Aston Martin DBR9

Aston Martin Racing has revealed further details of its all-new DBR9 that will spearhead the marque's return to international motor racing in 2005.

This new GT racing car, which is based on the latest Aston Martin production sports car, DB9, is being prepared by Aston Martin Racing's partners, Prodrive, based at Banbury, UK. Prodrive is responsible for the design, development and management of the DBR9 racing programme.

The first DBR9 is being prepared now and will compete during 2005 in selected international sports car events, including Le Mans 24 Hours. Three Aston Martin Racing Works teams will then be appointed to compete in major international sports cars series. These will be independent teams each racing two DBR9s with the full factory support of Aston Martin Racing. Aston Martin Racing will also make a very limited number of DBR9 racing cars available to selected customers. These cars will be prepared to the same specification as the Works cars.

"The design of DB9 lends itself to be translated perfectly into the DBR9 race car," said Jeremy Main, Aston Martin's Director of Product Development & Motorsport. "While DBR9 has been planned for outright performance, every surface sculpture and design detail has been developed to the same high standards as our road cars." Power for the DB9 comes from a 450bhp all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-litre V12 engine which gives it a top speed of more than 180mph (300kph). The DB9 is offered with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The DBR9 will naturally be far more powerful than the DB9.

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Aston Martin unveils Centenary Edition

Billed by Aston Martin as the “ultimate GT car,” this bespoke version of the luxury coupe will be available worldwide, though only 100 vehicles will be built. The company has also announced that similar centenary editions of the V8 Vantage, DB9 and Rapide are in the offing.

The main appeal of the Centenary Edition Vanquish is aesthetic. The interior is dominated by black leather with silver stitching previously only available in the One-77 hypercar, and there’s special silver embroidery of the Aston Martin wings in the head restraints. Going further with the motif, there’s also solid sterling silver sill plaques individually numbered with an Aston Martin hallmark.

According to Aston Martin, the purchaser also gets a presentation box containing two glass keys with leather key pouches that match the interior leather, solid silver cuff links featuring the Aston Martin script, a solid silver Rollerball pen, a pair of Bang & Olufsen headphones and a silver polishing cloth to buff up the badges and plaques.

The company notes that some specification details will vary from market by market, but they’ll all enjoy a special Centenary Edition paint finish, which adds an average of 18 hours to the painting process that already takes more than 50 hours to complete. This bespoke process involves building up a graduated finish by adding special “tinters” to create the darker inner color and is applied by hand with a “special mini-jet spray gun.”

Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman said that the paint job was almost like a makeup chart. “The team has looked closely at the individual contour lines of each of the cars to determine not only the right colors and shades, but also to create a template by which the paint changes from dark to light and where the graduated effect sits.”

Even without the special paint job and the silver cuff links the Vanquish isn't anything to sneeze at. The body is of bonded aluminum, magnesium alloy and carbon fiber composites and the engine is a 48-valve 5.9 liter V12 with independent quad variable camshaft timing punching 565 bhp (421 kW) and 457 ft lb (620 Nm) of torque. It does 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds, on the way to a maximum speed of 183 mph (295 km/h). There’s also a six-speed touchtronic 2 automatic gearbox, limited-slip differential, and electronically controlled rack and pinion power-assisted steering.

The suspension is a lightweight aluminum front subframe with hollow castings and front independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers. In the rear, there are independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry. These are backed up by a three-stage adjustable adaptive damping system with normal, sport and track modes and ventilated carbon ceramic disc brakes front and rear with an anti-lock braking system.

The Centenary Edition Vanquish is now available for orders. The price has not been mentioned, but when the company is handing out goodie bags with sterling silver accessories in them, it is definitely not going to be cheap.

The video below is Aston Martin's introduction to the Centenary Edition Vanquish.

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Mercedes-Benz new entry level CLA-Class

Mercedes is touting its new CLA-Class as "a real Mercedes. But not as you know it." The new mid-size four-door coupe is designed to bring the three points into a new demographic of garages, broadening Mercedes' appeal to a younger generation of buyer. The CLA is essentially a baby CLS, which Mercedes says is Germany's best-selling luxury car. The four-door, based on last year's Concept Style Coupe, was revealed at a preview event on the night before this year's North American International Auto Show.

"We aim to reach new target groups with the CLA – including those who never wanted to drive a Mercedes," said Dr Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president Mercedes-Benz cars, sales and marketing, in a statement.

Mercedes pins those hopes on sporty styling that it refers to as "rebel" and "avant-garde." Like the Style Coupe concept, the CLA has a sporty flair defined by a sloped profile and interplay between concave and convex surfaces. Three distinct lines carved across the flanks team together to give the car a sophisticated, dynamic look.

Meanwhile, the rear quarter and its subtle haunches are designed to convey a sense of power to the eye, letting you know the CLA is ready to burst forward when rallied into action. The panoramic sunroof that connects front and rear windshields is available as an option.

The CLA-Class's flowing curves pay off with a drag coefficient of 0.23, which Mercedes says is the lowest of any series-production vehicle. Those airflow characteristics should ensure that the 208-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will be able to deliver riveting performance while getting the most out of the gas in the tank. The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and available with a 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system.

Mercedes uses a combination of McPherson strut suspension up front, independent multi-link suspension in back, electromechanical power steering, and flexible decoupling of the rear axle sub-frame to give the youthful CLA buyer a ride that should be lively and spry.

The CLA-Class comes standard with safety assistance systems, including the Attention Assist drowsiness detection and radar-based Collision Prevention Assist with adaptive Brake Assist. Other technologies like Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist can be added optionally.

The CLA supports the connected lifestyle with Mercedes' mbrace2 connectivity platform that connects to the cloud for apps and concierge services. The car will also include Mercedes' new Apple Siri integration. A 5.8-inch display and Bluetooth come standard, and the optional 7-inch display with the Multimedia package brings the COMAND system with hard-drive navigation, voice control, an SD card slot, an in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD changer, a 10 GB music register, a rear-view camera and SiriusXM Traffic & Weather.

The CLA will become the entry point for the Mercedes-Benz brand when it goes on sale in September 2013 (4MATIC version in 2014), and Mercedes describes the price point as "unexpected." It will reveal just how unexpected in a Super Bowl commercial next month.

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Hennessey Venom GT sets new production car acceleration world record

American tuning house Hennessey Performance Engineering is crowing after its own production car, the Hennessey Venom GT, set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest accelerating production car. To claim the record, the vehicle completed two runs in opposite directions within one hour of each other that averaged out to a time of 13.63 seconds to go from 0-300 km/h (186.4 mph).

The acceleration runs were piloted by John Kiewicz and conducted southeast of Houston, Texas, on an 8,000 foot-long runway at Ellington Airport on January 10, 2013. The first run, with the assistance of a 6 km/h (4 mph) tailwind, saw the supercar accelerate from 0-300 km/h in 13.18 seconds, while on the second run into a 10 km/h (6 mph) headwind the car took 14.08 seconds to reach the same speed.

This averages out to 13.63 seconds, which was more than enough to claim the world record from the Koenigsegg Agera, which held the previous record of 14.53 seconds.

Powered by a 7.0-liter (427 cubic inch) V8 producing 1,244 hp and 1,155 lb-ft of torque, the record-breaking two-seater, real-wheel-drive vehicle is street-legal and tips the scales at just 1,244 kg (2,743 lb) – or to put it another way, the vehicle boasts a power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower per kilogram of curb weight.

The Venom GT also set a new unofficial acceleration record of 0-200 mph (322 km/h) in 14.51 seconds that bested the Koenigsegg Agera R’s record of 17.68 seconds by 3.17 seconds and shamed the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which takes 22.2 seconds to hit the 200 mph mark. However, this record remains unofficial because Guinness only recognizes runs made in km/h.

With Hennessey only planning to build 29 Venom GTs, and one third of these having already been sold, such stomach churning acceleration will only be experienced by a select few who can also spare the car’s US$1.2 million asking price.

Video of the Guinness World Record-setting runs can be seen below.

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KTM's 1290 Superduke R prototype

The most exciting exhibit at either Intermot or EICMA was the first showing of the KTM 1290 Superduke R prototype – a super-lightweight, trellis-framed naked bike powered by a 1290cc version of the proven RC8R V-twin, complete with drive-by-wire, lots of (disengageable) electronic rider assistance, lashings of carbon fiber, new prototype WP suspension at both ends and the promise of a production version within 12 months.

The excitement is based not so much on what is known about the new prototype, but what the bike is based on. The RC8 R engine upon which the bike is developed, produces 129 kW (173 hp) of power and torque of 120 Nm (88.5 lb.ft) in its 1190cc form, with rumors suggesting the new bike will have somewhere between 180 and 200 horsepower by the time it hits showrooms.

Whatsmore, thanks to the removal of everything that's not entirely necessary, the chrome molybdenum trellis frame and the carbon fiber everything else, this bike can be expected to be much lighter than the RC8 R which already tips the scales at 200 kg with a full tank and all lubricants.

Hence the new 1290 Superduke R built with "ready to race" KTM ethos is undoubtedly going to be in the same category of power and weight as the best-of-breed Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, BMW S1000RR and Ducati Panigale 1199.

Indeed, it just might be lighter than the Panigale with a better power to weight ratio than anything else, and it will come complete WITHOUT a praying-mantis-doing-yoga riding position.

The last few weeks have seen a number of teaser images emanate from KTM, with even a recording of the bike's snarling engine having been released before we saw it in the flesh.

KTM must feel that it is on a roll at present, having just won the inaugural Moto3 title and with its smaller sporty Duke's gaining traction around the developing world thanks to the relationship with India's Bajaj Auto, the third largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.

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The Weirdest Ride For Sale

With more than 1,200 cars to sell over six days, the Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale, Ariz., has become the world's largest bazaar for car collectors. Unlike most collector auctions, the vast majority of vehicles at Barrett-Jackson roll on the auction stage with no reserve price, drawing thousands of potential bidders looking for a deal — as well as sellers who hope the exposure can give their prized set of wheels a maximum price, even if those wheels come attached to a Yugo convertible. Here's the oddest machines that will cross the Barrett-Jackson stage next week.

Mike Joy, the collector car analyst who narrates SPEED TV's coverage of the auctions starting Jan. 17, has seen a fleet of weirdness roll across the stage over the years, and has a theory about the kind of crowd they attract.

“Who else has one? That’s the questions your trying to answer for," Joy says. "There are many collectors with an eclectic taste leaning toward ‘one of a kind’ or ‘the last one left,’ or ‘you don’t see those every day.’ These types of cars inject a little bit of humor into the auction, and they are fun for everybody to see – whether you would like to take one home or not.”

Take the model above, a pristine 1990 Yugo CV Cabrio with just 351 miles; even its auction catalog entry references the "poor workmanship" Yugos were famous for. "The Yugo convertible was probably the answer to a question that no one had asked," Joy says. "So, this vehicle is going to be very rare, near new, and it will be an absolute steal because you would hope only one more person would show up that would want to buy this car.”

Motorized Yellow Submarine

More of a tribute than properly licensed Beatles memorabilia, this piece combines the grandeur of toy submarines with the seagoing ability of a one-cylinder go-kart, although one that plays Beatles songs at speed. "It’s a great piece of whimsy," Joy says. "There’s really nothing in the description about its powerplant, its handling prowess or anything like that, so this is a parade car similar to the little cars you might see the Shriners drive – something that somebody can have some fun with.”

1989 Dodge Shelby CSX, 18 miles

Apparently twice a month for two decades, except in winter, the owner of this 1989 Dodge Shelby Shadow CSX would start it up, drive it 100 yards, then promptly shut it off. It will be driven further than that onto the Barrett-Jackson auction block with 18 miles, in mint running condition. Assuming it's a 1989 CSX-VNT, it's one of only 500 made, and one of far fewer with its rare variable vane turbo and composite wheels intact, impressive technology even though it only made 175 hp. Two years ago, a similar Shelby Shadow with 7,622 miles sold for $7,975, so this Shadow's final price will demonstrate the value of Shelby's name. Joy says it's perfect for the Dodge dealer who wants to complete his garage of performance models; I say it's the fixie bike of hipster ironic vehicle collecting.

1965 Amphicar 770 Convertible

Having seen an Amphicar in action, I can vouch that what looks like an ungainly and stumpy ride on dry land transforms into the coolest craft upon the waves. The first truly submersible car/boat requires massive upkeep to stay in driving/floating condition, and with only 3,878 built, the surviving examples have become sought-after collector cars.

"They aren’t horrible to drive, but the truth is, they weren’t a very good car and they weren’t a very good boat," says Joy. "However, they could be used as either and they have a small, somewhat twisted, yet very avid following.”

How avid? Last March, a similar Amphicar drew $63,000 at auction, from someone who clearly saw the price as buying two kinds of classics in one.

1957 BMW Isetta Convertible

Once made famous as Steve Urkel's ride of choice, BMW's diminutive four-wheeler ranks among the more hotly contested classic minicars around, with mint-condition examples running close to $50,000.

"The taxi theme is kind of interesting because these are only two-seaters to begin with, and the only door is in the front," Joy said, adding "this car will probably sell for more than it would cost to buy a brand new New York City taxi today."

1981 Zimmer 2-Door Coupe

It's too bad Ricardo Montalbán isn't still around to introduce the 1981 Zimmer, the rich Corinthian leather of motoring, inasmuch as it's a made-up thing (from fiberglass panels bolted to the body of a Ford Granada) that sounds super classy. Zimmer calls its cars "neo-classics," not kits, and will build a new one from a modern Ford Mustang for $133,000. Copies such as this one typically run anywhere from $16,000 to $25,000.

Tricycle Helicopter

I wish the builder of this toy chopper from a kid's fairground ride had shared the same amount of imagination as the Yellow Submarine crew and done this as a proper tribute to Airwolf.

2003 Harley-Davidson Softtail Deuce in a box

When Peter Fonda rode a Harley in "Easy Rider," he never imagined that one day someone would pay homage to the spirit of freedom he embodied by buying a 100th Anniversary Edition Harley and immediately putting it back in its shipping container. The target market for this will be the same guy who drove his Dodge Shelby Shadow a mile a year.

Dragon Master Semi Truck and Trailer

For the past decade, self-employed logger Dale Ison has commissioned artist Mickey Harris to create airbrushed tribute vehicles; if you've been to a regional car show, you've probably seen the "Heroes" Cadillac Escalade in its chromed, history-blending glory. Ison has put that Escalade up for sale at Barrett-Jackson this year, along with what ranks as the most over-the-top semi-tractor and trailer ever conceived. Dubbed "Dragon Master," the hand-painted murals took about 3,800 man-hours of work, and Ison has estimated the value of time and materials at $130,000. If there's anyone in the world who shares Ison's fervor for Kenworth-powered dragon fighting Norsemen on horseback, they'll probably have a bidding card at Barrett-Jackson

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5 New Cars To Buy In 2013

The retail price of Lamborghini’s first production vehicle, the 350 GT, cost $13,900 when it debuted in 1964. That’s equivalent to roughly $103,000 today–much less than the $442,000 Aventador LP700-4 Roadster we saw debut in Los Angeles last month. Talk about refining the brand.

If you’re not of the Lamborghini persuasion, there are plenty of other options for hot new things on the market in 2013. Here’s a quick primer on five of them. And fret not, my dear penny-pinchers–they all cost much less than the Lambo.

BMW M6 Gran Coupe

BMW has downsized the new M6 – but the good news is that less means more. As with last year’s M5 super-saloon, the charismatic F1-derived 5.0-litre V10 has been replaced with a more mainstream 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. In the process, though, fuel economy has been improved by 30 percent, and power increased by 10 percent to 552bhp. The new V8’s torque curve is also absolutely flat all the way from 1500 to 5750rpm, dishing up a muscular 502lb ft in the process – 118lb ft more than before.

Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG

Having already seen the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sitting out in the open fully exposed, in what appear to be leaked press pictures and even some official "spy" shots straight from Mercedes-Benz, we weren't sure how much more of the car we could see before its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in a couple weeks.

Now we know... Indian Autos Blog now has some images of a diecast model showing a scaled-down look at the car in full production form, and while we don't know what company produced this model, it is very highly detailed.

While the recent alleged press shots show what appear to be either a thinly disguised concept car or the CLA45 AMG, these shots of the 1:18 scale diecast are likely are best shots yet of the car in its base form. Pay close attention to the less flashy fascias and wheels, and, more importantly, the detailed look at the inside of the car. Based on what we see on this model, most of the CLA-Class interior will be carried over from the A-Class hatchback, and, like the larger CLS-Class four-door coupe, it will have a four-passenger seating configuration.

Audi S8

We like the Audi A8. We really like it. There may be more accomplished limousines on the market, but none of them can match the A8’s style-led gravitas or its deeply imbued sense of quality. If you’re susceptible to its charms, it will glide up your motoring wish list with ease. Which brings us to the even more imposing hulk of Teutonic menace sat before us today, the Audi S8.Even the on-paper concept has a delicious ring to it.

Take the aforementioned glamour-limousine, spice it diligently with all the quality trappings of a go-faster Audi and then drop in a, um, Lamborghini Gallardo engine. Yes, that’s the killer blow. Our favourite limo is available with an entire stable of Italian supercar ponies jostling under its precisely fitting bonnet.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster

To no surprise, the new Roadster version features a design language similar to the coupe version, except for the changes any open-top model requires. For example, the rear pillar has been redesigned to offer total support for the removable roof and a new engine hood that features a central "spinal column" with two pairs of hexagonal windows connected at the sides.

The new Aventador Roadster is being offered with a two-piece roof made entirely from carbon fiber that can be stored in the front luggage compartment.

Under the hood you will find the same 6.5 liter aspirated V12 that delivers a total of 700 horsepower and mated to an ISR 7-speed gearbox. The Roadster version will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217 mph.

In Europe the model can be already ordered and the price will start from 300,000 euro or about $380,000 at the current exchange rates.

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

The four-door Flying Spur and drop-top GTC were introduced in 2005. In 2009, the limited-edition 621bhp Supersports showed that Bentley was still capable of producing something resembling the most unlikely super-fast bruisers it was famous for.

Some will find it comforting to think of Bentley's implied heavyweight sporting elegance as an intransigent part of Britain's automotive landscape: as evocative as the thwack of willow on leather, the smell of a village pub or the peal of a church bell.

But, in truth, the company is no more resistant to the preoccupations of the 21st century than any other cultural benchmark. And so, like limited-overs cricket or gastropubs, Bentley has moved with the times and, with the considerable help of its German cheque writer, Volkswagen, introduced the green and pleasant version of the Continental GTC that it promised in 2008.

Of course, some things don't change. The continued fitment of the 6.0-litre W12 engine is proof of that. Bentley may have delivered the 40 per cent improvement in economy and emissions that it said it would, but that hefty reduction still permitted the fitment of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine from Audi that produces 500bhp. The question is: are those 500 four-ringed geldings capable of mimicking Bentley shire horses aboard the mobile amphitheatre that is the GTC?

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Top 10 Cars Of 2012

Porsche Boxster S

Porsche’s push me-pull me looks for the Boxster convertible have never quite worked, but with design ideas snatched from the fabulous Carrera GT there’s now an elegance and purposefulness with the new car that the previous generation lacked. For £45,384 the S version is a thrilling drive with 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and superb cornering balance. Oh, and it’s £300,000 less than a collector’s item Carrera GT! (Porsche).

BMW M135i

Okay, it’s visually challenged from some angles despite a subtle bodykit, but this ‘junior’ M car is such fun to drive and one of the surprises of 2012. It always feels fast thanks to a 316bhp six-cylinder turbocharged engine and the rear-wheel drive handling balance is blissful. At £29,995 this pocket rocket is £10,000 less than Audi’s all-wheel drive RS3 (BMW).

Aston Martin DB9

Grand touring, in the grandest of manner, is what Aston Martin’s two-plus-two DB9 does best. The extra space of those two ‘kiddy’ seats means room to toss a couple of coats or bags. Divine looks and sharper driving dynamics are married with charismatic 517bhp V12 engine. Price £131,995 (Aston Martin).

Vauxhall Astra VXR

With a storming 276bhp from its turbocharged 2-litre engine Vauxhall’s VXR Astra doesn’t often stand still long enough for folk to admire its racy styling. The body comes from the attractive GTC Coupe but if that’s too subtle you can jazz things up with a big rear wing and huge 20in wheels. A clever limited slip differential helps the front tyres cope with the grin inducing power (Vauxhall).

Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series

Taking most family saloons to a race track would be a waste of time. Take a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series and you’ll discover a data logging system so you can compare lap times and see where to save time in your 186mph supersaloon. Powered by a 510bhp V8 the £115,000 Black would suit Mr Incredible and family on their days off (Mercedes).

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Yes, there are faster cars, and better handling ones, and despite a rumbling 6.2 litre V8 engine, more powerful ones; but when it comes to personality mixed with style the 394bhp Chevrolet Camaro is a tough act to beat. Be even better with louder sports exhausts though. Only available as a left-hooker it lists at £42,325 (Chevrolet).

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

No-one ever moaned their Ferrari 599GTB lacked power, but its F12 replacement has a titanic 6.3 litre V12 engine capable of delivering 730bhp – 119bhp more than the 599 – if the tyres can find enough grip. Looks hunched up when cornering. Hope the owners take some driving courses on how to pilot their £240,000 projectiles. And yes, I’d still rather have an F40 or an Enzo (Ferrari).

Range Rover

It’s the new Range Rover’s job to look good everywhere, from deserts to driveways, and though the press drives off-road were the tamest I’ve ever seen, and the car slid about on its fat tyres, it should still cope with anything owners throw at it. Lower weight aluminium body means the 3-litre diesel’s the motor to go for. ‘My’ car averaged 23.1mpg. Prices from £71,295 (Range Rover).

McLaren MP4 12C Spider

Near effortlessly fast so you’re never quite sure if it’s you or the on-board computers doing the driving if you’re pushing the grip envelope, but it’s great to have a world class British car in the hallowed echelons of convertible supercars. New for the £195,500 Spider is an upgraded 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with 616bhp instead of 592bhp (McLaren).

Toyota GT86

Proving lots of money doesn’t mean more fun when it comes to cars, my Car of the Year is Toyota’s GT86 Coupe for £25,000. It’s a real driver’s car that you have to work hard to make the most of its limited (186bhp) power and narrow tyres means you can feel as the grip gives out. In these days of motorised sofas the GT86 is what real motoring is all about (Toyota).

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