TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept
- Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio TDI will mark the first diesel convertible to hit USA
- BMW 6-Series M-Sport
- Lotus Esprit Superleggera
- Range Rover Sport Patriotic by Project Kahn
- BMW X3 by AC Schnitzer
- Bugatti Veyron L'or Blanc
- Chevron GR8
- Cadilac CTS-V Black Diamond Edition V700 Sport Wagon by Hennessey
- Porsche returns to Le Mans in 2014
| Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept Posted: 23 May 2011 02:00 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 made its first appearance at the Villa D'Este Concours on May 21st, 2011 and will make its racing debut at Nürburgring on May 28th. 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. UPDATE 05/20/2011: This review has been updated with the official specs and info. Hit the jump to read more about the new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept. UPDATE 05/23/2011: The guys attending the Villa d’Este were kind enough to share some video revealing the incredible engine sound of the V12 Zagato. Hit the jump for the video. Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 May 2011 09:00 EST.
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| Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio TDI will mark the first diesel convertible to hit USA Posted: 01 Jul 2011 08:00 AM PDT The words ’diesel’ and ’convertible’ aren’t uttered in the same sentence in the States. The original diesel engines were loud, stinky, and more often than not, resembled a smoke-billowing cigarette. Automakers would have had to be crazy to turn out a diesel convertible during that time. Nowadays, however, clean diesel engines are getting churned out like anti-smoking commercials and a source close to Volkswagen has confirmed that the company is bringing the first diesel convertible to the US in the form of the new Beetle Cabrio TDI. The 2.0 TDI engine delivers a total of 138 HP and has a fuel economy of 40 mpg fuel economy in the Highway cycle, 29 mpg in City driving, and 33 mpg combined. It will be offered with either a standard 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 6-speed dual clutch transmission. The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio will feature the same new design line as found in the coupe model. That new design can be seen from the front bumper and front air inlet, the straight lines of the bonnet edges, the precisely drawn line between the A-pillar and C-pillar, and the styling of the rear lights. The car also gets a lower profile, is substantially wider, the front bonnet is longer, and the front windscreen is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio TDI will mark the first diesel convertible to hit USA originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 July 2011 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 20 Apr 2011 02:00 AM PDT
We are all used to BMW launching a new model and, sometime after, getting that model its very own M-Sport package. True to this statement, the company has already decorated the 6-Series with its sporty add-ons as proven by the first leaked image that found its way on the internet. The BMW 6-Series M-Sport’s official debut should be made any day at either the Shanghai or New York Auto Show. There are still no other details on this package, but the M-Sport package usually adds a sportier appearance to the Beamer. Expect to see the usual M-Sport elements: front bumper, rear diffuser, side skirts, wheels, and dark chrome tail pipes. This leaked image also reveals larger air intakes and a set of LED foglights. The same sportier treatment will also be applied to the interior with an exclusive Alcantara combination, an M leather steering wheel, M door sills, an M foot rest, an M shift knob, and sets of decorative trim for the dashboard and door panels. Stay tuned, we will have more details in a short time. BMW 6-Series M-Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 20 April 2011 09:00 EST.
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| Posted: 01 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT
On your marks, get set, GO! McLaren and Aston Martin are charging forward with their respective supercars, but a new leader in the race for Britain’s fastest supercar is emerging and it’s none other than Lotus. According to Automotive Express, sources are stating that the British manufacturer is preparing a flagship Superleggera version of their next generation Esprit. The new Superleggera is set to be released in late 2013/early 2014 and will be the fourth model in the Esprit lineup - next to a coupe, a convertible, and a glass-roofed Targa edition. The Esprit Superleggera will be powered by an upgraded version of the 4.8-liter V8 engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic gearbox with rapid shifts. This configuration will be capable of producing 612 HP at 9,000 rpm which will be highlighted with a special aluminum body that will be even stronger and lighter than the body used in the current model. This type of powerful and light combination will ensure the supercar charges from 0-60 mph in under three seconds with a top speed of 212 mph. Drooling yet? Lotus is so confident about their new Superleggera model that Chief Technical Officer, Wolf Zimmermann, even took a stab at McLaren’s new MP4-12C: "This car will not be like the McLaren MP4-12C. It will be cooler – there will be more emotion." Lotus is definitely shaking things up and moving in a direction reminiscent of their high performance origins. They have already planned the next five models spanning out in the next five years and they have recently announced they would be building their own engines. These seem to be pretty hefty plans for a company that has been in the shadows since the release of the Elise. Will they crash and burn, or will they come out on top? Lotus Esprit Superleggera originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 July 2011 13:00 EST.
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| Range Rover Sport Patriotic by Project Kahn Posted: 01 Jul 2011 05:00 AM PDT
America’s Independence Day is just around the corner - it’s July 4th, in case you didn’t know - and instead of celebrating the day with the typical fireworks and barbecues, Project Kahn is hoping Americans will take kindly to their new "Patriotic" package based off of the 2011 Kahn Range Rover Sport. The British tuner hasn’t done much to the original tuning package, but is offering it with red, white, and blue exterior paint options. Aside from the patriotic tri-color palette, Project Kahn’s version of the Range Rover Sport comes with a new lower front bumper and a rear low valance. Customizable options include a floating or striped roof - painted in a color, style, and even flag of your choice. For the interior, the tuner is offering a never-ending array of color options, including our good ol’ stars and stripes. Customers can even opt for a diamond studded clock bezel. The package also includes personalized door handles, LED strip lights in the front arches, rubber side steps, calipers, rear spoiler, rev counter, speedo, time clock, stainless steel door entry sills, and a quad exhaust system. As for the engine, Project Kahn has provided a Cosworth engine upgrade that produces 300 HP with Cosworth branding. This tuning package isn’t anything to write home about, but if you have the extra cash and want to show off your patriotism in the parking lot as well as poolside, then we guess this is one way to go. Range Rover Sport Patriotic by Project Kahn originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 July 2011 12:00 EST.
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| Posted: 01 Jul 2011 04:00 AM PDT
BMW’s new X3 has been on sale since the Fall 2010 and, surprisingly, not many tuning firms have paid much attention to the SUV. BMW is typically a brand that sits right at the top of the list for many tuners, so owners of the X3 are probably scratching their heads wondering when it will be their turn to get in on the tuning action. Have no fear, AC Schnitzer is finally here and have brought along a package for the SUV that will prove that the wait was worthwhile. The German tuning firm’s first bout with the X3 shows a striking front spoiler, a new rear roof spoiler, AC Schnitzer protective film for the rear skirt, and a new set of 22" wheels offered in either BiColor or silver. The interior also gets jazzed up a bit with a new sports steering wheel, aluminum gear knobs in anodized silver/chrome or "Black Line"/chrome, a digital gear display option, and the "Black Line" aluminum cover for the BMW-specific i-Drive system controller. As for the engine, the full line is still being worked on, but the X3 xDrive20d benefits from an increased power output that takes it from 184 HP to 218 HP. The engines for the 2.8i and 3.5i models are currently under development. BMW X3 by AC Schnitzer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 July 2011 11:00 EST.
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| Bugatti Veyron L'or Blanc Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:00 AM PDT
Now that the last unit of the Bugatti Veyron has been sold, the company is shifting its focus to the Grand Sport version with a new special edition. A special edition that, no doubt to overshadow the discontinuation of the Veyron model, has been developed with porcelain manufacturer Königliche Porzellan-Manufatur Berlin (KPM) and is the world's first motor car to be dressed up in the finest porcelain. Prices for this unique model start at 1.65 million euro, or $2,385,000 at the current exchange rates. Called the L’Or Blanc, this very special Veyron Grand Sport is a little more psychedelic than elegant with blue swirls painted on the vehicle’s white body. Bugatti designers used a precision tape made of delicate Japanese soft tissue which adheres perfectly to sulfur-containing plasticine. These designers were able to stretch the tape to a certain degree to create the swirls which are up to five meters long. It seems to be rather intricate work for something Austin Powers would drive, but apparently this color technique was chosen because of the way the light reflects on the car’s body. In addition to the flowing paint job, the Bugatti Veyron L’or Blanc also receives twelve porcelain elements constructed of the finest porcelain at the Berlin based manufacturer. The porcelain is used for the inlays of the center wheel badges, the fuel filler cap, and the oil filler cap, as well as the signature "EB" badge at the rear. The porcelain has also been used for the interior and can be found on the famous elephant sculpture that stands in an upright standing position. This sculpture was created by Rembrandt Bugatti and adds to the unique nature of the Bugatti Veyron L’or Blanc special edition. Bugatti Veyron L'or Blanc originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 July 2011 10:00 EST.
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| Posted: 01 Jul 2011 02:00 AM PDT
The Chevron GR8 (Gran Rapida) is a lightweight racing car that debuted in 2010. It was the first GT Chevron race car that was built since the 60s and 70s race cars created by Derek Bennett. The new Chevron GR8 was given the original design, but with a modern twist, as well as new equipment. The car is powered by a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine that delivers a total of 260 HP and sprints the car to a top speed of 150 mph. The engine is coupled to a Hewland JFR 5 speed sequential transmission and is built to run for 30 hours without needing attention. German racer and TV presenter, Tim Schrick recently tested the race car and said: "I’ve fallen in love with this car. It's so beautiful to drive. It's such a nice car, and right up my street, as a racer. The grip levels are amazing. And the little car is so stable, with a stiff, direct and totally connected steering feeling. It feels very nimble, and it's so loud and exciting inside, with a very, very nice sound from the Cosworth two-liter engine. You have 260bhp on tap and even here with these great cars on track, you can play with anyone, and not get beaten." Hit the jump to read more about the Chevron GR8. Chevron GR8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 July 2011 09:00 EST.
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| Cadilac CTS-V Black Diamond Edition V700 Sport Wagon by Hennessey Posted: 30 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT
Hennessey Performance is bringing a bit more class to their Cadillac CTS-V V700 package by dropping it into one of the rarest Cadillac CTS-V models ever: the Black Diamond Edition with a manual transmission. Now owners of the exclusive Black Diamond can also take part in the 707 HP madness that was provided to the standard model last year. The Black Diamond CTS-V features a dark tri-coat paint an embedded with SpectraFlair Bright Silver pigment. This special pigment uses aluminum flakes encapsulated in a glass-like substance called magnesium fluoride. The result is a paint that has a diamond-like sparkle as light hits the surface from different angles. The special exterior paint is further highlighted by Satin Graphite 19-inch wheels with yellow Brembo brake calipers and a special Midnight Sapele wood trim. The sparkling exterior of the Black Diamond makes it a hot commodity to begin with, but Hennessey’s V700 upgrade package causes the temperature to spike with 707 raging horses, up from the CTS-V’s standard 556 HP. For this increase, the Cadillac’s 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine was given a plethora of goodies, including an HPE Cold Air Induction System, supercharger pulley upgrade, intercooler heat exchanger upgrade, and a V700 camshaft upgrade. Other features include high flow cylinder heads, stainless steel long tube headers, high flow catalytic converters, and stainless steel mid-pipes. With these additions, the Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond V700 can sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds, make the quarter mile in 10.9 second at a speed of 128 mph, and will be capable of a top speed of 211 mph. Cadilac CTS-V Black Diamond Edition V700 Sport Wagon by Hennessey originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 30 June 2011 19:00 EST.
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| Porsche returns to Le Mans in 2014 Posted: 30 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT
After what will end up being a 16 year hiatus, Porsche will be making its long overdue return to the top class of the LeMans series in 2014. Starring in the grand return will be a works-run LMP1 sports prototype for which details are still limited - almost non-existent actually. However, regardless of whether it is a coupe or an open top model, the future LMP1 will more than likely feature new technologies from Porsche. Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport said: "We're looking forward to the task of developing new technologies and to continue on with the success of the Porsche RS Spyder. After the conclusion of our works-supported sports prototype programme in the American Le Mans Series we have kept up with the latest technological advances. Now we will begin with detailed research in order to evaluate the various concept alternatives for our new car. These obviously depend on how the regulations for the year 2014 look in detail. In principle, these regulations are interesting for us because the integration of our hybrid technology in the vehicle concept is one possible option." Porsche currently dominates the LeMans series with a total of 16 overall victories, including seven straight victories from 1981 to 1987. The most recent win was with the Porsche 911 GT1 in 1998. In the LMP2 series, Porsche has continued its success with wins in 2006, 2008, and then again in 2010 with their RS Spyder sports prototype. Porsche returns to Le Mans in 2014 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 30 June 2011 18:00 EST.
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