SMS 570X Challenger: 700 HP With “Minor” Modifications

How do you get a 5.7 Hemi to make 700 HP? With a whopping great big supercharger, that's how. But don't worry, the rest of the SMS 570X Challenger has been suitably beefed up, too.
The fully certified and street legal SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger will be
based off the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform and will feature a SMS designed and
engineered SMS 296 Supercharger atop the 5.7L Hemi, with power ratings from 500 to over
700 horsepower respectively.
Steve Saleen presents the SMS 296 Supercharger
The MSRP's for the 2009 SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger are targeted to
start at $64,870 to $84,970 respectively with production commencing in 2008. Both models
will carry a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.
This is an exciting opportunity for the Mopar community to finally take part in the ultra-high
performance niche production vehicle market! So act now to reserve yours.
Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the
Signature Series product line, complete with unique badges and graphics. Production
numbers will be limited per year depending on the model, so the opportunity to be one of the
few owners is limited to a first come first served basis. So act now, by placing your pre-
production orders though any Dodge dealer in the US. Or call us directly for more details.

Road test Jaguar XK R Review

Road test

Jaguar XK R

16 out of 20

£72,400

Driven February 2009

(See other road tests)

Here are the raw figures for the new Jag XKR: the all-new 5.0-litre engine produces 510bhp and 461lb ft. There are also alterations to the dampers (they're now constantly variable), and the same trick diff you get at the back of the XFR appears here.

What those stats don't do justice to is the way this new engine has moved the XKR on. It sounds more powerful (the exhaust note is spot on for volume), feels more up for a fast drive. Not that the XFR suffers from a lack of poke, but the XKR - with the same engine as the XF - seems to be slightly more eager to get to wherever you're going. In point of fact, it's only a tenth quicker than the saloon to 60mph.

It also feels slightly sharper to drive. The brakes are still a bit soft for my liking, but the way the XKR turns into a corner is seriously accurate. What you do is rewarded by the car following suit exactly, which means that it's an encouraging process. No hairy moments here.

Other alterations to the exterior and interior are pretty minor. You now get Jag's weird take on the gearlever, which at least looks more modern than the old ‘J' stick. But really it's all about that engine.

2009 RoushSuperformance Special Edition MkIII-R

Roush Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R
The Question:
What happens when you take the most sought after 1965 licensed reproduction Cobra replica and shoehorn in an engine built by a company that has more Ford wins than any other manufacture?
The Answer:
You get the Roush/Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R!
The Project:
The Roush/Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R was built specifically to tour the country and represent the bread and butter of what Roush Performance Engines and Superformance LLC have to offer. The plan was to build a one off display vehicle, but the project’s high interest quickly changed everyone’s mind and suddenly the car was slated for production. The Special Edition car was introduced to the public at the 2007 SEMA show in Las Vegas Nevada. The MKIII-R showed the public what it has always wanted to see - two industry leaders working together to produce the best of both worlds, a stunning double diamond with the roar of a lion under the hood. A car that is truly pleasing to all of your senses!
Now Available for Purchase:
The Roush components will be available as an upgrade package that will be sold separately from the standard Superformance MKIII roadster. The interior features a set of Roush embroidered leather seats, unique gauges, billet short-throw shifter, Roush embroidered floor mats, dual gauge pod, and a serialized plaque. Customers can choose from a variety of Roush crate motors including the 427 IR V8 that is dyno tested at 576 horsepower and comes with a 2-year/24,000 mile warranty.
© Source: seriouswheels

Congeniality Award? Renault launches new R29

Click on either image to view the new Renault R29 in high resolution

Wow. After seeing a few of this year's Formula One cars unveiled already, we really didn't think that the cars could get much uglier. We were wrong. Enter Renault with its latest R29, decked out in yellow and orange. And white. And red. And blue. Throw in some green and we'd be back at the Benetton team that preceded it.
Of course, it could hardly matter less what the car looks like, so long as it keeps the pace with its field-leading rivals. And in the last half of this past season, Renault showed that it could. But with all the new regulations in place, it's a whole new ballgame, and who's to know if the French team - returning to the grid with Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet, Jr. - will be able to ride back up the field to the championship-contending potential it demonstrated just a few years ago with back-to-back titles. We'll just have to wait and see.

Gallery: 2009 Renault R29 F1

Will Gordon Murray's microcar be named iStream?

Gordon Murray, the man primarily known for bringing us the McLaren F1 is current working on his 25th clean-sheet design, internally dubbed the T.25. While that's a perfectly acceptable codename for a project, it lacks the kind of catchy cache necessary when the city car hits dealers. So, it's with interest that we read about Murray's trademark requests for the names iStream, iFrame and iCentre in the automotive sector. It's purely speculation, but there's a good chance these monikers may be used on Murray's new microcar. GreenMotor thinks that the car will be called the iStream and that service centers could be iCentres. Sounds plausible enough to us, and we wonder if the innovative flat-packable chassis itself could be the iFrame. Regardless, we're a bit weary of all the iNamed products already on the market -- and Apple's proclivity towards trademark lawsuits -- but we'll happily overlook that fact if the machine turns out to be as innovative as it sounds.
[Source: GreenMotor]

McLaren Unveils 2009 MP4-24 F1 Car

Just a couple of day after Toyota announced their new F1 car, McLaren unveiled MP4-24, the little monster that will run the track for the 2009 F1 Championship. However, that’s not the only news we’ve heard? Apparently Ron Paul used the occasion to announce the pres that he’ll be stepping down as team principal starting March 1st, and that the new chief will be long time deputy Martin Whitmarsh. Now back to the new car features major aerodynamic changes that include a wider front wing and a more compact rear wing for better distribution, the addition of driver-adjustable front-wing flaps and a heavily revised diffuser. And did we mention that it will use the new KERS (Kinetic Enrgy Recovery System) device which harnesses the energy generated from the braking system and stores it in super-capacitor batteries for an additional 80 bhp. That definitely has to make it faster, don’t you think?

Just a couple of day after Toyota announced their new F1 car, McLaren unveiled MP4-24, the little monster that will run the track for the 2009 F1 Championship. However, that’s not the only news we’ve heard? Apparently Ron Paul used the occasion to announce the pres that he’ll be stepping down as team principal starting March 1st, and that the new chief will be long time deputy Martin Whitmarsh. Now back to the new car features major aerodynamic changes that include a wider front wing and a more compact rear wing for better distribution, the addition of driver-adjustable front-wing flaps and a heavily revised diffuser. And did we mention that it will use the new KERS (Kinetic Enrgy Recovery System) device which harnesses the energy generated from the braking system and stores it in super-capacitor batteries for an additional 80 bhp. That definitely has to make it faster, don’t you think?

2008 testing complete for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeAfter three days testing in Portugal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes can now enjoy a Christmas break before coming back reenergised in 2009.
Gary Paffett and Pedro de la Rosa completed the testing sessions at the brand new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit and achieved strong results.
On day one, Paffett spent the bulk of the day clocking up extra miles on the new KERS–equipped 23K, adding useful miles to the vehicle’s electrical unit and front wing.
De la Rosa took over testing for the following two days, and set the fastest lap of all the sessions on day two of 1:30:080.
During this session he completed some aero testing and was soon in the swing after some initial problems with grip, caused by low-speed circuit configuration.
On the final day, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team’s last testing session of 2008, the focus was on developing a better understanding of the interim 2009 aerodynamic package.
De la Rosa finished the day believing that big steps had been made in understanding the system.