Spyshots: 2012 Mercedes SL

Judging by the amount of plastic camouflage on the test vehicle, we can suppose the new SL will have many highly-sculpted shapes. The upcoming SL will have a new upright front grille which will allow it to abide by the new EU pedestrian protection rules, while offering the car an SLS-like look.

The German coupe-cabrio’s headlights will also show a different shape, stretching less far than those of the current generation of the car.

The next SL will share much more with the SLS AMG than just the front fascia design, as the vehicle is expected to use a modified version of the aluminum space frame found on the supercar. This will allow the SL to actually be “Sport-Light” as its name promises and to offer a high level of rigidity.

The engine range of the next generation SL will include updated V6 and V8 powerplants, with AMG V8 version ditching the naturally aspirated 6.2 liter unit for the new forced induction 5.5 liter engine, a move that will allow the supercar to make a few steps down the eco road.

The vehicle’s production process will also suffer changes, as it will migrate from the Bremen factory to the Stuttgart plant, allowing Mercedes to save jobs endangered by the company’s plans to move C-Klasse’s production to the US.

Spy shots : Range Rover LRX (2011)

These new spy pictures of the 2011 Range Rover LRX suggest it will have one of the smallest rear windows ever seen on a 4x4. Although shrouded by BMW-esque swirly-whirly disguise, playing dot-to-dot with the contours of the side windowline point to an unusually tiny back screen.

Insiders confirm these photos are production-accurate, but say the angle at which our spy shots were taken exaggerate the small size of the rear glass. 'It's not quite as small as it appears in these photos,' said our mole. 'What they do show is how faithful to the LRX concept car the compact Range Rover will be.'

A clever PR spin, but – on this occasion – we'd have to agree. The new baby Range Rover does appear to honour the slinky, low-slung coupé-SUV crossover chic of the 2008 show car. It's SUV bluffness meets coupé cool, with a Golf footprint.

Renault targets Ssangyong

Renault, in partnership with Nissan and Renault Samsung, has submitted a letter of intent to purchase South Korean manufacturer Ssangyong. Renault is among a group of six bidders being considered by the struggling SUV maker which includes Indian utility manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra.

South Korea’s fourth largest vehicle manufacturer has been in a state of court-imposed restructuring after being placed into receivership in January 2009 following losses of $US75 million ($92 million).

The impending deal is expected to be worth up to $US500 million ($610 million).

Japanese team sets new standard: 1000km on a single charge

Giving us yet another reason to get behind electric, the Japan Electric Vehicle Club recently exceeded its own Guinness record for longest distance driven without recharging, achieving a staggering 1,003.184 km (or about 623 miles).

The club's Mira EV, a modified Daihatsu Mira, was powered by a Sanyo battery system containing more than 8,320 lithium-ion batteries, the very same kind found in laptop PCs.

Running at a speed of about 40 km/h (or about 25 mph), the team employed 17 people taking turns as drivers during the course of their 27.5 hour effort. It took place at a track in Shimotsuma, in Ibaraki Prefecture.

While Guinness World Records still recognizes their previous 555.6 km journey from Tokyo to Osaka last year as the official record, the team has requested that the organization officially recognize this latest feat as the new milestone, according to Kyodo News.

Given that they nearly doubled the previous standard, one hopes that this drive makes it into the books.

Tonton Astro di dalam kereta anda

Saya rasa ramai yang tertunggu-tunggu berita ini. Kini telah ada di pasaran Malaysia sebuah penerima isyarat satelit untuk menerima siaran Astro & boleh dipasang di atas bumbung kereta anda. Seperti mana gambar yang anda lihat, terdapat satu alat dipasang di atas bumbung Exora. Alat ini bukan sahaja boleh menerima isyarat dari Astro malah boleh menerima isyarat daripada siaran TV percuma. 

Terdapat 2 jenis alat. Harga bagi satu unit yang dipasang di kereta anda adalah sebanyak RM2000++ & anda boleh menonton siaran Astro dengan cara melanggan Astro seperti di rumah anda sekarang. Manakala jika anda membeli satu jenis lagi yang berharga RM1000++ maka anda hanya dapat menonton siaran TV percuma sahaja seperti TV1 & TV2. Sudah pasti kaki-kaki bola yang ternanti-nanti kemunculan pusingan akhir Piala Dunia 2010 tidak akan melepaskan peluang untuk membeli alat ini. Klik SINI untuk pergi ke Selfsat