Sometimes we can only stop and be fascinated at the way some road users apply their limited “Do it yourself” skills to vehicles. A friend once said that it always amazes him how engineers study years and then spend hours on vehicle design and testing, only to have one super clever visionary from the other side of town take 30 minutes to decide the suspension is all wrong and then do a complete makeover of a perfectly roadworthy vehicle!

We have recently written a blog post titled “Parts used to repair insured cars may not compromise safety!” The short-term insurance ombudsman has confirmed that used and non-genuine parts can be used to repair insured cars provided that they don’t compromise safety!

There are many small details in vehicle maintenance that the everyday driver can attend to effectively. It is however best to leave the servicing of your vehicle in the hands of trained automotive professionals / mechanics. They have the knowledge and tools to diagnose and correct problems and to put you on the road to safe, fuel-efficient driving.

We would like to encourage all car owners to focus on the importance of proper vehicle maintenance in achieving greater safety on the roads!

Volkswagen has already announced a hybrid version of the Touareg and true to its promises it surely looks to be heading to the production floor sometime soon. The 2011 Next-gen VW Touareg Hybrid variant was spotted testing for hot-weather conditions in the American Southwest and as usual wasn’t spared by the spy cameras. As per speculations, the hybrid variant will be 300kgs lighter than its predecessor despite the fact that it will swell in size and will feature a third row of seats. The styling changes will include a new grill, front apron and newly designed lights. The engine options will include a 3.6 liter V6 and a 4.2 liter V8 engine. The hybrid variant will be fitted with a 3.0 liter V6 assisted by an electric motor. The ones concerned with the towing capacity issues should not be bothered because of the fuel consumption numbers.

The high-end luxury models from all big names have an LWB model in their contingent and Hyundai has sort of realized that too take the competition to that level, there should be one in its kitty too. And the preparations for it have already been made with a LWB variant of the Hyundai Equus spied in Ulsan, South Korea. The spy shots revealed a different front-grille on a supposed recycled prototype design.

The biggest give away from the spy shot is the badge at the rear which reads VL500 meaning that the VS460 badge worn by the current Equus range-topper will not be the flagship any more. Indeed it will be a new 5.0-litre Tau V8 engine worth over 400hp that will now embrace the sedan. We expect this sedan to go public sometime next year (at least the Standard wheel base) as a 2011 model and will be priced around $50,000.

We all know Sorento as an SUV which was transformed from a compact variant to a mid-size crossover and the legacy was furthered with the 2010 MY Sorento unveiling at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April. It will now be the turn of the Europeans with this crossover coming their way at the Frankfurt Motor Show (along with the facelifted Ceed). The changes for the 2010 variant include a higher-class cabin (compared to its predecessor), with some sleek additions and a spacious interior.

The 2010 Kia Sorento will have a new addition under the hood which is the 2.2L turbo diesel unit which produces 197hp at 421Nm of torque. The transmission is a choice for you to make between a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic option. Gadgets on the menu will include an engine start button, keyless entry with an in-mirror reverse camera. The overall weight of the Sorento has also been decreased by 215 kg thanks to the redesigned body which also facilitates an improved fuel economy and a better controlled ride.

The Nurburgring Circuit has born witness to many a new car designs that get tested there and this time around it was host to the Oldtimer Grand Prix this past weekend. One of the highlights of the GP was the German Tuner Arden’s version of the Jaguar XKR 5.0L, introduced earlier this year by Jaguar.

The reworked model gets some true performance trims including the provision of a re-designed chassis that make the car more nimble and responsive. 9×21-inch alloy wheels have also been added alongwith a stainless steel quad-piped sport exhaust system. Other additions include AJ20 Wild Cat rear plus diffuser while the V-Max Suspension comes as optional. Under the hood, the power has been boosted 30bhp with 50Nm of torque which has taken the top speed to 320km/h. Exclusivity to this car is the stainless steel grill with an Arden badge which differentiates it from other models.

The 2010 facelifted Kia Ceed has just been announced and as per the automaker it will make its debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The small family car went under a facelift borrowing traits for the front of the face from the Ford’s new Fiesta look, also with a slight touch of Peugeot with the triangular side windows at the back on the wagon model.

The car best described as an evolving model gets a brand new suspension set-up and a start/stop system for the ECO dynamics variant capable of checking the emissions under check. With a freshly laden interior and equipment specs, the car has been increased 25mm in length as well. The 1.6 L diesel engine has also been updated with ISG Technology which is mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The facelifted Kia Cee’d will be available in showrooms across UK from October 1st.

You need to be an extreme racing enthusiast to park one of these into your garage. Tym Switzer’s 800hp Nissan P 800 GTR is one such variant that thrives on race-gas to clock those magical timings but you need to be prepared to strain the driveline a bit for such is the impact of the gas that powers the car.

The P in the name actually symbolizes the package as a daily use one meaning that it is an 800hp car that can be driven daily but then nothing can be done about people who prefer no limits. For that kind of a lot the R package has been used and this R refers to the race fuel. With this gas in the tank the numbers obviously sore to 850 hp and 820 lb-ft torque but the driveline loss is about 15%.

This latest R package will be priced at $20,990, and it includes pump gas and race fuel tunes, as well as Switzer’s updated cooling package that features a dual-core radiator, thermostat and revised Switzer MONSTER intercoolers.

Here is an option to look forward to for the GT enthusiasts. Gemballa has gone ahead and unveiled the Mirage GT Gold Edition. This edition of the car is based on the Porsche Carrera GT and it continues the legacy of Gemballa Mirage GT variants. The Gold Edition features various gilded accents on the wheels, mirrors, air intakes, side skirts, and wing-which means it is true to its name. The Midas touch is evident even on the inside with gold touches on the instrument cluster, center console, door handles, shifter, and steering wheel.

A more practical equipping includes the HLS suspension which raises the car by 45mm making the car more apt in tackling speed bumps and parking garages. The GT variant is powered by a solid V10 option capable of producing 650 horsepower and 630 Nm of torque. This means that the car can clock 100km on the speedometer in a matter of 3.7 seconds while it has a top speed of 335 km/h.