Roadster cars are convertible compact sport cars, more or less luxurious but with a bold look and providing lots of feedback to the driver. they are the fun fast cars by excellence
A year after Artega dropped the new GT and GT SE on our laps in Geneva, the German automaker returned to the scene of the crime with a targa version of their hard-top sports car.
The highlight of the Targa version is, of course, the top. The GT Targa comes with a removable panoramic glass roof that is said to be easily stowed behind the seats. Artega is watching customer feedback very closely on this feature and if all goes well, a production model will follow this concept.
As far as power goes, the Artega GT Targa will carry a 4.6-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed DSG transmission to produce 300 horsepower. This allows the sports car to go from 0-62 mph in just 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 167 mph.
While Artega has been mum on how much it’s going to take to buy the GT Roadster, we do expect it to be in the neighborhood of the €75,000 price tag of the Artega GT. Convert that to greenbacks and you’re looking at a price of just under $100,000.
UPDATE 03/09/2012: This review has been updated with official specs and photos.
We all know how eccentric the folks over at FAB Design are, but one program that really captured our attention was their work on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Now, the tuner extraordinaire is back with a similar program for the SLS AMG Roadster. Just like the hard-top version of the Mercedes supercar, the program for the roadster is called the Gulfstream and it comes with plenty of aerodynamic and performance modifications.
The first order of business is the body kit, which comes with a new front bumper with vertically positioned daylight running lights. It also has wider fenders that flow down into the sides skirts and run up into the widened quarter panels. A new rear bumper was also added with bigger vents to go with a diffuser and a carbon fiber lip spoiler. Lastly, FAB Design also installed a new stainless steel sports exhaust system that has an integrated valve control and a quad-tailpipe set-up.
As far as performance modifications are concerned, FAB Design was able to bump up the output of the SLS AMG Roadster from the standard 563 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 607 horsepower and 509 lb/ft torque. The increased output allows the supercar to hit 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds with a new top speed of 202 mph.
It’s a combination that you probably never saw coming. But thanks to a combination of retro demand and the continuous pursuit of technology, we might just be able to live in a world where a classic-looking vehicle is running on electric energy.
British automaker, Morgan, has unveiled their newest concept, the Electric Plus E, at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the Morgan Plus 8, the Electric Plus E bears all the styling cues and design language of the Plus 8, except that instead of running on petrol, the Electric Plus E Concept was fitted with a Zytek electric motor and a lithium-ion battery, two power sources that allow the vehicle to travel up to 120 miles on just a single charge.
Taken together, the Morgan Plus E Concept produces an output of 160 horsepower and 280 lb/ft of torque while mated to a five-speed manual transmission. These figures allow it to travel from 0-62 mph in 6.0 seconds with a top speed of 115 mph.
It may not have the power of the Plus 8, but the Electric Plus E Concept is really the best of both worlds for those retro nuts looking for a classic car that doesn’t come with a gas-guzzling unit.
The Wiesmann Roadster has had a good run, that much we can be sure of, but just like Atari and SpongeBites, all good things must come to an end. So 18 years after we first saw the Roadster MF3], the German sportscar is being prepared for its swan song with a collection of special edition models that Wiesmann is building in collaboration with luxury brand, Sieger.
To commemorate its 18-year run that began in 1993, the German automaker will be rolling out 18 unique models of the MF3, with each model carrying their own special color schemes, to go with fancy-pants nicknames that include Panther, Ivory, Swiss Blue, and Mountain Mobile. One of the special edition models was on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, giving the attending crowd the first look at the last set of MF3 Roadsters to carry the Wiesmann badge.
The MF3 Roadster Final Edition is powered by a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine that develops 338 horsepower - an increase of 13 horsepower from the standard model - and 269 lb/ft of torque. The car is mated to a number of gearbox options, including a five- or six-speed manual as well as an optional six-speed SMG transmission. All told, the MF3 Roadster Final Edition can clock in a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 158 mph.
UPDATE 03/07/2012: Weismann’s Final Edition MF3 Roadster, specifically the Scuba Mobil version, made its way over to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in all of its psychedelic glory! Check out the images of this colorful ride in the picture gallery!
A few weeks before the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lotus announced they would "blow the top off" at the show. Back then, we all thought that we would see a Convertible version of the Evora, but we were so wrong. Lotus has decided to bring out the fastest roadster ever: the Exige S Roadster.
Based off the new Exige S, the roadster model will be powered by the same supercharged 3.5 V6 engine that delivers a total of 345 HP. This engine sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Being that this is a Roadster, safety precautions deem it necessary to lower the top speed from 170 mph to 145 mph.
The Exige S Roadster weighs just 2,447 lbs and features the same design elements as the coupe, except of course for its factory-fitted soft top roof that makes the car look even more muscular than the coupe.
Now for the bad news: the new Lotus Exige S Roadster won’t make it to the US market, as it will only be offered in markets like Europe and Asia.
Hit the jump to read more about the Lotus Exige S Roadster.
In early 2012, Mercedes unveiled the new generation SL-Class, but their newest unveiling is the one we’ve actually been waiting for. After previewing the most powerful model in the SL series during the official launch of the new Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W03 race car in Spain, Mercedes has officially unveiled the SL63 AMG.
As expected, the SL63 AMG looks more aggressive than the standard SL-Class thanks to a deeper front bumper with larger air intakes, the usual AMG LED daytime running lights sitting inside the bumper, "V8 Biturbo" badges, a subtle rear deck spoiler, and the quad trapezoidal-shaped chromed tailpipes.
The new Mercedes SL63 AMG is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine already used in models like the CLS 63 AMG, tuned to deliver a total of 537 HP, or 564 HP when equipped with the AMG Performance package. Thanks to the all-aluminum bodyshell and assorted magnesium components, the new sports car is about 240 lbs lighter than its predecessor. The added power and decrease in weight allows it a 0-60 mph time of just 4.3 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph, but if the customer opts for the removal of the top speed limiter then they will enjoy impressive 186 mph. At the same time, Mercedes has promised that the fuel economy has been improved by 30%.
UPDATE 03/06/2012: We have added a new series of live images from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Enjoy!
UPDATE 04/24/2012: Mercedes has unveiled a new promo video presenting the brand new SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG driven in the beautiful scenery of Tenerife. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG.
After the Acura NSX Concept came out in its coupe version at the Detroit Auto Show, the Acura NSX Roadster has been revealed thanks to a series of patent drawings brought out by the European patent office on February 22, 2012. As you can see these drawings, the Roadster version will look very much like the car that will be featured in the upcoming Avengers movie.
If the NSX Roadster sees a production line in its future then it will be the same type of sporty model as the coupe version with an aggressive design language and up-to-date technology. This means that the next NSX Roadster will be feature Acura’s innovative Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system that combines a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system, allowing the car to instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering.
Look for the Acura NSX Roadster to debut as a 2014 model.
Updated 03/12/2012: Today we have a very cool rendering of the upcoming Acura NSX Roadster. We hope you’ll enjoy it!
This is not the first tuning package we’ve seen for the new generation SLK-Class, but when it comes to Mercedes models, Carlsson always seems to do an extraordinary job. And their package for the new SLK set to be revealed in Geneva next week is no exception. The new package offers an impressive exterior and interior kit, as well as an increase of 38 HP for the SLK250 version.
For the exterior, Carlsson added a new front spoiler, a carbon fiber RS front spoiler lip, and Carlsson grille inserts made from electro-polished stainless steel. For the rear, the package adds new skirt inserts, a new diffuser, and a new spoiler for increased downthrust. The car sits on a new set of 19" wheels combined with a new suspension system that lowers the car’s ride by 30 millimeters.
For the interior, the tuner put in Nappa Exclusive leather, Carlsson pedal overlays, Carlsson footrests, Carlsson door locking pins made from brushed aluminum, door sill panels, and a glass wind deflector with the laser-printed Carlsson logo.
A CB25 S performance kit takes care of the 1.8 four-cylinder engine by increasing the power from the standard 201 HP to 239 HP. The performance kit was combined with a new stainless steel rear muffler with four oval tailpipes.
Delphi has just announced their presence at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with the first teaser image of a concept car they call the "F1for3." This concept was developed in cooperation with Franco Sbarro and comes "to demonstrate technologies designed to keep drivers connected while on the road."
Delphi has yet to offer any significant details on the concept - we are sure they are waiting for the debut to do that - but they describe it as "a show car that showcases a range of innovative products including smart user interface, world-standard mobile TV tuner and a slim line roof module with integrated reception system." Aside from the technological goodies, the F1for3 was more than likely also designed for high speed because Delphi says it was created to "redefine the in-vehicle experience and make seamless connectivity possible, even when traveling at high speed."
More details about the new Delphi F1for3 concept will be unveiled on March 6th during its official debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, so stay tuned!
The Spyder version of the new Lamborghini Aventador supercar will be unveiled next month at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but thanks to our spy photographers, we have some fresh spy shots to give us a head-start on the unveiling. The drop-top super car has been caught during some of its extensive winter testing somewhere in Northern Sweden. In these photos, we can see what the camouflage was being used to conceal: the roof can be lifted off. It also looks like the roof may be made of carbon fiber instead of the soft top fabric found on the Murcielago Roadster.
Everything else about the Aventador Spyder - from the design language to the performance - will be identical to its Coupe sibling. This would leave potential buyers with the option of purchasing a super car with a 700 HP V12 engine that can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217 mph, all while enjoying the roadster style amenities.
Stay tuned! More details will follow when the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster is unveiled in Geneva next week!
