 Car enthusiasts have been anticipating a hardcore version of the Ferrari 458 Italia ever since it was revealed in 2009, and it has finally appeared in the form of the 458 Speciale. The high-revving 4.5-litre V8 engine now produces 605hp and 540Nm of torque, which means that it produces more horsepower per litre than any other naturally-aspirated road car engine at 135hp/l. This also means that it can get from 0-100km/h in 3.0 seconds, and lap the Fiorano Circuit in 1:23.5 mins – 1.5 seconds faster than the standard 458 Italia.  The top performance variant of the Volkswagen Golf has been released, the Golf R, and it’s set for a public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 300hp (30hp more than before) and 380Nm of torque (280lb ft), which sends its power through the latest 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. The new Golf R’s 0-100km/h time is 5.3 seconds (4.9 seconds with the six-speed DSG gearbox), while top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. Tuning firm, Novitec Rosso, have added another stage of tuning for the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, upping the power from an already-impressive 740hp to 774hp. The extra power comes from treating the F12 Berlinetta’s 6.3-litre V12 engine to an engine management upgrade – by changing the mapping for injection and ignition – as well as a high-performance exhaust system with high-flow catalysts and butterfly valves. The sports exhaust system can be ordered separately. Honda has released a new version of the Civic called the Civic Tourer, marking the return of a station wagon variant since production of the sixth-generation Civic ended in 2000. Here is some drive-by footage of a Honda/Acura NSX prototype at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It definitely sounds good, but we'll have to wait until 2015 to find out if its all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain will deliver the same thrills as its rear-wheel-drive predecessor. The car will be built in Honda's Ohio plant.  Lamborghini have released details on a new version of their Gallardo supercar, and it’s called the LP 570-4 Squadra Corse. Lamborghini is marketing the new Gallardo Squadra Corse as a road version of the Gallardo Super Trofeo race car, and it is set to debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The name Squadra Corse is in tribute to Lamborghini’s recently-formed department that oversees all of its racing activities in Europe, North America, and Asia. |
