F1: Ferrari Launches New F1 / 2012 Car

While it was initially scheduled to be revealed at Maranello, and then make its maiden test at the Fiorano circuit, the heavy snow that was more suited to the Ferrari-special Grand Cherokee than an F1 car resulted in the new F2012 to be launched via an online presentation.

Compared to last year’s F150o, which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Italian Republic, Ferrari's new Formula 1 car has a very unimaginative design. But names don’t matter that much; after all, the 2011 car had only one win to its credit.

Naturally, the F2012 is a completely new design, featuring a distinctive “stepped” nose and a 2011 McLaren-like double air intake.

“It really looks very aggressive”, said Scuderia driver Felipe Massa. “This was part of my dreams. I know there was quite a lot of brainstorming when it comes to the new car, and I am impressed with it.”

What Massa really has to do, though, this year, is impress his boss with his performance if he wants to retain his seat in 2013.

Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo warned the Brazilian, who in 2011 didn’t finish higher than fifth place in any race and scored less than half the points of his team-mate Fernando Alonso, that he must up his game.

“Massa has to do something great, and something special, after a non-positive season”, said di Montezemolo. “We are offering him the best conditions to do a better job.”

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Kia Soulster Convertible

The Korean maker did not elaborate further but we assume that if it receives the green light, the Soul'ster should be on its way to the market very soon.

The original concept is a two-door mixture of convertible and pickup models with seating for four passengers. It features a shortened windshield for a more hunkered down appearance and is equipped with a two-piece removable top residing on a roll bar that provides additional protections for the occupants.

The production model would likely use the same engine lineup as the five-door Soul.

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Video: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs 2013 Nissan GT-R

You see, Camaro ZL1 with its 580HP 6.2L supercharged V8 will retail for $54,995 (€41,800) when it arrives in dealerships this spring, whereas the 2013 edition of the 545HP Nissan  GT-R starts from $96,820 (€73,500) not including destination and handling fees. This means there's more $40,000 difference between the two cars.

Having said that, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the all-wheel drive GT-R comes out as the more advanced sports car of the two being faster and more potent on the track in R&T's test.

However, the magazine does note that the rear-wheel drive ZL1 has more character and allows for more driver involvement, even though this comes at a cost on the track.

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Lamborghini SUV Concept

Lamborghini's parent company, Audi, has confirmed reports on the development of a luxury SUV concept that is pegged to make its world premiere at the Beijing motor show in late April.

It is believed that Lamborghini will show the SUV concept to gauge public reaction to a possible successor to the Countach-powered LM002 of the late 1980s.

If true, it is very likely that the study will be based on the VW Group's MLB platform architecture that will underpin the next iterations of the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, as well as Bentley first SUV that's expected in 2015.

Lamborghini is also considering a production version of the Estoque four-door sedan concept shown in Paris back in 2008.

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Audi R8 GT Spyder Limited Edition

The most exclusive and powerful version of the Audi R8 Spyder has arrived in the States. All in all, the Ingolstadt-based automaker will hand-build 333 examples of the R8 GT Spyder, 50 of which are destined for the U.S., each carrying an MSRP of $210,000 (€163,300), not including a $1,200 destination and delivery fee or local taxes.

In the GT, the 5.2-liter V10 engine with direct injection and has been boosted to an output of 560 horsepower and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque, while Audi's engineers trimmed the weight of the open-top model by 187.39 lbs (85kg).

All these measures help the R8 GT Spyder accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96km/h) in 3.8 seconds and reach an impressive top speed of 197 mph (317km/h).

Other highlights include a 10mm lower suspension with a stiffer calibration, an aero package, 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels, and brakes with ventilated and cross-drilled rotors.

First deliveries of the R8 GT Spyder will commence this month.

R8 GT Spyder Standard Features | Highlights:
− 5.2L 10-cylinder, gasoline engine, aluminum block
− quattro all-wheel-drive
− Exterior mirrors: power adjustable, heated Front Airbags: Driver and passenger full-size dual-stage front airbags and knee airbags
− Side airbags: Driver and passenger seat mounted head and thorax airbags
− Front disc brakes: 8-Piston calipers, perforated, internally vented
− Rear disc brakes: 4-Piston calipers, perforated, internally vented
− LED headlights and daytime running lights
− Sport seats, heated, 10-way power with 4-way power lumbar
− Audi navigation system plus, 6-disc CD changer, Sirius Satellite Radio, Aux-in jack with 7 speakers and 5-channel amplifier with a total output of 140 Watts
− Preparation for mobile phone (Bluetooth®) with seatbelt microphone
R8 GT Specific Standard Features | Highlights:
− 19" R8 GT wheels with summer performance tires
− R tronic, 6-speed sequential gearbox with shift-by-wire technology and sports mode
− R8 GT specific sport suspension system
− R8 GT specific carbon fiber matte exterior mirrors
− R8 GT specific LED tail lights
− R8 GT specific aluminum door sill inserts
− R8 GT specific steering wheel
− R8 GT specific sport seats in Alcantara and leather
− R8 GT specific carbon fiber matte interior inlays (monoposto and interior door handles)
− R8 GT specific numbered aluminum gear knob
− Windshield frame in Alcantara
Optional Equipment | Highlights:− Audi navigation system plus with Audi music interface w/ iPod® cable (replaces 6-disc CD changer)
− Audi Carbon Ceramic Brakes
− Bang & Olufsen Sound System (12 speakers 495 watt)
− Titanium Finish 19" 5-arm-double-spoke-design aluminum alloy wheels with summer performance tires
− Forged Aluminum 19" 5-twin-spoke-Y-design in matte silver look with summer performance tires
− Carbon fiber matte door and center console panels
− Windscreen Frame in Fine Nappa Leather (interior)

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All-New Ford B-MAX

From the single picture released by Ford, we can see that the production B-MAX lost the chrome grille trim and gained a set of visible door handles.

Like the study, the B-MAX features sliding rear doors with the center pillars integrated into the doors themselves, offering a wide-open access for drivers, passengers and luggage.

The small MPV , which competes against the likes of the Opel Meriva, will be one of the first Ford models to be offered with the brand's new 1,0 liter three-cylinder EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline engine that is available in two states of tune, with 99HP (100PS) and 123HP (125PS). The range will also include a selection of Duratorq TDCi diesels.

The new Ford B-Max goes on sale in Europe later this year.

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McLaren MP4-12C 800 HP by Hennessey

McLaren MP4-12C has in abundance it's power from the mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine which is rated at 600PS (592HP) and 600Nm (442.5 lb-ft).

However, Texas-based tuning firm Hennessey Performance begs to differ as it believes the MP4-12C could do with some additional horses under the hood – 200 of them, to be precise.

The company's new HPE800 Twin Turbo package makes several changes to the eight-cylinder engine including, but not limited to, a titanium exhaust system and upgraded intercooler and air-intake systems that lift output to 800-horsepower.

The transmission also receives some engineering love while the MP4-12C HPE800 will ride on new alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber.

Hennessey pointed out that it won't touch the suspension and the brakes. "HPE does not plan to offer any kind of a suspension or brake system upgrade as the factory systems will be difficult to improve upon," the company said in a statement.

Finally, the package will include a CarbonAero ground effects kit that incorporates a new, center-positioned frontal air inlet with hood extractor, and available custom parts for the interior.

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