Oh baby. The cat would appear to be out of the bag for the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2, as what certainly look to be official photos of the newest bull have hit the web. Details are sketchy, but Lamborghini’s naming scheme keeps no secrets. Assuming this is all on the level, expect 550 horsepower from the V10 mounted aft of the cockpit, with that power going to the rear wheels exclusively. The lack of AWD should also result in some weight loss, a welcome addition in any sports car, much less a Lamborghini making this kind of power. And yes, that’s a ball-topped gated shifter in the interior photo featured in the gallery. Glorious. A very serious car for very serious drivers. We’re dying to hear the official details.

[Source:Autoblog]

While lucky Brits are already capable of walking into a Lotus dealership and driving off with a new midsize Evora of their very own, Americans still have to wait a bit longer. We’ve already shown you the 2010 Lotus Evora that was at the L.A. Auto Show, and we’ve given you info on the specs and options. We’ve even confirmed U.S. details for the most important numbers.

Although an official release date hasn’t been confirmed yet, we have heard that the magic moment will arrive early next year. Whether the Evora gets labeled as a 2010 or 2011 model remains up in the air, but we do know a lot of other info about this all-new model crafted by the magicians in Hethel. What we haven’t had until now are some real-world photos. That all changed over the weekend when a couple of test engineers stopped by for a spell at our favorite weekly Southern California car meet, Cars and Coffee. Read the rest of our first impression after the jump, and don’t forget to check out the gallery as well.

Two 2010 Lotus Evora evaluators that were in the area for some last-minute testing were parked amidst the hundreds of other sports cars, muscle cars, race cars and hot rods in Irvine this Saturday morning. Parked next to an original Lotus Elan, the cars looked big, but if you glanced up at the Noble and Rossion parked butt-to-butt with them in the next row, you saw near mirror images. The Evora looks a lot bigger than an Elise or Exige – because it is. Some may complain that Lotus has gone soft because of how large and relatively heavy these cars are, but that impression melts away when you see them in person. They aren’t large cars by any means, they appear to be about the size of a Porsche Cayman.

The Evora cuts a very provocative shape that had left bystanders oohing and ahhing. While the red hue made the most of the car’s creases and curves, the black example could have been mistaken for a Ferrari F430, though more than one person mentioned Acura’s NSX while we were admiring the cars. Apparently, one reviewer has already pointed out that this Lotus doesn’t have any clear advantage over the decades old super-Honda. Similar weight (3,000 pounds), horsepower (276), and proportions make the comparison a fair one, but know that this car will likely retail for around $75,000, much less than the dearly-departed NSX. And here’s the clincher: the Lotus has a backseat.

That might not seem like a big deal, but it does make a difference for insurance rates and for people who need a little extra room from time to time. We can confirm that the interior is fully capable of swallowing two real adult males, and the backseat is about as abysmal as you’d imagine, but motivated people can fit back there. Really. The one interior shot of the instrument cluster was taken from that very backseat. We’ll keep you posted as we get more info about this new offering from Lotus, but for now, check out our high-res gallery.

[Source:Autoblog]

It’s been a long time since the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Handling GT Evoluzione was unveiled to the world at the Geneva Motor Show, but with a name as painfully contrived as the plotline to Transformers (and likely the sequel), we figure it took Maranello three months just to get the name right on its media site.

Only the Tifosi and adept Fezza spotters could tell the difference between the standard 599 and this hotted up HGTE package, as the only visual differences include a tweaked fascia, new exhaust tips, rear diffuser and bespoke 20-inch wheels. But underneath, the factory-fettled 599 features a modified magnetorheological suspension and revised springs, along with uprated tires and a beefier anti-roll bar to coax a few more fractions of a G out of Ferrari’s super-GT. For around $42,000, you get all that and more alcantara and carbon fiber, plus “Handling GTE” embroidered into the sports seats. Helluva deal. Check the gallery below for more and get all the details in the press release below the fold.
[Source: Ferrari via Carscoop]

PRESS RELEASE

FERRARI AT GENEVA WITH THE HGTE PACKAGE FOR THE 599 GTB FIORANO

Geneva, March 3rd 2009 – The 79th Geneva International Motor Show provides the venue for Ferrari to announce two new pieces of good news: the arrival of the Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package for the 599 GTB Fiorano and the world debut of the 599XX which is aimed at a select group of clients. The latter new car incorporates the most advanced technologies resulting from Ferrari’s road-going and F1 research. Many of the technological solutions it carries are being used for the first time and have been developed exclusively for this special car.

The HGTE package is designed to deliver even sportier, more dynamic driving, to highlight the 599 GTB Fiorano’s positioning in the “sports car” segment. The technical modifications introduced with the HGTE Package to the car’s set-up and tyres ensure tighter, more dynamic handling, with sharper cornering and improved responsiveness whilst still being easy to drive. The HGTE package further underlines the 599 GTB Fiorano’s different mission from Ferrari’s other current 12-cylinder, the 612 Scaglietti which, along with the 8-cylinder Ferrari California, represents the Grand Tourer personality of the Prancing Horse’s current range.

599 GTB Fiorano with the Handling GTE package
When it first debuted, the 599 GTB Fiorano set a new standard in terms of performance that remains a benchmark for new sports car development to this day. Now Ferrari is introducing the new Handling GTE (Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione) package for the model to further underscore its sportiness and handling.

The package includes a modified set-up with stiffer springs and rear anti-roll bar as well as new calibration settings for the magnetorheological shock absorbers when the manettino is at its sportier settings. The ride height has also been lowered which in turn lowers the car’s centre of gravity. This combined with the new set-up helps improve body control. The package also includes specifically optimised tyres featuring a compound that offers even better grip.

The car’s electronics have also evolved to ensure even more prompt response to driver commands. The F1 gearbox’s shifts are now even faster in high-performance settings, while a new engine software strategy has improved accelerator response.

The exhaust silencer has also been modified with the result producing an even more marked and thrilling sound under hard usage whilst still delivering just the right comfort levels at cruising speed.

From a styling point of view, the package also includes some distinctively sporty exterior and interior features with carbon-fibre widely used in the latter. The 20″ split-rim wheels are new with a special diamond-cut and matte silver finish. The rear diffuser is finished in matte black to underscore the car’s new set-up and highlight the chromed tail pipes. The cabin is sportier too thanks to a sophisticated mix of full-grain leather, black Alcantara® and carbon-fibre trim.

The new seats are trimmed in a new two-tone combination of leather with black Alcantara® inserts, and the seat backs are trimmed entirely in carbon-fibre. Embroidered in contrasting stitching on the headrest are a Prancing Horse and the words “Handling GTE”.

[Source:Autoblog]

In 67 days, the Joss supercar will be revealed. The brainchild of Matt Thomas, an aerodynamicist with the short-lived Stewart F1 team, the car has been wholly designed and engineered in Australia. The details revealed so far might not make one immediately think “super” status applies since the car has “only” 469 hp and 479 lb-ft. of twist.

But the carbon fiber, mid-engined car with a home-grown 6.8-liter V8 weighs just 2,068 pounds, which means its acceleration runs should be enough to leave the driver singing “Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.” However, The Motor Report says that the supercar’s 0-100 kmh (62 mph) stat is listed at 3.7 seconds. That’s only a shade faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo, which weighs 1,400 pounds more and has about the same power numbers. Elsewhere, it’s been mentioned that it will do the run in 2.5 and 2.98 seconds, which seems much more likely if all else comes to pass.

As you’ve doubtlessly already noted, the rear deck is bereft of a spoiler. TMR says that’s because a rear venturi will create enough downforce not to need one (and the vortex-generating doors don’t hurt), a trait the car shares with the McLaren F1. It also makes room for the top-exiting twin exhaust. And also like the McLaren, Joss is planning to run a version of the car at Le Mans sometime in the future. In two months, we’ll begin to see how its chances rate.

[Source: The Motor Report]

[Source:Autoblog]

General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson held a web chat with journalists earlier today over at the automaker’s Fastlane Blog. (Full transcript available here.) Now, despite persistent rumors to the contrary, it’s been reported a few times over that GM has no intention of resurrecting the Aussie-built Pontiac G8 under a different division, even though variants of the G8′s Holden Commodore source material are sold in foreign markets under both the Chevrolet and Buick nameplates. This is a lamentable course of action, to say the least, because the G8 is a really good car. In particular, the G8 GT and GXP models are downright excellent. Towards the end of the web proceedings, AutoWeek’s Greg Migliore went to the well one last time on behalf of enthusiasts everywhere, asking Henderson if the G8 has any future under one of the “new” GM’s remaining brands.

14:45 [Comment From Greg Migliore--AutoWeek]
Does the Pontiac G8 have any kind of future within General Motors as a re-badged model? What kinds of changes would need to be made to the car for it to be sold under another brand?

14:45 Fritz Henderson: I am not a fan of rebadging.

That’s a terse, and disappointing, answer – especially considering that of GM’s four remaining divisions, GMC is made up almost exclusively of warmed-over Chevrolets. R.I.P. Pontiac G8. (Or new Chevy Impala. Or Buick Park Avenue…)

[Source:Autoblog]

About two years ago, there was a nasty rumor that Ford was developing sedan and wagon variants of (gasp!) the Mustang. Torches were lit and pitchfork futures soared until Ford totally debunked the rumor.

But 55 years ago, something similar took place at the 1954 Motorama in New York when Chevrolet displayed a Corvette-based wagon called the Nomad. The difference in the two stories, according to at least one Web site, is that the public absolutely loved the show car’s styling. Smelling opportunity, GM management rushed the Nomad into production without even one trace of Corvette styling.

There are those who still hold a grudge against GM for not following through with a Corvette-based station wagon. For the latter fans, their 55-year wait might be over if they saved at least $2,300 a year.

For $125,000 Superior Glass Works will sell you a 1954 Corvette Nomad recreated in fiberglass and fittingly built on a Corvette C5 chassis. The choice of engine, interior and wiring is up to you after you get it home and at extra cost. A $50,000 deposit will reserve one of the 25 copies to be built. Brad Peterson, owner of Specialty, tells us that pre-orders were not taken and no cars have yet been sold. But if you’re interested, he said you can check out the Superior 54 Sport Wagon in person at Back to the 50s in St. Paul, Minn. June 19-21 or at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, August 6-9.

[Source: Hemmings Autoblogs]

June 2, 2009, Molalla, Oregon – Superior Glass Works today proudly introduces the Limited Edition Superior 54 Sport Wagon. Styled in tribute to the 1954 General Motors’ Motorama Corvette Nomad, The Superior 54 is enhanced with 21st century performance. Available only as a Complete Rolling Package, each will be delivered with the body and chassis fully assembled – ready for paint, interior, engine, wiring and other personal touches to create the Restomod, Custom, or Pro-Touring vehicle desired.

Manufactured in Oregon with the highest-quality, hand-laid composite and reinforced with a stout steel sub-structure, the body includes a complete set of custom-crafted window glass and chrome trim. The body’s stunning looks are complemented with modern conveniences such as power windows, power door locks and air conditioning.

“The Superior 54 Sport Wagon is a very special car,” said Brad Peterson, owner of Superior Glass Works. “There has always been a mystique surrounding the Motorama cars and we are excited to offer our Superior 54 to a select few looking to drive their own piece of history.”

The Superior 54 Sport Wagon chassis is equipped with modern, high-performance, C5 Corvette suspension.

Features include:
The custom frame designed and built in partnership with Art Morrison Enterprises, Inc., including Morrison’s front cross member, steering arms, sway bar, and power rack and pinion steering.

The independent front and rear suspensions use 1997-2004 C5 Corvette components.

The front suspension includes stock Corvette control arms, spindles, and brakes, plus high-performance coil over shocks in place of the stock leaf spring.

The rear suspension utilizes a custom narrowed stock cradle, with the half-shafts and leaf spring narrowed accordingly.

The choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transaxle.

Superior Glass Works is completely tooled up and ready to build the Limited Edition Superior 54 Sport Wagon. A $50,000 deposit secures a spot on the waiting list for one of the 25 Complete Rolling Packages to be sold. The initial total package price is $125,000. Call 888-244-9259 or visit www.Superior54.com for more information.

Superior Glass Works has served street rodders, drag racers, customizers and restorers for more than 30 years. We’ve earned our reputation by producing the highest quality fiberglass bodies and parts, and complete, custom chassis. We are the leading manufacturer of fiberglass parts for 1931 – 1955 Chevrolet cars and trucks. The company also offers 14 street rod bodies, 11 drag race bodies, in fiberglass and carbon fiber, along with a full-service chassis shop. Superior Glass Works is a long-term member of industry organizations: Specialty Equipment Market Association/Hot Rod Industry Alliance, National Street Rod Association and Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Visit www.superiorglassworks.com for more information.

[Source:Autoblog]

BMW’s equivalent of Deep Throat has divulged a host of information on the marque’s coming plans for its premium entry level range incorporating the 1-Series and Z2, and a new line of Y vehicles. According to the mole, Scott26, the 1 will break into three different levels: Traditional, Lifestyle, and Sporting. They will be underpinned by a modular platform that could be differentiated among models and also serve as the basis for the next MINI.

The Traditional line will include the 1-Series along with Active Hybrid and Sport Compact versions. Sporting will comprise the 1-Series and Z2 coupe and cabriolet, plus a Supersports version of the 1 and a 135i Lightweight Performance Concept. Lifestyle counts the 1-Series Gran Turismo, the X1, X2, and the Y1.

As Scott27 breaks it down, the full lineup will advance the capabilities of Efficient Dynamics, and a hybrid version of each car will be offered. As well, the cars will “resist the usual jump in weight by using lightweight materials and sophisticated bonding techniques.” What would be weighty at that point is the number of BMW’s offerings, with 12 cars alone mentioned here, not counting the hatch models.

And what is the Y1? Strictly a proposal at this point, the line would be for those who want more “identity and creativity” in their Sports Activity Vehicles. A “dynamic , lighter and more personal” SAV than the X6, the Y1 is laid out as a 2-door, 2-seat “hybrid of an X with the aura of a Z.” Think of a de-Bangled X Coupe. Thanks for the tip, Andrew!

[Source: 1 Addicts]

[Source:Autoblog]