Russia's TopCar Releases New Photos of Custom Porsche Panamera Stingray

We first told you about TopCar's performance program for the new Porsche Panamera way back in December 2008 when the Russian tuning house released an initial set of teaser sketches. Now, TopCar has published the first photos (though, keep in mind that the pics may be photoshoped) of its customized Porsche Panamera that is believed to make its first public outing at the forthcoming Essen Tuning show in Germany towards the end of November.

The tuning firm did not accompany the images with a press release, but from what we gather, the Panamera seen here is equipped with the basic bodykit dubbed 'Stingray' which has been designed by another Russian company called Cardi.

The carbon-fiber aerodynamics package includes redesigned front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a fixed rear wing and a new bonnet with air vents. The kit is rounded off by a new set of beefier alloy wheels.

According to a previous release, TopCar is also working on an even more aggressive bodykit that essentially replaces every external body panel of the Panamera aside from the rooftop.

It is also said that the Russians have joined forces with famed Porsche tuner 9ff which will handle all the performance upgrades as well as the production of both bodykits.

VIDEO: BMW Tells the Story Behind the Vision Concept in Second Promo Film

Non-BMW fans beware: don't skip the jump to watch the latest video on the Bavarian firm's Frankfurt Show-bound Vision EfficientDynamics concept car unless you're the kind of type that enjoys listening to promotional talk from designers and engineers... The rest of you may refresh your memory on BMW's 356-horsepower diesel-electric hybrid by clicking here to read our detailed article and shuffle through the gallery that contains 100 high-res photos of the futuristic-looking 'green' sportscar concept.

New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible Scooped Naked During Filming of Sex and the City Sequel

What we have here are the first undisguised shots of the all-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible that was caught on the movie set of the "Sex and the City 2" (yep, there's another one coming...) in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon. If this story sounds like 'deja vu', you're absolutely right as back in December 2007, in a carbon-copy situation, the then yet to be revealed Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV had also been scooped without any camouflage during filming of the first "Sex and the City" movie.

You can gawk at the complete set of photos from the shooting by heading over to Flickr and JustJared. For more details on the ragtop E-Class Convertible, click here to read our previous article.

Via: Autoblog.it & Autoblog.nl , Opening Photo: Flickr

Toyota to Unveil "All-New" Land Cruiser at Frankfurt Motor Show

As well as announcing the world premieres of the pre-production Auris Hybrid and Prius Plug-in Hybrid concept, Toyota has also confirmed that it will take the covers off the completely redesigned Land Cruiser at the Frankfurt motorshow. Even though the Japanese automaker is keeping details and photos of the 2010 Land Cruiser / Prado to itself, a JDM brochure that leaked onto the internet in the beginning of August has reveals that the SUV receives new sheetmetal with softer forms along with a redesigned interior.

The revamped Land Cruiser, which should pave the way for a new Lexus GS in the States sometime next year, will go on sale in Europe during the 4th quarter of 2009. Check our previous report on the 2010 Land Cruiser by clicking here.

Porsche 911 Sport Classic: New Special Edition Model with Ducktail Spoiler and 408HP, Only 250 Units

Now here's a 911 to drool all over; Porsche's special edition 911 Sport Classic that will be presented for the first time at this month's 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and go on sale in January 2010 with production limited to just 250 cars. Based on the rear-wheel drive 911 Carrera S, the Sport Classic pays tribute to the brand's storied past blending retro styling cues with several performance upgrades.

The most distinguishable feature of the Sport Classic is without any doubt the ducktail rear spoiler that harks back to the iconic 1973 Carrera RS 2.7. The special edition model also gets a double-bubble roof, new front apron and side skirts as well as wider rear fenders and a set of delicious, custom-made 19-inch wheels with their rim star painted black that echo the Fuchs rims worn by 911s of the past.

The body is finished in a exclusive Sport Classic Grey paint with light grey racing stripes.

The 911 Sport Classic's interior also gets a retro touch with woven leather and yarn sport seats complemented with light-grey piping and on the door panels while the dashboard including a wide range of inserts and add-on components is finished in Espresso Nature natural leather.

But the 911 Sport Classic isn't only about style as Porsche's engineers tweaked the regular 3.9-liter direct-injection flat-six through the introduction of a newly developed resonance intake manifold with six vacuum-controlled switching flaps, increasing output by 23 horsepower for a total of 408 HP. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via Porsche's six-speed manual gearbox.

Other highlights include the wider rear body (44 mm or 1.73-in.) and the wider track on the rear axle, the PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes and the revised PASM sports suspension that lowers the car's ride height by 20 mm or 0.79-inches, as well as the standard limited-slip rear differential.

Sales of the Porsche 911 Sport Classic are starting in January 2010 with the base price of the car without value-added tax and national specifications set at €169,300.

PHOTO GALLERY