As a sidenote, please don’t get riled up by the car’s flying start… Nearly every automaker does their official laps this way.

[Source: YouTube]

[Source: Youtube]

Despite everyone’s sincerest efforts, the Corvette ZR1 has managed to fall off the internet’s radar over the past two weeks. The last we heard was that the ZR1 was in Germany making it’s “official” laps of the Nurburgring. Where it has been since then is anyones guess. Even the Cadillac CTS-V has already been to Germany and back, complete with video evidence and a new lap record to boot. So, what gives? Someone leak something already, this waiting is making me anxious.

However dumb this may sound, Autospies.com is reporting that Car and Driver has declared the new BMW M3 the winner in a battle between the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Turbo. Ridiculous is an understatement.

Lets break this down: The Nissan GT-R is faster on the track then either the 911 Turbo or BMW M3. It is both faster and quicker in the 1/4 mile then either the 911 Turbo or BMW M3. So, what we can only assume is that Car and Driver is using some highly subjective “fun to drive” trickery to get the M3 to come out on top. My guess is that the M3 was awarded “best soul” and “best use of obnoxious M-badges” or some other meaningless rating to overturn the GT-R’s and 911’s much greater performance figures.

Give me a C6 Z06 and I’ll run circles around that high-strung piece of Bavarian Viagra.

The rumor mill is churning with reports that Pagani is set to release a road going version of their famed Zonda R. The car is reportedly named the Pagani Cinque, with “Cinque” being italian for 5; in reference to the limited production run of only 5 vehicles. The above picture is the supposed car in question, but we’ll have to wait and see what Pagani has to say about all this.

[Source: TeamSpeed via Jalopnik]

Cut to the Quick
The Maxima’s DOHC, 24-valve V-6 makes a stirring 290 hp at 6400 rpm. The G8 GT’s pushrod V-8 churns out 361 horses at 5300. Even allowing for the G8’s greater bulk (it weighs nearly 400 lb more than the Nissan), its 71-hp advantage means straightline sprints are no contest. While the Maxima is quick-0 to 60 mph in 6.1 sec-the G8 is a full half-second quicker, gunning to 60 mph in just 5.6 sec. (The Pontiac’s numbers are well off the 5.3-sec runs we recorded with another test car-same track, same driver-in our April issue; stay tuned to motortrend.com for updates as we investigate this anomaly.) Launched fender to fender on the dragstrip, the Maxima quickly disappears in the G8’s rearview mirror. What’s more, the G8 is more viscerally thrilling, its V-8 booming with brawn and its six-speed auto cranking off quick, smooth upshifts. The Maxima’s CVT seems downright quirky in comparison.

In the other direction, braking, the G8 is stopped from 60 mph while the Maxima rolls on for another 19 ft.

Edge: G8. Not even close.

The G8 also went on to win the handling contest, out cornering the Maxima at will. And even the fuel economy isn’t far off for the large V8 Pontiac, getting 24mpg to the Maxima’s 26mpg.

And in case you’re wondering, here’s their reasoning for even comparing the two very different vehicles:

As we see it, if you’ve got around $30,000 to spend on a sport sedan, you want to know your options-and you’ve got important choices to make. At that price, Nissan’s brand-new Maxima proffers a high-output V-6, an advanced continuously variable transmission, oodles of electronic conveniences, and what’s claimed to be one of the best-performing front-drive chassis in the world. And for roughly the same money, Pontiac’s new G8 GT delivers the thunder of a big-bore V-8, a six-speed automatic, and a fat-tired rear-drive platform. Both are roomy, eye-catching four-doors. Both promise driving thrills far above the common sedan paradigm. One is a wonder of 21st-century can-do; the other radiates the iconic aura of the 20th century’s glory days. How do their behind-the-wheel experiences differ? And which one makes the more compelling case for your cash?

Full Article: 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV vs. 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

Car news has been relatively mundane lately… I haven’t had a slower week then this in a long time. So, in light of that, I have found this very odd forum posting listing the “101 Uses For Jeremy Clarkson.” Some of my favorites include Faith Healer, Extra on Lost, and Gargoyle… Enjoy at your own risk here.

Car and Driver has a review up of the best Corvette not made by Chevrolet, the 2008 Pratt and Miller Chevrolet Corvette C6RS.

“The C6RS is what a Corvette can become when not restricted by the requirements of assembly-line-based manufacturing,” says spokesman Brandon Widmer of Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, the outfit GM hired to build its enigmatically successful C5.S and C6.R race cars. That’s right, the same cars that have been pummeling the field in American Le Mans Series races for years, and the same cars that have clinched five class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. If anyone knows how to make a Corvette more exciting, it’s these guys.

If given the option, picking between this and the Corvette ZR1 would be a terribly complicated task. Look for a preview of the Corvette C6RS here on this site in the coming days.

Full Article: 2008 Pratt and Miller Chevrolet Corvette C6RS - First Drive Review

It’s no secret that Bugatti has refused to let Top Gear’s Stig take a Veyron around their test track, despite having loaned them numerous other Veyrons for top speed runs and car vs plane contests. Well, thanks to some very rich individuals over in the UAE, it looks like the Stig will finally get behind the wheel; albeit in the hills of Abu Dhabi and not Dunsford Park.

Reportedly, Top Gear sent out an urgent distress call to anyone willing to lend them a Bugatti Veyron for a “photoshoot.” However, instead of one, they got three. “No other place in the world could we have found three Bugattis in a span of 48 hours,” said Charlie Turner, the creative director for the magazine.

There is also a report of a Koenigsegg CCX taking on two of the 1001hp Bugatti supercars.

We didn’t realize it was a Top Gear event until we went to dinner and a group of Brits sat at the next table and started arguing about how they would cut the shots of three Veyrons doing 200 mph down the Abu Dhabi corniche with the Jebel Hafeet shots…something about the Stig being chased out of town by the Veyrons in a Koenigsegg. - Evolve.ae forum member

The photo to your right is of the Koenigsegg CCX on set with the Veyrons… So by all indications, all of this looks to be true.

[Source: PassatWorld, et al]

[Source: YouTube]

Just a quick note that 7Tune.com has some nice coverage up of the recent 2008 Tsukuba Super Battle.

The Super Battle, started here by RevSpeed magazine in 1989, is a well anticipated annual event for tuning shops, their respective teams and the spectators who come out to see what these super machines can do. They could well be classed as the F18’s of the automotive and tuning world but since the inception of the event, each year the lap times around the course have gradually slipped lower and lower. It seems that the faster the teams here go the more attractive the event has become and second by second, to the current lap record, many a competitor and challenger has come. The current fastest time stands at 53.589 seconds which is held by the HKS all carbon fiber CT230R Lancer Evolution.

Read the full article for more coverage and a great photo gallery.

Full Article: 2008 Tsukuba Super Battle

Subaru has unveiled their 2008 WRC car ahead of next week’s Acropolis Rally in Greece where it will compete for the first time. David Richards, the head of Prodrive (the company responsible for Subaru’s rally program), is quoted as saying that this 2008 model is “the most radically different Subaru World Rally Car in 15 years.” Click images for full resolution.

[Source: Autoblog]

Information on Season 11 of Top Gear has just hit the web, thanks to Top Gear themselves. Apparently Season 11 will feature a whole host of new changes, mostly in an effort to get back to their basic formula for success: lots of fast cars and lots of good laughs.

Things we have to look forward to? An epic “mega car” battle filmed in Japan (and they do really mean epic); the new Mitsubishi EVO X battling the new Subaru WRX STI; Jeremy Clarkson’s much beloved Mercedes CLK Black getting a spin around the track (see latest issue of Top Gear Magazine), and “hopefully” a review of the Mazda Furai.

Most exciting for me is that we’ve finally come up with another big race - you know, car versus something or other. The last time we did one was a couple of years ago, with the plane against the Veyron, and in hindsight we lost the plot in that one - too pompous, too overblown and preposterous, too much work on the scripting to make it funny. This one is back to basics, more hardcore, mega car, mega opponent, with a solid premise. And a clue for the geeks: we did it in Japan.

I can’t wait.

[Source: Top Gear]

Have you ever fancied the idea of owning a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti? What about a 612 Scaglietti fresh from a 72 day, 7,000 mill trek across India? Well, apparently someone did, because they just paid $311,820 for it on Ebay. The car in question was used in Ferrari’s promotional tour of India to help promote Ferrari Awareness, or something.

I’m sure that 7,000 miles worth of sand and dirt might help conceal the car’s awful paint job.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Is this photo from the set of the new American Top Gear? A lot of people are saying yes. The photo was taken at the El Toro airfield, and in the background you can see a red Ferrari F430 and a blue Audi RS4. You may also notice the far left Porsche’s license plate that reads “BBC TV.”

If this really is from the set of America’s Top Gear series, then I’m pretty impressed. I was expecting a bunch of Dodge Challengers and Ford Mustangs to be running around spinning out of control.

UPDATE: Some people are claiming that the satellite image you see to the right is of Top Gear America’s test track on the El Toro airfield. However, this seems pretty unlikely considering that this image is undated, and most Google Earth images are at least a few months old. Not to mention the tire tracks are mostly from previous car events including numerous SCCA races. But, it still nevertheless gives some idea of what to expect.

[Source: Jalopnik]

The first baby Lambo to crack 200mph is far from all-new, but the Gallardo LP560-4 has more to offer over the old car than simply a front bumper that looks like it was pinched from a Ferrari Enzo. More powerful than even the now-dead Superleggera, it’s also significantly more economical and less polluting too.

Consider me jealous. Just throwing this out there… If anyone needs me to test drive the new LP560, I’d be more than happy to.

From GM:

To clarify, the car had no performance or operational modifications outside of what we intend to offer in production. We did have a couple of customary safety precautions, as the first goal of our testing is always to keep drivers like John safe. The car had a harness bar upon which a 6-way racing safety belt system was mounted. We also had a fire supression unit on board. These things add a little bit of weight to the car, certainly not helping performance any. Stock tires, too.