At the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Aventador LP720-4 50° Anniversario Edition, but only in its coupe garb. Just days ago, at a special dinner in Sant’Agata, the Italian company unveiled a roadster version of the car.
It was painted in a sharp matte-grey hue named “Grigio Titans” combined with Terra Emilia leather interior. For those of you who don’t remember, this special matte-gray paint is the same color used on the Reventon.
The roadster will feature the same design language on the coupe version, including: enlarged air intakes and splitters up front and on the rear; and an enlarged diffuser. Additionally, on the dashboard there is a special logo that reads "Series Speciale 00/100," suggesting that just like the coupe version, the roadster will also be limited to 100 units.
If you are interested in acquiring this model, then you should know it carries a price tag of $548,000, which is $106,300 more than the Aventador LP700-4 Roadster.
Click past the jump to read more about the Lamborghini Aventador LP720-4 50° Anniversario.
Underground Racing needs no presentation here. You all know what an amazing job the tuner does when it comes to high-performance supercars, like the Lamborghini Gallardo. This time around, the tuner joined forces with SR Auto Group and developed a car that delivers amazing output and looks like no other Gallardo out there.
Based on the 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560, this package adds two turbochargers bolted up to its exhaust manifolds for an amazing increase in power. How much power, you ask? Oh, just 1,500 horsepower at the wheels!
Obtaining this monstrous power required an impressive amount of work under the hood, including: custom, twin-billet, 62 mm precision turbochargers; TiAL billet wastegates; billet blow off valves; custom-fabricated, stainless-steel air induction using aircraft quality metal; a custom ice water reservoir; high-flow intercooler water heat exchanger; crankcase ventilation system; and K&N air filters.
Click past the jump to read more about the Lamborghini Gallardo by Underground Racing and SR Auto Group.
To go along with the new 2014 BMW X5 announced earlier today, the company also dropped the first details on the M Sport package, which adds a series of performance-oriented features.
For the exterior, the new M Sport package will add the usual M-style aerodynamic kit that includes a new front apron with larger air inlets, side sills with an additional light strip and a rear apron with a diffuser specially designed to optimize downforce on the rear axle at high speeds. There is also a Shadowline trim and high-gloss roof rails. As standard, customers will get a new set of 19-inch M-Double Spoke light alloy wheels, but customers can opt for a set of 20-inch M-Double Spoke wheels with mixed-size performance run-flat tires.
For the interior, the M Sport package will add an eight-speed sport automatic transmission with shift paddles; a new M Sport steering wheel; an anthracite headliner; M foot rest and door sills; aluminum hexagonal trim; and sports seats offered as standard. As an alternative, customers can opt for multi-contour seats.
As a final update, the new M Sport package will also add a sport exhaust system and a new adaptive M suspension with Dynamic Damping Control and air suspension.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard BMW X5.
Remember when Porsche released the Cayenne? Remember all the people in their Porsche owners club shirts sitting around and telling you about how this new SUV was a disgrace to the Porsche logo and that all the company should design and produce are 911 variants?
While they might have had a point, the Cayenne sold like bottled water and like this water in plastic, it’s completely pointless. People don’t need this much power from something that will be used to haul around families. Yet, it became the automaker’s best-selling model, despite its looks.
Now, to put owner’s club folks in the mental home, Porsche has created a smaller SUV that it has dubbed the Macan, which was originally named “Cajun.” This puppy is intended for people who find the Cayenne to be a bit too large and fancy something a bit more crossover like.
Porsche officially confirmed the small SUV in a statement detailing its hopes for the vehicle: "Under the working name "Cajun," this efficient and sporty model will further expand the world’s most successful Porsche segment in the SUV sector. In addition to the new Cayenne, which has clearly consolidated its market position as the most successful sporty SUV in the premium segment, the "Cajun" will also have a very positive impact with its typical Porsche features such as light weight, ease of handling and agility. As an attractive entry model in the Porsche world, the "Cajun" will attract new and even younger customers to the premium brand along with the Boxster, the market leader in the segment of two-seater, mid-size sports cars."
Update 5/30/2013: Reports have revealed the unveil date and the rough release date of the 2015 Macan. See more after the jump.
Ford tuner extraordinaire, Roush Performance, is most known for its programs for the Mustang. But every so often, the tuner takes a turn and works on a different Blue Oval model.
The new program for Ford’s resident sports hatchback is available for 2013 models and beyond. It comes with a plethora of new components that give the Focus ST some pretty impressive aesthetic and performance credentials.
The most impressive thing about this program is that despite what you already see, Roush Performance is still working on other parts for the Focus, including suspension components, powertrain control module (PCM) upgrades, together with wheels and tire combos, and interior and exterior accessories.
For now, what it has already speaks to its impressive work on the pocket rocket of a sports hatchback.
Click past the jump to read more about what Roush Performance did to the Ford Focus ST
BMW is preparing to recreate its entire X family and the new-generation X5 is only part of the job. The BMW X5 was first launched in 1999, and 13 years later, it’s getting ready to enter its third generation to help keep up with the changing times. As no surprise the third generation X5 features an evolutionary design language, closely related to the model it replaces, but with some elements borrowed from the recently announced X3 and X1 models.
These updates will include a more prominent grille, an aerodynamic front bumper and optional LED adaptive headlights. The new X5 was also slightly increased in dimensions so it offers more interior room and a more accommodating boot. For the interior BMW also focused on improving the comfort level and added higher quality materials.
The new X5 will be put on sale on the U.S. market in the fourth quarter of this year. At launch it will be offered with three gasoline engines with a diesel one to follow in early 2014.
Updated 5/30/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Click past the jump to read more about the new BMW X5.
Toyota still leads the pack when it comes to electrified models and is asserting that lead with a new contest, the Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge, which pits 30 New York metro region drivers against each other to log the highest MPG over a one-month loaner period. The program kicks off its first wave of contestants today at a key hand-off in New Jersey.
The MPG Challenge underscores Toyota’s confidence in their Hybrid Synergy Drive’s ability to deliver amazing real-world returns, something that marks their models apart from pure EV’s like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S as well as conventional economy hatchbacks like the Hyundai Elantra GT and Ford Fiesta. Toyota’s point of view in the efficiency debate is valuable. They’re betting that their Prius Plug-in can entice normal drivers to "hyper-mile," a term meaning to maximize potential range through creative (and very slow) driving.
Can the Prius Plug-in Hybrid resolve the range anxiety of EV drivers and the disillusion felt by buyers of small gasoline-powered cars that can barely get near their official EPA stats – no matter how slowly they drive. The idea is to use the MPG Challenge as both a sales promotion and consumer education platform, while also highlighting the latest tech advancements in the 2013 Prius Plug-in Hybrid in the hands of real-life potential buyers.
How is Toyota positioned to weather the current state of evolving eco-car priorities? As the hard-core greens adopt full EV models, will Priuses start coming factory-direct in Taxi-cab yellow with barf-proof vinyl upholstery?
Click past the jump for the full review of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, including detailed info on ordering dedicated chargers from Toyota’s new home-electricity partner Leviton.
If Mini has no official entry for the 2013 Pikes Peak it does not mean there won’t be any Mini at the famous race. French driver Jean-Philippe Dayraut will enter the race in a Mini "No Limit" Pikes Peak race car.
Last year he completed the race in the Dacia Duster and it looks like this year it decided to give it another try. The car he will use this year it is pretty much identical to the model used last year, but for the 2013 race he opted for a Mini skin.
When compared to the model raced last year, the new Mini "No Limit" received a series of improvements. Dayraut and his team worked on making the car about 176 pounds lights, while the engine delivers a total of 900 horsepower.
The 2013 Pikes Peak is still more than one month away and we are hopping to get full details on this car until then.
Click past the jump for two presentation video of the car.
Just like with the new CLA and A45 AMG, Mercedes will celebrate the launch of the new generation S-Class with the unveiling of a special Edition 1. The model will be produced during the first twelve months of production and will add an extra €19,706 (about $25,000 at the current exchange rates) over the standard S-Class price. Customers interested can already order the car.
The new S-Class Edition 1 will be offered in exclusive Blue Anthracite and Bright Biamond White exterior paints and will get standard LED headlights, a large panoramic sunroof and "Edition 1" badges on the fender. For the interior it will get Nappa-wrapped seats with contrast stitching and roof lining and leather-covered sun visors. The center armrest, top of the instrument panel and front/rear door panels are wrapped in a special microfiber called Dinamica.
As standard features the new S-Class Edition 1 will offer ambient lightning, parking, driving assistance and air balance packages.
Click past the jump to read more about the regular S-Class.
Rally legend, Sebastian Loeb, is considered one of the greatest drivers in the world, having taken home nine WRC titles in his illustrious car. For a man that’s no stranger to winning, Loeb is poised to take on his next challenge: taking down Pikes Peak.
And for that, Peugeot announced that it had “borrowed” Loeb from Citroen to drive the company’s new 208-derived T16 Pikes Peak race car.
The car itself is expected to compete in the Unlimited Class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Performance details have yet to be announced, but expect this racecar to pack in tremendous amounts of power, possibly even reaching 1,000 horsepower.
The race car looks like it’s been given copious amounts of carbon fiber to go with extended side skirts and a side-exiting exhaust. A massive rear wing also part of the design, as is an interior that’s been stripped down to accommodate nothing more than racing equipment.
A carbon-fiber racing seat can clearly be seen inside a roll cage. There’s also a digital instrument cluster, alloy pedals, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters.
UPDATE 05/29/13: Peugeot unveiled a new video presenting the 208 T16 Pikes Peak race car during a testing session at Mont Ventoux. Enjoy!
Click past the jump to read about Peugeot’s return to Pikes Peak and the 208 that this racer is based on.
