Nissan Refreshes GT-R for the 2012MY: First Photos Hit the Web

Here we go again; another year, another annual makeover for Nissan's halo sports car. Following on from the presentation of the GT-R in 2007, and after the revisions in the last mont of 2008 and oct 2009, Nissan is getting ready to present a 2012MY version of its flagship sports model.

Even though the Japanese automaker has yet to make it official, the Nissan enthusiasts over at the GTRblog website posted some leaked images along with information on the updated model.

So, what do we have on the 2012MY GT-R? Well, on the outside, the Japanese sports car receives a restyled front bumper with LED running lights and a new rear diffuser. These changes are said to help drop the GT-R's drag coefficient from 0.272 to 0.268 while also improving rear downforce by 10%.

The car also gets a new set of Rays forged aluminium wheels, which reportedly save a total of 12kg (26.4 lbs), and two new exterior hues (blue and black).

The website added that the 2012MY GT-R will also benefit from some modest interior upgrades, as well as chassis and engine modifications, without going into any details. We'll keep you updated if anything new pops up.

VW Motorsport Reveals its Latest, Greatest Touareg Sand Stormer

For those who own a don't follow motorsports, shame on you. What you're driving is related to a Dakar Rally winner. In fact, if you haven't seen the racing variant of Volkswagen's bruiser hopping dunes, go download some Dakar Rally torrents from the past, oh, six years. That's how long an iteration of the Touareg has been competing, and it's been consistently good.

Now, the Race Touareg 3 is upon us, and my money's on a top-three finish in 2011. Under the new and wind-tunnel approved carbon fiber and Kevlar body is a steel spaceframe, the necessarily tough suspension hardware, and a 300-horse / 442 lb-ft twin-turbo 2.5 TDI mill that VW has reworked to handle the current rally's significant shifts in altitude. Power hits the dirt through a 5-speed sequential gearbox and three limited-slip diffs.

V W says the Race Touareg 3 has the ability to accelerate to 62 mph (100km/h) in 6.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 117 mph (188 km/h) "in nearly any conditions."

Expect to see the latest of VW's blue bombers wearing the new LED lights and 16-inch wheels shod in a set of specially developed BF Goodrich 235/85 R16 tyres while it's out having fun.

And fun it shall have, considering the hellish testing it's been through. VW says the truck has "undergone shakedown tests comprising 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of simulated special stages" so far, which is twice as long as the rally. Looks like Volkswagen's in it to win it.

Real Life Photos of One-Off Special Based on F430 and Built By Pininfarina

Turns out the modern-day interpretation of the iconic Lancia Stratos that took the internet by storm the past couple of weeks is in fact a real car and it will be produced. German media, including Auto Motor und Sport magazine, reported today that the Stratos is a one off -at least for now- commissioned by Michael Stoschek, owner and CEO of the German automotive supplier, Brose KG. It is not clear if the Lancia badge will be used on the final car since it's not an official product.

These photos showing the Stratos from various angles as well as alongside the original Lancia, are said to be sourced from Stoschek's company.

AMS reported that the car, which pays homage to the legendary Lancia Stratos HF of the 1970s, is being built and developed by famous Italian design house, Pininfarina, and it's possible that it could be produced in an extremely small number of copies if more very deep-pocketed customers are interested.

While there's nothing official yet about the wedge shaped supercar's underpinnings, it is believed that it's based on the chassis and running gear of the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, which as you may recall, sports a rev-happy 4.3-liter V8 churning out 510-Italian-studs.

That's about all we have for now on the reborn Lancia Stratos, but we wouldn't be surprised if the car makes a special appearance at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show in September.

Real Life Photos of One-Off Special Based on F430 and Built By Pininfarina

Turns out the modern-day interpretation of the iconic Lancia Stratos that took the internet by storm the past couple of weeks is in fact a real car and it will be produced. German media, including Auto Motor und Sport magazine, reported today that the Stratos is a one off -at least for now- commissioned by Michael Stoschek, owner and CEO of the German automotive supplier, Brose KG. It is not clear if the Lancia badge will be used on the final car since it's not an official product.

These photos showing the Stratos from various angles as well as alongside the original Lancia, are said to be sourced from Stoschek's company.

AMS reported that the car, which pays homage to the legendary Lancia Stratos HF of the 1970s, is being built and developed by famous Italian design house, Pininfarina, and it's possible that it could be produced in an extremely small number of copies if more very deep-pocketed customers are interested.

While there's nothing official yet about the wedge shaped supercar's underpinnings, it is believed that it's based on the chassis and running gear of the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, which as you may recall, sports a rev-happy 4.3-liter V8 churning out 510-Italian-studs.

That's about all we have for now on the reborn Lancia Stratos, but we wouldn't be surprised if the car makes a special appearance at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show in September.