Gemballa Avalanche GTR 800 EVO-R takes 911 Turbo to next level

The Porsche 911 Turbo is one of the most capable supercars on the planet, and its design has been honed by the ages to be a super slippery modern interpretation of the Porsche's essence. All that goes right out the window with Gemballa's latest upgrade for the 911 Turbo, the Avalanche GTR 800 EVO-R.

Let's start with the new styling. Gemballa installs a new lower fascia that's pretty much one giant air intake divided into three parts. Likewise, a vented hood is added that will take some of that incoming oxygen and direct it up and over the car for more downforce and stability. The 911 Turbo also gets GT headlights and a super trick dual-wing rear spoiler. Gemballa gave the 911T new 19-inch alloy wheels out back fitted with Yokohama AVS Sport tires. Their sheer girth required the bodywork be widened, so new rear fenders bulge out to accommodate the steam rollers and incorporate a larger air intake ahead of the wheels. The rear apron has also been modified to allow four exhaust tips to exit on either side of the license plate.

The look is menacing, and Gemballa gives the Avalanche GTR 800 EVO-R the muscle to back up its menace. The engine has been enlarged to 3.8L and fitted with a pair of Garret T035 turbos in place of the stock blowdryers. Along with GT3-R heads, a machined crank and new connecting rods, the car now makes 850 HP and 690 ft-lbs of torque. Handling upgrades also include H&R coilovers with adjustable springs and three-position anti-roll bars.

The Gemballa Avalanche GTR 800 EVO-R does not appear to be for the faint of heart, but Gemballas never are.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Porsche unveils GT3 Cup S racer

Endurance racing fans have a new Porsche to look for on the circuit this year. The automaker has unveiled the GT3 Cup S racing car, which can be used in FIA GT3 events. It combines a more powerful version of the 3.6L engine used in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup and the Carrera Cup series cars thanks to changes to the exhaust and engine management systems. The GT3 Cup S makes 440 horses and 317 lb-ft of torque. The intimidating bodywork is based on the GT2-class GT3 RSR instead of the more production-looking Supercup/Carrera Cup cars, and the GT3 Cup S also sports upgraded suspension components and bigger brakes. Cost of entry is steep -- €250,000 plus VAT -- but no one ever said racing was for the faint-of-heart (or wallet). Owners of '07 GT3 Cup cars can have their cars upgraded to Cup S spec for a price as well. While it's not as slinky-sexy as the new Jaguar XKR GT3 car, the Porsche should be seen in heavy numbers and on many podiums during the coming season. Press release and tech specs pasted after the jump.

[Source: Porsche]

Porsche Design Group

Speculation: Ferrari FS 599 Fuoristrada SUV

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLC

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLC: What could have been

The one who got away. Unicorn, whatever you’d like to call it. It’s the road not taken, the alternative that might have been. With Mercedes-Benz CLC, Daimler chose the safer route, the one with less controversy, less to talk about.

As seen in these initial sketches, a great deal of Chris Bangle's "flame surfacing" went into some of these; long sharp lines and kinks. More than this, SLR seems to have played a major role as well for inspiration, as some of the rears show in the drawings.

Riding on the same architecture as previous-generation C Coupe, the CLC is pretty new. However, it appears to be more conservative than the C-Class which, especially in AMG kit, looks wicked enough to scare off that wretched witch of the west herself. Perhaps an AMG version might break that shell?

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Bugatti to Build a More Exclusive Car

Bugatti Veyron 16.4; fastest, quickest, most powerful. It was an expensive brief, but the company met it, albeit at extremely high costs. So high in fact that the scheduled 300 (only 125 have been delivered so far) profit-bleeders to be built will never return any money to parent company Volkswagen. But resilient VW is about to do it again!

Bugatti media communications manager Julius Kruta told Emirates Business that Veyron is not the end of the story, even though it so nearly became the end of VW itself.

“Even though it is not economically viable for us, we will do it again,” said Kruta, “we have bigger plans for the future and the next one from our stables will be even more expensive than the Veyron.” US luxury car company Dimora may have a word or two about this with their planned USD 2 million Natalia.

We know the Veyron is pretty special; the figures speak for themselves: 16 cylinders, four turbos, 1001 ps/ 736kW, 0 – 100km/h in 2.5 seconds, top speed of 407km/h. Ironically if it didn’t have a rear wing it would fly off! And Brad Pitt, if you are reading this, please email us to confirm if the going price is still USD1.3 million.

“We were putting the car [Veyron] through a hot test drive session in South Africa when a bird flew right into its path. At the speed of 330km/h it was like a small missile being hurled at the car and it smashed through the six aluminium meshes in front of the radiator and destroyed it.”

At this point there is no word to confirm the new super saloon will be called Lydia or Royale, after the classic 1927 example. What we do know is that Lydia/ Royale will be in addition to a smaller version of the Veyron, to be made to compete in the Ferrari F430/ Lamborghini Gallardo space. Then appears a smaller version of Royale itself, created to attack the Audi RS 6/ BMW M5/ Mercedes-Benz E AMG/ Cadillac CTS-V/ Jaguar XF-R/ Porsche Panamera Turbo crowd. Only now I realise how big this crowd has actually grown over the years!