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After being sideswiped at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and suffering a a similar accident during a practice session last week, the Nissan DeltaWing was in danger of becoming known for its crashes more than its racing prowess or unique appearance. That's why we hoped the racecar, competing in only its second race, would finish the 1,000-mile endurance madness of Petit Le Mans.

Thankfully, the Nissan/Highcroft Racing team did more than just that on Saturday, running a flawless race at Road Atlanta and finishing in fifth place overall. The result could have been even higher if pass-around periods during full course cautions would have gone the team's way.

Despite finishing in the top 10 in qualifying, the DeltaWing was relegated to the back of the grid for the start of the race thanks to its unclassified status, but that changed quickly as the car went from 42nd to 8th in its first stint.

Drivers Lucas Ordonez and Gunnar Jeannette drove a smooth and steady race up to fifth place, the car's speed and efficiency helping greatly here. The DeltaWing has just half the weight and half the aerodynamic drag of a typical ALMS prototype, meaning the team could go further between pit stops and change tires less often.

Scroll down below to watch a video detailing the DeltaWing's historic finish at Petit Le Mans or check out our photos from the race in the gallery above.

Brothers From Another Mother Face Off

Not a single part is shared between these two crossovers.

We couldn't do this comparison test a year ago. No, not because the CX-5 is a new nameplate and all-new vehicle for the Mazda brand (okay, that's technically a valid reason), but because until now, Mazda's only small crossover offering was the Tribute – a rebadged version of the trusty last-gen Ford Escape. In fact, it's always been sort of tricky to put Ford and Mazda vehicles in the same comparison test, only because nearly every product in Mazda's stable could be traced back to some sort of Ford platform.

But with the two automakers having officially parted ways, Mazda was forced to create an all-new platform for a small crossover that would play in the same segment as the Escape. And under the lights of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show last November, both the 2013 CX-5 and 2013 Escape debuted, with representatives from Ford and Mazda alike reassuring us that not a single part is shared between the two crossovers, noting that the two companies were in no way involved in the development of each other's vehicle.

That in mind, we thought it best to pit the Escape and CX-5 against one another to see how the family lines have matured after the divorce.

The twisted minds at Bisimoto Engineering took one look at the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT and said, "Nice looking car, but , really? Only 148 horses out of 1.8 liters?"

And, with help from the folks from Hyundai, they began constructing the most outrageous Elantra ever built. Active ingredients include forged Arias pistons, Bisimoto con-rods, a Turbonetics turbocharger and an AEM water-methanol injection system with Bisimoto high-pressure injectors. All of that turns the respectable hatch into a monstrously obscene 600-horsepower beast.

"We focused on raw horsepower with this SEMA concept. We think the final product is a great example of just what can be achieved with turbocharging and engine tuning in the present day," says Hedi Kim, vice president, sales marketing at Bisimoto Engineering.

With that much power comes that much more of an opportunity for someone to hurt themselves with this thing. So with safety in mind, Bisimoto bolted in a JNF roll cage and a coilover suspension and sway bar. Racing seats and harnesses keep driver and passenger in place while the 18-inch Buddy Club P1 Racing SF wheels do nothing more than nicely fill the wheel wells. Aesthetics are further improved with an ARK custom body kit and some flashy Bisimoto graphics.

Expect Bisimoto's hellacious Hyundai to appear soon at the 2012 SEMA Show. Check the press release below for details.

For the first time ever, we've gotten a look at the convertible version of the upcoming C7 Chevrolet Corvette. The new Corvette was spotted while testing on public roads – seemingly in Michigan – with both a C7 coupe and a Porsche 911 as chase cars.

The new convertible is quite obviously carrying on with the softtop of its predecessors; and probably stows under a flush-fitting panel in the rear bodywork. The continuation of the fabric roof, rather than a retractable hardtop, is more than likely a way of keeping both curb weight and cost in check. Beyond its roof, this convertible version of the 2014 Corvette looks just like the cladded coupes that we've spied several times already, save for a new set of attractive five-spoke, dark-finish wheels.

And, after all the hubbub earlier this morning, we now know that the convertible will be powered by Chevy's all new LT1 small block V8. For those of you that missed it, that means at least 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque from the new, 6.2-liter engine.

Enjoy our new gallery of Corvette photos, and expect much more on the new model as we have it.

New details have emerged this morning regarding a partnership between General Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroën. Following talks that started back in February, the American and French automakers will apparently team up to develop several vehicles, including a small MPV for Opel/Vauxhall and a compact crossover for Peugeot. Also planned is a small car for both Opel and Citroën.

Additionally, the two companies will co-develop a low-CO2-emitting small car platform to underpin the next generation of Opel and PSA models. The detailed plans call out a midsize platform to be shared between Opel/Vauxhall and Peugeot/Citroën.

As much as $2 billion in savings are expected in the next five years as a result of this venture. In a statement from GM and PSA, "All four projects will be developed combining the best platform architectures and technologies from alliance partners."

"Beyond this, PSA and GM are currently sounding out whether to extend the cooperation potentially to other fields," a GM representative told Automotive News Europe. The first vehicles developed from this joint venture are expected by the end of 2016. GM's official press release on the partnership can be found below.

Ford is giving F-150 SVT Raptor owners and fans a chance to get better acquainted with the vehicle's capabilities. The Ford Racing Raptor Assault program puts drivers behind the wheel of the factory off-roader at Miller Motorsprots Park. The course includes eight acres of rock crawling, a 22-acre, high-speed off-road course and a 900-acre desert course. Instructors will work with drivers with varying skill levels for a unique experience. Participants can take part in a hot lap ride-along program or a three-hour Raptor Assault Experience that includes driving in both the rock crawling and off road courses as well as hot laps with a pro driver. A one-day school is also available.

Raptor owners will get special discounted pricing, which is a good thing given that prices range from $300 for the three-hour tour to $1,395 for the full day. Maybe there's a chance the school will help keep Raptor owners from carrying too much speed for their obstacles and breaking their trucks. You can head over to RaptorAssault.com for more information or check out the press release below.

Chevrolet is making huge news today, revealing most all of the details about its new, fifth-generation Small Block V8 engine – dubbed LT1 – the very mill that will power the upcoming 2014 Corvette. Note that we'll be updating this post all morning as the information keeps streaming in, so check back often.

Preliminary numbers suggest no less than 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.

The Corvette's new LT1 V8 engine is, no surprise here, set to make the car very competitive within its class. Preliminary numbers suggest no less than 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for the 6.2-liter engine, as well as an estimated 0-60 mile per hour time of less than 4.0 seconds when installed in the base C7. To put those numbers in perspective a bit: The LT1 not only has a far higher specific output than the 6.2-liter LS3 that it replaces – up at least 20 hp and 26 lb-ft – but its torque is seemingly competitive with that of the 7.0-liter LS7 that lives in the heart of the current Corvette Z06.

With all that power and accelerative performance, Chevy engineers are still keeping fuel economy in mind – with the help of cylinder deactivation, the new Corvette powerplant is expected to deliver more than 26 miles per gallon on the highway, though figures for city driving are still unknown. The new small block also benefits from the latest advanced engine tech like direct injection, continuously variable valve technology and a relatively high 11.5:1 compression ratio, all while coming in a claimed 40-pounds lighter and four inches shorter than the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 by BMW. Chevy also notes that while premium fuel is recommended, it is not required with the LT1. We're also told that a dry sump oil system is optional (a traditional wet sump unit is standard).

GM is calling the LT1 its most advanced combustion system ever. The company analyzed literally hundreds of systems to get to this final product, including crunching over 6 million hours of CPU time dedicated to combustion system optimization, and nearly 10 million hours when combustion, structure, cooling systems, lubrication and vent systems are factored in. In fact, the motor and its systems are so advanced that an academic SAE paper is being written to explain the whole shebang. The engine will also be built at the company's 75-year-old Tonawanda plant, which happens to be where Chevy's original small block V8 was produced way back in 1955.

There is a load of detailed information from GM, in our gallery of slides from the presentation this morning. Please excuse the lowish quality of the images here – we decided to err on quality in favor of bringing you all of the LT1 info we could, as fast as was possible.

The aging, oft-forgotten Mitsubishi Lancer won't get a replacement until sometime in 2014, but a new report states that the next-generation model could be a relatively drastic departure from the car you see here. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation President Osamu Masuko told Australian site The Motor Report that the new Lancer will be smaller than the current car, going in a different direction than the vast majority of other automakers.

"The new Lancer will be a very new car, and will be sized somewhere between the current model and its predecessor," Masuko-san told The Motor Report.

There are both pros and cons to this decision. On the plus side, a smaller car means the Lancer will likely have a weight advantage over other vehicles in its class. That said, Mitsubishi will need to find ways to maximize interior space and create efficient packaging in order to still have its compact sedan remain competitive with strong offerings like the Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and so on.

The Motor Report also suggests that Mitsubishi could use turbocharged and diesel engines in its new Lancer lineup, though it's unclear what exactly will be available in the North American market. When asked, a spokesperson for Mitsubishi told Autoblog that the US bureau "cannot confirm any plans on the Lancer for this market at this time."

BMW has announced plans to invest 200 million euro ($261 million by current exchange rates) in a facility in Brazil. The move is an effort to counter Audi in one of the world's quickest-growing markets. BMW says it plans to produces upwards of 30,000 units a year at the Santa Catarina factory by 2014, though that number could swell significantly if the automaker sees the demand. Audi, meanwhile is set to build 150,000 vehicles per year at its location in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico. Reports indicate that automakers are looking outside of the contracting European and slowing Chinese markets in search of more sales.

Ian Robertson, member of the BMW board said, "Brazil is a market with tremendous potential for the future for the BMW Group. For that reason, we are strengthening our long-term commitment to this country."

BMW has focused on emerging markets to help step up sales by 20 percent by 2016. The automaker originally announced its plans to build construct a facility in Brazil in 2011, but the move was postponed due to shifts in the country's tax codes. Now Brazil is offering new tax brakes to any carmaker that aims to invest the area.

Scroll down to read the full BMW press release.

Siri has made it pretty easy to do many tasks on your iPhone, but thanks to Viper Alarm, she can now help you start your car, too. Viper's SmartStart 3.0 gives any smartphone the ability to perform many remote functions on a car by using the alarm system's app, but only iPhone 4S and 5 users can get their car running simply by saying, "Siri, start my car." The future is now.

In addition to starting your car and locking and unlocking a car's doors, the latest SmartStart 3.0 now lets you know if you left a door open, send a reminder to start your car if it's cold outside and even use GPS to find your car from just about anywhere. The GPS function does require users to spring for a $399 GPS module and pay for a service plan, with prices ranging from $49.99 for a one-year basic contract up to $239.99 for a three-year premium plan. SmartStart alarm systems alone range in price from $399 up to $599.

Check out how Viper's new SmartStart 3.0 system works with Siri in the video below.

Jay Leno is a big fan of ICON machinery. The comic and TV personality has already featured vehicles like the ICON Bronco and Derelict DeSoto on separate episodes, and now owner Jonathan Ward has stopped by the Big Dog Garage to show off the company's latest creation: The FJ-44. Unlike the company's other efforts, the FJ-44 isn't based on any historical model. Instead, ICON engineered the four-door aluminum bodywork and has it manufactured by a separate supplier. The company's workers powdercoat the body for a little extra durability and plop an LS-series General Motors V8 under the hood with up to 420 horsepower.

If you want one, get ready to shell out $160,000 for the privilege. If we had the cash, we'd have one in the garage in a heartbeat. Leno seems impressed both by the craftsmanship and the vehicle's on-road manners, though the clip below doesn't venture off road. We imagine this creation would do just fine no matter where you pointed the nose. Check it out for yourself.

By all accounts, the 2013 Nissan Altima is an excellent vehicle, but that doesn't mean it couldn't benefit from the addition of a heady V8 under the hood. Nissan Motorsport has cured that ail by constructing four Altima racers for the Australian V8 Supercars Championship, each with their own 32-valve VK56DE engine in the nose. The bruisers will start campaigning next season, and will mark the first entry in the series from any brand outside of Ford or Holden in nearly twenty years. Nissan has already produced the first of its race engines, and the team is currently working on whipping up another 14 examples for the next season.

Nissan Motorsport is set to unveil the actual race cars next week, but until then, you can check out the video below. In it, the team shows off the progress that's been made so far, including cranking out body molds and building cage structures. Looks like fun.

Avid duck hunter Marc Heitz knows ducks would rather land on a pond already populated by ducks. Heitz is also a Chevy dealer, and when it came time to build a new facility, he figured car shoppers were a lot like ducks.

"When people see other people on our lot, they're comfortable stopping," Heitz tells Automotive News.

The best way to attract people to his lot, he theorized, was to give them reasons beyond cars and trucks. His Norman, OK showroom has a 45-foot waterfall, an aquarium stocked with local fish species and animal tracks on the floor lead to an arcade for the kids.

Outside the log-cabin-like dealership are bear and elk statues, a picnic area and two dog parks. It feels more Bass Pro Shops than car dealer.

General Motors agrees that it's certainly not your average Chevrolet dealership. And because the Heitz building doesn't have Chevy's signature blue cladding and gold bowtie, GM says it will not pay Heitz his $250,000 quarterly dealer-excellence incentive. A GM spokesman said the company will be glad to reinstate the payments if only Heitz will modify the building to be in compliance with the corporate branding plan, including removing the animal footprints.

"It would be like putting socks on a rooster," Heitz tells AN. And it looks like Heitz is no fan of footware for fowl. He said he doesn't understand why GM wants to mess with something that's working (his dealership sold 1,900 vehicles in 2011), and he has no plans to change anything. Even if it costs him around $1 million a year. Maybe that's what "Chevy runs deep" means?

Bugatti's Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is downright well-known around these parts. Not only have we reported on the 1,200-horsepower Veyron selling for a pretty penny at Pebble Beach, we've seen a funnyman Leno take one for a pleasure cruise in SoCal.

Apparently, Bugatti believes that the Grand Sport Vitesse is likely to be just as popular in South America as it has been elsewhere in the world, as the company has officially announced that it will be bringing the model to Brazil. Not wanting to merely send out a press release, the French supercar maker has gone and created a one-off Grand Sport Vitesse "Gris Rafale" to mark the occasion.

The new car has been finished in a fetching light shade of gray called Gris Rafale (French for "Gray Burst", with accent pieces done in striking blue carbon fiber. The interior treatment is a reversal of that motif, with blue leather and gray stitching. A special edition that only features a new colorway might seem like a weak effort for any other car, but on one of the most expensive, highest performance road-going vehicles of all time, we'll take it.

Scroll down to continue reading Bugatti's full press release.