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.