Hard to believe that it’s been eight long years since the Bugatti Veyron was introduced. And it’s hard to believe that the Veyron, a car for which Bugatti seems content to churn out limited editions until the heat-death of the universe, is actually nearing the end of its life.

Well, sort of. Only the original hardtop model gets cast off into the sunset; the 300 originally planned have all been sold to millionaires, oil sheiks, reality TV stars, and James Bond villains. Only the targa-topped Grand Sport remains, and Bugatti will keep building them until they receive an influx of complaints from men who have had their $400 haircuts ruined.

The mysterious European customer will take delivery in the fall and, Bugatti notes, “has never purchased a Bugatti before.” Good, that jerk had better save some for the rest of us.

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Sales for the Fiat 500 are picking up after a slow start in the US market. The Mexican built US version was off to a slow start after only selling 3,141 units through the end of May, but the cute Italian car is gaining momentum. Chrysler has just 70 Fiat dealerships nationwide however there are plans to open another 60 by the end of the year, which should help move more units.

The original Fiat 500 was introduced in July 1957 and was then called the ”cinquecento”. Now in North America, Fiat is planning on launching a national marketing campaign for the new model on the Fourth of July, which will hopefully improve the the cars sales figures even more.

Three different trim levels are available including the Pop, Sport and Lounge models. The Pop base model retails for $15,500 which comes with power windows/ locks, power heated mirrors, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, cruise control and 7 airbags. The Sport model retails for $17,500 and comes with stiffer springs and shocks, 16-inch aluminium wheels, a more performance oriented exhaust, a Bose sounds system, leather wrapped steering wheel and hands free voice controls. The Lounge model retails for $19,500 and features a 6-speed automatic transmission and higher grade interior trim.

The 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 100-hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. The 500 is rated at 30-mpg in the city and 38-mpg on the highway for a 33-mpg combined number.

[Source: USA Today]

Based out of Japan, Axell Auto looks to work on a variety of complete car tuning kits with a strong focus on Toyota-branded SUVs and vans. In fact, the Nissan GT-R is the only sports car that they even dabble in, and that’s probably because they know just how important the R35 GT-R is to Japanese enthusiasts. One thing is for sure though, every one of their aero kit offerings are as aggressive as can be, and their widebody GT-R is no different.

It may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but this GT-R sporting a matte black outside and a completely red interior is pretty menacing to look at. We actually dig the widebody and think it was constructed well, flowing with the natural body lines of the car without looking too extreme. The rear bumper offers a ton of contrast to the relatively tame front bumper. There’s vents and slits galore throughout the fenders, side skirts and bumpers, making the kit a little too busy overall. But much like the rear spoiler, a lot of this could have gone worse.

We’d like to have seen Axell Auto outfit their demo car with a much larger and more aggressive set of wheels though.

GALLERY: Axell Auto Widebody Nissan GT-R

[Source: GTR Blog]

Woo hoo! Summer is finally here! It’s time to throw off the shackles of work and school, and get out there for some fun and sun. But before you hit the road to take that much-needed summer vacation, it’s a good idea to keep some driving safety tips in mind so you and your loved ones stay safe.

By remembering a few simple tips, you can make this summer on the road the best one yet. Here’s a check list to keep you safe:

1. First thing you should do when you get into a car is to buckle up. They will keep you strapped to your seat in case of a crash. And the numbers prove it – in 2008, they saved the lives of 13,000 people.

2.  Make sure the kids are secure, as car crashes are the leading cause of death for kids between 3 and 12 years old. Place children aged 12 and under in the back seat, and check that child seats are installed correctly

3. Slow down. The cottage isn’t going anywhere, so keep to the posted speed limits. A heavy foot behind the wheel is a factor in about one-third of all fatal crashes, killing nearly 900 Americans every month.

4. Pay attention and keep your eyes on the road. Put the cell phones down and focus on the road – in 2009, over 5,400 people were killed due to distracted driving and 448,000 were injured.

5.  Stay on top of maintenance. Before making the road trip, check your tire pressure and tread wear, fluids, and batteries. This is good advice at any time of the year, as you can catch serious problems before they happen.

6. Don’t drink and drive. We know, we’ve said this before, but in the summer, sometimes you lose track of the number of alcoholic beverages you’ve drank while on the patio or at a BBQ. So many lives can be saved if you designate a driver or take a cab.

7. Check your blind spot. Every car has one, so check your mirrors and look over your shoulder when you back up. With the kids out of school and playing outside, this is the time of year to be extra diligent.

8. Tell other motorists where you’re going by using your signals. This alerts other drivers and cyclists what your intentions are, and helps prevent mixed signals.

It’s sobering to think that in 2010, over 33,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents and many of them were preventable. Let’s all work together to bring that number down, and you can do your part by following the easy steps above.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

MINI has recently released the all-new 2012 Coupe and it will pack a serious punch. The company’s racing heritage will continue with this sporty two-door in the John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance. This race car has been developed to compete in this weekends 24-hour Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit. MINI will race the “Green Hell”, as the track is affectionately known with two cars wearing numbers 146 and 147. Three other MINI teams will also track two cars each, making for eight MINI’s in a race of 250.

The race car gets a specially-tuned version of the factory produced John Cooper Works engine, packsinga 1.6-liter four cylinder equipped with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection. The car will produce 250-hp with an over-boost function cranking out 330 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 240 km/h.

The car looks and sounds great in the video and looks very quick. The exhaust system sounds mean and the minute and a half long video is definetly worth watching.

Check out the video after the jump!

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Nothing has been officially released but General Motors is not denying that the American automaker may introduce a two-door version of the Chevrolet Cruze. One source has suggested that the compact coupe maybe built in the Detroit suburb of Orion Township. The plant is getting ready to build the Chevrolet Sonic, a smaller car in the third quarter.

General Motors currently produces the four-door Cruze exclusively at the assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio but the car’s success has the plant operating at full capacity, even with overtime. The Cruse was America’s best-selling compact nameplate in May.

The Orion plant would fit well to manufacture the coupe as it is equipped to build multiple models and its innovative labour contract makes it more appealing to build a lower-volume niche model.

The Cruze model has been built in Europe as a race car giving the car a sportier image in North America. Whether or not the image campaign ultimately pays off is anyone’s guess but adding a sporty coupe to the lineup probably wouldn’t hurt.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

It’s arguably getting on years (count five since any significant update), but the Altima continues to sell quite well. And when such a formula proves successful, there’s very little reason to change it.

For 2012, updates on Nissan‘s sporty, front-drive mid-size sedan and coupe are relatively few. The biggest is the so-called Value Package, essentially a technology option that adds auto dimming headlights, rear view mirror,  leather wrapped steering wheel with built in audio controls and Bluetooth functions, all for $490.

In terms of pricing, the Altima 2.5 stickers at $20,410, excluding destination charges, while the 2.5 S equipped with the CVT begins at $22,570, a hike of some $140 over last year. Meanwhile the full-tilt 3.5 SR CVT, will cost you $25,430, which is $320 more than the outgoing model.

On the coupe front things are quite interesting, buyers actually have to pay more for a stick-shift – $30,760 for the 3.5 R six-speed, versus $28,430 for the CVT equipped version.

Jeep hasn’t offered a true pickup since the late and still lamented, Cherokee based 1986-92 Comanche (shown above). However, if brand CEO John Manley gets his way, it’s likely a Jeep with a bed will return to the lineup sometime in the future.

However, despite showing a concept during a dealer conference last year in Orlando, Florida, where a number of retailers expressed enthusiasm, the idea hasn’t yet been given the green light by Chrysler, though Manley remains optimistic.

If such a truck does come to market however, it will likely be a premium priced offering, rather than an entry-level truck. “A lot of the pickup market is commoditized. I would not want to do a commodity Jeep,” Manley said.  It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

[Source: Automotive News]

Each year, music superstar Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish, put on the White Tie and Tiara Ball at their home. A truly glamorous shindig, it also serves another significant purpose, that being to raise money, via auction for the Elton John Aids Foundation, one of the largest charities of its kind in the world.

This year, not to be outdone by one of Sir John’s outfits, Audi donated a chrome finished V10 engined R8 Spyder in an effort to raise record bids for the foundation. “Sir Elton John’s fundraising ball really is a golden ticket event that is as glamorous as it is hugely effective in fundraising terms,” declared Jeremy Hicks, Director of Audi UK.  “We are delighted, and enormously proud, to support it with the donation of what is arguably our most fittingly glamorous model.”  Fair comment.

The June 23rd White Tie and Tiara Ball is the 13th annual event of its kind and the fundraising auction has been supported by Audi in various forms for the past eight years. Question is, can they top this feat in 2012?

GALLERY: Chrome Audi R8 Spyder