A year ago, Italdesign launched its first supercar, the Zerouno–an ultra-exclusive supercar with looks (but even higher performance) of a Lamborghini Huracan. Now, the young company took the wraps off the Zerouno Duerta–a new version with equally impressive appearance and a removable Targa-style roof.
The road-legal, perfectly aerodynamic carbon fiber machine has the chassis of a Huracan and is powered by a Lamborghini 5.2-liter V10 that sends 610-hp to all four wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch auto, allowing for a top speed of 198 mph.
Just like the hardtop model, the Duerta comes in a limited run of only 5 examples, for an unspecified figure, but it’s safe to assume you’ll need to fork $1.7 million+ (price for the standard Zerouno) to get your hands on this sleek supercar.
The makers of the world’s first electric sports car are back with a second version and, as expected, the Rimac C_Two Electric GT Hypercar is a stunner with serious muscle.
1,914 horses under the hood and a motor torque of 2.300 Nm make for an insane 0-60 time of 1.85 seconds and a top speed of 258 mph. As capable on the race track as it is crossing continents, the grand touring C_Two has a range of 400 miles on a single charge and, of course, is fitted with semi-autonomous driving.
That’s all we know so far. Oh, and also that Rimac will build 150 of these babies, to be available in 2020. Judging from the past, we’re pretty sure all examples will sell out long before they leave the factory.
Bologna is coming out with something crazier for 2019!
Revealed during the Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini has created a brutal, hard-core version of the Huracán, just with the ability to feel the air slice through your hair. Well, you might as well be, since this is a roof-less version called the Huracán Performante Spyder.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder
While we gaze upon the beauty that is a convertible Lamborghini, let’s look at some cool tech involved with this:
Active aerodynamics called ‘Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva’, which shapes the air in favor of the car for drag reduction and increased downforce
Still has a naturally aspirated V10 engine from the Performante hardtop, producing 640 horsepower and a dual-clutch transmission
Has carbon fiber goodies everywhere, to reduce weight in comparison to the regular Spyder version (77 lbs. lighter)
Still expensive at $308,859 plus taxes
While the crew here at Supercars.Net are looking forward to this new release, we’ll just live vicariously through others. For now, let’s enjoy what Lamborghini is offering to their clientele.
March 7, 2018 / Comments Off on Official: 2019 Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder
New details are emerging from Geneva about Hennessey‘s ambitions to claim the record for world’s fastest car, including the V8 powertrain that will drive the upcoming Hennessey Venom F5 toward its promised 301 mph top speed benchmark.
Founder and CEO John Hennessey told “Top Gear” the hypercar will have “a completely bespoke, 8.0-liter twin-turbo V8” that will hit no less than 1,600 bhp, which equates to around 1,622 horsepower. But he said he’s contemplating slapping on a couple more turbos and expects to decide before the Pebble Beach Concours in August.
Hennessy first revealed the supercar at the SEMA show last November. There, John Hennessey told Autoblog that he wasn’t necessarily aiming to set a record at the Nürburgring, just to do a lap in under seven minutes, a feat notched by cars like the Lamborghini Huracán Performante and the Porsche 918 Spyder. He also talked about how the car’s design was meant to look like a peregrine falcon. But at the time, the V8 engine specs were still being kept under wraps.
Hennessy unofficially had the title of world’s fastest car in 2014 after the 1,451-hp Venom GT hit 270.49 mph. That’s of course since been eclipsed by rival Koenigsegg, which raced an Agera RS helmed by Swedish race driver Niklas Lilja to an official top speed of 277.87 mph on a closed highway in Nevada in November. When it comes time, Hennessey told “Top Gear“ he may make the attempt in Texas, or return to the same road in Nevada traveled by the Agera RS.
But he insists the Venom F5 will be more than just a straight-line track monster. “Could we build a high-downforce version with the massive splitter and massive wing and lots of downforce? Maybe we’ll do that later,” he said. “For now, [the F5 is] a proper road car that can be driven at crazy speeds in a straight line but still go around turns and stop.”
The company plans to make just 24 examples of the Venom F5 and sell them at $1.6 million apiece.
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March 7, 2018 / Comments Off on Hennessey planning Venom F5 speed record assault
Porsche has unveiled the 2019 911 GT3 RS ahead of the 88th Geneva International Motor Show, which is taking place from 8th-18th March 2018.
Striking visual updates separate this GT3 RS from the model before it. The 2019 model sports a carbon fibre front hood, with NACA ducts like on the 2018 911 GT2 RS to help with brake cooling without adversely affecting the aerodynamic performance of the body.
The front spoiler lip is larger, helping to increase downforce when paired with the side skirts, which are also enlarged. That massive rear wing works in conjunction with an underbody diffuser, with the whole lot coming together to produce more than two times the downforce of the non-RS 911 GT3 according to Porsche.
Inside is as you’d expect, with full bucket seats featuring carbon fibre-reinforced backrests to hold the driver in place while the car does its best to throw them out using lateral G-Forces and oodles of grip. Further nods to the motorsport potential of the 2019 GT3 RS include lightened door panels, with loops in place of door handles and an Alcantara steering wheel with a motorsport-inspired yellow 12 o’clock marker.
Rear seats? There are none – done away with in the pursuit of keeping the GT3 RS’ weight as low as possible. Even with this, Porsche offer further weight savings, which it says are for ‘particularly spirited drivers.’ With extra carbon fibre for the steering wheel and shift paddles as well as on the sway bars, coupling rods and vehicle roof, and the optional forged magnesium wheels, the $18,000 Weissach package helps the 911 GT3 RS tip the scales at just 1431kg.
At no additional cost, Porsche will also fit the Clubsport package, which adds a roll bar, six-point seat harnesses and a fire extinguisher, for the especially track-focused enthusiast.
Power to match its racing pretensions
Beneath the rear bonnet and that huge spoiler sits Porsche’s 4-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six engine putting out 520 horsepower and 346 lb ft of torque – good for a 0-60 time of 3 seconds flat, 0.2 seconds faster than the GT3 with PDK and one tenth of a second quicker than the previous-gen GT3 RS. This GT3 RS tops out at 193mph, with Porsche’s main focus being to get it round a track as quickly as possible, not on straight-line top speed.
That power is delivered to the track (or road – don’t forget this thing is road legal) via 325/30 Ultra High Performance tyres, wider than those fitted to the 911 GT3, to help those horses do their stuff in the most effective way possible.
Keeping that power in check and helping the driver harness the car’s potential is the motorsport-derived chassis of the GT3 RS, which features Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), active engine mounts, rear-axle steering and an electronic locking rear diff with torque vectoring as standard.
The suspension is adjustable to suit the preference of the driver, with ride height, toe, camber, caster and sway bar settings all able to be altered.
Porsche is accepting orders now for the 2019 911 GT3 RS, with prices starting from $187,500 plus a delivery, processing and handling fee. Options include the aforementioned Weissach Package ($18,000) and magnesium wheels ($13,000).
Is the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS hardcore enough? Let us know on Twitter.
February 26, 2018 / Comments Off on More Than Just Skin Deep: Porsche Unveils Updated 911 GT3 RS
Tesla was recently spotted testing its next-generation Roadster on the test track at its factory in Fremont, Calif., and now we have footage of the supercar’s vaunted launch capabilities. Twitter user Shehryar Khan posted the following video last week complete with an adoring, all-caps tagline (beware the salty language at the end).
In the video, you can see the car’s windows are down, and a ringing brake squeal is audible as the Roadster pulls up to a stop before launching. Then the tires squeal as the driver floors the accelerator and the Roadster positively screams off the line.
The video, of course, is too short and unscientific to serve as validation for Tesla’s claims that the supercar will be the “quickest car in the world” and do 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds and reach 100 mph in 4.2 seconds. But it’s clear the Roadster will be more than peppy off the block.
The all-wheel-drive, four-seat Roadster will be powered by a 200kWh battery pack that Tesla says will give it a 620-mile driving range, plus three electric motors — one on the front and two on the rear. Base price on the new Roadster will be $200,000 when it hits the market in 2020, assuming Tesla can make good on its claims and conquer everything else on its considerable to-do list.
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February 19, 2018 / Comments Off on Watch a next-gen Tesla Roadster rocket down a test track
Remember the SSC Tuatara? The supercar from the company formerly known as Shelby SuperCars that aimed to reclaim the record of fastest production car for its parent company, which once held that title with the Ultimate Aero?
Well, it’s back from the dead, maybe. At least, the company released a new teaser image for the Tuatara along with the tagline, “The evolution is coming.” The car dates back to 2011 as a concept and has never been unveiled in the traditional sense. And there’s no other new information to go from.
SSC announced the Tuatara, named for a lizard native to New Zealand that possesses the fastest-evolving DNA on the planet, back in 2011. And we heard rumblings over the years, most recently in 2013, that the car was on track to be built at a plant in southeastern Washington and offered for sale for a cool $1.3 million. That plant reportedly has been delayed as the company founder, Jerod Shelby, sought financing. The Tri-City Herald newspaper in late 2016 reported that SSC broke ground on the facility in 2013, but that little else had happened at the site.
The Tuatara’s most recently known specs were 1,350 horsepower and 1,280 pound-feet of torque from its 6.8-liter V8. The company is perhaps best known for the Ultimate Aero, which held the record for fastest production car, having been clocked at 257 mph in 2007, before ceding the mark to Bugatti and the Veyron SS in 2010. Of course, last fall a Koenigsegg Agera RS hit 277.9 mph in Nevada in a still-unverified new record, and Hennessey is gunning for speed-demon Nirvana with its Venom F5, which claims a top speed of 301 mph. So the competition has only intensified in the years since SSC has gone quiet.
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January 2, 2018 / Comments Off on SSC — remember them? — releases new teaser image for Tuatara supercar
A few years ago car enthusiasts looked at the absurdly styled electric cars manufacturers were pumping off the assembly line and laughed. Fast-forward to the present and we’re now seeing what was once a hysteric destroy our beloved gas-powered supercars on the track.
Technological advances have allowed electric cars to become some of the worlds fastest machines. Complete with incredible track times and impeccable interiors, these cars truly have it all.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here; not all electric supercars can climb to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds like the new Tesla Roadster, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be given credit where credit is due.
Electric cars have been around since the mid-19th century. However, their high cost, low top speed, and extremely short-ranged batteries sparked a loss in interest.
From the late-40s to the early 70s, gas engines were creating big power, entrenching themselves as the cultural icons that they have since become.
It wasn’t until the energy crises of the 1960s and 1970s that a revival of interest in the electric automobile was seen.
The Rebirth of Electric Cars
In 1970, all states were required to take control of their air quality and meet specific standards under the Clean Air Act. Along with it, the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) Oil Embargo of 1973 helped generate more interest in electric cars as gasoline prices skyrocketed.
Later on in 1976, Congress took control and passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act. This allowed the Energy Department to support research and development in these types of vehicles.
Unfortunately, the technology at the time just wasn’t sufficient to make these cars practical and reliable. Instead, their gas-powered counterparts remained the dominant force in the market
By the 1990s, emissions regulations once again urged automakers to revisit the concept of electric vehicles. From there, technological advances and environmental awareness in the early 21st century surged a demand for alternatively powered vehicles, paving a pathway for electric vehicles to once again enter the market.
The World As It Is Today
As 2018 marches on, the world is a very different place than it was in the 70’s and 90’s. Today, electric cars aren’t just competitive, but their becoming downright common. Thanks to Tesla, which led the charge of the acceptable electric car in the early 2000’s, electric vehicles are gaining prominent ground in the marketplace.
Today, every major manufacturer has an electric vehicle… or one in development. Fantastic!
So, with that in mind, we thought we’d discuss two all-electric supercarsthat you may well find tearing up the pavement!
The Tesla Roadster
The fastest production car (0-60 mph) ever made. Period.
When Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, promised a surprise during the Tesla Semi Unveiling Event, the world was not ready for what he had planned. Capable of reaching 100 mph in just 4.2 seconds, this electric supercar is capable of completing a quarter mile in as little as 8.9 seconds.
If your jaw hasn’t yet hit the floor, Musk has hinted that the top speed will be above 250 mph. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Roadster is capable of shattering the Agera RS world record top speed of 277.9 mph.
After all, this car does come packed with 7355 ft lbs of torque. Yes, you read that right.
What’s Under the Hood
A single 200 kWh battery pack supposedly will provide the Roadster with a 620-mile range per charge. If this is true, this electric supercar will shatter another world record in regards to distance per charge. Three powerful motors, one in the front and two in the rear, give the Roadster its power, along with all-wheel drive and torque steering.
Get in Line
Don’t get too excited tough, the Roadster isn’t scheduled to start production until 2020. However, if you’ve got some cash burning a hole in your pocket, put your money where your mouth is as you can now reserve one for $50,000.
You’ve likely seen it all over this site: the silver bullet who squashed the Porsche 918 by at least 2 car lengths on a drag race. Although not as fast as the Roadster is said to be, the Concept_One is still a flagship of performance electric supercars.
An engine that forces out 1224 hp and 1181 ft lbs of torque allows this car to reach 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds, topping out at just over 220 mph. Everything is powered by a single 90kWh battery pack that is capable of taking you up to 350 km.
Exterior & Interior
Although its performance numbers are quite impressive, the looks and features of the Concept_One are where it truly shines. The entire bodywork has been precisely designed to provide maximum aerodynamics, as well as elegant and emotional lines that leave innocent bystanders speechless.
Once you sit in the Concept_One, you’ll never want to get out. The seats position drivers close to the center of gravity while at the same time hugging the body to provide maximum comfort. A seamless, spectacular display integrates today’s latest technology to truly provide the driver with a unique experience.
Getting Your Hands on One
Unfortunately, the Concept_One is not an easy vehicle to get ahold of. Aside from needing to have a million dollars to spend, Rimac is said to only be manufacturing 8 units of the Concept_One a year. That’s pretty reasonable in my opinion, considering how majority of the car is hand-crafted to perfection.
Is it Really a Supercar Without The Roar?
Technically, yes.
Don’t get me wrong, the Concept_One and the Tesla Roadster are two of the best electric supercars on the market today. But these cars, along with the others, all have one common problem – the roar of the engine (or lack thereof).
What makes a supercar so thrilling? Most would say its a combination of the head-turning looks, unnecessary amounts of power, and the mean, aggressive engine noise. So what happens when you take away one of those factors? Does the car become less attractive to the buyer?
In my opinion, yes. If I’m driving a car thats pushing over 1200 hp, I want it to sound like it. I’d much rather hear the engine rumble and rattle windows as opposed to listening to the wind and tire noise as I tear up and down the streets.
To me, this is a huge drawback to an electric supercar. There’s almost something addicting about the aggressive, angry noise of a gas-powered supercar that an electric one just won’t be able to provide me.
Perhaps in the future automakers will find a way to accurately simulate it, but until then, countless others and myself will be out of luck.
January 1, 2018 / Comments Off on The Rise of the Electric Supercar: Today’s Benchmark Electric Supercars
If you held any hope of obtaining the last available McLaren Senna, abandon it now: The last of the 500 build allocations has sold at a private auction for McLaren customers. It raised £2 million ($2.67 million) for the Ayrton Senna Institute, the nonprofit non-government organization named for the late three-time Formula One world champion.
The company announced the sale three days after the supercar’s official unveiling and four days after it was leaked during an early reveal party. Excluding taxes, the winning bid from an anonymous buyer was more than three times the U.K. list price for the car.
Originally dubbed the P15, McLaren says the Senna is the “most extreme” road car it has ever created, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 generating 789 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It’s also the lightest, at 2,641 pounds. It boasts a RCC II RaceActive Chassis Control hydraulic suspension and unique features like a Jetsons-esque glass greenhouse and glass panels in the doors.
Ayrton Senna won three F1 world championships driving for McLaren. The auction for McLaren customers was attended by his sister, Viviane Senna da Silva Lalli, and Bruno Senna, her son, also a race driver and McLaren ambassador.
The Ayrton Senna Institute provides education to underprivileged children in Brazil.
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December 13, 2017 / Comments Off on Last of 500 allocated McLaren Sennas sells at auction
Ever since you were a little boy, you’ve dreamed of driving a Maserati, Bugatti or Lotus. The fire within your belly enthusing you to unleash the power of one of these supercars around a track or along a country lane still burns as strongly as ever. Now that 2018 is approaching it’s only right that you start to consider your New Year’s resolutions. Whereas other people hanker after losing weight, quitting smoking or heading to the gym a little more often, you need to fulfill the craving of getting behind the wheel of your favorite supercar.
For too long you’ve been dreaming of putting the pedal to the metal, and now you need to turn this dream into a reality. Like all good New Year’s resolutions, you need to make sure that you can keep yours. Don’t venture off on a quest to drive the latest super rare Tesla Roadster as you won’t be able to get your hands on one. Take a look at how you can fulfill your need for speed and get out there to experience the wonderful world of supercars in 2018.
What Makes A Supercar Super?
It can be tricky at times to tell the difference between a supercar and a high-end sports car. The most significant attributes of a supercar are the kudos and status it brings. The mere mention of the Lamborghini Murciélago will have motoring enthusiasts going weak at the knees. The vehicles that fit into the supercar category tend to be limited editions that require an obscene amount of money to purchase one. They may be a concept car of the future released only for a select few to experience. They may be a car from a smaller and more niche firm that you might not have even heard of. Take the Koenigsegg Agera R for example. Not many people have ever heard of it, yet Google this machine and you’ll be able to see from the chassis alone that this would be a four-wheeled beast to be reckoned with.
Choosing Your Supercar
Most people have their favorite motor. It could be a love sparked from the Dinky toys you played with as a kid, the classic car that the neighbour down the road spent hours cleaning and polishing up at the weekend or it could be the vehicle that your dad always adored and kept harping on about over the dinner table. If the car that you wish to drive is accessible and not too niche, make it your mission to experience the thrill of a ride in that vehicle.
If you’re unsure of which supercar to have a go in, take a look at some of these ideas.
Porsche 918 Spyder
This incredible motor is the first hybrid produced by the powerhouse of Porsche. Unlike the more sedate and lacklustre everyday hybrids that we are all used to like the Nissan Leaf and the Toyota Prius, this machine is capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in under two and a half seconds and comes with a ridiculous amount of running modes, meaning that you can opt for a fully electrically powered drive, a hybrid mix or a solely gasoline experience.
Honda NSX
Another sports hybrid is the Honda NSX with its sleek, curvy chassis and ability to reach 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds. This year, numerous publications including ‘Road and Track’ named the Honda NSX as their performance car of the year. The kudos of this sports hybrid has even led to its inclusion into the ridiculous yet fun Gran Turismo 3, so if it’s out of reach for you to drive in real life, at least you get the chance to show off your driving skills behind the controller of an XBox or PlayStation console.
Where To Drive A Supercar?
Unless you’re a multi-millionaire or you have rich friends, you won’t be able to wake up one morning and head out on a whim to pick up the latest supercar for a thrash around your local race track. You need to prepare. This means researching the different ways you can experience the thrill of a supercar.
Experience Days
As Christmas is approaching, you could subtly or not so subtly drop hints for your nearest and dearest that you’d love a supercar driving experience from Father Christmas this year. Nothing would delight you more than waking up on Christmas morning to see a tiny little envelope complete with experience vouchers underneath your tree.
Often driving experiences come with a range of package options. You may be able to select from a number of different high-performance sports cars and select the number of laps you wish to partake in. You’ll receive expert tuition, safety training, and guidance when taking your once in a lifetime driving experience. Depending on the track that you hot foot it to, you might be handling a Ferrari around the tightest of hairpins or careering through the chicanes in the latest Lotus. They’ll be no need to work out how fault works in a car accident as there’s no risk of you injuring any pedestrians when speeding your way around a race track. Insurances are covered so you don’t have to worry about the legalities of your drive.
Book your place early at the race track you want to attend as places will fill up quickly. When you get to the venue, get your name down for the vehicles you want to drive. If you love it, you’ll easily be able to add on a couple more driving experiences in other supercars, or you can find yourself as a passenger as the professionals take you around the track at breakneck speeds.
Hire Your Supercar
If you don’t fancy the race track and you have a little bit more money burning a hole in your pocket, you might want to consider the option of hiring your supercar of choice. There are plenty of prestige car rental firms that will allow you to hire a Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari 488 or Aston Martin V12 Vantage. The daily rental rate may cost as much as a week’s holiday somewhere nice and exotic, but you’ll at least be experiencing the drive of a supercar on your terms.
You won’t have to take the car around a race track; you’ll be able to venture out onto the open road. This gives a much greater sense of freedom as you drive the car in a more real-life situation. You’ll turn heads as you approach the set of traffic lights in town, cause quite the stir as you roar your engine to complete a hill start and attract the attention of passers-by as you travel through the country lanes.
Unlike a race track experience, you’ll also have much longer with your supercar of choice to really get to grips with the handling, the power and the feel of the vehicle. With an experience day, you may get fifteen minutes driving. When hiring your supercar, you get the entire day and could even experience the thrill of taking your Lamborghini, Audi or Porsche out for a nighttime spin. Ensure that you take good care of the vehicle and take it back to the hiring firm in exactly the same state as when you drove it away. They’ll be looking like hawks for chips, dents, and scratches.
Head Abroad
There’s no greater track for a supercar than the Nurburgring in Germany. Regular tourist rides mean that you can find yourself in a supercar on a 20-kilometer lap of differing elevations alongside mountain scenery. It is the beautiful backdrop that lures people to this ultimate driving location. While speed won’t be at the very essence of the ride, you’ll be venturing into a new environment to enhance your driving credentials. If you fancy a little more guidance, expert racing drivers can take you on a specifically tailored sports car training session as part of the Nurburgring’s Driving Academy. Alongside a ride in a supercar, you’ll get some swanky overnight accommodation, awesome food, and perfect scenery to enhance your driving experience.
The popularity of supercars is becoming more and more pronounced as technological advancements accelerate. The emergence of greener and more sustainable ways of powering the supercar are now no longer to the detriment of speed, handling or driving experience. Soon, environmentally friendly supercars will be the norm and people will be driving at speed without fear of damaging the environment or making the hole in the ozone layer any larger. As concept cars begin to take center stage, other supercars may become more accessible to the masses making now the perfect time to whack on your seatbelt and take a unique and thrilling ride in one of the world’s greatest supercars. Make 2018 the year that you fulfill that lifelong ambition and get behind the wheel of your favorite speed machine.
December 7, 2017 / Comments Off on Make It Your New Year’s Resolution To Drive A Supercar
Tesla surprised the world last week when it revealed its Roadster on the same day it debuted its much-awaited (and much-hyped) electric-powered semi truck. Founder Elon Musk claims the car can do 0-60 in just 1.9 seconds, which would make it the fastest production car, and will have a 620-mile driving range.
Now, he’s claiming the supercar may eventually possess the ability to fly. He took to Twitter Sunday first to clarify that the 0-60 time is “the base model performance” but also to tease a “special option package that takes it to the next level.” We’ll let you read it below.
Not saying the next gen Roadster special upgrade package *will* definitely enable it to fly short hops, but maybe …
Certainly possible. Just a question of safety. Rocket tech applied to a car opens up revolutionary possibilities.
What to make of the latest Musk claim? Well, the unexpected news about the Roadster has already led many observers to wonder if Tesla is spreading itself too thin and creating more financial strains at a time when it needs to focus on fixing production bottlenecks for its Model 3 sedan, its attempt at an affordable, mass-market car, and reversing mounting financial losses. This will likely only add fuel to that fire.
Musk is also CEO of SpaceX and has frequently borrowed technologies developed by the rocket developer for Tesla, including a space-grade superalloy for Tesla’s “Ludicrous Mode,” notes Electrek. So he’d certainly have a leg up on his competitors in that regard.
Or, he could simply be joking.
Musk expressed uncommon skepticism about flying cars earlier this year in a TED Talk, saying they’d be noisy and generate high levels of wind force, according to USA Today.
“If something’s flying over your head and there’s a whole bunch of flying cars going all over the place, that is not an anxiety-reducing situation,” Musk said at the time. “You’re thinking, ‘Did they service their hubcap, or is it going to come off and guillotine me?'”
So we’ll ultimately have to wait for more details from Musk and his Twitter feed. Meanwhile, the Roadster will launch in 2020 with a Founder’s Series model priced at $250,000 and limited to just 1,000 models.
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November 20, 2017 / Comments Off on Elon Musk teases a flying version of Roadster supercar. Is he serious?
Devel Motors unveiled the final concept version of its ambitious Sixteen hypercar at the Dubai Motor Show this week, a car that it claims will reach speeds of around 310 miles per hour when it finally goes into production.
That would make it the world’s fastest car if the claim can hold up, beating out the 277.9 mph mark just set by the Koenigsegg Agera RS and posing a challenge to the likes of the Bugattis and John Hennesseys of the world. The Dubai-based specialty company first announced its ambitions four years ago and has since joined forces with Italian firm Manifattura Automobile Torino, which worked on James Glickenhaus’ SCG 003 and the Apollo Intensa Emozione, and Muskegon, Mich.-based Steve Morris Engines.
The powertrain supplier, speaking of which, recently released a video of the 81-mm quad-turbo, 12.3-liter V16 engine it’s developed for the car, reaching 5,007 horsepower on a dynamometer. The screaming sound is unbelievable.
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Even if the car, the design of which is inspired by a jet engine, can make good on its audacious claims, the Sixteen won’t be street legal. Devel developer Rashid Al-Attari told CNN the Sixteen is “more of a dragster” and says the company is developing two versions permissible on roads: A 2,000-hp V8 and a V16 quad-turbo that makes 3,000 hp. They’ll cost $1.6 million and $1.8 million, respectively, though the company apparently has no plans to limit production numbers.
Car vlogger Shmee can take you on a walkaround of the car and the accompany Devel Sixty off-roader in the video below.
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The company expects to complete the car, including testing, “in the next 12 to 18 months,” Al-Attari said.
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November 16, 2017 / Comments Off on The Devel Sixteen hypercar, and its 5,000-hp engine, are real
Lamborghini picked a special recipient for the newest and rarest version of its Huracán RWD, giving an ultra limited-edition version of the supercar to Pope Francis in a ceremony Wednesday at the Vatican attended by company executives.
The new Popemobile, it’s not. Fittingly, according to Catholic News Agency, it’s the seventh version of the Huracán, the Italian company’s entry-level model. It’s set to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s on May 12, 2018, with orders from the Holy See to split the proceeds between three charitable causes: restoring villages on the Nineveh Plain in Iraq, helping victims of human trafficking and supporting missionary work in Africa.
The papal Huracán RWD is done in Monocerus white with Tiberio yellow stripes running along the hood, roof and body, reflecting the colors of the flag of Vatican City. It was blessed and autographed by the pontiff in the presence of Lamborghini Chairman and CEO Stefano Domenicali, board members and two employees who helped build the car.
The Huracán is the successor to the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s best-selling model of all time, with a design inspired by the hexagonal form of the carbon atom. It’s powered by a naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 that makes 602 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Normally, the sports car starts $199,800. But a version blessed and autographed by the pope? Priceless…
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November 15, 2017 / Comments Off on Pope Francis gets a papal-themed Lamborghini Huracan
Here’s a unique regional spin on a supercar: It’s a bespoke McLaren 720S designed by McLaren Special Operations done in Zenith Black paint with satin finish and gold accents, including an inspirational quote from the company’s founder on the rear wing done in Arabic lettering stylized to echo the Dubai skyline. It’s showing at the Dubai International Motor Show, after which the unnamed new owner will take delivery.
McLaren says achievement was a key theme behind the commission, both for the British luxury carmaker itself and the United Arab Emirates and Gulf states themselves, which form a key client and shareholder base for the company. The quote on the rear wing reads “Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone,” part of a longer quote from Bruce McLaren’s 1964 memoir “From the Cockpit.” A plaque inside the car identifies it as a “1 of 1” MSO commission.
Offsetting the satin black finish are gold accents, such as gold-colored alloy wheels, a 24-carat (!) gold engine heat shield and gold-colored interior components. Also added were carbon fiber exterior packs encompassing the front splitter and air intakes, rear bumper and roof panel. Inside, the trim is a mix of black leather and black Alcantara complemented by MSO Defined carbon fiber sill panels, fascia vents and steering wheel, plus a regular carbon fiber interior upgrade pack. The gearshift paddles are satin gold-painted, and each door inner panel gets a satin gold-colored appliqué.
The car is equipped with the 720S’s standard 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that goes 0-124 mph in 7.8 seconds and boasts a top speed of 212 mph.
McLaren says the personalization added more than 120 hours to the production process, including 30 hours alone to complete the rear wing stencil graphic.
November 14, 2017 / Comments Off on McLaren unfurls bespoke black-and-gold inscribed 720S for Dubai
Years from now, automotive historians may write of this era as the War of the Supercars, fought by niche manufacturers that specialize in finely tuned, low-volume and ultra-high-end machines finding daft ways to outdo one another for the mantle of horsepower and speed at a time when many believe the writing is on the wall for the internal combustion engine. In just the past month, we’ve seen bold feats, claims or product introductions from the likes of Koenigsegg, Hennessey and McLaren.
Now comes news that the Devel Sixteen, a supposed 5,000-horsepower beast capable of surpassing 310 mph, will finally make its debut next week at the Dubai Motor Show, per Road and Track. If the Dubai-based firm can back up those numbers, it would be the world’s fastest supercar.
Here’s a name we haven’t heard from in a while: Automobili Turismo e Sport is throwing its name back as an entrant in the war of the supercars with its new GT, a coupe that serves as a successor to a never-produced gran turismo car from the 1960s. True to its rarified segment, just 12 models will be produced starting at about $1.33 million, each highly customized to the purchaser’s tastes.
The coupe is a successor to the 2500 GT, which was revealed at the 1963 Paris Motor Show but never went into production before the entire company shut down in 1964. ATS was launched by Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini after leaving Ferrari in 1961 due to a dispute with Enzo Ferrari. The initial aim was to beat Ferrari, and the company managed to produce a Formula One racer and the mid-engine 2500 GT.
Despite teasing several models in recent years, the GT will be the company’s first new production supercar in nearly half a century. Today’s version of the company is being run by ATS’s design chief, Emanuele Bomboi, and Daniele Maritan, a former race car driver turned importer and distributor of fast sports cars. The company insists this rebirth “is not a ‘nostalgia’ operation” and says it has other ideas it plans to develop beyond the GT.
Bombi formerly worked for Fiat and Bertone, and it shows in the GT’s styling. “The side silhouette of this new Gran Turismo is charged with energy, with clean lines framing arched surfaces,” the company says. “The outlines above the wheel are evocative while a clean flowing line divides the car’s upper and lower halves. As with the original car’s design, the windows provide a focus for the flanks of the car.” The new car also borrows its predecessor’s front spoiler, which runs the whole width of the car with the same blue Dragon of Bologna logo, with two stripes running along the bonnet. It gets a carbon fiber body and chassis for a curb weight of 2,866 pounds.
Powering the GT is a 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 mounted behind the cabin that does 650 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Or, buyers can upgrade to a 700-horsepower version with 553 lb-ft of torque. Either is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the rear wheels. Zero to 60 time is around 3 seconds, and top speed is around 206 mph. Three driving modes are offered — Viaggio, Sport and Corsa — with each configuration changing the colors of the cockpit controls from blue, to yellow and red, respectively.
Does that sound a lot like the McLaren 650S to you? It does to us. That’s likely what this car is based on, although we don’t have any info at the moment about ATS’ relationship with McLaren, if there is one. We’ll know more, hopefully, when it’s closer to launch.
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November 6, 2017 / Comments Off on ATS rises from the ashes with its gorgeous GT supercar
Hennessey has announced plans to reveal the production version of its long-awaited Venom F5 supercar Nov. 1 at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and released new images and a video of the hypercar expected to boast a top speed of nearly 300 mph. The F5 is the performance shop’s bid to be the fastest road car in the world, taking direct aim at the Bugatti Chiron.
To be built and sold under new company Hennessey Special Vehicles, the F5 promises cutting-edge technology in design, engine development and chassis, with an all-new, original chassis and body. It will build the car at its headquarters in Sealy, Texas, near Houston.
Hennessey first revealed renderings for the F5 three years ago. It released updated teaser images in June and announced plans to put the car into production, with founder and CEO John Hennessey describing the project as “sophisticated aggression on wheels.”
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The F5 name derives from the rating assigned to tornadoes boasting wind speeds of between 261 and 318 miles per hour, the top rating on the Fujita scale. It replaces the Venom GT, a supercar powered by a 1,451-horsepower, twin-turbo 7.0-liter V8 engine with a top speed of 270.4 mph and a 0-60 time of 2.4 seconds. Just 12 models were ever produced, with the final version selling for a cool $1.2 million.
The F5, Hennessey says, will surpass the GT’s horsepower, have a top speed exceeding 290 mph, plus improved aerodynamics and ultra-light weight to boost performance.
The new images show a wing-shaped rear spoiler and a tri-exhaust tailpipe configuration that evokes a honeycomb or Olympic rings. The company plans to livestream the unveiling, which takes place at 11 a.m. PST Nov. 1, on its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.
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October 20, 2017 / Comments Off on Hennessey’s Venom F5 hypercar teased for Nov. 1 reveal at SEMA
Palmer says Aston has harnessed a great deal of learning from the $3 million Valkyrie hypercar and plans to apply that to its next mid-engine car, slated to land sometime in 2020 or so. As indicated in part of our conversation below, design plans for that car are developing quickly.
Autoblog: You said there will be a forthcoming mid-engine sports car. I still think the Ferrari 488 GTB is one of the best I’ve driven. How do you compete with that?
Andy Palmer: “Well, I agree with you. That’s the best car in its segment. And we’re going to take it on. And I realize the gravity of that statement, of what that means.”
AP: “Well, to start with, you recruit from Ferrari the head of body structures, and the head of powertrains. I’ve now got three of Ferrari’s key guys. And really, it’s a big compliment to Ferrari. That’s the defining car in its segment, and it’s really, really good. And those three guys now work for me. And you combine those guys with Nick [Lines, chief planning officer, Aston Martin] and Marek [Reichman, chief creative officer, Aston Martin] who you know really well, and you create some great recipes. And now I’ve got a better understanding of what that car looks like.”
AB: How far along is that car? Is there a clay model already?
AP: “Yeah, there’s clay. There’s actually eight quarter-scales. And there’s one in particular that I’m leaning toward. We’ve got it pushed out; it’s gone to a second studio in Milton Keynes. That studio is different from Gaydon. And I’ve got a pretty good idea of what the replacement for the 488 is going to be like as well. So, if we’re going in that market, we need to be ahead of the 488. And there’s no naïveté about what that means.”
One of the recruits Palmer is referring to is Max Szwaj, former head of innovation and body structures at Ferrari and Maserati. Szwaj has been named vice president and chief technical officer in his new role in Gaydon. Another recruit, Joerg Ross, formerly head of advanced engines at Ferrari and Maserati, assumes the chief engineer, powertrain, role at Aston. A third recruit by way of Modena is a very recent acquisition and has yet to be formally announced.
Aston Martin’s forthcoming car would slot above the Vanquish GT and below the Valkyrie hypercar in the lineup. And while the British luxe automaker is developing replacements for its existing lineup — most recently kicked off by the new DB11 — the Ferrari 488 fighter would join the upcoming DBX SUV as an all-new model line for Aston.
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October 6, 2017 / Comments Off on Aston Martin hires Ferrari’s ‘key guys’ to challenge 488 GTB
There’s fast, and then there’s 3 electric motors plus a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 fast. On this episode of Translogic, we’re dealing exclusively with the latter.
Our host Jonathon Buckley heads to Atlanta, GA to experience the hybrid-electric power of the Acura NSX. Bucko even had the opportunity to chat with the car’s chief engineer about how the NSX is evolving the segment, much like its predecessor did nearly 3 decades ago. “It’s gonna change the automotive segment very much like that original car did,” said Jason Widmer, Chief Engineer for the NSX. Referencing the all-aluminum body on the original car and the 3 extra electric motors on the current model, Jason brings to light some of the more leading edge pieces of technology in the vehicles.
Between the insanely smooth acceleration and the wonderfully loud engine noises, this is one hybrid that seems to give drivers the best of both worlds. This car has so much cool tech, it’s no wonder it was Iron Man’s vehicle of choice in the cinema blockbuster The Avengers. This is one car you have to see to believe so check out the episode above and see what we mean!
