The weekend that just passed was a good one for Lamborghini because they’ve just announced the Blancpain Super Trofeo at Hockenheim, in Germany.

It’s actually a racing series that will run in the FIA GT Championship, DTM, and FIA WTCC series featuring some Gallardo LP560-4 goodies and only deep-pocketed private owners (costs €200,000), dealer teams and a single, Lambo-sponsored “celebrity driver”, will get their hands on the steering wheel of the Super Trofeo.

Just some quick specs to see what you’re missing it packs a race-specific chassis adjustments, ABS brakes and wheels with Pirelli slicks, aero tweaks while under the hood, a “little” 5.2L direct-injected V10 monster sends 570 horses to all four wheels thatnks to the e.gear six-speed sequential gearbox. We’ll see it starting next May @ Silverstone. WICKED!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure if you know, but the Germans may have some of the best highways (can you say “no speed limit”?) in the world, but from my own experience, they also have great traffic control. And I’m not only talking about Police officers, but also about infrastructure and such.

That, however, wasn’t enough for a British driver who decided to make fun while speeding on the autobahn. He installed a Muppet in the passenger seat, which is where exactly the recording camera focused on. The speed cameras in Germany are made to take photos of drivers who sit in the left side of the vehicle, which in that case was a Muppet.

Here’s what they had to say about the funny Brit:

“The number plate is not enough. We need clear evidence of who is driving the vehicle too. But because this is a British vehicle we can never get a decent picture. The driver has obviously worked this out because he has placed a large puppet in the passenger seat.

This may be an example of the famous British sense of humour but it is still dangerous driving. The driver has been caught on camera on several occasions and the puppet is on the passenger seat every time. We suspect he positions the toy deliberately before accelerating past the camera.”

Funny, huh? Would you do it?

Those jerks guys at FIA are trying to push a new regulation starting with the 2010 F1 championship and that is standard engines for all teams. I’m not going to ramble on why I think that’s a very very very bad decision because you probably feel the same. However, I plan on telling you that hearing rumors that such a major rule might be in place from next year, Ferrari and Toyota already made up their minds. They’re going to pull out unless those brainless guys that rule F1 change their minds. I’m hoping for an alternative solution to spiraling costs associated with engine development, because standard engines is not yet a viable one.

Mitsuoka is a Japanese car manufacturer, that just managed to make me drool on my laptop’s keyboard after seeing their Galue S50 Limousine. Looking like it was designed for the Brits to move their luxury asses from one place to another, it’s based on the Infiniti M with inspiration from the ’94 Cadillac Fleetwood, the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Apple iPhone (see the funky window instead of a B-pillar?). There are two models available. First one is a 8,016,750 yen (some $84,850) 223-hp 250LX limo, while the other one is priced at 9,345,000 yen (some $98,900) and has a 313-hp 350LX 4WD little monster under the hood. Simply beautiful

Based on the Sandero Stepway, Renault unveiled their latest Sand’up concept car at the Sao Paolo Auto Show today, in Brazil. It’s a 2+2 coupe/convertible (or given its design, simply call it a SUV or pick up) that features movable panels that are supposedly going to change the vehicle configuration as needed. For example the back transforms into a bed …

Under the hood of the new Sand’up is a 1.6 liter engine that runs either on gasoline or ethanol (largely available in Brazil) and sports 110 hp and 148 Nm of torque. We have no official info, if that concept car will ever make it into production, but it does sound like a good addition, don’t you think?

Those Brits are again the first to see a car before the rest of the world. I’m talking about the new Alfa Romeo MiTo (Milan-Torino) that will hit showrooms next month for display purposes. The official launch however, is on January 24. With lots of inspiration from the beautiful 8C Competizione sports car, Alfa Romeo MiTo will to deal with a lot of competition in its class and the battle will be fiercely. Equipped with a 1.4 liter 95 bhp engine and featuring  a special electronic system called DNA that adjusts the car’s performances according to weather conditions or driving style, expect to pay some £10,975 for that little guy. Pre-orders will begin on November 1st.

For whatever reasons, Renault decided to put their Renaultsport F1 badge on the new Dacia Sandero and Logan everybody seems to be a bit upset with the fact that it doesn’t delivers as expected. Dacia is in fact, Renault’s division for budget oriented cars, so I wouldn’t have expected to see a budget oriented RS from them, but looks like it’s going to happen and the new (tiny) beast will be presented in Brazil, at the Sao Paulo auto show. We’ll get more specs then …

Volvo, the Swedish car that I have so much consideration for, is going to come up with a new S60 soon. They’ve already partnered with Swedish manufacturer of glass art objects, glasses, and vases, Orrefors, to come up with the new Volvo S60 concept car. Boy these guys did a GREAT job, with this imaginative interior that uses a glass-crystal center panel. Stylish at its best.

“If you want to explore the full scope of Scandinavian design, Sweden’s glassworks are a natural source of inspiration. Large glass areas are very much part of modern Swedish architecture, creating the special, light transparency,” says Steve Mattin, Volvo Cars design director, in a Volvo press release. We’ll get to see it in four months, at the Detroit International Motor Show that starts in January. I can’t wait for more images.