Worried that the British International Motor Show will be full of cars you see everyday on the street?
Don't fret. While all that ordinary stuff is there it doesn't mean that's all you get to look at. A dedicated supercar paddock means the ExCeL will be crammed full of exotica, too.
A Mexican supercar? The jokes almost write themselves. But we'll refrain for two reasons. Firstly because the penultimate prototype version of the Mastretta MXT displayed on the stand looks pretty damn excellent. And secondly, it's on target to cost from just £32,999, and will be available in right-hand drive.
Power is provided by a turbocharged version of Ford's 2.0-litre Duratec engine, and sits at around 240bhp. Doesn't sound much, but in a car weighing just 900kg its enough for 0-60 in under five seconds, and a top speed exceeding 150mph. Goodness knows how it will actually drive, but it's a welcome addition none-the-less.
You've got to wonder if there's been some sort of conspiracy to boycott electric vehicles by the world's car designers. There is hope though, and it comes in the stylish looking shape of the Lightning. There's a definite whiff of Aston Martin in its lines, this sexy looking coupe the equal of anything with an internal combustion engine.
And the Lightning certainly makes some rather ... ambitious claims. Like having the equivalent of 700bhp, for instance. Who cares when it looks this good though! If nothing else it at least brings the electric car debate away from the plastic fantastics like the NICE and G-Wiz.
Although they aren't especially unusual these days - even if we've never actually seen one on the road - the Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR still have the ability to snap necks like a traffic accident. These are spectacular looking cars, from the way the doors open to the detailing under the engine cover.
What's more it's the Edition version appearing at the show. Clad in beautiful bare carbon-fibre, and carrying a price tag very nearly comparable to what a premiership football spends on a stag party, this offers between 888 and 1,018 bhp, and torque enough to tow a battleship. A must see.
Slightly tangential choice this one. But if the line between saloon and super car blurs anywhere it has got to be here. Starting with a poor, unsuspecting Mercedes C-Class, Brabus' engineers must have been laughing all day when they finally got this transplant to work. Lurking under that vented bonnet is a 6.0-litre V12.
With two turbochargers. Yes, it is essentially the AMG 65 engine, but by the time Brabus has finished fiddling with it power is up to 720bhp. Just don't ask about the torque levels - it gives the gearbox heart failure. 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds is impressive, but nothing compared to the 225mph top speed.
Careful - they are out there: the people that mourn the passing of Toyota's madly be-winged Supra sportscar. The Japanese carmaker hasn't forgotten them, but it is taking its next monster upmarket. Still officially a concept, the Lexus LF-A is a Supra successor and then some, and it will be on sale...someday.
When it does finally arrive it is going to be magnificent. The IS-F saloon proves the big L can take on the establishment in imense style, and the LF-A should be yet another step up. 500bhp plus from a 5.0-litre V10 engine, rear-wheel drive and a fabulously sculptural design form. Top stuff.
The Corvette ZR1 is already a legend. It started life as an internet myth, a mysterious supercharged 'vette with apparently outrageous performance and stamina - when the real car finally broke there was some doubt it could live up to the hype. Such cynical commentators couldn't have been more wrong.
It costs $103,300 - that's currently £51,750 - and yet it will lap the Nürburgring in 7:26.4, crushing the incredible Nissan GT-R. 0-60mph takes 3.4 seconds, while 0-100 is dispatched in just 3.6 more. Top speed is 205mph, thanks to the 638bhp 'LS9' V8 that nestles proudly beneath a polycarbonate bonnet window...
We're big fans of the Farbio GTS here at MSN Cars, as you'll know from our video roadtest. But if we had to be picky it could do with a little more power. Not any more. The British International Motor Show sees the wraps come off the GTS400 - the top of the range supercharged model.
Alongside the 410bhp engine - which with only 1,030kg to haul means 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds - the GTS400 also gets a standard sports interior, launch control, adjustable gas dampers, and 20-inch carbon-fibre wheels. £94,000 is a lot of money for a car barely anyone's heard of, but it could just be worth every penny.
Is the Nissan GT-R a supercar? Mmmmm. Nissan GT-R... Sorry - what? Did somebody say something? You have no idea quite what this car does to certain of the people working here. Is it a supercar? Of course it is - since its power and performance comprehensively outclass a Porsche 911 Turbo.
With interior graphic interfaces designed by the people behind the Gran Turismo PlayStation game, a bleeding-edge electronic four-wheel drive chassis, and a gearbox that can alter your perception of reality, this is admittedly super in a very different, Japanese, kind of way. But 473bhp for £53k? We want one.
We'd be the first to admit that amongst this top ten there are plenty of beasts; this is perhaps the real beauty. Alfa Romeo's 8C Competizione looks stunning as a coupé, but if you're holidaying in the south of France it won't do to be seen in anything that isn't sans roof.
And given the original run of 500 cars could have been sold several times over, who can blame Alfa for breaking out the scalpel and decapitating its supermodel. The 8C Spider is at least as beautiful as its fixed head brother. But the best news? There's no longer any bodywork between you and the exceptional exhaust note.
The original Morgan AeroMax was built as a private commission for Prince Eric I. Sturdza of Switzerland, back in 2005. But it created such a stir that this small British sportscar company was inundated with demands from customers who wanted one. And so now it's making 100 of them.
But don't get your hopes up. The AeroMax is completely sold out. In fact given there's a good chance they will all disappear into private collections (except Richard Hammond's, which will probably disappear through a hedge), this might be your only chance to see one. It's like a modernist interpretation of antique furniture on wheels.
3 comments:
Power is given by turbocharged version of Ford's 2.0-litre Duratec engine,which makes it the best.
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