General Motors can clearly use all the money it can get, and for the 2010 model year, you'll have to fork over more of it to get behind the wheel of a ZR1. The 2010 638 hp supercar will cost you $109,530; an increase of $2,910 over last year's model. A larger MSRP isn't a good thing, but according to Corvette Blogger, many dealers were already charging $10,000 over sticker for an '09 model, so this could be the General's way of getting a little bigger piece of the action.

For all that dough, you still get the most powerful production Vette of all-time – and a few new items as well. The 2010 model now comes with standard side curtain airbags, launch control and Performance Traction Management System. PTMS, by the way, gives the driver more control over traction settings when in competition mode.

Also new for 2010 is the ability to choose from a far greater array of colors including Torch Red paint, Competition Gray alloys, and a Cashmere toned interior. Hit the jump to pour over the press release.



Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc

[Source: Corvette Blogger]

Although the deal to purchase Saab between Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg and General Motors has not yet been completely finalized, that hasn't stopped us from openly pining for a production version of Saab's gorgeous Aero X concept car of 2006. And now that we have pictures of the showstopper adjacent to one of Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg's own gorgeous creatures, well... it may just be enough to keep us awake at night. We're not sure where these two-door millionaire's coupes got together for this photoshoot, but judging from the snow on the ground, we wouldn't rule out the motherland.

While it's way too early to tell if Saab's new ownership situation will help get the automaker out of the woods it has seemingly been lost in for years, we can't help but at least get a little excited when seeing these two together. Check them out in the high-res gallery below.



[Source: Saabs United]

When you think of a successor to Ferrari's watershed F40 supercar, the 430 Scuderia, incredible as it is, probably doesn't come immediately to mind. Instead, you're more likely to have visions of the F50 and Enzo dancing in your head. While that's a fair mental association, as Autocar reveals in this installment of their "Meet The Ancestors" video series, the Scud does share many of the same qualities, including a banshee wail of a soundtrack, stunning visuals, and a focus on minimalism (which the older car raised to an art form).

Direct descendant or no, any video that features the visuals and unfettered vocals of two of our favorite Ferraris deserves a look. Check it out after the jump.



[Source: Autocar via YouTube]

The new Chrysler Group, LLC exited from bankruptcy last week, yet its factories have remained closed. CNN Money reports that this streak of inactivity will end when the 115 workers that assemble the Dodge Viper return to business at the Conner Avenue plant in Detroit. The start-up of Chrysler's smallest plant ends seven weeks of shuttered facilities.

Despite Fiat taking a stake in the Viper's parent company, Chrysler, the high-horsepower snake is likely still up for sale. In the meantime, Chrysler could likely use the added revenue that comes with selling 600 horsepower, $90,000 supercars. That the facility will soon be up and running is a good thing, too, as it signifies some demand for a Dodge-brand legend that could live on – even if it is to do so under a different corporate umbrella.

All-in, The Pentastar has only sold 25,000 copies of the Viper since it went on sale in 1992. Thanks for the tip, Dave!



[Source: CNN Money]

Hennessey Performance has successfully completed the most crucial step in developing its ZR1-powered HPE700: Getting the Corvette ZR1's LS9 motor to fit in the engine bay of the new Camaro. John Hennessey just sent over these images that show the before and after, and from the look of things, the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 fits nicely.

The engine cover that's visible through a polycarbonate window on the Corvette ZR1 lines up nicely against the Camaro's firewall and it appears there's still some room left in front of the engine. While the LS9 normally produces 638 hp in the ZR1, as its name suggests, the Hennessey HPE700 will be shooting for over 700 horsepower. Only 24 examples will be produced and Hennessey has already sold 11. If you're interested, check out the official specs and features on the Hennessey Performance website.



[Source: Hennessey Performance]

When he's not racing superbikes or reliving the good old days, seven-time Formula World Champion Michael Schumacher gets his thrills testing new Ferrari supercars. The Prancing Horse recently had Schumi take a 599 GTB with the company's new Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package around Fiorano with a vengeance, and then they got the man to talk about his hand in developing Ferrari models from the ground up.

Schumacher's flogging of the tauter 599 was part of Pilota Ferrari, which is Ferrari's multi-level driving school program for owners. In a second video after the jump, the German pilot also discusses the importance of driving schools for every day driving. Somehow, we have a feeling that the "on-the-limit" maneuvers he speaks of just aren't the same in a 599 GTB HGTE as they are in the Pontiacs at our local track.

Gallery: Schumacher Tests the Ferrari 599 HGTE

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[Source: Ferrari]

Few car companies have been as gloriously 'off the reservation' crazy for as long as British sportscar maker TVR. And while the status of the dormant manufacturer may not be entirely clear, it has lost a key figure who helped make it the wild, wacky and wonderful marque that it is: former TVR owner Peter Wheeler has passed away after a brief illness.

After making his money in oil equipment, Wheeler purchased TVR back in 1981 from Martin Lilley and owned it until 2004, when he sold the firm to young Russian plutocrat Nikolai Smolenski. Over the 23 years he was at the helm, however, Wheeler presided over not just the company's financials, he was present in virtually every decision the specialty car maker made, from model choices to styling decisions. He even raced his company's own creations in the TVR Tuscan Challenge.

Wheeler, 64, leaves behind a rich legacy of uniquely styled, uniquely uncompromised driver's cars from a brand we still hope has a future. Richard Meaden has penned a nice memoriam of Wheeler over at Driver's Republic – click on the link below to check it out.

[Drivers Republic | Image: TVR Car Club]

The 16th season of the hit British motorcar show Fifth Gear is just getting off the ground, and it's starting in style with a review of a stunningly beautiful Audi R8 V10. Unfortunately, Fifth Gear didn't appear to really wring out the 522 hp, V10 beauty during their review, but the rain may have had something to do with it. The UK team did provide plenty of exquisite shots of the top Audi, though, along with plenty of pithy dialogue.

Do the blokes at 5G feel that the added punch of the V10 engine is enough to justify the massive price premium over the standard V8-powered R8? Hit the jump to view Fifth Gear's leisurely review for yourself. We're not entirely sure we agree with the final analysis of the V10's merits, but we'll reserve judgment until we get our mitts on one. In the meantime, we appreciate the well-done video and the R8's striking blue paint – a shade we haven't encountered before, but one we look forward to seeing again and again.



[Source: YouTube]

With the Porsche Carrera GT long out of production and the anticipated roadgoing RS Spyder still a ways down the pipeline, the performance mantle in Stuttgart is held up buy the 911 GT2. Boasting 520 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds and a 206 mph top end, that may be enough for some, but not for everyone. Not by a long shot. Following the Wimmer RS GT2 sporting a hefty 680 horses and capable of reaching 221 mph, two additional Porsche tuning houses have taken the roadgoing racer even further with upwards of 800 horsepower.

First up to bat is American Porsche tuner Switzer Performance, which fitted a new set of Garret GT30R turbos, tweaked the ECU and replaced the exhaust system to the tune of 800 horsepower, which is all the more impressive considering that they achieved the figure running on regular old 93 pump octane.

But if that ain't enough to satiate your super-Porsche cravings, along comes 9ff with an even more bonkers tuning kit for the GT2. The same firm behind the svelte, extreme GT9 supercar has taken the GT2 up to 850 horsepower, and has supplemented the extra boost with carbon fiber body panels and a downforce-increasing aero kit. 9ff claims its latest rocket sled will run up to 62 mph in three seconds flat and top out at a stunning 240 mph, but the gearing can be tuned according to the customer's specifications to either optimize acceleration even further or augment the top speed. It even looks nifty in Gulf livery. Follow the jump for a press release and video from Switzer, or click on the thumbnails below for a high-resolution gallery of the 9ff GT2.