Like it or not, ‘tis the season for holiday cheer. And while that usually means braving a minefield of family-oriented events, it’s also a great excuse to get out there and do something for the less fortunate out there. If you happen to be in the L.A. area, that means you can take your ride and a new, unwrapped toy worth around $10 bucks to the sixth-annual Motor4Toys Charity Car Show. Happen to be a hoon of the two-wheeled variety? Don’t worry, bikes are absolutely welcome. The show kicks off December 6th at the Anthem Building in Warner Center. Check out the show’s site for more info.

Think something as pathetic as Pontiac’s death can stop the Trans Am from being reborn? Think again, comrades. Lingenfelter, the same group of wicked wrenches responsible for that nasty Camaro headed to SEMA, just unveiled plans for a Trans Am concept. Like it’s Bow Tie brother, the car is headed to take a bow at this year’s SEMA show. Aside from a body kit that takes plenty of influences from one of the most gorgeous Trans Ams ever created – the 1971 – Lingenfelter has plopped a 7.5-liter V8 behind the headlights. How much gusto is that good for? A blistering 655 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque. We can’t wait to see this thing in the flesh. [Source: MotorAuthority]

It’s quickly becoming clear the sky’s the limit when it come to tuning the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The mad hatters at Hotchkis and Lingenfelter have slipped us a preview of one of the wonders the two companies will be showing off at this year’s SEMA show and it’s an absolute beast. Lingenfelter yanked the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from the SS Camaro’s engine bay and swapped it with the LS7 monster from the Corvette Z06. Then they threw in a supercharger for good measure. The combined result is a knee-buckling 750 horsepower. A Hotchkis Total Vehicle System helps keep the Bow Tie planted, and a new body kit makes sure the car looks the part. We can’t wait to see this car in the flesh. [Source: Hotchkis]

Hope! Joy! Rejoice! Just when I thought every ounce of cool had been stamped out of Honda for good, the company turns around and throws its legions of fans a bone with the CR-Z. When word first trickled down that the sports hybrid would only be available with a testosterone-less CVT, my heart was crushed. After the near fatal news the S2000 was no longer meant for our world, it was almost too much to take. Despair not kids. Word from the Tokyo Motor show is the car will be available with a genuine row-your own six-cog. Does that mean the CR-Z is the legitimate successor the CRX? We’ll save that judgment for the first run behind the wheel. For another look at the hot little hybrid, check out the gallery. [Source: Honda]

The last time a Japanese luxury manufacturer stepped up and cranked out an honest to the car gods supercar we were given the Acura NSX. It’s been nearly 20 years since that piece of ballistics hit our shores, and Lexus has just now taken up the banner with the LFA. Under the hood is a 4.8-liter V10 with 552 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque that revs to an S2000-rivaling 9,000 rpm. Don’t head over to your local dealer just yet, though. Lexus is only cranking out 500 of these suckers, and each and every one will cost you at least $375,000. Worth it? Looking at the videos after the jump, we have to say yes. Absolutely yes. Check out the gallery for an extra look. [Source: Toyota]

While our mouths are already watering at the idea of this year’s SEMA show, it’s important to remember there’s another serious auto gathering on the horizon – the Tokyo Motor Show. Japanese kit car manufacturer Suzusho has just previewed its latest creation – the Supasse V. There’s a turbocharged Mazda 2.3-liter fourcylinder under all that fiberglass good for around 270 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. The best part? The whole package weighs in at a shave under 1,900 lbs. We don’t expect this thing to ever see the light of day outside of Japan, which is a damn shame. That means if you want one, you better know someone really well down at the harbor or plan on moving to the land of the rising sun sometime soon. [Source: Diseno-Art]

Saleen may still be clawing its way from the aftermath of founder Steve Saleen jumping ship, but that isn’t stopping the newly forged Saleen Performance Vehicles from showing off its wares at this year’s SEMA show. The company is teasing the latest version of its individually-numberd pony. From the preview, it’s clear we’re getting a damn sharp body kit, including front and rear fascias. They’ve even managed to massage that funky rear into something a little more attractive. What’s under the hood? We’ll all have to wait until the sheets drop in Vegas for that bit of juicy. If we were betting, we’d say there’s a sizeable blower in play. [Source: Autoblog]

Way back when I was a sophomore in high school, I was addicted to Gran Turismo 3 in the grand tradition of blossoming wrenches everywhere. One of my best friends went to a private school a few towns over and had a Japanese exchange student, Toshi, as a roommate. When winter break rolled around, the three of us spent hours behind the PS2 controller duking it out in Polyphony’s universe. While I was damn fond of my Cobra R, Toshi opted for what I thought was nothing more than a lowly Toyota Corolla. I was wrong. Toshi-san chose an AE-86 as his weapon of choice – a light weight, low power, phenomenally handling piece of Japanese artistry – and spanked my Blue Oval around Special Stage Rte 11 in the biggest way possible. Thus began my fascination with all things JDM. Toyota neutered its wicked rear-wheel drive missile in 1987 by switching to a front-wheel drive layout, but Toyota has just previewed a new FT-86 built in the same tradition of the original Corolla. Details are scarce, but expect a price tag of less than $20,000, a front engine, RWD layout and sales beginning in 2011. Is this the Subaru/Toyota collaboration we’ve been waiting on? We’ll find out when the car takes the stage in Tokyo. [Source: Autoblog]