Fun Rocking

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

Aston Martin has found a way to turn up the heat on its V8 Vantage with a new S model. The coupe packs the same 4.7-liter V8 under the hood as its predecessors, though the mad scientists in Gaydon have managed to wrench a full 430 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque from the eight-pot. The engine is now bolted to a tweaked version of the company’s seven-speed SportShift II transmission with even shorter ratios than before and the combined effect should be more than enough to snap your neck in style.

The engineers also bolted in a quicker steering rack, huge rotors and six-piston calipers up front to ensure this machine can take whatever level of flogging you deem appropriate.

The design crew at AM specifically lifted cues from the even mightier V12 Vantage and the race-bred Vantage GT4. That means buyers can expect to find a carbon fiber splitter low on the front fascia and a pair of wildlife-swallowing inlets designed to feed those massive stoppers.

2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster

2011 Aston Martin released the special-edition sportscar back in 2007 to commemorate the success of its Vantage N24 racer at the Nürburgring. It packed 400 horsepower, a series of suspension tweaks and some special cosmetic touches.

The 2011 N420’s sportscar powertrain is the standard Vantage affair, coming with the standard 420 horsepower V-8 engine. Successor to the special edition V8 Vantage N400 of 2007, the 2011 Aston Martin sportscar V8 Vantage N420 is based upon the standard 4.7-litre, 420bhp, 180mph V8 Vantage and is available as a Coupe or Roadster, and with a six-speed manual or optional Sportshift automated manual transmission.

The 2011 Vantage N420 sportscar draws inspiration from the company’s experiences at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. In the 2006 running of the annual Nürburgring endurance classic amongst a field of mostly motorsport homologated cars, Aston Martin entered a near-standard, road-registered V8 Vantage.

2011 Aston Martin sportscar used carbon fiber on various parts of the car to help drop the weight by 60 pounds, which while not a lot is still a step in the right direction. The suspension gets the Sports Package that upgrades the Vantage’s springs, shocks and anti-roll bars to give the car better road holding.

The 2011 N420 also features special 10-spoke alloy wheels finished in gloss black, black mesh grille inserts, a sport exhaust system, the Sports Pack suspension (which is merely optional on the regular Vantage) and a range of racing-inspired paint combinations. The N420 sportscar will be available as a coupe or a roadster with the choice of a manual or paddle-shift transmission.

The 2011 N420 sportscar will make its U.S. debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. Orders may be placed starting this month, with deliveries to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. Pricing starts at $133,350 for the coupe and $146,350 for the Roadster, less than $10K more than their non-N420 counterparts.

Mercedes-Benz SLS E-Cell

As electrifying as the gull-winged Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG may be, it still won’t compare to the lightning storm that’s brewing in the SLS E-Cell. It’s a battery-electric version of the supercar and will be powered by four motors, one on each corner of the car, giving it a total of 526 horses of electric power. Each pair of motors will be integrated in the front and rear axles, effectively making this an all-wheel drive car. The batteries are strategically located in the car for balance and proper cooling while the car’s bodywork has been revamped for better aerodynamic qualities. The color will be AMG Lumilectric Mango and will be repugnant to some but adorable to others. It’s expected to go on sale sometime in 2013.

The looks is somewhat retro to the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL; specially the Gullwing doors, and the sharp roof. It also catches some design cues of the 2010 Mercedes SL. Inside, the SLS AMG gets a besboquie supercar-like interior. Weighing in at around 1600 kilograms, the new SLS AMG is powered by a natrually-aspirated 6.3L AMG V8, which now produces 571 hp and 480 lb-ft of troque, which goes to the rear-wheels through an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed automatic transmission. 60 mph happens in just 3.7 seconds, and electronically-limited top speed is 200 mph. However, because the hand-built 6.3L is actaully very refind, the SLS AMG achieves 21 mpg fuel-economy on combined roads. Handling claims is supported by a 50/50 weight disturbotion, and a 3-stage ESP program like all new AMGs. Sales will start in spring 2010, with prices in Germany start at 177,000 euros.Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division is planning another stand-alone sports car as a follow up to the new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing. The model would be a smaller V8 coupe that will compete with the likes of the Porsche 911.

As of right now, Mercedes-Benz is focused on a successful launch for the SLS AMG, the company’s first ever stand-alone model. That means the smaller V8 model is at least five years away. A rear-engined configuration has been eliminated as since it would be out of step with the AMG values.

Power for the baby SLS will come from a new V8 with a displacement capacity of somewhere between 5.8L or 6.2L with direct injection and cylinder cut-off technology.