We're convinced the Bugatti Veyron has to have the highest ratio of variants per total production -- Ford Mustang included. There's the Sang Noir, a first and second version of the Hermes, Pur Sang, Grand Sport, and now the Vincero built by Mansory. Not much is known about the car since no information is listed on the Swiss tuner's web site, but United Arab Emirates exotic car dealer Prestige Cars has posted the car for sale, listing it as one of three built. Looking at the photos, the Vincero features a carbon fiber hood and engine cover, new black wheels, and an interior that has been reupholstered in black and white with carbon fiber trim. It's not everyone's taste, but we definitely wouldn't kick it out of the garage.

[Source: Prestige Cars via Autogetspot]

sports cars

Cobra Technology has released a handful of images and info on its tuned Nissan GT-R, dubbed the Cobra N+ Tuning Concept. There's a full press release after the jump, but the important bits are this: When equipped with the Stage One package, output rises to 550 hp while torque grows to 500 lb-ft. So equipped, Cobra says its fettled GT-R will run to 62 mph in under 3.5 seconds and max out at 199 mph. If that isn't enough, a planned race performance version is expected to pump out 620 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

To get the extra power, Cobra reprograms the ECU, ups the boost pressure by 0.15 bar and modifies the air intake. A new free-flowing stainless-steel exhaust system is also in the works and the upgrades aren't just restricted to the engine bay. Cobra has aworked its magic on the suspension, wheels and brakes. Three-piece, 21-inch, lightweight rollers make room for eight-piston brake calipers and 15.9-inch discs up front, and the coil-over suspension features adjustable ride height and damper rates.

The interior gets two options: luxurious Alcantara and leather, or racing-spec carbon fiber seats and a roll cage. Exterior changes include a front fascia claimed to reduce lift and improve cooling, new rocker panels, and a reworked rump with an integrated diffuser and a larger wing. Personally, we'd pass on the Speed and Stripes decal kit (it's got a whiff of John Player Special livery gone awry) and go stealth instead.

The Cobra N+ tuning program will be available when the Nissan GT-R reaches the European market in the spring of 2009. We're not sure we'd want to mess with Nissan's sophisticated suspension setup, but the extra power, body kit, interior upgrades, along with updated wheels and brakes, look rather tasty.

[Source: Cobra Technology & Lifestyle]

sports cars

Not content to rest on its laurels after taking the Guinness-verified top speed world record, SSC has revamped the Ultimate Aero for 2009 to make it more powerful, more aerodynamic, and even faster. We thought the 2008 model had plenty of horsepower with 1183 ponies underneath the hood, but SSC has increased that number to 1287 courtesy of a new one-piece billet aluminum engine block that improves structural integrity and oiling capabilities. Helping to push all that horsepower through the air is a redesigned front fascia with a new center grille opening, as well as carbon fiber louvers that feed 20% more air to the radiators. The aerodynamic changes, combined with the increased power, yield an estimated 270 mph top speed. SSC has also given the interior a thorough refresh, adding carbon fiber trim to the dash, air vents, door sills, and around the gauge cluster. A new center console features an Azentek PC Infotainment system that can process the car's onboard diagnostic system. There's no word on whether they'll attempt to best their top speed record achieved earlier this year, but we're sure SSC would like to further distance themselves from the Bugatti Veyron or the 9ff GT9.

[Source: Shelby Supercars]

SSC

The Nissan GT-R V Spec will allegedly be packing 520 horses when it arrives some time next year. That still won't be enough for a lot of people (especially folks who want to win seriously competitive drag races), so Hennessey is offering GT-R upgrades that beef Godzilla up to 600 hp. The seven mods in the kit don't do anything crazy to the car -- items like stainless steel turbo downpipes and a wastegate actuator upgrade -- they simply combine to add 120 hp to the corral already on hand. As far as we're concerned, we'd take that over a 520 hp V Spec any day... we can rip out the rear seats ourselves.

[Source: Hennessey]

sports cars

About this time last year, Cadillac's CTS added CNET's Tech Car of the Year to its increasingly crowded trophy case. Its entertainment system's recording capability was one of the things that impressed us, and, presumably, the voters. This year, CNET asks its readers to choose between three imports and two domestics, none of which are Cadillacs.

BMW's M3 Convertible DCT gets a spot on the ballot with its dual-clutch transmission. We wonder if the car's recent recall for transmission problems will affect its standing. The Nissan GT-R shows up again, as you might expect with its cabin full of g-whiz electronics, from the in-dash performance computer to the quick-loading navigation. Lincoln makes the list for its THX-equipped MKS and Infiniti's EX35 Journey gets recognized for its lane-departure warning system and park-assist cameras.

The biggest surprise, though, is the Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. The pachyderm-sized pickup impressed the CNET judges with its UConnect multimedia system which includes a 30GB hard drive, Bluetooth hands-free system, SIRIUS TV and rear seat DVD player.

The winner will be announced the second week of January to coincide with the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.

[Source: CNET]

news

If you're a 2005-2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage owner, you may have wished you'd held out for the 2009 model which benefits from an extra 0.4-liters of displacement (up from 4.3- to 4.7-liters) and gains an extra 40 hp and 45 lb-ft of torque, along with some revised suspension tuning. The crew at Gaydon feels your pain and has begun offering a new performance package for the 4.3-liter model.

The kit includes a new induction system originally developed for the DBS that features a pair of toggling airbox valves that open at 5,500 rpm to bring more air into the engine. With the help of a revised ECU that optimizes ignition timing and recognizes higher octane fuels, output increases to 400 hp (20 extra ponies) and torque grows to 307 lb-ft.

The sports package developed for the 2009 model can also be retrofitted to the last generation Vantage and includes forged aluminum five-spoke wheels, upgraded springs and Bilstein dampers. Aston hasn't released pricing for the new performance pack, but we're sure it's less than trading in your old Vantage for the updated model.

sports cars

Late Thursday evening, the U.S. automaker bailout bill failed to pass through the Senate. The legislation is dead and there are no plans for another bill to go through the process until the end of the year. To quote Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, this will be "a very, very bad Christmas" for many Americans.

Over the past day, Senators have tried to resolve the House-approved bill so it could pass Senate Republican muster, but reports suggest that the UAW was unwilling to accept GOP demands that workers agree to parity in pay and benefits.

News of the failed bill has already spread to markets across the Pacific, with the Nikkei index nose-diving over 6%. Things on this side of the world are bound to be worse when trading on the New York Stock Exchange begins tomorrow.

According to reports, General Motors has got bankruptcy and restructuring advisors on speed-dial in preparation for the bad news and Chrysler has already retained CH11 counsel.

Countless economists and industry analysts are warning that if any one of the Detroit 3 goes under, it will spell disaster for an economy already suffering in a recession. Video of the vote is embedded after the jump. More to follow tomorrow.

[Sources: Reuters, Detroit News, Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

news

Drumroll please! The 2008 Top 10 most popular cars among car thieves are... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute recently released their list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles for 2008, and trucks and SUVs are the biggest target. We wonder if this might reflect some people finding a nefarious way to dispose of their gas-guzzler and collect the insurance money. Hopefully that's not the case, but seriously, if you were a car thief, would you want a land yacht instead of a canyon carver?

For whatever reasons, the most targeted vehicles aren't necessarily the most drool-worthy ones on the road. Thieves tend to go after vehicles that easily blend in with traffic, can be sold for parts or are popular in foreign markets where they can be dumped quickly. Big vehicles also tend to spend more time parked in driveways or on the street rather than in garages, so they're more easily accessible by naydoers. The IIHS looks at insurance-claim reports to determine theft-frequency rates and compile the Most Stolen Vehicle list. The figures are reported in number of claims filed for every 1,000 vehicles insured each year, and this most recent report covers vehicles made and sold between 2005 and 2007.

Ten Most Stolen Vehicles:

1. Cadillac Escalade ESV
2. Ford F-250 SuperCrew
3. Cadillac Escalade
4. Dodge Charger
5. Ford F-350 SuperCrew
6. Hummer H2 SUT
7. Dodge Magnum
8. Hummer H2
9. Dodge Durango
10. Honda S2000 convertible

news

One positive side effect of the auto industry experiencing such a low sales volume is the incredible deals you can find on a new car. Manufacturers have already pulled out the old tried and true incentives of employee pricing and 0% financing, but we've never seen a deal like this before. Galpin Ford, which bills itself as the #1 volume Ford dealer in the world, is offering the 2008 Ford Mustang GT for the bargain bin price of $18,995. The dealership says it has come across 40 models of America's favorite muscle car from a "performance fleet" and is offering them at nearly 1/3 off on a first come, first serve basis. We don't know exactly what "performance fleet" means, so be sure to check the odometer and ask what these Mustangs experienced in a prior life before buying. Their original $28,160 MSRPs have been knocked down by Ford's own employee pricing deal, an additional $2,500 rebate and Galpin's own discount of $3,794. If you're interested, you better act quick as there's sure to be big demand for such low priced Detroit iron while gas is still below $2/gallon.


[Source: Galpin Ford]

sports cars

Toyota has just announced pricing on the 2009 Highlander SUV with its new 4-cylinder engine. The latest entry-level model in the Highlander lineup will arrive at the dealership with a base MSRP of $25,705. That figure cleanly undercuts the price of the Highlander V6 FWD ($27,600) and the Highlander Hybrid ($34,700). The new 4-cylinder engine displaces 2.7-liters and is rated at 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an all-new 6-speed electronically-controlled automatic, it's enough motivation to get the SUV to 60 mph in a claimed 9.7 seconds, yet still return an EPA estimated 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway (22 MPG combined). For comparison, the Highlander V6 is rated at 18/24 and the Hybrid at 27/25... yes, the new gasoline-fed inline-4 is more efficient than the hybrid on the highway. Look for the new four-cylinder Highlander at Toyota dealers in January.


[Source: The Auto Channel]

Toyota

Ferrari has the One To One Personalisation Programme, so it makes since that its sister brand, Maserati, would get one too. The Italian automaker unveiled its own customization program called the MC Sport Line today at the Bologna Motor Show, and this one is meant to amp up the sporting nature of its cars. Since the GranTurismo S is the model in Maserati's line-up, it was chosen to stand on display at the show wearing the functional bits and pieces from the MC Sport Line. GranTuriso S owners will be able to start ordering parts in early 2009 from the new line, which includes front and rear carbon fiber spoilers, side skirts, carbon fiber mirror housings, CF door handles and gloss black 20-inch wheels. Interior options include door sills monogramed with "MC Sport Line" that are made out of – you guessed it – carbon fiber, which is also the material of choice for the new steering wheel rim and panels that cover the doors, dashboard and central tunnel.

Aside from additional aerodynamic aid provided by the new spoilers and the fact that all these parts weigh less than their non-CF parts they're replacing, the only other functional hardware available from the factory is a new suspension setup that stiffens the springs and lowers the GranTurismo S by 10mm.

The Maserati GranTurismo S outfitted with the entire MC Sport Line catalogue seems like a no-brainer for someone with enough coin to be shopping in this segment, though Maserati has not yet revealed how much these new parts will balloon the car's substantial price tag.

[Source: Maserati]

sports cars

GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota all down over 30%

While the Detroit 3 have their hands out in front of Congress, the entire U.S. auto industry turned in a report of dismal November sales today. Every major automaker saw its sales crash and crash hard last month, and the only brand to gain ground was MINI, which saw sales jump 43% on account of last year's numbers being artificially low because production of the then-new Coopers couldn't meet demand.

Credit, we suppose, should also be given to Lincoln and Subaru, each of which posted only a single-digit percentage loss of sales last month.

Clearly what's effecting the Detroit 3 automakers is effecting the entire industry, which sort of blows a hole in the argument that people aren't buying from GM, Ford and Chrysler right now because of their inferior product. Toyota and Honda were both down over 30% last month and Nissan fell 42.2%, which means that Americans just aren't buying as many cars in general as they were last year.

We're curious to find out how last month's sales numbers hinders or helps the cause of the Detroit 3 in Washington this week. We'll find out Thursday when all three CEOs testify again after Congress has reviewed their proposed plans.

BY THE NUMBERS - November 2008
Brand	Vol. % Change	Total Sales 11/08	Total Sales 11/07	DSR % Change	Daily Avg. 11/08	Daily Avg. 11/07
Acura	-38.9%	7,888	12,910	-38.9%	316	516
Audi	-25.4%	6,788	9,104	-25.4%	272	364
BMW	-36%	15,217	23,808	-36%	609	952
Buick	-43.3%	7,516	13,245	-43.3%	301	530
Cadillac	-48.3%	8,815	17,041	-48.3%	353	682
Chevrolet	-36.9%	95,756	151,642	-36.9%	3,830	6,066
Chrysler	-56%	20,017	45,510	-56%	801	1,820
Dodge	-44.3%	44,941	80,670	-44.3%	1,794	3,227
Ford	-30%	103,055	147,310	-30%	4,122	5,892
GMC	-41.5%	20,214	34,549	-41.5%	809	1,382
Honda	-30.6%	68,345	98,521	-30.6%	2,734	3,941
HUMMER	-63.9%	1,454	4,029	-63.9%	58	161
Hyundai	-39.7%	19,221	31,883	-39.7%	769	1,275
Infiniti	-28%	7,631	10,604	-28%	305	424
Jeep	-41.8%	20,302	34,908	-41.8%	812	1,396
Kia	-37.2%	15,182	24,177	-37.2%	607	967
Lexus	-34.7%	16,223	24,848	-34.7%	649	994
Lincoln	-8.3%	8,019	8,744	-8.3%	321	350
Mazda	-31.3%	14,134	20,580	-31.3%	565	823
Mercedes-Benz	-38.2%	14,102	22,819	-38.2%	564	913
Mercury	-41.4%	7,744	13,204	-41.4%	310	528
MINI	43%	4,545	3,177	43%	182	127
Mitsubishi	-35.4%	5,096	7,893	-35.4%	204	316
Nissan	-44.4%	38,974	70,079	-44.4%	1,559	2,803
Pontiac	-53.4%	12,140	20,040	-53.4%	486	1,042
Porsche	-48.2%	1,378	2,662	-48.2%	55	106
Saab	-57.5%	852	2,003	-57.5%	34	80
Saturn	-46.2%	8,130	15,105	-46.2%	325	604
Subaru	-7.8%	13,706	14,868	-7.8%	548	595
Suzuki	-46.3%	3,216	5,987	-46.3%	129	239
Toyota	-33.8%	114,084	172,341	-33.8%	4,563	6,894
Volkswagen	-19.2%	14,295	17,689	-19.2%	572	708
Volvo	-46.5%	4,404	8,227	-46.5%	176	329
COMPANIES
BMW Group	-26.8%	19,762	26,985	-26.8%	790	1,079
Chrysler LLC	-47%	85,260	161,088	-47%	3,410	6,444
FoMoCo	-30.6%	123,222	177,485	-30.6%	4,929	7,099
General Motors	-41.3%	154,877	263,654	-41.3%	6,195	10,546
Honda America	-31.6%	76,233	111,431	-31.6%	3,049	4,457
Nissan NA	-42.2%	46,605	80,683	-42.2%	1,864	3,227
Toyota Mo Co	-33.9%	130,307	197,189	-33.9%	5,212	7,888

November 2008 had 25 selling days versus 25 selling days for November 2007

Reports

CAR just tested the newly updated Farbio GTS 400 and they seem to have enjoyed it. The original Farbio GTS was already available in normally aspirated or supercharged form, but the old engine put out just 384 hp with the blower. This year's new GTS 400 flagship puts ot 410 hp thanks to new pistons and connecting rods, among other things. Former Marcos and Invicta head Chris Marsh is the man behind this V6-powered carbon fiber-bodied supercar. He bought Farboud from its founder Arash Farboud and restructured the company, renamed it Farbio, and moved it to the Cotswolds near Bath.

He has stuck with off-the-rack, treid-and-true components wherever possible to make this lightweight supercar somewhat affordable, reliable and workable. Still, at £94,000 or 110,000 Euro, it's no Hyundai Accent. Some will say that's way too much for a little-known brand, especially when that amount could get you something like an Audi R8, but where's the fun in that? These cars appeal to the person who wants something different. If this sounds like your cup of tea, know that the GTS 400 will now do the the sprint from zero to 100km/h in just 3.7sec while charging to a top speed of 180 mph. The force-fed V6 is also said to be good for 24 mpg imperial. While many of the details remind us of other supercars on the market, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Knowing these cottage builders still exist is one of the things we are most thankful for this time of year.

[Source: Car Magazine via Caradisiac]

sports cars

BMW board member Dr. Friederich Eichiner unveiled the first MINI E this afternoon at a press event in Beverly Hills, California. The company has built 500 of the battery-powered cars that will be leased to customers in Southern California and the New York City area starting in January. Each car is equipped with electric drive systems and battery packs provided by California's AC Propulsion. The 35 kWh packs are expected to provide a range of about 125-150 miles on a charge and accelerate the car to 60 mph in an very reasonable 8.5 seconds. BMW is using the MINI E as the first step of its Project I, which is focused on developing new innovations for urban mobility. A web site will be launched in the next couple of days where people will be able to officially apply for the program. For those who get selected, the MINI E lease will cost $850 /month and only last one year. Check out ABG for more information on the car and what BMW is trying to achieve with it.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

news

We don't know how we missed this, but earlier this year DC Designs – the car-creator founded by Dilip Chhabria – unveiled the DC Ambierod at the 2008 New Delhi Auto Expo. The coupe was supposedly inspired by the Hindustan Ambassador, on which the Ambierod is based, and Chhabria wanted to create the Indian equivalent of the Holden Efijy concept from 2005. In short, he failed – hardly a surprise considering the wannabe Roller/350Z and the $375,000 Cayenne coupe that DC concocted in previous years.

If you can avoid dwelling on the Ambierod's awkward ends and bulbous greenhouse, you can enter the plush interior through a set of hydraulically actuated gull-wing doors. The exterior's pseudo-retro theme is dropped in favor of a tech-laden interior, with a handful of LCD screens, a wireless internet connection, multi-colored mood lighting and room for rear-seat occupants, including a foot-rest occupying the space where the front-seat passenger would normally sit.

Production rumors have been circulating since the Ambierod's introduction, but we think that's about as plausible as the coupe's claimed 3.7-second sprint to 60. If the Ambierod does hit the market, expect the V12-powered coupe to crest the $1,000,000 mark.


[Source: Domain-B, MotorBeam]

news

As Fiat's in-house tuning arm, Abarth stands for high performance and unique design. The firm hopes to have hit on both of these qualities with its latest adventure in the art of co-branding, the new Powerplay Extreme gaming desktop. The crew definitely got the unique design part down, with a soaring, bridge-like truss holding a giant fan at the very top of the inner workings of the computer, which is powered by Intel's latest and most powerful chip ever, the Core i7 Extreme.

This new pint-sized desktop machine will be launched to kick off Intel's new "Friday Night Game", which is an Electronic Sports League sanctioned event that pits elite gamers from 30 different countries against each other. As far as the actual hardware goes, we see the expected firewire and USB ports along with an external serial port for terabytes of fun. The exposed motherboard sports a slew of heatsinks and LED-colored fans to keep things cool. Plus, it controls a Blue-ray/HD DVD player and, of course, a couple of CD\DVD burners. We're sure it all runs on an Intel chipset, but there aren't any details yet on the RAM or hard disk space. The best part? How 'bout that big red Start Engine power button?


[Source: Carscoop]

news

French designer Hermes must have exhausted itself working on the Bugatti Veyron, because it seem like the company wanted to tackle something small for its next project. What better place to go than the smallest car on the market, the Smart ForTwo.

The Hermes Smart ForTwo was created to celebrate the decade anniversary of the micro car. It comes with new interior, entirely covered in leather and canvas, while several pockets are made in Hermès’ style as well as umbrella which clips to the back of the seats. The special edition Hermès Smart ForTwo is available in a number of exterior colors, ten interior leather colors and in both hard top and convertible variants.

So the car may not be faster, but a least you look cooler as you back up traffic

[Source:Sybarites]

Smart

Nissan is planning not one, but two, separate events to reveal the new Nissan 370Z to a select group of gearheads ahead of its unveiling next week at the LA Auto Show. But Nissan's worst-kept secret keeps leaking out. So in addition to a handful of teasers, a few game-play screen caps and a trio of spy shots, GTRWorld has seven pics of Nissan's newest Z car out in the open.

While the new head- and tail-lamp treatments have garnered the most attention, a few elements haven't been in clear view until now. The slight indentation in the roof matches the revised hood, while the shortened hatch and new bumper eschews the outgoing model's harsh creases for a more bulbous back end. Inside, the rear strut tower brace that seriously compromised the 350Z's trunk space has been moved just aft of the doors and everything in the engine bay looks ready for production.

[Source: GTR-World]

sports cars

Thanks to modern technologies like ignition keys with embedded chips and factory installed security immobilizers, it's getting harder and harder to steal new cars. As a result, the number of cars and trucks stolen in the United States dropped by 13.1 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, a trend that has been continuing for five years. Total thefts for the year could actually end up under 1 million for the first time in 20 years.

Owners of older cars on the other hand aren't so lucky. One of the main driving factors behind car thefts is to strip the vehicles and sell the parts. The main market for those parts is older, high volume vehicles, so the same vehicles are the ones that tend to get stolen. The top ten stolen vehicles for 2008 includes a couple of surprises and a bunch of perennial hits.

[Source: SmartBrief ]

Press release

Hot Wheels: Vehicle Theft Continuing to Decline

DES PLAINES, Ill., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hot Wheels 2009, the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) companion study to its popular Hot Spots auto theft report, examines data reported to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model, and model year most reported stolen in 2008. See the full report at www.nicb.org.

For 2008, the most stolen vehicles* in the nation were:

1. 1994 Honda Accord

2. 1995 Honda Civic

3. 1989 Toyota Camry

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup

5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

6. 2000 Dodge Caravan

7. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

8. 1994 Acura Integra

9. 1999 Ford Taurus

10. 2002 Ford Explorer

Certain models of older cars and trucks are popular with thieves because of the value of their parts. Frequently, the parts can be stripped from a car at a chop shop and sold for at least twice as much as the value of the vehicle on the used car market. Newer models are also more difficult, but not impossible to steal thanks to anti-theft technology incorporated by the manufacturers.

Although the final numbers have not yet been released, the preliminary 2008 FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) shows that vehicle theft is on pace to record a decrease of 13.1 percent from 2007 numbers. That would make 2008 the fifth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts. Moreover, if the preliminary figures hold total thefts for 2008 would be below 1 million vehicles--the lowest annual total in over 20 years.

"This is great news for vehicle owners, law enforcement and the insurance industry," said Joe Wehrle, NICB's president and chief executive officer. "It takes years of sustained effort to deliver the kinds of reductions that we are enjoying today. NICB joins with our member companies in acknowledging the great work performed by law enforcement and our investigators in the fight against vehicle theft.

"Comprehensive legislation, aggressive enforcement and rigorous prosecution are the three essential components to a winning crime control program. NICB is proud to contribute to each of those areas through our national legislative affairs program and our network of experienced investigators," Wehrle said.

NICB provides law enforcement with local resources for identifying and recovering stolen vehicles as well as training and information analysis in the detection and prevention of vehicle theft and insurance crime.

As good as this news is, however, vehicle theft is still a costly drain on our economy and a tremendous hassle for victims. To protect their investment, vehicle owners are urged to follow NICB's "layered approach" to auto theft prevention by employing simple, low-cost suggestions to make their vehicles less attractive to thieves.

NICB's four layers of protection are:

Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys. It's simple enough but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.

Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.

Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your car won't start, it won't get stolen. "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective.

Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics," which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

Considering a used vehicle purchase? Don't buy a headache, check in with VINCheck(SM), NICB's free vehicle history service at www.nicb.org.

You can help stop this criminal activity by reporting suspected insurance fraud and vehicle theft to NICB at 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422) or by texting to TIP411 keyword "Fraud." You may also report fraud and theft by visiting our Web site www.nicb.org. All tips can be anonymous.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,000 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote nearly $343 billion in insurance premiums in 2008, or more than 82 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

* This report reflects only stolen vehicle data reported to NCIC in 2008. No further filtering of information is conducted, i.e., determining the total number of a particular make and model currently registered in the U.S. for comparison purposes.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau

news

Were you, like us, just thinking that BMW's U.S. lineup would be fully complete if only it had just one more crossover utility Sports Activity Vehicle that slotted in somewhere between the small X3 and midsize X5? If so, we have good news. Just such a vehicle – logically and tentatively named the X4 – is rumored to be in development. Again.

Just as the X6 was designed as a sportier take on the more traditional SUV-shaped X5, the new X4 would inject a bit more Bavarian flavor into the plain ol' X3. Citing an unnamed source within the company, Autocar reports, "We haven't made any firm decision... however, the X6's success shows there is a continued demand for sporty off-roaders."

Yes, we've heard this rumor before, but not since 2008. Why the possible change of heart? Despite drawing ire from what seems to be a vocal minority, BMW reports that the X6 is handily outpacing its own initial sales projections. In fact, it's 80,000 sales worldwide is twice what the automaker had expected to sell. And one good turn deserves... something.

[Source: Autocar]

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