Who says diesels can't be fun? With the oil-burning R10 racer and R8 LeMans TDI concept under its belt, Audi seems to be saying otherwise. Further proof is the brand's new A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept, debuting later this month at an Austrian VW /Audi festival.

Built around the revamped 2009 A3 three-door, the TDI Clubsport Quattro blends the new car's styling with that of a DTM series racer. We see Audi's distinctive grille and LED running lamps up front, but the car looks almost race-ready. Already lowered by 1.3 inches, the Clubsport Quattro concept has a mean stance thanks to a widened track (1.3 inches in front; 1.8 inches out back), bolt-on fender flares and 20-inch alloy wheels. The interior isn't forgotten, either; custom racing buckets coddle front passengers, who also experience customized dash trim and leather padding.

But the heart of the TDI Clubsport Quattro lies with the diesel motor itself. Starting with the 2.0-liter direct-injection turbodiesel I-4 available in the European A3, A4 and TT, Audi revised the motor's induction, exhaust, and fuel injection systems to wring out more power. The result is a motor that cranks out 224 hp (112 hp per liter), and a walloping 332 lb-ft of torque at a miniscule 1750 rpm. That's an increase of 54 hp and 74 lb-ft over the production engine.

Predictably, power is transferred to all four wheels via the legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, channeled through a six-speed manual transmission. Along with rowing his or her own gears, the driver will be able to electronically dial in settings for the car's acceleration and suspension characteristics.

Audi says the car will reach 62 mph in 6.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 142 mph while meeting the upcoming 2010 Euro5 emission standards.

There's never been a better time to travel to Australia. Case in point? Ford launched its revised FG Falcon range of rear-drive sedans and utes earlier this year. Better yet, the hot FPV Falcon portfolio is now making its way to dealers.

For the uninitiated, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) is to Ford's offerings down under as AMG is to Mercedes-Benz. The division originated in the 1990s to prepare the Falcon for spec racing, but has since focused on tuning high-performance models for customers. The FG Falcon, launched at February's Melbourne auto show, is the latest recipient of FPV's speed tweaks.

Perhaps most interesting are FPV's modifications to Ford's turbocharged 4.0-liter inline-six, available in the F6 sedan and ute. In stock form, the motor develops 362 hp and 393 lb-ft of torque; performance close to a traditional V-8 but with a smaller thirst for fuel. Those are respectable numbers, but through a larger turbocharger, modified intercoolers and a host of other changes, FPV bumps the output to a whopping 416 hp. Torque comes on strong once the turbo spools at 1950 rpm, delivering 417 lb-ft until redline (5200 rpm).

Those figures are more than respectable, but for customers who still hanker for an extra two cylinders, FPV offers select models with a tuned 5.4-liter V-8. The "Boss 315" motor moseys 422 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. That's better than the Falcon's stock 5.4-liter (rated at 388 hp and 383 lb-ft, respectively), but it's only six ponies more and nine lb-ft less than FPV's turbo-six. Either motor is available with a Tremec six-speed manual or a ZF six-speed automatic, so there's no driveline advantage of picking one motor over the other.

Buyers may choose the V-8 for nostalgia or a dislike of forced induction, but they may also choose a V-8 model - GT, GT-E or GT-P sedans and the Pursuit and Super Pursuit utes - for their looks. All sport unique front- and rear fascias, side skirts, 19-inch alloy wheels, decklid spoiler and a muscular hood bulge.

Six-cylinder models sport the same accoutrements, save for a lowered hood line and a sectioned lower grille which exposes the intercooler. The look is fine, but we can live without the graphics; they're an odd mixture of traditional Ford striping and Aborigine war paint. We'd opt for the GT-E; it sports the V-8 grunt and spoilers of the GT-P but eliminates the garish dcor.

Not that we'll have that option, mind you. Ford's not bringing its FG Falcon to North America, and that means we'll be deprived of these awesome Aussies as well.

Yesterday, Carlos Ghosn climbed atop his soapbox to outline Nissan's GT ("growth & trust") 2012 plan, outlining how the company plans to remain relevant and profitable over the next few years. We - and all Infiniti enthusiasts - may be most interested at a paragraph buried at the bottom of his release: A G37 convertible is officially headed our way later this year.

Currently offered in both coupe and sedan forms, the addition of a drop-top to the G37's portfolio allows the car to compete with BMW's 3-series and Audi's A4 range. Both ranges offer coupe, convertible, and sedan forms of their mid-sized luxury platforms. Lest you think Infiniti's completely catching up with the Germans, both brands also offer wagon variants - a model not currently known to be on Infiniti's radar.

The G37 'vert is but one of nine products Nissan and Infiniti will launch in the 2008 fiscal year. We've already seen the 2009 FX and Nissan Maxima, but we're anxiously awaiting the advent of the next Z car (370Z) and a refreshed Cube that will make its way stateside.

Small as it may be, the Smart Fortwo just received a giant safety endorsement.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced that the 2008 Smart Fortwo (the smallest car for sale in the U.S. market) earned its top rating of "good" for front and side crash protection. For protection against rear impact whiplash, the Fortwo's seat/head restraints earned the Insurance Institute's second highest rating of "acceptable".

More than three feet shorter and nearly 700 pounds lighter than a Mini Cooper, Smart's Fortwo is the smallest car the Insurance Institute has ever tested.

Aware that consumers were concerned about the safety of traveling in the tiny Fortwo, Insurance Institute President Adrian Lund said "the engineers of the Smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package."

To compensate for the Fortwo's small body and front-end crush zone (which is a key component in reducing injury risk in serious frontal crashes), Smart's restraint system was designed to absorb more energy as occupants "ride down" a crash. A stiff side structure and standard side airbags also contribute to the Smart's "good" test rating.

However, the driver door did unlatch during Fortwo crash tests, confirming a finding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's side tests released last month.

Having staked its name on outstanding race and road cars, Lotus Cars has financed its vehicular follies by pawning its engineering talents to clients - the latest being Spyker Cars. Yesterday, the Dutch sports car builder inked a deal to exchange ideas and parts with the house that Chapman built.

Spyker isn't a new client for Lotus (engineering work on the C8 and C8 Laviolette was outsourced to Hethel), but this new agreement does further the relationship between the two. According to a release issued by Lotus, the agreement calls for Lotus to supply parts for the upcoming C8 Aileron sports car and also mentions that both partners "intend to share parts and platforms." Although unconfirmed by either party, there is a chance that some parts could be common to both the C8 and Lotus' up-and-coming Esprit successor, currently known as Project Eagle.

We'd expect to see further Lotus/ Spyker collaboration in the future, too. Another provision of the contract calls for Lotus' involvement for all future Spyker programs, including the quirky D8 "Peking to Paris" off-road sports coupe.

After crafting his legacy with race-tuned versions of Ford's ubiquitous Mustang, Steve Saleen's turning his attention to another retro muscle car: the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T.

Tuned by SMS, Saleen's newest venture, the SMS 570 and SMS 570X both make do with the R/T's standard 5.7-liter "Hemi" V-8. Although that motor pumps out 375 hp straight from Chrysler, the SMS cars reportedly will produce 500 and 700 hp, courtesy of an added supercharger.

We're not sure of what other tricks SMS has in store for the Challenger, aside from the company's claims that both cars will wear "high performance" driveline, suspension, and aerodynamic parts. From the artist's rendering, the package is discrete; apart from a more aggressive front fascia and larger wheels, there's little visual differentiation between the SMS Challenger and a normal SRT8 or R/T model.

As production of the '09 Challenger won't commence until later this fall, don't expect the SMS models to appear any time beforehand. Production numbers will be limited, so if the idea of a Saleen-prepped Challenger floats your boat, act quickly.

After years of grey-market imports, Nissan is officially bringing the Skyline GT-R to North America. Only without the Skyline name.

We had our first taste of the production car on its home turf in Japan late last year. Then we drove it on Germany's autobahn for our January 2008 issue. Those were great introductions to the car, but not exactly the context for us Americans.

The newest GT-R packs a twin-turbocharged, 473-hp 3.8-liter V-6 and sends power to all four wheels using a very intelligent all-wheel-drive system. The GT-R set a Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes and 29 seconds, which bests the car's 911 Turbo benchmark. Again, amazing numbers, but we needed to experience Godzilla on U.S. shores.

The opportunity finally came to live with the car in a real-world environment (or as close as we come to reality) for a week at our Ann Arbor offices. You can read about our time with the GT-R in the articles linked below. Be sure to check out the desktop-worthy images in our gallery as well. Prefer moving pictures? We took some video of the car, too. This one shows the neck-snapping acceleration of launch mode, as well as a race against a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle. We also pick apart the many Gran Turismo-inspired screens of the GT-R's center display in this video.

Once you get through all of that, head over to our forums to discuss this highly anticipated car.

Few companies attempt to mix sports sedan and station wagon, but Holden's HSV division is doing just that. The high-performance wing of GM's Australian division announced today the birth of the new HSV Tourer, a version of Holden's upcoming Commodore Sportswagon - but with much more power.

That comes courtesy of GM's 6.2-liter LS3 V-8, notably found under the slinky hood of the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette but de-tuned for the five-door hauler. We're told to expect the mill to be identical to the one used in HSV's tricked-out Commodore sedan, the ClubSport R8. In that form, the LS3 pumps out 425 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. That power is (thankfully) channeled to the rear wheels, likely through a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

Holden's withholding further details on the HSV Tourer until October, when the car is slated for public consumption. Don't hold your breath for a Pontiac version to scorch its way stateside: With CAFE mandates all but killing the possibility of a G8 wagon on our shores, we can only dream about hitting the interstates in this wicked wagon.

Keep scanning those Sunday papers.

Auto dealers are tossing around more competitive hybrid financing and leasing offers, as the gasoline-electric segment continues to mature.

According to R.L. Polk & Co, hybrid vehicle registrations were up 38 percent in 2007 compared to 2006 numbers. This means that with 350,289 new hybrids on roads, gasoline-electric car shoppers will soon see a healthy used hybrid marketplace affected by all the laws of supply and demand.However, AutoleaseDirect.com Principal Jerry Thompson suggests consumers shouldn't hold their breathe for any spectacular hybrid deals.

"Hybrids are holding their residual values at a higher percentage than non-hybrids," Thompson says, attributing the recent surge in hybrid interest to lower payments and increased consumer demand.

Additionally, rising gasoline prices may have an even more profound affect on the new and used hybrid marketplace. Swapalease.com, which claims to be the world's largest automotive lease marketplace, says it is seeing a greater number of hybrid vehicle listings and more hybrid lease transfers since the beginning of 2008.

AAA data shows the national average for regular unleaded fuel has risen steadily each month since then.

Most automakers will continue to increase hybrid production this year, as even older models such as the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs are getting alternative powertrain.

If Nissan's lap time for the GT-R at the Nurburgring (a paltry 7:29, by the way) was a shot heard 'round the world, other automakers are responding with what may well be the equivalent of a nuclear arms race.

Case in point: the hoons within General Motors' Performance Division. Although we're still waiting for word on the ZR-1's figures, GM has released that the 550-hp 2009 Cadillac CTS-V makes its way around the Green Hell in 7 minutes 59 seconds.

Although the track doesn't have its own official database of track times, some quick searching brings up other cars that've lapped the 'Ring in the same amount of time - perhaps most notably, a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 piloted by former engineer Dave Hill. Not bad, considering the four-door CTS-V weighs in at a portly 4200 lbs.

GM claims the time may well be the fastest for any production sedan. That may well be true, but we do see mention online of an 2005 Audi RS4 lapping the track in 7 minutes 58 seconds. That's splitting hairs, but until we see firmer data (GM says videos of the record run will soon make their way to the Cadillac blog), we'll just sit back, relax, and wait for official ZR-1 times.

Driving close to 60 miles one-way can lead to a boring commute, but I had a bit of fun this morning. I was (slowly) making my way towards Ann Arbor when a prototype 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T in Vanishing Point white flew past.

The driver of the E-body revival derived quite a bit of inspiration from the same movie, moving up to 90 mph in no time while slicing his way through commuter traffic. That may be as easy as it seemed, seeing as the R/T makes use of a 375 hp 5.7-liter V-8. I wasn't, obviously, able to tell if the car made use of the new Tremec six-speed manual, or the standard five-speed slushbox.

White seems boring on most cars, but it seems to suit the Challenger quite well. Although the 2008 SRT8 models are limited to orange, black or silver paint, Dodge hasn't released what colors will make their way to the '09 range. I'd like to see "Kowalski White" make its way to the showroom, but may I also suggest Green Go or Petty Blue?

Dr. Dong-Jin Kim, Hyundai's Vice-Chairman and co-CEO, spoke this week with members of the U.S. media who were in Korea to drive the company's new, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan, the Genesis.

Hyundai at one point planned to launch its own luxury division in the United States, like Toyota's Lexus and Nissan's Infiniti. But, as Dr. Kim explained, the company came to realize that such a move did not make sense for Hyundai at this juncture in its history: "A separate luxury arm is still on the table for later, perhaps, when we have sufficient luxury cars to support a brand. But our first obligation is to our dealers, to make sure they are profitable. Some day. When we are strong enough."

"We investigated the possibility of a separate luxury channel for the Genesis, but we concluded that such a move was premature," says Dr. Kim, seemingly without regret. "It would cost too much money---at least $500 million---and we estimated that it would take at least thirteen years to break even from that investment, and a total of twenty years to recover from accumulated losses." Toyota, according to Kim, had a $2 billion deficit when they started selling Lexus cars, although of course now they make plenty of money from the division. Dr. Kim's view on Infiniti, though, is that Nissan still might not have recovered their accumulated deficit. "It is very difficult to make money, to penetrate this premium market," he says, "so we have to be very cautious. We are learning lessons from Honda, from Acura."

"The main purpose in developing luxury cars is to build Hyundai brand awareness," explains Kim. "If we succeed with the Genesis, then we are competent to introduce more luxury products in the future. In the first full calendar year, we hope to sell 30,000 Genesis sedans in the United States, out of a total of 80,000 units. We will produce a total of about 60,000 Genesis coupes."

But even as he launches a rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan that is clearly the pride of the company, Kim expresses regret that Hyundai has taken its eye off the ball in terms of small cars, its core competency. "In the past few years," he recalls, "we neglected the small-car segment. , we are going back to the mainstream of our business. We are confident that we are good at small cars." Implicit in his comments was the assurance that the next-generation Hyundai Accent finally will be the equal of successful subcompacts like the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris. And he explains that, in the greater Hyundai scheme of things, the Genesis is actually somewhat of an anomaly: "Rear-wheel drive, like in the Genesis, is for near-luxury cars only ."

Although the North American market clearly remains important for Hyundai, it constitutes only 20 percent of Hyundai's total sales, and the automaker continues to cast its eyes elsewhere around the globe. This is not unlike Toyota and other Japanese carmakers, who can no longer rely on the United States for sustained growth and are instead seeing big growth in China, Russia, India, and Brazil. "We are going to provide very economical solutions to our customers in emerging markets," says Kim. "We will penetrate even the African market, and not with a Nano." The India-built Tata Nano, unveiled at this year's Geneva show, is a $2500 bare-bones car for emerging markets.

As for alternative fuels, Kim confirmed that the next-generation Sonata, which arrives in 2010 as a 2011 model, will be offered with a hybrid powertrain, one that he claims will leapfrog Toyota's current hybrid operating system. And he says that Hyundai will have fuel cell vehicles, but will not build a pure electric vehicle.

But Hyundai has no intention of becoming a full-line automaker in the United States, says Kim, who said that a convertible and a pickup truck are not in the company's near-term plans. That said, he confirmed that seven new products are coming down the Hyundai pipeline for the U.S. market over the next two and a half years, and two of them are all-new models, not simply replacements for existing vehicles. Hyundai Motor America will need these to help it meet its parent company's aggressive sales goals in the States, where it sold some 470,000 units in 2007 and hopes to break the 500,000 barrier this year.

Yesterday, after driving the new rear-wheel-drive Genesis sedan at Hyundai's state-of-the-art research facility and test tracks in Namyang, Korea, we had lunch with Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, who is President of the R&D and Corporate Product Planning and Strategy Divisions of Hyundai-Kia Motors. Dr. Lee joined Hyundai in 1984, so he has been at the company since before it sold cars in the United States (the Hyundai Excel, that gem of a subcompact, debuted here in 1986).

Dr. Lee reminded us what a big achievement the Genesis is for this automaker, which was established only four decades ago as a satellite assembly company for Ford's U.K. arm to assemble Ford Cortinas for the Korean market. Aside from those kit cars, Hyundai's first car was the 1975 Pony (which, incidentally, was designed by Giugiaro), and through the 1980s Hyundai licensed designs from Mitsubishi to build cars. Hyundai did not build its own engine until 1991, when the Alpha four-cylinder was introduced. Dr. Lee was the proud father of that engine, which is still used in the Accent.

From its first engine seventeen years ago, the company is now building a variety of four- and six-cylinder passenger-car engines and now also a completely modern V-8, the Tau, which is optional in the new Genesis luxury sedan. "It all started in 1990," recalls Dr. Lee, "when Toyota launched Lexus. We were just spectators, but we thought, 'Why couldn't we do that, also?' At the time, our daydream seemed laughable, but through diligence and hard work, our dream has come true. Until 1991, when we developed our first engine, we had no technology; we relied totally on Mitsubishi. The Alpha gave us a tremendous boost of confidence, and we now can build anything we want. We could build a 600-horsepower supercar, or we could build a $2000 people's car. But the car we have always wanted to build is the one you drove today ."

While presiding over a sumptuous lunch at Rolling Hills, Hyundai's luxurious modern hotel near its Namyang facilities, the softspoken Dr. Lee elaborated on Hyundai's technological accomplishments and growth. The tables have turned on its relationship with Mitsubishi, as Hyundai now supplies technology for the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Theta engines for both Mitsubishi and Chrysler. Some 1.9 million of them were built in 2007. And at this year's Beijing auto show, Lee recalled, "Dr. Dieter Zetsche announced that he would like to partner with Hyundai for four-cylinder engines."

After reflecting on this fact for a moment, Dr. Lee said, "I am not sure we want to share our technology."

The irony at the table was richer than the cream of mushroom soup. Here was the man who developed a simple, four-cylinder engine to relieve his company of its reliance on one of Japan's second-tier automakers, now able to entertain offers from the world's most prestigious automaker for an engine-sharing deal. How quickly things change in the automotive world. And how quickly one realizes that Hyundai is a force to be reckoned with.

Ever dream of owning a meticulously crafted Bentley product for only $1500?

That dream could soon come true. However, don't expect this new Bentley to take you anywhere but fantasyland.

In a unique collaboration between three of Britain's iconic brands - James Bond, Bentley Motors, and Penguin Books - a special, limited edition of the new Bond book Devil May Care will be published on May 28. Written by Sebastian Faulks at the invitation of Ian Fleming Publications, 300 copies of the book will feature a Bentley leather-stitched, burnt oak design inspired by original 1950s and 1960s hardcover Bond books, as well as Bentley owner's manuals and handbooks of that era. Inside the book, readers will also find a specially designed model pewter Bentley, which was described in detail by Ian Fleming in Thunderball.

Though Bond has more recently been seen driving Aston Martins and BMWs, the British spy has a history with Bentley Motors - Bond owned three Bentleys in the course of fourteen original novels written by Fleming. Therefore, to celebrate the centenary of Fleming's birth, Penguin books and Bentley found it appropriate to release such a unique product.

If four cogs are good, six must be better - which, perhaps, is why Ford announced today it'll be installing six-speed automatic transmissions on the 2009 Escape - along with its kissing cousins, the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute.

Built in the automaker's Sterling Heights, Mich. plant, the 6F35 will become the top-end automatic in the CUV trio, surpassing the standard five-speed manual and optional four-speed automatic on front-wheel-drive models. Ford claims the extra two gears return a four- to six percent increase in fuel economy.

The six-speed is available on both I-4 and V-6 models - both of which are refreshed for 2009 and given a boost in power. The previous 2.3-liter I-4 is replaced with an all-new 2.5-liter mill rated at 170 horsepower, 17 ponies more than the previous motor. The 3.0-liter V-6 doesn't change in size, but likewise sees its power jump from 200 horsepower to 240. Ford claims both engines return an extra mile per gallon when coupled to the new six-speed.

Expect to see Escapes, Mariners, and Tributes fitted with the new 'box later this fall. Ford hints another two vehicles will make use of the 6F35 at a later date - we're betting they'll be the hybrid versions of the Ford and Mercury 'utes.

European gamers who think they can take their Gran Turismo 5 skills and apply them on a physical track now have a chance to do just that. Nissan and Sony Computer Entertainment are partnering to offer GT5 users a chance to partake in "GT Academy," a virtual driving school/competition, ultimately giving the winner physical seat time.

After an eight-month long competition, the winner will be placed into a four-month race training program, allowing them to attain various FIA and racing licenses. That's not the real kicker, though - following the crash course, the winner will then drive as part of Nissan's team in the 2009 24 Hours of Dubai.

That's a wicked-cool prize, but we wish the competition were open to us Yanks. If you've got a Playstation 3, a copy of GT5 and a residence within the European Economic Community, log-in with your PS3 to start your engines.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates probably doesn't get behind the wheel of a Hyundai or Kia too often, but that won't stop him or his company from driving multimedia vehicle entertainment forward.

Microsoft Corp. and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group announced today a new long-term agreement to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems. Together, the companies will deliver future technology products for Hyundai and Kia vehicles based on the Microsoft Auto software platform (which is already being applied in North American Ford vehicles).

The first product to come from the Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia alliance will be a next-generation infotainment system - set to arrive in 2010 - that provides voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices. The voice-controlled connectivity will further expand into multimedia and navigation devices, allowing drivers to enjoy music in various digital formats.

The two companies say the next-generation infotainment systems should be comparable to mini-PCs, as new functions will be added or upgraded in the form of software program updates.

Hyundai-Kia's adoption of the Microsoft Auto software platform is particularly notable because it increases Microsoft's presence in the increasingly competitive Asian car market.

Are current incentives not enough to move you into a new Caliber or Sebring? Chrysler Corp. hopes their newest promotion - fuel at $2.99 a gallon for three years - may catch your fancy.

Starting today and running through June 2, the "Let's Refuel America" campaign offers an option to Chrysler's current incentives. Customers who purchase or lease a new Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep are given a fuel card. Tied to the customer's credit card, using the fuel card at the pump charges the driver $2.99 per gallon, while Chrysler picks up the difference.

That difference may prove substantial. The Department of Energy reports the national average cost for a gallon of gas at $3.61, but rising as high as $3.90 in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. At the current average, Chrysler's paying for close to 17 percent of a driver's fuel cost.

The bill may be even bigger when customers purchase a diesel vehicle. Both the Ram 2500 and 3500 - including Cummins-powered variants - and the Grand Cherokee CDI are eligible for the program. Better yet, customers still pay only $2.99 for a gallon of diesel. Considering the national average of diesel fuel runs at approximately $4.19, Chrysler's effectively footing 29 percent of the tab.

As liberating as that sounds, there (naturally) are a few restrictions. Chrysler is rationing how much gas they'll purchase, setting an annual fuel allotment based upon 12,000 miles of driving at a vehicle's EPA mileage. If you buy a car that runs on gasoline or E85, your card can't buy diesel - and vice versa. Similarly, gas cards are limited to 87 octane - trying to pump mid- or high-grade fuel will incur extra costs.

And if you're thinking about using this on the revived Challenger or a Viper, think again. Both models - along with the Ram Chassis Cab, Wrangler, the Germanic Crossfire and Sprinter, or any SRT model - are ineligible for the program.

In spite of the current sales slump in the full-size truck market, each of Detroit's automakers are in a race to produce a diesel-powered light-duty pickup. None have come to market as of yet, but thanks to a new release, we now know more about General Motors' upcoming 4.5-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V-8.

Slated to bow in Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in the 2010 model year, the diesel motor is expected to produce around 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque, all while delivering a 25-percent improvement in fuel economy compared to a gasoline motor of similar power. On that note, the current 5.3-liter V-8 found in the Silverado/Sierra twins puts out a similar figure of 315 horsepower, but its torque figure - 338 lb-ft - falls way short of the Duramax.

Having that kind of power in a light-duty truck isn't all that common, but the compact size of the 4.5-liter allows GM to package the new diesel into smaller vehicles. The tight angle of the V-block, coupled with integral exhaust manifolds and some wicked turbocharger packaging, allows the motor to be the same size as a normal small-block V-8. With that in mind, we could easily see this motor being applied in other truck and SUV applications that make use of GM's current 5.3- or 6.0-liter V-8s, although the General hasn't commented on such fantasies.

On the emissions front, the 4.5-liter will be GM's first foray into a selective catalytic reduction system, allowing the motor to be 50-state compliant. Compared to current diesels, GM officials say the motor offers a 13-percent cut in carbon dioxide and 90-percent decrease in nitrous oxide output.

The word "replicar" and "Carroll Shelby" seem to go together as well as a Cobra and a wet hairpin curve, but the legendary snake charmer has agreed to lend his name to a host of commemorative Ford GT40 reproductions in honor of his 85th birthday.

Based on the replica built by Superformance, the Shelby cars are trimmed to simulate the triad of GT40s that finished 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. All cars are built as Mk. IIs (although Superformance does offer a Mk. I replica) and are decorated in your choice blue with white stripes, black with silver stripes, or red with white stripes.

Although much of the car is standard Superformance fair, Shelby's touches are limited mostly to branding: Door handles and headlamp covers sport the man's name, as do dash badges, floor mats, and other special details.

Likewise, we're told powertrain is limited to "Shelby-branded" crate motors - no details on which have been provided, but we do know the top-end mill is a massive 427-cubic inch V-8, like the original Mk. II cars themselves.

Sure, there are many ways to go about purchasing an homage to the GT40. That said, if you're looking for a truly authentic recreation - and you want to wish ol'Shel a happy birthday in the process - this may be your ride.

First quarter U.S. light truck sales are down 12 percent compared to first quarter 2007 sales, according to Automotive News data.

That startling number comes as fuel and food prices continue to rise, making it particularly tough for consumers to rationalize shopping for a new truck or SUV. Dealers say many previous truck owners have also been downsizing their vehicles for smaller cars, which in turn has flooded the market with used trucks and SUVs.

Some particularly stunning news from the 2008 first quarter sales figures:

Ford F-series and Dodge Ram sales all are down by more than 22,000 units compared to the same quarter in 2007. Likewise, Silverado sales are down by nearly 30,000 units, a 20 percent drop in demand.

For the most part, minivan sales are slightly down, but remain steady. The biggest first quarter sales losers were the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan and the Honda Odyssey, which only found 33,271 and 33,697 new homes, respectively. In 2007's first quarter, Dodge sold nearly 20,000 more Caravan models, while Honda was able to move almost 3,700 more Odysseys.

Compared 2007's first quarter, sales of the Chrysler Aspen rose almost 1,000 units, while Dodge Durango sales dropped by more than 5,000 units.

The Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, and even the Ford Ranger are hot sellers. Escape sales are up more than 10 percent, and Mariner sales are up 8 percent compared to 2007 first quarter numbers. Ford Ranger sales have increased by more than 3,000 units compared to 2007 first quarter numbers - not bad for a truck that hasn't changed much in the past two decades.

We knew it to be prestigious, but the fact that the majority of voting for the Concorso d'Eleganza at the Villa d'Este occurs during an invitation-only event helps solidify that image.

The masses aren't invited to see the entire field at the Villa Erbe until the day after - and at $16 a head. Still, that price makes the show accessible to a wider audience, all of whom selected the recipient of the Trofeo BMW Group Italia. Peter Mullin's flamboyant 1937 Delahaye 135 M Figoni-Falaschi roadster took the prize, evidence that the voting public had a taste for flamboyant design coupled with obscure marques.

Edged out in that class was Arturo Keller's magnificent 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Autobahnkurier "aerodynamic" coupe, although the fastback Benz did win the prestigious Coppa d'Oro award.

One of only two known to exist (the other, ex-Shah, car is in Iran without an engine), this dazzling vehicle was ordered by a Spanish ophthalmologist who used it until his death a few years ago. Keller is only the second owner, and he put it though a typically perfect Paul Russell restoration so that it appears to be factory-fresh.

The Trofeo Auto & Design, presented to the most exciting car present at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza, as determined by a seven-man jury, went to Belgian Roland d'Ieteren's 1953 Pegaso Thrill coupe, created by Carrozzeria Touring of Milano. The four-cam V-8, five-speed transaxle chassis was the most advanced road car platform of the Fifties, in many ways a smaller precursor of the much later Porsche 928.

The same seven-member jury, chaired by Fiat Group design leader Lorenzo Ramaciotti, awarded best in show to the 1949 Ferrari 166 coupe by Carrozzeria Touring. Driven by young Count Marzotto, it won the 1950 Mille Miglia. Several amusing stories attach to the car.

Marzotto, scion of a textile family, drove in suit and tie, not to advertise his family's wares, but because he expected the car to break down and did not want to be embarrassed to be dressed in coveralls when he took a train home. The car was painted blue because his father had asked with some ascerbity, "When are you going to stop racing those little red cars?" The win was popular because so unexpected.

Winner of the Trofeo del Presidente della "FIVA" for best-preserved car was Gary Barlett of the US for his 1957 Jaguar XK-SS, which has done only 13,000 miles in the last half-century. Available for just $200 more than a standard Jaguar roadster, the racing D-Types were unwanted, so Jaguar set about converting unsold racers into a spartan road car. Only 16 were completed before a fortuitous factory fire destroyed the surplus stock, simultaneously increasing rarity and desirability of the few remaining cars. Still a strong runner, the car remains on its original tires, so its extraordinary speed capability is no longer exploited by the prudent owner.

The Italian Dreams class for historic concept cars was taken by the 1970 Lancia Stratos prototype. Resplendent in its original day-glo International Orange matte finish, this car looks much like the fiberglass production models, but is actually completely different in every line and surface of its alloy body.

The class was highly competitive, with the legendary 1967 Ferrari Dino 206 S Competizione Berlinetta, pried away from the Pininfarina in-house museum by American collector James Glickenhaus, Ital Design-Giugiaro's first-ever project, the 1968 Bizzarrini P 538 Manta, and the one prototype of the planned Pantera successor, the 1973 De Tomaso Pantera 7X/Montella, presented by its American designer, Tom Tjaarda.

Automotive analysts had a pessimistic outlook going into 2008. So far, it looks like they could be right.

While small-car sales have increased, Automotive News data shows first quarter 2008 automotive car sales slid by more than 3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2007.

A few interesting notes from the 2008 first quarter U.S. car sales statistics:

Some old dogs learns new tricks, some just don't learn- The refreshed Ford Focus is outselling every car in its class except the Honda Civic. The Focus is also Ford's best-selling car model, thanks to a $14,395 base price and gas mileage of 24 city and 35 mpg highway.

- Ford Mustang sales have dropped by more than 10,000 units compared to the first quarter of 2007, likely the result of an aging model and rising fuel prices. However, Ford continues to release more fuel-thirsty, V-8 performance Mustangs such as the Shelby GT500KR.

And you thought you had problems...- Not only is Chrysler's Sebring the brand's best-selling car model, it outsold the Dodge Avenger by roughly 5000 units. Yet due to each vehicle's poor interior quality and questionable styling, both models remain uncompetitive in their class. Chrysler is expected to make an emergency update (known as 'Project-D') on the models and may even cancel the Sebring or Avenger completely.

- More bad news for Chrysler - only 15,604 PT Cruisers have found homes since January. By this time last year, Chrysler had already sold more than 25,000 PT Cruisers.

Starved for new product- If it weren't for its new XF, Jaguar would have barely sold 2300 units since the beginning of 2008 (that's a paltry average of 25 Jaguar vehicles sold in the U.S. each day). Thankfully, the XF should be Jaguar's life preserver as the company phases out its S-Type and X-Type sedans.

- Saab has only sold 5110 cars since January (all but 739 of which were 9-3 models).

The lowest of the low- Not including recent releases, some of the lowest-selling, mainstream car models of the year have been the Mazda RX-8 (912 units), Kia Amanti (556 units), Volvo V50 (492 units), Chrysler Crossfire (462 units), and the Cadillac XLR (387 units).

Chrysler's entry for the 2008 One Lap of America is using the 1971 film Vanishing Point as inspiration. A white 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will stand in for the 1970 Challenger R/T featured in the movie. SRT Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor Erich Heuschele and Chrysler Vice President of Design Ralph Gilles have the enviable task of piloting the muscle car during the modern-day Cannonball Run.

The car won't be the only retro-inspired aspect of the team; Heuschele will play Vanishing Point star Jimmy Kowalski, and Gilles will assume the role of radio DJ Super Soul for the event.

The detail-oriented duo has taken an immersive approach to the starring roles. Gilles and Heuschele have put together a wardrobe to match that of the movie - Heuschele's mom knitted a hat for Super Soul and also remade Kowalski's vest, while Gilles's wife went shopping for 70s clothing and period-correct big leather watch bands. They've registered for the event under the names Kowalski and Super Soul and list the characters' employers - Argo's Car Delivery and KOW Radio - as sponsors. The car even wears a recreation of the 1970 Colorado license plate from the film.

There will of course be some differences. Fortunately for his co-driver, Gilles is not blind like the character he'll be playing. Instead of attempting to deliver the Challenger from Denver to San Francisco in less than 16 hours, the team will be competing on tracks around the country over eight days. The One Lap competition begins and ends at The Tire Rack's South Bend, Indiana, headquarters, stopping at various tracks along the way for different scored events.

The new Challenger they'll be competing in comes with its own history. It carries VIN 003 and was the first Challenger to be driven on the road where it accrued 4000 hard test miles. Originally painted black and clad in camouflage, the car also wore orange paint for photo shoot duty before it got the white hue.

Kowalski and Super Soul's ride has been prepared for the event with a long list of upgrades, though the engine is original to the car and has never been removed. Mopar products include coilovers, front and rear swaybars, a front shock tower brace, a cold air intake, and a cat back exhaust by Corsa. The fender lips have been rolled to accept custom 20" Foose "Challenger" wheels. Power transmission is aided by a Quaife limited-slip differential and a torque converter from a Grand Cherokee SRT8 that works with a Mopar transmission reflash. It is entered in the SSGT2 Big Bore class.

We wish the throwback team the best of luck and will follow their progress from the event's start on Friday, May 2.

Think you know everything about the new Skyline GT-R? That's no longer true, as Nissan's released revised lap times for the car around the famed Nurburgring track. Piloted by test driver Tochio Suzuki, Godzilla was able to make its way around the twisted 17.6-mile long track in a scant 7 minutes, 29 seconds.

Suzuki's attempt to lap the 'Ring last year netted a lap time of 7:38 seconds - a great time, but one considered disappointing by GT-R engineers and enthusiasts alike.

So what accounts for the 9-second difference? This time around, the Green Hell wasn't moist with fresh Germanic rain. In spite of its all-wheel-drive prowess, the GT-R is still capable of breaking loose on slick corners, as we're certain Suzuki found the last time around.

In a typical PR quip, Kazutoshi Mizuno - the GT-R's chief engineer - claimed the new time "proves it is among the fastest mass-production cars in the world." We'll buy that, as the new time eclipses not only that of Porsche's 911 Turbo GT2, Mercedes-Benz's SLR 722 GT and the Lamborghini Murcielago - although we'd hardly call the latter two "mass production."