Just when you thought the Acura TL was running out of exhaust options, Tanabe releases the end-all-be-all of exhaust system.

The Tanabe Medalion Touring has always strived to attain a refined level of performance and driveability. The elegant, well defined appearance of the Tanabe Medalion Touring is mature and matches the artistry and taste of the Acura TL owner.

The Tanabe Medalion Touring for the 2004-2008 (yes, 2008) Acura TL is a fully stainless Dual Muffler Cat-Back, complete with 60mm piping and 100mm tips – all while pushing out under 93db.

The latest version of Porsche’s’ GT2-class race car has been revealed; the GT3 RSR. Porsche’s new release now sports a 4.0L Boxer Six, pushing 450HP and 317TQ with a 9000 RPM redline. Although the power isn’t a huge jump over the previous model – last year was putting out 465HP, albeit a bit later in the RPMband – Porsche is claiming the torque curve is a bit better then last years car.

The power isn’t the whole story though. a new adjustable rear wing will help in the downforce department, a newly louvered hood should help with cooling (and the optional A/C system) and probably coolest of all; the GT3 RSR now comes equipped with a new air jack!

Disc Brake Australia is proud to announce their new warehouse for 2009. Their new 10,000 sq. ft. facility has over $500,000 worth of inventory ready for shipping.

The new location, allbeit colder, will be able to provide faster service through out America as they are now residing in (chilly) Southeastern Michigan.

Last week rumors on the true identity of The Stig from Top Gear started leaking out; in his 30s, living in a £300,000 house, driving a ‘boring’ car.

Well, Telegraph UK has staid on this story and just dropped the bomb on The Stig’s true identity after some ‘heavy hitting investigations’. Word is, 33 year-old Ben Collins is in fact The Stig. Mr Collins has a resume you’d expect from someone to don the moniker of ‘The Stig’; A competitor in everything from NASCAR to LeMans as well as a professional Stunt driver – most recently the wheelman for Quantum of Solace.

Well, although everyone has wondered – I guess knowing is a bit of a drag. Kinda like finding out your dad is actually Santa Claus.

RENNTECH, never being a company to disappoint, has just announced a new supercar to celebrate their 20th anniversary. What would more appropriate for such an occasion then a 777HP RENNTECH SLR.

The additional 160HP over stock is provided by modifications to the 5.5L engine’s internals as well as the supercharger itself. Those additional ponies are pushed to the ground thanks to a reinforced transmission and a new limited slip differential which can, on command, send 100% of the power to one wheel.

Although the power is great, the most jaw dropping part of this project is the absolutely beautiful body work that can almost be mistaken for the SLR 722GT race car.

According to RENNTECH’s founder Hartmut Feyhl, “The 777 will be a very special car. The first example is being built now, and will be ready this Spring. We intend to build a few different extreme vehicles like this for our 20th anniversary, with each one being strictly limited to 20 units. They are all very exciting projects, and we will be announcing them throughout the year, as they approach completion.”

Although a few manufacturers (Nissan, Porsche, Suzuki) decided not to show up for the party, the 2009 North American International Auto Show is still barreling forward with more then enough to keep people talking.

Currently, NAIAS is in ‘Industry Preview’ mode, so unless you have a press pass, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow; January 17th for the Public Show.

However, you really don’t even need to GO to Detroit and dredge thru the ice and snow when AutoBlog is doing such a good job covering the show.

A couple good features that may peak you interest:

Audi R8 V10

Cadillac Converj

Subaru Legacy Concept

‘Add Lightness‘ were the words Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, lived and died by. I’m sure right now, Mr. Chapman is looking down on Jimmy Wong’s Elise with a smile and approving nod.

Jimmy Wong, of Hong Kong had this killer vehicle built in six months with help from TW Auto Limited, a local Lotus specialist. Everything you see, from the front end, to the roof, to the doors are dry carbon fiber and along with ‘adding lightness’ (80lbs to be exact) this carbon fiber conversion adds pure sex appeal.

The motor remains fairly stock, although the suspension and wheels have been upgraded.

It is now Day 9/10 of the 2009 Dakar Rally and there’s already more than enough to talk about. Currently, Volkswagen is holding the top three spots with Mitsubishi nipping at the heels of third place. On a more somber note, the course has already claimed a victim; French motorcycle rider Pascal Terry who had been missing since the second stage of the race.

This year’s Dakar Rally was relocated to Argentina-Chile after threats from terrorists derailed the traditional France-Senegal route the race takes. The race kicked off on January 3rd and will wrap up January 17th.

The Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS) was this past weekend and there’s is a TON of coverage floating around the Internets (sic). Not only did Nissan choose this forum as the kick off for the new Nissan GT-R Spec V, many manufactures rolled out new models sporting new parts for the coming year.

I have to had it to one page in particular for fantastic coverage; SpeedHunters did a bang up job and has become my ‘go-to’ for TAS 2009 coverage. Check out some of the links below.

If you are an avid (or even occassional) viewer of Top Gear then you know that some say The Stig was forged out of steel and fire in the devil’s own pit garage, however you don’t know his identity… [cue Jeremy Clarkson voice] until now.

Well, kinda. Telegraph UK is reporting that The Stig is a married man, in his 30s, living in a £300,000 house, driving a ‘boring’ car.

See what I mean by ‘kinda’? Those facts don’t exactly narrow down The Stig’s true identity, but some other facts dug up by Telegraph UK may provide insight into who he actually is.