Friday, March 27, 2009

First image of Lambraghini Murcielago LP 650-4 ROADSTER




Lamborghini has just released the first batch of official images showing its latest limited run special, the Murciélago LP 650-4 Roadster, which follows the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The LP 650-4 Roadster is definitely not for those who deny their follicle deficiencies by wearing a rug on their head. With a top speed of 205 mph, anything not firmly connected to your scalp will be lost to the winds.

The crew in Sant'Agata Bolognese have pumped some extra shots of espresso into this bull – the 6.5-liter V12 now produces 650 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque through all four wheels. That's enough to leave 62 mph in your wake after just 3.4 seconds. Lamborghini is only planning to crank out 50 of these roadsters at an as yet undisclosed price.

Bugatti to unveil new model

If you were disappointed by the Bleu Centenaire edition of the Veyron that Bugatti unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this month to celebrate its 100th anniversary, you're not alone. Hopes were high that the long-anticipated higher-output version of the Veyron would be unveiled at the Swiss show. But fret not, at least if these latest reports are to be believed, as Bugatti is said to be preparing an altogether new car that will be unveiled in September.

Details are scarce at this point, but keen to stay ahead of the competition, Bugatti is said to be considering several options that would, figuratively speaking, fit into the same mold as the Veyron. That means another seven-figure, record-beating supercar, likely with an even more powerful version of the Veyron's thousand-horsepower, quad-turbo W16 engine. With Veyron production winding to a close, we could see a concept version of its successor at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show after the summer break, with the next Bugatti hitting the market in 2011 or 2012. The hope is by that time people might actually have the cash to blow on a new supercar

BMWZ10 ED to takle Audi R8

The BMW Z10 ED -- Efficient Dynamics -- is a green supercar that's out to get the Audi R8. Tech specs are hypothesized to be a high-pressure turbocharged inline six cylinder with 400 hp that would use either a mechanical valve system or BMW's VANOS system, and run through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Along with electronic stop/start aids, there would be technology to turn exhaust gasses into electricity. With the use of plenty of carbon fiber and aluminum, the car is meant to weigh no more than 3,080 pounds.

Even though it hasn't stopped Ferrari and Lamborghini, lead BMW designer Adrian Van Hooydonk thinks it might be hard to sell the Z10 with a supercar body in a global recession. Most importantly, though, he wants the car to be a symbol of the future, and to offer an "exciting dynamic experience." We can't imagine the sketch is anything go by, unless he also wants the car to try and eat you

Lamborghini insecta concept


Playing a quick game of automotive-animal word association, you'd probably link Lamborghini to a bull. Between the emblem on the hood, supercars named after famous fighting bulls and the farming roots of the company, the association is well established. Iulian Bumbu thinks otherwise. The aspiring Romanian car designer, who interned at Alfa Romeo's styling department after earning his master's in car design in Milan, created the design study you see here.

Called the Insecta, the radical concept's design elements were borrowed from bugs instead of bovines.
Combining organic shapes with Lamborghini's trademark geometric angles, the Insecta concept integrates themes culled from the body armour observed on certain species of insects. With its dimensions and powertrain borrowed from the Gallardo, the Insecta would pack a sting as sharp as its buzz, and it could make a compelling successor to the current LP560-4 – but Lambo would have to drop a load of bull first.

Lamborghini denies Estoque death rumors


After a series of stories surfaced over the weekend reporting the demise of the Lamborghini Estoque, the supercar manufacturer has issued a statement addressing the rumors. According to Lamborghini, the Estoque has not been killed off, but it hasn't been approved for production either.

The release continues to tow the company line that if a new model is added to the Lamborghini line-up, "a four door luxury performance saloon could be a logical product strategy."

When the Estoque was revealed in Paris, the 500-horsepower, V10-powered all-wheel drive sedan was hailed as the automaker's first volume model – a daily driver that could conceivably sell between 2,000 and 3,000 units annually. Speculation of the Estoque's eminent arrival in 2011 was stoked when the company's R&D chief Maurizio Reggiani, said that a case was being made to VW's board and that a mule was currently undergoing testing

Orca SC7 specs Top Speed: 248 mph / 400 km/h 0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds Engine: Audi Twin Turbo V-8


Orca (much like in Pagani Zonda) uses super-light materials to reduce the weight of this supercar as much as possible. The result is obvious, SC7 weights just 850 kg. Its engine produces 738 ft lbs at 4200 rpm torque and outputs 850 horsepower, which sets power to weight ratio to 1 bhp:1 kg. The production of this Swiss supercar is limited to only 7 automobiles

Rolls-Royce 200EX





Following today's embargo debacle, Rolls-Royce has finally released the official details and images of its baby Roller, the 200EX. The name draws its inspiration from the "experimental" prototypes that Rolls created during the pre-war era, but this version is more modern and has its sights set on the Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

While Rolls-Royce has deemed the Geneva-bound 200EX a concept, expect almost every exterior and interior detail to carry over to the production model when it arrives in 2010. However, the alphanumeric moniker will be replaced with something more traditional (think some variation of the words Spirit, Shadow or Cloud).

The styling is quintessential Rolls, pulling all the best cues from the Phantom and Drophead Coupe and fitting them into a decidedly smaller package. Based off the latest BMW 7 series platform, the 200EX spans 212.6 inches long, 83 inches wide and 61 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 129.7 inches. A new air suspension system hides behind the seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels, with the front hoops wrapped in 255/45 tires and the rears coated in 285/40 rubber. Rolls remains mum on engine details, only saying that the 200EX is powered by a new V12.

Inside you'll find all the top-rate, high-dollar trinkets that makes Rolls-Royce the standard of the luxury motoring world, including frosted lamps, chrome door handles, violin key switchgear and an ergonomic roller-ball controller to manipulate the car's systems

1600 HPUltimma clamis world,s quickest car title

How do you build the world's quickest car? Well, first you take one of the quickest cars already on the road, then you add more power and charge millions for each example.

In this case, chauffer Marlon Kirby and financier David McMahan took the Ultima GTR – which already claims the fastest quarter-mile, 0-100-0, Nürburgring (almost) and Top Gear (unofficial) track times – and dropped in an all-aluminum 7.0-liter Chevy small-block V8 with twin turbochargers to bring the power rating up to 1600 horses, calling the resultant monster the Maxximus G-Force. All those ponies drive through a three-speed sequential gearbox, while six-piston AP Racing calipers gripping 14.2-inch discs handle the stopping power.

Housed in a 2700-pound frame, that's apparently enough to get the G-Force up to 60 miles-per-hour in 2.1 seconds, to 100 mph in 4.5 seconds and run the 0-100-0 sprint in 8.8 seconds. Nine minutes of fuel is all it can carry at those rates, but considering that McMahan and Kirby are charging $3 million a pop, we doubt a big bill at the gas pump would be an owner's biggest concern

2010 Fiat 500C



As promised Fiat offered today a preview of its future 500C set to be revealed in March at the Geneva Motor Show

The 500C has the same dimensions as the coupe version: 3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m. It is also powered by the same three engines available in the hardtop: a 1.3-liter 75 hp Multijet turbodiesel, 1.2-liter 69 hp gad unit, or 1.4-liter 100 hp gas engine. The big difference is what Fiat calls, "a fully fledged window to the sky."

The 500C follows in the tradition of the original Fiat 500 and uses a rolling roof design that allows the car to retain the shape of the coupe. Because the car does not lose its B or C pillars, structural rigidity that can easily be lost when turning a car into a convertible should be minimized here. The soft top will be available in three colors (ivory, red and black) and sales should begin in Europe in the spring

Mercedes Introduces armored E-classs


A Mercedes should isolate its occupants and be built like a tank, and the new Mercedes-Benz E-Guard fulfills both requirements to the letter. The E-Guard is the latest addition to the automaker's line of armored vehicles, based on the standard E-Class and upgraded with an array of security measures.

Mercedes installs body armor right into the chassis, replaces the windows with bulletproof polycarbonate, a blast-proof floor and run-flat 17-inch tires. The result is virtually indistinguishable from a standard E-Class, making the E-Guard less of a target for would-be assassins and carjackers in the world's less friendly locales. To help cope with the added weight, Mercedes has fitted a special Level II air suspension, while the standard engines from the E350, E500 and E350 CDI pull the extra duty. While some may say it's impossible to put a price on safety, Mercedes begs to differ, charging a 10,000 euro premium for the armored E while politely reminding you that you're not paranoid if they're actually trying to get you.

DiMora Natalia SLS 2 to get-wait for it World;s first MP3-enable horn


Spend two million bucks on a car, and you'll get to have whatever the hell you want as a horn tone. Alfred DiMora is back, adding more splashy aftermarket items to the list of standard equipment on his Natalia vaporware sport luxury sedan. DiMora Motorcar has decided that the Horntones system will be factory-fitted to every V16 Natalia SLS 2 produced. So far, that's none. This isn't the first time the Natalia has specified an item cherrypicked from SEMA awards, and we suspect it won't be the last.

The Horntones system has 256MB of flash memory that can be loaded up with MP3 files. Once your files are in the Horntones system, there's a 150-watt speaker to delight everyone within a quarter mile by blaring your audio with a 110dB sound pressure level. DiMora contends that the Horntones rig is the most significant development in car horns in the last 100 years. We disagree – after all, the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee had that bitchin' setup that played Dixie.

2010 Lexus RX350 Starting

For those of you aching to get behind the wheel of the 2010 Lexus RX350, your time has almost arrived. The new luxury crossover from Lexus will hit dealerships later this month, with a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel-drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel-drive variant (neither price includes the $825 destination charge).

The RX350 comes packing a revised 3.5-liter V6 sending 275 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque to a new six-speed automatic transmission. The AWD version features an Active Torque Control system that splits power anywhere between 100:0 to 50:50, front to rear, depending on the conditions.

For 2010, the RX350 is equipped with ten standard airbags, but Intelligent Adaptive front headlamps, Pre-Collision System and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control are all optional.

Audi Wants a New Murcielago competitor?

Audi R8 is a pretty impressive car, it’s only been in production since 2006, and it is already a future classic. So while the dust hasn’t even begun to settle on the V10 version we’re surprised to hear that Audi isn’t satisfied.

According to Inside Line, Audi officials confirmed that they are working on a car that car take on the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. That’s impressive for two reason. First, Audi controls Lamborghini, so using a corporate sibling as a competitor is a little odd. Second, the V10 in the 5.2 R8 is plucked from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, so to get a car to compete with the next Lambo up the ladder is going to take a lot of work.

A natural starting starting point for this car might be the Audi R8 V12 TDI diesel concept car, but as it turns out that’s been officially killed off. Instead Audi is working an even faster supercar. We don’t have any real details on this car. Plus the current economy and potential for cannibalization of a corporate sibling make this car a little hard to understand. The one thing that we do know is that there can never be enough supercars in this world...Bring it on Audi.

First Bantley Zagato GTZ


There will be nine examples of the Bentley Zagato GTZ manufactured for discerning plutocrats. As of now, one of them is ready for an owner, and it is for sale on JamesList.com from a broker in Villorba, Italy for €1.3 million, or about $1.7 million USD. Purportedly the only one ready for delivery, this particular GTZ has just 10k (6.1 miles) on its odometer.

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last March, the GTZ leaves the engineered perfection of the Bentley Continental GT as is, merely clothing it in a Zagato treatment consisting of two-tone coachwork, a twin-bubble roof that glides into a sculpted rear window, and more added creases you could shake a Picasso at.

Aston:seven-figure,700hpone-77 still available for oder

Selling million-dollar supercars isn't as easy as it used to be. While Lamborghini quickly offloaded its small run of seven-figure Reventons and Bugatti has gone through the bulk of its Veyron production, Aston Martin may be finding it a bit more difficult to separate the obscenely wealthy from their millions.

The One-77 is the big-ticket supercar in question, to be built in a limited run of 77 examples, with only six headed to the US, five staying in the UK and the remaining 66 ending up in the Emirates dispersing around the world. Previous reports circulating the interwebs suggested that the entire production run sold out almost immediately – before the car was even fully unveiled – but those reports may have been misleading. Although 100 potential customers reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the uber-supercar, the order books have apparently yet to be filled with buyers who've plunked down the £200k desposit. But even in this economy, they're bound to sell out soon, so if you've got the cash to spare, you'd better act fast. Like, 700-horsepower supercar fast

Jaugar Prepares R Performance Acadmey

The Jaguar XFR and XKR are two of the most powerful Jaguar’s ever built. When either vehicle is placed in the hands of non-experienced driver they could cause serious damage – to both the car and driver. To remedy this predicament, Jaguar is thinking of launching an R Performance Academy for new owners of the XFR and XKR models. The school will open in April and the cost for one day’s instruction will be £400.

Jaguar also plans on creating a Jaguar World, in the style of the Mercedes-Benz Welt. With this attraction the company hopes to expose Jaguar’s cars to a wider audience. However this would not happen before 2013. The Indian owned company is currently scouting for suitable locations