Click above for high-res gallery of the Lexus IS 250 Sports Concept

At the ongoing Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, the same show where Australian sportscar-maker Elfin took the wraps off its new Type 5 Clubman, Lexus unveiled a new version of its IS 250 sports sedan called the Sports Concept.

Question: What's more intimidating than a group of Australian Police roaming the streets in search of drunken party-goers? Answer: Aussie Police driving Hummer H3s with the same intent... supposedly. The Hummers in question were provided by the General in all-black before getting custom livery from the authorities, complete with a blue-and-red flashing light bar on top. Police hope to be a bit more conspicuous in the SUVs, which will be prowling the nightclub districts in Melbourne. There may be a few problems with this scheme, as there will only be five such vehicles making the rounds and they are only equipped with the standard five-cylinder powerplant.

Mark your calendars, gearheads. The Special Broadcasting Service in Australia has confirmed that the first episode of Aussie Top Gear will air on Monday, September 29. The show will apparently have a regular slot at 7:30 in the SBS Monday night line-up, featuring all manner of Holdens, Ford Falcons and Elfin roadsters crisscrossing their way across the Outback.

All around the world, thousands upon thousands of automotive enthusiasts wait with baited breath, remote controls, YouTube clicks and torrent downloads for new episodes of Top Gear. Some satiate their cravings with Final Gear in the meantime, but as Clarkson and company seek to rebuild the British empire one commercial deal at a time, soon we'll have two new series to keep our interests piqued. Because not only are we getting our own version of Top Gear here in the United States, so our own mates down in Australia.

After holding the title for just over six months, the President of Ford Australia has resigned and is moving to the United States to "fulfill a career dream." President Bill Osborne, who took the position only in February, insists his departure has nothing to do with the fact that the company just announced 350 jobs will be cut at Victorian plants. Mr. Osborne is mum on where he is heading, although a company spokesperson said it is outside the automotive industry. Ford has not announced a replacement, but the new boss will have his or her work cut out as the Australian market adjusts from its high-horsepower diet to more fuel efficient vehicles. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

[Source: News.com.au]

Click the image above for a gallery of Axel Peemoeller's 3-D signage

Elvis lives. Tupac lives. And we have just discovered that M. C. Escher is also alive, well, living in Australia, and going by the name of Axel Peemoeller. Designer Peemoeller worked out the math to create, optically, directional signage that appears to hang in the air. Found in the carpark of the Eureka Tower in Melbourne, there's no technowizardy here, just a man with a can of paint and a few severely skewed letters. The result: mindbending. And bloody genius. Well done, Mr. Escher Peemoeller. Check out the gallery below for more of Axel's work.

Click above for photo gallery. Follow the jump for the video.

It wouldn't be correct to say that all Ferrari drivers can't drive. What we can say is that a lot of Ferrari drivers are probably not short of ego, and also probably have little idea of what their cars can do when pressed. Combine a robust confidence with a watching crowd, add a high-powered and sometimes testy car, thrown in a little bit of ignorance... and a pole.. and what you get is the image above.

Click above for a high res gallery of the new FG01 racing car