It’s been over two years since Audi unveiled the R8 sportscar the Paris Auto Show. Since then its been a hot seller, but in the idea of ‘if it ain’t new, it through’ Audi is going debut some awaited versions of the R8 in 2009.
Although some car companies are pulling away from January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Audi will use that venue to debut the V10 version. The new engine is expected to make 520 horsepower (up 100 hp from the V8). The rumor is that the arrival of the V10 (and later V12 diesel) will spell the beginning of the end for V8 powered R8s.
Later next year, the Spyder version should make an appearance. The fully convertible version (or still possibly a targa) of the R8 should be in European showrooms by the end of 2009. It will likely arrive first with the V8 engine of the standard R8 with a possible upgrade to the V10 in the future. North America may have to wait a until 2010 for the drop top because the coupe is selling stronger here, and so Audi doesn’t need as much sales help in the U.S.
The Porsche Carrera GT may be out of production for over two years now, but that still doesn’t make it any less desirable. It also doesn’t meant the tuners don’t need to stop upgrading the car.
9ff, the tuning house that has made some earth-shattering cars from Poreches like the GT9, has gotten its hands on a Carrera GT. It’s called the GTT 900 pack, and it was showcased at the Essen Motor Show in Germany this weekend.
The standard V10 unit was upgraded by about 50 percent to give the car a new total 900 horsepower. Improvements include new camshafts, less restrictive exhaust manifolds, and a special muffler with a unique valve system and end-pipes. A just in case people didn’t think you were special enough for driving Carrera GT, 9ff added bright red "look at me" paint.
Bentley owners usually sit on two very opposite sides of the rich people spectrum. They are conservative people who want to keep a low profile but still ride in luxury, or recording artists (or wannabes) who are out to show the whole world how wealthy they can appear. This kit is for the latter.
The Black Bisson Edition of the Continental GT by Wald takes the graceful lines of the Bentley and bolts on some attention. The edges of the body kit are rounded off with louvered styling elements. There is also a front bumper spoiler, side skirts, rear bumper spoiler, trunk spoiler and roof spoiler. Other parts offered are a suspension height reduction kit and D.T.M sports muffler exhaust system. Price tag for the body kit alone is 1,522,500 Yen (about $16,000).
This may be an opportunity to own one the most exclusive Lamborghini Miura’s ever made. The only roadster built with a true factory connection is up for sale, again.
This car has a bit of interesting history. It was not actually commissioned or built by Lamborghini, but instead by the Miura’s design house Bertone. Small details from the regular Miura were changed including the roof-mounted switch were relocated, the rear engine cover was removed, and a new slope for the windshield. There was never a roof built for the car nor were windows ever installed.
Officially called Lamborghini Bertone Miura Roadster, it was first presented at the 1968 Brussels Motor Show to keep interest going in the Miura. It was a great success to the point at which there was real interest for production, but it’s rumored that Bertone told Lamborghini that the structural rigidity was too compromised without the roof for any real production possibilities.
In 1969, the concept roadster eventually wound up in the hands of International Lead Zinc Research Organization (ILZRO) of New York. The car was repainted and rebuilt using as many zinc based parts as possible. This was mostly used in engine parts and minor trim bits. One of the more peculiar rumors was that lead was used to insulate the floor and doors.
The car then spent about another ten years on the show circuit before bouncing abound through various museums and private collectors. Adam Gordon, a New York property developer, is the current owner and has returned the car to its original Brussels Motor Show condition, including blue and white paint scheme. It was shown at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it took second place in its class.
No word yet on the car’s current price, but it is rumored that the restoration cost $330,000 alone.
The last time we saw images of the Nissan’s 370 Z Nismo S-Tune, they were obviously shot from a studio, and we were not sure how much could be believed. After all, the Nismo car came close on the heels of the regular 370 Z’s introduction. Now we can see it’s a fully-baked package as the in-house tuner car sees the light of day.
There are two different packages: Nismo S-Tune Aero Package and Nismo S-Tune Performance Package. Nismo S-Tune Aero Package it is focused on improving the aerodynamics, which comes in the form of a new front spoiler, side skirts and rear spoiler. The Nismo S-Tune Performance Package is focusing on on better performance by adding a new exhaust system, Nismo wheels 19", S-Tune suspension and improved brakes.
Although we’ve caught the 2010 Jaguar XJ testing under the cloak of the current car’s skin, this looks like possibly the first shot at the new body for the future full-size Jag.
The XJ series has always followed similar styling trough all of its refreshes over the last 40 years, but now it seems all bets are off for 2010. Everything is subject to change from the little details like the "J-gate" shifter to the entire body styling. Rumors peg the new XJ as taking design cues from the XF, and will likely take the shape of the coupelike sedan that Jaguar is famous for designing.
When the car is unveiled by the end of 2009, expect engine choices to be variations of the new 5.0-liter V8 that will range from 400 to 500 hp. There is also expected to be a diesel version that will not make it to the U.S. Just like the XF, where it used its predecessor car as a chassis base, the 2010 XJ will likely carryover the current car’s aluminum chassis.
Like any good tuner car show, Essen didn’t forget to include a few booth babes. For those who could take their eyes off the Audi R8 LMS, there were a few extra rewards around the German car show.
Nothing helps a car brand gain acceptance like a little star power. Alfa Romeo wouldn’t have sold nearly as many original Spiders had it not been Dustan Hoffman’s choice in The Graduate, and the Cadillac Escalade wouldn’t be nearly as cool had it not been the choice of rappers first.
Lotus seems to know this. It started first by making the new Evora’s debut in Los Angles, and now its released the list of people who are in line for test drives. The list includes celebrity car guys like Jay Leno and Patrick Dempsey, big names like George Clooney and Beyonce, as well as James Bond alumni Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Although it has been reported by other news outlets that these celebrities have ordered the cars, that’s simple not true. THIS IS JUST A TEST DRIVE. While a few of the celebrities who may drive the Evora may purchase it, Lotus will no doubt use this opportunity to show pics with all of them behind the wheel. Lotus is a small carmaker, and it is right now wisely exploiting star power to drum up sales for its new 2+2 sports car.
The Evora is the best car for Lotus to mount a full comeback in the U.S. The Elise/Exige that is currently offered in the States has a very limited range due to its small size and lack of creature comforts. The Evora will offer seating for four, and be more road-friendly than Lotus’ other current offerings. It’s powered by a Toyota-sourced and Lotus-tuned 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 276 hp, and weighing a light 2,976 lbs. Although the engine is used in more everyday cars like the Camry, the lightweight of the Evora should help it keep its performance car image. 0 to 60 mph have been published as "less than 5 seconds."
From the ‘It’s Better in Europe’ file comes the Mitsubishi Evo X FQ-400. While the hottest Mitsubishi Evo model on the U.S. market is the 291 hp Evo X MR, Mitsubishi U.K. has been making some serious improvements for the home market. For the last three generations of the Lancer Evo models, Mitsubishi U.K. has offered various models known as "FQ" (rumored to stand for F***ing Quick), and the FQ400 is the fastest of them all.
Mitsu teamed up with ADR Motorsport to tweak the standard 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine. It’s boosted with revised ECU programming and a new exhaust to produce around 405bhp. The peak torque will be 400lb ft. The car gets new cooling intakes and vents, including a larger bonnet (hood) intake and cooling slots for the rear brakes, upgraded brakes, six-pot calipers at the front, and new 18-inch alloy wheels. The 0 to 60 time is expected to be about 3.5 seconds.
Price? Between £45,000 and £50,000 (about $67,000 to $74,000), but you don’t need to concern yourself with that. Since it’s not available in the U.S., it only hurts to think about it. Maybe a 305 hp Subaru Imprza WRX STI may help ease the pain?
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