At the beginning of 2013, Mazda and Alfa Romeo signed an agreement that will bring a new roadster to each company: a new MX-5 for the Japanese company and a new Spider for the Italian one. Both models will be built at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant starting 2015, but each model will offer its own engines.
Until now, it has been rumored that the MX-5 would use a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine that features SkyActiv technology. However, new details suggest that the tiny roadster could also get a diesel engine. you read that right; we said diesel…
However, because a diesel roadster could be a tough sell to traditionalists, Mazda will still offer a gasoline alternative. Rumors suggest that this diesel engine will be a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter SkyActiv engine that produces approximately 130 horsepower. This would give the Miata its lowest horsepower output since it bumped the standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder to 133 horsepower in 1996.
As for the Spider version, it could be offered with a turbocharged 1.4-liter ‘TB’ engine with power ranging from 120 horsepower in the base model to 296 horsepower for the top versions. Both models will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Mazda will focus on offering modern materials and design techniques that could help keep the total weight down to about 1,760 pounds.
Click past the jump to read more about the next MX-5.
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The SL-Class is one of the most beautiful cars in Mercedes’ lineup this side of the SLS AMG, and the SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG models are even more impressive yet. Unfortunately, their respective price tags of £110,785 ($172,292) and £168,285 ($261,716) in the UK make them pretty much out of reach for the average SL-Class buyer.
Well, if you can handle having most of the AMG show but only a tiny bit of its go on the 2013 SL-Class, then you will be thrilled with Mercedes’ latest announcement. Mercedes-Benz is releasing an AMG Sport variant of the 2013 SL-Class that buyers can base on either the SL 350 or SL 500 at a fraction of the “real” AMG’s price.
Much like the M Sport packages from Bimmer, the AMG Sport package is almost solely aesthetic, but there are a few small mechanical and handling updates to help out some.
Read more about the SL-Class AMG Sport after the jump
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At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Spyker announced its global resurgence with the unveiling of the B6 Venator - a concept car that previews a future Porsche 911 competitor set to be unveiled in early 2014. The concept we saw in Switzerland was shown only as a coupe, but it looks like a roadster version will also be offered.
The announcement was made by Spyker in an official document revealing the company’s financial situation. Talking about the new B6 Venator, Spyker said: "The response has been very positive and we are confident that we will be able to build a strong order book for the B6 Venator. We intend to launch the Spyder (open) version of the B6 Venator later this year."
We expect the Spyder version to look nearly identical to the coupe version, except of course its soft top.
*Image Note: The above image is of the B6 Venator Coupe Concept, not the Spyder version.
Click past the jump to read more about the B6 Venator Coupe version.
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A few weeks before the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lotus announced they would "blow the top off" at the show. Back then, we all thought that we would see a Convertible version of the Evora, but we were so wrong. Lotus has decided to bring out the fastest roadster ever: the Exige S Roadster.
Based off the new Exige S, the roadster model will be powered by the same supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers a total of 345 horsepower. This engine sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Being that this is a Roadster, safety precautions deem it necessary to lower the top speed from 170 mph to 145 mph.
The Exige S Roadster weighs just 2,447 pounds and features the same design elements as the coupe, except of course for its factory-fitted soft top roof that makes the car look even more muscular than the coupe.
Now for the bad news: the new Lotus Exige S Roadster won’t make it to the U.S. market, as it will only be offered in markets like Europe and Asia.
UPDATE 4/30/2013: Lotus has unveiled a new video teasing the upcoming Exige S Roadster’s arrival in the summer of 2013. you can see the video above.
Hit the jump to read more about the Lotus Exige S Roadster.
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As promised today, April 24th, Jaguar has dropped its long awaited "Desire" - a movie that tells the story of Clark, played by actor Damian Lewis, and features the all-new F-Type.
Clark is a man who delivers cars for a living and gets into trouble after encountering a mysterious, young woman (Shannyn Sossamon) in the middle of the desert. But could it be that simple? Apparently not because in the desert nothing is simple!
The stars of this short movie are: Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis, Shannyn Sossamon and Jordi Mollà. The music is played by BRIT award winner Lana Del Rey. In fact, the F-Type also stared in one of Del Rey’s previously launched clips: "Burning Desire."
The highly anticipated short film was shown for the first time at London’s The O2, after the festival’s opening press conference, which attracted media from all over the world. You can enjoy the video above.
Tiff Needell has put face to face two models that have kept themselves in headlines in the past few months: the Jaguar F-Type and the new-generation Porsche 911 Cabrio. To keep the battle fair, Needell had to opt for the F-Type V6 S version; a model that delivers a total of 380 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque.
Even so, the 911 Cabrio has quite a disadvantage, as it only delivers 345 horsepower - 35 horsepower less than the F-Type. But the F-Type is about 353 pounds heavier, so it looks like we are in for quite a fair fight, or are we? Check out the above video to see which of the two roadsters is the fastest!
Regardless of which one wins, we wouldn’t mind having either one at our disposal, despite the fact that we definitely prefer the looks of the F-Type. Enjoy!
At the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show, MG unveiled the CS Concept car, which according to the first details, could make it to production as a competitor for models like Nissan Qashqai. Also, in 2017, MG plans to unveil a second crossover based on the MG Icon concept that is set to take on models like Nissan Juke.
But, alongside the new production version of the CS, MG Motors also plans to unveil a new sports car, but not in the next five years. Until the new sports car - most likely the long rumored MG Roadster - arrives on the market, the company needs to develop a range of volume products that will help it boost sales.
The new sports roadster will be offered as an iconic model and will be offered to confirm "MG’s reputation as a maker of small and affordable sports cars. We have global ambitions built around mainstream products, which is why the sports car must come when the time is right."
Click past the jump to read more about the possible MG Roadster
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Youtube user, NM2255, managed to shoot another great video: a Porsche 918 Spyder caught at the Top Marques Monaco event. The prototype caught in Monaco was wearing a matte black paint with Martini Racing livery and racing number "23."
The production version 918 Spyder will be powered by a hybrid system that combines a 570-horsepower 4.6-liter V-8 engine with a pair of electric motors – one powering the front axle and one on the rear – that pump out 85 kW (114 horsepower) and 95 kW (127 horsepower), respectively. According to Porsche, the 918 Spyder will offer a driving range of 15 miles in electric-only driving mode and can hit a top speed of 202 mph when the gasoline engine and electric motors are working together.
The new 918 Spyder will be put on sale in September 2013 and pricing will start at $845,000.
The Mazda MX-5 is already a fine piece of machinery. It is balanced, nimble and is capable of making for quick laps on the most twisty of track. While the MX-5 is fun to drive, one thing that nobody will say is that it is powerful.
Flyin’ Miata, a top MX-5 Miata tuner, decided to change all of this with their Habu conversion kit. The Habu upgrade works on any 1990-2009 MX-5 with a big difference under the hood. They swap out the small four-cylinder engine for a fire breathing V-8.
If this sounds familiar it is because Carroll Shelby made it popular by putting a large V-8 engine into the small AC Ace. The result of this was the Shelby Cobra, a small roadster capable of scary performance back in the ’60s.
With an eight-cylinder engine in the small Japanese roadster, you get a high-powered performance car that can keep up with many of the high-priced supercars built today for a fraction of the cost.
The performance comes dangerously close to the 2014 SRT Viper and it is because of this swipe at the Viper that the kit is called the Habu, which is Japanese for a small venomous snake.
Hit the jump for more information about the Mazda MX-5 Habu by Flyin’ Miata
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Until now, the new-generation Porsche Boxster hasn’t had a special edition released, but the first one has been announced today and it comes from Netherlands. This special model is called Red 7 and, as you probably have guessed it by its name, it is all about the color red and will be limited to only seven units.
The model has been designed by Porsche Exclusive Course and features a very cool Indian Red exterior paint combined with matte Platinum on the hood and trunk lid. The interior combines very cool black leather with Guard Red inserts and a special "personally built for 7" logo. Each customer will also get a matching protective cover and a coffee-table book with photos of the production process.
The new Red 7 will also be offered with a sports suspension that lowers the car’s ride and a sports exhaust system.
Hit the jump to read more about the standard Porsche Boxster.
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