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.

RUF 3400 K - 25th anniversary edition

RUF Automobile GmbH is celebrating 25 years since they tuned the first Porsche. For this special moment they released the "25th anniversary edition" model RUF that offers an exciting entry vehicle for an attractive price.RUF offers the 3400 K in two body versions - as a Coupé (price Euro 79,800 plus VAT) and Roadster (price Euro 75,100 plus VAT).

The agile mid engine concept in combination with a powerful torque and high revving Kompressor engine offers effortless performance and driving pleasure at the highest level.

The 3400 K features a 400 bhp engine delivering 440 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm.

Other specifications available below:0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in 4.4 s0-125 mph (0-200 kph)Coupé: in 14.6 sRoadster: in 14.8 s
Top speed181 mph (290 kph)

Bugatti Increases Veyron Production

Bugatti is increasing the production of their million dollar super car the Bugatti Veyron. Production numbers will increase from the original "60" cars produced in the first year of the Veyron to a total of "75" annually. A spokesperson for Bugatti stated, "We want to shorten the waiting time from just over a year." One has to think, it will still be arduous to acquire one of these vehicles or even see one on the road with just small increase of 15 cars in the production line, but Bugatti in fact wants to keep the car as exclusive as possible.

While the production numbers for the Veyron have increased, there are currently no plans to "change" the performance of the vehicle. With an incredible 1,000 horsepower one has to wonder if this is enough horsepower to keep the Veyron at the top of the super-car food chain in the twentieth century.

Will the Bugatti Veyron's clientele want more out of their super car as the production continues to its speculated production run of "300"? For a million dollars I think so.

Ultimate Aero TT makes one more attempt for braking speed record

Shelby SuperCars (SSC), manufacturer of the world's most powerful production car, the Ultimate Aero TT, announced today that speed testing for the title "World's Fastest Production Car" will be finalized by the end of August. Speed testing is being conducted in the company's home state of Washington and is being validated by Guinness World Records.

There is a standard procedure outlined by Guinness World Records to validate a land speed record. The vehicle must drive the predetermined course, turn around, and drive back the opposite way within one hour. This is to negate any discrepancy there may be in the course or conditions. Top speeds from each run are then averaged to obtain the official speed. This method has been used for decades as the benchmark for land speed record attempts.

Dewetron, a company known for performance testing of missile, train, aerospace, and automotive capabilities will accurately monitor and measure the speed of the Ultimate Aero TT for the record run. Dewetron's equipment is precise that Guinness World Records approved their systems as a replacement for the standard 1,000m laser traps. Dewetron utilizes 4-12 satellites and numerous onboard sensors to track a vehicle's speed.

The lack of access to a US-based proving ground able to accommodate the Ultimate Aero TT's top speed presented SSC with a massive challenge. After scouring the country for months, SSC found the solution in their home state of Washington when they were granted the opportunity to close public highways for testing. Finding appropriate roads eligible for closure proved to be a tedious process as SSC's teams scouted the sites first hand. After a potential site was identified, the company would need to apply for a road closure permit. Hiring police, a crew to man the closed section, and securing insurance for the high-speed test sessions were just a few of the undertakings necessary to be granted the rare closure of public roads.

Since the first test session, SSC has successfully concluded several rounds of high-speed safety and durability testing for each assembly of the Ultimate Aero TT. During these sessions, SSC was able to verify all the engineering specifications as well as aerodynamic data posted at NASA's Langley wind tunnel. Throughout the test sessions, the measured top speed of the Ultimate Aero TT continued to rise, achieving a speed of 241.4 mph at a throttle position of only 71% during the latest transmission durability test. After reviewing all test data, Jerod Shelby and the SSC engineering team feel comfortable in maximizing the capabilities of the 1183 hp Ultimate Aero TT.

GT-R speculation: More tech details emerge

The GT-R may be the most eagerly anticipated Nissan in the history of the Japanese automaker. New information has been coming to us in a steady leak for months, and this time we're getting more details from the folks over at 7tune. Nissan's VQ family of engines won't apply to Nissan's affordable supercar, instead a new VR designation will befit a new 3.8-liter V6 with twin turbos and a bad-ass output of 480hp. Nissan will use plenty of high-quality, light weight materials, like titanium for the intake valves, a carbon fiber hood, and magnesium alloy for the oil pan, cam covers, and exhaust, while Variable Valve Event Lift (VVEL) will help crank out maximum power and efficiency. Nissan is using a platform that they term "Midship Premium", and much of the weight is being concentrated in the middle of the car for better handling.


We're as excited about the coming of the GT-R as most of you are, and the more we hear about Sir Ghosn's crowned jewel, the better it sounds.

Official video presentation of the new Aston Martin DBS

With the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S ceasing production at the end of 2006, the 2008 DBS will become the top-performing and most extreme road-going Aston Martin available. Company executives describe the DBS as a thinly veiled race car adapted for the street.The DBS looks like a DB9 on steroids. It has added scoops, strakes and bulging fenders.

Gumpert Apollo

At $380,000(My god~~), the Gumpert Apollo is "a 1100kg, street-legal race car with up to 650hp and 627 lb/ft of torque, designed to take on the Porsche 911 GT3, it is a mid engined, rear wheel drive two seater constructed on a tubular Chromoly frame, with fiberglass or optional carbon fiber body panels."

An Audi 4.2L V8 engine is joined to a six-speed sequential gearbox with Formula 1 influences. Estimated top speed is 360 km/h (224mph) with 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) reached in 3.0 seconds, making it the 9th best accelerating production car in the world, behind the Ariel Atom