Last year, Lexus unveiled the IS-F CCS-R - the production version of the IS- F Club Circuit Sports Racer Concept - as the company’s special entry at the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. This year, the race car will return to the race, except that now it will feature a special, fan-based decal developed by Lexus in cooperation with Tony Hawk Foundation.
From June 3rd to June 20th, Lexus fans are invited to enter their names via a response to a Lexus Facebook post, a comment to a Lexus YouTube IS F CCS-R video or through Twitter and Instagram using #Lexus14K. 14,000 lucky fans will see their names posted on this special decal.
Once again, the IS-F CCS-R will be driven by professional driver Ken Gushi, who will attempt to take on the 12.42-mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak.
After the race, Lexus will donate a 2014 IS sedan to the Tony Hawk Foundation.
Click past the jump to read more about the Lexus IS-F CCS-R.
When BMW collaborated with Pininfarina to create the super-sexy and ultra-luxurious Gran Lusso Coupe, we were all in awe of its massive beauty. At the same time, however, we appear to have been blinded, as reports are emerging that BMW’s claim that this is a one-off model may be a smokescreen to protect Bimmer’s real motive behind it.
A source within BMW told the folks at Automotive News that there is more to the 2013 Gran Lusso Coupe than meets the eye. This is actually the conceptual version of an anticipated return of the 8 Series – a model that Bimmer dropped from the U.S. lineup in 1997 and altogether in 1999.
With Mercedes offering one of the few full-size luxury coupes – the CL-Class – and the Maserati GranTurismo being the only other feasible option, BMW would be crazy not to hop back into this growing segment.
Unfortunately, even the source that leaked the information is unsure if the 8 Series will make it back, but the insider made it clear that it is a design study that the Bavarian automaker is using to gauge interest in the model.
Click past the jump to read more about the 8 Series
The resurrection of Detroit Electric came as quite a surprise when it announced its intentions to reenter the market in March. What came as even more of a surprise was the quickness in which it announced its first car – the 2014 SP:01 – and the fact that it had planned to release its first model in August 2013. The latter was a little ambitious, per a report, as it appears that the release has been delayed for about a month.
According to The Detroit News, Detroit Electric has been holed up in an already-occupied facility in Plymouth Township and has been working on finalizing a deal for a Wayne County manufacturing facility. However, some Is and Ts remain undotted and uncrossed in the contract, which will push production to sometime in September instead of the originally announced August start date.
According to the report, Detroit Electric expects the new facility to be capable of putting out 2,500 units per year, but it only plans to sell 999 SP:01 units in total. So, this potential facility should be home to at least one other future model.
Click past the jump to read more about the Detroit Electric SP:01
Last June Noble unveiled the first teaser image, making us believe that sometime in the future we could see a roadster version for the M600 supercar. However, the company said nothing else on such a possible model since then. Now, Peter Boutwood, managing director of Noble is bringing the M600 Roadster back into discussion.
According to him: "We haven’t built or tested one, but it is a feasible project." If built, the M600 Roadster would use a removable roof panel made of lightweight carbon fiber. When removed, the roof can be stored in the engine bay, so that the passenger can enjoy the same interior space as in the coupe.
Also, the company decided to go for a roof panel because it is not structural and it will not affect the M600’s handling capabilities. Talking about this new roof, Boutwood said: "It’s not about how it looks, it’s about how it goes and drives. We would never compromise the car".
Everything else will be borrowed from the coupe version. If built, the next M600 Roadster will arrive on the market in the next two or three years.
Click past the jump to read more about the Noble M600.
Caterham is preparing to unveil a brand-new model in 2016, but until then, the company is readying itself to enter the Le Mans 24 Hours. Caterham’s official Le Mans debut will be made this year at the end of June when the company plans to enter the race with a Zytek Z11SN-Nissan in the LMP2 category.
The car will wear number No. 41 and Caterham F1 Team Reserve Driver and Caterham Racing GP2 driver Alexander Rossi, and double LMP2 class-winner, Tom Kimber-Smith will be at the wheel. They will be joined by a crew of Caterham engineers, technicians and data analysts that will ensure the No. 41 car performs at its peak.
With this move, Caterham hopes to increase its position as a global authority in the sports car market. This move comes after a second season in the F1 series and a 50:50 partnership with Renault to develop and build its first new road model in 20 years.
Click past the jump to read more about Caterham’s competitors at Le Mans.
You’ll have to excuse Hyundai for being a little pumped up about its return to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year. After all, it was responsible for the record 9:46.164 lap time record, which it set last year with Rhys Millen.
In preparation for its return to the scene of its conquest, the Korean automaker is in the middle of a 12-part video series that tackles how the company is planning to have a successful encore.
In Parts 3 and 4 of the web series, Rhys Millen discusses the kind of power upgrade and the modified frame and body that will come with the new Genesis Coupe it plans to run up the mountain later this month.
To say that there’s pressure in the Hyundai camp to deliver a more successful run is a pretty big understatement. That’s why the company is sparing no expense to ensure that nobody will be disappointed once the heavily-modified Pikes Peak Genesis Coupe makes its run.
We have one more reason to love Chris Harris, as he decided to sell his Porsche and bought a Ferrari 599. If you are asking why, the answer is quite simple: because the finance payments were too much for him to handle. Also, after saying some unpleasant things about some Ferrari models he is now on Maranello’s black list and he is not invited to test its models anymore.
So, you see, somehow he missed driving an Italian supercar, especially now that 599 units have hit the skids in the UK. We would have liked better to see him behind the wheel of a new F12berlinetta, but that beast costs a good bit more than the 599.
All we can say is that Harris is pretty impressed by the 599 and found it rather impressive. Let us know in the comments section below what do you think about his new acquisition.
At the end of 2012, rumors swirled that Koenigsegg will develop a special One:1 edition for the Chinese market, but nothing else was heard on this new supercar since then. Today, however, new images of the car have surfaced online, and even though they are just renderings, they offer a few more details on the next One:1.
The new One:1 supercar will be developed in cooperation with FFF Automobile, China’s most famous supercar dealer. Rumors suggest that under the hood it will get a 5.0-liter V-8 engine with an output of about 1,400 horsepower.
You can see that these renderings are painted brown, but they will be gold on the production cars. Also, this new rendering suggest the production car will get a central exhaust pipe and not a twin-pipe one.
Expect to see the new Koenigsegg One:1 unveiled in November at the 2013 Guangzhou Auto Show - one of the richest in China and a supercar haven.
Click past the jump to read more about the Koenigsegg One: 1.
Tell us if you’ve seen this song and dance before.
The Rolls-Royce SUV, which has been killed and brought back to life more times than the villain in a slasher movie, appears to be back on the optimistic side of Rolls Royce management.
According to Automobile Mag, the British luxury maker is back to considering the possibility of building the Rolls Royce SUV, provided that the BMW X7, which has had its own uncertain future, hits the market.
Remember, BMW initially had plans for a super luxury SUV a few years ago but ultimately canned those plans. But now, Automobile Mag points out that the market has changed with the introduction of high-end SUVs, including one from Maserati.
So, speculation of BMW revisiting the X7 might not be as farfetched as they once were. And if Bimmer does push forward with it and builds the SUV, Rolls Royce may finally follow suit and built its own, especially if it has a platform - the X7’s - that it can use.
Also, don’t sleep on how the Maserati Levante does as far as sales are concerned. In the event that it ends up becoming a hit, will Rolls Royce just sit back and let its competitors have the spoils? We think not…
About the only thing we know at this point is that the Rolls Royce SUV is neither alive nor dead. It’s stuck in limbo and for those waiting for it, that’s probably the best place for it to be on at this time.
Click past the jump to read about the Rolls Royce SUV’s potential rival: the Maserati Levante
The 2014 Corvette Stingray was used as the Pace Car at the 2013 Indianapolis 500 - the 12th time for a Corvette – but he newest `Vette isn’t quite done yet. The 2014 Corvette Stingray Pace Car will pace yet another Indy event this weekend when it will lead the pack at the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit, presented by Quicken Loans.
Behind the wheel is none other than General Motors North America President, Mark Reuss, who was quoted saying: "To be able to drive this car, on this track, in this city, is a huge thrill for me personally, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel to pace this great field."
If you will attend the race, you will be able to get an early look at the production model that goes on sale later this summer. With the Stingray getting plenty of time as a pace car, we certainly expect to see a special Pace Car model this year.
Click past the jump to read more about the Stingray Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.
