If the 425-hp 6.1L Dodge Challenger SRT8 is too wimpy for you, Chrysler’s got an extra shot of testosterone for you. Spy photographers spotted a Viper-powered Challenger driving around Chrysler’s Michigan stomping grounds, bearing a remarkable resemblance to the Viper-powered car that made its debut at the 2008 SEMA show in Las Vegas, and featured Bilstein shocks, a big brake kit and a shaker hood scoop.

While Chrysler is not in the best financial shape, their Viper halo car is slated to die soon, and the Challenger is an iconic vehicle for the company. An SRT-10 Challenger could conceivably appear as a limited production model intended to give the company a morale boost. And considering Dodge already delivered an SRT10-powered Ram, a V10-powered Challenger is hardly a stretch.

Plus, with the 2011 Ford Mustang breathing down its neck, a V10 Challenger, with its 600 horsepower motor, would widen the gap considerably…at least until the rumored Camaro Z28 and the next incarnation of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 appear.

See the concept pics below or follow the Autoblog link for the real spy photos.

GALLERY: Dodge Challenger SRT10 Concept

[Source: Autoblog]

After yesterday’s reveal of the Audi A1 lookalike Ford Start Concept, comes word that the car’s tiny EcoBoost engine will make its way to North America. Ford won’t say what the direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder will find its way into, and we have to think the only possible candidate right now is the Fiesta.

Ford claims the EcoBoost 3-cylinder makes roughly the same amount of power as a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (about 125-hp) – which is more than the Fiesta makes now, with just 119-hp. There’s no word on torque numbers either, but as a turbocharged motor we’d expect them to be close to the horsepower output, which would make for an even faster Fiesta – which dramatically better fuel economy. Plus, the reduced weight would improve both acceleration and fuel economy further, while also helping out in the handling and braking categories.

It’s entirely possible Ford’s EcoBoost 3-cylinder won’t arrive for quite some time and could be delivered in some other tiny car (like a production Start Concept aimed at the Fiat 500), or perhaps it will be mated to a hybrid setup in a larger vehicle.

GALLERY: Ford Start Concept

[Source: Car & Driver]

After his dominating World-Challenge GTS performance at Long Beach in the LPL/DRS Lotus Exige 240 S, Tyler McQuarrie sent us a highly entertaining GoPro HD helmet cam clip from qualifying. Check it out after the jump.

We also noticed our friends over at The Octane Report just posted a full story on McQuarrie’s glorious Long Beach weekend (although things didn’t go quite so well for him in Formula D), including an informative video with interview footage of McQuarrie prior to the race (available after the jump).

Rumors are also now swirling over on LotusTalk.com that McQuarrie and the LPL/DRS Exige S will make another appearance at the next World-Challenge event coming up on May 21st to 23rd at Mosport International Raceway near Toronto, Canada. The online chatter also suggests that LPL may have up to three Lotus Exige S’s running at Mosport, giving McQuarrie some teammates to work with at this fastest road course in North America.

[Sources: Tyler McQuarrie; Octane Report]

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With a 300 horsepower V6 and a $74,400, the Porsche Panamera can hardly be called a “base model“, but the new six cylinder sedan is designed to slot under the V8 Panamera S, which retails for $89,800. For those who want all-wheel drive without the extra power of a V8, the Panamera 4 splits the difference at $78,900. Both models will come standard in North America with Porsche’s 7-speed PDK transmission.

That transmission, combined with Porsche’s auto start/stop system helps the Panamera achieve 25.3 mpg (on the more generous European test cycle), while the Panamera 4 gets 24.5 mpg. Weight on the new model has been reduced by roughly 66 lbs thanks to the smaller V6 engine. The vehicles are distinguished from their V8-powered counterparts by matte-black (rather than chrome) window trim, single exhaust pipes (one on each side) and new wheel designs.

GALLERY: Porsche Panamera V6

Press Release After The Jump:

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The current Hyundai Accent’s claim to fame is that it’s one of the only new cars that can be bought for under $10,000. But with Hyundai’s push upscale, the new 2011 Accent, revealed at the Beijing Auto Show Friday (as the Verna), will be a more upscale effort, designed to go head to head with cars like the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit. We particularly like the styling, borrowed from the all-new Sonata – which is a massive step forward from the dull jellybean currently on sale

North American market specs haven’t been announced yet, but as shown in China there is a choice of a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 1.6-liter four-banger. The 1.6-liter engine gets DOHC and variable valve technology to produce roughly 120-hp at 6300 rpm and 114 ft-lbs of torque, while the 1.4 delivers roughly 105-hp and 100 ft-lbs. Both engines come with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Hyundai claims the 1.4-liter with an extra “Fuel Economy Package” will get 41-mpg with the manual and 38 mpg with the automatic. These engines are a possibility for the North American market, but we’d expect something better than a 4-speed auto-box.

GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Accent [Verna]

Get more details on the new Verna/Accent after the jump:

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Mazda‘s last attempt at their RX-7 rotary sports car was a brilliant but deeply flawed effort. Performance and styling were top notch, but reliability issues and a high price tag meant that the car lasted less than five years in North America. The RX-8 that replaced it was a fine car in its own right, but the tame four-seater has forever lived in the shadow of its two-seater predecessor.

Motor Trend is reporting that the RX-7 is due for a revival, and while the performance capabilities will stay intact, the new car will be able to run on gas or diesel. While the rest of the automotive world abandoned the rotary engine long ago, Mazda has stood by the technology, and prototypes of the latest incarnation, dubbed the 16x, have apparently been able to use any number of fuels, even castor oil. Mazda is still refining a number of areas that previous rotaries have struggled with, including oil consumption and a lack of top-end power.

With the RX-8 growing long in the tooth, the new RX-7 should be a welcome replacement for the aging sports car, and a flagship for Mazda’s sporty line-up.

[Source: MotorTrend]

BMW chose the Beijing Auto Show as the venue to unveil its new Concept Gran Coupe – which by all accounts appears to be a near-production rival to the Porsche Panamera. Using BMW’s coupe-like stylings to design a 4-door, this new concept isn’t nearly as dramatic as the Concept CS, which debuted back in 2007. In fact, it looks more like the current 6 Series stretched into a sedan.

The aim with this concept, says BMW, is to show that the brand is capable of building a high-performance vehicle with space for more than just two people. The length of the concept is roughly 196.4-inches, about 4-inches longer than the current 5 Series. It’s also lower than the 5 Series by roughly two inches at just 55-inches, giving it a low center of gravity.

BMW won’t specifically say anything about sending the Gran Coupe from concept to production, but judging from the production-ready look, we’d say it will be in dealerships sooner than you’d expect. Plus, it’s not hard to read between the lines when BMW’s press releases sates quite clearly that the Concept Gran Coupe was designed to, “illustrate the aspiration of the brand BMW to build 4-door high-performance coupes with the sportiest proportions and the most elegant design.”

As more production details leak out, we’re eager to see if BMW really intends to take on the Panamera or if the Gran Coupe is more of a Mercedes CLS fighter.

GALLERY: BMW Concept Gran Coupe

Official release after the jump:

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Ferrari has just announced that it can now lay claim to a record lap at Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, being the first “production-derived sports car” to ever run a sub 7-minute lap. The 599-based supercar lapped the Green Hell in just 6 minutes and 58.16 seconds – but there’s a catch.

That’s right, the 599XX isn’t really a production car and it’s not street legal (especially not with racing slicks), so while Ferrari can now lay claim to some sort of a record, the production car record isn’t the property of the prancing horse. As for exactly who holds that record, one can argue numerous cars. The fastest street-legal “production car” is the Radical SR8LM with a time of 6:48 (10 seconds faster than the 599XX), but it isn’t street legal everywhere (like in North America). Then there’s the Gumpert Apollo with a 7:11.57 – but an argument can easily be made that with so few produced its not a “production car” either. Then, there’s the Dodge Viper ACR – which may have a giant silly wing – but is production and street legal. And its time of 7:22 has the most legitimate claim to the record in our minds.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX at the Nürburgring

See after the jump for a VIDEO of the sub-7-minute run:

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Like many high-end automakers displaying at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, Lamborghini has decided to unveil a special edition model exclusively for the Chinese market. Lambo chose its flagship model, the Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce, dubbing it the “China Limited Edition” and has delivered it with a stunning new paint scheme and interior trim changes. Just 10 LP670-4 SV China Limited Edition models will be offered to a growing number of Lambo enthusiasts in the world’s most populous country.

Like the other 350 LP670-4 SV models, the Chinese Edition gets a massive 6.5-liter V12 engine with 670-hp and 487 ft-lbs of torque enabling a 0-62 mph sprint of just 3.2 seconds. It also gets the same lighter body, weighing 220 lbs less than the standard LP640.

Special “Chinese Edition” trim items include the orange stripe down the length of the gray-painted car, which Lambo says symbolizes an erupting volcano. In addition, every vehicle will get a numbered plaque with the badge of the owner engraved on it.

Lamborghini has already had considerable success in the Chinese marketplace and with limited edition models like this it is showing an increased enthusiasm for the future. “Last year, Automobili Lamborghini achieved 11 percent growth in China,” said CEO Stephan Winkelmann at a press conference for the debut of the LP670-4 SV Chinese Edition at the Beijing Auto Show. “At the beginning of this week on 20th of April, we have launched our seventh Automobili Lamborghini China dealership in Shenzhen. The inauguration of our eighth showroom in Xiamen will come soon. It is our pleasure that we can share our passion for Lamborghini with China’s super sports car drivers, collectors and fans.”

And in a nod to a bright future, Winkelman also commented on Automobili Lamborghini’s, “unwavering commitment to China and the development of a super sports car culture here.”

GALLERY: Lamborghini Murcélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition

Official release after the jump:

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BMW is developing a complex powertrain that blends fuel cell and hybrid technology, allowing a car be carbon neutral in urban traffic.

The system works by having a conventional gasoline engine powering the front wheels, while a small fuel cell sends power via capacitors in the transmission tunnel to an electric motor positioned at the rear axle. In electric mode, the car drives the rear wheels, but is front-wheel drive when the gasoline engine is engaged. The systems can work in tandem to deliver bursts of acceleration, but the technology’s fate depends on when the necessary hydrogen infrastructure is implemented in urban centers.

If the hybrid-hydrogen powertrain does get off the ground, expect it to make an appearance sometime in 2014, in both the next-generation MINI Cooper and the upcoming front-drive BMW. Currently, BMW is testing a 1 Series hatchback, which has been converted to a front-drive platform, with this hydrogen fuel cell setup – proving that it can work in a small vehicle.

[SOURCE: Autocar]