Back in May we brought you the news that Bizzarrini would be reviving the P538 name with a brand new supercar, and while we only had renderings at the time, we can now show you a few photos of the ongoing construction of the car. Based on the full monocoque chassis of the Arbitrage GT, the P538 will utilize carbon fiber bodywork and a Chevrolet LS7 V8 offered in naturally aspirated and turbocharged form courtesy of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. The company plans to have no less then four cars completed by the end of the year, at least one of which is slated to undergo testing at Nardo in November.
Lewis Hamilton is finding that there's more to life than being a really, really ridiculously good driver. Like male modeling. While we don't think Lewis will make a career of it, he actually did a pretty good job posing for the new McLaren shoe line recently launched as part of its lifestyle collection. The line includes four different shoes, from a laced shoe suitable for everyday use to full driving boots. Interestingly, none of the shots show him actually wearing the shoes on his feet, but we don't think that was the point. So now we have to ask... who would win in a walk-off? Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso?
Wald International has never been one to offer subtle styling. Whether it's the Lexus IS-F or the Mercedes-Benz CL, the Japanese tuner loves to create a bold look with vents, wings and wheels. The tuner recently turned its attention to the Nissan GT-R, and while we don't have official information on the car, the photos offer a good look at what the package will include. A vented front fascia and splitter, side skirts, rear fender flares, a rear diffuser, carbon fiber rear spoiler and 22-inch wheels all lend to the more aggressive look. We actually like the majority of the body kit, although we'd prefer the rear fender flares to be the same color as the body, and the larger wheels probably don't do much for the performance of the car. In the end, though, we'd probably spend our hard earned money on some of the Club Sport components from NISMO. Thanks for the tip, James!
Ford gave us a hint what changes we would be seeing on the 2010 Mustang by releasing images of its new edgy pony emblem yesterday, but a three-inch badge leaves a lot of room for speculation. We want to see more of the real deal. A member of MustangForums.com might have just the thing with what appears to be a photo of the 2010 Mustang hood. At first we had doubts that such an aggressive design would make it to production, but after taking a look at the spy photos, it looks like at least one of the test mules has a cowl hood lurking beneath all that camouflage. We'll be on the look out for more photos of the 2010 Mustang, and hopefully we'll have the whole car pieced together by the time the LA Auto Show rolls around!
Hurst is no stranger to offering up special edition Mopars. The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst packed a 440ci "TNT" V8 with 375 horsepower, as well as a fiberglass hood and trunk, Satin Tan leather interior, and a Spinnaker-White paint scheme with gold trim. Ok, that was nearly 40 years ago, but Hurst is still going strong and planning to renew its Mopar connection with a limited edition Dodge Challenger that will make its debut at SEMA this year. The Hurst Challenger will be available in four trim levels and include features like a supercharger system good for 500 horsepower, 5-spoke Hurst alloy wheels, and a "Pistol-Grip" Hurst shifter. Pricing will start at a $10,000 premium over the stock Challenger and could go as high as $20,000 for the top level model. Follow the jump for the press release from Hurst.
Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Ford Mustang badge
The countdown to the 2010 Ford Mustang debut has begun, and it looks like Ford can't wait to show us what the car looks like just as much as we can't wait to see it. Today it released an image of the new 2010 Mustang badge, hinting that its edgier design gives clues as to what the rest of the car will look like. Ford says its designers spent hours researching photographs of horses to give the new Mustang logo a more realistic feel, and we think it paid off. The new pony looks more defined and muscular, and it even got a cool new haircut! We've been anxiously waiting to see what direction Ford will take the retro design of the new Mustang, and if the logo is anything to go by then we shouldn't be worried. Let us know what you think about the new design with your comments and vote for which you like most in the poll below.
Click above for high-res gallery of Saleen's pre-pro Ford GT
The Ford GT went from concept to production in record time thanks to companies like ROUSH and Saleen that have niche manufacturing capabilities. Saleen handled the assembly of the GT in its 200,000-sq ft facility in Troy, MI, and whether it was part of the deal or just a thank you from Ford, Steve Saleen ended up owning a pre-production Ford GT, one of only nine built. There are some differences from the production version, including a 4.6-liter Mustang Cobra V8 that has been bored out to 5.4-liters, as well as a unique supercharger system made specifically for the car. The bad news is that its pre-production status means it can't be registered as a street legal vehicle, so this Ford GT will most likely be relegated to a collector's garage.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Jeep Compass
We weren't really sure what direction Jeep was heading when it introduced the Compass in 2007. Built on a shared platform with the Dodge Caliber, the Compass goes against what we normally think a Jeep should be – rugged, tough, capable, and... well... square. The departure from classic Jeep styling hasn't received rave reviews, and the interior has been a source of complaints, as well. Does the Compass deserve the criticism it's been receiving? We aimed to find out and secured a 2008 4x2 Sport model for the Autoblog Garage.
Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2
Saleen is primarily associated with its Mustang lineup, but the American tuner has been known to dabble in everything from mid-engine exotics to humble hatches. Back in 2004, they launched the N2O Focus, complete with a body kit, suspension upgrades, a sporty interior, and a 75-shot nitrous system (sorta). Saleen ended up selling only a handful of cars, and eventually resulted in a $700,000 fine from the California Air Resources Board for altering emissions control systems in the car. Despite the letdown of the N2O, Saleen is launching another version of the Focus, dubbed the RC2, under the budget-friendly Racecraft brand.
Based on the Ford Focus coupe, the RC2 features subtle exterior styling changes including a new front fascia, mesh grille, side skirts, rear spoiler, and 18-inch wheels. The suspension is upgraded with stiffer springs, shocks and larger sway bars, and larger brakes are fitted up front. Horsepower is bumped by approximately 15 with a dual-tipped exhaust system and cold air intake. Production will start in the first quarter of 2009 and will be relatively affordable at under $20,000. Will this next generation Saleen Focus have more success than the previous version? We think it's got a pretty good chance. Check out the galleries below to compare the Saleen N2O and RC2.
By the time Sunday rolls around during Monterey Week, we're pretty exhausted. Too many cars and so little time. Still, that doesn't stop us from getting to the 18th fairway before the sun comes up to see the cars drive onto the grass. Duesenbergs, Bentleys, Cadillacs, Ferraris, Bugattis, and more come rolling into the show, causing us to scurry back and forth to photograph as many of them as possible. There was so much to look at this year -- the Lamborghinis, Lancias, V16 Cadillacs, 250 GT California Spyders, GM's Motorama, and Leno's tank car -- before we knew it, the Best of Show had been crowned and the day was over. We can't go through all of the class winners and special awards, but if you are interested, you can view them on the Pebble Beach Concours web site. We've put together a comprehensive gallery of high resolution photos for you, many with captions in case you aren't familiar with the cars. Enjoy!
Paris Preview: Officially Official, Honda's new hybrid is the Insight!
Mazda Kiyora city car concept, MX-5 facelift head to Paris
Leaked: Official updated Mazda MX-5 image
Reader Spy: Chevy Volt caught on set of Transformers 2
Spy Shot: Production interior of Chevy Volt (maybe)
By the Numbers - August 2008: New Digs Edition
In the Autoblog Garage: KITT Shelby GT500 KR
First Drive: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan Murano
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Dodge Journey R/T
