Posted on 05.21.2012 10:00
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Simona
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has been testing the next generation for awhile, but these latest photos suggest the official debut is getting close. As you can see, the SUV is wearing less camouflage than ever and looks more like a pre-production car that went out for a quick spin than some of the earlier prototypes we’ve seen testing.
The drop of some camouflage allowed us to uncover some of the secrets Land Rover has been hiding about its future Range Rover. The prototype caught testing is wearing light stickers that serve as an attempt to hide details such as the new head lights, air intakes, and more. We can also see that the engine hood is more rounded than before and that the grille is more upright.
As reported earlier, the next Range Rover will be both lighter and more fuel efficient than the current model due to the use of more lightweight material and the new aluminum platform. It is rumored that the car will be about 660-880 lbs lighter than the current generation.
The official debut for the 2013 Landrover Range Rover will be made in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. Sales will begin early in 2013.
originally appeared on on Monday, 21 May 2012 10:00 EST.
Posted on 05.21.2012 09:00
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Simona
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While is trying to delay the official launch of the new generation , our spy photographers have caught the convertible version testing yet again, this time wearing less camouflage than ever. Compared to the standard models, the future variant will be distinguished by wider rear fenders, additional cooling vents, a new active rear spoiler, and of course, a soft-top for those nice long drives.
Under the hood, Porsche has placed the same 3.8 liter turbocharged flat six engine tricked to deliver a few more HP compared to the current model. Just like all of the other 911 models previously launched, the future Turbo model will get auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, and the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission (or an optional PDK). Porsche has also been working on improving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, so expect to see a drop of up to 15%.
The new 911 Turbo, in both coupe and cabrio versions, will be launched sometime during Summer 2012, so stay tuned!
originally appeared on on Monday, 21 May 2012 09:00 EST.
Posted on 05.20.2012 23:00
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Kirby
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The has become quite the tuning attraction. For a new company like German Special Customs, the onus on building a sick program for the Aventador was important to get their name across in the industry.
To their credit, not only did they make one program for the mighty , they actually made two with one being the limited edition Aventador Estatura GXX.
So far, the Aventador Estatura GXX is still in the pipeline of development, but GSC did release some fresh details on the supercar’s new aerodynamic body kit. Built completely from carbon titanium, the external body kit features a bevy of new components, including a new front bumper, a new rear bumper, side skirts, an adjustable racing, a carbon titanium hood, a titanium black exhaust, and a new set of ultralight wheels.
GSC didn’t say anything about performance modifications for the Aventador Estatura GXX, but we do expect something to be developed when the entire program is completed. For now, the supercar still comes packed with a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces 700 horsepower and 509 lb/ft of torque.
As soon as more details become available regarding the Aventador Estatura GXX, we won’t waste time passing them along to all of you. For now, though, enjoy the photos of the limited edition suepercar!
Posted on 05.20.2012 18:00
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Simona
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We have tremendous respect for tuning firms that are able to make a car like the that much more amazing. Not many have been able to pull it off, but after Oakley Design’s work on the , we knew they’d be one of the few to make it happen. To illustrate just how fantastic this package fits with the Aventador, Oakley Design will only be producing five units, and three of them have already been sold.
Focusing on the looks alone, anyone can see the sportier appearance given by the addition of a larger airbox, an intake feed pipe diameter, a titanium exhaust system, and a new set of lighter and wider wheels. Those additions only hint at what’s going on under the hood. Oakley Design worked up the Aventador so that it became 253 lbs lighter than the standard model and, with the help of an ECU remap, 60 HP stronger. The V12 engine now delivers a whopping 760 HP, up from the standard 700 HP. Another impressive feature for this package is that the power will be sent to the rear wheels; no all-wheel drive for this baby. No word yet on how these extra 60 ponies and their delivery will affect the car’s performance, but expect to see a slightly better 0-60 mph time than the 2.9 seconds provided from the factory model.
UPDATE 05/20/2012: Oakley Design has unveiled a new set of images for their LP760-2 package based on the Lamborghini Aventador. The images show the 1st unit of only 5 set to be produced.
Posted on 05.20.2012 12:00
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Brad Anderson
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When the was originally launched packing 987 horsepower and 922lb-ft of torque, the vast majority of the automotive industry was left awestruck over how Bugatti managed to extract that much power and torque from the mammoth W16, quad-turbocharged engine.
However, to tuning firms all across the globe, particularly in Japan, 1,000-odd horsepower means nothing as similar figures can simply be achieved using six-cylinder, or even four-cylinder engines combined with just one of two enormous turbochargers.
In fact, 1,000HP is almost considered nothing these days with various companies including the ever-reclusive and both promising to deliver supercars with upwards of 3,000HP. However, neither of these cars have materialized just yet.
But in what can only be described as an outrageous tuning exercise, Steve Morris Engines recently previewed that extracting three times the power than that of a Veyron isn’t that difficult. They strapped this insane power plant in a relatively stock 1970’s .
In order to achieve these insane results, the firm fitted an incredible 572 cubic inch V8 engine into the car, packing a displacement of 9.4-liters before adding a pair of 88mm billet Bullseye turbochargers. In order to prove that this recipe works very effectively, Steve Morris Engines took the completed engine to the dyno to see what numbers it would deliver.
The results are nothing to sneeze about, as the engine managed to pump out 3,040 raging horses at 7,300rpm while an equally impressive torque figure of 2,411lb-ft was achieved at 6,000rpm. It’s crucial to note at this point however, that these figures are straight from the engine itself, and when all that power is sent through the flywheel and driveshaft, this incredible Mustang may produce around 2,300-2,500 horsepower at the rear wheels.
Unfortunately, this unit has been specifically built for drag racing purposes as evident by the massive parachute hanging off the rear, but that certainly doesn’t detract from what is a mighty impressive feat. And fingers crossed, these results will help encourage other tuning companies to follow suit and continue to push the boundaries of power and torque.
Second video of Mustang on the dyno after the jump.
originally appeared on on Sunday, 20 May 2012 12:00 EST.
Posted on 05.20.2012 06:00
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Simona
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About a month ago, unveiled a explaining the technology behind the . And because people were thoroughly impressed with it, the company decided to offer a new documentary, this time explaining the history of the very successful company.
Parts 1-4 have already been unveiled and talk about the beginnings of the company. Part One talks about Pagani founder Horacio Pagani and reveals a collage of personal photos, while Part Two explains how the company was founded in 1999 and talks about the first vehicle produced by Pagani: the . Part Three goes into years 2005-2008 of the company and the production of the and Part Four handles model year 2009 with the . Finally, Part 5 covers the 2009-2011 model years with the .
Parts Two, Three, Four and Five can be found after the jump. Enjoy!
originally appeared on on Sunday, 20 May 2012 06:00 EST.
Posted on 05.19.2012 23:00
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Simona
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China is becoming a key market for a lot of automotive companies, including and, as a thank you gift, the company has opened a new Myth exhibition at the Italian Center in Shanghai Expo Park. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the company’s Deputy Chairman Piero Ferrari, as well as representatives of both the Chinese and Italian governments.
The new exhibition center covers an area of 900 square meters and will be open to the public for three years. Its aim is to introduce the Chinese to Ferrari and allow them to experience the history, cars, technologies, and passion of the Prancing Horse first-hand, thereby further consolidating the already strong links between the Italian marque and this nation.
The models displayed are the as the first Ferrari to enter the Chinese mainland market, a , a , the 750 Monza sports prototype, and the .
"For millions of people around the world, Ferrari represents the pinnacle of Italian culture," declared Piero Ferrari. "It is a symbol of passion, success and the constant pursuit of excellence. It has always been our wish to share Ferrari’s unique history and culture with the people of China who have shown great affection for the Prancing Horse and with whom we share core values such as respect for tradition and a tenacious spirit of innovation."
With a very brief statement, , America's biggest automaker in terms of sales and third largest advertiser overall in the U.S., has announced that it will not buy any ads in the next Super Bowl in 2013.
"We understand the reach the Super Bowl provides, but with the significant increase in price, we simply can't justify the expense," said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick.
The news comes only a few days after the Detroit-based carmaker revealed that it would paid ads, raining on the social networks IPO parade. However, GM will continue to spend millions of dollars to create and upkeep its free web pages on FaceBook.
So, what is going on with GM; is the automaker reducing its ad budget? According to the , the answer is no as GM spokesman Pat Morrissey told the business daily that auto maker isn't reducing its ad budget but simply trying to maximize its efficiency.
A 30-second commercial during this year's Super Bowl cost $3.5 million, while Autonews reported that Les Moonves, CBS's chief executive, recently suggested the 2013 broadcast of the game should command $4 million. That's compared to $2.2 million for a thirty second spot in 2001.
"Our overall spend will remain flat compared to last year," GM spokesman Tom E Henderson . "As we've said all along, we're continually reevaluating our spending and will maintain a strong presence in all mediums."
Posted on 05.19.2012 18:00
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Simona
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With 750 HP under its hood, the is definitely a car that is noticed on the track. And if you’ve never heard it, here’s your chance to get a peek at what it can do. as well as hear the growl snaking its way out of the exhaust. This video was recently shot at the Monza racetrack and features the Ferrari 599XX EVO Evolution in action with start up, loud accelerations, fast fly bys, and amazing downshifts on the track!
As a reminder, the 599XX Evo is powered by a 6.3L V12 engine with an output of 750 HP at 7000 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque. It features improved chassis and an amazing exterior package to improve the car’s aerodynamics.
Expect to see more videos like this in the future because the 599XX Evo will be used for the 2012-2013 racing season!
Only a few days after Porsche released anof the pre-production 918 Spyder, our spies sent in new photos of the plug-in hybrid supercar, this time testing with its top down.
The new crown jewel of the Porsche lineup features a targa top solution with a pair of detachable carbon fiber roof panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment and a small windowpane located between the flying buttresses.
The pre-production prototype is finished in a matte black color with white stripes that harks back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars.
Surprisingly, Porsche is not keeping a lot of secrets from us having revealed initial specifications on the . The spiritual successor of the 959 from the 1980s, of which only a little over 330 units were produced, and the Carrera GT from the mid-2000s (1,270 built), sports a full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body bolted to a carbon-fiber tub.
What really separates the 918 Spyder from all Porsche models is the plug-in , which links a mid-mounted, 4.6-liter V8 with more than 570PS (+562hp) and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission driving the rear wheels to a pair of electric motors.
The first electric motor is rated at 80kW (107hp) and drives the front wheels, while the other delivers 90kW (121hp) and is mounted in the gearbox housing turning the rear wheels. The system's combined output surpasses the 770PS (+762hp) mark.
The electric motors are powered by a lithium-ion hybrid battery that can be charged in about 2 hours with the use of a compact rapid-charger that will be offered as standard. Naturally, the Porsche hybrid features an energy recuperation system that turns the kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric current when braking.
Porsche claims that the 918 Spyder will be significantly faster than the Carrera GT both in terms of acceleration with a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of less than three seconds (Carrera GT: 3.9 seconds), and also the racing circuit with a lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife of less than 7:22 minutes (Carrera GT: 7:32 minutes).
While we somehow doubt that fuel economy will be a priority for 918 Spyder buyers, truth is, being politically correct and green does matter in our days.
And Porsche delivers in this department promising a guilt-free average fuel consumption of around 3.0lt/100km (equal to 78.4mpg US or 94.2mpg UK) with the use of the batteries that allow for a pure electric range in excess of 25 kilometers (+16 miles). Of course, to achieve these numbers one will probably have to drive the 918 Spyder like a Prius, but that is another story…
Porsche also tells us that he top speed on purely electric power is 150 km/h (94 mph), while with the use of the internal combustion engine the 918 Spyder exceeds 325km/h (202mph).
Other tidbits worth mentioning is that the 918 Spyder will feature five, self-explanatory driving models named E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid and Hot-Lap, the latter for maximum output and speed, as well as the adaptive shock-absorber system PASM and rear-axle steering.
As we have already mentioned, the styling of the 918 Spyder has not changed muchsans the new headlamp fixtures, different wheels, the addition of full size exterior mirrors, the subtly redesigned rear end and the relocation of the exhaust pipes from the sides to the top part of the engine compartment.
Production of the 918 Spyder will commence on September 18, 2013, with first deliveries in November of the same year.
Porsche plans to keep production strictly limited to 918 units with pricing set at €645,000 (about US$820,500 at today's exchange rates), excluding tax and country-specific charges. For those of you interested, the Stuttgart-based automaker has already opened the order books.
