Sunday, February 27, 2011

Vorsteiner Black Widow based on the Mercedes CLK63 AMG


vorsteiner black widow based on the mercedes clk63 amg

The black widow spider is aggressive and feared. German tuner Vorsteiner wants people to think the same thing when viewing its customized Mercedes CLK 63 AMG. The new kit includes a carbon fiber front lip spoiler and a new rear trunk spoiler.
According to the manufacturer, both of the accessories don’t need drilling to be applied on the factory body panels. Also a new set of custom black alloy wheels were added which contribute to the aerodynamics of the car at very high speeds. Pricing was not revealed yet, but we got lots of images after the jump.

Mercedes CLK’s days are numbered


mercedes clk 8217 s days are numbered

The CLK-Class was first launched in 1996, and thirteen years later its finished serving its purpose. The coupe has already ended production, and the convertible will take a final bow this summer. But fans of swoopy pillarless Mercedes don’t get too up set the CLK is just going away to make room for the similarly sized E-Class Coupe and Convertible that will replace the CLK.

2011 Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series by Renntech



mercedes clk 63 black series by renntech

The Mercedes CLK has already been replaced by the E-Class Coupe, but surprisingly, it is still catching the attention of plenty of tuners. One such tuner is Renntech who have announced a new carbon aero package for the CLK 63 Black Series. The package includes a full carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, DTM rear wing, carbon air box with vacuum chamber, and front carbon brake air ducts. The price for the entire package is $15,290.
All of these changes were made in order to improve the car’s exterior styling and increase down force for improved handling. The good news is that, unlike other Renntech products, this package will not be offered in limited numbers, so everyone can get in on this action.
All of the components are manufactured in high quality, full carbon fiber and are available in either a matte or gloss finish to suit individual desires. No words yet on if there will be any changes made to the engine.

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe and 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster fetch a combined £1.1 million at the RM Auctions


2005 mercedes-benz clk gtr coupe and 2006 mercedes-benz clk gtr  roadster fetch a combined 1.1 million at the rm auctions

While most of us are drooling over the prospect of driving off into the sunset with the supercar of our dreams, two people who attended the recent RM Auction in London went home with their own supercars that they can now proudly call their own.
Two of the main attractions at the said auction were a pair Mercedes-Benz CLK GTRs – one was a 2005 Coupe version and the other was of the 2006 Roadster variety. Expensive and rare – only 20 coupes and five roadsters were ever built – at the same time, the CLK GTRs sold for a combined £1.1 million – a ‘somewhat’ bargain price considering the ‘beyond exclusive’ tag attached to these two cars.
While the two new – and lucky – owners of these cars were not identified, we do know that the 2005 CLK GTR Coupe sold for £522,500 while the 2006 Roadster version fetched a pretty cool £616,000.
It also goes without saying that the GTRs are not your prototypical Mercedeses. Fine-tuned by no less than HWA, the cars come with a 6.9-liter V12 engine that’s capable of churning out up to 612 horsepower. In addition to that, the two models also came with reinforced features including a six-speed sequential manual gearbox, a dual independent double-wishbone suspension, and carbon fiber brakes.
For the record, we don’t have that kind of money so the very idea of purchasing these cars shall, and will forever be a pipe dream for us. But in the wishful scenario that we did have £1.1 million to throw around, then investing on not one, but two cars of this stature is something that we’d also do in a heartbeat.

1998 Mercedes CLK-GTR


mercedes clk-gtr

In 1997 Team AMG won the FIA-GT Championship with the GT racing sports car Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR. From this competition vehicle AMG derived a road-legal version – the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR super sports car. This was presented in April 1997.
The CLK-GTR was powered by a V12 mid-engine delivering a total of 612 HP and 731 NM of torque. The supercar had a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph.
One of the innovative details realized by the engineers in this car was a body made of carbon-fiber composite. In contrast to the sports and performance-optimized racing car, the super sports car came with air-conditioning, a hi-fi system and leather appointments.
Nevertheless, the CLK-GTR did not for a moment disown the legacy it had been left by the competition vehicle. The super sports car delivered extreme performance, and the tight cockpit allowed both driver and passenger to experience a racing atmosphere at first hand. This vehicle enabled AMG to underline its expertise in the technology transfer from motor racing to elegant, sporty series production.

What about a Ferrari FF for $5,700

what about a ferrari ff for 5 700

Us personally we do not like the Ferrari FF and would not pay even a cent for it. But we are sure there will be lots of people interested in this model. However, until we will finally see the car on the streets, Ferrari is offering a limited edition of just 199 models at 1:8 scale. That if you have a 4150 euro on your pocket (or about $5,700 at the current exchange rates). Each model in limited edition of 199 models is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a numbered plaque on the base indicating that this is a unique edition.
The Ferrari FF is powered by a 6,262 cc direct injection V12 engine that delivers an impressive 660 HP at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 503 lbs-ft 6,000 rpm. With this impressive power, the FF will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3,7 seconds and will hit a top speed of 208 mph.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

2011 Fiat 500 by Gucci

fiat 500 by gucci

The Fiat 500 is living proof that a high-end lifestyle doesn’t always mean driving the biggest and most powerful four-wheeled machines on the planet. Thanks to the 500, you can still enjoy the finer things in life while not having to sell your soul for the name of luxury. The marketing boys over at Fiat have found a new way to infuse these two tenets in one small and cute package by striking a partnership with noted Italian luxury brand, Gucci.
Seeing as both groups are celebrating anniversaries of some sort this year – Fiat is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy whereas Gucci is celebrating its 90th birthday - it seemed like a logical move to join forces and, well, celebrate together, all in the name of the red, white, and green. The special edition 500 was born from a collaboration between Fiat’s Centro Stile and Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini. The car will be on the stand at the Geneva Motor Show together with a Gucci pop-up store within the Fiat stand.

2013 Nissan Z


nissan z

Nissan may have plenty of models to boast of, but the one car that stands out to anyone looking for a vehicle with a little pep in its step is the Nissan Z car. Back in 1964, Nissan began toying with the idea of building a sports car to add to their lineup, but it wasn’t until 1969 that a vehicle was actually produced. The Datsun 240Z was available in two versions - and proved to be the successful sports car that Nissan had anticipated. Six generations later and Nissan had produced many variations of the vehicle, including the ever-popular 370Z. Now, after only four years since the latest 370Z was created, rumors are flying suggesting that Nissan is ready to go at it again with a new generation Z. Not only will the world be getting one of their beloved sports cars once again, but it may also be powered by a hybrid drivetrain, a rumor we first heard back in 2010 most likely the same one used in the Infiniti M hybrid. Yes, the world is going hybrid, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

Ferrari 458 Italia Pro-tected from Sexy Blonde Bombshell


ferrari 458 italia pro-tected from sexy blonde bombshell

Forgive us for being fixated with these photos. We can’t help it. We’re just having a hard time figuring out exactly what we love more: the Ferrari 458 Italia or that smoking hot vixen posing with the Italian supercar. We can call it even to spare us all the trouble of picking one over the other. But to be fair, we have to give due props to the people behind these awesome photos.
The shoot comes courtesy of Pro-Tect Film, a company that specializes in distribution, marketing, and installation of Avery Dennison Nano-Fusion Clear Urethane Film for the automotive aftermarket. In layman’s terms, these guys are the ones you call if you need to put additional clear coat protection for your car – luxury, super, or otherwise. The folks over at Pro-Tect Film possess an in-depth knowledge of clear urethane film and how these products can serve as a way to keep your beloved four-wheeled rides free from unnecessary kinks and dinks that only wear and tear can provide. So if you have a car that you’d want to have extra protection – in more ways than one – Pro-Tect Film will hook you up with one of the best kinds of clear coat protection the market has to offer.
Unfortunately, neither the 458 Italia nor the bikini-clad beauty will come with the purchase. Those two are simply eye candy, to which we say, “More, please?”

2011 Aston Martin DBX Concept Study


aston martin dbx concept study

While Aston Martin is busy bringing the new Virage to the Geneva Auto Show, two Polish industrial design students have been occupying themselves with their DBX Concept Study. Some may remember the DBX when its potential production was rumored back in 2007. At that time, Aston Martin had just been purchased by ProDrive and was looking into preparing new models for the future. The DBX was rumored to be a vehicle that would fight the Mercedes SLR and Bugatti Veyron, but the DBX name was never actually used. Instead, Aston Martin revealed the One-77.
However, Norbert Adamowicz and Lukasz Kadula, who are not associated with Aston Martin whatsoever, have taken it upon themselves to use the DBX name in their design study. This vehicle is a two-seater sports car that combines design elements from all of the Aston Martin models, with the One-77 as its main inspiration. The duo said nothing about the car’s powertrain, but they did confirm that their vehicle will be a mid-engined sports car.
While we do like their work, we still prefer the One-77 as the only Aston Martin supercar, even if it is limited to only 77 units and carries a huge price. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V12 engine that delivers an impressive 750 hp and sprints the car to a top speed of 220 mph. If the industrial design students can top that, then we’ll consider it. But first, they’ll need to take it up with Aston Martin.

2011 BMW Z4 320d by AC Schnitzer

bmw z4 320d by ac schnitzer

With only a few days away from the Geneva Motor Show, AC Schnitzer has announced its line-up for Switzerland. All we have as of right now are the names of the packages plus a few images, but it looks like AC Schnitzer has done a great job, as usual.
The first package from the German tuner is called the Z4 99d and uses a diesel engine that delivers 190 HP and 420 NM of torque. With this amount of power, plus a weight reduction of 230 kilos (507 lbs.), the tuner has managed to obtain a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of just 6.9 seconds, while top speed is 146 mph. This performance is accompanied by a fuel consumption of 3.8 liter diesel per 100 kilometers and a CO2 emission of just 99.18 g/km.
AC Schnitzer also spent some time on the exterior of the BMW Z4 with an interesting paint job. We don’t know just how we feel about the green, blue, and black swirl paint yet, but it may just fit the BMW nicely.
Stay tuned for more details on the BMW Z4 320d when the Geneva Motor Show opens its doors on March 1st, 2011!

2011 Mercedes GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car by Renntech


mercedes glk350 hybrid pikes peak rally car by renntech

Three years ago at the 2008 SEMA auto show, noted tuning firm RENNtech, together with Mercedes-Benz, unveiled the GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car where it subsequently won the 2008 SEMA Show tuner build-off competition. The vehicle’s amazing debut at SEMA resulted in it becoming one of the most-sought after performance-modded racers in recent times, appearing in countless automotive trade shows while also partaking in a number of track events and extensive real world driving miles.
This year, the car is finally serving its last legs and to give it the fitting swan song it deserves, RENNtech, together with its partners, decided to give it a complete styling overhaul in time for its last tour-of-duty with Mercedes USA here in the US. The first leg of the tour was held at the Pittsburgh International Automotive Show a few weeks ago where the revamped GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Project was officially unveiled to the public. From Pittsburgh, the award-winning vehicle will make stops in a number of US cities, including Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Denver.
As soon as the tour concludes, RENNtech’s masterpiece will officially be enshrined as a permanent collection at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Vehicle Museum in Irvine, California, making it the second RENNtech-tuned work to be officially designated with this honor.
In the meantime, keep checking out RENN-tech’s website to find out the tour schedule for GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car. It might end up in your city so you better be prepared to give it a warm welcome.

2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06R GT3

chevrolet corvette z06r gt3

The last time a Corvette raced in the Super GT no one knew who Justin Bieber was and Jersey Shore was just a geographical location. Yes, it was back in 2008 and A&S Racing was putting the Corvette C06 to the test. Now, after three years, the Corvette will once again enter one of the greatest Japanese competitions. RUNUP Sports has announced their full season participation plan for the GT300 with a Corvette Z06R GT3. The car will be driven by Masahiro Matsunaga, Kazuyoshi Okamura, and Atsushi Tanaka, with car maintenance during the season provided by Tomei sports.
The sports team has yet to announce any official details on the car, but the pictures look extremely promising. Well, as promising as picctures can look when dealing with the amount of power for a racer. The exterior and interior only underwent minor modifications such as installing that huge rear wing and the added roll cage for proper protection during the race. All in all, the car was changed up to be more aerodynamic and win some competitions! That’s all we have as of now, so good luck guys!

2011 AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport S



ac schnitzer acs5 sport s

AC Schnitzer’s second Geneva-bound model is the ACS5 Sport S, a model based on the BMW 550i. Looking at their creation, no one would be all that impressed; there aren’t many changes done to the exterior leading people to believe it was just another minor and unimpressive upgrade for yet another BMW model. Then there are those other people that would expect a fantastically upgraded engine to counteract the anticlimactic exterior. The second group of people would be correct in their assumptions.
The ACS5 Sport S takes the standard 4.4L V8 engine found in the BMW 550i and has toyed with it enough to bump the standard 400hp to a phenomenal 540 hp and 750 Nm of torque. With the extra 140 HP, the ACS5 Sport S will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 200mph. Flying through the corner will also be made easy with an added limited slip differential.
More information to come as the Geneva Motor Show’s doors will be welcoming visitors in just a few days!

2011 Novitec Rosso Ferrari 599 GTO



novitec rosso ferrari 599 gto


Novitec Rosso, the same tuning firm that brought us the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Race 606 Carbon Ferrari California, is headed to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show scheduled to kick off in just a few days. At the show, Novitec Rosso plans to present a tuning package for the most powerful 599 in the line-up: the GTO
Not much was done to the exterior of the Ferrari, but the makeover provided for the engine more than makes up for whatever they did do on the outside. If anyone thinks that the 670 galloping horses found underneath the 599 GTO’s hood are enough bang for their buck, then they need to get ready to be pleasantly surprised. Novitec Rosso was able to tweak and massage an extra 218hp out of the sports car’s already powerful V12 engine. Anything else done to the vehicle is just icing on the cake.

2011 Mercedes SLS AMG Widebody by FAB Design


mercedes sls amg widebody by fab design

Outside the impending spotlight that will fall down in Geneva next week is a showroom in Dubai that has a vehicle that should get everybody’s attention. The car is a Mercedes SLS AMG, but it’s not just any other SLS AMG, it’s one that was spruced-up by noted tuning firm, Fab Design. If you recall from a few months ago, the company released their tuning package for the SLS AMG so it really begs the question, why do another sample of the same thing?
The answer, as it turns out, is that it’s the same thing, albeit with a different aerodynamic package. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the Mercedes SLS AMG Widebody by FAB Design.
Keeping to its widebody package, this particular SLS AMG comes with re-sculpted fenders with the quarter panels and side skirts making up an entire panel that fits snugly over the supercar’s existing panels. Over at the rear, the SLS AMG also got a retooled bumper fascia with wider quarter panels, giving the rear a more sinister look than FAB Design’s previous work.
Performance modifications on the SLS AMG Widebody weren’t released, but if you go back to the ‘standard’ SLS AMG that FAB Design worked on back in October, you might remember that it came with a new sport exhaust system that bumped up the Mercedes supercar’s output from 563 horsepower to 611 horsepower. Whether the same powertrain lies under this particular SLS AMG is anyone’s guess, but we won’t be surprised if it does come with the same performance modifications.
In any case, the widebody version of FAB Design’s SLS AMG looks far more aggressive and intimidating than the ‘standard’ type. It might be a matter of subjectivity as far as how its received, but in our case, it looks pretty impressive.

2011 Infiniti M30d S by Zentrum Dealer

infiniti m30d s by zentrum dealer

Infiniti is one of those brands that tuning firms just skim past while deciding on their next project, so finding a decent package for Nissan’s luxury division is not something we come across on a daily - or even monthly - basis. And today isn’t going to be any different as this custom M30d comes to us from a dealer in Hamburg, Germany, and not a tuning professional.
"Infiniti Zentrum Hamburg" is offering two different stages for their M30d S. The package for Stage 1 includes painted door handles, red brake calipers with Infiniti lettering, a black radiator grille, and a black, foil covered roof. The dealer has also added an H+R suspension which lowers the vehicle by 25mm, as well as performance optimization for the V6 diesel engine. This engine now delivers a total of 280hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, up from the standard 235 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Total price for the Stage 1 package is 5775 euros ($7,947 at the current rates).
For Stage 2, the dealer takes the modifications from the first package and adds a new set of 22" wheels with 265/30R22 Pirelli tires in the front and 295/25R22 in the rear. The wheels add an additional 6800 euros ($9,358 at the current rates).
The dealer also announced that the same packages can be applied to any other Infiniti model in the line-up upon request.

2011 Audi R8 V10 Biturbo by MTM

audi r8 v10 biturbo by mtm

Just a few months ago, we caught wind of a prototype vehicle parked outside of tuning company MTM’s headquarters in Germany. This prototype carried the name Audi R8 V10 BiTurbo and was rumored to pack crazy amounts of power underneath its capable hood. Fast forward to the present and that prototype seems to have developed into a full-fledged tuning package and is headed to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
MTM chose to use the 5.0L V10 engine used on their Audi RS6 Clubsport for this model as well, but the RS6’s 730hp rating still falls short of what MTM accomplished with the R8 BiTurbo. The R8 V10 BiTurbo is now capable of 777 hp and 888 NM of torque. Yep, 777 HP. With these updates, the MTM R8 will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, from 0 to 124 in 9.37 seconds, and will hit a top speed of 217 mph.
The engine wasn’t all that was changed though. To get that shiny, mirrored look on the sports car, MTM completely removed its paint and polished it up real nice which took over 700 working hours. An adjustable rear spoiler, a front lip, and MTM Bimoto 20 inch forged rims were also added, as well as some leather on the inside of the R8.
Now that MTM has dazzled everyone with their impressive work on the R8 V10 sports car, we think it’s time to let everyone know that, in order to get this finger-lickin’, suped up Audi, customers will have to dish out $550,000. Yeah, you can pick your jaws up off the floor now.
More details will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.

2012 Mercedes CLS 63 AMG by Carlsson


mercedes cls 63 amg by carlsson

At the end of 2010, Carlsson revealed an impressive tuning package for the new generation Mercedes CLS-Class. Now the tuner has moved on to the most powerful model in the CLS lineup: the CLS 63 AMG.
For the CLS 63 AMG package, the 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine has been updated to deliver an impressive 600 HP, up from the standard 518 HP and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. Next to this, the tuner is offering a nifty aerodynamic package that includes a new front spoiler, an RS front spoiler lip (available in real carbon), a new rear spoiler, a rear apron, and a built-in diffuser which functions as a tailplane and ensures extra downforce and more stable road holding at high speeds.
As an added bonus, this package can be applied to any other model in the CLS-Class line-up.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ferrari FF



Meet the shock new Ferrari FF, a replacement for the 612 Scaglietti.
As well as being the first four-wheel-drive Ferrari, it’s described as the company’s most versatile four-seater ever, and has unexpectedly been unveiled with best in class cabin space and boot capacity figures. It’s not a hardcore supercar to sit above the Ferrari 458 Italia, then; it does, though, come with a typically potent power source under that long front bonnet.

Powering all four wheels for the first time is a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 direct injection engine, with 651bhp (at a typically howling 8000rpm) and 504lb ft of torque. Those figures are enough to hustle the 1790kg FF (dry weight) from 0-62mph in a claimed 3.7sec, while the top speed is a distinctly supercar-esque 208mph. Though aiming for that four up and full of luggage is probably ill-advised…

With Ferrari’s HELE stop-start system fitted (as debuted on the Ferrari California), CO2 emissions are 360g/km while the FF will achieve 18.3mpg.

Ferrari’s first all-wheel-drive system, patented 4RM, is said to weigh 50 per cent less than a conventional setup, helping maintain close-to-ideal weight distribution (47/53 front/rear). It works in tandem with the car’s numerous electronic dynamic control systems, adjusting torque distribution between the four wheels depending on conditions and terrain. The FF also boasts a magnetorheological damping system and carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes.

FF is an acronym of Ferrari Four, signifying its seat and driven wheel count. At 4907mm long, 1953mm wide and 1374mm high, it’s almost identical in size to the V12 four-seater it replaces, the rear-drive Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. With its rear seats down, though, it boasts almost three times the boot capacity (800 litres) while with the seats up (450 litres), it can hold more than a Renault Scenic.

Ferrari FF Official Video

2011 Brabus SLS

brabus sls

The Geneva Motor Show is drawing closer and closer to opening its doors, and just as the sun is bright and the wintertime is as cold as the other side of the clouds, these last few days leading up to it have been all about teasers from various automakers and tuning brands.
Showing off a piece of their Geneva-bound vehicles without giving up the whole pie, German tuning firm Brabus is gearing for what appears to be a busy time in Geneva. They’ve already shown teaser images of the new Brabus Rocket, and now it looks like there may be more in store for us from the German aftermarket company.
Brabus has decided to release more images of another one of their vehicles, the Brabus SLS. Not much was shown of the Brabus SLS except that it comes with a matte gray exterior finish, which, as far as we’re concerned, is a very, very good sign.
You’ll also notice a few other elements of the car’s front side, including the use of carbon fiber on the air intakes, front bumper, and side skirts. There also appears to be a huge set of wheels – we’re guessing it’s somewhere around 20” – with a unique multi-spoke design.
For now, that’s what we have of the Brabus SLS. No details have been given about the car, but we’re confident that these guys have something in store for all of us when Geneva opens its doors in a week’s time.

Bentley Supersport sets a new world speed record on ice



bentley supersport sets a new world speed record on ice

The Supersports model is undoubtedly the most powerful and fastest Continental Bentley has ever built. And, if you don’t believe us, check out the new world record set by the Continental Supersports convertible. The droptop Bentley was able to hit a top speed of 205.48 mph on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland.
With only a roll-cage, Pirelli winter tires, a rear parachute, and a few minor aerodynamic changes added to the Bentley, world rally champion, Juha Kankkunen, got behind the wheel of this powerful beast and sped his way through the slippery terrain to achieve the world record. He said, "200mph came up after 5km on sheet ice. Then it was just a question of getting everything right in the timing zone and hoping the snow kept away. There’s nothing to beat driving a Bentley at these speeds; the conditions may be perilous but the car responds so well to the slightest adjustment which gives you the confidence to push even harder."

Cars 2 gets British and Italian flavor


cars 2 gets british and italian flavor

Pixar’s sequel to the hit movie, Cars, is taking place on a global platform so as you can expect, Cars 2 will be introducing new characters from all over the globe. Among these new lands are two countries that have storied histories of producing some of the most iconic cars in history: Italy and the United Kingdom.
For Cars 2, Lightning McQueen and his trusty yet rusty wingman, Mater, head far away from Radiator Springs to compete in the very first installment of the World Grand Prix. In the middle of their adventure, theiy are thrust into a situation where they end up trying to save the world from a bevy of evil four-wheeled villains. In between trying to upend the bad guys and winning the World Grand Prix, McQueen and Mater end up meeting a slew of international characters, five of which you can check out after the jump.

Dallara works on its own two-seater sports car


dallara works on its own two-seater sports car

It seems as if the Italian chassis manufacturer, Dallara, has been on the lips of one manufacturer or the other at some point throughout its lifetime with products from KTM and Audi in their past and possible projects with the Abarth two-seater coupe and the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept in its future. With so many projects building up their performance portfolio, it was only a matter of time before the Italian company took on a bigger and more personal project of their own. Dallara is planning on producing its own two-seater sports car with a sniper rifle aimed directly at models such as the Lotus Elise.
Dallara’s model will be built on a new carbon fiber platform and they say it will be economic, efficient, and fun. They also say that it will be the perfect track day machine, "recovering the essence of the Lotus Seven". A small engine will be placed under the hood and, with a goal of keeping the curb weight as low as possible, the new Dallara should be very fast.
We don’t know exactly when this new model will be making its grand entrance into our world, but it’s rumored to be produced in a limited run of 100 units a year and priced at or below 45,000 euro, or about $60,000 at the current exchange rates.

First production Ferrari FF headed for Boca Raton Concours auction

first production ferrari ff headed for boca raton concours  auction

Despite being only five years old, the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance in Florida has become a prime event for auto enthusiasts because of the number of first edition production cars being auctioned off there. In recent years, the Concours has been able to sell off first production models of the 2010 Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI Quattro, the 2010 Ferrari California, the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and the 2011 Audi R8 V10 Spyder, to name a few.
This year, two new highly anticipated supercars are scheduled to be in attendance at the Boca Raton Concours and, as has been the custom for this event, the first edition models of these two cars are going to be up for auction. Prepare to open your checkbooks, gentlemen. The 2012 Ferrari FF and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster are coming to Boca Raton.
The event is scheduled to kick off next weekend, February 26th, 2011, where it is expected to draw even more attendees, most of whom are looking to grab a piece of the first-edition models of the two aforementioned machines. If these people fail to scoop the big kahunas, they can still opt for some awesome “consolation” prices, including the first Audi R8 GT in the US, the first of only 30 Mercedes CLS63 AMG ‘C’ Limited Edition vehicles, and, if you’re a fan of Jay Leno, an opportunity to take a tour of his world-famous garage.

RUF testing ten electric-powered sports cars



ruf testing ten electric-powered sports cars

The electric car bandwagon is sure filling up these days with automakers from Chevrolet all the way to Porsche, and many in between, coming up with plans to produce or further market their electric vehicles. Now even tuning firms are following in the automakers’ footsteps as RUF, a German tuner, is preparing no less than ten electric sports car based on the Porsche 911. These 10 models will be manufactured in cooperation with Siemens AG and will be presented in the first half of 2011.
The first of the 10 electric models is called the Single Motor Concept and is based on a 997 Carrera. It is powered by a 180 KW electric motor that takes its power from lithium-ion batteries with an energy capacity of 29 kWh. The electric motor has a driving range of approximately 150 km (93 miles) and a maximum speed of about 136 mph. The sprint from 0-62mph takes about 7 seconds.
The second electric RUF vehicle is the Twin Motor Concept with 2-speed Gearbox. It features two transversely mounted Siemens synchronous electric motors producing 250 kW (335hp) with double inverters and an automatic 2 speed gearbox with limited slip differential. This model has an autonomy of 200 kilometers (124 miles) and can hit a top speed of 136 mph.
The third concept we have details on is the Twin Motor Concept with Torque Vectoring. This concept features the same two transversely mounted Siemens synchronous electric motors with double inverters as before, but gets two separate angular bevel gearboxes for independent rear wheel drive as well. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds, while top speed is 111 mph.

Growler E 2011 by Vizualtech honors Jaguar’s E-Type



growler e 2011 by vizualtech honors jaguar 8217 s e-type


In line with Jaguar’s 50th anniversary of their iconic car - the E-Type -, the boys over at Vizualtech have designed the perfect car to honor the E-Type. It’s called the Growler E 2011 and while there’s plenty of room for improvement with the name, overall, the Growler E looks like it can stand out from the rest of the four-wheeled lemmings out there.
The car is powered by the same 5.0-liter V8 engine that currently lies under the hood of some Jaguar models with the only exception being some tuning upgrades that could spike its output from 510 horsepower all the way up 600 horsepower.
Head-scratching name notwithstanding, Vizualtech did a splendid job designing the Growler E 2011. It was able to retain much of the old E-Type’s shapes and curves while also adding a modern touch to it. It’s just too bad that we won’t be seeing this car other than in these pages.

2011 Project 599 GTB Eligos & 612 Adonai by SR Auto Group


project 599 gtb eligos amp 612 adonai by sr auto group

We’ve just recently discovered the fabulous tuning projects from American tuner, SR Auto Group, whose packages transform any ordinary car into a beautiful work of killer art. Anyone that remembers their Project Pur R8 ’Phantom’ knows exactly what we are talking about. But now, the tuner has moved on to two more sports cars that need little to no tuning to be awesome in their own right: the Ferrari 599 GTB and the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.
The tuning packages for the 599 GTB and the 612 are called Eligos (Great Duke of Hell) and Adonai (Hebrew name for God), respectively. The Eligos combines a matte black exterior paint with a dark metallic color, and a new set of ADV.1 wheels. The Adonai package comes in white exterior paint or a matte white wrap. It is combined with a black roof and a new set of ADV.1 wheels. Both cars feature a red trim for that extra little splash of devilish charm.

2011 Geneva Motor Show Preview


2011 geneva motor show preview

The biggest international auto show of the 2011 calendar year is getting closer and closer to opening its doors when the event kicks off on March 1st, 2011. Unlike recently concluded auto shows we’ve had since the calendar turned to 2011, the Geneva Motor Show is always the one that gets our juices flowing. Not that those other events weren’t any good, but Geneva brings out all the goods. All the big boys come out to play at this event, so much so that making this preview took more days than we expected because everyday, a new model was being announced as attending the event.
Now that the Geneva Motor Show is less than two weeks away, we feel like it’s time to give you a sneak peek on what cars to expect at the event. A lot of brands that routinely skip other auto shows will all be in attendance at the Geneva Motor Show, proving that without a shadow of a doubt, this Swiss spectacle is one of the most important - if not the most important - events in the automotive calendar.