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Motor Authority - blog Tag: V10

  • Spy Shots: More 2011 Lexus LF-A

    Spy Shots: More 2011 Lexus LF-A September 23rd, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran's avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, September 23rd, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 8 Comments

    Spy Shots: More 2011 Lexus LF-A

    The supercar that almost wasn’t, and still might not be, the 2011 Lexus LF-A, was recently spotted again in prototype form ahead of a rumored debut at next month's 2009 Tokyo Auto Show.

    The LF-A has been spotted testing on a number of occasions, so it's well past the 'pure concept' stage, but its production future still remains murky at best. The Japanese company's investment in the LF-A earlier this year at the Milan Fashion Week, however, lends credence to the idea that it is in fact going to be built, and the continuous stream of prototypes tracking the 'Ring go a step further.

    The LF-A's powertrain has previously been speculated...

    The supercar that almost wasn’t, and still might not be, the 2011 Lexus LF-A, was recently spotted again in prototype form ahead of a rumored debut at next month's 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. The LF-A has been spotted testing on a number of occasions, so it's well past the 'pure concept' stage, but its production future still remains murky at best. The Japanese company's investment in the LF-A earlier this year at the Milan Fashion Week, however, lends credence to the idea that it is in fact going to be built, and the continuous stream of prototypes tracking the 'Ring go a step further. The LF-A's powertrain has previously been speculated as a 5.0-liter V-10 engine rated at over 500 horsepower, and the latest report says it will be over 550 horsepower and capable of a top speed of 218 mph. Limited production is also the name of the game, with only about 500 units expected unless demand proves high enough to support more, though it will cost more than $200,000. Worse still, only 350 of them will be made in left-hand-drive for worldwide consumption. Other details include six-piston brake calipers with carbon-ceramic discs, titanium mufflers, a six-speed sequential automatic gearbox, and run flat Bridgestone tires--all fitted as standard. A hybrid variant should also be available, but it’s unknown how much power this version will have or what affect the heavy batteries and extra motor will have on handling and weight - or if the hybrid system will be anything more than badging and lip-service to the concept. The car's front mid-engine placement, along with a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators, should allow for excellent weight distribution, however. Lexus has previously billed the concept version of the car as having a top speed in excess of 200mph, and we have no reason to doubt the production version will reach its sales targets if sold unrestricted--whatever the state of the global economy. Read More

  • Video: Valentino Balboni discusses Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2

    Video: Valentino Balboni discusses Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 July 31st, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, July 31st, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    Video: Valentino Balboni discusses Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 The RWD Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni was just officially revealed a month ago, and now the company has released a video documenting Balboni's involvement with and influence on the car's design process, and how it reflects his 40 years of test-driving experience.

    At just shy of five minutes long, the video doesn't go into tremendous depth but with cut scenes of the car in serious sideways action and Valentino Balboni himself explaining the car, it adds a level of authenticity and perspective that might otherwise be lacking in the two-wheel drive Gallardo's image.

    But enough talk. Watch it for yourself, and... The RWD Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni was just officially revealed a month ago, and now the company has released a video documenting Balboni's involvement with and influence on the car's design process, and how it reflects his 40 years of test-driving experience. At just shy of five minutes long, the video doesn't go into tremendous depth but with cut scenes of the car in serious sideways action and Valentino Balboni himself explaining the car, it adds a level of authenticity and perspective that might otherwise be lacking in the two-wheel drive Gallardo's image. But enough talk. Watch it for yourself, and enjoy.Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Read More

  • Report: Veritas planning RS III Coupe, all-new SUV

    Report: Veritas planning RS III Coupe, all-new SUV July 23rd, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, July 23rd, 2009 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    Report: Veritas planning RS III Coupe, all-new SUV From its raging 600hp BMW M5 V10 engine to its complete lack of ABS and traction control and its single-seater speedster layout, the Veritas RS III is perhaps the most potent yet completely pure driving experience available on the street today. But a new report out of England has Veritas planning a Coupe and an all-new fully custom SUV.

    The Coupe will feature the same performance as the open-cockpit speedster, though the addition of a hard top necessitated a ground-up redesign.

    “The car has been completely redesigned; the only thing the same are the wheels,” said Michael Trick of Vermot AG, maker of the Veritas RS III,... From its raging 600hp BMW M5 V10 engine to its complete lack of ABS and traction control and its single-seater speedster layout, the Veritas RS III is perhaps the most potent yet completely pure driving experience available on the street today. But a new report out of England has Veritas planning a Coupe and an all-new fully custom SUV. The Coupe will feature the same performance as the open-cockpit speedster, though the addition of a hard top necessitated a ground-up redesign. “The car has been completely redesigned; the only thing the same are the wheels,” said Michael Trick of Vermot AG, maker of the Veritas RS III, speaking with Autocar. “The coupe version will have a sloping rear that runs to the back of the car and it is designed for markets like the Middle East, where they need air conditioning.” With acceleration providing a claimed 3.0 seconds to 60mph and a top speed of 224mph, it might be nice to have more than a helmet in the way of protection from wind and rain, so Veritas thinks it will be able to sell as many coupes as it does speedsters: 30 of each. The SUV also revealed by Trick is still in the very earliest stages, but with a completely unique design, custom carbon fiber body and a small aircraft engine powering it, the project is off to a uniquely Veritas start. The RS III speedster itself is currently making its world debut at London's Salon Prive.Veritas RS III Read More

  • Video: Dodge Viper lives, will see production beyond 2009

    Video: Dodge Viper lives, will see production beyond 2009 July 10th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, July 10th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 2 Comments

    Video: Dodge Viper lives, will see production beyond 2009 In the tumble of Fiat and Chrysler's alliance following Chrysler's bankruptcy, the future of the Viper has been a back-burner issue, but today, Dodge President and CEO Mike Accavitti announced that the Viper will in fact see continued production under the company's new leadership.

    In the video below, Accavitti makes it plain that the new leadership is fully behind the continued production of the Viper at the Conner Avenue assembly plant. "The Viper lives. The new leadership team the Chrysler Group gets it," he said.

    Since its introduction in 1989 at the Detroit Auto Show, the vehicle has had a rabid, if small, core following. When Chrysler... In the tumble of Fiat and Chrysler's alliance following Chrysler's bankruptcy, the future of the Viper has been a back-burner issue, but today, Dodge President and CEO Mike Accavitti announced that the Viper will in fact see continued production under the company's new leadership. In the video below, Accavitti makes it plain that the new leadership is fully behind the continued production of the Viper at the Conner Avenue assembly plant. "The Viper lives. The new leadership team the Chrysler Group gets it," he said. Since its introduction in 1989 at the Detroit Auto Show, the vehicle has had a rabid, if small, core following. When Chrysler began its descent into bankruptcy last year, the Viper brand was held close until the very end, and though it was ultimately shopped to potential suitors, no satisfactory offers were put on the table, and so the brand stayed with Chrysler. Now, under Fiat and Sergio Marchionne's leadership at the Chrysler Group, the Viper will continue forward, serving its niche of high-performance enthusiasts and pushing the envelope of what is possible in a production street car. After all, the Viper SRT10 ACR does hold the production car record lap time at the Nurburgring with a Corvette ZR1, Porsche GT2 and Nissan GT-R-beating time of 7:22.4 minutes. With its 8.4L, 600hp V10 engine and more-than-capable handling, perhaps it's no surprise. So far, over 25,000 Vipers have been built in the car's 17-year production run.Dodge Viper SRT 10 ACR2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 unleashedDodge CEO Mike Accavitti announces continued Viper production Read More

  • Lamborghini officially unveils RWD Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

    Lamborghini officially unveils RWD Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni June 30th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, June 30th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    Lamborghini officially unveils RWD Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Modern supercars have pushed the envelope of performance so far that they require all sorts of technology to keep the average driver from instantly destroying themselves and the car. Hence all-wheel drive to deliver the power, self-shifting transmissions and, of course, traction and stability control. But to the hardcore driver, all of that stuff just gets in the way. Today, Lamborghini has unveiled a special-edition Gallardo that cuts through to deliver a purer experience - the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni.

    Named after Lamborghini's famed test driver, who has helped shape the brand's cars and performance standard for four decades,... Modern supercars have pushed the envelope of performance so far that they require all sorts of technology to keep the average driver from instantly destroying themselves and the car. Hence all-wheel drive to deliver the power, self-shifting transmissions and, of course, traction and stability control. But to the hardcore driver, all of that stuff just gets in the way. Today, Lamborghini has unveiled a special-edition Gallardo that cuts through to deliver a purer experience - the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni. Named after Lamborghini's famed test driver, who has helped shape the brand's cars and performance standard for four decades, the LP550-2 is a RWD-only Gallardo sporting a lightly de-tuned 550hp version of the 5.2L V10 found in the recently launched Gallardo LP560-4 and LP560-4 Spyder. The transition to RWD was not simply a question of moving the transmission to the rear axle, however - the vehicle had to be adjusted and tuned in every element of its driving dynamics. This includes springs, dampers, stabilizers and even the tires. The aerodynamics were also adjusted to take account of the change to the power flow, which explains the re-designed front end. Furthermore, though an e-Gear transmission is available, the driver's Lambo also gets a gated manual, helping to cut weight to meet the two-wheel-driver's 66lb (30kg) weight reduction goal. To help keep the rear end planted when controlled oversteer isn't desired, a re-worked stability control system can maximize for safety or allow greater slip angles than standard when switched to CORSA mode. A 45% limited-slip rear diff also helps send power evenly across the two rear tires. Zero to 62mph (100km/h) dashes will take just 3.9 seconds, top speed checks in at a cool 199mph (320km/h), and a with a dry weight of just 3,035lb (1,380kg), the LP550-2 is set to take its place as a top performer despite its 'lack' of AWD. The Balboni branding also includes a special exterior and interior treatment, with a center stripe reminiscent of sports cars of the 1970s. The Special Edition is available in eight colors, from Bianco Monocerus through to Verde Ithaca, or Arancio Borealis to Nero Noctis. The Scorpius wheels retain their dark grey finish, while the brake calipers come in black, orange or yellow, depending on the exterior paint finish. The basic color of the full leather upholstery is black. Both seats, however, feature the color strip in white. The center console is completely upholstered in Polar white leather to create a powerful accent. A badge below the left side window bears the signature of Valentino Balboni and the production number of the car. Only about 250 units of the $219,800 LP550-2 are to be built, though, so if this is the sort of thing that sets your blood flowing, you'd better get in contact with Sant'Agata soon.Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Read More

  • Spy shots: RWD Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2

    Spy shots: RWD Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 June 29th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, June 29th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 0 Comments

    Spy shots: RWD Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Modern supercars have pushed the envelope of performance so far that they require all sorts of technology to keep the average driver from instantly destroying themselves and the car. Hence all-wheel drive to deliver the power, self-shifting transmissions and, of course, traction and stability control. But to the hardcore driver, all of that stuff just gets in the way.

    Enter the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2. Though it's still completely unofficial, photos of a car purporting to bear that model name surfaced yesterday and now we have the first spy shots of an actual prototype testing at the Nurburgring. The car they depict is thought to be a... Modern supercars have pushed the envelope of performance so far that they require all sorts of technology to keep the average driver from instantly destroying themselves and the car. Hence all-wheel drive to deliver the power, self-shifting transmissions and, of course, traction and stability control. But to the hardcore driver, all of that stuff just gets in the way. Enter the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2. Though it's still completely unofficial, photos of a car purporting to bear that model name surfaced yesterday and now we have the first spy shots of an actual prototype testing at the Nurburgring. The car they depict is thought to be a RWD-only Gallardo sporting a lightly de-tuned 550hp version of the 5.2L V10 found in the recently launched Gallardo LP560-4 and LP560-4 Spyder. Differentiating the RWD version are a new set of bumpers as well as a unique rear diffuser that’s designed to offer more grip. Furthermore, instead of an e-Gear transmission, the driver's Lambo gets a gated manual, helping to cut weight to meet the two-wheel-driver's 66lb (30kg) weight reduction goal. Only about 250 units of the LP550-2 are expected to be built, though, so if this is the sort of thing that sets your blood flowing, you'd better get in contact with Sant'Agata soon.Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 spy shots Read More

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