Video: Chris Brown Really Wanted His Aventador to Match His Shoes

We are all for customization to make your car fit your personality, even on one as bad-ass as the Lamborghini Aventador. But Chris Brown’s decision to make his Lambo look like one expensive Nike Foamposite Camo shoe has us scratching our heads a little.

You have to admit that in the past few months we have seen all kind of crazy custom work, but this is far and away craziest yet! Sometimes people just get blinded by money and do crazy things when they are bored, like make their $387,000 car look like a shoe. Not that we are massive Aventador fanboys, but still that thing is hideous!

Despite the horrible camo job, this supercar is still a hoot to drive, thanks to its 6.5-liter V-12 engine that pumps out an astonishing 700 horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque. The Aventador can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and goes up to a top speed of 217 mph.

Let us know if you agree or disagree with our opinion of this paintjob or if you love it in the comments.

Read More

Video: BAC Mono vs BAC Mono at Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most challenging motor-racing circuits you will find in the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. It measures 4.352 miles and features 20 turns. The current record at the track is held by Sebastian Vettel who lapped it back in 2009 in 1:47.263.

This challenging circuit was the perfect place for the BAC Mono to prove what it is capable of. This test comes just a few days after the Mono managed to smash Top Gear’s test track record with a time of 1:14.3, thereby bettering the times of all but the 720-horsepower Pagani Huayra.

The two BAC Monos running at Spa were driven by Ron Simons, who was almost unbeatable in wet conditions at Spa for years and TV personality Sabine Schmitz.

Check out the video to see which of the two managed to handle Mono the best.

Read More

Video: Lamborghini Aventador Vs Countach

Countach was one of the first supercars developed by Lamborghini. It was unveiled in 1974 and remained in production until 1990, during which period a total of 2,042 units were produced. The Countach won many awards and during its era, it was one of the fastest supercars on the market: it could hit a top speed of 207 mph in its LP 500 Turbo S version.

Now the guys over MotorTrend put it head to head against the new Aventador in the latest episode of "World’s Fastest Car Show." The two cars were driven by Justin Bell, who wanted to see if the new Aventador is as good as its predecessor.

According to him, the drive can tell you more than any history book, as driving the two supercars gives Justin insight into the impact the revolutionary Countach had not only on its eventual successor, the Aventador, but the entire supercar industry. It also drives him to use plenty of dirty language, which was carefully bleeped out, of course... Enjoy!

Read More

Shelby GT350 Gets the Axe at the End of 2013

Shelby American announced that the 2013 model year will be the end of the line for theMustang GT350. The company will continue to accept orders for new GT350 models through December 31st, 2013, so you had better get to ordering while you still can.

Shelby launched the GT350 program in 1965 and painted each and every one of the debut models Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker-panel stripes, and just over a quarter of these models features Le Mans (racing) stripes. These models came with a 289-cubic-inch V-8 powerhouse that Shelby tuned to 306 horsepower — stock output was 271 horsepower. Other updates included heavy-duty rear axles from the Ford Galaxy, larger rear drum brakes and upgraded Kelsey-Hayes front disc brakes. The engine hooked up to a T-10 four-speed manual gearbox and the car held the road via over-rider traction bars, revise A-arms and 130 mph-rated Goodyear rubber.

1966 brought about four new colors: blue, red, green and black. It also gained brake cooling ducts, an optional three-speed automatic transmission and an optional Paxton supercharger. The latter option ran $670 — a relative bargain by today’s standard — and bumped the engine to 440 horsepower.

Also new for 1966 was the Hertz "Rent-a-Racer," which were later refurbished by Ford and sold to the public as the GT350-H. The "Rent-a-Racer" program netted plenty of issues, as many of these cars were rented for use in SCCA events, which ended up with customers temporarily welding in roll cages. Additionally, many of the performance parts were missing by time Hertz returned the models to Ford for refurbishing.

In 1968, Ford added in the GT350-KR model — "KR" meaning "King of the Road" — which included a 428-cubic-inch V-8 powerplant with 335 horses and 440 pound-feet of torque. Also changed up was the addition of the "Cobra" tag to the name in 1968, making it the "Shelby Cobra GT350."the Otherwise, the GT350 remained the same in 1967 and 1968.

In 1969, which was the GT 350’s final year, the "Cobra" tag disappeared and a 351-cubic-inch V-8 found its way under its hood.

In 2011 Shelby reintroduced the GT350 and produced only coupe models painted in Competition white with Guardsmen blue stripes. In 2012, it also offered a convertible version, plus three more colors (red, blue and anniversary black/gold celebrating 50 years of Shelby American).

As of January 1st, 2014, Shelby will continue to offer models like Shelby GTS, GT500 Super Snake and Shelby 1000, Shelby Raptor muscle truck and hot hatch Shelby Focus ST.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

The 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine offered in both natural and supercharged versions. The naturally aspirated model delivers a total of 430 horsepower, and Shelby’s cold air package increases the car’s output to 450 horsepower.

With the supercharger in tow, the GT350 produces 525 horsepower or a 624 horsepower, depending on the version the buyer chooses.

The 2013 Shelby GT350 package is priced from $26,995.00 for the normally aspirated version and $33,995.00 for the supercharged version.

gallery:2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Press Release

Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK), has announced that 2013 will be the last year of availability for its limited-run series of Shelby GT350 muscle cars. Shelby American will take new orders for the Shelby GT350 through December 31, 2013. Production of all other Shelby performance cars will continue.

“The Shelby GT350 is one of the world’s most celebrated, iconic muscle cars,” said John Luft, president of Shelby American. “When we unveiled this latest version of the Shelby GT350, we promised it would be built for a limited time to preserve its collectability and value. So we’ve been preparing for this day since 2010. In true Carroll Shelby fashion, we’re planning our next ultimate performance Shelby model.”

Shelby American’s approach has always been to first make history and then repeat it. In the 1960’s, Shelby American built the GT350 in small numbers for the 1965, 1966 and 1967 model years, making those cars among the most desirable, collectible vehicles on the planet.

The first (2011) model year 45th Anniversary Shelby GT350’s were all coupes clad in Competition white with Guardsmen blue stripes, just as Shelby American did with the initial car in 1965. In 2012, three more colors (red, blue and anniversary black/gold celebrating 50 years of Shelby American), as well as a convertible option were offered, similar to the options offered by Shelby American in 1966. For the 2013 model year, Shelby American again followed tradition with expanded color options, equipment choices and styling changes, while the performance improvements remained intact.

“The Shelby GT350’s rich history is well-documented,” said Shelby American Vice President of Production Gary Davis. “People value that heritage and tell us that they want this car to equal that exclusivity. We’re staying true to our commitment to deliver a small block car with high performance, unique styling and collectability in a way that honors our heritage.”

The concept behind the current GT350 was to build a car that is light, nimble and powerful. Beginning with the “small block” 5.0 liter Ford Mustang GT as its base, every aspect of the car is enhanced or replaced to create the ultimate, balanced performance pony car that is true to the spirit of the 1960’s era Shelby GT350.

“We’ve taken another page out of the ‘Carroll Shelby playbook’,” said Luft. “In the ever evolving automotive market, we continue to adapt to meet customer needs. While we’ll look back on the current GT350 with great love and devotion, as Carroll always said, ‘our favorite car is the next one we build’.”

Orders are now being taken for all 2012 - 2014 model year Shelby American GT350’s through the end of 2013; As of January 1, 2014, this chapter of Shelby American history will close. Production will continue on all existing models, including the Shelby GTS, GT500 Super Snake and Shelby 1000, Shelby Raptor muscle truck and hot hatch Shelby Focus ST.

Read More

Video: Honda’s Tribute To Ayrton Senna

Honda released a new video video that pays tribute to F1 legend Ayrton Senna. According to the company, while creating this video it used telemetry data and audio samples from 1989 and then installed several speakers and lights to create Ayrton Senna’s "ghost" on the Suzuka racetrack in Japan.

In 1989 Senna was driving for McLaren-Honda. At the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, during the penultimate race of the season, he had a small collision with Alain Prost, who was also driving for McLaren-Honda. As a result, Prost won the race and Senna finished the season second with six wins and one second place.

Senna was killed in 1994 during the San Marino Grand Prix. During the seventh lap of the race his car left the track at around 191 mph and hit the concrete retaining wall at around 145 mph. Senna suffered numerous injuries and significant blood loss, and he didn’t survived the crash.

Read More

Aston Martin CC100 Is Now Sold Out

If there is a limited-edition vehicle that people with deep pockets should taken notice of, Aston Martin’s DBR1-inspired CC100 Speedster is likely it.

Unfortunately, if you were late to the party, you won’t be able to get your hands on one. The concept, which Aston built to celebrate the British automaker’s 100th anniversary, has now been scooped up by what we can only imagine to be a financially well off collector. After all, he paid around $770,000 for the chance to own the car so he clearly has enough money left on his bank account to absorb that kind of monetary hit.

According to Autocar, there will be a second CC1000 to be built, but like the first model, that one’s already accounted for after Aston Martin was commissioned to build it. Aston Martin’s already building that car and the lucky fella who paid an equal premium for it is expected to take delivery of a literal two-of-a-kind vehicle later this year.

We don’t know about you, but if we had the finances to make that kind of splurge, we wouldn’t hesitate in following the footsteps of these two men.

Rarely do you chance upon a concept as cool and as riveting as the CC100 and the chance of owning one is something our bank accounts would have taken a hit for without even blinking.

That is if our accounts were fat enough to do so.

Click past the jump to read about the Aston Martin CC100 Speedster

Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept

Considered to be a showpiece model by Aston Martin, the CC100 Speedster Concept looks and performs like an ultra-limited sports/race car should.

It comes powered by a 6.0-liter V-12 engine that can supposedly hit 0-60 in just 4.1 seconds to go with a top speed of 180 mph. No power figures were announced by Aston Martin but anytime a car can hit those speeds without breaking a sweat, we’ve no complaints about its performance capabilities.

It also has the kind of distinct look that you’ll immediately recognize just by looking at it. And for what it’s worth, the concept’s carbon-fiber bodywork looks absolutely stunning, doesn’t it?

Read More

Video: Chris Harris Reviews The BMW 435i

While most of us we have only seen pictures of the new BMW 4 Series, Chris Harris was a little bit more lucky. He was invited to Portugal where he had the chance to test the new 435i. Yes, a 306-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive Bimmer — sadly, it’s not the one that included the M Performance Parts.

A little refresher course on the 435i for those of you who do not remember; the 435i is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line-six engine with 306 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The 435i hits 60 mph in about 5 seconds with the standard eight-speed automatic and 5.3 seconds with the six-speed manual. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

After testing it, Harris reviewed the 435i as a "very good performance car, but a little bit ordinary." Do you agree with him?

When BMW handed Harris the keys to the 435i the representatives said "No drifting, please." So, do you think did Harris resist the temptation? Check the video to find out!

Read More

Report: Cadillac Unveiling a New Emblem at Pebble Beach

The current Cadillac logo was unveiled in 1999 and it has remained unchanged since then. Reports are now pointing toward Caddy developing a new logo. A report from Automotive Newsclaims that this new logo will be unveiled next month at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegancein California on a concept vehicle. However, it will not be used on a production car until 2015.

It looks like Cadillac’s decision to change its logo came after it received negative feedback from customers. According to a Cadillac insider "the wreath is seen as outdated and obsolete." As a result, Cadillac will most likely opt for a single-piece logo.

According to the same insider, this new single-piece logo could give designers more flexibility to play with the "face" of future Cadillac models. When it comes to its positioning on the vehicle, there are two possibilities: one will be in the center of the grille as it is now, or above the hood.

Click past the jump to read more about the Cadillac Logo.

Cadillac Logo

Cadillac logo has a 111-year-long history, during which period it morphed nearly 40 times. The original Cadillac crest was inspired by the historic family coat of arms of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit and namesake of the brand. In fact, the Cadillac emblem is one of the few in the automotive industry whose origins legitimately belong to a family name.

The original logo included a crown and a shield. The crown was a symbol of the six ancient counts of France, while the shield represented the origins of a noble family.

The first Cadillac models featured a script placed across the radiator. Between 1906 and 1910, there were three different emblems used for the Cadillac models. In 1908, Cadillac won the Dewar trophy, so the emblem marked "Standard of the World." Caddy used another three emblems between 1915 and 1925. For the 1930s, the emblem used numerous Greek, Roman, and Egyptian elements and starting in 1939, the emblem featured a "V" motif, a distinctive feature for Cadillac after World War II.

Cadillac first used the wreathed crest in 1963 on the Eldorado models. The wreath disappeared in the 1970s, but it became a standard feature starting the 1980s.

The logo was redesigned for the last time in 1999 when it adopted a more streamlined, contemporary look.

Read More

Spy Shots: McLaren P13 Mule or Revised MP4-12C Spyder Caught Testing in the Rain

Two days ago, we brought you a series of spy shots that we believe it were images for an upcoming facelift for the MP4-12C. However, there is now rumbling that those were actually of a mule for the upcoming McLarenP13, which is rumored to arrive in 2014 as a competitor for thePorsche 911, the new Mercedes GT sports car and the Audi R8.

According to a McLaren spokesman, via a report from Auto Express , the mule is testing some mechanical parts from the new entry-level model, the P13. Our spy photographers were lucky enough to catch what looks to be the same car near Nurburgring, but unfortunately the weather did not permit much testing. Now the real question is whether this is the P13 mule or a revision to the 12C Spyder, what do you think?

Rumors suggest that the P13 sports car will be powered by a de-tuned version of the twin-turbo V-8 engine used in the 12C with an output kept close to 500 horsepower.

The model will be priced at about $200k and McLaren hopes to sell around 2,000 to 2,500 units per year globally.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Of course, if this is simply a mule, the model we see in these images has nothing to do with the production version. Rumors suggest that the production version P13 will be mostly inspired by the P1 supercar, but with a less aggressive body language.

Then again, if this is a revision for the 12C. We expect to see a revised front fascia that features new headlights and apron. The rest of the model looks identical to the current MP4-12C Spyder.

This means we are going to see the same headlights design, a less aggressive front bumper and of course less carbon fiber than seen on the P1.

Read More

Gran Turismo Movie In The Works

As if we haven’t had enough car racing movies coming out in the next few months, we were greeted with new reports indicating that Sony is looking into the possibility of bringing the world of Gran Turismo into cinemas.

According to The Wrap, Sony is determined to jump start its own movie racing franchise similar to Dreamworks, Universal, and Legendary. While the notion of a Gran Turismo movie is just sitting in the pipeline for now, don’t be surprised if it gains some momentum in the near future.

Another video game racing franchise, "Need for Speed", is already in the middle of production of its first-ever movie adaption of the long running video game franchise.

As for the people that will be working on the Gran Turismo movie, it’s rumored that Mike de Luca and Dana Brunetti take the helm after recent stints producing the award-winning movies "Social Network" and the hotly anticipated "Fifty Shades of Grey" adaption. Sony execs Elizabeth Cantillon, DeVon Franklin and Hanna Minghella are also lined up as supervisors for the movie, ensuring that if it does come to fruition, the Gran Turismo movie should be one that we all ought to be looking out for.

The Evolution of Gran Turismo 6

Read More

Report: Land Rover Evoque Convertible will Arrive in 2014

Following Nissan’s footsteps, Land Rover unveiled the Evoque Convertible Concept at the 2012Geneva Motor Show. Back then, the company announced the concept previewed a future model, but nothing else ever came of it. Now, new rumors suggest that the Evoque Convertible will go into production 2014.

A Land Rover source confirmed in an interview with WhatCar that the Evoque Convertible has been given the green light for next year. The production version will be based on the three-doorEvoque Coupe model and will come with a fabric roof, not a folding metal one as previously rumored.

Under the hood, the convertible version will likely feature the same engine lineup as the current models, so customers will be able to choose between both petrol and diesel engines.

Land Rover’s decision to offer a convertible version for the Evoque has been inspired by the huge success the model enjoyed during its first two years of production — more than 220,000 units were produced during this period.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2012 Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept.

2012 Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept

The Evoque Convertible Concept was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The concept came a few months after Nissan unveiled the Murano CroosCabriolet, which unfortunately is not enjoying the success expected.

The concept was equipped with a fully retractable roof system with a roll-over protection system. Land Rover said that minimal changes were made to the car’s weight and torsional rigidity, but we expect some changes in the production version.

Read More

Video: Gran Turismo Driving Tips From Lucas Ordonez

Recently after its official release, the Gran Turismo 6 demo topped more than 1 million downloads, so it is pretty easy to imagine that the full game will be a real success. To be really ready for when the game arrives on the market during the holiday season, the world’s first virtual-to-real race driver, Lucas Ordonez, is offering us a few tips on how to handle the powerful cars of the game.

So, here are the four tips he offered: take steering wheel in the right position, look as far as possible, use all track available and find the limit on corners of the track.

The tips were offered during a practice session he had on a Gran Turismo simulator at the Suzuka racetrack. This might be pretty helpful for him, considering this weekend he will get behind the wheel of a real car — the GT-R Nismo GT3 — in the Super GT 300 session.

Read More

Video: Nissan GT-R Alpha Omega Runs the Quarter in Under 8 Seconds

In the past few months, AMS Performance’s GT-R Alpha Omega car smashed record after record. On July 13, 2013 the GT-R Alpha made history one more time: it managed to run the quarter mile in under 8 seconds, making the AMS GT-R the first 9, 8 and 7 second R35 GT-R!

Just 2 days before achieving this incredible result, the GT-R Alpha managed to run the quarter mile in 8.25 seconds at a speed of 185 mph. Still a very impressive result, but as the car seemed to be capable of much more. After two days, it was pushed to its limits once again and this time it managed to run the quarter mile in 7.984 seconds at a speed of 186.14 mph.

What’s even more incredible is that the car used to brake the record is a "full street trim car," with only some minor drag race parts added, like the parachute and the 18-inch drag wheels.

Read More

Video: Fernando Alonso Holds Interview While Driving the Ferrari F12berlinetta

If there’s one thing that journalists fear the most, it’s doing interviews with subjects who have no interest in talking to you. They daze off. They give canned answers. And worst of all, they appear completely disinterested in having wasted precious minutes of their lives.

But every so often, a subject is gracious enough to give an interview and in the case of FerrariF1 driver Fernando Alonso, do it while actually driving the Ferrari F12berlinetta around the Nurburgring.

During the 15-minute interview with RTL, Alonso covered a whole bunch of topics. He was engaging, candid, and seemed to enjoy himself answering questions in a setting that usually needs silence and concentration.

Obviously, the journalist hitching a ride with Alonso was pretty thrilled scoring a 15-minute sit-down (or is it drive-along?) with the two-time F1 champion without having to fight with other microphones in getting Alonso’s attention.

Kind of makes us want to get Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus and see what he can tell us about his personal life.

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta

One of the most powerful road cars Ferrari has ever built, the F12berlinetta is a bona fide Italian jewel, glistening in the sun with its dazzling looks all while concealing a ferocity that few supercars in this world can match.

The bold combination of style and aggression that enough to make even the most experienced driver a little uneasy. And that isn’t even taking into account the F12berlinetta’s massive 6.3-liter V-12 engine that produces a staggering 740 horsepower and 508 pound-feet of torque, good enough to rocket the exotic from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds before hitting a top speed in excess of 211 mph.

Read More

Spy Shots: Mercedes S-Class Pullman Looks Nearly Complete

Back in 2011, Daimler announced that it would cease Maybach production due to the very poor sales, and the last Maybach left the factory in December 2012. Shortly after Benz dropped Maybach, Mercedes announced it would replace the entire brand with an extended-wheelbase version of the new-generation S-Class called the Pullman.

Today our spy photographers caught an awfully long S-Class out testing. Though many people think this may be just an extra-long version of the new S-Class, our detective work has all but confirmed that this is the same Pullman prototype that we caught earlier, simply further along in the design process.

The super-long body sits atop an extended S-Class wheelbase and it features a new side profile and a new C-Pillar. The Pullman will offer significantly more room on the inside, plus there are rumors floating around that the Pullman will offer a 2+2+2 configuration.

Under the hood, we expect the next S600 Pullman to get a twin-turbocharged V-12 engine that will deliver about 600 horsepower.

Expect to see the new Pullman sometime at the end of 2013.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Spy shots

When viewed from the front, the model caught testing today looks basically identical to the standard S-Class. It gets a larger radiator grille in three-dimensional design, a long hood and the new headlights with 56 LED lights.

Things are a little bit different when looking from the side. It is pretty clear the model is a good bit longer than a base S-Class, and will feature a different C-Pillar, a profile and an extended rear door for easy access.

Read More