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Posts with tag exotic

Auto Erotic: How supercars get their groove on

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Some of us here at Autoblog tend to avoid WreckedExotics.com. Don't get us wrong, it's a very well done site, but the images just make us cringe. And then cry. Knowing that hooligans with too much cash are regularly wrapping their supercars around poles is one thing, seeing it is another. But this one is just too funny to pass up.

Like something off of the Discovery Channel, the guys at Wrecked Exotics have assembled a collection of "wildlife" photography documenting the mating rituals of exotic supercars. Log on (alongside FIA president Max Mosley) and enjoy the close-up car-on-car action. Check out our faves below and visit the source for more photos from this odd safari

Gallery: The Mating Rituals of Exotic Supercars


[Source: Wrecked Exotics]

VIDEO: Old vs. New - Ferrari 599 shows F40 a thing or two


Click above to view video

It's always nice when money gets thrown at making epic videos of cars, and this one is so beautifully produced that it obviously cost a bundle. What could be more epic than a couple of Ferraris being treated like the rentals Rowdy and Cole duked it out with in Days Of Thunder? Okay, Ferrari and NASCAR, ne'er the twain shall meet, but what we do have here is a fantastically beautiful video of a Ferrari 599 showing the F40 what an old man it's become. Let's see, do we want to take the comfortable, easy-driving, fighter-jet fast GT, or would we prefer the raucous, painful, finicky throwback that's nearly as fast but is probably more exhilarating due simply to the cacophony behind your head? Either could be fun - follow the jump to see for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Johnny!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Old vs. New - Ferrari 599 shows F40 a thing or two

Can't afford a Nissan GT-R? Lease it!


Click above for a high-res gallery of the U.S.-spec Nissan GT-R.

Nissan's upcoming supercar, the 2009 GT-R, has a base price of $69,850. It's a relative bargain when you consider the 911 Turbo, offering the same level of all-wheel-drive performance, will cost you at least $126,200. However, it's still far bit steeper than the average sales price of a new car in the United States (hovering just under $30,000 this year), not to mention the insane dealer markups that will likely put the sale price into the stratosphere. To help ease the financial burden, and put one of these turbocharged 473-hp monsters in your garage, Nissan North America has indicated that they will be offering a lease option on the all-new GT-R.

Don't print out your credit score and jog down to your local Nissan dealer just yet. There are about 1,400 Nissan dealerships in the States, and only 691 of them have begun to take pre-orders. Total sales volume allocated to the United States the first year will be just 1,500 units (to put that into perspective, consider that Nissan sold 284,762 Altimas last year).

While a lease program will be in place, Nissan expects most consumers to buy the vehicles. Purchase or lease, with high demand and low sales volumes you can be sure that each and every one of the GT-Rs will be fought over.

Gallery: Nissan GT-R (US-spec)


[Source: Inside Line]

Field of Dreams: Exotics to gather in Florida for Supercar Weekend

If you live in South Florida, or can manage to get there, you may want to mark off the last weekend in January on your calendar. West Palm Beach is hosting what's being billed as the largest supercar show in the world, taking place along the waterfront from January 24-27, 2008.

The fouth annual Supercar Weekend invites collectors to showcase their own modern sportscars and classics along with a very Floridian array of mega-yachts docked along Flagler Drive in West Palm.

In previous years, the show included Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and Aston Martins by the dozen. Organizers expect this year's to be highlighted by a Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, a 1971 Lamborghini Miura and a 1967 Ford GT40 J6 racer, along with such personalities as well-known collector Jim Glickenhaus (father of the Pininfarina P4/5) and designer Henrik Fisker. Given the exotic wheels you can see running down South Florida's boulevards and highways on any ordinary day, the Palm Beach Supercar Weekend ought to be a real Woodstock for gearheads.

Follow the jump for the press release and a promotional video of the event.

[Source: Supercar Weekend]

Continue reading Field of Dreams: Exotics to gather in Florida for Supercar Weekend

Run for the border: Mexico's 2008 Mastretta MXT mid-engine exotic


check out the video after the jump, and click the above photo to view a gallery


The fact that we can't have it makes us want it more. This nicely aggressive coupe from Mexico's Mastretta Design is beautifully sculpted, with plenty of energy bottled up in its stance. The structure is bonded aluminum, just like a proper supercar, and with a production target of 150 units per year, the mid-engine MXT is appropriately exclusive, too. The styling may be writing checks that the powertrain can't cash, with 200 horsepower from the 2.3 liter four, performance numbers are in the realm of the Camry; but we don't think that's the point. This is one stylish car, and we wish we could get our hands on it here in the US. Even without big power, it releases all the proper neurotransmitters -- light weight, minimalist interior, spiffy shape -- too much power may turn it into a widowmaker, anyway.

Mastretta designs all sorts of stuff, from buses to oil bottles. Their vehicular expertise has been honed by producing a handsome Beetle-based coupe, as well as a dune buggy-esque "fun car." Moving off the old VW Type 1 architecture, a faux '62 'Vette was worked up with a custom chassis ready to accept GM components. Mastretta also pulled it all together on the nuts and bolts side and put the designs into series production, so they've also got the practical engineering chops to bring vehicles to fruition. This nectarine-hued creation will drop off the branch in Q1 of 2008, after its formal debut at the Mexico City Auto Show in December of this year.

[Source: Mastretta Design via Carscoop]

Gallery: Mastretta MXT

Continue reading Run for the border: Mexico's 2008 Mastretta MXT mid-engine exotic

New York Auto Show: Exotics with wheels!


Click on the Gallardo SuperLegerra for a high-res gallery of exotics at the NY Auto Show

One of the highlights of any auto show are the cars that most people rarely get to see on the road in real life, unless you happen to live someplace like Newport Beach or Monte Carlo. Even when you've seen them before, it never hurts to show them again. For your vehicular edification we present the exotic highlights of the New York Auto Show!

Gallery: NY Auto Show: Exotics With Wheels

New Kid on the Block: the Vinci GT


Cottage-industry exotic sportscar ventures never fail to keep us entertained. The newest: the Vinci GT, a one-off concept, built by a collaboration between the Center for Excellence in Auto Engineering and the Auto Museu da Maia, in the Portuguese city of Porto.

Not much information is available at this point, but the builders want an engine capable of supplying between 350 and 400 horsepower, and are looking at either purchasing an engine from BMW's M division or building one from scratch. The dimensions would put it somewhere between a Lotus Elise and a Ferrari 360 Modena.

If the numbers add up and the car actually makes it to production, it should post some impressive performance figures. As for the styling, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Post your impressions in the comments section.

For more pics, click here. Follow the link to follow the car's progress.

Thanks to Richard for the tip!

OC Auto Show: SSC Aero




Tucked away in a corner of the OC Auto Show Underground, where tuners come out to play, we found an SSC Aero. Sitting amidst a Novitec Ferrari F430, a Superformance LeMans Coupe, a Mosler that still had Bullrun stickers on it, the SSC nonetheless managed to stand out. The car is still a bit of an enigma, but promises to be one of the world's fastest cars once it gets into the hands of testers. We volunteered to probe the claimed top speed of 260 mph, but were politely denied. Click the read link to find out more about the car from our friends at Fast-Autos.net who saw three of the SSCs up in Monterey last year.

This is another one of those worlds'-fastest-car contenders that has yet to prove its claims, but on paper it should be up to the challenge. With a Corvette-based 6.2 liter, turbocharged V-8 producing over 1,000 hp, 250 sounds like a breeze. The curb weight is about the same as the Koenigsegg CCX at 2,640 pounds, so the extra 200 hp should make it a bit quicker too. Hopefully SSC will invite us out to track test it like the Swedes did.

(more photos after the jump)

[Source: Fast-Autos.net]

Continue reading OC Auto Show: SSC Aero

VIDEO: Lamborghini Murcielago and Gallardo

This Lamborghini promotional video features some beautiful and artistic cinematography of Lamborghini's heart-pumping Gallardo and Murcielago exotic supercars.

See these bulls rampaging down country roads, through Manhattan and around a track. Unfortunately the exhaust notes from the V10 and V12 powerplants are dubbed over with bad dance music, but the three-and-a-half minute video is definately still worth watching.

Funny, I had the very same dream last night.

[Source: The German Car Blog]

No Loitering, Fifteen Minute Parking: Crystal Cove car show threatened by The Irvine Co.




Three years ago, a couple of guys who had been attending one of Orange County's longest running early morning hot rod gatherings decided they needed a change. Mark Greeley and Bob Cheatley loved meeting with their friends and fellow "Donut Derelicts" at the corner of Magnolia and Adams in Huntington Beach every Saturday, but the 4 am wakeup time was getting to be a pain. Also, it was a bit of a drive. So they decided to meet a little later in the morning at the newly opened Crystal Cove Promenade right down PCH from them. Little did Mark and Bob know that this would eventually grow to be one of the most talked about exotic and classic car gatherings on the planet. Follow the jump for the rest of the story and links to previous galleries.

Continue reading No Loitering, Fifteen Minute Parking: Crystal Cove car show threatened by The Irvine Co.

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