Top Speed

Jaguar celebrates 20 years of the XJ220

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Launched in 1992, the XJ220 was the fastest Jaguar ever produced. 20 years later, it still maintains the title, making it an iconic vehicle to be celebrated. And as part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Jaguar has released a number of images to show it off.

The Jaguar XJ220 started off as a concept in 1988 designed by Keith Helfet and was never intended for production. However, after an overwhelming response at the auto show, Jaguar went on to see its viability as a production model. What they ended up with was a limited run of 350 units. The first customer car was completed in June 1992 with a retail price of £470,000 (about $737,000 at the current exchange rates). The XJ220 remained in production until 1994.

The Jaguar XJ220 was powered by a 3.5-liter, twin turbo V6 engine that delivered a total of 550 HP and 475 lbs-ft of torque. The engine was mated to a five-speed gearbox and an AP Racing twin-plate clutch. This amount of power was enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. Also, with an impressive top speed of 213mph, the XJ220 had the highest maximum speed of any production car at that time.

gallery: 1992 - 1994 Jaguar XJ 220

Jaguar celebrates 20 years of the XJ220 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 4 February 2012 06:00 EST.

Video: Porsche chronicles its Le Mans history

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Of all the automakers that have participated in the legendary 24-hour race at Le Mans since 1923, German automaker Porsche holds the distinction of being the most successful marque in the history of the racing series. Truth be told, Porsche has a record 94 class wins and 16 overall victories, highlighted by a dominant stretch from 1981 to the 1987 when it scored the title for seven straight years.

Lately, Porsche has ceded control of Le Mans to the likes of Audi and Peugeot, scoring its last overall victory in 1998 with the 911 GT1-98. After years of toiling in the shadows, the German automaker is getting ready to return to Le Mans in 2014, determined to return back to the throne it previously occupied.

Preparations are in order for the first LMP1 prototype to be developed soon, and knowing Porsche’s history in Le Mans, we expect nothing less than a car that can contend for the the Le Mans title when it returns to the track.

Speaking of its history, the German automaker has prepared a number of videos detailing the company’s history in Le Mans, going all the way back from its early years to its recent dominance in the 90’s.

Check out the rest of the video series from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s after the jump.

Video: Porsche chronicles its Le Mans history originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 26 December 2011 18:00 EST.

Video: All six Volkwagen Golf GTI generations on the track

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Volkswagen unveiled the Golf GTI for the first time back in June 1976 and currently, the model is in its sixth generation. Many may consider the fourth generation Golf to be the very best of all, but without all six generations going toe to toe, it may be difficult to make such a decision, Enter Volkswagen.

The brand poised to dominate the auto world has put together a video with all six generations of the Golf, totaling more than 35 years of its GTI history. From the first generation’s 110 HP 1.6-liter inline four cylinder engine evolving to the sixth generation’s 207 HP turbo engine, all six were there to represent for their time period and all six were put to test on the race track, and while this video is not very long, it sure provides an idea on the classics vs. moderns dilemma.

gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI U.S. version

gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI

gallery: 2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI W12

Video: All six Volkwagen Golf GTI generations on the track originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 26 December 2011 06:00 EST.

Steve McQueen's Le Mans racing suit set to be up for auction

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Steve McQueen was, and is still considered to be, one of the icons of the auto industry. Sure, he didn’t design cars, nor did he start an auto company, but his indelible mark on all of us was that he was one of those Hollywood royalties that also knew how to handle his business behind the wheel of a race car.

His legendary movie, Le Mans, will always be a conversation-piece for us so it figures that some of the items that were used in that movie would fetch a pretty dollar if they went up for auction. That’s where this two-piece Gulf Racing suit comes into the picture. Not only was this piece of fabric used in the movie, but it was actually worn by McQueen himself. After being donated by the Observer to a lucky fan back in 1972 - a 12-year old won it during a competition - the suit now finds itself as one of the prize catches at the Profiles in History’s "Icons of Hollywood" auction.

Remarkably, the suit remains in tip-top condition and comes with all the trinkets and sponsor patches that were used in the movie, including the American flag, the Gulf logo, Heuer Chronograph and Firestone sponsor patches, and even Michael Delany’s name stitched on the right hand side.

The auction will take place on December 15-17, 2011 and experts have priced the suit at around $200,000 to $300,000, a hefty price tag for a classic racing suit that has a pretty interesting story behind it.

We wonder if the suit still has McQueen’s sweat stains on it...

gallery: 1970 Porsche 911S owned by Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen's Le Mans racing suit set to be up for auction originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 1 December 2011 18:00 EST.

Sergio Scaglietti passes away at 91

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

It has been confirmed that late last night, the world lost a true genius in the art of car design. Sergio Scaglietti, the man behind the designs of the 1957 250 California Spider, 1958 250 Testa Rossa, and 1962 250 GTO, among others, has passed away. He was 91 years old.

Sergio Scaglietti doesn’t need too much of an introduction in the eyes of Ferrari lovers. He started his work in 1951 when he opened Carrozzeria Scaglietti - an Italian automobile design and coachbuilding company. The coachbuilder was located just across the road from Ferrari in Maranello, where the great Enzo Ferrari took notice of the talented designer. Scaglietti was one of the few designers that gained Enzo Ferrari’s trust and respect both through his bodywork and design skills. Scaglietti of course started designing cars for Ferrari, and was even honored with a few cars named after him, such as the 612 Scaglietti and 456M GT Scaglietti.

"He was one of my father’s best friends," said Piero Ferrari. "He was next to me with Marco Piccinini also the day my father died and stayed with me the whole night until the funeral. I loved him and he was a very important part of my life. The world is emptier without Sergio."

After a lifetime of dedication to the designing of vehicles, Sergio Scaglietti passed away at his home in Modena. The world has undoubtedly lost an automotive icon. We have great respect for his work and send our condolences to his family.

gallery: 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

gallery: 1958 - 1960 Ferrari 250 California

Sergio Scaglietti passes away at 91 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 21 November 2011 09:00 EST.

Video: Rennsport Reunion IV - This is how you meet your heroes

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV was held in the middle of October, but Porsche keeps revealing videos from the event where the new generation 911 made its North American debut.

The latest video from the Rennsport Reunion IV event is called "This is how you meet your heroes" and, as its name suggests, it is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Porsche’s greatest racing heroes - be it cars or drivers.

Names like Hurley Haywood, Derek Bell, and Brian Redman are very familiar with Porsche fans and, in this video, these fans will get the chance to see them next to cars like the Porsche 917 and the Porsche 962 - cars that made history in the racing world. So, turn up your volume and listen to the exhaust notes of these two amazing cars.

gallery: Porsche 917 celebrates its 40 anniversary

gallery: 1987 Porsche 962 for sale on eBay

Video: Rennsport Reunion IV - This is how you meet your heroes originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 20 November 2011 06:00 EST.

Video: 100 Years of Chevrolet Racing Heritage

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Sat, 5 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Any company that makes it to 100 years has every reason to celebrate and Chevrolet is no exception. In the century that it’s been alive, the company has had many milestones, some more important than others. And that includes the world of motorsports.

In this video, Chevrolet has compiled snippets of some of the most important motorsport moments in their long and illustrious history. Chevrolet really dug deep into their archives just to make this three-and-a-half minute video and if you’re old enough to remember some of those moments, you can appreciate what the length of time really does to those with this long list of achievements.

A lot of of other autobrands have their history in auto racing, but very few have the heritage that the Bowtie has had. Any Chevy fan, let alone a racing fun in the purest sense of the world, should watch this video.

At the very least, it’s a short time capsule of sorts, one that you can look back on with fondness if you remember some of the greatest moments in Chevrolet’s long racing heritage.

Video: 100 Years of Chevrolet Racing Heritage originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 5 November 2011 06:00 EST.

Video: Chevrolet Camaro 'Heritage' Tribute

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Camaro : Heritage from X7 Productions on Vimeo

If you thought the Transformers movie franchise did wonders for the Chevrolet Camaro’s marketing appeal, then you best be ready to watch this video because it’s going to blow you away.

We don’t mean that as a kind of hyperbole because that would do a disservice to the people behind this production. The video, which is titled ’Camaro: Heritage’ was made as a collaboration between Camaro5 and Camaro Generations members, to showcase a tribute of sorts for the Camaro heritage.

Over 10 current generation Camaros were featured in the video, as well as one of each past generation Camaro, in what can only be described as one of the most masterful and well-executed non-commercial fan projects we’ve ever seen.

We say that without a hint of exaggeration because this video is better than the hype we’re giving it. It doesn’t even matter if you’re not a fan of the Camaro. There’s actually a good chance that if you’re not, all you need to do is watch this video to turn into one.

gallery: 2010 - 2012 Chevrolet Camaro

gallery: 1968 - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro History

Video: Chevrolet Camaro 'Heritage' Tribute originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 24 October 2011 15:00 EST.

Video: Going back in time with the Lexus LF-A supercar

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 GMT

One of the things automakers seek when they build a supercar is to see that car become a conversation piece everywhere it goes. In the case of the Lexus LF-A, the road towards becoming one of the world’s most talked about supercars began in the mind of Haruhiro Tanahashi, the man that became car’s official program head, and ended becoming one of the most important projects Lexus has done in its history.

In the years of development of the LF-A, one that took the better part of ten years to build, the project has undergone so many twists and turns it could have easily been a different supercar from what Lexus unveiled a few years ago.

For one, the LF-A was first designed with an all-aluminum chassis in mind but was later changed to carry 65 percent carbon fiber and 35 percent aluminum. The final version of the LF-A also comes with a central cockpit that’s made out of the former while the latter is likewise represented by front and rear subframes made out of aluminum.

In the end, the final version of the Lexus LF-A speaks for itself. For a car that took a long time to develop, it ended up becoming the kind of supercar Lexus always wanted it to be.

Video: Going back in time with the Lexus LF-A supercar originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 17 October 2011 12:00 EST.

Video: Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Sun, 9 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Ferrari has unveiled an exclusive video from the first edition of the Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio, in 2011. The event features dozens of cars - both classic and modern - from Ferrari and has been held in some of the most spectacular places in Sicily between Catania and Palermo.

The event started on September 30th at Marina di Ragusa and continued on through October 1st at Taormina before finishing up on October 3rd at Palermo when the car’s parade arrived at the stage in front of the Politeama theatre.

The Ferrari Tribute was mainly an occasion filled with passion, shared during the special stages, mastered with innovative technology or just a stopwatch in one’s hand, followed by relaxing moments with the breathtaking views of a spectacular scenery.

A new edition will be held on the roads of Sicily in 2012!

Video: Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 9 October 2011 23:00 EST.

Porsche 961

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Hold on to your seats, Porsche fans. There may be something brewing in Stuttgart that will completely change the landscape of Porsche in the coming years.

According to the German site, AutoBild.de, the German automaker is working on a completely new model called the Porsche 961. By now bells should be ringing in the heads of hardcore motorsports fans who remember a certain 961 racer that did a brief stint in the 80s. The old 961 only ran a total of three races - 24 Hours of Lemans, Camel GT Championship, and Lemans once again - before it experienced some technical difficulties and was laid to rest in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

The 961 racer from the 80s was modeled after Porsche’s 959 sports car, but the newest rendition is rumored to be a V8-powered flagship car that takes after the Porsche 918 and will be slotted above the iconic 911. Details are still sketchy at this point, but rumors are that the 961 has been tagged under the internal code ’9X1’ and in addition to having a powerful engine, the car could also be built as a hybrid, with an electric motor providing additional power to the car to the tune of somewhere around 600 horsepower.

Rumored price tag for the upcoming Porsche 961 has been pegged at somewhere in the neighborhood of €200,000, which is a little under $300,000 based on current exchange rates. The flagship coupe is also expected to make its official debut in 2013, giving us enough time to digest all this information and build up the hype of what is you can bet is going to be Porsche’s new crown jewel.

UPDATE 09/27/2011: British magazine, CAR, has set up some new rumors about the upcoming Porsche supercar which will be placed between the current 911 and the upcoming 918. It seems that the new Ferrari 458 Italia competitor will be codenamed project 960 and will be built on Volkswagen Group’s new Mimo platform. The new 960 will have nothing in common with the 918 Spyder and will use the same components as the future facelifted 911. You won’t see a twin-turbo V8 engine under the hood either; instead Porsche will use a twin-turbo 3.8-liter boxer engine with an output of about 600bhp and 550 lb-ft of torque. Porsche will offer both coupe and roadster versions and prices will start from €200,000, or $270,000 at the current exchange rates. (CAR)

gallery: 2010 Porsche 918 Spyder Concept

Porsche 961 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 28 September 2011 09:00 EST.

Video: The history behind Ferrari's Prancing Horse logo

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Posted on 09.19.2011 09:00 by Kirby
Filed under: Ferrari | video | history | Cars | Car News

Ferrari’s "Prancing Horse" logo is arguably one of the most iconic brand logos in the world today. Not just in the auto industry. The entire world.

But while many of us can pick and point to a Ferrari logo from all corners of the world, very few of us actually know the history behind the black galloping stallion in front of the yellow crest.

How did the Ferrari logo begin and when did it emerge?

So many questions have resulted in varying answers and now, Ferrari has finally come out with a video explaining the history behind their world famous logo.

As it turns out, the story behind the logo was only told by Ferrari patriarch, Enzo Ferrari, just once. According to Ferrari, the horse was painted on the fuselage of one Francesco Baracca, considered as one of the top Italian fighter pilots of the First World War. The story goes that Ferrari was instructed by Baracca’s mother to use the Prancing Horse logo on his cars for good luck. Together with the Prancing Horse, Ferrari added a canary yellow background as an homage to the official colors of Modena.

Beginning as a shield with the initials ’S.F.’- Scuderia Ferrari - below the horse, the logo slowly evolved and has since taken a rectangular shape with the ’S.F.’ initials taken out and replaced with the now famous ’Ferrari’ name.

The rest, as they always say, is now steeped in automotive history.

Video: The history behind Ferrari's Prancing Horse logo originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 19 September 2011 09:00 EST.

Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by GWA-Tuning

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 19:00:00 GMT

The Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlineta is one of the most unique cars on the market, fetching an astounding $4.3 million at the RM Auctions in March 2011. That princely sum is justified considering the 340 Mexico only consists of three different chassis, each built exclusively for the 1952 Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico. One of these units, chassis number 0224 AT driven by Luigi Chinetti, was successful in crossing the finish lane in third place behind two Mercedes 300SL Gullwing models and this is the car GWA Tuning has chosen to celebrate with a tributary model.

Using a Ferrari 456 platform as a base, GWA Tuning was able to bring the classic 340 Mexico Berlinetta to modern times. This 456 platform was re-bodied by Coach Building master, Mark Nungent, from Australia. The body was then fixed up with a new diffuser, rear spoiler, side vents, and front splitters, all from newer Ferraris. The body was also stretched by about 15 inches (mostly in the middle) to fit the new platform, but the wheelbase remained the same.

More details on the tributary Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by GWA-Tuning after the jump.

Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by GWA-Tuning originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 6 September 2011 19:00 EST.

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:00:00 GMT

On August 20th and 21st, 2011, one of the most legendary Ferraris of all time will go down to the auction block for the very first time. The auction will be hosted by Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. This particular Ferrari, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa, is expected to draw record numbers, solely because of its stature in the history of the Prancing Horse.

We know plenty about rare Ferraris fetching insane bids in past auctions, but this one is expected to trump all other models in the past. Over the past few years, Ferraris have posted record-breaking bids, including a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder that went for over $10 million back in 2008 and a 1958 Ferrari 250 TR that was scooped for a record $12.4 million a year later in 2009.

UPDATE 08/21/11: The numbers are in and just like we anticipated, this rare 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype attracted the heavyweight bidders at the Gooding & Company auction at the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. We all expected it to sell higher than the $12.4 million price tag of another 250 Testa Rossa sold for two years ago and now we have the official price of the winning bid: $16.4 million.

Find out more about the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype after the jump.

gallery: 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for $12 (...)

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 22 August 2011 11:00 EST.

Rolls Royce Phantom Maharaja of Kota

Matt McDonald@topspeed.com(Matt McDonald) — Fri, 5 Aug 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Rich and famous individuals around the world are known for leading extravagant lifestyles. Motor vehicles are often a way to show the world just how much money you have and one car in particular does this better than almost any other; the Rolls Royce Phantom. These bespoke automobiles have been the most luxurious and expensive items on four wheels since the company was first started. In the early part of the past century, Rolls Royce was often commissioned by heads of state and wealthy tycoons to build one off custom creations to fulfill their various desires. This 1925 Phantom I is perhaps the most indulgent of all being commissioned by the Maharaja of Kota specifically for the purpose of hunting Bengal Tigers.

Today, it would be very odd to think about taking a Rolls Royce on a dirt road, let alone trudging through mud and brush on a big game hunting trip. Those jobs would be best suited for a Land Rover Defender or even a Mercedes G550, but in 1925 Rolls Royce stood for more than just luxury. These were the most mechanically and structurally sound vehicles being produced and thus provided for the greatest reliability of anything around. Not to mention Rolls Royce was willing to do anything a customer desired as long as the price was right.

This car will be auctioned off at the Bonham Quail Lodge sale on August 19, 2011. It has changed hands several times since being discovered in the late 1970’s and has undergone two extensive restorations. Experts predict that this rare Rolls Royce could fetch anywhere from $750,000 to $1,000,000 when it crosses the block.

Hit the jump for more details on the 1925 Rolls Royce Phantom I

Rolls Royce Phantom Maharaja of Kota originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 5 August 2011 15:00 EST.

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