Hertz Italiana Lotus Elise SC Fleet

Who wouldn’t enjoy taking in the picturesque Mediterranean countryside while driving an exotic sportscar? The Italians have no shortage of sleek automobiles but if you’re looking for something more along the lines of a British model, then car rental company Hertz can probably help. The agency’s Italian locations have just received a fleet of Lotus Elise SC sportscars as part of their Fun Collection.

The Elise SC has a compact Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four cylinder engine with a supercharger producing a humble 218 horsepower, but weighing less than 2000 lbs it can take off doing 0-60 in just 4.3 seconds.

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2010 Lexus IS-C Convertible

In the thick of its U.S. marketing campaign for the 2010 IS C, Lexus is working hard to produce enough cars to meet consumer demand. Presently about 1,200 cars are departing the Kyushu factory each month, but according to a Lexus official, that is just barely enough.

The IS-C was introduced last October at the Paris Motor Show, and now that the hardtop convertible has finally reached the U.S., Lexus is carefully handling the supply, reports Wards Auto. The 2010 Lexus IS 250C pricing starts at $38,490 for the manual-equipped version, while the auto goes for $39,660. The 350C, only available with automatic, starts at $43,940.

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Although German independent vehicle manufacturer Karmann closed its doors late last month as the company heads towards bankruptcy, latest reports say the move may not be final. Karmann has reportedly signed a $14 million deal with Volkswagen to assist with the development and supply of the VW’s future electric vehicles.

This info was first reported by Germany’s Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung, which claims that Karmann will use the funds to organize a restructured company with 1,600 employees. Neither Karmann nor VW has yet to confirm the reports, but there is a strong chance the two companies could join forces

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A rumor has surfaced that claims a new Lexus IS F Convertible may be in the works. Fans would likely welcome a coupe and convertible version of the IS-F.  A sporty IS Convertible, in the shape of the F-Sport, is already available, but a super-performance convertible could still find its own market.

According to Car & Driver, referring to inside sources at Lexus, a new IS F Convertible will be coming in early 2011 and would feature the same 5.0L V8 and quick-shifting 8-speed automatic as the four-door.

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On the heels of the successful launch of the rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe, Hyundai is focusing on developing a front-wheel drive replacement for the Tiburon sports coupe (or simply Coupe in Europe and other markets). Hyundai Motor America’s CEO John Krafcik revealed some new details in an interview with Inside Line, on the upcoming small coupe which he claimed will look about 70% like the Veloster Concept that was revealed at the 2007 L.A. Show. Krafcik said that the production version of the Veloster will have a surprise bodystyle feature never before seen in the category. “It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won’t be like anything out there before in the small car segment.”

In terms of size, Krafcik goes on to say that the new model will be quite compact. “It’s Accent-sized. Think of it like a 4-passenger Honda CRX,” he said. “It’ll be a little car you can take out and ring its neck and still get good mileage. Fun and economical, with a great power to weight ratio.  It’ll be powered by a 1.6-liter four cylinder with Direct Injection making 140 hp. And it’ll get over 40 mpg US (5.8lt/100km or 48mpg UK),” he told Iinside Line. We should see this new vehicle in Hyundai’s dealerships before the end of 2011.

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BMW X5 Edition 10

To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of BMW’s first ever SUV, the X5, the Bavarian firm will be coming out with a special edition version of its second-generation X5. Production will be limited to just 500 units with buyers being able to combine the ‘X5 Edition 10′ as it is officially named, with any of the six-cylinder and V8 engines presently offered in the range.

Some of the features of the X5 Edition 10 will include a unique gray metallic finish, new 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in huskier rubber, special trim and upholstery options, a panoramic sunroof and an array of commemorative tags inside and out. More details are expected to be released closer to the special edition model’s launch date Fall 2009.

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E-Rod Roadster

The E-Rod electric roadster is the newest creation from German design firm Mileworks. Scheduled to go on sale Spring 2010, the new E-Rod has an advanced electric powertrain with a twin motor design churning out 230hp and 2,100Nm of torque. This twin motor design allows one motor to power each axle, which in turn provides four-wheel-drive capability.

A 32kWh battery is said to give the vehicle a range of over 120mi (200km) and uses a typical 240V and a 10-16amp European household power outlet so charging times should not take longer than 12 hours. This 1,000 pound retro-styled roadster that seats two will accelerate from 0-100km/h in five seconds and can reach a top speed of 200km/h. Full production details are  not yet confirmed, but Mileworks hopes to build 1,500 examples of the E-Rod next year and price it under $84,000

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Mercedes Limo

LimousinesWorld has just made available the new Mercedes limousine with loads of custom-designed interior amenities. They have also brought out the RHD Mercedes limousine. Once inside, enjoy drinks from the bar, surf the internet, watch TV, chat with clients or just enjoy the luxurious ride.

Some of the other features include stereo with single CD/DVD system, dual 7-inch flatscreen TV (or 13-incher for the RHD), hands-free intercom, 12v electric ports, armrests with cup holders, vanity console, illuminated hardwood consoles and ice chests. The new Mercedes limo is available on the E-Class and S-Class models, and comes in various sizes to accommodate up to 10 individuals. Pricing is available on request.

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2010 Peugeot 407 Coupe

Peugeot is enhancing its 407 Coupe model lineup for 2010 by introducing a new pair of diesel engines that have been developed with Ford. There is the new 3.0-liter V6 HDi diesel that was recently introduced on the Citroen C5 and C6 models. The new 3.0-liter generates 240HP at 3,800 rpm and is the most powerful engine ever used on a production Peugeot. It is furnished with a particle emissions filter (PEF) and compliant to Euro 5 standards. This V6 diesel is joined with a six-speed sequential automatic gearbox that powers the four-seater coupe from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 240km/h or 149 mph.

The second new diesel engine for 407 Coupe is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder HDi that is linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox and develops an output of 163HP and 340Nm of torque. With the 4-cylinder HDi, this 407 Coupe goes from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 9.1 seconds with a maximum speed of 220km/h or 137mph. All the 2010 407 Coupe models come with newly styled door mirrors and an all-new navigation system.

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Billy Bob Bicep

Road rage is no laughing matter and it seems to be getting more serious these days. This Billy Bop bicep door cling may trick passing aggressive motorists into considering that the guy in the car next to him has enormous muscles so perhaps no one would try to pick a fight.

Even if or when they realize that all that muscle is fake, they still might drive away after a laugh instead of a confrontation. Silly, yes, but whatever works! Besides they  may be a cheap solution to a serious situation. No word on whether there is a female equivalent to this!

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Caterham

Caterham rose 2009 production levels by around ten percent to 420 units due to the increased demand for its Seven sports car. The British company said that it will enlist additional workforce for the production side of the business to help manage the increased pressure as the company’s order book is already chock-full until mid-October. The manufacturer of the classic two-seater that has remained timeless over the years said that growth from mainland Europe, the UK and other markets has surpassed expectations in 2009.

“Our international sales drive is delivering the results thanks not only to favorable exchange rates but more importantly the quality of business partners we have established in markets including France, Italy, Japan and Germany,” said Ansar Ali, Caterham Cars managing director

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Everyone is of the belief that in order to be fuel efficient you will need to buy a hybrid vehicle in order to save on gas and the environment. There are vehicles that are out there that are not only fuel efficient, but are inexpensive as well.

The list of non-hybrids that are fuel efficient is not very long, but it is not very pricey as shown with the Toyota Yaris. Other examples of vehicles with very good fuel economy but are not hybrids are the Honda Civic as well as the Kia Rio. All average over 30 miles per gallon on the highway and in the mid twentiues in the city.

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A new hybrid company is about to enter the car manufacturing business in Colorado. They are known as Lightning Hybrids and are looking to begin manufacturing in Loveland Colorado. They are looking to begin making three and four wheel hybrid sports cars to sell in the United States.

The company itself is looking to receive money to start up and begin manufacturing and selling cars. Their primary problem is that they cannot sell cars if they cannot make them and cannot make a hybrid car if they do not have enough money to hire people to do so. This is leading them to seek government help for start up.

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There are any number of reasons why people would want to buy a car online. The most prevalent of which is the fact that there are better discounts that are available for online shopping.

This is because there is no middle man or salesperson who is involved.

There is however, the fact that in many cases there will be a large shipping cost that is involved in the delivery of the vehicle. This is not deterring people from purchasing their vehicles online. In fact, just the opposite is true as online car sales are increasing every day because of how busy the world is.

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Just announced, Toyota will begin mass production of Plug In Hybrids in 2012. This was reported by Nikkei English News. Toyota Motor Corporation will be the first to start commercial production of these hybrid vehicles if it makes such a deadline.

These hybrid vehicles are designed to be easy to use and more fuel efficient than most existing models of hybrid vehicles on the roads today. The vehicles will be designed to be charged at home, which would allow them to be an easy alternative to everyday consumers. According to the news report, Toyota plans to manufacture between 20,000 and 30,000 of the plug in hybrids in 2012.

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