Sports Cars

It would seem that the most important goals for any manufacturer today are continuity and clarity. If you do cheap cars, do only them. If you do sports cars, focus only on them. If you are premium, adapt to what the people think is premium and push.

Alfa Romeo had a problem with its mission, vision, and continuity. Since the Eighties, it seems to have shifted its vision two or three times basically confusing buyers when it comes to what the brand truly represents. Now, it is eager to find its footing with what it should have done all along - sports character, upscale styling, and premium nature.

At a press conference held earlier this year Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Maserati and Alfa Romeo said: “We know our future depends on staying true to our sports car roots. We have learned that when we stay true to Alfa DNA, we can stand out in any segment.”

Thankfully, the brand seems to have found what it wants to be the best at. To communicate this noble vision to the automotive lunatics and solidify brand recognition, Alfa Romeo has to do some extraordinary things. Having the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio was only a start. Now, the company needs to go further, and that further comes in the shape of the 8C.

Recently, the late Sergio Marchionne hinted at the new 8C only months before his death. Moreover, the plan FCA displayed in June clearly showcases a planned super sports car called the 8C, and it will appear in the next three or four years.

Ford is all set to reveal an all-new model at the Woodward Dream Cruise this weekend, and by all accounts, that “all-new” model is going to be a Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. The revelation comes to us by way of Ford Performance Global Director Mark Rushbrook, who flat out told Autoweek that the mysterious production model that will be unveiled at the Woodward event is, in fact, the Mustang Cobra Jet. The debut is expected to take place at the Ford Media Club House on August 16, 10 A.M. Eastern time.

Patent filings are flying all over the place as automakers rush to protect their home-grown inventions. The latest company to do so is General Motors, which has secured patents for a number of active aerodynamic components that could soon find their way to the Chevrolet Corvette. All in all, GM was recently awarded three new patents involving adaptive aero technologies, specifically Active Side-Skirts, Active Spoilers, and Downforce Generating Ducts..

Unveiled in 2017 as a replacement for the 650S, the McLaren 720S has already brought its aggressive design, luxurious interior, and beefed-up V-8 engine into showrooms. As it usually happens, McLaren began showcasing various custom models made by the MSO division, starting with the Velocity Theme unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Come August 2018, and the Brits launched two mode special editions, one of which is the Pacific Theme.

Commissioned by McLaren Special Operations for McLaren Glasgow from Scotland, the Pacific Theme was created alongside Track Theme, a second supercar that will go the company’s dealership in Manchester. Much like all MSO-created McLaren’s, Pacific Theme boasts unique color and trim with a focus on the 720S’s "sophisticated technical luxury." Let’s find out what sets it apart in the review below.

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The 330 GT 2+2 was actually an update to the 330 America that Ferrari built in 1963 only. It also replaced the 250 GT/E 2+2, but it was larger and sportier. Introduced in 1964, the 330 GT 2+2 was upgraded in 1965, when the Series II model with a new design was launched. Production lasted until 1967, with 1,099 examples built until the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 was introduced as a replacement. The cool thing about these cars is that they’ve remained somewhat affordable compared to other million-dollar Ferraris from the era.

Noted Ford tuner Steeda is coming out with a special edition Mustang that’s named after Steve McQueen. Officially called the Steeda Mustang Bullitt Steve McQueen Edition, the tuned muscle car is based on the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt, a car that is teeming with exclusivity. But the Steeda Mustang Bullitt Steve McQueen Edition is on another level, and it’s all thanks to the collaboration involving Steeda, McQueen Racing, Galpin Auto Sports, and Chad McQueen, the only son of the iconic Hollywood megastar. Only 300 units of the Bullitt Steve McQueen Edition will be released per year, making it one of the most sought-after aftermarket Mustangs in the business today.

We’ve seen plenty of supercar battles on airstrips before, but this one’s a bit different from the rest. Posted to Twitter by user @Chopsyturvey, it’s an abbreviated 44-second clip that shows a head-to-head acceleration battle between a Lamborghini Huracan Performante and a MIG-29K fighter jet, combining horsepower and firepower into a single brief video.

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The next-generation models of the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra have been joined at the hip ever since BMW and Toyota announced plans to build them together. It’s only fitting; then, that one week before the Z4 finally breaks cover at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, we get our hands on a spy video of the Z4 and Supra prototypes testing at the Nurburgring together. Who knew that all the hype and pandemonium surrounding these two sports cars would all lead up to seeing them together in the tail end of their respective testing sessions?

Geely’s plans for Lotus includes bringing the once-proud British sports car brand back to relevancy. But a new report from Automotive News Europe reveals that the Chinese auto giant now has bigger plans for its new acquisition, specifically increasing its stake in Lotus with a fresh $1.9 billion investment. If Geely’s plans come to fruition, it could up its stake in Lotus from 51 percent to a more significant ownership percentage. Doing so would cut into the shares of Malaysia’s Erika Automotive, which currently owns 49 percent of Lotus.

The wait is finally over. The first leaked photos of the next-generation BMW Z4 have arrived courtesy of Bimmerpost Unless a complete swerve happens in the coming days, these leaked photos of the new Z4 appear to be the real deal. We’ve waited a long time to see the roadster in the flesh, and in true auto industry fashion, we get an unauthorized sneak peek at the Z4 ahead of its official unveiling on August 23 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Buying a brand-new muscle car can be quite expensive, especially if you’re going for the V-8-powered versions of the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, or Dodge Challenger. The same goes if you want a mint-condition classic that stands out of the pack through limited-edition packages or a rare version built in only a handful of examples. However, buying a cool muscle car on the used car market can be more affordable than you think, even if you want an iconic model from the past. Also, opting for a modern, previous-generation model can help if you don’t want to break the bank for a Mustang or a Camaro.

We did a bit of research and came up with ten cool muscle cars that you can buy for $20,000 or less. We rounded up seven classics, including some from the golden era of muscle cars, as well as a few options from the modern era. Check them out below and tell us which one you would buy (and why) in the comments section.

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In 2003, the Ferrari 456 was discontinued after 11 years in production. The grand tourer, which had been updated to 456M specs in 1998, was then replaced by the 612 Scaglietti. Designed by Ken Okuyama and Frank Stephenson, the 612 Scaglietti was bigger than the 456, and thus it was a true four-seater rather than a 2+2 GT like its predecessor. Named in honor of Sergio Scaglietti, who designed many Ferraris in the 1950s, including the 250 Testa Rossa, the 612 also pays homage to the 375 MM that company director Roberto Rossellini had commissioned for his wife, Ingrid Bergman, in 1954.

Unlike its forerunner, the 612 was an all-aluminum vehicle and the second following the 360 Modena. Developed with Alcoa, the space frame was later used in the 599 GTB. The GT also came with a redesigned engine. While the 456 used a 5.5-liter V-12, the 612 received the larger mill from the 575 Superamerica. While the "612" badge suggests a 6.0-liter engine, the displacement was actually 5.7 liters. Produced at the Carrozzeria Scaglietti plant, the 612 was taken to Maranello to have its interior and V-12 put in. A total of 3025 cars were produced until 2011 when the 612 was replaced by the FF. Ferrari also produced a series of limited-edition model, but more about that in the review below.

I don’t know why, but there is something majestic when it comes to tiny cars powered by powerful engines. Yup; that 400+ horsepower Cygnet is awesome, but I am thinking something more civilized. Even with less than 100 horsepower, cars like the Toyota iQ, or anything from Smart are simply a lot of fun. This time around, Brabus created a rather special 125R based around the Smart ForTwo Convertible and called it the “Pocket Rocket.” Well, it is the pocket rocket considering that the German tuning company dialed up the 0.9-liter turbocharged engine, improved its suspension, and put a special makeup on a tiny car.

Alfa Romeo’s plan to bring the back the 8C nameplate has come with a lot of speculation about its presentation. The prevalent buzz surrounding the model is that it’s going to be a supercar of some sort. As it turns out, though, it could be more than just a supercar. The new Alfa Romeo 8C could be an 800-horsepower hybrid monster, debunking previous rumors that said that it would “only” have 700 horsepower on tap.

Ferrari is the latest automaker to drop a teaser of an upcoming model, and it’s teasing a new product in the pipeline that could pave the way for a new, limited-run supercar that traces its roots to the 812 Superfast. The teaser doesn’t reveal much about the new model, but it does say that the new supercar will make its debut on September 17 at the company’s official headquarters in Maranello, Italy.

A recent study conducted by German economics professor Ferdinand Dudenhoffer revealed what a lot of us have known for quite some time: Ferrari is the most profitable brand in the auto industry. The Italian automaker has held that title for a while, including the last six months, when it reported an operating profit of around $80,000 for every new model it sells. Ferrari isn’t the only automaker that is making money for every new model it sells, but its operating profit is head and shoulders above what other brands come away with. In this sense, Maranello is king.