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XFR: Fastest Jaguar Ever
Thinking that they had a real speed deamon on their hands Jaguar execs handed over the new 510hp Jaguar XFR sedan to Rocketsports Racing for a top speed test at the Bonneville Salt Flats. With modifications that the company describes as minimal (which actually included a fully stripped out interior, the addition of a roll…
Jaguar XFR and XKR
We first reported that Jaguar would display its new XFR at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, but the British marque had a surprise -or two – up its sleeve. Also unveiled was the new Jaguar XKR, a high-performance machine above and beyond the current model. Both the XFR and XKR get…
Bentley, Biofuels and the Environment
As well as debuting the Continental GTC Speed, the Bentley press conference focused on the company’s commitment to the environment. By 2012 Bentley aims to achieve a long list of green changes for its entire lineup. For starters, Bentley aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent by applying new technologies to the current vehicles…
Audi Sportback Concept
As though the polished look of the Audi Sportback Concept were not enough to convince you that a similar car will make it to production as the A7, Audi even has a design philosophy thought out for the car and it’s oddly numbered siblings. According to Audi PR boss Christian Bokich Audi’s philosophy for the…
VW BlueSport Roadster Concept
Looking a great deal like a YES Roadster or a Vauxhall VX220 Turbo, the BlueSport Concept by Volkswagen is a cute and yet somehow masculine creation. This roadster for the environmentally conscious is powered by a clean diesel TDI engine that makes an impressive 180hp and yet can achieve a rating of 55 mpg! Thanks…
2010 E-Class Preview
Ahead of the vehicle’s official launch at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz invited a select group of press to view the new 2010 E-Class. Presented to the media were three different E-Class models – none of which will be available in the U.S. For the record, however, they were the E250 CDI, the E350…
SLR Stirling Moss in the Flesh
Mercedes kicked off the Detroit Auto Show with the world premiere of its fabulously ridiculous SLR Stirling Moss. With a substantially altered body, this chiselled machine looks more Mansory than Mercedes-Benz. It was designed in homage to Stirling Moss, who piloted the original 300 SLR to victory in the famous Mille Miglia race. In fact,…
Mercedes-Benz blueZERO Concept Unveiled
Mercedes-Benz says it will develop three blueZero models, including an electric model, a hydrogen fuel-cell model and an extended range hybrid-electric model. Some of the versions will even begin production this year. Dr Thomas Weber, the man in charge of corporate research and development at Mercedes-Benz Cars says that, “From 2009, we will be producing…
Lotus Plug-in Hybrid Coming
In an interview with the Financial Times, Lotus CEO Michael Kimberly said that Lotus is working on a Hybrid and that the vehicle could be ready as early as March. And March just so happens to be when the Geneva Auto Show is… and Lotus never passes up an opportunity to unveil something in Geneva….
Detroit Auto Show Preview: Jaguar XFR
After appearing just briefly at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jaguar is apparently set to launch its new 510hp XFR at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. With 510hp the XFR outpowers the already impressive XF Supercharged by 90hp, thanks to a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine mated to a Roots-type supercharger….
No Takers for Saab
According to a report in Automotive News, General Motors is looking to sell Saab but no one is looking to buy. Apparently Saab was put under “strategic review” by General Motors as part of its bailout proposal to Congress. The article quotes GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz as saying that “strategic review” is “’code for…
Bentley GTC Speed
With the Continental GT Speed and Flying Spur Speed, it was only time before Bentley released a GTC Speed. And that time is now. With 600hp it is the most powerful convertible Bentley has ever produced. Even more amazing is that while the horsepower number has increased by nine percent, the torque number has gone…
The Electric MINI: the MINI E
Recently MINI delivered 500 MINI Es (electric versions of the popular MINI) to California, New York and New Jersey to begin an exciting new pilot project. Each vehicle is powered by a 204hp electric motor, which draws power from a lithium-ion battery. MINI claims the vehicles are good for 156 miles on a single charge…
LA Auto Show: Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85
Think of it as Spyker’s version of a Porsche GT3. Unveiled at the LA Auto Show, this stripped down special edition of the Spyker C8 Laviolette weights just 2,805 lbs and makes a significant 400hp thanks to its Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V-8. Spyker claims this is good for a 0-60 mph sprint of 4.5 seconds (which…
Maybach to Build $1.35 Million 62S Landaulet
With its debut at the Dubai Motor Show as a “Design Study,” Maybach shocked the world by announcing, shortly afterward, that it would in fact build the 62S Landaulet. This bizarre creation is a genuine limousine (stretching a foot longer than even the Rolls-Royce Phantom) and yet it features a retractable rear roof. This way,…
Alfa 8C Competizione Arrives in the U.S.
While Alfa Romeo seems to have put its U.S. expansion on hold, the company has decided to deliver on its promise to bring the stunning 8C Competizione to the U.S., delivering the first of 84 vehicles destined for the States to renowned auto collector James Glickenhaus. Glickenhaus recently made headlines when he unveiled a one-off…
LA Auto Show: Saab 9-X Air Concept
Unveiled at the LA Auto Show, some 25 years after the Swedish company first brought the world a Saab Convertible, the 9-X Air Concept will likely drive the design direction of future 9-3 models. The convertible roof is a new innovation from Saab and slides away flat into the trunk and under the rear tonneau…
UNVEILED: 2009 Ferrari California
Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the Ferrari California is designed to appeal to a broader market. This is due, mostly, to the fact that is has been designed to be better suited to regular use. It is still an exotic, however, and the proof is in the engine, a high-revving 4.3L V8 that makes…
Buy a Benz, get a Watch
Mercedes-Benz has once again teamed up with Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen to offer a special edition SL63 that comes with an IWC “Grosser Ingenieur” watch. The timepiece is also a special edition model and is designed to compliment the SL. One particular highlight of the SL63 AMG Edition IWC is that it comes with stunning…
Bentley Arnage Final Series
After 10 years Bentley has decided to cease production of the regal Arnage. Choosing to go out with a bang rather than a whimper, the British automaker will build 150 “Final Series” models that will make use of the powerful 6.75L twin-turbo V8 engine that will produce 500 hp and 738 ft-lbs of torque. This…
Volvo S60 Concept
Looking almost crossover-like, the Volvo S60 Concept is undeniably an embellished version of the S60 that will make it to production for 2010. Volvo is, after all, one of the most conservatively styled manufacturers on the planet. Other than the obvious design cues, Volvo will introduce several significant updates with the S60 as well as…
Lamborghini Announces One–Make Racing Series
Following in the footsteps of Ferrari and its Challenge series, Lamborghini has decided to form its own one-make series using the successor to the Gallardo, the LP560. Called the Gallardo Super Trofeo, this complete racecar will make 570hp and weight significantly less than the street-going machine. Lamborghini will build just 30 of the spec cars…
VW Golf GTI VI Concept
Technically VW is calling it a concept, but expect the sixth generation GTI to be almost identical to the version unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Looking quite similar to the mark V GTI, the VI sports a familiar turbo 2.0-liter engine. Power has been increased marginally, to 210hp (versus 200 on the outgoing model)…
Lamborghini to go Racing in the US in 2009
One of the best finds at the 2008 SEMA Show was this Gallardo racecar at the Performance Friction Brakes booth. Built by DP7 Racing, this one-off custom racecar is set to take on the big boys in the SPEED World Challenge Series in the GT Class, competing against Corvettes, Vipers and Porsches. The car makes…
