Lamborghini Gallardo replacement touted for Frankfurt motor show debut

It was only this week that we learned about Lamborghini's plans to preview a replacement for the 10 year old (!) and very successful with more than 10,000 examples built to date, Gallardo, at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in the beginning of September with a concept,reportedly named Carbrera.Now, we have a set of scoops shots that are said to be of a prototype of that supercar and which were brought to our attention (and hosted) by the Italian site Carpassion.
There's too much going on in terms of camouflage and fake panels to know what it looks like underneath, but the tester does seem to be of a similar size to the Gallardo.
German magazine AutoMotorunSport said that the next Gallardo will be based on the second generation Audi R8's lighter platform using a modified version of the current 5.2-liter V10 engine, possibly with around 600 horses, linked to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. The report said there's no word on whether a manual will be offered.
Story References: Carpassion 

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GRID 2 MONO EDITION – THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE VIDEOGAME

GRID 2 MONO EDITION – THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE VIDEOGAME

Codemasters have announced that the world’s most expensive videogame – the GRID 2™: Mono Edition – is available for pre-order with a price tag of $190,000 (£125,000). This exclusive edition of the game is available for just one customer and in

cludes the highly anticipated racing game GRID 2, a PlayStation® 3 to play it on, a 170mph. BAC Mono supercar – sporting a GRID 2 livery – and full driver race wear.

The BAC Mono is a British manufactured, road-legal, ultra-high performance supercar which stars in the game. Created from high-strength carbon fiber, the BAC Mono is an unrivalled example of light-weight performance engineering and its 2.3 liter, 280 bhp four cylinder power plant will propel its driver from 0-60 m.p.h. in just 2.8 seconds.

At $190,000 (£125,000), the GRID 2™: Mono Edition has set a new Guinness World Records™ title for the “Most Expensive Video Game Commercially Available – Special Edition” and will include a range of extras for the buyer to enjoy the ultimate experience of racing the car in-game and driving it in real life. The GRID 2: Mono Edition includes:

A copy of GRID 2 for PlayStation 3 featuring bespoke packaging artwork
BAC Mono supercar in exclusive GRID 2 livery
A day at the BAC factory, which includes a factory tour and time spent with technicians, to customize the BAC Mono for size and specifications
A GRID 2: Mono Edition branded Bell Racing helmet
Race suit, boots & gloves all made to measure in BAC Mono and GRID 2 branding
A PlayStation 3

The GRID 2: Mono Edition is available to pre-order at www.game.co.uk/en/grid-2-bac-mono-edition-228776, and non-UK customers can contact sales@bac-mono.com to register their interest.

“BAC is immensely proud and excited at the release of GRID 2: Mono Edition; a game which offers an opportunity for one lucky person to own a truly unique supercar,” said Neill Briggs, Project Director, BAC Mono. “Codemasters has developed a stunning game which focuses on delivering the ultimate driving experience and Mono is the ultimate expression of this, in both the real and virtual worlds.”

The game’s record-breaking achievement has been shortlisted for entry into the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition.

GRID 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, critically acclaimed GRID™ and will invite players race only the world’s most exciting racing cars on city streets, licensed circuits and open-roads. From Paris to Dubai and Barcelona to California, gamers will journey from rookie to racing superstar as they blaze to the top of World Series Racing, a new world of professional motorsport.

GRID 2 MONO EDITION – THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE VIDEOGAME

Need for Speed: Rivals Racing Game Announced, Shows Impressive Graphical Fidelity in Teaser

There has been a lot of talk about the Need for Speed movie recently, and you’ll hear the name even more now that "Need for Speed: Rivals"racing game has been announced through a short teaser trailer designed to impress with the excellent graphics backed up by the “All Footage From Game Engine” message, which basically means that this is how the final game will look like.Set to be released on November 19, the game will be compatible with both current- and next-gen consoles, as well as PCs.
Furthemore, if the reveal trailer is anything to go by, then this should be a very pretty game. However, we wonder how publisher Electronic Arts will manage to keep the series fresh, because while the formula is a tried and tested one, it is a bit on the old side, having been recycled in basically the same form since the days of Need for Speed III from 1998…
Still, we’re looking forward to seeing some actual gameplay footage as well as developer commentary to better understand what they’re trying to achieve with it.

VIDEO

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Maserati Boss Denies Development of LaFerrari Sibling

Maserati CEO Harald Wester denied reports that the Modena-based carmaker will develop its own version of the Ferrari LaFerrari supercar.

According to an Edmunds report, at the launch of the Maserati Quattroporte V6, Wester dismissed stories about the project as unfounded, although Maserati had in the past built its own derivative of Ferrari’s Enzo, the MC12. However, the CEO confirmed that Maserati plans to offer new limited-edition models, although he did not offer further details.
Maserati doesn’t lack the means to build special-series models at its Modena plant in Italy, which has been designated to build the Alfa Romeo 4C mid-engined sports car and has previously built the Alfa 8C Competizione, in both coupe and convertible variants.
The Italians aim to lift their annual sales from 6,300 to 50,000 by 2015, thanks to new models like the Ghibli sedan and Levante SUV, as well as renewed models like the Quattroporte. Maserati is also counting on rapidly growing sales in China and expansion in its traditional markets, such as the United States.
Wester said that Maserati has received more than 1,800 orders for the new Quattroporte from the U.S., with 2,850 orders coming from China and 640 from Europe. This brings total Quattroporte orders for the first four months of the year to more than 6,100. Orders for the entire range, including the GranTurismo, GranCabrio and Ghibli, top 10,000.
The Ghibli will be built in Maserati’s Grugliasco plant in Turin, which has an annual capacity of 37,800 units. The company is also expanding its dealer network to boost sales, with the number of U.S. outlets set to rise from 64 to 85 by the end of 2014.


Maserati Rendering Courtesy of Anton Gjorsev 

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Watch Fast & Furious Cast React in Shock After Learning Car Prices in Singapore

We often hear from our many Singapore readers in Top Speed' comments about the ludicrous car prices in the country, but it never gets old. While most of the cast from the Fast and Furious movies is portrayed in the franchise as genuine gearheads, in reality they aren't as near as knowledgeable, which makes their reactions upon learning about car prices in Singapore absolutely…priceless.

In a video interview about the sixth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise on Razor TV, journalist John Lui came up with the smart idea of asking the actors to guess the prices of cars in the country.

He started by quizzing Michelle Rodriguez and Gina Carano, who were both shocked to learn that a Nissan Sylphy (Sentra in North America) costs a head-banging  $90,000 or €70,000 (in the States, it starts at $15,990 / €12,500), and that the Subaru BRZ starts at $130,000 or €101,500 (U.S. prices begin at $25,495 / €19,800).

Rodriguez was also surprised to learn that the BRZ was made by a…Japanese carmaker (and then you wonder why consumer studies show that buyers think Hyundai is Japanese).

Lui went on to ask Vin Diesel and Luke Evans about the price of the Toyota Prius ($154,000), BMW 6 Series ($330,000) and Honda Accord 2.4L ($130,000). You won't be surprised to learn that none of the actors came even close to guessing the correct MSRPs.

As pointed out by Jalopnik that first caught the video, the main reason why car prices are so high in Singapore is because the government applies ridiculous taxes to discourage consumers from buying automobiles, supposedly to reduce traffic congestion.

VIDEO

Ford Receives 3,000 Orders for the Fiesta ST, More than Half Are from the UK

Ford announced that it has received 3,000 European orders for the new Fiesta ST since the car reached dealerships in March. The markets where the Fiesta ST was most wanted were the UK, Germany and Switzerland.More than half of all models sold to date went to the UK, with Germany and Switzerland ranking next. The most popular color chosen by Fiesta ST buyers was the Spirit Blue, requested in 27 percent of orders. Frozen White and Race Red followed next.
As for the interior, more than 60 percent of customers opted for a Smoke Storm Torino leather interior in Charcoal black which complements the carbon fiber dashboard inserts, alloy-metal pedals and gearshifter, ST steering wheel and Recaro seats. The 17-inch Rado Grey alloy wheels with red brake calipers have been specified by 90 percent of customers, with a further 19 percent opting for the Sony DAB radio and navigation option with 5-inch color screen.
The new Ford Fiesta ST is powered by a 182 PS (180 hp) 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline engine and rides on a chassis developed by Ford Team RS, the European arm of Ford’s Global Performance Vehicle group. The hot hatch sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph).
The Fiesta ST is priced from £16,995 in the UK and from €19,990 in Germany.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Porsche Says 918 Spyder will be Faster than Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1

Despite having less power and being heavier that its archrivals the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, Porsche believes the upcoming 918 Spyder will be the faster than both. At least that’s what Porsche’s product manager James Eastwood said in an interview with CAR magazine.

The question on everyone’s lips is whether Porsche will upgrade the 918’s engine and electric motors producing a combined 795-horses to match its rivals' outputs of more than 900bhp. The answer is a surprising no.

“We don’t need to,” Eastwood told the publication. “Although our car is heavier, its technology makes the car faster on the road and track. In rear-drive cars like our competitors, you still have to do all your braking in a straight line, compromising corner-entry speed. Thanks to the 918’s torque-vectoring and independently-driven front wheels, we can maintain better drive and achieve far higher entry and mid-corner speed.”

Eastwood added that the 918 Spyder will weigh 1,700 kilograms (3,748 pounds), with fuel and fluids on board. However, the lightweight Weissach package will cut 50 kg (110 pounds) of weight from the car. Speaking of the optional package, Eastwood said around 50 percent of customers have opted for it.

As for the number of 918 Spyders that are spoken for, Eastwood didn’t provide details, but said Porsche will have no problems selling the 918 units it will make. “We can’t confirm sales numbers, but even though we are producing far more cars than LaFerrari (499) and McLaren P1 (375) we’re not worried about selling 918 examples being a problem. Our last limited-edition supercar – the Carrera GT – sold 1,275 units,” said Eastwood.

Final performance specs are not yet ready, but the product manager said Porsche expects cars with finished aerodynamics and powertrains to improve on the current numbers. The 0-100 km/h sprint time is now under 3 seconds, with top speed rated at 203 mph (327 km/h).

By Dan Mihalascu On  carscoops.com

first pictures of the Lamborghini Egoista

You thought you'd seen in Lamborghini with Veneno? Actually, no. To mark a little more the world of sports car, the Italian manufacturer has a very impressive innovation that bears his name.

In March, Lamborghini stuck a big slap visual visitors to the Geneva Motor Show with its Veneno , a supercar out of overly aggressive pricing built in only three copies. We thought we had reached the pinnacle of provocation but the brand Lamborghini in Sant'Agata just authorize another ultra-limited supercar,

whose style appears at least as amazing. This time it is the big boss of design all Volkswagen group that began at the helm of style. Walter de Silva is Italian, maybe it was for him a matter of honor. The Egoista is probably the most car deliberately caricature of our time, it seems to come from a generation of science fiction or garage Bruce Wayne. Self has been presented at a large gathering of Lamborghini organized to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the brand. The Egoista is somehow the star attraction in these celebrations, it was shown before an invited audience handpicked, with very little technical information about it. So that people initially thought it was called Ecosta due to a typo in a Tweet this presentation! Journalist Egoista, this is in reference to the cockpit which can accommodate one pilot and no passengers. It is amusing to think that his style is inspired by the Apache attack helicopter since it has two good places. We know that the car is heavily loaded with carbon fiber materials and ultra -light and is powered by a 5.2 liter V10 probably taken from the Gallardo Superleggera. Obviously his weight should be at the level of the Sesto Elemento concept or perhaps even below, just to provide a power to weight ratio terrifying. This is the moment that a concept car, it is unclear that Lamborghini plans to do. A single copy sold a fortune? A small limited edition? To follow, no doubt very soon
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Bertone reveals one-off Aston Martin Jet 2+2

In advance of next week’s Geneva Motor Show, Italian coachbuilder Bertone has published the first official images of a stunning shooting brake based on the latest 2014 Aston Martin Rapide. The new concept, dubbed the Jet 2+2, has been created to celebrate both Aston’s centenary in
2013, and 60 years of collaborations between Aston and Bertone. The new shooting brake features many of the visual enhancements of the latest Aston Martin Rapide S, like the aggressive grille ; while under the hood and the Jet 2+2 uses the same 476bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine that powers the Rapide. Unfortunately, only one example will be built. You like?

Icona Vulcano revealed

The Icona Vulcano hybrid supercar has debuted in Shanghai, capable of hitting 220mph

On display at the Shanghai Motor Show is a new hybrid supercar from Chinese brand Icona, called the Vulcano.

The two-seater offers buyers a choice of two powertrains: a petrol V12 and single electric motor sending 937bhp to the rear, or a twin-turbo V6 driving the back wheels and two electric motors turning the front axle, with a total output of 858bhp. The less powerful set-up is called H-Turismo, while the more powerful is called H-Competizione. Icona hasn't released many specifics but has claimed that the V12-powered variant can hit 220mph. 

The powertrain was apparently designed by Claudio Lombardi, the man responsible for many of

Lancia's World Rally Championship victories in the 80s. 

The Vulcano been designed at Icona’s Shanghai base by a team led by ex-Nissan designer Samuel Chuffart. Its stance looks every bit the supercar, with a notable resemblance to the Ferrari F12berlinetta. 

The Vulcano is a showcase for the new company, which claims to offer “European transportation design, engineering and prototyping services, refined to meet Chinese tastes and expectations”.

Jeep gunning to build 250,000 Cherokees a year

Contrary to what a certain politician may have said last year about Jeep moving to China, the automaker is in fact doing the opposite, with plans to greatly increase the production capacity at its Toledo North Assembly plant in Ohio. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that there are big plans for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and Toledo North, as a local union president has informed the newspaper that Chrysler is planning to produce around 250,000 examples of the new midsize utility per year.



To put this number into context, 250,000 units is more than what Jeep Liberty sales totaled here over the last three years combined. Even taking into consideration that the 250,000 units will be distributed beyond US borders, that's an ambitious volume figure full-stop – and that's without taking into consideration the new Cherokee's love/hate design. In its favor, though, Jeep is making remarkable inroads globally as of late, and the Cherokee's size could work well in emerging markets. To get that kind of output from Toledo's Cherokee assembly line, Chrysler will reportedly hire 1,105 new workers – that's in addition to the 200 workers already being hired to build the popular Jeep Wrangler, which is itself expected to top 220,000 units this year.

 

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic review notes

EXECUTIVE: Perhaps my judgment was skewed by several days of driving larger Mercedes-Benz GL-class SUVS, but this little 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic felt surprisingly nimble and quick for a 2-ton utility vehicle. Mash the gas
and the GLK350 lays down power to all four wheels and rips off the line, leaving anyone thinking “chick ute” sniffing your exhaust fumes. That tag, hung on the GLK when Mercedes made what I think was an ill-reasoned decision to make the car a featured element of the “Sex in the City” movie (I can still picture the spy shot of Samantha's long, perfect gam descending out of the driver's door -- but I seriously digress), no longer applies to this harder, more masculine model. Though the new-to-the-U.S. BMW X1 is probably a touch sportier, it could be argued that the GLK is the edgier looking of the pair.

Aside from pure straight-line acceleration, the GLK seems ready and willing to attack the corners and carve the apexes, its high chassis not yielding much roll and its tires and suspension keeping the car stuck tightly to the road. The brakes seem a little spongy, but they work (and the GLs all seem a little touchy in the brakes, so that could be affected my judgment again).

The downside: This tranny seems to have a mind of its own, shifting oddly in both sport and economy modes, with related engine management seemingly disconnected from the gas pedal at times. Not a good feeling.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic

Base Price: $39,965

As-Tested Price: $47,675

Drivetrain: 3.5-liter v6; AWD, seven-speed automatic

Output: 302 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 273 lb-ft @ 3,500-5,250 rpm

Curb Weight: 4,079 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 19/24/21 mpg

AW Observed Fuel Economy: 22.1 mpg

Options: Premium 1 package including auto-dimming mirrors, driver memory with four-way lumbar support and power tilt and telescoping steering column, power liftgate, iPod/MP3 media interface, SiriusXM satellite radio, panorama sunroof, 115-volt AC power outlet, integrated garage door opener, compass in rearview mirror ($3,450); multimedia package including rearview camera, enhanced voice control, COMAND with hard drive navigation ($2,790); heated front seats ($750); Lunar blue exterior paint ($720)

VIDEO : Live the excitement with the sound of the engine "AUDI R8 V10 Plus"

The brand has released the rings on his YouTube channel a video of the Audi R8 V10 Plus in action on a dyno. Half undressed, the supercar offers a unique view of the engine and an incredible soundtrack.

The Audi R8 V10 Plus screams

The brand with the rings extracted an Audi R8 V10 More traffic to make a new video. It allows fans to see the meteor V10 5.2 TFSI engine with 550 horsepower spit flames and hear her screams at high speeds.

The Audi R8 V10 Plus materializes before your eyes from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.5 seconds, it performs only. At the end of acceleration, through the seven reports, the Audi R8 V10 Plus reaches the speed of 319 km / h. The video has already been viewed over 200,000 times.

Top of range

The Audi R8 V10 Plus is the top of the range and R8 and differs from its sisters by optical outputs and LED exhaust round. The Audi R8 V10 Plus is equipped with a new gearbox with seven reports.

His weight down 50 pounds thanks to carbon-ceramic brakes and body parts in carbon fiber reinforced polymer. The Audi R8 V10 Plus is charged € 175,500.

Gibbs outlines sales plans for new BMW-powered $40,000 Quadski land and sea ATV [w/video]

We've reported on news about Gibbs Sports Amphibians here in the past; the company has spent years developing products that are equally at home on the land and in the water. In fact, in addition to the (relatively) well-known Aquada amphibious car, we've know that Gibbs has been working on this amphibious ATV for years.

And while the company's Aquada got strung up in red tape, its has finally announced that the vehicle shown here, dubbed Quadski, is just about to head into production with a price tag estimated at $40,000. 

After just quick glance in its wheels-down position, the Quadski may seem like your typical ATV, but the truth is that it is an entirely singular concept. Powered by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder (sourced from BMW) pushing out 175 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque, the Quadski is capable of attaining speeds of 45 miles per hour on land and on the water. Though quite a sizable vehicle – the Quadski weighs in at a hearty 1,300 pounds and measures more than 10-feet long – the one-passenger amphibian is likely to have a significant range/operating envelope thanks to its 15-gallon gas tank. The Quadski can be driven directly from the land into the water; its four wheels retract and deploy at the push of a button.

Gibbs is expecting to find a substantial market for the Quadski, too. The company states that some $200 million have been invested in the vehicle's 15-year development to date. Production of the aquaquad will commence at a facility in Auburn Hills, MI, where maximum production capability is expected to see some 20 units per hour completed. Total output for the first year is expected to be a much more modest 1,000 units, however.

Official pricing will be announced just a little bit closer to the Quadski's on-sale date, sometime in mid-November. Gibbs expects to open around 20 dealership locations over the next 12 months, focusing on the Midwest, New York, Texas and the southeastern US to start.

Elon Musk says NYT story cost Tesla $100 million

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told Bloomberg TV on Monday that the recent negative New York Times review of the Model S sedan decreased the company's stock-market value by as much as $100 million.

The NYT-Tesla saga began on Feb. 8 with reviewer John Broder recounting the tale of how he was stranded when the Model S didn't live up to its 300-mile claimed range. Musk bit back the following week, saying the review was a “fake” and that the reviewer didn't follow the correct charging and driving procedures. The Times' public editor countered in a blog on the paper's website, but he admitted there were some flaws in the story.

When the Bloomberg interviewer pressed Musk on the $100 million quote, saying that would equal 1,000 cancelled orders, Musk backpedaled, saying that number includes sales and “brand damage.”

Bloomberg did report that Tesla's shares fell 8 percent between the day the article was posted and Feb. 22. That translates to a slide of about $356 million.

The electric Tesla Model S has been a lightning rod both for praise and criticism. On one hand, it'll beat a BMW M5 sedan to 60 mph. In our hands, it got stuck in a driveway. Many allege that Musk and Tesla are using the public for beta testing, while others point to the fact that the car has won several awards.

To us, these high and low points represent the birthing pains of a new automaker still coming into its own.

The full interview from Bloomberg:

Subaru Viziv Concept Previews Future Styling, Diesel-Hybrid Tech

At the 2013 Geneva Motor Showtoday, Subaru held the worldwide debut of its Viziv Concept, a future-generation crossover concept with a Subaru Boxer Diesel Hybrid under the hood.

The Subaru Boxer Diesel Hybrid is a proposal to the future of Subaru powerplants, which combines a 2.0-liter Subaru Boxer diesel engine with a plug-in hybrid system. A high-torque-compatible Lineartronic (CVT) features a front motor that provides both vehicle drive and power generation while two independent rear motors are used for vehicle drive only. The powertrain selects the best time to use each power unit helping achieve high fuel economy.

As for the styling, the Japanese automaker announced that the Viziv Concept represents the new design direction and technologies that will “take the Subaru brand into the future.” The Viziv name is inspired by the phrase “Vision for Innovation” and expresses the automaker’s future vision of innovation and the future direction of the brand.

The concept itself was designed with simple and clean surfaces and lines. According to Subaru, the aim was to create the ideal balance between a solid-looking body and a condensed cabin. The exterior was finished off with a pleasant-on-the-eyes Mistral Silver Metallic shade.

Actual performance figures of the Viziv Concept were not provided, though the idea of a Subaru Boxer Diesel Hybrid is certainly… interesting.