The latest achievement by the 2009 Nissan GT-R is making it into the Italian Edition of the Guiness Book of World Records as the fastest accelerating four-seater production car.   Nissan's Godzilla makes it into the books with its 3.5 second 0-60mph time, and when this achievement is paired with its bang for the buck value, it's easy to see why the GT-R is one of the most sought after sports cars in the world.  Nissan recently reached a new benchmark at the Nurburgring with a 7 minute 26.7 second laptime, and it's great to see that the accolades are still rolling in for Nissan's flagship sports car. 

This is Mazda’s version of a downsized, credit-crunch friendly MX-5, the MX-2. Our illustration shows what the MX-2 is likely to look like. You can see that the Furai concept will have a strong influence in the design, while a hint of Ferrari California is also present in the headlamps. Because the MX-2 is smaller than the MX-5 it will come equipped with smaller engines. Small capacity petrol engines ranging from 0.7 to 1.6-litres will get the MX-2 moving, while a range-topping 1.6-litre turbo pushing out an expected 160bhp. Combine that with low weight, and the MX-2 will embarrass more expensive machines with ease. The Mini Speedster and Nissan Urge may be at design and concept stage now, but they’ll be keeping the dinky Mazda on its toes. An insider has hinted that the MX-2 will be upon us as soon as 2012.

Rumors of Audi's plan to resurrect the Ur-Quattro continue to persist, with Auto Motor und Sport reporting that the highly modified A5 is due to arrive sometime next year. According to the German pub and coinciding with earlier reports, Audi plans to bring the curb weight down to around 3,000 pounds by using scads of aluminum along with polycarbonate windows in place of their glass counterparts. Further weight reductions will come from a lightweight set of 19- or 20-inch wheels and carbon ceramic brakes, while an active rear spoiler, magnetic-ride suspension system and a raced-out interior are rumored to be part of the package.

The Pontiac brand may be on its way out the door, but that doesn't mean it can't have one last fling with a renowned tuner. Hurst Performance Vehicles, the legendary shifter company that most recently has made waves with its Hemi Challenger, announced its new H.O. program for the Pontiac G6 and G8. Few details have been released regarding the performance upgrades of the cars, but each will feature Hurst's signature black/gold or white/gold paint scheme, forged alloy Hurst wheels, an exclusive Hurst shifter, supercharged engine, suspension upgrades, and a newly trimmed interior. To help with the development of the car, Hurst also brought on performance icon "Doc" Watson, who developed such vehicles as the Hurst Hemi-Under-Glass and the 1972 Pontiac SSJ. Only 52 Hurst H.O. Pontiacs will be built along with ten G6 convertibles used as parade and special event vehicles. More details regarding the performance upgrades will be announced on August 1st, but until then all the available information can be found in the press release after the jump.