The Ferrari 250 GTO is revered amongst the Maranello faithful, meaning any 599 carrying the name needs power, style, and at least the illusion of exclusivity. Power should come in the form of the stock V12, which puts out a raucous 611 HP already, tuned to 700 HP. Style is said to be inspired by the wild 599xx Concept. And exclusivity? The GTO will probably be limited to just 500 units approaching $400K a piece.

Of course, all this is based on a report from autogespot saying Ferrari is taking pre-orders for a car named "Ferrari 599 GTO Limited Edition."

Considering mint GTOs go for over $5 million at auction, this is as close as your average millionaire may get.

[Autogespot via World Car Fans]

* California Special (GT/CS) Returns (Package 402A)
* SVT Performance Package (Option 67F)
* Brembo Brake Package (Option 55D)
* 6-speed Automatic Transmission available
* (3) – 19-inch tire options available
* Order Banks open January 18, 2010
* JOB 1 begins March 15, 2010

[GMInsideNews via MustangHeaven]

According to AN, it's due to join the recently re-branded Ram brand of trucks for the 2012 model year, there's no official word on which engines will make it to this country. Production will remain in Turkey, indicating we won't get a 700 HP V8 version or even the Sebring's terrible 2.4-liter that manages to produce no power, yet freakishly poor fuel economy. Instead, we'll likely get Fiat's own 95 HP gasoline engine even though we'd really rather like to have the choice between one of Fiat's passable Multijet diesel engines, which will be offered in European Doblos in 90, 105 and 135 HP forms. Please Santa, make them bring it in with a manual transmission.

In Europe, small vans like this (the Doblo is based in the Focus-rivaling Fiat Grand Punto) are workhorses for small businesses, large families and urban delivery men, pushing interior space to the limits of the vehicle's footprint to deliver lots of space inside compact proportions. That combination of utility, fuel economy and the ability to fit into a parking space has to be experienced to be believed. After driving a diesel-equipped Transit Connect around London for six months, I'll never be able to settle for the poor size-to-capacity ratio of a pickup American-style minivan ever again.

Here's the press release:

World premiere New Fiat Doblò: meet the 'family space'

Meet the new Doblò, the Fiat car that is all about space.

A space to be shared with family and friends: a liveable space for people who travel and love to be in company; for people who choose the Doblò as a partner for leisure or work.

A vehicle designed to meet a need for functionality and comfort that makes the most of interior space and can accommodate up to seven people. An authentic 'family space' that can rely on top-class safety, economy and respect for the environment.

Compared to the previous version that sold approximately one million units, the new model has been completely revamped in terms of style, engines and technical specifications. These aspects make the new Fiat Doblò the "best in class" both in terms of space and in terms of reduced emissions.
All this has been achieved through the use of a new platform, more passenger space (with a wheelbase of 2755 mm, the biggest in its segment), a roomy 790 litre luggage compartment, reduced CO2 emissions (129 g/km with the 1.3 Multijet 90 HP engine, the lowest in its category), standard safety features and highly modular interiors with seats that can be folded and tilted.

Style and comfort

The look is very cutting-edge. With a central shield and side bumpers that are perfectly integrated with the body, the front end blends protection and sophistication while the pronounced wheel arch and sloping shoulder contribute to the vehicle's strong and agile look. The tailgate's essential lines emphasise the accessibility and size of the generous load compartment; clear, sparkling light clusters and expanses of glass give the new Doblò a touch of elegance.
The interiors have also been designed to offer functionality and create attractive, welcoming environments through combination of colours, materials and trims.
Smart solutions for the best use of on-board space, such as a range of storage compartments and flexible interiors, offering up to 7 places, will satisfy the needs of those who make the Doblò a car to be enjoyed with family or friends.

Environment and economy

The Fiat Doblò will offer 4 power units at its launch: a 95 HP petrol engine and three diesel Multijet engines, 90, 105 and 135 HP, which will later be joined by a Natural Power engine with dual fuel system (petrol and methane) and an additional diesel engine with Dualogic robotized gearbox.
All units are lively and offer smooth torque delivery. They are remarkable for driving satisfaction, excellent performance, low noise levels, low operating costs (fuel consumption and maintenance) and also for their reliability and eco-friendliness.
The range is available with Euro 4 and Euro 5 versions and offers a Start&Stop device as standard, which cuts off the engine temporarily when the car is stopped to guarantee reduced fuel consumption and emissions.

Safety

To ensure optimum dynamic behaviour, comfort and active safety in all road surface and load conditions, the vehicle has been equipped with innovative mechanical features including a bi-link rear suspension system available with various component calibrations depending on vehicle application. The Doblò's consistent and predictable road-holding is also guaranteed by the use of state-of-the-art electronic devices for stability control, namely ABS with electronic brake force distribution EBD and, above all, ESP complemented by a hill-holder system that helps the driver during Hill starts and comes as standard on this model.

The vehicle has been designed and built to achieve the highest levels of passive safety, due to a body with crumple zones, front air bags and innovative front side bags. The latter offer protection for both head and chest.
The vehicle also offers technical solutions and equipment that create optimum comfort conditions and help keep attention on the road: these include an automatic climate control system with distribution to rear seats, cruise control, parking sensors, a built-in Blue&Me hands-free system and a "Blue&Me TomTom" navigator.

The Doblò Cargo, also new, is at the top of the professional vehicle category

The new Fiat Doblò is joined by the new Doblò Cargo which has been designed to take its place at the top of its category in terms of performance and functional characteristics. It offers a more roomy load compartment than the previous model: square, regular, fully exploitable and equipped with sliding side doors and generously-sized rear doors to make light work of loading and unloading operations. Record-breaking statistics (interior length up to 2.2 metres, width between wheel arches of 1.23 metres, volume from 3.4 to 4.2 cubic metres, payload from 750 to 1000 Kg, combined fuel consumption of 4.8 litres/100 km and range of 1250 Km with the 1.3 Multijet engine) ensure that the new vehicle can offer substantial benefits in terms of optimisation and reduction of running costs.
The range finds expression in 7 different body types: short and long wheelbase van, high top van, short and long wheelbase 5-seater combi; a particularly appealing and brand-new short and long drop-framed version can be easily and cheaply converted for specific trades (refrigeration chambers, fixed and tilting flatbed trucks).

The new models are due to be launched from mid-January 2010, but it will be possible to order the vehicles from the end of November in Italy and from December in other European markets.

Turin, 16 November 2009

This isn't a huge surprise as they already make a wagon version of the Insignia in Europe, though it continues GM's interest in creating wagons. An interest we share. Can we please get a version based on the Vauxhall Insignia Sport Tourer VXR, please?

Rendering Credit: Tagline @ deviantART

[Car & Driver]

While a production date has not been set, the Converj will join the Caddy lineup as its second hybrid following the Escalade, though it'll be considerably more serious about fuel mileage than that behemoth. With a 40-mile all-electric range just like the Volt, the Converj will be able to command a higher premium at the dealer, or at least not induce the sticker shock everyone has over the Volt. The entire Volt program now makes a lot more sense to us financially. [Detroit News]

Fiat is basing the 166, the sedan this image is being developed for, around the next-gen 300C. That not only means the 166 will finally be RWD, but also that it should be designed to pass US crash and emissions standards from the off. With Fiat eyeing Chrysler's US dealer network it's a logical assumption that Alfa, particularly its new larger sedan, will find its way here.

Autocar says to expect both naturally aspirated and twin-turbo versions of the engine, Alfa's first V8 since the Montreal died in 1977. [via Autocar]

What we know so far is this new "0-Series," dubbed UKL1, for Untere Kompaktklasse (lower compact class), is designed to go head-to-head with the new Audi A1 and the Mercedes A-Class and be based oin the third-generation MINI. The "0-Series" will supposedly come in three different body styles: a three-door hatch, five-door hatch and a two-seat roadster.

Under the hood will be brand-spankin' new three- and four-cylinder engined and may even be built in Oxford on the same assembly lines as the MINI.

We'd like to show you more, but Car doesn't have the story up online. Pity. It's a good read.

The poster was taking his Alfa Romeo 8C Spider in for service when he spotted what he described as

"a new Pininfarina one-off, it looked to me like a modern version of the 410 Superamerica, and had Pininfarina "crossed flags" badges in the back. [with coloring] a medium shade of metallic grey... it might be Grigio Titanio. Definitely not Argento Nurburgring and lighter than both Ferrari's Grigio Silverstone and Maserati's Grigio Nuvolari..."

Jim Glickenhaus, who commissioned the one-off Ferrari P4/5 and is working on the P4/5 Competizione, knows about the car but is staying mum on the subject because he isn't the owner. If there's information forthcoming, it'll come from the person holding the title — or someone with a camera who catches it on the streets.

Apparently it's somewhere in the neighborhood of Torino, Italy, so if there are any readers in the area with skills in automotive photographic espionage, please check out the Ferrari dealers for anything you don't recognize. [FerrariChat]

Photo credit: Sports Car Digest

Automotive News reported late yesterday that, at a dealer meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday, Toyota executives said the name Prius would be attached to "a family of models" using similar hybrid powertrains, says veteran Toyota dealer Earl Stewart.

Toyota will have a range of Prius hybrid models "but Prius won't be a separate sub-brand like Scion," Stewart says.

"The Highlander hybrid and Camry hybrid do OK, but calling it ‘Synergy Drive' never resonated with consumers," Stewart says. "But they can make hay on the Prius name. It's a magic name. If somebody says ‘I drive a Prius,' everybody knows what he means."

Toyota Motor Sales COO Jim Lentz has been pushing for a multi-platform Prius lineup for a year. But this was the first time it has been openly discussed in front of TMS President Yoshi Inaba and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda. [via Automotive News]

In an exclusive interview with the Aussie hoons at Drive.com.au at the Frankfurt Motor Show yesterday, GM CEO Fritz Henderson said the company was making good progress with a plan to sell the Commodore to US law enforcement agencies. Specifically, as we've reported earlier this year, the LAPD.

"We've been working on a package for police applications. I just think that's going to work. We're pretty optimistic about it and that product will be sourced in Australia," he said.

But, while Fritz was all about the fleet applications, he wasn't geeked about other short term roles for the Commodore. But in the long term? He didn't rule out a wider role for the car in General Motors' plans going forward.

"It's a global architecture, it gives us options in the future but right now you'd say, near term, no," he said.

Holden has been searching for alternative export programs ever since, but in June GM shut the door on plans to revive the car as a Chevrolet Caprice.

It was thought the GM plan to import cars from Australia to US enforcement agencies would meet with strong opposition from GM's new owners, the unions and the Government, in light of the mass plant closures and job losses in the United States that followed the company's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

But senior GM exectuive Bob Lutz played down those fears in a blog on a company website in June this year.

"While the large (rear-wheel-drive) cars may be made in Australia, they are an integral part of GM, contain US-built engines and transmissions and numerous other components, and are so ‘American' in character that I don't believe the law enforcement agencies would have any problems with the assembly origin of the vehicle. Plus, they'll love it," he said. (Hat tip to Ben!) [via smh.com.au]

This information is in line with what we've been hearing from our sources at Ford all year. The 2010 Ford Mustang GT came second in our Muscle Car Comparison Test chiefly due to the horsepower deficit between it and the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS (As well as a lack of panache. Wes keeps forgetting this. Kids. — Ed.), an additional 85 HP will go a long way towards making that up.

When we tested a Track Pack-equipped 2010 Mustang GT late last year we were enormously impressed by its handling and composure, with our only real concern being over the somewhat weak and wooden brakes. The Brembos would be a welcome addition.

Here's The Mustang Source's inside scoop:

3.7L V6 to be rated at 315 horsepower: Same as 2010 GT; 15 hp more than Camaro V6
No immediate plans for EcoBoost V6 Mustang due to small horsepower gap between EcoBoost and 5.0L V8 (365 vs 400)
2011 Mustang GT to be rated at 400 horsepower, will get increase in 2012
2011 Mustang GT to get 6-speed transmission and variable valve timing
2011 Mustang GT Track Pack to include Brembo brakes
2011 Mustang GT 5.0L V8, 6-speed, track pack, Brembo brakes ran even with 414-hp BMW M3, which is 200 lbs lighter, at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan
2011 Shelby GT500 to get Aluminum Block
Next special edition: 2012 Boss

It should be noted that the lap time comparison allegedly took place between a Mustang wearing R-compound rubber and an M3 on street tires.