Motorward

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• Caterham-Lola SP/300 R Half Sold Out
• Mansory Ruins BMW 7 Series As Well
• MINI Lifestyle Collection For Summer
• Videos: Ford Police Interceptors In Test
• De Tomaso To Revive Pantera
• Jaguar XKR-S Promo Video
• New Chevrolet Colorado Pickup Teased
• Video: 800-hp Gumpert Apollo Tearing Up Monza
• Pagani Huayra Promo Video
• Rally Mexico: Citroen and Loeb Start Winning!
• 2012 Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Specs
• Video: Bugatti Veyron SuperSport Acceleration

Caterham-Lola SP/300 R Half Sold Out Posted: 07 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Well yes, but that’s not very remarkable since they only make 25 units of Caterham-Lola SP/300 R! Fourteen of them are now sold in just over a month since the British bespoke sportscar maker announced the new racer. This unique lightweight race car is the perfect tool for keen drivers on track days, those who want something more pure than the established BMWs and Porsches. It will also get its own one-make race championship in 2012, running alongside the Cooper Tire British F3 International Series. The car is powered by a 300bhp engine. As well as individuals, several teams have placed deposits with Caterham to buy cars. The first team to order a SP/300.R was Staffordhsire-based Fauldsport, the reigning Caterham Superlight R300 Teams Champion, which placed deposits on three cars. Caterham Cars managing director, Ansar Ali, said: "We are delighted with the way the car was received at the Autosport show. It's the first new model Caterham has built for 15 years but, even so, we were bowled over by the reaction and the interest, which led to several deposits being placed almost immediately. "There are many more people who have registered their interest in buying the remaining 11 cars so I'd anticipate that our order book will be filled quite soon."

Mansory Ruins BMW 7 Series As Well Posted: 07 Mar 2011 09:53 AM PST There used to be a time when Mansory was a prestigious tuner with an exquisite taste. Now though they work on every car that drops by the factory and they do it horribly wrong. Just look at this BMW 7 Series for crying out loud! This particular car is apparently an order from an Arab country as you can tell from the background in this set of pictures they’ve released. That makes it doubly bad to be honest. Did they not at any point whilst making this kit look at it and see how hideous the result has turned out?! The standard 7er is a good looking car, sporty and elegant. But Mansory’s kit ruins it with those stupid carbon fiber grilles, awful bumper with big LED lights, new exhausts and wings on the roof and boot lid. It pains us to say this because we’re big fans of some of Mansory’s works. But there is no way to justify this thing. Damn! We hope it’s a one-off order by some rich idiot and not Mansory’s own idea.

MINI Lifestyle Collection For Summer Posted: 07 Mar 2011 09:38 AM PST Mini being a lifestyly kind of car maker, they have a wide range of fashion items. We have a sneaking suspicion they make more money selling accessories than they do selling cars! Anyway, Here’s their new lifestyle collection for summer. Now, we generally don’t like car-branded merchandise even the Ferrari ones. But we have to say some of Mini’s ideas are actually quite useful! The new collection includes apparel, accessories and outdoor stuff. Items you’ll find in the catalog include MINI Countryman Seats, MINI Cooler, MINI Pop Style Umbrella, Shades, Men's Rocker Polo,  Men's Rocker T-Shirt, Ladies Guitar Shirt. Since we are not exactly fashion and style gurus, we let you find more details in Mini’s official press release: The comfortable MINI Countryman Seats represent a veritable invitation to sit back and relax. The folding wooden chairs, with their durable canvas surface in easy Racing Check or stylised Union Jack look, are sure to attract envious eyes. Both motifs come in a subtle dark grey. Roomy outside pockets can be attached to the sides of the seats using press studs, and make a handy stowage area for barbeque tools etc. The folding chairs can also be converted into a table with the help of an additional wooden board. A carry bag provides a neat way to whisk the Countryman Seats from one sunny spot to the next. They can be ordered both individually or as a set of two chairs and a table top. Refreshment is the order of the day for the MINI Cooler. This stylish drinks cooler has room for up to four large bottles (1 – 1.5 litres), and its Black Union Jack design makes it the perfect complement to the MINI Countryman folding chairs. The bag comes with aluminium insulation on its inside and a separate zip pocket on the back. An adjustable shoulder strap allows cool drinks to be ferried to thirsty mouths with a minimum of fuss. When the going gets hot and sunny, the MINI Pop Style Umbrella gets going with some welcome shade. The colourful brolly in MINI Pop Art look à la Andy Warhol is a real eye-catcher, and also comes in handy when the heat is interrupted by those inevitable summer showers. Its Fibertec® spokes are extremely durable, and a special coating gives it impressive dirt-repelling characteristics. The brolly opens and closes automatically at the touch of a button. A special feature is its handle, which mimics the form of a MINI gear selector. Sunglasses are one of summer's essentials, and MINI is celebrating the comeback of the aviator style with its smart Athens shades. The silver-coloured stainless steel glasses impress with their shatter-proof lenses, which provide an excellent combination of robustness and clarity. The MINI logo on the outside of the side pieces and racing checks on the inside give the shades their distinctive look. The new MINI Shirt line-up will rock any summer outfit. For example, the Men's Rocker Polo has exquisite details like a MINI Rocks badge on the right upper arm, a MINI Rocks print under the collar and white bonnet stripes on the side seams. Music fans will find their heads turned by the grey Men's Rocker T-Shirt, with its electric guitar print on the chest and blue contrast stitching lending extra emphasis to the shoulder areas. Both styles come in high-quality cotton and are designed to deliver optimum comfort and durability. The pleasantly soft-to-the-touch Ladies Guitar Shirt sports a bold shade of red and has an awesome "MINI Rocks" print with crossed electric guitars on the front. Elsewhere, it's down to extravagance for the black, sleeveless Ladies Glamour Rock Top, whose distressed Union Jack print on the chest boasts real studs. When the sun goes down, though, you'll appreciate having a parka close at hand. Few items of clothing will resist the vagaries of fashion and the weather with such aplomb. Indeed, the parka has enjoyed an unshakable cult status since the 60s. MINI adds a nod of agreement with its 50 Years Unisex Parka, a modern take on the classic M51 Fishtail. The hooded olive-green parka has four large pockets and five interchangeable badges with Velcro-type fasteners for the left sleeve. Meanwhile, the cool Union Jack print on the inside demonstrates a sharp eye for detail. These summery all-stars can be ordered from www.MINI.com/shop and selected MINI dealers.

Videos: Ford Police Interceptors In Test Posted: 07 Mar 2011 09:09 AM PST Ford is making a big fuss about their new Police Interceptor vehicles. They show them to the public any chance they get, they even brought Jay Leno down to try them out! Now they released a series of official test drives videos of the cars by the Police themselves. The Ford Taurus Interceptor which replaces the iconic Crown Victoria and the Explorer Interceptor were put through their paces in a number of tests, as you can watch after the jump…

De Tomaso To Revive Pantera Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:56 AM PST As you know De Tomaso has made a big comeback with the SLS or DeAuville SUV revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. That to be honest is a rubbish car! But they are making things right by reviving the amazing Pantera. The original De Tomaso Pantera was launched nearly 40 years ago with such a swell design that made it one of the most iconic cars of all time. Even to date no body has managed to create a proper copy of that, so it’s going to be a hard task for the company coming up with a worthy car as the new Pantera. To be brutally honest they’ve showed with that SUV thingy that they can’t be trusted when it comes to styling! We just hope they won’t ruin the Pantera. Reviving the Pantera is part of the company’ plans to establish a three-model lineup. The first was the rubbish SUV, the second will be the Pantera, and the third is said to be a luxury saloon due in late 2012. The Pantera itself is apparently set for debut at the next LA Motor Show in November. via: PistonHeads Pantera renderings by Stefan Schulze

Jaguar XKR-S Promo Video Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:35 AM PST The first promo video of the new Jaguar XKR-S has emerged right from the Geneva Motor Show. The XKR-S is a high performance version of the XKR, as if the XKR is not fast or powerful, which also gets a proper facelift to be distinguished form the normal models. It is just fabulous as you have seen in the pictures before and as proved by this footage. We’re just not sure about the blue color. XKR-S has a 550 hp V8 that provides an even more amazing acceleration than the XKR with a zer0 to 60mph time of 4.4 seconds and top speed of over 300 km/h. It also sounds even dirtier than its luxurious sibling. We Want One!

New Chevrolet Colorado Pickup Teased Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:23 AM PST Chevrolet released a teaser image of the next generation Colorado pickup truck which generously shows lots of details! The car is set for debut at the next Bangkok motorshow in Thailand, which is apparently becoming the new China for car makers. This new Colorado can potentially be a rival for the Ford Ranger. GM says the Colorado will benefit from Chevrolet's strong truck DNA and a heritage of award-winning trucks. But it’s going to b a helluva truck if it want’s to beat the Ranger because that Australian-built truck offers many qualities not just in terms of business stuff, but also convenience and technology. Thailand was chosen as the site of the global debut because of the popularity of pickup trucks and the growing importance of the Thai market to Chevrolet.  In 2010, the pickup truck segment alone accounted for 43% of vehicles sold in Thailand.  The new Colorado will go on sale in Thailand later this year. "Trucks play a key role in most Southeast Asian markets," said Susan Docherty, vice president, GMIO Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. "Nowhere is this more evident than in Thailand, where trucks like the Colorado are ingrained in the local lifestyle.  Thailand was a natural place to give the public a first glimpse of our all-new Colorado." Bangkok International Motor Show: on from March 25 – April 5, 2011.

Video: 800-hp Gumpert Apollo Tearing Up Monza Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:12 AM PST These days everybody who hears Gumpert thinks of the Tornante, the new supercar they unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. But let’s take a look at the car that made them famous in the first place, the Apollo. Youtubist Marchettino has been to the Monza track recently where gets to film a Gumpert Apollo inside and out and on the move. The result of it is this great video for you you to watch. This Apollo is the full fat 800-hp version and it’s the only one in Italy.

Pagani Huayra Promo Video Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:05 AM PST We’ve recently shown you a couple of videos of Pagani Huayra at its premiere in Milan and its first photoshoot. They were alright but you have got to check this promo video out because it’s awesome. It is like a trailer for a blockbuster! But then the Huayra deserves such treatment since it is one of the world’s most special cars. In the video you will learn what the name Huayra is all about, but it won’t make it any easier to pronounce. Who cares really! This is an astonishing and a rubbish name can’t ruin it.

Rally Mexico: Citroen and Loeb Start Winning! Posted: 07 Mar 2011 07:57 AM PST Citroen Rally team and their top driver Sébastien Loeb are at it again beating the competition, and once they’re on the roll nothing will stop them until they achieve another world title! Yesterday at Rally Mexico 2011, Loeb scored a maiden win for the Citroën DS3 WRC and positioned himself second in the driver’s world championship. This is their fifth consecutive victory in Mexico. They’ve been unbeatable since 2006. You have to give it to Citroen as their new smaller slower rally car seems to be just as brilliant as the previous version, all of which were world champions. They have an expertise in making perfect rally car and with the talented Loeb at the wheel they’re looking forward to another great year. Other Citroen driver Sébastien Ogier crashed in the first stage on the final day and had to retire due to a broken left-hand front upright. Only 10.5s had separated Ogier and Loeb when they left the Poliforum de León service park. "I had to push to hold on to my first place as my position of being first out forced me to sweep the roads yet again," explained the Citroën Total World Rally Team driver. "In a corner, the car understeered and I went a bit wide. I couldn't avoid a stone on the verge and the left-hand front upright broke. I gambled and I lost, but above all I'm feeling gutted for the whole team. We'd done a great job since the start of the weekend and I didn't manage to make it pay off by scoring precious points for Citroën."When Loeb saw his team-mate stopped in the stage he lifted off a little until the finish: "Seeing Sébastien and Julien on the side of the road didn't give me much pleasure. We could have fought till the very end and it's a pity it finished like that. We went back into the lead of the rally with more than 1m 30s in hand over Mikko. We just nursed it home." "It's another exceptional result for Citroën," smiled Olivier Quesnel. "It was a really great rally. We lost Sébastien Ogier along the way; it's unfortunate but that's how it goes. In the first event on gravel we showed the speed and reliability of the DS3 WRC, even if we had a few glitches. I'm feeling confident for the rest of the season as I'm convinced that we've got the best car and the best crews. We've now got to use our brains to fight for the two world titles."

2012 Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Specs Posted: 06 Mar 2011 11:16 PM PST Mercedes Netherlands website likes to reveal the facts about upcoming models much sooner than the company’s headquarter! They were the first to unveil the new CL Class and now they’ve come up with the specifications of the new Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe. Sadly there’s no pictures available yet, but that shouldn’t take long now that the leak saga begun. According to MB NL, the new C63 AMG Coupe gets a 336 kW – around 460 PS – V8 engine. That’s the 6.3 liter motor and not the newer 5.5 liter Biturbo. It also makes 600 Nm of torque and comes with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT sports transmission featuring launch control system. Like most AMG cars, it does o to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and should have a limited top speed of 250 km/h. So in spite of the rumors, this car is not a Black Series. Maybe that’s still in the works, maybe not we don’t know yet. They also reveal the details of the car’s exterior and interior which get a full AMG treatment. On the outside they include a body kit and wheels while inside the cabin you get the usual package of AMG trims, leather-wrapped steering and sports seats and… plus a new AMG instrument cluster that has a race timer and a start screen whatever that its! Here’s more details regarding the car’s exterior and interior (translated): Overview of the exterior of the C 63 AMG * AMG front bumper * AMG radiator grille with a chrome plate in * AMG-specific LED daytime running lights * Side Skirts * Rear bumper with diffuser insert * AMG sports exhaust with two chromed twin tailpipes * AMG alloy wheels * AMG logo Overview of the interior of the C 63 AMG * AMG door sills * AMG sports seats * AMG performance steering wheel in nappa leather on the top and bottom flattened, with aluminum gearshift paddles * AMG instrument, including AMG race timer and start screen * Upholstered in faux leather combination ARTICO / fabric or optional designo leather (one or two tone) * Electronic rotary switch for selecting the four driving modes and the Race Start function MB via Autoblog.nl

Video: Bugatti Veyron SuperSport Acceleration Posted: 06 Mar 2011 10:53 PM PST This is probably the best way to start the week! Celebrating its 5000th road test review, British magazine Autocar went to an empty runway with a Bugatti Veyron SuperSport and did a few acceleration tests with the world’s fastest car. In this video you get to see how this extraordinary vehicle takes off the line both with launch control and in the mode they call show off launch which includes some tire smoke! It’s unbelievable how the Bugga pulls away and how stable it is at extremely high speed.

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