History may remember the new Bugatti Veyron, being shown in North America for the first time at the LA Auto Show, as the one of the most powerful cars ever. With 16 cylinders, 64 valves and four turbochargers producing 987 hp, the Veyron is said to surpass 250 mph. A power gauge on the instrument panel tells the driver how much horsepower is being used. While it can’t use more than 987 horsepower it can hit 0-60 in under 3 seconds. Only 300 Veyrons will be built for about $1.2 million each.
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Last week we reported that Carroll Shelby was working on a Shelby "R-Model" - a track-only GT 500 car to commemorate Jerry Titus’ 1965 SCCA championship in a GT 350. But it seems Shelby had another trick up its sleeve with the fifth-generation Mustang, because it revealed the STREET LEGAL Shelby Super Snake Don Prudhomme Edition.
Named after 60s top fuel racer Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Shelby drops a supercharger on the 5.4-liter V8 from the GT 500 to create a beast puts out 800 hp on 110 octane (race gas), or 750 hp on regular 93 octane. The Super Snake also includes a Kenne Belle modified air intake (that big ’ol ting sticking out of the hood), Borla side exhaust, five-point Impact racing harness, and a roll cage.
Shelby only plans to put out 100 of these Super Snake packages. Each goes for $100,000, not including the donor car, or about $150,000 for a complete package fresh from Shelby.
Full breakdown in the press release after the jump
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Porsche revealed today the facelifted, and more importantly, more powerful version of the 911 GT3. We’ll be there to see it make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and then U.S. sales will begin in October at a price of $112,200.
The 911 GT3 is powered by a 3.8-liter six-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine that develops maximum output of 435 bhp, up 20 bhp over its predecessor. The new GT3 accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and reaching 160 km/h (100 mph) in 8.2 seconds. Top speed is 312 km/h or 194 mph.
For the first time the 911 GT3 comes with a particularly sporting variant of PSM Porsche Stability Management, offering the option to deactivate both Stability Control (SC) and Traction Control (TC) in separate steps.
The new GT3 offers even better grip and stability also at high speeds, specific modifications of the car’s aerodynamics increasing down-forces both front and rear to such an extent that the overall pressure pushing down the car is more than twice as great as on the former model. At the same time the new Aerodynamics Package gives the GT3 a brand-new look further accentuated by the new bi-xenon headlights, LED rear light clusters, as well as modified air intakes and outlets.
The GT3 holds an interesting place in the lineup because it is the fastest naturally-aspired car Porsche makes (aside from the track-only GT3 RSR), and some drivers prefer the GT3 over turbo models. This GT3 makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in four seconds and has a top speed of 194 mph. This represents only 0.3 of a second slower to 60 mph and is one mile per hour faster than the current 911 Turbo. Some of Porsche’s professional drivers have felt that the marginal power loss was worth the predictability that was gained by having a non-turbo engine.
Press release after the jump.
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Audi revealed full details on the 2009 Q7 V12 TDI quattro: the world’s most powerful diesel-engined SUV. The SUV is priced at 130,600 Euros (although no U.S. pricing has been announced, the current exchange rate puts the price at about $184,000.) Ouch!
With a completely redeveloped common rail injection system the twelve-cylinder delivers a mighty 368 kW (500 hp) and 1,000 Nm (737.56 lb-ft) of torque from a capacity of six liters – giving the big SUV the performance of a sports car.
In everyday use the twelve-cylinder diesel is relatively frugal with economy of 11.3 liters of fuel per 100 km (20.82 US mpg). On demand, the six-liter engine catapults the Audi Q7 from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.5 seconds like a top-class sports car. Speed is electronically capped at 250 km/h (155.34 mph).
The world’s most powerful diesel-engined SUV will make its way to dealers towards the end of 2008.
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The Porsche Panamera was not even launched and we can already tell you it will be offered with a choice of three engines and that the base V6 version will be priced from bout $127,000, while the top version, the AWD V8 will go up to $198,000.
The hybrid version will be powered by a combination of 300 hp V6 gasoline engine and a 100-hp electric motor, enabling the driver to select from any combination of the two propulsion sources.
The car will make its debut early next year. At the launch it will be offered with two engines: a 405-hp 4.8-liter V8 and a 520-hp turbocharged variant of the V8, mated to a seven-speed version of Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Top speed in the range topper is said to be 186 mph.
The third version powered by a 3.6-liter V6 is due in 2010, followed by the hybrid in 2011. Porsche is also considering the V10 engine from the Carrera GT, but only if customers will ask for it.
GM today announced the final numbers for the 2009 Corvette ZR1: a MSRP of $103,300, EPA-estimated fuel economy of 14 city and 20 highway, 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, 0-100 mph in 7.0 seconds, top speed of 205 mph and Quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.3 seconds at 131 mph! With this performances the ZR1 becomes the fastest Corvette ever produced and ranking it among the global super cars of commensurate performance. None of those other super cars, however, equals the ZR1’s performance-per-dollar ratio.
The Corvette ZR1’s 0-60 performance is 0.3-second quicker than the already-quick Corvette Z06 and the 0-100-mph performance is nearly a full second quicker - 7 seconds vs. the Z06’s 7.9 seconds. It is performance that is equal to or better than many super cars costing substantially more.
And the racetrack isn’t the only place where the ZR1 trumps its super-car competitors – it beats them at the gas pump, too. According to fueleconomy.gov, the ZR1’s EPA-rated 14 city and 20 highway mileage ratings beat 2008 competitors such as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (11 city / 15 highway); the Lamborghini Murcielago (8 city / 13 highway) and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (12 city / 19 highway). They’re competitive with the Dodge Viper (13 city / 22 highway) and the Porsche 911 GT3 (15 city / 22 highway).
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We don’t know when will be released, we don’t know how it will look like (you know what I mean!), but we can tell you that the future Lexus LF-A will be priced over $200,000.
Ben Mitchell, corporate product planning manager for Lexus, confirmed that the price of the carbon-fiber supercar "will begin with a two." And another Lexus source in Japan told Inside Line the price may be as high as $225,000.
The LF-A will be powered by an estimated 500 horsepower 5.0-liter V10 engine. It will be offered in both coupe and roadster forms, the LF-A will first launch as a coupe. Roadster versions will be priced even higher. Both body styles are approximately 2 inches shorter and an inch narrower than the 483-hp Ferrari F430, with a similarly sized wheelbase.
Lotus today announced pricing for the 2008 Elise SC, the newest addition to the 2008 Lotus line-up: $104,990, excluding dealer delivery and government charges and an extra $8000 for the Elise Touring Pack or $7000 for the Elise Sport Pack.
As you might expect of a car with 217 hp and weighing only 903 kg (1987 lbs), the performance of the Elise SC is electrifying – 0-60 mph in 4.4 secs; 0-100 mph in 10.7 secs; top speed 150 mph.
In addition to this extreme performance, the fuel economy of the Elise SC is equally impressive with an estimated combined figure of 8.5litres/100km.
Light weight has benefits for acceleration, handling, ride comfort, braking and the environment. Braking comes from AP Racing callipers at the front and Brembo calipers at the rear linked to 282mm vented and cross-drilled cast iron discs – you’d never call an Elise ‘under braked’.
An advanced ABS system incorporates an anti-lock system which is so unobtrusive, most drivers will not realise it’s working – unless it’s needed, and even then the system keeps a subtly low profile. The ABS system is linked to a lightweight pedal box with steel pedal arms and extruded aluminum pads. This unit also has an electronic (drive-by-wire) throttle for quick, smooth and more linear engine response.
The 2009 Landaulet was first launched as a concept version last year at the Dubai auto show, and earlier this year Maybach announced the production version. The convertiblelike four-door Landaulet will go on sale in USA starting December at a price of $1.35 million!
"The Landaulet is for a superrich individual who wants something that is extremely extraordinary and enjoys being driven in a car with acres of sky above them," Hans-Dieter Multhaupt, vice president of program management for Maybach said.
The Landaulet is designed as a chauffeur-driven limousine. The soft partial convertible top above rear-seat passengers opens from the B-pillar back so passengers in the rear seat can be seen and enjoy the sunshine.
The Maybach’s rear doors and side windows remain intact. The driver’s compartment is covered by a nonremovable hard top. Multhaupt said many of the Maybach Landaulets "will be fitted with a glass panel that separates the driver and the passenger, like the cars of the past."
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The successor of the most successful Lamborghini model of all time will go on sale later this year at a price of $198,000. With its help Lamborghini hopes to boost sales to 2,500 units worldwide in 2008.
The Gallardo LP560-4 is powered by the new 5.2 litre V10 engine with an output of 560 PS (412 kW) at 8000 rpm. The increase of 40 PS compared with that of the previous Gallardo, and the approximate 20 kilogram reduction in weight, improves the power weight ratio to 2.5 kilograms per PS (hp) and thus enhances performance. The LP560-4 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, its speed at 11.8 seconds is 200 km/h and its top speed lies at 325 km/h.
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