Picture Sebastian Vettel The Winner Monaco grand Prix won at Monaco while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished second with Button in third. The Monaco street circuit is one of the most difficult tracks to overtake but with the new DRS rule, an exciting race was definitely on cards. DRS sure did make the race more exciting but much of the entertainment was provided by the mid-fielders. Some of them escaped with minor bumps and scratches on their million dollar machines while other more unfortunate ones, totaled their cars.

Amidst the chaos, Vettel, Alonso and Button were able to keep out of trouble as the trio lapped one car after another. Hamilton was in his usual mood and muscled his way past Schumacher in the 0penning stages of the race. A similar move on Massa resulted in a collision with Hamilton being awarded a drive-through for being too aggressive. Eventually, Massa ran wide near the tunnel exit and crashed into the barrier ending the Ferrari drivers race.

The Monaco GP once again proved that the three-way influence of rapidly-wearing Pirelli tyres, KERS and DRS have turned Formula One on its head and is providing consistently exciting races.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) made up for the humiliation of being lapped last weekend in front of his home fans in Spain, by finishing second, with early race leader Jenson Button third - three world champions on the podium.
Mark Webber, who won at Monaco last year, set the fastest lap of the race - 1'16.234 - on the final lap to finish fourth and was followed by Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).

11th-placed Kobayashi was lapping two seconds faster than Buemi and Heidfeld ahead of him and would surely be moving further up the leader board.
Lap 20 Positions
1 Vettel
2 Webber +3.6
3 Alonso +6.2
4 Hamilton +18.3
5 Rosberg +20.6
6 Massa +20.9
7 Button +24.1
8 Petrov +28.0
9 Heidfeld +28.9
10 Buemi +31.6

Rosberg was off the pace and had been overtaken by three cars. Massa attacked on lap 20, but the German managed to fend off the Brazilian for another lap. Massa got past on the next lap and while Rosberg was pre-occupied, Button came in to attack too. Rosberg defended bravely and forced the 2009 world champion wide, but Button just drove around him on the outside of Turn 14 to emerge into the main straight on fifth place and close behind fourth-placed Massa, as team mate Hamilton was the first of the front-runners to pit a second time for fresh tyres and emerged in tenth place.

READ MORE - Picture Sebastian Vettel The Winner Monaco grand Prix

The Lotus Elan Concept combines a muscular physique with perfect poise. True to the Lotus ethos add speed, add lightness', the Elan is designed to deliver a thrilling driving experience with stunning style.

The company didn’t offer an official reason for this, but tried to find a “politically correct” way of explaining it. The carmaker told Car and Driver that it will give the Evora “a more traditional life-cycle”. We’ll remind you that the Evora was only supposed to be an intermediate step that would create a pathway between Lotus’s former and new identity. Thus, the vehicle was supposed to be replaced by the Elan in 2013.

Power for the Lotus Elan comes from a 4.0L V6 engine making 450-hp. Mated to a 7-speed transmission and weighing in at 2,489 pounds, the Elan runs from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds while hitting a top speed of 193 mph.

Lotus Elan concept is a 2 seater (optional 2+2), mid-engined, rear wheel drive car and weighs 1,295kg with its CO2 emission at 199 g/km. The concept car has an elegant cockpit and flaunts awesome flat-bottom and flat-top steering wheel. It’s got a plenty of carbon fiber treatment and high-tech goodies, including digital race track readout for track days.

Like the Evora, the Elan features 2+2 seating, suggesting that the new Evora may not really have a long life at Lotus. Prices for the production Elan are estimated to start around $118,500.

The Elan is slated for production in 2013, and it appears to be farther along than Lotus’ other cars, as interior images were released as well.

Lotus seems to be really staking their claim with the new Elan. Other than perhaps Elise, we could see this being the biggest seller in the new Lotus lineup.

READ MORE - The Lotus Elan Concept

Opel Astra GTC Launching U.S The last time that the Opel Astra hit US shores, it dropped its regular badging for some Saturn ones. Needless to say, that didn’t go all that well, but General Motors is willing to have another go at it with the newest model reportedly being considered as a wolf in Buick clothing.

According to Car and Driver, the big General wants to introduce the three-door Opel Astra GTC under the Tri-Shield brand, giving customers a more thrilling alternative to the Verano sedan with which it shares its platform.
The GTC is pretty much confirmed for the US, but a convertible could also make its way over that will be based on the same Delta platform as the Astra and Verano. Although it will be based on the same mechanicals as the Verano, Astra and Cruze, it's expected to get its own distinct styling. The new convertible is expected to launch as an Opel in late 2012, but it remains to be seen if it will come here as a Buick.

The Astra GTC offers practically the same space and everyday suitability as the five-door model. With a compact rear that underlines its long, 2.61-meter wheelbase, the GTC offers the same luggage compartment volume (380 liters) as the five-door Astra. The rear seat backs can be folded down (standard 60:40 or optional 40:20:40 split) for more flexible use of interior space. Even though the designers snugly pulled in the side windows to give the body-shoulder more tightness, two adults can comfortably travel in the rear.

The dynamics of the new Astra GTC's looks turn into action on the road, thanks to the IDS chassis (Interactive Driving System) with ESPPlus, the optional IDSPlus adaptive chassis system with electronic damping control (CDC) and the networking of all electronic chassis systems. In addition, the GTC driver can activate a sport set-up at the touch of a button (SportSwitch) that regulates damper adjustment as well as accelerator-pedal and power steering response. In conjunction with automatic and Easytronic transmissions, gear shift points are modified for a sportier driving style.

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Navistar Defense announced today it has received a new $183 million delivery order from the US Marine Corps Systems Command for 250 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) International MaxxPro Dash ambulances with DXM independent suspension. This complements last week’s $13 million delivery order for MRAP field service representatives, instructors and mechanics, with work to be completed in Kuwait.

The ambulances will be a modified version of Navistar's mine-resistant, ambush-protected trucks, or MRAPs, already used by the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq. The heavily armored trucks are designed to withstand blasts from roadside land mines, the leading cause of U.S. casualties in the Middle East conflicts. The ambulances will be outfitted with an independent suspension system to make them maneuverable in Afghanistan's rugged, mountainous terrain.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded an $18,800,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-2303) for additional class services associated with the detail design and construction of the Zumwalt-class (DDG 1000) destroyer. This work will provide technical and industrial engineering in the interpretation and application of the detailed design to support construction and the maintenance of a safe and operable ship design. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
The MRAP ambulances feature a litter-assist system to allow medics to easily move stretcher-bound patients into the vehicles. The ambulances will be assembled at Navistar's West Point, Miss., plant and the order is expected to be completed by the end of September.

Illinois-based Navistar has built more than 8,000 of the armored trucks for the U.S. military since 2007. The company expects sales of military trucks, parts and service to total about $2 billion this year.

READ MORE - Navistar Defense Gets $183M

2011 Life Ball MINI feature This year marks the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the HIV virus in 1981, so the upcoming Life Ball charity event plans to properly mark the occasion. MINI will again be showing its showing showing its showing its .Support for the cause with a specially dedicated vehicle in order to generate funds for projects battling AIDS

This is MINI's tenth successive involvement in Europe's leading AIDS charity event. The 18th Life Ball will be held in Vienna on 17 July 2010 and will once again serve as a hot spot for international celebrities. This colourful, extrovert event flies the flag for solidarity and provides MINI with the perfect platform on which to highlight its socialpolitical commitment.

New York fashion designer Kenneth Cole went to work on a MINI Cabrio. It has created a jewel sparkling in fine silver, brushed metal. The impact area of the body is covered with studs, which are also reflected in the interior. He says the designer of its MINI Life Ball: In our collection we always aim to bring fashion and function in harmony. And this is precisely what the MINI Cabrio is. It is both a functional and elegant car. We have designed brushed metal body, in line with our fall / winter line / accessories, and Lent is our signature trademark. We hope that the MINI will delight followers of fashion enthusiasts and the same car and a high price at auction amfAR .

This year marks the BMW Group endemic automaker's tenth after captivation in the alms event. Previous Life Ball Mini specials accept been advised by Missoni (2003), Ferré (2004), Versace (2005), Diesel (2006), Mario Testino (2007), Agent Provocateur (2008) and, aftermost year, The Blonds for Katy Perry.

2010 MINI Life Ball Edition mode on behalf of Calvin Klein, US fashion house’s creative director Francisco Costa will be designing the new Mini Countryman crossover. US fashion designer with Belgian roots Diane von Furstenberg, will artistically enhance the MINI Hatch, while New York’s Kenneth Cole apply his style on a Mini Convertible.

The Blonds specialise in stand-out couture oozing sex appeal and glamour. Their outfits are striking, richly decorated and complemented by knock-out accessories: sparkling, dazzling, dramatic. Stars such as Beyonc?, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Shakira, Madonna, Britney Spears and Dita von Teese have all worn creations by The Blonds at big occasions.

READ MORE - 2011 Life Ball MINI feature

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse SE Review |The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XI may have been saved from the chopping block, but at least one Mitsubishi sports coupe is on its final dregs and will soon ride off into the sunset. For the record, the Eclipse, has been one of our favorite Japanese sports coupes in recent times so it goes without saying that we’re pretty bummed out that the line will officially end after the 2012 model year.

Mitsubishi claimed that all Eclipse trim ranges (GS, GS Sport and GT) will be available there as SE Special Edition variations which includes “SE” side decals, black side mirrors and 18-inch dark finish alloy wheels, along with the excessive-end standard features available on the Eclipse GS Sport versions of both the coupe and convertible models.

The 2012 Eclipse Coupe SE and Spyder SE are essentially Eclipse GS-Sports with special SE decaling, a revised exterior with special paint and 18-in. dark alloy wheels. Creature comforts include heated leather seats with a power driver, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a Rockford Fosgate premium audio system, and a sunroof for the coupe model.

Powering the special edition models is the 2.4L SOHC MIVEC four-banger that’s good for 162hp and the 3.8L SOHC MIVEC V6 that’s good for 283hp. Unfortunately, both the four-banger and six get automatic transmissions: four cogs for the four and five for the six.

The most affordably-priced version of the Eclipse remains the GS Coupe model. No-cost features include a 6 speaker 140-watt AM/FM/CD player with MP3 playing capability and an auxiliary audio input jack, air conditioning, 6 airbags, dual exhaust, blacked-out roof, 18-inch alloy wheels and automatic shut off headlights. The Eclipse GS Coupe comes equipped with a 5-speed manual while a 4-speed automatic transmission is available as an option.

READ MORE - 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse SE Review