Forget the Nissan GT-R, the Corvette ZR1 and the Dodge Viper ACR, the big boys are now battling it out at the Nürburgring. Just yesterday we reported that the Gumpert Apollo Speed has set a new track record of 7:11.57, beating the Dodge Viper ACR’s time of 7:22.

Technically speaking, however, the Radical SR8, driven by Ryan Smith has held the record since 2005. Now Radical has announced that it has bested its own time with Michael Vergers setting  a 6:48 lap time in the street-legal SR8LM. The only problem is, the SR8LM isn’t street legal everywhere (including in the U.S.).

Both German magazine Sport Auto and the U.K.’s EVO magazine confirmed the lap time.

“We’ve proved that the SR8LM is not only the world’s best trackday car, but it’s also practical enough to drive to and from the circuit,” said Radical Sportscar’s co-founder Mich Hyde, who said the same set of Dunlop tires was used to drive from the company’s facility in the U.K. to the Nürburgring in Germany and for the test. “It is a genuine production sports car, with genuine performance credentials, as we’ve shown today.”

The Radical SR8LM is powered by a 460hp 2.8-liter V8 engine, fitted into a light-weight chassis with full carbon fiber bodywork.

[Source: RadicalSportsCars]

According to a report from the Pentastar nuts over at AllPar, Chrysler will be dropping its lifetime powertrain warranty on almost all of its vehicles. But it’s not all bad news.

Back when Chrysler introduced the seemingly too-good-to-be-true warranty it didn’t overly publicize the fact that it wasn’t transferable. As a result, plenty of second hand Chrysler buyers got burned, as once a car changed hands it only retained a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty.

Now the lifetime warranty is being replaced by a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty that is transferable.

Additionally, the new warranty will cover plenty of Chrysler vehicles that were not covered under the old plan, including all fleet vehicles (like police, postal, ambulance and taxis). The exceptions to the warranty are Sprinter trucks, all diesel trucks, Sterling trucks and company car vehicles.

[Source: Allpar]

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As though the photos and specs weren’t enough to get us salivating, now Porsche has released two videos of its barely street-legal GT3 RS.

For 2010 this motorsports-derived masterpiece gets a larger engine with more power, a wider front track, a reduced curb weight and increase downforce.

Thanks to an increased displacement from 3.6 to 3.8-liters, the new engine makes an additional 15hp for a new total of 450. That power hits the ground (as it should) through a rear-drive setup and a six-speed manual transmission. Plus, the gear ratios for the 2010 model have been shortened further for increased acceleration.

As the GT3 RS is all about performance through light-weight, additional weight has been shaved off the body of the GT3 RS through the use of a titanium exhaust. Porsche will also offer an optional lithium-ion battery in place of the standard lead battery, which will help save an additional 22 lbs.

In terms of handling, the GT3 RS gets a dynamic engine mounts, which change their stiffness depending on how the car is being driven. A new special PASM suspension setup has also been included that takes into account not only the RS’s wider rear track, but also its wider front track (new for 2010). Inside those flared fenders you’ll find 19×9-inch wheels with 245/35/19 tires up front and 19×12-inch wheels with 325/30/19 tires in the rear.

The 2010 GT3 RS will be available as of March with pricing is listed at $132,800 ($163,000 CDN).

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has asked the U.S. government to suspend the Cash-for-Clunkers program immediately as it believes the $3 billion in earmarked funds have already been used up.

NADA Chairman John McEleney told Automotive News that based on a survey of its dealers it believes the $3 billion in funding could be used up as of today. But according to the Transportation Department, only 411,624 claims have been filed, accounting for a total of $1,72 billion. The difference says McEleny is due to rejected claims that have yet to be re-submittted.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, has said that the $3 billion should last until Labor day, but NADA’s track record is also pretty good, as the group was the one to raise the alarm that the initial $1 billion in funding, intended to run for several months had dried up in just two weeks.

Earlier in the week LaHood said that the Transportation Department is readying a plan to wind-down the Cash-for-Clunkers program, commenting that even if the fund dries up, the dealers will still be reimbursed.

[Source: Automotive News]

In a shocking turn of events, General Motors has decided to cancel its plans to build a Buick PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) crossover just weeks after announcing plans to build the new model.

According to Buick communications boss Michelle Bunker the idea was not well received by, well, anyone and so GM has decided to scrap the program. This is somewhat surprising as Buick is so eager to compete on the luxury level and every other luxury brand has an entry level crossover.

The Buick PHEV was originally scheduled to be a Saturn Vue PHEV, but with the sale of Saturn to Penske, GM has to search out one of its four remaining brands under which to sell this plug-in hybrid crossover. Buick was chosen, but now it appears as though either Chevy or Cadillac will get the hybrid. GM has confirmed that production of the new model is still slated for 2011.

[Source: Autoblog]

When Bentley unveiled its new Mulsanne flagship at the Pebble Beach Cncours d’Elegance, CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen announced that the very same car (chassis #1) would then be auctioned off to the highest bidder at the Gooding & Co. auction.

No doubt valued at a quarter of a million dollars, the newest Bentley went for just double that number, somewhat lower than we might have expected. It almost went for less, however, as the starting price of $500,000 didn’t find any offers at first. The starting value was then placed at $300,000, which finally found its way back up to the half a million dollar mark thanks a a phone bidder.

Perhaps the “low” value had to do with the fact that Bentley is keeping tight-lipped about all the details regarding the Mulsanne until its official debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

All the proceedes of the auction went to the official charitable organization of the Concours, the Phil Hill Foundation.

GALLERY: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

[Source: Autoblog]

In the absence of any real movement by the Canadian government to establish a cash-for-clunkers program like the one that is currently boosting auto sales in the U.S., Hyundai Canada has just announced its own incentive program to get older, less-environmentally responsible cars off the road and get you into a Hyundai.

Currently through the Canadian government’s Retire Your Ride program, those who scrap their car are offered “green” incentives like a public transit pass, a membership to a car sharing program or a $300 cash rebate on the purchase of a 2004 or newer vehicle. That’s hardly as enticing as the $4,500 (almost $5,000 CDN) the U.S. government has on the table to get people in to more fuel-efficient cars.

Hyundai’s Clean Air Commitment acts as a top-up to the Canadian government’s program, and offers an additional $500 to $1,000 of “Clean Air Cash” off any 1995 and older vehicle that is in running condition and has been registered and insured for the last six months.

“Hyundai is committed to clean air in Canada,” said Steve Kelleher, president and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. “Our Clean Air Commitment is about our responsibility to deliver a harmonious balance between vehicles and the environment; it’s about clean air now and for the future. Reducing vehicle emissions has a direct impact on the air we breathe, so helping to remove older, more-polluting vehicles from the road just makes sense. It’s something we can do today to immediately impact our environment.  We think that’s pretty smart.”

Currently Hyundai is committed to becoming an environmentally-responsible leader it he auto industry and has set a goal of reaching a fleet average of 35 mpg (6.7 liters per 100km) by 2015 – five years ahead of what will be required by upcoming U.S. and Canadian legislation. Hyundai also plans to bring a hybrid version of the upcoming next-generation Sonata to market using the company’s lithium polymer battery technology.

Official release after the jump:

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German supercar builder Gumpert has just set a new Nürburgring lap record for street-legal production cars with its Apollo Speed model. The car was driven by Florian Gruber to a time of 7:11.57, demolishing the current record of 7:22.1 set by the Dodge Viper ACR.

German car magazine Sport-Auto was there to witness the record setting run and actually says that the previous record was a7:14.89 set by Michael Düchting in a Donkervoort D8 RS06 (essentially a Dutch version of a Lotus 7 or Caterham).

We can’t say we’re surprised by the car’s performance, after all, the Apollo uses a full carbon fiber monocoque, much like a Formula 1 car. It also makes 700hp thanks to a twin-turbocharged Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V8 and uses a genuine racing-style sequential transmission.

Company owner Roland Gumpert is no stranger to fast cars either as he worked at Audi for two decades and led the company’s motorsports division during its rallying heydays.

Technically speaking, the Radical SR8 has run a faster time of 6:55, however, it’s not street legal in many countries (including the U.S.).

Then again, it’s not hard to call into question the Apollo as a production car, considering so few have been built.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Porsche has just released info on a mid-cycle refresh of it’s barely street legal GT3 RS. New for 2010 is a larger engine with more power, a wider front track, a reduced curb weight and increase downforce. When combined the GT3 RS gets even better and continues to be a motorsports-derived masterpiece.

Thanks to an increased displacement from 3.6 to 3.8-liters, the new engine makes an additional 15hp for a new total of 450. That power hits the ground (as it should) through a rear-drive setup and a six-speed manual transmission. Plus, the gear ratios for the 2010 model have been shortened further for increased acceleration.

As the GT3 RS is all about performance through light-weight, additional weight has been shaved off the body of the GT3 RS through the use of a titanium exhaust. Porsche will also offer an optional lithium-ion battery in place of the standard lead battery, which will help save an additional 22 lbs.

In terms of handling, the GT3 RS gets a dynamic engine mounts, which change their stiffness depending on how the car is being driven. A new special PASM suspension setup has also been included that takes into account not only the RS’s wider rear track, but also its wider front track (new for 2010). Inside those flared fenders you’ll find 19×9-inch wheels with 245/35/19 tires up front and 19×12-inch wheels with 325/30/19 tires in the rear.

The 2010 GT3 RS will be available as of March with pricing is listed at $132,800 ($163,000 CDN).

GALLERY: 2010 Porsche GT3 RS

Official release after the jump:

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No doubt you’ve heard a lot over the past several months about how Ford is bucking the global economic downturn and finding ways to succeed. It may surprise you then to learn that Hyundai (including its Kia brand) has succeeded in selling more cars in the first half of 2009 than Ford, which makes Kia the world’s fourth largest automaker.

By ousting Ford from the fourth spot, Kia now ranks below Volkswagen, with Toyota in first place and General Motors in second.

In the first half of 2009 Hyundai moved 2,153,000 units; 8,000 more units than Ford. World-wide, Ford’s sales for the first half of 2009 have plummeted 30.6 percent.

For all of last year, Hyundai sold roughly one million fewer vehicles than Ford.

Just 10 years ago the combined sales of Hyundai and Kia still only landed the automaker in 11th place. In recent years, however, Hyundai has vastly improved its image with vehicles like the Genesis and Genesis Coupe, while models like the Kia ceed (shown above as the No 3 concept), are aimed at expanding the Kia brand at the lower end of the marketplace.

[Source: Kia via RideLust]

Official release after the jump:

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