Beginning in April, a new trim level will be offered for the Honda Jazz in the United Kingdom, the Honda Jazz Si. The Honda Jazz Si will only be sold with a manual transmission, and will be available with the 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter engines.

The Si trim was first introduced to the Civic 5 door range in September 2009. And now it crosses to the Jazz.

With the trim, the cost of the car adds about £870. The company claims though that the value of the added equipment is about £2,000. This includes a chrome-lined grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler.  Inside, embroidered carpet mats and Si badges throughout will welcome the driver and passenger.

The UK customers can have the Honda Jazz 1.2-liter Si for £12,835, with the 1.4-liter model going for £13,510. The car will hit the market on April 1, and we’re not fooling around.

After the recent picture leak of the Ferari 599 GTO, now the pricing list for the said vehicle has surfaced.

According to the leaked pricing list, the Ferrari 599 GTO will start at €319,495 ($426,843 / £285,053). What come with this price are several retro options such as historic GTO stripes and 1950’s / 1960’s exterior paint. The paint design actually confirms the said leaked photos of the vehicle mentioned above.

But if you’re not into the ‘old school’ thing, probably an alcantara headliner, rosso corsa brake calipers, Daytona seats, carbon fiber dashboard trim, iPod connectivity, and a Bose audio system will suit you.

The Ferrari 599 GTO will likely to feature a 6.0-liter V12 engine with up to 515 kW (700 PS / 690 bhp).

This road-going version of the 599XX concept is expected to be unveiled soon.

Recent report says that Audi will be introducing two new high performance versions of the Q5 crossover.

L’Automobile reported that the SQ5 is likely to be launched in 2011. It will probably feature minor styling changes including revised fascias, a bright grille, and a four-tailpipe exhaust system. Like the S4, the SQ5 would be powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that can produce 333 PS (245 kW / 329 bhp) and 440 Nm (324 lb-ft) of torque.

The RSQ5 manwhile is inspired by the Q5 Custom Concept. The RSQ5 reportedly features a modified version of the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with 408 horsepower (304 kW / 414 PS).

These two new speculations do sound very interesting, especially when both come to fruition. Unfortunately, Audi has not confirmed if this will ever happen.

The new VW Sharan will be available at a lower price than the previous model, VW announces.  The base level MPV will hit the German market at €28,875, that’s €2,475 less than its last retail price.

The base level model uses a 150 PS (110 kW, 148 bhp) 1.4-liter TSI petrol engine, using 7.2 liters per 100 kilometers (39.2 mpg-imp). Also available in Trendline trim is the 2.0-liter TDI producing 140 PS (103 kW, 138 bhp), which uses 5.5l / 100 km (51.4 mpg-imp), the lowest in its class. With a 70 liter fuel tank the expected range is 1273 km (791 miles). Priced at €30,950, the diesel is about €1,900 less than a comparable model from the previous generation.

Later this year thought, he Sharan TDI (170 PS / 125 kW / 168 bhp) and TSI (200 PS / 147 kW / 197 hp) will be available plus all-wheel drive will also arrive next year. Also available for the first time, all Sharan models can be equipped with a dual-clutch gearbox (DSG).

Both vehicles come in 5 -, 6 - or 7-seating arrangements with rear sliding doors, start/stop, and a kinetic energy recovery system, the latter two as standard.

Ford prices its new V8-powered Mustang GT. The vehicle’s price will start at $30,495 including destination.

The uplevel Mustang GT Premium will be starting at $33,695. Both prices represent a roughly $1,000 increase over 2010 models, although a more powerful and more efficient powertrain is part of the picture for 2011.

The Mustang GT gtes a new 5.0-liter, 412-horsepower V8 for 2011 that offers 26 mpg highway fuel economy with its standard six-speed manual transmission. The all-new 5.0 DOHC V8 has twin independent variable cam timing and all aluminum construction to make the most of its horsepower and 390 lb-ft. of torque.

New six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will also be available for the vehicle. The manual is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, while the automatic is rated at 18 and 25.

The gains to the 2011 Mustang’s fuel economy can be attributed to the new Electric Power Assist Steering, or EPAS, which reduces constant drag related with hydraulic power steering.

The 2011 Mustang also sports an enhanced rear lower control arm that adds stiffness and a thicker rear swaybar for improved on-center steering. A new Brembo brake package with 14-inch ventilated front discs and performance tires will also be available soon.

The hybrid version of the Honda Fit has been recently seen testing the roads. Honda has already announced though that the hybrid version of the Honda Fit is scheduled to wheel into dealer showrooms later this year.

The spied car was spotted with carefully placed tape which’s believed to hide the slight body changes necessary to accommodate the additional elements in order to transform Fit into a hybrid.

The car is already speculated to have packaging needs for the hybrid’s battery packs that may deter the functionality of the Fit’s “Magic Seat”, potentially killing some of the standard model’s utility. Any loss in packaging flexibility will likely be offset by the increased fuel-efficiency, rumored to be well above of 50mpg, with a price tag that’s expected to undercut Honda’s Insight Hybrid.

Honda confirmed the hybrid version of the Fit last year, but has yet to release any details on the gas-electric hatchback. Expect the Fit though to use a version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system currently used in the Insight and CR-Z.

Engineers from General Motors are said to be well on their way in conceiving what would be Ford EcoBoost’s competition, their own new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. GM has been rumored to have a twin-turbocharged V6 in the works for years, but now it appears they actually may be close to introducing a TT V6 with production intent as this engine has been reportedly assigned a PRO code.

GM Inside News said that the engineering sources have clarified that GM has been developing a 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine, which has even been assigned a PRO code of ‘LF3.’ The assignment of a PRO code validates the suggestion that this engine will end up under the hood of future GM products. GM’s naturally aspirated, direct-injected 3.0-liter V6 goes by the PRO code of ‘LF1.’

Although the sources were unable to provide expected power numbers, they did suggest that they were intending to produce power numbers in the same realm as Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. It has also been suggested that production for the engine could start in late 2011 to early 2012, seeing first duty in the upcoming Cadillac XTS.

It has also been insinuated that the TT V6 may end up in the Cadillac ATS and possibly even a future Chevrolet Camaro.

Prices for the upcoming UK-market Saab 9-5 have been announced.

Prices begin at £26,495 (€29,472) for the 9-5 Vector SE fitted with the 2.0 liter TiD diesel engine good for 160 PS (118 kW / 158 bhp) and range up to £37,995 (€42,265) for the 300 PS (221 kW / 296 bhp) 2.8T 9-5 Aero.

The 9-5 will come in those two trim levels: Vector SE and Aero. The Aero range, which is the more expensive and better-equipped range, comes with an assortment of additional options as standard including special front and rear bumpers, dual exhaust pipes, bi-xenon headlights, leather-finished sport seats, alloy pedals, sport chassis and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The engine selection for the 9-5 is an all-turbo lineup, with two diesels and three gasoline/petrols. Besides the 160 PS diesel, there is also a 2.0TTiD which comes in a 190 PS (140 kW / 187 bhp) configuration and assigned with an added “T” for twin turbo.The gasoline/petrols include a 1.6 liter turbo with 180 PS (132 kW / 178 bhp), a 2.0 liter turbo with 220 PS (162 kW / 217 bhp) and the 2.8 liter turbo with 300 PS (221 kW / 296 bhp).

The 9-5 is aimed to position as a “top-of-the-line contender in the premium saloon segment,” according to Saab’s press release. The brand does want to make the model competitive on price with major premium competitors such as Audi and BMW.

The 9-5 model is now available for order at UK Saab dealers.

GM and joint-venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. is set to take three versions of the new EN-V “urban mobility” concept to the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.  The EN-V is a very small, two-seat, two-wheeled vehicle meant for transporting people around urban centers.

The two companies couldn’t have chosen a better venue to display such a vehicle.  Shanghai has the largest number of people living in the city proper than any other place in the world. With nearly 20 million people living in the entire metropolitan area, the city’s traffic is infamously bad.  The EN-V will be shown in the SAIC-GM Pavillion with a system meant to clear up Shanghai’s traffic jams.

The EN-V, or Electric Networked-Vehicle, however is not just meant for cities in China.  The two automakers, along with Segway, worked to develop the machine for metropolitan areas worldwide, where 60% of the world’s population is expected to live by 2030.

The machine is equipped with GPS and vehicle-to-vehicle communication and has an ability to choose its own driving route. Cameras and sensors around the EN-V allow it to react to a changing environment and avoid accidents.

The electric motors built into the wheels are run by lithium-ion batteries with a 40 km range. The vehicle can be easily plugged into a household outlet for recharging. The EN-V is a development on Segway’s Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility concept shown off last April. Engineers used acryllic, carbon fiber and Lexan to keep the vehicle’s weight at 500 kilograms (1102 lbs).

The EN-V will be on display in Shangai beginning on May 1.

Japanese luxury automaker Lexus has announced an earlier landing at the US markets in order to achieve an “early 2011” on sale target. And with this announcement, the CT 200h will make its first North American debut in two weeks at the New York International Auto Show.

Lexus’ statement means that the 2012 CT 200h will go on sale in Japan, Europe and North America at about the same time. It has also been reported that Lexus has applied for trademarks on the CT 300h and CT 400h nameplates in the United States and Canada, which leaves the door open for more CT-family offerings in the future.

“When the all-new Lexus CT 200h enters the market, it will be the only hybrid vehicle in the emerging premium compact segment,” said Mark Templin, Lexus division group vice president and general manager. The CT will compete at a lower price point than the automaker’s HS 250h.

The CT 200h, which is based on an all-new-front-wheel drive platform, will slot in as Lexus’ only hybrid-only platform in Europe, where the HS 250h is not currently sold.

The CT 200h is equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) paired to Toyota’s Lexus Hybrid Drive system. The gas-electric drivetrain features four different settings, including Eco, Normal and Sport. The fourth EV setting, seen in some of Lexus’ other recent hybrid offerings, allows the CT 200h to travel up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 28 mph on all-electric power.

Carbon Motors has partnered with BMW Groups for its upcoming purpose-built law enforcement vehicle. BMW will be supplying the specialty manufacturer with an initial order of 240,000 with 3.0 liter sequential TwinPower turbocharged inline 6- cylinder diesel engines. The engines will also be specially equipped with BluePerformance technology.

The partnership pledges to reduce fuel consumption by up to 40 percent and carbon emissions by up to 30 percent compared to the current gas-powered law enforcement vehicles. The diesel engine will also provide less refueling downtime for officers with its 650-mile range per tank. The engine will also supply the car with more than 250 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. of torque.

Carbon Motors has not disclosed an exact fuel economy figure for their vehicle, but highway fuel economy reaches 36 miles per gallon in the BMW 335d—so the E7 could be expected to report something in the same range for the highway rating. BMW will also provide a six-speed automatic transmission with each diesel engine, which could suggest a zero-to-60 mph time of approximately 6.5 seconds.

The E7 features an extensive list of unique standard and optional features that will make it truly the elite law enforcement vehicle. Some of them include turn-key built-to-direct-order – 24/7/365 call center support system, aluminum spaceframe body structure, NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors and dash panel), 360 degree exterior surveillance capability, automatic license plate recognition system, video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment and a 130hz – 350hz bass siren.

A refreshed version of the Scion xB for the 2011 model year will be sold by the auto brand. The restyled car will sell in the US for $16,000 with a manual transmission. For the automatic gearbox, an additional $950, and “delivery, processing and handling” adds $670, or more.

In addition to the five existing colors, the 2011 xB will now be offered in two new hues—Army Rock Metallic and Elusive Blue Metallic. Another new color was slated to be available—Hypnotic Teal—but it was unfortunately cancelled.

Exterior changes on the car can be seen on the front and rear bumpers, grill, headlights and taillights. The front grille features a new honeycomb pattern and improved headlamp design.

Inside, both the front and rear seats have a new light gray fabric with a geometric pattern for the seating surfaces contrasted by black fabric covering the bolsters, bases and backs The center console has been redesigned, along with the gauges. And its steering wheel now includes both telescopic and tilt functions.

Scion has not yet disclosed the release date for the refreshed 2011 xB.

For those who find the Citroen DS3 not trendy enough, the Yves Saint Laurent’s version of the car might just satiate your fashionable palettes. The Citroën DS3 recently slipped into its finest outfit to welcome guests to the opening of the Yves Saint Laurent show.

By linking the first model in the DS line to the designer who revolutionized the way women dress, Citroën is reasserting its Créative Technologie universe. A high-fashion version of the DS3, decorated in the colors of the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective, transported fashion and film stars to the show at the Petit Palais in Paris on Wednesday 10 March.

The exhibition, which was organized by the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, included more than 300 pieces. Presented in their historical and cultural context, the pieces create a panoramic vision of the illustrious fashion designer’s body of work, from his Dior debut in 1958 to retirement in 2002. The public also gets its first look at the entire series of legendary photographs of Yves Saint Laurent taken by Jean-Loup Sieff in 1971.

With just months away from its official debut, a Ford Fiesta test car has been seen running the streets of Dearborn—just across the street from the Dearborn Inn hotel and Henry Ford Museum.

The spied Ford Fiesta is said to be sporting a revised front fascia, and an all-new split dual-exhaust design poking out from the rear bumper. Up front, an intercooler appears to be visible through the mesh grille work of the Fiesta’s air dam. This intercooler suggests a future for an EcoBoost engine in Ford’s next small car.

Ford’s four-cylinder EcoBoost with a 2.0-liter displacement is reportedly generating around 230 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. Should Ford equip the Fiesta, or the Focus with an EcoBoost, it would likely be based on the same 1.6-liter unit currently found in naturally aspirated form in the Fiesta. The power is estimated to be in the around 175-180 horsepower if Ford were to EcoBoost a 1.6-liter, which would be plenty for a front-wheel drive car of the Fiesta’s size and weight.

The spied Fiesta features a handful of black-out effects and a subtle body kit that appear to have been lifted from the options list of European Fiesta’s, as well as elements of Europe’s titanium trim. Ford has partnered with body kit designer and manufacturer 3d Carbon for their 5-door Fiesta hatchback, and a similar partnership may be utilized for a potential 3 or 5-door sport Fiesta.

Currently though, Ford has not suggested a future for the 3-door variant of the Fiesta for U.S. consumption, meaning this model might also be in development for European markets only.