The Mercedes-Benz GL sport-ute may have received a slight refresh for the 2010 model year, but the team in Stuttgart is already prepping the next-generation GL, and our spies have caught an early test mule roaming the streets. The overall shape of the seven-passenger SUV hasn’t changed much, but we can see that the front fascia has been smoothed out quite a bit, even in these early development stages.

The new GL will ride on a stretched version of the next-generation ML crossover platform, and it will share the majority of its technological data with the smaller ML, as well. In true Mercedes-Benz fashion, we expect a full range of gasoline and diesel engines to be available, though no official word has been given on exactly what will be under the hood when the GL launches. For now, check out the attached gallery to see the GL mule out on the road.

There will be just 20 examples built of the even more limited edition BMW X6 Performance Unlimited, also for the Japanese market only. Inspired by BMW motorsports, the crossover gets a twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder with hybrid technology running through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The body receives silver pearl paint, a BMW Performance aero package, 21-inch alloys and a blacked-out grille, the interior gets Dakota leather and brushed aluminum pedals. It retails for a tidy ¥9,450,000 ($106,823 U.S.). You check it out, along with the Mini Saville Row, in the high-res galleries below.

Alpina has finally graced the world with a handful of images and all of the gritty details about the all-new 2011 B5 Bi-Turbo after its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The company has managed to bless the BMW 5 Series with a mythic 507 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. How, you ask? The B5 makes use of the same twin-turbo, all aluminum V8 found in the car’s big brother, the B7. That means that there’s a full 4.4-liters of displacement sucking down 1 bar of pressure for the two turbos under the hood. Sounds like a party.

The eight-pot is bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission that Alpina co-developed with the gear-swapping gurus at ZF. If the mood strikes you, the driver can click through the gears via buttons mounted on the back side of the steering wheel, though given the massive amount of work Alpina put into the transmission, odds are you’re better off letting the car do the work for you.

There’s also a completely reworked suspension on board that includes slightly shorter springs and unique control arms that help eek a little more camber out of the front wheels. Combined with the electronically adjustable suspension, the company claims to provide an altogether sharper driving experience. Speaking of wheels, Alpina has equipped the B5 Bi-Turbo with a set of the company’s epic 20-inch rollers. Check out the gallery of high-res images below and then click past the jump for the granddaddy of a press blast.

We’ve been talking about and looking at the McLaren MP4-12C for so long that it’s hard to believe the general population is only seeing it this week, but that’s indeed the case.

Ron Dennis’ newest creation has finally showed its face, engine and prowess to the admiring eyes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only that, it was driven up the hill by McLaren F1’s World Championship-leading drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. The runs weren’t timed, so everyone stays friends on this one, but there’s still plenty of on-road action after the jump.

There’s been a lot of talk recently about new Ferraris slated to roll out of Maranello. Which makes sense, considering that its parents at Fiat are in the midst of a big product shake-up. But while previous reports foreshadowed replacements for the 599, 612 and Enzo – and even went as far as outlining the product life-cycle to be implemented across Ferrari’s entire line – executives in Maranello have until now avoided any mention of a Scuderia version of the new 458.

And we could hardly blame them. After all, there aren’t many better ways to kill off excitement for a brand-new supercar than talking about the better version in the pipeline. Motor Trend, however, claims to have it on good authority that a lighter-weight, more powerful version of the 458 Italia will arrive in 2013, taking up the position held by the outgoing 430 Scuderia and the 360 Challenge Stradale before it.

Unfortunately, not much else is known, other than to say that, while some body panels will be replaced by carbon fiber, Ferrari’s intent on sticking with aluminum for its production models, rather than integrating the magic black weave into its mainstream offerings as some of its competitors are doing.

The Enzo’s replacement, however, is not considered a mainstream production model. MT figures the twin-turbo, direct-injection V8 that will power the new flagship will produce upwards of 700 horsepower, driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and aided by all the latest electronic wizardry which Ferrari has cooked up in its F1 and XX development programs.

That doesn’t mean we don’t want wagons, though.

While America slept in Monday, Volvo unveiled its new V60 sports wagon overseas. The company says 90% of buyers will be from Europe and the other 10% obviously from points outside the U.S.

Volvo spokesman James Hope pointed out that the V70 wagon sold more than 10,000 units in 2004. By 2009 the company sold less than 1,800.

That’s some sad news for wagon fans who can drown their tears by browsing more photos of the all-new V60 below. And if they can live with a sedan, the all-new S60 will hit U.S. dealers later this summer.

Planning on invading something? Ze Germans have a bit of experience to impart, and it comes in its latest form as the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon LAPV 6.X Concept. Unveiled at the Eurosatory defense exposition in France – so named, in case you were wondering, for Camp Satory where the French defense ministry used to hold the event – the up-armored G-Class is like the existing LAPV 5.4, but more… well, capable.

The go-anywhere, conquer-anything truck can carry 2,866 pounds of cargo over just about any terrain you can throw at it, reinforced by armor plating – including underbody protection from land mines (or perhaps more poignantly, roadside IEDs). It’s got an on-the-fly adjustable suspension with nearly 18 inches of ground clearance, full combat communications and jamming system, hydraulic ventilated disc brakes and an unspecified common-rail diesel engine. And best of all, it’s got orange wheels, but we’d imagine those would be a delete option for more covert operations. Check it out in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.