2011 Maserati Kubang Concept at 2011 Dubai Motor

The concept version of the SUV which was first unveiled in Frankfurt is reportedly actually going to be called the Cinqueporte once it enters production, a name which means five-door in Italian. Unbeknownst to us, the Kubang concept also made its Middle East baptizement of motor show fire at the recent Dubai venue where 4Wheels of Luxury caught this footage.

A brand new Maserati proprietary engines will be designed in Modena by Paolo Martinelli – Head of the Maserati Powertrain Department and for nearly 30 years at Ferrari. The new units will be coupled to an AT 8 speed automatic transmission. Could we be seeing the First Maserati diesels soon?

Audi launches new R8 LMS Ultra

Audi has launched a heavily-revised version of its R8 LMS, which will compete in GT3 championships worldwide in 2012.

The R8 LMS Ultra features a heavily-revised chassis with improved rear downforce, a more effective cooling system and an ability to run larger wheels and wider tyres than the current machine.

Audi will offer an update kit for teams running the original R8 - which won the Spa 24 Hours this year - as well as selling the 'Ultra' as a complete car.

2012 Audi R8

Cadillac debuts its 2013 XTS

The 2013 Cadillac XTS has arrived, setting its sights against European luxury sports cars like the BMW 5 Series and the Audi A6.

Cadillac took the wraps off of the midsize XTS Wednesday morning at the LA Auto Show.

"Our goal in every segment we enter is not to compete in it but to be the best in it," said Don Butler, Cadillac's vice president of marketing.

The XTS, the replacement for the STS and DTS, will arrive at dealerships in the spring. It will feature Cadillac's 3.6-liter direct injection V-6 that produces 300 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

It's a marked change for Cadillac — there won't be a V-8 under the hood.

Mark Reuss, General Motors Co.'s North American president, said the XTS will not be the only new vehicle to join Cadillac's lineup next year —the compact sports car, the ATS, will also join the fold.

"The XTS and the ATS share the same objective," Reuss said, "to win in the global luxury market."

Suzuki Kizashi: First drive

Kizashi means optimism in Japanese, but it's also the name of Suzuki's D segment rival to class-leaders, such as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat.

Now, with 23,000 sales worldwide, Suzuki has decided to sell the car in the UK and presented me with a problem. As even after one days driving, I can't really work out how I feel about this car.

On sale in January, the Kizashi will be exclusive, with just 500 units available to UK buyers and unlike many other rivals in this class, it's fitted with standard four-wheel drive and CVT transmission.

New-look Ford Escape debuts at LA Auto Show

Ford has unveiled an updated version of its popular Escape SUV on the first press day of the Los Angeles International Auto Show.


The Escape, America's best-selling SUV, will be released in the U.S. and around the world next year, renamed the Ford Kuga in Europe and China.


It has been made considerably more efficient, with fuel economy up to five mpg better than its predecessor and a choice of new 1.6 and 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines helping to deliver what Ford projects will be the best fuel economy of any compact SUV.

Ford Escape Cars Review And Specification

Ford shows off its Kuga replacement at the LA Auto Show, which will be sold with a hybrid driveline.

Is it an Escape, or is it a Kuga? The answer is yes to both, with Ford streamlining its two crossover designs into one.

So the Kuga will get slight trim changes, different fog lamps and grille. There'll be a few changes to the dashboard, and of course a full line up of diesels for the Kuga.

The outgoing Escape was offered with a hybrid system similar to that of the Toyota Prius, and the new car will be similarly optioned making the Kuga Ford's first European hybrid.