The house of the Winged B teases the New Grand Bentley [w/VIDEO]

Aspiring Thomas Crowns have been waiting for a brand new Bentley to replace the Arnage for too long. Grab your monocles and have a look, chaps – what you see above is an initial taste of "the height of British luxury motoring" and "the purest expression of the Bentley spirit." Simply called the New Grand Bentley, this is what will replace the long-serving Arnage (and its 50-year-old V8?) as Brahmin at the top of the Bentley caste.

The New Grand Bentley

What can we discern from this shadowy glimpse? Unless the Photoshopped lighting effects deceive us, the bonnet goes from being a trap hood to a clamshell affair; the fenders lose one of their detail lines; and if the perspective is accurate, we are loving the swept grille. For you purist Anglophiles, be proud: the car has been designed and engineered in Crewe, and will be built there to boot.

Anything more than that will have to wait for the car to debut this summer. In the meantime, you can also visit www.NewGrandBentley.com (which will probably be a glamorous tease served on a silver tray), scrutinize a high-res version of the photo above, and check out a 19-second video clip.

[Source: Bentley]

Franz von Holzhausen talks about the 2011 Tesla Model S

The crew from On Cars had a chance to spend some quality time with the Tesla Model S and some of the key people bringing this sweet sedan to fruition. In the first of three videos (the other two haven't been released yet), not only are we treated to some gorgeous shots of the Model S, inside and out, but also have the chance to listen to designer Franz von Holzhausen talk at length about the object of our fastback desire. If you've been paying attention to every detail released about the all-electric so far, there might not be a lot of new material for you here, though interestingly, the Model S does get the year 2011 attached to it. That seems a little soon seeing as a factory hasn't been built or acquired yet, but we digress.

2011 Tesla Model S

Even if you do happen to know every bit of Model S minutiae, it is nice to hear the passion and excitement Franz has for the project as he talks with ardor about proportion and aerodynamics. You can see why Tesla chief, Elon Musk hired him on in the first place.

Mercedes set to debut S-Class ESF safety concept with more airbags than a balloon shop

An inordinate number of the safety features that we now find commonplace in roadgoing automobiles made their debut in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. So where better to look for the next generation of safety technology? You guessed it.

Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 concept

To that end, Mercedes is slated to unveil a concept S-Class to showcase the safety features it is working on next. The ESF 2009 Concept is based on the S400 Hybrid – as if to show that "green" and "safe" can co-exist – and it comes packed with a bunch of new airbags. There's a new curtain airbag in between the seats (you know, so you don't butt heads), airbags in the seatbelts themselves, and perhaps the most innovative feature, a giant airbag underneath the vehicle that inflates in the case of an imminent crash, adding friction to help the car decelerate and lifting the front of the car a bit to compensate for brake dive. That last part worries us a little, as it strikes us that it could hinder any attempt to steer away from the crash, but for the time being we'll trust that Mercedes knows what it's doing. There are also seat bolsters that can move the occupants a couple of inches away from the doors in case of a side impact, metal beams that can actually inflate – thereby cutting weight and saving space on impact beams – and reflective tires.

Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011

When word came in the last few days that General Motors had reached a tentative deal to sell the Saturn brand to Roger Penske, the obvious question then became, "What about product?" The Penske deal apparently includes an agreement to continue supplying some current Saturn products on an interim basis until Penske lines up a new supplier and Penske has said that EVs are a priority. One of the most anticipated products that was scheduled to come from Saturn soon was the first front-wheel drive application of the two mode hybrid system in the Vue. GM had completed development of the two-mode Vue in mid-2008 and production was originally scheduled to start in November of last year. However, when GM's finances went from bad to worse, the hybrid launch was delayed first until spring 2009 and then summer.

Saturn Vue Two-Mode hybrid

GM hybrid spokesman Brian Corbett spoke with ABG at the opening of the company's new battery lab and gave us the bad news. The Vue two mode hybrid will never be, despite the Penske deal. While the two mode system will be installed in other as yet un-named vehicles (likely including the Chevrolet Equinox), those models won't appear until at least calender year 2011. The delay is likely due to an engine change. The Vue was to use the 3.6-liter V6, and that engine is not currently used in the new Equinox or the new Cadillac SRX, the other rumored recipient. Most likely, GM is switching over to using the new 3.0-liter direct-injected V6 or perhaps even the new 2.2-liter DI four cylinder.

Autoline Daily provides first look at production Chevrolet Volt in black [w/VIDEO]

By now, we've all seen plenty of images of the production 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Up until this point, though, all of the shots that General Motors have let out have been of the car in a happy shade of silver. Not any more, as our friend John McElroy from Autoline Daily managed to score the world's first shots of what he says is the final production design of the Volt in stealthy black paint. The shady motif is broken up somewhat by a chrome accent that runs down each side of the car and flips back near the side-view mirrors and the large faux grille, which still bears a patterned appearance that mimics the look of a standard opening.

2011 Chevrolet Volt final production design

McElroy also got the chance to spend some time behind the wheel of GM's latest Cruze-based Volt mule, and he plans to add his initial thoughts to his Journal later today.

[Source: Autoline Daily]

Video:

Land Rover takes the Defender to new heights with Fire & Ice editions

It doesn't get more back-to-basics than the Land Rover Defender. While most of the world's most hard-core off-roaders – Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Wagen, Hummer H2 – have all gone luxed-out, the Defender soldiers on as the bare-bones option. Essentially the same body-on-frame design from 1948, the Defender is still hand-assembled. But what's Land Rover to do when the market demands luxury? Lux out the Defender, of course.

Land Rover Defender Fire & Ice editions

The limited-production Fire & Ice editions come packed with all the features they could fit in the Defender: Recaro buckets, leather and Alcantara trim, diamond-turned alloys, color-coded head- and tail- lights, glass sunroof panel, running boards and more. The Fire edition comes in a special Vesuvius Orange metallic paint, the Ice edition in Alaska white, both offset by Santorini black accents. All that kit drives the price of the special Land Rover up to €68,400, the equivalent of about $95,000. Just 850 examples will be on offer in various markets across Europe, China and in South Africa.

Subaru opens STI Gallery in Tokyo

You remember turning 20? the end of teenage years, the beginning of adulthood...that's what Subaru Tecnica International – the performance division better known by its initials STI – celebrates this year, and to mark the occasion, Fuji Heavy is inaugurating the STI Gallery, a new museum in Tokyo that highlights the products and activities of its Subaru racing unit.

Located at 3-9-6 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, the STI Gallery will be open every day (barring certain holidays) from 9:30 am to 7 pm, when visitors can stop by and scope out STI in all its glory. The car exhibition zone displays STI vehicles both past and present, race and road. (Colin McRae's WRC New Zealand-winning 1993 Legacy RS is currently on display to celebrate the launch of the new Legacy). There's also an exhibit of various components and memorabilia and a history section outlining the division's past activities. Seems like a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon if you find yourself in Tokyo with some time to burn.

Topless Transformation: Mercedes-Benz CL loses its head

With every passing year, there seems to be more convertibles on the market. But if you live in a sunny clime like California's, enough sunshine is never enough. That's where convertible chop-shops like Newport Convertible Engineering step in. The folks at NCE will take just about any automobile and turn it into a custom cabrio to a buyer's specifications.

Mercedes-Benz CL-Class AMG Convertible conversion

The company's portfolio includes recent conversions of a Dodge Challenger, Toyota Prius, Cadillac CTS, Hummer H2, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and this Mercedes-Benz CL AMG. Unfortunately, from the photos seen here, the soft top doesn't seem to collapse quite flush with the rear deck, leaving something to be desired in terms of aesthetics – to say nothing of rearward visibility. Here's hoping there's a snug-fitting cover lurking in whatever trunkspace remains.

Kia recalling 2001-2004 Optima sedans in rust-prone states over subframe corrosion

The 2001-2004 Kia Optima is being recalled in several states for corrosion of the front subframe. The recall covers some 36,538 examples sold in the U.S. in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia – all areas typically noted for being high rust threats due to their difficult winters and use of road salt.

According to the recall, internal corrosion of the front subframe can weaken the mounting points near the lower control arm, leading to everything from irregular tire wear to abnormal stress levels in the system that may contribute to a cras.

The recall begins this month, but neither Kia nor NHTSA have outlined a potential fix in the recall notice posted after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

NHTSA NOTICE

Vehicle Make / Model: KIA / OPTIMA
Model Year(s): 2001-2004
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC
Mfr's Report Date: MAY 26, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V183000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT
Potential Number of Units Affected: 36538

Summary:
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. OVER TIME, SUCH SUBFRAME CORROSION NEAR THE CONNECTION TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN LEAD TO WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND/OR OTHER NOTICEABLE STRESS IN STEERING, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.

Consequence:
CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
KMC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Ferrari Chairman to start 2009 Le Mans 60 years after first Ferrari win [w/VIDEO]

This Saturday in France, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo will be on hand to give the drivers the starting order for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Montezemolo's presence will help commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first win by a Ferrari at the French endurance classic. In 1949 Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon drove a 166 MM Barchetta to overall victory. Since then Ferrari entries have taken the overall checkered flag eight other times along with numerous class wins, including last year when Risi Competizione won GT2 in an F430. Ten of those F430s will be running this weekend.

Luca di Montezemolo discusses Ferrari at Le Mans

That original 166 MM is currently on display at the museum in the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello. If you happen to be in Northern Italy, it's surely worth dropping by to check out the museum. There is a video of Montezemolo discussing Ferrari's Le Mans heritage after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

PRESS RELEASE:

The 166 MM, the first Ferrari winning at Le Mans in the year 1949, at Maranello's Galleria Ferrari.

The words of Chairman Montezemolo, who, on 13th June, will start the legendary race, 60 years after the first win of the Prancing Horse.

Maranello, June 6th 2009 – The 77th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race is to have a high profile guest starter. At 15.00 on June 13th next, in fact, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo will give the official start signal for the most prestigious endurance race in the motor racing world.

Mr Montezemolo was invited to Le Mans by Automobile Club de l'Ouest President Jean-Claude Plassart to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first of Maranello's nine overall 24 Hour Race victories, which came courtesy of the 166 MM of Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon in 1949.

"I am delighted to be given the opportunity to start a race that has made motor racing history and has such strong links with Ferrari. Our Scuderia has delivered some unforgettable achievements on this circuit," declared Montezemolo. "The Le Mans 24 Hour Race is synonymous with technologically-advanced sporting competition and has always been a focus of great attention on our part."

In addition to the nine overall wins clocked up between 1949 and 1965 (the latter thanks to Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory in the 250 LM), Ferrari has also taken numerous class victories in the French race, the most recent of which was delivered in 2008 by the F430 GT of the Risi Competizione team. A total of 10 Maranello berlinettas will be lined out at the start by eight private teams on June 13th this year.

Also on hand at the circuit will be the GES Director Stefano Domenicali, a further demonstration of Maranello's continuing interest in this classic race. In his role as Chairman of the FIAT Group, Montezemolo will also be marking another special anniversary at Le Mans as it was 40 years ago, in September 1968, that the late Gianni Agnelli also started the Le Mans 24 Hour Race.

UPDATE: More news on Ford's forthcoming ethanol injected, turbocharged "Bobcat" V8

Pickuptrucks.com has been doing some digging in the U.S. Department of Energy's document treasure trove and uncovered some information on Ford's new Bobcat (no, not the Mercury). It turns out "Bobcat" is the code name for a new boosted and ethanol-powered engine being developed in Dearborn.

The Bobcat engine is a new 5.0-liter V8 with gasoline port injection and turbocharging. A second set of direct injectors is used to feed a small amount of ethanol directly to the cylinders. The ethanol is used primarily for charge cooling, allowing the engine to run at higher boost and compression levels. It also allows the engine to run much leaner. Normally, running lean causes higher combustion temperatures, thus increasing production of NOx. However, the ethanol helps to alleviate the NOx by reducing combustion temperatures, and according to the data, Ford has been able to increase the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) of a prototype E85 DI V6 engine from the standard 17 BAR to about 27 BAR.

BMEP is a measure of specific output of an engine independent of displacement. That BMEP of 27 BAR in a 3.5-liter V6 translates to a torque output of 553 lb-ft. Compare this to 350 lb-ft from a standard 3.5-liter Ecoboost and you know good things are on the way. Specifically, the 5.0-liter Bobcat can produce over 500 hp and 750 lb-ft of torque. That's the kind of torque number typically associated with big diesel engines and handily beats the 650 lb-ft of the 6.4-liter diesel currently offered in the Super Duty pickups.

The beauty of this particular ethanol boosting is that it can potentially offer better-than-diesel performance and efficiency without the expensive particulate filter and urea injection systems. If the concept can be scaled down effectively to smaller displacement engines, it could be the next step beyond the Ecoboost engines coming over the next couple of years.

BREAKING: Supreme Court clears the way for Chrysler-Fiat deal

With the temporary stay issued yesterday lifted, the Supreme Court will allow the government-backed sale of Chrysler to Fiat. The high court rejected the request from Indiana pension funds and consumer advocates to delay the deal, clearing the way for the sale and setting a precedent for General Motors in its own bankruptcy proceedings.

Facelift Audi A3 by ABT

ABT has released a tuning kit for the facelift Audi A3. The tuner calls it AS3 and it’s more than just a cosmetic surgery. Getting into the exterior detail first we see that ABT has modified a few components such as the front grille, the bonnet, the fenders and the front bumpers. Even the front LED lights have changed shape form the standard bulbs.



The rest of the bodywork is made up of new side skirts, a front spoiler insert, fender inserts and a rear apron. ABT’s recognisable four tailpipe unit gives the cars more presence. ABT AR or BR alloy wheels measuring 18 or 19-inch are recommended for the AS3. The suspension has been lowered by 35mm to improve handling and agility.