This BMW X5 M was spotted with very minimal camo and coverage over at LeftLaneNews.com. We know through videos that the X5 M has been receiving some grueling on track testing from the BMW engineers but no hard details about the vehicle have come out yet until now. Rumors are saying that it will carry a 4.4L turbocharged V8 with around 407 horsepower. BMW also has not confirmed if the car will be officialy part of the “M” class or a xDrive50i. Whatever they call it looks like it will be one pretty solid soccer mom sled.

Source: http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmw-x5-m.html

Following Toyota and the Ferrari F60 have we present to you the 2009 McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 launch. The view from this photogrpah really shows you the how small the rear aerofolia is. Like the Toyota and Ferrari you can see the gorgeous Bridgestone slicks and subtle changes from the 2008 model. Lewis Hamilton will surely be looking for a back to back defeat of team Ferrari in 2009. The only question remaining is can he do it? Find out soon as the 2009 Formula 1 season kicks off.

Google Streetview is watching you Porshce engineers! It looks like as they were caught by Google Streetview they scrambled to cover up the new Porsche models including what looks to be a 911 turbo with a facelift. Garage 419 was savy enough to spot these Porsche’s and they wrote up a nice story about it and why the Porsche’s were testing here.

Visit Garage419 for the full read: http://www.garage419.com/post/10939/googles-street-view-catches-porsche-engineers-testing-in-colorado

GTR blog has scored some photos from AutoSport Magazine from Japan and look to have also been snapped at Fuji Speedway. This is rumored to be a Nissan R35 GT-R FIA GT1 Spec racecar that should be performing in 2009. The story had about zero information other than they were convinced it has a V8 in it close to the Super GT GT500 class. We cannot wait to see some GT-R racecars.

Source and more pics: http://www.gtrblog.com/index.php/2008/12/26/update-more-nissan-gt-r-fia-gt1-spec-spy?blog=4#more930

The BMW Z4 hardtop is a much improvement from the older model of BMW convertible it appears for sure. With a potential to pack over 300 horsepower as well in the sDriver35i model! Check out BMW’s break down of the three different options below.

Technical specifications from BMW:

• BMW Z4 sDrive23i
o Power: 204 hp
o Torque: 250 Nm
o 0-100 km/h: 6.6 s
o Top Speed: 243 km/h
o Fuel Consumption: 33.2 mpg
o CO2 Emissions: 199 g/km
o Price: 35,900 EUR

• BMW Z4 sDrive30i
o Power: 258 hp
o Torque: 310 Nm
o 0-100 km/h: 5.8 s
o Top Speed: 250 km/h
o Fuel Consumption: 33.2 mpg
o CO2 Emissions: 199 g/km
o Price: 42,900 EUR

• BMW Z4 sDrive35i
o Power: 306 hp
o Torque: 400 Nm
o 0-100 km/h: 5.2 s
o Top Speed: 250 km/h
o Fuel Consumption: 30.1 mpg
o CO2 Emissions: 210 g/km
o Price: 47,450 EUR

According to Autospies.com the Lexus LF-A might be coming to the United States after all. Much debate as been swirling about the car due to the current economic status in America but Toyota has been busy at the US Patent and Trademark office with the vehicle. On December 1st they filed for patent 77623634 which calls the car a LF-A. It seems like a step in the right direction to see this thing in the United States.

According to this Audi press release that has come to the surface before the Detroit Auto Show the new Audi R8 is going to have the automotive industry shaking their heads in jealousy.

The R8 V10 is a 5.2-liter affair generating officially, 517 HP at a heady 8,000 RPM and 390 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 RPM. All that grunt serves to deliver a 0-to-62 MPH time of 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 196 MPH. But the engine isn’t the only place getting enhanced. More details and the press release below.
Suspension upgrades come in the form of magnetic ride control aimed at improving both ride and at the limit grip. It rides on new 19-inch ’10-spoke Y design’ wheels hiding 14.9 inch brakes up front 14.0 inches at the rear. The styling gets tweaked with a modified sideblades with bigger intakes in gloss clear finish over carbon fiber. The rear end gets a modified diffuser and oval exhaust tips, all designed to look pretty while it’s leaving you in the dust

NEW AUDI R8 V10 READY FOR THE ROAD (AND TRACK)

Acclaimed aluminium-bodied, mid-engined Audi sports car now available with both ten and eight cylinder power

* Second R8 model powered by 5.2-litre V10 FSI petrol engine scheduled to open for UK order in January 2009 for first deliveries next spring
* Available with manual gearbox at £99,575 OTR, or with R tronic sequential shift transmission at £104,665 OTR (R8 4.2 V8 £77,405 OTR and £82,495 OTR)
* 5,204cc V10 produces 525PS at 8,000rpm and 530Nm at 6,500rpm (R8 4.2 V8 420PS at 7,800rpm, 430Nm at 4,500rpm)
* 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, top speed 196mph, combined mpg 20.6 (R8 4.2 V8 R tronic 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, top speed 187mph, combined mpg 20.7)
* Combines classic mid-engine configuration with advanced all-aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF) construction and quattro permanent four-wheel-drive
* World’s first all-LED headlamps as standard, plus Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping and Bang & Olufsen audio system