Ford Video Teases Limited Run Focus RS500 with ~350HP

In five days from now (that's March 31), Ford will officially reveal the Focus RS500, a limited run version of the highly appraised Focus RS with a tweaked 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five rumored to pump out somewhere around 350 horsepower.

In standard form, the RS's five-pot produces 305 ponies with power transferred to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Not much else is known about the Focus RS500, but we expect to see the special edition model featuring other mechanical as well as styling changes over the 305HP version. You can get a taste of the Euro market RS500 in the teaser video after the break.

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One Hell of a Fender Bender: Pagani Zonda S Crash Turns $445,000 Repair Bill

Fans of Pagani's Zonda (that is, everyone) may want to turn away. In what could only be called a crime against nature, this Pagani Zonda S is said to have hit spun out and gotten intimate with a pole. That's what you call an "Oh sh!t" moment.

The result: one of the largest insurance claims filed for a privately-owned car in the UK (at £300,000 / ~$445,000), according to insurer Aviva.

Also, it's been said that the person behind the wheel was taking it for a test drive and that the owner was riding shotgun...

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Renault Prices Twingo Gordini 133 from £14,500, Only 200 Examples for the UK

Renault has announced UK pricing for its 'chic' version of the Twingo RS 133 with the Gordini signature. Available to order from April with first deliveries in June, on-the-road prices for the Twingo Gordini RS start from £14,500.

The "all-show, no-go" Gordini nameplate adds a Malta Blue metallic finish with twin white racing stripes and unique 17-inch alloy wheels. Furthermore, the front and rear bumpers are enhanced by gloss black centre sections, while the fog light surrounds, door mirrors housing and rear spoiler are all highlighted in a contrasting white finish.

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2011 Scion tC: Preview Pics Before New York Show Debut

Found on The College Driver, these pics appear to be a sneaky peeky at Scion's 2011 tC. It and a Scionized iQ should be popping up any day now.

You can tell by scrutinizing the interior details that some of it has been refreshed. The automatic tranny gets whatever you call the up/down sport-shift mode, and the HVAC knobs are more in-line with other current products.

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Mercedes-Benz Launches 2011 E-Class Cabriolet Miniatures

Tying in with the European market launch of the 2011 E-Class Convertible on March 27, Mercedes-Benz has released a new series of diecast miniature models of its soft-top four-seater that are available exclusively at the firm's dealerships on a scale of 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18.

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New York Show Preview: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Teased, gets Angry Fascia

Coming up in just a few short days will be the official reveal of Hyundai's Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive, along with a high-line 2.0 liter turbocharged Sonata.

The HBD's power mill is rumored to be the Sonata's 2.4 liter unit (usually making a naturally-aspirated 198 horsepower) hooked up to a hybrid system that uses LG Chem's air-cooled lithium polymer batteries. Why are they so speacial?

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XX-Rated: Ferrari 599 GTO Photos Leaked ?

[UPDATE - Apparently the photos of the 599 GTO are the real deal as the head of Ferrari's notoriously friendly legal department sent us a not so friendly email requesting the removal of the pics on the premise that they were shot inside a private area, a.k.a. the Italian automaker's Maranello factory. In other news, all pictures of the 599 GTO are available on the internet.]

As the world gets closer to the official reveal of Ferrari's 599 GTO, and just a short while after the price list was leaked, the internet has spewed out what appear to be pics of an official GTO show car.

Distinguishing features appear to include a new wheel design, duck tail spoiler and design cues straight off the 599XX (such as the matte black roof, extra cooling vents in the hood/fenders, angry rear diffuser and other aerodynamic bits). Too bad we can't see the face and driver's compartment. Anyway, we're sure those will show up soon enough.

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