Sports Cars

Posted on 05.22.2013 17:00 by Tom Burkart Filed under: Ferrari | coupe | classic cars | auctions | Ferrari 400 | Cars | Car Reviews | Ferrari Ferrari had a big problem with its 400 series when it debuted in 1959. Sure, the car packed a racing V-12 and all the gravitas a Ferrari badge can bring, but its brutal style made the front-engine 2+2 GT car a tough sell in one of Ferrari’s fastest-growing markets: the United States.An emergency refresh was undertaken. Gone was the 400’s square grille and quad headlamp setup, replaced by Ferrari’s delicious oval slatted grille and single round headlamps under glass at each corner. Suddenly, the 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico was as gorgeous as its two-seat siblings.This very car, one of 36 built, is owned by famed driving instructor Skip Barber and is set for auction this weekend on May 25th by RM Auctions in Lake Cuomo, Italy. The pre-sale estimate is between $2.4 and $3 million, but the bidding could well reach $5 million before the dust settles.Beneath the Superamerica Aerodinamico’s sumptuous bodywork lies the vanguard of Ferrari tech at the time, much like the Ferrari 456GT and current FF. Part of the “America” series of cars that included the 330 GT and 365 GTC, the plan in Modena was to leverage the flexibility offered by their small-scale Pininfarina bodywork team to create unique shells that would sell cars in crucial markets, like New York and Los Angeles, as well as Firenzi and Roma.Click past the jump for the full review and photo gallery of this timeless classic, the 400 Superamerica Coupe SWB Aerodinamico. Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico by Pininfarina originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 17:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 16:24 by Sulthoni , Serafim Filed under: Honda | Utility vehicles | 2013 | Motorcycles | Motorcycle Reviews | Honda Tough, agile and reliable, the 2013 Honda Big Red is ready to tackle anything you throw at it. At the heart of this reliable workhorse lies a strong 675 cc, liquid cooled, OHV, single cylinder, four stroke engine which sends its power to the ground through an automotive-style transmission with hydraulic torque converter. It is also worthy of being mentioned that there are three drive modes available namely 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD with all-wheel differential lock.To help you go over any type of terrain with ease, Honda equipped its Big Red MUV with specially designed 25 x 10-12 Maxxis Big Horn front and rear tires. You also get a set of capable suspensions which include front and rear independent double-wishbone configurations (5.9-inch of wheel travel up front and 7.1-inch of wheel travel out back with adjustable preload).Hit the jump for more information on the 2013 Honda Big Red. Honda Big Red originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 16:24 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 16:00 by Simona Filed under: Audi | sedan | Spy Shots and Rendering | luxury cars | Audi A8 | Cars | Car News Last month, the 2014 Audi A8 was caught testing for the first time on the public roads in Germany. Today, the car changed landscapes and went for high-altitude testing in the Alps.Just like in the previous testing session, Audi chose to heavily camouflage this A8 prototype; but even so, we expect to see the same updates that we have seen in all of the recently launched Audi models.These updates will include: new headlight units; new grille; and small changes to the bumper. On the rear, the revisions include: new taillights and a revised bumper. The interior will also receive some small updates, plus an updated infotainment system.Under the hood, Audi will focus on reducing fuel consumption and lowering CO2 emissions.We expect the revised Audi A8 to be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A8. Spy Shots: Revised Audi A8 Caught Testing in the Alps originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 16:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 15:00 by Simona Filed under: Volkswagen | Volkswagen Golf | Spy Shots and Rendering | video | hatchback | cool fast cars | Cars | Car News Now that Volkswagen unveiled both the standard and GTI version of the seventh-generation Golf, the next model we expect is, of course, the R version. We’ve brought you plenty of spy photos of the 2014 Golf R, but this time we present to you a video showing the upcoming Golf R taking a beating on Nürburgring.The upcoming Golf R will be powered by a revised version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a DSG or a six-speed transmission. The revised engine will deliver 256 horsepower in the U.S. version and 270 horsepower in the European model.As for aesthetics, the next-gen Golf R will receive the same R treatment as the current model, but it will get the some of the design improvements seen on the other seventh-gen Golf variants, including: revised headlights and taillights; a new grille and front bumper; and a revised backside.Stay tuned for more information and spy shots on the new Golf R as we slowly approach its debut. Video: Volkswagen Golf R VII Pushed Hard at Nürburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 15:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 14:00 by Simona Filed under: SRT | coupe | race cars | Le Mans Series | SRT Viper | Cars | Car News Earlier this year, the SRT team announced that the new-generation Viper is preparing its return to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race after an absence of 13 years. Now it looks like the company has big hopes for the 81st edition set for June 22nd and 23rd at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.SRT, in cooperation with Riley Technologies, is preparing two identical SRT Viper GTS-R models for the race. The two cars were rigorously tested during four ALMS races in 2012 and during the full 2013 racing season. Car No. 91 managed to obtain three consecutive top-five finishes, including a position on the podium at Long Beach, where it finished third.The two Viper GTS-Rs will be driven by Marc Goossens, Dominik Farnbacher, Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer, joined by Tommy Kendall and Ryan Dalziel for the endurance events.Click past the jump to read more about Viper’s experience at Le Mans. SRT Viper has had Plenty of Prep Time for 24 Hours of Le Mans originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 13:00 by Simona Filed under: Kia | sedan | luxury cars | Kia Quoris | Cars | Car News The Kia Quoris or K9 was unveiled by the South Korean automaker in 2012 as a replacement for the Opirus sedan in its home market. The Quoris is already sold in many countries around the Globe and it looks like the U.S. will be next.In an interview with Automotive, one Kia official confirmed that the Quoris will arrive is the U.S. in 2014 and will be priced somewhere between $50k and $70k. If you are wondering how a company can sell models with such a wide price spectrum, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Michael Sprague, has the answer: "How is that any different than Mercedes-Benz selling cars from $30,000 to $150,000?"While we await the Quoris arrival, Kia will remain busy by unveiling seven refreshed or all-new vehicles, plus slightly updated 2014 Kia Sedona minivan that Kia hopes will help improve sales.Click past the jump to read more about the Kia Quoris. Kia Quoris Hitting the American Market in 2014 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 13:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 12:00 by Simona Filed under: Volkswagen | compact cars | Spy Shots and Rendering | hatchback | Volkswagen Polo | Cars | Car Reviews | Volkswagen The current-generation Volkswagen Polo was unveiled back in 2009 and for the 2014 model year, it looks as if VW will give it an update. The model was spotted undergoing testing on public roads and judging by the lack of camouflage, it is obvious that the updates will be minimal.As far as we can understand from these photos, it looks like the 2014 Polo will receive a revised front bumper with a modified air intake. Of course, it is very possible that the production version will receive a few extra updates that we cannot see from these shots.It has also been rumored that Volkswagen will also offer some smaller updates on the interior, including a revised infotainment system, new materials and updated colors.As for the engine lineup, there is no official confirmation just yet, but we expect to see a small revision for improved performance and reduced fuel consumption.Expect the revised Volkswagen Polo to be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Polo. Volkswagen Polo originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 12:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 11:00 by Simona Filed under: BMW | coupe | Spy Shots and Rendering | sports cars | BMW M-series | BMW 4-Series | BMW M4 | Cars | Car News It’s been a while since we last caught the upcoming BMW M4 Coupe testing, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Today, our spy photographers managed to catch the car testing at the famed Nürburgring racetrack in some slippery conditions.As you can see, the car is still heavily camouflaged but it is still pretty easy to see that for the first time, the M4 Coupe is wearing something other than its typical black paint. This may seem insignificant on the surface, but it is a sign that BMW has reached the next level of testing and that an official unveiling is drawing near.BMW also tipped its hand by equipping this particular model with a set of gold-colored caliper, which indicates that this 4 Series features the M Carbon Ceramic brakes.As for the engine, rumors indicate that the M4 will be powered by a S55 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine with an output of 415 horsepower. Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M4 Coupe. Spy Shots: BMW M4 Coupe Caught Lapping Nürburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 11:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 10:00 by Justin Cupler Filed under: Mercedes | coupe | sedan | convertible | Mercedes E-Class | Mercedes A-Class | luxury cars | Mercedes C-Class | Mercedes SLK-Class | Carlsson | car tuning | Mercedes B-Class | Cars | Car News For all of you that have a Mercedes CGI turbocharged engine in your late-model Mercedes – engine codes M270, M271EVO and M274 – Carlsson has announced that it now offers CB kits to help bump power by up to 28 percent.The base CB kit is an adapter plug that goes between the vehicle wiring harnesses and the factory ECU. This little nugget of joy communicates with the various electronic systems within your Benz, assessing the driving situation and conditions, and making adjustments to optimize power.There’s no need to worry about reliability when you install this kit, as it includes safety checks that help prevent damage that some other tuning kits may cause. First, the CB kit waits for the engine oil temperature to reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) before the performance boosts activate. Secondly, the CB kit closely monitors the limits of the CGI engine (oil temperature, coolant temperature, etc.) and drops the ECU to its normal performance if these limits are reached.This kit’s improvements range from a 24-horsepower gain in the A 180 and B 180 to a 42-horsepower gain in the A 250 and B 250.For those that want some extra power from the M271EVO engine lineup, the CBS kit is available too, which adds a larger and freer-flowing intercooler to the base CB kit. The power increases from the CBS kit range from 35 horsepower in the C 250, E 250 and SLK 250 to 45 horsepower in the C 180.When you purchase this kit, Carlsson further shows its dedication to keeping your Benz running by taking over the manufacturer’s drivetrain warranty for two years or 100,000 km (62,137 miles).Click past the jump to see the full specification sheet Carlsson Releases C-Tronic CB Kits For Mercedes-Benz Four-Cylinder CGI Engines originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 10:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.22.2013 08:00 by Kirby Garlitos Filed under: Chevrolet | coupe | Chevrolet Camaro | muscle cars | car tuning | Cars | Car Reviews | Chevrolet Don’t look now, but Orlando-based tuner Ultimate Auto is back at it with yet another fantastic aftermarket program.We’ve seen what the company can do when presented with a sports car. Imagine what kind of work it can produce with a muscle car, like the 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1?Well, we won’t have to wonder anymore because the Camaro ZL1 is precisely the subject of Ultimate Auto’s latest program. Aesthetically, the upgrades were mostly contained on the interior. The metallic black exterior is complemented by touches of grey and candy red with the latter being used as housing inserts for the custom JL Audio HD amplifiers and the 2 W7’s inside the cabin.But that’s not all of it; Ultimate Auto also added a Borla cat-back exhaust system and headers to enhance its exhaust note and relieve any back pressure. From there, a K&N carbon-fiber intake system was also installed to go with that absolutely scintillating NOS system.Just imagine the kind of damage this Camaro ZL1 can do when it’s taken to the drag strip. We can already see it leaving some poor car in a cloud of tire smoke and shame.Click past the jump to read more about the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by Ultimate Auto originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 08:00 EST. read more