Mercedes has caused history to repeat itself as they have come out with a roadster version for one of their popular coupes. This trend was seen in the SLR McLaren and will now repeat itself with the SLS AMG coupe version. The SLS AMG Roadster will be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but right now the car is under extreme testings.
In terms of design, the roadster version will remain faithful to the coupe version. However, it will drop the gullwing doors in favor of more traditional units. The SLS Roadster will be offered with Mercedes’ traditional retractable soft-top which can be opened and closed electrohydraulically while on the move up to 30 mph.
The Mercedes SLS AMG roadster version will be powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine with 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. However, being a much heavier model, it will rocket from 0 to 60mph in 4.0 seconds before topping out at approximately 192 mph.
In Europe, prices will start from € 195,160, or about $278,000 at the current exchange rates. The Mercedes’ US debut will be made later this fall.
UPDATE 11/07/2011: Mercedes has unveiled a new video presenting the history behind the SLS AMG Roadster photo shoot with Michael and Ralf Schumacher.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster.
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At the beginning of August, Lamborghini revealed a teaser image announcing an extreme supercar for the Frankfurt Motor Show. A few guesses as to what supercar this could be were instantly thrown out, such as the roadster version of the Aventador or the production version of the Sesto Elemento. Now we know that this new special edition model is the Lamborghini Gallardo 570-4 Super Trofeo, limited to only 150 units and described as "the most extreme Gallardo ever."
The new Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale was inspired by the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo and will be placed on the top of the Gallardo line-up. It is powered by a V10 engine that delivers a total of 570 HP and a peak torque 398 lbs-ft at 6500 rpm. The engine will be combined with an all-wheel-drive system and a robotized six-speed transmission controlled by steering wheel paddles.
With a total weight of 2954 lbs, the new special edition will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.4 seconds and to 124 mph in 10.4 seconds, headed up to a top speed of 198 mph.
UPDATE 09/13/2011: We have added two new videos showing off the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale’s official debut in Frankfurt. Enjoy!
UPDATE 10/26/2011: Lamborghini has found a pretty interesting solution to promote the new Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale: using a C’était un Rendezvous theme. And even if the video does not actually show the car, we can get a pretty good idea on just how fast it will be. Check it out!
UPDATE 11/03/2011: There hasn’t been too much on the new Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale, but K & S Photographers have managed to n all of its beauty and glory. Hit the jump to watch the video!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale.
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If there’s anything better than a beautiful, red Ferrari 458 Italia, it’s that same beautiful, red Ferrari with its top stripped off. We received confirmation that Ferrari was planning on producing a Spider version of one of their highly successful new models back in 2009 from none other than Luca di Montezemolo, himself and now the covers have finally been pulled off.
Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Spider.
The car is scheduled to make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, but the Prancing Horse wanted to release the first salvo of information, together with official photos, well ahead of that. Thank your lucky stars, people.
And now that the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider has officially arrived, the next question that needs to be answered now is when it’s going on sale. Word has it that Europe will get first crack at the Ferrari supercar around spring of 2012 with the US following suit towards the end of 2012.
UPDATE 09/27/2011: Price, Set, Buy! Ferrari has revealed pricing for their luscious 458 Italia Spyder! Sales for the drop top beauty will start in January for the US with prices starting at $257,000. Sales in Europe will begin in October and prices will start at 226,800 euros, or $309,000 at the current exchange rates.
UPDATE 01/09/12: Ferrari has now released the online configuration for the 458 Italia Spyder. We can’t say that we didn’t wait for this and now that its here, we’re all excited to see what we can do with our very own "virtual" 458 Italia Spyder.
Find out more about the 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Spider after the jump
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At this rate, we’d probably use a paddle and a canoe to get to Frankfurt, Germany for the year’s biggest automotive event. That’s how huge this event is shaping up to be and it’s about to get even bigger after Subaru has announced their intention to bring a new "technology concept" called the BRZ Prologue - Boxer Sports Car Architecture II.
The BRZ, which stands for ’Boxer engine’, ’Rear-wheel drive’, and ’Zenith’, could very well be the Japanese automaker’s answer to Toyota’s version of the FT-86 that, ironically, the two are co-developing.
We don’t know exactly what to expect from the BRZ other than thinking it will be an RWD sports coupe and that it "embodies ultimate passion for the new sports car and confidence in its distinctive trademark and core technology." Subaru hasn’t revealed anything other than announcing that they’re bringing the car to Frankfurt and that the start of production is being planned for the spring of 2012, but hopefully, everything becomes crystal clear when the biggest auto show of the calendar year opens this September.
UPDATE 09/13/11: You remember when we said that we didn’t really know what to expect from the Subaru BRZ Concept heading to the Frankfurt Motor Show? Well, we certainly didn’t expect what we saw. You see, we where actually expecting something tangible that could take the look of a concept car. But what we got looked something like an X-ray mock-up version of the concept, which incidentally still doesn’t have all the elements that would constitute an actual car. What we did find out, and its something that could prove useful in the future, is that the car will carry a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed Boxer engine that features Toyota’s direct-injection technology called the D-4S.
UPDATE 09/22/11: After being postponed for some time, Subaru will finally be bringing a full concept version of the BRZ sports car to the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. However, this concept won’t reveal anything about the production version scheduled to appear in December. Turns out, both Subaru and Toyota have agreed not to display anything from the final production version of the BRZ or the FT-86 until the vehicles’ official debuts in Tokyo. So we’ve basically been chasing the BRZ and FT-86 carrots only to find out they are actually turds. Not cool. (Car And Driver)
We love Fiat’s partnership with Gucci and the resulting 500 by Gucci born from it. However, with all due respect to those two, the latest collaboration between Italian automaker and Italian fashion house is making us drool. The car is a Maserati GranCabrio. The fashion house is Fendi. The result is the GranCabrio Fendi, a car that has been described as "a masterpiece of technology and craftsmanship."
And that just might be an understatement.
To begin with, the GranCabrio has been finished with a special dark grey, three-layer body color with an iridescent golden finish on the surface. Then there are wood trims across the dashboard, doors, and gear lever, complemented by yellow painted brake calipers. The seats have been dressed with Fendi’s iconic ’double F’ logo with the headrests embroidered with yellow stitching featuring Maserati’s famous trident logo.
In addition, the special edition GranCabrio also features a silver oval plaque on the dashboard, displaying the Maserati trident, the Fendi logo, and the five-digit series number. There’s also a special black car cover and to top everything off, there’s also a Limited Edition Travel Set of Fendi luggage and accessories.
For all the changes done on the car’s looks, the powertrain and corresponding output remains the same. What this means is that you’ll still get the 4.7-liter V8 engine with 433 horsepower and 362 lb/ft of torque with a top speed 180 mph.
Maserati has yet to release the financial damage this car will have on our accounts, but to be honest, we’d probably fork over whatever figure it sells for just because we’re completely smitten with it. The paint finish alone already caused our jaws to drop to the floor.
UPDATE 09/22/2011: Maserati has just released a video that provides a look behind the scenes of the GranCabrio Fendi. It’s a slow starter, complete with elevator music and a slow sketch of the Maserati, but it shows everything from the work on the body down to the stitching of the seats.
