Carscoop's 2011 Countdown: The Most Popular Offbeat Stories and Videos of the Year

As the year shrivels down to its last hours, we're getting ready to put our keyboards to rest and prepare for our New Year celebrations, but no before we wrap our 2011 Countdown with our final Top 10 list that includes the most popular Offbeat stories of the year.

This year's list includes a wide variety of offbeat news and videos ranging from fancy replicas to crazy accidents and barely dressed female dancers.

So join us for a look back at the most read articles in this segment right after the break. And just in case you missed out, click here for the Top 10 Scoops and here for the Top 10 New Car stories of 2011.

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POLL: Saab Owners, Which Brand will they Turn to Now?

It's been a terrible year for Saab which ended with the worst possible scenario as after more than six decades of building cars with bespoke designs (or at least for the most part) and some quirky features, the Swedish company filed for bankruptcy on December 20.

Understandably, it's still too early to know what will happen next to the company and its assets, but even though in theory a new party could step in during the bankruptcy process and save the company, the chances for this happening are extremely slim.

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Why You Shouldn't Put a Lexus to do a 4x4's Job

The Lexus RX is a competent crossover on the road but it's not the kind of vehicle that will excite you with its off-road capabilities nor will it get you out of trouble when nature gets tough. Then again, it wasn't designed as a thoroughbred 4x4.

A group of men, possibly from Russia or one of the surrounding countries of the former Soviet Union, found that the hard way when what appears to be a Lexus GX was stuck in the mud and an RX came in to help.

See what happens next in the video that follows right after the jump.

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Carscoop's 2011 Countdown: The Top 10 Most Read New Car Stories of the Year

Yesterday, we brought you our most popular Scoop Stories of 2011 (to be clear, not the most read overall, but the most viewed spy shot-related piece) and now it's time to tell you which new car presentations drew the most attention from readers this year.

To be honest, while we expected certain cars like the brand-new Volkswagen Beetle and BMW 3-Series sedan to make it on the top 10 list, some of the vehicles and especially the most read single post on a new vehicle even surprised us.

Just goes to show you than you can never be 100 percent sure what kind of stories/vehicles will prove to be the most popular. Curious to find out which new model gathered the most views this year? Sure you are, so just hop over the break and let the countdown on the most read "New Car" stories of 2011 begin…

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2013 BMW M5 F10 with Twin-Turbo V8 Dyno-Tested: Does it Deliver What it Promises?

Manufacturer figures on vehicle performance are not always accurate. That’s why many road test editors prefer to verify the numbers on their own.

Some of them even go as far as dyno-testing to see not only if the output figures match those announced by the manufacturer, but also what is the actual power that is transferred to the road and how much is lost on its way from the engine to the wheels.

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GM Not Worried about China’s Latest Measures Against Foreign Automakers

As we reported earlier this week, in a second move this month after imposing new duties on U.S.-made cars, China’s National Development and Reform Commission and its Commerce Ministry announced that they are putting an end to investment incentives, effective from January 30.

The reason being that even though China has more than 70 domestic car manufacturers, the bottom 55 account for only 11 percent of total sales.

As reported by Bloomberg News, General Motors, the biggest automaker in China, is not worried about the new measures. “We expect the new guideline to have minimal negative impact on GM’s future plans in China," the company said in a statement on Friday.

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2012 Mitsubishi Montero

Mitsubishi presented the new edition of SUV, the 2012 Mitsubishi Montero. Montero is the unusual SUV that is truly relaxed existing in two planets. 2012 Mitsubishi Montero has some normal outside functions include: skid clothing for the four-wheel-drive move case, 16-inch aluminum tires, color-keyed grill, incorporated fog signals, and tow barbs, to name a few. Mitsubishi Montero’s inside beckon you to take a chair and enjoy what it gives you. Not only this, Montero is loaded with many innovative functions like multiple method ABS, AWC, Vacation Management, EBD, Air luggage, etc.

New for this year, there are four different New Mitsubishi Montero Game designs – the Montero Game ES, Montero Game LS, Montero Game XLS, and the Montero Game Restricted. To have a look at out our full 2012 Mitsubishi Montero Game evaluation, or to have a look at Montero is the unusual SUV that's truly relaxed existing in two planets. For additional Mitsubishi Montero facts, information on Montero components, or to access the newest Montero images, keep your technique indicated right here, as we upgrade our websites every month.

At the heart of every 2012 Mitsubishi Montero is one of the hardest applications on the street these days. Both the barebones Montero XLS design and the more innovative Montero Restricted design come normal with 3.8-liter, cast-iron, SOHC, 24-valve V-6 applications that generate 215 power at 5,500 rpm and generate 248 pounds-per-foot of twisting at 3,250 rpm. That, however, is just the starting.

Study any latest 2012 "Mitsubishi Montero" evaluation and you'll see experts also cooing about the Montero indication - a Sportronic constant switch 5-speed automated with Flexible Shift Management. The car provides entrance impartial increase wishbone revocation with coils rises, and back impartial multi-link revocation with coils rises as well. Don't believe us? Then have a look at out some of our 2012 Mitsubishi Montero images these days.

Mitsubishi has improved the Mitsubishi Montero 2012 athletics power car or SUV. Due to the release of the innovative engineering to the car market, the car upgradation process has obtained a new face lift. New perspective change has took place to take care of the inside components of Mitsubishi Montero SUV design.

It's hard to think about anything considering 4,600 weight as light on its toes. But with a unibody development providing it a low middle of severity, and specific, sensitive guiding, the Montero drifts like a butterfly over the challenging products. Other Mitsubishi Montero protection measures include: rack-and-pinion guiding, RISE unibody case, entrance and back crumple areas, Effective Trac generate program, MultiMode anti-lock stopping mechanism, and the Mitsubishi Effective Skid and Extender Management System. For more information about these functions, or to learn current 2012 Mitsubishi Montero components opinions, please look regularly. This car is an SUV that is quite popular in the last 2 years as well as the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

2012 Honda Accord

The 2012 Honda Accord is not the latest mid-size automobile, it's due for a complete upgrade in another season or two. But the present edition is still one of the top alternatives in this training for inside place, appearance, trip relaxation, efficiency, and features--all with a sensible, reasonable, value-minded experience.

In the swarmed area of mid-size sedans, the New Honda Accord still controls to take a position out on the try. Whether you select the automobile or vehicle, four-cylinder or V-6, the Accord provides fulfilling overall efficiency and is among the better-handling automobiles in this training. Four-cylinder designs are gutsy enough, and very smooth; you won't need the V-6 unless you strategy to take some people or freight. But with it, such as the effective disturbance termination that top cuts get, the Accord seems more like a luxurious car at periods, and throughout the collection you'll discover sensitive guiding, good body management, and powerful braking system. Gas range has extensive been a energy for the Accord, too, but its results are cheaper than those of the new Hyundai Sonata.

Most customers will look for the Honda Accord inside structure rejuvenating when in comparison to challenges, at least from a range. Last season Honda offered a few of the handles a fresh look and feel; the Accord's rakish device section looks great, but the keeping the keys and handles sometimes seems as if it was done more for design than ergonomics.

Interior place is still a energy for the Honda Accord. While it's a mid-size automobile by most face, it enables as a huge car according to the EPA--and its inside really does experience big-car flexible for car owner and travelers. The entrance seating are relaxed and helpful, there's a lot of legroom in back, and the footwear is enormous.

The Honda Accord 2012  is just as well outfitted as any of its challenges, with one considerable red flag: It can be aggravating if you want some important technical functions, like Wireless hands-free, but don't want 'the operates.' While Honda has just for 2012 made a USB connection normal across the collection, you still can't get a manufacturer Wireless hands-free choice unless you phase up to the to-of-the-line EX-L, with leather and routing. The nav program has a big eight-inch display and now contains Zagat eating place scores, express identification, and a rear-view digicam program.

The 2012 Honda Accord is more pleasant to generate than most other mid-size sedans or coupes, even if its specifications aren't all that much different. Read also the article about the newly released Honda cars, the 2012 Honda Odyssey and 2012 Honda City.

2012 Honda City

The 2012 Honda City would definitely be tremendous because now it has a improved look. In the previously designs there was no appearance in the car. Sometimes the entrance fender was put to create it different and sometimes the back of the car was made so enormous that it checked a little interesting. The 2012 style is developed with a nice touching to your body of the car. Now People will not have any issues regarding the look and within of the all new Honda City.

The New Honda City will have a face lift to its style but this time the face lift probably won't be extravagant but it would give a sportier look to the car than the present style. The signature of the Honda City that is the honeycomb-mesh grill with the individual internet explorer slat would be there with some variations which would create this car look more fashionable and gorgeous. The front signals are broader than before with wonderful treasure like small signals on top. The taillights would get an LED procedure. The Honda City Interior would get modest changes too. It would have new furniture alternatives and newly designed program with automated beginning and clossing with just a touching. The dash and the dash components are very management. The cottage is peaceful enormous. It is so decorative and the completing is very outclass that you just do not want to indulge it by placing any junk content on it. The steering

Honda City wheel is included with leather and the handbrake is also very smartly developed. You can keep your body pose very comfortable while relaxing on the seating. They are extremely comfortable with enough place. The back seating are likewise comfortable and the freight area can put in a lot of baggage within.

The 2012 Honda City is operated with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that would push a 180 power and 161 pound-feet of twisting. The twisting is the power that gets you shifting and the power is the power that keeps strength. So, in Honda City 2012, you are going to absolutely have a sleek and highly effective generate. It is highly effective. The website is very sensitive and has a great select up. It has an Automated Petrol Treatment. It has a five rate automated or stick shift. It gives a entrance rim generate. It has top rate of 175mph.

Honda City 2012 provides with an Anti-Lock Stopping System. It also provides you with an Automated Stopping program Force Submission so that you can generate properly and effortlessly. Its framework is very powerful which creates you experience secure within. It provides with the ability of seatbelts for all seating to protect you in situation of any fancy or collision.

While the 2007-2011 Honda City was not known for sensitive rate, but this new Honda City would have a very highly effective and sensitive rate. There would be decrease of express while generating on deafening roadways. The new 2012 Honda City would be recognized and beloved by all. It would definitely come up to be a finish loved ones car. Read also our article about the Ferrari California and Lamborghini Murcielago.

2012 Toyota Celica

2012 Toyota Celica is coming at a low price athletics car that is being introduced by Subaru and Toyota. This will be back rim generate with a Subaru found side compared with 4 pump website. One of its variations will be making its introduction in US marketplaces for sale, however, it is not verified about which company or edition to be released in US.

In March 2010, the Toyota USA Chief executive and CEO Jim Lentz communicated in an appointment about the company establishing athletics car cheaply for the US marketplaces. The Toyota FT-86 Idea was shown at this year's Seattle Motor Show as the put together edition of Subaru and Toyota that will be coming that you can buy.

The Toyota FT-86 and the 2012 Toyota Celica are required to be priced at $ 20,000 and can go below around $ 17,000 if the exchange rate is better.

This new Toyota Celica will be a low price athletics car that will come with a put together edition of Subaru and Toyota, which will hit the US industry soon. This new put together edition of Subaru and Toyota project was declared by the Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe at a Seattle press convention in May 2008. There were speculation and judgments about Toyota which has not made any exciting vehicles for its clients after the decrease of 2005 Celica and the mid website 2005 MR2 Spyder sports car.

The Toyota is now creating team research to generate a top awesome company with smooth looks, excellent efficiency, and excellent mpg, all for an cost-effective price. The new Toyota Celica will be released after the launch of the 2012 Toyota Camry and 2012 Toyota Yaris.

The Toyota is now creating team research to generate a top awesome company with smooth looks, excellent efficiency, and excellent mpg, all for an cost-effective price. The clients are desperately awaiting the new Toybaru or Subayota, the partnership of Toyota and Subaru can be predicted soon to appear. It is said that the new 2012 Toyota Celica would be having a steep top hatchback.

The new edition of Toyota plus Subaru is predicted to appear as a four traveler bundle with great deal of space for adult in the front and huge and comfortable back chair.
The Toyota Celica 2012 will be coming with reasonable and minimal normal gadgets. This will have ac, excellent stereo audio with MP3 plug-in, and wifi mobile cellphone url.

The Toyota Celica will be coming with reasonable and minimal normal gadgets. This will have ac, excellent stereo audio with MP3 plug-in, and wifi mobile cellphone url. The new Toyota Celica is predicted to have safety methods like layer side safety bags, antilock braking system, antiskid program, extender control, and a firm game revocation.

Toyota Celica 2012 is a excellent nice car with back rim generate. This has 2.0 and 2.5 litre side compared with 4 pump website that can generate 170 to 175 power and 170 to 175 Ib-ft of twisting. This has six rate guide and six rate automated indication. The body of the new Toyota Celica is predicted to have methods 163.8 in. in length, 69.3 in. in size, and 48.2 in. in size. The platform control bodyweight is 2,450 bodyweight.

The platform control bodyweight is 2,450 bodyweight. The 2012 Toyota Celica is a fashionable nice car with low price that will be significantly beneficial for the clients who are concerned with expensive athletics car. The New Toyota Celica claims not only the low price for this fashionable nice car, but also to score on the fun driving especially for young clients.

The Year of the Sports Car at California's Mulholland Drive

As one of the most scenic roads in Los Angeles County, the Mulholland Highway is a popular destination for car drivers and motorcyclists alike.

Over the past year, a camera crew recorded many sports cars that made their way pass the twisty roadways and strung together a video with some of the most eye-catching models.

The cars seen in the film range from the new McLaren MP4-12C to a classic Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic (we believe this is a replica owned by Jay Leno), and from an Atom Ariel to the Audi e-tron Spyder Concept.

Buckle up and head over the jump to enjoy the video.

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A Year's Worth of Nissan GT-Rs at the Nürburgring

If you live within the European Union or at least in a neighboring country like Russia or Turkey, and you happen to own a Nissan GT-R (or any sports car, for that matte), the best place to thrash your car is without doubt the world famous Nürburgring race track in Germany.

And given the price of the GT-R, it shouldn't surprise anyone that many owners were indeed able to afford the trip and live the magic of the Nordschleife.

For the rest of us, we'll have to do with a four-minute long video prepared by a YouTube user, which includes many of the Nissan GT-Rs that were spotted on the 'Ring throughout the year. Enjoy the video right after the break.

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The Worst Performing Auto Stocks of 2011

The year that is ending tomorrow night has certainly been a strange one for investors: while the Standard & Poor’s 500 will end flat, stock prices of the automotive industry have experienced a great fall.

After all that’s happened this year with the Euro debt crisis and the U.S. avoiding one at the 11th hour, this was more or less to be expected.

What is surprising though is that the worst performer in terms of stock price is the car company that has regained the number one position globally and rolled out many new competitive products. And yes, we are talking about General Motors, which saw its share price drop by 46 percent!

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McDonnell Douglas MD-83 Crash Landing on Christmas Day Captured on Film

This past Sunday, on Christmas day, a chartered flight operated by AMC Airlines with 72 passengers aboard flying from Saudi Arabia to the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, was forced to make an emergency landing at the Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) in Karachi, Pakistan, after the pilot experienced a problem with the McDonnell Douglas MD-83's nose gear.

Several people captured the life-threatening crash landing on film. Amazingly, the experienced pilot was able through skill and a whole lot of luck to bring the plane down without a single person being hurt.

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The Machines Are Coming: 2013 Ford Fusion to Debut New Lane Keeping System

While Ford is not yet ready to let the cat out of the bag on the brand-new 2013 Fusion (which will form the base for the Mondeo's replacement in Europe as well), the Detroit carmaker revealed today that the mid-size model would debut a new optional safety feature called Lane Keeping System or LKS.

Like the lane departure warning systems used by other car manufactures, the LKS is designed to help drivers stay between the lines.

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One Helluva Catfight: EVO Pits New Jaguar XKR-S against 1992 XJ220 at the Nürburgring

In the 1980s supercar battle, Ferrari had the raw F40, Porsche the highly sophisticated 959 and Jaguar had, well, nothing. That is, until its chief engineer, Jim Randle, decided to begin work on an unsanctioned project on a mid-engine, all-wheel drive Jag supercar.

The XJ220 concept, named after its 220 mph (350 km/h) claimed top speed, was unveiled at the 1988 British Motor Show. It sported a 6.2-liter version of Jaguar’s classic V12 engine with a quad-cam system developed for testing in the Le Mans XJR-9 racer and, as Randle envisioned, all-wheel drive.

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Must See: Slot Car Tracks Out of this World and Out of Our…Price Range

Some gifted people have a knack for turning the simplest of things into works of art. Like David Beattie, the founder and owner of Slot Mods USA, who took a hobby and turned it into a six-figure business.

The former auto show exhibit builder leads a team of artists that create some of the most realistic and staggering hand crafted raceways for slot cars that we have ever laid eyes on.

The choices are endless ranging from vintage raceways to modern day circuits and even replicas of cars that open up to reveal a track like the Porsche 917 racer featured in the opening picture, which is built from fiberglass.

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California Officials Say Owners Shouldn't Change Oil at 3K-Mile Intervals as the Practice Wastes 10M Gallons a Year

As far as cars are concerned, hearsay is many times more prevalent than the manufacturers’ own advice. One such case is the change of the engine’s oil: most car owners believe that 3,000 miles (5,000 km) is the appropriate mileage for an oil change.

This might have been true a few decades ago when engines needed extra care, but technology has moved on since then.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that almost all new vehicle manuals advise owners to change oil in their cars every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, studies show that a great number of drivers prefer to do things their own way.

"The 3,000-mile oil change just says that the marketing campaign by quick-lube companies has been effective", Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center, told the Detroit News.

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Honda Issues a Single Number Recall on 2012MY Odyssey Minivan

If you happen to follow the automaker recall notes, you may notice that quite often they involve a specific batch of models, be that for a parts defect or an error during the assembly of a car.

In Honda's case, the safety recall involves only nine Odyssey minivans from the 2012 model year, built from October 31, 2011, through November 30, 2011.

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Built Aussie Tough: Firefighter Truck Plunges into the Deep Like a Boss

The city of Melbourne is one of the best cities to live in, not only in Australia but in the world. Nevertheless, it can also drive you crazy with its variable weather conditions; one minute it's nice and warm and the other you get pounded by rain or even severe hail storms, as happened on Christmas day this year.

In fact, aside from the huge hailstones that damaged around 10,000 vehicles, the ferocious Christmas Day storms that hit Melbourne and northwest Victoria sparked some heavy flash flooding in certain areas.

But the flooded roads were no match for some Aussie firefighters who didn’t even blink an eye when their Isuzu truck plunged into very deep waters of what looks like a street somewhere in the Melbourne suburb of Eltham. Still here? Just go and watch the video we've got after the break.

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Carscoop's 2011 Countdown: Our Most Read Scoop Stories of the Year

Ah yes, it's that time again when we all remember the best and worst of the year that was 2011. For our first countdown, we crunched up the numbers on our 10 most popular spy-related stories of the year based on our page views.

Over the course of the year, we brought you close to 300 scoop stories (285 to be precise) but for one reason or the other, these ten articles captured your attention the most.

In the list that follows after the break, you'll find a picture and a link to each story starting from number 10 and climbing to the most popular scoop of 2011. Enjoy!

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Yay or Nay? Custom Chrysler 300C HEMI V8 Coupe

When you are a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer like Tony Gwynn, you can pretty much afford to get whatever ride you like. In Gwynn's case, at some point he fancied a first-generation Chrysler 300 in a coupe form. And he got his wish.

But now, Gwynn's custom-made Chrysler 300 has popped up for sale at Beverly Hills Motor Cars in San Diego with the dealer asking for US$27,950 (€21,700).

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic Recalled as Some Cars May be Missing…a Brake Pad!

General Motors has found itself in a somewhat embarrassing situation as the Detroit-based automaker revealed that some examples of its newly launched 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact model might be missing an inner or outer front brake pad.

The automaker said it became aware of the problem on November 29 when a customer brought a 2012 Sonic into a dealership complaining about noises coming from the brakes. The company noted that here are no known crashes or injuries related to the issue.

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Web Rumors: Open Top Shelby GT500 to Debut at 2012 Detroit Motor Show?

In the battle of the ultra-powered pony cars, Ford currently has the upper hand thanks to its outrageous Shelby GT500 that was unveiled last month at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

On the other hand, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 may fall 100HP short of its archrival’s 650HP, but it will offer a convertible version of the 580HP ZL1 in late 2012, while buyers of the Shelby currently have only one option: the coupe.

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Drift Ahoy! Tanker Truck Edition is Dangerously Scary

We have seen various types of vehicles drifting on and off the road but we can't honestly say that we ever remember seeing something like this before.

We will assume that the tanker truck had offloaded its oil before attempting this idiotic drift display – we doubt that the driver would have been able to pull it off if the tank was full.

The only question that remains to be answered is who the biggest fool is: the driver drifting the lorries tank or the man following closely behind? Hop over the jump to watch the video for yourself.

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New Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Murdered Out by Wald International

Japanese tuning firm Wald International likes to give its customers' rides a sinister look and its take on the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is no exception.

Even though in stock form the AMG version of Mercedes-Benz's sports saloon comes with its own aero-aids, Wald International has prepared a new and more aggressive styling package named Black Bison.

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India's Mahindra & Mahindra Interested in Saab, Turkish Suitor Also pops up on the Radar

The sad story of Saab is far from over as the court-appointed administrators who are overseeing the Swedish automaker's bankruptcy are now on the lookout for possible investors to either sell parts of the brand or the company as a whole.

In today's news, Bloomberg reports that Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, a maker of SUVs and a flagship company of the Mahindra Group, which is a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India, is in private talks with Saab's administrators.

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Ford Brand's U.S. Sales Surpass 2 Million Mark for the First Time Since 2007

With less than two days left before 2011 comes to an end and gives its place to a another new year, Ford announced that sales of the Blue Oval brand in the United States this week topped the 2 million mark for the first time in four years making it the best-selling vehicle brand in America.

The last time any automotive brand managed to hit the 2 million sales milestone in the States in a single year was in 2007 -and again, it was done by Ford.

“Ford’s lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient cars, utilities and trucks continues to attract more and more new customers,” said Erich Merkle, Ford’s sales analysis manager.

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Stock Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Challenges Tuned Nissan GT-R on the Drag Strip

The Nissan GT-R and the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 are two very different beasts made by two companies that couldn't be more different, but there's one thing these two sports cars have in common: they are blazingly fast.

On one hand, you have a stock Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with 1,001-horses and a $2 million price tag while its Japanese contender, currently priced from US$90,000 in the States, normally gets between 480 and 550-ponies depending on the model year, but this particular model, is said to have been "lightly modified".

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New Toyota Camry Excels in Consumer Reports’ Tests, VW Passat Not So Much

Consumer Reports has just announced its latest test results. This time, the nonprofit organization put two brand-new, family sedans under its microscope – and while the one came up trumps, the other was a mixed bag.

Starting with the new 2012 Toyota Camry, Consumer Reports tested three different models with a four-cylinder, a V6 and a Hybrid engine, all of which ranked amongst the best in their class.

As the magazines notes, compared to the model it replaces, the new Camry has a plusher interior, more responsive handling, improved ride and better fuel economy, with only the increased road noise and some cheap details tainting the overall picture.

In fact, while the 173HP 2.5-liter four-cylinder version ties with the Hyundai Sonata for best-in-class fuel consumption delivering 27 mpg (8.7 lt/100 km), the more powerful 268HP 3.5-liter V6 is just a smidgen more thirsty and, at 26 mpg (9.0 lt/100 km), beats most four-cylinder rivals.

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