When a car is expensive and powerful, sometimes it’s a good idea for it to be subtle as well. Take this Porsche Panamera Turbo given the once-over by Mansory, that Swiss tuning house of repute. Now it has 36 percent more power than stock, the numbers being 680 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque going to an all-wheel drive system. The sprint to 60 mph is quicker by two-tenths of a second (now four seconds dead) and top speed goes from 188 to 203 mph. This muscle hike has been achieved by adding bigger turbochargers, an ECU re-flash, and improved breathing courtesy of a custom sport exhaust. Then Mansory installed a body kit for better aerodynamics and a carbon-fiber hood, plus a re-upholstered blue-and-yellow interior with a new steering wheel. Subtle? Like a brick to the groin.

Photo Gallery: Mansory Porsche Panamera Turbo – European Car Magazine

Congratulations, you 30 guys who were quick enough to get your names down for the 2011 BMW M3 Frozen Gray Coupe. All it took was 12 minutes to sell the lot, and 50 other people registered as alternatives in the first hour of it going on sale. At $77,600 a pop, the Frozen Gray holds a $19,200 premium over a regular M3. Engine output is still the same (414 hp), but this one has a lowered suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, electronic damping, the excellent BMW double-clutch gearbox, a cool stereo, navigation, cosmetic niceties (including the Frozen Gray matte metallic paint), and it comes with a day’s tuition at the BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg, North Carolina. This U.S.-only limited edition car has been made to mark 25 years since the first M3. We hope some of you 30 FGC buyers are old enough to remember that one, or we could really start to dislike you.

Photo Gallery: BMW M3 Frozen Gray Coupe – European Car Magazine

This might sound like an odd idea, but stay with it for a second: How about if North America joined the European Union? It could solve a lot of healthcare problems and the Canadians can already speak French. But mainly, we might then get the Renault Clio Gordini 200 super-hot hatch over here. And that could only be a good thing. First off, it’s built at the famed Alpine plant in Dieppe; it has a highly rated sport suspension, but offers the option of a stiffer and lower setup; the 2.0-liter engine makes 200 hp, and the stoppers are made by Brembo. Throw in some nice accoutrements like special seats and bits of trim, and this becomes a car that makes an American’s driving life that little bit poorer.

Photo Gallery: Renault Clio Gordini 200 – European Car Magazine

Another opportunity to experience one of BMW’s excellent twin-turbo V8s should never be sniffed at. The fresh X5 SAV will offer the option of this new generation of 4.4-liter engines that also powers some 7 Series sedans. Bimmer fans have probably memorized the numbers already, but here they are, just in case: 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Link that up to an eight-speed gearbox and we’re talking drivetrain of the gods. Call it by its full name, the 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i, and we’re talking badge of the anal retentives.

Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i – European Car Magazine

Looks like the Jaguar XKR will get a bigger set of stones to go with its pretty face. And the result will be called the XKR Goodwood Special. Although it’s named after one legendary track, an early model has posted an impressive time at another. It lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes, 58 seconds-anything under eight minutes is heroic. The production car will have a top speed of 186 mph. Last year, a special XKR debuted at Goodwood’s famous Festival of Speed. Along with a lowered suspension, it had a supercharged V8 that develops 523 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, a tad more than the normal XKR. We wait with bated breath.

Photo Gallery: Jaguar XKR Goodwood Special – European Car Magazine

With World Cup soccer now behind us, some people won’t want to wait another four years to get their fix. But if they had 12,900 euros to spend, they could get this Audi Design limited-edition foosball table. It’s made from handcrafted wood, brushed aluminum, and heavy-duty plastic, and has been the project of 10 styling studio trainees. “It’s an attractive task to transfer our design language to other day-to-day articles,” says Audi design chief Wolfgang Egger. “The results are often surprising.” Thomas Przesdzink, German table soccer multiple champion, has already had a go. “It looks just great,” he says. “That tells us nothing about how it performs, but here too I was pleasantly surprised. From a sporting point of view, it could certainly be used for an official tournament series.” So it’s almost kind of sad that only 20 will be made.

Photo Gallery: Audi Design Foosball Table – European Car Magazine

Audi has already conquered Le Mans using diesel-powered cars. So when it brought out the E-Tron electric sports car for a lap before the 2010 24-hour enduro, was it making some kind of veiled prediction? It could happen if the battery packs were easily interchangeable and could be recharged outside of the vehicle. This matte-black model was driven by German race ace Frank Biela. Although the E-Tron is still one of those halo vehicles to show off new tech, Audi is saying that a road-going version could be available in 2012.

Photo Gallery: Audi E Tron – European Car Magazine