BMW has dropped pictures and details of the new M6 Coupe and Cabriolet before their debuts at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show and 2012 New York Auto Show, respectively.  These steroid-infused versions of BMW’s big two door borrow their mechanical bits from the X5/X6M and M5, combining raw power and technology in a fairly AMG-like manner.  More on that in a minute.

There’s not a great deal more visual menace to the M6 Coupe/Cab than there is on the standard (F13) 6-series, but it’ll still be a hard to miss car.  The fenders are flared gently to accommodate a 30mm track width increase , there’s the traditional “gaping maw” front bumper to provide air, and a set of parallel five-spoke wheels hide massive brakes.  The rear bumper is new, with a new diffuser that houses the quad tailpipes.  A neat nod to the past is the small “M6″ badge offset in the front grille as a reference to the original E24 M6, and that’s about it.

M made an effort to keep the weight of the M6 to a minimum.  On the Coupe, the roof is carbon-reinforced plastic, and both versions get aluminum doors and glassfiber-reinforced plastic trunk lids.  The coupe weighs in around 4,000 lbs (the convertible closer to 4,300) so perhaps they have some more dieting to do.  Good thing it’s got a metric ton of power to make up for that.

Like the M5 and X5/6M, the M6 is powered by the S63Tu44 engine.  This 4.4L V8 utilizes reverse-flow twin turbocharging (inlet manifolds on the outside) and twin-entry turbos with direct injection, Valvetronic and Vanos to deliver 560 horsepower from 5,750-7,000rpm, and a thick 502lb-ft torque (680nM) between 1,500-5,750rpm.  Basically, if you can’t find power somewhere between idle and redline (7,200rpm), you might not know how to drive.  In addition to having more power and torque and a much more usable powerband, the new V8 will also consume about 30% less fuel than the outgoing model, for the three people who care about that.

Of course, you won’t have to be Juan Miguel Fangio to drive it anyway.  All M6′s will come standard with the 7-speed M-DCT twin clutch flappy paddle doohickey.  The stability control will come in three flavors- On, M Dynamic Mode (higher slip thresholds and gentler intervention) and Burnouts Galore.  I mean Off.  There might be the option of a 6-speed manual (such as is offered in the US F10 M5) in the future, but not for now.

One of the journalist-created “weak spots” of the old M5 and M6 were it’s brakes.  By journalist-created, I mean fat shuffle-steering hacks that had track time in the old model said the brakes had a tendency to go soft too quickly.  As a result, the new binders are freakin’ serious – 15.7″/6-piston fixed caliper front, 15.6″ 4-piston rear.  There’s an option of M Carbon-Ceramic brakes that sheds 43lbs of unsprung mass as well.  Standard rolling stock is 19″ alloys with 265/40 front and 295/35 rear tires, but 20″ wheels are available (and mandatory with the ceramic brakes; perhaps to offset some of that reduced post-hub mass?) as well.

Despite the more-than-a-damn-GTR weight, both the Coupe and ‘Vert will be fast.  BMW says the Coupe will hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, with the ‘Vert a tenth behind it, and 0-200 in 12.6 (13.1 for the ‘Vert.)  Top speed is of course limited to a piddling 155mph, or 189mph if you pay them a large sum of money to change one short string of code in the ECU for you.

So, a 4,000lb twin-turbo automatic gearbox large coupe with enough tech stuffed in there to launch a space ship?  That sounds more like a Mercedes AMG than a BMW M, but it’s been years since “M” switched from meaning Motorsports to Marketing.  Guys: they’re not going to make us another E30 M3.  They’re only making around a thousand 1M Coupes.  Who would’ve thought that if you were looking for a hardcore 2-door coupe with a manual transmission, Cadillac would wind up higher on the list than BMW?

Gallery below!  Let us know what you think of the M6 in the comments section.

The original TT RS comes with a 2.5-litre, 5 cylinder direct injection petrol with 335bhp and 332 lb ft of torque which gives it a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, the same as the standard R8, and a limited top speed of 155mph.

That isn’t enough for some people, though, so the Plus gets a revised inlet manifold and increased turbocharger boost to deliver 355bhp and 343lb ft of torque meaning the 0-62mph is down to 4.1 seconds with the S-tronic gearbox. That’s just 0.2 seconds shy of the R8 V10 and 0.6 seconds faster than a Porsche Cayman R with a PDK gearbox.  There’s no electronic limiter with the TT RS Plus which means it can get to a top speed of 174mph.

Changes to the exterior include a redesigned rear spoiler, the same red trimmed 19″ alloys as the RS3, carbon fibre wing mirrors and bigger black trimmed exhausts with the only change underneath being slightly firmer suspension. There’s also an adaptive suspension system available as an optional extra.

Best of all, if you’re a fan of summer then you can get the TT RS in the form of a roadster which is only 0.1 seconds slower to 62mph than the coupe.

UK prices haven’t been announced yet but prices for the TT RS coupe in Germany start at €60,650 (which my trusty converter tells me is about £50,845) and €63,650 (£53,235) for the roadster.  That’s around half the price of the R8 V10 and almost the same as the Porsche Cayman R. It’s also cheaper than the V8 powered Mercedes SLK 55 AMG. Production is expected to start in April.

Other appearances on the Audi stand at Geneva this year include the new RS4 Avant and A3 hatchback.

These product placement “ads” tend to only last for a maximum of 10 seconds. That seems to be enough these days to capture the attention of young music fans and to make them yearn for some of that metal. To our joy, Chevrolet have done something a little bit different with OK Go, a US band notorious for their viral videos.

In their latest video to the track titled “Needing/Getting”, OK Go borrow a Chevrolet Aveo – recently updated for 2012 – from General Motors and attach a variety of microphones, pulls, cranks and levers which operate a selection of “arms”. These arms then smash into pianos, drums, guitars as the OK Go frontmen drive the Aveo along a special track. We’ve seen singing in a car, but we’ve never seen a car playing the tune itself. This is bonkers!

Regardless of whether you’re an Aveo fan or not (we’re getting our hands on one soon), you’re going to want to see this creativity, all 4 minutes of it: right here, right now. Hit the YouTube embed below.

According to Andy Cowell, the British-born designer of the DS5, launching this D-segment competitor has been similar in emotion to the release of a musician’s third album; the first tending to break an artist, the second catapulting them into A-list limelight, and the third cementing their status as an icon. Whilst the DS4 compact hasn’t been able to rival sales totals billed by the DS3, the DS5 aims to eradicate the awkwardness of 2011′s DS release through sensuous style and luxury.

How so? For starters, this car is made for 5, a GT if you will. With 465-litres of bootspace (enough in fact to squeeze in your humble author, but that’s another story) this is a deceptively roomy car and half of that deception is down to some clever design.

Notice firstly, the chrome “sabres” running from the tips of the headlamps to the front windows. These create the perception of length despite the car measuring only 4.5 metres. Cowell has also worked hard to make the DS5 look good on the move, not just at a standstill, “ideally we would have seen this car running about on London’s roads”, he proclaims and rightly so – many hours have gone into modelling the DS5 with full-sized replicas having been made and driven just to see how light reflects from its many creases and lines.

And what of interior luxury? Whilst the DS3, depending on option spec, captured imaginations with its piano black plastic finish and the DS4 didn’t encourage the same “WOW Factor”, the DS5 embraces French “quirky” luxury complete with watch strap leather and an aviation-industry inspired multi-panel sunroof. “Hypnotic”, is the word that is bounded around when discussing the interior with Cowell and rightly so; this is a move away from clear-cut and functional German design and a move towards character and full-fat personality.

Whilst the event was a great introduction to what we can expect at the end of Spring 2011 when the DS5 is released, we unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to drive a production vehicle at the event. One of the most exciting powerplants to be featured is the 200bhp diesel electric Hybrid4 system which offers rock-bottom CO2 emissions and financial benefits as you’d expect.

So the question come April will certainly be: does the new DS5 capture that essential French spirit, and can it entice stylish customers to splurge and purchase one? We think so, and in which case, this will most certainly not be a case of “two’s company, three’s a crowd”, but merely the successful creation of the highly-desired third hit.

We heard a while back that there’s a new Fiat Panda in town, but this…isn’t it. It may have a whiff of the old Panda about it, but it is in fact a new 500. Don’t worry, this isn’t a complete train wreck design update to the stylish and fun 500, but rather a bigger 500 for people who, well, are bigger. Or have a family.

Called the 500L, with the ‘L’ standing for (surprise surprise) ‘Large’, it will be unveiled in Geneva in March ahead of its sales launch towards the end of 2012. You can see it isn’t the best looking car in the world, but then again it isn’t a Rover Metro so it’s not all bad.

And when it arrives in the showrooms, it’ll have the really rather excellent TwinAir three-cylinder petrol, as well as a 1.4-litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel.

How much will it cost? Well, we’re not sure yet, but hopefully the most basic mode will be less than £10k, otherwise the 500L will probably be a bit of a sales dumpling for Fiat.

January 2012

Kia Optima

It’s been available around the world for a while but the Kia Optima finally hits UK soil this month. Our man James has already reviewed the Stateside 2.0 Turbo petrol and he was very impressed. The old Magentis was pound-shop cheap but the Optima has got the executive car looks with a touch of Korean flair and at around £18,000 it’s great value.

Mercedes SLK 55 AMG

Just like the last SLK, the new R172 pretty much steals the look of the German firm’s flagship supercar and shrinks them. This month will see the AMG version which has a 5.5L V8 containing 416 horses that will take it from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds. It’s less powerful than the SLS roadster but the SLK AMG comes with a better folding metal roof and a slightly more frugal unit for around £58,000. That’s over £100,000 cheaper than its bigger brother.

Suzuki Swift Sport

The new Swift Sport comes with a naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol with more power, more MPG thanks to a 6th gear and less CO2. The Swift is one of the finest handling superminis out there, almost as good as the original Mini as some have reported. The Sport version is predicted to be £14,000 which makes it a great value hot hatch. Car Throttle front man will get his hands on one in April to deliver his verdict.

February 2012

Audi A1 Sportback

The 3-door A1 is a great looking premium hatchback but practicality is flawed. The Sportback, though, comes with 2 extra doors and 3 rear seats for an extra £560 over the 3 door, making it more comfy for your mates. It’s also available in Samoa Orange which is an exclusive paint job to the Sportback and it will get the same engines as the standard car.

BMW 3 Series Saloon

There’s not much change on the outside of the F30 3 Series (the only big difference being the more poised kidneys) but inside it’s a complete revolution. The dashboard wraps around the driver like in the older 3-s and looks more lively than the last car. You can even have red trim pieces and stitching on the leather and fabric seats of the Sport models. Most magazines and websites have driven the new 3 already and the overall verdict is that it’s the best 3 Series yet.

Hyundai Veloster

The last coupe we saw from Hyundai in the UK was called the Genesis Coupé and, to me, it looked like a smaller and cheaper Jaguar XK. It was one of the best looking cheap coupés of its time. This one though is taking on the likes of the Scirocco and Megane Coupe, though the Hyundai’s looks won’t appeal to everyone. It does have a unique trick up its sleeve which is the odd door layout (one door on the driver’s side and two on the pavement side) and means your friends won’t have to clamber over the front seats to get into the back. It comes with a 1.6 138bhp which is reported to be a tad slow but a 201bhp Turbo version of the Veloster will make it here in August. Pricing is competitive, starting at £18,000 for the standard car and £23,000 for the Turbo.

March 2012

Chevrolet Camaro SS

Finally, after a wait of what feels like decades, the Camaro has had its suspension tweaked for Europe and this means we’ll see both the Camaro Coupe and Convertible on British roads this March. Both Camaros come with a 6.2 V8 that produces 426bhp meaning a 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds. The coupe could be yours for just £35,000 and the convertible for £40,000 the convertible, what a steal! The convertible is rumored to be left-hand drive only, however.

Citroen DS5

This has to be the coolest family car ever made. The reason: it’s just so different. Inside and out is as luxurious as the big executive saloons but the DS5 is a sort of estate/hatchback crossover with a raised ride height. The interior is inspired by cockpits of airliners and it shows. The big Citroen is also available with Peugeot’s HYbrid4 system, combining a diesel engine and an electric engine which will mean hardly any CO2 and massive mpg. Prices are predicted to be around £28,000. We’ll also see an Ultra Prestige version of the ever so popular DS3 from Citroen in March which has things like charcoal grey alloys, luxury leather seats and a white leather dash, ooh la-la!

Volkswagen Up!

The Up! is the first of a trio of city cars from the Volkswagen group to hit our roads. Even though it’s city car cheap (£8,000) it doesn’t feel it. It looks like a premium product and has an interior to match. It will certainly be a hit for new drivers especially since it comes with a cheap to run 1.0 3 cylinder engine. The 3-door will be available in March with a 5-door version arriving in July. The Seat Mii will arrive in May and the Skoda equivalent CitiGo will be on the road in June.

April 2012

Ferrari “F620″

The successor to the 599 is apparently going to be called the “F620″ but the car itself will be revealed at this year’s Geneva motor show in March along with the confirmed name. It takes an updated version of the 700bhp 6.3 V12 from the FF and promises a 0-60mph time of around three seconds, maybe less, thanks to a very light aluminium chassis.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

In a way, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is like the Chevrolet Camaro Coupe. It’s predicted to be £60,000 making it a value for money performance SUV which is way cheaper than rivals from Porsche, Mercedes, Audi & BMW. It comes with a 6.4 V8 that produces 470bhp.

Lotus Evora GTE

The lighter Evora GTE gets a tuned up version of the 3.5 supercharged V6 which aims to produce 438bhp. The plus is the fact that the GTE comes with carbon fibre panels that take 105kg off the original weight meaning that this Evora is going to be one heck of a bonkers Lotus. Prices are expected to be around £100,000.

May 2012

Audi S1

Yes, it’s another small Audi, but this is the spicy S1 with a 220bhp 1.6L petrol engine. It’s not totally immature, though, as it comes with four wheel drive and a wider track to provide secure handling. The S1 is also lower and stiffer than the everyday A1. A predicted price of £23,000 may put you off, especially since that’s low spec Scirocco money.

Fisker Karma

It’s the only plug-in hybrid you would probably lust for more than some supercars. It comes with a 2.0 four-cylinder petrol and two 199bhp electric motors which produce more torque than a Bugatti Veyron meaning a 0-60mph time of 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 125mph. Set the car into “Stealth” mode and it should return up to 100mpg. “Stealth” mode sounds a lot more hairy chested than wimpy “Eco” mode doesn’t it? The Surf shooting brake will follow suit in July.

MINI Roadster

The most controversial part of the MINI Coupe was that big backwards baseball cap of a roof, which I personally hate. Thankfully, MINI have addressed this issue and made a roadster version to take on the likes of the Mazda MX-5. It looks better than the bigger MINI convertible as well thanks to the fabric roof properly folding away into the boot instead of lying on the rear deck like a tired walrus.

June 2012

Audi S8

If Jason Statham was still transporting goods with no questions asked, the new S8 would be his vehicle of choice. The 4.0 513bhp twin-turbo V8 goes from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155mph. The S8 has an invincible feeling cabin with features such as double glazed privacy windows and a noise cancelling system. I would want to hear the V8 though.

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

The biggest gripe that everyone has with the 6 Series Coupe is the fact that the “practical gran tourer” struggles to fit two human beings in the back. This 6 Series though is stretched and has two extra doors so that two friends can sit comfortably in the rear seats. This means that four people can enjoy the beautifully designed interior and the excellent engines from the 6 Series coupe. Prices start from £61,380 which is more than the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 it is up against.

Peugeot 208

The newest Peugeot supermini fixes the big lumpy looks of the old 207 to offer a fitter and sharper looking package. Even though it’s smaller than the previous car, the 208 promises more space for people in the back and more things in the boot. Every version besides the standard car gets a very nice touch screen multimedia system which controls most of the car’s functions. Nearly all of the engines promise under 100g/km of CO2 and prices start at £10,500 for this attractive small car.

July 2012

Ford Focus ST

The last ST was famously nicknamed the “ASBO” by an old geezer named Jeremy Clarkson. With this in mind, the new ST will probably get handed a community service sentence with a 0-60mph time of 6 seconds and a predicted top speed of 155mph thanks to a 2.0 Turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with 247bhp. The new ST will be easier on your wallet with better economy than the previous 2.5 5-cylinder car and it’s more practical too with a choice between a 5-door hatch and estate. What would complete the range is a sporty 3-door coupe-esque version of the Focus, in my opinion.

Subaru BRZ & Toyota GT-86

Ladies and Gents, the old school, rear wheel drive, purists’ coupe is back and it comes with a choice of two badges and bumper styles; Subaru and Toyota. Both versions get a 2.0 flat-4 boxer engine that produces 197bhp and goes from 0-60mph in 7 seconds. The GT-86 and BRZ can fit four people in comfort (if the people in the back seats are under 5ft 5″ that is) and prices for both cars are predicted to start at around £25,000. They’re the cars that everyone is waiting for this year and we’re dying to try both of them out.

August 2012

Audi S6

Imagine putting the 513bhp 4.0 twin turbo V8 from the new Bentley Continental and S8 in the lightest executive car out there. No need to imagine after August as Audi will fit the new engine in both the new A6 Saloon and Avant. If this is just the S6, I wonder how insane the next RS6 will be.

Porsche Boxster

The next version of the class leading, mid-engined roadster looks a bit like a baby Carrera GT but shares all the tech with the new 911. The standard car will have an all new flat four unit producing 270bhp and the Boxster S will use the same 3.4 flat six as the 911 Carrera.

Vauxhall Astra VXR

The most powerful hot hatch of the 2012 bunch is the new Astra VXR. It promises up to 280bhp which means a 0-60 time of less than 6 seconds thanks to a 2.0 direct injection petrol. It also comes with more aggressive looking trinkets than the standard Astra GTC and it’s much more pleasing to the eye compared to the predecessor. All yours for £25,000.

September 2012

Ferrari F70

Introducing the next Ferrari flagship to take over the Enzo, the F70. No official performance figures have been released yet but it’s rumored to have over 700bhp thanks to an all new twin-turbo V8. Mix this with a very light carbon fibre chassis and it sounds like it will be the next ultimate road car. It’s also very expensive with an estimated price of £750,000.

Mercedes SL

The Mercedes SL has been one of the best sports cars ever since the 1950s and this latest one aims to be much better to drive thanks to better suspension. It’s also the lightest and has a more luxurious interior inspired by the SLS supercar. It’s the first SL to get ‘Magic Sky Control’ which lets you alter how much light gets into the car when the roof is up, much like the sunroof on a Maybach. Fancy schmancy.

Renault Clio Williams

To celebrate the end of the current Renault Clio, the company have teamed up with F1 Team Williams to create the last hurrah, just like they did in 1993. It’s pretty much a RenaultSport Clio 200 but with a unique paint job, a better engine and a very special interior.

November 2012

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

There’s only going to be 150 of these so if you like the sound of the new Zagato then you better have the cheque book out. It’s based on the V12 Vantage but contains the design house’s luxurious cabin and has a carbon fibre body. Write £400,000 on that cheque before they’re auctioned for more.

Ford Fiesta ST

Available as a 3 door here in the UK and a 5 door in the US, the other ST from Ford has a 178bhp 1.6 Turbo petrol taking it to 60mph from standstill in under 7 seconds with a top speed of 140mph. Just because it’s a powerful supermini don’t go thinking it will guzzle petrol as it promises up to 40mpg. It should be a fantastic hot hatch especially since the current Fiesta is one of the best to drive. Prices will start at around £17,500.

Maserati Quattroporte

The new Maserati takes some of the looks of the odd looking Kubang and puts them in a much more gorgeous package. The new saloon is set to be even more desirable than the previous Quattroporte with an updated V8 and prices will start at £85,000.

December 2012

Alfa Romeo 4C

There’s a couple of great coupes joining the BRZ & GT-86 this December. The first is the 4C which has a beautiful Italian body and a carbon fibre chassis courtesy of KTM underneath. Power comes from a new 1.8 Turbo petrol producing nearly 300bhp meaning a 0-60mph time of 5 seconds. The car’s target market is America which means it will come with Alfa’s twin-clutch automatic but an option of a manual would make it even better. Prices are expected to start from £40,000.

Jaguar C-X16

The second of the coupes is the C-X16 which is nicknamed “the new E-Type” all because it’s pretty much a new version of the old girl. Unlike the E-type, there’s a 375bhp 3.0 V6 mated to a 97bhp electric motor underneath which should keep the bank manager and your environmentally conscious friends happy but it’s not clear if the production version will get the electric motor.  0-60mph is around 4 seconds and the top speed is limited to 186mph with prices predicted to start at £50,000.

Volkswagen Beetle R

The Beetle returns at the beginning of the year and it’s aimed to appeal to us men. To make it appeal to men even more is this R version coming in December which has the same 2.0 TSI as the Golf GTI as well as more aggressive looks and bucket seats. Prices are expected to be around the same as the GTI which means it’s a good alternative if you find the Golf’s looks a bit boring.

So there you have it, 33 of quite a damn few new cars coming in 2012. We hope to test drive most of them plus more for you and with a growing team and site you’ll want to stay online with us.

Which car are you most excited about seeing this year? Let us know in the comments.

Believe it or not, this is a classic Lamborghini! It’s called the LM002 (or ‘Rambo Lambo’) and it was originally built to sell to the US Army. There were two engines for it: the same 5.2 V12 that’s in the Countach or a 7.2 ‘Marine’ V12 and both sound great but the car was an epic failure. The US army invested in Hummers instead and then Lamborghini wanted to modify the car so it could enter the 1988 Dakar rally, except they ran out of money and missed the opportunity.

Now, rumours are flying around about its return. It’s all thanks to the Italian Magazine, Quattroruote, who have announced that Lamborghini will be showcasing a couple of concepts, this SUV and possibly a tweaked Estoque Saloon, at the Beijing Motor Show in April. They also came up with what they think the big Lambo will look like.

I must stress, these aren’t Lamborghini’s drawings which means the concept at Beijing, if it turns up, could look totally different, but first impressions are promising. There are many touches of Aventador and Gallardo at the front but down the side it looks a tiny bit like the latest Ford Focus on stilts, or maybe it’s just me. Nevertheless, it’s probably going to be one mean looking 4×4 if rumours turn out to be true.

To move the mean machine, the new Rambo Lambo is reportedly getting the Gallardo’s V10 but with an output of 575bhp. Other options being considered include a twin-turbo V8 and even a hybrid.

If I’m honest, I’m not the biggest fan of these new super off-roaders and I bet some of you aren’t too. There’s only one reason why manufacturers are considering building them and that is the Asian market. The demand for them is so vast that the magazine said orders for this LM002 successor, that doesn’t even exist yet, are already flooding in!

Though, potential customers will be disappointed as Lamborghini said to Autocar that this is just speculation and the chances are this car will never exist. We’ll just have to be a bit more patient before we know what they’ll bring to Beijing this year.

The M Performance line is intended to fit in between regular production BMW’s, and the full-fat M models (M3, M5, 1M Coupe, etc).  Sort of like S-Line Audis, R-Design Volvos, and AMG Package Benzes, but with a catch: all four M Performance models that are coming to the Geneva Show in March are powered by diesels.

Go cry in your beer if you want, but I’m not joking about the “Monster diesel” part.  Case in point: BMW’s 4.4L twin-turbo V8 as seen in the 550i, 650, 750i, etc makes a healthy 400 horsepower and 440lb-ft of torque.  This new 3.0L I6 diesel going into these models makes 381bhp and 546lb-ft of torque.  Yes, five hundred forty six, or 740nM if you prefer that scale.  That’s enough torque to alter the earth’s axis, according to my highly scientific calculations.  The motor uses piezoelectric direct injection and common-rail fuel delivery at an operating pressure of 2,200 bar (32,340psi), and the engine revs out to a surprisingly high 5,400rpm.  It also has stop/start tech to save fuel.

The big difference with the regular 3.0L diesels is the presence of an extra turbo – that’s right, the 50d engine is a triple-turbo setup.  Two small ones, one big one, all providing boost by 2,000rpm.  All four models will come equipped with the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

Of the four models (M550d, M550d Touring, X5 50d and X6 50d), the M550d will be the fastest, posting a 4.7 second 0-60 run and average 37.3mpg US (or 44.8mpg Imperial.)  That’s outrageously fast – the giant F10 5-series with a diesel is faster than the iconic E46 M3 to sixty.  Then again, it’s got another 50 horsepower and almost twice the torque, so not so suprising.

Other changes include M Performance specific suspension and steering tuning, bodywork, 19″ alloys on the 5-series (20′s on the X5 and X6) and sports seats.  The quintuplets (that’d be 12 turbos, then) are debuting at Geneva and go on sale in Europe in April.  The pricing is pretty high, though: the cheapest (M550d) will retail for €80,800, and the X6 M50d will €85,800.  Price in the US?  Nope, not for sale – something else to cry in your beer over.  Now all they need to do is shove this engine into the 3-series.  It’s good to see a definitive answer to the “Triple Turbo” question, finally!

The competition involves putting the artistic touch to Renault’s forthcoming car, the Twizy, which is an all electric two-seater. All you have to do is visit www.designatwizy.co.uk, download the template to suit the software you have installed and let all your design inspiration invade it. You can enter as many designs as you like as long as they’re uploaded before February 20th 2012. All entrants must be aged 17 or older and either registered or officially accepted at a further education establishment such as a college or university.

First prize is, of course, all your tuition fees paid for you (up to £9,000 in most cases) with the runner up getting a weekend for two in Paris and third place getting £250 to spend in French Connection.

Further T&Cs and more information are at Design A Twizy. Best of luck!

Next year, the Corvette will be eligible for AARP membership.  America’s sports car will be turning 60 years old, and the boys at Chevy have a surprise planned for the anniversary: the 427 Convertible.  Thankfully it’s more than just a stripes and stickers package, (I’m looking at you, 40th Anniversary Corvette!) what with the LS7 under the hood.

The 427 Convertible will be the first time that the Z06′s LS7 (7.0L) V8 will be available in a drop-top Corvette.  Previously, the top dog convertible was the Grand Sport, which featured the LS3 6.2L V8 with goodies like dry-sump lubrication and launch control.  With 427ci of displacement, there’s now a healthy 505bhp and 470lb-ft torque, making it the most powerful convertible ‘Vette they’ve made yet.  A 6-speed manual transmission is the only choice, and the 427 will have the beefier driveshaft and rear axle from the Z06 as well.

Other performance goodies include dry-sump lubrication, GM’s Magnaride adaptive damping system, lightweight staggered 19″/20″ alloys with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport PS2′s, and carbon fiber hood, front fenders, and floor panels for weight reduction.  All told, the 427 Convertible weighs in at 3,355lbs – which works out to a power to weight ratio of 6.64 pounds per horsepower.  GM is not one to leave an accomplishment unnoticed, so they’ve listed some power to weight comparisons: the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabrio is 6.9, the Audi R8 V10 Spyder is 7.58, the Aston DBS Volante is 7.82, and the Ferrari California is a positively pokey 8.31.  The light weight and massive power means the 427 will be seriously rapid: 3.8 seconds to 60mph, an 11.8 second quarter mile, and a top speed above 190mph.

There will also be a 60th Anniversary model of the normal production Corvettes.  It’s basically a color-and-wheel package, with an Arctic White exterior and Blue Diamond leather interior with suede accents.  Convertibles will have a blue top.  Other little stuff, too: a ZR1-style rear spoiler, badging, grey calipers, and a bunch of “60th” badges and stitching in the seats round out the goodies.

The 427 Convertible will be available this summer, with the first model being auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson in late January.  2013 is the last year of the C6-model Corvette, so one could say it’s going out with a bang.