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Million Dollar Fiat: 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata

Fiat's first, and only, V8 engine debuted at the 1952 Geneva Auto Show powering a sleek two-seater intended to dominate Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia in two-liter sports-car racing. The car was designated the 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian, because Fiat had mistakenly thought that Ford held a trademark on V8. Fiat's legendary design engineer Dante Giacosa mounted the upper portions of a pair of 70-degree V4 engines on a single crankcase to make the 1996-cc, OHV V8.

Video: Track-day fun in the Lexus LFA

As promised, the third installment in our supercar video extravaganza--after the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Porsche GT2 RS--gives you the lowdown on the hyperexotic Lexus LFA and its insane 552-hp V10 powerplant. Best described by senior editor for motorsports Mac Morrison as "shrieking like a melting witch," the Lexus LFA emits a wail unlike anything this side of a Formula One racer, and its performance isn't too far off that mark, either. Check out the walk-around and some on-track fun, then come back for the VBox lap on Friday.

Ford's NA Design Director aims to shorten product lifecycles

Peter Horbury, Ford Motor Company North America Design Director, has told Automotive News he intends to shorten product lifecycles at the ailing company from an average five years to three years starting this decade. "We feel there is no value in minor changes but a huge value in major changes," Horbury told the industry weekly. Ford needs to ensure that buyers continue visiting showrooms as the giant automaker struggles to retain market share.