Furthermore, the video lets us head the roar of the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six engine which will develop around 424 horsepower (430PS) and approximately 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. It sounds sweet and characterful, just as any BMW M car should.

As with the BMW M4 with which it will share the powertrain, the new M3 sedan will feature a standard six-speed manual transmission, with a 7-speed M DCT gearbox fitted with launch control to be offered as an option. Both cars are expected to launch at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

By Dan Mihalascu

As you most likely figured out by the name, PP-Performance was the one to handle the engine updates on the TT RS that gains a number of new parts ranging from a bigger intercooler to a sports exhaust system.

According to the German tuner, output of the 2.5-liter straight-five engine is lifted from 335hp (340PS) and 450Nm to 464hp (470PS) and 650Nm.

PP Performance also added a front lip spoiler, bonnet, mirror caps, trunk, wings and diffusor all made from carbon fiber, while Cam Shaft covered the Audi TT RS coupe in a matte pearl white and gloss black wraps.

Now, Musk goes further, talking to Welt am Sonntag, quoted by Reuters. He said, "I have confidence in the German consumer," going on to add that "Our fast charging stations should cover around half of Germany by the end of March 2014 and the entire country by the end of 2014." This move will be backed up by the opening of a planned number of 25 dealerships in the country, by the end of 2014.

The goal is to achieve 10,000 sales per year by 2015, with a car that starts from €71,400, but you can pay up to €109,150 for a fully-extra Signature Performance model. However, the introduction of the Model S, and the construction of the Supercharger network will do a great job in smoothing the arrival of the smaller and cheaper electric car that Tesla is reportedly working on.

You can also check out a German perspective on the Model S in the video posted below via Deutsche Welle – it's a bit different to the usual reviews we post, especially in its approach to testing and picking out key qualities that matter.

By Andrei Nedelea

Video Credits: Deutsche Welle

A fifth vehicle seen in the security camera footage parked in the lot escaped unscathed, thus ruining her…automotive strike.

While her insurance rates are bound to hit new highs over the next months, the woman reportedly came out of the car unhurt.

Watch the short clip for yourself right past the virtual jump.

The first comment we're going to make concerns the 2015 FCV-R's appearance, which even though covered under swirly wraps, is clearly more conservative in a Prius-meets-old-Corolla kind of fashion than the futuristic 2011 FCV-R development concept.

The FCV-R is scheduled to go on sale in select countries in 2015, with Toyota targeting annual sales of between 5,000 and 10,000 cars. The Japanese automaker hasn't announced final pricing yet, but Chris Hostetter, group vice president of strategic planning for Toyota USA, told reporters earlier this year that the car should cost between $50,000 and $100,000.

To reduce costs from the million-dollar mark several years ago, the FCV-R will utilize components from Toyota's parts bin, including a modified version of the Prius' Hybrid Synergy Drive system, in which a fuel cell and the conventional fuel tank with high-pressure hydrogen tanks replace the conventional petrol engine. The Prius also loans its electrical components and 21kW battery to store energy recovered by the regenerative braking system.

At last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, Toyota said that in recent tests, the FCV-R returned a maximum driving range of 420 miles (about 680 kilometers) with zero CO2, NOx or particulate matter emissions.

This Viperette, which mimics the looks of the Phase II model produced from 1996 to 2002, was found on Craigslist Miami with an asking price of $10,999 (equal to €8,000). And if you're wondering, a quick online search showed that used car prices for the original 1996-2002 Dodge Viper GTS range average around $35,000 to $45,000.

The seller's replica car ad states the following:

"Here is your chance to own a very cool Dodge Viper GTS replica built on a C4 Corvette, finished in all Black Exterior with Silver Racing Stripes. This Viper is powered by a Chevy Tuned Port Injection engine and a 700r4 automatic transmission. Some Original parts were used like, emblems, lights, mirrors and wheels. Features Racing Seats, power windows, door poppers, as well as an Alpine detachable CD player, Kicker Woofers & a Memphis Belle M Amp ($1,000 value). Needs complete tune-up..."

The frugal powerplant achieves fuel efficiency ratings of 32 mpg city (7.35 l/100 km), 45 mpg (5.22 l/100 km) highway and 37 mpg (6.35 l/100 km) combined. All ratings are certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and correspond to both the 4-door sedan and five-door hatchback 2014 Ford Fiesta with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is officially SAE-certified at 123 horsepower and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque, but it features an overboost function that allows it to make more than 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) for up to 15 seconds.

Fuel economy is also boosted by the Fiesta SE Manual EcoBoost Package that includes a rear spoiler, side air deflectors, underbody shields, lower grille blockers and low-rolling-resistance tires.

The 2014 Fiesta also gets a new MyFord Touch system with 6.5-inch touch screen featuring enhanced voice control and Ford MyKey, which allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio volume limits. MyKey mutes audio until safety belts are fastened and makes sure driver aids, safety systems and more vigorous alerts cannot be deactivated.

Ford's global EcoBoost engine family now includes the 1.0-liter three-cylinder; 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines; and the 3.5-liter V6. Ford estimates that around 80 percent of its global nameplates will be available with EcoBoost engines by the end of this year. 

By Dan Mihalascu

In it, we see the young woman, whom we now learn is named Pattie, driving around her stick shift Z51-equipped C7 on the road in a more appreciative manner. 

"After putting a few break-in miles on her new Z51 C7 Corvette, Miss Ungrateful (Pattie) is having a blast cruising around on the streets. Her and the car make an amazing pair!" reads the video description, which also includes…links to a number of products and sites…

See the video below.

In detail, Kia's short release reads: "Kia Motors America will take value to new levels of sophistication next month with the unveiling of a rear wheel drive flagship sedan at the Los Angeles auto show.  The all-new K900 is scheduled to go on sale next year and be available with either a V6 or V8 engine."

Kia attached an image of the K900's profile, and from what we can tell, the only visible differences over the Korean model (K9) seem to be the alloy wheel designs, the colored turning signals, and the reworked front fender air vent design. Of course, there may be other (minor) changes as well, but we'll have to wait for more photos to be sure.

Pricing has not yet been announced, but expect it cost a whole lot more than Kia's biggest sedan in its current U.S. lineup, the V6-powered Cadenza, that starts from $35,100 (think over $50,000).

At the heart of the tune is an engine optimization kit that includes an aggressive software upgrade boosting the 4.0-liter TFSI V8's output numbers from 552-horses (560PS) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of peak torque to 661hp (670PS) and 649lb-ft (880Nm) respectively.

As a result, the RS6 Avant's 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time is slashed from 3.9 seconds to 3.4 seconds, with O.CT also offering different top speed options, starting with a 300km/h (186) limiter and continuing with a 320km/h (199mph) limiter or more, though, the company says you will have to upgrade your tires.

One more option is a complete sports exhaust system that offers a racier sound as well more horses – 671hp or 680PS, to be precise.

The author's first guess is that it could be the next Kia Sorento since several Hyundai vehicles were following from behind, and we'll agree to a point as it does look similar to the Kia prototype our spies caught testing in Germany back in September. Still, we could be wrong.

Here's what tgilldesign wrote:

"Any idea what this SUV might be? I took this video on Saturday, October 12, 2013 on I-96 near the GM SUV plant near Lansing, MI - I was driving a 2013 Chevy Equinox LTZ V6.... and this SUV was larger than mine.... It was being followed by a line of several Hyundai 'chase vehicles", One being a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.. The Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe Long Wheel Base are new - so I am thinking this might be it's 'sister company ' vehicle - the Kia Sorento. Is it possible they are making an extended version like the Santa Fe LWB? This vehicle could have also been coming from Detroit through Lansing, MI."

So, what do you think it is?

Video Credits: YouTube/tgilldesign

Now, Autocar is suggesting that the connection between the Aston and AMG (and Mercedes-Benz) is actually deeper than first anticipated. The UK publication is stating that there is a big chance for the speculated upcoming Lagonda (or Aston) SUV to be underpinned by a platform brought in from Germany.

The information seems credible, as the words of none other than Ulrich Bez, the Aston Martin CEO, are quoted. He sates (regarding the two manufacturers' partnership) that there still is "lots of potential to be discovered,"  but they need to see "how far it goes." The SUV direction seems to be pretty clear though, as Bez alludes to the Porsche Cayenne as a positive example of a good business model – it's a Porsche, based on a VW Touareg that is highly-successful.

It is suggested that the new Aston SUV could be launched in 2017, and be underpinned by the platform of the next-gen ML. Moreover, if they want to stand a chance of making it a world-wide success story, its (AMG-derived) engine needs to be both powerful enough and efficient enough to not be offensive. For instance, in China, taxes for engines over four liters go through the roof.

Interestingly, despite having access to AMG engine tech, Bez concluded that there is still life in its current six-liter V12 engine "for another ten years at least." However, they will probably keep using it only in the really special models, and use the Mercedes-derived units on the more mundane cars.

By Andrei Nedelea

Students from the Course in Transportation Design created the concepts with all proposals being presented to a special committee that chose three studies that best satisfied the initial brief for further development.

The three finalists were the SHROOM by Aldo Maria Sica, the CORE by Denald Jasini and Michal Sebastian Ptak, and the MAHINDRA BEE by Alex Vasil Imnadze, who you may remember from a number of conceptual models featured in our digital pages, including the Jaguar E-Type, the BMW M3i, and the Lamborghini supercar.

With the help of Cecomp, all three projects were produced in a 1:4 scale and are now on display at the IED Turin headquarters. Check them out for yourself in the gallery after the jump.

As for Mahindra, it's worth noting that the company has plans to build a new research and development center in the UK. "We need to expand our R & D network beyond India now, given the size of the company and the kind of products we are working on," Mahindra's president Pawan Goenka told the Financial Times on Monday.

Filmed in the Belorussian city of Minsk, it shows the passenger of a Suzuki Swift filling up the car at a gas station before he bends down to remove the rear license plates off the car and throw them in the trunk. We would have probably overlooked it if we didn't notice what appear to be a pair of crossed hands lying on the floor…

Is it a kidnapping, a cheeky hoax / viral video or a misunderstanding with the couple simply transferring some mannequin parts? Tell us what you think in the comments.

On the automotive front, the new studies are the Crosshiker, Hustler, Hustler Coupe and X-LANDER, while the Frankfurt Motor Show iV-4 Concept will be making its Japanese premiere in Tokyo as well.

The red-colored Crosshiker is a compact, three-door crossover with a huge panoramic roof that evolves the styling of the 2011 Suzuki Regina Concept. It weighs only 810kg or 1,786kg and sources its power from a newly developed 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine.

Next up is the rugged, open-top X-Lander that's based on the Jimny 4x4 sporting a 1.3-liter gasoline engine and a newly developed automatically controlled manual transmission. The study incorporates a compact lightweight hybrid system equipped with an efficient motor built onto a 4WD system.

Finished in a two-tone orange and white color theme, the Hustler is a tall city car with some styling touches from SUVs like the dark grey cladding on the bumpers and wheel arches, while the Hustler Coupe, despite its name, is actually a five door city car with hidden rear door handles.

Suzuki's motorcycle corner will host several bikes, including the ET4D Concept electro senior vehicle, the Recursion study, the electric EXTRIGGER, the V-Strom 1000 ABS, the latest Hayabusa, the new GSR250S and the BURGMAN 200 scooter.

We already know what the next C-Class looks from the inside since Mercedes itself showed the car's inner works, so we'll keep this post about the car's exterior appearance that has more character, if you will, than the outgoing model, with styling references from both the bigger S-Class and the smaller CLA.

Too bad we don't get a taste of the car's rear end, but in one of the pictures it seems that we're seeing the AMG sports package (not to be confused with the C63 AMG).

We'll poke around and update this post if we find anything new.

Thanks to Daniel from Diariomotor for the heads up!

The route will start in Wadi Adda Wasir, Saudi Arabia, and will end on the border of the United Arab Emirates, a distance of over 1,000 km (621 miles) – further than the length of France.

The Range Rover Sport will be driven by Moi Torrallardona, a 47-year-old Spanish off-road racer who has competed ten successive years in the Dakar Rally, with a best finish of 6th overall.

It will be no walk in the park for the Range Rover Sport, as it will have to tackle temperatures of over 50 degrees Celsius during the day and sand dunes stretching 850 feet (259 meters) into the air. So how will a production vehicle get across a terrain where usually only specialist sand vehicles are found? I have no idea, but Land Rover has a lot of confidence in the off-road capabilities of the Range Rover Sport, which will be tested to the limit.

Nevertheless, it's an interesting choice of vehicle for this test, as the Sport has traditionally been more oriented to on-road performance than off-road trails.

By Dan Mihalascu

Now, it has taken part in a UK efficiency competition called the MPG Marathon, a corporate-sponsored event aiming to find out which car is Britain's most efficient new model. The Civic, powered by the 1.6 i-DTEC diesel was one of the highlights, and after completing the 367-mile (588 km) drive, it averaged 84.87 mpg UK (70.6 mpg US or 3.32 l/100km) – it surpassed its official claimed figure of 78.5 mpg UK (65.4 mpg US or 3.6 l/100km).

This put it in third place overall, lagging just 4 mpg UK behind the winner, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which itself was followed by the also very efficient Renault Clio.

Both cars are from one class below, so the Civic's performance is definitely a highly commendable one – CO2 emissions were kept low too, at 94 g/km.

Moreover, even with the small displacement, reviews have said it's by no means a slouch on the move, with 118 hp on tap and 300 Nm. There's an acceleration run video posted below, illustrating its spritely nature.

By Andrei Nedelea