The Ford Focus RS can be accurately described as belligerent, with its crackling exhaust, electric green paint and bulldog-esque stance. But there will inevitably be a segment that isn’t satisfied with its outrageous appearance.

For 5 lucky members of that demographic, Ford has whipped up a few Focus RS hatchbacks painted in historic liveries used by the Ford GT40 and Ford Capri RS 2600 race cars. In case you’re wondering, yes, the Gulf Oil paint scheme will be

Inside, custom Alcantara suede that matches the exterior paintwork, leather shift and handbrake boots and a numbered plaque help augment the car’s exterior changes.

The only downside is that Ford is only making five cars, and all will be available in France. If you’re well heeled and an EU Citizen, you know what to do.

[Source: TopSpeed]

The phrase “there’s a sucker born every minute” has never been more apt in the case of BMW’s Frozen Gray edition of the M3 coupe, which costs nearly $20,000 more than a standard M3 and comes with a unique paint job and interior combination, a dual clutch gearbox, some high performance driving lessons at BMW’s driving school, and a few other options that still don’t justify the price tag.

In a press release, Larry Koch of BMW North America said “I’m personally thrilled to see that our customers are as excited about it as we are. We filled the thirty reservation slots within twelve minutes and took the names of at least fifty alternates in the first hour. The 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe will be one of the most unique BMW vehicles ever imported to the US.”

Unique, yes, but also guaranteed to raise heckles from car fans who know that the poor sap driving it got fleeced for $20,000, when he could have done a vinyl wrap and pocketed the difference.

[Source: BMW]

We normally try and stay away from “Cool Ebay Listings” or things of that nature, but this is a truly historic listing that you won’t see again for quite some time. Bring A Trailer, possibly the best resource for classic cars online, has an all-original, left-hand driver Toyota 2000GT up for sale.

One of only 62 2000GT’s imported into the United States (out of a total of 337 produced) this car is painted its original Beatrix Yellow and has roughly 61,000 miles on the odometer. The price? A cool $375,000, about the same as a Lexus LFA.

The LFA and the upcoming FT-86 have are the center of attention right now, but take a minute to appreciate the timeless beauty of the 2000GT. This car could very well end up being the Japanese classic car to own, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a 2000GT become the first Japanese car to turn up at Pebble Beach.

[Photo and Source: Bring A Trailer]

The Honda CR-Z hybrid sports car will slot it at just under $20,000, with a base price of $19,200, not including a $750 destination charge. The EX model with Bluetooth, a leather wrapped steering wheel and and 36-watt stereo will take you to$20,760, while an in-dash navigation unit tops you out at $22,560.

The CR-Z is generating a lot of controversy for its “neither here nor there” approach to blending both hybrid and sporty characteristics, but Honda seems determined to press on with their 2-seater coupe. The ultimate test will be when the vehicle comes to market later this year, and whether the vehicles move off the lot quickly or not.

[Source: Autoblog]

Hit the jump to see Honda’s official press release

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Magazines have a way of glorifying stories in ways we cannot even imagine (trust us, we know). But this story of Jeremy Freedman’s 1997 Volkswagen GTI is surely worth a read. It relates to everyone of us speed addicts with trials, tribulations and a dedication to a family member. Even though most people outside car culture would never understand how setting a mph record is a tribute to a father that has passed away; we see that it’s one of the finest honors one can do.

In summary, Freedman started off with a 1992 Volkswagen GTI and drag racing was in his blood. Going fast, saving up for new parts was routine for Freedman along with his passion to compete. After his father passed away, Freedman used the money his father left behind to purchase the 1997 GTI you’re staring at now. After years of pushing it to the limits at the drag strip, Freedman set his eyes on a new goal – setting a mph record.

Fast forward several years later and Freedman has eclipsed the 200 mph mark in his 13 year old Volkswagen GTI at the Texas Mile. And even though it only runs 10′s at the quarter mile, Freedman is quick to justify how much more of a thrill it is racing the standing mile and silencing all the critics out there. Sure it’s not a Supra, or a Lamborghini. But we’ll be damned if we can’t pay respect to a VW GTI that’s gone over 200 mph!

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: EuroTuner]

GALLERY: 208 mph World’s Fastest GTI

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In a case of large-scale office politics gone awry, Volkswagen‘s Bluesport concept (pictured above) along with proposed models from Audi and Porsche, have been placed on indefinite hold after internal fighting, and a focus on volume passenger cars led to the projects being stalled.

Porsche and Audi are resistant to the idea of a new small sports car, for fear that it would undermine their current products by introducing a smaller, lighter and cheaper sports car. Porsche also harbors some long simmering resentment over losing development of the Cayenne and an unreleased small SUV to Audi, and does not want to take on a third product that was not developed in house.

The brand with the most to gain from this is Volkswagen. With a relatively low-key product line, Volkswagen could benefit from this sort of halo product that is also affordable, with a 1.4L twincharged four-cylinder from the Polo GTI helping to keep costs down. The Audi and Porsche variants would use a turbocharged 5-cylinder and a flat-four engine respectively, keeping in line with their respective brands.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

A Nissan GTR powered by something other than a traditional gasoline engine will arrive in the future, but tree-huggers looking to go fast will have to wait a while.

Kazutoshi Mizuno, chief engineer of the R35 GTR admitted that the car will have to move to switch to alternative fuels, but that’s far as as Mizuno and his team have gotten. “I’ve not decided what type of technology I would use,” Mizuno told The Motor Report. “Diesel, hybrid, electric motor or another kind of system? It’s not been decided.”

Mizuno seemed to rule out a diesel powertrain, but suggested a mild hybrid was the most likely route for the GTR, while adding that there was “no need to hurry” to develop an alternative-fuel GTR despite a glut of hybrid and electric sports cars appearing from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche in the next few years.

[Source: The Motor Report]

The M-Sports package has long been a staple of the BMW 5-Series lineup, with enough cosmetic and chassis tweaks to give owners a taste of the famed M5 sports sedan without having to step up to a more hardcore (not to mention expensive) car.

The package has all of the usual goodies like a revised front and rear fascia, side skirts, aggressive alloy wheels, a 3-spoke steering wheel, special shift knob and sports seats. BMW didn’t announce any mechanical changes, but past cars have had revised dampers and springs, so look for those to appear as well.

[Source: Autoblog]

Gallery: BMW 5-Series M Sports Package

GM has added numerous improvements into its 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy-Duty full-size pickups, but barely a month after production began at the Flint assembly plant, the company recently decided to suspend it in order to trace and repair a defective part.

The exact component remains undisclosed, but three shifts of production were canceled late last week on Thursday/Friday, until the problem was fixed. However, production of the trucks has now resumed. Those pickups that had already been shipped to dealers before the problem was identified will be recalled and the suspect part replaced before final delivery to customers.

[Source: Autoblog]