2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The Chevrolet Corvette – GM’s little performance savior. This car has meant everything to Chevrolet for one simple reason; because it used to be the only car with some style. It was the only model that made anyone feel emotional about driving a Chevrolet and its history is second to none. The American sports car market has been utterly dominated by the Corvette from the Airbox models to the legendary Stingray.

The Z06 was originally introduced to push the envelope in terms of performance for the Corvette lineup. Recently Chevrolet decided that the Corvette needed to incorporate the largest and most powerful engine thus creating the ZR1. The ZR1 model has become the poster child of American supercar fame taking on the challengers from across the pond and, with the hiatus of the Dodge Viper, it is likely to keep its crown for some time.

Even with the invention of the ZR1, the Z06 model has not been neglected. Several different levels of Z06 trim exist, each coming with different types of option packages delivering varied results depending on what type of driving the car will most likely encounter.

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2011 Gumpert Tornante by Touring

The German supercar maker, Gumpert, is adding a new two-seater Tourer model to their lineup, which, up until now, only consisted of the Apollo. This new sports car will be based on a new central engine chassis and V8-powered drivetrain, and will be designed by Touring Superleggera. The official debut will be made on March 1st, 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show.

This new model will be setting a new standard for Gumpert as high-end engineering, sportiness, and elegance will come together to join the street-legal performance of the Apollo.
The superleggera will feature composite body panels placed on a space frame and a carbon fiber monocoque. These elements will allow the Tornante to be much more spacious than the Apollo.

Call us crazy, but it doesn’t seem as if the exterior design for the Tornante is all that different from the Apollo. The biggest difference we can see is the open top, which leads us to believe that the gullwing doors will be eliminated from the overall design. And we can’t forget to mention that horrid gold exterior paint. Of course, these are just sketches at the moment, so we’ll have to wait until the Geneva Motor Show to get all of the details for the Gumpert Tornante by Touring after its official debut.

Updated 02/11/2011: Gumpert has revealed the first details and also the first official image of the Tornante supercar. The model will be powered by a 4.2 liter V8 biturbo engine that develops an amazing 700HP and features a light chrome-molybdenum steel space frame with a carbon fiber monocoque.

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Porsche to bring new mystery hybrid model to Geneva

Porsche has proven to be extremely capable of keeping everyone in suspense for an insufferable amount of time when it comes to the unveiling of an model. They did it with the 918 RSR Concept before it was unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show and it looks like they will being doing something similar with a new model at the Geneva Motor Show. Apparently, a new parallel full hybrid model will be making its world debut in Geneva on March 1st, 2011 at a press conference held at the Porsche stand (stand 1050) in Hall 1, starting at 7:30 a.m.

Porsche is keeping mum in regards to any details for the new hybrid, but since the have already said the new model will feature the same hybrid drivetrain as found in the Cayenne, we believe we’ll be checking out the hybrid version of their latest Panamera sedan in Geneva. If we’re correct, then the hybrid should come with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 333 HP combined with an electric motor that develops 47 HP.

Also making an appearance at the Porsche stand will be the 918 RSR and the 911 Black Edition.

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2012 BMW ActiveE Electric Vehicle

At this point, any automaker that is not working on an electric vehicle may as well either close their doors or desperately grasp onto the bandwagon as soon as possible. Eventually, all vehicles will be ceasing their use of fuel and BMW is one of the automakers that is embracing that fact wholeheartedly. The German automaker revealed their 2010 BMW ActiveE Concept at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show and the production model is set and ready to go.

Interestingly enough, BMW is not going to throw the production versions out on the streets just yet. Not traditionally anyway. The ActiveE Electric Vehicle will first be available for lease in select markets beginning in Fall 2011, following the same test fleet plan as did the Mini E.

BMW will set out a test fleet of over 1000 ActiveE models in the US, Europe, and China markets. The feedback from customers testing the MINI E and the BMW ActiveE will be fed directly into series production of the MCV, which the BMW Group will be launching under a new sub-brand in 2013.

Powered by an electric motor, the ActiveE develops a total of 170 HP and 183 lb-ft of torque and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than 9 seconds. The electric motor will take its power from newly developed lithium-ion batteries facilitating a vehicle range of around 100 miles in everyday driving.

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2011 Saab 9-3 by Hirsch

Staying true to the fact that they have become the official supplier for ECU upgrades, aero kits, brakes, exhaust systems, and a few other modifications for Saab models on the US market, Hirsch Performance has unveiled one of the projects they have been working on. The Saab 9-3 sedan by Hirsch Performance has been unveiled at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show featuring some pretty impressive little extras on it interior and exterior.

The specific model revealed at the show received a 30 HP upgrade, but that is only one of the options provided by Hirsch. Crack open a Saab 9-3 with a 2.8 Turbo V6 engine and Hirsch can pump it up to 300hp (up from 276 HP). Other engine setups can get updates from 140hp to 300hp.

The exterior wasn’t left untouched as Hirsch Performance is offering a rear spoiler, a carbon fiber body kit with a front splitter and rear diffuser, a four-piece mesh grille set, and a new set of 19" 6-Twin alloy wheels to give the Saab’s look a bit of spunk.

Depending on how much money the customer is willing to spend, Hirsch Performance can customize your Saab in every which way imaginable.

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2011 Piecha Design Evorian RS

We haven’t heard from Piecha Design in quite awhile - 2009 to be exact - since they made over the Mercedes SLK, but it seems they have moved on to the bigger side of Mercedes with a new tuning package for the Mercedes M-Class and GL-Class. Their package is called the Evorian RS and includes impressive exterior and interior updates.

The exterior package of the Evorian RS is defined by impressive LED day headlights integrated into the front spoiler corners, LEDs embedded in the side sills (4 per side), high-gloss chrome aerowings, and a Quadro-4-tube exhaust conversion that includes two chrome-plated double-tube end pieces. The package is finished by 22" dp1-CC Silver light metal wheel rims in three-part style with their high-gloss polished stainless steel bases.

The tuner is also offering a lowering module produced by the H&R undercarriage specialists for vehicles with coil springs to lower the Mercedes Benz brothers by 35 mm at the front and by as much as 50 mm at the rear. This addition adds a little more aggression and sporty appeal to a set of already powerful vehicles.

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2011 Jaguar XFR S-C Exclusive Package

It seems that Jaguar is bringing its own little treat to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in the form of a special edition XF-R. Various internet sources are reporting that the new edition will be called the S-C Exclusive Package, but not many details are accompanying the title. The only thing we have so far is this first image placed on the official Geneva Motor Show website. We’re expecting to see a few exterior and interior updates when the S-C Exclusive Package is unveiled at the show, but we don’t think Jaguar will touch the 5.0 Liter supercharged V8 engine underneath the hood. Jaguar lovers will have to make do with the 510 HP found in the current model.

Speaking of the current model, we think it’s a bit strange that Jaguar has decided to offer a new special edition XF-R when the company is already testing a facelift version. This leads us to believe that the S-C Exclusive Package will be the current XF-R’s final hoorah before the new model settles in.

All that aside, we’re looking forward to seeing what Jaguar has done with the sports car so check back with us on March 1st, 2011 when we get all of the official details.

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