Leaked: Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

Now, a series of leaked pictures showing the Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 racecars have surfaced, showing the car in all its glory.

The car pictured here features a heavily revised body which includes the front bumper with large central intake and lower splitter, canard air foils, hood, fenders with deep wheel well vents, huge side sills, that massive carbon rear wing integrated into the boot lid, fuel filler pocket in the quarter panels and rear bumper with purposeful diffuser.

Inside the car is a true racer with carbon fiber racing seats, a carbon center console and racing digital dash – which even has lights to notify the driver when to shift.

The car will used a modified version of the production V8 engine. This is a 6.2 liter naturally aspirated powerplant that develops 571 hp at 6,800 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm.

According to the Mercedes-Benz-Passion blog, full details are set to be released on March 27th, with the car set for its racing debut in the Spring of next year.






Press Release

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

Spectacular racing car for the sporting customer

Puebla (Mexico) - Coinciding with the market launch of the SLS AMG on 27
March 2010, Mercedes-AMG is presenting a GT3 variant. This racing version of
the gullwing model stands out with its spectacular design and thoroughbred
motor sports technology. Developed to comply with the GT3 specifications of
the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), the SLS AMG GT3 is
designed as a racing sports car for customers competing in sprints and
long-distance races. These race series for near-series GT cars are noted for
their very varied participants and great excitement. Not least because of
their comparatively favourable cost structure, they are enjoying increasing
worldwide popularity.

AMG, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz, is entering a new
business sector with the new SLS AMG GT3: the development, production and
marketing of sports racing cars intended for customer use. Sales of these
customer cars are expected to commence in autumn 2010, and homologation of
the GT3 variant will be completed in time for the 2011 racing season.

"Thanks to uncompromising lightweight construction and superior handling
dynamics, the SLS AMG provides an outstanding basis for a highly competitive
racing car. This exciting GT3 version is our response to strong customer
demand for a car designed for these attractive motor sports series. Once
again, it demonstrates AMG's huge experience gained in more than 40 years of
motor sports, and its great expertise in the development of unique
high-performance cars," says Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG
GmbH.

The new SLS AMG GT3 is an emphatic continuation of AMG's commitment to
motor sports. AMG has been a pioneer in the motor sports world ever since
its foundation in 1967. The new racing version of the SLS AMG is developed
and produced by AMG in close cooperation with HWA AG. HWA is responsible for
the DTM racing team on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports. The HWA team is
one of the most successful in international motor sports, as witness nine
driver championships in the DTM and ITC, as well as two championship titles
in the FIA GT Championships.

The SLS AMG GT3 is set to write another chapter in this success story,
and harks back to the 300 SL racing sports car of 1952 which first
established the "gullwing" legend. Its historic victory in the "Carrera
Panamericana" long-distance race also made Mercedes-Benz a household name in
North and Central America, and demonstrated the know-how and expertise of
the Stuttgart-based automobile company.

Spectacular racing car looks and top-class performance

The new SLS AMG GT3 is wide, flat and has spectacular racing car looks. The
main focus when modifying the body of this gullwing model was on aerodynamic
performance - as is seen not only in the new front apron with a splitter,
the bonnet with its central cooling air vent and the wider front and rear
wings, but also in the the side wheel arch air vents, the sideskirts with
cooling ducts for the rear brakes, the smooth underbody with a rear diffuser
and the adjustable rear aerofoil. All these features ensure a low drag
coefficient and maximum downforce - while guaranteeing effective cooling of
thermally highly stressed components. The C-pillars accommodate the
standardised filler pipes for the fast-refuel system.

The FIA will determine the maximum output of the AMG 6.3-litre V8
front-mid engine with dry sump lubrication on the "Balance of Performance"
principle. This is intended to ensure that all the racing cars taking part
have an equal chance. The classification process, during which the kerb
weight is also determined, will be completed in 2010. Power transmission in
the GT3 variant is by a sequential six-speed racing transmission with
steering wheel shift paddles and an integrated multi-disc locking
differential. As in the standard SLS AMG, the transmission is located at the
rear axle: the engine and transmission are connected by a torque tube within
which a carbon-fibre shaft rotates at the engine speed, as in the roadgoing
version.

The wheels are located by a double-wishbone suspension of forged
aluminium at the front and rear. Adjustment facilities for the springs and
shock absorbers, the suspension height, the stabilisers, the track width and
camber allow an individual setup for the racetrack. Rack-and-pinion steering
with a more direct ratio and speed-sensitive servo assistance make for
extremely agile handling. Behind the central-locking AMG light-alloy wheels,
a composite steel racing braking system with racing ABS ensures outstanding
deceleration.

Functional racing car atmosphere in the interior

The interior of the SLS AMG GT3 is dominated by a functional racing car
atmosphere: the steel rollover cage not only ensures the driver's safety,
but also adds additional reinforcement to the aluminium spaceframe. Another
eye-catching feature is the racing bucket seat with a six-point seat belt
and HANS system (Head and Neck Support). The central display is perfectly
positioned in the driver's field of vision, and shows all the relevant
information such as speed, engine rpm, operating temperatures, lap times and
the selected gear. The open-top racing steering wheel with gearshift paddles
makes perfect vehicle control possible.

Additional controls are located on the centre console. This is where the
driver can not only start the AMG V8 engine or adjust the traction control,
but also select reverse gear or - if the worst comes to the worst - activate
the integrated fire extinguisher system. The adjustment control for the
brake balance is located on the torque tube tunnel.

Leaked: 2011 Audi RS5 Coupe Brochure

A German agency appears to have mistakenly released the official brochure of the new Audi RS5 Coupe ahead of time as the car's world premiere isn't due for another week or so at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2.


No details about the powertrain or performance specs are revealed in the brochure. However, it does mention three types of seating and four wheel design choices. Audi's 7-speed dual clutch S-tronic transmission is the only choice - no mention of 6-speed manual. Also, no flat-bottom steering wheel is shown.


Look closely and you'll be able to spot the slightly blistered wheel arches that hark back to the original Quattro coupe, the new front bumper with larger air vents at each corner, the honeycomb grille without the horizontal bar, the redesigned rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and the two large oval tail pipes.


Speculation over which powerplant will drive the RS 5 has ranged from a massaged 3.0-liter supercharged V6 in the S4, 4.2-liter V8 and 5.0-liter V10 in the RS 6 to the range topping 5.2-liter V10 from the R8. Horsepower has been logically guestimated between 450 PS (331 kW / 444 hp) and 550 PS (405 kW / 542 hp), essentially where the RS 4 leaves off with 420 PS (309 kW / 414 hp) and ending with the RS 6 and its 579 PS (426 kW / 571 hp).


The revised LED tail lamps, the specific alloy wheels and what looks like a retractable boot lid spoiler round off the exterior styling tweaks.



The interior shots suggest that there won't be any cosmetic upgrades over the S5 Coupe.


The RS 5 will undoubtedly debut at the Geneva Motor Show in two weeks. According to previous reports, the RS5 hits the streets soon after in July.
More Photos

leaked: Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing

Public unveiling in Frankfurt is only two months away. Judging by all of the recent leaks and releases, an official media release could happen very soon.

WCF sources state the images are genuine. Judging from the generic studio background and lack of computer touch-up work, they could be preview images for dealers or existing clientele. Additionally, the type of low resolution picture quality, even visible on the magazine cover version, suggests the source images are from a printed brochure or magazine and then captured using a mobile phone camera.


The leaks are starting to flow. Just within the past week we saw the latest spy photos of an SLS Gullwing in grey, more official "teaser" images were published, and today rumours of an SLS Gullwing electric vehicle is slated for 2015. But the day isn't over yet and another very legitimate looking image revealing the front and rear design details has surfaced.

Here we have two very different versions of the same grainy image. The first of which is clearly a magazine cover from Autobild with a bonus rear shot, and the second version from Autowerald.com in The Netherlands is the source image without the clutter.
via:worldcarfans

Photos LEAKED: 2010 Jaguar XJ

Jaguar is using aerospace-inspired aluminium body architecture for the first time in a car with the XJ. The technology is next-generation stuff and is likely to filter down into other next-generation Jaguars.


The next XJ is promised to be the new class-leader in a segment led by the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as well as the Audi A8 and the Lexus LS. Jaguar seeks to reclaim its spot alongside these luminaries after years of being sidelined by both buyers and the motoring media.


Powerful engines will match or even outperform some of its competitors. Here we can mention engines like the new 275hp (202kW), 600Nm 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel and the 5.0-litre V8 with natural aspiration. A supercharged XJR might use the engine that makes 510hp (380kW) in the XFR/ XKR but have its power upped to keep up with the BMW 760i and the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG. Of course this is just pure speculation at this point in time.
via:worldcarfans

Leaked: Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Images

The Lamborghini Diablo was the last rear-wheel drive car to come from the factory at Sant'Agata. That may change soon, however, if the car depicted in these images that have surfaced on the Web are to be believed. This orange beast is rumored to be called the Gallardo LP550-2, and given Lamborghini's very descriptive naming scheme, all of this Gallardo's 550-hp are supposedly sent only to the two rear super-wide Pirellis.


Given the stripe package and contrasty black-on-white interior, it’s clearly some kind of upcoming special edition; but determining its drivetrain layout from these images alone is near on impossible. There aren’t any noticable differences in bodywork between this and the current LP560-4, but the 19-inch wheels are reminiscent of the old Superleggera.


Power comes from the 5.2-litre normally aspirated V10 engine but has been detuned to make 550hp (405kW) and not 560hp (412kW) like the LP560-4. A 6-speed manual gearbox comes standard. Don't let that minor power cut dissuade you from forming high opinions of the car though; it has shed 30kg (66 lbs) and dispatches the 0 - 100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.


An AWD Italian bull rushing over 500 stallions from under the bonnet is no child's play at full glory. One with no AWD safety net is something only a few should attempt to play with.
via:motortrend

2010 Saab 9-5 Sedan AND Wagon First photos

Do these images actually show official manufacturer renderings of the 2010 Saab 9-5 sedan and 9-5 wagon? Two different blogs seem to think so.


Both Autoblog.nl and Saabunited.com believe that the source of these images is Saab itself. We're not so sure. The images are far from perfect (is that a scratch on the front bumper of the 9-5 sedan?), showing two drawings that need some finishing touches. Most recently, the wagon was seen under a tight-fitting cloth cover teasing us with an idea of what the vehicle will look like.



However, what the artist seems to have been accurate on is the overall shape of the front bumper, including headlight placement, air intakes, grille shape, and fog lght location. Also, the wheels appear to be fairly close in design to what Saab has included on their teaser car.


Comparing these pictures with the rendering, we think we can spot a few differences. The rendering does not appear to have a steep enough angle just over the rear headlights. Rigidity looks to be key in the back end of the covered up car, as opposed to the smoothness seen in the drawing. Also, the rendering shows a roofline that plunges down at the back quite a bit more than the concealed 9-5 wagon, which shows a flatter roof.


The car should be available with a mix of four and six cylinder engines (petrol/BioPower) and a four cylinder diesel. The six cylinder diesel that was planned for the car was cancelled by GM.
via:worldcarfans

preview：BMW 7-Series M Sport Official Photos

The M Sport Package will initially be offered only on the UKDM 745d, but will likely transcend to other models as well. Visually, the sportier luxo-cruiser receives a more aggressively designed front fascia and a modestly redesigned rear fascia, both with chrome detailing. A new set of sporty split 5-spoke wheels round out the exterior upgrades.


While the package doesn't include the X6 M's 555 hp 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it boasts several unique styling accessories which help to differentiate it from standard models. Key exterior design differences include more aggressive front and rear bumpers, "shadowline" trim around the windows, additional chrome detailing, and a set of M-design wheels.


The interior receives various M parts such as an M steering wheel, M shifter and M footrest.


Look for the M-sport package to be unveiled with the new 306 hp 3.0-liter biturbo diesel 740d, with availability for all 7's shortly thereafter.
via jalopnik