The new 2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z, which makes its North American debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show is the fifth in the 2007 350Z Coupe lineup, is available with a 6-speed manual transmission only. It goes on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in July 2007.
The sport coupe has got a special body package, improved handling equipment and is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 306 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. As a sports car, the Nissan NISMO 350Z is fantastic, however its downside is quickly apparent when you take it on the street.
All the newfound chassis rigidity combined with the stiff-legged, track-ready suspension calibration and aggressive, low-profile Bridgestone RE-01R tires combines to deliver a harsh ride that’ll shake your fillings loose even on Japan’s magically smooth roads.
Read More: “Upcoming Nissan NISMO 350Z”
Audi announced the US pricing for its super car, the R8, which is set to be released this fall. The six-speed manual transmission version will have a suggested retail price of $109,000 and the six-speed R tronic automatic gearbox will start at $118,000. So what are you waiting for, start saving! Read More: “$109,000 for the upcoming Audi R8”
Mercedes announced another addition to the AMG range, introducing the Mercedes CL65 AMG. This new the exclusive high-performance coupe from the german factory tuner will be powered by a powerful AMG engine, a 6.0-liter V12 biturbo, similiar with S65 AMG and SL65 AMG twelve-cylinder engine models. Its maximum output of 612 bhp is reflected in its outstanding performance data: the CL65 AMG attains 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds and reaches the 200 km/h mark in 13.3 seconds. Its maximum speed of 250 km/h is electronically limited.
The optical package for this super car is also impressing, giving the car a powerful, elegant and dynamic design. Sports exhaust with two twin chromed V12-design tailpipes, titanium gray 20-inch AMG twin-spoke forged wheels, large air intakes, round fog lamps with chrome surrounds the special AMG radiator grille with two horizontal chrome louvers, distinctive side skirts and “V12 BITURBO” lettering enhance the sides.
Mercedes is also preparing a special CL65 AMG limited edition to mark the 40 years passed since Mercedes and AMG started working together. It will have a new type of paint, AMG Alubeam, a unique paint finish which has previously only been seen on a handful of Mercedes show cars, two-tone all-Nappa-leather upholstery with a diamond pattern, a color-coordinated Alcantara roof lining and embossed V12 logos on the front head restraints. Click read more to see more pics. Read More: “2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG”
Advice for those of you who own a Ferrari Enzo: Don’t give it to Eddie Griffin! The actor, which was rehearsing for a racing event, crashed a $1.2 million Ferrari Enzo into a concrete barrier. He wasn’t injured, however the car was seriously damaged. Now the question is…is Eddie such an awful driver or you need college to drive the Enzo? Read More: “$1.2 Million Ferrari Enzo Crashed By Eddie Griffin”
At the Geneva Motor Show 2007, the German tuner TechArt presented the TechArt GTstreet 2007, modified version of the latest Porsche 911 Turbo.
The standard Porsche engine a 3.6-liter twin-turbo flat engine, which develops 480 hp was modified by TechArt and now develops 630 hp at 6,800 rpm. Peak torque increases from 620 Nm to 820 Nm at 4,500 rpm. This makes the TechArt GTstreet one of the world’s fastest sports cars: 0 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds, 200 km/h after just 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 345 km/h. Sounds good.
The optic elements, which look astonishing, were modified for better aerodynamic downforce, minimized drag. So we have to say that the new TechArt GTstreet is a fantastic car, the only thing we don’t know yet is it’s pricing. More photos after the jump. Read More: “2007 TechArt GTstreet, Porsche 911 Turbo based”
Muscat, a Malta based company announced that they will produce an electric folding hardtop for the Ford Mustang. The hardtop is designed so that it doesn’t take any space from the boot, instead it folds into a compartment behind the seats. The only bug is that, as you can see from the video is that is takes pretty long for the roof to open and retract (it closes in 36 seconds and opens in 30, enough for you to get pretty wet if rain suddenly begins). However, the company’s founder said that the time will be cut down to 23 seconds. Video after the jump. Read More: “Ford Mustang Coupe-Cabrio by Muscat”
Je Design came up with an interesting modified version of the new Audi TT. The modifications include a complete optical package with improved brakes, a 4-pipe stainless steel sports exhaust and 20″ wheels. The engine will also be modified, the improved one producing 244 HP, with a top speed of 247 km/h (240 km/h at the series model). The car will accelerate from 0 to 100 in 6 seconds, which is pretty good. What’s very interesting is that it seems that Je Design is also preparing a 3.2-liter V6 that will produce 350 HP.
The kit will also be available for the Audi TT Roadster, but we have no idea of the prices for these modifications. Read More: “Audi TT by Je Design”
Porsche decided that it’s time for Boxster to get a facelift. These days appeared some spyshots of this new model. At the exterior there are no major changes, the front bumper is slightly changed and also the tail lights are somehow changed. Probably there will be more changes at the mechanics part. More photos after the jump. Read More: “Porsche Boxster Gets A Facelift”
As you probably know, DaimlerChrysler’s US Division is for sale, and it appears a bidding war has started, as DaimlerChrysler’s stocks closed at $82.36, highest value since August 2000. So far, it seems that Magna International Inc, in association with an unknown private-equity firm placed a $4.6 billion offer. Offers are also expected from Cerberus Capital Management and a partnership of the Blackstone Group and Centerbridge Partners. However, none of these information is official and we’ll have to wait and see what happends. Read More: “DaimlerChrysler Bidding War”
These days Currency Motor Cars introduced one of the world’s most powerful supercars. It is a modified 2006 BMW M5 that can reach a top speed of 240 mph, which makes it one of the fastest luxury 4-door sedan on the planet. The BMW’s compression V-10 engine was fitted with twin-turbo chargers and a custom inter-cooler system to kick out an astonishing 800+ horses.
The interior is also exquisit, with leather in the steering wheel, arm rests and dash is the same as the leather in the seats. Fully aniline dyed Florida alligator in black. The custom interior is all hand stitched, designed and installed by Judy Amic-Angelo.
The car accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.6 seconds and it will be priced at an eye-popping $350,000. More photos after the jump. Read More: “800HP BMW M5 By Currency Motor”
The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is a fully updated version of the G35 coupe that put Infiniti on the map as a serious player in the market for premium sporting coupes. But the real news is the power plant, which received an increase in displacement to 3.7 liters thanks to a 4.6mm increase in stroke and now produces 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. That’s 30 hp more and 30 lb-ft less torque than BMW’s 335i coupe. It represents an improvement of 24 hp and 2 lb-ft over the current G35 coupe’s 3.5-liter V6.
The coupe’s proportions remain the same, but there are significant detail tweaks that differentiate the newer, more muscular G. The grille now features Infiniti’s signature double arch, the headlights and taillights are L-shaped and the rear deck incorporates an integral spoiler. There’s also a distinct character line running the length of both sides of the hood.
G37 coupes will hit dealers on August 21 of this year. The prices won’t be announced until just before the on-sale date, but, if Infiniti follows tradition, however, it will undercut its German competition in price while offering similar or better performance. Currently, that means a G37 sport coupe with the five-speed automatic transmission will have to tally less than $44,000 — an easy task considering the current car with these options rings up a $35,750 tab. More pics after the jump. Read More: “Nissan Presents The New Infiniti G37 Coupe”
On July 4, 2007, exactly 50 years later after the original Fiat 500 was introduced and in the same place, in Turin, Fiat will present the new Fiat 500 which will be marketed immediately after the launch. The new mini car will conclude an equally important cycle of revival for Fiat Automobiles SpA.
Developed by the Fiat Style Centre and manufactured in the plant in Tychy (Poland), the new 500 is a 3-door model with very compact measurements: it is 355 cm long, 165 cm wide, 149 cm tall and has a wheelbase of 230 cm.
Fiat decided to give this little fellow three engines: a 75 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet turbodiesel unit and two petrol engines, the 69 bhp 1.2 8v and the 100 bhp 1.4 16v, all of which are available with five or six speed mechanical gearboxes. More pics after the jump. Read More: “Fiat 500 Reborn”
Dutch website AutoTelegraaf revealed some info on the highly expected BMW M3 along with some photographs of the engine that will power this BMW. It appears that the new M3’s engine will be a V8 producing 420hp and with peak torque of 400Nm.
This engine is derived from the potent 5.0L V10 engine used in the M3’s big brothers M5 and M6, and it will displace 4.0L and produce its peak 420hp output at a lofty 8,300rpm, while maximum torque of 400Nm comes in at even higher 8,400rpm. Though this latter figure might not seem such a big deal, thanks to the Double Vanos valve technology, the new V8 engine delivers up to 340Nm of torque from only 2,000rpm. The use of aluminum and composite materials in its construction, the mighty motor weighs in at just 202kg. Read More: “V8 Engine For The New BMW M3”
There’s a lot of controversy these days about European Comission trying to force Germany to impose speed limits on the Autobahn. I personally think that it’s an useless decision and it leaves some of us without the last bastion of speed. With measures taken every week trying to make traffic safer, there are few places where normal people can feel the adrenalin, without having to pay a speed ticket for that.
One thing surprized me though, ZDF, a television in Germany, made a survey and the conclusion was that most of the Germans agree with Europe Comission’s decision. If I was a german, I’d be somehow proud to have a no-limit highway in my country, but it seems I ain’t a german. The German officials spoke out against this decision and let’s hope that they’ll be successful and the Autobahn will still be a hot spot for drivers. Read More: “To Speed Or Not To Speed On The Autobahn”
Callaway will be showing its latest model, a drop-top version of its C16 Coupe, at the 2007 New York Auto Show this April. The convertible will feature the same engine options as the coupe, meaning either 560 or 616 horsepower will be available from the supercharged 6.0-liter V8, depending on which state of tune the buyer selects.
Transmission options also remain the same, namely a manual six-speed box or a six-speed paddle-shift semi-automatic. As expected, the Callaway C16 Convertible won’t come cheap, prices going up to $130,000. Read More: “Callaway C16 goes topless”
