2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder
When Porsche introduced the Panamera, many felt that the boys from Zuffenhausen had lost their minds, and, in the spirit of the Cayenne, has continued to drift away from the motoring ideals that the company had once stood so stoically by. All the naysayers will surely sleep soundly after reading the latest press release about Porsche’s newest toy, the Boxster Spyder. Porsche has returned to its original recipe for success that started with the 550 Spyder, and in doing so has created one of its best cars in decades. The 550 Spyder was the first car Porsche created to meet homologation rules, and in doing so, the public benefited enormously from their efforts, and was essentially able to purchase a race-worthy production vehicle. Set above the ‘S’ in Boxster trim levels, the Spyder is both the lightest and most powerful car in the lineup; it has shed 80kg over the S yet boasts an additional 10bhp for a total of 320. The mid-engined roadster also has a more aggressive suspension and will be available with Porsche’s exquisite PDK transmission. It will hit showrooms in February 2010.
Continue reading for more images.
50th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept
There aren’t many automotive designs that have endured as well as the Corvette Stingray. Now, 50 years later, some design challenges and tributes have started to trickle through to commemorate one of the great sports cars of all time. The design here pays homage to the classic shape of the Stingray with the long, sleek hood and bulging fenders. It also appears to take some design cues from the one-off Bertone Mantide as well as the Cadillac Sixteen Concept, which was also an internal GM design. From an overhead view, one spies the trademark teardrop shape towards the tail of the car, culminating with the iconic split-window rear windshield. Other design touches include a clamshell hood, scissor-style doors, ergonomic seats, rear-view camera with night vision enhancement, and a high performance hybrid drive. If Chevy is looking for inspiration for their C7, we think they should start here.
Continue reading for more images.
Koenigsegg Trevita CCXR
The Trevita CCXR is the latest limited edition of Koenigsegg’s CCXR supercar. Trevita, in Swedish, means “three whites,” a reference to the number of cars planned for production. The limited production is due to the method and material employed in the manufacturing of the car’s bodywork. In-house Koenigsegg engineers developed a special type of carbon fiber whose fibers have been coated with a diamond finish, creating a metallic white (as opposed to traditional black) color. Dubbed the Koenigsegg Proprietary Diamond Weave, the material retains the typical, interwoven carbon fiber pattern, but with a unique, sparkling finish. Other upgrades over the standard CCXR include a double carbon wing, paddle shifters, an upgraded exhaust system, carbon ceramic brakes, and an infotainment system. The 1018 horsepower 4.7 liter engine is carried over from the standard car. Pricing has not been announced, but expect a considerable premium over the CCXR’s $1.2 million price tag.
Veritas RS III
Veritas might be the oldest company no one has heard of. After a 50 year hiatus from successfully tuning prewar BMW 328s, the boutique firm has fully completed its comeback after debuting the ‘RS3 Concept’ in 2001. After years of testing and research, Veritas is poised to begin production on their RS III Roadster. The single-seater supercar will total 30 in number, and each vehicle will be assembled completely and painstakingly by hand over an 8 week period, courtesy of the company’s small 15-man staff. In the 40s, Veritas was reprimanded by BMW for unauthorized use of their prodcuts; ironically, a familiar 5-liter BMW V8 will power the RSIII over 60 years after first drawing the ire of the Munich-based marque. Weighing only 2,391 pounds and making great use of every one of its 507bhp, Veritas’ one-man racer promises to produce staggering acceleration numbers: the company claims a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 219mph. Cosmetically, the roadster looks like a caricature of a sea creature, at least from ground level. From many perspectives, the car appears to be looking back at its observers, thanks to its unique headlights. An angular, sloping nose and the sharp headlights frame the whale shark-mouth grille. While the vertically lined grille might have some thinking Maserati, but it is actually a tribute to the older Veritas models, having incorporated an almost identical look. The no-nonsense rear end, highlighted by a sharp crease at the beltline, triggers thoughts of old 60s Stingray Corvettes, minus the chrome of course. We think it looks pretty cool…maybe some other car makers should try taking a few years off.
Continue reading for more images.
Suzusho Supasse V
The international motor shows will always give us a lot to talk about, and Toyko’s is rife with funky homegrown creations. Japan’s own Suzusho will debut their Supasse V, a car that draws inspiration from, well…everything. The Lotus-sized two seater has a positively McLaren-esque windshield and cockpit, is positively Panoz-like from the side profile, and has unmistakable Ferrari taillights. Looking futher down the Supasse’s list of borrowed equipment, one finds Mazda’s new turbocharged 2.3 liter (sourced from the new Mazdaspeed 3) mounted amidships. Tipping the scales at a mere 850kg, this mini-supercar promises a terrific power-to-weight ratio. Look for it in the upcoming Tokyo show; Suzusho hopes it will hit showrooms by mid-2010.
Continue reading for more images.
Daihatsu Basket
The Basket, a unique concept car set to debut at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, is one of the few cars unveiled at the show that brings retro styling cues to mind. While most manufacturers are packing new cars with as much as they can find, the Basket is extremely minimalist. The no-nonsense interior is sparse, and covered with fabric throughout, save for an oversized speedometer and the radio. The theme continues outside, where Daihatsu’s boxy contraption gives it a “that’s easy to paraller park” look. The Basket has forsaken fuel-cell or even hybrid technology in favor of a 660cc three-cylinder, borrowed from the Mira. Although the Basket might not be for everyone, its cute, quirky, and retro feel will bring smiles to would-be owners.
Continue reading for more images.
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano China
Ferrari has collaborated with Chinese artist Lu Hao to create a one-off 599 GTB Fiorano. The 599, a very special car in its own right, has been given a very special exterior finish in addition to a few other unique tweaks. Drawing inspiration from Ge Kiln porcelain of the Song dynasty, Hao has given the Ferrari a similar “cracked glaze” pattern, with exquisite attention to detail; the color shading of the cracks varies throughout, giving the impression of varying degrees of depth. Hao, a Ferrari owner himself, has also added Chinese badging on the interior and exterior, adding a personal touch the the standard gauges and switches. This special-edition will be sold at a Gala on November 3rd, with the proceeds going to charity.
Continue reading for more images.
1961 Ol Yaller VII
This limited edition race car will be sold to the highest bidder (no reserve!) in Las Vegas at the 2nd Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. As one of only nine race cars designed by famous gearhead Max Balchowsky, this E-Type based underdog made its name taking down racing’s best. Going up against Ferrari, Aston, and Maserati was no easy feat in the 50s and 60s, but this V8-powered beast was extremely well engineered, and is still spoken highly of by racing greats like Carrol Shelby and Dan Gurney. Ol Yaller’s success wasn’t only on the track, but also on the silver screen. This particular version also appeared in the Elvis Presley film ‘Viva Las Vegas,’ which only adds to its pedigree. Look for it on the auction block this week, complete with race log books.
Continue reading for more images.
Mercedes SLS and its Ancestors
While no one will mistake the SLS AMG for the car it draws inspiration from, the lineage is obvious, and in this case, cause to celebrate. This week, Mercedes brought an SLS AMG to a Benz gathering in Sedona, California to celebrate the rebirth of its iconic gullwing design. The SLS looked right at home with its brethren, which included a bevy of classic sports cars, including the 300SL on which the SLS is based. The highlight of the get-together (other than the SLS, of course) was an ultra-rare 300SL alloy coupe; raced by motorsport greats Bruce Kessler and Lance Reventlow, it represents just 1 of 29 ever produced. All told, more than 30 historic Mercedes vehicles and hundreds of spectators attended the event.
Continue reading for more images.
Wiesmann Roadster
German sports car manufacturer Wiesmann revealed their latest creation, the MF5 Roadster, at this month’s 63rd annual Frankfurt International Motor Show. The curvaceous roadster fuses vintage styling cues with modern details and construction, and the result is a striking automobile, particularly in the red and white color scheme presented in Frankfurt. Beneath the hood lies a BMW sourced V10 (the same engine used in the M5/M6), generating 507 horsepower. Accordingly, performance figures are impressive- zero to sixty takes only 3.9 seconds and top speed is 192 miles per hour. Details are limited, but Wiesmann says just 55 examples will be produced, with pricing expected to start at $278,000.
Continue reading for more images.
