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Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon 2011
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered an historic renaissance led by artful engineering and global expansion. Like the sedan and coupe models, the CTS-V sports Wagon is powered by the same 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 556 hp and 551 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine can be coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.
The exterior is finished in Midnight Silver, first seen on the Cadillac Sixteen Concept, and accented by lustrous Liquid Silver-finished wheels and a black chrome finish on the grille’s mesh insert. The rear fascia, upper spoiler and center high-mounted stop lamp are also unique to the show car. Its unique bodystyle is all we can say about what distinguishes the wagon from either of the other two high performance variants. It will ride on 19-inch aluminum wheels, pack magnetic ride control, Brembo brakes and has an optional panoramic sunroof. OK, so there’s something it has that the other two don’t.
Inside, the CTS-V Sport Wagon show car is trimmed in exclusive black leather with Alcantara accents. The upper section of the instrument panel and upper door panels are covered in the same premium leather, accented with midnight Sapele wood, while the microfiber material and stitching is applied to the lower door panels, pillars, console lid, headliner and steering wheel center. The show car features fine-grain black leather- trimmed Recaro seats with Alcantara seat inserts. The seat inserts are divided in the center and accented with dark gray stitching, while the V-series logo is laser etched into the seatbacks. Obsidian Black accents grace the center stack, console, steering wheel and door panels.
The interior of the CTS-V Sport Wagon is shared with the sedan, including streamlined instrumentation, LED lighting and hand-cut-and-sewn accents.
The brakes and tyres are taken care of by two big names in their respective fields – Brembo and Michelin – with six-piston callipers in the front and four-piston callipers in the rear housed behind Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber specifically engineered for the CTS-V.
The rest of the exterior carries the dramatic design of the new CTS Sport Wagon; the details of which include:
- Signature V-shaped deck and tailgate motif
- Large, vertical taillamps with light-pipe technology
- Power-opening liftgate (via key fob or in-vehicle button)
- CHMSL-integrated roof spoiler
- Integrated roof load management system with available cross bars for a seamless appearance
- Cargo management system with adjustable in-floor containment
- Available panoramic UltraView sunroof.
McLaren MP4-12C 2011
Many sports cars of the older generation are now being changed into new and innovative designs fit for the 21st century. The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C tackles both the authenticity of McLaren cars and taking F1 design to a new level.
The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C has many fresh features that will excite aficionados of the brand. Every part of the sports car is manufactured and designed by the car company itself. With all these features and design ingenuity, it is clear that the 2011 McLaren MP4-12C has the makings of a classic.
The chassis is now made using a Carbon MonoCell called 12C MonoCell. The structure is more slender than former models, which in turn allows the car to be maneuvered and positioned easier on the road. The Maclaren is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine producing around 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque. The engine is coupled to a McLaren seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG). It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3,5 seconds and can hit a top speed of more than 200mph.
Lightness is integrated into the design of the car. This can be seen in various parts all over the car. Access to the comfortable interior is through large ‘dihedral’ doors that are opened by swiping a hand underneath the broad shoulder running across the top of the door. The dihedral design uses just one hinge and allows for full access even in the tightest of spaces. Functionality is also prevalent throughout the interior. All switches and buttons are mounted within reach of the driver and are grouped according to application. The most important information is presented to the driver in the binnacle behind the steering wheel, which features a very prominent, tachometer. Additional info is presented in a screen mounted on the floating centre console. The grip of the steering wheel is modelled after grips of the wheels used by McLaren’s World Championship winning Formula 1 drivers.
All the parts of the McLaren MP4-12C are bespoke and unique to this car. Everything from the engine right down to the tailor-made switches and buttons is pure McLaren: nothing has come from another manufacturer’s parts bin.
Lexus SC430 2009
The Lexus SC 430 is a luxurious roadster that converts to a hardtop coupe with the press of a button.
The 2009 Lexus SC 430 comes out with a stylish hardtop and number of modifications that includes powerful engine and interiors. The SC 430 boasts true sports car credentials: rear-wheel drive, a fully independent suspension. It is trimmed in leather with beautiful wood and chrome accents. Also standard is a navigation system and Mark Levinson audio with nine speakers.
The Lexus SC 430 features a powerful engine, power retractable hardtop, a 288-horsepower 4.3-liter V8, six-speed automatic transmission, and a long list of luxury features. The engine is paired with six speed manual transmission that makes use of Shift Logic Control and helps the shifting of gears easily at high accelerations.
The Lexus SC 430 is of all wheel drive and it features a retractable hardtop that can be opened or closed by the touch of a button. The car features an independent double wishbone suspension that helps to deliver a smooth drive. The five spoke 18-inch wheels are covered with 245/40 R 18 tires and the wheels consists of ventilated disc brakes.
The safety features in the car includes the side air bags, front knee air bags and weight detection sensor that activates depending up on the passenger’s weight.
Interior
The interiors are finished in wood and it includes the leather seats, navigation system, Mark Levinson Premium Audio System and sporty steering wheel. Considered a 2+2 coupe, the SC 430 has a tiny backseat that’s intended mainly for luggage, which is helpful considering its sliver-shaped trunk. Rear legroom is nearly nonexistent.
- Navigation system
- Heated 10-way power front seats
- Power tilt/telescoping steering wheel
- Nine-speaker Mark Levinson stereo with an in-dash CD changer
- 8.8 cubic feet of cargo volume; installing run-flat tires and eliminating the spare tire yields a tad more space
Exterior
The exterior includes retractable hardtop, elegant lines and unique paint on the lower body panels. Although the 2009 Lexus SC 430 is dated, it remains a solid choice as a luxury convertible. Practically every road imperfection is smoothed over by its compliant suspension, and the engine readily and quietly spools up to redline with minimal drama. These qualities make for a great road-trip coach (as long as you don’t have much luggage) or boulevard cruiser, but they also reduce any sporting capabilities. The SC 430′s lack of feedback and lethargic handling are likely to disappoint driving enthusiasts.
Lexus calls the exterior color Mercury Metallic and the interior has two-tone black- and ecru-colored leather. It also comes with unique wheels.
- High-intensity-discharge headlights
- Fog lights
- Adaptive Front-lighting System swivels the headlights for better illumination around curves
- 103.1-inch wheelbase
- 53.1 inches tall
- 18-inch wheels
- Available rear spoiler
- Available run-flat tires
Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR 2010
The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is one of the leading cars among Dodge’s extensive collection of SUV’s and MPV’s. The motor company’s dedication in bringing about fast, bold and ingenious vehicles are readily apparent in all its car models.
It is the first of several special limited-edition models of the Viper due out in 2010. The new ACR has an 8.4 liter capacity, a 560 lb –ft. torque and boasts of a V-10 engine at 600 hp. It has the latest short-shifter feature plus the end plates as well as the rear wing were redesigned to enhance the car’s aerodynamics, thus increasing the top speed to an amazing 184 mph. The all-new 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is surely a hit among fast car lovers.
Benchmark performance numbers, including 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, quarter-mile time in the mid 11-second range and 0-100-0 mph in 11 seconds flat, and a top speed of 202 mph, continue to prove how the serious, race-inspired, street-legal two-seater performs without apology.
Interior color options for 2010 include: standard black, two-tone black and red with red accent stitching, two-tone black and blue with blue accent stitching, two-tone black and medium slate grey with medium slate grey accent stitching and the two-tone black and natural tan with premium tan Nappa leather seats, tan center console, lower instrument panel and door panels introduced for the 2009 model year. On the Roadster model, the black and tan package includes a matching tan cloth convertible top.
Chrysler once again noted that body style offerings remain unchanged for the Viper. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.
The suspension has been tuned for track duty, the weight has been cut by 160 pounds and a new set of aerodynamic enhancements improve downforce, while a roll cage, fuel cell and race seat get it ready to compete in the SCCA and NASA Viper Racing League. Additional aerodynamic upgrades improve downforce, while enhancing stability and significantly improving grip in high-speed cornering.
Similar to the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, the Viper ACR-X contains factory-installed safety equipment such as a factory-designed roll cage, fuel cell and race seat. Additional racing components are added to meet the significant durability and reliability requirements for on-track competition.
The enhanced four-wheel independent suspension features high-performance aluminium control arms and knuckles, KW suspension with two-way adjustable competition coil-over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.
Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 2010
Chevrolet recently gave a large crowd of Corvette fanatics a most welcome surprise. Rather than unveiling the 2010 Grand Sport at the New York auto show, the company instead chose to pull the covers off this hot new model during the 12th annual Corvette Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 remains, pumping out the same extremely capable 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft or torque (436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft with the optional two-mode sport exhaust) and is easily manipulated to do your bidding through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The engine, however, remains the LS3 small block V-8 from a standard Corvette, with horsepower figures of 430 or 436, the latter when equipped with the optional 2-mode exhaust system. Unlike the Z06, model the Grand Sport will be available as a convertible and with an automatic transmission. Gear ratios and final drives are those of the Z51 performance package.
The high-performance look of the Grand Sport has brought with it some genuine performance benefits, if not exactly in the same league as the Z06. First there’s the increased footprint represented by the wider tires. Then tucked inside the new, wider wheels are Z06-size brakes (14 inches across up front carrying six-piston calipers and 13.4 inches in the rear squeezed by four-piston calipers). These stoppers should help combat the bit of brake fade we noted in our test of the ’09 coupe, especially since the generous Z06-style cooling ducts in the bodywork should make a difference. The Grand Sport also uses the Z06′s stiff antiroll bars, and the damping and springs have been revised (though they are not the same spec as the Z06).
The Grand Sport’s calipers are distinguished by their silver with red lettering and the rotors have been enlarged to Z06-spec, 14-inch with six-piston calipers in front and 13.4-inch with four-piston grabbers in the rear. Also equipped are revised shock/spring settings and heavier duty stabilizer bars. The 2010 Grand Sport rides on unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels wrapped in sticky 275/35ZR18 and 325/30ZR19 tires, front and rear.
Every 2010 Corvette equipped with a manual transmission, including Grand Sport models, comes standard with a nearly foolproof launch-control program. Put the traction and stability control system in Competitive mode, depress the clutch, put the right pedal on the floor mat, and sidestep the clutch. Chevy says it has no worries about the durability of its driveline while using launch control, a little needle-poke to the folks at Nissan. A guy whose job it is to track-test cars can squeeze a slightly better acceleration figure than the launch control can. But he can’t be as consistent. And while using it, even the lamest Corvette driver never need worry about performance anxiety and/or clumsiness resulting in stoplight humiliation.
Think of the Corvette Grand Sport model as a “Z06 Light.” The suspension, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar runflat tires, dry sump, rear mounted battery, front splitter, big brakes and cooling ducts are derived directly from the Z06 model.
