 The all-wheel drive versions of the Porsche 911 Carrera are here – the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S.
Like their rear-wheel drive equivalents, they come equipped with either a 3.4- or 3.8-litre flat-six engine. The 3.4 in the Carrera 4 produces 350hp, while the 3.8 in the Carrera 4S is good for 400hp. The Carrera 4 coupe will sprint from standstill to 60mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 177mph (283km/h), while the Cabriolet version takes 4.5 seconds and maxes out at 175mph (280km/h). The Carrera 4S coupe takes 3.9 seconds to reach 60mph, while the Cabriolet takes 4.1 seconds – top speeds are 185mph (296km/h) and 183mph (292km/h) respectively.  Ferrari F40 tail pipes The last post on SOC that had a collection of exhaust videos was on flame-spitting appreciation, and now we have another collection of exhaust-related videos. This time around, we’ll have a collection of cars that ‘crackle and pop’ when revved, or when the driver lifts off the throttle. Cars that make all sorts of little explosions when small droplets of unburnt fuel make contact with a hot exhaust system. Standard, modified, and race cars are included - both old and new. Enjoy.
 Subaru UK has released details of a power upgrade for the WRX STI, while at the same time lowering the price tag.
Prices now start at £26,695 for the WRX STI –roughly £6,000 lower. Subaru UK also announced a new financing option which can see customers paying less than £300 a month.  The Porsche Cayman is a perfect example of a good car that gets an unfair characterization, both from enthusiasts and the motoring press. You’ve probably heard someone say that it’s a car that's been compromised from the very beginning – that it’s not allowed to be better than a 911, otherwise there’s no point in buying a 911. So instead you get a car that feels like it’s being held back. Others say that it’s just a car people buy when they can’t afford a 911.
 Bentley have revealed new details on the latest version of their Continental GT Speed, as well as updates on the GT and GTC models.
The new Continental GT Speed now comes with 625hp from its 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine – a 25hp increase from the previous Speed, and 50hp more than the current standard GT. The Continental GT Speed, as well as the normal GT and GTC now come connected to an eight-speed gearbox sending power to all wheels.  Test driving the new Kia Cee'd shows just how much progress the hatchback sector has made in recent years. But, does the Cee'd succeed in luring customers away from its competitors? Toyota has revealed the latest version of their high-selling Auris, ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut in September.
Toyota is claiming that the new Auris will be cheaper to run, and that it will be better to drive thanks to improved dynamics. The UK-built Auris will be available in either Hybrid or normal petrol and diesel versions.  McLaren’s MSO (McLaren Special Operations) division has revealed a one-off X-1 supercar at The Quail in Pebble Beach, created for an anonymous customer.
The customer wanted something unique, having already bought the F1 supercar, McLaren Mercedes Benz SLR, and MP4-12C. The X-1 has gone through 625 miles of testing, and has taken two and a half years to build.  Rolls Royce has revealed a special edition of their Phantom Coupe, called the Coupe Aviator Collection. The car is meant to celebrate the various speed records that Rolls Royce has achieved on land, air, and water.
The car will debut today at Pebble Beach, with only 35 Aviator Collection models set to be made. It comes finished in ‘Aviator Grey,’ with a contrasting matt finish on the bonnet, and on the grille and window surrounds. The inside has a wood and metal theme – with the lower fascia being finished in Mahogany, accompanied by stainless steel ‘onlays’ with bullet-shaped ends.  After 103 years since the formation of Maybach, Mercedes Benz has pulled the plug on what is a loss-making brand. The impact of the 2008 financial crisis and underperforming in sales meant that its future simply couldn’t be secured.
Although Maybach is known for being a maker of high-end luxury cars – aimed at competing against the likes of Rolls Royce and Bentley – it actually started off as a manufacturer of aeroplane engines. Wilhelm Maybach founded Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH in 1909 with his son Karl Maybach, then changing the name to Maybach Motorenbau GmbH in 1912. The first car built by Maybach came in 1919, a concept car based on a Daimler chassis. Prior to starting up his own company, Wilhelm Maybach was a chief engineer at the then Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, meaning Maybach's link to Mercedes Benz was there from the very beginning. The first production car appeared in 1921 at the Berlin Motor Show. |
