7/17/2012

TopSpeed Daily Update

Nissan Z
2011 Wiesmann Spyder Concept not ruled out for production
Porsche 911/997 F900 by Switzer
Ginetta founders to build new Dare sportscar
Spy Shots: 2013 Range Rover Sport
Leaked Image of the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover shows up on the &#39;Net
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe by Vorsteiner
Mark Your Calendars: Need For Speed Movie set to open on February 7, 2014
Horrific Russian crash splits Ferrari 612 Scaglietti in two

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT

2013 Nissan 370Z Facelift

When the Nissan Z-car returned in the 2003 model year, Z enthusiasts everywhere rejoiced at the potential of this stylish machine. Even though it was not as powerful or as fast as they had expected, it was still loaded with potential. Well, over the years, enthusiasts became tired of the Z and this resulted in a mild sales fizzle when the 370Z came about. As of the 2012 model year, that fizzle has turned into lackluster sales.

Rumors are pointing to the fact that the Z-car is heading back to its roots. For those that remember, the Z-car was not a powerful machine in its infancy. It was more known for being a lightweight car that had an optimal power-to-weight ratio and precision handling. The current 370Z is anything but like the original, and according to Nissan design boss, Shiro Nakamura, the new Z-car will better reflect the past Z-cars and live up to its legend. We should even be seeing a concept car for this redesigned Z-car soon.

So, how will this car actually stack up? With the little bit of information we have and some speculation, we can give you at least a good idea on what to expect.

Click past the jump to read our full, and constantly growing, review on the upcoming Z-car.

All images are of the current generation Nissan 370Z.

gallery: 2009 - 2013 Nissan 370Z

Nissan Z originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 16:00 EST.

2011 Wiesmann Spyder Concept not ruled out for production

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Debuting at the turn of 2011, the Wiesmann Spyder Concept promised to be the most extreme Wiesmann offered to date, despite its long life of 18 years. At the time of the unveiling, Wiesmann was predicted to be pushing the Spyder Concept towards the production line, but since then the economic meltdown in the Eurozone subsequently put all those plans on the backburner.

Originally created as a design study upon the request of many loyal Wiesmann customers, the Spyder Concept debuted with a 4.0-liter BMW-sourced V8 engine producing 420 horsepower. When combined with a total weight of under 2,200 pounds, the Spyder Concept promised to hit 60 mph in just 4 seconds before topping out at a top speed of 180 mph.

However, despite the strong interest in the car, Wiesmann has yet to confirm or deny if the Spyder Concept will ever reach the production line, but in saying that, the firm has also yet to rule out any possible favorable decision for the future.

The biggest hurdle facing the small company is the simple fact that production of the Wiesmann Roadster MF3, for which the Spyder Concept is based upon, recently ended after 18 years and it's likely that the firm would prioritize developing a successor to the MF3 over any possible swan-song, final edition of the sports car.

Nevertheless, we're still holding out hope that the Spyder Concept may see the production green light in the coming months, but in saying that, we're doubtful.

Let us know in the comments section below if you think the Spyder Concept should go into production!

gallery: 2011 Wiesmann Spyder Concept

2011 Wiesmann Spyder Concept not ruled out for production originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 15:00 EST.

Porsche 911/997 F900 by Switzer

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT

On the surface, Switzer performance’s Porsche 997 F900 is the kind of car that petron-heads and environmentalists will both fawn over; it’s a low-emission, 900 horsepower, flex-fuel monster of a Porsche that epitomizes the kind of esteem the Ohio-based tuner has earned in its years in the business.

But the 997 F900 wouldn’t have been built were it not for another Switzer-tuned Porsche that ended up becoming the precursor for the 997 F900. This car was the Switzer Sledgehammer, a 1,000-horsepower, 997 Turbo that made its legend for nine-second passes and standing mile top speeds of close to 200 mph.

Impressive to say the least.

Eventually, the Sledgehammer gave way to a host of other specially-tuned Porsches, culminating in the 997 F900.

This 900-horsepower beast was born from the mind of one of Switzer’s clients from Canada, who, incidentally, already had a Sledgehammer 997 in his hands. Maybe he wanted something different, or maybe he just woke up one day with a renewed sense of responsibility to Mother Nature, but this Canadian client had an idea - or maybe a new fascination - that he wanted Switzer to build.

Thus, the Porsche 997 F900 Turbo was born.

Find out more about the Porsche 997 F900 Turbo after the jump.

Porsche 911/997 F900 by Switzer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 14:00 EST.

Ginetta founders to build new Dare sportscar

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Not a lot of people remember that Ginetta was founded by the four Walkett brothers - Bob, Ivor, Trevor, and Douglas - from Sufford, England in the late 50’s. The brand has since changed hands a couple of times, most recently in 2005 when it was bought by LNT Automotive.

We bring this up because the original owners of Ginetta are making a return in the industry, only this time, they’re starting up a new brand that has been creatively christened as Dare.

Fancy name notwithstanding, the Dare is a sports car that’s being prepared to take on the likes of the Lotus Elise and, in a somewhat ironic twist, the Ginetta G60. Full details have yet to be revealed but the early word is that the Dare will carry a rear-mounted 2.0-liter Ford Ecoboost turbo engine that will pack an impressive 250 horsepower. It’s not quite to the level of the 310-horsepower output of the G60, but it’s fairly close enough to be given serious consideration, especially when you consider that the Dare is expected to weigh only 750 kg/1,653 lbs, around 330 kg/728 lbs lighter than the G60.

The best part is that the Dare, which is expected to make its debut next year, has an estimated price tag of just £30,000 ($47,000 at the current rates), an amount that’s a little more expensive than the Ginetta’s entry-level G40 sports car.

Note: Photo is of the Ginetta G40.

gallery: 2012 Ginetta G60

Ginetta founders to build new Dare sportscar originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 13:00 EST.

Spy Shots: 2013 Range Rover Sport

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT

The upcoming Range Rover Sport has been caught testing yet again, except this time Land Rover is trying to play tricks by placing a Volvo logo on their prototype. Compared to the first spy shots, these new ones have dropped some of the camouflage at the front end of the vehicle to reveal the grille and air intakes in the bumper.

The upcoming Sport version will carry a lot of design elements from the standard Range Rover, including the wraparound headlights, but it will also get some elements that will help to easily identify it. It will be slightly wider and lower with a more sloping roof line.

Under the hood, we will see both diesel and petrol units, with the most powerful one being the 5.0 liter V8 supercharged engine delivering a total of 510 HP.

The new Range Rover Sport is scheduled to arrive about a year after the standard Range Rover makes its world debut at the Paris Auto Show in September 2012.

Spy Shots: 2013 Range Rover Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 12:00 EST.

Leaked Image of the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover shows up on the &#39;Net

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:00 AM PDT

In the past few weeks, we have seen plenty of spy shots of the upcoming Land Rover Range Rover, but today, the first image of the vehicle without any camouflage has surfaced on the internet thanks to MotorAuthority. This leads us to believe that an official debut will be made very soon.

The new 2013 Range Rover - codenamed L405 - will be built on a lightweight, rivet-bonded aluminum chassis that will help significantly reduce the SUV’s total curb weight, but also improve its total performance and reduce its fuel economy. Land Rover has promised that a planned plug-in hybrid model will deliver an impressive 33 mpg, on a combined cycle.

The rest of the line-up will carry the current engines offered: a 5.0 liter V8 offered in both naturally-aspirated and supercharged version and a pair of diesel engines for the European market. Their outputs will range from 260 to 510 HP. The hybrid version will be powered by a 3.0-liter TDV6 diesel combined with an electric motor and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

gallery: 2013 LandRover RangeRover

Leaked Image of the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover shows up on the 'Net originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 11:00 EST.

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe by Vorsteiner

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 03:00 AM PDT

Remember when we joked about Vorsteiner being uncharacteristically out of the spotlight for quite some time?

Ha! Apparently, the joke’s on us.

The aftermarket company has been on quite a roll recently, preparing one program after another for a number of vehicles encompassing a range of different brands. After unveiling works on a Porsche Cayenne, a BMW M3, and a Ferrari 458 Italia, Vorsteiner has turned their attention to the Mercedes C63 AMG.

Suffice to say, Vorsteiner didn’t disappoint - again. The C63 AMG Coupe - a beautiful car, by the way - was treated to an aggressive aerodynamic body kit whose components are all made out of carbon fiber. Most noticeable on the program is that there appears to be traces of a Black Series feel to it, particularly the lower front spoiler, the completely remade radiator grille, the fender louver covers, the sneakily subtle side skirts, housings on the LED lights, the vented rear diffuser, and a new integrated spoiler. Vorsteiner also has a choice of either titanium or stainless steel performance exhaust systems that customers can have installed, as well as a wide variety of either 19" or 20" forged alloy wheels that, again, can be picked by the customer. Of course, the interior gets its fair share of digs too, in the form of embroidered floor and trunk mats.

Despite being one of the most visible tuners in the world, Vorsteiner has made a habit of spoiling us with their programs. Not that we’re complaining because we enjoy pretty much everything they build these days.

gallery: 2013 Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe by Vorsteiner originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 10:00 EST.

Mark Your Calendars: Need For Speed Movie set to open on February 7, 2014

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 02:00 AM PDT

Remember when we first brought to everyone’s attention about the plans regarding a Need for Speed movie? Well, today, we have a very interesting update on the Dreamworks movie project: the projected date of the movie’s opening.

Gentlemen, pencil - for now, at least - the date February 7, 2014.

The choice of date is a little interesting considering that it’s the time of the year where most of the movies being released will be in the Oscars running. Unless they have plans of turning Need for Speed into a drama starring Meryl Streep - highly unlikely, by the way - then we don’t know the thinking behind slotting it for a February release.

Then again, projects like this that are still in the infancy stages of production don’t have release dates that are set in stone yet. What that means is that February 7, 2014 could be moved to another date, maybe even a few months to coincide with spring releases or maybe even the blockbuster-heavy summer schedule.

Whatever the case may be, we, at this point, are just ecstatic to know that the movie’s development is moving along quite smoothly.

Mark Your Calendars: Need For Speed Movie set to open on February 7, 2014 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 July 2012 09:00 EST.

Horrific Russian crash splits Ferrari 612 Scaglietti in two

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 01:00 AM PDT

Exotic car crashes are all too common, and Ferrari's often seem to be the most crash-prone supercars on the market. This latest incident reaffirms that statement.

Taking place in Russia just over one week ago, the incident resulted from the driver of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti losing control of the high-powered performance car before slamming into a metal pole bordering the road side.

Despite the severity of the crash, which ultimately split the supercar in two, the driver managed to walk away with only minor injuries. The 612, however, wasn't so lucky. Due to the unfortunate angle at which the Ferrari hit the pole, the car split in two with the engine and the right front wheel being smashed off from the rest of the car. They actually became lodged against the offending pole, while the rest of the car continued down the road.

Even though the rear leg-room in the 612 Scaglietti is limited to say the least, three passengers were in the car alongside the driver, but they too managed to escape the crash without injury.

It's currently unclear what caused the crash, but an egotistical owner trying to impress the passengers by showing the true performance capabilities of the car is a likely reason behind the incident.

Follow the jump to check out another video of the wreck!