2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One

South Africa is quickly becoming a hotbed for sports car development, with two new performance machines being announced in the country in just as many weeks. Built through collaboration between Zagato, the Milanese coachbuilders, and Perana Performance Group, the Z-One features a tubular and box section chassis with room for two passengers. Tucked among the exotica at Concorso Italiano  was the new Zagato-styled, Hi-Tech-built and Superfomance-sold, Perana Z-One sports/GT.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One

The Perana sports car Z-One is designed in Italy, powered by American muscle and manufactured in South Africa. The "Z" stands for Zagato, Chief Designer Norihiko Harada using the Italian design house's DNA to form a dynamic supercar.

The sports car Perana Z-One will go on sale in the U.S. through Superformance after its Concorso Italiano debut in August. American buyers will get an allocation of just 99 units, so you probably won’t be seeing one parked outside of your local trattoria any time soon.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One is beautiful. And the build quality is exquisite. The panel gaps put all the high-priced Italian vehicles surrounding it to shame. The styling is definitely that of a European GT.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One 

The 6.2L V8 engine generates 440hp (328kW) and 430lb-ft of torque (583Nm) of torque, and redlines at 6,600rpm. That's enough to scoot the 2,630lb (1,195kg) car to 62mph (100km/h) in an estimated sub-4 second time. Big brakes - 325mm up front, 305mm in the rear - slow things down again, while unequal length A-arms, Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs at all four corners handle the curves.

The drivetrain comes from Chevy, the Corvette's 6.2-liter V-8 delivering 440 bhp to the rear wheels. The Z-One also uses the Vette's 6-speed manual gearbox, but the tubular space frame has been engineered in South Africa. Perana claims 0–60 mph in just 4 seconds.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One is the limited production, because the gorgeous body of each Perana Z-One will be handbuilt in Italy by coachbuilder Zagato and then shipped in pieces to South Africa where there are attached to the vehicle’s chassis. The Z-One's chassis has been completely conceived and designed by Perana engineers in South Africa, despite the engine sourced from General Motors.

Vauxhall Sports Cars Red Victor 3 V8 Engine

The Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 3 will appear at the CXR Power Festival this year which takes place at the Silverstone Circuit on August 28-29. General Motors’ Vauxhall  sports cars division is to enthusiasts while breathing a new life into a classic 1967 Victor FD by turning it to get a 3,000-hp. This is three times as much as a Veyron sports car! The Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 3 is based on the original 1967 Victor FD.

The sports car is named as the Red Victor 3 and it’ll be powered by an 8.8 liter twin-turbocharged GM V8 engine that churns out a whopping 3000hp. The 3000HP Vauxhall Red Victor 3 is expected to be able to reach a maximum speed of 240 mph, and a quarter mile run shouldn't take more than 6.5 seconds. Note that the Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 2 was able to accelerate from 0 to 153 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach top speeds of 200 mph.

The Vauxhall’s sports car Red Victor 3 will compete at 2011 MSA Pro-Modified Drag Racing season at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire this Bank Holiday, August 28-29, and it’s supposed to be street-legal.

Press Release:

“We’re sure visitors to the Power Festival will make a B-line for the Victor,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Group Product Manager. “We’re really looking forward to working with Andy Frost, Red Victor’s creator, and his team next year and see this as a great match for the VXR brand.”

Vauxhall’s VXR Power Events, which has run through 2010 to raise money for Help for Heroes, reaches its zenith with the two-day Power Festival at Silverstone this Bank Holiday. Thousands are expected to attend the event, which aims to raise further funds for H4H through high-octane activities like 0-60 challenges, autotesting, karting and VXR track tuition with pro-drivers. VXR and Vauxhall V8 owners can even pay to take to Silverstone’s famous track in their own cars.

But if you’d rather just sit back and watch the action, don’t miss the Pro-Am Pursuit, in which famous racing drivers from Vauxhall’s past, like Fabrizio Giovanardi, Jason Plato and James Thompson take on celebrities such as TV chef, James Martin, ex-England footballer, Luther Blisset and Eastenders’ Kara Tointon. And if that isn’t enough, then Paul Swift will be there to perform some unbelievable stunts in a Vauxhall road car.

Vauxhall Sports Cars Red Victor 3 V8 Engine

What the VXR Power Festival won’t do is cost you the earth. With adult tickets costing just £10 and children under five entering for free, the whole family can enjoy an action-packed day without breaking the bank. Even the on-site challenges only cost between £5-10, with all proceeds going to one of the UK’s most worthy causes.

Concept car : BMW Active Hybrid X6 2010

 

BMW announced the production version of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in September and will reach US BMW Centers in fourth-quarter 2009. The overall drive system featured in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 consists of a 400 hp twin-turbocharged V8 gasoline engine and two electric synchronous motors delivering 91 hp and 86 hp, respectively. Maximum system output is 480 hp, and peak torque reaches 575 lb-ft. 

 

Precisely controlled interaction of the three power units optimizes the overall efficiency of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 at all speeds, with acceleration from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Top speed of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is limited electronically to 130 mph, with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle improved by roughly 20%, and a CO2 emission rating of 231 grams per kilometer. EPA ratings will be available closer to the market introduction.

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 able to run exclusively on electric power – and that is entirely free of CO2 – up to a speed of 37 mph (60 km/h), with the combustion engine being activated automatically whenever required. With the two electric motors, three planetary gearsets and four multi-plate clutches, drive power is transmitted through a 7-speed automatic transmission. As would be expected in a BMW, the driver can operate the transmission manually. BMW’s lauded xDrive all-wheel-drive system distributes the power between the front and rear axles.

Concept car : Chevy Camaro 2010

Chevy gives the Camaro a long list of tuning options from GM's Performance Parts division

The key word for the Chevy Camaro is heritage. And with this offering by GM's Performance Parts division, the Chevy brand restores a little of the romance that helped make the Camaro one of the icons of American car culture.

The list of tuning options is long and includes both interior and exterior trim kits, from cabin design to classic stripe kits in various colors. What stands out are the rally and hockey stick-style strip options which evoke the past (yet another 70s-referencing design cue) while keeping the contemporary Camaro relevant in the marketplace today simply by its boldness alone.



Also on offer here are some performance goodies for under the hood and beyond. It includes air box and exhaust kits for both the V6 and V8 engines to improve performance and accentuate sound. And the real kicker, a short-throw shifter developed with Hurst with the classic styling of that well-know parts maker.



No details on pricing or performance boosting are available but the pics tell their own story.



Source: GM

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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 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force Powered By A Supercharged 6.2 liters V8 Engine

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

GeigerCars.de, a German tuner specialized in North American cars, has launched an upgrade program for the Cadillac CTS-V. Despite its German location, Geiger Cars shows a great passion for tuning American cars. Instead of getting even more power and torque out of neighbouring brands like the Audi RS 6, the BMW M5, or the Mercedes-Benz E 63, Geiger chose to cross the Atlantic and create a monster out of a beast.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

The performance saloon segment has for years been the exclusive domain of German manufacturers, for vehicles like the Audi RS6, the BMW M5 or the new Mercedes E63 AMG set the bar so high that most others don't even try to compete. So it's all the more surprising that the American Cadillac of all brands has suddenly hit back with the CTS-V, a lighting ride which has left a good many journalists pale-faced and shaken after test drives. 564 series HP and a massive maximum torque of 747 Nm are a clear challenge to Munich, Ingolstadt and Stuttgart.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

What is more, Cadillac is now marketing the CTS-V in Europe for 74,400.00 euros - which needless to say leaves its German competitors trailing on the price-performance front.

Tradition, as everyone knows, is an obligation to deliver. That is why GeigerCars.de is offering special performance tuning for the Cadillac CTS-V, timed to coincide with the American performance saloon's European launch.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

The four-door Cadillac with the tapered bonnet, The Cadillac CTS-V already comes packed to the hilt with a supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8 based on the LS9 V8 from the Corvette ZR1. In its raw form it makes 415kW (564hp) at 5900rpm and 747Nm of torque. Not content, Geiger engineers upped the charge pressure releasing 455kW (619hp) and 850Nm of torque - a level few sports cars can match, and called it Brute Force. Drive is still thrusted upon the 6-speed gearbox and the rear wheels, although fifth and sixth gears are shortened. Top speed is rated at over 330km/h (205mph).

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

One thing is for sure: the Geiger Cadillac CTS-V shoots into action in all situations and keeps a joyful grin on its driver's face in every one of its manual gears. Not only that, but its optimised chassis means the CTS-V offers the perfect balance between long-distance comfort and an uncompromising hunger for curves and speed. In the face of such American sports perfection, we can only say "hats off"!". Geiger gives assurances that the car is a good compromise between a long-distance cruiser and a sharp, agile cornering machine. It can be had for €84,900, just €10,500 more than what Cadillac charges for the standard vehicle in Europe

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

Technical data, Geiger Cadillac CTS-V :
Engine: 6.2 liters V8 with compressor, increased charge pressure
Power: 619 HP at 5900 rpm
Max. torque: 850 Nm at 4000 rpm Bore x stroke: 103.2 x 92.0mm
Drive: rear-wheel drive
Gears: 6-gear transmission; 5th and 6th gear shortened
Brakes: ventilated disc brakes at front and rear
Top speed: 330km/h
Price: 84,900.00 euros

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

The Ferrari 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari's road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company's Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the Ferrari F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari's track experience makes its presence felt in the Ferrari 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The Ferrari 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once agThe Ferrari 458 Italia's Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails.

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

With the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.

2011 Lotus Esprit Sports Car will be a wholly different Beast powered by a 4.4 liter V8 engine

2011 Lotus Esprit Sports Car

The guys over at AutoCar have caught the upcoming Lotus Esprit testing in cold-snowy weather of Sweden. After running some DVLA records and matching the license plate, AutoCar has learned that the prototype is powered by a 4.4 liter V8 engine. Lotus sources have previously said that BMW may be the supplier for Lotus’ 2011 Esprit.It’s possible that the new Lotus Esprit will carry the 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 engine from the new BMW X6, but will most likely be tuned to develop 500 horsepower.Currently the 4.4 liter twin-turbo from V8 produces 400 horsepower. The engine is also expected to be used in other BMW models including the X5 and the 7-Series. Lotus engineers will most probably re-work the engine management to reach numbers closer the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

According to Lotus insiders, the next-gen Elise will arrive sometime in early 2011 followed by an all-new V8-powered Esprit in 2012...............................2011 Lotus Esprit Sports Car

The 2011 Elise will likely be built upon an evolved version of the current model’s extruded-aluminium underpinnings and continue the same formula that’s made the pint-sized sportscar a track day fave, but the Esprit will be a wholly different beast.
While the new Elise is all but locked in, the Esprit project is very much dependent on whether Lotus can sell enough Evoras to fund it. The timeline for the Esprit is also at the mercy of the global economic situation, with Lotus likely to delay the Esprit and forge ahead with a far less costly drop-top Evora if the recession persists much longer.
If it launches on time, the Esprit could be Lotus’ best hope of gaining a much larger share of the sports car market.

There are speculations stating that the 500bhp V10 powerplant can be the source of power for the Lotus Esprit, which will be released in 2012...............................2011 Lotus Esprit Sports Car

The engine is currently being used in the Lexus LF-A, a car that has not yet been launched itself. Being connected with the Japanese carmaker Toyota, Lotus has access to its entire range of parts and components, as well as powerplants from the Lexus line. This points to the likelihood of an Esprit flagship, costing more than ?100,000, equipped with the compact 8500rpm V10 unit (to rival the Lamborghini Gallardo), including a less expensive variant equipped with the 5-liter, 417bhp V8 from the Lexus IS-F and an entry-level model coming with a Lotus-tuned direct-injection Toyota V6 unit that can come up with 300bhp.

Although a V8 or a V10 unit would definitely boost the profile of Lotus, there is also a possibility of an Eco Esprit. Lotus is moving forwards with more efficient products with lightweight engineering and its keen interest in alternative fuels and hybrid solutions. This is also underline by its partnership with the electric car manufacturer Tesla...............................2011 Lotus Esprit Sports Car

The Esprit was inspired by the larger bonded and extruded aluminum chassis of the recently launched Evora, the rear section of which have been developed to accommodate both transversely and longitudinally fitted engines. Although the Lotus has shown that it can develop a new model in a short time (the Evora, for example, was developed in 27 months), the work on the Esprit will only reach its maximum when the Evora is being swept out of showrooms in the UK, Europe and US. It is the Malaysians who are funding the Evora project, with the persuasion of Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley.

Concept Car : Kia Soul

Concept cars serve a few purposes, they allow designers to run free without practical limitations, while leading to the creation of new technology that eventually finds its way to every day cars.



The EFIJY is one such concept, which although is bold and wins over many fans, would struggle in the showrooms. Nonetheless as a concept car, it has reached the very top.
The modern day expression of the iconic Australian FJ Holden, has just been awarded the United States concept car of the year award.
“This award recognition of that and a further advertisement for the talent and versatility of the designers we have here at GM Holden.” GM Holden’s director of design Tony Stolfo said
The EFIJY was designed by Holden in 2005, and has been touring around the world ever since, it beat over 33 concept and 11 production vehicles for the award.

Unlike some of the current cars in the Holden lineup, the EFIJY is a compromise free, mobster themed monster. Powered by a 480KW V8 engine, the EFIJY is not all just looks.

Holden designer and project leader Richard Ferlazzo has always said, there were no plans to go beyond the concept stage.

Concept Car : Morgan Fuel-Cell

I suppose, these auto shows will never stop surprising us and car creators will never get tired of making new and completely great cars. Have you ever heard about Morgan? Yeah, but apart from a famous fashion apparel brand, it is the traditional British car brand, and it has officially announced that it is going to launch a LifeCar concept, that is a hydrogen-fueled car possessing a wood-frame body. This super car will be presented at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

Needless to say, that the LifeCar is a zero-emissions car. How does it look like? As for me it looks like a combination of the Aero 8, but with extremely large coverings on the wheels. Resembles concept and not a real car. Apart from it super natural body, it looks too sophisticated. According to Morgan such prominent companies as Oscar Automotive, QinetiQ, Oxford University and Linde took part in its development.

There is a new model in the Aero range - the Morgan Aero 8 America. Starting price looks like this $115,000 and you will get graphite side scoops, a rear diffuser, and side exit exhausts. As to its interior, we have a deal with full quilted leather. Engine: 4.4-liter BMW V8.