Muscle cars have never coped well with having their tops clipped. Losing the roof rarely does a vehicle any favors in the rigidity department, but the high-horsepower, high-torque coupes of the last four decades took fiendish delight in twisting themselves into pretzels after a few enthusiastic throttle plunges. To make matters worse, frumpy, awkward-looking soft tops were never as attractive as the original tin. When it came time to design the fifth-generation , the engineers at General Motors specifically aimed to avoid those pitfalls by drafting the chassis to field both coupe and convertible duties.
Long before the first test mule ever turned a tire, this coupe was designed to go topless, and the result is one of the more stable convertible platforms out there. With a little help from the minds behind the soft top, the retractable lid even offers the same sleek profile as the Camaro Coupe. That’s not to say all is right in this cruising kingdom, though. Tough top-up visibility, a bulging waistline and an overly extroverted interior all work against the drop head. Even so, this is still a vehicle soaked in summertime. And whatdayaknow? The sun’s out.
SS Convertible
originally appeared on on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our .
The – or “Couper,” as associate editor Jeff Glucker has dubbed it – goes on sale in the fall, priced from a respectable $22,000. Stepping up to the Cooper S Coupe will set you back $25,300, and the top-rung John Cooper Works Coupe commands $31,900. But those are just the base MSRPs.
Enter the online configurator. More importantly, enter Mini’s expansive list of options and accessories.
We could spend hours playing around on building the Coupe of our dreams. After all, this is the automaker that proudly boasts its “more than 10 million” possible build combinations. Head over to to play around with all the colors and options on the new Coupe.
originally appeared on on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our .
Racing hadn’t won a race since the finale of the 2007 World Challenge season when Andy Pilgrim took the checkered flag at Laguna Seca driving the team’s previous-generation Cadillac CTS-V sedan. This past weekend, the Wreath and Crest’s factory team finally won again since returning to the sport this season after a three-year absence, but this time at Mid-Ohio with Andy’s teammate, Johnny O’Connell, behind the wheel of the team’s .
We happened to be at Mid-Ohio for race one of this past weekend’s World Challenge double header in which O’Connell was running second and could’ve easily won had his car not spun off the track after contact with another GT Class Corvette. We just happened to catch the CTS-V Coupe’s off-track excursion, including how O’Connell passed the Corvette that contacted him after returning to pavement (check out the video ).
O’Connell finished eighth that race, but had an opportunity for redemption in race two of the double-header on Sunday. Things went Cadillac’s way this time when, after working his way up from seventh to third, O’Connell took advantage of last-lap contact between the two race leaders to take the win.
Cadillac Racing hasn’t had the same level of success yet that seemed to come so much easier with the previous generation CTS-V sedan. , which has more to do with added weight and restrictor plates mandated by the governing body than the racing abilities of Pilgrim and O’Connell or the vehicle’s ultimate potential. Now that the team has tasted success again, it probably won’t be as long between victories.
-V Coupe collects first victory at Mid-Ohio [w/video]
originally appeared on on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our .
There are plenty of numbers between three and eight, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that recently unveiled will expand after the i3 and i8 go on sale in the next two to three years.
A few reports and our own sources indicate that the next two models will be the i4 and i5; a smaller coupe and a family focused four-door.
Both models will be based around the carbon fiber reinforced plastic “Life” structure to keep weight in check and use variations of the drivetrains fitted to the i3 and i8.
The i4 will supposedly be based on the i3’s architecture, but will nix the extra set of doors and seats to become a two-seater with a sloping roof, wider track and a more sporting demeanor. Power will likely come from a variant of the i3’s electric motor, with the same optional range-extending engine mounted out back. BMW wants to have at least one affordable i-branded two-door within the next five to six years, and considering the i8 will likely crest $100,000, the i4 will be a more attainable entry point for the marque.
Less is known about the i5 aside from the fact that it will be a more conventional four-door sedan with a coupe-ish profile and power provided by the same plug-inhybrid drivetrain as the i8. That could mean up to 400 lb-ft of torque when the turbo’d 1.5-liter and electric motor work in unison, creating one incredibly compelling hybrid sports sedan.
However, both models are a ways off. Concept versions should arrive sometime after the i8’s launch in 2014, so don’t expect either to arrive until late into the decade.
originally appeared on on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our .
We’re in the middle of yet another slow striptease of prototypes from , this time starring the 2013 6 Series Gran Coupe. We’ve seen and of , not to mention the that – unsurprisingly – looks very, very similar to the almost-ready development cars caught out on the road.
For round three, we’re getting our first glimpse at the four-door ‘ M Sport package, complete with the usual performance-ish upgrades like larger wheels, a more aggressive front fascia and revised exhaust. Truth be told, we like the M Sport additions to the awkward 6 Series nose, and we’re sure the finished product will be quite a looker (especially in black). Scroll through our attached image gallery to see the sporty Sixer for yourself.
originally appeared on on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our .
It’s not official – yet – but Car and Driver caught executives . Rumor has it that the German automaker is looking to add a mid-engined supercar to the family, slotting above the range, but below the upcoming 918. This new model will be Porsche’s answer to the .
Early estimates on the price tag? Somewhere in the neighborhood of €400,000 – about $568,000 based on current exchange rates (yikes!). Car and Driver speculates that this exotic supercar will utilize a powerplant that produces over 600 horsepower, which should help push 0-60-mile-per-hour times into the three-second range, while top speed could hover as high as 220 mph.
This move should help keep Porsche purists happy, with the knowledge that a high-performance coupe will join a lineup of vehicles they’re entirely in love with. Still, those vehicles (read: and ) supply the cash to build super sports cars. You can’t have the sweet without the sour… and in this case, the sour is actually pretty sweet, too.
originally appeared on on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our .
It’s loud, powerful and wears the three-pointed star up front. Sure, that could describe the host of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG cars, but in this case, we’re talking about the latest hotness: the . This performance two-door keeps popping up in videos to tantalize our senses, and now, has hired a pair of stunt drivers for a trio of new clips that show the sports coupe engaging in fan-approved activities.
The German automaker reached out to its fans on Facebook, who then decided on what stunts they wanted to see the C63 AMG Coupe perform. The first shows how the C63 AMG Coupe can be used to link drifts together to form a figure eight. Said figure eight happens to occur within close proximity to a pair of C63 sedans. In the second clip, a stunt driver threads the needle between a pair of parked sedans, and he does so while moving fairly quickly… in reverse. Lastly, the final clip appears fairly tame at first glance, as both stunt drivers intersect each other at high speeds. However, the timing has to be just right for that maneuver or Mercedes would have to send out a cleaning crew to pick up tiny bits of sports car from the ground.
We’ve got all three clips, idling loudly for you .
originally appeared on on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our .
At the end of May we got renderings of a hi-po, scissor-doored coupe out of Poland, produced by Arrinera. Now we have video of the car on the streets. Its front end and side profile are very Lambo-reminiscent, but the wild rear end is new, different, and cool. Unfortunately, we don’t get a quality sound-check from the 638-horsepower GM engine stuffed behind the cabin, but at the very least the car is real, and that’s a good start. to watch the Arrinera supercar bring out the gawkers as it hits the pavement.
originally appeared on on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our .
Last year, RM Auctions held a special during the Monterey car week, offering a unique chance to buy various concept cars built in the last decade. While that was a one-time event, RM is once again be working with Ford to auction off a select number of concept cars for this year.
First up is the Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept, first introduced to the public at Pebble Beach in 2004. Built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Shelby Daytona Coupe, the car features a silver paint scheme with blue stripes and 12-spoke 19-inch wheels. Unfortunately, the car is not a running example, unlike the polished aluminum version that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show a few months later.
Next up is the Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster Concept that was first shown at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show. A precursor to the Ford Thunderbird production car, the Sports Roadster is set apart by a molded fiberglass tonneau that’s neatly integrated into the rear decklid.
As is custom for Ford when auctioning off cars, proceeds from the sale will be donated to charity. The sale of the two concept cars, each valued between $125,000 and $200,000, will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
originally appeared on on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our .
An astute Porschephile noticed a 2012 at a gas station in Stuttgart and went to work. Following the coupe through the pumps then out to the street, he captured the sight and sounds of the car codenamed 991 from just about every angle before it roared off. We’ll see the final version at next month’s , but in the meantime, check out the video , and note the intriguing appendage that appears to be covering the sunroof opening.
Buying an exotic luxury car can be an exciting process. You’re not likely to run into other examples of your high-end machine on the street on a daily basis. Still, other examples do exist, and there will come a day when your rare ride meets its equal. Outfits exist to make sure that doesn’t happen, one of which has taken a customer’s and transformed it into a bespoke one-of-one supercoupe.
The company is called Imperium, and it’s turned up the exclusivity knob on this particular . Carbon fiber body panels have been shaped to replace the old metal ones, and new subtly aggressive features are achieved. A set of forged one-off wheels complete the look, resulting in the handsome Imperium Continental GT seen here.
Imperium doesn’t list a price to achieve this look. However, it states that only a few cars are completed each year, and every one is built to the exacting standards of the specific client, so you can bet it ain’t cheap.
originally appeared on on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our .
Josh Clason (he of the Depth of Speed series) is teaming up with eGarage. Two great flavors that will certainly taste great together. Clason and eGarage plan to bring us plenty of visual automotive delight, and the duo have just realized a teaser clip of what’s in store.
Verbally, the pair are mum on what’s coming up. The teaser video, however, speaks volumes. We’ve seen the , but the rest of the video takes on everything from rat rods and lead sleds to modern high-horsepower coupes. to watch the video.
One warning for the easily offended; there is a brief swear shown on screen. Don’t laugh… some have rather sensitive work environments, and we don’t want anyone getting in trouble.
originally appeared on on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our .
If you scoped out the other day and thought it looked a little familiar, you’re not alone. Never mind that the company’s name sounds suspiciously similar to the panel-beating department at after which the was named. No, the design appeared to rather unabashedly pilfer from the unveiled in Geneva earlier this year. And the point is not lost on Zagato itself.
In a brief message received by Autoblog this morning, Zagato was quick to point out that Scagliarini bears no connection to the Milanese design house, that they had no involvement in the project (beyond its belief that it’s had its designs ripped off) and that it is pursuing legal action.
So if you liked the design, you may be better off waiting for the real deal to – assuming it ever does. As for the all-wheel-drive of the Scagliarini, well, maybe that’s something Fiat might consider as well. After all, the Panda platform on which it’s based is already geared for it.
originally appeared on on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our .
If you scoped out the other day and thought it looked a little familiar, you’re not alone. Never mind that the company’s name sounds suspiciously similar to the panel-beating department at after which the was named. No, the design appeared to rather unabashedly pilfer from the unveiled in Geneva earlier this year. And the point is not lost on Zagato itself.
In a brief message received by Autoblog this morning, Zagato was quick to point out that Scagliarini bears no connection to the Milanese design house, that they had no involvement in the project (beyond its belief that it’s had its designs ripped off) and that it is pursuing legal action.
So if you liked the design, you may be better off waiting for the real deal to , assuming it ever does. As for the all-wheel-drive of the Scagliarini, well, maybe that’s something Fiat might consider as well. After all, the Panda platform on which it’s based is already geared for it.
originally appeared on on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our .
No, this isn’t a mule for the next-next-generation . What you’re looking at here is another “four-door coupe” for the Silver Arrow lineup – codenamed C117 – that will probably come to life as the CLC-Class.
These photos are a bit deceiving, since the added black cladding does add some extra heft to the vehicle’s shape, but believe us when we say that this thing is smaller than you think. In fact, it’s said to be based on a slightly longer version of the new platform that will underpin the refreshed and hatchbacks.
Our spies indicate that the car will be offered in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and that an AMG version is likely be in the works, producing over 300 horsepower. For the standard car, we’re told that both gasoline and diesel versions will be available, with output numbers ranging anywhere from about 110 to 150 horsepower. Both a seven-speed dual-clutch and six-speed manual transmission are expected to be offered.
Look for the CLC to bow sometime in 2012 with the car actually hitting showrooms in 2013.
If you have read the breathless reviews and overwritten comparos, you would assume that the is infused with the second coming of Senna. And for to unabashedly draw a line between the M Coupe and the most holy of holies, the 1986-92 E30 M3, smacks of PRified nostalgia stoking. Call me a contrarian, but I refuse to believe the hype.
So as soon as the orange Bimmer landed on my fleet schedule, any and all reading, writing and discussion about the littlest M ceased. I would drive it for a week, live with it as if it were my own and deliver a critical, blatantly unbiased review of Life in the Key of M.
Five minutes into my first drive, I immediately pulled into a turnout, sat there for a second, took a deep breathe and realized – dammit – everyone was right. Brilliance is back in a small package.
We’re inching ever closer to the , and automakers are beginning to tease us with the wares they’ll have on display in Germany. has announced that the company will show off a new “major new design concept” as well more details of a hopped-up version of the . The reveals will take place on the manufacturer’s largest-ever Frankfurt display stand. At 34,444 square-feet indoors, visitors may need their own personal guides to shepherd them through Blue Oval’s new products. Outside, Ford is also featuring a test drive track laid out on over 30,000 square feet of parking lot.
What can we expect from the design concept and the performance Focus? Details are slim at the moment. It could be the rumored coupe model, and there’s always a chance that we’ll learn more specs on the forthcoming Focus ST, though there’s really no telling at this juncture. All in, we hear that Ford will unveil four new vehicles at the show. Look for their unveiling on September 12 and for the press release.
Auto show season seems to arrive earlier each year. We’re not yet fully into the swing of said season, but the rumors are starting to swirl about who is bring what to where. One of the first on our 2011 travel calendar is the , whose media days fall in mid-September. will be there, and it seems it’s bringing a sporty new concept along as well.
According to Automotive News, representatives for Jaguar remain mum on the details, but rumor has it that the cat-faced car company is prepping a sports car to slot under the XK. Along with the , we’re pretty excited to see the British automaker add more Leaping Cats to its lineup.
Perhaps a smaller sports coupe could signal the modern-day return of the E-type? We can only hope as we continue to .
Nissan’s , rival is… on again, at least according to the blokes at Auto Express. What form a potential two-door sporty coupe from may take – if it happens at all – is still widely debatable; it could be as simple as a cut-down or as crazy as a sporty take on the all-electric .
Did that last little tidbit catch you off guard? Remember that Nissan showed off just such a machine in the form of the at the , though we wouldn’t expect any potential production model to share much with that highly conceptual design.
In any case, Auto Express seems to think this sporty 2+2 may ride on a midsize platform sourced from (the two automakers ) that would be shared with whatever replaces the (along with its ) and even the next-generation .
Another bit of wackiness? AE says Nissan is considering turning to the experts at for help in tuning the chassis for added sportiness. We suppose all of this is possible, but for now, we’re taking it with the largest grain of salt we can get our hands on.
When finally revealed just all that there is to love about the , plenty of onlookers immediately began debating whether or not they’d lay claim to the baby M or the legendary if it were their cash on the line. We’re still not entirely sure where we’d put our hardly earned money if it came right down to it, and the video doesn’t make the decision any easier. In it, a professional race driver takes to the helm of the newest addition to the M stable in an attempt to keep pace with an experienced M3 CSL driver around the infamous Nurburgring.
The two BMW heathens fight their way through traffic and generally have a good go at one another. Officially, the M3 CSL carries a ‘Ring time of 7:50 while the 1M Coupe can do the deed in 8:15, though in this case, the driver of the smaller M says he thinks he can break eight minutes in his steed with a little practice. to check it out for yourself.
