Bazooka Fast-6502 (fast6502) Chrysler / Dodge Fast Harness on 2040-parts.com

Video: Watch a Mini Countryman do a backflip

We've seen a backflip on a snowmobile, we've seen the double backflip from Travis Pastrana on his dirtbike, and we saw Rhys Millen almost land a backflip in his off-road truck on New Year's Eve. Apparently, Mini thought it would cap the fad's run by flipping a car. Extreme sportsman, freestyle skier and rally driver Guerlain Chicherit made the attempt at the winter sports resort of Tignes in France.

Lotus lusts after Lutz?

Lotus seem to be pursuing Bob Lutz The Lotus five year plan calls for the track day cars to make way for much more substantial and upmarket cars to become the force at Lotus; a move to become the Aston Martin East Anglia. Probably the first obvious move in this plan was to grab Dany Bahar from Ferrari last year (and Ferrari designer Donato Coco) and now Lotus are casting their net again to snare some big names to drive them forward. Top of the list is almost-octogenarian Bob Lutz who retired from GM – but certainly not from business – last year.

BMW Alpina B7 gets power boost for 2013

The 2013 BMW Alpina B7, the performance version of the German automaker's 7-series sedan, gets an additional 40 hp--and a more costly sticker price--for the new model year. BMW plans to roll out the 2013 model at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August and begin sales soon thereafter. Under the hood, power from the 4.4-liter V8 has been increased from 500 to 540 hp with the addition of BMW's throttle-less Valvetronic intake system.