Nurburgring testing - spy shots bonanza!
UPDATE - Ferrari is making a faster F12. Y'know, because it was so sluggish beforehand...
Latest update: 20/08/15, 1030h
How much more power can they give it?
'Speciale' is another possibility, following the 458 theme by offering more power, a little less weight and a greater track focus. Should make for an incredible car, but would Ferrari want to use a badge associated with a cheaper car? Let's see. All possible suggestions welcomed!
As for the car, it would seem logical that the GTO/Speciale will focus on reduced weight rather than increased power; 740hp is already doing a fairly good job! Expect further evolutions of the carbon ceramic brakes, dual-clutch gearbox and manettino to make the F12 just that bit more insane. You didn't think Ferrari would just let the Aventador SV take all the glory in super hyper megacars, did you?
Remember the BMW M235i Racing? BMW Motorsport's take on an entry-level GT racer, it's enjoyed some success in the VLN and similar such race series. There's a one-make trophy too.
If Batman did N24...
Look at the thing! The arch extensions are gigantic, the spoiler is huge after the tiny lip on the Racing and the black camo ramping up the menace further. But there are still parts familiar from the Racing, including the fairly ordinary exhausts and wheels that appear to be carried over. Rather undernourished they're looking too.. It has been rumoured that the Cup is an update to customer response about the Racing and a few dynamic issues. So in the same way you would expect a Cup model to sharpen the handling of a road car, that's the aim with the Motorsport M235i. It's an enhancement rather than a new model. More details - and hopefully a video - when they're released!
There has been a great deal of discussion on how far the Audi R8 is a Lamborghini Huracan and vice versa, with the shared MSS platform and only V10 engines available. The PH first drive even suggested the Audi may be preferable to the Huracan. And now there's an R8 Spyder before any suggestion of a similar Huracan, despite the Lamborghini coupe arriving a year before the Audi. Wonder who made that decision...
Drop window, keep hair intact! Result!
As for the rest of the car it appears very much similar to the coupe, as you might have guessed. Now the sideblades don't run to the R8's roof, they may well feature on the Spyder. Note also that this car doesn't have the fixed spoiler or ceramic brakes so it's most likely a 'regular' 540hp R8 V10; however, expect both models to be offered in the Spyder range. Can't let an F-Type V8 Roadster have more power now, can you?
Given how far advanced this prototype looks, a show debut for the new R8 Spyder can't be a long way off. Even for Audi it would be surprising to have this turned round for Frankfurt, especially given the coupe was only seen at Geneva. But exactly a year later, back in Switzerland? It would seem the logical place. We might have seen something of the Lamborghini by then too!
Well this looks a little more promising. The studio shots accompanying the M4 GTS 'Concept' announcement last week weren't that flattering, the sea of grey and dull lighting not the best backdrop for the latest M hot rod. Here though, out at the 'ring and actually moving, the situation has significantly improved.
Hurry up please BMW!
The previous M3 GTS upped power by 30hp over the regular M3 so a similar gain for this car seems likely, which would take it to 461hp. Because it will be made and, judging by these shots, it will be available pretty soon. No word yet on power, or a kerbweight, but many more numbers will surely be forthcoming at Frankfurt.
So following the recent F-Type Coupe SVR pics, here's the drop-top equivalent. Well, fingers crossed. Like the coupe there's the fixed spoiler and more aggressive bodykit but the wheel/brake combo from that car is notable here by its absence. To follow at a later stage perhaps. There is some Project 7 influence here moreover with those new front intakes.
Mechanically the Roadster and Coupe should be identical, meaning they will both be all-wheel drive with in the region of 600hp from the supercharged V8. The Coupe is likely to rival whatever the faster AMG GT will be and the 911 Turbo, with the Roadster up against the Ferrari California T and Aston V12 Vantage S Roadster. Which sounds like a very noisy and enjoyable comparison. Question is now whether the two F-Type SVR models will be launched at the same time. Our sources seem to suggest the Roadster will be launched early next year, so they could well both be at Geneva. We'll keep you posted!
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[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]
Not sure how this fits in as Litchfield have been doing conversions with 525bhp+ for a while, and also offering rear springs that apparently benefit the handling and performance, many testers making comment about the rear suspension.
Ok, so collectors, investors and badge-snobs will go for the GTS, but I'd suspect the premium will be considerable over the stock car, and therefore a trip to Litchfield will not lighten the wallet nearly as much.
Also, as their pedigree in Nissan GTRs shows, Litchfield will probably undertake continual development for the standard car which will be well-rounded and eminently capable.
Me?
Yeah, I'm a badge-snob so if I had the money I'd go for the factory car.....
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