Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster targets Frankfurt debut

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Mercedes-Benz has released these official images of the SLS AMG Roadster which document the car’s development from tin top to rag top.

According to Benz the SLS AMG Coupé and Roadster were created in parallel. That has given the engineers a head start in refining NVH levels, body rigidity, handling and the soft top roof.

The Roadster has completed 20,000kms of testing, half on urban roads, the other half around the Nürburgring. It will debut in production form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September.

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento on sale in October

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

The news from Lamborghini keeps on coming today with word this carbon fibre origami creation, otherwise known as the Sesto Elemento, will be available for sale on 1 October this year. At least that’s what is being reported by German media outlet Auto Motor und Sport.

Revealed at last year’s Paris Motor Show, the Sesto Elemento uses a 5.2 litre V10 with 570hp to good effect, reaching 100km/h in a claimed time of just 2.5 seconds. You can thank a low 999kg kerb weight for that. Fantastic to see a company like Lamborghini embracing a lighter future for its cars.

Of course, something else embraced by Lamborghini is stratospheric pricing and the Sesto Elemento will be no exception, with predictions of a €1.9 million price tag. Mind, with a production run likely to be in the range of 10–20 cars it promises to be one of the most hyper exclusive hyper cars.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via World Car Fans]

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador reviews start rolling in

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar has made us insanely jealous once again by being one of the first to get behind the wheel of the new Lambo Aventador. You can see his video review in full after the break. Meanwhile, Car has also published its thoughts on the Murcielago replacement.

The Aventador promises so much. A new carbon monocoque chassis, F1-inspired suspension and, of course, a new 6.5 litre V12. The old Murci had a pretty good reputation as well, so has Lamborghini got it right with the Aventador?

Certainly the new car looks the part. It’s pure Lamborghini with its aggressive and provocative angles. We think it looks great. What’s it like to drive, then?

Sutcliffe reckons the Aventador is a real hit on the road, where its dynamics and relatively light weight offer pinpoint handling. On the track, he says the transmission is no match for the Ferrari 458 or McLaren MP4-12C.

Chris Chilton from Car, sums up the Aventador like this, “The Aventador doesn’t just move the game on from the Murcielago, it transports it to a new time zone. The new car is faster, handles better, is easier to drive and much better built.” Sounds like a pretty big tick. However, there is a but; “The Aventador is so competent that some of that thrill has gone.”

Categories
McLaren

VIDEO: McLaren MP4-12C GT3 officially launched

McLaren MP4-12C GT3

McLaren recently launched their race-ready MP4-12C GT3 at Circuito de Navarra in Spain. The car is set to make its racing debut later this year.

After the break you can see a raft of videos showing the 12C GT3 in action, starting with Martin Whitmarsh waxing lyrical about the company’s new toy, before plenty of on-track footage.

Categories
Lamborghini

VIDEO: Lamborghini Aventador TFT dash display

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

You’ve seen pics of of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, and even a few videos as well, but here’s one filmed inside the cabin while the car was at work during a media track day in Spain Italy. Pretty neat dash display, don’t you think.

We expect there will be more material from this day hitting the web soon, so treat this as a teaser for what may follow.

Categories
Green Machines Peugeot

Peugeot EX1 sets new electric record at the Ring

Peugeot EX1

This crazy looking electric powered Peugeot EX1, complete with 250kW, has set a new lap record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife for an electric powered car. It didn’t hang about, either, posting time of 9:01.338—oh so close to breaking the 9 minute barrier—at an average speed of just over 138km/h for those slow with their calculators.

Stéphane Caillet, from Peugeot’s Research & Development Centre, was the man behind the wheel and we reckon he deserves a big pat on the back. He knocked some 50 seconds off the lap record, previously held by the MINI E.

The official word from Peugeot, plus a brief video clip, can be seen after the break.

Categories
Formula 1 News

News Corp confirms Formula One interest

2011 Chinese GP

Last month’s story about News Corp considering forming a consortium to buy the rights to Formula One has suddenly become more serious with confirmation that the, erm, wheels are in motion.

News Corporation and Italian investment company EXOR released a joint statement which reads, “EXOR, one of Europe’s largest listed investment companies, and News Corporation, the global media group, confirm that they are in the early stages of exploring the possibility of creating a consortium with a view to formulating a long-term plan for the development of Formula 1 in the interests of the participants and the fans.

“Over the coming weeks and months, EXOR and News Corporation will approach potential minority partners and key stakeholders in the sport. There can be no certainty that this will lead to an approach to Formula 1’s current owners.”

EXOR is controlled by the Agnelli family, who have close ties to Ferrari. Indeed, the company owns 30% of Italian car giant Fiat, owners of Ferrari, as well as a 60% stake in Juventus football club.

[Source: Autosport]

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: Australian pricing

Lamborghini Aventador

We received a nice tip off yesterday, and we want to share it with you, but just make sure you are prepared. So, are you sitting down?

$789,000!

That’s a very big number. Thankfully, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is a very big car; in all senses of the word. In size, in power, in performance and, of course, in stature. There’s no denying the big Lambo has presence.

Mind, that big number is only the bare bones manufacturer’s list price. If you want metallic paint you’ll need an extra $4300; make it another $8000 if you want to pick a colour from the “special” range, like the Arancio Atlas pictured above. Of course, no self-respecting Aventador buyer would sign on the dotted line before having a long hard think about choosing a matt paint scheme, before deciding that $27,000 is probably just a bit too excessive, even for a Lambo.

Categories
Alfa Romeo Video

VIDEO: Zagato TZ3 Stradale in the garage and on the road

Here’s a brief video showing the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale by Zagato. The clip starts off in Zagato’s factory near Milan and ends up with some tame driving footage. Looks like they may have been taking photos and capturing video for promotional puposes.

There’s only going to be nine of these cars built, so while it would have been great to see the driver push the limits of the Dodge Viper ACR running gear in the TZ3 Stradale, we may have to wait until the customer gets their car first.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Categories
BMW

M5 watch: All-wheel drive model confirmed

BMW Concept M5

Autocar is reporting its earlier rumour that the new BMW M5 would have an all-wheel drive model in its lineup has now been confirmed by BMW insiders.

While BMW is yet to provide official technical specifications, Autocar is also stating the F10 M5 will have 552hp on tap from its twin turbo 4.4 litre V8. The four-wheel drive M5 will most likely follow some time after the initial launch of the rear-drive M5 and is said to be offered to counter all-paw models from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Formula 1 Renault

Bruno Senna’s day out

Bruno Senna

Last weekend there was a World Series by Renault event held at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. A perfect excuse, really, for Lotus Renault GP reserve driver Bruno Senna to get out on track in his F1 car between racing action to lay some rubber and entertain the crowd.

The kick here is that young Bruno recorded his antics on his mobile phone while out on track. The YouTube description even includes this delightful disclaimer, “Video made with my phone camera during the demo at Spa! Please note I drove within safe limits and not flat-out. Don’t use your phone and drive!!”

After the break you can see the view from inside and outside the car.

[Source: Lotus Renault GP]

Categories
Alfa Romeo

Zagato TZ3 Corsa and Stradale

Zagato TZ3 Corsa and Stradale

Italian design house Zagato is celebrating the centenary of Alfa Romeo by releasing a pair of retro-inspired TZ3 models. The Corsa model (pictured top) is a one-off, paying homage to Alfa’s racing history. The Stradale will see a small run of nine models and uses a Dodge Viper ACR chassis, including its 450kW 8.4 litre V10. The Corsa is based on Alfa’s own 8C Competizione—a car currently copping a pasting from the Old Stig—and is fitted with a 4.2 litre V8.

The connection between Zagato and Alfa itself is 90 years strong and these new TZ3s are great interpretations of former classics. There’s more pics after the break, as well as the official press release from Zagato.