16-inch steelies. Non-matching bumpers, door handles and wing mirrors, no AC... I am seriously into this Toyota GT86 RC Spec.
The 86 RC is the least expensive model in the 86 line coming in some 500,000 yen less expensive than the G and aimed at the tuner/racer market. It's got a six-speed manual transmission, the same 200 horsepower flat-four from the normal one and, well, that's about it. The shifter, steering wheel and pedals are plastic. There is no air conditioning or stereo or cup holders. Significant amounts of soundproofing materials have been removed.
This adds up to not only a cheap package, but a light one as well. Curb weight here is 2,623 pounds. Unfortunately, the limited slip also gets removed for this package but that's an easy fix.
Categories: Coupes,Sports Cars,Toyota,Tuners and Modifications
Audi has just released official photos (lots in hi res after the jump) and information on the new, 'hot' TT RS Plus. The rumor mill had been grinding away at this one for some time and, as often happens, the final car is a bit more disappointing than we'd heard. It has the same 360 horsepower 2.5-liter I5 as the TT RS but is 108 pounds lighter and has these cool 19-inch 5-arm-rotor-design black wheels with red highlights. These wheels are a $400 option on the normal RS.
Visually this new car has matte aluminum accents on the front splitter, diffuser and the stalks holding up the wing ($950 option on the RS). The wing mirrors are carbon fiber ($1,900 on the RS) and there is no crossbar in the grille.
In other markets, like the normal RS, this will be available as a coupe and a hardtop with either a manual transmission or a DSG. In the US the RS is only available as a coupe with a manual transmission. We probably won't be getting this one and that's okay. Still, it's a looker. Big photos next.
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Categories: Audi,Coupes,Tuners and Modifications
There aren't a lot of new cars at this year's Chicago auto show. Sure, we've got the Acadia and the production ILX, but beyond that, everything here is something you've seen before. Or, in the case of this 1993 Ford SVT Cobra R, WAY before. 1992 before.
Ford debuted the SVT Mustang at Chicago in '92 and brought this museum-quality, 4,100-mile beauty back to coincide with the anniversary. It's one of 107 Cobra Rs produced. The Cobra R differentiated itself from the regular Cobra by a factory rear-seat delete, radio delete, sound-dampening material delete, adjustable Koni shocks, external oil cooler, an aluminum radiator and these neat 17-by-8-inch three-spoke wheels. It was powered by the same 5.0-liter V8 making 235 horsepower -- that was a big number in '93.
The only thing Ford could have done to make this a more special reveal would have been to bring out the F-150 Lightning, which also debuted at Chicago in '92.
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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Classic Cars,Coupes,Ford,Sports Cars
Nissan's contribution to the 2012 Chicago Auto Show was the slightly refreshed 2013 Nissan 370Z. If you've got good eyes and are familiar with the 370Z, you'll notice that this new car -- on sale in June -- has a new front fascia with LED DRLs, new 19s on models with the Sport Pack (new 18s on the rest), red-finished brake calipers, Euro-tuned shocks and a red reflector on the rear fascia where there was previously a black cover. The Z is also now available in Midnight Blue. Apart from the minor appearance differences, this new Z gets two additional speakers with two subwoofers for the Bose Premium pack.
There are no changes to the Z's 332-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 or the 6MT/7AT.
The Nismo Z doesn't get Midnight blue, the new front/rear fascias or the new shocks.
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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Coupes,Nissan,Sports Cars
As you'll recall, Ford is offering two engines in the 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet -- a naturally-aspirated version of the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, and a blown version of that engine with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger. Recently, engineers from Ford Racing tested both versions on the dragstrip at Palm Beach International Raceway.
Astutely, they shot video of the burnouts and quarter-mile runs, and while it's not high-def, you can certainly hear the differences between the engines. Ample tire smoke, too.
(Mustang Heaven, Ford Racing)
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Categories: Coupes,Ford,Motorsports,Tuners and Modifications
The 2015 BMW i8 looks as though it's actually moving closer to production. Even more shocking is the fact that it appears as though the i8 will keep the wild styling of the concept.
It might look like a downsized 6 Series from this angle, but the rear end has the same "wings" that gave the concept such an interesting profile. Other details are hard to make out, but it's clear that BMW is taking a much different path when it comes to the styling of its new "i" series of cars. Set to be on the road in 2014, it's still a long way from finished.
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Categories: BMW,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Hybrids,Sports Cars
Can you see what's different about the 2013 Nissan 370Z? Probably not, so here's some help.
The front fascia got a few tweaks that include removal of the odd-looking "teeth" along with the addition of the all-important vertical LED marker lights. In back, there's...well, not much. What used to be a black patch of nothingness at the center of the rear fascia now has a red reflector.
On the actually noticeable front, there are new wheel designs for the 18-inchers that come on the 370Z coupe as well as the 19s that are included in the optional Sport package. That package also included red brake calipers and "Euro-tuned" shock absorbers. And lastly, the fuel gauge now features darker trim. Seriously.
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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Convertibles,Coupes,Nissan,Sports Cars
As they promised, the good folks at SRT have released the first teaser image of the SRT Viper on Facebook. That's the good news. The bad news is that this light-drawing is all we're likely to get for a while.
We're not seeing a lot of naked woman lying on the beach here, but we are seeing a whole lot of Dodge Viper which is pretty awesome. We also get a look at the slick new Viper logo, the headlights, the Viper-spec scoop,
We know that the new Viper will have -- for the first time -- traction control (it's the law ya know) and cruise control and may wind up with an 8.7-liter V10.
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Categories: Coupes,Dodge,Future Vehicles,Sports Cars
Near as I can tell, Porsche began offering center-lock wheels as a street option in 2007, beginning with the 911 Turbo. Today that option costs $3,835 on the standard Turbo, but the so-called RS Spyder wheels are standard on the Turbo S. Other 911 variants now offer them, too.
Porsche touts several benefits: they look clean, they're easy to clean, they represent less unsprung mass and, theoretically, at least, they're far less likely to get stolen. This last point boils down to two reasons: 1) the market for these unique wheels is very limited and; 2) with a special socket and 444 lb-ft of tightening torque in play it takes more than a cross wrench to get these babies off.
Beyond all that, center lock wheels come straight out of motorsports, where one central nut makes pit stops incredibly fast if you've got a swarm of crewmen, air jacks and a couple of $3,000 ported and polished air guns to go with them.
We don't possess such an air gun, but we do have a secret weapon of our own. And we needed it in order to photograph the 2011 Porsche 911 GTS suspension walkaround.
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Categories: Coupes,Porsche,Sports Cars,Suspension Walkarounds
To my knowledge this is the first dyno video of the Toyota FT-86. Strapped to the rollers by the good folks at HIKS, this not US-spec (and potentially not stock) FT-86 pushes out 172 ps -- about 170 horsepower. After the dyno pulls are over, HKS has some fun with a modded FT-86 in exactly the way we all would given a new rear-drive toy and a lot of asphalt.
While the video does have a lot of FT-86 footage, skip to about the 5 minute mark to get straight to the sight -- and sounds -- of the dyno pulls.
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Categories: Coupes,Sports Cars,Toyota
At first we were going to contrast the suspension of this 2011 Porsche 911 GTS to that of our 1985 Porsche 911. But then, just before the holidays hit, we got our hands on an all-new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S. Our GTS vs. Black Plague duel would have to wait.
This was fine by me because once the dust settled we would have a three-car 911 suspension comparison. The completion of this GTS walkaround leaves our 1985 Porsche 911 in the on-deck circle.
Notably, this 911 is fitted with Porsche's center-lock wheels. You'll catch glimpses of them throughout, but I'm saving a detailed description for a separate sidebar that will probably be posted by the time you finish reading this.
But, as usual, this suspension walkaround starts with the wheels off. Let's see what the last year of the 997 edition of the Porsche 911 looks like underneath.
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Categories: Coupes,Porsche,Sports Cars,Suspension Walkarounds
At the 2012 LA Auto Show, Hyundai took home award for the 2012 North American Car of the year with the 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
At the Chicago Auto Show next month, Hyundai isn't simply going to sit around showing off trophies. Instead, they'll be lopping two doors off of the Elantra and debuting this, the 2012 Elantra Coupe.
Visually, it's very similar (surprise) the the Elatra sedan. The main difference is the side detail which morphs into the rear wheel arch -- that doesn't exist on the sedan. The crease looks sharper here, but that's likely a visual trick cause by it not being broken by the rear door handle. We're anticipating the powertrain to be the same with a 148-horsepower 1.8-liter I4 hooked to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. (California cars which are SULEV/PZEV only make 145 horsepower.)
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Categories: Coupes,Hyundai,Spy Photos
The life of a prototype isn't an easy one. First, you're subjected to a new powertrain that everyone's pretty sure, on paper, works just fine. Then you're sent out to make sure it actually works. This means deserts, racetracks, frozen tundras and nightmarish traffic situations -- all intentionally. And then, if you don't burn down or explode, you're either forced into a museum holding pen or, more likely, dismantled, studied and then crushed into a cube.
This 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 durability prototype, however, has a different future; it will be in the hands of a private collector. Ford is auctioning off the car to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at Barrett-Jackson this Saturday at 8:30pm.
Originally built in 2007, this car was converted to 2013 specs (5.8-liter, 650-horsepower) and tested for 24-hours at Sebring. During testing the GT500 reached top speeds of 150 mph -- 50 mph shy of the claimed top speed.
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Categories: Coupes,Ford,Sports Cars
One of six.
700 horsepower.
Carbon fiber body with adjustable spoiler.
$20,000 TWR titanium exhaust.
Lamborghini Reventon-matching paint.
Want.
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Categories: Coupes,Jaguar,Sports Cars
We've met Porsche's Chief Driving Consultant Gordon Robertson before. His job is, essentially, to play with sports cars at Silverstone and either explain them to you via YouTube or to paying Porsche customers who attend the experience center in the U.K.
Here he is driving the new 911 like it's meant to be driven.
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Categories: Coupes,Porsche,Sports Cars,Videos
Informally, this may be our favorite car of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show so far. Indeed, the Lexus LF-LC concept looks every bit as good in the metal as in the photos, and after listening to Mark Templin gush over it, we'd be shocked if it hasn't already been given the nod for production -- though undoubtedly with a different name.
Not only does it preview the new iteration of the Lexus design language, the LF-LC has an all-new hybrid drivetrain, Mark Templin, group vice president, told the crowd. We might get a glimpse of what that will entail if the automaker is able to pull off its new LMP1 car in time for 2012 Le Mans.
Also, it turns out that the Lexus Remote Touch Interface (which uses a somewhat clunky mouse-style controller) will have a short lifespan. The LF-LC features an iPad-like controller mounted on the console that allows the driver to interact with a 12-inch navigation display. The gauge pack in this concept car is also a 12-inch LCD.
A few years ago, such hardware would have seemed far-fetched; now Lexus will have to come up with something at least that slick and cutting-edge for the eventual production car.
As an aside, Lexus announced it will release two more factory F-Sport models -- like the GS 350 F-Sport, as opposed to piecemeal accessories catalog stuff. A teaser video that played before the LF-LC unveiling (but which appears at the end of our casually shot video after the jump) suggests those new models will be CT- and IS-based. It also suggests the flagship LS will get a much-needed restyling.
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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Lexus
At this point there’s not a whole lot we don’t know about the 2013 Bentley Continental GT. After all, the car’s been official for a long while and we’ve even driven a preproduction example. Still, Bentley didn’t want to let this Detroit auto show go to waste without doing something, so it officially rolled out the V8 Continental GT here.
Here’s what we know: The 4.0-liter V8 makes 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and twists out 487 pound-feet of torque at only 1,700 rpm. The turbos live in the center of the V (think BMW turbo 8 here) and the powertrain delivers 40 percent better fuel efficiency (in part thanks to variable displacement) while running zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds. The V8 GT's top speed is 188 mph.
Visual changes (again, you know this) include a red enamel "B," chrome "figure 8" tailpipes, dark lower valance, black gloss grille with chrome frame and totally pedestrian 20s instead of the real GT's 21s. Interior changes include a short center console, cloth headliner (why even have a Bentley?) and Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneer (totally makes up for the cloth and the 20s).
Pics after the jump.
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Categories: Bentley,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show,Sports Cars
After taking the wraps off its "affordable exotic," Chevrolet proceeded to unveil its other show-stopper, the Code 130R concept. The big news here? Rear-wheel drive.
Unlike the Delta-platformed FWD Tru 140S, Chevrolet didn't mention what kind of architecture underpins the Code 130R coupe. We're guessing this means that the 140S is more of a true concept in the traditional sense. In other words, it looks good, but it's not anything more than a styling exercise.
For power, Chevrolet said it was meant to work with one of GM's small turbocharged engines and the new eAssist system seen in the various Chevy sedans. It'll help the 140S "balance turbocharged performance and fuel economy," says Chevrolet.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show
This is Chevrolet's attempt to appease the kids. Or at least some of them. The oddly named Tru 140S concept is the company's idea for an "affordable exotic." It's trying to get millennials interested in cars, so it figured something exotic was as good an idea as any.
The Tru 140S is built on the same front-wheel-drive platform as the Cruze, so it's technically a buildable car. Chevrolet says the car would likely feature direct injection and start-stop technology in a quest for the all-important 40-mpg mark.
There's no interior on it, but that's part of Chevrolet's engagement plan. It will display setups at the auto show where consumers can give their input as to what features and design elements they would like to see if the car were to go into production. We'll see how far Chevrolet takes the idea, but it's something a little different. And let's face it, that's what Chevrolet needs to get the attention of the under-25 crowd. More pics after the jump.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show
We're just a few hours away from the Hyundai press conference here at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show where the company will unveil the new 2013 Genesis Coupe. We've already seen the new facelifted, 350-horsepower (in V6 trim, 275 from the 2.0-liter I4) coupe so this video isn't a huge revelation, but it's a good primer for what we'll be bringing you in a few hours.
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Categories: Coupes,Detroit Auto Show,Hyundai,Sports Cars
