A Supercar is a sports car, typically an exotic or rare one, whose performance is highly superlative to its contemporary sports cars. They are pure bestial look and performance. Even if you never own one of these they will change the way you feel about cars just by looking at them.
The Lamborghini Aventador’s newest rival will hail from...
We’ll give you a few seconds to mull this one over. Could it be Italy? Maybe Japan? China, India, Germany? Heck, maybe even Korea? Nope, this new beast will hail from all 7,827 square miles of the Republika Slovenjia, Slovenia to us English speakers.
Little known and fairly new supercar manufacturer, Tushek Supercars, recently revealed its all new 444-horsepower, Audi-powered Renovatio T500 at the Top Marques in Monaco, but that’s not the big news. The big news is this developing supercar manufacturer’s future plans of annihilating the all-mighty Aventador.
After Tushek completes its estimated 30 Renovatio T500 production models, it will turn its focus to the Forego T700 – yeah, weird name, huh. Tushek has some fairly lofty goals for this machine, including a sub-1,000 KG (2,204 pounds) curb weight, more than 700 bhp, and a gut-checking 3.3 lateral Gs (the average human can handle just 5 Gs).
This would place this new supercar squarely in the lead, when compared to the Aventador, in the all-important pounds-per-horsepower rating, as the T700’s rating would be about 3.14 pounds per horsepower and the Lambo’s rating is 4.96 pounds per horsepower. On a small scale that looks like a tiny difference, but in the grand scheme of things, that difference is humongous.
By our rough guess-timation, the Renovatio T700 would range in the 2-second area from 0 to 60 mph, about 0.8 seconds faster than the Aventador. The most impressive stat is the 3.3 lateral Gs that this car is expected to handle, as the Aventador can only handle 1.05 Gs on the skid pad.
We tend to take this all with a big grain of salt, as this is purely speculation by a company spokesperson at Tushek. Chances are that this car, if it makes it to production, will be about on the same level as the Aventador and it will not hold 3.3 Gs. There is no way that any production car can handle that amount of force.
It is still unknown if Tushek plans to sell this model in the U.S., but we are certain that some savvy buyers can get it here somehow when it arrives in 2013.
Last year, American tuner Vorsteiner presented a package for the Ferrari 599 called the "599-VX." Fast forward to today and they’ve come out with a new program for the mighty Italian supercar, only this time they chose to name it the "599-VX Coupe."
While not as audacious as their previous program, the 599-VX Coupe still features a host of new aerodynamic improvements, including the extensive use of carbon fiber on the entire body kit, shaving off 70% of the weight that the replaced stock components would have otherwise carried.
For the kit, Vorsteiner is offering a new font bumper fascia, an integrated chin spoiler, a new bonnet with carbon fiber vents, side sill extension blades, and a rear bumper fascia with an integrated rear diffuser. Rounding out the program is a stainless steel race exhaust system with brushed tips and a new set of 1-piece forged Monoblock wheels that Vorsteiner specifically made for the Ferrari 599.
No engine upgrades are being offered, which means that you’re going to be "stuck" with the 599’s V12 engine and its 670-horsepower output. Then again, 670 horsepower is enough output for us on its own.
A few weeks ago, we reported that the next Ferrari Enzowill be powered by the same V12 engine as the recently announced F12 Berlinetta. This engine will be combined with a 120 HP electric motor for a total output of 920 HP. Now for the better part of that announcement. When equipped with the new "HY-KERS" hybrid system, the future Enzo will shave three seconds off of the standard Enzo’s 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) sprint time of 9.5 seconds!
This blistering 0-124mph sprint time of 6.5 seconds will be obtained even though the new HY-KERS system adds 264 lbs to the car’s total weight. To compensate with the extra power, Ferrari will cut weight from the car’s chassis and powertrain by using the same grade of carbon fiber found in Ferrari’s F1 cars. Compared to a standard Ferrari model not equipped with this system, the future Enzo Hy-Kers will also decrease fuel consumption by about 40%.
"We are entering the market with our Formula One-derived hybrid system, which will slash fuel consumption and increase performance," Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa said in an interview with Automotive News.
All we’ve heard about the Bugatti Galibier so far has been concept details and speculation, but things are about to turn around for all the fans wishing the company would take the next big step. Volkswagen has offered Bugatti the backing they need for a 16C Galibier sedan.
Apparently, Wolfgang Duerheimer, the man who recently took over as head of Bugatti and Bentley, was the main proponent behind pushing Volkswagen to give them a break. The Galibier, a 1000 HP sedan, was first shown as a concept in 2010 and when put into production, will cost about $1.4 million. It will use a 16-cylinder engine that can run on both biofuel and gasoline, and will bring back the dual-clutch gearbox. Production will require facilities in Molsheim, France, to be refitted, which may push back deliveries until 2013 or 2014.
The official name for the production model hasn’t been provided yet, but Bugatti’s decision to offer a production version sedan should come as no surprise considering Lamborghini has already confirmed the production version of the Estoque and Ferrari has brought out the FF. These competitors by no means come close to the power behind the Bugatti, but they do illustrate the luxury automakers that are taking advantage of the upswing the economy is making by expanding their lineups.
UPDATE 04/26/2012: Bugatti has unveiled a new video for their 16C Galibier - the world’s most exclusive, elegant and powerful four door car. A wonderful combination of art, form, and technique.
Hit the jump for a full list of rumors regarding the Bugatti 16C Galibier.
Aston Martin delivered its first One-77 supercar back in January 2011 and now, after more than a year, the company has officially sold out of all its 77 units, despite the car’s huge price of $1,825,000. The company has sold out a total of 4200 vehicles in the past 12-months, including all of the 77 One-77 units. Compared to the previous year, the company ’s profit has been increased by 7% to a total of $817.3-million.
During a recent interview at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, Aston Martin’s CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez said: "The Aston Martin brand is stronger than ever. This is demonstrated by intense interest in the new V12 Zagato, recently shown at the Geneva Motor Show, and our $1.93-million One-77 supercar – all 77 of which are now sold."
The One-77 is powered by a 7.3-liter V12 engine that delivers 750 hp. The supercar sprints from 0 to 60 time of 3.5 seconds and can hit a top speed beyond 200 mph.
With Russia being the world’s largest country in terms of land size, one may think that they’d have access to all the cars imaginable. Furthermore, with Russia slowly growing in wealth, expensive cars are now becoming all too common and both the Bentley EXP 9 F and Lamborghini SUV’s are being created with Russia in mind. However, there has long been a gaping hole in Russia’s artillery and that was easy access to a Lamborghini dealership.
This initially surprised us greatly, and will no doubt surprise you also, that a country this large with such an incredible love for high performance cars isn’t home to a dealership from one of the world’s most renowned supercar manufacturers. As a result, all Lamborghini’s currently purchased in Russia are either second-hand or imported thousands of miles in from surrounding countries.
However, that’s all about to change as Automobili Lamborghini recently teamed up with the Burevestnik Group to officially begin development and production of a new dealership in Moscow, the country’s capital.
The construction of this new dealership will allow all Russian citizens to have a taste of Lamborghini and how they operate, with merchandise and other accessories also set to be sold at the dealership. While the new place is being constructed, a temporary showroom and sales office has been set up in the Crocus City Mall.
Additionally, the dealership will also provide all current Lamborghini owners residing in Russia and all prospecting buyers the ability to have their cars serviced in their home country, by specialists rather than just any odd mechanic around the corner. As a result, sales in Russia are likely to increase exponentially, and before long, Lamborghini should be turning a profit after repaying off all the construction costs.
A very smart move on Lamborghini’s part in our opinion.
The Ferrari FXX Evoluzione was unveiled back in 2006 and was limited to only 30 units. The chance of actually owning one was, well, slim if not non-existent, but for those with a very large wallet, the upcoming RM Auction in Monaco (May 12, 2012) will be the perfect opportunity to finally pick one up. That is, of course, if you have an extra $1.7 to $2.2 million to spend.
As a reminder, the FXX Evoluzione is powered by a 6.3 liter V12 engine that develops a total of 860 HP. The engine is mated to a six-speed, paddle-shift F1-style transmission and sprints the supercar from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds.
Compared to a standard FXX, the Evoluzione kit adds a new rear diffuser and rear flaps, which increases aerodynamic efficiency by 25%. The car put on auction will be painted in a very cool jet black color combined with the Italian "Tricolore" on the front and rear of the car.
In just a few words, the Ferrari FXX Evoluzione is a must have for any Ferrari collector.
One of the most impressive tuning packages Vorsteiner has unveiled in the past few weeks is the Ferrari 599-VX, but their next package may give the first a run for its money. The tuner has announced the first details on a new upgrade kit time based on the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. The move was made in order to appease the masses until the future Cabrera, which is currently under development, comes out.
Vorsteiner began the transformation with a series of exterior changes, with a collection of lightweight pre-preg carbon fiber aerodynamics and performance accessories arriving later this fall. The current upgrade includes a new set of wheels and the ability to choose between a collection of 1-piece and 3-piece forged wheels codenamed VS-110 and VS-310 series. These wheels are specifically designed for the Gallardo applications and can be custom painted or powder coated to the client’s preferred finish and specifications.
It’s easy to be jealous of Steven Tyler. The dude’s a rock star, he’s a judge on American Idol, and at 65 years old, he can still light up a room by his mere presence alone. Now it appears that we have one more reason to be green with envy at Mr. Aerosmith himself.
Word has it that Tyler has made a new automotive purchase, except that this particular vehicle isn’t something that you see on the road a whole lot. Known for his passion for sports cars, Tyler did himself one better this time by purchasing no less than the 800-horsepower Hennessey Venom GT Spyder.
Even more impressive is that Hennessey will actually build him a custom Venom GT Spyder, complete with distinctive customization details reserved only for this particular model, including an interior dressed in black leather with matching red accent stitching and a custom audio system that will be developed by David Frangioni, CEO of Audio One and a one-time audio engineer for Tyler and Aerosmith.
So how much did Tyler shell out for this one-of-a-kind Hennessey Venom GT Spyder? The buzz is that the Aerosmith front man and AI judge had to split with over $1.1 million for the car. It’s a number that’s beyond our reach, but for someone of Steven Tyler’s stature, $1.1 million is peanuts.
UPDATE 05/20/12: Steven Tyler’s Hennessey Venom GT Spyder is rounding into shape pretty nicely, so much so that the American tuning company even decided to give us a little tease of what the Aerosmith front man has in store for him when the 1,200-horsepower monster is delivered to him. Check out the Venom GT Spyder in the dyne after the jump.
In what could be one of the busiest Beijing Auto Shows in recent memory, the French automaker has decided that attending the show isn’t enough anymore. So they decided to steal it with the presentation of a one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport that they have christened as "Wei Long."
Developed in collaboration with Konigliche Porzellan Manufaktur (KPM) Berlin, the Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long is Bugatti’s version of paying homage to the Year of the Dragon. Everybody’s doing it anyway, right?
As far as the car itself is concerned, the Wei Long comes equipped with unique porcelain dragon relief sections on both the exterior and interior. It’s similar to the set-up of the Veyron L’Or Blanc, except that this model was developed primarily for the deep pockets of the Chinese.
The exterior is finished in White Polish and greatly complements the Carmine Red interior. The headrests and hand-crafted silk floor mats have been embossed with the Chinese ’Dragon’ character to go with a special centerpiece with an elaborately detailed white porcelain dragon relief.
Just like all the one-off Veyron Grand Sport models in the world, the Wei Long is powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine that develops a total of 1,001 horsepower and 1,250 Nm of torque. Those figures are good enough to post a 0-60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds with a top speed of 252 mph. And just like all those other one-off models, the Veyron Grand Sport isn’t for the weak of pockets.
For the privilege of owning this porcelain-dressed supercar, you’re going to need to shell out €1.58 million, which is a smudge over $2 million based on current exchange rates.
