Jaguar has announced that the 2009 Jaguar XJ will be revised, the British company looking for ways to increase their sales through these tough times. There are no new features available for the Jag, instead what they did was try and attract new customers by offering more equipment for the same amount of money. The update is available for the 2.7 liter diesel versions and it includes satellite navigation, front and rear parking aids, Bi-xenon headlamps, bright mes lower grille and side vents, plus Jaguar tread plates, which will all come as standard for the Executive version, priced at £44,599 in the UK. The Sovereign version will also be updated, with 20 inch Takoba wheels, 16/16 soft grain leather seats with embossed front headrests, leather for the instrument panel and grab handles and Jaguar tread plates. The XJ Sovereign will be priced at £50,472.

Source: Carscoop

With the recent financial crisis, GM is currently facing one of the toughest moments in its history, with the American giant very close to a collapse. But here are 5 interesting things you might not know about General Motors and how it changed the automotive industry, a list put together by the folks over at AskMen:

1. GM was one of the first companies to extend credit and create a monthly payment system for its customers, by establishing a financing arm in GMAC in 1919. The measure was a huge hit for the company, with all rivals being forced to follow their example in order to keep up with it.

2. GM introduced the two-stroke diesel engine, which will revolutionize railway transport and kill the steam locomotive. The first engine was used in 1930, when Burlingtion Railroad decided to drop steam powered locomotives and replace them with the faster and more efficient diesel ones.

3. GM had an important contribution to open heart surgery. GM Research Laboratories, along with American Heart Association and Detroit surgeon Forest Dodrill, developed the first mechanical heart pump, the Dodrill-GMR Mechanical Heart. The machine, very similar to a small 12-cylinder engine, allowed doctors to perform surgery on the heart, the first successful open heart surgery taking place in 1952.

4. In 1966, GM introduced the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Though the Electrovan project had a lot of problems, including high costs, no infrastructure to support hydrogen and it weighted 7,100 pounds (the project was killed fast), the technology used by GM then was the starting point for modern fuel cell cars, like the Honda FCX Clarity or the Pininfarina Sintesi.

5. GM had a very important contribution to the Apollo XI mission, which, in 1969, took Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and ‘Buzz’ Aldrin to the moon. Few people (including us) knew that, in the early ’60s, GM’s AC Spark Plug division worked with NASA and developed the guidance and navigation systems for the Apollo program, systems which were also used by Boeing for their 747 airplanes.

I’m sure you all know that the Audi A5/S5 is one of our favorite cars out there and we’re more than thrilled any time something new shows up about the beautiful German coupe. And this time the news are really exciting, because Audi has unveiled the highly anticipated convertible version of the A5 which is extremely beautiful. Like we’re used to, Audi has fitted the new A5/S5 Cabriolet with a classic fabric top which opens in 15 seconds and closes in 17 seconds, with fully automatic open/close drive coming as standard, plus an acoustic top available as an option, which reduces wind noise. Beside the obvious weight advantage, the soft top also allows increased trunk space, the A5/S5 having 320 liters (11.3 cu ft) of unused storage volume.

Under the hood, the Audi A5 Cabriolet will be available with a range of five engines, two turbodiesels (190 and 240 hp) and a three gasoline engines (180, 211 and 265 hp). The top of the range engine, the 265 hp 3.2 liter TFSI V6 delivers 330 Nm (243.4 lb-ft) of torque and, goes from 0 to 100 mph (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds, up to a top speed of 246 km/h (153m mph) and averages 8.6 liters/100 km (27 US mpg). Of course, there will also be an S5 Cabriolet, powered by a supercharged 3.0 liter TFSI V6 which delivers 245 kW (333 hp), 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) between 2,900 and 5,300 rpm, does 0 to 62 (100 km/h) in 5.6 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), averaging 9.6 l/100 km (24.5 US mpg). For more details about the car, check out the official press release.

The first units are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2009, with pricing starting in Germany at 37,300 Euros for the 160 hp 1.8 TFSI with six-speed manual transmission. Check out more cool photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet

Recently, we heard a lot of people complaining about the new Opel’s Insignia resemblance to the new Mazda6, but we don’t really care and we like the new sedan from Opel a lot, and we’re delighted to see any new tuning programs showing up. And this one, from Steinmetz, was unveiled at the Essen Motor Show and is no exception to that. The package features a really cool body kit, with a redesigned front grille and spoiler, rear silencer tailpipe, new black and white 20 inch alloy wheels, plus a ride lowering suspension kit. Not many details were released on whether there are other mechanical upgrades, but from what we see so far, things look good. Though, one advice for Steinmetz…it wouldn’t hurt if you hire a professional photographer next time you release a product.

Photo Gallery: Opel Insignia tuning by Steinmetz

The US Army has decided to start replacing its fleet of conventional cars, by buying thousands of battery-powered, 35 mph electric cars and light trucks to provide on-base transport. The plans were unveiled last month and Army officials already announced that 800 cars will be delivered next year, with 4,000 over the next three years, with the overall target set at around 10,000 vehicles eventually. The vehicles will be street-legal NEVs (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) from E-Z-Go, Native American Biofuels International and other electric-car makers and the fact that these are only capable of doing 35 mph is no object to the Army, because the vehicles will be used only for on-base transportation, and the speed limit on US Army installation is 30 mph.

“The Neighborhood Electric Vehicle [NEV] will be at Fort Belvoir, before Dec. 15. Our goal is to have the secretary there to drive in one of the first ones,” said Paul Bollinger, deputy assistant Army secretary for energy and partnerships. “We are having bumper stickers put on and decals on the doors which say ‘Army Green, Army Strong.’ ” Of course, they’re making a lot of fuss around the ‘green’ part of this decision, but the most important reason is the costs cut, electric cars requiring only $400 per year to operate, while a conventionl gasoline car requires around $2,400.

Army Times (Via TreeHugger)

As we’d expect, European tuning companies will also want to take a look at the Dodge Challenger, the German tuner Eibach is one of the first to present a tuning program for the American muscle car, program which debuted at the Essen Motor Show. The Challenger was imported from the US and modified according to the latest German lighting and licensing regulations. They didn’t focus so much on increasing the power, which comes from the 425 hp 6.1 liter V8, but worked a lot on improving the car’s handling, which is more important to European customers than sheer power.

So, the Challenger recieved a Multi-Pro-R2 coil-over suspension system, integrated independently adjustable rebound and compression damping with remote reservoir, new 22 inch OZ Botticelli III wheels fitted with Toyo Proxes T1R wide tyres for extra grip. But, of course, no tuning program is complete without some exterior changes, so Eibach gave the Challenger a special look, with the three-piece multi-spoke wheels painted to suit the Hemi-orange color of the Dodge, dark powder-coating of the forged star and carbon hub cap. And, to complete the picture, they’ve also installed a top of the line multimedia unit from Alpine Electronics, with DVD, several monitors, a lot of speakers and subwoofers.

Check out more photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: Dodge Challenger tuning by Eibach

German tuner Zwickenpflug (Jesus, remember this name if you can!) decided that the BMW M3 is not exclusive enough, so they came up with this, the BMW M3 Leather Edition. Basically, what they did was take out all the M3 standard interior and replace it with a more luxurious leather interior, with Alcantara leather inserts on the door panels, steering wheel, dashboard and the sport seats. But that’s not all, because Zwick-whatever also made some performace upgrades and by tweaking the ECU they managed to squeeze 25 hp more from the 4.0 liter V8, which now delivers 445 hp. They’ve also played with the electronic speed limiter (actually, they removed it), so the M3 Leather Interior now goes up to a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h). Completed by the 19-inch BBS alloy wheels, that’s a pretty decent tuning program (nothing impressive, but decent).

Photo Gallery: BMW M3 Leather Interior by Zwickenpflug

Source: 4wheelsnews

When you first look at this picture, you might believe it was taken on the set of a new Taxi movie, with producers deciding to replace the Peugeot with a Ferrari Enzo. But that would be completely wrong, because the photo was taken in Muscat, Oman (Middle East). That’s the part of the world where money’s not an issue. But of course, that doesn’t mean we’re not curios how much a ride in that costs, considering the car is currently worth at least $1,000,000.

Source: Flickr (Via Autoblog)

With the facelift for the new BMW 3 Series, it was just a matter of time before tuning companies started presenting tuning programs for the car, and it seems that the Germans from AC Schnitzer are among the first. The upgrade is available for both sedan and Touring versions and it includes a body kit with new front spoiler elements, new contours of the bonnet, AC Schnitzer side skirts, sports mirrors, spoiler insert with diffuser look, rear roof spoiler and a set of Type IV BiColor 18 or 19 inch alloy wheels. Mechanical upgrades include new AC Schnitzer suspension, extra sports antiroll bar and strut brace kit front and rear, plus a new AC Schnitzer Twin Sports Rear Silencer with interlinked chrome rings. Under the hood, the 3.0 liter six-cylinder diesel engine was upgraded from 245 hp (180 kW) and 520 Nm of torque to 284 hp (209 kW) and 570 Nm.

Photo Gallery: BMW 3 Series facelift tuning by AC Schnitzer

If you’re lucky enough to own a Bentley (doesn’t really matter what model), we’ve got some more good news for you. The British carmaker is preparing a special event, called “Power on ice”, which will take place in Finland, in February and March next year. So, what’s this? It’s an event where you’ll get the chance to drive 560-610 hp cars from the Continental series across a frozen lake in the centre of Finland. Before that, Bentley will offer a training program, under the supervision of a team led by Finnish rally star Juha Kankkunen, who set a new world speed record for driving on ice in 2007, driving a Bentley Continental GT on a frozen bay off the coast of Finland.

All these will take place around the small town on Ruka, approx. 800 km north of Helsinki, where Bentley is creating its own private holiday village consisting of a small boutique hotel and a number of exclusive chalets. The all-inclusive packageis priced between 7,590 and 8,990 euros, with moreinfo available on the event’s website. Unfortunately, though we’re one of the best blogs around here (ahem, just being modest, you know), we don’t really afford it yet, so maybe someone over at Bentley will see this and drop in a special invitation, we wouldn’t mind at all.

Source: Bentley.