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Who's Where: Toyota design chief moves to head-up Yamaha design

Akihiro Dezi Nagaya has moved from his position as chief designer at Toyota to Yamaha Motor Company, where he will take up the post of chief general manager of design. The move became effective on 1 July, and sees Nagaya move from his position as CEO of Tecno Art Research, a freelance design office for Toyota projects located in Nagoya, Japan. His replacement at Tecno Art Research is Hiroshi Kawahara, Toyota's former general manager of advanced design.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 (2011) track testing begins

McLaren has begun testing its latest track weapon, the MP4-12C GT3 ahead of the 2012 FIA GT3 season.  How different is the MP4-12C GT3 from the roadgoing edition? The MP4-12C GT3 is based on the standard machine but modified for FIA GT racing by McLaren GT - a joint venture between McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing, a UK-based team currently competing in FIA GT with Ferrari F430s.  Externally you'll notice the race-spec fixed rear wing, undertray diffuser, front splitter, louvres and vents. Underneath there's a new suspension system, ditching the road car's linked suspension for FIA-compliant conventional dampers and anti-roll bars. Akebono is supplying race-specific brake components, and Bosch Motorsport has installed its ABS system. The car sits 100mm wider on its new suspension and has suitably flared bodywork as a result.  It's still the McLaren's bespoke 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, tuned for racing.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series revealed!

There is Mercedes-Benz, there is AMG, and then there is the Mercedes-Benz AMG Black Series. The last mentioned are so highly tuned and rare that AMG has slapped the Black label on only four models so far: the SLK55, the CLK63, the SL65 and now this, the C63 AMG Black Series coupe. We did not get to drive a C63 Black Series--but AMG did let us stand next to one and look at it.