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Vallelunga Chronograph by Autodromo

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:00 GMT

Posted on 05.25.2012 02:00 by Simona
Filed under: | car gift ideas | car watches | Cars | Car News

Any true automotive enthusiast knows the name "Vallelunga," but for those that don’t, it is a challenging road circuit designed by Italian racing legend Piero Taruffi. It is located 20 miles outside of Rome and was the site of many thrilling races in the 1960s and 1970s, featuring all of the legendary Italian marques. Knowing that, it is no surprise that Autodromo has released a chronograph that carries this name.

The new Vallelunga is a beautifully minimalist watch inspired by racing tachometers used in many Italian Prototype and Grand Prix racing cars of late 1960s and early 1970s. It is powered by a robust Swiss Made Ronda Quartz 5020.B movement. It features a stopwatch, 30 minute counter, and big date calendar window. It will be offered in Black over Black or White over Stainless and will be priced at $550.

Vallelunga Chronograph by Autodromo originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 02:00 EST.

Plymouth Hemi `Cuda Pro Touring

Justin Cupler@topspeed.com(Justin Cupler) — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

RK Motors Charlotte is becoming rather famous for their “Pro Touring” lineup of vehicles. The latest rendition we came across was the 1970 Plymouth Hemi `Cuda, which was featured at SEMA in 2008.

For those that aren’t familiar with RKM’s “Pro Touring” cars, we’ll let you in on the secret. RKM takes a decent looking muscle car – so far we’ve seen a 1967 Sting Ray Corvette and a 1955 Ford Thunderbird – completely guts it, then restores it with mild modernization. So far, RKM has really impressed us with its perfect mixture of classic muscle with modern technology.

Some of the modern touches we have seen included are an LCD touch screen stereo and navigation system on the `55 T-bird, and an LS2 V-8 in the `67 Sting Ray, all while retaining the vehicle’s original character. This specimen appears to be much of the same perfection on the surface, but what does it look like as we pull back the layers?

Click past the jump to find out if the 1970 Plymouth Hemi `Cuda Pro Touring matches the blueprints of the two before it.

Plymouth Hemi `Cuda Pro Touring originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 18:00 EST.

Toyota Camry NASCAR

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Toyota Racing has just announced details on their 2013 Camry that will race the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series where it will have to take on models like the Ford Fusion, Dodge Charger, and the upcoming Chevrolet SS. The racing version is based on the 2013 Camry, but adds a more aggressive exterior design language as well as a new V8 engine to replace the standard V6 engine.

The 2013 Camry NASCAR will be distinguished by a huge front grille-area, new headlight design, body-length character lines, and a huge rear bumper. All these adjustments have been made in order to adjust the car’s aerodynamics.

"We’re extremely proud of the new Camry and the development of the car was truly a unique process," said Lee White, president and general manager of TRD. "NASCAR and all four manufacturers were brought together to guide the direction of the new cars. We all worked together to put the ‘S’ back in NASCAR — we all wanted race cars that look more like our stock, production models – and together we accomplished that. Our new Camry for 2013 is a great looking race car. Everyone at Toyota is eager to have our drivers in a race car that more resembles the street Camry."

gallery: 2012 Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry NASCAR originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 17:00 EST.

Jaguar F-Type R

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Back in April 2012, Jaguar officially confirmed that the F-Type sports car wold be coming, except they only confirmed it in a coupe version and a roadster version. Now, recent spy shots have revealed that an R version is also under development. Come on, anyone knows that all Jaguars come with their own R version, so this little development shouldn’t have taken anybody off-guard.

The future Jaguar F-Type R will be powered by the usual supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine used in almost all the other R models, but detuned to around 450 HP, which is still pretty impressive for such a tiny sports car.

Compared to the standard F-Type, the R version will get a set of quad exhausts, more prominent front and rear bumpers, a new set of wheels, and a sportier interior.

It is believed that the R version will be launched at the same time as the standard version, so expect to see the new F-Type in all its glory later in September 2012.

Now all we need to complete the lineup is for the Jaguar F-Type RS to get picked.

Jaguar F-Type R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 16:00 EST.

Lamborghini Gallardo Invidia 540 by Amari Design

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Lamborghini’s have long been the favorites of tuning companies from all over the world. Whether it’s the exotic Italian heritage or the imposing power at its heart, Lamborghini’s are the equivalent to tuners as flames are to moths.

UK tuner Amari Design is no stranger to corralling Italian raging bulls, and it’s to no one’s surprise that they’ve taken the task of building a new program for the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Calling it the Invidia 540, Amari Design took the task of building a comprehensive aerodynamic body kit that has been constructed from carbon fiber, fiber glass, and lightweight ABS plastic. The objective at hand? Turn the Gallardo into something akin to the LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale.

The task is easier said than done, but Amari Design’s new aero body kit is determined to give the Gallardo that oh-so desirable Super Trofeo look. The body kit comprises of a number of new components, including a wider and deeper front front fender and rear arch extensions with vented bumper pieces. It also has wider wings and arches on both the front and rear, a wider rear bumper, a custom rear diffuser, and, need we explain any further, a large carbon effect, a Performante-inspired rear wing, and a new set of 20" alloy wheels finished in matte black.

Inside, the modifications include plenty of soft leather and Alcantara trim on the seats to go with the Invidia logo embroidered on the headrests. There are also custom carbon fiber panels, custom mats, and an modified hi-fi and sat nav system.

Last but certainly not least is the addition of a new high-performance Tubi exhaust system that helps increase the car’s output from 520 horsepower to 540 horsepower. It’s not a huge boost, but a boost nonetheless.

gallery: 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo (...)

Lamborghini Gallardo Invidia 540 by Amari Design originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 15:00 EST.

Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Plans to revive the Alpine name have gone back and forth like a tennis match for years, but Renault may finally be giving the project a green light, for a concept version at least. A few days ago, we reported that the first concept version for the Alpine line would be unveiled at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix, and now we have the first image of the upcoming Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept.

The Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept was named as such because it pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Alpine A110. Its exterior design was inspired by the Renault DeZir concept unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and its technical side was borrowed from the Renault Megane Trophy, meaning we will see a V6 engine with an impressive output of 400 HP and 315 lb-ft. of torque.

The original Alpine A110 debuted in 1961 and lasted through the 1977 model year. It had a rather Porsche-like design and had a number of engines ranging from a 66-horsepower 1,108 cc engine to an impressive 140-horsepower 1,605 cc engine.

If the Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept sees the light of production day, we’re guessing it will be sometime in 2014. For now, we’ll wait for the concept to be unveiled on Friday, May 25, 2012 to get a better idea of the Alpine’s future.

UPDATE 05/24/12: A new teaser video of the Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept has made its way online, courtesy of a joint collaboration between the French automaker and Yahoo! Check out the video after the jump! Motorsport magazine is also offering new images of the concept before the car’s official debut tomorrow.

Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:00 EST.

IFR Automotive teases mysterious new sports car

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

The last time we saw or heard from IFR Automotive was back in 2008 when they introduced the Aspid sports car at the 2009 London Auto Show. If you recall, the Aspid was presented as a 700 kg/1543 lbs sports car that was designed like a futuristic Morgan and packed a walloping 400 horsepower, good enough to produce a 0-60 mph time of just 2.8 seconds.

That was four years ago.

This year, the Spanish automaker is returning with a new version of the Aspid sports car, one that has come with a new teaser and a rather intriguing tag of "Keep watching your mirrors, a new Aspid is coming."

Details are scarce at this point, but we do expect the car to look like a bigger version of the 2008 Aspid to go with a more powerful and technologically advanced engine than the 2-liter engine its predecessor came with.

More details are sure to follow when they become available.

gallery: 2009 IFR Aspid

IFR Automotive teases mysterious new sports car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:00 EST.

Cadillac Escalade

Justin Cupler@topspeed.com(Justin Cupler) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The Cadillac Escalade has always been a love-it-or-hate-it type of vehicle, thanks to its awesome styling but terrible fuel economy. Sales have been falling off lately and incoming CAFÉ regulations are really putting the squeeze on GM to increase the overall fuel economy of its sole luxury automaker. This led to talks of the Escalade getting the axe in coming years, but apparently GM is not ready to throw in the towel yet.

Reports are pointing to an all-new Cadillac Escalade arriving in 2014 as an early-2015 model year. Instead of Caddy going the direction that many other SUV builders have gone, it will keep the Escalade on a truck frame, whereas many builders are changing SUVs to sit upon car platforms. This means that the 2015 Escalade will ride on the same platform as the soon-to-be released new Chevy Silverado and Sierra.

Unfortunately, we have nothing to really offer except speculation on the incoming Chevy and GMC trucks, as we have only seen heavily camouflaged models. All we can say for certain is that the Cadillac will share the same platform as its pickup brethren. Some experts are anticipating a change in the Silverado/Sierra twins that rivals the 1996 space shuttle treatment that the F-150 received. If this is the case, we can also expect a vastly redesigned Escalade.

We also know that GM has to work on the fuel economy of this luxury SUV to help it meet CAFÉ regulations in the future and the 18 highway mpg that the 2012 Escalade gets is simply not going to cut it. Look for GM to develop an engine that rivals the Ford’s EcoBoost V-6, like the 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine that has been mentioned, and toss it into the Escalade. The only other option would be to go turbo diesel, which may not sit well with Cadillac owners.

We will continue to bring you more information as it becomes available on the upcoming 2015 Escalade.

Current model pictured

gallery: 2009 Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac Escalade originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:00 EST.

Two is better than one: Mazda and Fiat team up for new roadster

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Collaborative efforts aren’t anything new in the car world. Companies have been borrowing bits and pieces from each other for years, but lately it seems as though full blown projects are being split between companies to develop almost identical vehicles. Take Subaru and Toyota, for example. They joined forces to develop the new GT 86/BRZ sports car that carry identical parts with different maker flares. Now Fiat and Mazda are jumping on board the team builder wagon to produce a new small roadster based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive architecture.

The two companies will have to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled roadsters and each variant will be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. Both models will be built at Mazda’s Hiroshima, Japan, plant with production for Alfa Romeo envisaged starting in 2015.

"Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time." said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.

"This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship." said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

gallery: 2014 Mazda MX-5

Two is better than one: Mazda and Fiat team up for new roadster originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 11:00 EST.

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Back in 2008, Mercedes was looking to expand its market to include the younger population and they decided that the best way to do that was to offer a C-Class Coupe alternative. That project led to the birth of the CLC whose success in the market was more lackluster than bedazzled. Now, Mercedes is at it again with a much more simple approach to meeting the needs of the younger generation. This simple - in the best sense of the word - vehicle is the C-Class Coupe, and Mercedes is even taking a stab at an AMG version. This is certainly a good thing because, well, the BMW M3 Coupe needs a real competitor, right?

The new C63 AMG Coupe will join the current AMG Coupe and will be put on sale this July in Europe, while on the US market sales will begin in September 2011. The first units will be sold as the "Edition 1" and will be offered with exclusive equipments.

UPDATE 05/24/2012: Mercedes’ "Thank You - 2 Million Times" video generated some positive feedback and many people have requested to see the uninterrupted drift footage. Questions were even asked as to if the C 63 AMG Coupe actually drifted the corkscrew or if it was creative editing. Mercedes is offering the answer to this question with a new video. Enjoy!

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 May 2012 10:30 EST.