we know, the upcoming Chevy Volt is likely to be assembled in the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant where the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS are currently built. As you may expect, those two models might not last too much longer, so the Volt is very important to the Detroit factory. The engine for the Volt, though, is expected to be built in a new facility which will be located near the existing Flint Engine South and Flint Truck plants, also in Michigan. Fortunately for the city, some three-hundred jobs will be saved. That engine will be a 1.4-liter four cylinder and should also make an appearance under the hood of the next Chevy compact, the Cruze, in turbocharged form. The total sum which GM will invest is $359 million and the plant will cover some 530,000 square-feet.

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Rex Accelero, a California tuning company, has unveiled a widebody kit for the SLK 55 that gives the vehicle a broader and more aggressive stance. The front and back fenders are 2.5 and 2.75 inches wider respectively allowing the car to house much wider wheels which gives the vehicle better grip and weight distribution when compared to the standard SLK. The kit will also offer a carbon fiber lip and rear diffuser in order to maintain the minimum weight but keeping its strength. The kit takes weight off the front of the standard SLK bringing it close to the desirable 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear. Seperate extras that are available to match the kit include a hood and rear spoiler. The company eventually plans to offer a complete mechanical upgrade at a later date to go along with the body kit. Pre-orders for the body kit begin next week on September 1st. Prices aren’t available yet.

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The Dodge Viper could soon be history -at least for the Chrysler Group, as according to an official announcement that was made this morning, the third largest American automaker said that it is ‘preparing to explore strategic options for the Dodge Viper business’. Here is what Chrysler LLC’s CEO Bob Nardelli said about the potential sale of the Viper to a third party: Continued

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A fully chromed –ok, it’s not real chrome just chrome paint- Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 pimped by the German tuning firm Hamann has been put up for sale by the London based luxury car dealer ‘Mayfair Prestige’. Even though we think it’s a terrible idea to begin with, the folks at the British used car lot actually believe that they can fetch a whopping £340,000 (about $625,200 / €426,500 with the current exchange rates), for the shiny Lambo. As they say, love is blind and with that much chrome, someone is bound to be blinded. See photos after the jump Continued

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Hyundai announced that it expects to sell up to 50,000 of the Genesis in the U.S. once both the sedan and an upcoming coupe version are in showrooms. “I think it’s reasonably achievable,” Hyundai vice president for product development John Krafcik told reporters. Krafcik said Hyundai could sell up to 20,000 of the sedans and 30,000 of the coupes annually.

The Korean automaker is counting on the launch of the Genesis to boost Hyundai sales and improve the image of the brand. The Genesis sedan, which starts at $33,000, went on sale in late June in the United States. Production of the coupe model will begin in December in Korea.

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With a 6.2L LS3 V8 producing 422 hp and 408 lb-ft of torque, the SS will be the cream of the Camaro crop for now and probably some time to come, as its power level puts the SS nearly on par with the base Corvette. While the Camaro SS may lack many of the Corvette’s other attributes, we’re fairly certain Chevy doesn’t want to start cannibalizing Vette sales.

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As the National Hydrogen Road Tour rolled through Rolla, Missouri, the first hydrogen filling station in the state was opened. The station - located at the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s E³ (E-cubed) Commons - will be supplied with compressed gaseous hydrogen by Linde North America. The University is working with several government agencies and the Gas Technology Institute to research hydrogen as a transportation fuel. Linde also supplies liquid hydrogen for the fleet of BMW Hydrogen 7s. Linde and the Gas Technology Institute are collaborating on work to commercialize hydrogen distribution.

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 You’d think that the standard Audi RS6 Avant’s 580HP turbocharged V10 5.0-liter engine would be more than adequate for most petrol-headed drivers. Well, apparently ABT doesn’t seem to agree as the German tuner introduced an insanely beefed up version of the RS6  Avant that delivers an output of 700 HP and a maximum torque of 800 Nm or 590-lbs/ft (standard car: 580 Nm or 427.8-lbs/ft). According to ABT, the tweaked RS6 Avant can “fly” from zero to 100km/h or 62mph in a breathtaking 3,9 sec (standard car: 4,6 sec) and on to a top speed of 320 km/h or 199 mph.

As expected, ABT also offers a range of accessories for the RS6 Avant including 20-inch alloy wheels available in various designs, a carbon fiber front lip spoiler, a carbon fiber rear diffuser, a rear wing and a custom made rear muffler with four tailpipes in matt black finish.

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Who could have imagined back in 1957 that so many contemporary Chevrolet Bel Airs would still be driving the roads of America a half century later. Something about those models seems to compel their owners to preserve them and then bring them out for cruise nights all these decades later. They aren’t the only cars being preserved, as the classics that participated in yesterday’s Dream Cruise clearly demonstrate. Check out the best classics we came across on Woodward Ave. in the gallery below. See photos after the jump Continued

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