Rather than debut a new car at the recent Auto Shanghai 2015 motor show in China this week, Infiniti has chosen to debut a new interior in its flagship Q70L.

Chinese car buyers love two things more than life itself — luxury and legroom. That’s why the new cabin concept was debuted on a the stretched wheelbase version of the Q70 sedan. With acres of quilted leather white as new-fallen snow, a rolltop console splitting the rear buckets, and oodles of handcrafted elements, there’s only one word fancy enough to distinguish this superopulent cocoon. Behold, the Infiniti Q70L Bespoke Edition.

According to Merriam and Webster, bespoke means custom-made. And while this concept is a one-off for now, Infiniti says it bridges the gap between its current interior and the ones on its concept cars. However, the company made no statement about whether the sumptuous quarters would make it to production or, as the name implies, preview some kind of personalization program like Ferrari’s Tailor-Made series.

Diamond-quilting and stitched cowhide dominates every interior surface of the Bespoke Edition, from seats to door panels to the headliner. The hand-cut pattern on the seats evokes the cabins of other Nissan products ranging from the just-launched 2016 Nissan Maxima to the classic Datsun 240Z. There’s even jewel-like Infiniti logos embedded in the doors.

With China’s appetite for anything luxury and Infiniti’s global headquarters in Hong Kong, it seems like a match made in heaven. As evidence, Infiniti head Roland Kruger said the marque’s sales increased globally by 13.5 percent in the past 12 months, while sales in China’s increased by 28.3 over the same period.

Watch the Infiniti Q70L Bespoke Edition’s video below.

BMW has revealed its “i Remote” app for the Apple Watch.
The utility has been developed specifically for the company’s i-Series models, including the i3 and i8, providing owners with tools to help manage each vehicle’s electrical system.

The wristwatch interface provides a quick way to remotely check on charge status, with configurable alerts to notify the owner when the battery is full. The same screen also shows the estimated electric range for the given charge status.

Other tools allow users to check and lock the doors, close the windows and sunroof, view service alerts, or set the climate-control settings to pre-condition the cabin before arriving at the vehicle. The latter feature is said to be a great way to maximize range, using the plug power to heat or cool the cabin rather than the battery.

Navigation features can be used to direct a driver to the vehicle on foot, or to a destination when they step out of the vehicle. Drivers can also activate the horn or lights to help find the car in a parking lot.

Porsche announced its own Apple Watch app earlier in the day, and more introductions will likely continue to flood in from other automakers in the coming weeks.

A Volkswagen executive has confirmed that the Golf R400 has received an official green light for production.
“We have the Golf more sporty than ever before, since we soon will have the Golf R400 – we will do this car,” development head Heinz-Jakob Neusser told Car.

The company has not yet confirmed details surrounding the production version, but it is expected to closely follow the concept. An Audi-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will likely provide 400 to 415 horsepower and at least 331 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels via a six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

Drivers should expect the performance hatchback to reach 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds.

VW is not expected to make any changes to the chassis, but the body will likely keep many of the concept’s enhancements. Tweaks include a front splitter, redesigned bumpers, a trunk-mounted spoiler and a rear air diffuser. Both three- and five-door body styles have been mentioned, each outfitted with sport seats for the front passengers.

Unconfirmed rumors point to a September debut in Frankfurt, with deliveries later in the year or early in 2016. The range-topping Golf could fetch around twice as much cash as the GTI, which retails for around $25,000 in the US.

General Motors has issued a recall for the 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V, citing a problem with brake components.
The front brake hose fittings at the caliper are said to be prone to corrosion, eventually allowing the brake fluid to leak. Braking performance can consequently diminish, extending stopping distances and increasing the risk of a crash.

The problem was first noted in a customer complaint, resulting in an investigation that started in February. The inquiry found that the 2004-2007 CTS-V uses the same brake hoses as the 2003-2007 CTS, which was recalled in 2009 for the same problem.

The campaign is being handled on a regional basis, limited to nearly two dozen “rust belt” states with high road-salt exposure.

General Motors earlier this year succeeded in resisting a push for wide-ranging recalls of older models due to corroded brake lines. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agreed that owners are responsible for inspecting and replacing rusted lines, however the latest recall suggests GM views the corroded fittings as a defect rather than a maintenance item.

After finding Mercedes-Benz guilty of orchestrating an alleged price-fixing scheme, Chinese antitrust regulators have reportedly hit the company with a $57 million fine.
The government last year initiated an anti-monopoly crackdown that appeared to be focused on foreign automakers, including Mercedes-Benz and competitors such as Audi and Fiat Chrysler.

A National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) investigation concluded that Mercedes-Benz dealers had been price-gouging for labor and parts, forcing customers to pay 12 times the retail price of a C-Class if they were to build the car completely from spare parts.

The agency further claims that Mercedes-Benz told dealers to implement minimum prices for S- and E-Class sedans, allegedly threatening to cut support if the verbal instructions were disobeyed.

“Mercedes-Benz China accepts the decision and takes its responsibilities under competition law very seriously,” a company spokesman said in a statement to The New York Times. “We have taken all appropriate steps to ensure to fully comply with the law.”

Chinese officials have vowed to continue enforcing antitrust violations in various industries, though some critics have viewed the actions as disproportionately targeted at foreign companies.

Mazda announced EPA figures for the 2016 MX-5 Miata Friday, highlighting a 25% improvement in overall fuel economy over the outgoing model.
When equipped with the 6-Speed SkyActiv manual transmission, the new MX-5 will achieve 27 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway and 30 combined. When the automatic is selected, the new Miata can manage 35 mpg on the highway, with no city or combined improvements.

Mazda calls the improvement dramatic, and that’s not hyperbole. The outgoing MX-5 only managed 21-22 mpg (transmission dependent) in the city and 28 on the highway, meaning the new MX-5′s combined fuel economy surpasses the outgoing model’s best-case highway figure.

“There has always been an MX-5 for all types of drivers, from weekend autocross and track-day enthusiasts to those who just want a stylish convertible sports car,” said O’Sullivan. “With its improved fuel-efficiency, we believe that audience will grow even larger when it goes on sale this summer.” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations, in the announcement.

The 2016 MX-5 is down on power compared to the previous car (155 horsepower vs 167 horsepower ), but the new model actually boasts a better power-to-weight ratio thanks to its feather-light curb weight. That should translate to a 0-60 time in the low six-second range.

The hotly anticipated new roadster will tip the scales at just 2,332 pounds with the manual transmission. Checking the MX-5′s automatic gearbox option will push the car’s weight to a slightly more portly 2,381 pounds.

Production of U.S.-bound examples of the 2016 MX-5 Miata is got underway earlier in April and deliveries are expected to begin stateside over the summer. The initial run began earlier in the year, but was reserved for home-market customers.

Chevrolet has revealed a new special edition Corvette Z06 to commemorate Corvette Racing and the C7.R race car.
The 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition is an exclusive, track-ready street car based on the standard 2016 Corvette Z06 coupe and convertible. Available in just two colors (Corvette Racing Yellow or Black) the C7.R Edition is essentially a bundle of cosmetic and suspension upgrades. There are no engine upgrades to be found here, which stands to reason, as the C7.R race car’s engine is smaller than the Z06′s and lacks its supercharger.

“Corvette Racing’s legacy and technology were significant influences on the development of the Corvette Z06 and the new C7.R Edition honors the direct link between the racecar and the production model,” said Harlan Charles, Corvette product and marketing manager, in the announcement. “It also advances Chevrolet’s plan to offer special-edition models that offer a unique, personal ownership experiences, which become important parts of Corvette’s legacy.”

In addition to all options found on a 3LZ-trim Corvette Z06, the C7.R gets the Z07 performance package standard, which includes Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and track-ready Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Outside, you’ll find a unique, C7.R Edition graphics package; yellow brake calipers; black wheels with a yellow accent stripe and “Corvette Racing” center caps; an unpainted carbon fiber ground effects package; grilles and body vents finished in grey; and an unpainted carbon fiber hood insert.

The C7.R Edition interior is finished in Jet Black leather with a sueded microfiber steering wheel, shifter, dash accents and competition seat inserts. Yellow contrast stitching is found throughout, along with carbon fiber trim inserts. A plaque identifies the car as one of 500 authentic C7.R editions produced, starting with VIN #700001.

The C7.R will be available later this year. Pricing was not announced, however it should be north of $90,000 given the included equipment.

Porsche has revealed its remote-control Car Connect app for the Apple Watch.
Complementing the Porsche app for the iPhone, the watch utility provides many of the same features and capabilities but with an interface optimized for the smaller wrist-borne display.

Owners can view the ‘remote’ display, providing a quick way to make sure the windows, doors, trunk lid and sunroof are all closed. A single finger press can lock the doors if the car was accidentally left unsecured.

Other utilities help drivers find their car in a crowded lot or on street-side parking, providing navigation guidance if necessary, or check the charge status of plug-in hybrid models. A ‘climate’ function provides further control over the preconditioning system, pre-heating the cabin on a cold day or remotely firing up the air conditioning during a heat wave.

Porsche notes that most of the Car Connect functions are available from the watch interface, but the paired iPhone still manages communication with the vehicle.

The app will likely be one of many Apple Watch utilities to be revealed by automakers in the coming weeks and months.

Ford is celebrating a significant production milestone for its popular Police Interceptor law-enforcement vehicles.
Employees earlier this week built the 100,000th Police Interceptor, a utility variant based on the Explorer. It will be sent to Chicago to join Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s police force.

The company finishes assembly at its 54,000-square-foot upfit facility in Troy, Michigan, where employees take an average of 5.5 hours to outfit the Explorer- and Taurus-based models with the necessary law-enforcement modifications. More than 125 packages are offered, with a choice between different lighting options, wraps and gear configurations.

Both models have been hot sellers for the company, with the SUV claiming the title of most-popular new law-enforcement vehicle in the US — allegedly beating Ford’s own sedan and rivals such as the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV and Dodge Charger.

“It is the market share leader in 40 states, and has a 55 percent market share nationally,” Ford said in a statement.

The company is preparing to kick off production of the updated 2016 Police Interceptor Utility, which brings all of the upgrades from the new Explorer and a few extra features for cops. Surveillance Mode is among the highlights, providing a warning to the occupants when someone approaches the rear of the vehicle.