Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are adding the crowning glory to the model family of their highly successful SLR super sports car with a new, uncompromisingly spectacular car. There is neither a roof nor a windscreen to separate the driver and passenger from the outside world; they enjoy unadulterated high-speed excitement with all the attributes of a speedster.

The new SLR Stirling Moss is also characterised by the most sophisticated technology and a breathtaking design which reinterprets the SLR legend. With 478 kW/650 hp the SLR Stirling Moss accelerates its V8 supercharged engine from standstill to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 350 km/h – no other series-production car is at the same time so open and so fast. This extreme concept makes the new high-performance sports car a legitimate bearer of the name of the British motor racing legend and Mille Miglia record-holder Stirling Moss, who drove the legendary Mercedes-Benz SLR racing cars from victory to victory during the 1950s.

The exclusive SLR Stirling Moss rounds off the current SLR family and is limited to 75 units. It is priced at 750,000 euros. The SLR Roadster will cease to be manufactured at the end of May 2009 as planned, and production of the SLR Stirling Moss will commence in June 2009.

Three letters are all it takes to make car fans` hearts beat faster: SLR. In the 1950s the Mercedes-Benz SLR 300 celebrated victory after victory. It won the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio as well as the Tourist Trophy. It was driven by the stars of the time: Juan Manual Fangio and Karl Kling – and, first and foremost, by the British racing driver Stirling Moss. At ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds he still holds the Mille Miglia record.

This is why the modern-day version of the legendary SLR carries the additional words "Stirling Moss" in its name. As the new SLR Stirling Moss unites the character of the current SLR models with the fascination of the SLR of 1955. The core values of both the historical and the present-day SLR models include an exciting new design, innovative technology, high-class materials displaying perfect craftsmanship, and, above all: a unique driving experience for all the senses.

Whilst the 300 SLR earned its spurs on racing circuits the world over, the new member of the SLR family is not designed for the racetrack. Although it sets new standards in terms of technology, performance and excitement – just like its forebears – it is aimed at individuals who have exquisite requirements and nurture very special dreams.

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 i Sport 4-Door

2009 latest Mazda3 i sport 4 sport car pictures

Two Production Cars Faster than the Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is commonly thought to be the fastest production car in the world. With 1001 horsepower on tap, it easily smashed the previous production car land speed record set by the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. Bugatti has used the "fastest production car in the world" myth to its advantage, but in reality, the Veyron 16.4 is not the world's fastest production sports car at all.

Two uber sports car models, one from an American sports car legend and the other from a company known for modifying Porsche 911s and other German sports cars to ludicrous levels, have each eclipsed the production car world road speed record set by the Veyron in 2006.

The SSC Ultimate Aero: World Record Holder

One is from Shelby Supercars, better known as SSC, and set the new Guiness World Record for top speed by a production sports car in late 2007, beating the top speed of the Veyron 16.4 by nearly 3 mph for a verified world record land speed of 411.76 km/h (255.83 mph), for a verified claim to the fastest factory-built production car in the world.

9ff GT9: Germany's sports car king

The other blazing fast supercar is from German Porsche tuner 9ff. You may not have heard of the 9ff GT9, but you will. 9ff has been modifying Porsche 911s to halo performance levels for years, but the German expert sports car tuners have begun with a 911 GT9 and then changed practically everything but the headlights, resulting in a brand new blazing fast German supercar with enough juice to beat the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 head to head.

The 9ff GT9 has recently recorded a documented top speed of 409 kilometers per hour, or 254.1 mph, enough to knock the Bugatti Veyron down to third on the list of all time fastest production cars. Some might balk at this, looking at other highly tuned models such as the Hennessey Motorworks Dodge Viper, and compare them to the 9ff GT9, saying the GT9 is really just a Porsche on amphetamines.

9ff has fought back against this assertion by offering 20--yes, only twenty--GT9 production models for sale complete with 409 km/hr speeds direct from the factory. That is, if you dare to try it in a car with no airbags. You can get one yourself, if you hurry, and happen to have €498,000 (around $785,000 USD) lying around.

A bargain, considering you'd likely pay $2 million to say you were riding around in the world's fastest car, and be oh so wrong.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S

SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S Engine by AMG

Delving into the performance specs that make the 2009 SLR 722 S so unique starts with the engine. The supercharged 5.5 liter V8 is hand-built by AMG along with the engines used in the new SL 65 AMG Black Series. It was only in the recent past that AMG began building the engines for the Benz high performance division's cars in-house, by hand. The result is an out-of-this-world power output of 650 horsepower and 605 lb-ft. of torque.

Specs like these are enough to take the featherweight SLR McLaren 722 Roadster 722 S from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, all the way up to a top speed of 208 mph. In the modern horsepower wars, there are many supercars with performance numbers like the McLaren 722. It is its bold and unique styling that sets the German wonder apart.

The SLR McLaren Evolved - More Than Just a Chop Job

While Bugatti opted for a Targa-style removable roof panel for its open-air supercar, the Veyron Grand Sport, Mercedes-Benz AMG and McLaren have engineered the SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S for high speed driving with its soft top raised or lowered. The top is made from a "high tech material," says Mercedes-Benz, with a woven look that blends right in with all the carbon fiber on the new SLR.

Safety for occupants is always a pertinent issue when traveling more than 200 miles per hour with the top down. The expected on-demand roll bars are included, of course, and Mercedes-Benz/McLaren ensure that this car has sufficient passive safety features to keep its drivers... alive... in the event of a crash.

Super Limited Run Fitting of the SLR 722 Name

The first SLR McLaren 722 Edition sold out faster than Superbowl tickets, leaving Mercedes-Benz's most rich and discerning customers clamoring for more. Only 150 examples of the 2009 Roadster 722 S will be released, becoming available Jan. 1, 2009. Base price has not been announced to the public, but if you have to ask...

Mark your calendars and dump the 401k, the SLR McLaren 722 has returned.

Jaguar S-Type

The S-Type, Jaguar's mid-sized offering both price- and size-wise, comes in three different versions, each with it's own engine. The base model comes with a 235 horsepower, 3.0 liter V6 engine, with the next level up offering a 300 horsepower, 4.2 liter V8. The highest trimmed R model comes with a V8 engine as well, but it's supercharged and has 400 horsepower. The transmission is the same on all three trims: a ZF six-speed automatic, with traction control standard.

Cosmetic changes are the real differences between the 2008 Jaguar S Type and last year's version. All trims now have the same bumper as previous year's R editions, and have wheels that are an inch larger than last year, 18 and 19 inches, respectively. As well, the grille sports a circular Jaguar badge and features horizontal lines with slimmer vertical ones. The tail lights have been redesigned to look more high tech, and instead of fog lights, the R edition has mesh inserts which allow air to reach the oil coolers. (The R edition also has twin tailpipes, a spoiler on the trunk, and xenon head lights, while the other trims do not.)

Aston Martin LeMans LMP1

2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore," said Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards. "However, we do not underestimate the task. While we have won the GT1 class for the last two years, competing against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars with all their years of winning the prototype class, will be a massive undertaking. Nonetheless, I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: breathtaking performance

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro rockets from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.9 seconds. In the version with the sequentially shifting R tronic it reaches 200 km/h (124.27 mph) in another 8.1 seconds.

Even then its propulsive power hardly lessens: it`s sufficient to reach a top speed of 316 km/h (196.35 mph). The immense force, the spontaneity and the thrust of the acceleration, plus the sound of the engine – all these impressions coalesce into a breathtaking sports car experience.

The V10 plays a concert with growling bass tones and powerful high notes, which grows into a grandiose fortissimo as the engine revs up. This sonorous acceleration doesn`t reach its limit until 8,700 rpm.

The 5.2-liter powerplant uses direct injection according to the FSI principle developed by Audi. A common rail system injects the fuel into the combustion chambers with up to 120 bar of pressure.

Direct injection reduces the susceptibility to knocking and provides a certain amount of cooling through the evaporation of the fuel, which in turn supports a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. This in turn contributes to superior performance and improves fuel economy. The R8 V10 with R tronic gets by on an average of 13.7 liters per 100 km (17.17 US mpg).

Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M - Ferrari's Most Hardcore Convertible Ever

In Ferrari speak, the name 'Scuderia' is synonomous with the most hardcore streetable track supercars the Prancing Horse has to offer the public. Unveiled at the Formula 1 Constructor's World Championship, the Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M is the first convertible Ferrari to bear that name.

The Scuderia Spider is billed as the fastest convertible to come from Ferrari, ever. While the new Ferrari California will be released soon in an attempt to make Ferrari supercars accessible to more drivers, the expensive track-ready Scuderia Spider is for Ferrari customers who crave pure, unbridled speed.

Upgrades over the Ferrari F430 Spider on which the Scuderia Spider is based included 80 kg in weight savings due to the use of lightweight body trim materials and the stripping of anything unnecessary to peak performance, and a carbon-trimmed roll bar that broadcasts to all gawkers the Scuderia Spider is ready for the track.

Inside, lucky rich guys who manage to snag one of the 499 Scuderia Spider cars being produced will be treated to an austere but functional Ferrari interior complemented by a custom Ferrari iPod Touch that can be mounted and removed from the dash and is used to control media functions.

Expect the instant-classic Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M to command a significant premium over the F430 Spider when those 499 units are released to the power-hungry car buying public worldwide.

BMW X5

With unparalleled dynamic performance on the road and outstanding traction on rough terrain, the BMW X5 has been on an unstoppable course for success for ten years. BMW presented the first generation of the all-wheel-drive five-door vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in 1999, thereby founding the segment of the Sports Activity Vehicle(R) (SAV).

The world premiere marked the start of an unprecedented success story. Within a decade, over 845,000 units of the BMW X5 have been sold. As a result of the consistent ongoing development of the SAV(R) concept, there are now three BMW X models to choose from, with a fourth ready to start production later in 2009. In creating a segment, the BMW X5 became the key inspiration for an entire competitive field of all-wheel-drive vehicles. In its anniversary year, now in its second generation, the BMW X5 remains the role model and benchmark of its class in terms of driving dynamics, efficiency, versatility, premium quality and safety.

From the very beginning, the key to the success of the BMW X5 lay in its combination of two qualities which had never been matched in a single vehicle before. The new model successfully transferred characteristic BMW driving pleasure into a completely new market segment. For the very first time, the spacious, full-time all-wheel driven BMW X5 combined the driving dynamics of a BMW Sedan with impressive mobility off the beaten path as well. Its ultra-rigid body structure and independent suspension set the BMW X5 apart from conventional off-road vehicles, with the driving stability system Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), including Automatic Differential Brake (ADB-X) and Hill Descent Control (HDC), ensuring impeccable manners both on and off the road.

Dynamic performance and versatility were also expressed in the design of the vehicle. Another striking feature was the raised seating position which instantly gave the driver the same sense of command and control which was provided by the chassis technology. In addition, the spacious, versatile and high-quality interior provided a whole new driving experience for an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Cadillac SRX Crossover

The all-new SRX is a fresh and compelling crossover aimed squarely at the priorities of luxury buyers,” said Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. “With new technologies for increased efficiency and safety, the redesigned 2010 SRX Crossover focuses on both the emotional and pragmatic sides of the luxury consumer.”

The 2010 SRX is designed for efficient performance, including the choice of two high-tech six-cylinder engines that are new to Cadillac – the smallest-displacement engines it offers in North America. A new, 3.0L direct injected V-6 engine is standard and a new, 2.8L turbocharged V-6 is optional. Both engines employ technology that helps produce strong performance that is typical of larger-displacement engines. Direct injection enables a 25-percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions. Fuel economy in the mid-20s on the highway is expected, but testing isn’t complete.

Performance and safety are enhanced by an available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that is designed to optimize vehicle handling and stability in all driving conditions. The AWD system includes an advanced electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) that distributes torque as needed from side to side along the rear axle, as well as from the front to rear axle. The pre-emptive, active-on-demand system provides an extra measure of capability in wet or icy conditions.

The 2010 SRX rides on a wide track that was designed to deliver a nimble, responsive driving experience. It seats five, with generous occupant and cargo room, and can tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg).

Cadillac Converj Concept

Luxury coupe concept continues GM`s leadership in the electrification of the automobile

General Motors unveiled a further glimpse at the potential of electric propulsion today, this time in the form of luxury transportation, with the Cadillac Converj Concept. The Cadillac Converj was developed as a well-appointed grand touring coupe with a bold design and a host of interactive technology.

The four-passenger Converj concept is intended to show how GM`s revolutionary electric propulsion technology - called Voltec - can power a luxury coupe with a typically Cadillac "no compromises" design. The technology enables up to 40 miles of gas- and emissions-free electric driving with extended-range capability of hundreds of miles.

Bob Lutz, GM`s vice chairman of Global Product Development, said the Converj concept has production substance. "It`s a logical extension of our plan to reinvent the automobile," he said. "It clearly shows what a Cadillac electric vehicle could look like, and clearly indicates that global luxury customers can have a car that has both strong design and electric propulsion with a total range of hundreds of anxiety-free miles."

Cadillac`s extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) concept has a new body style that is an evolution of the brand`s traditional Art and Science design theme. An aggressive, forward-leaning arc profile is the foundation for the sporting stance. And more than a Cadillac in form, Converj is also intended to be a Cadillac in substance, with the premium materials, technology and driving dynamics that are hallmarks of the brand.

10 great Concept Cars and Designs

Take a look and let us know the one you fancy the most.

1. Audi Locus

Audi Locus designed by Ugur Sahin is a concept car envisioned to have a curvy structure and the main characteristics of the design are the way its surface shapes are formed with a continuous flow from front until the back of the car.

2. Peugeot e-Motion

Peugeot e-Motion is an electric-powered sportscar with a design characterized by the combination of concave and convex surfaces. The dynamic look is enhanced in the sideview by a sharp crease line which flows from the headlights, into the doors and continues with the rear lights.

3. Lamborghini Concept S

Lamborghini Concept S is a concept car designed by Luc Donckerwolke, the head of Lamborghini design, using the Lamborghini Gallardo’s floorplan. Shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It was intended to be a modern interpretation of the single-seat roadsters of the past.

4. Mazda Taiki

Mazda Taiki was revealed at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007 and basically sets a new ideal for the front-engine rear-drive sports car of the future and continues the evolution of the Nagare design theme, following in the footsteps of the Mazda Nagare, Mazda Ryuga, and Mazda Hakaze concept vehicles.

5. BMW ZX-6

BMW ZX-6 concept is one of the final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (Instituto Europeo di Design), which was developed in partnership with BMW with the goal of creating a car for 2015.

6. Toyota 4WingX

Toyota 4WingX was one of the ten design proposals idealized and presented by students of the Transportation Design Course of IED Turin which makes use of the same hybrid power technology found in the Toyota Prius but provides a unique style and shape.

7. Mazda Nagare

Mazda Nagare concept was revealed at this year’s Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show and is the first of a series of design concepts that Mazda will showcase this global auto show season, including Los Angeles, Detroit, Geneva and Tokyo.

8. Audi O

Audi O concept was designed by Ondrej Jirec, a design student from the Czech Republic who is beginning studies at the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California in 2008. It was designed to fuse a powerful and innovative audio system with a stylish and sporty four-seat hatchback.

9. BMW Snug

Snug is a concept which aims to create a sense of community: a simple, fun object, designed for people who appreciate personal relationships, people who are different from the others, in their opinions and in their feelings.

10 .Lexus LF-A Roadster

The LF-A is a 2-door exotic concept car built as a prospective halo car for the Lexus division. Integrating the simple elegance of the new Lexus design initiative with racing–inspired style, sculpted curves and fluid lines make a dynamic statement.

Hyundai Accent

The roomy and economical 2009 Hyundai Accent sports a 110 horsepower 1.6 liter I4 engine which, while not powerful, does produce impressive fuel efficiency ratings.


Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Tucson

Combined with a 4-speed automatic transmission, 2009 Hyundai Tucson with the optional 2.7L 173hp V6 engine is another fine choice in a midsize SUV.


Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson