Autoblog

Enthusiasts who had hoped for an M-worthy performance upgrade may be disappointed by the largely cosmetic M Sport Package recently announced for the flagship 7 Series. But while purists have balked at the idea of a full-on X6 M (pictured above), buyers looking for a little extra oomph from their sports-activity-whatsit were undoubtedly satisfied. So it may come as a little surprise that BMW is reportedly preparing to launch an M Sport package for the X6 that also includes some power upgrades.

According to reports, the oil-burning X6 xDrive35d with the M Sport package will get a boost of 20 horsepower to 306 courtesy of the recently launched 740d's powerplant, while the twin-turbo xDrive50i will increase output by 42 horsepower over stock. Of course, there will also be a special body kit and bigger 20-inch wheels along with the requisite badging of the X6 M Sport package, all of which gives those who want a little extra sport in their ute but aren't interested in the full-on X6 M a solid choice in between. Expect the package to hit the market later this year.

[Source: Motor Authority]

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 wasn't even a distant dream in 1931. In fact, its father, Porsche family scion Ferdinand Piëch, wasn't even born yet. Bugatti was still racing and building cars under the watchful eye of its founder Ettore Bugatti. But on this side of the Atlantic, Bugatti's American counterpart Harry Miller was building some of the most influential racing machines in automotive history. Like the Bugatti Type 35 was to inter-war grand prix racing in Europe, Miller customer cars dominated Indy racing in America: in the mid-1920s, they accounted for over 80% of the Indy 500 field. Miller's cars won that famous race alone nine times, and his engine design – penned together with Fred Offenhauser – remained in use through the 1980s, it was so advanced. But what you see here is arguably the most advanced car Miller ever produced.

Bearing a 303-cubic-inch, 300-horsepower, sixteen-cylinder engine, the 1931 Miller V16 racing car was and remains today a unique piece of machinery. It competed in several runnings of the Indianapolis 500, and stands as the only sixteen-cylinder car that Miller ever made. It was reclaimed by one Chuck Davis in 1978, who painstakingly tracked down the original engine, which had been separated along the way from its chassis, and reunited the two ahead of an extensive restoration project. It's since been on display at Goodwood, Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, to say nothing of the numerous Miller Club events, and is now set to roll across the auction block at RM Auctions' event at Monterey next month. It's expected to fetch somewhere between $600,000 and $1 million. Check it out in our high-res image gallery below.



[Source: RM Auctions]

Ever fantasize about driving an exotic sportscar around Italy? Well who hasn't. And there are plenty of companies on the peninsula that'll be glad to help you out. Count among them now car rental giant Hertz. But while you may have images in your head of wafting around the countryside in a Maserati or Lamborghini, Hertz has something entirely different on offer: the Lotus Elise.

Starting this summer, Hertz Italiana will be offering the Lotus Elise SC at select locations throughout the country. It's part of the company's Fun Collection and is sure to cost a hefty premium, but then nobody said realizing your dreams would come cheap. Details in the press release after the jump.



[Source: Lotus]

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While the Lexus IS C is enjoying strong early sales and the luxury Toyota marque prepares to launch a version with the 5.0-liter V8 from the IS F, the top-of-the-line SC 430 grows increasingly irrelevant and long-in-the-tooth. However, contrary to reports that surfaced this time last year – 'tis the season for convertibles, after all – Lexus is indeed planning a successor to the range-topping coupe-cabrio.

Reports indicate that, far from the IS C replacing the aging SC 430, a clean-slate successor to the big roadster is in the planning stages. Because the SC has been around so long, Toyota's designers and engineers are reportedly going back to the drawing board. What they're apparently coming up with eschews the current model's complex folding hard top – one of the first on the market after the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Spyder and Mercedes SLK – in favor of a simpler, lighter folding soft top.

With a new SC 430, an IS F convertible and a potential LF-A roadster all in the pipeline, the forecast looks sunny for Lexus.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Any automaker – besides Little Tikes or Hotwheels – that tries to market to kids may find itself wasting precious advertising dollars. But as far as family cars go, Volvo seems to have made a name for itself making the safest vehicles in which parents – you know, the ones actually paying for and driving the car – can shuttle their kids around from school to karate class. Just ask any of the mothers sitting sideline at soccer practice and they'll tell you as much. That may go some way towards explaining why the Swedish automaker has taken such care in releasing the latest addition to its merchandise line.

While Volvo is hardly the first automaker to merchandise its brand image or even the first to create children's clothing, it's the first we've seen to launch one single kids t-shirt by itself. The Volvo Manager T-shirt for children bears the colors – namely green, to go with the earth-friendly DRIVe program – of the company's Swedish Touring Car Championship team on a tee made especially for the little guy, letting him (or her) in on the action while letting everyone know who's the boss: it's written there right on the back, printed on, like the rest of the badges, instead of embroidered to optimize the kid's comfort. Of course, Volvo Motorsport has a full line of gear for mom and dad as well, available on the company's website, but this piece itself is so simple that it's just, well... child's play. Details in the press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.



[Source: Volvo]

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Racing fans looking for that Monaco or Long Beach-style harbor-front open-wheel racing experience on the East Coast of the United States will be pleased to learn that plans are under way to bring an IndyCar street race to Baltimore's picturesque Inner Harbor. The plan, still being assessed by local officials, would involve a four-day event at the end of the summer (book-ending the season started by the Indy 500) for at least five years starting in 2011.

Baltimore Racing Development is bringing in consultants, including two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., to evaluate the prospect, which would be based around a track running through downtown Baltimore, past Camden Yards and Oriole Park, along the Inner Harbor by the National Aquarium and past the Maryland Science Center. Organizers are looking at Indy races in St. Petersburg, Toronto and Long Beach as their model, projecting some $100 million in tourism revenue from 150,000 visitors during an four-day event that would eclipse the Preakness Stakes horse race as the biggest racing event in the area. Thanks to hoov23 for the tip!

[Source: The Baltimore Sun | Image: Stephen Munday/ALLSPORT/Getty]

Camera phones are turning into quite an asset in this business, as readers of various automotive news sites across the interwebs and around the world have turned into legions of spy photographers. In this instance, one such reader-turned-paparazzo (apparently in Italy, no less) caught on video what appears to be some sort of Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake test mule.

Looking something like the product of a one-night-stand between said Porsche and either a Volvo C30 or an original BMW Z3-based M Coupe, the supposed mule is wearing all black, but apart from that, it appears to be undisguised. Of course, this could be a one-off made by someone with no official connection to Porsche (Rinspeed, anyone?), but then again, it could be a harbinger of a model to come. What do you make of it? Follow the link to view the spy video and voice your opinion in our comments section below. Thanks for the tip, Bill!

[Source: Top Gear]

Well, folks, it looks like that elusive peace is slipping away yet again as the members of the Formula One Teams Association reportedly up and walked out of a meeting today with technical representatives from the FIA.

The meeting of the Technical Working Group was convened to iron out the details of the regulation changes for the near future, and included the ten current teams – of which eight are members of FOTA – as well as the three new teams joining the grid for next year. As of this writing, FOTA has yet to explain its specific reasons for the walkout. However, their exit indicates that the supposed deal between FOTA and the FIA is anything but finalized after Max Mosley (who reportedly agreed to stand down as FIA president as part of the deal) said he may yet run again – and Bernie Ecclestone continues to give the sport a black eye.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty]

Some coachbuilt custom supercars are all show. But the owner of a Bertone Mantide is eager to prove that his has got the go to back up his show. Dan Watkins, the British gentleman-racer who bought the first Mantide, is so eager, in fact, that he's pondering personally financing a run at the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's Nürburgring lap record. And there's every reason to believe his car could reach that goal.

At 7 minutes, 26.4 seconds, the 2009 ZR1 holds the current lap record for a stock, street-legal, series production automobiles (excluding such track-focused machinery as the Viper ACR and Radical SR8). Nissan has its eyes on the ZR1 and is closing in fast, but as delicate and fragile as it may look, the Mantide arguably stands the best chance of besting the supercharged Vette's time – mostly because it's based on the ZR1. Only it's 80kg (176 pounds) lighter and 30% more aerodynamic, thanks to the improvements made to the body by Jason Castriota and his team at Stile Bertone.

To test the theory, Watkins is mulling renting out the 'Ring for three days, hiring an expert Nordschleife driver, and of course, donating the use of his $2 million supercar. All in pursuit of the ultimate bragging rights. If it happens, well, be watching.



[Source: PistonHeads]

Jacques Villeneuve knows what it's like to win. After emerging victorious in the Indianapolis 500, the CART title, the Formula One World Championship and narrowly missing the chance to score the triple crown with Peugeot at Le Mans this year, the son of legendary racer Gilles Villeneuve finds himself without a ride for next year as the Speedcar Series in which he'd been competing teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. But JV's got a plan. He wants back into Formula One. And he reckons next season will be the perfect time for him to return.

Even with Max Mosley's radical proposals cut back, next season is shaping up to be vastly different from the Formula One of two or three seasons ago. In-season testing is almost entirely eliminated. Fuel stops are being cut out. Slick tires are back and electronic aids are gone. And there are three new teams joining the grid for next season. All these factors, according to Villeneuve, means that there will be an even higher demand for experienced drivers than usual. Will anyone bite? Only time will tell, but he figures it's high time.

[Source: Autosport]