TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- McLaren Exclusive to offer special customization programs for the MP4-12C
- Toyota EV Racer
- Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible
- Spy Shots: 2013 Mercedes C63 AMG with Track Package fires up the Nurburgring
- Fornasari RR99 Reeks of Confusion and Insanity
- Bentley Continental GTC
- Volkswagen Up!
- Lexus IS-F
- Electric Raceabout (E-RA)
- Identity Y2
| McLaren Exclusive to offer special customization programs for the MP4-12C Posted: 24 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT
Now that the MP4-12C is getting ready to be delivered to customers, McLaren used the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to introduce ’McLaren Exclusive,’ the British supercar maker’s very own vehicle customization program. With brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini launching their own vehicle customization programs, it was only a matter of time before McLaren followed suit, and they certainly didn’t wait long before joining in the customization ranks. McLaren’s vehicle customization program will touch on the MP4-12C, as well as two other soon-to-be-announced supercars, to provide customers a variety of new features that can be outfitted to their supercar depending on their tastes and preferences. Among the modifications available for the MP4-12C - as shown by the customized MP4-12C that was previewed at Pebble Beach - include a custom Satin Orange paint finish, a slew of aerodynamic parts that have been lifted from the brand’s resident race car - the MP4-12C GT3 - and a host of carbon fiber details that can be used on various parts of the supercar. The price for McLaren’s vehicle customization program will vary depending on the features that are added on the car. Using the above model as an example, all the changes made on it tacked an extra $50,000 on the MP4-12C’s $230,000 price tag. McLaren Exclusive to offer special customization programs for the MP4-12C originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT
The Peugeot EX1 Concept’s hold on the electric vehicle speed record at the Nurburgring may soon be under siege by a Japanese automaker that’s looking to blow away the EX1’s record time of 9:01.1338. The car comes courtesy of Toyota and while they’ve yet to say the official name of the EV racing prototype, they’ve made no bones about their intention of destroying the existing EV record lap time at the Green Hell on August 29, 2011. According to Toyota, the EV Racer - we’ll call it that for now - comes with a 41.5 kWh lithium-ceramic battery that powers two electric motors, producing an output of 375 horsepower and 590 lb/ft of torque. The whole set-up allows the race car to hit 0-62 mph in just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph. We’ll reserve our judgments until Toyota hits the Nurburgring for their record-breaking attempt because the EX1’s time for an EV is pretty impressive. Having said that, we’re pretty optimistic that they’ve got the resources to stake claim to the record once they’re attempts are all said and done. Toyota EV Racer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 05:00 AM PDT
With the recently unveiled Porsche 911/991 in tow, our spy photographers have moved on to the new generation sportcar’s variants to keep us entertained. The new Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe and Cabrio will be unveiled at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, but recent spy shots, as well as previous hot weather testing shots, can provide a good look into the future of Porsche Turbo. Our newest spy shots of the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio come to us from the famed Nurburgring race track where the vehicle was taking some laps with the top closed. Expect the future Turbo Coupe and Cabrio models to be powered by the same 3.8L turbocharged flat six engine, but massaged to deliver more than the current 500 HP for the standard Turbo and 530 HP for the Turbo S. Following along the lines of the new 911, the Turbo variants should receive auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, and the world's first seven-speed manual transmission or the optional Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) to boost that horsepower right up to about 515 HP for the Turbo and 550 HP for the Turbo S. Rumors are also circulating that the new PDK-S dual clutch transmission may find its way into the Turbo models before it debuts in the next generation 911 GT3. With the use of these power-boosting additions, the Turbo models’ fuel consumption and emissions are also expected to be lowered. The 911/991 received a drop of up to 16% for the Carrera and 14% for the Carrera S. In addition to the changes in power, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio will obviously be differentiated from the Coupe with the use of a soft top. Wider rear fenders, additional cooling vents, and a new active rear spoiler will also make an appearance. Stay tuned as we uncover more details on the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio. Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:00 EST.
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| Spy Shots: 2013 Mercedes C63 AMG with Track Package fires up the Nurburgring Posted: 24 Aug 2011 04:00 AM PDT  Sometimes even better just isn’t enough. Take the recently unveiled Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series, for instance. Anyone would love to have this sleek and speedy Merc ready and willing to cruise down the streets in utmost style. Of course, then there are those people that feel a car like this should be ready for the track and not parked in the garage awaiting the next trip to the grocery store. For those people, we give you the C63 AMG Black Series with Track Package as it takes a trip around the Nurburgring trying to avoid our savvy spy photographers. From the images provided, it is clear that the C63 AMG Black Series is loaded with track oriented goodies like the fixed rear wing, a functionally tuned front splitter made of genuine carbon fiber, and carbon fiber flics located on the front apron, and carbon fiber side skirts. We can only imagine that some lightweight parts have also been added to make it more track oriented. These features not only increase the lift at the front and rear axle, they also optimize the vehicle's aerodynamic balance. Previous reports have stated that the AMG Track Package will include sports tires, size 255/35 R 19 for the front and 285/30 R 19, developed exclusively for this model, active rear-axle transmission cooling, and a radiator located in the rear apron that allows the airflow to pass through it effectively. As for the engine, we must sadly report that, as of right now, it remains unchanged. The 6.3 liter V8 engine will still deliver a total of 510 HP and a peak torque of 457 lbs-ft, allowing the vehicle a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.2 seconds. It’s not weak performance by any stretch, but a little more power for the track would have been music to our ears. Stay tuned as we bring more details on the Mercedes C63 AMG Track Package! Spy Shots: 2013 Mercedes C63 AMG with Track Package fires up the Nurburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 11:00 EST.
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| Fornasari RR99 Reeks of Confusion and Insanity Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:00 AM PDT
As with most custom projects, companies who go through this option understand that it’s a hit-or-miss proposition; some people might like it and some might hate it. In the case of Italian coachbuilder, Fornasari, their new crossover project, the RR99, definitely falls somewhere in between. The car was initially presented at the Geneva Motor Show back in March and is being described as a luxury grand tourer that offers plenty of off-road capabilities. It even has an impressive powertrain under its hood, one that features a GM-sourced 6.0-liter V8 engine that produces 610 horsepower with a ’north to 60’ time of just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph. By all accounts, the RR99 has some serious ponies inside that body. But it starts to get a little tricky when talking about the body. The interior looks luxed-up, which is pretty cool, but the exterior design, is pretty confusing. There are elements of Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Porsche that seem to have been thrown into a giant blender, ratcheted up to peak power, and produced the RR99. Judging it on its looks leaves a lot to be desired as far as originality is concerned. Thank God, it’s got an impressive powertrain, otherwise this crossover - they really took it literally with that label, didn’t they? - will be as forgettable as anything we’ve seen lately. For anyone insane enough to want to buy it, Fornasari is currently taking orders. Fornasari RR99 Reeks of Confusion and Insanity originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 10:00 EST.
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| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 02:00 AM PDT
Bentley unveiled the facelift version of the Continental GT towards the end of 2010, so the next logical step was to refresh their Continental GTC as well. The Speed model is still based on the original Continental GT that was launched in 2003, but has been given updates to make it look fresh and new. And now, leading up to the Frankfurt Motor Show, Bentley has officially unveiled the 2012 Continental GTC. Just like all of the spy photos we’ve seen of the car, the new Continental GTC comes with an aggressive front fascia, a vented hood, and new headlights. The back of the Bentley also got tweaked with the addition of a trunk-mounted spoiler, slimmer taillights, and a revised exhaust system. The luxury sportster also benefits from an increase in output from its 6.0-liter W12 engine, a fact that should make fans of the model smile from ear to ear. Find out more about the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC after the jump. Bentley Continental GTC originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 09:00 EST.
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| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 01:00 AM PDT
The Volkswagen Up! makes no bones about what it is and what it isn’t. What it isn’t is a thoroughbred car that will satisfy all your speed thrills. What it is, however, is a smiling, fun-loving, economical city car that will net you plenty of mileage and provide state-of-the-art technology for compact vehicles. Built in numerous concept forms over the past couple of years, the Volkswagen Up! has finally been given the production green light, and its getting ready to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. For the production version, Volkswagen will be offering the Up! in three different trim versions with "take up!" being the entry level version, "move up!" being the comfort-oriented version, and "high up" being the top-of-the-line version with two special edition models of the "high up!" - "up! black" and "up! white" - scheduled to be introduced when the car officially makes its official launch at the end of the year. For now, you can check out all the details about the Volkswagen Up! leading up to its debut in Frankfurt next month. Find out more about the Volkswagen Up! after the jump. Volkswagen Up! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 08:00 EST.
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| Posted: 23 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT
Toyota’s luxury division, Lexus, has made no bones about their aggressive approach in trying to compete against the big boys from Europe. Some might think that it’s a case of these guys biting off more than they could chew, but if you believe in them, then the Lexus IS-F just may be the car that will get the brand the kind of respect it deserves. Since 2010, the IS-F has offered plenty of impressive technical elements with complementary aesthetic improvements, the new model of the IS-F will definitely get you to notice it. The powertrain - a 5.0-liter V8 engine - remains the same, but that shouldn’t hinder the car from being something that customers take a real good look at. After all, it still comes with 417 horsepower and is capable of hitting a top speed of 167 mph. In a market dominated by cars like the BMW M3, the 2012 Lexus IS-F is going to need about as much ammo as it can carry to be able to stand up against the big boys. For the 2012 model, Lexus did enough to convince us that they just might have something on their hands. Find out more about the 2010-2012 Lexus IS-F after the jump. Lexus IS-F originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 20:00 EST.
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| Posted: 23 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT
Finland may be the home of cellular phone giant, Nokia, but the country is beginning to make a name for itself in the automotive industry with a very special electric sports car a couple of years in the making. We last heard about the ERA Electric Raceabout last year, so it was a little surprising that it took this long for the car to get back on the radar. Having said that, the Electric Raceabout is back in the news after spending some quality testing time at the world famous Nurburgring. The electric sports car is the brainchild of the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and is being developed to become a serious player in a growing market. Details behind the car are still sketchy at best, but we do know that it weighs 1,700 kg and is built with a carbon fiber monococque chassis with high-strength steel sub-frames and double wishbones with adjustable coil-overs. More details on the E-RA Electric Raceabout after the jump. Electric Raceabout (E-RA) originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 19:00 EST.
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| Posted: 23 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT
A few years ago, Identity first surfaced as an automaker when they introduced the I1 Concept at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. We didn’t hear a whole lot from these guys until this year, when they showed us their second supercar concept, the Y2. Just like the I1, the Y2 is a car that’s built on inspiration; in this case, one of the most feared predators in the world, the great white shark. Using the model of the nautical beast, Identity designed the Y2 to look every bit like the automotive predator it’s being hyped up to be. The whole car isn’t complete and it might even take a while for Identity to have a finished product, but the initial returns point to a car that carries some pretty high-end materials, including carbon fiber, aluminum, and kevlar. In addition to that, Identity is indicating that the Y2 will carry an impressive V12 powertrain that can produce upwards of 500 horsepower. The numbers all sound good on paper, but they don’t mean a whole lot if we don’t hear about the Y2 in the foreseeable future. Let’s hope that’s not the case and we see this impressive-looking supercar out on the road in the not-so-distant future. Find out more about the Identity Y2 after the jump. Identity Y2 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 18:00 EST.
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