The V12 Vantage was previewed in 2007 by the concept V12 Vantage RS and a production version arrived two years later. Initially, Aston Martin planned to produce a total of 1,000 units and it had no intention of bringing the model to the U.S. market.
Things have changed though and the V12 Vantage was eventually homologated for the U.S. market and the production was increased to about 1,320 units. This number includes both the roadster version and the V12 Zagato.
Now, in an official later sent to its dealers, Aston Martin announced that no orders are being accepted for the V12 Vantage. It looks like the letter was sent on Friday April 19, 2013 and it basically confirms that the V12 Vantage is dead.
This news comes as a big surprise, considering it is rumored that Aston Martin will also offer a small run of V12 Vantage "Centenary Editions." If this is still the plan, then our assumption is that these Centenary models are completely sold out.
Click past the jump to read more about the V12 Vantage.
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The new-generation 911 Turbo was caught testing many times, but today the Stuttgart-based company decided to finally drop the official details on the new model.
The exterior brings no major changes, but we have to admit it is the best looking model from the new generation 911. It received a new all-wheel-drive system, active rear-axle steering and adaptive aerodynamics among many other new features. The new 911 Turbo also features the widest body of all 911s, as it is about 28 mm (1.10 inches) wider than the 911 Carrera 4 models.
As previously rumored, the new 911 Turbo will only be offered with only the PDK gearbox.
The 911 has taken a lot of heat from plenty of manufacturers as of late, including a relative newcomer to the realm – Nissan – so buyers now have more choices than ever. Is the 911 Turbo still the king of the hill?
UPDATED 05/03/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Click past the jump to read more about the new Porsche Turbo.
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Chevrolet Corvette served as an Indianapolis 500 pace car for the first time back in 1978 and Chevrolet has sent a total of 11 models to pace "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." The 2013 model year will be the 12th time a Corvette model will pace Indianapolis, and as rumored two days ago, it will be the new Corvette Stingray.
The model will be equipped with the track-capable Z51 package, which adds a limited-slip differential for reduced under-steer while cornering, improved aerodynamics and ride tweaks to help it handle corners more effectively. The Stingray Pace Car is painted in a Laguna Blue Tintcoat exterior combined with official Indianapolis 500 graphics on the doors.
The technology features and powertrain will be identical to the standard version, except that the Pace Car will be equipped with track-mandated safety features and strobe lights.
Click past the jump to read more about the Corvette Stingray and the Corvette’s history as an Indy 5oo pace car.
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Jaguar announced its intentions to release a coupe version of the F-Type once the roadster version hit the market. Until now, however, the car has never been spotted testing anywhere around the world, so we had to just trust Jaguar’s word.
Today, we can add some substance to Jag’s claim, as leaked patent drawings of the F-Type Coupe have made their way onto the Internet and they reveal the final design of the sports coupe. Not that it’s very hard to imagine how an F-Type Coupe would look like, since you are essentially slapping a fixed roof on top of the F-Type Roadster. Reports point toward everything else being borrowed from the roadster version, including the exterior look and the engine lineup.
The F-Type Coupe will arrive on the market sometime in 2014 and will be followed by a more powerful R version. A Sport Brake version has also been rumored, but we doubt we are ever going to see it.
Click past the jump to read more about the F-Type Roadster.
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Early last year it was rumored that BMW could offer an M version for its i8 hybrid supercar. It was supposed to drop the hybrid powertrain in favor of a conventional V-8 powerplant with an output of about 600 horsepower. Sounded pretty great, right?
Now - one year later - it appears that BMW has dropped the idea of developing such a model. While no other explanation has been offered, it looks like the M8 is "no longer part of the program." We do not understand why this decision was made, considering the i8 platform can easily accept front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive alternatives.
So, while we are hoping that the company will change its mind in the future, we’ll just have to wait for the i8. It will arrive sometime later this year and comes with a driving range of about 20 miles in near-silent, zero-emission mode. This figure, combined with a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds, and the top speed of 156 mph makes it the ideal car for both city and track.
Click past the jump to read more about the rumored BMW M8 supercar.
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When McLaren announced the initial details on the 2014 P1, it announced that a total of 375 units would be produced. However, since the ordering books were officially opened at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the company received orders for more than 250 units.
The orders came from McLaren’s biggest markets — Europe, U.S. and Middle East — and officials hope that the remaining 100, or so, units will find their way to customers from Asia. It looks like people weren’t too put off by the supercar’s huge price of $1.15 million.
In an interview with AutoCar, a senior McLaren manager said: "We are ahead of our targets and we still have 500 hot sales prospects on our list." This list includes of course both the P1, but also the MP4-12C in both coupe and convertible versions.
On the other side of Europe, more precisely in Italy, things are going very well for the biggest competitor to the P1, as Ferrari received more than 1,000 orders for the LaFerrari, but production will be limited to only 499 units.
Click past the jump to read more about the P1
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We have heard rumors about a possible M235i ever since BMW unveiled the M135i Concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Back then it was rumored that the production version would carry the same M135i nomenclature, but considering that BMW has changed its naming system, the two-door coupe version will be called M235i.
Until now, all we had were rumors and speculation, but today our spy photographers caught the M235i lapping the Nürburgring. As expected, the prototype is heavily camouflaged, but it is pretty obvious it will carry an aggressive exterior look similar to other M models.
Under the hood, rumors suggest we are going to see the same engine we saw in the M135i Concept, which is a straight-six-cylinder engine with M Performance Twin Power Turbo technology that puts down more than 300 horsepower. The model will also be equipped with a rear-wheel-drive layout and sports suspension setup.
Click past the jump to read more about the M235i
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Infiniti’s strong sales performance in recent years has given the automaker reason to look forward to bigger things. And apparently, those bigger things equate to a pair of new vehicles added to its lineup.
Talking to Car and Driver, Infiniti’s new president Johan de Nysschen is looking at the possibility of strengthening its lineup with the addition of a new flagship sedan that de Nysschen describes as an "upscale, very emotional, high-performance luxury sedan." Basically, he’s looking at the possibility of developing a flagship sedan that will follow a different formula and not march to the beat of the industry.
So what does that mean, exactly? That’s the question on everyone’s mind, and understandably so because not a lot of people seem to have a clear grasp on what Infiniti is planning to do. The most ideal comparison as far as a unique flagship sedan that didn’t follow a certain design script is the Porsche Panamera. A fastback model has been thrown around, according to Car and Driver, which seems to lend to the suggestion that if and when Infiniti decides to introduce a new flagship sedan to the world, it’s going to take a different approach on its design.
Equally compelling news is consideration being put on also building a high-performance coupe based on the platform of the aforementioned flagship sedan. That’s a pretty exciting development, considering Infiniti is lacking that kind of poster-worthy sports car that other automakers have.
If there’s a chance to introduce a pair of new and exciting models that will take the Japanese automaker to another level, Infiniti should jump at the chance of building on its sales momentum.
Click past the jump to see a couple of Infiniti concepts that have been introduced in recent years
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The upcoming SSC Tuatara is the hotly anticipated sophomore album from the Washington-based SSC North America team. SSC has built a name for itself via impressive top-speed-record runs with its existing model, the Diablo-esque SSC Ultimate Aero XT.
The Tuatara’s development continued this spring with engine and gearbox setups being refined since the concept car was revealed in late 2011. The new model builds a stunning exterior and interior atop the brute-force mechanical package from the Ultimate Aero XT. The latest news to emerge from the firm is a 250 pound-feet bump in engine torque following durability testing, and news of a 300 mph speedometer, feeding rumors of a top speed well above the 276 mph initially quoted.
The style and presence of the white concept Tuatara created quite a stir when shown at Pebble Beach in 2011. Designed by the talented-but-bizarre Jason Castriota of SAAB and Fiat fame, the Tuatara most closely resembles the 2006 Maserati Birdcage 75th concept car in its smooth flowing panels and deep, milky-white paint finish. Castriota also worked on the Birdcage, but was not the lead designer. He now runs an independent design consultancy called Castriota Design.
UPDATE 5/1/2013: SSC just completed testing the Tuatara on the dyno and released all of the results. A release date has been officially set too. See more after the jump
Please follow the jump to learn more about the SSC Tuatara ahead of its first customer deliveries in January 2014.
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Just when we thought the 2014 Nissan GT-R couldn’t get any better, Nissan proved us wrong. The company announced the launch of the new GT-R Track Edition today at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, which will join the 2014 GT-R lineup.
While the new Track Edition delivers the same output level as the standard GT-R, the updates made to the suspension, the addition of new fuel injectors and an oil pan baffle make it far better than the standard version.
In order to distinguish it from the standard version, the new Track Edition includes an array of modifications to the interior and exterior on top of the suspension improvements.
Deliveries for the new GT-R Track Edition will begin in May 2013. It will be limited to only 150 units.
So, is the new Track Edition worth whatever price hike that Nissan will place on it?
UPDATE 5/1/2013: Nissan has just revealed the pricing details on the 2014 GT-R Track Edition. See more after the jump.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition and find out.
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