Lamborghini on the fence between building the Estoque or the LM00X SUV

Apart from this long-rumored SUV - it’s been codenamed as the ’LM00X’ - the other choice is the production of the Estoque. The Italian automaker is considering both vehicles, but has made it known that only one is going to be green-lighted for production.

A few days ago, a report came out that Lamborghini is teaming up with Porsche to build its very own SUV that will be based on the latter’s latest GT architecture. While this news poses a shift in philosophy for the Raging Bull and could potentially undermine its tradition, the latest word - at least according to Car and Driver - is that Lamborghini is on the fence on which model will join the Gallardo and the Aventador in the lineup.

While no decisions have been made yet, the company is looking at October as the time to decide. As it stands the SUV has a slight edge over the Estoque because the car will be on a class of its own as far as high-end SUVs are concerned whereas the Estoque will have its hands full going up against competitors like the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, the Aston Martin Rapide, and the recently launched Ferrari FF.

Read More

2011 Audi R8 V8 Limited Edtion

The interior will get crimson red accents to the sides of its Black Fine Nappa Leather-upholstered seats and headrests, red stitching on the flat bottomed, leather-covered multi-function steering wheel and instrument cowl, crimson red leather finish for the monoposto, red leather for the knee pads and passenger door handle, stainless steel pedals and illuminated door sills with bright aluminum inserts carrying the R8 logo.

This special edition will be distinguished by R8 GT-inspired titanium-look alloy wheels and red brake calipers, an exclusive titanium effect paint finish available only for this model and carbon package options.

As a celebration of the tenth victory for Audi in this month’s grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans marathon race, Audi UK has unveiled the R8 V8 Limited Edition. There will be only 100 units built, each priced at £93,935 - or around $150,000 at the current exchange rates.

Read More

Hennessey Venom GT readying for Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Lotus-derived, American-tuned supercar packs plenty of punch with its 6.2-liter LS9 V8 engine that produces an insane 800 horsepower. And if you just happen to be spending your time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, you can get a chance to see the Venom in all its glory.

As a preview of the Hennessey madness that will befall all of us come Goodwood, the American tuning company has released a video featuring the Venom GT partaking some test runs to stretch its proverbial legs leading up to the Goodwood Hill Climb in just a few days.

In this video, the Venom GT is being driven by John Heinricy as he tries to corral a traction control-disabled 800-horsepower bullet on a wet track doing some cursory track time ahead of its Goodwood appearance. Enjoy the reel and make sure to mark your calendars for this weekend’s event!

Read More

2012 Ford Mustang "Blue Angels" Edition

This year, the one-off, aviation-themed Mustang GT was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of naval aviation. It comes with a specific blue-and-yellow color scheme that takes itself from the colors of the ’Blue Angels’ fighter group with a yellow "Blue Angels" script and crest on the doors. Likewise, the crest can also be found on the interior of the car, where they are stitched into the leather Recaro seats.

Every year, Ford rolls out a special edition one-piece Mustang for the very purpose of auctioning it off at the EAA AirVenture in July for the benefit of the EAA Young Eagles program. These babies - as with all one-off edition cars - are exceedingly rare for the very simple reason that there’s only one of them being made.

Read More

2011 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Racer

Judging from the rendering, the race-spec V12 Zagato looks pretty much like the street-version with a couple of notable additions, including the prominent rear wing, the table-top front lip, and the black wheels.

In preparation for the car’s racing debut at the Nurburgring later this week, Aston Martin gave the eager public a first-hand look at the race-spec version of the V12 Zagato. It might only be a rendering of the car, but at the very least, it gives us an idea on what to expect when the car officially makes its track debut on May 28, 2011 at the 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup VLN race.

We haven’t even gotten around to digesting the full breadth of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato and we’re already getting a close look at the race-spec version of the new Aston supercar. Or at least something like it.

Read More

2011 Peugeot RCZ Asphalt LE

The new Asphalt LE edition will be distinguished by a special matte Telluric - that’s fancy for gray - body and can be ordered only with the top-of-the-range GT trim version. The Asphalt package also includes a black roof, "Asphalt’ badging, and 19" Solstice black alloy wheels complimented by matching black brake calipers. For the interior, the package adds bespoke "Asphalt" branded and stitched Nappa leather trim, an Alcantara / leather steering wheel and gear stick, and bespoke "Asphalt" sill covers and floor mats. The list of standard equipment includes front and rear parking aids, auto lighting (with approach and follow me home modes), Peugeot Connect Media Navigation, and a top-of-the-range JBL sound system.

Following last year’s Peugeot RCZ Asphalt, the company has now opened its ordering books for the 2011 RCZ Asphalt LE. What’s the difference? This new model is limited to just 75 right-hand-drive units for the UK as opposed to the 500 units offered last year. Each model will be priced at £29,995 - or around $48,000 at the current exchange rates.

Read More

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet

Its original owner was high society elite, Edith C. Field, who succeeded in winning third place at the 1955 Pebble Beach Concours. Since the mid 1950s, this particular Aston Martin has been through the hands of four owners, including its current owner. As of late, the Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe has been fully restored to its Concours state with over £200,000 - or $288,000 at the current rates - invested in its complete restoration. Bonhams expects the ultra exclusive sports car to sell for £500,000 - 700,000, or $721,000 - $1,000,000 at the current rates.

The Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet is one of the most exclusive models Aston Martin has ever built. Out of the 565 units built between October 1953 and October 1955, only 12 were built in rolling chassis form for independent coachbuilders. If that isn’t exclusive enough, only eight of those 12 units were sent over to Carrozzoria Bertone where the Italian luxury coachbuilder smoothed on the body. The vehicle seen in this image is the fifth (Chassis number LML506) of the original eight and will be auctioned off at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 1, 2011.

Read More

Batman’s new ride will be a Lamborghini Aventador

We bring this up because, apparently, the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, will feature none other than the Lamborghini Aventador as Bruce Wayne’s new set of wheels.

In the past few years, supercars have been all the rage in blockbuster movies, having appeared in a growing number of them that involve superheroes. Iron Man began that trend when Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., was seen riding the Audi R8 a few years back. Since then, a lot of high-budget summer movies have taken to exotics to serve as the protagonist’s main ride, including the Audi R8 Spyder in Iron Man 2, the Ferrari 458 Italia in the about-to-be-released Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 in The Dark Knight.

A couple of photos were even snapped by a forum member of Luxury4play showing the Lamborghini supercar in full movie dress up, including plates that say "Gotham" to go with a slightly different, yet subtle, silver finish.

Read More

2009 Nissan GT-R Agent Orange

The new Alpha 10 conversion kit features an AMS Alpha 10 Turbo System, a balanced and blueprinted VR38 AMS Race Engine, and an AMS Alpha 10 transmission by Sheptrans, among other things. These additions take the sports car to 1,000 HP and 679 lb-ft of torque running on 93 octane fuel. AMS Performance has already tested this monster and has earned an official quarter mile time of 9.1 seconds at 163 mph.

AMS Performance’s version of Godzilla is back and still dressed up in the Agent Orange garbs found on their previous model - the Nissan GTR Alpha 9. The Alpha 9 was packing over 900 HP and could complete the quarter mile in the mid-9 second range, but a change of ownership and a new Alpha 10 package later and the GTR can now boast of 1,000HP!

The Nissan GTR Agent Orange’s fiery growl can now be heard from miles away with a new AMS 90mm downpipes (catalytic converters available), an AMS 90mm resonated mid-pipe (race version available), and an AMS 90mm race exhaust upgrade.

Read More

Gas Mileage, Summer Driving Tips, Top Gear USA: Today's Car News

Read More

Good News, Business Owners: The IRS Is Upping Your Mileage Rate

While the IRS typically sets mileage rates prior to the start of the year, this year’s extraordinary rise in gasoline prices has prompted the agency to issue a mid-year revision. Said IRS Commissioner Doug Stone, “This year’s increased gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. The IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the recent increase in gas prices. We are taking this step so the reimbursement rate will be fair to taxpayers.”

If you use a vehicle for business purposes and deduct annual mileage, we’ve got some good news for you: effective July 1, the Internal Revenue Service is raising the standard mileage allowance from 51 cents per mile (applicable for miles driven from January 1 to June 30) to 55.5 cents per mile. The rate for miles driven for medical or moving expenses jumps from 19 cents per mile to 23.5 cents per mile, but the rate for charitable work stays at 14 cents per mile.

Read More

2012 Scion tC and xB Models Priced

If you’re in the market for a new Scion tC or xB, we’ve got good news and bad news. Since we’re glass-is-half-empty people, we’ll give you the bad news first: you’ll pay more for a new Scion than you did in 2011. Now the good news: you’ll get more content, and the base price of both Scion models only increases by $300. There’s a special edition of the Scion tC for 2012 as well, called the tC Release Series 7.0 (or simply the tC RS 7.0).

Scion tC RS 7.0 models come painted in High Voltage yellow with black side mirrors and black 18-inch alloy wheels. There’s a TRD body kit that includes a unique honeycomb grill on the front fascia, along with a rear valance and side skirts. Inside, RS 7.0 models get High Voltage yellow accents on the black seats and have yellow stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. A Smart Key is used for the first time on a Scion product, so a push-button start is standard on the limited production RS 7.0 models. Only 2,200 copies will be built, at a starting price of $21,625 for a manual transmission version or $22,625 for one with an automatic transmission. Both prices include a destination charge of $720.

Read More

2011 Nissan Leaf Proves It Can Tackle Laguna Seca: Video

With cars like the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt hitting the roads since Refuel 2010, this year’s event was the first time that production plug-in vehicles from mainstream automakers were represented at the event. 

Open to anyone with an electric car, the event gave everyone from Tesla Roadster owners through to DIY converters the chance to push themselves and their cars to the limit in a safe, controlled event. 

On Sunday, June 26 the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was home to Refuel 2011 - the third annual track day for electric cars and motorcycles.

Read More

Rebel Attack: Greenpeace Uses The Force Against Volkswagen

So this morning I checked my Twitter feed for more VW stories and came across a tweet from Auto123.com about a campaign by Greenpeace to steer VW away from the Dark Side. I fondly remember the wonderful VW ad for the new Passat in America with Lord Vader Jr. It was a hugely popular video that went viral and it boosted VW’s image.

However, I am more interested in the ads themselves. Who knew Greenpeace had a sense of humor? The ads are both really cute, especially the second one, as the victorious rebel force celebrates by dancing in sync, much like a music K-Tel Mini Pops video. The music they are dancing to is from the bar scene of first Star Wars movie when Obi-Wan and Luke are having a drink at the bar. A great bit of parody.  

I blogged yesterday about VW trying to engage its fans in helping to make the next commercial in its series “Drive Until.” I found this to be a good approach to winning fans and more adherents to the VW brand. It’s a great way to interact with the VW buyers and keep the company image nicely burnished.

Read More

Is Mazda planning on a revolutionary new engine system?

According to Autocar, the next-generation engine, codenamed the ‘16X Renesis’, has been in development since 2007, but it was only recently that a new wrinkle was divulged about this new powertrain. Instead of the long-held practice of using traditional spark plugs to ignite the engine, Mazda is looking into using laser beams to serve the purpose of igniting the fuel and air mixture inside the engine.

With the increasing advancements being made in the country on the controlled use of high-powered lasers, Mazda is looking into tapping into this new breakthrough by using these ceramic-made lasers. These lasers measure only 9 mm in diameter and 11 mm in length, measurements that can easily fit into a car engine and take up less space than the space-mongering spark plug.

40 years after Mazda first introduced its then innovative new rotary engine power source, the Japanese automaker is looking into breaking new ground with their latest powertrain system.

Read More

2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom TB Gold Edition Design Study

Turkish designer, Timur Bozca, understands that and his latest study all but confirms the route to take when dressing up a Rolls-Royce Phantom: add as many expensive materials - like say, gold, for example - on the car to drive up the extravagance. The first thing he did was use the aforementioned gold material to cover some of the car’s exterior, including the grille, the rims, the outline on the lights, the badging, and even the plate casing.

In the world of high-end luxury, very few automakers can match the esteem and reverence attached to the Rolls-Royce brand. So when you’re on the drawing board for a design study of a Rolls, the first thing that immediately pops in your head is how you can take the luxury to a whole new level.

Even the Phantom’s interior wasn’t spared from the luxury overload with plenty of gold to go around, showering the occupants with enough bling to make Mr. T blush with envy. Nothing looks better in gold than a dressed up Rolls-Royce Phantom, right? 

Read More

Furious 6 Set to Hit Theaters in May 2013

A while back, Universal had promised that the F&F franchise would continue to evolve from its car-saturated roots into a "heist action" series. What that will do to the sixth film is still unknown, but we’re not sure how car-loving fans will feel if their beloved four wheeled machines are given a cameo instead of a leading role.

When the big wigs in Hollywood got together to put together a little movie about the street racing "fad" back in 2001, we’re betting they never thought it would give birth to five box office hits and tons of moolah. Fast Five just went into theaters on April 29, 2011 and in the first weekend made $86,198,765. So far, the fifth installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise has climbed to $600 million and now, NBC Universal’s little money tree has just been given some extra fertilizer. Rumors suggest that the sixth Fast and the Furious movie - dubbed Furious 6 for now - will hit theaters worldwide on May 24, 2013.

Read More

2012 DeltaWing Concept Sportscar

his car is the DeltaWing Concept Sportscar, a creation that was born from the collective minds of DeltaWing Racing Cars LLC and back-to-back American Le Mans Series championship winning racing team, Highcroft Racing. Described as a new and experimental race car, the DeltaWing Concept Sportscar aims to introduce a new approach to competitive racing, one that strives for increased performance through increased horsepower and aerodynamic downforce. Rather than the traditional set-up of today’s racers, the DeltaWing concept concentrates on taking advantage of efficiency gains that are found outside the parameters of standard regulations to reduce fuel consumption without cutting down on performance performance.

Fresh off of what arguably was one of the most exciting Le Mans races in recent time, a new sportscar concept that has its sticker stamped for the the 2012 installment of the race is already taking shape.

Read More

Barrett-Jackson Auction: Orange County 2011

Big tents may not be the most exciting thing to think about, but this one is special and measures nearly two football fields in length. This became the epicenter of high octane bidding action for the weekend and the primary filming location for the Speed channel. We were able to get on the auction block for a period of time to witness the variety of different cars coming down the line. This auction house has always been known to provide everything from classics, hot rods, and true collector grade automobiles. The auction really heated up on Saturday when the real gem of this year’s event crossed the block.

Barrett-Jackson is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, so any and all events held are going to be pretty spectacular. We were able to snag a place at the second annual Orange County event and were surprised to see how much it had grown in just one year. The event was moved to the Orange County Fair and Event Center and quickly consumed the entire property. As we entered through the main patron gate on the opening day, it was clear to see this was not your typical car auction. Barrett-Jackson had pulled out the big guns and even brought their renowned Scottsdale Auction Tent.

Read More

2011 McLaren MP4-12C ’Chrome’

We don’t know if this shiny piece of McLaren goodness is a special edition model or maybe even just a one-off that’s going to be auctioned sometime down the road, but it sure looks more delicious than just about any MP4-12C we’ve ever seen.

A lot is being made about McLaren and the launch of their new dealership network - the first showroom being at One Hyde Park in London. However, while the star-studded event drew some very important people, most notably F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, and McLaren CEO Ron Dennis, one car that was displayed at the event caught the most of our attention. It was a McLaren MP4-12C, except that it wasn’t just any other MP4-12C. This bad boy was dressed up in chrome.

Add that to the fact that it also carries quite a powertrain under its hood, one that features a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing a mouth-watering 592 horsepower at 7,000rpm and 443 lb/ft of torque between 3,000 and 7,000rpm, and you’ve got a truly one-of-a-kind MP4-12C.

Read More

Speed Thrills: The Peregrine Falcon tops out at a speed faster than your McLaren

When considering the broad scope of the fastest animal on the planet, the Top 10 list would probably consist mostly of birds, but in fairness to the land and water-based creatures, we’re going to hold the Peregrine Falcon and other high-speed birdies in a different category altogether. You see, when measuring the speed of birds based on traveling speed measured in level flying, the Peregrine Falcon isn’t the king of the air. Actually, it doesn’t even crack the Top 10. The title for fastest bird in this kind of flight goes to the Spine-Tailed Swift, which can hit a top level flying speed of 106 mph. Compare that to the Peregrine Falcon, which can hit a top speed of just about 60 mph in level flight - impressive in its own right, but not Top 10 material - and the Spine-Tailed Swift blows it out of the water.

The cheetah may reign supreme as the fastest animal on land, but when you take into account the air above and the water below, the title of fastest animal on the planet belongs to the Peregrine Falcon.

Read More

2011 Joss JP1

The car that’s expected to appear at the event is a final prototype model, leading to the first production version that’s slated to enter the market later this year or possibly at the start of 2012. The evolution of this car is a long time in the making, having made its original debut with the first prototype model seven years ago in Melbourne.

From the Land Down Under, an Australian automaker is in the process of developing the country’s first supercar. Developed by Joss Development, the JP1 is a car that’s fast taking shape in time 

 for its debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne from July 1 to July 10

“We had an amazing reception for our JT1 prototype in Melbourne [in 2004], but building a car business is very involved,” explained JOSS Developments Technical Director, Matt Thomas.

Read More

Top Gear USA set to return on July 24

We’re not expecting the moon because the first season of the show had its fair share of ups and downs, but if the triumvirate of Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Rutledge Wood are funnier and a little less annoying, then it’s poised to make for a successful season. Plus, if producers can come up with more death-defying acts, such as Tanner Foust’s near-death experience, then we’re sure we will be pleased.

We certainly enjoyed the new exploits of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James "Captain Slow" May on the first episode of Top Gear’s 17th season, so you can bet that our expectations for the second season of Top Gear USA are set really high. And now we know that we can ride the momentum set by Top Gear into next month when the season debut of Top Gear USA airs on July 24, 2011.

Read More

2011 Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M Conversion Edition by Anderson Germany

The design aspect of the 16M Conversion Edition begins with a Hyper Blackpaint finish that is then combined with Scuderia Stripes in carbon steel with a yellow border. Carbon fiber elements are then put in and make up the engine grille, rear diffuser, mirrors, and covers under the hood. Other features that lend more to the 16M style include a front air dam, side skirts, a rear apron, and an adjustment of the exhaust system. The exterior is then finished off with a new set of 20" three-piece glossy black wheels with a carbon and yellow border to match the Scuderia stripes. The interior is a little less drastic with the addition of carbon black leather and Alcantara and yellow diamond Kederrand seams.

There aren’t exactly a ton of tuning kits for the Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M simply because there’s not much to change on the special edition to begin with. It’s cool, fast, beautiful, and, unfortunately, sold out. So what’s there to do if the itch for a Scuderia Spider 16M suddenly develops? Well, you can hop on the phone and give Anderson Germany a call, for starters. The tuning firm’s latest package allows ownership of a 16M style vehicle without the limited edition hurdle to jump over. The kit starts off with a Ferrari F430 Spider with a number of additions to not only make it 16M ready, but to allow for more horsepower as well.

Read More

BMW M3 CRT already sold out!

If this rumor does hold any water, don’t expect BMW to amp up their production efforts to quench the demand. An insider has already stated that the company only has the resources and timeframe to produce 67 units, and a total of zero of those units will be making their way over to the States. Once again, the US gets a big fat goose egg on the cool special edition models and what’s worse, the BMW M3 CRT didn’t even need the US market to fill its orders.

BMW’s newest special edition hasn’t even been out for a week yet and already there are reports stating that the BMW M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology) has completely sold out. That’s right, according to German magazine, Autobild, any hopes of owning one of the 67 available units may be dashed. That being said, we’ll play it on the safe side and wait for the official confirmation from BMW before sticking a fork in this special edition.

The newest and coolest feature on the new M3 CRT is the CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) components. What makes the CRT unique is that BMW has taken the leftover CFRP and reprocessed it with synthetic resin to create a bonnet that has the strength of a conventional steel hood at a quarter of its weight. This new hood is even 50% lighter than an aluminum hood. Add this component to the 4,360 cc V8 producing a total of 450 HP at 8,300 rpm and a peak torque of 324 lbs-ft at 3,750 rpm and you get 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph.

Read More

Video: Utah Highway Patrol wows with 900-horsepower burnout

This, dear folks, is a Dodge Charger patrol car. But while most police vehicles of this stature are already more powerful than their standard variants, this particular Charger patrol car is unlike any of its brethren either. Why, you ask? Because it has an output of 900 horsepower.

In a world of don’t-ask-don’t-tell, we’ll spare the questions of why the Utah Highway Patrol has a car this powerful in the first place. What’s important to us is that this Dodge Charger is absolutely and insanely packed with ponies. And as the video will show you, it can do a pretty mean burnout, too. On top of that, it was done for the Coats for Kids charity event, which makes sense because charity benefits like this could always use a spectacle that includes a 900-horsepower burnout from, of all things, a highway patrol car.

Read More

Video: Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima destroys Pikes Peak record

The Japanese legend raced up the mountain in a blistering time of 9:51.278, easily eclipsing his previous record time of 10:01.408, which he set back in 2007. Taking his Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special up Pikes Peak, Tajima was virtually flawless in his ascent becoming the very first man to hit a sub 10-minute time in one of the most legendary races in the world.

And in spectacular fashion, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima delivered yet again, shattering his previous mark in the Unlimited Class by over 10 seconds and setting a new record for the fastest climb up Pikes Peak.

What makes the record even more special was that Tajima had to battle through an overheating engine to achieve his record-breaking time.

Read More

2011 Ford Mustang ’V6 Sport Appearance’ Limited Edition

So it really isn’t all that surprising to find out that Ford is unveiling a special edition Mustang exclusively for citizens of the Rising Sun. The car is being packaged as the "Mustang V6 Sport Appearance" and comes with a unique color scheme with plenty of added goodies to go with it.

Seeing as its home to one of the world’s biggest automakers, it goes without saying that the Japanese have a deep understanding of their cars. And yes, that includes American muscles.

The special Edition Mustang comes in two different color schemes, a "Performance White" version and a more retro-styled "Grabber Blue" paint finish. Both styles offer special pin stripes on both the bonnet, as well as on the side of the car. On top of that, there’s also a rear boot lid spoiler, a set of 18" chromed alloy wheels wrapped in 235/50 R18 tires, and special leather seats on the interior. As for the powertrain, the Mustang V6 Sport Appearance, which comes in both coupe and controvertible versions, boasts of a 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 309 horsepower and 279 lb/ft of torque.

Read More

BMW M5 laps Nurburgring in 7:55

The BMW M5 is powered by a high-revving 4.4-liter V8 engine with an M TwinPower Turbo package that delivers an impressive 560 HP at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 502 lb-ft from 1,500 rpm. The model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and, when the speed limiter is removed, is capable of hitting an impressive top speed of 190 mph.

Just a few days after its official launch, the 2012 BMW M5 has just become the fastest sedan around the Nurburgring race track with an impressive time of 7:55. With this new time, the M5 will be placed above models like the Porsche Panamera Turbo (7:56) and the Cadillac CTS-V (7:59). This new lap time also matches the ’Ring time of the Ferrari F430.

The record lap was completed by a BMW driver, but don’t put it in the record books just yet. This is actually an unofficial time, surely to be followed by the real thing shortly.

Read More

2011 Paramount Group Marauder

But of all the cars that they’ve driven in their time as Top Gear hosts, there’s a good chance that they’ve never seen anything quite like the Marauder. Built in South Africa by the Paramount Group, the Marauder is quite arguably the baddest, meanest, and gnarliest set of wheels we’ve ever seen.

One of the beautiful things about being a host of Top Gear – among other things, of course – is the chance to get behind the wheel of some of the most insane machines on the planet. Whether it’s a high-powered go-kart or a sports car dressed as a gypsy tent, there’s no shortage of vehicles that can escape the sharp eyes – and impeccable driving – of Clarkson, Hammond, and May.

The gargantuan machine was even featured in the pilot episode of Top Gear’s 17th season, where folks from the Paramount Group asked Richard Hammond to drive the vehicle in some of the most impossible stunts known to cars. There’s no shortage of cupcake stunts here; the car was driven over, around, and just about all other directions to determine whether it can live up to its name as the world’s toughest vehicle. It even went through a McDonalds drive-thru so Hammond could order a burger and survived a lion attack.

Read More

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package laps Nurburgring in 7:22

Lexus stated that this wasn’t an "official" lap time, but just a warm up to a possible official attempt later this year. However, despite that fact, this lap time places the LFA Nurburgring Package in 10th place for the fastest production vehicle on the Nurburgring track, and it did it with minimal effort. We can’t wait to see what it can do when it goes balls to the wall!

The Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package just proved it is worthy of its name. During this past weekend’s ADAC 24 hour race at Nurburgring with Gazoo Racing’s Akira Iida behind the wheel, the car lapped the Nurburgring race track in 7:22.85 purely for exhibition purposes.

Read More

2012 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Edition

The new Transformers Special Edition package can be added to the 2LT and 2SS models for only $3,000. The package starts off with a Rally Yellow exterior paint job to match the ones found on Bumblebee, which are then combined with black rally stripes that stretch over the hood, roof, and decklid. Towards the back of the muscle car, Chevrolet has added a unique high-wing spoiler, Autobot Shield logos on the center caps and front quarter panels, and 20", black-painted wheels wrapped in high-performance summer tires. Dealers will also offer two additional features: exclusive, 21-inch, black-painted wheels and a black ground-effects package.

The Camaro will once again star as "Bumblebee" in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and as a celebration of this event Chevrolet is unveiling the special edition Transformers Special Edition Camaro Coupe. The special edition will be available in July for the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Europe, South America, and Middle East markets.

The interior of the special edition Camaro gets black leather interior accented with yellow stitching on the instrument panel, center console, armrests, and seats. The Autobot Shield logos find their way inside as well with embroidered versions on the front headrests and center console lid.

Read More

2011 e-Wolf Alpha-1 SRF

Based on the chassis of Radical Sports Cars, the Alpha-1 SRF is not your ordinary electric sports car. It’s got the look of an LMP1 racer, except that its street-legal. So you pretty much get the best of both worlds with a car that resembles those LeMans racers, but is legal to drive out on the road.

Let’s say you have enough money to last you at least a few lifetimes and you’re looking to splurge it on something that not a lot of people have in this world have. Wouldn’t you opt for a high-powered, street-legal, electric sports car as your choice in burning all that money away? Well, German automaker, e-Wolf, has something that should interest you. It’s called the Alpha-1 SRF - ’SRF’ stands for Silent Radical Force - and it’s about the most awesome-looking electric sports car you’ll ever find.

The only thing that sets this thing back is the price tag, which you’ll find out after the jump. But like we said, if you’re the type to burn that much money at a moment’s notice, then you won’t have any trouble paying to take this awesome electric sports car home to your garage.

Read More

Top Gear Season 17: Episode 1

Certainly, there were plenty of things talked about on the first episode, not the least of which include a hulking piece of four-wheeled monstrosity from South Africa, a review of BMW’s latest pride and joy, a race between a new rally car and a smoking hot Olympic gold medalist, and a certain American rock legend trading in his shock-rock world for the driver seat of a Kia Cee’d hatchback.

Season 17 of Top Gear has finally arrived and as expected, there’s been a lot of buzz as to what the troika of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May have in store for us. Now we’ve already seen the previews of Season 17, but now that the first episode has finally aired, we can take a look back at what transpired in those 60 minutes.

Read More

Toyota to show GRMN Hybrid Concept II at Nürburgring

The new GRMN concept weighs 3,300 pounds and has a gasoline-powered V6 engine positioned mid-vehicle--a move Toyota says should improve performance and stability. An electric motor powers the front wheels of the all-wheel-drive system and contributes 50 hp to the combined 295-hp output.

The GRMN Hybrid Concept II is a sports convertible co-developed by Gazoo Racing. It is a slightly modified version of the gasoline-electric concept Toyota showed last year at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Read More

Saab unions threaten bankruptcy action over unpaid wages

Saab spokeswoman Gunilla Gustavs said it is not possible to say when salaries will be paid. "That depends on when and if we can secure short-term funding, for example through the real estate deal," Gustavs said. "This is really bad news and we are working intensely to do something about it. There are no guarantees but we are not giving up."

Saab has been forced to halt production at Trollhatten because of the cash shortage. Earlier this week the automaker asked its suppliers to accept 10 percent of what they're owed now and the rest in September, the chairman of Swedish auto-supplier association FKG told Bloomberg.

Saab first halted production in April amid a payment dispute with suppliers. It restarted assembly May 27 after getting a cash advance from Pang Da, only to put the brakes on manufacturing again on June 8.

Read More

Nissan Altima prices to start at $20,410

Enhancements for the new model year include a new Value Package, priced at an MSRP of $490, which includes Bluetooth(r) Hands-free Phone System, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel audio controls, auto /on/off headlight and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink(r) Universal Transceiver. Also available is the continuation of last year's Special Edition Package. Both are offered with Altima Sedan 2.5 S. The Bluetooth(r) Hands-free Phone System is also now standard on the 3.5 SR and included within the 2.5 S Convenience Package. In addition, a Dark Slate exterior color replaces the previous Metallic Slate.

Now in the sixth year of its refined fourth generation design, the Nissan Altima Sedan continues to provide an innovative combination of quality, exhilarating performance, sporty design and exceptional value in the mid-size sedan class. With strong sales in the 2011 model year, Altima Sedan's sales momentum shows no signs of slowing down in 2012. 

The 2012 Nissan Altima Sedan and Altima Coupe are offered with a range of popular comfort and convenience features, including standard Nissan Intelligent Key(tm) and available Bluetooth(r) Hands-free Phone System, Bluetooth(r) Audio Streaming, RearView Monitor and Nissan Navigation with XM NavTraffic(r) and NavWeather(tm) Real-Time Traffic Information services (XM(r) subscription required, sold separately).

Read More

Bring a Trailer exclusive: 1995 Acura NSX-T

The Acura NSX (New Sportscar Experimental) debuted at the Chicago auto show in February 1989 and in Tokyo in October of the same year. The car was praised for its lightweight, aluminum body and low-slung form, coming in at only five inches taller than the Ford GT40.

The 270-hp, 3.0-liter V6 engine is original, along with the transmission, chrome wheels and interior. The only major service repairs include a new clutch plate, disc, flywheel and throwout bearing, and the front rotors, which were resurfaced at 80,785 miles. The master cylinder, timing belt, accessory belt and water pump have also been replaced at various times, and the rear tires are only 500 miles old. 

The car currently calls Altadena, Calif., its home, so if you're in the market, visit Bring A Trailer for more details and contact information.

Read More

Final Bugatti Veyron 16.4 spoken for

“In the Veyron the Bugatti team has created a vehicle that has already become an icon of automotive history. Both technologically and in terms of design, the Veyron is still far ahead of its time. The Grand Sport is a further pinnacle of achievement in the open-top sports car segment, and we intend to maintain the same standard in our future Bugatti products.”

The development of the Bugatti Veyron represented one of the greatest technical challenges and engineering achievements in automotive history. Volkswagen bought the rights to the Bugatti brand in 1998, and just one year later the company presented its fourth concept vehicle, the close-to-production study EB 18/4 Veyron at the Tokyo Motor Show. Barely six years down the line, on 29 April 2005, a Veyron exceeded 400 km/h for the very first time, and six months later was presented to its global audience.

The Veyron was and remains a synthesis of superlative technical achievements. It was the first production vehicle to have a full carbon-fibre monocoque, and its torsional rigidity of 60,000 Newton meters per degree remains unparalleled to this day. The 7,993 cm3 capacity sixteen-cylinder engine with its four continuously variable camshafts and four turbochargers is capable of a top speed of 407 km/h, developing 1,001 PS (736 kW). The seven-gear twin-clutch gearbox governs an unbelievable 1,250 Newton meters of torque, and is one of the fastest transmissions in the world with shift times of less than 150 milliseconds. Acceleration from 0 to 100 takes place in a legendary 2.5 seconds.

Read More

Ford Focus Titanium sedan, an AutoWeek Drivers Log Car Review

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY:

After spending an evening in the upmarket 2012 Ford Focus Titanium, I'm decidedly torn. My feelings about the chassis, brakes, steering--everything about the driving dynamics--remain the same as with our SE Sport tester a few weeks back: brilliant. For a C-segment car (granted, one tickling $27,000), the Focus is incredibly composed and unflappable in all but the most ridiculous street driving. The interior is beautifully crafted with quality-feeling materials, and the seats offer a perfect blend of side bolstering and lower cushion for my sometimes awkward, lanky frame.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: 

I spent a lot of time logging miles all over town in this hot sedan, blinged out sportily in Titanium trim. I was impressed with the drive character of this car, and it's mainstream, agreeable and generally well done. Ford will sell a ton of these things, I'd say. Enthusiasts will like the chassis and composed body, which maintain bearing and a civil demeanor. The suspension is tight without being abusive. I found the steering to be light, but it returns plenty of feel for most regular drivers. 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: 

At long last, the United States gets the Focus the rest of the world receives--and we'll be getting a hot ST version, too, which is very cool. I live close to the plant where they build these things in Wayne, Mich., so I've been seeing a ton of them running around. They are sharp-looking cars with a front end featuring large air dams, which is good for the class. It's a welcome change from the drab and uninspired looks on the majority of the usual suspects like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla.

Read More

Video: Chevrolet Racing Track to Street Season 2 Episode 5

In addition to the lap around the track, Chevrolet has also provided a second video featuring in depth interviews with drivers like Richard Westbrook as they describe what it’s like to be on and off the track. This video came out before the team’s win at LeMans, but after watching the Gavin make the quick lap around LeMans, it seemed necessary to go into the the team’s preparations for the 24 hour long event.

 

In Chevrolet’s latest Track to Street series, Corvette Racing takes us along on a hot lap around the LeMans track. This is the very same track where driver Oliver Gavin received first place in the GTE Pro division of the 24h endurance race a little over a week ago.

Let’s just say that we envy the thrill of being a part of such a famous event, but are in awe of the endurance these drivers have to have in order to complete the race.

Read More

Video: McLaren MP4-12C vs. Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Mercedes

In this video, the MP4-12C is pitted up against the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Audi R8 V10, the Mercedes SLS, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and the Lamborghini Gallardo Performante, all driven by Ex-Stig Ben Collins to make it as fair as possible. At the end of each drive, Collins goes into detail about each supercar, making this a must see!

We don’t know if British magazine, CAR, saw it coming, but they have released a video stacking the McLaren MP4-12C supercar against many of its rivals just in time for the announcement that the supercar has been sold out for the next three years.

So, is the McLaren MP4-12C all that it’s cracked up to be, or would people be better off purchasing one of the other supercars tested? Watch the video to see what a professional thinks, then tell us what you think in the comments section below

Read More

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Gulf Edition Watch

The special edition timepiece is based on the steel 44mm wide Tag Heuer Formula 1 Big Date watch with a Swiss quartz movement and a time, subsidiary seconds dial. It features a black dial with a light gray cross-hatching pattern and contrasting Gulf racing stripes in orange and blue, as well as the orange and white Gulf logo. The Formula 1 Gulf Edition is available in either a steel or rubber strap.

Tag Heuer has been rather busy this year coming up with several special editions to celebrate their partnerships. So far, we’ve seen the Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Titanium Chronograph, the TAG Heuer Limited Edition Indy 500 Centennial Chronograph, and the TAG Heuer McLaren MP4-12C Chronograph. Their latest ode is the limited edition Formula 1 Gulf Edition Watch which celebrates the timepiece company’s partnership with both Monaco Gulf and Formula 1.

The Tag Heuer Formula 1 Gulf Edition Watch sells for somewhere in the $1,000 range.

Read More

Could Strikes Threaten The Launch Of The 2012 Chevy Sonic?

That’s exactly what’s happening, as workers for supplier LINC Logistics have voted to authorize a strike if a labor deal can’t be reached after five days of negotiations. LINC employees have been working at the plant without a contract since joining the UAW this spring, and the eighty-eight LINC staffers represent almost half of the non-GM employees at the plant. 

Chevrolet has gone to great lengths to remind buyers that their upcoming Sonic will be the only B-segment vehicle built in the United States when it launches later this year. They’ve even linked the subcompact’s genetic material back to their flagship Corvette, as a way of reminding buyers that the Sonic will be entertaining as well as economical. There’s a lot riding on this product launch, so the last thing that Chevrolet and General Motors need is a labor dispute at their Orion Assembly Plant, where the Sonic will be built.

A GM spokeswoman denied that a strike would impact the launch of the Sonic, which is scheduled to begin production in August. That assumes that the plant’s UAW workers would be willing to cross a picket line if a strike is called, something that unions typically frown on. We’re guessing the matter will be resolved before a strike is called, since the Sonic is too significant a product for GM to delay.

Read More

2011's Worst-Quality New Cars

Automakers are smart to crow when they earn coveted quality awards. But when the hammer comes down--particularly on brand-new vehicles--the results are usually kept a little more quiet.

One of the benchmark studies of new-vehicle quality has been released for the 2011 model year, and this time, J.D. Power's 2011 Initial Quality Study found that the marked progress made in the past four years is over. While the overall number of problems per 100 vehicles fell, the number of problems for brand-new models was higher than usual.

Crossovers and SUVs

While crossovers dominate the shopping lists of American car buyers more than ever, the newest crossovers are experiencing some teething troubles. The problems with the Ford Edge, Ford Explorer and Lincoln MKX were called out in particular by Power--but the Nissan Juke and MINI Countryman also have reason to be concerned, since their low ratings are matched by the low overall rankings of their brands.

Minivans and Pickup Trucks

Utility vehicles often have lower initial quality, because they're made to be more rugged--but buyers tend not to rate them poorly because they expect them to be more basic. It's notable here than none of the brand-new minivans for the 2011 model year--Odyssey, Quest or Sienna--were rated poorly by surveyed owners.

Sports Cars

 None of the brand-new sports cars for 2011 were included in the lowest of J.D. Power's initial-quality ratings, but the presence of BMW's Z4 and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe suggests those companies will have to revamp their flagship sporty offerings to continue to build their reputations against the likes of the Ford Mustang and Porsche Boxster.

Sedans and Luxury Sedans

There's trouble in the Power IQS survey for Buick and Audi. The volume sellers for both brands landed squarely at the bottom of this year's initial quality study. Infiniti's M and Jaguar's new XJ also haven't fared well, though the cars have been well-received by the automotive press.

Read More