Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition debut

VW first unveiled the VW Beetle Fender Edition as a concept car last year at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, but now the production version has debuted at the Leipzig International Auto Show. As the name states, the VW Beetle Fender Edition packs a 9-speaker, 400-watt Fender sound system and a few other interior and exterior styling tweaks.

On the outside all Beetle Fender Edition models comes painted in Deep Black Metallic with brushed chrome exterior mirrors, 18-inch "Disc" aluminum-alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights, and the Fender logo. Inside the painted dashboard features the quintessential sunburst color of Fender guitars, and the vehicle's interior is accented with color-contrasting seams that complement the dash's colors. Beetle Fender Edition vehicles equipped with the 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will receive seats with exclusive fabric inserts.

The VW Beetle Fender Edition will first go on sale in Europe and will be available in America in the fall of 2012. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

More Pictures of Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition

2014 Lexus GS Coupe to Arrive Next Year?

Lexus is said to be working on a new sports touring coupe to fill the spot that was left by the old SC 430. Dubbed the 2014 Lexus GS 350 coupe, the new model is expected to hit the showrooms some time next year.According to a recent report by Inside Line in the US, Lexus has all but confirmed that such a model will exist. The publication says that various sources have indicated that Lexus needs a new sports coupe.

Karl Schlicht, head of global product planning for Lexus, said in an Automotive News report earlier this year that Lexus needs a sporty coupe to sit beside the range of new sedans and crossovers that have recently been launched.

Introducing a GS coupe would certainly fit into the market well. At the moment Lexus doesn't offer a direct rival for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe, Audi A5, and BMW 6 Series, however, the GS sedan platform is firmly targeted at the sedan versions of these cars.

As for the power, being a performance-oriented sedan, the current 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 in the GS 350 (review here) and GS 450h is expected to be swapped for a more serious unit, possibly coinciding with an introduction of a 'GS-F' badge. Maybe the IS-F's 5.0-litre V8?

Either way, the new model isn't expected to show up until at least 2013, possibly debuting in concept form at a major international motor show.

More Pictures of 2014 Lexus GS Coupe

2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sedan

Now in its third model year, the Suzuki Kizashi is the Japanese manufacturer's most expensive vehicle. The midsize sedan has only a few minor changes in 2012 from last year's offering, with the uniquely named car still hoping to find a larger niche in the near-luxury category.

Kizashi (pronounced KEY-ZAH-SHEE) means "something great is coming."

Suzuki promoted the Kizashi with industry buzz in mind. And it attracted attention for a while when the car debuted in 2009 as a less expensive alternative to an Audi 4. But the Kizashi is still largely unheralded and under publicized.

The Kizashi S includes 16-inch steel wheels, keyless ignition/entry, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

The SE includes all of S model's features, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and an eight-way power driver seat with memory settings and power lumbar adjustment.

When equipped with its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the SE gains cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a seven-speaker stereo with USB port/iPod interface.

I drove the SE trim (185 horsepower) on an extended weekly test, about 1,000 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles and then home to Sacramento.

Just like with the debut edition, several passersby momentarily thought the car might be Audi A4. But then they noticed the insignia Suzuki "S" and tried to pronounce the car's name. Even when the phonetic pronunciation is said slowly, the name isn't easy to pronounce and it likely won't be easy to remember.

More Pictures of 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sedan

Mazda MX 5 Senshu Special Edition

The new MX-5 Senshu Edition wasn't the only Miatato debut at Mazda's stand at the 2012 Auto Mobil International Show (AMI) in Leipzig, Germany, on Friday.
Mazda surprised show-goers with a far more intriguing proposal in the form of the MX-5 Yusho prototype, named after the Japanese word for "Victory".

The matte white paint together with the 17-inch anthracite gray alloy wheels wrapped around in semi-click Toyo Proxes R888 tires size 215/45 R17, lowered suspension, boot lid spoiler and the carbon-fiber rear diffuser housing the centrally mounted twin tailpipes tell only part of the story.

The real magic occurs under the bonnet with the heavily fettled 2.0-liter MZR four cylinder petrol engine gaining a supercharger system, an intercooler, special Cosworth pistons and connecting rods, a custom exhaust system and reprogrammed software.

Other upgrades include the new fuel injectors and metal sport catalysts along with a beefed up transmission with a sports clutch.

All these modifications bump the four-banger's output from 158hp (160PS) at 6,700rpm to 237hp (241PS) at 6,800 rpm and peak torque from 188Nm (138 lb-ft) at 5,000rpm to 274Nm (202 lb-ft) 5,400rpm.

Mazda did not provide any information on the car's weight or 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration time but did say that the MX-5 Yusho can reach a top speed of 240km/h (149mph).

There are more changes to be found under the body including the uprated suspension with Bilstein absorbers, larger stabilizer bars and lowering springs from Eibach.

Inside, the MX-5 Yusho study is enhanced with a suede-trimmed steering wheel and Recaro sport seats in leather and Alcantara.

More Pictures of Mazda MX 5 Senshu Special Edition

2014 BMW Vision Future Luxury concept

Lethal Lexus LX570: 500hp monster rumoured to hit Middle East Show rooms

If the Toyota4arabforum is to be believed then Middle Eastern customers are due to get a factory 5.7-litre V8 Lexus LX570 arrive at their showrooms in the near future. It features a sporty bodykit which incorporates a front lower lip spoiler, side skirts and revised rear bumper along with chrome accents.

Maria Sharapova & Mark Webber take Porsche 918 Spyder on joyride [video]

Lucky Webber

Tennis star Maria Sharapova and Porsche driver Mark Webber had a run in the Porsche 918 Spyder supercar in Stuttgart, Germany. Sharapova was in town for the Porsche Grand Prix tournament, which she won a day after the video was released.

The Russian tennis player, currently ninth in the WTA women’s ranking, admitted she had a great time in the 918 Spyder, although she didn’t drive it. The Porsche brand ambassador said the hybrid vehicle is a little out of her price range. Webber in turn told journalists the car's performance is phenomenal.

Meanwhile, while Sharapova was in Stuttgart, her boyfriend – Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria, also had some great moments at the tennis court. He defeated Lukas Rosol to win the Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest, Romania, for his third ATP title.