Autoblog

Spanish authorities impound fleet of Mercedes E63 AMGs on media test drive

Zach Bowman — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

A group of American auto writers found themselves on the wrong side of the Spanish police recently while driving the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG through Catalonia. According to Motoramic, officers stopped around 18 writers, though not for disobeying any local traffic laws. Instead, the members of the group were detained for not being able to produce an international driver's license despite the fact that an IDL isn't a legal document, requires no test and simply states in several languages that the holder possess a valid US license. The writers were held on the side of the road before being moved to a parking lot for around two hours.

And what of their high-performance sedans? Police impounded six of the cars, each worth around $100,000. A representative from Mercedes-Benz eventually arrived to help free the writers, though Motoramic says the cars themselves remained in Spanish custody. Mercedes-Benz spokesperson Christian Bokich said, "No fines were paid, no charges were brought and no bribes were given."

Spanish authorities impound fleet of Mercedes E63 AMGs on media test drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan to build Golf-fighter in Spain

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Nissan, Earnings/Financials

Nissan hasn't had a proper European entry in the ridiculously popular compact hatchback segment since it stopped offering its somewhat staid and uninspiring Almera (above) in 2006. According to Automotive News Europe, the new machine, which will not be called Almera, will be marketed against the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus - two extremely popular models in Europe. Production is slated to begin in July of 2014.

The new compact will be built in Barcelona, Spain, at the factory that currently builds the Pathfinder, Navara pickup and NV200 commercial van. An investment of $178 million will be made to assemble the compact car, and an additional $27 million will go to the plant to create more trucks and transmissions for electric vehicles.

The decision to invest in Spain comes after the automaker successfully renegotiated contracts with local unions. Similar talks are underway in France, where Nissan partner Renault is based, but as of yet no new agreements have been struck. Feel free to browse through the official press release below.

Continue reading Nissan to build Golf-fighter in Spain

Nissan to build Golf-fighter in Spain originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan announces production of funky e-NV200 electric van

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan, Electric

There are two directions automakers can go to produce a vehicle with electric propulsion - be it a hybrid or an outright EV: make it look the same as any other car, or make it stand out. Like Toyota (for example) did with the Prius, Nissan made the Leaf look (for better or worse) unlike a conventional sedan. But while Toyota answered the call for more space with the equally "distinctive" Prius V, Nissan has gone a different route in producing a bigger brother for the Leaf.

That route is called the e-NV200, pictured above in concept form. And while the nose, unique shade of blue and electric powertrain are conceptually borrowed from the Leaf, the rest is nearly identical to the existing NV200 van that is being rolled out in New York as the city's new taxi of choice.

Nissan has just announced the production of the e-NV200, set to start next year at the same plant in Barcelona, Spain, as the conventionally-powered NV200. As a result, Nissan will hire 700 more workers at the plant and invest some €100 million (U.S. $126 million at today's exchange rates). Details like projected cost and annual capacity are not to be found in the press release below, but Nissan does say the electric van will be built starting some time in fiscal year 2013, which we take to mean before the end of March 2014.

Continue reading Nissan announces production of funky e-NV200 electric van

Nissan announces production of funky e-NV200 electric van originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dramatic garage fire clouds Williams celebration at Spanish Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos

Yesterday's Spanish Grand Prix was an enormous cause for celebration for Williams. The Formula One team that was once at the very top of its game hadn't won a race since 2004, but it broke that losing streak when Pastor Maldonado claimed the checkered flag for the team against Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen and against all odds. But the celebrations in the team's garage were cut short when a massive fire broke out just after the race.

The fire erupted an hour and a half after the grand prix's conclusion as team members were toasting their victory in the garage on pit lane, sending smoke billowing out over the track. Members of other teams - Force India and Caterham chief among them - quickly sprung into action to help their comrades put out the fire. A total of 31 people were subsequently sent to the emergency medical center on site, with all but one treated and released. The remaining Williams team member is being treated for burns suffered in the incident and is expected to be sent back to the UK for further treatment in the coming days.

Officials are still looking into the cause of the fire, which reportedly emanated from the racecar that Bruno Senna drove until it was disabled in a collision with Michael Schumacher that took both cars out of the race. Suspicions center around a malfunction in the Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The incident is not the first time a Williams facility suffered from a fire, the factory back in Grove having caught on fire a few years ago. Scroll down to watch video of the incident in Barcelona this weekend.

Continue reading Dramatic garage fire clouds Williams celebration at Spanish Grand Prix

Dramatic garage fire clouds Williams celebration at Spanish Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A rookie challenges the champions at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix [spoilers]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 13 May 2012 20:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

Every year the Formula One calendar incorporates new races at more far-flung locations around the world. Recent additions have brought the series to such locales as Abu Dhabi, South Korea and India. But the purists know that, no matter where it may roam, F1 is essentially a European series.

With the grands prix in Australia, Malaysia, China and Bahrain now behind us, the circus has come back home for the European section of the calendar that kicked off this weekend in Barcelona, Spain. Keep reading to see how it unfolded.

Continue reading A rookie challenges the champions at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix [spoilers]

A rookie challenges the champions at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 May 2012 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hiriko folding electric car headed for production

Zach Bowman — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Etc., Europe, Technology, Design/Style, Electric

One very unusual electric car has debuted in Brussels. The Hiriko EV uses a hub-mounted electric motor at each wheel, though that's not the most interesting aspect of the vehicle. According to The Telegraph, the Hiriko uses an interesting rear suspension design that allows the vehicle to fold up, rotating the cabin vertically, to take up less space while parking. The partnership behind the vehicle say the car consumes approximately one third the parking space of a Smart ForTwo. Occupants enter from a single front door, and the Hiriko ditches the traditional steering wheel in favor of a joystick.

The vehicle is set to begin production in Spain next year, and the partnership behind the vehicle's development aims to use several European and American cities as testbeds for the bubble machine. The two-seater has been co-developed by a collection of Basque businesses, the Spanish government and the MIT media lab (you may remember the concept, from 2007). A total of 20 test vehicles are currently being built, and each vehicle is said to cost $16,253 to manufacture. No final price tag has been set, nor are there solid details on range, power or charge times.

Hiriko folding electric car headed for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 European Grand Prix brings back the Spain [Spoilers]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

2011 European Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

This weekend's European Grand Prix at Valencia had some big shoes to fill when it came down to racing spectacle. After the Spanish Grand Prix, the circus rolled in to Monte Carlo and then on to Montreal for the Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix - two races that were red-flagged in the middle and had to be restarted, so grueling was the action.

Would the eighth round in the 2011 Formula One World Championship be able to match the action of the previous two? Follow the jump to find out.

Continue reading 2011 European Grand Prix brings back the Spain [Spoilers]

2011 European Grand Prix brings back the Spain [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi Q3 production begins in Spain

Noah Joseph — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi, SEAT, Luxury

2012 Audi Q3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

It wasn't that long ago that Audi had no SUVs in its lineup - aside from the A6 Allroad Quattro - despite being known for its all-wheel-drive vehicles. But that's all changed, just as it has for BMW and Porsche. The Q7 was followed by the Q5, and now the Q3 has started production as well.

The first Q3 rolled off the assembly line today at the plant in Martorell, Spain. The facility belongs principally to Audi's sister-company Seat, but has gone through a considerable expansion - funded by both Audi and Seat - to prepare for the Q3's production.

Now that production has gotten under way, the Martorell plant is expected to churn out as many as 100,000 examples of the Q3 every year. For more details on the program and the expansion that made it possible, follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Audi Q3 production begins in Spain

Audi Q3 production begins in Spain originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Spanish Grand Prix goes down as a game of leap frog [spoilers]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 22 May 2011 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

2011 Spanish Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari. McLaren. Renault. Williams. The past few decades of Formula One racing have seen each of these teams at the top of their game, claiming championships and dispatching the others along the way. But after watching Brawn GP - having started out as the humble BAR-Honda team and emerging as Mercedes' own factory squad - claim the titles just a couple of years ago, are the years of domination behind us? Or was Brawn's victory merely a hiccup before things return to "normal"? Will Red Bull's championship prove another exception, or will the Anglo-Austrian team emerge as the new force to be reckoned with?

It may take another year or two to watch the pattern unfold, but after winning both titles last year, Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull have come back strong in 2011. The team has converted pole position to the checkered flag at every race but one so far this season. Would this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix further gird Vettel and Red Bull in the defense of their titles, or would a new challenger draw blood around the corners and down the straights of Barcelona? Continue reading for a recap of today's action.

Continue reading 2011 Spanish Grand Prix goes down as a game of leap frog [spoilers]

2011 Spanish Grand Prix goes down as a game of leap frog [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seat gears up for Audi Q3 production at Spanish plant

Noah Joseph — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi, SEAT

Last week, Porsche announced production plans for its upcoming Cajun sport-ute at its Leipzig plant in Germany. Now, sister-company Seat is following suit with preparations to build the Audi Q3 at its facility (pictured above) in Martorell on the outskirts of Barcelona.

If you're wondering what Audi has to do with Seat, allow us to fill in the blanks. Most essentially, the two are sister brands fall under the larger Volkswagen Group umbrella. Seat's flagship Exeo is essentially a re-bodied version of the previous-generation Audi A4. And when Audi was looking for the right place to build its upcoming Q3 compact crossover, it turned to the Spanish subsidiary.

In preparation for Q3 prduction to start, Seat is hiring over 700 new employees. Overall the company has undertaken the training of 1,200 new personnel, and if production requirements demand, could hire some or all of the remaining 500. Hit the jump for the full details in the press release.

[Source: Seat]

Continue reading Seat gears up for Audi Q3 production at Spanish plant

Seat gears up for Audi Q3 production at Spanish plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

With racing action returning to Spain and the top two contenders being Spanish natives, MotoGP Aragon certainly became a highly competitive forum not only for the championship race, but also for bragging rights at stake in front of the home-country fans. For Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, added pressure came in the form of also being caught in a late season battle for the overall championship points lead. However, as the checkered flag waved, neither of the Spanish shoe-ins would emerge victorious.

Coming from pole position for the first time this season, Ducati-mounted Casey Stoner, rode quickly and consistently as he maintained control of the lead from start to finish, earning his first victory this season. The win also neatly advanced him into third place in the overall points standing. Giving chase, Dani Pedrosa struggled from the outset to find good grip, eventually making his way just behind Stoner. Unable to match his pace, Pedrosa would have to settle for second, which is exactly where things got interesting.

Click on the jump to see who was able to knock Lorenzo off the podium for the first time this year, in the process adding fuel to Pedrosa and Repsol Honda's comeback fire.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: Mirco Lazzari/Getty]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]

MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 European Grand Prix: How the mighty have fallen [SPOILERS] UPDATED

Noah Joseph — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

2010 European Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Some readers might think the spoiler-warning headline above is itself a spoiler, but trust us: we haven't given away anything that the TiVo crowd would rather keep hidden. So before you go rushing to conclusions, consider that this season (arguably more than any other in recent memory) is packed with "the mighty."

With a quartet of world champions on the grid - two of them multiple winners, no less - no fewer than four teams have shaped up as frontrunners in contention for the title. It's a given that some of these "mighty" drivers will park their "mighty" cars on the podium at the end of each grand prix. It's just a matter of finding out which ones make it and which don't. Follow the jump learn how things played out at the Mediterranean seaside track in Valencia, Spain.

Gallery: 2010 European Grand Prix

Continue reading 2010 European Grand Prix: How the mighty have fallen [SPOILERS] UPDATED

2010 European Grand Prix: How the mighty have fallen [SPOILERS] UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Spanish Grand Prix brings (a) few surprises [SPOILER ALERT]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 09 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

2010 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

"Horrible, quite bad race." That's how one of the championship front-runners described the results from today's Spanish Grand Prix. We're not about to tell you who summarized his day with such frustration - for that you'll have to read through to the end, or at least click past the jump and scroll down. But the circumstances he described came as one of a few surprises in an otherwise largely processional race this weekend in Barcelona. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.

Gallery: 2010 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix

Continue reading 2010 Spanish Grand Prix brings (a) few surprises [SPOILER ALERT]

2010 Spanish Grand Prix brings (a) few surprises [SPOILER ALERT] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Sebastian Vettel previews Barcelona Grand Prix in Red Bull simulator

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

Sebastian Vettel explaining a hotlap of the Barcelona GP - Click above to watch video after the jump

The Barcelona GP is less than a week away, and you know what that means: original Red Bull content. This time it's Sebastian Vettel talking us through a flying lap of the 4.6-kilometer Barcelona track, and since he's doing it in German they put Mark Webber on translating duty. Except for Bahrain, the season has so far delivered brilliant action, and with the return to Europe and upgrades slated for a host of teams we see no reason Spain should be the same. Follow the jump to watch Vettel, and does anyone else want that RedBull simulator as much as we do?

Continue reading Video: Sebastian Vettel previews Barcelona Grand Prix in Red Bull simulator

Video: Sebastian Vettel previews Barcelona Grand Prix in Red Bull simulator originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Good to Be the King: Juan Carlos of Spain parks a tuned Audi RS6 in his fleet

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:52:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Audi, Luxury

Spanish King Don Juan Carlos' Audi RS6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wouldn't it be nice to select cars from an automaker's fleet the way you select lobsters from a tank? Some, like King Juan Carlos of Spain, can do exactly that, and this is his latest lobster: a blackout-remixed Audi RS6 sedan. About the only things not given the midnight treatment are the headlights, taillights, and signal indicators on the mirrors. Even the exhaust tips are black.

A book last year alleged that the king owned 71 cars and had a team of 65 attendants to care for them. If true, this one makes a worthy 72nd. Somehow we don't think the royal standards and light bars mounted behind the grille are normal Audi options - but we might ask next time we stop by the showroom. You can get a few more looks at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Spanish King Don Juan Carlos' Audi RS6

[Source: Diario Motor (translated)]

It's Good to Be the King: Juan Carlos of Spain parks a tuned Audi RS6 in his fleet originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Fifth Gear exercises the outlandish Tramontana R Edition

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos

Tramontana in fighter plane regalia - Click above for high-res image gallery

You've seen the Tramontana before, and now, you can see it in motion. This Spanish made beast sports a 100% carbon fiber chassis, a twin-turbocharged AMG 5.5-liter V12 that makes 720 hp and 811 lb-ft of torque, it weighs 2,500 pounds and looks like an F1 car designed for Robotech. 0-60 happens before you get in the car and top speed is orbit. Probably. Not only are Tramontana's more expensive than you could possibly imagine, but each one is designed around the owner. Plus, your passenger sits behind you. We like that. But possibly the craziest thing about the R Edition is a certain button on the dashboard. See, in "regular" grocery shopping mode, the big Mercedes motor spits out "just" 550 hp. Luckily there's a button labeled "720 HP" on the dash. Wish our car had that. Check the video of Tom from Fifth Gear driving it after you jump.

Gallery: Tramontana in fighter plane regalia

Continue reading VIDEO: Fifth Gear exercises the outlandish Tramontana R Edition

VIDEO: Fifth Gear exercises the outlandish Tramontana R Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mystery concept caught in Spain

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Budget, Europe, Hatchback

Mystery concept car in Barcelona -- Click above for image gallery

Autoblog Quiz of the Day: the minicar pictured above was spotted in Barcelona, Spain at Central del Poblenou Park, during what sounds like a photo or commercial shoot. Two people were caught driving it, the one in the sky blue outfit and hat looks to be a model/actress. The car, devoid of any logos or identifying marks, was accompanied by several trucks with French license plates - along with about ten people who didn't appreciate the person taking photos. Can anyone help us solve the mystery? Check out the image gallery below, and leave your guessses in 'Comments.'

Gallery: Mystery Concept Car in Barcelona

[Source: Autoblog Spanish (translated) | Photo credit: X15A]

Spy Shots: Mystery concept caught in Spain originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian website gets first spin in GTA Spano [w/VIDEO]

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Supercars, Australia

GTA Spano - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We're spoiled, us supercar fans. With so many awesome road-munching beasts on the market, we've grown jaded. Which may go some ways towards explaining the general reaction to the GTA Spano. Here's an accomplished racing team unveiling an 840-horsepower, mid-engined V10 supercar and all anyone could say was "ho-hum, another cookie-cutter supercar from a new upstart."

Admittedly, the apathy was mostly centered on the Spano's styling, for which the initial batch of photos didn't do any favors. But a machine as promising as the GTA Spano at least deserves a second glance, and we're glad the good folks over at CarAdvice.com.au got a chance to give us exactly that. (A little jealous, mind you, but glad nonetheless.)

These real-world photos reveal the unique lines in the Spano's design, especially the arc that swirls around the greenhouse and melds into the rear spoiler, giving the Spano a fluid yet aggressive shape. But don't take our word for it, see for yourself in the high-res gallery below.

As if to compound our jealousy, our friends down under also got to spend some time behind the wheel. But though that's on embargo until September when the production-spec model hits the market, they've given us a little teaser video, which we've included after the jump. Oh, and one more thing: Spano also says they're working on a supercharged version, which promises to boost the Dodge Viper-sourced V10 to stratospheric levels of output. The future's looking bright.

Gallery: GTA Spano by CarAdvice.com.au

Gallery: GTA Spano (prototipos)

[Source: CarAdvice.com.au]

Continue reading Australian website gets first spin in GTA Spano [w/VIDEO]

Australian website gets first spin in GTA Spano [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GTA Spano supercar debuts in Valencia

Noah Joseph — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars

GTA Spano - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Anything you can do, I can do...also. That seems to be the modus operandi of the Spanish auto industry vis-a-vis the Italians. So while Volkswagen is vying to reshape its Seat subsidiary into an Iberian version of Alfa Romeo, Spanish racing team GTA has been hard at work developing its own supercar to rival the best from Ferrari and Lamborghini. After months of speculation on our part and preparation on theirs, the GTA Spano has finally made its debut in Valencia, the same Mediterranean coastal city that hosts the European Grand Prix. While only limited details were revealed at the Spano's launch, our compadres over at AB Spanish got it covered.

Underneath the rather generic supercar body lies the beating heart of the beast: an 8.3-liter V10, purportedly sourced from the Dodge Viper, and tuned to deliver 780 horsepower. That's said to be good enough to propel the carbon, kevlar and titanium supercar to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it 2.9 seconds. The engine is mated to a choice of seven-speed paddle-shifter, automatic or gated manual transmission, 19" wheels coated in ultra-low-profile rubber grip the road at all fours, and the engine is even designed to burn straight alcohol if so desired. Production will be limited to 99 examples, each available at a price of around $670,000. Given GTA's racing background, a competition version is also expected to be in the works, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the images in the gallery below and the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: GTA Spano (prototipos)

[Source: Autoblog Spanish - translated]

Continue reading GTA Spano supercar debuts in Valencia

GTA Spano supercar debuts in Valencia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GTA Concept supercar finishing testing, launching next month

Noah Joseph — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars

GTA Concept supercar - Click above for image gallery

Between Ferrari and upcoming new projects from McLaren, there is no shortage of supercars developed by F1 teams. But now, even some Formula 3 teams want to get in on the action, as evidenced by the new GTA Concept. The mid-engined supercar on which we initially reported a little over a year ago is the brainchild of Spanish racing outfit GTA, and while we hadn't heard much out of them for a while now, the car now reportedly finished its testing regimen in preparation for its official launch by the end of this month.

In anticipation, GTA has released some mouthwatering details on the supercar, whose official name will be revealed along with the car itself at an unveiling event in a few weeks. A mid-mounted V10 provides a quoted 780 horsepower and 678 lb-ft of torque, with power rolling through a seven-speed sequential gearbox with optional paddle shifters. All that juice is said to be enough to propel the supercar to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than three seconds, en route to a top speed in excess of 350 km/h (217 mph). Custom wheels measuring 255/35-19 at the front and 335/35-20 at the rear are to be shod shod with Pirelli Pzero tires, beneath which figures to be a set of 380mm carbon-ceramic ventilated discs with six-piston AP Racing calipers and ABS modulation.

GTA says it will only produce 99 examples of the titanium, carbon-fiber and Kevlar supercar, and it says that the advanced design yielded five international patents, including one for the tinting glass roof panel. We'll keep an eye out for the vehicle's debut, so watch this space. In the meantime, we've added a pair of shots of the GTA undergoing testing to the gallery of renderings below, so check 'em out along with the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: GTA Motor supercar concept

[Source: GTA]

Continue reading GTA Concept supercar finishing testing, launching next month

GTA Concept supercar finishing testing, launching next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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