Does the Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG with its 612HP twin-turbocharged V12 engine seem a bit slow and not quite as exclusive as you’d like it to be? Need a set of wheels that will really make you stand out of the AMG crowd? Don’t fear because Carlsson is here. Set to make its world premiere at Zurich Auto Show in Switzerland on November 13, Carlsson’s Mercedes-Benz CL-based Aigner CK65 RS “Eau Rouge” Dark Edition has been developed in association with the leather lifestyle brand Etienne Aigner.

Production of the luxury coupe that features a V12 Bi-Turbo tweaked to deliver 705 HP or 756 HP with a few additional upgrades will be limited to only 10 cars. In case you’re wondering why, let’s just say because prices for the Carlsson Aigner CK65 “Eau Rouge” Dark Edition 705HP start from €319,000 (around $400,000) and for the 756HP version with the second power stage from €374,000 (approx $470,000).

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For the first time in 22 years, a General Motors vehicle has been voted ‘Car of the Year’ (COTY) in Europe. The brand-new Opel insignia gathered a total of 321 points beating the second Ford Fiesta by the narrowest possible margin - a solitary point. The Insignia is the third Opel / Vauxhall model to be awarded with the COTY after the Kadett (Vauxhall Astra in the UK) scooped the award in 1985 with the Omega (Vauxhall Carlton) following in 1987. The COTY jury, which is made up of 59 senior motoring journalists from 23 European countries gave the VW Golf VI a total of 223 points placing it third of the contest’s seven finalists.

“This is the closest COTY competition for years,” comments Ray Hutton, president of the 59-strong jury of senior motoring journalists. “Car of the Year has often been decided narrowly, but it is eight years since another Ford, the Mondeo, was beaten by a single point by Alfa Romeo’s 147.” To underscore the closeness of the 46-year-old competition, the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia received most votes from 20 of the international jurors, while the Fiesta was placed first by 19 of them.

Points allotted by journalists to the other COTY finalists were Citroen C5 198, Alfa Romeo MiTo 148, Skoda Superb 144 and Renault Megane 121 points.

For the record, the competition’s first stage was in October, when jurors chose seven finalists from a total of 37 contenders. In order to be eligible for COTY, a car must be launched within the past 12 months and has to be available in at least five European countries - which is why the Toyota iQ didn’t take part in this year’s competition as European sales start in January 2009.

The Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe is a 3-series BMW really should make. To create it Alpina, the Buchloe-based tuner, tweaker and BMW bedfellow takes a regular 3-series coupe. It then drops in the twin-turbo diesel engine from a 123d, makes a few changes and the result is an engine with more bhp per litre than any other BMW road car.

But Alpina is well known as a maker of fast and understated M Division-rivalling BMWs. So what happens when the company turns its attentions to diesel? Will there be an agricultural rattle to spoil everything? Read on to find out about the Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe.

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Audi made it clear last March that the baby R8 was dead. Despite numerous rumors that Audi would get its own version of the upcoming Porsche Boxster/Cayman replacement, the decision was made to nix plans to create the mid-engine Audi R4 over fears that it would cannibalize sales from its Porsche-badged brethren. An Audi spokesperson went so far as to say that, “It was never in our product planning.” Well, AutoExpress is reporting that tales of the R4’s demise have been a bit premature.

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Saab may be better known for station wagons, turbochargers, and torque steer, but the company wants people to know it has been cranking out convertibles for 25 years now, with a worldwide total of over 250,000 units. To celebrate, the Scandinavians will show a special-edition 9-3 convertible at the upcoming L.A. auto show.

Although the 25th is traditionally the silver anniversary, apparently it is the “Bright Champagne” anniversary in Trollhättan. Bright Champagne is one of three color choices on the special edition 9-3T—the others being Jet Black and Carbon Grey—although it is the only one exclusive to the anniversary car. The specialness of this edition is rather limited: power comes from Saab’s base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and dress-up is minimal. The car wears a front bumper the company says is influenced by the Turbo X—which itself is barely differentiated from base 9-3s—and dual exhaust tips and a gray bumper insert like those found on the 9-3 Aero.

At $47,500, it is at least priced like a special edition, and that includes—hot dog!—floor mats like those found in the Turbo X. We’d have traded them for the Turbo X’s drivetrain.