Posts Tagged ‘sports cars’

Ferrari’s all-new racing star, the 458 Italia is a replacement for their F430 model.  Performance is the name of the game as far as the 458 is concerned.  If you have any doubts, check out the carbon-ceramic brakes (which are standard on the 458), or new twin-clutch 7-speed manual transmission, whose super-fast and precise paddle shifts greatly reduce lap times on a closed course.  Keep reading to find out more about what makes the 458 so fast.

The Specs

·         Top Speed: 202 MPH

·         Engine Size: Direct-injected 4.5-liter V-8

·         Transmission: Twin-clutch 7-speed

·         Horsepower (bhp @ rpm): 565 @ 9,000

·         Curb weight: 3274 lbs

·         Price at time of writing (base): $225,000

The Scoop

The new Ferrari 458 Italia meets the need for speed with its top-of-the-line direct-injected 4.How many V8 engines can churn out 565 bhp while revving at 9 000.  Formula 1 strategies contribute to the velocity of this engine, in particular where coatings for reduced friction are concerned, and with a revised oil scavenge system that eats up less power while substantially reducing pumping losses.

Aerodynamics is takes prefferance over external styling for this episosed titled 488 italia. The wheelbase of the 458 was stretched a bit, the overhangs clipped slightly, and the cockpit bubble moved forward and raised.  Then there are the plastic nose winglets that look like cat whiskers and bend at higher speeds to change airflow over the radiators for reduced drag and lift.  Don’t forget about the corner vents that squeeze the headlights into less-than-pretty slits of stacked LEDs while also flowing slower-moving air over the front fenders to cut lift and not increase drag.However these improvements that are evident with performance are not translated to more beauty.  But that’s not what this is about.

Interior is bigger, good news.Any modern day car is sure to have most controls mounted on the steering.  Thanks to the shorter overhangs, it is only slightly larger than the outgoing F430 — it’s 0.6 in. longer and 1.5 in. wider.Aluminium is the frame for the chasis which is now stiffer by 20 percent. Up front you’ll find strengthened double A-arm suspension, balanced by a new multilink rear with reduced camber change.

Driving the 458 is surprisingly easy.  Steering response is both quick and very light.  It truly does give the impression that you’re flying rather than driving.The engine is as powerful as a monster yet so controllable like a kitten.  The carbon-ceramic brakes respond to even the slightest application of pressure.  The suspension absorbs practically all shock and provides the sensation of riding on air. 

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With the invention of the car came the desire for speed. Cars quickly evolved from practical to sporty to satisfy the desires of those that wanted to race.

The first sports cars started to appear at the latter end of the 1940’s. Ferrari, Lotus, Jaguar and Porsche all had sporting road car designs. When you think of today’s supercars you think of sleek design, high speed, high power and even higher price tags and the sports cars of the 1940’s were the first steps towards today’s technological wonders.

Throughout the 1950’s and early 1960’s sports car performance progressed. 1954 saw the arrival of the Meredes 300 SL Gullwing which was the first road car to top 150mph. It was capable of a top speed of 165mph and is now considered to be one of the all time classic road cars.

The Gullwing was first shown at the 1954 New York Motor Show and it wowed the public. It has distinctive ‘gull wing’ doors and was made from a lightweight aluminium body. The Gullwing had a 3 litre engine and 240bhp, and in its day was the fastest production car available.

1400 Gullwings were built between the years of 1954 and 1957. The design was eventually superceded by the open Roadster.

It was Ford that created what many people believe to be the first supercar. Their GT40 made its debut at the Nurburgring in 1964 but it wasn’t until 1966 that Ford took their place in American racing history by finishing Le Mans in the top three positions, beating Ferrari. The GT40 has now won more prestigious races than any other road racing car in history.

The Lamborghini Miura made supercar history because it was the first production car to feature a mid-mounted engine (normally only seen on F1 cars). It looked so different to any road car that had been produced before. The Miura was unveiled to the world in 1965 at the Turin Auto Show by Ferrucio Lamborghini himself and was named after Spanish fighting bulls because of the aggressive body styling.

In terms of pure speed, after the 150mph title was claimed, 200 mph was the next great speed barrier to try for. The prize for that went to the Ferrari F40 – the last car commissioned by Enzo Ferrari and revealed on Ferrari’s 40th birthday.

The F40 was available between 1987 and 1992. Top speed was 201mph and it managed 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds.

The F40 is rated by many as the greatest supercar of all.

The price of an F40 reached in excess of half a million pounds during the late 1980's and even now is holding its price well.

The SSC Ultimate Aero TT (made by Shelby Supercars) is the world’s fastest production car to date with a top speed of 257mph. The Guiness World record run clocked the car in at 255.8mph. The 2009 version can reach speeds of 270mph and is reported to accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds!

Modern technology has allowed the creation of some amazing cars. They have come a long way but are not yet at the peak of design so it remains to be seen how the cars of the future wow us.

For a chance to get behind the wheel of a Lamborghini today you can do a web search for Lamborghini hire Hertfordhire, Lamborghini hire London or another geographical type search to find a super car hire place near you.

2010 Porsche 911 GT3: A Street-Legal Race Car

Top Speed:193 mph

Acceleration: 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds

Engine Size: 3.8 liter flat-6

Power: 435 hp at 7600 rpm

Torque: 317 lb-ft at 6250 rpm

Fuel Economy: 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway

Price at Time of Writing: $113,150

The 2010 version of the Porsche 911 GT3 is a serious sports car. Its engine is equipped with seven oil pumps, and the car has a gearbox complete with dedicated cooling system. These cars are built for race speed, and many will actually see action on the track. As one would expect, the improvements for the 2010 model were geared at more power and ultimately a more exciting drive.

New Engine

The GT3 has a newly updated engine. The internals now include titanium connecting rods and hollow camshafts. The pistons, valves and tappets have all been lightened. These changes, coupled with the new lower internal inertia, allow the engine to reach 8500 rpms. Output and power have been increased with the 3-stage intake manifold and the 2-stage sport exhaust. cars for sale

The Drive

While the GT3 is built for speed, it is a dream to drive in regular road conditions as well. It handles twists and curves beautifully, with unprecedented steering control and nearly perfect weighting. This makes the car take corners with extreme accuracy, even at fairly high speeds. Its has no complains about sprinting out of corners and get you on your way.

When accelerating, the GT3 moves quickly thought its gears until it hits the fifth gear, typically around 145 mph. At this point the car moderates, and with a top speed of 193 mph you can literally fly. Keep the revs above 6000 rpm and you will enjoy quick acceleration and accurate, fast response times. Once can feel less vibrations as ride quality has been improved. Vertical engine movement has been reduced to +/- 1.5 mm. Originally the car had a vertical engine movement of +/- 9 mm. A massive change indeed. bmw 3 series fo sale

Other Changes

The GT3 sports 15-inch front brake rotors with separate aluminum carriers, stiffer springs in the suspension and a smaller anti-roll bar in the front of the car. Introduced for driver aids are stability control with a dynamic drivetrain that has a lifting feature. The driver can set the front end to raise 1.2 inches by pushing a button, allowing the car to maneuver steep drives without damaging the front bumper.

The front splitter and rear wing have also been changed. A new lower and deeper front splitter and a wider wing in the rear, which is wider than the vertical supports and also tilted at a 7.8 degree angle, give the car a greater downward force. While travelling at 186 mph the down force increases from 66 pounds to 220 pounds. Audi A3

All in all the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car is better, faster and more powerful than its predecessors. It handles well and is overall a more pleasant drive. If speed combined with precision handling is what you want in a vehicle, then this 6-speed manual 2-door coupe is the car to choose.

A step in a new direction Unveiled at the April 2009 Shanghai Auto Show a sports sedan Porsche choose to call Panamera. The car has created some controversy with its style, as it has only four seats and a hatchback that some say create a bulky appearance, particularly in photographs. This has to be one of a very few sedans that posses sports car dynamics.

Appearance

The Panamera is large, measuring 195.7 inches long and 55.8 inches tall, making it appear a bit more bulky than other Porsche sports cars. The rear with its hatchback design seems a bit heavyset compared to other high-performance vehicles, and this is accentuated in photographs. Perhaps the rear is not as tidy as it could have been. Porsche insisted on keeping a hatchback theme which might not look good on such a larger car. Not to worry as the car is much better in flesh (metal).

Specs and Performance

The Panamera comes in three models, the 394-bhp V-8 Panamera S, the all-wheel-drive 4S, and the 493-bhp Panamera Turbo. Transmission duties are handed over to the 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission which has a very fast response time. The Turbo has a powerful 7th gear that can reach 125 mph while reving at 2800 rpm. vehicle sales stats

The engine sounds powerful with a nice growl. Being a sports sedan Porsche would rather have the sound a little modest compared to the all out sports models. There is a sport exhaust that will give a stronger sound at a button’s press.

The Panamera comes with a stop/start system standard that some drivers will struggle to get used to. With this system, the car’s engine turns off whenever you stop, but starts again instantly when you touch the gas. Clearly the intetion is to save fuel and it works very well for city driving. Another small plus is that it can be turned off. Overall, the car grips the road well and offers superior performance. As will all Porsches this one is a dream drive.

Braking and Interior

The standard brake system has four-piston calipers in the rear and six-piston calipers on the front. They hold up well under the power of the car, even when the Turbo is taken above 100 mph. They have a quick response time at all speeds. Toyota Yaris price list

The interior of the car is designed with comfort in mind. Extra headroom and legroom in the rear make it comfortable for an adult to sit. It features the touch-screen infotainment center in the center console that Porsche debuted with the 911. On the dash board is the familiar five-dial design and makes the car look luxurios. flat to rent in Pretoria

Technical specs:

Top Speed: 188 mph

Acceleration: 0 – 60 in 4.2 seconds

Engine Size: S – 4.8 L V8; Turbo – Twin-Turbocharged

Power: S – 400 bhp at 6500 rpm; Turbo – 500 bhp at 600 rpm

Torque: S – 369 lb.-ft. at 3500 rpm; Turbo – 516 lb.-ft. at 2250 rpm

Fuel Economy: S – 36.3 mpg; Turbo – 37 mpg

Base Price at Time of Writing: S – $89,800; Turbo – $132,600

The newest sports car to be hit the market in 2010 is called the Lotus Evora and is a slightly larger car than the Lotus Elise. It will be the first completely new Lotus vehicle in almost 15 years which is definitely something to take notice of. When the Evora goes past, you would want to stare then develop some interest. Revealed at the 2008 London Motor Show, this classy deep-silver two-door, mid engine coupe was shown as a classic Lotus design. The Evora extracts the most from the least, commanding high performance and agile dynamics with its advanced structures and controlled weight.

The Evora Difference

The Evora is larger and much more luxurious and sexy than the other models in the Lotus line up. It is roomier than other sports cars and more accommodating as well. Being noticabily larger the Evora also weighs a lot more. flat to rent in cape town. Although it was launched with a 6-speed manual transmission, Evora will also add an automatic transmission during the early part of the build run as an option. With the mid-engine layout and 2×2 seating the Evora has a very similar setting with Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine is from Toyota although Lotus holds the copyright on it because of the ECU software upgrades that they developed for the engine. Alpine provides the 7 inch touch screen for controlling audio, communications and satellite navigation functions. This is an assembled vehicle with Bosch providing the ABS, traction control and stability control and Yokohama the tires. One of the rules of smart cost effective design is to utilize already existing well proven third party components?

The Seating

Most would initially identify a car that looks as sleek and sexy as the Evora to a two seater but with the extra two rear seats, it becomes a sports car that you can enjoy with more than one friend at a time. It is however, a small back seat which could be a little cramped on longer journeys. Since most sports car owners don`t . Driver and passenger will feel immediately comfortable on the front seats. The impressive dashboard full of gauges and controls makes the cockpit to feel like a respected air line cockipt. car prices 

The hand-made sports car is assembled in very limited volumes, put together with exceptionally fine components and priced quite reasonably for the quality and class that you are getting. There are only going to be 2,000 Evoras created each year to keep the demand up and create a scarcity. Though this car is bound to be popular at any rate, this can only increase the interest from buyers. BMW 1 series prices 

When shopping for a high class sports car, enthusiasts are always looking for less weight and more power to get the maximum thrill out of their driving experience. The 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670 is the fastest and purest sports car ever made by Lamborghini, leaving all other Murcielago models in the dust in nearly every respect. An astonishing achievement is by the designers is that the car weighs 220 pounds less than the standard Murcielago.

Need for Speed

The newly reworked 6.5 liter monster V12 engine the gives 670 horse power is no child play and an every day Lambo will struggle to keep up. With the massive weight savings, the car now manages a 5.1 pound per horsepower power-to-weight ratio which catapults it from 0 to 62 mph in an astounding 3.2 seconds. With a top speed of 214 mph (342 km/h) on a normal road there is no chance of reaching that velocity. cheap used cars for sale

Design and Aerodynamics

The Murcielago is the picture of the Lamborghini brand and the Murcielago LP 670 is no exception. There is no mistaken identity, the car looks fast because it is. With its unique design that radiates vicious power and sensuality, it’s no wonder that everyone falls in love with this extraordinary sports car. As ever, the bonnet is transparent for on lookers to marvel at the super engine that propells this bull.

The striking rear end of the vehicle is equipped with a flat and very wide exhaust tailpipe as well as a two-level diffuser system finished in carbon fiber. The tail and signal lights with the customary Y-shape which has been used in many Lamborghini designs and the intake mesh, which is Teflon coated aluminum, spans the full width of the car.

This model has completely redesigned aerodynamics and clients have a choice between a small rear spoiler that provides improved down force when driving at high speeds, or a large, fixed wing that is mounted on carbon-fiber brackets. The second choice provides a significant boost to directional stability when racing at high speeds. Bmw for sale in Pretoria

Light as a Feather

When designing the Murcielago LP 670, Lamborghini clearly had weight loss on their minds. Working with hi-tech carbon fiber and other lightweight materials, they managed to shave off 220 pounds from the standard Murcielago model. With the same composite construction as a race car, and the recalculated framework using new materials, they were able to reduce the weight by 72.6 pounds in the chassis and exterior, 78.8 pounds in the interior and 72.6 from the engine and drive train. 

No corners were cut and a super high level of quality workmanship was used. The craftsmen who hand built this incredible sports car did an amazing job. To improve an already perfect Murcielago was always going to be a major challenge. Yet Lamborghini have made a lighter, faster and more incredible car. Bmw for sale in Durban

A newly launched Ferrari is always bound to create exitement and a positive vibe. Already there is a two year waiting list for the 16M Scuderia. The 16M shares most of its architecture with the F430 Spider. But the look and feel of the Ferrari 16M Scuderia is in a class all its own, with a newly fitted engine note and the quickest flip top around, taking you from the thrill of driving a high class sports car to the exhilaration of driving down the road in a sexy convertible in no time at all. 

The Power Within 

The 16M has a classy 4.3 litreV8 engine that produces 503 horsepower and 347 pound feet which is up from the F430’s 483 horsepower and 343 pound feet. The engine is bolted to the F1-Superfast2 6-speed auto-clutch manual transmission which can shift in 60 milliseconds with torque interruption at about 40 milliseconds. Signs of this model being more sports oriented are made obvious by the wider 19 inch tires, lowered and harder suspension and a race tuned damping. bmw for sale in gauteng. Being on the Manettino option means the drive is a little more on the sports side. 

Even though the changes in the engine note  and the fitting of unique intake manifold resonators cause an increase of about 199 pounds, its still about 175 pounds lighter than the previous model, the F430 Spider. To get to 60 from standstill takes just 3.8 seconds and can do a course lap in just 86.5s meaning it is a respectable Ferrari one can buy. 

The braking system in this vehicle is incredible, taking only 96 feet to go from 60-0 and 288 feet from 100-0. City fuel economy is 11 miles per gallon and the highway fuel economy is 16 miles per gallon which may not seem like a whole lot, but when you consider the power packed into this little sports car as well as the look of it all, it is definitely worth it. i want to sell my car. Well as the story goes if you can afford such a vehicle then fuel costs are the least of your worries. In terms of the environmental well being this car is being responsible with low emissions of 1.52 pounds per mile. 

Why Upgrade?

Although the car does cost a lot more that a standard F430 Spider the price is fully justified. It’s almost worth making more friends just to brag too and with a stunning vehicle such as the 2010 Ferrari 16M Scuderia, you will always have a great conversation piece. yaris for sale

As if the GTB Fiorano was not already enough to catapult a standard 599 into another planet the HGTE will move the 599 to another galaxy. Okay H-handling, GT – Gran Turismo (Grand Touring) and the E-for Evoluzione (Evolution). 

The HGTE Pack Difference 

There are no engine modifications but with the 612bhp V12 engine, you already have all the power that you will ever need and then some. The HGTE package lowers the car by 10mm and stiffens the springs by 17% at the front and 15% at the back. Although the physical changes with the car, such as the rear anti-roll bar being 1.5mm thicker and the wheels running half a degree more camber, might be hard to spot, you will be able to tell the difference in the sound of the car. The quad exhausts have been made to sound a little louder and angrier to draw even more attention to this already spotlight-grabbing vehicle. The suspension system has been upgraded slightly from the standard model and the new wheels shave a whole 11 pounds off the total weight of this car.polo for sale 

The interior of the car has a sportier vibe to it with full grain leather, black Alcantara and carbon fiber trim and the embroidered Prancing Horse and “Handling GTE” mark on the headrests. Holding down the left paddle you can perform multiple downshifts which is testamony to the improved six-speed shifter. land cruise for sale.Newly calibrated settings for the shock absorbers help give a slightly smoother ride by reducing the pitch and roll. The fuel consumption has gone from 13.3mpg up to 15.7 and good news for the green activists is that this car plays by the rules for curbing emmisions (490g/km to 415). 

The Difference in the Drive 

The standard Ferrari 599 is already so good that it’s difficult to see the difference when you drive it on regular roads although the HGTE does have a slightly quicker turn-in. On the track, however, the faster up shifts near the redline is the most noticeable difference and is almost uncomfortable in how shockingly fast it is. The cornering grip has been increased by 8 percent. Improvements include a lowered center of gravity and an improvement to the under steer. cheap cars for sale 

When already spending a large chunk of change on a great car, buyers will find it hard not to justify spending the extra money to upgrade to the Ferrari 599 HGTE simply because it is the best GT car ever made by Ferrari, and who doesn’t want the best?

What Porsche has to offer for 2010 is the 911 GT3. This car has been long awaited by Porsche fans and was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The vehicle won`t be available for purchase until October of 2009. For now the photos and test results are enough.

Plenty of Changes

The GT3 is not an entirely new model, rather it`s a revamped version of a previous Porsche 911. CAR Magazine called the original “the best Porsche ever”, back in 2007.

A number of things have been changed, including a 20 bhp increase over the previous model. The body has been adjusted for better aerodynamics, air outlets were added to the front end and the rear wing is more adjustable than before. Lighter materials are applied in the interior as well. opel corsa for sale 

Other improvements include a lighter wire harness for easier maneuverability and a redesigned rear end. This luxury, though light weight model also comes with optional air conditioning, setting it apart from the standard race car. Easier to drive with better traction, as well.

Under the Hood

The Porsche 911 GT3 is powered by a 3.8 liter, six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that has a maximum output of 435 bhp. The car goes from 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and can hit 100 mph in double that time. The maximum speed reached by this model is 194 mph, thanks to the updated engine and a sleeker build. cars for sale.While the records are just fractions of seconds slower than previous models, the vehicle gives most others a run for their money and is still referred to as the quickest Porsche.

The rev limiter on this vehicle is activated at 9,000 rpm, helping to create a more efficient torque curve for enhanced drivability.

Other Features

For street driving, the manufacturers added a few handy features to the latest version of the GT3. For example, it only takes the push of a button to activate a hydraulic lift that gives the vehicle an additional few inches of clearance. This prevents scraping the very low front splitter on steep inclines. An optional air conditioning system turns this Porsche into a luxury machine that is comfortable to drive off the track, as well as on. CarFind.co.za 

The fully adjustable suspension system lets you change Porche`s Active Suspension Management system, which tends to be too soft for street driving. The feature is deactivated in two stages, first the stability is turned off, with traction still on, then you can also turn off the traction. This does make the car faster the catch being that drivability at higher speeds is compromised. To help with that, the brakes on this version of the GT3 are larger than ever, with 15.0-in. front and 13.8-in. rear.

Not strictly a new car but still anticipated. With so many improvements, it`s bound to be a popular model.

Well, Nissan designers have done it again. They’ve taken a beautiful car, the 370z coupe, and taken the lid off, literally. The 2010 Nissan 370z is a convertible model that’s sure to wow Nissan fans around the world with its sleek new design. Coming in at a very affordable $29,930 (base model) price will make this a very popular purchase for Nissan lovers around the world this summer when it rolls onto dealerships. 

The 2010 Nissan 370z is not simply the old “boxy” style coupe without the top, however. The entire care itself has been redesigned for a sleeker, smoother ride and a lot of little features that add up to a great new car are included. Nissan has made many key changes to the car’s chassis to ensure that it remains one of the best sports cars on the road for today’s consumers. Body structure has been reinforced to reduce torsional bending common in most convertibles. Renault Clio for sale. Also featuring are side supports for the driver while cornering. A cool feature is the switch for the soft top. This is located on the door handles and can switch the top in 20 seconds. Both the driver and the passenger can put down the soft top. 

As for vehicle performance, this new model has a powerful but not over the top 3.Seven liter v6 unit that unfortunately accelerates the car in 8.0 seconds acceleration from 0 to 62. Consolation is the fact that 175 mph is the top speed. Drivers need wind rushing into their faces every now and then? 

This is a beautiful modern looking car as well. When it debuted at the New York Best of Shows this spring, the car was a stunning addition to a mostly European dominated luxury and sports car market. It looks authentic and feels the part too aswell as being budget friendly. Renault Clio for sale. Bling mobile at work? Not really but the 370z does have a few gizmos.Bluetooth Hands-free,heating and cooling ventilated net seats, advanced Nissan Navigation System and satellite radio. And it comes in over 23 color combinations from classic Nissan colors like silver to more subtle earth tones and shades. This car is sure to turn heads with the neighbors if you buy one, and no one will ever have to know you paid less than $30 K for it as it looks like a car that’s worth a million bucks. 

VW Golf for sale.The 2010 Nissan 370z is sure to please both the budget friendly car shopper as well as Nissan sports coupe lovers this year. The looks are not that bad, there are descent features and good safety. So the car is reasonable then.