TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Report: Youngman Saab-Blocked Again, as Failed Automaker Goes Electric
- Porsche Boxster
- GrabCad Supercar Body Challenge Winner: Darren McKeage's Tosa Street Car
- BMW 1 Series M RS by Alpha-N Performance
- Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are already on the Recall List
- Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Stealth 750 by German Special Customs
- Audi Launches "Truth in 24 II"
- MINI Cooper China Olympic Special Edition
- Subaru's David Higgins and Craig Drew Take us Along on a Rally Race
- Female crashes Porsche 911 Turbo into gas station in Turkey
| Report: Youngman Saab-Blocked Again, as Failed Automaker Goes Electric Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT
  We reported just a few days ago that despite twice being bumped out of the bidding war for Saab, Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile, reentered the bidding with a $552 million bid. Apparently, this was still seen as an unsafe bid and the Chinese firm was again stuck with the highest bid, but no car company to show for it. This time around, it looks as if Saab has finally found itself a home. Sweden-registered and Hong Kong-based firm, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, has been awarded the folded automaker and what's left of its assets, according to a Swedish newspaper. The winning bid is estimated to be between $208 million and $250 million. That is less than half of the last reported bid by Youngman, which really shows that the Chinese firm was either demanding the parts operation, which the NEVS AB deal does not include, or just not seen as a trusted bidder. The deal is expected to be finalized and pen is expected to hit the "Sign Here" line in about a week, if the reports are accurate. After that, NEVS AB can take complete ownership of what's left of Saab, which is little more than an S, a pair of As, and a B. We are not aware of NEVS AB's plans with Saab, but we can say with a lot of certainty that it will involve alternative fuels (i.e. electric, hydrogen, hybrid, etc.) We have yet to receive official confirmation on the deal, but this looks to be the real deal, FINALLY. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available on the ongoing Saab saga. Report: Youngman Saab-Blocked Again, as Failed Automaker Goes Electric originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 03 May 2012 02:30 AM PDT
Porsche has spent years working on their 911, but while that might be their ultimate sports car, the Boxster is one of their best sellers. It was first seen as a disgrace to the Porsche name, as it was smaller and not as powerful, but once the Cayenne came along, all was forgiven. The first ever Boxster was introduced in late 1996 as a 1997 model and a 2.5-liter flat six-cylinder engine powered it. Three years later, the new Boxster S variant was introduced with a larger 3.2-liter motor, while the base model received a more powerful 2.7-liter engine. More changes came in 2003, 2005, and then again in 2007, when the Boxster got some of the stuff from the baby 911, called the Cayman. In 2009, the Boxster models received several new cosmetic and mechanical upgrades that upped the power and performance. The changes kept coming and the Boxster kept taking them all in. Now the Boxster has been updated one more time and is looking better than ever. UPDATE 03/14/2012: The Boxster S model lapped the Nurburgring race track in an impressive 7:58 - or about 18 seconds shy of the new, more powerful Porsche 911 which scored an heart-racing time of 7:40. This speedy lap time means the Boxster S is faster than models like the Corvette C6 (7:59), the Viper SRT-10 (7:59), and the C63 AMG Coupe (8:01) - which are far more powerful than the tiny Boxster. This result also makes the new generation better than the model it replaces which had a lap time of 8:10. UPDATE 05/03/2012: Porsche has unveiled a new promo video for their latest generation Boxster. Called "True Spirit" this new video is offering us some rare footage from the Porsche archive. Enjoy! Hit the jump to read more on the Porsche Boxster. Porsche Boxster originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 3 May 2012 09:30 EST.
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| GrabCad Supercar Body Challenge Winner: Darren McKeage's Tosa Street Car Posted: 08 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT
A few months back, GrabCAD, a company specializing in the development of computer-aided design (CAD) software, launched a pretty interesting contest on the internet: "Design a supercar body." The contest soon turned out to be a huge success with 194 entries in just forty days. The winner was selected by Facebook users who had to "like" the car they loved the most. The winner is: Darren McKeage’s Tosa Street Car! Apart from winning the contest, Darren McKeage’s supercar design concept will be put into production in 2013. All of the cars had to be designed on a pre-determined chassis design, powered by a GM-sourced LS V8 engine. This translates to a McKeage design that is amazing and sleek, as well as fit to pack impressive performance. According to the official details, Darren’s supercar won the contest because it "has the complete package, a dynamic mature shape that’s not too extreme, great physical balance, deep signature side vents and a great adherence to working with the supplied chassis, including the front and rear boxes." Congratulations, Darren McKeage and we wish you the best of luck! GrabCad Supercar Body Challenge Winner: Darren McKeage's Tosa Street Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 13:00 EST.
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| BMW 1 Series M RS by Alpha-N Performance Posted: 08 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT
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. BMW 1 Series M RS by Alpha-N Performance originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 12:00 EST.
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| Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are already on the Recall List Posted: 08 Jun 2012 04:00 AM PDT
 Oh boy… It seems like the FR-S and BRZ just hit dealerships – oh wait they did – and already they are showing up on the recall list. So, does this spell disaster for the Sciobaru twins, or is this just a rocky start to something special, a la the Ford Escort? Well, actually the recall has absolutely nothing to deal with the overall build of the vehicle, but rather a strange safety requirement by the NHTSA. This recall is still hot off of the press, as it just hit the NHTSA's site on June 8 at 2:49 a.m. – ah, someone couldn't sleep – but there is still enough info to pass along. It looks like there was just a small bit of information left out of the owner's manual regarding how the airbag system works. You know, one of the many sections of the owner's manual that the average owner just bypasses. From the reports we are reading, the missing information is almost unnoticeable. As described by Subaru officials, the missing information in question is that the manual not making a distinguished difference between a child and a small female when it is describing the way the BRZ and FR-S weigh its passengers for airbag deployment. Per the NHTSA, this recall only affects a small number of the first FR-S and BRZ models to leave the production line. It is estimated that roughly 1,156 Scion FR-S models are in need of replacement owner's manuals, but the number of BRZs needing replacement manuals is undisclosed yet, though some outlets are reporting 1,600 BRZs. Fortunately, this recall is just something small and not a safety issue, which could be catastrophic for a new car in the market. Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are already on the Recall List originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 11:00 EST.
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| Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Stealth 750 by German Special Customs Posted: 08 Jun 2012 03:00 AM PDT
Last month, German Special Customs tried their hand on the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG by putting together a Stealth to boost up exterior appeal. Now the tuner has decided that they can do better than that and have come up with another package that can dish out 740 HP. In order to obtain the extra 222 HP, the tuner added bigger turbos, an additional water cooler, a custom exhaust system, and an ECU update. As a result, the V8 engine now delivers a total of 750 HP and a peak torque of 516 lbs-ft. The 0 to 60 mph sprint is done in just 3.7 seconds, while taking the car up to a top speed of 218 mph. The tuner continued this impressive package by adding a few exterior modifications to match the car’s look with its power. This was done with a vented hood, side skirts, revised front and rear bumpers, a carbon fiber diffuser, and quad tailpipes. The Merc was then painted in a gloss black finish before German Special Customs proceeded to fit in a new set of 20" alloy wheels combined with a KW adjustable suspension. The final element was the addition of Alcantara trim for the interior. Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Stealth 750 by German Special Customs originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 10:00 EST.
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| Audi Launches "Truth in 24 II" Posted: 08 Jun 2012 02:00 AM PDT
The Le Mans 24 Hours races may not be the pinnacle of the racing world, but they certainly separate the men from the boys and women from the little girls. For the most part, over half of the field ends up retiring before the race ever finishes and the ones that do finish are completely exhausted – both car and drivers – by the time the race ends. Audi has seemingly always been a part of the Le Mans 24 Hours and has earned tons of success in the race. In the 2011 running, Audi was set up to fail, as two of its three cars were forced to retire early due to freak accidents on the track. Truth in 24 II, narrated by none other than British bad-ass action star Jason Statham, documents the running of the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours race and how the last remaining Audi managed to overcome all of the competition, including three Peugeot 908s, to take home the overall No. 1 position. What's even more awesome is that Audi is providing both Truth in 24 and Truth in 24 II completely free of charge. You can download the debut Truth in 24 here, if you haven’t seen it yet, and then snag up Truth in 24 II here. It's not too often that an automaker gives you something this cool for free, so take advantage of these free movies while you can. They are simply awesome. Audi Launches "Truth in 24 II" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 09:00 EST.
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| MINI Cooper China Olympic Special Edition Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT
German automaker MINI is only one of many automakers that are looking to break into the Chinese market. Just like many of its contemporaries, MINI is going the route of presenting a special edition version of the Cooper exclusive to the Chinese market. The limited run model is being called the China Olympic Special Edition, although the absence of any Olympic logos seem to suggest otherwise. Anyway, that’s what they wanted to call it so, you know, more power to them. What the car does have is MINI’s now iconic British Racing Green paint finish that’s finely matched by a special five-stripe gold design that runs across the car’s bonnet and white roof, forming what we think is an oval running track. In addition, there are a number of "MINI China" logos on the sides, entrenching its claim as a true China-only vehicle. Meanwhile, performance modifications were left out, which means that you can expect to see the same 1.6-liter petrol engine that produces 158 horsepower. MINI Cooper China Olympic Special Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 04:00 EST.
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| Subaru's David Higgins and Craig Drew Take us Along on a Rally Race Posted: 07 Jun 2012 07:00 PM PDT
We all have our own tolerance level for speed and danger, and rally racing is about the limit for most automotive buffs. We see these guys whipping around turns and sliding in loose gravel at speeds best reserved for smooth tarmac and we think "yea, not for me." All we ever really get to see though is the outside of the car and rarely do we ever get a look at what really goes on inside the car during a live rally. Subaru rally driver, David Higgins, and his co-driver, Craig Drew, decided it was time to let us in on what it is really like behind the wheel of a 300+ horsepower machine in loose dirt. First and foremost, Craig Drew sounds like he was once an auctioneer, as he quickly blurts out the upcoming turns, and its recommended speed. How exactly he manages to keep an eye on his track notes while flying around turns and bouncing up and down is beyond us. Secondly, Subaru mounted a forward-pointing camera, so we can see the track live as Drew and Higgins tackle it. Even seeing the video of their running in the Rally America Susquehannock Trail Rally in Wellsboro, PA was enough to make us a little uneasy, so we could only imagine what kind of training both drivers went through to manage to slither down this track that is barely wide enough for a four-wheeler, let alone a rally car, at speeds obviously in excess of 100 mph. Truly scary stuff. Take a look at the video and see if you could actually handle the craziness that these guys do. Subaru's David Higgins and Craig Drew Take us Along on a Rally Race originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 02:00 EST.
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| Female crashes Porsche 911 Turbo into gas station in Turkey Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT
Mistaking the brake pedal for the accelerator is a problem often associated with the elderly who seem to slowly lose some of their procedural skills due to age. That being said, this mistake is also prevalent in females who account for double of all accidents caused by making this simple and forgivable mistake when compared to men. We have no idea why this occurs, but an interesting case has just come out of Turkey, where a young woman crashed her spectacular white Porsche 911 Turbo into a gas station after accidentally applying the throttle instead of the brake when turning in to fill up at the station. As you'll soon see from the attached video, the woman crashed into a black car before crashing through the gas station, plowing through the aisles of products and almost coming out the other side of station. The Porsche 911 Turbo is so fast that the driver may have only floored the gas pedal for 1 to 2 seconds, and the car would have already been traveling 30 or 40 mph before it even entered the station. Fortunately, the driver and her passenger were not injured in the incident although an employee at the gas station was admitted to hospital with minor injuries. If you have any suggestions on how manufacturers could minimize these incidents, then leave a comment! For more video footage of the insane crash, hit the jump! Female crashes Porsche 911 Turbo into gas station in Turkey originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 8 June 2012 01:00 EST.
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