Dude, that takes STONES: Pics of the Corvette SS / Blue Devil / Whatever...

HOLY SCHNIKES!

Here are millions of dollars of development and thousands of hours of work laid bare for us to ogle. This Corvette caught by Fast-Autos.net forum member, Chikara83, definitely has some trick bits on it and apparently it's the real deal. There's a liquid/liquid intercooler perched atop the V8, and where the alternator used to be sits a supercharger. We can't tell what type of huffer it is, though -- positive displacement Roots-type or centrifugal.

The hood and front quarters are wearing camouflage to cover changes in those panels. The low-pressure area behind the front wheels makes the perfect location for extractors, which are likely fed by the high pressure area at the base of the windshield. Together they provide a good path through the engine bay for extra cooling air. That's a nice, tidy explanation for why the camo is where it is, too, so we're going with it. There's also a vent in the leading edge of the rear quarter panel, which we presume is for rear brake cooling. The burning question that everyone wants to know has finally been answered: the interior (of the mule, at least) is still kinda cheap. We are gonna be so embarassed if this is Winding Road messing with us again.

Many thanks to tipster Chris.

[Source: Fast-Autos.net]

Gallery: Sneak Pix of Corvette SS/Blue Devil

Rendered Speculation: Production Jaguar C-XF

We're going to have to wait until pictures of the actual production XF drop, but in the meantime these renderings are likely not very shy of the mark. Motor Authority commisioned Schulte-Design to analyze the concept car, various spy shots of XF mules, and inside information from people familiar with the car, melding it all into a coherent stab at what we can expect on the street. The S-Type is so last millennium, so it will be nice to see its replacement wearing a modern design language.

That design language is pulled back a bit from the concept, but it still ends up looking great. If this is the new face of Jaguar, there's hope. Not that paying homage to 40 years ago is outright bad, but it's nice to see something new emerging. If the transition from concept to production is as gentle and dare we say refined as what we see in the renderings, we have a billet-sculpted, muscular Jag coming.

[Source: Motor Authority]

GTI Fahrenheit Edition heats up VW dealerships

Click above for 8 high-res images

For those wanting a little ray of sunshine in this seemingly endless winter, Volkswagen has a treat for you. The Fahrenheit GTI should be available right now at your local VW dealership. Limited to only 1,200 copies, this sunny flier might be exactly what you're looking for. If the driving experience doesn't lighten your mood, the bright orange paint certainly will. Besides the "Fahrenheit" badging and individual vehicle number on the three-spoke steering wheel, this special edition gets the European sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, mostly leather heated seats and sunroof, as well as all of those spiffy Fahrenheit orange interior accents and matching stitching on the floor mats, DSG boot, brake handle and steering wheel. DSG only on this one, at a starting price of just $27,665. We saw one of these in Chicago and can honestly say that the color pops, if that's what you're looking for. We might hold out for the R32 ourselves.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Gallery: Volkswagen GTI Fahrenheit Edition

Continue reading GTI Fahrenheit Edition heats up VW dealerships

More pics of the Mazda Hakaze concept

click above image to view all the new Hakaze photos

Mazda has had a successful auto show season so far thanks to the warm reception of its first two concepts, the Nagare and Ryuga. Unveiled at the L.A. and Detroit auto shows respectively, those two concepts were admittedly as far from production ready as you can get. Mazda's third and final concept for this show season, the Hakaze, is said to be the only one of the three that could be made production ready in a relatively short amount of time. Well, we brought you a large gallery of images showing the development and design team behind the Hakaze concept already, but there were only two exterior shots of the vehicle and no interior shots in that batch of snaps. KickingTires.com has come across almost a dozen additinal shots that show the Hakaze in real world situations, as well as the interior.

[Source: KickingTires.com]

Gallery: Mazda Hakaze Concept

Continue reading More pics of the Mazda Hakaze concept

RUMOR: NSX development halted, Acura going back to drawing board

We (and many of you) were blown away by Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept when it was unveiled at NAIAS in January. Though we were a bit disappointed the concept was only a non-running turntable tease, Honda assured everyone that an improved, closer-to-production show car was in the works for the October Tokyo show.

Winding Road says its sources have heard the contrary, that Honda is going back to the high-performance drawing board to come up with a more super supercar. Word is the ASC just isn't impressing as many people as it needs to be. Perhaps Honda management saw the ASC wasn't its company's best effort, and instead of dumping the project entirely (like Chrysler did with the ME Four-Twelve or Ford with the GR-1), it's committing the resources needed to create something truly special in the $100,000+ sport coupe segment. As such, we're not quite sure what we'll see in October at the Tokyo Auto Show, if anything at all.

At least this is what we hope they're doing. Honda could have scrapped the whole thing and reallocated the funds to development of the next generation Pilot. Eeek!

[Source: Winding Road]

Jeep Test Ride voted best exhibit at the the Chicago Auto Show

Click the photo for high-res gallery of the Chrysler test ride

The Jeep off-road test ride at the just-closed Chicago Auto Show turned out to be very popular with attendees, who showed their approval by voting it the best exhibit of the show. The test ride allows people to climb in a Trail-Rated Jeep with a driver and experience traverse boulders, logs, huge potholes, and steep hills all within the confines (is that an appropriate term for the cavernous McCormick Place?) of the show hall. Chrysler also had test rides set up for their passenger cars and trucks. Check out this previous post with videos of some of the other test rides, and check out the gallery to see Jeep ride.

[Source: Chrysler]

Gallery: Chicago Auto Show: Chrysler Test Ride

Super Bowl XXIV: Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo commercial by Ridley Scott

We all know that watching the Super Bowl commercials can be more entertaining than the game sometimes. After the jump, you'll find the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo TV spot directed by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien, Gladiator) that aired in 1990 during Super Bowl XXIV. The voiceover is of a man telling us about a dream he has where he's being chased by motorcycles, a racing car, and a plane, but nothing can catch him in the Z.

Pretty cool, and given that Super Bowl XXIV was a lopsided blowout (49ers 55, Broncos 10 -- Montana w/ 5 TDs), the commercial was probably more interesting than the action on the field (especially if it aired late). According to the person who uploaded the video to YouTube, Nissan pulled the spot after its airing just that one time. Apparently, the brass thought it encouraged street racing.

Because you know, without that commercial, no one would have ever thought to drive fast in the 300-horsepower sports coupe...

Super Bowl XXXVIII - Ford GT "The One"

Before Bold Moves, Ford did cool stuff like this. Opening with a sweet burnout and filled with a minute's worth of eye and ear candy, we followed this red Ford GT around the track with big grins on our faces (which we simultaneously stuffed with chips & salsa and whatever the hell else we had on hand). "The One," as it's called, aired during the Bowl XXXVIII pregame show, and it's as good now as it was then. Follow the jump to watch it.

Super Bowl IV - 1970 Pontiac GTO "The Humbler"

First off, my apologies to you all, because this is a repost. However, I couldn't put up car-related Super Bowl ads without including it. Besides, if you missed it the first time, you're in for a treat. Pontiac aired the spot that's pasted after the jump during Super Bowl IV (Chiefs 23, Vikings 7).

The car it was pushing was the '70 GTO "Humbler," which let its driver pull a dash-mounted lever to activate the car's Vacuum Operated Exhaust (VOE) option. Doing so relieved backpressure and gave the car added punch while bestowing a positively evil exhaust note upon it to boot. After the spot aired, GM brass went nuts, pulling the commercial and killing the Humbler option itself. The spot aired just that one time, but you can watch it as often as you like by simply following the jump.

Super Bowl XXXVIII - Budweiser & Dale Jr. "Lipstick"

The only Bud connection other than the closing logo shot in the commercial is that the beer is the primary sponsor of driver #8's Monte Carlo. No matter, we love this spot that sees Dale Jr. blast across the country in his vintage 'Vette to give his girlfriend back the lipstick she left in his ride. Thing's aren't as they seem, however, and things get awkward for Jr...

Watch and enjoy after the jump.