The data doesn’t make any sense. We’re tearing our collective hair out trying to determine why the track-test numbers from our 2007 BMW 335i test car are so far off.

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In a leaked copy of their “global master plan,” Toyota is hoping to capture 15 percent of the world car market by 2010.

Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco would not comment on the report but did say that Toyota is definitely eyeing developing markets, which were most of that growth is expected from.

“Russia, India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Mozambique, no doubt about it. Those six are absolutely where we think a lot of action will be coming,” Nolasco said. “Look at the population and the rate of motorization. There’s a lot of potential for growth.”

Da Cruz

The new Turbo is everything but slow, this brand new Uber-Carrera romps to 60 mph within 3.7 seconds. The top speed of almost 193 mph should work for the everyday use – almost.

However, for the true performance enthusiasts, too much is simply never enough. These men can never have enough power ” and for this reason power hungry Turbo owners who demand maximum performance insist on 9ff enhancement shortly after their purchases. Not for the average Porsche driver, 9ff customers insist on performance without compromise.

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Volkswagen thinks you’ll love it.

In fact, it’s so sure of the Iroc that it just left it on the turntable. No scantily clad French models. No overdramatized unveiling. Just a grasshopper-green, menacing hatchback left spinning in solitude. Well, not exactly. In fact, we practically had to elbow our way to the front just to get a glimpse of the thing.

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The R33 Skyline GT-R has the potential of making ungodly amounts of power, especially when it’s uncorked by one of the premier Japanese tuners. This particular submission, to what’s turned into a Skyline tribute day, comes from Top Secret and their head engineer, Kazuhiko Nagata.

The Top Secret R33′s RB26DETT has been tuned to create over 1,200 BHP, which dispatches the 1,320 in a mere 9.6 seconds. It performs that feat above. Enjoy the insanity.

With the new MINI on its way and the Clubman on the horizon, how else can BMW capitalize on the iconic hatch’s popularity? Diversify.

According to AutoExpress’ sources within BMW/MINI, the Cooper will likely come equipped with some manner of all-wheel-drive in the future, along with an “intelligent” transmission and a flexible interior that makes the most of the interior space. If such a beast comes to fruition, the possibility of a crossover version and even a pickup variant are also in the cards.

That last part leaves us a little stunned and somewhat worried about brand dilution, even if they are just rumors. Then again, with total sales of the new MINI likely to reach one million sometime in 2007, the automaker’s momentum may allow for some interesting spinoffs.

[Source: AutoExpress]

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The Hole – video powered by Metacafe

If this doesn’t define the phrase “money can’t buy brains,” then nothing does. It shows what we hope to be the vehicle’s owner attempting to autocross a Ferrari F 50 in the wet. Fortunately for us, everything is caught on tape from both inside the car and out. Unfortunately, the only thing that this guy manages to hit is a corner worker, who he nearly runs over and then lands on top of after his hands-on lesson in understeer.

[Source: Winding Road]

SEAT is now offically in South Africa, boasting for base models that wil be available in various forms to the South African public.

Now, for those of you who follow the World Touring Car Championship will know that SEAT are currently 2nd in the manufacturers championship race which means that in no way are SEAT coming into the market without a racing legacy behind their name. Something that only the German powerhouse BMW can better at the moment, this because BMW are a mere 10 point ahead of SEAT in the standings.

SEAT have now taken this thoroughbred racing hatch, made it more reliable, neatened up the interior, added a few safety features and thrown in a sound system and named it the Leon Cupra. Surprised, you shouldn’t be as yet, most of the manufacturers do a similar thing but none have seemed to have made such an impact as SEAT have made. The car looks splendid with beautiful curves in all the right places, has enough power to compete with the new Golf R32 and is priced similarly to the Golf VI GTI.
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