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Well of course they did. If John Hennessey is known for anything, it’s strictly adhering to the “Needs more power!” motif. This guy could watch a shuttle launch and return to his lab plotting a third booster. So yes, Hennessey has slapped two turbochargers onto Ford’s batty-yet-burly F150-mutant Raptor 6.2 and produced the VelociRaptor 600 and 800, two products that will nicely compliment the existing Hennessey VelociRaptor 500, a supercharged version of the Raptor 5.4.

Through the magic of forced induction, power grows from the 6.2-liter V8 Raptor’s stock 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque to a slightly-goofy 602 hp and 622 lb-ft of twist in the V-Rap 600. Not enough for you? Hennessey either, which is why he’s also selling the VelociRaptor 800. Get all the liquids out of your mouth now, as the engine stonks it up to the Texas-sized tune of 810 hp and 745 lb-ft of torque. Can we borrow an exclamation point?

We know what you’re thinking — the Bentley Mulsane’s twin-turbo V8 makes 752 pound-feet of torque, besting the Hennessey 800 by seven pounds of twisting force. However, the Hennessey VelociRaptor 800 makes 305 more ponies than the British thoroughbred, weighs less (what doesn’t?) and can keep up with the hounds no matter the fox hunt. That said, the Muslanne has a nicer interior. Think we’re being silly? We are, because engines like this bend our minds a bit. Remember, 810 hp is nearly 100 hp more than a Ferrari 599XX.

But what if you already have a Raptor 6.2, want more power but don’t want two turbochargers? Again, no problem, as Hennessey is also announcing the VelociRaptor 475, that through better breathing and some reprogramming, ups the big V8’s output to 475 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. Dang. Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Hennessey]

Continue reading Hennessey slaps a pair of turbos on Ford’s Raptor 6.2 [w/Video]

Hennessey slaps a pair of turbos on Ford’s Raptor 6.2 [w/Video]

We got our first look at the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell prototype yesterday and now we can see it in motion. The German magazine Bild has a video of their first drive in the electric supercar. Unfortunately, our conversational German isn’t up to snuff, so it’s hard to decipher the commentary and driving impressions. However, we do get a good look under the hood, where the 6.2-liter V8 has been replaced by a several cubic feet of electronics, motors and high-voltage cabling. Inside, we get a glimpse of the new instrument cluster, including a display that can toggle between the battery’s state of charge and power flow or the navigation information.

If and when Mercedes-Benz let’s us have a crack at the prototype, sunglasses will be a necessity. Check out the retina-searing video after the jump.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell in motion (and German)

Video: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell in motion (and German)

Autoblog reader Geo happened to be cruising on I-275 in Detroit last week when he was passed by a convoy of Ford F-150 pickups. Snugged smack dab in the middle was none other than the upcoming F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew without a stitch of camouflage to cover those two extra doors. Geo did what any good enterprising AB reader would do and clicked a couple of photos as the desert-crushing truck blew by.

The prototype in the photos has ditched the outlandish graphics of its shorter brother, but it still looks just as mean, and it’s even slathered in silver paint, a color that isn’t currently available. If the badge on the fender is any indication, this particular example packs the same 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 mill we were fortunate enough to sample not too long ago, which means it should have no problem jumping over hill and dale. If ever there was a backyard party on four wheels, this is it.

Reader Spy: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew spotted naked and unashamed

Fans of endurance racing need no introduction to the first ever AMG racing luxury sedan, the 300 SEL 6.8. You non-fans, however, do. Known affectionately as the roten Sau (i.e. Red Pig, though for some reason Daimler left this little factoid out of their otherwise way-more-than-comprehensive press release), the beyond-blueprinted engine (increased from 6.3 to 6.8 liters) kicked out 428 horsepower and allowed the pre-Hammer to smash its way to a startling second place finish at the 1971 24 Hours of Spa.

Let’s rephrase that: the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG bullied its way to an uttlery astonishing second place finish, and became the crowd favorite while doing so. Why so unbelievable? The Red Pig weighed a porcine 3,600 pounds, partly because AMG left the heavy air suspension and exotic wood trim in place. Luckily, Spa’s long straights allowed the hard-working brakes plenty of time to cool down, and the heaviest car on the track finished the day way ahead of everyone save the winning Ford Capri and AMG’s expectations.

Fast forward thirty nine years and look what we’ve got here: the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Thirty-Five. Why Thirty-Five? That’s the same number the roten Sau wore back at Spa. But this is not your rich banker neighbor’s S63. Long gone is the magnificent 6.2-liter V8, having been replaced by the all new yet still hand built twin-turbo 5.5-liter AMG V8. In “stock” form, this motor produces 544 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. Though the S63 Thirty-Five’s motivator has been BAMMED! up a notch to produce 571 horses (the same amount as the SLS AMG) and 664 lb-ft of twist. Yowza! The big sedan also gets AMG’s frankly awesome wet clutch Speedshift MCT 7-speed transmissions that in full manual mode will embarrass all but the most exotic dual-clutches.

The run to 60 happens in about 4.3 seconds, which is impressive as even though Daimler left the S63 Thirty-Five’s weight out of the press release, it porks clocks in right around 2.5 tons. Once again: Yowza! Also, the big AMG has a roll cage, and those ain’t light. Both identically liveried cars got driven around Spa by none other than Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz, the men behind the wheel for the 1971 race. You can read all about it in the press release after the break.

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Spa Treatment: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG “Thirty-Five” meets 300 SEL 6.8 AMG

Spa Treatment: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG “Thirty-Five” meets 300 SEL 6.8 AMG

Dr. Kay Sigler, head of BMW’s M division has confirmed to no one’s surprise that the next generation M5 would indeed use a twin-turbocharged V8 in place of the current model’s V10. In fact, after last year’s debut of the X5 M and X6 M we would have been quite shocked to see anything but the V8. While the 500 horsepower V10 in today’s M5 is indeed powerful, in the years since its debut a number of even more powerful and, perhaps more importantly, torquier competitors have arrived.

The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Cadillac CTS-V and the turbocharged V10 in the Audi RS6 easily thrash the output of the Munich V10. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 cranks out 555 hp and 500 pound-feet in the two SUVs, but we’re betting BMW will find a way to squeeze out even more for the sedan.

[Source: Auto Bild via BMW Blog]

Report: Twin-turbo V8 confirmed for 2012 BMW M5

The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost is one of the worst kept secrets out of Dearborn, and the crew at PickupTrucks.com have managed to snag some of the first shots of a SuperCab FX4 model undergoing testing.

While the changes to the exterior don’t divulge much, the cut in the lower air dam clearly shows an intercooler mounted in front of the radiator.

The direct-injected, turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 is rumored to be rated at around 400 horsepower and more than 400 pound-feet of torque, enough to keep up with the standard 6.2-liter V8’s 411 hp and 434 lb.-ft. of twist, while returning fuel economy somewhere in the range of 23 mpg on the highway.

Sales are expected to begin later this year or in early 2011, and it’s safe to assume that the EcoBoosted F-150 will carry a slight price premium over its V8-powered counterpart.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V6

Pricing for the Cadillac CTS Coupe and it’s V-equipped sibling has been released, and the standard two-door is priced at $38,990 while the 556-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 version reportedly comes in at $62,990.

We’ve contacted General Motors for confirmation and more information, so stay tuned.

*UPDATE: Pricing is confirmed and includes destination charges. First examples to be available beginning in early August. Click through to the jump for the official press release.

[Source: General Motors via Jalopnik]

Continue reading 2011 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V Coupe priced at $38,990, $62,990 [*UPDATE]

2011 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V Coupe priced at $38,990, $62,990 [*UPDATE]

Pricing for the Cadillac CTS Coupe and it’s V-equipped sibling has leaked out, and the standard two-door is priced at $38,990 while the 556-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 version reportedly comes in at $62,990.

We’ve contacted General Motors for confirmation and more information, so stay tuned.

[Source: Jalopnik]

2011 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V Coupe priced at $38,990, $62,990

First Drive: The torque-tastic 2011 Audi TT

We take Audi’s upgraded TT for a spin in Germany to see how the Quattro coupe deals with its added twist.

Ford confirms Raptor SuperCrew, only available with 6.2-liter V8

Ford has finally confirmed its plans to offer a SuperCrew version of its off-road Raptor, and the standard engine will be the all-new 6.2-liter V8

Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS trailer has us saying “*&^%*!”

Just the specs of the 911 GT2 RS had us exclaiming expletives, so Porsche nailed those sentiments with its newest ad.

Also of interest:

• Chrysler recalling 40,000 vehicles for ignition problem
• Ford teases Explorer in pic of new crossover’s chief engineer
• Ford more than hints at new street-legal Boss Mustang
• Hertz to rent Nissan Leaf starting in 2011
• Subaru announces pricing and tweaks to 2011 Outback, Legacy models

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.14.10

Not too long ago, the rumormill was buzzing about the possibility of Ford offering a SuperCrew version of the brutal F-150 SVT Raptor, adding four-door versatility to the already awesome prowess of the automaker’s latest pickup. Now, Inside Line reports that Ford has confirmed production of the more spacious Raptor for the 2011 model year.

IL also states that Ford will only offer the SuperCrew Raptor with the top-rung 6.2-liter V8, which produces a healthy 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque. Need to get the family across the desert in a hurry? This is the truck you’ll want to opt for. We’ll wait for the official word from Ford before we discuss pricing, but expect the SuperCrew model to ring in just above the standard 6.2-liter Raptor’s base price of $41,995.

Ram Power Wagon, prepare to meet your match.

[Source: Inside Line]

Ford confirms Raptor SuperCrew, only available with 6.2-liter V8

Ford Raptor 6.2 dyno’d again, makes even more power

First Drive: 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35i proves ‘new’ is a relative term

The real changes for the 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35i come under the hood, where the X5 now gets BMW’s most current gasoline-fired engines and the company’s eight-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, the 2011 X5 will now be offered with technologies already available on many other BMW models. Get the details and our driving impressions by clicking here.

Autoblog Podcast #175 – Bob Lutz joins in

Today we are joined by none other than General Motors’ Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. After an hour of peppering Bob with questions about his career, we come away better informed as to where the man stands on the industry’s future, how GM will fare, his favorite concept cars, what he plans to do in his retirement, and – pivotally – how to get your wife to let you buy a MiG fighter jet. Enjoy!

Video: Hennessey gets Ford’s SVT Raptor 6.2-liter rippin’ on a dyno

The 6.2-liter V8-powered Ford Raptor managed a pretty stout 326 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque on the Hennessey dyno. That performance equals a 19.5 percent loss from the flywheel to the rear wheels. Click here to watch the video, which includes a zero-to-60 time of less than eight seconds.

Also of interest:

• Bob Lutz, 78, open to future career opportunities
• Spy Shots: Porsche 911 GT2 facelift caught ‘Ring running
• Report: Volcano stops JDM Nissan plant, could hurt U.S. Cube, Murano, Rogue supplies
• Video: Ken Block teases Gymkhana 3 with his new Ford Fiesta
• Pics Aplenty: Honda releases boatload of new CR-Z shots… in Europe
• EPA still not settled on MPG labels for plug-ins, Volt unlikely to get 230 mpg
• Why It’s Not Coming Here: VW Amarok priced at $35k in Europe
• Report: GM falls out of Fortune 500’s top ten for first time in over a century

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.20.10

The 6.2-liter V8-powered Ford F-150 SVT Raptor went on sale less than two weeks ago and Ford tells us that it already has 3,000 orders signed, sealed and awaiting delivery. While that would spell disaster for the Blue Oval if we were talking about the run-of-the-mill F-150, we’re talking about a purpose-built performance truck brandishing Fox shocks and massive 35-inch tires. Given the vehicle’s niche audience, those kind of early sales numbers have Ford officials pretty excited. Make no mistake, the reason for all that interest has everything to do with the extra 91 horsepower under the Raptor’s beefy hood, and the folks at Hennessey dyno’d the Little Mule to see just how much power transfers to those massive rear wheels. If you’re wondering why Hennessey is interested in the Raptor, remember that the super tuner announced the 500 horsepower VelociRaptor back in February.

The post-jump video shows that, on the Hennessey dyno, the Raptor managed 326 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. Keep in mind that the 326 ponies are measured at the rear wheels, where drivetrain losses zap power. Ford quotes 411 hp and 434 lb-ft at the flywheel, which means the vehicle Hennessey dyno’d experienced a 19.5 percent loss from the flywheel to the rear wheels. Hit the jump to watch the video, which includes a zero-to-60 time of less than eight seconds.

[Source: Hennessey via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey gets Ford’s SVT Raptor 6.2-liter rippin’ on a dyno

Video: Hennessey gets Ford’s SVT Raptor 6.2-liter rippin’ on a dyno

Ford’s desert-clobbering SVT Raptor is already off to a relatively good start, and things are only poised to get better now that the automaker has shoehorned its new 6.2-liter V8 under the truck’s hood. Adding to that, the folks at InsideLine report that a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor is also in the cards, possibly slated to debut later this year.

IL states that mules of what appear to be a SuperCrew Raptor have been spotted near Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. When prompted for a response, a spokesperson for the automaker simply said, “We do not comment on future product.” (We’ve heard that one a thousand times before.) Still, we don’t dispute IL’s predictions, and having four-door functionality only boosts the Raptor’s attractiveness to potential consumers.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Ford adding SuperCrew to SVT Raptor lineup

Some of the most desirable Chevrolet Camaros are the factory-made replicas to celebrate the pony car’s inclusion in the racing world as a pace car. And it looks like we have yet another pace car rep to add to our growing list of potential collectibles with General Motors‘ announcement that it will build 200 or fewer 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Limited Edition models.

Each of the Pace Car models will be based on an SS with the RS appearance package. A 400 horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine will be mated up with a six-speed automatic transmission (what, no manual?), with power put to the ground through 20-inch polished aluminum wheels. A throwback-style front grille recalls the old ‘67 Pace Cars, and the whole shebang will be painted in Inferno Orange, including the engine cover.

Now, for the most important bits:

• Premium floor mats with accent colors
• 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo decal on both doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests
• 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo badges on front fenders

Price? $41,950 (including an $850 Destination Freight Charge). Get the rest of the details in the press release after the break.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading 2010 Camaro Indy 500 pace car entering limited production

2010 Camaro Indy 500 pace car entering limited production

Are you as jealous as the rest of Team Autoblog that our very own Chris Paukert, better known as “El Presidente” while traveling abroad, got to snake through Mexico and Central America, recreating the famed Carrera Panamericana while piloting the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG? Yeah, thought so. But all is not lost. Please join us in reliving the journey by watching it all unfold in glorious high resolution video, along with the three accompanying photo sets below.

Epic doesn’t begin to describe this trip – the cars, the country and everything in between assures us of that. Not only is it plainly obvious that a good time was had by all, it also offered up ample time to consider just how amazing the original Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of the early 1950s was. And, likewise, how impressive the latest Gullwing and its 563-horsepower naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8.

All that’s left to do now is click past the break to watch the two videos. Trust us, they are most definitely worth your time.

Continue reading Video: Mercedes SLS AMG and historic 300 SL revisit Mexico’s La Carrera Panamericana

Video: Mercedes SLS AMG and historic 300 SL revisit Mexico’s La Carrera Panamericana

The gossipmongers at Autocar are reporting that the race-bred Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 that’s getting its American debut at the New York Auto Show this week may be the foundation for a street-legal SLS AMG Black Series. We’ve heard rumors of a racier SLS for some time, but this is the first time we’ve heard heard the BS *ahem* designation attached to the project, and we expect a production roadster debut before we see a harder-core version of the coupe, so it’ll probably be a bit of a wait.

Naturally, we’re always down with hotter versions of our favorite supercars, and if the reports turn out to be true, the wicked gullwing shouldn’t disappoint. Supposedly the boffins at AMG will find a way to squeeze even more power from the standard 6.2-liter V8 and will do their best to pare down the coupe’s weight at the same time.

The report reckons all the extra speed will set buyers back quite a bit, with early guesses saying the SLS AMG Black Series will cost somewhere around $275,000. Steep? Sure, but the good news is you’ve got some time to save your pennies. Autocar says the car won’t see production until 2013.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to spawn Black Series

The world’s automakers are introducing around 20 new vehicles this week at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Some of those cars are pretty interesting, but here’s the juice: In 20 years, there is exactly one car being shown here today that people will still be whispering about. That car? The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. You’re reading this correctly. Cadillac, former maker of landau-roofed Boca Rotan retirement sleds will soon be offering a station wagon stuffed with a 556-horsepower, supercharged and Corvette-derived 6.2-liter V8. If that’s not loony enough for you, yes, you can order it with a six-speed manual. Wowza.

We first glimpsed the V Wagon last night at a fairly gala Cadillac cocktail reception, complete with GM design boss Ed Welburn and none other than Maximum Bob Lutz, the man who may have single handedly willed pistonhead fantasy into production. The CTS-V Sport Wagon took center stage flanked on either side by the plain old CTS-V and our Detroit Show favorite CTS-V Coupe. To put the spectacle in photographic terms, even though it was surrounded by some pretty desirable metal, the newest V managed to “pop.”

We pressed the flesh and asked our full battery of penetrating, hard hitting questions (”Can I go to the launch?”), but the general theme from Cadillac seemed to be this: They known they’re not going to sell many, and they just don’t care. Sometimes doing what logic dictates you shouldn’t do makes the most sense. Remember the Buick GNX? There was simply no rational reason for GM to allow that monster off a production line. Yet 23 years later, what Buick are we still talking about? To our minds, the CTS-V Sport Wagon has a similar, skull-cracking je ne sais quo about it.

But should a recently Chapter 11 company be in the business of building small volume, high-performance station wagons? Well…. yes, absolutely. Here are all the reasons why that we can think of. First, when was the last time an American luxury brand offered a full line of anything? For decades now, BMW has been happy to sell you a 3-Series coupe, sedan, wagon and convertible. Cadillac has had… the CTS four-door. Until now. Besides, having a low production halo version of your halo vehicle is the stuff that builds legends.

Or how’s this, BMW sells a hopped up M3 coupe, convertible and sedan, but no wagon. Sure, BMW makes the M5 Touring (i.e. wagon), but they won’t sell it to Americans. And Audi won’t sell us either of its hot rod grocery haulers, the RS4 and RS6 Avants. We know Mercedes-Benz will be making an E63 AMG Wagon, but will they sell it here? Dunno.

But Cadillac will happily sell you a CTS-V Wagon for just a small premium over the Sedan. Figure about $65,000 or so. And if you haven’t been reading between the lines, a bangin’ five-door might help Cadillac strengthen its tenuous foothold in Europe, especially if this show car’s leather/Alcantara interior and massively bolstered Recaro sport seats make it to production. Either way, Caddy just dropped a mighty big gauntlet.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

New York 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is fantasy writ large

As some of you may have read, I was pretty smitten with the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. In case you somehow missed the buttery prose (for shame, for shame!), I described the sound of the big, bad, naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 as, “Angry, guttural, aggravated and very, very masculine. Even at idle, it sounds like it’s pissed off and ready to dish out some wrath of God-type violence. Street legal sedans don’t sound like this.”

But wouldn’t it be nice if you could hear what I’m bloviating about? Well friends, today you can!

Thanks to a good buddy of mine named Luis Galdames, we have some high-quality sound files of the E63 AMG tearing stuff (mostly asphalt) up. Aside from recently winning a Golden Reel award for his sound mixing work on the FOX television show House, Luis also recorded all the engine sounds for NBC’s short-lived but quite comical Knight Rider remake. In other words, he knows his stuff.

After the jump we have three sound clips for your amusement. The first is of Luis standing behind the car and as I rev the mighty V8 up to around 6,000 rpm before side-stepping the brake pedal and launching. Listen close and at the end you can hear the car downshifting as I get on the brakes. The second clip was my favorite to record. Luis asked I fly by him at 100 mph and shift from third to fourth as I passed. We had to do a few takes for that one. And the third clip perfectly sums up the E63 AMG — one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. Make the jump and enjoy.

Continue reading Pump up the Volume: Audio of E63 AMG and its earth-smacking 518-HP V8

Pump up the Volume: Audio of E63 AMG and its earth-smacking 518-HP V8

Our man Chris Paukert had a layover in Germany this weekend on his way to the Geneva Motor Show that included a visit to the headquarters of AMG in
Affalterbach. While there, a prototype SLS AMG Roadster made a suspiciously timed pass and pause while he and other journalists were walking around the compound. No matter the motivation, our man Paukert snagged a brace of shots and says that the droptop is expected to arrive as a 2012 model.

Aside from the folding top in place of the upward swinging gullwing doors, not much else is expected to change. Paukert got off-the-record confirmation from a company official, however, that the roadster will not immediately receive the new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 that is going into the 2011 S63 sedan. Instead, it will carry over the 563-horsepower, normally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 already on sale in the coupe.

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.

Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS roadster spotted in Affalterbach