Mercedes SLS AMG GT runs Nurburgring in under 7:30

After releasing the first official details on the new SLS AMG GT - the replacement for the SLS AMG - Mercedes has confirmed that the new version is significantly improved. The company recently trekked to the Nurburgring to run the car on the famous Nordschleife race track, which it did remarkably well in barely under 7:30 - about five seconds quicker than the standard SLS AMG.

The test around Nurburgring was made at the hands of Ola Källenius, AMG CEO, who unsurprisingly so, seemed to be very impressed with the car. We are still waiting for the official video from this run to be just as impressed, but while we wait, here are the official specs for the new SLS AMG GT.

The new Mercedes SLS AMG GT is powered by a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that delivers an extra 20 HP thanks to new suspension components and a retuned ECU. This brings the output up to 583 HP, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, up to a top speed of 198 mph.

Rumormill: Chevy Adding a Turbocharger to the Volt

On the surface, the Chevy Volt is actually a pretty good looking car, if you are able to ignore the fact that it pumps out only 149 horsepower from its paltry1.4-liter engine and uses an electric motor for 30 miles before the gas engine ever kicks in. We’re not trying to say it’s a sports car, but it could certainly fall into the sports sedan area.

Unfortunately, we come right back to that 149 ponies and that immediately disqualifies this otherwise stylish car from sniffing the sports sedan segment. Well, GM obviously has noted the potential for the Volt and rumors are now swirling around that Chevy will start installing the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that the all-new Buick Verano T is receiving into the Volt.

As of now, this is still a rumor, but given that the Cadillac ELR and its sexy exterior is due to debut any time now and will likely ride on the same platform as the Volt, it only makes sense to use the powerful boosted 2.0. The ELR with only 149 horsepower would be like dumping a Civic Si engine in a Ferrari, it just doesn’t quite fit the looks.

We are uncertain if the Volt receives the full-powered version of the 2.0-liter engine, or a detuned model, it will mean that the Volt could push up to 270 horsepower, if it receives the full-power 2.0. Also floating around is a rumor that this new engine will receive a larger electric motor for a little extra gasoline-free oomph.

All we can say is that we truly hope that these rumors are true, as the Volt in its current form is underwhelming, to say the least. We’ll keep you updated as more details roll out on this possible upgrade.

If Built, the Next Focus RS may Boast More Ponies

Ford’s SVT group is still on the fence on whether to break its own mold by manufacturing a five-door Focus RS – all previous Foci RS were three-door hatches – or replace the Focus RS with the smaller Fiesta RS. That said, all of the confusion between what to build does not mean Ford isn’t raking its brain to plan on how to maximize the Focus’ power plant to satisfy RS buyers.

According to reports, the 2.0-liter plant in the Focus ST is pretty much maxed out and attempting to squeeze too much more power from it could be catastrophic without massive upgrades, and Focus RS buyer will not be happy with a simple 10 to 20-horsepower increase over the ST model. To help rectify the situation it appears as if engineers are turning to the future Mustang for an answer.

Ford is currently developing a turbo four-banger measuring 2.3-liter and pumping out 330 horsepower for the upcoming Mustang redesign, which will replace the base level V-6 engine. Matthias Ton, a chief engineer on the Focus RS project, confirmed that if indeed the Focus RS is produced this year, all signs point to it bearing this new 2.3-liter boosted four-cylinder under its aggressive-looking bonnet. That would give the newest rendition of the RS a full 32 ponies more than the latest model and only 15 horsepower less than the special edition RS500 Focus.

In addition to the extra ponies, the RS would include the typical larger brakes and stiffer suspension. There is also talk of a mechanical limited slip differential coming standard on the new RS, but that has not been confirmed.

We will continue to follow the Focus RS saga and let you know what is going on. We assume that the SVT division will come to its senses and just roll out a five-door Focus RS. Rolling out a low-horsepower, lightweight Fiesta RS just to retain the three-door body seems like a huge risk, as the Fiesta is not a “tuner” style car and an RS model is unlikely to draw much interest.

Surprise! Ferrari F70 will deliver 1000 HP to all four wheels

Until recently, the details we had on the Ferrari F70 were that it would come with a 7.3-liter V12 engine combined with the company’s HY-KERS system for a total of 920 HP. Now, new details suggest that the Enzo successor will in fact be even more powerful, boasting a biturbo engine, most likely a V12, combined with the HY-KERS system and a four-wheel drive system for a mouthwatering 1000 HP. It just keeps getting better and better!

This information was provided by a client who has already ordered the F70, making it extremely plausible. In a previous statement, Ferrari CEO Montezemolo said: "We want to surprise people not just in terms of price but also with the car itself." A full 1000 HP when we only expected 920 HP is surely a huge and welcoming surprise!

The future F70’s V12 engine will be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a high-power traction motor that electrifies the seven-speed trans, adding to the power the engine delivers to it. Attached to the gasoline engine is an auxiliary generator that charges the batteries, as needed. Lastly, on top of the transmission is the hybrid power unit, which features two inverters and a smart cooling system.

The new Ferrari F70 will be making its world debut in March 2013, at the Geneva Motor Show.

Tesla Sets Pretty Lofty 2013 and 2014 Goals

Tesla has yet to officially launch its latest EV, the Model S, and already the upstart automaker is setting up some pretty lofty goals. In an interview with CEO, Elon Musk, it was made clear that the company is confident that it will achieve 20,000 total models sold in 2013. With the Nissan Leaf eclipsing just 9,500 total sales in the U.S. in 2011, those are some pretty stratospheric goals.

This is especially difficult considering that Tesla is not expected to infiltrate the European and Asian markets until mid-2013. We do see the logic behind this though, as the base $57,400 price is relatively affordable, considering what you get at that level. Also add in the fact that the Model S is more stylish and ego-massaging than the very odd-looking and soft-feeling Leaf, and Tesla just may be able to hit those numbers.

Once Tesla debuts the Model X SUV, the automaker anticipates a huge upswing in sales at the tune of 75 percent. Yup, Tesla anticipates 2014 sales to eclipse the 35,000 mark thanks to its newest EV SUV, which means the Model X’s sales are expected to hover around 15,000 for the year.

Overall, these are very high goals to achieve for an automaker that really has no reputation or customer base to attach its wagon to yet. However, there are tons of enthusiasts out there that would love nothing more than a 300-mile-per-charge supercar that hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and still hauls the family around. So, if Tesla remains true to its promises with the Model S, we could all see this new automaker well exceeding its projected goals.

We’ll be closely monitoring the sales of the Model S to see if the demand is there and if this upstart can provide ample supply if the demand is high.

Next Generation KTM X-Bow will add windscreen and doors

The KTM X-Bow is a n aggressively designed sports car geared towards being light as possible. In fact, many of the vehicle’s exterior and interior components are vacant to save weight. Well, that design may have brought out some setbacks for KTM because some customers were not too pleased with the layout. For the next generation X-Bow, the company will be adding both the doors and the windscreen previously left out of the look.

The announcement for these additions was made by Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM AG, in an interview with Top Gear. He said that the company is currently trying to find a solution for this new layout because adding a windscreen to the car creates lots of homologation compliance issues. In order to offer the windscreen, the company also needs a heating system to de-mist it, doors to allow easier access to the cockpit, windscreen wipers, and much more.

Initially, KTM wanted to add a bubble roof, but because this would have caused even more homologation problems, they have opted for a windscreen plus a temporary ’cruising home parasol’ that can be used up to speeds of 80 mph.

The next X-Bow will even try to assault the LMP2 category at Le Mans, most likely using a five-cylinder engine under the hood, and not the current four-cylinder engine.

Seized $3.7 Million Mercedes-Benz 500K Belongs to Heirs, per Court Ruling

So picture that you just snagged up a car for, let’s say $3,800, and it is a great car that you completely fall in love with. A year later, you find out that the car was illegally seized according to a court ruling and you have to hand the car over to the heirs of its original owner. You’d be pretty upset, right? Well, add three zeros to that price and you that exact situation unfolding in Germany.

A Dutch car collector purchased a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster from RM Auctions last year for a whopping $3.8 million in California. When the collector shipped the car back to Germany, the German government seized the car stating that it was illegally taken by an American military official around 1945 and shipped to the U.S., as the heirs of the pricy automobile are claiming that the American serviceman stole the vehicle and hid it in the U.S.

Typically, Germany has a 30-year statute of limitation on this sort of case, but a German court stated that since the car was not in Germany for 30 years, the limitation clock never started, which is an odd interpretation of statute of limitations laws. The strangest thing is that between 1945 and 1970, no one has any idea where the car was and what was being done with it, so there is technically no proof that the car was not in Germany, and we find the ruling a little off the wall.

We certainly hope that the buyer can recoup at least a majority of the $3.8 million he used to purchase the car from the seller. Also, there has to be some U.S. law on the books that puts RM Auctions on the hook for selling a car with a shady and undocumented past that just may cost the collector millions of dollars.

One thing’s for sure, if this car wasn’t worth $3.7 million, we are willing to bet that the heirs couldn’t have cared less about getting back the property… We’ll keep you updated as this story progresses.

Pagani Huayra

Our favorite Youtube user, Marchettino, has provided us with yet another tantalizing video! This time, he has caught a Pagani Huayra as it starts up its V12 engine and then does a full throttle acceleration down the road with a wheelspin, followed by a couple of downshifts! There are some pretty amazing shots, but it seems as though that is always the case with Marchettino!

As a reminder, the Pagani Huayra is powered by a 6.0 liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine that delivers an impressive 700 HP and 730 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to an X-trac seven-speed sequential transmission and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds and up to an amazing top speed of 220 mph!

Before anyone gets too excited, the Huayra is limited to only 20 units and will be priced at $1.3 million each.