In November Volkswagen unveiled a thinly disguised ‘concept’ of the next-generation version of the Golf GTI, one of the most acclaimed hot hatches on the market. New spy photos released today show the concept car is in fact a doppelganger for the production model, right down to the fog lights and the license plate holder, despite hosting an additional pair of doors.

As expected, its styling remains similar to the previous model and is differentiated mostly by a new front bumper design. The last generation Golf GTI was purchased by 1.7 million people and it’s expected that this new model will do just as well.

VW Golf Mark VI official photos

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Late last year Britain’s Bee Automobiles announced plans to revive the BRM brand after 60 years with the launch of a new all-electric race car. The BRM Bee Four was born, a four wheel race car with an electric motor in each wheel hub designed to compete in the Speed Hill Climbing Championships in the UK in 2010.

The BRM brand was founded just after the Second World War by Raymond Mays, who had built several hill climb and road racing cars before the war, and Peter Berthon, a long-time associate.

BRM Bee Four electric race car

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How do you try and flix a flat in the middle of no where?

Exactly! Couple sprays of butane gas and a lighter!  Dont believe us?  Check out this wonderful piece Roma007 has shared with us.

In late 2007 BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed plans for several all-new models including a design study called the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). Beyond an obscure design brief for the new concept, details have been relatively scarce. It appears the wait will soon be over as a concept version is expected to make its debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show.

A new official teaser video released by BMW today also provides a few more vital clues. The short clip explains the design considerations that went into creating the car, revealing that it will essentially be an upmarket station wagon with an adjustable rear seat, innovative storage solutions, and a coupe-like profile.

No name has been revealed, but everything from PAS, to V5, to 5-Series GT, has been suggested.

BMW V5 PAS rendering

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The somewhat odd tie-up between laptops and supercars has taken another step forward with Acer’s latest Ferrari edition laptop, the 1200. This time around the package is a 12.1in ultraportable with impressive specs for such a small computer.

Released in the UK, the 1200 features a 12.1in ‘CrystalBrite’ LCD screen, 4GB of RAM, an AMD Turion X2 dual-core processor and ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics. Branding comes by way of a smattering of Ferrari badges, while the carbon fiber cover evokes the feel of Ferrari’s racier efforts.

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Infrared nightvision displays have up to now only been available as an option on the highest-end luxury vehicles, police helicopters and military devices. Now it’s available for installation on any car or motorcycle thanks to FLIR’s PathFindIR.

Though the PathFindIR system may not be as cleverly integrated or as fully-featured as some Mercedes-Benz or BMW installations, it is in fact the same core hardware found in the Mercedes NightVision Assist system.

Pricing of the system in a one-off aftermarket setting hasn’t yet been announced, though some resellers are offering the PathFindIR unit without a display for about $4,000 - a hefty premium over the charge by most OEMs to install the system, complete with display and warning systems.

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The incidence of drivers going the wrong way up expressway ramps in Japan is apparently high enough to merit a specific effort to combat its occurrence. Nissan is working on a system that combines GPS location, a map database and an advanced telematic computer system to warn drivers if they attempt to go the wrong way.

Senior citizens are frequently at the wheel in such wrong-way accidents, and with Japan’s ever-growing elder population, it’s a forward-looking decision to begin the wrong-way prevention system, though it’s burdened with the ungainly title of ‘IT-Assisted Road Information System’.

Other features of the new system being co-developed with West Nippon Expressway (West NEXCO), include systems to warn drivers of unintended speed changes on ramps and downhill stretches to help further reduce accidents and congestion.

Nissan IT-assisted Road Information System

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Thanks to jkand for this upload and all the stats on the car!

Crazy Kiwi Rod Millen has his work cut out for him behind the wheel of this beast! The 2.1 liter Straight 4, in this 1951lb Toyota Tacoma, is producing 1000 horsepower. Er, can we say good power-to-weight ratio!

Despite AWD, the car’s squirming all over the damp and greasy tarmac. Good job for Brembos at all 4 corners, too, since he needs a whole lot of stopping power at the finish! Does the other guy even realize what’s coming up behind him?

Enjoy all the action in HD.

SSPKris is down at South Side Performance with a GT-R on the dyno that’s ready to go.

Awesome sound as the car winds up on the rollers. No details on whether, or how, this car’s been tweaked, but it’s making some nice numbers!

How much? Better click on SSP’s World Record and find out!

A next-generation Buick small sedan, headed for sale in the U.S. and China, could be built around the FWD Delta II platform in Opel’s Russelsheim, Germany plant, according to sources inside Opel. The move would displace some Saab production, but the next-generation 9-3 is already expected to be built in Trollhattan, Sweden.

News emerging from Opel sources in Germany today ties together a thread of production shifts and design rumors at General Motors dating back more than a year. A source within Opel told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that GM has a proposal that could lead to a ‘very great quantity’ of Buicks being built in Germany.

Buick Riviera Concept

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