The Ferrari California 2-door convertible, which is the first Ferrari to mount a V8 at the front, serves as a preview. The car isn’t scheduled to start sales in the UK until 2011. Meanwhile, only 16 units of the Scuderia Spider 16M have been built as it commemorates the automaker’s 16th F1 constructor’s title.

The Ferrari 599 GTB HGTE, which stands for the Handling GT Evoluzione package, sports upgrades to the car’s handling and electronics on top of the 612-horsepower 2-door GT.

On top of the three debuts, Ferrari’s 2008 Formula 1 car will also be on hand at the show. The car will participate in a special demonstration with Marc Gene at the helm. There will also be an exhibition of privately-owned Ferraris that highlight the car’s rich racing history.

Design by Matt Thomas, it was first shown in public five years ago. Thomas is now quite confident that the car will be good – good enough to compete with established automakers in the segment with names like Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini.

The car will be powered by a 500 bhp V8. Performance figures so far? 0-62 mph in 2.98 seconds (let’s call that a 3 shall we?) and a top speed of 211 mph. The car made its name after appearing in the popular racing game – Project Gotham Racing.

“We have been refining the mechanics of the business model and the car and are now satisfied that we have the right product and systems in place to move forward,” Thomas said. “This is now not just about producing an Australian first and world-class supercar, but ensuring the business is resourced adequately to meet pent-up production demand.”

Citroen unveils their latest offering in the DS range – the DS4. Citroen claims that it is a “radical” MPV inspired by the C-Sportlounge concept from back in 2005. The car will be based on the C4 platform but aside from the underpinnings, the body and exterior will be new.

The initial pics provide quite a good look at how the DS4’s styled and it does look quite promising for an MPV. It might actually be an MPV that even teens can drive. The DS4 is set for a 2011 launch.

The DS5 is also expected to be launched the same year as the DS4. The car draws from last year’s Hypnos concept The DS5, however, will drop the rear-hinged doors but will most likely to retain the diesel-electric powertrain.

The X1 is the fourth model to be slot in BMW’s off-roader line-up behind the X6, X5 and X3. It is designed to take on the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan in the CUV market.

The X1 will be closest to the X3 in terms of size (logical given the number designation) but will be 112 mm shorter, 64 mm narrower and 139 lower. Now this reduction in size especially the ride height makes you wonder how this car will be a suitable off-roader.

A concept version of the X1 was unveiled last year in the Paris Motor Show and the teased production version still looks the same as the concept. The X1’s underpinnings come from the BMW 3-series.

Source: Autocar

Gronholm will be back behind the wheel again. He’s set to drive a 780 bhp Ford Fiesta at the Pikes Peak hill climb next month in the US. But before that, he had some test runs with the Olsberg Motor Sports Evolution team car.

“The car was quite good,” said Gronholm. “We have lots of power. It’s 800 horse power, which is very nice! But it’s not easy to get all of that power down, at the moment, it’s a bit like a switch, so we have some more work to do.”

At 780 bhp, the Fiesta will surely be a mad mean machine. The car will attempt to break the 10-minute mark up the 12.4-mile hill. If successful, Gronholm together with Andreas Eriksson (also in a Fiesta) will be the first ones to break the mark.

First up, a shootout between the Mini Cooper S and the Mazda MX-5. Jason pits the nimble soft-top Mini against the metal-roofed rear-wheel MX-5. Jason tries the Mini first and he observes the heaviness caused by chopping the roof off. Its quick lap time around the track: 45.3 seconds. As for the Mazda, Jason likes the lighter and nimbler feel of the Mazda. Its lap time: 45.9 seconds. Trumped by the Minis turbo.

Next up, Tim tries out self-servicing his car, comparing the cost of going to a self-service garage compared to bringing a car to a mechanic’s garage against the cost and clock. First he takes a car to a mechanic for a brake discs and pad change. Then Tim tries to do it his own. Mechanic: 1:20 (200 quid). Tim: 1:40 (130 quid)

Tom takes out the new Toyota Urban Cruiser in the It’s-New-But-Is-It-Any-Good segment. First, Tom tests the 4×4 trying to climb a (fake) snowy hill. Result: Fail. Second test is if the car’s green. Result: It’s the greenest 4×4 you can buy. Third test, the cool factor. Result: Fail. Tom’s rating: 3/10.

Jonny tries out the Ecto-1 from the Ghostbusters movies. Dereck Acorah (yup, that same medium in the Most Haunted series whose credibility took a beating) joins Jonny in trying the Ecto-1 out. They took the car out for the drive and retire in the haunted Hartfield Manor. A bit of ghost hunting for Jonny. But come on, with Derek “Faker”?

For the next segment, Tiff goes out and tries the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. What Aston Martin did was to get their biggest engine (from the DBS) and place it inside their smallest, most agile chassis. The car goes up to 190 mph and Tiff plows it around the track. Jeremy might have really rubbed off some childishness on Tiff as Tiff jumped the Vantage off the track’s hill testing several times.

Jonny’s back with the Cheapskate’s Alternative segment. For the V12 Vantage, Jonny picks the Jaguar XJS V12 which can be had for only £4,000. Buying Tip 1: Check for rust. Look for any signs of bubbling and rippling paint. Next the front suspension: Check for uneven wear in the tires, steering clunkiness, and if the car pulls to the side when braking on a straight road. Third: Check for overheating, particularly if the coolant’s gunked up.

In the next segment Jonny and Tom try their hands out making wheelie cars. They flip a coin and Tom gets a Toyota MR2 and Jonny gets a Smart. They get cracking with the help of their crack mechanics (or mechanics on crack?). The plan is to use the back wheels as pivot and attaching another set of back wheels for the wheelie.

First challenge is to check if they can wheelie and both cars can. The next is to check who can do it the longest and Jonny won. Finally, a head-to-head drag race and Tom flipped Jonny’s Smart. (Oh, and a scoop. Jonny might yet be The Stig. Just check out his overalls!)

And that’s it for the show.

Now, Shelby says that this new package – the Super Snake package – for the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will be an all-round tune. The limited-edition customizable package that can give the GT500 power ranging from the base 630 hp to a rang-topping 725 hp.

he Mustang’s favorite tuning firm Shelby Automobiles has unveiled its new Super Snake package for the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500. The new Super Snake package, to be built in limited numbers, offers enhancements that gives the 2010 Shelby GT500 better handling, styling and higher output ranging from 630-hp to 725-hp. These Super Snakes will definitely be a handful to manage.

The package includes the racing supercharger that provides the power boost. It also includes adjustable dampers, lowering springs, stabilizer bars, and even a tuned transmission. Trim and additional body tweaks are available depending on the package variant.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has

Prices start at $29,495 for the base and $33,495 for the 725-hp package.

Fiat is one of the first who actually put up a bid for Opel. Magna International also put up an offer. A deal with Magna was viewed to be most likely until conflicting reports came out that the deal might not push through.

Fiat re-iterated its bid but CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that its existing bid is the best it can offer at the moment. “I don’t believe we could improve Fiat’s offer. It’s the most rational one we can put forward from an industrial viewpoint,” Marchionne said told reporters.

Marchionne’s statement is just a reminder that they are still open to talks. Fiat has acquired 20% of another US automaker in Chrysler. Part of its aims is to expand a foothold in the US market.

Fiat never made it past to a second round of talks with General Motors. GM and Magna seemed to have hit it off even striking a preliminary deal. Insiders are now saying that an Opel-Magna deal is on shaky ground right now.

Source: Reuters

However, while the Big Three struggle to get back on track, their shares of the market are slowly being eaten away by smaller and more agile automakers – primarily those from Korea like Hyundai and Kia. Both brands are owned by Hyundai which now hold 7.3% of the US market. That figure places them neck-and-neck with Nissan.

Their gains appear to be a replay of what occurred four decades ago, when upstart automakers from Japan started selling cars in the United States. At the time, American carmakers dismissed them, but today they control nearly 40 percent of the American car market.

The cash-for-clunkers program might just help boost car sales, but given the price off the new car, the best buck per bang can be had purchasing small Korean cars. The same possibility has been observed by Top Gear with UK’s cash-for-clunkers program. The government should definitely factor this into their efforts to save the US auto industry.

Source: NY Times

First they open up with a challenge that gives “excellent consumer advice.” The boys are given 2,500 quid to buy a car for 17-year olds that would make them, their parents, and the insurance company happy. Or so they set about. They start in the office by mixing and matching car prices and insurance costs to fit their budget. Tough one for them since insurance premiums for 17-year old boys were sky high, so they decided to pretend to be dads and insure the cars as parents.

Their picks – James arrives in a Volkswagen Golf (695 quid for the car, 1,509 quid for insurance). Richard arrives in a Hyundai S Coupe (700 quid for the car, 1300 for the insurance), and finally, Jeremy arrived in a Volvo 940 wagon.

First challenge – tweak the cars’ appearances to attract girls with the money left from their purchase. Hamster got a body kit (bumpers and skirts). Jeremy bought a water bed for the backseat. James spent all he had left for a sound system. On the way to the Jezza and Hamster pulled their first prank on Captain Small Bladder by changing his Bach with a CD of chugging sounds and super gluing all the buttons on his stereo.

Next challenge, they arrive at a campsite where they have to race packing camping equipment into their cars. The assorted stuff include tents, flags, chairs, (bong pipe), and blankets. Jezza busted his water bed doig the challenge. Jezza finishes packing first because of the wide space of the Volvo. Too bad he wrecks the back windscreen closing the hatch. Hammond rips his rear bumper. James wins it though as Jeremy continues to struggle getting out of the slippery hill.

They cut back for the news as expected. A bit more discussion on first-time driving revealing the fact that James and Richard failed the first time they took the driving test. They go back to last week’s discussion of the scrappage scheme where they discuss the advantage of just keeping a scrapper running. Some cars featured in this news segment – the Ariel Atom V8 and the Vauxhall supercharged VXR8. As for the media watchdog bits, the boys apparently insulted the boy scouts and the Catholic church with their “touch inappropriately” comment.

Instead of Jeremy in a fast car, it was Hammond’s turn. He goes all the way to Arabia to test the new Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4SV – the fastest Lambo ever built (and the last). He lets the car rip up to 170 mph in an open road. SV (Sport Veloce) is the tag Lambo uses for its meanest cars. 4 corresponds to four-wheel drive. 670 matches the number of horses in the car. Performance times: 0 to 60 mph 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 212 mph.

Time for the Lambo’s power lap but before that, they drop quite a disappointing bombshell. Last week, the Ferrari FXX did a 1:10 lap time (driven by the Stig/Michael Schumacher) but apparently, the car was running on slicks which isn’t allowed by the power lap rules. So off comes the FXX. As for the Lambo, does 1:19 dead – as fast as an Enzo.

Next up – a star in a recently-priced car – Stephen Fry! Stephen lost quite a lot of weight. A bit of discussion on audio books (Fry’s the voice of the Harry Potter audio books), and his stint in the US. Fry’s also a Twitter and iPhone geek and he shares a few bits about them. As for his lap: 1:51 dead.

Back to the challenge. And for their next challenge – ride up their “parents’” driveway to park at 3 AM. They had a decibel meter to check the loudness. Hamster clocked 50.4 decibels, pretty quiet. Jezza crashed his car into a (cleverly-placed) shed clocking a loudest – 66.1. James went in quietly only to have his sound system activated by Clarkson through a remote. 98.7 decibels.

The following day they had a forklift flipped their cars for their next challenge. The logic behind this test is that teens inevitably will roll their car. They need to fix the wreckage in such a way that their parents won’t be able to tell that they were in an accident.

Next, they drive around the track littered with stuff that teenagers usually hit (which they have to), at the end they have to park between two cars that don’t have enough space in between. Their handbrake turns will even be judged by teenage girls. They made a complete hash of it. Back to studio for the scores. Jeremy got 157. Hammond got 0. James had 154. That meant that the best car for a 17 year old teen is a beige Volvo wagon.

To close out the show, they had a shootout between a McLaren F1 and a Bugatti Veyron – the old top speed standard versus the new top speed standard. This race is truly one of the more definitive shootouts in motoring history. Hammond is driving the Veyron and The Stig will be racing the McLaren. The McLaren darts out quickly after the start but the Veryon eventually catches up and smokes the McLaren in the drag race.

On that bombshell, that’s it for the show.