A few months ago, Elon Musk announced Tesla’s intention to develop an optional package that would put Tesla Model S on same level as the McLaren MP4-12C. Quite an interesting decision, but it finally came to life – sort of – with the announcement of a new "Plus" package priced at an extra $6,500.
The new package can only be ordered with the 85-kWh Performance version of the Model S and, according to Tesla, it improves "performance, comfort and efficiency."
The package will add revised suspension dampers and bushings, updated stabilizer bars and tires. The rear tires are 20 mm (0.78 inches) wider and staggered for improved acceleration on low-grip surfaces. Range improves 6 to 12 miles with 21-inch wheels.
Alongside to the new Plus package, Tesla also plans to offer a Plus Retrofit package for current Model S owners. It will be available this summer and will cost $13,500. According to the first details, this new package will "provide the enthusiast driver with a more responsive car and added cornering grip while maintaining excellent ride quality."
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Tesla Model S.
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In the past few years, Jon Olsson shown quite a passion for customizing special Ultima GTR supercars for the Gumball 3000 international road rally. For those of you who do not know, Gumball is an annual 120-car deep, 3,000-mile road rally that takes place on public roads with a different route each year. Last year’s Gumball took place in the U.S., so this year it is Europe’s turn.
Jon Olsson is one of the guys always present for the rally. For example, in 2011 he developed a special Ultima GTR in collaboration with ADV.1 wheels. For the 2013 rally, his sponsor is Rebellion Racing Team, which is where the name of the car comes from, obviously.
According to the first details, the new Rebellion is a prototype-like conversion, featuring Audi-inspired headlights and Veneno / LMP1 + rear fins and tons of sponsor stickers.
UPDATE 05/15/13: More photos of Jon Olsson’s Rebellion R2K race car have been released. Do yourself a favor and check out the gallery. It’s all worth it.
Click past the jump to read more about Olsson’s previous Gumball car.
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Today at the Wörthersee show, Seat has unveiled the new Leon Cup Racer - a model specially prepared for racing series worldwide. The Cup Racer is offered in two versions: one with a DSG transmission priced at €70,000 ($92,000) and the endurance version with a sequential transmission and mechanical differential lock priced at €95,000 ($124,500).
The Cup Racer version is based on the standard five-door Leon and feature a metallic matte grey paint combined with orange accents. The model is about 40 cm (15.71 inches) wider than the standard version and sits on 18-inch racing wheels. Seat has also installed an aerodynamic package that improves the car’s stability at high speeds. This kit includes a new front spoiler, a rear diffuser and a two-phase roof spoiler mounted on a support.
For the interior, the company offers a high-strength roll cage, bucket seats with a HANS head-protection system, a multifunction steering wheel and a high-resolution TFT display. Under the hood, the Leon Cup Racer gets a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers a total of 330 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Seat Leon.
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We obviously care a great deal about our cars and the way they look. Some of us, though, opt for something a little more along the lines of eye-catching, so steps are taken to further improve the car’s aesthetics relative to its stock features.
R1 Motorsport believes in the same thing. Why settle for a standard BMW M6 when you can turn into one of the meanest cars on the block? To its credit, R1 Motorsport answered that question in resounding fashion, dressing up the German sports car in a satin black finish that’s about as menacing as it gets this side of matte black.
You can’t deny that the M6 looks a lot nastier than what it did in standard guise. Add that to the M6’s 4.4-liter V-8 engine that produces 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque with a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph, and you have a true sports coupe - a big and mean one - that can make other sports cars in its path squirm with fear.
Click past the jump to see more of R1 Motorsport’s program for the BMW M6
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It’s only been a few months since Mercedes revealed its pocket rocket, the CLA-Class,, and the car is already getting the attention of one of the world’s best Mercedes tuners this side of AMG.
German aftermarket company Brabus has presented its first tuning program for the CLA-Class and while it looks a little too subtle for our liking, we have no doubt that Brabus is still in the process of completing this program.
When it does, we expect nothing less than the stamp of awesomeness that can only come from a Brabus-tuned vehicle.
There’s a lot to like about the CLA-Class, particularly its stature within Benz’s lineup of being the affordable luxury sports sedan that’s geared toward the younger market. To its credit, Mercedes didn’t take any shortcuts in developing the car, giving us a car that looks worthy of the Silver Arrows emblem while also fitting it with a 2.0-liter inline-four engine that can produce up to 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 149 mph.
Click past the jump to see what Brabus did to the CLA-Class and read the accompanying press release
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The world heard the Beetle name for the first time back in 1938 and with 73 long and impressive years tucked away nicely under their belts, Volkswagen has never really strayed away from their original design. The appeal for the Beetle never really faltered because it was, in fact, a unique design, but Volkswagen has made the decision to reignite the passion for the Beetle with efficient engines and innovative features combined to obtain a ‘modern classic’ in the 2012 Beetle. The vehicle will make its first appearance in China, at the Shanghai Motor Show, and then it will be brought to the 2011 New York Auto Show. Sales on the North American market will begin this autumn, while Europe sales will start in early 2012.
The new Beetle shares its platform with the new Volkswagen Jetta and will be 1,808 mm wide (84 mm wider), 1,486 mm tall (12 mm lower), and 4,278 mm long (152 mm longer). Thanks to the new proportions, the roof is extended further, the front windscreen shifted back, and the rear section follows the contour of the original Beetle.
US customers will have the possibility to choose from three trim levels - "Beetle", "Design," and "Sport" - and three engines - one diesel and two petrol.
UPDATE 05/03/13: VW has just announced a mid-model-year change for the Beetle Turbo, which includes a nice power hike and some exterior updates.
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Volkswagen Scirocco was unleashed in 1974 and remained in production until 1992; then, in 2008 the model was brought back to life and enjoyed a great success – unfortunately, the U.S. didn’t receive the model this time around. Now, Volkswagen is celebrating the development of its one-millionth Scirocco — 795,650 units for the first two generations and 204,350 units for the third one – with a special Scirocco Million.
This commemorative model comes painted in a special "Deep Black Metallic" combined with sporty accent stripes on the middle of the body and "Galvanic Grey" mirror caps. The car is offered with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, while 19-inch alloy wheels are offered as an option. The model also receives R-Line bumpers, R-Line side sills, smoked taillights and "Million" stickers on the wings.
For the interior, Volkswagen is offering standard leather seating with contrasting seams in "Snap Orange," a black roof liner, stainless-steel pedals and, of course, entry plates with "Million" lettering.
Buyers can order the new Scirocco Million with three different engine options with power ranging from 122 to 210 horsepower.
The new Scirocco Million Edition will only be offered on the German and Chinese markets. In Germany, it is priced at €27,325 (about $35k).
Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Scirocco.
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Bristol Cars is a British-based company founded in 1945 that specializes in developing hand-built luxury cars. The company produces only 20 units per year, but even so, it manages to maintain loyal clientele.
One of the most famous cars developed by Bristol was the Fighter - a sports car that can hit a top speed of about 200 mph. Along with that beast, the company has developed lots of other models and all of them used either BMW or Chrysler engines to power them.
Now Bristol wants to hit that 200 mph mark one more time, but this time in a new extended-range electric GT supercar. The model is still in its development process and will be shown in concept form at the end of this year.
It will use the same design language we saw on the 2009 Giugiaro-styled Namir supercar concept and will be offered with technology developed by Surrey-based technology group Frazer-Nash Research.
Note: pictures shown here are of the Giugiaro Namir Concept, not the Bristol GT.
Click past the jump to read more about the future Bristol GT.
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