Coupes Straightline Archives

So you say you've heard enough already about the 550-hp 2011 Ford Shelby GT500? What are you, a communist? Either way, you haven't actually heard the GT500.

Well now you have. Or rather, you've heard a recording of the nasty GT500 through what are, let's face it, probably pretty crappy speakers. Even so you get a sense of the rip and burble of the new exhaust system overlaid with the positively toddler-level whine of the supercharger.

It's worth making the jump just to see some poor sap driving the convertible 2011 GT500, top down, in the middle of a Michigan winter.

2010 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500

Continue reading The 550-hp 2011 Shelby GT500 Sounds Like Goodness.

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Convertibles,Coupes,Ford

In addition to the specifications laid out in the press kit, Ford officials made the following claims about the 2011 Shelby GT500 at today's press conference in Detroit:

- It will be one tenth quicker to 60mph and two tenths quicker in the quarter-mile than the 2010 model.
- The Performance Pack will add 18% more downforce.
- The exhaust has 32% less backpressure.

That's about it, which is clearly isn't much, but in the land of Mustang, no detail is too small to rub in the face of the bowtie boys.

2010 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Shelby GT500

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Convertibles,Coupes,Ford,Sports Cars

There wasn't much revealed today about the 2011 Shelby GT500 that we didn't already know from previous leaks. Yes, it's new aluminum block 5.4-liter V8 makes 550 horsepower. Yes, you can get a glass-roof coupe and yes there's a new SVT Performance package that adds a few extra mechanical bits to the big-buck Mustang.

For all the details, check out our full story on the 2011 Shelby GT500

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Convertibles,Coupes,Ford,Sports Cars

The latest installment in the never-ending story of the sportscar that will never die, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S is exactly what you might expect. It's essentially a slightly higher spec version of the standard 911 Turbo for those buyers who think the "standard" Turbo just isn't enough.

This time around, the 911 Turbo S features a 530-horsepower version of Porsche's 3.8-liter flat six. Not impressed? Then consider that it also puts out 516 pound-feet of torque and does so without any decrease in mileage, or so says Porsche.

The Turbo S will come with Porsche's PDK dual clutch transmission only which shouldn't be a problem as Porsche says it's good for a 0-60mph sprint of 3.3 seconds so equipped. It also comes standard with carbon ceramic brake discs, so stopping should be much of a problem either. Top speed is 195mph if you're into that sort of thing.

Available in either coupe of convertible bodystyle, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S goes on sale in May. If you have to ask the price, it's not for you.

2010 Geneva Auto Show

Categories: Convertibles,Coupes,Future Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Luxury Cars,Porsche,Sports Cars

We caught an early glimpse of the Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition last week and now it's been revealed in full courtesy of Nissan UK. Over there it will be called the 370Z Black Edition, but it's loaded up in the same manner as the version we'll get.

According to the U.K. press release this 370Z will get unique seats, extra red stitching throughout the interior and a premium navigation system.

Exterior upgrades include 19-inch Rays wheels, red brake calipers and, of course, 40th Anniversary badges. Only 370 units will be sold in all of Europe, no word yet on Nissan's plans for the U.S., but we'll get a full download next week at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.

More pics after the jump.

Continue reading 40th Anniversary Nissan 370Z Revealed in the U.K. .

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Coupes,Nissan,Sports Cars

Last week we brought you a partial list of the upgrades in store for the 2011 Shelby GT500 courtesy of an order guide leak. This morning, some crafty members at TeamShelby noticed a video of the upcoming GT500 on one of Ford's media sites. The pictures you see here are screen grabs from that video which has since been taken down.

Continue reading More Details Leak on the 2011 Shelby GT500.

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Classic Cars,Convertibles,Coupes,Ford,Future Vehicles,Sports Cars

The crafty, Mustang-obsessed folks over at MustangHeaven have uncovered the order guide for the 2011 Shelby GT500.

Were you hoping for a new aluminum engine block? Bingo, you got it. How about a glass roof coupe? Done. Some standard HID headlights? Check. MyKey? Check.

Other notable option is the SVT Performance Pack. It will include a 3.73 limited slip rear end, revised springs and shocks and unique side stripes.

MustangHeaven
 

Categories: Coupes,Ford,Future Vehicles,Sports Cars

Stallone's taste in scripts? Not good. His taste in cars? Well, that looks like it shows some promise. I mean, the guy could buy anything he wants and he goes for a supercharged Hendrick 25th Anniversary Camaro? Nice. 

Not only that, he drives it to big celebrity dinners and shows it off. Fellow famous car guy, Jason Statham, seems to like Stallone's choice although we don't see Statham going the Chevy route anytime soon.

Camaro5

Categories: Celebrities,Chevrolet,Coupes,Sports Cars,Tuners and Modifications

As proof that car companies no longer make showcars just for giggles, a senior BMW authority out of Munich has assured Inside Line that the Vision EfficientDynamics plug-in pure hybrid 2+2 concept car rolled out in September at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is earmarked for production. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Reaction to the 356-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque plug-in electric (one lithium-polymer battery stack + 2 electric motors) with dedicated lighter weight three-cylinder diesel range-extending engine mounted amidships has been off the charts. Now we're all waiting for more details and, of course, that sticky price issue.

Our executive source goes on to say that total volume is being debated, but that it will fall between 5,000 and 10,000 units. The prototype's powertrain and basic sub-3,000-pound assembly will remain intact, but, says the source, "there will be less of the synthetic glass and more solid structure added to the final design." Uh-oh. We know why these alterations are needed, but does this mean it's going to migrate toward being a sort of sleek Toyota Prius? Let's hope not.

When we asked if this could finally be BMW's second true production supercar after the Giugiaro M1, the response was a firm "quite probably." So maybe our Prius/Honda Insight fears are overreaching. It'd be nice to maintain that 0.22 drag coefficient and the hellacious looks.

IL also learned that the BMW future product engineers are also noodling non-stop with the hybrid drive system in order to make our test of the Vision EfficientDynamics prototype come this summertime in southern France a real-world high-speed thrill. It should be even quicker than the previously quoted 4.8 seconds to 62 mph.

"And that name that the marketing people forced on us," says our mole, "that's going to change for sure." -- Contributor Matt Davis reporting from Portugal.

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Categories: BMW,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hybrids,Luxury Cars,Sports Cars

When he's not telling Nico Rosberg what to do, Michael Schumacher likes to drive the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG through tunnels.

Categories: Celebrities,Coupes,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,Sports Cars

Toyota made big news when it displayed several eye-catching cars in its booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon a couple weeks ago. These cars were like nothing Toyota has shown before, slick interpretations of future and existing models, which not only looked sporty but supposedly featured significant performance enhancements. These cars wore the G's logo with the words "Toyota G Sports" written underneath.

G's is a new brand from Toyota that will gradually roll out cars in mid-2010, specializing in complete conversions of Toyota's existing products. In a word, G's will be the company's in-house tuning division, providing Toyota fans sporty cars customized to their own tastes. What will separate G's from other OEM tuner divisions like AMG, BMW's M and even the Lexus F cars is the customization angle as customers will be able to choose their level of tweaks. The changes to the cars will be applied to the exterior, interior and to the mechanical components, most notably the suspension.

Continue reading Toyota Planning to Create "Gs" Performance Division.

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Future Vehicles,Motorsports,Toyota,Tuners and Modifications

Yeah, went in a little hot on this one.

Categories: Coupes,Dodge,Sports Cars

It's winter testing time and the 2011 Porsche 911 hasn't taken any time off lately. Our shooters caught this prototype cruising through some heavy snow still wearing much of its typical camouflage.

The only changes we can see on this test mule compared to previous prototypes are a few tweaks to the front air inlets and foglights. The pseudo-whale tail rear end continues to hide the styling changes in back, although you can see the bright LED taillights shining through.

Spy Video: 2011 Porsche 911 On the Nurburgring
  

Categories: Coupes,Future Vehicles,Porsche,Sports Cars,Spy Photos

Volkswagen is considering production of an R version of its upcoming sixth-generation Jetta at its Peubla factory in Mexico. The new model is part of the company's efforts to give its U.S. lineup a greater number of image-leading performance models and lure younger customers to the brand.

The new four-door sedan, possibly to be previewed at the SEMA show in November, has been conceived to rival popular Japanese and European performance models such as the Honda Civic Si and BMW 128i.

Volkswagen won't officially confirm the existence of new model but officials at the European launch of the new Golf R in Ellmau, Austria this week indicate production plans for the Jetta R are already well advanced.
 
"Our modular construction and production process make it fairly straightforward. It's now a matter of formulating a sound business case to ensure the car is profitable. We don't want to leave the affordable performance sedan market in the US to our rivals but importing sporting models from Europe is proving prohibitively expensive at the moment," said a high level Inside Line source familiar with Volkswagen's North American model strategy.
 

Continue reading Volkswagen Considering "R" Version of Next-Generation Jetta .

Categories: Coupes,Future Vehicles,SEMA Show,Sedans,Volkswagen

Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.

No one shed a tear when the CLK reverted back to the E-Class coupe for 2010. The last redesign didn't do the CLK any favors in the styling department, and then along came coupes like the Audi A5 and S5 that made the CLK look even worse.

The E-Class coupe is still not Mercedes' most inspired design, but it's no longer the midrange coupe with the C-Class underpinnings. At least that's what Mercedes says. So it looks the part, but how does it perform? Well, there's no doubt that the V8-powered E550 coupe is a capable coupe. And the V6-powered E350 coupe? You know, the one most people buy?

Turns out, not bad at all. In fact, we would venture to guess that most buyers probably wouldn't bother with the V8 if they seriously considered and drove the E350 first. Find out why in our latest test results from the track. 

Continue reading IL Track Tested: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe.

Categories: Coupes,IL Track Tested,Mercedes-Benz