Auto For Speed

For some, driving a Mercedes-Benz roadster is special enough. But when the local high-end mall is surrounded by row upon row of the Three-Pointed Star, some look for a little something extra special. For such European customers, Mercedes has launched a pair of special editions.

The SL Night Edition comes in black with 19-inch AMG five-spoke alloy wheels, silver brake calipers and darkened light housings front and rear. The interior gets black nappa leather with arrow-shaped, silver-tone stitching, as well as a special steering wheel, shift lever and roof lining and special touches to the Airscarf ventilation system.

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For the aftermarket scene, SEMA isn’t the only show in town. Well, in that particular town – Las Vegas, that is – maybe, but not in the world. Europe’s got Essen, and Japan’s got the Tokyo Auto Salon. With the latter fast approaching, Honda has revealed what they’ve got up their sleeves for this year.

First is the Insight Sports Modulo Concept you see above. Based on the Insight hybrid, the concept demonstrates what Honda’s Modulo customization range can do for the company’s Toyota Prius rival. And if the idea of tricking out a hybrid seems strange to you, remember that this is the automaker that just gave us the CR-Z.

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Are you ready for the year of the Volkswagen? The German giant is planning to release more cars in 2010 that it has in any single year in its history, and it’ll start things off with a bang in Detroit. Meet the Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept, the latest in a new trend of sporty hybrids.

Sporty hybrids? Indeed. The trade-off for stellar fuel economy has long been lackluster performance and a boring drive, but today’s automakers are looking to change that inequity. Not to be upstaged by Honda’s new CR-Z hybrid, Volkswagen has unwrapped its own sport-oriented hybrid coupe, called the NCC for short.

Volkswagen says the NCC is meant to slot between Europe’s sporty Scirocco and the larger CC, a position currently held by the Jetta. At 178.5 in. long, 70.1 in. wide, 55.6 in. tall, and riding on a 104.4-in. wheelbase, the NCC is within 3 inches or less of the Jetta in every dimension. It has a stretched wheelbase, identical width, and lower roof. Is this the next-generation Jetta coupe Volkswagen enthusiasts have pined after? Perhaps.

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