Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced Tuesday a joint development program for a next-generation diesel engine for the European market. The new engine will be a 2-liter unit targeted at small and mid-size cars, and designed to meet the upcoming Euro5 emissions standards, which go into effect in 2010. Development of the new diesel will be completed in 2009, with production starting in 2010

We've reported in the past about hacking one's Prius in the search for higher mileage, but what about what about diving into the hybrid's matrix of bits and bytes in search of a more enlightening computing experience? (In the interest of full disclosure, I'm blogging this on a Powerbook G4, have an iMac G5 in the other room and am at the mercy of no less than three iPods

Measuring 4,871 mm in length, BMW M’s new high-performance convertible is more than 5 cm longer than the BMW 6 Series Convertible due to its rear air dam, optimised for supreme aerodynamic performance. Typical of BMW’s M Cars, the M6 Convertible also features four exhaust tailpipes at the rear. Fin-roof look with softtop either closed or open The roof of the BMW M6 convertible is made of three layers

Toyota Kirloskar Motors has announced the launch of a limited edition of Corolla with enhanced luxury and safety measures. However, the company is yet to decide about the pricing of its limited edition, while the car will be available at Toyota dealership from June 21, a company press release said. It will be available for a period of three months at dealerships and the company intends to sell 300 units of the car

Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have improved their relationships with U.S. auto parts suppliers but still lag the ties between Japanese car makers and parts makers, an annual survey of parts makers released on Monday has found. Efforts by Ford and GM to improve communications and pass on information more quickly may be taking hold, especially among larger companies, the survey by the Birmingham, Michigan, consulting firm Planning Perspectives Inc. found

SaturnFans.com has learned that the 2007 Saturn Aura will start at $20,595 when it goes on sale later next month. That's for the XE model that comes with GM's 3.5L V6 with VVT produceing 224 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque and a standard four-speed automatic. The only other model is the XR that gets a more powerful 3.6L DOHC V6 with VVT that makes a stouter 252 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque mated to the General's new 6-speed auto and starting at $24,595

Leave it to AMG to take a car further than anyone would ever dream. Mercedes-Benz has announced a new special edition of the SLK 55 AMG that features many serious sporting enhancements. At the center of the action is an AMG enhanced 5.5L V8 that produces a prodigious amount of power for such a little coupe: 400 hp and 384 ft-lbs. of torque. And you heard us right, the SLK in this iteration is no longer a drop-top but a closed roof coupe

Upon touching down at Asheville's diminutive airport, we were greeted by a Land Rover rep in a supercharged Range Rover Sport, at which point we were driven to the Biltmore in burgeoning (and surprisingly hip) Ashville, and given a tour of the 8,000 acre property, thereafter checking in at the Inn. While we were keen to get a look at the Biltmore house itself, we came to get dirty, and to learn a little bit off-roading and marketing the Land Rover lifestyle

Here's an artist's rendering of what the upcoming Maserati Coupè may look like when it's released sometime next year. We're guessing it's pretty close to what the actual car will be like in metal as we're expecting something that looks exactly like a Quattroporte with two doors. We dig the more sculpted hood and shapely fenders, along with the slightly angrier looking headlights

Supercharged Jaguar XKR to make British International Motor Show debut Jaguar announced this morning that its new supercharged XKR high-performance coupe will make its world debut next month at the British International Motor Show in London. The automaker is keeping mum on the car's specifics for now, but expect additional information to trickle out as we get closer to its July 18 unveiling