Mercedes-Benz is to celebrate Stirling Moss and Dennis Jenkinson’s victory at the 1955 Mille Miglia with the release of a limited edition SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S! In 1955 Moss and co-driver Jenkinson piloted the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR to victory - its racing number was 722!
The numbers are impressive, not that the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster is a slouch, but Mercedes-Benz claims a maximum power of 650 bhp and peak torque of 627 lb-ft. from its 5.5-liter supercharged V8 engine! Although the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S is not stripped down track-day special, it still boasts a 0 to 62 mhp acceleration time of only 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph! Power is transmitted to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.
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With Porsche currently in the process of taking over the Volkswagen group comes the news of a collaboration between the two car manufactures to resurrect a previous collaboration that occurred half a century ago – the production of the Porsche 914! Back in the late 1960’s the two car manufactures collaborated when Volkswagen and Porsche were looking for a replacement for the Karmann Ghia and the Porsche 912 respectively. The result was the Porsche 914, a budget a mid-engined sports car!
Subaru have upgraded the Impreza WRX sport compact and will introduce a new Impreza 2.5 GT model for 2009. The 2.5 liter aluminum boxer engine in the 2009 Impreza WRX will benefit from a larger turbocharger, a new larger-diameter exhaust and low-density catalyst which pushes power up to 265 hp at 6,000 rpm (from 224 hp) and a maximum torque of 244 lb-ft. at 4,000 rpm (from 226 lb-ft). The WRX also gets a tweaked suspension, wider and lower-profile performance tires, a STi-type grille, the now standard Aero Package, which was previously part of the optional WRX Premium Package, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability, traction control and a new interior.
Nissan seems to have found in clearer understanding of the saying: “It’s hard to improve on perfection”. It seems Japan’s third largest car producer’s attempts to improve on the Nissan GT-R, with the production of the Nissan GT-R Spec V, has hit a speed bump. Speculation suggests that the standard GT-R seems to deliver unbeatable performance that even Nissan can’t topple, though high demand for the standard model may have something to do with it too! It now appears that the Nissan GT-R Spec V will be delayed until early 2009!
General Motors have announced that Pontiac is to reveal the highly-anticipated Pontiac G8 GXP at the forthcoming New York International Auto Show. The new flagship of Pontiac’s GXP performance series features 19-inch aluminum wheels with P245/40R19 tires, a four-wheel independent suspension that is fully adjustable, and small-block V8 engine that produces in excess of 400 horsepower!
In January this year, Audi revealed its stunning mid-engined Audi R8 V12 TDI concept car at the Detroit Auto Show; two months later, Audi are now set to reveal another spectacular Audi R8 concept car - this time it’s the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans at the Geneva International Motor Show! Technically, the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans is the same car as the Audi R8 V12 TDI revealed in Detroit, right down to the diesel powered V12 engine; but finished in Brilliant Red, the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans does have a lot more appeal!
A year ago Fiat revived the legendary Abarth brand when they unveiled the Grande Punto Abarth at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. The return of the Abarth brand was welcomed by fans of Fiat as Abarth has always been synonymous with Fiat performance and motorsport. This year Fiat fans have more reason to excited as Fiat will unveil the Fiat 500 Abarth at the 2008 Geneva International Motor Show in March, and have announced that the Abarth & C. Spa company has set up new premises in Turin, Italy.
Audi have released the details of the 2009 Audi A4 Avant prior to its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. As the estate version of the A4, the Avant is based on the same layout as the sedan, but its five-link front axle has been shifted farther forward to improve axle load distribution. Compared to the current model, the 2009 A4 Avant boasts a sportier design with shortened front overhang. Audi claims that the angled D-posts lend a coupe-like appearance to the A4 Avant, but they’re just seeing things!
After almost 20 years, Nissan is taking its Infiniti range of luxury performance cars to the tough Western European market where it will compete against BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi. To mark this occasion, Infiniti will debut the second generation of the Infiniti FX performance crossover on the eve of the 78th International Geneva Motor Show at a private ceremony to be attended by Mr. Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. The V8 powered Infiniti FX crossover will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 2008, making it the first Infiniti to have its world premier outside of the USA! Infiniti will also unveil its line-up of performance cars to be introduced in the European market together with the second generation FX, from the last quarter of 2008.