The New Generation of 3

2012 BMW 3-Series F30 (Courtesy of BIMMERPOST)

It looks like the BMW 3-Series is gonna get a serious makeover for 2012, following the lines of its big brothers, the 5 and the 7. As you can see, it has taken a much more aggressive look, but still flaunting that entry-level, sporty BMW style. As for power, there are two engines in store for the new 3. First up, for the 328i is BMW's new 240 horsepower TwinPower Turbo-4 engine used on the new X1 xDrive28i and the new Z4 sDrive28i. Next, for the 335i, or the possible 340i, there is the standard 3.0-liter 300 - 320 horsepower TwinPower Turbocharged Inline-6 engine. As for now, the F30 is still a work in progress, but BMW has told me that they'll be announcing the car this November in London, in connection with the 2012 Summer Olympics. The car will then make its official debut next year at Geneva with sales starting up soon after that. Oh, and don't worry coupe fans! The F32 is scheduled for release in 2013 along with the all-new M3. Stay tuned for that!

The Best of Italy...Sold OUT!!

2012 Ferrari FF

Looks like you're gonna have to wait a while in order to get one of these. Two of Italy's biggest motoring bombshells have been loved by the entire world that they are now sold out until further notice. First, there's the Ferrari FF, Ferrari's first all-wheel drive sports car. They managed to make this a hatchback with a 651 horsepower V12 engine, all-wheel drive, and a very pretty face. Well, if you've wanted this one, you'll have to wait for it. And he's not the only one.

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Yep! I am sorry to report that Lamborghini's all new Aventador is also sold out as well! Well, what did you expect? It's the raging bull the whole world was waiting for. Lamborghini's ultimate hyper-car has achieved worldwide fame through looks, power, and price. But, the best thing about these two supercars are they aren't limited like a Reventon or a Special Edition Range Rover. Ferrari and Lamborghini do plan on creating more in the near future. That should be good, right?

Guy in a Shed has Design Insight

2012 Gumpert Tornante

Well, he didn't design it, but you see what I mean. If you guys a familiar with Gumpert, you may know that they're known for making the Apollo, a street-legal hyper car racing machine. It had from 600 to 800 horsepower on a Twin-Turbocharged 4.7-liter V8 engine. Although it was fast, light, and very grippy, it wasn't that much of a looker. Well, Gumpert has fixed that with their newest creation, the Tornante. Clearly they didn't design it, that's why a lot of people didn't buy the Apollo. No, this time they got help from Touring Designs, and as you can see they have produced a fairly remarkable product.

Front View

It looks much better than the Apollo, by a country mile. And these good looks do translate into performance. The car features a new 4.2-liter Twin-Turbocharged 690 horsepower V8 engine connected to a 6-speed TT40e transmission with paddle-shifters, so expect this car to be doing well over 200 MPH. That's all the performance data I have for now, but I'll receive more in time. This is only the base model, by the way. Gumpert has announced plans to produce a faster, more powerful Tornante, and that ought to be good, since Apollo owners are right now crying for a Million-Dollar refund.

Brabus finally Get's It!

2012 Brabus 700 Biturbo

Ever since Brabus got a hold of the SLS AMG, they've respected it by only giving it a fair engine tune-up, a new body-kit, and very fashionable wheels. I know that sounds right, but Brabus has done much heavier stuff than that. For example, they took a regular C-Class, put in a Twin-Turbocharged V12 engine in it, and made it go all the way up to 220 MPH. Well, at Geneva, Brabus brought their SLS back, with a 700 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged 6.2-liter V8. That's the Brabus we know. Not only that. They've also fitted it with new exhaust manifolds, a new intake, and an entirely re-mapped exhaust system from the regular SLS. The engine is the same used in the regular SLS. Brabus just managed to put in two massive turbochargers in it, both spinning in the same direction. They've also fitted it with right-turning and left-turning exhaust for improved air-flow. All of this precise customization helps the SLS spread more fear to its competition with a 0 to 60 time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 213 MPH. And, once again, Brabus stands at the top of the tuner charts. 

Ice King Pt. II

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports ISR Edition

Here it is, Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Bentley's "coolest" Continental to date. Although, in my mind, it doesn't look all that different than the original Supersports. Anyway, the car will be available in Quartzite, Arctic White, and Berluga as seen above. As an extra, Bentley has added 10 more horses to this car giving it 631 horsepower from its 6.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged W12 engine. 0 to 60 is done in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 202 MPH. This car was made in honor of the world record set by Juha Kankkunen of taking a Bentley, like this one, to 205 MPH, on ice! No other car or driver was capable of achieving this great record. Only 100 examples will be made. So, if want a world record car, you better act fast.

A Purse with 4 Wheels

2011 Fiat 500 by Gucci

Sorry guys! This post is strictly for the ladies. So girls, how's about cruising around town driving your very own handbag? Now you might think this is crazy, but Fiat and Gucci have managed to make this possible. This special 500 Gucci Edition features all the luxurious amenities that you have in your Gucci handbag: luxurious Italian leather, sexy good looks, and pure Italian presence.  Plus, it's available in colors that will match your handbag. That's gotta be good, right? For the first time ever, you can look fabulous behind the wheel of your own handbag small car, of which you can store you phone in. Hopefully, you'll put it in a place you'll remember.

Green Rover

2012 Land Rover Range_E Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover has always been famous for producing gas-guzzling 4x4s, like the Range Rover. However, recently they've improved on fuel. The new Range Rover Sport has a re-worked V8 engine that produces less Carbon Dioxides than a standard V8. They've even introduced the Evoque, the first ever Range Rover with a fuel efficient turbo-4 engine. And now, unveiled at Geneva, we have this, the first Plug-In Hybrid Range Rover. They call it the Range_E and Land Rover does plan on putting this car into production. Right now, they're still testing it, but it seems that the tests are going well. Under the hood of this hybrid is a 3.0-liter 242 horsepower Turbodiesel V6 engine combined with a 69 kW, 93 horsepower electric motor. Altogether, that's 334 horsepower of diesel and electric power being sent to all four wheels. Unlike most hybrids with their CVTs (Continuously Various Transmission), the Range_E has an all new 8-speed ZF Automatic gearbox while the electric motor is fueled by a 14.2 kWh lithium-ion battery. With the diesel tank full and motor fully charged, you should be doing over 710 miles on one tank and one charge. That's very fuel efficient, seeing that my Range Rover can do only 300 miles on one tank of fuel. I hope this car works for Land Rover. It will change the way people think of the Range Rover.

Red is the New Black

2012 Pagani Huayra C9

Who would've thought that the Pagani Huayra would look even cooler in red? They really did pick an awesome color for Geneva. Anyway, Pagani's newest creation arrived here in Geneva looking quite awesome, as usual. The price for this car has been estimated to about $1.4 Million. That's more than twice as much as the price of the Zonda when it first came out. Mind you, they have done a lot of work on it to make it perform as good as it looks. But, the most exciting thing about this car is that Pagani have finally decided to bring their brand over to the U.S. So you can expect this car to rolling around Manhattan, Miami, or Los Angeles in the mere future.

Living the Legacy

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

The Lamborghini Murcielago left us with true Italian passion and perfection. Let's see if its successor, the all-new Aventador, can give us all of that and more. It certainly has given us the better looks and more power. The Italian passion will take some time to achieve, but quite frankly I believe it will achieve it no time. This car just looks fantastic, especially in white. Even though it's been seen by most of the world, when it made its official debut in Geneva, it was hailed one of the most impressive pieces of the show. Clearly Lamborghini had bigger pockets invested on this one. Check out the Aventador's big reveal here.

Fresh from the Stable

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Here it is, Ladies and Gentlemen; the official Official pics of Lamborghini's newest bull, the Aventador. Might I say that from every angle, this car looks absolutely monstrous! You just don't want to mess with it. Actually, if you do look long and hard, you may find that this car bares some resemblance to the Million Dollar Lambo, the Reventón, with F-22 Raptor-like sharp edges and dazzling design. And it's no different on the inside either.

Interior View

Look at this! Just spectacular! Who wouldn't want red leather seats in their F-22 Raptor Jet? Anyway, you might've noticed the new steering wheel. It actually features buttons for entertainment system use. Here's another view of it.

Central View

The console looks something from the future. Everything looks sort of cube-ish. You might've noticed the red latch near the entertainment buttons. In fighter jets, this was used to cover a big red button that would release a nuke or blow up Morocco or something or another. In this car, it's used to apply the handbrake (a very useful feature). The dashboard is equally useful.

New Tachs

The speedos and tachs are now much brighter and more colorful to keep drivers aware of what how fast your going or if you need gas in the next half-in-hour. As always, the Aventador features flappy paddles behind the steering wheel to operate Lamborghini's new and unique 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. 

L539 V12 Engine

And, of course, what good is the transmission without the actual engine. Lamborghini's new 6.5-liter V12 produces 691 horsepower which is sent equally to all four wheels. Because of this, 0 to 60 is done in just 2.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 217 MPH. Actually, the 0 to 60 time matches that of the new Nissan GT-R, but because the GT-R's gear ratios are much shorter and the engine is less powerful than the Lambo's, the Lambo will have it beat in the long run. 

They didn't forget the scissor doors

So, there you are: striking looks, new engine, faster speed, more technology, more agile, and strangely affordable. Obviously, you might've read my last sentence and said, "How is this car strangely affordable? It's $371,000. That's more than I make stealing Google accounts in Morocco." Ahh, yes that is the price, but this car has graduated from supercar to hypercar. Which means, it has the potential to take on the Pagani Huayra and even the Bugatti Veyron. These cars both cost, in essence,  $1.5 Million. Then, there's the hypercar it's predecessor failed to beat, which was the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition. Now, this car will run circles around it. Now, the SLR costs about $500,000. So, compared to all three of those cars, this is the bargain of the century. And, as always, what good is the car without the name, Aventador. Lamborghini normally names their cars after famous bulls from bullfights in Spain. Aventador was the name of a bull that was owned by Don Celestino Cuadri Vides. It was at the peak of its career in 1993 when it went toe-to-toe with a torero in Saragozza, Spain. Well, that bull can put a smile on its face, wherever it is, because his name has been put on the fastest and most powerful Lamborghini to date. Well done Lamborghini, the Murcielago can finally rest in peace. Here are some more pics.

Style and Power do Mix Pt. II

2012 Carlsson CLS

Brabus and Carlsson are always competing for the honor of best Mercedes tuner. Last time, I showed you Brabus' version of the all new CLS. Now, it's Carlsson's turn, and this is what they've cooked up. It looks rather stylish this car, with some luxurious amenities to go with it. The bodykit looks alright with a new front lip, sideskirts, and rear splitter. Carlsson didn't forget about power when dealing with this car. Back then, I announced the power packages for the diesel CLS. Now, Carlsson will be working with the most powerful of the class, the CLS63 AMG. The regular car has 550 horsepower out of a 5.5-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8. Carlsson is willing to take that up a notch allowing you to turn the boost up giving you 592 horsepower, about as much as the McLaren MP4-12C. This all sounds rather nice, but if you know Brabus, chances are that they'll do something much crazier than that. Anyway, look for this car along side its Brabus counterpart at Geneva tomorrow.

R8 Madness

2012 MTM R8 V10 BiTurbo

I'm going to introduce you to another insane tuner from Germany. They go by MTM and they specialize in tuning Audis. This is their newest creation, the R8 V10 BiTurbo. You can see that they've done some heavy modification to the body as well as the engine. A standard Audi R8 V10 produces 525 horsepower. MTM decided it needed lots more power. So, what they've done is they've put in two turbochargers and some modifications to the engine itself so it can produce what makes no difference 766 horsepower. That's more powerful than a Zonda R. 0 to 60 is done in less than 3.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of just 216 MPH. Of course with so much power, they had to think of a way to keep it all balanced. Well this is an Audi so, of course it has Quattro all-wheel drive. On the outside, they've fitted the car with 20-inch rims, very shiny chrome paint, a new front lip and rear spoiler, and a massive rear wing. The price: €400,000, and it will only be available in Europe. MTM had no plans of releasing this car over in North America. Anyway, this car is set to shine at Geneva this week. Check it out there.

Ice King

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible Ice Speed Record

Once again, an automotive world record has been achieved from the manufacturer you least expect. Bentley recently tuned their big and powerful Continental Supersports Convertible to be more aerodynamic than usual. It still has that big 6.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged W12 engine with 631 horsepower, but with a lighter body and more aerodynamic styling, this car was able to set a world speed record, on ice. Yep! Bentley still produces the fastest snow cars on earth. This one reached a top speed of 205.10 MPH! That's fast anywhere, but even faster on snow. This was such a triumph, Bentley even plan to produce a special edition to this car. Obviously it won't look like this with no headlights, mirrors, or actual wheels, but it will have the same Twin-Turbocharged engine, will come in three unique arctic colors, and, as usual, will have all the drinks-globe luxury you need. Only 100 will be made. Prices have not been announced yet, but they might be at Geneva, where this car will be on display.

Drop Top Bull

2014 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster (Rendering)

Well, the wraps of the Aventador have come off and the car is set for an official debut at Geneva. But, now that we've seen what the car looks like, it's time to see what its variants will look like. First up: the Aventador Roadster. A car rendering team known as Rendered Speculation were able to imagine what the car will look like topless, and this is it. It looks almost realistic. Who knows. Maybe they'll be spot on when the Roadster actually does come out a couple years from now. But for now, we'll stick to the coupe. TWF2CG2W7TYV

Source [Rendered Speculation]

De Tomaso Returns!

2012 De Tomaso SLS Concept

De Tomaso has been gone since 2002, and it was one of the most famous and most luxurious manufacturers in all of Italy, right behind Ferrari. The Pantera was there most famous model. Elvis had one and it was a very powerful and fast car. Well, I'm here today to tell you Italians and you guys that De Tomaso is back with more Italian Luxury. They're starting off with this, the SLS Concept Study (not to confuse you with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG). Now if you are a beemer fan, you may be looking at this and saying, "Hang on. This is just a 5-series GT with BMW crossed and De Tomaso written in crayon." You're right. De Tomaso did take a 5-series GT and added their own blend of Italian luxury and German science. Only this is much higher and looks more like a SUV/crossover than just a grand-tourer. The car will come with two engines: a 300 horsepower V6 and 550 horsepower V8, both engines sending power to all four wheels. Anyway, what De Tomaso has done is they've created a big, bulgy, humpback whale, and we're supposed to look at it like it's a good thing. But, that's my opinion. If you stand at the other end of the table and actually like this car, check it out more this week at Geneva.

Next To Best

2012 Koenigsegg Agera R

It seems the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport has become the target to beat for the mantle of fastest car in the world. Shelby Super Cars is right now working on their Veyron killer, but Koenigsegg, as always, came up a bit short. But hey! It doesn't matter, because they end up looking good in the end, like this new one, the Agera R. Now you may remember the CCXR Edition, the fastest car Koenigsegg produced. It had 1,018 horsepower out of a 4.7-liter Twin-Supercharged V8 engine. This one has 1,115 out of an all new 5.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine, which is a lot, but is no match compared to the Veyron Super Sport's 1,200 horsepower engine. 0 to 60 is done in less than 2.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 260 MPH. Most of this car is made of Carbon Fiber and the roof is removable, as seen here..

It's a Convertible Now!

Pretty cool, huh? I recommend keeping the roof on though. At 260 MPH, your face just might be disintegrated. Anyway, prices have not been announced yet, but expect it to be in the millions. This will be a highly exclusive car. Check it out as it hits Geneva this week.

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Rise of the Aventador

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Jalopnik has some exclusive snippets of Lamborghini's new raging bull. Finally, we get to see the car in its entirety. Check them out and see if you like it.

Side View

Nose View

Source [Jalopnik, Facebook]

Style and Power do Mix

2012 Brabus CLS

Brabus finally got their hands on the sleek and stylish Mercedes-Benz CLS-class. As you can see, even when implying science and power, Brabus still make their silver arrows look nice, and this is no exception. Brabus will treat your CLS well with a new bodykit featuring new LED Daytime Running Lights, custom 20-inch rims, and eloquent leather interior stitching. Now, as for power, this is where Brabus excels. If you live in Europe and have the CLS250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, Brabus will add their ECO PowerXtra D4 Performance kit adding 31 horsepower to the engine, which will also increase torque to 413 lb.-ft. If you have the CLS350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, Brabuswill add their ECO PowerXtra DS6 plug-and-play auxiliary control unit, which can be installed in less than 45 minutes. This will increase power in sport mode from 261 to 313horsepower and torque from 457 to 509 lb.-ft. 0 to 60 will be achieved in just 5.9 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. So, with this car, you'll be able to look good, go fast, and save gas. That should be good. Check this car out at Genevanext week.

Twin-Turbo Goodness

2012 BMW Alpina B5 BiTurbo

BMW's new F10 M5 is almost here and there are a lot of people who can't wait for it. But, when it comes out later this year, and you think you can't afford it, BMW will have an alternative 5-series that you can enjoy. They call it the Alpina B5 BiTurbo and although it might not have as much power as the new M5, it's just as good. The 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine produces 500 horsepower. 0 to 60 is done in just 4.8 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 186 MPH. This sounds like a good car, right? But, what if you need something like this that will carry a months supply of groceries? Well, BMW has thought of that as well.

2012 BMW Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring

This is the B5 BiTurbo Touring. It has all the same statistics and features that the regular saloon has, except this has 5-doors and large trunk space. Unfortunately, to own this Über Wagon or the saloon, you'll have to have a big wallet and a house in Europe. BMW never planned to release the Alpina B5 over here in the U.S. But, do not despair. The Alpina brand does exist in America, in the body of a 7-series.

2011 BMW Alpina B7 BiTurbo

This executive sedan is for the man who wants his own "M7". It has the same engine as the B5, only with more luxury, better looks, more speed, and all-wheel drive. But, if you love the 5-series, the good 'ol M5 will be out soon, and that's more powerful and faster than the B5, so everyone's happy.

Ring-Leader

2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package

It's been a while since we've heard of this limited edition package. It was when the LFA first came out that Toyota said they'd be building a hardcore version of this. They even showed us a picture of it. Now, a year later, Lexus is ready to release this hardcore package to the public. Only 50 will be made, each costing $70,000 more than its original price of $375,000. So, what does this package entail? For starters, Lexus added 10 more horses to the engine to counteract the drag of the massive rear wing, front splitter, and rear diffuser allowing this car to stay planted on the road. Second, it won't just be available in orange. There's glossy white, glossy black, and the popular matte black, but that's a $20,000 option. Third, you can customize the interior colors in all black, black and red, black and purple, or, if your Prince, black and orange. Only the Europeans will have the option of having their interiors all carbon fiber. Fourth, buyers will have the option of getting some lessons from a 'Ring master, or 'Ring mistress (Sabine Schmitz), on how to navigate the 'Ring. Fifth, how's about a year's free pass to go crazy round the 'Ring anytime you want? Sounds good doesn't it? All you need is a check of $445,000 made out to Lexus and they'll do all of this for you. If your a matte black fan, you'll be paying $465,000.