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Aston Martin-Mercedes tie-up: secret plans revealed by CAR

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 06 August 2008 11:20 Aston Martin and Mercedes are plotting a wide-ranging tie-up that could see the two famous brands collaborate on engines, hybrids, transmission and even entire platforms, CAR can reveal. The top-secret partnership between Aston and Merc – dubbed Project Alligator by the Germans – is detailed in our exclusive story in the new September 2008 issue of CAR Magazine. The scoop includes the lowdown on: • How Mercedes engines could power future Aston Martins • AMG's 6.2-litre V8 tipped for Vantage models• Diesels and hybrids from Germany planned for Aston• Whole platforms to be shared by top-end models• Eight-speed Merc auto bound for British sports cars• Why Maybach and Aston could co-operate on future modelsWe speak to the engineers and insiders who are working on Project Alligator and spill the beans on the secret project that will reshape future generations of Aston Martins.

Cadillac S-class fighter confirmed

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson recently revealed to USA Today that a new Cadillac S-class and 7-series fighter is in the works. He suggested it would be released in about two years. The large luxury sedan will utilize a rear-wheel-drive chassis loosely based on the CTS, though there will also be an all-wheel drive version.

Audi unveils armored A8L Security

While unveiling the Allroad E-Tron Shooting Brake at the Detroit Auto Show, Audi also quietly debuted the A8L Security version of its new range-topping sedan this week, armored to the highest level of ballistic protection for passenger cars. The A8L Security is based on the facelifted version of Audi's third-generation A8 sedan, and this armored version will be available both with Audi 4.0 TFSI V8 engine and the 6.0-liter W12. Audi set out to design the current A8L with building an armored version in mind, as opposed to the first-generation A8 of the 1990s which was not offered in Security specification until very late in the product cycle.