One enthusiast from the Netherlands described the E93 thusly: “Super vette bak!” We’re pretty sure that translates to “super fat barge,” though the overly-literal “super oily bake” has its own charm. If you’re into cabrios, maybe mutating the phrase to “super phat barge” is more palatable. Our friend from NL was referring to the 200-plus extra pounds the M3 cabrio will be hauling around versus its sedan counterparts. The folding-roof M3 doesn’t officially debut until the Geneva Auto Salon in March, but a German magazine jumped the gun and posted images on their website. Embargo apparently broken, the pictures continue to propagate about the internet.

The biggest news with the pending debut of the convertible M3 is the gearbox. The new seven-speed dual-clutch replacement for the SMG transmission, dubbed M-DKG, is reported to debut with the M3 cab and will be available across all bodystyles of the M3 simultaneously. Wheel-mounted paddles will let you blip your heart out, and the new cog swapper will likely outrun cabrios fitted with traditional manuals, reportedly making the sprint in about 5.3 seconds.

[Source: AutoBlog]

It’s a rare day when a concept makes us visibly wretch, but Mitsubishi did just that when it ripped the sheets off its Concept-RA. Maybe it was the ill-proportioned front fascia that took all the wrong cues from a Vector, or the generic styling of the rear three-quarter view, but overall, it left us cold, despite Mitsu’s infinitely looped Daft Punk/Kanye West mashup.

Regardless, the Concept-RA uses some innovative materials (aluminum space frame and recycled plastic body panels) and we like the idea of an all-wheel-drive, diesel-powered sports coupe that sends 201 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of twist through Mitsubishi’s S-AWC system. But beyond the powertrain underneath, we weren’t impressed — and the engine poking through the hood didn’t help either.

[Source: AutoBlog]

General Motors invited Autoblog down to its design dome at the Warren, MI Tech Center to have a look at a couple of the vehicles that will be displayed at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Fortunately, it was one of those rare instances where they allowed us to bring in cameras and we took full advantage. One of the two vehicles on display was the recently-unveiled Corvette ZR1. At the time, there was some controversy in our comments about certain design elements of the ZR1, including the window in the hood, the side vents, the carbon fiber and the wheels. We had the opportunity to talk with Corvette Exterior Design Manager Kirk Bennian at the design dome and ask him about all of your concerns. Before you all get riled up, the car we were allowed to photograph was not mechanically correct, but rather a standard Z06 used by the design staff to test out exterior parts. That means it doesn’t have the carbon brake disks and there’s an LS7 under the plastic window instead of the new LS9. For all of you who thought the ZR1 badges on the previous press photos looked cheesy and tacked on, that’s because they were. The proper badges weren’t available yet when GM did its original photo shoot. This car does have the proper badges.

[Source AutoBlog]

After a series of leaks over the last few days, Audi has finally seen fit to release a bevy of images and the official press release for its Detroit-bound TT-S coupe and convertible. As a refresher, the TT-S finds motivation through a 2.0-liter TFSI inline four producing 268 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The coupe can do the deed to 60 in 5.4 seconds, while the roadster takes an additional .2 seconds to make the sprint. If you upgrade to the S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox, you can hack off an additional .2 seconds from the 0-60 time with the help of Quattro. Naturally, Audi has tweaked the suspension and upgraded the brakes, while Alcantara and aluminum finds its way onto the pedals and trim.

Source [AutoBlog]

If you’re still under the impression that Chinese automakers are only building knock-offs of existing cars and small sedans through joint venture with foreign carmakers, think again. The Chery A6, previewed at the Shanghai show by the A6CC concept, is heading into production.

The car recently completed testing, and is scheduled to go on sale sometime in the latter half of 2008. Based on the Chery A6 sedan, the A6 coupe uses the company’s front-drive B2 platform. It will come available with a choice of engines – including a 2.0-liter turbo, a 2.4-liter V6 and a 3.0-liter V6 – mated to either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

With the new A6 coupe, Chery apparently wants to slip unnoticed into foreign markets – the styling is a little bland – but if it plans to sell the A6 range outside of China, the company may meet some resistance from Audi, whose mid-range sedan already uses that alphanumeric designation.

[Source: AutoBlog]

We are big fans of the movie Transformers despite its faults, and not because we’re fascinated with alien robots, but rather because it shows off some of our favorite cars in action. You can’t get your very own Bumblebee yet with production of the Camaro still a year away, but you can buy this replica of Barricade being sold by McDonald Ford in Freeland, Michigan. This 2007 Mustang was built by Saleen to help promote the movie, and features the same police garb found on the movie car with a few changes. “To punish and enslave” has been changed to “Power in the hands of a few”, and the 911 decal has been switched to a 411 promoting the Saleen web site. The light bar is also absent, probably to help prevent the vehicle from being mistaken for an actual police vehicle. That’s probably a good thing, considering it’s a felony to impersonate a police vehicle. The buyer also gets the standard Saleen add-ons including the body kit, upgraded interior, Racecraft suspension, and supercharged engine, so this marketing prop is more than just eye-candy. Pretty much the only thing it can’t do is hunt down Sam Witwicky, grandson of Archibald Witwicky.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Back in the 70s, GM was looking to take its much beloved Corvette to the next level. The General charged John DeLorean with investigating the possibility of putting a mid-engine rotary under hood, and the 1973 GM XP897 was the culmination of his efforts. The steel-bodied Vette was built atop a Porsche 914 chassis, and GM poured millions into R&D. The problem was that the Rotary engine was just as thirsty as America’s much loved V8, and it was an emissions failure. GM deemed the XP897 a lost cause, and the Pantera look-alike was relegated to an eternal parking spot on the 10th story roof-top of the Vauxhall design building.

Luckily for Corvette lovers everywhere, Englishman and Corvette historian Tom Falconer went out of his way to save the car he loved. Falconer received a phone call from former one-time Jaguar design chief Geoff Lawson about a steel-bodied Vette that was about to meet its maker. To save the XP897, Falconer flew to Detroit to beg GM execs to let him keep the Vette for his own. Luckily for history, Falconer succeeded, and to this day the mid-engine Rotary Vette sits in his Snodland, Kent museum. Since Falconer received the vehicle without its engine, it currently draws power from a Mazda 13B two rotor engine mated to a front-drive auto from Cadillac. With the recent unveiling of the 2009 Corvette ZR1, we see just how far the Vette has come since 1973. but the mid-engine debate still rages on. Can and will GM one day succeed where it failed 35 years ago? As long as the General keeps pouring money into the Corvette, we’re all for taking chances.

[Source: AutoBlog]