General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz won’t confirm this car exists, but he is not saying it doesn’t. “Let’s just say [Corvette chief engineer] Dave Hill is not a guy who likes playing second fiddle to any high-performance car on the road,” said Lutz. “My guess is we’re going to find a way to do something beyond the Z06, that would be at a much higher price point, and which would compete with some of the leading high-performance cars of the world.” Lutz said the car may be delayed while the company focuses most of its engineering might on pulling ahead profit-making vehicles like its next-generation large sport/utilities and pickups. “But there is certainly no lack of desire on anyone’s part to establish the supremacy of the Corvette,” says Lutz. Eyewitnesses said the car sounds supercharged, confirming reports the engine is likely a blown version of the Z06’s 7.0-liter V8, producing upward of 600 hp. Pricing will likely start somewhere around $100,000 if and when the car makes production in 2006.
Jaguar has released details of revisions to the XJ range. These include a raft of detail changes and a new engine. The most significant change is that the Jaguar XJ is now available with the excellent Euro IV compliant 2.7-litre twin-turbo diesel that has already deeply impressed us in the S-Type. Allied to the XJ^s superior ride and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) this new model promises to be an invaluable and popular addition to the range.
Nissan has added a new convertible variant to the Micra range. Named the C+C, the new car features a folding hardtop roof (as is becoming the norm on cars in this niche) that stows away at the touch of a button in 22 seconds. The Micra C+C^s roof differs from the others though in that its roof panel is made of glass, allowing an open top view out even with the roof in place. The C+C also differs from many of the other offerings on the market by offering rear seats. In reality these are probably only suitable for children or luggage, but at least they are there!
Porsche has unveiled the most powerful 997 series 911 to date, the Club Coupe, to honor the Porsche Club of America’s 50th anniversary. The car is the first 2006 911 Carrera S to feature Porsche’s new X51 engine upgrade kit that boosts power and torque from 355 hp and 295 lb-ft in the standard Carrera S to 381 hp and 306 lb-ft. Porsche has not confirmed when the kit may become available on non-Club Coupe 911s.
Toyota^s new president says he is making the development of more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles one of his top priorities, as the Japanese automaker strives to control 15 percent of the world^s auto market. Katsuaki Watanabe laid out his corporate priorities Monday as he introduced his new management team, according to The Wall St. Journal. Watanabe said he wanted Toyota^s engineers to keep pushing themselves until they come up with a technology that one day would allow a vehicle to "cross the U.S. continent on one full tank of gas."