Sports Cars

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

Leib Engineering is a young and fresh company that specializes in performance tuning. The 2013 Leib BMW M3 GT 500 is their first project and it definitely is one that is ready to turn heads. You can't go wrong with a BMW M3 coupe, which is impressive as it is. Lieb gives the M3 a [...]

Posted on 05.21.2013 18:00 by Justin Cupler Filed under: Toyota | compact cars | sedan | Toyota Corolla | Cars | Car Reviews | Toyota The Toyota Corolla hasn’t been a model to get excited about since it migrated from the econo-performance rear-wheel-drive model into the front-wheel-drive pure-economy car. Granted, the S model has always added a little flair and it performs respectably for its class, but still, it’s not the type of model that we stand up and take notice of.However, it is still year in and year out one of the most reliable cars on the roads and one of the best-selling models in its class. Well, with five years passing since its last redesign and three years since its last refresh in 2011, it looks as if a new-generation Corolla is set to debut on June 6, 2013, thanks to the teaser image that Toyota posted on its Facebook wall with the text “Prepare to meet the NEW 2014 Corolla. Get excited for June 6, really excited…” to go along with it.There is no auto show scheduled for June 6th, so we can only assume that the Corolla will launch with far less fanfare than the 2013 Avalon did – thankfully. The teaser image doesn’t show too much, but it does confirm that the S model will continue into the next generation and that all-new taillights are part of the redesign package. These taillights are very similar to the 2013 Corolla Furia Concept, so we expect to see a lot of the Corolla’s design coming from this design exercise.If it carries some of the aggressiveness that the Furia did, we definitely hope the `Yota puts a little something extra under the hood, but we really doubt we will see anything more than a 130-horsepower, or so, four-cylinder engine.Stay tuned for more.Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Corolla gallery: 2013 Toyota Corolla Furia Concept Toyota Corolla originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 18:00 EST. read more

Posted on 05.21.2013 17:07 by Sulthoni , Serafim Filed under: Honda | roadster | cruisers | Honda Shadow | 2013 | Motorcycles | Motorcycle Reviews | Honda Meet the Honda Shadow RS a slightly modified version of the standard Shadow. The most important modifications include the higher-set footpegs and shorter, more upright bars. Moreover, the Shadow RS features a slightly modified fuel tank and a flatter seat. The motorcycle has also received higher pegs which improve ground clearance when cornering.At the heart of them Shadow RS lies the same 745cc liquid-cooled 52 degree V-twin with PGM-FI induction. The engine is mated on a wide-ratio five-speed transmission which feels similarly comfortable both in the city or on the highway. It is also worthy of being mentioned that the engine is fed by a pretty generous 2.6 gallons fuel tank (including 0.7-gallon reserve).The stopping power is assured by a front single 296mm disc with twin-piston caliper paired with a rear drum brake.The Honda Shadow RS is offered with a starting price of $8,240.Hit the jump for more information on the Honda Shadow RS. Honda Shadow RS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 17:07 EST. read more

Posted on 05.21.2013 17:00 by Simona Filed under: Maserati | suv | Spy Shots and Rendering | Maserati Kubang | luxury cars | Maserati Levante | Cars | Car Reviews | Maserati Shortly after Maserati unveiled the Kubang concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, rumors began circulating that a production version would be offered. Shortly after, Maserati confirmed that a production version will indeed be offered, but the production version will drop the Kubang name in favor of Levante.The SUV takes its name from the Via Emilia Levante in Bologna, where the Maserati brothers, almost a century ago, dreamed up the company that today still bears their name.The Levante will be offered with three engines: a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine delivering 410 horsepower, a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine with 530 horsepower and a turbo-diesel engine only offered in Europe. All the three engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and will send their power to all four wheels via Maserati’s new all-wheel-drive system.Maserati’s first SUV will combine exterior and interior elements from Quattroporte and Ghibli with some electronic architecture from Chrysler and Jeep.Until recently, it was rumored that the Levante would be built at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but due to the huge demand for the Jeep SUV, this isn’t a possibility. Instead, it will be produced in Italy.The Levante will be unveiled in 2014 - just in time to celebrate Maserati’s centennial.Image Note: The above image is a TopSpeed rendering and not an official image of the LevanteUpdate 5/21/2013: A report by Edmunds has revealed more information on the Levante’s production home and drivetrain. Maserati Levante originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 17:00 EST. read more