Cars

With all the attention the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta received recently, and deservedly so, we thought we’d showcase a classic Berlinetta.  As much as I love modern cars, there’s something special about classic sports cars with their simple interiors, curvaceous bodies, and smelly engines.

The classic sports car in question is the 1953 Fiat 8V Series 1 Berlinetta that has been meticulously restored to its former glory.  The 8V, also known as Otto Vu, is powered by a 2.0 liter V8 engine, that’s right, an 8-cylinder engine with only 2 liters of displacement, the engine should make a glorious noise.  The 8V Berlinetta was one of the fastest cars in its day and was one the favorite cars amongst “gentlemen drivers”.

We got a glimpse of the Porsche 918 as a concept back in 2010 at the Geneva Motor Show and Porsche has now revealed the final product. The Porsche 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid supercar which will enter production towards the end of September, 2013 and first deliveries being made before end of next year.

The 918 Spyder features a mid-mounted V8 engine capable of producing over 500 horsepower to the rear wheels via a seven speed dual clutch transmission. There are also two electric motors, one per axle, which produce a combined power of 218 horsepower making the 918 Spyder capable of putting out over 770hp.

Two German tuners, Fostla and MTM, have collaborated to improve the already sexy and very fast Audi RS6 Avant. The RS6 Avant is one of the fastest wagons money can buy and it’s about to get a whole lot faster thanks to enhancements by MTM.

The RS6 Avant already produces 571 horsepower from the factory thanks to the 5.0 liter bi-turbo V10 engine. But why have 571 horsepower when you can have 749 horsepower and 673 lb-ft of torque? The new found power comes from a performance chip, engine tune, and complete conversion of the transmission.

The Audi R8 was first introduced in 2006, hard to believe it’s been so long, and over the years the car has seen various upgrades and even a spyder version.  For 2013 the German sports car supposedly sees a full-on refresh, although the 2013 R8 would look very similar to the previous model to the average man.  You’ll have to look really closely at the car to notice the new LED headlights and taillights, and the revised front and rear bumpers.

Over the years, Kahn Design has built quite the reputation when it comes to luxury vehicles and super cars. The design team has an eye for combining exterior beauty and mechanical perfection. The premium brand SUV, Audi Q7, has been turned up a notch thanks to Kahn’s exterior styling package.

The exterior kit on the Quattro Q7 is screaming with visual presence. The kit includes luxury touches such a brake calipers finished in liquid gold and an electronic module that allows the vehicle to be lowered. As for the body styling, the kit includes wide track arches for the front and rear, front bumper arches, front bumper replacement wings with air vents, LED daytime running lights, front grill and bumper sections in matt pear grey, and tint on the windows.

With three driver & team championships under its belt, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe has taken the European GT3 Series racing scene by storm. In celebration of AMG’s 45^th anniversary, Mercedes has created the SLS AMG GT3 “45^th Anniversary”, which according to the company, is marketed “at car collectors with a particular penchant for motor racing”.

The car is built as a pure collector’s item and only five examples will be produced. Bernd Schneider, who has won five DTM titles, as well as the 1995 FIA GT world championship, will be assisting the AMG engineers in installing the 6.3-liter V8 into the car and putting his signature, alongside the engineer’s, on each of the five V8s.

Regular Unfinished Man reads know my love affair with the utilitarian Land Rover Defender, I try to write about as many tuned and non-tuned Defenders as I can find.  Today I bring you the Kahn Design Land Rover Defender Concept 17 Wide Body – Harris Tweed Prototype, now that’s a mouthful.

The Defender’s engine has been left alone with the interior being the main focus and a few exterior upgrades.  The exterior upgrades include a wide body kit that comes with wider front and rear fenders with integrated vents and gunmetal fender flares.  This gives the Defender an even more aggressive look than the stock version and the body-color-matching 18” wheels look amazing.  Can you tell I love this car?