Latest Auto News Blog: expensive cars

Показаны сообщения с ярлыком expensive cars. Показать все сообщения

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept

With supercar good-looks, the V10 LF-A has methodically marched from concept, to prototype, to imminate-super-secret production model, to endangered species list. The main hurdle seems to be the $225,000 cost which Toyota views as prohibitively expensive and unprofitable. Which is a cop-out of course. Regardless of the economy, there seems to always be an inexhaustable flow of wealthy buyers IF you have something worthy of their attention. The real question is whether Lexus is ready to produce a supercar.

Though Toyota maintains that the LF-A will remain only a development platform they are certainly parading it around like the next big thing, including a sighting by myself at the U.S. Open a couple of weeks ago. The “F” logo, located on each front fender of the Roadster, indicates the vehicle’s status as a part of the “F” special vehicle program within Lexus that falls outside the normal engineering and development process.

Compared to the coupe concept that was introduced last year, the LF-A Roadster features a number of design differences including reshaped headlights, a new front fascia, modified side skirts and air intakes, and a somewhat reshaped trunk. The LF-A Roadster is still based on the same lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which maintains strength and rigidity even in topless form. Like its coupe sibling, the LF-A Roadster is also powered by a high-revving 5 liter V10 engine capable of more than 500 horsepower and speeds greater than 200 mph. It is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline in what engineers refer to as a front-mid configuration controlled by paddle shifters. The LF-A Roadster stands just 48 inches tall, but the Roadster configuration adds a speed adaptive rear wing. The rear is also marked by a pair of wrap-around, arrowhead-shaped taillights that bracket a pair of large grilles. These grilles vent the heated air from the car’s two rear-mounted radiators into the LF-A Roadster’s aerodynamic wake. The radiators are fed cool air by two large intake ducts mounted just above the rear wheel wells.

Lexus Concept Interior

While there’s still no definitive sign of a production version of a Lexus LF-A supercar, admirers can only hope that Lexus sees the need to having a high performance, limited production supercar in the company stable.

2008 Lotus Exige S 240

2008 Lotus Exige S 240: Nice Ascots

If a $65,000 car can be thought of as a bargain, surely the Lotus Exige S 240 is it. I have yet to come across an ultimately unfavorable review of the Exige or it’s slightly less peppy sibling, the Elise. How can something that is small, cramped, mostly without creature comforts and generally a pretty frivolous vehicle that costs 65 grand be a bargain? Because all of those things are forgotten when you are sitting behind the wheel of what is essentially the most balanced and affordable street-legal racecar on the road.

The “240″ that accompanies the new nameplate of the Exige is in reference to the 240 horsepower that Lotus has coaxed out of the supercharged 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder engine; 20 more than the lower model Exige. A measely 20 horses does not sound like much difference, but this car only ways 2077 pounds, the same as the regular Exige. Also there are other changes that accompany this extra boost that make the Exige S 240 a monster on the track. The Toyota 2ZZ engine (engineered by Yamaha) that Lotus has adopted and supercharged to be the powerplant for this car also has high-flow fuel injectors and is managed by sophisticated engine control software that feeds more air to the powerplant via a revised and fully functional roof scoop. If you need further proof that this vehicle has legitimate race credentials Lotus has added a set of three Formula 1-style shift lights to the gauge cluster. Adaptive software controls the lights, so the point at which they light up varies with the amount of aggressiveness displayed by the driver. Lotus claims the changes should deliver a 0-60-mph time of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph. For competition-style standing starts, electronic launch control has been fitted. With the engine off, you engage the system by pressing a button and flooring the throttle. At this point a knob on the left side of the steering column is used to set the desired launch rpm via the tach needle. At the starting line, simply select 1st gear, floor the throttle and, as the engine furiously bounces off your preset launch rpm, release the clutch and hang on.

A perfect frame for your license plate

There is also an optional Track Pack suspension, featuring 10-way adjustable Bilstein monotube shocks with adjustable spring perches and an adjustable front stabilizer bar for an additional cost of $1,650, and larger, 12.1 inch brake rotors with uprated pads and hoses, an uprated clutch, and traction control that can be varied with a knob on the steering column.

With all of this performance, the rated fuel economy of the 2008 Lotus Exige S 240 is the same as the Exige S: 20 mpg city and 26 highway, though that is sure to fall slightly due to new EPA ratings. (I’m sure if you are launching from every stoplight it will also be much lower) But if you show restraint this car is not beyond the realm of affordability. Ok. I don’t have 65 grand, but unlike many high performance cars, it isn’t SO expensive that I can’t at least dream!

Leaked Images of the Scuderia Bizzarrini P538 Super Car

“Leaked images” from SeriousWheels [suspiciously good lighting lends us a heavy dose of skepticism concerning exactly how "clandestine" the photos really are] caught the Scuderia Bizzarrini P538 behind closed doors the other day with its clothes off. Paying homage to the original P538S created by legendary designer Giotto Bizzarrini, the new Scuderia Bizzarrini P538 is on schedule to being production by the end of this year. Described as “true to heritage”, the Bizzarrini P538 will feature a mid-mounted Corvette LS7 V8 engine and is expected to house anywhere from 500[standard models] to 1000 horses.