After showing the world what a CTS Coupe could look like, the next logical step for the Cadillac family was to add a factory tuned V-Series version of the new Coupe to the American luxury automaker’s range. The CTS-V Coupe will be the last version in the CTS lineup with no convertible model currently scheduled for production.
Just like the award winning Cadillac CTS-V, the Coupe is powered by an LSA 6.2 Liter supercharged Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 V8 that makes a maximum output of 556 HP and 551 lb-ft of torque and is mated to either a Tremec TR6060 six speed manual with a twin plate clutch to handle the extra horse power or a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six speed automatic complete with paddle shifters on the steering wheel that allow you to push button your way from 0 to 60 MPH in only 3.9 seconds.
The exterior of this sporty coupe features a modified front grill that essentially doubles the CTS’s air intake volume as well as a raised center section in the hood to provide room for the blower that eventually spits spent gasses out of a unique twin tipped center exit exhaust. However the CTS-V Coupe is capped off by the 19 inch cast aluminum alloys that are available in either painted or polished finishes and wrapped with a set of sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 2 performance tires, all housing a monstrous set of Brembo brake calipers. We just hope they have enough spare parts left over to make a couple CTS-V Sport Wagons.
Updated 01/13/10: Three new videos added, including the Detroit revealing and the presentation video. Check them out!
UPDATE 01/03/2011: Cadillac has just revealed two new commercials for the CTS-V Coupe featuring Lawrence Fishburne. The commercials are called "Red Blooded Luxury" and "Arrows" and both feature the same tagline: "We don’t just make luxury cars, we make Cadillacs." Check them out by clicking on the picture above.
UPDATE 08/29/11: According to Cadillac, the breadth of technology that was used on the CTS-V represents a significant breakthrough in the industry, especially their so-called "Magnetic Ride Control Technology." Exactly how much of an innovation is it? Apparently, enough to even make Ferrari borrow it. Check out the new Cadillac commercial explaining how it all happened.
Maserati may err on the side of of caution when choosing between luxury and speed, but eventually speed-loving fanatics have no choice but to reveal their road-gripping, fire-breathing side. Alas, we now have evidence of Maserati’s wild side. Just a couple of weeks before the Italian luxury brand was set to unveil their new special edition Gran Turismo at the Paris Auto Show, the company has jumped the gun and released the first official details of the fastest, lightest, and most powerful Maserati in the line-up. We hope everyone is just as intrigued as we were because this is a side of Maserati that should come out more often.
The special edition is called the GranTurismo MC Stradale and is due to go on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2011 with a U.S. launch shortly thereafter. It is powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers 450 HP - an improvement over the standard 405 HP - while still offering the same fuel consumption as a standard Gran Turismo. It also comes with an improved aerodynamic down force and will brake the 186 mph barrier.
Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale special edition has been tweaked and modified as a direct result of the lessons learned from Maserati’s three racing programs. But what makes this vehicle even better is that it’s road legal.
More details about the car will be released closer to its official unveiling.
UPDATE 07/27/2011: Maserati North American has announced that the new MC Stradale will go on sale at a starting price of $139,000. With its 185 mph top speed, this will be the fastest Maserati offered on the US market.
Hit the jump to read more about the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale.
Audi unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show an electric version of their newly launched A1. The e-tron concept is equipped with an electric drive system similar to the one on Chevrolet Volt. The e-tron has an autonomy of 50 kilometers when used only in electric mode.
The internal combustion engine that charges the batteries can deliver a total of 102 hp in short bursts when the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in just 10 seconds. Top speed is more than 80 mph. Continuous output is rated at 61 hp and 150 Nm of torque. The electric motor sends its power to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission that can be switched between "Drive," "Reverse," and "Neutral".
The A1 e-tron concept car has a Wankel engine as a range extender. It has a chamber volume of 254 cc and runs at a constant 5,000 rpm and can be switch on and off as necessary with the push of a button. It produces produces 15 kW of electric power and weighs only around 154.32 lb. It can extend the concept’s range to 130 miles.
UPDATE 07/21/11: The Audi A1 e-Tron was a surprise participant at the Silvretta E-Auto Rally. Together with the other Audi electric car in attendance, the Q5 HFC, which managed to place sixth in the entire proceedings, the A1 E-Tron made a good showing of itself a year after another one of its big brothers, the R8 E-Tron, went and wowed the entire event. Check out the video Audi posted to see how the A1 E-Tron performed.
The open-top sports car segment has seen a lot of pretenders recently, cars that attempt to hang with the big boys only to be reminded that it takes another level of power and fast to be able to belong in elite group of open top sports cars. While other brands have had a problem designating which car belongs in what group, Lamborghini has had no problem doing so.
The Sant’Agata Bolognese-based automaker has finally released their latest exotic, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante. Based on the Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, the Gallardo Spyder Performante is what happens when Lamborghini engineers go the extra mile in further reducing the weight of an already lightweight supercar. While some may shun at the attempt, thinking that chopping off more weight would be next to impossible, the folks at Lamborghini set out to prove the naysayers wrong, reducing the car’s weight by 143 lbs, leaving it with a dry weight of just 3,274 lbs, which, in case you’re keeping score, makes this the lightest Lamborghini to be released in the open-top sports car segment.
This is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante.
UPDATE 07/11/2011: In the latest episode of Fifth Gear, the team wasted no time testing the latest Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, a car that has been built as a response to models like the Ferrari 458 Italia and the McLaren MP4-12C. In this video, Tiff Needell drives the car around the south of France and lets us know what he thinks about the supercar, as well as how it fares against its competitors. Check out the video after the jump!
Details on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante after the jump.
The release of the Range Rover Evoque makes it clear that land Rover is confident enough in the brand to shift their focus from its core values. The explosion of the most recent Range Rover models, including the sport; into mainstream luxury automotive portfolio’s has shown Land Rover that they can compete with the best on every level. No single vehicle matches the current Range Rover in terms of style, capability, and refinement. The major downside to must urban dwellers owning a Range Rover is that they will never fully experience its capabilities as an off-road machine. This is where Land Rover will attempt to fill a need with the Evoque.
Once upon a time someone would mention Land Rover and an image would flash in my mind of a yellow Defender 110 trudging through some African jungle on a Camel Trophy race. Those days may be gone, but Land Rover hopes to enter the forefront of the consumers mind when thinking about mid-size SUV’s full of luxury appointments. The segment is crowded and includes big players from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. It seems that Land Rover has learned a lot from its Ford and BMW days and is poised to release its 3 different versions of the Evoque.
It will be the smallest, lightest, and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever made. The term, “Range Rover” must be taken with a grain of salt, because yes Land Rover is tagging this new model as a Range Rover Evoque instead of simply a new line. Nonetheless, it seems that prices will fall in the $45,000 range depending on which model you choose. Head to Land Rover’s website to use the Evoque configurator and build your own.
Hit the jump for more details on the Range Rover Evoque
UPDATE 04/04/2011: Land Rover UK has announced that the new Evoque model will go on sale with prices ranging from £27,955 ($44,800) for an eD4 Pure 5-door 6 Speed manual 2WD model to £44,320 ($71,000) for the Si4 Dynamic with LUX Pack 6 Speed Automatic 4WD version. The company has also put up an online cofigurator so customers can configure the Evoque of their dreams.
UPDATE 07/01/2011: Land Rover has announced the US prices for the 2012 Evoque SUV scheduled to go on sale this fall. The Evoque will be offered at a starting price of $43,995 for the five-door, and $44,995 for the coupe. It will deliver a fuel economy of 28 mph on the highway and 19 mpg city.
Ferrari will unveil at the Paris Auto Show the special edition SA Aperta, an open-top version of the now famous 599. The model comes to celebrate Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary and will be limited to only 80 units.
The SA Aperta is powered by a V12 engine that delivers an impressive 670 HP. It features a low-slung windscreen, a redesigned chassis. Its profile arches back from the A-post to two aerodynamic fins beautifully integrating the two roll-bars which themselves cleverly mimic the outline of the seats.
The interior gets sophisticated materials, trim and colors used throughout. Ferrari announced that each SA Aperta will be an unique model.
In the official press release Ferrari said: "The SA APERTA is a true roadster which allows its occupants to enjoy the superlative emotions afforded by our signature front-engined V12 architecture in a completely open-top setting. In fact, it has just a light soft top designed to be resorted to only if the weather gets particularly bad."
UPDATE 05/09/11: The 80-piece Ferrari 599 SA Aperta is about a rare a modern-day Ferrari can get. Introduced last year at the Paris Motor Show in line with Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary, the Italian supercar is the personification of Ferrari limited edition madness. In this new video of the car, YouTube user Marchettino takes us on an up-close look at the limited run 599. Check out the video after the jump and see what the 599 SA Aperta is all about.
After teasing it for a while, Peugeot has released today the official details on the EX1 electric concept that will make its world debut at the Paris Auto Show. The concept was created as a celebration of the Marque’s 200th anniversary.
The EX1 is a two-seater roadster that combines the “floating” front grille and flowing contours from the SR1 concept, with polished aluminum components adorn the door surrounds from the RCZ and BB1. A particular feature of this concept is the reverse-opening door that gives access to the two sports bucket seats. There is also an instrument panel screens for each occupant showing in particular the vehicle’s instantaneous performance.
the concept is powered by two electric motors, one on each axle, each with a peak output of 167 HP and a maximum torque of 240 Nm at the front and rear.
"The EX1 concept car benefits from characteristics that give it a high enough level of performance not only to leave behind the city center, the preferred territory of electric vehicles, but also to challenge acceleration records. Its lightness, weight distribution and aerodynamics, the torque and power of its two electric motors and its high-output lithium-ion battery are just some of the characteristics that make this a car capable of lightning acceleration: the latter can exceed 1 G of gravitational force."
UPDATE 12/16/2010: The Peugeot EX1 started its history of breaking records back in September, and now the concept has matched or surpassed five records in a series of runs made at the Chengdu military airport in the province of Sichuan in China.
The EX1 established a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 3.49 seconds and a symbolic longitudinal acceleration of 1G over 39 m. The concept also broke its own official records initially set in Montlhéry for the 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile with times of 7:08:62 and 12:67:54 respectively.
UPDATE 04/29/2011: Peugeot EX1 has established a new world record at the Nurburgring circuit. With Stéphane Caillet behind the wheel, the EX1 lapped the circuit in 9:01.338 seconds with an average speed of 138.324 km/h (85.95 mph).
UPDATE 05/04/2011: Peugeot has unveiled official images and an official video of the EX1 breaking the world record in Nurburgring. Enjoy!
Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, GTA Spano. What do these three names have in common? They are all revolutionary automotive icons in Spain’s recent history. The rally driver Sainz is more commonly referred to as “King” Carlos, and is more popular than the entire Real Madrid soccer team. Formula 1 World Champion Alonso made car racing more popular than MotoGP in the two wheeled enthused country. Now comes the Spano, a Spanish supercar that’s set to take the automotive world by storm and establish a presence in a country best known for making SEATs.
Not one to be pushed aside by its more high-profile contemporaries, the limited production Spanish-built supercar is making a new era in the country’s automobile industry. But is it a vehicle that will make Lamborghini owners consider a switch?
Now that the Spanish supercar has been presented at the Geneva Motor Show, you’re going to have to be the judge of that. Whatever you may think of it, one thing’s for sure: the world better get used to the GTA Spano. It’s coming to the town like a Spanish ’El Nino’, and there appears to be no stopping it.
UPDATE 03/03/2011: This review has been updated with new specs and images of the GTA Spano coming out of its first Geneva event!
UPDATE 04/14/2011: Check out the new images of the GTA Spano at the 2011 Top Marques Monaco in the gallery!
John Pangilinan came to the 2010 SEMA Show with his own version of the Scion tC sports car, but the competition for this customized ride may have been too much to handle as there were five customized tCs at SEMA ready to strut their stuff. The most intimidating for this version was the tC customized by James Lin. Lin threw everything he had at the sports car and the result was a car that we would even take out and about. That being said, Pangilinan was a tough competitor as well as he tweaked the engine of this bad boy enough to tickle our fancies.
Pangilinan piqued our interest with a new turbocharger kit, a stainless steel turbo manifold, a new intake system, and RC 750cc injectors fitted right under the hood of the tC. We don’t know exactly what these changes have resulted in, since no official numbers were given, but we can’t imagine a tuner would strap on 18" race wheels and a new Brembo Gran Turismo Big brake kit for a minor boost.
The exterior of the Scion tC features a new exterior package that includes a Jon Sibal Custom Designed Seibon TC GT Carbon Fiber widebody kit, a Seibon carbon fiber hood Aerocatch hood latch, Seibon custom carbon fiber trunk, an APR carbon custom rear wing, APR carbon fiber side mirrors, and a carbon fiber wrapped roof. Exterior PPG paint was applied by Kelly & Son. For the interior, the tuner is offering new Recaro seats, a custom wrapped personal steering wheel, and embroidery by Top Stitch.
This exterior of this tC may look the part of a delectable racer, but the proof is in the pudding, which is why we can’t wait to see the new performance numbers for this tasty little treat when we hit the SEMA floor.
UPDATE 03/09/2011: Import tuner has reviewed John Pangilinan’s racing tC and - good news! - they have provided specifications for the racer. Thanks to all of the modifications made to the engine, the tC GT delivers an impressive 333 whp and 303 lb-ft of torque at only 8 psi of boost. Want more? Check out the new images of the car in the gallery provided.
Skyjacker Suspensions displayed on the floors of SEMA Show a pretty impressive upgrade package for the Ford F-350 Super Duty. According to the tuner this is a vehicle made to appeal to the active lifestyle of the Super Duty owner. A Skyjacker-developed 8.5-inch suspension offers a bold lift for work and play, and will let the owner go deeper into the field.
The package includes a 8.5 Inch system that replaces the OEM radius arm design with High-Impact Heavy Wall DOM Tubular 4-Link Arms with adjustable rod ends. The rod end is press fitted with a steel encased vulcanized rubber bushing that can support the torque of the Diesel engine and still provide years of trouble free service.
Next to this update, the package also includes: High-Impact Heavy Wall DOM Tubular 4-Link Arms, Heavy-duty front and rear Fab Fours bumpers, a Warn Industries winch and lights to round out the tough look, Preset and Formed Softride® Coil Springs, front extended sway bar end links, brake line extensions and forged adjustable rod ends with OEM Style Bushings.
