Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will take the covers off of a new global standard SUV Pajero at the 2006 Paris Motor Show to be held at he Paris Expo porte de Versailles. Offering legendary reliability, durability and endurance, the Pajero has become the iconic sport utility vehicle (SUV) in its roughly 25 years of existence.

More than 2.5 million Pajeros have been produced since the first generation was launched in 1982. Now it is sold in over 170 countries and territories. This new Pajero is the fourth in the series. It retains the SUV specifications of its predecessors in terms of approach angle, ground clearance, and all-terrain performance parameters.

New features on the fourth generation Mitsubishi include a new 3.2 liter 4-cylinder diesel engine with common rail direct fuel injection and a 3.8 liter V6 MIVEC*1 gasoline unit. Other new features are a 4WD system which is composed of a sophisticated Super Select 4WD-II transfer case. The new Pajero will also offer a new tastefully designed interiors and dashboard. High-end interior equipment will include a Rockford Acoustic Design Premium Sound System(TM) with a new 860W 12-speaker.

Passion and Reason – these are the two inspirations of Citroen’s newest concept car, a 4-door coupe named the C-Metisse. Oozing with style and sexiness, the Citroen C-Metisse is already an eye candy even in pictures. It features a front gullwing and rear scissor doors. The exotic façade is highlighted by styled vertical headlamps and intakes. Inside the long sleek and sculpted body of the C-Metisse is a sophisticated passenger cabin complete with plush white leather seats and modern center console design.

The Citroen C-Metisse is powered by a cutting-edge Hybride HDi system which is composed of a diesel V6 engine capable of producing 208 horsepower that drives the front wheels and two electric motors producing 20 horsepower and 300 lb-ft. of torque that drives the rear wheels.

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Striking metallic viper green paint, an aggressive and sporty stance, sleek lines and steeply sloping rear – these features characterize the new IROC Sports car concept from Volkswagen. The automaker has released new pictures of the concept car ahead of its debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show next month. The new sports car marks the return of the Scirocco, the iconic sports coupe that Volkswagen introduced in the ‘70s. The IROC will be 36 mm longer and 41 mm wider than the golf hatchback and will be 3.3 inches lower than the Golf GTI. Other notable features include five-point racing harnesses up front, 210-hp TSI engine, 19-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and 2+2 seating configuration.

The IROC’s design is undoubtedly attractive and distinctive with honeycomb-shaped grille different from VW’s corporate waterfall grill design. The interiors feature distinctive round gauges, instruments and displays at the cockpit illuminated by a cool blue back light. Meanwhile, our friends over at Volksbloggin found the IROC’s design too similar to the Peugeot Elixir Concept Car which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show three years ago. Well, whether or not it is a rip-off, we agree that the IROC is one hot concept car and will very likely be highly anticipated as a production model.

Honda Motor Corp will take the covers off from its third-generation fuel-cell system in a new version of its FCX concept vehicle. The new fuel cell system will debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show to be held in early December. The FCX concept is a five-passenger luxury sedan unveiled by Honda at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The FCX will be fitted with the third-generation fuel cell system. The exhibition in LA heralds that Honda is getting closer to a production-ready system. In fact, the automaker has announced that a production version of the FCX concept sedan may be realized within three to four years time.

Meanwhile, Honda already has a fuel-cell vehicle available although much smaller. Also called the FCX, this Civic-size hatchback is manufactured in very limited numbers only. More than a dozen of these FCVs were distributed to families and local governments in a number of states on short term-lease to provide the automaker with real-world experience with fuel cell technology. The hydrogen-powered 2006 Honda FCX has an fuel efficiency of 62 mpg in city driving and 51 mpg on the highway.

After the rousing success of the Ford Shelby GT-H concept unveiled at the 2006 New York International Auto Show, Ford Motor Corp. has confirmed the production of the retail version of the Ford Shelby GT. The new Ford Shelby GT will be the newest member of the highly popular Mustang stable of performance cars. It is set to take its place between the Mustang GT and the powerful Ford Shelby GT500.

The Ford Shelby GT is powered by a 4.6-liter, 325 horsepower engine and is equipped for both street and track use. It is the third modern Shelby Mustang, produced through Ford’s partnership with racing legend Carroll Shelby. “It’s got the heart and soul of the Mustang GT pumped up with a great noise, strong motor, and nimble chassis,” Shelby proudly said in a statement. “It’s one of those rare cars that’s really easy to drive really fast.”

Mustang and Shelby enthusiasts will surely have their pulses racing as the Ford Shelby GT graces dealer’s showrooms in January. But they better hurry up since only fewer than 10,000 units of this coupe will be built.

Jaguar unveiled three new models at the 2006 British International Motor Show in London this week: the flagship, all-aluminum XLR sports car, the new XJ Long Wheelbase Diesel and the XJR Portfolio. The new XKR is the epitome of what the Jaguar XK is: lightweight, aggressive-looking, and offering supercharged performance. The XKR is billed as the ultimate GT sports car for the real world.

Meanwhile, the XJ Long Wheelbase Diesel offers the refinement of a 2.7 twin-turbo diesel engine and the characteristics of a long wheelbase car. Weighing in at just a mere 1665 kilos, the XJ Long Wheelbase Diesel also offers the advantage of a lightweight aluminum body. The XJ Long Wheelbase provides a smooth, quiet and exceptional ride.

The XJR Portfolio is a special edition 400bhp supercharged performance saloon born out of the successful Concept Eight show car unveiled at the 2004 New York International Auto Show. The XJR Portfolio features aluminum side power vents, bright mesh grille, chrome-finished exhaust system, polished 20-inch alloy sports wheels and Midnight exterior paint.

London is fast on the road to becoming the super car capital of the world boasting record sales figures of Bentleys, Lamborghinis and Bugattis. Yesterday, Jack Barclay Ltd, the sole dealer of Bugatti cars in the United Kingdom took delivery of its first Bugatti Veyron, arguably the world’s fastest car. The Bugatti Veyron can reach up to a stunning 250 mph (400+ kph) and can go from standstill to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds. All this power comes from a monster W-16 engine that can produce 1,001 horsepower.

Ever since Bugatti announced its intentions to produce a Supercar with 1,000-hp engine five years ago, interest in the Veyron has built up to overwhelming proportions. The Bugatti Veyron is also the most expensive car to date priced at a million euros or $1,192, 057. It topped Forbes Magazine’s list of the world’s most expensive cars for 2006, which we featured last March. In the UK, Jack Barclay has received 15 orders for this very exclusive, limited edition car and is expected to sell the full UK quota before the year ends.

It’s a go for the Dodge Challenger concept. At the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, Florida, DaimlerChrysler is expected to announce its plans to build the production version of the sensational, retro-styled Dodge Challenger concept it debuted earlier this year in Detroit. The Dodge Challenger stole the show at this year’s NAIAS with its old-school looks, a dead ringer for the original 1970 Challenger and its exciting 425hp, V-8 engine.

The new Dodge Challenger will be built with the same basic chassis found on the Chrysler 300 and the popular Dodge Charger. The first new Dodge Challenger is expected by 2008. This could be a renaissance of sorts for muscle cars in the U.S. automotive scene; after the resounding success of the Ford Mustang, General Motors Corp. is expected to bring back the Chevrolet Camaro, another popular pony/muscle car.

When it comes to pricing, Chrysler’s sales and marketing exec, Joe Eberhardt, said that the new Dodge Challenger may be priced a little bit higher than the Ford Mustang, which is currently priced at $19,000 to $26,000.

After Geely Automobile Company made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last January, the first Chinese automaker to be featured in the NAIAS, more automakers from China are setting their sights on entering the U.S auto industry, the largest automotive market in the world. Chery Automobile, another Chinese automaker is also planning to import cars by 2008, through Visionary Vehicles founder Malcom Bricklin.

The latest Chinese automaker with ambitions to enter the U.S. automotive market is Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Co. The company claims that it will start production and sales of SUV’s and pickups as early as 2007. However, like its predecessor’s this Chinese automaker still has a long way to go before it can make a mark on the U.S. auto market. Currently, the total annual output of ZX Automobile is only a measly 7,480 vehicles. Also, its vehicle lineup doesn’t even meet U.S. safety and emission standards.

Source: Autoweek

Jaguar is set to take the covers off its newest supercharged sports car, the XKR, on July 18 at the British International Motor Show in the UK. The new XKR revs up with a supercharged 390hp, V-8 engine offering superb power. It is also loaded with modern amenities and technologies such as standard GPS navigation and Bluetooth phone integration. With its sleek and stunning design and classic Jaguar configurations, the new CKR is sure to turn many heads.

The new XKR was designed, developed and engineered at Jaguar’s Whitley Product Development Centre, one of the most advanced facilities in the automotive industry with the latest in computer-aided design, advanced engineering, vehicle component development, safety test centers, and engine testing. Some of Jaguar’s most popular models such as the X-type, S-type, XJ and the XK were born in this facility.