The Virtually New Infiniti M sedan

Infiniti wanted to reveal its lower, wider, sleeker, more powerful, upcoming 2010 M Sedan during Pebble Beach weekend. Just one problem: they didn't have one yet. Or at least, didn't have a real one that they could show. They have one or two well-detailed clay models. And they've got some M test mules running around, but those still wear the old M bodywork. The fix that the Infiniti team came up with is a clever one.

The company engaged RTT International and Klip Collective to help create a virtual unveiling. So last night, when the assembled media, dealers, potential customers, and other hangers-on entered Infiniti's giant tent (which is an understated term for the huge white, metal framed, carpeted, nicely lit structure with the big bar in the middle) located near Pebble Beach's equestrian center, there was a shape underneath a silk that looked like a full-sized car. But it wasn't.

Once the cover was removed it was obvious that the "car" was a colorless hunk of foam that was shaped like the new M, but offered little more information. The two companies used a process called Virtual Video Mapping to fill in the blanks. Computer-driven projectors drew all kinds of lines and squiggles all over the M's "body,", as more and more detail was revealed.

The music got louder and louder, and after a few more minutes of light and video magic, most of the detail was filled in, and a credible 3D vision of the new M sat up on stage. Then the engine was "started," the background switched to that of a rolling road, and the car "drove" away. Pretty fun stuff, if not a replacement for the real deal.

You can get a closer look at the actual car during its production reveal at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in early December. For a look at Infiniti's first photos of the new M, as well as powertrain and initial product information, link here:

http://wot.motortrend.com/6569931/auto-news/infiniti-debuts-2011-m-sedan-at-pebble-beach-in-virtual-fashion/index.html

To see a video replay of the virtual reveal from Pebble Beach, as introduced by Nissan/Infiniti's global design director, Schiro Nakamura, click here:

http://www.infiniti.com/global/en/infiniti-world/news-events/2009-08-14-infiniti-m?r=US#/infiniti-world/news-events/2009-08-14-infiniti-m

2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited V-6

With the 2009 Sonata V-6 Limited, Hyundai has delivered an inarguably competent midsize sedan -- now all Hyundai must do is make the car so overwhelmingly good that loyal Camry and Accord owners will have no choice but to take a look. Yes, it's a lot to ask, but we're starting to expect the unexpected from Hyundai, the automaker that brought you the Lexus-fighting Genesis sedan, Mustang-challenging Genesis coupe, and upcoming Equus flagship sedan.

The Sonata has little "wow" factor but is nevertheless a solid midsizer that's more cushy Camry than sporty Mazda6. When the Sonata was recently refreshed, Hyundai addressed one of the car's prime weak spots: the interior. Our navigation system-equipped tester featured a vastly improved high-quality interior with soft-touch materials in most of the important places. The wood trim that accompanied the gray leather was far too dark (avoid the gray leather and go for the lighter wood trim in these photos), but one's overall impression driving a loaded Sonata is positive and not one of disbelief that the car lists for around $28,000.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake

Something is very, very wrong here.

On its third pull, the blue black 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake just lit up K&N's dyno to the tune of 635 horsepower and 581 lb-ft of torque. Quick mental math says somewhere between 730 and 760 horsepower at the crankshaft.

I quickly text Scott Black of Shelby's PR company for an explanation. He responds: "We are in the midst of changing our marketing materials to reflect 750...which we announced at the car launch last month." Hmmm. Must have missed that. I don't miss the unintentional irony of Black's sign off: "We tend to be a bit conservative."

Seven hundred and fifty horsepower is conservative? Yeah, like an 8 x 8 In'n'Out Double-Double "Animal Style" or Giselle Bundchen in spattered green body paint.

Head still spinning from the obscenity of 635 wheel horsepower (three shy of what a Corvette ZR-1 makes at the crank) we head to Fontana to test the Super Snake's traction and road test editor's Scott Mortara's launch skills.

Mortara has already been prepped for this adventure. Vince LaViolette, Shelby Automobile Inc's senior designer, test driver, and, apparently, vehicle transporter already gave us a tutorial when he dropped off 2010 Shelby Super Snake #001C. "Drop the clutch and then immediately shift to second," says LaViolette, while spasmodically jerking his left foot and right hand backwards. "Otherwise, you're just going to sit and spin."

We take him at his word, but it's no good. Despite the brief engagement, the Super Snake simply roasts its PZeros in first gear and then all the way through second and most of third gear. It doesn't matter what technique Mortara employs -- hard, gear crunching launches, a soft roll into first, even second gear starts -- he simply can't set the Super Snake's ponies into forward motion. It's like the Raiders on third and short. Despite all the firepower, it simply can't convert. Only at the top of third gear does the pavement finally catch up to the furiously melting Pirellis. From then on the Super Snake is like a Rocket (Ismail?) through the quarter mile.