Rolls-Royce edition Mini reportedly confirmed for custom order

Mini Rolls-Royce special for Park Lane – Click above for image gallery

It's been about half a year since the initial reports of a Rolls-Royce edition Mini first surfaced, and nearly as long since the first batch of photos emerged. But rumors persist, and now reports from the UK indicate that mutual parent company BMW has given the green light for a series of Rolls-style accoutrements for the iconic retro-hatch.

Following market trends that seem to indicate that, in Europe especially, buyers aren't willing to give up on luxury when they go for more compact, fuel-efficient rides, the specially-trimmed Minis would offer customers a range of customization options suitable for a Phantom yet packed into a Cooper. But rather than outfitting Minis with stock luxury trim packages – like Aston Martin is preparing to do with the iQ-based Cygnet – the exclusive Mini hatchbacks would be outfitted at the Rolls-Royce factory according to individual customer orders. Clients would be able to choose from the best leathers and veneers to give their Minis a more upscale feel, much like the coachbuilt Minis popular amongst British celebs like Harold Radford and The Beatles in the '60s, but available through established dealers in a more organized fashion.

Unfortunately, that's about all the information available at this point, but sources suggest a public announcement sometime next year.

Rolls MINI for Park Lane

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Renault could sell 40% of its F1 team to Russian investors

A few weeks back, Toyota announced its departure from Formula One, and it looked like Renault could follow. The team had lost its drivers, its team leaders, its sponsors and its reputation. The French automaker's board convened in France to discuss the matter, but no announcement followed, leaving everyone scratching their heads. Well if the latest rumors hold any truth, we could have our reason.

While the decision may have seemed fairly black or white (should I stay or should I go?) there are plenty shades of gray for Renault to choose from. One option would have been to sell or shutter its team while continuing to supply engines, but now another possibility has emerged: for Renault to sell part of the team but keep the rest.

The reports stem from Turun Sanomat, one of Finland's largest daily papers, which suggests that the French automaker could sell as much as 40 percent of the team to an unnamed Russian company. The move would help Renault raise some much-needed capital to continue its involvement in the sport, but could come with strings attached, including placing GP2 runner-up Vitaly Petrov in a race seat beside Robert Kubica. Considering the hot water Renault's already in with the Russians and how poorly the country's last venture into F1 went, they could prove hesitant, but then Ghosn and company might not have any better options.

Ford Mustang details leak out 2010

We have to wait a couple more weeks before we're officially "in the know" about the 2011 Ford Mustang, but it appears FoMoCo's secret information dam has a few cracks in it. Ford recently released its fleet distribution news bulletin and it offered some insights as to when the refreshed Mustang is coming and the new variants on offer. The bulletin states customers will be able to order their 2011 Mustang on January 18, 2010, with Ford's favorite stallion tentatively entering production on March 15, 2010.

The alleged news bulletin also mentions some of the new model variants on the way, including the return of the California Special. There will also reportedly be an SVT Performance package, three available 19-inch wheel options, an available six-speed automatic transmission and a Brembo Brake package. The SVT package includes 19-inch wheels, an RR spoiler, "Over the Top" stripe delete and a 3.73 limited slip. The order form also appears to confirm that the 2011 Shelby GT500 will continue to use the 5.4-liter V8 engine, which we hear will be of the all-aluminum variety. We'll learn a lot more about the 2011 Mustang when Ford reveals its vastly updated pony car at the LA Auto Show in early December.

Range-topping Lamborghini Urus rumored

2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

So you like the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, but you're struggling to justify the price. After all, it may be just as fast as the Reventón, but it only costs a third of that range-topping bull. You like that it's the latest limited-edition hypercar from Sant'Agata Bolognese, but will everyone think you're slumming by not getting the most expensive bull in the barn? Come to think of it, maybe you can hold out for the Reventón Roadster, which should easily surpass the coupe as the ne plus ultra in the Lambo lineup. Of course, you could just stick with your ordinary LP640-4 or LP650-4 Roadster a little longer and wait for the Murcielago replacement in a year or two.

When that so-called Jota finally debuts, it will bring with it a new carbon fiber chassis and an equally new direct-injected 6.0-liter V12 thought to be good for at least 700 horsepower. Yeah, that's probably the way to go. After all, the economy isn't exactly the best right now and plunking down $1.5M for a new car might make others unnecessarily envious. Haters. Of course, if you wait too long, you might find yourself debating waiting a little longer still for the Jota-besting halo car from Lamborghini, the rumored Urus.

CARS UK is quoting "a source close to Lamborghini" when they talk about this new halo vehicle, which is expected to take on all comers, especially that "FX70" Enzo-replacement coming out of Maranello. Using a modified Jota chassis, the Urus will go on an even stricter diet to make it a featherweight lighter heavyweight. It will drop the few bits of aluminum that are expected to be used on the Jota and go all carbon fiber. That, active aerodynamics, and a nearly 800 horsepower version of the Jota V12 in its engine bay should allow the Urus to challenge even the Bugatti Veyron with a sub-3-second 0-60mph time. The real question becomes -- Can you wait until 2012 for the Urus or will you buckle a year earlier and pop for the Jota in 2011? You know what, just get both.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

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Audi has erected a special temporary art museum for the design show

Audi pavilion at Design Miami - Click above for high res image gallery

Audi's centennial celebration is winding down, but the German brand isn't quite ready to switch off the lights. There's at least one more big model debut planned for its 100th anniversary, and in just over a week Audi will pull the sheets off the all-new 2011 Audi A8. Although the uber-sedan will take the stage at the LA Auto Show in two weeks, the world will get its first official look on the opposite coast at Design Miami.

Audi has erected a special temporary art museum for the design show, providing a backdrop for the unveiling of the brand's new flagship. According to Audi, the sedan will be surrounded by an exhibit from the Rubell Family collection called "Beg Borrow and Steal." There will also be an installation called the "Light Light" made of LEDs and aluminum -- a fitting tribute to the new A8's aluminum structure and LED lighting. So far, all we have is images of the Audi pavilion and a few teasers of the sedan, so stay tuned for more next week.

SPEED World Challenge GT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

2009 SPEED World Challenge GT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With various racing series coming to a close this month, the Mustang has proven its worth on track by bringing home two major road racing championships. This past weekend Brandon Davis secured the 2009 SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT title in only his second season with a fourth place finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Davis, who was racing in the new 2010 ACS Mustang that debuted a few weeks earlier at Road Atlanta, only needed to finish in eighth place to guarantee the championship and beat out Porsche driver James Sofronas.

In the Grand-Am Koni Challenge series, the Mustang FR500C also captured not only the driver title, but also the team and manufacturers' championships for the second straight year. Rehagen Racing sat atop the driver and team points lead with a sixth place finish at Virginia International Raceway, and the win by JBS Motorsports helped put Ford just one point ahead of BMW in the manufacturers' standings. Mustangs won five races during the 2009 season and finished on the podium eight out of eleven races.

We didn't make it out to VIR for the Koni Challenge race, but we were on hand at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to watch the SPEED World Challenge race with cameras at the ready. Check out the high-res gallery below, or tune into SPEED TV on November 3 at 2:00 pm EST to watch the race yourself.

Gallery: 2009 SPEED World Challenge GT at Laguna Seca

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would pay $150 million and receive Hummer

2009 Hummer HX concept – Click above for high-res gallery

Last week, it was reported that General Motors had signed a definitive agreement to sell Hummer to Chinese machinery manufacturer Tengzhong. The Chinese company and its partner in the deal, Lumena Resources Corp., would pay $150 million and receive Hummer and its intellectual property, ownership of U.S. franchise agreements, and manufacturing, business, and component assistance during a four- or five-year transition period.

The questions being raised now concern what is happening on the other side of the Pacific. The Chinese Commerce Ministry reportedly hasn't received Tengzhong's application to officially bring Hummer home, which has led observers to wonder if there will be a holdup or reversal of the deal. According to a Hummer representative, however, Tengzhong had to finalize the deal with GM before it could present it for approval to the Chinese authorities:

Gallery: Detroit 2009: HUMMER HX in the design studio

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Rockstar Energy Drink Drift captain Stephan Papadakis comes charging

Autoblog goes drifting with Tanner Foust – Click above for high-res image gallery

"It feels like I'm down on power!" yells Tanner Foust in the general direction of the gathered throngs containing both his crew and assorted media. Tanner and myself are currently five-point bolted into his new stock car-engined Formula D Scion tC. We've just exited an aborted lap around the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale because something – so says Foust – is amiss with the car.

Rockstar Energy Drink Drift captain Stephan Papadakis comes charging towards the Scion and begins earnestly, if not frantically, checking the car's vitals through the steering wheel's digital readout. Steph floors the motor a few times, checks the numbers and exasperatedly tells Foust that everything looks fine. "Oh," says Tanner, patting me on my beer belly. "Must be him." Very funny, jerk.

Gallery: Autoblog Goes Drifting with Tanner Foust

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Rockstar Energy Drink Drift captain Stephan Papadakis comes charging

Autoblog goes drifting with Tanner Foust – Click above for high-res image gallery

"It feels like I'm down on power!" yells Tanner Foust in the general direction of the gathered throngs containing both his crew and assorted media. Tanner and myself are currently five-point bolted into his new stock car-engined Formula D Scion tC. We've just exited an aborted lap around the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale because something – so says Foust – is amiss with the car.

Rockstar Energy Drink Drift captain Stephan Papadakis comes charging towards the Scion and begins earnestly, if not frantically, checking the car's vitals through the steering wheel's digital readout. Steph floors the motor a few times, checks the numbers and exasperatedly tells Foust that everything looks fine. "Oh," says Tanner, patting me on my beer belly. "Must be him." Very funny, jerk.

Gallery: Autoblog Goes Drifting with Tanner Foust

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