VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport at Goodwood

There’s nothing faster, short of a Formula 1 car, than a Bugatti Veyron, right? In particular, a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport boasting a 1,200HP quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive tech and a 258 mph (415 km/h) top speed. Whoever is behind its wheel must feel invincible, right?

Well, actually, no. A few days ago, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a Veyron Super Sport that was ready to begin its climb up the hill pulled over and let another car start first. What car was that?

A bright yellow Hennessey Venom GT with 1,200HP and a 0-200 mph (0-320 km/h) time of just 15.9 seconds. Watch the in-car video past the jump as the Venom GT tackles the hill climb.

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato Priced from £330,000 / $528,000

It’s official; Aston Martin has not only confirmed plans to build a strictly limited number of the new V12 Zagato show car, but it is also accepting orders with first deliveries expected from the second half of 2012.

Production of the British firm’s new supercar model, which is the collaborative work of Aston Martin and Italian design house Zagato, will be limited to 150 examples that will be hand assembled at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon.

Prices, not including local taxes, start at £330,000 GBP, which comes to around US$528,000 or €369,000 at the current exchange rates.

The V12-powered supercar was created by Italian coachbuilder Zagato to celebrate its partnership with Aston Martin in the 50th anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato.

It made its first public outing at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este in May, winning the Design award for Concepts and Prototypes, and then went on to successfully complete the grueling 39th Nürburgring 24 Hour race.

Based on the existing Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the Zagato model features a bespoke, handcrafted aluminium and carbon fibre body with power provided by the British firm’s 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 517-horses and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

“The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Director of Design.

“The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car’s racing credentials," he added.

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Ford Asks: What Should the Focus EV Looks Like?

So the all-electric Ford Focus EV is landing stateside in late 2011 to snub its nose at the likes of the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i MiEV with its utterly conventional name that’s not even an acronym.

Now Ford is asking its most important shareholders (the general public) what the Focus EV should sound like, as there are members of the world community that think silent cars are a danger to the blind and the deaf.

Of course, those same persons probably think video games lead to criminal activity, alcohol to spousal abuse and atheism to the downfall of western civilisation, but that’s neither here nor there.

There are four choices which Ford has unimaginatively labeled A, B, C and D. I will label them Laser Eye Surgery, Vacuuming, Meet George Jetson and Thunderbirds Are Go.

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Audi RS3 Sportback Vs BMW 1 M Coupe

The Audi RS3 Sportback and the BMW 1 M Coupe represent two very different approaches on the compact sport model segment.

Ingolstadt’s proposal is a five-door model that looks more like a hotted-up small station wagon than a hatchback. It features a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five producing 340-horsepower and 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) linked to Audi’s all-wheel drive quattro system and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Munich’s proposition on the other hand is a more traditional take on the category boasting a coupe body style and a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six pushing out an identical 340-horses (in EU-specification) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

UK car magazine Autoexpress brought the two Germans sport models to the track to see which one is the king of straight-line performance. Even though their mechanical layouts should give you a hint about the winner, we won’t spoil the surprise. Scroll down to watch the duel for yourself.

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VIDEO: See the Birth of a Lamborghini Aventador

We’ve already shown you our fair share of Aventador videos including films of Lamborghini’s top dog being assembled in a museum, tearing up the Vallelunga race track and even a virtual promo clip. But truth is, we never get tired of checking out Lamborghini’s newest supercar, if not in the flesh, then at least on video. And we imagine neither do you.
The newest film to come out from Sant’ Agata shows the entire process of the Aventador’s conception - from a sketch on paper through CAD models and the stitching of leather by hand, to the assembly of the fabulous V12 and the honing of the carbonfibre parts… But let’s not say anymore – just follow the jump and watch it for yourself.

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Video: Audi Q3 RS Prototype Fitted with RS3’s 2.5-liter Turbocharged

What more proof that Audi is seriously considering the introduction of a high-performance S or RS version of its newly launched Q3 compact SUV than the creation of a prototype model shown at a media event?
According to the folks over at Sweden’s Sportbilen, the prototype was uncovered during the European press launch of the new Audi Q3in Zurich, Switzerland. And mind you, this wasn’t a static presentation as the media had the chance to drive the pre-production model on the road.
The high-performance Q3 is said to be fitted with a de-tuned version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine found in the RS3 hot hatch and the TT RS sports models, delivering 300-horsepower instead of 340HP. Power is transferred to all-four wheels through Audi’s quattro system and a 7-speed dual-clutch S-tronic transmission.
Watch the super-Q3 in action in the video below.

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All-Electric French Coupe Test Driven by Nicolas Prost at Magny-Cours

French racing firm Exagon Motors is continuing the development of its Furtive e-GT, a new all-electric sports coupe that we first laid eyes on at last year’s Paris Motor Show.
The company recently showed off a validation prototype at the Magny Cours racing circuit in France with Nicolas Prost, who is the oldest son of four-time Formula One World Drivers' champion Alain Prost, sitting behind the steering wheel of the 2+2 model.
The Furtive e-GT is scheduled to go on sale in late 2012 with the company planning to build around 100 cars per year. The 2+2 seater coupe will be offered in two flavors, a standard model powered exclusively by two electric motors and a more sophisticated version equipped with an internal combustion engine range extender that works in a similar way to the powertrain system found on GM’s Chevrolet Volt.
The standard model features two Siemens-sourced electric motors each producing 125 kW, for a combined output of 340-horsepower at 5,000 to 10,000 rpm and a constant torque of 480Nm (354 lb-ft).
The electric juice is stored in a set of lithium-ion batteries delivering 50kWH, which are claimed to provide a life of approximately ten years with 3,000 recharge cycles. Exagon says they provide a pure electric driving range between 197 to 402 km (122 miles to 250 miles), depending on the conditions of use.
The optional range extender, which will make use of a yet-to-be detailed small displacement engine that recharges the batteries directly and does not drive the wheels, increases the range to 807 km or a little over 500 miles.
Exagin says the Furtive-eGT can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 3.5 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 287 km/h (178mph) on the race track, but will be limited to 250km/h (155mph) for the road.

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VIDEO: 2012 Toyota Camry teased

Last week, we told you about Toyota’s national dealer meeting in Las Vegas where the company briefed its associates on the firm’s current and future plans which include the launch of the all-new 2012 Camry sedan.
It appears though that the Japanese company did a bit more than simply brief its dealers on its plans as a video allegedly showing the presentation of the new Camry has made its way on the internet.
While we can’t be 100 percent sure that what we’re seeing in this amateur footage is the new Camry but given that the color of one of the vehicles depicted in the clip as well as the background seem to match the official video showing Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) President Akio Toyoda standing next to the 2012MY mid-size sedan, we wouldn’t be surprised if it is the real thing.
Toyota said it will launch the next generation of the Camry in both standard and hybrid formats this fall.
“Four all-new models will arrive before the end of the year. Leading the way, as we announced earlier this week, will be the all-new Camry and Camry Hybrid,” said Don Esmond, TMS senior vice president for automotive operations in a conference call on July1.
“[The] Camry will usher in a new level of product excellence for the Toyota brand, designed to meet the changing needs of the 21st Century driver. The new Camry will provide technologically advanced features, a contemporary design inside and out, improved performance and refined ride and handling,”
The Japanese company’s President Akio Toyoda had previously revealed that along with the Prius V minivan, the Camry will be among the first Toyota models to gain the brand’s new Entune system which will “feature simple, seamless functionality and is compatible with virtually every smart phone”.
Stay tuned for more details over the next few weeks.

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Video: Mercedes-Benz Stars in Transformers 3

The third installment of the popular Transformers movies, "Dark of the Moon", directed by Michael Bay and produced by none other than Steven Spielberg, has made its premiere in Berlin.
Of course, all the stars including Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Torturo, Patrick Dempsey and the gorgeous Victoria’s Secret model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, were present. But since the movie is about cars, and even though the franchise features a lot of Chevrolet models, Mercedes-Benz was also present with the E-Class playing an Autobot (the good guys) and the SLS AMG appearing on screen as Huntington-Whiteley’s car.
Funny, we think it should be the other way around, since the SLS is the supercar, right? And Michael Bay was so impressed he just bought one.

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VIDEO: China Opens World’s Longest Ocean Bridge Measuring 26 Miles

China opened today to the public not just one or two, but amazingly four of the world’s longest over-sea bridges. Three of the bridges are part of the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway, which made its maiden trip today.
This project began in 2008, cost around US$33 billion and employed approximately 10,000 workers. It is expected to carry double the number of passengers than before (80 million versus approximately 40 million), whilst also reducing the time it takes to make the journey from 10 to less than 4 hours!
The Jiaozhou Bay bridge, which at 26.4 miles (42,4 km) is the world’s longest bridge over water and the sixth overall, connects the city of Qingdao to the suburban Huangdao over the other edge of the bay. It is two-tenths of a mile longer than the English Channel.
It appears that the Chinese, in their efforts to alleviate the congestion problems that plague their country, have really gotten used to making long bridges as 11 of the world’s 15 largest are located in China.

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New Toyota Yaris Wears a Sport Kit

After its world premiere in Japan last December as the Vitz, Toyota is gradually introducing the new generation of the Yaris in other markets around the world. Now, with the European version out of the way, it’s time for the Yaris to make its first appearance in Melbourne at this week’s 2011 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS).
Revealed in show car form, the Yaris is fitted with a TRD-like sports kit comprising of a honeycomb grille, a restyled front bumper with larger openings and a chrome trim around the lower grille, side skirts, chunky alloy wheels and a new rear bumper with a diffuser plus a roof spoiler.
In Australia, the new Yaris is scheduled to arrive in local showrooms during the final quarter of 2011.

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VIDEO: Porsche Car In Le Mans in 2014 with Brand New LMP1 Racer

Porsche, the most successful marque ever in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has announced its return in 2014 to the world’s most famous endurance race. Porsche has won at Le Mans a record 16 times, and aims for the top spot with its works entry in the top LMP1 category.
Of course, Porsche had never really shut down its motorsport activities as far as endurance races are concerned. Apart from the numerous 911s, the RS Spyder that was run by the Porsche-backed Penske team in the US from 2006-2008 and to 2010 with several privateer teams, it has enjoyed success in the LMP2 category.
“With the RS Spyder we proved that our motorsport engineers in Weissach are at the forefront,” says Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development at Porsche AG. “We were the first to run a high-revving race engine with direct fuel injection, setting new standards in performance and efficiency. Recently, with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, we adopted a completely new drive technology for racing purposes and achieved a considerable reduction in consumption.”
According to Porsches’s head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen, the company will begin to evaluate its options for the brand-new LMP1 racer. As he points out, “these obviously depend on the details of the 2014 regulations, which are interesting because in principle the integration of our hybrid technology is one option”.
Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood claimed the first overall victory for Porsche in 1970 with the legendary 917 short-tail. The 16th and, until now, last overall win was secured by Laurent Aiello, Stéphane Ortelli and Allan McNish in 1998 with the 911 GT1. In 2008 and 2009, the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype won the title in the LMP2 category.

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VIDEO: Revised McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Racer

The MP4-12C GT3, McLaren’s first race car outside of Formula 1 since the legendary F1 GTR, will make its debut in front of the public at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Based on the new MP4-12C, the GT3 will appear in a revised form after McLaren’s team further honed the supercar.
Changes include a new front radiator that increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can perform and a new gearbox cooler. There’s also a new aerodynamics package comprised of a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvers in the front bumpers, all made by carbon fibre.
Like the road car, the MP4-12C GT3 racer features a carbon fibre chassis and the same steering wheel as the MP4-24 Formula 1 car. The McLaren GT team will spend the 2011 season developing the GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for the 2012 season.

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