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The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is certainly enjoying an interesting run at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It’s had its ups and downs… and right now, it’s going through another low point courtesy of Hamann.

To be fair, the styling of the Hamann Hawk is almost kind of cool. But the matte pink pearl paint job does this car no favors. Hamann calls the color Everose Gold, but we’re going with Barbie’s First Supercar – it’s like Paris Hilton trying to act tough.

What’s certainly no act, however, is the work done under the hood. The Mercedes-Benz 6.2-liter V8 in the SLS, which normally produces 563 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, has been pushed to produce 636 hp and 502 lb-ft. This was accomplished through the use of upgraded manifolds, a new exhaust and adjustments to the engine mapping. Those changes help push the Hamann Hawk from 0-62 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds. Hold the go-pedal down and you’ll eventually hit 199 miles per hour.

Of course, you’ll still be driving something that 16-year-old girls would find oddly endearing, like a pair of pajama pants with pink skulls on it. Hamann, please paint this thing black, lose the garish grille emblem, and then let us disappear with your gas card for a few days.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Hamann]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Hamann Hawk is Barbie’s First Supercar

Geneva 2011: Hamann Hawk is Barbie’s First Supercar

SPEED is looking to revamp its program lineup as it enters its 15th year on the air. One of the programs that’s set to hit televisions is called American Truckers. Hosted by Rob Mariani, the series looks at iconic rigs, amazing routes and the people who make up the industry. To kick off the series, the crew of American Truckers has decided to get down to business and re-create a route with which most of your are familiar: the epic 1,800-mile beer run from Smokey and the Bandit.

The first and most important part of the journey (besides the beer, of course) is making sure they have the right vehicles. Bud Brutsman, producer of American Truckers, Rides, Overhaulin’ (the list goes on…), and his crew acquired a 1974 Kenworth W900 Snowman tribute truck. Year One stepped up to the plate and handed over the keys to a resto-mod 1978 Pontiac Trans-Am. The Bandit car is packing a 605-horsepower LS7 engine with a five-speed transmission, Baer six-piston calipers on 14-inch front and rear rotors and a roll-cage with a five-point racing harness.

Vehicles in order, the team set out on their journey from Atlanta with their sights set on Texarkana. How’d they fare? Read on to find out…

[Source: Speed Image: Year One]

Continue reading New SPEED series replicates Smokey and the Bandit beer run tonight

New SPEED series replicates Smokey and the Bandit beer run tonight

We may not know whether Ford will stick with the Escape name when the vehicle’s successor comes along in 2012 as a 2013 model, but thanks to the quick shutters of our crack team of spy photographers, we now have a vague idea of what the machine will look like. Peek beneath all of that camouflage and you’re likely to see a vehicle that borrows nearly all of its proportions from the recently-unveiled Vertrek Concept. That boxy aft-end appears to be nothing but floppy camouflage designed to hide the vehicle’s arching rear hatch.

The Escape successor is slated to ride on the Blue Oval’s global C1 platform – the same bones that make up the Focus, C-Max and Transit Connect, among other future products. There’s word that Ford will banish the V6 in favor of an Ecoboost 2.0-liter engine at the top of the line. At this point, it’s unclear whether that four-pot will be a 1.6-liter or a larger 2.0-liter mill. Lower rung trims will likely still pack a 2.5-liter four-cylinder lump.

[Source: Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: 2013 Ford Escape caught!

Back in the days before every luxury automaker and its sister (company) got into SUVs, there was one name in the premium off-roading game: Range Rover. And keen to prove it’s still at the top, Land Rover unveiled the Ultimate incarnation of its premier line at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Called, appropriately enough, the Ultimate Edition, this top-of-the-line Range Rover is based on the already luxed-up Autobiography trim. Sure to be the new must-have item among oligarchs and oil barons, the Ultimate Edition is kitted out like a Rolls-Royce Phantom but with the added distinction of being able to take its pampered occupants anywhere a mountain goat can go.

There are individual rear bucket seats and tray tables like the first-class cabin on an airliner, a drink cooler, a teak-deck cargo area and – in what’s billed as an industry first – a pair of Apple iPad tablets mounted to the front seat-backs (for the use by rear passengers). Journalists and VIPs alike were clamoring for a chance to sit in the ultra-luxurious sport-ute, but we managed to capture the salient points for your viewing enjoyment with the gallery of high-resolution images below, and can tell you first-hand that it’s every bit as posh as Land Rover says it is. High-res galleries of all the sybaritic luxury below, official press release after the jump.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition takes its place as king of the hill

Geneva 2011: Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition takes its place as king of the hill

AC Schnitzer has showed up at the Geneva Motor Show with not one, but two fresh-off-the-press upgrade packages for 2011.

Not wanting to look completely unfriendly to Mother Earth, AC Schnitzer has taken their expertise to the Z4 and BMW’s EfficientDynamics system, working over a 320d mill to go under the Z4’s hood. The 2011 AC Schnitzer 99d gets a 70-hp boost to 190, hits 60 in 6.9 seconds, releases a scant 99g of C02 per mile and returns a handsome 63 mpg in the European cycle. That, according to Schnitzer, is better than any BMW on the market. Unfortunately, the 99d is just a concept, and won’t be available to the public any time soon.

For the family minded executives attending the show, AC Schnitzer started with the 2011 BMW 550i, bumping the car from 407 to 540 horsepower. According to Schnitzer, the result is a 4.5-second 0-60 sprint and a whopping 198 mph top end. The engine exhales through a new set of the tuner’s own mufflers capped with chrome surrounds. The resulting executive express has been dubbed the ACS5 Sport S.

Hauling all that energy to a stop is a revised set of brakes sporting eight-piston calipers. Outside, Schnitzer went all-out to ensure that the car would be stable at its newfound velocity. The laundry list of exterior mods includes a front spoiler, carbon ducts for the brakes, new engine bay vents and, of course, your choice of 20 or 21-inch AC Schnitzer custom wheels.

Check out the official videos and press releases after the jump.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: AC Schnitzer comes strong with sporty diesel BMW Z4, tuned 550i [w/videos]

Geneva 2011: AC Schnitzer comes strong with sporty diesel BMW Z4, tuned 550i [w/videos]

Chrysler Tries Harder

Among the most famous advertising slogans of all time is the Avis classic: “We try harder.” Conceived of in the early ’60s, when Avis was the number two rental car company behind Hertz, the tagline made a virtue out of second place. With its mid-lifecycle refresh of its minivan line, including both the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler is making a similar case.

But wait a minute here, isn’t Chrysler the long-time industry leader in minivans? Well, that depends. The Honda Odyssey took the minivan sales crown in 2008 and 2009, while the Town & Country triumphed last year. Honda would contend that’s only because its rival sells so many minivans to fleets, while Chrysler might point out that if you add sales of its nearly identical Grand Caravan to the numbers, it’s the minivan leader by a Reagan-esque landslide.

No matter which side of this argument you’re inclined to believe, the fact remains that Chrysler no longer has a lock on minivan mindshare. In fact, among a certain slice of the status-conscious, import-loving populace, Chrysler minivans don’t even rate second – more like a distant third or even fourth, behind the Odyssey, the recently redesigned Toyota Sienna and the brand-new Nissan Quest.

Chrysler finally seems to have adjusted to this reality, making some major upgrades to its minivan lineup for 2011, including a complete overhaul of the engine, suspension and interior. After a week behind the wheel, we can enthusiastically endorse the new engine and suspension, and we liked the new interior a lot. The end result might not be quite as polished as the all-new models from its three main competitors, but the Grand Caravan has been changed dramatically since its 2007 debut, receiving as close to a complete overhaul as you’ll see in this business without starting from scratch.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

Review: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

Tata has revealed its Euro city car concept in Geneva today and it’s a trick little piece. First off, Tata says it is the most efficiently-packaged four-seater in the world, comfortably seating four regulation-size adults in a car just 10 feet long.

Even more trick is the car’s zero turning radius system, which, in simple terms, rotates the rear wheels in separate directions to make parking as easy as possible in tight spaces. According to Tata, the system works with the help of something called a “Zero Turn turoidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission. Right. The effect is that the outside rear wheel spins forward while the inside wheels spins backward, creating a pivot point.

In keeping with the modern microcar trend, Tata claims that the Pixel will return more than 60 mpg and only releases 89 grams of C02 per kilometer. The efficiency comes by way of a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel, which, though it isn’t a full hybrid, employs stop-start technology and regenerative battery charging.

Could we be looking at a blueprint for a future Nano? Perhaps more in form factor than in specific technologies, but either way, this is a nifty looking little space egg.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: Tata]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself

Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself

Volkswagen’s Darth Vader Super Bowl ad has all the trimmings of an all-time classic. It involves kids and the most famous Star Wars character of all time. Who doesn’t love kids and Star Wars? And, perhaps most importantly, the big game spot was hugely funny. Beyond that, from the moment we first laid eyes on the ad we were certain that this clever spot would spawn a raft of Vader spoofs. We haven’t been disappointed.

Beyond the jump is the latest Vader spoof. This time, the mini Jedi trades in his 2011 Passat for a previous-generation Toyota Corolla. But while the original spot was fun and playful, this spoof takes a turn for the Dark Side. Junior Vader chokes his mom, throws his dad and even uses his Jedi mind to lift the toilet seat. But in the end, the edgier Vader meets a force more powerful than the Dark Side. Hit the jump to watch the Violent Broccoli creation – the ending is a bit predictable, but it’s still worth checking out. Thanks to all for the tips!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: VW Darth Vader Super Bowl ad gets the Toyota spoof treatment

Video: VW Darth Vader Super Bowl ad gets the Toyota spoof treatment

A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that underride guards on semi trailers are prone to failure. Despite major advances in passenger car safety since the mid-1970s, it seems the guards on tractor trailers still fail to reliably prevent vehicles from sliding under trailers in the event of a collision – a similar result to studies conducted over 30 years ago.

Of course, some trailers are better than others, but there is no testing standard for evaluating the underride guards and their attachment points and hardware. Despite this, there is a federal safety standard for the guards, and there’s also a more stringent Canadian specification which requires the guards to be stronger and absorb more crash energy. In analyzing the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, a federal database of about 1,000 actual crashes from 2001-2003, the Institute determined that of the 115 crashes where a passenger vehicle struck the rear of a truck or semi, nearly 80 percent involved underride, and nearly half of those vehicles suffered severe or catastrophic damage.

The guards aren’t required on as many trucks as you’d first think, despite a 1996 standard calling for increased strength, guard size and energy absorbtion. Many trucks are exempt due to their trailer or chassis configuration, with dump trucks being a notable )and notably dangerous) example. When hit straight-on, the guards can perform better than offset tests, but in crash tests, the IIHS found performance was all over the map for trailer underride guards.

The worst performance in these new IIHS tests belongs to a Hyundai trailer whose guard bent and tore from its attachment points in a 35 mph crash test with a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Instead of keeping its passengers safe with its high-performing safety design (the Malibu is an IIHS Top Safety Pick), the front of the car slid under the trailer and left the roof structure to absorb the impact with the trailer. A Wabash trailer with a Canadian-spec guard kept the Malibu from plowing under the trailer in the 35 mph center crash test. Offset impacts – when only part of the guard is engaged by a vehicle – are still troublesome, and even the high-performing Wabash trailer suffered severe underride in a 30 percent overlap test.

In light of this ever-present danger on roadways, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is callig for more stringent standards, closing the gaps that allow many trucks to go without guards or use guards that don’t meet the 1996 standards for strength and energy absorption, and a more comprehensive standard that incorporates a method of better protecting vehicles in offset impacts as well as crash tests by trailer manufacturers to certify that the underride guards and their mounting systems live up to the intent of the law. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS: Underride guards on semi trucks can fail even at low speeds

IIHS: Underride guards on semi trucks can fail even at low speeds

The newest raging bull from Lamborghini’s stables, the 2012 Aventador LP700-4, is a technologically advanced devourer of roads. Case in point: The 691-horsepower beast boasts a monocoque passenger compartment made out of reinforced carbon-fiber. It was developed thanks to assistance from Boeing and weighs-in at a mere 324 pounds. Because of this advanced passenger cell, the Aventador is light, stiff and very strong.

Cars like this end up in the hands of a privileged few, but they also occasionally end up stuffed into guardrails. So how do you fix an Aventador with a carbon-fiber boo-boo? You have Lamborghini send one of its so-called flying doctors, according to Automotive News.

Armed with a suitcase of tools and an extensive knowledge of carbon fiber repairs, the Lamborghini flying doctor is trained to mend fractured Aventadors. In the States, the damaged supercar is sent to the University of Washington in Seattle. There, the flying doctor can fix any sections of shredded carbon fiber.

We can only imagine who expensive the process of shipping and repairing a 2012 Lamborghini Aventador will be. With a $379,000 price-tag, it has to be a bit more than the local body shop charges to pull out a dent.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Wolfango Spaccarelli / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Lamborghini Aventador’s complex construction necessitates ‘flying doctors’

The trusty Volkswagen Tiguan gets a modest refresh for the 2012 model year, most immediately noticed by the revised front fascia. The German automaker’s new corporate face is nicely presented on the small crossover, incorporating an attractive set of LED running lamps, similar to the larger Touareg.

The other major change for 2012 isn’t anything visual, but instead a mechanical change to the six-speed automatic transmission that yields a healthy boost in fuel economy. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is now capable of achieving 29 miles per gallon on the highway – up from 25 mpg in the 2011 model. Volkswagen lowered the shift point RPM for each gear, moved the idle speed down to 600 RPM and adjusted the ratios of fifth and sixth gear to improve highway cruising economy.

Volkswagen will still be pricing the Tiguan above the majority of its competition, and while official numbers haven’t been released as of yet, expect things to continue to sit around the $23,000 mark. Click through our high-res gallery below to see the 2012 Tiguan live from the Geneva Motor Show floor.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Geneva 2011: 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan keeps calm and carries on

Renault wants to design vehicles that fit into various cycles of its consumers’ lives, and to that end, the R-Space concept is the vehicle that you will need once you start a family.

The Cash Cab-like interior is designed to make transporting children an easy task. In what is perhaps its most interesting and showcar-like features, no fewer than 27 small motors control height-adjustable hexahedron-shaped platforms in the rear of the R-Space. Those motors can be can be modulated to produce a flat space, booster seat, table or a freestyle area for children to sit and play. From our vantage point, the rear area looks like a bar graph come to life (check our galleries below to see what we mean).

When the rear area is transformed back into a section for seating, the R-Space can get underway. Power is provided by a tiny 900-cubic centimeter three-cylinder engine (that’s .9 liters), which makes use of direct-injection and a turbocharger. The unit is good for 110-horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, with that power being funneled to the wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox. The handsome MPV is also green – it also produces just 95 g/km of CO2 while achieving 64 miles per gallon.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Renault R-Space is near-term look at the future of MPVs

Geneva 2011: Renault R-Space is near-term look at the future of MPVs

Fusion Outsells Accord, Toyota Looks Good, GM Jumps

First, a couple items of house keeping. For starters, we’ve decided to stop including Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer. The brands haven’t sold a thing for months now, so it’s safe to mark their times of death and move on only reporting sales for the remaining four brands at General Motors. We would also advise Ford to stop reporting Mercury sales, as there are none and the weight of what the dead brand sold last year is dragging down the automaker’s overall performance.

With that out of the way, feast your eyes on the sales figures for February 2011, an impressive 24 days of selling if ever there were some. In fact, it was the best month of sales for the U.S. auto industry since the Cash for Clunkers program in August 2009. What sticks out most is Saab posting a 463% increase in sales versus the same month last year, which isn’t that hard to do considering it only sold 97 units last year.

What’s also evident is that Toyota appeared to have a great month, which isn’t surprising considering that February of 2010 was the company’s first full month of U.S. sales after recalls surrounding instances of sudden acceleration really gained national attention. So expect Toyota’s sales performance over the next few months or more to appear a little inflated.

Finally, we’ll point out one more thing that’s not evident at all in the table below. Ford reported 23,111 sales of the Fusion last month, a number that stuck out to as particularly high for that model. We checked, and it is. Thanks to particularly attractive incentive deals (and maybe extra fleet sales we can’t see, it’s impossible to tell), the Fusion outsold the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord in February to become the month’s second best-selling car behind the Toyota Camry.

Check out the rest of the moth’s numbers in the table below.

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 24 selling days in February 2011 versus 24 selling days in February 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be the same as the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.

By the Numbers – February 2011: Fish In A Barrel Edition

BMW has pulled the wraps off of its latest concept vehicle, which is in part a research tool for the automaker as it looks towards the future of mobile networking. The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept is a two-passenger roadster seeking to push new boundaries in the realm of automotive technology.

The topless concept borrows much of its design from the Vision EfficientDynamics concept that’s on the road to production, but this showcar focuses on three areas; comfort, safety and infotainment. Each category provides feedback and data to the driver by means of a light display spread throughout the vehicle.

In the cabin, the driver will be able to monitor a multitude of information thanks to a three-dimensional head-up display. The HUD incorporates augmented reality to display point-of-interest icons and road information into the driver’s field of vision. The display is fully customizable, and the driver can fine-tune the amount of information and how it’s displayed in front of him or her. Interestingly enough, BMW has provided no information about what powers this concept – either in reality or merely conceptually.

The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept is the automaker’s view of where automotive information technology is heading. By providing the driver with as much or as little information as he or she desires, the driver is able to make a closer connection with the vehicle. It may be merely a study at this point, but it’s a glimpse at a future where the driver is still in control… and that’s something we can stand behind.

Be sure to check out the car in the gallery below, and click past the jump for b-roll footage of the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Geneva 2011: BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept focuses on connectivity [w/video]

Geneva 2011: BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept focuses on connectivity [w/video]

Let’s be honest. After months, if not years of anticipation, we were all a little disappointed at the results when Pagani finally unveiled its new Huayra. But you know what? After seeing it up close and personal here on the floor of the Geneva Motor Show – in red no less, which is invariably more suitable to an Italian exotic than beige champagne metallic – we’re convinced afresh that Horacio Pagani and company make some of the most desirable machinery known to man.

That gaping maw, for example, that everyone felt detracted from an otherwise sleek shape? Hardly noticable in person, less evident in the more vibrant hue, and besides, out on the road you’ll likely see more of the sculpted tail disappearing rapidly over the horizon than you will of the nose anyway. But don’t take our word for it. Have a look through our ace photographer’s lens in the high-resolution image gallery below.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Geneva 2011: Pagani Huayra is better (and redder) in the flesh

Audi has hinted that it’s in the process of developing an ultra-lightweight version of the R8 codenamed NF. Revealed during a technology demonstration at its lightweight materials facility in Germany, the NF is tipped to debut around 2014.

While there are no photos of the car available, Motor Trend reports that Audi showed off an R8 V10 that had several body panels replaced with carbon fiber units that may well be related to the NF’s development. When the NF breaks cover, it is expected to sport a carbon-fiber passenger compartment, with a full cf bulkhead between the occupants and the engine compartment.

Apparently, the NF will incorporate not only its own technology, but pieces from the R8 Spyder, limited-edition R8GT and E-Tron concept. Audi said the prototype at the demonstration was 20 percent lighter than the current aluminum-bodied R8, yet it maintains its structural integrity and crash worthiness. To prove their point, Audi engineers showed off a crash-tested R8 that sported cf roof rails.

[Source: Motor Trend Images: Audi]

Report: Audi developing super lightweight R8 codenamed NF

According to Consumer Reports, researchers have discovered that three simple tests at the doctor’s office can accurately determine whether a stroke victim is fit to begin driving again. These tests take under 15 minutes and can effectively classify 80 to 85 percent of drivers who would have failed an on-road evaluation.

The first test assesses traffic knowledge and visual comprehension via road-sign recognition, while the second measures visual-perceptual and mental speed in a compass test. Finally, a trail-marking test is used to indicate visual-motor tracking and visual scanning abilities. If the individual being evaluated scores below 8.5/12 points on the first evaluation, 25/32 points on the second or takes more than 90 seconds on the trail-marking examination, chances are he or she would fail a road test.

The study was published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology and included information from 30 previous trials. A total of 1,728 stroke victims with an average age of 61 were involved in the research.

[Source: Consumer Reports Image: Skip Nall/Getty]

How soon is it safe to drive after a stroke?

It’s rare that someone gets to hold onto a vehicle they love. Often, automotive heartthrobs wind up sold, crushed, crashed or, even worse, fated to land in the ruinous hands of younger siblings. Since spend plenty of time pining for the lost models that once occupied our stable, we greatly admire individuals who have not only kept the keys to their mechanical loves, but actually take the time to dust them off and light the tires on occasion.

Such is the case with this 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL. The 2-door was originally a Z code car, meaning it came from the factory with a 390 cubic-inch V8 and a four-speed manual bolted behind it. At some point, that drivetrain was yanked out for R-code bits, including a 427 lump and a four-speed top-loader transmission. If you seek muscle-car divinity, look no further.

The owner says that his big Galaxie was originally owned by an old moonshine runner, and while it’s spent its fair share of time out in the weeds, it now sleeps peacefully indoors. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Brad.

[Source: Vimeo]

Continue reading Video: “Some Old Ford” pays tribute to an old moonshiner’s Galaxie

Video: “Some Old Ford” pays tribute to an old moonshiner’s Galaxie

Koenigsegg Agera R – Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Geneva Motor Show kicks off this week, the Lamborghini Aventador won’t be the only exotic sucking in journos like a tractor beam. The Koenigsegg Agera R is also making its global debut, wearing in a Speed Racer-inspired paint scheme (per the owner’s request) and packing so much power that you’d think an R2 unit would be a better co-pilot than, say, Chim-Chim.

Now, about that power – the Agera R’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a ridiculous 1,115 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque on E85. Fill the tank with 95-octane gasoline instead of the biofuel, and figure on “only” around 940 horses and 811 lb-ft. The V8’s connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The driver harnesses that power from a lavishly appointed cockpit that meets all the hypercar techno-fantasy criteria.

The Agera R’s body panels are draped over a carbon fiber monocoque whose rigidity is such that a roof is not required. Hence, it’s a removable panel that can be stowed inside the car. The owner of the example being displayed in Geneva is a skier, so the car is outfitted with a custom carbon fiber roof box developed in conjunction with Thule. It’s a single-piece system that replaces the Agera R’s standard roof entirely; when you get to the mountain, you simply swap the ski-box roof for the standard roof (which is tucked away in the cargo compartment).

Other highlights of the Koenigsegg Agera R include Vortex Generating Rim (VGR) wheels whose spokes act as turbine vanes that help maximize downforce. They’re wrapped in Michelin rubber developed specifically for the Agera. Said tires are rated up to 260 mph, making them the highest-speed-rated tires in the world, according to Koenigsegg. As always, we’ll have a full team in Geneva next week to bring you full details and a live look at the Agera R. In the meantime, check out the high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Koenigsegg]

Koenigsegg Agera R heads to Geneva packing up to 1,115 hp… and a ski box

…If this video captures your attention to the end. This unusually captivating video comes to us from an Autoblog reader, who identifies the mystery car as a Mazda Miata.

The video is shot from an unlikely, but ultimately cool angle, capturing just how hard the suspension has to work to keep everything pointed straight. Keeping tabs on your suspension is just another way of figuring out what minor tweaks you need to shave precious time of your runs.

Click past the jump to watch the 57-second video in its entirety. Trust us, you’ll want to. Thanks for the tip, Tyler!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: You know you’re a car enthusiast…

Video: You know you’re a car enthusiast…