There are very few things that get the unanimous approval of everyone here at Autoblog. One of them is Icon 4×4, which makes impossibly expensive yet worth-every-penny reimaginings of history’s best off-roaders. For this year’s , Icon debuted something new that had nothing to do with off-roading, yet still had our whole team salivating.
Christened a “Derelict” by Icon founder and designer Jonathon Ward, this looks like an abused artifact from a time not worth remembering. Knowing Icon like we do, however, it’s anything but. The Derelict is fitted with a 6.2-liter V8 from producing 430 horsepower and an interior upholstered in gorgeous vintage briefcase leather, but the exterior is as original and rusty as it was when Icon found it. What we didn’t know at SEMA is that the ‘52 Chevy isn’t the first Derelict that Icon produced.
Our friends at have produced an excellent video about how the two Derelicts came to be, including how Jonathon Ward and his company made them. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t as easy as dropping a new engine into an old car and redoing the leather. The Derelicts were meant to be high-performance yet reliable daily drivers, which requires more thought and engineering than we ever imagined.
to be one of the first to watch this latest video from eGarage.
When Steve Saleen launched his new company, SMS Supercars, back in 2008, he announced that he would be expanding his portfolio of vehicles to include the muscle car offerings from and . First up was the , followed soon after by the .
Now, Steve Saleen’s muscle car trifecta is finally complete, as SMS officially unveiled the 620 Camaro at this week. The car maintains the styling cues featured on both the Challenger and Mustang with an aggressive front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, butterfly hood and chrome 20-inch wheels. Inside is a custom leather interior, and under the hood, the 6.2-liter V8 has been supercharged to 620 horsepower and 570 pound-feet torque.
In addition to unveiling the car at Barrett-Jackson this week, SMS actually auctioned off the first production example last night. This particular car was also a special “Bondurant Edition” in honor of Steve Saleen’s former racing teammate, Bob Bondurant, and the two decided to donate the proceeds from the sale to two charities: and the .
So, how did the car do? Bidding for the SMS 620 Camaro eventually reached the $100,000 mark, meaning the two charities will be getting a significant donation and the lucky new owner just got a nice tax write-off. Did we mention a Bondurant three-day performance driving school is included with the car?
You can see photos of the 2012 SMS 620 Camaro in the gallery above, and check out a video of the car being auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson in the video .
We normally associate with Roush Performance with the , as we’ve tested several examples over the year from the race-ready to the current 540 horsepower . The Michigan tuner is now looking to expand, though, and has recently introduced a new line of performance products aimed at another segment of the product line, the .
The F-150’s new powertrains are the main focus of Roush’s product blitz, with supercharger systems available for both the 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s. Roush has also developed cold air inductions kits for the entire powertrain lineup with the exception of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Additionally, Roush is offering a stainless steel cat-back exhaust for most of the F-150 lineup that produces a more aggressive tone than the stock system.
You can read more about the new F-150 products from Roush in the press release , and you can get a closer glimpse at the supercharger and the exhaust system in the gallery above.
Four of ‘ full-size truck plants, three of them in the U.S., will go intermittently silent for a total of 21 weeks in order to retool for 2013 model year production. The and plants have both been in the news lately as recipients of multi-million dollar investments for just this purpose.
Fort Wayne will shut down for nine weeks over the course of 10 months, from January to October of 2012, while Flint will stop production for seven weeks from June to November, and the Arlington, Texas facility will be quiet from June to December for five weeks. The Mexico plant in Silao will find out its shut-down schedule next year. GM has been stockpiling a 90-day supply of its and pickups to make up for the loss of production.
When the 2013 models arrive, we can expect a new forced-induction V6, the continuation of the 5.3- and 6.0-liter V8s, and the 6.2-liter V8 going into the heavy-duty versions exclusively.
has just spilled the beans on how it plans to keep its MVP fresh for the 2012 model year. The recipe for the lineup hinges on a new Touring package (from $2,065) that adds many of the features of the without adding any actual power.
Offered on all three bodystyles, the CTS Touring pack includes such niceties as a buttoned-up suspension (presumably not the actual magnetic ride control setup at the CTS-V given the price), faux suede inserts on the seats and steering wheel, Sapele wood trim and metal pedal pads. The extensive package also includes exterior touches like HID headlamps, dual exhaust, a darker grille finish, different wheel packages and a decklid spoiler cribbed from the V.
There are some equipment differences with the Touring Package depending on whether you stick with the base 3.0-liter V6 or opt for the 3.6-liter. The 3.0-liter package costs less at $2,065, but the 3.6-liter Touring group ($2,810) also includes grippy Recaro seats and larger 19-inch wheels shod in either summer or all-season tires. While we’d much rather have the 556-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 of the real-deal CTS-V, either package seems like a screaming deal for all of the extra equipment.
For 2012, General Motors has also updated the entire CTS range with Bluetooth as standard fit and added blind spot assist and rain-sensing wipers to the options list. New paint colors include Opulent Blue Metallic, Black Diamond Tri-Coat and Mocha Steel Metallic. Pricing starts at $36,790 for the sedan, $39,590 for the rakish coupe and $39,890 for the Sport Wagon.
It’s no secret that we – and every other automotive enthusiast on the plant – love insanely fast wagons. So it comes as no surprise that we’re seriously excited to see this, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Estate, come to life.
All of the bulgy bits you see here – the front bumper, massive air intakes, wide fender flares and vented (yet camouflaged) hood – are all found on the similarly equipped . The only major difference here is that this wagon still sports oval exhaust pipes, rather than the squared-off ones found on the coupe, but that’s an easy fix that may come into play later in the hot wagon’s development.
We expect what’s under the hood to be exactly the same as the two-door Black Series: Merc’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, massaged to the tune of 510 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. All that power will go straight to the rear wheels via the seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT dual-clutch transmission.
doesn’t sell the standard C63 AMG Estate here in North America, so we don’t expect the Black Series to touch ground here on our shores. Sad stuff, but just knowing that this beast exists somewhere in the world makes our hearts skip a few beats. See the hotness for yourself in the attached high-res image gallery.
We posted the official pictures from , but it wasn’t until today that the was revealed in the flesh.
Muscle arrives in the form of the now-familar twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8, which replaces the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. No need to complain, as the boosted engine produces 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (opt for the AMG Performance Package and buyers will receive 550 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque). With a standard Mercedes-Benz AMG Speedshift Plus seven-speed transmission, the all-wheel-drive SUV will hit 60 miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds. While the standard ML63 AMG is electronically-limited to 155 mph, the Performance Package raises it to 174 mph (and reduces the 0-60 sprint to just 4.6 seconds).
In person, the ML63 AMG looks really good. The AMG treatment, limited to aggressively reworked fascias, some matte silver trim and wider fenders to accompany the 20-inch AMG wheels, looks clean and understated. Now… where are the keys?
We’ve seen a lot of action from and its AMG performance division this year, most of which concerns replacing the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 with the company’s new, more powerful, more efficient twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8. The 5.5 is a great engine, but we’ve lamented the death of the 6.2 for a while now (though Merc is still putting it to good use in the ), and the next vehicle to get the 5.5-liter swap is the all-new , which makes its official debut at the later this week.
In standard guise, the ML63 AMG puts down 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, though an optional AMG Performance Package raises those numbers to 550 and 560, respectively. This power is put to the ground via Merc’s AMG Speedshift Plus seven-speed transmission, driving all four wheels in the case of the ML63. The Performance Pack also raises the SUV’s top speed from 155 miles per hour to 174, and the extra grunt reduces the ML63’s 0-to-60-mph time from 4.7 seconds to 4.6.
We like how the AMG design has been grafted onto the new shape, as the previous model was a bit too bulgy and brash for our tastes. Inside, there’s a standard Designo leather interior, along with a whole slate of high-tech gizmos to keep you safe, comfortable and entertained.
Stay tuned for live impressions direct from Los Angeles later this week. In the meantime, have a look through our attached high-res image gallery, and for the official press blast as well as some B-roll video of Merc’s new AMG crossover.
reveals 518-hp ML63 AMG ahead of Los Angeles debut [w/video]
-Benz reveals 518-hp ML63 AMG ahead of Los Angeles debut [w/video]
We’re as excited as anyone to see the next-generation , even if it is still a few years off. But while the C7 ‘Vette isn’t slated to arrive until 2013 as a 2014 model, it hasn’t stopped the rumormill from pumping out wild speculation. We’ve heard everything from a split rear window design to a , but according to GMInsideNews, it’s all a bunch of baloney.
GMI reports that the design of the next Corvette will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. This means that the new car won’t feature a standard split window, and the publication’s inside sources won’t confirm an optional split-window, either. GMI also reports that the rumored 5.5-liter V8 likely won’t happen. Instead, word around the Interwebs is that the Corvette’s base engine will still be the tried-and-true 6.2-liter V8. To no one’s surprise, the – something that has never been corroborated to begin with – has also been debunked.
But enough of what won’t happen: GMI sources do reveal that the design of the C7 ‘Vette will be European in nature, and the interior will receive a major – and much needed – overhaul. Materials are said to receive a bigtime update, and the Corvette’s infotainment system will include a large LCD display in the gauge cluster. Several sources have also claimed that the 2014 Corvette will feature a for improved fuel economy.
Icon was kind enough to roll out two vehicles at SEMA 2011 including the company’s latest Derelict project. We found this 1952 Business Coupe is a welcome sight among the flashy, polished-to-death SEMA masses. With its Art Morrison chassis, completely reworked suspension, CNC-machined steelie reproduction wheels and a 430-horsepower aluminum General Motors6.2-liter V8 engine, Icon’s latest Derelict is nothing short of a SEMA masterpiece. The level of execution and attention to detail on the vehicle, from the glass bottle burp tank to its buffalo and alligator seat covers, is phenomenal.
Icon has already produced a handful of Derelict projects; vehicles with original patina and reworked engine and chassis components. The company says that it can perform the same service on any vehicle from the 1930s to the 1970s. Judging from strong reader response to , you’ve already gone gaga right along with us based on the press shots alone. Here’s your chance to get a little closer to the restomod action with our in-person gallery.
We’ve known for quite some time that is prepping a hardcore AMG variant of its new-for-2012 crossover, and according to Car and Driver, it appears that the production model will debut next month at the .
Aside from revised aesthetics and a spiffed-up interior, the big change for the 2012 will likely be under the hood. As much as we love the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 found in the outgoing model, we’d hardly be surprised to find Merc’s new twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 under the hood of the next ML63. Elsewhere in the automaker’s lineup, this engine produces 518 horsepower (or 550 hp with the optional performance pack), so we’d expect a healthy increase versus the old ML63’s 503 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque.
We’ll have the full details live from Los Angeles in just a few weeks, if not sooner.
It’s not out of the question to think that Vauxhall could win a shootout for the best fuel economy. But you’d figure the honors would be taken by something like the Ampera plug-inhybrid or one of its models, not the VXR8 muscle sedan, what with its huge 6.2-liter V8 engine. But it’s precisely the VXR8 that took the prize at the end of the day.
The Fleet World MPG Marathon doesn’t just measure overall fuel economy, but how much of an improvement over its combined city/highway rating they can eke out of a given car. The goal is to demonstrate just how much a driver and his/her driving style can effect the amount of fuel consumed.
By that standard, the VXR8 was a shocker: the vehicle is rated (on the European cycle) at 21 miles per gallon, but with Top Gear online editor Chris Mooney behind the wheel and Vauxhall’s own Andrew Duerden coaching from the front passenger seat, they managed to squeeze out a much more pump-friendly 32.14 mpg – a remarkable 53-percent improvement.
Second place went to a likelier candidate in the Swift DDiS, which managed to get an astounding 86.4 miles per (diesel) gallon on a 67.3 mpg rating for a 28.3 percent improvement over specification. for both press releases.
It looks as if is closer to giving the C63 AMG Sedan the Black Series treatment, judging by the shots our spy photographers nabbed of the menacing four door frolicking around the Nürburgring.
Word has it that the C63 AMG Black Series Sedan will pack the same 510-horsepower6.2-liter V8 as found in the two-door as well as an identical seven-speed automatic gearbox. It’s worth pointing out that the cog swapper is no standard slusher, however. The seven speed is an AMG SpeedShift MCT capable of changing gears in as little as one tenth of a second. Let’s see your left foot do that.
Expect to see a volley of suspension tricks lifted from the meaner coupe as well as a larger oil cooler and brakes capable of bringing planetary bodies to a screeching halt. So far there’s no word on when we’ll see the vehicle debut, but we’re guessing it won’t be too far down the line. Stay tuned.
One of our all-time favorite concept car from remains the GT90. As a modern interpretation of the Ferrari-besting GT-40, the GT90 offered all of the early ’90s angles we could stand along with a 750-horsepower V12 engine and a theoretical top speed of 235 miles per hour.
This is the kind of machine that middle-school day dreams are made of, and now Adam Pintek has set out to build a GT90 of his very own from scratch. Technically, the vehicle is simply a supercar with a striking resemblance to the old FoMoCo concept, but when Pintek is done, he should have a vehicle capable of besting some of the world’s most legendary machines.
Over the past four years, Pintek has already hashed out around 80 percent of the body using molds designed to mimic the original design of the GT90, and he’s currently partnered with a Formula race car builder to produce the chassis. The designer has chosen to forsake the big V12 for a forced-induction 6.2-liter V8. With two turbos serving up plenty of boost, Pintek is aiming for a whopping 1,000 horsepower. The mid-mounted engine will be bolted to a six-speed manual transmission that puts power to the rear wheels.
Pintek says that he hopes to see the vehicle in the final stages of development next two years. We can’t wait.
It looks like the Vision SZR is still clawing its way toward production. According to online video series Done In 60 Seconds, the specialty machine from Mar Vista, California will reportedly come equipped with up to 700 horsepower courtesy of a 6.0-liter V12, though cost-shy buyers could theoretically stick with the base 6.2-liter V8 good for a more modest 620 horsepower. With an aluminum chassis and a carbon fiber body, the Vision SZR tips the scales at 2,875 pounds in its heaviest configuration, which means that all that swoopy bodywork should scoot to 60 mph in the low-three-second range. If you like what you’re hearing, get ready to wait for a while. Currently there is only one SZR in the world, and it apparently cost its creator $2 million to produce.
The first Vision SZR prototype turned a wheel back in 2005 (development dates back ten years), and the company has been soldiering forth on development ever since. As Chief Operating Officer John Misumi sees it, the SZR is a muscle car for the 21st century. While the design certainly isn’t for everyone (we think it looks kind of like the 1990 Chevrolet Corvette CERV III concept car viewed through a funhouse mirror), we certainly appreciate Misumi’s drive to create a one-of-a-kind performance vehicle. to watch a video of the SZR in action, and check it out in our gallery as well.
In an effort to show off just how dominant its engines are in the 2011 F-150, Ford has put together a head-to-head comparison site showing how the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8stack up against the competition. Start by selecting work or play, and then drag the slider to reflect how much you normally tow or haul.
Surprisingly, you’re in territory all the way to 1,900 pounds of hauling and 6,000 pounds of towing. The 3.7-liter still pumps out an impressive 302 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, and coupled with a claimed 23 mpg highway, things are looking pretty good. According to Ford, the V8 in the puts down 315 horses and 338 lb-ft, but only gets 22 mpg.
Blow past the V6’s capacities, though, and the F-150 can be armed with the 5.0-liter V8, which outdoes the Silverado 1500 across the board, and according to Ford, still gets very impressive gas mileage. Want to personalize your own comparison? to check it out.
General Motors auctioned off a special 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to the public at this weekend’s Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction for an estimated price of $250,000. Proceeds from the sale go to the YMCA of Southern Nevada, so the winner shouldn’t feel guilty about laying down the heavy cash on what will inevitably become a highly collectible automobile. The car in question will be the 69th ZL1 produced, and will be the only one finished in the Carbon Flash Metallic exterior color.
With its supercharged 6.2-liter V8, the 2012 Camaro ZL1 delivers 580 horsepower and over 550 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, as are programmable launch control for drag-strip glory and adjustable magnetic shocks for precise handling. The winning bidder gets to pick up ZL1 #69 next spring. Head over for more information.
Harley riders like riding Harleys. But even for the HDMC faithful, certain situations – from bad weather to transporting cargo – call for something with a little more utility. That’s where the Harley-Davidson edition comes in.
Since the two iconic American motor companies first teamed up in 1999, the collaboration has produced ten special edition F-150s, six Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models and even an F-450 a couple of years ago. All in, more than 70,000 examples have been sold.
For 2012, Ford has given the Harley-Davidson F-150 a revised interior, a new set of wheels, a new color option and some updated graphics. The interior now features snakeskin accents (which ought to go perfectly with those snakeskin boots yer kickin’). The new wheels are machined aluminum, measure a massive 22 inches across and feature painted accents and new hubs. The White Platinum Tri-Coat pictured above now joins the catalog, along with the new (and relatively subtle) gray flame along the flanks.
The enormous 6.2-liter V8 packs a hefty 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque – just a teensy bit more than the V-twin in a Harley hog, and you can read all about the whole package in the press release and scope it out in the high-res image gallery for more.
originally appeared on on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our .
Bow-Tie brand fans are chomping at the bit to get more information on the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. General Motors decided to show off its latest high-performance coupe at the Camaro Homecoming event in Oshawa, Ontario. Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser brought the car to the crowd, and then spent a few moments talking about the Zed ZL1 on camera.
For those unaware, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 gets a host of upgrades over the rest of its siblings. On the outside, improved aerodynamics are in full effect from nose to tail. Inside, Chevrolet adds suede to the seats, steering wheel and shift lever. But the real heart of the ZL1 lies under the hood, and it seems we’ll have to wait for official word to get the full skinny on the power output of the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine. Rumor has it that , but for now, all GM’s saying is “at least 550.”
As soon as we get the official figures from GM, we’ll bring them to you. Until then, to wach Oppenheiser break down the rest of the 2012 Camaro ZL1.
TheDetroitBureau.com is reporting a few juicy rumors about the future of full-size pickups from both General Motors and . According to details supplied by shadowy sources, Ford is currently hard at task on the development of a range of new V6 engines. The powerplants are said to be under development in a range of sizes, including 2.6-, 2.7- and 3.0-liter displacements. The engines are being crafted under the codename “Nano” with a single dual-stage turbo making up for the cut in displacement. The largest of the trio is said to have a target of 300-315 horsepower, which is effectively what the current naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter V6 churns out. TDB maintains that the new V6 lumps may also work their way into the line at some point as well.
The report indicates that GM, meanwhile, is hard at work on a forced-induction V6 of its very own to fight Ford’s EcoBoost surge. Additionally, the company’s heavy-duty trucks will be the only models available with the big-boy 6.2-liter V8, while both light- and heavy-duty pickups will be available with the company’s 6.0-liter V8. Finally, the tried-and-true 5.3-liter V8 will soldier on for the next-generation as well.
