There’s nothing you can’t tune just the tad more

Porsche is undeniably one of the most established sports cars … and painstakingly successful moreover.

Lately, sports cars manufacturers seemed like they’re afraid to lose market shares in areas where, oddly enough, sports cars don’t really belong. Can you reckon? Well, it’s the four-door saloon market. Why on bloody earth does a sports car need four doors, I hear you cry! Well, exactly my point, but there you go: Maserati, Aston Martin and Porsche all thought they had to have one.

But, that’s not the point here really. The point is the following: Porsche has the Panamera in its portfolio as the four-door saloon, which comes in the classic three 911 flavours: Panamera/Panamera S, Panamera 4/Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo. The last one of course being top of the line with 500 horsepowers.

Well, and now there’s TechArt – a German tuner out of Leonberg. They took the Turbo and pimped it – a bit here, another bit there, some modifications somewhere else and you end up with the GrandGT.

So what do you actually get?

Aerodynamic kit

I for my part like it. It’s not overly aggressive, but it does a good job doing what it’s supposed to do: better air intake, hot air exits, lighter weight thanks to carbon fibre (the hood for one part) polyurethane-RIM and what have you.

Body kit

You have to bleed for this one. This package will set you back a whopping 40’000+ €! Unpainted, mind you. Gracefully the price tags includes mounting the stuff to the car though. You get a number of things for your money: broader mudguards, new sills, a huge spoiler and an eye-catching rear-valance with air ducts and a diffusor.

Rims up to 22″

You don’t like the big ones for roughly 4’400 € a set you can have them delivered in 21 or 20 inch format.

Individual and exclusive interior finish

Well, it’s pretty much standard in this category here. Apart from the price that is. You can order an entertainment system, a modified centre console for the back seats, tables for the back seat and many more.

And of course an engine upgrade

Now we’re talking! For roughly 5’000 € TechArt will install a performance kit that won’t modify the core of the engine, but still manages to squeeze out another 80 horsepowers from the 4.2 litre engine. So you end up with 580 in total. That makes the GrandGT race past the 100 kph mark after a mere 3.7 seconds and reaches 200 kph in 12.5 seconds. The engine will push the Panamera all the way up to 315 kph, where it runs out of power. Numbers that are still impressive for a four-door saloon that weighs more than 2 tons.

Enough of the jibber-jabber. Enjoy the pictures!

Techart Porsche Panamera GrandGT Back

The Sixth Element – comes from Italy

Chemistry 101 – which is the sixth element? Most of you probably guessed it – it’s carbon.

However, a good portion’s probably also thinking what’s that got to do with cars? Well, Lamborghini is one of the top experts regarding carbon-fibre reinforced plastics and they use it extensively in their cars. Now, for one of their latest models they used that sixth element rather extensively. And as such they adequately call it “Sesto Elemento” – plain ol’ Italian for “sixth element”.

So, this car is extremely light. We’re talking curb weight of less than a ton – 999 kilograms to be exact. Mind you, Lamborghini is a 100% subsidiary of Audi – and they build rather heavy cars. Even their latest and small A1 weighs a whole 46 kilograms MORE, while at the same time being a lot smaller than the Lambo!! Anyways, the Sesto Elemento then is extremely light and has an engine that boasts 570 horse powers. So you end up with a fantastic power-to-weight ratio of 1.75 kilos per HP! That’s enough to make some Ferraris, Porsches or what have you, look like simple cruise mobiles. Passing the 100 kph mark in a mind-boggling 2.5 seconds. Top speed is not confirmed as of yet, but is well beyond 300 kph!

The V10 engine, surprisingly enough, is naturally aspirated but seems to handle itself quite well. Of course as with almost all Lambos, this one too is all-wheel drive, which helps a lot with traction.

Design is Lamborghini-typical edgy and aggressive. Which is fine. Except for the steering wheel – that’s a bit too much edges for my liking. As a matter of fact, the whole interior looks way too edgy. But judge for yourself. Have a look at the pictures and dwell

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Doorhandle

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Side Mirror

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Front

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Wheel

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Spoiler

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Back

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Side

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Interior Front

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Interior Side

And now a few pictures to show you how well this car deserves its name. Here is the Carbon gallery!

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Front

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Back

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Spoiler

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Wheel

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Side Mirror

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Carbon Doorhandle

AC Roadster – not the Cobra but just as aggressive

AC Cars, like many British sports car companies, has gone through quite some rumbles in recent decades.

The famous maker of the AC Cobra has been bought and sold, gone through bankruptcy and only barely manages to survive. While the company continues to build modern versions of its Cobra, like the AC MkVI, it has also licensed the AC name to an outside sports car maker.

AC roadster by Iconic Motors

Iconic Motors, a United States-based company, has licensed the AC Roadster name for its Iconic AC Roadster. Nonetheless and although it quotes a lot of design details from the legendary Cobra 427, they’re not allowed to give their car this name. So they’re sticking to the plain AC roadster naming. Interestingly enough the four-year-old company has never made a car before.

Doesn’t matter, they’re building it and it should hit market soon. The Iconic AC Roadster has a chassis of steel-alloy tubing bonded to a carbon-fiber tub. It is suspended on unequal-length, aluminum alloy control arms with coil-over damper units front and rear. Its Brembo carbon ceramic brakes were engineered specifically for the car – or so the saying goes.

The body is not just another Cobra clone. Instead, it has the look of a Cobra that has been carved down and manicured, but it is also certainly reminiscent of a classic Cobra.

Iconic say that the body generates 225 kilogrammes of downforce at 280 kph, which should keep the 1’100-kilo roadster stable without dragging it down.

Power comes from an all-aluminum 6.9-litre V8 that was developed by Ernie Elliott, a Nascar engine builder. According to certain reports it should generate nearly 800 horsepower unleashed onto the rear wheels. Iconic claim that is enough power to accomplish the standard sprint from 0-100 kph in less than three seconds, while topping out at over 320 kph. Given you’re able to change speeds fast enough with the built-in 6-speed gearbox with a two-disc clutch.

All of the machine and assembly work is being handled by Technosports.

According to Iconic, no more than 100 Iconic AC Roadsters will be built, and the first production car should be ready in August. You’ll have to churn out a repectable $350,000 to $375,000, depending on equipment, to get a hold on one of these!

TransStar Dagger GT – forget the Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron was yesterday – the Veyron Super Sport is today. But tomorrow, dear fellow petrol-heads, is the TransStar Dagger GT!!!

TransStar Dagger GT front view

TransStar Dagger GT front side view

TransStar Dagger GT side view

TransStar Dagger GT rear side view

TransStar Dagger GT rear view

TransStar Dagger GT doors open

TransStar Dagger GT interior

TransStar Dagger GT rear side view

The numbers you’ll be reading here are still pretty theoretical. They only exist on paper so far and how much of these will end up appearing on the performance sheet of the real car is unknown. Why? Well, read on to find out – but get ready to be blown right off your seat!!

Alright, so they’re talking 2’028 bhp coming out Chevy’s big-block engine. That’s right, two thousand and twenty eight horse powers. The engine is a 9.4 litre V8 monster. Although the original engine already produces a whopping 720 bhp – add to it a neat twin turbo charger by Nelson Racing Engines and you end up with something out of this world. Mind you, there’s also a target of 2’700 Nm of torque. Combine that with another high-end equipment from Mendeola Transaxles (the manual gearbox), a carbon fibre body and there’s all the ingredients you need.

If the tyres don’t get ripped to pieces and you happen to be a fast shifter, you should get the car past the 100 kph mark in the blink of an eye – 1.5 seconds actually. Then you can push the car all the way up the speedometre, just shy of 500 kph!! If you happen to find a spot, where you can reach this speed – don’t get too excited. Because it won’t last long – the engine burns a mind-boggling 15 litres of petrol every MINUTE at that speed. So in a matter of a few minutes the tank will not contain but air.

Only ten cars will be produced 2011, with prospects for another ten to fifteen to follow in 2012 – given that all 2011 cars will be sold. For the price of 386’000 € you’re in. For that price you get a hand manufactured car, a choice of three different chassis versions (racing, sports and luxury), free choice of outside and inside colours.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport beats speed record

If you’re thinking that the Bugatti Veyron is about as good as it gets … better think again!

For there are people who believe that making the best even better is just another step on the road. So there was the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 as we know it: 987 horses waiting to be unleashed, 1301 Nm of torque ready to tear the car forward – and then there is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: 1183 bhp and 1498 Nm. Oh and of course it’s got a new body paint job as well!

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport on track to break the speed world record for the fastest production car.

So, the record was set on VW’s own Ehra-Lessien track. On the “slow” first run the car passed the timing device at 427.933 kph and improved on that during the back leg, where it hit 434.211 kph. Averaged, you get the new world record for a production car, which is 431.072 kph.

Now that just smashed the previous record set by an SSC Ultimate Aero in Nevada (2007) by an incredible 18 kph. That’s a whole stretch!

But that’s not the only thing the engineers managed to improve. They also made the car go from 0-200 kph in 7.3 seconds and from 0-300 in 15 seconds!! We’re talking Suzuki Hayabuza times here, and that is a motorcycle with a 1.3 litre engine!!

Marvellous thing. Too bad there is no video footage of that (yet). Hopefully there is.

The Bentley Continental Super Sports

So, the Bentley Continental Super Sports has been out for a while, true. But still I believe it’s worth mentioning. Why? Because, believe it or not, this car can run on …. bioethanol!!! Yes, you fill it up with that liquid of whatever plants were used and it will run just the same – you won’t feel a difference in performance. Of course if you run it on maize it’s still far from ecological, but for the peace of mind of its driver, or rather owner, there’s less CO2 coming out its exhaust pipes. Which by the way are enormous.

But anyway, let’s get back to the performance part. Because that’s impressive to say the least! The six litre W12 engine produces a stunning 621 bhp and around 800 Nm of torque. These numbers catapult the Bentley from 0-100 kph in the blink of an eye … well, alright, a tad longer. It’s 3.9 seconds. But considering it is more than 2300 kg of weight being moved this quick, it’s just mind-boggling. Especially when one knows it keeps pushing the needle relentlessly until it finally comes to a rest just south of 330 kph.

Of course when you’re paying 230’000 € to get the car, you don’t really mind the fuel gauge’s needle moving just as quick in the opposite direction. Fuel consumption is stellar, 16.3 litres (combined). So probably when driving the car a bit on the sporty side, you should be lucky enough to reach the next petrol station just in time – we’re talking 34 litres per 100 km maximum!! Now that’s far from ecological – even for bioethanol. The only comforting thing, when driving this monster like that, is the fact that its ceramic brakes are just as monstrous.

It wouldn’t be a Bentley if the interior wasn’t a class of its own. Neatly stitched Alcantara leather, high quality panels and inlays everywhere. And of course the sound, or rather the lack of it. A noble golf club’s lounge really.

All in all it seems like a superb car to buy, if you’ve got the change. Definitely not from an ecological point of view, you’ll agree. But it’s a Bentley, it’s a sporty Bentley and a beautiful one for that matter.

Bentley Continental Supersports

New model for Range Rover’s anniversary

On the 17th of June Land Rover’s luxury Offroader Range Rover has celebrated it’s 40th anniversary!

As to this occasion Land Rover is bringing their customers a Range Rover that got a decent facelift, upgraded technologies, but most importantly a completely new engine. It is a 4.4 litre V8 diesel that produces a powerful 310 bhp and 640 Nm of torque. Backup up with a new 8-speed gearbox it manages the 0-100 kph sprint in 9.2 seconds. That is quite respectable, considering the curb weight of 2744 kg!! That is pretty close to the Hummer H2 weight and this is originally a military vehicle. Although more powerful, the engineers managed to push the engine’s average fuel consumption to under 10 litres per 100 km, 9.4 to be exact. That’s a reduction be more than 18%.

On the outside the revised Range Rover is discernible from its predecessors through the moderately modified front grill and the air vents on the side. Hidden from the eye is the improved Terrain-Response-System; a hill-climb control was added to it and additional functions have been integrated into the hill-descent control.

All of this is not for free – compared to the previous model buyers will need an additional 3’000 Euros (for the HSE version that is).

Nonetheless it is a beautiful car and I once had the chance to test-drive the previous 3.6 litre diesel, which was quite impressive. Not mind-blowing, you could really feel the weight of the car, especially in lower rpm. So I’m sure this new model will be quite a candy to drive.

The anniversary version Range Rover

The anniversary Range Rover-s front grill

The anniversary Range Rover rear view

The anniversary Range Rover's cockpit middle console

www.landrover.com

Aston Martin One-77

The Aston Martin One-77 is one hell of a machine, which will be limited to only 77 pieces. You see where it has got its name from, don’t you?!

Not only is it blazingly fast (top speed of 350 kph), super high-tech (all carbon fibre body) and shockingly expensive (anywhere beyond 1.5 million dollars), but also it is one of the very few cars that received the prestigious Design Award at the Concorso d’Eleganza. Even though at that time it was barely out and still in prototype status.

Further it is one of the rare cases that made it past that stage and actually is being produced, furthermore with almost no further modifications.

Now, you’re curious about some figures? The engine produces 710 bhp (522 kW), add to this 750 Nm of torque and pair it with a curb weight of around 1500kg and you’re off from 0-100 kph in around 3.5 seconds. Although the V12 power plant under the hood is the same used in Aston’s other fancy models (DBS, DB9 and V12 Vantage), they increased the bore size from 6.0 to 7.3 litres with the help of Cosworth.

Aston Martin One-77 Front

Aston Martin One-77 Back

Aston Martin One-77 Side

Tesla goes public!

It’s been a while – 54 years actually – since an automotive manufacturer dared to go public! Tesla will by the end of this month and they want to raise around 180 million dollars by putting 1/8 of their capital out on the market.

For a lot of experts, however, it’s a journey into nowhere. They highly doubt Tesla will be able to make it on their own. They’re too expensive, they barely have funds for research and other manufacturers with a far more comfortable financial situation have long been waiting to push into the e-mobility sector. Like GM, Ford, Nissan and Fisker.

Then they will be stopping the production of their roadster variant by 2011 to begin producing a sedan, which will become available around 2012/2013. So you might think “That’s good; diversification and stuff”, but I tell you, look at the dates! They will be selling ZERO cars for at least one year, since the roadster’s gone and the new sedan is still being developed. That’s a tight spot they’re maneuvering into, if not a dead end in the worst case!!

I for my part do like the idea though. It’s fresh and there is a chance Elon Musk can make it, as slim is it might be! Even if it’s with the help of  Daimler and Toyota (who own a combined share of 13% of Tesla).

Would be a shame if this car is gone. I mean just look at this beauty!

Tesla Roadster

Buy the Strand Craft 122 … and get a nice extra for free!

A computer simulated image of the SC122 at full speed

Can you believe this?!?! There is this new super yacht, of which a mere 6 pieces are to be built, I mean – just have a look at this monster!! It measures in at 38 metres and is luxury maxed out! But what on earth has this thing lost on a car blog you might ask? Well, it’s got Rolls Royce drives  , two of them actually.
No, really; the best part is this: you buy one of these and you get a super sports car with it and consider that one free! Even better: the garage is already integrated in the yacht’s stern.
Not too many details about the car are known, since it only exists on paper or in computer models so far. However it should be a 12-cylinder model with 880 bhp, thus reaching a top speed of 375 kph! Adequately called “Tender”, since you can store it in above-mentioned garage just like you would a tender.
Now, here are a few shots of what you can have for a sloppy 20 mill.

The Tender leaving the SC122 garage

Front view of the Tender

A computer simulated image of the SC122 at full speed