Supercars auto news

$300k Alfa 8C Spider the most expensive Alfa Romeo in history?

Alfa Rome 8C Spider - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're hoping to get your hands on an Alfa 8C Spider, well... take a number, because really - who doesn't? The open-air version of the highly coveted - and almost universally admired - 8C Competizione, the 8C Spider is a product of pure demand. But with only 500 examples set to be produced and just 35 of those destined for American shores, only a handful of eligible parties will get them. And those Yanks who are lucky enough to do so do will have to pay at least $299,000 for the privilege.

That list price alone - confirmed to Autoblog courtesy of Maserati North America (which is handling the model's distribution) - makes the 8C Spider the most expensive production Alfa ever. But with demand far outstripping supply, you can bet most of them will be trading hands at far higher prices than that - at least in the short term. That's is no mean feat considering present economic conditions.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider

Octophonic Sound? Second teaser of Bugatti Bordeaux surfaces

Further evidence that Bugatti has a new product planned for its centenary celebration at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September comes by way of PistonHeads in the U.K., which offers up this image of the rear of what may or may not be a vehicle called the Bordeaux. Of course, before we pull this one completely out of the rumormill file, we'll need either official word from Bugatti or an actual picture of the party invitation that this car supposedly graces.

Assuming for a moment that this image is the real deal, we see some interesting tidbits from which to glean tantalizing details of the future car. While we're still not certain if this could be the World's Ultimate Sedan, some bizarre sort of shooting brake, or even a supercar to replace to Veyron (or none of the above), but the thin strip of brake light right down the center reminds us of the dorsal seam from the iconic Type 57SC Atlantic - certainly a fitting way to recollect the French automaker's first 100 years in business.

Note, too, the inclusion of eight rather obvious exhaust tips at the rear of the car, which reinforces speculation that this vehicle will be powered by Bugatti's current 8.0-liter W16 powerplant. If that's the case, we'd also expect the Veyron's all-wheel-drive system and active aerodynamics to keep the ridiculously powerful car from going airborne. As much fun as it is to speculate, we look forward to getting official word from Bugatti as Frankfurt draws nearer.

Spy Shots: Tony Stark snapped driving Audi R8 V10 Spider

We were assuming the billionaire superhero genius will continue to have a great stable of rides in the next installment of the series, and spy photos taken on set confirm our suspicions. Robert Downey Jr. is seen driving in an Audi R8 V10 Spider during shooting of the film, which is scheduled to be released on May 7, 2010. In one of the spy photos, the V10 badging is clearly visible, confirming that Stark's drop-top R8 will be powered by VW's corporate 5.2-liter V10. With an expected 525 horsepower,the Audi R8 V10 Spider looks like our kind of Arc reactor.

Mercedes SLS AMG gullwing order guide revealed; includes optional $10,000 paint!

While we patiently await our turn to drive Mercedes-Benz's upcoming SLS AMG gullwing wundercar, we have a new way to occupy our time: the dealership ordering guide. Thanks to an anonymous tipster, we have the full document for your perusal, which includes all relevant details and estimated option prices for spec'ing out an SLS of your very own.

The guide doesn't provide us with many new images of the 563-horsepower production coupe, but we do see the options list and associated pricing, including lots of interesting tidbits like the model's available colors (including special $10,000 "ALU-BEAM liquid metal" paint); performance options including $12,000 carbon-ceramic brakes and a modestly priced $1,500 sport suspension kit; along with interior niceties on the order of various seat leathers, an $11k extended carbon fiber kit, a $6,400 Bang & Olufsen stereo upgrade, and so on.

What are you waiting for? Click on the gallery below to see how much money you'll need to liberate from the couch cushions before you can order the SLS of your dreams.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS Order Guide

PICS + VIDEO: Mansory Vincero costs $1 million... on top of the price of a Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti always finds ways of making their Veyron more exclusive, with a seemingly endless procession of special edition models. But for some, that still ain't enough. Inherently, Bug customers also tend to be the same people for whom cost is no object. And for them, tuning house Mansory created the Vincero.

With updated aero, LED lighting, new wheels and carbon fiber galore, Mansory also managed to coax out an extra 108 horsepower from the Veyron's thousand-horse, quad-turbo W16. And the cost of these otherwise rather modest modifications? A whopping $985k - nearly a million dollars - on top of the price of a stock Veyron to begin with. At those kinds of prices, it's no wonder Mansory decided to build just three of 'em. Although we gave you a first glimpse at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, you can check out our massive updated gallery of images below and a video after the jump.

Gallery: Mansory Bugatti Veyron Vincero

Continue reading PICS + VIDEO: Mansory Vincero costs $1 million... on top of the price of a Bugatti Veyron

Pie in the Sky Perspective: Charting out Lamborghini production by model

Lamborghini production pie chart - Click above for key

No news may be good news for most people, but it makes for some tiresome boredom and excess spare time to news jockeys like us. Fortunately, while the rest of us were playing xBox or configuring our fantasy cars online, our compatriots over at Inside Line were putting their slow news days to good use with the pie chart you see above. Yes, a pie chart.

Using official numbers furnished by the manufacturer, the staff at IL's Straightline blog charted Lamborghini's entire sales by model. That huge orange wedge you see there? That's the Gallardo, in all its iterations (the original coupe and roadster, Superleggera, special editions, LP560-4, etc.). Total production of the Gallardo range to date tops 9,900, and is well on course to shatter the 10,000 mark for the first time in Sant'Agata history. What's even more interesting, though, is that if you take out the gray wedge that represents the Gallardo's big brother, the Murcielago, you can see that Lamborghini has sold more Gallardos than it has all other models combined, which totaled 9,500 before the current pair was introduced. Talk about grabbing a bull by the horns.

(Un)mellow Yellow: Upgrade your Ferrari 599 with dealer-installed HGTE package [w/VIDEO]

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with HGTE package - Click above for high-res image gallery

Life is tough, we know. You sit for months on a waiting list, drop six figures, order your Ferrari just the way you want it, and then bam! They come out with an even better version. What's a supercar owner to do? Well in the case of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the Handling GTE package unveiled to go with it at the Geneva Motor Show just a few months ago (shown above in yellow for the first time), we've got good news as Ferrari has announced the availability of the package as a dealer-installable kit on existing 599s.

The package includes a host of enhancements to the GT's already superlative capabilities, grouped into four areas: handling, performance, exhaust and aesthetics. Handling includes a suspension lowered by 10mm, magnetorheologically re-calibrated and stiffened by over 15%; beefed up in anti-roll bars, and stickier tires mounted on upgraded modular wheels.

The performance enhancements include new exhaust silencers, upgrades to the transmission software that cut shift times down to 85 milliseconds, as well as new lines of code that summon improved throttle response. The performance kit can only be installed on post-2008 models with the sequential transmission, while pre-2008 or manual-equipped models can get the exhaust kit without the remapped throttle and transmission.

Finally, the aesthetic improvements consist of a new front grille and Prancing Horse emblems front and back in a burnished finish instead of the usual chrome. The only thing which the dealer-installed HGTE kit doesn't include from the factory-equipped models is the interior trim package. Released first for the British market, the kit costs £19,703 (~$32k USD), or £17,213 (~$28k) without the upgraded transmission and throttle calibrations. Check out the fresh gallery of images below and follow the jump for the full press release and an in-car video of the HGTE-equipped 599 pouring on the heat.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 HGTE in yellow

Continue reading (Un)mellow Yellow: Upgrade your Ferrari 599 with dealer-installed HGTE package [w/VIDEO]

Officially Official: Mercedes to produce electric SLS gullwing

Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed the rumors that have been floating around in recent days - it will build an electrically powered version of its upcoming SLS gullwing coupe. The EV version of the SLS will drive all four wheels by means of an individual motor for each corner. It will not however use wheel hub motors, since those add too much unsprung mass. The motors will be mounted just inboard of the suspension components.

Energy will be stored in a 48 kWh liquid cooled lithium ion battery pack running down the central tunnel. The combined output of the electric drive system is 392 kW (526 hp) and 880 Nm (649 lb-ft), which compares to 420 kW (563 hp) and 649 Nm (479 lb-ft) for the 6.3-liter V8 in the conventional SLS. Mercedes claims it will accelerate to 62 mph in four seconds. No range is being quoted at this time, but given that the battery capacity is lower than the Tesla Roadster and the car is larger, it will likely be well under 200 miles. No timeline for the electric version is being quoted, although earlier rumors placed it at 2015.

One of the reasons that Daimler said it was investing $50 million in Tesla Motors was the upstart's ability to move quickly and develop systems faster than could be done at Daimler. Given that, we may well see the electric SLS sooner rather than later. Check out our high-res gallery of (internal combustion) Mercedes SLS prototypes below and the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Continue reading Officially Official: Mercedes to produce electric SLS gullwing

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG hot-laps the 'Ring

You know the stats. You've seen the leaks. Now, it's time for some video. The crew at MotorTrend were invited to the preview drive of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in Germany, and the buff book's Editor-At-Large, Arthur St. Antoine, enjoyed some passenger seat time with Bernd Schneider as the five-time DTM champion put Mercedes' new gullwing supercoupe through its paces. Make the jump to check out the full 13-mile hot-lap around the Nordschleife. Top tip Dan!

Continue reading VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG hot-laps the 'Ring

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.15.09

	Review: 2009 Ural T sidecar motorcycle isn't as retro as it looks The 2009 Ural T sidecar motorcycle can't be described as "retro." Instead, the three-wheeled machine is a direct link to the past -- a bygone era of motorcycling that's sure to intrigue some and disinterest others.		Henderson: Chevy Caprice is being looked at as "police application" We had the opportunity to speak with GM CEO Fritz Henderson and we pressed him for more details on the Caprice plan. Unfortunately, Henderson brought his portable fire extinguisher.
	VIDEO: Tata Nano gets its crash on To all those who thought reports of the Tata Nano passing European crash testing were worthless without pics, we now have a few of those plus one better: Video.	Other news of import 2011 Hyundai Sonata coming to Detroit Auto Show Front-wheel drive, hybrid Honda S2000 "replacement" coming in 2012 Jaguar X-Type reportedly read last rites, headed for The Great Beyond 2010 Suzuki SX4 to gain front-drive SportBack trim, power boost Wagoner gets $8.2M severance + $74,030 annually w/benefits... for life