Supercars

There’s been a number of battery electric and hybrid supercar concepts on the stands at this year’s Paris Motor Show, and with the impressive performance stats of vehicles such as the Jaguar C-X75, the Lotus Elite GT and the Exagon Furtive eGT, automakers are closing the gap between the performance of electric vehicles and those powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). However, there’s still some way to go before electric vehicles can match it with conventional supercars, but even companies like Ferrari can’t ignore the change in attitudes. In an effort to add a tinge of green to its iconic red, the company showed a Ferrari California in Paris that is fitted with a new HELE (High Emotion Low Emissions) system designed to reduce the environmental impact of its supercars, while boosting their performance. Read More

Automobili Lamborghini has become one of the driving forces in carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) research. The Italian automaker runs two development facilities, the ACRC (Advanced Composite Research Center) and the ACSL (Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory), and collaborates with companies such as Boeing. The result is a “host of patents” for CFRP technologies, designed for the production of incredibly light yet strong and stiff automobiles. To show us all what’s possible when it kicks out the carbon fiber jams, Lamborghini has just unveiled its Sesto Elemento concept supercar at the 2010 Paris Motor Show... that would be 570 hp, 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph) for starters. Read More

We took a shine to the Audi e-tron Quattro when it appeared in Frankfurt last year followed by a smaller version in Detroit. Why? Because it's simply stunning to look at... and has specs to match. The latest iteration was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show this morning – the e-tron Spyder concept. This open-top, plug-in-hybrid two-seater combines a 221-kW (300-hp) twin-turbo V6 TDI at the rear axle and two electric motors at the front to deliver a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph), reaching 100 km/h (62.14 mph) from a standing start in just 4.4 seconds. Read More

Like Peugeot, which has unveiled its EX1 concept electric vehicle as part of the company’s 200th anniversary celebrations, Jaguar is celebrating its 75 years with an equally, if not even more, stunning concept electric supercar. Unveiled today at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the C-X75 boasts some impressive performance stats that prove this is no mere show pony. Powered by four 145kW electric motors – one on each wheel – producing 780bhp and a total torque output of 1600Nm (1180lb ft), the C-X75 can accelerate from 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 3.4 seconds, and from 80-145km/h (50-90mph) in 2.3 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 330km/h (205mph). Read More

When you think Lotus, you think diminutive, somewhat stripped-back sportscars, but the company is signaling a new direction with the roll-out of the Elite production prototype at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The 2+2 Elite GT is, well, bigger – more room, more comfort, more weight (at 1650kg it's almost 300kg heavier than the Evora) and a front-mid positioned 5.0-litre V8 engine delivering up to 456kW and 720Nm of torque. There's also a hybrid technology option with Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) on offer as well as a retractable hardtop version. The promised performance specs are impressive – 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in around 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h (195 mph). If you're in the market for a supercar in the US$180K price range you'll have to be patient though, the Lotus Elite isn't scheduled for production until 2014. Read More

Car companies such as Lamborghini need to test their products in the real world and hence can fall victim to well-educated enthusiasts being in the right place at the right time with a camera. Earlier this week the VW-owned Italian supercar maker posted a “teaser image” of what everybody expects to be the Murcielago replacement. Only trouble is, we’ve already seen it – that’s the car itself shot on an autobahn between Chemnitz and Dresden during road testing. Just how everyone seems to know the specs a month prior to the show is a matter for conjecture, but if you want to read the unconfirmed details of the new direct injection 7.0-litre V12, carbon fiber monster which does zero to 60 in 3.0 seconds, read on. Read More

Beginning on September 1st at the Mitsuoka Motors showroom in Osaka, car enthusiasts will be able to rent the company's supercar, the Orochi, for 33,000 yen per day (or about US$390). While Mitsuoka is not an especially well-known name in the motor industry, the company is making a splash among gearheads looking for a slick car that will make heads turn. Read More

Morgan has released a teaser image of an upcoming four seater Coupe to be known as the EvaGT. Taking its inspiration from the British sports saloons of the early 1950s such as the Bristol 400 series and the Frazer Nash BMW 328, the EvaGT will run a direct petrol injection, twin turbo 3.0 liter BMW six-cylinder motor producing 306bhp and 400nm torque. Though power is modest in terms of supercar figures, the EvaGT uses aluminum body panels and its bonded aluminum chassis is developed from the Morgan Aero SuperSports, where it is used successfully in European GT3 racing, meaning that the car tips the scales at just 1250 kg (2755 lbs). This gives it a top speed of 170 mph (273 km/h), a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.5 seconds and distinctly un-supercar-like fuel economy of 7.06 liters/100kms (40 mpg) along with Euro 5 and 6 emissions compliance at 200 gms Co2/km. Read More

It’s not often you see a company giving away a free supercar with a product purchase, but this is exactly what Strand Craft plans to do with its 122 luxury yacht – a 38-meter Open super yacht packed with the very latest in state-of-the-art technology and engineering. Read More