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Tesla rolls out Model S hatchback, plans late 2011 start

Amidst thumping techno and inside his own rocket factory, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk pulled the cover off his much-anticipated second car onThursday. The Model S five-door hatchback will go into production in late 2011 at a rate of 20,000 per year. Prices will start at $49,900 for the base model, a price that assumes the $7,500 current Federal tax credit available.

Kia to launch a new range-topping V8 saloon dubbed K9

Kia will build their rumoured rear-wheel drive V8 saloon - but it won't come to the UK, sources in Korea have confirmed to CAR.Following the domestic badge hierarchy, this new range-topper would logically be called the K9. Perhaps that dog-inspired badge may explain why the car won’t come to Europe, but US sales are expected.  Kia’s new range-topper: the ‘K9’ The new large Kia saloon was scheduled to be shown in 2011, but it has now been pushed back to a 2012 launch. The new saloon would sit above the front-drive 3.5-litre V6 K7/Cadenza saloon in the Kia line-up. CAR understands the new exec will be ready by May 2012.   The K9 represents the first application of sister brand Hyundai's rear-drive technology from the Genesis and Equus. Expect Hyundai's 'Tau' V8 engine under the bonnet, along with the upcoming eight-speed automatic transmission which arrived in the Genesis R-Spec saloon at the 2011 Chicago auto show.

De Tomaso Deauville production off to China

De Tomaso Deauville - off to China Gian Mario Rossignolo’s De Tomaso has been struggling to get up and running, and now they’ve sold De Tomaso Deauville production to China. If there’s been one constant in the history of De Tomaso, it’s been a lack of money. And despite former Fiat exec Gian Mario Rossignolo’s takeover of the De Tomaso brand from the liquidators last year, it seems nothing much has changed.