Even Jay-Z and Kanye West cannot make the brand rise from the ruins when they destroyed a Maybach in the making of the Otis music video. So what can make it work for the brand? Maybach is said to go back to the basics, cold cash. The ultra-luxury car marque will be offering rebates of as much as $100,000 for consumers buying a new Maybach.

Looking at the figures, the full $100,000 rebate might just be good if you will buy a Maybach 62 that has a sticker price of $427,7000.. The entry level, if there is such a term for a Maybach purchase, the Maybach 57 that goes for $376,300 will most likely get you lesser rebates.

Looking at the zeroes of the rebate, it is hard not to wonder how this marketing move will affect the image of Maybach in the ultra-luxurious market. While most Maybach owners most likely can write a check to settle the whole amount in a sitting, they will surely not be smiling when they get to learn that they can get a new ride for a lesser value than the once they paid for before.

The special model was specifically built for the Chinese New Year that was celebrated recently and welcomes the lunar year of the dragon.

According to the Rolls-Royce CEO, the Chinese market is not easily pleased with plain luxury rides but want highly custom built models. Some popular items include custom embroidery and even drink cabinets. The topman of Rolls-Royce admit though that 2012 might not surpass the 2011 performance of the brand in China but the car marque will still push ahead with more dealership to add to their 14 showrooms in order to meet the high demand in the luxury car segment.

Rolls-Royce looks into more vehicle customization to sustain and promote growth of the brand. The current orders for the Ghost Rolls-Royce sedan shows that around 56% of the orders involve some for of personalization which may range from cigar humidors, custom paint, and even picnic sets.

For the higher end Phantom, the customization is even higher with 79% for the Asian market and around 99% of the orders looking for bespoke features for Middle Eastern clients. The North American market is also following the trend with 84% of customization for the orders last year, a big jump from 30% in 2005.

Next in line will be the Tuatara, a better designed car compared to its other super car siblings with very hard to pronounce names. The Tuatara took its shape from the creative juices of well known car designer Jason Castriota. Good name, checked, Good design, checked. But can this car by SSC perform as it promises?

The guys from SSC nods, with a naughty look as if saying wait until you see it run.

The Tuatara taps the power of its V8 6.8L engine that can give out a monstrous 1,350 horsepower. According to SSC, the Tuatara can go from 0 to 60 miles in a blink of 2.8 seconds to go to a top speed of 275 miles an hour. The company has been working on the aerodynamics of its prototypes and the exotic car manufacturer recently tested it with a 7-speed gearbox that rocketed the Tuatara from 0 to 200 mph in less than 16 seconds.

The numbers are amazing if you will compare it to what has been achieved so far. The Agera R of Koenigsegg is the current record holder and has hit the 0 to 200 mph in 17.68 seconds.

Watch the Tuatara in action below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Tuatara was first unveiled by Shelby SuperCars during the Shanghai auto show back in July and later at Pebbles Beach. Aside from the very powerful engine, the car is also very lightweight as its subframe chassis is made from carbon fiber and it also rolls on carbon fiber one piece rims.

Mercedes Benz ML 63 AM 2012

Mercedes-Benz is working double-time this year. While the standard version of the 2012 Mercedez-Benz M-Class is still being developed the year, the company is already testing the engines of the line’s high performance series.

The standard M-class series is set to be produced for the public by 2011. By the end of that year, 2012’s ML 63 AMG will sport Merc’s newly developed 5.5 liter twin turbo-charged model. The standard version of the M-series runs on a naturally-aspirated 6.2 liter engine.

According the AMG division of Mercedes-Benz, the 5,461cc V8 engine will be used in a variety of the company’s future car models. This engine produces 544 HP and 800Nm in standard form. If that isn’t enough, you can increase these figures to 571 HP and 900Nm with a performance pack upgrade.

There’s no official report yet on the performance of the bi-turbo charged V8 on the ML 63 AMG. Aside from the improved engine, AMG’s take on the new ML will also feature an upgraded suspension system, more powerful and bigger brakes, sturdier tires, and a cosmetic overhaul of both the exterior and the interior aspects of the model.

The standard version of the ML63 currently sports 19-inch wheels and high performance brakes from AMG. Because of its top-of-the-line suspension system on this muscle on wheels, the cornering ability of the 4-wheel drive is also impressive, to say the least.

Sporty additions like its multi-contour seats, sunroof and rear climate control, logic 7 sound and satellite navigation system make it a fast favorite for car lovers with cash to spend.

The model fetches an average price of $159,900 exclusive of the on-road costs and plus-options.

PHOTOS ARE RIGHT HERE, CHECK ‘M OUT!

A 2010 Tesla Roadster or the more aggressive Roadster Sport can be delivered to your garage under a 30,000 mile, 3-year contract, and a monthly fee starting at $1,658. The price might look unappealingly high but you need to remember that this Tesla will cost less to run on a daily basis compared to the other speed monsters.

Interested individuals need to prepare $12,453 upon signing of the contract. This is broken down to $9,900 for a down payment, the rent for the first month, and an acquisition fee of $895.

Looking at the numbers, a Tesla Roadster compared to a gasoline operated car can save you about $131 every month on fuel. This assumption is based on the average 833 miles covered by a regular driver every month according to an EPA test.

After the expiration of the contract, the consumer has an option to purchase the vehicle or just pay the fees and walk of the store. Your extra miles will cost you $0.25 per mile and you also need to cover a disposition fee of $350.

Part of the deal will be a mobile service to keep the car tuned through regular technical inspection and upgrades of the firmware. A Tesla technician will give the renter a visit to check on the car and do what is needed to keep it in tip top shape. Minimum charge for this technical service is about $100.

If you want to lease a Green Car like the Tesla, call 650-413-6300 to inquire.

The details about the comeback are not yet disclosed officially but we heard some buzz that Nikolai Smolenski, the Russian owner of TVR, plans to unveil the new speed monster at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. There is also a possibility that it might be revealed sooner.

According to insiders, the car will sport a crate engine V8 from the U.S. so it will most likely come from Chevrolet or Ford. The designers are set to keep the TVR values with this new release so we can expect at least 500 horsepower roaring from its engine, aggressive stance, and great design lines. It will be a head-turner at Goodwood.

The TVR cars usually have bespoke engines under their hood but since the company opts to market the car in U.S. shores too and other parts of the globe, they decided to use a tried and tested technology to save money on research and development.

The information we have here are not yet confirmed but checkout www.tvr.co.uk and you will see a “coming soon” sign. There are also rumors that car parts are being transported to Germany where Smolenski plans to restart the production.

The ST on its tag explains it all. The 7.0L engine will be supercharged and turbocharged to squeeze out an amazing 1,104 horsepower and a torque of 1055 poun-feet. The figures double the output of the LS7 stock engine.

The power of the engine is transferred to its wheels by a six-speed manual transmission system. The bi-fuel setup powerplant can zoom from 0 to 60 mph in a blink of 3.0 seconds and reach a lightning speed of 233mph.

The Zenvo ST1 designers used steel space frame for the bones of the car and laid down carbon fiber for its shell. It is also set up with an adjustable stabilizers and shocks, and double-wishbone suspension. The car gets 19 inch Michelin tires in front while a bigger 20 inch rolls at the rear.

Zenvo will only 15 units of this speed monster. The cars are all hand-built and the sticker price for the Zenvo ST1 is expected to start at $1,275,000.

With its looks and the power under its hood, the Danish beast can really give the Ferrari and Lamborghini a fierce fight as a poster car. The recently unveiled Arash AF-10 may also look a little weak when you look at the price-performance numbers.

During the MPH Autoshow held at the Earls Court in the United Kingdom, Keating claims before a capacity crowd that the TKR was able to post a top speed of 260.1 mph or 418.59 kph. The round of testing took place last October at Salt Lake Flats in California.

The 1,800 horsepower 7.0L TKR was able to smash unofficially the land speed record during the first two rounds of testing on the tracks of Salt Lake Flats with at least 3.0 mph faster than the SSC Ultimate Aero TT which is the current record holder. The Keating supercar must prove once more that it can hit this lighting speed to ensure that it will be posted on the Guinness Book of World Records.

The TKR shares the same architecture with the less aggressive SKR. The chassis is basically designed from steel spaceframe with some carbon fiber. The V-8 powerplant under its hood was sourced from General Motors. The powerful engine is coupled with the Porsche transaxle 5-speed transmission which sends powers to the rear wheels.

Buyers can choose from two engine variants, a 6.0L or a 7.0L of the GM V-8 powertrain. It can be configured to be naturally aspirated, turbocharged or supercharged. Keating still accepts orders but the limited run for the TKR and SKR is expected to terminate at the end of 2009.

Poker star Vanessa Rousso just bought herself a brand new (well, used – but it looks very very recent!) Lamborghini Gallardo to celebrate her tournament poker success in the past 12 months. Vanessa really has taken the poker world by storm – and I guess she decided it was time to treat herself to a little extra.

Backed by the likes of PokerStars and GoDaddy.com – Lady Maverick is looking forward to playing a lot of poker in 2010, but also mentioned launching a lot of charity-events to give back to the community.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Go get ‘m, Vanessa Rousso!

Gemballa will take the Mirage into new heights but with a certain exclusivity with the famous tuner producing only five samples.

The Gemballa GT release can whoop some rivals on the road with 750 horsepower. The Carbon Edition runs with a 670hp power plant with a torque of 465lb-ft. Imagine riding the untweaked Carbon Edition which is 50hp more powerful than the Carrera GT stock. What Gemballa did to the Mirage brings an extra shot of excitement with every chance behind the wheel.

The Gemballa achievement is not all hype. It is backed up by stats. The Gemballa tuned GT can blast from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Give it 9.7 seconds and it is at lightning speed of 124mph. The numbers are a bit faster than the stock record. The boost also gave the GT a top speed of 208 mph or 335 km/h.

The Carbon Edition boasts of carbon accents on a black and white color scheme. A hydraulic coilover with adjustable height was also installed to help with the handling and negotiation of bumps on the road.

The Gemballa GT Carbon Edition has a hefty tag of €298000 with the tuner requiring the clients to supply their own Carrera GT.