Now, the A5/S5 is a superbly beautiful car. From every angle, the seemingly minimalist design gets better and better. Especially when you run your eyes across the length of its rising and falling center line that runs from the front fenders past the doors only to terminate in the tail lamp. Just about pitch-perfect. Truly, one of the better designs this decade. German tuner Hofele Design (apparently) had but one simple mission: how to destroy it!

The results are self-evident. All those people that are moaning and complaining that their Audi A5 3.2s don’t look anything like a R8 V10 can now cease their protests. All two of them. Also, and we know this doesn’t need stating but here goes: why would you go through the trouble of mutating your car to the nth degree but then leave on the “A5″ and “3.2″ badges?

Most people who know Audis (i.e. the very people that might have an outside chance of being impressed by this) would agree that A5 and 3.2 stands for the automaker’s worst engine/transmission combination, the slow-revving 3.2-liter V6 that’s already been dropped from the new A4 and the numbskull six-speed Tiptronic box that likes to be in sixth gear by 39 mph. So, besides the raw, inharmonious phony aspect of the body kit (nice fake quad pipes) why on earth bother? Especially as the badge on the back says A5 and the one in the grille says S5. That’s a rhetorical question, because we all know there’s no answer/point. One more thing: the R8 Spyder doesn’t even have side blades. And hey, why not another: the camber on the rear wheel’s all messed up.

If Koenig wants to bring the gas-powered i to the States, he estimates that he’ll have to prove that dealers can sell 1,000 models per month in order to get the parent company to pull the trigger. That sounds doable to us considering Smart sold 20,000 Fortwo’s in the first 10 months of production – in spite of the fact that the unique-looking micro mini is premium-priced and only has two seats. The i can comfortably seat four and it can probably be sold for close to the Fortwo’s $11,990 starting price. The typical i sells in more small car tolerant Europe for $16,000.

Along with the introduction of the rest of the 2010 Outlander facelift range, Mitsubishi’s U.S. division also uncovered the top-of-the-line GT model which is based on the New York Show Outlander GT prototype that previewed the redesigned model earlier this year. And while Mitsubishi didn’t stick with the prototype’s lower exterior trim finish, 19-inch O.Z. alloys, aluminum roof finish and the specific three-spoke steering wheel, what it did keep on the production GT is a version of the Lancer EVO X’s S-AWC or Super All-Wheel Control system.

The S-AWC system uses an active front limited-slip differential and an electronically controlled four-wheel drive coupling to prevent wheel slip between front to rear and side-to-side thus improving handling, traction and stability.

The 2010 Outlander GT also gets 18-inch alloy wheels, enhanced interior trim with leather seats and an available full leather treatment for the dashboard, sport seats, alloy pedals, a multi color 3.5-inch LCD between the gauges, a sunroof and an upgraded 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.

Just like the 2010 Outlander XLS, the GT benefits from the tweaked 3.0-liter V6 engine that gets a 10-horsepower bump for 2010, now producing 230HP at 6,250 rpm and 204 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. Power is transfered to the wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters.

The new Outlander GT is priced in the U.S. from $29,250 (excluding destination and handling fees).

With its latest creation, the CLR 730 RS, it seems that Lumma Design is making a play for the title of Europe’s most garish tuner. However, this two-tone widebody BMW M5 is actually subtle compared to previous Lumma Design models, and we think the title still firmly remains with Mansory.

So what’s special about the CLR 730 RS? For starters, 730 horsepower. The 50% increase in chutzpah comes from a set of twin-superchargers courtesy of G-Power, and Lumma Design claims an impressive top speed of 228 mph. Additional performance upgrades come in the form of a sport suspension, six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes, and an upgraded exhaust system.

The candy cane interior of the CLR 730 RS is even more over-the-top than the outside, with a combination of carbon fiber, leather, and suede. It’s not really our style, but we would probably be more accepting of it in a more subtle color. We have plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below, and Lumma Design’s press release has full details after the jump.

The McLaren M Eleven B concept was the winner of a design competion by McLaren for final year students of Transport Design at IED (Istituto Italiano di Design) in Turin, Italy.

The brief was to design “A 320 km/h plus sports car” for McLaren, and the car should provide the owner Formula 1 technology for the road and superb dynamic and aerodynamic performance.

The 39 IED students were divided into 14 groups, each presenting a proposed McLaren supercar as a 1:4 scale model.

The McLaren M Eleven B came out as the overall winner, its designers used a wide variety of inspiration, from the animal world to aircraft and racing motorcycles.

Constructed from carbon fibre the McLaren M Eleven B would benefit from Formula 1 style lateral vents, undefloor aerodynamics and exchangeable body panels which could be swapped in favour of more track-biased components.The interior of the McLaren M Eleven B concept benefits from a light and airy cockpitwithexcellent visbility.

The second and comparatively more realistic proposal is the Jeep Pygmy by Vasily Kurkov. The odd-looking three-door SUV is based on the platform of the Fiat Panda Cross 4×4. According to the designer, the exterior styling blends European and American aesthetics while the interior that can seat two, is said to combine retro features with high-tech details.

This is a good indicator for a vehicle weighting 1400 kg. Renault have not disclosed any information about the acceleration time from 0 to 100 km / h. When fully charged the battery can run up to 160 km. Charging in normal mode takes from four to eight hours, while accelerated mode the charging takes 20 minutes. With the use of «Quickdrop» (special station) battery rebuilds its capacity in just three minutes.

Zoe Z.E. Concept is equipped with a rear spoiler, which takes the operating position when you reach a speed of 90 km per hour and serves as a stop signal.

Front and rear lights are protected from minor injuries with filler of polyurethane gel, and air conditioning system, developed in cooperation with the firm L’Oreal, supplies air, which contains skin softening component. Depending on the layout of the passenger compartment (4/3/2 seats), the luggage capacity is 150/325/500 liters.

Renaul ZOE Z.E. Concept Specifications

Powertrain
* Renault Zoe ZE ConceptEngine Type: Electric
* Transmission type: Direct drive with forward/reverse inverters
* Maximum power EEC (kW/hp): 70/95
* Maximum torque EEC (Nm): 225
* Battery Type: Lithium-ion
* Range: 160km
* Steering/Brakes: Power steering – Electric variable rate power steering – Parking brake Electric

Dimensions
* Renault Zoe ZE Concept Rims (inches): 21
* Length (mm): 4,100
* Width (mm): 1,840
* Height (mm): 1,516
* Wheelbase (mm): 2,605
* Front/rear track (mm): 1,626/1,626
* Front/rear overhang (mm): 747/719
* Unladen weight (kg): 1,400
* Tyres: 185/55 R21
* Boot volume (dm3 VDA)… …with 4/3/2 occupants: Between 150 and 500… …150/325/500

Performance
* Aerodynamic performance (CdA): 0.25
* Top speed (kph): 140
Renaul ZOE Z.E. Concept

As often happens in such cases, the automaker itself, in this case, Mazda Motor, does not have any official relation to the project, so to speak of any potential serial embodiment of the concept car can only be hypothetical. Nevertheless, the proposed project is of interest precisely because of its consistency in Mazda corporate style simultaneously with the introduction of something new, which is not peculiar for the Mazda vehicles.

The author of the RX-Z project is a student from Romania, Adrian Ciprian. While developing the RX-Z, he tried in the first place, to pay attention to design, using the main elements of the Mazda style, including the pentagonal lattice-”Smile”, which other independent designers, offering a vision of Mazda cars, stubbornly ignore. The author has preserved one of the main elements of the layout – rear door, swinging open against the motion: a similar pattern is found on modern production cars, perhaps, only in exceptional cases.

The fact that, in the opinion of the author, RX-Z should not have a rotary engine, was very surprising. The author is convinced that the best would be the presence of a hybrid power plant, which will include a diesel and two electric motors. Such an approach is unlikely to be used by Mazda Motor to create next-generation RX, since this name of the vehicle is an acronym that implies to a rotary engine, but in addition, the company continues to actively develop such power plants, which somehow remains its original card.

Concept-cX is equipped with new Euro 5 diesel engine with the capacity of 1.8 Litres and with a high efficiency. The newest sports transmission is also installed on the car.

Force channel provides a quick job with excellent fuel economy and very low emissions. Among the new environmental technologies introduced in the Concept-cX it is possible to note the widespread use for the interior “neat” material made from their own so-called “Green plastics” made from bamboo and other resins of vegetable origin.

Designers did a great job, giving the car a purposeful and which is not less important, functional form, using a dynamic wedge shape and large tires. The front of the Mitsubishi Concept-cX is not the typical form for its class, it seemed to be cut under the “upside” bias, which is typical for more American muscle car (remember at least Ford Mustang). The cut off “nose” grille is crowned by a trapezoidal shape, which makes the SUV more aggressive. In general, the designers did a good job on the design of the car. Compact form of Concept-cX makes it extremely manoeuvrable in city driving, and the high driver’s seat provides excellent visibility. Ease of use is increased due to the split tailgate borrowed from the Outlander.

1.8-liter clean diesel engine with variable geometry (VG), turbocharger for optimum boost control, diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the exhaust system fully complies with the level of emissions set by European standards, Euro 5.

The power supply is connected to the new sports programs, designed specifically for superior efficiency of energy transfer, which allows excellent fuel economy and significantly reduces emissions.

Concept-cX also uses an electronically controlled 4WD system and large tires (225/45R19), to enhance the driving characteristics both on tarmac and off-roads.

The car was shown at the legendary Nürburgring, which is ideal for the official debut of the BMW M5 CSL, which is precisely designed to ride on the circuit.

The model, built on the M5, is equipped with a modified engine, which, having fine-tuning in the sports department of BMW M, has increased its size from 5 to 5.5 liters and became more powerful. Bavarian concern has not disclosed the official figures yet, but one of the leaders of the court atelier tuning BMW Albrecht Biermann noted that the horsepower is about 580 hp and the vehicle has 540 Nm of torque.

For comparison, 5-liter BMW M5 returns only 407 hp and 470 Nm moment. The 580 unit is paired with a seven-transmission with dual-clutch, which is borrowed from the BMW M3.

In addition, engineers from BMW M managed to reduce the weight of the vehicle up to 1830 kg, using some parts of the body, made of carbon fiber, the rear seats were removed from the cabin and new front seat of an ultra-light material were installed.

Dynamics of a lightweight version of the BMW M5 is kept a secret, but Albrecht Biermann said that the new product is much faster than the standard versions of M5, because the model passes one circle at the Nurburgring in less than 8 minutes, improving the usual BMW M5 by nearly 20 seconds.

“Today we are already in full working on next-generation BMW M5” – said Biermann. According to him they enjoyed when it was created, but the company’s plans do not include to produce the lightweight versions of M5.