TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Rambler Rebel
- BMW M3 Performance Package
- Ferrari F458 GT3 by STP
- BMW 6 Series by Lumma Design
- MV Agusta F4 RR Corsacorta
- Aston Martin Zagato Concept
- Lamborghini Aventador SV
- Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS
- Kawasaki KFX 450R
- Jaguar Lindner Nocker Low Drag E-Type
| Posted: 11 May 2011 08:00 AM PDT
George Romney, the then-new chairman of American Motors Corporation, had big plans for the small American Company when he took over in 1954. World War II was over and the 1950s were in full swing. Not only were sales up for the big three automakers in the United States, but Hudson and Nash were doing well also. Romney's big idea was to have Rambler become a company on its own and expand into a sector that Ford, General Motors, and Chevrolet had ignored thus far. Most companies were offering only large sedans and small economy cars. Rambler was going to split the market wide open with a mid-size model that featured aggressive styling and plenty of power. Little did Romney know that his new Rambler Rebel model was destined to become the grandfather of the muscle car era. The first thing that Rambler needed to do was find a suitable engine that would bring performance and excitement to a lineup that had never had it before. Clearly, offering a V8 was the answer, and the new AMC 5.4-liter was perfect. As history shows, 1957 was destined to be the first and most important year for the Rambler Rebel. As time went on and the car’s name was adapted to newer models from AMC, the original feeling of the car was lost. It is something that happens with many companies when they use a classic marquee in the wrong way simply to boost sales in the short term. Nonetheless, the short and successful years of the Rebel production have spawned numerous car clubs and followers throughout the United States and remains popular today. Hit the jump for more details on the Rambler Rebel Rambler Rebel originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 11 May 2011 07:00 AM PDT
After quite a bit of speculation over the German automaker, BMW’s, upcoming enhancement for everybody’s favorite track day weapon and whether or not they would be downsizing their power train options along with the rest of the automotive market, we can now bring you some official details regarding the updated and environmentally conscious 2011 BMW M3 Performance Package. Don’t worry because the new car won’t be losing any grunt like we all expected when it goes on sale this spring with pricing to be announced at a later date. Thankfully the BMW M3 Performance Package is powered by the same high revving 4.0 Liter V8 sending a total of 420 HP straight to the rear wheels, with only one minor difference. The power plant is now equipped with an innovative Auto Start Stop function as well as an optional M dual clutch transmission with Drivelogic as well as the standard six speed manual. The Auto Start Stop Function works like most traditional mild hybrids by killing the engine whenever the car is at a stop, this is said to reduce both consumption and emissions quite effectively. As the name suggests, the Performance Package adds a lowered suspension that brings the chassis 10 mm closer to the asphalt and stiffens things up with a newly developed set of electronically adjustable dampers as well as an all new set of lightweight mesh alloys measuring 19 inches in diameter that dress up the new M3’s appearance along with the functional aero package. UPDATE 05/11/2011: TheSmokingTire got behind the wheel of the BMW M3 Competition Package and had all the fun in the world on the Pacific Coast Highway north of San Simeon. Hit the jump for the video. Press release after the jump. BMW M3 Performance Package originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 14:00 EST.
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| Posted: 11 May 2011 06:00 AM PDT
Ever since the Ferrari 458 Italia’s official launch, there have been plenty of racing teams interested in grabbing the sports car by its bubbly wheel arches and transforming it into a real winner. One such team goes by the name of STP, a racing team that hasn’t stepped foot on the European racing grounds since Ronnie Petersen succeeded in a second place finish with the STP March 711 in the 1971 Formula 1 World Championship 40 years ago. This year, the team is back with an AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 that, like with all the other Ferrari 458 Italia race cars, has been specially prepared for the race with many aerodynamic and safety features. The sports car was given a new front bumper, larger air vents for better engine cooling, new side skirts, and a huge rear wing for improved aerodynamics. The interior got splashed with carbon fiber components and a roll cage was added for increased driver safety. The AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia GT3’s first race will be held on May 8, 2011 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. It will be driven by the all-British line-up and the Championship's youngest driver duo of Daniel Brown (19) and Glynn Geddie (20). Ferrari F458 GT3 by STP originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 11 May 2011 05:00 AM PDT
The new generation of the BMW 6-Series Cabrio may be reveling in the glow of its unveiling, but not everyone follows the out with the old and in with the new way of life. Lumma Design, for example, isn’t bothering with developing a new package for the next generation Cabrio, but is instead revitalizing an older version for all of us that would like to feel that our old cars can still feel like new. The E64 6-Series is all polished and ready to go, sporting a new ’do in the form of added features for the exterior and interior. The updated BMW can now be seen wearing a new front bumper, a matching rear apron, a new rear wing, and a new set of 21" polished chrome three-part sport rims. Other add-ons, like the front grille and exterior mirror casings, are sharpened up with the use of carbon fiber. At the back, the convertible makes good use of the 4-pipe sports exhaust system filtering out the power from the eight-cylinder power unit developing 360 HP. Lumma Design didn’t leave the interior untouched as they added an ergonomically shaped and flattened steering wheel trimmed with carbon and leather, white instrument dials and seat belts, an aluminum pedal set, door sills, a dash panel, a handbrake handle, and seat back shells trimmed in real carbon. It may not be the brand spanking new 6-Series Cabrio, but this finished product is worth a glance or two. BMW 6 Series by Lumma Design originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:00 EST.
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| Posted: 11 May 2011 05:00 AM PDT
Yesterday, MV Agusta announced the Brutale 990R Italy 150 Special Edition, and today the company has launched the first teaser video for the 2012 F4 RR Corsacorta super bike. The new bike will make its world debut at the EICMA show in Milan in November 2011. Compared to the standard F4 model, the new RR version will add an extra 18 HP and will be equipped with Brembo brakes, an Ohlins TTX, and carbon fiber components. The video also reveals a new paint scheme and various sport components making the RR model even more sportier than its previous version. The bike in the video features a new matte white exterior paint, but we expect more options to be offered when the bike goes on sale at the beginning of 2012. Expect prices to be in the $30K area. UPDATE 05/11/2011: MV Agusta has revealed the official details on the 2012 F4 RR - "the most advanced and powerful superbike in the world." The new bike will be put on sale at a starting price of 22,900 euro, or about $32,900 at the current exchange rates. The F4 RR is powered by a short-stroke radial valve engine that delivers 201 HP at 13,400 rpm and will be offered with even more exotic materials and reduced weight. For 2012, the model will also get two new color schemes: pastel red/white and matte pearl white. Hit the jump for the press release. MV Agusta F4 RR Corsacorta originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:00 EST.
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| Posted: 11 May 2011 03:00 AM PDT
Aston Martin will be celebrating the iconic DB4GT Zagato’s 50th anniversary with a new concept car developed in collaboration with the Italian design house Zagato. The concept car will make its first appearance at the Villa D'Este Concours on May 21st, 2011 and will make its racing debut at Nürburgring on May 28th. Only one teaser image depicting a rounded sports car has been revealed as of now, so expect more news on this celebratory model in the next few days. Dr. Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive said: "The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world's most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration. Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time." The original Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato made its first appearance in 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was essentially a much lighter DB4 GT that got worked on by the Italian Coachbuilder to include a 3670 cc straight-6 DOHC engine that produced 314 HP with a top speed of 154 mph. When production for the new Aston Martin Zagato concept car goes underway in 2012, we expect a limited number of units to be produced, much like the 20 unit limit provided by the original model. Aston Martin Zagato Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 10:00 EST.
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| Posted: 11 May 2011 02:00 AM PDT
While everyone is still waiting for the Spyder version of the recently launched Lamborghini Aventador, TopGear went ahead and put ink to paper on a Super Veloce version. The rendering is a little premature considering the Super Veloce will be the last edition released and a leaked source revealed it shouldn’t be here until 2015, but the graphics sure make it wildly entertaining. Sort of like Lamborghini meets japanimation. The SV package offered for the Murcielago model adds an extra 100 HP over the standard model, so applying the same formula to the Aventador will get the vehicle to about 800 galloping stallions. With the extra output, plus improved aerodynamics and a reduced weight of about 220 lbs, the Aventador SV should deliver the best performance numbers Lamborghini has ever offered in a supercar. For comparison;s sake, the standard Aventador comes with a top speed of 217 mph and sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Lamborghini Aventador SV originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 09:00 EST.
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| Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS Posted: 10 May 2011 03:15 PM PDT
The Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS is the flagship model of the Kawasaki ATV line and for the 2012 model year, it has been revised even further. The ATV has received a more powerful engine, an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, a double-wishbone front suspension, six-spoke cast alloy wheels, and new bodywork featuring wide-stance styling cues. The model is on sale at a starting price of $9,999. The 2012 model has also received an SE version that features a premium quality Metallic Tungsten Gray automotive paint finish, unique graphics, and a bright silver machined finish on the face of its cast aluminum wheels. Prices for the SE version start at $10,349. The Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS is powered by an upgraded four-stroke fuel injected 90-degree 749cc V-twin engine. For 2012, the engine has received new cylinder heads that provide a higher compression ratio, new camshaft profiles with revised timing and increased valve lift, a new stainless steel exhaust pipes feature revised lengths, and two additional pass-through holes inside the muffler to help boost engine performance. The most impressive feature of the 2012 Brute Force 750 4x4i is the Electric Power Steering (EPS) that monitors inputs from the vehicle speed sensor and steering shaft torque sensor to determine the amount of power assistance required from the system's electric motor. Hit the jump for the press release. Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 May 2011 22:15 EST.
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| Posted: 10 May 2011 02:15 PM PDT
For those of you who like to spend time in the dirt, Kawasaki has improved the KFX 450R for the 2012 model year with a lightweight aluminum frame, long lower front A-arm suspension, and a fully adjustable rear shock. The ATV is on sale at a price of $8,099 and Kawasaki is offering the possibility to further customize the bike with a full line of Authentic Kawasaki Accessories. The KFX 450R is powered by a 449 cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve single engine fitted with a highly responsive 32-bit digital fuel injection system that automatically compensates for temperature or altitude. The engine is combined with a lightweight reverse gear system integrated with its five-speed manual transmission. For 2012, the model has also received a two-tone seat featuring a smooth top surface for excellent rider mobility and slip-resistant sides for good grip when hanging off in corners, specially designed rear wheels, wide front bumper, and two-piece "lapped" front and rear fenders. Press release after the jump. Kawasaki KFX 450R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 May 2011 21:15 EST.
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| Jaguar Lindner Nocker Low Drag E-Type Posted: 10 May 2011 12:00 PM PDT
This is the one and only factory low-drag lightweight Jaguar E-Type and is a vehicle that should have been laid to rest a long time ago. In fact, the Jaguar was thought to be dead until Peter Neumark of Classic Motors Cars breathed new life into the last racing car ever built at Jaguar’s factory. Only twelve lightweight E-types were built by Jaguar’s competition department back in 1963, but only one returned to undergo preparatory work for the LeMans race later that year. Malcolm Sayer designed the vehicle to have a special low drag body that would be coupled to a highly modified engine. This combination was set to take LeMans by storm and lead driver, Peter Lindner, to victory. Unfortunately, while on the Montlhery circuit, something went terribly wrong causing a crash that would end up killing Peter Lindner and destroying the Jaguar E-type. Sayer himself said that the vehicle could not be repaired and that opinion was echoed in the 1970s when a second survey confirmed the vehicle’s fate. Fast forward to 2007 when Peter Neumark entered the scene. Determined to revive the crumpled E-Type, Neumark set out to make history with one of the most complex restorations to ever take place in the world. Hit the jump to see what dedication, passion, and 7,000 hours of hard work can accomplish. Jaguar Lindner Nocker Low Drag E-Type originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 May 2011 19:00 EST.
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