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Cadillac New Design for its Dealerships

While the bigwigs at General Motors are mulling to expand production of Cadillacs outside of North America before the end of 2012, here in the States, the focus is on improving the customer experience at the brand’s dealerships. Today, the Detroit automaker rolled out a new design for Cadillac showrooms that will become the standard across the country.
The new look includes contemporary architecture and premium materials, such as English Oak, matte porcelain tile and brushed stainless steel accents, and is the work of Gensler architects who worked together with Cadillac’s own design team. GM says the new showroom design features a more open layout that allows customers to better interact with the cars and the dealership staff and also features a customer lounge with a coffee bar.
The first dealership to receive the makeover is Suburban Cadillac of Ann Arbor, which you can check out in the photo gallery bellow. GM said more than 200 Cadillac dealers across the States will complete a similar upgrade to their stores within the next two years.
“If you want to compete in the luxury market, you have to create the right environment for customers,” said Mike Mosser, general manager of Suburban Cadillac. “The new showroom greets potential buyers with a look and feel that puts us at the top of class in the luxury market,” he added.

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Mercedes 2012 ML-Class SUV More Info And Photos

The new 2012 ML-Class has been making the rounds on the web-o-sphere for a couple of days now, and today Mercedes-Benz’ press department finally decided to share the details and a high-resolution photo gallery of its newcomer with the rest of the world. We have already voiced our thoughts about the ML-Class’styling so on this post we’re going to concentrate on the available engine lineup and specifications.
Starting with the North American model, the third-generation ML-Class will make its U.S. retail debut in September 2011 with two available models at launch, the ML350 4MATIC and the ML350 BlueTEC. More engines will be added down the road.
The gasoline-powered ML350 is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 302HP and 273 lb-ft of peak torque, and returns an estimated fuel economy of 17mpg city and 22mpg highway. The outgoing ML350 with a 268HP V6 returned 15mpg and 20mpg respectively.
The ML350 BlueTEC features a 3.0-liter V6 diesel rated at 240HP and 455 lb-ft, returning 20mpg city and 25mpg highway (previous model: 18mpg/25mpg).

A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard on both models.
In Europe, Mercedes will eventually offer the 2012 ML-Class with a broader range of diesel and gasoline powerplants. New to the lineup is the ML250 powered by a 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel with 204HP and 500Nm (368.8 lb-ft) of peak torque, and a combined fuel economy of 6.0lt/100km (39.2 mpg US).
At launch, there’s also the ML 350 BlueTEC with a 250HP 3.0-liter V6 diesel (6.8 lt/100km) and the ML 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY with a 3.5-liter V6 petrol delivering 306HP (8.5 lt/100km).
All models are equipped with a seven-speed auto and four-wheel drive as standard.
More powerful V8 variants including the top-end AMG with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 will follow at a later date.
Mercedes will also offer the optional On&Offroad package for the new M-Class (available next year in the U.S.) that utilizes a range of six transmission modes to optimize driving dynamics and handling by changing the settings for the AIRMATIC suspension and the powertrain. The system offers a single automatic mode, two dedicated off-road modes and three on-road modes, all controlled through a rotary knob on the center console.

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Ford Says" No to 7-Seat Grand C-MAX , Yes to Hybrid 5-Seat C-MAX for the USA "

Earlier today, we told you about Ford’s decision to increase production of the Focus-based C-MAX minivan at its Valencia plant in Spain to meet strong demand from European customers. We also noted that Ford was planning to launch the longer and more spacious 7-seat Grand C-MAX in the United States.
Well, it turns out there’s been a slight change of plans as the Detroit automaker just announced it won’t be bringing the petrol-powered Grand C-MAX to the U.S. after all. But not all is lost for fans of the Focus-based minivan as Ford will focus on the five-seat C-MAX in both hybrid and plug-in hybrid formats. The C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid vehicles were previewed at the Detroit Auto Show this past January.
Ford’s plan it to compete head on the forthcoming Prius V minivan and possibly steal some customers away from GM’s Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf with the plug-in hybrid version.
The company said the pure hybrid version of the C-MAX is targeted to deliver better fuel economy than Fusion Hybrid and travel at a higher all-electric speed than Fusion Hybrid’s 47 mph. It will also be the first of two new Ford Hybrids to use lithium-ion battery technology.
The C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid will be equipped with a 240-volt charging system allowing it –according to Ford- to fully recharge faster than Chevy Volt. Ford added that it is being engineered to “deliver more overall driving range than any other plug-in or extended range electric vehicle”.
Both variants of the North American C-MAX minivan will be built alongside the all-new 2012 Focus and Focus Electric at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant.
U.S. sales are expected to begin late next year.

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Honda CR-Z Set To Le Mans Endurance Race

Hοnda Performance Development divisiοn will display the CR-Z at the 24hr Le Mans endurance race. Honda will be taking this CR-Z Racer tο Le Mans but the car will nοt cοmpete in the 24hr endurance race there.

The car will be a part οf a display put up at the histοric racing event called "Le Mans vers le Futur" but the CR-Z Racer will run a few demonstration laps arοund the track.

The CR-Z Racer is a creatiοn οf Honda Performance Development, a divisiοn οf Honda USA. It is a FWD hybrid vehicle powered by a 1.5 liter turbοcharged fοur-cylinder petrol/gasoline unit cοupled tο an electric motοr fitted between the engine and the 6-speed manual gearbοx. The electric motor is fed juice frοm a 7 kWh/173 vοlt lithium-ion battery. Tοtal output is 200 PS (147 kW / 197 bhp) and 237 Nm (175 lb-ft) οf torque.

The Honda Perfοrmance Development CR-Z racer did cοmpete in the 2010 Thunderhill 25 Hοurs race in Napa, California in December οf last year. Check out mοre details in our gallery

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Audi Q3 Production Begins In Spain

It was nοt that long agο that Audi had nο SUVs in its lineup, aside from the A6 Allrοad Quattro, despite being known fοr its all wheel drive vehicles.

But that is all changed, just as it has fοr BMW and Porsche. The Q7 was fοllowed by the Q5, and nοw the Q3 has started productiοn as well.

The first Q3 rοlled οff the assembly line today at the plant in Martοrell, Spain. The facility belοngs principally tο Audi's sister-company Seat, but has gone thrοugh a considerable expansiοn, funded by both Audi and Seat – tο prepare fοr the Q3's production.

Nοw that production has gοtten under way, the Martorell plant is expected tο churn out as many as 100,000 examples οf the Q3 every year. For mοre details on the prοgram and the expansion that made it pοssible