TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Cadillac ATS Coupe
- BMW CEO still fighting for the M7
- BMW Zagato Coupe
- Formula Racer
- Porsche Panamera Turbo Nighthawk by German Special Customs
- The Sorry Saab Saga: New deal with Swedish electric car maker underway
- BMW 7-Series
- Ford Mustang by SEMA Businesswomen's Network
- Grand Prix of Monaco Preview
| Posted: 25 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT
When the Cadillac CTS dropped onto the market, it was available in a variety of versions, including a sedan, a coupe, and a station wagon. Now, the same recipe for success will be applied to the new ATS. Cadillac will first put out a sedan and a coupe version, but a station wagon version and a convertible are also said to be in the mix. Why? Well, Americans need cheaper alternatives to German coupes and Cadillac is ready to deliver just about anything we’re looking for in order to pick up sales. They have the platform to build on and will more than likely make sure they get their money’s worth on it. The upcoming ATS Coupe will be revealed for the 2014 model year and will borrow just about everything from the sedan version, except for the sedan’s two rear doors. It will get the same active shutter grille, LED-infused headlights, chrome trim, vertical taillights, and integrated trunk spoiler. Other minor changes will make the Coupe a sportier rendition of the sedan. The ATS Coupe will be built on the same rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform and will be offered with the same engine line-up as the sedan: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 200 HP, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 270 HP, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 318 HP. The engines will be combined with either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission. There will also be an option for an all-wheel-drive system. BMW and Audi better start prepping themselves for some competition. Cadillac ATS Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 16:00 EST.
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| BMW CEO still fighting for the M7 Posted: 25 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT
  In a recent interview, Ludwig Willisch, CEO of BMW’s North American sales subsidiary, offered a few more details regarding the company’s plans to expand its M line-up. He said that the American market is pressing BMW corporate headquarters in Munich to add an M variant to its new BMW 7-Series, even though BMW has said that the M7 will never happen. Now, this negative response to the production of the M7 may be changing, especially with Willisch's counterpart in China also asking for the same thing. "I think we will get it," the BMW North America CEO said, but his lips were sealed tight after that, skipping out on offering any further details such as a launch date prediction. Our hopes of seeing yet another M model gracing the BMW showfloor are high, but Willisch also reiterated that not all BMW models would get an M version. For example, he said that an M variant will never happen for models like the X1 or the X3. Instead, models like this will get a range of accessories through its new M Performance line. These options will improve the models’ general look, but won’t add significant performance upgrades. BMW CEO still fighting for the M7 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 25 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT
At the 2011 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d’Este, Zagato teamed up with Aston Martin and to come with a very impressive V12 Zagato supercar. But this year, the Italian design company changed its course and teamed with BMW to provide an equally fabulous Zagato Coupe. The first collaboration between the two companies was in 1939 with the creation of the first BMWs sporting tailormade Italian metalwork: a coupe based on the BMW 328 for the upcoming race season. Zagato was responsible for designing impressive cars like the BMW 3200 Michelotti Vignale (1959), the BMW 700 (1959), the BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1962), and the BMW M1 (1978). The new Zagato Coupe continues this impressive tradition. The BMW Zagato Coupe combines design cues from both companies and has been entirely hand built. You will notice that the car’s extremely long bonnet is definitely a BMW element, but the radiator grille and the headlamps have definitely received the Zagato treatment. The car features a very cool Rosso Vivace paint that ranges from something close to black all the way to a brilliant red, depending on the light. Hit the jump to read more about the new BMW Zagato Coupe. BMW Zagato Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 14:30 EST.
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| Posted: 25 May 2012 07:16 AM PDT | ||
| Porsche Panamera Turbo Nighthawk by German Special Customs Posted: 25 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT
The Porsche Panamera is one of those cars that’s a little tricky to make body kits for. Pegged as a luxury sports saloon, tuners have to be wary of being a tad aggressive on giving the Panamera a makeover that loses the car’s high-class luster. Fortunately, German Special Customs managed to dodge that proverbial land line with their latest offering, the Panamera Turbo Nighthawk. GSC’s Nighthawk program offers a simple yet classy body kit for the Panamera, one that’s careful not to go overboard with any of its components. The body kit is comprised of a new front spoiler lip, a vented carbon fiber hood, new side gills, sport side skirts, a modified rear diffuser, a far spoiler, and last but certainly not least, a new quad exhaust system. With the new components fitted into the Panamera Turbo, GSC went with a matte gray finish on the car’s body, creating a visual chemistry of matte gray and carbon fiber that doesn’t exactly blow up our eyes in a hue of rainbow colors. Such programs are what looks great for a car like the Porsche Panamera Turbo. If it were any other Porsche’s, say a 911, then we wouldn’t mind if the color looked more visually eye-catching. But this set-up works for the Panamera Turbo and certainly, we’re fans of what GSC managed to do to the German sports saloon. Porsche Panamera Turbo Nighthawk by German Special Customs originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 14:00 EST.
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| The Sorry Saab Saga: New deal with Swedish electric car maker underway Posted: 25 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT
 Just a few weeks ago, it seemed all but inevitable that Saab would be saved by a massive takeover bid from Chinese mega-company, Youngman but unfortunately, the company recently confirmed that it has pulled out of its multi-billion dollar bid to purchase the flailing brand. However, if the latest reports are to be believed, Saab may not be dead just quite yet. Little known Swedish firm, National Electric Vehicle Sweden is said to be behind the latest bid to purchase Saab's remaining assets for an undisclosed amount. But if previous speculation about GM shooting down Youngman's billion dollar bid for Saab is true, then we can only imagine how much this new deal must be worth. If NEVS really has struck a deal to purchase Saab, then it's likely the firm has ambitious plans to turn Saab into an electric automobile producer, to help inject some life into the brand. What's very interesting about this latest bid is that NEVS is actually owned by none other than Karl-Erling Trogen, the man once behind the operations at Volvo Trucks. Although all of this sounds very promising, we have serious doubts that NEVS bid will be accepted if previous, unsuccessful attempted acquisitions are anything to go by. The Sorry Saab Saga: New deal with Swedish electric car maker underway originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 25 May 2012 04:30 AM PDT
The current generation BMW 7-Series was only launched a couple of years ago, but with Mercedes tackling their S-Class with modifications improving fuel efficiency, as well as design, BMW had limited time to freshen up the competition. The facelifted BMW 7-Series will find its way to the market in 2013, ready to meet the new S-Class straight on. The new 7-Series has received changes to both the exterior and the interior, as well as a line-up of new and upgraded engine variants. For the exterior, BMW has added new full-LED headlights, a prominent BMW kidney grille, and a modified front apron, while the interior gets a multifunctional instrument display and a new Rear Seat Entertainment package. The engine line-up will range from the 258 HP 3-liter straight-six petrol engine found in the entry-level 730i up to a 544 HP V12 engine found in the top version, the 760i. All of the versions will be combined with Auto Start-Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, and the second-generation Driving Experience Control switch with ECO PRO mode. UPDATE 05/25/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images for the BMW 7-Series. Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 BMW 7-Series. BMW 7-Series originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 11:30 EST.
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| Ford Mustang by SEMA Businesswomen's Network Posted: 25 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT
The 2012 SEMA Auto Show is still months away, but there’s already plenty of details about a certain model to be displayed at the show. Ford will be donating a 2013 Mustang GT designed and built by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). The car will be auctioned off with all the proceeds going to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. SBN will develop three design renderings for the build, but only one will be chosen for the final model. Fans will have the duty of choosing this final design between May 23 - June 3, 2012, with the winning design being announced on June 5. The car will be built in July and August at the SIM Headquarters in El Segundo, CA, with several of SIM’s female employees participating on the build. Important modifications will be made to the engine, undercarriage, drive train, interior, sound system, exterior, and paint. "When JoAnn approached me with the idea of a project vehicle built by women, I immediately thought it was a great way to underscore how passionate and involved women are in the automotive industry," said Marla Moore, SBN Chairperson. "Others (Ford, Source Interlink Media and the SEMA Scholarship Committee) immediately agreed and quickly joined forces to launch the first-ever SEMA project vehicle build powered by women." "Ford Motor Co. is enthusiastic about sponsoring the SEMA Mustang Build," said Sherry Kollien, SBN Project Vehicle Coordinator for Ford. "The Mustang is the ideal vehicle for the project given its broad demographic appeal and its ability to be customized to fit the unique needs of all consumers, enthusiasts and women across multiple life stages. We have long known that women have more than 50 percent decision-making power in vehicle purchase decisions, but increasingly they are customizing to match their own unique personalities." Ford Mustang by SEMA Businesswomen's Network originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 11:00 EST.
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| Posted: 25 May 2012 03:00 AM PDT
Rarely is something both the slowest and the hardest at the same time, but that all goes out the window when you're talking about the Grand Prix at Monaco. For the majority of the F1 season, the drivers get to open up their cars a good bit. At Monaco, those chances to go wide open are limited to about three, as there are only a three extended straightaways on the track. Besides those three straights, drivers get to deal with a plethora of intense twists and blind turns that require great care to negotiate correctly. These tight turns all amount to Monaco being the lowest average speed course on the F1 circuit, and arguably the hardest one on the circuit. Well, the 70th running of this ultra-technical road course is due to start on May 27, 2012 and we’re going to provide a quick preview of what's to come. Click past the jump to read all about the Grand Prix at Monaco Grand Prix of Monaco Preview originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 10:00 EST.
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