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A Quarter Pounder with cheese isn’t exactly Schupfnudeln and Kölsch, but some Mercedes-Benz engineers decided to slum it while putting the new CLK through hot weather testing. That stop at the Golden Arches put Stuttgart’s camouflaged efforts under the scrutiny of the Automotive Traveler’s long lenses. The CLK, or at least that’s what it’s believed to be, looks like an awful lot of energy has been expended in the area of the C-pillar and rear quarter panel. The vigorous coverup in that particular area is fueling suspicions that the CLK will be getting the CLS banana-boat treatment, complete with the “Coupe” moniker.

Chrysler has taken a beating from both consumers and the media regarding the poor quality and materials inside the majority of its products, particularly the Jeep Patriot and Compass. Recognizing the problem, Chrysler made the announcement earlier this year that it would be seriously revamping both model’s interiors in short order, and judging by these leaked images from the 2009 Mopar Accessory brochure, they weren’t lying.

A Russian illustrator by the name of Remio, evidently quite skilled with the Photoshop and CAD, has managed to blend the new Dodge Challenger with the BMW M1 Homage show car, and the results are rather surprising. While some rendered speculation can prove to be quite close to the mark when the subject goes into production, we’ll have to file this one squarely in the “never gonna happen” folder. Shame.

As things turned out a brand new Ford Flex turned up the Ypsilanti branch of the Autoblog garage just a week after my friend Chris had one. While Chris used the Flex as a daily hauler, my family and I used the Flex to make a trek up to Traverse City in the opposite corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula for a vacation. Our all-wheel-drive Flex was slightly less loaded than Chris’ unit, missing the navigation system and built in refrigerator. The gray vacation mobile also had the base 18 inch wheel package rather than the 19s on Chris’ tester.

Despite the fact that Canadian Pontiac dealers are already selling the new Pontiac G3 and that the U.S. EPA has certified the model for sale in the U.S., GM is not currently planning on bringing the model over the border. The G3 is basically a badge-engineered version of the Chevy Aveo, itself a relatively new design in five-door trim. While the front-end and grille of the Poncho may actually be a bit nicer looking than the in-yer-face gaping maw of the Chevy, it still features those unfortunate and ungainly fake side vents. Yuck.

The 2009 Audi A4 sedan and Avant will be hitting lots later this year, and before dealers can begin taking orders in September, they’ve got to let people know what it’ll cost to get behind the wheel of the thoroughly revised entry-level Audi.

Despite having the ability to snatch the 2.3-liter gasoline-electric hybrid from FoMoCo’s arsenal – the same engine found in the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid and 2009 Fusion – Mazda has decided to keep the new Mazda6 hybrid-free for the time being. Jay Amestoy, veep of public and governmental affairs for Mazda, told InsideLine that the automaker is content that the new 6 can hold its own against the competition, despite the high cost of fuel. “Our real-world MPG numbers will be strong, and we think the fuel economy is pretty good the way it is.”

Back before Chrysler was bought by Cerberus, you could always count on the automaker to roll out something truly special at the Detroit Auto Show. Whether by stampeding an entire herd of cattle through downtown Detroit or putting motorcycle bits all around the V10 engine of a Viper, Dodge has always found a way to capture people’s attention. The Viper-inspired Tomahawk motorcycle was especially memorable.

German tuner edo competition is determined to leave no supercar untouched, and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is the latest to undergo the conversion. Starting with the 6.5L V12, edo adds high performance camshafts, upgraded cylinder heads, and new high flow air filters. The exhaust system is also reworked, including new headers, high-flow cats, and new mufflers. The result is 710 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0-60 mph sprint in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 224 mph. Additional modifications include a conversion to RWD, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a new aerodynamically efficient adjustable rear wing. Follow the jump for full details in the press release and check out the gallery below.

Toyota’s bid to completely take over the world with robots is getting ever closer to fruition. Its latest endeavor is intended to place mankind on moving platforms — very Segway-esque. Coming in Small, Medium and Large sizes, Toyota’s Winglet places its riders in a standing position, likely to dissuade notions of the future portrayed in Pixar’s recent Wall-E movie in which humans spent their time in more relaxed positions.