If you can be drawn away from our fabulous selection of
PH Heroes
at the Autosport International Show, there are a few interesting new cars making their first appearance at the NEC too. The
Zenos E10
is arguably the star of the show, but there's plenty more besides.
Caterham AeroSeven
Though perhaps overshadowed by the Zenos, the latest Caterham model is being shown in Britain for the first time at Autosport. The 240hp, 600kg AeroSeven will reach customers this autumn. It will be the first Caterham with traction control, which will be fully adjustable and incorporate launch control too.
Abarth 595 50th Anniversary Edition
Yet another special variant of Abarth's smallest car, now with 180hp. The 50th Anniversary also comes with 305mm Brembo brakes, 17-inch wheels, a paddleshift Abarth Competizione gearbox and 'the distinctive Record Monza' exhaust. The white paint is intended to mimic the original 595 and the Scorpion graphics are there for the same reason.
The most expensive 160hp 595 currently is the Competizione MTA at £20,205. Expect a price in that region for the 50th Anniversary, perhaps slightly more.
Twisted is exhibiting its pair of new models at Autosport on which all subsequent Twisted Defenders will be based. The £50K Definitive Edition and £70K Ultimate Edition come as standard with the 2.2-litre diesel familiar from the standard Defender; the Definitive has 165hp and the Ultimate 190hp.
But Twisted Defenders aren't really about the diesels, are they? A 3.2-litre is available too but the 6.2-litre 520hp V8 remains an option too.
The Definitive version gets improved soundproofing and some leather inside with upgraded suspension parts too. The Ultimate adds to this with more leather, sat-nav and Bluetooth.
Radical RXC Turbo
No Radical is slow, the latest RXC in particular. But a new twin-turbocharged version of the RXC will take the car's performance into another league altogether. It isn't actually powered by a blown version of the standard car's 3.7-litre Ford V6, instead using a 3.5 V6 with 460hp and 500lb ft. That's 80hp and 180lb ft up on what was already a very quick car.
A few bodywork tweaks help channel air into the intercooler and improve further the aero efficiency. The RXC turbo will cost £129,000.
Lotus Elise S Cup R
A more hardcore, track-only version of the Elise ready to do battle in the 2014 Lotus Cup. Despite the hardtop, it weighs the same 924kg as a standard Elise and it comes with a few engine management tweaks to make it more suitable for track use. With adjustable suspension, upgraded pads and Yokohama AdvanAD07s, the Elise S Cup R really is ready to race.
Vauxhall VXR8 GTS
This car's UK debut and a model that has always had a fond following in Britain. For £54,999 the GTS offers 585hp and 545lb ft, but the 155mph limiter remains. There's also Brake Torque Vectoring, magnetic dampers and launch control as standard. We should be able to drive one in the next few weeks.
Porsche 991 GT3
What hasn't been said about the GT3 already after Monkey's
video
review
plus our farewell to the previous model? Not a lot really, but Autosport offers the opportunity to see the GT3 in Britain for the first time.
Bowler Defender Challenge
Possibly the coolest motorsport series that will be running in 2014, the Defender Challenge will run at seven different rallies across this year. The engine, interior and suspension have been completely overhauled for competition use. See the car in the flesh at the NEC, and resist the urge to begin a rallying career...
Renault Twizy F1
Not really comparable with the other cars on show, but and fascinating little thing nonetheless. Born from an idle conversation about engineering possibilities, the 97hp rollerskate is as quick to 62mph as a Megane 265. It was described as sounding like ‘part electric lawnmower, part Harrier Jump Jet and part Dyson vacuum cleaner’.
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