Mercedes-Benz S-Class by Inden Design

German tuner Inden Design has a package that aims to bring the (W221) Mercedes-Benz S500 closer to an S65 AMG, at least in terms of looks.

The tuning package begins on the outside with a new front spoiler, side sills and a rear diffuser with integrated quad exhaust pipes. Daytime running lights are also added while taillights and side mirrors get their own touches too. The S500 gets coated in a charcoal-gray matte film for that unique flush look.

For the engine tuning, there's a power upgrade to 420 PS (309 kW / 414 bhp) up from the series' 388 PS (285 kW / 383 bhp) on the 5.5 liter V8. That comes in part due to the new stainless-steel exhaust system with AMG pipes.

Brakes are upgraded to those found on the S600 V12 BiTurbo with 6-piston calipers for the front wheels and 4-piston brake calipers to keep the rear axle in check.

Suspension lowering of 50 mm also takes place and helps highlight the new 20-inch wheels with 265/30-20 tires at the front and 275/30-20 tires for the rear rims.

For the cabin Inden Design has a two-tone leather and Alcantara finish for the headliner, door panels and all three pillars along with carbon inserts replacing the former wood trims. A new speedometer now reads up to 360 km/h.

Source: Inden Design

Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011

Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011:The third high-yield superstar

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY) is my final dividend pick for 2011. This mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) currently pays out a 14% yield, and it could be a great play for next year if inflation doesn't rear its ugly head. Annaly makes its money on interest rate spreads, using short-term financing to buy longer-term mortgage-backed securities, largely issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Annaly thrives in a low-interest rate environment, making it a great countercyclical play, and we have every indication that low interest rates will continue for some time. The Fed has already said that it will maintain low rates for an extended period. And even with Quantitative Easing 2.0 in full gear, there are already rumblings of a third iteration of the program, which would push interest rates still lower. So if you believe in the disinflation or deflation hypothesis, this company could be for you.

Alternative ways to play the deflation hypothesis would include Annaly spinoff Chimera Investment (NYSE: CIM) and American Capital Agency (Nasdaq: AGNC), which are both REITs and have the same fundamental business model as Annaly. American Capital Agency pays out a trailing yield of 18.7%, while Chimera sports a 16.9% yield.
Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011:Alex Dumortier, CFA, Fool contributor

In this environment, you're much more likely to find 2011's best international stock in the old-world, slow-growth markets of Europe or Japan. Most investors are now chasing emerging market stocks and acting as if no valuation is too high to own a piece of companies in high GDP growth countries -- never mind that the link between GDP growth and stock returns is very weak. Meanwhile, Europe and Japan have been left for dead by investors, despite the fact that both can boast world-class companies, some of which derive substantial profits outside their domestic/regional markets.

If you are willing to consider buying foreign stocks trading on the pink sheets (which I strongly recommend), I urge you to take a look at Pargesa Holding (OTC: PRGAF.PK). This Swiss holding company is jointly controlled by a master capital allocator, Albert Frere (it is no exaggeration to call him the Belgian Warren Buffett).

Pargesa owns large shareholdings in a small number of European blue chips, including Total (NYSE: TOT), Lafarge, and Pernod Ricard, which are all global franchises. Pargesa's Swiss shares currently trade at a 23% discount to their adjusted net asset value, enabling investors to buy some of the world's greatest companies with a healthy margin of safety. However, the U.S.-traded shares are very illiquid and are suitable only for those who would be willing to hold them beyond 2011.
Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011:Gerard Torres, Fool contributor

Remember the story of the tortoise versus the hare? Well, Israeli wireless service provider Partner Communications (Nasdaq: PTNR) is a lot like the tortoise. It churns out steadily growing profits, which it willingly returns to its shareholders.

The Israeli telecommunications market is undergoing a makeover. Recent regulatory changes have been instituted to promote greater competition. Meanwhile, the wireless market has hit its saturation point and is only expected to grow modestly. That doesn't sound like ideal business conditions, but Partner will be able to overcome these obstacles and continue to build its intrinsic value.

Partner Communications has first-mover advantage. While any new competitors will have to build up their infrastructure, Partner is continually adding customers, particularly to its higher-margin data services. Sure, it's not going to win any awards for staggering growth, but new entrants will have an uphill battle over the next decade if they want to take market share.

In the meantime, Partner offers impressive profitability and strong growth of free cash flow. Better yet, it maintains a dividend policy in which it will pay out at least 80% of its net income to shareholders while carrying a tempting price-to-earnings ratio of 9.2. Just like the tortoise, bit by bit it will get you to the finish line.
Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011:Tim Hanson, advisor, Global Gains

Markel Chief Investment Officer Tom Gayner was speaking at Fool HQ recently and was asked why his portfolio doesn't have more international exposure. He responded to that question with a question, challenging his interlocutor to decide whether Peoria, Ill., industrial giant Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), or Japanese auto manufacturer Honda (NYSE: HMC) was the more international firm. The answer is that based on where these companies do business, Caterpillar is the more international pick. As it turns out, just 32% of Caterpillar's revenue comes from the U.S. versus 45% for Honda.

Now keep that example in mind as I reveal that my top international pick for 2011 is Bentonville, Ark.,-based retail giant Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT). Although Wal-Mart is America's largest retailer and employer, the company actually has a very international future -- with aggressive expansion plans in place in China and Brazil, a recent acquisition in South Africa, and a rumored acquisition in Indonesia looming. And while many emerging markets stocks are being valued at a premium at present given the outsized growth expectations in these markets, you can buy Wal-Mart's exposure at a sharp discount given the market perception that it's a low-growth domestic retailer. I expect that perception to change in 2011 and for investors in Wal-Mart to benefit as a result.
Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011:Telecom darlings

The wireline space has been a particularly good performer in 2010, with major players CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN), and Frontier Communications (NYSE: FTR) all moving up nicely and paying out nice dividends. Frontier's EBITDA margins are comparable to those of Windstream at around 50%, with both trailing CenturyLink's 54%. So they are all able competitors.

But I think Frontier still has a lot of room to run, especially since these companies should be valued on their dividends. Frontier now offers a 7.9% yield, compared to Windstream's 7.1% and CenturyLink's 6.2%. Why do these three companies have such disparate yields?

If the market were to give Frontier shares similar yields to either Windstream or CenturyLink, its stock could still have upside of 11% to 27%, respectively, in addition to that meaty dividend. Even better, Frontier's free-cash-flow payout in the latest quarter was just 59% -- leaving the company some room to boost its dividend, perhaps back to the $1 level that we saw before the recent acquisition of Verizon's lines.

One further kick to all the companies in the industry is the possibility of consolidation as the wireline space becomes even more competitive. We've already seen some of the effects of that in the past few years, and there well could be more of it. This would push up stock prices even further. So those are the reasons Frontier could be a nice winner in 2011, and they're why I own the stock myself.
Motley Fool Top Stocks Advisors 2011:Smokin' dividends

It's hard to argue with a company that has been a dividend darling for as long as Altria (NYSE: MO) has. Altria has one of the strongest brands in the world, in Marlboro, and the company has boosted its quarterly dividend three times in just the last six quarters. Given the company's commitment to pay out at least 80% of its earnings, the stock looks like a great place for 2011 and some time beyond. With that commitment, any earnings increase goes straight back into investors' pockets.

Like the wireline telecom space, the tobacco industry has come under pressure, but Altria the stock has plenty of puffs left in it. And using the simple mathematics that I described above, it still can make a lot of sense to buy into this market leader now.

How S&P Responds to 1275 Is Huge Market 'Tell'

The Dow [.DJIA 12066.80 8.78 (+0.07%) ]

suffered a triple digit sell off Tuesday and the S&P [.SPX 1308.44 2.11 (+0.16%) ]

closed sharply lower with investors running for the exits after crude hit $100 and comments from Ben Bernanke sparked inflation concerns.

Demonstrations overseas sent oil prices [CLCV1 102.45 0.22 (+0.22%) ]

surging with varying degrees of violence reported in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Iran and Iraq. Investors now worry that oil workers in some of these nations may strike.

Meanwhile, in testimony before Congress, Ben Bernanke showed little concern about the move in oil, and again called the risk of inflation ‘modest.'

The Street largely took his comments to mean the recent spike in oil and other commodities will not lead to a broad policy response from the Fed, at least for now. In other words the Fed had no plans to aggressively fight inflation by raising rates.

How should you position now? What should you be watching?

Instant Insights with the Fast Money traders

Considering these developments, Guy Adami is concerned that a sell-off may be brewing. “I’m not sure 1300 holds,” he says. And if the S&P tests 1275 it could be a huge market tell. “1275 was resistance on the way up late last year and support on the way down earlier this year. If we test that level, what happens will be telling.”

Mary Ann Bartels, Bank of America Merrill Lynch head of U.S. Technical Analysis largely agrees. She tells us 1270 is her key level on the S&P. And if we breech 1270 then we’re looking at 1220 to 1170, she counsels. "We'll be in for a deeper correction," she says.





Pete Najarian is also growing skeptical of the rally. He points to the Vix [VIX 20.70 -0.31 (-1.48%) ] which closed above 21. “That’s a huge concern,” he says "And when oil ticks above $99 people start to panic," he adds. “Oil can flicker above $100 and we can handle it,” he says, but Najarian needs to see oil really pullback before he can feel bullish.

Joe Terranova thinks the next big move has everything to do with oil. “The market is extremely sensitive to it right now,” he says. In other words, he expects an almost inverse correlation between the price action in crude and that of the S&P. As one goes higher the other likely goes lower.

Tim Seymour is focused on the negative action in energy stocks [XLE 77.51 0.44 (+0.57%) ] despite the stead climb in WTI. He finds the divergence notable.

Geneva 2011: Mini Rocketman Concept misses the Earth so much, misses its wife

Mini's new space-age Rocketman Concept previews what the future of urban mobility could look like for the BMW sub-brand. It's slightly smaller than the current Cooper, and we're big fans of the dual-hinged doors that pivot outwards, complete with the sills. In fact, the whole concept strikes us as totally cool, and is further proof that Mini's cheekiness can be further evolved to new types of vehicles.

The Rocketman's interior uses a space-efficient three-plus-one seating arrangement, and we're told that the car is powered by a highly efficient powertrain capable of returning 78 miles per gallon on the U.S. cycle. Mini's new Connected infotainment system is displayed via three-dimensional graphics on the interactive speedometer screen, and there's even a steering wheel-mounted joystick to operate the whole slew of functions.

There's a whole host of clever features found within the Rocketman, but above all, the concept's design is what really stands out.

Geneva 2011: 2012 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet pops its top, just can't stop

What you are looking at is a Volkswagen Golf with no roof. It is also the first roofless Golf that will be offered for public consumption (in Europe at least, it's probably not coming to America) since 2003.

There's not really much else to say... except maybe that its windshield is raked further back than that of its hatchback siblings and that its updated fascia now boasts LED running lamps. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

2012 Mercedes C63 AMG debuts in Switzerland

Mercedes has officially unveiled the C63 AMG facelift in Geneva.

Drawing inspiration from the SL63 AMG, the C63 has a prominent front splitter, a single-bar grille, and new headlights with LED indicators. Elsewhere, there's a new rear bumper and restyled 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the cabin has been significantly improved thanks to a greater emphasis on material quality. Most notably, there's a new dashboard, a revised instrument cluster, and piano black trim on center console.

As before, power is provided by a naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter (6208cc) V8 engine that develops 451 hp (336 kW / 457 PS) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a new seven-speed 'SpeedShift MCT' transmission that enables the sedan to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (4.6 seconds for the estate) and hit a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

For the power hungry, the optional AMG Performance Package increases output to 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. With the extra power, the dash from 0-100 km/h takes just 4.4 seconds (4.5 seconds for the estate).

Lastly, to improve the car's handling, engineers installed a new steering system, revised spring / damper rates, and a thicker anti-roll bar. Thanks to these modifications, owners can expect "greater driving enjoyment and ride comfort at all times."

The 2012 C63 AMG will start arriving at European dealerships in July and German pricing starts at €71,340.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Report: Mitsubishi official says Evo franchise is dead

According to Gayu Eusegi, head of global product development for Mitsubishi, the Lancer Evolution X will be the last Evo the Japanese automaker ever builds. Eusegi says the move is part of a shift in strategy to put the company's product focus and ethos on leadership in EV technology.

To that end, Autocar indicates that Mitsubishi will release eight fully-electric or hybrid-electric cars by the time 2015 rolls around, and make a grab for a big portion of the CO2-reduction market share. It goes without saying that the fun-yet-fuel-swilling Evo just doesn't fit that mindset, particularly since it apes a rally car that no longer exists.

Despite the Evo's huge popularity, Mitsubishi apparently isn't scared of the step and says it's confident that consumers will glom on to the idea and rally behind the brand. By killing the Evo, they're making their intentions plain to an increasingly environmentally-conscious car-buying public.

Eusegi killed dead any notion that the brand would roll out a performance-oriented hybrid as well. "Maybe the world can change, and maybe someday we can do a motor race by electric vehicles. Maybe then we can enter the market agian," he said.

This report of the Evo's death would seem to stand in contrast to multiple reports that an Evo XI is in the works with a hybrid drivetrain. We're taking this latest Autocar missive with a few grains of salt, as we can see how Eusegi may have simply meant that an Evo that relies exclusively on internal combustion is dead – a hybrid Evo would seem to offer a nice technological bridge to Mitsubishi's more electrically minded future. Hat tip to Dennis!

[Source: Autocar]