So I guess there’s no use trying to change things. Even the upmarket sports car makers are embracing the green revolution and die-hard gearheads can only hope that it’s because of the legislative pressure.

Porsche is bent on delivering hybrids. The firm has confirms that the Porsche Panamera Hybrid will be launched next year. Not really sure how many people would be interested in getting the hybrid of the butt-ugly saloon but Porsche’s hyping it pretty good.

Porsche also confirms that the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar concept will be pushed into production. The car is set to be (sort-of) the successor to the fleet-topping Carrera GT. The 918 Spyder is hoped to be Porsche’s ultimate showcase of its hybrid technology.

And the figures aren’t shoddy too. Powered by a 500 bhp V8 and two electric motors that combine for 218 bhp allowing the car to sprint to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and go all the way to 198 mph. The car also boasts of a mind-boggling 78 mpg.

Porsche claims that the concept has been well-received by the public and loyal customers hence the push.

MINI announced that it will be returning to the World Rally Championship next year. Their car? A WRC version of the Countryman and the team will be run by British motorsport group Prodrive.

The WRC just recently imposed a new 1.6L turbo, four-wheel drive regulations so the Countryman WRC will be limited to such specifications. MINI has been planning for its comeback for “several years” now.

The company aims to use its racing heritage to boost its motorsport profile. In turn, the publicity can help bolster sales of the production cars.

Testing is set to begin later this year. No word yet on who will be tapped to drive the Countryman WRC but Marcus Gronholm has been tipped to be behind the wheel.

And Ferrari did it again. They made Rubens Barrichello do it for Michael Schumacher and they made Felipe Massa do it for Fernando Alonso in the recent German GP.

Ferrari should have been content with the one-two finish but they had to make Alonso come out on top. The pass came on lap 49. Alonso easily overtook Massa in turn six.

Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley allegedly told Massa, “Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?” While Massa argues that his decision to let Alonso pass was his own, the message from Smedley does come off as a violation.

The case has now been forwarded to the World Motor Sport Council and Ferrari’s slapped with a $100,000 fine. It’s not as dramatic as the dead-heat attempt done by Barrichello and Schumacher but it’s twice as ugly for Ferrari.

Check out the meaner version of Merc’s range-topping coupe – the Mercedes CL63 AMG – just around a month since the company revealed the updated standard version. The car is set to slug it out with the likes of the Bentley Continental GT.

Powering the car is a new 5.5L twin-turbocharged V8, replacing the naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 engine. The new engine dishes out a mean 536 bhp and 590 lb-ft of torque. That’s 18 more than the old car. An sports pack can up the numbers to 563 bhp and 633 lb-ft.

Mated to the engine is an AMG seven-speed multi-clutch transmission that’s based on the seven-speed automatic in the old CL63. The powertrain allows the car to get from standstill to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds and a limited 155 mph. The sports pack can trim the time by 0.1 second and go all the way to 186 mph.

Added features are an automatic start/stop system and a brake regeneration system that aids the alternator during acceleration. Those green tech gives the CL63 AMG a return of 26.9 mpg which isn’t bad for a 5.5L V8.

It’s the comeback of the street racer classics. First, Toyota decided to collaborate with Subaru to create the FT-86 – their supposed replacement for the classic Corolla GT/AE86 drift machine. Then Mazda decided that they’ll come out with a follow up to the RX-7.

Nissan will not be standing by idly and insiders report that the company is considering creating a replacement for the 200SX. For the longest time, Nissan focused on developing the higher-end Z cars and the GT-R but with competitors poised to create cars for the lower end of the sports car market, Nissan has to react..

The 200SX will be slotted below the 370Z but will sport a rear-wheel drive platform. The challenge for Nissan, though, is to find a capable platform that will be able to match the performance that they need.

I thought it was quite fantastic that Top Gear a huge star like Andy Garcia drive in the Kia Cee’d last week. Now, BBC has announced that a couple of Holywood stars will be appear next week.

And as far as star power is concerned, there are few that can probably trump Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Both will be dropping by the Top Gear hangar to be the Stars in the Reasonably-Priced Car segment. How cool is that?

The two will undoubtedly be plugging their latest film, Knight and Day which will be premiering in London. Clarkson will definitely have his hands full.

“We’ve have never, ever had two bigger guests,” said a statement on the TG website.

Now we can see how well Prius drivers cope with the Cee’d.

Just a thought – is the manual transmission dying? Many other writers have been writing about so-called manual ‘box death watches and that the auto might just be a de facto standard in the industry in the near future.

I’ve always considered the manual as the “proper” gearbox. I haven’t driven anything with a flappy paddle gearbox do for me, the control of the traditional manual is absolutely tops. In addition, manuals for the longest time offer better economy over automatic.

Though, I have to admit that my new i10 sports an automatic gearbox. No one can probably contest the ease and comfort that a automatic gearbox gives. The auto in that car is crap, I should say, and it gives a pretty bad return on a small car.

However, with dual-clutch transmission starting to give better economy and even better control over the stick shift, only fewer than 1% of drivers go for a stick these days.

Via: USA Today

Mazda’s been teasing us with news of the possible RX-7 replacement and here’s another unconfirmed rumor – the replacement might get a turbo.

The new car is rumored to be badged as the RX-9 and will continue to pack the Renesis rotary engine from the old RX-7 and the RX-8. This is despite the RX-8 ending its production run and has been criticized for poor torque and poor fuel economy.

Still, Mazda is looking into slapping on some added tech to help the engine deliver better torque and economy. One option is to slap on a turbo, an electric turbocharger even, to help the car cope.

As far as the design would go, Mazda is looking into using its Nagare design language on the car.

There’s nothing like reading news about super pricey supercars getting effed up. We do find it sort of amusing (even hilarious) when it’s because of middle-aged millionaire who have nary the driving skill for such beasts crashing them.

But sometimes, it can be the automaker’s fault. How many Lambos have we seen burnt to a crisp? Now, we’re not sure yet if this was Ferrari’s fault or the drivers but check out the charred remains of what used to be a brand spanking new Ferrari 458 Italia.

This happened in France. The engine caught fire after the car was taken through a mountain pass. We can all just wonder if the 570 hp 4.5L V8 was to blame for the car’s demise.

Not really a huge fun of larger cars but BMW fans and CUV fans would probably get a kick of the leaked images (thanks to the internet) of the new BMW X3 M. Yup, that M badge makes this just a bit more bad-ass.

Performance-wise, the car boasts of a lowered sports suspension, stiffer dampers, and variable sports steering. Lowered suspensions – now that does ruin the point of getting a taller vehicle.

On the outside, the X3 gets a full M body kit with side skirts and sporty bumpers. The wheel arches have also been modified wheel arches to fit the 19-inch alloy rims.

Inside, the car gets a leather sports steering wheel with flappy paddle gear shifters. The front seats can also be had with Pearlpoint cloth-leather trim.

The normal X3 will come out later this year and the M Sport package by early 2011.

Lotus has got a new business plan and it’s bent on sticking to it. Lotus announced previously that the company is intent on moving upmarket.

For the longest time, Lotus made its keep building small performance vehicles. Only recently did they create a larger supercar in the guise of the Evora. But a new supercar to be slotted above the Evora is on the way. A concept is even due for unveiling at the Paris Motor Show.

Lotus is still pretty cryptic with the details of the new car but with its goal of taking on the likes of Ferrari, Lambo and Aston Martin, we can all expect that it will be interesting how much oomph Lotus can bring to the rumored Esprit replacement.

With an ex-Ferrari man on Danny Bahar running the commercial side of things, the intent will be there. Fans can just hope they can deliver technically.

Fiat’s got it right so far in creating awesome small cars. The 500′s selling so well. Now, Fiat’s planning to add more stages of tune to the new 900cc turbo two-cylinder TwinAir engine.

The first one will be found in the updated 500 later this year. The engine will dish out 84 bhp and will be priced like the 99-bhp 1.4L gasoline. There might be a 15 hp difference but the TwinAir promises to be 30% more efficient.

The other will dish out 64 bhp and corresponds with the current 1.2L output and the third will dish out a whopping 105 bhp to match the range-topping 1.4L.

105 bhp from a 1.0L? Very nice.

So when was it when four on the floor’s considered bad-ass? Now, the game’s into upping the number of speeds in the transmission for optimal performance and fuel efficiency.

Today, seven-speed auto boxes are pretty common but Mercedes-Benz plans to up the ante by developing a nine-speed transmission.

This new transmission will be mated to large displacement engines to give the powertrain better improvements in economy and emissions.

The idea goes, the more gears, the less revs the engine needs to get into speed. The less you put your foot down to get revs, the more economical.

However, the number of gears have an engineering threshold. Merc claims nine is the maximum possible technically as well as acceptable to drivers.

I could just hope that Shelby SuperCars give the whole speed record thing a rest.

Bugatti just recently reclaimed the speed record for a production vehicle through an effort in the new Veyron Super Sport model that clocked 267 mph.

The Veyron initially lost out to SSC’s Ultimate Aero in 2007 when the Aero blasted the Veyron’s former record by clocking a 256.23 top speed.

But now that the Italians have reclaimed the title, the American car firm is not intent on producing a new car and is prepared to push the limits with the new car.

“We’ve been working on a new project to debut before the end of the summer. Not much can be said at this time except that we’ll be upping the ante on all fronts,” Shelby said in a statement.

And you think Korean cars’ 5-year “standard” warranties are more than competitive. Watch out, ’cause Chevy’s about to throw in a sneaky left hook at everyone in the industry by offering an 8-year warranty for the Volt.

General Motor’s confident since the battery “exceeded (their) performance targets and is ready to hit the road,” according to GM director Micky Bly.

But before you start considering getting the Volt, keep in mind that the 8-year/100,000-mile warranty will only cover the car’s battery pack.

The Volt is GM’s answer to the blossoming electric car industry with hopes of bringing the fight to rival Toyota and put a dent at the Prius’ hybrid dominance.

While, it’s the longest-ever in any electric car, what’s the point of having your batteries covered while the rest of the car won’t?

Sometimes, you just have to know when to shut up. That’s a lesson Bruno Senna just had to learn the hard way. HRT F1 booted out Senna from his position after he erroneously sent a scathing email to his boss.

Reports say that Senna made very harsh criticisms on HRT boss Colin Kolles’ handle on things only to send the email to Kolles. Maybe Senna doesn’t use Gmail or forgot about the undo feature.

HRT replaced Senna and gave his driver’s seat to Japanese driver Sakon Yamamoto for the British GP. Initially, it was played as a business move to tap revenue streams from Japan.

It’s inevitable. A faster version of Ferrari’s new road car – the 458 – is coming and it’s finally here. Check out the new 458 Challenge. It’s basically a meaner and faster version of the Italia tweaked to participate in various race series starting 2011.

The Challenge packs the same direct-injection 4.5L V8 engine in the regular car that dishes out 562 bhp and 9000 rpm. The Formula 1-style gearbox has been revised to feature racier gear ratios and

The car’s put on a diet too with panel thickness reduced and increased use of carbon fiber and Lexan (plexiglass). The suspension’s stiffer, a lower ride height, and Brembo brakes from the 599XX.

Its performance promises to be even better than the old F430 Challenge car, lapping the Fiorano test track in just 1:16.5 – two seconds quicker than the F430 Challenge.

Toyota head honcho Akio Toyoda said that he’s okay with reviving the Supra warhorse though claims that there might be some opposition from some in the company.

The Supra had been Toyota’s sports GT car until the company opted to stop its production in 2002. The company then refocused on producing mass production people cars.

However, Toyota’s giving sports cars another take this time around with the development of the Subaru-co-developed FT-86/FRS replacement for the old RWD AE86. A new MR2 is also under development.

The Supra’s scheduled for a 2013/2014 launch and is on track. The new car will most likely pack a V6 hybrid powertrain.

I like McLaren’s strategy here. After years of simply tying up with Mercedes to produce the SLR, they’ve gone the independent route in an effort to go back to the good old days of the independently-produced McLaren F1 which was the world’s fastest production car up until the Koenigseggs and the Veyron started piling on the records.

McLaren’s made a splash by released the MP4-12C supercar. The MP4-12C slotted as a mid-tier supercar to slug it out with the likes of the Audi R8 and the Porsche 911 so fans shouldn’t be depressed that the car wouldn’t give high-end Lambos and Ferraris a kick in the ‘nads.

But if it’s any indication of what an independent McLaren can do today, then we can all be excited about the arrival of the McLaren F1 replacement which is set to come out by 2012. The car’s expected to feature mid-engine layout and carbon-fiber monocoque chassis but is slated as a revolutionary hypercar.

Talk about being aggressive. Lotus has said that it will be moving upmarket and their days of mid-market performance vehicles might be coming to a close.

The company has announced that all contracts with European dealerships will be terminated by July 2012. This is to overhaul its dealership network. The notice was sent by Lotus CEO Dany Bahar to all Lotus Euro dealers.

The early notice is within the company’s deal with the network that a two-year notice must be issued in the event of termination.

Lotus plans to slug it out with the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin and is making what they consider the necessary steps to move towards that direction.

I’m an Aston Martin fan (dreaming to own one some day) and any news about a new Aston coming out is exciting news indeed.

Aston’s previously revealed that the next few years will be filled with new Astons including the beast that’s the One-77 and replacements for the members of their current line up so this release of a special edition hardcore V8 Vantage is a most welcome surprise.

Dubbed the N420, the car is a follow up to the N400 special edition tribute to Aston’s Nurburgring participation. It’s powered by the same 4.7 V8 from the Vantage dishing out 420 bhp.

The car’s put on a diet though, shedding 27kg lighter and features a snazzy aero kit including a carbon-fiber splitter, diffuser and side strakes. The suspension and exhaust systems have also been tweaked.

Oh crap. Just a few days after the Bugatti Veyron SuperSport was able to wrestle back the title of fastest production car away from the American SSC Ultimate Aero, another US car firm announces that it will be making a new hypercar that’s capable of 300 mph.

Here’s TransStar Racing with the Dagger GT. Aggressive name from a firm with a geeky name like “TransStar.” If you think that these guys are joking, well just know that the people behind the project are boffins from NASA who formerly worked on the Saleen S7 Le Mans car.

No word yet on power figures but the company’s targeting at least 2000 bhp and 2000 lb-ft of torque. With that much oomph, the car should zip from 0-60 mph in just 1.5 seconds!

The company plans to conquer all speed records including Nurburgring and the Virginia International Raceway. And we all thought that the green revolution has put an end to the horsepower wars.

Bugatti fans now have a reason to celebrate again. The Bugatti Veyron is the Concorde of our motoring generation and it did suck when the SSC Ultimate Aero trumped it as the fastest production car in the planet.

Now, Bugatti claims that the title’s back in their stable as the SuperSport edition of the Veyron clinched the top speed record for a production car with an average run of 431.072 kph (267.91 mph).

This is 14 mph faster than the standard Veyron set in 2005 and the existing record of 256.23 mph set by the SSC Ultimate Aero.

The runs were made at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. The car was driven by test driver Pierre-Henri Raphanel with the event witnessed by officials from the Guiness Book of World Records.

Speed records are set by getting the average of two runs of opposite directions.

So the days of the Nissan and Datsun badges being equated to cheap cars might be numbered. Ever since creating the Z cars, the Nissan GT-R and the Infiniti luxury line, Nissan has upped the ante, proving time and again that they can run with the big boys.

Now, the company is looking to make a bigger splash in the luxury market by taking on established German marquees like Mercedes-Benz. In Infiniti’s sights is the Merc CLC.

Infiniti will launch a small FWD coupe which is basically the market of the CLC. The car will be based on the Essence concept that they showcased in last year’s auto shows.

The styling teases the blend of a sporty hatchback and the sleek form of a conventional coupe. Infiniti plans to market it in Europe. If it makes it to production, it will be Inifiniti’s only FWD car.

BMW’s quest for an electric city vehicle looks to be on track. The Megacity project just showcased the first official pictures and some details about the MCV.

Powering the car is a 100Kw electric motor mounted at the back. A possibility of a range-extender model (one equipped with an internal combustion engine that recharges the batteries) is also hinted.

The body’s made from LifeDrive – BMW’s revolutionary Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic material. BMW claims that it’s steel-strong but just half the weight of aluminum. Not bad for something that’s basically toughened plastic.

The company says the four-seater will offer ‘an innovative solution for sustainable urban mobility, which will be brought onto the market by 2013 and sold under a BMW sub-brand’.

BMW aims to sell these EVs under a sub-brand.