Reventon-Style Bodykit for Lamborghini Gallardo

If you're searching for an answer to the question what to do when you own a Lamborghini Gallardo but want the style of the limited run Reventon model, you may want to take a look at these aero part offerings from German tuning firm CDC-International.
Even though the similarities are far less obvious than the tuner would like us to believe, nevertheless, the newly styled protruding front bumper and 'busy' side skirts offer the Gallardo what we'd describe as a more Reventon-ish look.
Of course, the result would have been much more convincing if the tuning firm had wrapped the Italian supercar in flat gray vinyl and replaced the wheels with a set of black alloys, but anyway.
Bumper and side skirts aside, the tuners offerings for the Gallardo also include a large rear wing with red/pink trim that is also found on the exterior mirror covers (just to make sure you won't fall under the radar of cops), engine kits up to 800HP and various interior tid bits.

Link: CDC-International

Mercedes ML 63 AMG WIDE BODY by Expression Motorsport

Belgian tuners Expression Motorsport has released a set of photos and details featuring their latest project, the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG Wide Body. The company's in-house aerokit is meant to "differentiate this ML from those of a more traditional variety."

And that it does. A new front fascia swaps the bulky-looking standard bumper with a three-section unit that incorporates LED daytime runners, and what appears to be small, halogen fog lights. They also installed a front spoiler, and designed a more aggressive look for the hood. New, bulging wheel-wells fit bigger 22-inch wheels. A new rear bumper combines F1 lighting, and a lightweight rear diffuser.

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster sell for a combined £1.1 million

If you have a spare £1.1 million, you've just missed your chance to own a 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe and a 2006 CLK GTR Roadster.

The rare sports cars - only 20 coupes and five roadsters were built - were sold at a recent RM Auction in London. Managing to beat earlier estimates, the coupe went for £522,500 while the roadster sold for £616,000.

Built by HWA, the GTRs were powered by a monstrous 6.9-liter V12 engine with 612 horsepower. The cars also featured a six-speed sequential manual gearbox, a dual independent double-wishbone suspension, and carbon-fiber brakes.

Other notable sales at the auction included a "1950 Aston Martin DB2 Team Car with Le Mans and Mille Miglia provenance" for £550,000, a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet for £308,000, and a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio for £440,000.

Source: RM Auctions

Shining Star: Mercedes to throw its weight behind Brawn GP?

At this past weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, the Brawn cars didn't just beat McLaren – they lapped them. With both teams running the same Mercedes engines, and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton piloting the lapped McLaren, it was clear that Brawn is simply running a better car. Anyone watching the race had to be wondering what the corporate big-wigs at Mercedes were thinking as the Brawn cars crossed the finish line a full lap ahead of the McLaren. But we can stop wondering now.

According to the latest reports, Mercedes is considering throwing more weight behind the championship-leading Brawn team. Or at least jumping on the bandwagon. The customer engine deal between the German automaker and the former Honda team doesn't include any branding on the BGP 001 chassis' livery – which remains conspicuously light on sponsorship altogether – but that could change as Mercedes is keen to cash in on the success of the team to which it's selling engines. Benz motorsport chief Norbert Haug was quick to emphasize that any rapprochement to Brawn GP doesn't reflect on its relationship with McLaren, but with that partnership constantly in jeopardy, you can't help but wonder now if Mercedes would be saying the same if McLaren was leading and Brawn was marking the back.

2009 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter gets New Diesel Engines and 6-Speed Gearboxes

For the 2009MY, Mercedes-Benz's Sprinter van has been updated with the introduction of a new generation of diesel engines and six-speed manual transmissions along with numerous, but of less importance, features. The new four-cylinder OM 651 diesel engine is a completely new design sharing only shares its overall displacement of 2.15-liters with its predecessor. It is available with three outputs (95HP and 250Nm, 129HP and 305Nm, 163HP and 360Nm) and complies with the stricter Euro 5 emission standard.

The range-topping 3.0-liter V6 OM 642 diesel engine has been revised for 2009 producing a slightly higher (190HP at 3,800 rpm) output and a ten percent increase in maximum torque (440Nm at 1400-2400 rpm).

Both the four-cylinder and V6 diesel engines are offered with a new ECO Gear six-speed manual transmission with a low first gear and high sixth gear. The transmission is available in two versions, namely the ECO Gear 360 for the four-cylinder engines and the heavy-duty ECO Gear 480 with wider gear teeth and a more rigid housing for the six-cylinder diesel engine.

Other improvements for the 2009MY Sprinter include the enhanced ESP trailer stabilisation system, the new adaptive brake light, heated wide-angle mirror, lower position of the front foglamps and automatic transmission with Start-Off Assist plus a new wireless hands-free system and radio units.

Audi to Pay Workers Hefty Bonus for 2008, BMW and Mercedes-Benz Say Nein

Among the three premium German automakers, the only company that will share part of its 2008 profits with workers is Audi as BMW and Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler decided not to pay a profit-sharing bonus for 2008. Audi AG will hand out €157 million from last year's record operating profit of €2.77 billion (+2.5% compared to 2007) to around 43,000 of its qualifying employees in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. That comes to an average of €3,651 or about $5,100 US for each employee that will receive the bonus by the end of May.

According to a report from Autonews, due to the fact that Daimler is facing the need to cut labor costs, the firm's management and union took the decision to withhold the €224.2 million euro profit-sharing bonus that it had planned to pay out to workers. The company has yet to decided what it will do with the money.

Lorinser Readies Mercedes C-Class Based LV8 to Compete at Tuner Grand Prix

Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Lorinser, has announced that it will participate in the 2009 Tuner Gran Prix that takes place in Hockenheim in Germany from June 26 to 27, with a specially modified Mercedes-Benz C-Class dubbed LV8. The tuner did not release any details on the car -though we're suspecting that the LV8 means it will be equipped with a V8 engine- but the firm's managing director stated that aside from the special tires, the LV8 will be totally street legal and that it will be offered for sale by Lorinser at a later date.