New Suzuki Kizashi Sedan Spied Inside and Out by Carscoop Reader

Looks like Carscoop's readers are on a roll lately as only a week after Peter Mcabe spotted the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi in Virginia, Michael Kalkofen picked up these shots of the mid-size sedan at a hotel somewhere in Kansas. Michael told us that he found three lightly camouflaged Kizashi prototypes, two in dark silver and one in a red, parked right outside the hotel. Wasting no time, Michael managed to bag some excellent interior shots of the Kizashi prototype models that you can check out in detail below.

The photos reveal that Suzuki's Honda Accord challenger gets an Alfa Romeo-like instrument panel with two deeply set gauges. The dashboard is uncluttered with all controls neatly concentrated on the center stack.

The prototype models seen here have their front and back ends covered, but it doesn't take a pro to see that the production version will be less aggressively styled than the Kizashi 3 concept car that was shown in New York last year.

Official details on the range of engines remain scarce but look for a detuned version of the concept-car's 300HP 3.6-liter V6 that will power all four wheels and an entry-level four-banger that will most probably be offered in front-wheel drive form only.

Suzuki is expected to officially unveil the Kizashi before the end of the year.

Hat tip to Michael Kalkofen for the pics!

Sportec Porsche 911 Turbo SPR1 with 858HP and 236mph - 380km/h Plus Top Speed

The standard Porsche 911 Turbo's 480HP 3.6-liter bi-turbocharged flat six is by no means a slouch, but where there's power, there's always space for even more power. Or at least that's what Porsche tuning specialist Sportec believes. The Swiss based tuner revealed a new version of its 911 Turbo based SPR1 that lifts the 3.6-liter flat six's output to a staggering 858 horsepower at 8,200 rpm and 642 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,800 rpm. Power is transferred to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Weighing in at 1,345kg or 2,965 lbs, the power-to-weight ratio is 637 horsepower per ton. According to Sportec, the SPR1 takes a mere 3.0 seconds to hit 62mph (100km/h,) with 186mph (300km/h) coming in just 18.9 seconds. The Swiss firm said that the supercar has recorded a top speed in excess of 236mph or 380km/h at Nardo, Italy.

Other highlights of the SPR1 include titanium connecting rods, a flat carbon fiber under floor, active suspension and F1 style ceramic brake discs plus composite (carbon / Kevlar) body panels, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, an integrated safety cage and a leather / alcantara interior.