2014 Mazda 6 Sedan

The mid-sized sedan model rides on a 2,830mm (111.4 inches) long wheelbase that is 105mm (4.1 inches) longer than previous '6'. On the outside, the saloon measures 4,865mm (191.6 inches) long, 1,840mm (72.4 inches) wide and 1,450mm (57.1 inches) tall.

Compared to the previous model, the front wheel has been moved forward by 100mm in relation to the A-pillar resulting in reduced front overhang, while the rear deck is also shorter.

According to Mazda, the new 6 offers 20mm (0.8 inches) more shoulder room for the front passengers. At the back, there is 43mm (1.7 inches) greater knee clearance, 37mm more legroom (1.45 inches), while the length of the rear seat cushion has increased by 20mm (0.8 inches) and the seat back height by 33mm (1.3 inches). Furthermore, the rear centre arm rest has been enlarged by 60mm (2.6 inches).

The trunk, which has a 32mm wider opening than on the previous model for easier loading, has a cargo capacity of 483 liters.

According to Mazda, the new SKYACTIV-Body structure makes wider use of ultra-high tensile steel reducing weight, while at the same time improving torsional rigidity by about 30 percent

The car employs MacPherson struts up front and a rear multi-link suspension while there's also a new column-type electric power assistance. The Japanese automaker claims that the new Mazda6 will be a driver's car.

"In developing the third-generation Mazda6, we pursued Mazda’s intrinsic core value: ‘driving pleasure’," says Hiroshi Kajiyama, the new Mazda6 programme manager.

"We wanted to create a car that reacts and behaves exactly as you expect it to. Part of this involved carefully crafting those parts of the car which you often touch to feel as though they are an extension of your own body."

At least in Russia, the 2014 Mazda6 will launch with an initial choice of two new four-cylinder gasoline engines, the SKYACTIVE-G 2.0-liter that generates 148hp (150PS) at 6,000rpm and 210Nm (155 lb-ft) at 4,000rpm and the SKYACTIVE-G 2.5-liter delivering 189hp (192PS) at 5,700rpm and 256Nm (189 lb-ft) at 3,250rpm.

Both powerplants will be offered with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions and a standard i-stop idling stop system.

The 2.5-liter unit will also be the first Mazda engine to employ the brand's new i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system that begins charging a capacitor the moment the driver takes his foot off the accelerator. The electricity stored is used to power electric components throughout the car instead of the engine thus resulting in further improvements in fuel economy.

The European specification version of the Mazda6 sedan as well as the Station Wagon model will premiere at the Paris Motor Show in late September, with more details about the powertrain choices that will include a diesel engine to be announced later.

Mazda's Honda Accord and Ford Fusion / Mondeo rival will be introduced to global markets starting in late 2012.

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2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S

As with the previous generations of the Carrera 4/4S series, the main way to tell apart the rear-wheel drive (RWD) 911s from their all-wheel drive (AWD) siblings is the moniker on the rear and the reflective strip that connects the tail lamps.

Just like the RWD variants, the Carrera 4 has two oval tailpipes while the more powerful Carrera 4S sports quad exhausts tips.

We don’t have any official information on the specifications yet, but aside from Porsche's all-wheel drive system, the Carrera 4 and 4S models will feature a modified suspension that will add some weight to the car.

The engines will be the same as the ones found on the RWD versions.

As such, the base Carrera 4 features a 3.4-litre flat-six with direct fuel injection and an output of 345hp (350PS) at 7,400 rpm and 390Nm (288 lb-ft) at 5,600 rpm, while the Carrera 4S makes do with a 3.8-litre flat-six with direct fuel injection rated at 394hp (400PS) at 7,400 rpm and 440Nm (324 lb-ft) at 5,600 rpm.

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Bentley Continental GT

The new model year version of the 567hp (575PS) Continental GT W12 Coupe with the 8sp transmission now takes 4.3 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph (0-100 km/h in 4.5s) with 100 mph (160 km/h) reached in 9.8 seconds from a standstill. It returns a combined combined cycle fuel economy of 19.5 mpg UK (14.5 liters/100km or 16.2 mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 338 g/km.

The GTC Convertible variant completes the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.7s) and 0-100 mph (and 0-160 km/h) in 10.3 seconds, while delivering a combined fuel economy of 19.0 mpg (14.9 liters/100km or 15.8mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 347 g/km.

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Trident 6.6-liter V8 Diesel-Powered Iceni Grand Tourer

The Iceni Grand Tourer is a newer development of the regular Iceni and it will make its debut at the UK's Salon Privé 2012, which is held at West London’s Syon Park from September 5 to 7.

This open-top model sports a mid-front mounted 6.6-litre V8 turbo-diesel sourced from one of GM's commercial trucks.

The eight-cylinder unit is capable of running on mineral diesel, bio diesel, palm oil and linseed oil, with Trident claiming that it generates an output of 430bhp and a staggering 950 lb-ft (1,287Nm) of peak torque at under 3,250rpm. And if that's not enough power, Trident also offers an upgrade package that lifts output to 660bhp and maximum torque to 1,050 lb-ft (1,422Nm)!

The British automaker quotes a zero to 60mph sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a top speed nearing 200mph (320km/h).

As impressive as these performance numbers may be, the Iceni Grand Tourer really shines when it comes to fuel efficiency, as according to Trident, "at a constant 70mph (113km/h) the specially tuned engine runs at just 980rpm, produces 700lbs ft of torque, is capable of 68.9mpg UK (57.4 mpg US or 4.1lt/100km) and will keep going for over 2000miles (3,218km) on one full tank of diesel".

Trident Sports Cars managing director, Phillip Bevan, commented on the forthcoming presentation of the car at the London car show:

“We are very pleased to be at Salon Privé which this year is a great celebration of all things British and home grown talent - something we feel very strongly about at Trident. It is also a place where sports cars and super cars of this calibre are sold, and we look forward to taking new orders for the Iceni at Syon Park this September.”

The Iceni Grand Tourer is built to order in Norfolk with prices in the UK starting from £75,000, equal to €94,900 and US$118,700 at the current exchange rates.

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Mazda CX-7

The CX-7, pitted between the CX-5 and CX-9 in the Mazda lineup, fell short of projected sales throughout its lifetime ringing in only about 2,000 units per month for 2012 in the U.S., and only about 800-1,000 units per year in the UK.

Compared to similar models like the Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V, the slow moving CX-7 simply could not keep up.

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Ferrari F70 V12 Hybrid Hypercar

Before we let you check out Williams' well-executed renderings in the gallery below, we'll remind you that the new F70 is slated to debut before the end of the year and go on sale in 2013.

The rear wheel-drive flagship from Maranello will sport a hybrid powerplant linking a mid-mounted 7.3-liter V12 naturally aspirated V12 rated at around 800-horses to a dual-clutch transmission and a pair of electric motors with about 120hp for a total system output in excess of 900 ponies.

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