TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate by Wimmer
- Infiniti's future models will be inspired by the Emerg-E
- BMW M3 GTS5 by Vorsteiner
- Mini Coupe JCW GP put on hold
- 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee fails in Evasive Maneuver Test...Or does it?? (UPDATE)
- Hyundai Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine
- Video: Gymkhana 5 has arrived!
- De Tomaso chairman arrested amidst allegations of public funds misuse
- BMW 3-Series by Kelleners Sport
- 2013 SRT Viper gets its stripes back
| Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate by Wimmer Posted: 13 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT
Station wagons will never be as sexy as coupes, but that doesn’t mean that the former can’t carry an extra slice of attitude. This is especially true since we’re talking about a car like the Mercedes C63 AMG Estate and a tuner like Wimmer RS. The German sports wagon was given an impressive program by the German tuner, highlighted by a mighty impressive performance modification that you wouldn’t normally get on a sports wagon. In tuning the C63 AMG Estate, Wimmer made some modifications on the car’s cylinder heads and the throttle body. On top of that, Wimmer also added a pair of new sport cam shafts, optimized the air filter and intake manifolds, tweaked the stainless steel exhaust system with HJS high-flow sport catalysts, and reprogrammed the ECU unit. With all these improvements in tow, the German tuner managed to increase the C63 AMG Wagon’s output from 457 horsepower all the way to 615 horsepower. While the highlight of the package is undoubtedly the engine program, it’s also worth pointing out that Wimmer dressed up the C63 AMG Estate in their standard outlandish garb, which in this case they’re calling an "Electric Yellow" wrap. Rounding out the program, of course, are a new set of 19" BBS CH Black Edition alloy wheels, H&R spacers, and a new KW Clubsport coilover suspension kit. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate by Wimmer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 16:00 EST.
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| Infiniti's future models will be inspired by the Emerg-E Posted: 13 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT
  The hype surrounding the Infiniti Emerg-E turned out to be false hope, but Infiniti may still have plans for the concept. The coulda, shoulda, woulda halo car recently died out at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed after reports leaked out that its performance may not be as impressive as Infiniti had originally reported. We’re sure having to be towed away definitely wasn’t in the plans. All of that being said, in a recent interview with Inside Line, Shiro Nakamura - Nissan and Infiniti design chief - said that the company is still hoping that the Emerg-E will become the new flagship model for the Nissan luxury brand. According to Nakamura, the Emerg-E could still be built in limited edition in Britain and Lotus could potentially be behind the build considering the Emerg-E is loosely based off the experimental Lotus Evora 414E hybrid. Other possibilities for a new flagship Infiniti model are an SUV or a sedan. Either way, he suggested that the 2014 G sedan and a new small hatchback will feature design elements from the Emerg-E. The new G sedan is expected to be unveiled in 2013, while the hatchback, previewed by the Etherea concept, will be unveiled in 2014. "Today’s G looks a bit fat, but the new G has really nice proportions, and it’s much sportier," Nakamura said. "The compact hatchback is very expressive, but not like the FX. I’m very content with them." Any hopes for a great hybrid super car from Infiniti may be dead in the water, but we’re still banking on the back that the company has the Essence Concept in its back pocket. Whether they’ll do anything with this 592 hp petrol-electric hybrid ace in the hole is a whole other argument. Infiniti's future models will be inspired by the Emerg-E originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 13 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT
Now that BMW is preparing to say good bye to the current generation M3, Vorsteiner has found its own personal way to commemorate the retirement of a very cool sports coupe. The tuner is offering a GTS5 Front Bumper package which will be built in a limited run of only 88 units. The new package offered by Vorsteiner transforms the M3 from ordinary to extraordinary, even if the modifications are minimal. The new front bumper comes with added vertical vents which enhance the aesthetics of the front bumper and also serve as a functional air flow for brake cooling. Aside from the new bumper, the package also gets an integrated carbon fiber front lip that detaches from the bumper for easy replacement in the event of road damage. Add the white exterior paint finish and the matte black hood and wheels into the mix, and you have a BMW M3 that will surely set you apart from the rest. BMW M3 GTS5 by Vorsteiner originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 14:00 EST.
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| Posted: 13 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT
 Back in April, our spy photographers captured the first spy shots of a prototype that looked like it would be the Mini Coupe JCW GP. Now, it looks like Mini has changed its mind and canceled their plans for a Coupe JCW GP. The model was supposed to be based on the R56 hatch GP and should have been lighter than the R56 hatch. Mini cancelled its plans because it was concerned that a GP Coupe would have made the R56 GP less special and unique, and buyers would have lost interest in that model. Now they are going to go about picking their models a little more carefully - a new thing for Mini and their bazillion renditions of the Cooper - and a full line of GP track-ready high performance models is being reconsidered. We find it hard to believe that Mini would got through all of that trouble, and money, to develop a car that they are just going to cancel right before it’s complete. Something else may be cooking in Mini’s kitchen and we’ll dig a little deeper to discover if it’s decadent dining or just plain slop. Mini Coupe JCW GP put on hold originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 13:00 EST.
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| 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee fails in Evasive Maneuver Test...Or does it?? (UPDATE) Posted: 10 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT
The guys over Teknikens Värld recently got a little more than they bargained for when they performed a Moose test (or Elk test) with the brand-spanking new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Moose test determines how a vehicle acts when the driver evades a suddenly appearing obstacle, such as an animal or a child, and the Grand Cherokee didn’t exactly get to the top of the class. The purpose of this test - done at very low speeds - was to determine how well the SUV’s active safety system would work. At only 39.5 mph, the Jeep Grand Cherokee went up on two wheels, in the middle of the maneuver. If it wasn’t for the professional driver behind the wheel, it would have easily rolled over. As many can imagine, not everyone that purchases vehicles have professional driving skills, so at the hands of probably most Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, the result could be deadly. According to Teknikens Värld’s Linus Pröjtz, this is an unacceptable result for a 2012 SUV, and we would have to 100% agree with this. By comparison, SUVs like the Volkswagen Touareg and the Volvo XC90 did well at even greater speeds of 43.5 mph. To make matters worse, when Teknikens Värld performed the Moose Test on the previous generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it passed the test with no problems at all. This information should certainly not fall on deaf ears, especially the ears of Chrysler heads. UPDATE 07/09/2012: Teknikens Varld’s tough review of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee immediately caught the attention of Chrysler heads and the company is none too pleased with the results. Their displeasure doesn’t stem from the Grand Cherokee’s failure, though. According to Chrysler, several attempts were made by Chrysler Group engineers to recreate the two-wheeled escapade of Varld’s test, to no avail. Chrysler then joined Teknikens Varld’s team to see if they could recreate the terrible result and they also could not. Turns out, the Jeep used in Varld’s first Moose test was loaded beyond its weight specifications. The Grand Cherokee's weight limitations are clearly stated on the vehicle and in the owner's manual. All is good in our world again. Hit the jump to read the full statement from Chrysler. UPDATE 07/10/2012: It looks like Teknikens Varld is not going to give up. After Chrysler attacked them and said their test was not accurate, the Swedish magazine posted a second part to their test in which they explained how the Grand Cherokee failed the evasive maneuver test. According to them, the car they tested was loaded according to the specifications for the maximum load in the Swedish registration certificate and was riding on standard equipment tires. Also, all systems, such as chassis settings, air suspension, and similar, were in normal mode. Even so, in each test they performed, the car either went up on two wheels or was close to overturning. We’re assuming Chrysler is going to have something to say about this as well. The drama continues!! 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee fails in Evasive Maneuver Test...Or does it?? (UPDATE) originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 July 2012 14:30 EST.
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| Hyundai Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine Posted: 13 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT
In the past few years, zombies and vampires have been like a disease in the cinematographic industry and it looks like Hyundai has gotten the fever as they have unveiled a very strange looking Elantra Coupe. Called the "Zombie Survival Machine," this life-saving model was designed by The Walking Dead creator/writer Robert Kirkman and fabricated by Design Craft. It was built in honor of the 100th issue of the comic series "The Walking Dead." The Elantra is well-equipped to ward off any blood-thirsty zombie with armored window coverings, a roof hatch to allow passengers to fend off attacking walkers, and a trunk full of electric and pneumatic weaponry to blast off their heads. Any leftover carcasses can be done away with using the front-end custom zombie plow with spikes because, well, who doesn’t want spikes when attacking zombies? Speaking of spikes, the Elantra also has spiked all-terrain/rally type tires to allow passengers to get to safety and, when all of the technology is wiped out due to the crumbling of our world as we know it, the Elantra will be ready with a CB radio system. "Our custom Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine is the ultimate car for The Walking Dead fans and anyone who wants to survive a zombie invasion," said Steve Shannon, vice president of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "We are excited for fans to come and experience the Elantra Coupe and GT in a unique, post-apocalyptic way." Hyundai Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 12:00 EST.
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| Video: Gymkhana 5 has arrived! Posted: 09 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT
The wait took longer than we had hoped, but you know what they say, "to those who wait, there is prosperity." So we waited...and finally, our patience has paid off. Ladies and gentlemen, Gymkhana 5 has arrived! As promised, July 9 was the date of reckoning; the day where Ken Block goes back to his roots, away from the Hollywood look of the fourth installment and back to the raw, uncut, thrill ride of a lifetime. This time around, the stage was set for the urban jungle that is San Francisco. Just as we expected - and hoped - Block absolutely takes the Bay by storm, complete with sick drifts, plenty of burnt rubber, and mind-bending jumps that completely blew us away. Then there’s a Travis Pastrana cameo in there too. We had hoped that he would do a few stunts of his own, but we certainly aren’t complaining on how the finished product ended up looking. Gymkhana 5, you made our day and hopefully, the wait for 6 won’t take as long. Video: Gymkhana 5 has arrived! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 16:00 EST.
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| De Tomaso chairman arrested amidst allegations of public funds misuse Posted: 13 Jul 2012 04:00 AM PDT
With De Tomaso finally biting the dust just days ago, reports are flying that the company's chairman, Gian Mario has been arrested facing allegations claiming that $9.2 million in public funds were misused when De Tomaso tried to turn the company around. The reports come from Reuters and also state that another two former employees from De Tomaso have been arrested with the man once responsible for leading De Tomaso's human resource department being one of them. Amidst the allegations include ones stating that these employees may have unfairly received public funds and then transferred the funds directly into their personal bank accounts. These claims are yet another thorn in the brand's recent fall from grace and despite many hoping that De Tomaso could turn these misfortunes around, it seems that the company will never be a part of the automotive industry again. The claimed misuse of funds are actually similar to those of former Lotus CEO Dany Bahar who is also being investigated, and if Mario and the other two employees being investigated are found to be guilty, then prison time could be in order. De Tomaso chairman arrested amidst allegations of public funds misuse originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 11:00 EST.
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| BMW 3-Series by Kelleners Sport Posted: 13 Jul 2012 03:00 AM PDT
Kelleners Sport’s recent run of tuning programs continues with the unveiling of their latest work for the BMW 3-Series Saloon. In line with its reputation as one of the finest BMW tuners in the world, the German tuning company gave the 3-Series Saloon a comprehensive tuning program that includes an aero kit, interior enhancements, and performance modifications. The aero package includes a number of new components for the 3-Series, including a new front spoiler, a boot lid spoiler, and skirt extensions on the rear bumper. From there, Kelleners fitted the car with a new set of either 19" or 20" Titanium Grey ’Hamburg’ alloy wheels and added an adjustable coil over kit that can lower the car’s height by 60 mm. Inside, there’s plenty of leather used in the interior of the car, including Nappa and ostrich - yes, ostrich! - as well as a choice of over 60 colors, plenty of wood and carbon fiber trim, velour mats, and aluminum pedals. Finally, Kelleners Sport built a performance program for the wide range of gas and diesel variants of the 3-Series Saloon. The 320d’s output was increased from 184 horsepower and 280 lb/ft of torque to 218 horsepower and 321 lb/ft of torque. As for the 328i, output for that was increased from 241 horsepower and 258 lb/ft of torque to an impressive 290 horsepower and 310 lb/ft of torque. BMW 3-Series by Kelleners Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 10:00 EST.
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| 2013 SRT Viper gets its stripes back Posted: 13 Jul 2012 02:00 AM PDT
When SRT unveiled the new generation Viper, we were a little disappointed to see that the classic racing stripes that made the previous generation Viper so famous were gone. Don’t get us wrong, the cherry red was nothing short of spectacular, but the car was still missing a little something. Turns out, SRT read our minds and have revealed the first image featuring the new Viper with its famous stripes. In fact, this is the first time we’ve seen the new supercar wearing anything else other than a solid exterior paint finish. The photo also comes with the following announcement: "the new Viper just passed its dry-track stability control testing with flying colors." As a reminder, the new Viper is powered by an 8.4-liter all-aluminum, V-10 overhead-valve engine that delivers a total of 640 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. The new engine will be mated to an improved Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission. it is rumored that the car will be priced somewhere in the $110K area. 2013 SRT Viper gets its stripes back originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 July 2012 09:00 EST.
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