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Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG

MERCEDES-BENZ and the FIA have announced today that the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMGwill act as the official safety car for the 2010 Formula 1 championship.

Making its debut at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 12, the SLS AMG will take over from last year's F1 safety car, the Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is powered by a 6.2 litre V8 engine, developing 420kW of power and a stout 650Nm of torque. The 0-100km/h run is dispatched in just 3.8 seconds and top speed is electronically limted to 317km/h.

European pricing will start at around €177,310 (AU$298,900) when it arrives in German showrooms this year. Australian pricing and a precise sale date will be revealed sometime later in 2010.

From: http://www.themotorreport.com.au/49914/2010-mercedes-benz-sls-amg-the-new-formula-1-safety-car

Bugatti 16C Galibier

Bugatti seems intent on keeping us on the ropes regarding the production prospects for the 16C Galibier. The concept was unveiled to a very select audience last September during the Frankfurt Motor Show, but didn't debut on the marque's show stand. Bugatti pulled a similar shtick in Geneva, but we were luck enough to get a closer look at an exclusive viewing in Beverly Hills.

The company has been fairly tight-lipped on whether their higher-ups at the Volkswagen group have given it the green light – leaving the matter up to speculation and conjecture – but to keep us interested, they've released this batch of photos showing what appears to be a second show car, doing its best Johnny Cash impression instead of the two-tone blue and silver paint scheme seen on the the original.

Underneath the dramatic split hood sits a version of the Veyron's 8.0-liter W-16 engine, but with a pair of superchargers replacing the quartet of turbos and an eight-speed automatic reportedly in place of the Veyron's seven-speed DSG. Will we ever hear one rumbling down our streets? That's in Wolfsburg's hands now, so for the moment, we'll just have to enjoy the latest crop of photos in the gallery below.

From: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/pics-aplenty-bugatti-16c-galibier-is-back-in-black/

2010 Ferrari 599 GTO

Not too long ago Ferrari announced plans to ressurant the Gand Turismo Omologato moniker with a special edition 599 Fiorano. The super very special 599 GTO will be unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show with a scheduled production run of only 500 units, each priced at around half a million dollars each. This will be the first time that the Italian automaker has used the GTO badge since the F40 super car inspiring 288 GTO.
The 599 GTO will be a road going version of the Ferrari Corse Clienti special, the Ferrari 599XX. Through the extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber, essentially dropping about 300 pounds from the GT car, bringing the curb weight down to 1450 kilograms. Meanwhile the high revving 6.0 Liter V12 will be tuned to deliver somewhere between 680 HP and 700 HP making the future 599 GTO a real beast that will be able to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in only 3.2 seconds and gallop all the way to a 217 MPH top speed.

From:http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ferrari/2010-ferrari-599-gto-ar83487.html

Selling in the Motor City

The steering wheel in a 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible is surprisingly thin. It's oversized and humongously circular, but still startlingly narrow considering it directs a very bargelike Caddy. Oh, and the seats are fairly comfortable. And the odometer has rolled over precisely 34,844 miles.
Not that the Internet bidder who paid the hammer price of $75,000 for the classic would know all of this. But we did. Because we got an up-close look at the Caddy and sat in it, minutes after it sold at RM Auctions' classic-car sale on Saturday in Novi, Mich.
And we weren't the only ones to check out this piece of iconic sheetmetal. Resplendent in white paint and chrome with the imposing bullet grille and monster fins in rear, the car sat on the show floor before and after crossing the block at the cavernous convention hall.

Underground Racing Lamborghini cracks 250 mph

Earlier this year, we told you about Underground Racing, a shop in Charlotte, N.C., that makes a business out of upgrading Lamborghinis with twin turbochargers to boost engine output to more than 1,000 hp.
Now, a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera upfitted by Underground Racing cracked the 250-mph mark at the Texas Mile event.
Car owner Richard Holt made the 250.1-mph run in late March, but video was posted just this week.
We gave you a look at Underground Racing and what it does back in January. You can read the article, including a test drive with IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, here: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100104/CARREVIEWS/100109992
The twice-yearly Texas Mile is a three-day, high-speed challenge staged on a runway for the Goliad Industrial Air Park, about 90 miles southeast of San Antonio. Participants drive to post a top speed for a one-mile section of the runway.Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100425/CARNEWS/304259998#ixzz0mDvagOzP

2010 MG ZERO concept car

The MG ZERO concept car has been unveiled to the world's media today as one of the stars of the Beijing Automotive Show, now one of the world's most important automotive events.The MG ZERO Concept car has been developed by MG Global Design team, led by British MG Design Director Anthony (Tony) Williams-Kenny, based in Birmingham.At around 4m in length, the MG ZERO concept previews the design direction of the brand and demonstrates how MG can expand into this high- volume sector of the market. MG ZERO reflects the latest trends in the market for vehicle size, styling and technology and is designed to show how MG will offer products that will appeal to a wide audience across the global market.MG Zero also demonstrates the design and engineering capabilities of SAIC by showcasing a number of innovative features. The bold interior has clean and simple lines with high contrast flashes of accent colour. It uses the latest technology touch screens to allow occupants to interact with the world around them and features a striking ‘floating console' design around the driver.The high-tech materials are draw inspiration from ultra high-performance sports equipment and there is highly innovative use of interior lighting features to create real emotion in the cabin. The bold red-coloured illumination adds a touch of drama.Commenting on the exterior style, Design Director Tony Williams said " This concept shows a bold, individual soul. The bonnet is formed around the famous octagonal badge, the graphics flow into striking lamps and the large lower grille completes the confident, sporty character. The body-side has a strong shoulder, a dynamic scalloped feature in the doors and flared arches to give a wide stance and strong road presence. The feature lines have been designed to give a strong relationship to the wheel arch demonstrating the fun nature of the cars dynamics."MG ZERO also explores the integration of the latest communications technology in the vehicle and in addition to the interior systems, it features a fun communications system on the exterior of the rear!Guy Jones, MG Motor UK Sales and Marketing Director summarised by saying "MG Zero is crucial to the development of the brand globally, as it gives clear direction for the future beyond the current products. We are all proud to see our British-designed vehicle wearing the MG badge creating such an impact in Beijing. With the MG TF back in production in Birmingham, sales increasing and the MG6 coming at the end of the year, the MG ZERO has come at the perfect time to build further awareness and interest in the brand here in the UK."