http://www.zzauto.org auto news, auto brands etc.. Fri, 09 May 2008 21:21:37 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en May9 For the last few days, we've been sitting on spy photos of an camouflaged Lexus IS, seen undergoing testing at the Nurburgring track. We've been unable to figure out what it might be a prototype for, so we're simply going to share all the possibilities, and leave it ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/spied-mystery-lexus-is-prototype-remains-unidentified/ May9 The upcoming Ferrari 2+2 hardtop convertible has garnered a lot of speculation over the past few months, but all questions should be answered in the coming weeks. On Friday, Ferrari launched a website featuring the new car's exhaust sound, as well as a fewer teaser images. No details about ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/ferrari-launches-teaser-website-for-upcoming-22/ May9 Cadillac today reported its CTS-V sedan achieved a record 7 minutes 59.32 seconds lap time at Germany's famed Nurburgring test track. The sub-8-minute lap is the fastest ever documented for a production sedan. The new model — which goes on sale late this summer — was first unveiled ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/cts-v-breaks-nurburgring-sedan-record-fastest-lap/ May9 Presidential hopefuls Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton may be focusing on a 'gas-tax holiday', but another presidential candidate — Ralph Nader — is eying a reform of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nader feels the NHTSA has gotten too close with the automakers and calls it ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/ralph-nader-blasts-the-nhtsa-for-rollover-safety/ May9 In the face of $4 a gallon gasoline and stricter CAFE regulations, General Motors is seriously considering divorcing its full-size SUVs from its full-size trucks. GM has been building its big SUVs on truck platforms since 1965, but changing market conditions could see the automaker's next-generation of full-size ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/gm-to-separate-full-size-suvs-from-full-size-trucks/ May9 Hyundai is already planning to launch a luxury brand in China by 2010, and it looks as though the U.S. might not be far behind, a new report finds. The Korean automaker will decide within the next three to four years whether it will launch a luxury division ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/hyundai-could-launch-premium-brand-in-us-by-1/ May9 Although Fiat was originally eying a U.S. location for an Alfa Romeo production facility, the Italian automaker has now turned its attention to south of the border. Alfa will make its return to the U.S. market in late 2009 and therefore needs a plant in North America to ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/fiat-considering-mexico-for-north-american-plant/ May9 The all-new Mercedes E Class is still over a year away, but our spies are gathering lots of details –- as well as pictures — of AMG’s E63 model with very little camouflage! Codenamed W212, the official introduction of the new E-Class is expected at the 2009 Frankfurt ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/0-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-spied/ May8 The BMW X6 is undoubtedly a controversial vehicle. Many critics have labeled it an answer to a question no one asked. But, according to BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer, it's already a blockbuster success. At the company's annual general meeting, Reithofer said the first production of the X6 is ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/bmw-x6-production-run-sold-out-for-8/ May8 Kia announced on Thursday that it has canceled its plans to produce a mid-size pickup for the U.S. market. Kia gave the Honda Ridgeline-esque pickup truck the green light earlier this year, but decided to cancel the project due to rising fuel prices and a sagging pickup truck ... http://www.zzauto.org/2008/05/09/kia-scraps-pickup-truck-plans-for-us/