New Mercedes SLS AMG Supercar to take on Ferrari

Clearly taking some inspiration from the 60s 300SL Gullwing, this new Mercedes will take on Ferrari and McLaren with brute force. The hammer under the bonnet is a 563bhp/479lb ft version of AMG’s normally aspirated 6.2-litre V8, which is significantly modified over normal, justifying an internal renaming. The cars lines are gorgeously swooping from the headlights to the taillights, and the proportions are exquisite for a front engine car: long bonnet, and cockpit nearly in the trunk.

Lexus LF-A Tested by Autocar at the Nuburgring

Here is one the first official videos of the Lexus LF-A being tested. The all-new Lexus LF-A supercar is shortly ready for production. It has a front-engine 4.8 liter V10 under the bonnet producing over 550 horsepower. It should compete with the Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes SLS, and McLaren MP4-12C. Prices will be over $300,000 since it is composed of a nearly all-aluminum body.

Jay Leno at the McLaren Factory Video

Here Jay Leno visits the McLaren factory and learns about the incredible new MP4-12C.

Sunday Car News

The McLaren MP4-12C will become McLaren's first own car since the McLaren F1. It is going at a much different approach than the F1 since because it will be powered by a 3.8L twin-turbo V8. The forced-induction V8 will output 600 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The car will be extremely light since the chassis construction is built around a single light carbon fiber tub that ways merely 176 lbs. When the McLaren comes out as a 2011 model it will be a fierce competitor to the Ferrari 458, the Lamborghini LP560-4, the Mercedes SLS AMG, and the Lexus LF-A. It will, however, have a steep price of $265,000.

Top Gear: VW Scirocco Advertisement Commercial

Jeremy and James challenge each other to see who can make the best commercial for the VW Scirocco.

Top Gear: Escalade vs Hummer vs Range Rover

Jeremy proves why the Range Rover is by far the best Sport Utility Vehicle or 4X4.

Top Gear: Jackal vs. Jeremy Pursuit

Jeremy attempts to drive an 8 year old 500 hp Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII out of harms way of live rounds coming from a fleet of tanks.

Top Gear: Captain Slow Takes a Wild Ride with Ken Block

James May comes out to California to ride shotgun with professional rally car driver Ken Block, in a Subaru WRX rally car.

Top Gear: Epic 1949 Race between a Car, Bike, and a Train

Here is another one of Top Gear's epic challenge races. Jeremy, James, and Richard are brought back to 1949, so Jeremy rides a vintage steam-train, James drives a Jaguar XK120, and Richard rides an awesome Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle.

Top Gear: Automobile FIFA World Cup

Richard tests to see whether the Toyota Aygo lives up to its hot-hatch, small economical car expectations by putting on a car FIFA football match.

Richard tests to see whether the new Volkswagon Fox can overthrow the past compact-hatch, The Toyota Aygo by battling in another car FIFA football match.

Top Gear: Can a Car Really be Art?

Jeremy tests the Alfa Romeo 8C to determine whether a car can really be art?

Top Gear: Battle of the Overpowered SUVs

In this Top Gear comparison test, Jeremy compares three outrageously powerful 4x4s: the BMW X5 M, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI, and the Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged.

Spy Shots: BMW and Audi

A BMW X6 M spotted in a Torrance shopping mall parking lot. With a 547 hp 4.4L twin-turbo V8, this SUV is a two ton rocket. While this may not be the most practical car, especially with its gas-guzzling engine and two ton size, but it is sure a thriller.

Here is a new generation Audi TT in San Francisco. The newest generation TT is definitely a very good german sports car with its balanced chassis and perfect amount of engine power. Styling is stunning with curvaceous lines and sporting LED's under the headlights.

Top Gear: Battle of the German Sports Saloons

In this Top Gear video, the three blokes attempt to determine which German sports saloon is the best. Richard claims it is the new BMW M3, due to its new 4.0L V8, Jeremy exclaims it is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, due to its "nuclear weapon" under the bonnet, and James insists that it is the understated Audi RS4. Well which one will it be?

New BMW Z4 Roadster "sDrive35is"

The engineering geeks of Bavarian Motor Sports have created another automotive genius sports car, the Z4 sDrive35is. BMW has improved the already great sports car by tuning the engine to output 330 hp and 332 lbs ft of torque. There is even an over boost function that allows the engine to crank out 369 lbs ft of torque. The exterior design remains classically modern with only a few adjustments to the body panels and bumpers. With this much power, the Z4 is more powerful than the previous Z4 M, and is quicker as well, despite its heavy hardtop convertible roof.

This Week: The German Powerhouses

Sunday News: BMW

BMW's EfficientDynamics Department has made BMW's top-of-the-line 7-series and X6 environmentally friendly, gas-sipping hybrids. Both models are powered by a twin-turbo V8 supplemented by an electric motor. The 455 hp and 516 lbs developed by the hybrid engine are sent to the rear wheels via a silky smooth 8 speed transmission. Compared to the original cars, fuel efficiency should be boosted by 15% giving the big cars around 18-20 mpg. Compared to the system coming out soon by Mercedes, this is by no means a very economical car, since it is still very powerful. BMW focused more on performance with these two rather than actually beneficial efficiency figures.

World Record Amount of Money Spent on a Ferrari

Last year in March 2008, the record for the highest amount paid for a car was broken by British radio host Chris Evans (above). At the "Ferrari Leggenda e Passione" auction in Maranello, Italy Evans bought a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder for $10,894,900. The previous record was held by a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO bought in Monaco for $10,756,000. The California Spyder is an incredible work of art designed by Scaglietti and is powered by a 276 hp version of the 250 V12. The car also received some stardom in the 1986 hit film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

More Ferrari's in the Secret Spot

This is an absolutely gorgeous Ferrari classic, the Daytona Spider. This 365 GTS/4 was made famous as an italian icon in the movie The Gumball Rally. The proportions by Pininfarina are exquisite with the long bonnet and small cockpit and trunk. This car is not all about looking fabulous because there is a 347 hp 4.4L V12 that can rocket the little roadster to a 174 mph top speed. This is a absolutely priceless car; at auctions the Ferrari Daytona Spider has sold for north of $1 Million.

The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale was also at the Secret Spot in the South Bay. This car is a stripped out version of the 360 Modena with even more power. The 3.6L V8 now puts out 425 horsepower and the car weighs even less at 2,800 lbs so the car has a remarkable power to weight ratio that would make excellent use on the track. In a test on Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson preferred this car over Porsche GT3RS. I much prefer the Porsche GT3RS due to its simple mechanical and analog feel. The appearance of the car has not changed much from the original 360 Modeno, but 19 inch BBS challenge-style wheels were fitted. The front retains its large unattractive McLaren intakes as well as its wide headlights. Overall, though, this is a excellent track car.

First Official Test of the Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia will soon be on sale

A replacement of the F430 super car the all new 458 Italia has a new 4.5-litre V8 engine with 562bhp on tap (at 9000rpm) and 398lb ft of torque. Electronics have become even more advanced with an improved version of the electronic limited-slip differential and Formula One-Trac system, previously in the both the F430 and the Scuderia. The lines on this car are gorgeous, because Ferrari shied away from the previous McLaren-like large circular intake gaps. The front head lights have been redesigned as narrow slits in the bonnet and near head lights are only one circular red light on each side, similar to the California and 599 GTB. A new exhaust system is an in-line three pipe to allow for an aerodynamically improved rear diffuser. This is the first baby Ferrari to top 200mph, with 0-62mph taking 3.4sec. It’s expected to be priced around $220,000, putting it head first into a battle with the McLaren MP4-12C and Mercedes SLS AMG.

Rest of the Pictures from the LA Auto Show

Lotus brought its new most hardcore street/race-car in the line-up: the Lotus Eleven. The car is basically an even more stripped out version of the Elise and Exige. The roof was chopped for a traditionally speedster look, a roll-cage was added, racing harnesses, super-sticky tires were added, the interior was stripped of everything, and power from the four-banger Toyota engine is amped up to 240 horsepower. Interestingly, the car is race-specific legal for many different classes of racing, so it is perfect for those who often go to the track.

Fisker brought back their four-door coupe hybrid as well as a convertible four seater. Both cars are gorgeous with flowing lines almost similar to an Aston Martin, except with less subtlety.

The line-up of Rolls Royces added a baby brother, the Ghost (bottom picture). There are not too many styling differences between it and its bigger brother the Phantom (middle picture), but the car itself is noticeably smaller especially its pompous front grill. Rolls still offers the Drop-head at a jaw-dropping $530,000.

The showroom of Volkswagon definitely did impress with its newer sleeker version of GTI, and a large line-up of TDI clean diesel cars. The cars VW offers with the extremely fuel-effecient diesel technology are the Golf, Jetta, and Toureg. Not only do the V-dubs get revamped engine options and exterior looks, but the interiors have been redesigned to be almost on par with those of more expensive German cars from Audi and Mercedes. The interior of the GTI was far more refined than that of the Audi A3, its "luxury" rival. Volkswagon also brought a prototype of the possible future Golf that would be streamlined on the outside and have a lightened interior to increase fuel-efficiency.

Some more of the Pictures for the LA Auto Show

Lexus brought their v10 supercar to the show, as well, the LF-A. In person, the design of both the exterior and interior are remarkable. Although it is a Japanese car, it still appears like it will be able to keep with those other supercars from Germany and Italy, mainly the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Mercedes SLS AMG, and the McLaren MP4 12-C. Cut-away models are remarkable: the brakes look brilliant and the engine looks like it came out of a formula one car.

Here is the floor-model Jaguar XJ. The redesign is absolutely gorgeous compared to the predecessor. Rather that having an old country side appearance, it has a modern expresso feel to it. As a late 2010 model, the XJ will go on sale in the U.S. this month.

At the BMW booth, the prototype of the BMW Vision Concept car. Designed for BMW's EfficientDynamics, the car makes use of the combination of BMW ActiveHybrid components with an extremely economical combustion engine, and outstanding aerodynamic qualities.

At the Audi booth, an Audi R8 5.2 V10 spyder was on the floor-room. The conversion from the coupe to a convertible will definitely provide drivers with an open-top thrill. The looks are still very good and hopefully the weight of the electric mechanism does not spoil the fun and balance of the hardtop.

This was the one of the first shows the Acura ZDX debuted at, with several floor room models for visitors to sit in. Looking at the ZDX from the outside, the lines are definitely attractively flowing. The sloping of the sport hatch-back similarly mirrors that of the BMW X6, except Acura's sport SUV has a much better exterior with its lower stance. On the other hand, the same cannot be said about the interior. Sitting inside the cockpit, the driver gets the usual mass array of buttons angled all over the dash. The steering wheel also has tons of buttons. The floorboard is raised much too high, so a driver with long legs would not be in great comfort. The ZDX would definitely be a great car for those more concerned with the exterior appearance rather than the comfort and usability.

Mazda unveiled a new sub-compact car to its line-up this year called the Mazda 2. The car is very similar to the Mazda 3 in appearance, except it is much smaller. It looks like it would be a fun peppy little car for the city. The size is very much similar to that of Ford's new Ford Fiesta hatchback. As a 2011 model, the car will be brought to America in either the third or fourth quarter of 2010.