Cadillac Preparing Right-Hand Drive CTS-V

With around 34% of the world's population driving on the left hand side of the road, in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Japan, any automaker that aspires to go global needs to produce right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles. With only a few exceptions like the fifth generation Seville (built from 1998 to 2004), Cadillac has for the most part shied away from RHD markets. But this is about to change as the wreath and crest brand is getting more serious about increasing its presence in markets outside of North America.
Aside from the product presentations like the new BMW 3-Series rivaling ATS sedan that will eventually be offered with a diesel option as well, Cadillac is also getting ready to introduce right-hand drive models.
“We’re geared up for right-hand drive now. We’re working on it," says General Motors marketing chief Joel Ewanick, according to a report from Autocar magazine.
One of the first models to get a RHD version will be the Cadillac CTS-V that sports a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine with 556-horses.
Ewanick also reiterated Cadillac's newly found commitment to global markets during the interview.
“There wasn’t a commitment to the product before and we didn’t design cars to the market demands,” he said. “The Germans do this very well. There is now a full resource commitment and a vision to get this right. Bankruptcy refocused GM.”
But it's not all good news for Cadillac fans as when asked about the well-received Ciel Concept shown at Pebble Beach last summer, Ewanick said that it's not among the company's top priorities:
“The Ciel reaction was very good. But we’ve got lots of other Cadillacs to do. It’s the busiest time in our history for all our GM brands. It was a strategic time to introduce a luxury concept to the brand, but you need to remember where we are with Cadillac at the moment; the Ciel is a much higher type of luxury.”

PHOTO GALLERY

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BMW Launches M5 [With Prices]

This week's Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi saw the BMW Group launch the new 2012 M5 high-performance saloon as well as the MINI brand in India. However, with ex-showroom prices ranging from 24.9 lakhs or about US$47,000 / €36,700 for the MINI Cooper to a whopping 95.9 lakhs or US$181,000 / €141,200 for the BMW M5 (and which do not include applicable sales tax or handling charges), even the cheapest MINI will remain hoisted from the reach of the vast majority of Indian buyers.
On the other hand, it's also a game of numbers and with a population of 1.2 billion people, there's bound to be a significant market for premium-priced models in India.
The MINI brand enters the Indian market with a comprehensive range of models that includes the Cooper and Cooper S hatchbacks, the Cooper Convertible and the Cooper S Countryman crossover.
Speaking during the presentation of the cars at the New Delhi Show, Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India, said:
"With the launch of MINI, the BMW Group debuts in the premium small car segment in India. In the start-up phase, BMW Group’s main focus will be to concentrate on successfully establishing the MINI brand in India. At a later stage, the BMW Group will focus on further development of dealer network and higher sales volumes."

PHOTO GALLERY

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New Suzuki Teasers May Hint at Jimny / Samurai 4x4 Concept

After more than 13 years in production, Suzuki may be ready to begin work on a successor to the third generation of the Jimny 4x4 that was first introduced at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show. While we remain short on details, Maruti Suzuki, which is a subsidiary of the Japanese automobile and motorcycle manufacturer, published a set of teaser photos on its website that hint at a concept model for a small 4x4 to be revealed at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, India, next month.
If that's the case, then it shouldn't be long before the concept gives its way to a much needed replacement for the aging Jimny.
The Jimny's predecessor was the Samurai, a small but capable off-roader that was offered in the United States from 1985 to 1995.

SUZUKI MARUTI CONCEPT

CURRENT SUZUKI JIMNY EU-SPEC

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Dancing with the Bikes: Pakistani Rollerblader Controls Motorcycle

He's called the 'Skating King of Pakistan', well, at least that's the name given to him by the person that uploaded the video on YouTube, but watching him graciously endanger his own life as well as the lives of everybody else on the road, who are we to disagree? And just to make it clear, the young man is not simply tagging behind a motorcycle being driven by someone else, but he is actually controlling the bike with a rope of some sort. You can watch him in the video after the break.

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Indian Leader Looks to Expand Family of 39 Wives, 94 Children

After marrying 39 women and fathering nearly 100 children, a tribal Christian cult leader in India said he wants to expand his family by walking down the aisle a few more times, the Hindustan Times reported Monday, citing the Indo-Asian News Service.

Zionnghaka Chana, 67, from the eastern city of Mizoram, has 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren.

The family forms part of the "Channa" cult, named after Zionnghaka's father, who had 50 wives.

Zionnghaka said he would like to push toward his father's tally of wives. "I can travel beyond the borders of Mizoram or even India to marry, as that would help me to expand my family," he said.

Other Christian leaders in the region have decried the cult's ways, saying that true Christianity does not allow polygamy.

But Zionnghaka's family members and wives -- who share his bed on a rotational basis -- said they are happy with their lives.

"We are all happy, and like any other church, we believe in the existence of God, but the only distinctive difference is that our denomination allows us to marry more than one wife," according to Nunparliana, one of Zionnghaka's sons.

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