By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

The 599XX is a 700HP, weapons-grade version of the 599GTB, and it drops Modena’s luxury appointments in favor of race-ready features like plastic windows and a roll cage. Ferrari says this run is a record for a “production-based” sports car,  and while it might be technically right, this Cavallino isn’t street-legal and ran the lap shod with slicks. So you can make your own decisions about whether this “record” is that big of a deal, but regardless, this video is sick.

Ferrari 599XX sets new record on the Nurburgring

By Michael Berenis

Tampa Sports Car Examiner

The BMW Z4 GT3 is one of the most anticipated releases of the BMW Z Series for a reason. This car is not only fast, it’s the best of the best. Handling, sound, and style all meet together and form one vehicular spectacle known as the Z4 GT3. Hold on tight–this is one wicked ride. Read more at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.

By Michael Berenis

Tampa Sports Car Examiner

The epic battle of Germany and Japan in the world of automotive supremacy lives on in modern supercars. Racing a Nissan GT-R against the Porsche GT3 RS around Nürburgring, we get to see the various attributes of each vehicle tested thoroughly.  Which one would you buy? Read more about the competition at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

The car is a 500HP R34 GT-R, and the track is obviously the ‘Ring. But it’s the passenger’s non-stop, withering critique of his buddy’s technique that makes this clip. Warning: If you really love birds, or just despise the masterful use of profanity, it’s probably not for you.

By Speedhunters

Car Culture At Large

Nurburgring 24 Hours, Nurburgring, Germany Carpe Diem or more fully Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero, should be the guiding principle for all photographers. For those of you who paid as little attention to Latin lessons as I did all those years ago, I will translate, “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future.” What is he on about now, I hear you say? Well you only get fleeting opportunities to make what one of my writer colleagues, Marcus Schurig, calls magic. Continue reading at Speedhunters.

—By Dino Dalle Carbonare

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

Basically, Gumpert’s Apollo is a race car for the road. It sports a round-tube, chrome-moly chassis, a carbon monocoque, and a 650HP twin-turbo Audi-derived V8 mated to an F1-derived, sequential six-speed transmission. That’s a recipe for incredible performance, and back in August, it set the production car record at the Nürburgring, when it lapped the notoriously difficult course in a blistering 7:11:57. So I figured one of these babies would have been been placed a little more prominently. Hell, I missed it the first few times I walked through the main hall! But while I was disappointed to see that it was shoe-horned into this tiny little space—no room for a walk-around video, I’m afraid—I was still pumped to get to see one in person. More pics after the jump.

Continue reading "Gumpert Apollo: Too Much Car For a Tiny Booth" »

By Michael Berenis

Tampa Sports Car Examiner

The 2011 BMW M5 is the ultimate driving machine every way you look at it! Sports car speed and handling with luxury and road manners that everyone can enjoy, the 2011 BMW M5 is the pinnacle of four door performance. Spied tearing up Nurburgring with twin turbo enjoyment, the 2011 BMW M5 proves itself to be a very capable vehicle.

Not much is known about the new vehicle yet, but we can be assured by the BMW logo it is automotive perfection. BMW prides itself on building high performance vehicles that can be driven safely by all drivers. With a twin turbo V8 turning out just under 600 horsepower, this spunky sedan is a nice blend of daily driver and performance monster that everyone can enjoy! Great job BMW, read more about the 2011 BMW M5 at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

Everybody knows that the ‘Ring is bumpy, dangerous and long, so you’re probably not going to learn too much from this episode of Supercars Exposed. But what makes it worth watching is the insane livery on the racing Astons. None of them are the same, and while lesser cars might look ridiculous all tarted up with colors that look like they came out of a bag of Skittles, every single one of these machines looks stunning. I’ve always been a fan of the orange and baby-blue Gulf color scheme, but there isn’t a ride here that I wouldn’t be happy to roll. Enjoy.

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

So I know the ‘Ring is a tough circuit, and that rain makes everything more tricky, but you’d think even a terrible driver would be able to get through the first turn without a wreck. While the video is anti-climactic, there are some good shots of the toll station before you get onto the track. Hopefully, I’ll get to pass through myself one of these days…

By Rich Truesdell

Automotive Traveler

One of the great things about the life I’ve led for the last 10 years as an independent editor is that I’ve put together some really great road trip adventures. And quite frankly, none was better than the trip I took back in the summer of 2005, driving a Ford GT and a Dodge Viper from London to the Nürburgring, then to the gates of the Ferrari factory in Maranello, then on to Le Mans, and finally back to London, all in six glorious days. In my mind, it’s the ultimate road trip and I had a great friend along for the ride. More…

Continue reading "London to Maranello and Back, In a Ford GT and a Dodge Viper" »