicle, it is considered an iconic vehicle with deep roots in British culture.

As part of the product onslaught, Land Rover will keep one of their Birmingham plants open rather than shutter it.

[Source: Inside Line]

General Motors is increasing Chevrolet Volt production numbers in 2012, from 30,000 to 45,000 to a maximum output of 60,000 units.

The increase in production to maximum capacity will conincide with the nationwide rollout of the Volt. Doug Parks, vehicle line director in charge of the Volt, said that “Starting in ‘12, we’ll be at this max rate of 60,000,” Parks said.  “If we think this thing is crazy higher volume than we thought, we have the ability to increase volume and crank that up.”

GM will build about 10,000 Volts in 2011, of which 5,000 will be exported to countries like Canada and China.

[Source: GM Volt]

Brad Benson, owner of a Hyundai dealership in South Brunswick, New Jersey, is making good on his promise to donate a car to Terry Jones, a Florida pastor who threatened to burn the Quran, after he reneged on the planned destruction of the Muslim holy book.

Benson had offered to give Jones a Hyundai Accent for free if he refrained, although it may have been the personal appeals from figures like President Barack Obama and General David Patraeus that swayed Jones’ decision.

A representative from Benson’s dealership contacted Jones, who initially declined the car. In the end, he decided to donate the vehicle to a center for battered Muslim women, a noble, if politically loaded gesture. Benson, of course, is the big winner here, racking up tons of free publicity for relatively little cost.

[Source: Autoblog via The New York Times]

Back in 1979; Ford Motor Company took a stake in Mazda a time when the Japanese company was struggling financially. Initially it was a modest 7 percent, but by 1996 it had risen to 33 percent and Ford took management control of the Hiroshima based company. However, according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei; the Blue Oval is set to sell almost all it’s remaining shares in Mazda, though the official line from Dearborn maintains this is nothing but ‘speculation.’

If the planned sell-off goes ahead, then it is likely that many of the Ford shares will be offered to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, giving it the largest stake holder interest in the Japanese automaker. At the end of business last Friday, Ford held 195 million shares in Mazda, worth 42 Billion Yen ($516 million).

Although a formal decision is expected to be announced next month, an official statement from Ford declared “our ownership in Mazda remains unchanged. Ford continues to have a close strategic relationship with Mazda and we cooperate in areas of mutual benefit.”  Let’s see what happens in November.

[Source: Reuters]

Saab’s 9-4x crossover will finally see the light of day, and we have some of the first pictures of the car ahead of its Los Angeles Auto Show debut.

Sharing much of the same architecture as the Cadillac SRX, the 9-4x also comes with the same 3.0L V6 and 2.8L turbocharged V6 engines, displacing 265 and 300 horsepower respectively. Torque vectoring all-wheel-drive is available, while a 6-speed automatic gearbox helps put the power down.

AutoGuide will have live shots of the 9-4x when we cover the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. In the mean time, check out the gallery and official press release on the Saab 9-4x.

GALLERY: Saab 9-4x

[Source: Saab]

Hit the jump to see the official press release

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The German DTM Touring Car series is looking to make a foray into North America sometime around 2013, with a possible partnership involving NASCAR and Grand-Am.

In an interview with Autosport, the head of DTM’s promotion arm, Hans Werner Aufrecht said “In America, we are working with the NASCAR organisation. Beginning in 2013, we hope to have a championship with 12 races in the United States. They will be six with Grand-Am and six with NASCAR events, for a standalone championship in America. I believe this is very, very good for the future of motorsport in the United States.”

The timing of the races will coincide with the new generation of DTM cars, which will see technical regulations between DTM and the Japanese SuperGT series become standardized.

[Source: Autosport]

After announcing earlier today that it would reveal the new 2012 GT-R at the LA Auto Show, Nissan has taken the wraps off the refreshed version of its halo sports car without disappointment.

A long list of enhancements make the GT-R more capable in every way. Starting under the hood, the twin-turbo V6 gets a bump in power, with output now rated at 522-hp at 6400 rpm and 451 ft-lbs of torque at 3200 rpm. That engine also gets a new red cover to signify the added power.

Suspension upgrades include an entirely reworked setup with new springs rates, shocks an new carbon composite strut tower bar. New light-weight RAYS forged wheels are also included, with new Dunlop SP SPORT MAXX GT 600 DSST CTT tires that Nissan says offer improved straight line stability, better sidewall rigidity and an improve tread. Plus, new brake rotors are included to improve stopping distances, reduce fade and last longer under hard driving conditions.

Outside the GT-R gets a revised body with improved aerodynamics, bringing the drag coefficient down from 0.27 to 0.26. The design also increases front downforce by 10 percent and reduces airflow into the engine compartment, while directing more air to the radiator and brake cooling ducts. A longer rear diffuser also improved aerodynamics and improves cooling under the car (likely for the transmission). Rear downforce has also been improved by 10 percent. Two new colors are offered for 2011: Meteo Flake Black Pearl and Aurora Flare Blue Pearl.

Inside the 2011 GT-R gets some mild upgrades that include a magnesium coating on the paddle shifters and a genuine carbon fiber panel for the center stack. More comfortable seats are fitted to the Pure and Premium edition models while the Black edition gets more race-inspired seating.

The GT-R will be available in six different model options (in Japan anyway). These include the aforementioned Pure Edition, Black and Premium Edition, as well as the SpecV, Club Track and Egoist.

SpecV models retain the high-output engine from the new standard powerplant and gain the lightweight Rays wheels and new Dunlop tires as standard equipment. Also standard on SpecV models are upgraded brake pads and a more aggressive Vehicle Dynamics control program.

Next up is the Club Track Edition, designed specifically for circuit driving. Owners of this car will get to experience the GT-R in its purest form, with Nissan organizing events with professional instruction.

And finally, there’s the new Egoist model that will offer improved luxury and customization with owners able to select from 20 interior choices with all the interior components being hand-stitched by the experts at Seton Company, Inc. in Germany. The steering wheel will feature a special GT-R emblem made by Mr. Sakae Kubota, a Japanese lacquer expert, while a Bose audio system will be tuned to the ears of each owner. Outside, the Egoist model will get a carbon rear spoiler and titanium exhaust system (from the SpecV model), while special Blue Sword Chrome Rays wheels finish off the package.

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan GT-R

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan GT-R Egoist

Official release after the jump:

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