LA Auto Show: Aston Martin One-77

A surprising appearance at the Los Angeles show was that made by Aston Martin’s British-registered One-77 demonstrator, which had stopped off after a tour of the ‘States.


The car’s presence confirmed that – after a fair amount of internal debate – Aston has decided to homologate the car for sale in the US, with the last of the limited-to-77 production run likely to be sold there. According to an Aston insider, 56 One-77s have already been built, and there are just six left to sell. There’s just the small matter of finding the £1million it takes to buy one.

Aston Martin One-77

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The SL has long been a standard-bearer for the Mercedes brand. Flashy, sexy, fast, safe, luxurious, and exclusive -- it's all of the brand values rolled into one, minus a back seat. Since the original 300 SL launched in 1954, and really since the R107 SL launched in 1971,

the SL has represented all of Mercedes' best thinking crammed into one, four-wheeled place. Of course, the SLS AMG kinda monkey-wrenches the notion that the SL sits atop the brand, but no marketing strategy is perfect. Anyhow, the new SL (internally named R231) looks to be more of the same, and that same is good. It also looks -- to my eyes, at least -- like the most technically advanced chassis ever fitted to a production car.



2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

AMG’s Tobias Moers is one wicked mother, and his cars aren’t far behind. Moers is head of vehicle development for AMG. A classic German performance engineer—stern, compact build—he likes his machinery loud and sideways. Shortly after driving the new C63 AMG Black Series at its Laguna Seca press launch—nine hot laps only, and street driving verboten—your author walked up to Moers and asked him his official title. He stared back blankly, as if I had just told him my name was Big Bird. “I’ve had different titles,” Moers said, arms crossed. “Frankenstein was one of them.” No smile.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

Mercedes SUV to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show

If the world needs a 518-horsepower sport utility vehicle, Mercedes-Benz is ready to take orders for the 2012 ML63 AMG that goes on sale in the United States in February.

The Alabama-built SUV with a direct-injection bi-turbo V-8 engine is making its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

An M-Class with a conventional V-8 will also join the lineup in the new year.

The ML63 AMG is joined at the Mercedes display by some other exotic Mercedes models being shown in North America for the first time.

They include the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster with a retractable fabric top. The convertible has normally hinged doors as opposed to the gullwing doors on the SLS AMG coupe. The SLS AMG has a 6.3-liter V-8 that generates 563 horsepower.

A Black Series version of the C63 AMG — the most powerful C-Class in history with 510 horsepower — is also on display. The previous version only delivered 451 horsepower. The suspension and brakes have also been beefed up to handle this beast.

2013 Mercedes SL: Very First Details

Mercedes starts out the teasing campaign for the new SL-Class by releasing a few details on some of its new features.

The new SL will be heading back to its roots by shedding a couple of stones off its weight. After all, SL stands for Sport and Light. Thanks to the extensive use of aluminum, and some new and extremely clever production methods Mercedes has come up with, the new SL will be some 140 kg lighter than the current gen.

Despite the weight reduction, it’ll be stiffer and will have more torsional rigidity, meaning there will be less flex in the chassis, so the handling will be better. The SL is actually on a sports car diet.

The lightness will also make the car more fuel efficient and helps with lowering its CO2 emission.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG to debut Officially at the 2011 LA Auto Show

According to the last media reports, the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG will make its official debut next month at the 2011 LA Auto Show.


The car is expected tocome with a new body kit, prepared by the AMG performance division, which will have among other features new side sills, a new front bumper, a new rear roof spoiler and a new rear bumper with integrated air diffuser and exhaust system.
A new set of AMG five-spoke alloys will complete the entire design, creating a more auditive effect that a visual one.

The star of the entire debut will be a new direct-injection 5.5-liter V8 engine, found also on the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG, which deliveres around 525 hp and 516 lb-ft / 700Nm and 557 hp and 590 lb-ft / 800Nm with the optional AMG Performance package. This engine will be mated to the seven-speed Sportshift automatic transmission, while the power will be transferred to the road via the all-wheel drive system.

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 Review

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 still powered by a six-cylinder boxer engine for the rear wheels and two electric motors that drive the front axle. Production of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 is rated 470 hp, as well as electric motors are being revised 60-75 kW each. Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 offers up to 200 extra horses for a few seconds. Added by HP can be activated automatically or manually by the driver. They are usually required when passing through. Electronic flywheel battery race car has been transferred to other components of the safety car hybrid carbon fiber on the passenger side.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 differs markedly from its predecessor. Thanks to the optimization of high-voltage components of the hybrid system, large gaps in front of the rear fenders are no longer needed. This reduces friction and reduces fuel consumption. Overall, the vehicle weight has dropped to 1350 to 1300 kg. The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 car has been completely revised. Most of the displays and controls has moved to the steering wheel. Drivers can use the rest of the functions through the backlit buttons are now located in the center console. Priority was given to ergonomics and a clear layout of the drivers – especially after dark. The new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 is a perfect example of the “Intelligent Performance Porsche philosophy, the principle found in every Porsche – more power with less fuel, increase efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions – on the track and road. Porsche AG will enter the Nürburgring 24 hour race on June 25, 2011.

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S

2012 Porsche 911 are about to launch! What good news for Porsche lovers. Porsche appears in the biggest shape of all its fellow Porsche. This newest Porsche has its wheelbase growing over its predecessors. It’s about 3.9 inches over it. The front track is also wider in present. This seventh-generation of Porsche sits lower and it causes 911 Porsche looks elegant and at the same time athletic point as well.

The new Porsche 911 has Carrera model. It was equipped with seven-speed manual transmission with H-shift pattern. You’ll see the optional Sport Chrono package and retractable rear seats if you look close enough to the interior. There will be two types of Carrera that Porsche 911 will launch. They are Carrera and Carrera S models.

Carrera is equipped with 3.4 liter F-6 engine which produce 350 horsepower. If you installed Porsche PDK Dual Clutch transmission, Carrera will be able to reach 60 mph in Porsche estimated 4.4 seconds. If you choose Carrera with Sport Chrono, you can reach 60 mph in only 4.2 seconds.

Carrera S is given 3.8 liter F-6 engine. The same engine is also installed in Carrera S last year edition. But it doesn’t mean that Carrera S does no improvement in 2012. The horsepower has been boosted up to 15 horsepower which means now the machine can produce 400 hp. How if PDK Dual Clutch transmission installed in S type of Carrera? It will hit 60 mph in Porsche estimated 4.1 seconds. While in Sport Chrono edition, it can reach 60 mph 0-60 seconds faster than the basic Carrera S.

Porsche has released New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) ratings. 2012 Porsche 911 with PDK equipped will reach 8.2 liter per 100 km for fuel efficiency and Carrera S will achieve 8.7 liter in 100 km.

Although Porsche 911 has gained its wheelbase up to 3.9 inches and wider its front track, it is still able to improve its fuel efficiency. It really scores. Not only improving its fuel economy, Porsche 911 has also improved its acceleration times by losing its weight. 2012 Porsche 911 is about 100 pounds lighter than the other outgoing cars by using magnesium to save weight. Porsche doesn’t stop until that point to serve you top fuel economy, it includes stop/start technology and “sail” mode of PDK to give you better experience in the field.

Porsche announces 2012 Panamera GTS

It’s the Panamera GTS.

GTS is a moniker the automaker has used as a designation of sport-tuned characteristics paired with a naturally aspirated engine. It was last seen on the final iteration of the departed 997, but also used on an earlier version of the company’s Cayenne SUV.

(Go way back into Porsche lore and you’ll find that the Porsche GTS was also a street-legal variant of a race car made in 1964 and 1965, but let’s not tell this new Panamera GTS about that, lest it suffer an identity crisis.)