NY Auto Show Preview
Next best, E63 Coupe!
Today AMG officially announced that their E-Class sedan would be launched at the New York Auto Show. The new car uses a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and has the same updated E-Class styling first released at the Detroit Auto Show. As an alternative, both Brabus and Kicherer can upgrade the E500 to a similar level of performance.
Some other supercars to look out for in New York include the updated Spyker C8 Aileron and Steve Saleeen's SMS model lineup with the SMS Challenger 570 and 570X.
Lamborghini recently released the Murcielago LP650-4 Roadster with 10 more horsepower and dubious orange accents both inside and out. Tesla also released their Model S which is likely to change in detail before production begins in Q3 of 2011!
Porsche 917 at 40.
17 917s @ Rennsport
Porsche launched the 917 40 years ago and it's still their most important racecar to date. This dangerous, yet successful machine gave Porsche victory at Le Mans and all the other international races of its time.
Porsche started their long 917 race program in 1969 with a series of 25 identical cars that were upgraded throughout their career. The first major modification was a stability upgrade that came in 1970 with the 917 Kurzheck or short tail. Simultaneously a long tail 'Langheck' model was made for top speed down the Mulsanne Striaght.
By 1971 Porsche were experimenting with Can-Am versions and this 917 16-Cylinder Prototype was one of their first test mules. Eventually engineers turbocharged the design, leading to their most powerful variant, the 917/30 Spyder.
In 2007 we ran into the most impressive display of 917s to date at Rennsport Reunion III. A similar caliber of cars should be at this year's Monterey Historic Races to support Porsche as a feature marque. One such car will be 917-21 currently being restored and documented online by Gunnar Racing of Palm Beach, Florida.
Highlights from Amelia
A post-war masterpiece: the Faget Varnet Delahaye
In 2009 the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance brought out the world's best cars. Our feature Faget Varnet Delahaye is one such example that we've been following since its debut at Pebble Beach. Although it didn't win the show, it was our pick for next runner up.
Best of Show went to the famed Voisin Mylord, a sinister car with a rare sleeve-valve V12 engine. It was freshly restored for Amelia and the result is stunning. Another striking French car was this Amilcar Pegase with a body from Figoni.
Bill Warner, Amelia's founder, has an affection for post-war racing cars, so it's fitting that we showcase this Kurtis 500KK Sutton Roadster.
Some of the finest American cars were also present, including the rare DV-32 Super Bearcat. For one-ofs we have the 1954 Corvette Styling Concept and the Phantom Corsair with rare engine shots.
Audi win The 12 Hours of Sebring
The Peugeot finished 22.279 seconds behind.
Only 22 seconds ahead of Peugeot, the Audi R15 TDI defeated its competition in its debut race. Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish achieved a historic victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring with the new diesel-powered sports car. The Audi drivers completed 383 laps beating the previous distance record by an impressive 13 laps.
Alms said ''One slip up, one extra minute in the pits and the story might be different. McNish crossed the finish line 22.279 seconds ahead of Peugeot's Franck Montagny in an epic battle between sports car racing's two diesel powers.''
Risi Competizione won in GT2 for the second time in three years, this time much easier than the team's epic 2007 victory which it won in class by a race-record 0.202 seconds. Mika Salo took the checkered flag in Risi's Ferrari F430 GT that he drove with Pierre Kaffer and Jaime Melo by two laps. All these victors and the rest of the field can be found in our 2009 Sebring Gallery.
Amelia Island Concours
Best of Show: 1931 Voisin C20 Demi-Berline
The coveted Best of Show award was given to a fantastic Voisin C20 Mylord at last weekend's Amelia Island Concours. Not even one day past its restoration completion, this Voisin was among ten or so equally spectacular cars which could have taken the same honors. All these supercars can be found in this week's feature gallery.
Being one of the more organized events, Amelia had special classes with corresponding seminars. One of these was reserved for Custom Cars, including work from Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth and some more contemporary designers.
Unlike most other Concours, Amelia has a strong contingent of post-war racing cars in several dedicated classes. English driver David Hobbs was celebrated with many of his old rides and Group 44 had most of their British Leyland racecars on display.
Adding more value to the Amelia weekend, RM Auctions was also present. They failed to sell either the Ferrari California Spyder nor the Shelby Cobra Le Mans, but did flog most of the intermediate cars. We have a separate gallery dedicated to their sale.
LMP1 for 2009
The new face of Aston's LMP1
As international endurance racing begins its 2009 season, all the major prototype manufacturers have revealed their plans. The most recent of these is Aston Martin who have developed their LMP1 together with Lola. In splendid orange and blue livery, two Gulf cars will run the LMS series and contest Le Mans.
Audi's new R15 TDI will race alongside its R10 predecessor in 2009. It is specifically scheduled to race Le Mans and three other ALMS races. Finally more details and pictures of the R15 have surfaced before its main duel with Peugeot at the upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring.
Both Audi and Peugeot will face Acura in 2009 with their new ARX02. It will give gasoline-powered cars a chance at overall victory. We have some stunning new shots of the ARX02 to hold us over until the season begins.
Phantom Corsair at Amelia
$24,000 USD in 1938
While we anxiously await the Amelia Island Concours next week, it would be appropriate to feature its star car, the Phantom Corsair. Highlighting an upcoming class dedicated to Bohman & Schwartz at Amelia, we finally give this car the attention it deserves.
Created in 1938, this dream car was funded from the Heinz fortune as America's first supercar. Unfortunately, the Corsair's styling, specification and cost kept it from reaching production, however the original prototype survives intact. Our feature includes the best photos of this car ever published.
Also at Amelia, RM will be staging their yearly collector car auction. Several interesting lots will come up for sale including a 289 Cobra prepared for Le Mans. Our pick is this Packard Panther Concept which will be a very unique addition to the sale.
New Cars for FIAGT
Porsche Killer
The 2009 FIA GT Championships don't begin until Silverstone in May, but this doesn't mean the teams are docile. Instead they are hard at work to prepare their cars for the upcoming challenge. Some have taken to bold steps to try new cars included the one you see here.
Swiss team Kessel Racing have been hard at work on their new GT3 contender based on the F430 Scuderia. Hopefully this new car will catch up to the Matech Ford GT which dominated the series last year.
Together Gigawave and Nissan have made a great announcement saying that the Nissan GTR will be raced worldwide. Gigawave Motorsport in the UK will field the first FIA GT1-spec cars during four test races this year. Hopefully they will be able to take the car to Le Mans in 2010.
Geneva Part V: The Galleries
Ferrari 599XX, Best Car @ Geneva?
Today the Geneva Motor Show opened, offering spectators one of the best displays in recent years. All the supercar manufacturers launched new cars including Bugatti, Ferrari, Pagani, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg and Apollo.
Our photographer Dirk de Jager visited Geneva to capture a first glimpse of the Zagato-bodied Perana. We have assembled a gallery of his work starting with the Bugatti Bleu Centenaire. Like we suspected, the blogs had it wrong: this isn't a 1300 bhp version, instead a new trim level celebrating 100 years of Bugatti.
Ferrari's 599XX is set to take over what the FXX started a number of years ago. The first chassis seen at Geneva is an extreme model that goes beyond all racing regulations to make an extremely fast track day car. The cars will tour the world in 2010/2011.
These models and an astonishing number of new releases can be found in our official gallery. Four pages include several ultra rare models which still can't be found anywhere else.
Geneva Part IV
SuperVeloce LP670
Just before Geneva opens its doors we have three of the most exciting releases to cover. First and foremost is the return of Lamborghini's SV model with this spectacular Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce. Having 670 bhp and a weight reduction of 220 lbs (100 kg), this might be the fastest Lambo yet.
AMG have used Geneva to officially announce their SLS supercar with some sweet shots of their prototypes in testing. Maybe the car will be available for official release in Detroit like the SLR Stirling Moss.
We are still waiting on details from Bugatti's next special model Veyron called the Bleu Centenaire. It might feature upwards of 1300 bhp, but we suspect this is another retrim of the existing 1001 bhp model.
