industry news:

BMW will increase pricing starting June 1

With all the dollar decline it was obviously that the car’s price will be affected. So, if you want a BMW you better hurry up, as starting June fist all models, with the exception of the recently introduced M3, X6 and 1 Series, will have bigger prices!

Pricing will be increased as follows:

• Base price increase of $300 on X5, Z4, 328i and 528i
• Base price increase of $400 on 335i and 535i
• Base price increase of $600 on the X3
• Base price increase $1000 on M5, M6, 750i, 750Li and 6 Series
• Base price increase of $1500 on the 760Li
• Destination charge increase of $50
• Automatic Transmission charge increase of $50
• Metallic Paint charge increase of $50
• Premium Package price increase of $100
• Sport Package price increase of $100

Pininfarina to produce electric cars

Who thought that the well-known coachbuilder Pininfarina is going to take the „green” way? Well, it’s true! The Italian manufacturer announced that it’s going to produce an electric car in a joint venture with the French manufacturer, Bollore. The new vehicle will be produced in San Giorgio, Italy due to the fact that the production of the Alfa Romeo Spider and Brera will be moved from San Giorgio to Bairo.

The plant will be modified in order to make place for the new production line of the electric vehicle. The yet-unnamed car will be launched as a concept in October, at the Paris Auto Show while the production version will be unveiled in March 2009 at the Geneva Auto Show. According to Pininfarina CEO Sergio Angori, some pre-production units will be released by the end of 2009 while the production vehicles will be released after September 2010.

Mugen tunes the Honda Airwave

Sold exclusively on the Japanese automarket, the Honda Airwave received a new tuning kit from the well-known Japanese tuner, Mugen. The Mugen Airwave body kit consists in: a front sports grille, a front under spoiler which includes 2 stylish fog lamps, side skirts, rear under spoiler featuring an air diffuser with integrated stainless steel exhaust, rear wing spoiler, a Mugen side quarter emblem, ventilated visors, 15” aluminium wheels NR available in three different styles.

At the interior, Mugen added also a side brake cover, shift knob cover, under door garnish and aluminium sport pedals.

Toyota announced 2008-2009 line-up pricing adjustment

Toyota announced new manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, effective mid- to late May 2008.

At this time, pricing for the all-new 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2008 Tacoma pickup truck, the all-new 2009 Corolla compact car and all-new 2009 Matrix crossover utility vehicle pricing remains unchanged.

The base MSRP for 2008 Yaris sedan will receive a new price of $12,425, an increase of $200, or 1.6 percent. The 2008 Yaris liftback will list a new base MSRP of $11,550, an increase of $200, or 1.7 percent. The MSRP for the 2008 Prius will carry a new base price of $21,500, an increase of $400, or 1.8 percent.

The 2008 Camry Solara coupe and Solara convertible increase by $250 or 0.9 percent and gain new base MSRPs of $20,180 and $27,440, respectively. The 2008 Avalon will post a new base MSRP of $27,325, an increase of $250, or 0.8 percent.

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Nissan to improve GT-R supercar

“There is always space for better” seems to be the perfect phrase for the Nissan engineers who are thinking to improve on the GT-R even though the supercar posted a lap time of only 7m29 at the Nurburgring. They intend to add several tweaks to the car before they start delivering them in U.S. and Europe. The U.S. GT-R model is set to receive three harder engine mounts, firmer spring rates and a stiffer transaxle mount which will prevent drivetrain components from moving under extreme cornering. On the other hand, the European models will have even more tweaks and a recalibrated rear- differential.

“The new mounts make the car feel more together in extreme circumstances. We’ve also changed the spring rates front and rear – it’s a minute change, they’re just 0.1kg/sq mm stiffer. But it means the movement of the suspension and powertrain are more perfectly tuned, “ said Kazutoshi Mizuno, GT-R chief engineer.

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GM wants 20 new models through 2012

General Motors Europe will invest a total of €9 billion into Opel through 2012, thus strengthening its core brand. €6.5 billion alone will be spent on the development of new vehicles and propulsion systems. In addition, the company is investing considerably into its German plants, Rüsselsheim, Bochum, Kaiserslautern and Eisenach.

GM Europe will invest €900 million into its new Rüsselsheim plant, which was put into operation in 2002. As of autumn 2008, Rüsselsheim will build a new generation of upper midsize vehicles, starting with the Opel Insignia. Bochum is granted investments worth €650 million to secure the facility’s long-term competitiveness and getting it ready for production of the next-generation Astra.

Hans H. Demant, Managing Director of Adam Opel GmbH, announced a comprehensive product offensive with 17 new passenger cars and 3 light commercial vehicles through 2012. In addition to the Insignia this autumn and the new Astra, it has also been decided that the next-generation Meriva with its rear-hinged doors (FlexDoor system) will go into production.

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Vw Passat 3C by Newing Tuning

For all the folks who don’t know, Newing is a well respected Japanese tuner known for its body kits created especially for Vw cars. Newing unveiled its latest work based on the Vw Passat, the Passat 3C. The body kit consists in a carbon fiber front lip, black painted front grille, stylish side skirts and black painted 19” alloy wheels. In order to provide better handling the tuner added a suspension kit which lowers the car but also adds greater stability. More photos if you click on the picture gallery link below!

Tune you Bmw with the new Euro Sport carbon fiber grilles

If you want to add some fancy look to your Bmw you may want to choose the Euro Sport Tuning’s real carbon fiber. This grilles are an excellent addition to your vehicle, giving it the sporty look that only real, high quality carbon fiber can. They have no chrome and they are entirely grille replacements and not overlays. The grilles are made of 100% true carbon fiber and only top quality materials are used with the help of the best production methods.

Currently the offer includes grilles in black carbon fiber only and in order to be able to install them you must first remove the existing grilles. Installation can be done by any single person, basic mechanical skills may be required.A minimal number of tools (all found within a basic toolbox) are required.Estimated installation time is generally far less than 30 minutes.

Weber Sportscar: the World’s Fastest Street-Legal Sports Car

With just 1,100 kilograms and a V8 engine delivering 900hp, the Swiss company Weber claims that it created the fastest street-legal car in the world. With a power-to-weight ratio of 1.22 kilogram per hp the vehicle is able to hit 300 km/h in just 16.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of more than 420 km/h. The sprint from 0-100km/h is made in 2.5 seconds while from 0 to 200 km/h the car needs only 6.6 seconds.

Weber Sportcars measures 204 centimeters wide and 115 centimeters high and it is made entirely from ultralight carbon fiber. At the interior the car features a Formula 1 style steering wheel which incorporates controls for engine mapping and traction control system as well as shift paddles for the sequential gearbox.

The manufacturer did not forget about the comfort of the passenger and fitted the car with climate control system, power windows and a sound system with integrated navigation system but also with a rearview camera which facilitates the parking in small spaces.

Press release after the jump!

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Ceyster GT600 tuning kit for Porsche Cayenne

Hofele unveiled the Ceyster GT600 tuning kit for the Porsche Cayenne. The new body kit features a completely re-designed front bumper including including mesh inserts, 4 additional lights(2 fog lights and 2 LED daytime running lights), stylish side skirts, front fenders with air intake, wheel arch extensions, rear apron with removable diffusor and double tailpipes. More photos if you click on the picture gallery link below!