VIDEO: Dan Neil drives the Audi eTron, tells Musk and Fisker to watch out

Audi e-Tron Electric Supercar

"As if the Audi R8 couldn’t be any more impressive, now comes the Audi e-Tron Electric Supercar Concept. Sharing the shell of the R8–save the familiar sidepanel scoops– the e-Tron runs purely on electricity. Details are still to be released (at the Frankfurt Motor Show) but if the specs are similar to the R8, then Audi won’t be exaggerating with the billing “supercar.”

Source" Swipelife

Rumormill: Lamborghini to unveil Reventón Roadster at Frankfurt show

"Rumors of an open-air version of the exclusive Lamborghini Reventón have been circulating for months, with recent reports suggesting that the company has already shown a pre-production prototype to some of its best customers. Now sources suggest that the Raging Bull brand could be preparing to unveil the Reventón Roadster at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, with only ten to be built, packing the more potent 670 horsepower engine from the SuperVeloce.

By slapping on some edgy body panels and glitzy instruments, Sant'Agata managed to bump the Murcielago's price up into seven-figure territory, and they could do it again by lopping off the Reventón's roof (or slapping said panels on the Murci Roadster, depending on how you look at it). But while they could very well unveil the car in Frankfurt, with the Balboni edition Gallardo yet to make its public debut, they may also opt to make good on their commitment of a new product at every major auto show and keep the Reventón Roadster under wraps until a later date."

Source: Autoblog

Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder

Dutch manufacturer Spyker continues to up the ante with their latest take on an open air sports car. The convertible version of their all new, second-generation C8 Aileron debuted earlier this month at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to enthusiastic response. The hydraulically powered canvas soft top disappears in 20 seconds, and stows seamlessly underneath an aluminum tonneau, flanked by two Hulshof leather buttresses (yes, they match the interior). The all-aluminium space frame is complimented by a Lotus-sourced suspension, and the C8 is powered by the now-familiar Audi 4.2L V8 producing in excess of 400bhp. We’ve come to expect great things from plane builders-turned-automakers, and Spyker’s new creation does not disappoint.

Source: Swipelife

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

Tramontana

"The Tramontana embodies a revolutionary concept that incorporates technical precision, personalized design, and superior craftsmanship. The ultimate vehicle of desire, emotion, and excitement, modelled on the streamlined curves of the Costa Brava's winds... a timeless work of art."

Source: Tramontana Group

REPORT: Corvette C7 Coming in 2012 as a 2013 model

"If you like Corvettes, this is going to make you smile. Fresh out of bankruptcy court, General Motors announced its two-year product plans for Chevy, Caddy, Buick and GMC. Included are go codes for the new C7 Corvette. The plan is to introduce the C7 in April of 2012 as a 2013 model -- a big improvement over the old plan to not reinvent the Corvette until 2014. Let's just state this up front -- almost nothing at all is known about the new Corvette. It appears as if plans for a mid-engine Corvette have been put aside. Like all Corvettes before it, the C7 will feature an engine up front driving the wheels out back. Other than that...

The rumors are that the C7 will be smaller and lighter than the current welterweight C6. There's talk of using more advanced materials like carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium as well as smaller engines. Calm down, calm down -- as the ZR1 showed us, less displacement doesn't always mean less power. Especially when a positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger's in the mix. There's chatter that the C7's design might be based on the Stingray Concept from the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, but we're hoping it's not."

Source: autoblog

McLaren SLR Carbon Edition by Project Kahn

The McLaren SLR carbon is the ultimate race car for the road and Project Kahn have made this vehicle even more impressive. With its stealth exterior styling and Carbon fiber technology magnesium alloy wheels, the Project Kahn SLR carbon is the perfect exotic road car.

Source: flylyf

Officially Official: Ferrari 458 Italia announced!

After months of speculation and spy shots, Maranello has finally revealed the mid-engined V8 replacement for the Ferrari F430. The all-new Ferrari 458 Italia won't be shown in public until September's Frankfurt Motor Show, but the official details were released early this morning. A new direct-injected 4.5-liter V8 ups the ante underhood, pumping out 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The redline? A screaming 9,000 rpm. Eighty percent of the F458 Italia's torque is now available at a low 3,250 rpm, thanks in all likelihood to the new engine's 12.5:1 compression ratio.

As with last year's California, the Ferrari 458 gets a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox that directs power to the rear axle. Much has been done to reduce internal friction within the new V8, in addition aerodynamic drag improvements. As a result, the Ferrari 458 Italia's gas mileage improves to a combined 17.1 mpg (US) on the EU test cycle. As this is a Ferrari, talk of fuel consumption really does seem somewhat pointless, anyway. No mention of incorporating any type of KERS hybrid system has been made thus far. The KERS idea, you'll remember, had taken several spins around the rumormill over the last year or so; maybe that'll materialize at a later date.

Like its predecessor, the Ferrari 458 Italia's aluminum structure helps keep weight under control -- it tips the scales at just 3,042 pounds dry. So, we know you're wondering: How quick is it? Based on specs at least, this new coupe does't disappoint. Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes just 3.4 seconds, and this will be the first volume production Ferrari V8 to top the 200 mph barrier, with a top whack of 202 mph. Is it still too early to head to the airport for our flight to Frankfurt in September?

Source: Auto Blog

BMW S.X Concept

"The BMW S.X concept is the work of designer Iulian Bumbu, who had earlier created theLamborghini Insecta concept. The concept delves into what a future sports luxury coupe from BMW might look like, and is positioned as a successor to the BMW 6-series. The design exercisecontinues with BMW’s “flame-surfacing styling language” and maintains a sense of uniformity and continuity throughout the exterior.

The design has high-mount brake lights incorporated into the edges of the rear window, and lateral vents are placed just behind the front wheels. The design strikes a balance; it is neither aradical departure from the BMW design language, nor does it blindly follow the same."

Source: Auto Motto

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

"Take a moment and consider what Bugatti has done: Because a handful of billionaires demanded that the fastest car in the world be available topless, the Volkswagen-owned ultra-luxury automaker essentially broke the laws of physics. Again.

The first Veyron is an engineering marvel. That's the one with the massively reinforced roof that helped keep the rest of the body from deforming into an amoebic tangle of graphite composite and exotic metal under the joint stresses of lateral acceleration, horsepower and wind. It stands as one of the greatest achievements of the petroleum age. With the transparent roof removed, air resistance limits the Grand Sport to 217 mph, but you'd want that roof on for a top-speed run anyway; the wind could rip your face off at around 245.

By now, the Veyron's stats are legendary: 1,001 horsepower from a mid-mounted, 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder engine that gets air stuffed down its ravenous gullet by four massive turbochargers. All-wheel drive. A seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission that switches gears faster than a state staffer ducking questions about the Appalachian Trail. Depending on how you define "production car," it is the fastest in the world. In the quickest Lamborghini ever produced, the Murcielago LP640, you can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. In the Grand Sport it takes a hair under 2.5. How does it feel to command that pace? Godlike."

Source: Wired(More Photos)

Rumor: Mercedes Gullwing Goes Electric

"Word that McLaren is looking for hybrid drivetrain engineers created a lot of speculation about what the company might be doing with technical partner Mercedes. Now comes an even more interesting EV rumor that, if true, has Mercedes-Benz preparing a real stunner.

Two words: Electric Gullwing.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Few cars are so recognizable or iconic as the Mercedes Gullwing of the 1950s. Long, low and powerful, with those aptly-named doors, the car — officially known as the 300 SL — remains one of the greatest designs of all time. The look and shape is so revered that Mercedes is resurrecting it as a 571-horsepower supercar (pictured above) called the SLS AMG.

Now comes word that Mercedes has something less conventional and more impressive up its sleeve concerning the der neue Gullwing: an all-electric variant. England’s Autocar says AMG Mercedes engineers are well along on an electric version of the upcoming SLS. According to AutoBlogGreen, Mercedes plans to roll it out in 2015."

Source: Wired