The five buttons beside the gear lever are engine start, transmission mode (the four driver-selectable modes are C for Controlled Efficiency, S for Sport, S+ for Sport plus and M for Manual, along with a Race Start function), stability control (ESP On, ESP Off and ESP Sport), rear spoiler (which will automatically extend above 120 km/h) and AMG... [more]
November 12, 2009
The new aluminum SLS built in Sindelfingen, Germany stays dead even with the carbon-fiber SLR built in the UK until early this year. Though the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 in the SLS has 54 less horsepower (down 9 percent) and 96 fewer pound-feet of torque (down 17 percent) than the supercharged 5.5-liter V-8 in the SLR, the SLS weighs 328... [more]
November 11, 2009
But forget about comparing Porsche’s first so-called sedan with other four-door locomotives. Here are the numbers that put this thing in perspective: To 60 mph, the Panamera is 0.2 second quicker—and 0.1 second quicker through the quarter-mile—than the last 911 Turbo we tested. Which is odd because the Panamera is 689 pounds fatter than the... [more]
November 11, 2009
Porsche will roll out a new incarnation of the Boxter Spyder at the Los Angeles auto show next month. The flagship mid-engined model is the lightest sporstcar in the company's range at 1,275kg and more powerful than the Boxster S, topping 235kW from its direct-injection 3.4-liter flat six-cylinder powerplant. All this adds up a hair-piece... [more]
November 11, 2009
That engine, the U.K.’s AutoCar reports, "is the same 8.0-litre W16 engine found in the Veyron…the engine features two-stage supercharging and can run on ethanol as well as" conventional gasoline."In the Veyron, the powerplant is good for more than 1,000 horsepower. Autoblog reports, "Horsepower figures for the all-wheel drive Galibier... [more]
November 11, 2009
The S60 concept featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a dual-clutch automated manual transmission; the pair should be in production shortly, but it’s unknown if the small four would make it to this side of the Atlantic in the S60. The production car will, however, get the concept’s pedestrian-detection technology,... [more]
November 11, 2009
Vorsteiner V-RT 911 Turbo Layout Longitudinal rear engine, all-wheel driveEngine 3.6-liter flat six, dohc, 24-valve, turbocharged and intercooled. AWE Tuning exhaust manifolds, metallic catalysts and mufflers, AWE intercoolers and throttle body, AWE/GIAC softwareTransmission Six-speed manualSuspension KW V3 coiloversWheels And... [more]
November 10, 2009
Based on Volvo's attractive four-seat coupé, this 3,250lb car is powered with twin 330lb lithium-ion battery packs (also from US battery company, Enerdel) that sit under the rear seat and down the centre of the vehicle. With a combined capacity of 24kWh these batteries provide enough juice to the 109bhp/137lb ft permanent magnet AC motor to give... [more]
November 10, 2009
Lamborghini is releasing what has to be the umpteenth variation of the Gallardo, this one called the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni. The answer to the first part of your question — why LP 550-2? is easy. The car sports 550 horsepower and two wheel drive.Answering the second part of your question — who the hell is Valentino Balboni? — will... [more]
July 3, 2009
SINCE THE ARRIVAL of Volkswagen’s Bluesport Concept in January, speculation has been rife that the mid-engined platform could be used to spin off a new smaller, lighter, cheaper entry-level car for Porsche. In fact, just last month, the new model looked set to go ahead.Porsche however has now driven a nail into the Speedster’s coffin,... [more]
June 28, 2009
