It’s not even officially out yet, but at this year’s Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas, an early 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible went under the gavel for a healthy $207,000.

It joined a roster of high priced cars that rounded off the top five sellers at the auction; but what was interesting, is that apart from the first and second highest priced cars that sold – a 2008 Bugatti Veyron ($770,000) and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ($412,500); the other three were General Motors products.

Besides the Camaro ragtop, a customized 2010 Camaro coupe sold for a whopping $350,000 and a 1981 Corvette went for $150,000. Wow! Who would have thought that we’d see the day when a 1981 Corvette (the year that a de-bored 305 V8 was available), would sell for six figures. Mind you, stranger things have happened.

And just like that, Fiat has sold out all 500 of their limited edition Fiat 500 Prima Edizione models in the United States. We already knew that the Fiat 500 would be a hit in America, and now this just properly solidifies that thought, with this special edition model being offered to existing Fiat owners who have helped keep the brand’s image alive in North America. Additional Fiat 500 models will be available to order starting in early 2011.

The Prima Edizione was offered in three different colors: Blanco White, Grigio Gray and Rosso Red. It sports Fiat’s 1.4L MultiAir four-cylinder engine with a manual transmission. “The Fiat Cinquecento Prima Edizione was developed especially with the Fiat fans in mind,” said Laura Soave, Head of Fiat North America. “It’s important that the Fiat enthusiasts and fans are among the first to receive their very own Fiat 500 Prima Edizione special edition vehicles, as they share the same excitement about the brand’s presence in North America.”

We can’t wait to see the iconic Italian car buzzing around our local freeways.

Get more Fiat 500 news and info at Fiat500Owners.com

Recent reports have suggested that everyone from Mazda to General Motors is preparing to launch a diesel engine in North America and now Volvo appears to be joining that list.

In a bid to meet the 2016 35-mpg CAFE regulations, automakers are doing whatever they can to improve fuel economy and diesels are an excellent short-term way to achieve that goal. Volvo already offers numerous diesel options in Europe and the decision to launch a diesel model on this side of the Atlantic makes smart business sense as the engines are relatively inexpensive to bring over, much cheaper to produce than hybrids and have known fuel economy benefits. (Increasingly strict emissions standards will, however, make it difficult to diesels in North America).

Volvo is keeping quiet on what model could get the diesel option, instead stating that it will depend on market demands. That being the case, and based on Volkswagen’s success with the TDI Sportwagen, we have to think a diesel would best be fitted to the V60 wagon – although it isn’t slated to be sold here. Other likely models to adopt diesel technology include the entry-level C30 as well as the higher-volume S60, not to mention several of the crossovers and SUVs.

Volvo’s powertrain strategy is also set to include both electric and hybrid-electric models.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Lexus will move ahead with plans to deliver a roadster version of its LFA supercar, with the new model expected to debut in 2014 reports AutoWeek. Maintaining the coupes 4.8-liter V10 engine, it’s possible the drop-top exotic could get a slight bump in output above the current car’s 552-hp.

But that’s not the only new product in the pipe for the Japanese luxury brand, with a new generation of the GS model expected soon. In addition, Lexus is reportedly considering adding a new 7-seat crossover to its lineup that would slot in above the RX. Apparently Lexus owners are telling company that they aren’t as interested in features like towing capability and off-road performance and so the suggested VX model would form a more popular alternative to models like the GX. In addition, using a lighter car platform would help reduce emissions while still offering all the size luxury SUV buyers are after.

Finally, there’s a more remote possibility that Lexus will build a competitor to the BMW X6. As a crossover, rather than a true SUV it would be based on the same platform as the next-gen IS/GS models.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Raise your hand if you didn’t expect to see this surface on the Internet this quickly. Yeah, we thought so. No one has even seen the Lotus Elite in person, but the official photos released to the media were more than enough to get the creative juices of a few folks flowing. One of those folks just so happens to be an artist by the name of Jack Darton.

Darton has created his vision of a Lotus Elite Track Version sporting a wicked carbon fiber front diffuser and minimally designed canards. The hood receives a vent for additional cooling along with the rear quarter panels. Along with subtle black and carbon fiber accents, Darton outfits the Elite with a sportier set of side mirrors relocated slightly higher than Lotus’ version.

To finish it off are a sportier set of jet black Lotus wheels.

Stay tuned for AutoGuide.com’s coverage of the Paris Auto Show and the official unveiling on the Lotus Elite this Thursday, September 30th.

[Source: TopSpeed]

Recently, Toyota announced some changes to the 2011 version of its FJ Cruiser SUV. In addition to the upgraded standard entertainment system, improved rearward visibility, new 17-inch wheel design and more powerful, 260 horsepower 4.0-liter DOHC V6 engine that can run on regular gas, the company has also revealed a 2011 version of the  ’Trail Teams Special Edition.’

Although nobody could really call the FJ beautiful, the TTSE does make it look brawnier, especially that it’s now sporting  Army Green paint, black bumpers, a front grille and door handles. It  also features the off-road package as standard, complete with Bilstein shocks, active traction control (A-TRAC), transfer case and locking rear differential, plus skid plates and rock rails to protect the under belly. The Trail Teams FJ rides on BFG All-Terrain tires and unique TRD (Toyota Racing Development) alloy wheels.

Inside, the 2011 TTSE boasts special green fabric seat and door panel inserts, a rear back up camera, 10 speaker JBL audio system and a “floating ball”  multi-information display in the center stack.

In this age of soft roaders, of which Toyota has plenty, it’s nice to see somebody still bothering to make a proper Sport Utility and a hard core off-road special edition to boot. It’s just too bad we don’t know what the vehicle looks like, as it seems the photos Toyota released with the SUV are of a standard, blue FJ.

Oh well, wrong picture or not, at least we’ve got a special edition FJ – thanks Toyota.  Now if only Ford would get its act together and build a new Bronco. Then we could go out into the boonies and have some real fun.

In the latest installment of the Mahindra/Global Vehicles Soap Opera, it appears that the first order for U.S. spec trucks, now called Pik-Ups has been placed, according to a statement released by GV.

Mahindra and Global have been battling each other in court, regarding a contract clause which stated that the former could wash its hands clean of the deal if the trucks didn’t meet U.S. EPA emissions certification. Now that they have, Mahindra still wants to rescind the contract between it and GV, but there’s evidence to suggest that the company’s argument won’t hold up in court, partly because Mahindra submitted its EPA paperwork a number of days after the June 11 deadline passed and also the fact that GV has already invested considerable effort and $100 million in setting up a distribution network for the trucks in the U.S. As a result of all this, it looks likely that Global Vehicles will retain exclusive rights to sell the trucks.

Said GV’s CEO John Perez “We trusted Mahindra when they said they wanted to cap their losses if the vehicle couldn’t be sold here. We patiently waited and accommodated Mahindra through years of delays and kept an extremely powerful distribution network intact while the factory worked through the complicated task of meeting U.S. emissions standards. We did this because we believed we were all working toward the same goals. Now Mahindra is trying to change the rules. We delivered our end of the contract, and we’re ready to get down to business.”

Although the GV/Mahindra saga is far from over, the announcement of a $35 million initial purchase order by GV, suggests that after a long period of virtual stalemate, things appear to be finally moving forward.

General Motors has confirmed that it will sell a diesel-powered car on U.S. soil in the future. According to Ward’s Auto, the source of the news is none-other than GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens. The use of a diesel would mark the first time in almost three decades that a diesel car was sold in the U.S., with the last diesels being sold in Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile vehicles in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

There’s no additional info on what vehicle could get the new diesel powerplant or even if the diesel engine being considered is new. GM has been offering a diesel version of its Ecotec 4-cylinder in Europe and other markets since 1996. That being said, it would seem easiest to offer a diesel engine in a car like the Buick Regal, which is based off the European Opel Insignia and is already offered with a choice of several diesel powerplants overseas including an upcoming twin-turbo 2.0-liter  CDTi Ecotec motor making 190-hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Under the new leadership of former VW USA CEO Stefan Jacoby, Volvo will look to rival established German automakers in areas of the market where they aren’t as well established. Before BMW can build up too strong of a following in the compact segment Volvo plans to launch a new platform that will be used to build both a sedan an crossover, competing with the likes of the BMW 1 Series and X1.

Rather than a coupe or hatchback, the Volvo’s 1 Series fighter will be a sedan (although other variants are likely), said Volvo Cars of North America CEO Doug Speck in an interview with Automotive News. This will, however, mark the end of the S40, which Speck says is already too close to the new S60 model.

As for the X1 rival, Speck says he believes that this will be an emerging segment and Volvo wants to play a part.

In addition, Volvo plans to launch all new versions of the S80 and XC90 over the next two years and both models will get their own platforms.

[Source: Automotive News via eGMCarTech]

In a recent interview with Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn not only gave credibility to reports that Porsche is planning a new smaller SUV model; he even hinted at the name. Commenting that the new model would be used to increase Porsche’s sales numbers, Winterkorn used the name Cajun to describe the baby Cayenne.

Details about the upcoming volume model are scarce, but it’s certain to ride on a version of the Audi Q5 platform. Possible engine choices include a smaller version of the 3.6-liter V6 currently found in the base-model Cayenne and Panamera, while a more likely possibility is some sort of 4-cylinder (perhaps forced induction) powerplant that could also be used in an entry-level Boxster as well as Porsche’s planned smaller Boxster model.

Almost too obvious is the VW-brand 2.0T engine, but Porsche execs have commented in the past that they’d like to stay away from sharing VW/Audi engine technology in Porsches.

VW’s goal for the Porsche brand is to almost double overall sales, pushing total annual output to roughly 150,000 units using volume sales models.

[Source: Der Spiegel via 4WheelsNews]