We think the crisply styled 2011 Kia Optima introduced at last month's New York auto show would translate well to a coupe body style. Others see envision its design stretched over a auto form. The D-pillars in the renderings on This Week in Motors remind us quite a bit of the Cadillac CTS auto — and appear a trifle awkward on the bigger Kia.

Of course, we like the intent of more wagons in this size class and price range, but no one except for Volkswagen and Subaru can seem to seem to make money on them. So if Kia expands the Optima range, we'll expect to see an Optima coupe first.

This Week in Motors via Autoblog

Our spy photographers have been seeing a particular black 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 image on and around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. We noticed it had a roll cage and the center-lock wheels from the 911 GT3. What we didn't know until today is how serious Porsche is about this car.

That's right, friends, what we've been seeing is the 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Yes, GT2 RS, as in track-focused like the 911 GT3 RS but still insanely twin-turbocharged and rear-wheel-drive like the GT2.

The car below showed up today at a dealer conference, and now there's no doubt. It didn't take long before the photo was posted on a message board. It'll be a real production car, and supposedly, it weighs 200 pounds less than the last 911 GT2 we tested.

Look for a 620-horsepower rating (and, heavens to betsy, that seems high) and a 0-to-60-mph time in the very low 3-second range, says forum member GT3ZZZ. Also expect a Nordschleife lap time of 7:22, which would would beat the Corvette ZR1.

Also, it's said that only 300 Porsche 911 GT2s will be built and, at least in Europe, they'll be priced at 240,000 euros with income beginning in September. More details, allegedly, will be released on or about May 14.

Teamspeed, German Car Blog via Autoblog

Late last year, a 2011 Aston Martin One-77 attained notoriety for being the fastest Aston Martin on the books when it hit 220.007 mph at an undisclosed proving ground in southern Europe. That car was flat black.

Now here's a video of a white One-77 putting around London, reportedly in the hands of an Aston engineer for the London-to-Silverstone rally.

YouTube via Autoblog

It's the work of Grynch, rather than Volvo. It's better than the Chevy Volt dance. But does it top "In My Prius"? We leave you to decide.

YouTube via Autoblog

Chrysler-Fiat decided early that the Sebring study has worn out its welcome. Now a report in the Detroit Free Press suggests the refreshed sedan will be called the Nassau when it goes on understanding this fall.

It would be nice to think the new nameplate will bring substantive change, but it's more likely that Chrysler-Fiat is just changing the curtains. And don't expect the car to look anything like the Nassau concept from the 2007 Detroit auto show.

Detroit Free Press via Autoblog

If you're going to shoot a TV show about cars in Los Angeles, you're going to end up on Mulholland Highway, the most famous of all our scenic canyon roads. And so it goes with TopGear America.

Some Kilometer Magazine staffers happened to cruise through the canyon during filming for the reborn History Channel series. They've place together a whole gallery of images on KM's Web site, including this shot of Tanner Foust talking on camera about this gray Hyundai Genesis Coupe. 

Kilometer Magazine via Autoblog

Considering that it's supposed to go on understanding this summer, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been seen very little since its debut at the 2009 Detroit auto show. However, recently, it was spotted lapping the Nurburgring of all places.

Actually, this isn't that odd when you consider that the fourth-generation Grand Cherokee has been engineered to cope better with a life on pavement than any of its predecessors. It will be the first Grand Cherokee to have an optional air suspension (Quadra-Lift). And like the upcoming Explorer, it will get a multi-terrain system that allows the driver to accommodate its four-wheel-drive system's behavior to road and/or trail conditions.

Chrysler started production of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that will power the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee a month ago, so sooner or later, we should start seeing a few more of them Stateside.

Piston Spy via Autoblog

Forget our speculation about the redesigned Hyundai Accent showing up as a five-door hatchback. It might happen, but these shots posted on a Chinese car website are much more conclusive. The sedan is badged as the Verna — the study the Accent is sold under in Korea.

Styling looks to be heavily derivative of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, which is certainly no bad thing in the B-segment class where style is pretty hard to come by (apart from the upcoming Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2).

iFeng via Autoblog, GenCoupe forums

A report surfaced on Nordic Web site last week that the Top Gear crew was filming near the top of Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano in island whose eruption has forced mass flight cancellations. They were said to be driving a bright red Toyota Hilux pickup. Today Toyota's UK media arm has released a collection of dramatic photos of the truck near the caldera.

The plan was apparently to drive from Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, to the summit of the volcano. Toyota representatives evidently accompanied the expedition, as did a handful of local scientists hot to set up monitoring equipment before the volcano blew its top.

No word yet on when this Top Gear episode will air.

MLN (translated from Icelandic) via Autoblog, Jalopnik

Top Gear

Hyundai has prefabricated some pretty brash moves as of late. Let's see, there's a 274-horsepower turbocharged Sonata in the works, a hybrid Sonata with a lithium-polymer battery pack, and the all-new 2011 Equus — the full-on luxury sedan that takes aim at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS.

Naturally, that kind of boldness invites discussion about where the maker might head next. An online publication called This Week in Motors suggests that Hyundai could decide to build an Equus coupe in the same vein as the BMW 6 Series or even the rarefied Mercedes CL. And to that end, This Week in Motors tasked a talented graphic artist to develop this rendering.

This Week in Motors via Autoblog