Knowing that the 444-hp Lotus Evora GTE will be making its way to America makes us giddy. So naturally, when we saw more photos of the most powerful Lotus ever made, we had to share them with the rest of the world.

Up until now, we’ve basically been treated to seeing the Evora GTE under the typical auto show floor lighting. Now we get to see the retina-burning, bright yellow in its natural environment with its 3.5L V6 powerplant ready to rock. These photos really show off what the Evora GTE’s all about, the overall wider vehicle sporting plenty of carbon fiber throughout.

The GTE weighs in slightly over 230-lbs lighter than the standard Evora model and features Lotus’s Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) racing gearbox. Forged center-lock wheels adorn each corner of the street-legal racer, while the inside packs lightweight carbon fiber Recaro seats.

Now we’ll just anxiously await to hear its price tag.

GALLERY: Lotus Evora GTE

MINI‘s Head of Design, Anders Warming, was recently reported to say that a production version of the Rocketman Concept is “on my Christmas list.” Perhaps a hint of things to come, Warming continued to praise the Rocketman Concept by saying that it’s “a clear leap forwards” and is a car to “claim the true heritage of the brand.”

Warming also spoke about the new MINI Roadster at the annual United Kingdom press dinner, stating “The Rocketman and Roadster are part of an ongoing dialogue with customers that asks, ‘What can we do with Mini?’” Heading into the future, MINI will continue to strive to be the smallest car in the segment with lightweight engineering and class-leading efficient engines.

At the end of the day however, Warming reiterated that the Cooper hatchback will remain at the center of the MINI brand name but hopefully the Rocketman Concept does become reality as it’s a great looking vehicle.

GALLERY: MINI Rocketman Concept

[Source: Inside Line]

Ernst Lieb is heading to court, continuing to insist that he did not misuse Mercedes-Benz‘s funds improperly and that his dismissal back in October was unjustified.

Lieb’s five-year run as Mercedes CEO was cut short when he was dismissed for allegedly misusing $100,000 in company funds to upgrade a Mercedes-owned home in New Jersey. Lieb’s lawyer, Stefan Naegele, states that some of the improvements were ordered or approved by Daimler’s facility management. Those that weren’t on the list were called necessities with Naegele stating that the washer and dryer were replaced because they were not repairable and the home gym was refurbished because of water damage.

Naegele will be approaching the case with the premise that Daimler has fired dozens of former executives unfairly as a result of their “zero tolerance” crackdown on ethics violations. The American government had alleged that Daimler made improper payments of at least $56 million from 1998-2008 to at least 22 countries in order to obtain government contracts. In April 2010, Daimler paid out $185 million to settle the charges.

[Automotive News]

It’s always interesting to see German tuners wrenching away on American muscle, as is the case with these two Chevy Camaros. YACO Racing out in Germany and Fastforward Motorsport in Belgium are separately working on different Camaros for GT3 racing and both teams are producing some impressive results.

YACO Racing has partnered up with SaReni United and Reiter Engineering on a pair of V8-powered Camaro GT3 race cars and are planning to campaign them in the German ADAC GT Master Series and GT3 European Championship. The car has been spotted doing some pre-season testing out in Italy at the Adria Circuit and will have its racing debut next year.

Fastforward Motorsport’s Camaro takes a more subtle approach but definitely looks just as race-ready as YACO Racing’s GT3 Camaro. It recently was testing out at Circuit Zolder and sounds incredible in the video.

Check out a video of Fastforward Motorsport’s Camaro GT3 below

GALLERY: YACO Racing / Fastforward Motorsport Chevy Camaro GT3s

[Source: Jon Sibal]

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From the Toyota GT86 to the Tacoma, TRD has been hard at work developing performance accessories for Toyota’s line-up. In its latest project, TRD introduces a number of tuning upgrades for the new Toyota Aqua, known as the Toyota Prius c in markets outside Japan.

Available performance mods include a sport exhaust system with chrome tailpipes, larger alloy wheels as well as a suspension package that lowers the Prius c’s ride height. For aesthetics, TRD is offering a new front apron with additional air vents and optional LED lights daytime lights, matching side skirts, roof spoiler, and a rear diffuser in a matte black finish. For an added touch, TRD also offers a unique push-start button.

TRD promises to release more accessories and modifications in the near future.

Keep an eye out for the North American debut of the Prius c at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

GALLERY: TRD Toyota Aqua/Prius C

[Source: CarScoop]

BMW has expanded its ConnectedDrive services by adding applications to those who subscribe to BMW Online services. The first of these applications is from Yelp, aiding drivers in finding restaurants and other points of interests easily.

Yelp has become the place to go on the Web for user-generated reviews and feedback on all sorts of stores from restaurants to shopping to nightlife. Now through BMW’s Online service ($99/year) users will be able to install the Yelp application and see the ratings and hear the reviews through the vehicle’s text-to-speech feature.

BMW will be seamlessly adding applications to those who subscribe to the yearly service and they anticipate many more applications to come with Yelp just being the first. BMW Online is available on the following models with on-board Navigation systems:

2009-up BMW Z4, 1, 3, and 7 Series

2010-up BMW 5 and 6 Series

2010-up BMW X5 and X6

2011-up BMW X3

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Easily the highlight of this month’s video car reviews is our test drive of the Scion FR-S, the U.S.-spec version of the highly anticipated Toyota GT 86. In addition, we reviewed the V8-powered Dodge Charger R/T, as well as the Mercedes SLK350.

Read the AutoGuide new car reviews here and see all our video reviews at our YouTube channel here.

And watch the rest of this month’s video reviews below:

Continue Reading…

We’re all about cool flash drives – especially if they look like this. That’s why, when we heard about Flash Rod’s trippy DeLorean USB flash drive, our inner McFlys gave out a excited squeal.

Offering 4GB of storage space and is able to run on a USB 2.0 connection, the DeLorean USB flash drive will impress friends and co-workers when you whip it out to download files, photos and other important information. At just $25, it’s a pretty good price for a USB flash drive – and the cool factor alone is worth the cash.

If the DeLorean isn’t your cup of tea, you can always go with the A-Team van or Hot Rod Pig. They’re all available on Flash Rod’s online store.

[Source: Gizmodo]

Honda is looking into developing new manufacturing processes in order to make their vehicles lighter and to help lower manufacturing costs. But first, Honda plans to spend tens of billions of yen to revamp their production lines in Japan and overseas to use these new methods of manufacturing.

Some of these new processes that Honda’s incorporating involve welding other panels to the frame – such as the ceiling and side panels – rather than using bolts and reinforcing materials. Ultimately Honda is looking at scaling back on materials, parts and processing steps to produce their vehicles, and the process began with their recently launched N Box mini vehicle.

One of their main goals is to help advance the time it takes to enter emerging markets and by making vehicles lighter and cheaper, it’ll help expedite that process. With the N Box, Honda was able to make the vehicle 10-percent lighter and lowered the manufacturing costs after modifying one of the two production lines at its Suzuka plant.

Honda’s more immediate vehicle plans, as part of its Earth Dreams Technology initiative include the addition of direct injection technology across its lineup, as well as the use of CVT transmissions.

[Source: Reuters]

What started out as a nice recreational drive “with no particular destination” turned into a fight for survival as Arizona State University Senior Lauren Elizabeth Weinberg was found stranded with her Toyota Corolla in a heavy snowstorm in northeastern Arizona for 10 days.

Weinberg told Arizona police that she left her mother’s home in Phoenix on December 11 for a drive when she drove through a paved road that turned to dirt 46 miles south from the town of Winslow. Navigating through unfamiliar roads, the situation quickly worsened when a horrible storm unleashed several feet of snow, entombing her Corolla.

Not leaving her vehicle, and not deviating from the main road, Lauren Weinberg survived off two candy bars and snow that she melted into water by using a water bottle and placing it in the sun.

Finally, U.S. Forest Service employees reached the road on snowmobiles and found a hungry, thirsty and cold Weinberg that was coherent and happy to be found.

In a statement from the Medical Center, Weinberg says, “I am so thankful to be alive and warm. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers– they worked. At times I was afraid, but mostly I had faith that I would be found.”

[Source: USAToday]