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Is this supercharged V8 destined for the Corvette ZR1?

This is a big week for spy shots, and apparently a friend of a friend of a “friend” snapped this little ditty of what could be the motor of the next Z06, or ZR1. Corvette Online nabbed the shot of a supercharged LT1-looking V8 mill; they cite the injector cover shape and the throttle body. The site also noted the twin-rotor supercharger with an LSA/LS9-style pulley on the front.

Audi plans rival to BMW X6, design chief says

Audi will launch a rival to the BMW X6 and may add a challenger to the Bavarian automaker's X4, a top Volkswagen executive told Automotive News Europe. Walter de' Silva, design boss at Audi parent Volkswagen Group, confirmed that Audi has signed off on plans for the X6 rival. He declined to say when the car would arrive.

Mercedes-Benz inaugurates Advanced Design Studio in Beijing, China

Mercedes-Benz inaugurated its global Advanced Design Center in Beijing, China, yesterday, Thursday July 21. The Beijing design center, Daimler's fifth advanced design studio worldwide, further reinforces the growing importance of the Chinese auto market and Beijing in particular; the city is increasingly influencing changing needs and trends. The new 1,000 square meter Advanced Design Studio employs a total of around 20 designers who will contribute to the future design of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, competing and working with the company's other studios in Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA.