At first, this prototype for the next-generation Porsche 911 didn't look like much. In fact, it didn't even look like a new test mule given all the 997-series bodywork. But look closer and it's clear there are a few changes to this prototype that aren't on the current model.

Most notable is the "double bubble" roof, although in this case it's less like individual bubbles and more like a dent in the middle. Also note the covered tail section and revised rear bumper. Hard to tell what's going on back there, but clearly some changes are in store as nearly every prototype we've seen has featured similar camouflage.

Spy video: Porsche 998 on the Nurburgring

One of the more unusual collections headed for Monterey this summer is the Nick Alexander Collection. A well-known Los Angeles car dealer, Alexander amassed what is considered one of the world's finest collections of pre- and post-war wood-bodied wagons. He even built a restoration shop near of one his dealers just to work on the various cars over the years.

In August, RM Auctions will offer 52 different vehicles from the collection, all with no reserves. In  other words, if you've always wanted a classic woody and you have the cash, this is the chance of a lifetime.

RM Auctions

The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place this weekend, July 3-5. You might not have booked your airfare to England yet, but fortunately you can use your friend the Internet to take a good look at what has become one of the foremost celebrations of automotive culture.

The Brits don't have a tradition of burnouts in the parking lot, so instead they do hillclimbs.  And the Goodwood Festival of Speed is essentially a 1.16-mile hillclimb in someone's front yard, only this someone is the Earl of March and his estate at Goodwood becomes a stage for fast cars, famous people, and everything that's good about a life with automobiles.You can get a glimpse of the Goodwood Festival of Speed with what the event principals refer to as The Movie. 

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Lost among all the talk about the sparkly "new" GM is the leftover business of the "old" GM. You remember that GM right? The one with all those pesky liabilities, old factories and unwanted brands.

Well, according to testimony by Albert Koch, GM's appointed restructuring chief, winding down the bad GM could cost "slightly in excess of $1.25 billion."

He went on to say that the wind down could take two to three years while CEO Fritz Henderson added that environmental concerns could push the amount even higher.

AutoObserver: "Bad" GM Wind-Down To Cost $1B Plus

The 25 names were determined by a 21-member committee that includes NASCAR officials and owners of the major speedways. The list not only includes drivers, but owners and promoters who helped build the sport as well.

The hall is tentatively scheduled to open May 11, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the first class of five inductees will be honored there when it opens.

Ken Squier will be hosting the special on Speed TV at 8 p.m., and fans will have a chance to cast their vote after the show on NASCAR's official site.  

The injunction was ordered after the judge determined there "the likelihood of a false positive was substantial." according to an AP report.

Mayfield owns his own team, but may not have enough funding to run at this weekend's Coca Cola 400 at Daytona.

Nascar.com: Mayfield has suspension lifted by federal judge

The company now offers the stuff -- from intake to exhaust and wheels to engine covers -- for IS convertible and GS models. Because the stuffy Lexus is somewhat unaccustomed to such tactics, we've helped the company by adding a coupon-appropriate red starburst to their sober looking coupon.

Lexus is distributing the coupon through enthusiast web sites and has also provided it to dealers directly for use. Feel free to print out the one below and take it into your local Lexus dealer. As per usual, some restrictions apply and it should be void where prohibited, whatever that means exactly. Oh, and it's only good in the 49 states of the union which are not considered islands. Sorry Hawaii, but we reckon you've got it good enough as it is.

Before we have had a chance to get our heads around the supremely weird 5 Series GT hatchback, crossover, tall-sedan thing-a-ma-bob, BMW has confirmed that it's going to bring the weirdness to the 3-series line.

Inside Line has the full details and some illustrations of the vehicle that's set to come to the U.S. in 2001. Who exactly will buy the 3 Series GT instead of an X1 or X3 or 3-series sedan or wagon is an open question.

Read all about the 2011 BMW 335i GT.

The news that the Chevrolet Camaro beat the Ford Mustang in June sales is being heralded by GM as some sort of breakthough, a triumph of good product over weak sales.

To some degree, GM has it right. The new Camaro is a compelling product and deserves some credit for getting buyers to pry open their wallets during one of the worst recessions of all time.

But let's face it, the Camaro hype machine has been running overtime for years now. From concept cars to movie cars to prototypes in the desert, the Camaro has enjoyed so much advanced publicity that anything less than a sell out would have been catastrophic.

To call a victory for the Camaro in the pony car war at this point seems a little premature. Let's wait until the early adopters get their cars and then see how sales pan out. Right now the overabundance of SS models being sold suggests that most of the buyers are true enthusiasts, but as we all know, it's the V6 models that end up carrying cars like the Camaro and the Mustang. We'll see how long that lasts. 

IL News: Hot Transformers Movie Means Wait List

Just in case you forgot that Pontiac was around for a very long time before the ax fell this year, check out this video tribute to the fallen brand.

A Tribute to Pontiac Motor Division

Infiniti's G Sedan achieves a near perfect balance between performance and comfort relative to price, and it can be tweaked with some of the best tech available in the entry-level luxury class -- everything from easy iPod integration to advanced safety features. But if the G Sedan has an Achilles heel, it's that many of the car's best electronics require adding expensive, bundled option packages onto the final bill.

On the 2009 G37x AWD Sedan we recently tested (sticker price $43,015), these options spiked the price by more than $7,000. And while you get a lot for that amount of money, you also can get stuck with stuff you don't want, which can tip the tech scale on whether to buy the G37 Sedan or a competitor.

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Jaguar's chief engineer of vehicle integrity Mike Cross will be piloting a bespoke XKR this weekend on the Goodwood hill.

Changes to the vehicle include an impossible-to-miss lime-green paint scheme, an enhanced exhaust, 21-inch alloys and a lowered ride height. XKR exterior graphics with satin graphite detailing finish off the one-off special edition.  

The Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from July 3-5, and Jaguar will also be bringing its 225 mph Bonneville XFR, 1957 Long Nose D-Type and one-of-a-kind XJ13.

After this morning's leak of the official photos, the BMW X1 didn't seem like much of a secret anymore. With than in mind, an official press release was sent out this afternoon with a few details on the upcoming crossover.

It's definitely headed to the U.S., but not until 2011. The X1 will offer both rear- and all-wheel drive and a variety of engines. Although BMW said the X1 will offer one gas and three diesel powerplants in Europe, it said the specific engine configuration of the U.S. model has not been decided yet. Sounds like BMW is waiting to see if diesels catch on, so far it hasn't been promising.

Last month NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was suspended for failing a random drug test prior to the race at Darlington. At the time, NASCAR wasn't specific about exactly which drugs were found in Mayfield's system, but the driver was placed on indefinite leave.

Today, an AP report says that NASCAR confirmed that Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamines after a court hearing on his suspension. "We will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jeremy Mayfield did violate the NASCAR substance abuse policy and tested positive for methamphetamines," spokesman Ramsey Poston said.

Mayfield's attorney is arguing that the positive test was the result of a mixture of Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Claritin-D for allergies. According to the report, that explanation has been repeatedly debunked by NASCAR's program administrator.

NASCAR Confirms Mayfield tested positive for meth