The new Mercedes-Benz halo car to end all halo cars just hit the road and track with us at the wheel.

—Monterey, California

You’ll get a chock-full version of this amazing drive experience with the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in the next issue of Winding Road (next week), but we wanted to hit you with some of the fun fresh out of the aluminum Sportwagen. In a nutshell, the SLS is a clear successor to the SLR McLaren and it is clearly improved from the SLR.

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300 horsepower is still a significant benchmark within the auto world. (As we found out last year when we created our list of 300 horsepower cars under $10K, check it out here.) That’s enough power that some serious performance is usually on tap, especially when the curb weight is kept low in concert with the output. So which cars with at least 300 ponies are the very lightest? Our list seeks to answer just that, with cars that are on sale in the U.S. today, and being limited to just the lightest example of any one particular model (sorry 911 and Corvette). Check out the top ten hardest punching lightweights, in our gallery above.

Following up on the mystery Ferrari mule we spotted a few weeks back , these new and exciting spy shots show the very first stages of a development program that should ultimately lead to a successor for the Enzo–currently code named the FX70.

Housed in the shell of a F430 Scuderia, the keys to the ultra-supercar hidden inside can be seen with a massive, Murcielago-style center-mounted exhaust, a wider track, and suspiciously upgraded rear wheels and tires. Our photogs on the scene also tell us that the FX70 mule sounds pretty amazing, further hinting at the potential under the deck lid.

Ferrari is working on two separate engine alternatives for the neo Enzo, a twin-turbo V-8 capable of roughly 700 horsepower, and a twin-turbo V-12 which should make 50 to 100 horsepower more. Despite the obvious cache of rocking a supercar-standard twelve-cylinder engine, we’d expect the times and temperament of the current automotive climate to push Ferrari towards the V-8. More as we know it.

Have a look at the FX70 mule in the gallery above or scroll down to read the shooter’s own words. 

Not so many years ago, cars that produced 300 horsepower or more were considered rather rare and desirable things. Generally only the top tier of sports car or the very most posh boulevardiers had engines that could muster such prodigious output, and the price tags of the vehicles reflected it.

These days though, thanks to depreciation, a decade-long power race, and newly changing customer tastes, 300 horsepower cars can be had for much more reasonable rates—often less than $10,000. Those power and dollar figures are exciting starting places for those second-hand shoppers who may be looking for a deal on a performance machine, which is why we picked them as our two markers for making this list.

We’ve gotten our pricing estimates from the good folks at Kelley Blue Book, though we understand that in some cases much better deals can be had. Unless otherwise noted, the prices we’ve listed represent the private party value of a car in “excellent” condition with about 80,000 miles on the clock. We’ve also strived to get the best combination of power and newness when selecting between discrete model years, all while keeping a close eye on the budget. Click through our gallery above to read about our 300 horsepower/$10,000 picks, and then be sure to let us know which gems we may have missed, in comments.

We drive the 2010 Altima Coupe, Sentra Sedan, and Versa Hatchback back-to-back-to-back to see what the refreshed line is made of.

—Nashville, Tennessee

For 2010, a good portion of Nissan’s lineup has been refreshed. The Altima, Sentra, and Versa, were updated to compete with the ever-expanding sedan market. It had been a while since we’ve been behind the wheel of these three models, so we went down to Nissan’s American headquarters among the rolling, green hills of Tennessee to reacquaint ourselves, and to see what each model had to offer.

2010 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S

Definitely the sportiest of the Nissan news in terms of appearance was the 2010 Altima coupe, which drew us immediately. We admit, it’s a good-looking car. It appears confident, but not without a level of restraint. It still has the same form as the sedan, which itself is sleek yet not approaching aggressive. The wheelbase is shorter, and its more compact footprint and two-door profile give a hint of speed to the curve of the cabin.

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Are you interested to know more about the Satellite Direct TV software that supposedly allows you to watch all your favorite TV channels such as sports, premium movie channels, international TV shows and many other genres? If you are and you also hate to pay expensive cable television bills, you will definitely be interested to see this online program that I had downloaded.

Believe it or not, our sources tell WINDING ROAD that these two are kin. Oh, the intrigue, children.
It's understood that Porsche is poised for a model lineup expansion frenzy. With the paint on the first batch of Caymans barely dry, plans are afoot for the much-anticipated four-door Panamera (expected late 2009), along with a Bugatti-chasing Carrera GT successor.

But our spies report that an all-new fifth model line is expected to debut in 2010 - a front-engined, two-to-2+2 seating GT Coupe in the mold of the 928, and that the above mule is its primitive forebearer. The business case for a GT coupe makes complete sense, with the market for high-end grand tourers having grown markedly since the 928 fell from Porsche's catalogs. The market has seen the arrival of everything from Ferrari's 599 GTB to Bentley's Continental GT and the entire Aston Martin range, and Porsche is understandibly keen to get in on the action.

BMW's polarizing new 5-Series Gran Turismo hits U.S. dealerships on December 5th, with the 550i GT model being the only variant initially offered. The base price? $64,725. Look for an xDrive variant to come early next year, as well as the 535i GT, featuring an all-new turbocharged inline-six (not the twin-turbo six that we've grown oh so fond of in recent years).

This MSRP slots the 550i GT between the V-8-powered X6 and 750i, but things can start to get rather pricey when options are tacked on. We highly recommend the sport package ($4200) and the optional twenty-inch wheels ($1000), as they vastly improve the 5GT's overall appearance and driving dynamics. Be sure to grab the luxury rear seating package, too ($3950) as it's one of the nicest BMW rear setups we've ever sat in. Seriously -- it's more luxurious than a long-wheelbase 7-Series.

For the full press release and options list, click through the post. And in the meantime, be sure to read our review of the 550i Gran Turismo in the latest issue of Winding Road.

+ First Drive: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo

Have you always had a hankering for the thrill of a riding an old-school chopper, but never had the financial wherewithal or daring to purchase the real thing? Well the Hardknock Company has heard your plight, and brought along this scooter/chopper hybrid that defies classification and convention.

The Hardknock Bobber is built to mimic the lines and style of a classic chopper, but can be purchased at a fraction of the cost. The primary cost-cutting factor at play here is the Bobber’s motor, in place of that lumbering V-Twin you’d expect to find in the frame, there’s a rather diminutive 110cc four-stroke engine. The scooter powerplant helps Hardknock sell this cool little bike for the extra-low price of $1599, and delivery is no extra charge.

(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of Bobber images or through the jump to read more, including Hardknock’s exclamatory press release.)

If this heavily modified 1993 RX-7 looks really familiar to you, you’re probably guilty of letting your love of cars overpower your fear of bad film.

-Palm Springs, California

We're fresh from the driver's seat of the newest addition to the Lancer Evo fast family, the mildly more grown up MR Touring model. Mitsubishi has got a lot happening at its event in Palm Springs, California this afternoon (stay tuned for much more from this desert trip in coming days), but we felt we'd be remiss if we didn't check in with a few quick thoughts about the new Evo.

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Contemplating splurging on an Ariel Atom? Think fast. The minimalist sports car’s maker, Brammo Motorsports is upping the roadster's base price by around $4,500. Brammo says that it will honor 2006 pricing on all orders received and deposits made as of December 29, but cites an increase in engine pricing from General Motors as the reason behind the not-insubstantial pricing bump. The car's GM-sourced Ecotec four-cylinder was apparently promotionally priced, and effective January 1, that deal ends, so Brammo is having to pass on the increase to their customers as well. Don’t want to order a purist, heaterless roadster just as winter hits? No worries… with the car's customer queue, it’ll be a few months before you see yours anyhow. You might want to start pestering your boss about that holiday bonus a few days earlier than normal. Want to learn more? Check out our full road test here, or click through to the company’s website to spec out your own Atom. + Ariel Atom + WINDING ROAD Ariel Atom Road Test

Mazda has announced that the North American spec Mazda2 (known in Japan as the Demio) will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month. The subcompact hatchback has been successful  in other parts of the world, and will begin to be offered in the U.S. and Canada late next year.

Does this, as well as the arrival of the Ford Fiesta, spell a new trend in the future U.S. auto market?

See the Japanese version in the gallery above, or scroll down for the press release from Honda.

True to form, Honda was out in force at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon and here are some of the cars that caught our eye. Cue the Sports Modulo Type R, an even more aggressive rendering of the brilliant Civic Type R with special aerodynamics and chassis tuning to have it go harder and faster. The Touring Modulo Inspire is a funkily reworked version of Japan’s new 3.5-liter V-6 Inspire (cousin to America’s Accord) with body kit and yummy orange interior. How do you like it? From Mugen, we had the very cool F154sc, a pumped up Fit with prototype 1.5-liter supercharged engine. Also, the Civic Mugen RR Experimental Spec, with lightweight carbon-fiber body and trick 2.2-liter engine.

KIA expects to sell around 220,000 of Forte sedans, including 170,000 exports to such markets as Russia (where Hyundai is ranked number 1), Central Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, where it would replace the KIA Cerato.

Whether it’s badged as a Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, or Freightliner, we can’t deny our undying affection for the Sprinter van. So much room, so many uses, and those magnificent air-ride seats—what’s not to love? In our appreciation for the ultimate moving machine, we present our list of ten truly spectacular custom Sprinters.

Click through the gallery above, and enjoy.

 

 

Recent lists:

+ The Top 10 Lightest 300 Horsepower Cars

+ Top Ten $5K Rallycross Cars

+ Ten Performance Cars That We Wish Existed

One of the first things we noticed about the CL63 AMG upon its arrival in our fleet is the girth of this Benz. We parked it next to a Ford Expedition and laughed at the fact that this Mercedes-Benz coupe is just as long as the seven-passenger Ford sport-ute. The AMG tuning package gives the CL a wonderful exterior appearance, and the metallic black paint job only made the Benz look more stately and beautiful. All of this is indeed carried over to the interior where black leather meets with fine materials to create a cabin that could easily provide a comfortable solace after a long day at the office.

It’s hard not to love any vehicle whose engine specifications go above the 500-horsepower mark. Combined with Mercedes-Benz’s seven-speed manu-matic transmission, the big engine is easily tamed, but one needs to be careful. We found ourselves accelerating to warp speed with only the slightest touch of the gas pedal; a feeling that brought expressions of joy to our faces.

Ringing in at just above $144,000, we don't think that we'll be opening our pocketbooks to snag one of our own, but one thing's for sure: We'd be happy to drive it again and again.

Today, Hyundai unveiled its first gasoline direct injection engine, the 2.4 Theta II GDI. The 2.4-liter engine, in its current, Korean spec, offers 198 horsepower at 6300 rpm, and 184 pound-feet of torque at 4250 rpm.

Besides its improved output, direct injection lowers emissions and improves fuel economy.

The 2.4 Theta II GDI will see its first application in the first half of 2010 in the Hyundai Sonata. The GDI technology will then spread to other gasoline engines in the Hyundai lineup.

We’re glad to see Hyundai, as well as other manufacturers, bring back the mainstream use of direct injection technology. Learn more about direct injection here, or check out our Direct Injection Buyer’s Guide , listing current models on sale that use the technology.

See Hyundai’s new direct injection engine in the gallery above, or scroll down for the press release.

— Atlanta, Georgia

To say that Kia has made a lot of changes to the Sorento for the 2011 model year doesn’t quite capture the spirit of it. It’s roomier, lighter, more efficient, offers different powertrain options, and is built in the U.S. to boot. While it is by all means a crossover, Kia has tried to keep the new Sorento from falling in with the rest of the herd, and has created what promises to be a formidable competitor in the otherwise dreary and uninspired segment of affordable CUVs.

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