Top Speed Cars Car News

Peugeot seems to be pretty excited to reveal their new concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show at the end of this month. They claim that their “car of the future will combine 200 years of history with 200 years of demands and emotions.” That’s a slightly big statement to make. We hope they have the vehicle that will substantiate that claim, but they are not starting off too well considering this vehicle is only a design study with no plans for a production version. Typical, we supposedly finally get the car we’ve been waiting 200 years for and we won’t even be able to drive it…ever.

The Peugeot EX1 design study will combine design elements found in the BB1 unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 and the SR1 unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Show. We don’t know for sure if the concept will be a hybrid or an electric vehicle, but we do know it will be a sports car featuring a futuristic interior. With such a bold claim, the EX1 better be worthy of the company’s 200 years of experience or Peugeot will look pretty silly.

The first official details will be revealed on September 6, followed by a reveal on September 21, so stay tuned!

Peugeot will unveil EX1 Concept in Paris originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 14:00 EST.

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Looks like Austin, Texas won’t be the only new venue that’s going to be included in future Formula One seasons.

Rome, Italy has been pining to host a Formula One race for quite some time now and it looks like Italy’s capital is on track to host a round in the F1 calendar soon.

According to Mayor Gianni Alemanno, the time-table for a race to be held in Rome should be “from 2012 or no later than 2013”. Noted circuit designer, Hermann Tilke, has also earmarked the potential site for the race and it could possibly be set-up at the Italian capital’s EUR district, making it a street-race instead of the usual track circuits that are currently being used in Formula One.

Despite the optimism, there are still a number of roadblocks that need to be cleared before the project receives a green light. The most important roadblock being the approval of political leaders and residents of the area. In spite of the obstacles, Alemanno is confident that an agreement would be hatched soon, paving the way for two Italian stops in future Formula One seasons.

Rome a possible location for second Italian F1 race in the next few years originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 13:00 EST.

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An Aston Martin SUV? That seemed to be the plan back in 2009 when the company brought back the Lagonda brand with an SUV concept. In 2010, however, the company has decided that the Rapide is the only non-sports car version they will ever develop. It’s probably a good decision considering the Lagonda SUV wasn’t very well-received by the automotive industry when it debuted.

So, instead of wasting money on something no one will buy, Aston Martin is going to bring a Lagonda version of the Rapide sedan. It will grow in length in order to offer enough interior space for the rear passenger, and will most likely be more luxury oriented.

If we remember correctly, at the concept launch Aston Martin Lagonda Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez said that the future sedan would be “the luxury car of the future, a combination of total usability, a new form and innovative new technology and materials.” Sounds promising, but we’ll have to wait about four years to see if they’re right since that is how long it will take Aston Martin to produce the Lagonda Rapide.

Aston Martin drops Lagonda SUV; plans sedan instead originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 12:00 EST.

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Here in the US, we know this car as the Honda Fit, but in other parts of the world, it goes by another moniker; ‘the Honda Jazz’.

In Australia, the Jazz is currently in the middle of a hilarious promotional campaign called ‘Jazz Packing’. It’ hilarious because we watched the set of videos the campaign has released and we couldn’t stop our eyes from getting teary-eyed from all the hysterical laughing.

Basically, the ads were made to show exactly how versatile the Jazz really is. It’s got loads of room on the interior, it’s got 10 cup holders – that’s right, 10! – and it’s a practical ride for just about anybody, even if you’re a bodybuilder, a rapper, a hipster, and, of course, a ninja.

Check out these four hilarious ads and be sure to adhere our warnings that there will be massive loads of skimpy Speedos, “mystical” windows, tied-up pirates, and a reference to Haruki Murakami. We’re not making this stuff up.

More of the hilarity after the jump.

Video: How much can you pack into a Honda Jazz? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 11:30 EST.

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Chalk up another achievement for Mazda and it’s iconic roadster, the MX-5.

Twenty years after the roadster landed in the UK, the MX-5, aka the Miata, hit the ever-prestigious 100,000 units sold. It has been widely regarded that the MX-5 is one of the most popular vehicles of all time and the roadster has been a hot seller in the UK since it first arrived in 1989, compromising of over 10% of the vehicle’s global sales figures.

The Miata’s popularity in the land of fish and chips reached its apex a few years ago in 2007 when the venerable roadster sold an unprecedented 9,234 units in the UK alone.

Mark Cameron, sales director of Mazda UK, made no bones about the appeal of the MX-5 to the British car-buying market. “We are the biggest market for this car due to our love of open-top two seat sportscars”, he said.

“The Mazda MX-5 finds its roots in the British heritage of soft top sportscars and has been loved by British motorists since the day it arrived on these shores.”

It’s quite an achievement to sell 100,000 models of the same car encompassing three generations in one country alone. So let’s toast a cup of tea to Mazda for the milestone achievement. At the rate it’s going, we won’t be surprised if the MX-5 continues to sell like pancakes across the pond.

Mazda MX-5 hits 100,000 units sold in the UK originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 11:00 EST.

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The recall bug has hit Kia anew, with the Korean manufacturer announcing that there will be a recall of 24,000 2010 models of the Soul and around 11,200 2011 models of the Sorento because of a problematic electrical system discovered in both vehicles.

The models that are included in the recall are those built between September 7, 2009 and July 30, 2010. Yep, a little over a month ago.

The quick recall is a response Kia is doing after finding out that a number of the wiring harnesses that are being used in the Soul’s lighting speaker system and the Sorento’s interior accent illumination shouldn’t have passed the automaker’s quality control because they may not have been soldered properly.

Kia is making a pre-emptive strike on the matter because of the potential of a short-circuit that could eventually lead to the vehicles catching fire. And while no accidents have been reported, Kia is making sure that they nip the problem in the bud before it takes a turn for the worse.

According to Kia, dealerships will begin replacing the defective harnesses at no cost to the customer with the recall expected to commence no later than October.

Kia to issue recall on 2010 Soul and 2011 Sorento over electrical problems originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 10:30 EST.

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The Paris Motor Show isn’t even in the books yet and already car enthusiasts everywhere are preparing their ventures for future shows. Wraptivo is currently working on a design package that will feature a matte black and carbon black film that will wrap around the Honda CR-Z Type-F Concept getting prepared for the SEMA show in November.

In addition to the design package provided by Wraptivo, the concept will get a full aero kit consisting of Honda accessories aero pieces along with other aero components from Japan. The vehicle will also be receiving wheels, race seats, big brakes, and other additions. Going a step further on the tuning front, the Type-F concept will be getting a power increase thanks to a supercharger system, suspension package, an ECU Tune, exhaust system, and other speedy components. The interior will get Recaro seats, a sport shift knob, and alcantara panels.

Of course, one of the main reasons behind this concept is allowing the CR-Z to showcase the effectiveness of the Wraptivo product. The Honda CR-Z Type-F Concept will allow customers to see how this new technology could serve as protection for their factory paint, as well as change the appearance of their car. The particular wrap that will be used on the Type-F will provide customers with a good idea of the durability of the wrap as it will hit the track a week after the SEMA show during the Source Interlink “Super Lap Battle”. We’ll hold our opinions on the matter until after we see it in action!

Press release after the jump.

Wraptivo Honda CR-Z "Type-F" concept to debut at SEMA originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 10:00 EST.

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“Land Rover!” What is the first model coming to your head? We bet is not the Freelander, and not even the Range Rover. But for sure is the old, traditional Defender! After all this is a model older than many of us, most likely having the same age of your grandpa, and it is unlikely that at some point in your childhood you didn’t take a short trip in your grandpa’s Ninety (this was Defender’s first name).

Tata Motors decided that a car with 62 years of history needs to go on, and will come with a new generation Defender in 2014. However, the “Defender” name will be dropped, but many of the original car’s looks and values could be used in the final production model. And while the original model has been built on the T5 steel platform chassis, this is much to heavier and it will also be dropped. Instead Land Rover will use the same Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) technology used in the Freelander. According to Land Rover managing director Phil Popham, the new Defender will be adopt a more SUV look and will deliver more off-road power: “We’ll be really tuning up the versatility side and practicality side. That for me is the core of the Defender’s identity.”

Land Rover works on new Defender originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 09:30 EST.

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Spectre Performance’s mission of breaking the 400 mph barrier in a four-wheel, gas-powered vehicle took another turn for the better this week when the team went back to the Bonneville Salt Flats to set a new speed record of 366 mph with their twin-engined 3,500-plus horsepower speedliner. They were even able to set three new world records in the process.

The mark is still well short of their target speed, but it’s also a marked improvement from the car’s performance last year at the SCTA World Finals where it blasted at a top speed of 330.57 mph.

Armed with determination and experience of the task at hand, Spectre Performance, together with driver Amir Rosenbaun, took the speedliner and squeezed every little juice of speed it has, topping it at 366 mph.

Despite the record-shattering run, Spectre Performance is not sitting on its laurels. The goal, after all, is 400 mph, and they’re not about to give up just because they just set new world records. So, the team is setting its sights on the Bonneville FIA Meet on September 20-25 with one goal in mind: breaking the 400mph barrier.

“Speed Week was an incredible experience,” said Rosenbaun. “I joined one of the most exclusive clubs on earth and we set three records – but we remain focused on breaking the 400mph barrier and becoming the fastest gasoline powered car on earth. So we’re going back, in one month, with more power, safer parachutes and one goal: 400mph.”

Press Release after the jump.

Spectre Performance runs 366 mph at Bonneville Speed Week; still falls short of target 400 mph mark originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 09:00 EST.

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The holy grail of speed has always been the production car speed record. Car companies shoot for this record – if they can – in hopes that they can put their names in the history books. Some of them have succeeded and some have failed, but either way, these machines are fantastic.

Most of the cars on the list are very expensive and only built in limited numbers. You would be hard pressed to find any one of the top ten machines on normal streets. Hell, you would be hard pressed to find these cars on local tracks.

In order to get on the list, the car must be street legal, so no Formula One cars or land speed machines. The laws for getting on the list are also very tough, as there are no set rules. Nonetheless, the current fastest production car hit a speed of 267 miles per hour. Can you guess which car that was?

Hit the jump to find out.

TopSpeed’s 10 Fastest Production Cars originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 08:00 EST.

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Inside Line got behind the wheel of the 2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI V10 and took it for a little test run out on the track. So, is the R8 Spyder worthy of its Audi name? Check out the video to find out!

The 5.2 Liter FSI V10 in the R8 Spider delivers a maximum output of 525 HP at 8,000 RPM and has a rather high compression ratio of 12.5:1 in order to get the most out of the high revving naturally aspirated power plant. With a weight of only 3,792 pounds, the R8 Spider is able to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in under 4.1 seconds; go from 0 to 125 MPH in a little over 12.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 194.49 MPH, all while consuming 15.79 MPG in the manual transmission version, or 16.92 MPG in the R-tronic variant.

Video: 2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI V10 on the track originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 23:00 EST.

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An interesting sculpture by RoboSteel will be getting unveiled at the 2010 MPH The Prestige & Performance Motor Show. This sculpture will be crafted from recycled steel and will be shaped to look like a unique supercar. The sculpture will be unveiled at Earls Court, London, between November 4th-7th, 2010 and at the NEC, Birmingham between November 11th-14th, 2010. At the end of the show the supercar sculpture will be auctioned off in order to raise money for charity.

The ‘alien-like’ supercar of the future will weigh more than 500kg and will be more than one meter tall. Built using thousands of individual parts, the sculpture took approximately750 hours to finish and will be shipped to the UK in four different pieces. When those pieces get to their destination, workers will have to reassemble the sculpture before it goes on display in Earls court.

“This is the first time we’ve used our design concept to create a supercar. The initial design for the car was created by our art designer Toonrama. The RoboSteel concept supercar is based on the complex designs and structures of south Indian temples and the Kirtimukha sculptures that are positioned at the entrance to these temples. Dave Murphy from Dublin Ink has added an Alien theme to a second design drawing. RoboSteel will use both drawings to craft the Alien Supercar and we are really looking forward to this project.”

Press release after the jump.

Unique supercar sculpture under construction for MPH originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 22:00 EST.

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The Maserati Biturbo was a two-door, four-seater sports car introduced by Maserati in 1981. However, it was listed in the 50 worst cars of all times. Now, Maserati has decided to give the flop another chance. The car is already known as the “baby Quattroporte” or “Maseratina”, but the production version will use a different name.

The “baby Quattroporte” will be positioned under the next generation Quattroporte which will be increasing its size prior to its debut in 2012. Not only will the mini sports car have its own place in the lineup, but it will also be designed as a replacement for the Alfa Romeo 166 in the Italian car representation.

The new Biturbo will be developed on the new Chrysler 300C platform and will be powered by a Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 twin turbo engine producing a total of 400 hp.

Expect the official debut to be at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show with about 10,000 units set for production every year thereafter.

Maserati Biturbo making a comeback in 2014 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 21:00 EST.

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Want to drive like some of the hottest Scuderia Ferrari drivers? Here’s your chance! Ferrari has unveiled the official trailer for their Virtual Academy – an online simulation racing game. With the Ferrari Virtual Academy, Ferrari fans from all over the world can hop into their computer chair and take the same laps as Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso, and Giancarlo Fisichella, while also being privy to their racing line and driving technique secrets! Drive the fastest amongst all of the fellow Ferrari fans in the worldwide online tournament and you could be one of the weekly winners that will be awarded official Ferrari products. Better yet, if at the end of the Trofeo, you are within the top five fastest drivers, then you will be headed to the heart of Ferrari! That’s right, Ferrari will be sending you to Maranello to walk through the gates in Fiorano and participate in the exclusive Ferrari Driver Academy course with exceptional tutors from the Scuderia.

Drive around in some of the most famous tracks like the Fiorano, Mugello, and Nurburgring that have been digitally recreated with Laser Scan and Motion Capture. Master the laps and increase your speed because you may be one of the lucky five that will get the chance of a lifetime!

The game will be available for download starting September 9th.

Video: Ferrari Virtual Academy – Official Trailer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 21:00 EST.

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Car lovers around the globe are anticipating the new McLaren performance machine, called the MP4-12C. A weird name for a car it might be, but given the company’s history, it’s sure to be something special. McLaren isn’t sitting by and waiting for the cash to roll in though, they’re planning on much more.

We know that McLaren is hoping to release three core models, with the MP4-12C leading the charge, followed by a hyper-car or a mid-level sports car like the Audi R8. What we didn’t know was that the company is also planning on a few more models.

McLaren is planning on releasing one new model each year for the next five years. Some of the new cars might be different variations of the MP4-12C, but who’s complaining about that? Remember the 430 Scuderia? Imagine that sort of thing, but on the MP4. Just thinking about it makes us all fluttery inside.

McLaren To Release A New Product Every Five Years originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 20:00 EST.

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The Ford Fiesta has been a “pretty big deal” lately, and everything about it – small size, low fuel consumption, and the funky face – has people jumping on the hatchback wagon. Everyone, except for maybe the 4X4 loving people in the USA. This group of people like a car that can drive through whatever the road may through at them, be it sand, mud, or snow. And a standard Fiesta just can’t do that, but Ford’s future 4×4 Fiesta will. The future 4X4 will set out to compete with the recently launched Nissan Juke and will fit nicely under the Ford Kuga.

Ford is already testing the first prototypes in secret locations in Europe. The prototypes feature a trapezoidal grille that has been restructured and moved upwards, larger steel wheels, raised ground clearance, and a larger gap between the tops of the tires and bodywork. There is also a wider track and four-wheel drive system. The exterior design will be inspired by its larger brother, Kuga. The future crossover will be offered with two- and four-wheel drive variants and EcoBoost engines.

Ford works on 4×4 Fiesta originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 19:30 EST.

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Things sure have a way of coming full circle, don’t they?

It wasn’t that long ago when Saab was teetering perilously close to getting sent to the chopping block until a last minute intervention by Spyker not only gave Saab a new lease on life, but an opportunity to make things right again.

Now that Saab is finally on the right track, it doesn’t surprise us that design proposals bearing the Saab badge have been coming out left and right, with the latest one done by Spanish designer, Jorge Martí Vidal.

Vidal’s work is all kinds of sexy, if we do say so ourselves. Calling it ‘Boreas’ as a reference to the Greek God of the North Wind – yeah, we’re nerds too – the design features some pretty awesome curves coupled with a shiny pearl exterior paint that ironically accentuates the overall simplistic look of the concept.

Truth be told, Vidal’s work merits a pair of thumbs up and, if Saab does want to get back in the good graces of their customers, then they can’t do any better than having this car see the production line. Sure, that’s still unlikely to happen, but we’re just saying Vidal’s design is a sure winner.

Saab Boreas Sports Coupe Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 19:00 EST.

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Jaguar has already confirmed three new models for the next four years, and a new generation X-Type is one of them. The X-type will be offered in both sedan and station wagon versions, and will attempt to take on models like the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Okay, so that’s all old news, but we do have some new details to report. The latest reports surrounding the sedan suggest that the next X-Type will be built on the next-generation XK platform. The decision for the use of this platform comes down to money – as these things usually do. Jaguar’s goal is to keep the price of the X-type in the $40K area.

The exterior design will follow the same language as the new XJ sedan, but the interior will most likely offer lower quality materials and less technology. Under the hood, the future RWD sedan will offer small-displacement turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines to continue Jaguar’s focus on improving fuel economy, especially in the European market.

Expect the new X-Type to go on sale in 2014.

Next Jaguar X-Type to be built on XK platform originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 18:00 EST.

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Top Gear USA has a long way to go to even be mentioned in the same breath as their counterparts from the UK, but as this new trailer of the show suggests, they’re off to a pretty good start.

Unlike the last trailer we saw of Adam Ferrara driving a ’76 Cadillac Deville through a “moonshine” run dirt course, this new trailer features the type of cars that we’re getting all excited about: three Lamborghinis!

Not only are they three Lambos, but their three special edition models, too. There’s the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, the Gallardo Valentino Balboni Edition, and the Murcielago SuperVeloce. That’s a lot of snorting bulls in a two-minute trailer.

More importantly though is that the three hosts – Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Rutledge Wood – seem to be in their element behind the wheel of these Lamborghinis. Whereas they didn’t show a whole lot of testosterone in the last trailer, this one’s got them in fair amount of supply.

Like we said, they still have a long way to go before they can stack up against the iconic trio of Clarkson, May, and Hammond. But if they can have more supercars in their show and a little less giggling and high-fiving, then they should be in good shape.

Top Gear USA gets introduced to the Raging Bull from Sant’Agata originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 15:00 EST.

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Toyota got a lot of the spotlight when they first started talking about their version of the FT-86 because, well, they were the first ones of the Toyota/Subaru partnership to offer any details. Now, however, Subaru seems to be slipping in there to reveal a – some might call- better version of the FT-86. This version was just caught testing in Death Valley and, although little is known about the Subaru FT-86, we are liking the aggressive design the two door coupe is sporting.

The Subaru FT-86 will utilize a horizontal 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor customized with some modifications and turbocharging to produce around 250 horsepower. It will sit on a revised Legacy platform and will utilize the Impreza’s rear suspension. What may be a little surprising to Subaru fans is that this vehicle will not be coming in AWD as popular Subaru cars do. This model will be a rear wheel drive car, with no conversion offered.

In terms of design, the Subaru FT-86 will further differentiate itself from its Toyota brethren by changing up the grilles, bumpers, and wheels. A big hood scoop is visible in these spy shots possibly making room for a top-mount intercooler. Some gold rims may also add to the flare of the Subaru.

Expect the Subaru FT-86 to officially show its pretty little face sometime in November 2011.

Subaru’s version of the FT-86 Spied! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 14:00 EST.

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