Engine transplants have been around since time immemorial. After all, if you have an old classic with an outdated powertrain, wouldn’t you want to keep it up to date and give it something that fits more to our times?

Raybestos Garage certainly understands this thought. That’s why they took it upon themselves to take a 1964 Pontiac GTO-R, one of the most iconic American muscles in history, and give it a modern powertrain make-over to the tune of an LSX 454-powered 700-horsepower modern-day maniac. Raybestos and Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle used the frame from the ’64 GTO-R and added a few noteworthy parts, including a GM-sourced LSX crate engine, a Tremec six-speed manual transmission, a Moser 9-inch rear-end, custom fabricated body and suspension, $20,000 Raybestos NASCAR brakes, and a reverse-sweep 180-mph speedometer.

After all the work done on this American beast, we’re left with a 700-horsepower machine that, get this, is being given away for free by Raybestos! That’s right, you can drool over this car and have it in your garage in as easy as a few clicks. All you have to do is sign up for the contest on Raybestos’ site and you stand a chance to win a one-of-a-kind classic with a modern twist. We’re still trying to figure out what’s in it for them, but it may just be the crazy amount of advertising the group is getting for this contest alone.

There’s also plenty of videos detailing the build of the car and some behind-the-scenes looks at how this tuned-up workhorse became the head-turning monster it is today.

Pontiac GTO-R by Raybestos Garage originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 16:00 EST.

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Audi has officially unveiled their new 2012 line-up for the A5 and S5 models, drawing some raised eyebrows for the subtle changes and powertrain tweaks featured.

As the high-performance option of the bunch, the new 2012 S5 Coupe is expected to attract buyers with performance numbers in mind. On that note, Audi went with something that might not be what people expected of the car. While there are some aesthetic changes done, the most significant change for the S5 Coupe is the choice of powertrain, or in this case, the ’downgrade’ of powertrain under the car’s hood. No longer will the S5 come with eight cylinders. Instead, the German automaker opted to use a 3.0-liter V6 TFSI powerplant that produces less horsepower than its predecessor.

All isn’t lost, though, as Audi certainly worked themselves around the new engine, giving it equal performance numbers to the 2011 model while also improving the car’s efficiency rating, something that’s becoming increasingly important among buyers these days.

See...we told you all wasn’t lost.

More details on the Audi S5 Coupe after the jump.

Audi S5 Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 15:00 EST.

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Mercedes has officially unveiled the third generation M-Class, a model that not only features an impressive exterior and interior design update, but also low fuel consumption and emission figures - about 25% lower than in the previous model.

On the US market, the new M-Class will be go on sale in September 2011 and will include two models: ML350 4MATIC and ML350 BlueTEC. Both models are powered by a completely reworked 3.0-liter V6 engine delivering two different power figures. The ML350 4 Matic will pump out 302 HP, while the ML350 BlueTec will deliver 240 HP.

Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development, commented: "The M-Class embodies all the automotive experience that we have accumulated over 125 years and thus represents – in short – a quantum leap in terms of efficiency, safety, agility, driving enjoyment and design!"

Hit the jump to read more the 2012 Mercedes M-Class.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 9 June 2011 21:00 EST.

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It wasn’t that long ago when the first rumors for a more powerful Porsche 911 GT3 RS version began and now we have the official specifications for that model that map out a more powerful engine (duh) and improved aerodynamics. The vehicle will debut in July 2011 and prices will start at 178,596 euro including 19 per cent value added tax and country-specific equipment, or about $261,964 at the current exchange rates. Only 600 units will be made.

Details were so sketchy at first that we didn’t know if Porsche was for real, or just playing a really sick joke. Thankfully, this is as real as it gets with the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 utilizing a 4.0 liter engine producing an incredible 500 HP and 339 lb-ft of torque. This engine will be mated to a six-speed sports transmission optimized for low weight and high efficiency.

Weight is always an issue when wanting to make fast cars go faster, so Porsche made sure that was addressed with the GT3 RS 4.0. Many changes were made to the interior of the vehicle to drop weight, including the deletion of the air conditioning system and the addition of carbon fiber.

UPDATE 05/08/2011: The more powerful GT3 RS 4.0 has gotten even cooler with a new online configurator from Porsche. The new sports car gets options like carbon ceramic brakes, a front axle lifting system, lightweight headlamps, and a lithium-ion battery. Check out the configurator by clicking here.

UPDATE 07/13/2011: Rennlist Forums has posted new images of the GT3 RS 4.0. Some were taken at the Porsche museum and some at the Nurburgring race track, but all reveal a beautiful black and white GT3 RS! Check out the gallery to see them all!

More details on the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 after the jump.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 14:00 EST.

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While some tuning firms do what they do in order to upgrade a vehicle’s looks, many find the greatest amount of joy in pushing these vehicles’ limits to the outermost edge of their threshold. G-Power’s ultimate test was found on the Nardo high speed test track. When you can successfully test your vehicle on the Nardo test track, you know you are doing good, but when you do so by achieving a top speed of 207 mph, you know your success has just tripled.

The Nardo Ring in Italy is 7.8 miles long and features four lanes for cars and motorcycles to test out their speed capabilities. What makes this track so special is its simplistic design that allows drivers to eliminate steering needs when traveling at speeds within the 149 mph limit set in the fourth lane. What this means is that the lanes are angled in such a way that drivers can drive the vehicle as if they were speeding down a straight line, which we all know is the way to go to set a higher top speed.

On the flip side, this test track can also put a heap of pressure on the vehicle’s engine with high temperatures and full throttle driving tackling its construction. This is where G-Power has excelled. Their tuning kit for the BMW M3 not only allowed Christian Stöber, Vice President and Technical Director at G-Power to get the M3 up to 207 mph at the 2011 Nardo High-Speed Test event, but did so with no major engine damage. Only two cars with 900hp and 1000hp were faster at this event, which speaks volumes of G-Power’s new BMW M3 package.

Hit the jump for details on the BMW M3 SK II by G-Power and a video of its achievement at the Nardo Ring..

BMW M3 SK II by G-Power originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 13:00 EST.

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BMW's M division has always been known for consistently pushing the envelope in performance and engineering. For example, the E30 M3 had a ferocious 192 horsepower inline-4 that had thrust comparable to a Jupiter missile and could still go around a corner properly. The next generation E36 M3 was powered by a brand new six cylinder engine with 240 horsepower. M's desire to be the automotive equivalent of Magellan didn’t start or end with the M3 - the e60 M5 set the bar high with its revolutionary V10 which revved to over 7000 rpm! - but BMW keeps excelling at taking the sports car to the next level.

Proof of this comes in the latest details for the future M3. According to AutoExpress, the new M3 (due out in 2014) will revert back to a six cylinder motor as opposed to the current V8. But just because it has lost two cylinders to the relentless push for greater fuel economy, don't think that the innovation has stopped. The newest engineering masterpiece from BMW is the tri-turbo engine. That's right, an engine with three turbos. How does this work? Well, the first two will be rather conventional since they will run off exhaust gasses, but the third will be an electric turbo. This new engine will reportedly push out around 450 horsepower and, in addition to this inventive engine, AutoExpress reports that BMW will add more carbon fiber parts to help lower the weight.

If this M3 does come into production, BMW will set an engineering benchmark that few can hope to surpass and a performance threshold that will set them atop the heap.

The Future BMW M3 will be tri-turbo! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 12:00 EST.

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Skid MK originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 11:45 EST.

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The new generation Lexus GS is shedding some of that heavy camouflage it has been donning lately and finally taking shape. New spy shots taken at the Nurburgring race track in Germany clearly show the Lexus LF-Gh-inspired sedan sporting the split front grille, a new set of wheels, and new headlamps with LED technology.

It still may be too early to tell, but it’s been suggested that the new generation Lexus GS will be built on a brand new platform, making it sportier and more efficient than the previous model. From these spy shots, it does look like the wheelbase has grown a bit, but the jury’s still out on whether or not these rumors are true.

As for the engine lineup, the 2012 Lexus GS will keep its direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine on board. This engine produces 303 HP at 6,200 rpm and 274 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. The big news in the engine department comes with a new top GS model, the GS-F. This model will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine with an output of about 450 HP. Being since this is Lexus and they are trying to grab hold of the greener market, a hybrid version has also been confirmed.

Expect to see the new generation Lexus GS launched sometime in 2012, but until then, check back with us for more details surrounding Lexus’ new and improved sedan.

Spy Shots: 2012 Lexus GS shows off its LF-Gh-inspired grille at the Nurburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 10:00 EST.

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Could it be that the almighty Ferrari is getting a case of envy over the success and popularity of one of its sub-brands? Of course, the Prancing Horse won’t admit it, but how else do you explain their decision to prevent the Lancia’s New Stratos from becoming a limited production supercar after the one-off version of Michael Stoscheck proved to be a box-office success?

As you know by now, the New Stratos comes with plenty of Ferrari mechanicals and building one would need the green light of Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo. But according to numerous reports, Ferrari is not allowing its suppliers to get involved in the production of a limited number of New Stratos supercars despite the growing number of interest surrounding it.

With supplier’s hands tied behind their backs, specifically that of Pininfarina, the people behind the entire New Stratos project are trying to come up with a Plan B to get the entire project up and running again while looking at other potential partners.

Granted, we’re not sure exactly how they’re going to be able to do it without ruffling some feathers in Maranello, but given that the New Stratos already has over 40 prospective customers signed up, we really don’t see why Ferrari is suddenly a little hesitant in backing the project.

Perhaps they’re afraid that they might gain a competitor for their cars? It’s certainly looking that way.

Ferrari doesn't want Lancia to build limited production of New Stratos originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 09:00 EST.

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Now that Land Rover has unveiled a two-door Range Rover Evoque, it was just a matter of time until the company decided to offer a convertible version of the car. The decision has been made taking under consideration the huge success the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is already having on the market. However, the Evoque Convertible will target clientele looking for a more luxury oriented model.

The Evoque Convertible will feature a folding textile roof‎ and will only be offered in a two-door version configuration. Expect to see the same engines as in the fixed roof version under the hood, which means a new 2.0-liter Si4 turbocharged engine that combines direct fuel injection and twin variable valve timing for a total output of 240 HP.

Chances are the new Evoque Cabrio won’t be finding its way to the market until late 2013, or even early 2014, so don’t expect it to get here any sooner. Prices will start from about $50K.

Range Rover Evoque Cabrio originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 July 2011 21:00 EST.

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