Rolls-Royce has unveiled two bespoke Phantoms for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Baynunah Phantom features BMW-sourced Milano Beige paint, an Everflex tan roof, a gold plated Spirit of Ecstasy, and 21-inch seven-spoke wheels. Interior goodies include Walnut bur trim, a camel harness-inspired wood inlay, a Starlight headliner, rear lounge seats, and RR logo embroidered headrests.

On the other hand, the falcon inspired Shaheen Phantom Coupe has Orchid Pearl paint, Tudor Red accents, and 21-inch polished wheels. Inside, the cabin boasts Mugello Red / Seashell leather upholstery, a red carbon fiber instrument panel, Marine White veneers, and falcon embroidered headrests (which have 11-thread colors and require 21,011 stitches each).

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After a bevy of leaked product images and spy shots, official confirmation of an updated 2011 Jeep Wrangler can hardly be considered a surprise, but it’s still a welcome development. For its next model year, the venerable four-wheeler will receive a comprehensive (and much needed) interior update, along with a body-color removable hardtop available on the Sahara trim.

2011 Jeep Wrangler dashboardThe new Wrangler, which has just gone into production this week at Chrysler’s Toledo Assembly Complex, gets a new steering wheel, instrument panel, reworked center stack, and even larger rear windows. Other changes include a lockable console, gooshier armrests and upgraded materials all around.

On the creature-feature front, there’s a new USB interface for keeping those top-down tunes flowing, as well as Bluetooth streaming audio. You’ll be able to hear your music of choice even better in the 2011 model, too, as the company has splashed out for a new ‘acoustical treatment’ designed to cut the Jeep’s (in)famous cabin din. Of course, if you’re buying a Wrangler, you’re probably not looking for the ultimate in refinement, but at first blush, these measured updates strike a nice balance with us.

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MKB has unveiled a new performance package for the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series.

Dubbed the P 1000, the package includes new air intakes, larger turbochargers, improved cooling systems, a revised ECU, and high performance camshafts. The company also modifies the automatic transmission and offers a variety of limited slip differentials.

Thanks to these modifications, the 6.0-liter V12 engine produces 1,000 bhp (746 kW / 1015 PS) and an electronically limited 1,300 Nm (959 lb-ft) of torque. It enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 8.9 seconds, and 0-300 km/h (186 mph) in 21.5 seconds. MKB hasn’t determined the top speed, but estimates it will be approximately 370 km/h (230 mph).

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Mercedes-Benz struck styling gold with the first-generation CLS-Class, creating a new segment that sent rival automakers scrambling back to their design tables. Things are different the second time around, as the new 2012 CLS steps into a market suddenly littered with so-called ‘four-door coupes’, with more on the way from Stuttgart’s German rivals Audi and BMW.

With the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, the automaker has focused on improving the one area that defines its existence: design. The sides of the car feature much more pronounced sculpting that starts with the front wheel well and ends at the fresh set of LED taillights. Love it or hate it, this is one four-door that at the very least will draw your attention.

Not surprisingly, LED daytime running lights make an appearance, but the 2012 CLS has full LED headlights, as well. The 71 individual LEDs enhance visibility and frankly, they just look cool.

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Chas Murphy, until recently the U.S. product manager for Audi’s TT, Audi R8 and RS sports cars, said of the R8 V10 Spyder: “You have to drive the car. It can’t be put into words.” Well, we drove it over the hills and through the woods of the Cleveland (Cali, not Ohio) National Forest, and we can put it into words. Rather, we can put it into one word: unfair.

The ways in which the R8 V10 Spyder is unfair leave us thoroughly taken with this open-air supercar and yet a little melancholy. You see, as good as the Audi R8 V10 Spyder is – and there’s no doubt about that – when you look at it, what you behold is the dumbing down of driving civilization. On the upside, this particular kind of dumb is among the most rewarding, outstanding kinds of idiocy you could ever hope to achieve.

The R8 V10 Spyder is a tweaking of the R8 V10 Coupe, an exercise in making only the changes necessary that would allow the coupe to lose its roof yet maintain its composure. But since this is Audi, those tweaks are abundant and subtle. According to Jeff Kuhlman, Audi of America’s Chief Communications Officer, the brand’s consumers spend a lengthy chunk of time researching their purchases, so Audi feels that it’s duty bound to reward those investigations with a plethora of things to find.

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We’ve tested the top-rung SE and Limited trims out in California. We’ve even had the chance to sample the upcoming Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Turbo versions in the automaker’s homeland. But when you get down to brass tacks, the majority of dealership transactions will be made up of the volume GLS model. Sure, a loaded-up $28,000 Sonata Limited is one heck of a nice car, but since 50 percent of all 2011 models sold to date have been fitted to GLS spec, it’s important for us to see if Hyundai’s swoopy new sedan is worthy of such high praise even without the extra gee-whiz goodies.

With that in mind, we recently invited an Iridescent Silver Blue Pearl (what a mouthful) Sonata GLS into the Autoblog Garage to find out what sort of goodness lies within the bargain bin. Hyundai has always prided itself on being able to offer outstanding overall value in all of its models, but when it comes to the new Sonata, its success extends far beyond the price tag.

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The 2010 Nissan Xterra Off Road isn’t an absolutely pure SUV by the strictest of definitions. Fans of old-school Internationals and Jeep CJs may scoff at the Xterra’s modern frivolities like Bluetooth and satellite radio, but they’re a small price to pay for one of last real factory off-roaders. An inspection of the Xterra’s more substantial hardware reveals an SUV matched by few that’s about as close to a pure SUV as you’re likely to get in 2010.

Consider it a classic recipe updated for the digital age. Behind the Xterra’s 4.0-liter V-6 is a standard six-speed manual transmission with an optional five-speed automatic. Behind that is a real two-speed transfer case, though it is operated by a simple electronic switch rather than a manual gear selector. It doles out power to an electronically locking solid rear axle — a heavy-duty Dana axle if you order the manual transmission — and a front differential nestled in a fully independent double-wishbone suspension. Not original recipe, but not pavement-bound, either.

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