BlackSeries

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Prototype Caught Testing Near Arctic Circle As long as the car looks better than the current version, they're on to a winner. I can't believe that Mercedes signed off on the grotesque mutilation of a classically good-looking car. The SL was always a dream car for me, but the current model has had all the elegance and class stripped away so that now the AMG variants resemble some kind of teenage, boy-racer fantasy - the new side-vents, headlamps, rear venturis, air-scarf turbine things, chintzy interior, etc... Awful.

Lexus IS-F Circuit Club Sport Concept Debuts at Tokyo Auto Salon There seems to be a real move by Lexus to explore carbon fibre in their production cars in the near future. All the carbon fibre on the LFA and this ISF point towards applications in more mainstream models in the near future. This is the trickle-down effect in action right now. I wonder what the next GS will be like...

2011 BMW M5 Details Spilled - Wagon Variant Axed I know that they are out to make a profit, but I must admit feeling a bit underwhelmed by the engine choice. I know why they're doing it, but it just doesn't sound as exotic as a V10. I think it light of the revolting styling of the E-Class and the fact that I don't really like Audis, I'd have to take the XFR. The M5 looks good though.

Ferrari 458 Italia Real Life Photos and Video I think it looks fantastic. I also disagree with the comments about a perceived lack of quality. Ferrari has some of the best build quality in the world these days. The fit and finish is class-leading, and the technology is in another league, although I have a feeling that the new McLaren will be as advanced, if not more so. This appears to be a massive step up from the F430.

WCF Top 10 Production Cars of 2009 I agree - I can't believe that a marque with as much history and cache as Saab is just going to disappear. There was a point about twenty years ago where they could have used their heritage to become a kind of Swedish BMW, but they missed their opportunity and now face oblivion. Never let it be said that branding and marketing doesn't matter. They didn't read the market well, and then had the misfortune to be bought out by an American manufacturer.

Porsche Considering Turbocharged Three-cylinder Engine for Boxster Imagine how well it would handle! An engine that size would allow the engineers to do almost anything they wanted with the balance and handling. It could be a classic in the making. We may look back on this car and see the beginnings of a new era for lighter, sharper, more efficient sports cars. Porsche won't mess this up, I'm sure.

Racing Dynamics Preparing 2011 BMW 5-Series (F10) Tuning Program I never see tuner cars that I think look as good as the factory versions. They always look so overdone and cheesy. I think of all those Lorinser and Brabus Mercedes, or Kelleners and AC Schnitzer BMWs - massive aftermarket wheels, and cartoon proportions. I guess when the manufacturer spends millions on its design departments, it's hard for a smaller operation to compete in terms of style or sophistication. It's a waste of money and ruins the resale value as well.

Audi targets BMW with 7.3 billion euros in new product investment - Confirms Q5 hybrid end of 2010 The danger for Audi will be whether they can improve their terrible resale values as they pump more models onto the market. I also agree with the above comments regarding the way they drive - the only Audi I have ever really liked to drive is the RS4, although I'm sure the R8 is brilliant. Their other cars have awful ride quality, understeer badly, and have next to no steering feel. I drove an S5 a couple of months ago, and was really disappointed. I had driven an M3 the week earlier and there was just no comparison - even a 335i is a better drive than an S5.

Ferrari 599 Hybrid Concept to Appear in Geneva - report I agree with Benz Man and Airbag - Hybrid doesn't have to be purely about improved economy and reduced emissions. There are actually some performance gains to be had from electric motor generators, especially the instant torque. Those arguing against hybrids are mostly affirming the environmentalist movement's push towards a world without performance cars. If we want supercars to exist in the future, we should be encouraging manufacturers to develop more efficient technologies, not criticising their efforts. I think their results will be far superior to the expectations of some posters on this website. It's still a Ferrari -they won't build something sluggish and miserable to drive. This is the future guys - get used to it.

Aston Martin Carbon Black Special Editions Released They look pretty spectacular. I think the V12 Vantage is slightly more desirable that the DBS. I can't help but feel that the DBS is overdone, and I think the carbon fibre, black add-ons just move it further away from the purity of the DB9.