Employees at the Jaguar-Land Rover group’s Halewood Operations in Merseyside, UK, recently celebrated the production of 300,000th Land Rover Freelander 2. The landmark came five years and seven months after production of the SUV commenced in October 2006.
The milestone vehicle is a 2.2 litre Diesel model finished in Barolo Black destined for a customer in Brazil, which has proved to be one of the British brand’s fastest growing markets.

During a ceremony at the plant, Halewood Operations Director Richard Else, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Halewood team for reaching this superb milestone and also sustaining the highest quality standards on Freelander 2, during the Range Rover Evoque launch period. Freelander was Land Rover’s biggest selling model last year retailing around 52,000 units globally.”

Given that the summer launch of the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS is just around the corner, General Motors decided it was time to reveal initial pricing data on its compact luxury sports sedan, which eyes the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloons.
Cadillac’s new entry-level sedan will be offered with a choice of three powerplants, with prices starting at $33,990, including destination charges, for the base rear-wheel drive version propelled by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four producing 200HP and 188 lb-ft (255Nm).

The wreath and crest brand says that the base model’s highway fuel economy will be “well over 30 mpg”.

Moving up a step in the range will get you GM’s new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit rated at 270-horses and 260 lb-ft (353Nm) of torque, with this version priced from $35,795, including destination. Buyers will be able to choose between 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions, as well as rear- or all-wheel drive.

Sitting at the top of the ATS’ lineup is a 3.6-liter V6 with a preliminary rating of 320 horsepower, costing $42,090 including destination with an automatic transmission and standard content that includes Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system, leather 8-way power seats with memory, adaptive start and more. All-wheel drive will be available on this model as well. According to the Detroit automaker, the V6 model is expected to have a 0-60 mph (96km/h) acceleration time of “well below six seconds”.

In comparison, the base Audi A4 sedan with a 211hp and 258 lb-ft 2.0-liter turbo starts at $33,375, the BMW 328i powered by a 240hp and 260 lb-ft 2.0-liter turbo at $35,795 and the Mercedes C250 fitted with a 201hp and 229 lb-ft 1.8-liter turbocharged four at $35,675. All the aforementioned prices included a destination and handling fee.

“The ATS enters a vehicle segment this year that’s one of the most competitive in the market, from both a price and performance standpoint,” commented Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “ATS will bring a distinctive presence and compelling value while offering quick, nimble, fun-to-drive dynamics that will appeal to the lifestyles of modern luxury buyers and challenge the segment’s status quo,” he added.

The Chrysler Group has posted a voluntary safety recall of 119,700 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans from the 2011 and 2012 model years because of a potential problem with the power distribution center that could overheat causing the anti-locking braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) to fail.
“A plastic insert surrounding a fuse may be subject to distortion caused by thermal expansion and contraction,” the company said in a statement. “Such distortion could interrupt power to the ABS/ESC control system and temporarily suspend its function.”

The Detroit automaker said the loss of these two safety systems affects the handling of the cars increasing the risk of a crash.

“Despite a small number of incidents, we concluded it was in the best interest of our customers to repair the vehicles and eliminate the potential for this condition to occur,” said David Dillon, Head of Product Investigations and Campaigns, Chrysler Group LLC.

The Auburn Hills based automaker noted it is not aware of any accidents or injures related to this condition.

To fix the overheating issue with the power distribution center, Chrysler Group dealers will relocate the ABS/ESC system fuse. The work will be done free of charge with the voluntary safety recall expected to begin later this month.

This week, we learned two new things about the 2013 Cadillac XTS, the first being that it features a new capless fuel filler assembly and the other that General Motors has plans to build the full-size sedan in China for the domestic market.
We will begin with the new capless fuel filler system that replaces the traditional twist-off cap, with Cadillac promising a cleaner and safer experience.

“This new system has advantages for both the car and the driver,” said John Hamilton, Cadillac fuel fill systems design engineer. “It helps keep hands free of dirt and fuel, paint free of scratches caused by a swinging cap, and the engine running smoothly.”

While other similar systems exist in the market, Cadillac has improved upon the idea by adding two doors instead of one. Each door locks fuel in with a rubber seal around its edge to help prevent leaks. The driver only has to open the outer door and insert the fuel nozzle directly through the twin doors.

“Some capless systems on the market have just a single door, making them vulnerable to leaks,” said Hamilton. “Unlike competitors, Cadillac’s system also has no internal drain, something that can also lead to inadvertent dripping.”

In addition to the news on the XTS’ fuel filler assembly, Cadillac announced at this week’s Beijing Auto Show that it will produce the Chinese-market version of the luxury sedan locally with its joint venture partner Shanghai General Motors (SGM).

The XTS won’t be the first Cadillac to be built in China as that distinction belongs to the long-wheelbase SLS Executive Sedan that begun production in 2006.

“China is the second-largest market for Cadillac, and of course is one of the largest and strongest markets in the world for luxury cars, so it is a core part of our vision as a brand,” said Don Butler, Cadillac vice president of marketing. “It is projected that by the end of the decade half of all luxury purchases in the world – all categories, not just cars – will occur in China.”

With the debut of the new V12-powered DBS sports car scheduled for the end of the year, Aston Martin reportedly wants to bid farewell to the current model that has been in production since 2007 with a special edition version.
An inside source from the British company told Car&Driver magazine that the final version of the current DBS will be called the Ultimate Edition and that production will be limited to 100 units, with about 30 of those cars to be sold in the United States.

The unnamed insider said that the Ultimate Edition would not receive any powertrain or suspension upgrades over the regular DBS, and that the changes would be similar to last year’s DBS Carbon Black Specials (pictured above and below).

To get an idea of what to expect from the Ultimate Edition, the DBS Carbon Black specials featured bespoke paint colors, exterior and interior trim accents, and alloy wheel designs.

Given the imminent launch of the next DBS, it shouldn’t be too long before Aston Martin comes out with an official announcement.

Last November, Mazda announced that it would mark the end of production of the RX-8 sports car with the release of 1,000 examples of a special edition model called Spirit R, all of which would be unloaded in the Japanese market.
The automaker not only sold all of these cars but it also received a lot more orders than it originally anticipated and as a result, it decided to extend production of the RX-8 SPIRIT R by another 1,000 units until June 2012.

According to Mazda, the 6-speed manual transmission model is proving the most popular among Japanese buyers, accounting for 66 percent of orders. In terms of colors, orders are equally divided between the three available finishes, Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica, and Crystal White Pearl Mica.

Among other special features, the Spirit R model comes equipped with select aero parts, a re-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers, 19-inch bronze-painted forged alloy wheels and RECARO bucket seats.

The four-door sports coupe landed in the market in April of 2003, and as of the end of March 2012, Mazda has produced a total of 192,094 units of the RX-8.

The most powerful production Mercedes-Benz C-Class model of all time, the new C63 AMG Coupé Black Series Edition, will assume the role of 2012 DTM racing series’ Safety Car. The German Touring Car Masters (DTM) will kick off this weekend at the Hockenheimring on April 29.
Mercedes-Benz has been providing the Safety Car to the series since the beginning of the “new” DTM in 2000, switching with Audi from race to race, and since 2012 with BMW as well.

The Safety Car version of the German firm’s coupe uses the same 6.3-litre V8 engine with 510hp (517PS) and 620Nm (457 lb-ft) found in the production car, which allows for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.2 seconds and a limited top speed of 300km/h (186mph).

The only mechanical upgrade over the production C63 AMG Coupé Black Series concerns the modified exhaust system.

Mercedes has fitted the car with the optional AMG Track package that adds active rear axle gear cooling and 19-inch alloys shod in Dunlop Sport Maxx Race sports tires in size 255/35 R 19 at the front and 285/30 R 19 at the rear, an AMG Aerodynamics kit that includes a carbon-fibre front splitter, plus a fixed carbon-fibre rear aerofoil with adjustable blade, and the AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package.

On the outside, you’ll also find a light bar with a stroboscope-type flashing LED fixture on the roof.

As for the interior, the Safety Car features a pair of AMG sports bucket seats with four-point seat belts, a two-way radio system and TV monitor mounted on the center console and the buttons that control the exterior safety lights.

Love it or loathe it, the Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept is the star attraction at this week’s 2012 Beijing International Auto Show.
The Italian automaker officially insists that there’s no decision made yet to produce the Urus, but sources from within the company claim that if the top brass at the VW Group were to give the green light, a production model will be ready by 2016.

Lamborghini’s CEO Stephan Winkelmann believes that the Urus could help the brand double its sales and provide a significant boost in profits in the same way that the Cayenne did for Porsche.

The production version of the 5.0 meter long Urus would likely retain the exterior styling of the concept almost intact but feature a more comfortable and less exotic interior design.

As for the running gear, the VW Group’s next generation platform architecture for the Bentley EXP 9 F, Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg and Audi Q7 would provide the base for the Urus, while engine choices could include Audi’s turbocharged V8, Lamborghini’s V10 and possibly even a hybrid variant.

As it turns out, the rumors about JAC presenting a near-production version of the Tong Jian S11 coupe concept were true.
At the Beijing Motor Show, JAC lifted the curtains off the Heyue SC Coupe, which retains the styling of Tong Jian’s original prototype from the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show sans the different alloy wheels and racing stripes.

However, instead of a hybrid driveline, the Heyue SC Coupe sports a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 163-horses and 217Nm (160 lb-ft) linked to a manual transmission that drives the rear wheels. JAC says the coupereach a top speed of 205km/h (127mph).

The Heyue SC Coupe is scheduled to enter production by late 2013 or early 2014.

The second new model at JAC’s booth is the Rein II SUV that goes on sale in China this summer. The crossover measures 4,430mm long, 1,857mm wide, 1,660mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,640mm.

According to JAC, it can be equipped with a 1.9-liter turbo diesel engine or a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline unit matched to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.