Models
1995 McLaren F1 LM
The McLaren F1 was launched in 1992 and revolutionized the supercar industry more than any other vehicle since the automobile was invented. It was not only the first production car to use a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, but also the first to bring high-tech and expensive materials such as titanium, magnesium, Kevlar, and gold under the same roof. It also had an impressive drag coefficient of only 0.32, a smart interior made of lightweight materials, luggage compartments implemented in each rear fender, and a three-seat configuration with the driver placed in the middle, just like in a Formula One car.
Developed and built by Gordon Murray, arguably the best designed since Colin Chapman, the F1 also spawned a successful race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans at its first attempt, as well as a number of limited-edition models that went on to become some of the rarest and most expensive cars launched in 1990s. One of them is the F1 LM, a supercar McLaren built to celebrate its Le Mans victory in 1995. The LM was limited to only five example, the exact number of F1 GTRs that finished the race.
Arguably the quickest and most powerful road car at the time of its introduction, the LM went on to become the most expensive road-going McLaren and a highly sought-after collectible. Find out what makes it special in our full review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the McLaren F1 LM.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders are dropping a familiar bomb to British car lovers planning on attending the 2012 British Motor Show; it has been canceled. The SMMT made this announcement shortly after they met with the UK auto industry, and just like in March 2009 when the 2010 British Show was canceled, the reasoning is quite simple. Apparently, the show is playing a smaller role in the purchasing trends of customers in the UK and the money spent on the event doesn’t make sense at this time. Everyone is watching their pennies and an investment that doesn’t produce a kickback just isn’t worth it.
In an interview with AutoCar, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt had this to say:
“In recent years the show has played a less important role in influencing new car buyers and vehicle manufacturers are focusing their limited resources on events and activities that have a more direct impact on brand awareness and consumer decisions,” said Everitt.
“The UK has a strong, diverse and highly competitive motor manufacturing industry, home to globally successful companies and iconic products admired around the world,” he continued.
This is a shame for the British car loving public, as they will be forced to travel outside of their country in order to view all the new products once again.
Lotus is one of those rare brand success stories in which a company has been able to take itself from near extinction and redefine itself as a top sports-car manufacturer. The company came from humble beginnings in an old stable behind a set of North London Railroad tracks acting as a factory. As time moved on different subsidiaries have been formed and focused on different aspects of the business between Formula racing and road-car production.
Even when the Bugatti ownership was switched to private owner, Proton, in 1994 things were less exciting than ever. The Esprit S4 and V8 models would be the only real production models that Lotus had for the next decade. The Esprit had many great qualities to it, but in essence, it had been around since its original design in 1976.
The company was desperately in need of something to help change its image. In 2004, the Lotus Elise was approved for sale in the United States and was made available as a 2005 model. These series 2 models were compact, light, nimble, and a blast to drive through an S-curve. It turned out to be exactly the type of success that Lotus was looking for and opened the door for future new models.
Enter – Lotus Evora. The Evora is slotted right above the Elise and Exige models, and should entice a more diverse crowd than the hardcore go-kart like models.
Details on the Lotus Evora after the jump.
The German car builder Veritas has announced that the production version of the RS III will make its world debut this July at the Salon Prive Motor Show in London. When the futuristic looking open-air speedster goes on sale it ill be accompanied by a $377,000 price tag.
The car is a modern-day interpretation of the classic Veritas racing cars from the 1940s. Like the original, a BMW engine will power this Veritas, except now it is a modern BMW M5 5.0 Liter V10 that develops 600 HP. Tipping the scale at just 2,360 pounds, the RS III will have an excellent power to weight ratio and will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.2 seconds and achieve a top speed of 217 MPH. Veritas will also offer a V8 powered version with a slightly lower top speed of 204 MPH and a few tenths slower 0 to 60 MPH time of 3.6 seconds.
Seat revealed today the first official images of the Ibiza SportCoupe that will make its world debut at the London Motor Show in July.
The Ibiza SportCoupe will be powered by 105 hp 1.6 liter engine mated by the new seven-speed DSG gearbox. This new, twin-clutch automatic transmission provides the Ibiza with greater acceleration. Besides, this system produces remarkable fuel consumption, since the seventh gear is ideal for long motoring trips.
The new three-door Ibiza has a length of 4.034 meters and mere 1.428 meter height to match its temperament, lending the car agility and comfort both in the city and on the motorway.
The new Ibiza SportCoupe will be manufactured exclusively at SEAT’s Martorell factory near Barcelona and will be available in three trim levels – Reference, Stylance and Sport, with an outstanding standard equipment list from the entry-level model. In the near future, the model’s ecological ECOMOTIVE, FR and Cupra versions will also make their appearance.
The 2009 Insignia made its world debut in July 2008 at the London Motor Show. The Insignia offers three centimeters more kneeroom than the Vectra. The car also proves to be particularly efficientaerodynamically with a spectacular Cd of 0.27 which positively influences theeconomic, dynamic and acoustic qualities of the car. Both body variants haveidentical 4.830 mm length and share the same wheelbase of 2,737 mm.
The Insignia is offered from the start with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The “Adaptive 4X4” system’s proactive, instantaneous torque distribution not only ensures optimal traction but also enhances driving stability and dynamic handling performance. In the all-wheel drive Insignia, the FlexRide mechatronic chassis system with its Adaptive Stability Technology helps the car adjust to prevailing driving conditions and allows the driver to select settings to match his mood. FlexRide is also available in the front-wheel version.
The Insignia will launch with an exceptionally broad range of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with either manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. The three new direct-injection diesels feature a displacement of 2.0 liter and outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. Subsequently the Insignia engine line-up will be expanded with an EcoFLEX version offering very low CO2 emissions in addition to other, more powerful variants.
The entry-level model – the four-door sedan with the 115 hp 1.6 ECOTEC gasoline engine – costs just 22,700 euros. Compared to the competition, pricing for the diesels is also extremely reasonable in Germany, with the 110 hp 2.0 CDTI starting at 24,300 euros. Standard equipment is extensive, with the entry-level models boasting air conditioning, CD-radio, on-board computer, electric height adjustment for the driver’s seat, as well as ESP and traction control.
Lotus is offering a first drive of the Evora to attendees of the British Motor Show…sort of. The carmaker teamed with Polyphony, the makers of Gran Turismo, to allow visitors to race around the streets of London in an Evora. The experience may be more realistic than you think as both of the pictures in this post are from the Playstation 3 game.
The real car (originally known as Project Eagle) is a lightweight 2+2 available initially as a coupe, with a convertible joining shortly after the release. Power should come from a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V-6 making 276 horsepower. For those of you who want to drive the real Evora, it won’t be released until next spring.
Lotus unveiled the Evora today at the British Motor Show. And after reading the first details you now can see the video from the unveiling.
Evora is powered by Toyota’s all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 DOHC, with dual VVT-i (‘intelligent’ variable valve timing). The engine delivers 280 PS at 6400 rpm, while boosting its maximum torque to 342 Nm at 4700 rpm (prototype figures). The 2GR-FE V6 engine is mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, again Toyota-sourced. A close-ratio version of this gearbox is also currently under development for the even more sport-focussed driver. The 0 to 60 mph sprint is made in less than 5 seconds.
Jaguar revealed at the British Motor Show the new XK60 special edition, a model created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of that iconic car. The car will be priced at £60,995 for the Coupe version and £66,995 for the Convertible.
The XK60 is powered by a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated AJ-V8 engine with continuously variable valve timing that delivers 298PS at 6000rpm and 303lb ft (411Nm) at 4100rpm. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5,9 seconds (coupe) and 6.0 seconds (convertible). Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
The XK60 customer will benefit from dramatic 20-inch Senta alloy wheels, a sporty alloy gear knob and selector-gate surround, plus distinctive body enhancements: a new front spoiler and rear valance panel, chrome-finished side vents and bright upper and lower front grille meshes, special tailpipe finishers and appliqués on both sides of the car.
Not only cars are being presented at the British Motor Show. Bentley, in collaboration with Ego for Lifestyle presented the T3 Exclusive, a hand built notebook, with authentic Bentley cross-over hand-stitching.
The T3 Exclusive features Microsoft Vista, a 64 bit processor, a 160GB hard drive and 12 direct access keys for quickly getting to the point. The name Exclusive said it all though: it will be priced at £10,000. But after all it has a Bentley logo on it!
The second model revealed by Subaru in London is the Impreza WRX-S, a model that will be priced at £22,495.
The Impreza WRX S is powered by 2.5 litre ’boxer’ engine that now delivers 255 PS at 5,400 rpm (up from 230 PS at 5,200 rpm) while the torque improvement is even greater, growing from 236 lb.ft at 2,800 rpm to 287.6 at 3,000 rpm – a staggering 51 lb. ft more.
Maximum speed remains at 130 mph but the 0-60 mph time drops from 6.1 seconds to 5.5 seconds. Naturally, in-gear flexibility is greatly enhanced.
The Impreza WRX-S features 18x7.5 ins anthracite GT1 alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres, an STI front grille, STI front lip spoiler and STI rear wing and body-colour tailgate moulding.
Also standard is a MOMO ’Air-Race’ gearknob while the colour choice is between San Remo Red, WR Blue Mica, Obsidian Black Pearl and Satin White Pearl.
Standard equipment includes front and rear spoilers, side skirts, a rear diffuser, leather-covered steering wheel, all-wheel drive, a rear limited-slip differential with Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, 10-speaker, six-disc radio/CD player and xenon headlamps.
Subaru unveiled at the British Motor Show a trio of vehicles, one of them being the Impreza WRX STI 330S, a model that will go on sale in September at a price of £30,000.
The new Impreza WRX STI 330S benefits from a Prodrive Performance pack with modified ECU and exhaust system – this time with paired twin 90 mm diameter stainless steel exhaust pipes to bring back the burble so loved by ’scooby’ fans.
Power goes up to 330 PS at only 5,400 rpm compared to the 300.5 PS at 6,000 rpm of the standard model. Torque is boosted from 300.2 lb ft at 4,000 rpm to 346.6 lb ft at a lower 3,400 rpm making for an even swifter, effortless driving experience.
Top speed is the same 155.3 mph but the 0-60 mph time drops from an already swift 4.8 seconds to only 4.4 seconds.
The car features: Recaro front seats, satellite navigation, Smart-entry and push-button start, five-spoke 18x8.5 ins alloy wheels wearing 245/40 R18 tyres.
Standard equipment includes: a six-speed gearbox, Si-Drive giving three different engine response modes, a Multi-mode Driver Control Centre Differential, Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control and – of course – symmetrical all-wheel drive with front and rear limited-slip differentials.
Ford revealed at the British Motor Show the new 76.3mpg Fiesta ECOnetic – Britain’s greenest family car with CO2 emissions of 98g/km. The car will go on sale at the end of the year at a price of £11,845 for the three-door version and £12,445 for the five-door version.
The Fiesta ECOnetic becomes the most fuel efficient new five-seater family car in the UK. With CO2 emissions at under 100g/km, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is zero rated both for road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) and for the ’showroom tax’ element of VED introduced for the first year of ownership in this year’s Budget.
The car features: aerodynamic rear air deflectors, lowered suspension, optimised rolling resistance tyres (175/65R14) and low friction oil, green shift indicator light, modified engine calibration, transmission final drive ratio changed from 3.37 to 3.05.
Lotus will unveil its new 2+2 GT today at the British Motor Show at 11:30. The car was named Evora, after a city in Portugal and will go on sale in the first half of 2009. It will be limited to 2000 units a year.
The Evora is the only car on the market with a mid-engine layout and a 2+2 seating configuration. It is powered by a modified version of Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6, with dual VVT-i that produced 280 hp. It can hit a top speed of 160 mph; the 0-60 mph sprint from standstill is estimated at sub 5 seconds.
The car features leather and aluminium on the interior, blue LEDs, bucket seats, hand-stitched leather, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, 7-inch touchscreen multi-media system with satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.
Honda unveiled at the British Motor Show the OSM (for Open Study Model), a low-emission sportscar study model.
The exterior design is a balance of smooth, rounded curves and sharp lines to provide definition in key areas. The headlights are cleverly integrated into the front end, stretching from the nose to the top of the wheel arches to look more like a part of the original body.
Inside, this uninterrupted, fluid approach is continued, with long sweeping curves extending from both door panels to form a frame for the instrument display. The concept for the dashboard was to avoid creating the traditional block of ‘heavy’ color and material in front of the driver; in keeping with the clean and lightweight theme. For that reason, the dash is broken into sections, with the most important instruments in direct line-of-sight of the driver.
Renault unveiled at the British Motor Show the R26.R, a model based on Mégane F1 Team R26 that uses the same engine, gearbox and limited slip differential, but has been lightened by 123kg and features specific suspension calibration. It will be limited to only 450 units and will go on sale in October.
Megane R26.R is powered by the same 2.0 Turbo engine as Megane F1 Team R26 which is mated to a manual six-speed gearbox with a shorter linkage for even quicker gearshifts.
This engine boasts peak power of 230hp and torque of 310Nm. Indeed, one of this powerplant’s key features is the availability of the latter across an extremely broad rev range, with 90 per cent of maximum torque being available between 2,000 and 6,000rpm.
Megane R26.R accelerates from standstill to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and covers the standing start kilometre in a mere 25.9s. Its homologated combined cycle fuel consumption is 8.5 litres/100km, equivalent to 199g of CO2/km.