Thanks to a post on GenCoupe.com we now have several shots of the next-generation Hyundai Accent. We’ve seen a photo of a similar looking vehicle before and believed it to be the next-gen Elantra, but now there’s proof that it is in fact the sub-compact Accent. The proof comes from a shot of the rear bumper, which not-so-clearly shows that the car is a Verna – which is what the Accent is marketed as in Hyundai’s home-market of South Korea.

We have to say, we’re impressive with the look of this new Accent and it’s been a long time coming with the current model having languished far too long on the market. In many ways the Accent started the modern sub-compact trend, but has since been surpassed by almost everything else on the market. And the sub-compact segment is just starting to heat up with the Fiesta and Mazda2 set to hit dealerships this year, while Chevy’s new Aveo is also due out soon.

Over the next 24 months Hyundai is set to deliver the new Accent to market, as well as an all-new Elantra, Santa Fe and a new sporty coupe.

GALLERY: Hyundai Accent/Verna

[Source: Auto.iFeng.com via GenCoupe]

The carbon fiber experts at Vorsteiner have out-done themselves, with their latest creation the widebody GTRS3 M3. Designed for the E92 M3, the kit includes a new carbon fiber bumper with a removable splitter, as well as carbon fiber front and rear fenders, side skirts and a new carbon rear bumper with a racing-style diffuser. A carbon fiber hood is also available, as is a carbon trunk and a stainless steel exhaust system.

And to fill those big fenders you’re going to need big wheels, so Vorsteiner has designed its own twin-spoke 7-spoke V-308 concave forged wheels, which are available in 18 or 20-inch fitments – although there’s no word on just how wide those rear wheels will be.

For more on the GTRS3 package click here

GALLERY: Vorsteiner GTRS3 M3

[Source: Bimmerboost via WorldCarFans]

For a brief video highlighting the details of the kit, see after the jump:

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It’s the fifth major recall for Toyota in the past few months and Toyota’s stellar reputation for quality is taking a beating. Toyota Motor Corp has just announced a recall of 600,000 Toyota Sienna minivans dating from 1998-2010. The issue with the vans is with the spare tire cable which may rust so severely that the spare tire, located at the rear of the van on the underside, could come loose. Toyota says this is a, “road hazard for following vehicles that increases the likelihood of a crash.”

The recall is for Sienna vans in Northern States or states which use salt on the roads in winter months – which causes increased corrosion. The states listed by Toyota include: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Owners of Sienna minivans in other states are welcome to bring their vehicle in for an inspection of the spare tire cable, Toyota says.

Toyota says it is working on a “fix” for the problem and will notify customers as soon as a remedy is available. Toyota will also send out notices to all Sienna owners to in the mean time to book an appointment to have the spare tire cable inspected.

Official release after the jump:

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These images, from MSNBC‘s coverage of the late Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s funeral, show something that we just couldn’t believe we were seeing: a Maserati Quattroporte Hearse!

This particular Maserati has been modified by Intercar Modena, a company that will turn just about anything into a hearse if the price is right. What’s really interesting about this particular hearse is that it shows off just how much better proportioned, say, a Cadillac DTS is for hearse duty than a Quattroporte. It’s a good thing government funeral processions move slowly, because we’re guessing this bad boy has a tendency to oversteer….

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

Hit the jump for more photos of the QP Hearse, plus a gallery of hearse’s by Intercar Modena

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Racing legends Peter Brock and John Morton will fly their famous #46 red, white, and blue pattern on a classic Japanese roadster once again. But rather than on the Datsuns that made this livery so renowned, it will be on the most popular roadster ever sold or raced, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The car will fly the BRE colors next weekend as part of Round 2 of the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup at Road Atlanta.

After the decision was made to honor Peter Brock of BRE at the upcoming 2010 Classic Motorsports Mitty at Road Atlanta, one of the biggest vintage racing weekends of the year on the east coast, Mazda sketched up a BRE graphics package for the MX-5 and then got Morton and Brock onboard.  With 2010 being the 40th anniversary of Morton’s SCCA C Production (CP) Championship at Road Atlanta in a BRE prepared racecar and his racing career including more than a few race wins with Mazda, the connection was strong.

As Peter Brock stated, “It’s been some 37 years since a factory supported car in BRE livery sat on a racing grid.  Seeing the new MX-5 in our traditional colors almost brings tears to my eyes. It’s wonderful that Mazda, a company that really loves, understands and supports racing of all kinds, has seen fit to honor our team’s great racing history with this new spirit of competition”

According to John Morton, “This Walter Mitty weekend is very special for me because it is bringing together so many facets that were significant in my racing career.  First is the reunion and recognition of our championship winning BRE team that Peter Brock developed in the late sixties and that led me to two SCCA National Championships and two 2.5 Trans-Am Championships in the early seventies.  Second is the opportunity Mazda has given me to race in a professional race in my sixth decade of competition.  Twenty-six years ago I shared the BFG-sponsored, class winning Mazda Lola at Le Mans which was the beginning of a long relationship with both companies.  The Mazda Miata MX-5 I will be racing at the Mitty, the only real modern sports car in mass production, is a reincarnation of the cars that started this sport in America in the late forties.”

Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Mazda North American Operations, added, “Mazda is a team of enthusiasts.  Long before we began working behind the scenes for Mazda, we were race fans.  We love the sport and the heritage.  This opportunity to pay tribute to Pete, John, and the BRE team is something we did out of respect, with knowledge that there are others like us who appreciate the blending of heritage and modern sport.”

Mazda unveiled the BRE MX-5 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in the Mothers Polish display within the fan expo.  If you are a fan of BRE, we recommend you pack your best 70′s wardrobe and get yourself to Road Atlanta on April 29th thru May 2nd.

[source: Mazda]

Chevy has just released a new video highlighting the Corvette Grand Sport, hosted by none-other than legendary Corvette racer Ron Fellows. A man who knows his Vettes, Fellows has won at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, taking home several championships in ALMS. Fellows walks viewers through the car’s long list of track-ready features and then gets out for a test at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch.

The Grand sport replaces the Z51 model and offers performance closer in line to the Z06, thanks to a revised suspension, wider tires, bigger brakes, shorter gear ratios and a few other toys as well.

Suspension upgrades include new spring, shock and stabilizer bar specifications, helping the Grand Sport to achieve 1.0 g under cornering. Also helping out in that department are some 18-inch front and and 19-inch rear wheels with 275/35/18 front and massive 325/30/19 rear tires.

Inside those wheels is a big surprise as well, with a serious brake kit that includes six-piston front calipers with 14-inch rotors and four-piston rear calipers with 13.4-inch rotors.

Power comes in the form of an LS3 V8 with 430hp and 424 ft-lbs of torque. An optional exhaust system will up those numbers slightly to 436 and 428. The Grand Sport will be offered as a six-speed manual or automatic and thanks to new gear ratios for the manual and a new rear axle ratio for the automatic, Chevy says the Grand Sport will shave 0.2 seconds off the 60 mph sprint of a standard LS3 Vette.

Automatic models will come with paddle shifters, but for those who want to take their car out on the track, the manual is the only option… thanks to a few added goodies. Six-speed stick-shift models will get a dry-sump oiling system, a differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery for better weight distribution.

But why read when you can watch? See after the jump for the video:

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Audi has just unleashed a massive new gallery of photos showing the new RS5 in all its stunning glory – and in several different colors. Taking the already steamy A5/S5 design to an all new level we think you’ll agree that absolutely every one of these pics is worth a look.

And soon you’ll be able to appreciate the car up close (if you’re lucky) with recent reports that the RS5 will be offered in North America. The RS5 takes every aspect of the already amazing S5 and ups the ante with a 450-hp 5.2-liter V8, 19-inch wheels, a lowered suspension and massive brakes. Combined with Audi’s S-tronic dual-clutch 7-speed transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and a 3,803 lb curb weight the RS5 can accelerate to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds. There’s also Audi’s drive-select program to control different levels of throttle response, steering, transmission gear changes, the sport differential and even the exhaust system.

Other highlights include an electronic limited slip differential, that slows the inside wheel in a turn when wheel spin is detected. Plus, an optional sport differential will be made available, distributing power between the rear wheels. The RS5 even features Audi’s new crown-gear differential, which allows for up to 70 percent of the power to be distributed to the front wheels, or as much as 85 percent to the rear wheels.

GALLERY: Audi RS5

They say the best things in life are free…but they haven’t seen the incredible RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580. Designed to run the Unlimited Class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the PM580 is basically a Le Mans-style prototype racer — with all-wheel-drive. And at least 650 horsepower.

Hyundai sent out a preview of the car, but, well, we weren’t expecting this. Let’s hear from Rhys Millen, the car’s designer and racer who will tackle the mountain this summer.

“We are building a car for today’s road,” said Millen “The car will have a sleek aerodynamic body, the grip of Toyo Proxy tires and the power and durability of a Hyundai engine. This is the package I need to break the record.”

By any estimation, the vehicle should be ballistic. A target weight of 1,850 lbs. — less than a Lotus Elise — ensures the 650+ horsepower 4.1-liter turbocharged Hyundai Lambda engine won’t go to waste. Also part of the package is an active rear wing to allow a more slippery profile on straights, plus a Quaife active center differential. Hyundai and RMR believe this setup will help the car transition from asphalt and dirt, something the 12.42 mile course does numerous times. 

Let’s make no mistake: Hyundai is gunning for the outright Pikes Peak record. The current world record holder is Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima, who ran a 10:01.41 on the 12.42-mile course in an extremely modified Suzuki back in 2007. Tajima’s time bested the standing world record of 10:04.06, se in 1994 by Rhys’ father Rod Millen.

The 2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is set for June 27th.

GALLERY: RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580

Click through for the complete specs on this stunning new Pikes Peak race car

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Fiat will bring to market a 4-door version of its cute 500 mini car next year and reports indicate it will be sold in North America. Word of a 4-door 500 model makes perfect sense for the North American market – especially as it will no doubt be a stretched wheelbase model with added room and a larger overall size. According to the report by Automotive News, the new 500 4-door will also be wider than the standard 2-door model.

A 500 4-door will help expand Fiat’s offerings and allow it to compete better with MINI – particularly against the Clubman model.

Interestingly this new version will not be build in North America but in Italy. Fiat has announced that later this year it will begin production of the 500 2-door at a Chrysler plant in Toluca, Mexico.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is expected to give more details on the new model when he outlines the company’s 5-year plan on Wednesday. He is also likely to announce specifically what other Fiat models will be brought over to North America. Here’s hoping for the Abarth 500!

[Source: Automotive News via LeftLaneNews]

Toyota will launch a Prius minivan next year, powered by advanced lithium-ion battery technology. News comes from Japan’s Nieeki business daily via Reuters and is the latest report indicating the direction of Toyota’s plan to expand the Prius name into a whole lineup of vehicles.

The Prius van (or more likely an MPV similar to a Matrix or Mazda5) would be priced competitively to the current Prius and would offer improved fuel economy thanks to the new battery technology. The new model would include three rows with seating for 5 to 7 people.

The plan to produce of a hybrid van or hybrid MPV comes as no surprise as we reported last week that Chevrolet will also debut a version of the upcoming Chevy Orlando using the Chevy Volt’s Voltec powertrain. The Volt MPV is expected to debut in concept form later this month at the Beijing Auto Show.

Toyota is also planning to bring to market a smaller Prius model, based on the FT-CH Concept which first debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.

[Source: Reuters]