The new Subaru WRX won’t be officially unveiled until April 5th, but news of the redesigned model has spread like wildfire across the interwebs. While the origin of the pictures you see here is unknown, we’re told they are indeed accurate. That’s a bit of a shame, because while Mitsubishi’s Lancer (the stiffest competition) has grown more appealing, the WRX hasn’t. Subaru has struggled with faces for its cars for years, and the search shouldn’t stop here.

Official specifications haven’t been announced yet, but we’ve been told that while the WRX-to be sold in both sedan and hatchback form-is larger in all dimensions, it’s actually about fifty pounds lighter than the outgoing car. Credit for that goes to a new, simpler chassis design.

More than any part of the current car, the interior was showing its age. Added features-heated seats for example-used buttons thrown awkwardly in as afterthoughts. The larger Legacy model has a fantastic cabin, and it was most likely used as inspiration during development of this car. That means that nicer switchgear and fine matte-finish materials will replace shiny, cheap surfaces.

From what we’ve heard, the only thing that won’t change is the WRX’s powertrain. While the 2.5-liter flat four may get a few new bits, including a new turbocharger, it is the same basic engine that has been used for years. Early output figures of 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque are being claimed. A five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic will continue to be the two transmission options, and stability control will trickle down from higher up in Subaru’s product line to keep the WRX pointed down the road. Expect pricing to remain the same-about $25,000.

Source Automobilemag

As its name might suggest, the CL65 AMG is Mercedes’ large coupe with the 6.0-liter, twin-turbo monster V-12 from the S65 AMG under the hood. Look quickly, because the CL will gladly disappear in a cloud of tire smoke, hitting 62 mph in 4.4 seconds and 124 mph 8.9 seconds later.

Mercedes’ in-house performance brand AMG turns 40 this year, which is no feat for a tuning company. AMG, which wasn’t always owned by Mercedes, made a name for itself not by merely shoehorning huge engines into little cars (which would have likely killed off their clientele in fiery crashes) but by improving braking and handling as well. This AMG-ed CL is no exception to that rule.

For starters, behind the forged, twenty-inch twin-spoke wheels are brakes of obscene proportions. The front rotors, at 15.3 inches in diameter, are bigger than the wheels on many cars, and are straddled by the world’s first twin-sliding calipers. AMG says this design combines the advantages of floating caliper brake design (lower heat transfer to the brake fluid and smoother operation) with the stopping ability of a fixed caliper unit. The rear brakes - also enormous at 14.4″ - have conventional sliding calipers.

The CL65 also has an AMG Sports Suspension, which uses Mercedes’ Active Body Control to all but eliminate pitch, dive, and body roll.

Finally, no AMG model would be complete without aggressive visual modifications, and the CL looks sufficiently menacing. It has unique front and rear fascias with large air intakes and side vents, side skirts, and a rear diffuser that is flanked by twin, chromed tailpipes. The grille is exclusive to AMG, and the front end also features tinted bi-xenon lights and chrome-surrounded round fog lights.

Interior changes to the CL include AMG sports seats with massage function up front - and metal AMG badges on all four chairs, an AMG Ergonomic sports steering wheel, poplar wood trim, and stainless steel pedals.

At New York, Mercedes will also be debuting a 40th anniversary edition of the CL65 - to commemorate AMG’s fortieth birthday, of course. Only forty Special Editions will be made, each with a numbered plaque on the center console. Designed by the AMG Performance Studio, these cars will be instantly recognizable by their exclusive paint.

The CL65 AMG 40th Anniversary Edition is the first production car to use AMG Alubeam paint, which is a paint that uses extraordinarily small pigment particles (one third to one tenth the size of regular paint) to give a luminous luster unlike other paints. Indeed the clear-coated finish is so smooth that the CL appeared to be glowing when we saw it at a preview in Geneva last month. We can’t wait to see it in natural light.

This technology has been used before in show cars, and can be used with any color paint. Mercedes plans on using this as a trial run to finalize the Alubeam production process for other models. In the meantime, this water-based BASF paint is hand-applied to the CL65 at the Mercedes plant in Sindelfingen.

40th Anniversary Edition cars also feature a two-tone “Exclusive Passion” Nappa Leather interior with a diamond stitching pattern on the door panels and seats. The gorgeous interior is finished with a color-coordinated Alcantara headliner, “V12″ logos on the headrests, and genuine carbon-fiber accents.

The twenty 40th Anniversary Edition cars destined for our side of the pond will go on sale in September on a first-come, first-served basis. Even at a sticker price in the neighborhood of $185,000, we expect them to sell out almost instantly.

Source Automobilemag

The current Infiniti G35 Coupe is a favorite around this office, and it’s easy to see why. It is, of course, drop dead gorgeous, but its beauty is more than skin deep. You can hear its front-mid-mounted 3.5-liter, 275-hp V-6 sing its baritone wail from blocks away. And once behind the wheel, you can’t help but hang the tail out at every curve - the G35 loves to dance.

It’s not without its faults, of course. The G35 (both and sedan and coupe form) are most often compared to the BMW 3-series, and that presents a slight problem for the Infinitis. See, in terms of refinement, all the Gees are quite a few steps behind the venerable Threes.

We had the opportunity to sample a pre-production test mule at Nissan’s test facility in Arizona last month, and were waiting - impatiently - to tell you all about it until the G37 was revealed at the 2007 New York Auto Show. That was, until one of our fellow magazines had a mishap and released their May issue to digital subscribers a little early.

Their loss (Infiniti is likely furious about this) is your gain - the wait is over. We can now say the words that BMW fans (your humble author included) will hate to hear: Infiniti has set its sights squarely at BMW, and the new G37 is a shot that hits the 3-series square in its Angel Eyes.

First thing’s first - just as you’d expect, the higher number in the G37’s name denotes a larger displacement engine. The 2007 model’s VQ35 3.5-liter has been stroked to 3.7 liters. The new engine, dubbed VQ37VHR, now has an 86-mm stroke (up from 81.4 mm) and a compression ratio that is, at 11.0:1, four-tenths of a point higher.

The biggest news about the engine, however, is that it is the world’s first application of Nissan’s VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology. Like BMW’s Valvetronic, VVEL eliminates the need for a conventional throttle butterfly, controlling engine output by continually and steplessly varying valve lift and timing. The V-6 retains a conventional throttle butterfly, but it’s used for emissions-related purposes only, according to Nissan.

By having infinite control over both valve lift and timing, Nissan was able to flatten the VQ’s torque curve at both the bottom and top of the rpm range. The result is that while the 3.7-liter’s 270 lb-ft peak torque is only 2 lb-ft higher than the 3.5-liter’s, the curve shows improvements of about six percent down low and four percent up high.

The increase in high-rpm torque results, of course, in more horsepower. The G37 is preliminarily rated at 330 horsepower. And as a result of VVEL, it should beat the 3.5-liter’s EPA fuel economy ratings. Now that’s progress.

Nissan says that, compared with BMW’s Valvetronic, VVEL is 32% quicker to respond, 20% smaller, and uses 52% less parts per cylinder. It also allows the engine to rev higher - the 3.7-liter is redlined at 7,500rpm.

The G37 will be available with a 6-speed manual transmission (6MT) or a 5-speed automatic. 6MT and sport-pack automatics, like the test mule we drove, will have limited-slip differentials.

Even with the automatic, we noticed no throttle lag from the VVEL. Indeed, the throttle was precise enough to help us do exactly what the G Coupe loves to do best - fantastic power-slides.

Source Automobilemag

Take five! That’s the offer Renault has made to fans of its Clio Campus for 2007. For the first time, the popular budget hatch gets two more doors as part of a facelift.

Available now, the Campus five-door comes with a choice of engines - the 1.2-litre petrol costs £8,645 while the 1.5 dCi diesel is priced at £9,745. Both get central locking, electric front windows and a trip computer.

Fiat’s new Bravo and the Toyota Auris both achieved the top five-star rating. So did Honda’s new Legend, which also gained three stars for pedestrian safety compared with the others’ two stars. Mitsubishi’s Outlander and the Honda CR-V were each awarded four stars overall.

Based on the Swedish firm’s new V70 estate, the all-wheel-drive load-lugger adds protective body mouldings and an increased ride height. Research by Volvo shows that more XC70s are used off-road than full-sized XC90 SUVs, so designers have concentrated on the car’s performance over rough terrain.

Ground clearance is improved compared with the outgoing model, while there are big bumpers, front and rear scuff plates and embossed roof rails, too. Volvo’s Instant Traction AWD set-up distributes torque for top grip, while all models are also equipped with Hill Descent Control as standard. The electronic system allows for just a touch on the brake or accelerator pedal to slow down or speed up a descent. As the set-up also works in reverse, it’s ideal for tricky manoeuvres such as launching a boat on a slipway. Inside is the brand’s trademark floating centre console, while the boot has grown by 55 litres to 575 litres. Three-part split-folding rear seats combine with a folding front passenger chair to improve carrying capacity.

Engines include a 234bhp 3.2-litre petrol with a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. There’s also a 182bhp 2.4-litre D5 diesel, which is available with a six-ratio manual or a Geartronic set-up. The petrol car covers 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds on its way to a 134mph top speed, while the oil-burner completes the sprint in 8.8 seconds and hits 130mph.

Prices will be announced in June, with the new XC70 arriving in show­rooms here in September.

Source [Auto Express]