Mercedes-Benz is reportedly preparing to bring its range-topping G-Class SUV to the US market.

The G63 AMG currently sits atop the US lineup, with a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 that produces 544 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque.

For American buyers unimpressed by the $135,000 blocky beast, the company will finally expand availability of its V12-powered G65 AMG, unnamed sources have told Automotive News.

Likely arriving for the 2016 model year, the G65 is expected to feature the same 6.0-liter powerplant that produces 612 ponies and 737 lb-ft of torque as the current model available in select overseas markets. The power is good for a sprint to 62 mph from a standstill in just 5.3 seconds.

Potential buyers are expected to face a price tag north of $250,000 when the SUV finally hits US showrooms.

Chrysler has upgraded its Dodge Viper SRT with more power for 2015, though not quite as much as rumored.

The all-aluminum 8.4-liter V10 engine has been retuned for 645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, representing a five-pony bonus for the latest model year. The company has shaved 25 pounds from the powerplant, while highway fuel consumption has been bumped from 19 to 20 mpg.

A new GT trim level adds driver-selectable suspension and interior upgrades, but without the full range of add-ons found on the pricier GTS package.

The company has also added a Ceramic Blue Edition with ceramic exterior paint, along with Alcantara and carbon-fiber throughout the interior. Other new colors for separate packages include Stryker Purple and Yorange, with stripe options including Black Venom, Billet Silver, Bright White, Gunmetal Pearl and Adrenaline Red.

“Our Dodge Viper customers crave new and exclusive options, which motivates our design and engineering teams to create special builds that continue to deliver our successful high-performance formula for street and track driving, while allowing our enthusiasts to stand out in their world-class supercars,” said SRT chief Tim Kuniskis.

Unfortunately, the 2015 model does not introduce a supercharger that is rumored to retake the power crown from the Hellcat V8, potentially with output reaching 800 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.

General Motors is reportedly on track to become the first automaker to bring eye-tracking safety tech to its lineup.

Australian company Seeing Machines has partnered with supplier Takata to commercialize the technology, which monitors the driver’s gaze. If the system determines that a driver is spending too much time looking down or to the side, it can activate an audible alarm as a reminder to pay attention to the road.

“Eye and head tracking technology is the next step in automotive safety, which we expect to play a

significant role in the reduction of one of the greatest causes of accidents: driver distraction,” said Seeing Machines CEO Ken Kroeger.

The company has already implemented similar systems in mining equipment and semi-trailer trucks, helping to monitor fatigue and alert both the operators and their employers when the system detects distraction.

Seeing Machines and Takata have not yet publicly disclosed which automakers are eyeing the technology, however unnamed sources told CNBC that GM will be the first customer. Other companies will likely be watching to see if the system actually works, and if drivers view it as an annoyance rather than a welcome safety feature.

Takata is said to be building enough eye-tracking systems to install in a half million vehicles within the next three to five years.

Our spy photographers have sent us the first visual evidence that a five-door version of the Subaru WRX is on the way.

When Subaru launched its all-new 2015 WRX earlier this year, the company was adamant that the performance compact would be offered exclusively as a four-door sedan. However, WRX sales have traditionally been split 50/50 between the sedan and five-door hatchback, leaving many to wonder how steadfast Subaru would be in its sedan-only stance.

Those suspicions now appear to be well founded as our spy photographers have spotted a mule for a WRX five-door undergoing shakedown testing.

Although based on the standard Impreza hatchback, the mule in question has a bit of extra width to it, as evidenced by panels on the roof. That fits with the WRX designation, as the WRX sedan is 2.2-inches wider than its Impreza counterpart.

The WRX’s signature hoodscoop is present on the mule, but covered with a panel for better disguise. Standard wheels and tires are affixed to the mule, keeping with its under-the-radar theme.

The WRX’s 268-horsepower boxer-four will likely carryover, but we’ve heard whispers of a new direct-injection motor that could bring more power.

Look for the Subaru WRX five-door to debut sometime next year.

Leaked images have prematurely revealed the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, a seven-seater SUV designed to replace the aging LR2. The Discovery Sport will greet the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show that will open its doors to the public next month.

The Discovery Sport will be bigger in all directions than the outgoing LR2. Published by Autoblog.it, the leaked pictures confirm the SUV’s front end falls in line with the automaker’s latest design language thanks to styling cues such as sharp, elongated headlights and a thin radiator grille. Out back, the Discovery Sport features an upright hatch and tail lamps that are loosely inspired by the ones found on the smaller Evoque.

Although interior pictures were not leaked, Land Rover has previously confirmed its next SUV will offer seating for up to seven passengers in a 2 + 3 + 2 configuration, a setup made possible by the more generous dimensions. A power-adjustable second-row seats will be available at an extra cost, and the third row will fold flat into the trunk floor when not in use.

A large color touch screen on the dashboard will run the next generation of Land Rover’s infotainment system. Well-equipped models will offer full smartphone integration, a heads-up display and voice commands.

Power for the Discovery Sport will come from members of Jaguar – Land Rover’s new Ingenium family of turbocharged four-cylinder engines. At least one turbodiesel mill will be offered in Europe but Land Rover has not revealed whether or not it is planning on entering the growing oil-burner market in the United States.

Additional details about the Land Rover Discovery Sport will emerge tomorrow.