2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

It was only a little over a month ago when the first rumors for a more powerful Porsche 911 GT3 RS version began and now we have what look to be the official specifications for that model. According to this image, the new 911 GT3 RS 4.0 will be priced at 179,880 euro, or about $260,000 at the current exchange rates, and will go into production at the end of May 2011. Only 500 units will be made.

Unless this is a really sick joke, Porsche will be bringing out the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 utilizing a 4.0 liter engine producing an incredible 500 HP. This engine will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox optimized for low weight and high efficiency.

Weight is always an issue when wanting to make fast cars go faster, so Porsche made sure that was addressed with the GT3 RS 4.0. Many changes were made to the interior of the vehicle to drop weight, including the deletion of the air conditioning system and the addition of carbon fiber.

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio

 Fiat made its grand re-entrance into the United States with the adorable little hatchback, the Fiat 500 coupe. Now, the Italian automaker is officially debuting its Cabrio version at the 2011 New York Auto Show in about a week’s time. And since no auto show is complete without its string of teaser images, Chrysler has released the first images and details on the American version of the Fiat 500 Cabrio.

On the American market, the 500C will be offered with a premium dual-layer power-operated cloth top that is designed to deliver all-season driving pleasure with the top up or down. This power-operated cloth top retracts up to the rear spoiler during speeds of up to 60 mph.

The model will offer interior room for four passengers. Customers will have their choice of three exterior soft-top colors, 14 exterior colors, and 12 unique seat colors and material combination, plus a choice of two interior environments.

Chrysler hasn’t revealed anything about the car’s prices just yet, but expect it to be around $2,000 more than the coupe version already on sale at a starting price of $15,500.

  

2012 Maserati Quattroporte

We already know that the Maserati Quattroporte will be getting a smaller engine in order to reduce fuel consumption, which is something that is quite a trend nowadays. But while the Quattroporte’s competitors, such as the Audi A8 and the Porsche Panamera 4, are making their vehicles longer, Maserati says that their sedan "will not get any bigger."

"Even though our rivals – such as the new Audi A8 – are getting longer, we have to keep it as a sporty alternative," said Fiat design boss Lorenzo Ramaciotti. The new model will be unveiled in 2012 and will be offered with a four-wheel drive system and stop-start technology, that will also help to reduce fuel consumption. Maserati’s goal is to reduce fuel consumption by about 15 percent. Under the hood Maserati will place downsized V6 and V8 engines, as well as an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox (also offered in the BMW 7-Series).

Maserati will be bringing the new generation Quattroporte to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Sales will begin in 2012.

2011 Audi A8 L Security

A lot of people might not feel the need to own a luxury car that effectively has the skeleton of a high-grade military car, but for those few that depend on these cars to help protect them from outside threats, then we present to you Audi’s new high-powered, armored-to-the-hilt, luxury car, the 2011 A8 L Security.

At first glance, the A8 L Security looks exactly like the standard A8, but nothing about this car can be described as ’standard’. It’s got enough safety and security features to make anyone think it’s a fortress on wheels. According to Audi, the A8 L Security complies with the strictest standards of ballistic protection, capable of withstanding some pretty hellacious explosions.

Naturally speaking, Audi takes great lengths to ensure that the building of this car remains as low-key and secretive as possible. The armored car is built in Audi’s plant in Neckarsulm, Germany which is so private that even cell phones are prohibited inside to ensure that all of Audi’s trade secrets remain in-house.
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2011 Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

While the wait for the Mercedes SLS AMG roadster version continues on, Mercedes is making the wait a little more bearable by surprising us with another SLS AMG: the GT3 version. The sports car will compete in the 2011 racing season.

The SLS AMG GT3 features a new new front apron with a splitter, the bonnet with central cooling air vent, wider front and rear wings, sideskirts with cooling ducts for the rear brakes, a rear diffuser and the adjustable rear aerofoil.

The race car will be powered by the same 6.3-liter V8 engine, but has been tuned to deliver an impressive +600 hp, a pretty significant spike from the road-going version of the SLS AMG which comes with a "standard" 571 hp.

Also on the interior, the SLS AMG GT3 version will drop all of its luxury amenities, including the air conditioning, navigation and upholstery. Instead, the car’s interior will be stripped down to only include a steel rollover cage, a racing bucket seat with a six-point seat belt and HANS system.

2011 Mazda MX-5 GT

Mazda is going to compete in the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship 2011 with a lightweight MX-5 GT. The model has been created in cooperation with Tunbridge Wells-based Jota Sport and weights only 1873 lbs.

"The MX-5 production race car’s modest power output, bullet proof reliability and nimble handling demonstrated last year how the MX-5 can be competitive against some of the purpose-built Lotus, VW and BMW race cars. With a higher power output combined with the durability, reliability and handling attributes that the MX-5 is renowned for; the MX-5 GT race car will be strong contender against the more powerful race cars in its class," said Graeme Fudge, PR Director, Mazda UK.

The MX-5 GT will be driven by two Mazda works drivers including experienced Mazda racing driver, Mark Ticehurst and racing driver, Owen Mildenhall.

2011 Jaguar XK Spring Edition

Jaguar is celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of its most iconic models, the E-Type, this year. So to commemorate this occasion, the British automaker has released a new Spain-exclusive, limited-run Jaguar XK “Spring Edition”, complete with a myriad of aesthetic upgrades on both the exterior and interior of the car.

While we completely dig all the styling improvements that were made for the Spring Edition XK, we’re a little bothered because the car is only being sold in Spain, which means that unless we can have one imported to the US, then we’re going to have trouble getting this unique Jaguar XK model.

Having said that, the Jaguar XK is still one fine piece of machinery, regardless if it comes with special trims or not. We admit to having once lost some affinity for the Big Car in the past, but with their slew of newer and more recent models, including the XK Coupe and Convertible, our approval rating for this British automaker is steadily rising back to its former stature as one of Europe’s finest.