General Motors is investing $131 million into their Bowling Green, Kentucky factory to help improve the legendary plant that produces the Chevrolet Corvette, but a new car won’t show up for another two model years.

Having made upgrades to the 2012 model, General Motors will focus on re-tooling the plant, while also adding 250 workers to supplement the 400 UAW employees already building America’s sports car. General Motors has remained tight-lipped on details regarding the 7th generation Corvette, but considering how good the current car is, we can’t wait to see what improvements arrive in 2014.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Maserati‘s newest sedan, rumored to be a smaller model comparable to a BMW 5-Series in size, will be built in Italy, after a deal was struck between an Italian labor union and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Workers at the factory, formerly managed by Bertone, agreed to longer shifts and shorter breaks in exchange for the new Maserati. The deal follows similar agreements negotiated by Marchionne at three Fiat plants that saw workers give concessions in exchange for the chance to build new products. The former Bertone plant currently employs 1,100 people. The new Maserati sedan is expected to be part of a product onslaught that will also see Maserati offer a crossover for the first time in the brand’s history.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Ferrari‘s next flagship supercar, the successor to the 2003 Enzo, will be influenced by the Bugatti Veyron, although Ferrari declined to specify what parts of the vehicle were inspired by the world’s most powerful car.

A Ferrari source reportedly told Autocar “The world is a very different place to how it was when the Enzo was launched. It has moved on completely. And we are Ferrari – we do not take part to make up the numbers.” Compared to the opulent Veyron, the Enzo was more of a spartan, single-minded vehicle focused solely on performance, and this could perhaps signal the biggest departure from not only the Enzo, but the F50 and F40 supercars which preceded it, and were known for their raw, uncompromising nature.

The next flagship F-car is confirmed to have an active aerodynamics system, which is featured on the Veyron, but an move towards luxury, as well as the active aero, wouldn’t square with Ferrari’s previous desire to shed weight from the Enzo, as seen by their Millechilli design study, which envisioned a flagship supercar weighing a mere 2200lbs. We’ll have to wait until 2013 to find out for sure, as that marks the 10th anniversary of the Enzo’s debut, and in keeping with Ferrari tradition, the correct timeframe to debut a new supercar.

[Source: Autocar]

Aston Martin has just established its first foothold in India, with its first showroom in Mumbai. The showroom will be managed in partnership with Infinity Cars Pvt. Ltd., a well known local distributor, with a location in a swanky district of Mumbai known as Kemps Corner.

“India represents a new opportunity for us and as part of our programme of growing the reach of the global Aston Martin dealership network; this expansion brings our brand to a different audience in a new market,” Aston Martin’s Chief Commercial Officer, Michael van der Sande said in a statement. “Our decision to bring the Aston Martin brand to India is driven by a strong level of interest and enthusiasm from potential customers in an emerging luxury market. We have taken our time to find the right advocates for Aston Martin and I am confident that we have selected strong partners with whom we look forward to starting a successful relationship,” he said.

Although Aston Martin will offer a full range of vehicles in India, the roads there are in such rough shape, we’re not exactly sure where these cars can be driven. Perhaps some track days at New Delhi’s Grand Prix circuit are in order.

[Source: Auto Evolution]

Audi is planning to launch new special editions of their R8 and Q7 vehicles in Russia and the United Arab Emirates, with prices as extravagant as their customers tastes.

Russia will be the first market to get their own special Audi, with a Q7 V12 TDI being offered with an exclusive two-tone black paint job and a retail price of $285,000 – more than double what a base model Q7 costs in the country. The UAE will get an R8 V10 Pure Sport, of which only 40 will be offered, at a more reasonable retail price of $136,000.

Audi’s special editions are not out of the ordinary for a luxury car maker, as BMW has been making market-specific versions of the M3 for China and the United States for the past year, while Audi itself previously sold a special edition of the TT in China. All three vehicles sold out quickly, leading to a whole new way for both brands to reap profits off of luxury-brand hungry consumers.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Audi will apparently produce an R8 GT Spyder, defeating the purpose of the lighter, more performance-oriented R8 GT, but opening up a whole new market for their supercar, and those more concerned with looking fast than going fast.

The Spyder will likely pack the same 552-horsepower 5.2L V10 as the coupe, but be limited to 193mph, as opposed to 199mph in the hardtop. The Spyder will also likely be limited to 333 units. Roughly 220 pounds will be cut from the car’s weight thanks to an abundance of carbon fiber parts, thinner glass and a revised braking system. Audi will preview the car at Le Mans in June, with a proper unveiling at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

[Source: Autocar]

Maserati‘s new GranTurismo MC Stradale might be using a nifty new single-clutch automated manual gearbox in its home market of Europe, but North America will get a ZF-built 8-speed automatic.

The ZF unit is a precursor to Maserati’s further use of the gearbox, and frankly, North American consumers of the brand will likely not notice the difference. The transmission will also be utilized across a new range of products which will include an SUV and a sedan to slot below the Quattroporte. Reports state that the cars will likely share parts with Chrysler vehicles, a common practice amongst premium brands owned by a conglomerate, but one that may not sit well with Maserati’s rarefied clientele. The next Maseratis will also follow the trend of turbocharging, which was a staple of the brand in earlier decades, and possibly a diesel engine for their Jeep Grand Cherokee-based SUV.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Dr. Dre’s long awaited new album Detox has had more false starts than the Toyota FT-86, but the legendary hip-hop producer has finally released a single, titled I Need A Doctor. If you like hip-hop music, you’ve doubtlessly heard the song by now, but you might not have seen the video, which involves a horrific crash involving a Ferrari 360 Modena.

The intro to the video has Dre driving the 360 along some twisty mountain roads while reflecting on his earlier rap career, followed by the Doc losing control of the car and crashing violently. While the crash scene is pivotal to the entire video, we were a little surprised that the crash was real, and not done via CGI or any other method. Then again, with video budgets reaching higher and higher, a used 360 is probably a fraction of what it costs to put together the actual video.

[Source: Carscoop]

Behind the scenes video after the jump

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The lucky folks at Inside Line got to spend the day with the all new Lamborghini Aventador supercar, as it shot an on location commercial in California.

We won’t spoil all the juicy details for you, but you’re going to want to hit the jump and watch the video.  Aside from the wonderful soundtrack, it’s the best video we’ve seen of the Aventador, and the wonderful orange hue is just right for the flashiest of supercars.

Video after the jump

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Famed auction house Bonhams will offer up a Ferrari driven by Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, but the car for sale isn’t one of the contemporary mega-buck supercars, but a more archaic model that has never attracted much fanfare from the Ferraristi.

Button’s ride, a 1978 Ferrari 512BB, is a model known mostly to enthusiasts, and pre-dates the iconic Testarossa and was never sold officially in North America. While Button purchased the car with 49,100 miles on the clock, he only drove the car a further 155 miles, lending credence to his claim that “my F1 commitments will not enable me to enjoy the car to its fullest.”

Bonhams claims that the car has had $154,000 worth of mechanical work throughout its lifetime – pretty big numbers for a car that’s only expected to sell for $179,000.

[Source: New York Times]

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential and successful women on Earth, and her success has lead to the kind of wealth that can give her access to anything she points her finger at.

On the occasion of her 42nd birthday, she pointed towards a black on white 1996 Bentley Azure convertible. It seems Ms. Winfrey liked her Bentley a lot, amassing 49,000-miles on it. Perhaps it was used as a daily driver, and that gives Ms. Winfrey extra brownie points in our books.

According to Mark Scarincio, owner of Boulevard Auto in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. the dealership that currently has this vehicle up for sale, Ms. Winfrey came in with her gal pal Gayle King and said she wanted something special for her birthday. The salesman who was a personal friend of Ms. Winfrey showed her the Bentley and soon she signed papers to this $335,000 land-yatch.

The car has since depreciated quite a bit. It was recently listed on ebay Motors for a “buy it now” price of $67,900 but got no takers. So, if your significant other is a huge Oprah fan, you could earn extra credits by buying it for them.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

The next Porsche 911 is expected to shed roughly 100 pounds of weight, thanks to an aluminum intensive chassis that will be shared with the next generation Boxster and Cayman.

The news, courtesy of Motor Trend, seems to suggest that power upgrades won’t be as substantial, with the reduced weight helping to bring the majority of performance gains. With the 911 range already offering ample thrust, the news of a lighter chassis, one that is sure to positively impact all areas of driving dynamics, is promising. A wider track and longer wheelbase should also help improve the car’s handling, making it more stable while also benefiting ride quality.

Fans of the old car will still be able to buy previous generations of the Turbo and GT3 cars, as they have traditionally followed a year behind the standard cars in the product cycle.

[Source: Motor Trend]

A disgruntled Lamborghini owner in China hired a crew to mercilessly disfigure his black Lamborghini Gallardo after the owner felt he received unsatisfactory treatment from Lamborghini China.

The owner organized the stunt to mark World Consumer Rights Day. Apparently, the Gallardo was plagued with mechanical issues even after it was serviced by an authorized Chinese outlet. Running or not, the owner could have just as easily donated the car to AutoGuide and we would have been very happy people indeed.

[Source: Photoblog]

The first round of the Lotus Cup USA kicked off this past weekend at Willow Springs Raceway, with Jack Fried taking the overall win in the awesome, track-only 2-Eleven sports car. Fried won after race leader Andy Kern bowed out with mechanical problems, but Kern managed to take the overall win in the Time Attack class.

The next round will be held at Firebird International Raceway in Arizona during the weekend of April 9th, and we are soliciting donations so that one of the AutoGuide staff can rent a seat in a 2-Eleven. Any takers?

[Source: Lotus]

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The Sultan of Brunei’s extravagant car collection is something of an urban legend among auto enthusiasts. Most of the evidence surrounding its existence is anecdotal, with a few grainy photos having leaked out over the years on rare occasions. Now, Sports Car Market has published an article by car broker Michael Sheehan detailing the vastness of his collection – and how priceless supercars are sitting in ruin due to neglect.

In 2002, Sheehan attempted to negotiate a deal to purchase 13 cars, including a Ferrari F40 LM, Ferrari 288 GTO and a McLaren F1. The deal ultimately failed due to a lack of any documentation for the cars, which made them impossible to export, but Sheehan was given a tour of the Sultan’s automotive compound, and his story is captivating, with the full extent of the decay and neglect suffered by the cars conveyed dispassionately.

Sheehan vividly describes a mid-’90s Rolls-Royce convertible stating that it, “had gotten so hot with the windows up that the steering wheel’s foam padding had melted into a puddle on the driver’s seat and the leather wrap hung from the barren steel rim. The entire interior had ‘gone off’ with mold in the heat and humidity and the interior was a fuzzy gray!”

Tragic yet, but hey, if we had 300 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans (among thousands of other cars, including the bespoke Ferrari wagon seen here) we would have a hard time keeping track of our rides too.

[Source: Sports Car Market]

Some cars, like the Bugatti Veyron, are so expensive that we can’t imagine ever owning one. Others, like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS are so outrageously powerful that we wouldn’t want to drive them, because of the massive disconnect between our own limits and those of the car.

With 620 horsepower channeled only through the rear wheels, the uber-911 is a truly terrifying machine, but 20 lucky Porsche-philes have summoned up the courage and the cash to own the GT2 RS, and they were rewarded with a special event at El Toro airfield, where a cadre of Porsche driving instructors were on hand to help them get the most out of their newest purchases. Hit the jump to see the video, and try not to get too envious.

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Stolen cars tend to be more mundane vehicles which can easily be exported to another country or chopped up for parts. Or both. But celebrity chef Guy Fieri, host of shows like “Minute To Win It” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” had something a little more exotic stolen from him, and the heist’s execution wasn’t exactly normal either.

According to reports, the thief rappelled down the roof of the building, busted the lock on the San Francisco dealership’s garage door and made off with Fieri’s yellow Lamborghini Gallardo. Police are dumbfounded as to what someone would want with such a high profile car, but our guess is that it’s no longer in the United States.

[Source: Sfgate.com]

Maserati is reporting a sales increase of 20 percent in 2010 and selling 2,000 cars. Not bad for a car company that only a decade ago was a boutique maker of finnicky but beautiful Italian exotics.

In a press conference at the Geneva Auto Show, CEO Harald Wester remarked that 2011 should be a banner year for the brand, with expansion into Russia and Japan, as well as a revised GranSport cabriolet. Wester also dropped brief hints about their upcoming SUV, a product necessary for serious competition in markets like China and Russia.

[Source: Autoweek]

If you were one of the legions who lusted after an Alfa Romeo 8C but couldn’t afford the six-figure price tag – or get a spot on the waiting list – will have another shot at Milanese glory as Alfa debuted their 4C GTA concept.

Rather than a big Maserati V8, the 4C is powered by a turbochaged 4-cylinder engine displacing 1750cc, a legendary number in Alfa Romeo lore (all great Alfas of the 1960s were powered by an engine of identical displacement). Rather than the idiosyncratic dash-mounted manual shifter, power is transmitted via a dual-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels via a mid-engine configuration.

Alfa says they are considering production for the vehicle, but how could they not, in light of it being the perfect halo car for a return to North America?

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 4C GTA

As if Bentley needed yet another excuse to launch a special edition of their Continental GT line, the Continental Supersports Ice Speed Record edition will debut at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. The model, released in a 100 unit production run, will commemorate Finnish rally hero Juha Kankkunen’s record setting 202 mph blast on ice in an E85 powered Conti.

A new intake, intercooler and exhaust system help the turbocharged 12-cylinder motor pump out 631 horsepower and rocket to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. E85 can be run as a “green” alternative fuel, and buyers will also be swaddled in the finest hides available. Check back tomorrow for live pictures.

While the pictures above show a regular Audi R8, the four-ring brand is working on a new supercar, codenamed the NF, that uses a vast amount of carbon fiber in the vehicles construction to help shed serious weight.

Audi previewed the vehicle at a private event in Germany, but security was extremely tight, and only a rendering of the passenger compartment was shown. Furthermore, cameras were explicitly banned. Audi did have on hand a prototype R8 with a carbon fiber roof and floor pan, as well as a crash tested model that was made of a similar construction, but only photos of the intact prototype have surfaced.

The NF is expected to bow in 2014 as part of an on-going program within Audi to expand the use of lightweight materials across their lineup. The R8 Spyder already uses a carbon fiber engine cover, while the E-Tron will introduce features like a carbon fiber roof. At that point, the NF, if it exists, will then debut with substantial structural elements made of the lightweight material.

Famed Audi tuner MTM will be debuting their take on the Audi R8 supercar at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show on Tuesday, and you’d have to be blind to miss it, with its fully polished chrome bodywork that took some 700 hours to complete.

The MTM car isn’t all show either. With a 777 horsepower twin turbo engine good for 217 mph, you’ll be able to make a getaway before anyone can call you out on your corny taste.

Gallery: MTM Audi R8

You know all about the Lamborghini LP700-4 Aventador by now, but here’s something you haven’t seen before – a shot of the interior. AutoGuide will be at the Geneva Auto Show starting Monday, and will have live shots of the Aventador, but in the mean time, this is all you get.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Think the $41,400 sticker price for a BMW 335i is bad? Be glad you don’t live in Singapore where the same model will run you $260,000, about what an Italian exotic would retail for in the United States.

Singapore residents who want a private vehicle must pay for a special permit that allows them to keep the car for a decade – the permit alone costs $55,000 USD,  as much as a Porsche Boxster would in America. In 2008, the permit cost about $2,000. On top of that, buyers must pay a 150% duty on the vehicle upon importation. Not surprisingly, car ownership rates in Singapore sit at around 15%, compared to 82% in the United States.

Singapore is ruled by an authoritarian regime (famous for outlawing chewing gum in the name of etiquette and cleanliness), and is strongly pushing for residents to adopt mass transit as a practical solution to reduce congestion, and cut down pollution. While Singapore boasts outstanding air quality, it fears that it could become similar neighboring islands like Hong Kong, which has fewer restrictions on vehicle ownership but is riddled with heavily polluted air.

The structures in place leave car ownership as a privilege for the wealthy, and car dealers are now looking to peddle premium brands to the wealthy, since they are largely unaffected by an increase in ownership costs. “The extra $20,000 to S$30,000 on the [new vehicle permit] is nothing when the total car price is $300,000 or more,” one dealer told Bloomberg. No wonder that companies like Lamborghini do well in the tiny Asian country, with a special preview for their upcoming LP-7004 Aventador being held exclusively for that market.

[Source: Bloomberg via Zero Hedge]