Autoblog

Watch this Lamborghini Gallardo win a race on fire

Zach Bowman — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini

Behold: the definition of giving 110 percent in competition. Jason and John White recently took to the Targa High Country in Victoria, Australia in their Lamborghini Gallardo. The duo spent the final day of the event battling for the top spot with a menacing Nissan GT-R. The final stage of the day saw the Whites four seconds behind their rival when the green light lit, and the team proceeded to do their best to close the gap.

There was only one problem; half way through the course, the team noticed that a glowing fireball was erupting from the rear of their Italian racer. The crew could either stop halfway through the course, attempt to extinguish the flames with their on-board extinguishers and give up the overall win or push on for victory and hopefully more extinguishers.

The Whites went for the latter option and managed to beat out the GT-R driven by Tony Quin by a full ten seconds. Fire crews quickly put the flames out and managed to prevent the Gallardo from (completely) going up in a puff of smoke. The heroics are just another reason why Targa is the best form of motorsports on the planet. Hit the jump to check out a few videos of the feat for yourself.

Continue reading Watch this Lamborghini Gallardo win a race on fire

Watch this Lamborghini Gallardo win a race on fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata V8 Targa MX-5 Miata

Zach Bowman — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Canada, Specialty, Quick Spins, Racing

Point. Shoot. Grin.

Wedging myself into the cockpit of Keith Tanner's 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata turned Targa Newfoundland podium finisher, I'm struck with the realization that most race cars are the automotive equivalent of a pet electric eel. They look fantastic lounging around, and you may even be struck with the impulse to get close, but the reality is that it's only a matter of time before it reaches out and lights you up like a cheap string of Christmas lights. This notion is only underscored when Tanner hands me a set of noise-cancelling headphones with an integrated com system.

"Here. You'll probably want these," he says. "It can get kind of loud in here."

With a 400-horsepower General Motors L33 wedged between the fenders of the poised Miata, it's only a matter of time before the stripped interior resonates with the sound of eight furious cylinders. I ask if there's anything I should know before I hit the ignition. Tanner says no. I'm beginning to suspect he's lying to me.

Continue reading Flyin' Miata V8 Targa MX-5 Miata

Flyin' Miata V8 Targa MX-5 Miata originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 6: The final days

Zach Bowman — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Mazda, Canada

Two mistakes. After six days of late nights bent over the route book with calculator in hand, long days of non-stop rallying and lengthy transits, we've covered over 2,200 kilometers, raced 41 stages and made two penalty-worthy mistakes. There simply aren't words to convey the spectrum of emotions that accompanies the Targa Newfoundland, and the Flyin' Miata crew experienced its fair share of highs and lows throughout. While Wednesday saw both teams leading their respective classes, Thursday had nasty surprises in store for both the V8 Roadster and the supercharged NC.

Due to a transcription error, I fouled the finish time for stage 4-5, Garnish. We were supposed to cover the 13.25 kilometers in 8:43; I directed Brandon to the finish in 8:51, which landed us three seconds of time-over penalty plus another four seconds of interim time-control penalties. That seven seconds alone knocked us off of the podium, but the last stage of the day, Marystown North, saw an additional 7 seconds tacked onto our time after we missed the first turn and were forced to turn around.

Continue reading Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 6: The final days

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 6: The final days originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 5: Stay on target

Zach Bowman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Mazda, Canada

It's a good day to be in the Flyin' Miata camp. As of the conclusion of Day 3 of competition, both the Targa Miata and the Supercharged 2006 MX-5 hold the top position in their respective classes. While Keith and Janel Tanner have managed to sling their 430-horsepower machine through Wednesday's nine stages to take the top slot, Brandon Fitch and I overcame a few small obstacles to zero all of our times through the day. Despite my fat-fingering the egg-timers ahead of the incredibly technical Greenspond stage, we came in just two-seconds outside of dead zero and well within our plus or minus nine-second window.

I also received a front-row showing of Fitch's driving prowess after the car stalled at the start of the third-to-last stage. In a desperate push to make up lost time, the Flyin' Miata engineer pushed the 240-horse Miata to 128 kph through a series of undulating turns. That figure is just two kph shy of our maximum allowable speed. Crossing that barrier brings all sorts of unsavory penalties.

Thursday will bring forth a whole new set of challenges as our window narrows to plus or minus five seconds. While we used today to train ourselves to arrive at the flying finish well within our final day tolerances, fatigue is beginning to set in on both Brandon and I, greatly increasing the chance of a careless error that could cost us our lead. Regardless of how we wrap up on Friday, the fact that we can say that we tied for first across the first three days of the 2011 Targa Newfoundland is a story I'll be blathering at cocktail parties for years.

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 5: Stay on target originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 4: Off to Gander

Zach Bowman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Mazda, Canada

While I thought that I grasped just how unique and amazing the Targa Newfoundland is in the world of motorsports, the breadth of this event's character didn't hit home until I got here. We spent the majority of yesterday's morning and afternoon tackling stages in and around Gander, a small town about 206 miles north of St. John's. Despite my completely misinterpreting the route book on stage one and a near miss with an time control, we managed to zero every stage and avoid any penalties, but the two final stages of the day presented a challenge that we weren't exactly prepared for.

Though the stages we had covered so far had given me gracious periods of three, four and even five kilometers during which I could insert my own time and distance way points to keep the 2006 Flyin' Miata Mazda MX-5 on course and on time, the last two did not. Both stages took place on the same seven kilometer course that wound through a dense subdivision. That's right, kids. We would be attempting to carry a 57.5 kph (35.7 mph) average through a series of 29 90-degree turns. I would have no more than 300 meters at most to alert Brandon Fitch, my valiant driver, of the direction of and distance to the next turn as well as monitor our time as we passed each instruction.

I'll be honest; I didn't have much hope for our chances.

We lined up, the lights went hot and in a second, we were blurring through the subdivision. With Fitch's help, I was able to glean enough time to glance at our egg timers and equate the figures with our actual distance. We were going to nail it.

We zeroed Gander on the first run and managed a repeat performance for the second pass. As Fitch put it, "This is the most awesome thing. Ever. In the history of the world."

I'm inclined to agree. Our efforts today managed to place us in first for the second day in a row, but with days of 12-hour driving and calculating quickly stacking up, our chances for careless errors are increasing drastically. Stay tuned for more updates and keep an eye on the 2011 Targa Newfoundland site for our times.

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 4: Off to Gander originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 1: Meet your classmates

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Mazda, Canada, Racing

While the 2011 Targa Newfoundland doesn't officially kick off until Monday, a handful of competitors have already arrived in St. John's to take advantage of the Open Road Motorsports Targa School. Operated by veterans of the event, the school gives novice competitors a little taste of the days to come. Glen Clarke, our instructor, routinely pilots a Porsche 911 to accolades and glory, so his word is worth pure gold to our motley crew. Over the course of eight hours, the Grand Touring Flyin' Miata team was introduced to the basics of navigation, ran a trial stage and generally sorted the roles of driver and co-pilot.

Our class included targa competitors from years past as well as newcomers like ourselves, including racers piloting a Ferrari Enzo, a delicious Porsche 914 and a completely sinister Audi 200 Avant Turbo AWD. A few additional racers have also set up camp at the local Holiday Inn, including a Maserati MC12, a Ferrari F430 Spyder, a Lamborghini Murciélago Super Veloce and a Saleen S7 from ZRAuto.ca. We can't wait to see how those bruisers fair on the demanding roads of Newfoundland.

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 1: Meet your classmates originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Targa Newfoundland, Part 3: Homework and gearing up

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Canada, Racing

We're officially less than five days from the first stage of the 2011 Targa Newfoundland, and I'm frantically busy trying to cram as much information into my brain before arriving in St. John's as I possibly can. Having never navigated in a rally, there's a slew of symbols, terminology and theory to absorb before the green flag drops on September 12.

Then there's the small issue of establishing a working relationship with the Terratrip on-board vehicle computer. The thing has an instruction manual that could have been written by a Soviet-era novelist, and while I think I'll only be responsible for a few button mashes here and there, I don't want to be the guy who accidentally recalibrates the machine or keys in the self-destruct code. Keep on reading to see how the rest of our preparations are proceeding.

Continue reading The Road to Targa Newfoundland, Part 3: Homework and gearing up

The Road to Targa Newfoundland, Part 3: Homework and gearing up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog to compete in Targa Newfoundland with Flyin' Miata

Zach Bowman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Canada, Racing

No matter what part of the world you hail from, there's really nothing quite like the Targa Newfoundland. Held on a beautiful island off the Eastern coast of Canada, the course is over 1,350 miles long and winds through small towns, open spaces and deep forests for some of the most challenging and varied stages of any competition on the continent. As a result, competitors come wielding sheetmetal from every conceivable corner of the globe and era of automotive history. It's a buffet of horsepower at wide-open throttle, and this year, we'll be in the hunt ourselves.

The good people at Flyin' Miata have been so kind as to offer us a much-coveted co-driver seat in their supercharged 2006 MX-5. Nancy, as our valiant stallion is affectionately known due to her NC chassis, started life as an abused orphan of the Mazda press car fleet. After a little massaging by the Flyin' Miata crew, the car now rocks a 2009 front fascia, the company's proprietary supercharger kit, springs and sway bars as well as a set of Tokico Shocks. All told, the car produces somewhere around 240 horsepower, which should be enough to help us keep up with the rest of the Grand Touring Class.

Yours Truly will doing his level best to keep from confounding Bill Cardell as he whips Nancy across the Canadian landscape. Those familiar with the Miata scene know Cardell as the founder and owner of Flyin' Miata, so if anyone knows how to properly cane an MX-5, it's this guy. I'm honored to have the chance to share the cockpit with him.

This year, Flyin' Miata is actually campaigning two vehicles. While Cardell, myself and Nancy are set to go the distance in the Grand Touring category, Keith and Janel Tanner are also taking to the Targa. The husband-and-wife team will once again helm the same 1994 MX-5 Miata that they drove in the 2008 Targa Newfoundland, with one big change. This year, the car rocks a General Motors L33 V8 conversion that cranks out 400 horsepower to the rear wheels thanks to a set of LS6 heads and a trick cam. All of that power is funneled through a T56 six-speed transmission and a Getrag differential with a clutch-pack limited slip. Needless to say, the Tanners will be taking on the Open Class to do battle with the quickest metal of the event.

Interestingly enough, Flyin' Miata wouldn't have been able to head to the 2011 Targa Newfoundland at all without the help of the company's fans and supporters. The team tried to seduce large sponsors to help fund the trip to Canada before turning to the Miata nation for help. To date, they've raised over $14,500 to help put the cars on the first stage. It's a testament to just how faithful Miata owners can be.

Given that my navigation experience is limited plotting the quickest path to the Dippin Dots stand at the local amusement park, I've got some serious work to do before the race gets started on September 10. Stay tuned for updates on my Targa education.

Autoblog to compete in Targa Newfoundland with Flyin' Miata originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche to bring back old-school Targa on next-generation 911

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche, Rumormill

1970 Porsche 911 Targa

There once was a time when roofs came in two forms: fixed or convertible. But these days, you can get a cloth-roof convertible, a hardtop convertible, partial convertibles like the Fiat 500C, flip-tops like the Renault Wind or Ferrari Superamerica... but one thing you don't see much of anymore is the Targa top.

Although removable roof panels existed beforehand, it was Porsche that first coined the term 'Targa' to refer to the roof style. It was introduced on the 911 in 1966, when the fear was that the authorities were preparing to ban full convertibles due to safety concerns. That fear turned out to be unfounded, but the Targa became a fixture of the 911 lineup.

Porsche replaced the lift-off roof panel with a sliding glass panel in 1996, as it has continued since, but the latest product of the rumormill suggests that the German automaker could be preparing to bring back the old-school Targa with the next-generation 911.

Why would Porsche do this? Maybe the current Targa's assembly is too heavy or too expensive. One way or another, it'll be a good few years until the next Targa comes along, so we'll just have to sit tight - with or without the wind in our hair - to find out.

Porsche to bring back old-school Targa on next-generation 911 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Porsche provides a peek at the 2011 Targa Tasmania

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Porsche, Australia

Last leg of the 2011 Targa Tasmania - Click above to watch video after the jump

The Targa Tasmania is a road-rally event that's been running since 1992, taking place, as you may have guessed, on the island of Tasmania. In 2011, this five-day race began in the coastal city of George Town and ended in the capital city of Hobart. The event features both classic and modern sports cars, changing weather conditions and some truly amazing driving talent.

Targa Tasmania has played host to some amazing drivers (such as Walter Röhrl) and equally amazing machines (such as Eric Bana's Beast). Porsche rather conveniently put together a video shot on the last leg of the 2011 Targa, and you can watch it by clicking past the jump. There you'll see Porsche driver extraordinaire Röhrl and others talk about their participation in the rally, and you'll also see plenty of footage of all the little Tasmanian Devils as they wind their way across the island before finally crossing the finish line. Enjoy!

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Porsche provides a peek at the 2011 Targa Tasmania

Video: Porsche provides a peek at the 2011 Targa Tasmania originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche's got plenty in the pipeline... starting with a Cayman Targa

Noah Joseph — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:24:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche

It's no secret that Porsche has big sales ambitions. Just how it plans on getting there, however, is another matter entirely. On the back of such diversified products as the Panamera and Cayenne, it's clear that extending its product range will be integral to its growth plans, and recently appointed Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has given a few clues as to what's in store down the product pipeline.

First up could be a Targa version of the Cayman that could stand to bridge the gap between the existing Cayman coupe and its open-top counterpart, the Boxster, with removable (or sliding) roof panels. But that's hardly the extent of it.

In speaking with Automotive News, Mueller hinted at plans to introduce a sub-Boxster four-cylinder sports car based on the Boxster's platform but with the possible use of Volkswagen Golf components to keep costs down.

Beyond that, Porsche has big plans for the Panamera, including possible derivatives (like a coupe or convertible as rumored) as well as spin-offs for other Volkswagen divisions including Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini. One thing's for sure, Porsche's not about to sit back and rely on just one continuing product line any longer.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

Report: Porsche's got plenty in the pipeline... starting with a Cayman Targa originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder takes 2010 Targa Trophy

Zach Bowman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Lamborghini, Event Alert, Luxury

Radoslav Kalla's winning Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've got your ear to the ground, you've probably heard a thing or two about the Targa Trophy. Think of it as a more responsible, but no less entertaining version of the Gumball. Instead of encouraging drivers to be the first across the line, the Targa trophy works just like any other TSD (time, speed, distance) road rally: teams are given the location of a checkpoint and are expected to navigate there within a predetermined amount of time. Those closest to the time without being over (or under) are awarded the most points.

This year's running of the SoCal event has wrapped up with 73 drivers tackling a varied course that wound through the Californian countryside. Radoslav Kalla and his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder took the overall win with 1,048 points. His closest competitor, Thomas Dillman, piloted an Audi S4 to finish with 966 points.

The Targa Trophy will now head to San Francisco. The green flag drops on August 27, and the checkers will fall the following day in Silicon Valley. For now though, you can enjoy a few shots of the participating metal on hand for the SoCal Targa Trophy, or reminisce about last year's event by reading our own Jonny Lieberman's account of his drive in a Hyundai Genesis in the 2009 event.

Gallery: 2010 SoCal Targa Trophy

[Source: Targa Trophy | Images: Mo Satarzadeh | The ID Agency]

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder takes 2010 Targa Trophy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Would an Audi A1 Targa look like this?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Audi, Rendered Speculation

The history of the Audi A1 is a great deal of talk and renderings capped by one confirmed sighting. We've seen the A1 Sportback and been told that an A1 Cabrio is coming, after which we were told that the A1 wouldn't be coming to the U.S. Now everyone is in on the game, with forum user The Pretender at RS6.com posting one idea of what a targa version of the A1 could be -- even though it seems much more in line with what an Audi version of the VW Bluesport could be.

Of course, if the A1 isn't coming to America, an A1 targa - a dedicated two-seater, mind you - would have to make a strong price case for itself against an A1 Cabrio, A3 Cabrio, a possible Bluesport Audi, bog standard versions of the TT, plus cross-country competition from the Mini convertible and BMW 1-Series (both four-seaters). But if we ignore all of that and simply consider the rendering above, the questions are: Do we need it and would it tempt you?

[Source: RS6.com]

Rendered Speculation: Would an Audi A1 Targa look like this? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Michael Harley — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, New Car Reviews

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

A 1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa was deposited in my driveway during the spring of 1999. A good friend left it in my care while a contractor remodeled his garage. I'd never driven a Porsche, let alone a 911, but I would tend his car for three full months. With a 3.0-liter flat-6 hung way out back, the 180-horsepower engine was noisy, its open chassis flexible, and the whole thing smelled like dirty motor oil. Regardless of its rudimentary technology and semi-backwards handling tendencies, it was an absolute challenging thrill to drive. One decade later, déjà vu, as a brand-new 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is sitting in the driveway. A direct descendant of the classic SC, it represents the pinnacle of Porsche engineering and the latest iteration of the rear-engine sports car. A week with the car reveals some surprises, exposes a few pitfalls, and confirms many theories. Read about all of them after the jump...

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage - 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Continue reading Review: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Review: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Dodge Mopar Challenger Targa and Blacktop

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Tuners, Coupe, Dodge

Click either image for a high-res gallery of Dodge's SEMA-bound Challengers

While a V10-powered Challenger is devilishly delectable, our Mopar-loving hearts beat for something a bit more balanced with a healthy dose of motorsports cred. To that end, Dodge created the Challenger Targa to campaign in the Targa Newfoundland enduro earlier this year.

Affectionately known as "Samantha," the Challenger began its existence as a Mopar Challenger drag race car, complete with a 392 HEMI V8 crate motor putting 540 hp and 490 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a Tremec six-speed manual and a modified rear diff. The green hue of the Challenger Targa is pulled from the Viper, but the snake's influence doesn't stop at aesthetics. A KW race-ready suspension, six-piston calipers with 380mm Stop-Tech rotors (front) and 355mm, rear discs with four-pot calipers are all culled from the V10 'Ring-slayer.

In addition to the Targa model, Dodge and Mopar will debut the Challenger Blacktop at SEMA, retaining the 5.7-liter V8 and six-speed manual gearbox. Most of the modifications focus on style, including the black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme, custom spoilers and front brow. A Mopar coilover kit drops the Blacktop over 22-inch Viper wheels created by Factory Reproductions and wrapped in 265/35/R22 (front) and 305/30/R22 (rear) Dunlop rubber. A Mopar cat-back exhaust and cold air intake remain the only modifications to the engine, and if the V8's sound isn't intoxicating enough, a Kicker audio system will keep the Blacktop's driver entertained while bombing along Highway 15 on their way to the SEMA festivities in Sin City.

Gallery: Mopar Underground Challenger Targa

Gallery: Mopar Underground Challenger Blacktop

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Dodge Mopar Challenger Targa and Blacktop

SEMA Preview: Dodge Mopar Challenger Targa and Blacktop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus returning to Targa Newfoundland with GS 450h

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Lexus, Canada

At last year's Targa Newfoundland, driver Mark Lachapelle brought his Lexus GS 450h -- yeah, that's a hybrid -- home 18th overall, and sixth in his division. This year he'll return to the 2,200-kilometer race which runs over six days through the central and eastern part of the island.

The 339 hp Lexus is the only one of last year's hybrid contestants to return, and is kitted for duty with just a safety cage, performance exhaust and upgraded shock absorbers. Slotted into the modern division, this year's race will pit the Japanese hybrid against big bore Americana: among other competitors, Ralph Gilles and Karen Wagner are scheduled to drive a Dodge Challenger SRT in the same class.

Targa Newfoundland runs from September 13-20, and if you want to keep up with the action in a timely manner, check out Autonet.ca. For you French speakers, go to the French version of Autonet.ca, or PassionPerformance.ca.

[Source: Lexus]

Lexus returning to Targa Newfoundland with GS 450h originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport's umbrella roof in action

Noah Joseph — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Videos, Supercars, Bugatti

Click above to watch the video after the jump

You can't go lopping the top off of a $1.5 million supercar without replacing it with something. Well, you could, but not if you're going to sell it for more than $2 million apiece. That's why when Bugatti unveiled the new Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, the automaker made sure to demonstrate not one, but two removable roofs that will be included with the targa hypercar. The first is a transparent polycarbonate hard-top section that can be removed and stowed for open-air driving. But in case the obscenely wealthy driver finds himself caught in an unexpected torrential downpour (or just a drizzle, for that matter), Bugatti has also developed an umbrella-like soft-top that can be deployed in an emergency. Unfortunately, the fabric roof section can't withstand the 252 mph top speed that the polycarbonate solid roof can, limiting speeds to an embarrassing 80 mph.

The deployment of the fabric temporary roof was a little difficult to describe in words and pictures, but fortunately our Latin friends at Autoblog En Espanol have found a video of the roof in action. Follow the jump to check it out.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Live Debut

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport's umbrella roof in action

VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport's umbrella roof in action originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2008: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:04:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

The wraps - and the roof - have come off the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport here in Monterey, finally answering a question few have asked and even fewer will sample.

As you'd expect, Bugatti hasn't just hacked the roof off the Veyron and gone to the pub. The windshield is slightly higher, the daytime running lights have been tweaked and then there's the showpiece: a removable, transparent polycarbonate roof, which blends the A-pillars into two painted carbon fiber strips that lead into the massive air intakes feeding the 1001 hp, quad-turbocharged, W16.

If you stow the roof at home for the world's fastest open-air, four-wheeled experience and the heavens decide to open, a folding roof stored in the luggage compartment can be - according to Bugatti - "opened like an umbrella." With the soft-top in place, speeds are limited to an incredibly low 130 km/h (81 mph), otherwise, the Grand Sport can hit 252 mph with the polycarbonate roof and 224 mph with the top removed.

Bugatti made several structural enhancements to ensure the Grand Sport shares the same chassis rigidity and safety standards as its fixed roof counterpart. The monocoque has been reinforced around the side skirts and transmission tunnel, the doors feature new longitudinal beams, and the air intakes have been redesigned to include ten-centimeter-wide carbon fiber elements to protect occupants in the event of rollover.

Only 150 examples will be made available, with the first 50 going to registered Bugatti customers. The first model will be auctioned off at the Gooding & Company auction tomorrow night, with all the profits over the 1.4 million euro ($2.05 million) sticker going to charity.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Live Debut

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Monterey 2008: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche opens up the new 911 Targa 4 & Targa 4S

Noah Joseph — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche

Click for a hi-res gallery of the new Porsche 911 Targa 4S

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That seems to be the motto of the newest iteration of the latest generation of the Porsche 911. The new 911 Targa is available exclusively with all-wheel-drive, in either Targa 4 or Targa 4S guise, bearing the 911 Turbo-derived electronic four-wheel-drive system that replaces the viscous mechanical system on the previous generation, and coupled to Stuttgart's new PDK dual-clutch transmission.

What sets the Targa model apart, though, is its sixteen-and-a-half-square-foot glass sliding roof, specially treated to filter out UV rays that can be opened in just seven seconds to let the air in. Sale of the new model in the United States will begin in October, just as the sunshine's going away (depending on where you live) with list prices of $89,500 and $100,100 respectively.

Check out the press release after the jump for more info, and the images in the gallery below for more angles.

Gallery: 2009 Porsche 911 Targa 4S

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche opens up the new 911 Targa 4 & Targa 4S

Porsche opens up the new 911 Targa 4 & Targa 4S originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron Targa to debut at Pebble Beach

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows

According to InsideLine, Bugatti plans to unveil its Targa variant of the Veyron next month at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, California. The open-air hyper-car will use a removable hardtop, while a fabric cover can be used in its place if the heavens decide to open up mid-jaunt. IL is reporting that the chassis will be heavily reinforced to cope with the loss of the crucial structural component. Production will begin next year along side the Targa's fixed-roof predecessor, and with the current Veyron going for around $2 million, don't expect to get your 217-mph (limited) top speed kicks without paying another $250,000 on top of the Veyron's base-price.

[Source: InsideLine]

Bugatti Veyron Targa to debut at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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