Porsche enthusiasts will undoubtedly count the 997-generation 911 GT2 as one of the most extreme supercars ever to roll out of Stuttgart – right up there with the 959 and the Carrera GT. But where there's speed, there's always room for more speed, and the Swiss aren't about to stay neutral on this matter. Switzerland-based Sportec has just released its latest offering: the SP750. The tuning firm is known for producing seriously fast Porsches – including the 997 Turbo-based SP580 and the record-chasing SPR1 and SP600M Cayenne – and has put some serious effort into carrying on this legacy with the new SP750. Modifications to the GT2 – already very blitzschnell in its own right – are available in four increments, starting with the 600-hp Stage 1 and topping out with the full-on 750-hp Stage 4 kit, which includes new turbos, a revised ECU, titanium con-rods, a free-flowing exhaust and new camshafts, air filter and clutch. To control all that extra power, Sportec is also offering an upgraded brake kit with six-pot calipers and 350-380mm discs, plus a retuned suspension complemented by a revised aero kit and 20-inch rims. We'd hope the huge Swiss flag on the roof, which has become a hallmark of Sportec's creations, is optional. While it may protect the car from aerial bombardment, the planes would actually have to catch the car in the first place.
Switzerland is not the most car-friendly place on earth. (Odd, then, that after Monaco, the mountainous country is one of the most popular residence choices for F1 drivers.) But this just puts it over the top. The Swiss Green Party is proposing legislation that would effectively ban supercars. Most sportscars, actually. And SUVs. More than a few luxury sedans, too. Even some small hatchbacks.
The proposed regulations would ban any vehicle over 4800 lbs in weight, producing more than 250 grams of CO2 per kilometer, burning diesel without a new-fangled particulate filter or possessing a front end deemed less than optimal for pedestrian impact. Many of the vehicles on the proposed list of non-compliant new cars would seem logical, according to the Green Party mindset: Aston Martins, Bentleys, HUMMERs, pretty much anything from Italy bigger than a Fiat Panda, most American cars offered in Europe... but wait a second, the Hyundai Getz? Kia Rio? Nissan Micra? Even the Dacia Logan. Somebody's getting carried away in Switzerland, and we hope with the country's populist approach to governance that the Swiss populace will keep their tree-hugging elements in check. Otherwise, we might be riding bikes to next year's Geneva show.
Despite hosting one of the biggest auto shows of the year, and notwithstanding the occasional quirky Rinspeed and BMW grand prix car, Switzerland doesn't have much of an automotive industry to speak of. But hybrids, now that's a bandwagon the Swiss can jump on. Witness the E-Motion, a gasoline-electric hybrid shooting brake concept from Swiss firm Mindset.
Although it currently only exists as a scale model, Mindset says they could have the E-Motion in production by next year, building 10,000 units annually for €50k apiece. Former VW stylist Murat Guenak is said to have penned the modern design, which incorporates such retro subtle touches as round headlights, gullwing doors and rear glass canopies, in its composite body panels laid over an aluminum spaceframe. The lightweight construction would keep the car's weight down to 800kg (1764 lbs) despite measuring 4.2m (13.8 ft) in length, driven by a hybrid powertrain similar in concept to the GM E-Flex system found in the Chevy Volt: a small 24hp gas engine charging lithium-ion batteries to give it a 100km range, plus a solar roof panel to soak in some extra juice along the way. After the jump, you can see video shot last month of the prototype-in-progress on a test run. Listen to that motor -- it's like a bat stuck in a ceiling fan!
