Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

The latest in a line of otherworldly supercars that includes the Miura, Countach, Diablo and Murcielago, the Aventador is Lamborghini's technology- and performance-packed flagship. Stupefyingly quick, aggressively angular and awe-inspiring in a deeply primal way, it's also more comfortable and refined than its feral predecessors.

Underneath its attention-grabbing stealth jet/alien snubfighter exterior, the Aventador is underpinned by a carbon-fiber chassis that teams with a number of other carbon and aluminum components throughout the car to keep weight down. These measures help the Aventador tip the scales at about 200 pounds lighter than its predecessor, although at just over 4000 pounds it still isn't exactly dainty.

Concerns about weight - and most other rational thoughts - are extinguished once one experiences the Aventador's operatic and absurdly potent V12. Displacing 6.5 liters and boasting a lofty 8500 redline, this beast of a motor makes 691 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm.

When you couple that much power with the car's Haldex all-wheel-drive system, what you get is a zero-to-62 mph time of just 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. These figures put the Aventador proudly atop the Lamborghini range and easily in the company of the most impressive supercars in the world.

Fuel economy is likely the last thing on the mind of anyone considering a Lamborghini, but the automaker added two new technologies for the latest model year in the interests of efficiency and the environment.

The first, a start-stop system that shuts down the engine to save fuel at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic, is a supercapacitor-based system that's both lighter and faster to restart the motor than a traditional battery-based system. The second is a cylinder deactivation system that shuts down half of the V12's cylinders during light-throttle situations, temporarily turning the motor into a straight-six. When the driver lays into the throttle, the other six cylinders fire back up for full power.

Despite those technologies, there's only so much they can do to enhance the mileage of the inherently thirsty V12 - fuel economy is rated at 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

Shifting duties are handled by a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual gearbox that Lamborghini refers to as a robotized Independent Shifting Rods (ISR) transmission. Capable of blasting from gear to gear in just 50 milliseconds, it can be a bit herky-jerky at low speeds and isn't as refined overall as the dual-clutch boxes used by some competitors. Lamborghini said it opted to use the ISR to save weight over a dual-clutch unit.

Helping transfer all 691 horsepower to the ground at all four corners are two different tires and wheel sizes - 255/35/R19 for front wheels and tires, with massive 335/30R20 wheels and tires for the rear. Stopping the big Lambo are 400x38m six-piston carbon ceramic brakes in the front, and 380x38mm carbon ceramic brakes in the rear.

Get the Aventador out to an empty, winding road, and the supercar will impress with its superb engine, accurate steering and excellent overall balance, though its girth prevents it from feeling truly nimble.

Standard tech is in
Standard features are quite extensive, including electronic control goodies such as ABS, EBD, ASR, ESC, a hill holder function, an electronically controlled rear spoiler, an electronically controlled side air intake system, servotronic and an integrated command with three different driving modes that integrate the gearbox, differential, engine response and servotronic simultaneously.

Interior and vehicle standard features include: Push to Start/Stop button, keyless ignition, full TFT displays in the cockpit, on-board computer, multimedia system with seven-inch display, iPod and USB interface, navigation, Bluetooth, bi-xenon headlights with washer, LED daytime running lights, automatic air conditioning with solar sensor, crepuscular and rain sensors and electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors with folding function.

Lamborghini also introduced a new suspension system uses pushrod technology, inspired by Formula 1 racing. It functions by locating the springs and dampers no on wheel mounts, but rather inboard to the body shell. The end result when coupled with the double wishbone suspension is precise handling in dynamic driving conditions, but almost luxury-like comfort when cruising.

Given the exotic nature of the Aventador, it is only fitting that Lamborghini decided to include a pair of new exterior colors: Metallic Grigio Estoque (a type of dark gray), and a pearl Arancio Argos orange. In addition to the two new colors, there will be three matte colors, including the white shown in Geneva, for a total of 13 exterior colors.

Key Competitors
Exotic sports cars don't usually get cross-shopped like mid-size sedans, but the Aventador can still be compared with the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano, the Aston Martin DBS and the McLaren MP4-12C.

Read more: http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-car-buying/lamborghini/aventador-lp700-4/##ixzz2elX9ei7q

Here we GO!

2013 Koenigsegg Agera R

The latest and greatest supercar (hypercar?) to come from Swedish automaker Koenigsegg: the Agera R. The R expands upon the already impressive Koenigsegg Agera, taking things to an extreme level that can only be enjoyed with ample amounts of pavement and an absence of speeding limitations.

In case you didn't know, the Agera R is a range-topping marvel of engineering achievement: a supercar boasting as much as 1,099 horsepower depending on your fuel of choice.

The rest of the spec sheet is equally ludicrous, with maximum torque listed at 885 lb-ft at 4,100 rpm, and "over 737 lb-ft" from 2,700 to 6,170 rpm when drinking the same E85 ethanol needed to produce the max horsepower rating of 1,099 at 6,900 rpm. Switching to 98 octane unleaded will drop the Agera R's output to "just" 940 horsepower.

Although the power figures are impressive enough, the two figures that are most likely to grab the attention of automotive enthusiasts in the days of 1,200 horsepower Bugattis would be the Agera R's scant weight of 2,932 lbs and its lateral g-force capability of 1.6g! To put the car in perspective, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport tips the scales at 4,053 lbs, which likely explains why it tops out at 1.4g's of lateral acceleration.

The Agera R can scoot from a stop to 60 in just 2.9 seconds, hit 124 mph in 7.5 seconds and achieve top speed of 245 mph - which falls short of the Super Sport's top speed by about 22 mph. All of this performance comes from an aluminum 5.0-liter V8 which features four valves per cylinder, twin turbochargers and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.

Standard features include: dual airbags, a detachable and storable hardtop with glass roof, power windows, adaptive rear wing, adjustable pedals and steering column, Agera stitching, adjustable seats in rake and length, carbon ceramic brakes with Sport ABS, hydraulic lifting system, power steering, power brakes, extra four-point seatbelts for track use, Satellite-navigation, Intelligent LifePo4 battery, MP3 player, USB connection, climate control, digital warning and info system, G sensor, alarm, tire monitoring system, silver key, leather carpets, roof storage bag and a car cover.

Options include: fitted luggage, special leather and colors, fully visible carbon fiber body panels, Inconel exhaust, front winglets, rear-view camera, heated seats, a ski box for the roof and a winter wheel package.

Key Competitors
At this price and performance level there are few vehicles likely to be cross-shopped, but the Pagani Huayra, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and Bugatti Veyron.

Read more: http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-car-buying/koenigsegg/agera-r/#ixzz2elRp86aW


Behold the fine Alessandra Ambrosio

Bugatti Veyron 

The Bugatti Veyron is, by every measure, the world's most extreme production road car. It's the quickest to 60, has the highest top speed, and can absolutely dominate a track.

The original Veyron claimed 1,001 horsepower, which in itself was a major technical achievement. Its engine, boasting 16 cylinders, was essentially formed by joining two V8 engines at the crank.

The W16 powerplant displaces 8.0-liters and features ten radiators for everything from the engine cooling systems to the air conditioner.

The standard Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Coupe ran a cool $1.3 million and could reach a top speed of 253 mph - a speed it can maintain for 12 minutes before all the fuel is gone. Power is transmitted to the pavement via four-wheel-drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

The car could hit 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, 100 mph in 5.5 seconds, and 150 mph in 9.8 seconds. Getting to 200 mph took 18.3 seconds, and 250 mph takes 42.3 seconds.

A special key is required to "unlock" the Veyron's top speed of 250+ mph. The car is then lowered to just 3.5 inches from the ground. A hydraulic spoiler extends at speed, and it can also serve as an air brake.

The Veyron weighs a hulking 4,160 lbs, but even its harshest critics admit its handling is surprisingly sharp. Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1 was very skeptical of the Veyron during its development, but after driving the finished car, he conceded it is a "huge achievement."

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson also publicly stated the Veyron was ridiculous and would never be built, only to call it "best car ever made" after he drove it. He famously characterized it as "utterly, stunningly, mind blowingly, jaw droppingly brilliant."

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is born
Bugatti has ceased production of the original coupe version of the Veyron, but continues to churn out limited edition open-air Veyron models. The latest such example, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, boasts an enormous 1,200 horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft of torque.

Bugatti managed to bump the Vitesse to 1,200 horsepower by fitting the convertible with four enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers. Due to the car's open roof, additional chassis supports had to be added to the Vitesse to handle the added power, so the car's top speed will likely fall just short of the Super Sport's 267 mph top end.

Key competitors
Though nothing short of a jet can match the speed, power (and price) of the big Bugatti, similarly quick and rare performance machines include the Koenigsegg Agera R, the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and the Pagani Huayra.

Read more: http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-car-buying/bugatti/veyron-16-4/#ixzz2eh4aQ2lO

The Bugatti of Supermodels!!