Sports Car reviews

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.

Although it’s just a few years old, ARES Design is already creating a bit of a name for itself. Founded back in 2014 by Dany Bahar, former CEO at Lotus, the firm started out as a customization shop for high-end automobiles. Now, however, ARES Design is looking to break into the world of boutique supercar production, and Project Panther is its first effort to step up to the big leagues.

Continue reading to learn more about the ARES Project Panther.

Ok, first things first. What is Pogea Racing? Well, if you did not know, check out some of Pogea’s previous work. As you can see, these guys are going all over the place with tuning.

The first Audi TT? Pogea can do it!
The 1959 Chevrolet Corvette? Sure!
The Audi A7? Of course!

Yet, regardless of such a wide array of tuning projects, it seems that they do their best work on stuff from Italy. As a chip tuning company from Germany, Pogea Racing started its operations in 1997 and, while I may list their best works for ages, I will actually focus on their latest projects - both of them based around the Alfa Romeo 4C. First one, named the Nemesis, appeared only months ago, but today, we have the chance to see the greenest Alfa Romeo 4C ever. It too got a name - the Centurion 007 – The Green Arrow.
As I am talking names, I have to point out that Pogea is quite creative when it comes to names. That Corvette I mentioned, they’ve called it the Big Red.

Although it was revealed in prototype form at the beginning of the year, the Lister Thunder is no more. Say hello to the Lister LFT-666. The Thunder - a Lister tuned F-Type is renamed to LFT-666 to better fall in line with the future products that will spawn from the revived British car company. As it turns out, Lister is on the way to become an exclusive tuner of Jaguar cars. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do something like Polestar did with Volvo. Nevertheless, the company is still in its infancy, but if we are to judge by the first car they revealed, Lister will be a blast.

Lister Motor Company, Lawrence Whittaker, CEO says, “Over the past six months the Lister Motor Company has been working hard on developing our Tuning Division, starting with modifying the Jaguar F-Type. Originally, we named the prototype the Lister ‘Thunder’, however, due to future model lineage, all 99-production models will now be known as the Lister LFT-666, a befitting title and one where an intrigued passer-by instantly knows the brake horsepower of each Lister model.”

Although revealed only in the prototype form, Lister received a record number of orders for the Thunder (now the LFT-666). Finally, the company released a lot more info about it and let me tell you right away - it’s an awesome car.

On its own, the Lexus LC 500 is a flamboyant car. The unmistakable styling cues give it a look that’s all its own, and its 471-horsepower V-8 engine helps it straddle the line between a capable touring car and an everyday supercar. But just as the LC 500 already has its own identity, there are still ways to bring out even more of its personality. That’s what we get with the LC 500 Yellow Edition, the latest in a long line of exclusive additions to the flagship coupe’s range.

We previously knew it as the Thunder, but British sports car company Lister is renaming its Jaguar F-Type-based supercar with a somewhat more appropriate name that reflects its capabilities. So instead of the Lister Thunder, we’re going to have to get used to calling this beast the LFT-666. The model isn’t entirely new; in fact, we’ve discussed it a few times the past, most recently in June 2018. But, apparently, a lot has changed since June 2018. The Lister Thunder now goes by a different and far more fitting name.

As far as Mercedes-AMG GT goes, the S version may be the optimal one. Its power level doesn’t start with the number four, but with five, and it does come with a bit more gear from the get-go compared to the entry-level AMG GT. No wonder, then, that it is one of the most popular options for tuning companies. Creative Bespoke from the U.S. included. They revealed their own tuning take on the Mercedes-AMG GT S, and it is rad, mad, and powerful.

After more than two years of constant teasing and two concept cars, Lexus unveiled a new 2+2 coupe at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Dubbed LC500, the new coupe is stunning to look at, has a luxurious interior, and comes with a stout, naturally aspirated V-8 powerplant. Come 2018 and the Japanese firm is working on a beefed-up version with an "F" badge.

Despite having two extra seats and missing a V-10 powerplant, the LC500 is already being considered a successor to the mighty LFA. Granted, the two have very little in common as far as underpinnings go, but I can totally understand why Lexus enthusiasts are comparing it to the LFA. The LC500 has a strong presence, a low-slung stance, and it blends luxury and sportiness under the same roof. It’s nowhere near as powerful as the LFA, but what if Lexus is planning to release a more potent version later on? These new spy shots suggest that we may soon be able to buy an LC F model with more power and a more aggressive exterior.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 Lexus LC F.

Though it’s true that most of them are found only in Japan, there are no shortages in special edition Subaru WRX STIs in the world. We all need to remind ourselves of that because Subaru is releasing another special edition version of its power-packed performance sedan, and it’s once again exclusive to the Japanese market. It’s called the WRX STI Type RA-R, and it’s essentially a lighter and more powerful version of the WRX STI Type RA, one of the few special edition versions that made its way in the U.S. market.

The Chevrolet Yenko Camaro holds a special place in the heart of drag-strip fanatics from the 1960s, in part because of Yenko Chevrolet, the Pennsylvania-based dealership owned by racer Don Yenko that turned production Camaros into go-faster track-spec monsters. Fast forward to this year, though, and the Yenko nameplate is being revived on another performance-focused Chevrolet by New Jersey-based Specialty Vehicle Engineering. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Chevrolet Yenko Corvette.

The Toyota 86 is lovely little machine, offering the simple pleasure of a small, lightweight RWD coupe that’s still relatively affordable for the masses. We said as much in our Driving Impression review a few years back, and our opinion hasn’t changed - we’re still duly impressed by this car’s tossability and fun-loving attitude. Now, Toyota is offering a new limited-run TRD Special Edition, and it promises even sharper handling chops mated with an aggressive and unique aesthetic. And no - it doesn’t come with any extra power. So don’t ask.

Continue reading to learn more about Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition.

The second-generation Audi R8 is about to receive its mid-cycle facelift. We’ve already seen prototypes on public roads, and it seems that the Germans have prepared big changes for the facelift. It also seems that Audi is working on a higher performance version of the R8, possibly a successor to the GT model.

Although it has yet to confirm such a model, a new R8 GT makes sense given the fact that the second-gen supercar has yet to spawn any special editions yet. The original GT was discontinued back in 2013, while the LMX was produced in 2014 only. It’s been four years since Audi offered anything above the R8 Plus, so it’s about time the German brand gave the supercar a performance bump. A beefed-up R8 could arrive in 2019, but until we find out more about that, let’s take a closer look at what upgrades it may get.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi R8 GT.

Although overshadowed by the Volkswagen Golf, its platform sibling, sales-wise, the Seat Leon has been the more powerful race car in various series around the world. The TCR is one of them, having been set up after Seat designed the Leon Cup Racer, also the car that was used as a template for aerodynamic regulations. The increasingly popular series is still dominated by the Leon, which received an update in 2017.

Renamed the Leon Cupra Evo 17, the Spanish race car is more aggressive than ever. The hatchback sports bigger wheel arches, just like the Volkswagen Golf GTI TRC, a massive rear wing, and the copper highlights we’ve seen on recently unveiled Cupra road models. The Leon will continue to race in the TCR International Series, where it will face competition from Audi, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Opel, Volkswagen, and many more carmakers.

Continue reading to learn more about the Seat Leon Cup Racer Evo 17.

The Renault Megane was most recently redesigned in 2016. Sportier than ever on the outside, it gained a modern interior with the latest tech and a range of revised engines. Two years have passed since then and Renault finally gave the fourth-generation Megane the long-awaited Trophy treatment.

Crafted by the Renault Sport division, also known as R.S., the new Trophy replaces the R.S. 275 Trophy model that the French firm offered between 2014 and 2017. Naturally, the new Megane Trophy is not only more aggressive on the outside, but it’s also more powerful. As usual, it’s built on the race-bred Cup chassis, which makes it a road-legal race car. The 275 Trophy-R holds track records for FWD cars on many circuits, including the Nurburgring, Suzuka, and Fuji. Will the new Trophy set new benchmarks? Probably. But until that happens, let’s have a closer look at its design and drivetrain in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy.

Audi first introduced the TT as a sporty compact two-door in the late ‘90s, with the latest third-generation model arriving in 2014 at the Geneva International Motor Show. Offered as both a hardtop coupe and a drop-top roadster, Audi sends the TT into the 2019 model year with a mild refresh, including an updated exterior, a new seven-speed gearbox, and more standard equipment as well.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Audi TT.