TopSpeed Daily Update

Ford Mustang
Ferrari president doesn&#39;t want an electric Prancing Horse
Lamborghini SR Project Veneto by SR Auto Group
Bluebird Team falls short of record attempt
Skoda Octavia vRS
Video: Audi R8 GT Week Part 4
Spy Shots: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible
Spy Shots: 2013 Dodge Viper
Top Gear USA: Season 2 Episode 4

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT

America’s original pony car will be turning 50 in the next few years, and Ford is celebrating the monumental birthday by taking its maiden voyage overseas. The 2015 Ford Mustang will be finding its way over to right hand drive markets such as England, Japan, and Australia. Moreover, for the first time in the Mustang’s history, England and Australia studios will be aiding in the design of the new generation muscle car. Add that to the fact that the 2015 Mustang will be getting an independent rear suspension for the first time in 10 years and all of a sudden, the Mustang becomes something of a hot topic among its enthusiasts.

With such dramatic changes in the geographical availability of the Mustang, as well as the move away from the cheaper live axle, not much else has to change in order for this new generation Mustang to find its new niche in the 2015 model year. That being said, expect the updated muscle car to get a radical redesign while still staying true to its overall look and style.

The 2015 Ford Mustang should debut at the New York Auto Show in April 2014, exactly 50 years to the month of the original Mustang’s debut.

More details on the 2015 Ford Mustang after the jump.

Image is of the 2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500

Ford Mustang originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 16:00 EST.

Ferrari president doesn&#39;t want an electric Prancing Horse

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT

You’ve probably heard about this burgeoning market segment in the auto industry called electric cars. Clearly, a lot of people have strong opinions about the future of these types of cars, including Porsche who has just appointed Audi engineering executive, Joerg Kerner, to head up powertrain development. Kerner has been working on electric powertrains for Audi since 2009, so it would be safe to assume he’ll be doing the same for Porsche. Porsche rival, Ferrari, isn’t so pro-electric. In fact, Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo, has a pretty straight-forward opinion on the matter.

He doesn’t believe in them.

Strong words for a man whose company brought out the Ferrari Vettura Laboratorio HY-KERS and is working hard on building a hybrid Ferrari. But apparently for Mr. Luca, there’s still a fine line drawn between hybrid and electric...and he’s not willing to cross that line. Granted, the man is very smart in choosing his words, so his opinions on the matter certainly carry some weight on it, but isn’t it still a little presumptuous to suggest that Ferrari has no future in the electric car segment?

Engadget was able to chat with Montezemolo and he was pretty clear on where he stood on the matter. "You will never see a Ferrari electric because I don’t believe in electric cars," he said. "I don’t think they represent an important step forward for pollution or CO2 or the environment. But, we are working very, very hard on the hybrid Ferrari. This should be the future, and I hope in a couple of years you can see it."

Like we said, Luca di Montezemolo is a very smart man and while we understand where he’s coming from, we certainly wouldn’t unequivocally shoot down the possibility of seeing an electric Ferrari in the future, especially considering how unpredictable the world is right now.

gallery: 2010 Ferrari Vettura Laboratorio HY-KERS

Ferrari president doesn't want an electric Prancing Horse originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 15:00 EST.

Lamborghini SR Project Veneto by SR Auto Group

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Project Veneto by SR Auto Group started its life as a "simple" Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce. It probably had no idea that once the head honchos in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy were finished with its design, a tuning firm like SR Auto Group would swoop in and make it look like Barney.

The LP670-4 SuperVeloce is the ultimate Murcielago, so to change something like its exterior color is the most simplistic way to ruin the elegance of the vehicle. SR Auto Group sees it differently. The tuner stated, "Within a short timeframe, Project Veneto was dressed in a brand new outfit. Just like fashion, the purpose is to create stunning pieces that have all eyes locked. Project Veneto is vivid, strong, edgy, and most of all unique."

We’re not so easily convinced of the grandiose nature of this tuning project. In fact, we think the quick turnover of the Project Veneto was the fastest way to bastardize an otherwise beautiful supercar. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Lamborghini SR Project Veneto by SR Auto Group originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 13:00 EST.

Bluebird Team falls short of record attempt

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 05:00 AM PDT

For the past few months, Don Wales and the Bluebird Electric Team have been preparing to break the existing land speed record for an electric car. Ultimately, fate would play other games on the team as the attempt came to a premature end.

With the team primed and ready for the record attempt at the Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on August 13th and 14th, 2011, Don’s son, Joseph, got the opportunity to enter the record books, continuing a family legacy that went all the way back to the patriarch, Malcolm Campbell. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as limited visibility within the cockpit of the Bluebird and an alarming slide towards the sea at speeds in excess of 100 mph caused the Bluebird to bounce severely on the uneven surface and hit a soft pothole of sand. The impact caused by the accident severely damaged the vehicle’s bodyshell, steering components, and the bottom wishbone.

"When you can’t see the ground in front of you for 60 meters or 70 meters you’re in trouble before you’ve seen it," Don Wales said just after the accident.

The only good thing that came out of this doomed attempt was that Joe Wales was able to control the car enough that the damage it incurred was as minimal as it could have been given the circumstances surrounding the entire debacle. Nevertheless, the team is understandably dismayed about the failed record attempt, but they know more than anybody else the extenuating circumstances that can torpedo their record-setting quests. As for the future, the Bluebird Team is optimistic that another attempt is in the oven, although the time frame has yet to be determined.

"We'll take the car back to Pembroke Docks and see what need to be fixed and see where we go from here," said Wales.

gallery: Bluebird Team wants a crack at the land speed (...)

Bluebird Team falls short of record attempt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 12:00 EST.

Skoda Octavia vRS

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 04:00 AM PDT

People usually associate the name Skoda with a family sedan that focuses more on fuel economy and not so much on performance. Those people are going to get the shock of their lives as Skoda is preparing a special Octavia vRS sedan for the world famous Bonneville Speed Week on August 13-20, 2011.

The Octavia vRS was built to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its iconic vRS performance flagship badge and to achieve breaking the 200 mph barrier. Skoda has done this with the Octavia’s standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI petrol engine by swapping the standard turbo with a specially designed turbocharger from respected component firm Garret. Adding this turbocharger has dramatically altered the vehicle’s output by adding a tremendous 380bhp and 170 lb-ft of torque for a total of 600 HP and 26-28 PSI of boost pressure.

As if the engine updates weren’t enough, Skoda has also spiffed up the exterior of the Octavia with some aerodynamic updates. The vehicle has received a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler, a reinforced roll cage, a parachute, fire extinguishers, and a window cage. It was then lowered almost 80mm closer to the ground.

Robert Hazelwood, Director for Škoda UK, said: "The 10-year relationship between the UK and the vRS badge has been extremely successful. This is a landmark anniversary and going to Bonneville is a fitting tribute." He adds, "It's an ambitious project which might surprise a few people, but Škoda is all about engineering excellence and this car is pushing that to new limits."

UPDATE 08/16/11: We already said that Skoda is the one of the last brands that you’ll associate with breaking 200 mph, but this Octavia vRS proved us wrong in a hurry when it recently hit a top speed of 202.15 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The event corresponded with the brand’s UK branch celebrating the 10th anniversary of the vRS performance badge. Kudos to Skoda for the remarkable achievement; maybe next time they’ll start producing supercars that can routinely eclipse 200 mph on any given day. Just a thought.

Skoda Octavia vRS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 11:00 EST.

Video: Audi R8 GT Week Part 4

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 03:00 AM PDT

What makes the Audi R8 GT different from all other models in the R8 line-up?

Clearly, there are plenty of options to choose from, but a big part of the entire equation boils down to the tremendous weight savings given to the car compared to all other R8 models. Among other things, the rear bumper and diffuser is 17.6 lbs lighter; the battery is lighter by 20.7 lbs; even the carpeting used on the car is made from lightweight material, saving another 17.4 lbs along the way.

The front splitter and rear spoiler are also lightweight, creating the needed downforce to separate itself from the pack.

All in all, the R8 GT is 180 lbs lighter than its counterparts, making for a car that embodies the whole definition of a "high-performance sports car".

In the fourth and final episode of Audi’s R8 GT week, 5-Time Le Mans Champion and AudiWerks Driver, Emanuele Pirro, explains in detail exactly what makes the R8 GT the car that it is. Make no mistake, all the weight savings generated by the car allows its 560-horsepower, V10 engine to reach a staggering top speed of 198.4 mph.

To recap all four episodes of the week-long series, we’ve added the first three episodes of the series after the jump.

Video: Audi R8 GT Week Part 4 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 10:00 EST.

Spy Shots: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 02:00 AM PDT

Well, here it is folks! The convertible version of the hotheaded Jaguar XKR-S has finally been caught testing at the Nurburgring showing off its black soft top roof and snarling V8. We expected to see this version of the monster Jaguar at the Geneva Motor Show next year, considering Jaguar has made a grand appearance at every Geneva Motor Show for the past few years, but the barely there camouflage hints at an earlier debut. Maybe we are looking at a Los Angeles Auto Show superstar?

The new Jaguar XKR-S Convertible will share the same wide wheel arches, front and rear carbon spoilers, and extra front air scoops as the coupe model. It will also get the same tuned Performance Active Exhaust to go along with the AJ-V8 all-aluminum engine with twin-vortex Roots-type supercharger. This engine will be able to push out 550 HP and 501 lb/ft of torque and deliver performance times similar to the 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and the 186 mph top speed of the coupe model.

Spy Shots: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 09:00 EST.

Spy Shots: 2013 Dodge Viper

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 01:00 AM PDT

Dodge is hard at work trying to reinvent the Dodge Viper for the 2013 model year. As of right now, they are working on the new powerhouse engine that will be found under that long hood. This is evidenced by a Viper mule recently caught testing with the new Viper front end attached to the old body style. Something is cooking under that hood and whatever engine that may be, it will need plenty of fresh air to keep it cool. Check out the big air intake in the front bumper and what looks to be three air intakes in the hood. This engine will be a beast and Dodge is doing whatever it can to keep it at bay.

So far, the engine rumors are all over the place. It was first rumored that the new Viper would get a new direct-injection 8.4-liter V10 engine that will deliver around 700HP. European magazines then began talking about a V8 engine with an output of 500 HP for an entry level version. A more believable rumor stated that Dodge would get help from Ferrari, but that has been replaced with the idea of a variation of Chrysler's new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with some form of forced induction. Of course, all of this is just talk and Dodge is staying mute on the matter. Only time will tell, and we’ll be waiting!

Spy Shots: 2013 Dodge Viper originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 08:00 EST.

Top Gear USA: Season 2 Episode 4

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT

This week’s episode of Top Gear USA brought us back to the one segment format. The trio of Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Ruttledge Wood had the challenge of proving which was the toughest off-roader in America by subjecting three of the best 4x4 vehicles to a series of tests.

Adam opted for a 1994 Ford Bronco with a 351 HP V8 and Ruttledge chose a 1989 Chevrolet K5 Blazer with a 350 HP V8. Tanner was the only one with an inline six in his 1983 Jeep Renegade. All three of them were dropped off in the middle of the Mojave Desert to sweat it out for 400 miles as they cruised to Vegas, dealing with the 134 degree weather. By the way, Tanner’s Jeep had no air conditioning. Yikes!

The whole point of this challenge was to find the best 4x4, so to put the vehicles through the test and put the guys through hell, the first 350 miles of the trip had to be made without their tires ever touching asphalt. What happens after this was made known is entirely predictable and grueling.

Hit the jump for details on Top Gear USA: Season 2 Episode 4.

Top Gear USA: Season 2 Episode 4 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 15 August 2011 19:00 EST.

auto super bikes concept

Tuesday, August 16, 2011