We were quite impressed with the virtual Red Bull X1 Prototype, the fastest car in the upcoming fifth installment of the Gran Turismo series. This time, Evo Magazine reveals that Red Bull has decided to build a scale model, which will be shown at the GT5 launch party in Madrid, in a few weeks time.
As previously reported, the virtual X1 will feature a twin-turbocharged 3-liter V6 engine, producing 1,483 hp (1,106 kW) and – new piece of information – 526 lb-ft (713 Nm) of torque.
According to Red Bull's older press release, the X1 can reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in a mind-boggling 1.4 seconds, 120 mph (193 km/h) in 2.8 seconds and last but not least, 200 mph (320 km/h) in a mere 6.1 seconds.
Should by any chance the X1 become a reality, an important question arises: who will dare pilot this thing as it can effortlessly generate 8.25 Gs during cornering?
The Red Bull X1 will be the fastest car in Sony's forthcoming Gran Turismo 5 - that is, if the game ever comes out… To prove this, Sebastian Vettel was asked to do a lap of the Nürburgring race track. As you'd expect, it was done in record time and you can witness it by watching the video after the break.
This is all fine and dandy, but the X1 doesn't exist in real life. However, the science behind it is very real, so, if it were to be built, it would be the fastest vehicle on Earth. Let's check out some [virtual] facts and numbers.
On paper, the X1 measures 0.98 m (38.58 inches) tall, 2.18 m (85.82 inches) wide and 4.75m (187 inches) long - or about the same length as an average family sedan.
Power comes from a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that produces in theory 1,483 hp (1,106 kW) at an equally astonishing 15,000 rpm! That's right: 283 horses more than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
To say that something this powerful is fast is an understatement. The X1 could easily reach 450 km/h or 280 mph, while the Veyron Super Sport maxes out at 431 km/h or 267 mph. Then again, that's in real life...
As for the other performance figures; 0-60 (0-96 km/h) comes in 1.4 seconds; 0-120 mph (0-193 km/h) in 2.8 seconds and 0-200 mph (0-320 km/h) in a truly incredible 6.1 seconds.
These numbers are a possibility because the X1 is not just insanely powerful, but also very light. According to the designers, it tips the scales at a mere 615 kg (1,356 lbs) - almost on par with a 1959 MINI, or with Mark Webber's weight, when cornering at 300 km/h (186 mph) and enduring 8.25Gs! Oh man, that is jet fighter territory! Oh, you really have to build this Red Bull, you really do.
Now here's a dream come true: taking an old-school muscle car - in this case, a black 1970 Dodge Challenger - out on the Autobahn and winding it out. This bad-to-the-bone vintage ride appears to have been lightly modified or restored so as to not rattle to pieces, although there's no way of knowing for sure until the owner drops us a line (do it, 66PaleRider).
Whoever the driver is, there's no denying that the long-haired fiend has got a pair; pushing old muscle up to 130+ mph in any instance has been known to get a little shaky. The last time yours truly tried such a feat in the old Stang, I recall a trail of white smoke about a mile long and desperately seeking an off ramp (but man was it fun).
Repair results were better than expected, but the lesson was loud and clear: unrestored 289s have a bit of trouble getting up higher than 90 and shouldn't be pushed. In the case of this '70 Challenger, though, we see that's not really the case.
Enjoy the vids below, and if anyone knows some info about the car, send it on over. I smell a feature.
The next-gen Mercedes SL63 AMG has officially been caught testing, aaaaaaaannnd...there it is. Much like the SLS and recently-revealed CLS, the front end of Merc's new hardtop roadster will sport a more in-your-grille fascia (punny, I know). It's so blunt and brutish, I'd say the German firm's stylists could have been helping Dodge with the 2011 Charger.
Up front you'll notice the padded bra covering wide-mouth AMG intakes, while the bigger alloys are there to house bigger AMG stoppers. Suspension and other special bits will probably be as differentiated as the current generation's lineup ("sportier" and "edgier" and so on), and the interior should feature an SL version of the new kinked center stack we're seeing in Benz's sporty models.
As for the car's powertrain, no surprises here as the SL63 will be motivated by AMG's all-new 5.5 liter Bi-Turbo V8 (still don't like that it's a "63" model, no matter what reasons are thrown behind it) hooked to a 7-speed automatic. The engine currently puts down 536 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque in the facelifted CL63 AMG, but those numbers could be tweaked by the time the new SL debuts.
Much like previous models, we can expect a speed de-limiter and probably a performance package that would bump the hardtop convertible SL63s output up to 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, throw in some bigger wheels and tires, and add some carbon fiber in the engine bay.
Nissan appears to be preparing a new SpecM version of the upgraded for the 2011 model year, GT-R sports car, as several lightly camouflaged prototypes were spied testing at the Nurburgring race track. The SpecM model was rumored to debut at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, but that never happened.
The prototype GT-Rs seen in this video look like they are equipped with the same aero kit and forged alloy wheels as the more hardcore SpecV model, but with a different design for the quad-exhaust tips.
There's nothing official on the GT-R SpecM yet, however, recent reports from Japan say that the SpecM will get a revised suspension geometry for a softer and more road-friendly ride along with exclusive trim and color options as well as higher quality materials for the interior. The same reports suggest there won't be any changes under the hood.
Looks like Lamborghini is working on the development of a topless version of its limited-run Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni special, which was named after the Italian company's most renowned test driver. The test mule was spied testing in and around the famous Nürburgring race track.
As with the coupe model, the Gallardo Spyder LP550-2 Valentino Balboni will ditch the standard Gallardo's four-wheel drive system for a lighter rear-wheel drive configuration, with power coming from a 5.2-liter V10 engine pushing out 550HP and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm, hooked up to either a manual gearbox or an e-gear automated transmission with column-mounted shift paddles.
It will also feature a 45-percent limited-slip differential, upgraded chassis with new suspension settings, a recalibrated ESP, and new alloy wheels and tires.
Given that the car's mechanical hardware is identical to the coupe model, we could see the Gallardo Spyder LP550-2 Valentino Balboni making its debut as early as this fall at the Paris Motor Show.
Here's another spy video of the A7 Sportback, Audi's upcoming, low-roofline hatchback [sic]. Based on the architecture of the next-generation of the A6, the A7 will slot into the Audi lineup above the A6 and below the A8, in the same way that the A5 Sportback fits between the A4 and A6 models.
The upscale five-door model will compete with the new Mercedes-Benz CLS, and if the rumors turn out to be true, with the BMW 6-Series GT (or whatever else the Bavarian firm's decided to call the production Gran Coupe) also, when it goes on sale next year.
Tear away the prototype model's swirly camouflage, and we're willing to bet that what you'll see underneath is a toned-down version of the Sportback Concept that premiered at the 2009 Detroit auto show (see gallery below).
The new A7 will share its engines and transmissions with the next A6 offering buyers a choice of petrol and diesel units including Ingolstadt's 3.0-liter supercharged V6 TFSI, while rumor has it that Audi will expand the range in late 2011 with a gasoline-electric hybrid model.
An S7 with either a pumped up version of the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 or a naturally-aspirated 4.2 V8, as well as an even hotter RS7 possibly with the 5.2-liter V10 are also believed to be in development, but details remain scarce for now.
Subaru has just released test footage of its soon-to-be-launched 2011 Impreza WRX STI sedan from the Nurburgring race track. Described by the Japanese automaker as the firm's "fastest WRX STI ever", the 2011MY turned the Nurburgring race track in an impressive 7 minutes and 55 seconds in the hands of four-time World Rally Champion, Tommi Mäkinen.
For those keeping track, rally legend and Porsche test driver, Walter Röhrl, lapped the 'Ring with the 500HP Panamera Turbo in an unofficial time of 7 minutes and 56 seconds, while Cadillac's 556HP CTS-V clocked a 7:59.32 lap in 2008.
But there's a catch; the 2011 STI that lapped the 'Ring was in Subaru's own words, a prototype model. According to the company, the test car combined a series of production performance upgrades from the JDM-only R205 and C-Spec STIs including a larger turbocharger with some additional mods such as under body aero parts and aluminum fenders.
That means you can't actually compare this Subaru's lap time with that of other unaltered production models.
You can however compare it with similar, previous generation prototypes of the Impreza that Subaru has tested over the years at the Nurburgring. The first Impreza prototype to be clocked at the Nurburgring was a non-STI WRX model in 1992 that marked a lap time of 8:28.93.
After the first introduction of WRX STI version in 1994, a WRX STI version III prototype was raced at the course in 1996, recording a lap time of 8:10.75, or 18 seconds faster than the 1992 model.
The second generation WRX STI, introduced in 2000, was tested at the 'Ring, but according to Subaru, safety measures added weight to the car and the lap time of this model did not meet the company's expectations. In other words, it was most likely slower than the 1996 model. Not surprisingly, Subaru did not release a lap time for the 2000 STI.
The facelifted 2002 Impreza WRX STI test car recorded a lap time of 8:06.59 while the updated 2004 model broke the 8-minute barrier at 7:59.41. That was the most recent Nurburgring lap time as the company claims that even though it lapped the third generation Impreza STI in 2008, "rainy conditions made the tests incomplete for the lap time comparable to the previous records."
So there you have it. Enjoy the videos and the gallery below.
MAJOR SPECIFICATIONS OF 2011MY WRX STI TEST VEHICLE:
- Overall length X width X height; 4,580 X 1,795 X 1,470 mm - Wheelbase; 2,625 mm - Engine type; Horizontally-Opposed 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbocharged engine - Displacement; 1,994 cc - Transmission; 6 speed manual transmission - Tyres; 245/40 R18
MAJOR ADDED FEATURES TO THE TEST VEHICLE
<R205* model items> *R205 is a special edition for Japan market. - Bigger turbocharger - 6-pot brake calipers - Flexible tower bar - Front lip spoiler
<spec C* model items> *spec C is a special edition for Japan market. - Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tyres - Aluminum hood
