Rolls-Royce parades through London on the Spirit of Ecstacy centenary drive

Rolls-Royce may sell as many motor cars in Hong Kong and Dubai as they do in their own domestic market, but if you had to pick one city that embodies the Spirit of Ecstasy, that'd be London. So to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Rolls-Royce mascot, the company rolled out a parade of 100 of its vehicles around the sites and streets of the English capital.

The latest Phantom and Ghost models lead the procession that included shining examples from the company's history – including Silver Ghosts, Clouds, Shadows and Spurs – past such local landmarks as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Rolls-Royce]



















rolls royce ghost

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Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition celebrates the big 900,000

900,000 units is a heck of a milestone, and that's precisely the production benchmark the Mazda MX-5 Miata has reached over the course of its 22-year lifespan so far. And to celebrate, Mazda is launching a commemorative special edition.

Launched at the Chicago Auto Show, the MX-5 Miata Special Edition features an interior decked out in a unique gray leather color scheme with gray top-stitching and aluminum trim. It's based on the PRHT model, so it's got a retractable hard top, and comes standard with the otherwise optional Premium and Suspension packages along with special 17-inch alloys.

Buyers can choose from Sparkling Black or Dolphin Gray Mica, with either automatic or manual six-speed transmissions. Only 750 examples will be made, exclusively available in North America, with prices starting at $30,925. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Mazda]



















Mazda MX-5 Miata

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Camaro ZL1 is the new hot model in Chicago

We've been hearing some conjecture about what Camaro-based model would debut at the Chicago Auto Show today, and Tran from Camaro5 would appear to have the answer: The ZL1. The Chevrolet press conference isn't scheduled for another hour or so, but wandering the floor seems to have revealed that the expected hi-po pony car will eschew the Z28 designation in favor of ZL1. Either way, it'll pack a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with a six-speed manual as part of a beefed-up driveline.

Other major features are said to include Magnetic Ride Control suspension, Brembo brakes, competition-spec cooling system, along with unique bodywork including a "Transformers 3 style" front bumper, unique hood and model-specific wheels. Camaro5 indicates that the interior has also been upgraded with a new steering wheel and silver trim. We'll have live pics of the Camaro from the reveal shortly, so stay tuned. Top tips, Jesse and Amber!

[Source: Camaro5]



















Camaro ZL1

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Rhys Millen's new 500-hp Hyundai Veloster rallycross machine drifts into Chicago

There are more famous racing families than the Millens, but not many. While Steve Millen was closely associated with Nissan, his brother and nephew have long been associated with Hyundai That nephew is Rhys Millen, the drifting champion we know and love. And this is the latest tool of his trade.

Rhys Millen Racing started with the new Veloster coupe that debuted last month at the Detroit Auto Show and stripped it down to nothing. They stripped the chassis to its bare metal, soaked it in alkalai for five days and then reinforced the welding. They replaced the metal body panels with carbon/Kevlar to cut 75 percent of the shell's weight, dropping the scales down to 2,656 pounds. The company stripped out the interior and fitted a custom eight-point roll-cage, firewall and Sparco bucket. What's more, the Veloster rallycross car uses an unspecified custom long-travel suspension, with 18-inch HRE wheels, Hankook rubber and 14-inch Alcon brake discs (12-inch in the back) gripped by six-piston calipers all around.

The real treasure, though, sits under the louvered hood: Hyundai's 2.0-liter four-cylinder bolted to an HKS ball-bearing turbocharger driving a whopping 500 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque through an X-Trac six-speed sequential to all four wheels. Hot diggity damn.

Hear Hyundai's rally engine starting up

Rhys will be pivoting the Veloster around the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship, and sharing it with motorcross two-wheeler Robbie Maddison at the Summer X-Games. A second car will be built for Maddison to share with rally champ Marcus Dodd also in the U.S. Rallycross Championship, while a third front-drive car will be constructed for celebrity drivers. Follow the jump for full details in the press release and an official video, and check out the additional images in the gallery below.


[Source: Hyundai]
















Hyundai Veloster

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2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan gets new 5.0L V8

It seems like only yesterday when Hyundai shocked the auto industry with the Genesis Sedan. The hard truth, though, is that the Korean automaker's first foray into the luxury market arrived in 2008 as a 2009 model. Hyundai doesn't intend to rest on its laurels, and new updates for the 2012 model year are being debuted during the Chicago Auto Show this week.

No self-respecting mid-cycle refresh is complete without an all-new powertrain, and the Genesis is blessed with with a doozy. An all-new R-Spec trim level will sport an all-new direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 – a mill that's also destined for the larger Equus. The new powerplant is Hyundai's most powerful engine ever, producing 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. That's 85.6 very impressive horsepower per liter out of a naturally aspirated engine, or more grunt per unit than the competition from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

Impressive stuff, and Hyundai follows through with a new eight-speed automatic transmission that was developed in-house. The new tranny will help the R-Spec model achieve estimated fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon on the highway and 16 mpg around town. The R-Spec model will also feature unique 19-inch wheels, along with more aggressive suspension and steering tuning.

The Genesis Sedan will continue to offer the 4.6-liter Tau V8 and 3.8-liter V6, but changes were made to boost both power and efficiency. The 4.6-liter V8 will now reward the driver with 385 ponies thanks to tweaked induction and timing. Wha't smore, the updated eight-cylinder mill will now hit 26 mpg on the highway, up from 25 mpg. The 3.8-liter engine has added direct injection for 2012, pumping horsepower up by a substantial 15 percent – 333 horsepower and 291 lb-ft for you number crunchers out there, up 43 ponies and 27 lb-ft from the old engine.

Hyundai rounded out changes for the 2012 model year with a few design tweaks to keep aesthetics fresh. Updates include a reworked grille and front fascia, incorporating new headlights with LED accents and dark chrome headlamp inserts. Out back, Hyundai added new taillamps, a revised fascia and integrated dual exhaust tips. Other changes include a host of interior updates and the new Genesis 3.8 Premium and Technology Packages. Hit the jump to read over Hyundai's extensive press release, and click on the photo above or the gallery below for high-res pics.

[Source: Hyundai]



















2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan

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