General Motors has just announced that it’s European operations, including brands Opel and Vauxhall will split-off from GM.

The deal would see anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of of GM Europe sold off to private investors, however, GM would continue to hold a majority stake in the company. (Call us crazy, but who would want to invest in a company that was still controlled by the same people who drove it into the ground)?

The news comes a day after thousands of Opel workers in the city of Ruesselsheim protested and asked that Opel split off from GM after 80 years of ownership by the U.S. company.

GM Europe is asking for $4.18 billion from European governments in loans to facilitate its restructuring efforts that would see the company profitable by 2011.

The German government, however, isn’t jumping at the chance. Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg asked that GM first take very other measure possible before the German government would even consider a bailout. Zu Guttenberg even hinted that were the German government to get involved it would most likely like a say in where the money goes and what the restructuring plan would look like. GM Europe, after all, has plants in Germany, Belgium and the U.K.

[Source: AutoNews]

Despite all of Nissan’s troubles, the company isn’t shying away from motorsports for 2009, with four factory backed cars running in Japan, as well as several privateer teams running in Japan, China, South Africa and even in Europe.

“Motorsports is an important part of Nissan’s strategy for building a strong brand with consumers who share our passion for high-performance driving,” said Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. “In addition to being an important touch-point for consumers, motorsports serve as a dynamic proving ground for automotive innovation.”

That being said Nissan plans to back four teams in the SUPER GT series in the GT500 class. Team NISMO, Team Impul and Kondo Racing have all decided on running the Nissan GT-R, however, Hasemi Motorsport has not decided which platform it will use.

Some of the most exciting news, however, is that Gigawave MotorSport will run a NISMO-developed car in the FIA GT1 class in the U.K. The car will only run four races in 2009 and, therefore, won’t compete for the championship. The driver’s names are not official but are expected to be Michael Krumm ( a NISMO driver) and Darren Turner of Gigawave, a team that has compete in the FIA GT series since 2007.

Now if only a NISMO GT-R could make its way to the American Le Mans Series.

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Almost completing the lineup of previews ahead of the Geneva Auto Show (which starts March 3rd), Ferrari has released a teaser of the two vehicles it plans to unveil, the 599 GTB HGTE and the Laboratorio Tecnologico 599xx.

Ferrari is keeping tight-lipped about the HGTE (Handling GT Evoluzione) 599, but we have already reported that it will feature new five-spoke 20-inch wheels (pictured above) as well as a firmer suspension and a sound-adjustable exhaust system.

Ferrari’s other piece of news is the 599XX. Called the Laboratorio Tecnologico, this new model will bring all of Ferrari’s most sophisticated technologies together in one street-legal car. Ferrari says that many of the items are derived from road and Formula1 research and it will be the first time they have been ever used. The 599XX will be sold in extremely limited numbers and offered to just a select few Ferrari clients.

Ferrari aims to have a jam-packed stand at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, with a total of seven different vehicles. The 599 HGTE will displayed in a three-layer metallic Rosso paint and the 599XX will use a color similar to the F2008. Other cars include a Grigio Titanio F430 Scuderia Spider 16M, a Rosso Corsa F430 Scuderia, a Nero Metallizzato California and an Atelier 612 Scaglietti. The final car will be the Formula 1 car that won Ferrari its 16th Constructors’ World title.

AutoGuide.com will be reporting live from the Geneva Auto Show starting March 3rd – so check back for full specifications and details on both new 599s.

According to a report on GlobalMotors.net, they have caught the successor to the Ferrari F430 testing in Sweden… for the second time.

Code named the F142, it is expected that the next-gen exotic will boast a 4.5-liter V8 and make in excess of 500hp. It is also expected that the car will eventually be called the F450.

The photographs shows wider front and rear fenders and so it would seem the car will use a wider track – possibly a modified version of the F430′s chassis. Ferrari also seems to be working on improved air intake or cooling for the car, as is obvious by the large intake ducts on the rear.

We also imagine that the successor to the F430 will use direct injection technology for significantly improved fuel-economy.

It is expected that the F450 will be officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, however, it is possible that the company will use the Geneva Auto Show (starting March 3rd) to debut the exotic.

[Source: GlobalMotors]

Nissan has just announced that they have begun testing second-generation fuel-cell technology. The new fuel-cell stack is fitted to a Nissan X-Train SUV.

Nissan first announced their plans to explore a mode advanced fuel-cell technology in August of 2008. The new fuel cell is 25 percent smaller than the previous generation and provides 1.4 times the power. Total output is rated at 130 Kw, compared to 90 Kw in the old unit. The advantages are more than just in the size and power departments, however, as Nissan says the new stack uses half the amount of platinum for the electrodes and uses a more durable catalyst, making it not only longer-lasting but significantly cheaper to manufacture.

The second-gen fuel-cell-equipped X-Train actually began testing in late 2008 and more recently has been undergoing cold weather testing at the company’s Hokkaido Proving Ground.

Currently Nissan has their fuel-cell X-Trail, called the X-Trail FCV, on display at the FC Expo in Tokyo.

Looking more like something that might roll out of a SoCal tuning shop like Platinum Motorsport, German tuning house Edo Competition has just released details of its version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed.

The Edo Conti GT Speed makes a total of 680hp and 649 ft-lbs of torque, thanks to a modified ECU and a stainless steel exhaust system. The new exhaust system even features butterfly valves with an optional remote so driver’s can decide when they want to open up the valves and let the full sound of the W12 engine be heard.

Thanks to these performance mods, Edo Competition claims its new GT can hit 62 mph in just 4.2 seconds and blast on to a new top speed of 211 mph!

Other modifications include 20-inch wheels (which can be custom painted) and new control unit for Bentley’s air suspension, which allows the car to sit up to 35mm lower than stock.

Surprisingly, the aftermarket extremists seem to have been outdone by the OEMs this time, as Bentley’s Continental Supersports, while making less power, has a significantly faster 0-60 time of just 3.7 seconds.

For more on Edo Competition visit:

www.edo-competition.de

GALLERY: Edo Competition Continental GT Speed

ABT Sportsline, the world’s largest Audi/VW tuner will unveil a 510hp Supercharged version of the Audi S5 at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in just a few days. Called the AS5-R, the fully reworked coupe gets a boost of 156hp thanks to a supercharger system. ABT first showed a modified version of the S5 at the 2008 SEMA Show

ABT claims the added power is enough to rocket the AS5-R to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 181 mph! Possibly even more impressive is the fact that this super-coupe maintains the same level of fuel consumption and emissions as the standard vehicle.

As expected with ABT, the AS5-R is includes a whole host of modifications including a coilover setup, 20-inch BR alloy wheels and 380mm rotors at all four corners.

As is obvious, the car features an aero kit, designed to keep the car planted at high speed on the German autobahn. It includes a new front grille, a new bumper with a specific fog-light design, front fender gills, side skirts and a rear bumper with cutouts for the 4-pipe muffler system.

GALLERY: ABT Sportsline AS5-R

For more info on ABT products visit the company’s site here:

ABT Sportsline

There isn’t a lot new (or a lot know) about this “new” Carbon Edition of Gemballa’s Mirage GT, but it sure is nice to look at.

What we do know is that Gemballa is claiming an output of 670hp, which us up 58 ponies over the stock 612hp output. That is enough says Gemballa to get the supercar to 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than stock. It’s also 0.2 seconds faster to 125 mph, at just 9.7 seconds. Top speed is rated at an impressive 208 mph!

As this is the Carbon Edition, we expect the vehicle to come with carbon aero bits, including a carbon fiber front splitter, carbon rear spoiler and diffuser and even a carbon fiber air intake tunnel and roof.

As with the other Mirage GT models, performance mods will include a Gemballa exhaust system and the car will also use Gemballa’s own 19-inch center-locking wheels.

We’ve loved almost every version of the Carrera GT that has come out and it’s impressive when you consider Porsche only produced 1,270 Carrera GTs, that so many Gemballa versions have been produced.

For more Mirage GT’s in all sorts of colors, visit the Gemballa site here:

www.gemballa.com

GALLERY: Gemballa Mirage GT Carbon Edition

Porsche has announced that two of its private customer teams will compete in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans using Porsche’s LMP2 RS Spyder race cars. With an obvious stake in the competition Porsche will be giving both teams some important support, in the form of two seasoned Porsche Works drivers: Sascha Maassen and Emmanuel Collard.

The first entry will be Japan’s NAVI Team Goh, piloted by Massen and Japanese drivers Seiji Ara and Keisuke Kunimoto.

Two teams will again field a Porsche RS Spyder each at the Le Mans 24 hour race (13-14 June). The NAVI Team Goh from Japan and the Essex squad from Denmark are eager to repeat the double victory of the RS Spyder in the LMP2 class last year. Massen raced to victory in the same car last year, while the 34-year-old Ara won back in 2004. The 20-year-old Kuminmoto  will race at Le Mans for the first time.

Collard will race with team Essex along with Casper Elgaard and Kristian Poulson, both of Denmark. Team Essex placed second last year at the 24 Hour race.

“I’m very pleased that, with Goh and Essex, we have two highly professional customer teams contesting Le Mans with a Porsche RS Spyder,” says Porsche’s Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “Setting the quickest lap times of all LMP2 cars last year, the vehicle underlined its reliability and had the best efficiency of all participating sports prototypes. We have modified the cars to comply with the new technical regulations and I’m sure that both RS Spyder will again be very competitive in the LMP2 class.”
Porsche took the top two spots in the LMP2 class last year with RS Spyders, however, both teams will have their work cut out for them in ’09 with rew rules that restrict the air intakes, thus reducing power from the 3.4-liter V8 to 440hp – down from 476.

News has just surfaced that Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy), will race at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ferrari F430 GT race car.

Dempsey will race alongside co-drivers Don Kitch Jr. and 2008 Gran Am Koni Challenge Champion Joe Foster under the team name Team Seattle. The Ferrari race car will be prepared bu Advanced Engineering.

Team Seattle, which was founded by Kitch, has been operating for 12 years, working to create awareness and support of Seattle’s Children’s Hospital.

Dempsey, it should be noted, is not new to racing, having competed in the 2008 Grand Am Rolex Sports Car series with Hypersport Engineering in a Mazda RX-8. Dempsey will continue to be involved in the 2009 season as he purchased Hypersport Engineering, which will now run under the banner of Dempsey Racing.

When asked about his Le Mans effort, Dempsey had this to say: “while we remain 100% committed to our Mazda-powered Rolex Series program this opportunity to ally with Team Seattle and enhance its efforts to drive funding to Seattle Children’s Hospital and their Team France partner is an opportunity that Dempsey Racing is honored to accept.”

Kitch was eager to show his appreciation to Dempsey and commented that, “Patrick is by no means new to the Team Seattle campaign as he has been very supportive of the effort since we first met at the Daytona 24 Hour… he loved what we were doing and wanted to help in any way he could.”

The 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on June 13-14.

[Source: ColdTrackDays]