MotorTrend March 2008

■ Shocking Photos and Videos! Motor Trend’s “Future Shock” is just what enthusiasts salivate over-looks and specs on the hottest and newest sheetmetal. So after you’ve torn through the mag, go to motortrend.com for more visuals of the Cadillac CTS-V, Ford F-150, Hyundai Genesis, and Tesla Roadster, among others. If moving pictures move you, see our extensive video coverage of the 2008 Detroit auto show and our showdown between Subaru’s Impreza WRX STI and Mitsubishi’s EVO X at motortrend.com/multimedia/photos/gallery and motortrend.com/multimedia/videos MOTOR TREND…

“WE HAD A NUMBER OF OPTIONS OTHER THAN CHOOSING TOUGHER CAFE STANDARDS. NONE IS PLEASANT, EASY, OR INEXPENSIVE.” THEY SAY we get the politicians we deserve. Given the average American’s apathy toward the political process (we love to lecture the rest of the world about democracy yet many of our citizens can’t be bothered to exercise their right to vote), we sure deserve some doozies. But I’m not sure we deserve the dimwitted Michigan lawmaker who reportedly changed her no vote to yes on the 35-mpg CAFE laws because she once saw 32 mpg in the instantaneous fuel readout of her Buick and figured “we’re so close already.” Makes you shudder to think of the intellectual rigor with which she approaches other important pieces of legislation. So let’s forget the…

THERE WAS a time when no German maker except Porsche produced supercars—Mercedes AMG, BMW M, and Audi RS versions of high-volume cars are different from a bespoke sports car. Now all that has changed, as Porsche is going up against the mass-makers with the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sport sedan. The mass-makers see no reason why they should stay off the 911’s turf. So AMG begins testing its new Mercedes supercar early this year for launch about 2010. Codenamed R197, it’ll be cheaper than the SLR McLaren, though considerably more expensive than a basic 911. Its gullwing doors are most striking, but the whole body is entirely different from that of any other Mercedes. Power comes from AMG’s 6.2-liter V-8, already rated at 500-plus horses, with turbos if the market…

IT MIGHT soon overtake the Corvette ZR1/Blue Devil as the most-photographed future car of recent times. It’s worth showing again, because in this color, with a bit more of the camouflage removed, the first production Porsche sedan is looking better. Power will come from the Cayenne’s direct-injection gas 4.8-liter V-8 with VarioCam Plus valve control, rated 385 horsepower naturally aspirated and 500 with twin turbos. The Cayenne engine has been significantly redesigned to fit under the Panamera’s low hood, and there will be a gas V-6, probably Audi’s 3.6-liter, and likely available in an electric hybrid drivetrain. (Porsche remains diesel-averse.) Not so certain is whether Porsche will add a sporty wagon version, although one is under consideration.…

SO, WHO’S pushing for a mid-engine C7 Corvette? Not Bob Lutz. It’s Tom Wallace, the fourth-ever chief engineer in the 55-year history of the front-engine, rear-drive American sports car. GM is still far from locking in the next car’s design, he says. While most of our mail, spurred by the November issue’s “Corvette Manifesto” story, seems to be overwhelmingly in favor of retaining the classic layout, Wallace says half his mail is in favor of a mid-engine…Even so, the self-proclaimed king of the Detroit blogmeisters, who earlier this year claimed you could bet your house on the C7 being mid-engined, has now conceded that GM is currently looking at building a mainstream C7 with the traditional layout as well as a limited-edition, high-price, mid-engine, super Corvette. We say GM should…

CADILLAC is about to become General Motors’s technology leader. The parent company undoubtedly figured it should do that when accounting for the costs of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. You can absorb more cost with the sticker price of a Caddy, and besides, there’s that old tradition of trickle-down. So with that in mind, Cadillac hinted at its 2010 small-midsize crossover with a high-tech concept named Provoq (referencing the XLR/Evoq, of course). No, the production model won’t be called that, and it won’t be called BRX, either. Provoq rides on GM’s E-Flex architecture and features a hybrid electric/hydrogen-fuel-cell drivetrain featuring a 70kW front motor and two 30kW rear motors. Cadillac says it’ll do 0-to-60 mph in 8.5 seconds, top out at 100 mph, and run for 280 miles between…