Hi Member's, which one do you `like ? Want ?
Post & share your Auto `Dreams
(I want'em `all - I feel greedy 2day (LOL)

Top American Automotive Powerhouses for 2013 - Special Report from Road & Track

These cars don’t need the Fourth of July to create fireworks.


By Nick Kurczewski / Photos by Brian Blades
July 2, 2012

Slideshow >>
Video: GT500 >>

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<!-- /Main photo wrapper --><!-- test output end: --><!-- the article, at a glance, downloads, top competitors, from buying guide --><!-- left column -->We’ve picked the best American muscle machines for 2013 that represent the joys of the open road and the thrill of smoking a set of radials. The Shelby Mustang GT500, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and upcoming SRT Viper have timeless ingredients that include a ground-thumping engine, manual gearbox, and rear-wheel-drive. It’s definitely tastier sounding than what goes into the average pack of hotdogs. And for our grand finale, we chose an electric sedan, the new Tesla Model S, which runs in near silence and emits zero emissions. That should light an M80 under the establishment - and after all, isn’t that what the Fourth of July is all about?
SRT Viper

2013 SRT Viper




The first Viper was about crude as an American tourist who refuses to eat anywhere but McDonald’s. Okay, it could also be a lot of raucous fun – but so are Happy Meals, and you really should grow out of those eventually. Unveiled at this year’s New York Auto Show and set to go on sale in 2013, the new Viper has finally gone to finishing school. Yet don’t think this American sports car has lost its wild side. Under the huge carbon-fiber hood is a 640-bhp 8.4-liter V-10 coupled to a 6-speed Tremec manual gearbox. This powertrain helps propel this 2-seat snake to a top speed of more than 200-mph. Only the seriously loony among us will lament the addition of launch control, stability control and, yes, even cup-holders to the Viper’s spec sheet. If you like your steak bloody and your sports cars raw, relax in knowing both safety programs can be turned off completely with the push of a button. Getting rid of the cup-holders might not prove quite so easy.
Ford Shelby GT500

Ford Shelby GT500




We’re already waiting for the emails about how we overlooked the Shelby 1000. Yes, there is a Mustang-based hot rod that has more than 1000-horsepower when tuned up for the track – and only about 850-900-bhp when roaring down public roads. But while that monster is still under development, you have the remarkable Shelby GT500 already waiting at a dealership. Available as a coupe or convertible, the GT500 comes with a 662-bhp supercharged 5.8-liter V-8 coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. This is a Mustang with a top speed of 202 mph, ladies and gentlemen. While it might not be your first choice for getting the kids to school, this mega Mustang can actually be pretty docile to drive. Of course, if you’re running late, you can smoke the rear tires in 3rd gear. Road racers can choose the optional Track or Performance Packages, which adds performance hardware like an external engine oil cooler, thicker anti-roll bars, a Torsen limited-slip diff and cockpit-adjustable Bilstein dampers.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Chevrolet Corvettes ZR1




Corvette and Miata owners have something in common, no seriously! That’s because both cars are saddled with a stigma, albeit at opposite ends of the testosterone spectrum. In the case of the Corvette, especially the mind-blowingly rapid ZR1 model, the car’s medallion man cliché serves only to strengthen your chances when the light turns green, and you dust that smart-*** who’d been revving his engine in the lane next to you. The base Vette is a great package, but we’re going to focus attention on the range-topping 638-bhp ZR1. With a starting price of approximately $110-grand, the ZR1 is pitted against the world’s finest sports cars. Thankfully, Chevy’s engineers focused on a lot more than making this car go fast in a straight-line. Carbon-fiber is used extensively in the body, while the highly regarded Performance Traction Management system and a set of massive carbon-ceramic disc brakes keep everything under control. And you’ve just got to love the clear window in the hood that offers a view of the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8.
Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S




In this esteemed company, the typical electric car would have the performance punch of a box of bang snaps. Luckily for Silicon Valley-based Tesla Motors, an automaker specializing in electric vehicles, having zero emissions doesn’t mean giving up on driving fun. This electric-powered sedan has been designed and engineered here in the U.S., and sales have just begun. A 17-inch touch screen control panel on the center console should entertain all the early-adopters eager to put one in their garage. During a quick spin in an early production version, the Model S proved very refined and remarkably quick for a car tagged with the ‘eco-champ’ label. Granted, that might still not convince anyone who thinks the ice caps are melting simply because polar bears are looking to downsize their living quarters. Starting at roughly $50,000, the Model S is a handsome and practical EV that could serve as your only car. Pricier models offer even quicker performance (how about 0-60-mph in only 4.4 seconds?) and a driving range of 300 miles.




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<TABLE border=0 width=186><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>New Cars
Eight Things to Know: 2013 SRT Viper >>


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</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>2012 New York Auto Show
2013 SRT Viper >>


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</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>First Drive
Driven: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 >>


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</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Road Test
Corvette Fever >>


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</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>First Drive
2012 Tesla Model S >>


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<!-- /article wrapper--><!-- related content included --><!-- related content section -->RELATED STORIES

• Photos: Top American Automotive Powerhouses for 2013
• 2013 SRT Viper - 2012 New York Auto Show
• Driven: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 - First Drive
• Corvette Fever - Road Test
• 2012 Tesla Model S - First Drive
• 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe - Road Test
• 2012 New York Auto Show - Auto Shows
• 2012 Shelby 1000 - First Drive
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Hi Member's, Bonus Post, and very informative article about the Bugatti EnJoy
Inside the Bugatti Workshop - Special Report

Find out how these exquisite supercars are made.

By Ian Adcock / Photos by Nick Dimbleby
July 2, 2012
Below is POWER "WoW"

W-16 engine is mated to its Ricardo gearbox and awaits installation.


Slideshow >>
More Bugatti Vehicles >>

<!--/photos-video-wrapper-->
<!-- /Main photo wrapper --><!-- test output end: --><!-- the article, at a glance, downloads, top competitors, from buying guide --><!-- left column -->Other car manufacturers might have factories and assembly lines, but those words sound a little vulgar for the world’s quickest and costliest supercar. Bugattis are produced in an Atelier, which might be French for workshop, but in English is more commonly used to describe an artists’ studio.
The oval shaped building, designed by Gunter Henn, stands in the grounds of Château Saint Jean the original home of Ettore Bugatti on the outskirts of Molsheim.

Château Saint Jean with the visitor’s center on the left.




Since acquiring the declining marque in 1998, Volkswagen decided that the only place to resurrect Bugatti and give it some credible links to its past would be where the cars were originally built.
The Château itself had to be completely renovated, the 1857-built house – although other buildings date back to 1788 and there’s a medieval gate – having fallen into total disrepair. Today, it houses the administration offices on the first floor with the lobby converted into a small museum dominated by one of six genuine Bugatti Royale’s built.

One of only six Royale’s in existence. It dominates the ground floor of Bugatti’s offices in the Château Saint Jean.




Adjacent to the main house is a viewing studio where potential clients can select the seats for their car as well as all the interior trim and other detailing that goes into a Veyron.

Clients have a choice of four different seat designs to choose from.




But it’s the new factory…, sorry Atelier, that I’ve come to visit. On opening the door, I am not assaulted by the usual clash of machinery, rattle of air hammers and blaring music that normally greets you when entering a workshop but, appropriately enough, inside Bugatti, there is almost monastic silence. Interestingly enough, Molsheim was a renowned religious community in the past and there’s still a Jesuit monastery nearby.

Each Veyron is assembled by a dedicated team of engineers that work on one car at a time.




The elliptical building is surprisingly compact, measuring only 249 ft. x 147 ft. but, then again there are only three workstations where the cars are assembled, each by a team of five dedicated engineers, responsible for the chassis, interior, electrics, exterior, and powertrain.

Each Veyron is assembled by a dedicated team of engineers that work on one car at a time.




It would be an exaggeration to say the Veyron is manufactured here, rather a network of suppliers throughout Europe ship components and sub assemblies to Molsheim: VW builds the engine, the transmission comes from British specialists, Ricardo, glass for the windscreen from Switzerland, suppliers in Germany and Italy produce the carbon fiber monocoque and body panels, while Germany’s Draxelmaier provides the interior, AP Racing supply the brakes and Michelin the unique tires rated to a whopping 248 mph. In total there are 10 major suppliers with a myriad of smaller companies feeding into them. As an aside the wheels were originally machined by a specialist company in Moscow of all places.

AP Racing provides the stopping power for the world’s quickest production car.




As each car is bespoke, so you won’t find storage racks of components waiting to be used, instead once the customer has specified his/her car the components are ordered from the suppliers who then ship it to the Atelier, a process that takes approximately four months “depending on the specification.”

W-16 engine is mated to its Ricardo gearbox and awaits installation.




It then takes the team five to six weeks to assemble the car into a rolling chassis. Once it reaches that stage it’s put on the rolling road for 30 minutes before the body panels are fixed in place and covered in clear and black foil for protection from any dirt and stone chips during its 186-mile shakedown when slave wheels, seats and steering wheel are used.

Protective layers shield a finished car from any potential scratches and scuff marks.




Assuming the checklist is perfect the car goes into the washing cabinet to be thoroughly cleaned before being inspected one last time in the light tunnel, prior to the new wheels, seats and steering wheel being fitted. A process that adds another two or three days, before the client gets the car.
With the Veyron reaching the end of its life, thoughts are turning to its saloon successor, the Galibier, scheduled for later this decade.

A finished car in the light tunnel waiting for its final inspection and sign-off.




Lips are tight about when it will appear but, first of all a new, larger, Atelier needs to be built to facilitate assembly, although it will be on the same site where the history is and where its future will be created.

<!-- right column --><!-- at a glance --><!-- /at a glance --><!-- car make:Bugatti Car Buying Guide- RoadandTrack.com has Bugatti Car Buying Tools \nmake state: published \ncar model: \nmodel state: \nshowlink model: \nrelated_items count: 0-->More

<TABLE border=0 width=186><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>First Drive
2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse »
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Driven: 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse »
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Twisty Road Action: 2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse »
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</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>2012 Geneva Auto Show
2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse »
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</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Geneva 2012 - Video
2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse »
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Member's what do you think of the New Mazda `6 ?
(I kinda like the new look ?)

<LI id=breadcrumb-title class=last><!-- if article has a valid current url we link the last breadcrumb, otherwise we don't -->2014 Mazda 6 Sedan Rendered, Detailed - Future Cars

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Has any member driven a right side (passenger side) car ?

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<HGROUP>2014 Mazda 6 Sedan Rendered, Detailed

Go, go, Kodo—Mazda's next 6 should be efficient and handsome.


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• July 2012
• BY ALEXANDER STOKLOSA

What It Is: What the redesigned 2014 Mazda 6 sedan could look like. The new 6 will debut at this fall’s Paris auto show, and it will be redesigned from the ground up with all of Mazda’s lightweight, efficiency-boosting Skyactiv technologies baked in. The 2014 iteration of the 6 will return to a global-market strategy—meaning it will produce the same-size car for all markets, as it did with the first-generation car. Expect the new 6 to fall somewhere between the current-generation’s U.S.-spec and slightly shorter and narrower European versions.
Why It Matters: The current Mazda 6 is reasonably fun to drive and pretty interesting to look at, but with ever-tightening fuel-economy standards looming it will need to get more efficient. Enter Mazda’s Skyactiv chassis and engine tech, which can be viewed in full effect on the new CX-5 crossover.
Platform: Like the CX-5, the next-gen Mazda 6 will get a lightweight-yet-strong structure. The cherry on top of the redesigned 6 will be its even-sexier sheetmetal, which will draw inspiration from last year’s Takeri concept. Referred to as Kodo, the new design language already has debuted on the CX-5. Considering how closely that model resembled the Minagi concept that presaged it, we expect the new 6 will ape the Takeri. As you can see in the rendering above, we figure production changes largely will be limited to door handles, a more-realistically shaped light-catching surface just above the rocker panel, and a smaller grille than the Takeri’s.
Powertrain: Mazda has already revealed that the 2014 6 will get a Skyactiv engine, along with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic Skyactiv transmissions. A Skyactiv-D diesel engine is a possibility for the next Mazda 6, but Mazda hasn’t confirmed such an option will be available. The oil-burner is expected to make its way to our shores sometime this year in a CX-5. The outgoing 6’s 272-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 won’t survive the redesign, although we do expect a hybrid version to combat the gas-electric offerings of the 6’s competitors.
Competition: Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry.
Estimated Arrival Time and Price: Look for the 2014 Mazda 6 sometime next year following its auto-show debut in Paris. It’s too early to speculate on pricing, but given the cutthroat nature of the mid-size sedan segment, don’t expect the next-gen 6’s sticker to move too far from the current car’s $21,520 base price. View Photo Gallery
<NAV class=mod>PHOTOS (15)

 

Ill take a viper please! but the Vette zr1 is a CLOSE second!!
I'm waiting to see what Aston Martin had next year though! thats my drool car! haha

 

Below 4 `Devin from Outer `Space p.s. You have good taste in exotic auto's 4-Sure
Aston Martin Celebrating Centenary In 2013 With New Model, Gallery 1

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2013 AstonMartin DB9 spy shots



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Oh wow that Aston looks amazing!!

 

Hi `Devin, I like the 2012 Rims better, but this is a sneak peak & maybe just mule rims ?


To me it's looks similar to your Monte It's just lower & cost more~>

If you've stay up three days in a row & blur your eyes I think they could be related LOL

 

Ill take the Shelby!

 

Here `Amy ~> Copy & Paste & it's all yours..Get that Ford `off the MCF LOL ~>

How's you Mustang running ? Any regret's ? Do you have it broke in yet ? Great to see you online, you've been missed.

 

Space I'm having so much fun with the Mustang! I hate to say this here but it's even more fun than my 05 SS
And I haven't really started modding it