Top Exotics at SEMA 2022

Sexy Wide Body Kits and Big Turbos

When it comes to The SEMA Show, exotic supercars are on another level. From body kits to twin turbos, these supercar builders push the envelope to stand out in a saturated crowd of stunning builds. There’s a bit, or should we say a lot, of everything for you to like here. Take a look at some of the supercars that grabbed our attention while walking the floors of the 2022 SEMA show.

What Supercars have the Best Price to Performance this Year?

With under $200K to Spend, These are the Best Supercars to Buy in 2022

Wow, it’s already 2022 and the past two years have been a decidedly weird blur of strange events like labor shortages, back-orders and sparse microchip production in the automotive sector. But as certain OEM manufacturers have been hit hard missing targets, supercar manufacturers have posted record gains and certain models fly off the shelves. We then asked, what supercars on sale in 2022 are attainable but amount to the cheapest, high performance supercars to buy.

For the sake of the article, it is widely accepted that a supercar today is 500hp+ with a mid-engine and rear-drive transaxle. A proper supercar makes use of more exotic materials, composites and advanced technology to set it apart from the brute force of lesser platforms like say a Mustang, Camaro or even a GT-R. A supercar can be had for under $200,000 (if there are units available) and this list is the most-affordable, yet capable performance vehicles available. 

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C8 – $89,500 (est.)

Yes, we know the Z06 is a 2023 model year and that deliveries and dealer mark-ups could be a circus but this is a supercar-slayer will be on sale Summer of 2022. The Corvette C8 itself was an incredible platform overhaul that has been rumored since the 60s but finally the mid-engine American supercar is actually here.

The upcoming 2023 Corvette Z06 promises to eclipse not only the soft-bellied C7 Z06 it replaced but anything close to its price-point. Derived from the C8.R racecar tech that put the hurt on the field at Le Mans, Sebring 12h and Daytona 24h is coming for fancy Italian, British and German mid-engine offerings. With an incredible sounding flat-plane crank V8, there is no turbo and no supercharger to put out its 670 glorious naturally aspirated horsepower. 

…The upcoming 2023 Corvette Z06 promises to eclipse not only the soft-bellied C7 Z06 it replaced but anything close to its price-point…

The 2023 Corvette Z06 was tested by Chevy to run 0-60mph in an incredible 2.6-seconds. We can hear you Tesla fanbois, but the 2023 Corvette Z06 will catch a Plaid just past the ¼-mile marker and destroy it on the way to a higher top speed.

2023 Audi R8 Performance RWD – $148,700

When the German brand jumped into the supercar arena, critics thought they were mentally unstable. But Audi already had Lamborghini in it’s portfolio, so the risk wasn’t high and they could design a comfortable everyday supercar that was inexpensive. The R8 V10 has gotten good, so good that it could be cross-shopped with a Lambo Huracan for much less for several years now.

For under $150K, you can get the Audi R8 Performance with spicy rear-wheel drive. It’s lighter and more unhinged than the R8 quattro. With a proven 5.2L V10 using no forced induction, you get 562-horsepower and a capable 3.6-seconds 0-60mph and a 205 mph top speed! Zehr gut! 

2022 Acura NSX Type-S – $169,500

The Acura NSX used to make our cut for best supercar value for performance-to-price when it was cheaper. With harsh critiques about the NSX, Acura took the gloves off for the Type-S, the final trim edition for the supercar that should have been available from launch but limited to only 350 units… worldwide!

The 2022 Acura NSX Type-S is everything the enthusiasts wanted. The hand-built vehicle only handled by master technicians, the same talent behind the NSX GT3 car it was inspired by. Up from 560hp in the NSX, the NSX Type-S now boasts 600-horsepower from its combined SH-AWD hybrid drivetrain. The vehicle has aggressively restyled looks, GT3-derived aero and a twin turbo mill equating to performance value will crush many high-dollar supercars. 

…The hand-built vehicle only handled by master technicians, the same talent behind the NSX GT3 car it was inspired by…

 

With a claimed top speed of 191 mph and sub-3s 0-60mph time, overall performance data is murky. But does it matter? All 350 units are spoken for with a reported 700 buyers in the queue, although the website does state: “All orders are pending. Contact your local dealer to get on the waitlist.” 

2̶0̶2̶3̶ ̶L̶a̶m̶b̶o̶r̶g̶h̶i̶n̶i̶ ̶H̶u̶r̶a̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶E̶v̶o̶  2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS – $143,050

Say what you want in the comments, but we changed our minds mid-post on opting for the lower cost 2023 Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 RS versus the aging Lambo for affordable supercars. Porsche is dominating in motorsports and Nϋrburgring records with the 911 GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 RS but now for $150K you can buy a mid-engine chassis GT3-powered, lightweight track weapon that promises to embarrass many supercars like the base Huracan Evo that costs $66K more!

First, let’s settle the ‘whether this is a supercar’ argument now. Yes, it has a MR layout and a flat-6 motor that is technically 502hp (detuned to 493hp) with a number of exotic materials to keep it trim at 3,227-pounds. The GT4-RS might not have McLaren or Lambo styling but Porsche builds capable mid-engine cars and this Cayman outruns their Carrera GT and nearly the 918 Spyder after running a shocking 7:04.5 lap on the Nürburgring! The GT4 RS clicks off a 3.2s 0-60mph time and will hit 196 mph… all for under $150K? Shut up and take our money.

What is the Best Yet Cheapest Supercar to Buy?

McLaren and Lamborghini used to be on this list but now their “entry-level” Artura and Hurcan EVO have crept past the $200,000 barrier. For that reason, they still offer solid supercar value but seem unattainable for the upper middle-class. In the end, if you can go domestic, the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is the clear winner here. We predict buyers will be paying double sticker for it and still be happy with how it abuses rival supercars.

Why the Porsche 930 Turbo is Called The Widowmaker 911

The Almost Uncontrollable 911 Turbo is Magic for a Real Driver

Back in the late 90s, I was a total punk when it came to dismissing European car brands. Why? Well with a few minor tweaks, my turbo AWD Mitsu could outrun any BMW, Audi and even Porsche of the day in a straight line or in the twisties. Granted those were stock Euro cars being pumped out in Bavaria, Ingolstadt and Stuttgart but then I got the opportunity to drive a true legend, the Porsche 930 Turbo and the whole perspective changed. This coworker’s 930 Turbo had a handful of Ruf modifications and was so fast, the rear tires never really felt connected to the pavement. But was it the just the tires or was there more to the question: why do they call the Porsche 930 Turbo the Widowmaker?

Let’s be blunt, the name ‘Widowmaker’ implies you are going to die driving this car, and leave your wife a wealthy widow. Back in the 1970s when this car was conceived, we still had the Grand Prix running the Nürburgring Nordschleife Green Hell, no air bags, no ABS and Porsche engineers were smoking potent Euro cigarettes at their desks. Porsche was dominating top level motorsports like Le Mans with turbo tech in the Porsche 956 and Porsche 962C won most of the races in the 1970s and 1980s. But it was the highly successful Porsche 935 turbo, that required, Porsche build FIA homologated models for the street and the Porsche 930 Turbo produced 400 units as required in 1975. 

…the name ‘Widowmaker’ implies you are going to die driving this car, and leave your wife a wealthy widow…

But this was a car that now eclipses the 911 chassis horsepower they had in the Carrera itself. The more pedestrian version of the 911 had 150hp and 173hp for the 911S but the 930 cranked out a whopping 250hp in the 3.0L from 1975-1977 and 296 hp with 304 lb-ft of torque from the later 3.3-liter in 1978 onwards. Coming from 3.0-3.3L, that kind of horsepower might not sound like much in our modern horsepower wars but it was substantial and clearly the rest of the 930 wasn’t ready. Although Porsche upgraded the 911 chassis to address items like weight distribution, downforce, traction and yes the dreaded turbo lag, there were significant problems driving the Porsche 930 Turbo,

“The technology isn’t in the car for it to cope with the amount of horsepower, really.” 1980 Porsche 930 Turbo owner Deryck Shakespeare told Petrolicious, “If you’re not ready for [turbo lag], it will catch you by surprise and it’s lights out.”

My first experience in the 930 Turbo was trying to run 0-60mph times in my (then new G-Tech performance meter. When launching in first gear even with a bit of a roll-out it would just light up the tires and break loose when the boost started coming on. Yes I had powerful turbo cars but, this was a Ruf Turbo that was around 400hp and it was too much for the suspension, tires and weight bias to handle. The best runs we clicked off were low 5-second range but that was starting in second gear!

Remember, that is straight line acceleration and the 3.3L boxer-6 turbo was a handful. He said he didn’t really drive anywhere near the limit because of the cars reputation he had a couple snap-oversteer tank-slapper moments and that was enough to dial it back and just respect the car that completely lived up to it’s name – the Widowmaker.

The Porsche 930 Turbo isn’t a ver substantial car. It was over simplified almost from the beginning and by the mid to late 1980s seemed antiquated versus modern sport luxury offerings. The formula was simple, light chassis, no driver aides, no power-steering or ABS but big on horsepower… it even had an old school 4-speed transaxle. For a minimalist car, that weighed under 3,000-pounds, there was outstanding power-to-weight ratio to be had, especially by the final 1989 production car that came with 330hp. But the weight bias was completely off in this car from the 1970s 

Rear weight bias gave them immersive, off-the-line traction, and the ability to shift weight rear out of corners and rocket out of the exits. Only problem is that balance can’t be too upset as the rear weight give the car a pendulum effect when lateral cornering forces are introduced. Swing that force too much and a snap-oversteer condition arises and in the 930 Turbo chassis is impossible to control. Certainly the throttle can’t be relied on to help steer as the lag is too delayed. When that boost hits, it wouldn’t only add to the instability of the uncontrolled oversteer. As a result, the 930 Turbo and any modified variants from the factory or German turning houses, has to be feathered, has to be respected… you’re not Hans-Joachim Stuck.

The instability and unpredictability of the Porsche 930 did have consequences. There were crashes and deaths attributed to the inherent driving characteristics of the 930. It is rumored that the US market did not receive the 930 Turbo in 1980 to make revisions to the car but that was attributed to it not meeting emissions standards. Europe of course got more horsepower with 325 but let’s face it, they are all fantastic drivers over there. But more importantly, the questionable fate of the 930 Turbo in unskilled hands prompted Porsche to pioneer performance AWD drive systems. Yes the Porsche 959, often credited with being the grandfather of the modern supercar needed advanced traction of electronically-controlled AWD to put all of its 450 turbo ponies to the ground.

…the questionable fate of the 930 Turbo in unskilled hands prompted Porsche to pioneer performance AWD drive systems…

Porsche and turbo now meant they would be synonymous with all-wheel drive. Well at least until traction control, suspension and tire tech caught up. Yes, we are looking at you GT2-RS.

Widowmaker: a term coined by German pilots terrified of their flawed Luftwaffe F104G Starfighter seemed fitting for the Porsche 930 Turbo. Parallels exists since the F-104G was a high performance fighter with an out-of-the-box design but also fatal design issues and it didn’t perform in less-than-ideal conditions.

L’Automobile Storms Miami Beach With Concepts, Customs, and Supercars

Second Annual Event Showcases World Class Cars

When you think of Miami, visions of the unhinged 80s immersed in a tropical lifestyle with a dose of narcotics come into focus. However, Miami is now recognized as an international hub of fashion, culture, and art renowned the world over for producing leading-edge designers. The car in Miami is more of a statement than basic transportation and even six-figure supercars are heavily customized and modified to make an impact in South Beach, Brickell and emerging hot spots like Wynwood and the Design District. With this fashion, art and culture movement producing a show like l’Automobile would certainly succeed, transcending car enthusiasts to cater to the design inherent in cars and the talent designers who visualize and craft them as well.

L’Automobile (French for ‘The Automobile’) is in its second year and being a new show, at a fresh venue with an innovative approach, gained momentum as car design aficionados caught on. The founder, Elo is no rookie in the high end, design and custom car scene. That’s right, the founder goes by only one name and comes by it honestly coming from the fashion world in the UK and Europe and setting up shop in Miami to establish a high dose of sophisticated car culture in one of America’s leading arts locales.

The 2021 show forged ahead through the pandemic with strong attendance for international cars and infamous car personalities such as:

• Fabio Lamborghini: The nephew of the famous Ferrucio Lamborhini, Fabio trained in engineering and worked at divisions of the fabled automaker until 2007. He was also active in contributing to the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agostino, Italy, which these days is more of a special guest at auto events around the world.
• Maurizio Corbi: Active designer from Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and responsible for the Ferrari legends, the F355, the 550 Maranello and yes even the exclusive 349 unit F50 flat-12 supercar from the 1990s. 
• Malcolm Bricklin: Most famous for the mid-1970s composite panel V8 supercar bearing his name the Bricklin SV-1. Bricklin is an auto exec that has had many successes over the years and remained a force in the automotive business into his 80s.

Beyond the star power invited to the event, the Miami VIP car elite showed up en masse with millions of dollars in supercars, hypercars and classics sitting out in the parking lot forming a show itself. Dozens of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens graced the lot with the odd Koenigsegg and Pagani to make a statement. But inside the show the collection got even more eclectic, exotic and rare being hand picked by Elo himself.

Likely the most expensive vehicle at the show was the Red Bull HONDA-powered F1 car to promote F1 Miami. The show also included a high value of the late model supercars, as well as an array of customs and prototypes, which are truly priceless. We’ve seen the outrageous coachwork on the Lamborghini Espada rat rod built by Danton Arts Customs of France but in reality, the impact never fades on us. The Espada again graced another Miami show but it was it’s neighbor the Salvage to Savage DeLorean twin turbo widebody that shocked the crowds. This show was the first appearance of the 2021 SEMA hit show car, that easily made the largest impression on attendees at the Vegas show.

Built just north in Boca Raton, FL, the widebody DeLorean is literally a concept from famous 3D designer, The Kyza (Khyzyl Saleem) meticulously crafted into metal and composites. This is a true fantasy-concept sitting at the l’Automobile show but far from a rolling clay shell, this retro supercar makes real jam. Under the bonnet is Garrett twin turbo-powered 5.2L LS V8 channeled through a 6-speed Porsche 996 transaxle to the rear wheels. Not only was the first time anyone has seen the car wrapped in this rich gold hue, there is more to the build we are featuring soon.

A pair of retro highlights captured audience attention, the first was the Maggiore Project M. The limited to 40 units Project M, is based on the venerable Ferrari 308 with a fresh take on wider bodywork, composites and modern technology to make an all new approach to the Magnum-mobile. Another fan favorite was the Miami-themed Land Rover restomod. A nut and bolt restoration of this offroad legend, has been reborn with everything replaced or renewed and in a high-impact color-scheme that got a rumored $250,000 offer to buy the truck after the show.

With all of the gasoline-powered legends new and old, it was in fact a pair of EV concepts that caused a frenzy of activity. While gear heads play out the final decades of the internal combustion era, next-level projects like the EV-powered Shelby Daytona Coupe really commanded attention. This sleek silver car by Superformance was clearly missing trademark design cues like the massive side-pipes and gated manual. Although we did still spot a fuel pump switch, oil and water temp gauges, this work-in-progress has a dual EV motor set up capable of over 1000lb-ft of torque with a sub 3-second 0-60mph claim.

Beyond the Daytona Coupe EV was what appeared to be a Porsche 911 930 that curiously was missing the exhaust pipes out the rear fascia. The car called the Electric GT certainly looked like a gas car, yet had a pair of massive electric motors mounted to the rear axles resulting in one fast, yet silent assassin on the track.

Once again l’Automobile asserted itself as not a traditional Miami car show. Dozens of high-end and rare supercars from Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Pagani are seen regularly at many shows in South Florida but still the unique content at this oceanfront show setting sets itself apart. 

Exotics on Las Olas Takeover of Florida With Supercars Galore

Fourth Annual Show brings Exotics and Race Cars to Fort Lauderdale Streets

South Florida has money. Stupid kinda money where you regularly see yachts cruise by that are more than a lifetime net worth… multiplied by 100 lifetimes. For the supercar, hypercar and racecar scene, South Florida is a flurry of activity. There are collections here that will never see the light of day and having experienced a few in person, I can only verbally describe them as breathtaking because for security reasons, there won’t be any pics shared. However, Exotics on Las Olas is a show that has the owners of dozens of these rare exotics shined up and brought out to takeover the streets of Fort Lauderdale in a premium car show that realistically is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Show organizer Floyd Rag is not only a former NFL’er and celebrity-connected player but he is a huge car enthusiast who created and produces a number of popular car shows in South Florida. Floyd built up a hugely popular event called Supercar Saturdays for local dealer networks:Lamborghini Broward, Bugatti Broward and Koenigsegg Florida. With that show firmly established, he wanted to reach beyond the confines of a dealership or mall as a venue and takeover downtown Lauderdale to bring the magic to a wider audience. And now, for the fourth year in a row, the show plowed through the Pandemic to impress crowds with millions of dollars in supercars tough to find all in one place and certainly not in most states.

Past Exotics on Las Olas shows have showcased rare cars like Bugatti Divo, Pagani Huayra Roadster and even rare birds like the Maserati MC-12 Corsa, of which there are only 12. In 2021, it was more late model madness of pricey supercars, hypercars and tuned exotics that were one-offs of only a handful made. Probably the most impact at the show was garnered by the Apollo Intenza Emotizione from Ikonik Motors of Miami. Owner Barry Skolnick is a mega-millionaire that has stormed the Florida scene with his growing collection of exotics but has parlayed his passion into a retail business being the first customer to secure a V12 Apollo hypercar here in the US.

While many late model supercars graced the show, we took notice of not one but three Lamborghini Huracan STO examples in attendance. The STO is basically a street-legal race car, which in many ways is the peak of the Huracan platform as it enters its eighth model year. It seems like only yesterday the 610-4 trim came out but now there are so many variants, many of which were at the show including three Super Trofeo race versions.

While Italian supercars dominated Exotics on Las Olas, we have to tip our hat to cross-channel rival McLaren as there were many stunning examples on parade. A number of McLaren 765LT and 765LT Spiders baked in the Florida sun along with a handful of unique MSO examples on display with roof scoops and all. While the McLaren factory efforts amounted to loads of eye candy, we couldn’t believe the offering from German tuning house Novitec. The wider, faster and generally more outrageously styled Novitec 720S N-Largo was parked on Las Olas and we’re not sure just how rare people realized it actually is… there are only 14 beyond the one we were looking at!

The Novitec 720S N-Largo delivers on the performance and aero expected of the southern German tuner with a hint of Senna styling. The limited McLaren boasts 806hp and takes the already fast 720 platform to 60mph in only 2.7-seconds on the way to a top speed of 217mph. The wider wheel and tire upgrades increase the track by 2.3-inches up front and over 5-inches in the rear making the stance difference nothing less than intense.

For the 4th straight year, Exotics on Las Olas has weathered the storm and beat attendance numbers year-over-year. We ran into a few automotive media colleagues who traveled quite a distance to cover the show. Seems our little supercar show in the quaint streets of old Fort Lauderdale on palm-lined Las Olas Avenue has made the cut and gone prime-time around the world.

Best Modified Supercars at SEMA

Widebody Corvettes, Lowered Ferraris, and Amazing Lamborghinis

These mid engined supercars were built to be fast, but some builders at SEMA this year decided that they did not look cool enough. Widebody, air suspension, big wings and aero, three-piece wheels and of course fancy paint makes these stand out from their stock counterparts. Whether you are a purist or prefer modified cars, this set of cars we saw will definitely stun you.

With the new Corvette mid engined propelling the brand into supercar territory, many companies have jumped on the opportunity to transform the corvette body into something more stunning. Many jaw dropping wide body corvettes were on display here in Las Vegas.

If we raise our budget by a lot we get to see this cool Mint green Ferrari 488 that has been lowered, put on some nice white wheels and subjected to downforce. Brought to us by DNA Motoring.

Also brought to us by DNA Motoring is this AMG GT that looks like its ready for a track day and a clean car show at the same time.

FInally we have a couple Lambo’s that have gotten the treatment as well. This is youtuber TJ Hunt’s British Racing Green Lamborghini Huracan with a 1016 Widebody kit and sitting on Gold HRE wheels.

Rare JDM Cars at the 2021 SEMA SHOW

Million Dollar Skyline GTRs, Special RX7s, and Widebody Nissan Zs in Las Vegas

Spotting a Nissan or a Toyota is something you can do in your grocery store parking lot, but the ones you find at the SEMA Show are a little bit more special. Actually, that is an understatement, these are some of the most sought after JDM cars and some of the most popular styles in the Tuner scene. In terms of JDM and Tuner cars there is all sorts of stuff at SEMA this year, some of which you will never see, and others that you will probably see on retail very soon, with a couple only being JDM inspired. Come check out these JDM gems that we’ve spotted at SEMA 2021!

We never were sold any skylines in the US until Infiniti G35, and so to say that they are rare here is an understatement, especially for these two GTRs. This is the first R33 GTR 400R to come to the US and only 44 400Rs ever made. Named 400R because of its 400hp output, this was the rarest and craziest Skyline to come from the factory. Specifically this is a 400R in Sonic Silver making it a one of 5 ever made. Brought out by Top Rank Imports, this Skyline definitely stole the show

Vehicle: Nissan Skyline GTR R33 400R Sonic SilverThe other one is a Midnight Purple II V Spec GTR which cost about the same as Lamborghinis, one of the rarest color combos and trim packages for the R34 GTR.

We also spotted this Origin Widebody S14 Kouki with a 2JZ VVti Stuffed in it. It is hard to look past those stunning custom headlights though, but you’ll probably be staring at the tail lights of this thing if you caught it on the street.

You know the brand new GR 86/ BRZ? HKS is already making a new exhaust system so that you can sputter and bang your boxer as quickly as possible.

We also Saw this yellow RX7 from Fortune Auto, sporting a full RE Amemiya kit with the aero headlights.

Check out this S30 Widebody Z from Extreme wraps. It might look different from a standard 240Z or 260Z because of the slicker aero front end, referred to as a G Nose.

Finally here’s a couple BMWs that have adopted a lot a of the JDM tuner style and incorporated them into their Bavarian Builds.

First Look at the 2023 C8 Corvette Z06

Sep. 30, 2021 – The excitement about the C8 Corvette never seems to die down, even from when it was first conceived. Since its debut to the world on July 18,2019, the C8 Corvette has been a revolutionary car for the brand, as it is the first mid-engined Corvette in history. But one question asked by every automotive enthusiast in existence is whether or not a C8 Corvette Z06 was going to be released. And in true Chevrolet fashion, they answered, and on Tuesday, October 26th, they’ll debut it.

The new C8 Corvette Z06 pictures and videos have circulated the internet showing a heavily camouflaged Z06, but Chevrolet has decided to give the masses a visual taste of what this monstrosity of a vehicle is going to look like.

A naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8 will power the mid-engined sports car, capable of pushing out over 600 horsepower at an incredibly high RPM, somewhere between 8500 and 9000. Judging by past Z06 packages and shots of the camouflaged variants, the Chevy will most likely come with a larger wing, suspension upgrades, carbon ceramic brakes, and more. Stay tuned for the release to learn more about the Z06!

Gunther Werks Unveils Their Take on One of the Rarest Porsches: The 993 Speedster Remastered

Aug 19, 2021 – If you like Porsches, you’re likely familiar with the makers of wild re-imaginations of classic Porsche platforms, Gunther Werks. The latest addition to their lineup is a vision of an extremely rare platform that only saw 2 units brought into this world; one for the designer of the original 911, Butzi Porsche, and the other for Jerry Seinfeld. Of course, we’re talking about the legendary Porsche 993 Speedster. Gunther Werks’ new 993 Speedster Remastered takes the original spirit of the Speedster and reimagines it, fleshing out its performance and aimed at providing a unique open top analog driving experience.

In true Gunther Werks fashion, carbon fiber is implemented wherever they can. The interior is mostly carbon fiber, the shorter front windshield is framed with a carbon fiber cowl, and the speedster top tonneau cover is also made of carbon fiber. With additional weight saving measures in place, the Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster Remastered only weighs 2590lbs with a chassis that is even more rigid than the one in the 993 coupe.

Underneath the rear deck lives a 4.0L flat six engine that produces 435 hp and 335 lb/ft torque screaming with a 7,800rpm redline. The power from the flat six is translated through a Getrag G50 six-speed manual gearbox featured in the original 993, but with custom ratios. The Gunther Werks 993 Speedster stays composed on the track with an all-new adaptive suspension from JRZ, featuring 3 different settings; composed, sport, and sport plus.

Stronger, faster, and lighter are 3 words that without a doubt describe this new Gunther Werks project. Revealed with a striking Cannes green paint and Dawn Orange leather interior, this 993 is a testament to performance and styling. Only 25 of the 993 Speedster Remastered will be produced.

Lamborghini Brings Back the Legendary Countach With a v12 Hybrid Engine

Aug 18, 2021 – As a celebration of it’s 50th anniversary, the legendary Lamborghini Countach has returned and carries on the spirit of its iconic namesake while taking the nameplate into the future. The official name of the new Lamborghini is the Countach LPI 800-4, and will bring along with it technology as futuristic as its name.

Featuring a longitudinally mounted V12 platform, this new Countach is promised to deliver the same high performance experience you’d expect from a Lamborghini, but with a slight twist. This 6.5L V12 is combined with hybrid technology, the same used for development of the Lamborghini Sian, and is said to produce a combined 814cv (CV stands for chevaux vapeur, or horsepower) which is rounded to 800 providing the name “LPI 800-4”.  This power is delivered to a permanent four-wheel drive transmission, and makes it go from 0-100km/h in just 2.8 second with a top speed of 355km/h.

The design of the Countach LPI 800-4 is definitely reminiscent of its 70s predecessor, featuring strong and straight lines, and that iconic wedge shape. Though it doesn’t have the giant rear wing sported on the past LP500 model, it does have the signature Countach quad exhaust and scissor doors.

The final outcome of the new Lamborghini Countach LP800-4 is evolution of it’s predecessors spirit of pushing boundaries of performance into the modern age. There will be a very limited run of the LP800-4; only 112 units will be made. So for most of us once again, the Lamborghini Countach will live only as a poster on our walls.

Limited Edition Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is Bred for the Track

Aug 9, 2021 – As if the GT2 RS wasn’t a track slayer already, Porsche has reimagined it in this special edition run to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Manthey-Racing GmbH. With a production run of just 30 cars, this new 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 was designed and executed by Porsche and Manthey for the ultimate racing fans and collectors, giving the future owners a weapon for track days and circuit racing. 

Looking back to 2018, Porsche unveiled the modern-day 935, a 700 horsepower racer featuring a body reminiscent of the legendary Porsche 935/78, with a production capped at 77 units. Today, Porsche decided to base the GT2 RS Clubsport on the same 3.8-liter flat-six twin-turbo engine, combined with a seven-speed Porsche dual-clutch gearbox. The GT2 RS Clubsport is similar to the 935 in other ways than just the engine, including the fact that both cars are based on the 991 model generation, along with sharing similar essential suspension features, 18″ center locking wheels, and more. 

Matthias Scholz, Director of GT Racing Cars, spoke about the Porsche and Manthey collaboration, saying “With the unique special edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25, this successful partnership has moved to the next level. He goes on to say “The 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 benefits from the motor racing experience that Manthey and Porsche Motorsport have gained around the world. It is the perfect circuit racing car for ambitious private drivers, and its and impressive example of engineering skill.” 

Because of its low production numbers, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is going to be incredibly rare, with many top-tier Porsche collectors and sports car racers undoubtedly fighting for a slot. 

A Look at the 2022 Acura NSX Type S

Aug 4, 2021 – Recently we saw the release of the Lamborghini Ultimae, the Italian brands farewell to one of their most beloved supercars, the Aventador. Now, Acura has joined along in the farewell parade, this time with the introduction of the 2022 Acura NSX Type S. Limited to just 350 units worldwide, the Acura NSX Type S raises the already impressive performance of Acura’s cutting-edge electrified supercar to new levels. We recently got a glimpse of this incredibly high performance road-legal NSX, and it is here to deliver more power, quicker acceleration, sharper handling, and a more emotional driving experience. 

The original powertrain in the second-generation Acura NSX is a twin-turbo V6 coupled with a Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, but the Type S will sport an even more refined version of it. More details are to come about its performance following its debut on August 12th. 

Because of the limited run of 2022 Acura NSX Type S which are capped at 350, with only 300 coming to the States, Acura predicts that the car is destined to join the ranks of unique and collectible first-generation NSX models. These models include the 1999 NSX Zanardi Edition, which only had 51 produced, and other JDM variants such as the NSX-R, NSX Type S, and NSX Type S-Zero.

Stay tuned for the debut at Monterey Car Week on August 12th to see just what kind of numbers this NSX puts out performance wise, and also what number Acura wants people to pay for it! 

A Look at the First Bespoke Pininfarina Battista

July 21, 2021 – One-of-a-kind is a motto Automobili Pininfarina is using to market their new electric hypercar, the Battista, and they mean it. With a new all-encompassing bespoke personalization program, Pininfarina is able to give new clients of the Battista a unique and individually tailored hypercar. More specifically, the company has a total of 128 million combinations which provides opportunities for clients to reflect their own individual tastes. And now, Automobili Pininfarina has released images of their first bespoke Battista, which is a commission inspired by New York City and features industry-first exposed signature carbon bodyworks to compliment its red, white and blue theme.

Starting with the interior, clients can begin by choosing between leather and Alcantara, and then move to other options such as contrast stitching, an Interior Jewellery Pack, and even fine aluminum interior detailing. In the bespoke New York commission, featured inside is black leather upholstery accompanied by Iconica Blu Alcantara with navy color inserts which elegantly showcase the Battista’s interior design and luxurious materials.

Moving to the exterior, 56 exterior paint finishes are available, unless you prefer the exposed carbon fiber bodywork option. Then, additional packages can be selected, such as the Carbon Accent Pack and Furiosa Carbon Accent Pack, with a selection of bespoke paint colors or exposed carbon finishes.

However, the insanely powerful all-electric Pininfarina Battista doesn’t rely solely on its appearance. Automobili Pininfarina claims the Battista will be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy. With a motor at each wheel combining for 1,900 horsepower, the Battista can reach 63 mph faster than a Formula 1 car, a staggering sub-two second feat. Better yet, the Battista promises a 310 mile range on its 120 kWh battery.

Pininfarina says just 150 Battista examples will be made, a small number for such an endless amount of customization. Prices look to be upwards of $2 million, a small price to pay fo a car claiming to be the most powerful car coming out of Italy!

The Dune Bashing Gemballa Marsien

July 16, 2021 – A new wildly designed Gemballa Porsche has hit the streets, but not quite the Gemballa we’ve come to know and love. Marc Philipp Gemballa, 27 year old son of the legendary German auto tuner Uwe Gemballa, has created his own take on the Gemballa legacy. This brand new supercar company, Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH, along with designer and Porsche aficionado Alan Derosier, took a Porsche 911 S and crafted a marvelous machine that’s here to push the boundaries of both on and off-road performance. 

Safari 911’s are nothing new, and even Singer just recently released their take on a rally-ready 911, but Marc Philipp Gemballa’s take is drastically different than what has come before. Gemballa calls this Porsche, known as the Marsien, a truly bespoke vehicle, and that it is. Besides its futuristic design and character, the majority of the car itself is made up of pure carbon fiber, designed for performance, lightweight, and cooling. Every piece was manufactured by a leading German carbon fiber specialist, known for supplying renown OEM sports car manufactures as well as several Formula 1 teams. And although it may be light and nimble, it still needs to draw power from somewhere, and that is exactly where RUF comes into play. 

For those unfamiliar or may need a refresher, RUF is a German car manufacturer that engineers original vehicles using unmarked Porsche chassis. As we talked about bespoke before, its only right for the Gemballa Marsien to have a unique powertrain of the highest quality. The engineers at RUF were able to tweak and tune the six-cylinder boxer to squeak out an extra 100+ horsepower over an original Porsche 911 Turbo S, producing a whopping 740 hp, or an even wilder 830 hp for their second stage model. However, the Gemballa Marsien isn’t all about aerodynamics and engine perfomance — off-roadability is where this beefy Porsche draws its energy. 

Together with the leading suspension and chassis technology pioneer KW automotive, Marc Philipp Gemballa was able to incorporate a newly developed double wishbone suspension system equipped with KW solid piston damper technology. Not only does this system allow the Gemballa Marsien an intelligent active damper control, but also features and adjustable ride height system for on and off road use. At the rear, a multi-link suspension with an anti-roll bar was put in place for even better control in the dirt. 

With a limited run of just 40 units, it may be difficult to get your hands on one of these creations, but if you have $583,000 to toss on a hyper off-roader, then we wish you luck!

Aston Martin Valhalla: A 937-HP Hybrid Supercar Beast

July 15, 2021 – The Valkyrie may be the more powerful and expensive of the two, but this new Aston Martin Valhalla could quite possibly be the cream of the crop. The Aston Martin Valhalla, similar to the Valkyrie, is built around the expertise the company has gained through Formula 1 experience, allowing new owners access to technology born from the race track. This truly driver-focused mid-engined hybrid supercar now sets best in class standards for performance, dynamics and driving pleasure. From Valkyrie to Valhalla, Aston Martin’s Project Horizon is not disappointing, so let’s dive into what makes this car so spectacular. 

Between a 937-horsepower hybrid engine, pinpoint handling, and remarkable levels of downforce, the Aston Martin Valhalla is a new breed of supercar. But what makes up that 937-horsepower monster of an engine you may ask? Well, it takes one beast of a V8 to push 740-hp with two turbos bolted on, along with two separate electric motors to hit such numbers.  A top speed of 217 miles per hour and the ability to hit 62 mph in under 2.5 seconds give a great example of the Valhalla’s capabilities. However, power isn’t all the Valhalla leans on, and if it learned anything from the Valkyrie, it’s aerodynamics. 

The Aston Martin Valhalla has a few tricks up its sleeve, mostly pertaining to active aerodynamics for unparalleled downforce. At first look, the Valhalla seems rather mild when it comes to aerodynamics, with no massive wing or dorsal fin like its much more extreme counterpart, the Valkyrie AMR Pro. The team at Aston Martin learned that drastic changes to aerodynamics under the car makes for less to do up top. At 150 mph, the Valhalla is capable of generating an impressive 1322 lbs of downforce, allowing for mighty high-speed cornering abilities and unshakable stability. 

It also does help that the Valhalla is built around a new carbon fiber tub for maximum stiffness, all while maintaining a weight of around 3,417 pounds. With everything Aston Martin has learned from Formula 1 and its lightning fast Valkyrie, it’s no wonder the Valhalla seems to be the quintessential hybrid supercar. 

A Final Farewell: The New Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae

July 12, 2021 – The end is near for the Lamborghini Aventador, but not without a final production farewell appropriately named the Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae. Spanning over a decade, the production of the insanely aggressive looking V12 hypercar from Lamborghini is making its last rounds before vanishing into automotive history. This time, the iconic V12 is nestled inside the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, giving it the power and performance of the SVJ while intensifying the elegance of the Aventador S.

Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, says “The Aventador LP-4 denotes the final, purest, timeless naturally-aspirated production V12 Lamborghini”. For its final go, the Ultimae will grab from a collection of the greatest features of the Aventador’s decade of successes, and of course, it will be starting with a pumped up version of the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine. With some tweaks and tunes, that powerhouse is now putting out 769 horsepower, almost 40 more the Aventador S and 10 more than the SVJ. Power’s not the only feature the Ultimae scores higher than the Aventador S, but also weight. With a unique, extremely rigid and lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, and extensive use of carbon fiber around the hypercar, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae is able to achieve a weight of 3,417 pounds, a 55 pound savings. 

All of these features lead to some impressive perfjoamcne numbers, including a 0-62 mph time of only 2.8 seconds. The fun doesn’t stop there, and the Ultimae flies to 124 mph in only 8.7 seconds, and reaches a top-speed of 221 mph.

Looks wise, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae only gets a few subtle changes compared to its SVJ counterpart. Rather than a massive wing and SVJ plastered on the side, the Ultimae received a new front bumper and an option of colored strakes. Only 350 Ultimae coupes will be produced, with an even smaller amount of roadsters at just 250.

2022 Dallara EXP: A Roofless Track Weapon

July 1, 2021 – For those familiar with the world of racing, you may have heard of the Italian race car manufacturer Dallara, and if so, you’ll know that the Dallara EXP is a new car that’s going to push the boundaries of race car capabilities. The company was founded by Gian Paolo Dallara, who previously worked for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso. You could say he has a knack for race cars, so much so he has been creating his own track shredders.

Before releasing their newest creation, Dallara manufactured a barely road legal Stradale that somehow found its way to sporting a license plate. The company realized the car needed some extreme aero and more power, and if the original Stradale barely met requirements for the street, then this new Dallara EXP would be a track-only weapon. 

The powerhouse putting the EXP in motion is the same 2.3 liter Eco-Boost found in the Ford Focus RS, albeit with more power. A little tinkering from Dallara lands the power output of the 4 cylinder around 492 hp. With outlandish horsepower numbers from modern day supercars, this number may seem pretty small for a track only car. Don’t let that horsepower figure fool you though, as the Dallara EXP has a dry weight of only 1,962 lbs, with 2,756 lbs of downforce at top speed. Even better, the car can pull 2.7 G’s.

No price has been given for the EXP, but it is noted that the Stradale can be transformed into an EXP, and vice versa. The Stradale comes in at around $200,000, but if you’re looking for a track only toy, look no further than the EXP! 

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro Redefines the Hypercar

June 29, 2021 – If you’ve ever wondered what a hypercar is defined as, then look no further for a prime example than the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro. Shortly after delivering their newest 1,000 hp hybrid road car, the Valkyrie, Aston Martin has stepped it up with a track only, racing regulation free hypercar that is here to eliminate all competition. As Aston Martin puts it, the Valkyrie AMR Pro is “a machine which takes a car designed to win the Le Mans 24 Hours as its starting point, then pushes further to explore extremes of performance unconstrained by racing regulations or registration for road use.” 

Similar to the road legal Valkyrie, the AMR Pro is chock full of mind-blowing capabilities. Neatly nestled inside the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is a Cosworth-built 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12, capable of revving up to 11,000 rpm and putting 1000bhp down to the pavement. You may be thinking that the original road legal Valkyrie posted these kinds of numbers before even adding its hybrid system, a good thought indeed.

Well, the AMR Pro is more than just a powerhouse. Aston Martin set out to achieve the fastest lap times, but this pursuit also involved a plethora of weight saving changes. Firstly, the battery electric hybrid system was removed, along with a host of other weight saving measures. Continuing the technology partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), Aston Martin has been able to incorporate into the AMR Pro ultra-light carbon fiber bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones and Perspex windscreen and side windows.

With everything combined, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro exceeds Le Mans Hypercar regulations for aerodynamic efficiency, with Aston Martin claiming track performance close to that of an F1 car.

More details of the Valkyrie AMR Pro including specification and performance are to be revealed later this year. As of now, a target lap time around the 8.5 mile 24H Le Mans is set at 3 minutes and 20 seconds, a number that could put the Valkyrie AMR Pro in first place in an LMP1 race. 40 AMR Pro versions of the Valkyrie will be produced, and with the original Valkyrie priced at $3 million, it seems the sky may be the limit for the price of an AMR Pro!

Steve McQueen’s “Le Mans” Porsche 917 K Heading to Auction

June 25, 2021 – If you’re looking to get your hands on a piece of automotive history, then you’re most definitely going to want to check out this 1970 Porsche 917 K up for auction at RM Sotheby’s. This 917 K doesn’t only have a Le Mans entry in 1970 with the Mike Hailwood/David Hobbs JW Automotive Gulf Racing team, but also starred in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans. 

This Porsche 917 K has quite the history, and aside from starring in movies and racing in the actual 24 Hours of Le Mans, it has had a complete restoration. Going back in time to Le Mans, the car was raced in 1970 and reached 3rd place before it aquaplaned in the rain and sustained minimal chassis damage. The car was retired while the drivers jumped in a spare, and that’s where the rest of the Porsche 917 K’s story continues. The car entered the limelight for the 1971 feature in which they used actual footage from its 1970 Le Mans race. The car was then rebuilt by Porsche for team Shell Heckersbruch, where it competed and performed strongly for the next 3 years.

By 2012, the Porsche 917 K was bought by a noted collector where it received its full restoration. This meant the exterior was once again plastered in its beautiful Gulf-liveried Le Mans coupe specification. The restoration was executed by Paul Lanzante, a top European racing car restorer. Without regard to cost and with access to many period correct parts, the Porsche 917 K was once again basking in the glory of its deep roots in the golden era of motorsport. 

Ferrari 296 GTB Unleashes 818 HP Through Hybrid V6

June 24, 2021 – Ferrari may now have the perfect answer to the V6 super-hybrid McLaren Artura, and it comes in the form of the new Ferrari 296 GTB. Built with a mid-rear engine V6 coupled with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, this new creation from Maranello puts out a staggering 818 hp. Biased or not, Ferrari says their newest creation defines fun to drive and maximizes usability and driving pleasure.

Ferrari may not have an EV on the market yet, but the 296 GTB definitely shows that the company is willing to step out of its 8 and 12 cylinder comfort zone. The supercar sports the company’s first ever V6 engine in a road car, which alone puts out 653 hp. For comparison, the V6 and electric motor combined in the Artura make 671 hp. That’s not far off for Ferrari’s base number, so once you factor in the electric motor that’s putting out 165 hp, that makes for one fast prancing horse! Attached to the V6 turbo ICE is an 8-speed DCT and E-Diff, while the electric motor is separated from the ICE by a clutch to decouple them in electric-only mode. 

The Ferrari 296 GTB also stands out for its newest features that manage the two engines. Called the eManettino, a power selector in the supercar, it is capable of selecting between 4 different drive modes. eDrive, hybrid, performance, and qualify are the modes to switch between, and are in order of performance. eDrive is strictly for the electric motor, hybrid allows for maximum efficiency between both motors, performance keeps the ICE on at all times for maintaining full power, and qualify is everything tuned to the max. 

Ferrari is set to release the 296 GTB in Q1 of 2022, with a starting price of $321,000. 

Introducing the $3.9 Million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport

June 08, 2021 – Bugatti’s overarching goal is always to create a premier automotive experience combining both luxury and top speed, two boxes that their newest creation, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, undoubtedly checks off. From a brand that lives by the mantra of form always follows performance, they have done a remarkable job hitting the nail on the head once again. 

Every aspect of the exterior of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport plays a role in its unrivaled aerodynamics, from the front splitter all the way back to the rear diffuser. As Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti, puts it, “With the Chiron Super Sport, we are following our long-standing tradition of combining top speed with absolute luxury.” 

You can almost imagine it being difficult making a performance version of an already over-engineered and exceptionally well performing platform such as the Bugatti Chiron. Every aspect of the car has already been so finely tuned that it seems almost impossible to refine it more. However, the engineers at Bugatti took every step to take the Chiron Super Sport a step above. For aerodynamic performance, the rear of the Chiron grew by 25 centimeters to hold the laminar flow to the bodywork for as long as possible. Engineers also enlarged the diffuser cross-section which in turn raised the diffuser’s trailing edge. As a result of these small changes, the slipstream and wind resistance generated are significantly reduced.

Moving on into the performance, the engineers once again had to tweak every last detail to hopefully accumulate a tad more performance anywhere they could. When it came to the 8.0-liter W16 engine, it was thoroughly overhauled. With modifications to the turbochargers, oil pump, cylinder head with valve train, transmission and clutch, the Chiron Super Sport is able to squeeze out about 100 more horsepower. 

The Chiron and Chiron Sport were able to put down an astonishing 1479 horsepower, but the Super Sport, with its updated components and bigger turbos, now puts down 1577 horsepower — even more than the Divo! The improved performance now makes the hypercar capable of accelerating to 124 mph in 5.8 seconds and 186 mph in only 12.1 seconds. And although Bugatti did in fact make 30 Super Sport 300 versions two years ago that could hit a top speed of 300 mph, the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport just isn’t capable of that number. However, the 273 mph top speed it is capable of should be more than enough for the lucky owners. 

Bugatti will soon begin manufacturing of the Chiron Super Sport in Molsheim, France, and if you’re interested in purchasing one, the price is $3.9 million. 

Touring Superleggera Unveils True Italian Artistry With Arese RH95

June 07, 2021 – Italian automobile coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has just dropped their latest creation, the Arese RH95, and it’s here to drop your jaw.

Coachbuilding is at the foundation of automotive culture, and has been around for as long as luxury cars have been produced. In the early days, if you had enough money and wanted to have your ride stand out from the crowd, you could hire a coachbuilder to customize, and even re-body, your car. Fast-forward to today and this is exactly what Touring Superleggera is widely known and respected for doing. 

The Arese RH95 most likely started its life as a Ferrari 488 Pista, but has now become a symbol of performance and elegance. The first mid-engined car Touring has built, the Arese RH95 is quite possibly the definition of Italian sports cars. The name of the coach built supercar reflects directly on the 95 years of Touring Superleggera heritage. 

Several features of the Arese RH95 speak volumes for the true craftsmanship coming out of Touring. For one, because of the Arese being their first mid-engined car, it was only right to throw on a massive dorsal scoop to feed air to the engine, right? If the beautifully crafted front and center scoop isn’t quite enough, the Arese RH95 features fantastic scissor doors which are quick to draw your attention, while also giving a glimpse of the immaculate interior.

Performance wise, the Arese RH95 should deliver everything we’d expect from a Ferrari 488 Pista. In short, the Pista comes with a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 that produces 711 hp and 567 lb-ft of torque. This launches the supercar to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.0 seconds flat, with a top speed of 211 mph. 

Pricing for the Arese RH95 is available upon request, but you better hope your wallet is as big as that dorsal scoop!

A Streamlined Guide to Aero

What Do All Those Wings and Fins Do, Really?

Getting into the subject of aerodynamics as they relate to cars is asking for trouble. Whether you’re talking about imports with big goofy wings and dive planes that look like anime road catfish, or even just owners of a certain domestic brand who steadfastly refuse to remove the banana-yellow shipping guards on their cars’ factory splitters, it’s a topic that draws a lot of derision. Sometimes that’s warranted, but there is a place for aero mods in the tuner’s toolbox. Understanding the goals of functional aero is the first step in moving from the realm of questionable styling choices into something worth doing for the sake of improved performance. We’re going to jump in with both feet and banish the poser-tech to the Land of Wind and Ghosts, so hang on…

No Free Lunch

Aerodynamic modifications to a car serve one or both of two main functions; reducing drag and reducing lift. Most changes affect both drag and lift, and while downforce can be important, achieving meaningful results in that area without a huge drag penalty can require some finesse. Drag is especially important because it increases with the cube of velocity – drag-inducing elements of a vehicle’s design that aren’t worth worrying about at low speed become big problems on the highway or racetrack. Like almost any part of car design, the ability to maximize the desired effects while minimizing the drawbacks is what separates winners and losers.

An excellent example of this that’s become ubiquitous over the last two decades in OEM car designs is limiting the volume of air that passes underneath a car. In older designs, this was a source of both lift and drag, and as a result, modern vehicles have become lower and they’ve added aerodynamic features to the nose of the car to redirect flow. These changes cost virtually nothing for manufacturers to implement but provide real benefits.

One area of special attention that was often poorly-understood or simply ignored in the past was air passing through the front grille, into the engine bay, and out through the open underside. Smaller air inlets better-sized to the radiator core and ‘bottom breather’ noses that actually relieve pressure at the lowest point under the bumper, plus aerodynamic trays covering the underside of the engine compartment are all examples of the way modern designs improve aero in this region.

We have to admit that we’ve been among those who have either intentionally removed an engine bay undertray to make maintenance less of a pain, or simply lost one due to ill-advised encounters with curb stops or speed bumps, but not having them in place as intended is a significant source of both drag and lift. There’s little point in trying to improve aerodynamics at the nose of the vehicle with added parts if the primary flow-control features of the factory design are missing. 

Presuming that you’re starting from an intact, OEM aero standpoint, is it possible to modify things yourself and achieve meaningful, non-cosmetic results? The answer is a qualified yes – like every other aspect of automotive engineering, factory designs are always a compromise between competing goals, and the compromises you might choose as an enthusiast aren’t always the same as the ones that are aimed at satisfying the greatest number of ‘normie’ potential customers. In the case of aero, low drag, stable handling at freeway speed, and low noise top the factory wish list. 

As an enthusiast, you may be willing to trade away some extra drag (and lose a bit of fuel economy at cruise) in exchange for added downforce to improve traction. Increased wind noise may also not be a concern for you, and you might be willing to accept the negative consequences of a lower ride height, like increased susceptibility to damage from potholes and curbs. These are just a couple of considerations when planning out aero changes to your vehicle. 

With all this in mind, let’s start from the front and work our way back, describing different aero components and how they function (or at least are supposed to function).

Nose Dive

It used to be that air dams with splitters (a horizontal plate attached at the bottom of the air dam) were only seen on race cars, but they’re appearing with greater and greater frequency on factory cars as well – often with the aforementioned plastic protective bananas still attached, because reasons. The purpose of a splitter is to cleanly divide flow between the air moving around and through the nose of the car and the air traveling underneath the body, as well as limiting how much air goes low instead of high. To be truly effective, splitters need to be quite close to the ground, and even though factory-designed ones are usually higher than ideal, they still provide an endless source of horrible scraping noises over curbs, driveway entrances, and other obstacles if the driver isn’t careful. 

A properly-designed splitter and air dam combo will reduce both drag and front end lift by reducing turbulent flow to the underbody, and will also help the engine bay tray (if present) to do its job. A secondary purpose is to help guide flow around the front wheel openings, which are a major source of drag. 

Dive planes, canards, fins, or whatever you want to call other small aero devices placed on the quarter panel in front of the wheel arches also serve this purpose, as do longitudinal fences at the gap between the fender and the hood. Properly engineered canards can also help promote the flow of air from brake cooling ducts that source air from the high pressure area in the bumper by creating a local region of lower pressure to draw air away from the rotors and wheels after it has done its job. 

Care has to be taken with hood fences, though – viewed in profile, a car is shaped somewhat like an airplane wing, and just like a wing, air that is accelerated over the upper side creates an area of reduced pressure, generating lift. Ideally, fences will keep high pressure air from spilling over the fenders (thus increasing front downforce) without forcing it to follow the curve of the windshield over, rather than around, the passenger cabin. Fences, as well as canards/dive planes to a lesser extent, can also greatly increase turbulence around external mirrors – while this isn’t a huge source of extra drag, it can create a lot of interior noise ranging from a very-low-frequency ‘brown note’ rumble to intolerable high-pitched whistling. 

Side View

Extended lower sills along the sides of the body are another example of managing airflow beneath the vehicle. Like splitters, to be completely effective they need to be impractically (at least for on-road use) close to the ground, but they aren’t totally useless even when compromised for the sake of clearance. 

An interesting side note here is that a number of competition vehicles, ranging from the 1970 Chaparral 2J Can Am car to modern Formula SAE karts have been built with ‘powered downforce’ using a fan to pull air from underneath the car. Working like a reverse hovercraft of sorts, the front, sides, and rear of the underbody were sealed to the road surface via flexible skirts with polycarbonate sliders at the bottom to reduce air leakage, and a slight vacuum created by the fan across the entire underside of the car delivered enormous downforce at zero MPH with no aerodynamic drag. It was said that the 2J could develop enough suction to allow it to stick to the roof of a tunnel at a standstill, and the pair of 17 inch fans, driven by a separate snowmobile engine, could drive the car forward at 40 MPH just by their thrust alone.

Of course, in Can Am competition the technology was immediately outlawed, as these things tend to be, but in racing situations where it isn’t outright banned by the rulebook, this unique form of “aero” is still an extremely effective one. In the real world with roads that aren’t billiard-table smooth, the skirts take a beating, and getting rocks and dirt actively sucked up through powered fans does not make the people driving behind you very happy. Nonetheless, a good front splitter and side skirts, combined with a rear end shaped to create a low pressure area can still take advantage of this same effect, though only in motion and with much less total downforce. 

On the roof of the car, vortex generators can be fitted along the back edge just ahead of the rear window. These are small triangular features that are actually designed to create turbulence, but in a very controlled way. By inducing a narrow band of swirling flow, they act in the same way as a solid fence and can help keep flow attached to a surface, with a small drag penalty. Originally vortex generators (as well as fences) were found on aircraft wings as a way to stop span-wise (side to side) airflow and improve stall performance. In the automotive world, you’ve undoubtedly seen these on factory Mitsubishi EVO sedans, and their budget cousins can easily be found in the stick-on plastic whatsis aisle at your local auto parts store, alongside portholes, fake vents, and chrome Punisher symbols. Usually, these cheap little pyramids are poser tech, but they can actually be effective when used in the right spots. Unfortunately, without sticking tufts of yarn all over the outside of the car to see how air is moving locally across the roof and backlight, the ‘right spots’ are impossible to determine beyond an educated guess. 

Winging It (Spoiler Alert)

Finally, we get to what you’ve all been waiting for, the defining piece of aero hardware – the wing or spoiler. First, though, please understand that the terms aren’t interchangeable, and although both reduce lift/increase downforce on the rear end of the vehicle, they do it in different ways. Let’s start with the simpler of the two, the spoiler. 

The name for this aerodynamic device comes directly from its function; ‘spoiling’ the lift of a wing-shaped surface. Earlier, we described how the body of the entire car in side-view resembles an aircraft wing with a curved upper surface, and just like an aircraft wing, since air has to travel farther and faster across the top than the bottom, it will generate lift. A spoiler on the back of the car works exactly as it would on a wing, disrupting that flow of air to kill some of the lift being produced. 

Just as importantly, a spoiler can actually reduce total aerodynamic drag despite being an impediment to the smooth flow of air. Back at the dawn of ‘streamlining’ (as aerodynamics were first called 100 or so years ago) inventors looked at the teardrop shape of a falling droplet of water and concluded that nature was providing them with a blueprint for the perfect low-drag shape. As a result, a lot of the first efforts at streamlining included long, pointed tails to allow the airflow to smoothly rejoin behind the vehicle without producing an area of low pressure.  

As zippy as these designs looked, they were somewhat impractical for road vehicles, and designers searched for other solutions. The most successful was developed by a German fellow by the name of Wunibald Kamm in the late ‘30s when he discovered that an abruptly cut off vertical shape at the back of the car was nearly as effective in reducing drag as a pointed tail. By inducing some of the boundary layer air close to the surface of the body to tumble into that space behind the car, it created an area of turbulence that didn’t mix with the other air flowing around the car and worked like an invisible (and weightless) pointed tail.

Since that time, the “Kammback” has been widely adopted, and can be seen in cars ranging from the original Honda CRX to many modern hybrids. For best results, the vertical surface should be placed at a point where the body’s cross section has sloped back down to about 50% of its maximum, but this limits the workable roofline and tail shapes quite a bit. Add a spoiler to the trunk lid or the back edge of the roof on a hatchback, though, and you get a similar drag reducing effect as a full Kamm rearend. 

Wings, particularly those that are intended to do something more than just look cool, are somewhat more complex. Ideally, a wing will be placed far enough away from the body of the car to be in “clean” air instead of sluggish and turbulent boundary layer flow. Interestingly, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Superbird, with their fender-mounted ‘basket handle’ rear wings that were higher than the roofline had ideal placement for them, but it wasn’t for aero reasons – they had to be that high so that the trunk lid could still open underneath them!

A few years earlier, the Chaparral 2E Can Am design had debuted a tall strut-mounted rear wing that had what would be now considered “active aero” – A pedal on the floor would flatten out the angle of the wing and simultaneously close a shutter on the air dam that normally allowed air out through a vent in the front bodywork when depressed, letting the driver reduce drag when downforce wasn’t needed along high speed straights. The struts for the wing were also directly connected to the suspension, so force was applied straight to the rear tires instead of through the springs. While it worked very well, it proved to be fragile and after a few failures in the cars adopting these kinds of movable wings, they were outlawed (leading to the aforementioned Chaparral 2J ‘sucker car’).

Today, it is very common to see high-end (and even some not so high-end) sports cars with rear wings that automatically deploy and adjust their angle based on road speed and cornering forces. For aftermarket race-style wings, the angle of the airfoil (or in many cases, multiple airfoils) can be changed in the garage by altering the mounting points in order to customize the balance between drag and downforce for a particular race venue. Spill plates on the ends of the wing serve the same purpose as the winglets commonly found on commercial jets, reducing drag caused by vortexes shed by the ends of the wings. 

It’s also worth noting that a wing can help high-speed stability side-to-side by moving the car’s center of pressure rearward. The center of pressure is the imaginary point where all the aerodynamic forces are balanced, and the farther behind the car’s center of gravity it is, the more the car will want to travel in a straight line. Any kid who’s built a model rocket and decided to put all sorts of fins on the front will tell you that having the center of pressure at or ahead of the center of mass gets you something that flies like a pinwheel instead of an arrow, and the same applies to car aerodynamics. We should also point out that the ever-popular ‘wing on the back of a FWD car’ isn’t necessarily just poser-tech. At high speed the car doesn’t care that much about which wheels are doing the motivating, and since FWD cars tend to have a forward weight bias in the first place, a properly-designed rear wing can greatly increase stability and cornering balance.

Finally, we get to the last details as we reach the very tail end of the car. Wings and spoilers often have small features on their rear lips to enhance their effectiveness, which can be either fixed or adjustable. A small tab, usually a half-inch high or less and mounted at the very trailing edge of a wing or spoiler at a right angle to the surface is usually referred to as a “Gurney flap.” It gets its name from the legendary racer and team owner Dan Gurney who came up with the idea as a quick handling fix for his driver Bobby Unser’s car. To hide the true purpose of the modification, he initially floated the story that it was just a way to protect crewmembers from the sharp trailing edge of the wing while working on or pushing the car, but soon enough everybody figured it out and it became commonplace in race car aerodynamics.

A taller, usually adjustable trailing edge lip is typically called a ‘wickerbill,’ and explanations for the name are easy to come by but none are definitive. These fall into the category of aero devices that can be tuned in the garage or pit to suit the race course by sliding them up or down in their mounting slots. 

So there you have it – the incomplete guide to understanding car aerodynamics. We hope that we’ve fired your imagination and that you’ll follow up on the subject with further reading, since it’s a topic of pretty high importance for both factory and modified vehicles. Plus, aero stuff looks cool when it’s done right, but you already knew that…

Ferrari 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A Leave No Stone Unturned

May 05, 2021 – As if the V12 producing 800 ponies in the 812 Superfast wasn’t quite enough, Ferrari decided to up the ante and create not one, but two Special Edition 812’s — introducing the Ferrari 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A. Based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast platform, these two new V12 Ferrari’s revealed today pack in more power, newer tech, and an incredible rear-wheel steering system. 

The 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A are both built with, as Ferrari claims, “the most exhilarating V12 on the automotive scene.” This reengineered naturally-aspirated V12 produces 830bhp and revs up to a new maximum rpm of 9,500. Just think of the beautiful noises coming from a Ferrari V12 red-lining at 9,500 rpms — are your ears bleeding yet? Performance figures from Ferrari state that 0-62 can be achieved in 2.85 seconds, with a 211 mph top-speed! 

The 6.5-liter engine in both Ferrari 812 Competizione even houses titanium connecting rods, which are 40% lighter than the steel versions, while maintaining the same mechanical resistance. Ferrari says that the most significant improvements, however, are given to the distribution and the cylinder heads, which have both been completely redesigned. The cams feature a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating that reduces friction, and they now action the valve stems via DLC-coated steel sliding finger followers, technology taken straight from Ferrari’s F1 experience. 

When it comes to the transmission, both models come equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, delivering a better performance and feel for the V12. The transmission has been further calibrated  to reduce shift times by 5 percent. The Ferrari 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A may have the same gear ratios, but thanks to the extra 500 rpms to red-line, they’ll feel even sportier.

The boost in power brought Ferrari to the next challenges, cooling and braking. With an engine that produces more power comes the need to cool it, and with more power comes speed, which needs to be slowed down. For the Competizione, Ferrari first integrated a new single air duct into the front grille, which allows the intake for the engine radiators to be extended sideways as far as the chassis allows. Next came vents on either side of the bonnet to help evacuate hot air coming off of the radiator, along with louvers on the wings. All of these changes translate to a 10 percent more efficient cooling of engine fluids than the 812 Superfast. 

For the Ferrari 812 Competizione A, to compensate for the removal of the vortex generators, Ferrari incorporated a bridge element between the flying buttresses. The air flow is then deflected effectively and effienctly towards the rear spoiler, giving the Competzione A the same downforce as the Competizione. 

For braking, ventilation of the calipers and pads is achieved by channeling the cool air captured by the two ducts on either side of the front bumper. The air rushes through an air intake and is distributed inside the component. Thanks to these new modifications, Ferrari is able to achieve brake temperatures 30 degrees celsius lower than those of the 812 Superfast. 

All in all, the these two new updated Superfast 812’s could be some of the greatest cars Ferrari has produced. The Competizione and Competizione A are unmistakingly bold and brilliant. The coupe will start at $598,567 while the Competizione A will start at $694,549 with deliveries beginning Q2 2022.

Hongqi S9 Debuts As 1,400 HP Hybrid Hypercar

May 04, 2021 – A joint venture between Silk EV of Italy and FAW has come to fruition, with the announcement of the beginning of development of a series of ultra-luxury, high-performance sports vehicles. This new line of full electric and hybrid luxury models falls under the Hongqi ’S’ series, and to prove that they mean business, their first model of the series is an ultra-luxury hypercar, the S9. With Walter de Silva, former Volkswagen design chief, overseeing the design of the S9, it’s bound to not only hit incredible performance numbers, but also express a beautiful, aerodynamic design. 

The Hongqi S9 was debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt international Motor Show as a concept, but soon hit the Auto Shanghai show in 2021 as the real deal. Similar to the concept, the S9 features a V8-based powertrain with a plug-in hybrid motor that combines to make 1,400 hp. Silk-FAW claim that the car will do 0-62 mph at an incredible 1.9 seconds, with a top speed just over 250 mph. As of now, the joint companies have given out too many details about the hypercar, but from pictures alone, the car itself is beautiful, and has all sorts of aerodynamic features, along with unique air-vents for cooling.

If you take a close look at the headlights, you’ll see integrated air ducts. At the rear, you’ll find a louvered rear window, a fairly subtle wing, and a pretty aggressive carbon fiber diffuser. Speaking of carbon fiber, the hypercar is covered in it! 

Hongqi, which means “Red Flag” in English, is already accepting orders for the S9, and production is said to begin soon with deliveries starting as early as 2022. Only 99 S9’s will be built, with an estimated price of $1.45 million, or about $1,035 per one hp! 

Silk and FAW are building the Hongqi S9 to be sold in the global market, so there is a chance North America will be blessed with a few examples!

Top 5 Affordable Supercars

Let’s say you’ve come into some money. Not life-changing, private island money, mind you. More along the lines of catching a hedge fund in a short squeeze, getting into (and out of) cryptocurrency at just the right time, or even just scratching a particularly good lottery ticket. While a new Lamborghini isn’t going to be in the budget, what are some head-turning cars that you can actually drive and enjoy, but are within your financial reach?

We’ve come up with a list of a few different ideas, should you want to scratch that supercar itch without paying a price tag that’s more in line with real estate than something you can park in a garage. It’s not all-inclusive, and we’re sure that many readers will have their own top choices, but daydreaming is always fun and it’s even better when those dreams are within the realm of possibility.

Honorable Mention: “Component Cars”/Replicas

Though ‘kit cars’ got a bad reputation decades ago when they were mostly based on aircooled Volkswagen or Fiero chassis and a LOT of optimism about your own fabrication skills, the industry has come a long, long way in terms of quality and value-for-money. Companies like Factory Five Racing and Superformance offer the chance to own cars like a Cobra, Daytona Coupe, Corvette Grand Sport, or GT40 that would simply be out of financial reach if you wanted an original. As a plus, with modern components and drivelines, they’re going to be a whole lot more reliable and drivable than the originals (and potentially a whole lot faster on the track), and you can customize them to suit your own must-have list.

You will need a warm, dry, comfortable place to work, a bitchin’ set of tools, some mechanical aptitude, and an unusually high level of patience if you chose this route, though. If you are like the author and are the kind of person who loses interest in the 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle after the edges and two out of the three kitten faces are done, this is not for you. 

#5: 996 Porsche

For a lot of people, the Porsche 911 family defines the idea of an aspirational sports car. Many of those reading this article had a poster of the original 911 Turbo on their bedroom wall as a kid. None of those reading this article can afford one, and even if you could, it would try to kill you the first time you drove it. 

Fortunately, though, the long history of the marque offers some choices that are within our parameters for affordability and that are actually reliable and fun to drive. We’ve singled out the 1998-2004 996 as our favorite in this category because it’s about the least expensive way to get into a Porsche that you can actually be proud of (apologies to those 914, 924/944, and 928 peeps out there. You know we’re right.) A little history explains why these cars are what they are – they represent a radical shift from previous 911 models, trading a new water-cooled flat six for the old air-cooled design that was no longer capable of meeting ever-stricter environmental and noise standards, and sharing a ton of parts with the less-expensive Boxster that had just been introduced. Porsche purists clutched their pearls in dismay, but despite the somewhat meh styling, the 996 was a huge hit with new car buyers and a ton of them were produced in many variants. 

While there are a lot of keyboard warriors who make a big deal out of the faulty design of the intermediate shaft bearing that can do expensive damage to the M96 engine in non-GT2, GT3, and Turbo 996 models if it fails, by now most of the cars susceptible to this problem have already been either junked or fixed – just be sure to get a car with a verifiable service history that shows it has been corrected, or budget another two grand or so for a shop to replace it with the improved design.

#4: V8 Ferraris

Is there a manufacturer more closely-associated with the term “supercar” than Ferrari? And yet, thanks to the miracle of depreciation, you can get yourself into a good one for less than a new optioned-out Ford F150. While the Italian carmaker is known for their screaming V12 engines, bargains can be found if you can live with four fewer cylinders. 

In the ‘classic’ (or at least classic-adjacent) category, we have cars like the 308 GTB/GTS from 1975-85, which will make you feel like Thomas Sullivan Magnum III every time you turn the key, its improved successor, the ‘86-’89 328 GTS which is actually known for its (relative) reliability and easy maintenance, and the 348 which replaced those in turn for the 1989-1995 model years if you want Testarossa strakes on a budget. 

Moving on to more recent V8 models, prices start to rise, as you might expect, but you can still get an awful lot of Ferrari for the money with cars like the F355 (produced from 1995-1998), the 2000-2004 360 Modena, or even the front-engine 2009-2014 California if you can stretch your budget to six figures.    

The caveat here is that maintenance costs are not for the faint of heart, and depending on where you live, even finding a mechanic who has ever even seen one of the Ferraris you just bought off of Facebook Marketplace may not be possible. But hey, even a broken Ferrari in your garage is still a Ferrari in your garage, right?

#3: Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R

The EPA giveth, and the EPA taketh away – while there’s currently a fight going on to preserve the right to even work on your own car, let alone modify it, there’s also the 25-year rule that turns unimportable pumpkins into glittering carriages as soon as they hit the quarter-century mark. And no forbidden fruit was quite so attractive to an entire generation raised on racing video games than the original Godzilla, the 1989-1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R. 

Over the course of the production run, Nissan cranked out more than forty thousand R32 GT-R models in a variety of specifications, and since 2014 every one of them has been legal to own in the US (at least as far as the Feds are concerned; your state may suck like the author’s does and impose its own restrictions). As far as all-wheel-drive turbocharged cars designed in the late 1980s go, they’re reliable and have a robust supply chain plus plenty of folks here in the ‘States who know how to work on them. 

Despite their large production numbers, though, prices are on the rise and we predict that before long they’ll exceed what’s sensible for a car you actually want to drive on a regular basis. Get in now if one of these right-hand-drive dream cars is on your wishlist.

#2: C6 Corvette Z06/ZR1

The 2005-2013 Corvette earns our ‘bang for the buck’ award on this list, especially in the form of the naturally-aspirated LS7-powered Z06 and supercharged LS9 ZR1 models. When these cars were new, there was nothing that could touch them in terms of performance per dollar spent, and the arrival of the C7 for the 2014 model year helped drive down their resale value. Throw in the introduction of the mid-rear engine C8 for 2020 and the bottom got knocked out of prices for used sixth-gen Corvettes, making them the performance bargain of the 21st century. 

The Z06 and ZR1 have very different personalities; the 505-horsepower LS7 in the former is about as good as a non-forced-induction big displacement V8 engine gets, and the car was clearly aimed at track performance with a first-for-Corvettes full aluminum chassis and suspension tuning that owed a lot to the experience earned in competition with the previous C5’s near-interchangeable underpinnings. The 638 horsepower ZR1 is a T-Rex of a car, and driven hard you’ll find yourself unexpectedly bumping the redline because the blown powerplant just doesn’t nose over and run out of breath as it climbs the tach.

Another big plus with these cars is their reliability and serviceability. Maintenance and repair is well within the ability of a home mechanic, and if you’d rather have somebody else take care of it, literally any Chevy dealership on the planet can get parts. There’s a huge aftermarket if you want to upgrade the suspension or engine as well. While some Z06 models had issues with the LS7 dropping valves, by now they’ve all either been fixed under warranty or they’re not going to fail. About the only downsides are that the interiors are just “good for a Chevy” rather than extraordinary, and you will also be required by law to wear jorts and white New Balance tennis shoes while driving one.

#1: First-Gen Acura NSX

You knew this one would make the list, since part of the original mission statement for the 1990-2005 NSX was to be the original ‘affordable supercar.’ The goal was to match the performance of the Ferrari 328/348 without the reliability issues or the price tag, and the styling was closely based on the Pininfarina-penned HP-X concept car. Honda being Honda, the NSX would also avoid all the ergonomic woes common to other mid-rear exotics, with decent interior room and really excellent all-around visibility from the driver’s seat.

The NSX started out with a 270 horsepower 3.0 liter V6, which was replaced for 1997 with an improved 3.2 liter, 290 horsepower engine. In such a light car (depending on model and year, curb weight was between 2,800-3,160 pounds) this made for plenty of performance, and in 1992 a NSX-R variant was introduced with a focus on track use, trading away a little bit of street manners. 

The car got a facelift for 2002, most easily recognizable by the replacement of the original pop-up headlights with less-fun fixed projector HID units, and beneath the skin there were some changes to the suspension calibration with stiffer springs front and rear and a higher-rate rear anti-roll bar. Regardless of the model year, these cars have held their value well and remain insanely fun to drive while still being about as practical as a mid-rear two seat sports car can be. Best of all, even though they’re “just” a Honda/Acura, they still turn heads thirty years after they hit the market, punching way above their weight class in terms of coolness.

So that’s our supercar list – like any of these things are, it’s subjective, and your opinion may place other cars higher than the ones we’ve picked out here. The important thing, though, is that there are more affordable, desirable supercars available on the used market today than there have ever been, so being on a budget doesn’t have to mean living with something boring in the driveway. 

The Road Legal 1,400 Horsepower Glickenhaus 007S

March 30, 2021 – A new hypercar class at Le Mans has drawn in some incredible new competition, one contender being America’s Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, and their newest racer, the 007. If you know anything about Glickenhaus, you’ll know that they make some of the toughest vehicles to withstand grueling races around the world, from 24 Hours of Nurburgring to the Baja 1000. The fun doesn’t stop there, however — once Glickenhaus has perfected their vehicles, they go a step further to make road-legal versions.

With the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus 007 perfected, they have now released a 007S, “S” representing the street version. What stands out the most with the little details given about the 007S is its power-to-weight ratio. The car itself, gassed up and race ready tips the scales at 2,800 pounds, an incredible feat for a three-seater hypercar. Inside the 007S is a centered seat with a seat behind the driver on either side, similar to the T.50S, and of course, the McLaren F1. Even crazier is the 1,400-hp engine that powers it, producing 1 hp for every 2 pounds! The race car version, the 007, is powered by a bespoke 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8, but as of now, it hasn’t been announced whether or not that’s what the street legal version will house.  

A remarkable feature, pointed out by their social media page, is that it has an “AC that will work in bumper to bumper traffic, on the Long Island Expressway, on a 100 degree day…”. For a 1,400 horsepower hypercar that relies on high speeds to maintain cool temps from air rushing through its vents, this is an amazing feat. Additionally, Glickenhaus says the 007S, on street tires, will run a sub 6 minute ring time, nearing the incredible 5:19.55 time set by Porsche’s 919 Evo time-attack special in 2018. Yes, pretty unbelievable! 

Only 24 007S’ will be produced, and deliveries will take place at least two years after the last slot has been sold. Glickenhaus doesn’t seam to be worried about slots not being filled up, however, as they mentioned that they’ll be sold out before even having a chance to have test drive/ ride events. Pricing will start at $2.3 million USD.  

The New Pagani Huayra R: An 850-HP Track Killer

March 18, 2021 – Following in the track-only footsteps of the Zonda R, the new V12 Pagani Huayra R is here to prove the Italian automakers dedication to form and function. Horacio Pagani, founder of Pagani Automobili S.p.A., states that “The new engine had to have the charm, romance, sound and simplicity of the F1 engines of the 1980s, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology available today.”

The Pagani Huayra R was put together piece by piece with the latest technology derived from the world of racing. The heart of the Huayra R is a 12-cylinder, 6-liter, naturally-aspirated racing engine, designed to not only put out peak performance, but also be incredibly light to be one of the most efficient track-ready V12’s ever created. The new powertrain delivers a whopping 850-hp at 8,250 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque, with a redline at 9,000 rpm, creating that sound Horacio Pagani was going for from the F1 engines of the 1980s. 

Paired to the screaming V12 is a brand new six-speed sequential gearbox. The gearbox itself is a non synchronized dog ring that guarantees 95% friction efficiency, which helps to achieve maximum shift precision and reduce shift times, all while only weighing in at a total of just 176 lbs. Mounted to the engine and the monocoque, the gearbox also contributes to the rigidity of the chassis and is designed to integrate structurally with the entire suspension unit. 

Going back to the monocoque, the Pagani Huayra R’s is the result of specifically dedicated development that gives the driver total involvement and driving experience that you’d expect from an authentic racing car experience. The monocoque was designed using the latest composite technology, including carbo-titanium HP62-G2, a combination of beta titanium alloy and carbon composite, along with Carbo-Triax HP62. Combined with the new structural principles and materials that were specially designed for the all-new Pagani Huayra R, the supercar tips the scales at a dry weight of just over 2,300 lbs. 

Moving on into the aerodynamics of the Pagania Huayra R, every detail of its exterior plays a role in generating maximum aerodynamic load. The goal from the beginning was the generate roughly 2204 lbs of downforce at 199 mph (1000 kg at 320 km/h), which the teams at Pagani and HWA quickly achieved. This wasn’t enough though, and the engineers wanted to push the envelope even further with the combination of form and function. They started to realize that every little detail they were changing on the exterior of the car was improving aerodynamic efficiency. 

Continuing the racing feel that the Pagani Huayra R was going for is the interior of the car. The interior of the R was designed for all around involvement and maximum adrenaline. All controls, including traction control, ABS, radio communication and other important functions can all be found on the quick release steering wheel. All other important controls are available on the center console, while a high-res, fully customizable motorsport dashboard display feeds the driver the necessary information to monitor the status of the car. 

Converted to USD, the Pagani Huayra R will cost about $3.1 million, but that’s only if you’re able to get your hands on 1 of 30 build slots. If you do however get on the waitlist and secure a slot, be ready to experience some of the most thrilling Pagani organized track days, part of the Pagani ownership experience. 

Born A Legend: The 725-HP GMA T.50s Niki Lauda

Feb. 23 – Gordon Murray Automotive just one-upped their ultimate driver’s car, the T.50, this time calling it the T.50s Niki Lauda. The T.50, which was revealed last year, is an incredible F1 inspired 3-seater supercar, and much of its DNA is being passed along to the T.50s. The new high-horsepower, lightweight track shredder is described by GMA as “an on track experience like no other car to date.”

At the heart of the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda is a Cosworth-designed 3.9-liter V12, putting out 700 horsepower at an extraordinarily high 11,500 rpm. The engine is fed air through a newly designed, roof-mounted RAM induction airbox, which can also increase the maximum output of the engine to 725 horsepower. If you’re like us, you’re probably thinking this T.50s is capable of blowing some eardrums. This is definitely the case following the fact that a newly-developed, bespoke, straight-through exhaust system has also been implemented, taking the engine sound to the next level. As it is strictly a track car, the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda does without catalytic converters — no sound limitations other than those of the track need to be met. 

Built around a specially developed, lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, the T.50s Niki Lauda is completely optimized for weight reduction and structural rigidity. The car was constructed using an advanced part-binding technology, with carbon fiber wrapped around a honeycomb aluminum core. Exterior body panels of the car are also unique to the T.50s, which are made of an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber. An extra step GMA even takes is to lighten the glass around the vehicle, using a glazing that has been further reduced in weight from road car specification. The T.50s also uses the same forged aluminum front and rear double wishbone suspension system as its processor, the T.50. The springs, dampers, and anti-roll bar, however, were all optimized for track performance.

The most noticeable parts of the T.50s Niki Lauda are the aerodynamics. Covered in completely new aero, the T.50s combines to create an incredible 3,300 lbs of downforce. This is in part due to a massive 1,758mm-wide, rear-mounted delta wing. The front of the T.50s features a splitter that can generate huge load figures to balance out those from the rear wing. A central fin, noticeable with Niki Lauda’s name on it, stretches from the roof to the rear lip of the car, and helps dramatically with yaw stability. 

If you weren’t somehow getting the racing vibes from the exterior of the car, the interior will definitely solidify it. The cabin is completely race-car oriented, with a driver-focused central seating position. This central spot gives the driver a much greater view of the track ahead. The center seat is made up of carbon fiber and secures the driver with a six-point harness, while a passenger can sit on either side, both seats complete with a four-point harness. Much of the rest of the interior is very simple, only giving the driver the key controls that they need. 

It should be fairly obvious now why the T.50s was named after the great racing legend, Niki Lauda. As Professor Gordon Murray CBE puts it, “The T.50s is named in honour of Niki to commemorate his famous win with the Brabham BT46B fan car in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Niki was a great racing driver and he was also a good friend and it is absolutely fitting that we are launching the T.50s Niki Lauda on his birthday. Niki would have appreciated the innovation and engineering detail in our car.”

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50s will be limited to just 25 examples, each priced at about $4.3 million. Production is said to start at the end of the year, with help from famous racing names such as Dario Franchitti, who will be helping with dynamic development. 

The $8 Million Bugatti Centodieci: A Modern EB110

Feb. 15 – If you thought Bugatti couldn’t come up with an even more powerful and unique supercar, then you’re in for a surprise from the French car manufacturer — the first prototype for series development of a W16 engined Bugatti Centodieci has come to fruition. This highly-exclusive, high-performance machine is a tribute to the legendary EB110, evoking automotive history and showcasing Bugatti’s excellent coach building expertise. 

The Bugatti Centodieci brought on extreme challenges for the designers and engineers at Bugatti, especially because of the fact that they had to house an enormous, 8-liter engine — the 16-cylinder beast puts out nearly 1,600 horsepower. Another challenge was quite possibly the biggest one, transforming the very flat and wedge-shaped EB 110 into a modern, three-dimensional sculpture. 

Achim Anschiedt, Bugatti’s creative director, explains that “the challenge was not to allow oneself be captivated too much by the design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology of that time.”

The engineers on the project had to dive right into the calculations for the body, aerodynamics, engine and transmission. The body of the Centodieci is then thrown into an air tunnel where they can simulate the airflow of the vehicle and check all components, going even as deep as checking the smallest of screws. The design team, on the other hand, checks the styling of the Centodieci in closer collaboration with the developers. After a year of continued research and development, the team finally had developed the first prototype. 

On to the performance, the Buggati Centodiece and its W16 engine create 1,600 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. The powerhouse can sprint to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and 120 in 6.1 seconds — an electronically halting top speed is set at 380 kph (236 mph). The Centodieci isn’t at all designed to just be a top-speed build. Stephen Winklemann, Bugatti President, puts it, “With the Centodieci, we once again demonstrate that design, quality and performance are just as important.”

The Bugatti Centodieci is limited to only 10 units, at $8 million a pop. Those 10 units have already been purchased and will arrive to their new owners some time next year.

Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster Proves Yet Again That Carbon Fiber Is King

Feb. 22 – Gunther Werks is back in action, and their newest open-top, air-cooled creation is here to steal your heart — the Porsche 993 Speedster. For those unfamiliar with the magic behind Gunther Werks name, they are master crafters within the world of the Porsche aftermarket, perfecting their builds with none other than carbon fiber. The 993 is familiar ground for Gunther Werks, but this new Speedster is here to prove yet again that carbon fiber is king. 

This new creation is summed up by Gunther Werks as an “open-air model that not only heightens the experience with the rush of wind through your hair, but also pushes the boundaries of performance to build a stronger, lighter, faster car.” The reengineered Porsche 993 Speedster has already gone on to put down the fastest air-cooled lap around Laguna Seca at just 1:30.99, but what exactly have they done to the car to make it lighter and faster?

The biggest problem Gunther Werks had to overcome with the Porsche 993 Speedster is the removal of the roof. The roof of any car is key in keeping torsional rigidity, so with it gone the engineers had to employ advanced reinforcement. Most of this reinforcement has been cleverly concealed by the new carbon fiber Speedster top and tonneau cover. Beyond chassis strength, the 993 Speedster has also gained improved aerodynamics. An updated front fascia integrates a carbon front splitter that drastically improves aerodynamics. The rear of the Porsche 993 Speedster features a revised duck tail with a ram air scoop, along with 3d printed exhaust tips. Other modifications to the exterior include aluminum side view mirrors, lightweight door handles, and an updated front led reflector system. If you haven’t already noticed, Gunther Werks takes every detail into account when it comes to weight savings.

The interior of the Porsche 993 Speedster includes a new carbon fiber dash, a redesigned pedal assembly and a revised carbon fiber floor panel system. The front windscreen also sits lower, with an option to delete it completely, so Gunther Werks accommodated this by developing a hollow carbon fiber seat shell featuring lightweight cushions. The seats themselves also sit lower that the original 993, reducing drag and lowering the center of gravity. 

Technical specifications haven’t been revealed yet, but the Porsche 993 Speedster is promised to have an increase over the original 435 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. Gunther Werks continued partnership with Eisenloht Racing and JRZ Suspension also means that the Speedster with feature an all-new advanced dynamic suspension system.

25 of these beautifully reengineered Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedsters will be developed, with a price of $675,000 before other options are applied. 

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Model Revealed With 502 HP

Feb. 17 – Another year of knowledge gained at the race track has led Porsche to their newest iteration of the 911 high-performance model, the all-new 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. This incredibly high-revving, naturally aspirated engine is shared with the 911 GT3 Cup, with a double wishbone front suspension adapted from the 911 RSR. Through extensive use of lightweight materials, refined aerodynamics, and the newly equipped front suspension, the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 aims to once again raise the bar. 

At the heart of the all-new Porsche 911 GT3 is a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter, six-cylinder boxer that revs to a screaming 9,000 rpm. Combined with 6 individual throttle bodies, the engine is able to provide extremely sharp throttle response, putting its 502 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque to the ground immediately. The engine, which is almost identical to the 911 GT3 Cup, Porsche’s track-only race car, proves just how quick Porsche is to pass down their racing knowledge to their street cars. Attached to the engine is a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission, while a six-speed manual transmission is also available. Together, the engine and PDK transmission can launch the 911 GT3 to 60 in 3.2 seconds, and hit a top speed of 197 mph. 

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 isn’t only about engine performance — lightweight materials keep the car light and agile, ready to tear up the track. The new GT3 is based on the 911 Carrera body, making the front track width increase by 1.9 inches. However, the use of several lightweight materials makes the GT3 weight the same exact weight as its predecessor. The hood, rear wing, and fixed rear spoiler are all made up of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Even the glass used for the windows is lightweight and noise insulated.

Moving to the chassis and brakes, the double wishbone front axle of the new 911 GT3 was taken from the 911 RSR and 911 GT3 Cup and adapted for road use. This is a milestone for the 911, and the new front axle allows for more direct and precise steering, allowing for improved stability while cornering. As for braking, the standard braking system incorporates cast iron discs that are 28-mm larger than the previous model, and 17 percent lighter. The brakes are also able to deal with very high heat thanks to special cooling channels and new developed ventilation.

The interior of the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 continues the connection to Porsche’s racing experience. A GT3 Multifunction Sport steering wheels is standard equipment, with an included drive mode switch for the first time. Four-way Sports Seats Plus are also standard, while 18-way Sport Seats Plus and even a carbon fiber bucket seat option are available. 

The new Porsche 911 GT3 is set to be released in the U.S. as a part of the 2022 model year, with dealers getting them as soon as Fall 2021.

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar Set To Be Revealed February 16

Feb. 2 – McLaren has been spawning more supercars than we can keep up with, recently the Sabre, and now the all-new McLaren Artura. What seems to be a similar looking platform to recently departed models such as the 570S, is actually a brand new design, and powertrain. The McLaren Artura, due for launch on the 16th of February, is being hyped by McLaren as a platform that will follow the footsteps of some of the greatest cars McLaren has ever made, including the Senna, Speedtail and Elva.

The McLaren Artura will make its debut as an all-new high-performance Hybrid Supercar, housing a twin-turbocharged V6 combined with an electric motor. This powertrain is designed to retain all of the performance benefits from McLaren’s larger V8 engine options, but come with the added advantages of improved torque in the lower rev ranges, and an option of running the Artura on only electric. This option, however, will most likely be for city jaunts as it’s not a full electric vehicle, so the battery will most likely be fairly small.

The McLaren Artura is also going to be built around their new carbon fiber chassis, known as the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). Because of the batteries for the hybrid system, the carbon fiber chassis is a smart move to offset some of that added weight.

Tune in on February 16th for the official reveal to see just how incredible their new Artura is!

The McLaren Sabre: A Bespoke Hypercar Experience

January 4, 2021 – When you get the opportunity to participate in the development process of a bespoke commission hypercar, such as this McLaren Sabre, you don’t pass it up. This exclusive new hypercar, crafted for the first 15 lucky customers, was designed through McLaren Special Operations, McLaren’s bespoke division which is dedicated to providing owners with fully customizable options and building ultra-exclusive limited-edition or one-off models.

The McLaren Sabre has been designed and homologated exclusively for the U.S. market. It boasts the most powerful non-hybrid McLaren twin-turbo V8 engine to date, with an astonishing 824 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. This powerhouse jets the McLaren Sabre to a top-speed of 218 mph, making it the fastest two-seater McLaren, but not by much. The McLaren P1 has a top-speed of 217 mph, just beat by only 1 mph!

Because of the fact that the McLaren Sabre is limited to 15 bespoke examples, and only available in the U.S., this means it only has to meet standards set in the U.S. This leads to ideas and innovations on the McLaren that global homologation would not permit.

Customers were able to test drive a prototype of the car on track in partnership with O’Gara Motorsport and McLaren Beverly Hills, but that’s only part of the immersive journey McLaren has provided. Customers also flew to their style design studio in the UK, where they could work with the McLaren Special Operations designers to create a McLaren Sabre that best suits their style and needs.

2021 Audi R8 Panther Goes RWD

December 03, 2020 – A new 2021 Audi R8 RWD brings on an exclusive model limited to just 30 units, the 2021 R8 Panther edition. Announced at just the right time for the holiday season, this new Panther edition R8, seen before on the RS5, is chock full of some unique design cues. Both interior and exterior of the car are going to get some incredible new design elements.

A Tuned Chassis

To begin, Audi had to specially design the chassis of the 2021 R8 Panther to allow for a rear-wheel-drive application, as it will not be coming with their trademark Quattro system. The chassis has been specifically adapted for rear-wheel drive, including the use of a solid rear axle, stiffer front anti-roll bar, and an increase in negative camber on the rear wheels. The R8 also comes with electromechanical power steering, which frees the car of any torque steer, and also enables precise handling and driver feedback.

The Power

Featuring a 5.2-liter FSI V10, which produces a powerful 532 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, the 2021 R8 Panther can sprint to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, an impressive feat considering the loss of power going to the front wheels. The limited edition model can also reach a max speed of 201 mph.

Other Special Content

All 50 units will come from the factory with an exclusive Panther Black crystal effect paint with carbon exterior mirror housings. As for wheels, the R8 Panther will come equipped with 20 inch milled cut wheels, finished in matte black with red trim, wrapped in summer performance tires. The colors of the interior are similar to those of the wheels, black with red stitching. A sport exhaust system also amplifies the full bodied sound of the V10 engine, and can be adjusted depending on the driving mode the car is in. Every inch of the 2021 R8 Panther has been customized, mostly in Black with red accents. If you’re looking for a powerful naturally aspirated V10 with rear-wheel drive, then the 2021 R8 Panther may be for you, that is, if you can afford the $183,300 price tag.

The Elation Freedom EV: A Megawatt of Power

November 25, 2020 – Hypercars are becoming more common these days, with automotive technology evolving and advancing. Bespoke car manufacturers are having to step up their game to compete with the big boys, which is exactly what the newest hypercar from the United States has done, the Elation Freedom EV.

EV Performance

The Elation Freedom is built around three liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous e-motors, together putting out 1 megawatt of energy, or around 1,427 horsepower. If for some reason that amount of power doesn’t tickle your fancy, an optional 4th motor can be included, bringing that horsepower figure up to around 1,903. With all that power, the Elation Freedom is capable of 0-60 times of 1.8 seconds, with an electronically limited 260 mph max speed. The fun doesn’t stop there however, as depending on battery option, the Elation’s range is either 300 or 400 miles, allowing you to put the pedal to the metal for even longer.

Other Specs

When it comes to getting that power to the ground, the engineers at Elation knew an all-wheel drive torque vectoring system would be ideal, especially to elevate that cornering prowess. The car also comes with elector-hydraulic active ride height and damping control, with Formula 1 inspired double wishbone suspension and Ohlins adjustable dampers. The chassis itself, like many of its future competitors, is a carbon fiber monocoque.

Elation Freedom Iconic Collection

Maybe the EV thing isn’t your style, and that’s ok, because Elation has another car just for you. Their Elation Freedom Iconic Collection, as Elation themselves say, is “Built to honor the legacy of Internal Combustion”. That’s right, you can get their Freedom Hypercar with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, putting out 750 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. It’s not even close to the power output of Elation’s 4 EV motor configuration, but could the sound of a V10 be worth it? Possibly!

The Lamborghini Huracán STO: A New V10 Masterpiece

November 18, 2020 – Whether or not you can pronounce oo-ra-KAHN, you are sure to appreciate the newest V10 added to the lineup, the Lamborghini Huracan STO, with the STO being short for Super Trofeo Omologata. Based off of the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and GT3 EVO race cars, the STO has deep roots in Lamborghini’s Quadra Corse motorsports. For the Lamborghini Huracan STO, they have gone above and beyond to create a unique, lightweight Lamborghini with next level aerodynamics and race car engineering.

At the heart of the Lamborghini Huracan STO is a naturally aspirated V10 , feeding its rear wheels 640 hp. The v10, along with a 7-speed LDF dual-clutch transmission, launches the STO to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, 120 in 9.0 seconds, and gets it to a top speed of just under 200 mph. The Lamborghini Huracan STO isn’t just about delivering power, however. With superior aerodynamic efficiency, extensive use of lightweight materials, and first-class braking performance and steering, the STO is a natural born racecar, making every drive a track experience.

Though similar in shape to the original Huracan, the new Lamborghini Huracan STO sports an entirely new exterior design, focusing heavily on aerodynamics to optimize airflow. Every aspect of the STO’s aerodynamic solutions are inspired by Quadra Corse racecars.

The cofango as Lamborghini calls it, or combination of hood and fenders, has integrated air ducts, a front splitter, and louvers. The reason Lamborghini uses such a feature is purely because it is lightweight and a timesaving access feature in motorsports.

The rear bonnet of the new Lamborghini Huracan STO has been revised with such features as an integrated air scoop for air-cooling the rear underwood, and a “shark fin’ that improves the STO’s dynamic abilities when cornering.

The Huracan STO’s exterior is made up of more than 75% carbon fiber, making it incredibly light while increasing integrity. Lamborghini’s engineers even used a new technique, called a carbon fiber sandwich, that uses 25% less carbon fiber material while maintaining the same structural rigidity.

With an increased wheel track, stiffer suspension bushing, anti-roll bars, and other racing bred technology, the STO delivers all the emotion of a racecar while providing a comfortable road experience.

Aston Martin Valkyrie: Track Performance on the Street

October 21, 2020 – The Aston Martin Valkyrie might be one of the greatest hypercars ever made, that is, if you don’t mind a slightly claustrophobic cockpit with no rear window. But racecar, right?

The heart of the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s powertrain is a Cosworth naturally aspirated 6.5 liter V12 engine, producing 1,000 hp. But the power doesn’t stop there. Because it is a hybrid powertrain, the Valkyrie gets a further performance boost delivered by the battery hybrid system, turning that 1,000 hp into 1,160 hp.

The Valkyrie also features a KERS-style boost system similar to those fitted to Formula 1 cars, allowing the car to recuperate a ton of energy lost while braking, which is harnessed and supplied back to the batteries.

Inside the Aston Martin Valkyrie, you’ll find seating for two, with its cockpit taking the shape of a teardrop. For an even closer feel to a Formula 1 car, the seats are placed in a reclined, feet-up position. In front of the driver is also a Formula 1 inspired steering wheel where you can find all of the car’s switchgear. Having all of the switches on the wheel reduces driver distraction.

For those that know that they will be putting in some extra time at the track, Aston Martin also released a Valkyrie AMR Pro edition, featuring the same powertrain as the standard Valkyrie, but with a tweaked boost output. The AMR Pro also has a light curb weight thanks to the deletion of features such as the Infotainment screen. Aston Martin also claims that the AMR Pro is capable of generating more than its own weight in downforce.

The Valkyrie starts at $3 million, but unfortunately, all models have already been sold.

Mercedes-AMG ONE: Bringing Formula 1 to the Road

November 09, 2020 – The new Mercedes-AMG ONE is the ultimate Formula 1 inspired supercar that’s ready for road use. Technology has been passed down from Formula 1 to everyday cars for years. From safety features, to new materials, exterior design and more. But Mercedes didn’t want to stop there, they wanted to create a road car that utilizes as much F1 technology as possible.

With Mercedes-AMG working together with the Petronas Motorsport team, the Mercedes-AMG ONE was born. Featuring a turbocharged 1.6 liter V6 with four independent motors, the ONE is able to put out over 1,000 hp, with a top speed of 217 mph. Speaking of those four electric motors, there is one for each front wheel, one linked to the crankcase, and one in the turbocharger itself.

Another important statistic the ONE is able to put down is its incredible 0-200 kph (0-124 mph) speed, falling under 6 seconds. Compare that to the Chiron which does it in 6.5 seconds. This is all thanks to those front axle motors which are capable of 50,000 rpms alone. Also, selective torque distribution allows for extra high levels of vehicle dynamics. These abilities matched with a Race Start function and that electric motor in the turbocharger, allowing for zero turbo lag, give the ONE its quickness.

The power and handling of the ONE are definitely impressive, but it doesn’t stop there. The efficiency of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is equally impressive. An EQ Power+ hybrid drive system allows for multiple driving modes, from only electric to highly dynamic. A regenerative braking system also recoups up to 80% of braking energy.

When it comes to its looks, the ONE evokes the premium class of motorsport with muscular proportions. The exterior is filled with numerous air inlets, while the car rides on forged aluminum wheels. The interior on the other hand is very minimal, with lightweight bucket seats and a Formula 1 inspired steering wheel.

The production of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is planned to be 275 units at a price of $2.72 million.

SSC Tuatara Sets World Record for Fastest Production Car

October 20, 2020 – Move over Bugatti, there’s a new hypercar in town, and it just set the record for fastest production car. Built by SSC, America’s first hypercar company, the Tuatara hit a staggering 331 mph, a seemingly easy feat with 1,750 horsepower.

In the cockpit was professional racing driver, Oliver Webb, who took the Tuatara to its record speed right outside of Las Vegas, along a seven-mile stretch of road that had been closed off for the event. Webb took two consecutive passes, one direction at 301.07 mph, and the second heading back at 331.15 mph, averaging a speed of 316.16 mph.

To break the world record for “Fastest Production Car”, the Tuatara had to travel in opposite directions, clocking its speeds within one hour. They take the average speed of these two passes in order to account for wind and road conditions that may favor the vehicle. Other criteria for setting this record included achieving this feat on a public road ensuring real world driving, having its speed checked by a certified GPS measurement system, and lastly run on street tires and non-race fuel.

In addition to this outstanding feat, the SSC and the Tuatara also set three other records, including “Fastest Flying Mile an a Public Road” (313.12 mph), “Fastest Flying Kilometer on a Public Road” (321.35 mph), and “Highest Speed Achieved on a Public Road” (331.15 mph).

Aerodynamics and an unprecedented drivetrain are to thank for the Tuatara’s incredible passes. The Tuatara’s design achieved an all-time production-hypercard best coefficient of drag of 0.279, and from 150-300 mph, the hypercar maintained a perfect aerodynamic balance of 37% front and 63% rear. When it comes to the drivetrain, under the hood the Tuatara has a V8 5.9L twin-turbo power plant that’s capable of producing its 1,750 hp.

The coolest part of the world record attempt? How it was filmed. The SSC Tuatara’s aerodynamics are modeled after those of a fighter jet, so it was only right to film the passes using a subsonic T-33 jet. This aerial asset proved to be the ultimate camera vehicle, as it is capable of operating at altitudes as low as five feet from the ground, and with speeds over 400 mph, it had no trouble keeping up with the Tuatara.

Top Driving Ferraris

In the early 1980s, I worked with a woman who told me her sister worked at Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. We often joked about it until one day I asked, “Kay, does your sister really work at Ferrari as I’m going to the Turin Auto Show and I’d love to get the tour?” “She does,” She replied, “and she’s secretary to somebody important.”

They are in no particular order, as some prefer the early, models of the 60s that were controlled by hands, feet and brain while others prefer the later models that are controlled by computers.

That somebody important was Enzo Ferrari and the sister turned out to be the infamous Brenda Vernor. Needless to say, my long time friend Tim Parker and myself got the tour many times when tours were reserved mainly for owners. Tim is the consummate Italophile and knows his Ferraris, however, rather than just our jaded journalistic picks we consulted other Ferraristas including Stewart Bassett, Tom Brockmiller and Tex Otto. This, therefore, is our combined list of the top driving Ferraris.

They are in no particular order, as some prefer the early models of the 60s that were controlled by hands, feet and brain while others prefer the later models that are controlled by computers. Also, our opinions are ours alone; other people might well prefer the driving characteristics of other models.

 1959-1965 250 GT Berlinetta Short Wheel Base (SWB)

Last of the Ferraris that could be raced and comfortably driven to and from the track. Very successful race history and beautiful Pininfarina design.

1959-1961 250 GT California Spyder (SWB)

Most desirable convertible version of the Ferrari 250 chassis due to its elegant design and open bodywork.

1963-1964 250 GTL Lusso

Beautiful body built on the proven 250 chassis. 

Notes: These three 250s were all built on SWB chassis that were conventional but well sorted by the early 60s. What was not to like about 250 horsepower from a ‘ripping silk’ V-12 with a four-speed and disc brakes? All the cars are simply gorgeous Pinin Farina designs (PininFarina was two words back then as that was Farina’s name).

Perhaps the most famous 250 is the 1962 GTO owned by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. Nick apparently paid £37,000 for his in 1977 and its now valued north of $50 million.

1964-1967 275 GTB

Beautiful flowing shape followed the lines of the 250 GTO. Independent rear suspension increased handling for a true grand tourer.

1971-1975 365 GTC/4

Basically a four seat Daytona that is more street friendly with power steering. Beautiful throaty exhaust sound unique to this car.

1968-1972 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe and Spider

Grand tourer that followed the 275 GTB.

Notes: The 275/365s can be loved as group, too. The cars are bigger in every way over the 250s with a little more grunt, comfort and ergonomic “improvements.” Series of cars well suited to the 1970s. Better? Sure. Just not so visceral, perhaps.

1969-1974 246 Dino

Named after Enzo’s first son the Dino is lovely handling coupe or ‘targa top’ spider with a sensual shape. However, the 246 has a high-revving V6 and offers a lightweight, sweet handling, mid-engine configuration that is faster than it looks.

1973-1980 Dino 308 GT4

Unbeknown to many this first 308, a mid-engine V8 2+2, is a superb driver. It has excellent ergonomics with a little more elbowroom than the GTB/GTS. Same clever chassis and worthy to be grouped with the Dino 246.

1984-1996 Testarossa

After the Berlinetta Boxer (BB) the Testarossa was near perfection, however, it too is a big car with those distinctive strakes down the side. Love ’em or hate ’em, the Testarossa (red head) offers good driver fingertip control and massive performance from its ‘flat-12’ that sounds just awesome.

Notes: Think Crockett & Tubbs and the Miami Vice TV show except in the early episodes they were Corvette-based kit cars that Ferrari was not happy about. Eventually Ferrari donated two 1986 Testarossas to the show.

1994-1999 F355

Beginning of the modern era Ferraris with impressive power and handling. Best sounding Ferrari V-8 ever.

Notes: My old friend Boyd Coddington of American Hot Rod TV fame would let me drive his black Spider convertible. With 375 hp, a six-speed manual and a curb weight of only 2.976 lbs it had great power to weight ratio. If you could find the door handle that was hidden in the side scoop that is.

1987-1992 F40

Ferrari’s answer in the first round of ‘Super Car’ wars and the last car that Enzo personally approved before he died in August 1988. Its twin-turbo V8 produced incredible power in Ferrari’s first major use of carbon fiber and Kevlar. Amazing power-to-weight ratio.

Notes: “We had several F40s back in the day,” said Stewart Bassett, CEO of USAutomotive.co.uk. “It was brutal, a racecar for the road that we used to thrash up the M10 in England. It was the first road car ever to officially exceed 200 mph and believe me we tried.”

2008-2009 430 Scuderia

This was he last iteration of the F430 model with minimum appointments for maximum performance but it was still comfortable as a road car. In fact, the whole F430 line is also good, but the Scuderia is the ultimate version.

2010-2015 458

The last of the naturally aspirated, ‘no-lag’ mid-engined V-8 Ferraris. And there was a new in-house design direction featuring clean bodywork devoid of the large side intakes of subsequent models. In Tim’s opinion, “more Lotus that you might think.” 

2013-2016 LaFerrari

The beginning of the hybrid era combining a big V-12 with two electric motors for nearly 1,000 hp. LaFerrari is often acclaimed as ‘near perfect.’

2017-Present 812 Superfast

Potentially the last naturally aspirated V-12. Performance of the 879 hp ‘front mid-engine’ V12 surpasses the previous F12 TdF in an elegant road car. Massive performance in a superbly comfortable yet drivable car.

The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12: 40 Made for the Ultimate Track Experience

July 17, 2020 – Automobili Lamborghini strikes again this year with another limited edition hypercar, this time with the most powerful V12 they’ve ever produced and only available for track-use; Introducing the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Prototype: Seven Motors and 1400 HP

July 21, 2020 – If you’ve been dying to get your hands on the new Mustang Mach-E, then you’re going to fall in love all over again with Ford’s new prototype, the All-Electric Mustang Mach-E 1400. Along with RTR Vehicles, Ford set out to show just how powerful electric cars can become, and of course, how much fun you can have with said power. The prototype Mach-E produces a whopping 1,400 peak horsepower, and at 160 mph, creates a staggering 2,300 pounds of downforce.

Just about every automotive enthusiast has a solid understanding of the performance an electric vehicle is capable of. Take for example the Tesla P100D, or the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The Tesla produces 600 hp and an incredible 713 lb-ft of torque, rocketing to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, while the Taycan Turbo S produces 750 hp and 774 lb-ft of torque, getting to 60 in just 2.6 seconds. You almost wonder just how much more power you could get out of an electric vehicle, or even if you’d need it.

But, Ford wanted to prove that there is way more juice left to squeeze from these electric motors, and that’s exactly what they set out to do.

The Ford Mach-E produces its power with seven motors, and when paired with an incredible amount of downforce, shows just how capable it is at the track, dragstrip and gymkhana course. With three motors attached to the front differential and four connected to the rear, Ford had to figure out how they’d even control that much power. A single driveshaft connects the motors to the differentials, and a huge amount of adjustability allows the Mach-E 1400 to be perfectly set-up to do everything from drifting to racing on the track.

The reason this should get any enthusiast excited is because Ford is learning more and more from these prototype vehicles, pushing the limits of EV power. Every technological advancement they make with these prototypes will soon be hitting their production vehicles. Are we saying Ford will soon be producing a 1400-hp Mach-E for the public, no, but could something be released that easily takes out a GT500, who knows, but we’d like to think so!

The Dark Side Reborn: 2021 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series

July 17, 2020 – Mercedes-AMG has been producing some of the most powerful and aesthetically pleasing series of vehicles, known as the Black Series, and 2021 brings their most wild creation yet, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

At first sight, you may think this limited edition model is simply a racecar produced for the DTM Racing Series; an enormous wing, carbon fiber galore, and shots of the GT at the track might have you thinking you are looking at the newest technological advances Mercedes has made solely for their racing teams. Truth be told, you don’t need to be a professional driver to own this beauty, but you may need some driving experience to handle the power this glorious machine produces.

720-hp. This is the number you’re thinking about when stepping into the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 under the bonnet connected to a reinforced seven-speed DCT gearbox will output enough power for you to reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and 100 mph in just under 9. The best part? Well, of course, the music coming from the tail pipes. This powerplant is very rev-happy, redlining at 7,200 rpms and delivering its peak power between 6,700 and 6,900 rpms. Combined with twin-turbos putting out 24.6 pounds of boost, the GT screams with its 720-hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

As much as I’d like to say the engine is where the sweet spot of the GT Black Series is, I would say that is wrong. The aerodynamics of this car are top notch, and every inch of its exterior plays a role in creating such a beast of a machine. If anyone understands the form and function of carbon fiber, it’s Mercedes. I mean, you’ll have a tough time finding parts on the GT that aren’t made of the incredibly strong and lightweight polymer, from the wing, to the roof, heck, even the engine bay is littered with it. The front bumper incorporates an adjustable splitter for better aero when you need it, and bigger vents are found on the hood and fenders, aiding with cooling and of course, aero.

Along with special trim and badging, the GT Black Series is sure to stick out in a crowd. There isn’t a price for it yet, but with everything considered, it will probably be a hefty one. Come early 2021, the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series will be available for purchase, so if you’re ready to get your hands on the sixth generation of the series, you’d better get your wallet ready!

The New Porsche 911 Turbo Sheds the S

July 16, 2020 – The 992 Generation welcomes a new car to its lineup, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo, and it’s here to bridge the gap between base model and Supercar. Let’s be honest, 640 hp in the 911 Turbo S is quite overkill for a daily driver, but some Porsche Aficionados want a bit more juice than the standard 911.

This is where the new 911 Turbo enters the picture. Although not the S model, this Porsche still packs a punch, with the same 3.8-liter flat-six as its counterpart, just detuned to a reasonable 572 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. It’s almost comical to say that that’s a reasonable figure, but it’s just enough of a reduction to make the 911 Turbo a daily drive-able car. Did we mention the 0-60 mph time is only a tenth of a second slower than the S? That’s right, the Turbo will get you there in 2.7 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph.

Other than the slight engine performance reduction, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S share much of the same traits. The newer variant receives power through an eight-speed, dual clutch transmission, and of course, is equipped with Porsche’s Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel-drive system which has the ability to transfer even more power to the front wheels than before.

Luckily for you, the Porsche 911 Turbo also comes at a significant discount. The Turbo S will run you over $200,000, but the new Turbo will cost just over $170,000. If you’re willing to pay the extra $430 per horsepower difference and prefer the 911 Turbo S, then more power to you. But, if you’re looking for a cream of the crop Porsche that is just as fun on the streets as it is on the track, then the new 911 Turbo may just be for you.

The All-New Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Is a 1600HP Street Legal Beast

March 6, 2020 – The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is the brand’s latest addition to their portfolio of extremely quick supercars; and this car is the fastest one ever. Koenigsegg’s mastery of aerodynamics is prevalent in the Jesko boasting extremely low drag coefficients achieved by the striking roofline. The standard Jesko comes with a larger than life wing mounted to the roof and is geared more towards track usage. The Jesko Absolut, on the other hand, has an extended roof and is designed for one thing: speed.

Dual fins jutting out of the roof of the Absolut are a key feature to the body design. Inspired by fighter jets, these fins provide the aerodynamics that make the car slip through the air with minimal drag. Adding to Koenigsegg’s war on drag, the Absoult comes with a set of covered rear wheels. The body is to an insanely low weight, providing the Jesko with a 1:1 power to weight ratio; with passengers and luggage accounted for.

Pushing this fighter jet is a twin turbocharged v8 fitted with a 180 degree crankshaft that can rev to 8500rpm. With e85 fuel, the Jesko produces an insane 1600bhp. The car comes fitted with what they call an LST, which stands for Light Speed Transmission which, true to its name, shifts through all 9 gears with virtually no time between gears.

What do you get when you mix an extremely light, aerodynamically perfected body with a 1600hp twin turbo v8 and lightning fast transmission? You get (most likely) the fastest car ever to roll on the earth. Koenigsegg had no mention of top speed, mentioning only that “time will tell”. We’re eager to see the tests coming in the future…

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019

Often copied but never duplicated, The Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is perhaps one of the most amazing events on the motorsports calendar. This year the FOS celebrated its 26^th anniversary and StateofSpeed.com was there for the party.

“The Festival is a fantastic event that I always enjoy but running up the hill in the rain is a definite challenge.”Duncan Pittaway, driver The Beast of Turin

The Festival occurs every summer on the grounds of The Duke of Richmond’s ancestral home, Goodwood House, Chichester, West Sussex, 100 miles south west of London, England. The event is centered around a timed hill climb up the Duke’s 1.16-mile drive. The long-standing record for the run was 41.6 seconds set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld driving a McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car. His average speed was 100.385 mph. Nick’s record for an F1 car remains unbroken as they no longer allow F1 cars timed runs for safety reasons, however, this year Nick’s 20-year-old record was broken by Romain Dumas driving the all-electric VW I.D. R with a time of 39.9 seconds. Dumas might have gone faster on the Sunday but rain prevented a faster run.

The hill climb, which is by invitation only, sees an eclectic field of racecars. We went as a guest of Brit Duncan Pittaway, who muscles the amazing, fire belching “Beast of Turin” up the hill. Built originally in 1911, the 28.5-Liter Fiat ran 132 mph in 1913. Duncan, who recently drove the Beast through the streets of London, restored the car (that’s a book in itself), and drives it with gusto and even ran up the hill in the Sunday rain which sidelined most competitors saying, “The Festival is a fantastic event that I always enjoy but running up the hill in the rain is a definite challenge.”

“[Driverless cars] would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.”

Unlike most big-time events, the FOS pits are open to everybody and you can walk around, get up-close-and-personal with the cars and talk to the mechanics, owners and drivers: I bumped into a wide range of drivers from three-time F1 Grand Prix Champion Sir Jackie Stewart to NASCAR star “King Richard” Petty. Others in attendance included Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and his 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, now valued at an estimated $85 million.

This year, the FOS celebrated more than 40 categories of Motorsports from Early Speed Record setters through Brickyard Heroes of Indy, to the Giants of Rallying both past Group B cars to the Giants of Modern Rallying. There were also special celebrations of Aston Martin, that made its Goodwood debut in 1949, Bentley, March Engineering, Mercedes’ 125 years of motorsport, Porsche 917, and Michael Schumacher. Indeed, there are so many and so much to see it makes your head hurt.

Besides all the historic gas guzzlers, there’s an obvious and growing technological shift toward electric and even autonomous cars with no drivers. Call me old fashioned, but driverless cars to me means slot car racing and while skill is involved, I just wonder if removing the driver removes the point. It would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.

That said, as mentioned earlier, this year’s fastest time was set by the Volkswagen I.D. R electric car that recently won Pikes Peak. Driver Romain Dumas scorched up the driveway in 39.9 seconds during the Saturday practice. Rumor had it that he would have killed it on Sunday had rain not prevented it. It’s also a sign of the times that the fields of Goodwood were littered with supercars. Everywhere you looked there were lines of Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins and McLarens, et al. Time was they were a rarity on British roads but no longer.

The FOS’s accessibility to the cars and the drivers, particularly if you are a Formula One fan is amazing in this day and age of restricted access. You can get within a few inches of the cars, check them out, hear them run and meet and greet the mechanics and the drivers. I don’t know of anywhere else you can do that in such a casual atmosphere.

Besides the summer FOS, Goodwood hosts the fall Revival, this year scheduled for the weekend of September 13-15. The Revival is held on the old Goodwood Grand Prix circuit that is also on the Duke’s estate that was an airfield during World War II. The Revival features historic circuit racing with everybody in period dress. Like the Festival, it’s a fantastic event to add to your bucket list. For more info visit Goodwood.com

McLaren F1 Designer Peter Stevens Takes His T Black

What do you think the F1 designer of the amazing 240-mph McLaren F1 drives? It would surprise you to know that he mostly drives a Model A Ford and at weekends races his 1925 Ford Model T.

Supercar designer Peter Stevens grew up in England in his grandparent’s house with his uncle Denis “Jenks” Jenkinson who was a British motor racing journalist and most renowned as co-pilot of Sir Stirling Moss in the infamous Mille Miglia race in Italy. Pete’s father was an accomplished painter and Peter attended London’s prestigious Royal College of Art (RCA) where later he would become a professor in charge of the school’s acclaimed automotive design program.

Peter couldn’t help but become a gearhead and he loves it all, from off-roading to the local English pub, down the River Deben in his Jeep, to Le Mans, to land speed racing at Bonneville. After college, Peter established his own design consultancy and worked for Renault on the Alpine, Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), and even did work for the Brabham Formula One team.

In 1985, he became Chief F1 Designer at Lotus Cars where he worked on the Excel, the Esprit, the Elan and for outside companies such as Isuzu, Cadillac, Triumph, and Chrysler. However, in 1989, he worked with TWR on the design and development of the Jaguar XJR15 that remains one of his favorite designs and endures as a very collectible supercar. Only 53 were built and they command prices approaching $400,000.

Ron Dennis of McLaren saw Peter’s potential and hired him to design the then-new Mclaren F1. Design credit usually goes to Gordon Murray but while he was the engineer Peter actually did the design work.

When the F1 project was complete Peter worked for numerous clients including Audi, Lamborghini, Benetton F1, BMW Motorsport, Hyundai, IPN Indonesia, McLaren Cars, Nardi SpA, OZ Wheels, Prodrive, Panoz, Reynard, Rolls Royce, Subaru, TAG Electronics, Toyota Team Europe, Virgin Atlantic, and TATA motors. His impressive body of work resulted in numerous awards including the U.K.’s Autocar magazine Designer of the Year.

“The right pedal is the brake, the center pedal is reverse, and the left pedal is low, neutral, and high. The throttle is on the column—got that?”Peter Stevens

In the year 2000, Peter became the Director of Product Design for MG Rover and worked on the MG TF, the MG Z-Cars, the MG SV and the Bonneville MG ZT wagon. It was on that project that we were able to finally work together as I worked at So-Cal Speed Shop in Pomona, California, where the racecar was built.

But why a wagon for Bonneville, you may ask? Well, deep down Peter is a hot rodder as were members of the MG board and at the time MG was developing a line of V8-powered vehicles powered by Ford-Roush engines. The aerodynamic wagon seemed a natural, especially when powered by a 700-hp Roush NASCAR engine. The wagon eventually exceeded more than 230-mph but sadly MG Rover collapsed in 2005 and the project was shuttered.

Peter, meanwhile, continues to design for a wide range of clients and works on a lot of eco-friendly, mass-transit projects as well as some alternative-fueled supercars. He also judges Concours events around the world, lectures and gives his time to numerous educational projects including the prestigious REVS Institute in Florida.

However, his first love remains hot rods and Ford Model Ts in particular. Over the years, he has owned several T speedsters but his current ride is a barely shiny, Henry Ford “Any color as long as it’s black,” 1925 turtle-deck roadster. It’s called a turtle deck because of that add-on trunk bolted to the back of the roadster body.

…his current ride is a barely shiny, Henry Ford “Any color as long as it’s black,” 1925 turtle-deck roadster.

Peter purchased the T from the U.S. sight unseen on eBay and works and on it himself at home in his studio or his barn in Suffolk, England, about 100 miles northeast of London. The chassis is a narrowed frame from a later, 1929 Ford Model A right down to the lowered buggy spring suspension and rod-actuated brakes.

Thankfully, it does not have the quirky Ford T pedal arrangement. “The right pedal is the brake,” said Peter. “The center pedal is reverse, and the left pedal is low, neutral, and high. The throttle is on the column—got that?”

Power for the black beast comes from a mildly hopped-up Model B four-cylinder engine fitted with a Winfield cylinder head, an Ansen intake, a Mallory distributor and a Stromberg 97 carb that is made just up the road in Waldringfield, Suffolk. Over the summer, Peter’s plan is to install a hi-lift cam from H&H Antique in La Crescenta, California.

Peter is well experienced at driving these funky old cars. He not only drives them on the street but also races in such events as the Pendine Sands Hot Rod Races in Wales where we caught up with him, at the Rømø Motor Festival in Denmark, and at other European venues. It’s a far cry from the McLaren F1 but to Peter, “They’re all hot rods to me.”

For more information about Peter visit his website or follow him on Facebook.

Fast Cars Unlimited

I don’t know about you but I like to detour off the main street and take the back alleys—you never know what you’re going to find, particularly if you are looking for interesting vehicles. Recently, I was cruisin’ Pacific Coast Highway on the west side of Los Angeles when I took a turn near the beach and found myself in a small street filled with exotics: Ferrari, Jaguar, Bentley. There were so many parked by the side of the road I didn’t know which way to look.

Established almost 40 years ago by Steve Tillack, Fast Cars Ltd. emerged from a stereo business but has grown to provide discerning international collectors with a complete package of services including research, location, purchase, services and complete restoration of exceptional collector cars and historic sports cars. They can even handle race support if the customer requires it.

With around 20 employees under the experienced eye of manager Craig Calder, Fast Cars has complete machine, dyno, fabrication, and upholstery shops. They have produced noted trophy, Concours, and historic race vehicles that have graced the lawns as far and wide as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Ville d’Este in Italy; Their cars have even competed in the infamous Mille Miglia Italian road race. For any event, Fast Cars can offer its clients seamless support and logistic planning here in the U.S. and overseas.

Walking through the various shops on my guided tour with Marco Piehl who has been with the company for more than 20 years, I was amazed at both the amount and the variety of work being performed. We began the tour in a small shop where they were working on a Ferrari 250 GTO Spider. Next door we found a Jaguar E-type low-drag coupe with a hand-formed aluminum body. Eventually, Marco pulled us away into another large area where there were vehicles for sale.

There were so many parked by the side of the road I didn’t know which way to look.

These included a road-going 962 Porsche from Vern Schuppan, A V-12-powered Jaguar XJR-15, a pair of Ferrari 250 GT convertibles and a coupe, the only Bertone-bodied Jaguar Pirana Coupe styled by Marcello Gandini, an equally rare Porsche Carrera GTS as well as a 1966 Porsche 906 than ran in the Targa Florio, and an extremely rare DSRM-backed Ford RS200 Group B rally car.

Across the street in the service area, there was everything from a pair of Ferrari Dinos and Daytonas to a pair of 250 TRs as well as a Ferrari 500 NDTR. Alfas, Lamborghinis, and even a Jaguar 220. It’s all in a days work for the Fast Cars mechanics that keep these exotics running. Indeed, one young man who graduated from UTI turns out to be the Weber-carb tuning wizard.

About the only part of the restoration process not handled in-house is that of paintwork and some of that is farmed out to Mick’s Paint, Pomona, California. Mick’s was primarily known for award-winning hot rod and custom paint, but since collaborating with Fast Cars their combined efforts have garnered several awards at the prestigious Pebble Beach Historic Concours d’Elegance.

…one young man who graduated from UTI turns out to be the Weber-carb tuning wizard.

Their first award came in 2016 with a 1958 Pegaso Z-103 that came third in its class. In 2017, a rare Boano-bodied 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900c SS Coupe Speciale came first in class. In 2019, the only-surviving Atcherley-bodied 1928 Alfa Romeo came second in Class J4 Italian Classic. This year the companies are working together on another rare 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500.

Typically, Fast Cars is not open to the public, however, occasionally, they host an open house and you can find out more by visiting their site at www.fastcarsltd.com

Behind the Scenes With Chris Petruccio of Krispy Media

I’ll never forget my first impressions of Chris Petruccio of Krispy Media at First Class Fitment a few years back. This tall, lanky young guy was walking around the show with a “Production Assistant” (his father) and a homemade camera jib. I was a young, judgemental 20-something at the time, and I thought to myself, “Who is this kid and what does he think he’s doing?”

Not only has Petruccio become an extremely popular automotive filmmaker and influencer, but he’s also become a really great friend of mine. So when Chris hired me to act in an upcoming commercial he was shooting with Anthony Purcell for MSI Gaming, I knew I finally had the opportunity to not just work with them but also tell their story.

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

As a young kid, Chris always had an entrepreneurial spirit. in his early teens, he was already taking advantage of Youtube’s Partnership Program, creating technology and paintballing channels with high subscriber counts.

Now, if my first impressions of Chris from earlier don’t sound bad, imagine what they were of Purcell:

“What’s this dude from New Jersey who never went to film school doing filming car shows?! A man who doesn’t have a four-year media degree and on-set experience like me surely won’t succeed in this business!”

That statement couldn’t have been less true.

Anthony progressed on the opposite end of the spectrum. Before making the transition to automotive filmmaking and photography, Purcell was pursuing a degree in accounting. To pay the bills, he worked at Starbucks and was fairly high up on the managerial chain.

…Anthony demoted himself and spent his newly acquired free time creating.

Photography was initially a hobby, but after developing an extensive portfolio and client base, he decided to drop out of college and pursue automotive media creation full-time. Why? According to Anthony, after attending school-organized career fairs, he realized that “no one looked happy” at them. Following this realization, Anthony demoted himself and spent his newly acquired free time creating.

In short, both Anthony’s and Chris’s respective career progressions were first-hand, rude awakenings for me to NOT judge books by their covers.

Seamlessly Working As One

I could spend even more time than I already have told you about how Chris and Anthony ultimately started working together, but instead, I’ll keep it short and simple: The two met at a car show and started hiring each other for wedding gigs. Both Petruccio and Purcell are firm believers in collaborating as a means of improving the quality of the creative endeavor. “We both really wanted to up the bar in our creative careers,” Purcell explained.

To hear about their collaborative experiences from them was one thing; to see it in real-time was a whole other animal.

Of course, the ultimate test of their collaboration theory and the working relationship would come in the form of a documentary Krispy Media shoot for an RWB build, where the two literally had to dance around one another while Akira Nakai San worked his magic. Needless to say, they passed the tests and have gone on to create a sizable portion of the RWB documentary films to date.

Symbiosis: On Set With The Masterminds

To hear about their collaborative experiences from them was one thing; to see it in real-time was a whole other animal.

As someone who’s been in the film industry for ten years now, I honestly can’t say that I’ve ever seen three (can’t leave out Cody Greenstone, their assistant) people work so seamlessly together on set before. Whether it was finding the cars to shoot, planning the next scene, or literally handing off the camera to one another to get as much coverage as they needed, everything was a dance. Whether I was taking direction from them to act in a scene or photographing them while they worked, the symbiosis between them was as clear as day.

It seems the three amigos have developed telepathy and can sense what the other needs on set at almost any point without saying a word.

In eerily similar words, both told me over the phone that they “know each other’s looks.” It seems the three amigos have developed telepathy and can sense what the other needs on set at almost any point without saying a word. It sounds crazy, but again, I’ve seen it first-hand.

Bright Futures

Chris Petruccio, Anthony Purcell, and Cody Greenstone are all talented in their own right. Individually, Greenstone’s automotive mechanical background and welding talents give him the ability to do things like fabricating Purcell’s Kia Soul camera mount—which, believe it or not, has helped Purcell attract Kia’s attention—while The Two P’s have their respective clients and social followings. But together, they are a trio of bright futures.

All the guys have their respective aspirations for the future. For Anthony, “Every shoot I do is all preparation for a Super Bowl shoot for Lexus,” he told me confidently. Chris hopes to not be a “one-man-band” for too much longer. “I’d love to start doing bigger budget stuff so I can hire more of my friends,” he explained. “I’d like to pick up another camera and start a YouTube channel of my own,” says Cody. Greenstone still wants to work with Chris and Anthony but also wants to travel and do “in-depth install videos so that the novice car person can feel comfortable tackling bigger projects.”

Be sure to follow Krispy Media on their creative journeys as they’re all likely to be working on more awesome stuff together real soon.

Purist Group Winter Drive

Automotive Gathering for a Good Cause

Over the past five years, Purist Group has held their annual “Winter Drive” toy event to benefit underprivileged, less fortunate children and their communities during the holiday season. This charity automotive car show and meet was envisioned by Purist founder Sean Lee as a way to bring the community together, letting car enthusiasts do what they love to do and play with cars while donating toys.

Founded in 2012, Purist Group is comprised of a unique collection of automotive enthusiasts of different nationalities and professions. Many of the members in this group are well-known in the industry including drivers, journalist, tuners, car collectors, and overall car geeks. This group exists not for commercial purposes but as a network to all the good people who share a common passion for cars, motorcycles, and the finer things in life. The prime focus of this group is helping others as well as one another.

The previous year, collectively as a group, the event raised over 20,000 toys to be donated to charities across the US including those who were impacted by the most recent Woolsey Fire. Last year’s event brought over 16,000 toys collected and continue to grow as of date, while rough estimates count 1,000+ cars rolling through the main entrance.

To commemorate this annual tradition, Winter Drive was once again free to all spectators but came with one special request: bring a new unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more to support a good cause and spread some holiday cheers. The event itself is a toy collection drive which features a massive gathering of hundreds of the most unique cars in the world, live music and entertainment, fun activities, contests, raffles, and giveaways.

You can bet your bottom dollars that a few super rare cars come out to play. Take for example this rare production LaFerrari Aperta. How rare you ask? Only 210 were manufactured with the final version being auctioned for 10 million dollars.

This Koenigsegg Final Version “Thor” Agera was one of my favorite vehicles at the event. Based on the Agera RS, the 1,360-HP turbocharged Thor version comes with all the bells and whistles including an aero package and Aircore hollow-spoke carbon fiber wheels.

The Blitz Skyline GT-R R348 was built for the sole purpose of top speed driving which was a thing back in the ’90s for Japanese tuners. This iconic car competed in the Silver State Classic back in ’02 but didn’t finish because he ran out of fuel less than a mile from the finish line—mind you this was still a street car. Later that year, Blitz took the car to Germany to reach a speed of 343 KPH (214 MPH) on the German Autobahn because the speed limit was not enforced there at the time.

Another favorite, or should I say favorites, at this year’s event were these two widebody machines sitting side-by-side. Liberty Walk LB widebody Ferrari was tucking wheels.

While I’m not a fan of the RWB Porsche movement, the black on chrome wheels played into a perfect build.

If you missed out on last year’s event, you can learn about more ways to donate by visiting Purist Group at www.facebook.com/PuristGroup

Putting the ‘Porsche’ in Porsche Design

We Go 60 Stories Up In Miami’s Condo

They say the price of condos rises proportionally with each floor up but inside the Porsche Design Tower in Miami, it gets absolutely bananas by the time you hit the penthouse. While it might be widely reported on by auto journos of the world regurgitating press releases and the same old photos, we got exclusive access to one of the most expensive penthouses around — complete with an elevator to bring your toys up to your suite!

The project of the Porsche Design Tower was an ambitious one from the very beginning. Build a circular tower, the tallest in Miami on a tiny strip of sand in between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Fill the condo with the finest amenities, exotic interiors, and celebrity owners… and design an elevator system that can haul your cars to your suite!

Undertaken by Miami heavyweights Dezer Development, the project teamed up with Porsche Design to get the right aesthetic and clientele inside the building. If you have ever been to a Porsche Design boutique, it’s less about cars and more about style, gadgets, and apparel that tie into automobiles. Sales staff will encourage owners of many car brands to find gear that suits their lifestyle independent to what you drive. Yours truly has a few pairs of Porsche Design Carrera sunglasses and even though I have never owned a Porsche, I like Carrera shades and that is just one of many collabs the brand has — condos notwithstanding.

For a special party, my car club booked the Porsche Design Tower penthouse suite. This is a $32 million penthouse that is not only 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space but it also has parking for 11 cars. Eleven. Most driveways can’t handle 11 but here in bustling Miami, there is room for seven cars in the man cave, two in the rear garage and two in the showcase garage… 56 stories up.

The Porsche Design Tower is 60 stories in total, that is 56 plus four that are all yours should you want to drop the $32-milli. While you might find other bargains out there, the car elevator or Dezervator has no parallel in the world. The core of the building houses three advanced rotating platforms that pick up cars from the ground level and haul them up with a driver or not.

The process is fascinating to experience and I truly felt like peering into a window of the future. Essentially you roll your exotic car into the loading level into one of three illuminated pods. The concierge will direct guests through the process but it’s about as simple as a car wash, well one that goes up 600-feet vertically.

After entering the pod, a caddy rolls out and snatches the tires with thin rollers to elevate the car just an inch off the ground. From there the long stainless steel dolly retracts the car back into the elevator and up you go. When arriving at your floor, the car is slid out on a long track into your suite or in the case of this penthouse, you can move your car around an open garage space. The whole operation is orchestrated by technicians and computer programs on the main floor to ensure all goes smooth.

As for the unit itself, this lofty penthouse leaves everything to the imagination. It has cavernous open spaces and the living space will be built to the specifications of any buyer. The maze around four floors of living area with massive patios, pool, hot tub and balconies facing every direction are almost too much to comprehend. This is obviously the most expensive of the 135 units in the building that has attracted the most billionaire owners of any condo. There is nothing like it and the wealthy car guys snap them up just to be closer to what is important and far enough away from what isn’t.

With your luxury or exotic car locked away but visible to you from nearly every angle, who needs a security system?!

Decorating the Bachelor Pad

The New Zonda Really Ties the Room Together

In this line of work, you get to see many rare automotive sights. We realize an average person might never even see a Pagani, let alone at a local car meet with four of them, or a national Concours show with an assortment of 14 Zondas and Huayras at a Pagani display! A sighting of a race-only Zonda Revolución never gets old and considering there are only five of them ever produced, the way in which one Miami race car driver decorated his condo, was nothing short of spectacular.

First off, let’s get one thing sorted; this is a carbon fiber replica of a Pagani Zonda Revolución. Sure the owner has the money to go real, but this is a 1:1 scale model using the original carbon fiber plug from Pagani direct. The owner is Pablo Perez Companc, the billionaire son of the wealthiest man in Argentina and a client who happens to know Horacio Pagani personally.

Companc is a dedicated customer of Pagani with his own Zonda Revolución, which he named Black Minion. Most of his nearly 800K Instagram followers believed the art car was real and were quick to critique the wall sculpture with all the ferocity the internet can muster. Many media outlets were guilty of spinning incorrect articles about how Companc essentially wasted “$1.5-million dollars” on V12-powered wall art that should be driven instead.

What Companc and his general contractor Finish My Condo did to his Miami abode was far from the fake news reports. First, there are only five Zonda Revolucións in the world and each one cost nearly $3-million, so not only is it double the estimates but no sane person is going to buy two of five and destroy a rare race car! Others believed it was his functioning race car, Black Minion. Again he had to clarify on Instagram: “…structurally will never be able to receive an engine or the entire mechanical part. I would never condemn Black Minion to being locked in a living room. Race cars are for driving.”

With that cleared up, let’s get down to the mechanics of how they did this feat that only Miami could pull off. The Pagani tooling still existed to pull a custom carbon fiber Zonda shell that had no interior, no engine mounts, and the chassis was designed solely to support its full weight of only a few hundred pounds. Before the condo interior was done, the floor to ceiling windows were removed in order to accept the shell and mounting column. After the Zonda was hoisted by crane on a wooden skid and the assembly of the aluminum mounting column started with a plate at the top. From there, the vertical plate for the column was bolted to the underside of the shell and hung by straps before bolting to the ceiling. The bottom was secured with a footing, then finished off with a polished aluminum plate to be surrounded for finishing materials, like flooring and drywall ceiling to wrap it up.

The end result is one of the most unique room dividers ever seen in Miami if not the entire country. In Miami, sometimes an $8-million 4,200 square foot condo just doesn’t create enough of a reaction and you have to flex on everyone like this. Talked about the world over, the Black Minion tribute is just that, a tribute to one of the best cars ever made. With a snarling V12 pumping out 789 horsepower and shredding 0-60 mph in only 2.6 seconds on the way to a 217 mph terminal velocity, the Revolución is the real deal. The Revolución is also beautiful to look at, which is why Companc has one to admire on his wall. Then again the Revolución isn’t road legal anyway and can’t be enjoyed all the time, so another member of his fleet, Wild Minion, is for that. Wild Minion is a Pagani Huayra BC but we’ll get into that insanity another time.

The Barrett-Jackson Auctions

If you’re looking for that rare collector car or classic hot rod, you can’t beat the Barrett-Jackson Auctions. What’s more is that you don’t even have to have a collector car to sell at one of their events.

Originally, Russ Jackson and Tom Barrett met over Barrett’s 1933 Cadillac V16 Town Car in Scottsdale, Arizona. It wasn’t about starting a classic car auction or anything, it was just that Cadillac. They hit it off well and then presented a car show for fund-raising in Scottsdale in 1967 called the “Fiesta de Los Autos Elegantes.” Their first official auction was in December of 1971, where the two jointly put on a classic car auction in which they got notoriety for selling two Mercedes-Benz 770K Phaetons that were used by Adolf Hitler’s staff. One of the two set a new auction record and sold for $153,200 and the Barrett-Jackson Auction was born.

Craig Jackson, Russ’ son, took over in 1995, just after Russ died in 1993. On that same year, the auctions began showing live on Speed Channel and internet bidding was allowed for the first time. Just after Tom Barrett died in 2004, the show was renamed to the Barret-Jackson Collector Car Auctions in 2005. From there, the shows have visited Las Vegas, Orange County in California, Reno, Palm Beach, and Uncasville, Connecticut.

Collector cars are always coming across the block, but this is where charities like to sell vehicles for fund-raising, much like how Tom and Russ originally started in 1967. During the 2018 Scottsdale Auction, 10 vehicles were sold for charity and reached $102-million. Another historic first was when Former US President George W. Bush joined in the sale of the first production 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Carbon 65 Edition, a car that sold for $1.4-million during that same show to benefit The George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Military Service Initiative.

While it is a collector car auction, it is still an auction open to selling all types of vehicles like trucks, planes, boats, engines, motorcycles, and even memorabilia. You could sell your own car there, it’s not closed off to just celebrities or cars with historic value. This means cars can range from a Ford Crown Victoria with about 12,000-miles on the odometer to prototype cars that were never produced to a 1926 Ford Model T and everything in between. This also means that these auctions are more than just car sales, they can be the best place to find classic and modified cars to just look at and enjoy for what they are.

That’s what makes a Barrett-Jackson Auction fun for those who don’t have the six- or seven-figure budget to bid on cars. There is more going on besides the selling of classic or collector vehicles. There are vendors, displays, driving exhibitions, and more going on that you wonder if there’s really an auction going on. That is until you hear the cheers and hammer drop after a massive sale.

If you’re in Las Vegas from September 27 to 29 or in Scottsdale, Arizona from January 12 to 20, 2019, just go to the Barrett-Jackson Auction and look around. It’s essentially a car show that happens to have an auction going on at the same time.

Motorworld

A New Kind Of Auto Destination

During a recent trip to Germany, I was invited to tour Motorworld, a new type of auto facility that is developing across Europe and might be heading west if the owners can find the right partners and property.

The facility I visited is housed at an old, World War I military airfield in Böeblingen, near Stuttgart also home to the Mercedes and Porsche museums so well worth a visit. The airfield opened in 1915 as a training facility with runways, hangars, and other facilities. At the end of the war, the airfield was shuttered until the 1920s when flying schools used it unofficially. In 1925 it became the state airport and commercial aircraft used it initiating the construction of a hotel, restaurant, customs, and baggage handling. With eight daily flights, passengers could fly to Zurich, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Switzerland. In 1929, the world-famous Graf Zeppelin airship landed at Böeblingen, in front of a crowd of 100,000. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Böeblingen boomed with the opening of the German Aviation Museum and a Lufthansa airmail route to South America. However, the war was looming and Böeblingen reverted to a pilot training school.

After the Second World War, the U.S. took over the airport and used it as a repair facility for Army vehicles. The various buildings were used as offices and storage until 1992 when the U.S. Army vacated the premises. It then stood vacant for more than a decade until 2008 when construction began on Motorworld. Images on their website: www.motorworld.de/en/portfolio_page/historie/ show some pretty derelict buildings. Nevertheless, Motorworld, the vision of Andreas Duenkel, a major real estate developer and petrol head, opened in 2009 and I have to say the place is impressive. Not only had Andreas and his partners salvaged and restored a historic site but he’d built an amazing destination for auto enthusiasts from around the world.

At the entrance to the 540,000 sq. ft. Motorworld facility is a huge 7-story cylindrical tower announcing your arrival. Below is a Harley dealer and the Tower 66 Steakhouse and Bar. Across the way, there is a Porsche facility. Interestingly, some young auto-paparazzi stood on the corner photographing all of the supercars that buzzed around them like flies.

Across the street and facing the old airfield that is now an extensive show field, are all the original buildings refurbished to house an impressive array of facilities: Restaurants, meeting rooms and spaces, retail shops, restoration shops, classic car dealers and even glass-walled storage units for your classic or supercar. The retail tenants include the official representation for Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Bentley, Maserati, and Lotus, as well as several large classic car dealers and clothing and lifestyle shops.

Indeed, a McLaren GT was just parked in the hallway alongside the 56 double-stacked, climate-controlled car storage units where well-heeled patrons can keep their prized possessions. The structure houses the usual array of Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes as well as other supercars of similar ilk.

Elegant Metal

The 25th Rodeo Drive Concours D’Elegance

There is no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than to check out some of the most beautiful cars on the extravagant Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA. This year’s “Best of Show” of the 25th Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance went to a 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia and was worthy of that award, indeed.

The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance is becoming a tradition for fathers and their families to celebrate automotive art in Southern California. When you combine the indulgence of Beverly Hills with some of the most amazing and rarely seen metal on wheels, you create something special. That’s what a Concours d’Elegance is all about, after all.

To bookmark the Concours d’Elegance, 50 silver cars were brought out just for the show to celebrate the 25 years the show has been taking place on the historic road. It wasn’t just Euros and luxury cars, either, as muscle cars and the latest supercars made an appearance in the quarter-century marking color. It was also signified with the largest turnout for both cars and spectators with more than 30,000 people coming out to see what was on display for that blocked off section of Rodeo Drive.

The Best of Show winner was a 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia, owned by the Mullin Automotive Museum. It was based off the Hispano-Suiza H6B, a luxury car with a 6.6-liter or 8.0-liter I6 built in the early 20th Century. This car’s historic significance is that it was designed by World War I flying ace, race car driver, and Olympic athlete Andre Dubonnet. He was no stranger to Hispano-Suiza, as he once raced a 1924 H6C with a body that weighed no more than 100-pounds.

This version was built with an independent suspension with an Art Deco-themed body that was hand-built by Jacques Saoutchik, a Russian-born French coachwork builder who started out his career as a cabinet maker before starting his automotive business in 1906. His body work included brands like Bugatti, Delahaye, Pegaso, and even Cadillac.

There were other awards, too. The Mayor’s Award for the Most Elegant went to Vin Di Bona’s 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Coupe. Bruce Meyer’s Chairman’s Award went to a 1964 Porsche 904 owned by Sam Yagi. The Icon Award for a Timeless Classic went Tenney Fairchild’s 1964 Pontiac GTO. The Most Stylish, Rodeo Drive Award went to a 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible owned by Kip Cyprus.

 There were many other awards, but the most important award was the funds raised for the Beverly Hills Police Foundation. It’s a non-profit charity that funds officers and their families when the time comes that they need it.

Rodeo Drive is known for being the crossroads of entertainment and fashion. However, for 25 years it has also been the home of some of the most beautiful metal Southern California has ever owned that wasn’t gold. The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance is more than exotics and luxury, it’s the celebration of automotive history in a place that helped create it.

McLaren Technology Centre

Of course, I’d heard about it, everybody in the supercar business has heard about it, but few have had the opportunity to tour the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC). Located near Woking, 30 miles southwest of London, England, and close to the historic Brooklands race circuit, the MTC is amazing. Nothing quite prepares you for rounding the corner at the McLaren Thought Leadership Centre and taking the long curving drive beside the lake that is overshadowed by the sweeping building designed by Norman Foster & Partners. The word “building”, however, is insufficient to describe this yin-yang inspired Taj Mahal to motorsports.

The Technology Centre provides a headquarters for the McLaren Group and is designed to reflect the company’s design and engineering expertise. It includes design studios, laboratories and production and testing facilities, including their own 145-meter long wind tunnel, for Formula One and high-performance sports cars. 

What’s cool about the MTC is that it enjoys an incredibly low carbon footprint and uses the lake water and heat exchangers to keep the air temp inside the building a comfortable 22 degrees Centigrade (72 Fahrenheit). When the wind tunnel is in use, the water gets hot, so it’s cycled out of the building, flowing out and down a stepped wall. This releases the heat, oxygenates the water, and ensures the lake never freezes during a British winter.

While no figures are given for what the central building cost, I was told that the adjacent, 32,000 square meter Production Centre cost around £60 million to build (that equates to around $70 million today but back when it was built, between 1999 and 2003, that was about double or, $120 million).

Upon my arrival, I was directed to park in Ron Dennis’ space. Ron, of course, was the man behind the phenomenal growth of McLaren. New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren founded the company in 1963. Unfortunately, Bruce died in 1970 and the remains of his company merged with Ron Dennis’ Project Four Racing in 1981. Ron is well known for his obsessive attention to detail and when designing the new Production Centre took the floor tiles home in order to calculate how big the building could be to use the minimum number of tiles with no cutting. It’s exactly the size he dictated.

As he is no longer with the company, I got Ron’s parking space and was met by none other than Bruce McLaren’s lovely daughter Amanda who was to show me around. We began our tour in the lobby where we checked out the cars beginning with Bruce’s Austin 7 Ulster that he raced in New Zealand as a boy aged 15—it’s a far cry from the current Formula 1 technology. Alongside the Austin was the Chevy-powered M8D Can-Am car that took McLaren and Denny Hulme to 39 race wins and five championships between 1967 and ’72. Alongside that was Hulme’s DFV-powered M19C of 1972. And so it went on, car after car until we came to a huge glassed-in shop that turned out to be the McLaren Formula 1 workshop. And while you’re not allowed to take photographs, for obvious reasons, you can stand and stare and just drool at the cleanliness and the attention to detail.

Eventually, Amanda dragged me past a line a McLaren F1 cars of the 2000s known as the ‘Silver Arrows’, a nod to the all-conquering original ‘unpainted’ Silver Arrows of the Pre-World War II Grand Prix era. The equally impressive line of late-70s F1 cars included the 1977 M26 of James Hunt—beautiful in its simplicity compared to the current F1 machines. Before I knew it, however, Amanda took me down a rabbit hole and through a long underground tunnel that connects the MTC to the Production Centre. Now, I’ve visited any number of car factories from Ferrari to Ford but I don’t think I have ever been so impressed. Again, no personal photos but here, in a pristine environment, several thousand workers, working two shifts assemble more than 4,000 McLaren road cars annually—everything from the 540C to the $1 million Senna (depending upon the prevailing exchange rate) and there was one sitting right in front of me. I could reach out and touch it.

For some, the Senna is a bit OTT as the Brits say. That means Over The Top, a bit too much, for some. But supercars are supposed to be a little OTT, are they not? At the heart of the Senna is the family’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 but here it is one of the most powerful McLaren road car engines ever, producing 800PS (789bhp) and 800Nm (590lb ft), with 700Nm (516lb ft) of torque available at just 3,000rpm. Designated M840TR, the powertrain features dry sump lubrication, a flat-plane crankshaft, and lightweight pistons and rods to reduce mass. Meanwhile, low-inertia, twin-scroll turbochargers and electronic wastegates deliver instantaneous throttle response. Max speed is 208 mph and the Senna accelerates from 0-62 mph in just 2.8 seconds.

Having worked as a young man in a pre-robot Chrysler factory, this facility was eye-opening, jaw-dropping, finger-lickin’ good. Still a lot of people scurrying around as the McLaren’s continue to be essentially hand built but there was a purpose about their actions, an obvious attention to detail and a pride in their workmanship. I could have watched it all day from the arrival of the carbon composite tub, through the assembly and on to the final monsoon soak test. It was fascinating. Unfortunately, I was dragged away; my tour was over with the promise of a drive when I got back to LA. Watch this space….

Goodwood FOS 2018

In the world of automotive events, The Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is right up there on the bucket list with the Indy 500, Le Mans, Pebble Beach, the Daytona 500 and a few others. This year, the FOS celebrated its 25^th Silver Anniversary and The Dawg Box was there for the party.

For those of you who don’t know, the FOS takes place every summer on the grounds of The Duke of Richmond’s ancestral home 100 miles south-west of London, England. It’s basically a hill climb up the Duke’s 1.16-mile drive. The long-standing record for the dash is 41.6 seconds set by Nick Heidfeld in 1999 in a McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car. His average speed up the twisty, cambered driveway with some nasty sharp flint walls was 100.385 mph. Nick’s record remains unbroken as they no longer allow F1 cars timed runs for safety reasons but this year two electric cars came awfully close to breaking Nick’s record. It’s bound to fall soon.

By invitation only, the hill climb sees an eclectic field of racecars; everything from Duncan Pittaway’s fire belching, 28.5-liter, 4-cylinder 1911 Fiat The Beast of Turin to Ernie Nagamatsu’s historic Old Yeller Buick-powered road-racing special to Rod Millen’s Pikes Peak-winning Toyota Celica to electric and even autonomous cars with no drivers. Call me old-fashioned, but driverless cars to me seems a lot like slot car racing. While skill is involved, I just wonder if when you remove the human element you remove the point. It would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.

Ironically, This year’s fastest time was set by Frenchman Romain Dumas driving a Volkswagen ID R electric racecar in which Dumas recently won the Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado. Dumas scorched up the hill in just 43.86 seconds. Second fastest was Peter Dumbreck driving the NIO EP9 electric supercar. Dumbreck made the dash in a staggering 44.32 seconds.

It’s a sign of the times that the fields of Goodwood are now littered with supercars. Everywhere you looked there were lines of Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins, McLarens, Koenigseggs, Paganis, Porsche and all the other exclusive brands. Time was they were a rarity on British roads but no longer. McLaren was, in fact, our host and we shall be reporting on our tour of the McLaren Technology Center soon.

One of the most appealing aspects of the FOS is the up-close-and-personal access to the cars and the drivers, particularly if you are a Formula One fan. You can get within a few inches of the cars, check them out, hear them run, and meet and greet the mechanics and the drivers. I don’t know of anywhere else you can do that in such a casual atmosphere. There were displays from all the teams including Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus, and Alfa. There was even a display of driverless electric racecars from Robocar.

Built Brick by Brick: The Lego McLaren 720S

Lego McLaren 720S

If you ever had kids you’ll know the excruciating pain that follows stepping barefoot onto a sea of Lego bricks. Sea? Heck, one brick is enough to get your attention. So it was when Lego announced the build of a full-size McLaren 720S the world premiere of which would take place at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California.

Just so happens that two of my good friends have been intimately involved with the design of the real McLaren. Peter Stevens with the design of the legendary F1 and Mark Roberts who has worked at McLaren since the F1 and is currently the chief designer and an integral part of the team credited for the design of all contemporary McLaren sportscars including the critically-acclaimed McLaren P1, the 570S and 720S. Mark was in town for the Lego introduction and shared the podium with Lego master builder Chris Steininger one of only seven master builders in the world and with father Dan makes up the world’s only father-son Master Builder Team. How lucky is Chris to work with his dad on such cool stuff?

Lego, of course, is well known for its innovative marketing and product line that now includes a 720S along with a few other super cars in their Speed Champions series. To bring attention to the small-scale line Lego decided to build the full-size. According to Chris, it took 2,000 hours to assemble on a steel armature that rolls on real McLaren wheels shod with Pirelli 245/35R19 tires on the front and 305/30R20s on the rear. While the real car has carbon ceramic discs, the Lego version has, well, Lego discs. Nevertheless, it does roll, just not under its own power. In the industry it’s known as a ‘pushmobile.’

The real 720S, which is built in Woking, England, is powered by a propriety M838T 4.0-liter V8 with twin electrically-actuated MHI turbochargers. That’s good for 568 lb/ft of torque, 710 bhp and a top speed of 212 mph (341 kpm). It gets from zero to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and from zero to 124 mph in 7.8 seconds. Top speed is 212 mph, however, there’s always more right?

As this event was more of a design exercise than an engineering seminar Mark discussed McLaren’s pillars of design philosophy. Firstly, McLaren ‘shrink wraps’ the exterior shape over the mechanicals to get the leanest car possible. He went on to explain the layering process that allows air to flow freely through the car and the use of natural prototypes to create a sinewy, muscular and organic aliveness to their designs. He talked about ‘functional jewelry’ whereby every component of the McLaren is designed, developed and shaped to be functional and yet aesthetically beautiful. It’s a less is more philosophy that when combined with a brave cohesive team approach results in such beautifully functional fast cars.

Mark went on to explain that while virtual reality is playing an ever-increasing role in the design process McLaren still rely on a full-size clay model saying, “We might walk around a clay model for two weeks, changing the tiniest details that might look right one day… but oddly not the next.” Such are the processes of honing great design.

Next time, we visit the McLaren complex in England.