Autoblog

The tuners at MTM have begun tweaking the all-new 2010 Audi S4 (B8) in Europe, and as expected, Audi's new supercharged 333-hp 3.0-liter V6 is rife with potential. With only a revised ECU – no underdrive pulley, intake or exhaust mods – MTM was able to coax 430 crank horsepower out of the blown six – 97 hp more than stock.

The kit, which retails for 2,491 euros (around $3,500 USD), brings torque output up to 380 lb-ft and, according to MTM, drops the 0-60 mph time from 5.2 to 4.6 seconds. Clearly, good things are on the way for the BMW 335i fighter, and we expect more to follow when the new darling of the Euro-tuning scene arrives in the States later this year.



[Source: MTM]

With every iteration of the 911, Porsche makes incremental improvements to its iconic sports car and naturally, the next generation will be no exception.

This latest 911 prototype was caught at the Nurburgring sporting 997 sheetmetal, but it's what's on top and out back that deserves note. A double-bubble roof panel has been fitted, while underneath the rear camouflage is a sizeable wing and additional ducting. Look closely and you'll see a small sill at the base of the rear windscreen that's assumed to be feeding the rear-mounted flat-six – likely necessary keep the boxer cool while Porsche engineers figure out how the new contoured roof affects aerodynamics. If previous reports are to be believed, we can expect the next 911 to debut sometime in 2010, but we wouldn't rule out an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

Porsche plans to expand its Panamera line-up to include three new powerplants – a Volkswagen-sourced V6, a diesel and some manner of hybrid – but in addition to offering new engines, the automaker may offer a harder, more performance-oriented model to slot in above the Turbo.

Similar to the strategy Porsche employed with the Cayenne, this new model – which could be dubbed the Turbo S or GTS – would nix the Turbo model's standard air suspension and instead fit a set of performance-tuned springs and shocks to maximize grip and on-track prowess.

As for future powertrains, a senior Porsche executive told Autocar that VAG's V6 and V8 diesels could be fitted to future Panameras, and we wouldn't be surprised to find the new Audi S4's supercharged, petrol-powered 3.0-liter V6 in Porsche's first production sedan in the coming years.



[Source: Autocar]

	Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent A week with Honda's new Insight proves there's more to making a dedicated hybrid than aerodynamic sheetmetal and a miserly mill.		Hurst announces Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger Hurst's Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger gets back to basics with a new hue, Eibach springs, 20-inch wheels and a full exhaust.
	VIDEO: Twin-turbo Viper V10-engined Ford Mustang looks to be one sick pony How do you breath life into a decade-old Mustang? Throw in the Viper's 8.4-liter V10 and attach a couple of turbos for good measure.	Other news of import Cadillac DTS to be replaced by XTS, which will be built in Canada alongside new Buick Regal BMW 335i Gran Turismo dialed in for 2011 Next Ford Focus to be built exclusively in Europe? Steeda announces 2010 Sport Edition Mustang

According to a report by InsideLine, BMW is set to expand its wagonesque line-up by one in 2011 with the introduction of the 335i Gran Turismo. The 3 series-based crossover takes its inspiration from the 2011 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, with a sloping X6-like hatch that will feature the same two-stage tailgate on the 5 series GT, allowing owners to open either the small trunk or complete hatch.

IL's sources say that two-, four- and five-seat configurations will be available, along with a range of diesel and gasoline engines, including at least one petrol-powered turbo version. If the 3 series GT comes to fruition, that would bring BMW's entry-level line-up to five models – coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon and five-door – and provide another competitor to the Audi A4 Avant and Q3, but could cannibalize X1 and X3 sales in the process.

[Source: InsideLine]

As expected after this morning's initial leakage, BMW has released a staggering amount of images of the 2011 BMW X1 showing the brand's new soft-roader in every conceivable environment before it's officially revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Along with the pics, BMW put out a brief statement (below the fold) confirming the X1's arrival in the U.S. sometime in 2011 and its plans to offer both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive (xDrive) versions, along with "a wide variety of gasoline and diesel powertrain choices." BMW won't officially confirm what mils will make the trip across the Atlantic, but the automaker says the X1 will use its EfficientDynamics system and that one gasoline engine and three diesels will be available when the X1 launches in Europe this fall. Check out all 183 high-res images in the gallery below and expect official U.S. market information to be released closer to the X1's launch in the States.

Read more →

According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, Toyota is considering a partnership with Daimler to build Mercedes-Benz' A- and B-Class sub-compacts on the Japanese automaker's MC platform. The idea is to maximize the efficiency and output of Toyota's European plants, and could also include sharing development costs on each brand's next generation flagships: the Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class. Daimler has dismissed the report as "speculation," while a Toyota Motor Europe spokesman toed the company line, only saying "It's part of our normal business practice that we regularly talk to other carmakers but there are no specific projects planned at the moment."

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Reuters]

After being the first driver suspended for substance abuse under NASCAR's new drug policy, the sport's governing body has confirmed Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamines on May 1.

At a federal court in Charlotte, NC, Mayfield's attorney mentioned the drug several times during his arguments against the suspension, and the driver and his legal representative are crafting a case to prove NASCAR's testing system is flawed. Mayfield maintains that the positive result was due to a combination of Adderall (for Attention Deficit Disorder) and Claritin-D (for allergies), and along with denying using meth, Mayfiled's lawyer argued that the racer wasn't given the opportunity to get his backup ("B") sample tested independently, something that's explicitly allowed under NASCAR rules.

The court has adjourned until this afternoon, so expect an update on the case later today.

[Source: AP | Image Source: Todd Warshaw/Getty]

	Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T The Wrangler Unlimited and H3T live on the fatter part of the buying curve, but any time a Jeep is summoned to the ring, the other vehicle is inevitably the challenger. Even though the H3T is still relatively new to the world, it came time to find out if it was ready to stand up and fight for its place.		Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested Calling it "the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time," America's most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker's new Insight hybrid.
	Officially Official: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni Few names resonate more with the Lamborghini faithful than Valentino Balboni, Lambo's long-term test driver who's honed every model to roll off the line since 1973. In an ultimate tribute to Balboni, the Italian supercar manufacturer has created this: the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.	Other news of import BMW threatening to oust Lexus as #1 luxury automaker in U.S. EPA reverses decision, approves California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index New Hyundai Assurance provision locks gas at $1.49/gal for one year [w/VIDEO] GM: Volt to be sportier alternative to Prius and Insight

Few names resonate more with the Lamborghini faithful than Valentino Balboni, Lambo's long-term test driver who's honed every model to roll off the line since 1973. In an ultimate tribute to Balboni, the Italian supercar manufacturer has created this: the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.

As its name would imply, the Gallardo ditches the standard model's all-wheel drive system and sends power to the rear wheels, and according to the automaker, the 550-2 "was conceived in line with [Balboni's] own thinking, and it meets many customers' requests for a model with a unique character, which offers a very special kind of active driving fun."

The 5.2-liter V10 has been tweaked to put out 550 hp and coupled with a the Gallardo's reduced curb weight (3,042 pounds), the LP 550-2 can sprint to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and top out at 199 mph.

As we saw yesterday, the exterior receives a new set of Scorpious wheels (hiding a revised suspension) and a white and gold stripe running the length of the Lambo, with the theme carrying over inside in the form of a white leather center console and seats. Eight exterior shades are available, along with black, orange or yellow brake calipers, depending on the chosen hue, and in addition to the standard transparent engine cover, rear-view camera, navigation system and Bluetooth integration, buyers can option up for the e-gear transmission and carbon ceramic brakes.

This purest of Gallardos will be limited to 250 units, each bearing a serial number and Balboni's signature on the left side window, with US pricing starting at $219,800. Make the jump for the official release.

Read more →