P Diddy planning to buy a Formula 1 team

After a diner where he launched his latest perfume, the rapper P.Diddy made the announcement to the guests that he is thinking seriously to buy a Formula 1 team.

This announce was made after he spent almost all evening talking with the big surprise of the season, the British Lewis Hamilton.
The dinner was at Fifty on St James's Street. According to the restaurant's PR, it cost £150,000, with £100,000 spent on champagne alone.

Of course, if he plans to buy a team let's hope he knows that the cars must not be pimped, in the hip-hop style, with 22″ rims and other "bling bling".

Mazda allows haggling on Web site

Mazda North American Operations has upgraded its Internet site so that vehicle shoppers can get a price quote from a dealership without leaving their desk.

Most factory sites lead interested buyers to a dealership's site and will only list the sticker price. But the mazdausa.com site allows Web surfers to contact a Mazda "shopping assistant" via a live Web chat session. The assistant is a Mazda employee.

The program went live today.

With help from the assistant, Web surfers can configure a vehicle, select a dealership, search vehicle inventory, obtain a price quote, schedule a sales appointment and get financing information.

Once a price is agreed upon between the customer and the dealership, the assistant arranges for papers to be signed and the vehicle to be delivered at the dealership.

Mustang continues to rule the convertible competition

Ford is happy to oblige, with four Mustang convertibles in different trims plus special models like the GT California version and the limited edition Warriors in Pink model.

For collectors, the 2008 Shelby GT convertible hits the streets next month in a limited edition.
Along with Shelby and Ford Racing upgrades, this latest ride sports Vista Blue paint with silver stripes plus a 319 horsepower engine, 18-inch polished wheels and Hurst short-throw shifter - just what one needs to show off at a summer cruise.

Warm weather has been a part of Mustang's allure ever since the car was introduced in April 1964. From the start, Ford's oldest continually-produced car brand came in soft- and hard-top models.

"About one of every four Mustangs sold is a convertible. They're fun, affordable, and they represent open-air freedom," explained Dan Geist, Mustang's marketing manager, noting that nearly two-thirds of Mustang soft-tops are sold between March and October.

Market data shows that, with the average U.S. household now owning 2.2 cars, many convertibles are being purchased as third vehicles.

"People say, 'Let's have fun with it,' and buy a third car," Lonnie Miller, Polk's director of industry analysis, told Business Week magazine. "It's a segment that appeals to the id."
John McLellan, the sales manager of Varsity Ford in Ann Arbor, Mich., agreed that the appeal of a Mustang convertible is obvious.

"You can't beat driving down the road with the top down. You have that relaxed, open-air feeling, and life is just much better," he said. "It's like being on vacation, even if you're driving to work."

With Mustang, the attraction is more than just sensory, said McLellan. "Now, the quality is there, too."

Two recent quality surveys back him up. For the second year in a row, Mustang was the highest-ranked vehicle in the Midsize Sporty Car segment of J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey (IQS) of customers in their first three months of ownership.

For the third straight year, Mustang also took home top honors in its class in the J.D. Power's latest Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), which asks customers to rate their delight with their vehicle's design, content, layout and performance after three months of driving.

Daihatsu celebrates centenary with limited editions

Japanese manufacturer, Daihatsu is celebrating this year's centenary with two high-value limited edition models based on the Terios mini-SUV and Sirion supermini. Both will be available in September and - as numbers are limited to 100 of each model - Daihatsu is expecting a total sell-out by the end of the month.

Established in 1907, Daihatsu is a world leader in compact car design and manufacture, renowned for its reliability, practicality and low running costs.

Based on the entry-level Terios S, the new Terios Centenary offers the additional equipment of: Silver metallic paint, alloy wheels, leather-covered steering wheel, front fog lamps and roof rails.Costing just £12,695 On-The-Road, the Terios Centenary is only £350 more than the Terios S which currently enjoys a £1,000 price cut.


Standard specification also includes air-conditioning, power-steering, ABS with EBD and full-time four-wheel drive with electronic centre diff-lock.Also standard on the Terios are driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and even reverse parking sensors.

Being considerably larger than the previous Terios - and boasting a generous 380 litre capacity boot - the Daihatsu flagship also has three rear-seat three-point seatbeltsRunning costs are low for a 4×4 with a 'politically-correct' Extra Urban fuel consumption of 40.4 mpg for the Terios 1.5 S and a highly-competitive Group 7D insurance rating.

Meanwhile, the Sirion Centenary is based on the entry-level S model but adds: Silver metallic paint, alloy wheels, electrically-adjustable door mirrors and driver's seat height-adjustment.

Priced at £7,395 On-The-Road, the Sirion Centenary is only £115 more than the Sirion S which currently benefits from a £500 price cut.The Sirion's generous equipment includes air-conditioning, ABS with EBD, driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and remote central-locking.The Sirion also has outstanding fuel economy, recording 64.2 mpg on the Extra Urban Cycle for the 1.0 litre version which also has an ultra-low CO2 of 118 g/km.

Daihatsu's forerunner, Hatsudoki Seizo Company Limited, was founded in 1907 to manufacture internal combustion engines.

The first truck was produced in 1919 and a range of three-wheeled vehicles introduced in 1930, followed by the mid-sized four-wheeled car - the FA - in 1937. In May 1965 Daihatsu became the first Japanese manufacturer to export to Britain with the 797 cc Compagno Berlina.

This exact car is now owned by Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited and regularly takes part in classic car rallies and dealer events.

Saleen reveals a new limited edition Mustang

The American tuner Saleen revealed a new limited edition Mustang, called the Saleen 550, a tribute brought to the Ford GT. We all know that Saleen has been involved in the development and production of the legendary Ford GT, and with this limited ediion the American tuner wants to sell its new 550 only to Ford GT owners.

The Saleen's 550 engine delivers 550 bhp, the same power as the Ford GT.Saleen will paint the new cars with some special paint, called Mark IV red, Tungsten, Midnight Blue, Speed Yellow, Mark II black, Centennial White, Satin Silver, Heritage Blue and Epic Orange, so that the car will match the buyers' GTs.

Sources: Jaguar, Land Rover interest seen limited

The Jaguar and Land Rover brands being sold by Ford Motor Co. are expected to attract less interest than sister unit Aston Martin did, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Among the suitors who have been sent informal information by Ford's advisers are buyout firms Cerberus, Ripplewood and One Equity, said one of the sources.

However, unsuccessful bidders for Aston Martin including Syrian-born tycoon Simon Halabi and U.K. buyout firm Doughty Hanson have no plans to express interest in Jaguar and Land Rover when initial indications of value are due to Ford on July 19, the sources said.

Ford said last month it was working with financial advisers on the best options for the two brands as it conducts a strategic review of global operations.

Those interested in Jaguar and Land Rover have received a small amount of data, but have not been sent the full information customary in a more formal sale process.

The July 19 offers will just be "a (value) ranging shot at this point," said one source, referring to the wide valuation ranges because of the lack of information.

The units' combined value was placed at $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion in March by Merrill Lynch analysts.

Many are choosing to sit out the process because Jaguar is unprofitable and Land Rover lacks the trophy asset lure of Aston Martin. Neither has the scale of Chrysler, which DaimlerChrysler has agreed to sell to Cerberus.

Canadian auto parts maker Magna International, which had bid for Chrysler earlier this year, reportedly said last week it would not bid for Jaguar and Land Rover, according to Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper.

Sources familiar with the matter have also said U.S.-based buyout firm Blackstone Group is unlikely to bid.

Others that have ruled themselves out include U.K.-based buyout firm Alchemy Partners, France's Renault SA, Dubai International Capital and Abu Dhabi-owned Mubadala Development Co.

Ford has hired investment banks Goldman Sachs, HSBC Holdings Plc and Morgan Stanley to help explore a sale of the two brands.

Ford agreed in March to sell Aston Martin to a group fronted by former Benetton and BAR racing boss David Richards.

Ford, Blackstone, Halabi, Ripplewood and Doughty Hanson declined to comment. Spokespeople for Magna, One Equity and Cerberus could not be reached.

Aero-Kit “BTR-XL” for 997 Turbo

The new speedART aero kit typ "BTR-XL" (Bi-Turbo Racer Extra Large) for Porsche 997 Turbo,is available.

More down force and an improved aerodynamic:

- complete front spoiler with additional front chin spoiler, design-fog lights and air outlet grill (carbon or PU)

- rear spoiler with adjustable spoiler wing and air intakes (air ram system). Spoiler wing in carbon or painted version

- side skirts

- rear diffusor

- 20″ forged CTS wheels

- sport súspension

- sport brakes

- 550 hp power kit

- sport exhaust system with sound switch

- carbon mirror boxes

- sport interieur with sport steering wheel, short shifter and sport seats