2015 Ford Mustang renders reveal look of the real thing

This is, according to the pony-car obsessed kids over at Mustang6G.com, the closest, most accurate rendering of the new, 2015 Ford Mustang to date. Artis Chazcron used a combination of Ford CAD images and information from assorted spy shots to assemble a fairly handsome car, albeit one that conforms to the tired cliché of being more evolutionary than revolutionary.

Now, it's very important to note that these are still speculative renders, and that they only represent the base car - that could explain the lack of the Mustang's vestigial side scoops, along with other, newer styling cues that Mustang6G seems to think will arrive on production models. Those items include a new, double-bubble roof, although the Mustang aficionados claim that even if it were present, it'd barely be visible from these angles.

The front end is pretty spot on, compared to what we've seen from earlier spy shots, while the tail, with its interesting light design is something new. The louvered taillights look quite different from the current version, obviously, though Mustang has gone the whimsical route with taillights before. Also, note the new rear diffuser uses an integrated reverse light and rear foglight, the latter of which is required for sale in Europe.

According to reports, this is merely the first trickle of a coming deluge of Mustang information. Sources are claiming that the Mustang will actually be shown near the end of December (merry Christmas indeed!), while official teaser images will start popping up any day now. We'll have much more on the new Mustang ahead of its predicted debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.

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Range Rover Sport and Evoque rumored to get RS versions

A report in Autocar claims that Jaguar's RS badge and its herd of extra horsepower is walking across the aisle to the Land Rover stable. Autocar sources say the Range Rover Sport and Evoque will get RS designations, the supercharged V8 in the Sport RS getting cranked up to "at least" 542 horsepower, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost in the Evoque RS getting 300.

The magazine has spy shots of an extra potent Sport testing at the Nürburgring, slight changes to the lower parts of the SUV giving it away as a ringer. Supposedly, with the same horsepower (or more) than the RS cars in the Jaguar fold, Land Rover wants it to get from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds; that would make it just 0.1 second shy of the same run in a Jaguar XJR. The Evoque RS is said to be arriving first, perhaps this year, with the Range Rover Sport RS coming next year.

Porsche 918 Spyder shows its production body

We've seen it (in concept form, in officially rendered form, in flat black, and in Martini Racing livery), we've heard all about its 4.6-liter V8 with 608 horsepower, buoyed as it is by twin electric motors, its sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and carbon fiber monocoque chassis. We've even taken a ride in one. What we haven't had, up until now at least, is had all of these details about the Porsche 918 Spyder in one convenient press blast. And we also now know that it will be a introduced as a 2015 model.

Along with the official specifications, Porsche has seen fit to release a new batch of images showing its production body from all angles. We get a good look at the car's interior bits and pieces, including a few shots showing how people fit underneath the removable hardtop panel.
Porsche sums up its baby with the following words: Maximum driving fun with minimal fuel consumption. We like the sound of that, and we think it's cool that the 918 can travel up to 18 miles on electricity alone, with performance statistics that aren't far off what we had from sports cars from a few short decades ago.

Mercedes-Benz finally reveals SLS AMG Black Series

 by: Jeffrey N. Ross

Just yesterday, Mercedes-Benz released a teaser on its Facebook page showing what we could only guess was the SLS AMG Black Series, and this morning our suspicions proved true as the automaker removed the tight-fitting cover. Preparing for the car's official debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show, the latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz Black Series is by far the most impressive with extensive measures taken to improve performance and reduce weight.

Underneath the SLS' long hood, AMG has reworked the engine squeezing an extra 39 horsepower from the 6.2-liter V8 raising the output to 622 hp. And even though overall torque has dropped by 11 pound-feet, acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour is quicker at 3.5 seconds. Top speed is 196 mph. The handling of the car has also been improved on all levels, including upgraded ceramic brakes with two-piece rotors (measuring 15.8-inches in the front and 14.2-inches at the rear wheels), adjustable coil over suspension, electronically controlled rear differential and a track that has been widened by almost an inch. For added rigidity, many of the body braces in the aluminum space frame have been replaced with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) helping to shed precious pounds.

At 3,417 pounds, the SLS AMG Black Series has dropped a total of 154 pounds compared to the SLS AMG GT. Some of the numbers are actually pretty significant, such as the 35.3 pounds saved with the ceramic brakes, 29.3 pounds cut thanks to using a CFRP engine-to-transmission torque tube rather than aluminum and 28.7 pounds from the titanium exhaust system. Showing AMG's determination to shed pounds, even the car's conventional battery has been replaced with a lithium-ion battery which is good for another 17.6 pounds of curb weight savings – possibly the first such application of a lithium-ion battery outside of a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Mercedes says that the styling of the SLS AMG Black Series was inspired by the GT3 racecar, and elements like the front chin spoiler, forged alloy wheels, rear diffuser and the vented side skirts and rear fascia help the car look the part. Many of the body panels are made of CFRP, including the flared front and rear fenders. This racecar styling is also applied to the interior of the Black Series with a sport steering wheel that features a red 12 o'clock marking and plenty of exposed carbon fiber. The car shown in the images above not only sports the Solar Beam paint exclusive to this car, it also features the optional AMG Aerodynamics package that gets an adjustable CFRP rear wing with aluminum uprights and front fascia flics, but all of the cars get a vented hood that increases front axle downforce.

Dodge announces Blacktop packages for 2013 Avenger, Challenger, Charger

 by: Steven J. Ewing

Dodge first introduced the decidedly sinister Blacktop package on the 2012 Charger V6 sedan, but today, the automaker announced that it will be expanding this option group to a few other models for 2013. The Avenger sedan, Challenger R/T coupe and Charger R/T V8 sedan will all be available with the optional darker appearance package beginning in December of this year.

For the Avenger, the Blacktop pack adds a gloss black grille, dark-tinted headlamp bezels, a body-colored rear spoiler and unique 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels. And if you don't want to go for the full-on murdered out black car approach, Dodge will offer the Blacktop package on Avengers painted in red, white, tungsten and silver, as well. Here on the 2013 Avenger, the Blacktop treatment adds $595 to the car's MSRP, and can even be had with additional options like the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, premium audio system and navigation – for some extra coin.

The Challenger Blacktop starts as an R/T coupe with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and adds unique appearance touches like 20-inch gloss black wheels, a blacked-out grille, blacked-out fuel door and a new matte graphite body stripe with red accents. Blacktop models also come standard with the Challenger's Super Track Pak, adding Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, higher-performance brakes, a better steering ratio, monotube shock absorbers and three-mode stability control. Ticking the Blacktop option will add $1,995 to the Challenger R/T's bottom line.

Finally, Dodge is expanding its Blacktop package to include the Hemi V8-powered Charger sedan, and the same sort of sinister treatment is found therein. Available in a host of colors, the Blacktop option retails for $1,795 on the Charger R/T and includes the same sort of blacked-out treatment as the other models, as well as Beats Audio and a sport mode with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Porsche confirms Ferrari 458-fighting 961 supercar

by: Jonathon Ramsey

The haze around the mid-engined Porsche supercar being bred to fill the space between the 911 and 918 Spyder is clearing. A few months ago, combined intel from Automobile and Car was that the 960, a challenger to the Ferrari 458, would either be a coupe or a "four-door coupe" powered by a twin-turbo flat-six and priced "on the creepy side of 200,000 euro." Auto Express has just reported that the new car is "set to be called the 961" and cost in the area of 250,000 pounds, reflecting a lower price than was supposed last year.

Exotic technology runs downhill and Auto Express suggests the 961 will be a heavy study from the 918's chapbook, utilizing a monocoque chassis from the same CFRP materials and the 918's 4.6-liter V8. The deep haze returns again in the predictions of how those details will come together, though. Theorized output is 570 horsepower, which is the horsepower number of the engine in the 918 but less than the 620 hp in the current 911 GT2 RS, the 961 going without the electric motors of its hybrid brother. The sprint from naught to 60 miles per hour is pegged at just above three seconds, which would put it in the same bracket as the 918 and nearly a second faster than the GT2 RS.

We await more word from The Oracle to know where the 961 will get its looks from – the 911 or 918 side of the family.

Chevrolet builds Sonic B-Spec racer concept

by: Zach Bowman

 
Chevrolet Performance worked over the Chevrolet Sonic just for this year's SEMA show to create this B-Spec racecar concept. Built to conform to all of rules and regulations of the B-Spec subcompact classes in both the SCCA and the Grand-Am series, the five-door features new coilovers on all four corners with revised mounts, adjustable front stabilizer bar links and a rear axle shim kit. The requisite air inlet restrictor has also been shoved in place, and the ECM and EBCM have been recalibrated accordingly. That's exciting in all, but we're more thrilled about the fact that Chevrolet says the parts are intended for production as a kit any consumer can buy.

That would leave competitors to independently source pricey pieces like the roll cage, seat and associated harnesses. The automaker says some of the parts may change en route to production, including the lightweight 15-inch alloy wheels.

Underhood, buyers can expect to find a stock 1.8-liter four-cylinder mated to a factory five-speed manual gearbox. Look for the production kit to go on sale in the first quarter of 2013. Check the full press blast below for more information.

Production-ready Lingenfelter LTA Camaro debuts in Vegas

 by: Seyth Miersma

Following the well-received concept version of the Lingenfelter LTA at SEMA all the way back in 2009, the specialist tuning company has finally brought along a production version of the car this year. Surprise... it's a convertible!

Ken Lingenfelter himself says that "overwhelming response after displaying conceptual versions of the LTA at previous SEMA Shows" has forced the company to offer up the real deal. Great news for enthusiasts of retro-themed performance cars, and Camaro fans in general.

Each LTA begins life as a model year 2010-2013 Camaro (including convertibles, obviously) and is then modified completely by Lingenfelter. The company will not be selling pieces of the body kit, for instance, as separate pieces. Lingenfelter will only deliver "...a complete, finished vehicle that's been re-done inside and out."

The LTA will be available in three grades, though the Level 3 LTA seen here would seem to be the one to have. This package includes a V8 engine tuned to produce some 655 horsepower, Brembo brakes, 20-inch "Honeycomb" wheels and a completely custom interior.

Hyundai goes bonkers with performance Velosters

 by: Seyth Miersma

Hyundai's news that it would be producing a new Re:Mix edition of the Veloster was passingly interesting, at least for fans of the sprightly hatchback. But that wasn't the only Veloster we saw at the SEMA show this year... far from it.

Much more pulse pounding is this Veloster Turbo Velocity Concept, a fire-breathing, Cosworth-tuned, free-breathing, turbocharged beast of a thing that outputs some 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Full details on the Hyundai Velocity Concept were reported here, though we suggest you take in all of its be-winged glory in our gallery of live images first.

While you're at it, have a gander at the Velosters presented by ARK Performance and the JP Edition Concept, as well. The "JP" in question stands for John Pangilinan, a mainstay of the tuning community, and his Veloster features a Mint Green shade of BASF that wouldn't look out of place on a Tiffany's box, as well as various fashionable interior and exterior upgrades.

Meanwhile, the ARK "Alpine" Concept has been sorted to accommodate the lifestyles of extreme winter sports athletes. That means an interior designed to stand up well to wet gear that's composed of Alcantara, WeatherTek material and some leather.

Infiniti drops haute shots of FX Vettel Edition

 by: Zach Bowman

Infiniti has served up a rash of photos of its limited-run FX Vettel Edition. The $155,000 hyper crossover offers buyers a full 414 horsepower and a 5.6-second run to 60 mph. The grunt is also good enough to scoot the hunkered-down CUV to a top speed of 186 mph. As we've heard, Sebastian Vettel lent a hand in setting up the vehicle's suspension, and the Formula One racer's Red Bull team helped pen the carbon fiber body kit. Those bits include a new front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear wing.

If you want one – and happen to have more cash than sense – you better get on the horn with your local Infiniti dealer – provided you keep a residence in one of the car's markets. The manufacturer is only planning to build 150 examples, with 50 examples earmarked for the Middle East, Russia and Western Europe, respectively... if you want one in North America, you're going to have to get a bit creative.

Neiman Marcus Christmas Book McLaren special editions sell out in two hours

by: Chris Tutor

Apparently, despite the global economic downturn, some people out there still have large sums of disposable income. We know this because Neiman Marcus sold through a dozen special edition McLaren 12C Spiders in less than two hours Wednesday. At $354,000 each, this single offering grossed Neiman Marcus a staggering $35,400 a minute. Not that we should be surprised. Last year, the retailer sold 10 brand-new Ferrari FF specials out in a mere 50 minutes and in 2009, Neiman Marcus cleared out 50 special Jaguar XJ sedans in four hours and four minutes.

The retailer's annual Christmas Book extravaganza offered the supercar packaged with first-class travel to the UK, two nights at a five-star hotel there, a tour of the McLaren Tech Center and dinner with McLaren chairman Ron Dennis. Each car also includes matching luggage and a numbered stainless-steel badge. One of NM's high-rolling catalog shoppers will be able to say they own the very first McLaren 12C Spider sold to the public.

Neiman Marcus says customers should have their Spiders in time for unwrapping Christmas morning. Let's hope the fortunate recipients live some place warm and that their roads are clear enough to enjoy a truly happy holiday.

Lingenfelter Retrokits ape 1969 Camaro, with or without RS hideaway lights

by: Zach Bowman

 

If by some miracle you find the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro too modern for your tastes, Lingenfelter has a solution. Behold the company's new Retrokits packages; full aesthetic workovers designed to give the Chevrolet a few tweaks from the '69 RS playbook. Those include an entirely new front fascia, complete with a chin spoiler and the buyer's choice of either exposed headlamps or hidden RS-style units. Lingenfelter swapped the original wheels for pieces designed to invoke the rally pieces found on the original '69. From where we sit, we're not sure the look is an improvement, and the stick-on chrome dress-up for the rear quarter gills certainly don't do the machine any favors.

Camaro owners may buy the Retrokits package for installation by a local body shop or have Lingenfelter do the work in house. Prices start at $6,850, not including the man-hours to bolt the bits in place. Ask Lingenfelter to paint and install, and you'll be looking at a sticker of around $8,550. Zing.

600-hp G-Power 1 Series is excessively cool

by: Zach Bowman

 

Save some unforeseen circumstance we've yet to encounter, you'll never hear us turn down shoving extra horsepower at a vehicle. The minds at G-Power seem to understand that concept better than most and have just finished pumping a full 600 horsepower into the BMW 1 Series M Coupe. The team is calling their newest creation the G1 Hurricane RS, and the car makes use of a supercharged version of the same V8 that powers the BMW M3. Likewise, the tuner's engineers plucked the dual-clutch gearbox from the larger M for service in the G1 Hurricane.

With 427 pound feet of torque on hand, the smallest of the G-Power line can bolt to 125 miles per hour in around 12.7 seconds on its way to a top end of 205 mph. The company threw in a set of carbon ceramic brakes to help bring the wicked 1 Series down from speed, which also helped reduce unsprung weight by half. Further weight reductions come in the form of a carbon fiber hood and trunk lid. G-Power plans to build just 30 examples of its wild little 1 Series M Coupe, so if you want one, you better get on the phone now. Head over to the G-Power site fore more information.

Bugatti brings Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse "Gris Rafale" to Brazil

 by: Seyth Miersma

Bugatti's Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is downright well-known around these parts. Not only have we reported on the 1,200-horsepower Veyron selling for a pretty penny at Pebble Beach, we've seen a funnyman Leno take one for a pleasure cruise in SoCal.

Apparently, Bugatti believes that the Grand Sport Vitesse is likely to be just as popular in South America as it has been elsewhere in the world, as the company has officially announced that it will be bringing the model to Brazil. Not wanting to merely send out a press release, the French supercar maker has gone and created a one-off Grand Sport Vitesse "Gris Rafale" to mark the occasion.

The new car has been finished in a fetching light shade of gray called Gris Rafale (French for "Gray Burst", with accent pieces done in striking blue carbon fiber. The interior treatment is a reversal of that motif, with blue leather and gray stitching. A special edition that only features a new colorway might seem like a weak effort for any other car, but on one of the most expensive, highest performance road-going vehicles of all time, we'll take it.

Subaru developing engine for BRZ Turbo

by: Jeffrey N. Ross

Based on how many turbocharged boxer engines Subaru currently uses in its cars, solid news of a force-fed BRZ was only a matter of time. So it comes as little surprise that Automotive News is reporting that Subaru is currently developing a turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter engine currently found under the hood of the much-loved but somewhat underpowered 2013 BRZ.

AN's unnamed sources indicate that this engine will use a twin-scroll turbocharger and a new direct-injection system that will help give the engine an estimated 280 horsepower and torque that could be in excess of 250 pound-feet... still being sent to the rear wheels. The turbo'd BRZ will reportedly be making its debut for the 2014 model year, but it isn't clear if Subaru will simply call the car a BRZ Turbo or if it will finally deliver the BRZ STI that many enthusiasts have been clamoring for since the BRZ STI Concept hit the scene in 2011.

As soon as we know more, so will you.

Chevy to show SS in Vegas in race trim

by: George Kennedy

 A lot of speculation has been made with regards to the SS, the promised new Chevrolet rear-wheel drive performance sedan. The Holden Commodore-based muscle saloon will be prowling the open road as early as next year, while a NASCAR version is set to compete in 2013. Shots of the cars testing in their respective natural habitats have led to endless speculation, and it appears we now know which car will debut first.

Word from Speed is that the 2013 Chevrolet SS NASCAR Sprint Cup car is set to bow on Thursday, November 29 at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino. The car will reportedly be shown in full race trim, sans sponsor graphics for Bounty, Skoal or Taylor Swift.

The Vegas debut will mark the introduction of the final vehicle to enter in the 2013 NASCAR season. Dodge unveiled its Charger racecar in March before leaving the race series. Toyota showed off its V8, RWD Camry NASCAR in May, while Ford debuted its race-spec Fusion in January of this year. The remaining entries are expected to (visually) bear a closer resemblance to their road-going counterparts.

While the SS racecar is debuting next month in Vegas, no mention of the production version SS was made. We are still under the impression that February 21, 2013 will still be the launch date for the road-going version of the rear-wheel drive Holden-based sedan that has GM enthusiasts so worked up.

2013 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo racecar is unveiled

by: Seyth Miersma

Lamborghini has announced its 2013 Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo racer, a version of the standard LP570-4 that has been prepped to race in the Italian company's one-make series sponsored by Blancpain.

The racing Gallardo has been revised for the 2013 season, with a new rear wing and diffuser, new wheel arches and a different livery (the Blancpain collateral is still in full effect, of course). Specification of the new car was not disclosed by Lamborghini, but expectations are that the same 570-horsepower V10 is delivering power to all four wheels.

As a refresher, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is a series that sees drivers competing in identical Gallardo racecars. 2012 saw a six-race series take place in Europe, and for the first time, Asia. Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, says that the Super Trofeo will eventually make its way to North America and the US, too.

Ferrari F70 won't show up in Detroit after all

by: Matt DeLorenzo

Contrary to earlier reports, Ferrari maintains that it will not be showing the F70 supercar successor to the Enzo at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next January. In fact, our sources say the launch rollout plans for the hybrid 920-horsepower exotic have not been finalized.

One scenario would have a launch separate from major auto shows in order to maximize publicity. Another factor in the decision not to show the F70 in Detroit is a desire not to step on the launch at the show of the all-new Maserati Quattroporte. Both Maserati and Ferrari are owned by the Fiat group.

Ford teases five SEMA-bound Focus ST concept cars

by: Seyth Miersma

Ford has revealed a few images of five tuned Focus ST concepts that will be shown off at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas this month. None of this group of five is overly subtle, which would run counter to the spirit of SEMA itself, and all hope to highlight the performance nature of Ford's newest hot hatch. In no particular order then, here are the quick-and-dirty facts on each car, in advance of the full details out of Vegas:

1. 2013 Ford Focus ST by Tanner Foust Racing (top): X Games warrior Tanner Foust wanted his ST to be able to go from work to the track, while not being too harsh for commuting in Southern California. A body kit, MagnaFlow exhaust and fully adjustable front and rear suspension have been added.
2.  2013 Ford Focus ST by Bojix Design (upper left): The Bojix Design car stands out mostly for its eye-catching orange paint, black hood and low-rider stance. Upgraded brakes and coil-over springs are noted performance adds.
3.  2013 Ford Focus ST by M&J Enterprises (upper right): M&J partnered with Ford, Cosworth LLC for ultimate performance. Ford Racing engine and suspension upgrades result in an aggressively fast car putting out some 330 horsepower.
4. 2013 Ford Focus ST by Galpin Auto Sports (lower left): The sinister Galpin car, rocking some shockingly green wheels, was meant as a rally car-inspired build. The menacing looks of the body kit are backed by methanol injection and larger brakes, creating a car that the tuner claims is rally-ready.
5. 2013 Ford Focus ST by Steeda Autosports (lower right): Steeda has added its own "G-Trac" suspension to its SEMA Focus, as well as Brembo brakes and a custom 19-inch wheel and tire package.