Super Cars Auto Contest Ferarri 458 Test Drive

Supecar Auto Contest Ferarri 458 Test Drive

The Italian supercar maker also released a new batch of pictures of the track-only version of the mid-engined 458 Italia, which is set to compete in Ferrari’s one-make series starting from 2011. Check them out after the jump.

Being a racing model, it’s only fitting for Ferrari to inform us that professional drivers are taking part in the fine-tuning of the newly born 458 Challenge. The pilots that took on the role of test driver at the Vallelunga circuit this week were Maurizio Mediani from Italy and Jaime Melo from Argentina who currently races a F430 GT2 in the American Le Mans Series for Team Risi Competizione.

2012 Hulme CanAm Supercar - Hulme Sports Cars

The Greeta Hulme CanAm Supercar is an ultra high-performance, mid engined roadster. Created for both road and track use, the car blends the raw flavour and appeal of a Formula racing car with dramatic design, superb craftsmanship, exceptional performance and a thrilling and achievable driving experience.

2012 Hulme CanAm Supercar - Hulme Sports Cars

The Hulme CanAm a limited run of just 20 New Zealanddesigned and built Hulme CanAm supercars ensures extreme rarity value. The developers of the eagerly awaited 200+mph Hulme CanAm supercar, named in honour of NEw Zealand racing legend and F1 World Champion, Denny Hulme have announced an attractive proposition for those wishing to purchase an option to order one of an extremely limited production run.

Named after the 1967 F1 World Champion, Denny Hulme from New Zealand, the road-legal Hulme CanAm features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite tub and bodywork, and race-orientated chassis, suspension and braking. The supercar tips the scales at 980kg / 2,160 lbs.

Power comes from a mid-mounted 7.0-litre (427cu.in) Chevrolet LS7 V8 developing 600bhp and 600Nm torque, fed through a close-ratio, six-speed CIMA manual gearbox (paddles or sequential shift are optionally available). The Kiwi-maker promises a sub-three and a half second sprint to 100km/h (62mph), and top speed in excess of 322km/h (200mph+).

Production of the CanAm won't start until the fall of 2011 and Hulme will hold a private showing and test drive sometime before the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed. According to the company, all 20 customer cars will be coach-built and equipped to customer order, with delivery commencing in the UK in Autumn of 2011 and into 2012.

A limited run of just 20 New Zealand-designed and built Hulme CanAm supercars ensures extreme rarity value. The developers of the eagerly-awaited 200+mph Hulme CanAm Supercar, named in honour of New Zealand racing legend and F1 World Champion, Denny Hulme, have announced an attractive proposition for those wishing to purchase an option to order one of an extremely limited production run.

The Auckland based Supercar developer-manufacturer, Hulme Supercars, has launched a package which is designed to guarantee rarity value by offering options to purchase the total production run of just 20 Hulme CanAm supercars, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The only production road car to bear the name of a F1 World Champion, The Hulme CanAm is an ultra high-performance, mid-engined roadster. Created for both road and track use, the car blends the raw flavour and appeal of a Formula racing car with dramatic design, superb craftsmanship, exceptional performance and a thrilling and achievable driving experience.

The developers of the Hulme CanAm have announced plans to produce a limited-run of 20 units of the New Zealand-designed and built supercar, each priced at £295,000 (plus local taxes), equal to US$423,200 and €346,300 at today's exchange rates. The 20 customer cars will be coach-built and equipped to customer order, with delivery commencing in the UK Autumn of 2011 and into 2012, the 20th anniversary of Denny Hulme’s death.

Designed and hand-built by the Hulme Supercars technology team in New Zealand - including members who were responsible for the nation’s America’s Cup triumphs - the road-legal “Hulme CanAm” features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite tub and bodywork, and race-orientated chassis, suspension and braking.

To honour Denny’s “CanAm Championship” wins in McLaren CanAm cars powered by Chevrolet V8’s, the Hulme CanAm is powered by a 7-litre (427cu.in) Chevrolet LS7 V8 developing 600bhp and 600Nm torque, fed through a close-ratio, six-speed CIMA manual gearbox (Paddles or Sequential shift will be options available). As a consequence of its lightweight construction, the Hulme CanAm weighs in at less than 1,000kg. This combination promises a sub-three an a half second sprint to 100kph, and top speed in excess of 200mph.

The purchase price of the Hulme CanAm will be fixed at £295,000, (plus local taxes) on receipt of an order, including delivery worldwide. To purchase one of only 20 options available please e-mail Jock Freemantle at jock.f@hulmesupercars.com or write to Hulme Supercars Limited, P.O.Box 97853, Manukau City 2241, Manukau, New Zealand.

Steve Saleen's Company, SMS Supercars Unveiled the 2010 SMS Camaro 620 and 620X!

Steve Saleen's Company, SMS Supercars Unveiled the 2010 SMS Camaro 620 and 620X, which follows the introduction of the SMS 460/460X Mustang and the SMS 570x Challenger.
Chief Creative Officer of SMS, Phil Frank notes, "We have incorporated our well-known functional SMS Red Butterflyâ„¢ Dual Side Induction Hood as well as our race-proven aerodynamics in this third vehicle in our SMS Signature Series. The SMS 620 Camaro is a dramatic and iconic visual statement that very clearly bears the SMS design DNA."
The SMS 620 Camaro is powered by the same 6.2L engine in the Camaro SS, but its power has been bumped up to 575-hp and 600 lb-ft. of torque. It reaches 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds. If that's still not fast enough for you the SMS 620X Camaro is also powered by the 6.2L V8, but puts out 715-hp and 700 lb-ft. of torque. The SMS 620X Camaro reaches 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. Both engines feature the SMS 296â„¢ Supercharger and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
In addition to the upgrades under the hood the 620X will feature options such as Magneto-Rheological Semi-Active Dampers and Torvec Isotorque Differential and 21″ rear wheels. Both models also get new SMS 16″ 8-piston front and 14″ 6-piston rear brakes.

Fenix Supercar ultra-powerful mid-engined V8 Announced By Lee Noble

Fenix Supercar ultra-powerful mid-engined V8

Lee Noble’s love for cars remains as young as it used to be. I can say so because even when he left the company he built, Noble, his newest creation, Fenix supercar. Leicestershire – Lee Noble, the maverick designer and engineer who has defined the British low volume sports car market in recent years, is back in the hot seat of an all-new company, Fenix Automotive Limited, and is due to launch one of the most dramatic supercars of the century next year. 

Fenix Supercar ultra-powerful mid-engined V8

Fenix supercar is believed to be the sequel of the iconic M12 which was a great success but Fenix is a start from the scratch as far as the designing part is concerned. Fenix will be having two models for the grab whereby GM`s 480bhp LS3 V8 will be the `base` unit, while the 6.2-litre supercharged LS9 V8 will provide customers with a 638bhp power option. And powered with 638bhp engine, as Fenix claims, car will get from 0-100mph in less than seven seconds and go on to reach more than 200mph.

 Fenix Supercar ultra-powerful mid-engined V8

With successful production cars like the Noble M12 and M400 already under his belt (as well as the original Ultima and Ascari, among many others) Lee is investing his vast experience in delivering a lightweight, ultra-powerful mid-engined V8 supercar to market by the end of 2010.

“Our new car will offer buyers performance and dynamics that they’d normally have to spend well over £100,000 to experience, but at a far more affordable price,” said Lee Noble. “It will combine simplicity, strength and agility, while its two-seat, closed body will ensure sensible levels of refinement for road use.

 Fenix Supercar ultra-powerful mid-engined V8

With over 25 years’ experience in the low volume sports car market, Lee’s pragmatic approach to producing super-fast, giant-killing cars has won him credibility among buyers and the media alike. So while the first pictures of his new creation (due early next year) are sure to cause a stir, Lee’s grounded philosophy to manufacturing will ensure that the car is a production reality. In fact, development of the car began in earnest a year ago, and the first prototype, which will be used to validate the all-new chassis and powertrain, is currently being built in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in the same plant that produced all the M12s.

Fenix Supercar ultra-powerful mid-engined V8

Fenix supercar’s first edition will be launched in UK in the second half of the year whereas its prototype is under construction in South Africa. Lee believes that he can roll out 100 editions a year and it will cost somewhere around £70,000 per unit.

Fenix Supercar M14 and M15 a New Noble Supercar

Fenix Supercar M14

Although the man has been separated from the company that bears his name for a while now, as we revealed when PH interviewed Lee Noble before Christmas he's still hard at work in the business of producing sports cars. Despite having left his namesake British supercar company Noble Automotive, Lee Noble is back in the game and plans to begin development on an all-new supercar.

His new company is called Fenix Automotive and the first Fenix is planned to be a lightweight, mid-engine coupe that can capture a sub-seven-second 0 to 100 mph. The car will feature a powerful V8 engine and is intended to be ‘one of the most dramatic supercars of the century’ thanks in part to the moderate price tag of 75,000 pounds (app. $125K). Noble also mentioned an interesting feature that will make the first Fenix practical both on road and track, though apparently didn’t elaborate from there.

Fenix Supercar M15

The Fenix supercar prototype is currently in build at Fenix's facility in South Africa, and the car will do its initial hot-weather testing there before heading to the UK for further development.

"The M12 was hugely successful, but we needed to move the game on in terms of design," says Noble. "The new car's styling owes nothing to what I've done before and has quite literally been a 'clean sheet' exercise from the start. It's edgy, with powerful lines, and aerodynamically will be in another league to any of my previous cars."

 Fenix Supercar M15

But despite Noble's protestations of a clean-sheet design, we can't help but think of the Fenix as the hoped for successor to the sharp, focused, track-honed M12 series, and that's no bad thing. That the looks seem to bear a passing resemblance to the stillborn M14 and M15 is far from a tragedy, too. The Fenix will be powered by an LS3 GM V8 pumping out 480bhp, while the truly power hungry can specify the 638bhp LS9 V8 as seen in the Corvette ZR1. Fenix reckons that the LS9-engined car should accelerate from 0-100mph in under seven seconds and hit a maximum of 200mph.

 Fenix Supercar M15

"I always said I wanted to build a car with the performance of an Enzo for less than £100k, and that's what I'll deliver this time round," said Noble when we interviewed him, and it looks like he might manage it. The base model is expected to cost around £70k, with the supercharged version set to come in at less than £100k.

2010 Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe Never Tires Of Receiving Awards

2010 Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe

Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe, AC Schnitzer never tires of receiving awards. Very recently, the carmaker got a third world record for Aachen after having gone to Nardo in southern Italy. Third World Record in Succession: AC Schnitzer builds fastest diesel car! AC Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Coupé reaches 288.7 km/h in Nardo. It's a hat-trick: for the third time, AC Schnitzer has gone to Nardo in southern Italy and brought home a third world record for Aachen.

2010 Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe

Historically, many records are set in the high-speed circuit. Each year in southern Italy, in collaboration with the AUTO BILD sportscars’ editors and under the aegis of Continental AG, the top vehicle tuners compete. This year, it was on Oct. 18-19, 2009. The record for the fastest road-legal diesel car was broken by the AC Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Coupe with a speed of more than 8.7 km/h.288.7 km/h.

2010 Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe

This was the figure on the display of the GPS speedometer system on the 13 km long high-speed circuit after the lap of the AC Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Coupé. The record that was broken had been that of 2006 with the TENSION as the fastest road-legal BMW. The record had held in 2007 when the GP3.10 GAS POWERED entered to represent gas-powered vehicles. AC Schnitzer cited its power upgrade as the reason for its success.

2010 Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe

Naturally the power upgrade which took the latest world record holder to success is part of the extensive AC Schnitzer special accessory range and available for all vehicles based on the 3.5d engine. It is TÃœV-approved and available from BMW dealers.

2010 Ac Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Sports Coupe

Another impressive performance in Nardò came from the AC Schnitzer ACS4 3.5 turbo (based on the BMW Z4 sdrive 35i). At 303.1 km/h, this was not a new world, but such a high speed is almost unheard of for a Roadster. The Z4 was also running with the commercial version of the AC Schnitzer performance upgrade for 3.5i engines.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car is an electric powered supercar concept

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

The Audi Avatar is a concept vehicle which was created by Edwin Conan (Yi Yuan), a graduate of RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University in Australia. The Avatar was developed during Edwin's final year at the university as part of his degree project.

The Avatar is an electric powered supercar concept which is designed for about 20-25 years in the future. The shape was inspired by the 1937 Auto Union Type C Streamline racing car, and both cars - even though they are separated by a century - share the same clinical lines and pronounced wheel arches.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

There are no conventional doors to the Avatar, instead the vehicle utilizes a three-part canopy which opens upward to provide entry and exit. The main canopy opens forward together with the steering wheel and the dashboard, while two smaller canopies above the passenger seats open backwards. At the same time a panel in the bodywork drops down to act as a step.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

The interior of the Audi Avatar features a three-seat layout with the driver sitting in a central position forward of the passenger seats. The driver is met with a futuristic dashboard which consists of a transparent LCD display which provides all essential driving data. In the center of the steering wheel is another screen which provides navigation information. Additional information can also be projected onto the canopy to provide a heads-up-display similar to those found in high performance aircraft.

Thanks to a drive-by-wire system the Avatar's steering wheel can be swapped out quickly and easily in favor of a joystick or even a keypad depending on driver preferences.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

Powering the Audi Avatar is an all-electric drivetrain which comprises of four individual electric motors (one for each wheel), and a pair of high-performance battery packs. The battery packs are split in two to provide better weight distribution, one is located at the front and one at the rear. In total the projected output is 544 horsepower, and 4,500 Nm (3,319 lb-ft) of torque. This gives the car a theoretical top speed of 223 mph (360 Km/h), and a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

The wheels of the Avatar are housed inside the car's four 'legs'. The legs are constructed from a deformable material which allows it to change shape when the wheel is turned. To increase the vehicle's agility and handling, the Avatar features a four-wheel-steering system. The front wheels provide most of the steering, while the rear wheels can turn up to 10 degrees.