The Meaner looking Mercedes CLS 4-door coupe.

There is the saying that do not fix something that isn't broken. The same can be said about many cars and their subsequent face-lifts and model changes. For 2012 Mercedes shows us the all new second generation CLS which uses many design elements that are currently used on other models other current Benz lineup.

Drawing design cues from the shooting brake concept. the CLS features flared wheel arches, a sloping roofline, and optional LED headlights. The flared wheel arches along with the broad shoulder lines and a flattened nose give the CLS a far more muscular look than its sleeker predecessor. The front takes the aggressive look definatly to the next level while on the side view the CLS trades its graceful silhouette of swooping brush stroke-like lines and teardrop shape for a more muscular and shapely motif. Gone is the single crease character-line crease that rans the entire length of high silled pioneer 4-door coupe. That characteristic is traded for a shorter betline that ends where the bulky E-class coupe style rear fender flair begins. This gives the rear a bulkier presence eliminating the gracefully tapered rear end that came on the first generation. However the first CLS appeared a bit weak from the rear without the AMG package and rear trunk spoiler. This second generation CLS is a car of overal precense and aura rather that cohesive design cues which tend to be lost in this robotron looking front end dragging a sleeker but shapely rear end.

I was a fan of the CLS for its innovation and fluid proportions. New technology on the CLS-Class includes the LED headlamps, which feature a total of 71 individual lights. The lights are split into three sections, with the upper set forming the turn indicator, the middle serving as a low beam side light which also works when the high beams are on. There are the headlights themselves which do the night lighting. Inside is an interior finish done with some human touches. The wrap-around dash goes from door to door and holds the instrument panel and display screen. There are also matte galvanized vents and an analogue clock. The handcraft is featured in the stitched seat covers as well as in the dashboard and Mercedes-Benz has gone through the trouble of preshrinking the leather it uses on the CLS so it won't tighten up in the heat. High-gloss wood panels are also embedded inside the cabin - on the dash, center console and door linings. Buyers have a choice of brown burl walnut or black ash.

No doubt the new CLS will be a success, but whether it is as groundbreaking as the original is a matter of preference and a sign of the time. A Stylized car is more in vouge rather than a creful evolution of a masterpiece.

Porsche GT2 RS: The Widowmaker is Back for Revenge!

New pics of the Upcoming GT2 RS have been revealed. The range topping $200K 911 that was known for neck snapping thrust and an edgy handling characteristics is back and in "renn-sport" form. Porsche Surprises us with this tweaked 620hp version. That is more power than the Carrera GT.

The 2011 GT2 RS is now differentiated with many "Look at Me" options that debuted on the most recent GT3RS. The major exterior changes are the center-locking wheels, front add on fender extensions and a very "ricer style" exposed carbon fiber hood; not to mention the mirrors, side vent are also made of the lightweight material. The majority of these parts are directly from the Porsche parts bin save for the hood and the newly designed rear bumper cover. The original 997 GT2 rear bumper was a very aggressive design, but looked a bit like someone took a blade to the rear and sliced it as many times as possible. The new RS rear bumper design is cleaner and features a more harmonious wrap around vent design. The character crease line angles upwards removing some of the rear blocky-ness that the original 997 GT2 had. The LED taillights also ad to a more refined apeal. Come to the front of the car and we see a more shapley and aggressive front lip that is styled with numerious indentations in the center to exemplify the change.

The Interior is clad in contrasting leather and Altcantara with the same one peice seats seen on the Carrera GT, however as always the US versions will be specified with the folding Sport Bucket seats seen on the New GT3. The door Panels share the same "Boxster style" door panels that the GT3 RS has complete with red pull strap in order to save weight instead of the plastic door pull mechanism. The interior will be loaded with all the standard creature compforts that Porsche affords its GT cars, but will it be as incredibly detail oriented with mindblowing materials and craftsmanship a la the limited Sport Classic 911...probably not!

Many mk1 997 GT2s sat on dealership lots for months on end and in fact were even discounted heavily in order to convince buyers that the $60K + premium justified basicly a Turbo with 2wd, 2 seats, flashy Aero kit, GT3-esque chassis and not to mention a 530hp version of the Twin Turbo Charged 3.6 liter GT1 engine block. This is a great package out of the box, but since many Turbo owners were tuning their cars for cheaper and even exceeding the GT2s specs; the appeal for the 997 GT2 was reserved for those who fell in love with large fixed wing, creative badgeneering or loved the latest and greatest from Stuttgart and had cash to burn. After the raging magazine battles with the LP-560 and F430 the 997 GT2 slowly fell to become the garage queens of thier very proud owners or put up on the aution block for the price of a well optioned Turbo.

Now that the dust has settled and the new 2010 DFI 3.8 equipped Turbo has taken the throne as the fastest 911 in the lineup and the GT2 seemed to have been an overpriced under appreciated monster that could not have been tamed on the track nor even as the niche product it intended to be. This limited 30o unit GT2 RS will no doubt be sold out and the performance will for sure be the new standard but whether be worth the $300K or even $150K the next year when the upcoming 991 comes is yet to be known. To the untrained eye the rakish Carbon hood and small "GT2 RS" decal on the lower door with be what tells the story of this beast. This car yet again proves that the marketing and engineering generous in Stuttgart can yet again rearrange some parts laying around slap on the cult status "RS" title and charge whatever they please. With this car is the performance does the widow you the price will!

Vantage V12: Finally Exceptional POWER to match Exceptional Design

Aston has just announced that they are bringing the V12 powered version of the Vantage to the US. The beautiful baby Aston now can fitted with a V12 engine stuffed in the front. Aston has gone out of its way to make sure that there is no mistake will be made between the V12 and V8. The premium you shell out will be made aware as soon as this beast approaches you. With a output of 510 hp, no longer will the Vantage owner feel the guilt (or embarrassment) when a Porsche Turbo rolls up to the stoplight.

The glaring array of carbon fiber vents on the hood is unnecessarily busy. Who knows if that many vents are even required to cool the V12 power plant. But the hood certainly does make a statement; but ruins the vehicles clean, simplistic and bold design that the Vantage is known for. Possibly the two inner "nostril" vents could have been done without, leaving the two outer longer vent to just add enough aggression to this gentleman's GT-ish sports car.

However the side profile with its newly contoured and more edgy side skirts does enhance the sporting profile of the vehicle visually bridging the front and rear fender flares. The front is cleanly styled with an all business carbon front lip and feautures a vissul gap between the front aprons sides. This trend has been quite a common design theme seen also on the Nissan GTR, Porsche GT2 and SL63 AMG. The rear diffuser is also adorned in carbon fiber and like most special spec version sports cars tends to be unporportionally large and cuts high into the rear to reduce the visual bulk of the lower bumper and visually differentiate itself from the already aggressive base V8 version.

Auto manufactures are now not only into engineering high specification of vehicles, but rather styling them in ways that generate a reaction to match the increase in performance in price. Not necessarily are these design attributes bennificial to the vehicle from a strictly a design aspect, but factor in marketibily and differentiaion for the sake of change. Aston Martin has been reluctant to jump on the this bandwagen until recently, but with the vented and blinged out DBS and now this flaring nostril Vantage we notice that understated integrated design and a blistering performance (190 mph top speed) is no longer an option even with Aston. Gone are the days when a discrete fender mounted V12 badge does the dob of letting your buddies know at the country club you opted for the top of the line!