Exhibit coach the world’s largest SEMA lasts from 4-7/11 in Las Vegas USA. SEMA 2008 attracted about 50,000 visitors in 4 days.

12►

In splendid uniforms, and the model vehicle is always a part in exhibitions.

1234►

Now fully restored and wearing its famous Reims livery, the Shelby Daytona Cobra CSX2601 headlines the Original Spring Classis Auction, which is expected to feature 1,250 vehicles.

Held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the auction is open to the general public with tickets are available at the door for $10. It will be broadcast live on Mecum’s popular television series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on HD Theater – Discovery Communications’ first 24-hour high-definition cable network, offering compelling real-world and motorized content. See more detail here

12►

We prepared ourselves for the worst when we learned that Acura was planning to reveal the prototype of their BMW X6 fighter at the New York International Auto Show yesterday. After all, the only thing the world needs less than the original X6 is a milquetoast imitation. But somehow, Acura managed to nearly win us over with their signature inoffensive design, exceptionally adequate performance and seamless integration of technology — all of which will be perfected by the time the production ZDX goes on sale.

Our only reservation? As the fate of the world turns from bad to worse, the luxury sport-ute sedan eschews our new national modesty like a pre-revolution French king. Forget about letting them eat cake. The ZDX is a heaping helping of foie gras.

The launch began with remarks from Jeff Conract Conrad, Acura’s VP of sales. Conract Conrad told the crowd that the ZDX “takes the best attributes of a stylish coupe, a versatile sedan and a flexible SUV - and successfully blends them into a head-turning vehicle for active and adventurous individuals to explore their passions.” That also means it’s got the cargo space of a stylish coupe with the agility, fuel economy and visibility of an SUV. We imagine the “head turning” refers to what ZDX drivers will be doing when they attempt to parallel park — despite the on-board cameras and blind-spot detectors. Like nonalcoholic beer or Van Halen unplugged, the ZDX has the potential to be the worst of both worlds.

Luckily for Acura, the ZDX prototype exhibits the carmaker’s trademark flawless execution. No word on performance yet, but we imagine it’ll be more than adequate with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive and a paddle-shifted six-speed transmission mated to an all-aluminum VTEC V6. One of their best decisions was hiring Michelle Christensen, a 25-year-old recent graduate of Art Center College of Design, who managed to keep the prototype’s sheetmetal from aping a Pontiac Aztek or an AMC Eagle. It’s only because of Acura’s new design language that the ZDX kind of looks like an Autobot.

Conract Conrad suggested that ZDX owners would use their car for “navigating city streets in search of a trendy new restaurant, or comfortably covering the miles to a favorite ski resort or ocean front retreat.” Unfortunately for potential owners, its SUV-height suspension means you’ll be at eye-level with your former coworkers when they’re sitting on the bus headed to the unemployment office. At least the Acura/ELS premium sound system lets you drown out derisive taunts from the proletariat, while the AcuraLink navigation system can route you around those pesky breadlines.

See more detail photos here: Auto News !

123►

Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen led the way in Audi No. 2 with a best lap of 1 minute, 43.596 seconds. That was a half-second quicker than R15 No. 1 driven by Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner. Significantly, the lead Audi was almost 1.5 seconds ahead of the quickest Peugeot 908 LMP1 prototype, driven by Sebastien Bourdais, Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin, which just edged the sister car of Christian Klien, Pedro Lamy and Nicolas Minassian.

The De Ferran Motorsports Acura LMP1 entry was fifth quickest–just a tenth of a second behind Peugeot–though Monday was its first day of running, while Audi and Peugeot ran over the weekend. De Ferran’s entry was more than half a second quicker than the Patron Highcroft team’s Acura.

In GT2, Gianmaria Bruni was quickest for FIA GT team Advanced Engineering, which fields a Ferrari F430 GT. Bruni was followed by a Farnbacher Loles Porsche GT3 RSR and two more Ferraris fielded by Risi Comptezione. Rahal Letterman Racing’s new BWM M3 GTRs were more than one second slower than Bruni, but the team said it was not concerned this early in the week.

See more detail photos here:

123►

Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin) is an American auto racing driver, currently competing in the IndyCar Series. She was raised in Roscoe, Illinois. Patrick was named the Rookie of the Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season. In May 2006, she published her autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line. With her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300, Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race,…

1234►