A unique, full hybrid Lexus LS 600h Landaulet fitted with a one-piece transparent polycarbonate roof will serve as the official royal wedding car when His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco marries Carlene Wittstock in Monte Carlo on 2 July.

The conversion was undertaken by Belgian coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet, working closely with Lexus engineers based in Brussels. The project took more than 2,000 hours to complete, with a focus on maintaining the levels of quality and technological sophistication that are fundamental to every Lexus, and preserving the performance, safety and dynamic attributes of the original LS 600h L. Read the rest of this entry »

Opel will have a busy fall this year with the introduction of three new icons: the revolutionary electric Ampera with extended range capabilities, the new generation Zafira Tourer flexibility master, and the Astra GTC three-door sports compact. The Astra GTC will have its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main, September 15 – 25, 2011.

The new Astra GTC stands out with sharp design and driving capabilities. On the outside, sculpted shapes with precise accents add drama to clean, sweeping coupé lines. And on the road, all Astra GTC versions benefit from a premium front axle layout with HiPerStrut – High Performance Strut – that ideally combines with the clever Opel patented Watt’s link rear axle to provide unmatched stability and the sharpest driving precision. Only very few, radical sporty cars in the segment offer such a sophisticated front axle architecture. Read the rest of this entry »