Photo Illustrations by Theophilus Chin

By now, you've probably seen one 2012 Chevrolet Malibu prototype or another.  They've been running around for some time now with varying degrees of camouflage. From what we can see, the next Malibu won't be a full redesign, just a heavy update of the current car. Nothing revolutionary, just some slight exterior changes along with a new interior and updated features.

With that in mind we asked our ace rendering specialist to draw up some images of the what the next Malibu would look like. Not only did he have plenty of spy photos to work with, he even had a few patent drawings for reference.

So what do think? Is this the direction Chevrolet should be headed with the Malibu?

And if the design doesn't grab you, maybe Chevrolet's plans for the rest of the Malibu may peak your interest. Look for the engine lineup to get smaller in overall displacement as GM looks to improve its overall fleet mileage.

Instead of single base four-cylinder, the Malibu will likely offer two different fours with varying degrees of power and efficiency. One will cater to those looking for mileage above all else, while the other will attempt to deliver a little bit of both worlds thanks to a turbocharger that will boost performance without compromising efficiency too drastically.

The option of an even larger 6-cylinder engine may be dropped entirely depending on how strong the turbocharged four-cylinder proves. Hyundai has already adopted a similar strategy with its Sonata midsize sedan; Buick, too, with the Regal. Wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Chevrolet follow suit.

Look for the official reveal of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu primeval next year with income beginning in the fall.

Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise showed up at Top Gear's test track on the very same day to hot-lap the Kia Cee'd. Wheels were lifted. New records were set. Video after the jump.

Top Gear, Vox via Autoblog

We've seen the 2011 Dodge Durango before and we're still unsure if it even will be the Durango and not the 2011 Dodge Magnum. What we are sure about is that this spy photo, taken presumably in the heart of a Chrysler-owned facility– note the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with which the Durango will share a platform, in the background–, is going to get someone in trouble. Manufacturers don't spend all of that money on fancy camo for nothing.

While this unibody Crossover/SUV will be smaller than the previous Durango– as is obvious– from the shape, we're still counting on it having third-row seating. Engines are likely to be the Hemi V8 and the new Pentastar V6. Our fingers are crossed, though, for an SRT-8 version carrying the same 6.4-liter V8 that will soon find its way into the Challenger.

(Autoblog Via Twitter)

Perhaps it was inevitable that pictures of the hot new Mercedes CL63 and CL65 have leaked out onto the information superhighway. It might even be as inevitable as the fact that Mercedes will offer the double-nuts turbo-V8 CL63 and the mostest-nuts-of-all turbo-V12 CL65.

The two look almost identical. The 65 carries a bit more metallic trim on its nose and tail. And the 63 has grotesque (in our estimation) quadrilateral polygon exhaust tips.

If you want full details on Mercedes' new heavy-hitter, minivan-length coupes, have a look at our First Look story on the CL. We'll give you a little taste though. The CL63's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 will make 536 horsepower. The CL65's turbo V12 makes a more than ample 621 hp.

The 2011 CL63 will cost one butt-load. And the CL65 will be priced right around "all of the money."

Autoblog.it via Autoblog

Who's missing from this photo with the Guinness Book of World Records staff taken after the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport set a new speed record for production cars with a 276.86-mph v-max run on VW's Ehra-Lessien proving ground in Germany? Evidently, the Top Gear crew if a report on the Top Gear website can be taken at grappling value.

TG writes, "Now, we wouldn't want to give anything away, but you know how TopGear has always been pretty intimately involved with high-speed runs in the Veyron?" Yes, the video of saint Mays's 253-mph run in a regular Veyron is after the jump.

And TG continues, "Well, let's just say… it would have been a bit strange for us not to have been part of this astonishing record run in some capacity. We're not saying any more, but keep a close eye on all things TopGear in the coming weeks…"

TopGear via Autoblog

With a planned IPO set for next Tuesday, Tesla has been out on the investment circuit hard recently. Among all the positive things it has to say about itself, the company is also touting all its potential future products.

According to this whimsical mix of computer rendering and crayons, we see that Tesla is hoping to use its common powertrain platform to build a sleek roadster, a high-roofed utility van and a midsize crossover.

A nice mix of vehicles if they ever make it to market. And when it comes to Tesla, that's a pretty big "if." 

Darryl Siry via Autoblog
 

Skip ahead to the 1:10 mark and you'll see that the partial vehicle display has a C-pillar same to the design we've seen in the latest batch of 2011 Ford Explorer spy photos.

And it's a good look at the second-row captain's chairs configuration for the 2011 Explorer; the automaker's new inflatable seatbelts will be standard fare in this vehicle. Count on a 40/20/40-split bench seat being standard in the new Explorer, with the captain's chairs a step-up option in higher-trim versions.

Driven Car Reviews via Autoblog

Sedan and wagon prototypes of the redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Passat have been pulling travel trailers all over Germany. They have the sleeker lines of the current VW CC, but we can never quite make out their face. Well, someone scanned in a photo of the car from a brochure and now the mystery is over.

We won't get this exact car, of course, but more than likely, the Tennessee-built New Midsize Sedan will look like this car – while adding a little country-western flair, perhaps matching boots with special-edition Wrangler jeans.

Auto Express is predicting a Paris Auto Show unveil for the revamped Passat, which seems reasonable. The Web site also suggests that in addition to mainstream diesel and 2.0T flavors, there will be a Volkswagen Passat R with the Golf R's 268-horsepower version of the 2.0T. Also possible, we guess, since VW has sold an R36 Passat in Europe.

But does 268 hp really constitute an "R" offering on a midsize sedan that weighs over 3,300 pounds in 2010? We think not. Seriously, geez, this should be the base state of tune for the gas engine on the Passat/NMS.

Auto Express via Autoblog

"For economic reasons," the so-called Ferdinand 911 GT3 RS lacks an engine, but we're told this results in an "enormous loss of weight, and on the other hand, it reduces emissions to a low level, breaking records."

Excellent. And undoubtedly, it takes real chops to pilot a recumbent bicycle-powered Porsche on the same track with a Lamborghini Gallardo.

YouTube via Autoblog

Last we heard from ex Pontiac Ad man Jim Wanger– the Godfather of the GTO– he was speaking with Automobile entrepot and he was pissed. Pontiac, the brand he sold and nurtured, was dead and, according to him, the marketing and management people at GM were to blame. "If there was ever a domestic manufacturer that ever had a really good set of obloquy it was Pontiac – Bonneville, Grand Prix, Trans Am! And then all these little boys in men's jobs come along, and come up with insanely stupid 'G' names." Ouch.

Now he's back in the news, "thinning the heard" and unloading a dream-car collection that has car guys scrambling and their wives hiding the checkbook.

What he's selling? Next page…

- 1969 Trans Am (!!!)

- 1965 GTO Coupe

-1966 GTO Convertible

- 1967 Firebird 400

-1969 GTO Judge x2

-1979 Firebird Trans Am

-1989 Firebird Trans Am

-1999 Firebird Trans Am

-2000 Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R

No 15th or 25th anniversary 'birds? ….and he calls himself a collector. For shame.

For more information and complete documentation, check Geetotiger.com, these cars aren't going to stick around long.

Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant

(Geetotiger via Autoblog)