We aren’t exactly the biggest fans of Ferrari’s
latest addition to their lineup, but this FF in particular may just be cool enough to change our mind. You see, the standard Ferrari FF works from a 6,262 cc direct injection V12 engine that delivers an impressive 660 HP at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 503 lbs-ft 6,000 rpm, which is fantastic for a car that looks like a stretched out wagon. That being said, Norwegian aftermarket developer, Customised.no, is upping that ante with a bio-ethanol (E85) conversion that will shoot up the power and kick back its emissions. Sounds intriguing.
The E85 conversion jump-starts the FF’s power output by taking it from 660 HP all the way to 875 HP! This newfound power will allow the sports coupe a 0-60 mph sprint time of less than three seconds, improved from the standard 3.7 seconds.
The conversion still doesn’t make the car any prettier, but it does reduce its emissions by about 80%, from the current 360g/km to 100g/km. Kind of impossible to believe considering this is still a Ferrari.
The E85 conversion for the Ferrari FF is priced at 1,500 euro ($1,900 at the current rates), and since it was converted at a Ferrari dealer, customers may still get to take advantage of their warranty.
The world of high performance sports car grows by the day and here’s another new beast to prove it. CCG automotive has revealed the super sports car customGT - an ultra-light dream car with up to 550 hp. The most impressive feature of the new customGT is the fact that it comes with an LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) system that helps reduces exhaust emissions. At first glance, this could translate into money in the bank since LPG is considerably cheaper than standard gasoline.
The CCG CustomGT is powered by an optimized 7.0 liter V8 engine created by General Motors. This engine delivers a total of 550 HP and is mated to a manually-operated 6-gear transmission. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in 3.5 seconds and top speed goes up to an impressive 198 mph.
The man behind this creation is Tom Gerards, Head of CCG automotive GmbH and Creative Director of the CustomGT. His dream was to build his very own supercar so, in 2009, he began his journey. "What turned the customGT into reality was our passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and the steadfast belief in achieving the goal," says Gerards.
Hit the jump to read about how his dream turned into a high-powered supercar.
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Of course this is not the first time we are talking about a car-inspired hotel here at TopSpeed, but this one is by far the coolest one. Tata Motors have signed an agreement with Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces to offer two special bedrooms inspired by classic and contemporary Jaguar models, from the legendary 1960’s E-type to the state-of-the art C-X75.
The two bedrooms feature materials taken from the cars, such as leather, metal and high gloss veneer. At the doors customers will receive sleek wood panelling greeting guests, Jaguar damask lining the bedroom walls, a fireplace referencing the shape of the brand’s hallmark rear window and the finest leather that lines the cars, ebony veneer doors and custom-made Jaguar wallpaper.
The suite is 170 square meters and contains two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a kitchen and living and dining areas. The walls are are adorned with pictures, models and items of Jaguar history.
Of course this exclusivity comes with a huge price: $8,000 a night.
Trying to get gas at reasonable prices is becoming one of the world’s major problems these days, so it seemed only natural that people would look for alternative sources to power their vehicles. There has been an onslaught of hybrid and full electric vehicles introduced to the market as of late, but there have also been unconventional methods as well, like that whiskey-powered model over in Scotland. It is the unconventional that has just broken the land speed record for vehicles running on organic waste. Engineer, Martin Bacon, and a group of volunteers from Teesdale Conservation in England have managed to make a car run on coffee.
Their project is based on a modified Rover SD1 which managed to hit a top speed of 77.5 mph and an average speed of 66.5 mph after many modifications, all with the help of the sole reason I get up in the morning. This java-powered rocket broke the previous speed record in this category of 47.7 mph, set by the wood-burning Beaver XR7 in 2010.
In this coffee-powered car, the fuel is sent to the V6 engine through an on board wood gas generator (gasification) system, which in this case burns wood and coffee grounds at a high temperature (more than 1292 F). The result is carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane, or the exact gas an internal combustion engine needs.
"Some of the clean gas is also being compressed to 150 PSI and injected directly into the manifold to achieve top speed. The cooling system is configured using an intercooler with two 12-volt fans attached."
Hit the jump for the video.
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When people think about Buicks, words like old, boring, and grandpa come to mind. Very rarely, if ever, does the word sporty get uttered as an accurate description, but get ready for all of that to change. In an effort to change the stigma attached to the brand, Buick is releasing an all new Buick Regal GS which will arrive at dealerships in the fall of 2011. This new vehicle will target models like the Audi A4 and the Acura TSX with its exclusive Ecotec 2.0L direct injected, turbocharged engine that delivers a total of 270 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The last time a GS model was released by Buick, it was 2004. This model was powered by a 3.8 L L67 Series II supercharged V6 that produced 240 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque. Technology, and the constant need to improve fuel economy, has allowed Buick to pump out more horsepower out of a smaller engine, all while providing an estimated fuel economy of 33 MPG.
UPDATE 08/04/2011: Buick has announced that the Regal GS will be put on sale this fall at a starting price of $35,310, which includes a $860 destination charge. Standard features on the GS model include: push-button start; a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sport steering wheel with audio controls; metal sport pedals; and leather-appointed, heated and 12-way adjustable sport seating, a Harman Kardon premium 336-watt, 5.1 Matrix Surround Sound system with nine speakers.
Hit the jump for more details on the Buick Regal GS.
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