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2011 Honda Odyssey Wallpaper

When Honda pulled the wraps off of its Odyssey Concept at this year's Chicago Auto Show, we knew it was just a few small tweaks away from being production-ready. Well, four months later, the official details and images have been released, and while the 2011 Odyssey doesn't go a long way in offering fantastic new innovations for the minivan segment, it packages the whole thing together in what might be the best-looking minivan we have yet to see.

The 2011 Odyssey is lower and wider than the outgoing model, and features what Honda is calling a "lightning bolt" beltline, a feature that was present on the concept van that we saw in Chicago. We aren't sure if we're in love with that quirky design element, but one thing's for sure, you won't see the origami fold and stepped greenhouse on any other minivan in the shopping mall parking lot. Other new features for the 2011 model year include available HID headlamps up front, new 18-inch alloy wheels, larger 12.6-inch ventilated front disc brakes, revised side mirrors and a power tailgate. Honda has yet to release full performance specs, but we do know that there's a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 under the hood, and early estimates state that the top-trim Odyssey Touring Elite should achieve 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg(!) on the highway.

Inside, Honda has made the most of the Odyssey's extra width, offering an additional inch of shoulder room in the front row. What's most interesting, though, are the three second-row seat configurations, including an all-new wide mode which allows the two side captains chairs to be pulled away from the center seat, meaning three child car seats can fit all across one row. Again, the Odyssey hasn't really done anything innovative with its interior packaging, but new features like a chilled cool box in the front center console, HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) input, 16.2-inch widescreen entertainment system, 15 upholders and a trash bag holder (yep!) will make the cabin more attractive to consumers who need one heck of an all-around family hauler.

We'll have more details on the Odyssey's underpinnings in the future, but for now, hit the jump to not only read Honda's press release, but to see videos of the new Odyssey in action.

Fiat Abarth 500C Convertible Wallpaper

The new Fiat Abarth 500C will go on sale first in Italy and shortly after in the rest of Europe, so Fiat decided to drop a huge photo gallery of its newest model that had its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this past March.

Aside from the male population looking for a relatively affordable cabrio with some punch, Fiat claims that the new open-topped car was also made to appeal to women customers "who seek design and elegance but also appreciate the performance of a true sports car."

That's one of the reasons why the Abarth 500C is offered with a choice of two colors for the electrically operated rollover canvas top (black or titanium gray) ,and for the first time on the 500 series, optional two-tone paintworks for the body (racing black and white or two tones of gray).

Like the standard Abarth 500, the canvas-top model gets a full bodykit along with unique 17-inch alloy wheels and a tricked out interior.

Power is provided by Fiat's 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 140HP and a peak torque of 206Nm with the overboost function. The engine is paired to a standard six-speed automated manual gearbox with paddle shifters.

Fiat's Abarth division says the 500C can sprint to 100km/h (62mph) in 8.1 seconds and achieve a top speed of 205 km/h (127 mph), while returning a combined fuel economy of 6.5lt / 100km (equal to 36.2 mpg US) on the European cycle.

2011 Range Rover Wallpaper

The big news for the 2011 Range Rover is the introduction of an all-new 4.4-liter turbo diesel engine producing 313HP and 700Nm / 516.3 lb-ft of peak torque that replaces the current 3.6-liter with 271HP and 640Nm.

The V8 diesel is matched up to an also new ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifts. Land Rover claims that with this engine, the luxury 4x4 returns a combined fuel economy of 30.1mpg UK (equal to 25.1 mpg US and 9.4lt/100km) making it the first Range Rover ever to better 3 0mpg UK.

The diesel-powered Range Rover goes from rest to 60mph (96km/h) in 7.5 seconds and completes the 50mph-75mph dash in 5.1 seconds.

As far as the rest of the range is concerned, all 2011 Range Rovers benefit from an updated Terrain Response which gains Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control, some minor styling revisions to the nose, additional exterior colors and a new Exterior Design Pack option.

The Exterior Design Pack comprises of a revised front bumper with fog lamp surrounds, front grille and side vents in Titan finish, revised side sills, rear bumper and stainless steel exhaust finishers.

Audi R8 Valkyrie Wallpaper

Audi R8 Valkyrie Wallpaper

To add to the countless modified R8 out there is the R8 Valkyrie by SR Auto.The tuning house starts off with a matte black wrap for the body and continues with a series of carbon-fiber aero bits from PPI. The smoked front, side and tail lamps along with a new set of 20-inch alloy wheels complete the mid-engine Audi's exterior makeover.

As for the R8 Valkyrie's interior, aside from the carbon fiber trim, the entire cockpit has been upholstered in a mix of black leather and alcantara with contrasting red seams.

Here is a summary of the changes made :

Wheels
Advance One ADV7.1, 20 x 8.5 Front, 20 x 11 Rear, Matte Black Face/Gloss Black Lip

Suspension
H&R Lowering Springs

Exterior
Leios Matte Black Exterior Body
PPI Razor Carbon Fiber Front Air Dam
PPI Razor Carbon Fiber Side Skirts
PPI Razor Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
PPI Razor Front/Rear Air Vents
Smoked Front/Side/Rear Lights

Interior
Carbon Fiber Trim
Custom SR Executive Interior Reupholstery

StopTech BMW M3 track car Wallpaper

APP Europe had a few goals when they decided to modify the current BMW M3, which was to create a track day car with reduced weight, better driving dynamics, added engine performance and stable braking. The result is this, the StopTech M3.

Starting off, they played with the M3’s 4.0-litre V8 engine and increased power output to 450 hp from the standard 420 horses with the help of a tuning kit from Collaction AG. This also adds 40 Nm of torque to make 440 Nm. Next was the brake system by StopTech, which comprises forged aluminium and anodized 6-piston calipers with two-piece 380 x 32 mm discs at the front and 4-piston calipers on 355 x 32 mm discs at the back. This set is claimed to be much lighter and more powerful than the stock items.

To improve driving dynamics, APP added a KW Club Sport suspension, a titanium exhaust system and 19-inch ATS ‘Race Light’ wheels covered with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres. The exhaust system is 23 kg lighter than the standard set, while each new wheel is 1.5 kg lighter than the ones supplied by Munich. Instead of matte black, this car’s skin gets a matte titanium silver foil for a metallic effect and clean finish.

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BMW X6 tuning kit by Status Design

BMW X6 tuning kit by Status Design

The legendary F-16 Falcon fighter jet is synonymous with lightweight and innovative design, not to mention ammunition that can level a small city. Russian tuner Status Design has recently unveiled a tuning kit for the BMW X6 that follows the plane’s philosophy.

Given the designation SD F 16, the package comprises of a body kit that includes a front bumper, back bumper with carbon fibre diffuser, two-tone design with black roof, CF mirrors, window mouldings, back spoiler, front grille and 22-inch Hartge wheels.

The F-16 Falcon was originally designed as a day time fighter, but Status Design’s “F 16″ will have no problems with darkness thanks to LED angel eyes, a strip of LED driving lamps and Hella fog lamps that turn with the steering. It’s all meant to be easy to install, with no effect to ground clearance.

To match the decked out exterior, Status Design has increased power output from the X6 xDrive35i’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre engine to 380 hp (from 306 hp) by tuning the ECU along and adding a high flow air filter and sports exhaust. SD says that the F 16′s price is “pleasantly surprising”.

Audi R8 e-tron Wallpaper

Audi R8 e-tron Wallpaper
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Audi showed off an e-tron prototype in the form of an R8 during the Le Mans race this year. Racing legend Frank Biela took the e-tron out for a spin in the Le Mans vers le futur demo event for EVs.

The R8 e-tron is powered by four motors connected to a wheel each for quattro grip. Combined, they provide 313 hp and 4500 Nm of torque (no it’s no a typo), propelling the two-seater from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. 70% of power goes to the rear wheels while the rest goes to the fronts. The battery sits behind the passenger cabin for a 42:58 weight distribution.

Torque vectoring from the four motors mean that understeer and oversteer can be corrected by not only targeted activation of the brakes, but also by precise increases in power by few milliseconds. The R8 e-tron is claimed to remain extremely neutral even under great lateral acceleration, “hustling through corners as if on the proverbial rails” according to Audi.

The car’s lithium-ion battery can be charged from a household plug socket (230 volts/16 amperes), taking six to eight hours to be refilled. Kinetic energy from the brakes is recuperated, channelled to the alternator and converted into electrical energy.

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Opel Astra Sport Tourer Wallpaper

GM Europe has released official images and info on the Opel Astra Sports Tourer, which will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show and go on sale in November.

The Sports Tourer is the wagon version of the popular C-segment Astra hatchback, which has collected over 160,000 orders in six months. It’s an important car for Opel, as wagons traditionally account for about 25% of Astra sales in Europe, higher than the segment average of 17%.

Load volume can be easily adjusted between 500 and 1,550 litres via the FlexFold Rear Seat system, which allows each section of the 60/40 split-fold rear seatbacks to be lowered at the press of a button located in the side walls of the cargo area. A spring is electrically released, activating quick, remote seat folding. With the seatbacks down, the cargo load length is increased to 1,835 mm, 28 mm more than the current Astra wagon. Besides that, occupants enjoy 25 litres of extra storage space inside the cabin.

Opel says that this wagon offers the same level of comfort and agility as the hatchback. First, its footprint and 2,685 mm wheelbase is unchanged while the rear compound crank/Watt’s link suspension has been modified for higher load capabilities and better support during cornering. In addition, FlexRide adaptive suspension provides a choice between standard, sports and touring modes and Trailer Stability Assist counteracts the tail wind produced when lugging a caravan trailer.

Engine options include eight petrol and diesel units. New to the range are two 1.4-litre turbocharged petrols; a 120 bhp six-speed manual and a 140 bhp six-speed auto. Sure to be more popular that those is the 2.0 CDTi with 180 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. This diesel option comes with an overboost button and sips only 5.1 litres of fuel for every 100 km (19.6 km/l). All manual transmission cars have a gear shift indicator coaxing you to drive economically.

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG Wallpaper

Mercedes-Benz's 510-horsepower-strong ML63 AMG SUV has received some minor upgrades for the 2011 model year. The subtle changes to the exterior include a newly styled bonnet with power domes, darkened bi-xenon headlamps with active light function and smoked tail lamps incorporating a clear-lens design and LED technology. And that about covers the updates to the 2011 ML63 AMG model.

There are no interior or mechanical changes with the ML63 AMG featuring the same 6.3-litre V8 engine with 500HP and 630Nm that propels the SUV accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Those interested can now place their order for the ML 63 AMG (at least in Europe) with first customer deliveries to take place in July 2010. In Germany, it carries a price tag of €105,077 or about US$125,500 at today's exchange rates.