Just read this
http://www.gamefocus.ca/?nav=upclose&id=36
As you might know X3:tc is the last game they are making in the X series, but just imagine what a ultimate / perfect space simulation game will be like..... me wants me wants NOW!!!!
I would expect that they have been working on it for a while, most of the new additions for TC were made by the xtm team and a large chuck of the devs who are currently working on TC 2.5 and various other additions have been took from the community, cycrow, mox* etc.
*the guy who made most of the new ships in TC, all the m7's etc.
Just a shame the 2.5 upgrade is looking pretty naff, past games have always had hefty additions for the 2.5 mark.