Auctioning off a Ford Mustang seems to be a pretty effective way to raise money for charity. The very first Shelby GT was auctioned for $600,000 at Barrett-Jackson in 2007, and the first GT500KR sold for $550,000, both raising money for charity. The latest 'Stang to raise money for a worthy cause is the one-off AV8R Mustang that crossed the block last week at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Gathering Eagles charity auction and brought down the gavel with a final bid of $500,000. The unique Mustang features a 400-hp supercharged V8, Ford Racing suspension upgrades, and an aviation-inspired paint scheme plus much more. Worth half a million? Maybe not, but definitely a great way to donate money to charity. Thanks for the tip, anonimo!
2003 BMW M5.
2005 Lotus Elise.
2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
What do these three vehicles have in common? They all occupy a space in my dream garage. Sure, I could've added a few more fantasy slots for a Ferrari 250 GTO, a Land Rover 90 and everything in between, but the Bimmer, the Lotus and the Aston exemplify all I've ever wanted on four wheels: a powerful sedan, a competent track tool, and an elegant coupe. No matter the occasion, I'm covered.
But there's a problem. While I've spent a fair amount of time in and around the Elise and M5, I've never had the opportunity to drive the Vantage. The Aston holds a spot on my lottery list on looks alone, so I arrived in San Francisco with a fair amount of trepidation. Will the V8 Vantage be everything I've dreamt about or will it be the automotive equivalent of meeting my hero?
There have been countless conflicting reports about what will power the next generation Audi RS4 and the forthcoming RS5. Fourtitude had heard the rumors and decided to go straight to its sources for clarification. While the four-ringed obessesives weren't able to divulge the identity of their insiders (neither did CAR, which published of one the first stories about future RS powertrains), Fourtitude may have put to rest the rumblings that the next RS4 would ditch it's V8 in favor of a supercharged six.
According to Fourtitude, the 4.2-liter FSI V8 will soldier on in the RS4, and will also find a home in the RS5, which is currently undergoing testing both in Germany and the U.S. While a boost in output wasn't divulged, engineers will supposedly keep displacement the same, while decreasing frictional losses and possibly incorporating a new version of Audi's Valvelift system. If all goes according to plan, expect at least 450 hp from the direct-injected 4.2 and don't be surprised to find the tweaked V8 in the revised R8 around the same time.
Veilside's luxury and exotics arm has already released body kits for the Lamborghini Murcielago and Bentley Continental GT, and now Premier4509 has turned its attention to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Any attempt to improve upon the stunning sheet metal of the Vantage is a risky affair, but Premier4509 seems to have balanced a bit of bling with some measure of restraint. The kit includes a new front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper and spoiler that ties in nicely with the shapely lines of the coupe, and the forged, three-piece wheels compliment the aggressive body kit, but will surely compromise the Vantage's already stiff ride.
All the pieces are made up of fiber reinforced plastic and optional carbon fiber accessories will be made available, along with new exhaust tips. Sale will begin in the first quarter of next year and will be limited to 300 units, each with their own numbered serial plate.
The Ford Mustang AV8R is a one-off, aviation-themed Mustang that's been modified with a suite of upgrades from Ford Racing, including the Handling Pack, a Whipple blower, cold air intake, and a new exhaust. Power from the 4.6L V8 subsequently jumps to 400 horses, and the car is further individualized with a custom exterior and interior. Outside, its Satin Silver finish is offset by a black hood and decklid, red accent lines, dark gray side stripes, an Air Force star on each front quarter panel, and an oversized, etched AF star on the glass roof. The faux gas cap on the trunklid also gets a white star motif, and the rear spoiler is black with a red stripe and the AV8R logo in the corner. The front and rear bumpers are swiped from the California Special, while the grille is the same one used on the Bullitt, only with red trim instead of a metallic finish on the lower lip. It's a very sharp-looking car.
Inside, the two-tone leather seats have embroidered AV8R logos, and their brown inserts are reminiscent of an old bomber jacket. Brown hide also adorns the shifter boot. In the video after the jump, we also learn that the interior trim appliqués are pre-production Bullitt units. The car will be auctioned off to benefit the Gathering of Eagles program, which is encourages young people to get involved in aviation.Back in 2006, the first Shelby GT-H brought $250,000 at an auction benefiting the same organization. If you want a shot at the AV8R, you'll need to get yourself out to Oshkosh this weekend. If you're feeling confident, just book a one-way flight. Maybe you'll be able to drive home.
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Remember back in the day when the engine output on a Rolls-Royce was listed as "adequate" or "more than adequate"? We don't know what the old guard would make of this, but adequate doesn't even come close.
This vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow has had its "ordinary" 6.75-liter V8 swaped out for a 592 Hemi, complete with dual-stage nitrous system for a reported output of over 1,000 horsepower. The chrome engine popping out of the hood might not be the average Rolls buyer's cup of tea, as it detracts from the usually-dominant classic grille, but the leather-covered roll cage is pure class. And here we thought the modern day Phantom was powerful enough as is....
Automobile Magazine was invited into General Motors Performance Build Center to watch and lightly assist in the buildup of a ZR-1's internal combustion heart. It takes four-and-a-half hours of real time to go from a bare block to a fire-breathing, supercharged LS9, but through the magic of sped-up video, it only takes seven minutes of your life. You won't come away with anything productive for that time, unlike the people in the video, who get the pleasure of creating a small-block V8, but it's a neat picture of how it all comes together. We just hope that some other poor sucker gets the motor that the magazine intern fiddled with.
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BMW may begin straying from its long held tradition of equipping its M models with rev-happy, naturally aspirated engines. According to a source speaking with Automotive News, the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 currently equipped on the new X6, could be stroked out to 4.8-liters and fitted on future Ms, including the new M5, due out in 2011. The twin-turbo'd 3.0-liter inline six found in the 335i, 535i and entry-level X6 proved that BMW has the chops to create highly efficient and eminently entertaining blown mills, and there's no doubt that significant tweaks to the turbocharged V8 could boost power levels over the stock mill's claimed 407 hp, to take take serious aim at Audi's 572 hp RS6.
BMW has officially announced the details pertaining to the 5th generation 7 Series, so let's cut right to the chase. In Europe, there are five models arriving on the market in November of this year: the 730d; the 740i and Li; and the 750i and Li. The latter two are powered by the same twin-turbo 4.4L V8 that debuted in the X6. In the U.S.-market 7 Series, the turbo eight is rated at 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and it is the sole engine option being made available. If you want a BMW 7 Series in America, it will be a 750.
Europeans get more choices. The 730d's 3.0L diesel I6 pumps out 245 horses with nearly 400 lb-ft of torque. Despite the grunt, it boasts a combined fuel economy number of 32.6 U.S. miles per gallon (39.2 Imperial). The 740 models are powered by the now-familiar 3.0L twin-turbo gasoline engine. In the 7, the 3.0TT's power output is 326 horses and 332 lb-ft -- enough to hustle the 740Li from 0 to 62 mph in six seconds flat. All the engines are connected to a six-speed automatic.
Noble is hard at work testing its first car since company founder Lee Noble retired, and considering the high esteem past models have enjoyed, the new boss, Peter Boutwood, has some big shoes to fill. So how does Boutwood and Noble plan to deliver the fun? More power, naturally.
While past Nobles made do with a 3.0-liter Ford Duratec V6 engine, albeit turbocharged within an inch of its life, Noble's upcoming M600 visits another member of the Ford parts bin: Volvo. In fact, Volvo's V8 engine, which powers up market versions of the XC90 SUV and the S80 sedan, was originally used in the last Ford Taurus SHO, though it's been revised and enlarged for its latest duty.
The Yamaha-designed mill is again turbocharged by Noble and produces a stunning 650 horsepower in its new guise. Spy photographers have caught the new sportscar out testing its prodigious limits of an expected 200 mph top speed and genuine supercar acceleration of naught to sixty in around three seconds.
