TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Porsche 911S owned by Steve McQueen
- World's biggest James Bond auto collection scheduled for 2012 exhibit
- Porsche 911 / 991
- Infiniti IPL G Convertible
- Mercedes SLK55 AMG
- Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype
- Subaru Impreza
- Mazda RX-8
- Possible leaked photos of Ferrari 458 Spider find their way on the 'Net
- Spy Shots: 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Super Sport
| Porsche 911S owned by Steve McQueen Posted: 22 Aug 2011 08:30 AM PDT Thirty years after his death, Steve McQueen's name still reverberates within the auto industry. The man known as the "King of Cool" was not only one of his generation’s biggest movie stars, but also made a name for himself for his love of cars, racing, and a combination of the two. Speaking of cars, McQueen owned a pretty amazing collection of cars back in the day, one of which is this 1970 Porsche 911 that’s headed for the auction block at RM Auctions in Monterey, California this coming August. According to RM, the car, all 40 years old of it, still "remains in exceptionally original condition". While some people will be skeptical of buying an old Porsche that undoubtedly has had its fair share of work done to it, those who prefer to see the glass as half-full will point out that this particular 911 still stands as one of the most iconic 911 models in history. Even if it’s gone through a number of owners after the original, you still can’t deny that this particular model’s first owner is no other than the "King of Cool" himself, Steve McQueen. UPDATE 08/22/2011: Steve McQueen’s slate gray Porsche 911S ended up selling for a lavish $1,375,000 at RM Auctions this past weekend. Details on Steve McQueen’s Porsche 911 after the jump. Porsche 911S owned by Steve McQueen originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 15:30 EST.
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| World's biggest James Bond auto collection scheduled for 2012 exhibit Posted: 22 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT James Bond may be a fictional character to all of us, but the dashing debonair / awesome secret agent is still an inspiration to all of us. Who wouldn’t want to be in his shoes? He’s got a killer job, he scores the hottest women, and best of all - at least in our case - he drives the fanciest cars. That last part is such an integral part of the Bond legend that an exhibition is actually being planned to showcase the largest collection of James Bond vehicle to ever be displayed. The whole event is being prepared through the collaborative efforts of the UK’s National Motor Museum, Beaulieu and EON Productions, which is doing the groundwork for the event in preparation for the 50th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s Bond franchise. Around 50 cars are expected to be included in the exhibit highlighted by the 2008 Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace, the 2002 Jaguar XKR with SFX weapons from Die Another Day, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldeneye, and the 1937 Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger. The exhibit will be held at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, United Kingdom and will run the entire length of the 2012 calendar year. "Following the success of the first Bond cars exhibition staged at Beaulieu in 2001, we are delighted to be working with EON again on this new display, bringing together the world's largest collection of Bond vehicles, Beaulieu's Commercial Director, Stephen Munn said. The exhibit won’t open for another few months, but it’s safe to say that we’ll be dropping by to check it out if we find ourselves in the area next year. World's biggest James Bond auto collection scheduled for 2012 exhibit originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 25 Jul 2011 02:00 PM PDT The 911 is the most successful model in Porsche’s history. It started its long history back in 1963 and since then Porsche has offered five distinct generations: 911 classic, 964 Series, 993 Series, 996 Series, and 997 Series. Moreover, the sixth one is already under intense testings and will make its official debut in 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It may be a little unorthodox for Porsche to be bringing out a new generation 911 despite the fact they just revealed a facelift version, but the requests keep changing and Porsche must answer the call of duty. Their latest target is improving both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The sixth generation 911, or the 998, will be a completely new vehicle, even though everyone will recognize it as a 911 model. Shortly after the launch of the 998 911, Porsche will also be releasing the Turbo, GT2, and GT3 in 2012. UPDATE 07/25/2011: Rennlist has uncovered some images of the Porsche 911/991 without all of the distracting camo we’ve been seeing on it for months. Check out the gallery to see the future generation 911 in all its glory! UPDATE 07/26/2011: On your marks...get set...and get ready to order! A source has revealed that Porsche dealers are almost ready to open the order books for the new and improved 911/991. Orders may be taken as soon as next month with vehicle deliveries scheduled in March - April 2012. That's not all, either. Want to order the Porsche 911/991? There's an app for that! Our source has also revealed that Porsche is developing an iPad app that will allow clients to play around with the options and place their order on Apple's latest technological wonder. Porsche and Apple; now there's a match made in heaven. UPDATE 08/02/2011: The new generation Porsche 911 has been caught testing in its bought versions - coupe and cabrio. The car features light camouflage and help us to make the best idea yet on how the car will look like. More details on the 2012 Porsche 998 911 after the jump. Porsche 911 / 991 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 25 July 2011 21:00 EST.
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| Posted: 22 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT The Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept was a surprise attendee at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, leading to a lot of curious eyebrows as to why the car made its way there in the first place. Turns out, Infiniti brought the concept as part of their announcement for plans for a production version set to be released soon. Following in the footsteps of the IPL G Coupe, which itself was first introduced around this time last year, the IPL G Convertible is being prepared to give consumers an open-top version of the affordable yet high-powered sports car from Infiniti’s Performance Line. For now, details surrounding the production version of the IPL G Convertible are still being kept under wraps, but based on features from the concept version, don’t be shocked to see the Coupe’s 3.7-liter V6 engine under the Convertible’s hood. This would mean an output of 338 horsepower and 267 lb/ft of torque with a 0-60 mph time of less than six seconds and a top speed of 167 mph. While we’re still barren for information, Infiniti Americas Vice President, Ben Poore, has high hopes for the car when its officially produced. "The IPL G Convertible will deliver the goods, just like the current IPL G Coupe does," he said. "Plus, the new IPL G Convertible offers the added pleasure of open-air motoring." Whatever questions fans may have of the car, expect answers from Infiniti at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show where it will join the highly talked about JX Crossover Concept at the Infiniti booth. Note: Photo is of the 2010 Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept Infiniti IPL G Convertible originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 21 Jul 2011 03:00 AM PDT Shortly after the release of the 2012 Mercedes SLK-Class, members of the automotive community began wondering what the AMG versions would be carrying under their bonnets. Thankfully, our spy photographers were on hand to capture the next generation SLK55 AMG and hear the thunderous sounds exiting its voluptuous engine. It seems as if the 2012 Mercedes SLK55 AMG will be sporting a V8 engine under its hood, more than likely the 5.5L twin-turbo V8 found in the new S63, CLS63, and CL63 AMG. This engine will deliver horsepower in the area of 400-450, up from the 355 HP the Mercedes currently delivers. This engine will be mated to a 7-speed sportshift automatic. The 2012 Mercedes SLK55 AMG will also be seeing some other changes such as an improved hood/nose shape with a new front spoiler, a new air dam with larger intake inlets, and rectangular quad-tipped tailpipes. The Mercedes will also get its usual array of large and shiny forged alloy wheels, big brakes, AMG badging, and color options. Stay tuned for more details on the 2012 Mercedes SLK55 AMG! UPDATE 07/21/11: Mercedes has officially announced today the full specifications on the new 5.5-liter V8 engine that will be used firstly in the upcoming SLK 55 AMG. The new engine will deliver 422 HP and a peak torque of 398 lbs-ft. Also, it delivers a fuel economy of 8.5 liters per 100 kilometers - 27 US mpg - or about 3.5 liters less than that of the preceding model. The engine will be combined with an efficiency stop/start function and with a sports exhaust system featuring an exhaust flap on each side. Mercedes SLK55 AMG originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 21 July 2011 10:00 EST.
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| Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype Posted: 03 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT On August 20th and 21st, 2011, one of the most legendary Ferraris of all time will go down to the auction block for the very first time. The auction will be hosted by Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. This particular Ferrari, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa, is expected to draw record numbers, solely because of its stature in the history of the Prancing Horse. We know plenty about rare Ferraris fetching insane bids in past auctions, but this one is expected to trump all other models in the past. Over the past few years, Ferraris have posted record-breaking bids, including a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder that went for over $10 million back in 2008 and a 1958 Ferrari 250 TR that was scooped for a record $12.4 million a year later in 2009. UPDATE 08/21/11: The numbers are in and just like we anticipated, this rare 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype attracted the heavyweight bidders at the Gooding & Company auction at the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. We all expected it to sell higher than the $12.4 million price tag of another 250 Testa Rossa sold for two years ago and now we have the official price of the winning bid: $16.4 million. Find out more about the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype after the jump. Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 3 August 2011 17:00 EST.
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| Posted: 22 Aug 2011 04:00 AM PDT Subaru offered up a small taste of what wass to come with the first image of the new 2012 Impreza revealed in both sedan and hatchback versions at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The 2012 Impreza will be offered in base, Premium, Sport Premium, Limited and Sport Limited models when it arrives in dealerships later this fall. The 2012 Impreza comes with an improved fuel economy achieved with the use of a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder producing 148 HP and 146 lb-ft of torque which debuted in Europe earlier this year. This engine replaces the current 170 HP 2.5-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy engine. Further aid is offered with the use of the new continuously variable transmission. The new model will come with a totally new design that "will propose roomier cabin space with new level of comfort and refinement for enhanced product appeal." UPDATE 08/22/2011: Subaru has announced prices for their 2012 Impreza. The base model 4-door Impreza 2.0i with a five-speed manual transmission starts off at $17,495 to match last year’s prices. The automatic version, offered exclusively with Subaru’s newly designed continuously variable transmission (CVT), starts at $18,495. The base 5-door Impreza 2.0i starts at $17,995 when equipped with a five-speed transmission and $18,995 for the CVT-equipped model. Subaru Impreza originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 11:00 EST.
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| Posted: 22 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT First launched in 2003 as a replacement for the rotary powered RX-7, the Mazda RX-8 received a face lift in 2009. Even if the four door sports car was a success from the beginning, the little 13B equipped RX-8 made the most of a refreshed exterior and interior with bolder lines and even more details, it was exactly what the car needed to stay ahead in the sport compact market. Available in three trim levels: Sport, Grand Touring and R3, the new RX-8 offers something for everyone from the entry level rear wheel drive shopper to the hard core enthusiast with prices ranging from $26,495 to $32,660. For 2010, the Mazda RX-8 receives a new front bumper design with a larger grille opening and more pronounced front lip that was actually requested by the racing team, new headlamps, wider front fenders, LED clusters in the back and a redesigned rear bumper with larger exhaust tips. The inside of the freshened RX-8 benefits from some new trim materials making a sportier cockpit and the tachometer now features a variable red zone that rises as the engine comes up to temperature, just like the V8 powered BMW M3. However instead of an octet of pistons pumping up and down under the hood, there lies a compact 13B twin rotor Renesis engine making 232 HP at a screaming 8,200 RPM and 155 lb-ft of torque. This allows the RX-8 to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 145 MPH. UPDATE 08/22/2011: Mazda is shutting down production of the RX-8 due to lackluster sales and ever tighter global emissions standards. Last year, the company was only able to sell 1,134 units and this year, sales through July have dropped 21%. Production in Hiroshima, Japan ceased in July and US dealers only have 300 units left to sell this year. Press release after the jump. Mazda RX-8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 10:30 EST.
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| Possible leaked photos of Ferrari 458 Spider find their way on the 'Net Posted: 22 Aug 2011 03:00 AM PDT Whether you’re a fan of leaked photos or not, one thing that they almost always do is catch a maelstrom of attention, especially if these said leaked images are of the Ferrari 458 Spider kind. The highly anticipated launch of the open-top version of the 458 Italia is scheduled for the Frankfurt Motor Show, but there appears to be a preemptive strike on the release with leaked images from the Cheers and Gears forum. If you’re to believe what they’re showing you, then you just might be looking at the new Ferrari 458 Italia Spider. Granted, leaked images have a way of expediting the process of a manufacturer releasing the official batch of photos, but it’s unlikely that Ferrari will be doing this anytime soon. The Ferrari 458 Italia Spider will be powered by the same 4,499 cc V8 engine mated to an F1 dual-clutch gearbox delivering the same 570 HP at 9,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm as the coupe. The engine delivers an outstanding power output of 127 HP/liter and 120 Nm/liter and only 307 g/km of CO2 with a fuel consumption of just 13.3 l/100 km. As with any other convertible model, the Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder will gain some weight due to the hardtop which will make performance suffer just a bit. The sprint from 0-60 mph will take a tad longer than 3.4 seconds while top speed will sit below 201 mph. We aren’t sure whether we believe these images are the official shots of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder, but if they are, then Ferrari has taken a more aggressive approach in the exterior design of the model. Take a good look and let us know what you think. Either way, we’ll be feasting our eyes on the 458 Italia Spyder soon enough when the vehicle debuts at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Possible leaked photos of Ferrari 458 Spider find their way on the 'Net originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 10:00 EST.
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| Spy Shots: 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Super Sport Posted: 22 Aug 2011 01:45 AM PDT "1,200 horsepower is too much, but more than 1,001 is absolutely possible." These were the words spoken by Bugatti CEO, Wolfgang Durheimer, just last week when discussing a future special edition of the almost put to rest Bugatti Veyron. He was talking about the possibility of a Super Sport package for the Veyron Grand Sport model - the Veyron’s open top model - but while we were convinced such a vehicle would be nowhere near ready for the line, our spy photographers have snapped a few pictures of the actual vehicle almost entirely free of its camouflage. From these images we can see that the NACA air ducts that usually are on the Super Sport model have been changed for the normal Grand Sport air intakes. This is due to the fact that the NACA air ducts will not work with the open top aspect of the vehicle. Some changes might also be hidden under the minimal camouflage found on the front bumper, but only time will tell what those may be. The Bugatti Veyron line all carry the same 8.0 liter W16 engine, but the SuperSport’s output is much higher (1200 HP) compared to the Grand Sport’s (1001 HP) due to the use of four enlarged turbochargers and bigger intercoolers. We expect Bugatti to follow along this same turbocharged path for the Grand Sport Super Sport, albeit in a tamer way. Expect the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Super Sport’s price tag to fall somewhere in the middle of the Grand Sport ($1.9M) and the Super Sport ($2.4M). Spy Shots: 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Super Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 08:45 EST.
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