Crossing Over to Formula One

2011 Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Edition

It's quite astonishing how much a young 24-year old German Formula One race driver has gained through driving with Infiniti and Red Bull. First, he won his first championship back in 2010. Second, he helped Kazunori Yamauchi develop the fastest ever race car in the Gran Turismo series. Third, he is the fastest F1 driver to do a lap on the Top Gear Test Track. And now, it seems he has his own branded car from Infiniti. Debuting this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show is the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Edition. Basically, what Infiniti has done is take a regular FX50S, and through some persuasion from young Vettel, added some engine upgrades, suspension upgrades, a new bodykit, fancy wheels, and better performance. Infiniti claims the crossover will do 186 MPH. That's as fast as Jaguar XKR-S. If it's that fast, then I won't be surprised to see either a 400 or 500 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine under the bonnet. There are two problems with it though: 1. It's not ready yet. 2. Infiniti plan on only making one. So, if you're interested in having a car by Sebastian Vettel, you may to wait towards the future.

Stuttgart Rights

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S (991) [Need For Speed: The Run]

It's really hard for me to say this quietly, so I'll come right out with it. Ready? Porsche will NOT be in Forza 4. Why? Well, let's say we have two people to blame. First, blame Porsche themselves. They are all about kids and young adults driving their cars in realistic or fictional racing games, but honestly, they don't really care. Next, blame the only company to have the rights to show Porsche virtually: EA. Porsche has been in Need For Speed since the beginning. And since then, the company has had exclusive rights to all of their cars, including the new 991 Carrera S, of which you see here in Need For Speed: The Run. Now, it is true that Porsche was in Forza 3 with the 911 GT3 RS, 911 Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, Panamera Turbo, and so on. But, EA prefer saving the best of things for themselves. Need For Speed Shift was actually the first official racing game to feature the top exotic manufacturers (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Pagani, Aston Martin, Maserati, and Porsche) [if you had an Xbox 360 at least]. Forza 3 was the next game to feature these same manufacturers. So, if you're sad that EA have the rights to Porsche, look at it this way. Ferrari hates Need For Speed as a whole and will only have their cars featured in their games if they improve their racing physics and put in realistic damage. Gran Turismo and Forza offer all of this, which is why they trust them. EA doesn't, which is why they don't trust them. So, in the end, you should be grateful.

Italian Compromise

2012 Pagani Huayra (U.S. Spec)

Huayra fans rejoice! Horacio has decided to respect the regulations set by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and spend $5.7 Million on an advanced airbag system. What does this mean? Well, the Huayra won't be here 'til 2013. But, at least it will be making sales here, in the glorious United States of America. It seems that there are changing winds these season.

The Wind has been Delayed

2012 Pagani Huayra (NA Spec)

It turns out that the rumors of the Huayra's airbags were true. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is currently blocking the Huayra from making it to the market due to its lack of the advanced airbags required on all new cars sold in America, which is quite a problem for potential owners, and Horacio Pagani himself. The company did request that the car be sold in the U.S. despite the fact that they did not have any financial resources to develop the required airbag system, but the administration denied this request. Why do NHTSA need this? To protect our kids from having serious accidents. But, honestly, what kid would ride shotgun with their dad in a car like this? I don't think their dad would even let the kid come near such a car. I see all this as a load of shenanigans. Unless their dad is a rich crack head and needs mental help, no kid should ride in this car unless their ready. Why? Paganis are crazy cars that pay immense attention to detail when it comes to design, power, and, most importantly, the road. A kid won't be able to understand these things until they're my age, which is about adulthood. I think the NHTSA should stop being whiney babies, open their eyes, and see that this car should be ridden and driven by experienced drivers/riders. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Pagani has two choices now: 1. Go back to the drawing board and spend another $5.7 Million to develop a U.S. spec advanced airbag system which could take more time and more money out of your wallet. Or 2. Skip out on this market again like the Zonda. I'd go with option #1 because we need Pagani to come our shores. Why? Just to get up in Ferrari's and Lamborghini's faces.

A New Wind has Come

2012 Pagani Huayra (U.S. Spec)

Some say that due to an airbag fault, it wouldn't arrive here til 2015, and that the equipment inside it was deemed unsafe by U.S. Regulations. All we know is, it's here, it's been approved by the U.S., and they're accepting pre-orders. Pagani's newest supercar, the C9 Huayra, has officially arrived in the U.S. The car made it's official North American debut here in Pasadena, California, at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design. Why bring Pagani over here? Well, the CEO, founder & owner of the automaker, Horacio Pagani, said that it wasn't for the lack of customers over in Europe. Trust me; there have been many wealthy Americans who've always wanted to add a Pagani to their collection, but unlike most supercars, Pagani isn't in a rush to expand its market. Also, unlike most supercars, the Pagani considers the Huayra a very sophisticated car. So, customers won't only get their supercar. They'll also receive super attention, service, and pampering, all of which the staff is ready to provide. Of course, this means customers won't receive their cars for a while, even after models start selling at the end of 2012. Horacio says that customers must be attended to before orders from new markets can be handled. As of now though, the car is in huge demand in North America, and outside of the continent, so let's see if this works for Pagani. As for the car, each customer will be overjoyed when they receive their copy of this fantastic looking car. Under the hood is a 6.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged 730 horsepower AMG V12 engine. Pagani say it will do 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds flat on its way to a top speed of 230 MPH. Sounds quick, but is it better than it's closest rival from Lamborghini: the Aventador LP700-4? We'll just have to find out.

Welcome to the Family!

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-door Dynamic

So, today I stopped by Ray Catena Land Rover where they were throwing a big welcoming party for the newest member of the Range Rover family: the Evoque. When I first heard of it, I thought, "Well this car can't be an addition to the Range Rover line. It's small and there's no 5.0-liter V8 under the bonnet." After receiving a tour of the car from one of the people who helped design the Rover Evoque who came all the way from Northern England, I've finally realized why it doesn't need a V8. It has enough power as it is. All Evoques, Coupe or 5-door, are powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo-4 engine producing 240 horsepower, about as much as the Acura RDX. Don't think for minute that this is a terribly slow car. It will do 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds. That's 0.1 second faster than the standard HSE Range Rover/Range Rover Sport. It's also more fuel efficient than the big Rovers with an EPA estimated 28 MPG. It's also the cheapest of the big Rovers with prices starting at a reasonable $43,000. With that, you get Satellite Navigation, Bluetooth, iPod/USB docking, comfortable leather seats, a 380 to 825 watt Meridian 11 speaker sound system with subwoofer (get ready DJs!), and a full panoramic roof. The Evoque comes in 3 flavors: Pure if you want something basic, Prestige if you're looking for a little more umph in your physical presence, and Dynamic if you're just seeking to wow the crowd. I'd go with Dynamic since it's the best looking. Another brilliant option that's been on the big Rovers for some time: surround camera system. I got my first glimpse of it while sitting in the Dynamic Evoque Coupe. Basically, there are 5 cameras all around the car: 2 on the front bumper, one on each side mirror, and the traditional reversing camera. So, in the main menu of your center console, you can pull these cameras up to see the world around you. It's like directing a film without the overly expensive equipment. Simply fantastic! So, there we are; the newest addition to the Range Rover family looks and is equipped brilliantly. The remaining question: does it drive like a Range Rover? I'll find that out later. Stay tuned!

Get a Head Start

Camaro ZL1 vs. Aventador LP700-4 (Need For Speed: The Run)

It looks like the car list for Need For Speed: The Run is actually quite good for Black Box Studios game. None of the old originals like the Camaro Concept or the Mustang GT are there. Most of these cars are completely new cars or cars that we just haven't seen before, like the BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution, Ford Mustang Boss 302, BMW M3 E92 GTS, and dozens more. Well, three additional cars have just been introduced into the game, and they're all from 2012. First up, there's the newest Bull in the Italian Penn: The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. This is actually its official gaming debut. With it's new 6.5-liter hand-built V12 engine churning out 691 horsepower, it will 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 MPH. It's actually faster around the Top Gear test track than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Next up, another gaming debut from chevrolet: the Camaro ZL1. With it's 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower, it will do 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds and hit a possible top speed of 200 MPH. And last, but not least, an NFS exclusive: the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S. This is the new 991 set for it's official debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It seems that EA's already got their first look at it without the coverings. The car will supposedly have up to 400 horsepower on a new 3.5-liter Flat-6 engine. Among the three exclusive cars, there are 5 extra challenges in the career mode. Three of them were made especially for NFS Most Wanted fans. You'll be behind the wheel of the BMW M3 GTS Most Wanted Edition and Razor Callahan's Mustang Boss 302 as you speed down the highway evading the police as much as you can. I'm really excited for this game. It might be a hit! Check out the exciting trailer below.

Update: Just in case you were wondering the difference between the regular box and the limited edition box, here's the regular:

Regular Box

and here's the limited edition box:

Limited Edition Box

As you can see not only is there a somewhat different angle to the helicopter shooting down on Jack, but this time, he's driving a $387,000 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 instead of an 800 horsepower GT500 Super Snake.

The Civic Loses it's Charm

2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan

I wouldn't have one of these in a million years, and apparently, neither would Consumer Reports. For the last couple of years, the Civic has always been a must buy for readers of the Consumer Reports, but this year, it seems that the editor wants their readers to buy a Kia Forte, a Ford Focus, a Chevy Cruze, a Fiat 500, a Nissan GT-R; pretty much any car other than this. How bad has this car become? Well, the last one which looked decent received a score of 78. This new one with it's weird curves and crooked lines took its score down 17 notches to a disappointing 61, casting it out of the Consumer Reports recommended cars list along with the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Mazda 3. Unfortunately, they're not gonna get any luck with me. It's by far the ugliest Civic I've ever seen. Honestly, they should've left the design alone. It looked better before this horrid redo. So, if you've bought a new Civic, shame on you! You could've done much better with an older one. Or better yet, if you want a good looking, fuel efficient, cheap compact car, I'd get either a Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, or a Fiat 500. Those 3 are the best looking small cars in this day and age. Honda's really going down a steep hill with their failures. First it was the CR-V, now, it's this. If only the S2000 came back.

Fastest Caddy in the World?

2012 Hennessey V1000 Twin Turbo

It could be! If Mercedes-Benz ever hands their new C63 AMG Black Series (or even the regular C63 AMG Coupe) to Brabus, they might as well fit in a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V12 with 800 horsepower in order to compete with what Hennessey is cooking up. Basically, Cadillac sent their CTS-V Coupe over to them. With the car in their garage, they replaced the brilliant 6.2-liter 556 horsepower LSA V8 engine with a insane 427 cid 7.0-liter 1000 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine with 950 lb.-ft. of torque. They suspect the car to do 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 230 MPH, making it the fastest Cadillac in the World. Let's not forget that the regular CTS-V only costs $63,660 but will do up to 200 MPH if you give it a long enough runway. Even those upgrades are about 2% of the complete conversion of the car from a performance coupe to a Twin-Turbo supercar. Here's the complete list:

Power:
• 1,000 bhp @ 6,400 rpm
• 950 lb-ft torque @ 4,000 rpm

Acceleration:
• 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
• 1/4 Mile: 10.9 @ 136 mph
• Top Speed: 230 mph

V1000 Twin Turbo Upgrade Includes:
• 427 cid LS V8 Engine
• Forged Low Compression Pistons
• Forged Steel Connecting Rods
• Callies 4340 Forged Steel Crank
• Balanced and Blueprinted Rotating Assembly
• ARP Main Studs & Head Bolts
• High Flow Cylinder Heads
• Hennessey V1000 Camshaft
• Upgraded Fuel Injectors
• Upgraded Fuel System (Includes Lines, Rails & Pump)
• Twin Ball Bearing Turbochargers
• Dual Wastegates
• Electronic Boost Controller
• Stainless Steel Piping and Exhaust
• Air-to-Air Intercooler
• High-Flow K&N Air Filter
• 160 Degree Thermostat
• Professional Installation
• HPE Engine Management Calibration
• Dyno Tuning & Road Testing
• Hennessey Exterior Badging
• Serial-Numbered Dash & Engine Plaques
• 1 Year / 12,000 Mile Limited Warranty

REQUIRED TRANSMISSION UPGRADE:
• Manual: Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch Upgrade
• Automatic: Performance Build & Torque Converter Upgrade

Braking:
• Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brake Upgrade
• 15.1 inch Carbon Ceramic Rotors (Front & Rear)
• Calipers: 8-Piston (Front); 6-Piston (Rear)

Wheels & Tires:
• Hennessey Monoblock Wheels
• 20x10 inch (Front); 20x13 inch (Rear)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
• 275/30YR-20 (Front); 345/30YR-20 (Rear)

Suspension:
• Lowered 1" (Front & Rear)
• Factory Magnetic Ride Control Tuned by John Heinricy

Body:
• CarbonAero CTS-V Widebody Upgrade
• Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
• Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
• Carbon Fiber Front Fenders
• Carbon Fiber Extractor Hood
• Carbon Fiber Rear Fender Flares

Interior:
• Alcantara Headliner
• Carbon Fiber Door Sills
• Upgraded Leather & Stitching
• Hennessey Embroidered Heardrests
• Hennessey Premium Floormats

And that's the list. Pretty long, isn't it? That's why Hennessey is only building 12 of these in real life, each costing way over $100,000. So if you're mad, and want one of these, you better call up Hennessey now!

Black Merc

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe

For a while now, I've described the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (coupe or sedan) as one of the sickest performance vehicles to ever come out of the skunkworks at AMG. So, if that's true, then the more powerful, much faster, C63 AMG Black Series, must be ultimately sick. Well, when I say that, I mean angry. That 6.2-liter AMG V8 produces 510 horsepower and will do 0 to 60 in just 4.2 seconds. That's as fast as a Jaguar XKR-S. Top speed: some sites say the car is limited to 155 MPH, but in reality, this car will do over 190 MPH. What makes this car better than the Jag is that it looks so much cooler, even though it looks mad, it uses less power but is faster than the Jag which should be good at the pumps, and it'll be less expensive than the Jag when it goes on sale early next year. So it might be a little greener than the Jag, but that doesn't mean it isn't at all angry. Below is the sound capture done by Road & Track of the car taken at the Nürburgring when it was first unveiled. Just by listening to the heavy 6.2-liter V8, you'll be certain that this car will eat Toyota Prius's, Honda Insights, G-Wizs, or any other slow electrical nonsense that it could come across.

How Not to Disguise Your New Cars

2012 Porsche 911 (911) (Courtesy of AutoBlog)

Honestly, Porsche; not the best way to hide your new 911, cuz that looks so weird? Anyway, this is the redesigned 911 which will be unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, well when I say redesigned, I mean facelifted. The car will feature a new 3.4-liter 350 horsepower Flat-6 engine as a base, and the new 7-speed manual gearbox may come as an option in later, but as for now, this is much 911 as you'll get til September comes. As for me, honestly speaking, they could've just put opaque plastic over it. That way the car wouldn't look like a disoriented bug as it does now.

The Veyron Killer? I Don't Think So.

2012 Shelby Supercars Tuatara (Courtesy of Jason Tang)

We might've lost the Women's World Cup to Japan (who actually needed the win), but we're determined to be the #1 country of speed. You may remember the last time Shelby and Bugatti faced off. Back then, it was the Veyron and the Ultimate Aero. While Veyron only made due with 252 MPH, the Ultimate Aero soared off with 256 MPH making it the fastest car in the world, even though it was much uglier than the Veyron. Now, it's the Veyron Super Sport vs. Shelby's newest creation, the Tuatara. The one thing I like about this car is that it looks like it will go very fast. If you look at it from a side angle, like so...

Side Angle (Courtesy of Jason Tang)

...it looks like a streamlined jet. And the front looks much better than that oblong mess that was here when the Veyron 16.4 was still around. But, as the new worldwide king of speed, I'd give it a thumbs down. I know Shelby have tried, but if I see that they've implied some science and pure engineering into building this car, I don't think they have what it takes to beat the Veyron Super Sport. And then there's the name: Tuatara. It might've come from a New Zealand lizard, or from their finest craft brewery, but it doesn't sound like a strong name that you would give to a hyper car (no offense to New Zealand of course). For example, Ferrari have the Enzo which sounds dashing and that's because the car is such a pantomime thing. Lamborghini have the Murcielago which is the name of a Spanish bull, and that name fits with that car. It's fast, it's dangerous, it's a screamer, it's mean, it's intimidating, and it demands a known presence: everything that a real bull does. Bugatti, obviously, have the Veyron, which is actually the last name to olden French racer Pierre Veyron, who was the fastest french man round the French circuit back in the day. That name fits with this car. The Veyron is undoubtedly the fastest car in the world leaving all of its competitors in Quad-Turbocharged dust. Shelby, on the other hand, had a whole book of names to choose from, even the "Ultimate Aero III", but instead they went for Tuatara, which is a New Zealand lizard. That name is neither intimidating or manly at all. Anyway, my point is, why settle for a car named after a reptile or a beer shop when you can go for a car named after one fast old french man. I'd go with that.

XKR-S vs. GT-R?

Nissan GT-R vs. Jaguar XKR-S on Top Gear Set

You better believe it! I, on the other hand, don't know how the Jag will keep up with the Nissan given it's acceleration time and grip advantage, but it should be something exciting to look forward to. Also, Mr. Bean, Johnny English, and McLaren enthusiast Rowan Atkinson will be the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car. Not to mention the team try to make train travel better by hitching carriages on the backs of cars. The new episode airs this Sunday at 8 PM on BBC HD and BBC 2.

P.S: Rumors have been running around forums and wiki sites that Mr. Big Brit, Simon Cowell, will be returning to Top Gear. Legend has it that he's posted one the fastest laps in both the Liana and the Lacetti. So expect him reaching the top in the Cee Apostrophe D, dethroning the Liverpool comedian, John Bishop. Also, it's official: Jeremy Clarkson will be driving the Jaguar XKR-S and the Nissan GT-R, but you can still vote and tell everyone who you want to be reviewing the cars.

Kitty Meets Stiggy

2012 Jaguar XKR-S

Jaguar has just confirmed that this Sunday's Top Gear will feature the new Jaguar XKR-S. The car is still the most powerful Jag to date with a 5.0-liter 550 horsepower Supercharged V8 engine. The XJ220 only had 542. It will do 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 186 MPH, but, with the limiter off, it will go much faster. So, we already know that The STIG will get his hands, or paws, or whatever he has, on the new Jag, but who'll review it? Obviously not James May since this car, quite frankly, is too fast for a man from 1949. Jezza could do it, but he just did a review on the brilliant McLaren MP4-12C. So, since Hammond hasn't done a review of a car on the track yet, it's most likely that he'll do it, but I may be wrong. What do you think? Check the poll on my Facebook page and vote.

DTM Revival (Part 2)

2012 Audi A5 DTM (Rendering)

More DTM madness out of Germany. Now that BMW's back in the sport, Audi figured it was time to show them who they were messing with. So, they released these renderings of the new A5 DTM. Built to replace the already steady A4 DTM, Audi says that this car will house a 456 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine, which is also being used in the A4 DTM. The renderings resemble the car before its facelift, but Audi says that come production time at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the model will closely resemble the new A5 which was revealed a couple days ago.

DTM Revival

2012 BMW M3 DTM Concept 

I honestly haven't heard the term DTM in a very long time. If you've never heard of this term ever, it stands for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters which is German for German Touring Car Championship. In the recent years, the cars used were mostly the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Audi TT, the Opel Astra, and the Audi A4. But, back then, when the sport was really big, BMW and Alfa Romeo were in the mix with the M3 and the 156 making the sport exciting and breathtaking. Well, BMW wants to bring the excitement back as they've recently unveiled the all new M3 E92 DTM Concept Racer. The car harnesses the same 4.0-liter 480 horsepower V8 engine used in the ALMS racing M3 GT and the FIA GT3 racing Z4. The top speed is believed to be at 186 MPH with a 0 to 60 of 3 seconds flat. It would be interesting to see how it stacks up against it's competitors from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The drivers of this car? A Brit (Andy Priaulx) and a Brazilian (Augusto Farfus). The 2012 season of DTM should be quite exciting now.

Audi Nip/Tucks Their Sport Coupe

2012 Audi S5

If you're an S5 lover, you'll pleased when I say that Audi have updated the car with a more futuristic look. Unfortunately, the handsome 4.2-liter FSI V8 has been replaced with a fuel-saving 3.0-liter TFSI Supercharged V6. So, it's not the most powerful S model in their line (333 horsepower) and because it's a heavy sport coupe, it won't be much faster, but Audi does say that they've lightened it so you'll still get power and more fuel, which should be brilliant. As for the design, the lines stay the same. Only the front and tail lights are different. The LED "jeweled eyes" seem to have been taken from the A1, though I maybe wrong. The tail lights, however, are definitely from the A8. Everything else on the car is exactly the same: same luxurious commodities, same sport-tuned suspension, same R-tronic transmission. Now, here's the catch. Audi says that the model that you see here won't be coming to America, yet. So, the bold 4.2-liter FSI V8 S5 with the be-spoke LED "Jeweled eyes" is here to stay for a couple of years. So, if you're in Europe and miss the V8 engine, you might wanna look into the American market, cuz it's here to stay!

2012 BMW 650i Convertible: First Drive

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

So, summer's hit full swing. Temperatures are reaching the 100s and above and there's no end to the heatwave in sight, that is, until September or October arrive. So, if you're the business type with millions of dollars at your disposal and you're looking into a comfortable and fast sports car, what do you do? Well, luckily for you, I'm here to help, with a little something from BMW.

Car Meets Art

I'm probably one of the youngest ever to test drive a $100,000 convertible, and fortunately for the company and myself, that's never happening again. Anyway, this is the 650i Convertible, a redesigned, re-shaped, sports convertible for those who love just spending money and driving something relaxing. I got my first look into it at Open Road BMW in Edison. Even in the pictures you see here, you can tell that BMW has done a very good job with it. It, quite frankly, looks absolutely fantastic. What's even better is that it doesn't use as much fuel as the old 650i. The old one had a 4.8-liter 360 horsepower V8 that inhaled fuel ever quarter-inch. This one uses a much smaller 4.4-liter 400 horsepower Twin-Turbo V8 engine from the new 7-Series sedan. And, since it's a smaller engine with more power, it won't need as much fuel as the big 4.8, however I would advise you to bring a $100 bill if you're buying gas with this car, just in case. It will do 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Now, you would imagine a big V8 like this one would sound like something out of a Chevy Camaro SS or, more relatively, the BMW M3 since it uses a non-turbo version of the same V8. But, strangely, it doesn't! It actually sounds like a Ferrari weirdly. I guess it's because the car features two turbos and a Ferrari sized engine.

Just Glorious

As a driver's car, this thing is fantastic. BMW has really spent some time working with the suspension and body to make this car as comfortable as anything. With the top down, this car is exciting. If you're a man, this is the perfect car to take your girly-friend out for a drive. As for technology, it borrows some from the Range Rover. For example, the new Range Rover line (including the Evoque) have cameras all around the car so that the driver can see if he's close to hitting a rock when he's off-roading. The 650i has this same system, only it's a bit different. There are two cameras on each side of the front bumper, a camera on each side mirror, and the traditional rear-view camera hidden behind the BMW badge at the back. Inside the car, you press a button allowing you to see what's coming out on each side of the road in the event that you're in a blind intersection. What's next? A car that uses cruise control, line radars, and bumper radars so that it basically drive itself? Yeah, I believe Mercedes is already working on that.

Glistening in the Sun

So, it handles well, it rides comfortable, has technology from the future, and looks beautiful. Any car with all these features must be quite expensive: and it is. The base price of this car stands at $90,500. The one I drove was available for $108,650. So, if you're a businessman or businesswoman, and like to get to places in a hurry, comfortably, and with the top down, the 650i Convertible is the car for you. Unfortunately, this is my last test drive of the summer, but don't worry. My next test drive: the new Ford Mustang GT 5.0.

No More Manuals

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

Take a good virtual look at it, cuz this is the last Lamborghini you'll ever see with a manual stick. Motor Trend recently sat down with Lamborghini's R&D Director Maurizio Reggiani and he told them that the manual stick doesn't seem to fit the future of Lamborghini.

"Basically, we want our cars to be fast, and the best way to deliver this is to remove the human element from the gearchange equation." - Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini R&D Director

The Gallardo's replacement, the Cabrera, is expected next year and will only be available with a 6 or 7-speed E-Gear similarly used in the Aventador LP700-4. So, with Lamborghini officially out of the manual business, does this mean the end for the hairy-chested stick shift? Not yet, at least that's what Porsche thinks. 

Porsche's 7-Speed Manual Stick

This is their new 7-Speed manual stick which will be available in the new 2013 Porsche 911 (991). They still believe the stick is alive, but that's just them. BMW's new M5 F10 will have a 6-speed stick as an option, but they'd prefer if customers bought it with the new 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission. Whatever the case may be, it seems that science has overtaken raw power when it comes to gearshifts and speed.

Back in Black

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

First there was the CLK63 AMG Black Series, which Jeremy Clarkson liked very much. Then, the crater-smashing SL65 AMG Black Series came along, which Jeremy liked as well, except for its ride and price. Now, there's this: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, and this is as good as it gets. Will Jezza like this one? Well, rumor has it that the car produces 517 horsepower out of its updated 6.2-liter AMG V8 engine. It also will do 0 to 60 in, say, 4.0 seconds and hit a top speed of 190 MPH. So, it has more power than the CLK63, accelerates almost as fast as the SL65, but, as for top speed, it's right in the middle. As you may recall, Jezza drove the standard C63 AMG Sedan in Spain while comparing it to the BMW M3 E92 and the Audi RS4. That car came in second. Now, with this new Black-ified version of the AMG coupe, it's rivals include the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Audi RS5, and, once again, the BMW M3 E92. Will it do better? Let's find out.