Some look at new products and they think, “Hey, it can’t be one of the best if it hasn’t been around…” Well, I don’t believe that’s always the case. And in this case, it’s not possible. You find me three more beautiful cars in the world, and I’ll let you write your own article for The Long Drive.

Here are the cars: Aston Martin’s DBS, Audi’s R8 and Mercedes-Benz’s SLS AMG. All three are not really that competitive to one another, but all three are perfectly styled and some of the most modern examples of how car companies can take design cues from their past without making the car retro.

Let’s start off with the Mercedes. You’ve seen the old 300SL Gullwing, right? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. It is one of the sole reasons why Mercedes-Benz is looked at as one of the most beautiful automakers in the world. They design gorgeous products… without a manual, however. That’s always been my biggest issue. You can’t get an AMG with a manual transmission. Sad. But, with that said, I think I could learn to live without it for all of the grace, class and style that the SLS AMG offers its customers.

When you look at the SLS, you’ll notice pieces of it taken straight from the old-school Gullwing, but if you look closely, you’ll see a modern Benz style all its own. Under hood is a 6.2-liter engine, not an actual 6.3L that AMG claims and presents with their special badges on the sides of the cars. Still, though, that 6.2L V-8 is good for 563 horsepower and 479lb-ft of torque, all put to the ground by a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. AMG, Mercedes-Benz’s in-house tuning agency, who made the car from the ground up -the first ever AMG road car- did a lot to minimize weight by using an aluminum spaceframe and carbon fiber materials; weight’s been, surprisingly, kept to a minimum at just 3,573 lbs. That may seem like quite a bit for a modern day supercar, believe me, comparing it to an SLR, this is almost a MINI Cooper less. Let’s not forget that it’s still got MB’s attention to detail when it comes to safety, ladies and gentleman.

All of this special AMG technology and build perfection secures a 3.6-second 0-60 time, maybe faster, and a top speed nearing 200 mph. Not too shabby, boys. Not only did you create a true vision of modern automotive art, you made it go like bird (get it, because of the gullwing doors? Yeah, I know…).

The spiritual successor to one of the greatest cars of all time, the Acura NSX, is currently produced by a German company named Audi. Popular for Quattro all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive A4 sedans, and beautifully big A6 and A8 luxury cars. But also famous for Ur, S and RS sport line models, they now build a mid-engine supercar that will blast through the fog and getting to 60 in 4-seconds flat, or 3.3-seconds… depending on whether you get the 420hp 317lb-ft of torque 4.2-liter V-8 (2011 models get 430hp), or the 525hp and 391lb-ft of torque 5.2-liter V-10. You can also have your choice of top speed, too. Getting the R8 with a V-8 gets you just 187 mph at the top end, and 196 for the 5.2 FSI V-10 model.

When the Audi R8 became available for purchase in 2007, everyone loved it. I mean, c’mon, how could you hate it? With the styling of no other Audi before it, the handling of a supercar god, with the power to match it, what else was there to love? You could actually fit comfortably in it, have leather appointed everything, and you wouldn’t break down on the highway after a 1,000 mile road trip. It has the same quattro AWD system that Audi has become more than famous for, so you know it feels fantastic from behind the steering wheel. It also has Audi’s bulletproof 4.2-liter V-8 that’s been fitted in the S4, RS4, S5, RS5, every current Spyker, as well as the extra-super, Gumpert Apollo. If that doesn’t say something about the level of greatness the engine has achieved, I don’t know how else to tell you that it’s one of the best engines ever made.

Made of aluminum with some carbon fiber bits, just like the SLS, the R8 is a racing man’s supercar. It has the heritage with its name (the Audi R8 Le Mans racer won 5 times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans), but also the actual prowess of no other Audi that’s come before it. You can get it with a 6-speed manual or Audi’s R tronic automated manual gearbox. A dual-clutch is currently in the works. With the use of aluminum, the R8’s weight isn’t too bad, either. At just 3,571 lbs for the V-10 and 3,605 lbs for the V-8. The weight may seem like a lot, but you’ve got to remember that the R8 sits on an all-wheel drive platform. That’s a couple to a few hundred pounds extra weight right there. So I’d say that Audi did a great job at keeping weight down with all of the modern electronics and safety features that make it one of the best all-round cars in the world.

Last but not least, we have my current favorite car in the world, and the one that I think sits atop the list of most beautiful. I also think it’s in my top 10 of sexiest cars of all time. Sure, it weighs 3,737 lbs, by far the most of this group, has the slowest 0-60 time of 4.0-seconds, the lowest top speed of 191 mph, and also costs way more than both the Audi and the Mercedes. But one thing it has that the others don’t? British quality. Wait, okay, that’s the wrong way to put it. Umm… British design? Yeah, that’s better. It just so happens that the Aston Martin DBS is James Bond’s car of choice. Take that Germany!

Yet another supercar made of aluminum and carbon fiber, the DBS has driven by its 6.0-liter V-12, the largest of the group, but only puts out 510hp and 420lb-ft of torque. I know what you’re saying, “The car with the biggest engine has the lowest amount of power, the slowest 0-60 and top speed, and you think it’s the best one here?” Why yes, yes I do. Here’s why: The Aston is designed with a different grace than the other two beauties in this three car list. It’s artistic without being artsy. It’s big, bulky and has a muscle car look to it.

Coming in rear-wheel drive, the Aston Martin easily provides the most luxury here, and you can even option it with or without a rear seat. Hey, something to carry the babies. Also, standard is a 6-speed 007 manual transmission with a Touchtronic automatic as a $4,000 option.

A base DBS will swipe $266,000 from your checking out, while the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will only borrow $183,000 at the start before options, and the Audi R8’s will coax $114,200 and $146,000, respectively. If you happen to want a convertible, then you’ll have to dish out a little more for each and wait for the SLS to come out (AMG is currently working on one.). For the Audi R8 5.2 V-10 you will start out by paying $161,000 before options with a standard manual. The Aston Martin will cost you $286,400.

It should be noted that the DBS is the only car that comes only with carbon ceramic disc brakes. Audi does not offer them yet, and Mercedes-Benz charges a $12,500 premium.

Audi will also produce a V-8 R8 cabrio, but it won’t be available until spring of 2011.

Below are some videos I’ve compiled from Top Gear and Fifth Gear. Tiff Needell of Fifth Gear agrees with me that the Aston Martin DBS is the best GT car in the world.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In my 24 years of life, I never thought I’d see the day where people were making videos to plead with the average citizen to save the manuals. For just a few dollars a day, you too can make a difference. Please, folks, listen to Eddie Alterman and the rest of the troops at Car and Driver.

We’re fighting a war we have to win… Screw the automatics! Give me a manual.

Let’s just go ahead and say it… anything you can do, I can do better, mr. automatic man. This is because I have as many legs as I do pedals. Yes, I said it.

I did a second take as I saw quite possibly the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen being pulled by another vehicle: a Hummer H1 being towed by an RV. What the hell? Not that I don’t love the H1, because in Humvee guise it’s served as the primary military vehicle for the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as many other military forces around the world for the past 25 years. So how could you not love it? It looks kick ass, will literally drive over anyone and anything, as well as holds lots of gear. And what happens when you drive it off-road? Well, not too much. It seems it could move through pretty much anything around the world. But what if a tree’s in your way? No problem, just drive into it. You’ll make it.

You typically see a Honda CRV, a Ford Escape, a Subaru Legacy wagon, etc, behind a Recreational Vehicle. Not a Hummer. But hey, to each his own. Just kind of funny that a vehicle not so good on gas pulling another vehicle that has about the same mpg.

But if you look closely, not too many out there have actually tried to review the X6. At least not in a thorough fashion.

That’s why we’re bringing you an article based review, with a video based review. We want to cover all angles for you.

There’s no need to hide it; and this I shall get out from the beginning: the BMW X6 is expensive. Too expensive, I believe. But that doesn’t tell you anything about it. But here’s the story…

To tell it the proper way, I must add that pretty much every fellow writer that I spoke with before getting the X6 from BMW, and each one I talked to while having it, told me that I was going to hate it, or strongly dislike it. I feel neither of those emotions are at all true from this writer. I came out enjoying the X6 as if it were a vehicle I would go and buy myself. I drove the X6 xDrive35i from Newark, NJ, stopping off in Columbia, MD to visit some family, and then down to my home in Raleigh, NC. In total, I covered roughly 1,200 miles between driving it down and then back up.

In the amount of time I had the BMW X6, I realized, it packs a lot of punch for something that’s only meant to carry 4 people and a little bit of cargo. The 2010 35i, like I had, has the N54 twin-turbo inline-6, making 300hp and 300lb-ft of torque (the 2011 will have the N55 single turbo). However, we know from past experiences that the N54 can actually make closer to 360hp and 350lb-ft of torque at the crank. That’s roughly what the 4.8-liter V8 from the E60 550i and E65/E66 750i/Li had. All-in-all, the twin-turbo six will haul the X6 to 60 in about 6-seconds with the sport package. Impressive for a car that weighs just shy of 4800lbs.

I was able to haul people 6-feet tall and under in the back seat with room to spare for their legs and heads. However, any taller than 6-feet, and you’re pushing your luck. With that said, I was able to fit 3 medium to large roller suitcases in the back, but I was also allowed space for 3 full backpacks underneath the cargo area (the floor opens up to reveal this) in the back of the SAV. It was certainly impressive amounts of space for something that everyone told me before hand to be cautious of.

In the front, well, that’s where the fun is. The BMW X6 has many different things to play with. Whether it’s the iPod adapter, the amazingly revised iDrive control system, or just sitting back and relaxing in the comfortable sport seats. This X6 unfortunately didn’t come with iDrive navigation…

Overall Driving 4.5 out of 5:

The overall driving impressions of the X6, at first, were rather good. It took me a second to get used to where everything was and what it did. When you’re more used to driving a Ford over a BMW these days, you tend to take a second to re-learn everything. However, when you do learn it -rather quickly with the revised iDrive- you enjoy the driving experience a lot more.

When I started my journey, I was in traffic on the NJ Turnpike. Not the most ideal place to be on a Friday at 5 o’ clock. But I learned a lot about the X6 driving it in traffic. For one, the xDrive35i may very well be the better of the two X6s offered (xDrive35i & xDrive50i). I know that may sound crazy, but here’s why. driving along on the highway, I was returning, according to the trip computer on my way back from Maryland, about 23.5 mpg with an average speed of 54.3 mph. That was just 191 miles into the trip. Once it started with some hurricane style downpours continuing until I got home, I was going slower and returning about 21-22 mpg. Not bad at all for a utility vehicle doing 60-75 mph on I-95 and other various highways with similar traffic and speed limits.

Getting back into North Carolina, I filled up the following day and realized that I had gone a total of 431 miles on one tank of gas, with 33 miles left, from Westchester, MD to Raleigh, NC. I had been driving in traffic on the highway, at various highway speeds, then into extreme rain and finally, city driving. According to BMW’s trip computer, I had successfully done 21.5 mpg on the dot, and kept an average speed of 49.9 mph. Maybe I should have slowed down a little more in the rain… but the BMW X6 gave me so much confidence in everything I drove in, that I never felt, at any time, I was in any sort of danger. The typical highway stuff of people cutting you off, dodging interesting things in the roads, and people even swerving to avoid something right next to you, not one time did I feel as if the X6 would do me any harm, or allow me to get hurt. It may sound hokey, but I mean it when I say, I’ve never felt so safe in any automobile.

I have heard some people who calculate their miles per gallon manually say that BMW’s trip computer can be up to 1.5 mpg better than in actuality. So with that, the X6 still did 20 mpg in all types of driving habits and styles.

Comfort 4 out of 5:

Driving the X6 all that I did was fantastic. I felt very safe and secure, but i felt extremely comfortable. I only wish the sport seats had a manual bolster setting, because I found myself wanting them to be a little tighter on my sides. Also, the knee bolsters are fantastic, but the X6 that I had seemed to have touchy ones. If you went to sit up, or reach over into the passenger or rear seats, the backs of your legs hit against the bolster and push them in to the point where it sounds like you’ve broken them. Maybe it was just the vehicle I had.

The back seat riders said they had good comfort, but wouldn’t have been comfortable for anyone too tall or big.

One more surprising thing about the X6 is the actual ride comfort. With the 20″ sport wheels, I would have expected something much more harsh and choppy, but that’s not the case. The X6 xDrive35i with the sport package and big sport wheels rides like the proverbial Cadillac…

Sport Package 5 out of 5:

The BMW sport package is renowned for being the best blend of sport, luxury, safety and effiency in all the world. Here’s why: when driving any BMW, you feel alive. There is hardly ever a feeling that a computer can and will do it for you, or better than you for that matter. It’s the same in the X6 xDrive35i. Except for one thing… you can turn it off. Right behind the gear shifter is a black button that has a green light when turned on. It says, “Sport”. Turning this off, you can feel the steering loosen up around town, the brakes a little less touchy, and the accelerator pedal a little more relaxed. Gear changes also seem a little more at ease. So this is good news for anyone who wants a sport package BMW without all of the stiff steering and other various inputs that used to come along with it. The guy can have his sports car, but the wife can have her soccer mom utility vehicle. The best of both worlds is what I call it.

Sound System: 5 out of 5:

Plain and simple, one of the best stereo systems I’ve ever heard is in the X6. The Harmon Kardon premium sound system is fantastic. You could literally sit an X6 on the stage at Madison Square Garden and power the sound of any rock concert you’d want to hear. As I said earlier, there were some seriously heavy rains driving down from MD to NC, and the problem with rain is that you can always hear it from inside the car. You can hear it whooshing around the car, under the wheel wells, hitting the car as other cars drive by, etc. But with my iPod hooked up to the X6 and the stereo turned up rather loud, you hear nothing. And I really do mean nothing. It’s quite amazing. I’ve yet to drive or ride in a car where the noise of the outside world didn’t at least interfere a tiny bit.

Pet Friendliness 3 out of 5:

Okay, so the title is weird, but here’s what I mean: With the hatchback style rear on the X6, you’re looking at a weird angle when larger dogs try to stand up. There’s plenty of room back there for most dogs and any cat, but it’s not going to be the most comfortable on long drives. In this case, you may want to look at the X5.The first day I got back home, I put my 70 lb German Shepherd was able to get into the back just fine, and had good comfort while laying down. But when I shut the door, I started to feel bad. When she stood up, she had to put her body at a weird angle just so she could look out the back window. There is one thing that makes the X6 more pet friendly over any other utility vehicle out there; the tall rear bumper.

The rear bumper on the X6 is so tall, that animals have to jump a little higher to get in. But if you look closely, say someone rear-ends you… The impact would not drive into the cargo area. It would go underneath of the cargo area. So the rear hatch should remain unharmed, along with most things in the back. Again, safety.

Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 5

The X6 xDrive35i is more sports car than SUV, but is much more utility than anyone could expect. You can still tow 6,000lbs, for all you boat, jet skit or racing guys. So it only seats 4-people. But you know what? A Chevy Tahoe, an Escalade, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, and the Lincoln Navigator all only hold four people when equipped with captains chairs. Yes, they do have a third row seat that seats two. But try putting anything behind those rear seats when going on a trip. This means that you have to put the rear seats out, or in the GM vehicles, unload the 80 lb third row (80 pounds for each seat! I know this all too well… I still have nightmares) and then put all of your luggage in. That’s only 4-5 seats. And those *trucks* don’t have much more room in the back than the X6. So, the X6 isn’t an SUV, but it sure does all the same stuff people use them for these days.

But this brings us to a conundrum. As beautiful and great this vehicle is, I believe it to be too expensive. This xDrive35i came out to be $67,xxx on its sticker, and that’s $10,000 too much. It’s an amazing vehicle, but I’d buy it CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) and let someone else taking the hit to their wallet. This X6 also didn’t have navigation at that price, and that’s a lot of money for a car these days that doesn’t have it. With that said, we still recommend buying it, just maybe not brand new.

Also, SAV is a Sports Activity Vehicle. I’ve heard a lot of people say weird things about this. And while I think it sounds weird, too, I have since broken it down. SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. I’m sorry, but what’s sporty about any SUV, unless it’s got a big motor and brakes, or unless it comes out of Germany? I’ll grant you that a Jeep Wrangler is an SUV, but is it even categorized as one? All I’m trying to say is, GM, Ford, Chrysler, etc. are all calling their utility vehicles sporty, when they’re not. At least BMW has the decency to not say it’s a utlity vehicle because it isn’t meant to do all of the same things they do. Except for some odd reason, it can do those things on the road. Off-road? Well, that may be a different story.

You can check out the video below:

Disclaimer: I know that there is a spot when I’m speaking in the car that’s a bit dark. For this, I apologize. It looked good on the camera’s LCD display, but when I got it on a laptop, it wasn’t. Lesson learned, folks.

I would like to extend a nice, heartfelt thank you to BMW. Not only for their support in giving me this X6, but more for the fact that they let me keep it a few days extra. You see, right as I started making the X6 videos my 2.5 year old German Shepherd puppy became extremely ill and was in the hospital the whole week I had the car. BMW NA understood and respected this and allowed me to keep the X6 as long as I needed to. My puppy passed away on a Tuesday morning, and I started driving back up to New Jersey later that day. So to the guys that supported me (you know who you are), I thank you with all of my heart for your help and support.

So you’re sitting there now, trying to find out how you can watch good, live coverage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans… So many of us have you covered, guys.

Here are all of the sites:

Speedtv.com: Live coverage via a webcast.

Speed:Sport:Life: My friends over at SSL are tweeting live, and going crazy because of it.

LeMans.org: The main Le Mans website has good news read-ups and information of the race.

AudiTV: Cool, live feed on-board all of the Audi R15 TDI racing cars.

Peugeot Sport: Peugeot, with Le Mans’ website has a live feed in French.

RadioLeMans.com: Click the Listen Live button and hear some of the best Le Mans coverage available.

Lola: Lola Sport are live-tweeting as well.

Autoblog UK: The UK version of Autoblog are at Le Mans and are going to be doing live reports of the race, from the race.

Don’t forget your spotter guides for the race!

It is truly the time for excellent sporting events. Not only do we have the World Cup 2010 happening, but today, June 11, is the start of the 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’m so excited for it, and you should be too. Here’s why:

Held in Le Mans, Sarthe, France, it is one of the oldest and most amazing racing circuits in the world. It is, actually, the oldest endurance sports car race in the history of automotive racing. And it’s the most popular racing event in the world.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans was the start of something that has carried on ever since its happening in 1967… The spraying of champagne, instead of drinking it. It was Dan Gurney, along with his co-pilot A.J. Foyt, who won the endurance race in 1967, and he and Foyt were not the favorites to win. No, in fact, it was widely reported that their Ford GT40 Mk IV would have a horrible race. The biggest reason was because Gurney and Foyt were rivals. But they ended up beating Ferrari, for the second time in a row. Upon seeing Carroll Shelby, the team owner, and Henry Ford II, along with all of the reporters and team staff below the podium, he started spraying his champagne over everyone to show his dominance and the love of proving everyone wrong. This is now the greatest tradition in motorsports.

The race has a wild and amazing history. Did you realize that the cars have to be shut off during refueling? This is for safety, but also to test the abilities of the race cars to be started and shut off multiple times to test their real credibility as good cars.

I could go on and on about how amazing the race is, but in the end, you just have to watch it for yourself. Below are pictures of the race, but most importantly, there are two spotter guides that you can either print off and use while watching the race on television, or you can keep them saved on your computer and look at them while watching the race live, either by the tele or via online showings.

The race coverage starts at 8:30 AM EST live on Speed TV, and then live coverage will take place starting at 12:30 PM EST until 6 PM EST on Speed’s online webcast. After the webcast is over, Speed TV will pick it back up going all the way through the end.

Below is also the running order of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’ll tell you right now, Peugeot has the first four spots on the grid, as well as, obviously, taking the LMP1 pole. Strakka Racing, with their Honda powered ARX, took the LMP2 pole, and the 15th spot on the grid. The pole of GT1 class was taken by Young Driver AMR, with their Aston Martin DBR9, and the 31st grid placement. And for GT2, it was a hard fought battle… but Fisi Competizione took it with the number 82 Ferrari F430, only to be thrown to the last spot on the grid (55th) because of an illegal wing. So the number 1 and 2 spots go to Corvette Racing and their C6.R GT2 racing cars, with 64 taking first and car number 63 taking second spot, for the 36th and 37th spots on the grid, respectively. May I also add that this is Corvette Racing’s first season in GT2, and that they have 6 GT1 24 Hours of Le Mans victories to their name since the C5-R and the C6.R programs began.

Let us also pour a little bit out for our homies, because GT1 racing is out at Le Mans after this race. Sad, I know.

Qualifying Results (taken from Wikipedia):

Here are the regulations that make LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2 classes what they are (taken from LeMans.org):

“PROTOTYPES”

The “Prototype” category refers to cars exclusively developed for competition on track and which meet the technical regulations of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The performance levels and technological development make this category overeign in endurance.

“GRAND TOURING”

The “Grand Touring” category features cars derived from models homologated for road use and which can be purchased. A minimum of 100 road cars must be built by the major car manufacturers and a minimum of 25 for the smaller makes. Easily identifiable by the public, the GTs always achieve great success.

Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1):

“Open or closed cockpits, technologically ultra-sophisticated, the LMP1 cars battle for the overall race win. In this category, there are the powerful Audi R10s, the high-performance Courage Orecas, and also the Lola Coupés with the Aston Martin engines, the Pescarolos, the Ginetta-Zyteks…and, of course, the new official Aston Martins!

A wonderful diversity for the queen of the categories which will once again guarantee a good show.

N.B: As from 2010, LMP1 hybrid cars will be regularly classified.

Let’s us remember the main LMP1 characteristics, but also the fact that since 2008, the cars are using petrol made up of 10% of ethanol, as well as Diesel BTL. It is about second-generation biofuels, elaborated from the non-edible part of plants.”

• Minimum weight: 900kg for petrol-fuelled cars and 930 kg for diesels
• Wing length: 1m60
• Maximum engine capacity: 6,000cc for petrol atmospheric engines, 4,000cc for turbo engines and 5,500cc for diesel engines
• Maximum disc diameter: 38cm
• Tank capacity: 90 litres (81 litres for diesel engines)
• Headlamp beam: White
• Race numbers: 1-24
• LMP1 Category sticker: red

Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2):

“Lighter and less powerful than the LMP1’s, the LMP2s can also have either open or closed cockpits and are essentially reserved for private teams. Among them, we find the Lolas with Mazda engines, the Pescarolo-Mazdas of the OAK Racing team, and also some Porsche RS Spyders and other Ginetta-Zyteks.

In 2008, several changes were made in the regulations with the aim of reducing costs. Thus, to avoid the additional costs of research into how to reduce the weight of the cars, that of the  in LMP2s has been raised by 50kg. With  this same way of reasoning as LMP1, the use of mass-produced engines has been authorised.”

• Minimum weight: 825kg
• Wing length: 1m60
• Maximum engine capacity: 3,400ccs and a maximum of 8 cylinders for atmospheric engines or 2,000ccs with a single turbo and a maximum of 6 cylinders for turbo engines
• Maximum disc diameter: 38cm
• Tank capacity: 80 litres
• Headlamp beam: White
• Race numbers: 25-49
• LMP2 category sticker: blue

Le Mans Grand Touring 1 (LMGT1):

“In the LM GT1 category, the Saleens will represent the category. Considerably modified compared to their mass-produced counterparts, the LM GT1 cars with a power output that can reach 560bhp with a minimum weight of 1,200kg or 600 bhp with a minimum weight of 1,250kg. Top speeds often near those of the Prototypes.”

The rules of the category is from now on open to the new generation of LM GT1s.

There has been no change to the regulations since 2007:

• Minimum weight: 560 bhp with a minimum weight of 1,200kg or 600 bhp with a minimum weight of 1,250kg
• Maximum width: 210cm
• Maximum engine capacity: 8,000ccs for atmospheric engines, 4,000cc for turbocharged engines
• Carbon brakes authorised
• Tank capacity: 90 litres
• Maximum 6 speed gearbox
• Headlamp beam: Yellow
• Race numbers: 50-74
• LM GT1 category sticker: green

Le Mans Grand Touring 2 (LMGT2):

“Less modified than the LM GT1’s, they are also less powerful (between 450 and 500bhp). The 2010 season displays a wonderful diversity in this category, which should delight both novices and motorsport lovers alike, thanks to the duels between the Porsche 997s, the Ferrari F430s, the BMW M3s, or again the powerful Spyker C8s and the Aston Martins Vantage V8s.”

There have been no technical changes made to this fiercely competitive category for 2010.

• Minimum weight: 1,145kg
• Maximum width: 200cm
• Maximum engine capacity identical to the LM GT1 category
• Carbon brakes forbidden (exclusively iron based)
• Tank capacity: 90 litres
• Maximum 6 speed gearbox
• Headlight beam: Yellow
• Race numbers: 75-99
• LM GT2 category stickers: Orange

The spotter guides for this year’s race were designed by Andy Blackmore. As well as making the guides for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Andy has made spotter guides for multiple racing series’ and are all available on SpotterGuides.com. It is also asked that you possibly donate to Miles to End Malaria. Just sending a quick text message to the phone number provided, $10 is added to your phone bill. With that money, a simple bed net is sent to help someone in need in Africa. As you know, malaria is a horrible disease that kills between 1 and 3 million people in many different parts of the world, but mainly Africa. Most of them are children… I’ve donated to the cause, and you may want to think about it yourself.

[Photos taken from: SpeedTV]

The new 911 GT2 RS is, well, really amazing. It’s fast, fun, unaffordable, wild and so many other things that we love.

Now Porsche has supplied us with some great videos of its new German, ‘Ring king. So here they are for you all to enjoy.

[Source: Porsche & Porsche's YouTube]

First and foremost, RS stands for “Renn Sport” in German, or “Racing Sport” in English.

First came the Carrera 2.7 RS and Carrera RS 3.0 from 1973 and ‘74. The 2.7 RS had a 210hp 6-cylinder engine and was made to allow Porsche to meet stringent racing regulations that mandated 500 cars be built for street use that were similar enough to the racing cars in the FIA Group 4 class, which is just sports car racing in the ’60s and ’70s (the group 4 cars were considered “special grand touring cars” specced for racing purposes). The RS 3.0 was built for 1974, and had a K-Jetronic Bosch fuel injection system that made 230hp. The 3.0 was roughly twice the price of the 2.7. Both cars were aided with a new “ducktail” spoiler, larger brakes, racing suspension, wider rear tires and fenders.

Basically, these cars weren’t to be messed with. Oh, and the 2.7 RS weighed 2,370lbs, or 220lbs less than a regular 911… One year later, the 3.0 RS weighed just 1,984lbs. Umm… How in the hell do you do that in a year’s time? Simple, use thinner body panels, strip the interior, and you’ve got yourself a wild-ass racing car. The 2.7 RS already had a thinner bodyshell, too.

The RS Porsches from ‘73 and ‘74 were not able to be sold in America. Damn stringent regulations on this country…

It wasn’t until 1993 that we here in America got a 911 carrying the RS name. It was uniquely called the 911 RS America and was from the 964 series of 911s. It was tweaked from the original European model to meet safety and emissions standards here in the states. It cost $10,000 less than a standard Carrera 2, but had so much more to offer.

Porsche engineers were able to strip about 70 pounds from the car by scrapping the power steering (what real man needs that crap anyway?), air conditioning (still an option), stereo system (optional), rear seats, as well as the door handles and armrests, which were replaced with door pulls. Out was the auto-extending rear spoiler of the air cooled 964 911, and in was a whale tail spoiler. Optional wider rear tires and fenders for the regular 911 were standard on the RS America. Car and Driver tests concluded that the 1993 Porsche RS America went as good as it looked. A 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds and 13.3 seconds in the 1/4 mile. So, that’s roughly as fast as a 4,000lb, 426hp Chevrolet Camaro SS. Oh, that’s a 2010 Camaro, by the way. The engine was the same 3.6L 247hp unit as in the regular 911 Carrera.

This brings us to the first RS in almost a decade; the 996 911 GT3 RS. Never before had Porsche built a GT3 model, but when they started making them in 2000 with the 996 variation 911, everyone ate it up. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read a poor comment, bad review, or unfavorable approach to the 911 GT3.

So now there’s a new 911 GT3 and GT3 RS for the 997.2 911s. And something that everyone has said since the 997 GT2 first came out, “If only the GT2 were as composed as the GT3 and GT3 RS…”

Porsche 911 GT2 RS:

Now we’re all going to have to eat our words: Porsche has done it again. They took something wild, fun and fast and made it better by making it wilder, funner and faster.

Porsche has managed to strip 154 pounds from the regular GT2, add 90 more horses, and still reduce emissions. I love the way their press release starts out (and no one could say it any better…), “The time: seven minutes, 18 seconds on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The power: 620hp. The weight: 3,020 lbs in road trim with all fluids on board. The car: the new 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.”

Description: seductive.

Marvelously, too, is that the GT2 RS only comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. Take that, paddle shift lovers! Basically, what Porsche’s trying to say is, the GT2 RS is a modern day 930 (930 = first ever 911 Turbo); not for the weak of heart, or driving skills. It’s a killer car. Literally.

The tires on the RS are specifically manufactured for the car, with a size of 245/35 ZR-19s up front and 325/30 ZR-19s in the rear. Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes, or PCCB, are standard. The different carbon fiber bits you see are all painted matte black, including the hood and the painted turbo air inlets. The interior is set in the cool, black and red alcantara and leather style. I think it looks rather sexy and unique. Most will disagree, though.

On each side of the car there are little stickers that let you know it’s a GT2 RS. Just in case you didn’t know already. And as you can see in the picture above, the spoiler has been raised about 10mm, or 3/8ths of an inch.

So after reading all of the RS history and also about the GT2 RS being God’s new heavenly cruiser you say you want one? Okay, well only 500 will be made… And if you’re one of the lucky few that gets to own one, expect to pony up $245,000. They’ll be available for purchase in October here in the states and will make its auto show debut at the Moscow Auto Show on August 25, 2010.

Press Release:

[Source: Porsche]

[Green Carrera 2.7 RS photos taken from: Car Magazine]

This episode of his Evo videos, he pits the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Ferrari 458 Italia against one another. It seems cheesy and odd to say this, but it’s almost as if it’s man versus machine. The Terminator (458 Italia) versus John Connor (GT3 RS).

So check out the two videos below and tell us what you think.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

[Source: Evo Magazine via YouTube]

Case in point (fast forward to 1:40):

Click here to view the embedded video.

After seeing that, you should understand what I’m talking about once you’ve seen the ‘Stang videos. Without further ado, check them out below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

[Source: Ford via YouTube]