Spy VIDEO: Nissan 370Z caught in Arizona

Click above to see the Nissan 370Z in action, briefly.

As far as we know, the 2009 Nissan 370Z is due to be unveiled at the LA Auto Show later this year, so it comes as no surprise that testing is well underway. Our new friend Ryen was able to briefly catch a cloaked mule on highway 60, leading through Phoenix, Arizona yesterday, and although the video after the jump is brief, the VQ37HR-powered coupe does look a bit shorter than its predecessor, lending credence to the rumors we've heard since 2007.

As reported previously, the 370Z will be powered by the same 3.7-liter V6 found in the Infiniti G37, so output should be up and over 330 hp, with torque cresting the 270 lb.-ft. mark. The new Z will be shortened by five to seven inches, losing about 220 pounds in the process.

Hit the jump to view the video and check out BestCar's recreation here.

Gallery: Nissan 370Z teasers

Continue reading Spy VIDEO: Nissan 370Z caught in Arizona

Production Camaro details coming on July 22nd

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevy Camaro concept.

We're admittedly tiring of the Camaro hype machine, but we can't fault the fanboys at 5thgen.org for keeping their pot of excitement on boil. The site threw up a countdown to the announcement of the production Camaro on July 22nd, which apparently will be held at all domestic Chevrolet dealers through a two-hour satellite broadcast. Retailers will be given all the details on the Camaro at that time and according to a source, "real orders for real cars" will begin being accepted.

Gallery: Chevy Camaro Concept

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Camaro - spy shots

Gallery: 2010 Camaro in Production

[Source: 5thgen.org via Jalopnik]

Suzuki Carry drifter: it's O-KEI!

As Autoblog's resident kei car fanboy, I like to share news and links about the diminutive forbidden-fruit rides whenever something interesting pops on the radar, like yesterday. Today, it's just a photo, courtesy of the gang at Speedhunters. The tiny kei pickup is a Suzuki Carry, which, in the hands of a normal business owner, does precisely that. This one's obviously a wee bit more specialized though, as the rear wing and roll bar suggest. This little work truck's job is drifting. It might look wrong, but there's something so right about it. Who says you need triple-digit horsepower to have fun? [Source: Speedhunters]

eMercedesBenz Feature: The 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Racing Sport Coupe

The Le Mans 24 Hour race has been ranking among the motor sport season's highlights ever since 1923. The competitors – and even more so the winners – have always attracted the undivided attention of the spectators as well as of the buyers, victory in Le Mans being equivalent to a boost in both image and sales figures. In 1952, Daimler-Benz AG entered three of the newly developed, futuristically designed Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports coupes in this traditional long-distance race. The competitors were taken by surprise but not disquieted because first of all, Mercedes had never before done particularly well in Le Mans, and secondly, the cars from Untertürkheim were inferior to the cars of the French, British and Italians in terms of performance. Nevertheless, however, Mercedes again faced up to the competition. The new SL cars had demonstrated speed and stamina for the first time in the Mille Miglia in early May and finished in a respectable second place in this renowned long-distance race. The 300 SL hit the headlines again with its triple victory in the Bern Grand Prix.

America’s Favorite Cars

CNN Money, as they like to do, has compiled another list of cars. This time based on JD Powers surveys taken within the first 90 days of ownership of a car.

Buyers are surveyed within 90 days of purchasing their new autos. They’re asked about 80 different vehicle attributes. Historically, cars that score high on this survey tend to sell well without needing heavy incentives, according to J.D. Power.

I’m having a hard time believing this, since usually JD Power aren’t the best of friends, but the Clubman actually holds the top spot for the compact car segment!

Not surprisingly, the Mini’s exterior design was a favorite point among owners.

The engine and transmission also earned praise.

It is nice to see this. After spending quite a bit of time with the Clubman, I think it’s a very nice car.

[ The cars Americans love best]Money.cnn.com