Lamborghini tipped to produce 20 examples of the Sesto Elemento at €2M apiece

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lamborghini, Rumormill

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Lamborghini unveiled the Sesto Elemento concept car at the Paris Motor Show last year, few thought it would ever get past the show stand. Sure, elements of its lightweight construction would trickle down to future production models, but as for producing the Sesto as is seemed rather outside of the realm of possibility. But then the rumors began circulating.

In the wake of the show car’s debut, we began receiving reports that Lamborghini was, indeed, preparing to put it into production, albeit severely limited. Then follow-up reports suggested that the car could be strictly limited to closed circuits in order to avoid costly homologation procedures.

Now those rumors are rounding the mill again, as Sant’Agata reportedly prepares to bring the Sesto Elemento to market. If and when it does, Lamborghini will count on the concept’s advanced composite construction to stick to the 995-kilogram (2,200-pound) curb weight. Coupled with the Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V10 engine – possibly tuned for extra power – the production model is expected to hit 62 from a standstill in just 2.5 seconds, making it quicker even than the new Aventador which hits highway speeds in just 2.9.

Somewhere along the way, the Reventón-matching million-Euro price tag that we thought was astronomical already will reportedly double to €2 million, or around $2.8 million USD based on current exchange rates. That’s an enormous chunk of change, especially for a car you can’t even take out onto the street. But considering the multi-millionaires who drop bigger figures on decommissioned F1 cars just for track days, the Raging Bull marque could very well have little trouble offloading the 20 examples pegged for production.

Lamborghini tipped to produce 20 examples of the Sesto Elemento at €2M apiece originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren to produce street-legal MP4-12C GT3? [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

mclaren mp4-12c gt3

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s a grand tradition of turning a supercar into a race car, then turning it back into a road car again. Call it “life imitating art imitating life,” or call it what you want, but we call it awesome. Ferrari, for example, did just that with the 360 Modena, which became the 360 Challenge racer and then the 360 Challenge Stradale road car. Maserati followed a similar formula with the GranTurismo, turned GranTurismo MC GT4 and back into the GranTurismo MC Stradale. McLaren’s done it too, turning the original F1 into the F1 GTR racer and then back into the hyper-exclusive F1 LM road car. And now it could be ready to do so again with the latest MP4-12C.

The racing team-turned-automaker just rolled out the new GT3 racing version of the MP4, and has grand plans to produce a new model or variant annually for the next five years. A big brother to the MP4 and successor to the F1 is reportedly set for introduction by 2014, bearing more radical styling than the rather derivative 12C (and hopefully a more dynamic name, too). But before that, we could be looking at a road-ready GT3 model.

The standard approach of less weight, more power would likely be applied to the hardcore MP4 – the same sort of formula used on the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Lamborghini Gallardo Superlegerra – to make for an even more extreme supercar. But while variations on the theme are in the pipeline, McLaren is reportedly eager to stay on the reasonable side of Porsche’s approach of endless 911 variants. Click past the break to check out McLaren’s official video covering the launch of the MP4-12C GT3.

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McLaren to produce street-legal MP4-12C GT3? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai Veloster Turbo to produce 208 horsepower

Filed under: Coupe, Hatchback, Hyundai

2012 Hyundai Veloster reveal

2012 Hyundai Veloster – Click above for high-res image gallery

We haven’t been behind the wheel of one yet, but we’re thinking that the normally aspirated 2012 Hyundai Veloster probably looks a little faster than it is – we say this only because a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower can only be so spirited. We’ve heard previously that a turbocharged version of the Veloster is on the way, but thus far, details haven’t been easy to come by.

If several new stories in Hyundai forums are to be believed, the Veloster Turbo will feature a 1.6-liter GDI turbo powerplant capable of 208 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. That’s not exactly game-changing power, but keep in mind that the little Veloster weighs all of 2,600 pounds, giving the little coupe a 12.48-pounds-per-pony ratio. And if the Veloster Turbo does indeed feature the 1.6-liter, we’re thinking the little ride’s laudable 40 mile per gallon highway fuel economy bogey won’t be affected all that much.

A 208-horsepower Veloster sounds just dandy to us, but we’re still looking forward to official word from Hyundai to confirm. Hopefully we’ll hear something more official about the boosted Veloster very soon.

Gallery: 2012 Hyundai Veloster: Detroit 2011

2012 Hyundai Veloster2012 Hyundai Veloster2012 Hyundai Veloster2012 Hyundai Veloster2012 Hyundai Veloster

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Hyundai Blog via Inside Line]

Report: Hyundai Veloster Turbo to produce 208 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gateway Classic Mustang to produce limited edition Steve McQueen Mustang

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford

Limited Edition 1968 Steve McQueen Signature Mustang

Gateway Classic 1968 Steve McQueen Signature Mustang – Click above for high-res image gallery

Making a limited edition Ford Mustang based off of a famous movie car is nothing new, but Gateway Classic Mustang is taking a different approach. The St. Louis-based company has partnered with the Steve McQueen Estate to produce a modern rendition of the 1968 Ford Mustang featured in the movie Bullitt.

Each car starts out as an original ’67 or ’68 Mustang fastback and is fitted with a 450-horsepower V8, Keisler five-speed transmission, Baer brakes, American Racing wheels and BFGoodrich tires. The suspension has been worked over as well, with adjustable coilovers front and rear.

Gateway Classic Mustang says that they are currently taking orders for the Limited Edition Steve McQueen Mustang, and although pricing isn’t listed, we imagine that they won’t come cheap. You can read more details about the car in the press release after the jump, and be sure to check out the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Limited Edition 1968 Steve McQueen Signature Mustang

[Source: Gateway Classic Mustang]

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Gateway Classic Mustang to produce limited edition Steve McQueen Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Renault to produce Captur concept as a Clio crossover?

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Renault, Rumormill

Renault Captur Concept

2011 Renault Captur concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

It typically takes months, if not years after a concept car debuts before an automaker confirms whether it will or will not go into production. But in the case of the Renault Captur, it hasn’t even been publicly unveiled yet and reports are already surfacing about its production car future.

According to foreign reports, Renault will build the dynamic crossover as part of the next generation of Clio hatchbacks due next year. Of course, certain elements will be lost in translation from show stand to showroom, but we hope the nifty turn signals integrated into the bodywork make the transition. Those wheels are pretty sweet, too.

We’ll get our first glimpse at the Captur concept at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

Gallery: 2011 Renault Captur concept

[Source: Paultan.org]

Rumormill: Renault to produce Captur concept as a Clio crossover? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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