Sports Cars are engineered to go around corners and straight lines as fast as possible. They are usually expensive, dangerous and so much fun that everybody wants one. Owning a sports car is a gratifying experience but it will cost you money and back pain as they are usually expensive to maintain and not very comfortable. But who cares as they look like supermodels at the beach.
Safety cars are an integral piece of motor racing, so much so that a lot of racing series have gone the route of building specific safety cars exclusively for their use. The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) - that’s the German Touring Car Masters - has unveiled their official safety car for the 2012 race season and to no one’s surprise, they picked a local vehicle in the BMW M3.
The M3 DTM Safety Car is actually based on the M3 GTS and just like any other safety car used for racing purposes, this one was specially modified by BMW M GmbH with plenty of enhancements, including unique bodywork painted in Aline White with a special safety car livery, a modified CFRP engine bonnet with vents, a slew of BMW M Performance Accessories on the gurney and flaps, a new orange roof light unit, and a new set of 19" competition wheels wrapped in 255/35 and 285/30 tires with a fixed-caliper system and Stahlflex brake hoses. Meanwhile, the interior of the M3 DTM Safety Car gets new Recaro seats, three and six-point harnesses, and a new steering wheel straight out of the BMW M Performance Accessories catalog.
Under the hood, the M3 DTM Safety Car is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces 450 horsepower at 8,300 rpm and is mated to a 7-speed M dual-clutch transmission with Drivelogic capabilities. These figures allow the car to hit 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds with an impressive top speed of 189 mph.
Since the NSX will be headed Stateside as an Acura, we got the Acura NSX Concept when the Detroit Auto Show opened its doors. Other markets like Europe and Japan, however, will be given a Honda to serve as their NSX base, so the Geneva Motor Show will find itself with a Honda NSX Concept to preview their production supercar.
The Honda NSX Concept will feature the same design language and the same technology as the Acura NSX Concept. It will be powered by the company’s next generation VTEC 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection engine which is then combined with a dual clutch transmission and a range of new technologies, including the innovative Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system. This system combines a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system that allows the car to instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering. Honda hasn’t released any details on the final output of this setup, but rumors say it will go up to about 400 HP, or just enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
The production Honda NSX will be unveiled in the next three years.
The facelift version of the R8 should be showing its face in the Summer 2012, but Audi has even bigger fish to fry at the moment. A new generation for the R8 sports car is currently under development and will use the latest advanced construction techniques. This advanced construction will make the car lighter and faster, giving it the opportunity to provide real competition for the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche.
The exterior design of the future generation R8 will be inspired by the E-Tron Concept, but the rest of the vehicle will carry almost identical features with an evolutionary styling theme and the absence of the current model’s sideblades and manual transmission. It will feature an aluminum structure, a long wheelbase, a roomy two-seat cabin, a mid-engined layout, and four-wheel drive. Despite these similarities, the next R8 will lose up to about 130 lbs from its total weight. This will be possible mainly because of the addition of some selected parts made of a new lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum monocoque structure that is about 50 lbs lighter than the current one. Audi will also use plenty of carbon fiber elements for the transmission tunnel, floor, rear bulkhead, and B-pillars.
As is typical for the R8, the new generation will be offered in both V8 and V10 versions, with both receiving increased power and improved fuel economy. Rumors say that the V8 version will deliver 450 HP, the V10 version will deliver up to 550 HP, and that the fuel economy will come in at 25.7 mpg. The GT version will also see an increase to 580 HP. It has also been rumored that the engine will be mated to a dual-clutch transmission.
Expect to see the new Audi R8 sometime in 2014, with a roadster version to follow during the second quarter of 2015.
Think of February 14, 2012. To many, this is a day of chocolates, candy, hearts, and flowers, but to car enthusiasts, this is the day when Top Gear USA gets back into action. That’s right, Top Gear USA has moved to Tuesdays and its third season will commence on the most popular day for love.
As usual, the show will be hosted by comedian Adam Ferrara, rally and drift racer Tanner Foust, and motorsport analyst Ruttledge Wood. The new teaser video for the show’s third season, however, stars none other than their top secret racing driver, The Stig, as he sets a new "unofficial" lap record of 1:21.4 seconds for TopGear USA while driving a Corvette ZR1 tuned by Hennessey. A masked man with a super speedy chariot? This may be just enough for all the men in the world to convince their loved ones of staying in on Valentine’s Day to catch the first episode of the season.
Toyota and Subaru have always said they were going to unveil their collaborative vehicles at the same time, so after finally seeing the production version Toyota GT 86, the production version of the highly anticipated BRZ sports car was given its time to shine. Next to the GT 86, the new BRZ will be making its world debut this week at the Tokyo Auto Show and will go on sale early next year.
While developing the two sports cars, Subaru and Toyota promised they would deliver totally different design languages, but upon close inspection, the two vehicles are almost identical. Both vehicles have a strong front fascia, but the BRZ will be distinguished by a Subaru-signed hexagon lower grille, front bumper design, and headlight detailing. Other details setting it apart are the custom fender vents, integrated exhaust tips, and revised tail-lamps.
As previously confirmed, the Subaru BRZ will be powered by the same 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed boxer engine found in the GT 86. The engine even delivers the same 200 HP and 151 lb-ft torque, meaning the promised 300 HP will be reserved for the STI version.
UPDATE 12/07/2011: Although not yet confirmed, it is being rumored that the Subaru BRZ will go on sale at a starting price of $24,000 for the BRZ Premium and $27,000 for the BRZ Limited. The base Premium model will come with aluminum pedals, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an 8-speaker system and Navigation as standard. The Limited version will come with the usual Subaru leather and alcantara seats, foglights in the bumper, and a boot spoiler not seen on the model in Tokyo.(MotorTrend)
UPDATE 02/06/2012: Subaru has unveiled an interesting commercial for its new BRZ sports car in which a Japanese family gets brought together, torn apart, and then brought together once again with the BRZ serving as a highlight of the ordeal. If it sounds like an emotional drama, it kind of is. Then again, pulling at the heart strings always works for sales. Check it out!
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Subaru BRZ.
