Car Rolodex

Forza 5 is announced to launch with the all new Xbox One

M Lemmon — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:35:02 +0000

Last week, Sony and Polyphony Digital set the web atwitter (figuratively and literally) with the announcement that Gran Turismo 6 arrives this fall for the Playstation 3. Today, Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios get their licks in with the announcement of the Xbox One next-gen console and its slate of launch titles. Among them? Forza Motorsport 5. The teaser trailer is posted below and your eyes will need some sort of counseling after you watch it, such is its breathtaking fantasy city.

The vid pits a McLaren F1 against a McLaren P1, and the choice of cars is not coincidental. McLaren is sponsoring a contest, highlighted at the end of the reel that gives you a chance to ride up the hill in a P1 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Fun eh!! Enjoy the vide

Will the SRT brand gain an all new 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 Engine?

M Lemmon — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:23:10 +0000

A new report suggests that Chrysler Group is working on a more powerful V-8 engine that would help fight cars like the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Automotive News suggests that Chrysler’s SRT brand may launch a supercharged V8, with output stretching as high as 640 hp. In fact they are reporting that their Chrysler insiders have confirmed testing of a supercharged 6.2 liter HEMI V8 codenamed “Hellcat.”

392 cubic inch’s of Dodge Displacement

Originally appearing in a discussion on Mopar enthusiast site Allpar.com, reports put the engine’s power output is close to the 640 horsepower mark of the Viper’s V10. While it seems unlikely that any production version of the Hellcat would challenge the mighty SRT snake for overall horsepower, anything over 570 hp will put it into the same competitive realm as the Camaro, and Mustang top dogs and that’s a good thing!!

The Viper’s 8-liter V10

Chrysler’s so-called Hellcat—its first-ever supercharged production engine—reportedly would back up to a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic. The Hellcat likely wouldn’t see production until summer of next year, which would coincide with the timeline for a major overhaul of the Challenger, as well as the introduction of the SRT Barracuda.

The Challenger’s 6.4-liter Hemi

World’s Fastest Car Show Debuts on YouTube with a 2013 SRT Viper

M Lemmon — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:13:06 +0000

The last time you probably saw race car driver Justin Bell behind the wheel of a Viper was most likely the 1998 Le Mans race, when he won the GT2 class. Now, on the premiere episode of The World’s Fastest Car Show, Bell takes a turn behind the wheel of the 2013 SRT Viper.

With a naturally aspirated 8.4-liter V-10 that pumps out a massive 640 hp, 600 lb-ft of torque, and a rip-snorting soundtrack, the automotive world doesn’t get much more muscle than the Viper. In true sports-car form, all that power is directed to the rear axle through a short-throw six-speed manual transmission. No, an automatic is not available.

Lamborghini Celebrates 50 Years with the Introduction its Egoista Concept Jet Fighter/Car

M Lemmon — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:54:30 +0000

The Lamborghini Egoista is the latest, craziest concept car featuring an angular stealth like design from the team who work out of the Italian town of Sant’Agata Bolognese. While Lamborghini’s concepts and show cars usually look aggressive and fantastical, this one looks like an Aventador war plane. Launched at a private event on occasion of the brand’s 50th anniversary, this one-seater supercar is nothing less than the automotive equivalent of telling my 3 year old son to design his dream car.

Lamborghini Egoista Concept – Front 3/4

The Egoista has more lines, angles, and edges then what I usually create out of Lego and the car’s true purpose seem more suited to dorm room poster inspiration then the progression of automotive design. The car is fitted with what we in vision to be a Formula 1 nose despite the brand’s lack of recent involvement in the racing series. In addition to an orange-hued canopy worthy of placement in the most ludicrous of Hot Wheels offerings, however Lamborghini prefers to invoke the appearance of an Apache helicopter. As we make our way around to the back of the car we come face to face with a pair of active aero flaps that are positioned just above a pair of overly large exhaust outlets.

Lamborghini Egoista Concept – Rear 3/4

The vehicle is crafted from aluminum and carbon fiber, and powered by a centrally mounted 600-hp, 5.2-liter V-10, which is the same engine that motivates Lamborghini’s Gallardo and the Audi R8. The interior is dominated by a racing seat with a four-point harness and a head-up display. The warplane-inspired theme goes all-out on this one, from the filler cap marked “jet fuel” to the clearly marked “step here” areas for cockpit ingress and egress.

Lamborghini Egoista Concept – The Cockpit literally

Regardless of the Egoista’s inspiration, I can say that this is a very fearless design from a company not known for subtlety. Which then makes the real question in need of answering? What’s the price? Could it be more or less than the 4 million dollar Veneno concept car that was introduced to the world back at the Geneva Auto Show?

Lamborghini Egoista Concept – How the Eagles will see it

Building the 2014 Audi R8 by hand

M Lemmon — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:08:37 +0000

The 2014 Audi R8 is a very special car that requires special assembly techniques. And to remind us that the R8 isn’t just built on a run-of-the-mill production line, Audi has produced the following video showcasing the handcrafted process required to build the supercar.

The short clip features just a few of the 241 specialists who help construct the R8. Just under 5200 components go into the supercar and the video emphasizes the amount of care and detail that goes into installing each part, from the taillights to the four-ringed badge on the hood.

Should Detroit get the X Games, Watch the Teaser Video and let us know

M Lemmon — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:57:37 +0000

This video is meant to entice X Games organizers to choose Motown over the Queen City (Charlotte, NC), Silicon Hills (Austin, TX), and the Windy City (Duh). It needs to happen. Detroit is a ready-made X Games arena, and what could be cooler than motorcross running through the old Packard plant? But don’t take my word for it. Just watch this video.

Nissan GT-R Drag Races Swiss Air Force Fighter Jet

M Lemmon — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:28:50 +0000

Seeking a greater challenge for Godzilla, Nissan recently turned to watchmaker Oris so that it could drag race the GT-R with an ex-Swiss Air Force vintage Hawker Hunter fighter jet.

No matter how many times supercars challenge jets, the videos never get old. Though we can’t understand any German, the GT-R versus Hunter video starts as you’d expect, with Godzilla getting the early jump on the British-built fighter. Will the Nissan GT-R hold out for the victory? Check out the video to find out. The action starts around 3:28.

Watch a high horsepower RX-7 run up a closed Mountain Road

M Lemmon — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:54:16 +0000

Though rally driver Ken Block may be the undisputed king of automotive viral videos, drift drivers have been getting into the game recently. Formula Drift’s Vaughn Gittin Jr. took his Ford Mustang RTR to Saudi Arabia for a bit of sideways action, and now “Mad” Mike Whiddett has taken his Mazda RX-7 with about 750 hp up the Crown Range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

New Zealand’s highest paved roadway, the 6.5-mile Crown Range course peaks at 3,530 feet and features 47 corners. The run is a mix of high, medium and low -speed bends that beg to be attacked sideways. Steel barriers flank the road on one side and exposed rock boxes the car in on the other.

The video shows Mad Mike’s Red Bull Mazda RX-7 tackle consecutive hairpin turns, drive flat out over a long straight, and then rein it all back in at the top of the mountain.

The Spocks from Star Trek Battle it out in New Audi S7 Ad

M Lemmon — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:24:33 +0000

Audi’s latest video combines the sexy and fast S7 and a favorite Star Trek character. Spock fans should have no issues catching the one-liners used in the short clip, which features Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in the original television series, and Zachary Quinto, who will play the role in the recent movie reboot.

The spot plays up a friendly rivalry between the Audi S7-driving new Spock, and the original Spock, Nimoy, who rolls in a Mercedes-Benz CLS. It all involves golf, country clubs, Leonard singing about Bilbo Baggins…and, well, you just need to watch how it all plays out as the pair cruises to the club on a loser-buys-lunch bet. In addition to the verbal jabs between the two Spocks, Audi sprinkles in a few knocks against the Benz, including Nimoy’s struggle to get his golf clubs in the car, resulting in a disgruntled look and an F-bomb. In the end, one Spock uses the Vulcan Death Grip to win the race.

Jaguar F-Type V8 power-slideing in the Spanish country side

M Lemmon — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:21:26 +0000

What we have here is a solid two minutes of the new Jaguuuuaaaarrrr Sports Car getting wonderfully sideways on some backroads in Spain. We are having a tough time deciding what we like better: the sideways-ness or the intoxicating growl of the Jag’s 5.0-liter V8 engine. It comes through on this video rather nicely, I’d say.