Based on the GT3 version of the V8-powered Ferrari, out-of-house tuner Michelotto has pulled the wraps off its Grand Am 458 as testing begins for the new race car at the Fiorano Circuit. The 458 Italia Grand Am will be the first factory-sanctioned Ferrari to compete in the GT Class of Grand-Am’s Rolex Sports Car Series.

The exotic race car will feature 500-hp with a redline of 8000 rpm and to help it conform to GT-class rules, Michelotto made the vehicle less aerodynamic and included a 48-mm restrictor compared to the GT3 version. ABS and traction control were removed from the race car while a full cage was built with NASCAR door bars. It will, of course, be racing on Continental tires, the Grand Am series tire sponsor.

GALLERY: Michelotto Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am

2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his dog and pony show to the Middle East: drifting Saudi Arabia in his Ford Mustang.

At the Al Reem Circuit, he puts on a show that would make Ken Block proud. Titled Drifting In The K.S.A, Gittin was given permission to do basically anything around the racetrack, which he takes full advantage of: he first tackles the course grounds in a Boss 302 before bringing out his Monster-liveried Falken Mustang in a cloud of tire smoke.

“Everyone I met, from Princes, to other professional drivers, to swarms of fans, treated me with amazing hospitality and kindness.” Said Gittin. “It was an incredible experience that I will never forget and I look forward to coming back to the K.S.A!”

Click the jump to watch the video and to gain terrible ideas on doing this yourself. But as always…don’t. Unless you were 2009′s Formula Drift Champion.

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When Mercedes unveils its new AMG version of the SLK in the Fall, it will be packing an all new naturally aspirated engine that will deliver serious performance and retain the AMG purity, while trying very hard not to step on the toes of its larger and more expensive siblings.

Considering the smaller size of the SLK, the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 was out of the question. Not only won’t that powerplant fit, but even in a detuned form it would make the SLK too close a competitor to the SL. As a result, the AMG engineers have reportedly built a naturally aspirated version of the new 5.5-liter V8 engine, which is offered in twin-turbo form in both the CLS63 and E63.

Compared to the old engine the new 5.5L will gain 60-hp for a total output of 416-hp, while torque rises from 376 lb-ft to 398 lb-ft.

Other upgrades include a new cylinder deactivation technology that will allow the car to run on just four cylinders under certain conditions to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as a new sports exhaust system with baffles that will open progressively as throttle is applied.

Look for the new SLK55 to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this Fall.

GALLERY: 2012 Mercedes SLK

[Source: AutoCar]

If there’s any car out there that proves less is more, it’s this BMW 528i built by Evan and featured on Canibeat.com. Obviously the 5-Series is a luxury sedan before anything else, but who says you can’t add a little sportiness to your luxury? This 5-Series started by being outfitted with BMW’s M Sport kit, but it’s 3D Design’s components that really make it stand out. Subtle and clean, the M Sport front lip, carbon fiber splitters and carbon fiber rear diffuser completely transforms the 5-Series.

In addition to the 3D Design kit, Evan shaved the annoying reflectors off the M Sport front bumper and swapped out his stock kidney grilles for a pair from the 528i’s bigger brother, the 550i. From there, getting a proper stance and wheel and tire combination was crucial to perfect the look and Evan hit the nail on the head. A staggered set of 21-inch Rennen RM7 Extreme Concave 3-piece forged wheels are seen on each corner, wrapped with Falken’s FK-452 tires for a perfect fit. CKS coilovers gives the BMW a lowered stance without compromising the luxurious ride quality.

The last finishing touch was a custom quad-tipped exhaust by Royal Muffler.

GALLERY: 3D Design-Equipped M Sport BMW 528i

[Source: Canibeat]

Rumors surfaced late last month that Toyota Motorsport in Germany was developing a Le Mans GT race car based on the Lexus LFA. Now photos have surfaced of what is believed to be the upcoming Lexus LFA GTE racer that will be a future competitor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There are of course no concrete details behind the LFA GTE and what it will be packing in order to compete with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.

The LFA has had some success on the track, taking a class win in a class for most stock vehicles at the 2010 Nurburgring 24 Hours. It really remains to be seen if the LFA will be a potent platform for race teams worldwide, but a successful entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans will go a long way.

GALLERY: 2012 Lexus LFA GTE

[Source: MotorsportsRants via Jon Sibal]

It is amazing what some people will attempt to do in their cars. Porsches are fantastic cars but unfortunately, they were not meant to fly, or in this case, perform somersaults in the air.

The driver of the Porsche managed to flip and roll his the car into a series of open spots to create his very own parallel spot. He was probably trying to keep the car on the road, which begs the question, how did he manage to flip the car into a parking lot? Despite the impressive acrobatics session, the driver hops out of his Cayman to examine the damage and looks to be walking normally. Unbelievable.

Check out the video after the jump!

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In response to what it says is feedback from thousands of customers who’ve already driven the Nissan LEAF for extended periods of time, the Japanese automaker is instigating a few changes on the 2012 model as well as hiking prices.

Said changes comprise standard (instead of optional) DC Fast Charging system, allowing the car to be charged at 480 volts which reduces the time it takes to fully charge it up (Nissan says with the DC FC, it takes 30 minutes to reach 80 percent charge from complete depletion).

In addition, the 2012 LEAF will also incorporate cold weather features to help ease operation in Northern climes, including a battery warmer, heated steering wheel and heated seats, both front and back.

As a result of these changes, Nissan has also announced that it will increase availability of the 2012 LEAF, to include Northern states such as Illinois, as well as much of the South East, including Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Virginia as well as the District of Columbia.

In terms of pricing, Nissan has announced that the 2012 LEAF will retail for $35,200 in SV trim (it was $32,780 last year) and $37,250 as a more uplevel SL (which sold for $33,720 in 2011). For those looking to lease one, expect to pay around $369 or more for the privilege of driving the latest version of this much hyped all-electric car.

The Saab 9-6X concept was unveiled six years after being axed. The first pictures of the concept have hit the web and was unveiled at the company’s museum in Trollhättan.

The 9-6X was based on the Subaru Tribeca and was slated for production but the vehicle was shelved when GM sold their 20 percent minority stake in Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company) in 2005. Interestingly, Saab also built a three-door prototype of the 9-6X, which would have been a unique vehicle if launched.

BMW has unveiled the M3 DTM, a high performance race car that will compete in the 2012 DTM (German Touring Car) series. The M3 debuted at BMW Welt in Munich, and is a very exciting event after a two decade absence of BMW at DTM. Between 1987 and 1992, the M3 won 40 race and had over 150 podium finishes in Germany’s premier tin-top series.

This race car features a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic monocoque (CFRP) with a steel roll cage, a six-speed sequential gearbox, and a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8. The M3 produces 480-hp and is capable of achieving a 0-62 mph time in three seconds with a top speed of 186 mph.

Three teams will race M3s in next year’s DTM series including BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG. “It is good to see how our DTM project is picking up speed,” explained BMW’s director of development Dr Klaus Draeger. “Next yea, BMW returns to the DTM after two decades. We will be facing our main competitors in the premium sector – and are already looking forward to this challenge.”

Check out the videos after the jump!

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Lorinser has finally sent out previews for their upcoming styling package for the new-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS. There’s never a doubt that Lorinser wouldn’t be offering something for the new CLS, we’re just surprised it took this long  - Lorinser originally released sketches over a year ago.

No exact details were released with the photos, but it’s clear to see Lorinser has added a full kit to the CLS, with front and rear bumper changes, side air vents, side skirts and rear boot lid and roof spoilers. For their demo car, Lorinser also gave the CLS a matte gray finish, suspension changes and outfit the CLS with a set of their own wheels.

We’re more excited to see what performance upgrades Lorinser has up their sleeve, so we’ll stay tuned for the official release.

GALLERY: Lorinser Mercedes-Benz CLS