danines

Volkswagen has revealed a ludicrous two-seater, mid-engined 195mph Golf GTi.

Fitted with a 6-litre W12 engine from a Volkswagen Phaeton - which VW has twin-turbocharged - the Golf GTi W12 650 Concept produces a titanic 641bhp and 553lb/ft of pulling power.

That’s 444bhp more than the standard Golf GTi.

This means the ultimate hot hatch accelerates from 0-62mph (100kph) in 3.7 seconds before hitting a Lamborghini Gallardo-beating 195mph.

Power is channelled to the rear wheels through VW’s excellent DSG semi-automatic gearbox.

To cope with the enormous power, the Golf is sitting on 19-inch alloys wheels with tyres 235mm wide on the front and 295mm at the rear.

The side panels have been fitted with huge air intakes to help cool the mammoth mid-mounted engine – which is positioned behind the front seats.

And the carbon fibre roof improves handling by increasing downforce.

But don’t expect to see one on your forecourt any time soon. Only one crazy concept has been built for the Worthesee Tour.

Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG

Want a special AMG? Then you’ll be wanting one of the cars coming from AMG’s new Performance Studio. Officially launched in 2006 AMG’s uber division has just launched its second car from its sinisterly titled ‘Black Series’ range – the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series. As its name suggests it’s a CLK 63 AMG, but with a bit of AMG’s sorcery mixed in to boost bhp from the standard 474 to 500. It’s not just the 6.2-litre V8 that’s been sprinkled with the Black Series magic dust either, as everything from the suspension, steering, brakes, interior and exterior have been altered in some way to improve and increase the CLK’s performance.

First a concept car, the Ford GT was designed for Ford's centennial year as well as to begin to drive their "heritage" vehicles like the Mustang and Thunderbird. The inspiration of the GT is clear when you look at the classic Ford GT40 race cars that were seen in the 1960s. The concept was well received in the auto show circuit in 2002, so the first productions of the GT were seen in 2003.
The GT is a high performance vehicle that seats two passengers and has a style much like that the of GT40 cars. Not only is the styling very similar, the performance is up to par as well with a 5.4 liter V8 that produces 550 horse power and 500 foot-pounds torque. The documented top speed for the Ford GT is over 200 miles per hour. Full production of the GT began in 2004 with a projected volume of just 1500 cars for three years. The first customers received their Ford GT vehicles in 2004. Just over 100 of the 4,500 GT units produced will be exported to Europe and only 200 were expected to be available in Canada.

The production of the GT ended with the 2006 model year and many have suggested that the 4500 units expected to be produced were never actually completed. The first GT sold for over $500,000 and several more sold for well over the $100,000 price tag!

Aston Martin V8 Roadster

It must make engineers weep to see convertibles driven with the hoods up given the amount of engineering that goes into preventing them shuddering like a flu sufferer over any surface that’s less than bowling green smooth. What is lost in weight when the roof is removed is put back, and then some, in underbody strengthening. Fortunately Aston’s backroom boys were helped by the aluminium VH architecture upon which all their cars are based, its flexibility allowing them to easily beef-up the side sills and add a cross brace linking the A-pillars. Torsional stiffness is a commendable 21,000 NM/degree or 77% of the Coupé’s. By comparison a 911 Cabriolet loses 70% of its integrity with its roof.
Weigh gain is a modest 80kg meaning the Roadster is just two-tenths of a second slower to 62mph than its Coupé sibling, taking 5.0 seconds, before topping out at a barnet battering 175mph. But you will need to work hard for that performance. Torque is a relatively modest 302lb/ft and peak power doesn’t arrive until 7,000rpm so getting the best out of the Roadster means making full use of the weighty Graziano manual six-speed gearbox. This however proves to be an aural treat, amplified by the absence of a roof.

The tougher-looking front grille and larger intakes feed the engine with cooling air, and it is not the 3.2-litre V6 that you might expect.
Instead this TT features a highly tuned version of the 2.0-litre TFSI. Power is boosted from the S3’s already heady 260bhp to a quite staggering 300bhp. All that power is channelled to the road through Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. A dual-branch exhaust system with RS4 aping oval tailpipes features around the rear – ensuring anyone following is aware of the TT’s potency. Sitting on a significantly wider track than the standard car, the wheelarches have been extended accordingly. They are filled with 20-inch wheels and tyres, the orange callipers for the larger ceramic disc brakes clearly visible behind the multi-spoke alloy wheels. The interior shares its gearlever surround with the R8.
However, unlike Audi’s supercar, the TT has an S tronic gearbox utilising the DSG double-clutch arrangement, which should deliver split-second shifts. The bucket seats and flat-bottomed steering wheel are borrowed from the RS4. Aluminium and retina-straining orange are used to trim the interior and a Bang and Olufsen BeoSound 2 MP3 player is incorporated into the central of the TT’s three airvents. Open the bonnet and rather than the usual plastic mouldings, Audi has left that turbocharged 2.0-litre engine naked. Many of the auxiliary controls like the ABS and air-conditioning modules have been moved out of the engine bay for purity of line and purpose, a strut brace spanning the suspension turrets for added stiffness.
That clean design is also apparent outside where Audi has removed the door handles and adopted remote control operation. Interestingly, Audi claims to be considering a short production run. One thing is almost certain though, that being that most of the enhancements featuring on the TT clubsport ‘study’ will be seen on a future S or RS TT model.

Pagani Zonda Roadster F 2006

Pagani is really a high end car producer in super car industry. It is so exclusive that most of people haven’t even heard about it, Ferrari or Lamborghini are legends but Pagani is definitely keeping up with them.

Zonda Roadster F is continuation of standard Zonda, the main difference is convertible top and great looking more aggressive “face”. I have personal theory that you can love this car or hate it, there is nothing between.

Paganis cars are great cause they are really crossing the limits. For example Zonda Roadster F weights 1230kg which is exactly the same as coupe! This is outstanding result cause normally when you are making convertible, by cutting the roof you are reducing stiffness of whole body, so car is acting like “drunk”.

So to make it ride like before you have to add some pipes or other stuff[I am not car engineer] so overall weight of the car is growing and this affects performance that’s why this achievement is worth admiring. Ok lets end this fluff talking and check out some technical details:

Engine: 7,3l, V12
Horse power: 594hp
Weight: 1230kg[2800 pounds]
Acceleration: 0-60mph = 3,6s
Max speed: 345km/h
Price: Unique for every customer, about 700 000$

Glickenhaus personally commissioned Pininfarina in 2005 to build his dream car, a carbon composite body penned by the same designers responsible for the Maserati Birdcage 75th show car to commemorate the firm’s 75th anniversary, and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano that debuted earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show. According to Glickenhaus in online postings, the 612 P4/5 with all-new carbon composite bodywork was executed by a Pininfarina designer identified only as “Jason.” Jason Castriota is the one credited with both the Maser and newest Ferraris exteriors.

Glickenhaus requested an unregistered U.S.-spec Enzo to get everything rolling. Middle of last year, Pininfarina and Ferrari of Beverly Hills found the only unregistered, un-driven 2003 Enzo on earth and shipped it, still shrink-wrapped in its factory protective white plastic, to Pininfarina to start its transformation.

Based on the highly detailed descriptions put forth by Glickenhaus, these computer-generated images show the 612 P4/5 for what it is. The traditional color chosen harks back to the blood red of the original P4 or, as Glickenhaus describes it, Alfa Romeo SF Rossa Corso. The nose is truncated and more aggressive than on an Enzo, allowing a functional approach angle vs. the Enzo’s long overhang (the Enzo’s electronic nose-lift function is kept in case). Placing a large front radiator horizontally and reclined on its side, as in the 1993 Ferrari 333 SP built for IMSA competition in the World Sports Car class, makes this gorgeous nose possible. Echoes of the 330 P4 envelop the car from nose to tail, with a decidedly modern take. Check out the white ceramic-coated exhausts tips poking out of the back panel.

Lamborghini Murcielago 2006

This latest Lambo doesn’t just have an engine that’s up 60bhp to 640. It’s also shed some kilos, relatively speaking. The result is an even quicker 0-60mph time (down from 3.8 seconds to 3.4) and a faster top speed (up from 206mph to 211). Externally they’ve given it new front and rear bumpers and wing mirrors to improve the aerodynamics. And the exhausts have been centrally mounted in one amazing looking large bore pipe.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640Beneath the new transparent engine cover there’s an all new engine that’s been boosted to 6.5-litres. The gearbox has also been redesigned and now has shorter ratios while the traction control has been recalibrated too. So on paper the redesigned motor has all the traditional Lamborghini attributes: incredible, intimidating performance and an awe-inspiring appearance.

Lomborghini Gallarardo GT3 2006

The 500+bhp car is being developed for entry in the GT3 category of international sportscar series as either 4-wheel or 2-wheel drive. The image, taken in the early stages of development, clearly shows the distinctive Lamborghini styling of the Gallardo.

Reiter has already received orders and further considerable interest from privateer customers, and the finished product will be available in February. Further technical details on the race car will be available over the next two months, while a 'street' version of the Gallardo GT3R will follow.

Suzuki GSX-R 1000

The new rocker switch located on the right handlebar is the most intriguing addition to an already outstanding bike. Suzuki’s Drive Mode Selector (DMS) offers you a choice of three different engine outputs by using the bike’s ECU to control the engine’s secondary butterfly valve, whilst the primary one is opened directly by the throttle. Imagine 183 stallions crammed into a barn that has double doors – these are the two butterfly valves. You have the ability to open one door while the stable manager (the ECU) has authority to open the other.
With both doors wide open, there’s room for all 183 horses to break out - that’s Mode A. In Mode B, the manager opens his door more slowly so initially, fewer horses have room to run free. But if you then open your door past 75%, so will he and once again, all 183 horses can run wild. In Mode C, no matter what you do, the manager leaves his door on the safety catch, allowing a maximum of 130 horses to squeeze through the available gap. In reality, it’s like having a 1000cc, 750cc and a 600cc bike all rolled into one.

Fuerteventura, sunshine, challenging roads and Kawasaki’s muscular new Z1000 – sounds like a perfect way to spend a few days!
This new Kwak is a stunning bike to match the stunning scenery of this volcanic island. It looks mean and aggressive, laden with detail and dominated by twin triangular exhausts – like giant, chrome-plated Toblerones - each side.

Click images to enlarge, more belowThese replace the double-barrelled shotgun silencers from the last model and now include three catalytic converters. They take some getting used to, but perhaps they are the future (Honda already has them in its new Civic car). Every image I’d seen of the new naked performance bike suggested this would be an extreme bike. Kawasaki’s talks about “taking extreme to another level” and being “adrenalin laced” and it really is a bloomin’ good bike. But arriving at that conclusion was as lengthy and frustrating as driving a car round the M25 at 5pm on a Friday.

Piczo