supercars

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New Ferrari Roma Spider: 50 years in the making

Has it been 50 years? In 1973, Ferrari debuted the soft-topped 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider. Five decades after the last of those convertibles left the Maranello, Italy factory, Ferrari recently announced the Prancing Horse will gain be worn on a soft-top, front-engined grand tourer. The automaker took the veil off the roofless Roma with “Spider” at the end of its name. The Roma Spider will replace the Portofino M as the new entry-level Ferrari. A company spokesperson confirmed the news to Road and Track. The new Roma Spider is complete with a retractable, woven fabric soft-top and a powerful, turbocharged V8. Ferrari reworked several mechanical elements to make the Roma Spider as road-worthy as its coupe counterpart. The soft-top, available

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Radical Ferrari LaFerrari successor spied upon

Ferrari’s top-of-the-line hypercars are unveiled once a decade, and the newest addition to the bloodline won’t be hard to miss. Automotive YouTuber “Varryx” uploaded initial footage of a Ferrari test mule wearing full digital camouflage. No amount of camouflage, however, can cover the prototype’s colossal rear wing and other potential styling cues. The public testing comes eight months after Ferrari announced the successor to the decade-old LaFerrari will “arrive soon.” Varryx’s first look is only 40 seconds in duration but provides critical information regarding design and aerodynamics, and the powertrain configuration possibilities. Additional clues can be found in leaked documents published by Motor1 pointing to a LaFerrari successor. The documents state the new vehicle is internally known as the F250

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Lamborghini announces two non-hybrid V12 one-offs

Oops, not so fast, Lamborghini. The automaker announced last September the decade-defining 6.5L V12 engine found in so many of Lamborghini’s supercars would receive a swan song in the Aventador Ultimae. But hold off on the going away party. It now appears the power plant’s demise is premature. Lamborghini has done an abrupt about-face with the recent announcement that two one-off models would instead be the end of the line for the famous engine. Rather than leaving it at the Ultimae, the automaker used the non-hybrid V12 power in the new Invencible coupe and Auténtica roadster. Both highly limited Lamborghinis ride on the Aventador platform that premiered in 2011. They feature the thought-to-be-departing naturally-aspirated V12 synonymous with the brand’s top-tier

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Hennessey unveils track-ready Venom F5 Revolution

American high-performance automaker Hennessey has dialed up track performance to the proverbial “11” with the release of the Venom F5 Revolution. The 1,817-horsepower hypercar adds large downforce components to the standard, top-speed focused Venom F5 Coupe to maximize its competitiveness on the racetrack. Hennessey says the Revolution will be street-legal and priced at $2.7M. Only 24 units will leave the production line. Hennessey Chief Engineer John ‘Heinrocket’ Heinricy said in a statement the original F5 was designed to be “ultra-light and monstrously powerful, with dynamics to match.” Heinricy stated the Revolution’s purpose is to take Hennessy’s existing hypercar and “create a machine that is the ultimate visceral and emotional driving experience.” Adding new aerodynamics to the most powerful production car

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Bugatti-Rimac hybrid hypercar will be ‘totally bonkers’

If you’re a Bugatti fan and have wondered about the successor to the Chiron in the wake of the manufacturer’s merger with Croatian EV manufacturer Rimac, wonder no longer. Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili said an interview with Auto Express the Chiron’s successor will be a “hypercar rearranged as a hybrid,” and that the engine powering it is already in development. It will the first time Rimac will use combustion power and Bugatti hybrid technology. For those not sold on the idea of electric power, don’t worry. Rimac, leading the development of the post-Chiron hypercar, told Auto Express the vehicle will be “totally bonkers” and that “everybody will be blown away when they see what we did.”

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De Tomaso refreshes hypercar standing with new P900

Italian sports car manufacturer De Tomaso is on the comeback trail after financial issues derailed the company in the early 2000s. De Tomaso has introduced the P900 hypercar, one of the few road cars that achieves 1:1 power to weight ratios. It allows  the 900 kilogram (1,984-pound) machine to produce 900 horsepower. The automaker is also passing, at least for now, on the EV future, betting instead on the use of environmentally friendly synthetic fuel in the P900. Only 18 P900s will be built priced at $3M each. It’s a big step for the producer of the famous Mangusta and Pantera models. The P900 is a bold attempt to refresh De Tomaso’s hypercar standing and is using the shortest and

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Ferrari launches first Le Mans Hypercar in 50 years

Ferrari has unveiled its long-anticipated Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) endurance race car, named the 499P, following months of teasers and a 50-year absence from top-class endurance racing. The vehicle is set to compete in the 100th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. The 499P has been in design since March of 2021 and is debuting after several prominent automakers, including Porsche, Cadillac and BMW have announced their own prototype racers. Ferrari is unique because it will compete in the LMH class instead of the Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDH) class, a costlier series due to the powertrains used. Hypercar entrants also have far greater control over their vehicles, as noted by Ferdinando Cannizzo, Ferrari‘s GT track

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#223, Hypercar Invitational Founder Alessandro Borroni

Like many automotive enthusiasts, Alessandro Borroni has a passion for automobiles that extends past his appreciation for fast cars and iconic carmakers. He’s giving back to the community while the inviting like-minded to mingle among peers, drive iconic machines and raise money. The result is the Hypercar Invitational. The fourth-year event will be held June 9-12 headquartered at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. Borroni, the founder of the event, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Borroni, the genesis of the event, how it’s expanded and what’s planned for this summer’s event. But just what is the Hyper Invitational? The exclusive offers an opportunity to not only preview a

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New Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider unveiled and unavailable

The 2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider, unveiled during the just concluded Monterey Auto Week, is a new hypercar. Its stunning looks and impressive specs are equaled by its unannounced price speculated at more than $3.5 million. It’s also an unattainable vehicle unless you’re a current Aston Martin owner who was afforded the opportunity to buy one of the 85 examples manufactured. And good luck with that. They’re all sold. By the numbers, the Valkyrie Spider has the same 6.5-liter Cosworth V-12 as the regular Valkyrie. Combined with its hybrid system, the new Aston Martin has a total output of 1,139 horsepower. The Spider’s engine is mounted directly to the car’s carbon-fiber tub without an insulating subframe. Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider:

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Aston Martin world debut: Hypercar Valkyrie Spider

The Valkyrie Spider, marketed as one of the world’s most extreme hypercars, was unveiled August 11 by Aston Martin at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during Monterey Auto Week. With off-roof driving and described by the manufacturer as “the most comparable experience to that of an F-1 car not limited to the track,” the Valkyrie Spider will feature a 6.5-liter V12 with revving to more than 11,000 RPM. While the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s unique 1155PS hybrid V12 powertrain remains unchanged, the Valkyrie Spider has received revisions to its carbon-fiber structure. Plus, Aston Martin has announced a “precise recalibration of both the active aerodynamic and active chassis systems.” Aston Martin Hypercar Debuts With its ultra-lightweight construction and high downforce aerodynamics package,

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2021 Maserati MC20: Super car debuts, needs new name

Italian carmakers’ lyrical names define what automotive art on four wheels should be called. Is there a better-named vehicle in the supercar stratosphere than the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo? So isn’t it ironic? The first supercar in 16 years presented by the manufacturer that began in Bologna, Italy, more than a century ago has a ho-hum name. Meet the 2021 Maserati MC20. The MC20 designation stands for Maserati Corse 2020 and celebrates the brand’s return to racing. A mid-engine supercar, the new Maserati succeeds the MC12. But the two relatives share little beyond the carmaker’s name and a mid-engine design. Maserati hasn’t debuted a new supercar since 2005, with the MC20 the fourth mid-engine production vehicle in the carmaker’s 107-year history.

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2020 AMG GT R Coupe defines beauty with pricey flaws

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R roadster and coupe are among the rarest mainstream cars on the road. The former was limited to 750 units, the latter 2,000. Combine scarcity, exterior design and the matted paint choice of Selenite Gray Magno and the supercar attracts constant attention. The GT R, which debuted in 2018, defines a sports car. With craftsmanship channeling of Porsche, Ferrari and the Dodge Viper, there’s nothing quite like the performance-oriented Mercedes-Benz relative. It’s a glistening work of art on wheels. Yet the exterior is a contradiction with much of the rest of the car. How can you go wrong with a four-liter, 577-horsepower V8 biturbo with a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds?

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Supercar designer Gordon Murray: McLaren F1 to GMA T.50

Gordon Murray isn’t employed as a mathematician or bariatrician. But no one in the automotive industry knows more about numbers and weight and how to make more less and less more. If less weight means more car, Murray will re-design the aluminum brake and clutch pedals and titanium gas pedal in his newest vehicle, the 2021 GMA T.50, with lattice artwork. It reduces the weight of a solid pedal design by 10.5 ounces. The T.50 name reflects more is less on several levels. The recently revealed supercar is the 50th road or racing vehicle Murray has designed. It celebrates the legendary South African-born British craftsman’s 50th year as a car designer. Nearly 30 years ago, Murray develop the lightweight and

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2021 Lamborghini Huracán defines super confidence

The Lamborghini Huracán powers along in the niche supercar market as well as any automotive beast. The Italian carmaker celebrated its 50th anniversary six years ago and it continues to expand its diverse lineup. The manufacturer’s reputation is defined by performance, craftsmanship and tradition. Yet, Lamborghini has found another reason to boast as loudly as its car engines roar. The carmaker sold 8,205 vehicles globally last year, 60 percent of which were the Urus, the brand’s three-year-old sport utility vehicle. Some supercar enthusiasts may still have strong opinions against the introduction of SUV supercars. But Lamborghini would be unwise not to focus on the auto industry’s most popular segment. The Urus reigns as the world’s fastest SUV. Fast is good

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Bugatti debuts most costly new car; sold for $18.9 million

Bugatti has never made a subtle car. Now, even by the elite manufacturer’s standards, the French carmaker has outdone itself. During this year Geneva Motor Show, the one-of-a-kind La Voiture Noire was unveiled. It’s touted as the most expensive new car of all time with a price of $18.9 million. Inspired by the Type 57 SC Atlantic, the La Voiture Noire references Bugatti’s heritage in its design. Constructed from carbon fiber and coiffed in a deep black finish, the one-off hypercar was handcrafted. It has a 16-cylinder, 1,479 horsepower, 1,180 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 261 mph and with six exhausts. “Every single component has been handcrafted and the carbon fiber body has a deep black gloss only

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#1 The Weekly Driver Podcast Video: Author John Lamm

Few journalists in the automotive industry have as much expertise as John Lamm. The long-time writer and photographer has interviewed and photographed many of the icons in the business. Lamm has worked for all of the major car magazines, and he’s the author of several books, including the recently released, Supercar Revolution: The Fastest Cars Of All Time. Sub-titled “The one-stop guide to world-class supercar and their battle for ultimate performance and supremacy,” Lamm’s coffee-table-sized volume is essential for anyone who admires, dreams of, or owns a supercar of their own. The veteran journalist is our guest on the debut video episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The audio-only version of the podcast is available in our podcast archives. Lamm’s

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