The automotive industry is a global business that is constantly evolving and growing, and we here at AutoGuide know it can be hard to keep up sometimes. So here is a summary of the top stories you may have missed this past week:

2015 Ford Mustang Rendered into Reality

Mustang fans and Ford loyalists may decry the automaker’s modern new style language… 

Chevrolet SS Performance Sedan Announced

Straight from the other side of the world, Chevrolet announced its SS Performance sedan today…

Audi Celebrates First Ever Nürburgring 24 Hour Win

Arguably the world’s toughest endurance race, the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours ended with the AudiSport Team Phoenix R8 LMS ultra capturing the victory…

Toyota GT 86 Gets Unique 320-HP Twincharger System from Gazoo Racing

Ever since the Toyota GT 86 became official, sports car enthusiasts worldwide have been anxiously awaiting…

2014 Porsche 918 Spyder Prototypes Begin Testing

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That at least seems to be the theory at Porsche these days…

Enthusiast-Built Chevrolet S10 Gets a Badass Viper Engine

At the purest level, being a passionate car guy is a selfish game. Somewhere along the line a bug with gas…

2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Near-Production Model in Spy Photos

Our photographers caught pictures of the 2013 Porsche911 GT3 today…

General Motors has started the expansion of its Wentzville, Missouri plant, essentially taking the first steps toward brining the new Chevrolet Colorado to the U.S. 

The $380 million expansion to the assembly plant will retain or create 1,260 jobs as GM starts to build the next generation of its midsize pickups at the location. No details have been given on when the plant expansion will be completed or what products will be built at the plant, but we’re confident that the new Chevrolet Colorado will be built there.

However, the midsize pickup might not be called the Chevrolet Colorado as it is now, when it launches. Currently, GM is working on completing its refresh of all its full-size pickups as 2014 model years before bringing the new midsize to market.

“This is the first of many of what we hope are many good news announcements” at the plant, said GM spokeswoman Stephanie Jentgen.

[Source: Detroit News]

Chevrolet Volt owners who bought their cars to save the world can finally rejoice: they’ve saved a collective 2.1 million gallons of gas and counting according to the company.

Of course that figure still whimpers next to the 208 million gallons burned on a daily basis by the U.S. alone, but it’s still a nice number to make hybrid crusaders feel good about their decision. It’s true that those are still 2.1 million gallons (roughly a supertanker’s worth) that wouldn’t be here today, and there’s no arguing that delaying when that fuel gets burned is a good thing.

“With each click of the odometer, Chevrolet Volt owners are measuring their contribution to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and to preserving the environment,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “Volt owners are also saving at the fuel pump with more than $8 million in combined savings.”

It’s going to be a long time before anything saturates the market enough to make a noticeable impact on gas consumption, but in certain areas the Volt’s gas savings combined with state subsidies actually makes it an economically wise choice.

In Colorado, for example, the maximum refund brings pricing down to $18,145, before destination fees, which is sub-compact car pricing.

Today’s cars all seem to be focused on delivering fun driving experience that’s still friendly on gas. Those two elements are often an important factor in a car purchase, but sometimes you just want to feral thrill of a big, loud engine.

Lets take a look at our top ten list of the most affordable cars with big V8s. Just about all of these cars have at least 300 horses under the hood, and have the personality of old-time muscle cars. The range here includes sports cars, sedans and luxury vehicles, so you might see something out of place while looking through this top 10. The price range also starts off pretty steep, but ventures into real bargain-bin prices near the top three.

At the end of our list is the new Chevrolet Camaro.  ZL1At $54,095 The Camaro ZL1 might not sound like value. That is, until you consider that it has 580-hp and makes a whopping 556 lb·ft of torque. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 helps you get to 60 mph in under four seconds, and this hopped-up Camaro is also capable of lapping the famous Nurburgring in 7:41.27. The ZL1 accomplishes this thanks to its high-tech Magnetic Ride Control, which you’ll find in some high-class exotics like the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Straight from the other side of the world, Chevrolet announced its SS Performance sedan today: a rebadged next-generation Holden VF Commodore, as expected.

For the first time in 17 years, Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel drive sedan, though it will really just be a returning Pontiac G8. Still, the car will enjoy more fanfare than the Pontiac did because its new badge will also herald the Aussi car as its new entrant as a NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar, replacing the Impala.

The company confirmed that it will only be a limited-run car, manufactured next year to be sold as a 2014 model. Few other details are currently available, but the car will make its official debut in next year’s Daytona 500 in February.

Still, with a 6.2-liter V8 likely to sit under the hood with well over 400 hp, the transmission will probably be what makes or breaks Chevrolet’s latest performer. If it follows the G8′s mundane automatic mainstay, the limited production will probably be a good thing, but with a six-speed manual, this could be the four-door beast to marry power with everyday practicality the Camaro can’t have.

The latest rumblings from Down Under are suggesting that GM subsidiary Holden will soon announce its plan to export the V8 Commodore to the American market as the Chevrolet SS Performance sedan.

If and when that announcement comes, as it’s expected to, it will confirm speculation that the mysterious “SS” badge recently filed with the U.S. Patent Office and then leaked through the OnStar app is, in fact, the next generation Commodore. Another big hint in what’s really more of a sure thing, Holden has been testing left hand-drive versions of the Commodore, presumably in preparation for other-side-of-the-road markets like America.

It also seems the upcoming nameplate might be tied NASCAR. News.com.au speculated in the same article that GM’s decision to scrap the Impala from the sport will leave a slot open to be filled by by the SS Performance.

As we’ve reported before, the upcoming car will almost certainly be a revived Pontiac G8, which was the previous attempt at selling a Holden to U.S. consumers. Financial difficulty brought a swift end to both the car and brand, as GM couldn’t justify maintaining it while floundering.

[Source: News.com.au]

Guy Fieri of Food Network fame, among many other things, will officially be the pace car driver piloting the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 pace car at the upcoming Indy 500.

“There are races and then there are races,” Fieri said. “And without a doubt, the Indy 500 is the race that I’ve always wanted to attend. And now, to be driving the Corvette Pace Car … this is going to be unbelievable.”

Fieri is probably most readily known for the show he hosts: Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, the seven restaurants he co-owns and operates in Northern California, or the books he’s authored on food.

Sandwiches aside, he’s also a certified car fanatic. With a collection including his recently recovered Lamborghini Gallardo and a host of classic Chevorlets including his 1968 Camaro SS, which appears on his show.

“We look forward to welcoming Guy Fieri to the Indianapolis 500,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief executive officer. “He’s full of energy and is a longtime ‘car guy’ – a perfect match for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ I’m sure he’ll remember forever the moment he fires up the incredible 2013 Corvette ZR1 and paces the field to the green flag.”

And incredible it is. With a 638-hp 6.2-liter LS9 engine, this will be the fastest car to ever pace the race, which will run on May 27.

Three new cars have been added to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) top safety pick list, an award which is bestowed on vehicles that receive the top ratings in all crash tests performed.

The Chevy Malibu Eco, Hyundai Azera, and Toyota Prius C are the newest recipients of the top safety pick award. The Malibu Eco is a redesigned model, which only took the honor after the update. The Prius C is an all new model, and now joins the Prius V and regular Prius as a top safety pick. As for the Azera, it had been tested previously, but only the new iteration of the car took home a top safety pick award.

The IIHS tests impact results for crashes from the rear, side, and front, as well as roof rigidity and in car whiplash protection.

Jamming tons of people into a small car is a comedic staple in the clown community, and now Chevrolet is using the tactic as a competition to see how many rugby players can fit in the Chevrolet Sonic. 

The rules are simple, all doors on the vehicle must be shut, and all body parts must be completely inside the car. The challenge is taking place in the UK, and is open to all amateur and semi-pro rugby clubs that want to participate. The club that fits the most players will take home new rugby gear and goodies.

Cambridge-based Shelford Rugby club was the first to tackle the challenge (seen above), and managed to squeeze 11 players into the sub-compact.

One of the most wonderful sensations come when you command a whole handful of power just with the flexing of your right foot. Horsepower is an intoxicating element when it comes to driving, but that doesn’t mean that it’s saved for the most expensive vehicles out there.

Check out the list of the top ten most affordable vehicles with 300 (or more) horsepower. You might be surprised at the deals here, with our leader having a price-to-pony ratio of $73-per-horsepower.  Most of the vehicles here are coupes, but a trio of sedans squeezed in, proving fun can come in four-doors.

First on our list is the rally-tested Subaru WRX STI. The performance-oriented vehicle is the first of three sedans that made the top 10, and features Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.5-liter Boxer engine, which pumps out 305-hp. The cheapest WRX STI is the four-door model, which also has the STI’s instantly recognizable rear spoiler. With a top speed of 160 mph,  the four-door also has a slightly higher top-speed than its five-door counterpart. The WRX STI can get to 60 mph from a standing start in under 5 seconds, and it’s all-wheel drive helps it gobble up the road as fast as anything else on this list. It starts at $34,095.

At the purest level, being a passionate car guy is a selfish game. Somewhere along the line a bug with gas in its veins and a love for all things mechanical wriggles underneath the skin and settles in for a lifetime of gear-head glory. That’s something Halvor Sorhus and his Chevrolet S10 build know very well. 

As you’ve probably already noticed, there’s very little left of the original truck, which underwent a heart transplant that left it the shocking V10 engine from a donor Dodge Viper.

Sorhus, who lives in Norway, didn’t set out to build the crazy frankencar you see above, but after somebody offered to trade the powerplant to him for his Cutlass Cruiser, he said the decision was easy.

“Having a dad who is really into cars, and especially American cars, this sort of hobby came naturally to me,” he said. “I have been tinkering with cars and bikes all my life, and my motto has [always] been: ‘if it doesn’t scrape, its not low enough.’ This build, however, is a bit of a first for me. Its a bit more radical than what I imagined I could pull off, but here we are, on the homestretch of the build, and it fits together really nicely.”

With the project nearing completion, we asked him what the final product will look like. While he hasn’t fully decided what to do, it sounds like either the orange paint pictured above or a simple gloss black might do the trick.

The trouble is, he won’t ever get to drive what he affectionately calls the “Money Pit” out on the street. Sorhus told us the laws in Norway can be pretty restrictive to modified vehicles, so there isn’t much of a chance his truck will ever see the road. So what’s the point?

If you hadn’t guessed, he’s something of a track nut, so what amounts to a tin can with a crazy engine is probably going to see a lot of race time.

“Everyone thinks I’m crazy for putting a V10 into an S10,” he said. “But who cares what anyone thinks? I’m doing this build for myself, wanting a one-off truck.”

The project originally began in late 2008, but really took off a year ago, which is when he got the Viper engine. With something in the ballpark of around 500 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque, we can’t blame him for feeling excited to take his new baby out.

So what’s he most revved up for? Drifting. “I imagine it will haul ass as a drifter,” he said — and it’s hard to disagree.

GALLERY: Viper V10 Chevrolet S10

Chevrolet has unveiled plans for an all new small SUV, called the Chevrolet Trax, that will be introduced to the world at the 2012 Paris Auto Show in September. 

The Trax will launch first in Mexico at the end of 2012, and into 140 other global markets in 2013, with no plans as of yet to come to America because of its similarity to the Chevy Equinox. The Equinox would be a competitor, but a more likely reason is the Trax’s similarity to the much more akin Buick Encore.

Trax is a classic crossover, with seating space for five occupants, along with small size and car-like gas mileage and handling. The Trax will likely offer the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine out of the Equinox as its base powerplant. This small four-cylinder has been the most popular engine in the Equinox here in the States, and will be an even better fit in a smaller vehicle like the Trax.

Styling on the vehicle is directly influenced by the Buick Encore, the one major difference being the front grille, which follows in line with the rest of both respective brands styling.

“The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require,” said Mary Barra, GM’s senior vice president of product development.