Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is a sexy, 600-horsepower monster

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Kompressor by Novitec

Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Kompressor by Novitec – Click above for high-res image gallery

Beautiful as it is, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is widely regarded as a miserable handler. That could be chalked up to the 1990s-era Maserati platform on which it was built, but one way or another, the very thought of giving such such an archaic chassis more power to contend with could be the worst idea since New Coke. But that’s not about to stop the boffins over at Novitec.

The German tuning firm has a penchant for tuning Italy’s finest, and have this time turned their attention to the 8C Spider. Bolting on the same supercharger and intercooler as it did with the Maserati GranCabrio, Novitec has cranked output from the 4.7-liter V8 up from 450 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque stock to a certifiable 600 hp and 434 lb-ft, figures which Novitec pegs as good for a 0-62 sprint in 3.9 seconds (down from the stock model’s 4.2).

The modifications applied to the sexy Spider also include a remapped engine control module and a variable stainless steel exhaust. No word on a brake upgrade, but you’d have to be even crazier to dial in that much muscle without the shoes to keep it in check. Thankfully, however, Novitec has tinkered with the suspension, fitting new coils and adjustable dampers along with Pirelli-coated modular wheels (21 inches up front, 22 in the rear) in silver on the port side and black on starboard. With all that power on tap, we can only hope the modifications to the suspension prove enough to handle it all.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Kompressor by Novitec

Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is a sexy, 600-horsepower monster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe is German for “sexy drift monster”

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 mercedes-benz c63 amg coupe

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve got a soft spot in our hearts for anything AMG, and the all-new 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe is certainly no exception. The angst-ridden two-door snarls angrily courtesy of its 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, churning out 451 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, mated to a quick-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission. Spend some extra dough and you can equip the C63 coupe with the AMG Development Package that raises output to 481 horsepower and will have the coupe scooting from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.3 seconds.

Your eyes do not deceive you, this Mercedes is a visual stunner. The low-profile and twin-domed hood handle the aggressive looks topside while the titanium gray 19-inch wheels keep things menacing down low. This coupe is a looker on the inside too, thanks to the new AMG sport seats fitted with a new head restraint system and breathable fibers.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe is the Teutonic two-door of our dreams. It’s fast as hell, sexy as hell and make noises that were probably sound-tested in the devil’s own studio. Start saving your paychecks – it hits dealer showrooms in September. See the complete details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading New York 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe is German for “sexy drift monster”

New York 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe is German for “sexy drift monster” originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch Son-uva Digger monster truck perform huge backflip

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos

Sonuvadigger backflip

Son-uva Digger backflip – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ryan Anderson is the son of monster truck legend and Grave Digger owner/driver Dennis Anderson, which makes him monster truck royalty. Despite his privileged place among the elites in the high court of methanol and fairgrounds, the young Anderson doesn’t spend much time riding his father’s coattails.

While Ryan may have used his father’s success as a launch pad, the Grave Digger heir apparent is eager to prove himself worthy of the crown. Anderson showed this at Monster Jam 2011 in Las Vegas, executing an awesome monster truck backflip. This may not be the first time a monster truck has ever flipped end over end, but it’s certainly the biggest one yet. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Watch Son-uva Digger monster truck perform huge backflip

Video: Watch Son-uva Digger monster truck perform huge backflip originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

Ken Block's WRC Fiesta and the Monster Girls

Ken Block, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and the Monster Girls – Click above to watch the video after the break

Gentlemen, start your engines. The Monster World Rally Team has announced its full schedule for the 2011 season, and there’s plenty of impending action to drool over.

Speaking of drooling, there’s a video of the the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC that Ken Block will be using to contest the World Rally Championship along with Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States. Oh yeah, and there’s more than just automotive eye candy in the video you’ll find after the break, if you know what we mean… nudge nudge, wink wink.

Says Block, “We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I’m a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it’s going to be an amazing year!” Lucky indeed.

For those interested in more, this is said to be the first video in a three-part series. Part two is scheduled to be released on February 9th, so stay tuned for that. Click past the break to watch this first video and to see the full slate of appearances for 2011.

Gallery: 2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC

2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRCMonster Energy Girls2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC

[Source: Monster World Rally Team]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls

Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2011: Big Toe Monster Bike *Update: w/video

Filed under: Auctions, Motorcycle, Specialty

Big Toe Monster Bike

Big Toe Monster Bike – Click above for high-res image gallery

Here we have another one of Speed’s Fantasy Bidding Game machines. Click here if you’d like to test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what this monster motorcycle will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad.

Tom Wilberg, the Swedish creator of this machine, named it Big Toe, and it is indeed a chip off the old block… that is to say, Bigfoot, the most famous monster truck known to man. Clever, no?

We’re not going to argue with Wilberg or The Guinness Book of World Records when they claim that Big Toe is the World’s Tallest Rideable Motorcycle, but we do have to wonder if our definition of the word rideable differs with theirs.

In any case, this larger-than-life, tractor-tired, 5.3-liter V12-powered motorcycle is getting ready to roll across the auction block here at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, and you can see its official auction page here. Check out our high-res image gallery of the machine below.

*Update: Check out the video of the Monster Bike being auctioned after the break.

Gallery: Big Toe Monster Bike at Barrett Jackson 2011

Big Toe Monster Bike at Barrett Jackson 2011Big Toe Monster Bike at Barrett Jackson 2011Big Toe Monster Bike at Barrett Jackson 2011Big Toe Monster Bike at Barrett Jackson 2011Big Toe Monster Bike at Barrett Jackson 2011

Photos copyright Jeremy Korzeniewski (C)2011 /AOL

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: Big Toe Monster Bike *Update: w/video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Big Toe Monster Bike *Update: w/video originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New year, new livery for Monster Tajima’s Suzuki SX4

Monster Tajima Suzuki SX4 hill-climb special

We assume that Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima is already thinking about his next run up Pikes Peak. His Suzuki SX4 hill-climb special is one step ahead and wearing a fresh new livery courtesy of sponsor GoPro. The car looks as unique as ever and our eyes are particularly drawn to the icy blue HRE wheels. They’re custom-forged 20-inch rollers built to take the abuse that 910 horsepower and Mr. Monster throws at them. Hopefully at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, we’ll see this bright white-and-blue blur streak by on its way to a record-setting run.

[Source: HRE]

New year, new livery for Monster Tajima’s Suzuki SX4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bad Habits’ monster truck world record practice session doesn’t go as planned

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Videos, Off-Road, Racing

Hey ya'll, watch this!

Bad Habits takes a dive – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Few realms of motorsport live the “Go big or go home” mantra to the fullest quite as well as the monster truck world. Aside from one of the largest voiceovers in the industry (“Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!!“), the guys who wrangle the epic horsepower, rear-wheel steering beasts of the Monster Jam circuit also boast some of the biggest egos. You know, the kind of sheer will of character that it takes to look at Bigfoot’s 202-foot, record-setting jump over a jetliner and think, “Nah, I can do better.” Such is the case with Joe Sylvester, the 26-year-old driver of the Bad Habits truck.

Sylvester has got it into his mind that he can embarrass the Bigfoot record, and has set about building a truck and a ramp to do just that. Only thing is, things didn’t go so swell during a practice session this week. After nailing his homemade ramp, the Bad Habits truck promptly began to turn its nose back toward terra firma, and it wasn’t long before the machine evaporated into a cloud of giant tires and red clay. Sylvester was unharmed in the accident and plans to officially attempt to break the record at this weekend’s Cornfield 500 at Columbus, PA’s Miller Farm. If you can’t make it, don’t worry – the folks at DirtVision plan a live webcast of this Sunday’s attempt.

Either way, we wish Sylvester the best of luck. You may want to do the same after hitting the jump and watching his failed practice attempt for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Shawn!

[Sources: YouTube, Cornfield500, DirtVision]

Continue reading Video: Bad Habits’ monster truck world record practice session doesn’t go as planned

Video: Bad Habits’ monster truck world record practice session doesn’t go as planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Monster Tajima’s Suzuki SX4 Pikes Peak run

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

“Monster” Tajima’s Pikes Peak assault – Click above to watch video after the jump

This is the kind of video that should be in the core curriculum for auto enthusiasts: A 2,618-pound Suzuki SX4 with a 3.1-liter twin-turbo V6 blown out to 897 horsepower and 654 pound-feet of torque. The pilot: Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima. No theatrics, no gimmicks, just 11 straight minutes of speed, dirt, opposite lock and ghastly mechanical fury. Follow the jump to watch the vid.

[Source: Falken Tire]

Continue reading Video: Monster Tajima’s Suzuki SX4 Pikes Peak run

Video: Monster Tajima’s Suzuki SX4 Pikes Peak run originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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