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.

Zagato Greatness

2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept

It seems that the V12 Zagato has attracted some aspiring Aston Martin fans. Of course, Aston Martin intended for this car to be a Nürburgring Endurance racer, in which it was. Both cars that ran during the 24 Hour event managed to finish without faults. Aston Martin was very pleased with this that they've decided to create 150 examples, each for £330,000. This will make it twice as much as the DBS, and almost three times as much as the V12 Vantage, even though all three have the same 6.0-liter 510 horsepower V12 engine. As a matter of fact, with the correct conversions, you might have one here in America for $500,000. That's quite expensive for an Italian V12 Vantage, so let's see how this plays out.

Fastest Saloon on the 'Ring?

2012 BMW M5 F10

It's possible, very possible! The M5 E60 put in a time of 8:13, putting it in with the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and the Ferrari 355 GTB. Now, rumor has it that the new F10 put in a lap time of 7:55, which is a second faster than the Chevy Corvette C6 Z06 and the Porsche 996 Turbo and 4 seconds faster than the Cadillac CTS-V sedan. This also puts the car up there with the Ferrari F430 F1 and the Caterham R500 Superlight. Remember, this is only a rumor! But, if it were true, this would make the BMW M5 F10 the fastest saloon to go round the Nürburgring. Sounds fantastic!

Sabine, Your New Taxi is Here!

2012 BMW M5 F10 'Ring Taxi

So, if you were watching the Nürburgring 24 Hour race last weekend, you were probably thinking to yourself, "Man! That is one intense track!" You're right! It is! Mastering the track takes days, weeks, or even months to accomplish. There are more than 150 corners you must conquer in order to completely dominate this track. That can take an awfully long time, but, thankfully, Sabine Schmitz will be willing to help you out. Known as the "Queen of the Ring", Sabine has been the official Nürburgring taxi driver for many years in a BMW M5, and she will be once again with the all new M5 F10. BMW personally took the car here to test the car's ride, handling, and power. It's been notified by many drivers as one of the best performance sedans ever. And now, it's gotten much better with a more powerful 4.4-liter Twin-Turbo 552 horsepower V8 engine which shoots the car from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190 MPH (limiter off). As usual, the car will wear the special M Power livery as did the old M5 E60. Only this time, Sabine will shed some seconds off her previous lap times in the old M5.

Twin-Turbo Cobra?

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 (Courtesy of AutoBlog)

It's possible! Why? Take a look at the intercooler hiding behind the grille. The only cars I know that have such an instrument would have an engine that's been turbocharged. And seeing that this is the GT500, I'm thinkin' two turbos would fit the bill. Don't panic Supercharger lovers. There are also rumors that an even bigger supercharger will be housed under the bonnet of the Cobra which will push the power from 550 to 620 horsepower. As for me, I'm just glad to see it hugging corners on the Nürburgring. That course is racing heaven. In order to master it, you'll need a fantastic car as well as fantastic driving skills. Since the GT500 came back in 2006, it's been praised for being a powerful car, but mocked for having stick-like handling. Now that it's on the Ring, this will give Ford the chance to make the car more grippy, less stick-like, and more refined. Hopefully, this car will beat the M3 GTS to the punch.

Captain, Your S7 is Ready!

2012 Audi S7 (Courtesy of WorldCarFans)

It would seem that Audi's done preparing the S7 for it's global debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show as it was seen not too long ago with no masking tape or covers on it at all. The S7 is the more powerful, more aggressive sibling to the very pretty A7. Under the hood, Audi says you'll find a 4.0-liter 435 horsepower Turbocharged V8 engine, the same one to be used on the new baseline Bentley Continental GT. With the help of the Quattro all-wheel drive system, Audi speculates that it will do 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Audi's been giving this car some very thorough tests to see if it's ready for some fast paced driving. It's been to the Nürburgring, where they honed in the car's weight distribution and speed. It's been to the Alps where they tested it's all-wheel drive system mixed with its sport-tuned suspension. After other thorough tests, Audi finally said,  "It's Ready!" Well, technically they didn't say it like that, but you know what I mean. Expect this car to be quite expensive, though, as the A7 3.0t already costs about $60,000. So if you like how it looks now, save up, cuz it's gonna get even more pretty.

Racetrack Beauty

2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato GT

It seems that Aston Martin wasn't fooling around when they said that it was going to be their newest race car. Last weekend, they took their newest creation, the V12 Zagato GT racer, out on the Nürburgring and put in some practice laps in preparation for the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race later next month. This is the second concept car turned racer to hit the 'Ring only to race at the 24 Hour event. The first, as most of you may remember, was the Lexus LFA. How will this V12 malarkey cope with some V8 and twin-turbo monsters in its way? We'll find out later next month when the race begins.

When Britain meets Italy

2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept

What do you get when you mix the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and the Zagato designer house together? You get my car of the week, which is the recently revealed Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept. Unlike the last Zagato, which was a road-legal DB7, this particular Aston is not for the road, so you won't be able to see it posing near some rich Italian art. But, you will be able to see it hit 200 MPH on the back-straight of the Nürburgring as Aston Martin plans to put this car on their racing team. This is both good and bad. Good because it'll be nice to see another race car from Aston Martin out there instead of the regular V12 Vantage and DBR9. Bad because this car is so gorgeous that I actually want one now. Strangely, the power output remains the same: 6.0-liter 510 horsepower V12. But, since it's lighter, it will do 0 to 60 in less than 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of about 200 MPH. But honestly, I really don't care about it's performance. It just looks very, very, very pretty. Today, the car took it's majestic stance at the Concorso D'Elegance in Villa D'Este, Italy and won the design award there on the spot, defeating all the Beamers and Audis that were there. It's sexy. It's fast. It's red. It's my car of the week!

The Ultimate Track Bug

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

What's it like to have a Porsche with the biggest engine the company has produced in it? Obviously, it's something very exciting. The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 features Porsche's 4.0-liter 500 horsepower flat-6 engine from the 997 GT3 RSR. 0 to 60 is done in just 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 193 MPH. Just because it has a big engine, doesn't mean it's gotten heavier. The car now weighs 2,998 lb., 33 lb. lighter than the standard GT3 RS, thanks to new carbon fiber buckets and some lightweight carpets. So, mix a big, powerful engine, with a small, lightweight body and what do you get? An extreme, superfast track car. It's already been round the Nürburgring with a time of 7:27, about as fast as a Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, but seconds shy of the old Nissan GT-R. Prices start at about $185,000 and only 600 will be made, so if you want one, get on it. If I haven't convinced you enough, check out the video below to see the car in action doing what it does best.

The Last of the 997

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Here it is everyone: the last of the 997. The all-new Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. What better way to end the run of an iconic exotic then with a powerful, lightweight, track racer. If you hated the red wheels on the standard GT3 RS, you'll be relieved to here that they're not there anymore. Also, Porsche made some tweaks to the body of the car to make it a little bit lighter, as if it was already. The car will come with new Carbon Fiber racing buckets, new lighter Fender Flares, a new lighter luggage compartment, and new "weight-optimized" carpets which brings the weight down to 2,998 lbs. Add Porsche's unique non-turbo 4.0-liter 500 horsepower flat-6 from the 997 GT3 RSR, and you've got a track racer that will do 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 193 MPH. The car will only be available with a 6-speed manual transmission along with the new iconic white paint, the massive rear wing, and some new carbon fiber air deflection vanes located on both sides of the front bumper for improved stability and more downforce. Porsche already ran this thing around the Nürburgring with a time of 7 minutes and 27 seconds, making it one of the fastest production cars to ever go round the 'Ring. The price for this curtain call: $185,000. And they're only making 600 of these so if you want one, you better be first in line. Oh, and if you're gonna miss the 997 don't worry. Porsche plan to reveal its replacement at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.

Shift 2 Unleashed Car Profiles: Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

This is by far one of the best cars you will drive in this game. It's the most expensive Japanese production car ever created with a base price of $375,000 ($250,000 in the game). It's the fastest production car out of Japan with a top speed 202 MPH. Most importantly, it's a Toyota. Ever since it was unveiled, the Lexus LFA has proven to be all that and more. I've only driven the car in real life and in Gran Turismo 5 and both test drives were very good. So, because of Shift's unmanageable handling, of course you would think that this car would be terrible in this game. Hah! Think again!

'Ring Thrashing

I gave this car a proper thrashing at the Nürburgring and found it quite surprising how it handles corners so gracefully. It's looks you don't even have to think about it. You do have to be precise though, or else it will eat you alive. But, because the car was mainly built from lightweight Carbon Fiber and Aluminum, it's quite dainty (3263 lb.) and stable for an FR (front-engine rear drive) car. In a straight line, with the Launch Control engaged, it will do 0 to 60 in just 3.5 seconds and hit 202 MPH. The brakes on this car are phenomenal. After just thrashing it around the 'Ring, I wasn't really getting tired at all. They are that good.

Highway Speeding

After I had fun on the 'Ring, I took it home to Tokyo to have more fun. I also entered it in a few races. No one, not even the those Turbocharged ricers could keep up with me. Now I have to compare it to the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, since I have driven it and it is the LFA's closest rival. Both cars have the same amount of horsepower, the same top speed, the same number of cylinders, and the same number of car reviewer praises. The only thing that makes the LFA much better than the Gallardo is that it's more exciting. The Gallardo has the grip, the power, and the goods, but after driving it for a while, you'll get bored. As for the LFA, you can drive it for 11 hours and you'll never get tired. And, since it's a rear wheel drive car, you can pull some insane drift angles with it. It just goes to show; rear-wheel drive is more fun.

Sexy, isn't it?

The LFA is a well-rounded supercar with a passion for perfection. If it wasn't so ridiculously expensive, it would've been the supercar of the century. But, since Lexus put in 10 good years perfecting this car, they call it their masterpiece, and only want the true and fortunate driving around in one of these. So if you're true and fortunate, and have about $400,000 to spare, you can hurry up and get a real one. Or, you can just buy Shift 2 Unleashed for $60.00, get this car, and start having fun in it in no time. Your choice.

P.S: I'd go for the second one ;-)

Breaking News: BMW Takes the Covers Off!

2012 BMW Concept M5 F10 (Courtesy of Jalopnik)

You've waited a lifetime for it, and now it's here. BMW have finally pulled the covers off the BMW M5. All those close to real renderings can be compared to the real thing. This is Germany's top sports saloon. Ok, enough monologuing. Time to get down to business. This thing packs close to 600 horsepower from a 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine. It's gone through some insane testing in the Alps, on German roads, and, of course, on the Nürburgring. It packs all those performance braun, and yet can still seat 3 kids, a wife or girlfriend, and yourself. Note that this is just a concept car, but don't deny the look. Some of BMW's concept cars, like the Concept 6 back in the beginning of the year and concept M3 a few years back, tend to look exactly the same when production time comes. BMW has already slated this car to make its production debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Get Ready for that. Check back here for official photos or check Jalopnik for their take on the car.

[Source: Jalopnik]

M3 GTS Sedan?

2012 BMW M3 E90 Lightweight Sedan

This is no April Fool. This lightweight M3 sedan will be coming to production and is slated to go between the regular sedan and the race-ready M3 GTS. Everything in the car has been tweaked for maximum performance, from the brakes to the exhaust. The power output remains the same though; 414 horsepower out of a 4.4-liter V8 engine. I haven't received word if this sedan will hit the U.S. market or how much lighter it is compared to the sedan, but we'll all find out in June when this thing makes its official debut at the BMW M-Festival at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. No fooling, this car is real and it is coming. 

April Fools from BMW

2012 BMW M3 Pickup

So, if you thought that I was fooling about the M3 Pickup truck, here's some REAL pictures of the car in REAL life. It's still BMW's April Fools joke, but the car is REAL. BMW claims that it's the fastest pickup in the world, even faster than the Dodge Ram SRT-10. The Ram will go up to 155 MPH. This topped out on the Nürburgring at 186 MPH. The 414 horsepower 4.4-liter V8 engine really does wonders for this truck. And, since it's 110 lb. than the regular M3 convertible, it will make much quicker turns. What's also interesting is that BMW actually put this truck in a wind tunnel and found out that it has the same drag coefficient of the M3 Coupe. And it gets better. You can drive this as a targa; the roof can be taken off, shedding another 44 lb. off the truck. So, it works, it looks cool, and it might the best M3 BMW has ever made. It's a shame that it will never be on public roads. But, BMW has told me that it will serve as the workshop transport vehicle for the M-Division. At least they found some use for it. Oh, and one other thing. You see that car under the wraps right behind the M3 Pickup? That's the 2012 BMW M5 F10 Concept. You've all been waiting for that, and BMW specifically said that they would not break their promise of showing that car to you today. Stay Tuned!

Crazy meets Crazier (Photos)

[Source: James Lipman]

Crazy meets Crazier

2011 Ferrari 599 GTO vs 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS (Courtesy of James Lipman)

How's this for a photograph? Two of the craziest supercars out there from Italy and Germany battle it out in the rain at the Nürburgring for crazy rights! The gray one has 661 horsepower out of an all new 6.3-liter Ferrari V12 engine. The latter has 620 horsepower out of an all new 3.8-liter Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6 engine. Both will do over 205 MPH and 0 to 60 in under 3.5 seconds. Both are extremely exclusive and cost over $300,000. Both have their own ways of approaching corners and leaving grins on drivers' faces after a few minutes of driving. Both are just absolutely bonkers!! Anyway, James Lipman recently posted pictures of these supercars on his website. I'll have them up here and on my Facebook page in a bit. Don't look for too long now. They might turn you into a speed freak!

Godzilla takes on the Ring

2012 Nissan GT-R on the Nürburgring

Godzilla strikes again! This time, he headed for Green hell to see if he could perfect his old lap time, and he did, by a measly 2 seconds! With a new time of 7:24.22, the 2012 Nissan GT-R is faster round the 'Ring than the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Enzo Ferrari, the Porsche Carrera GT, the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, and, get this, the Maserati MC12! It seems the extra power and less weight really paid off. Let's not forget that this car leaps from 0 to 60 in an astonishing 2.9 seconds! That's quicker than a McLaren F1. This car has really come a long way. Now it just needs to be faster so it can take its rightful place as Tokyo King of Speed. Take a look below to see Godzilla raging around the 'Ring.

Easter Comes Early

2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

It may be a crazy Twin-Turbocharged squashed beetle, but it's the most powerful Porsche and the fastest 911 ever built to arrive in America from Stuttgart. The first 20 people who pre-ordered Porsche's all new 911 GT2 RS were sent to Irvine, California to see them in person. It was a rather memorable day for them as they were able to put in lap times in their new German monsters around the El-Toro Air Station before unleashing their beasts on to public roads. It turns out, the 911 GT2 RS wasn't a mediocre project, something as simple as putting two bigger turbochargers and lighter material into an already crazy Porsche. Andreas Preuninger, Porsche High Performance manager and the man behind the engineering of the car told me that this car was actually 4 years in the making. In detail, Porsche engineers logged in over 435,000 testing miles and 80,000 testing hours developing this car, which included hammering it around the Nürburgring. The results are astonishing. The car now holds a record time of 7:18 round the 'Ring, almost as fast as the Gumpert Apollo S. So, it might be the craziest Porsche ever built, but it shows how dedicated Porsche is when it comes to engineering supercars. Check out the video below to see how the day went down in Irving.

NFS Goes Radical

2010 Radical SR3 RS (Shift 2: Unleashed)

Need For Speed has officially gone radical. When I say Radical, I mean they've introduced Radical into their line of cars in Shift 2: Unleashed. This Radical SR3 RS features a nerdy 1.3-liter Inline-4 engine producing 210 horsepower. But, since it's so light and nimble, 0 to 60 is done in just 3.8 seconds making this the quickest 4-cylinder car on earth. The top speed of this is about 150 MPH. Radical has been known for creating record breaking cars for the Nürburgring. In fact, this car's big brother, the SR8, set a time on the 'Ring of 6:48 making it the fastest street-legal production car on the 'Ring, right behind the race-ready Zonda R. It's nice to see a purebred racing machine hit the streets of NFS Shift. I'm surprised they aren't trying to make this into a Gran Turismo, because it looks like it's turning into that.

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.