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Attention, landed gentry and Hollywood elite: The previous-gen SL63 sitting in your pea-gravel driveway is outdated and should be disposed of immediately. Mercedes-Benz and AMG have now birthed its successor, a new SL63 created by marrying the SL-class chassis with AMG’s fire-breathing, twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8.

Keep Reading: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG – Official Photos and Info

Hit play for an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note, and then share your guesses or get a few hints from other visitors in the comments below. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the answer!

Here it is, what you’ve all been waiting for: the 2013 SRT Viper! Well, part of it, anyway. SRT has released yet another teaser image of the next Viper on its Facebook page, but this latest peek gives little new insight. (SRT’s previous teaser showed a line drawing of the car’s snake-like front end.)

The image shows what appears to be a vent or an intake (maybe a hood scoop?) that’s covered in what we assume is real carbon fiber. CF was used in the previous Viper, and the new SRT version is expected to make more use of lightweight composites. No stickers here. Further weight savings are expected to come from increased use of aluminum, helping the car shave weight compared to the previous model. Oh, and it looks like the 2013 Viper will be available in red. We’ll have to wait to see what the entire Viper looks like when it debuts at the New York auto show in April. Until then, expect some more teasing.

The last day or so has been particularly eventful in the lively arena of Ferrari speculation. The fire was fueled first by a purported shot of the 599 replacement’s rear, and now the company has released a video (see below) promising a reveal of the new V-12 car for next week. The footage shows thinly veiled test vehicles being put through their paces—by none other than Ferrari F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa—and boldly proclaims: “The most powerful Ferrari ever is about to take its bow.” February 29 is the promised unveil date.

The “most powerful” claim certainly makes sense, as last October Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told Car and Driver the new car would produce more than 700 hp and retain the current front-engine configuration. Rumors say the car will be named F620, which would mean it uses a 6.2-liter V-12. Heretofore, the track-only 599XX was the sole 599 model to crest the 700-hp mark.

We’ll see just how far past 700 that total goes when the wraps come off next week. We expect to see and learn more about the car at the Geneva show next month.

Fiat’s Abarth performance subsidiary is no stranger to injecting some big-money mojo into the Fiat 500—it’s already gifted the world the 500 695 Tributo Ferrari and 695 Competizione. For the Geneva auto show, the scorpion division is rolling out yet another special-edition 500: the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati. Modeled after the Gran Turismo style and execution of Maserati’s road cars, this Tributo is more sedate than its Ferrari and Competizione forebears and emphasizes elegance over road-burning capabilities.

For starters, this one is based on an Abarthified 500C “convertible” as opposed to the other two being coupes. Aside from its roof arrangement, the baby Maser poser inherits much of its parts from the previous 695s, including a five-speed single-clutch automatic transmission; a 180-hp, 1.4-liter turbo four; a dual-mode exhaust system; and Brembo brakes. However, it keeps its back seat and goes without a roll cage or carbon-fiber front seats.

Think of it as a quicker, more enthusiast-friendly Fiat 500 Gucci edition. The Tributo Maserati wears a classy Pontevecchio Bordeaux red paint job, a grey cloth top, unique 17-inch wheels, and Maserati-inspired hexagonal exhaust outlets. Seats and door panels are trimmed in beige Poltrona Frau leather, carbon fiber covers the dash and center console; there are Jaeger gauges in the instrument cluster, and “695” graphics nearly everywhere.

Abarth will build 499 examples of the Tributo Maserati, making it just as rare a specimen as the Tributo Ferrari and 695 Competizione. Don’t count on any of them making it to our shores; Fiat is having a difficult enough time trying to move normal 500s in the U.S., so we doubt that its dealers are pining for the challenge of selling a more-expensive model.

FAW’s Oley model is apparently ready to role according to these pictures, the new brand from FAW will be aimed squarely at the youth market and those looking to get their first car. The Oley will sit alongside the Xiali brand which will make it yet another economy brand from FAW. This is not the first time we have seen this car, the Oley was unveiled as a concept at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show alongside a new big SUV, the Oley sits on top of the 1982 Mark 2 VW Jetta platform making this car 30 years old in principle, however it looks like FAW have done a wonder job on bringing it into the 21st century. Engine power comes from FAW’s own 1.3L and 1.6L engine, pricing is expected to be cheap, very cheap, considering that R&D costs are likely to be virtually nothing for the platform.

The Murano SUV has already entered the Chinese market and was welcomed with a very muted response, it seems Chinese consumers did not take to well to the 500,000rmb (79,000USD) price tag for the 3.5L V6 SUV, just 76 units were sold in January 2012 whilst the Murano’s rival, the Toyota Highlander cleared sales of 5037 units.

Nissan are clearly aiming to enter a few niche markets in 2012, the first niche is of course the convertible SUV. The soft top Murano has been on the market in the US and Canada for quite some time, some reviews actually seemed to like it as long as you didn’t take the SUV/Sports Car Crossover onto any terrain that might be considered difficult.

The Murano convertible has been spotted in China by Chinese automotive media that are quick to establish that the mutant car is heading into Chinese markets in the next few months. What we’re likely to see is the Murano making a Beijing Auto Show appearance for some market research ahead of any launch. The less than warm response to the Chinese made Murano is a strong indicator that there really is no hunger for a rag top version that is likely cost somewhere in the region on 700,000rmb to 1 million RMB.

Carlos Ghosn knows that the writing is on the wall, if you want to succeed you have to enter China but getting into China is a whole different story in 2012. When the French car maker initially entered China as the partner to San Jiang Motors in the late 1990′s entry into the Chinese market was an easy affair, you just had to put the money on the table, tell the government how many employees you needed and the government would reply with how many employees you really wanted and production began. In 2012, the market is a crowded place, sales are tanking and some manufacturers are starting to realize the perils of over expanding their production capacity, so can Renault enter China? Their has been an increased flutter in rumors in late 2011 and early 2012 that Renault will call Wuhan their production base in China later this year when they sign a joint venture partnership with Dongfeng Auto, Reuters are reporting that Renault will have a stronger focus on electric vehicles and luxury vehicles to get into and ahead in China:

French auto giant Renault is planning to produce electric cars in China and sell more luxury vehicles in the world’s biggest auto market, chief executive Carlos Ghosn said Thursday.

“The Chinese government said recently that it is not possible to increase capacities or set up in China without bringing certain innovations,” noted Ghosn during a conference with analysts on the group’s annual earnings.

“We know that we need to bring the electric vehicle to China,” he said, adding that this could be done through the Renault brand or another marque.

Renault said earlier Thursday its 2011 net profit reached 2.09 billion euros. However, it sold just 24,000 cars in China, a tiny fraction of the 2.72 million vehicles sold across the globe in 2011.

Beside green cars, the automaker is eyeing more luxury car sales in China as it moves to renew its fleet from 2014.

“Our high end line will go to China,” said Ghosn.

Chinese media has speculated that the French group could set up production in central China’s Wuhan, where homegrown carmaker Dongfeng has a factory.

Dongfeng is already working with Nissan, which is controlled by Renault.

Foreign companies are required to have a local partner in order to produce in China.

“I prefer not to talk about the Chinese project until I have an agreement with the Chinese authorities,” said Ghosn.

Renault’s current China range is 100% imported, either from Europe or from its Korean partner at Samsung where certain models, such as the popular Koleos SUV are made and imported into China. Ghosn rightly states that entering China at such a late stage will require some electric palm greasing if they are to gain market entry, so sharing its electric technology with Dongfeng maybe the only way in, plus Renault may finally find a country where it can sell its high end products.

According to media reports from auto.163.com, who are in turn quoting a realtor that has been helping JLR officials find suitable housing the in the Changshu area, Changshu city has become the staging area for JLR in China.

Changshu has become quite the hub of automotive manufacturing over the past few years, the sleepy Jiangsu city has boomed thanks to its proximity to Shanghai and influx of foreign capital, many automotive companies have set up their parts production or research in the city. Qoros, a brand built between Chery and Israeli Corp, are also based in Changshu and will make for interesting bed fellows with JLR.

According to the rumor mill, the joint venture between Chery and JLR has already been decided and it is currently waiting for governmental approval before it can go forward, it is believed that the joint venture will first focus on producing Land Rover vehicles whilst Jaguar models will remain as imported cars. The Land Rover project apparently includes an engine production facility, R&D center and also a major part of the project will be a new brand built between Chery and JLR.

JLR have talked with multiple partners in the Chinese market, originally they talked with Great Wall and Geely. An annoymous person within Great Wall mentioned that JLR were basically looking for a company to carry out production in the Chinese market and were not entirely interested in forming  a joint venture and technology shares. Chery became the second choice for JLR but after talks that lasted two years it emerged that JLR were finally giving in on the technology share issue owing to the more stringent market entry requirements from the Chinese government.

The Chinese SUV market grew by 30% in 2011 and by 2020 it is expected that 22% of the world’s luxury car sales will be made in China. JLR delivered 42,000 units in China in 2011 of which some 37,000 units were Land Rover vehicles, showing there is a stronger demand for SUV’s than the big luxury cats. China is now Land Rover’s second largest market after the UK and is expected to become the biggest market in 2013.

Chery has several failed attempts at netting joint venture partners, its earliest with Chrysler ended prematurely with no products being taken to the market. The Chery A1 was initially expected to be rebranded as a Dodge for South American markets, but no models were made and Chery entered the South American market itself with good results. Later Chery would attempt to woo Fiat into its embrace but ultimately this failed before a deal was made – the reasons for the collapse in talks was never revealed. Chery’s most recent JV encounter took it to Subaru where the Japanese company hoped to make Subaru cars in Dalian, however the Chinese government pulled the plug on the project owing to Toyota’s 16% ownership of Fujitsu Heavy Industries, Subaru’s parent company.

It’s Monday, and that means it’s time to present this week’s shifter. You’ll have until mid-day Wednesday to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence this shifter came. The first person to respond correctly in the Backfires section below will win a Save the Manuals button and sticker*. Good luck!

(* Offer open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.)