Of course, with Fiat's name in America permanently corroded by the insta-rust cars sold here during the 70s and 80s, there's virtually no chance the company's products will ever return to this market.
Spied! Mercedes C63Audi already has a V8 monster called the RS4; BMW and Lexus are readying their V8-powered M3 and IS-F models. Mercedes can't afford not to have a super-high-performance version of its new C-Class sedan in the inventory. So here it is.
This is the C63 AMG with power from the same 6.3-liter V8 that's used in other AMG offerings like the S63, ML63 and E63. In the E63, this engine is rated at an epic 507bhp and backed by a seven-speed automatic transmission. If all that power comes over to the C63 (along with the expected suspension, tire and braking fortifications), the resulting performance could dwarf the 400bhp-or-so M3 and IS-F. But AMG may detune the C63 just to remain safely within the boundaries of known physics. Expect it here early 2008.
My FairladyResponding as it must to ever-improving competition, Nismo is campaigning V8-powered Fairlady Zs (350Z to us) in the Japanese Super GT Championship. That's right (and not for the first time), Nissan has built a V8-powered Z-car in order to go racing.
Running in the GT 500 class, the new Z runs a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8 replacing the turbocharged V6 from last year. The chassis has been modified to accept the bigger, badder engine and to provide a more solid foundation for competition.
Here's a piece of history: in 1981, Bob Sharp Racing, then Nissan's factory team in the United States, built a 280ZX powered by a 4.5-liter V8 engine-from the Japanese-market Nissan President luxury car-to compete in the IMSA's GTO series. And the primary driver of that car was none other than Paul Newman. Yup, the same guy who makes that tasty salad dressing and voiced a character in Cars. Unfortunately, the machine never had much success. Here's hoping Nismo has a better time in Super GT.
Audi-tudeAudi has pledged to compete with BMW and Mercedes-Benz in every market sector, hence the A5 coupe. The better news is this high-performance S5 version, coming to take on BMW's M3 coupe.
Naturally, the four-seat A5/S5 features Audi's signature Quattro all-wheel-drive system in a structural package based on the upcoming next-generation A4 sedan. There will ultimately be a convertible version to replace the soft-top A4. The basic A5 will be powered by the A6's 3.2-liter direct injection FSI V6 rated at 265bhp and backed by either a six-speed manual or CVT automatic. The S5 will get the 4.2-liter V8 from the S4, with addition of direct injection FSI technology as used in the R8 supercar. The S5's V8 should move to the beat of 350bhp and be mated to a new sequential manual DSG gearbox.
With the engine pushed further back than in other Audis, the 2008 A5/S5 promises to be the best-balanced machine to come out of Ingolstadt. Audi's US dealers will have them by the fall.