In some respects the next generation Mercedes-Benz SL will be heading back to its roots, shedding up to 440 lbs in weight, thanks to extensive use of aluminum in the car’s body structure  instead of high-strength steel employed on the current model.

Other changes will included moving production of the car car to Mercedes’ main plant in Sindefingen, where it will be built alongside the upcoming SLC (the first time both models will have been assembled there since 1981).

The seventh generation SL will remain roughly the same size, with evolutionary styling, but will ride on a slightly longer wheelbase, mostly to improve interior space and packaging. Features will include  Mercedes’ Magic Sky Control roof panel, which electronically adjusts the amount of tint to combat UV rays, simply by pressing a button.

In terms of engines, a 302 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 and a 429 hp twin-turbo 4.6-liter V-8 are likely on the cards, as is a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-12, said to produce around 630 hp. The latter will incorporate cylinder shutdown at part throttle in an effort to improve fuel economy.

There will also be a twin-turbocharged 536 hp V-8 powered AMG version at some point, but with the V-12, this seems perhaps a tad superfluous.

The new SL, internally coded R231 is scheduled to go on sale in European markets, sometime early next year, with North American deliveries commencing sometime after that.

[Source: Autocar]

Want to make sure that your letter gets to is destination fast? Put an Indy 500 Centennial stamp on the envelope.

The Forever Stamp celebrates 100 years of racing and features the Marmon “Wasp”, driven by Ray Harroun, winner of the first Indy 500. The historic event took place on May 30, 1911 to a crowd of 80,000, when Harroun beat 39 other drivers to win with a time of 6 hours, 42 minutes and 8 seconds

“At the Postal Service, we understand the power of our stamps in celebrating American history and culture — in this case, the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “I won’t be so bold as to predict the winner of the race, but I will predict that 50 or 100 years from now the U.S. Postal Service will issue another stamp to commemorate the next milestone anniversary of this great event.”

The stamp made its first appearance at a ceremony with the mayor of Indianapolis, Postmaster General Patrick Donahue, and 1974 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Poncho Carter. You can pick up these stamps at your local post office, or order them online at usps.com/shop. For all you collectors, if you order them in the next 60 days, you’ll be guaranteed a book of first-day-of-issue stamps.

Volkswagen finally opened up their new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will employ 2,000 Americans and build up to 150,000 vehicles per year.

VW Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood were present to inaugurate the factory, as well as the governor of Tennessee and the Germany’s ambassador to the United States. The plant broke ground in 2009 and meets the latest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for environmental friendliness, including waterless auto painting, energy-efficient LED lighting, and rainwater collection. VW claims that the plant uses 20 percent less energy than a similarly-sized factory.

The plant will primarily build the Passat for US-specific consumption.

General Motors will be adding two shifts and 2,500 hourly and salaried jobs to the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to build the new Chevrolet Malibu and the next-generation Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera electric cars.

Additional shifts and a $69 million investment in equipment have been made to support the next-generation Impala. In April 2010, GM announced that to support the Malibu production, a $121 million investment would be made.

“Filling this plant with new work is very satisfying because GM is dedicated to helping rebuild this city,” GM North America President Mark Reuss said at the plant Wednesday. “We are confident in the flexibility of the plant, the excellence of our workers and the great cars assembled here.”

Chevrolet’s new Malibu will be built in Detroit and Fairfax, Kan., as well as in China and Korea and will be sold in over 100 countries and six continents.

Detroit-Hamtramck currently has 1,121 hourly and salaried employees.

According to GM, the automaker has added or saved 9,000 jobs and invested $3.4 billion since mid-2009.

Sebastian Vettel, the reigning Formula One world champion and currently in first place on the F1 leaderboard, has been appointed brand ambassador in the hopes of boosting the Infiniti brand.

Vettel has been provided with several Infiniti products including a personal car, according to the manufacturer.

“Since our first contact with Infiniti I liked their cars. A car can impress you in two ways: its looks and its handling. After I had the chance to test some cars in the range I became a big fan,” said Vettel.

“They are comfortable as well as sporty when you ask for it. I am sure we as a team and myself can benefit a lot from the experience of Infiniti and I am very much looking forward to our partnership in the future.”

Since the beginning of the 2011 F1 season, the Infiniti logo has appeared on the successful Red Bull Racing team’s clothing, their equipment, and the race car as well, helping gain valuable exposure.

BMW’s next-generation X5 and X6 SUVs aren’t slated to hit the market for nearly half a decade so you might be surprised to hear that there there’s already an extensive plan in place for their development. According to a report by Automobile Magazine, the two utes will go on a significant diet, while numerous new engine options will be tossed into the mix.

Reducing weight, as all automakers are these days, the new X5/X6 will drop as much as 330 lbs compared to the current model. While lighter components will be used to achieve this goal, there will be some performance tradeoffs with BMW’s torque-vectoring rear differential getting tossed in the process.

As for powertrians, loo for the addition of a 4-cylinder model, although it’s unlikely to make it to North America. Currently in use on the BMW X1 xDrive28i model, the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder makes 245-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque in that model. A 4-cylinder diesel is also an option. Another fuel economy leader will be a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with a 350-hp inline-six mated to a 110-hp electric motor and a new 9-speed automatic transmission. Both M versions will continue to be offered, although with less significant changes, continuing to use the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with a slight bump in power and a more significant 10 to 15 percent increase in fuel economy. Finally, there’s a powerful diesel option being considered, with a new turbocharged inline-six that is so powerful it could carry the 50d badge.

[Source: Automobile]

Spied last week sporting a rather suitable-looking Supra-esque spoiler, the Toyota FT-86/Scion FR-S has been nabbed again, this time without the Fast & Furious flare.

Believed to be in the final stages of development, the FT-86 is powered by a 2.0-liter Subaru-sourced Boxer engine mated to a Toyota direct-injection system and is believed to make around 200-hp.

Look for the FT-86 to officially bow this Fall at the Tokyo Auto Show.

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The rumor mill from BMW headquarters, according to a company insider, indicates a possibility of a M1-like supercar—but you’ll have to take it with a heaping pile of salt.

Scott27, a relentless forum user and alleged BMW insider, has leaked to the Interwebs that the Bavarian designers are currently considering the idea of a halo M supercar—the spiritual successor to the legendary M1.

“The strategy has just begun and where it is at is a few sketches by the design department and ideas conjured around a conference table,” said Scott27. “We have no production plans yet.”

The potential M-car would be dubbed M-One, a vanguard of new BMWs in the same revolutionary vein as the Neue Klasse 40 years ago. It would feature extensive use of carbon fiber and other lightweight materials, as well as every technological triumph BMW can throw at it.

An internal sketch shows influences from—unsurprisingly—the M1 Homage concept from a few years ago, as well as the Vision ConnectedDrive. After some senior heads noticed, they suggested more production-friendly elements like a roof and a windshield that actually provides visibility, in order to judge internal reactions. If it’s anything like the M1 concept, those reactions will be positive and retro-futuristic.

Ultimately, even if this entire rumor doesn’t turn out to be a load of fetid dingo’s kidneys, the earliest a BMW supercar could be built would be “after 2015,” says the BMW insider. It would clash with Audi’s R8 as a crosstown rival, but BMW is more likely focusing on environmental efficiency—such as the i cars—than fueling the unobtainable supercar battle.

No word on whether Mr. Scott will find himself out on the street (or worse) in exchange for this Prometheus-like exchange of information.

GALLERY: BMW M1 Homage Concept

[Source: GermanCarForum]

Forget the Nurburgring. Those in search of the ultimate driving thrill know that you can’t top Bolivia’s Yungas Road. This narrow, winding path runs from the city of La Paz to Coroico and its treacherous terrain, poor weather conditions and steep cliffs claim 100 lives a year. As a result it has earned the dubious title: Death Road.

As part of a clever (and ballsy) marketing stunt, Mitsubishi recently drove the Death Road in its new Outlander and Outlander Sport models, bringing along a 360 degree video camera to document the treacherous excursion to help document the trip.

They’ve created a web page to promote the two vehicles with plenty of interactive features so you can come along for the journey.

Travel along with the Mitsu crew at www.mitsubishicars.com/dangerousroad and check out the promo video after the jump:

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The most popular mid-size sedan in the North American market is the Toyota Camry, and later this year we should see an all-new model.

The seventh generation model is set to debut this fall, as indicated by Toyota’s vice-president and general manager Bob Carter.

Toyota sold 327,804 Camry’s last year, and while that would be a huge and successful number for any automaker, it was in fact the lowest tally in Camry’s history since 1994. The current model had been in the market since March 2006.

No details have been given about the new Camry, but expect more of the same with some new clothing. It’s not yet clear if Toyota plans to continue to offer a V6 model, or switch to 4-cylinders only, like Hyundai has done with the new Sonata and Chevy is planning with the Malibu. A new Camry Hybrid will certainly be a part of the model mix.

[Source: Wards Auto]