New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible kicks out 650HP, limits top speed

Twenty years ago, Ford debuted the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra at the Chicago Auto Show and introduced the world to its high-performance skunkworks department, known as SVT or Special Vehicle Team.

Today, Ford celebrates SVT's platinum anniversary the only way it knows how: with another Mustang variant. And as suspected, it comes in the form of a topless Shelby GT500.

The 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra (which, along with the F-150 Lighting, launched Ford’s performance division) delivered 235 HP from its 5.0-liter V8. Today’s Shelby GT500 is a whopping 415 HP more powerful, proving that the horsepower game has moved on significantly these days. The result is an output of 650 ponies and 600 lb-ft of torque.

“The Shelby GT500 convertible is every bit the performer that the coupe is”, said SVT Global Performance Vehicles chief engineer Kerry Baldori. “All of the significant changes we made in the program were instrumental in delivering a convertible that could really shine on the track but still be driven on a daily basis.”

In addition to the carbon fiber driveshaft, upgraded clutch, transmission and axle, SVT fitted its own specially developed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers, along with six-piston Brembo calipers squeezing massive discs up front.

Like the coupe, the Bilstein setup is part of the Performance Package (why it's not included as standard is beyond us) and Ford will also offer a Track Pack that includes an external oil cooler, differential cooler and transmission cooler to keep temps in check when flogging the drop top around the tarmac.

And before you ask: No, the GT500 coupe's 200 mph top speed doesn't carry over to the Convertible. In a rare moment of sanity, Ford's engineers saw fit to limit the GT500 'vert to 155 mph – like the rest of the roofless Mustangs. Hit the jump for the full details.

Buyers can also opt for the upgraded Track Package that adds an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler.

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Fiat 500 ID Limited Edition Launched in Germany

Fiat has recently release a new special edition for the 500 (with this occasion we have to tell you that we’ve lost count of them). The latest one is called the 500 ID and it was created exclusively for the German market. Only 500 examples will be built each carrying a base price of €13,500 (about US$17,600).

The Fiat 500 ID comes with a two-tone exterior finish, with the interior trimming matching the colors used for the body of the vehicle. The automotive producer offers three versions: white and red body with ivory and red cabin, light grey and gunmetal grey body with ivory and grey cabin, as well as white and sky blue exterior with ivory and blue cabin.

The 500 ID is offered with Fiat's 1.2-liter petrol engine that delivers 69HP while standard features include air conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, a chrome kit, and Bluetooth-controlled hands-free Blue & Me with USB port.

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Report: New car leasing rises to 20 percent of U.S. sales in 2011

New light-vehicle leasing increased in 2011 from a year earlier, to 20 percent of U.S. retail sales, according to the Manheim 2012 Used Car Market Report.

The report notes that “for the most part”, the new car industry had the right approach towards leasing. This constitutes of leasing new cars to buyers with good credit who like to regularly change their vehicles, as well as projecting realistic end-of-lease resale values.

Overall leases rose 17 percent over 2010 to 2.1 million units last year and a startling 85 percent more than 2009’s 1.14 units, when buyers were deterred by the recession.

The report also notes that because fewer vehicles were leased during the recession, off-lease volumes will continue to decline this year. That decline is expected to contribute to tight supplies of fairly new, low-mileage used vehicles, which in turn should bolster used-vehicle prices.

Preliminary data show that the number of vehicles sold at National Auto Auction Association member auctions in 2011 declined 8 percent to less than 7.8 million units, the fourth straight year of declines, the report says.

Sales of vehicles that are off-lease, retired from rental fleets or owned by other commercial sellers sold at NAAA auctions fell “more than 20 percent” in 2011, while sales of dealer-owned vehicles increased 10 percent.

Dealer-owned vehicles made up 55 percent of all vehicles sold at NAAA auctions in 2011, up from 45 percent in 2010 and 40 percent in 2009.

Story References: Autonews

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Kia Track'ster concept: latest pics

Kia has previewed its new Kia Soul - based Kia Track’ster concept ahead of its launch at the 2012 Chicago Motor Show next week. The concept previews how a sporting three-door version of the Soul crossover could look, and it could end up being made as a third Soul variant alongside the five-door and a convertible.

According to California studio Chief Designer Tom Kearns, the study is an extension of the Soul’s "rebellious, individual and urban character".

Kia says that the Track'ster is envisaged with a 247-horsepower (250PS) petrol engine, which we assume would be based on the 1.6-liter or 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder units shared with its parent company Hyundai.

Although Kia insists there are no plans for Track’ster production at this stage, such a model would make sense for the Soul line-up, particularly in the US. Kia sold more than 100,000 Souls in the US last year, and the convertible version – previewed by the Soul’ster concept, another Californa-designed model – remains under evaluation for production.

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Video: BMW M5 vs Nissan GT-R 2012

The BMW M5 and Nissan GT-R are not conventional rivals, but both have around 550bhp, cost nearly £75k and promise brutal performance. So which one wins our series of tests?

Who would have guessed the car with the fastest acceleration would win the drag race? And it was a complete surprise to me that one of the worlds best handling and grippiest cars could beat a 4 door saloon through a sequence of corners.

Amusing video but it's not comparing apples with apples is it? Why not compare the quality feel of the interior or the ride comfort to give the bimmer a chance?

Two very different cars - m5 should really only go up against other super saloons, not a car like the GTR which is a very different proposition...

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Via Autocar.co.uk

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Mini drums up yet another special edition, the Highgate

We are more used to seeing this in the six-figure realm of the automotive world: a carmaker putting out one special edition after another. But both Mini and UK buyers love their specializations, so Mini has provided another one called the Highgate. It follows the Baker Street and Baywater editions as the new hotness for 2012.

This one will be for the Cooper convertible (Baker Street and Bayswater were for the hardtops). The standard treatment is an Iced Chocolate exterior coat with Truffle stripes on the hood and a Silvertouched Truffle roof, but metallic options in Midnight Black and White Silver are also available.

Insid,e Dark Truffle Lounge Leather seats with blue piping meet a host of standard features such as Mini's cold-weather and Chrome Line Interior packages. It rides on 17-inch Double Cross wheels and gets a range of four engine options from that in the 122-horsepower Cooper to the 143-horsepower motor from the Cooper SD.

Prices start at £21,300 ($33,693 U.S., not that we'd ever get it here) on-the-road for the manual-transmission Cooper Highgate Convertible, to £26,050 ($41,206 U.S.) OTR for the Cooper SD Highgate Convertible with an auto. More information is in the press release after the jump and plenty of eye candy in the gallery of high-res photos.

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Kia debuts Adriana Lima-infused Super Bowl ad

Kia has been spending big on Super Bowl advertising for a few years now, but its commercials have been hit or miss. Its ad for the big game in 2010 entitled "Joyride" was a hit for bringing toys from our childhood to life behind the wheel of a Sorento, but last year's "One Epic Ride" was a definite miss. Kia's ad for this year's Super Bowl, called "A Dream Car. For Real Life," will likely be a hit.

The premise is simple: A fairy who visits bedsides with magic dust that guarantees good dreams accidentally trips over a slipper and spills his whole bucket of sprinkles on an unsuspecting, demographically targeted and non-threateningly handsome 30-something man. The resulting indulgent dream stars Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima, 80's hair band Mötley Crüe (looking a little worse for wear, we might add) and UFC fighter Chuck Liddell. There's also a school bus-sized sub sandwich being cut in half by lumberjacks and a roaring crowd of thousands of bikini-wearing beauties.

In the midst of all this REM-induced revelry is the Kia Optima, because what other car would your subconscious pick to impress Ms. Lima?

Kia has also published a five-hour-long video of Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag in slow motion on YouTube, because hey, if you've got her on set for the day, why not? Follow the jump to watch them both.

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