It seems like only yesterday that Ferrari unveiled the Enzo as the pinnacle of all that an automobile could stand for and achieve. It was thought untouchable, both in terms of competition and modification. Oh how times have changed.

Dedicated Porsche tuner Gemballa has decided to try its hand at the ultra-exclusive world of Ferrari tuning, and we have the first images of what is known as the MIG-UI Enzo. The car was built for brothers Mustafa and Illyas Galadari of The Illyas and Mustafa Galadari Group – Gemballa’s Middle East distributor. The Gemballa Enzo is named after the brothers, with Mustafa’s name coming first because he donated his personal Enzo to the project.

We have to say the Star Wars-inspired body is definitely extreme (just how they like it in Dubai). Inside the cockpit gets a luxurious overhaul, a significant upgrade from the Enzo’s basic factory equipment. The car is scheudeld to be officially unverield at a private event in Dubai and hopefully then we’ll have some info on what (if any) modifications were made to the 6.0-liter V12 engine. Normally we’d say such a powerplant is untouchable, but there is the lone example of of the Edo Competition/ZR Auto Enzo, which is powered by an 840-hp FXX motor.

GALLERY: Gemballa MIG-UI Enzo

[Source: BespokeVentures]

It’s here at last… sort of. Above is a lone photo of the replacement to the Honda/Acura NSX – at least in race car trim. Called the HSV-10 GT, or Velocity Sports Honda, this track only exotic is built to run in the GT500 class of Japan’s Super GT series. As cars in that class are limited to around 500-hp, we can safely assume the HSV-10 GT makes exactly that.

With a full carbon fiber body, what’s even more impressive is what’s under the hood – a 3.4-liter V8 engine that no doubt revvs to an impressively high (even for Honda) rpm range to get all 500 ponies. (Honda has yet to release official specs though.)

Underpinning this impressive creation is reported to be the very same chassis that Honda was working on for several years to replace the NSX but which has now been rumored canceled.

A light weight body and 500-hp 3.4L V8, only for the track? Please Honda, nobody likes a tease.

[Source: Le Blog Auto]

Aston Martin is preparing to launch the One-77, its first ever supercar, next year and the British automaker is so impressed with the car’s initial performance that it sent out a press release to give an update on the project. Just this week the 7.3-liter V12-powered monster began high speed testing at “a top secret proving ground in southern Europe.”

During the first set of runs, the One-77 not only managed 200-mph, but blew past it to record a speed of 220.007 mph. That’s 354.86 km/h in Euro (or Canadian) speak.

Aston has said it will continue testing and its likely the new supercar will exceed the 220-mph mark. Helping it achieve those impressive numbers is an engine rated at around 750-hp, as well as special air ducts at the front of the car that close off at speed to reduce lift.

We’re even more excited to see what the One-77 might be able to do on Germany’s famed Nürburgring, as the combination of power and the One-77′s light weight carbon fiber monocoque chassis (like the one in the McLaren MP4-12C or Lexus LFA) should give it a huge advantage over standard street cars.

As the name suggests, just 77 versions of the car will be built with an asking price of close to $2 million.

GALLERY: Aston Martin One-77 High Speed Testing

GALLERY: Aston Martin One-77 at Pebble Beach

Official release after the jump:

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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here***

After unveiling the production version of the CTS Coupe at the LA Auto Show just a few weeks back, Cadillac is set to unveil the high-powered version of the very same car at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Plus, it will be joined by an all-new concept car.

As for the V, it will get the Coupe’s basic lines plus some more aggressive aero work. Under the hood will be a familiar supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that pumps out an incredible 556-hp and 551 ft-lbs of torque. Also expect some big wheels and tires, massive Brembo brakes and magnetic ride shock absorbers.

The debut of this car was pretty much a given and so we’re more excited to see the new concept vehicle. Cadillac says it will be the, “latest in its series of dynamic designs.” Past designs have included such impressive machines as the CTS Coupe Concept, Converj and let’s not forget the Cadillac Sixteen. Could this new concept be an idea of what Caddy has in store for the ATS 3-Series fighter or the XTS flagship, or is it, perhaps a look further into the future at some sort of sports car or a serious luxury sedan competitor to cars like the BMW 7 Series and Lexus LS?

AutoGuide will bring you live coverage of the Detroit Auto Show starting January 11th.

Official release after the jump:

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Michael Schumacher has all but traded in his Ferrari red for the silver and black of Mercedes-Benz. According to Ferrari team president Luca di Montezemolo, the retired Formula One superstar told him in a recent phone conversation that there is a, “very, very, very strong possibility,” that he will be behind the wheel of a Mercedes F1 car next season.

Di Montezemolo even said that he had released the seven-time F1 World Champion from any remaining commitments to the Ferrari team, in order to facilitate a seedy and problem free transition to Mercedes.

Reports indicate that the only thing preventing Schumacher from joining Mercedes right now is the condition of his neck, which he injured last year in a motorcycle accident. Fractures from that accent prevented Schumacher from racing in place of Filipe Massa after he was hit in the head by a piece of debris during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Mercedes has said that an official announcement is expected early in the new year.

[Source: AutoCar]

Fiat’s plan to gobble up all of Chrysler has taken its first step forward since the Italian automaker rescued the struggling America manufacturer from bankruptcy liquidation. Currently Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler and has the ability to take a 35 percent share of the company if it meets three specific criteria: building a fuel-efficient engine in the United States, building a 40-mpg car in the U.S. and expanding Chrysler’s reach internationally. Once those goals have been achieved, it can also purchase up to 51 percent of Chrysler.

According to a recent report by Automotive News, Fiat will build the 92-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder motor for the 500C model in Dundee, Michigan. Fiat will use $179 million to revamp the former Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant to do so. Rather than build the 500C in the U.S., however, the engines will then be shipped to Mexico where the 500C will be assembled, with half of the cars coming back to the U.S. and the other half headed to Brazil.

With one of the three criteria now slated to be met, it seems like Fiat most certainly has its sights set on complete control of Chrysler. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has made it clear in the past that he wants Fiat to be a global player and a secure foothold in the U.S. marketplace is a necessary step in achieving that goal.

Now we’ll just await news of a U.S.-built 40-mpg car and of Chrysler’s overseas expansion plans.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

Last week any future cooperation between Ford and Mazda seemed unlikely after Ford president Mark Fields announced the two companies would no longer share platforms. Now company execs on both sides are reasserting a “long-term partnership.” Both Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi have been in talks to discuss future collaborations.

News of a separation between the U.S. and Japanese automaker came as little surprise, as recently Ford sold off much of its stake in Mazda, reducing its portion of from 33 percent to just 11 percent. The partnership is the longest running in the auto industry, dating back to 1979. Initially Ford benefited tremendously from Mazda’s Japanese technology and work practices, however, more recently, Mazda has been the benefactor, as Ford propped it up when an effort to take on Honda and Toyota in the mainstream auto business failed.

“Our strategic alliance will remain intact,” said Mazda’s VP of manufacturing Masaharu Yamaki. Ford execs weren’t quite as strong worded with Ford CFO Lewis Booth quoted as saying that, “The strategic relationship continues. The business relationships continue. And they continue on the basis that they’ve always continued. Where it works to the benefit of both companies, we do things together, and where it doesn’t, we don’t.”

Ford’s business plan has seen it sell off its shares in other automakers and it is currently looking to find a buyer for Volvo. This plan is in many ways the reason that Ford avoided bankruptcy as it not only created a huge influx of cash, but it did so at the perfect time, when the luxury brands it sold off (like Jaguar and Land Rover) saw massive sales declines. There is still an unwillingness to set Mazda entirely free, however, as Ford relies on the Japanese automaker for some of its most important products: the mid-size Fusion being based on the Mazda6 and the sub-compact Fiesta based on the Mazda2.

“We’re still dependent on each other,” said Ford’s global product boss Derrick Kuzak. “You cannot change that overnight.”

Still, as Kuzak suggests, Ford is looking to separate itself from Mazda and despite all the reassuring words of a partnership between the two companies, Ford isn’t recanting on its “no platform sharing” statement. And so while there are still opportunities for the two automakers to work together on certain products, Mazda isn’t sitting around and waiting for Ford. Recent reports have suggested that Mazda has begun a partnership with Toyota that will see Prius hybrid technology go into use in a future Mazda3 model.

[Source: The Detroit News]

When Kia unveiled the Denim Soul model a few months back, the Korean automaker hinted that it wouldn’t be the last limited edition Soul model. So in following the Scion marketing plan, Kia has now dropped its second special Soul, dubbed the Ignition Soul.

The limited run of Ignition models will get a special “ignition orange” paint color with an offset black racing stripe. Other highlights include a body kit and rear spoiler, black-painted 18-inch wheels with machined accents and a metallic fuel door.

Like the Denim Soul, the Ignition Soul is based on the Soul+ model and comes with the Audio Upgrade Package (center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse with the beat of the music), an iPod connection cable for full functionality via the radio head unit and steering wheel controls, carpeted floor mats, a moon roof, fender vents with side marker turn signals and fog lights. Other standard equipment includes: keyless entry, cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Ignition Soul is priced from $17,500 with a five-speed manual transmission.

GALLERY: Kia Ignition Soul

Official release after the jump:

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With the launch of the new 2011 5-Series, the debut of the M version of that car is fast approaching. There have been numerous rumors about the new model and the folks at Bimmerfile have attempted to separate fact from fiction to give us an idea at just what to expect.

First, we can all but guarantee that the V10 has been eliminated in favor of a twin-turbo V8 setup similar to that found in the both the X5 M and X6 M. With well over 500-hp and more than 500 ft-lbs of torque, this new engine will deliver usable power at almost any rpm, as compared to the old V10 that needed to be strung out to 8000 rpm.

Along with cutting out weight from the engine, the F10 M5 is likely to get an all aluminum chassis, as well as carbon fiber body panels to help keep it light on its toes. A carbon fiber roof will be optional.

Finally, the M5 is expected to get a state-of-the-art Formula One-derived KERS regenerative braking system. The KERS setup will reportedly store electric energy created under braking and then allow the driver to access that power via an F1-style button. This momentary thrust is expected to be quite noticeable and should help the twin-turbo V8 deliver close to 600-hp for short bursts of time.

[Source: Bimmerfile]

***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here***

Along with a long list of Chevy products set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show, GM will deliver unconventional new vehicles for both Buick and GMC. First up is a high-performance Buick Regal, thought to be called the GS. Based on the European Opel Insignia OPC, the Regal GS will use a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 to make 325-hp and put that power to the ground using an all-wheel drive setup.

In addition to this gotta-gave Buick, GM’s GMC brand will debut its smallest model ever, based on the upcoming Chevy Orlando MPV. This smaller-than-a-mini-van vehicle will be a sister car to the Orlando but is aimed at a different segment of the market. While the Orlando is intended to compete with vehicles like the Mazda5, Kia Rondo and Dodge Journey (not to mention the upcoming Ford C-Max), the GMC version, dubbed the GMC Granite, is aimed at the youth market. The Granite would then target cars like the Nissan Cube, Scion xB and Kia Soul with styling and youth-oriented features.

We have to think that it would probably be best if GMC stayed true to its truck roots, but with GMC’s masculine traits laid over a boxy body shell, this might be the right model to make the GMC brand popular in urban markets.

[Source: CanadianDriver]