Of course the Chevrolet Corvette could not get unnoticed at the SEMA Show. Specter Werkes will present the C6 GTR Corvette, based on the Z06 model. It will be painted in BASF Pearl Blue color and will feature HRE CF40 carbon fiber wheels complemented by a matte black rear fascia.
Under the hood there is a Lingenfelter based 7.0-liter LS7 twin-turbo engine that delivers an incredible 800 hp! There will also be a StopTech STR big-brake package and Corsa exhaust system with GTR-specific exhaust tips.
Back in 2006 the Italian design studio Zagato unveiled the 575 GTZ, a one of a kind concept created for Japanese collector Yoshiyuki Hayashi. Today Zagato has revealed the first details on the Ferrari 550 GTZ, a model limited to only 5 units, each with the lofty price tag of $1.6 Million per vehicle.
The 550 GTZ is based on the 1996 550 Barchetta, a model powered by a Ferrari 5.5 Liter V12 pumping out a total of 485 HP to the rear wheels. The prancing horse managed to run from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 199 MPH. As far as we know, Zagato has yet to release any specifications on the 550 GTZ, but we do know that all five examples are already spoken for.
Back before Dr. Ferdinand Porsche became associated with names like 911 and Carrera, he and his son Ferry were hard at work on a high performance hot rod VW known as the 356. The sports car was Porsche’s first production automobile, produced from 1948 thru 1965 and turned out to be a very successful vehicle. With the current trend of downsizing in search of more efficient lineups, Porsche is preparing to bring back the classic 356 as the automaker’s new entry level offering.
The new 356 will be based on the same steel and aluminum platform as the upcoming Audi R4, and contrarily to previous rumors won’t be as much of a bargain as we all thought, with prices expected to start around $55,000. The 356 is expected to be one of the first Porsche models to be fitted with a boosted boxer four cylinder engine, a unit that is currently under development. In an interview with AutoCar, Porsche’s marketing boss Klaus Bening said "That there is a clear trend towards downsizing, using smaller powerplants and supercharging. We will find our own conclusion to downsizing." The new Porsche 356 is expected to be unveiled sometime in 2012 and Porsche hopes to sell over 75,000 units per year.
In another nod at green racing, the German automaker Volkswagen has just launched the Scirocco Bio-CNG-powered race series for 2010. With CO2 emissions reduced by 80%, the new Scirocco Cup will become the most eco-friendly one-make championship in the world, making it even more environmentally friendly than their previous Jetta TDICup. The Scirocco Cup car is based on the standard TSI unit that is fitted in the road going Scirocco, the Bio-CNG-racing version of the 2.0 Liter four pot develops a maximum output of 215 HP and 203 lb-ft of torque from the alternative fuel burning internal combustion engine.
In order to run a compressed natural gas setup, the Sciroccos are fitted with a 22 liter fuel tank mounted directly behind the driver and is protected by the race car’s roll cage. The so-called Bio-CNG that the Volkswagen Scirocco Cup cars will burn is produced from renewable resources such as grass or a special type of corn as well as from refined biological waste. In order to house the alternative fuel, the tanks themselves are made from a composite material and a series of stainless steel pipes and special valves are added which are required for CNG operation. The Scirocco Cup racing cars will use tried and tested components from Volkswagen production models with CNG engines ensuring that the competition cars are not only reliable, but that the innovations learned on the racetrack will be directly applicable to their street cars.
In 1994 Ferrari unveiled the F355 - a model considered to be the greatest production sports-car of the 20th Century. The F355 remained into production until 1999 and with 11,273 units produced it became the most successful Ferrari in history.
This was the first ever road car to be equipped with the innovative F1-style gearbox management system, available on all three versions: berlinetta, GTS and spider. Derived directly from Formula 1, where it made its debut in 1989 winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, the electro-hydraulic system was operated by paddles behind the steering wheel using the F355’s conventional 6-speed manual gearbox. The new transmission guaranteed lightning-quick gear changes, with the additional advantage that both the driver’s hands could stay on the wheel at all times.
In 1968 at the Geneva Motor Show Ferrari unveiled the 250 P5 Berlinetta Speciale, a concept car built as a collaboration between Ferrari and Pininfarina. It is the work of a 29 years old designer, Leonardo Fioravanti. The concept features many design elements which appeared on later Ferrari models.
The P5 featured gull-wing doors, a glass-covered mid-engine and styling that was low and curvy. The most notable thing about the concept was that it featured clear rear glass over the engine, much like many modern Ferrari do today.
Pinifarina also produced another similar prototype called the Alfa Romeo 33 Coupe Prototipo Speciale.
Even if the Euro only Ford Focus RS is the most powerful blue oval hatchback available at the moment, as is in the world of tuning, there is no such thing as enough. So the German tuning firm Loder1899 feels that they can do the hot hatch one better with a few simple yet effective modifications. First of all Loder begins by bringing the Focus a few inches closer to the ground and then fills the arches with a variety of high performance wheel and tire combinations to sort out the handling aspect of the RS before reworking the turbocharged 2.5 Liter five cylinder power plant.
1899 replaces the factory intercooler with a more efficient intercooler and a set of tuned manifolds to make sure that the Focus RS can make the most of the air it takes in before letting it breath a little easier with a free flowing exhaust system fed by a set of less restrictive Sportkats. The new parts are good to boost the Focus RS from a factory rated 305 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque to an impressive 370 HP and 383.5 lb-ft of thrusting force. Thanks to the newfound ponies, the RS can hit a top speed of 168 MPH. We say, good job.
The BMW M6 is a magnificent vehicle, not only does it offer the sleek lines of two doors sports coupe, but it also packs quite a punch under the hood in the form of a 500 HP 5.0 Liter V10. While the super coupe M6 might be good enough for the average BMW enthusiast, the German tuners at Prior Design have come up with a unique wide body take on the largest of BMW’s two door high performance M models. The blistered BMW will be on display at the upcoming Essen Motor Show, which will take place from November 28 thru December 6 later on this year, and will be known as the PR550.
The aerodynamic enhancements for the M6 include a widened stance thanks to bold fender flared as well as a pair of lower hanging side skirts and some more aggressive spoilers. The Prior Design M6 rides a little over an inch closer to the ground thanks to an upgraded suspension system and rolls on a set of multi spoke forged wheels measuring 21 inches in diameter and also features a new free flowing high performance exhaust system to free up a few more horses. Prior design has successfully taken the M6 to new heights with their PR550 package.
Fox Marketing Cars was responsible for bringing a bright orange twin turbochargedIS-F to SEMA last year, and with the advent of the new drop top Lexus IS C, Fox Marketing is up to their old tricks again with a lime green open air IS for this year’s automotive aftermarket retreat in Las Vegas. The Exterior of this IS350 convertible has been given a more muscular makeover thanks to a bold front chin spoiler, custom wide body front fenders and lower hanging side skirts from the IS-F super sedan as well as a new rear bumper and a carbon fiber rear wing to complete the IS C’s aerodynamic upgrades.
Finishing off the visual appeal of the lime green Fox Marketing Lexus IS C are a set of staggered iForged wheels, measuring 20 inches in diameter all around and 9 inches wide up front and 11.5 inches in the rear. This particular Fox has been tuned to produce a total of 450 HP thanks to a ProCharger Supercharger System strapped to the 3.5 Lier V6 and a new F-Sport Exhaust system to spit out the spent gasses. We will have to see just how well this new tuner creation stacks up to last year’s bright orange boosted IS-F when we arrive in sin city to take in the sights ourselves.
Hyundai has some big things in store for the 2009 SEMA show. Last year the Korean car company commissioned a few tuned Genesis Coupes from aftermarket notables like HKS and RMR, well this year one of the only automobile manufacturers not in the red will show off the R Spec Genesis Coupe, an enthusiast model, at the world’s largest aftermarket car show in Las Vegas. The $23,750 Genesis Coupe comes complete with everything you need to have fun behind the wheel while eliminating some of the more expensive features that you don’t.
The R Spec is powered by the familiar 2.0 Liter turbocharged four cylinder engine pumping out a total of 210 HP and is mated to a close ration 6 speed manual transmission. The tuner Coupe makes the most of Hyundai’s Track Package and includes the upgraded suspension, 19 inch rims, Brembo brake calipers and a limited slip differential to ensure that the power is laid down evenly across the rear axle and that drifts are executed with smokey perfection.
The tuner friendly R Spec Genesis Coupe does ditch a few features like Bluetooth hands free connectivity, automatic headlights, cruise control, chrome interior accents and steering wheel mounted audio controls. However at $3,000 less than the well equipped 2.0T Track Package vehicle, we are almost positive that future Genesis Coupe owners won’t mind.
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