Here we go, folks. The 2012 model year will be the last for the current Aston Martin DBS and a newly redesigned model is on its way. In the mean time, Aston Martin fans can enjoy the 2013 DBS Ultimate, which is little more than a slightly upgraded version of the Carbon Black model, but a limited edition nonetheless.
We all anticipate seeing the upcoming 2014 Aston Martin DBS in the 2012 Paris Auto Show, which kicks off the 29th of September. We are also anxiously awaiting some official photos from Aston Martin, which we expect to see some time in June. As we wait, the spyshot groups are out and about seeking some prey and fell upon a 2014 DBS specimen frolicking around the streets and snapped a few pics. Unfortunately, the DBS was wearing significantly more clothing than the models at the Beijing Auto Show and there wasn’t much to be seen.
Well, our crack rendering team has stripped the clothing from this beauty and gave us a good idea of what to expect, with the above picture. Rendering is not what we’re all about though, as we also are prepared to offer you a full review of this new beast using the information we have gathered and just a pinch of speculation.
Click past the jump to read the entire review on the 2014 Aston Martin DBS
The sleek and sexy Hennessey Venom GT became a successful model in a very short time and Hennessey is hoping to repeat that success with an open top version of the same sports car. The new Hennessey Venom GT Spyder will be offered with a removable top and will only be produced in a limited run of five units, two of which have already been spoken for. Deliveries will begin in Summer 2012 and prices will start from $1.1 million, about $150,000 more than the Coupe’s top version.
The Venom GT Spyder will be powered by the same Chevrolet sourced V8 engine found in the Coupe with an output of 1,200 HP at 6,500 rpm and 1,155 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. Because of the added weight from the removable roof, performance numbers should be a tad bit slower than the Coupe, which sprints from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and to 200 mph in 15.9 seconds, on its way up to a top speed of 275 mph. The engine will more than likely send its power to the rear wheels via a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox and handling will be facilitated by a KW variant three-adjustable coilover suspension.
As far as its design goes, the Venom GT Spyder will start off with the Lotus Elise base and will follow along the same extreme design lines as its Coupe sibling. We imagine it will also feature the same active aero system with adjustable rear wing that will deploy under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack.
"With the hardtop in place, the Venom GT offers a very visceral, raw, driving experience," said Hennessey CEO, Don Goldman. "With the hardtop removed, the wind and the growl of the twin turbo V8 will offer our clients an even greater driving sensation."
The 1,200 HP will make the Venom GT Spyder the most powerful convertible in the world. Will it also be the fastest? We believe it will, but Hennessey will have to keep that 275 mph top speed intact.
UPDATE 05/22/2012: Following the delivery of the first Venom GT Spyder to Steven Tyler, Hennessey has dropped two new images of their latest supercar, as well as a video featuring the chassis dyno testing. Enjoy!
Cadillac’s recently unveiled XTS Platinum Concept has been made over into a production model revealed at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Cadillac XTS sedan will hit dealer showrooms in 2012 in late spring or early summer as a competitor for models like the Audi A6, the BMW 5-Series, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The new XTS will be placed above the CTS in the current Cadillac line-up and will deliver "the space, elegance, and dramatic presence that are Cadillac signatures, but with entirely new and technically advanced methods tuned for a new generation of luxury customers."
"The Cadillac XTS represents a new formula for luxury, driven by advanced technology," said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. "XTS showcases the evolution of our Art & Science philosophy, merging the best technical ideas with the continued refinement of Cadillac design."
UPDATE 05/22/2012: We have just added 50 new high res images in the XTS picture gallery, including images of the Platinum Collection. Enjoy!
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.
UPDATE 05/22/2012: During a recent test drive at Nevada Open Road Challenge, the 270 Regal GS clocked in an impressive top speed of 162 mph - making it the fastest model Buick ever made. The car was piloted by Rietow and Townsend and the only modifications were limited to safety equipment such as a roll hoop and five-point harness seat belts, as well as data collection computers. Check out the new video to see the test drive!
Hit the jump for more details on the Buick Regal GS.
Skoda began using the Rapid name back in 1984 when it debuted a coupe based on the brand’s 130 sedan. That model was discontinued in 1990, but the name is headed back to the spotlight, this time on a new small car that will be placed between the light Fabia and the next-generation Octavia. The new Rapid was inspired by the Mission L Concept unveiled at the 2012 Frankfurt Motor Show and will be officially unveiled in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
The new Skoda Rapide will be built on a standard platform, and not on the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB multi-vehicle platform. This decision was made to keep the car’s price as low as possible. The engines and transmission, however, will still come from the Volkswagen Group.
As for its exterior design, expect to see many elements from the Mission L Concept, combined with the latest expression of Skoda’s design language.
If all of that is not clear enough, check out the latest spy shots of the Skoda Rapid as it takes a test lap on the Nürburgring in Germany.
RK Motors Charlotte has become pretty notorious for its Pro Touring models, which are ultra-high-performance versions of classic muscle and sports cars. Not only are they extremely powerful, but RKM also has the restored to a condition that is better than the factory could have ever imagined. Just recently, RKM launched an all-new Pro Touring model in the form of the 1955 Ford Thunderbird Pro Touring.
After the Corvette was a smash hit, Ford decided two years was a long enough wait to build its direct competitor to the Corvette, the Thunderbird. The T-bird and Corvette, however, went to completely different directions over the year. As expected, both vehicles became progressively larger through the `60s and `70s, but the T-bird grew to proportions that no one expected by the time it hit the 1967 model year.
After 1997, Ford decided to axe this growing monster, but released it again in the 2002 model year with styling cues taken from its first generation model. The first generation was arguably the most beautiful for the T-bird and RKM’s model promises to not take away from its classical styling, but rather add to it with modern modifications.
Did RKM hold true to its promise not to completely hack up this first rendition of the T-bird, or did it make this beautiful car just a shell of its former self?
Click past the jump to read our full review and find out.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Black Dynamic is a very special vehicle, not because it’s got serious horsepower under its hood. It’s a special ride because it’s the result of a months-long project by nine Volkswagen apprentices - four young women and five young men - aged 18 to 24.
According to Volkswagen, the ’Apprentice Golf GTI 2012’ was started to give young and up-and-coming designers to put their skills to the test in a real automotive project.
The result is the Golf GTI Black Dynamic, which is making its world debut at the Worthersee GTI meet in Austria.
As part of the revamps given to the vehicle, the apprentices fitted a number of key styling upgrades, including a Deep Black Metallic exterior finish combined with flat anthracite film trim, a matte gray hood with honeycomb decals, LED headlamps, and a new set of black rims.
Meanwhile, the custom features of the interior are all produced by the apprentices themselves. For example, the sport seats have been upholstered in black-and-red Alcantara and leather. They also went and dressed the interior door trim with decorative red seams, visually expressing the two-tone red and black themed interior, while also connecting a 1,800-Watt sound system that comes with nine loudspeakers.
As for the engine, the apprentices opted for a 2.0-liter TSI engine and gave it a new gearbox management and a new oversized exhaust system, thus giving the car an extra 150 horsepower, for a grand total of 360 ponies.
Let it be known that we’ve got nothing but praise for the kids involved in this apprenticeship. Not only did they build something that’s truly a definite head-turner, but they managed to do it with the style, class, and professionalism that’s usually reserved for industry veterans.
There have been plenty of aftermarket companies that have released program options for the Mercedes SLS AMG. And with the car’s popularity continuing to soar, you can expect that more and more companies are ready to take a stab at the German supercar. Some of them even have already done so more than once.
MEC Design is no stranger to working on the SLS AMG, so much so in fact that their first design for the car was introduced 18 months ago. Fast forward to this week and the aftermarket company has prepared a new program for the SLS 63 AMG, one that includes an aerodynamic package for a customer from Florida.
MEC Design’s exterior package for the SLS 63 AMG includes a two-piece front spoiler, a spoiler lip finished in carbon, optional LED headlights, new side sills with four optional LED lights per side, a rear trunk-lid lip, a two-piece rear roof spoiler, a roof air scoop, a custom built, stainless steel sport exhaust system, three different diffuser options (Extreme, Formula, or GT3), and a set of mecxtreme3 allow wheels that are available in either 20" or 21".
Inside the car, MEC Design gave the SLS AMG a sports steering wheel dressed in carbon and Alcantara with leather/Alcantara and carbon/leather combinations coming as added options for customers. Speaking of carbon fiber, there’s plenty of the high-end material placed inside to make it look like its swimming in the posh item. Carbon inserts have been applied on the middle console, door guards, entry guard, the seat casings, and just behind the rear seats.
There’s plenty to see if you have the photos to look at. Fortunately, we have a mega gallery that you can consume at your heart’s desire.
UPDATE 05/22/2012: MEC Design may not have one of the most impressive tuning packages for the Mercedes SLS AMG, but their promo package for the sports coupe is definitely one of the most impressive videos we have seen in the past few months. The video was directed by Daniel Michaelis, filmed by Daniel Michaelis and Willi Fast, and narrated by Claudia Black. Hit the jump to check it out!
When it comes to building wide-body tuning kits, you won’t find a tuner that does a better job than Prior Design. Heck, it was only a few months ago when they released a wide-body kit for the Mercedes CL-Class luxury coupe. Apparently, it didn’t take them too long to build off of that with what they call "version 2" of the Black Edition program.
Similar to what we saw previously, Prior Design really went balls-to-the-wall on the Black Edition V2, dressing up the CL-Class with a package that’s far sportier and more aggressive than its predecessor.
For this program, Prior Design fitted the Mercedes with a slew of new bodykit components, all of which are made from Dura-Flex Fiber Reinforced Plastic. The kit includes a new front bumper, a front lip spoiler, larger side skirts, a rear bumper and diffuser, a new front hood, and mesh grilles.
For the entire package, Prior Design has stickered a price of €12,900, which is around $16,500 based on current exchange rates. Given the money customers are likely to invest or have invested on a CL-Class, this kind of purchase shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Misha Design has become synonymous with building some of the most aggressive body kits for German cars. After their ventures with the Porsche 911 and the BMW M3 netted positive results, the tuning firm has now taken another German vehicle under its wing.
This time, it’s the Mercedes CLS-Class four-door coupe. The luxury sports coupe’s aesthetic credentials are already a sight to behold on their own. But when Misha Design decided that a new wide body kit was in order, nobody really voiced their displeasure against it.
The new kit includes a plethora of new components, including a new front bumper, redesigned with bigger intakes, a gloss black chin spoiler, a retouched grille and bumper, new side skirts, new fenders, a rear diffuser, a roof spoiler, and a trunk spoiler.
Should you wish to add a splash of carbon fiber on the accessories, you can do so and Misha Design will be more than happy to oblige.
No powertrain modifications are in order. Nevertheless, expect the car to still a pack a wallop, thanks in large part to its 4.6-liter direct-injection twin-turbo V8 engine that produces an impressive output of 402 horsepower and 443 lb/ft of torque and a fuel economy of 17 city / 26 hwy.
