VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Caught On The ‘Ring
Prototypes of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series has been spied here and there, but we’ve finally caught some video of the hardest SLS AMG the street-legal world will soon get to know.
No specifications have been leaked yet, but it is speculated to have a 6.2-liter V8, uprated to something beyond 600 horsepower from its current 563 through engineering and not forced induction. Car and Driver predicts the Black Series will lose 100 pounds or so.
SPIED: Tweaked BMW Z4 Spotted
BMW added the addition of a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four as a refresh to the peppy little roadster, but the BMW Z4 has been spotted and with some new tweaks.
Autoblog reports that, “The only camouflage to be found on this prototype are on the headlamps, taillamps, and spaces where the side indicators would normally reside. For its mid-cycle enhancement, BMW will be incorporating the side indicators into the mirrors, and the camouflage at the fore and aft light clusters suggests that some new lamps will be incorporated into the design. Don’t expect too much to change at the rear, but up front, BMW’s “angel eyes” will likely take on a similar (read: squarer) shape akin to what’s available on the new 3 Series, trimmed with LED eyeliner.
We won’t rule out the possibility of some powertrain tweaks or perhaps even some massaging to the front fascia, but until we have any sort of hard evidence, rest assured this German roadster won’t be changing too much in its current lifecycle.”
VIDEO: HEAR The All-New Porsche 918 For The FIRST Time
Hear the pre-production prototype of the upcoming 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder in ACTION!
That’s the sound of a plug-in hybrid driveline that mixes a 570PS (+562hp) 4.6-liter V8 petrol linked to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with two electric motors for a combined output in excess of 770PS (+762hp)… Not bad for a hybrid.
SPIED: 2015 BMW M4 Coupe (F82)
Lighter, faster, more powerful and more efficient than the current M3.
Rumor had it that the F82 M4 coupe had begun its public testing, and now that’s been confirmed by spies who spotted it for the first time in and around the BMW M Test Center at the Nurburgring!
Although the BMW prototype wears the typical mule camouflage, there’s still plenty to see. The camo mule caused little doubt that it is in fact the M version of the upcoming F32 4 Series coupe. Signature features could be spotted like the M quad exhausts, the flared fenders, signature blue M brakes, wide tires, and M6 steering wheel.
Specs
Exterior:
Front and rear fenders on the M4 coupe are significantly flared and stretched compared to the F32 4 Series prototypes
Rear flare is easy to spot, while the front is less conspicuous – a the gap in the front fender camouflage clearly shows the front fender as much wider than the rest of the side body.
Stretched fenders will accommodate a wider track for the M4 – vs the regular 4 Series
Sleeker version of the F30 3 Series front end
Sportier lights and grilles
M styled front bumper
Mirrors are from the F30 3 Series – for testing purposes only – final production mirrors will be sportier
Carbon Fiber Roof / Brakes
Interior
Shift paddles in the interior – optional or standard manual transmission
Steering wheel from the new M6
Powertrain
Powered by an inline 6 cylinder engine with multiple turbochargers
Engine output approximately 450 horsepower
Rumored reworked and reinforced N55 6-cylinder engine with a strengthened aluminium block with a heavily modified cylinder head
Induction technology will be completely new as will be the latest bi-vanos variable valve timing
The F82 M4 will most likely NOT be constructed extensively from carbon fiber (CFRP) as earlier reports had rumored. This next generation of M3/M4 had begun its development two years ago, which is said to have been too early to take advantage of BMW’s CFRP developments.
Even without the CFRP construction, the M4’s new aluminum chassis, and aluminum and reinforced plastic body panels will make it lighter than the current M3 sedan and coupe.
The 2015 BMW M4 Coupe is looking to be introduced no earlier than late 2014.
SPIED: Aston Martin’s New V12 Vantage Roadster
Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage Roadster was spotted in London with its top in action and what appears to be a new option – colored carbon fiber weave.
Jaguar F-Type Spy Shots
Jaguar recently confirmed that it will be debuting a production version of last year’s C-X16 concept car. The Jaguar F-Type (not to be mistaken with F Type), is expected to cost from around £50,000 and has a planned release date of summer, 2013.
Released at the 2012 New York Motor Show, the two-seater sports car has a new all-aluminum body and will be launched as a convertible rather than the traditional coupe.
A hard-top version will follow shortly after the soft-tops initial release.
Jaguar hasn’t released many details yet but we do know that the rear-drive sports car, codenamed X152, could have a hybrid setup and ‘push to pass’ power boost of the C-X16 concept car, but the technology is not ready yet and so it will follow suit at a later time.
Engine range is still unknown but will include units from Jaguar’s all-new engine family. It stands to reason then that the F-Type could feasibly include 2.0-litre turbo petrol – and maybe even a high-performance 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Manual and automatic transmissions are expected.
Jaguar has said that there will be four powertrains, including one that “at least” matches the performance of the C-X16. Acceleration of 60mph in less than five seconds and the F-Type’s top speed should be well over 180mph.
2013 (F30) BMW M3 Sedan Spy Shots
With a possible triple-turbo six-cylinder, recent spy shots of the F30 show the car in near-final form on the Nürburgring. Sharing its basic design with the new 2012 BMW 3-Series, the F30 looks complete with pumped fenders, quad exhaust tips, uprated brakes, and oversized intakes but unlike the current M3, it looks to lack the power bulge found on the hood. Could the new F30 be a six-cylander, down from a screaming 4.0-liter V-8 in the previous version?
Spy shots also suggest that the F30 will sport LED fog lights alongside the classic BMW ring-shaped headlights.
Let’s get down to power: The next-gen M Division turbo six range around 450 horsepower with a given inline six-cylinder layout. As of now, BMW is the only one that knows whether the F30 will feature two turbos or the rumored three. What is known is that it is said to be all-new and not an updated version N54/N55 that the current 3-Series has. Displacement is expected around 3.3 liters.
The 2013 M3 generation is scheduled to arrive around the end of the year.
Photos by Brenda Priddy & Company
2014 Infiniti Electric Vehicle Spy
As we’re seeing more and more electric vehicles coming to market, Infinity has jumped on the bandwagon too. The 2014 Infinity EV is a glimpse of the upcoming all-electric sedan.
Up until recently, sketches of Infiniti’s EV were the only thing in existence. The Infinity EV is a way to please the eco-friendly, complete in the Electric market with the Infinity premium badge strengthening Infinity as a manufacturer of luxury and high-tech automobiles.
Volkswagen XL1 Spy Shots
A little over a year ago, rumors were flying around suggesting that Volkswagen might actually build a production version of its Formula XL1 concept car for limited consumption. While most skeptics were quick to dismiss the nature of these rumors, the latest spy shots beg to differ. Volkswagen is indeed making progress on an actual road-friendly model of its 1.0-liter fuel economy XL1.
We still don’t know exactly what the specs will be for the production XL1. The Formula XL1 concept car featured a two-cylinder TDI diesel paired with an electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; averaging out to an astonishing 235 miles per gallon. The XL1 is about as long and wide as a Volkswagen Polo and should be ultra-light – the concept version weighed in at just 1,753 pounds.
Sleek and sporty aside, the XL1 production car will be limited to a stop speed of about 75 miles per hour, and that it’ll take 32 seconds to shoot from a stand-still to 50 mph.
