2012 Ford Falcon GT RSPEC Limited Edition Series by Ford Performance Vehicles

Far from the land we call America where the Ford Mustang travels its fair roads, Australia has its own muscle car version, called the Falcon.

So while we get inundated with all the Mustang variants left and right, the Aussies now have something to brag about with the unveiling of the GT RSPEC Limited Edition Series, or as they describe it, the fastest Falcon ever made.

Certainly, we’d love to see what the Falcon is capable of when lined up against a Mustang, but that’s a discussion and a debate for another day. What needs to be done now is to pay respect to this special edition muscle car that boasts of some pretty cool features that would make even the iconic Mustang proud.

Understandably so, Ford Performance Vehicles director Bryan Mears has nothing but gushing words for his company’s latest project. "On the track the RSPEC’s capabilities are just awesome, he said, "it is the finest-handling GT in history."

"We have put 18 months into the development of the FPV GT RSPEC and we are extremely proud of the results; anyone who drives it on the track will be blown away by just how complete and capable this car is."

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2013 Toyota Yaris R1A Rally Car

Toyota’s Motorsport division has its eye on a return to rally racing and they’re bringing a new ride for the occasion. This new model should come in just in time for the ninth round of the World Rally Championship at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland on August 24th to 26th, 2012.

The car will be the Toyota Yaris, the company’s lovable little hatchback that has been rechristened as the "Yaris R1A." In order to comply with FIA R1A regulations, Toyota gave the Yaris limited performance modifications that include a new racing exhaust, a catalytic converter system, shorter final drive gear, a new motorsport suspension with adapted springs and adjustable ride height, and cursory safety enhancements like the bolt-in roll cage, rally seats, safety harnesses, a power cut-off switch, fire extinguishers, and sump guards.

Talking about the new Yaris R1A, TMG president Yoshiaki Kinoshita said: "It is a great thrill for TMG to return to rallying, a discipline in which we enjoyed a great deal of success in the past. The TMG Yaris R1A is a completely different project compared to our WRC past; it is an affordable but exciting car which makes rallying‟s major events accessible to a whole range of participants."

For now, the Yaris R1A will participate at the ADAC Rallye Deutscheland as a "Zero Car" with Toyota setting a goal for their new rally baby to become the first car in the world to be awarded FIA R1A homologation, allowing it to compete in regional, national, and international competitions, including the WRC.

For a car that has been priced at €22,500 ($27,800), the Yaris R1A is already getting plenty of interest in the rally world. "We have already received numerous inquiries about this car so we know there is a huge appetite in the rally world for a new TOYOTA," said Kinoshita.

"I hope this is the start of a new rally dynasty at TMG."

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2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Results and Highlights

After a huge wildfire delayed the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, it has finally had its day in the spotlight, and it did not disappoint. The entire PPIHC was chock-full of craziness and highlights, along with some low-lights worthy of mention.

The biggest highlight of the day was seeing a record set at last year’s race fall. It fell not only once, but twice in only 10 starts. Switzerland’s Romain Dumas – a PPIHC rookie – fired up the hill, completing the course in just 9:46.18 in his 2012 Porsche GT3 RS. This demolished the 9:51.278 record set by Nobuniro Tajima In 2011. Just 10 starts later, Rhys Millen, an 18-year PPIHC veteran, beat Dumas’ time by 0.02 seconds in his 2012 Hyundai Genesis coupe. Yeah, figure that one out; a Hyundai beat a Porsche GT3 RS.

Dejected, Dumas vowed never to race Pike’s Peak again, claiming it is unfair because he raced in rainy conditions, while Millen got a drier track to run on. In all honesty, though, 10 starts just doesn’t seem like a long enough time frame to cause a huge discrepancy in track conditions. We’re calling “Sore loser” on this one. That’s no way to get a good name in the racing world.

A huge low-light in this year’s race is the fact that the 2011 champion and former record holder, Nobuniro Tajima, didn’t even get a shot at the title, as his electric motor burned up. Tajima had a pretty good chance to win the race in back-to-back years, but that was apparently not in the cards this year. We’re sure he’ll be back near the top next year.

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2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Project Ice Blade by SR Auto Group Posted on 08.13.2012 16:00 by Kirby

When it comes to aesthetic and aerodynamic modifications, SR Auto Group is one of the premier aftermarket companies for the job. Time and again, these boys come out with something spectacular, and their latest project adds even more truth to what is becoming a growing sentiment in the industry.

The project is called Ice Blade and it’s a program for the mighty Italian supercar, the Ferrari 458 Italia. SR Auto Group describes it s a program that’s "vivid, adventurous, and simply brilliant."

With the help and use of a Novitec Rosso body kit, SR Auto Group was able to turn its evolutionary idea into reality. The creation of this bold and unique program begins with Novitec Rosso carbon fiber body kit, which includes new components like the front splitter, side skirts, door handles, mirrors, a rear spoiler, and a rear diffuser that flows effortlessly into the pure white exterior, creating a look that speaks to the car’s Ice Blade nickname.

From there, SR Auto Group fitted the 458 Italia with a new set of 21" and 22" PUR 4OUR DEPTH wheels that carry their own nickname: DaVinci Red.

For a car that really doesn’t need a nickname to give it even more swag, the Ferrari 458 Italia does look a whole lot better as the Ice Blade.

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Video: Lamborghini Aventador vs. Mercedes AMG SLS Roadster

Although the two vehicles in this video are different - one’s a coupe while the other is a roadster - the Lamborghini Aventador and the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster can still be considered two of the most amazing supercars currently on the market. Hennessey Performance obviously feels this statement is accurate since they decided to pit the two cars against each other on a spicy 1/4 mile dragstrip race.

You’ll have to watch the video to see who wins the race, but we’ll give you some details to help you out. The Aventador is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine that delivers a total of 700 HP and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. The SLS AMG Roadster, on the other hand, is powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine with 563 HP and can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds.

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Koenigsegg Accessory Line: The only Koenigsegg we can afford

Almost every automaker in the world is currently offering a special line of accessories to get more bang out of their brand image buck. Koenigsegg has now joined the bunch with a new Accessory Line, making it the only Koenigsegg product we can actually afford.

The new Koenigsegg Accessory Line includes a variety of lifestyle items ranging from hand-built scale models to cuff links, artwork, and clothing. The prices are also pretty accessible - when compared to a Koenigsegg model - and range from $45 for a pen or $48 for a t-shirt up to $12,300 for a carbon ceiling lamp.

We also found a blue Agera R in 1:43 scale in the store. This scale model is limited to only 500 units and priced at $188. The blue Limited Edition model was created by Frontiart for exclusive distribution by Koenigsegg Lifestyle. Each product in the new accessory line has been chosen or developed by founder Christian von Koenigsegg.

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