TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Audi Expands RS3 Sportback Production to Satisfy Demand
- Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Project Maximus by SR Auto Group
- Stillen wants you to design their new Scion FR-S program
- Lexus LF-Lc
- W Motors preparing two new supercar models: the Hyper-Sport and the Super-Sport
- Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by RennTech
- Ford Uses a Robotic Touch to Make High-Quality Interiors
- Lexus GS F Sport by Wald International
- Video: Chris Harris reviews the Pagani Huayra
- Porsche Panamera Shooting Brake
| Audi Expands RS3 Sportback Production to Satisfy Demand Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT
  When Audi launched the RS3 Sportback in the European market, we all knew that it would sell well. It boasts a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that pumps out 340 ponies and 332 pound-feet of twist, so there was no shock that it sold out in just months. For the most part, when a car sells out, the manufacturer uses the growing demand of this now-scarce car to develop an even larger interest for the following model year. Apparently, Audi is above using demand to drive future models and focuses on taking care of its customers instead. After a fair amount of buyer begging, Audi has chosen to extend the RS3 Sportback’s production by 250 units, despite the fact that production officially ended last year. In many cases, a manufacturer would take this opportunity to jack up the price as well, but Audi has also decided that the post-production RS3 Sportbacks will be sold at the normal MSRP of ₤39,390 (roughly $62,500). We have to give Audi a double hat tip for its class in handling this situation, as many automakers would really use this as a screw-the-customer opportunity by ignoring requests or significantly jacking the price. Audi is really showing that it cares about its customers, or the fact that there is already plenty of profit worked into the RS3 Sportback’s standard MSRP. We’ll give Audi the benefit of the doubt here and say that the reality likely falls somewhere in the middle of those two scenarios. Keep an eye out for the A3’s 2013 debut in the U.S., and the possible addition of an RS3 variant to the American lineup. Audi Expands RS3 Sportback Production to Satisfy Demand originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Project Maximus by SR Auto Group Posted: 19 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT
The CLS 63 AMG is a thing of beauty, yet it has a beast under its hood. Some people, however, would like their CLS to show a little more of its beastly side from the outside. To help satisfy the appetites of this group, SR Auto Group has just released a series of modifications to help make this powerful Benz a little more intimidating from the outside. They even have a pretty cool name for it: Project Maximus! This Mercedes CLS 63 AMG boasts a Black Bison body kit by Wald International. Included in this kit is a stylish front bumper that has large side air intakes and a wide-mouth lower grille. Also integrated in the bumper are LED daytime running lights. This Black Bison kit also boasts new front fenders, which feature large heat extractors with black louvers and chrome strips, just behind the front wheels. Down the side of this customized CLS 63 AMG, there is a set of side skirts that give just enough character to the Benz without taking away from its luxurious appearance. The rear end of this high-powered Mercedes boasts a bumper with louvered vents behind the rear wheels. Integrated with the bumper is a rear diffuser made of black plastic that gives the rear end a little contrast. On each side of the rear end is a dual-oval exhaust tip that exit from cutouts in the bumper. Finishing off the back end is a large trunk-mounted, lip-style spoiler. On each corner of the CLS 63 AMG is a 20-inch Wald Renovatio alloy wheel wrapped in performance rubber. The rims have a slight contrast to them, as the face of the rim and its lip is done in chrome, but the edge of each of the 26 spokes is painted silver. The model that SR Auto Group used for this build features the AMG Performance Pack, which boosts the 5.5-liter V-8 engine to 557 horsepower. SR Auto Group left this engine as is, so if you choose this build, the manufacturer’s warranty remains intact. Overall, SR Auto Group did a nice job of adding just enough character and sport to the CLS 63 AMG without overdoing it and making it look over the top. Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Project Maximus by SR Auto Group originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 14:00 EST.
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| Stillen wants you to design their new Scion FR-S program Posted: 19 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT
US tuner Stillen has come up with a new way to produce aftermarket programs; they want you to actually design the programs for them. The idea isn’t entirely new because we’ve seen other tuners go down this road before, but Stillen is upping the ante by letting its readers design aerodynamic kits for the Scion FR-S. Design submissions will be accepted through August 14, 2012 and can be sent to frscontest@stillen.com. All you have to do is download Stillen’s templates, design the front lip, side skirts, and rear valance (no full bumpers allowed). The design material is limited to only urethane; no carbon fiber, folks. Likewise, submissions must either be hand-drawn or digital. The tuning company will then select the top five designs and post them on their Facebook page where fans will get a chance to vote through a poll. The winning submission, which will be announced on August 20th, will have their design built by Stillen and will also receive a two-night stay in Las Vegas and be part of SEMA 2012 where their design will be revealed for the first time. So if you’re a young and ambitious designer, here’s your chance to make a name for yourself in the industry. Stillen wants you to design their new Scion FR-S program originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT
The Lexus LF-Lc made its debut as just a lowly concept car at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan and its reception was one that all automakers dream of. Not only did people at the auto show love it, but Lexus customers were clamoring to see a production model hit showroom floors. Lexus all but told us that it would release a production model loosely based on the concept, but no release dates were ever talked about. According to a report from Automotive News, there are several Lexus insiders that are claiming that there will be a model identical or at least similar to the LF-LC and bearing the same name to hit showroom floors sometime in the next two years. With this news, we figured it was time to start piecing together a review for our readers, so you can make an educated choice when the time comes. Click past the jump to read all about the upcoming LF-LC and see how it stacks up against the competition. Lexus LF-Lc originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 12:00 EST.
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| W Motors preparing two new supercar models: the Hyper-Sport and the Super-Sport Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:00 AM PDT
W Motors. Pay attention to that name because they’re about to turn the supercar world upside down later this year. This company comes by way of Beirut, Lebanon and recently, they stopped the industry on its tracks with the announcement of two supercars that will be the first pair of exotics to be exclusively built by the Middle Eastern nation. The cars, called the Hyper-Sport and the Super-Sport, will be built by W Motors in collaboration with some of the best industry partners you can assemble, including Magna Steyr Torino, RUF Automobile, and Studiotorino. Together, they make up the team that will bring to life a pair of supercars that will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. Details surrounding the Super-Sport have yet to be revealed so we’ll keep that on the back burner for now. As far as the Hyper-Sport is concerned, W Motors has already set a limited run of just five units for the model, with a debut expected around the end of the year. According to W Motors, the Hyper-Sport will feature a host of ridiculous features, including a carbon fiber frame, a gold-plated hood, signature diamond-incrusted LED lights, gold or platinum keys, and a holographic display unit. Umm...wow. On top of that, the Hyper-Sport will also come with a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder engine that will produce in excess of 70 horsepower while carrying a 0-62 mph time of just 2.8 seconds and a targeted top speed of 240 mph. Yeah, ’wow’ was right. Now let’s see if they can pull it off. W Motors preparing two new supercar models: the Hyper-Sport and the Super-Sport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 11:00 EST.
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| Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by RennTech Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:00 AM PDT
Noted Mercedes tuner RennTech has some sick plans for the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series and they’re giving us a sneak peek of what they’ve got cooking for the German sports coupe. The program is still far from finished, but that isn’t stopping RennTech from whetting our appetites the least bit. The modifications are expected to be pretty extensive, complete with a host of upgrades that include a tweaked ECU and the addition of a full carbon fiber air box, stainless steel long tube headers, 200 cell sport cats, an Akrapovic Evolution exhaust system, and a new rear diffuser. The video will also show you exactly how the modifications translate in the dyno. Hit play and you’re ears will immediately be filled with a roaring noise that only gets more and more exhilarating as the seconds pass. Expect more details about the company’s program for the C63 AMG Black Series soon enough. For now, we can dive into the video and appreciate powerful tuning at its finest. Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by RennTech originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 10:00 EST.
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| Ford Uses a Robotic Touch to Make High-Quality Interiors Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:00 AM PDT
In the early years of the automotive industry, the interior was simply somewhere to park your behind as you drove around. In the modern era, car interiors are becoming more like a second home, as they are now featuring climate control, TVs, huge sound systems, plush fabrics, and much more. Due to the constantly changing automotive world, automakers need to make sure that they are producing the best interiors possible, or risk losing sales to the competition. Ford has taken this competition to a new level, as it is now using a robotic system to determine the quality of its cars’ interiors. This new robotic touch system is called Robotized Unit for Tactility and Haptics (RUTH). For those on the same vocabulary level as me and needing a more plain English description, this is a robot that uses sensors to determine the pain, pressure, or heat that a human’s skin would feel when touching something, which then turns that touch sensation into scalable data. The above video shows Ford engineers describing RUTH as she touches and probes multiple points throughout the cabin of the all-new Ford Fusion. RUTH then uses data that Ford has collected from thousands of customers around the world and determines if the pieces it tests meet the collective wants of Ford buyers. From there, Ford engineers can adjust the texture, feel, softness, or even temperature of something in the cabin. RUTH has been in commission in Ford North America since January 2012 and it looks like it is a complete success, at least according to the video. With advancements like this, it is easy to see why Ford was able to keep its head above water through the automotive recession. Ford Uses a Robotic Touch to Make High-Quality Interiors originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 09:00 EST.
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| Lexus GS F Sport by Wald International Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Launched late in 2011, the Lexus GS F-Sports has only received an upgrade package from Five Axis. The main reason for that, of course, is that the sports sedan doesn’t look like it needs any upgrades, unless you’re looking at it through the eyes of Wald International. The Japanese tuner’s new "Executive Line" aero package is based mostly on upgrading the exterior of the vehicle. It consists of a new front spoiler, darkened headlamp and taillight bezels, new side skirts, and a rear apron with a diffuser. The car also comes with a new set of alloy wheels and, upon request, Wald International will add a larger boot spoiler and a new suspension kit. To be honest, we would have loved a boost in power; maybe next time. For now, customers will have to settle for the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 306 HP. Prices for the new Lexus GS-F Sport by Wald International will be announced at a later date. Lexus GS F Sport by Wald International originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 04:00 EST.
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| Video: Chris Harris reviews the Pagani Huayra Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT
When it comes to offering cool reviews for supercars, Chris Harris does an amazing job. Throw in the fact that the supercar is the Pagani Huayra, and the review can’t be anything less than stellar. Just take a look at this 15 minute video to see what we are talking about. In this review, Harris discusses the good and the even better about the Huayra. Then, of course, he pushes the car to its limits to see what it can really do, which is a lot. You don’t have to trust us though, watch the video to see it for yourself, but turn up your volume first! As a reminder, the Huayra is powered by a naturally aspirated, twin-turbocharged V12 engine that delivers a massive 700 HP and 730 lbs-ft of torque. This output is more than enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and up to a top speed of 220 mph. Video: Chris Harris reviews the Pagani Huayra originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 July 2012 02:00 EST.
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| Porsche Panamera Shooting Brake Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT
Now that Mercedes has officially launched their new Shooting Brake, a few more automakers have announced their interest in developing such a model. The first rumors suggested that McLaren would bring a MP4-12C Shooting Brake, but now German magazine Autobild suggests that Porsche will also be offering a Panamera Shooting Brake version as a direct response to the recently announced Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake. Before getting too excited about this, know that such a model wouldn’t arrive until the next generation 2015 Panamera, which would mean that a Shooting Brake version wouldn’t arrive until 2016. The Panamera Shooting Brake will address those customers who are looking for the same level of luxury offered in the Panamera, but with a little more practicality. The Shooting Brake version will be identical to its sedan version, except of course for its wider shoulders and the larger trunk. Porsche will also be working on making the next Panamera lighter than the current model, so expect its total curb weight to drop about 330 lbs. The model will also be switched to Volkswagen’s new Modular Standard Platform and will adopt a series of more fuel efficient engines. Porsche Panamera Shooting Brake originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 18 July 2012 20:00 EST.
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