As many of you have likely noticed, the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue has hit newsstands. We’re not sure what skimpy swimsuits have to do with sports, but we’re sure most subscribers aren’t complaining. SI has also been pushing its models on YouTube, where body painting is apparently a big draw these days.

It seems SI has been doing some cross-promoting, too, as we’ve come across a video containing gorgeous SI swimsuit models Damaris Lewis, Jessica Hart, and Melissa Haro doing power slides and donuts in three brand new (and nearly as stunning) Nissan 370Zs. Talk about a match made in heaven Vegas. Hit the jump to view the three models exit the Luxor (gracefully), enter the three Z cars, and go for what appears to be a very entertaining ride. All this video needs is Danica behind the wheel for a perfect 10, but we’ll settle for a 9.95 instead. Hat tip to reader Matt T.

[Source: YouTube]

We have to admit that we got excited when we saw Audi had officially posted a press release and new photos of the TT RS that is set to make its debut at next week’s Geneva Motor Show. After all, up until now we had only received the bare details and a few low-res photos of the car.

The new pictures are great, but we have been left wanting with a press release that is largely devoid of any additional technical or useful details that we were not already aware of. What we have learned, however, is that Audi is really jazzed about the TT RS. The generally conservative Germans seem to be going all out on this one, describing the acceleration as “explosive,” the sound as “unrivaled,” and the brakes as “stupendous.” Audi claims it will need “nowhere near five seconds to reach 100 km/h” (62 miles-per-hour), it will be able to “perform extraordinary feats” and overtaking will be “child’s play.” Come on, Audi, are you sure you don’t want to bring the TT RS stateside?

[Source: Audi]

Fed up with your Triptronic Boxster? Need more space to haul the kids and their baseball gear? Live in Japan? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, Subaru has a STI they’d like to show you. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line is aimed at the discerning enthusiast looking for a more relaxed ride from their performance hatch, someone who isn’t interested in messing with the manual gearbox that comes standard on the top-spec Impreza.

The 300-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer four remains the same, equipped with Dual Active Valve Control System (AVCS) to boost low- and mid-range torque and a Tumble Generation Valve (TGV) that supposedly controls the stream of air into the intake for optimal combustion. Subaru is offering the A-Spec exclusively with a five-speed automatic gearbox featuring “Downshifting Blipping Control” and steering wheel-mounted paddles. A new body color – “Satin White Pearl” – is included, along with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and optional leather trim and front seat heaters. While we’re pretty sure Subaru Japan’s PR team made a mistake on the brake specs – listing the front discs at a whopping 17-inches and the rear rotors at 16-inches – if not, the A-Spec has enough stopping power to halt the rotation of the earth.

While Nissan revealed preliminary pricing on its new Cube compact earlier this month at the Chicago Auto Show, it has now released more figures for the entire lineup, and it is launching a pre-order website today, too.

As noted earlier, the Cube will start at $13,990 for a base 1.8-liter model with a six-speed manual transmission. The midline 1.8 S model will command $14,690 in manual and $15,690 in Xtronic CVT configuration, while the uplevel SL (available only with the Xtronic) will command $16,790. The top-shelf Krom, also an automatic-only proposition, is pegged at $19,370. All of the aforementioned prices do not include destination charges, so be sure to tack on an additional $695 in your calculations. For comparison’s sake, Scion’s larger xB will set you back a minimum of $16,420 (including destination), versus $14,685 in-your-garage for a Base Cube S.

For more information including details on standard equipment, please check out the official press release after the jump. If you’re interested in speccing out or reserving a Cube with such eccentricities as 20-color interior illumination or dashboard shag, click here. Initial Cube shipments are expected to hit dealers in early May.

General Motors has been vascillating about when and where it would build engines for its upcoming Chevrolet Volt and Cruze models, and today that saga has a new twist. Last September, GM proclaimed that it would invest $370 million in a new Flint, Michigan plant to build 1.4-liter four-cylinder engines after the city announced an extensive suite of tax breaks said to be worth $56 million. Then, in mid-December, word came that GM was delaying building the plant, although it pledged to bring the Volt to market on-time, instead sourcing initial engines from overseas. Then came word late last month that GM had cancelled the plant contracts, leaving the company’s powertrain plans in limbo. Now, GM is saying that it will indeed build the engines in Flint, it’s just going to do so using existing facilities.

According to a new press release, GM is citing “current capital expenditure constraints and available floor space in existing facilities” as the reason for not pursuing a new facility. All is not lost, however, as GM still plans to invest around $250M to update the company’s Flint South plant. Facility revitalization work will commence this spring, with production of the new engines slated to begin in December 2010. More details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Just as we were speeding on the motorway, we saw a 2009 Honda Civic Sedan whizzing past us. It left us wondering, “Why did we not have that piece of marvel with us?” Piece of marvel it is! With a capacity to seat 5 passengers, and a 5-speed manual transmission enough to allow you sit comfortably behind the wheel, this sedan has to be with everyone.

If you have couple ten thousand dollars in your bank and a quiet countryside road besides your home to drive a car, buy this one immediately. With a mileage of about 34 Miles per gallon, the tank does not eat your money at all. Cheaper drive, compact body that never seems to quit – Do you need anything else for your car?

Hopefully nothing more, but if you want add-ons to the package, you will find it with the interiors. Plush seats and enough leg space for everyone concerned in the car will make you feel as if you are sitting in a recliner theater! This sedan is able to do 0 – 60 miles in all of less than 5 seconds. Do you need any more testimonials?

Your local garage could be selling this car in a range of $15,000 and $25,000. Not a lot of money considering the beauty of this car.

Most of us may have a problem with the 2009 Lexus ES350. At least by the looks of it, we found it pedestrian. But one of our friends remarked that it had a classy and conservative design to the body. That seemed to push us to know more about the Lexus ES350 model. With sharp angles and good curving into the aerodynamics section, this car surely seems to be a piece directly off a 3-D Application!

The performance aspect of the car gives us fewer reasons to complain though. This 3.5 Liter V-6, Six Speed Transmission beauty can easily do 0-60 miles an hour in 6.4 seconds. Not bad for a start! Drive this car on the highway, and expect to pay for a liter of gasoline for every 27 miles traveled. Excellent body roll and a good traction on curves make this a car, which will not give you too many worries while behind the wheel.

Our take on the Lexus 2009 model – In terms of Style, not many would find Lexus good. After all, you don’t get many cars like this. But that’s not the fault of this car anyways. Whatever little complaints people had with the styling, it would be negated completely when they understand the performance dynamics of the car.

Now we know why Audi did not bother to wait to show their TTS model! They had to be flinching because the 2009 Audi TT model is full value for money. A 2.0 Liter engine may not sound like a lot of power, but there is just a lot more than what meets the eye, under the hood. Excellent engine tuning and a torque range of 2500 – 5000 rpm means that in terms of performance, Audi TTS leads the way!

The performance statistics go for a complete toss, when you hear that this car speeds from 0 – 62 miles an hour within 5.2 seconds. How is that for speed? Try switching from 80 Km/hour to 120 Km/hr and you will find it takes only 14 seconds. The all-wheel drive system is just what you wanted with a car that promises to drive like a frenzied machine.

In terms of style, none of us need to ask any questions at all. After all, it is an Audi release. Anyone who doubts Audi’s sense of styling on their cars must go to Mars! Our final take on this small beauty of a car – It is sleek, it is powerful, and yes, it is a power packed car. Spending about $30,000 for this car is completely worth every dime of it!

We’re checking out the 2009 Dodge Journey, a wagon that’s paired with an all-wheel drive transmission and rigged up to look like something that people should be intimidated by.

It’s a compromise, folks – you’re not stepping up and into a gigantic road monster, but you’re settling into something that might’ve someday wanted to be one. Under the hood, the 2009 Dodge Journey can go two ways: First, she can settle with the 173 horsepower four cylinder engine that’ll make 173 horses. Most likely, though, she’ll want to gobble the V-6 engine that’s just dying to grind out 253 horsepower on a bad day.

The Journey will haul 3,800 pounds, but just barely – go easy on this pony.  She’ll get the job done at the end of the day, if you’ll just coax her a little bit along the way. Find the 2009 Dodge Journey at the dealership for between $20,625 and $29,035.

If you’re looking for a car that’s exactly what it is, then you’re going to run smack into the 2008 Porsche Cayman. This thing just can’t get enough of itself.

It represents itself so perfectly that it just screams to be exposed for what it is: Just what you were looking for in a car. It is, essentially, the essence of the automobile.  The 2008 Porsche Cayman comes in two flavors. There’s a 2.7 liter V-6 that puts out 245 horsepower and 201 pound feet of torque. Then, there’s a bigger V-6: 3.4 liters in that puppy, generating 295 horses and 251 pounded footsteps.

The small one can do the 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds; if you want to get even sweatier, then team up with the big guy, who does the same thing exactly one second faster. Expect to pay between $49,400 and $69,900.

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