FEATURE: Lamborghini Aventador J

Called a “one of a kind piece of art” by Lamborghini, the open-top Aventador has tiny windscreens and a body modified for maximum performance. Based on a similar light weight but very large carbon fiber chassis as the Aventador, it’s slightly narrower and uses aerodynamic changes on the front and rear bumper to improve down-force.

A function-over form machine (even if it is beautiful), the Aventador J, as it’s called, has no navigation or audio system. Thinner and lighter doors drop even more weight and Lamborghini has targeted a dry weight of under 3,500 lbs – not bad for a car with a 6.5-liter V12 engine. Power is rated identically to the Aventador with 700 hp on tap.

Painted in a chrome red with carbon fiber detailing, the 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are center locking and get carbon fiber inserts to maximize cooling of the brakes.

As for that mysterious J in its name, it comes from the FIA motorsports rule book, where “Appendix J” details the specifications of the different classes of race cars. That said, while Lamborghini is calling it a race car, the Aventador J is street legal. 

Want one? Too bad, this is the one and only Aventador J and it’s already been sold confirmed company CEO Stephan Winkelmann at it’s unveiling. The price? A serious $2.1 million.

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2012 Bugatti Veyron GS middle East Edition

Bugatti has decided to honor one of its biggest markets with three special Veyron Grand Sport models especially for the Middle East market. These three models have been revealed at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show and come in three different colors: yellow, blue, and green. The yellow Grand Sport is priced at 1.58 million euros ($2,150,000 at the current rates), while the other two are priced at 1.74 million euro ($2,373,000 at the current rates) each.

The first Veyron Grand Sport Middle East Edition combines a bright yellow body with black carbon insertions and black-tinted wheels. The interior shares the same color combination with yellow leather seats with black stitching and a black carbon console, while the dashboard, steering wheel, and gearshift are encased in black leather with yellow stitching.

The second Grand Sport model features a two tone exterior with blue carbon framed in polished, anodized aluminum. This model is highlighted with a special set of wheels in an aluminum polished and Diamond Cut two-tone finish, aluminum insertions on the front grille, and air intakes. The interior combines tangerine leather with dark blue Indigo leather or exposed blue carbon fiber.

The third - and final - special edition Veyron Grand Sport features a newly developed green carbon fiber exterior combined with polished aluminum on the rims, rear-view mirrors, and the EB-logo. The interior also combines green and silver to seal the color combination.

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FEATURE: 2010 Pagani Zonda HH

We have seen bits of the Zonda HH before and we know that it’s going to some lucky son-of-a-gun in the United States, but now we have a full view of the one-off supercar, and this guy’s dream car, from Pagani.

We have no idea who this car is for, but the person has given the details of the car to TeamSpeed. As we first thought, the HH has bits of the Zonda F and the Cinque.

The Zonda HH has the typical carbon-titanium tub and carbon ceramic brakes. Under the hood is the Cinque’s V12 producing 680 horsepower mated to a manual gearbox and a titanium exhaust system. 

*Whoever this person is, they are a true sports car lover.

The exterior will be painted in Monterey Blue with yellow accenting. The design is still being worked out, but the rich man hopes to have his car by the end of the year. The only thing the car won’t have that most Zondas do is a massive rear-mounted air intake. This car should be pretty special. 

UPDATE: I’ve just received more details on this spectacular one-off Zonda. First off, it was commissioned by an American by the name of David Heinemeier Hansson and his spectacular one-of-a-kind ride is ready for pickup.

A few months ago, David Heinemeier Hansson asked Pagani to build him his own Zonda, one that’s completely unique from any other of its kind on the planet. So in an effort to accommodate his wishes, Horacio Pagani and company did just that, building the one-off Zonda HH just for Mr. Hansson. 

The result is a supercar that’s powered by a 7.3-liter V12 machine that produces some astounding numbers...

• 678 horsepower
• 780 N*m of torque/575 lb-ft. of torque
• Top speed of: 217 mph
• 0-60 mph/0-97 km/h: 3.4 seconds.

Now, the car is ready to meet its owner and is waiting for Mr. Hansson to pick it up at the Carugati Dealership in Geneva, Switzerland. 

*Paging Mr. Hansson, you’re one-off, multi-million dollar supercar is waiting for you. Best pick it up now before something happens to it.

Check out the photos in this GALLERY   

2012 Acura NSX

After years of speculations, Honda is finally taking the first steps in offering a successor for the very prominent NSX supercar with its first concept version revealed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The company has promised that a production version will follow in the next three years and will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Ohio.

Not only does the concept revealed in Detroit preview the future NSX supercar, it also presents the first application of Acura’s innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system. 

This system combines a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system that allows the car to instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering.

The company then throws in their next generation V-TEC 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection and a dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor.

"This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression of Acura’s idea to create synergy between man and machine," said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way."

"Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency," added Ito, who led the development of Acura’s first NSX supercar.

"In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."

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2010 Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni Edition by Anderson germany

Last year, Lamborghini and Valentino Balboni decided to get together to bring forth the special, limited edition Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni.This creation put together a legendary supercar with a legendary test driver,  so it should go unsaid that this vehicle wouldn’t need any changes     made to it, right? Wrong. 

German tuner, Anderson, decided to tweak the Gallardo with a few minor changes to the exterior and some changes in the interior. They even pumped up the power a bit.

The exterior of the Lamborghini doesn’t get altered dramatically as Anderson only tinted the taillights and panes of the vehicle. The German tuner also added three-part lacquered partnered with high performance tires measuring 235/30-20 at the front and 305/25-20 at the back. A louder exhaust system was put in and can be controlled with a remote controlled, three-step valve control.

Inside, the seats have Anderson logos as well as built in carbon in white. The Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni Edition also gets a slight power increase from 542hp to 582hp using the same 5.2 liter V10 engine as found in the standard Balboni Edition. The max torque was also increased, but Anderson Germany did not reveal numbers to substantiate that claim.

2013 Porsche Boxster

The Boxster, Porsche's entry-level model, enjoys a strong reputation among sports-car enthusiasts. Some even prefer it to the larger 911. The evolution—and, hopefully, the improvement—of the mid-engine Porsche roadster continues with the third generation, scheduled to debut publicly at March’s Geneva auto show.

Porsche will continue to offer the base Boxster, 

• Now with 265 hp (up 10 hp),

• And the Boxster S with 315 hp (up 5 hp).

• The entry-level Boxster gets an entirely new 2.7-liter flat-six engine, which is now based on the 3.4-liter engine of the Boxster S (and the new 911). 

• 0 to 60 mph will take a claimed 5.4 seconds in the Boxster;

• And will take a claimed 4.7 seconds in the S;

• Both cars being equipped with the optional seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The standard transmission remains a six-speed manual.

The 2013 Boxster—and a similarly updated hardtop Cayman derivative, which we expect to debut about a year from now—will be built at the former Karmann plant in Osnabrück, Germany.                                                                       

                                                                                                               

Both Boxster models will arrive at U.S. dealers in the summer of this year.

Prices rise only slightly: the Boxster is up $1400 to $50,450, while the Boxster S will retail for $61,850, a $2300 increase over the 2012 model.

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Scion iQ/ Cutest Car in the World

Barely larger but far more practical than a Smart Fortwo, the Scion iQ is a re-badged version of Toyota’s iQ city car currently sold in Japan and Europe. 

This car has the potential to revive Scion’s flagging hipster cred, plus it shows that Toyota still can innovate: The iQ is 117.5 inches long (about a foot longer than a Fortwo), but its clever packaging allows for rear seats. 

A 1.3-liter four-cylinder should make at least 100 horsepower. 

Look for it in showrooms at the end of 2010. Expect a price of about $16,000.

Source:http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2011-scion-iq