New to American shores, car maker Lotus is wasting no time giving Americans what we have been begging of them for years. The Lotus Exige S, another model in the low weight, high thrills category from Lotus, is now boasting 220 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. Mounting the supercharger to the 1.8 liter Toyota sourced 4 cylinder engine provides a zero to sixty sprint of 4.1 seconds. Due to its lightweight construction, this nimble corner-carver will still achieve praiseworthy fuel economy, getting 25 mpg. Lotus initially had no plans to bring the S stateside, but the project has been rushed to have the car ready to debut this fall. Perhaps we will see it at the Los Angeles auto show. Expect to pay about a $6,000 fee to feel boost under the bonnet of your Exige. Stay tuned for more information, as we expect to see more discussion about this inbound corner-carver.

Ford's roster at next week's Paris Auto Expo will be stacked with some new blood and some redesigned faces. The 2007 Ford Mondeo, likely a European product only, is set to be the highlight of the show. The Mondeo is a mid-size sedan that draws upon cues from the new Ford S-Max MPV as well as the new Galaxy minivan. Set to be on display in a near production wagon form, it shows strong ties to the Iosis concept exhibited at the earlier auto show in Frankfurt. Why is this notable news, you may ask? Ford has declared that the Mondeo will drive other body styles and design updates across the vehicle roster. Other faces Ford will exhibit are: the new Ford Galaxy minivan, the production version of the left-drive Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, and a new Ranger pickup for Europe.

Porsche is only 2 years away from completely altering the dynamic of their automotive company because in 2009 Porsche will release their first ever 4 door sports car. To make the Panamera practical for everyday use, the engine will be moved to the front of the car. This change will allow for a traditional trunk with improved (over the 911) cargo capacity. Moving past the 4 doors, Porsche plans 20,000 units annually. The design of the car reminds me of a stretched 911 and a flattened Cayenne rolled into one interesting vehicle. Expect the Panamera to be marketed at a true sports car with all of the functionality of a 4 door daily driver while competing against the Mercedes CLS and the future Aston Martin Rapide.

How does one take a work of refined art and make it even more appealing? It's no simple task, but one group does have an answer. TechArt Automobildesign knows the Porsche lineup better than most and has achieved a stunning feat--they improved (yes, believe it) upon a limited edition, midengine Porsche Carrera GT. Starting inside the engine bay, TechArt applied some relatively tame modifications, including the addition of a modified intake system and a world-class stainless steel sport exhaust system. Promising gains are achieved as a result, with a boost in power from 612 to 635 horses.

The Volkswagen Scirocco is a mystery no more. The picture you see here is of the show car that will make its debut during the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Production is still slated for the 2009 model year so most of the details are still sketchy. What we know for sure is that VW's global 2.0 TSI mill will be used for most of the powertrain duties while a larger V6 might come later. Expect the price point to be at or just below 30,000 dollars.

Land Rover has released official pricing for the 2007 Land Rover Defender. Changes to the model were limited to areas that needed improvement: the interior and powertrain. A new 2.4L Common Rail Diesel increases power to 120 horsepower. However, torque output drops slightly to 265 lb-ft. Changes to the interior include a new "High Output" HVAC system and an optional forward facing 3rd row seat. Sadly, the Defender is not on sale in the United States. For more information on the Defender, follow the link to Land Rover U.K. website.

For most people, the coolest Ferrari has to be the recent ENZO. Super fast, stylish and extremely expensive for most. However, what if you could have the performance of the ENZO in a package that was custom built to your specifications, your tastes and your needs? Well, that is what the Pininfarina Company is doing for James Glickenhaus. Thanks to him, you can see some pictures of how his car was produced and learn a little more about the development of his car. The public unveiling of the P45 is expected to happen at this year Paris Motor Show.