Kia Sorento

Pricing for the 2011 Kia Sorento has been revealed through Kia’s consumer website. It turns out that it’s actually not as expensive as it was initially estimated to be. For a starter model that is priced at $19,995 (plus $795 in destination charges), you’ll get a five-seat unibody crossover with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a manual transmission standard. The starter model’s engine is able to produce 175hp and 169 lb-feet of torque.

This engine is actually also what goes in the uplevel LX and EX models but these get automatic transmissions. At the very top, Kia offers the EX V6, with a 3.5-liter V6 that can generate 276hp and 248 ft-lb. All of the variants except the base also come in either front-drive or all-wheel drive variants. A seven-seat version is also available. A grips-at-all-fours EX V6 will ultimately be priced at $28,895. According to Kia, the Sorento is intended to “significantly increase [Kia's] share of the utility vehicle market.” At this price and with these specs, it looks promising.

Nissan GT-R

The styling and performance kit applied on the Nissan GT-R at Tokyo Auto Salon show is a vision to behold. Japanese tuning firm Tommy Kaira gave it new styling features at the front that include a new bumper, spoiler and under diffuser. The Tommy Kaira R35 GT-R, which comes in Wet Carbon, has at its side, new air intakes and side skirts. The car’s wheels are lightweight 20-inch rims finished in carbon black. Rear styling changes include a new wing, diffuser and underspoiler. Some mechanical tweaks were also made to the GT-R, including a high-performance titanium exhaust, sports brakes and a sports suspension kit. The pricing information will be announced at the show.

Bmw M3

Bmw unveiled today the 2011 M3 which combines its outstanding driving performance figures with further reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels. The new M3 carries the same 4.0 litre V8 engine capable to deliver 309 kW/420 bhp but comes with a big surprise for all of its fans: the car feature now the Auto Start Stop Function which helps the drive avoid idling phases when stopping at junctions or in congested traffic. The engine is switched off when the vehicle comes to a halt and as soon as the driver wants to continue driving, this is re-activated without any delay.

The Auto Start Stop Function is used both in vehicles with standard 6-speed manual transmission and in conjunction with the M dual clutch transmission with Drivelogic. This means that, besides the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and the BMW ActiveHybrid 7, the M3 is the first model to use this efficiency-enhancing measure in combination with an automated manual transmission.

With this new Auto Start Stop Function the efficiency is increased by 8 per cent of 24 grams of CO2 per kilometre, depending on the model and transmission type. For example, the BMW M3 Coupé with 7-speed M dual clutch transmission and Drivelogic powered by a V8 high-revving engine with 309 kW/420 bhp now achieves an average fuel consumption on the EU test cycle of 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres (6-speed manual transmission: 12.4 litres).

Regarding other changes, the new model features modified lights with glass covers in a homogeneous red colour with two harmoniously illuminating light banks fed by LED units.Also new for this year is the M3 Competition package, available for both the Coupe and the Sedan. This new pack includes a lowered suspension by 10 mm and light wheels in the size 9 x 19 inches at the front and Y-spoke design at the rear. Also, the control of the electronic damper adjustment function EDC including a Sport mode specially developed for the Competition Package has been precisely adjusted to the chassis modifications by means of map-based control and the driving stability control function DSC. Other accessories include a rear spoiler and front apron flaps in carbon.

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show two special editions of is impressive Veyron Grand Sport. One of these models dubbed Royal Dark Blue Special Edition, carries a bonnet, monocoque and rear section made of carbon fibre tinted in a Royal Dark Blue colour that shows off the lustre of the fibre. The air intakes and the grilles, excepting the highly polished radiator grille, are finished in the same Royal Dark Blue, creating in this way a striking contrast between the central part of the car and the Arctic White side panels. The inner sides of the rims are also painted in Royal Dark Blue.

Regarding the EB logos on the wheels, fuel and oil filler cap, these are still made of polished aluminium as usual. As you expected, inside the cabin the color scheme is extended and we find the same combination of blue and white. The dashboard, centre console, seats and interior trim panels are all made of dark blue Indigo Leather, with white stitching on the steering wheel, seats, centre console and gearshift knob making a striking contrast. If you want to buy the car we have very bad news… it already been sold for an impressive 1.75 million euros (ex works).

Land Rover Freelander RS200

The Freelander RS200, Project Kahn’s latest tuning project inspired by the Land Rover Sport RS600, speaks for itself. With a complete visual makeover, these tuning specialists have focused on a more aggressive appearance. With a sleek matte black bonnet stripe, front bumper vents, body colored style vents, side sills, front grille surround, and door mirror caps, their Range Rover made Freelander RS200 is definitely an eye turner. It was also upgraded with massive 20-inch alloy wheels that come wrapped in high performance tires.

As far as the interior goes, Project Kahn has done quite an impressive job. They upgraded their Land Rover Freelander RS200 with quilted leather seats and white seam accents on the doors, steering wheel, and seats. But they didn’t stop there, Project Kahn continued with red and white illuminated gauges to push their version over the top. Project Kahn’s Freelander RS200 is priced at £26,995 (about $39,300 US), while these tuning experts will give you the whole package, upgrades and all.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The German tuning firm Kicherer recently unveiled the Black Edition package for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. This newly modified Benz features both performance and styling improvements with a unique matte black foil car wrap for a stealth appearance. Included in the SLS AMG kit is a new front spoiler lip, rear diffuser, and a set of 20-inch RS wheels with high performance tires. Apart from the dull car foil wrap, the Mercedes-Benz received an adjustable sport suspension kit with a lowering and raising mechanism, keeping the driver on edge while having control of the cars stance.

Regarding the performance, the engineers from Kicherer installed a sport exhaust made of stainless steel along with an ECU tuning upgrade. This resulted in a minor power boost for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Exact numbers show a gain of 57 hp from these modifications, resulting in a total of 620 horsepower. The car tuners have only released this figure for the Benz SLS AMG, but more tuning news should be available when it launches.

BMW M8

German website and newspaper Auto Zeitung is speculating on a potential new plug-in hybrid supercar based on last year's BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. The car, which the periodical calls the "M8", would combine a mid-mounted internal combustion engine with an electric drive resulting in over 600 horsepower (447 kW).

Instead of the concept's diesel engine, the plug-in hybrid could use the petrol 5.0-liter 507-hp (378-kW) engine available on the M5 E60. Producing up to 520 Nm, the engine would be paired with an 80-hp (60-kW) electric motor at the front axle, and a 50-hp (37-kW) motor on the rear axle. The front motor is capable of a short burst raising performance up to 115 hp (86 kW). With the lithium-ion battery, the car would be capable of a 50-km all-electric range. The battery would need 2.5 hours of recharge time when plugged into the wall.

If produced, the speculation is that the M8 would sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.8 seconds, on its way to a top speed well over 300 km/h (186 mph). The electric motors, aerodynamics, and innovative weight savings would allow a combined fuel economy of 62 to 67 mpg, or 3.5 to 3.8 liters of fuel per 100 km

Weight would be kept to 1,500 kg on the 2+2 car thanks to an aluminum chassis, carbon-fiber panels, polycarbonate windows and four individual Kevlar seats. The resultant vehicle would be 120-kilograms slimmer than the Mercedes-Benz SLS. This despite the M8's large size of 4.6 x 1.9 x 1.24-meters.

Believed to already be rendered by designers, the car could hit the market by the fall of 2013 if the BMW board were to give it the greenlight later this year. The car would be built by the BMW-owned performance division, M GmbH. A cost of €150,000 is speculated.