In addition to improving safety, Mercedes Benz‘s new active seatbelt buckle also eliminates the annoying practice of trying to buckle up when the connecting clips have fallen between or been pushed down the cars seats.

The seat belt buckle doesn’t only come with bright glowing LEDs to easily secure yourself, particularly in the dark, but also comes equipped with a motorized system that extends the buckles upwards as much as 2.8-inches, so they’re hard to miss and easier to use. For enhanced safety in the event of a crash, the active seat belt buckle also works in reverse, slightly retracting after impact so it holds the passenger more securely.

The new system will be implemented in Mercedes Benz’s more luxury models in the near future but will hopefully be available for Daimler’s more affordable models so the general public can also benefit from this great innovation.

Source: Gizmodo

Abdullah Al Ketbi is the owner of Dubai’s Alain Class Motors and what could very well be the best supercar dealership in the world. Abdullah gave Top Gear access to this extraordinary showroom filled with the world’s most rarified supercars where a Ferrai FF is tucked against a F430 Scuderia, which is nuzzling into a Versace edition Murciélago. Turn around and you’re staring at a Reventon – Lamborghini’s most expensive road car ever – Ferrari 458 Italia, Maybach 57S and Mercedes C63 AMG Black.

Abdullah says that Alain Class Motors has “five people full-time to wash and wax as the cars get very dirty outside and the cheaper ones need cleaning two or three times a day.”

And by cheaper he, of course, means ridiculously expensive. Braving the 30 degree weather outside is a Mercedes SLS, a brace of Porsche 911s, a genuine Shelby Mustang GT 350, a triplet of Porsche Panameras, a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Hummer H1 and a Baja-spec V8 dune monster. “We also need two people full-time to park them. It is a very hard job.”

The dealership is running out of space to house these magnificant vehicles and will be moving into bigger premises. “We have five places in Dubai and Alain at the moment, but we need space. This is 4,000 square feet, the new one will be 10,000. Business is good,” comments Abdullah.

View some of the supercars found at Alain Class Motors in the gallery below:

This year Mopar will be celebrating 75 years since its name was first trademarked (a combination of ‘Motor’ and ‘Parts’) with the unveiling of four new vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show next month. Mopar has evolved to become synonymous with performance parts for Chrysler and Dodge as well as amp’d-up specialty package vehicles, vehicle service and maintenance.

The first, and only one that will be sold turn-key, is the ’12 Mopar 300 with only 500 being built and sold for $49, 700 each.  While offering no more power than a standard 5.7-litre V8-equipped 300, the ’12 Mopar does benefit from a new final-drive ratio of 3.91:1 that drops its 0-60 time in the low five-second range, as well as a significantly stiffer suspension, more grip on the tyres and brake system upgrades.

The exterior is painted black with striping that appears across the ’12 Mopar’s sides and around its rims. The wheels are 20-inch, 8-spoke forged aluminum rollers painted Gloss Black with Mopar center caps. Mopar says that interior is equally dark save for accents of Mopar Blue.

Each vehicle sold will  come with a special box of goodies that includes Mopar-branded key fobs and merchandise; proof of the vehicle’s exact manufacture date and number built; and a sketch of the car signed by its designer.

The remaining three anniversary special editions include the 2013 Dodge Dart ‘GTS 210 Tribute’, 2012 Fiat 500 Stinger and 2012 Mopar Jeep Compass ‘True North’. 

The Dodge Dart serves to pay homage to the quintessential muscle car while showcasing how Mopar’s extensive range of appearance and performance parts will be for the new Dart when it goes on sale.

The Fiat 500 ‘Stinger’ is welcomed into Fiat’s custom fold.  Its 1.4-litre MultiAir engine receives an unspecified bump in power thanks to a cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust. Higher-spec performance brakes clasp down on larger cross-drilled rotors behind a wider set of 17-inch Abarth Hyper Black aluminum wheels with wider 205/40R17 performance tyres.

Lastly, The Jeep Compass ‘True North’ has been given a 2-inch lift kit to better accommodate its 16-inch matte black wheels fitted with BF Goodrich All Terrain tyres. The center stack is also modified with a custom pod housing pitch and roll inclinometer gauges.

Source: Autoblog

Licensed by the car manufacturers, the Click Car Mouse is a miniature near perfect replica of the real cars they’re modelled on. They are designed to a very high technical standard using only the highest quality materials. Most models are available in both wired and wireless versions.

CarBlog received the Range Rover Evoque Mouse and Mercedes Benz 300 SL USB Stick to test out. The Wireless Optical Evoque Mouse comes packaged with a nano receiver and battery. Once setup, the mouse can either be turned on (either with or without rear and headlights depending on how much battery you’re willing to use up) or off when not in use. It has a 10 metre range and adjustable high-res optical for 800dpi and 1600dpi.

After using it for a couple of hours, the Mouse slowly began to feel uncomfortable with the angled lines of the Range Rover not exactly conducive for the natural round shape of my palm. Sometimes, my finger would even get caught underneath the right hand side mirror. As a result, I would prefer a car with smoother contours – an Aston Martin DBS perhaps. However, it is important to be aware that my hands are smaller than most and may result in a different experience for someone else.  The mouse works optimally on a pad as wheels, unfortunately, do not move.

The USB Stick, with 4GB was much more appealing and it has already been put to use. It is small, light and fits perfectly into the free USB bag included in the packaging. When plugged into to the USB port in my laptop the headlights and rear lights light up.

price ranges between R350 – R500.

View other models in the Car Click range in the gallery below:

The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a huge sales success and the company has revealed that 56% of buyers choose to customize their vehicles in an exclusive fashion.

While customization and Rolls-Royce are virtually synonymous, the take rate for bespoke Ghosts is slightly lower than the Phantom’s impressive 80% rate. Despite this, customers have still been ordering everything from custom paint jobs to luxurious interiors with champagne sets, humidors and picnic cabinets.

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said in a recent statement that “It is always our goal to exceed our clients’ highest expectations and fulfill their innermost desires. With highly bespoke Phantom and Ghost models, we are able to achieve this.”

Source: World Car Fans

Car Magazine has scooped some pics of the early prototype of the third generation Audi TT for 2014 on test in Europe as Audi prepares its new coupe for development.

The car’s mean looking front, boasts a hectagonal singleframe grille, a pair of large low-mounted air intakes as well as wraparound combined headlamp-and-indicator units. To increase the downforce at the rear it houses an active air dam which is supported by a neatly integrated high-mounted roof spoiler.

The interior will showcase a variation of the fully animated single screen instrument panel devised for the next Audi R8 Supercar.

As for the driving performance, based on the same flexible MQB architecture as the next 2012 VW Golf Mk7 and Audi A3, the new TT relies once more heavily on four-cylinder engines. The two petrol-fed four-cylinders deliver 180 and 220bhp, the diesel develops 178hp and the racier TTS will be equipped with a 276bhp turbocharged 2.0 litre. Quattro is standard on this model and on the next TT RS, which borrows the 385bhp kraftwerk upgrade from the 2012 limited-edition.

CAR Magazine has reported that Mini’s mini Mini also known as the Rocketman has been cancelled.

Some features of this futuristic city car include double hinged doors, carbon fibre spats, suede leather and paper material used in the interior, emphasised tail-lights and pull-out drawer at the trunk for loading and holding personal items.

Among the many new Minis that BMW have recently signed off on, the Rocketman, with its extremely short wheel-base, is unfortunately not one of them.  The Rocketman concept was originally revealed as part of a design study showing what a shrunken Mini could look like in the twenty first century, that was true to the brand’s core values.

The reasons for the cancellation of its production are not due to marketing or costs but rather a variety of problems that included the considerable investment that Munich would have to make to make the city car meet current regulations and the stability, handling and crash performance of the small vehicle. In addition, The Rocketman concept was just 3419mm long (versus 3723mm for a current three-door Mini hatch) and 1907mm wide.

View more images below:

Two students from Lawrence Technology University in Michigan, U.S.A Colin Bonathan and Jeeho Cha have presented renderings of their proposal for an all-electric Lincoln Continental for production in 2025. The project is fully endorsed by Lincoln’s parent company, Ford who were very impressed by the futuristic and innovative vehicle.

The idea started in the summer of last year when the design students began to work on the concept. It was presented to officials of the American automotive giant and it had the desired effect with the agreement of an endorsement deal. At the time, The Ford officials liked it so much that they commissioned to have a quarter-scale model displayed at the recent Detroit Auto Show.

Source: World Car Fans

Now you can configure your very own Spider 458 with Ferrari’s latest web-based supercar configurator that is live on the Italian auto manufacturer’s website.

You can choose from a number of different specifications starting with the exterior and working your way into the interior of the vehicle. Exterior options include paint colour (with a range of metallic, non-metallic and 1950′s colours) rims, break calipers, tyres and carbon fibre options. The interior becomes more exciting with interior colouring and materials, seats and style, carpets, interior trim and other interior options including infotainment system, rev counter and carbon fibre trim to choose from.

Once you are satisfied with your Spider, a summary of your dream supercar is presented. You can also choose between an open or closed top and can take a snapshot of the final product. Users also have the ability to compare a configuration to any another that is created.

As long as you’re not too unproductive, give it a try!

To start configuring your own Spider 458 go to Ferrari.com

After officially revealing the much anticipated 2012 911 Carrera Cabriolet at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Porsche has wasted no time introducing the latest of its upcoming models, the 2013 Boxster. While the mid-engine roadster won’t make its official debut until the Geneva Motor Show in March, here are some preliminary details.

In terms of re-design this very attractive Porsche shows off revised headlamps and more svelte running lamp/air intake setup with a wider stance and longer wheelbase. The 2013 Boxster’s aluminum skin reduces weight in comparison to its predecessor that serves to make it more engaging on the roads while simultaneously improving fuel economy.

Behind the seats there are two flat-six engines with direct injection, thermal management and start/stop functionality. The base Boxster uses a 2.7-litre flat six, good for 265 horsepower while the Boxster S is powered by a 3.4-litre six that produces 315 hp. The standard Boxster will run to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds with the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, while the Boxster S will do the same in just 4.7 seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox is also available with either engine.

The official press release describes the new Boxster as ”Lighter, more muscular, more distinctive and more fuel-efficient.”

The 2013 Boxster will be available in U.S. show rooms this summer in the Northern hemisphere at a price of $49,500 for the Boxster and $60,900 for the Boxster S.

Source: Autoblog