Lexus is celebrating double success in the 2008 Fleet World Honours, winning the Security Award and, for the second year running, the Best Luxury Car title for the LS.
The Security Award reflects Lexus’s attention to detail in providing the highest levels of protection against theft of or from its vehicles, a commitment that is also recognised by high ratings from Thatcham, the UK insurance industry’s research body.

George Emmerson, chairman of the judging panel, said Lexus “does more than anyone else in the market” in terms of effective anti-theft provisions.

Retaining its Best Luxury Car title confirms the Lexus LS’s status as a flagship limousine that delivers exceptional comfort, refinement and technical brilliance, not least in the seamless performance of the hybrid power LS 600h.

Lexus LS - Best Luxury Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 14 May 2008 10:40 EST.

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Telegraph UK made a list with top 100 most beautiful car of the world. I have to admit, I do not agree with that list; for me the most beautiful car in the world is the Mercedes Count Trossi SSK, but they know better, no?

The only "our-days" cars that made to the list are: Aston Martin DB9 - 8; Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - 23; Bugatti Veyron - 55; McLaren F1 - 62; Audi R8 - 73 and the Jaguar XK - 81.

The selection was made by Telegraph Motoring’s readers. They voted for 367 different models, and after hours of counting the magazine revealed the final list.

So, the most beautiful car in the world was voted the Jaguar E-type, while the last one on the list was the Volvo P1800.

To see the full list go here.

Top 100 most beautiful cars of the world originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 25 March 2008 11:11 EST.

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Really??;seriously??;is it so?;Impossible;are you kidding me?-those were some responses of the Indian people to the OLRC(One lakh rupee car) when Tata Motors proposed the plan of making it. Is it going to be an auto rickshaw with four wheels?;is it a golf cart with doors??;is it going to even look like a car?-Those were some other interesting questions posed. Everything about this small car was kept under wraps during its probation period and it was like a top secret military mission which everyone wanted to know about but couldn’t. Here is a topspeed.com special article written to help you know all that you must about the Tata Nano.

All you need to know about Tata's Nano originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 16 March 2008 10:47 EST.

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Technology- thats the one word answer you can expect from an engineer in Mercedes Benz if asked about the cars his company makes. And the same answer is what keeps them ahead of the rest. They make these epic cars and when nobody is complaining, they make better ones. They were the first ones to develop, test and implement stability control, traction control, brake assist, seat belt tensioners, airbags, ABS etc. Every time a new car is unveiled in one of those auto shows, it sports a handful of fascinating and unseen technology. Jeremy Clarkson commented after driving the Mercedes-Benz S Class’s that "It’s more than just a car, its a glimpse into the future, its a showcase of everything that can be done and everything that everyone else will be doing very soon". A brief examination of the popular models reveal how different and colorful they are.

Mercedes-Benz for dummies originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 15 March 2008 12:19 EST.

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7 cars that are special. 7 cars that are super exotic. These are the cars that make heads turn. Spotting one of them will make your day and driving one of them transports you to another planet.

Bugatti Veyron

Cost- $1,7 million

The fastest and most expensive of the lot. It takes the Bugatti just 2.6 seconds to reach 100 mph from a stand still. The super-advanced, super-sophisticated machine carries a 16.4 liter W16 (2 V8’s) engine that manages to produce 1001 horsepower and has a maximum speed of 400 kilometers per hour.

Ferrari Enzo

Cost- $1 million

This supercar from the Italian house of Ferrari happens to have a gearbox, brakes, aerodynamics and performance figures similar to a Ferrari F1 car. Only 399 were ever made and a few of them were spotted on ebay recently!. The all Aluminum V12 displaces 5988 cc while producing a phenomenal 660 bhp.

Pagani Zonda C12 F

Cost- $741,000 and

Dressed in carbon-fiber, it looks and sounds like a fighter jet. The 7.3-liter V12 engine produces a peak power of 650 bhp and a ridiculous 1057 Nm torque. This car challenges other supercars from Italy or Germany and confirms a spot for the manufacturer in the elite supercar league.

Koenigsegg CCX

Cost- $600,910

This car proved that best of supercars don’t necessarily need to come from Italy or Germany. The Competition Coupe X (CCX) beat lap times made by the Stig previously in the Zonda F, Maserati MC12 and Ferrari Enzo on Top gear’s famous test track. The 32-valve, V-8 engine develops a monstrous 806 bhp and 920 Nm of torque. Come to think of it, the CCX is more or less the best of the best and is not just another supercar.

Porsche Carrera GT

Price- $484,000

Made by Germans and made to conquer them all. The GT was Porsche’s first limited production supercar after the 959. Technology was borrowed and developed from its race siblings and the results are quite impressive. The 5.7 liter, V10 engine that develops 612 bhp weighs just 205 kg. The GT boasts of a top speed of 330 kph and gets to 60mph from a stand still in a mere 3.9 seconds.

Mercedes SLR McLaren

Price- $455,000

"Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport" was developed by Mclaren to give its clients the F1 experience on a road car. The project did not turn out as well as they would have wanted it to, but that takes nothing away from the SLR. The SLR McLaren sports a 232-kilogram, hand-built 5.4-litre, supercharged, all-aluminum, V8 front-mid mounted engine that can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and has a top whack of 334 km/h.

Maybach 62

Price- $385,250

Automotive exclusivity doesn’t get bigger than this. The Maybach 62 measures the size of a cinema hall but has top speed and acceleration figures similar to a sports car. The V12, Bi-Turbo, 5513 cc engine, churns out 550 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. The 6.17 metre long limousine, features mind-boggling technological goods and its unique spaciousness and seating comfort makes it the ultimate luxury on wheels.

7 cars that need special mentioning originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 13 March 2008 20:17 EST.

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The Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster has won the cabriolet and roadster category of the prestigious "Auto 1 von Europa" ["Europe’s No. 1 Car"] awards organised by leading car magazine AUTO BILD. Readers of the 26 European editions of AUTO BILD as well as an international jury of experts selected the super sports car from Stuttgart for its exceptional qualities. The award honouring the SLR Roadster as the most sought-after open-top car was presented at the Geneva International Motor Show yesterday.
 
Some 40 million readers of the 26 European editions published by the AUTO BILD family were invited to vote for the best new cars of 2007 in six categories. The three top vehicles in each category in this Europe-wide poll then had to undergo two days of professional testing in Rome. It was on the basis of this thorough programme of comparative testing that the members of the expert jury – made up of experienced engineers, top motoring journalists and leading international racing drivers – decided on the category winners.

Mercedes SLR Roadster - best roadster in Europe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 6 March 2008 15:34 EST.

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The Opel Meriva Concept was unveiled two days ago at the Geneva Motor Show. At the unveiling GM announced that new small hatchback could be included in the Saturn lineup in the United States.

The Opel Meriva is a four-seat, front-wheel-drive hatchback intended to replace the current Meriva, a top seller in Europe. The concept car unveiled here is built on a derivative of two of GM’s small-vehicle architectures.

Kempf declined to comment on whether the car would be the basis for a future small car for Saturn. Saturn now shares several products with Opel — including the newest car to Saturn’s lineup, the compact Astra.

GM executives familiar with Saturn’s lineup say the vehicle is being considered for the United States. But GM first must assess whether a business case can be made to bring a hatchback to the United States, where hatchbacks typically have not been big sellers.

Jon Lauckner, GM’s vice president of global program management, says, " These vehicles have a role in the European market because there is not a big crossover segment there. In the U.S., it’s a different story."

Opel Meriva Concept to be sold as a Saturn? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 6 March 2008 13:03 EST.

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The editors of AutoWeek, one of North America’s most respected and longest standing automotive enthusiast magazines, have voted the Saab 9-X BioHybrid "Best Concept" upon its world debut at the auto show in Geneva this week. With this award, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid premium compact joins the very successful Saab Aero X coupe concept which received AutoWeek’s "Best in Show" honors upon its debut in Geneva, two years ago.

"We are honored by this important recognition from the expert editors of AutoWeek," said Steve Shannon, Saab Automobile USA general manager. "The way the 9-X BioHybrid was welcomed by the world’s press and the public in Geneva has exceeded many optimistic expectations. Following in footsteps of the highly inspirational Aero X, as well as the 9-4X BioPower crossover concept which debuted in Detroit just a few weeks ago, the 9-X BioHybrid demonstrates that the Saab brand has tremendous potential."

The 9-X BioHybrid, which is scheduled to make its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show press days on March 19, is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

Saab 9-X BioHybrid Voted "Best Concept" at Geneva originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 6 March 2008 12:19 EST.

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Volkswagen Tiguan has been voted "Auto 1 of Europe" in the "Off-Roaders and SUV" category. The choice was made by more than 40 million readers of the Auto Bild Group as well as trade experts were called upon over the past months to pick the best vehicles from among 74 new models. The award was offered at the Geneva Motor Show.

The awarding of the 17th "Auto 1 of Europe" prize was preceded by an unparalleled voting process. First, some 40 million readers of the 26 European issues of Auto Bild voted for their respective national winners. The Swiss vote, for one, gave clear preference to the Tiguan. The readers were also asked to name their favourites in six different vehicle categories.

The three best-placed cars in each class were then put through their paces at a testing ground near Rome to determine the winner in each class. At this stage of the competition, the jury consisted of race-car drivers, technicians and senior editors. The Tiguan won the contest on points, clearly outperforming the competition.

Volkswagen Tiguan "Best SUV" of Europe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 6 March 2008 09:26 EST.

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Subaru today announced that the intrepid 2008 Subaru Outback has been named to Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com’s first annual list of "Best New Family Vehicles." From a long list of vehicles that qualified in varying degrees as safe, roomy and affordable, the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com selected this year’s 10 Best New Family Vehicles by evaluating each on such factors as capability, fuel efficiency, resale value, and the all-important kid- friendliness.

"Family safety and comfort are built into every Subaru," notes Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president, Subaru of America, Inc. "And we’re honored that the 2008 Subaru Outback — a vehicle that will safely deliver the kids on a rainy school day, then whisk them down an old dirt road for a weekend hiking trip — has been recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com in the very first year they have chosen a list of ’Best New Family Vehicles’."

2008 Subaru Outback named "Best New Family Vehicle" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 February 2008 14:06 EST.

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Forbes Auto made a list with top 13 (wonder why 13?) hottest cars of 2008. Most powerful, expensive and beautiful car made into that list, and although in my opinion the order would have been a little bit different, I really like that they chose.

Hottest Sports Cars of 2008 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 18 December 2007 12:00 EST.

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Kelley Blue Book the leading provider of new and used vehicle information, announces the Chevrolet Malibu as the winner of the "2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle" award. According to the kbb.com editorial team, the newly redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is being honored for taking the important mid-size car category to a new level of overall refinement. Specifically, its stylish sheetmetal, attractive interior, well-sorted ride-and-handling characteristics and quiet — all in a very affordable vehicle — combined to produce a value equation that set it apart from the pack.

Chevrolet Malibu - 2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 11 December 2007 16:00 EST.

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Only pure-bred sports cars are crowned “SportsCar” of the year by a panel of experts in the Autobild SportsCars monthly magazine. Following its victory in the March 2007 issue, the Audi R8 has now been awarded top place overall, and has thus secured the title of “SportsCar 2007”, one of the German car industry’s most sought-after awards.

Audi R8 - "SportsCar 2007" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 3 December 2007 14:00 EST.

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or the third year running, readers of the magazine "Auto Zeitung" have voted the Mercedes-Benz R-Class the best van and once again awarded it the coveted "Auto Trophy". First place as best car in the luxury class was also taken by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Yesterday the awards were received in Berlin by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars, and the Executive Board member for Research and Development, Dr. Thomas Weber, in the presence of major personalities from the media, society, politics and business.

Mercedes R and S-Class - the best cars of 2007 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 28 November 2007 12:00 EST.

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BMW of North America today announced that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2008 BMW X3 and X5 the top rating of "Good" in each of its series of crash tests, earning both vehicles the Institute’s coveted TOP SAFETY PICK Award.

2008 BMW X3 and X5 earn "Top safety pick award" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 15 November 2007 18:00 EST.

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