In case relative and superlative adjectives aren’t enough to describe the exquisite Corvette ZR1, Tadge Juechter, project manager, has an interview with Edmunds in which he summarises all its values and characteristics, and adds a some news.

First the new American coupé will be produced (starting this summer) in 2,000 units a year: a figure which, together with the price of about 100,000 USD, indicates an assumed commercial success. But not only, the ability to “conquer the track record of any world circuit” reveals itself and we wonder if the ZR 1 could be defined as the perfect car.

Continue reading: Corvette ZR1: will 2000 units a year be enough?

0 comments

Coming up to the final stages before the Paris show, occasion in which this car will probably be revealed, the defensive camouflage of the Ferrari F149 are slowing coming off: after much talk we can finally hazard some guesses.

Or better, we can breathe a sigh of relief. The proportions, a real achilles heel for the aesthetics of all coupé-cabriolet, aren’t damaged by the presence of full-bodied doors necessary to house the folding roof. The rear look seems to have been maintained and the general body shape gives a nice sense of a linear style.

The front seems to have similar aspects to the 599 Fiorano, complete with a distinctive grill necessary to cool the V8 4.7 placed at the front and equipped with direction injection.

Continue reading: Ferrari F149: coupé-cabriolet, but not necessarily inelegant

0 comments

Gone in one month….what? The stock of the GT-R that Nissan was planning on selling in a year in all of Europe. And the best part is that sakes will start only in March 2009.

A month from the opening of orders, the Japanese company has already received 1500 requests, of which 950 are just from Great Britain: in fact, whoever wants to order a GT-R now will have to wait until 2010. Before next March Nissan will organise a series of events to inform customers about the car they’ve ordered and to give them a taste of the sublime quality before owning it.

In the States things are no different: sales will start in July 2008 but production for the current year has already closed, and for 2009 only 40% of units remain.

0 comments

“Gentlemen, start your thumbs” could be heard when Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Nissan unite forces to launch a promotional initiative not to be missed. The idea is that of awarding the best playing of the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue with the chance of spending 24 hours in an endurance race in Dubai on board a Nissan 350 Z racing car.

The competition is called GT Academy and includes a first online elimination round on the PlayStation Network. Participants will then most probably confront each other in a competition with the GT-R, which will be characterised by the livery you see in the photo. GT Academy will start in May and will continue for eight months.

At the end of this, the winner will attend an intensive four-month course necessary to complete the special licencing requirements. The end of these emotional 12 months will be participation in the endurance race. Obviously we’re only talking about a stint but the smell of petrol and tyres, the sound of the engines and the night-time competition will certainly be enough for an unforgettable experience for the driver.

Via | Autoblog.com

0 comments

Not even two months after the Fbg par Hermès, and only about seven after the Pur Sang, Bugatti, not yet satisfied, has revealed a new variant on the Veyron: the Sang Noir is in fact the new celebrated version dedicated to reviving the Atlantique 57S of the 30’s - a “surbaissé” model (literally “lowered” and therefore sporty) of the legendary Type57 presented in 1934.

The particularities of this special series are the black opaque colour with chromo inserts, the aluminium mirrors and front grill, and the alloy wheels. Unfortunately technical specifications and production details have so far been kept in the dark.

Continue reading: Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir: power in a dark suit

0 comments

Touring Superleggera has shown off some new official photos of the A8GCS, the new sports car based on the mechanics of the Maserati GranTurismo and queen of the recent Villa d’Este show where it was presented.

Compared to photos already seen, you can appreciate the compact lines, minimal curves and attention to the wheels, with modern Borrani styled spokes. We’re still waiting on confirmation and production details of this interesting Italian coupè, with a reduced weight of 1200 kg.

Thanks to pipino

Via | Carscoop.blogspot.com

0 comments

The specs related to the Tesla Roadster destined for the European markets have been released and skimming the document there are plenty of surprises. The document, coming from the Norwegian importer, states that the little spider with the green spirit will have a capacity of more than 300 CV or 225 kw, and a red zone of 13,000 revs.

The updated model will be slightly different from the original with some aspects having been reviewed before sale in the US and Europe. The new transmission, created by Ricardo, is equipped with a single gear compared to the previous model (by Magna) with its two. The cooling system is also new and more efficient.

Returning to the numbers, the most notable are the four seconds acceleration from 0-100, the maximum speed of 200km/hr and the recharge time of four hours, with rapid recharge possible at much more brief times. The 250 cars destined for the old continent (at a price of 99,000 euro), will be available as a signature edition with new colours and numbered plates.

Continue reading: Tesla Roadster, European details: more than 300 hp

0 comments

Take the rear of the Viper and add to it a threatening front, and what do you get? An attractive coupé, potentially enchanting, with an immortal inheritance. An oxymoron? Definitely.

A few days from the appearance of the “cousin” Sl Black Series, Mercedes is showing it hasn’t abandoned the Slc project (or for the nostalgic the Gullwing), following some road tests with the unusual bodywork.

Continue reading: One "seagull" does not a summer make: Mercedes Slc

0 comments

In reading the numbers we’re asking ourselves what its limit is, or even if it has one. Coming from the parentage of the “SV”, this is a car with a pedigree capable of stirring emotions only talking about it. According to announcements from Autocar, the photographs are the best example that Lamborghini is continuing to develop its SV of the Murcielago, destined to give birth once again to the splendour of Miura and Diablo. We had already discussed this thanks to sightings from the Nurburging in May 2007, but silence following this had made us lose hope.

Continue reading: Lamborghini Murcielago SV: noble pedigree

1 comment

It has arrived on the Old Continent, even if only for the moment for some test runs on the ‘Ring. We’re referring to the Nissan GT-R V-Spec, definitive derivation on the GT-R theme and the most probable candidate for the supercar of the millennium, given the incredible base already established on the “normal” version.

The photographers from AutoExpress have immortalised the prototype at the entrance to “green hell”, already theatre to the incredible rounds done by the initial version. Now with a smile on our face, we’re wondering if the GT-R will be capable of humiliating the noble German supercars. Every point of reference might be casual but what will be the capabilities of this katana of a car?

The nasty black wheels and the stack of tyres already promise dark times for competitors and (like many readers passionate about supercars), we’re waiting to see the effects of the monstrous 550 hp (as foreseen).

Continue reading: Nissan GT-R V-Spec: spy shots from Nürburgring

0 comments