Lexus LS TMG Edition 650HP Spied on Video: Are Those the Sounds of a V8 or a V10?

Our trusty spies have scored another touchdown with the high-performance, wide-body Lexus LS saloon that has piqued our interest over the past few days.

We already know it is called the Lexus LS TMG Edition and that it is being developed by the Japanese group's Toyota Motorsports GmbH division, formerly known as Toyota Team Europe, based in Cologne, Germany.

Toyota's subsidiary was responsible for firm's World Rally Championship cars starting from the 1970s right up to the 1990s, but now works on various special projects.

Thanks to the leaked spec sheet, we also learned that under the hood of the LS TMG Edition lies a 5.0-liter engine capable of spinning up to 9,000 rpm cranking out a husky 650-ponies and a peak torque of 710Nm (524 lb-ft).

While there are no other details on the engine, the spec sheet notes that the 2,070kg (4,564 pounds) LS TMG completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 320km/h (199mph).

The new scoop video not only gives us a better view of the Lexus LS TMG Edition as it laps the Nürburgring, but it also allows us to hear the 5.0-liter engine, which brings us to today's question: Having listened to the sounds of the LS TMG, do you think it's a V8 unit, possibly sourced from the IS-F, or a V10 derived from the LFA?

Have your say in the comments section below.

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Video: New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Thrashed Around the Nürburgring

The horsepower monster that is the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has been filmed lapping the infamous Nordschleife circuit in Germany.

Apparently, General Motors continues to fine-tune the flagship version of its new Camaro series that was first revealed to the public at this year's Chicago Auto Show in February, but won't arrive in dealerships before early next year.

Recently, GM released the final performance figures on the Camaro ZL1 that will top Ford's 550HP Shelby GT500 with its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine producing a SAE certified 580-ponnies and 556 lb.-ft. (754 Nm).

The most powerful production Camaro ever will be offered with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, but buyers will be able to opt for a six-speed automatic transmission.

Video source: Youtube/Camaro5

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Fresh Spy Shots of Lexus LS TMG Edition and New Spec Sheet that Says it gets 650-Horses

The veil of secrecy surrounding the super Lexus LS that we captured testing on the Nürburgring racetrack last week has started to fall apart.

Today, along with a fresh batch of scoop pictures of the hotted up LS, our spy photographers also sent us a shot of a spec sheet that's been circulating on the internet and which we were also informed about from the guys over at the Clublexus fan site.

Here's what Mike from ClubLexus told Carscoop:

"We had an insider at the old F1 Toyota facility snap photos of this LS and what looked like a modified LFA GT2 with BBS wheels, widened fenders....they snapped photos of the specs for the LS...it stated 650hp at 9,000 RPM with 20" wheels. Within hours of the pics posted, we got a message from Toyota to take the pics down, which we did."

"What makes me believe this is accurate is Lotus stated they were going to use a 650hp 5.0 liter from the Lexus IS F supercharged for 650hp. The Lexus GS F is coming to so it might be a mule for that."

The spec sheet itself is from TMG, which is an acronym for Toyota Motorsports GmbH, the Japanese firm's high-performance testing and development facility located in in Cologne, Germany.

On TMG's official website the about page reads: "Specialising in high technology, TMG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corporation and offers its services to external clients as well as members of the Toyota family."

The information sheet says that the car is named the Lexus LS TMG Edition and that it comes equipped with a 5.0-liter engine, but makes no word if it's naturally aspirated or turbocharged, nor if it’s a V8 or an LFA-based V10.

What it does say is that the 5.0-liter unit maxes out at 9,000 rpm and that it delivers an output of 650-horses (478kW) and a peak torque of 710Nm (524 lb-ft).

It adds that the car tips the scales at 2,070kg (4,564 pounds), rides on 20-inch wheels shod in massive tires size 295/35 up front and 345/30 at the rear, and that it completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in just 4.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 320km/h (199mph).

While we still don't know if it's a limited production model, a racing car, or a conceptual exercise, based on this latest information, we wouldn't be surprised if we saw the Lexus LS TMG Edition making its world premiere at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show in December.

PHOTO GALLERY

Auto Mobile Fusion Shots: Boosted Up Audi Q3 S/RS with 2.5-liter Turbo Enters The Arena

Fast Cars

A new flagship version of the Audi Q3 series is starting to take shape as the German company has begun testing prototype models of what may end up carrying the 'S', 'RS' or even perhaps a different moniker altogether on the famous Nürburgring racetrack.

We first received concrete proof that Audi is contemplating the development of a high-performance version of its Q3 compact crossover during a press event in Switzerland when the Ingolstadt-based automaker gave journalists the opportunity to drive a test model equipped with the force-fed five-pot found in the TT RS and RS3 models.

And while the prototype shown in these pictures looks like a normal Q3 fitted with an S-Line aero package, the huge drilled brakes as well as the fact that our spies told us that they could clearly hear the five-cylinder engine "screaming during testing", leave few doubts that this is the ultimate Q3.

It is believed that the hotted up Q3 will use a slightly de-tuned version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine producing around 300-horses instead of 340HP, with all those ponies channeled to all-four wheels through Audi’s quattro system and a 7-speed dual-clutch S-tronic transmission.

PHOTO GALLERY

SCOOP: Mystery Sport Lexus LS Caught Testing on the 'Ring, Could it be the LS-F?

Lexus may not be fully embroiled in the sports car segment as the only true performance models in its range are the IS-F and the limited run LFA special, but something tells us that the Japanese firm is not yet ready to throw the towel in and let its rivals take the win.

And this, despite the fact that over the years, we have heard many rumors about the possibility of Lexus expanding its range of high-performance F-badged lineup to include the GS and the LS models, and which never came into fruition.

This brings us to our mystery Lexus LS prototype that was snagged doing the rounds on the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. Our scoop photographers tell us that the car featured the usual testing equipment seen on other prototypes on the 'Ring.

Aside from the blistered front and rear wheel arches, the LS test car also sported widened front and rear bumpers, a different front grille, plus a carbon fiber roof and boot incorporating a spoiler.

The car was also fitted with massive brake discs, while the hood air vents and the black alloy wheels with a silver rim are two elements we've seen of the LFA.

And now for the million dollar question: what is it? We'll, we don't know for sure. It could be anything from a limited production or conceptual LS-F sporting the LFA's V10 to a SEMA project car, or perhaps just a wild tuning job in the works.

Whatever the case, we'll keep our eyes open and ask around. If something pops up on our radars, we'll let you know.

PHOTO GALLERY

SCOOP: Mystery Sport Lexus LS Caught Testing on the 'Ring, Could it be the LS-F?

Lexus may not be fully embroiled in the sports car segment as the only true performance models in its range are the IS-F and the limited run LFA special, but something tells us that the Japanese firm is not yet ready to throw the towel in and let its rivals take the win.

And this, despite the fact that over the years, we have heard many rumors about the possibility of Lexus expanding its range of high-performance F-badged lineup to include the GS and the LS models, and which never came into fruition.

This brings us to our mystery Lexus LS prototype that was snagged doing the rounds on the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. Our scoop photographers tell us that the car featured the usual testing equipment seen on other prototypes on the 'Ring.

Aside from the blistered front and rear wheel arches, the LS test car also sported widened front and rear bumpers, a different front grille, plus a carbon fiber roof and boot incorporating a spoiler.

The car was also fitted with massive brake discs, while the hood air vents and the black alloy wheels with a silver rim are two elements we've seen of the LFA.

And now for the million dollar question: what is it? We'll, we don't know for sure. It could be anything from a limited production or conceptual LS-F sporting the LFA's V10 to a SEMA project car, or perhaps just a wild tuning job in the works.

Whatever the case, we'll keep our eyes open and ask around. If something pops up on our radars, we'll let you know.

PHOTO GALLERY