Hennessey, the famous Texas tuner of Corvettes has just created the Frankenstein of Cadillacs. It’s called the V1000, and the 1000 stands for 1000-hp.

The twin-turbo CTS-V Coupe is fitted with a 427 cubic-inch LS V8 featuring upgraded internals like forged low compression pistons, forged steel connecting rods, forged steel crank and ARP main studs and head bolts. The Cadillac is also fitted with a set of dual ball bearing turbochargers packs compressed atmosphere into the combustion chambers, assissted by high-flow cylinder heads.

Additional goodies include 15-inch carbon ceramic brakes, a fortified transmission, lowered suspension and Hennessey’s CarbonAero widebody kit. The turbos will boost torque to 950 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Hennessey has stated the V1000 can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 230 mph. It will run an outrageously impressive quarter mile time of 10.9 at 136 mph.

Only 12 of these cars will be built and the lucky buyers will also receive a one day track experience with retired General Motors test driver supreme John Heinricy.

[Source: Autoblog]

Toyota’s Prius plug-in hybrid has been testing in London, all the better to usurp the Continent’s diesels in favor of its “27% better” electric cord.

What does this “27% better” get you? Well, Toyota says, the Prius plug-in takes 27% less fuel than a diesel after a full charge, which takes around 72 minutes. As a city car, the Prius excels in small, slow journeys: the tests in London show that the average journey has been 7.3 miles at around 17 miles per hour. In electric-only mode, the Prius plug-in can drive 12.5 miles, but that hasn’t dissuaded owners from pushing the official limit—22% of drivers went beyond this figure, all the way up to 62mph.

The Prius plug-in will officially launch in Europe early next year. The tests are expected to take three years, and so far they’ve only started last summer. With regular recharging points, Toyota hopes, the Prius plug-in could be a viable alternative to diesels. We’ll see about that, as long as there aren’t any road trips to John O’Groats.

Mini has shifted to become fully integrated into the BMW family, and will grow to include 10 individual models. Mini’s traditional three-door hatchback will be the first of the Mk3 Minis to arrive before the end of next year, and go on sale in 2013. The other nine new Mini’s will be lauched by the middle of the decade, to include a new Clubman estate as well as an all-new MPV.

The next-gen Mini family will be based on the BMW engineered platform called the UKL1. BMW recently invested £500 million to convert the Cowley, Oxfordshire plant to accommodate the new platform. This platform will utilize front-wheel drive, will come in two wheelbase lengths, and is based around MacPherson strut front suspension with BMW’s Z-axle rear end.

Most of the Mk3 Mini lineup will be powered by BMW’s highly advanced three-cylinder engines. This new engine will supposedly be just as powerful as the existing Mini four-cylinder, but will cost less. Power will range to span 120-hp to 160-hp. The UKL1 will also use 2.0-liter four cylinder BMW engines, capable of producing 230-hp. This engine will most likely be utilized in the John Cooper Works model.

The UKL1 platform will also offer both four-wheel drive and at least one type of hybrid drivetrain. The UKL1 platform will be offered in a range of different bodies including a three-door and five-door hatchback, a super compact SUV and a tall 5-series GT-style car.

[Source: Auto Car]

The Norway-based electric car maker Think has been acquired by one of its investors, Russian businessman Boris Zingarevich, who plans to relaunch Think.

The electric automaker has filed for bankruptcy for the third time last month after failing to secure finances to continue operating. The automaker released a statement today, regarding a court-appointed trustee choosing Zingarevich as the winning bidder for Think’s assets. The assets will also include Think North America and Think U.K, which are separate entities and had not filed for bankruptcy.

This move has created a new Norway-based company called Electric Mobility Solutions and rescued Think from shutting down. The company has plans to restart production of the Think City electric town car in the first quarter of next year. The Think City is a highway-capable sedan, made with a plastic shell and has a range of around 100 miles. The price of the City EV is projected to be around $35,000 and targeted towards urban commuters.

“With the potential of working with the leading American automotive lithium-ion battery maker and Europe’s top automobile engineering and manufacturing company, I believe we could have exactly the right combination and value chain to ensure that the brand will be increasingly competitive in the worldwide electric vehicle market,” Zingarevich said in a recent statement.

[Source: Car Tech]

Fiat is the latest automaker to launch a new Apple application, and the Italian automaker has based the app on the 2012 500. The free app offers an in-depth look at the 500 including a historical design timeline of the iconic Fiat 500.

App users can view galleries of four emerging artists, including a graffiti artist, a 17-year old professional photographer, a painter/ sculptor, and an illustrator. The app also includes a Fiat 500 vehicle catalog, with detailed 360-degree images, videos and product information as well as wallpaper and sketch downloads.

[Source: Car Tech Blog]

Does your living room need a little va-va-va vroom? Rev up your interior decor with this cool retro armchair that was once a 1968 4L Renault.

One of the most unique ways to reuse and recycle, this funky armchair features a full front grill at the base, along with two doors and handles at its side. Its creator, Cyril Latapy, probably has the most talked about chair in the neighbourhood. Just by looking at it, we don’t know how comfortable it is – it’s all steel and no cushions. We’re guessing it’s more of a showpiece than it is a La-Z-Boy.

Would you put a chair like this in your home? Do you think it’s a work of art or an eye sore? Let us know in the comments section below.

If you are an avid viewer of Top Gear, you are then probably aware of the Bowler Nemesis. This custom-built off-road vehicle can tackle just about any terrain, and now its maker is hoping to make one for the high streets.

According to Bowler’s managing director Steve Haywood, they are looking to make a “Supercar SUV” based on the Range Rover Sport. Haywood, who was previously a chief engineer over at Range Rover, says his first job at Bowler is to develop the fourth-generation model of the Nemesis. Along with the hard-core Rally-Raid version, a road going version is also in the pipeline. This more luxurious version will be priced around $246,000.

Bowler is currently owned by Coventry Prototype Panels (CPP), a company which also owns Spyker and is also looking to take over the Italian design house Zagato.

Given the companies in CPP’s portfolio, they should have no problem developing a new super SUV and broadening their market. Bowler currently produces 15 to 20 vehicles a year. Haywood believes there is a market for 150 to 200 vehicles per year.

[Source: Autocar]

Just days ahead of our first drive in the 2012 Toyota Camry and we have the first clear images of the most important new car that Toyota will launch in the next 12 months.

No specs were announced, and these images are supposedly the Australian-market car (which will look slightly different) but it looks about as predictable and Toyota-like as possible. Look for these to appear on dealer and rental car lots sometime in 2012.

Gallery: 2012 Toyota Camry Leaked

[Source: Vince Burlapp]

It’s quite rare to uncover one low, mileage, ‘untouched’ classic in a barn, so how about three of them, especially when they’re Italian exotics.

Well, after literally years of rumors circulating about a forgotten stash of machines located in the Dallas area, it emerged that the collection of cars exists, despite not having seen the light of day in years.

In March 2011, a car collector and restorer located in the Dallas area, came in contact with a broker who sent him a couple of photographs of three Italian exotics, covered in dust inside a storage building. When the collector saw the pictures he couldn’t believe his eyes; the three cars in question were a 1972 Ferrari 365GTB4 with 9,700 miles on the clock; a 1974 Dino 246GT with 2,700 miles and a 1977 Maserati Bora with just 900 miles registered on the odometer.

It turned out the the owner of these cars was a long time friend of race driver and famed US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti, and had asked the broker to take bids on the cars, which he was trying to sell.

The Dallas collector, recognizing a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, submitted a bid on the three cars which was duly accepted. Now after some more wheeling and dealing, the trio of un-restored classics is up for grabs at Mecum’s Monterey Auction, which takes place from August 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa.

Although Dinos and Boras in particular don’t tend to trade hands for huge sums of money these days, the fact that all three of these cars boast such low mileage and are true ‘barn finds’ could, quite, easily result in some serious money being laid down over the course of the weekend.

Stay tuned to find out what this trio of exotica actually bring when they finally cross the auction block.

[Source: Mecum Auctions]