Of all the props that were used at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we can’t think of anything that has served a bigger purpose than the BMW track. Since the show opened, we’ve seen car after car take a lap on the track and we figure that it’s only bound to get busier as the days go by.
One of the vehicles that made its intro on the said track is BMW’s new SUV, the X1. We’ve heard so much about the car – from its Facebook page to a bunch of commercials – but seeing it up close certainly brought our excitement up a few notches.
Of course, the X1 does cater to a younger – and more dynamic – market so it was expected that the SUV came with a more aggressive design compared to the X3 and the X5. If you look closer at the vehicle, you’ll actually notice that the car took some design cues from another BMW new release, the 5 GT.
But judging from the responses we gathered, the X1 looks to be a real winner, and not just to the market it aims to conquer, but to the more traditional BMW market. As it stands, the X1 is set to be released in Europe sometime in 2010 while the US would have to wait longer – in 2011 – to see the X1 out on their local BMW dealerships.
We here at Top Speed recently had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an Imperial Blue Metallic 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS for an extended period of time and we have to say that we enjoyed every minute of the modern day muscle car experience. The Camaro RS combines the fuel efficient 300 HP direct injected V6 that gets as much as 29 MPG with the aggressive styling as the powerful Chevrolet Camaro SS with its 20 inch wheels wrapped in high performance rubber, high intensity discharge headlamps, rear spoiler and polished taillight bezels as well as unique RS badges all for only $31,530.
Back when we spoke with the car’s lead Exterior Designer Luciano Nakamura, he assured us that the 2010 model is not a retro Camaro, but instead a 21st century muscle car inspired by the classic bow tie wearing pony car with its strong shoulders and classic Coke bottle shaped waistline while the interior is quite a different story, including touches like a flat rimmed steering wheel and a four pack of accessory gauges to give the new Camaro a 1960s Americana feel.
The 2010 Camaro comes complete with all the amenities we have come to expect from a modern car like dual stage frontal and side curtain airbags as well as Stabilitrak traction control, four wheel disc brakes with ABS, tire pressure monitoring system and of course, General Motor’s fabulous OnStar system complete with convenience features like turn by turn navigation and a very peace of mind granting automatic crash response.
There’s something about a car that’s decked in red and white color schemes that we find oddly attractive.
Whether it’s the pearly white exterior finish or the red upholstered interior, the Wiesmann MF5 Roadster look every bit like the car all of us have been pining to have. And now that it’s been unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the craving and yearning for this car has gone through the roof.
Sure, only 55 models are set to be released and each car costs a staggering $278,000 so there’s a big chance that we’ll never get to sit behind the wheel of one.
Then again, Wiesmann only creates cars for the big boys so you should have expected the MF5 Roadster to bring it. And ‘bring it’ it does.
The car’s BMW-powered 5.0-liter V10 engine, which if you must know, can rip out 507 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque, sitting under its hood is nothing short of monstrous. Likewise, the MF5 Roadster is capable of acceleration from a 0-100kmh in just a shade under 4 seconds and topping out at speeds of well over 300 kmh.
We can buy a lot of cars for a quarter of a million dollars, but while a lot of them can be considered as lavishly extravagant spending, somehow, spending that kind of money for an MF5 Roadster doesn’t qualify as overspending. Suffice to say, it should be worth every penny.
Ferrari has finally introduced the world to the all new 458 Italia at the Frankfurt Motor Show and of course no major Ferrari launch would be complete with out the seven time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher in attendance and here are a few videos from the event to prove it. The long awaited successor of the mid engine Ferrari F430, has become a reality and the new super car looks so much better in three dimensions than any photograph could have ever shown. The high performance sports coupe comes complete with a new engine, improved aerodynamics, upgraded handling and improved instrumentation and ergonomics inside the cabin.
Under the rear deck lid of the Ferrari 458 Italia, the artisans from Maranello have placed a screaming 4.5 Liter V8 engine equipped with the traditional Ferrari flat crankshaft that gives the mid-engine sports cars their signature top end bark. The unit produces 570 HP at a rather high 9000 RPM and still get 18 MPG. Weighing in at only 3042 pounds, the new Ferrari will rocket from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.4 seconds and won’t stop until it hits a top speed of 202 MPH.
Car tuning specialists TechArt, long regarded as one of the best car tuners in the world, is set to unveil its new styling program for one of Porsche’s new flagship sports cars – the Panamera.
The custom kits will make their first appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show where TechArt will be on-hand to present the company’s custom programs for the Panamera S, the Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo. The kits, which is set to go on sale around December of this year, is rumored to include a slew of other features, including a bodykit, alloy wheels and flush interior stylings.
To say that TechArt knows what its doing is a vast understatement. The firm has a proven track record of excellence and their venture into the world of the Panamera looks to be no different.
Thanks to the company’s Aerokit 1 program, the Panamera was given a major overhaul, including the additions of a front spoiler, side skirts, a rear bumper with diffuser, a roof spoiler, and a rear wing, to a name a few.
The program also includes lavish upgrades to the Panamera’s interior, including a snazzy teak-and-black leather finish – including the steering wheel. Speaking of the wheel, it even takes the look of a handheld video game console because of all dials and buttons attached to it.
If it’s even possible, TechArt has really outdone itself this time. Not only does the Panamera look like it’s been through a makeover, but it does so without disrupting all the elements Porshce has put on the car.
In what is being expected as one of the most star-studded Frankfurt Motor Shows in recent years, BMW threw the first salvo by officially unveiling its Vision EfficientDynamics hybrid super car in one of Frankfurt’s first preview events.
Leading the unveiling was BMW chairman and CEO Dr. Robert Reithofer who commented that the new super car boasts of one of the world’s most technically advanced engines and body construction technology.
The car is by all means everything we’ve been talking about for the past couple of months. It’s got the 2+2 seat configuration and is powered by a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo diesel hybrid making it capable of churning our as much as 356 horsepower. The car clocked impressive times in its’ 0-100 kmh test time, clocking in at just around 4.8 seconds – a jaw dropping number considering the car’ average fuel consumption reads at only 3.76-L/100km.
Although the car seems to be impressive in every aspect, Reithofer did put in a word of caution, saying that the Vision EfficientDynamics is far from a finished product and BMW is still looking at other means by which improve the car’s efficiency down the road.
Tesla may have been a pioneer as far as zero-emission sports cars are concerned, but it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any up-and-comers determined to give Tesla some much-needed competition.
And if Tesla is looking for a rival, they have found one in Steenstra GCM.
Founded by Cornelis Steenstra, a prominent auto designer and industry consultant, Steenstra is looking to dive in and take a piece out of the pie that Tesla has hogged for itself by releasing its very own zero-emission sports car.
While details surrounding this sports car, but rumors abound that the car is being billed as the first 200-mph sports car to be built in California. As the company continues to build its brand, Steenstra has nevertheless set its sight on bigger fishes than Tesla, namely the Ferraris and McLarens of the world.
Pretty ambitious if you ask us.
Then again, that seems to be how Steenstra is wired. In his press release, he said, "I grew up with a passion for transportation and motor racing, and have always felt that people should and could enjoy driving passionate performance automobiles while still retaining their responsibility toward the environment. These are desires that can very well be enjoyed together".
All things considered, the car is expected to be unveiled at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concourse d’ Elegance and will likewise be primed and ready for the road by 2013.
While the entire auto world is drooling with anticipation for the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, those who’ll be participating at the year’s biggest car fest are putting in the finishing touches on what cars are going to make this year’s trip to Germany.
One automaker who’s making a comeback of sorts in the spotlight of Frankfurt is Abarth, and if their promises are any indication, we just might all be bitten by the return of the Scorpion.
The car that’s getting the most attention from auto scribes the world over is the limited edition Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari”. The car, as you can probably notice by its name alone, was co-created by Abarth and Ferrari with the intention of celebrating the Italian racing tradition, passion for performance, attention to detail and technical innovation that both brands express. Suffice to say, it’s the ultimate collaboration of two Italian racing icons.
We’ve just barely talked about the secrecy surrounding the Marrusia B2 heading into the Frankfurt Motor Show when the company apparently forgot to put their new supercar under wraps as it was moving around Moscow in a trailer truck.
In their defense, the company did explicitly instruct the drivers of the truck to speed ahead and not stop while the car was being moved, although we figure that covering up the two cars would have served their purpose of secrecy much, much better.
As a result, a pastry young civilian was able to take a photo of the two cars, much to our good fortune.
The final installment of MINI’s uber-weird, three-part ‘Two Untamed’ commercials was released and as expected, it picked up where the previous two commercials left off.
This latest commercial, called ‘Shine’, shows the same two hot women muttering simultaneously about having the same body types, after which the lights go out and our two scantily-clad vixens start dancing and screaming for the camera. Of course, one of them caps the commercial off with a good ol’ fashion ‘salute’.
If these commercials are any indication as to what we can expect when the cars are officially unveiled at Frankfurt, then you can bet your bottom dollar that all hell is going to break loose.
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