Huge Mustang news of the day - pictures of 2010 pony emblem and hood

First we had the teaser pace car, a camouflaged 2010 Mustang. Now we have pictures of a redesigned Pony emblem and what is claimed to be the hood of the new 'stang. What's next, spy photos of the V6 models newly designed wheels?

For the record, the updated pony emblem was introduced to the world by papa Ford himself for media consumption. A side by side comparison between old pony and new pony reveals a stronger breed with a faster look and sharper lines.

A raised head with swept-back ears are complimented by a fiercer mane that makes the muscular, chiseled horse look sleeker and meaner. The tinted-chrome finish gives the badge a darker, more menacing look. If the tinted-chrome finish isn't quite mean enough for you, Ford will also offer a black-chrome finish for the first time, only on Mustang GTs.

"We wanted to give the Mustang pony a more realistic feel," said Douglas Gaffka, chief designer for the 2010 Mustang. "We lifted the head to make the pony more proud, tipped the neck into the wind to give it a feeling of greater speed and better balance. It's more chiseled and more defined and looks more like a wild horse."

Ford hints that the look of the pony gives clues as to what the finished '10 Mustang will look like. Actual details of the much anticipated car are some of the most guarded secrets at Ford right now.

And now for the scandalous speculation!

The folks at www.mustangforums.com have a teaser picture of what is supposedly an actual hood from a 2010 Mustang!

Even the poster of the picture isn't exactly sure of its origins yet, but it's believed to have come from the Ford Tool and Die open house a few weeks back. It doesn't look like any hood on the current Mustang, so there's a good chance it's the real deal.

It certainly looks similar in shape to the current Mustang's hood, and the large cowl-induction hump in the middle would explain the bulge we've seen under the camouflage in spy pics.

On the other hand, there's always the possibility that someone could have just written 2010 Mustang on a random hood just to mess with people. Still, it's a good looking hood, so here's hoping it's authentic.

As always, check back for any additional news, including soon to come interior color options!

KTM X-Bow - Coming to a highway near you!

Famed Austrian motorcycle builder KTM recently unveiled its first-ever passenger car, the 1650-lb, 240-hp X-Bow, and unlike most low-volume vehicles that are scary-fast and a bit dangerous, reports suggest this one will actually be street-legal in America.

Deliveries of the X-Bow are already being made in Europe and Asia. Up until now, KTM stated that the car would only be approved in the U.S. for use on racetracks. As Hubert Trunkenpolz, managing director of sales and marketing, now says, "We will do whatever is possible to bring the car to the U.S. -- that, I promise." Originally intended to be produced at a rate of 500 vehicles per year, the motorcycle builder has already gotten more than 600 requests for X-Bows from the U.S. alone.

The X-Bow is essentially unchanged from the car that is currently racing in the GT4 European Cup. The mid-engine sports car features Audi's 2.0L, TFSI turbo four-cylinder coupled to a six-speed manual transmission making 240 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque between 2000 and 5000 rpm. When combined with a VW-sourced limited-slip differential, this powertrain rockets the little roadster from 0 to 62 mph in a mere 3.9 sec.

KTM is currently looking to partner with VW/Audi for assistance in clearing any legals hurdles that may get in the way of introducing the car to U.S. roads. However, Trunkenpolz believes the company will do what is necessary to make this happen, saying, "At the end of the day we want to see this car on the streets in America." Given its many unusual features -- among other things it lacks a full windshield, instrument panel, heating system, and doors -- buyers will most likely be required to take a class to help them understand the X-Bow's dynamics and handling, but after that they should be free to hop in the car and take to the streets.

So line up thrill seekers. For those of you who think the Lotus Elise is too soft or offers too many creature comforts, you car will soon arrive.