I loved the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale a lot. It was the perfect blend between the standard 360 Modena and the Challenge (the racing version.) It was pretty clear that Ferrari is planning to apply the Challenge Stradale treatment to the F430, but the specifics have so far been unclear. Thanks to Autoblog Italy, we have some spy shots of the upcoming F430 CS.

While these spy shots don’t show much of an improvement aside from very minor aero improvements and a Challenge grill (see pic below,) the car is expected to push around 520 horsepower via a more powerful version of the current 4.3L V8.

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Spy photographers caught some pictures of the Nissan GT-R concept taking laps around the Nürburgring this week in Germany. due to be released as a 2008 model in Japan, the GT-R Concept is said to be powered by a 3.5 to 3.8 Liter Twin-Turbo V6, and carry over 450 hp.

Pricing is expected to be in the range of $70,000 and will be released in America shortly after the Japanese launch. I often hear comments such as “why would someone spend $70,000 on a Nissan?” Well, I suppose for the same reason that people spend $80,000 on a Dodge (Viper,) $70,000 on a Chevy (Corvette Z06,) or $80,000 on an Acura (NSX.) For some reason those cars seem to slip people’s minds. Chevy and Dodge are not premium brands, and people still buy their $80,000 cars. Gallery after the jump.
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Nihon Car & Bike shows us some pictures from Japanese car magazine “Car Top” of the upcoming Lexus IS500. It’s most definitely photochopped, but you get the idea. The first pic will be of the one we were shown, then it’s the original picture, from the IS350:

Great chop job, though, it looks really clean. Anyway, “Car Top” says the car will be powered by a 5.0L V8 pushing 420 hp and 405 ft-lbs of torque. Hopefully it will have better transmission choices. I haven’t driven the current IS line but I hear the “manumatic” tranny is terrible. I’m sure this will have a version of it, but the response time and other complaints of the current system should be fixed. I really like the style of the new IS line, and the fender flares and subtle rear lip spoiler look great.

A while back in June, I showed you the original spy shots and specifications of the 2008 McLaren-Tuned Dodge Viper, and later explained in an update that “the 2007 model year will be skipped, and it will return in 2008; starting production in January 2007. The Viper will have an exterior facelift and contain a McLaren tuned 8.4L V10 shown in the ASC Diamondback Viper. We can expect it to output anywhere from 600 to 650 hp, hopefully more, and run 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds.”

Spy photographer Brenda Priddy shows us a video on the site StreetFire.net of the 2008 Viper being tested. Sadly, they don’t do anything cool with it. No burnout, not even hard acceleration. Plus, it dies on them and they have to push it. Funny stuff. Anyway, I guess there still isn’t very much more information regarding it, other than what I previously reported. Check out the video here:

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The fine folks over at Winding Road seem to have gotten their hands on a few images of the 2008 Dodge Viper. Rumor has it that McLaren is somehow involved, which explains the estimated 600-650 hp rating (obviously a move to out-power the Z06, which embarrassed the Viper a bit.) Apparently there will be no 2007 model; the ‘08 will go on sale the first quarter of ‘07.

From Winding Road:

Behold the first images of a 2008 Dodge Viper development muel. Our source tells us that there wasn’t just one powertrain prototype here - there were at least four of these red-hot Vipers with a vinyl-covered camouflage hood and various wires and test gauges - but nothing could hide the huge vents on the hood.

Sources are telling us NOT to expect a 2007 Viper - that model-year will be “skipped� and the ‘08 models will make an early appearance within the first quarter of 2007. And we do know that Dodge wants to expand the horsepower in the Vipers, but the “what� and “how� are currently just rumors. One rumor floating around is that McLaren is involved and has been breathing on DCX’s V-10 engine to get it somewhere near 600-650 horsepower.