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Audi is aiming for market domination over the next few years: there will be 17 new models introduced between now and 2015. Due in 2010 is the A7, a 4-door coupe set to rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW's upcoming 8-series

The car's based on a new platform that will also form the basis for the next A6. Based around the MLP (Modular Long Platform) matrix unveiled on the A5 last year, it concentrates as much weight as possible within the wheelbase for optimum weight distribution.

Like the CLS, the A7 will utilize air springs in order to provide a luxurious ride. Powering that ride will be 3 choices of direct-injection gasoline engines: a 2.8 FSI V6, a 3.0L TFSI V6 and a 4.0L TFSI V8 (yes, please!). Diesel power will also be available by way of a 2.7L V6, plus turbocharged and, even better, twin-turbo'd versions of the 3.0: V6 TDI. Gear duty will be either a standard 6-speed manual or optional 7-speed twin-clutch or 7-speed automatic.

Along with a hybrid model that's in development, expect S7 and RS7 versions to follow in quick succession after the A7's introduction. The RS7 will use a tweaked version of the RS6's twin-turbo 5.2L V10, good for around 600hp.

Audi may be arriving slightly late to the 4-door coupe party, but they're arriving with style. AutoCar

Seems there's another new car in Jay Leno's garage this week: a Dodge Challenger SRT8 in gleaming black paint has been spotted in Jay's parking spot at NBC.

An eagle-eyed car-spotter saw the new ride - surrounded by barricades - parked out back of The Tonight Show studio. According to sources at Chrysler, Jay picked the car up at Valley Dodge in Van Nuys only yesterday but we've no doubt he's already put the 425hp, 420 lb-ft RWD monster to good use.

Of course, the real owner is actually someone totally different. We think it actually belongs to Nancy O'Dell, who parks right next to Jay, and they thought they'd play a trick on us... AutoBlog

Some industrious young fellow took the time to stand and video a TV screen just so you could experience the glory that is 7 minutes and 29 seconds of Nissan test driver, Tochio Suzuki, giving it his all as the Nissan GT-R conquers the German circuit in dry conditions.

Ask any 12-year old boy to name his top 5 cars and it's likely that a Pagani Zonda is on the list, even though the closest he's ever come to it is a Supercar calendar on the wall.

The Zonda R has been keeping Pagani's legendary performance front and center in our minds but, alas, it's a track-only car. Not much point in having a €1.2 million set of wheels if you can't cruise down Main Street for everyone to see.

That may, however, be about to change. Rumor has it that the Pagani Zonda Cinque is to be a road-going supercar for, well, the few. In fact, for only 5 lucky owners, to be precise.

The car will get the same 750 hp, 7.3-liter V12 that powers the Zonda R and will also don the R's carbon fiber body. Power + lightweight = 0-124 mph in 9.8 seconds.

And, all of this can be yours for the bargain price of...€800,000 (so figure about $1.24 million).

Seems someone over at Audi ain't too good at keeping a secret, given the recent leakage of a 2010 Engine Product Offensive from their Poland office. Of course, this may all be conjecture / hocus pocus / April Fool's Day in May, but interesting nonetheless.

So, what do we have in store?

Audi A1
In addition to the current 1.4 TFSI engines, the A1 will also receive a new 63kW (86hp) entry level 1.2-liter TFSI which is most likely based on the 70hp 1.2-liter engine that was recently shown in the new SEAT Ibiza at the Madrid Motor Show last week.

Audi S4 (B8)
The sports version of the current generation A4 will see the 4.2-liter V8 from the B7 generation get dropped, and instead, return to its B5 roots with the all new 245kW (333hp) 3.0-liter V6 bi-turbo TFSI. Available in Avant form as well as sedan, the S4 will be available in 6-speed manual transmission or double-clutch 7-speed S-tronic.

Audi S5
The Audi S5 coupe will keep its 4.2-liter V8 for now, but starting in September 2010 the bi-turbo 3.0-liter TFSI V6 as seen in the S4 will replace it. Despite the horsepower reduction from the V8's 260kW (354hp) versus the V6's 245kW (333hp), it's possible the weight savings as well as lower center of gravity of the smaller engine compensates for the reduction in output.

Audi RS5
Using the same 4.2-liter V8 in the current S5, the RS5 gets a massive 70kW (96hp) bump from 260kW (354hp) to 331kW (450hp). Such an increase suggests some turbo charging shenanigans are going on, however only the 7-speed dual-clutch S-tronic transmission will be available. The RS5 hits market in July 2010.

Audi A5/S5 Sportback
The A5 Sportback will be available with 1.8 TFSI to the 3.2FSI for the petrol and 2.0 TDI to the 3.0 TDI for diesels plus all of their variants in between. An S5 Sportback will receive the new 3.0-liter bi-turbo TFSI in either 6-speed manual or S-tronic7. September 2010 is the launch date.

Audi A7 Sportback
We have heard of the all new A7 model in coupe and cabriolet form, but this leaked document brings to our eyes for the first time the A7 Sportback. With only petrol and diesel V6 engines available from June 2010, a new 8 speed automatic transmission will be introduced on the 3.0-liter TDI model which launches in November 2010.

Audi S7 Sportback
Here's the blockbuster. The S7 Sportback breaks cover in November 2010, but it does not receive the 3.0-liter bi-turbo TFSI engine found in the future S4 and S5 models. Instead this baby gets an all new 4.0-liter TFSI producing 290 kW (394hp) with S-tronic7.

Audi A8 (D4)
The next generation A8 retains the same V8 engines and a new 8 speed automatic transmission is added.

Audi R8 Spyder
Hoping for a debut at this past Detroit Auto Show, the R8 Targa or Spyder was absent. Instead we saw the R8 V12 TDI Concept debut. However, according to this leaked document the 5.2-liter V10, which was recently spotted with it's engine in view, will be available in both Coupe and Spyder variants making 386 kW (525hp). The R8 coupe launches in June 2009 and the Spyder in March 2010, both with the R-tronic sequential gearbox.

Hit the link for some nifty charts showing what's coming when. WorldofCarFans

More pictures of the all-new Ferrari California roadster have been trickling out from Maranello. This time we get to see the car with it's roof down, mid-operation and closed.

The car's a 2+2 but I think we all know how small those back seats are going to be: good for a few bags and that's about it. The car retains a classic GT shape, even with the room required for the retractable hard top, that does its business in just 14 seconds.

Ferrari head honcho, Luca di Montezemolo, recently took the car for a spin around the company's Fiorano test track and, unsurprisingly, hailed it as a fabulous addition to the Ferrari model lineup.

"I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done," declared Luca di Montezemolo. "The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered. The California is, like all of our models, the epitome of cutting-edge innovation.

The car gets revealed in the flesh at the Paris Motor Show in October.

InsideLine have been at it again, slogging away at a job that any of us would do for free! This time around they've pitted the 2009 Nissan GT-R against...The Rest of the World. Well, almost.

The GT-R is up against the following 'wouldn't say no to having it in my garage' list:
2008 Audi R8
2008 Lotus Elise SC
2008 Porsche 911
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
2008 Subaru WRX STI.

The cars were put through their paces on a twisty 1.8 mile closed road course and at Willow Springs Raceway. Click the link to find out the results...but no prizes for guessing which car came out on top. InsideLine

2010 is the launch date for the new 'baby' Rolls-Royce, or RR4 as it's currently known.

Smaller than the Phantom, it's been developed at Rolls' Goodwood manufacturing facilities, which must be completely reconfigured to accommodate the smaller proportions of the new car, plus requires new paint, wood and leather shops to allow production of the new beaut alongside the existing production line.

Further design and engineering details are to be announced in 2009 but rumors have it being built on a derivative of the new 7-series platform, although the RR4 will be getting a brand new, unique-to-Rolls-Royce engine.

The recent spy photos and video of the Lexus LF-A being put through its paces at the Nürburgring have been whetting our appetites for the new 500 horsepower carbon fiber supercar.

However, that performance is going to come at a price, and a pretty steep one at that. According to InsideLine, the LF-A may have a sticker price of $225,000. That makes it more expensive than both a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Ferrari F430.

Evidently, Lexus is not shying away from playing with the Euro Exotic crowd, in either performance numbers or cost. InsideLine

The spy photographers over at KGP have been keeping busy over in the UK, where they spied a 2010 Jaguar XF-R just moseying along in traffic.

The cars rumored to be getting a new direct-injected, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that'll be good for at least 500 horsepower...meaning the M5s and AMG 63s of this world best keep an eye in their rear view mirrors, because this big cat will be coming up fast.

EdmundsInsideLine have been flogging the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 to within an inch of its life. Erm, what we mean to say is, they ran it through their usual battery of tests...but no doubt had a damn good time doing it!

Fairly hard not to when you've got a 552 horsepower 5.2-liter V10 engine at your disposal.

There's no mistaking the squared-off tailpipes of the Acura TL and a new one's been spied sporting minimal camouflage.

The basic shape of the car is reminiscent of the new RL and TSX, with bulging front wheel arches for a more aggressive look, plus a more-muscular character line running the length of the car.

We're not sure what the power plant will be but one thing's for sure: Honda Acura need to hit this one out of the park. The TL is the breadwinner for the company, and given its ability to include - as standard - all the features that require a checked box from competing auto makers, they have to be hoping for a home run on this one. Vtec

Spy photogs have nabbed plenty of shots of the new 2010 Mazda3, camo'd to within an inch of its life.

The car's set to debut this summer as a 2010 model and heralds a new design direction for Mazda that will eventually spread across the entire fleet.

Hiding among the camo are projector headlights, angled tail lights and, inside, a 6-speed transmission. Expect sportier lines than you've seen before when the covers finally come off.

Power-wise, Mazda's been tweaking their motors for a bump in power and for greater fuel savings. The 2.3-liter motor should become a 2.5, taking its horsepower up to around 175. Should be plenty of oomph, so long as the car sheds its protective shroud...not too good for aerodynamics, we think... LeftLaneNews

There have been plenty of spy pics in recent weeks, but now, for your aural pleasure, some video of Aston Martin's new Rapide, en route to the 'Ring, and doing laps, too. Love the exhaust note!

We love it when a 'design study' shows up as something that closely resembles a production vehicle. Such is the case with new spy photos of Audi's TT Clubsport Quattro that was originally showcased as a concept at the Wörthersee 2007 enthusiast meet in May 2007.

As with any move from 'fantasy' to 'reality', the production version is somewhat toned down...but not too much! It retains the speedster look of the concept with a wrap-around windshield, some very beefy fender flares and high roll bars behind the seats.

While the spy photogs didn't manage to get a look under the hood, the racing-style seats and big rims suggest there's some serious horsepower hiding under there. The concept used a 300-hp TFSI 4-cylinder mill...sounds like a good fit for the real version, too! AutoBlog