As recently published by the German (not BBC) magazine Focus, Apple will be making an in-car system for Mercedes. This mystery unit will tackle “maintenance, communication and navigation”. From Focus (translated):

Mercedes will exclusively offer the new Apple set for six months. On an introduction on the market presumably 2009 are to be counted. Unclear it is still whether Apple – similar as with iPhone – on Google will trust maps as navigation aid.

So this is what we know from the article:

1. Apple is making a Mercedes computeresque option
2. This system will handle car functions and navigation
3. Released in 2009
4. It’s a 6-month limited edition
5. There is no mention of “entertainment” or MP3
6. No mention of Google Maps (yet)

If anyone out there speaks German better than Google, please hit the link and see if you can squeeze anything else out of cleaner diction. How could this be true? Apple has been made its way into the vocabulary of most car manufacturers/buyers through highly saturated integrated iPod support. And Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to roll out a complete iPod system in their automobiles.

Would you want an Apple system in your car?

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Two new images snapped by an amateur photographer show what could be BMW’s high-performance 135i M coupe. Earlier this month, we brought you the most revealing photos to date of the regular 1-Series coupe, but this latest car is clearly something different..

The red car shown in our two latest photos — courtesy of 1Addicts — has a distinctive front bumper reminiscent of BMW’s other “M” offerings. While we don’t believe this is a full-fledged “M1,” it appears to be an performance-oriented variant of some description.

Our best bet — based on years of rumors and speculation — is that this car is a 135i, featuring the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter powerplant as BMW’s 335i.

There’s a good chance the car captured in March by Brenda Priddy & Company is the same vehicle shown in the latest photos. Those earlier photos did not reveal the front of the coupe, which surely would have tipped us to its “M” identity.

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As reported in late May, Mercedes-Benz will work with racing partner H.W.A. on its next supercar, rather than McLaren. But rather than replacing the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, the car will rival the Audi R8, according to a new report.

While the SLR costs a whopping $455,000, the new mid-engine sports car will be more attainable, costing closer to $110,000, according to Automotive News.

Sales of the SLR have been disappointing, so rather than chasing the ultra-expensive market with its next super sports car, Mercedes stay closer to its $100,000 comfort zone.

Rumors about a mid-engine Mercedes have been circulating for years, dating back to the alleged “P8″ project, which was eventually cancelled.

Last summer, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Mercedes was getting ready to rival the R8, and in January insiders at Brenda Priddy & Company said a new model called the “SLS” would fill that role. (See illustrations below).

As recently reported by Auto Zeitung, BMW may too be getting ready to do battle with the R8. According to the German magazine, the BMW “M10″ will serve as a spiritual successor to the M1, with the R8 as its main rival.

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The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, which is expected to debut some time next year, will deliver an astounding 600 horsepower, according to a new report. That’s roughly 200 horsepower more than the old CTS-V!

Rather than using a 505 horsepower LSA motor from the Corvette Z06, the new CTS-V will use a de-tuned version of the supercharged V8 that will power the “Blue Devil” Corvette Z07/SS, reports Motor Trend.

While 505 horsepower sounds like enough rival Europe’s best super sedans, GM engineers apparently decided the Z06’s motor doesn’t provide enough torque for such a heavy car. The solution? A supercharged LS7 7.0-liter powerplant minus 100 horsepower from the Z07’s incredible 700.

While this latest rumor might sound too good to be true, GM’s Bob Lutz was recently quoted saying the 2009 CTS-V “will be at a power level only described as unexpectedly high.” Then referencing the current BMW M5, Lutz said the CTS-V “will suck the doors off” the competition if the next M5 isn’t significantly better.

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The next-generation Pontiac G6 will arrive earlier than expected, according to a new report. Based on GM’s Alpha rear-wheel-drive platform for midsize cars, the new G6 should show up for the 2011 model year in late 2010.

A recent report indicated the Alpha-based G6 might not arrive until 2013, but this latest information from Edmunds indicates the G6 will be the first car to use the new architecture.

A successor to the front-drive Cadillac BLS will arrive a few months later, in early 2011, the report claims. Priced below the Cadillac CTS, the new BLS will be sold in North America, and should start in the high $20,000s.

For the 2012 model year, Saturn will also get a new Alpha-based car. It will be offered in addition to the front-wheel-drive Aura, rather than as a replacement.

Of course, many of GM’s midsize cars will remain front-wheel-drive. The next Malibu will transition to the Epison 2 platform in late 2010, and the next Buick LaCrosse will also make use of the architecture, albeit a year earlier. Saab’s next 9-5 and 9-3 will also be Epsilon-2 based, the report says.

GM is believed to have previewed its Alpha platform with the Holden Torana concept (pictured) in 2004. Given the close relationship between GM Australia’s Holden and America’s Pontiac division, the next G6 will probably have a close counterpart at Holden.

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A source at FoMoCo tells us they plan to rock down to electric-gas avenue in the near-term future. Although we knew there’d be a 2009 model of a certain razor-bladed sedan with some kind of charge to it, we didn’t know any more details other than that. Until today. Our source, who for the moment we’ll call “Electric Throat”, tells us that Ford plans to introduce a Ford Fusion hybrid at either the LA or Detroit Auto Show but they’re “pushing hard for LA.” Makes sense to us — all the better to get the attention of the left coast folks. We don’t have much more than that — but whatevs, it’s a slow news day.

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