MW 335i Convertible Receives a Power-Boost from ATT TEC

German tuning shop ATT TEC is trying to further close the performance gap between the BMW 335i and M3 Convertibles with the release of a new sport package that includes two stages of power upgrades. ATT TEC's basic kit, which is priced at €2,355, takes the 335i's standard 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight six from 306 HP and 400 Nm of torque to 345 HP and 481 Nm.


For €4,130, ATT TEC will boost the engine's output to 362 HP and 536 Nm while the new exhaust system that's included in this package will inform your friends of the changes under the hood.

The performance package is complemented by M3-style front fenders (€1,843 unpainted or €2,440 in your car's body color) and a set of 20-inch multi spoke alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires size 245/30 ZR20 up front and 285/25 ZR30 at the rear (€3,475).

Peugeot Begins Accepting Pre-Orders for All-Electric i0n Mini

Even though we're still a full year away from the European market launch of the iOn, Peugeot has already started to take pre-reservations for the all-electric car in the UK. Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the i0n is actually a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV. As part of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi deal, Citroen will also launch its own version of the i-MiEV called the C-Zero.

With four doors and four seats, and a compact length of 3.48 m, the i0n is powered by a 64bhp electric motor that allows it to reach a top speed of 80mph or 129 km/h.

The small city car has a driving range of 80 miles (129 km) on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged in six hours through a conventional mains power supply or recharged to 80% capacity within thirty minutes with a fast charging system.

Peugeot has not disclosed prices for the i0n. However, we do know that in Japan, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (that's €34,500 or $51,300 at today's exchange rates), which is more than twice the cost of a Toyota Prius.

New Volkswagen Passat Highline Plus for the UK Market

A higher-spec trim-level has been added to the Volkswagen Passat and Passat Estate range in the UK. Building on the standard Highline model, the Highline Plus adds chrome grille surround and louvres, Bluetooth telephone connectivity with touchscreen adaptor, as well as Volkswagen's RNS 310 satellite navigation unit with integrated radio and MP3-compatible CD player.

This version also includes all the features of the standard Passat Highline including ABS and ESP, six airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels, semi-automatic climate control, cruise control and leather upholstery

The new Passat Highline Plus models carry a premium of £750 over the standard Highline with prices starting at £20,515 RRP 'on the road' for the 2.0-litre TDI 110 PS sedan and £21,715 for the Estate.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Available for Order in Germany, Priced from €177,319 [with New Photo Gallery]

Starting from Monday, 16 November 2009, Mercedes-Benz outlets as well as the brand's sales partners in Germany will begin taking orders for the new SLS AMG. The sales price for the 571HP supercar with the characteristic gullwing doors in its home market is €177,310 (including 19 per cent VAT), which comes to about US $264,000 at today's exchange rates.

"Following a high-profile world premiere at the IAA, we are very excited about the SLS AMG's commercial release on Monday. There is huge interest in our new super sports car and we are convinced that the SLS AMG will captivate our customers," said Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of the Management Board at Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

SLS AMG buyers may also choose from a variety of options including special paint finishes, carbon fiber trims and ceramic brakes. You can check out some of the main options in the list below.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Optional Equipment

• AMG ceramic composite high-performance braking system: €9500 net / €11,305 gross
  

• AMG performance suspension with a stiffer setup for optimum lateral dynamics: €1200 net / €1428 gross
  

• AMG light-alloy wheels in a 5-twin-spoke design, size 9.5 x 19 inches (front) and 11.0 x 20 inches (rear), tyre sizes 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear): €950 net / €1130.50 gross
  

• AMG forged wheels in a 10-spoke design, size 9.5 x 19 inches (front) and 11.0 x 20 inches (rear), with tyre size 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear): €2000 net / €2380 gross
  

• AMG performance steering wheel in leather/Alcantara: €400 net / €476 gross
  

• AMG sports bucket seats: €3300 net / €3927 gross
  

• AMG carbon-fibre engine compartment cover: €4000 net / €4760 gross
  

• "AMG alubeam silver" paint finish: €10,000 net / €11,900 gross
  

• "AMG monza grey magno" paint finish: €3250 net / €3867.50 gross
  

• AMG carbon-fibre trim (front stowage tray and rear stowage compartment including lid, AMG DRIVE UNIT surround, surrounds for the centre console, shiftgate and rear, trim strips for centre console and door armrests): €3500 net / €4165 gross
  

• AMG interior carbon package (carbon-fibre trim, trim on seat backrests and sides, door sill panels): €3500 net / €4165 gross
  

• leather nappa exclusive single-/two-tone: €2500 net / €2975 gross
  

• Memory package with electric seat and steering column adjustment, as well as four-way lumbar support: €1225 net / €1457.75 gross
  

• 6-disc DVD changer: €660 net / €785.40 gross
  

• Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG surround sound system: €5900 net / €7021 gross
  

Volvo's Sexy New S60 Sedan Revealed: First Official Photos of BMW 3-Series Rival

Swedish carmaker Volvo has popped the covers off its new S60 sedan that will make its first public outing at the Geneva Salon in March 2010 with production and sales set to start in early summer of the same year. Albeit toned down a notch, the exterior design of the production model has remained incredibly close to the concept model that appeared at this January's Detroit Show retaining its sloping, coupe-like roofline and curvy waistline as well as the distinct front-end styling.

While Volvo has yet to release any photos of the interior, it is believed that the styling will again be influenced, though to a much less degree, by the concept model's cabin featuring a same shape dashboard.

Contrary to its predecessor that was awkwardly positioned between the BMW 3- and 5-Series, the new S60 is sized and designed to compete directly against the smaller bimmer and the Audi A4 in the small executive sedan segment.

Underneath the sheetmetal, the 2011 S60 uses a variation of Ford's EUCD platform that underpins cars like Volvo's own S80 and the European Mondeo and S-MAX / Galaxy.

No technical details were disclosed, but Volvo promises that the new S60 will be more driver orientated that its predecessor.

"The all-new Volvo S60 is sculpted to move you. It looks and drives like no other Volvo before and the car's technology will help you to be safer and more confident behind the wheel," says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

The new sedan is expected to be offered with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines including Ford's new EcoBoost 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine featuring turbocharging, direct injection and outputs ranging from 150 to 180 horsepower.

Among other highlights will be a new Pedestrian Detection system that can detect pedestrians in front of the car and brake automatically if the driver does not react in time.

2011 Nissan GT-R Facelift: European-Spec Model Announced

Shortly after the launch of the subtly revised 2011 GT-R ( for details and a mega gallery) in Japan, Nissan has announced the release of the European-spec version of the car that boasts a bevy of minor updates, chiefly under the skin. Starting with the suspension, Nissan's engineers changed the front spring and damper rates for better ride comfort, and increased the stiffness of the suspension radius rod bushings at the rear to improve feel and responsiveness during cornering.

Nissan said that it has also altered the logic controlling torque distribution between the front and rear axles when the GT-R is maneuvering at low speeds to reduce rear-axle 'binding'.

The logic in the gearbox has been changed to give a later downshift from 6th to 5th when the car is being driven in automatic mode, but a more aggressive downshift pattern is adopted when the driver changes from 4th to 3rd, and from 3rd to 2nd gear.

Another improvement for the 2011 MY GT-R is the addition of two NACA cooling ducts to the carbon fibre underfloor diffuser for extra cooling to the exhaust and gearbox while a new, larger diameter pipe connecting the oil cooler promises to reduce gearbox temperatures.

The list of changes also includes a stiffened front transmission mount to reduce vibration through the driveline under high-load conditions.

Furthermore, the balance of the electonic brakeforce distribution bias has been moved slightly rearwards which Nissan says gives greater braking stability in dry conditions. A change in design of the rear brake cross spring is said to reduce noise while a modified air deflector increases rear brake cooling.

Nissan also claims that changes to the emissions system now ensure that the GT-R is Euro 5 compliant, without any loss of output or performance, with CO2 emissions having dropped by 3g to 295g/km.

The Japanese automaker has also fitted uprated insulation to the rear seats to improve improving cabin refinement.

The only visual upgrades for the 2011MY GT-R concern the front and rear bumpers that benefit from a double coat, giving a deeper color finish, while inside, the speedometer and rev counter now sport gun metallic finish surrounds. Finally, the new model year GT-Rs are equipped with Nissan's next generation audio and navigation system that features 40GB of memory space.

Bugatti Brings the 16C Galibier Concept Sedan to Los Angeles - New Photo Album Released

Instead of exhibiting its new 16C Galibier concept car at international motor shows for us plebeians to see, Bugatti has chosen to display its four-seat limousine exclusively to selected customers and what the firm describes as "opinion-makers" from around the globe. Following the presentation of the concept at a private event at its Molsheim headquarters on the eve of the Frankfurt Show in September, the VW Group owned company now brought the 16C Galibier, which is named after an alpine pass along the Tour de France, to Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Ace Gallery.

Designed to be if not the, one of the most exclusive and powerful limousine in the world, the 16C Galibier packs a 16-cylinder, 8-litre engine with two-stage supercharging that was developed as a flex-fuel engine that can optionally be run on ethanol. It also features four-wheel drive, specially developed ceramic brakes and a new suspension design.

There's still no official word if the concept will head into production but if VW's decision makers give the green light, expect to see the car making its market debut in the next three to four years.