Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness
Mercedes-Benz brought along a fleet of green-leaning vehicles to this year’s Detroit Auto Show. While the German automaker displayed its hydrogen B-Class F-Cell alongside a flotilla of BlueTec diesels, the SLS AMG E-Cell stole the stage. Aside from wearing the world’s most eye-searing matte-yellow paint, the electrified supercar boasts 525 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque thanks to four synchronous electric motors. The SLS AMG E-Cell wears its motors close to each wheel, skipping the unsprung mass problem of hub-mount configurations to help protect the car’s handling prowess.
Word has it that the SLS AMG E-Cell can do the 0-60 mph dance in a scant 3.7 seconds. Lithium-ion batteries handle energy storage, and regenerative braking helps keep the cells topped off between charges. Speaking of the batteries, the electric Silver Arrow wears a temperature management system just for the battery array to make sure that charging and discharging occurs in the best environment possible. Mercedes-Benz isn’t saying exactly what kind of range drivers could expect if the SLS AMG E-Cell were in production, nor do we know exactly how long it would take to charge the electric supercar. Hit the jump for the press release and get ready to order your own sometime next year.
Categories: coupe, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz Tags:
Detroit 2011: Porsche 918 RSR racer is a single-seat dream
Porsche has rolled out a race-bred version of the company’s 918 Spyder Concept at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. Packing the same drivetrain as the track-proven 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, Porsche says that the 918 RSR will bring a whopping 767 combined horsepower to the party when it shows up in the paddock. A total of 563 of those ponies are provided by a 6.2-liter V8 that revs to an atmospheric 10,300 rpm. Porsche has partnered its beastly eight-pot with two electric motors capable of 75 kilowatts of juice positioned at each front wheel.
The 918 RSR stores braking energy in a flywheel accumulator stationed where the passenger seat would traditionally rest, and the tech allows the driver to summon up an extra bump in power for passing or acceleration. The pilot can command the boost in grunt for up to eight seconds.
Like the 918 Concept, the bones of the 918 RSR are built of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and the body was penned to pay respect the legendary racers like the 917 short-tail. Hit the jump for the press release.
Categories: coupe, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Hybrids/Alternative Tags: Detroit Auto Show
Detroit 2011: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe SCCA Race Car opens the show
General Motors is showing its CTS-V Coupe SCCA Race Car at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show today, and we dutifully pointed our camera lenses in its general direction. Naturally, it sits just a few millimeters off the ground, is painted up in an eye-catching paint scheme and covered in a serious set of ducts, flares and massive wings. Par for the course, really, but pretty glorious all the same.
If there were an awards category here in Detroit for the vehicle most likely to be turned into a radio-controlled parking lot racer – and really, why isn’t there? – the CTS-V Coupe racer would be at the very top of that list. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below, and feel free to review the official press release after the break.
Categories: Cadillac, coupe, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show Tags:
LA 2010: Porsche pulls the covers off 2011 Cayman R
Porsche has pulled the silk off its all-new 2011 Cayman R, the latest variant of the German automaker’s two-seat coupe. Aside from the obligatory decals and badging designed to differentiate this new flagship Cayman from its siblings, the Cayman R boasts a chassis that has been lightened by about 120 pounds and a handful of other tweaks.
Inside the cabin, the Cayman R features Alcantara and leather upholstery, sport seats, strap door handles and a painted console color-keyed to the exterior. Under the skin, the suspension has been enhanced with shorter, more rigid springs and there are customized anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles (the ride height is about 20 millimeters lower than the Cayman S).
Motivation comes from Porsche’s 3.4-liter flat-six, bumped up slightly to 330 horsepower, while transmission choices include Porsche’s excellent PDK automatic gearbox or a traditional six-speed manual. According to the automaker, the 2,855-pound Cayman R will hit 62 miles per hour in less than five seconds and top out at 175 mph. Look for the Cayman R in dealers wearing a $66,000 price tag before the end of the year.
Read more…
Categories: Auto Show, coupe, LA Auto Show, Porsche Tags: LA Auto Show, Porsche
LA 2010: Nissan GT-R adds 45 HP for 2012, hits 60 under 3 seconds
issan is making quite a splash at the 2010 LA Auto Show. Despite the presence of the bat-guano-crazy Murano CrossCabriolet and rather attractive Ellure Concept, perhaps the most highly anticipated machine from the Japanese automaker is the 2012 GT-R. Here are the most important pieces of information to chew on: 530 horsepower and 488 pound-feet of torque.
That means Godzilla Part II (Tokyo Strikes Back!) offers up 45 more raging stallions than the first edition, which Nissan claims is enough to push its all-wheel-drive super coupe to 60 miles per hour in under three seconds(!). Those upgraded figures come courtesy of increased boost from the twin turbos packed into the six combustion chambers along with larger inlet and exhaust pipes.
Body modifications include an enlarged front fascia and grille openings along with double rectifier fins and LED running lights. These updates are said to allow for more air to enter the engine compartment and sweep across front brakes for cooling. Out back, Nissan says its redesigned rear fascia lowers the car’s center of gravity.
Aerodynamic improvements such as the aforementioned front fascia, rear diffuser and underbody trays equal a coefficient of drag that falls to just 0.26. All models get new and improved Rays wheels, and a new Black Edition sees darkened six-spoke affairs along with red-trimmed Recaro seats that should look pretty darn nice with the new across-the-range carbon interior highlights.
Colors include Solid Red, Gun Metallic, Pearl White and a limited production four-stage metallic Super Silver, which join two new shades for the new year: Deep Blue Pearl (pictured) and Jet Black.
Categories: Auto Show, coupe, LA Auto Show, Nissan Tags: LA Auto Show, Nissan
Audi’s S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox headed for Bentley GT
Bentley has provided its Continental GT with a total refresh for the 2011 model year. The styling has been updated and the luxury coupe is expected to gain a second engine option. The traditional 6.0-liter W12 unit will still be available albeit with more power, but Bentley has also let slip that it will offer a new V8 engine. This eight-cylinder unit will apparently be a twin-turbocharged Audi engine which is potentially capable of 550 horsepower. Now, word from Autocar suggests that Bentley would like to pair that engine with Audi’s S tronic dual-clutch transmission.
The S tronic unit is currently employed throughout most of the Four-Ringed family lineup. Adding it to the Bentley will present an interesting challenge, however, due to the fact that the underbody of the Continental GT has a nice ZF six-speed automatic transmission-shaped hole. The ZF automatic is the gearbox used for the W12. Bentley’s engineers are now doing feasibility studies to see if they can get the dual-clutch gearbox to fit.
Paris Motor Show 2010: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept in detail
Last night we gave you the first look at Lamborghini‘s new Sesto Elemento, a concept car that demonstrates the company’s latest technologies. At the time we didn’t have the opportunity to get a close look at many of the car’s details, but we’re making up for it today with plenty of new photos and more info.
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept, rear viewIf there’s one thing that caught our attention about the Sesto Elemento, it’s the weight. Lamborghini was able keep its curb weight to 999 kg, or 2,202 lbs, thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastics. The entire car is essentially constructed from the lightweight materials including the monocoque, front frame, body panels, major suspension components and wheels. With a 570-horsepower V10 mounted behind the cockpit, the San Elemento has just 3.86 pounds to push for every horsepower. Lamborghini claims a 0-100 km/h time of just 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 300 km/hr, or 186 mph.
Categories: Auto Show, coupe, Lamborghini, Paris Motor Show Tags: Lamborghini, Paris Motor Show
Paris Motor Show 2010 Preview: BMW unwraps 6 Series Coupe Concept
Ahead of the Paris Motor Show, BMW has released the first pictures of the BMW Concept 6-Series Coupe.
Designed to be a “stylish and authentic expression of superior sports performance,” the car is effectively a two-door version of the Concept Gran Coupe. As such, it features LED headlights, a massive twin-kidney grille, a four-tailpipe exhaust system, and 20-inch aluminum wheels.
Inside, the cabin boasts two-tone leather upholstery, wood trim, and gloss black accents. Other goodies include a 10.2-inch iDrive display, a digital instrument cluster, and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
While the company declined to talk engine specifics, it’s safe to assume power is provided by a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 395 hp (294 kW / 400 PS) and 450 lb-ft (609 Nm) of torque.
Categories: Auto Show, BMW, coupe, Paris Motor Show Tags: BMW, Paris Motor Show
GM prices 2011 Chevrolet Corvette range
The C6 Chevrolet Corvette has been around since the 2005 model year, but General Motors has made a point to keep its everyman sports coupe fresh with regular updates. For 2011, the big change is an upgraded Z06, with new Z07 and Carbon Fiber packages. One thing that isn’t budging much for 2011 is price, as most versions of the Bowtie sports car have reportedly gone up in price but $20 compared to the 2010 model year.
The base Vette starts out at a reasonable $48,950, and if you lose the fixed roof, the price jumps to $53,600. Move up to the Grand Sport and you’ll be staring at a $54,790 Monroney, while the GS ragtop is exactly $5,000 more than the base convertible. Move out of the GS and into the Z06 and the price rockets to $74,305. The Carbon Fiber package is $3,995 stand-alone package, while the Z06 Ultimate Performance Package (A.K.A. the Z07 package) is a healthy $9,495. The Corvette Blogger says the limited Carbon edition Z06 should come in at around $95,000.
2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe U.S. pricing starts at $38,990
Cadillac has announced pricing information for the 2011 Cadillac CTS coupes.
Priced from $38,990 ($40,890 for AWD), the CTS coupe is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 304 hp (227 kW / 308 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. It comes nicely equipped with a six-speed automatic (a six-speed manual is optional), 18-inch alloy wheels, rear park assist, a Bose audio system, remote starting, and power seats.
The CTS Coupe Performance Collection starts at $43,430 ($45,330 AWD) and features all the aforementioned equipment as well as HID Xenon headlamps, adaptive forward lighting, leather upholstery, and a Bose 5.1 audio system with a 40GB hard drive and USB connectivity. If that’s not good enough, the $47,835 ($49,735 AWD) Premium Collection adds a rear-view camera, a sunroof, interior ambient lighting, heated and vented front seats, a heated steering wheel, wood trim, and GPS navigation.
