Birdman becomes proud owner of an $8 million Maybach Exelero; Hasn’t paid for it yet

Rappers tend to have some of the biggest paychecks known to man. Even "Birdman" who may not be the most recognized or the most talented rapper has enough money to splurge now and again. Keeping that in mind, it’s no wonder that he recently became the owner of a Maybach Exelero for which he paid an incredible $8 million. Considering Forbes lists him as the fourth wealthiest rapper and he is also the proud owner of a Bugatti Veyron and a Maybach Landaulet, this latest purchase shouldn’t astound anyone."They got this new Maybach that I want that costs $8 million, I gotta have it," he said in a recent interview, and why shouldn’t he when his net worth is estimated to be $100 million?The Exelero is powered by a V12 biturbo engine...

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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Are You Team First-Gen Or Team Second-Gen? Vital Stats Engine:  Twin-Turbo 4.6L V8 Power:  402 HP / 443 LB-FT Transmission:  7-Speed Auto 0-60 Time:  5.1 Seconds Top Speed:  130 MPH (limited) Drivetrain:  Rear-Wheel Drive Curb Weight:  4,158 LBS Seating:  2+2 Cargo:  15.3 CU-FT MPG:  17 City / 25 HWY MSRP:  $84,545 Mercedes-Benz has a long history of setting trends, which includes being the first company to develop technologies we take for granted today, like traction control systems, airbags and anti-lock brakes. It also kicked off the trend of propelling vehicles with motors, having built and sold the first automobile back in 1885. But it's not usually known for setting styling...

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2011 Dodge Caliber Heat

A Monument To Mediocrity Vital Stats Engine:  2.0L I4 Power:  158 HP / 141 LB-FT Transmission:  CVT Drivetrain:  Front-Wheel Drive Curb Weight:  3,012 LBS Seating:  2+3 Cargo:  18.4 / 47.4 CU-FT MPG:  23 City / 27 HWY MSRP:  $21,105 as tested We didn't exactly get off on the right foot with the Dodge Caliber. As the spiritual successor to the profitable and successful Dodge Neon, this boxy hatch had big expectations to meet when it touched down way back in 2006. Unfortunately, the Caliber never found itself in the same room as those expectations. But it was crafted during the dark days before Chrysler's fall, and the company has recently made great strides in shoring up its product line. Nearly...

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F1 figures react to London riots

As the F1 world slumbers in August, some of the sport's figures have reacted in horror to the situation on the streets of London. Swarms of English youths this week have been violently rioting, vandalising and looting, triggering Pirelli boss Paul Hembery to call for a "tough" response. "It's overwhelming the level of anger and disgust from so many people irrespective of race, religion or class. Everyone wants tough action," he said on Twitter. Also angry is former McLaren driver Mark Blundell. "Why - if these people are so tough and riot and thieve - do they cover their faces? It's because they are cowards of the first order. Shame on them!" he said. F1's BBC anchor Jake Humphrey told his Twitter followers: "Keep your heads...

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Acura hybrid could arrive next year

Acura is working hard to revamp its existing lineup, and the first phase is underway thanks to some updated sheetmetal. Next year, Acura's main focus will be to increase the fuel efficiency of its portfolio, and this will be accomplished by the addition of hybrid powertrains for certain models. According to Automotive News, the TL, RDX and MDX are all slated to get a gas-electric option. In addition to the hybrid automobiles, Acura is looking to revive both the RSX and NSX nameplates. The RSX will be offered as a sedan for the 2013 model year, and then a coupe starting in 2015. We won't get excited for the NSX just yet (its on-again/off-again reports have left us a bit cold), but rumor has it that we could see the Acura...

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Subaru teases production-ready XV appearing at Frankfurt

Subaru has released a teaser shot confirming that the XV will appear in production-ready form at the upcoming Frankfurt show. The new crossover is said to be close to the concept that appeared at Shanghai's auto show, and is an Impreza-sized SUV that will still come with the company's all-wheel drive system. The show car revealed in China was slightly longer than the standard Impreza, and around 20cm higher. The production version will provide a rival for the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Peugeot 3008, and is due to go on sale early in 2012. According to reports it will come with two petrol engines and the company's 2.0-litre Boxer diesel engine. Source: autoblog....

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All new Suzuki Swift Sport to make Frankfurt debut

The Sport version of the new Suzuki Swift will be making its debut at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show in September. The new car will feature a 1.6-litre petrol engine that has been specially developed for the Sport, according to Suzuki, which will come with 132bhp – a boost over the old car's 123bhp. There are no details on the speed of the new car just yet, but expect the increase in power to result in a slight improvement over the outgoing Sport's 8.9 0-62mph time. This engine is combined with a new six-speed manual gearbox, which Suzuki claims will offer "performance that is both exciting and environmentally responsible" although final figures are yet to be computed. The handling has been worked on with the inclusion of an...

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Lamborghini to present ultimate Gallardo at Frankfurt

The Lamborghini Gallardo has been on the market now for the better part of a decade. Along the way, it has led to countless variants: some with roofs, some without, some with all-wheel drive, some with rear, some with as less than 500 horsepower and some with nearly 570. Soon the entire range will be replaced with a new model thought to be called Cabrera, but before it does, word on the strada is that the Raging Bull marque is planning one last hurrah. And what a hurrah it will be. Reportedly based on the Super Trofeo race car that's fielded in the spec racing series of the same name, a "Super Trofeo Stradale" is tipped to debut at next month's Frankfurt show as the final iteration of the Gallardo. Little word at this point on...

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Review: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible

Summertime, Personified Vital Stats Engine:  6.2L V8 Power:  426 HP / 420 LB-FT Transmission:  6-Speed Manual 0-60 Time:  4.9 Seconds Drivetrain:  Rear-Wheel Drive Curb Weight:  4,116 LBS Seating:  2+2 Cargo:  11.3 CU-FT MPG:  16 City / 24 HWY MSRP:  $42,995 $37,509 ? Muscle cars have never coped well with having their tops clipped. Losing the roof rarely does a vehicle any favors in the rigidity department, but the high-horsepower, high-torque coupes of the last four decades took fiendish delight in twisting themselves into pretzels after a few enthusiastic throttle plunges. To make matters worse, frumpy, awkward-looking soft tops were never as attractive as the original tin....

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