Lamborghini Super Trofeo stars in one-make race series

Ferrari does it. Porsche does it. And now, Lamborghini is going to do it, too. "It" is a single-make race series, and Lambo's will showcase a competition-spec Gallardo LP560-4 dubbed the Super Trofeo. Each race will feature 30 of the cars, piloted by deep-pocketed private owners, dealer teams, and a single, Lambo-sponsored "celebrity driver" who'll change from race-to-race.

The Super Trofeo racer weighs in at 1300 kg/2866 lb and is spec'd out with all the requisite safety equipment; race-specific chassis adjustments, ABS brakes and wheels; Pirelli slicks; new instrumentation; and aero tweaks. The powered-up 5.2L direct-injected V10 sends 570 horses to all four wheels via the automaker's e.gear six-speed sequential gearbox. If you have the itch, head to your Lamborghini dealer with €200,000 -- that's the buy-in fee for the car and parts package. Each race will offer trackside support and parts sales to participants, who get to cool their heels in luxury at the Lamborghini Village that'll be set up at every venue. It all kicks off next May at Silverstone.

[Source: Lamborghini]

NASA tests new lunar rover

This week in Arizona, NASA conducted tests of the new battery-powered Small Pressurized Rover (SPR) it hopes to use when the U.S. sends astronauts back to the moon by 2020. The SPR is a huge leap forward over the original open-air (or is it open-vacuum?) rovers used by the Apollo astronauts. The configuration consists of a pressurized cabin mounted atop a modular chassis that can drive in any direction, thans to wheels that turn 360 degrees. The cockpit leads back to an area housing an airlock that the astronauts can use to transfer from one rover to another, from the rover to a apacecraft, or from a rover to a surface installation and vice-versa.

At the back of that compartment are two "suitports" that allow the astronauts to enter and exit their EVA (extra-vehicular activity) spacesuits without having to bring them into the vehicle itself. The suit backpacks lock into the ports and open up, allowing the wearer to climb out and work in the pressurized vehicle in normal clothing. Very, very cool stuff here. Since the rover is modular in nature, it can also operate as a non-pressurized vehicle, with all the operators in turrets wearing suits. Top speed is 10 km/h (around 6 mph), and the rover should enable astronauts to go on missions away from base for up to two weeks, covering up to 625 miles, according to Reuters.

[Sources: Reuters, NASA, NASA Edge Blog]

ABT Sportsline releases new mat carbon film for A4, Q7 and R8

Carbon fiber is light but expensive. For those who just want to look fast, ABT is offering faux carbon fiber wraps for cars like the Audi like A4, Q7 and R8.

The new foil is made on matte carbon film delivered by Kempten Company. While it can be used on performance cars like the AS4, AS7, ABT R8, it also just as effective on much lessor Audis.

For all those boy-racers who want to use this for a shortcut, remember moderation is the key. People may believe your A4 has a carbon fiber hood, but it will be hard to convince anyone that you had the doors, bumpers and pillars replaced too.

[Source:Top Speed]

Chevrolet Camaro "Black"

One of the stars of this year's SEMA show is the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and General Motors has every intention of creating even more buzz with a handful of customized pony cars.

We've already seen video of the General's in-house tuning team ripping apart a few pre-production models in preparation for the big day, and Chevrolet has released a teaser sketch of the first bespoke Camaro, tentatively dubbed "Black." Details are scarce, but the list of modifications range from a new front lip spoiler, bigger exhaust tips, five-spoke wheels and a pair of red-lit halo headlamps.

Volkswagen SP2 redux

Back in the 1970s when Volkswagen was trying to evolve from The Beetle Company to something more, the Type III was developed to go gunning for the mainstream. VW's Brazilian division was essentially it's own little fiefdom; with the market closed to imports and only Karmann Ghias to offer as sports cars. Even the spiffy and rare Type III Ghia was no longer too impressive by 1971. Division head Rudolf Leiding saw the need for a newer sports car and pushed through Project X, which used the Type III underpinnings and placed an attractive and modern coupe body atop the floorpan. Leiding was called back to run Volkswagen proper, but his modern coupe saw some success, and around 10,000 were produced making VW fans worldwide envious of the Brazilian market.

With the revival of the Scirocco, it seems only natural that interest in other sporty 1970's VWs would be piqued. Designer Marcelo Rosa has whipped up an updated vision of what a new SP2 might look like, and we like it. The idea is much like the upcoming Camaro – paying homage to the past without going completely retro. Some of the detailing is a little slavishly accurate and wouldn't fit with where VW's current style direction is going, but there's always room for a vehicle that pulls on the heartstrings; this is the company that makes the New Beetle, after all.

[Source: Carscoop]

Infiniti working on four-door GT-R

We've heard this particular rumor before, but despite Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's denials that a four-door GT-R is in the works, AutoExpress cracks open the taps once more, citing its usual "sources in Japan." But there's a twist.

According to the British rumormongers, the Infiniti-badged GT-R will be stretched to accommodate the extra set of doors, making the wheelbase longer and giving it a more comfortable ride. However, the GT-R's twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 won't be used. Instead, the FX50's 5.0-liter V8 will be mated to the same all-wheel-drive system and rear-mounted twin-clutch gearbox as its Nissan counterpart. Output is pegged at 420 hp with a 0-60 time of five seconds and a top speed of 170 mph.

While we're suitably skeptical about any mention of a four-door GT-R, this could be the long-rumored replacement for Infiniti's Q, taking the fight to the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63.

[Source: AutoExpress]

BMW to sell engines to Mercedes, others

BMW, the Munich-based German automaker, is reportedly in discussion with other automakers -- rivals in some cases -- to sell their engines and transmissions. Klaus Draeger, BMW's head of development, told Auto Motor und Sport that the automaker is in advanced talks with Mercedes-Benz about licensing engines to its Stuttgart-based competitor.

Specifics have not been announced, but one likely candidate would be BMW's new V-12, set to debut in the new 7 Series and baby Rolls-Royce sedan. Mercedes would drop it under the hood of their flagship S-Class and Maybach. There was no mention about the possibility of BMW's twin-turbo inline-six finding itself under the hood of a Mercedes (while BMW continues to refine their award-winning inline-six powerplant, Mercedes dropped their popular straight-six in the mid-1990's and replaced it with a V6), but Draeger did hint that other automakers have approached the company about diesel engine technology. Engine and transmission sharing isn't uncommon in the industry, but such a move would be a first for the two companies, each longstanding rivals with products selling in the identical segments.

[Source: Autocar]

Flightlink bringing Volt-like F-150 series hybrid with in-wheel motors

Ford and PML Flightlink -- the same company that created the Volvo ReCharge concept -- will be showing off a plug-in hybrid electric F-150 pickup truck at the upcoming SEMA show in Las Vegas. Like the ReCharge, the F-150 will be a series hybrid, so the truck should be powered by the electric motors until the battery is close to being depleted. At that point, we assume a stock Ford V8 would recharge the trucks on-board battery pack. The motors themselves are pancake-style wheel-mounted units and use permanent magnet technology. Each wheel is powered by a separate motor, ridding the truck of its normal axles, driveshafts, transmission and transfer case. At this point, we're not sure what kind of range or performance figures the automaker is claiming for this concept, but we'd expect more details to filter out closer to the show's November 4th start-date.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

2010 Lexus RX coming to LA Auto Show

The Lexus RX is one of the most successful luxury crossovers of the past decade, with sales doubling or even tripling that of its competition. Remarkably, the RX has achieved its considerable success without a major overhaul, but that will change when the next gen RX is unveiled this November in LA. Details on the new RX have been scarce to this point, but we can be sure that a hybrid version will continue to be available and that a plug-in version is a possibility.

The RX is also expected to grow by around five inches, just like its Highlander sibling, though Lexus will likely use the extra room to improve rear passenger leg room. We've seen spy shots showing more evolutionary styling changes, along with a few cues pulled from the LF-xh concept, with tweaks to the front and rear fascias and a curvier C-Pillar.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Chevrolet GPiX concept to debut in Sao Paulo

The Sao Paulo Auto Show is shaping up to be more interesting than we thought, but that's no surprise considering how important the South American market is to automakers. As such, Chevy will be revealing a new concept in Brazil called the GPiX that will reportedly inspire a new line of vehicles to replace the Corsa on sale there now. The new line will include sedan, hatchback and truck variants, as well as a small crossover not unlike the GPiX concept itself. While the rear end looks something like that of a Suzuki SX4, the front clip of the GPiX is all Chevy with the now familiar split corporate grille. We do, however, really like the vertical stack of LED lights that flank the long air intake on the lower bumper. We should have more details and high-res images of the GPiX concept after its official debut on Monday at the Sao Paulo Auto Show, so stay tuned.

[Source: Motor Tips via World Car Fans]

Italian State Police receive new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

It's generally never a good idea to try and outrun the the local constabulary, but that would be particularly true if you happen to be in Italy within the jurisdiction of Prefect Antonio Manganelli. Manganelli heads up the Italian State Police and he just took delivery of the latest police package special from the crew at Lamborghini. This time around the Bolognese automaker added the decals and lights to its new Gallardo LP560-4. Somehow the Lamborghini techs have managed to integrate all the gear that modern police officers regularly use into their diminutive supercar. The car is equipped with a video recording system so officers can record evidence and provide entertainment for the boys in blue back at the station by transmitting it wirelessly in real time. The usual array of gun racks and radio equipment is also supplemented by a cooler in the front compartment that can be used to transport separated body parts to the local emergency room, or that finger you just shot off a "potential" suspect. The Rome police have been using a Gallardo cruiser for the last five years and accumulated 87,000 apparently problem-free miles while the Bologna police have racked up 62,000 miles in another example.

[Source: Lamborghini]

BMW offering ALL its models with 0.9% APR

Justin B. from TTAC sent us a tip that BMW NA is offering all of its models – from the 135i to the Alpina B7 – with a pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top APR of 0.9%. No car is exempt from the ultra-low loan, which means you can get behind the wheel of an M3 sedan or a 335i with relative ease, assuming you have a FICO credit score of 600 or more. We called up our local BMW dealer to find out if there are any exceptions, and apparently the credit score and a loan spanning 24-60 months are the only things keeping you away from Teutonic bliss. The offer began on October 1st and is good through October 31st – likely a last ditch effort to clear out the '08s and spur sales in a month where buyers are putting off big-ticket purchases. If October's numbers are as abysmal as we expect, don't be surprised if this sale leads into November. Check out BMW's site for the details.

[Source: BMW via TTAC]

Pagani releases more renderings of the Zonda R

The Pagani Zonda is on its way to supercar heaven, due to be replaced by Horacio Pagani's next masterpiece, currently code-named the C9. To send off the current Zonda in style, Pagani is working on the Zonda R, limiting production to ten examples with a price tag of €2,000,000.

Despite looking very similar to the Zonda F and its predecessors, the R only shares ten percent of the outgoing model's underpinnings, and instead, gets a sleek new shape that's 47mm longer, providing even more downforce through the use of a longer splitter, rear defuser and wing.

Pagani has released four new renderings of its all-carbon fiber coupe, and according to Autoblog.it (no relation), Pagani won't be using the 750-hp, 7.3-liter Mercedes mill, instead opting for the 6.0-liter AMG V12 putting out similar hp and torque. Five road-going versions are planned, while the remaining five will be limited to circuit duty. We're hoping to finally see the Zonda R in person sometime next year, likely at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

[Source: Autoblog.it]

Rolls-Royce CEO wants an electric Phantom

Short of the biggest SUVs, Rolls-Royce stands out in the mind of the eco-conscious public as a symbol of earth-munching decadence. But that may change if Tom Purves has anything to say about it. And he does, being the company's new CEO. Bringing in a fresh perspective to the ultimate luxury brand after taking the helm just a few months ago, Purves recently drove sister-company MINI's new electric vehicle, and a lightbulb aptly lit over his head with the idea to create an electric Phantom. Not a hybrid, but a full megawatt-powered limousine.

The way Purves sees it, we're not far away from cities banning polluting vehicles altogether. And as many Rolls-Royce owners live in major metropolitan centers, an electric Rolls makes perfect sense. With a little help from parent company BMW, Purves figures they could engineer the e-Rolls in-house. And far from betraying the Spirit of Ecstasy, Purves says an electric powertrain would offer the epitome of Rolls-Royce motoring – whisper quiet with instant torque delivery. Realization of the battery-powered Phantom is probably still a few years away, but it could be here sooner than we think.

[Source: CAR magazine]

smart fortwo BRABUS coming to America

Those looking for a little bit more punch from their microcars are in luck as smart will begin offering the BRABUS-tuned version of its fortwo in the U.S. beginning in February 2009. News of its impending arrival was apparently emailed to potential smart owners who have already placed reservation deposits but have not yet configured their new fortwo. These people in line for a regular smart fortwo will have the option of changing their reservation to the limited edition BRABUS model beginning 8PM EST tonight. The American-ized version should feature the same 98-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the BRABUS fortwo in Europe, as well as the same styling tweaks and handling package. Even with the increase in power, the European BRABUS fortwo is still able to achieve 45 miles per U.S. gallon. While it's 10-second run to 60 won't break any records, that's a precious few ticks quicker that the standard model and would surely make the microcar a lot more fun to drive. Still, we'll take what we can get.

UPDATE: Sources on the forum indicate the U.S.-spec fortwo BRABUS will not get the turbocharged version of the microcar's three-cylinder engine (probably because it's not certified in the U.S.), though a BRABUS Sport model may arrive later with the turbo. The BRABUS package will reportedly include a sport exhaust with dual center tips, sport suspension, 15- front and 17-inch rear wheels, power steering and all the BRABUS visual cues.

[Source: All Cars All The Time, smart of america]

Bloodhound supersonic car shooting for 1,000 MPH and new Land Speed Record

The current land speed record (LSR) for an earth-bound motor vehicle is 763 mph, which was set by Andy Green behind the wheel of the Thrust SSC back in 1997. That car was designed by Richard Noble, among others, and he and his driver are teaming up again to build a new supersonic car (SSC) to shatter the old record on its way to a new LSR of 1,000 mph. The new car is called the Bloodhound Project, a curious name since "speed" doesn't readily come to mind when thinking about that particular breed of canine, but whatever. The new Bloodhound SSC will be powered by three engines: a hybrid rocket, Eurojet EJ200 jet engine and 800bhp V12 engine, the latter of which will pull the vehicle around at low speeds and act as a starter motor - the world's most powerful starter motor - for the jet engine. The car's design is also completely different from that of the Thrust SSC, which Green and Noble used to set the current LSR. That car had two outboard jet engines, but in order to reach speeds of Mach 1.4 on the ground, the Bloodhound SSC will use a narrower fuselage that's been aerodynamically optimized to safely travel at speeds approaching 1,000 mph. Since this is an engineering exercise, the Brit-based Bloodhound team will gear up to their ultimate goal by scheduling successive runs to reach 800 mph in 2009, 900 mph in 2010 and finally 1,000 mph in 2011.

[Source: BloodhoundSSC.com]

Spy Shots:2011 Lamborghini Jota

For a company with only two principal model lines, Lamborghini sure has been busy lately. The limited run of Reventon seven-figure supercars are still rolling off the line, the Gallardo LP560-4 is reaching the market, the crowds at the Paris Motor Show were wowed by the four-door Estoque concept, there's an anticipated Superveloce (SV) version of the Murcielago on its way, and all the while, the team at Sant'Agata has been working on an all-new supercar. Sources differ on whether the new model, tentatively known as the Jota (reviving a classic Lamborghini nameplate) will emerge as another limited-edition ultra-car to rival the Ferrari Enzo or whether it will serve as the replacement for the aging Murcielago. The latter has been on the market for about seven years now in various iterations, the original breeding the Roadster, the LP640 revision, a handful of Versace editions and the aforementioned Reventon. But Lambo has known for a while now that its supercar, as eminently desirable as it remains, is due for replacement.

The spy shots, snapped (where else) at the Nürburgring, show a test mule running with Murcielago bodywork, only with a few key modifications that betray its secret identity like Clark Kent caught without his glasses. For starters, the wheels are bearing what appears to be some sort of telemetry hubs. The vehicle also appears even wider than the linebacker Murcielago, and the vents behind the side windows have a different shape. Eyewitness accounts suggest the new Raging Bull will wear lightweight carbon fiber bodywork, except for the doors and roof, which seems like an odd choice. The Reventon-inspired bodywork is expected to be laid over an aluminum spaceframe to replace the current Murcielago's outdated and overweight steel tub. We expect the vehicle to retain its all-wheel-drive system – by now a hallmark of modern Lambos – with power coming from the latest version of the company's perennial V12, but with the potential addition of direct injection for improved power delivery. Whether the car in question will emerge as yet another limited version of the existing Murcielago or its anticipated replacement will become clearer as we get closer to its anticipated debut in two years as a 2011 model. But our money's on the latter.

[Source: NextAutos.com]

RWD Pontiac G8 will be dead in five years

It looks like things will be getting a lot less exciting at Pontiac, as some reports indicate that the erstwhile performance brand will be losing its best performers. Despite the fact that the G8 sedan has seen nothing but positive press from the media, including your humble scribes here at Autoblog, the realities of fuel economy and the global economy appear set to kill off the rear-wheel drive performance sedan in the prime of its short life. GM will reportedly not renew the G8 after its Holden-sourced chassis architecture is redesigned following a planned five-year run.

The Pontiac Solstice in both coupe and convertible forms is also unlikely to see a second generation. Unfortunately, the Solstice, Saturn Sky and their Opel spin-off don't generate enough sales to support another go-round, which could leave Pontiac with exactly zero vehicles with overtly sporting pretensions. While the G6 may be a decent car, it and a Cobalt derivative in the form of the G5 and a rebadged Aveo known as the G3 do not a BMW competitor make. What does this mean for the future of Pontiac as a brand? We'll see.

[Source: Inside Line]

Spy Shots: Porsche GT3 RS

Coming to the meaty part of the 911 model line revamp, the 2010 GT3 RS has been spotted after some time in wardrobe wearing slightly different clothes. These are subtle alterations, with LED daytime running lights, bigger intakes, a new air dam lip up front and revised taillights out back. The bigger news is that the GT3 RS will get more power with the addition of direct injection, and even faster gear changes when equipped with the PDK gearbox. And that means even faster acceleration, because you can never get enough of that. The car should start making its rounds around the auto show circuit next year.

[Source: Global Motors]

Trio of HUMMER H3s set to invade Vegas

HUMMER's presence at this year's SEMA show will be typified by a trio of tuned H3s, ranging from a mildly modded Alpha to an H3T ready to traverse the desert surrounding Sin City.

The most sedate of the three is the warmed-over H3 X Alpha concept, which features new 18-inch wheels shod in 35-inch all-terrain tires, black chrome trim, body-colored bumper extensions and clear turn signal housings. The exterior is coated in Canyon Metallic, while inside, the leather seats, armrests and shift knob all receive contrasting orange stitching along with matching piping and a HUMMER Accessories DVD headrest system.

Far more impressive is the H3T Weekend Warrior concept (above), which capitalizes on HUMMER's off-road cred with a series of engine and suspension mods. Output of the 5.3-liter V8 has been increased by around 70 hp through the use of an LS2 cylinder head, high-lift cam and custom 3.5-inch exhaust. Rolling stock is comprised of HUMMER Accessories' 20-inch wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Baja T/A rubber, suspended by a Light Racing Jounce Shocks and Rod Hall Racing piggyback performance reservoirs, with brakes provided by DBA.

Finally, Four Wheeler magazine got its own H3 Alpha to play with, and began by "de-glossing" the Victory Red paint scheme with a PPG flattening agent mixed with clear to give it an incredibly cool satin appearance. The only engine mod is a MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust, but what Four Wheeler didn't spend on motivation it made up for with suspension components. Nitrogen-charged, two-inch Rod Hall Racing performance shocks and Light Racing Jounce Shocks compliment the flat-black 16-inch Simulock wheels coated in BFG Mud-Terrain T/A tires.

Volvo's Vs could get new roofline

One of the last bastions of contentment for wagon lovers may be over as reports indicate that Volvo is considering abandoning the classic long and low shape for something a bit more modern. Of course, that means a higher roof-line, ground clearance and seating position, along with a slightly trimmed footprint. In fact, the Swedish automaker seriously considered making a change to its current V70 model before it was released to the public. The true test will come when the new XC60 crossover hits the market, as its sales figures will determine how Volvo designs its next V50 and V70.

Ford's Flex might offer a preview of the shape of things to come from the Swedish automaker, as its design is similar to what may be on offer from Volvo if it scraps the traditional wagon. We wouldn't expect anything too 'trucky' though, as sales of traditional SUVs have fallen off dramatically in the last two years.

Redesigns of the mid-sized S60 and XC90 have also reportedly been pushed a bit further into the future as the automaker struggles to reign in its recent lack of profits. The latest timetable puts the new sedan's appearance in 2010 while the 'ute's redesign isn't expected until 2012, though a refresh could spice things up a bit in 2010 with a possible hybrid drivetrain.

[Source: Autocar]

Chrome SLR holds (food) court in Dubai

When the McLaren-Mercedes team rolled out their chrome F1 cars, everyone stood up and took notice. Pretty cool idea, even fans (and members) of other teams had to admit. No wonder then that with their own supercar out on the roads – one of only two teams with that claim – somebody has finally done the same with his own SLR. And of course, like the gold-trimmed Camry, that somebody lives in the United Arab Emirates, the sand-swept Kingdom of Bling on the shores of the Persian Gulf.

The shiny McLaren was spotted outside one of the world's largest shopping centers, the Mall of the Emirates, in Dubai, which looks to be the same place where the Pegaso edition Bugatti Veyron was spotted. The mall is currently the largest in the Middle East, at least until construction is completed on the two larger ones also being built in Dubai. We're sure it won't be long until someone parks chrome McLaren P11s, Mercedes SL63 Blacks or AMG Gullwings in front of those, too.

[Source: GlobalMotors.net]

Russian supercar named by Freudian serfs: E-Go Revolt

A new coachbuilding company in Russia called E-Go has come up with a new car built on a Mitsubishi platform. Called Revolt, by E-Go, we don't find it the least bit offensive, although we do think the rear end is a little funky. The Revolt -- in spite of the company's catchy name and word "volt" lurking around in there -- is not electric. Rather, a 3.0-liter V6 gets two turbos slapped on to run some 550 hp through a six-speed gearbox. It has an active air suspension and rides on 19-inch wheels from Japanese wheel company Work, with 325/30 rubber out back. Stopping power should be prodigious, thanks to six-piston calipers up front and four-pots in back.

Most interesting, the car's electronics are being developed by engineering firm National Instruments, and you will be able to control them all via a touch screen monitor in the steering wheel. We can't wait to see what that steering wheel must look like, and whether they can make the car drive for you while you punch in new data. Word is that E-Go "has already started building cars," but as usual, we'll wait and see.

[Source: CarDesign.ru]

Latest teaser previews 2010 Ford Mustang "power dome" hood

We now have just four weeks until the 2010 Ford Mustang is completely unveiled at the LA Auto Show, and to make everyone that much more impatient, Ford has continued its agonizing tease with this newest photo that shows a portion of the hood. The image confirms the cowl design shown by the spied 2010 Mustang hood we reported on earlier in the year. There's still no official word on whether the new hood design is functional or just for looks, but we did notice that Ford tagged the image file as "powerdome". Perhaps just a name, but we're hoping it's a sign that Ford has given its pony car a boost in power that won't leave Mustang owners too jealous of the Camaro's 400 horsepower.

[Source: The2010Mustang.com]

Top Gear series 12 teaser

Top Gear is back on TV for series (not season, bloody yanks) 12. It will start in the U.K. on November 2nd. Watch as it looks like the gents are taking their hijinks to the lorry (18-wheeler) crowd, the high seas and even back to the U.S.

Daniel Craig gets free pass to drive Astons for life

As if being chosen to play the consummate British secret agent wasn't enough for Daniel Craig to brag about, the current 007 has been extended a free pass to drive Aston Martin's best cars any time he pleases. And he isn't limited to driving on the street. Aston has made its test track available to the faux agent. Craig must be quite the Ambassador to the brand to be granted such special privileges. Unfortunately, Mr. Bond seems to have no intentions of actually going out and purchasing one for himself, saying, "I could drive it faster and more furiously [on the track] than anywhere on the road. I live in London [and] it doesn't make any sense to drive an Aston Martin there. I've nowhere to park it." Yeah, we know how you feel, Daniel. That's the reason all of on the Autoblog staff don't own Astons too... nowhere to park.

[Source: Contact Music]

Nissan GT-R by Zele headed for SEMA

Zele revealed some shots of its new work developed for the upcoming SEMA show. The new GT-R aero package features brilliant orange paint and is completely made of special carbon fiber. The pieces of the kit can be achieved individually so that you can choose how much of the future Spec V look you want for your car. If you apply for the complete package you can get also Rays forged alloys and upgraded ECU sans-JDM speed limiter, with the orange paint included. The prices for every piece range from $500 to $1,100 but the price for the whole updated kit is still to be established. The good news is that we will see this new kit in flesh at SEMA.

[Source:Top Speed]

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 GT in action

The SLR 722 GT was revealed last year in October. The car was designed exclusively for the race-track and is powered by a supercharged AMG 5.5 liter V8 that delivers 680 hp and 830 Nm of torque.

It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3,3 seconds and hits a top speed of 195 mph.

Rent a Smart anywhere, anytime

Cars represent freedom, right? Sure, but shouldn't that same freedom be available to those who can't justify purchasing their own car? Daimler thinks so, and has created a new pilot program called car2go that allows subscribers to rent a smart fortwo for just 19-cents a minute or less, depending on how long you need the car. The initial roll-out is taking place in Ulm, Germany and begins October 24. The cars can be reserved at a moment's notice from the internet, a mobile phone or in passing using an electronic chip that's given to the user upon the account's creation. There are no limits as to how far the car car be driven, and it can be parked and relocked wherever the driver's trip ends as long as it's within the city limits.

At the outset, there will be 50 smart fortwo's in use by car2go. For a trial period, only Daimler employees will be able to use the service, but the automaker hopes to expand to all Ulm citizens in the spring of 2009. We imagine the car2go service will expand into other locations based on how successful this pilot program proves to be, but don't hold your breath for smart rentals in the U.S. anytime soon.

[Source: Daimler]

Noble M600 caught testing in the U.S.

We got word from a little birdie last week that Noble had flown over a prototype of its newest model – the M600 – for a series of shakedowns in the western U.S. CAR was able to get a shooter out to Arizona to capture the M600 undergoing testing, using the same Yamaha-developed V8 found in the Volvo XC90. According to CAR's sources, the V8 has been fitted with twin turbochargers and output is estimated at somewhere north of 600 hp. The rationale behind using the Volvo's lightweight eight is primarily centered on emissions, allowing the low-volume automaker to sell the M600 throughout the world.

According to our source, the Noble hit a top speed of 202 mph at Bonneville before traversing Death Valley and winding up the Firebird Raceway in Arizona, where CAR's shooters captured the N400 in photos and video. Click these colored words here to check it out.

[Source: CAR]

Hamann-tuned McLaren SLR Volcano coming soon

Hamann is continuing to expand its lineup to include the top tier of luxurious performance, and it looks like the tuner has finally turned its attention to the Mercedes SLR McLaren.

A teaser video has been released, showing the conservatively named "Volcano" SLR sporting three-piece deep-dish wheels, two-tone paint, massive rear wheel arches, roof scoop, rear diffuser and wing. Details are limited right now, but we suspect more information will leak its way out before the SEMA show next month. In the meantime, hit the jump to view the video. Hat tip to strekov.

[Sources: Hamann, WCF, Road2Road]

Duo of Dodge Challengers coming from Hotchkis

For this year's SEMA show, the crew at Hotchkis will unveil a pair of modified Dodge Challengers highlighting its focus on classic muscle and its modern-day counterpart.

The two matching Challengers – a 1970 T/A 340 Six-Pack and a 2009 SRT8 – will share yellow paint schemes, graphics and wheels, along with a host of parts that should make the T/A stick as well as – if not better – than the 2009 model.

The 1970 Challenger, known as E-MAX, was originally converted to 340 Six-Pack trim by the previous owner, and now features new fabricated steel upper A-arms bolted into relocated pickup points, strut rods with Heim joints, aluminum steering rods and a set of front and rear way bars, along with a new set of springs that lower the Granddaddy Challenger by two inches. In addition to replacing the aging front suspension, Hotchkis set out to create a well-rounded classic, equipping the T/A with Stoptech brakes, a Flowmaster exhaust and Forgeline wheels wrapped in Yokohama tires.

Hotchkis likes to point out that all its suspension parts can be removed and replaced with the factory units, allowing owners to keep things traditional for shows and swapped out when the time comes to drive.

Toyota iQ gets first commercial

We saw Toyota's iQ city car debut in Geneva last year, and now little Ikey has its own TV spot. Granted, there's precious little of the actual car shown until the last few seconds of the commercial, but this is advertising, after all. The spot is high-concept, with no boilerplate screaming about powertrains or showing the car oversteering across the screen, but you can tell that the car looks like a Scion xD that's been treated to a cut-n-shut for a length under three meters. Pronounce it "ick" if you like, but when your competition is the Smart, it's hard not to look, uh, smarter.

Crashed Enzo lives! Loverman gets to go for a ride

Given the relative scarcity of cars like the Ferrari Enzo (349 production units built, an indeterminate number destroyed), you're unlikely to encounter one. On those rare occasions when such a thing does happen it seems even less likely that said owner will say, "Hey, wanna go for a ride?" Given the improbability of such events, it seems even more bizarre that our friend Jonny Lieberman found himself in such a situation this past weekend at the inaugural 24 Hours of LeMons in Houston, TX.

It turns out that Matt Groner is the owner of the Enzo best known for being cracked up by Eddie Griffin. We reported on the car being repaired and offered up for sale a couple of months ago and it's still available on eBay with a Buy It Now price of a mere $1.2 million. So what was Groner doing at LeMons? Why racing of course. According to Jonny, he rolled up to the track in the Enzo and hopped into a Neon to compete in the crap-can "race."

[Source: Auto Fiends]

Toyota/Subaru FR sportscar, no turbos for the EUToyota/Subaru FR sportscar, no turbos for the EU

Japan's buff books are at it again, peppering a bit of informed speculation with a healthy dose of rendered conjecture to create images of Toyota's front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car. While we dig the pic above, which blends a bit of Fisker Karma with the Mitsuoka Orochi, we're giving the design a snowcone's chance in Hades of resembling the production version of the coupe.

The renderings posted below the fold seem a bit more plausible and the dimensions, measuring 4,300mm long (14.1 feet), 1730mm wide (5.7 feet) and with a wheelbase of 2,570mm (8.4 feet), makes it a little smaller than the Scion tC that the FR coupe could replace.
According to 7Tune, which translated the text from a recent article in BestCar, the design is aimed to change people's perception of Toyota by offering a vehicle with "wonderful style." While aesthetics might be a top priority, if Toyota wants to capture some of the mystique that surround the old AE86, it had better drive as good as it looks.



For better or worse, the coupe will be underpinned by the current Subaru Legacy platform, which makes use of front struts and a multi-link arrangement in the rear. The conversion of the chassis from all-wheel-drive to rear-wheel-drive has caused some headaches around ToMoCo HQ, with one engineer saying the suspension from the Legacy is "weak and terrible." We wonder how much got lost in the translation.

Power is still expected to be provided by a 2.0-liter boxer four cribbed from Subaru, with between 190 and 200 horsepower sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. An automatic gearbox will be offered after the initial launch and don't be surprised if a convertible variant is available further down the road.

Autocar chimed in with its own inside sources, saying that due to new emissions requirements in the EU, turbocharged WRX or STI variants of the Subaru-badged coupe won't be offered. The Toyota version, however, will be sold in the UK (contradicting earlier reports) and that there's a chance that it could wear a Supra badge when it goes on sale for £20,000 in 2011.

[Sources: BestCar via 7Tune, Autocar]

Toyota developing baby roadster based on iQ

Toyota worked up an entirely new platform for its new iQ minicar, which features a very unique 3+1 seating arrangement in an effort to outsmart its competitors. Such a development takes a good deal of resources and Toyota seems to be considering ways to defray that cost through additional models based on the same underpinnings. The latest vehicle architecture to add to the always active rumormill would be a small two-seat roadster. If the German buff book Auto Motor und Sport is correct, expect the new sub-Miata-fighter to debut in concept form at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and be called the Spider. The roadster would likely get the same powerplants as the normal iQ, including both gasoline and diesel four-cylinder variants. A decision on a production model, though, is likely still a good ways off. Other iQ models said to be waiting in the wings are an upcoming Yaris successor, a hybrid and a mini-minivan. Though we know the iQ has a good chance of being sold in the United States wearing a Scion badge, we have no idea yet how many of these other models could follow.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Carscoop]

560-hp Challenger Convertible that Dodge won't build

Coach Builders Ltd. is known for its convertible conversions of the Chrysler 300C and Cadillac CTS, so after Dodge made the decision not to offer the Challenger in drop-top guise, it knew what it had to do.

The Florida-based company will bring a customized soft-top Dodge Challenger SRT8 to SEMA, packing a Vortech supercharger good for 560 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the hydraulically powered acrylic polyester cloth roof (complete with sound and temperature insulation), the Challenger is dropped courtesy of a KW coil-over suspension over 22-inch Foose wheels coated in Nitto rubber.

The cost of the conversion, which also includes a heated glass rear window, matching headliner and a rear strut bar to shore up the chassis, is a whopping $16,000, making for a $58,000 hair dryer when rolled into the $41,695 base price of an SRT8. We're not saying it's not worth it, but we could think of a few other mods we'd do to the Challenger before hacking the roof off.

[Source: Coach Builders Ltd. via InsideLine]

What's Italian for drool? Alfa 149 images hit the web

Alfa's MiTo already has us excited enough, and now along come images of the upcoming 149. Auto Express has put two shots of the pleasingly-styled hatch online. The 149, a replacement for the 147, shares some familial styling cues with the MiTo, which in turn shares some lines with the 8C Competizione. The 149 is an exceedingly handsome three- or five door that would woo us on looks alone. Performance will be there to back up the racy sheetmetal, with gasoline and diesel powerplants, variously turbocharged. At the low end, the 149 packs 120 horsepower, and it can reach as high as 250. The hotrod versions will also get a trick differential, dubbed Q2, which will aid in getting that power to the ground. The car will drop in mid 2009, and is rumored to adhere to US safety regulations, boding well for this sinewy Italian making it across the Atlantic to the North American market.

[Source: Auto Express]

Nissan announced priced increased for 2009 Maxima

Nissan announced that the 2009 Maxima, launched last June, will cost more due to increased raw materials costs. Effective immediately, the price for the Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV are $30,160 and of $32,860 respectively. Both models are equipped with an advanced 3.5-liter V6 and CVT transmission.

For the extra price, you will also gain extra horsepower. For 2009, the VQ-series V6 engine will deliver 290 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque (estimated), an increase of 35 horsepower and 9 lb-ft of torque over the 2008 Maxima.

Press release

Nissan today announced an interim price adjustment on the 2009 Nissan Maxima, which was launched last June, due to increased raw materials costs. Effective immediately, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP)* for the Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV are $30,160 and of $32,860 respectively. Both models are equipped with an advanced 3.5-liter V6 and Xtronic CVTÔ transmission.

The flagship Maxima, now in its seventh generation, combines thrilling performance with premium sedan comfort, quality and amenities. It features all-new sports styling, a driver-oriented interior and an enhanced 290-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine – offering 35 more horsepower than the previous generation Maxima and fuel economy (EPA estimates) of 19 mpg City/26 mpg Highway.