This may well be the most incredible test Evo Magazine has ever put together. With the onset of modern supercars, and the digital age, they wanted to take a look at some of the best old-school “pure” supercars. McLaren F1, Pagani Zonda F, Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50, Noble M600, and Lamborghini Murcielago LP-670 SV, oh yes, prepare yourself for some epic.
Tag Archives: Exotic Supercars
2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 2
After day two, I am convinced that 2013 has to be the best New Hope Auto Show I have ever attended. The first day had many fantastic American cars, and the second day had a barrage of phenomenal foreign cars. The field ranged from modern exotics to classics, and I was thrilled with the sheer variety of cars; not just a bunch of the same types of Ferraris lined up.
Highlights included some truly breathtaking pre-war Rolls Royces, a variety of special Porsches, and one of the prettiest Mercedes 300 SLs I have ever laid eyes on. There is much more, including a few cars not often seen in the US, so check out the gallery (below) to see. Enjoy the photos.
Amelia Island Festivals of Speed: Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport
This stunning Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport was at the Amelia Island Festivals of Speed event back in March. Being arguably the most popular car in the world, people were constantly crowded around the car, so getting these shots took some patience.
I love the Veyron as a technological marvel, but I have been critical of it in other ways. Being the fastest car in the world, among other things, the Bugatti is basically the Guiness Book Of World Records on wheels. Consequently, the Veyron is rather cliche in my opinion, however, that is the fault of people, not of the car in any way.
As an object the Veyron is breath taking. There are many cars that sell for seven figures these days, but not many of them actually cost seven figures to produce. Volkswagen actually takes a loss on every Bugatti they sell, and the sheer solidarity of the car’s build is apparent when perusing its details. This car’s red and black finish gave it a stark appearance out on the golf course, and would you just look at those wheels, clearly machined from a single piece of metal. All of this is, of course, on top of the Veyron Grand Sport’s 1001hp quad-turbo W16 engine and 253mph top speed — but of course you already knew those.
Despite my criticisms, seeing a Veyron in the right setting is a very special experience. The last one I saw was crammed into the New York Auto Show, and I barely gave it a second glance, but this Veyron Grand Sport was surrounded by the immense beauty of Amelia Island. Snapping a few shots was a must here, and I hope you enjoy them.
Continue reading Amelia Island Festivals of Speed: Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport
Test Driven: Ferrari 458 Italia (10/10)
The pursuit of perfection is a perilous road, but it is a way of life at Ferrari. Some of the greatest cars of all time have come through that famous red gate at Maranello, each new model a further refinement from the last. There have, of course, been mistakes over the years, but all are lessons well learned. No matter what sort of cars you may prefer, there is no denying that it is Ferrari who sets the bar for the supercar standard. That is why every time a new car comes out of Maranello, everyone else is immediately gunning for it, adjusting their own lineups as needed.
The 458 Italia may in fact be the most challenged Ferrari model in recent memory. Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes, and, of course, McLaren all seemed to respond immediately to the Italia’s launch with new models, all aimed to take some of the wind out of its sails. While their efforts have certainly yielded some fantastic cars, the 458 still wound up being “the car to have” among the world’s elite — most of whom can afford multiple such cars anyway.
So what is it about the 458 that is so enticing? There are plenty of awesome cars out there to choose from, why is it that the prancing horse always seems to be galloping ahead?
2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
This Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale is one of just nine in the world. It is based on the Dodge Viper ACR-X, and shares the same 640hp 8.4L V10 engine. The TZ3 was built to commemorate Fiat Group’s purchase of Chrysler after the onset of the recent economic crisis.
In attendance for the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, this is the second TZ3 Stradale that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. It’s appearance is beyond striking, especially in this sky blue color. A Viper is a phenomenal performance machine, and now, with the addition of some Italian bodywork, it may well be one of the sweetest cars on Earth in the form of this Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale.
Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
Drive tours Aston Martin Works
This fascinating video from Drive shows the efforts Aston Martin is willing to go through to preserve its historical cars for customers. Definitely worth 14 minutes of your time to watch. Enjoy.
-Nick
We’re headed back to Pebble Beach!
That’s right. We are headed back to what is arguably the greatest automotive event on earth, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
There is something uniquely wonderful about Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula. From the moment you get there you are literally engulfed by incredible things. Every event has so much to offer that when you get there it’s hard to decide where to even begin. I always feel the same sense of excited confusion that a dog feels when his master throws not one, but two!, tennis balls into the yard.
The fun doesn’t end after the events either. There are droves of incredible cars just roaming the streets all over the place. In 2011 we were greeted by a pack of 12 Bugatti Veyrons, and a few seven-figure vintage Ferraris. We always wind up standing in the middle of the street (on the median) in Carmel, trying to get every spotted shot we can. It is both frantic and fun.
By the time the actual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance happens on Sunday, we are overcome with exhaustion, our feet are pounding with pain, and only adrenaline seems to keep us going. This event is an unbelievable amount of fun if you’re a gear head. It is a place where we get to see, and maybe even get to drive, some of our dream cars. By the time it is over, and we get on the plane to go home, it is like waking up from the most wonderful dream….. one that actually finished, and doesn’t wake you up right as Jessica Alba is undoing her bra.
Needless to say we are unbelievably excited. Mid-August can’t get here soon enough!
-The MoM crew
Shmee150 goes for an insane ride in a Pagani Zonda 760
Shmee150 (Tim) goes for a ride in Pagani’s development mule Zonda, which is currently in 760 RS spec. The man doing the insane driving is Pagani’s test driver Davide Testi. Italy is a wonderful place, and if you are in a supercar, the world is your racetrack. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this epic video.
-Nick
Spotted! Pagani Huayra, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA
I’m currently on vacation visiting my brother Matt, who lives in Pasadena and submitted this Cadillac Series 62 for a Spotted article back in January. Nick sent me a tip for this particular car in Beverly Hills, so my other brother and I got out to the swankiest area in LA County. Our efforts were rewarded as Seth and I stepped out to the drop-off zone of the hotel inside the building.
Continue reading Spotted! Pagani Huayra, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA
CF Charities Supercar Show: Lamborghini LM002
The LM002 is what happened when Lamborghini decided they wanted to go off-roading. Built from 1986 to 1993, the LM002 featured the same 5.2L V12 as the Lamborghini Countach supercar, only it was mounted up front for better off road handling characteristics.
Inside you will find a luxuriously appointed interior, a sign of who actually purchased a vehicle like this. Despite looking like a Humvee, the LM002 was not some rugged military vehicle (although there were originally hopes of selling a military version). It was instead an offroad exotic, with a similar relative appeal to Lamborghini’s supercars of the time. Many crazy people, like Uday Hussein, bought them, helping to cement the LM002’s image as the “Rambo Lambo.” (Uday’s LM002 was blown up by the US Army in a bomb test)
Only around 300 LM002s were produced during its 9 year production run, making it extremely rare. It was an interesting exercise for sure, but not one that yielded much commercial success. The LM002 is unbelievably cool when you see it in person. This one, at the recent CF Charities Supercar Show, was only the second or third LM002 I’ve seen up close, so it was a special sight. Enjoy the pics.
Continue reading CF Charities Supercar Show: Lamborghini LM002
CF Charities Supercar Show: SSC Ultimate Aero #15
This is the car that stole the “Fastest Production Car” title from the original Bugatti Veyron. While the Germans have since reclaimed that title with the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, SSC hopes their car will one day even oust that car too. The Ultimate Aero you see here is the car to do it, redesigned for better aerodynamics, and now with 1,287hp on tap from its twin turbocharged 6.3L V8. While the official SSC record stands at 256mph, this updated version is said to be capable of 270mph (hence the license plate). We’ll see if they are able to pull off that speed when they get around to actually testing it, but the fact that it’s even possible is mind blowing.
As for SSC themselves, their name stands for “Shelby Super Cars”, and no, they do not have any relation to Carroll Shelby….. and that is always the first question you have to answer whenever telling someone about this car. The car you see here is car number 15. With SSC being such a small car maker, I assume that means 15 total production and not just the 15th of the updated Ultimate Aero models. Either way, this is an extremely rare car, and surely the only one around in my area. The owner of this car put on a supercar event to benefit his charity, and his Ultimate Aero stood proud as the centerpiece for the event. It was also the first SSC I have ever laid eyes on in person, so it was a pretty special occasion for me personally. Stunning car, and a great color for it. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading CF Charities Supercar Show: SSC Ultimate Aero #15
Jaguar C-X75 by Autocar
Just listen to this thing, it’s epic. We all saw this car in concept form, but now there are actual prototypes that Jaguar is letting the media sample. While everyone seems to maintain that the “C-X75 will never be built”, one has to wonder why Jaguar has continued its development of the car if they really aren’t going to make it. In business, you don’t spend valuable money developing a project that you aren’t going to see through. I see this as a sure sign that the C-X75 is coming to production, and will be meeting the LaFerrari, Mclaren P1 and Porsche 918 in battle. Be excited.
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 