Top Speed

Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo World Series Race Car

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

A lot of high-performance automakers have taken to spec-racing to show off their pride and joy exotics without having to worry about any sort of regulations. Racing series like these allows these exotics to be on their unchained best.

One automaker that has taken this route is Maserati, which is in the process of beginning the third season of the Trofeo World Series. Similar to what sister company Ferrari does on the Challenge Series, the Trofeo World Series features a field of specially prepared versions of the GranTurismo coupe, which has been upgraded with a new aerodynamic bodykit that not only reduces its overall weight, but does so to make it more competitive and race-ready.

According to Maserati, the GranTurismo racers are far better than their 2011 counterparts, having showed its improved performance in test sessions: 2.5 seconds a lap faster than the 2011 models.

All the cars that will compete in the Trofeo World Series have been made track-ready by a dedicated team of technicians, ensuring that all the drivers competing will be racing one a one-spec racing field.

Another new wrinkle for the 2012 Trofeo World Series is the inclusion of new legs in the calendar, including the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California and the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, among others.

Anybody looking to bring the heat in the Trofeo series will need to pay €110,000 (about $140,117 at the current rates), excluding the race entry and test fees. For the four European stages, the price of admission is €70,000 (About $89,166 at the current rates), excluding fees, while private teams who want to bring their own cars will need to pay €35,000, excluding fees, for the entire championship and €25,000 (about $44,583 at the current rates), excluding fees, for the European legs only.

gallery: 2013 Maserati Granturismo Sport

Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo World Series Race Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 19:00 EST.

Ducati 750GT

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

One of the biggest winners at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco was the Ducati 750GT.

First introduced to the market in 1971, the 750GT was the personification of a flash-bang Ducati. It was flashy, to say the least. The first examples of the 750GT came with silver painted frames with the tank and side covers finished in a colorful blend of metallic colors that included gold, lime green, bright blue, or red.

Colors notwithstanding, the true highlight of the 750GT was its 748 cc SOHC V-twin engine that was capable of hitting top speeds in excess of 120 mph. The surest sign that Ducati went and invested a whole lot in the 750GT was because of the laborious and painstaking detail they took just to build one.

The construction of the engine was so precise that it took up to eight hours to assemble one unit, making sure that all the bevel-drive gears and bearings were correctly set up. If it was a racing engine, Ducati would take two days to build one. Initially, the bike’s sales lagged until Paul Smart won at Imola in 1972 with the 750GT, beating some of the best manufacturers this side of the galaxy. As a result, the 750GT became a legend of sorts, with Taglioni even saying that its engine was the best he ever designed.

As for the Ducati 750GT that was offered at the RM Auctions, that one came in excellent overall condition with superior paint, chrome details, and even the early Amal carburetors. The 750GT sold for a staggering €38,025 ($48,800), a price that’s miles north of what the estimated €12,000 - €15,000 ($15,400 - $19,000).

Ducati 750GT originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 19:00 EST.

Genevart Celsius

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Swiss company, Genevart, is preparing a big surprise for the 2013 Geneva Motor Show: a new supercar called Celcius that mixes design elements from the 918 Spyder with the Carrera GT. The model is based on a Porsche 997 Turbo and will feature two KERS units for each of the front wheels. Its total output will be somewhere in the 960 HP area - just enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.

The Celcius will feature a four-wheel drive system, an electronic sequential gearbox, and a set of carbon ceramic brake discs. Genevart’s new model will also be offered with full carbon fiber panels and in both coupe and spyder versions.

Genevart will unveil the first images of the car in August 2012, while the first on road demonstration will be made at the Top Marques Monaco Auto Salon in April 2013. The upcoming supercar will also take part in a track day at the famous Nurburgring track in June 2013. Sales will begin in September 2013 with production limited to only 10 units per year.

Genevart Celsius originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 18:00 EST.

TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Big things are in store for the Indian motorcycle market, thanks to Indian bike maker TVS. That’s because the company is launching its new product, the TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS.

TVS claims that the Apache RTR 180 ABS is the first bike in the Indian market to come equipped with Anti-Lock Braking System, a technology that will now allow its customers to take advantage of the new technology.

But more than just being ABS-ready, the Apache RTR 180 was designed to be a looker, and for all intents and purposes, it is one. For starters, racing GT graphics adorn the bike, providing a look that exudes racing sophistication. The luminous rims and the race crouch mirrors are also part of the bike’s set-up, highlighting the bike’s RTR racing pedigree. Bull horn grab rails have been ergonomically designed to aid the pillion rider in holding on tight while a superbike-style rear fender comes with a replaceable and functional mud flap and a dual texture seat to provide a comfortable seating arrangement.

Powering the Apache RTR 180 is a 177.4 cc 4-stroke engine that produces 17 horsepower @ 8,500 rpm and 15.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm.

Find out more about the TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS after the jump.

TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 18:00 EST.

Ducati 350 Super Sport

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Exclusively sold in Italy to go with other Super Sport models, the Ducati 350 Super Sport was built as a smaller displacement model from 1989 to 1993 and traces its lineage to Ducati’s highly popular 900 cc Super Sport.

The 350 Super Sport was far from a slouch; it was powered by a 341 cc SOHC Desmo V-twin engine that was mated to a five-speed transmission, producing a stout 27 horsepower. Despite the svelte and sporty look, the 350 Super Sport was actually considered an economical bike, at least compared to the 400 cc Super Sport that was released in Japan and Germany until 1995 and the 600 cc Super Sport that was in production from 1993-1997.

The Ducati 350 Super Sport that was auctioned off at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco came in original condition, complete with a nice red paint finish. However, the bike was also noted as "needing some work," which probably explains why it only sold for €585 ($750), a number that’s far below its pre-auction estimated price of €2,800 - €3,800 ($3,600 - $4,900).

Ducati 350 Super Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 17:00 EST.

Scion FR-S

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Tue, 1 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

For all of the press and hype surrounding the Toyota GT 86 and the Subaru BRZ, not a lot of people know or have given love to the third model of the bunch, the Scion FR-S.

All that’s about to change because the Scion FR-S has arrived. For those that have shed rivers of tears when they found out that neither the GT 86 nor the BRZ were headed Stateside, news that the FR-S will arrive in America is tantamount to a post Thanksgiving blessing.

Now, we’ve actually seen a concept version of the FR-S - called the FR-S Concept - at the New York Auto Show, so it really didn’t come as a surprise to a lot of us that the sports coupe was coming to the US, but seeing the concept and seeing the production version are two different things.

It doesn’t even matter that we’re not getting the GT 86 and the BRZ. We have the FR-S, and just like a child that comes to us, we’re going to shower it with as much love as we can possibly give.

UPDATE 05/01/12: Scion has unveiled a new set of images for their brand new FR-S sports car. Check the picture gallery to see them.

Find out more about the Scion FR-S after the jump.

gallery: 2011 Scion FR-S Concept

Scion FR-S originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 11:00 EST.

Seat Leon Super Copa

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Seat will be attending the legendary Wörthersee event with another extensive display: the Spanish company plans to unveil some very cool concept cars as well as a bunch of vehicles that can already be ordered. Once such vehicle is the Leon Super Copa - a model inspired by its sibling racer from the WTCC and priced at 63,000 euro, or about $80,000 at the current exchange rates.

The new Leon Super Copa is powered by an uprated version of the 2.0-liter TSI engine from the Leon Cupra R. The engine delivers a total of 300 HP and a peak torque of 250 lbs-ft, sprinting the car up to a top speed of 155 mph. The engine’s output travels through a six-speed DSG transmission and mechanically locking differential to the front wheels.

The Seat Leon Super Copa features a special grey paint finish, while the mirror casings, wheels, and roll cage highlight the vehicle in a fluorescent orange.

Seat Leon Super Copa originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 16:00 EST.

Bajaj Discover 150

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

India’s Bajaj Company is no stranger to building some of the most popular bikes in the Indian market and their latest offering appears to be no different. The bike is called the Discover 150, and it comes packed with a tidy 144 cc engine that produces around 14 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 12.74 Nm at 5,500 rpm.

In true Bajaj fashion, the Discover 150 is also the personification of style, thanks to an all-black styling that exudes a premium, sporty, and attractive look. Attractive graphics also highlight the bike’s outstanding design credentials, while LED tail lamps and alloy wheels add a touch of technology and class to the Discover 150’s overall package.

While there isn’t anything about the Discover 150 that stands out from the rest of its competitors, the bike is the kind of everyday ride that a lot of people enjoy. And as far as trying out a new thing, the Discover 150’s stature as the newest product from Bajaj also adds a certain appeal to it.

Find out more about the Bajaj Discover 150 after the jump.

Bajaj Discover 150 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 16:00 EST.

Ducati 98 TL

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

The Ducati 98TL isn’t the most glamorous of all Ducati bikes, but it still belongs in the list of any Ducati collector worth his salt.

The 98 TL was effectively the touring version of Ducati’s once-famous 98 cc OHV pushrod series. It was a little cheaper than the Italian bike maker’s sporting OHC models, and with the cheaper price tag, the 98 TL was considered one of the most economical and lightweight Ducati bikes in history.

The model that was auctioned off at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco is finished in red and has been described as a "nice original," a phrase that should come as music to the ears of Ducati collectors. It’s still owed a nice restoration job, but that should come with the territory if you’re going to make a bid for it.

Speaking of bids, the 1954 98 TL - CN: DM 13105 - was expected to have a bid range of about €2,500 - €3,500, which is around $3,300 - $4,500 based on current exchange rates. Actual auction price was a disappointing €585, which is about $751 at the current rates.

Ducati 98 TL originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 15:00 EST.

Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder Monaco by Mansory

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The Top Marques Monaco is without question one of the most important dates on the tuning calendar, particularly because of the location it’s held at every year. Nothing speaks more to millionaires throwing their money around than Monte Carlo, and some of the best tuners use that platform to show off their latest programs.

Now that the 2012 Top Marques Monaco is drawing closer, we’re beginning to see a host of tuners preview some of the cars they’re bringing to the event. One in particular is Mansory, which only recently wowed us at Geneva with not one, not two, not three, but four programs for some of the finest exotics in the land.

For Monaco, it appears that the Swiss tuner will be bringing their very first program for the Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder, appropriately called "Monaco." Now, in the interest of full disclosure, Mansory hasn’t come out with anything about their Top Marques offerings and this video of what looks like a preview image of the 458 Italia Spyder Monaco is all but that.

Nevertheless, we expect great things from Mansory and a year after they wowed us with the Siracusa, we’re not putting anything past them when it comes to what they can do to a topless version of the 458 Italia.

Check out the video after the jump!

gallery: 2011 Mansory 458 Italia Siracusa

gallery: 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder Monaco by Mansory originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 22 March 2012 12:00 EST.