Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 goes to 584hp, by IMSA

The Lamborghini LP540-4 was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, it is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine and as the name suggest pumps out 560 ponies and features a 4WD Viscous Traction system. This is the sort of package that puts the it's big brother Murciélago under a lot of pressure to come out with something even more spectacular and Lambo tuning specialists IMSA are hardly doing it any favours.

IMSA have introduced a new sports exhaust system to the model which adds an even stronger melody to the engine and brings total power output to 584hp. The exterior modifications include a new set of lightweight alloys and sports suspension kit along with an aerodynamic enhancing carbon fibre rear wing.

New Sloting Plus wheels

New Sloting Plus wheels and other products can be found at Professor Motor at this link.

From Jacques at Sloting Plus:
This wheel, as the previous models, doesn't need insert because this is already integrated in the design. The model is drawn to fit a greater number of sizes, both in diameter and in width, in order to satisfy the customer as well on the esthetic and dynamic point of view.

To make the size identification easier, we have innovated by drawing a channel with a green mark on the 15,9 x 8,5 and 15,9 x10 sizes, two channels with a blue mark on the 16,5 x 8,5 and 16,5 x 10 sizes and finally three channels with a red mark on the 16,9 x 8,5 and 16,9 x 10 sizes . No channel on the smallest 15 x 8,5 size.

Wheels are in a very light and resistant Aluminium-Magnesium alloy with a weight between 0,6 g (for the smallest size) to 0,9 g (for the biggest size) !
The "zigzag" design of the holes is conceived to avoid the abnormal usury of the tire and beyond this it authorize the use of low profile tires that are not adjusted to wheels with bigger diameter holes.

Viper ACR and Corvette ZR1 battle on the 'Ring

A couple months back, the bone-stock Corvette ZR1 put supercars everywhere on notice when it took on the famed Nurburgring and ran a Nissan GT-R-beating 7:26. The track-ready, fire breathing Viper ACR bested the Corvette's amazing effort by posting an incredible 7:22 lap time. Despite a four second difference in total track time, blogger Andi Baritchi slapped both track videos together (after 30 seconds of annoying scrolling text) to verify that the Viper ACR came out on top. Hit the jump to view the two fastest American-made, street legal, 600+ hp beasts as they tangle in a 'Ring battle for the ages. The video proves what we already knew, but it's still fun to see how two very different, yet very similar vehicles, handle the twists and turns of the Nurburgring.

Mid-engine Audi R3 to replace TT

Over the past week, CAR has donned its prognostication cap and tapped it's "internal sources" in an attempt to foretell Audi's future product plans. A few of stories have ranged from inane to insane, but one post seems entirely plausible and has blinded us with excitement.

Audi's mid-engine R4 was pronounced stillborn this past year, but with Volkswagen bringing its own midship concept to the Los Angeles Auto Show this November, Audi might revive plans its own version to market in the next five years. The new R3 would effectively replace the TT, providing a better business case for VAG to produce a mid-engine platform and silencing critics that have constantly complained that the TT is merely a tarted up Golf.

If the Volkswagen version is well received and given the green light, expect it to debut in 2013, with Audi's variant following shortly thereafter. In an attempt to keep from directly competing with the Porsche Boxster, Audi will exclusively offer the R3 with four-cylinder engines, including a 180 hp, 1.8-liter TFSI, 220 hp, 2.0-liter and a 280 hp, 2.0-liter on the S-line model. Diesels are also being considered, ranging from a 125 hp, 1.6.-liter to a 204 hp, 2.0-liter.

[Source: CAR]

Toyota unveils new Avensis

Toyota will use the upcoming Paris Motor Show in October to unveil its redesigned flagship model for Europe, the Avensis. Think of it as the old country's version of the Avalon. Though we only have a rear 3/4 shot to go by, the new Avensis looks considerably more chunky than the current model, with a short deck lid, large rear tail-lights, a strong shoulder line and some interesting concave surfacing above the side sills. We don't know much else, other than that it will be offered with more powerful and cleaner engines when it goes on sale in Europe around January.

Toyota also announced that it will be bringing out the production version of its iQ city car and the Urban Cruiser for the Paris show. The Urban Cruiser is basically a ruggedized, soft-roading version of the Scion xD, while the iQ is based on the concept of the same name that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007.

2009 Honda Civic Coupe revealed in brochure

Just last week we revealed official images and specifications for the updated 2009 Honda Civic in sedan and hybrid body styles. Lest you coupe fans feel left out, we've finally found information on Honda's newish two-door in DX, LX, EX/EX-L and Si levels from a PDF brochure and the brand's U.S. website. As with the sedan, the front and rear of the Civic Coupe see the most change, though it'll take a trained eye to spot the differences out back. The front grille, though, looks more aggressive and sports a new honeycomb pattern, and the lower bumper has been redesigned with new air intakes. We likey. Also of note are the new clear turn signal lenses. On the inside, the available navigation system flips down to reveal a slot-loading CD player and inputs for digital audio cards, whatever those are. There's also a new USB music interface in the center console so you can just plug a flash drive full of tunes into the dash. A 140-hp, 1.8-Liter i-VTEC® engine powers the standard coupe and offers up to 36 highway mpg. Honda hasn't released any of this information through its media website, and the consumer website still isn't showing any 2009 Si models, so expect the big H to release more information on its '09 coupes in the coming weeks.

Nissan Shiraz Concept

Design student Miguel Ángel Iranzo Sánchez created the vehicle you see above, and he describes it as "a mix between a[n] SUV and a sportscar infused with Nissan brand DNA." For his efforts, which took an entire summer, he won a scholarship to get his Masters in Car Design in Valencia, and -- put on your Price is Right voice for this -- a brand new car! A Nissan Note, to be exact.

Billed as 100-percent all-terrain, ecological, sporty, and Nissan, we admit it's interesting. The doors are gullwing, and the interior is terrific concept car simplicity.