Bugatti Veyron kit car – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’ve got a pulse in your wrist and a snapping brain cell in your head, chances are you wouldn’t mind parking a in your garage. But for most mere mortals, scrounging up the cash for a physics-bending piece of 16-cylinder glory would require all sorts of unpalatable tasks. Fortunately for those who want to look the part without having to participate in human trafficking, the kit car universe has stepped in to save the day. All you need is a 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar, a boat load of fiberglass and a little patience.
Oh, and $89,000.
Is that cheaper than an actual Veyron? Sure. Is it $73,000 more than we’d pay for this car? Absolutely. For that low price you’ll get all the looks of the Bug with a fraction of the actual performance. Buyers can look forward to a blistering 170 horsepower from a 2.5-liter V6 kicking at the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission. Don’t expect much else.
This particular machine is up for bid via , with four days left on the auction. Act now.
KTM X-Bow – Click above for high-res image gallery
Long ago, we told you that the was in street-legal form. Now, the magic moment is upon us – the Audi-powered, carbon fiber X-Bow is available now as a special construction vehicle kit car through British Racing Group, LLC.
The X-Bow is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection, good for 240 horsepower. While 240 hp isn’t exactly astronomical by anyone’s standards, the X-Bow’s Formula 1-style carbon fiber monocoque chassis means it’ll shoot to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. This lightweight chassis also helps the X-Bow pull 1.5g on a skidpad if you’re running track tires. When you finally manage to terrify yourself and your passenger, as you inevitably will, huge Brembo brakes will bring you to a halt from 60 mph in just 99 feet.
To get the car legal for stateside use, KTM has to import the X-Bow as a kit car, which means supplying the Audi powerplant is up to you. To get your hands on one, contact British Racing Group, where you’ll get an estimated purchase price proposal from one of the customer relations specialists.
A good roadtrip needs a few items for success; great people, interesting destinations and, of course, the right vehicles. We can’t vouch for the people on a personal level in this tale, but Autoweek took on a Texas roadtrip and seems to have gotten the ingredients just right. How do six tuned , 800 miles and four breweries sound? As long as the drinking is done when the driving is finished (which of course it was), then you would be correct to say it sounds like heaven on earth.
Autoweek’s Jeff Bolton embarked on a quest for good German beer, using good German sports cars to shuttle him around the Great State of Texas. Starting in Dallas, the crew moves about until they end up in Shiner, Texas, where they chat with long-time brewmaster Jimmy Mauric.
If roadtrips were eligible for awards, this Texas Porsche beer run would be an early front-runner for Best of 2011. Head over to , and be sure to .
Morgan Threewheeler – Click above for high-res image gallery
Morgan wants us all to know that we can take our four wheels and go play somewhere else. The automaker has officially yanked the sheets back on its ridiculously awesome Threewheeler for the first time. This machine is powered by a fuel-injected, 115-horsepower V-Twin engine mated to a five-speed gearbox, allowing Morgan to serve up hop-in-and-drive convenience while still maintaining the aesthetic of the company’s old three-wheel design. The tubular chassis remains exposed in some places and the company says that there’s just enough room for a driver, a co-pilot and bit of gear.
We’re in love.
Power is shuffled to the rear wheel via a V-belt, and Morgan says that the sole aim of the Threewheeler is to make driving fun once again. We’ve got to think that improving the company’s average CO2 emissions doesn’t hurt the vehicle’s case, either.
British buyers will be able to lay down a mere £25,000 (about $40,000 USD, based on current exchange rates) before taxes for the privilege of ownership, and bespoke options like a leather interior, custom paint and unique graphics are all available, as well. for the full press release as well as a video teaser of the vehicle.
Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above to watch video
While the Nürburgring circuit seems to be today’s venue of choice for sports car bragging rights, the drag strip remains king when it comes to acceleration contests. With that in mind, the folks over at Hennessey Performance have released a video of their latest hopped-up V650 Wagon taking on ’s venerable . As expected, the 650-horsepower “Family Station Wagon” nudges the lighter 480-horsepower “Germany’s Finest” coupe for the win.
Wait a second.
The video clearly states the Porsche has a “Tiptronic” transmission. This means it is an older, pre-2010 model (note the lack of LED brake lights) that’s missing the current lightning-fast dual-clutch PDK gearbox and standard limited-slip rear end. We don’t know for sure, but it could even be an aged . Thanks to launch control, today’s standard 500-horsepower 997 Turbo does 0-60 in less than three seconds… easily. It is also disclosed that the V650 is riding on drag radials – a big advantage over street compounds on a well-used strip.
Nobody’s downplaying the ferociousness of the blown wagon, and we welcome this type of challenge, but let’s be sure to choose our words more carefully and keep the contestants in the same era. to watch the video.
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Trans-Am series of the late 1960s and early 1970s could be considered the golden era of American motorsports. Not only did it showcase the most desirable American cars of the time, but it featured some of the world’s greatest racing drivers engaging in this country’s own brand of fender-banging racing.
It’s why is so proud of the Boss 302, winner of the 1970 Trans-Am season with legendary driver Parnelli Jones behind the wheel, and why the street car has become a legend. But ask Jim Farley, Ford’s head honcho of marketing, about the 2012 Mustang Boss 302, and he’ll tell you that it’s not just about building a remake of the original. “This is not a nostalgia project,” he told us. “This is not in any way trying to bring back the Boss. This project is so much more than that. If we wanted to do that we could take a 5.0-liter, put some stripes and spoilers and other upgrades on it and that would be it. It was not a means to an end. The Boss 302 was originally a means to an end. It was a production car to go racing. This is a completely different project. We were not going to do this project unless we could beat an at this track.” This track being the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
With Bavaria’s best sportscar in it sights, did achieve its goal of building a modern day legend, or is the 2012 Boss 302 simply another one of the infinite variations of the ? Ford invited us out to Monterey for a full day with the car, including some track time at Laguna Seca, and we have the answer.
Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302…
In mid-October, announced that its would be eligible for a $1,300 tax credit. The electrified midsize sedan was scheduled to hit dealerships in late 2010 and the first 60,000 buyers in line to plop down some cash for the Sonata Hybrid would’ve pocketed that credit. However, there was a hitch: the Sonata Hybrid was delayed, .
What caused the delay? Well, according to Hyundai chief executive officer John Krafcik, a last-minute modification to the vehicle’s “virtual engine sound” system, made “amazingly late in the process” was the culprit. The automaker initially developed the Sonata Hybrid with a feature that would allow drivers to disable the vehicle’s pedestrian warning system, but after the requiring hybrids and plug-in vehicles to automatically emit audible sounds at low speeds, Hyundai’s manual disable functionality had to be axed.
According to , that modification required changes to the vehicle’s wiring harnesses, user-interface software and owner’s manual, which caused the lengthy delay. Hyundai delivered the first 2011 Sonata Hybrid in January.
It typically takes months, if not years after a concept car debuts before an automaker confirms whether it will or will not go into production. But in the case of the Renault Captur, it hasn’t even been publicly unveiled yet and reports are already surfacing about its production car future.
According to foreign reports, Renault will build the dynamic crossover as part of the next generation of Clio hatchbacks due next year. Of course, certain elements will be lost in translation from show stand to showroom, but we hope the nifty turn signals integrated into the bodywork make the transition. Those wheels are pretty sweet, too.
We’ll get our first glimpse at the Captur concept at the next week.
2012 Saab 9-5 SportCombi – Click above to watch the video
Hello, gorgeous.
Truth be told, we’re usually smitten with any new wagon-shaped design, but there’s something about the that’s just particularly eye-catching. Perhaps its the rakish rear window, or how the sleek front end of the new-for-2010 works so well with the more cargo-friendly body. Maybe it’s the big dual exhausts out back, or the blade-like 19-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels.
In any case, will officially reveal its 2012 9-5 SportCombi at the next week, and we now have our first video glance at the road-ready car. We don’t yet have the full details about the 9-5 SportCombi, but the safe bet is that powertrains, transmissions and interior amenities will be carried over from the sedan.
to see Saab’s reveal video of the 2012 9-5 SportCombi for yourself, and stay tuned to our Geneva show coverage next week for live impressions of the shapely new wagon. Hat tip to AA!
has announced that it’s voluntarily recalling approximately 2.17 million vehicles due to possible pedal entrapment issues. In case you’ve forgotten about from last year, this new issue affects 2.17 million more vehicles where the driver’s side floor mat can become a potential hazard. Uh oh.
In October of 2009, because of possible issues with the floor mats. In January of 2010, the automaker due to an issue with sticking accelerator pedals.
2006-2007 Lexus GS 300 and 350 all-wheel-drive models (20,000 units)
2004-2007 (372,000 units)
Toyota will be sending out notices to vehicle owners by first-class mail, and dealerships will fix the issue with no cost to the owner. As of this writing, Toyota states that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries related to this new set of recalls. The automaker’s official press release is available .
has officially announced earnings for its first full year of business after its emergence from bankruptcy. The automaker brought in $135.6 billion in revenue with a net income of $4.7 billion, which marks GM’s first profit since 2004. Additionally, that profit was the largest for The General since 1999. Previously, GM had racked up $100 billion in losses.
Being in the black is good news for the automaker’s 50,000 hourly workers who are expected to receive bonuses averaging $4,300 as part of a profit sharing program.
According to CNN Money, the change of pace is thanks largely to three things: strong U.S. sales, a growing auto market in China and a significantly lower cost structure thanks to the automaker’s trip through bankruptcy.
GM Shares have inched up on the news, despite the fact that the stock market as a whole has dropped by five percent on blooming oil prices. CNN Money reports that GM shares are up five percent as a whole since the company’s IPO last November, but that those shares will need to jump by 50 percent in order for tax payers to recoup the government’s investment in the company. for the press release.
StarTech Jaguar XJ – Click above for high-res image gallery
StarTech, a division of the mad tuning company Brabus, offers upgrades for high-end vehicles from the likes of and . Formerly only available if you didn’t live in the US of A, the company has now opened up shop in the States. StarTech now calls Irvine, California home to its U.S. operations.
The StarTech modifications are not as . StarTech focuses more on style enhancements for the British luxury sedans, coupes and SUVs. Wheels, aero upgrades and suspension pieces are typical components of a StarTech package, and it will show off the .
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
How do you determine how environmentally friendly an automobile is? Certainly, fuel efficiency will be factored in rather highly, as will all manner of tailpipe emissions. But that’s only part of the story. Consider that there are many ways to power a vehicle; gasoline, diesel, electricity or any combinations thereof. Plus, you have to determine what actually goes into producing the vehicle and getting it into the hands of the consumer.
As you can see, assigning environmental grades to our current crop of cars and trucks is anything but an exact science, and the results will no doubt be swayed by how much emphasis is put on any given factor. And so it comes as no surprise that there are a number of differing opinions concerning the latest green machines to hit the market, and that may apply to the more than any other.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy publishes a list of green vehicles every year. For the last few, the has parlayed its compressed natural gas running gear into a victory on . We won’t argue with that determination, and we also don’t see any issues with the all-electric earning the silver position… but that’s where things get murkier. The comes in at number three, followed by the , and . The next five slots are filled with compact and subcompact sedans and hatchbacks.
Are you asking yourself where the Volt fits in? So was . Speaking to Forbes, spokesman Rob Peterson had this to say:
Their logic would escape the majority of consumers. If you look at the EPA ratings for the Smart fortwo at 33 city and 41 highway, it’s actually less than the Volt’s after the electric range is exhausted. We’re being penalized against the Smart because our car is a four-seater with a battery pack and therefore weighs more. And we lose against the Leaf because we have a gas engine. But you really have to look at how the car is actually used – their methodology doesn’t add up.
No matter your personal opinion, one thing is for certain: As more and more category-bending vehicles hit the market, this topic isn’t going to be resolved any time soon.
Opel Zafira Tourer Concept – Click above for high-res image
We’ve seen lots of ways for an automaker to unveil a new car. They can do it online, at a special event, at an auto show. They can show us sketches and spy shots, they can give us a full array of photos, or they can make it all a big surprise when they pull back the sheet live in person. But this has got to be a new one: Opel has given us our first look at its latest concept car via hologram.
Well, not quite. It’s not like we’re looking at the hologram right now. What we’re looking at is a picture of a hologram, ostensibly generated by an iPad held by Opel/Vauxhall’s design chief Mark Adams. But that’s not the point: the point is that GM’s European and British subsidiaries will be unveiling this new concept next week in Geneva, and we won’t need a hologram or an iPad to see it.
The show car is called the Zafira Tourer Concept, and serves as a preview for the next generation of minivan based on the Corsa. It’s one of several new debuts for Opel at the European expo, joining the production Ampera (the overseas version of the ) and facelifted versions of both the crossover and Corsa hatchback. We’ll be on hand to see them up close and personal, but for now we’ve placed the press release for all those interested.
The ToyotaPlug-in Prius won’t be hitting . Before that happens, is getting ready to produce an “add-on” for the vehicle, but it’s one you don’t take with the car. What are we talking about? An in-home charging station.
Priced up to $2,045 (200,000 Yen) if you include installation, two charging stations will be available: one mounted to an exterior wall and one intended to stay inside a garage.
The chargers will reportedly be compatible with other vehicle makes (assuming they use the same plug standards, we’d guess…) and the automaker is expecting to sell between 20,000 and 30,000 in the first year alone. That’s a lot of electrification, no?
Since it opened for business at the turn of the millennium, Spyker Cars has charted an unusual path. Essentially re-inagurating a brand no one had ever heard of in a country not exactly known for automobile production, the Dutch automaker then set about launching its own F1 team. That venture ended up failing, so Spyker pulled another surprise move when it bought from . And now Spyker is selling its own luxury sportscar business to a British concern.
The sale, it should be stressed, does not include Saab, leaving Spyker ostensibly to run the Swedish automaker without distraction. The buyers, CPP Global Holdings Ltd, is a coachbuilder based in Coventry, England, that has supplied Spyker with the chassis and body panels for all its cars from the beginning, and took over the entire production process of the new C8 Aileron which is just now ramping up.
The transaction has not been finalized, but a memorandum of understanding has been signed at 15 million euros up front and another 17 million over the course of the next six years, which at current conversion rates comes out to a bit over $44m. Official announcement in the press release after the jump.
Drifting on ice causes facial distortion in some passengers – Click above to watch video
Drifting on ice sounds a lot more exciting than Disney on Ice. At least to us, anyway.
A back-seat full of Japanese comedians may beg to differ after going for a sideways slide in the back seat of an older Mitsubishi Evo. There really isn’t much for us to add to this clip because… well, we don’t really know what’s going on. We do know that the action is fast and furious while the comedians’ expressions are of shock and sickness. and see the sideways-drama unfold for yourself.
Oh, and can we just say how crazy and insane – and undeniably entertaining – Japanese game shows tend to be?
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Race Car at Sebring – Click above for high-res image gallery
There’s really not a whole lot more we can tell you about the pair of that will be forming a two-pronged attack of the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT starting on March 25 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
That said, we can still all stare at all the pretty pictures that has been so kind as to release upon the masses. Check out our high-res image gallery below, where you’ll see the two cars in all their specially prepared, tire-squealing and exhaust-popping glory. Also note that this is the first time the cars have been displayed wearing the official livery of Andy Pilgrim (the No. 8 car) and teammate Johnny O’Connell (the No. 3 car) and they are lapping Sebring for a .
Smart ForSpeed Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Daimler has been so kind as to serve up a heaping helping of photos ahead of the vehicle’s unveil at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. As you may recall, the concept packs a 41-horsepower electric motor that can whisk this topless wonder all the way to 37 miles per hour in around 5.5 seconds. For reference, those numbers make up a two second improvement over the standard, production version . We aren’t into denying the fact that two seconds is no small gap, but we wouldn’t exactly go around calling this contraption quick, either.
The ForSpeed will hit the stage next month without a top, though Smart has been kind enough to include a toneau cover should the skies open up while you’re waiting to get to the vehicle’s top speed of 75 mph. The good news is that the ForSpeed carries a range of around 85 miles and can be quick charged to 80 percent of capacity in about 45 minutes.
