At SEMA, anything is possible. Manufacturers have been known to get pretty wacky at the aftermarket parts show where over-the-top tends to be just another day in the life, so in reality we probably should have seen this coming. But still…

We wouldn’t call it a proper debut in the sense that this isn’t a production model, but regardless this ‘34 Ford 3-Window coupe will be the launching point for the first rear-wheel drive EcoBoost setup. Built in cooperation with Experi-metal, in this guise the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 has been tuned to churn out 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. And we like the sound of that.

So when can we expect a rear-wheel drive EcoBoost drivetrain in a production vehicle? Late next year, when Ford will equip the F-150 with 3.5-liter EcoBoost mill, albeit probably with less power than this one. After that, the Aussies take their turn, cramming a 2.0-liter turbo into the supercool Falcon sedan that’s not sold in North America. Sounds good, but all things considered we’d hate to see the Aussie V-8 Supercars go the EcoBoost route in lieu of that sledgehammer of an exhaust note.

[Source: Ford]

Toyota has been absent from the performance world for some time now while they focused on green products and messaging. However with the unveiling of the Lexus LFA, the company is clearly back in the game. They’ve showed us their $375,000 supercar, which is great if you did something like invent the Internet. But what about the normal people?

Well, this is the Toyota FT-86 concept car – built in conjunction with Subaru, a rear-wheel drive sports coupe with a proposed price tag of just 20K.

The FT-86 will get its power from Subaru’s naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter Boxer engine, which should produce an  estimated 200-250 horsepower. A six-speed manual built by Japanese transmission specialist Aishin (the company responsible for the LFA’s transmission) will keep the coupe moving forward. Supra fans rejoice, though we’re wondering if Toyota will start to alienate its hybrid devotees. [Source: Road and Track]

Now on display at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is Honda’s CR-Z concept car. The CR-Z is the rebirth of the much loved CRX, the tiny pocket rocket that propelled Honda into the performance game with U.S. buyers. Although a CR-Z concept was already unveiled two years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show, the new version looks closer to a potential production version.

The CR-Z will be powered by a pumped up version of the Insight’s 1.5-liter hybrid powertrain. No word yet on engine output for this particular model. To keep this little car scooting down the road is a six-speed manual transmission and a sports tuned suspension. But will it get the same incredible mileage the early CRXs saw? [Source: Road and Track]

We’ve spent quite a bit of time covering the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.  Now that the show is in full swing (and open to the public), we thought we’d put some of the many highlights from Frankfurt in one place.

• We mentioned the Audi E-Tron Concept last week (and the Audi’s e-Tron video game this week), but Frankfurt also provided the first look at the 2010 Audi R8 Spyder, expected to arrive at “European dealerships sometime in Spring of 2010.”
• Audi, of course, wasn’t alone in unveiling exotic cars, as Lamborghini debuted “their most expensive” car yet, the Reventon Roadster (which apparently has made the Murcielago so blasé that it’s been relegated to being a Jackass dance floor).
• Coming in at a slightly lower price, but in scarcer production numbers, the Wiessman Roadster MF5 has been “uncovered” in Frankfurt and, yes indeed, the pictures confirm that it “looks good under the lights.”  With only 55 units planned for production, though, Frankfurt may just have been the best place to see one.
• With no shortage of bright lights, loud music, long stages or, apparently, girls, girls, girls, the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show could easily be confused for a Motley Crue video.
• But Frankfurt’s not just about exotic cars and models; it also has its practical side.  Take as examples the imminent U.S. release of the Ford Grand C-Max mini-van, the new customizations available for the Toyota iQ, the new Toyota Land Cruiser and the European release of the new Kia Venga.
• Somewhere between exotic and practical sit two new offerings, the Peugeot RCZ, a 2+2 coupe that promises both performance and minimal CO2 emissions, and the Volkswagen Golf R, an “Audi S3-lite” that offers a 28 percent emissions reduction compared to itsR32  predecessor.
• Among the most interesting concept cars were the Prius Plug-In Hybrid Concept, the VW E-Up! concept, the Opel Astra concept, and, perhaps most interesting of all, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept (which is rumored to be inspired by Usain Bolt’s shoes).
• BMW isn’t just presenting the most interesting concept car at the show either; they’re also providing the best novelty, an indoor cart lap that looks like an accident waiting to happen.

With so much to see at the Frankfurt show, we couldn’t possibly cover it all here.  If you weren’t able to attend this year, have a look at a photo gallery from around web, either in a generic or brand-specific format.  And if you don’t have the time necessary to follow all of those fun links above, you can always enjoy a four-minute version of the show.

The Frankfurt Motor Show, which alternates venues every year with Paris, marks the beginning of the auto show season, making it an important stage for manufacturers to display their latest and greatest. Supercars, step aside; this year was all about green. Not the color – though there was a bit of that too – but rather plug-in hybrids, regular hybrids and a variety of alternative fuel concepts as well. But the real stars of the show were the unique electric car concepts that illustrated how strong (and varied) the EV market will be. Here are our top 5.

Russia isn’t exactly known for its wide array of supercars. However judging by the austere nature of Top Gear’s Russian edition (yes, we watched it), they seem to take their cars very, very seriously. Still, we approached the Marussia models (see what they did there?), the B1 and B2, with some trepidation. Actually, besides the blatant gaps between the body panels, they look pretty damn good. They may have requisitioned design cues from others makers, but the result is quite sexy.

We’re missing key details about what’s actually powering the cars, a fact that gives us pause. There could be a tractor engine under there (or an empty cavity) for all we know. Most likely, inner workings will be sourced from another company. Until we find out more, just enjoy the pictures, courtesy of Autoblog.

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Porsche has not only unveiled its 2010 911 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but also its street legal track monster – the 2010 GT3 RS.

The GT3 RS will be endowed with a new naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six producing 450 horsepower. The six-speed manual transmission is more track then street with its tight short-shifter and lower gear ratios. Holding the motor in place are dynamic mounts that adjust stiffness and dampening depending on the driving conditions.

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To help this mighty Porsche stay planted, the manufacturer has equipped it with a specially designed version of its Porsche Active Stability Management system which adjusts ride height. As for rubber, Porsche has fitted the fronts with 245/35ZR19’s sports tires and massive 325/30ZR19’s on the rear.

Sticking with the same type of flamboyant graphics as the previous RS model, the 2010 Porsche GT3 RS is a car that demands attention, and with its fantastic power it’s a car any enthusiast would love to get their hands on. [Source: Edmunds]

Photos courtesy of Autoblog.

Not only are hybrid systems being used to achieve low emissions and high fuel mileage, but now a focus on power is emerging. On display at the Frankfurt Motor Show and going on sale this fall is the BMW X6 Active Hybrid, the most powerful hybrid to date (stand aside, Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid).

BMW is using a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and a nickel-metal hydride powerpack to help the X6 produce 480 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. These numbers will help the 5400-pound behemoth hit 60 mph from a standstill in 5.4 seconds, amazing for a vehicle this hefty. Whether the X6’s 22.8 mpg surprises buyers in a good or bad way is another story altogether.

Although it isn’t for everyone and is sure to be quite expensive, its nice to see the efforts BMW is putting into making hybrids interesting to people not looking for the typical econobox. [Source: MotorAuthority]

Mini has finally unveiled there much talked about concept cars, the Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster. BMW has confirmed that both of these cars are headed for production and should be out in 2011.

The Mini Coupe will be powered by a 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine. This little motor will lay down an impressive 208 horsepower and 197 lb-ft of torque, which can briefly over-boost to 207 lb-ft of torque. As for the Roadster, Mini is suggesting that they will fit it with the same motor in the current Mini Cooper S.

There have been mixed responses about the styling of these two concepts, but Mini seems hell-bent on adding them to their lineup.

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For months Audi has been denying the fact that they were creating an electric-powered sports car. Liars! Shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show today, Audi’s E-Tron concept car has the automotive world buzzing. With four electric motors and a single lithium-ion battery output, the concept delivers a relatively tame 313 horsepower, but a monstrous 3,319 lb-ft of torque! (we couldn’t believe it wasn’t a type either) These numbers equate to an impressive 0-62 mph sprint in 4.8 seconds, 37-75 mph is expected in 4.1 seconds.

The E-Tron has an estimated range of 154 miles between charges thanks to its massive battery that weighs in at 1,036 pounds. Like its gasoline counterparts, the E-Tron will be blessed with Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive which is achieved by mounting the two motors on each axle. [Source: Autoblog]

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With less than two weeks remaining until the world’s largest, and most influential, automobile show in Frankfurt, Germany, we thought we’d get a head start by looking around the web at the cars expected to be unveiled during the show.

• Sure, new models from Mazda and Volkswagen are interesting, but not nearly as much as the dream cars: Ferrari will be introducing the 458 Italia, a high-performance exotic that already has some taking wagers on how long it will take for someone to wreck one.
• Rolls Royce will be unveiling the Ghost, which is being billed as the “The Most Powerful Rolls Royce Yet.”
• Back in January, we brought you an “Official Rendering” of the Aston Martin Rapide, but high-resolution images of the new Aston Martin, debuting in Frankfurt, make it far more realistic.
• Not to be left out, Maserati will also be introducing a new model at Frankfurt.  The GranCabrio will blow your hair back as the first four passenger convertible in Maserati history and will sport the company’s 4.7 liter, 433 hp V-8 engine.
• Many car enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the debut of the Porsche 911 Sport Classic, though limited production (250) is already fueling rumors that the car won’t be available stateside.
• One Porsche that will be available in the U.S., despite limited production, is the 911 GT3 RS, with a first glimpse of the amazing machine slated for Frankfurt.
• Porsche isn’t the only German car company bringing its racing lineage to the streets, of course.  BMW is set to reveal the M6 Competition Special Edition at Frankfurt (and a new Mini Cooper), while Mercedes-Benz would appear to be introducing the SLS AMG Roadster at the renowned show.
• German automaker Audi, not to be outdone, is bringing no less than three new models to Frankfurt, with rumors continuing to circulate about an imminent RS3 model set to debut as well.

Obviously, though, the Frankfurt Auto Show isn’t only about German and Italian high-performance cars.  With many in the auto industry expecting Frankfurt ’09 to emphasize alternative fuel platforms, it should come as no surprise that car makers are set to unveil eco-minded vehicles.

• Lexus will be introducing its LF-Ch Hatchback Concept with Hybrid Drive.  BMW, meanwhile, is focusing on the 320d EfficientDynamics diesel platform; what it lacks in performance it surely makes up in fuel conservation.  A more affordable alternative fuel platform, though, might just be the Hyundai i10 Electric, starting at about $6,500 and bringing 100 miles from a single charge.
• Derivatives of the conventional combustion engine are often overlooked as a high mileage alternative.  Could Fiat (and parent company Chrysler) become a leader in alternative technology?  Their “MultiAir” engine technology could show up in Frankfurt in a variety of Chrysler and Fiat models.

Whether you’re looking for the latest in high-performance sports cars, luxury exotics, or alternative fuel platforms, the Frankfurt Motor Show is, as always, sure to entertain.  We’ll be reporting on the upcoming auto unveilings in Frankfurt.  Until then, dream on!

BMW has revealed pictures of one of the most amazing concept cars in recent memory. The Vision EfficientDynamics Concept doesn’t just have a mouthful of a name, it’s also showcasing the many innovations BMW has been working on for the green car segment.

The Vision Concept is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo diesel engine as well as two electric motors – two of our most efficient forms of car technology. The diesel engine will be mounted mid-ship, while the axles will each get their own electric motor. The diesel will produce 163 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque, which will travel to the rear wheels via BMW’s 6-speed DCT transmission.

Click through to read about total power output and see more incredible shots of the concept.

The rear-mounted electric motor will produce a continuous 33 horsepower with potential bursts of 51 horsepower, while also producing 214 lb-ft of torque. The second motor attached to the front axles will add 80 horsepower and 162 torque. When pushed, the motor can squeeze out 112 hp for 30 seconds or 139 hp for 10 seconds. Ultimately, the Vision should have a maximum output of 356 hp and a whopping 590 lb-ft of torque, which will send the car from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.

With wheel covers and an exterior design that reduces the drag coefficient to .22 and and a curb weight of just over 3000 lbs, the Vision achieves an average of 62.6 mpg. [Source: Car Tech Blog]

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We’ve never seen a more delicious F1 car. The culinary executive chef at the Royal Plaza on Scotts in Singapore worked up this mouth-watering creation with the help of five other chefs and a gaggle of assistants to take the title of Asia’s largest race car made from bread. We kid you not. There are over 1,000 loaves of carb-ridden perfection in this thing, with over 22 types of bread represented in the racer. The project took a combined total of 33 pounds of yeast to create and three gallons of varnish to preserve – you don’t want to be chomping down on this thing any time soon. Now we just need to find a pit crew made of peanut butter and jelly and we’d be set. [Source: Autoblog]

For the 50th anniversary of the Austin Mini, BMW has unveiled a new concept called the MINI Coupe. The design is a direct departure from the small hatch buyers the world over have come to love. So far there aren’t too many details available for the two-seater, but judging from the Cooper Works-esque lower half, we’re betting there’s a 208 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood. It wouldn’t surprise us to see a host of trick suspension bits underneath, either. We’ll find out full specs when the car hits the Frankfurt Motor Show. [Source: MINI]