Autodelta tuning company has given the Alfa Romeo 159 a boost, creating the Alfa 159 J4 3.2 C. The 159 now has a compressor with intercooler attached to the 3.2-litre JTS V6 engine with 260 hp. The effect is an increase in power to 352 hp and a maximum torque of 435 Nm.

In addition to the technical updates, the Alfa 159 gets modifications to the chassis, brakes and suspension, as well as the electronic components. In the past, Autodelta has also introduced the compressorSource: EuroCarBlog RSS Feed

Filed under: Motorsports, Budget, Hatchback, Honda

Honda FF engine demonstrator – click above for high-res image
For 2010, Formula F is getting some fresh blood. The Sports Car Club of America’s board of directors has given the thumbs up to Honda’s proposal for a new engine in the class. Next year, competitors will be able to swap out their ancient Ford Kent engines for a new 1.5-liter four based on the Fit.
Honda Performance Development created the engine so that Source: Autoblog RSS Feed

Filed under: SEMA Show, Automotive X-Prize

While the Automotive X Prize’s raison d’re is to give out money to the best high-mileage vehicles and business plans in the $10 million contest, as the saying goes, it takes money to give out money. To that end, the AXP announced today that it has received $5.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is intended to “to support the X PRIZE Foundation’s work toSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

First Drive: 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo is Stuttgart’s quickest car yet

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above for high-res image gallery It’s faster to 60 mph than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, McLaren F1 or Ferrari Enzo. Porsche’s fastest offerings, including…

SEMA Sweeps: Win one of five Sony PSP/Gran Turismo bundles! – Day 1

Because our thumbs are practically aching in anticipation of the new Gran Turismo 5 game for Playstation 3, we’ve been hunting high and low for Source: Autoblog RSS Feed

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Japan

Toshiba, like most other battery manufacturers, has decided that the market for automotive grade lithium ion cells is going to be huge in the next decade. As a result it has decided to build a second factory dedicated to automotive battery production in Kashiwazaki, Japan. The new 355,000-square foot plant will cost about $274 million and construction is expected to start in April of next year with production scheduled toSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

If you plan on visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum this winter, two special exhibitions will be on hand, depending on when you go. The first takes place from November 2009 through March 2010, and is entitled “A Journey of Innovations.” A total of nine vehicles will be featured in this exhibit, including the Benz Patent Motor Car of 1886, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of 1955, the E 250 CDI of 2009 and the S 400 HYBRID, all of which highlight how the concept of mobility has been redefined over theSource: eMercedesBenz RSS Feed

Filed under: Etc., Toyota, Volkswagen, Tesla Motors

Ouch.
A three-way crash between a Tesla Roadtser, Toyota Prius and a VW Touareg didn’t leave a pretty scene behind, but it appears that at least the Tesla driver walked away with only minor bruises. We don’t know what happened to the occupants of the other vehicles. According to Autopia, it seems that the Roadster was allegedly stopped when the Prius hit it from behind – going about 50 mph – and pushed the Tesla underSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus, Luxury

Click above to view the videos after the jump
Hiromu Naruse is Toyota Motor Company’s “master test driver.” He’s the man responsible for honing our favorite ToMoCo sports cars – from the MR2 to the Supra – and he’s one of four drivers that ran the 24 Hours of Nburgring (along with several other races) in two Lexus LFA prototypes, joining Toyota’s president, Akio Toyoda in the #14 car. Yesterday, he became our personalSource: Autoblog RSS Feed

SEMA Preview: RM460 Genesis Coupe with 500-hp mid-engine V8 gets rendered

Rhys Millen Racing RM460 Genesis Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery We’ve been keeping tabs on Rhys Millen Racing and their construction of a V8-powered, mid-engine Hyundai…

VIDEO: Mythbusters test golf ball-like dimpling effect on fuel economy (*Spoiler Alert!*)

Mythbusters test golf ball-like dimpling on MPG – Click above to watch video after the jump The Mythbusters must beSource: Autoblog RSS Feed

Filed under: SEMA Show, Truck, Chevrolet, Ford, GM

Click above to watch the video after the jump
When gas prices spiked and automakers began focusing more attention on fuel efficient cars and crossovers, we began wondering if the pickup truck’s best days were behind it. The next big blow came when domestic automakers began postponing or canceling development of light-duty diesel engines for their half-ton trucks. Then, when things were at their bleakest, the Ford F-150 SVTSource: Autoblog RSS Feed