Don’t call it a new Aston Martin; the Virage first emerged in the British luxury sportscar maker’s lineup 20 years ago at the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show in England. Back then, it was heralded as the next big thing for Aston, but turned out to be something of a disappointment, outshined by the DB9 and DBS, which went on to represent the bleeding edge of British automobile performance. Now, ahead of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Aston has re-released the Virage in the US, back after a 20 year absence.
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Vehicular aggression has no place with electric vehicles?  Guess again.  Stemmed from the cockpit windscreen of classic propeller driven airplanes, the engineers at smart devised the smart ForSpeed, a zero emission concept vehicle.  There is no roof and just a sliver of glass (doubles as solar charger) for window, all to suit the notion of having the rush of air and sense of speed passing by you. It isn’t all for that brief sensation or the appearance of it either. With acceleration from 0 to 62 mph clocked at 5.5 seconds, not to mention a The Fast & The Furious like turbo boost button on the centre console for an additional 5 kW of power, this little car can dust any most of its competitors out there, gas-driven ones too.  A single full charge at any conventional 220-volt provides a driving distance of 135 kilometers or 83 miles. The vehicle can reach 80% charge rate in just 45 minutes.
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The 2012 A8 L is a pretty safe vehicle: the base model includes a night vision assistant with pedestrian detection and warning, electronic stabilization control, Audi’s Pre-Sense monitor, which alerts drivers to potential hazards, extensive airbags, etc. But if you’re expecting driving risks beyond fender benders – say, automatic weapons fire, explosions, or gas/chemical weapons attack – the A8 L High Security has you covered. Like the standard A8, the Security is equipped with four-zone climate control, Bose audio, a TV tuner, and two individual rear seats with power adjustments, with optional refrigerator, rear seat entertainment system, a “relaxation seat” with heating, massage, and a power-adjustable footrest.

Check out more photos after the jump…
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Among auto enthusiasts, Lotus stands out for a few reasons. The British maker, founded in 1948, has built a following based on cars aimed solidly at the performance driving enthusiast; when faced with the question of creature comforts weighed against on-track performance, the company has typically chosen the latter. The vehicles aren’t bare bones kit cars, but they are geared towards the weekend track warrior, and owning the winding road. In recent years though, new blood has been infused into the company, with new models planned, including the Evora.
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Auto lovers are well aware that the Geneva Motor Show is on the horizon – the upgraded models and limited editions are coming quick and fast. For automakers whose 2010 offerings were “the best,” it’s always a challenge to show that they’ve made meaningful upgrades to their vehicles. Land Rover met that challenge head on with Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition – last year’s “standard” Autobiography Edition was a luxury saloon on par with any luxury vehicle in existence, matched to an SUV body, with a vicious engine powering the whole thing.
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When eco-friendly vehicles first entered the scene, performance was the last thing on the minds of manufacturers. Not necessary the case with German tuning house BRABUS as engineers created a customize kit in upgrading the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec model. A simple plug-and-play module, BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D6S can be attached to pre-existing powerplant, adding 55 pS (54 bhp/40.5 kW) to the stock version.  Final tally, a total of 313 PS (308 bhp/230 kW). Furthermore, the control unit prepares the car to meet the Euro VI exhaust emission standard, scheduled to be in effect 2014, with the goal of cutting emission by 30 percent. So this is great news for both the environment and Mercedes-Benz fans. via: WCF

We recently highlighted the 911 Black Edition; now Porsche has a similarly blacked-out version of the Boxster S Roadster. Like it’s big brother 911, the Boxster includes a bit of a power boost, and a major style boost – with all black paint, black wheels, a black convertible top and a fully black interior.
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Even completing the Dakar Rally Dakar Rally is too much for some teams; VW has topped the podium at the open desert race for three consecutive years with it’s Touareg SUV. This year, VW is giving the Touareg a set of two makeovers, in honor of the vehicle’s amazing desert performance and record setting Dakar victories. The first of the special editions is the Touareg Gold Edition, which seems designed specifically with a wealthy Dubai driver in mind: it features 24 karat gold trim on the 22 inch wheels, roof rails, window frames, mirrors, grille surround, etc – plus a liberal amount of the stuff on the interior, and pushes the boundaries of taste. Less shiny, but the true star of the duo is the Race Touareg 3 Qatar.
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