VIDEO: 2012 Lamborghini Jota / Murcielago Spied Screaming Around the Nurburgring

Earlier this week, we showed you a batch of spy photos of next year's Lamborghini Murcielago replacement that may or may not be called Jota, as some sources suggest. Today, we bring you one of the first videos of a prototype model being driven on and around the hallowed Nordschleife race track - and yes, that's a Porsche 911 taking a shot at it from behind.

You can read the full story and check out the scoop gallery in our previous post here, but as a refresher, Sant'Agata's new range-topper is said to benefit from a more powerful V12 engine as well as a lightweight composite construction. The Italian supercar is expected to make its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Salon next March.

Via: es.Autoblog

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2012 Chevrolet Camaro Caught Wearing LED Tails and Fatty-Bo-Batty Side Mirrors

We've already shown you video of the 2012 Camaro Z/28 doing its thing on the Nürburgring, and now there are more spy pictures of the facelifted model it could be based on. Other than the appropriately modern-looking LED taillights [voice your thoughts below], the updated version of Chevy's own pony car is believed to also benefit significantly from a yet unseen refreshed interior.

Besides the rear lights and diffuser-mounted reflectors, the major update is a pair of the most obtuse, minivan-ish side mirrors ever (EVER). Hopefully those are just for testing / Euro market purposes, but that's probably not the case.

Other improvements for the 2012 model year should include engine/suspension tweaks as well as more special editions (this competes with the Mustang, after all).

As soon as we know a little more, we'll let you know. Until then, how about we get some brainstorming going on regarding the interior? I'll go first: less cheap plastic.

By Phil Alex

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BMW Sends Draped 1 Series M Coupe for a Photo Shoot in Paris

Welcome to another round of insignificant teaser pictures of BMW's upcoming 1 Series M Coupe. This time, the Bavarians took a pre-production version of the high-performance compact coupe over to the Arc de Triomphe, just off the Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, for a quick photo shoot. Once again, the car was fully wrapped so nothing really new to see here. And before you ask, we don't know anything about the man or the young woman posing with the car.

BMW hasn't really given out any specific details about the car, but we do know it will be powered by a turbocharged straight six producing somewhere around 350-ponies with the Germans also hinting that it's meant to be a spiritual successor to the original E30 M3 of the late 1980s / early 1990s.

The newest member of BMW's 'M' model family is scheduled to be launched into the market sometime next year.

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Lamborghini's Geneva-bound Murcielago Successor Spied

Here are some spy pics of the Murcielago's lighter successor getting ready to do some track time at the Nürburgring. Whether or not it'll be called the Jota is yet to be properly established, but it won't be long before we find out as the new majority-composite Lambo flagship is pegged to make its world debut at next year's Geneva Salon.

Could the Murcielago/Jota seen here be powered by something other than a mid-mounted V12? Not likely. Instead, we should see direct injection involved to improve efficiency and create upwards of the Murcielago SV's 670 horsepower.

The front will maintain the edgy lines found on all the most recent Lamborghinis, while the rear will get wide, black mesh intakes and a wide-mouth center exhaust tip.

"Razorback" glass slats above the engine are possible, and for now the doors are still a mystery. While the V12 is guaranteed, there have been rumors that Lamborghini may kill the scissor doors for more conventional units. If they do, they had better form a bull's horns when opened like the Miura's units.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann knows Lamborghinis can occasionally be impulse buys, so keeping mum on future model info could hurt sales to those consumers who need to have the first of everything. In an interview with Car magazine earlier this year, Winkelmann said: "We never talk about the future. The point is, we sell emotions. If we talk about what might happen, they might wait. And that's not good."

By Phil Alex

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Sigh... Viral Marketing Tricksters Knock on our Door with a Kia Called Mediocrity

We not sure how Kia's marketing people are going to feel about this one (unless they're part of it...), but photos of an older generation Optima covered in beige cladding and featuring a badge with the word "MEDIOCRITY" have just landed in our mail box. Tony B, the tipster-reader-scooper who sent in the photos, claims he snagged the car in LA.

Of course, it didn't take long to figure out that this is a viral campaign of some sort. However, since we're gearing up for this week's Paris Motor Show, we're not going to waste our time looking for answers about a covered up Kia...

Nonetheless, this is what we know: the photos we're shot on September 10; a similar set of images along with an almost identical text were also sent to Motorauthority (even though they mistook it for a "seven year old" Mitsubishi). See both texts below:

From Tony to Carscoop:

"I was in LA last week and saw 3 or maybe 4 identical test cars. The other spy cars had more testing gear taped on and computers and other screens visible, but by the time I was able to find my camera , I was only able to catch up with one of the cars.

I don't know what kind of test car this is, but they sure didn't want us to take any pictures. There was a M on the grille and a nameplate on back reading MEDIOCRITY. Are they serious? MEDIOCRITY?"

From Tina to MA:

"I was in L.A. last week with my husband and we saw several (5 or 6) identical test cars. The other spy cars had more testing gear taped on and computers and other screens visible, but by the time I was able to dig my camera out of my purse, I was only able to catch up with one of the cars.

I don't know what kind of test car this is, but they sure didn't want us to take any pictures. There was a M on the grille and a nameplate on back reading MEDIOCRITY. Are they serious? MEDIOCRITY?"

And well, that's about it. Feel free to have some fun in the comments section below.

"Scoop" Pictures:

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2004 Kia Optima:

Saab 9-4X Crossover Spied in Production Form Prior to Los Angeles debut

Here are some snapshots of the next Saab vehicle to help justify the brand's survival, the 9-4X crossover. Seen here in production guise before its LA Auto Show debut in November (unless Saab surprises us in Paris...), what we've got is a nice, safe, smart step in the right direction for the brand.

While nothing is official yet, the 9-4X engine lineup should include a ~180-hp 1.6-liter Turbo, a ~220-hp 2.0-liter Turbo, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel. A 300-hp 2.8-liter V6 may also show up, and we can expect transmissions to be 6-speed manuals and automatics in a front- or all-wheel drive layout.

From the pics, the new Saab crossover looks to stay fairly true to the 9-4X BioPower concept by showing off Saab's new rear end styling; we can clearly see its full-width taillight setup and hockey stick C-pillar. Up front is more of the same, with the only concession appearing to be smaller front fog light openings.

Also, the propeller-inspired rims are a nice touch that symbolize both Saab's aviation heritage and its new ownership by Spyker. All in all, this appears to be a welcome addition to the new Saab product range.

With a Jason Castriota-penned 9-3 on its way and possible BMW power in the pipeline, Saab looks to be viciously clawing its way back up a slope that it was so carelessly pushed down by GM.

By Phil Alex

Source: Saabsunited [Photos: Djup Strupe]

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Gallery: 2008 Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept