Mazda used last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show to debut the new 2010 Mazda3 Sedan, and then followed it with the reveal of the Hatchback model at the Bologna Motor Show just one month later. There is still one more variant of the Mazda3 in the works and it is set to make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The car is the sporty Mazdaspeed (MPS) model and it has now been revealed ahead of its official world debut. We can finally confirm that it will come with the same MZR 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as the current model, with output pegged at 260hp (191kW) and 280lb-ft (380Nm) of torque.

2010 Mazda3 Sedan

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Until this year’s April Fool’s Day, the highest top speed achieved by the Nissan GT-R to date was in the 192mph range, though exactly who owned the figure was disputed. Then Hennessey Performance Engineering claimed to have raised the bar and set the new record at 193.7mph (311.7km/h). Along the way, they set an impressive 2.8 second 0-60mph run - without the aid of traction control.

The top-speed figure was set at the Texas Mile using a Hennessey Performance Nissan GT-R GTR700. It’s not surprising considering the brutal 700hp (522kW) and 630lb-ft (853Nm) output of the upgraded Godzilla, and it’s within 4mph of the car’s maximum speed possible on stock gearing, which maxes out at 197mph at redline in top gear.

Getting to that top speed is a brutal experience, pulling 1g in acceleration to get to 60mph in 2.8 seconds, 100mph in 6.7 seconds, and 186mph in 24.79 seconds - well under half of the 53.3 seconds the stock GT-R requires to hit that speed.

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There are many layers to the deal General Motors has had to accept from Washington. In addition to having 60 days - now down to 51 - to turn things around or face bankruptcy, GM must also convince the government it will remain viable in order to be eligible for $10.3 billion in Department of Energy funds for the Volt.

The DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program has been slow in handing out funding, and now it seems we have a glimpse at why, at least in regard to GM. Nevertheless, many other carmakers are still waiting for their requested funds as well.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Production model

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There are many layers to the deal General Motors has had to accept from Washington. In addition to having 60 days - now down to 51 - to turn things around or face bankruptcy, GM must also convince the government it will remain viable in order to be eligible for $10.3 billion in Department of Energy funds for the Volt.

The DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program has been slow in handing out funding, and now it seems we have a glimpse at why, at least in regard to GM. Nevertheless, many other carmakers are still waiting for their requested funds as well.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Production model

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Last year reports emerged claiming Nissan was seriously considering an Infiniti version of the GT-R supercar. The first hint came when Nissan’s global design Chief Shiro Nakamura revealed that managers were looking at the feasibility of a new high-end flagship saloon, and further speculation arose when a dealer in the United States confirmed that a meeting in Japan took place to discuss possible options for the future sedan. Those hopes have been shutdown for the foreseeable future today however, with an official statement on the matter.

At the New York Auto Show, Nissan’s senior VP of sales and marketing, Brian Carolin, told Edmunds, “It’s fair to say that there’s nothing in the product plan for an Infiniti flagship right now.

2009 Infiniti Essence concept

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Chrysler has given us an early look at its redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee at this week’s New York Auto Show, despite the new SUV not going on sale until sometime next year. Coming in as a 2011 model, the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee will ride on an advanced car-like unibody platform and feature the company’s upcoming Phoenix V6, renamed Pentastar, or a HEMI V8 as engine options.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 offers flex-fuel capability and variable valve timing, and in the new Grand Cherokee outputs 280hp (209kW) and 260lb-ft (353Nm) of torque.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Ugur Sahin, the Dutch-based designer of the previous Ferrari Dino study, has plans to put one of his latest creations, the stunning Z03 Corvette concept into production. The car looks similar to the Dino concept, as well as the Ferrari 599-based Vandenbrink GTO but is designed around a much cheaper donor car to make it more accessible.

Ugur Sahin, and his self-titled Ugur Sahin Design group, have now joined forces with Ohio-based Mallett Cars to start building the cars. You may remember Mallet as the same company that offered a widebody V8 conversion for the Pontiac Solstice, and now it will be working on fabrication and engine tuning of the limited Corvette series.

The custom Corvette Z03 is in fact based on a humble Corvette C6 (or optional Z06), a car that already features an excellent chassis to build upon.

Corvette Z03 Concept

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The BMW X5 and X6 both deliver stunning performance, but it seems as though the stock performance isn’t quite up to par for the German automaker. Recently, BMW took the wraps off the M variants of the X5 and X6. Power is delivered via a new twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces a staggering 555 horsepower and 500 lb. ft. of torque. Mated to a 6-speed M Sports Automatic transmission, these M-inspired SUVs can sprint to 60 mph in well under 5 seconds. Look for more information when the X5 M and X6 M are unveiled at the 2009 New York Auto Show.

Arden is a German tuning company that has a penchant for modifying British cars, namely, Jaguars and Land Rovers. Now, the company is looking to expand its business by modifying vehicles from the Mini brand and is targeting buyers looking for something sporty yet still luxurious.

Arden’s first project will be a new performance kit for the Mini Cooper S based on the tuner’s own Cup race car (pictured), which is running in this year’s Mini Challenge series with driver E. Piro behind the wheel.

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With all the commotion of this week’s New York Auto Show, it’s easy to forget that April is also the month of the Shanghai Auto Show. One of the local highlights planned for the upcoming event has just been previewed, the MG6 grand tourer concept.

While most Chinese carmakers have so far concentrated on small, economical cars, a stylish grand tourer may be enough to get Western markets excited about Chinese built cars, which are improving in quality and design exponentially.

Not much is known about the new concept but the images depict a svelte four-door coupe, with a fastback profile and a very aggressive look.

2009 MG6 Concept

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