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.
At the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Peugeot unveiled the 2012 RCZ R Concept - a preview of the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history. Now, one year later, the production version will make its world debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The production version will keep the same 1.6-liter THP engine found in the concept version that delivers a total of 260 horsepower. Along with this high-output engine, the RCZ R will also receive a bespoke suspension setup, a specific and distinctive wheel design, and with a Torsen limited-slip differential.
At the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed Peugeot will display two red RCZ R models, driven by UK Peugeot 208 GTi Ambassador, Bradley Philpot – a finalist in the recent Nürburgring 24-hour race that saw three Peugeot 208 GTi cars win their SP2T class.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Peugeot RCZ.
Last year, Audi has dropped the official details on its updated R8 family, and, much to everyone’s surprise, the company has added a new top model to the line-up: a new R8 V10 Plus.
Offering an increase of 25 horsepower over a base R8 V10 version, the new R8 V10 Plus is now also available in the U.S. This is, in fact, the second Plus model offered by Audi, after the German automaker announced the TT-RS Plus at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
Compared to the rest of the R8 lineup, the new Plus version is distinguished by carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) additions from just about every angle of the sports car, including the front splitter, lateral air inlets, the huge rear diffuser, the lining in the engine compartment. The intense use of carbon fiber has helped drop the car’s total weight to an impressive 3,461 pounds.
In addition to these features, the vent louvers next to the rear window have been painted in matte black, while the dual round exhaust tailpipe trim sections have been finished in gloss black. The new R8 V10 Plus also features LED lights that illuminate the engine compartment.
Updated 06/10/2013: This review has been updated with all of the 2014 model year details.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Audi R8 V10 Plus.
A few days ago, TVR placed a teaser image on its official webpage announcing what appeared to be a possible revival of the brand. Today, the teaser image changed and it says: "The distant rumble of rumors has turned to thunder and TVR is back in Britain!"
Along with this teaser image, Les Edgar - the marque’s incoming director - has offered new details in an official interview with Top Gear. Edgar said he purchased the TVR name from the former Russian owner, Nikolai Smolenski, and now has plans for the sports car brand. He also promised that the new TVR "won’t make the mistakes that have been made in the past."
Edgar is best known for developing video games and reintroducing Aston Martin to GT racing, so you can say he has plenty of knowledge to pull off this revival. As a result, the TVR name will be kept in the automotive sphere. "We bought TVR for what it is, and we don’t want to dilute that. We want to build on the DNA, and that’s unlikely to apply to anything but cars."
More details on this revival will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Click past the jump to read more about the TVR Sagaris - the last model built under previous ownership.
Exactly one year ago, XXX Performance unveiled a tuning kit for the Audi R8 V10 version. Now, the tuner has turned its attention to the R8 one more time and came up with a new, extravagant and exclusive wide-body construction for the R8.
The tuner started by making a series of upgrades under the hood. It added a chip, a carbon air-box and a new exhaust system with valve control. These updates increased the V-10 engine’s output up to a stout 650 horsepower.
XXX Performance continued by adding an aggressive GT-X650 wide-body kit made in carbon fiber. The car was also wrapped in a very cool blue CFC chrome wrapping and place on a set of 20-inch, three-part GTR forged wheels wrapped in Hankook tires sized 235/30R20 up front and 325/25R20 on the rear.
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi R8 V10 by XXX Performance.
Audi has finally let us in on its big secret regarding the 2014 R8. Audi had to tread very carefully with the redesign of the R8, as to not disturb the water too much and scare away the easily spooked sports car lovers. Many auto manufacturers have made the mistake of fully revamping a lineup, only to have traditionalists hate it (see: Toyota MR2 Spyder, Mazda RX-8, and Ford Mustang II).
Audi’s approach in this changeover seems more like a refresh than a complete redesign, as all of the changes to the R8 V10 coupe are minor nips and tucks here and there. Then again, we all know that a nip here and a tuck there can eventually turn into on gigantic facelift nightmare, so we need to really pull apart this refreshed R8 and see what’s doing and whether it can still hang with the likes of Porsche or if it will go the route of the Ford Mustang Pinto and be forever loathed, except by a few enthusiasts.
Updated 08/30/2012: Audi has unveiled today a new set of images for the facelift version of the R8 V10 sports car. Check the picture gallery to see them!
Click past the jump to have a look at the new Audi R8 V10 and see if it still stacks up to the competition.
A few weeks ago, Eibach updated the current 911 Carrera 4S with a new set of Pro-Kit Performance Springs. Today, Now it’s time for another great sports car to catch the tuner’s attention: the BMW Z4. Thanks to its long bonnet and the sporty seating position, the Z4 needs no presentation updates, but Eibach decided to optimize the convertible’s performance figures with new tailor-made suspension components.
Eibach has just unveiled a new Pro-kit Performance Springs kit that lowers the Z4’s center of gravity, thus improving its cornering behavior. There is also a set of B12 Pro-Kit Performance Springs and Shocks that add even more sportiness to the Z4.
As a final component the tuner is offering a Pro-Spacer Wheel Spacer made from high-tensile-strength aluminum that will transform the Z4 into an even more athletic sports roadster. These new wheel spacers also weigh significantly less than steel wheel spacers and give the Z4 a stouter stance.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW Z4.
Do you remember the RK Coupe unveiled by StudioTorino back in 2006? It was based on the previous-generation Porsche Cayman and developed a total of 440 horsepower.
Now, Studiotorino announced the Moncenisio - a sports coupe based on the new 2014 Porsche Cayman S. First details on the upcoming Moncenisio suggest that it will be heavily revised on both the exterior and interior, but we shouldn’t be too surprised to see some updates under the hood too.
Updates on the exterior will include an extreme aerodynamic kit with all the components made in carbon fiber, a new set of wheels and seven exclusive colors. For the interior, Studiotorino will offer lots of leather-upholstered components and, of course, special Moncenisio logo.
The new Studiotorino Moncenisio will be limited to only 20 units and will be available starting in November. Prices for the conversion will start from €135,000 (about $180,000 at the current exchange rates).
Click past the jump to read more about the Studiotorino Moncenisio.
Everyone is expecting now that we have seen the V12 Vantage S that a Volante version will be launched in the next couple of months. While no official details are offered on this new model just yet, piecing together how it will look isn’t very difficult. All you have to do is take a V12 Vantage S, remove the fixed roof and add a soft top.
Everything else will be carried over from the coupe version, except, of course, that the Volante version will be a little bit heavier because of the changes required by the soft top.
Under the hood, the car will keep the same AM28 6.0-liter V-12 engine that delivers a total of 565 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. The Volante version will go from 0 to 60 mph in a little over 4 seconds, while top speed will drop a little bit from the coupe’s 205 mph.
Click past the jump to read more about the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Volante.
Porsche will continue to celebrate the 911’s 50th anniversary the entire year and the next major event will take place at Silverstone Classic, Northamptonshire on July 26th through 28th. At this event Porsche will try to bring together the largest Porsche 911 parade ever. The initial plan was to have 911 of these rear-engine sports cars, but so far, more than 1,000 owners have answered, and there are still 8 weeks to spare.
According to Nick Wigley, the event director, Porsche "feared achieving 911 Porsche 911s might have been a somewhat over ambitious and idealistic target," but now it looks it’s not the case anymore.
The parade will include lots of models, including Carrera, Targa, RS, RSR, Speedster, GT and Turbo variants, but also some very special 911s and Porsche personalities, including racing legends Derek Bell MBE and David Piper. Other names will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
With this parade, Porsche will try to eclipse Jaguar’s parade that brought together a total of 767 E-Types for the car’s 50th anniversary.
Click past the jump to read more about the 911 Carrera S 50th Anniversary Edition.
Last October, the U.S. market received a special-edition BMW M3 Coupe Frozen, which was limited to only 150 units. Now is time for the Chinese market to get its own special BMW M3 Coupe. It is painted in a sexy Frozen Blue and is limited to only 40 units.
Wondering how much the exclusivity costs? A lot if you ask us: 1.29 million Yuan (about $210,000). On the U.S. market with this kind of money, you can buy three BMW M3 Coupes and you will still be left with lots of money for gas.
For the money the lucky 40 Chinese customers will get this BMW M3 Frozen Blue combined with blacked out trims, kidney grille and side gills, and of course, some special edition badges on the interior.
That’s pretty much all the updates this special edition will offer, as everything else will remain unchanged. Under the hood, the car will retain the usual V-8 engine with 414 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.
Click past the jump to read about the M3 Tiger - the only Chinese M3 that made us jealous.
