Sports Cars Straightline Archives

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

Curious how the upcoming McLaren MP4-12C might look in Gulf livery and GTR trim? Well, apparently somebody named Jonsibal was as he posted these slick rendering to his website. There are additional setups posted, but these were our three favorites.

Jonsibal

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Future Vehicles,McLaren,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

Tesla filed paperwork with the SEC this afternoon for an initial public offering. No date was set, but according to the AP the documents indicate that the company is looking to raise around $100M.

The report also notes some interesting information about Tesla's finances. The paperwork indicates that Tesla has lost $236M since 2003. This is not particularly surprising since Tesla is a start up company in an industry with high costs of entry.

A more curious number comes later when the AP report notes that the company lost $31.5M during the first nine months of 2009. 

That number is notable given that the company sent out a press release in August declaring that it had achieved profitability -- for the month of July. Strangely, that press release is no longer listed on Tesla's website. You can read it here if you're curious. If I was a potential investor, I would be.

AP

Categories: Future Vehicles,Sedans,Sports Cars,Tesla Motors

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

His Excellency Sheik Jassim Bin Abdulaziz Bin Jassim Al-Thani, or Al to his friends, will be joining the supervisory board of Porsche Holdings SE.

Aged a mere 31 years, the Sheik should bring some exciting new blood to the seat formerly occupied by some guy name Porsche.

WSJ

Categories: Auto Industry,Porsche,Sports Cars

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

This is the much-anticipated 40th Anniversary Edition 2010 Nissan 370Z. It was caught by a spy photographer in Southern California this morning a couple of weeks before its planned debut, which is set to take place during the Chicago auto show.

These exclusive spy photos, obtained only by Inside Line, reveal a more mild treatment than Z fans might have been expecting. The dark gray body color is unique, of course, as are the body-color wheels and the red brake calipers, but the wheel design and bodywork appear to be unchanged. Even the rear spoiler looks to be the same as the spoiler on a 370Z Touring.

Badging has also been kept to a minimum. Only a single, small 40th Anniversary badge on the car's rear bumper (just below the standard 370Z badge) tells the valet this is no ordinary Z.

All we know about the interior is that it has red leather covering standard Z Touring seats, and we know even less about the sports car's mechanical bits. We've been told the car would use some Nismo parts, but we won't really know until Chicago.

More spy photos after the jump.

Continue reading Exclusive Spy Shots: 40th Anniversary Nissan 370Z Revealed.

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Coupes,Future Vehicles,Nissan,Sports Cars,Spy Photos