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Hennessey announces sold-out run of manual Venom F5-Ms

Hennessey dropped a bit of a surprise bomb Tuesday by announcing that it will build — and has already sold — a limited number its Venom F5 supercars with gated manual transmissions dubbed the Venom F5-M (the “M” is for manual, if that wasn’t obvious). Hennessey said it had always wanted to build an “old school” version of its homebrew performance machine that offered the engagement unique to a manual gearbox. Today, it’s here, and as I noted above, already gone.

The limited run should come as no surprise. Hennessey Special Vehicles may have serious funding, but it’s still no mainstream production outfit. Only 12 examples of the manual F5 will be produced, and each will ship with a unique livery, making all 12 distinct. The cost of this exclusivity? $2.65 million.

“Driving the Venom F5 is already a full body experience that thrills, inspires, and never gets old,” Hennessey said in its announcement, “but, we never say that’s enough, we never stand still. That’s why we’ve dived deeper into the sensation of driving, finding every touchpoint to deliver connection, feedback, sound, and engagement. We believe that the Venom F5-M Roadster will be the most intense, immersive, and extreme driving experience on the planet, and a dozen lucky customers get to join us for the ride!”

In addition to their bespoke treatments, manual variants can also be easily spotted from a distance thanks to their unique tail fin (with an American flag on it, in the case of the example photographed here). If you’re close enough to peek inside, the shifter itself is probably a dead giveaway. Hennessey says the cockpit was redesigned to make it a central fixture of the cabin.

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September 11, 2024 / Comments Off

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Ginetta Akula finally ready to take a bite of the supercar market

In 1958, the four Walklett brothers founded Ginetta as a race car maker with the same focus on light weight and super-sharp performance as better-known companies like Ace, Caterham and Lotus. Today, the company makes race and road cars, organizes one-make series’ like the Ginetta Challenge run here in the U.S., and sells the GT6 Evo for FIA GT racing around the world. At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the company displayed its entry to the supercar game, a fair few levels above the 450-horsepower retro Ginetta G10 and modern Ginetta GTR. At the time, the former Akula (in the related gallery below) was projected to make 600 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque from a 6.0-liter V8, drape carbon fiber body panels over a carbon moncoque for curb weight of 2,535 pounds and a 49:51 weight balance, be limited to 20 units, and cost about 400,000 Great British Pounds.

Five years on, the production version of the Akula is ready, and almost all of the above numbers have been revised. The carbon monocoque stays, as do the steel roll cage and carbon fiber body panels. Carbon fiber subframes help support a double wishbone suspension with adjustable, pushrod-activated dampers all around; the front and rear roll bars are adjustable as well. The street engine is a billet aluminum block bored out to 6.4 liters divided among eight cylinders, sending 600 horsepower and 494 pound-feet of torque to the back axle through a limited-slip differential. Weight balance is now an ideal 50:50. Getting the 2,623-pound coupe from standstill to 62 miles per hour is said to take 2.9 seconds, the engine not running out of steam until the far side of 180 mph. That’s likely achieved with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, owners who want to ultimate engagement will select the six-speed manual.

Instead of the show car’s 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, the retail Akula sits no 20-inch aluminum wheels. The P Zero rubber comes sized 265/35 in front, 305/35 in back. Behind the center-lock wheels, the standard ABS-equipped brake package gets four-piston calipers clamping 14.2-inch rotors at the four corners. An Akula Race Package upgrades to carbon ceramics, and installs a six-point racing harness.

Even though the aero-optimized bodywork is toned down from the Geneva car, there should be no doubt as to what the Akula was made to do. The interior reinforces the point even better than the copious ducting. Ginetta built the seats into the moncoque, making the steering wheel and pedal box electronically adjustable. Buyers will need to swing by the Ginetta offices to have their cars’ seats formed to their specific backsides.

However, touring is also a vital part of the brief. There’s a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, the iPhone kept ready with a wireless phone charger. The trunk holds nearly 17 cubic feet. And the 26.4-gallon gas tank is claimed to power a range of around 450 miles.

In 2019, Ginetta said it planned to build 20 Akulas in the first year of production. Now, the little firm plans to build just 20 Akulas, period, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Dr. Lawrence Tomlinson buying the company. Pricing starts at 275,000 Great British Pounds ($362,400 U.S.) , and it’s not too late to get a build slot.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about the name, akula is Russian for “shark.”

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September 10, 2024 / Comments Off

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Czinger C21 retakes Laguna Seca lap record from Koenigsegg Jesko

There are more hypercars on sale in the U.S. than there are new cars under $20,000. Sure, that’s still just a handful, but it doesn’t take much to make a crowd at more than seven figures; as it was with Greek mythology, so it is with $2M cars, a few Titans go a long way. With that kind of competition, it’s not enough for hypercars to make big horsepower, they need to prove their prowess with it. We’re too early in the game to call what’s happening the beginning of laptime wars, but factions keep firing shots at one another. Swedish outfit Koenigsegg and U.S. outfit Czinger exchanged the latest rounds on the battlegrounds of Laguna Seca. In 2021, Czinger development driver Joel Miller drove a 21C to a new record around the famous 2.2-mile Northern California track with a time of 1:25.44. That broke the previous record of 1:27.62 set by Randy Pobst in a McLaren Senna.

During last month’s Monterey Car Week, Koenigsegg development driver Markus Lundh piloted a Jesko Attack — the big-winged, track-focused Jesko variant — around Laguna Seca in 1:24.86, besting Czinger’s lap by 0.56. This was Koenigsegg’s first visit to the circuit, and Lundh’s as well. There’s no doubt the Lundh can go quicker, given more time to get himself and the Jesko dialed in to the track.

Czinger, based in Southern California, wasted no time trailering a C21 up north to get its stolen property back. Miller, piloting the C21 Blackbird trim that makes a little more horsepower, cut the lap record down to 1:24.75, a mere 0.11 ahead of the Jesko Attack. For now.

A comparison of the weapons: Jesko Attack bodywork hides a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 that makes 1,577 hp and 1,105 lb-ft on E85 (or 1,262 hp on regular pump gas) to power the rear wheels alone. Claimed weight is 3,064 pounds with fluids. The standard C21 uses a twin-turbocharged 2.88-liter V8 in back turning the rear wheels plus two electric motors turning the fronts, to make a combined 1,233 hp and more than 539 lb-ft. The C21 Blackbird increases the horse count to 1,333. Claimed weight is 2,756 pounds.

As we said, we’re not sure this is a war yet, but we know the skirmishes aren’t over. Czinger broke the Goodwood Hill Climb record in July (if you haven’t seen the C21 in action, sounding like the opposite of the Jesko, you should change that), Koenigsegg spent the same month breaking four records during its 0-400-0 run in a Jesko Absolute. Czinger had set a lap record at Texas’ Circuit of the Americas that Hennessey broke with the Venom F5, Czinger has already said it wants that record again, and some blue ribbons earned in Europe next year as well. And we know Koenigsegg and Hennessey are plotting to break the 300-mph record, they’re just waiting on the tires to do it. While we wait for the next charge, have a watch of Czinger’s Laguna Seca run.

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September 3, 2024 / Comments Off

2025 Aston Martin Vanquish teased three more times

Aston Martin’s going to reveal its latest return of the Vanquish in a day. After being treated to a sound check of the new engine, we have three more teases to tide us over for the day. Starting at the front, we’re expecting a familiar grille of horizontal strakes across a wide intake. However, spy shots reveal a grille that’s looks to be a taller and less shapely taller and less shapely version of that on the DB12, spreading out at the edges into a wider bottom instead of cutting inward at the headlights to a narrower leading edge. This could be a move toward a family face, or could be a measure of the V12’s voluminous air demands. Moving back from there, a frame in the teaser clip shows triangular intakes behind the front wheels, larger than the trim cuts in the fenders on the DBS and likely able to evacuate more air from the engine bay.

Remember, the V12’s displacement hasn’t been confirmed, but output’s been quoted as 824 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Those are substantial jumps over the 760 hp and 664 lb-ft in the limited-edition DBS 770 Ultimate, and compares to the the 819 hp and 500 lb-ft from the 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri, and the 771 hp and 738 lb-ft in the 2025 Bentley Continental GT hybrid. We figure this will come from the same 6.5 liters as before, or something a couple of tenths away with Aston having described the engine as “a complete redesign.” Improvements around the mill include a reinforced block, stronger con-rods, a new head, new intake and exhaust ports, reprofiled cams, high-flow injectors, and repositioned spark plugs. It’s fed by more efficient turbochargers claimed to deliver better throttle response.

The other two teasers show provide peeps of the rear fascia. A carbon fiber centerpiece bears Aston Martin lettering. At the corners, seven stacked LEDs on each side form a pair of pillar-style taillights in a design we’ve not seen on any recent vehicle, and they light up in sequence from bottom to top. It also seems a full-width light bar connects the upper few taillight elements across the rear of an integrated Kamm tail, the tail being a more shapely version of the backside on the Aston Martin Valour.

The whole shebang goes before the camera on September 2.

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September 2, 2024 / Comments Off

Lamborghini Temerario price list with options invites you to dream big

The Lamborghini Termerario configurator is up and ready for your imagination with six categories of customization: Paint, Wheels, Roof, Details, Carbon and the lightweight Alleggerita Package. Problem is, the configurator doesn’t show pricing, making it tough to know how much you’ll need to plunder your offshore account to bring the Italian PHEV home. Lamborghini Talk has the solution (via CarBuzz), a thread at the Sant’Agata-focused forum posting a price list for standard, special and Ad Personam options. Starting with the base price, MSRP has been set at $357,621, about $24,000 above the Huracan STO. There will be another roughly $4,000 for destination, for a subtotal of $361,621, and that doesn’t count the gas-guzzler tax, so add another couple grand due to thirst — say an even $365,000 before making the coupe your own expression.

The big money option before getting into one-off exclusives is the Alleggerita Package. This can cut as much as 55 pounds from the curb weight thanks to a front splitter, side skirts, and engine cover made in carbon fiber reinforced plastic, plus door cards and a passenger footrest in carbon fiber, polycarbonate side windows, and lighter rear glass. Created for weight weenies likely to track their cars, the bundle also comes with a rear spoiler that creates more downforce. If added to a Temerario with a simple gloss or matte paint job, the Alleggerita Package costs $45,000. If added to a coupe with one of the so-called Livery Colors that combines a main and an accent color, cutting weight costs $78,600. Buyers can spec a carbon splitter and diffuser separately without going all-in on the package, as well as carbon mirror caps and intakes. Strangely, carbon fiber wheels aren’t part of the weight shaving, they’ll need another $26,200 as an a la carte choice.

Speaking of paints, they run from seven free colors to five metallics and three pearl finishes for $9,600, five matte hues for $12,000, a large number of Ad Personam color families in various finishes that range from $13,900 to $16,500, and the custom Ad Personam Request colors in three finishes that start at $23,600 and max out at $32,700. Yet again, in the piecemeal way of detailed personalization, buyers can add accent colors everywhere from the roof to the Velador Forged wheels. A livery accent color demands another $13,100, yellow accents on those forged rims need another $6,600.

As far as we can tell, the price list is in line with Huracan option prices. A window sticker for a 2022 Huracan STO purchased at Marshall Goldman Motor Sales in Cleveland, Ohio shows upgrades like a $19,600 Blu Metallic paint job, a $6,000 Contrast Pack, and a $37,800 Full Livery Exterior Pack, another $8,100 for “Color according to,” plus $2,000 for Exterior Contrast Color Ad [Personam]. That’s more than $70,000 just in paint, two years ago. The Temerario is more standard operating procedure.

If you’ve waited this long to get an order in, you might end up waiting some time to see your fancy come to life. CEO Stephan told us during Monterey Car Week, “This year is going in a perfect way, we had another record first six months in 2024. So if things are going ahead like this, the year 2024 will be a very good one for Lamborghini.”

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August 26, 2024 / Comments Off

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Monterey Car Week recap, 2025 Lincoln Navigator and more | Autoblog Podcast #845

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski. They look back on Monterey Car Week, and pick their favorite highlights from the event, including the new Lincoln Navigator, the Ruf Rodeo, Cadillac Opulent Velocity concept and more. In the news, Ford has abandoned its three-row EV in a pivot to hybrid. Our hosts review recent cars in the fleet, like the Mercedes GLC Coupe, long-term Mazda CX-90 and the three-wheel Can-Am Ryker. They also compare the Jeep Gladiator with the Wrangler.

Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com.

Autoblog Podcast #845

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August 23, 2024 / Comments Off

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2025 McLaren 750S bespoke program announced

High-end automakers have offered extreme vehicle customization options through bespoke configuration programs for years. Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Porsche and others give buyers the opportunity to select custom colors and other features, though it’s always at a very steep price. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) does the same, and now, it’s the new 750S’ turn.

The MSO Contrast Pack adds appearance upgrades and custom color options to the “standard” 750S. Buyers have 12 preconfigured themes to choose from, and the automaker can accommodate fully custom orders upon request. McLaren said the packs can be ordered at the time of purchase or through the dealer configuration process.

Contrast Pack 1 offers a range of bespoke colors not available on McLaren’s standard vehicles, and buyers can extend the color selection to the brake calipers and door mirror caps. They include:

Volcano Red
Volcano Orange
Anniversary Orange
Solar Yellow
Napier Green
XP Green
Tokyo Pearl
Viola Viola
Dove Grey
Soho Grey
Tarmac Black
Alaskan Diamond White

The Contrast Pack 2 builds on the first package with a full Alcantara interior and other cabin accents.

McLaren also offers a Stealth Badging package, which blacks out the exterior badges and wheel center caps. Carbon fiber front fenders are included, along with available carbon fiber louvers. All 750S models now get a Papaya orange stop/start button, a nod to McLaren’s long-running racing heritage.

The company’s chief sales and marketing officer, George Biggs, said, “In its first year on sale, the 750S has been a huge success. The car’s stellar reception with both the media who have driven it and with customers has exceeded all expectations, and the Model Year enhancements for 750S with new options from McLaren Special Operations ensure it remains a benchmark defining supercar with exclusivity and remarkable craftsmanship.”

The 2025 McLaren 750S is available for order now at one of the company’s more than 100 dealer locations in 40 markets globally. Buyers can also virtually configure the car with MSO by contacting the dealer to set an appointment.

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August 22, 2024 / Comments Off

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Koenigsegg Jesko Attack sets Laguna Seca production car record

Lap times and top speed specs are big business in the hypercar world, even if the cars’ owners never push them to their full potential. Automakers aren’t quite as shy with the machines, however, frequently wringing them out for bragging rights. Koenigsegg recently took its Jesko Attack to Laguna Seca for the first time and set a time of 1:24.86, edging out the Czinger 21C by just 0.58 second to set the production car lap record. It did that time with Koenigsegg development driver Markus Lundh behind the wheel, who, like the car, was tackling the track for the first time.

Koenigsegg has set several other records with the car, including the best lap time at Sweden’s Gotland Ring, where it set a time of 2:56.97, nearly eight seconds faster than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS MR. The car also holds the record for accelerating to 400 km/h (249 mph) and braking back to a stop in just 27.83 seconds, more than a second faster than the bonkers Rimac Nevera.

That performance is thanks to the car’s twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8, which makes 1,280 horsepower during regular operation. Pumping E85 pushes that output to 1,600 horsepower, and the car makes 1,106 pound-feet of torque. The Jesko Attack has a large rear wing and significantly more downforce than the standard Jesko. Koenigsegg claims an additional 1,764 pounds of downforce for the Attack at 155 mph, which increases to a massive 3,086 pounds at the car’s top speed.

The Jesko Absolut, which is designed for top speed runs, builds on the Attack with different bodywork that Koenigsegg says cuts downforce and improves stability at high speed. Its body is around three inches longer, and the automaker said the aero development process alone took 3,000 hours, with another 5,000 on engineering.

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August 19, 2024 / Comments Off

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Kalmar 9X9 condenses 40 years of Porsche 911 ideas into one package

The last time we visited Kalmar Automotive, the Danish coachbuilder was gunning its Rally Special-6 (RS-6), a rooster-tailing off-roader based on either a 993- or 996-series Porsche 911, through the mud. At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the company debuted its latest, the Kalmar 9X9. This is a mashup of ideas covering just about everything from the 959 to today’s 911 Turbo and GT3. A 993-series 911 lays the foundation, stripped and laid up with a hidden roll cage beneath CFD-honed carbon bodywork. The new panels and their 959-like rear end reportedly create 3,263 pounds of peak downforce. That’s 212 pounds above the coupe’s 3,051 claimed weight in its heaviest stock configuration.

There are three variants: 9X9, 9X9 Sport, and 9X9 Leichtbau (Lightweight). The 9X9 is the hi-po grand tourer, using the 3.8-liter flat-six from today’s 911 Turbo S. Instead of making the factory car’s 640 horsepower, the standard 9X9 makes 930 horses. Power goes to all four wheels through Porsche’s seven-speed double-clutch transmission. Rear-wheel drive also comes standard.

The 9X9 Sport turns down the power to turn up the focus. A turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six contributed by the 911 GTS makes 650 hp, 172 ponies over a store-bought GTS. This comes with a seven-speed manual, the PDK an option, as is rear-wheel steering. “More direct suspension components,” less sound insulation, and the 2,866-pound curb weight should heighten the fury and the sound with this one.

The 9X9 Leichtbau goes with the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter from the GT3 making 530 horsepower, 28 hp above factory output. A rear-driver only, with a seven-speed manual for the purists, this one comes in at a claimed 2,811 pounds.

Every 9X9’s engine has been upgraded with items like a new intake system, beefier cooling, ceramic bearings in the turbos, and an Inconel exhaust. They all sit on active engine mounts, too. The drivetrain rolls on a custom double wishbone suspension working pushrod-style Tractive dampers in front, the work of Italy’s Danisi Engineering. Magnesium wheels on Michelin tires hide carbon ceramic rotors clamped by CarboBrake’s 3D-printed titanium calipers.

The interiors go heavy on lightweighting, with no radios and no central infotainment screens. A centrally located analog tach dominates the gauge cluster, flanked by two small screens that we’ll guess are used to display information from Bluetooth paired devices.

All three flavors are on sale now through U.S. distributor Canepa Group, first deliveries scheduled for July 2025. Prices weren’t mentioned, that fact and the debut location should let you know if you’re in the target audience.

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August 18, 2024 / Comments Off

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Ferrari trims lineup, Q2 report says SF90 and 812 GTS order books closed

Ferrari’s quarterly report revealed the next chess moves coming to the lineup. The SF90 Stradale, the automaker’s first hybrid and a coupe so important to the brand that it shared its name with Ferrari’s Formula 1 car that year, is out of production after five years on the market. The convertible version, the SF90 Spider, remains on sale. The hardtop has no direct successor — that is, a mid-engined V8. However, the mid-engined 296 GTB with its V6 hybrid powertrain could be viewed as a taking up the mantle. The outgoing SF90 produces 986 horsepower from a 4.0-liter V8 aided by three electric motors, sending that power to both axles. The 296 gets a 3.0-liter V6 and one motor to make a combined 819 hp and 546 lb-ft, all of it sent to the rear wheels only.

The 812 GTS waves goodbye as well, this the open-topped version of the 812 Superfast and another launch from 2019. It does have a direct successor, the 12Cilindri that debuted a few months ago. The dirty dozen in the new car deliver 819 horsepower, up from 788 in the 812 Superfast and GTS, matching the track-focused 812 Competizione. Ferrari pegs 0-62-mph acceleration in 2.9 seconds, a 7.9-second rip to 124 mph, and a top speed beyond 211 mph.

The Roma, another coupe that launched in 2019, is preparing for its exit but not done with production. Along with the 812 Competizione, Ferrari says the duo are “approaching the end of the life cycle.” Only one of them can still be ordered, though; Roma books remain open, the 812 Comp’s production run was entirely spoken for the moment that car hit the public airwaves.

That leaves the best sellers, the Roma Spider, Purosangue SUV, and 296 to continue doing the heavy lifting. Specials such as the Daytona SP3 in the Icona series and customer versions of the 499P Modificata add their share to the automaker’s engorged bank balance, raising revenues and profits compared to Q2 of 2023 thanks to deliveries that were 2.7% higher. There’s more good stuff in the immediate pipeline while we wait for word on what follows the SF90 and Roma coupes, a new hypercar that might be called F250 supposed to debut before year’s end and a battery-electric model reportedly arriving next year.

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August 12, 2024 / Comments Off

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Mercedes-Benz bringing three new cars and several classics to Pebble Beach

Mercedes-Benz is closely linked to the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: its privately-owned classic models have won the event’s coveted Best of Show award 10 times since 1950. The company will travel to the upcoming 2024 edition of the show to highlight some of its significant past street and racing cars, and it will also use the opportunity to unveil three new cars including the first Maybach-branded SL.

We haven’t seen the Mercedes-Maybach SL yet, but the name gives us a good indication of what to expect. The existing SL is marketed by AMG, and it puts a much bigger focus on performance than its predecessor. The Maybach model will tilt toward the luxury side of the scale. We expect that it will stand out with a specific exterior design likely characterized by the familiar Maybach grille and a more upscale interior.

Maybach’s second Pebble Beach-bound car is the S680 Edition Nordic Glow. Based on the long-wheelbase S-Class, it was developed specifically for the American market by the Manufaktur division. It will feature edition-specific styling, and production is limited to 50 units. The third debut will highlight Mercedes-Benz’s 130 years of racing heritage. It’s an evolution of the GT3 race car that “draws from two formative eras of motorsport,” according to the company. We’ll need to be patient to find out more, though we know that 13 units will be built.

If you’re more interested in classics, you’re in for a treat as well. Mercedes-Benz’s Classic division is bringing four cars: a 1924 two-liter race car that won Sicily’s Targa Florio race 100 years ago, a 1932 Maybach Zeppelin DS 8 with a 7.9-liter V12 rated at 200 horsepower, a 1955 W 196 R race car, and the 1970 C111-II powered by a 345-horsepower four-rotor Wankel engine. The latter was a highly innovative prototype capable of reaching 186 mph, which was a jaw-dropping figure for its era. It was recently fully restored by the company’s Classic Center.

Shown above, the Targa Florio race car and the C111-II will participate in a scenic drive called Tour d’Elegance that’s taking place on August 15. The 2024 edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance opens its doors on Sunday, August 18, near Monterey, California.

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August 8, 2024 / Comments Off

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The Nilu27 analog V12-powered hypercar promises more than 1,000 horsepower

Electrified supercars are becoming more common as automakers look to boost power and performance without burning way more fuel in the process. Nilu27, a new company founded by designer Sasha Selipanov, is taking a different approach. Similar to Gordon Murray Automotive with the GMA T.50, Nilu27 will employ a naturally-aspirated V12 engine with no electrification or turbochargers.

The Nilu hypercar, named after the company, was inspired by Formula 1 racers in the 1960s, Le Mans cars, and vehicles from iconic Italian design houses. It uses a bespoke carbon fiber monocoque with lightweight aluminum subframes. The frames’ tubular design helps dissipate heat and facilitate powertrain maintenance.

A 6.5-liter 80-degree V12 engine manufactured by Hartley Engines in New Zealand provides motivation for the car. Lacking electrification or turbos, the engine is expected to generate more than 1,000 horsepower. Despite having no electric motors, the company said the engine’s large bore and short stroke will give it a rev-happy personality similar to the behavior of hybrid and electric vehicles.

That gem is paired with a seven-speed CIMA manual transmission, and Nilu 3D-printed all exhaust components using Inconel, a nickel-chromium superalloy that can withstand extreme heat and stress. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires wrap 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels, and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes provide stopping power.

The car’s wild Bauhaus-inspired interior features a gated shifter and racing seats with harnesses. A center-mounted tachometer dominates the dash, while the three-spoke steering wheel is free of everything but the Nilu logo. The only screen in the car’s cabin is its rearview camera mirror, as the company said it wants to keep an old-school, analog feel.

Nilu27 said its first vehicles will be built by Aria Group in Irvine, Calif., while it focuses on building its footprint overseas. The initial run will be capped at 15 units, but Nilu said it would make a street-going variant with up to 54 built, though four will be one-off designs.

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August 7, 2024 / Comments Off

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Listen to the Lamborghini Huracan successor’s V8 rev to 10,000 rpm

Lamborghini is about to break a decades-long tradition: it confirmed that the Huracán‘s successor will be its first turbocharged super-sports car. The company released a short preview video that briefly shows the new car revving to over 10,000 rpm to reassure skeptical fans.

The 55-second video takes you on a trip down memory lane. First, we see — and hear! — the Gallardo, which was sold between the 2004 and 2014 model years, going flat-out on a dyno. Next, it’s the Huracán’s turn to demonstrate what it’s capable of; the video briefly shows a tachometer with a redline pegged at 8,500 rpm. Finally, it’s the new car’s turn, and it out-revs its predecessor by going over 10,000 rpm.

While we can hear the new, twin-turbocharged V8 engine’s exhaust note, we can also clearly hear the whine of an electric motor as the tach needle makes its way past the 10,000-rpm mark. That’s because the model that will replace the Huracán will use a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. We’ll need to be patient to learn the full specifications, but we already know that the 4.0-liter engine will develop about 800 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque on its own. The pistons are linked to a flat-plane crankshaft, so the V8 should sound a lot like a racing engine.

The video hides the new car’s styling, but earlier spy shots suggest it will remain characterized by a wedge-shaped silhouette. It’s difficult to tell how the finer design details, such as the headlights, have evolved because the test mule spotted by our spies is covered by camouflage. The car could borrow a handful of styling cues from the Revuelto, which was unveiled in 2023 to replace the Aventador with a new V12.

We won’t have to wait long to find out more, as an earlier report claims Lamborghini will reveal the Huracán’s successor during Monterey Car Week, which is right around the corner. When it lands, it will join the Revuelto and the updated Urus SE in Lamborghini’s hybrid-only range.

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August 6, 2024 / Comments Off

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Second Lamborghini Revuelto Opera Unica inspired by Sardinian coastline

Not long after debuting its new Revuelto, Lamborghini rolled out a one-off example prepared by the Ad Personam personalization division called the Opera Unica, which is Italian for “unique work.” That “purely artistic” exercise of Ad Personam’s capabilities, fittingly launched during Miami’s Art Basel show, required 435 hours to paint the bodywork and another 220 hours to paint and stitch the interior. Nine months later, a second Revuelto Opera Unica stays closer to Lamborghini’s home, being inspired by the coastline of Sardinia and revealed at the island’s Hotel Cala di Volpe. The resort lies on the island’s Emerald Coast, and while emerald gems run from yellow-green to blue-green, Lamborghini artists emphasized the blue for this Revuelto, using brushes, trowels, spatulas, and more by hand to complete a 475-hour paint job.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann said, “This Opera Unica takes our creativity a step further, demonstrating paint techniques and interior finishes that are reserved for Opera Unica one-offs, presenting a truly unique art-piece reflecting the distinctive seascape and emotions of Italy’s most beautiful island destination.”

Outside, Nero Bocca paint provides the canvas, complemented by the carbon splitter and sills, and wheels in Shiny Black with Diamond Polished Altanero. From there, a Light Blu Tawaret base blends with an even lighter Blu Cepheus, Blu Okeanos, sometimes to suggest waves, sometimes as a gradient, sometimes with sharp separation following the vehicle lines.

The automaker didn’t say how long the craftsmen spent on the interior, only noting that it took 85 hours to make the tool required for the embroidered accents on the seats. Thread colors in Blu Amon, Blu Cepheus, and Bianco Leda are meant to suggest waves and wash against the primary cabin colors of Blu Delphinus and the lighter Blu Amon. Even the start button gets in on the wavy look, a Blu Mira Carbon plaque on the rear bulkhead acting as a signature for the artwork.

It’s business as usual for the gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain, a new 6.5-liter V12 working with three electric motors and a 3.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack to make 1,001 horsepower and 793 pound-feet of torque. And as with the last Opera Unica, we’re not sure where this one will end up. But now that you’ve seen (again) what Ad Personam can do, there’s no reason you can’t commission a V12-powered postcard of your own.

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August 2, 2024 / Comments Off

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Maserati bringing racing-inspired, MC20-derived model to Pebble Beach

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August 1, 2024 / Comments Off

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Pagani Utopia Roadster keeps the stick and the V12, loses its top

There’s more to the Pagani Utopia Roadster than its name suggests. Although it’s indeed a convertible variant of the Utopia, which made its debut in 2022 with a twin-turbo V12 and a seven-speed stick, it benefits from advanced weight-saving techniques and rides on talking tires.

While the roof-less versions of the Huayra and the Zonda were developed after the coupe models, the Utopia was designed with coupe and Roadster body styles from the get-go. The two models look pretty much alike from the rocker panels to the beltline, and both use butterfly-style doors. Above the beltline, the Roadster gets a look of its own characterized by a composite panel that integrates a window and roll hoops. It comes standard with a removable hardtop that can be placed on a stand and a removable soft top that can be folded and stored in a suitcase-shaped storage bag located behind the seats. Pagani notes it integrated a window into the hardtop to let light into the cabin.

Broadly speaking, a convertible weighs more than its coupe counterpart due to the reinforcements required to maintain structural rigidity. Pagani broke this rule: The Roadster tips the scale at 2,822 pounds, so it weighs exactly as much as the coupe. The company explains that it pulled this off by using no less than 40 formulas of weight-saving composite materials. Carbon fiber played a significant role, of course, but the brand also used Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62. The monocoque was notably entirely redesigned for added rigidity.

Like the coupe, the Roadster is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter V12 built by Mercedes-AMG and rated at 864 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. “No heavy batteries, no hybrid system, just the wonderful roar of a V12 engine,” the Italian company proudly points out. The 12-cylinder spins the rear wheels via a seven-speed manual transmission that’s linked to one of the coolest shifters we’ve seen in recent memory. Alternatively, an automatic transmission that can be controlled using a pair of steering wheel-mounted shift paddles is available.

Speaking of the steering wheel, look closely and you’ll notice it’s a work of art. Pagani starts by feeding a 94.8-pound block of metal to a five-axis milling machine that works continuously for 28 hours to make the part. That’s why the rim, the spokes, and the hub form one piece. The final part weighs just 3.5 pounds, and Pagani says the discarded 90 or so pounds are recycled in other industries rather than thrown away.

Pagani stresses that it will put a big focus on its customization program, which allows buyers to choose from a nearly endless selection of interior colors and materials. While coupe buyers can configure a one-of-a-kind as well, the company expects this service will be particularly popular among Roadster buyers because the interior will be easier to see. Additionally, every Utopia Roadster will come with two matching suitcases made with leather-upholstered carbon fiber. They’re designed to neatly slot into compartments on either side of the engine.

Cyber Tyre technology developed by Pirelli creates a link between the car and the road. These tires feature sensors on the inner part of the tread that communicates details about road conditions to the car’s driving aids, such as the ABS, the ESP, and the traction control system.

The Pagani Utopia Roadster will make its debut during Monterey Car Week in August 2024. Production is limited to 130 units (versus 99 examples for the coupe), and each one is priced at €3.1 million, which represents approximately $3.3 million at the current conversion rate.

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July 31, 2024 / Comments Off

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Koenigsegg Gemera goes V8-only due to low take-rate for three-cylinder

It’s been more than four years since Koenigsegg debuted the Jesko and Gemera just ahead of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. The Gemera was the first home for a few of Koenigsegg’s pet projects, a hybrid powertrain based around a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter three-cylinder dubbed the Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG). The engine featured cam-less Freevalve technology and was assisted by three electric motors. The Swedes claimed a combined 1,676 horsepower and 2,581 pound-feet of torque — 592 horses and 443 twists from the TFG — and a zero-to-62-mph sprint in 1.9 seconds. Those three e-motors, one on the crankshaft and two at the rear, helped deliver all-wheel drive, all-wheel torque vectoring, and all-wheel steering.

And it’s all gone. Not the Gemera, but the Tiny Friendly Giant. Two years after the Gemera appeared, Christian announced that the automaker found a way to fit the Jesko’s twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 into the Gemera’s tighter bay. Once that happened, Koenigsegg said most customers switched to the V8 — reportedly a $400,000 option. “There were so few left that asked for a three-cylinder,” he said, “we managed to convince almost all of them [to go for the V8 instead]. So for the time being, it [the Gemera] is V8 only.

We could frame this as conservative buyers rejecting ingenious novelty, but that wouldn’t be true. This is buyers giving up one ingenious novelty for another ingenious novelty with more familiar bragging rights. See, to get the Jesko’s V8 to work, Koenigsegg engineers redesigned the castings, heads, intake, exhaust, and sump. They shelved the direct-drive transmission from the Regera they’d originally fitted, and created what they call the Light Speed Tourbillon Transmission (LSTT). This was an evolution of the nine-speed direct-drive Light Speed Transmission developed for the Jesko, but smaller, lighter, better. Then the whitecoats created a new six-phase e-motor to replace the original trio of three-phase Quark e-motors that had been paired with the TFG. This one motor to rule them all is called Dark Matter, designed as a blend of radial flux and axial flux topologies called “raxial.”

In the original powertrain, two of the Quark motors on the rear axle could each make a maximum 500 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, the third Quark on the crankshaft made 400 hp and 369 lb-ft. Their combined output when working together rang in at 1,100 hp.

The Dark Matter makes 800 hp and 922 lb-ft. Pairing a single Dark Matter with the LSTT makes the TFG powertrain lighter and smaller again, after the transmission gains, further improving acceleration and performance. New control logic means the Dark Matter can drive the Gemera on its own, the TFG can power the car, or both can be called to action. And the fastback sedan retains its all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and four-wheel torque vectoring.

With the hybridized V8, final output comes to 2,268 hp and 2,028 lb-ft. of torque — 600 more horses but 553 fewer torques than with the TFG. So we can’t be mad at buyers.

We would love to see Koenigsegg fit two Gemeras with these respective powertrains to gauge performance. One day, it might happen, Christian telling TG the TFG tech “is still interesting, we’re still working on it…. We might eventually do it in the Gemera one day in some version, but it just took over with the V8. I understand that.”

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July 29, 2024 / Comments Off

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Ferrari F250 prototype caught prowling Maranello

We’re not sure Ferrari’s coming hypercar will be called the F250, but that name has the short odds. What’s almost certain is that the car we’re going to call the F250 for now will break the 1,000 Imperial horsepower mark. Short money also says there’s a modified version of the hybrid twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 from the 296 GTB behind the cockpit, another reworked version of that mill powering the 499 Hypercar that Ferrari races in the World Endurance Championship. In the 296 GTB, the powertrain makes 819 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque, 654 of that coming from the internal combustion engine. However, since the hybrid V8 powertrain in the SF90 makes 986 hp and 590 lb-ft, that’s the real benchmark. Don’t expect a great deal of sound from all that fury in the F250; unless Ferrari’s drastically altered the exhaust setup, during testing at Fiorano last year the hypercar emitted the equivalent of an urgent whisper by Ferrari standards.

Speculated performance says 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds, and a top speed of more than 217 miles per hour.

Spy shooters are still tracking the remarkably low-slung coupe doing rounds in the Maranello region, the prototype finally shedding enough camo that we can make out some of the lines. The way the doors cut into the roof leads us to believe we’ll see the same mechanism as used on the Enzo and LaFerrari. Based on how many air passages and flics designers made integral to the bodywork, this one’s going to be an aero specialist, active elements including a rear wing that rises and can dramatically change its angle of attack.

The sports car maker told company investors that production numbers would “be limited to far less than 5% of total volumes.” With a 2023 global sales tally of 13,663 units, 5% comes to 683 cars. Unless the firm plans on selling a lot more cars this year, guesstimate production figures of around 599 F250 Berlinettas, roughly 200 Apertas, and perhaps 30 track specials would already be 250 units over the limit. Not that it matters. Potential customers have already been invited to a private reveal, every unit must already have a buyer’s name attached plus three alternates. Price is expected to surpass $2 million apiece, a debut should come late this year or early next.

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July 26, 2024 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin starts testing the Valkyrie AMR-LMH to prepare for Le Mans

Aston Martin has started testing the Valkyrie it will enter in the top categories of endurance racing in 2025. The company is working with an American team called The Heart of Racing to fine-tune the model, which is related to the limited-edition, V12-powered production car.

The car is called Valkyrie AMR-LMH to designate it as an entry into the Le Mans Hypercar (LHM) category. It’s shaped just like the street-legal model it’s based on, but it gains several features to make it quicker around a track, including a new body kit that includes a fin and a rear wing. Aston Martin also notes that it made changes to the carbon fiber chassis, though it hasn’t detailed what they are yet.

Power comes from a racing-specific, lean-burning version of the regular Valkyrie’s Cosworth-built 6.5-liter V12. The engine makes over 1,000 horsepower and revs to more than 11,000 rpm in its standard state of tune, but here again changes were made for homologation reasons.

Race car drivers Darren Turner, Mario Farnbacher, and Harry Tincknell are part of the team that started testing the Valkyrie AMR-LMH on the track. The testing phase started on the Silverstone track in England, and it will expand to other circuits in the coming months. Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing hope to finish homologation this fall, and the Valkyrie will race for the first time in early 2025.

Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing will enter the Valkyrie AMR-LMH in two series: the FIA’s World Endurance Championship and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. That means the model will be eligible to compete in numerous races including the Rolex 24, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 6 Hours of Fuji, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aston Martin hopes to earn its first overall win at Le Mans since 1959.

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July 22, 2024 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Huracan’s successor shows its details in new spy photos

The Lamborghini Huracán’s successor is coming in hot with a reveal set to take place during Monterey Car Week in August. We already have the full download on the PHEV powertrain that you can read about here, but now a new set of spy shots provides us with the best design preview yet.

All of the spy photos of this new Lambo so far have shown it with coverings over openings and far more trickery to its finer edges than this latest set. Finally, we get a chance to see this mid-engine supercar’s true shape. Its headlights are fully uncovered and are essentially slits in the front bumper. The shape of the central intake in said front bumper is shown here with massive openings for cooling. Plus, some funky hexagonal running lights are visible in the lower side air intake openings.

This Lambo’s side view is predictably full of sharp creases and funky shapes. Even the rear fender’s air intake features some funky slats in them to add even more drama to the design. The openings in both rear fenders to feed air into the engine bay are huge and should help to keep the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 fed.

Around back, Lamborghini has done away with its shrouding of the taillights and given us an even better view of the spicy rear end than before. The chopped rear bumper behind the tires makes for a very aggressive aesthetic. Meanwhile, the huge rear diffuser and lower light integrated into it just screams race car. Its high-mounted exhaust is reminiscent of the Revuelto, which can be said for a number of the styling elements around this Huracán successor. Lastly, we’ll point out the hexagonal LED taillights that are now plenty visible and no longer hiding behind large strips of camouflage.

Look out for the full details on this Huracán successor in about a month’s time, as Monterey Car Week is just around the corner.

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July 18, 2024 / Comments Off

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