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A guest post by Neill Watson, photographer-writer-blogger
Yellowwheels editor Timtim posed me a really intriguing question today over a quick email chat – which is best, a lightweight car with minimal horsepower or a car with a bit more weight but a lot more power? A very good question and one that I believe I’ve answered to my own personal satisfaction this year. However, as the Americans are fond of saying, “your mileage may vary”
BMW M3
To put this into perspective, let me explain one of my day jobs. In addition to being a car photo-journalist, I’m also a track instructor. I spend a significant slice of my waking hours sitting in a variety of cars, from a 640BHP Lamborghini LP640 to a 120 BHP Lotus Elise and pretty much everything in between, either driving or imparting my limited knowledge. From BMW E46 M3 (a personal favourite) to Ferrari 458 Italia, I have a fair bit of seat time in them all. So, which is best? A 640 Bhp projectile or a 120 BHP mountain goat?
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A year ago Porsche’s 918 surprise at the Geneva Motor Show blew us away. Looking small and dainty but extraordinarily desirable it was pitched as a Carrera GT replacement. Yet it didn’t quite have the commanding presence of the GT, even if it’s spec and integration of hybrid technology made it worthy. If it’s 7:30min Nürburgring lap time is anything to go on, then it certainly qualified on speed and agility. Something about the folded paper look, lack of roof and delicate detailing of the show car made us want to put some horny rims on, install a loud exhaust and wake up the neighbours.
Geneva Motor Show 2011 - Porsche 918 RSR - embroidered seat and electro fill cap
Now exhibited in racing trim at the 2011 Geneva Show, that desire is mostly answered. the fixed roof, arch-filling racing slicks, additional carbon aerodynamic aids and orange “racing” decals vaguely recalling Gulf Oil sponsorship of the past, give it a butchness it was otherwise lacking. If Batman turned up in this beast, Gotham City would stand back and know what was coming. If Batman had turned up in the 918 “prototype”, he’d have Robin mince out slyly, while he conducted proceedings from his iPad3.
Limited edition Lexus LFA unveiled before 2011 Geneva Show
A $375,000 supercar, of which only 500 will be built, not exclusive enough for you? Good news: the petrolheads over at the Lexus skunkworks have honed a special lightweight, track day version of their already awesome LFA for you. Only 50 will be made and christened “Nürburgring Package”. These special, limited edition cars are tuned to deliver exceptionally fast track times and sport large aeordynamic aids to keep downforce and consequently cornering speed high. To compensate there’s an extra 10bhp to push that huge wing through the air, supplemented by a 100kg weight reduction that sees acceleration maintained and, no doubt, braking distance reduced. To keep the connection with the Nürburgring going, buyers will be given free tuition and a years pass for the Nordschleife – this car is, after all, built to celebrate class victories there.
Here’s a Yellowwheels totally exclusive video of the car being unloaded for the photoshoot. You won’t see this anywhere else!
That massive carbon wing is fixed in position, unlike the standard car’s retractable one. There’s a huge front dam/tray that reduces effective ground clearance beyond the 10mm ride height lowering. Subtle chin winglets help channel air where it’s wanted, whilst at the rear, just over the tail-lights, Lexus have added small flaps. Inside, a liberal dose of carbon fibre and Alcantara replaces the standard leather. The Geneva Motor Show will be the car’s first public appearance on 3rd March.
Porsche 918 RSR on the menu at 2011 Detroit Auto Show
Take a Porsche 918 Spyder, a GT3R Hybrid, a 917 short-tail, a 908 long tail, mix your ingredients in a Stuttgart bowl. measure out 70% Gulf Racing blue and infuse with 30% liquid metal chrome. Pour into a CFRP oven-proof container and bake for 9 months in a moderate autoclave. Carefully place 917 fan into top cover and insert front splitter and RS Spyder racer’s wing, and allow to become cool. Now decorate with orange stripe and “22″ to recall racing glories. Voila, a “racing laboratory” and PR exercise neatly baked, with a Michelin 4 rubber ring rating. However, this is an experimental recipe and should be tasted with reserve until a full race version has been prepared to perfection.
Ingredients:
1 RS Syder V8 race engine and drive-train (563 bhp – 767 bhp when blended with flywheel)
1 GT3R Flywheel accumulator and electric motors (204 bhp, care, may spin viciously)
1 918 Syder monocoque and body (peel and grate, cover with fold forward doors)
1 917 fan cooling system (boil 40 years to reduce)
1 908 Body styling cues (free lunch)
add a liberal dose of racing heritage
(CGI rendering optional )
Read on for master-chef’s full description and baking tips – a foodie’s feast
Lambo roll out a soft top version of the Gallardo Superleggera and call it the Performante
Here’s Lambo’s latest: the Spyder version of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera. Rather than call it a Superleggera Spyder though, it’s moniker is Performante. Why is a mystery, it translates as high performance and is feminine, but who are we to quibble over a name when the product is sumptuous? Like the fixed top, its raison d’être is lightness. Lamborghini have shaved 65 kgs off the kerb weight over the cooking roadster by using those superlight Superleggera rims and an abundance of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). Alcantara seats are lighter than traditional leather so guess what you get? You do however get aircon and ICE (unlike the Porsche Cayman R we just covered). And you can make your car lighter still by deleting the rear carbon wing off the options list; but that would be a shame.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante - with and without roof
On November 5, 2010, In News, Supercars, by yellowwheels
The last Lamborghini Murcielago to roll off the production line
End of the line for Lamborghini’s Murcielago
So the last Murcielago rolls off the Lamborghini production line. Strange to finish on chassis number 4099. why not make it a nice rounded number like 4000 or 4100? This LP 670-4 Superveloce ends a long production run spanning nearly ten years. Sad to see it go, but even more exciting is the factory space it liberates for its successor and future models. Lamborghini’s Sesto Elemento, shown at the Paris Motor Show hints at its replacement. The Murcielago was looking dated and hasn’t had the invigorating makeovers lately that keep the Gallardo fresh and exciting.
From Lamborghini One of the most successful super sports cars of all time takes a bow – the last Murciélago to be produced bears the number 4,099
It is one of the most stunning and successful super sports cars of all time – the Lamborghini Murciélago. And that will always be the case, even if its production life has now come to an end. At the headquarters of the badge bearing the sign of the bull in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the last Murciélago left the production line on May 11, 2010 – headed to a Swiss customer. With “Arancio Atlas” paintwork, the LP 670-4 Superveloce proudly bears the production number 4,099. This makes the Murciélago not only by far the most-produced Lamborghini twelve-cylinder of all time, but also one of the world’s most successful super sports cars. (more…)
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