New 911 GT3 & Porsche Museum
To be launched at Geneva
Today Porsche announced the new 911 GT3 which will undoubtedly become the basis for a new racecar. The updated model has a 3.8 liter engine that produces 435 bhp, but it's the suspension and dynamics which make this GT3 desirable.
This new GT3 comes just as Porsche's new museum in Stuttgart opens to the public. Designed by Roman Delugan, the museum is almost completely white inside, making the 80 cars on display really stand out. The exhibition area also rests on only three supports to appear as though it is hovering.
Today we have assembled a gallery of this incredible Museum including a page dedicated to the old museum we visited back in 2001. If anyone would like to contribute photos, new or old, to the gallery we would be more than happy to include them.
Palm Beach Supercars & Sebring Test
P4/5 with Dino 206 Competizione
One of the events best suited for Supercars.net has to be the Palm Beach Supercar Weekend. In just its third year, the organizers have turned their main show into huge event.
This year we have photography from two guest photographers, Jasen Delgado and Blake Simon. We have assembled a highlight gallery from their work, but for more complete coverage you should visit their websites: Automotion Photo and F1photography.net.
Sebring test days finished today and some exciting new cars were ran. The most striking of these was Acura's ARX-02a which brings them up to LMP1. It will run against the best from Lola, Audi and Peugeot at the race. In the GT2 class, BMW have finalized their M3 racecar and all Corvette hopes are now rest on the C6 GT2 built by Riley Technologies.
Brumos Racing win the Daytona 24
Before the Awards Ceremony
It was a historic victory today at Daytona for Brumos Racing. David Donohue passed Juan Pablo Montoya with 39 minutes remaining to win in his Porsche/Riley Mk XX. This comes on the 40th anniversary of his father, Mark Donohue's, victory in the 1969 event.
Donohue joined Darren Law, Buddy Rice and Antonio Garcia to give Brumos Racing its first Daytona victory. Montoya pressured Donohue throughout the final 39 minutes but could not overtake.
The GT race came down to a one-two finish for TRG Porsche, with Andy Lally and Justin Marks joined by Jorg Bergmeister, Patrick Long and RJ Valentine in the winning No. 67 Porsche GT3. Second, one lap behind, was the TRG No. 66 of Spencer Pumpelly, Tim George Jr., Richard Leitz and Emmanuel Collard.
Ogier and Peugeot take the Monte
Ogier made a fantastic IRC debut
Driving his Peugeot 207 S2000, Sebastien Ogier became the first junior driver to win the Monte Carlo. Today he joins the ranks of famous drivers to win the world's most prestigious rally.
This was possible because Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) now govern the Monte under S2000 guidelines. Alongside the Peugeot, the entry list featured cars such as the Abarth Punto S2000, Skoda Fabia S2000 and the Misubishi Lancer Evo IX.
Compared to WRC, the smaller S2000 are much cheaper to run, encouraging more private entrants. This is especially true in the 2WD class which won by won by Manual Villa in a Fiat Punto S1600.
We have assembled a stunning gallery of the Monte for 2009 and recommend it as essential viewing.
New Porsche RSR, Rally Monte Carlo, SSC EV
Will it be good enough?
Ahead of the 2009 season, Porsche is now offering a new version of their Porsche 911 RSR. It comes after a slow 2008 season, losing to Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA GT championship. The new design is identified easily with its characteristic louvers on the front hood.
The Monte Carlo Rally is decidedly different for 2009. Instead of being governed by the WRC, it's being run under S2000 IRC regulations. Thus the 77th Monte is being contested by junior world champions with much cheaper cars than WRC. The race is currently at SS9 with Sebastien Ogier leading in his Peugeot 207 S200 but the Škoda Fabia S2000 is keeping up.
SSC say their next milestone will be the pursuit of the World's Fastest Electric Car. Sometime this year we expect to see their new Ultimate Aero EV
Arizona Auction Wrapup
Corvete Grand Sport nosale at five million
With the end of Barrett-Jackson's fourth day, we can now come to a consensus on Arizona's Auction week. Most speculation expected much lower sales due to the economy, however many blue chip cars from RM and Gooding seemed relatively unaffected.
Over the last four Days, B-J has sold all kinds of automobiles. The term million dollar muscle car might be dead in 2009. Considered well bought, the best a matching numbers 1970 Hemi-Cuda could muster was $137,500 USD. Top sale went to a pre-war Ford Rotary Airplane, but our top pick was the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Concept.
RM Auctions failed to sell their top lots, but still got some impressive bids for the Corvette Grand Sport and PB-winning Bugatti Atalante. Gooding had more respectable reserves, selling their Talbot Lago Teardrop, PB-winning Daimler and a Ferrari California. Top Bids (in millions) are as follows:
5.0 - 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
4.5 - 1960 Ferrari 250 California Spyder 1963GT
4.4 - 1960 Ferrari 250 SWB Comp 1759GT
3.2 - 1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop 90105
2.7 - 1932 Daimler Double Six Martin Walter Sports Saloon
1.25 - 1929 Duesenberg J LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton J126
1.2 - 1937 Bentley 4 1/4 Vesters & Neirinck Fixed Head Sport Coupe B156KT
1.15 - 2003 Ferrari Enzo
1.00 - 1931 Duesenberg J Bohman and Schwartz J464
Zonda R, NSX RR, Barrett-Jackson
Zonda R from Vienna
Earlier today Pagani finally launched the Zonda R at the Vienna Auto Show in Austria. Almost all the details were released years ago, but the real car was never displayed.
Photographed in bare carbon fiber, argentinaautoblog caught up with the Zonda R during its launch. With their cameraphone shots, we can now share Zonda R with you.
Another car which caught our attention recently is this Mugen NSX RR. NSX production ended four years ago, but that didn't drop Mugen from taking a street racer theme to the extreme. It's currently on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Like many that get Speed TV, we've been glued to the Barrett-Jackson auctions. Many of GM's Heritage Collection cars have been selling including some performance prototypes. These include the Corvette ZR1 Snake Skinner, Corvette ZR2 Big Doggie, Impala SS 510 Coupe and the Corvette ZR1 Active Suspension which sold for $150,700.00 USD.
2009 NAIAS
SLR McLaren Stirling Moss on the Show Floor
Just as the NAIAS closes its doors in Detroit we have the definitive list of supercars. Despite a tough year for the industry, the manufacturers still showed their respect for Motor City and launched an impressive number of debuts.
The SLR would be our top pick, alongside flagship models from Jaguar and Ford. Additionally, both GM and Chrysler showed performance electric concepts. Here's a gallery from the showfloor and the complete list of supercars:
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss
Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro
Audi Sportback Concept
Mini Cooper S Cabriolet
Jaguar XKR
Fisker Karma Sunset Concept
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S
Volkswagen BlueSport Concept
Volvo S60 Concept
Dodge Circuit EV
Cadillac Converj Concept
Jaguar XFR
Bentley Continental GTC Speed
Shelby Mustang GT500 Covertible
Shelby Mustang GT500 Coupe
Lincoln C Concept
GT-R Spec V, Hennessey Camaro, Jaguar XFR
Fake Blur & XFR, we get it.
On the cusp of Autosport International, Barrett-Jackson, the Tokyo Auto Salon and Detroit's NAIAS, there's plenty to look forward to in January. Take for instance this Hennessey Camaro. Pushing 705 bhp from the Corvette ZR1's V8, we haven't seen a more exciting engine transplant since the classic ZL1.
Detroit is still shaping up to be one of the top shows of 2009. Recently Jaguar entered the fray with their XFR. If the reviews of the standard model are anything to go by, then this model should be fantastic.
Nissan's GT-R was the hot ticket in 2009, so news of the SpecV upgrade is omnipresent. We're happy too, since this model ascends the GT-R to supercar territory.
