An Audi Full of Suprises

2012 Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept

Imagine putting a 7.0-liter 500 horsepower V8 engine in your Mini Cooper S. You'd probably crash it after two minutes, wouldn't you? Sometimes, big engines and small cars don't mix. So, what do you do? Induction! Grab some turbochargers, put them in a small engine, and spool that baby up. That's exactly would Audi did here with this very unique A1. It has the same 2.5-liter turbo-5 that the Audi TT-RS has, but the turbo has been spooled to its peak producing, what makes no difference, 500 horsepower! And, since the power is distributed to all four wheels thanks to the car's Quattro all-wheel drive system, it will do 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the Audi R8 5.2 FSI Coupe. Top speed, however, stays limited to 155 MPH. This might not be the most brilliant of small cars, but let's be honest. A 500 horsepower turbocharged engine in car as small as a Mini? That's insane. Audi claims that this is a concept car, but in reality it is a one-off which will be sold to one happy, crazy German. Audi have no plans of putting this thing on sale to the public, but, if you have a computer, there is a way for you to test drive this crazy compact car.

2012 Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept (Need For Speed: World)

Audi and Need For Speed have teamed up to make the beginning of June sort of memorable for all you NFS World players. From June 1 to June 4, you'll be able to rent the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro for free. For the first time ever, you'll be able to outrun cops through tight squeezes, beat your opponents by using shortcuts, or even become a city road rat with this crazy car. I'll be online tomorrow to test it out and see if its good. 

Racetrack Beauty

2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato GT

It seems that Aston Martin wasn't fooling around when they said that it was going to be their newest race car. Last weekend, they took their newest creation, the V12 Zagato GT racer, out on the Nürburgring and put in some practice laps in preparation for the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race later next month. This is the second concept car turned racer to hit the 'Ring only to race at the 24 Hour event. The first, as most of you may remember, was the Lexus LFA. How will this V12 malarkey cope with some V8 and twin-turbo monsters in its way? We'll find out later next month when the race begins.

Defeated at the Hands of Tanner

Tanner Foust: Hot Wheels Yellow Driver

It seems like there's nothing Tanner Foust can't do. He's out-drifted the best in his custom V8 Scion tC drift car. He's out Gymkhana-ed the master Gymkhana master Ken Block at his own event. He's out raced the best rally drivers at the X-Games. And now, he's claimed a new world record in the area of extreme motorsport. If you remember December 31, 2009 at about 11:00 p.m., rally racer turned stock car racer Travis Pastrana jumped from a pier to a barge in his rally-ready 450 horsepower Subaru Impreza Rally Car. That jump was a measured 269 ft. Imprezzive! But, today the mysterious Hot Wheels Yellow Driver, a.k.a Tanner Foust, smashed this record in a Hot Wheels custom Rally Raid truck jumping a distance of 332 ft. in front of a vast array of Hot Wheels/Indy Racing fans. What will Tanner do next? A real-life Burnout crash? A top speed run of the next-gen Veyron? A Top Gear special with his Clarksonness? Who knows? Let's just keep watching. Check out the video below to see the awesomeness that is the world-record jump.

Less wings, More flings

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. Fresh off the presses in Stuttgart, Germany, say hello to the all-new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. As you can see the iconic gullwings have been replaced with the exciting droptop amenities with the themes of freedom and excitement all integrated into that AMG steering wheel. Since it now lives, the SLS AMG Roadster has been proclaimed the most powerful non-turbo V8 droptop in the world with the same 6.2-liter 563 horsepower AMG V8 engine, a new 0 to 60 time of 3.9 seconds, and a top speed (with the top down) of 195 MPH (197 with the cloth top up). The car might of lost its top, but it hasn't lost its spirit. It's still crazy around corners, and when it comes to noise, it will blow everything out of the water. No prices have been announced yet, but expect them to be in the $200,000 as this thing launches this fall with a worldwide debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.

Testing...Testing...1,2,3

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

I know I've been absent from my blog lately, and I apologize. I've been busy working on projects and configuring schedules for the summer. I've also been working on something special for those who've been asking me for some PS3 racing gameplays. I've recently bought the Hauppauge! HD PVR system which allows you to record gameplay from a PS3 or an XBOX 360 on to your computer. And this brings up a Transporter Top Tip: If you want to show your friends the most outrageous stunts/experience that you've earned in any PS3 game/ XBOX 360 game, the Hauppauge! HD PVR is the way to go. It works brilliantly! There's no need for any extra codecs that you have to buy off of some nerdy site. Anyway, I've been busy testing it to see if it's good, and so far, it is. Check out the tests below, because the next big movie that I'll be doing is the review to DiRT 3!

S is to Sport as Rapide S is to Sexy Sport

2011 Aston Martin Rapide

I've often sung praises to the Aston Martin Rapide, mostly comparing it to the Porsche Panamera by its looks, power, grace, stance, price, reasonableness, the list goes on. It seems that the only categories in which the ugly Panamera is superior are power and speed. But, not for long as Aston Martin have recently announced that they're working on an S version of the mighty Rapide, which has been rumored to be fitted with the DBS 6.0-liter 510 horsepower V12 engine for more umph and speed. Let's see the Porsche cling on to victory now as the Aston charges for him.

Things are Gettin' DiRTY

DiRT 3 Gymkhana

Things are looking quite DiRTY out there on YouTube as users have posted their best Gymkhana highlights with DiRT 3. I have the game with me and I must say it is absolutely fantastic. The last installment was awesome. This one just keeps the flame burning. There is somewhat of a downside to this game, like not being able to earn money for rides and things, but I don't care. Because the way this game feels and handles is much more valuable anything money can buy. Check out my video and written review next week. As for now, keep tearing it up out there on the DiRT.

1 is a Lucky Number

2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

The next best thing to the first-ever M3, the 1-Series M Coupe, has been known as one of the best sport coupes of all time, and if you have one, you were considered a true BMW brother. It sounds good for all the owners, but not as good for those who don't have one as BMW have recently announced that this car will only be available this year. That's right! After this December 31st, it will be no more, leaving some room for the all new M3 F30, M5 F10, and M6 F12/F13. This a truly fantastic car with a 3.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged 335 horsepower Inline-6 engine taking it from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds on to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. With prices starting below the $50k mark, this is ideally the cheapest M car in the BMW line, which means you'll save much more money on this than on any other superfast coupe. So, what are you waiting for? Get yours now before the year ends.

The Teenage Provider

2009 BMW M3 E92

So, I've heard that some people want me to do some fundraisers on this site. Personally, I'm up for it. I think it's a great idea, but I've been challenged by some people thinking that it will all be bogus. Here are their challenges.

1. I'm sure you know that last night, a powerful F3 tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri leaving millions of dollars in damage and killing 116 innocent people. I was devastated when I heard this news, even to a state that I wanted to do something. I figured that if we can raise about $6,000 or more, we can help the people of Missouri get back on their feat despite this terrible storm.

2. Have you been to my YouTube channel? People are buzzin' about my fan-created movies. I've been thinking about expanding this, putting new software to work, buying new hardware to record PS3 gameplays. I only need about $2,000, then I'll have everything and all the entertainment and tips you need to succeed in your racing games.

3. So, as you've seen in my previous video, I'll be giving TrackMania United Forever out for free if you can help me achieve 300 followers. I've been thinking about buying more games for you guys so you can have them free. Just donate what you can, and maybe, I'll make this happen each month!

4. This is the biggee!! Some idiot approached me telling me, "Your blog is so bogus, I bet you can't even buy a car from it!" That made me mad, so I want to prove him wrong. You see that M3 up there? My goal is to get enough money to buy a used one so I can prove it in his fat little face. It's been done before! It doesn't have to be an M3 even. It could be a Mustang, a Camaro, or even a cheap Civic. Let's prove him wrong!

Now you can donate money to my site to keep these challenges and this site itself alive. There's a donate button on the right side of the site and you can use PayPal to donate money. I hope these challenges work for you. Happy Donating!

Such a Mistake

2011 BMW 550i GT

It's taken them a while now, but I think it's gotten through their heads. BMW has officially deemed their least-selling car, 5-Series GT, a mistake. I don't blame them. Look at it, it's ugly! They might've taken inspiration from the Panamera. It doesn't matter now because that car has claimed the title as the fastest saloon car in the world. As for the 5 GT, all it has claimed is a rotten trophy for being a piece of crap. Get this. BMW set a goal to sell 4,000 to 8,000 5 GTs in the U.S. annually. Last year, they only sold 2,180 of them, and have currently sold 2,160 of them this year. It's gotten so bad that dealerships have stopped ordering 5 GTs because people just don't want them. It seems that the manufacturer has learned its lesson and will apply it in the new 3-Series GT that they will bring next year. As for the regular 5-door station wagon, it seems like it's too late to bring that over here, although they do consider bringing it, when the development for the next-gen 5 begins. So, here's a Transporter top tip: if you want a fast, luxurious Grand Tourer from BMW, you have two choices: 1. the 2012 BMW 550i X-drive M-Sport sedan, or 2. the 2012 BMW 650i Convertible/Coupe. And, if someone offers you a BMW 5 GT, take your right hand and slap across the face, because he's stupid for even buying one in the first place.

When Britain meets Italy

2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept

What do you get when you mix the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and the Zagato designer house together? You get my car of the week, which is the recently revealed Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept. Unlike the last Zagato, which was a road-legal DB7, this particular Aston is not for the road, so you won't be able to see it posing near some rich Italian art. But, you will be able to see it hit 200 MPH on the back-straight of the Nürburgring as Aston Martin plans to put this car on their racing team. This is both good and bad. Good because it'll be nice to see another race car from Aston Martin out there instead of the regular V12 Vantage and DBR9. Bad because this car is so gorgeous that I actually want one now. Strangely, the power output remains the same: 6.0-liter 510 horsepower V12. But, since it's lighter, it will do 0 to 60 in less than 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of about 200 MPH. But honestly, I really don't care about it's performance. It just looks very, very, very pretty. Today, the car took it's majestic stance at the Concorso D'Elegance in Villa D'Este, Italy and won the design award there on the spot, defeating all the Beamers and Audis that were there. It's sexy. It's fast. It's red. It's my car of the week!

The Teenage Transporter: Gaming Update

2010 Pagani Zonda R (Trackmania United Forever)

Things are about to get exciting in the racing game world. First, there are some exclusive DLC cars that are available for TDU 2 players across the globe including two iconic classics from Dodge and Lancia, two modern day monsters from Mercedes-Benz and Chevy, and a cop car from Dodge. Then, I've decided to give away a free game to all of my followers, if I can get 300 of them. The game is known as Trackmania United Forever. Right now, you can buy it for $40 and that doesn't include the insanely-created mod cars that you can get with it. But, I'll give you the game plus over 500 extra cars if you're interested. That's a $99 value, all absolutely free. Trust me. There's nothing you can't do with this game. Just hit up my Facebook page and click on the big LIKE button on the top if you want it. Check out the video below to see all the stuff I've mentioned plus the free game.

Mr. West in the Best

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

When it comes to Kanye West, you'd expect him to be in something rather luxurious, like a Maybach 62 with the best of Beyoncé blasting through his speakers. But, recently it seems that the award-winning rapper has a passion for the exclusive and hyper as well. This was Kanye seen earlier last week cruising to the 64th Annual AIDS Charity Gala in Cannes, France in the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss. Remember that this car is worth well over $1,000,000 and will do over 217 MPH if you're careful. Let's also not forget that this car is a European exclusive. It never made its way over here in the U.S. Other than that, I must say I'm impressed with Kanye. He seems like quite the petrolhead. Check out more pics on my Facebook page.

Dusting Through the Hills

2011 Dacia Duster Pikes Peak

If you're a James May, meaning you love dignified driving, you're a math guru, and you love the color brown, then you'll probably say that the Dacia Duster is you're all time favorite car because it's normal, it's happy, and it looks good. Now, it seems that Dacia want to get the Duster more...uhhh...dusty. What you are looking at now is the Duster that's been transformed into a Pikes Peak monster! Not much info on the car just yet, but I've been told that it will house a 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine producing 850 horsepower, just enough power for hill climb purposes. I've also been told that on June 26, it will be running against other top hill climb cars including the Suzuki SX4 Pikes Peak and the mighty Freightliner Pikes Peak truck in the International Hill Climb. Unfortunately, James May won't be piloting this Duster as he would think it too extreme. Instead, Jean Philippe Dayraut will be driving the Duster Pikes Peak. Let's hope he can get in a win!

Happy 45th!

2012 Ferrari Superamerica 45

There are some manufacturers and dealers out there that adore their valuable customers. For example, my dad, a big Mercedes man, has become a valuable customer of Ray Catena Mercedes in Edison since he's been with them for almost 10 years. The people there are always looking to give him a good price on a new Merc. Ferrari is just like that, only much, much greater. Their most valuable customer, Peter Kalikow, has been with them for 45 years, and they decided to honor him with an exclusive one-off. Say hello to the Ferrari Superamerica 45. Now, you might've heard of the name Superamerica before because, a couple years back, Ferrari did make a Superamerica in the body of a 575. Now, the Superamerica takes its place in the body of the current 599. Everything on this car is bespoke, including the iconic fold-down targa top. The body has been painted in Blu Antille in order to match the first Superamerica out there, the 1961 400 Superamerica that Kalikow still has in his garage. The wheels are body painted with a diamond finish, the grille has been given a chrome finish, and the front splitter, sideskirts, and rear diffuser have all been given a sweet dark blue painting. All-in-all, this looks like a wonderful "Thanks for Being With Us" present for the honorable Mr. Kalikow. I hope he enjoys it.

Exotisches Kabriolett

2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder (Courtesy of WorldCarFans)

Here it is! Looks like it could be it, doesn't it? It seems the Audi R8 GT Spyder has already been seen cruising around Ingolstadt. Unfortunately, this is just a prototype. You can tell just by looking at the front and the rear bumper. There's supposed to be a front splitter and side air vanes on the front bumper. As for the rear, the massive circular race-spec exhaust and rear diffuser are still in the works. The large carbon fiber spoiler, however, seems to fit quite well. When it comes out later this year, the R8 GT Spyder will have the same 5.2-liter FSI 560 horsepower V10 engine that the hardtop GT had. But, since it's a spyder, the top speed (193 MPH) and 0 to 60 time (3.8 seconds) are slightly slower because of some added weight in order to stabilize the car. It won't matter anyway, because while driving it, with the top down, you'll be able to hear the awesome savagery of that fantastic Lamborghini V10 engine. Audi will only be making 333 of this, with a possible 90 coming over here in the U.S. Prices will range from $240,000 to $300,000, so if you want one, you better save up now.
You can not beat a good euphonious

Mega Mac

2012 McLaren MP4-12C (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

As we all know, the fastest car in the world is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. We also have heard rumors that the fastest car around the Top Gear Test Track is the McLaren MP4-12C. These are two quite excellent accomplishments for two quite excellent cars, but McLaren wants more. Rumor has it they've started up a new project known as "Mega Mac" in order to compete with the Bugatti Veyron. They say that they'll use the same Carbon Fiber monocell that the MP4-12C currently has. As for power, McLaren were thinking of putting in an 799 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 into the "Mega Mac" thanks to Ricardo. The engine will be connected to a 7-speed Dual-Clutch gearbox from Graziano allowing it to do 0 to 60 in about 2.8 seconds. Will it have enough to match the Veyron? I'm not sure, but it looks like it could be enough. We'll have to wait and see. Prices for the "Mega Mac" are estimated at about £350,000 to £400,000, so even if it's not as fast as the Veyron, it will cost 800k quid less than it. That should be good for your wallets. 

Transforming Muscle

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Bumblebee (Courtesy of Jalopnik)

When it comes to saving the world from the Decepticons, no manufacturer does it better than Chevrolet. Bumblebee and Sideswipe are back for Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, and both cars were on display in Royal Oak, Michigan undisguised. Bumblebee's taken a more ZL1-ish look with the new bumpers, hood vents, massive rims, and rear spoiler. He's ready to pound some medal into some Decepticons.

2012 Chevy Corvette Stingray Convertible Sideswipe Concept (Courtesy of Jalopnik)

Sideswipe, on the other hand, has taken a much more relaxed stance, but he still looks quite as aggressive. He's received some new headlights, a carbon fiber wing, and some 21-inch KMC chrome wheels. Not to mention, he took his top off, so even when he's smashing Decepticon heads, he's enjoying the summertime. So there you are: the autobot muscle cars are ready for battle. Will they be victorious? Find out July 1 when Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon races into theaters.

[Source: Jalopnik]

How Not to Steal a Tow Truck

Woman Running From Police

For those who need a tip on stealing their next car, here's one: stay off of drugs! Apparently, in California, a scantily clad woman stole a tow truck, was pursued by police, managed to jump out of the tow truck, ran about 20 feet barefoot until she taken down by highway patrol. That's something you don't see everyday. At the Police Department, officers ran some tests and found out that she was on drugs. It just goes to show you: drugs will cause you to do very weird things. This is the Teenage Transporter, looking out for you road-goers out there!

[Source: Fox News]

Breaking News: Top Gear has a New Track King!

2012 McLaren MP4-12C (Test Drive Unlimited 2)

Recent news has hit the web that apparently, The STIG took the all-new McLaren MP4-12C out on the Top Gear Test Track and set a lap time of 1:14.118, about 1 second faster than the current king, the Ariel Atom 500 V8. So far, no videos have been released and Top Gear themselves haven't said anything. But, if this is seriously true, then I have to give major props to McLaren. They've made a genuinely brilliant supercar. Take a look below to see how it would favor against the Ferrari 458 Italia in TDU world.

Great Achievements Deserve Great Rewards

Bijan Paxzad's Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

A couple weeks ago, as most of you fashion cravers may have heard, a fashion great, Bijan Paxzad, passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California at the age of 67, just 12 days after his birthday. Born in Tehran, Iran, Bijan, like most entrepreneurs, had a dream and made it work. He was one of the biggest names in fashion. He's dressed the world's most powerful figures including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay Leno, Tom Cruise, Vladimir Putin, and even Ronald Reagan. And, it seemed that he dressed the world's most powerful cars as well, because before he died, it was discovered that he customized his own bespoke Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, which is what you see above. Notice that I said bespoke because Bugatti and Bijan had a close relationship and before he died, this was their gift to him. Notice the custom colors and graphics on the car. He even put his brand name, Bijan, on the airbrake. If you were to buy this car now, it would be worth $7,000,000, and that's not only on the Veyron's behalf. Bijan, that name itself is worth over $5,000,000. The guy was really that powerful. It's a shame he went out so soon. Check out the videos below to see his work in broad daylight. Bijan Paxzad will be missed.

Bull Sliding

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Now, as a car reviewer, there comes time that while reviewing a fast car, you'll want to fling it around a parking lot or race track to test its stability, ride, speed, or just have fun. I can totally relate. For example, I drove the new Jaguar XF not too long ago and decided to have a highway race against an old 911 Turbo, and that went well (hehehe). The Top Gear blokes have done numerous stunts with the cars they review. For example, James May (or Tiff Needell if you were watching) did a full-on lap against the BMW S1000RR in the Ariel Atom 500 V8, the current king of the Top Gear Test Track. Clarkson raced from one end of England to another in the Jaguar XJL SuperSport in order to beat "God", so to speak. Hammond had the streets of Abu Dhabi to himself so he could race the STIG's McLaren F1 in a Bugatti Veyron. And now, it seems that Autocar will join this list as Steve Sutcliffe flings Lamborghini's latest bull, the Aventador, all around England in his latest review. Look and listen to his review below to see and hear what he did.

"Cars" Gets Real

Lightning McQueen (Cars 2)

Disney/Pixar's newest creation, Cars 2, is coming very soon, and they've decided to get real on some the characters present in the movie. When I say real, I don't mean like emotion and relationship real. I mean horsepower, top speed, and engine like real. These are cars, aren't they? For example, Lightning McQueen, the movie's main protagonist that you see above, is a sweet-talking fellow with a big 7.2-liter V8 engine under his hood producing 750 horsepower. He'll do 0 to 60 in just 3.2 seconds on his to a top speed of 200 MPH.

Francesco Bernoulli

His World Grand Prix rival, Francesco Bernoulli, is an Italian Formula One Racer with a 750 horsepower 2.4-liter V8 engine and a 18,500 RPM redline. He'll do 0 to 60 in just 2.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 220 MPH, 20 more than McQueen will do. Do you think McQueen will be able to beat him and take the crown?

Raoul ÇaRoule

This is Raoul ÇaRoule, the French version of Ken Block. Why? Word has it that he's perfected the ways of Gymkhana, a sport created by Mr. Block at an airfield. Anyway, many people say that Raoul's a custom rally car, but if you look closely, you'll see that he's actually a Citroën C4 Rally Car with a 1.6-liter 300 horsepower turbo-4 engine, a 3.5 second 0 to 60 time, and a 125 MPH top speed. How will he wager against the other big-engined competitors?

Nigel Gearsley

There are a couple of real world cars in this movie than any car boar would love to look at. For example, meet Nigel Gearsley of Aston Martin Racing. Most of Britain, including the recently betrothed prince, will be watching him race for a World Grand Prix victory. Nigel's an Aston Martin DBR9 from Warwickshire, England with a 6.0-liter V12 engine producing 600 horsepower. He'll do 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds on his way to a top speed of 190 MPH. Nigel's had loads of experience on the track. It's been said that he can race through Silverstone with his eyes closed. Britain thinks he's cool. America says, "He's a show-off!"

Jeff Gorvette

Therefore, we've sent Jeff Gorvette to go represent our country and bring home the WGP (World Grand Prix) trophy. Jeff, as most of you can see, is a Chevy Corvette C6.R from Vallejo, California with a 7.0-liter LS7.R 590 horsepower V8 engine and Jeff Gordon's voice. He'll do 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds on his way to a top speed of 200 MPH. Jeff was one of the youngest cars ever to win an American Le Mans Championship at the age of 24. How will he favor against the other WGP racers, especially since someone dangerous will also be racing from...

Lewis Hamilton

Britain. It's Lewis Hamilton! Britain will have their eyes on him as well. He's a fictional car like Raoul, but if you look closely, you can see some lines and curves from the McLaren MP4-12C. Under his hood is a 5.0-liter DOHC V8 engine producing 575 horsepower. He'll do 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds on his way to a top speed of 190 MPH. Let's not forget that he's one of the youngest to win a Grand Prix in Britain at the age of 23. He knows the curves of tracks inside and out and doesn't mind flooring it on the straightaways. The guy loves burning rubber of his tires, but as for parties and clubs, he manages to get out of them faster than any drunk person. How will he wager against the rest of the racers?

These are just some of the cars. You can find the rest at the Cars 2 website. Cars 2 will be in theaters on June 22 in regular, 3D, and IMAX 3D.

Long Live the 997

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Remember how I said that the GT3 RS 4.0 would be the last 997 Porsche would ever produce? Well, it seems that it might not be the case as Porsche have just unveiled the Carrera 4 GTS, an all-wheel drive version of the standard Carrera GTS. It still has the 3.8-liter 408 horsepower Flat-6 engine which will take it from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds on to a top speed of 188 MPH. And since it has all-wheel drive, it serves as a great all-rounder for you money-savers in search for something fast. There's nothing else to know about this car except that prices start at $110,200 for the coupe, $120,100 for the cabriolet, and that it might be the last 997 Porsche will make til the Frankfurt Motor Show when the 998 will be revealed.

Top Gear ≠ Electric Cars

Top Gear fixes Tesla Roadster

If you've been watching Top Gear, you know that they're not all for electric cars, ever since their little fiasco with Tesla. Well, now it seems that Nissan may be knocking on their doors very soon because while Jeremy Clarkson was reviewing their premier electric car, the Leaf, it managed to break down. Let's not forget that the World Car Committee voted this car their 2011 World Car of the Year and the car itself has received outstanding reviews from many car reviewers, except Clarkson. So, like the Tesla, after only a short period of time, the Leaf's battery ran out of power and he, along with James May, had to find some electricity. Check out the video below to see what happened. Should Nissan be concerned?

The Hunt for Speed

2011 Lexus LFA (Shift 2: Unleashed)

So, PSN is still down and SONY is scrambling on putting the network back together again for the summer. Playstation players are getting bored and tired of waiting. But, look on the bright side! Another exciting Shift 2: Unleashed DLC pack will be online as soon as PSN comes back. This time, it's all about Speedhunters, NFS's realtime magazine. They're bringing 12 new cars, 6 new tracks, and 2 new modes to the game. The one I'm most excited about is the Standing Mile. You guys remember ProStreet and the Speed Challenges we had to complete? That's all back, only this time you won't have to worry about any curves. It's all straight-line speed, which should be useful if you want your car to be seriously fast. The other mode coming is an NFS favorite: Drag Racing. The common, pedal-to-the-metal, hot rod race featuring massive superchargers and intense straight-line speed. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? The DLC will be available May 17 for Xbox 360 (800 MS Points) and whenever PSN comes back on the PS3 ($9.99). Check out the video below to see the action in store for next week.

Big Bull, Small Room

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

The Lamborghini Aventador has proven to be the most exciting thing ever to come out this year. Everyone wanted the car so much, it's currently sold out til next year. From my perspective, this is a fantastic car: aggressive design, big engine, and awesome presence. As you know, Lamborghini tends to hand-build all of their cars, but what about doing it in a small room? Recently, the company decided to put the car in their museum exhibition called "La Forza del Toro" (The force of the bull) in the Italian museum Chiostro del. Unfortunately, the car was too big to move inside. So, instead of knocking down walls to fit the car in, they moved in pieces of the car from scrap and built it their inside the museum. The result, astonishingly, was a fully functional and beautifully put Aventador sitting majestically at its exhibition. You don't believe me? Check out the video below to see how Lamborghini did it.

Mad Merc to the Rescue!!

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Emergency Medical Concept

Make way!! The Emergency Medical Vehicle is coming in, and does it look hot today! Mercedes-Benz has just announced that they will ship an SLS AMG to the EMT service in Germany. The one-off emergency supercar will include some traditional livery, an emergency light bar, and some of the latest communications technology. Of course, any EMT will feel right at home with something fast. Let's not forget that this is the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 car in the world with a 6.2-liter 563 horsepower AMG V8 engine. It will do 0 to 60 in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 198 MPH. So, if you're stuck in a can or are in a serious medical condition, don't worry! The SLS is on the job!

M5 Track Day

2012 BMW Concept M5 (F10)

It looks like BMW's getting ready to debut their premier sports saloon, the M5. Rumor has it that with the limiter off, it will reach 200 MPH on its new 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged 552 horsepower V8 engine. That is quite fast for a heavy saloon, even though when it will be released, the limiters will be jammed on. Anyway, other equipment include a new M-Sport 7-speed DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission), an optional 6-speed manual, and, if possible, X-Drive All-Wheel Drive. Now, I know some of you might be looking at this and getting all angry at BMW for putting All-Wheel Drive and a sports saloon, but this is actually a very good idea. Yes, it might relieve the joy of doing donuts or drifting around corners for pleasure, but what about when it rains or snows? You'll need traction to keep the tires down. The only carmaker I know that can do this with rear-wheel drive is Jaguar. In fact, they've done it on all three cars. But, as for everyone else, all-wheel drive is the way to go, and I think this will come in handy. Well, hopefully they'll make the models separate. Anyway, back to the matter at hand, the production M5 F10 was seen a track in Miramas, France doing some proper rear-wheel drifting for all you tail-happy fans out there. Check out the action below and be sure to tune in this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show when the car is unveiled.

Happy 35!

2012 VW Golf GTI Edition 35

It was on this day, 35 years ago, that the best compact car ever created was born: the Golf GTI. Today is its 35th birthday, and VW has decided to celebrate it by giving the current GTI a 35th anniversary overhaul. What's included? How about some restyled leather seats with the number 35 on them. Included in this exclusive package is a new front bumper, a new interior trim, some exclusive rims, and, finally, a much more powerful 232 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine. Pre-orders start this Thursday at €30,425 in Germany. So far, there's no word on this car coming to the U.S., but I hope it does. I think we could go far a much more powerful GTI. But in the mean time, happy birthday Golf GTI!

The Power of Black pt. III

2012 Porsche Cayman S Black Edition

Say hello to the newest edition to the Porsche black family: the Cayman S Black Edition. As usual the car comes only in jet black with an all black leather interior. The 3.4-liter flat-6 has been tuned from 320 horsepower to 330 horsepower for a more powerful stealth-like feel in order to decrease the 0 to 60 time to 4.6 seconds. Only 500 of these will be made, each costing $67,500. Now that sounds like a lot, but let's not forget that the previous Black Editions (Boxster and 911) come with more stuff standard. So, this is actually pretty good value if you think about it.

Droptop Prancing Horse

2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

Summer's almost here and yet more droptops are appearing on the streets. Here's Ferrari's latest droptop, the 599 SA Aperta. You may have seen one of these last year when it was secretly revealed to some wealthy businessmen. Well, Ferrari has decided to put finally put 80 of these on the market. The SA Aperta is basically the 599 GTO with a removable top. It still has the powerful 6.0-liter 661 horsepower V12 engine which takes the car from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 202 MPH. The name SA Aperta is Italian for open and refers Sergio and Andreas Pininfarina, the father and son team that once led the famed Italian coachbuilder (Pininfarina). Aperta stands for the car's manually removable convertible top. Only 80 of these will be made, all of which have been spoken for, so if were thinking about buying one, I'm sorry but you were too late. Anyway, some footage has surfaced the internet of the car in real life at a car dealership. Check out the video below to see the car in all of its splendor.

The Super Cat

2011 Jaguar C-X75

Remember when Clarkson and the gang had this car over at the Top Gear studio? He said Jaguar wasn't going to bring this car to production. Well, today it turns out, he was wrong. With the help of the AT&T Williams F1 team, Jaguar will be bringing 250 C-X75s to production, each costing £700,000 ($1.149 Million). Williams will help with aerodynamics by perfecting the car's all-composite body, while Jaguar will deal with the motors and the engine. Let's not forget that when this car comes out, it will be the most powerful electric car/hybrid on earth with 780 horsepower's worth of electric motors (195 at each wheel) and a powerful turbo-4 engine. No information has been received on when the car will be produced, but this is good news for those who want to save and gas and be fast at the same time. 

Das Rally

2012 VW Polo R WRC

It seems that we have new competition entering WRC this season as VW have pulled back the covers on their rally racer. Say hello to the VW Polo R WRC. In order to meet WRC requirements, VW fitted the rally car with 1.6-liter TSI Turbo-4 engine producing 300 horsepower, a racing all-wheel drive system, a new aerodynamic kit, and sport-tuned suspension. You'll see this car do some rally action in 2013 with Mini, Ford, and Citroën. VW's already anticipating some wins. Let's hope they do gather some.

Droptop Merc

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

So, the SLS AMG Roadster wasn't at the New York Auto Show. That's alright, because the car is already set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Even before then, Mercedes plan to reveal the car worldwide this summer. Everything you love about the regular SLS AMG is in the roadster, except the gullwing doors. The 6.2-liter 563 horsepower V8 engine's still there. The formula one-styled interior is there as well. The 0 to 60 time might be slightly slower as the roadster will gain some weight. But, ideally, you'll have more fun in this car since it's a droptop. As for the price, expect it to go up as the roadster gathers some extra features that the regular hardtop doesn't have. But still, who wouldn't want the most powerful non-turbo V8 roadster in the world? Probably Alan Sugar, who only loves old man soup and old Rolls-Royce's. Check out my Facebook page for more photos.

He Deserves It

2005 Maybach Exelero

Anyone remember this prototype car? It was Maybach's attempt to build an ultra-luxurious supercar to compete with the Ferraris and the Lamborghinis of its time. Under the hood of the car was a 6.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged V12 engine from the Maybach 57S, only this one produced 700 horsepower. 0 to 60 was done in 4.4 seconds, but it could reach a top speed of 217 MPH. Unfortunately, it was about 10x more expensive than any of them as it was valued at, and I'm not making this up, $8,000,000. Only 1 was made and it was featured in Jay-Z's music video "Lost Ones". He never bought it though, and no one has claimed it since then, until now. Yes, I'm here to tell you the name of the man who bought this $8,000,000 super-luxury supercar, and that name is Bryan Williams. Now if you have no idea who Bryan Williams is, don't worry about it, because you may have come across him while listening to some hip-hop. If you still don't know him, then you've probably heard of the rapper Birdman. Yep, he used $8,000,000 of his own money to buy this super-exclusive Maybach. Let's not forget this is a man who owns a $100,000,000 record label known as Cash Money Records, and already has a Bugatti Veyron and Maybach Landaulet in his garage. So, this guy's pretty much set. I hope he enjoys it. 

Rise of the Pantera

2012 De Tomaso Deauville Concept

De Tomaso is back and they're bringing their pantomime with them, well sort of. There first concept car, the Deauville, was more of a blubbering whale than a pantomime luxury machine. But, De Tomaso has announced that the mighty Pantera will make its triumphant return sometime next year, and it looks as if someone already knows what it looks like. A recent video was posted on YouTube showing some footage of what just might be the reborn Pantera. The car rolled out of the Grugliasco Plant in Modena, Italy. Check out the video for yourselves to see if he's correct. There are also some reports of the Pantera officially unveiling itself at the LA Auto Show this November. Stay tuned for that.

Droptop Summer

2006 Ford GTX1 Roadster

Summer's just around the corner. In fact, it's here actually with temperatures rising to the 70's and 80's. Now you may enjoy this weather by taking a summer drive in your car with the windows down and the sunroof open, but let's be realistic. Summer driving is more enjoyable in a car with no roof. There are lots of convertibles and roadsters out there, but here are 5 good ones you should look into if you're getting ready for the summer.

2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible

1. Chevy Camaro Convertible

If you're in for something affordable, don't go out and buy a Chrysler 200 Convertible, because you'll regret doing it. Why not go for the Camaro convertible. It has 312 horsepower from Chevy's new 3.6-liter V6 engine and starts at $29,150. I know the Mustang starts at a much cheaper price, but with the Camaro, you'll get more stuff for less. And, let's be honest. The Camaro's back and it's never looked better. And now that it's available as a droptop, it looks even better. Another awesome thing with this car is the amount of money you'll save at the pump. Even with a powerful engine, the Camaro gets V6 fuel economy (20 MPG City, 29 MPG Highway, 25 MPG Average). So, it's just win win with this car. It's cheap, it's powerful, it's green, and it's a sports car: a perfect convertible for the summer.

2011 BMW 335is Convertible

2. BMW 335is Convertible

But, say you're into something German, and with a Turbocharger. BMW is your best bet, especially the 335is Convertible. It is quite expensive though: $59,650. But once you buy it and drive it, you'll immediately be happy you made the right choice. Unlike the regular 335i, the 335is gets an extra 20 horsepower to its already powerful 300 horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo Inline-6 engine. It will do 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 150 MPH. This car also comes with excellent grip, a metal-folding roof, and the distinct presence that any summer driver would love. This is ideally one great convertible.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

3. Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

But, say you're one for the two seater and just wants to run away into the countryside with the top down with your wife or girlfriend. The SLK350 is perfect for you then. Comparing this car to the Z4, I think this one has it beat. Price wise, they are about the same ($53,000), but while the Z4 uses one TwinPower turbocharger to get it's 3.0-liter Inline-6 engine up to 300 horsepower, the SLK350 uses an advanced 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 302 horsepower, no turbos or other forms of induction needed. And if you're a man who's thinking about this car, that's good. You might it's strange because the SLK has always been a girly car. But, now with it's aggressive SLS front nose and powerful engine, it's giving somewhat of a test to the men.

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

4. BMW 650i Convertible

But, if you're one for luxury at an extreme price, well BMW has it again with the all new 650i Convertible. I only got the chance to sit in one at Open Road BMW and already I thought, "Yeah! This'll work!" Comparing this to the Jaguar XK, the 6 comes out on top. Why? It looks much better than it did before, it's more powerful, and it's just more exciting. BMW's new 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 producing 400 horsepower powers this car from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Add a load of awesome technological/luxury features and you've got yourself a true Transporter's car.

2012 Aston Martin Virage Volante

5. Aston Martin Virage Volante

But, what if you're the one who has it all: the fame, the fortune, the driving skill, everything that you've ever wanted. But, you just got a girlfriend and want to impress her with something fast and sexy? Look no further than to Aston Martin. There are three good convertibles they have in store that will sort your and her needs, especially the all-new Virage Volante. This car is basically a DBS Volante and and DB9 Volante fused together with a 6.0-liter 490 horsepower V12 engine, a 0 to 60 of 4.5 seconds, and a top speed of 187 MPH. This is the perfect car for a weekend, just-the-two-of-you getaway. While you're driving, you can watch aimlessly as her long blonde her floats through the breeze at highway speed. Just make sure you're in safe distance, though. With prices starting at about $190,000, this makes it perfect if you're the sort of chap who loves to jet set.

So, there's my list of awesome convertibles. Hopefully I've helped you find the perfect one! Have a good summer!!