Tag Archives: sports car
3 Things That Make The 2018 McLaren 720S Pacific Theme Extra Special
The McLaren 720S was unveiled back in 2017 as a replacement for the 620S. Its aggressive design, luxurious interior, and the powerful engine have been the talk of the auto industry for quite some time. Since then, McLaren has become fond of introducing custom models by MSO division, starting with the Velocity Theme.
This August 2018, the Brits have come up with two mode special editions—the Track Theme and the Pacific Theme. Let’s look at the latter, which boasts of a stunning color and sophisticated luxury. But before falling in love with the Pacific Theme, we should warn you that this is only available in Scotland, where it was commissioned by McLaren Special Operations for McLaren Glasgow.
Cerulean Blue
If you think the McLaren 720S Pacific Theme looks stunning from afar, that’s nothing compared to when you’re actually looking at it closely. The car boasts of three special shades of blue, starting with Cerulean Blue that covers most of the body. This particular shade combines light and bright hue, which will remind you of the Pacific Ocean. It also helps the 720S stand out from the rest of the pack.
Estoril Blue
Most cars have black door inserts. What this theme did is to fit it with Estoril Blue elements. The paint is darker, giving a striking contrast with the fenders and the rest of the body.
Cobalt Blue
The third shade of blue is called Cobalt Blue, and it is actually a tint for the exposed carbon fiber. It’s a really dark shade and you will notice it painted on the front splitter, air intakes, mirror caps, rear diffuser, deck lid, rear bumper, engine cover, and roof. These elements are finished in carbon fiber.
The 720S Pacific Theme comes with a set of silver wheels and grey brake calipers. The silver, of course, works nicely with the bright Cerulean Blue.
Extra Power For 2019 Mazda Miata RF Means Price Increase
For months, we have waited anxiously for information about the newest Mazda MX-5 Miata for the 2019 model year. Little by little, we got details about the car’s 2.0-liter I4 that makes 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.
This increase in power (the current generation is 26 horses weaker) means an increase in price, too. The base model for the Miata RF will have a price tag of $33,240, including an $895 destination charge. That’s for the Club trim level with a six-speed manual transmission.
The price increase of $435 also gets a telescoping steering wheel, new door stops, updated cupholders and seat levers, standard rear-view camera, and 17-inch wheels. Reportedly, all of these are now coming as standard to all variants of the car.
The Club 6MT will have options such as Brembo brakes and BBS wheels for an extra $3,770, or the Brembo, BBS, and Recaro package for a cool $4,670.
On the other hand, the MX-5 Club with a six-speed automatic transmission will come with paddle shifters and sport mode for $33,840. This trim is not going to be available with the Brembo/BBS packages. The Club 6AT will, however, get the i-ActiveSense package option for $450. The package will include the Smart City Brake Support and lane-departure warning.
The Grand Touring trim will start at $34,230 with a six-speed manual transmission. This is $585 more than the outgoing model. For an extra $750, the Grand Touring 6MT can get the GT-S package that includes a front shock tower brace, limited-slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers, and a hand-painted black roof.
The Grand Touring with six-speed automatic gets a price tag of $35,305. If you want it with Auburn Nappa leather, that’s another $300.
The new MX-5 Miata RF is available in three premium colors—the Soul Red for an extra $595, the Machine Gray Metallic for $300, and the Snowflake White Pearl Mica for $200.
Will There Be a New Dodge Viper?
The Dodge Viper is probably one of the most iconic cars of our generation. With its production tracing back from 1992 to 2010 and then making a comeback in 2012, it was sad to see it go last year. So, during the recent interview of Fiat Chrysler Automotive CEO Sergio Marchionne, he was asked if there are plans to revive the sports car.
Based on Marchionne’s statement, the future of the Viper remains bleak. He said that the Viper cannot stand on its own because it needs to share its architecture. Then, it needs a platform specifically designed to house its American engine. Another factor holding back the return of the sports car was its low sales volume.
With that, the rumors about the sixth-generation Dodge Viper were doused. It was previously speculated that there were plans for the new model to ditch its V10 engine in favor of a new naturally-aspirated V8. The unit will be able to produce 558 hp for its base trim and up to 710 hp for its range-topping trim. Reports claimed too that the upcoming Viper will get a lighter platform, but it will retain its distinctive shape as well as its front-engine and rear-drive set-up.
For now, it appears that the fate of the Viper has been sealed though.
Dodge Continuing the Charger and Challenger
Despite the heartbreaking developments about the Viper, Dodge will go on with its Charger and Challenger models. Marchionne said that the two will get an upgraded architecture.
The FCA CEO noted that they will likely continue using the Giorgio platform for the cars. However, the architecture needs an upgrade to make the models more competitive. He hinted that by the time they are finished reworking the current platform, we might not be able to recognize it from its origins.
Top 4 Reasons for You to Buy the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
What happens when you combine the winning formulas of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Mercedes-AMG GT? You get the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. This is the reason why there was so much hype surrounding the high-performance car’s world premiere and why it was flocked by people since the press days of the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
Mercedes is yet to reveal the pricing of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. However, it is already given that it will be very expensive considering it will take on the $85,000 to $194,800 Porsche Panamera. What we know so far is that it will roll out for buyers in mid-2018.
So why should you spend your hard earned cash for it? Here are four reasons why you should put the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe in your checklist if you are looking to buy a high-performance luxury car:
1. Unique Addition to the Mercedes-AMG GT Family
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe successfully makes itself stand out from the Mercedes-AMG GT family with its distinct four-door feature. The rest of its siblings from the base GT going up to the GT R have two-door designs.
2. Athletic and Classy Design
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door is defined by its long bonnet, Panamericana front grille, squinting Multibeam LED headlamps, jetwing front bumper design, huge air ducts, thin taillights, rear diffuser, low greenhouse, retractable rear wing, quadruple exhaust tips, and a combination of AMG performance wheels and tires. On the other hand, its curvaceous and smooth exterior is an excellent manifestation of Mercedes’ “Sensual Purity” design philosophy.
3. Luxurious Aura
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe also carries the DNA of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. If you strip away all the Mercedes-AMG GT elements of the four-door high-performance car leaving only its shell, it can be noticed that its form is all too similar to the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53. That’s because both are riding on the E-Class platform.
The interior of the two only vary in layout but you can find that most of the tech within the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe are just spiced up versions of the ones found in the E-Class and CLS. However, the arrangement of the controls of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe follows its AMG GT siblings.
4. Performance
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is available in three performance configurations and its power is governed by an AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission. It starts with the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4MATIC with 3.0-liter inline-six that can deliver 435 hp combined with EQ Boost providing it an extra 22 hp, and 520 Nm of torque. Next is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC equipped with a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine capable of delivering 585 hp and 800 Nm of torque.
The top trim of the range is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+. It has the engine of the AMG GT 63 4MATIC but with an upgrade that lets it produce 639 hp and 900 Nm of torque. The auto can reach speeds of up to 310 km/h, and its 0-100 km/h acceleration can be achieved in merely 3.4 seconds.
Photos
Check out the official photos of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe in the gallery below:
Mercedes-AMG GT Concept Car Shown at the Geneva Motor Show
The Mercedes-AMG GT Concept car was finally unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. From the information, photos and video released by Daimler about the high-performance saloon, there is a lot to be excited about when the production version of the vehicle hits the market.
Check out the features of the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept based on the Global Media Site of Daimler AG:
Exterior
The Mercedes-AMG GT Concept is the four-door variant of the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car. Significant improvements can be seen in the styling of the concept vehicle compared to its two-door counterpart.
The AMG GT Concept copies many exterior elements found in the AMG GT. However, due to the four-door design of the concept car, it appears more muscular and spacious than its AMG GT sibling. The body lines on the sides are also removed to give way to a smoother body that allows the artistic reflection of light from the vehicle’s surroundings. Then the front grille of the auto adopts the Panamericana design found in the facelifted AMG GT.
Engine
The AMG GT Concept makes use of the new 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine of Mercedes. The combustion unit is paired with an electric motor to give it a performance boost. According to Daimler, the concept vehicle was able to produce up to 600 kW in its latest testing. The automaker aims to make the zero to 100 km/h acceleration of the car to be achieved in under three seconds.
The four-door AMG GT can be driven using solely its combustion engine. The driver can opt to use its electric motor alone too. To utilize the maximum performance of the car, its operating mode can be set to use both power units to fully take advantage of its hybrid drivetrain.
Photo Gallery
Here are the official photos of the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept:
5 Things To Know About The Upcoming Honda S2000 Revival
It makes sense for Honda to revive the S2000 because it has been pressuring itself to release a new sports car for the United States. Ever since the Japanese automaker decided to make a three-pronged lineup of sports cars, we have been waiting what it has in store for the US market.
Here are the five things we know about it based on a source:
1. Its Predecessors Came Out In 2015 And 2016
In 2015, we first saw the S660 microcoupe, which was the first sports car that Honda built for this lineup. It was powered by a mid-mounted turbocharged 660-cc inline-3. Last year, we saw the NSX supercar that came with a mid-mounted twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 aided by electric motors.
2. The S2000 Is For The US Market
The S660 was a Japanese-only car from Honda while the NSX was an Acura brand. The US, however, is Honda’s biggest market to date, which means it cannot shrug off this particular market. What it did is to recreate the S2000, which was loved by many.
3. It Was Introduced As A 50th Anniversary Special
The original S2000 was launched during the company’s 50th anniversary in 1998. Now that two decades have passed, it’s time to do it all over again. In commemoration of its 70th anniversary, Honda plans to unveil the S2000 replacement with an RC213V-S superbike.
4. It Will Have A New Powertrain And Chassis
The replacement to the S2000 should have had the engine fitted in the Civic Type R. But seeing as this will be a special 70th anniversary car that will arrive in 2018, Honda decided it would fit this one with a new powertrain and a new chassis.
5. It Will Be Lightweight And Fuel-Efficient
According to reports, the coming S2000 will have a two-stage electric boosting system, one that is similar to what has been developed by Mitsubishi. The system, tests showed, will make the new car compact, lightweight, and fuel efficient.
4 Things You’ll Want To Know About The 2017 Renault Alpine
The Renault Alpine won’t be coming to US shores. It will be strictly for the European market only, though how far into Europe, we still don’t know, too. If you will remember, in 2012, Alpine and Caterham partnered to develop a platform that can be used for future Renault Alpine and Caterham sports car.
While Caterham dropped the plans, Renault pushed through with it. The 2017 Renault Alpine is possibly the prototype for the sports car that’s about to come.
1. Identical To Alpine Vision And Celebration Concepts
Renault unveiled in the past couple of years two concepts—the Alpine Vision and the Celebration. The spy shots confirmed that the prototype looks very similar to these two concepts. The similarities can be seen on the lines on the hood, the headlight arrangement, and the tri-panels on the side windows.
This prototype is clearly reminiscent of the Alpine.
2. Might Be Called A120 Or AS1
There is still no confirmation, but there are rumors within the auto industry that the sports car will keep with the tradition and will call itself the A120 or the AS1. The A120 is a “throwback” to the Alpine A110 Berlinette that came out between 1961 and 1977.
3. Competition Is The Alfa Romeo 4C And Porsche 718 Cayman
What’s a sports car without competition? Renault’s Alpine sports car will have heavy competitions against the Alfa Romeo 4C and the Porsche 718 Cayman. It is likely that it will have a rear-wheel drive that is paired with a turbocharged inline-4. It should be able to produce 270 horsepower that will allow it to go 0-60mph in under five seconds.
4. Production Will Be In France
Unfortunately, not only is the production going to be in France alone, this won’t also be shipped to the US. Renault’s Dieppe plant in the north of France was recently retooled to be able to handle the assembly of the chassis and body of the Alpine sports car.
3 Things To Know About Ordering The Renault Alpine Sports Car
There is little we know about the new Alpine Sports Car from Renault, other than from the fact that it will resemble the Alpine Vision concept car we had earlier this year. Those who are big Renault fans can blindly order this sports car with a deposit of £1,700 ($2,141).
According to Alpine’s website, the company is beginning to take orders for the sports car’s “premiere edition,” of which only 1,995 will be produced.
How To Order The Alpine Sports Car
It is slightly unconventional for a very traditional company like Renault to market and to promote their sports car like how they did the Alpine. To reserve the Alpine Sports Car, you need to download the Alpine app for your phone, then select your preferred number of the 1,995 being offered. That number will be unique and will appear on a plaque in the cabin when it gets delivered to you next year.
After this, you will have to choose a color—blue, white or black. The final stage is the payment process. You can choose to pay with either a debit or a credit card. There are no trim level selections and no alloy wheel options. That’s how basic the reservation will be.
What We Know So Far In Terms Of Engine Specs
Renault has not even revealed the top speed for the mid-engined sports car. What we do know is that it can go 0-62 mph in just 4.5 seconds, and that it is expected to pack a turbocharged 1.6-liter or 1.8-liter petrol engine, similar to what we can find under the hood of the Renault Clio RS hatchback.
Rumors said the Alpine Sports Car is going to be a rear-wheel drive, and will come with a dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. This is quite similar to the Alfa Romeo 4C. And like the 4C, the Alpine is going to offer lightweight as one of its benefits. It will be “fractionally” quicker than the Porsche 718 Cayman S, which packs the more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine.
How Renault Hopes To Attract Customers
How can the French company expect to attract customers with no details whatsoever? The “alluring history” of Alpine brand and its exclusivity will hopefully make customers download the app and reserve their own Alpine numbers.
2017 Toyota 86 TRD Receives Minor Upgrades
The Toyota 86 was launched as a sports car in 2012, and is sold globally with a Subaru-developed, 2.0-liter boxer engine with either a manual or automatic transmission.
As a collaboration between Japanese automakers Toyota and Subaru, the Toyota 86 was launched together with the Subaru BRZ and the Scion FR-S, though the latter was discontinued this year.
The 86 finally received an update for the 2017 model year according to a report. It got revised exterior elements, a number of interior upgrades, chassis tweaks, and a mild power bump for models with the manual gearbox.
Six months after, Toyota’s performance and motorsport division, Toyota Racing Development (TRD), launched its own package for the coupe. It consisted of a race-inspired body kit and some chassis options.
This new TRD package Toyota 86 fits for those who want to turn their 86 into a race car.
Be careful, though, as this package arrives with two drawbacks—there is no addition of a more powerful engine, and the package is not available for those living outside of Japan.
Toyota, of course, will most likely make it accessible to other markets but until that time comes, we’ll first just ogle at what the Japanese market can enjoy.
The package has a larger and sportier spoiler that extends under the grille. Instead of the standard body color, the splitter comes in all black and extends toward the sides for that racier look.
In addition, there are some LED daytime running lights, as well as black inserts with tiny winglets below the turning signals.
The sides are half-finished in black–the front fender inserts, the upper section of the doors, the lower section of the quarter window, and the lower side mirror. Also coming in black paint for a sportier look are the side skirts, rear wheel arch black trim, and five-spoke 18-inch, forged aluminum wheels finished in a light gold tint.
There are two additional wheel designs, both in 17-inch size, that TRD offers.
On the rear, the TRD package adds the race-inspired diffuser with larger, quad exhaust pipes and a slightly revised bumper with a more angular shape. The spoiler on top of the trunk lid comes in the body color, but you may opt for the carbon-fiber wing as well.
Drivetrain remains unchanged, though the TRD has adjustable coilovers and a new front tower brace as options.
Toyota has not revealed pricing details for the 2017 Toyota 86 TRF, so stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks.
