Cadillac returned to Sebring for testing yesterday, leading up to their re-entry into the SCCA World Challenge GT season, beginning in March. They released a handful of images of their new CTS-V Race Car in its full livery, as well as this brief press release:

SEBRING, Fla. – Cadillac Racing returned to Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, for a second round of testing prior to the beginning of the 2011 Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT season.

For the first time, both CTS-V Coupe racecars hit the track with full exterior colors, decals and numbers. Driver Andy Pilgrim will pilot the No. 8 car for Cadillac Racing, and teammate Johnny O’Connell will be behind the wheel of the No. 3 coupe.

Cadillac is reentering the World Challenge GT series this year, beginning with the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 25-27. Cadillac previously competed in the World Challenge from 2004 to 2007.

“We’re here fine-tuning the cars, validating components and vehicle dynamics,” said Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac global marketing director. “It’s our first opportunity to get both cars on the track at the same time, in full race trim. Besides looking incredible on the track, the cars are performing at an exceptional level.”

The first test at Sebring Raceway in January was earlier in the vehicle development process and limited to one racecar without the exterior treatments.

“The driving is going very well,” O’Connell said. “We’re just learning how the car responds to different changes and we’re getting a lot of track data. With two full days of testing (Feb. 22-23), we’ll have a really good idea of how we’ll perform at the first race in St. Petersburg next month.”

The World Challenge GT schedule has been finalized for the 2011 season and includes eight races in the United States and Canada from March to October.

“We’re getting in a lot of laps, and that’s what we need to do to get ready for the 2011 season,” Pilgrim said.

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[source: Cadillac via: AutoBlog]

While most automakers are focusing their fuel-efficiency efforts on hybrid technology, Mazda is looking inward at its everyday gasoline-powered engines. Mazda announced last week that the 2012 Mazda3 will make its debut at the 2011 Canadian International AutoShow sporting their SKYACTIV Technology. This will be the first production vehicle to offer the new technology.

The SKYACTIV-G engine that will be available under the hood of the 2012 Mazda3 boasts the world’s highest compression ratio of any stock gasoline powered engine at a whopping 14.0:1 with no “abnormal combustion” (more commonly referred to as knocking). As part of the SKYACTIV package the 2012 Mazda3 will also sport a new and improved six speed automatic transmission, known as “SKYACTIV-Drive.” What does this mean to consumers? Mazda states that the improved technology “will realize higher torque at low and mid-range engine speeds resulting in better drivability with less fuel consumption in everyday driving.”

2012 Mazda3 - Click for Full Size

In addition to the improved performance offered by SKYACTIV Technology, Mazda has also improved the look and feel of the car as well. They’ve taken the liberty of shedding 220 lbs. from the previous chassis and made it 30% more rigid which results in a better driving experience. Along with revised front and rear bumpers, the 2012 Mazda3 gets a redesigned front grill, front headlamps, and fog light bezels.

The SKYACTIV system is central to Mazda’s long term effort to improve fuel-efficiency as well as reduce emissions known as “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom.” Mazda is planning to implement the SKYACTIV technology in future diesel engines and use more advanced methods such as idle-stop, regenerative braking systems as well as hybrid technology to further increase fuel efficiency. The 2012 Mazda3 is the first vehicle in the Mazda lineup to receive the new SKYACTIV technologies, which they plan to roll out across the brand in coming years.

Rhys Millen Racing stripped a factory-fresh Veloster down and rebuilt the car from scratch. They started by reinforcing all of the welding, replacing the metal body panels with Kevlar\carbon composite panels, fitting an 8-point roll-cage, and Sparco seats. The suspension was outfitted with a custom long travel setup, with HRE wheels Hancook tires, and 14″ front \ 12″ rear Alcon brake discs squeezed by 6-piston calipers.

Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster rally car - click for full size

Now the best part is under the hood: Rhys Millen Racing bolted an HKS ball-bearing turbo to Hyundai’s 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine, and is producing 500 horsepower, and 600 lb-ft of torque! All that power is being routed through an X-trac six-speed sequential gearbox and then out to all four wheels. And the icing on the cake is this preview video Hyundai released: