News and pictures of modern cars

2011 Cadillac CTS-V

2010-12-15T03:47:00.001-08:00

German auto tuner and car wrap specialists, Cam Shaft, have taken a decidedly foreign approach on their next project. Instead of using one of the many local vehicles coming from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche, Cam Shaft went for a car that calls the land on the other side of the pond its home: the high-powered, svelte-looking Cadillac CTS-V.

In getting the American sports sedan, Cam Shaft decided that upgrades were in order, especially to the CTS-V’s powertrain and exterior. So they went out and re-tooled as much as they could on the car, giving more power to a car that already has 564 ponies worth under its hood. In addition to the upgraded powerplant, Cam Shaft also set out to make the car stand out from other sports sedans, by wrapping the CTS-V’s exterior body in a matte white foil.

The result is a car that’s as stunning as it is powerful: a noteworthy combination of style and substance all rolled into one awesome package.

2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

2010-12-15T03:44:00.000-08:00

BMW has just released some new information about the long awaited 1-Series M Coupe, including engine information, release dates, and the toys it will carry.

Under the hood will be the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 340 horsepower. That motor will be connected to six-speed manual transmission. There will no automatic option with this vehicle. That motor should be more than enough to haul around the car’s 3,307-pound weight.

The M1 will feature a chassis, braking system, and rear differential similar to the M3. In total, that power and these tweaks have made the M1 faster than the E46 M3 around the Nordschleife.

Update 12/10/2010: The wait is finally over! BMW has decided to reveal today the official information on the most powerful 1-Series in their line-up: the M Coupe. Official debut will be made in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show and sales will begin later in the spring. The new 1-Series M Coupe will be offered in three exterior colors: Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic and Valencia Orange Metallic, last one of course being our favorite.

Taking inspiration from the 1988 BMW M3 Sport Evolution, the 1-Series M Coupe is 1.3 inches (33mm) longer than the M3. Also, compared to the 2011 BMW 135i Coupe, the new model is 0.2 inches longer, 2.1 inches wider, 0.5 inches taller, and rides on the same 104.7 inch wheelbase.

UPDATE 12/13/2010: A few days after it’s long-awaited unveiling, the 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe was already seen at the Nurburgring performing its cursory test laps to determine its official ’Ring lap time. The 2011 1-Series Coupe just finished its date around the ’Ring, clocking in a time of 8:12, which is about 10 seconds faster than the E46 M3. More importantly than that, BMW’s latest addition to the M family posted faster times than its other competitors, including the E60 M5, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, and the Porsche Cayman S. Way to go, BMW!

BMW has also placed an online configurator for the new 1-Series M Coupe. And while the options are quite limited, putting together the coupe is quite entertaining!

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

2010-12-15T03:41:00.001-08:00

The Chevrolet Camaro SS - Mustang-lovers shield your eyes - isn’t exactly a car that needs much done for it to look and perform like a real muscle car, but when a tuner takes this vehicle and goes the extra mile then appreciation should definitely ensue. German tuner, Irmscher, may be one of those tuners as they have revealed a tuning package for the Camaro SS that not only updates the car’s look, but also makes some changes to the muscle car’s engine.

From the factory, a Camaro SS is powered by an LS3 engine that delivers 422 HP and 408 lb.-ft. of torque, but after a few tweaks, Irmscher has managed to obtain a total of 509 HP. With this new update, the Camaro SS can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds and hit a top speed of 275 Km/h (170 mph).

In order to handle the new power, the car also gets larger brake discs (380mm front / 355 mm rear) with 6 piston/4 piston calipers and a height adjustable suspension.

For the exterior, the Camaro SS gets a new door, hood, and roof decals, as well a new 22" black alloys and a new exhaust system

For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at another Camaro SS that received a different kind of tuning treatment. The Camaro SS LS9 by Lingenfelter is anything but tame with its GM LS9 Eaton TVS2300 supercharged engine producing a massive 1,234 HP. Now you would think that the Lingenfelter package would be astronomically priced, but it sells for a total of $41,316. If that sounds expensive then you should know that the weaker package of the two, the Irmscher kit, is priced at 49,000 Euro, or $65,000 at the current rates. Doesn’t make much sense, does it?

2010 Lamborghini Murcielago

2010-12-15T03:40:00.001-08:00

Platinum Motorsport has certainly been a permanent fixture on our pages the past couple of months, but their tuning packages for a variety of vehicles certainly call for that kind of attention. It’s not that their kits are extravagantly over the top - actually they are quite simple - it’s because it’s the simplicity in their style that make these vehicles stand out above the rest. And their package for the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is another example of this.

The package for the LP640 includes a Premier 4509 kit and a new set of 20" Maya wheels painted in black. The exterior kit includes a new front bumper, new side pods, a new rear bumper, and a new rear deck spoiler. And whether you choose matte black or glossy black for the exterior color, the car looks amazing.

In fact, the car was amazing enough to catch the attention of a little rapper by the name of Mann, who, along with 50 Cent, featured the Lamborghini LP640 in the music video "Buzzin."

Jaguar still wants a supercar

2010-12-15T03:39:00.001-08:00

We’ve been anticipating Jaguar’s supercar for quite some time now, but it seemed as if the British manufacturer wasn’t going to give it up that easy. The car’s been on then off a couple of times, but the unveiling of the C-X75 concept car at the Paris Auto Show may have been the next step in bringing for the British supercar. At the show, Jaguar’s chief designer, Ian Callum, said that the company wants a supercar that will take design inspiration from the concept itself.

"Our job as designers is to destabilize things and to dream of exciting cars the company is not making now. I happen to think Jaguar needs a car like this. Everything about it is new yet it recalls one of our greatest designs of all time, the XJ13. It’s no secret that the reception we’ve had for C-X75 has been fantastic. The company won’t allow such a reaction to be lost without at least having a detailed discussion about how it can best be harnessed."

However grand that may sound, Callum confirmed that a final decision on the production has yet to be made. If the stars align appropriately, however, the production version will adopt a regular powertrain and not the four electric motors delivering an outstanding 778 HP and 1600Nm of torque. Any guesses on what that powertrain will be?

2011 Audi A7 Sportback

2010-12-15T03:38:00.000-08:00

The wait is over. After a not-so-surprising-but-apparently-surprising-to-Audi leak over the weekend, Audi has officially unveiled the Audi A7 Sportback and they describe it as a combination of elegant coupe, sport sedan, and practical wagon. The five-door, fastback coupe sees four different engine options –two gas, two diesel – and comes with features such as standard bi-xenon headlights, optional LED headlights, standard LED tail lights, and "all-weather light function." We can’t really decide what we think about the new A7 yet, so we’ll just go ahead and give you the facts so you can decide.

The 2011 Audi A7 Sportback will hit the streets with a 2.8 FSI engine producing 201hp and 280Nm, a 3.0 TFSI engine that produces 296hp and 440Nm, a 3.0 TDI producing 210hp and 400Nm, and a 3.0 TDI producing 242hp and 500Nm. These engines will be mated to a Multitronic CVT automatic for front-wheel-drive versions and a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission for quattro models. The 3.0 TDI multitronic will make the 0-62mph sprint in 8.1 seconds while top speed is limited to 145mph. Its fuel efficiency is rated at a combined 53.3mpg. We are unaware of whether or not all four engines will be available in the States, but we are guessing the diesel options won’t make it to this side of the pond.

Updated 12/13/2010: Audi has unveiled a new commercial for the A7 Sportback called Imagination Meets Engineering. Enjoy!

Bugatti opens up internship program for US college students

2010-12-15T03:36:00.001-08:00

If you wanted any more reason to enjoy college apart from the non-stop partying and binge hook-ups, the most unlikely of automakers is giving you one more reason to, shall we say, stay in school.

Bugatti, the very same ones that make the $2 million Veyron, is offering an internship program at their office in Herndon, Virginia to any interested college student. The part time internship will cover 20 hours per week where interns are tasked to perform a variety of jobs including “coordination of press activities in cooperation with Bugatti’s public relations firm, scheduling of press cars for events, communication of planned activities to secure involvement of Bugatti dealers as necessary, and coordination of press activities with Bugatti S.A.S. priorities.”

Oh, and there’s also that part about vehicle transportation, which means that if the stars are aligned and the intern is lucky, he or she might get a chance to drive a Veyron.

If you’re interested – and why wouldn’t you be – you can apply for the job at the link we’re giving. Just be sure you’re in the up and up when it comes to being drug free because Bugatti is going to conduct drug testing. If you are, go ahead and apply!

2010 Skoda Fabia RS IRC Special Edition

2010-12-15T03:35:00.001-08:00

Skoda’s 2010 IRC Championship win may not have gotten a ton of headlines from the press, but it certainly hasn’t stopped the automaker from releasing a special edition Fabia RS that was created to celebrate the automaker’s title win in the IRC, or as some folks would call it, the breeding ground and stepping stone towards the more famous WRC.

For their special edition vehicle, Skoda decked the Fabia RS with a Rally Green exterior paint with racing livery all around it and stickers taken from the official championship-winning S2000 rally car. There’s also the addition of a white roof to complement the Rally Green body color, as well as a set of 17-inch alloy wheels to finish off the dazzling look of special edition Fabia RS.

As for performance, Skoda gave the car a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 177 horsepower and 184 lb/ft of torque and is mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission that accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds with a top speed of 139 mph.

The special edition Fabia RS IRC has yet to be given a price tag by Skoda, but according to the company, the model will only come in limited quantities with only 200 units being built.

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

2010-12-15T03:34:00.000-08:00

The long-awaited debut of the Lamborghini Murcielago successor appears to be coming sooner than later after it was reported that Lamborghini has filed for a trademark in the US for the name “Lamborghini Aventador”, leading to questions as to whether this could be the official name of the Lamborghini Jota. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, there seems to be enough reason to believe that the Aventador could very well take the mantle from the Murcielago as Lamborghini’s next hypercar.

A select group of customers were on hand to see the new bull-buster, and, based on what’s been seen, the Aventador looks to have taken a lot of its styling cues from the Lamborghini Reventon. How much of it is Revenston-inspired still remains to be seen. What we do know is that the ‘Aventador’ name will stick around given the lengths Lamborghini went through in obtaining a trademark for the name. So is it safe to say that the Murcielago successor will officially be named the Aventador? We’ll put our eggs in that basket and say yes.

UPDATE 12/14/10: We were doing our usual Facebook surfing earlier today when we chanced upon the fan page of the Lamborghini Club of Los Angeles. To our surprise, we came across a photo of the Aventador LP700-4 that the page says is the "ONLY real front end photo of the Lamborghini Aventador released so far". Check out the photo in the gallery; it won’t be too hard to find.

2010 Mercedes SL 63 AMG Shadow Line

2010-12-15T03:32:00.001-08:00

Having a Mercedes SL63 AMG in your garage is already reason enough for your neighbors to feel supremely jealous of you. But what if you had a way to knock that ‘envy meter’ up a few more notches? Would you do it?

If you answered ‘yes’, then we have the perfect interior styling program for you. Courtesy of the folks from Vilner is this new styling program called the SL63 AMG Shadow Line.

Among the upgrades included in the Vilner Shadow Line program includes a steering wheel that’s been outfitted with thicker hand-stitched light gray perforated leather. The sports car’s doors were also given a red perforated leather treatment with an ornamental design on the door handles, which, incidentally can also be found on the car’s center armrest and at the back of the headrest. The seats were also dressed in the same black and red color scheme with a headrest dressed in leather with white stitching and accompanied by an embroidered ‘Shadow Line’ name on it.

The changes are minimal compared to what we’ve seen from Vilner in the past. But when it comes to interior styling, the company’s ‘Shadow Line’ package just might be the answer you’re looking for if you ever decide to give your SL63 AMG a classy and beautiful dress-up.

2011 Maserati GranTurismo

2010-12-15T03:31:00.000-08:00

A car’s elegance should be kept even after applying a tuning package, and that is exactly what tuner, Wheelsandmore, believe and achieve for all of their tuning programs. For example, their new package for the Maserati Granturismo offers a hint of an exterior package, as well as a little more power as a minimalistic approach to making the sports car that much more appealing.

For the engine, the tuner is offering an ecu upgrade combined with a new handmade stainless steel exhaust system with valve flaps. The result is a total of 447 HP and 500 lb-ft of torque.

The performance is further upgraded with the special forged, lightweight 20" 6Sporz wheels with Dunlop Sportmaxx GT tires, 265/30/20 at the front and 325/30/20 at the rear.

The package for the Maserati GranTurismo is rounded off with a Street Comfort coilover kit made by KW suspensions in Germany. This kit can also be used for cars with a serial skyhook suspension.

MG TF roadster out of production

2010-12-15T03:30:00.001-08:00

After 15 years of drop top history, the MG TF - a mid-engined, rear wheel drive roadster car - will be discontinued in order to make room for the future MG6 and MG3 supermini. MG even announced that the final units have already been sent to dealers, although that seems to be debatable.

"There’s a discussion as to whether that was the last batch," said a spokesman for MG, referring to the production run of 155 cars earlier this year. "It’s always been on the cards. We can’t say for sure, but it’s largely driven by market forces."

In its place, MG will start producing an MG6 sedan and a MG3 based on the Zero concept. The supermini will be offered with 1.3 and 1.5-liter engines.

The MG TF may have one foot in the grave, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead yet. In fact, the roadster has seen its end before in 2005, only to be brought back two years later. This next resuscitation may take a little longer because MG will only consider bringing back the cabrio after the "brand is re-established," but it will still come. Previous rumors suggested that a new TF would be ready for the 2014 model year.

Graphicar renders the 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

2010-12-15T03:29:00.001-08:00

We’ve seen tons of spy photos of the 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 over the last few months, including two recent ones showing the front and the side of the supercar. Suffice it to say, the wait for the car’s debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show has been excruciatingly slow.

While these spy photos are all good and informative – to a certain extent – we still wouldn’t mind if Lamborghini released maybe just one photo of the Aventador just to satisfy our lustful craving for it.

That, unfortunately, is unlikely considering that all the hype and buzz surrounding this car is playing right into Lamborghini’s hands. So to go a different route, the folks over at Italian Graphicar have pooled their creative minds together and created a visual rendering of the new Lamborghini hyperbeast, complete with that enormous rear wing spoiler. We don’t know how close Graphicar’s take on the Aventador is to the real deal, but at the very least, it gives us a small idea on what to expect leading up to its debut in Geneva next March.

Production starts for Mopar’s new 426 ’Elephant’ Hemi V8 engine

2010-12-15T03:28:00.001-08:00

The Performance Racing industry show came and went with a series of new parts for all of our racing needs. Among the most notable of these items was Mopar’s new 426 ’Elephant’ Hemi V8 engine. This engine is all aluminum and delivers an impressive 540 HP and 530 ft.-lbs. of torque, all for a bargain price of $13,675. Production for the engine has already started.

Along with the new 426 engine, Mopar brought out the new 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak. The drag pak comes with a 8.4-liter 512 cubic-inch engine with a 2-speed automatic transmission. Based on the 2011 Dodge Challenger and finished in a Stock Eliminator and Super Stock configuration, the 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak is the first and only 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car.

Alongside the 426 ’Elephant’ Hemi V8 engine and the V10 Drag Pak, Mopar also brought valvetrain tie bars, a rear strut tower, midget race cylinder head, aluminum engine blocks, cylinder head stud kit, cold-air intake, W2 heads, and a Gen III distributor kit to the show. All of these parts can be ordered individually to increase your car’s performance.

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2

2010-12-15T03:26:00.001-08:00

Now that a GT version of the Ferrari 458 Italia is expected to take the reigns from the Ferrari 430 GT in the upcoming ALMS season, a lot of people in the automotive and racing industry have been waiting for quite some time to see a glimpse of the GT-spec 458 Italia in action. Jon Sibal even gave us a very detailed rendering of what he thought the 458 GT would look like when Ferrari finally lifts the covers off of the race car.

But after months of waiting, we can finally let out a little exhale as a prototype version of the 458 GT was spotted recently doing some test runs inside Ferrari’s Fiorano race track in Maranello, Italy.

Not that we care about the timeline of development for the 458 GT. As far as we’re concerned, we’re just happy to see visual proof of the car – prototype or not – playing in its natural habitat: the race track.

Updated 12/14/2010: Someone who goes by the name ILikeFastCars1 - yeah, us too - has just added a new video showing the 458 Italia GT2 testing around the Fiorano test track. Hit the jump to check it out!

2010 Audi RS6 Clubsport

2010-12-15T03:25:00.001-08:00

The Wettstetten/Ingolstadt tuner, MTM, has announced the official details on the RS6 Clubsport package announced a while ago. Thanks to some ECU modifications, the tuner was able to boost the horsepower to an astronomical level. That, in addition to an MTM stainless steel exhaust system, catalyst, and rear silencer (4-pipes, each one 80 mm with throttle valves in 2 pipes and control system), as well as other details and modified high-rev gearing, takes the 5.0 liter V10 engine to an astonishing 730 HP and 860 Nm of torque. The result is a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and from 0 to 124 mph in 11 seconds. The RS6 won’t stop until it hits 217 mph. This was an even bigger jump than we had previously anticipated with this tuning package!

Visually speaking, the Audi RS6 Clubsport seems to have been given access to an MTM height adjustable suspension kit. This kit will allow the driver to lower the vehicle by about 10-45". The tuning package also includes a carbon diffuser, a discreet carbon front spoiler lip, BIMOTO rims in 20” or 21”, and a roll-cage. The interior will be void of any rear seats, but will feature RECARO bucket seats and a 6-point safety harness.

Yes, the car kind of looks like a cross between a yellow and checker cab, but with the type of engine upgrades it has, anyone would be an idiot to not want to drive the hell out of it.

UPDATE 12/13/10: The 730 horsepower beast that is the MTM RS6 Clubsport was recently taken out for a test run by the boys of MTM at the Nardo race track. Their track exploits resulted in some pretty astonishing numbers as the modded RS6 exploded for a top speed of 225mph! All that speed – and power – on a luxury sedan? Consider us mighty impressed!

2011 Audi A4 BTCC

2010-12-15T03:23:00.001-08:00

After a 12 year hiatus from participating in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Audi will be headed back to the racing series to try and regain the championship previously won in 1996. In 2011, the Audi name will once again be heard in the competition thanks to private race team, Rob Austin Racing, who will bring two Audi A4 models to compete with in the series.

The Audi A4 models participating in the series will need to be refined in order to meet up with the new Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations. These regulations include the vehicle being capable of front- and rear-wheel drive as well have a ’300bhp+’ turbo-charged engine, but the most important aspect of the new regulations is the lowering of running costs for the teams while still maintaining the performance from the previous years. Currently, GPR Motorsport is working on the future racers, but Rob Austin Racing has provided the rendering above as a preview to the vehicles.

The A4 BTCC will have strong competition next year as the Honda Racing Team (Honda Civic), Team Aon and Airwaves Racing (Ford Focus), Eurotech (Vauxhall Vectra, Special Tuning UK (SEAT Leon) and AmD Milltek Racing.com (VW Golf) have already announced they would be amping up their vehicles with the new regulations for the 2011 season.

2011 Porsche 958 Cayenne Tornado

2010-12-15T03:19:00.001-08:00

Gemballa hasn’t exactly had the best year, to say the least, in 2010. Earlier this year, the company’s founder, Uwe Gemballa mysteriously disappeared only to be found a few months later in South Africa, a victim of an apparent murder orchestrated by people that he may have had some prior involvement with.

Then in February, German police officials closed down the company’s tuning shop only to be re-opened a few months later when the company officially re-opened under new leadership with CEO Andreas Schwarz and Investor Steffen Korbach taking the reins and assuming full control of the company.

So after a tumultuous year, the new Gemballa is poised to enter 2011 on a positive note by announcing their latest project, the Tornado Porsche 958 Cayenne.

It may have taken longer than anyone would have liked, not to mention the tragic circumstances surrounding the untimely death of its founder, but the new company is trying to make sure that some semblance of normalcy returns after the year they’ve been through.

And, really, what better way to do that than to announce the development of a new and awesome project.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Race Car

2010-12-15T03:12:00.001-08:00

After a short hiatus, Cadillac will be hitting the track once again to compete in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge in 2011. Using their CTS-V Coupe, Cadillac will develop a new race car in cooperation with Pratt & Miller, a New Hudson, Mich., engineering firm which specializes in motorsports. Cadillac last saw the SCCA track in 2007 and will be returning next year with a two-car team.

The CTS-V Coupe will have to undergo plenty of modifications to meet up to the SCCA standards, but Cadillac has yet to announce what the changes for the future race car will include. Of course, the fact that the standard coupe gets a 556 HP V8 engine is reason enough for some teams to be shaking in their performance tires.

The first race at the SCCA World Challenge for the two CTS-V coupes will take place on March 25th-27th in St. Petersburg, Florida. Behind the wheel of the Cadillacs will be three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series, Johnny O’Connell and 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class champion, Andy Pilgrim.

"The SCCA World Challenge lends itself well to a natural transfer of knowledge," said Jim Campbell, GM vice president for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "The series will become a key test-bed for Cadillac. We anticipate using what we learn on the racetrack to ensure the V-Series stays on the cutting-edge of performance."

UPDATE 12/14/10: To complement the press release announcing their return to the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge, Cadillac has released a three-minute video detailing the rationale behind the decision to return to competitive racing. In the video, you’re going to hear from a number of the decision makers behind the move, including Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac’s director for global marketing and Mark Kent, the manager for GM Racing.

Caterham to debut new model at the Autosport International Motor Show in January

2010-12-15T03:11:00.001-08:00

We haven’t seen anything new from Caterham recently as the British manufacturer seems to he content with just producing continuation models of their iconic Lotus Seven models.

All that, however, was bound to change and now Caterham has announced that it has plans of unveiling a completely new model at the start of 2011. Details are still sketchy at this point, but Caterham has made it known that their new model is going to signal “the beginning of a new dawn for the Company, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven."

According to Caterham, this new model is going to be powered by a new in-house engine - the next-generation Caterham Motorsport engine - and is going to be built alongside the Seven. There’s no telling what kind of car this is going to be because Caterham is keeping their cards close to their chests. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long before we see the cat make its debut at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, England on January 13, 2011. That’s about a month away so the wait really isn’t that long.

Nonetheless, we’ve already circled the date on our calendars.

Note: The photo above is of the RST-V8 Levante and not of the new concept that Caterham is working on.

2011 Audi R8

2010-12-15T03:10:00.001-08:00

For some people, even a car that already packs a walloping 420 horsepower under its hood isn’t enough to satisfy their lust for speed. These are the very same people that look at a car like the Audi R8 and think of ways to bump up the supercar’s already impressive performance output. They might think of themselves as torque hungry fellows. We think of them as heroes.

Evolution Motorsports is a US-based tuning company that specializes on these sorts of things and their latest project involves taking an Audi R8 V8 and outfitting it with their very own EVOMS R8 Twin Turbo, a performance system that taps the R8’s true potential as one of the best supercars on the planet.

Despite its stature, Evolution Motorsports believes that the R8 lacks in true raw power. So to tap into that, they meticulously designed and engineered a twin turbo conversion system that shoots up the R8’s performance output all the way up to 800 horsepower. The best part is that the 800 horsepower upgrade is only the beginning of Evolution Motorsports’ project for the Audi R8. The folks from Arizona are also building packages for the R8 that will see its pony output rise up to 900 and even 1000+ horses under the hood.

Talk about unleashing the R8’s true potential, huh?

2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

2010-12-15T03:09:00.000-08:00

The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe was revealed in 2007 at the Detroit Auto Show and it was quick to wow the whole world. But now, after four years of production, it was high time for it to receive some improvements. The changes may not be drastic, but they are enough to make the ride sportier than before. For the 2011 model year, the Phantom not only receives interior and exterior updates, but will also get new suspension components and a transmission calibration. No changes were made under the hood, but who needs more than a 6.75 liter naturally aspirated V12 engine anyway?

The car still keeps its design inspiration it received from the 100EX concept, but will get a restyled rear seat, a new steering wheel with a thicker rim, and new colors for both the interior and the exterior of the car. Of course, these updates come with a higher price tag. The 2011 Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe’s price will jump from $443,000 to $452,000.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Top Gear USA: Episode Four

2010-12-15T03:06:00.001-08:00

We are almost halfway through the first season of Top Gear USA and we are pleased to say that the show is not a complete waste of our time. In fact, we actually enjoy watching it. The clips are informative, the challenges are funny and entertaining, and the opportunity of making fun of Ferrara will never slide past us. We can’t help it; we don’t really like the guy as the "main" host.

Now that all of that is out of the way, we can move on to the actual show aired. The fourth episode of Top Gear USA takes us through a long review of the Mercedes SLS AMG with Adam Ferrara behind the wheel. Only Ferrara can ruin the Mercedes’ camera time. Top Gear UK has Captain Slow, we have Captain Boring. ’Nuff said.

The more interesting part of the show was the two challenges. The first was a race between the Ford F-150 Velociraptor and a HALO jumper while the second was a jumbled mess of two old beaters shooting out paintballs. And by two old beaters, we mean Ferrara and Wood. Just kidding.

Hit the jump to see details on the fourth episode of Top Gear USA.

2013 Honda CR-Z Convertible

2010-12-13T09:30:00.001-08:00

2013 Honda CR-Z Convertible

Honda first revealed the CR-Z hybrid and then announced it will bring a new Turbo version that will drop the hybrid drivetrain in favor of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. But next to this version, Honda also plans to build a convertible version. This one however will remain a hybrid model.

Honda needs more version for this model in order to increase sales. Is not a secret the fact that, despite its numerous prizes, the CR-Z is not doing so well when it comes about sales. And a convertible model might help a bit.

And despite the fact that Honda will offer a Turbo version for the CR-Z, the convertible version will remain a hybrid model. This will make its the world’s first convertible hybrid. The only question remaining is this will help it sell well?

A convertible model was in the cards for the very first time, but because engineers felt that the added weight of the convertible components wouldn’t suit the "sporty" character of the CR-Z, Honda dropped the plans. And now that decision is being reconsidered.

2011 Lexus GS

2010-12-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

With a history of 19 years and now in its fourth generation, the Lexus GS enters the 2011 model year with a standard Smart Stop Technology as an additional measure of consumer confidence. Customers will have to choose from two different models: GS 350 priced at $46,000 and GS 460 priced at $54,470. This is the last year for the current generation, as for 2012 Lexus will offer the fifth generation GS.

The GS 350 is powered by a V6 engine, while the GS 460 gets a more powerful V8. The first one gets a Six-Speed Sequential-Shift Automatic transmission, while the GS 460 version receives a Eight-Speed Sequential-Shift automatic one. The GS 350 is offered in both AWD and RWD version, while the GS 460 only comes as a RWD model. We know a few German models that are in lots of trouble when put next to the Lexus GS.

Hit the jump to read more about the 201. 1 Lexus GS.