2013 Mercedes-Benz A25 AMG
The new hot hatch from Merc tuner AMG is expected to be released later on this year, for now, all we’ve got is a couple promo shots and heavily clad spy shots to oogle over. From the pics its clear there’s been more than a few tweaks from the standard A-Class on which the AMG model is based.
Rumours abound that this beast will be a four wheel drive pushing around 335hp.
$TBD
More info here.
2013 SRT Viper
She’s baaaack! And boy oh boy, does she look pissed! It wasn’t so long ago that most purists were writing off the Viper as dead, not worth more than a new pair of snake skin boots. If it wasn’t for the dedication of the SRT folks the Viper would’ve been lost to annals of history as the car that, well, tried to compete with the Corvette.
Ralph Gilles, the president and CEO of Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology team — or SRT — said uncertainty about the Viper’s future was “gut-wrenching.” The company decided to revive the Viper as the recession ceded and sales began to stabilize. Chrysler turned its first annual profit since 1997 last year.
“The launch of the 2013 Viper proves that we simply would not let the performance icon of the Chrysler Group die,” Gilles said in a statement.
The Viper is built by hand at a plant in Detroit. The company sold just 1,172 Vipers in 2007, the year before the recession began. They cost about $90,000 then, and will likely hit $100,000 when they go on sale later this year.
$100,000 approx.
Check it out at drivesrt.com
BMW i8 Spyder Concept
Electric cars – how we love you, and oh, how we’re not prepared to pay for you and, oh, how our grids aren’t ready for you, and oh, oh, oh, are we going to be surprised when you cost as much as gasoline. We’ll be pleased with a much higher social prestige though, that’s for certain.
It’s easy to see how capitalism is naturally placing the electric car this time around, especially with a beast like the i8 on display.
Electric-whizz-bang future machines like this are going to become the fashion product first, supply will be short, demand will be high and only the best and brightest need apply. Maybe that should be best and elitest? At any rate, that’s how the world is shaping this chance at a new beginning. That’s how the marketing executives will “make it work”, simply by treating us like the idiots we are. All you really have to do these days is treat your product like a premium item and the plebs will fall in line. It’s the Apple ethos, or what the rest of the world has learned from Apple, regardless of the veracity.
You can’t have one, but you want one. All the cool kids have one. “You’re using gasoline? Pfft! What are you, trying to kill the environment? See ya later lamo!” It’ll be like a dagger through your heart.
Oh, believe me, it’s coming.
The real reason Apple has succeeded so mightily is actually down to the fact that they gave consumers what they wanted at exactly the right time. That’s not going to happen with electric cars. You will be gouged. Cajoled and ridiculed.
On the bright side, we get futuristic looking cars with light-up-parts and what-not to look at!
The true advances will be made while the marketing folks aren’t really paying attention. The heads up displays, the electronic aids, the battery design, those are all needed by the marketing folk to ramp up their product’s awesomeness, so they stay – but they also move us forward, they move humanity forward. That’s how capitalism succeeds, when the men who think they’re in charge aren’t really paying attention.
I don’t want you to think that I’m advocating gasoline either, I’m not, I’m ruing a missed opportunity – not that it really existed in the first place, but, it’s a really a shame how macro-economics have recognized that it’s just so easy to sell to the lowest common denominator, poor, stupid humanity, to make an idea that was being forced on you anyway “work” for the bottom line.
When you boil things down to an individual level, what’s not to like? The car is freakin’ awesome. So, we soldier on.
The Eagle Jaguar E-Type Speedster
“The Evolution of the Most Beautiful Car ever made…” I don’t know if I’d go quite that far, but they’re not far off the mark. If you’re as tired as I am of ‘super’ cars with their sharp angles and futuristic curves, while not wanting to sink into the soupy quality of “retro” styling either – I think I may know what you’re looking for. It’s called ageless beauty. And the Jaguar E-Type is most certainly that.
What’s happened here is that the E-Type has been, let’s say, upgraded, to make it a more relevant car for today’s discerning driver.
Eagle is by far the foremost restorer of older E-Types, and has taken it upon themselves to take the car forward to a new generation. Everything is done by hand to a level of detail meticulous doesn’t do justice in describing.
Take a break, check out the Eagle Speedster – and if you’re feeling frisky, fork over close to a milly and she’s all yours. Trust me, no one will suggest it was a moment of poor judgement when this juggernaut of elegance rolls into view.
$700,000+
Check it out at JaguarSpeedster.com
2012 Shelby Mustang 1000
Why the ’1000′ moniker? Glad you asked. How about because this beast pushes 1000hp through your right foot to the rear wheels? How does that sound, bad boy? Yeah you like that, don’t you? Got you all tingly, don’t it? Well, back it down a touch – it’s actually closer to 950+ hp. The Shelby 1000 is the follow-up to the 800-hp Shelby GT500 Super Snake and aims to improve upon what we thought was the perfect ‘Stang.
What’s that? You want more? Well then, how about the Shelby 1100? Guess what the ’1100′ stands for? You guessed it – 1100hp.
Unfortunately, the Shelby 1100 S/C is a track-only car and not meant to be taken down to the shops for a quart of milk.
No word on price just yet, but the fine folks over at automobilemag.com have all the deets.
$TBD
Check it out at automobilemag.com
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
So you and Jeremy Clarkson thought V12′s were done did you? Oh no my friend, not at all. The marque that made powerful V12′s their standard has done it again and delivered on a promise to offer the world a pure driving experience. The cockpit has been sanitized of unnecessary clutter, the gauges and dials and knobs scaled back to only the essentials. Yes, indeed – 740+ horsepower from a fire breathing V12 that doesn’t redline until 8500rpm and sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard before. The Ferrari that understands what enthusiasts want.
The sound in particular sets this car apart. It’s funny to say, as most Ferrari’s, lets be honest, sound fantastic – but there’s something eloquent, something exotic and sensual about the noise this V12 makes. Truly exceptional. It sounds like a level of engineering that shouldn’t be available to the common man.
$TBD
Check it out at the F12 Berlinetta Micro-site, f12berlinetta.com
Pre-Launch, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa put the Berlinetta through it’s paces at Fiorano, Ferrari’s private test track.
And then, the launch video…
2012 BMW M6
Coming to a showroom near you Summer 2012! If you haven’t had the opportunity to drive an ‘M’ class vehicle from BMW, I highly suggest it – I don’t own one, far from it, nor am I suggesting you rush out and buy one. However, BMW probably offers some sort of ‘driving training’ school near you, just check in with you local dealership. It’s essentially a track day where you get to sample all sorts of automotive debauchery, staring the one and only BMW M series of cars, amongst others. Again, I strongly recommend it.
I also strongly recommend the BMW M6 – just look at this beast.
In order to achieve these lofty performance goals, the new BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible share the most powerful engine ever fitted in a series-produced model from BMW M GmbH mated to a high-torque 7-speed M-Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT). An innovative Active M Differential which optimizes power transfer between the rear wheels. This drivetrain, combined with extensive chassis and suspension upgrades ensure that the engine’s performance can be transferred to the ground.
The engine: High-Revving V8 Engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology. The new engine shared by the BMW M5 and M6 has the highest output ever generated by a BMW M car, and at the same time provides the most efficient balance between performance and fuel consumption. It is characterized by immediate throttle response, a linear power band and an unusually high and flat torque curve. The new engine produces around 10% higher output than the V10 engine of its predecessors and torque is up by over 30%. At the same time, fuel consumption and CO2 are expected to be reduced by approximately 30%.
To achieve the performance levels demanded by the M6, the engineers at BMW M started with the proven BMW M developed V8 engine from the BMW X5 M – X6 M (internally known as the S63) and further developed it for its duty in the latest M5 and M6 models. Internally designated as the S63Tü this new engine uses similar M Twin Power technology combined with the reverse flow V8 layout. The result is that the high-revving V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology lends a whole new intensity to the powerful thrust at higher rev ranges for which M cars are known. The 4.4-liter engine develops a peak output of 560 hp (412 kW) at 5,750 – 7,000 rpm (versus 555 hp at 6,000 rpm for the S63), while its maximum torque of 500 lb-ft (680 Nm) is on tap between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm (versus 500 lb-ft from 1,500 to 5650 rpm for the S63). The rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm (up 200 rpm from the S63 engine). The rev band, which offers extremely dynamic acceleration between peak torque and the availability of maximum output, is therefore almost three times as wide as that of the V10 engine in the previous generation M6.
The engine’s exhilarating thrust gives the new BMW M6 models impressive acceleration. The instant power delivery and sustained thrust of the engine results in an acceleration of 0– 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds for the Coupe and 4.3 seconds for the Convertible. The sprint from 0–124 mph (0-200 km/h) takes only 12.6 seconds for the Coupe and 13.1 for the Convertible. The top speed of both models is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h). While the engine’s output has increased by around 10% and maximum torque is up by more than 30%, the new BMW M6 models consume roughly 30% less fuel and have substantially higher range than their predecessors.
$100,000+
Have a look at the new M6 at BMW.com
Aston Martin 2012 Vantage
The iconic brand has done it again, a stunning beauty with long legs, a big bulbous chest and sultry styling – the Aston Martin 2012 Vantage has it all. You’ll find carbon fibre just about everywhere, attention to detail just about everywhere and everyone will be looking at you just about everywhere you go.
One of the most important aspects you can take to the bank with Aston? Your car will be hand made in their U.K. factory. Having a hand-made automobile must truly be an exquisite feeling, I hope to enjoy it at some point during my life time.
Whether fitted with the vocal 4.7-litre V8 or sensational 6.0-litre V12, each model in the versatile Vantage range is bestowed with phenomenal performance, agility and dynamism together with the refinement and tractability to excel in everyday driving.
$135,000+
Check it out at AstonMartin.com
2013 Audi A3
I’ve mentioned this before, but more and more I’m beginning to be drawn to smaller vehicles. I just don’t see the point to these massive boats, specifically for cars, SUVs, trucks, minivans and their ilk I can certainly understand – but for cars? No, they don’t need to be Camero sized anymore. It’s not necessary. What exactly is it you’re doing in your massive car that you require that type of size?
So here comes the brand new 2013 Audi A3, which unfortunately doesn’t look like it’ll be coming stateside. What a shame, when will we learn.
$TBD
Check it out here at RoadandTrack.com
The All New 2012 VW Beetle.
Looking decidedly less, well, lame than it’s previous iteration the all new VW Beetle seems to have a bit more in common with it’s Porsche and Audi stablemates than it does the generally boxy-with-curves VW, and more power to them! The base model will start at less than $19,000, the all new Diesel TDI was just announced at the Chicago Autoshow – and the VW team has a live blog up for you to keep track of all the latest news on the new Beetle.
I’m not entirely sure what’s happened to me lately, but I’ve found myself drawn more to cars like this and the Toyota iQ than, say, any retro-themed car. I think that’s where the issue is, I’m completely and utterly finished with retro-styling on cars. The Dodge Challenger finalized the vision, it can be done no better – stop trying. I like to see progress. I like to see the latest technology pushed to tough price points and tight margins. Not old, over-priced tech being sold on the basis on a name or symbol. Like porn, basically.
$19,000 base
Check out the 2012 VW Beetle blog
The SuperBowl YouTube Commercial was pretty awesome too.
2013 Morgan Aero Coupe
The Morgan Aero Coupe that originally debuted in 2006 is back, redefined and ready to enter full production (previously only 100 or so were made). That’s good news for people looking to make a splash and buy a car that actually says something, rather than just looking like a generic “supercar”. I appreciate that. Don’t get me wrong, I also appreciate Veyron’s, Ferrari’s, McLaren’s, Lambo’s, Merc’s and their ilk but let’s be honest here, most super-cars follow a particular set of predefined styling cues and use the details to stand out. Morgan uses the entire car to stand out.
BMW supplies the engine for the Aero Coupe, which in this case is a 4.8-liter V-8 good for up to 390 horsepower. An aluminum body and aluminum chassis help keep mass to a minimum, and the car is expected to weigh in at less than 2,600 pounds.
That should produce seriously spirited performance, and Morgan is claiming that manual transmission cars will run from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds, with automatic-equipped cars knocking off the run in just 4.2 seconds. Top speed of both versions is said to be nearly 170 mph.
$TBD
Check it out here at Morgan Automobiles UK.
Constructed entirely from aluminium which is a third of the weight of steel, the Morgan Aero Coupe combines performance with environmental responsibility and a high level of safety. The fixed roof and enclosed cabin give a sense of security and silence which is only interrupted by the intoxicating purr of the BMW V8. A stiff aluminium chassis cradles the 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine and the 6 speed manual or automatic transmission. The individual alloy parts are formed from tooling and hand assembled by skilled craftsmen at the foot of the Malvern hills. The pioneering Aero platform continues to demonstrate British engineering at its very best and over 1000 examples of this technology are in regular use by drivers around the world.
A Morgan Aero Coupe is a car that is designed to be durable with proven chemical coating and treatments of the rigid bonded chassis and body. Following research by the company on the road, the race track and in automotive laboratories the design of this versatile platform has been consistently improved and re-engineered. Now the Morgan Motor Company is a class leader in this chassis and car body technology.
The cockpit of the Aero Coupe is a delightful place to be. The sensation of speed is exaggerated by the enticing view down the elegant bonnet. The view to the rear makes the car easy to manoeuvre and to park. Every detail is special to Morgan and is a pleasure to behold. Ash hardwood surrounding the cockpit and doors can be hand polished in a colour of your choosing. The controls are luxurious to touch. The leather work is stitched with twin needles and combined with suede effect panels for contrast and a dynamic sporty feel. Pressure point reclining seats support the occupants strongly and great care has been taken to ensure that the driver has a masterful position from which to control the car. Reliability is ensured with the BMW V8 and a six speed automatic transmission. This can be operated in two modes, ‘Sport’ and ‘Auto’. In ‘Sport’ mode the engine holds its gear to 6500rpm and ‘blips’ the throttle before making a down shift. The power to weight ratio is around 320bhp per tonne and a 0-62mph of 4.5 seconds combined with a top speed of 170mph is effortlessly achievable. The Aero Coupe comes with a full specification as standard. A powerful standard sound system creates audio definition as crisp as the lines of the exterior.
Here’s the technical specs …
AERO COUPE MANUAL SPECIFICATION
AERO COUPE AUTO SPECIFICATION
2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder
Pricing has just been announced for this tight little package. She tips the scales at a reasonable $210, 000 USD, what’s unfortunate however, is that only 50 of these long legged beauties with their tops off will be allowed to parade around the streets of the New World. Apparently, one of the 50 is to be one will be auctioned off at the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance Gala on February 25th. You might be able to get a Caddy and a pen that writes upside down in Bacon Raton too.
Highlights
Inspired engineering, race-winning technology and an exquisite, sculpted design come together in the Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 – a high performance sports convertible that will delight your senses and thrill your soul.
430-hp 4.2 V8 FSI Engine Available in a six-speed Manual or R-tronic Transmission
The soul of the Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro is the electrifying 430 hp 4.2 FSI V8 engine. Capable of producing 316 lb-ft of torque, this marvel of technology propels the Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 to 100 km/h in only 4.6 seconds, with the potential for a top track speed of 300 km/h. As part of its race-bred mid-engine design that contributes to superb handling dynamics, the 4.2 V8 features winning technology such as FSI direct injection and sodium-cooled exhaust valves, with a redline set at a high-revving 8,250 rpm.
Audi Magnetic Ride
The sophisticated sport suspension in the Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 is made from aluminum for optimal sports car performance. Driving dynamics are further enhanced by the Audi Magnetic Ride system. Magnetic fields in the shock absorbers adjust to the road conditions and the driver’s style, instantaneously. For added control, the driver can change driving modes at the touch of a button. In Normal mode, the ride is balanced equally between comfort and agility. While in Sport mode, higher damping forces help suppress body roll for even more precise cornering.
Audi Space Frame [ASF®]
The aluminum Audi Space Frame, or ASF®, is exceptionally rigid for enhanced performance and increased safety. It also provides a significant weight-savings benefit, which further enables the Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 to deliver superlative overall performance.
FSI®
Every drop counts. It’s not just in the world of Audi motor racing that the highly efficient FSI® technology cuts the number of fuel stops. Special valves meter the fuel with millisecond precision and inject it directly into the combustion chamber at pressures of up to 120 bar. The result is high performance and agile responsiveness combined with lower fuel consumption.
Integrated Seat Belt Microphone
A worldwide first, the safety belt microphone is part of the hands-free unit, making it possible to talk on the phone even with the top down on the highway. Three small, flat microphones are integrated right into both driver and passenger safety belts. A fourth microphone is also located in the roof module.
Heat Resistant Seat Coating
The full leather seats feature a special pigmentation that helps prevent the leather from heating up too much. Infrared rays from the sunlight are reflected, helping to reduce the surface temperature by up to 20˚C.
Full LED Headlights
The Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 offers an optional full LED headlight system with high beam, low beam, daytime running lights, turn signals and taillights all of which provide brilliant, unmistakable illumination at the flick of a switch.
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic [CFRP] roof compartment lid and rear side panels
The quest for extremely stiff yet light components resulted in the development, over three years, of a unique epoxy resin infusion process. CFRP is 52% lighter than comparable steel components, and allows for the production of shapes which cannot be achieved with conventional body steel.
$210,000
Check it out here.
Aston Martin Zagato
Just published by our friends over at AutoBlog, new pictures of the forth coming ultra-exclusive Aston Martin Zagato have been released. I know what a lot of you are thinking, geez, all Aston’s kind of look the same, I have a hard time distinguishing them. When you’re working with perfection, why trifle?
Apparently the latest Aston is going to retail for around $550,000 and should be revealed at the Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance on February 15th.
$550,000
Check out the Aston Martin Zagato at AutoBlog
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The folks at AutoBlog got the opportunity to drive the brand new 2012 Camaro ZL1 recently. Besides being blown away by the contemporary styling, the team was awestruck by the overall improvements to the car over the “stock” SS model. The specs are enough to make your head spin and put your four-door hatchback to shame.
The Camaro ZL1′s 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which shares its basic spec sheet with the Cadillac CTS-V and Chevy Corvette ZR1, puts out 580 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 556 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. The official 0-60 time is 3.9 seconds and the quarter mile is dispatched in 12 seconds flat. Top speed is listed as 184 miles per hour, thanks in part to an aero package that includes a new front fascia, a carbon fiber hood with functional air extractor vents and an undertray with NACA ducts for cooling.
$54,095 base
More from AutoBlog.com here.
Acura NSX Concept
It’s been a long time between NSX models, that last iteration being one of the most well balanced, affordable and drivable ‘super’ cars available. Unfortunately, the older NSX is a bit long in the tooth these days – and really hasn’t retained much of its original charm. Honda / Acura aim to change that with the NSX.
“The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way,” says Honda CEO Ito. “Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency — but even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.”
$TBD
Check it out here.
