Archive: Car of the week

28 April
Zenvo ST1, First Danish Supercar

How do you know that a car is superfast? How about crossing Denmark in less than 20 minutes? How does it sound? And no it’s not a helicopter or a plane. It’s the new Zenvo ST1, the first Danish supercar. Featuring a rear-mounted turbo- and super-charged 7.0-liter V8 engine that outputs nothing less than a staggering 1104 hp, and an amazing 1430 Nm at around 4500 rpm. Electronically limited at 375 km/h, featuring a six-speed manual gearbox and a hydraulically-powered limited slip differential, the ST1 is just a prototype for now, but one that we’d love to hop on for a pure shot of adrenaline. [via bilmagasinet.dk]

24 April
Polish McLaren F1 Built from Scratch

McLaren F1 has always been a car that inspired people. A fast car. But an expensive one. That must be the reason why a Polish car aficionado decide to create his own. I mean if you can’t afford one, you’d better try to build it yourself. So he did. Check out the amazing job he did with re-creating the legendary F1. Except for the V12 engine purloined from a dead BMW and a steel and fibre glass chassis/bodywork, he’s got everything the right way. [Thanks to Dale for sending this in] [via PistonHeads]

10 February
Rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalanta Coupe Auctioned for $4.4 million

Dust covered for more than 50 years in a British garage, a rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalanta Coupe has been found and auctioned last week at the Paris Bonhams Retromobile event. The car was bought by a European car collector and if you were wondering for how much, it’s an enormous 3,417,500 euros. Packed with a high performance engine, and way ahead of its time, the supercar was originally owned by Earl Howe – famous British race driver, which only adds to the value. We can only imagine how it’s going to look after a good restoration … [autoweek via WCF]

19 January
RENNTECH 777, Based on a SLR McLaren

Though the trend is to go green, we don’t think the horsepower war is over. For that reason we bring you the new RENNTECH 777, a Mercedes-McLaren SLR based beast that outputs nothing more and nothing less than 777 bhp from a highly tweaked 5.5-liter supercharged Kompressor V8 engine. With an aero-kit that packs big wings, splitters and skirts, new suspension, a stronger transmission and a limited-slip differential, the little monster is expected to top at 210 mph. We’re sold on the design, but to be honest we’d expect a much better performance from such an engine. No? [via WCF]

08 January
Nissan 370Z – all you need to know about it

Nissan found a really nice way to say Happy New Year to those passionate about speed and style. Debuted in November at the LA Auto Show, their 2009 Nissan 370Z got more specs out including a price. The super coupe is replacing the older 350Z, and is now powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.

Also interesting is that the new Nissan 370Z is going to feature two new transmission options including a six-speed manual with an optional rev-matching feature (automatically blips the throttle on downshifts) and a seven-speed automatic.

On the inside it promotes luxurious materials that scream comfort and exquisiteness from every single part: amazing stereo, leather-trimmed sport seats, navigation with with iPod connectivity.

On the outside and spec-wise Nissan 370Z should include a double-wishbone front suspension, a wider body (1.1 inches), front and rear spoilers, Nissan Sport brakes (sport package), boomerang-style headlights and taillights, and a antilevered roofline.

Starting at $29,930 for the base version (6-speed transmission), the 370Z Coupe hops at $31,230 if you’d like the 7-speed automatic brings the total to $31,230. The other version the car will be offered in, the Touring model, starts at $34,460 with the 6-speed manual or $35,760 with the aforementioned automatic.

Oh and if you think that’s not enough, then there’s a stylish package that should tune it up really nice. We’re sold. How about you?

24 December
Edo Competition Presents Fastest Lamborghini Ever

Those wacky Germans that love to build super-super cars of off super cars, created what they think it’s the fastest Lamborghini ever. Based on a Murciélago LP 640, the Limited Edition edo Lamborghini LP 710 gets to a max speed of 224 mph (360 kph). With help from Christian Audigier the car got a air brush black matte paint job, some exquisite fabrics and materials and much of the interior. Only five of these will be built so better stay in line with some millions if you want to get your hands on it.

19 December
GTbyCitreon: PS3 Concept to Life in Limited Edition

It is the holiday season and the virtual world junkies are sure to be having a ball by kicking back on their couch and working overtime on their Wii, PS3 or Xbox 360. If you are a fan of PS3’s Gran Turismo5, then the GT might be very well a reality for you very soon as it is rumored that Citreon could soon produce 20 of these 3000 pound concept cars. The prototype of the GT is already in existence, but its is nothing beyond a cool futuristic car sketch and Citreon intends to breath life into it with a 782 horsepower fuel cell to power it on. With the auto world in neck-deep crisis, the chances of this happening though look pretty bleak for now.

28 November
Jaguar XF-R: Sizzling in spy shots!

There is no doubt that the official release of the next generation Jaguar XF-R is sooner than later, but it seems that the XF-R right now is not the best kept secret in the auto world. The sizzling red hot car with vents on the hood, large bumper air intakes and quad exhaust has been snapped pretty extensively in spy shots with Jaguar having a problem keeping it under the mask. The XF-R follows the thread marks of the highly successful Jaguar SV8 XF and is slated to sport a 5.0 liter, direct-injection power plant supplying more that 500 hp. While the SV8 XF sports a 4.2 liter, 420 hp engine, the new XH-R could way beyond that while still keeping in line with the Jaguar class and royalty. – via WCF

04 November
Amazing Beasts: Kicherer CL 65 Coupe

Do you guys remember the SL63 AMG (Evo Edition) by Kicherer. Well I have good news. The guys are at it again, and this time they got their hands on a Mercedes Benz CL 65 Coupe to make it run wild and produce nothing less than 650 hp. How is that possible? Well the coupe already gets some 612 stallions from the V12 (and 1000Nm) it has under the hood, but Kicherer turned it into a little beast that sports 650 hp/ 486kW and an incredible 1200Nm.

But this time, it isn’t all about numbers. The exterior got some 20″ Kicherer RS-X lightweight wheels, carbon fiber mirror shells, rear diffuser, front grille, a mirror-finished four tailpipes exhaust system, while the interior makes it all fancy with the velvet glove treatment, the alcantara ceiling, carbon intarsia or the nappa leather seats. Beautiful, isn’t it?

21 October
The JOULE : South African Electric Car by Cape Town-based Optimal Energy

The hype these days when it comes to transportation is about the new South African Electric Car that impressed everyone during the Paris Motor Show. Dubbed The Joule, the six-passengers car is incredible. It goes 250 miles with one charge, does 0 to 60 in like 4.8seconds and is estimated to cost some from $22,000 to $28,000 when released somewhere in 2010.

South Africa’s domestic car market won something, when Keith Helfet joined the staff at Optimal Energy after designing Jaguar’s F-type concept and the XK220. His experience speaks for itself, and the fact that he’ll use it on the local market is a big advantage.

Back to the Joule, it’s going to be built in South Africa mostly from domestic pieces and will include two potential drivetrains. First one and the most likely to be used, is an electric motor turning the front wheels, while the second option includes individual electric motors turning the rear or all four wheels. For these, it will pack one or two lithium-ion batteries that should keep it running for either 125 or 250 miles.

With a “simple, elegant lines and [a] self assured stance”, with regenerative brakes and “all modern safety features such as side impact protection, ABS and airbags”, I’m pretty sure the Joule will be a hit when released on the market. – via Wired (images copyright : Optimal Energy)

24 September
Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman Guard

Just the other day I was thinking what and if I will rent a limousine at my wedding. Don’t get me wrong I’m not getting married tomorrow, this week or this year (not sure even if it will be next year) but, loving cars that much, it has to be a special one (the most special) for such a moment.

Well today I decided what’s going to take me and my future wife to the party and that’s a Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman Guard. The Germans first mentioned it last year, but up until now I couldn’t manage to spot much about it.

Built on the basis of the S600, the new Pullman limousine will be powered by the 5.5-liter V12 biturbo with an output of 517 hp/380 kW and 830 Nm of torque. It will also offer protection (that’s obviously not for a wedding aight?) with its armor resisting military-standard small-arms projectiles and fragments from hand grenades or other explosive charges.

So do you think that would be the right vehicle to attend a wedding with?

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