Remember the BAC Mono? The 1,190-pound, 280-horsepower, £79,950 single-seater from the UK was inspired by Bjork’s “All is Full of Love” video, a car that Autocar scribe Steve Sutcliffe called “Fan-bleeding-tastic.” The Mono has a U.S. importer now, that being Sector111, the folks in Temecula, California that address the aftermarket needs of Lotus Elise and Exige and Ariel Atom owners.
Previously, the company had said its entire run of 50 for 2012 was sold out, but they’ve managed to scrape up “less than 12″ to offer the U.S. market next year. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but a straight conversion of the UK price works out to $125,138. That’s costly, but not out of the question for a roadgoing Elise-beater that can run like an F3 racer on the track and just happens to be The Stig’s Car of 2011. Read More »
The Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8 has been unwrapped and it’s a kinder, gentler bulldog that makes do with “just” 500 horsepower and 481 pound-feet from its 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8. That is down 20 horsepower and up just 8 pound-feet from the output of the Audi S8, with which it shares the innovatively-packaged, cylinder-deactivating V8. We’re going to guess that’s to leave unquestionable space between it and the 631-hp Continental GT, and so Bentley could reach its 40 percent improvement goal with respect to emissions and gas mileage.
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With everyone predictably swarming over the Toyobaru Twins here at the Tokyo Motor Show, one bit of performance geekery has been largely overlooked.
Toyota brought out the second iteration of its MR-S/MR2-based GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept, with an all-new look, more carbon fiber and a reworked hybrid powertrain. The standard 2ZZ four-cylinder (or lesser 1ZZ in the States) has been swapped out for a 3.5-liter V6 mounted amidships and outputting 247 horsepower. While that’s not much juice from a big V6, the addition of an electric motor powering the front wheels brings overall output up to just under 300 hp, allowing the 3,300-pound roadster to run to 60 mph in the mid-five-second range. Read More »
We’ve always had a soft spot for the Daihatsu Copen. Granted, it always struck us as an overly effeminate Audi TT, but that’s not a particularly bad thing. But after nearly a decade of production, Daihatsu has to move on, so across the way from the “Ultimate Edition” Copen at the Tokyo Motor Show is this, the Daihatsu DX concept.
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Volvo doesn’t have a big presence at the LA Auto Show, but the Swedish automaker did manage to roll out a new special edition model for our edification. The C70 Inscription is a new trim limited to only 2,000 units worldwide. The Inscription will be available in the U.S. with Volvo’s T5 five-cylinder turbo delivering 230 horsepower. Other markets will feature a pair of diesel offerings in 150-hp and 177-hp flavors.
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Lamborghini typically unveils a droptop version of one of its models at the LA Auto Show, generally with a very long and very Italian name. This year is no exception, as Lamborghini has pulled the wraps off the Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder, essentially a convertible version of the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni.
As described in the name, the latest Lambo features a longitudinally mounted V10 packing 550 horsepower that is driven exclusively through the rear wheels. The suspension has been specifically tuned to work with the rear-wheel-drive architecture, and aerodynamics have been slightly revised, as well, in comparison to the standard Gallardo LP570-4. Both a six-speed manual and six-speed e-gear transmission will be offered, although we’re guessing most customers will opt for the flappy paddles.
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Those wanting Jaguar’s top-of-the-line two-door in drop-top form are now getting their wish as the company has officially unveiled the XKR-S Convertible ahead of its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The convertible features the same supercharged 550 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 found in the coupe, making it the most powerful rag-top that Jaguar has ever built. It’s also the fastest, with the XKR-S sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds.
The XKR-S Convertible shares the same exterior appointments as its hardtop sibling, featuring a new front bumper with wider, lower air intake and a carbon fiber splitter. There is also a new rear wing with a carbon fiber insert. It doesn’t stop there, as the interior also receives special appointments including performance seats trimmed in carbon leather.
You can read more details about the Jaguar XKR-S Convertible in the press release after the jump, and check back tomorrow for live photos of the car from the show floor. Read More »
