Daimler AG Chief Executive, Dr. Dieter Zetsche has confirmed Mercedes-Benz AMG will build a smaller super sports car underneath the SLS.

To be called SLC, the new car’s design is frozen and it will definitely be front engine, rear drive; Zetsche noting the company “will never produce a rear-engined road car.”Likely powertrains for the SLC include Merc’s new breed of direct-injection V6s and, quite possibly, a high-boost twin-turbo version of the current 150kW 1.8-litre single-turbo four used in the current C-Class.The timeframe for SLC’s introduction is unclear, however expect a concept car to be shown in the next twelve months, with a 2013 production date likely.

Citroen is reportedly developing a convertible version of its premium DS3 hatch, currently dubbed the ‘DS3 Airflow’.

The topless DS3 project is said to be inspired by the roll-up fabric roof of the Fiat’s 500C convertible – although Citroen has its own historic inspiration in the form of the iconic 2CV.A retractable fabric roof for the DS3 would not be Citroen’s first swing at the concept either, with 2009’s DS-badged Revolte Concept featuring a similar approach to open-sky driving.Adopting a retractable roof panel rather than a full folding roof brings more than a few benefits, most notably reduced development and production costs. The connected A, B and C pillars also mean that fewer handling and rigidity sacrifices are made.According to the Netherlands’ Autoweek, the DS3 Airflow will hit production in 2013. If the reports are to believed, expect a concept debut in the next year.

Kia Australia has confirmed a September launch for its updated 2012 Soul line-up, bringing a number of styling and equipment tweaks to the quirky-cool hatch.

Revealed late last month, the updated Soul features Kia’s new 2.0 litre ‘NU’ petrol engine, boosting power to 120kW – up from the 91kW output of the current Soul’s 1.6 litre petrol engine.In the US market, fuel consumption for the 2.0 litre petrol engine is listed at 8.7 l/100km in city driving, and 7.0 l/100km on the highway.Kia Australia’s Kevin Hepworth said that while local timing for the NU engine has still to be confirmed, it is likely that it will feature when the Australian-delivered Soul range is updated in September.A new GDI (gasoline direct injected) 1.6 litre petrol engine will also feature in the US line-up. Mr Hepworth said that cost and supply factors mean that, at least for the near future, it is unlikely to feature in the Australian range.New six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are also expected to replace the current five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions.

Land Rover has announced pricing and specification for its Evoque premium compact SUV range, ahead of its Australian debut in November.

Kicing off at $53,395 for the Evoque Pure five-door, the base car gets a 110kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with choice of six-speed manual or ($2480-optional) auto. A 140kW version of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel adds $4000 to the Pure (at $57,395 man/$59,875 auto) and the six-speed auto-only 177kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol a further $3000 (at $60,395).Standard on the Pure are 17inch alloys, fog lights, 5inch colour-TFT audio/information display, cruise control, climate control, rear parking sensors and leather trim with brushed-satin cabin panelling.The mid-spec Dynamic trim line ($13,500 over each Pure engine variant) further adds 19in wheels and sports exterior and interior detailing. The flagship Prestige line ($15,500 over each Pure) scores ‘luxury’ detailing including chrome and real-wood trim accents, 19in alloys, xenon lights and a 380W Meridian sound system with 11 speakers and an 8inch display.The lower three-door ‘Coupe’ mirrors the five-door lineup, adding $1500 to the above pricing. Two individual rear seats are standard on the Coupe, however the five-door model’s three-seat rear bench is available at no extra cost.Other options include a $4500 Tech pack for Pure models (includes 18s, 380-watt audio, 8in screen, full leather); $5900 Tech pack for Dynamic/Prestige models (sat-nav with hard drive, power tailgate, rear-view camera, front parking sensors, voice control); and a $7200 Dynamic Plus Pack with one-piece sports seats with full electric adjustment and heating.There’s certainly no lack of choice for the well-heeled premium SUV buyer when this Evoque arrives later this year. The ‘mini-Range Rover’ certainly introduces a healthy dose of flair into a largely conservative segment dominated by the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. With its competitive $53-76K pricing, the Evoque should attract a healthy number of premium mid-sized SUV buyers. Will the drive match the looks? Come November, we’ll let you know…

The preferred patrol sedan of US law-enforcement is big, V8-powered and built in Australia, if recent testing by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is anything to go by.

Squaring off against entrants from Dodge and Ford, the Holden Caprice-based Chevrolet PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) took top marks in a 32-lap track test.The specially-tuned Caprice scored 10-out-of-10 in each category, including steering, body lean, ‘bounce’, brake fade, brake pull and anti-lock brake performance.It was a close contest however, with the Ford Taurus falling short of the Caprice in only the ‘bounce’ category, where it scored a nine.Dodge Charger was behind the Taurus in both ‘bounce’ and ABS tests, receiving a score of five for both.Acceleration proved to be a strength for the pursuit-ready version of Taurus, its all-wheel-drive system and turbocharged V6 getting it to 60mph (96km/h) in 5.83 seconds. The Caprice and Charger weren’t far behind however, pulling times of 6.01 and 6.14 respectively.The Charger proved strongest in the unpredictable nature of pursuit driving. The Caprice (in E85 form) and Taurus both scored 9s for steering and body lean, while the Charger landed perfect 10s.The Australian entry proved best for braking, with the Caprice coming to a complete halt from 60mph in 42 metres. The Charger stopped in 43 metres and the Taurus in just over 43.5 metres.

Holden has been awarded $39.8 million by the Federal Government, as part of its revived Green Car Innovation Fund, to assist with funding technologies designed to make the forthcoming VF Commodore lighter and more fuel efficient.

The announcement was made today by Senator the Hon. Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, at the Holden’s manufacturing plant at Elizabeth, South Australia.As first reported in Wheels, May 2011 issue, Holden today confirmed that the next Commodore would employ innovations, such as the use of aluminium body panels and aerodynamic parts, to cut fuel consumption by more than seven percent compared with today’s VE Series II range.Currently a base model Commodore Omega is rated at 9.1L/100km (ADR 82/01 combined cycle). Using Holden’s target percentage reduction, that figure will drop to at least 8.4L/100km.Holden uses the rule that one kilo of weight saved equals an 0.02L/100km improvement in fuel consumption. An alloy bonnet is said to save 8.8kg, low rolling-resistance tyres a further 5.8kg, delivering an 0.3L/100km reduction. That leaves drivetrain and aero improvements to bring home the remaining 0.4L/100km needed to achieve the 8.4L/100km target. Refinements to the Australian-built Alloytec V6 and aero improvements such as reducing the VE’s flared front guards are expected.Although the VF Commodore isn’t expected until 2013, later this year Holden will introduce a dedicated-LPG Commodore and E85 flex-fuel capability on 3.6-litre models.Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the scrapping of the Green Car Innovation Fund back in January to allow the Government to contribute to rebuilding efforts due to the Queensland floods. With the scheme now revived, and with cash-strapped GM reluctant to splurge on engineering projects, Holden is no doubt glad that it has secured the funds to help engineer VF. The $39.8 million government grant announced today is in addition to the $149 million the company received to build the Cruze small car in Australia.

With orders now open for the 918 Spyder at A$1.03 million (in Europe) Porsche has moved to keep those waiting until deliveries start in 2013 by … allowing them to buy another car.

Everyone placing an order for the hybrid hypercar has the “exclusive opportunity” to acquire a 911 Turbo S ‘Edition 918 Spyder’; like the 918, limited to 918 examples.The special edition 911 includes 918-inspired features such as acid green accents on the interior’s part-embroidered model logos and seams, the instrument cluster needles, the specific PCM screen and illuminated door entry guards.The limited edition badge on the glove compartment lid bears the same number as the 918 Spyder the customer has ordered, and can be finished in the same colour.

On the shores of lofty Lake Como, in Italy, Aston Martin unveiled its new road-racer, the V12 Zagato.

With a handcrafted all-aluminium body, the V12 Vantage-based car gets a more aggressive front-end treatment and completely new, more curvacious ‘double bubble’ roofline extending to a chunky high-set rear end.Under the bonnet is the same 380kW/570Nm 6.0-litre V12 found in the regular Vantage flagship. Aston Martin won’t reveal the road-racer version’s kerb weight, however extensive use of carbonfirbre, the stripped-out interior, plus the all-alloy body, puts best guesses at around 300kg lighter than the 1680kg V12 Vantage – making for a very handy power-to-weight ratio.The V12 Zagato is a revivalist, modern interpretation of past classics such as the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato.“The task for us has been to create a concept that is a natural successor to those iconic cars that have gone before,” says Aston CEO, Dr Ulrich Benz.“Matching the technology of age with the traditional skills vital to deliver such a bespoke and exclusive sports car will lead to a strictly limited run of road going Zagatos”.How many will be built for customers? Well, you’ll be able to count them on both hands, though you’ll also need very deep pockets. And a European passport.The V12 Zagato will make its racing debut at the Nurburgring this weekend.

BMW has revealed its showstopper at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy – the 328 Hommage concept.Complete with bonnet straps, round headlights, slotted wheels and a split windscreen, the 328 Hommage celebrates the 75th birthday of the original 328, built between 1936 and 1940.

Opel’s all-new Zafira seven-seater may relaunch in Australia in 2012, five years after Holden discontinued the model line.

This third-generation Zafira will make its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September before going on-sale in MPV-loving Europe late this year.The Zafira is styled with Opel’s new design philosohpy in mind, a clear relative of the new Astra and Insignia.Offering a completely redeveloped Flex7 seating layout, the Zafira’s two rearmost seats still fold flat into the floor, but the middle-bench has been replaced with three individual-moving armchairs that each slide 210mm to increase middle- or rear-seat legroom. With rear-seats folded, the Zafira’s boot holds 710 litres; with middle-seats folded, it expands to 1860L.Although the first-gen Zafira utilised an Astra-based chassis, the new car is a hybrid between the latest Astra and Insignia – the strut front-suspension is from Insignia, the Watt’s link torsion beam rear from Astra (and our Cruze).Engines in Europe include a 81kW or 96kW 2.0-litre common-rail turbo-diesel or 88kW or 103kW 1.4-litre petrol turbo four, with six-speed manual or auto transmissions.Tech options include adaptive chassis control, adaptive cruise control and collision-sensing auto-braking.Mini MPVs are a huge hit in Europe, however lacklustre sales of the original Holden-badged Zafira (and Renault Scenic and Citroen Picasso) meant its replacement wasn’t offered locally. Time will tell if Opel gamble against the trend and offer the new Zafira here next year…