U.S. Senate has already approved the law that requires every vehicle sold in the U.S. after 2015 to be equipped with a data recording unit, and this helps investigate accidents faster.

“Black boxes” have to pass one hurdle to be mandatory on any vehicle sold in the U.S. after 2015. The Senate has already approved this law and will next the last step before implementation, ie to be approved by the House of Representatives. In the case of a favorable majority vote, each car in the United States will be equipped with a recording unit that will store the forces of acceleration, vehicle speed, throttle position and time trigger of airbags.

Legally, the records of “black boxes” are belonging to the vehicle owner and police can have access to them only with a court order. In the case of a serious accident, medical services or extrication crews can search for data that might help to understand the causes of the accident without permission from the owner. In other words, the “black boxes” for cars will not be used by police to punish drivers who break the law, but will help in finding the causes of serious accidents.

Aston Martin recently launched the limited series DBS Ultimate. With this edition, the British manufacturer says goodbye from the famous Gran Tourer, ending a success story. Aston Martin DBS was launched in 2007 and was equipped with a V12 engine to compete with Bach.

Aston Martin DBS was never the performance standard in its class, but elegant design and the great capabilities of Gran Tourer have made from this model, a real success. Next year Aston Martin will turn 100 years, an opportunity to launch DBS’s replacement. UK manufacturer does not want to break too easily from the model that made history and launched the limited series Ultimate. 100 Ultimate copies will be distributed between coupe and convertible model.

In terms of exterior, DBS Ultimate is distinguished by many carbon fiber elements and new colors offered by the British. Prospective customers can choose between Carbon Black II, Quantum Silver or Silver Fox. Inside find quality leather seats, various accents of red, to give a special air racing model and the board on which is engraved the model number. On the technical level there is no change. Aston Martin DBS Ultimate is equipped with the same 6.0 litre V12 engine that develops 517 hp.

Italian manufacturer Fiat, has recently launched a series of images of Linea’s facelift model, designed to refresh the design of the sedan that’s been in production since 2007. The changes will bring a new more elegant and fresher look.

The new Fiat Linea has a new front spoiler which includes and fog lamps. Its design and the new face grille bring the look of Italian model to current standards. The trunk lid and rear spoiler complete the elegant look for who have turned the designers of Italian sedan.

Inside we find a wheel with a new design and redesigned instrument panel, and a new dashboard. External changes gives to Linea a fresh look needed to cope with stronger competition.

In terms of technical details, the Italian manufacturer has not announced anything yet, waiting the official launch of facelift. There are chances that Linea facelift to come with the engines of 1.4 liter petrol, 1.6 liter diesel and 1.4 liter engine with Multi Air, known on other Fiat models. We will provide more information with the official launch of the model.

Whenever have the opportunity, the rulers of the main premium brands, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, say that their goal is to become, sooner or later, the first in their market segment. So far, BMW ranks first among premium manufacturers.

If for now Audi ranks second and is hoping that, in just few years, will unseat the rival BMW, Mercedes-Benz might give some headaches – is the opinion of experts from the Center of Automotive Research, Duisburg-Essen University from Germany.

According to their estimates, in 2015, BMW group will have sales of 1.76 million units, while Mercedes-Benz will reach 1.68 million and Audi only 1.63 million. Their main arguments are the ambitious plans of Mercedes-Benz, which will launch no more than 10 new models over the next three years.

On the other hand, Audi is aimed obtaining first position in the top premium producers by 2020. In this respect, the premium brand of VAG group is based on the sales trend from China, on the opening of new factories (like the one in Mexico) and the increased demand for diesel models in markets like United States.

Everybody can see that a certain portion of future cars will be electric, but now we can provide the freedom that gives us a vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine. One of the biggest problems of electric cars is the very limited autonomy, but it seems that a group of students from Technical University of Munich (TUM) have found the culprit.

They argue that the greatest enemy of electric cars is the high weight of batteries that weigh a lot. German Federal Ministry of Education has prepared a budget of 10.8 million euros for Visio.M project, aimed for building the “perfect electric car.”

In this project were engaged and major automotive manufacturers such as BMW, Siemens, Damiler and TUV SUD. The ideal electric car will weigh only 400 kg excluding batteries and will be powered by an electric motor that develops 20 hp.

The Germans claim that this car will be perfect for growing and busiest cities in which we live. Vehicle’s weight will not have negative effects on the security offered by it. Professor Markus Lienkamp says that the ideal electric car will be effective, inexpensive and fun in the same time.

Maserati will not call their future SUV Kubang, as this was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011.

The future Maserati SUV will be launched in 2014 at the Detroit Auto Show, but will not keep the name of concept which was announced at Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, the intention of Maserati to build a SUV. So, Maserati SUV will not be called Kubang, but will have a completely new name, hopefully one that you will be able to spell without twisting your tongue.

It is not the first time when we hear the name Kubang. In 2003, Maserati had another attempt of an SUV concept with the same name, but has not received the green light. Now, after Fiat took the control of Chrysler, Maserati SUV becomes a certainty, because the concept shown at Frankfurt 2011 is using the technique platform of known Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Apply this method with caution! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The first teaser for the new generation Renault Cio 4 since last year, this is a detail of the front, where a massive logo dominates on a small grille under the new branding concept unveiled by Renault DeZir.

Since then, various rumors have appeared in the press, information and spy photos and renderings, so spirits are quite agitated before Paris Motor Show 2012, where the new Renault Clio 4 will officially make debut. For now, the French endurance test us with a teaser image – back where the bottom line is observed side windows, and some arrest.

It seems that the new Renault Clio relies on integration solution for door handle rear window frame, which would give to Clio a sporty design, coupe style, prominent edge. In other words, the new Clio 4 will raise serious life-style claims.

In size, the new Clio will increase in length by 2 cm, reaching 4.05 meters, but the total mass will be less. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will be reduced with the adoption in some Stop&Start system for the range of engines and trim levels will be unusually rich for a small class.

Everybody knows Ducati, the famous Italian manufacturer of motorcycles. The announcement from 2010 about collaboration between Ducati and AMG, Mercedes-Benz sport department, took us to the conclusion that the next step will be buying Ducati by Mercedes-Benz.

However, now we have a major surprise: Ducati officially signed with Audi, Mercedes-Benz premium’s rival. Besides this, the surprises continues, because it’s a huge amount, about 840 millions euro (ie $ 1.1 billion).

Ducati is the third acquisition from Audi’s portfolio, Lamborghini and the design studio Italdesign, most analysts considering the purchase a new step in the fight of Audi vs BMW. Basically, from now on, Ducati will compete directly with BMW motorcycle division, and sales of Italian motorcycles hopefully will help in the battle against the rival from Munich. However, there are analysts who believe that the price paid for Volkswagen group for Ducati is exaggerated.

It seems that Volkswagen group has bet on diesel cars overseas development, because the sales of cars with compression ignition engines increase in the U.S. Even more than expected U.S. analysts.

Thus, the first quarter of 2012 show an increase of 35% over the same period in 2011, which, taking into account the evolution of 27% from 2011 compared to 2010, leads us to the conclusion that Americans are increasingly tempted by such efficient cars because of fuel prices.

On Monday, the situation looks downright explosive: in January the increase was of 21.2% compared to 2011, in February by 42.9% and in March by 39.6%. That while the increased electric and hybrid cars segment was about at the same level (11.4% in January, 55.4% in February, 39.6% in March), and the total sales of new cars in the U.S. increased with only 13.4 in the period January-March 2012.

Thus, taking into account the federal standards, which require obtaining in 2025 an average fuel consumption of 54.5 mpg, combined with more favorable prices for diesel cars than for electric and hybrid, it becomes clear that almost all car manufacturers will adapt the demand for north American market.