Save £100,000+ on the world's fastest supercars

Auto Trader's supercar showroom has some great offers - Vijay Pattni rounds up the hottest cars on offer...

Alfa 8C in triplicate

There are few things as tragic as a missed opportunity. So if you've been sitting at home crying over your chance gone by to grab one of the 84 examples of the simply stunning Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione to reach American shores, cheer up, because the miracle of eBay has come to save the day yet again. Not one, but three U.S.-spec 8Cs have popped up for sale on the auction site's automobile section.
Of course, this sort of design perfection doesn't come cheap. Not by any stretch of the imagination. One example in St. Louis is rolling off the block today with a starting bid of $243,900. A second one in Minneapolis is up for grabs with a starting bid of $305,800 and a Buy-It-Now price of $329,995. And a third example is available out of Houston with a Buy-It-Now price or Best Offer at $295k. They're all in red (naturally) and are far from priced to sell, but can you really put a price on beauty? Well, apparently you can, but that doesn't mean anyone's going to pay it.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in the States

Rare Ferrari 250 TR expected to break records at RM's Maranello auction

Click on the image above for a high-res gallery of the 1957 Ferrari 250 TR

With its stunning pontoon-fendered bodywork sculpted by Scaglietti, the Ferrari 250 TR is not only one of the most beautiful cars ever built, it was one of the most competitive as well. Ferrari captured ten victories in nineteen races from 1958 to 1961, including a class win at Le Mans with Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien.
It's rare to see one offered for sale, and it is a guarantee that a massive sum of money will exchange hands when one comes on the market. Those high-end car collectors who remain unaffected by economic woes will have the chance to part with such funds this coming May when a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR, chassis #0714TR, crosses the block at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda E Passione sale in Maranello. This particular example was campaigned extensively from 1958 to 1963 and is painted in its period-correct black paint with a red nose. RM expects the 250 TR to set a new world record for a car sold at auction, potentially exceeding the $21.7 million it took to buy a 250 GTO last year. More details on the sale in the press release from RM after the break.

New Cars-2010 Porsche 911 GT3 runs the 'Ring in 7:40, reps still claim Nissan GT-R is slower

The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 is an unquestionably bad-ass. Its naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six provides 435 hp from behind the driver's seat, and it's track-tuned chassis can dance with the world's most nimble supercars. The free-wheeling product of Stuttgart has been undergoing testing at the famed Nurburgring in Germany (along with every other sports coupe worth its salt) and it's been timed at an unofficial 7:40. Porsche driving ace Walter Rohrl was behind the wheel for the sprightly lap.

While 7:40 isn't enough time to best the 7:26 from the 638 hp Corvette ZR1, it's a very impressive time nonetheless (BTW - During testing Rohrl posted a 7:45 in a borrowed Ferrari F430 Scuderia). Nissan probably isn't impressed, though, since it recently clocked the GT-R at 7:27. Well, Porsche is still calling balderdash on that claim, telling Motor Trend that the twin-turbo Nissan is only good for a time of 7:56 in stock US form. Just under eight minutes is an amazing time, but almost 30 seconds slower than reports from Nissan.
The Nissan vs. Porsche 'Ring smack-down feels as though its about to peter out, but the grudge match is almost to the point that the GT-R vs. GT3 drama should play out on premium cable. Who can we call to set this up?
More 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Photos

Ferrari 599XX details

Ferrari has released more detailed information on the Ferrari 599XX, the extreme track car that is helping the legendary supercar maker develop new technology for future road-going supercars. First seen at this year’s Geneva International Motor Show, a limited number of 599XXs will be available for sale to Ferrari’s most valued customers, but Ferrari will prepare and run the cars on behalf of their owners, enabling them to drive them at special events at Ferrari’s own Fiorano test track and at leading race tracks in Europe and the USA. Data gathered from these track days will be used to further enhance and develop technology for future frontline Ferrari models.
This includes reducing internal friction in the engine, faster gearbox operation, aerodynamics that automatically adjust depending on whether the car is cornering or going in a straight line, as well being speed dependent, and a new high speed adjustable chassis. New weight saving ideas are used throughout the car, including carbon fibre brake calipers.
While based on the 599 GTB Fiorano with the same transaxle layout and engine type, this prototype is an extreme track car. Ferrari’s engineers have carried out extensive work on the engine’s combustion chambers and inlet and exhaust tracts. These modifications, combined with the fact that internal friction has been reduced and the maximum revs have been boosted to 9000rpm, helped achieve the target power output of 515kW at 9000rpm.
Particular attention was also paid to cutting the weight of the engine unit components. This was achieved both by optimizing forms - as in the new crankshaft - and adopting exclusive materials, as in the carbon-fibre used for the intake plenums. A new gearbox shift strategy cuts overall gear change times to 60 milliseconds. The chassis of the 599XX uses an innovative electronic model called the “High Performance Dynamic Concept” which has been designed to get the maximum performance from the car by managing the combination of the car’s mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. The mechanical and electronic systems work together to get the maximum performance from the car under extreme high performance driving, for consistent lap times. The aggressive handling has been improved thanks to the adoption of second generation SCM suspension system.
Track usage is also made easier thanks to the new “virtual car engineer”, a screen in the car that provides a real-time indication of the vehicle’s track performance. The 599XX’s aerodynamics were honed in numerous wind tunnel test sessions with the result that the car now boasts 280kg of downforce at 200km/h and 630kg at 300km/h. The front underside of the body is completely faired-in and the vents that channel hot air from the engine bay have been moved to the bonnet.
The 599XX comes with slick tyres (29/67 R19 Front and 31/71 R19 Rear) specifically developed to maximize stability in cornering and increase lateral acceleration. They are fitted to 19 x 11J wheel rims at the front and 19 x 12J at the rear.
© Source: caradvice

Gumball 3000 comes to a close in South Beach

Well folks, it's over. The wacky/insipid/annoying (all-of-the-above?) 2009 edition of the Gumball 3000 wrapped things up with the drivers' arrival in Miami Beach. Freelance journo and friend of Autoblog Myles Kornblatt was there, and he ends his coverage with one final photo gallery and this report:

Some enthusiasts see the Gumball as a rip-off of the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (which has evolved into today's One Lap of America.) That's not completely true. The term "Gumball Rally" was first used on a 1976 road race film that Cannonball founder Brock Yates considers to be sort of a bastard child of his rally.

The Gumball Rally was Hollywood's excuse to use some minor celebrates for an over-the-top take on the road race (it even features a pre-crazy Gary Busey.) Today, the Gumball 3000 uses a mix of famous, rich and half-crazed participants, who are more about the party than the time clock. Any enthusiast who has seen the film (anyone who is a car guy/girl should,) knows these good-timing Gumballers have as much character as a movie script.

There's something special about seeing ultra-rare cars at the end of an eight-day, 3000-mile road trip. By the time the 2009 Gumball 3000 ended in Miami on Friday evening not only were the drivers visibly road weary, but so were their vehicles. Supercars were built to be driven, and these machines had the dead bugs, brake dust and road scars to prove it.

One hundred and twenty-three teams participated in the 11th running of the Gumball, and according to rally VP Julie Brangstrup, everyone finished. "Every Gumballer has the spirit to do whatever it takes to cross the finish line." Unfortunately not all the vehicles shared their driver's determination, and so some rental cars finished as stand-ins for injured road warriors. One Gumballer was even on his third vehicle by the time he reached Miami.

Shelby SuperCars confirms plans for Ultimate Aero EV

Shelby SuperCars (SSC), the American supercar manufacturer behind the world’s fastest production car, the Ultimate Aero, has today confirmed plans to build an all-electric version of the record-breaker. Aptly named the Ultimate Aero EV (Electric Vehicle), the green supercar will begin testing next month and will be first unveiled in the second-quarter. SSC will be using its Ultimate Aero platform to showcase the technology but insists that the company is planning to produce its green technologies for a wide range of applications, including a wider range of vehicles.
2009 SSC Ultimate Aero

Top Gear's Stig revealed as racing legend Bill Collins

The BBC's Top Gear is perhaps the most well-recognized and widely-watched motoring program on earth, and the series' dependence on a hired gun that plies the world's best supercars at the show's test track is equally well-known. That driver's identity has been a closely guarded secret of the show, however - until this week. Previously we reported that the secretive 'tame racing driver' that dresses in a white racing suit and helmet for the program was racing driver and Bristol, UK, resident Ben Collins.

Barrett-Jackson 2009: The Supercars

the supercars at Barrett-Jackson

Although muscle cars are usually in the spotlight at Barrett-Jackson, there were quite a few interesting supercars that caught our attention as well. First up was a Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo done up in stunning Beryllium custom paint. This particular car served as a press vehicle for Saleen and was featured in the movie Redline (who cares?), and Iron Man (cool!). Did we mention it also has the one-and-only 1,000-horsepower upgrade done by the factory. The winning bidder took the car home for $412,000. For a little more than half that much, another bidder took home one of the ultimate supercars of the last decade, a 1993 Jaguar XJ220. Other examples sold in the past few years have gone for a mere fraction of the original list price, and we think this car was well sold at the coincidental price of $220,000, perhaps due to its DOT/EPA certification. For those looking for a supercar on a budget, there was a 1996 Vector M12, one of only 14 built with just 6,388 miles, that sold for a mere $94,600. Other exotics that crossed the block included a Hennessey Venom 700R that sold for $115,500 and an Ultima Can-Am purchased for $51,700.

How NOT to deliver an Aston Martin

We're opening our 2009 list with "how not to do" things with a failed delivery of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. We were originally going to blame this $120,000 mistake on a delivery driver trying to pull a Knight Rider and by making a flying dash out of the back of an tractor-trailer, but it may not be that simple. The pic also show a crucial piece of the truck's elevator on the ground, suggesting a ramp failure. Morals of the story: always check your equipment and drive your new car home (...)

Barrett-Jackson 2009: Final 1993 GMC Typhoon

the very last GMC Typhoon

Back in the early '90s, General Motors proved that it was capable of producing a vehicle that was fully competitive with the best supercars in the world, and it did so, oddly enough, with a compact pickup truck called the Syclone. Later, a midsize SUV bodyshell was used with the same powertrain, namely, a turbocharged and intercooled 4.3L V6 engine that sent power to all four wheels through an automatic transmission. Today at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ, the General brought out the very last Typhoon ever produced in 1993, and it was joined by a 1991 GMC Syclone that was used as a pace truck in the PPG Race Series. First up was the Syclone, which sold for way more than we would have guessed at $66,000 after auction fees. As tempted as we were to bid on the Typhoon, our collective pocketbooks shook in fear as the bidding incrementally crept skyward before passing $40,000 and finally selling for a grand total of $52,800. See the official Barrett-Jackson description for both vehicles after the break.

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson 2009: Final 1993 GMC Typhoon

Saleen reveals SMS 570 Dodge Challenger

American performance carmaker Saleen and its new SMS supercar offshoot has finally revealed its first official product, the Signature Series performance line based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. The lineup will consist of two new vehicles, the SMS 570 and SMS 570X Challengers, both fully certified and street legal and fitted with custom supercharged 5.7L Hemi V8s delivering 500hp (373kW) and 700hp (522kW) respectively. The SMS 570 Challenger will start at $60,000, while the 570X model will start at $70,000.
Saleen SMS 570 Dodge Challenger series

Ron Dennis steps down from McLaren F1, focusing on supercars

Ron Dennis, the man behind the McLaren-Mercedes F1 team, announced he'll be stepping down from his position on March 1st to concentrate on McLaren's future endeavors. Dennis made it clear during today's press conference that his departure shouldn't be perceived as retirement. On the contrary, Dennis said, "The first thing I'm going to do is work harder." And by "work harder" Dennis means he'll be focusing on the new road-going efforts of McLaren Automotive.
The new McLaren supercar - codenamed the P11 - is slated to hit roads in 2010, with power provided by a 600-hp AMG-sourced 6.2-liter V8. Three different variants will be offered, ranging from a standard road car, a convertible and a race-ready version. McLaren is also rumored to be working on two other models, including a Porsche 911-fighter expected to be priced below $100,000. In this economy, Ron has his work cut out for him.
At the end of February, Dennis will end his 28-year reign at McLaren-Mercedes and hand over the day-to-day operations to current team CEO, Martin Whitmarsh.

Pagani Zonda R

The Zonda is on the way out, but that doesn't mean it will go quietly. So before the replacement for Pagani's current supercar arrives, there is one more edition of this wild Italian. Pagani revealed this week the Zonda R in Vienna at the Luxury Motor Show. The Zonda R is limited to only 10 units each priced at €1.4 million euro (about $1.85 million at current rates). It will compete with models like Ferrari FXX and Maserati MC12 Corse. Just like those Italian exotics, don't bother (...)

2009 Tokyo Auto Salon: Blitz brings RWD, manual-equipped GT-R

Click above for a gallery of the Blitz Nissan GT-R

You'd have to go to great lengths to improve on the Nissan GT-R, but judging by the number of R35s on hand at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's top tuners are making a serious attempt. One GT-R that caught our attention comes from the aftermarket firm Blitz, which ditched Godzilla's all-wheel-drive system and fitted a manual gearbox in an attempt to make the GT-R a credible contender in Japan's D1 drift series.
With the complex ATESSA-ETS setup and rear-to-front drivetrain removed, Blitz has created the first rear-wheel-drive GT-R and addressed one of the main complaints about the R35 - it's weight. While the stock seats remain (Blitz plans to fit a set of Bride buckets later on), it's nixed the air-conditioning and a number of other components, along with replacing several interior panels and the hood with carbon fiber pieces. A Hollinger sequential unit replaces the dual-clutch gearbox and a NISMO GT R34 LSD resides in the rear. The twin-turbo'd 3.8-liter V6 remains unchanged, but the exhaust has been swapped in favor of a Blitz cat-back.
In addition to a set of gauges to keep tabs on boost, oil temperature and oil pressure, Blitz fitted its own ZRR dampers at all four corners, along with a set of BRW09MAG forged magnesium wheels, sized 20x9.5-inches (+38) up front and 20x10-inches (+18) in the rear. Each is shod in super sticky Dunlop SP Sport DSST Ctt (we think 600s) rubber, with 255/40s on the front and 285/35 out back.
The Blitz GT-R is still under development, so it won't be campaigning in D1 until 2010. Not that it matters, we're just enamored by the sight of an R35 with a clutch pedal. Check out the gallery below for some shots under the Blitz GT-R's body.

Pagani Zonda R officially unveiled in Vienna

Pagani Zonda R

The Pagani Zonda did something incredible. It proved that the supercar world did not revolve around Ferrari and Lamborghini. So to commemorate Horacio Pagani's achievement, the hypercarmaker has created one last version of the Zonda before its replacement arrives next year.
After 24 months of development, and at the urging of an unnamed Italo-American customer that already owns three Zondas, the Pagani Zonda R was created as a lightweight, track-only variant of the iconic coupe. Production is limited to ten examples with a price tag of 1.4-million euro.
Although the carbon fiber exterior is deceiving, the Pagani Zonda R only carries over 10% of its structure from its predecessors. The wheelbase has grown by 47mm, the overall length is 394mm longer and the track has been widened by 50mm. An all-new carbon fiber monocoque resides underneath the wind-tunnel tested body, along with a forged aluminum suspension, new six-speed sequential gearbox and four aero-spec fuel pumps that feed a Mercedes-Benz AMG-sourced 6.0-liter V12. Pagani claims the new heart - nestled into the 2,425-pound R - will produce 750 hp at 8,000 rpm and 524 lb-ft of torque, for a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 248.54 mph. Air is fed into the bent-twelve through a carbon fiber air intake system, while an Inconel manifold and "F1-style" exhaust releases spent hydrocarbons and keeps engine temps in check.
Pagani makes it clear that the Zonda R is a not street legal, and one owner is taking that to the illogical extreme. One of the first Zonda Rs to be delivered will be installed in the customer's living room and fitted with a bespoke stereo system to play the R's swan song as it rips around the Nurburgring and LeMans.

Farbio GTS Track Car Released

For some reason, the Brits seem to be great at coming up with amazing supercars. Isn’t it? Check out the new limited edition 2009 Farbio GTS track car, the latest street legal car from the company. Based on the GTS350 Supercharged model with intercooler and upgraded injectors, the car has a carbon fibre body weighing some 956kg, outputs some 350 bhp and packs an uprated gearbox with limited slip differential. I’ll have to agree that it looks amazing, but only 350bhp … that doesn’t sound right. Apparently, there’s also the option to get a 450 bhp engine if you have the cash. Only 25 units will be built, so get in line. [via WCF]

Mid-engined Jaguar supercar on the way

When it comes to Jaguars that are in development, we weren't sure if we would see the new XJ or the F-type first. As it turns out, the answer might be neither. Rumors are going around that Jaguar may be working on a flagship super coupe for 2010. This will be the first Jaguar has been talking about a big flagship two-door since the R-Coupe concept we saw back in 2001 (pictured at top). The new car is to be called the XE, and will likely borrow a modified version of the newly-enlarged (...)

Bewerp Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS to headline Top Marques Monaco

Bewerp Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS in high resolution

Remember the old days when calling a car a "land yacht" was a bad thing? Well those days are far behind us, with Audi sport-utilities and Rolls-Royce convertibles alike now purposely taking their cues from the water-bound. This just might top it, though. It's called the Bewerp Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS. (We didn't make that up. We couldn't have). It's the plan of a couple of Dutch students, Emile Pop and Justin de Boer, to separate the obscenely wealthy from their money.
The concept is something of a cross between a Pagani Zonda Roadster, the Lamborghini Estoque concept and a Bentley Continental GTC. Only crazier. It's a four-door, four-seat hardtop convertible with a custom spaceframe chassis overlaid with carbon fiber. Power is provided by a Corvette LS7 engine, supercharged to deliver 600 horsepower and driving the rear wheels through a GM-sourced automatic. Koni shocks and custom air suspension are at each corner, with eight-piston calipers gripping 380mm discs up front and four-piston/355mm brakes at the back. Unique suicide, scissor doors are operated via a custom wristwatch or touchscreen to give access to a compartmentalized, nautical-themed and luxuriously-appointed cabin from which the engine can be seen. If all of this sounds incredibly expensive, it is: they'll be asking €257,000 apiece (approximately $340k), with the first example, currently under production, to debut at the chi-chi Top Marques show in Monaco this April. By then, their prospective clients may have recuperated some of their cash, but the car's name likely won't have gotten any shorter.

Gallery: Bewerp Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS

Short Circuit: Farbio releases GT350 Track Day Car

With increasing restrictions and constricting traffic hampering driver's good times, many are looking to organized track days as an outlet for speedy thrills. This is especially true in the UK, where independent supercar manufacturer Farbio is based. And with that growing niche market in mind, Farbio has taken some weight out of its GTS supercar to give birth to its own Track Day Car.
Yes, that is its official name, and no, it's not very imaginative. But we have a feeling anyone who gets their hands on the car's steering wheel won't particularly care what it's called. From the standard GTS350 Supercharged, with its forced-induction 350hp 3.0-liter V6, Farbio has stripped out the interior, replaced the fuel tank with a sack, and fitted a new transmission and limited-slip differential as well as semi-slick Toyo R888 racing rubber. The more powerful GTS450 can also be ordered in Track Day Car specification, but Farbio will only build 25 examples in all, starting at £73,500 (equivalent to $112k USD) before optional extras. Farbio released only the one photo you see above (along with a press release you'll find after the jump), but you can check out the standard GTS in the gallery below.

Gallery: Farbio GTS

Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible

Lookie what we got here. The Dodge boys decided to drop off their ultimate pavement pounder on our doorstep. They must have really liked our review of the Challenger SRT8 for us to deserve this reward. When the Dodge Viper first showed up in 1992, it was the meanest thing around. It looked mean and sounded mean, so it was trivial why many people were surprised when the Viper had a mean attitude. The original car was meant to be out in the elements. The car had side curtains and a (...)

Bugatti Veyron's production coming to an end?

Believe it or not the Bugatti Veyron has been putting smiles on the faces of the ultra-rich since 2006. When VW's exclusive brand started building the most expensive supercar around, it announced that it would make sure to limit the Veyron club's members to 300. Bugatti has already built 250 Veyrons, but that does not necessarily mean that its curtains for the original Veyron just yet. Bugatti made 73 cars in 2008 and 81 in 2007, so it could handle the final 50 cars this year, but it (...)

Aston Martin One-77 reveals its rear

Aston Martin revealed the second official video on its future supercar, the One-77, a special edition limited to only 77 units (although Aston Martin already received 100 orders for it) and priced at approximately $1.9 million. It will be powered by naturally aspired 7.3-liter V12 engine that delivers over 700 hp and a peak torque of 750Nm (553 ft lbs). The powerplant will be mounted ahead of the driver, but behind the front axle, making this a mid-engined supercar. (...)

Detroit 2009: Revenge Designs builds you a supercar for $145K

Up until now, Indiana-based Revenge Designs focused on body kits for the Honda Ridgeline, Pontiac Solstice and the Pontiac GTO, but here in Detroit, the company unveiled its first complete vehicle: the Revenge GTM-R. If the car looks familiar that's because you've seen something similar badged as the Factory Five Racing (FFR) GTM. Since Factory Five offers the car in kit form only, Revenge seems to have spotted a niche and exploited it by offering a fully built turnkey example and has teamed with FFR to develop bespoke components for their version of the fully-built supercar.
Where the Factory Five kit allows a range of GM engine options, Revenge has focused on just the LS7 V8 from the Z06 Corvette. Not a bad mill to settle on, but it comes at a hefty price. While the kit will cost you around $20,000 (although there's a $2K off special right now), Revenge is asking $145,000 for their GTM-R. Granted, there are a lot of other parts you need to supply for the FFR kit (engine, trans, suspension, etc.), and you have to have the skill, patience and tools to build it yourself, but a $125,000 markup might seem steep to some. Still, the car looks well-built and at 2,550 lbs., it's bound to be a rocketship. Even at $145,000, this could be one of the performance bargains of 2009.

Wallpaper : Detroit 2009: Revenge Designs GTM-R

Revenge GTM-R Supercar

This one made it to the big show without a hitch. In a time when even some big automakers wouldn't make it to the North American International Auto Show, the Revenge GTM-R we previewed last month showed up in Detroit. Indiana-based Revenge Designs only had to take its supercar a few hours north for its big debut. The GTM-R utilizes GM-Performance LS7 427 engine that delivers 505 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Revenge claims the car can make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3 (...)

50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper unveiled, to be auctioned for charity

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper

Legendary maker of all things used to shift, Hurst has taken some time out today to unveil the car that will mark its 50th year of building specialty performance vehicles under the banner of Hurst Performance. That car is the appropriately named the 50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper. Since adding more power to the Viper's 600-hp 8.4L V10 engine is akin to putting Yao Ming in heels, Hurst instead focused mostly on the aesthetics. The Hurst/Viper, of which only 50 will be made, comes only in two color combos that commemorate the official colors of the company: Black with Gold stripes or White with Gold Stripes. Of course, it wouldn't be a Hurst car without a Hurst shifter, so these special Vipers will be fitted with the company's new HARD-DRIVE gold anodized pistol grip shifter. Also from the company catalogue are Hurst 19- and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. The interior is shrink wrapped in Katzkin charcoal leather that's embroidered with the Hurst logo and touched off with gold stitching and perforated leather inserts.
It's hard to modify a car of the Viper's caliber and not play with the performance a little, so Hurst did add a Corsa exhaust and Moton Club Sport adjustable coil-over suspension to make it that much more special than stock. The first of 50 examples will be auctioned off next week at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in Arizona with all proceeds being donated to Victory Junction, which runs a camping facility for chronically ill children.

Wallpaper: 50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper

Murcielago LP670-4 SV new details

Lamborghini has used the "SV" name for a while on its cars. It usually means a higher performance version of the car, and it usually comes towards the end of the car's life. The last time Lambo used the name SV, which stands for "Sport Veloce" (or Sport Fast), was on the Diablo. This car used the Diablo VT's power and performance upgrades but saved weight by ditching the VT's all-wheel drive system. Now that the Murcielago's replacement is on the way, the SV name has been (...)

Splinter, The Wooden Supercar

There is something about supercars that make us love them. Be it the sporty shapes or the fact that they have a lot of horses under the hood, we’d simply love to own or at least drive one of these things.

But when the whole supercar is made of wood, you definitely have to consider it. Looking a lot like a Lambo, the Splinter is the work of Joe Harmon - a North Carolina State University student. Weighing a good 2500 lbs, with a twin supercharged, 4.6litre V8 engine that outputs some 600 hp and amazing shapes, it sure looks like a collector’s item. Though we hope he builds it, we definitely have to think what happens if it rains or if you bump into something. Is it safe?

Europe's fastest street-legal car is... a 252 MPH Pontiac Trans-Am?!

"Have fun with KITT," sniffed some AMG engineers when a group of Norwegians showed up at Germany's Papenburg test track with a 1987 Trans Am. The smug smiles were quickly wiped off the faces of the Mercedes tuner crew when the ancient Pontiac's practice laps were as fast as the AMG cars, and the F-Body wasn't even working hard. Once warmed up, the 8.9-liter V8 unleashed all of its 1400 horsepower on the circuit, delivering a startling 407 kph (252 mph) also known as Bugatti Veyron fast. Better still, unlike the Bug, the Pontiac's lap is official.
Needless to say, there's not much stock underneath the skin on this particular Trans Am. The car is the work of Polly Motorsport of Norway, and there's a wealth of top tuner expertise beneath the mostly stock exterior. We're sure even in its heightened state of tune, the Polly Trans Am is infinitely less expensive than the $1.6 million you'd have to cough up for a Veyron, and its creators say it's still street legal. Hit this link for some videos, which would be even more entertaining if we could understand what they were saying. Props to reader Mitka who provided the synopsis that we've posted after the jump!

Subject: Fastest street legal official road car in Europe!
A 1987 Trans Am fastest official street legal road car in Europe!
Paul brought his Pontiac to the Papenburg car testing track, one of the newest and most advanced test tracks in the world. Mercedes where testing their new AMG sports models the same day as Pal was going for his personal speed record. Some engineers from AMG team criticized the optimistic Norwegian team for bringing an 80's trimmed American car to this super test track for the advanced European supercars. But what they didn't quite comprehend is that Pal Arvil Blytt and his Polly motorsport team from Norway works at a motor tuner garage in Godvik Norway and most important of all nothing more than the shell of this car resembles the stock Pontiac. With a brisk 8.9L V8 producing a whopping 1407 HP, Pal was soon doing AMG top speeds of 300km/h in his warming laps. After driving a couple of rounds around the track, Paul felt ready to see what his road machine would do! And after pressing the pedal to the metal the ARP technician Christoph Tharrey came over with his laptop computer with a big grin. Here we have the official numbers: 407.134 km/h
You may say well the 9FF team drove 409km/h in an extremely rebuilt Porsche 911 at the same track; this speed was recorded with their own equipment and therefore can be fixed and therefore is not recorded as an official speed record. Bugatti Veyron 407km/h is also recorded with their own equipment.
As the Papenburg track is to small for the Pontiac to reach its potential top speed of 435km/h and Volkswagen's test track costs 25.000 Euro an hour to rent. Paul is bringing his road legal car to the US in 2009 to challenge Shelby supercars official record of 412km/h.

Update: Bailey Blade hit hard in bad economy, adds green options

Bailey Blade

For all of you who have kept up with Neal Bailey's quest to build his dream car, the man with the big plans has hit a snag. The very same snag that's hit the world's established automakers, along with the rest of us. The economy has tanked, and funding has dried up.
But anyone crazy enough to build their very own supercar better have the tenacity to stick with it through even the worst of times. And it seems Neal has just what it takes. Instead of throwing in the shop towel, Neal is innovating. And no, that doesn't mean he flew his corporate jet to DC for a government handout. Instead, he's asking for donations to keep the dream alive, as well as taking the project in some new, greener directions.
Visitors to the Bailey Blade website can keep help Neal with a little cash while reading about the newest trim levels of the exotic Blade. If all goes as planned, Neal hopes to not only offer the Blade XTR, a 750 hp, 5.4L, Roush-powered supercar, but also the Blade EVR and Blade HDR.
The EVR is an all-electric version of the Blade with dual electric motors feeding off lithium ion phosphate batteries. Neal claims "big block performance but all electric." The HDR would be a 600 hp Roush supercharged V8 with an on-demand hydrogen system. Theoretically, owners would see a 20% fuel-savings over a gasoline-only engine.
Donors to the Blade project will get their names posted on the Baily Blade Web site, as well as on displays accompanying the car at shows. They'll also be added to a newsletter list to get the latest news on the project's progress.

UK, France, Germany, Italy agree on CO2 limits

Italy has reportedly dropped its objections to a European Commission plan to introduce softer CO2 emission limits on new cars, leaving the door open for an EU-wide agreement on a 130g/km fleet wide CO2 limit.
While still not official, inside government sources in Germany told Reuters that an agreement between Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had been made. The proposal now has to be approved by the European Parliament, with talks between parliament, member states and the European Commission scheduled to take place on November 24.

The European Commission had proposed cutting CO2 emissions from cars by an average of 18% to 130g/km by 2012, but the plan was rejected by some member nations such as Germany, which claimed that its luxury-based industry will still have a harder time meeting the targets than the smaller-car producing French and Italian industries.
More lenient standards were contrary to the central thesis of the EU's new emissions laws, according to Italy's government. Environment minister Stefania Prestigiacomo spoke out recently on the issue, calling the proposal unacceptable because it disadvantages carmakers that have already taken steps to build more efficient cars.
Italy, though home to some of the world's most renowned supercars, is also home to some of the world's favorite minicars, including the Fiat 500.

PPI Razor GTR based on the Audi R8

When it comes to supercars, there's never enough horsepower. That's what sent the tuning house PPI back to the drawing board. Last year it bolted a supercharger to the Audi R8 to make the R8 Razor, now it back with MORE POWER. It wasn't a hard equation for PPI to get more from the R8; it just added a a bigger supercahrger. That's combined with a ram air system and a new exhaust system to make 580 hp (up from the R8's standard 420 hp.) All this should drop the 0-60 mph time by over half (...)

Last Reventon sold in U.K.

The final bull has left the corral. If you were still hopping to buy the million-euro (over $1.25 million) Lamborghini Reventon, it's time to check the auctions. According to Lamborghini, the final Reventón is now in the hands of its owner. The U.K.-bound V12 Reventón, number 20 of 20, has a minimum 650 hp and a top speed in excess of 211 mph (no one has had one long enough to get a real test.) This now concludes Lambo's Reventón project. If you feel like you missed out, remember these car (...)

2009 AuoFans Car of the Year Winner: Nissan GT-R

Yes, we are fully aware of the GT-R's best-known nickname, "Godzilla" -- so called because the automotive press found previous generations as ferocious and all-conquering as Japan's fire-breathing monster. But following a full week of intensive evaluation in Nissan's new sports car, we here at now lay claim to a more suitable GT-R moniker -- Ichiban. From Japanese, ichiban translates to "number one." In vernacular, however, it simply denotes: 2009 Car of the Year.
Every September, it seems a few editors comment, "This is the toughest field I can remember." Sure enough, as this year's testing drew to a close, several staff members expressed those same sentiments.

And for sound reason-the competitive set is more imposing than Jamaica's Olympic track team. From the jumbo-shrimp Honda Fit and the discount-Lexus Hyundai Genesis to the quicker-than-a-Cayman BMW 1 series and the cat's-meow Jaguar XF, this year's pool runs deeper than any of recent memory. Yet, no contender proved as profound, awe-inspiring, or, more important, able to fulfill our criteria as the GT-R. How did Nissan so competently clinch the calipers?
The Super in Superiority
The last time a Nissan, at least one that came from an official U.S. showroom, was judged against such niche exotics as, say, a Ferrari or a Lamborghini was...never. Until now.
The GT-R puts Nissan on a map that thus far only designated Maranello, Sant' Agata, Munich, and Stuttgart as points of interest. Well, it's time to stick a tack on Tochigi. In the kingdom of supercars, the GT-R positively belongs. Be it comparing 0-to-60 sprints, quarter-mile times, 60-to-0 braking, or lateral acceleration, the GT-R is one of the world's best. Don't believe us? Its cornea-melting 0-to-60 run of 3.3 seconds is quicker than that of the BMW M6, the Porsche 911 GT2, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560, and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. It even manages to run door to door with the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the Corvette ZR1. Quarter mile?
At 11.5 seconds at 121.0 mph, it is quicker than both the M6 and the SLR, and only a blink or two behind the rest. Further, the GT-R halts from 60 in just 102 feet-better than that of all but the GT2 and ZR1-and sticks to the skidpad with 1.00 g of lateral vigor, again in the realm of the others. Perhaps better yet, the GT-R puts up those thrilling stats while still delivering 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway and ULEV-II emissions. Only the GT2 sips less fuel and none exhales through greener tailpipes.
So how does it do all that? The list is long (see "Fast Facts" on Page 6), but the GT-R's core elements make it happen. For starters, it employs a handbuilt V-6 that uses plasma-coated cylinder bores to ensure optimal efficiency and twin IHI turbochargers to produce 480 horses. (That said, our GT-R dynamometer test from June 2008 revealed horsepower is really around 507.)
The V-6's partner in lap time, a hand-assembled dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivers a nearly uninterrupted flow of torque. To optimize weight over the rear wheels and offer minimal load shift during acceleration, braking, and cornering, the GT-R is the world's first all-wheel-drive production car to feature a rear-mounted transaxle. Feel like a round of caliper-smoking hot-laps? Its Brembo brakes are worthy of any track, even the infamous Nurburgring, where they helped the GT-R lap quicker than the GT2. And to provide a rigid, aerodynamic, precise, and relatively lightweight body-at 3891 pounds, the GT-R weighs less than an M6-its brutally elegant shape ingeniously meshes steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber.
Carrying a base price of $77,840, the GT-R does not appear, at least at face value, to be much of a bargain. But value does not mean low prices in hard times or affordability to the masses. Rather, it equates to getting more in return for every dollar put out. Based solely on price, the GT-R's competitors include the $76,460 Porsche 911 Carrera, the $77,975 Jaguar XK, and the $73,255 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Can any match the Nissan's levels of performance? Nope. The Z06 comes close, but close in a race only means second place.
You have to refer to the aforementioned supercars to realize stats akin to the GT-R's. And the mean cost of those exotics? Ranging from over $104,000 for the M6 to nearly $500,000 for the SLR, the average price comes out to over $236,000. The arithmetic does not lie: Comparable performance for, on average, a third of the cost equals value.
Also of note is what the GT-R's ticket to ride includes, above and beyond the majestic data. A comfortable, leather-adorned cabin that accommodates four passengers. A trunk that swallows two golf bags. A PlayStation-inspired multifunction display. A nav system, 9.3-GB hard drive, and Bluetooth. All standard. For an additional $2250, the Premium Edition adds side and side-curtain airbags, Bose audio, and heated seats.
Face-to-Face Value
Carrying a base price of $77,840, the GT-R does not appear, at least at face value, to be much of a bargain. But value does not mean low prices in hard times or affordability to the masses. Rather, it equates to getting more in return for every dollar put out. Based solely on price, the GT-R's competitors include the $76,460 Porsche 911 Carrera, the $77,975 Jaguar XK, and the $73,255 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Can any match the Nissan's levels of performance? Nope. The Z06 comes close, but close in a race only means second place.
You have to refer to the aforementioned supercars to realize stats akin to the GT-R's. And the mean cost of those exotics? Ranging from over $104,000 for the M6 to nearly $500,000 for the SLR, the average price comes out to over $236,000. The arithmetic does not lie: Comparable performance for, on average, a third of the cost equals value.
Also of note is what the GT-R's ticket to ride includes, above and beyond the majestic data. A comfortable, leather-adorned cabin that accommodates four passengers. A trunk that swallows two golf bags. A PlayStation-inspired multifunction display. A nav system, 9.3-GB hard drive, and Bluetooth. All standard. For an additional $2250, the Premium Edition adds side and side-curtain airbags, Bose audio, and heated seats.
Masterpiece de Resistance
In 1998, Nissan unveiled the 202-mph, $1 million R390 GT1. Essentially a roadgoing version of the race car that captured four of the top 10 spots at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, the R390 street car enjoyed a breathtaking aura (its body was the work of famed Aston and Jag designer Ian Callum), humbling specs (550-hp, 471 lb-ft), and remarkable performance (0-to-62 in 3.9, quarter mile in 11.9). Rules dictated that manufacturers build at least one street-legal version of their race cars, so, as rumor has it, Nissan built two.
Today, after a little over a decade since those Le Mans days, the GT-R, of which Nissan will sell roughly 2000 per year at a cost of $77,840-$83,770 each, has superseded the omigawd! R390. Significance? When a genuine production car outperforms a homologated, Le Mans-based street machine-even one 11 years old-for about eight percent of the cost, it is certainly noteworthy.
The GT-R's significance, naturally, stretches far beyond its preeminence to the R390. Its justifiable association with contemporary flagships from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche alone says it is no poseur. The bottom line is Nissan is comfortably performing in rarified air, legitimately shaking up the hierarchy within the supercar stratosphere. And, lest you forget, at a comparative pittance of the others' retail prices. Further, whereas previous generations were sold only in Japan, Australia, and the U.K., the new GT-R boasts a global presence, treating enthusiasts in such countries as Germany and the U.S.
[source:MotorTrend]

Take a look under the skin of the future Acura NSX

When the Acura NSX (known as the Honda NSX outside of North America) first arrived in 1990, it's high revving V6 and razor sharp handling made it the surprise darling of the automotive press. Unfortunately by the time it finally died out fifteen years later, the industry had surpassed it. But Honda was not done with the NSX. Just like the Nissan's GT-R, Honda has spend the the last few years meticulously developing a killer car. We haven't even seen a clear spy shot of the NSX in over a (...)

Project Kahn retrofit interior for Aston Martin Vanquish S

If you haven't been living in a cave, shut off from the fantastic world of European supercars for the past decade, then you'll likely know that Aston Martin has been hard at work on a succession of new flagships since the vaunted Vanquish. But Aston Martin is an automaker deeply rooted in its heritage, so even after discontinuing the Vanquish, it came back to give it some upgrades. Now, noted British tuning house Project Kahn has followed suite by revisiting the Vanquish S with a new interior package.

Kahn's vision for the Vanquish's interior includes a custom dashboard, center console, seats, door panels, steering wheel and roof lining decked out in the customer's choice of contrasting Nappa and Alcantara leather trim, deliciously perforated and top-stitched. Piano lacquer trim panels and smoked privacy glass also form part of the delectable package. Of course Vanquish owners could probably find any number of upholsterers eager and willing to work up a fresh take on the erstwhile Aston flagship's cockpit, but Kahn presents a compelling option. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the high-resolution images in the gallery below.
Elegant design, innovative manufacturing process, luxurious materials and components along with Project Kahn's unrivalled hand-build expertise ensures the Aston Martin Vanquish S is a luxury sports car without equal.
Every line, crease and curve conveys the enormous potential of Afzal Kahn's latest design; a seductive blend of refinement and raw power which consists of a Bespoke dash board, centre piece, front and back seats, doors, steering wheel, roof lining and a mixture of nappa and alcantara leather.
A true masterpiece that will no doubt satisfy the most demanding customers.
Project Kahn was created to challenge conventions and redefine ideals, our studio tailors luxury bespoke vehicles for individuals that cannot submit to a life of monotonous uniformity and will only accept perfection. It is our duty at Project Kahn to predict and outmaneuver the market in which we operate, releasing new products to satisfy even the most demanding of customers.
[Source: Project Kahn]

Bugatti Veyron in the grit

This incident happened at Zandvoort - a beach resort in the Netherlands and home to the Circuit Park racecourse. In most cases gravel pits are designed to stop F1-style cars, but now we know the heavier Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is no match for the sinking grit as well. There are not much details on what actually happened, but it's a safe bet that a whoever did it will pay a lot for the mistake, literally. Considering the car retails for $1.5 million, all the little dents and dings from the (...)

Bolwell Nagari goes on sale

With all that open land, and a possibly bigger love for V8s than even the U.S., its surprising that it took the Aussies this long to get back in the business of making home-grown supercars. Bolwell first made the Nagari sports cars in the late 60s and early 70s, and now its back. Australia's domestic sport car will go on sale at a price of $198,000 AUD (about $130,000 U.S.) The Nagari is powered by a mid-mounted Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter 24-valve quad-cam V6 engine that delivers 295 hp and (...)

Mirror finish Bugatti Veyron

The Volkswagen Group has its own automotive theme park called the Autostadt at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. Until recently, each brand that VW owns had its own separate building to showcase its products, except one: Bugatti. Although the company's absence was understandable (Veyrons start at about $1.5 million,) it always felt like something was missing. Well now VW has brought all brands home by making some room in Bentley's pavilion and renaming the place the (...)

VIDEO: GM's Chris Berube could school Clarkson on burnouts

Top Gear is widely regarded as the best television show ever produced about cars. The production values are outstanding, the hosts are amusing and their tamed racing driver, "the Stig", is amazing to watch as he improves his mind while hustling cars around the test track. A few months back we all got wind that Jeremy, Richard and James had returned to the U.S. for another road trip. This time around they headed to the West Coast to drive a new Corvette ZR1, Cadillac CTS-V and Dodge Challenger SRT-8 from San Francisco to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Along the way, Jezza decided to stop at some desolate spot somewhere in Nevada or Utah to lay down some black lines on the pavement. Now while we generally love to watch Mr. Clarkson playing with fast cars, he doesn't quite seem to have mastered the art of the burnout. If you start about 9 minutes into the first clip after the jump and continue to the second and third videos, you'll see our favorite limey trio attempting to shred their tires during last night's second episode of Series 12 (Download via bittorrent here). Compared to Clarkson in the ZR1, Hammond and May were utterly hopeless in their Challenger SRT-8 and Cadillac CTS-V, respectively. After that, watch the last video with GM's Chris Berube showing us all how it's done properly in both the ZR1 Vette and Caddy CTS-V.

For the kids: Help Mr. Stephens build a ZR1 engine

For many, General Motors' Mr Stephens' Engine Shop online game is full of metallic looking stuff, none of it discernibly purposeful. What you're working with are extracted parts of the LS9 engine that powers the Corvette ZR1. Unless your ZR1 is in the shop for catastrophic engine failure, these components aren't usually seen out on their own. The General's little game has you correctly identify the major pieces and awards a prize after three rounds of correct answers (or lucky guesses). So many people, not just kids, are ignorant about the inner workings of the complex machine known as the car, so we applaud this effort to shed light on the mysteries that lie beneath the bodywork. Watch out for that fuel rail, we found it a little tricky to place. If anything, we're eager to get home and have the young ones begin learning auto anatomy. Thanks for the tip, Eden!
[Source: General Motors]

Lewis Hamilton will get a McLaren F1 LM; if he'll win 2 more titles

It seems that you can put a price on winning three world champion titles. If Lewis Hamilton wins two more world championships , he'll get his hands on a $8 million supercar. Hamilton's boss and McLaren CEO Ron Dennis made a deal with F1's youngest champ that will give Hamilton a ultra-rare McLaren F1 LM supercar. Hamilton told reporters in Sao Paulo on Monday morning that he will be handed the keys with his third drivers' championship. "We made a deal, three world championships. I will (...)

Kumho keeps a low profile with world's first 15 Series tire

Click above to enlarge, though they don't get much bigger than that

How low can you go? That's the big question in the tire-making industry, where profile sizes keep getting lower and lower. Sooner or later they're going to be spraying layers of rubber on a wheel with a pocket of air injected underneath. But in the meantime, Kumho has upped the ante (or lowered it, as the case may be) with its new 15 series tires, the lowest profile rubber on the market.

Wait, who? Okay, Kumho may not be as well known as Goodyear or Pirelli, but they've got an established history of innovation in tire technology - to varying degrees of usefulness - like scented, colored smoke and X-rated rubber. And while those may sound more like the stock list for the local "intimate apparel" store, it's things like that which have put Kumho on the map. The tires are being initially offered as upgrades for supercars like the Ferrari F430, Dodge Viper and Corvette Z06, and offer partial run-flat capability. Check out the press release after the jump and the images in the gallery below for more.

And they’re off! Gumballers head out of Los Angeles on first leg of rally

Entrants of the 11th running of the Gumball 3000 started their cross-country rally Friday afternoon, cheered on by hundreds of fans as the cars began their journey at the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles. The rally will also stop in Las Vegas, Sante Fe, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Orlando before finishing in Miami. Judging from the selection of vehicles, supercars were most definitely the rides of choice this year. There were a pair of Bugatti Veyrons, a handful of Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLRs, a Jaguar XJ220, SSC Ultimate Aero, Audi R8, and dozens of your standard Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martins. Of course, there were also a few non-standard rides, like this bio-diesel Land Rover, a metallic-green lowrider, and this bad boy. We were on hand to see the cars off as well, and brought back plenty of high-res photos that can be seen in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2009 Gumball 3000 Start