Blog on 2040Parts

Former Saab executives arrested in accounting-fraud probe

Three former Saab executives, including former CEO Jan-Aake Jonsson, were arrested Monday on suspicion of “grave attempts to complicate tax controls” during 2010 and 2011, according to a report from Bloomberg. The Swedish Economic Crime Authority's chief prosecutor, Olof Sahlgren, declined to give the names of the arrested, but Bloomberg confirmed in court documents that Jonsson, former chief financial officer Karl-Gustav Lindstroem and formal general counsel Kristina Geers were detained. “It's about accounting measures to complicate the control operations of the tax authority regarding the calculation of taxes and fees,” Sahlgren told Bloomberg.

Hennessey unveils VelociRaptor SUV

From the folks who brought you the Venom GT and countless other cars and trucks capable of putting up ridiculous numbers, Hennessey Performance is back with another concoction, the VelociRaptor SUV. Based on the standard Ford F-150 Raptor, the truck is converted to a full-size SUV (think Ford Excursion) with seating for up to eight people. Though it's based on the Raptor, don't expect to go extreme off-roading with it, as Hennessey states that this car is intended for on-road use, as well as light to moderate off-roading.

Alfa Romeo 8C, Maserati Quattroporte and GranTurismo recalled

Owners of 2005-2008 Maserati Quattroportes, 2008 GranTurismos, and the 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C should expect to hear from dealers soon as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall this past week. The recall is for tie-rod ends that have insufficient corrosion protection, which then leads to rust and weakening of the units. This unit could fail completely, causing the driver of the vehicle to lose control.

Ghosn says Infiniti quality must improve to build sales

The boss says quality is key to Infiniti's future. After years with Infiniti at the back of the premium pack, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Infiniti's parent, Nissan Motor Co., has ordered his team to nail quality once and for all as part of a push to catapult Infiniti into the top three brands of the premium market. Buoyed by a favorable dollar-yen rate and an ambitious new top executive, Infiniti might have its best chance yet to crack those ranks.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new S-Class W222 sedan flagship. At 5,246mm long, 1,899mm wide and 1,491mm high, sitting on a wheelbase of 3,165mm it is the latest model designed to convey ‘The Essence of Luxury', features the familiar Mercedes-Benz front with a larger, upright radiator grille. To the sides of the grille are two large, full LED headlights that mirror the outer contour of the grille, while the side view is dominated by the familiar dropping line, in the form of a sharp crease running from the trailing edge of the headlamps to a lower point above the rear wheel arches.

Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept

The Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept has been built to celebrate the centenary of the British brand at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race. Apparently inspired by the beautiful 1959 DBR1 racecar, the CC100 apparently also gives some clues as to Aston's upcoming design language, particularly around the grille, with its prominent insert and the treatment of the side strake, which here becomes a more integral part of the wheel arch and fender. The car was designed in Aston Martin's studio in Gaydon, with its bodywork the responsibility of chief exterior designer Miles Nurnburger.

2014 BMW 5-series revealed

When the 2014 BMW 5-series goes on sale in August, the 528i will cost $50,425 while the V8-equipped 550i will sticker at $64,825. Those prices include a $925 destination charge. A diesel engine will be offered in the new 535d, for $57,525.

One Lap of the Web: Panteras, Battlebirds and Patrick Dempsey's entrepreneurial brilliance

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Sure, later versions of the De Tomaso Pantera looked a bit outrageous with their wide fenders and Countach-like spoilers.

Chrysler developing new supercharged Hemi V8

Chrysler Group is developing a supercharged Hemi V8 with power approaching the 640 hp of the SRT Viper's V10. The 6.2-liter engine, code-named Hellcat, is expected to debut on the next-generation Dodge Challenger and perhaps other vehicles, according to sources within Chrysler. The engine's existence was revealed on the Internet site Allpar.com and confirmed by Chrysler insiders.

Subaru prices Legacy and Outback for 2014

Subaru priced the 2014 Legacy and Outback models on Monday. Most models will see no price increase over 2013 stickers. The Legacy 2.5i starts at $21,090, while the Outback will sticker at $24,320 including destination.

BMW ‘i’ Brand 46 dealer network for i3 & i8

Each i-Brand centre will have specialist technical capabilities so they can work on the i range of cars and their high-voltage batteries, and BMW say there will also be a wider network for servicing and maintenance of their electric cars. The first of the -Brand cars to go on sale from BMW will be the city car i3 (which will also come with the option of a range extender engine to make it truly useful) later in 2013 followed by the i8 supercar. Prices are yet to be confirmed even for the i3, but we’re expecting the i3 to start around the £35k mark and the i8 – when it does arrive – costing something closing in on £100k.

BMW M5 Competition Package (2013) first official pictures

BMW has updated the M5 super-saloon alongside the facelifted 5-series range. There are only tiny visual tweaks, but the big news is a new Competition Package version to take the fight to the new Mercedes E63 AMG S. What modifications do M5s fitted with the Competition Package get?

Mercedes A45 AMG – with Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg (video)

That lump is a 2.0 litre turbo 4-cylinder that produces a not insignificant 355bhp and 332lb/ft of torque, which is enough to get the pocket rocket A45 to 62mph in a competition busting 4.6 seconds. And with the A45 AMG heading towards Mercedes showrooms soon, MB are bust promoting their new hot hatch, and what better way to do that than rope in your own highly paid F1 drivers to add a bit of performance gloss? So Mercedes has put Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of an A45, Nico Rosberg in the passenger seat and a ‘Good Fairy’ in the road to sort out arguments about who should get to drive.

New Porsche 911 GT3 (991) technical highlights (video)

Ahead of its arrival with customers, Porsche has delivered a new video of the GT3 designed to make it clear just how some of its technical highlights work to make the GT3 swifter and more nimble than ever before. Power is of course the key to the GT3 – 468bhp and 324lb/ft of torque – but the power is no good unless the GT3 can put that power down as efficiently as possible in all circumstances. Porsche assert that the GT3′s chassis is engineered for Motorsport, and key elements of the new GT3 make it even more able.

2013 BMW 5 Series Facelift – Saloon, Touring & GT

Facelift for the 2013 BMW 5 Series We knew the next BMW News would be the arrival of a facelift for the 5 Series, especially after BMW accidentally previewed it with a configurator that went online too early. But now the 5 Series facelift is here, and what it lacks in real changes BMW has made up for in photos – they’ve sent us over 200 photos of the new 5 Series – Saloon, Touring and GT – maybe in the hope that a mass of photos will make us think the changes are extensive. They’re not.

BMW 5-series facelift (2013) first official pictures

The BMW 5-series has been facelifted, although you’d be hard pressed to tell on the outside. The most significant changes are under the tweaked skin... So what’s actually been changed?

Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept celebrates Aston Martin’s Centenary (video)

Looking like a modern interpretation of the legendary AM DBR1 Le Mans car from the 1950s, the CC100 is a dramatic ‘Speedster’ concept powered by Aston’s latest V12 and makes its debut – driven by Ulrich Bez – at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring Race event in Germany today (19th May 2013). Aston put together the CC100 in less than six months (did no one tell them 2013 was Aston’s centenary year until last Christmas?), and roped in carbon fibre specialists Multimatic to create the body and interior from carbon fibre, and Aston Martin used the VHM platform to create the underpinnings for the CC100, and have powered it with the latest version of the V12 AM11 engine with a six-speed sequential gearbox. Chief Exterior Designer, Miles Nurnberger, said: The brief was very simple, yet enormously testing: create something that reflects the 100 years of Aston Martin heritage and signals the future of the brand.

Aston Martin CC100 Speedster (2013) first official pictures

This insane creation is Aston Martin's 100th birthday present to itself. Christened the CC100 Speedster, the one-off concept hints at future design details for production Astons. And there I was thinking all Astons look the same...

Subaru XV gets a price cut – down by £1300 on 1.6 litre versions

It wasn’t a bad starting point for an able mid-sized crossover – a high-riding Impreza, in all but name –  but it wasn’t the cheapest offering in the class. But now, with the Yen being a bit kinder to Japanese car makers, Subaru has decided to nudge the price a bit lower to start the XV range off below £20k for the first time. The price drop for the XV only applies to the 1.6 litre petrol versions, but you can now get the entry-level XV 1.6i S for a more affordable £19,995 rising to £23,415 for the XV 1.6i SE with the Lineartronic gearbox, reductions across the range of £1300.

Aston Martin CC100 tease ahead of Nurburgring reveal tomorrow (video)

UPDATE: Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept now Revealed 2013 is Aston Martin’s centenary, and as you’d expect there’s lots of ’100 Years of Aston Martin’ events going on, including the first hydrogen powered Rapide at this weekend’s Nurburgring 24hr. But that’s not all there will be at the Nurburgring tomorrow from AML. The Aston Martin CC100 centenary special edition – an open roadster recalling the legendary DBR1 – is due to be unveiled tomorrow (19th May 2013) and Aston Martin have revealed a tease buried in a new video – ‘Aston Martin Past, Present and Future’ (below).

Concept Car of the Week: Fiat Scia (1993)

After a successful design competition between famous Italian design houses to rework the little Cinquecento, Fiat renewed the experience two years later by giving to nine of them – including Fiat's in-house studio – a new Fiat Punto as a base to let their creative juices flow. The results ranged from being simply forgettable (Zagato Monomille), ridiculously daft (Boneschi Doblone) or just plain ugly (Giannini Punto 4x4 TL), but one of the concepts stood out from the flock for being brilliantly bold. This was the Fiat Scia, presented to the public at the 1993 Turin Auto Show.

One Lap of the Web: A Tumbler for Gumball, smashing supercars in China and a pedigreed race car for sale

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. The Gumball 3000 starts May 18 in Copenhagen, Denmark, heading northeast toward Stockholm, Sweden.

'Gran Turismo 6' coming for PS3 this holiday season

When the sixth installment of "Gran Turismo" hits store shelves this holiday season for the PlayStation 3, it will include 1,200 cars, 33 tracks in 71 layouts, a new track editor with 10 square kilometers of scenery, and more ways to connect with friends and rivals. The new installment will add to the franchise's current sales of 70 million copies, continuing its run as one of the biggest sellers on the PlayStation family of consoles. Polyphony Digital, Sony and 10 manufacturers brought journalists out to the Silverstone Circuit in England for some hands-on time with a prototype copy of the new game.

Volvo confirms big production increase for V60 Plug-in Hybrid

Volvo has been building around 150 V60 Plug-ins a week at its facility in Torslanda – alongside the regular V60, V70, S80 and XC90 – but that is now set to be upped to 282 cars a week for the rest of 2013, with plans to build at least 10,000 in 2014. The fact is that the V60 is a very appealing estate car already, and bolting a plug-in hybrid setup has turned it in to a big hit in showrooms because the barking mad official economy and emissions system bestows the V60 plug-in with emissions of just 48g/km, making it a real no-brainer in countries where governments blindly tax cars based on their official emissions. That means countries like Holland, where Volvo has received more than 3,000 orders for the V60 Plug-in, and the UK are lapping up the hybrid offering from Volvo as a way to escape big taxes and still have a swift (0-62mph in 6.1 seconds), appealing and stylish car.

Volvo’s ‘World Premier’ is a bit of a damp squib

We had been hoping – and, to a degree, expecting – that Volvo’s big ‘World Premier’ they’ve been teasing for today would be the new Volvo XC90, a long overdue replacement for the (still surprisingly good) current model which is now more than a decade old. But it’s not. Instead, the big news is that the facelift Volvo XC60 is getting a global launch with Swedish House Mafia’s ditty ‘Leave the World Behind’ as its sound track.

Hello, America. It’s ‘Your Turn’ for the new Jaguar F-Type (video)

But great product isn’t enough on its own, sadly, to get real buyers to part with real money to buy a car. What you need is clever ways to get that product across the gaze of the demographic you’re looking to target. And Jaguar have got very good at that.

Walter de'Silva awarded medal for special services to Bavaria

Walter de'Silva has been awarded a medal for special services to the Free State of Bavaria. Volkswagen's head of group design was told in a letter from the Bavarian state minister of Federal and European Affairs Emilia Müller that he had "changed the form language and design culture of Germany as a vehicle designer," going on to praise his "outstanding achievement with the world-class company Audi". De'Silva says, "I am very pleased about this honor.

BMW 6-series M-Sport Edition available in July

If you're in the market for a BMW 6-series -- including the low-slung Gran Coupe -- but don't have the extra coin to step into an M6 or the M6 Gran Coupe, then BMW has the answer for you with its newly minted M-Sport Edition Package. Available for all model and engine ranges of the 6-series, Gran Coupe and convertible, the M-Sport Edition Package comes with an M aerodynamics group, 19-inch M light-alloy wheels, LED adaptive headlights and fog lamps, high-gloss Shadow Line trim, black brake calipers and dark polished chrome exhaust pipes. Interior features would make you think you're in an M6, as it comes with an M leather steering wheel, door sill covers, footrests, napa leather sport seats and optional white leather seats with orange stitching.

Autoweek in review: Lamborghini Egoista, Maserati Quattroporte and Ecclestone's bribery charge

Tesla's impressive first-quarter sales topped the news Monday, as the Model S outsold the luxury competition. Racing veteran Derrick Walker was also named IndyCar's president of competition and operations. Tuesday, details surrounding the Acura NSX emerged, and we took a look at the Lamborghini Egoista.

Porsche 918 Spyder (2013) final specifications and prices

Porsche told CAR it expected final 918 Spyders to produce more power and better economy than the test mules – and Stuttgart has delivered. Final specs for the V8 hybrid supercar have been released, and it's as quick as you'd hope (for £660,000...) Porsche's 918 Spyder: the vital stats: Engine: 4.6-litre V8, 600bhp @ 8600rpm, 390lb ft @ 6600rpm. Engine redline @ 9150rpmHybrid module: lithium-ion batteries, electric motors, 154bhpTotal power: 875bhpTransmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive (electric motor drives fronts, motor and engine drive rears)0-62mph: 2.8sec0-124mph: 7.9sec0-186mph: 23.0secTop speed: 211mphMPG (combined): 85.6mpgCO2: 79g/kmElectric-only driving range/top speed: 18 miles/93mphBattery charge time: four hours (25mins with optional Porsche Speed Charging Station)Weight: 1675kg (unladen), Weissach package cuts 35kg from kerbweightPrice: €781,155 (£661,000), without Weissach package / €853,155 (£720,400) with Weissach package Any other Porsche 918 Spyder news?