Aston Martin has revealed a new race derived Vantage GT8. Calling on all its sporting DNA, the new extreme special edition draws heavily on the V8 Vantage GTE race car, with sculpted carbon fibre bodywork and wide-bodied, race-bred aerodynamics. Powered by a revised 4.7-litre V8 with 446 PS, the Vantage GT8 will be strictly limited to just 150 examples with prices starting at £165,000 OTR.
The all-new Ford GT supercar was recently sent around a specially designed ‘Silverstone’ circuit.. in London. Loaded on the back of a Clear Idea transport truck, the World Endurance Championship race car completed the slowest lap ever at 2 hours 20 minutes as it admired landmarks on a route that started and finished at Southwark Underground station. The stunt marked the opening of order books for the ultra-high-performance GT as well as celebrating its debut season in the WEC which gets under way this weekend.
Lamborghini Aventador and Huracán owners can analyse their performance at track days thanks to a new smartphone App. Track and Play is an iOS App that ‘talks’ to the cars control unit using GPS and WiFi. With 56 preloaded tracks, or any created by the driver, Lamborghini says the App can collect and analyse all the telemetric data - recording sector and lap times, all synchronised with on board video footage.. It can’t stop you losing it through the chicane though.
Vauxhall has revealed its vision of a future sports car with the GT Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Described as avant-garde in design the show car, sporting sister brand Opel badges, is shorn of handles and mirrors while the doors open into the front arches, using a space-saving and patented mounting. Powered by a 1.0-litre, 145PS turbocharged engine 0-62 takes less than 8 seconds, while top speed is 134mph.
Jaguar has revealed the new F-Type SVR ahead of its Geneva Motor Show debut. Based on the F-Type 'R' variant, the new model becomes the first series production Jaguar to be developed by the Special Vehicle Operations department. Lighter, faster and more powerful, the 200mph super sports car is set to go on sale in the summer, in either coupe or convertible form. Further details will be released in Geneva.
LEGO has released a limited edition Ferrari F40 set. LEGO's designers studied the supercar's 134-page owner's manual in developing the 1,158 pieces for the 1:15 scale model. The model Ferrari features the iconc F40's pop up lights and triple exhaust while the rear hatch and large spoiler can be raised for a closer look at the removable 2.9-litre V8 engine. Available now, the LEGO Ferrari F40 is priced at £69.99.
BMW has previewed the Concept M4 GTS - a future high-performance model for road and track. It features new technologies such as an engine water injection system - which offers a ‘noticeable increase’ in output and torque and comes with carbon fibre aplenty. It runs on 20-inch lightweight M sport alloys and has a new light signature with organic LEDs.
Ferrari has revealed its new 488 Spider. Powered by a turbo-charged V8, pumping out 660bhp, the 488 Spider can cover the 0 to 62 sprint in just 3 seconds flat thanks in part to zero turbo lag - with a throttle response time of just 0.8 seconds. The Retractable Hard Top is 25 kg lighter than a comparable fabric roof and takes 14 seconds to fully retract. The Ferrari 488 Spider is set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Nissan has revealed a new, uber powerful Juke-R 2.0 concept. Borrowing the engine and running gear from the Nissan GT-R, the uprated Juke-R is capable of pumping out 600 bhp. Styling tweaks include a heavily redesigned front bumper with the cooling apertures now double in size to stop the monster power-plant from overheating. Sporting the Nissan ‘R’ matt black finish, the concept is an even more muscular, bolder and powerful version of its predecessor. No word yet as to if the Nissan Juke-R 2.0 will make it into production.
Alfa Romeo has revealed its all-new Giulia. The new rear-wheel drive sports saloon features plenty of Carbon fibre with a 50/50 weight distribution, short overhangs and a long bonnet – under which lies a range of new engines - including a bespoke unit for the flagship model. Tuned by engineers from a 'Ferrari background' the lightweight aluminium V6 turbo engine delivers 510bhp, propelling the Giulia Quadrifoglio from 0 to 62 in just 3.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.
A new concept car, the Alpine Celebration, has been revealed at Le Mans. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Renault’s racing department, the two-seater coupe was inspired by Alpine's motorsport heritage, and features sleek lines with carbon detailing. Finished in a deep blue with hints of orange, the colour scheme recalls the livery of past Le Mans entrys from Alpine, dating back as far as 1963. The Alpine Celebration is set to make an appearance next week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Audi has revealed its TT clubsport turbo concept, which is set for a Worthersee festival debut. Austria's annual meeting for Volkswagen Group enthusiasts will get the first glimpse of the 'colossal' 600PS machine, which is powered by 2.5-litre engine and a 'close to production ready' electrically powered biturbo compressor - which revs up to maximum rpm rapidly, without delay. With 650Nm of torque on tap, 0 to 62 takes just 3.6 seconds and top speed comes in at of 192 mph.
Peugeot has revealed its Vision Gran Turismo, designed exclusively for the Sony PlayStation game GranTurismo6. Featuring a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio – meaning its weight of 875kg results in 875bhp – the Hypercar also launches from 0 to 62 in just 1.73 seconds. A 3.2-litre V6 turbo engine sits just behind the driver and lays the power down via a six-speed manual transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo will be released as a part of a free update for the Sony PlayStation game in the very near future.
McLaren has launched the second model in its new Sports Series - the 540C Coupe. Priced from £126,000 OTR, it's powered by a 3.8-litre V8, delivering 540PS for a 0 to 62 time of 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 199 mph. Running on 19-inch wheels up front and 20's at the rear, and featuring a host of F1 derived components, the McLaren 540C Coupe is available for pre-order now.
Porsche has given a world debut to its 2015 Boxster Spyder at the New York Auto Show. The new range-topping Boxster retains the independent character of the previous Spyder with the fabric roof still opened and closed by hand, and the 3.8-litre flat six mated only to a manual transmission. The lightest and most powerful Boxster yet takes around 4.5 seconds to sprint to 62 and has a top speed of 180 mph. The new Porsche Boxster Spyder will go on sale in July with prices starting at £60,459 OTR.
McLaren has revealed its new 570S Coupe. The first model in a new 'Sports Series' family shares its DNA with the McLaren Super Series and Ultimate Series that sit above it in the range hierarchy. The light-weight 570S is billed as the most usable McLaren to date and is named after its 570PS 3.8-litre V8, which launches the new car to 62 in 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 204mph. The McLaren 570S goes on sale next month with pricing expected to be around the £145,000 mark.
Porsche chose Geneva for the world debut of the 911 GT3 RS. The uber coupe’s four-litre engine pumps out 500 brake horsepower for a 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds. Lightweight components include a magnesium roof and carbon fibre engine cover, while a low front spoiler, large rear wing and pit lane limiter button have been designed for the racetrack. Audi revealed its all-new R8 and confirmed prices for the second generation supercar, with the range-topping V10 plus costing £137,500 OTR. On sale in May, the new R8 boasts a 0-62 time of 3.2 seconds and top speed 205mph. Danish sportscarmaker Zenvo unveiled an updated ST1. It's powered by the same turbocharged and supercharged 6.8-litre V8, which is now mated to a new faster-shifting sequential automatic transmission, bringing the ST1's 0-62 time down to under 3 seconds.
The Infiniti QX30 concept made its global world debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The premium compact crossover hints at its off-road capabilities with a high-riding stance and huge 21-inch wheels, while incorporating flowing styling cues from other Infiniti concepts. Aston Martin surprised everyone in Geneva with its DBX all-electric, all-wheel drive crossover concept. The DBX features a deliberate use of non-automotive standard materials on the inside, with Nubuck leather and spaceship style hi-tech equipment. Nissan revealed its Sway concept, designed to shake up the compact hatchback segment with its 'edgy' styling, characterised by bold contours and flared arches. The interior is easily accessible thanks to rear-hinged back doors and no central B-pillar. Bentley unveiled the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept – a high performance two seater powered by a new, advanced hybrid powertrain. With its short front overhang, long bonnet and low grille, the Speed 6’s design is said to be influenced by the aerodynamic shapes of aircraft fuselages and wings.
With a 1969 Ford GT40 Mk III on display in Geneva, we thought we'd take a comparative look between this classic, one of only seven built, and all-new 2015 Ford GT. Despite being 46 years apart there are some striking similarities.