F12berlinetta

F12berlinetta
 

Hard to imagine, but it's quicker than an Enzo (!) around Fiorano, Ferrari’s test track. This ultimate 730-bhp V-12 Ferrari with a rear-mounted 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox is Ferrari's fastest, most powerful road car ever, with a claimed 0–62 mph time of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of over 210 mph.
Within the coral-colored brick walls of Ferrari’s Maranello operations, a new supercar is starting to roll off the line. The replacement for the 599GTB Fiorano and its numerous offshoots, the new F12berlinetta will be Ferrari’s most expensive, quickest, and most powerful model when it goes on sale in the U.S. early next year at an estimated price of $330,000. Its reign as Ferrari’s flagship will be a brief one, as the Enzo replacement is expected to break cover at the Paris auto show this fall and go on sale in mid-to-late 2013.

But back to the F12. It’s a traditional Ferrari in that it seats two and has a V-12 mounted ahead of the driver. And yet tradition isn’t among the reasons Ferrari gives when asked why the F12 isn’t mid-engined or why it’s made of aluminum instead of carbon-fiber composite. As to the latter, Ferrari claims that carbon fiber is much harder to produce and get right, carbon-fiber structures usually make for difficult ingress and egress, and aluminum is easier to repair. This might sound like Ferrari trying to convince us that the world is flat, that drum brakes are better than disc brakes, that bianco is nero, but we expect the F12 to weigh in at about 3800 pounds, less than the 4085-pound Lamborghini Aventador we tested earlier this year.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand sport vitesse

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand sport vitesse




 

If you had your heart set on an "ordinary" Veyron 16.4, you've waited too long—they're sold out. However, the Grand Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse roadsters are still ready to entertain—and astound—with their quad-turbo W-16s propelling these exotics like no others on earth. Think of the Vitesse as a Grand Sport enhanced with Super Sport mods, enhanced bits of engineering, styling and propulsion (1200 hp versus the Grand Sport's 1001). The Grand Sport costs 1.4 million euros (assuming the euro is still good, around $1.76 million); the Grand Sport Vitesse, runs between $2.2 million and $2.4 million, depending on the body finish.

2014 Fiat 500L 6MT / 6AT

lthough the diminutive Fiat 500 led the brand’s return to the U.S. when it bowed here in 2012, the second product in Fiat showrooms is the new-for-2014 500L. It takes the Cinquecento formula and adds inflated proportions and four proper passenger doors and is aimed squarely at the fast-growing compact-crossover market. More practical but less exciting than the plucky 500 it joins in the lineup, the 500L tests the limits of Italian charm.

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S 

The Aston Martin Rapide S is a four-door ultra-luxury sedan that borrows styling elements and mechanical components from the brand's elegant sports cars. Though many of its rivals serve up more space for the rear passengers, the Rapide S does offer enough room for four adults to go along with its exotic looks and impressive performance.


For the latest model year, Aston Martin has upgraded its sleek sedan with a more powerful V12 - now boasting 550 horsepower - along with freshened styling and a number of new interior options packages. Aston also changed the name from Rapide to Rapide S to reflect the significant nature of the revisions.
With sinewy flanks, perfect proportions and a gracefully sloping roofline, the Rapide S is a dead ringer for Aston Martin's DB9 coupe - except, of course, for its extra set of rear doors. One element that sets the Rapide S apart is its massive, one-piece front grille, which came as part of the recent update and stands in start contrast to the two-tiered grille configuration of the rest of Aston's lineup.

Also new to the sedan is an updated version of Aston's handbuilt 5.9-liter V12 that first appeared under the hood of the new Vanquish supercar. It produces 550 horsepower and 447 lb-ft, increases of 80 ponies and 14 lb-ft over last year's motor. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission allows the driver to change gears automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.

The Rapide S is capable of rocketing to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190 mph.

An adaptive damping system offers three different suspension settings - "Normal," "Sport" and "Track" - to allow the driver to prioritize handling or ride comfort as desired. They system also takes sensor readings from the car's systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed, to determine driving conditions and configure the damping accordingly.

Aston Martin DB9

It was an incredible challenge, make a great design even better. It took an extraordinary collaborative effort to achieve. Nearly 50% of all parts and more than 70% of all body panels are new, but it is as timeless and elegant as ever.The best DB9 yet.

Peak power of 517 PS. Effortless torque of up to 620 NM. A sprint time of just 4.6 seconds. Our new AM11 V12 engine ensures this is the most powerful DB9 ever produced. To us power isn’t everything; a CO2 reduction, saving 12g/km not only means this is the most potent DB9, it’s also the most advanced.

New components and more advanced engineering also make this the most rigid DB9. Our state-of-the-art VH architecture has been made even better. The figures speak for themselves; a 20% increase in stiffness in DB9 Coupe, a huge 30% increase in DB9 Volante, we went further, our engineers made more of less – the new DB9 is 15 kg lighter.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

What It Is: The classic all-American four-seat performance coupe. A convertible is also a certainty. The sixth-generation model will draw inspiration from the Euro-styled second-gen Camaro RS (1970–1981). Why It Matters: Today's model has thrived as a roomier, more affordable alternative to the Corvette, and as a source of pride to the haters of  Ford, Dodge, and imorted rear-drive coupes. Platform: The Camaro moves to GM's Alpha component set (Cadillac ATS and other future GM models) to save significant weight and cost. Powertrain: Expect eight-, six-, and four-cylinder offerings, the last to fulfill rising mpg obligations while fighting a growing list of four-cylinder-equipped foes, including the SRT Barracuda, Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, Ford Mustang, and Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Competition: See above. What Might Go Wrong: GM designers could misinterpret Camaro's thin sales lead over Mustang and neglect critically needed interior upgrades. Estimated Arrival and Price: Late 2015 as a 2016 model, with a base price in the mid-$20,000 range.

2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO

After skipping class the day Nissan updated the rest of the 370Z lineup for 2013 and sailing through the past year with no changes, the 370Z NISMO finally is being updated for 2014. With the new Juke NISMO essentially defibrillating Nissan’s NISMO performance brand in the U.S., the automaker must have decided it needed to update its existing NISMO-badged 370Z to match. Thus, the 2014 370Z NISMO arrives this summer with a few minor cosmetic tweaks that bring it in line with the smaller, taller, frog-faced Juke NISMO alongside which it is being revealed at the 2013 Chicago auto show.

Nissan 370Z

At the Z car’s U.S. introduction 40 years ago, Datsun wisely chose not to employ its domestic “Fairlady” moniker, which Yutaka Katayama knew would have been tantamount to calling, say, the Corvette the “Cocker Spaniel.” Since then, the hyphen that originally separated the “240” from the “Z” has vanished, 1.3 extra liters of displacement have more than doubled the original engine’s output, an actor briefly made Mr. K a red-bespectacled TV star, and the car’s price has swollen by about $27,000. Nissan refers to this latest Z as an “enhancement,” likely largely a male enhancement, rather than a whole new car. The company is being modest. The wheelbase is shorter by 3.9 inches, width is up 1.1 inches, length is down 2.7 inches. The larger engine (same V-6 as in the Infiniti G37) produces 332 horsepower, a bonus of 26, and sits 15 millimeters (0.6 inch) closer to the pavement, which is now hugged by a true unequal-length control-arm front suspension. Although Nissan’s engineers had to add nearly 200 pounds of safety and regulatory bric-a-brac, the car is only 33 pounds heavier than the 350Z we tested in June of ’07, in part because the hatch, A-pillars, and doors are now aluminum. We know, because we attacked them with a “Big Sky” fridge magnet.

Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT 2014

Equipped with 2.5-liter 4 In-Line DOHC Turbocharged and Intercooled DI-Diesel Engine (4D56) with maximum power of 136 Ps / 3,500 rpm and maximum torque of 314 N-m / 2,000 rpm. Equipped with 17-inch Alloy Wheels; New Black-Accent Instrument Meter Cluster; New Matte Silver-Accent on Center Instrument Panel, Floor Console and Door Trim; Not equipped with Cargo Floor Box; Not Equipped Spare tire cover, New color keyed Exterior door handles and color keyed side door mirrors with LED side turning lamps; OE single in-Dash DVD, MP3, WMA, MPEG4, Tuner, USB port,IPod-ready,Audio Jack, Bluetooth connectivity, 7-inch LCD monitor with Touch Screen Interface(GPS ready). Equipped with Dual SRS Airbags, New gray fabric seat material, chrome vertical bar type radiator front grille; projector-type halogen headlamps; front fog lamps with silver-accent. And equipped with tubular type stepboard. Transmission 5-speed manual.

2013 Ford Mustang GT »

An American original, Ford’s Mustang has been fast, fun, and affordable for a half-century. The current model is a place holder for an all-new 2015 Mustang, due later in 2014. The Mustang, a 10Best winner for the last few years, still offers great performance from the base V-6 or optional V-8, not to mention the mighty Shelby GT500. With a small back seat and an occasional bump in the ride, the Mustang still thrills affordably.

2013 Ferrari 458 Italia

A somewhat overwrought interior and a stratospheric price—oh, and a lengthy waiting list—are the only noteworthy flaws we can cite with Ferrari’s signature sports car, the 458 Italia. The quintessential exotic, the Italia looks wild, accelerates ferociously, sounds like an F1 racecar, yet is surprisingly easy to drive.

2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S

Automotive history was made when Po2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Srsche launched its first Turbo model in 1973, showing a prototype of the new car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Unlike its naturally aspirated 911 siblings, the silver coupe on display was equipped with a 3.0-liter flat six-cylinder engine breathing pressurized air courtesy of a single turbocharger. At the time, few realized how significantly forced induction would change the game.

This rear-mounted engine was rated at 260 horsepower, giving the coupe a top speed of 155 miles per hour. The performance was excessive for a street car of the era, but Porsche had an ulterior motive; it was building the required 400 units to meet GT motorsport homologation rules. Yet the automaker greatly underestimated the popularity of its new street-legal race car. In response to demand, the company doubled – and then tripled – production. By 1977, Porsche had sold 2,876 copies of the Type 930 Turbo 3.0, and its enthusiast customer base was begging for more. The German automaker didn't hold back. More than four decades after its initial debut, Porsche has introduced its eighth-generation Turbo for the 2014 model year. The new coupe, built on the Type 991 platform that was launched just last year, leapfrogs its predecessor in nearly every category – pushing the envelope has always been a Turbo tradition.

2014 Porsche Cayman S

But for all it had in apex assaulting prowess, the Cayman lacked in creature comforts. This is not to say it was a bare bones track special, but compared to some of the competition, it wasn’t reeking of opulent luxury. Popular as it was with the enthusiast crowd, Porsche wants to sell more and that means making the Cayman appealing to a broader audience.

So for the second generation Cayman, Porsche is offering a car that is perhaps more in line with its German rivals, delivering more luxury and more style. And oh, what style indeed