A rather unique looking M3 has been spotted on the Nürburgring and the photos seem to suggest that BMW is prepping a CSL model. BMW execs have denied a light weight and even more performance-oriented M3 is on the way, but with the recovering economy, the demand for such a car and the fact that the idea behind it fits nicely into BMW’s “efficient dynamics” philosophy, the car almost seems like a sure thing.

The spy photos, captured by the U.K.’s AutoExpress show a lower car with a new front lip spoiler and a significantly sized rear spoiler. There is also the matter of the CSL-styled wheels.

If BMW does go through with it, expect the CSL model to come with many of the upgrades fund on the previous (E46) CSL. This would include items like a carbon fiber hood and front bumper, a lighter exhaust, stiffer springs and roll bars and light weight racing seats. Under the hood there should also be some light-weight carbon fiber components (like the intake manifold), some new engine software and possibly a new set of cams could bump up horsepower even higher.

See all the photos here:

BMW M3 CSL Spy Photos

[Source: AutoExpress]

Audi has already confirmed that the E-Tron concept that made its world premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show last month will see production, and now recent reports suggest the car will go under the R4 badge. The news comes from the U.K.’s AutoExpress, which also suggests gasoline versions may be available and that this vehicle would be based on the next generation of the Porsche Boxster and Cayman platform. This would mean that it would slot in between the TT and R8.

Like the concept, the production model will use four electric motors (one for each wheel) to deliver Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive performance like never before. The car will make over 300-hp and more than 3,000 ft-lbs of torque with a 0-60 time of just under 5 seconds.

The R4 is expected to see production by 2012.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Over recent years the offer of zero percent financing has become almost commonplace among domestic automakers, but now one of the imports is doing the same. What’s surprising isn’t that the automaker is from Europe, but (more specifically) that it’s from Italy.

That’s right, Lamborghini is now offering 0% financing on the LP640 coupe and roadster models, making them what must be the most expensive vehicles to ever get such a financing rate.

Now the deal isn’t about to attract Corolla shoppers, but it is quite enticing. On the $354,000 LP640 Coupe, it could make the difference between a $5,900 monthly payment (over 60 months at 0%) as compared to an almost $7,000 monthly payment ( over 60 months at 7%). That’s $1,100 a month!

The deal is the result of a new financing arrangement that Lambo has made with Woodside Credit and Volkswagen Credit. According to Lamborghini the zero percent offer is available over a term of 60 months for buyers who make a down payment of higher than 10 percent and who have a credit score of over 740. Those with a credit score of over 700 can enjoy rates from 5.99% for terms of up to 12 years.

“The Lamborghini Retail Finance Plan allows enthusiasts to finance one of most exclusive cars on the road at a more competitive rate than ever before,” said Pietro Frigerio, Chief Operating Officer of Automobili Lamborghini America, LLC. “We are pleased to continue our relationship with Volkswagen Credit as well partner with Woodside Credit, an established financing organization in collector and specialty cars, in order to provide several financing options to our clients.”

It’s official, being rich, just got better.

Official release after the jump:

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Next week in Japan, Lexus will (after a tremendously long wait), officially unveil its new flagship supercar at the Tokyo Auto Show. To help drum up interest, the company decided to give a little demonstration of the Nürburgring race version of the car, to show just what it is capable of. Or, more importantly, what it sounds like.

And it sounds gooooood!

In a parking lot at a Japanese motorsports expo, Lexus let the LF-A race car loose to rev its engine, do donuts and burnouts. Little is known for sure about the car other than the fact that it will have a V10 engine of around 5.0-liters with 550hp and a top speed o over 200 mph.

Some rumors have suggested it has a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, while others have said it will be offered in exremely limited numbers at a price of almost half a million dollars.

Either way, we can’t wait!

Two of the highlights at Chrysler’s Mopar themed SEMA booth this year will be from Jeep and both are suited to some serious off-roading. First up is the Mopar Jeep Lower Forty, which started life as a two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The gear-heads at Mopar decided to add on a set of 20-inch Mopar wheels and 40-inch tires, while keeping the car’s center of gravity as close to stock as possible. In order to do so, some serious body modifications were necessary, including moving much of the chassis higher into the vehicle. As a result, almost three inches had to be removed from the windshield, while the one-inch wider fender flares now sit 4-inches higher.

But the modifications didn’t stop there. Under a carbon fiber hood sits a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. To get all that power to the ground are new front and rear axles with 5.38 gears and ARB air lockers.

Other highlights include an integrated roll cage and in place of carpeting, the Mopar guys opted for a spray-in truck bed liner.

The second highlighted Jeep is called the Mopar Jeep Wrangler Overland and is based on a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon model. This Jeep gets added off-road capability thanks to a 3-inch suspension lift and rear sway bar, 17-inch wheels and 35-inch tires, as well as a heat-reduction hood, snorkel, off-road lights, new AEV steel bumpers and a winch. The most original modification, however, is the ARB two-person Simpson II rooftop-mounted tent, complete with an awning, meaning you can not only drive this Jeep anywhere, but you’ve got a place to camp-out when you arrive at you destination.

We’ll be sure to bring you plenty of photos of both Jeeps with live coverage of the 2009 SEMA Show starting on November 3rd.

See AutoGuide’s live SEMA Coverage here!

GALLERY: SEMA 2009 Mopar Jeeps

Read more on the Mopar Jeeps and the rest of Chrysler’s SEMA vehicles after the jump:

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At the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Dodge will unveil a luxuriously appointed custom Ram pickup. While SEMA cars are normally wild and wacky creations, the Chrysler vehicles for 2009 seem to be quite tame, and could be seen as possible concept vehicles. After all, Ford has already established a market for upscale pickups and continues to sell them with the latest Platinum model.

Called the Mopar Dodge Ram Bianco Image Vehicle, this one-off Dodge is based on a Ram 1500 Sport with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8. Modifications to the outside of the truck include a Mopar tonneau cover and fender flares, and a Mopar carpeted bedliner that is washable. A Ground Force lowering kit gives the truck a more aggressive stance and better on-road manners with improved handling and less body roll. A set of massive 22-inch Mopar wheels and several coats of a special Arctic Ice pearl paint help complete the look.

In terms of performance, the truck does get a slight boost thanks to a Mopar cold air intake and dual exhaust system.

Most importantly on such a luxury themed vehicle is the interior, which Mopar has outfitted with white and black Katzkin seats and matching door trim. The dual tone theme continues throughout the rest of the cabin with piano black and arctic ice accents. A Kicker audio system with a powerful subwoofer, amplifier and upgraded speakers help complete the package.

We’ll be sure to bring you plenty of photos of the stylish luxury truck with live coverage of the 2009 SEMA Show starting on November 3rd.

See AutoGuide’s live SEMA Coverage here!

Read more on the Dodge Ram Bianco and the rest of Chrysler’s SEMA vehicles after the jump::

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Chrysler has announced it will be bringing four specially-made Mopar vehicles representing each of the company’s brands to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, including one very special 556-horsepower Challenger designed as a street-legal version of the company’s Drag Pak 1/4 mile racer. Named the Dodge Challenger 1320, after how many feet there are in a 1/4 mile, the car boasts a Mopar 426 cubic-inch, all-aluminum, HEMI V-8 crate engine with the aforementioned 556 horsepower and 540 ft-lbs of torque and uses the stripped-down, race-only chassis that Dodge sells to competitive drag racers.

Other highlights include Mopar police wheels with street-legal Mickey Thompson drag radials, an adjustable coilover kit, six-speed manual transmission with a custom Dynatrac rear housing with Mopar Dana 60 internals, an ARB locking differential and an exhaust bypass system that keeps the car emissions legal on the street but re-routes the exhaust gases past the mufflers for the drag strip.

The car is painted in a non-metallic yellow paint (called Acidic Hue) with matte black graphics. There’s also a new hood, front splitter and new grille panel and headlight surround. As for the inside, there’s all sorts of good stuff, including Dodge Viper seats, a sport steering wheel and Hurst shifter. Much of the other interior amenities, like the center console and radio have been removed to reduce weight and help the Dodge Challenger 1320 deliver maximum performance.

We’ll be sure to bring you more on the car with live coverage of the SEMA Show starting on November 3rd.

See AutoGuide’s live SEMA Coverage here!

Read more on the Dodge Challenger 1320 and the rest of Chrysler’s SEMA vehicles after the jump:

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To celebrate 40 years since the original 240Z landed in North American, Nissan has announced a limited edition 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition model. Starting out as a well-equipped manual-transmission Touring model, this limited edition vehicle also gets the Sport Package, which includes the SynchroRev Match transmission, a front lip spoiler and rear spoiler, Nissan’s impressive sort brakes, a limited slip differential and 19-inch Rays forged wheels.

Added to this is a special “40th Quartz” paint job and a red leather interior. Other highlights include red brake calipers; a high luster smoked wheel finish; 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace; red painted door trim; red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and steering wheel; 40th Anniversary stitching on the seatbacks and floormats; a plaque of authenticity and a special car cover.

The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition will go on sale next spring, with ricing released closer to the release date.

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

Read a short history fo the Z car after the jump:

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Porsche’s updated 2010 911 Turbo model has cut an impressive 10 seconds off its predecessor’s Nürburgring lap time. The significantly revised sports car can now boast a 7:39 lap time around Germany’s most famous race track.

Unfortunately for Porsche, this time is still more than 10 seconds away from the car’s Japanese rival, the Nissan GT-R, which has managed a 7:27.56 time. Both the Japanese and German sports cars have yet to unseat either of their American competitors, with the Corvette ZR1 managing a 7:26.4, while the Dodge Viper ACR boasts a 7:22.1 lap time.

The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo has a long list of upgrades which includes an all-new, larger 3.8-liter engine that makes 500hp and is mated to an impressive 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission. Porsche claims the car can hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 194 mph.

[Source AutoCar]

Acura continues to talk about being a tier-one luxury automaker, but while Honda’s luxury arm keeps to talking the talk we’re not seeing a lot of walking. Recently the folks at Car & Driver had a chat with a few Acura execs during the launch of the new ZDX model – a seemingly niche-market vehicle that Acura somehow believes helps elevate them to (or nearer to) tier-one status.

Those Acura suits seemed to understand that with the recent introduction of the all-wheel drive TL model, the flagship RL (already a poor seller) was now completely obsolete. In fact, the TL SH-AWD, not only costs less ($44,195 vs $47,640 for the RL), but it actually makes more horsepower (305 vs 300). And considering the size difference between the two models isn’t all that significant either, there’s really no conceivable reason to buy an RL.

Acura has promised that the next RL (which we still don’t expect to see until 2011), will reassert its position as the flagship vehicle in the brand. Unfortunately, what that won’t mean is a V8 engine – unlike absolutely every one of Acura’s competitors. Acura continues to believe that the V8 is not the right direction as people continue to shift towards smaller fuel efficient engines. The company has, however, been touting this corporate philosophy since the launch of the current RL, which has been a dismal failure. We’ll cross our fingers that Acura decides to go the forged induction route, offering a turbocharged V6 to at least deliver the power of a V8.

[Source: Car & Driver]