Ferrari Testarossa 250 sold for $ 16 million

Eventually, the Testarossa "number TR 0666" has found a new owner. The third, to be precise, since 1957, the year of its implementation. The car, which we described last month as "main course" organized by Gooding's auction at the Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach, which was held last weekend, represents the state of the prestigious Ferrari.

Ford says goodbye to the CD

Once upon a time the CD player. In fact there is still, however, as do the plants "household", including support for CD board is ready to set the pace for much more advanced - and already proven - multimedia technologies. The next step, indeed, is the complete elimination of any CD player, to the benefit of iPods and other digital libraries.

An example in this sense, comes from Ford, which announced the next day they scrapped the CD through your stereo of your car. The future of music for your journey, then, it will be much more lightweight and practical. No more searching for CDs in the drawers and storage compartments: just a "pen" and you're done.

BMW thinks of a new nomenclature of the models

The diversification of the split between the brands that are part of the group is bringing the heads of BMW to reconsider the nomenclature of the various models. Open to this possibility was a declaration of Ian Robertson, Member of the Board, as well as sales and marketing director of the German home.

Robertson said that with regard to the future there may be an evolution of the system, thus opening the door to a possible change. The manager also explained that "there are different numbers that can be exploited", implying that the new models in the near future may or may not follow the current approach as regards the choice of the name.

Diesel engines? Dangerous for the heart

Diesel Engines and health do not mix. The warning is the University of Edinburgh, who published a study that closely correlate the nanoparticles emitted from diesel vehicles and heart attacks caused by blood clots caused by air pollution. The Scottish University has monitored several volunteers living in urban areas by comparing the reactions of those who had been in contact with the exhaust gases of diesel engines, which contain large particles that penetrate one thousandth of a millimeter in the lungs directly influencing blood pressure and transported directly into the cells of known harmful substances in the human body.

Chrysler workers smoke marijuana, announced hard-line

Chrysler suspended from work nine workers, including the salary freeze, found that drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana before the start of their shift, the factory in Trenton. The workers have been "caught" by the cameras of the local network WJBK-TV that according to official sources in the plant was to record a documentary, but in reality would have been specially called by some fellow workers "implicated".

GM invests $ 20 million research center in Turin

General Motors plans to invest 20 million euros between now and 2014 in his Engineering and Development Center (GM Powertrain Europe), based in Turin. The goal is to broaden their job improving its know-how in research in the automotive field. In particular, will be made 5 new rehearsal rooms will be added to the 15 already in place: one of the new areas will be devoted to the dynamic engine tests, a test engine and a climate anechoic test engine, ie with walls that reduce as much as possible phenomenon of sound reflection.

Nissan dieting models of the future

Nissan has planned a program aimed to reduce the weight of its cars, making the diet also popular in the automotive world. In fact, even for cars the extra pounds are bad: rising consumption and, consequently, emissions. This is why the Japanese took the path of light and the first vehicle to benefit from a fitness effect is the 2012 Versa, which will be of no less than 68 kg lighter than the model it replaces, thanks to 20% fewer components.

Toyota renews the European R & D center

Two and a half years of work and an investment of 47 million. The result is a new test track facility built at the Zaventem airport in Belgium that will be the nerve center for the development of Toyota vehicles in Europe in the coming years. The course and related facilities covering 65 thousand square meters of a total of 187mila.

Currently, the staff at the Toyota Technical Center R & D has about 770 employees, 430 of which perform research and development. The 47 million also are only the last piece of the investment cost around 167 million. "The European car market is one of the most competitive in the world, and our technical center today proves to be a key structure of the organization's global R & D Toyota - Didier Leroy, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe - Thanks to the new circuit test we can now take advantage of our market position and our facilities as a laboratory in which to study the latest advances in faster and more functional, so as to be able to develop an ideal car to European customers right here in the heart of ' Europe ".

Saab 9-4X wins Top Safety Pick 2011

Safety is a strength in the house Saab's new 9-4X crossover has received the Top Safety Pick 2011 thanks to the protection of occupants in the event of an accident. Issued by the Institute American IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), the title was won by Swedish brand after passing four crash tests (front and side collisions, rear and rollover) getting the highest score and be classified as "Good".

Saab broadens the range with 3 new models

While Saab is having a hard time and it seems to teeter on the edge, it also announced plans to produce 3 new models. This would be the first result from the agreement with Pang and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus, which provides for the inflow of fresh capital and moving some production to China.

The plan of the company of mixed ownership Swedish, Dutch and Chinese expected the arrival of products that will be called Saab9-1, 9-6 and 9-7. Although no official details were released, the first of these three will be a small premium, while the other two will fall in the higher segments.

Volkswagen acquires the Man Group

Volkswagen has today announced that it has obtained the majority share of the truck manufacturer Man The project of the German car maker is closer integration with Sweden's Scania, already controlled, and its Division of heavy vehicles in order to create a global giant in the truck industry. The operation, the result of mandatory takeover bid of 95 euros per share was launched in May, has allowed Volkswagen to get the 53.7% stake in Man and 55.9% of the voting rights, being able to greatly exceed the initial target of 40%.

Fiat reorganizes the sales network

With a press release on its website the Fiat group has announced the launch of the project "Network Italy", designed to develop a new distribution model to be applied to sales and service subsidiary in Italy. To be involved in the sales networks will be active with the brands Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Fiat Professional and Abarth, which will be reorganized to provide a service closer to customers' needs, with a spatial distribution that is as functional as possible and efficient.

Bugatti Veyron: the decline of the myth

The Bugatti Veyron leaves the stage: the French manufacturer announced it had sold the last unit of the 16-cylinder coupe priced at $ 1.7 million to a wealthy European client. The 300th car left the factory in Molsheim, which will be delivered in October, will become coveted by collectors supercar. Marketed since 2005, the Bugatti Veyron put a strain on German engineers (the label founded by Ettore Bugatti belongs to the Volkswagen Group since 1998): coupe presented as the only car that can exceed 400 km/h speed maximum, the first unit was delivered after years of delay, despite the down payment of 300,000 euros paid by future owners.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Road arrives in China

The characteristic noise of car engines Maserati will be heard even by Chinese. These days, in fact, celebrated the first deliveries of the GranTurismo MC Road, the 450 hp sports car that Maserati has presented at national preview of the Bologna Motor Show last year and was brought to Asia in April at  Shanghai.

Porsche recalls 1700 cars

The authority that oversees, in the United States, to road safety  announced that Porsche will make a recall of 1,702 cars built between May 18, 2009 and September 17, 2010, due to a problem with the rims, which would not have been assembled correctly.

Mazda3: 91,000 units for the European call

Calling for the European Mazda3 and Mazda3 MPS: the 91,588 owners of cars of this type were built between January 7 and December 22, 2008 will bring the vehicle checked by your dealer to fix a potential defect in the front windscreen. Italy also is involved in the call, since there are 847 cars at risk.

To be accused is the ground circuit of the electric motor that drives the tool that, in some cases, would not work. The alarm where some examples of these cars would have presented an oxidation state of a film oxidized at around electrical contacts of the wiper motor. "This anomaly - Mazda said in a statement - may cause an interruption in electrical connections and, therefore, a failure of the system.

Volkswagen signs an agreement with Russia's Gaz

With an investment of 200 million euro and a trade agreement clearly delineated, Gaz and Volkswagen, have undertaken to assemble for eight years, on the premises of the Nizhny Novgorod Volkswagen and Skoda cars. On the assembly line that was the Volga Siber, updated as appropriate, will be built first, then follow the Yeti and the Octavia and the Jetta.

For the record will be assembled in 2011 Yeti 800, a figure that will grow in 2012 and will reach a height of 6,000 in 2013. In the same year will start production of the Volkswagen Jetta and Skoda Octavia for a total of 53,600 vehicles assembled over the 12 months. Volkswagen's strategy is becoming more the case of a "campaign of Russia", as close to Moscow, Kaluga, the Polo also be produced and the Tiguan.

• New Volkswagen Jetta likely to launch on August 17 (15/06/2011)
• Volkswagen Jetta to be launched on August 17 (15/06/2011)
• Winding Road Compares the 2012 VW Passat To An Array Of Other Sedans-How Does It Shape Up? (15/06/2011)
• Report: Volkswagen Beetle R headed to Frankfurt Motor Show (15/06/2011)
• VW Beetle R to make its first appearance at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show: Report (15/06/2011)

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Fiat: 6 to 9 novelties are produced abroad

It makes sense to consider an Italian company Fiat yet? This provocative question leads us to analyze the corporate structure and the range available today. Well, if you look at the name and management, the answer is yes, Fiat is Italian again. But if you look at where the models are produced, the affirmative answer is less obvious.

Between this year and next, 6 of 9 new proposals from the Lingotto (Fiat, Alfa and Lancia) are assembled abroad, to take advantage of lower costs, to have fewer clashes with the unions or to produce in the region where it is believed that the cars have the largest market. Situation which is a global manufacturer of Fiat, but inevitably less Italian.

New car? A desire to 6.2 million Italians

According to a survey carried out by Doxa on behalf of GL events Italy - the company that organizes the Bologna Motor Show - 12% of the adult population Italian said he was inclined to buy a new car by the end of 2011. A surprising amount, as it represents 6.2 million people and could even increase if there were no ecoincentivi state: in this case, the percentage would be 21% or more of a motorist out of 5.

Garage and parking spaces: the average price set in Italy

Are slightly lower in Italy quotations Garage. The data, which relate to the second half of 2010, show an average of minus 0.3%, while taking into account the cars, the decline reaches 1%. The percentages vary from city to city and from region to region, whereas in the historic centers of large cities are substantially higher prices because demand remains high.

The increases in the value tag especially those areas with low car parking facilities, that much of the historic centers of Italian cities, where a parking space to park their cars is a very important - if not essential - for those looking for a home . The most popular cut, according to figures released by Tecnocasa, was between 15 and 18 square meters, preferably where you can build a loft, where you can park the bike next to the car and where there is a light and a water point.