2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

The ultimate 911 extracts 620 ultra-efficient, twin-turbocharged horsepower from 3.6 liters and provides best-in-class power-to-weight ratio 

The time: seven minutes, 18 seconds on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The power: 620 hp. The weight: 3,020 lb (1,370 kilograms) in road trim with all fluids on board. The car: the new 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

The latest 911 is the fastest and most powerful road-going sports car ever built in the history of Porsche. With horsepower (hp) up by 90 and weight down by 154 lbs (70 kilograms) in comparison with the previous 911 GT2, the new 911 GT2 RS has a power-to-weight ratio of just 4.9 lbs (2.21 kg) per horsepower, by far the best power/weight ratio in its class. These are the ideal ingredients for an ultra-high-performance sports car with supreme agility and truly blistering performance on the road. Perfectly illustrating Porsche Intelligent Performance, the 2011 GT2 RS achieves a reduction of approximately 5 percent for both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions when compared with the previous 911 GT2.

The 3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine features two variable turbine geometry turbochargers and provides power to the rear wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual gearbox. Equally impressive stopping power comes from Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB).

New tires were specifically developed for the 911 GT2 RS and measure 245/35 ZR19 at the front and 325/30 ZR19 at the rear, delivering cornering performance to match the straight-line speed. Extreme cornering dynamics are ensured by the setup of the springs, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management (PASM), unique anti-roll bars, specific engine mounts and recalibrated Porsche Stability Management (PSM), whose stability and traction control functions can be switched off individually.

The combined effect of these developments is evident on the racetrack. In fact, the ultimate 911 accelerates from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, boasts a top-track speed of 205 mph and laps the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife racetrack in just 7 minutes and 18 seconds.
 Porsche 911 GT2 RS: Review (2/2)

Specifications
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive
Powertrain
Type	H6, Twin-Turbo
Displacement	221 cu in (3614 cc)
Power	620 hp @ 6500 RPM
Torque	516 lb-ft @ 2250-5500 RPM
Redline	n/a
Driveline	Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission	6 Speed Manual
Brakes & Tires
Brakes Front - Rear	Ventilated Disc - Ventilated Disc
Tire Size Front - Rear	245/35 ZR19 - 325/30 ZR19
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length	175.9 in
Width	72.9 in
Height	50.6 in
Curb Weight	3075 lbs
Performance
0-60	3.4 s
1/4 Mile	n/a
60-0 Braking	n/a
Top Speed	205 mph
Fuel Economy
EPA Fuel Mileage - City/Highway	n/a
Origin & Price
Origin	Germany
Base Retail Price (MSRP)	$245,000

2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

To celebrate the LFA's hat-trick of class wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, Lexus has created the Nürburgring Package, an array of aerodynamic features, suspension adjustments and revisions to the 4.8-liter V10 engine that give the supercar a more track-focused profile. Shown in public for the first time at the Geneva motor show, the performance option is available on just 50 of the 500 cars that will be built. These versions will be crafted during 2012, the second full year of LFA production.



To sharpen the car's circuit driving performance even further by increasing downforce at high speed, the Nürburgring Package introduces modifications and additions to several key carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) components. These include a larger front spoiler, fin-type side spoilers, a canard fin and a fixed rear wing.

To ensure the LFA maintains its 3.6-second acceleration time from 0 to 60 mph, in spite of the increased drag, the V10 engine has been revised to increase maximum power by 10 hp to 562 hp. Shift times in the six-speed sequential transmission are just 0.15 seconds.

In terms of handling modifications, the package features suspension tuning and a 0.4-inch (10 mm) reduction in the ride height. Exclusive mesh-type wheels are introduced, fitted with dedicated high-grip tires.

Exterior color choices are restricted to matte black, black, white or orange, with interiors finished in black and red, black and purple and all-black. Cars delivered in Europe will feature a carbon fiber center console and door trims, with carbon fiber sports seats finished in Alcantara.

Customers who specify the package will also be offered one-to-one driving tuition from a Nürburgring chief instructor and a year's pass to enjoy their car on the famous Nordschleife circuit.

Specifications
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive
Powertrain
Type	V10
Displacement	293 cu in (4805 cc)
Power	562 hp @ 8700 RPM
Torque	354 lb-ft @ 6800 RPM
Redline	9000 RPM
Driveline	Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission	6 Speed Sequential Automatic
Brakes & Tires
Brakes Front - Rear	Ventilated Discs - Ventilated Discs
Tire Size Front - Rear	n/a
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length	177 in
Width	74.6 in
Height	47.6 in
Curb Weight	n/a
Performance
0-60	3.6 s
1/4 Mile	n/a
60-0 Braking	n/a
Top Speed	202 mph
Fuel Economy
EPA Fuel Mileage - City/Highway	n/a
Origin & Price
Origin	Japan
Base Retail Price (MSRP)	n/a

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

The McLaren MP4-12C is revealed as the first in a range of high-performance sports cars from McLaren Automotive, the independent car division based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. The 12C, and future models within the range, will challenge the world's best sports cars, benefiting from the expertise and virtuosity of the McLaren Group.


Twenty years of sports car design, engineering and production combined with inspirational success in Formula 1 have driven Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive Chairman, to announce his plans for the ultimate line-up of technology-led and customer-focused performance cars for the 21st century. The rules in the sports car world are about to be re-written.         

Through a rich modern history, McLaren's automotive division has already built the world's most critically acclaimed supercar, the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the world's best-selling luxury supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2009). McLaren Automotive now looks to the future with a new range of revolutionary sports cars.

"It is a long-held dream of mine to launch a range of high performance sports cars that set new standards in the industry," said Dennis.

"We began designing and building cars for aficionados of thoroughbred sports cars almost 20 years ago. Incorporating the leading edge technologies that the McLaren Group has built up within its various companies, I believe we are now perfectly placed to open up this new chapter in McLaren's history as well as play a part in the regeneration of high-tech manufacturing in the UK and global automotive environment," he concluded.

At its heart, the MP4-12C features a revolutionary carbon fiber chassis structure, the Carbon MonoCell: the first time a car in this market segment is based around such a strong and lightweight racing car engineering solution and the first time any car has ever featured a one-piece carbon fiber structure.

This step change in sports car design means that the 12C introduces new standards not just in handling, ride and outright performance, but also safety, economy and practicality in an already competitive sector.

The first car from the new company, the McLaren MP4-12C, is a high performance two-seat mid-engine model in the 'core' sports car market segment. The 12C goes on sale at a groundbreaking price of $229,000 for a carbon chassis-based car and McLaren Automotive will produce up to 1,000 12Cs for sale worldwide in its first production year.

With the new McLaren Production Centre fully operational, it is anticipated that McLaren will build up to 4,000 cars across its model range annually by the middle of the decade, a figure that will account for between three and four percent of the annual global market for premium sports cars.

Specifications
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive
Powertrain
Type	V8, Twin-Turbo
Displacement	232 cu in (3800 cc)
Power	592 hp @ 7000 RPM
Torque	443 lb-ft @ 3000-7000 RPM
Redline	8500 RPM
Driveline	Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission	7 Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
Brakes & Tires
Brakes Front - Rear	Ventilated Disc - Ventilated Disc
Tire Size Front - Rear	235/35 R19 - 305/30 R20
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length	177.4 in
Width	75.2 in
Height	47.2 in
Curb Weight	3161 lbs
Performance
0-60	3.2 s
	3.0 s (w/ Corsa Tire Option)
1/4 Mile	10.9 s @ 134 mph
60-0 Braking	97 ft
Top Speed	205 mph
Fuel Economy
EPA Fuel Mileage - City/Highway	n/a (11.7 l/100 km)
Origin & Price
Origin	United Kingdom
Base Retail Price (MSRP)	$229,000

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

With the Aventador LP 700-4, Lamborghini is redefining the very pinnacle of the world super sports car market - brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering and phenomenal handling precision are combined with peerless design and the very finest equipment to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. With the Aventador, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future - and building on the history of the brand with the next automotive legend. The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 in late summer 2011

The technology package of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is utterly unique. It is based on an innovative monocoque made from carbon-fiber that combines exceptional lightweight engineering with the highest levels of stiffness and safety. The new twelve-cylinder with 6.5 liters' displacement and 700 hp brings together the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with astonishing low-end torque. Thanks to a dry weight of only 3,472 lbs (1,575 kilograms), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 4.96 lbs/hp (2.25 kilograms per hp). Even the fantastic 0-60 mph acceleration figure of just 2.8 seconds and the top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h) do not fully describe the Aventador's extreme performance. And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 percent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (+8%).

The ISR transmission is unique among road-going vehicles, guaranteeing the fastest shifting time (only 50 milliseconds) and a highly emotional shift feel, while the lightweight chassis with pushrod suspension delivers absolute handling precision and competition-level performance. The expressively-designed interior offers hi-tech features ranging from the TFT cockpit display with Drive Select Mode system. The Aventador will be built to the very highest quality standards in an all-new production facility in Sant'Agata Bolognese.

"With the Aventador LP 700-4, the future of the super sports car is now part of the present. Its exceptional package of innovative technologies is unique, its performance simply overwhelming," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "The Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, it's the result of an entirely new project, but at the same time it's a direct and consistent continuation of Lamborghini's brand values. It is extreme in its design and its performance, uncompromising in its standards and technology, and unmistakably Italian in its style and perfection. Overall, the dynamics and technical excellence of the Aventador LP 700-4 makes it unrivalled in the worldwide super sports car arena."   

Aventador: The Name of One of the Most Courageous of All Bulls

According to its tradition, Lamborghini's new flagship bears the name of a bull - naturally, a particularly courageous specimen from the world of the Spanish Corrida. Aventador was the name of a bull that entered into battle in October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the "Trofeo de la Pena La Madronera" for its outstanding courage.

Exterior Design

For Lamborghini, design is always the beauty of aggressive power, the elegance of breathtaking dynamics. From the very first glance, the new Aventador is unmistakably a Lamborghini, clothed in the brand's characteristic and distinctive design language - with its extremely powerful proportions, its exact lines and precise surfaces, and with taut muscularity in every one of its details. The designers in the Centro Stile Lamborghini have carefully developed this design language to give the Aventador a significant new edge. It is an avantgarde work of art, an incredibly dynamic sculpture, from the sharply honed front end through the extremely low roofline to the distinctive rear diffuser. Every line has a clear function, every form is dictated by its need for speed, yet the overall look is nothing less than spectacular and breathtaking.

Specifications
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive
Powertrain
Type	V12
Displacement	397 cu in (6498 cc)
Power	700 hp @ 8250 RPM
Torque	509 lb-ft @ 5500 RPM
Redline	n/a
Driveline	All Wheel Drive
Transmission	7 Speed Single-Clutch Automatic
Brakes & Tires
Brakes Front - Rear	Ventilated Discs - Ventilated Discs
Tire Size Front - Rear	255/35 ZR19 - 335/30 ZR20
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length	188.2 in
Width	79.9 in
Height	44.7 in
Curb Weight	3472 lbs
Performance
0-60	2.8 s
1/4 Mile	n/a
60-0 Braking	n/a
Top Speed	217 mph
Fuel Economy
EPA Fuel Mileage - City/Highway	n/a (17.2 l/100 km)
Origin & Price
Origin	Italy
Base Retail Price (MSRP)	$379,000

2012 Ferrari FF

The 81st Geneva International Motor Show played host to the unveiling of the revolutionary FF, a four-wheel drive four-seater with a mid-front V12 that is the most powerful and versatile car Ferrari has ever built


The Ferrari FF makes its eagerly-waited debut at Geneva after the huge build-up of expectation and interest created by the client premiere at Maranello.

The revolutionary Ferrari FF offers a completely new take on the sporting Grand Tourer theme. It is not only the first Ferrari with four-wheel drive, but, more significantly, a model that hails a major break with the past, effortlessly melding extreme sports car performance with the versatility and usability of a genuine GT and boasting an extremely innovative design.

Ferrari FF Style and Design

Styled by Pininfarina, the FF's lines effortlessly reflect its signature uncompromising balance of sportiness and versatility. It can comfortably accommodate four in its body-hugging seats and spacious cabin. Its 450 liter boot can also be extended to 800 liters as the rear seats fold down independently. This means that the FF offers more luggage space not only than any other car in its category, but also many four-door saloons, too.

Everything aboard the FF is tailored specifically to the needs and tastes of its driver with a choice of six exclusive colors and the finest Frau aniline leathers specially treated to enhance their natural softness. The FF's exceptional specification enhances in-car enjoyment for all four occupants. Features include a new rear-seat infotainment system with two screens for watching TV and DVD and a 1,280 Watt, 16-channel stereo system with Dolby Surround Sound.

The interior has also been optimized weight-wise through the use of high-tech materials such as magnesium for the seats.  
V12 Engine with 7-Speed Transmission

Every single area of the FF brims with innovation, not least its engine, the first GDI V12 to be coupled with the seven-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox. The V12 unleashes a massive 660 hp at 8,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 504 lb-ft (683 Nm) at 6,000 rpm with 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) already available at just 1,000 rpm. This ensures the performance figures of an extreme sports car, with the 0-60 mph sprint covered in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph (335 km/h). Efficiency has been significantly boosted too, with fuel consumption now standing at just 15.4 liters per 100 km, and CO2 emissions at 360 g/km, a 25 per cent reduction compared to the previous V12s, thanks in part to the HELE (High Emotions- Low Emissions) System which incorporates Stop&Start technology.

Specifications
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive
Powertrain
Type	V12
Displacement	382 cu in (6262 cc)
Power	660 hp @ 8000 rpm
Torque	504 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm
Redline	8000 rpm
Driveline	All Wheel Drive
Transmission	7 Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
Brakes & Tires
Brakes Front - Rear	Ventilated Discs - Ventilated Discs
Tire Size Front - Rear	245/35 R20 - 295/35 R20
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length	192.3 in
Width	76.9 in
Height	54.3 in
Curb Weight	3946 lbs
Performance
0-60	3.6 s
1/4 Mile	n/a
60-0 Braking	115 feet
Top Speed	208 mph
Fuel Economy
EPA Fuel Mileage - City/Highway	n/a (15.4 l/100 km)
Origin & Price
Origin	Italy
Base Retail Price (MSRP)	$300,000 (Est.)