While the wait for the Mercedes SLS AMG roadster version continues on, Mercedes is making the wait a little more bearable by surprising us with another SLS AMG: the GT3 version. The sports car will compete in the 2011 racing season.
The SLS AMG GT3 features a new new front apron with a splitter, the bonnet with central cooling air vent, wider front and rear wings, sideskirts with cooling ducts for the rear brakes, a rear diffuser and the adjustable rear aerofoil.
The race car will be powered by the same 6.3-liter V8 engine, but has been tuned to deliver an impressive +600 hp, a pretty significant spike from the road-going version of the SLS AMG which comes with a "standard" 571 hp.
Also on the interior, the SLS AMG GT3 version will drop all of its luxury amenities, including the air conditioning, navigation and upholstery. Instead, the car’s interior will be stripped down to only include a steel rollover cage, a racing bucket seat with a six-point seat belt and HANS system.
UPDATE 09/22/2011: Tobias Moers, Member of the Board of Directors and Head of Vehicle Development for AMG has confirmed that the SLS GT3 would not be racing in the US market because the company did not want to go through the added expense of re-certifying it for use on US soil.
UPDATE 02/03/12: Mercedes is continuing its series on the SLS AMG GT3’s production with a new video on assembling the body of the car. Enjoy!
Full story and press release after the jump.
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The most impressive model in Hennessey’s line-up at this point is without a doubt the Venom GT, but with Hennessey, the best always seems to get one-upped by their next project. The vehicle ready to take on the challenge is the new HPE800 Concept based on the new McLaren MP4-12C. As its name suggests, the HPE800 will get a power upgrade to the tune of 800 HP - up from the current 592 HP. Next to this, the tuner will also be offering a more aggressive aero package, new wheels, and interior changes.
Hennessey was able to massage more power out of the McLaren’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 by adding an upgraded intercooler system, air intake system, and ball-bearing turbochargers, as well as ECU updates and, of course, a new Hennessey titanium exhaust system. These updates will allow the MP4-12C to push out the aforementioned 800 HP.
With a power update like the one provided by Hennessey, the super car also had to get a mini makeover for both the exterior and interior to balance itself out. For this, the tuner installed a new, center-positioned frontal air inlet with hood extractor that will allow room for larger heat exchangers for improved engine intercooling as well as transmission cooling. The new set of wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires, while the interior combines carbon fiber, Alcantara, and leather for a luxuriously supple feel.
The new 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo made its debut in Forza Motorsport 4 about two weeks ago. Now, Turn 10 Studis available that will add another 10 vehicles to your list of cars to drive, including the Koenigsegg Agera supercar and the electric Tesla Roadster Sport.
The new Launch Bonus Pack includes a collection of ten cars previously available only to those Forza 4 players who had either pre-ordered from specific retail outlets, or picked up the game during its first run via the "Ship Bonus Car Pack." The new Launch Bonus Pack is available for Xbox Live and can be yours for 560 Microsoft Points.
The list of 10 cars included in the new Launch Bonus Pack include: 1997 Lexus SC300, 1965 Mustang GT Coupe, 2011 Ruf RGT-8, 2011 Tesla Roadster Sport, 2011 Koenigsegg Agera, 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta, 2011 Subaru WRX STI, 2011 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman, 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe, and 2011 Honda CR-Z EX.
Hit the jump for a presentation video of all the cars.
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A few days ago, Chrysler created an official Facebook page for their upcoming SRT Viper and promised that if the page received 10,000 likes by February 1st, they would reveal a teaser image of the next Viper. As expected, the page had received 10,000 likes in just a few hours and now Chrysler has kept their promise. This first teaser image isn’t much, but at least it allows us an idea of how cool the new Viper will be.
As many already know, the future supercar will drop the "Dodge" name and will instead be simply called the SRT Viper. It has been rumored that the next generation Viper will keep its V10 engine, but unlike the previous generation, will use an 8.7 liter displacement instead. Output is believed to be in the 700 HP area.
The new SRT Viper will be making its world debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show in April. Stay tuned for more details!
The highly-talked about Aston Martin V12 Zagato has been a source of great interest from all four corners of the auto industry since it was first revealed last year.
Now it appears that we’re headed closer and closer to the production version’s official world debut at the Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance this coming February 15. While it appears curious for Aston Martin to pick Kuwait to reveal their new supercar, such a decision was made in large part because it’s the only event of its type in the Middle East, which is a burgeoning market for Aston Martin.
"We are excited to show the new V12 Zagato for the first time in production form at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance," said Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin.
"Over 50 years since the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin and Zagato have collaborated to create this modern interpretation which remains true to the original focus of craftsmanship, performance and exclusivity."
Aston Martin has yet to announce any modifications - if there are any - for the production version, so you can expect it to be as awesome as the dynamic concept seen in May 2011 which packed a walloping 6.0-liter V12 engine that developed 510 horsepower and 420 lb/ft of torque.
Only 150 units of the carbon and aluminum supercar will be built with an expected price tag of around £330,000 - that’s about half-a-million greenbacks - making it a hefty purchase for even the most financially-endowed auto enthusiast.
Check out Aston Martin’s press release after the jump.
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