6/13/2012

TopSpeed Daily Update

Volvo V40 by Heico Sportiv
Spy Shots: Maserati Quattroporte Drops Some Camouflage
Alfa fans rejoice! Development of 4C said to be ahead of schedule
Chevrolet Camaro WTCC Safety Car
Top Gear Live will Attempt the "Deadly 720"
Video: Turbocharged Ferrari California in the Works or Just a Test Mule?
Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Package Whitest White Edition
Replica Window Stickers that Look Their Age by Stuttgart Studios
Spy Shots: Mercedes SLC mule caught testing at Nurburgring
Chris Harris riding shotgun in a selection of classis Lancia rally cars

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Volvo has never been one to be mentioned in the same sentence as performance cars, as the Swedish automaker always focused more on building family-friendly sub-luxury cars as opposed to sports cars. Since its takeover by Chinese car manufacturer, Geely, Volvo has been slowly broadening its vehicle selection to include several sportier models and the latest to come to the forefront was the S60 Polestar.

Another new and sportier model coming to Volvo's lineup is the V40, which is a rather sleek-looking 5-door model. Apparently, this was the perfect base for famed Volvo tuner, Heico Sportiv, to build a monster race car and debut it at the Auto Mobil International at Leipzig. This racer is set to compete in long-distance road races in their various alternative fuel classes.

The details are a little scarce at the moment, but Heico has shared a little information. We will share what we know with you now and will continuously update you as more information becomes available.

Click past the jump to read more on the Volvo V40 by Heico Sportiv.

Volvo V40 by Heico Sportiv originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 15:00 EST.

Spy Shots: Maserati Quattroporte Drops Some Camouflage

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:30 AM PDT

The next generation Maserati Quattroporte has been caught testing one more time around the Nurburgring race track and from the spy shots taken, we can see that it has dropped some of its camouflage to reveal more of its goodies.

The most important change for the new Quattroporte will be its new platform that will help the sedan save a few pounds. It will take its design inspiration from the brand's latest models, the GranTurismo coupe and convertible. On the exterior, the Maserati will receive a completely new design, but the current grille treatment will remain the same. The interior will get improved technology and a more luxurious treatment.

Another change will be the luxury sedan’s power source which will be found in two completely new engines, both built by Ferrari at the Maranello factory. At its official launch, the new Maserati Quattroporte will be offered with a turbocharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 520 HP, while the second engine - a 420 HP supercharged V6 engine - will arrive at a later date. Both engines will be mated to a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission that will send the engine’s power to the rear wheels as standard or to all four wheels as an option.

The new generation Maserati Quattroporte will make its official at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

Spy Shots: Maserati Quattroporte Drops Some Camouflage originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 14:30 EST.

Alfa fans rejoice! Development of 4C said to be ahead of schedule

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Top Gear continually goes on about the fact that unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo, you cannot call yourself a true automotive enthusiast. We respectfully disagree with them on this issue despite the fact that Alfa's certainly have a lot of character. Unfortunately that character has been missing from the U.S. for the past few years as no Alfa's are currently on sale in America, with the obvious exception of a few second-hand cars popping up here and there.

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was the last Alfa on the market, but the 4C coupe first revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show is set to be the latest car from the Italian firm to hit the U.S. market and if Autocar is to be believed, the 4C may hit the production line before it was expected.

The Alfa Romeo 4C was initially reported to hit the U.S. market in production guise in 2014, but within 12 months it's likely that the production ready version will debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. It's not yet known why the 4C may be hitting our shores before previously expected, but it's likely that the recent announcement that Maserati will be constructing the 4C could speed up the production process.

If a debut in one year's time does turn out to be true, then it's highly possible that Alfa is currently finishing the minor details on the car as it could be previewed privately before the end of the year, although nothing has been confirmed thus far.

Alfa fans rejoice! Development of 4C said to be ahead of schedule originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 14:00 EST.

Chevrolet Camaro WTCC Safety Car

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT

The 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship season has received a surge in popularity in the past few years. Capitalizing on this new-found attention, the WTCC has enlisted the services of an American icon to serve as its official safety car: the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.

Although the WTCC Camaro Safety Car will carry a serial engine, it still carries enough juice - 432 horsepower’s worth of it - to outpace all the touring cars in the series by as much as 40%.

The WTCC Camaro Safety Car will be piloted by Portuguese driver Bruno Correia, a veteran racer that has been involved in over 350 races. Needless to say, Correia is more than qualified to be behind the wheel of the car that is instrumental in restoring order in the often chaotic and action-packed races of the WTCC.

The WTCC even has a video explaining the need for a car of the Camaro’s stature to serve as its official safety car. You can check that out by clicking on the photo above.

gallery: 2010 - 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Camaro WTCC Safety Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:00 EST.

Top Gear Live will Attempt the "Deadly 720"

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT

We absolutely love daredevil antics in cars and on motorcycles, given they are done safely and by professionals. The folks at Top Gear Live are just about to satisfy our craving by pulling off the first 720 on four wheels, which Top Gear has dubbed the "Deadly 720." The term "720" refers to a pair of 360-degree loops in succession, so absolute perfection is required to succeed in tackling each loop.

To give you an idea of just how much precision is needed, the engineers heading up the stunt have estimated that the customized buggy that Top Gear Live is using for this stunt must enter each loop between 24 and 26 mph, 2 mph more could result in excessive G-force and result in the driver blacking out and 2 mph too low would cause the buggy to fall from the loop. To help avoid driver error, Top Gear has fitted the special stunt buggy with an accelerator lock that will hold the accelerator in a precise position to maintain the prescribed speed, so the driver can focus only on keeping the buggy on the 58-meter-long track.

Despite the accelerator lock, we all know that any given car can run drastically different from one day to the next, so even with the lock, there is still a great possibility that the car will have too much or too little speed and we will see a spectacular crash. We are pretty certain that there will be tons of test runs on the actual day to make sure the car is perfect, so a crash is very unlikely.

Crash or not, we are all set to see history take place at the Top Gear Festival in the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa on June 16th – 17th, 2012. Ah, the things people will do to get in a record book.

Click past the jump to read Top Gear's full press release.

Top Gear Live will Attempt the "Deadly 720" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 12:00 EST.

Video: Turbocharged Ferrari California in the Works or Just a Test Mule?

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 04:30 AM PDT

Ferrari hasn’t been one to use turbochargers in its cars in recent years. Its engineers have prided themselves in maximizing the power from V-8 and V-12 naturally-aspirated powerhouses since the F40 went out of production in 1992. Now that we are just passing the 2-decade mark since the turbocharger went extinct in the prancing horse's lineup, we are getting news that a new California was spotted and videoed sporting the familiar whistle of a turbocharger.

Here's the deal though… It has already been announced that Ferrari is manufacturing, or at least helping manufacture, a pair of turbocharged power plants for Maserati, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo. Could this mysterious whistling California just be the test mule for the engine that Ferrari is developing? It is a distinct possibility, but it is mighty early in the process to be mule testing a complete engine, unless the project has been going on longer than we know.

Then again, there is the possibility that Ferrari is simply equipping its test mule fleet with various turbos to test their responsiveness and reliability to make sure the best option is chosen. The other possibility, which is the most intriguing one, is the chance that Ferrari is thinking about turbocharging the California.

The California is relatively underpowered compared to its entry-level rival, the Lamborghini Gallardo, and a turbocharger would definitely help close that 97-horsepower gap without adding two more cylinders to the California. Back in 2008, it was reported that Ferrari were developing a flat-six turbocharged engine to use in a selection of its future sports car, and this turbo California could be that exact car. It's not yet known if this particular mule was sporting that six-cylinder engine, but a turbocharged Ferrari with less than eight-cylinders definitely makes sense if Ferrari aims to reduce carbon emissions in its future cars.

Regardless of this being just a test mule for its sister companies' new engine or one for Ferrari itself that sounds like one monstrous turbo, even the spool-down noise is obnoxiously loud – in a good way.

You be the judge, is this boost for Ferrari or is it just early testing of the donor engine for Lancia, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo? We are not too certain, but either way, it sounds awesome.

gallery: 2012 Ferrari California

Video: Turbocharged Ferrari California in the Works or Just a Test Mule? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 11:30 EST.

Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Package Whitest White Edition

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Featuring a price tag of $445,000, the Lexus LF-A Nurburgring package isn’t exactly a bargain. The only thing that substantiates that price is the fact that it is limited to only 50 units, making it a rare model of epic sports car proportions. Now, RK Motors has one of these bad boys up for sale, but it is even more unique than you think.

Lexus offered the LF-A Nurburgring Edition in just four exterior colors - Matte Black, Gloss Black, White, and Orange - but this unit is painted in a new color called "Whitest White" combined with a very cool red interior. This paint was combined with the usual elements that distinguish the Nurburgring package from the standard model: a carbon fiber body, a larger front spoiler, fin-type side spoilers, and a fixed rear wing - all made in carbon fiber.

Under the hood, there is a 4.8 liter V10 engine producing a total of 562 HP and 354 lb. ft. of torque. This power is enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and to the quarter mile in 11.4 seconds. Top speed goes up to 202 mph.

gallery: 2012 Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Package

Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Package Whitest White Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 11:00 EST.

Replica Window Stickers that Look Their Age by Stuttgart Studios

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:00 AM PDT

The window sticker is an often forgotten item when you buy a car. For the most part, we just rip them off and throw them out, and this act of removing the sticker has been commonplace for decades. Most often, the only time a window sticker is saved is when the car is a collector's item straight off of the showroom floor. This leaves two options, don't display a window sticker at all, or have a brand-new-looking replica made that stands out like tank tracks on a WRX.

Well, that's no longer the case for Porsche owners, as Stuttgart Studios offers replica delivery stickers with optional aging and weathering, giving them an authentic look. By using your Porsche's VIN, Stuttgart determines all of the codes that were on the original window sticker and creates the sticker just as it was in real life. For an extra cost of $14.95, Stuttgart will add "Motif" to your sticker, which gives it a look and feel that a decades-old window sticker should have.

Judging by the examples that Stuttgart has on its site, it very well might be worth the base $99.95 price to have a sticker made, then the additional $14.95 for the "Motif." What's even cooler is that they don't have just one "Motif" that every sticker gets. They list a total of 12 "Motif" selections on the website, but imply that there are many more options.

This definitely gets TopSpeed's "Ultimate Niche Marketing" award for 2012. How in the heck these folks came up with this idea is beyond us, but it's definitely a great idea.

Replica Window Stickers that Look Their Age by Stuttgart Studios originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 10:00 EST.

Spy Shots: Mercedes SLC mule caught testing at Nurburgring

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:00 AM PDT

We’ve heard plenty of rumors about a new baby Mercedes SLS, but until now, we haven’t had any spy shots to back them up. Finally proving its existence are new spy shots of the first mule for the future SLC at the AMG test center just outside the Nürburgring. The company was testing the engine and the chassis, which is why the car is hidden under an SLS body. The final version will look nothing like this, but will get a completely own design.

From these images, we can see that this mule is slightly shorter than the SLS in both wheel base and in the front overhang. Under the hood, Mercedes will place the new 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 that is currently under development, but a six-cylinder version might also be available as a "budget" version.

The future SLC will be built as a direct competitor for the Porsche 911 Turbo. Initially, the car will be offered as a coupe with conventional doors (not gullwing doors as on this mule), but a convertible version will also follow.

Spy Shots: Mercedes SLC mule caught testing at Nurburgring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 09:00 EST.

Chris Harris riding shotgun in a selection of classis Lancia rally cars

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:00 PM PDT

If you watch Formula One as religiously as we do, then you'll be aware that the commentators continually refer to F1 drivers as the best in the world, and while we respect their talent immensely, we do have a firm belief that rally drivers possibly possess even more skill. This is simply due to the fact that they often drive cars which can accelerate as fast as F1 cars on roads less than half the width of a common F1 track.

Additionally, rally cars have a lot more personality than F1 cars as classic rally cars were not as clinical as F1 cars of the time and right now, and if you love rally just as much as we do then the following video is a must.

In the latest episode of 'Chris Harris on Cars' on the Drive YouTube network, the man himself, Chris Harris, was lucky enough to be invited by Pirelli to the Italian launch of its new P7 Corsa Classic racing tire specifically designed for classic rally cars.

In a first, Harris rides shotgun in a selection of incredible rally cars, rather than drive them, but this has to go down as one of our very favorite Chris Harris reviews. Cars featured heavily in the video include the Lancia Stratos, Lancia Delta S4, and the incredible Lancia 037 which produces a noise so incredible that it will literally send shivers down your spine.

Add that to the fact that a host of extremely successful rally drivers were on hand to drive Harris around in the cars, including Markku Alen and Juha Kankkunen, and you have the makings of a truly incredible video.