You may have known that McLaren was preparing the P11 supercar, but what you may not have known is that the company also plans to use hybrid technology for its future road going super cars. A McLaren spokesman said: "It (hybrid technology) is something we want as a forward-thinking, technology-driven company. We have been considering it for future projects. All the advert means is that we are looking for a senior engineer in power train hybrid technology. Read into it what you will."
Until then the high performance automaker is preparing to unveil the P11 supercar at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The car will go on sale in 2011 and compete with the upcoming Ferrari F-450 and Lamborghini Gallardo. McLaren has a sales target of 5000 units by 2015. If they succeed, this could mean that all future McLaren models would feature some sort of hybrid technology. Stay tuned to Top Sped for future details about this and other exciting 21st century super cars.
Due to the public’s warm reception to the Audi A5 Sportback, the German luxury automaker is also planning to bring out four-door coupe version of their A7 limousine by the end of 2010. The new Audi A7 will compete directly with models like the
Mercedes Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. The exterior of the larger four door will be inspired by the
Sportback Concept that was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show
Gumpert Apollo Speed was announced in March at the Geneva Motor Show. And now the first prototypes have been caught testing at Nurburgring.
The Apollo Speed is powered by a 4,163 cm3 V8 engine with 5 valves per cylinder that delivers 700 HP at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 645,3 lb ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a sequential six-speed gearbox with synchronization and oil cooling, twin plate clutch configuration.
The car can go from standing still to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.0 seconds. A speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) is reached in just 8.9 seconds. His maximum speed is over 223 mph.
In an attempt to downsize the fun in their lineup, the automaker from Hiroshima is preparing a smaller version of their popular MX-5, the MX-2, a model set to be unveiled in 2012. Anyone who has ever found himself or herself behind the wheel of Mazda’s current lightweight rear wheel drive drop top will tell you that this reinvention of the classic English roadster is the best new car on the market, for the money. So a smaller MX-5 should also be lighter and less expensive.
The MX-2’s front end has swooping lines that that were strongly inspired by the Mazda Furai concept with some Ferrari California inspired headlamps, while the rest of the body reminds us of the newly redesigned BMW Z4 roadster. The smaller Miata will compete with upcoming models like the Mini Speedster and possible Nissan Urge.
You would think that while Mazda’s engineers were scaling down the roadster that they might have skimped on the output, but not from the Zoom-Zoom family. In an attempt at downsizing and turbo charging the top of the line model will have a 1.6 Liter four, boosted to make 160 HP. With a power package like that, Mazda’s MX-2 could become even more of a hit than the Miata. If enough of these turbocharged sports cars actually move off of dealer’s lots, it could inspire the Japanese automaker to resurrect another great sports car, the RX-7.
Top Speed first reported back in March that the French automaker Renault will relaunch the Gordini brand sometime in 2010. The first model to be badged as a Gordini will be the compact Twingo, but after the city car, the company will also launch a Gordini version of the Clio and Megane Coupe. According to Thomas Clavet the future Clio Gordini might look like something like this.
The exterior is emphasized by a rally inspired front end with enlarged air intakes and oversized fog lights. The roof adds a bit of style with a roof scoop that resembles the intake from a Formula 1 car. At the rear, the little Gordini has an understated rear wing atop the hatch and a bold rear diffuser. Finishing off the design is a centraly located inverted triangle exhaust tip. The compact factory tuner is painted in Blue with signature Gordini double white racing stripes.
It is radically fun designs like these that keep consumers enthusiastic about the future of the automobile.
The Italian super car manufacturer, Ferrari, recently released a Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package for the 599 GTB Fiorano, the automaker has also started testing the possibilities of incorporating the HGTE package into their drop top California.
Like the larger V12 powered GT car, an HGTE package for the California would include a modified suspension with a lower ride height to give the car less body roll and a firmer feeling through the turns. The California HGTE would also wear specially developed rubber to make the most mechanical grip possible as well as a recalibrated seven-speed twin-clutch transmission.
On the Ferrari 599, the HGTE package also includes: loads of carbon fiber, a set of 20" split spoke rims and a matte black diffuser to inconspicuously create a low pressure zone behind the car, sucking it to the pavement. The interior of the superior handling 599 will be dressed up with even more carbon fiber accents on the interior and a pair of back Alcantara covered sport buckets.
The German automaker has already began working on the next generation BMW 3-Series model that is set to be released sometime in 2012. Aside from the regular body styles, the big news is that the next 3-Series will also be available as a GT. This more spacious vehicle will be slated into the lineup below the 5 Series GT and just above the upcoming 1-Series GT.
The exterior of the entry level GT will be inspired by both the BMW X6 as well as the all new 7-Series. The front end will receive a wider grill while the rear will feature a larger version of the classic L shaped taillights. Both the coupe and convertible will feature designs unique from the traditional sedan and station wagon, thanks to some reshaped lighting and some sculpted body work. The new GT will be less of a niche vehicle than the BMW 5-Series GT and will offer a sporty alternative to the BMW X3 CUV.
The luxury automaker will also incorporate the very latest in Efficient Dynamic Technology; for the fuel conscious there will be an active hybrid model powered by a range extending 3 cylinder engine combined with an electric motor as well as a set of low rolling resistance tires. Even the wheels will be aerodynamically designed so that they do not create excessive drag. Like the hybrid 2010 Toyota Prius, BMW will incorporate a solar panel on the roof to power interior accessories causing less of a drain on the battery. It looks like if you enjoyed the current 3-Series, you will love the next generation model because BMW is now offering something for everyone.
It was just yesterday that we reported the Italian super car manufacturer Lamborghini was considering a 2WD Gallardo, today our suspicions have been confirmed by the car testing at the Germany’s infamous Nürburgring.
The Gallardo LP550-2 features new front and rear bumpers and a redesigned rear diffuser. The engine has been detuned to produced only 550 HP, but they only need to power half as many wheels. Due to the rear wheel drive layout, the super car is now 66 pounds lighter, meaning better handling and acceleration performance, with a projected 0 to 60 MPH time of just 3.9 seconds. The rear wheel drive Gallardo will be limited to only 250 units.
Check out the link below to see the ret of the spy shots.
It was quite a let down when General Motors announced that they were going to cancel2010 Camaro. The act was understandable at the time, the General was facing bankruptcy and cost cutting was priority one, that left no extra cash to develop a fire breathing super Camaro. Although a high cost limited production car would not make much sense from a sales standpoint, it would definitely serve as a halo car for the brand, getting customers into the showrooms and inspiring them to think about a V6 Camaro or even a Cobalt.
It looks like the once ill-fated Camaro Z28 is back in some way shape or form. This rendering shows a Camaro with a redesigned front bumper with a unique grill treatment and a larger rear wing than the standard issue vehicle. Z28 emblems come stock. Perhaps the Z28 could differentiate itself from lesser Camaros with something as simple as new front and rear fascia and a new set of lightweight rollers. And of course, badges.
Chevrolet is left out in the cold when it comes to real modern muscle car competition. The Camaro SS is a strong fighter, but just quite can’t compete with full-blown factory hot rods like the Shelby GT-500 and Challenger SRT-8. The Z28 would solve all that, initial rumors suggested that the bowtie brand’s big dog will get a high output version of the small black V8 with a roots super charger pumping out somewhere around 550 HP. No matter which version of the LS motor that General Motors decides to put in the Z28 Camaro, we just hope that they will hurry up and push the button and send this car into production.
Thank you SAAB for making the word wagon an acceptable term in automotive vernacular, we don’t have to be ashamed about calling the new SAAB 9-5 a cool looking wagon, there is no need to use the term crossover here. These are the first images to hit the web of the next generation of their four door sensation that the Swedish automaker is planning on bringing to the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Thanks to the super car manufacturer Koenigseg, the future SAAB 9-5 should start to appear in showrooms as early as the end of this year, but certainly by 2010. The renderings seen here make the Frankfurt show car look very similar to a four door Audi A5, with that sportback notch at the back of the sedan. The wagon has a roofline that looks very similar to a Nissan GT-R.
The Swedish automaker will offer the new 9-5 with a choice of four and six cylinder power plants that are E85 BioPower capable as well as an alternatively fueled four cylinder diesel. The future 9-5 will be built upon the same Epsilon 2 as its European GM cousin, the Opel Insignia, except the Saab will use the long wheelbase frame.
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