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MONDAY, APRIL 01, 2013 |

Automakers these days don't only sell you a car, they also sell you a lifestyle. You see this in the way they market each car, and what they choose to show in their promotional campaigns. For Chevy's new Impala sedan, you are taken back to the 1960s, when people used considerably warmer filters on their cameras.

In this particular ad, Chevrolet shows a good-looking and well-dressed man, who seems to be envied by everybody. His hand-eye coordination also seems to be very good, and after watching the ad, you too will understand why…

While the Impala may be a run-of-the-mill front-wheel drive sedan, which shares bits with lots of other GM cars, it is bolder than its predecessor. Whether it justifies GM's "Classic is back" motto, is another story.

By Andrei Nedelea

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MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2013 |

One of the first video reviews of the all-new Golf GTI comes from UK magazine Auto Express, with one of its editors testing the GTI Performance, which is VW talk for the 230 PS (227 HP) version that comes with 10HP more than the standard model, plus a limited slip differential and bigger brakes.

Although the car's power may seem not enough compared to its rivals, the increase in torque is quite impressive – from 280 Nm (206.5 lb-ft) in the Golf GTI Mk6 to 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) in the new model. This helps the Golf GTI Mk7 accelerate more quickly and puts it on par with the more hardcore VW Scirocco R.

The car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a decent 6.4 seconds, but what stands out from the magazine's review is the all-round capability of the VW Golf GTI, which can be a perfectly valid day to day car as well as a precise track toy. Check out the following video to see why.

By Dan Mihalascu

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MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2013 |

Like its predecessor, the Porsche Carrera GT, the upcoming 918 Spyder is an exotic supercar that enthusiasts are waiting for with much anticipation, especially now that its main competitors, the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, have already been revealed. Seeing a 918 Spyder on the street is a very rare event, as the car will premiere this autumn at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

However, for Milanese drivers and pedestrians who happened to be at the right place at the right time, the 918 Spyder that cruised the streets of the fashion capital of the world was a treat they won’t forget soon.

As the car is in its final stages of development, Porsche didn’t even bother with camo and let it loose in Milan’s traffic wearing nothing but a race-inspired Martini design outfit. We have to admit that, for a car that packs 784 horsepower, the 918 Spyder seems pretty well-mannered and easy to drive in the city (except for curbs…).

But don't be fooled by appearances: when the road is clear, it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3 seconds flat and continue accelerating up to 325 km/h (202 mph). Thanks to its hybrid technology, it is able to average a mind-boggling 3 liters/100 km (78.4 mpg US /94.2mpg UK) when using both power-sources (batteries and gasoline), less than most superminis on sale today.

In the United States, the 918 Spyder will be priced from $845,000 (€670,000). It's definitely cheaper to watch it rolling on the streets of Milan in the video below.

By Dan Mihalascu

Video Credits: Youtube / Automoto

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013 |

The Jaguar F-Type is a very important car for the British marque, so any chance it gets to promote it is exploited at maximum. Following Lana del Rey’s song “Burning Desire”, written exclusively for the F-Type, Jaguar now presents a short film called “Desire”, which premiered today at Sundance London film and music festival.

Directed by Adam Smith from Ridley Scott Associates, the film features Golden Globe & Emmy Award winning actor Damian Lewis, Spanish actor Jordi Mollà and American actor Shannyn Sossamon. “Desire” tells the story of an alleged car delivery person who is caught in the middle of a tumultuous relationship between an estranged wife and her husband, a South American…drug lord.

Sounds like a good plot for a movie? Well, add a red Jaguar F-Type in the mix, a car chase in the Atacama Desert, gunshots, plus the growl of the V8 engine - and the audience is guaranteed. We won’t spoil it for you any further, so you can grab some popcorn and watch the 13-minute film below. If you have even more spare time, you can also watch three making-of videos of “Desire”.

By Dan Mihalascu

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013 |

Over the past couple of years, we've come to know about Vilner mainly through its interior makeovers, and much less about its limited exterior and performance mods, but the Bulgarian studio wants to spread out and enhance its offerings with the first fully transformed project, which happens to be a first generation Bentley Continental GT.

Like the big players in the industry, Vilner also likes playing the teasing game so it released a trio of renderings to preview its newest creation before the reveal.

The Continental GT coupe's body has been revamped with a full body-kit comprising wider front and rear fenders with matching aprons, side skirts, bumpers, a prominent rear diffuser and plenty of carbon fiber trims and pieces. A set of new alloy wheels and a rear spoiler are also part of the package.

Naturally, the Bentley's cabin has been thoroughly reworked with the rendering showing a black and red two-tone theme for the new interior upholstery and trims.

Vilner added that the Continental GT's engine has received a boost as well, but it won't say just how much power it gained, yet.

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