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2011 Detroit Auto Show Preview
We kind of get the feeling that 2011 is going to be a big year for automakers. We don’t have a tangible explanation for it, but there’s something about the air this year that feels like the next 12 months will be filled with more ups than downs and, hopefully, a lot less recalls than 2010.
We’re barely a few days into the new year and we’re already getting excited over the first major event for 2011, the North American International Motor Show. All the happenings will take place at the Cobb Center in Detroit on January 10, 2011 so we felt it was an opportune time to provide a heads-up of what to expect when the floor opens.
The list of vehicles we’ve included on the list are cars that have officially - and unofficially - punched in their tickets for Detroit. Some cars that will appear are still being withheld for suspense purposes, but what’s the fun in having a preview if we can’t dig up the cars that want their presence to be a surprise?
2011 Detroit Auto Show Recap
As the first major international auto show of the 2011 calendar year, the North America International Auto Show sees no shortage of manufacturers all looking to break in the new year with a bang.
Some make a tremendous impression on all of us, whereas others just fade into obscurity as soon as the show ends. The challenge for these automakers is to make sure that they bring out products, whether its of production material or it’s a concept that will stand out from the rest.
All the happenings of the Detroit Auto Show took at the Cobb Center in Detroit a few weeks ago so we felt it was an opportune time to provide a heads-up of what vehicles served notice at the event.
This recap will cover all the cars that were officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. Check out the list and let us know which of these new toys on the block you’d want to be taking home to with you.
2011 Chicago Auto Show Preview
Fresh off of the 2011 North American International Auto Show, the next major auto event is ready to kick off in a little over a week’s time at the Windy City in Chicago. From February 9th-20th, the Chicago Auto Show will be the center of the automotive universe - in the US, at least - and is expected to draw a sizable number of manufacturers from all over the world.
Here at Topspeed, we make sure that you’re on top of everything as it pertains to these type of shows and just like Detroit, we’re here to give you a low-down on what cars to expect at the Chicago Auto Show.
We’ve compiled a list of cars that are scheduled to make their production debuts in Chicago, and to give you a better idea of what models to expect, we have the full low-down on all attending brands and the respective models that they’re expected to unveil next week.
2013 GMC Terrain Denali
General Motors has officially revealed the highly anticipated 2013 GMC Terrain Denali ahead of its public debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show. Not only does the Terrain finally get the Denali trim as an option for the 2013 model, but it also gets a bigger, more powerful engine. The current 264 HP 3.0L V6 option gets replaced with a new 301 HP 3.6L direct injected V6. Those who want to stick with the standard Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder will get the best of both worlds; best in class fuel economy and, thanks to the Denali trim, the most luxurious SUV in its segment.
The Denali trim has been very successful for GMC vehicles, and the Terrain has been eagerly waiting to wear the Denali emblem ever since the very first one rolled off the assembly line in late 2009. The Terrain is already GMC’s hottest seller with the 2012 model’s sales up 37 percent from 2011, and adding the Denali trim will only boost sales further. Last year, over half of all GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs sold included Denali trim. GM global marketing chief Joel Ewanick calls Denali, which accounts for 15 percent of total GMC sales, "a brand within a brand."
The first Denali offering was revealed at the 1997 Detroit Auto Show with the 1999 Yukon Denali. It was GMC’s goal to set the Yukon apart from its Chevrolet counterpart. Over a decade later, GMC is still setting itself apart even though all of GMC vehicles are built on platforms shared with Chevrolet.
Chevrolet announced today prices for the new 2013 Terrain Denali that will go on sale in the third quarter of this year. Prices will start from $35,350, including an $825 destination charge. Options like all-wheel drive can rise the base price to $37,100, while a V-6 can be paired with either drivetrain for an additional $1,500.
2013 Ford F-150 Special Service Vehicle
After debuting the new 2013 F-150, Ford is now offering a new F-150 Special Service Vehicle (SSV) Package aimed at government, municipal, and commercial fleets. The package will be offered for both SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations in both 4x2 and 4x4 models and can be ordered with either a 5.0-liter V8 or 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine combined with a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission.
The Ford F-150 equipped with the SSV package will be optimized for driver comfort, and has the seating package reduced by 20% in order to offer maximized space for in-cab aftermarket equipment such as law enforcement communications and firearms installations. The central console is omitted as well, creating even more space.
The seats for the driver and the first-row passenger are upholstered in easily cleaned cloth, while the second row seat is covered completely in rugged, durable vinyl, ideal for law enforcement use or work-crew transport. Also, depending on customer’s wishes, the model can be equipped with heavy-duty tires, 4x4 skid plates and interior convenience content.
If Built, the Next Focus RS may Boast More Ponies
Ford’s SVT group is still on the fence on whether to break its own mold by manufacturing a five-doorFocus RS – all previous Foci RS were three-door hatches – or replace the Focus RS with the smaller Fiesta RS. That said, all of the confusion between what to build does not mean Ford isn’t raking its brain to plan on how to maximize the Focus’ power plant to satisfy RS buyers.
According to reports, the 2.0-liter plant in the Focus ST is pretty much maxed out and attempting to squeeze too much more power from it could be catastrophic without massive upgrades, and Focus RS buyer will not be happy with a simple 10 to 20-horsepower increase over the ST model. To help rectify the situation it appears as if engineers are turning to the future Mustang for an answer.
Ford is currently developing a turbo four-banger measuring 2.3-liter and pumping out 330 horsepower for the upcoming Mustang redesign, which will replace the base level V-6 engine. Matthias Ton, a chief engineer on the Focus RS project, confirmed that if indeed the Focus RS is produced this year, all signs point to it bearing this new 2.3-liter boosted four-cylinder under its aggressive-looking bonnet. That would give the newest rendition of the RS a full 32 ponies more than the latest model and only 15 horsepower less than the special edition RS500 Focus.
In addition to the extra ponies, the RS would include the typical larger brakes and stiffer suspension. There is also talk of a mechanical limited slip differential coming standard on the new RS, but that has not been confirmed.
We will continue to follow the Focus RS saga and let you know what is going on. We assume that the SVT division will come to its senses and just roll out a five-door Focus RS. Rolling out a low-horsepower, lightweight Fiesta RS just to retain the three-door body seems like a huge risk, as the Fiesta is not a “tuner” style car and an RS model is unlikely to draw much interest.
Two is better than one: Mazda and Fiat team up for new roadster
Collaborative efforts aren’t anything new in the car world. Companies have been borrowing bits and pieces from each other for years, but lately it seems as though full blown projects are being split between companies to develop almost identical vehicles. Take Subaru and Toyota, for example. They joined forces to develop the new GT 86/BRZ sports car that carry identical parts with different maker flares. Now Fiat and Mazda are jumping on board the team builder wagon to produce a new small roadster based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive architecture.
The two companies will have to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled roadsters and each variant will be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. Both models will be built at Mazda’s Hiroshima, Japan, plant with production for Alfa Romeo envisaged starting in 2015.
"Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time." said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.
"This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship." said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Fiat Squashes Speculation of Buying into Mazda, but will Increase Chrysler Ownership
Last week, we reported that Fiat was open to allowing Mazda to use U.S.-based Chrysler factories to manufacture U.S.-bound Mazda models. Before that, Fiat and Mazda officially announced a partnership in building the MX5 Miata and Alfa Romeo Spider. These two announcements brought about a lot of speculation of Fiat taking the same approach that Ford did, by buying into the struggling, but slowly recovering, Mazda.
After hearing plenty of these rumors, Fiat Chairman, John Elkann, had enough and announced at a shareholder meeting that Fiat is not interested in acquiring any percentage of Mazda in the future. Fiat does plan on adding a Japanese partner in the future to help expand its global reach, but there is no mention of what companies Fiat is considering.
We would not be surprised to find out that this is simply a rouge to not tip its hand too early. It only makes sense for the two to partner up in a larger sense, as Mazda needs some help getting over the recovery hump and Fiat needs a Japanese partner. It would be a win-win situation, so we’ll see if Fiat’s tune changes after testing out Mazda’s abilities with the Mazda Miata-Alfa Romeo Spider production deal.
Fiat is planning a little bit of expansion soon though. In July 2012, Fiat is planning to expand its ownership in Chrysler by an additional 3 percent, bringing its total ownership to over 60 percent. Over the course of time, Fiat plans to jump its overall Chrysler ownership to 100 percent, giving it complete control over the recovering automaker’s operations and profit.
It definitely looks like Fiat is on the right track here so far. We will keep you updated as its expansion continues.
First production Dodge Viper headed to the auction block
Anybody that has set his or her sights set on the very first production model of the 2013 SRT Viper will have to pay a whole lot more for the opportunity of owning it.
SRT has announced that the Viper model that was on display at the 2012 New York Auto Show will be auctioned off with the proceeds from the sale going to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. The car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson event in Orange County so if you’re interested in making bids on it, be sure to be in attendance and have your checkbook in hand.
According to Jim Osborn, co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the first production SRT Viper is not only an absolutely gorgeous car, but the proceeds will go to the many families faced with pediatric cancer. "We are thrilled that SRT has chosen us to be a part of this extraordinary opportunity," he said. "We are tremendously excited to see the 2013 SRT Viper. It is an amazing vehicle. We just can’t thank Mr. Gilles and his team enough."
Just in case you’ve forgotten, the new SRT Viper is powered by a new 8.4-liter all-aluminum, V-10 overhead-valve engine that delivers a total of 640 HP and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated engine in the world. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
2014 SRT Viper Roadster
Now that the world has officially been introduced to the new generation SRT Viper, the most logical next step would be to imagine the roadster version of the sports car. While an official debut is still at least one year away, here’s our first rendering of the drop top Viper.
The roadster version will keep the same exterior design language with aerodynamically functional details integrated into the high-tech carbon fiber and aluminum skin. The main, and more than likely only, difference will be the fabric roof (seen in recent spy shots) that replaces the fixed roof.
Under the hood, the Viper Roadster will maintain the 8.4-liter all-aluminum, V-10 overhead-valve engine found in the coupe model with an output of 640 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. This engine will be mated to an improved Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission.
Expect to see the future Viper Roadster launched sometime at the beginning of 2013, most likely at a major show. Do we smell a Detroit reveal?
2012 Dodge Challenger Mopar 10 by Superior Auto Design
The Mopar 10 package is a serious twist on the muscular Dodge Challenger to begin with. It comes with a 375 HP 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine, a cold-air intake, a front strut-tower brace with shock caps, and a unique engine cover, among many other cool things. There doesn’t seem to be anything to change about it at first glance, but Superior Auto Design disagrees.
The South Florida based tuner has come up with a stellar package for the Mopar 10 Challenger that increases the power up to an impressive 540 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque on 8.5 PSI of boost. For this, the tuner is offering a new exhaust system, a Procharger kit, an eBoost2 controller, and a D1SC Procharger Kit.
For the exterior, the Challenger has received a carbon SunTek tint and a new set of 20" wheels combined with Eibach sportline springs. The interior has been wrapped in Suede with Blue Stitching.
All in all, the result is pretty amazing!
2014 Dodge Journey SRT6
It seems as though the entire Fiat ownership umbrella is undergoing significant lineup changes in the upcoming years and this includes the entire Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep lineups. One rather odd model that we just received confirmation on is the Dodge Journey SRT6. The only car that could have been more awkward of an addition to the SRT lineup would have been if Dodge slapped an SRT badge on the now discontinued Caliber… Oh wait, they tried that.
Regardless of its awkwardness, seeing that “6” on the end of “SRT” is rather intriguing, as that definitely indicates some serious muscle is on the way. The Journey R/T, the likely donor car for the SRT6 model, has a powerful-as-is 3.6-liter V-6 engine that cranks out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and pumping more power from that Pentastar is pretty eyebrow raising.
Given the fact that most STR4 and SRT6 models include either a supercharger or a turbocharger, we would expect this Pentastar V-6 engine to crank out upwards of 370 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque with a turbo or 330 horsepower and 325 pound-feet with a supercharger. Regardless of the configuration, this will make this crossover SUV, which looks more like a minivan than an SUV, a real screamer.
We also anticipate the SRT6 model to come standard with all-wheel drive, as anything less than that would be a true disservice to Dodge’s customer base. On top of all of the performance enhancements, expect SRT to inject some appearance items. The likely additions will include 20-inch rims, ground effects, a custom interior, and a lower stance.
While there is no anticipated release date yet, we expect to see the SRT6 as a mid-2013 model or an early 2014 model. We will continue to keep you updated as more details come out, but on the surface, this looks like one crossover not to be messed with. Our hats go off to the Fiat leadership for thinking outside the box, now we just have to see if people actually buy it.
Dacia Logan by Mahindra
Dacia Logan, the well-known model from the Romanian manufacturer and maybe one of the most appreciated vehicles received a new tuning kit built by the Indians from Mahindra. The tuning kit consists in a new front grill add-on in glossy black, front bumper center bezel, side skirts in body color, rear bumper center bezel in charvoal grey, rear spoiler in body color, new custom painted body shell, bonnet in glossy black and window line blackening.
At the interior the manufacturer included leather upholstery in beige, door trim in black and beige, custom floor matts, steering wheel in black with leather wrao, custom gear boot in beige, rear tray in black and an MP3 player with USB.
2012 Citroen Numero 9
Citroen has announced the new Numero 9 concept - a new vehicle that will join the current DS line-up, including the DS3, DS4, and DS5. The Numero 9 previews the styling cues of the next three models in the line: a C-segment premium sedan, an SUV,nd a D-segment executive saloon.
The new Numero 9 is a plug-in full-hybrid vehicle that combines a 225 HP 1.6 liter petrol engine powering the front wheels with a lithium-ion powered electric motor that is positioned on the rear axle and adds another 70 HP. In pure electric mode, the new Numero 9 has a autonomy of 31 miles. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 152 mph.
Citroen will be unveiling their new Numero 9 concept at the end of April at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show.
2012 Chrysler 200 Super S by Mopar
With the 2012 North American International Auto Show just around the corner, renowned tuning firm Mopar has set its sights on a 2012 Chrysler 200 with a special edition model called the 200 Super S.
Set to debut in Detroit in the coming weeks, the 200 Super S showcases the latest in Mopar’s aerodynamic components that will be made available to the sedan beginning later this year.
"The Super S is Mopar’s interpretation of the Chrysler 200," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. "The extensive list of high-quality Mopar parts enhances the performance and appearance of our Chrysler 200."
As you can imagine, Mopar is offering an extensive list of programs for the 200 that includes a Stage I aerodynamic program that includes a large chin spoiler, a satin chrome fog light trim, a satin chrome grille surround and mesh in the upper and lower grilles, a gloss black grille, new side sills, a satin chrome belt molding, black chrome "200" badges, a new trunk lid spoiler, a satin chrome light bar, a matte black lower diffuser with attached exhaust openings, and a new set of 18" "S" alloy wheels that come in either Gray or Hyper Black color options.
Adding to the pretty comprehensive Stage I program is the Stage II program, which comes with performance tweaks that include a new coil-over suspension, a new cold-air intake, and a new cat-back exhaust.
About the only downside to this model is that it doesn’t have any engine upgrades. That being said, the 200’s standard numbers are still impressive in their own right: a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that delivers 283 horsepower and 260 lb/ft of torque.
Fiat Squashes Speculation of Buying into Mazda, but will Increase Chrysler Ownership
Last week, we reported that Fiat was open to allowing Mazda to use U.S.-based Chrysler factories to manufacture U.S.-bound Mazda models. Before that, Fiat and Mazda officially announced a partnership in building the MX5 Miata and Alfa Romeo Spider. These two announcements brought about a lot of speculation of Fiat taking the same approach that Ford did, by buying into the struggling, but slowly recovering, Mazda.
After hearing plenty of these rumors, Fiat Chairman, John Elkann, had enough and announced at a shareholder meeting that Fiat is not interested in acquiring any percentage of Mazda in the future. Fiat does plan on adding a Japanese partner in the future to help expand its global reach, but there is no mention of what companies Fiat is considering.
We would not be surprised to find out that this is simply a rouge to not tip its hand too early. It only makes sense for the two to partner up in a larger sense, as Mazda needs some help getting over the recovery hump and Fiat needs a Japanese partner. It would be a win-win situation, so we’ll see if Fiat’s tune changes after testing out Mazda’s abilities with the Mazda Miata-Alfa Romeo Spider production deal.
Fiat is planning a little bit of expansion soon though. In July 2012, Fiat is planning to expand its ownership in Chrysler by an additional 3 percent, bringing its total ownership to over 60 percent. Over the course of time, Fiat plans to jump its overall Chrysler ownership to 100 percent, giving it complete control over the recovering automaker’s operations and profit.
It definitely looks like Fiat is on the right track here so far. We will keep you updated as its expansion continues.
Rumormill: Lancia May Turn the Chrysler 300 into a Two Door
Ahh, rumors in the automotive world spread just about as fast as the rumor that the captain of the football team was kissing the head of the girls’ chess team under the bleachers at the homecoming dance… And we love ‘em. The latest rumor is an interesting one that actually has a fair amount of validity.
Lancia is one of the many companies under the protective umbrella of Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. and it loves to borrow its models from Chrysler, add a few small touches, and call it their own. One of the latest models to make the Lancia conversion was the Chrysler 300, which prances around Europe bearing the name “Lancia Thema” (image above). That’s not the rumor though, as we already know all about that.
The rumors being whispered are that Lancia really wants a full-size coupe for its European market and the only car available to possibly satisfy this itch is the Chrysler 300. Ask any custom coach builder and he will tell you that turning a four-door body into a two-door car is not as tough as you may think, but going the other direction is nearly impossible.
So, if Lancia decides to hack up the B-pillar on the 300, shorten the opening a little and slap two fewer doors on the 300, would this model make it to the U.S.? The two-door full size car essentially died with the downsizing of vehicles in the late-1970s, but a small niche market may be in order.
This also spawns the possibility of Chrysler finally satisfying its nostalgia buffs by taking the two-door blueprints that Lancia would create and turn that into a two-door Charger. The pair of extra doors have always been a thorn in the side of Charger buffs, so Chrysler could breathe a little extra life into both models – not like the 300 needs more life, but extra sales can’t hurt – by offering two-door models of each.
This is certainly an interesting rumor to ponder and we are more likely to see pigs fly before we see a two-door 300 and Charger, but we’re telling you there’s a chance.
2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RC1
Richard Childress Racing Street Performance partnered with General Motors to create RC1 Camaros to pay homage to legendary racer, Dale Earnhardt. The latest rendition of the RC1 series came just one model year after the Camaro beat all odds and made a successful comeback following its deletion in 2002.
This 2011 Camaro SS/RC1 is based on the 2011 Camaro SS, but features much more than any normal SS on the market. It not only features a stylish design, but it also packs a mean bite under the hood. This particular 2011 Camaro SS/RC1 was not offered to the public, but instead Richard Childress Racing (RCR) built several of the RC1 Camaros and shipped them straight to RK Motors Charlotte.
The RC1 is the first of the series and the least powerful of the three. Of course, being the least powerful of the RC-series is not saying much, as the top-end RC3 pumps out a concrete pummeling 750 horsepower. The best thing is that this special edition Chevy Camaro is in a price range that a working class Joe can actually afford. You may be wondering how much it actually is and what you get for your money.
2013 Chevrolet Camaro Euro-Spec
The Camaro was first launched in 1967, in response to the overwhelming popularity of the Ford Mustang, which hit the market three years earlier. It carried on as a North American model only, just like the Mustang, for 35 years before being discontinued. It picked up where it left off as a North American model in 2010 when Chevy re-introduced it.
In 2013, the Camaro is set to makes its biggest move ever, as for the first time ever, the Camaro is heading over to the European market, legally. For many years, Camaro enthusiasts had to spend thousands of dollars in shipping fees, taxes, and registration to import a Camaro into Europe, but that’s all over for 2013.
Ford is still massaging the new Mustang body for release in Europe, making a model that is almost unrecognizable as a Mustang, but Chevy isn’t going that route. The Euro-Spec Camaro, on the surface, is just about identical to the American model. Now, under the skin, the Euro-Spec is a little different than the American version, but not in the way you would expect it.
GM Trademarks Riviera Name
Back in 2007, Buick unveiled a cool Riviera Concept which many thought would move on to production form. Nothing has been heard about this concept since then, but on May 3rd General Motors filed a trademark for a Riviera name, citing it for use on automobiles. Although they did not say it would be used for a Buick model, the previous concept makes us consider this as an option.
In fact, last year, it was rumored that GM wanted to produce a sporty coupe, possibly based on the rear-wheel drive Alpha platform. Then, at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the company announced it was considering bringing the Riviera name back, but in a rear-wheel drive form. The concept unveiled back in 2007 was a sporty coupe built on an Epsilon front-wheel drive platform.
So, the Riviera name may be used either for either a production version of the concept which would arrive sometime in 2015, or a new Riviera concept. We’re hoping for the first scenario!
2013 Buick Verano Turbo
For all of us car buffs born in the 1980s and later, we mostly think of Buicks as being granddad’s car. You know, a big, cushiony jalopy that can barely get out of its own way. The last real Buick that we know of being even remotely high-performance was the Grand National and the Regal T-Type from 1978 through 1987. Since the Grand National’s deletion, there has been little life in Buick’s lineup and performance car buyers went away from the brand.
In recent years, GM has been reshaping all of its lineups to not only be more economical, but also to be more performance oriented, including Buick. The thing with Buick is that it has to retain its now strong customer base – the retired American – but offer the performance to draw in younger buyers. Well, when Buick released the Verano, it knew it had a car that was compact and stylish enough to draw in younger buyers without alienating its primary buyers. Once GM started mentioning a turbocharged model, a la the Cobalt SS, our ears perked up a little.
While the details are still a little scarce on the complete model, we felt it was time to get a full review together, so you can see what’s goi
Rendering: 2013 Bugatti Galibier
Bugatti has already built the last model of the 300 Veyron units planned, but they have been keeping themselves busy preparing and revising the future production version of the 16C Galibier concept unveiled last year.
Named after a famous Alpine pass featured in the Tour de France, the Galibier will be one of the most powerful luxury sedans currently available on the market. It is rumored that the engine will be powered by a detuned version of the 16-cylinder engine used in the Veyron. Expect to see at least 800 HP for the new sports sedan, just enough to sprint the hyper-sedan to an impressive top speed of 217 mph. The sedan will also be equipped with an all-wheel-drive system, an advanced reactive suspension, and carbon-ceramic disc brakes.
The production version Galibier is expected to debut in 2013 and just like the Veyron, it will come with a huge price tag of somewhere around $1.5 million.
Bugatti Veyron on display inside a supermarket!
Raise your hand if you ever thought you’d see a Bugatti Veyron in a supermarket. Of all the places you can find one of the fastest cars on the planet, it sitting idly between the dairy and the fruits and vegetable sections of a French supermarket isn’t really one of them.
But there it was, glistening ever so brightly for all the supermarket goers to drool over. The photos come courtesy of Bugatticars.Over-Blog.com, who somehow found themselves at the CORA mall in Mundolsheim, France in the presence of a Bugatti Veyron in attendance as part of a marketing stunt to allow everyday folks to get up close and personal with the supercar.
Let’s just hope nobody spilled a carton of milk on the car after walking past it.
Check out more photos of the Bugatti Veyron posing ever so proudly in the supermarket bu clicking on the link provided.
2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Edition Merveilleux
Improbable as it may sound, Bugatti has somehow upstaged the already limited run Bugatti Veyron Super Sport with a special edition version of the very supercar. A special edition of a special edition, you ask?
That appears to be the case with the unveiling of the latest special edition Veyron Super Sport called the "Edition Merveilleux." The car, it turns out, was commissioned specifically for a 40-year old dude in China that goes by the name of "Simon." Details behind the Veyron Super Sport Edition Merveilleux were not disclosed, although there’s a video of the car with all of Bugatti’s top brass, including CEO Wolfgang Durheimer, rolling out the one-off Veyron Super Sport. From the looks of things, Simon’s new ride features an un-painted carbon fiber exterior with matching blacked-out alloy wheels and a bright blue interior finish.
The video features some of the Bugatti execs being given some mic time to wish Simon a happy 40th birthday and if you can put two and two together, this one-off Veyron Super Sport appears to be a birthday present that the birthday boy bought for himself.
Hey, if we had that kind of money, we’d probably splurge it on a one-off model of a supercar that produces 1,200 horsepower and can hit a top speed of 268 mph. Unfortunately, it’s going to take us a couple of lifetimes to be able to sniff a Veyron, much less a one-off model of the Super Sport.
Guess we’ll just have to settle for gift certificates to Red Lobster then.
Free BMW 1M poster from H&R
Lets face it: all of you have at least one huge car poster in your room. But finding the right resolution can be difficult sometime and usually costs. But now, the German tuner H&R is offering you a free poster featuring the nicely tuned H&R BMW 1M Coupe on a double sided, 24x36" full color image.
For those of you who have forgotten, the BMW 1M Coupe by H&R is equipped with a sport suspension set-up that lowered the car by 1.2" on the front and 0.6" on the rear, a new set of 19" wheels from BBS combined with Brembo brakes. H&R opted to let everything under the hood unchanged. And we perfectly agree! After all the BMW 1-Series M Coupe is the perfect car: it is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 340 horsepower and sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
All you have to do is go on the H&R page and ask for your awesome free poster.
2012 BMW 1 Series M RS by Alpha-N Performance
The BMW 1-Series M Coupe may be the baby brother in the BMW M family, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a pushover.
On the contrary, the 1M has become quite a fan favorite, proving that you don’t need to spend more than you can in order to enjoy the thrills of owning a sports car. With 340 horsepower on tap, the 1M can definitely hold its own against some of its contemporaries.
But even if its got enough ponies to make us all swoon, there’s always a way to get more out of it. That’s where Alpha-N Performance comes into the picture.
The German tuning firm recently showed us what they can do to a BMW 335i when they released a program for the car a few weeks ago. Now, it’s the 1M Coupe’s turn.
Calling it the 1M RS, Alpha-N Performance fitted the little BMW sports coupe with a comprehensive aero kit that features a wide range of components, including a ventilated carbon hood, front fascia add-on carbon lower spoilers, carbon roof, carbon luggage lid spoiler, and a carbon rear fascia diffuser. Likewise, there’s also a new set of 19" OZ Superforgiata rims wrapped in Michelin tires and a MAC high-performance braking system added into the program.
On top of all of that, Alpha-N also gave the 1M Coupe a performance upgrade consisting of a new air intake system, a new exhaust, and a reprogramed ECU unit. The result is an increased output of 410 horsepower, up by 70 ponies from the standard model’s 340-horsepower capabilities.
2012 BMW Z4 White Wold by Rowen Japan
While BMW is currently designing the next generation Z4, Japanese tuner Rowen gave updating thecurrent generation a try. We don’t necessarily think it needs updating, but to each his own.
The updates for the BMW Z4 began with the exterior where the base element was carbon fiber. The kit consists of a new front bumper spoiler, side steps, a side carbon under flap, rear bumper spoiler, and wing all made of carbon fiber. A new set of wheels complete the look, while the rear of the vehicle gets a new titanium high performance exhaust system that weighs 28 lbs less than the standard exhaust. However, Rowen has yet to reveal if this new exhaust system will translate into any changes under the hood, but it is very possible.
On top of those changes, the package also includes a new LED reflector and a LED Z4 emblem to make it a bit more eye-catching.
2012 BMW Z4 White Wold by Rowen Japan
While BMW is currently designing the next generation Z4, Japanese tuner Rowen gave updating thecurrent generation a try. We don’t necessarily think it needs updating, but to each his own.
The updates for the BMW Z4 began with the exterior where the base element was carbon fiber. The kit consists of a new front bumper spoiler, side steps, a side carbon under flap, rear bumper spoiler, and wing all made of carbon fiber. A new set of wheels complete the look, while the rear of the vehicle gets a new titanium high performance exhaust system that weighs 28 lbs less than the standard exhaust. However, Rowen has yet to reveal if this new exhaust system will translate into any changes under the hood, but it is very possible.
On top of those changes, the package also includes a new LED reflector and a LED Z4 emblem to make it a bit more eye-catching.
BMW M1 successor to be revealed in 2016
We have heard all kinds of rumors about the BMW M1 supercar, including the possibility of its return. You may remember that, four years ago, BMW unveiled the M1 Hommage - a concept car built as a tribute to the M1’s 30th anniversary. Back then, everyone believed that this would be a preview of a new production M1, but BMW quickly denied those rumors, leaving all of us with the disappointed hopes.
Now German magazine Autobild is reporting that a successor for the M1 will in fact be unveiled in 2016, after the unveiling of the hybrid i8. The next M1 will be built as a combination between performance and economy and will be powered by a V8 engine with direct injection and a turbocharger. This engine’s an output will be placed somewhere between 600 and 650 HP.
The new M1 will be built using BMW’s "Efficient Dynamics" program meaning that it will come with features like a start-stop system and braking energy recovery. All of these features will be combined with a carbon-fiber body and a total weight of 2,755 lbs, which will make the next M1 a real competitor for models like the Mercedes SLS AMG GT and the Audi R8.
Expect the new BMW M1 to debut in 2016, priced at about 250,000 euro, about $315.000 at the current exchange rates.
TopSpeed Rendering: 2013 BMW i8
A few weeks ago, we reported that the fate of the BMW i-sub-brand was uncertain and that BMW had already dropped some of the new i models, including the i1 and the i5. Thankfully, the company will continue developing the car we have all been waiting for: the i8.
We’ve already had the pleasure of capturing the i8 during a couple of testing sessions, but now we’ve stripped away the camouflage and created a rendering to see the true beauty of BMW’s new ride. The upcoming i8 supercar will be powered by a 1.5 liter three-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors for a total output of 400 HP. The engine will be mated to a new double clutch transmission and will sprint the future supercar from 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds. The company has promised a fuel economy of 58 MPG and an autonomy of 400 kilometers.
The new BMW i8 will be making its official debut in 2013, so stay tuned!
2012 Bentley Continental GTC Audentia by Imperium
Last year a British bespoke tuning company called Imperium has unveiled a very cool tuning package called Audentia based on the Bentley Continental GT. Now the tuner repeats the history, but this time the Audentia package is based on the Bentley Continental GTC. Just like with its coupe sibling, the new Audentia GTC will be built in a limited edition and is now available to order directly only through UK based Imperium.
The Audentia GTC package will be distinguished by a new front bumper with grille, air vents and visually lowering sport side skirts. For the rear the tuner added a custom rear apron with a new subtle boot lip spoiler, rear diffuser and newly designed sports exhaust tips. All the elements will be built in the finest ultra light prepreg autoclave carbon fiber.
Imperium did not revealed the prices for the new tuning kit, but we believe it will be similar to the coupe version: £25,000, which is around $39,400 based on current exchange rates.
Video: 2012 Top Marques Monaco - Supercar Show
Our favorite Youtube user, Marchettino, has managed to delight us one more time by attending the 2012 edition of the Top Marques Monaco to film all of the amazing vehicles in attendance. We have to admit the list of supercars is quite impressive.
For those who don’t know, the Top Marques is an important supercar show that brings together some of the most expensive and exclusive supercars, hypercars, and tuning projects every year. It’s kind of like Christmas for us auto journalists, but without the big, jolly guy giving one of these supercars to us as a present. This kind of Christmas comes with huge prices and tremendous power backing it up.
Our favorite from the entire list of vehicles in attendance this year is the Koenigsegg Agera R, but the list is much, much longer.
Hit the jump for a full list of the cars featured in the video and pick out your favorite!
2013 Bentley Continental GTH
Bentley’s Continental lineup currently features a GT Coupe and a GTC Convertible, but now rumors are milling around that the company is working on a new GTH, with "H" standing for hybrid. Bentley has already downsized quite a bit with their engines, going from the popular W12 down to a V8 in their new GT. Now it seems as though added pressure from the "greener" way of doing things has prompted them to add an electric motor into the equation.
It is believed that the next hybrid system will be derived from the power source used in the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid. This means we will see a V6 engine combined with an electric motor, but with more than 380 HP for the sports hybrid. A similar system will also be used for the upcoming Bentley SUV, with an autonomy of 30 kilometers in pure electric mode.
It is rumored that the future GTH will be shown off earlier than we would initially expect, with the 2013 Geneva Motor Show being the prime location for the unveiling. Sales would then begin later in the Summer 2013.
2012 Bentley Continental GT Speed
The new Continental GT Speed is set to be making its world debut in about a week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012, but Bentley decided to offer the first details on the car a few days early. With 616 HP under the hood and a top speed of 205 mph, the new GT Speed is the fastest production modelBentley has ever offered. Deliveries will begin in October 2012.
The new Bentley Continental GT Speed is powered by an updated version of the company’s 6.0 liter twin turbocharged W12 engine that now delivers a total of 616 HP and 590 lbs-ft of torque. This amount of power is just enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds and up to a top speed of 205 mph.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive said about the new car: "For nearly a decade, the Bentley Continental GT has defined high luxury, high performance grand touring and the unique W12 engine has been so successful that Bentley is now the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder engines. The new GT Speed with its harder-edged, sportier character reaffirms this pinnacle positioning and continues to broaden the worldwide appeal of the Continental coupe."
UPDATE 06/20/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Bentley Continental GT Speed.
2012 Aston Martin DBX Concept by DMC
German tuner DMC has a new project on their hands. No, it’s not a Lamborghini, but it’s something that looks about as stunning as anything they’ve ever built.
The Aston Martin DBX Concept is the kind of car you would fall head over heels for at the mere sight of it. Give credit to the Dusseldorf-based tuner because they did a heck of a job on the car.
The dramatic bodykit features a plethora of new components, including a new front bumper, side skirts, a new bonnet, a roof scoop, a rear spoiler, a rear bumper, and a rear diffuser. When taken all together and fitted into an Aston Martin DBS, the result is nothing short of breathtaking.
And by the way, there are also added splashes of flair, particularly the gold mesh inserts on the grille and the window edging, as well as what appears to be an optional dual central exhaust system.
About the only thing lacking is a performance mod, but since DMC is still testing the waters to see how the concept will be received - if there’s enough want, they could produce it as a limited edition - we’re still holding out hope that they work their magic under the hood of the DBX Concept.
2012 Aston Martin DBS Casino Royale by Kahn Design
While the world is preparing to say good bye to the Aston Martin DBS, more and more tuners have turned their attention to the car that became famous thanks to its part in the James Bond movie Casino Royale. The latest package comes from British tuner Kahn Design who has tried to offer the DBS an alluring combination of style, sophistication, majesty, convention, comfort, and practicality.
Kahn’s package doesn’t include any power upgrades, but it does include a smoky exterior finish befitting of a spy. It has matte black front splitters, privacy tinted glass, a matte black rear diffuser, and a matte grey twin exhaust system. Adding to the look is a lowered sports suspension, which displays the new set of diamond cut smoked black Kahn 21" RSX-F wheels (available in 9 x 20) highlighted by the red brake calipers. Not much was done to the interior except for exquisite black Alcantara sports seats and a steering wheel complete with white stitching, but with Kahn’s tuning packages, customers can always ask for any array material and color combinations.
Power remains with the hand-built V12 engine producing a total of 510 hp at 6500 rpm.
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