Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Spyker may have dropped out of Formula One, but they haven't lost that competitive spirit. Even before selling its F1 team to Kingfisher's Vijay Mallya, who rechristened the squad as Force India, Spyker was fielding the race-prepped sports cars in the GT2 category, The C8 Laviolette GT2-R (pictured above) has been their weapon of choice, in turn yielding the road-worthy LM85 which debuted at last year's Los Angeles show. But the niche Dutch automaker is reportedly preparing to step into the big leagues.

In the wake of Formula One's near collapse and the shock resignation of Indy chief Tony George, it'd be all to easy to assume these are the only two racing series in serious trouble. However, emerging reports indicate that they're only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

#saleschart { border: 0px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #saleschart td { padding: 7px; border-bottom: 0px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 100%;} #saleschart th.bottomrow { border-right: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart tr.features1 { border-top: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart td.bottomrow2 { border-right: 1px solid #333;} #saleschart th { font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #f3f3f3; border-top: 1px solid #333; }

It was the first generation of the legendary Z cars – 240Z, 260Z and 280Z – produced between 1969 and 1978. The 240Z itself was built between 1969 and 1973 and included four series.

Although already established in America as makers of economy cars and compact pick-ups, Nissan Motors Ltd of Japan – under the US guise of `Datsun’ to sound less Japanese - knew they needed an ‘image car’ to crack the US market.

In the late 1960s, designers started on a plan for a personal GT car, lifting aspects from other sports cars and putting them together in an affordable package. The E-type Jaguar and Ferrari Daytona were obvious influences.

McLaren has put up a job posting for a Senior Engineer for Powertrain Hybrid Technology on its official website, which may offer a few clues as to where the automaker may be heading in the near future for its road cars. As far as rumors go, this one seems pretty solid. According to an unnamed spokesperson quoted by Autocar:

While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn't plan to release its final rules and regulations for the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), otherwise known as Cash-for-Clunkers program, until July 23rd, Hyundai has decided that its customers don't have to wait. Alexandria Hyundai in Alexandria, VA has already accepted the first trade-in and doled out its first rebate. The clunker is a 15-mpg 1995 Ford Explorer, and Katherine Michon of Arlington, VA traded it in for a $4,500 credit on a brand new 26-mpg Hyundai Elantra Touring.

Delft University is the Brawn GP of solar-car racing, an outfit so singularly successful that it has won the World Solar Challenge four times in a row. The Dutch team is back with its newest car, Nuna 5, and has its sights set on a fifth title when the checkered flag drops later this year.

The Nuon Solar Team has its work cut out for it once Nuna 5 arrives Down Under. The race is more than 1,800 miles long (3,000 km to be exact) and runs between Adelaide and Darwin, directly through the Australian desert. The last race, in 2007, drew 57 teams from 17 countries.

It’s like Mad Max, but without all the leather or the violent fight for gasoline.

WHITE PLAINS, New York — The BMW Mini E is a solid little electric ride that provides a comfortable, effortless driving experience with all of the usual small-car perks, plus an ultracheap operating cost and a carbon footprint of zero (before you plug it in, anyway). But as a $50,000 two-seater with no head-turning quotient, the pitch for this first cousin of the Mini Cooper won’t be so much to our inner rock star as our inner Al Gore.

The company is not revealing too many details about the HSV E Series II upgrades but buyers can expect some visual and engine tweaks to deliver more power from the 6.2-litre V8 without sacrificing fuel economy.

Power is believed to have been lifted from 317kW to around 320kW but engine emission tweaks have delivered slight gains in fuel economy.

HSV spokesman, Simon Frost, says the company is focusing on fuel consumption but there will also be a number of significant visual improvements to the cars.

HSV managing director Phil Harding says the multi million dollar program includes "major visual differentiation and introduces at least five Australian auto firsts, a huge shot in the arm for the local industry".

"We know our customers want the latest technologies, as well as distinctive luxury and performance features in their HSV," he says.

Well that's one of the rumours coming out of Europe as BMW's M division moves into top gear for the next-generation M5.

Unlike typical regenerative braking systems, KERS uses the stored energy for extra power and the touch of a button.

The next-generation 5 Series upon which the M5 is based is expected to be shown at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show with the M5 expected to follow late next year or early 2011.

BMW Australia's Toni Andreevski says he's not aware of the next-generation's M5's specification, or powerplants.

Some reports have suggested BMW will downsize from the massive V10 to a twin-turbo V8 while other sources are suggesting the V10 will grow in capacity to 5.5-litres developing around 410kW and introduce direct injection and turbocharging.