Autoblog

Click above to view the letter

An internal document has apparently gotten lost somewhere along the information super-highway leading from Maranello to Beijing. The letter, bearing the signature of Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, contains vital information on a new supercar coming from Ferrari.

The successor to the Enzo and beneficiary of the FXX program is labeled as prototype "FX150". According to the document, the supercar will be powered by a mid/longitudinally-mounted twin-turbo V8 producing 794 horsepower and 772 Nm of torque (approximately 570 lb-ft) hooked up to a version of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission already launched on the California codenamed SF3 (presumably for the third-generation SuperFast gearbox) with shift times down to 50 milliseconds. The carbon fiber construction is said to keep weight down to 1300 kg (~2866 lbs), which, when coupled with the nearly 800hp on tap, is anticipated to propel the FX150 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a blisteringly fast 2.7 seconds en route to a top speed of 390 km/h (242 mph). Testing is stated to begin next month with an eye towards releasing the car sometime next year with a price tag between 1.2 and 1.3 million euros, which is even more than the Bugatti Veyron. It's not that hard to fake an official document, however, so click above to check it for yourself.

UPDATE: We've received correspondence from some fellows who claim responsibility for creating the fake "leaked" document from Ferrari. Turns out it was all just a spoof.

[Source: FerrariChat.com and euro car blog]

click above for 31 high-res images of the BMW M3 Convertible

BMW wasn't planning on releasing the M3 convertible just yet. It had its hands full with the production X6 crossover and those new-fangled turbodiesels the company unveiled at the Detroit show. The M3 drop-top wasn't supposed to debut until March at the Geneva show. But the Bavarian automaker evidently took a decidedly un-German "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude when initial images and details leaked out. Rather than trying to hold the dam together, BMW has decided to join us for a swim and let the floodgates open on its new V8 hard-top convertible.

As exciting and versatile package it is, the real news here is BMW's new M DCT twin-clutch gearbox that stands in for the previous SMG transmission, which had its fair share of haters. The rest we already know from the M3 coupe and the more plebian 3-Series convertible. Unfortunately, the glorious M-tuned V8 is bogged down by an extra 450 lbs. of folding metal and electric motors, but that's the price you pay (on top of what promises to be a heart-attack-inducing sticker price) for the option of taking in the sunshine and that delicious exhaust note without sacrificing the security of a tin top. Swapping cogs at lightning speed, though, should help mitigate the half second the convertible loses on the coupe.

Check out the images in the gallery below and the full press release after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

click above for 20 more high-res images of the Audi TT-S

Spanish website Motorpasion somehow got its hands on 20 official-looking images of the soon-to-be-debuted Audi TT-S that some are guessing will be revealed next week at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. They say it will be sporting a 272-hp version of Audi's 2.0 TFSI engine and be available as both a coupe and convertible. Other features include LED daytime running lights and brushed nickel sideview mirrors like on other S models (the S5, S6, S8, etc.), quad exhaust tips and special TT-S badging. In these pictures (sorry about the obnoxious watermarks) we can clearly make out a revised front fascia with larger air inlets, a sharp chin spoiler and more polished accents on the vertical elements of the grille. The wheels, which must be at least 18-inches in diameter, fill out the wheel wells with little room to spare.

Rumor has it that the TT-S will be the production car that Audi has promised to debut in Detroit next week, while the "something stunning" is pegged to be a version of the Audi R8 powered by V12 diesel TDI engine.

UPDATE: Official high-res images from Audi added to the gallery and press release after the jump.

[Source: Motorpasion]

Before its highly-anticipated unveiling at the Geneva show in March, Alfa Romeo has been leaking mere glimpses at its upcoming entry-level hatchback. Tentatively known as the "Junior" after Alfa scrapped its own online naming contest, the hatchback is based on sister company Fiat's Grande Punto platform, but with even more sumptuous Italian styling and a range of engines.

These latest images appear to have been prepared for its brochure, but have somehow found their way out of the factory and into cyber-space. None of the images, which can be seen after the jump, reveal anything more than some close-up details, but the when Alfa takes the wraps off its latest, it should give the Mini a run for its money.

[Source: Progretti955 via Carscoop]

As more and more artists' impressions of the anticipated Mazda RX-9 surface online, images have leaked showing us what the interim facelifted version of the current RX-8 will look like. The image, as you can see, comes from a scanned Japanese magazine.

The changes appear to be exclusively cosmetic. Up front, the grille has been revised to feature higher-mounted fog lamps under new, wider headlights. Around back the taillamps have been updated with four round LED rings. That's pretty much the extent of it, although the car pictured is a new RS version featuring 19" wheels, Recaro racing buckets and Bilstein shocks.

The facelift is reportedly targeted mainly towards American customers, and may not even make it to other markets. We'll bring you more from the updated RX-8's anticipated launch at the fast-approaching Detroit auto show.

[Source: Mazda-Madness.nl via World Car Fans]

We've been seeing camouflaged test mules of an updated Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class sedans driving around for some time now, but the German automaker apparently can't keep it under wraps anymore. On Saturday the online motoring press worldwide lit up with two pictures of the facelifted "four-door coupe", reportedly leaked by someone inside Mercedes ahead of its intended debut.

The pictures show an updated top-of-the-line CLS 63 AMG. What we can tell from the images is that the newest AMG rocket gets a new grille split in three sections instead of four; upgraded wheels from 18 to 19 inches, with a style similar to those on the Porsche 911 Turbo; led tail-lights; a carbon fiber rear spoiler; a new rear diffuser; and updated exhaust outlets.

Whether any mechanical changes have been made has yet to be revealed, but we'll be sure to keep you posted. A shot of the rear is included after the jump.

[Sources: Carscoop and Motor Authority]

According to Autoblog Spanish, Volvo had originally planned on releasing official details and photos of the C30 hatchback on July 25th, but you know how the internet works...

We did a double take at first seeing these pics of the production version of the C30 hatchback that first debuted as the C30 Concept at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The production version and the concept on which it's based vary little in appearance, right down to their fetching double-spoked wheels.

The front end is the typical Volvo fare found on the S40 and V50, and the rear reveals the same hatch found on the concept that is inspired by the legendary P1800 ES. The only changes of note are a new bumper out back that adds reflectors at the corners and more traditional round exhaust tips instead of the concept's triangular ones.

Hopefully Volvo will be forthcoming with more info on the C30 now that the cat's out of the bag.

(More official pics of the C30 can be found after the jump)

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]