The Mercedes-AMG One hypercar was caught on public roads looking about as production-ready as a prototype can get. The new electrified flagship is expected to produce at least 1,100 horsepower thanks to a hybrid powertrain based on a turbocharged, 1.6-liter V6 engine capable of turning 11,000 RPM.
Shown here in its tamer, low-speed mode (wing retracted, front aero elements closed), this prototype has most of the bits necessary to make it road legal, such as what appear to be its final lighting elements and body work. Underneath, the One packs a hybrid powertrain similar (but not identical) to that found under the cowling of a Formula One car. It has been scaled back from race spec for cost, emissions and durability reasons, but it’s nonetheless a jaw-dropping piece of engineering.
This is a car that boasts a lot of big numbers, but there’s one that isn’t so impressive: 275. That’s the number of Ones that Mercedes-AMG will build. They’ve reportedly all been spoken for at this point, too, so if you’re not already in line (hey, we’re just guessing here), you’ll have to appreciate this one from afar. We expect Mercedes-Benz to announce an official delivery schedule sometime soon.
Related video:
[embedded content]
April 30, 2021 / Comments Off on Mercedes-AMG One caught looking road-ready in new spy photos
From a rather inauspicious start in 2011, Rimac Automobili quickly made a name for itself with its first production car, the Concept One. The extremely limited all-wheel-drive Concept One pushed out a whopping 1,224 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. It had a range of 205 miles and cost a million euros when it was new. As impressive as that debut effort may have been, Rimac’s next electric hypercar is set to blow those benchmarks out of the water.
Company founder Mate Rimac posted a video on YouTube showing off a preproduction version of the Concept Two (also known as the C_Two). It will carry a different name when it goes into production later this year, and it will also be even quicker than the blindingly rapid version that stars in the video. As you’ll see when you click the play button, Rimac takes his creation down a deserted runway and manages to run the 1/4 mile in 8.94 seconds at 155.1 miles per hour.
A few points to consider: This preproduction model is running at about 85% torque capacity as the automaker continues tuning its motors and electronics. It’s also not equipped with the launch control programming that the 1,914-horsepower production model will feature. Put simply, the upcoming Rimac will very likely be the quickest production vehicle ever sold.
To put its acceleration into perspective, Rimac brought along a Porsche Taycan Turbo S and lined ’em up for a little race. See the results for yourself up above.
Related video:
[embedded content]
April 27, 2021 / Comments Off on Rimac’s next electric hypercar is going to be blindingly quick
Little-known Italian car maker Frangivento just announced a new model (with two versions) called the FV Frangivento Sorpasso — one is named the Sorpasso Stradale, and the other is the Sorpasso GTXX. In case you hadn’t heard of “Frangivento” before (don’t worry, you’re not the only one), know that they’re a new, super-low-volume supercar company based out of Turin, Italy. Customization and style come first, but the performance is there, too.
The Sorpasso builds on what the company has already done with its Asfane DieciDieci hypercar, but in a more down-to-earth fashion. Instead of the 996-horsepower hybrid space machine that the Asfane is, the Sorpasso Stradale is a 610-horsepower supercar. It’s still extreme, but not as extreme as Frangivento’s first work. Power comes from a naturally aspirated V10 engine of currently unknown origin (we’ve asked the company for more details). It’s equipped with all-wheel drive and weighs approximately 2,866 pounds.
If you want more power, Frangivento has you covered with the GTXX, which is similar to the Stradale, but it adds a supercharger to the equation. This brings the V10’s power up to a whopping 850 horsepower. Frangivento supplies a few numbers to ponder for the FXX. It does 0-62 mph in just 2.9 seconds and 0-124 mph in 9.3 seconds. The top speed is 214 mph. Other details are few and far between.
Frangivento says it worked with suppliers like Brembo, Sparco, OZ and others to develop parts for the car, and it also points out that every company that supplied parts is Italian. The chassis is your supercar-typical carbon tub, which is why it weighs as little as it does.
The limited set of photos Frangivento provided is a real shame, as the company brags the loudest of its customization program and intricate design. You’ll be able to tell the difference between the Stradale (pictured) and GTXX by the GTXX’s two-tone body and big aero. Despite the GTXX’s focus on performance, they’re both meant for the road and are equipped with luxuriously appointed interiors full of Italian leather and suede. It even has an “Avatar Driving Assistant” that you can supposedly communicate with using normal language — it’s meant to simulate having a passenger, in case you don’t actually have a passenger.
Owners will take part in a 30-day customization program that allows them to work with stylists to make every part of it their own. You can even customize the name of the GTXX, as the “XX” can be made into any two numbers of your choosing. Frangivento says the first customer cars will be shipped to folks in July this year. Unsurprisingly, they’re headed to Monte Carolo and Dubai. It claims new customers will get their cars 150 days from their order confirmation, and is working on making the Sorpasso available worldwide. If you want to see one in person, Frangivento says the car will eventually go on display in a Munich store opened by the company’s German brand ambassador. There is no official price quoted for the car online at this time.
April 6, 2021 / Comments Off on The Frangivento Sorpasso is a new all-Italian supercar with a V10 and mega customization
There’s a new Pagani on the block. It’s called the Huayra R, and it’s a track-only version of the regular Huayra. However, leaving it at that wouldn’t do the Huayra R justice, because it’s so much more than just a hotted up Huayra.
The big news is the new and bespoke, naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine sitting behind the cockpit, a significant departure from the twin-turbo variant used in road-legal Huayras. The new engine was put together by Mercedes-AMG’s racing subsidiary, HWA. The Huayra R makes a furious 850 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Redline is a scorching 9,000 rpm. Since it didn’t need to follow any road emissions regulations, the engine could be pushed to much higher limits. The Inconel exhaust has removable mufflers for when you want to be extra loud, but can be put in place for use at race tracks with noise restrictions. Unfortunately, Pagani doesn’t quote any specific acceleration figures for the Huayra R.
All shifting is handled by a new six-speed sequential gearbox made with HWA. It’s designed to be extremely light, and in combination with the engine, acts as a structural part of the car.
The Huayra R’s chassis is modified from the standard Huayra with new and lighter materials. These efforts, along with additional elements such as a roll bar and chassis-mounted seats, make it both stiffer and significantly lighter than a regular Huayra. Its dry weight is only 2,314 pounds, which is hundreds of pounds lighter than the road car.
Pagani says the suspension is made of forged aluminum alloy and uses helical springs and electronically controlled active dampers — the dampers are designed to constantly adjust to the road conditions on a racetrack. That means that instead of adapting for potholes and frost heaves, it sets the car up for perfect balance under uneven braking zones and predictable behavior through and out of corners. The brakes are the best Brembo has to offer. Pagani uses the Italian company’s latest carbon ceramic self-ventilated discs and racing compound pads. Slick racing tires (wet tires are available) wrap around custom-made 19-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels.
Aerodynamics and design were two huge focuses for Pagani with this car, as the team wanted it to be both beautiful and hugely capable on the track. The final design leaves no question as to its race car status with the gigantic aero elements found throughout. Everything combined results in 2,204 pounds of downforce at 199 mph.
[embedded content]
There isn’t much to talk about on the inside, but you get the full array of racing features you’d expect in such a car. Most of your essential controls are found on the quick-release steering wheel, and other controls are on the center console. A high-resolution display as an instrument cluster will feed you all necessary vehicle data while on the track, and it has a telemetry system so a pit crew can monitor and analyze driver performance. Pagani is already promising “Arte In Pista” days for Huayra R owners to have dedicated track days with the assistance of the Pagani team and professional drivers. These will happen all over the globe in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
You’ll need to be part of a very exclusive club of millionaires and billionaires to enjoy the Huayra R, though. Only 30 will be built, and each has a base price of €2.6 million before taxes. At today’s exchange rates, that’s about $3.1 million. Happy shopping.
Related video:
[embedded content]
March 18, 2021 / Comments Off on Pagani Huayra R adopts a naturally aspirated V12 engine and track-only status
Gordon Murray Automotive is busily bringing what it refers to as “the greatest analog driver’s car” to production. Called T.50, it was introduced in August 2020, and completed its first test laps on a race track in March 2021.
Company founder Gordon Murray personally put the first high-speed test miles on the XP2 prototype at the Top Gear test track in Dunsfold, England. While the Cosworth-developed, 3.9-liter V12 engine has a 12,100-rpm red line, the prototype was fitted with a rev limiter that won’t be removed until later during the development process. And yet, Murray said his first laps behind the wheel of what many call the McLaren F1‘s heir left him with a good impression.
“The car was responsive, agile and rewarding to drive,” he beamed. Realistically, he added that there are “still a lot of development miles to be completed and many more prototypes to build” before production starts in 2022.
Murray is funneling into the T.50 the experience he amassed over decades developing Formula One cars and about 13 years running McLaren’s car-building division. As we previously reported, it’s about the size of a Porsche 718 Boxster, and it tips the scale at under 2,200 pounds, meaning it’s lighter than a Mazda MX-5 Miata. It’s equipped with innovative fan-assisted aerodynamic technology, and its naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder engine is tuned to develop 654 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and 344 pound-feet of torque at 9,000 rpm. The T.50 is quick in a straight line, but its designers are putting a much bigger focus on handling and agility than on flat-out speed.
Like the F1, the T.50 offers a three-seater cabin that puts the driver front and center. Buyers will be invited to work with the company to modify the position of the driver’s seat and the pedals during manufacturing.
Gordon Murray Automotive will begin building the T.50 in England in 2022. Production will be limited to 100 units globally, and pricing starts at about $3 million before taxes and options enter the equation. Most of the production run is already spoken for, so you’ll need to act fast if you want to secure one of the few remaining build slots.
Related video:
[embedded content]
March 16, 2021 / Comments Off on Gordon Murray’s V12-powered supercar hits the track for the first time
It’s an excellent week for fans of obscure American supercars that never really took off. One of the seven Falcon F7s built is currently being auctionedon Cars & Bids, and one of the 14 Vector M12s made will cross the auction block during Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale taking place in March 2021. Better yet, it’s offered with no reserve.
Finished in black with a gorgeous red leather interior, this M12 was designed and built for the Prince of Brunei, according to Barrett-Jackson boss Craig Jackson. High-end cars that end up in Brunei rarely leave the microstate. The Sultan’s collection allegedly includes more than 7,000 luxurious vehicles that are almost never shown to the public, yet this M12 somehow returned to the United States and found its way into the Larry Winkler collection.
Although it has traveled around the world, this M12 has evidently been driven sparingly. Its odometer shows merely 2,160 miles, and they’re claimed to be original. Barrett-Jackson also points out that it received a major, engine-out service in November 2019 during which the clutch was replaced and an upgraded ceramic flywheel was installed. Interestingly, the interior was also redesigned to make it easier for taller drivers to take the wheel.
Power comes from a 5.7-liter V12 engine borrowed from none other than the Lamborghini Diablo. It develops 492 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque, and it spins the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission built by ZF. Vector pegged the M12’s zero-to-60-mph time at 4.5 seconds, an impressive number in the 1990s. In comparison, the standard Diablo’s zero-to-60-mph time hovered around four and a half seconds, too.
M12s rarely trade hands, and they’re not cheap when they do. When this example crosses the auction block in March 2021, the market will decide what it’s worth, because there’s no reserve. The highest bidder will take it home, regardless of where bidding stops. If you want a shot at adding it to your collection, you can register to bid online.
March 13, 2021 / Comments Off on Lamborghini-powered Vector M12 supercar is ultra rare, obscure, and for sale
It may be feeling spring-like here in parts of the United States, but there was still plenty of snowpack in Livigno, Italy, when Maserati took its forthcoming MC20 supercar out for a photo session during some cold-weather testing at Ghiacciodromo Livigno.
“During its cold-weather mission, the super sports car was tested to evaluate engine cold starting, the low-temperature performance of its elastic components and the car’s handling on cold and low-grip asphalt surfaces,” said the accompanying release. “The test is also performed to verify correct functioning of the Climate Control System in cold conditions; tests were also conducted on the battery, suspensions and brakes.”
Just reading that, you’d think their trip was all business. Indeed, this is the latest stop on the MC20’s worldwide durability testing tour, but from the playful scenes we see here, it’s pretty obvious that the engineers had their share of fun giving the MC20’s suspension and powertrain a workout in the low-grip environment.
The MC20 is a mid-engined, 621-horsepower, mid-engine super-coupe that was built with the race track in mind. Power comes from a new V6 that is the first in the company’s new “Nettuno” (Neptune) engine series. The twin-turbocharged mill produces 210 horsepower/liter, making it one of the most power-dense engines in the world. It was designed, developed, and produced in-house by Maserati’s engineers despite sharing some of its fundamental design with other performance engines in its corporate family.
Maserati has only unveiled the street-legal variant of the MC20 seen here so far, but we expect it won’t be long before we hear more about its competition aspirations.
March 10, 2021 / Comments Off on Maserati teases us with its MC20 testing in the snow
Having just completed its Ferrari Breadvan Homage, Niels van Roji Design is preparing yet another custom shooting brake inspired by a classic Ferrari. This new one-off will be a tribute to another custom coachbuilt car, a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Shooting Brake built in the 1970s.
That original car, shown in the video below, was created by British coachbuilder Panther Westwinds, and was an extensive redesign of the Daytona coupe. Not only did it get a wagon tail, but it had wild gull-wing glass openings to access luggage, a fully revamped interior, and a tweaked nose with some unusual hideaway headlights.
[embedded content]
The Niels van Roji car, based on the renderings, appears to take all the key design cues and apply them to a more modern Ferrari, as was the case with the Breadvan. While they don’t explicitly say it, the renderings, V12 engine and production dates starting in 2006 seem to indicate the base car will be a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. The front will be redesigned to feature low, wide headlights connected by a bright stripe to emulate the old Daytona’s signature look. A large rear hatch will be added with big windows including a distinctive glass rear fascia for rear visibility and to house the custom taillights. Those large rear windows will also open up like they did on the original.
We’re excited to see how this car develops, as the renderings look promising, and the company’s past shooting brakes have always been impressive. No reveal date has been set, but Niels van Roji Design will share updates on its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Related Video:
[embedded content]
March 9, 2021 / Comments Off on Niels van Roji Daytona Shooting Brake is a one-off inspired by a one-off
The Glickenhaus 007 has been filmed testing at the famed Autodromo Nazionale di Monza circuit. The entry into the new Le Mans Hypercar category plans to take on the likes of Toyota and Peugeot with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V8. And if the noise generated by the wailing motor is any indication, the new class will be a raucous good time.
[embedded content]
While limited to 670 horsepower by class rules, quite a bit lower than recent Le Mans race cars, the organizing powers that be hope slower cars and fewer development costs will help lower the bar of entry. That, in turn, should attract more manufacturers and make races more exciting. Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus was priced out of the outgoing classes, but believes they will be competitive in Hypercar.
It also means the road-going version of the Glickenhaus 007 will have quite a bit more power — 840 from a 3.0-liter V8 at last count — than the race car it’s based on. (Similarly, Toyota’s GR Super Sports road car is said to have 986 horsepower). Hypercar rules require at least 20 street-legal versions to be built.
The Glickenhaus 007’s motor is a bespoke design developed by France’s Pipo Moteurs. That firm is probably best known for building the engines for Ford and Peugeot’s WRC cars. However, Glickenhaus’ partnerships with established names in the racing world doesn’t end there. The car is being developed by Joest, who has partnered with Porsche, Audi and Mazda on their prototype racers, and whose Bentley Speed 8 GTP won Le Mans in 2003. The aerodynamics are being developed by Sauber, famous for designing Mercedes‘ Group C racers.
Glickenhaus believes it can be the first American manufacturer to win overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since Ford’s last factory-backed win with the GT40 in 1967, and a privateer GT40 win in 1969. If things go according to plan, the Le Mans Hypercar class will kick off this year, with Ferrari joining in 2023, and hopefully usher in the next golden era of prototype racing.
Related Video:
[embedded content]
March 8, 2021 / Comments Off on Glickenhaus 007 Le Mans Hypercar seen testing at Monza
It seems we come across several Cobra’s owned or closely related to Carroll Shelby lately, only a while ago we published an article on the only surviving 1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE, a few weeks before that we featured Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra that just sold for $5,940,000 at an auction in January 2021, and now we find yet another milestone car: a 1965 Daytona Coupe that was commissioned by Carroll Shelby himself on an original 1960s roadster chassis.
Photo courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
But chassis CSX 2469 comes with a story, it didn’t start life as a Daytona Coupe … let me explain this: back in 1964 a prototype for the Cobra related Daytona Coupe was built in the United States, more precisely at the Shelby American race shop in Venice, California, on chassis CSX 2287. The first race won by a Daytona Coupe was with this very car in the GT Class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964, she would continue to rack up an impressive race history at Daytona, Sebring, Reims, Spa Francorchamps, Oulton Park TT, Le Mans, Tour de France, and on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
At the Bonneville Salt Flats, chassis CSX 2287 set 25 USAC/FIA world records in November 1965, after that the car was reconditioned and sold. CSX2287 was preserved and mechanically reconditioned, but not restored, to become part of the permanent collection at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Photo courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
Five more ‘original’ Daytona Coupe were built in Modena, Italy by Carrozzeria Gransport, after a phone call from Carroll Shelby to his friend Alejandro de Tomaso if he didn’t know someone in Italy to build these Coupes, as all engineers in the US were supporting the roadster race cars after completing the first prototype. Carrozzeria Gransport would use chassis CSX 2299, CSX 2300, CSX2601, and CSX 2602. Just to get your head around some of the values of these cars, chassis CSX 2300 sold for $4,400,000 at an RM Auction back in August 2000, yes over 20 years ago, while chassis CSX 2601 did even better in 2009 when she changed hands for $7,250,000.
The final Daytona Coupe was built on chassis CSX 2286 after it was kept at the Shelby American race shop to be used as a template for the other four chassis, CSX 2286 and CSX 2287 were built side by side in 1964, the latter one would get the Daytona Coupe body installed, and CSX 2286 was used to modify the other four chassis when they came from the UK before they would be sent to Italy to receive their coupe body, Shelby wanted six cars to compete, so he sent chassis CSX 2286 as the last one to Carrozzeria Gransport.
Photo courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
So what’s up with chassis CSX 2469 then? On the FIA official paperwork for this car, she is listed as a 1964 G.T.Coupe that has been restored in 1997, but the original V8 engine with a capacity of 4,727cc (289ci) received a longer stroke to end up being 4,868cc (297ci) now, and an electronic MSD ignition was fitted … the sound from this engine must be amazing as they fitted a factory spec Daytona exhaust system.
Photo courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
Chassis CSX 2469 has a very impressive racing history as a roadster, with drivers like Phil Hill, Derek Hill, Derek Bell, John Morton, and Brian Redman, this Cobra took the win at Laguna Seca and Goodwood before Carroll Shelby commissioned McCluskey to convert this car into a Daytona Coupe in the Nineties.
This one-off is now listed for sale by Worldwide Auctioneers, by the owner who bought her from Carroll Shelby himself, this is documented by paperwork from Carroll Shelby Enterprises, the car is also listed in the Shelby Registry off course, since there is no estimate listed online it is hard to tell how much this rare Daytona Coupe recreation is worth.
Photo courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
Just remember she is built on a real Cobra chassis, she is owned and has been driven by Carroll Shelby himself, it is not just another replica, so while she might not reach the value of one of the five original Daytona Coupe, I’m sure this one won’t change hands for a small amount of money, this car will be in the higher, seven-figures price range.
Photo courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
March 8, 2021 / Comments Off on Carroll Shelby’s 1965 Daytona Coupe
That means the new base price for a Corvette is $60,995. It also means the days of Chevy advertising the C8 as a sub-$60,000 sports car are over. A report back in 2019 predicted that the $59,995 price wouldn’t last too long, and it’s proven to be at least partially correct.
We contacted GM to confirm the news, and received this statement — the same provided to CorvetteActionCenter.com — in response:
“The MSRP of the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible at all trim levels will increase by $1,000 beginning March 1. Customers who have event code 1100 sold orders and beyond by March 2 will not be impacted by the price increase on the 2021 Corvette Stingray. We monitor and adjust pricing on all our products regularly, and we’re confident the Corvette remains a winning formula of performance and attainability.”
This confirms that it’s not just the base-level car getting more expensive. The price increase is applied evenly across the entire lineup. Those who have already ordered their 2021 Corvettes are the lucky ones. Anybody who was waiting will be on the hook for the extra $1,000.
Price increases are never fun, but this is one that we can stomach without much complaint. The Corvette overshoots its price by wide margins in every facet. Basically, it drives and presents itself as a car worth far more than the original $59,995 asking price. Adding $1,000 doesn’t do so much as to even dent its status as the bargain supercar that it is. That said, we’ll be watching out for continued price creep over the years. The C7 increased its price by $5,000 from start to finish. At this rate, the C8 is tracking along a similar path.
Related Video:
March 1, 2021 / Comments Off on 2021 Chevy Corvette loses its sub-$60,000 base price in mid-model year increase
Last year, Marc Philipp Gemballa, the eponymous supercar company started by Uwe Gemballa’s son, said it would build a heavily modified 911 Turbo S inspired by the Porsche 959 Dakar Rally cars. Based on the official render and past announcement, it will have retro-inspired body work and the ability to drive fast even on rough dirt roads. Since last year’s announcement, the company has developed a number of partnerships for development, and the latest was announced this week: RUF.
Yes, the legendary Porsche tuner and supercar builder is working with MPG to develop the engine for what the company is only calling “Project Sandbox.” It will be based on the 911 Turbo S engine, which starts with 640 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. MPG and RUF say that the upgraded one will make more than 750 horsepower and 686 pound-feet of torque. The MPG car won’t be the only car to benefit, though, as the company said that RUF’s upgrades will be available for owners of regular 911 Turbo S cars looking for more power.
Other major automotive partners helping develop the MPG Project Sandbox include KW Automotive, Michelin, Akrapovic, VELA Performance and KLK Motorsport. The finished car will be revealed this spring, and production will begin later this year. MPG will build 40 examples, and the 10 first edition models have already been sold.
Related Video:
February 18, 2021 / Comments Off on Marc Philipp Gemballa’s 959-inspired supercar will have an engine tuned by RUF
For the first time since the P1, McLaren has returned to the hybrid game with the Artura. And although it looks an awful lot like McLaren’s Sports Series supercars, it’s apparently an all-new car underneath, and it packs a very new twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor.
The Artura, as previously announced, is based on a new carbon fiber tub, as well as many new chassis components. The rear suspension is all new, too. But the highlight is that hybrid twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. It’s a 120-degree-angle engine with the turbos nestled in the V, and features a dry-sump oil system and 8,500-rpm redline. It also happens to be 110 pounds lighter than McLaren’s usual V8s. Alone, it makes 577 horsepower and 431 pound-feet of torque. But it’s also paired to an electric motor that makes 94 horsepower and 166 pound-feet. Together they make 671 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. The motor also helps to fill in for the lack of torque at low rpm and provide better throttle response. With the 7.4-kWh battery, the motor can further provide gas-free driving for up to 19 miles.
The engine and motor are paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s unique in that it has no reverse gear, since the electric motor simply spins the other way for reverse. This makes the transmission smaller and lighter. Power goes solely to the rear wheels, and between them is an electronically controlled mechanical limited-slip differential, a first for McLaren.
McLaren is quite proud of the fact that, despite the Artura including an electric motor and battery pack, the car weighs in at a respectable 3,305 pounds. With the relatively light weight and powerful engine, the car is capable of reaching 60 mph in 3 seconds on the way to a top speed of 205 mph.
Performance isn’t everything, though, and McLaren recognized this with the interior. It features a rather organic design, particularly for the instrument screen. That screen is attached to the steering column, so it moves and adjusts with the steering wheel. To the right is an 8-inch infotainment screen with an interesting watch crown-like control dial. The interior is packed with modern amenities such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights and even over-the-air updates.
The Artura goes on sale in the third quarter of this year. Base price is $225,000. It will be available in four trims: the base model, Performance, TechLux and Vision.
Related video:
February 16, 2021 / Comments Off on McLaren Artura is a thoroughly new hybrid supercar
Valentine’s Day is coming up, and while you may have something special planned for your significant other, it’s probably not as wild as what one Bugatti customer has done (though, depending on your significant other, that might be a good thing). The supercar builder revealed the pink Bugatti Chiron Sport above, which is a gift from the buyer to his wife.
The car features a one-off paint scheme combining a matte white front half with a Silk Rosé metallic rear half. The shimmering pink paint finish is carried to parts of the wheels as well as the engine covers. The interior is wrapped in leather and Alcantara all in a very light gray hue. The upholstery features pink contrast stitching, and the “Comfort”-style seats have the name Alice embroidered into the headrests. Presumably, that’s the name of the customer’s beloved wife. If not, there could be some explaining to do.
Besides the flashy color combo, this Chiron Sport seems to be just like any other Chiron Sport. That’s not a bad thing, though, since it still packs 1,479 horsepower from its quad-turbocharged W16 engine. It also weighs 40 pounds less than the regular Chiron and gains stiffer suspension and torque vectoring.
An exact price tag for this pink beast wasn’t given. The base price for a Chiron Sport is a little over $3.2 million, and the customizing probably added a not-insignificant chunk of change to that figure. We don’t know about you all, but we’ll probably stick to more modest Valentine’s Day gifts and events.
Related Video:
February 12, 2021 / Comments Off on A pink and white Bugatti Chiron Sport is one of the most outrageous Valentine’s Day gifts we’ve ever seen
It looks like there could be some supercar (or new sports car) cogs turning over at Porsche. Maybe, if you take a recent patent Porsche filed seriously. A member at the TaycanEVForums discovered that Porsche filed and was granted a patent with the European Union Intellectual Property Office for a design of a new sports car not currently in Porsche’s lineup
One look at the images associated with this patent will instantly remind you of the Le Mans Living Legend design study (below) that was only just revealed late last year. The vehicles look nearly identical in proportions and design details alike. Photos of the car in the patent make it look like an awkwardly elongated and flattened 911, but the real-life car that Porsche put together for its design study is significantly better looking with a more cohesive overall look.
It’s intriguing to see that Porsche just filed for the patent now. Whether or not this will lead to an actual production car is anybody’s guess. Car companies file for patents of things all the time that don’t result in any sort of a production vehicle. Seeing as how Porsche has thought this one out enough to release photos of a design study, there could be something brewing here.
Porsche doesn’t make many supercars. The most recent two are the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. If built, this car looks like it could fall into a similar limited-run hypercar/supercar category. As for the possible powertrain, the Le Mans Living Legend Concept is powered by an eight cylinder engine. It’s hard to imagine Porsche developing a brand-new V8 or horizontally-opposed eight-cylinder engine today, but it’s worth pointing out the possibility. A more likely scenario would be to leapfrog off the 918’s hybrid powertrain, use a smaller combustion engine and develop a stronger electric portion of the powertrain.
If the car ever does get made, we hope the gullwing-style doors stick around. At this stage, we haven’t spied any Porsches with a design looking like this one, but we have no idea where Porsche might be in the process, if any engineering process has even begun. Now that Porsche has half showed its hand with the patent, though, we’ll be on the lookout for an extra sleek sports car from Stuttgart.
Related video:
February 10, 2021 / Comments Off on New Porsche sports car design shown in recently-filed patent
The long-awaited hybrid-powered McLaren Artura will be revealed next Tuesday, February 16. There’s a special showcase video that McLaren is putting on from Woking, England, that will come online at 7:01 p.m. ET that day. McLaren promises folks from its team and “brand personalities” (i.e. celebrities) will be introducing the car.
We don’t have all the information as it concerns the Artura, but we do know some vitals. McLaren says it will be powered by a hybrid powertrain that features a completely new V6 engine. This will be the first McLaren since the brand’s road car reinvention with the MP4-12C that isn’t powered by a twin-turbo V8. It’s unclear how many electric motors will supplement the gas engine, but a previous report from Autocar predicted at least two with power going to the rear wheels exclusively. The Artura will also use McLaren’s new Carbon Lightweight Architecture that is specifically designed for electrified models.
Above, you’re looking at the single teaser image that McLaren released with its announcement today. It’s unmistakable as a McLaren in profile, as the shape looks a whole lot like the 570S.
To see the car in full view (but slathered in concealing camouflage) check out McLaren’s preview photos in this post here. And if you’d like to see the car’s full reveal, make sure to circle back here to this link right before the reveal is meant to begin.
Related video:
February 10, 2021 / Comments Off on McLaren Artura hybrid officially set for February 16 reveal
