It seems like the Dubai Police fleet just cannot get enough: in the wake of the recent additions of a Aston Martin One-77, a Chevrolet Camaro SS, a Ferrari FF and a Lamborghini Aventador to their ranks, now they are making the headlines in the automotive world once again with their latest purchase, the proverbial ‘missing link’ we would say: the mighty Bugatti Veyron.

The above picture was posted on his Twitter account by the Head of Dubai Police Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan bin Tamim, but that’s just a first rendering of the car with the by now very familiar white-and-green livery of their fleet. Apparently, the actual purchase of the car will be carried out at a later time.

Please note that the resurrected Bugatti introduced the jaw-dropping Veyron in 2003, four years after the EB 18/4 concept. Record-breaking performance is what this car is all about, and that’s not only in terms of sheer speed and acceleration: pushed by a 8.0-liter V16 engine with four turbochargers and an output of 1000 horsepower, this car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.5 seconds and brake from a speed of 100 km/h to 0 in 2.3 seconds, in just 31.4 meters. We should also mention the virtues of the V16 engine (8.0 liter, four-turbocharged 1,001 hp), as well as the high torsional stiffness of the chassis: 60,000 Nm per degree. Since we got to this point, one cannot help but wonder what the Dubai Police will buy next: a Formula 1 car perhaps?

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BMW has finally revaled the face-lifted 2014 5-series, which we can admire in these pictures and videos released by the German manufacturer. Precise modifications to the cars’ design, new engine variants and innovative additions to the range of available equipment as well as BMW ConnectedDrive technology all raise the appeal of the new 5 Series, which will have to continue on the successful path of the outgoing generation (over 1,000,000 units sold worldwide).

Design-wise, we can notice additional contour lines for the surround of the BMW kidney grille and newly structured lower air intakes reinforce the sporting appearance of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and new BMW 5 Series Touring, which also have an extra crease in the rear apron as well as slimmer rear lights. The new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo boasts a modified front apron and rear end, while all models come with Xenon headlights as standard, while Adaptive LED Headlights take their place on the options list.

The engine line-up is enriched by two new units: a four-cylinder 1.8-liter diesel with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology has been added to the range as a new entry-level diesel variant, namely the BMW 518d. this unit is credited with an output of 143 hp and 360 Nm of peak torque, with average consumption between 4.5 and 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers. The other notable addition is the is a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol unit delivering 450 hp and 650 Nm of torque. No changes instead for the 20i, 28i, 35i, 18d, 20d, 25d, 30d and 35d versions.

Continue reading: 2014 BMW 5-Series facelift revealed /video

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“Compact insanity”. These are the two words chosen by German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz to describe the new Mercedes A 45 AMG in its latest promotional video. In this footage, last addition to the muascular AMG family is driven by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg - of the Mercedes Formula 1 team - who happen to run into the usual good fairy granting them the obvious three wishes. Well, we are going to stop right here: you will need to watch the video to find out what the two F1 stars will ask for.

Just as quick reminder, we would like to remind you the basic figures of the sportiest A-Class there is: under the bonnet pulses a four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 360 horsepower and 450 Nm of peak torque. All this power gets to the ground through the performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive and AMG Speed Shift DCT 7-speed sports transmission. Performance figures are obviously pretty impressive for a car of this class: the A 45 AMG accelerates from zero to 100 km/k (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited at 155 mph (250 km/h).

Other highlights include a three-stage ESP, high-performance braking system with ventilated and perforated brake discs all round in size 350 x 32 millimetres at the front and 330 x 22 millimetres at the rear, AMG Performance suspension with tauter spring/damper tuning, dedicated exhaust system with tailpipe trims in specific design, planty of carbon fiber both inside and outside and so forth.

Continue reading: Mercedes A 45 AMG: new promo with Hamilton and Rosberg

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Renowned Bavarian tuner ABT Sportsline introduces its new package for the awesome Audi R8 V10, which includes some extravagant and stylish exterior elements to enhance both the aesthetics and the aerodynamics of the charming German sportscar as well as some serious upgrade of its mechanics.

Weight reduction was as important here as was a striking appearance, so they provide the car with a slew of carbon fiber bits: front skirt and grille, side skirts, rear wing and rear skirt leave the right impression. ABT offers two options for the mandatory set of alloy wheels: the ‘CR’ and the brand new, forged and very light-weight ER-F, both of which measuring 19″ and fitted with 235/35 R19 front and 305/30 R19 rear tires.

The original 5.2-liter FSI engine of the model, usually producing 525 hp and 540 Nm of torque, has been “ABT POWERed” to produce no less then 600 horsepower and 550 Nm of peak torque, thanks to revised ECU, some technical refinement and a weight-optimised stainless steel custom exhaust system. As a result, the Audi R8 V10 powered by ABT can thrash the 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, reachinng a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph).

Continue reading: Audi R8 V10 by ABT Sportsline

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Toyota Racing Development, aka “TRD“, has administered the famous TRD treatment to the beautiful Lexus IS. The new generation of the Japanese sedan receives a new aerodynamic package that includes a front spoiler lip, side skirts, a rear diffuser and a little spoiler mounted on the trunk lid, though a four-tailpipe sports exhaust system and a set of 19-inch forged aluminum wheels are also available as optional extras.

Moreover, to further improve handling, TRD also offers sports dampers and additional bracing for the suspension, larger anti-roll bars as well as well-thought reinforcements for the lower part of the frame, designed to increase the already high torsional stiffness of the standard structure.

TRD says these interventions can dramatically improve the driving experience offered by the new Lexus in terms of stability on the road and steering response. It is not yet clear whether this cool TRD package will be made ​​available in Europe as well and if all its components can also be fitted on the Hybrid variant of the car.

Continue reading: 2014 Lexus IS by TRD

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German tuner Gemballa has released more details and pictures of its new kit dedicated to the mighty McLaren 12C Spider, which made its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and include a carbon-fibre Aero-Kit, an interior re-trim in the finest leathers and the brand’s new GForged-one lightweight alloy wheels. The aerodynamic package consists of a new front bumper/spoiler, side skirts and rear valence, which perfectly line up with the OE bodywork using the factory mounting points.

Another highlight for the model are the new ‘GForged-one’ ultra-light alloy wheels, in 20 and 21-inch diameters for the front and rear axles respectively. Although these sophisticated looking wheels are an inch larger in diameter than their factory counterparts, their low weight ensures that the unsprung weight of the vehicle remains unchanged. The GForged-one wheels come in “Black Magic” or “Gunmetal”, with the option of a gloss turned “diamond cut” finish for their spokes.

As for the interior, basically every sigle detail can be customized according to the client’s wishes, using only the finest materials. GT Spider customers can choose among the finest leathers and materials to build their individual interior. The powertrain has been left untouched, thus the output of the car remains 625 hp and 600 Nm of peak torque, which should be enough for most customers.

Continue reading: McLaren 12C Spider GT by Gemballa

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Just a few days ago Porsche released the first official images and details of its awesome 918 Spyder, and now they’ve released more official pictures of the car. As previously pointed out, the model is pushed by an hybrid powertrain made of a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 608 hp and 530 Nm of torque and a pair of electric motors (one for each axle) producing 156 and 129 hp which would bring the total output of the car at 887 horsepower and more than 800 Nm of torque.

The 918 Spyder reveals its close links to motorsport in a variety of ways: it has been designed, developed and produced by Porsche engineers who build race cars - in cooperation with series production specialists - while the concept of the V8 engine originates from the LMP2 RS Spyder race car. The load-bearing structures, the monocoque and subframe, are made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer, and many parts of the super sports car come from manufacturers who have a proven record as suppliers for motorsport vehicles.

We already talked about its most rematkable features such as active aerodynamics, different driving modes and so on, but we kind of neglected to mention the sound of this jaw-dropping car, which is supplied by its so-called top pipes, that terminate in the upper part of the rear end immediately above the engine. No other production vehicle uses this solution. The top pipes’ greatest benefit is optimal heat removal, because the hot exhaust gases are released via the shortest possible route, and exhaust gas back pressure remains low.

Continue reading: Porsche 918 Spyder: more official pictures

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McLaren has wasted no time and is already talking about the car that will replace McLaren P1 as the new top of the range vehicle of the brand. Greg Levine, Head of Marketing and Sales at McLaren, however, declared that McLaren P1 will not be replaced for at least 10 years: “The only way a car like the P1 works is by being exclusive and having a short product cycle. After that, you have to step back from the market for a few years. These sort of launches can only happen every ten years or so”

McLaren’s tactics seem to have paid off because, as we speak, the company has already sold 250 out of 375 McLaren P1 confirmed for production. During an interview with Autocar, Levine stated that three-quarters of the cars currently sold have received bespoke modifications and roughly thirty of them will check in at McLaren Special Operations department before being delivered.

Some customers have made very specific requests to McLaren, such as the removal of the air conditioning system, to further reduce weight, or to finish the exterior in an unpainted carbon-fibre weave, to make the car even more personal. Customisation and individuality are the two key points that customers expect from their McLaren P1. Some clients have even purchased two cars, while others have asked McLaren to modify the interior design, in order to fully satisfy their personal taste.

McLaren P1: new official pictures

Continue reading: McLaren P1 successor to hit the market in 10 years

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The European version of the Ford EcoSport was unveiled in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, though the actual presentation will took place at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show (7-17 March). The new SUV for the European markets is basically the same model that the Blue Oval has launched for the Indian market, with just a few slight differences such as different alloys and the color options for the livery.

The European EcoSport is expected to become available for order in the first quarter of 2014, and will come with an engine range made of a 1.0-liter EcoBoost petrol engine producing 125 hp, a 1.5-liter petrol unit producing 110 hp and a 1.5-liter TDCi diesel engine credited with an output of 90 hp. However, the latter is expected to come with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions values that would place it at the top of its segment.

The EcoSport also boasts a number of high-tech contents typical of cars from a higher segment, including the MyLink system, the SYNC Emergency Assistance and also some interesting Sync AppLink apps, which can be installed on the smartphone of the owner and handle several functions of the car. In other news, Ford has also confirmed the arrival in Europe of the Edge, a larger SUV that will position itself right above the Kuga.

Continue reading: Ford EcoSport: new video and pictures available

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Just a few hours after the unveiling of the model in Hamburg, Mercedes-Benz unleashes the first bunch of videos of its much anticipated new flagship, the imposing new generation of the S-Class, which we thoroughly described in a dedicated post just yesterday (which also featured an exclusive live photo gallery of both the event and the car provided by our parent-site Autoblog.it). With this new car, the aspiration of the German manufacturer was - quite simply - to build ‘the best automobile in the world‘, and Mr.Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, is convinced they did just that:

“Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were ‘the best or nothing’ in every respect. No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class.”

For the first time in the history of the S-Class, the development of this new generation was focused on the long-wheelbase Saloon, with the short-wheelbase version that was derived from it. This is because the S-Class is definitely a chauffeur-driven vehicle in Asia, whereas in Europe and North America the owners of an S-Class are frequently behind the wheel themselves. For this reason the rear passengers will be able to enjoy improvements in interior dimensions, comfort and entertainment options. See all the other videos right after the jump.

Continue reading: 2014 Mercedes S-Class: first videos available

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