New details have been released for both the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and S65 AMG facelifts. With a starting price of €115,700 before tax, the S63 AMG short-wheelbase brings a 525 horsepower, 6.3-liter V8 engine producing up to 630 Nm of torque. A long wheelbase model is available for an additional €6,000.
At €185,900 the S65 AMG is hardly cheap, but the 612 horsepower delivered by the 6.0-liter biturbo V12 may be enough to convince new customers. The V12 delivers a massive 1000 Nm of torque, guaranteeing a 0-100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the S63. Both cars are electronically limited to 250 km/h. On the S63 the driver controls the AMGSPEEDSHIFT 7G-Tronic transmission, while the S65 utilizes a five-speed automatic.
Impressively, Mercedes did not have to degrade the performance of these two vehicles to improve fuel economy. Both “consumption and CO2 emissions” were reduced “by up to 3 percent.”
From the looks of these two cars, it seems many of the 8,000 current S-Class AMG customers may get a little jealous. A new arrow-shaped radiator grille - with twin chrome louvres on the S65 - is an effective status symbol on a car that commands respect. AMG-spec LED daytime lights are mounted just above the air outlets on either side of the front apron.
You can read more details, including information about the Split-View COMAND system, in the press release below. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG go on sale at the end of the month.
One of the most revered names in sports car history, the Porsche Spyder, is back! And our exclusive illustrations show for the first time how the sub-Boxster two-seater will shape up when it arrives in 2013.
Based on the VW Bluesport Concept’s underpinnings, also set to be shared with the forthcoming Audi R2, the new ‘baby’ Porsche will be aiming to maintain the firm’s reputation for unrivalled driving dynamics, but in a much lighter, fuel efficient and affordable package than any model in recent memory.
The new Spyder will offer the same open air driving experience as the Boxster, thanks to its folding canvas roof, but at just 3.99 metres long, it will be significantly smaller than the current entry-level Porsche. That means a range of four-cylinder turbocharged engines raided from the VW parts bin will be plenty to deliver genuine sportscar thrills.
Entry-level cars will use a version of the 200bhp 2.0 TFSI engine borrowed from the VW Golf GTI, mounted behind the driver and between the two axles for optimum handling balance. A Sport version will feature the same unit, but turned up to around 280bhp for a scintillating turn of pace.
After all of this year’s soap opera stories in Formula One, it appears there will be a unified championship series next year after all. According to The Times UK, controversial F1 boss Max Mosley has been “forced into a humiliating climbdown as president of the FIA,” and his reign is over effective today.
Apparently, with the Formula One Teams Association’s (FOTA) plan to build its own breakaway series and take most of its highest-profile (and highest-dollar) draws away with it, the FIA realized that something had to be done. Eight teams, including Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, and Brawn GP had pulled out of the series over concerns relating to a new £40m budget cap (around $66m USD).
With Mosley’s departure effective immediately, F1 teams and the sanctioning body have agreed to cost cuts with the goal of getting spending outlays back down to the that of the early Nineties within two years.
Mosley has agreed to end his 16 year term at the FIA and not seek re-election to another office.
Michael Schumacher has finally been revealed as The Stig. Or has he? In the first episode of season 13 of the popular British motoring show BBC Topgear, the elusive Stig is seen being accompanied into the studio where they shoot the series. Later he is sitting on the guest couch and begins to take off his white helmet. To the audience’s shock Schumi appears from underneath the helmet, fakes a wink and smiles, giving the admiring audience a thumbs-up.
The Stig is one of the most searched words on the Internet. Almost all the searches are interested in one thing and one thing only; getting an answer to the question “who is The Stig?” Several names have been bandied about in the past as concerning this very important question. The only confirmed one is Tyler Perry, an ex F1 tester who was killed off from the series after telling everyone who read his tell-all book that he was the black Stig. Apparently the show’s producers frown upon such behaviour.
Over the past year or so interest has been renewed in The Stig after several media outlets pointed to an ex British racer named Ben Collins as the man under the white racing suit and mask. Some say there is more than one Stig, while presenter Jeremy Clarkson told South African journalists that he is pretty sure The Stig is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Clarkson even “outed” President Barack Obama as the speechless tame racing driver.
The image of the white BMW X1, which you are obviously so deeply focused on, is blurred by design. It’s part of yet another teasing game by BMW to build hype around the company’s newest and smallest SUV. Websites like Facebook have been used to drum up support with the target market which consists mainly of young people.
After plenty of spy pictures and official teaser images and videos the X1 will finally make a splash into the European market this autumn. Power will come from petrol and turbo diesel engines with horsepower figures of up to 204.
Wait for the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show for some face time. Full clear frontal shots will probably become available some time before then. And by that we mean shots of the car.
After days of speculation and rumor, General Motors made it official this morning, Saab will soon be back in Swedish hands. In many respects, this is the most fitting result for quirky brand. Koenigsegg is an oddball itself, building insanely fast supercars in a Scandinavian country where you can’t legally drive over about 60 mph.
The deal will be partly financed through a $600 million loan from the European Investment Bank that is co-signed by the Swedish government. Just as GM will continue to provide Penske-owned Saturn with cars for a time, it will supply platforms and powertrains to Saab. The length of time that Saab will continue to use GM hardware hasn’t been disclosed, but it will likely be for at least the next 5-6 years – if not longer. The new 9-5 which will be built in Trollhättan, Sweden is launching later this year followed by the 9-4X crossover. Both of these will probably complete their lifecycle on current platforms. The same is likely true for the 9-1 which may launch in 2010 or 2011. The big question mark will be the next generation 9-3, which had been expected to move to GM’s Delta II platform.
The Koenigsegg-Saab deal should close by the end of September, and you can check out the official verbiage after the jump.
Audi has announced new details regarding their upcoming BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo competitor, the A5 Sportback.
Designed to be as “emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a sedan, and as practical as an Avant”, the A5 Sportback is essentially a five-door coupe. Although the teaser video only shows an artist stretching the A5 Sportback’s design, Audi states that the new model features a large rear hatch, a graceful tapering roofline which is 36 mm (1.4″) lower than the A4 Sedan’s, and four frameless doors with “dynamic window styling”.
Performance options include a newly developed ESP system with an electronic differential lock for improved steering response, Audi drive select, adaptive shock absorbers, and dynamic steering with continuously variable assistance.
Look for the new A5 to start arriving in European showrooms this September with a base price of €36,050.
Tuning firm Edo Competition has unveiled their new styling and performance packages for the Ferrari California.
On the performance side, Edo offers an ECU recalibration package which boosts the roadster’s output from 460 hp to 500 hp (367 kW) and 369 ft-lb (500 Nm) of torque. When combined with Edo’s new high performance exhaust system, with adjustable butterfly valves and custom designed high flow catalytic converters, the Ferrari California rockets from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).
Other performance options include an adjustable sports suspension, a ride-height reduction kit, and a variety of different wheel and tire combinations available in 20 and 21 inches.
The company also offers a bespoke interior design service which allows customers to create a lavish cockpit that reflects their unique personality.
