With what might be the largest Porsche dealer in Canada, Pfaff also has a tuning department, dedicated to giving more power and performance to customer’s who demand more from their car. And apparently, Pfaff also likes to deliver more style, showing off both a matte-black Audi R8, as well as a matte-black Carrera C4S.

The Carrera is a special model, featuring a mild upgrade package from Champion Motorsport, a Florida-based tuner associated with the Champion race team that ran the Audi R8 race cars in North American several years back. Rather than the low-cost option of a wrap, this matte-black Porsche is actually painted. It also features a set of black Champion RF67 wheels with a nice red pinstripe.

The car has also been equipped with a Werks1 front lip and rear diffuser (Werks1 being Champion’s line of aerodynamic parts). Added power comes from a Tubi exhaust an a GIAC ECU tune, while the car’s handling has been increased thanks to some H&R springs.

We took plenty of snaps of both cars, so feel free to browse though them all in the gallery below.

GALLERY: Champion Motorsport Porsche Carrera and Audi R8

Without the media-day crowds of bigger shows, the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto allows for some pretty-incredible access to important new vehicles – like Volkswagen’s New Compact Coupe NCC) Concept. There’s no new news about the NCC hybrid, which debuted six weeks ago at the Detroit Auto Show, using a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 148-hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque along with a 27-hp electric motor. When combined with VW’s 7-speed DSG transmission, the NCC gets an impressive 45 mpg. Acceleration isn’t exactly impressive at 8.1 seconds to 60 mph.

At the Toronto show we were able to get a much closer look at this concept car, including a peak inside to look at its exquisitely tailored interior, large hybrid information screen and near-production package. That’s right, while the NCC might just be a concept it’s likely to be very similar to the coupe version of Volkswagen’s upcoming compact sedan. While VW has yet to even come close to confirming anything (heck, they barely admit they have a new compact car coming to replace the Jetta), its possible that the German automaker will deliver a hybrid version like the NCC as well as a high-performance model similar to the 265-hp Golf R.

In the mean time, browse through the gallery below, especially at the NCC’s incredible interior.

GALLERY: Volkswagen New Compact Coupe (NCC) Concept

With the Chicago Auto Show just the day before, there’s not a lot of point in covering the Toronto Auto Show, except for the fact that it often allows a much closer look at new and upcoming models. Chicago is already low-key but the media day at the Canadian International Auto Show is sparsely attended at best and so we got the best access we’ve had yet to Fiat’s high-powered Abarth version of the 500.

We’re not overly fond of the Fiat 500′s European econo looks, but add on some aerodynamic treatments, a lowered suspension and some 17-inch wheels and we’re starting to see the appeal. Plus, in the Abarth mode, the 500′s standard 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gets a turbocharger (one of the smallest we’ve ever seen), to create 170-hp and 170 ft-lbs of torque.

While no production date is set, the 500 is scheduled to U.S. and Canadian shores and that’s likely to mean the Abarth 500 will also follow. We were surprised at how high-grade the car’s interior is, looking like a slightly lower-grade Audi, with some well-bolstered seats and a nice meaty steering wheel. If Fiat is to make a success of a car like this it will have to sell it as a premium vehicle, competing with the MINI Cooper. With slightly less power but also less weight, a model like this Abarth is sure to be a hit amongst enthusiasts.

GALLERY: Abarth 500

Porsche will bring hybrid technology to the race track when it debuts the 911 GT3 R hybrid at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Based on the GT3 chassis, the race car is powered by a traditional 4.0-liter flat-six engine making 480-hp at the rear wheels. In addition, two electric motors will be used to power the front wheels, with 60 kW of power going to each axle. The driver will be able to call up this extra power on-demand, giving the GT3 R a temporary all-wheel drive setup as well. The power surge is expected to last between 6 and 8 seconds.

Power for the electric motors comes via a flywheel generator that operates as a regenerative braking system, powering-up the on-board battery under braking.

Porsche intends to compete with the GT3 R Hybrid at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring race, which runs from May 15th to 16th.

We’ll bring you more on this car as well as the rest of the new models at the Geneva Auto Show with live coverage starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Porsche GT3 R Hybrid

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Infiniti made a last minute decision to show its products at the Chicago Auto Show and so it took some searching to find the brands new 2011 M model tucked away in a back corner. But it was worth the hunt. Infiniti actually showed the car to us at a private event during the LA Auto Show, but the car’s Chicago Auto Show debut will be its first public appearance.

For 2011 the M will be offered as both an M37 and M56 model, each of which will be offered in either RWD or AWD. Like the G37, the M37 is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine with 270 ft-lbs of torque. As for the M56, it gets a massive 5.6-liter mill with an impressive 420-hp and 417 ft-lbs of torque. In total, the new top-level M gets 95-hp and 81 ft-lbs of torque over its predecessor, the M45.

Those looking for even more sport can opt for a Sport Package (RWD only), that comes with 20-inch wheels, a sport tuned suspension, larger brake rotors with 4-piston front calipers and two-piston rears, 4-Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) steering, as well as a sport steering wheel, pedals and shift knob. Specific to the Sport Package are special double-piston shocks that deliver a ride that is both comfortable and stable. There’s even a unique front fascia.

Both engines come with Infiniti’s 7-speed sport automatic transmission, allowing the M56 to get even better fuel economy than the old M45.

As for the car’s size, it is larger than the outgoing M, measuring roughly half an inch longer at 194.7 inches, 2-inches wider at 72.6 inches. It is also roughly half an inch lower at 59.1 inches to help keep the car’s center of gravity low.

One of the most exciting features on the new M is Infiniti Drive that allows a driver to choose between four settings of throttle pressure and transmission shift points. There’s also an Active Tracing Control system that adjusts engine power and braking at all four wheels for optimum performance. Safety items include Blind Spot Warning and Blind Spot Intervention that helps bring the car back towards the center of the lane. There’s also an Eco Pedal feature that, when selected, uses green and yellow lights on the instrument panel to give the driver feedback on his or her driving, while also giving feedback through the gas pedal, pushing back to alert the driver when they are operating the vehicle inefficiently. Infiniti says that in testing this simple method has lead to improved fuel economy of five to 10 percent.

GALLERY: 2011 Infiniti M56

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan displayed, for the first time, its new 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition. Celebrating 40 years since the 240Z landed in the U.S., the 40th Anniversary Edition model starts out as a well-equipped manual-transmission Touring model equipped with the Sport Package which includes the SynchroRev Match transmission, a front lip spoiler and rear spoiler, Nissan’s impressive sport 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.

Set to go on sale this Spring, the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition is priced from $38,860.

See our gallery of photos from the car’s debut below:

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

See after the jump for a brief history of the Z car:

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Nissan Canada announced it will present the Stillen GT-R at the 2010 Toronto Auto Show.

Race car driver Steve Millen and the Stillen team built their version of the GT-R “Godzilla” in 2009 for the Targa Newfoundland race. The Stillen crew lightened the GT-R by 172 lbs. and tweaked throttle response and suspension.

The result: a 0-60 run of 2.9 seconds and an 11.0-second quarter-mile run at 127.9 mph. Living up to the name “Godzilla”, the Stillen GT-R’s roar registered 101 dBA, compared to the stock GT-R’s 891 dBA.

Nissan and Infiniti will also display their latest models including the new 2011 Infiniti M, the Infiniti Essence Concept and the “Krom” edition Nissan Cube at the 2010 Toronto Auto Show. Check back for AutoGuide.com’s coverage of the Canadian International Auto Show on Feb. 11.

Gallery: Stillen GT-R

Official release after the jump:

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Nissan has just released the first photos of the Juke crossover, which will slot in just underneath the Rogue in the Japanese automaker’s lineup. Shown here in Euro-spec trim, we expect some changes when it arrives in the U.S., but not much. After all, Nissan wants this car to be a big change from the traditional crossover. We have to admit that the front headlights bulging off the hood and the massive fog lights are a tad excessive.

In fact, because it’s more of a sub-compact crossover, Nissan is hoping to win-over small hatchback buyers, with a more versatile platform. The Juke is also likely to undercut other crossovers on the market, as it almost has to be priced well-below the $20,000 mark, otherwise it would compete with the Rogue.

The Juke will officially debut at the Geneva Auto Show on March 2nd, with the U.S.-spec model debuting at the New York Auto Show at the end of March. We’ll bring you full info (at least on the Euro-spec model) on March 2nd.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan Juke

Official release after the jump:

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Mercedes didn’t hold a press conference at the Chicago Auto Show, so it obviously had nothing of interest, right? Wrong. Besides the fact that there’s a new SLS exotic to drool over, Mercedes was showing off a limited CLS Grand Edition model.

Painted in matte-gray, or what Mercedes calls Desigo matte-platinum, this CLS550 is just the latest matte-finished car from Mercedes, which has also offered the IWC SL in matte white and the Night Edition in (what else) matte-black.

Other than the paint, there’s not much else different about this CLS. It gets the same AMG styling accessories and AMG wheels as all CLS550 models and this particular version had a particularly nice sunset red leather. Under the hood is a familiar powerplant too, the 5.5-liter V8 with 382-hp.

The special edition CLS550 Grand Edition is likely to be a collectors item, debuting during the last model year of the original CLS model – a revolutionary product from the typically conservative German automaker. Mercedes is set to show the second-generation CLS later this year.

GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Grand Edition

Kia is working to infuse all of its vehicles with passion, even hybrids. Over the past year Kia launched the exciting Forte Koup, along with a related motorsports program and more recently it advertised during the SuperBowl for the first time with an edgy commercial featuring the all-new Sorento and a bucnh of life size toys – two of which made an appearance at the Chicago Auto Show. And so if Kia can make a mid-sized crossover seem fun, why not a hybrid?

Using Kia’s new Eco Dynamics philosophy, the company’s design team set out to make concept car that would reduce a person’s carbon footprint, while not being a carbon copy – hinting at the obvious fact that all hybrids tend to look the same. The result is the Ray plug-in hybrid concept. And as wild as it looks, Kia’s VP of Marketing Michael Sprague said it’s closer than you can imagine, announcing that later this year the automaker would deliver its first “alternative energy” production model. Sprague did not clarify if it would be a hybrid, but it will likely be a hybrid version of the Optima/Magentis model, following Hyundai’s release of the hybrid Sonata.

Kia didn’t release any info on the Ray, ignoring things like miles per gallon, recharging times and horsepower. Instead it focused on the Ray’s design with plenty of glass, light weight seats, solar panels on the roof, a full covered underbody and a rear spoiler than elongates at speed to recude drag on the vehicle thereby making it more efficient.

GALLERY: Kia Ray Plug-In Hybrid Concept