While sports car fans across the world are eagerly awaiting the all new redesign of the Mazda MX-5 which will supposedly be a lighter, more focused machine, Mazda has gone ahead and given an update to the current NC-chassis MX-5 for the 2013 model year as a sort of swan song.

This marks the second update of the NC since its release for the 2006 model year and includes a redesigned front fascia, as well improvements to both throttle and brake feel. People who happen to get hit by a 2013 MX-5 will also appreciate the new “active bonnet” designed for improved pedestrian safety.

This week Mazda also released a teaser clip showing some front end detail on the upcoming 2014 Mazda6. The full car is scheduled to be unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

Over at the Nürburgring, Audi’s all-electric R8 e-tron set a lap record if 8:09, good enough for the 380ps machine to claim the Ring’s record for production EVs. Racing driver Markus Winkelhock handled pilot duties for the record breaking run.

Aston Martin meanwhile released some images of the new V12 Vantage Roadster in all of its 517ps, open top glory. Get your orders in now.

Aston also showed the new Vanquish to a very posh crowd at the London Film Museum, Covent Garden. My invite must have lost in the mail somehow.

This month’s Silverstone Classic is shaping up to be something special, with over 40 touring car entries from the 1970s to the 1990s scheduled to be on track. Among the current entry list are cars spanning 10 different makes and 18 different models.

I know I’m not alone when I say that ’80s and ’90s touring cars are some of the coolest looking racing machines ever, along with some of the most exciting to watch.

Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one should be the hot rodded version of Mercedes new CLS Shooting Brake. The CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake will produce up to 557 horsepower from its 5.5 liter biturbo V8.

AMG says the car will be hitting the market this November, with pricing yet to be announced. If you have to ask…

Among the rarities auctioned off by H&H over the weekend at Buxton was this 1965 Jensen C-V8 MKIII, which sold for an impressive £39,200.

The Jensen couldn’t match the excitement over this 1957 AC Ace Bristol though, which entered the hands of its new owner to the tune of £151,200.

ALMS was in action over the weekend in Lime Rock, with Corvette Racing putting up another solid showing in the GT class with their C6.Rs.

The Vettes came home with a pair of podium finishes in GT with the #3 and #4 cars in second and third respectively.

Audi Motorsport released some cool images of its A5 DTM at Munich’s Olympic Stadium ahead of this weekend’s race being hosted there.

This marks the second year DTM will run at Munich and the unobstructed sight lines of the whole track have made Munich a fan favorite. There will be two separate races at the event, with one on Saturday and the other on Sunday.

Bentley has released new images of the EXP 9 F Concept which debuted at Goodwood. With this, Bentley as attempting to build (in its own words) “the fastest and most luxurious SUV in the world”.

The next stop for the concept will be next month’s Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach.

Last month, the Top Gear Live stunt team pulled off the Deadly 720 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa, and the feat has now been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

“The First Double Loop by a Car” record was claimed just a couple weeks before Hot Wheels did something similarly crazy at the X Games in Los Angeles.

Say hello top Opel’s new compact car, the Adam. The Adam has its sights set squarely on the Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper and it’s easy to see that just by looking at it.

It will be available with 1.2 liter and 1.4 liter four cylinder engines, with a a three cylinder scheduled to hit the lineup sometime next year.

I’m not so sure about the music, but otherwise this commercial that Subaru of Canada released for the BRZ is very well done.

GM released some new images of the 2013 Camaro 1LE being used as intended – for shenanigans on the race track.

The modern Muscle Car wars just keep getting better and better, don’t they?

London’s Institute of Contemporary Art will host a display of BMW Art Cars as part of the London 2012 Festival.

Thanks to the effort of BMW and the Mayor of London, the cars are scheduled to be displayed at the ICA from July 21st to August 4th.

300 fortunate Australians will be able to bring home the Subaru WRX Club Spec 11. It will go on sale in August, available in either black or this eye-catching orange body color.

Also from the department of orange-painted special edition vehicles is the Lime Rock Park Edition of the M3, with just 200 examples to leave the assembly line.

Finally, a great film from Renault that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Alpine A110 in a very cool way.

See you next week, and don’t forget to pick up your desktops below.

-Mike

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