Roadster cars are convertible compact sport cars, more or less luxurious but with a bold look and providing lots of feedback to the driver. they are the fun fast cars by excellence
The 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon will begin right after the Detroit Auto Show in January and many automakers are releasing all kinds of information on their lineup for the show floor in Japan. For example, Mazda will be bringing plenty of specially customized MX-5 models, including the MX-5 NR-A Jinba Ittai and the MX-5 Black Tuned edition.
The Black Tuned Edition is based on the special edition MX-5 Sport Black model announced earlier this year, but going on sale in the spring of 2012. The model adopts black-based special features for both the interior and exterior, and offers a full range of exclusive specifications including BBS lightweight alloy wheels, Bilstein height adjustable dampers, a Brembo brake system (painted in gold for the front), and Recaro seats.
The list of standard equipment for the Mazda MX-5 Black Tuned Edition includes climate control air-conditioning, a premium Bose audio system, an integrated hands-free Bluetooth system, cruise control, and front fog lights.
Mazda is going full force at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, presenting a grand total of 10 vehicles at their home auto show. We’re not surprised that one of the vehicles they’re bringing to Tokyo is yet another special edition model of their iconic MX-5 Miata line.
Called the MX-5 NR-A ’Jinbai-Ittai’ - translate, Jinbai-Ittai means "horse and rider becoming one" - this special race-spec Miata is a lightweight, two-seater, open-top sports car that has been finished with unique exterior graphics to go with a grocery list of new equipment, including TAKAT four-point seat belts, new Bilstein dampers, Endless brake pads, and a new set of 16" alloy wheels from ENKEI that have been wrapped in Bridgestone tires.
Mazda has been tight-lipped on all the other modifications and enhancements given to the MX-5 NR-A ’Jimba Ittai’. Nevertheless, you can expect more details about this special edition, race-spec Miata to be released leading up to the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon before the event opens its doors this coming January.
The anticipation for the future generation Porsche Boxster is gaining momentum with spy shots aplenty of the sports car doing its rounds out on the streets. Unfortunately, any interior shots have been obsolete, but AutoExpress was able to snag one just in time to keep that momentum going. Their spy shot illustrates the fact that the future Porsche Boxster will be taking a page out of the Panamera and 911’s new updated interiors. The interior will feature an extended transmission tunnel with a bank of switches located behind the gearlever. These switches control the electric folding roof and the PASM active dampers, among other things. The satellite navigation system will receive a new, larger color screen and the seat will get softer leathers and higher grade metals and plastics.
The 2012 Porsche Boxster will be built on a platform that is longer than the current one. This lengthening is vital to the lineup if Porsche wants to be able to squeeze in the future baby Boxster. As far as power goes, the Boxster will use a slightly revised version of the 310-HP 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine, but rumors suggest that it might receive an advanced four-cylinder engine producing about as much horsepower as the current 2.9-liter six.
Along with the engines that are expected to be carried over, expect the short-throw six-speed manual and Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission to also carry over. The PDK works well, but we do have some complaints. The transmission can be somewhat awkward to operate in manual mode when using the steering-wheel-mounted buttons, not to mention the paddles can feel a bit cheap. We hope that this is corrected on the next-generation model, and with the updated interior, that may very well be the case.
Expect the future Porsche Boxster to be revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
Art Basel is considered the most prestigious art show in the country and with all the art cars we’ve been seeing around lately, it’s almost certain that we’d see one in the event.
Lo and behold, we did. And dear Lord, does it look awesome.
The art car, a 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster, was worked on by Champion Porsche in collaboration with world famous artist Miguel Paredes. The latter, born and raised in New York’s Upper West Side, is an urban realist that specializes in New York graffiti art.
Putting his skills to good use, Paredes designed a psychedelic Japanese-inspired visage on the 911 Speedster, replete with colorful tones, a geisha on the hood, and lots and lots of flowers. Flower power, indeed!
The Art Basel show brought together more than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, showcasing more than 2,000 works from artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. While we can appreciate a good piece of art when we see one, the undoubted highlight of the art show was this impeccably crafted Porsche 911 Speedster art car.
To those that don’t know, the 911 Speedster is a limited edition 911 - only 356 have been made - that’s powered by a 3.8-liter flat six engine, producing an impressive 408 horsepower.
Now we know that model no.176 of the 356 models is the most colorful of the bunch.
There are a lot of things about the Netherlands that we enjoy. The milk is fantastic, the cheese is delicious, and the women, well, let’s just say that they’re true eye candies.
Now, you can add one more thing to that list: the Donkervoort D8 GTO.
First teased around the same time a year ago - took longer than expected to be revealed - the D8 GTO has finally arrived in all its fireball-ic glory. Born from the heritage of Donkervoort’s other creations - the GT and the D8 270RS, to be exact - the D8 GTO takes the reigns from its predecessors as a larger model that comes with matching performance capabilities.
The D8 GTO is the product of a collaboration between Donkervoort Automobielen and Audi Quattro GmbH and was developed for the past two-and-something years. It may have taken a while to be completed, but once you get acclimated with what the D8 GTO has to offer, you’re going to realize that the wait was well worth it.
Find out more about the Donkervoort D8 GTO after the jump.
Tesla is wrapping up their Lotus-based Roadster in 2011 and making way for their new Roadster - completely Tesla from the ground up - in 2014. But before that happens, Tesla will be reeling in the last bit of cash on their current model with one last Final Edition, limited to five models. These units will only be sold on the North American market, but Tesla has promised that similar editions will also be offered for the European and Asian markets, making room for 15 final units in this current model’s future.
The Tesla Roadster Final Edition is finished in a special Sporting Atomic Red paint and then combined with a duo of dark silver stripes on its hood and rear clamshell. The look is finished off with an exclusive set of anthracite aluminum wheels.
However, the exterior changes are the only changes that will be made to the model. Expect to find the same electric motor under the hood; a 3-phase, 4-pole induction motor producing a maximum net power of 248 HP. The car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and can travel more than 200 miles per charge.
This has been quite an interesting past couple of weeks for British magazine, EVO, as they have had the chance to test some of the most impressive cars in the world, including this very cool Ferrari SA Aperta tested by Harry Mercalfe.
The SA Aperta is limited to only 80 units, so you can imagine that actually getting permission to test it is quite a daunting task, which is why we’re pretty psyched to have a video of this test drive.
The Ferrari SA Aperta is powered by a V12 engine that delivers an impressive 661 HP at 8250 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. It can sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph.
Watch the video to see what Harry Mercalfe thinks about this impressive car, but we can assure you that he only has good things to say about it.
Now that Lamborghini has officially unveiled the new LP700-4 Aventador, it seems many people have forgotten about the Reventon - one of the coolest supercars launched in the past few years. But, while others have ousted the Reventon from their minds, Media Merchants - a Canadian company that specializes in projection based technologies - has unveiled a very cool video featuring this spectacular sports car.
Don’t think for one second that this video is all about revving engines and high speeds; the nature of this company’s work alone should tell you it’s definitely not going to be that kind of video. What you’ll see is some creative minds at work with their computer.
This may just be the perfect way to promote a car. Let us know what you think after watching it! Enjoy!
Just like every other model in Mercedes’ line-up, the SLS AMG will also receive a Black Series version. The Coupe version is already set for release in 2014 and new rumors are suggesting that the Roadster version will be arriving a year later. This debut setup should come as no surprise considering Mercedes just dropped the SLS AMG Roadster at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Just like the coupe model, the Black Series SLS AMG Roadster will be powered by a revised, naturally aspirated 6.2 liter V8 engine that will deliver an extra 50 HP over the car’s standard 570 HP, meaning a power boost to at least 620 HP. Next to this, the SLS AMG Roadster will get a more aggressive exterior package that will include a V-shaped bonnet, a more powerful front apron, larger air intakes, an AMG rear apron with black diffuser insert, and dual twin chrome tailpipes.
We kinda feel bad that the North American International Auto Show is being pushed to the side by all this buzz surrounding the Geneva Motor Show. But such is the case with arguably the biggest auto event in the world; only Frankfurt can match Geneva in magnitude.
But that’s neither here nor there at this point. What’s important is that automakers are slowly revealing their company plans for Geneva, even if its still three months away. One such is Aston Martin, which, according to GTSpirit, is prepared to unveil a roadster version of the vaunted V12 Vantage at Geneva. There’s not much in the way of details, but news of the V12 Vantage Roadster’s arrival has been years in the making, as evidenced by spy shots of the car dating all the way back to a few years ago.
The wait for this car has definitely taken longer than any of us expected, but at the very least, we can finally mark down our calendars to see what kind of supercar this is shaping to look like.
Numbers have yet to be confirmed, but the word is that the V12 Vantage Roadster will carry a 6.0-liter V12 engine producing 510 horsepower and 420 lb/ft of torque.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates as far as Aston Martin’s plans are for this car. Just keep crossing your fingers and hope that Aston does have plans for the official unveiling this coming March.
