Lamborghini Super Trofeo Racing Series Returns for Season Two

Europe is home to some of the finest racing series in the world and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo spec series is gearing up for its second season.

Never heard of the Super Trofeo? These racecars are lightened versions of the Gallardo LP 560-4 dressed in Blancpain livery and prepped for race duty. The Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V-10 puts out 570 horsepower while a retuned six-speed e.gear sends power to the all-wheel-drive system. High-friction steel brakes, “racing” ABS, a special aero package, and 18-inch competition wheels wrapped in Pirelli slicks complement the Super Trofeo’s 2900-pound weight. The chassis has been reworked and launch control has also been eliminated.


This year, the six-round season starts the weekend of April 24-25 at the Hockenheimring in Germany. The first round will support the DTM touring-car series; the remaining events will be paired with venues from FIA GT1 World, Le Mans Series, and Campionato Italiano di Gran Turismo. Each round contains 30 minutes of free practice, a 30-minute qualifying session, and three 40-minute races.

“The second Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo season is highly anticipated,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, Lamborghini’s director of brand and design. “We’re excited to see new teams join the Super Trofeo family for 2010, while competitors from last season will return to defend their honours. The on-track battles were extremely close in 2009, and we’re set for another thrilling season ahead.”

2010 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Calendar

April 24-25 -- Hockenheim -- DTM

May 22-23 -- Brno -- GT1 World

July 3-4 -- Paul Ricard -- GT1 World

July 29-31 -- Spa-Francorchamps -- GT1 World

August 21-22 -- Hungaroring -- Le Mans Series

September 24-26 -- Vallelunga -- Campionato Italiano di Gran Turismo (Italian GT Championship)

Source: Lamborghini

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General Motors Garners Nearly $9 Million in Ads with MLB Corvette Giveaway

Earlier this week, we posted how General Motors offered a brand-new 2011 Chevrolet Corvette convertible to Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga for his near perfect game against the Cleveland Indians. That generosity may have been a near $9 million win for GM as well.


According to Joyce Julius & Associates Inc., which measures and analyzes the impact of sponsorship on all forms of media from print to television to the Internet, General Motors’ giveaway to Galarraga generated nearly $1 million in exposure in over 700 television programs and nearly $8 million in over 150,000 publications, Internet articles and posts. Note that the automaker never requested or commissioned the study.

“We were not contracted to do the study,” Eric Wright, Joyce Julius' vice president of research and product development, said in an e-mail to Crain's Detroit Business, an affiliate of Automotive News. “We often look at national level happenings in sponsorship and provide that information to all of our clients and the media.”

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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2011 WRX STI sedan runs 'Ring in 7:55, quickest ever for Subaru

Quick: What's the fastest production sedan in the world? Does it wear a Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW badge? What about the Porsche Panamera Turbo or the Cadillac CTS-V? There's no doubt that each of these vehicular behemoths is capable of ripping off some fast times on a race track near you, but Subaru is out to prove that its new 2011 WRX STI sedan has the chops to keep pace with the best from the rest of the world.


To prove its point, Subaru recently sent test driver and four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen out to the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife course in Germany with a 2011 STI test car. According to reports, the vehicle used in this testing was equipped with a few significant upgrades including a larger turbocharger that normally sees duty in the Japanese R205 model and some lightweight aluminum bits, but one thing is for certain: the 7:55 lap time is a mighty impressive result.

For those keeping track of such things, the previous best lap set by a Subaru WRX STI was in 2004 at 7:59.41 and the new mark set by Subaru – albeit with a
prototype, not a production car – is quicker than any of the aforementioned competition. Best of all, there's a video of one entire lap around the 'Ring and you can find the in-car footage after the break.

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$20 Price Bump For 2011 Corvette Line; ZR1 Jumps By $2920

Chevrolet hasn't revealed how much the Z06 Carbon will cost, but, thanks to leaked 2011 Corvette pricing, you should be able to spec a Z06 just like one for under $90,000. The Z07 performance package, which outfits a standard Z06 with the Carbon's Brembo brakes, Michelin tires, and fancy magnetic dampers, costs $9495. The CFZ package, which adds carbon-fiber bodywork, adds $3995. And the 2011 Z06's price? Like the base model and Grand Sport, it increases by $20, now costing $74,895.


This pricing information comes from Corvette Blogger, who claims to have received it Kerbeck Corvette, a dealer in New Jersey.

A base Corvette coupe is still under the $50,000 mark after destination, at $49,540. A Grand Sport coupe isn't far off, at $55,380. And the herculean ZR1, for 2011, now totals $110,390 after its $2920 price bump.

That Z06 Carbon replica? Take the Z06, add Z07 and CFZ packages, and you're at $88,385. That's assuming, of course, Chevy won't require you to pick items like the $7170 3LZ premium equipment group, and so on.

The options list follows:
C2L Roof Package - Includes Painted and Glass Tops $1,400
CC3 Glass Roof instead of Painted Roof $750
CCR Special order option $0
CFZ Z06 Carbon Fiber Package $3,995
D30 Color Combination Override $590
F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control - Grand Sports $1,695
F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control - Coupe/Conv $1,995
H33 Cyber Gray Metallic Headlamp Override $590
H34 Blade Silver Metallic Headlamp Override $590
H35 Black Headlamp Override $590
J55 Cross Drilled Brake Rotors $500
MN6 6-Speed Manual Transmission $0
MXO 6-Speed Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission $1,250
NPP Dual Mode Exhaust $1,195
PYD Grand Sport Competition Gray Wheels $395
PYE Grand Sport Chrome Wheels $1,995
Q44 Z06 Competition Gray Wheels $395
Q6B ZR1 Chrome Wheels $2,000
Q6J ZR1 Competition Gray Wheels $395
Q76 Z06 Original Chrome 10 spoke Wheels $1,495
Q8A Z06 Spider Chrome Wheels $1,995
Q9V Chrome 5 Spoke Wheels - Coupe and Conv Only $1,850
QX1 Split Spoke Competition Gray Wheels $395
R8C Museum Delivery $490
U3U Navigation 6.5" Screen $1,795
US9 6 Disc CD Changer $395
Z07 Z06 Ultimate Performance Package $9,495
Z15 Grand Sport Heritage Package $1,195
**6 Two-Tone Seating $695
36S Custom Leather Stitching - Yellow $395
37S Custom Leather Stitching - Blue $395
38S Custom Leather Stitching - Red $395
0B1 Cross Flag Embroidery on Headrests $300
28U Inferno Orange Metiallic $300
45U Velocity Yellow Premium Tintcoat $850
85U Jetstream Blue Premium Tintcoat $850
89U Crystal Red Premium Tintcoat $850
GLB Supersonic Blue Metallic $300

All vehicle pricing includes a $590 destination charge.

Source: Corvette Blogger

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Spied: U.S.-Spec Fiat 500s Testing in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, we’re told, is a perfect college town -- but as it’s about 18 miles east of Chrysler’s proving grounds in Chelsea, Michigan, it’s also an ideal road trip destination for engineers exercising Fiat 500 prototypes.

We caught this duo of U.S.-spec 500 test vehicles following one white Euro-spec 500 through downtown Ann Arbor earlier this afternoon. Although we weren’t able to whip our camera out in time to catch all three Cinquecentos in a row, the U.S.-spec prototypes wore body stampings painted in black, and looked slightly wider than European models.


If our visual ruler holds true, this may lend credence to reports suggesting the 500 will grow slightly for its North American debut, allowing Fiat’s little hatchback to move to a new platform, will also underpin the Panda.

Production of the U.S.-spec cars is expected to commence in Chrysler’s Pueblo, Mexico, assembly plant this December. The base 500 will be the first to reach market in early 2011, while the 500C convertible, the performance-tuned Abarth, and a new station wagon model will follow shortly afterward. An electric-powered model and a four-door variant are also being considered.

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Panned: Mansory's 690-HP Take on the Porsche Panamera Turbo

We're pretty sure both subtle and tasteful aren't words found in Swiss tuner Mansory's vocabulary. After displaying an unusually trimmed Rolls Royce at the 2010 Geneva motor show, the company recently unveiled its latest creation: a rather powerful -- if not gaudy -- take on the Porsche Panamera Turbo.

As it rolls off Porsche's assembly line, the Panamera Turbo is certainly no slouch. A stock Turbo develops nearly 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V-8. By bolting on some larger turbochargers, adding a new stainless steel exhaust system, and tweaking the engine management software, Mansory manages to coax nearly 690 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Top speed is reportedly in the realm of 204 mph, an improvement over the stock Turbo's top end of 188 mph.


Certainly, the wild yellow-on-blue paint scheme shown on this particular Panamera lends the project no favors, but the four-piece body kit -- which includes a gaping front fascia and an enormous rear diffuser out back -- doesn't exactly enhance the sedan's shape. Mansory replaces the stock hood with one crafted from carbon fiber, while a rear spoiler is crafted from the same material. Fender flares have also been added largely to fit the new set of 22-inch forged wheels.

Inside, the Panamera's cabin is largely stock, although Mansory bathes it in leather hides. Interior trim can be crafted from either carbon fiber or a variety of woods, while aluminum is used to dress up the pedals. Although this car sports a retina-scalding décor pattern, customers can order a car to their precise tastes.

For whatever reason, Mansory places a badge on the rear bumper proclaiming its custom Panamera to be a limited edition. We can't help but be thankful for that fact -- we're not sure we're ready for Mansory-tuned Porsches to become a common sighting on our local streets.

Source: Mansory

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2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS Preview: Lorinser Previews Tuned Next-Gen CLS

Mercedes-Benz hasn’t even launched its next-generation CLS-Class, but that hasn’t stopped German tuning firm Lorinser from designing a series of cosmetic enhancements for the car.

The new CLS -- which was previewed at the 2010 Detroit auto show with a large sculpture -- is slated to go on sale in 2011, but Lorinser aims to have its own tuned version ready for customers shortly after the launch date. The German tuner already has the bodywork designed, and provided the preview sketch shown above.

According to Lorinser, the body kit is designed to emphasize the new CLS’ masculine and sporty features. A revised front fascia is designed to optimize engine and brake cooling, while swollen fenders allow the tuner to bolt on larger wheels -- we hear the firm plans on offering 21-inch aluminum wheels as an option.

Along with the bodywork, Lorinser will revise the CLS with upgraded chassis, interior trim, and powertrain. We’ve not heard any specifics on any of those improvements, but like any Lorinser product, we imagine the sky -- or the customer’s wallet -- is the limit for modifications.

Lorinser hasn’t detailed exact launch timing for its hopped-up CLS-Class, but noted it will reach dealers in 45 countries -- including the United States -- shortly after the stock version is introduced in 2011.

Source: Lorinser

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Ford’s Sync 911 Assist feature, incorporated within its Sync connectivity system, works to automatically contact emergency services should the driver become involved in an accident. A new revision may make it even easier for first responders to quickly locate the vehicle.

As it had in the past, Sync 911 Assist ties into the Bluetooth phone connection incorporated with the Sync system. In the event of an airbag deployment or if the fuel pump shutoff is triggered, Sync 911 uses the phone’s service, automatically places an emergency call, and bypasses intermediary call centers to directly connect the driver to an emergency responder.

Previously, the 911 Assist feature used cell phone signal triangulation to provide emergency responders with the driver’s whereabouts. Ford has vastly improved the system to use the vehicle’s global positioning system (GPS) to provide precise coordinates of the vehicle’s location, helping reduce response time.

“Integrated GPS is a logical next step for 911 Assist, leveraging the GPS hardware that is now included with Sync,” said Gary Jablonski, manager of Ford’s infotainment product development team. “That’s the beauty of the Sync platform -- it can quickly adapt to and accommodate new technologies, features, and services that provide great value to customers without great additional costs.”

The improved Sync 911 Assist is only one of the many updated features available on most 2011 Ford vehicles. The updated 911 Assist feature is included free of charge on all vehicles equipped with MyFord and MyLincoln Touch (i.e. 2011 Ford Edge and Linlcoln MKX), and is available on most 2011 vehicles equipped with Sync. As was previously the case, the system will remain a complimentary service to all owners. Look for the revised system to be demonstrated at the National Emergency Number Association conference in Indianapolis June 5-10.

Source: Ford

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