SUPER & FANTASTIC CARS

honda skydeck concept

2009-11-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

When automakers take a concept vehicle to a motor show, they offer all kinds of information about what the future production model would come with. However, every so often a car maker, let’s say Honda shows off a concept vehicle with no details, such as the Honda Skydeck Concept.

The SkyDeck is widely seen as a potential successor to the Odyssey, Honda’s current mini-van.This vehicle was on show at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, but Honda said that this six-seat MPV Hybrid is theoretical.

The interior of the car looks like something from the future, the first two rows are cantilever mounted to a center tunnel, the second row of seats are able to slide forward and can be stored under the front seats.

How far off is the SkyDeck? Who knows. For now, it’s just a concept car – a glimmer in the eye of a few top Honda designers.

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Aston Martin V-12 Vantage

2009-05-13T01:51:00.000-07:00

Aston Martin unveiled the production version of its most potent and focused car at Geneva. This new car combines the V-8 Vantage's compact 2-seat dimensions with the power of the company's 5.9-liter V-12—to the tune of 510 bhp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. Aston is predicting a 190 mph top speed, along with 0–62 mph (100 km/h) dispatched in a scant 4.2 seconds.
Although the V-12 engine weighs 220 lb. more than the standard car's V-8, carbon-ceramic brakes, lighter forged aluminium wheels, lightweight inner rear quarter panels and optional lightweight seats have resulted in the overall curb weight that's only 110 lb. heavier than its V-8 sibling's. And the weight distribution is near perfect, at 51/49 front/rear.

"More" has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as Aston only expects to build 300–500 examples a year at its Gaydon factory. Deliveries will begin this fall.

In A meanwhile,Aston Martin will return to the Nurburgring for the fourth year in a row to compete in the 24-hour endurance race. This year the new V12 Vantage will be joining the yellow V8 Vantage - nicknamed 'Rose' - on the grid.

The ADAC Nurburgring 24-hour race attracts a variety of entrants from factory backed teams (including Aston Martin, VW and Audi) to private entries in anything from Porsche 911 GT3s and BMW M3 GTS to more modest machinery. The strangest entry in last year's race was probably the Opel Astra Caravan, which finished ahead of a Lamborghini Gallardo!

This year Aston Martin will enter a V12 Vantage, driven by Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez along with members of Aston's engineering team. The car is described as being 'near standard specification', which means about 510bhp from a 6.0-litre V12. Changes include reduced weight, which necessitates re-tuned suspension and Pirelli has provided slick tyres for the race.

Pagani Zonda R Official Commercial

2009-03-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

“The Zonda has set more than one record at the race track. It raised the bar for road supercars. Passion, ingenuity, knowledge and craftsmanship created the parts to form an effective and focused package. What more could you want?”

These are the enticing words appearing at the beginning of this beautifully-shot video clip. In the clip is the new supercar Pagani Zonda R. It does not move or even start up. This is something of a commercial trailer for the super track car which was commissioned to Supercarmovies.com by Pagani.

At some point during the clip they show some of the components that make up the R and then progress to other shots demonstrating these parts being screwed together by hand to form a complete package. When it’s done you can’t help but admire the polished finished product.

To get the technical spec of this supercar is powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine with 552kW (750hp) and peak torque of 710Nm. It comes with a 6-speed sequential gearbox and slick tyres.
source:worldcarfans

Lamborghini Insecta Concept

2009-03-11T01:36:00.000-07:00

It’s a Lambo with extra bite! Meet the Lamborghini Insecta Concept, the brainchild of Romanian design student Iulian Bumbu. The Milan-based designer claims the car is a fusion of the Italian carmaker's current design language and the exoskeletons, or body armour, found on insects.

Insects to be the inspiration for future Lamborghini’s? That’s what one industrial design enthusiast was thinking about when he turned up this design study of what a future Lamborghini might look like. This supercar is still the concept car and is cleverly dubbed the Lamborghini Insecta and is structurally made of carbon fiber.Rumours said,this supercar, is to be powered by the same V10 powerplant that powers the Gallardo though we’re hoping it’ll feature more power, after all, insects are capable of some pretty amazing things.

And the two-seater mid-engined supercar certainly has a bug-like quality to it – with it’s tightly-wrapped carbon-fibre bodywork, wide-set eyes and winged scissor doors.Iulian Bumbu, the industrial design enthusiast of Romania explains in pure designer language, “The idea was to create an extreme race-oriented supercar with a style that introduces softer and more organic lines and integrate them into the geometrical style of Lamborghini.”Apparently the exoskeletons of insects gave Bumbu the idea for the external structure of the car. According to him, he tried ot to deviate too much from Lambo’s new design language but what will really be interesting is the response from Lamborghini Brand and Design Director, Manfred Fitzgerald.

Audi TT RS

2009-03-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

A supercar manufactured by Audi,the Audi TT RS is to be officially revealed at next month’s Geneva Motor Show but the power of the internet again prevails as we now have official shots and an audio clip of the TT RS.This supercar will be powered by a 2.5-liter five cylinder turbocharged powerplant. Officially Ingolstadt’s hottest ever TT model, it is also a tribute to the spirit of the original Quattro model of the 80’s.

The new addition to the RS line up is good for some very impressive numbers - 340hp and a max torque of 450Nm, 0-100 in under five seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. All that power is channel to all four wheels - or Quattro all wheel drive system in Audi lingo - through a six speed manual gearbox.

On the outside, the TT RS gets a rather subtle treatment over the 272HP TT S model that includes slightly larger front air vents, a distinctive rear diffuser, a fixed boot spoiler and twin-spoke alloy wheels. Inside, there’s a leather multifunction sports steering wheel and sports seats in a combination of Alcantara and leather. Check out the gallery below, more details on this next week.

The 2009 Caparo T1

2009-02-17T20:12:00.000-08:00

Even this supercar had been involved in a fiery incident with a Fifth Gear host, scared the Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson and is generally completely impractical, the 575hp (429kW) Caparo T1 still exudes a sort of animal magnetism.

The 1000hp/tonne power-to-weight ratio doesn’t hurt the experience. That’s roughly double the ratio of the Bugatti Veyron, and enough to rocket the car to 60mph (96km/h) in less than 2.5 seconds, and on to 100mph (160km/h) in under 5. But perhaps the most impressive stats of the Caparo T1 are the lateral and braking force figures: up to three times the force of gravity throws the driver left, right and forward.This supercar full details on the 2009 version of the car have yet to be released, but Caparo has revealed five new levels of specification will be available. The entry-level variant is a stripped-down race track-only version, while a Race Extreme variant gets upgraded electronics, the most powerful engine package fully carbon brakes and super-lightweight magnesium wheels.

Source: Motor Authority

Volkswagen Golf R20T

2009-02-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen first hinted at a new high-performance version of the Scirocco coupe when it revealed the GT24 race concept back at the Austrian Wörthersee Tour tuning show in May, but in what form the car will finally come to production is still up in the air. A report from AutoExpress suggests that the Volkswagen brand has finally succumbed to pressures by canning the 3.2-litre naturally aspirated V6 in favour of its trusted 2.0-litre turbo. This move applies to the range-topping Golf which is not the GTI but the R32. What's more is that the name R32 will disappear along with the engine to which it referred. Instead the car will likely be called the R20T and its chief rivals will be the Ford Focus RS, VW Group cousin the Audi S3 and the Subaru Impreza STI.

According to CAR, the new R20T will go on sale in Europe in early 2010 and will closely match the styling of the GT24 race concept. Key features likely lifted from the concept include the aggressively styled bumper with larger intakes and unique fog lights, as well as the slightly wider fenders and lower ride height.

By tweaking the 2.0-litre's ECU about 270bhp (201kW) can be extracted, which is similar to the Audi S3's power output of 265bhp from the same engine. A high-performance Scirocco R20T is also expected to use the same engine. The car will not only have more power than the current V6's 250bhp (186kW) but also weigh less as a result of the smaller engine. Thus improved performance overall and fewer C02 emissions can be expected. Whether a 4WD system or FWD will be used remains to be seen. However two gearboxes will be mated to whichever system is chosen, these being the 6-speed manual and DSG.

Styling is likely to be similar to that of the GTI and include LED daytime running lights, a sportier front bumper, flared wheel arches, and an underbody diffuser. The twin pipes located at the rear bumper centre remain in place but because the V6 is no more a similar sound will be engineered.

GT-R Updated Launch Control

2009-02-07T01:20:00.000-08:00

Nissan had updated the software that governs the GT-R’s launch control and was instructing all of its dealers to reprogram every vehicle in dealer inventory that had yet to be sold with the new software in a bid to keep additional transmissions from grenading.

The changes to the new software including limit the maximum RPM that the car will sustain with the VDC switched off to around 3,500, a big reduction from the 4,500 limit of the old programming. Additionally, the software update adds a new, safer form of launch control that allows takeoffs at 3,000 RPM while the VDC remains active.

We have some good news to share with Godzilla owners that are contemplating whether or not to have their cars updated with the new software. A bone-stock GT-R with the reprogramming has been timed at 11.34 @ 194.5km/h with an excellent -1.69-second 0-100 time. That result compares rather favorably with quarter-mile runs recorded by cars with the initial launch control programming.

Aston Martin One-77

2009-02-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

Aston Martin has released the first image of its newest flagship – the limited edition One-77. Details are scarce, but the One-77 will be powered by a hand-built 7.0-liter V12 nestled inside an aluminum and carbon fiber chassis. 0-60 times are estimated at 3.5-seconds, with a top speed cresting 200 mph.

77 examples of the £1 million coupe will be produced and customers will be able to customize the bespoke supercar to meet their individual tastes. The One-77 will be revealed later this year (Paris?) and will go on sale shortly afterwards.

This will be the first all-new vehicle from Aston Martin produced after the brand was sold by Ford to a group of investors spearheaded by Prodrive's David Richards. We're also curious to know if the One-77 will play a part in Project Alligator, the rumored collaboration between Aston and Mercedes-Benz. All details will be revealed in due time. Until then let your eyes feast on the only image we have of the upcoming One-77 supercar.Selling million-dollar supercars isn’t as easy as it used to be. While Lamborghini quickly offloaded its small run of seven-figure Reventons and Bugatti has gone through the bulk of its Veyron production, Aston Martin may be finding it a bit more difficult to separate the obscenely wealthy from their millions.

The One-77 is the big-ticket supercar in question, to be built in a limited run of 77 examples, with only six headed to the US, five staying in the UK and the remaining 66 ending up in the Emirates and dispersing around the world. Previous reports circulating the interwebs suggested that the entire production run sold out almost immediately – before the car was even fully unveiled – but those reports may have been misleading. Although 100 potential customers reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the uber-supercar, the order books have apparently yet to be filled with buyers who’ve plunked down the £200k deposit. But even in this economy, they’re bound to sell out soon, so if you’ve got the cash to spare, you’d better act fast. Like, 700-horsepower supercar fast.

First Official Rendering Of Aston Martin Rapide

2009-02-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

The Rapide’s front and rear aspects are closest to the Vantage V8, not the DBS or DB9. The front air dam features just one lower intake, the trunk valance is flush with the car, and the tailpipes flank the rear diffuser area. Those are all Vantage cues.

This supercar is 5-meter long car will be power by a 6.0-liter V12 engine, but slot exactly in between the DB9 and DBS in output with 480 hp. Autocar suggests this will get the car to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, but that could be optimistic – those 30 additional horses over the DB9 have to pull 286 more pounds, which will make it a challenge to outrun the middle sibling.

Not that it’s really meant to. The Rapide is Aston luxury for four, so it is taller than the DBS in order to provide more rear headroom for the “young adults” that can fit back there. The rear doors open wider than the front for ease of entry and the front seats have been raised to make room for the feet of back seat passengers. It even has a wagon-like folding rear bulkhead and parcel shelf. The Rapide will be appearing in the fourth quarter of the year when, with all hope, a better buying climate awaits it.
source:autocar

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

2009-02-02T21:35:00.000-08:00

The Concept BlueSport manufactured by German car company,Volkswagen is powered by a mid-mounted 2.0-liter turbodiesel that cranks out 180 bhp and 258 lb ft of torque. The power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. The tidy Concept BlueSport measures just 157.1 inches in overall length, stands 49.6 in. tall and is 68.7 in. wide. The mid-ship engine location gives the car a front/rear weight distribution of 45/55. The Concept BlueSport rides on an independent front MacPherson strut and rear multilink suspension and features 19-in. wheels and tires.

The styling of the vehicle embodies the new design philosophy introduced by Volkswagen on the Golf and Scirocco—the front of the car has a thin horizontal grille element above the bumper and large open intakes below. The car sports clean, simple lines that are athletic and blend in with the aggressive front and rear wheel arch flares.

The Concept BlueSport is equipped with leather-clad bucket seats, a roll-bar and a manually operated soft top. In addition to delivering outstanding fuel economy (35 mpg city/50 highway for 42 mpg combined), the turbocharged diesel engine’s long suit is torque. The abundant amount of twist from 1750 rpm enables the car to sprint to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds. And with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, VW estimates a theoretical range of 710 miles—so you can go fast and far.

Bentley teases biofuel supercar

2009-01-27T20:16:00.000-08:00

Bentley will take a large share of the spotlight with the vehicle you see above. It has no name yet, and no technical specifics have been released, but what Bentley has revealed is that this will be the marque's fastest, most powerful production car yet.And while the fuel price is increasing from one day to another day,this Bentley Supercar will runs on biofuel. Visually, the grilles all have a blackout treatment, and sizable vertical intakes occupy the front bumper's outer edges. The hood also sports a pair of vents, presumably to help extract engine heat.

Given that the 600-horsepower/553-lb-ft Continental GT Speed currently owns the "most powerful production Bentley" title, look for more extreme ratings on this new, obviously Continental-based monster. As for the biofuel half of the equation, we expect to see an ethanol-drinking version of the twin-turbocharged W12 that propels the rest of the Continental range.

Source: Bentley

2009 Aston Martin LeMans LMP1 Race Car

2009-01-26T23:27:00.000-08:00

Aston Martin to challenge for overall Le Mans win

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of its only overall win in the Franco Enduro, Aston Martin is set to tackle the 2009 24-hours of Le Mans in this - a pair of Gulf liveried LMP1 race cars.
Racing the cars will be Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge and Stefan Mucke along with Darren Turner who was part of the team that raced the DBR9 GT1 crew in 2007 and 2008. Harold Primat is the newest addition to the team and one other driver will be announced shortly. Unfortunately, Aston won’t be campaigning in the GT1 class in bid to focus all its efforts on its LM

The new car which is based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola will be powered by the same production-based Aston Martin V12 engine which, last year, helped Aston Martin secure its second successive Le Mans GT1 title with the DBR9. It also powered the Charouz car to a new La Sarthe lap record for a petrol car.

Aston Martin Racing is developing the car in conjunction with Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS and continues its relationship with major partner Gulf Oil and official clothing partner Hackett.
In 2009, the ACO is introducing new regulations aimed at balancing the performance of petrol and diesel engined prototypes making the LMP1 category more appealing and relevant to Aston Martin.

To focus maximum energy on the LMP1 programme, the Works team will not defend its GT1 title at Le Mans. However, Aston Martin Racing will support any of its official partner teams and customers competing at the race.

The Le Mans 24 hour race will be held over the weekend of 13-14 June.

Ferrari SUV Launching Next Year?

2009-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

A Ferrari SUV might take some getting used to. The idea to produce SUV actually has been around for some years and this is the freshest artist rendition. It’s an SUV by the definition of a vehicle with four doors, raised ride height, mostly fitted with a 4WD system and takes the shape of a station wagon/ tourer.

Ferrari give codename “Ferrari FS 599 Fuoristrada” .The SUV will be constructed out of aluminium and carbon fiber composites for weight-efficiency. Engines come from the naturally aspirated V8 found in the California and the 599 GTB’s V12 powerplant. They produce in excess of 400hp and 600hp each respectively.

Renderings of a Ferrari SUV have appeared before based on speculation that the Italian company was working on its first ever SUV. At the time Porsche was riding high with the great success of its Cayenne and premium brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW had been building MLs and X5s for years before.

As the world's economy is still under recession, there’s no clear direction as to whether the project is still going ahead or not. However,with the recent announcement of an alliance with Ferrari parent Fiat and Chrysler LLC of America new possibilities have arisen. Such possibilities include a common SUV platform that can be shared with Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari itself. Product assembly could even be in the US just like Mercedes with the old ML and BMW with the X5 and X6.

Source:zerotohundred

Ford announces dual clutch PowerShift gearbox

2009-01-24T20:28:00.000-08:00

Ford Motor Company announced today it will introduce an advanced dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission in North America in 2010 for the small-car segment.

The new gearbox will deliver the fuel efficiency of a manual gearbox with the convenience and ease of a premium automatic transmission,making it a key enabling technology as Ford targets best-in-class or among-the-best fuel economy with every new vehicle it introduces in North America.

Overall, Six-speed transmissions already have helped vehicles such as the 2010 Ford Fusion achieve best-in-class fuel economy, while at the same time allowing the Ford Flex and Ford Escape to achieve unsurpassed fuel economy in their respective segments.
Ford is leveraging six-speed transmissions, advanced internal combustion engines such as EcoBoost, hybrids, full electric vehicles, vehicle weight reduction and electric power-assisted steering to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions fleet-wide by 30 percent by the year 2020.

Compared to traditional automatic four-speed transmissions, PowerShift can help reduce fuel consumption by up to 9 percent depending on the application.

PowerShift provides the full comfort of an automatic with a more sophisticated driving dynamic, thanks to uninterrupted torque from the dual-clutch technology, which consists essentially of two manual transmissions working in parallel, each with its own independent clutch unit. One clutch carries the uneven gears – 1, 3 and 5 – while the other the even gears – 2, 4 and 6. Subsequent gear changes are coordinated between both clutches as they engage and disengage for a seamless delivery of torque to the wheels.PowerShift, unlike conventional automatic transmissions, does not need the heavier torque converter or planetary gears. In addition, the dry-clutch derivative eliminates the need for the weighty pumps, hydraulic fluids, cooling lines and external coolers that wet clutch transmissions require. As a result, the dry-clutch PowerShift transmission can weigh nearly 30 pounds less than, for example, the four-speed automatic transmission featured on today's Ford Focus.

Differentiating PowerShift even further in terms of its customer appeal is its shift quality, launch feel and overall drive dynamic, which are all facilitated by an expert blend of Ford-exclusive electro-mechanical systems, software features, calibrations and controls. These unique driving features include:

• Neutral coast down – The clutches will disengage when the brakes are applied, improving coasting downshifts and clutch robustness as well as reducing parasitic losses for increased fuel economy.

• Precise clutch control in the form of a clutch slip to provide torsional damping of the engine vibration – This function improves noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) at low engine speeds and enables lower lugging limits for improved fuel economy.

• Low-speed driving or creep mode with integrated brake pressure – This function simulates the low-speed control drivers are accustomed to from an automatic transmission. The amount of rolling torque in Drive and Reverse is precisely controlled, gradually building as brake pressure is released.

• Hill mode or launch assist – Prevents a vehicle from rolling back on a grade by maintaining brake pressure until the engine delivers enough torque to move the vehicle up the hill, providing improved driver confidence, comfort, safety and clutch robustness.

source:ford

Porsche 2009 GT3 RSR

2009-01-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

Porsche recently unveiled its latest GT2-class racing car, the GT3 RSR.

The GT3 RSR is powered by a rear mounted six cylinder engine with displacement now up to 4-liters to the 3.8-liter of last year. What is baffling is that last years car produced 465hp@8000 rpm but this years car puts out 450hp@7,800rpm, the difference is not much and it could be down to sacrificing power for reliability. Torque is the same as last year at 430Nm@7,250rpm.

The rev limiter kicks in at 9000, and Porsche says that the new car’s torque curve is better-optimized than the outgoing car’s.

Technical Description Porsche GT3 RS

Engine:
Water-cooled, six-cylinder boxer engine; four valves
per cylinder; dry sump lubrication; individual throttle
butterflies; fuel injection; air restrictors 2 x 29.5 mm.

Bore:
102.7 mm

Stroke:
80.4 mm

Capacity:
3,996 cc

Power output:
331 kW (450 bhp) at 7,800 rpm

Max. Torque:
430 Nm at 7,250 rpm

Max. revs:
9,400 rpm

Transmission:
Six speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift;
oil/water heat exchanger; single-mass flywheel;
hydraulic disengagement lever; three-plate carbon-fibre
clutch; rear wheel drive; limited-slip differential 45/65%.

Body:
Monocoque body (basis GT3 RS) of hot-galvanised steel;
aerodynamically optimised front end with front spoiler;
aerodynamically optimised front underfloor; adjustable
rear wing; 90-litre safety fuel tank with fast filling function;
air jack; welded-in safety cage; bucket-type racing seat
(on driver’s side only) with flame-resistant seat cover;
six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS
Head and Neck Support; electric fire-extinguishing system.

Suspension:

Front:
McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs four-way gas
pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and ancillary
spring); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable
sword-type anti-roll bar on both sides; power steering.

Rear:
Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame;
Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs
(main and auxiliary spring); rear axle tie-bar reinforced
and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll
bar on both sides.

Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height,
camber, track).

Brakes:
Brake system with balance bar control.

Front:
Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers;
inner-vented, 380 mm in diameter; racing brake pads.

Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers;
inner-vented, 355 mm in diameter; racing brake pads.

Wheels:

Front:
Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (11J x 18-34);
central bolt;

Rear:
Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (13J x 18-12.5);
central bolt.

Electrical System:
Motec display with integrated data recording; multi-function
display with integrated gearshift indicator; adjustable
traction control; battery: 12 volt, 50 Ah, 140 Ah alternator.

Weight:
Approx. 1,220 kg complying with A.C.O. regulations,
1,245 kg complying with FIA regulations.

source:zerotohundred

Jaguar’s Reborn XJ220

2009-01-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

Jaguar is getting ready to reinvent its stunning XJ220, it looks likely to make a dramatic appearance at a major international motor show in the next 18 months.

According to our network of spies, the revolutionary sports car is being developed by the firm’s best engineers as a rival to the Audi R8. It’s based on an all-new aluminium chassis, which has been developed using the same know-how behind both the XJ and XK models.

The car will have aluminium panels stretched over an alloy and composite tub, while under the bonnet is likely to be a tuned version of the 503bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8, set to power the eagerly anticipated XFR. A mildly modified version of this engine has already propelled a near-showroom-spec XFR to an incredible 225mph on the Bonneville salt flats in the US. The new supercar is likely to match this figure, while the sprint from 0-60mph should take less than four seconds.

The two-seater is tipped to be called the XE, and has been styled by a team led by Ian Callum.

Meanwhile,at the front, there’s an oval grille,framed by narrow, ultra-efficient LED headlamps. A steeply raked windscreen keeps the car’s overall height as low as possible, while the wide rear end supports buttress C-pillars, similar to those on the new Ferrari 599 GTB. As in the R8 and Ferrari’s F430, the engine will be visible through the rear windscreen.

Wide air intakes dominate the model’s front end, and deep scoops in the flanks help feed cooling air to the supercharged engine.CO2 emissions will be less than 300g/km, and the good things the powerplant will be capable of running on biofuel-blended petrol . Liberal use of lightweight materials, including aluminium and carbon fibre, will further improve the machine’s fuel efficiency and performance.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

2009-01-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

The Bugatti Veyron is currently the most expensive and fastest sports car in the world. Hailed by many as the greatest automobile ever made, it features all the most recent automotive advancements in one package.

The 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is powered by by a mid-mounted and quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 engine. Its 1,001 hp and 922 lb-ft of torque are delivered to all four wheels via a beefed-up seven-speed version of VW/Audi's excellent dual-clutch sequential gearbox (DSG). The transmission has two automatic modes , normal and Sport and may also be shifted manually via paddles on the steering wheel.

Published reports consistently have the Veyron hitting 60 mph from rest in under 3 seconds, and the car will attain extralegal velocities at a similarly dizzying rate. That 253-mph top speed must be enabled via a separate key, however; otherwise, the Veyron is limited to a mere 233 mph.

The 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is so fast that it needs an eponymous adjective. In a straight line, no other four wheeled conveyance can touch it. What's more, the Veyron's handling is nearly as impressive, no mean feat given its considerable heft. The only thing lacking and this is more of an esoteric issue is a lack of emotional involvement. Designed to perfection, the Veyron doesn't quite generate the visceral appeal that otherwise might come about in cars like the Ferrari F430 or Porsche 911 GT3 RS that take a more raw and hard-edged approach to performance.

As one might expect in a $1.5 million car, the Veyron's cabin is pretty fancy. The leather upholstery is opulent and omnipresent, and extensive aluminum trim adorns the center stack, steering wheel and other controls. The gauge cluster features a somewhat gimmicky "power gauge" that supposedly displays real-time horsepower production. The Veyron's bathtub like high beltline, obtrusively thick A-pillars and low seating position don't bolster its credentials as a driver's car, but there's a lot of room in there, even for taller folks.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets AMG sports package

2009-01-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

For those more interested in the way their car looks or goes around corners than how fast it accelerates, Mercedes-Benz has announced an AMG sports package that will be optional with any powerplant available for the new 2010 E-class.The new package will hitting a European market in March.

The pricing is depends on the engine chosen by customer.However,the start price for the basic package at around 3,000 Euros (around $3900 USD). For that sum, the buyer gets a unique set of aprons along with side skirts and 18-inch AMG alloy wheels which are painted in sterling silver with a high sheen finish and are shod with 245/40 R18 wide base tyres at the from and 265/35 R18 tyres at the rear.

Meanwhile in inside, a set of microfiber and faux-leather seats for your bum join a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift paddles for your hands and aluminum pedals for your Piloti-clad feet. Performance oriented bits include a suspension drop of 15 millimeters along with perforated brake discs with silver-painted calipers up front and bearingthe Mercedes Benz logo.

Peugeot 408 sedan

2009-01-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

These are among the images of the new Peugeot 408 sedan lurking in the shadows showing a sleek sporty profile with large 5-spoke rims. The new peugeot model 408 will replace the current Peugeot 407 .The Peugeot 407 was launched since 2004 with several body variants such as a station wagon, a two-door coupe and a sedan.

The Peugeot 408 looks like to be ready on the road, begging the possibility of a Geneva Motor Show debut in this coming March. On the other hand it would be a surprise to see an all-new model since the 407 just received a minor facelift in 2008.

The current Peugeot 407 range has an assortment of engines including petrol and diesel.Peugeot 407 power up wit 1.8 litre petrol engine that can produce 114hp (85kW) and 1.6 HDi turbo diesels to the 2.7 HDi V6 making 201hp (150kW) and a sweet 440Nm of torque.

Peugeot could be preparing for a busy year. Recently the French manufacturer unveiled the new 3008 crossover while a 7 seater variant of the 3008 is coming soon.

Pagani Zonda R

2009-01-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

One of the most desirable supercars on earth had been show to the public. The supercars brought by The Pagani brand has finally release out the Zonda R which is the ultimate racing machine.This supercar even can be drive on the road too. While it may not look it at first glance, the Zonda R shares only about 10% of its components with the Zonda F. that means from the start it was designed for its own unique purpose.

The Zonda R is powered by Mercedes-Benz’s AMG engine. It’s the 6.0-litre V12 powerplant.This type of engine can be found in the racing CLK GTR that has successfully competed in GT championships. This powerful engine is angled at 60 degrees, light in weight and produces humongous figures of 750hp (552kW) and 710Nm of torque. Pagani Zonda R is equipped with 6-speed sequential gearbox model that sends power to slick tyres. Lubrication is a dry sump with a separate oil tank.

To match the stability with the speed of this supercar, the Zonda R has had its wheelbase increased by 47mm, overall length is up by 394mm while the track increased by 50mm. Bodywork was optimised to increase downforce even at low speeds, while an aerodynamic package of a bonnet with flaps, adjustable rear wing, and rear diffuser give the car exceptional cornering ability. While the car corners the driver is sitting comfortably inside a cabin that hugs and gives him a sense of stability and safety.

Mugen Civic RR Advance Concept

2009-01-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

See what has Mugen did to the FD2 Civic Type-R with the 2008 RR. This year, they will unveiled what would be the most extreme factory tuned Type-R. They we call it the RR Advanced Concept. It’s no longer a Type R. in fact, most removable panels are now carbon fiber. They have also retained the carbon reinforced interior from the Experimental spec RR.

The Mugen will make the RR Advanced Concept more powerfull and can reach up 260bhp, 20bhp more than the 240bhp RR and does 9000rpms.

Here I post some official studio pictures from all round the car. As you can clearly see, almost all exterior panels are replaced by CFRP. Lot’s of details here and there seperating it from the RR.

Cadillac WTF

2009-01-14T02:47:00.000-08:00

Here is another concept car design by the most succesfull car manufacturer, the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept. Otherwise known as the Cadillac WTF. Design by Loren Kulesus, everything about the WTF has been created to last 100 years without maintenance. That's the reason for the element number ninety, thorium: to act as a nuclear fuel powering batteries that would power the car.

Elsewhere, every major system is redundant in case of a failure. And the wheels don't have individual tires.In fact, what's located at each corner is one combined unit made up of six individual wheels. So if you count ,it will gives a total of 24 wheels, and each wheel has its own induction motor.

"The vehicle would require the tires to be adjusted every five years, but no material would need to be added or subtracted." Said Kulesus.

NATS GT-K

2009-01-14T02:23:00.000-08:00

Have your heard before about NATS.Here you are,what A good looking car left to the untalented chops and this is the result, behold the NATS GT-K. This supercar manufactured based on the Suzuki Cappuccino, the GT-K sports many parts that seem to make a mockery of the original GTR. The head and rear lights are from the GTR, the hood and other body panels are also reminiscent of the R35 but they look to be moulded to fit the smaller frame of the Suzuki.

Thankfully, that’s where the blasphemy ends. The Kei car is powered not by the GTR’s monstrous 3.8-liter V6 but instead it’s powered by a modified version of the 657cc DOHC inline-three equipped with a larger turbo and intercooler, along with coilover suspension, upgraded brakes and a set of gloriously hideous 18-inch chrome wheels.

Bentley Continental GTC

2009-01-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

This is another car manufacturer in Detroit Auto Show 2009,Bentley.

Similar to the other Speed-spec Continentals, Bentley sports car,the GTC Speed gives only subtle clues to its 600-horsepower W12. Up front, there's an updated front end with a more sinister front grille, along with a more assertive air dam.

Even static on Bentley's hardwood, it's easy to see that the GTC Speed benefits from a lowered ride height that gives away the car's tighter suspension, as do its wider wheels and tires.

To reach 60 mph ,it takes time in just 4.5 seconds, and if there's a more graceful way to muss your coif at 195 mph, we have yet to find it. For those seeking out the mythical double ton on the speedometer, however, you'll have to close the roof.

Detroit MotorShow2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

2009-01-11T17:52:00.000-08:00

Car manufacturer,Audi always have something great and a brilliant idea for every motorshow.This year,in a Detroit Auto Show 2009,the come out with a supercar Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI,addition to the sportback Concept.Power by the 5.2L V10 plucked from the Gallardo LP560-4 mounted amidships, the new R8 now packs 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft torque. Exterior styling has been subtly updated and includes all-LED headlights, wide side sills, revised matte aluminum exhaust tips, and new 19-inch 10-spoke wheels.

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

2009-01-09T03:33:00.000-08:00

Mitsubishi will launch a new supercar to compete to the five-door Subaru Impreza,The Lancer Sportback engine line-up in Europe is reported to be 1.5 to 1.8-liter petrol engines along with a 2-liter turbodiesel. The daddy of them all is a Sportback Ralliart version powered by the same turbocharged 2-liter MIVEC engine powering the Evo X.

The Sportback Ralliart will be putting out 237hp and 253lb-ft of torque to all fours via Mitsubishi’s highly acclaimed Twin-Clutch SST four wheel drive system and its Active Center Differential. Considering the Evo X officially made it to our shores without keeping us waiting for too long, don’t be suprised to see the Ralliart Lancer Sportback storming down our highways soon after its launch.

New Details On Upcoming Audi S1

2009-01-08T18:51:00.001-08:00

New details have emerged to the upcoming Audi S1 has its sights dead set on the MINI Cooper JCW, Fiat 500 Abarth SS, Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA and the Volvo C30.

However,the new Audi is based on the new Audi A1, the S1 will feature a host of “go-fast” products such as a cranked up version of VW/Audi’s four cylinder Twincharged 1.4-liter TSI powerplant, fine tuned to produce 200hp and 221lb-ft of torque. The three-door this Audi will be able to hold its ground with a rear-biased quattro setup, a seven-speed S-Tronic twin-clutch gearbox and a lowered and stiffened suspension that may feature Audi’s magnetic dampers. The test drive is projecting a 0-100 time of around six seconds and a limited top speed of 250km/h.

The car will be equipped with an aggressive bodykit, 19-inch alloys, roof spoiler and chrome accents. Inside, you’ll find the usual Audiness with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, sport seats and aluminum pedals.

Nissan GTR V-Spec Officially Unveiled

2009-01-08T00:31:00.000-08:00

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced a new limited-production Nissan GT-R SpecV model, which goes on sale at specially selected Nissan dealers throughout Japan on coming February 2, 2009. The new supercar GT-R SpecV marker specifically for the enthusiast drivers who desire race car-level performance in a street-legal vehicle.

This supercar had been developed around the multi-dimensional Nissan GT-R sports car, which was introduced just more than one year ago.The GT-R SpecV’s exterior features include a carbon fiber rear spoiler, a carbon fiber grille, and carbon fiber brake ducts.Inside, the SpecV’s unique two-seat interior make by special Recaro carbon fiber bucket seats, while carbon fiber insets embellish the rear center storage box, instrument panel and other trim areas.

Meanwhile,nissan also improve on the performance whereby this supercar is enhanced with a new high gear boost control device, which momentarily increases boost of the engine’s twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide a more powerful feeling of acceleration. Other modifications include a titanium-coated exhaust system and carbon-ceramic brakes that provide powerful stopping performance.

The GT-R SpecV also will be more lighten by equipped with racing-style forged aluminum wheels that were developed for this model and have been sold by NISMO since September 2008.

Spy shot supercar,Porsche 911 GT3 RS

2009-01-08T00:10:00.000-08:00

The new GT3 RS with the coupe, cabrio, targa and turbo variants of the latest Porsche 911 already out on the road .This new monster GT3 RS was snapped in the French mountains area were it was testing alongside the current model.

There are a few cosmetic changes, in typical Zuffenhausen fashion.However,this supercar will retain its “GT3 RS” side decals, coloured wheels, decorative strip and side mirrors finished in contrasting paint.

To make this supercar more light,the new RS will include a polycarbonate rear window, and carbon fibre bonnet and rear wing.

Once again, the 3.6-litre flat-six, which it shares with the GT3, will be required to pound out 410hp. This will propel the car to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds before it goes on to hit a top speed of 310 km/h.

Could BMW 135i “SuperSports” on the road 2010?

2009-01-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

Germancarzone is reporting that a certain bavarian car maker is working on to improve their new performance carversion of its 1- series. This news has been repeated at BMW Blog so it could just be worth paying attention to. Not to be mistaken for the M1,it will be call 135i SuperSports will boast a bunch of improvements and greater performance.

2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI

2009-01-06T22:22:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen is preparing a new supercar Volkswagen Polo GTI for 2010. If the project smooth,their will participate in a Frankfurt Motor Show launch in September,.

The Polo GTI with the same 1.4 liter super- and turbo-charged four-cylinger TSI as the Ibiza Cupra, this will likely be the fastest Polo ever. 178 bhp (130 kW) and 184 ft-lbs (249 Nm) of torque means this hatchback could have a 0-60mph in under seven seconds. The top speed will be around 225 km/h.

The fuel consumption for this litter supercar around are (7 L/100km, and 150 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The Polo GTI would likely fit into emissions Band C, so UK buyers would not have to pay a fortune in yearly vehicle tax.

A six-speed manual will come standard, with a seven speed automatic dual-clutch also available.

Exterior styling will have many commonalities with the Golf GTI, such as a black honeycomb grille wrapped in a red line that blends seemlessly into the front bumper. Alloy wheels, an aerodynamic body kit, and an overall aggressive look is likely. We would not be surprised to see red brake calipers, dual exhaust, and signal mirrors.

Eliica- Electric Powered Hypercar

2009-01-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

It is not a fantasy or science fiction.It is real!Now an eight wheel car has arrive as its attempt at ridiculous speeds using alternative energy. An automative team from Japan engineers have built this eight wheeled electric monster you see here and proved along the way that an eight wheeled car is twice the car a normal one is.

Using a lithium-ion batteries to operate, the appropriately named Eliica is capable of a top speed of 402km/h and a contradictory range of 321km. What a very fast speed using the alternative energy.It achieves this speed using electric motors that power all eight wheels individually and each of the electric motor will produces around 80hp, and by now you should be able to understand how the Eliica achieves its speed and 0-100 time of under four seconds.

The project start developed in 2003, two examples of the four-seater hypercar currently exist but the team is working overtime to raise sponsorship to build more. According to our source, the team may just get its break as the Japanese government’s interest in electric vehicles grow. If and when that happens, 200 units will be made for a price of around USD$255,000.

Top 10 Mid-Engined Hatchback

2009-01-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

Number 1:Volkswagen GTI W12 650 Concept VW Golf GTI W12 with the rear seats ripped out and replaced by a twin-turbo, six-liter W12, driving a whopping 650 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque through a faux-paddle-shifted six-speed automatic to the rear wheels.

Number 2:Metro 6R4 Group B rally car
Developed by Williams Grand Prix Engineering, the Metro 6R4 bore only a passing resemblance to the staid budget hatch on which it was ostensibly based. It alternatively wore Austin, Rover or MG badges under the British Leyland umbrella, and drove up to 380 horsepower from its mid-mounted 3-liter DOHC quattrovalve V6 to all four wheels. The engine was so advanced that it ended up, in twin-turbo form, powering the Jaguar XJ220 supercar

Number 3: Renault Clio V6
The 3-liter V6 drove 252hp to the rear wheels, which propelled the Clio V6 to sixty in 5.9 seconds. Poor power-to-weight meant that the mid-engined version wasn't much faster than the more conventional Clio 172 Cup on which it was based, but the bottom line is that the Clio V6 is the only one here that was actually offered commercially. And that's why we love it.

Number 4:Sbarro Ferrari Super 8
Sbarro started with a Ferrari 308 GTB, with a shortened frame and custom bodywork. The standard 3-liter 260hp V8 drove through a five-speed manual to...you guessed it...the rear wheels. Only one example was said to have been built, in follow up to the Super Twelve that was powered by two Kawasaki 6-cylinder motorbike engines

Number 5: Ford Festiva Shogun
The perfect car, then, to turn into an exotic, and hot-rodders Chuck Beck and Rick Titus did exactly that. Replacing the standard four-banger, Beck and Titus took the Yamaha-developed 3-liter V6 from the Ford Taurus SHO and dropped it behind the front seats. The requisite chassis mods followed, and hilarity ensued. The car could hit 60 in 4.6 seconds, cover the quarter mile in 12.9 and reach 1g of lateral acceleration. Only seven examples were made, each of them in a different color.

Number 6:Renault Megane Trophy Concept
The French automaker, indisputable king of the mid-engined hatch, said the car was capable of lapping the track about as fast as a Porsche 911 GT3, which is quite a benchmark. Based on the new Megane III, the Trophy featured a 3.5-liter Nissan-sourced V6 driving 360 horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential.

Number 7:Nissan Micra R
Nissan picked up the torch in 2004 with the Micra R concept, packing a 265hp race-spec engine in the trunk that could propel the one-off to sixty mph in under five seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 150 mph

Number 8:Toyota Aygo Crazy
The car essentially crossed a micro-hatch with an MR2, placing a turbocharged 1.8-liter four in the back, surrounded by a roll cage, but no power brakes, power steering, traction control or ABS. 197 horsepower in a 1000kg package was good enough for a spring to sixty in less than six seconds

Number 9:MTM Audi TT Bimoto
Audi was built by an aftermarket tuner. And instead of moving the front engine on the standard model to the back, MTM opted to supplement it with a second engine. The pair of 1.8-liter turbo fours drove 505 horsepower through a pair of six-speed manuals to all four wheels, propelling the special TT to a Nardo speed record of 245 mph, hitting sixty in 3.1 seconds along the way.

Number 10:Matra Murena
The Murena featured three-across seating, the seats were arrayed in a bench with conventional offset steering and a middle seat that folded flat into an arm-rest. In an odd twist, Renault would end up building a one-off mid-engined concept based on the Espace years later with the 820hp V10 from the Williams-Renault F1 car, which warrants honorable mention at the end of our list.

Ford will release new supercar 2010 - Ford Shelby GT500

2009-01-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

Supercar Ford GT500 is mechanically an evolution of the previous model.Ford used the current-gen Bullitt model as the starting point for the 2010 Mustang GT, the lessons learned from developing the limited edition GT500 KR fed directly into the latest Shelby-badged variant. Output of the supercharged 5.4L V8 has now been cranked up to 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, and the handling is claimed to be better than before.

Compare with the old GT500, this new supercar model gets more aggressive styling, particularly in the nose, and reprises many of the same detail elements. The horizontally mirrored trapezoidal shape of the grille in the upper and lower front fascia is meant to echo the oval shape of the Shelby Cobras of the '60s. The upper grille is tilted forward at a steeper angle than the GT and the grille surround is separated entirely from the hood. The hood of the GT500 still has a functional air extractor allowing some of the massive heat generated by the blown V8 to escape.

The engine for this supercar is still a twin cam 5.4L V8 with a supercharger. The updates bump output from from 500 hp at 6,000 rpm to 540 hp at 6,200 rpm. Twisting force also goes from 480 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm to 510 lb-ft at the same peak speed. The iron block from the F-150 was used with the top end of the GT engine, which pushed the car's weight up over 3,900 lbs.

The top two ratios in the new GT500's gearbox have been made numerically lower. The clutch plates for supercar GT500 have been increased in diameter from 215 mm to 250 mm. All that torque flows from the Tremec 6-speed gearbox through a limited slip differential with a 3.55:1 final drive ratio. The 2010 GT500 gets 17% stiffer springs at the front axle and 7% stiffer at the rear axle.

2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss

2008-12-29T17:31:00.000-08:00

Things got just a bit brighter for the incoming Detroit Auto show. Mercedes-Benz will officially showing what will surely be one of the most attention supercars in exhibition hall, the new 2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss,a supercar for year 2009. The boldly styled Merc will be the last vehicle built under the partnership with McLaren, at a cost around €750,000 Mercedes should have no trouble finding buyers for the 75-car allotment. The feature of this super car will full carbon fiber bodywork wrapped over the standard version, a 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8 and the five-speed automatic transplanted from the SLR 722. Despite lacking any sort of roof or proper windscreen, the Stirling Moss can still achieve a top speed of 217 mph and can reach 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Other unique features include swing-wing doors, a retractable air brake that can be operated manually and a two-piece tonneau cover that can cover the entire cockpit or just the passenger seat.

ToyoBaru RWD Sports Car delay until 2012

2008-12-27T17:59:00.000-08:00

A smart project of Toyota and Subaru to working together on a rear-wheel-drive sportscar with “wonderful styling” have been replaced by rumours that the car has been put on hold.

The future and superb drift machine, regarded by many as the potential successor to the now legendary AE86, is believe to be based on the current Subaru Legacy platform and powered by a boxer engine putting out around 200hp through a six speed manual transmission.

The original plan is due in 2011,but, according to Nikkei, the car has been delayed to at least 2012 or more. But with things set to get even worse around the globe, 2012 may just come and go without any trace of a Toyobaru RWD sports car.

Fastest Street Legal Super Car arrive at Europe...

2008-12-25T23:41:00.000-08:00

Show up at any track with a car less than ordinary and you’re bound to get smirks of both disgust and pity. Some people don’t let it affect them, some pack up and go home in search of mummy, others give chase and some blow the competition away. That’s exactly what happen when the took his 1407hp Pontiac Trans-Am to the Papenburg track where the AMG boys from Mercedes were testing their new models.

With a brisk 8.9L V8 producing a whopping 1407 HP, The top speeds of 300km/h in his warming laps. After driving a couple of rounds around the track, to see what his road machine would do! And after pressing the pedal to the metal the when the technician came over with his laptop computer with a big grin. Here we have the official numbers: 407.134 km/h.

You may say well the 9FF team drove 409km/h in an extremely rebuilt Porsche 911 at the same track; this speed was recorded with their own equipment and therefore can be fixed and therefore is not recorded as an official speed record. Bugatti Veyron 407km/h is also recorded with their own equipment.

As the Papenburg track is to small for the Pontiac to reach its potential top speed of 435km/h and Volkswagen’s test track costs 25.000 Euro an hour to rent.

2009 Nisssan Skyline GT-R:Power Unleashed

2008-12-22T23:06:00.000-08:00

Born from a long line of Skyline GT-Rs 1969, this latest version — “R36″ equipped with turbocharged power, more all-wheel-drive technology and more sheer speed than any Japanese car ever to come to America.

For six years the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R has been the subject of intense rumors and frenzied speculation. It has appeared in more spy photos than Area 51; and Skyline prototypes are as familiar a sight on the Nürburgring as pine trees and pavement.

Why? Because the Skyline GT-R R36 is expected to be the ne plus ultra of Japanese performance machinery; and after 30 years of waiting, it’s finally America’s turn to officially take part in all the fun.

The original Nissan Skyline GT-R might have hit the street in 1969, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the GT-R legend would be solidified. That was the year the Skyline GT-R was introduced to an utterly stunned Japanese market. It was the first of three twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering Skylines (R32, R33 and R34) and it’s the generation upon which the Skyline GT-R legend rests.

Though the R34 left production after the 2003 model year, it was so beloved that Nissan’s Nismo division actually bought 20 used Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec models during 2005 and completely rebuilt them into what is currently considered the greatest GT-R of them all — the $170,000, 500-horsepower Skyline GT-R Z-Tune.

Although Nissan never imported the Skyline GT-R to the United States, the supercar still found its way into America’s automotive consciousness. In fact, buying one in the U.S. became relatively easy. By the dawn of the 21st century, several hundred had been imported.

So prominent had the Nissan Skyline GT-R become that in 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film’s hero drove and raced one through the streets of Miami. And the actor Paul Walker, who played the role, bought his own and modified it.

At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed the GT-R Concept as the prospective successor to the R34. By early 2005, modified G35 coupes with Infiniti badges, oversize wheels and tires, big rear wings, hood scoops and bodywork protrusions big enough to hide exotic exhaust systems in back or intercoolers up front were spied at the Nürburgring.

These weren’t just tuner cars, but full-fledged prototypes of the next GT-R.

Then in the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, another GT-R showcar appeared called the GT-R Proto; and the new, innovative shape of the next GT-R was apparent. Obviously based on Nissan’s FM-code front midengine chassis, this GT-R would apparently use a turbocharged version of the VQ V6 with a seven-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

And at the 2006 New York Auto Show, Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that, yes finally, the new Skyline GT-R R36 would be sold in the United States and it would be sold worldwide exclusively through Nissan, and not Infiniti. And apparently without the Skyline name.

That’s right, it’ll officially be called the Nissan GT-R. Yeah, right, just like the 2007 Mazda Miata is the MX-5.

Do you know "Super Car"?

2008-12-22T22:13:00.000-08:00

Supercar is a term generally used for high-end sports cars, whose performance is superior to that of its contemporaries. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car with a centrally located engine",and stated in more general terms: "it must be very fast, with sporting handling to match", "it should be sleek and eye-catching" and its price should be "one in a rarefied atmosphere of its own",but the correct usage of the term is both subjective and disputed, especially amongst enthusiasts. The use of the term can be dependent on the era; a vehicle that may have been considered a supercar in one decade may not be considered the same in another. The term supercar may refer to factory-built, street-legal sports cars.Some vehicles referred to as supercars include features required for race cars such as roll cages.