This new episode of Wide Open Throttle sees Motor Trend’s European Editor, Paul Horrell, heading over to Italy’s Nardo test track to check out Porsche’s 918 Spyder prototype. He also chats to the company’s Head of Research and Development, Wolfgang Hatz.
Utilizing a mid-mounted 4.6-litre V8 engine and a trio of electric motors, the 918 Spyder has an elephantine 574 kW (770 hp) at its disposal, allowing a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) of less than three seconds and a 326 km/h (202 mph) top speed.
As part of BMW M GmbH’s 40th anniversary, BMW UK is to build a M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition model.
Visually, the special edition is finished in Frozen Silver metallic paintwork and sits on 19-inch matt black alloy wheels. Other notable additions include Dark Chrome side gills, kidney surrounds and exhaust tips, while the bonnet intakes are painted Jet black. The company’s High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim package completes the exterior.
Moving inside, the seats are coated in Black Novillo leather with contrast stitching and Palladium leather armrests, with Alcantara used on the steering wheel. Carbon fibre has been used for elements on the dashboard, centre console and the plaque signifying the car’s credentials.
Mechanically, the Frozen Silver uses a revised DSC+ (Dynamic Stability Control) system and sits 10 mm lower than the regular M3 Coupe thanks to suspension that features a three-stage Electronic Damper Control, while power comes from that familiar 4.0-litre V8 engine which develops a healthy 309 kW (420 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) of torque.
Just 100 units will be built at an OTR price of £ 58,720, meaning that owners will receive £ 9,000 of extras for a premium of £ 4,000 when the car goes on sale on June 1.
Rastatt-based performance parts specialist ATT-TEC (Auto Technik Tuning) has created this BMW M3 project to highlight its wares.
Visually, for € 2,600.00, the E93 Convertible wears matte black wrapping foil on its body, with carbon-effect elements on the hood, grille, mirrors and side gills, while the factory wheels have made way for one-piece forged ADV.1 rims in a 5.1 design. Priced at € 7,150 for a complete set, they measure 8.5 and 11 x 20-inches and come wrapped in 245/30R20 and 295/20R20 Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta tyres. Helping to keep this M3 planted to the road is a KW Variant 3 inox-line coilover kit, which is adjustable for ride height, rebound and damping and will set you back € 1,929.
Beefing up the car’s 4.0-litre V8 engine, ATT-TEC fitted a SK I “Sporty Drive” supercharger system (€ 12,740) from renowned BMW tuner G-POWER, along with a remapped ECU and stainless steel exhaust (€ 1,595), resulting in a rise in output from 309 kW (420 hp) to 388 kW (520 hp).
These images of the new Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe have trickled onto the internet.
Due to make a relatively understated world début at the Transmission LA: AV CLUB art and music festival in Los Angeles before heading to Beijing, the Concept Style Coupe looks very much like a compact version of the CLS. Resting on a 2,699 mm wheelbase, the CSC is 4,637 mm long, 1,891 mm wide and 1,398 mm tall – almost identical dimensions as Volkswagen’s CC, funnily enough.
Rumoured to eventually bear the CLA title, power will initially come from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, developing 155 kW (211 hp), which will be mated to a 7G-DCT dual clutch automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, but we can expect more choices – including an AMG version – once it swings into production.
Utilizing the same MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel [drive] Architecture) platform as its A-Class sibling, the concept also clearly takes styling cues from the five-door hatchback, displaying a similar mix of fluidity and muscularity. We’re liking the aggressive radiator grille, c-shaped intakes, that glass roof and those 21-inch wheels – and love the fact that it features frameless side windows and has no B-pillars.
We’re told that there’ll be a price tag of around € 30,000 when it goes on sale, but please don’t ask us when that will be. Thank you.
The Supervisory Boards of AUDI AG and Volkswagen AG have today approved the acquisition of the legendary motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding SpA – for a reported € 860 million ($1.1 billion).
Founded in 1926 by Adriano and Marcello Ducati, the Bologna company initially made parts for radios before venturing into the motorcycle business in 1949. It currently employs 1,100 people and sold around 42,000 units last year, generating a revenue of € 480 million.
“Ducati is known worldwide as a premium brand among motorcycle manufacturers and has a long tradition of building sporty motorcycles. It has great expertise in high-performance engines and lightweight construction. That makes Ducati an excellent fit for Audi,” said Chairman Rupert Stadler.
Stuttgart-based exhaust specialist Eisenmann Gmbh has revealed its stainless steel system for BMW’s F10M M5 model.
Constructed from high quality, double-walled stainless steel, the exhaust culminates with quadruple tailpipes, sized either 90mm (3½ inch) or 102mm (4 inch). The mufflers are priced at € 2,975 and € 3,094 respectively, while the middle section retails at € 1,725. Eisenmann is also developing a unit in Inconel alloy; a lightweight material used in F1, which will undercut the factory exhaust by around 30 percent.