Latest news with #performancecar
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
A moment of silence, please: production of the GMA T.50 is ending in July
A moment of silence, please: production of the GMA T.50 is ending in July Gordon Murray's three-seat, sub-tonne, V12-powered masterpiece is bowing out after 100 units built Skip 15 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 15 Just like that, perhaps the greatest performance car of our time, the GMA T.50, will reach the end of its production this July, concluding a 100-car run that began in early 2023. The T.50 was unveiled almost five years ago before making its public debut at the 78th Goodwood Members' Meeting in October 2021. Advertisement - Page continues below Then came our world-exclusive drive in November 2023, and the conclusion from Top Gear's own Ollie Marriage was as follows: 'This is a car that reaches the parts no other can. A symphony of engineering purity, weight-saving purges and mechanical artistry. It will almost certainly never be bettered.' In fact, the only real shortcoming is a lack of cupholders. Small price to pay in return for the best driver's car… in the world. Let's run through the numbers, of old times' sake: a Cosworth-developed 3.9-litre nat asp V12, a kerb weight of 997kg, and a pure-as-you-like six-speed manual 'box. It'll top out at 226mph thanks to outputs of 664bhp and 353lb ft. No e-motor assistance here either, which may be a big reason why you lot voted it as your favourite V12 production car right now. Advertisement - Page continues below GMA's factory will only be quiet for a brief period, because the company has announced that its Special Vehicles (GMSV) division is preparing to reveal its first two supercars at the Monterey Car Week in August. Phillip Lee, the CEO of the Gordon Murray Group, said: 'We are excited to offer customers the opportunity to create the bespoke supercar of their dreams with the GMSV design and engineering teams. We're also enthusiastic to show the world's automotive fans our most unique expressions of the Gordon Murray Automotive ethos through GMSV.' Goodwood will also celebrate 60 years of Gordon Murray's work at the Festival of Speed this year, where key models from the legendary South African's career will feature. Those include the Brabham BT46B Formula One fan car, the McLaren F1 GTR Long Tail, and the softer version of the T.50, the T.33. There might even be a spicier version of that on show. 'I can barely believe it's been 60 years I've been designing and engineering race and road cars,' said Gordon Murray. 'I can't wait to reminisce with the thousands of fans at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The GMSV double debut that follows just a month later will offer customers, old and new, even more ways to be part of our celebration of cars and driving.' Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Auto Blog
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
You Won't Believe What Makes the 2025 Mustang GTD Cost That Much
Learn more about what's behind the most powerful production Mustang ever. What's behind the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD's eye-watering price tag? Earlier this week, Car and Driver first reported a leaked window sticker for a 2025 Mustang GTD submitted by the vehicle's owner, with the starting price reaching $327,960 after destination and gas guzzler charges. However, you may be curious to learn more about the exact features forming this exorbitant price tag, how it compares to competitors, and its track capabilities. We introduced you to the 2025 Mustang GTD on Thursday. Now, it's time for a deeper dive into this car's engineering, performance, and marketplace position. 0:05 / 0:09 Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Watch More The Mustang GTD's design philosophy The 815-horsepower 2025 Mustang GTD's design emphasizes weight reduction, enhanced handling, and blazing speed with available forged magnesium wheels with a race-optimized strength-to-weight ratio, along with lightweight carbon fiber body panels, a carbon fiber driveshaft, and the available carbon fiber underbody aerodynamic tray. Even the titanium exhaust voicing the 5.2L V8 engine is ultralight, and handling benefits from front six-piston Brembo anti-lock brakes and 345 mm-wide rear high-performance summer road and track tires. 2025 Ford Mustang GTD Spirit of America Edition — Source: Ford Mustang GTD track performance spotlight Ford's 2025 Mustang GTD completed a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap in 6:57:685—the fifth-fastest time by a stock production sports car and only the sixth vehicle in its class to crack the iconic track's seven-minute lap barrier. The American automaker accomplished this feat through features like a dual-clutch, 8-speed rear transaxle connected to a carbon fiber driveshaft for significant power to pavement transfers and a near 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution, helping it navigate the track's 73 turns and corners. Many of Nürburgring Nordschleife's turns generate high G-forces, but the 2025 Mustang GTD's short-long arm front suspension enhances lateral stiffness and tire/road alignment. Additionally, the GTD's dry sump oil system, the first-ever in a Mustang, optimizes performance by increasing oil capacity and reliability while reducing oil starvation under high G-forces. Ford complements these track-ready features with an aerodynamic rear wing for road-gripping downforce and front vents that reduce lift and drag. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Road vs. track: dual-purpose design The 2025 GTD is masterful on the track, but its dual ride height also lends itself to surface streets. This Ford features Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) technology with an advanced suspension system that includes adaptive dampers, allowing ride heights to vary by nearly 40mm (1.57 inches) with the press of a button. Rival comparisons Comparable 2025 Ford Mustang GTD rivals include Lamborghini's Huracán STO, starting at $344,778, McLaren's 750S coupe with a base MSRP of around $324,000, and Ferrari's 296 GTB, which sells from $346,950. Lamborghini's Huracán STO falls short of the Mustang GTD's 825 max horsepower at 630, and it's more focused on pure driving instead of track runs, but it's also lighter than its Ford counterpart. McLaren's 750S coupe falls shy of the Mustang GTD's horsepower at 740, but it offers a 0-60 mph time about 0.3 seconds faster than its competitor. Ferrari's 296 GTB gives the Mustang GTD the best run for its money in terms of horsepower at 819, but some may not prefer its hybrid powertrain. Final thoughts You wouldn't be wrong to label the 2025 Mustang GTD's price tag as eye-watering, and its cost rises significantly with added options. This Ford enters supercar territory with exotic materials, dynamic engineering, and a robust powertrain, but it's also a car you can enjoy both on and off the track. If you want to own the most exclusive Mustang ever, the GTD delivers plenty of thrills and style. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
Motor 1
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Is The BMW M2 Still the Best M Car? Video Review
There's a lot to be said for a do-everything car. A one-car solution. Scores of enthusiasts all want their daily driver to also be a track car, and a drift car, and a grocery getter, and a road tripper. Very few cars can actually fulfill this mandate, but one gets very close: The updated 473-horsepower 2025 BMW M2. It's the enthusiast darling. Uncorrupted by hybridity and all-wheel drive, the M2 is the simplest, most barebones, and cheapest M car you can buy. And I wanted to see if it was the true one-car enthusiast solution, so I reviewed a manual one for our newest video on the Motor1 YouTube channel. For 2025, the M2 got some updates , most notably a 20-horsepower bump, optional silver wheels, and nine new colors. The interior is now unified with the M3, which has new air vents and ambient lighting, and you get the excellent iDrive 8.5. Otherwise, it is business as usual inside the M2, which is it say it feels like an M3 . At the time of filming, the 2025 M2's base price was $66,375, but the tariffs have bumped that price to $69,375. Still, it's almost $10,000 cheaper than an M3 with identical hardware, making it a relative bargain. As far as how it drives and what it's like to live with, you'll just have to watch our video. It's an incredible performance bargain. But is it the perfect one-car solution? More on the M2 2026 BMW M2 CS Revealed: More Power, Less Weight, and Rear-Drive Only BMW's New M2 Race Car Only Has Four Cylinders Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Top Gear
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Oh yes, Porsche has built a one-off, 671bhp road-legal* V8 963 hypercar
*sorta. In honour of Count Rossi's glorious silver 917 comes this glorious silver 963 Porsche has shocked the motoring world by unveiling a brand-new road-going performance car. While it shares many things with road-going performance cars – headlights, turn indicators, a horn – it is unlike almost anything you can currently purchase. Because this one's spun directly off a car that's won multiple endurance racing world titles. Welcome, one and all, to the mad, bad, and entirely brilliant Porsche 963 RSP. It's a version of Porsche's WEC and IMSA competitor built to mark 50 years since a certain Count Rossi drove the all-conquering Porsche 917 from Zuffenhausen to Paris. Like that car, this one's been tweaked so it's street legal. Sorta. 'How could we reimagine [the 917's] story in today's time?' asked Porsche's North American boss Timo Resch. The answer, as you can see, is quite clear. 'The 917 from the story was every inch a race car – albeit one driven on the road – and we took the same approach with the 963 RSP,' added Resch. 'It uses beautiful materials of the best quality available, but is still every bit a race car underneath.' A fine place to start. For this very special project, the small team in charge of the RSP - including Porsche's Sonderwunsch department - decided early on that they'd need a brand-new 963 chassis, not an existing one. To which a number of very subtle, very important and likely mind-blowingly complicated changes were made. The 963's ride height was raised from a hair's width to something more suitable for general roads, while the adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers – designed for sports prototypes, don't forget – were gaffer taped into their softest setting. Then came one of the hardest bits: allowing the 4.6-litre, twin-turbo V8 hybrid powerplant to run on regular unleaded. Not race fuel, but the stuff you can get out of a forecourt pump. 'Not a small undertaking,' explained Porsche Penske Motorsport MD Jonathan Diuguid. Amazingly, it's in race trim, which means the 918 Spyder-derived V8, e-motor and battery combo punches out an incredible 671bhp, only here it's been treated to an ECU remap to smooth out the power delivery. Top Gear has not long forgotten what the nat-asp 918 Spyder's V8 sounds like, nor the 963's race-bred unit. This Will Be Loud. Not when running on e-power alone, which the 963 RSP is capable of for short stretches. Though Porsche has ensured its lucky new owner will want to do rather longer stretches because the interior is, of course, the biggest departure from the race car.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
French sports car maker Alpine unveils its first electric SUV
If you dare to be a little different, then the new electric SUV from French performance car-maker Alpine may be just 'le job' for you. The new Tesla-rivalling Alpine A390 was launched with fanfare today at the company's headquarters in the coastal town of Dieppe and is described by bosses as 'a racing car in a suit' promising 'an extraordinary driving experience'. Two versions of the four-door 'fastback' coupe will be available from the performance-subsidiary of Renault. The standard 400hp A390 GT accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 4.8 seconds up to a top speed of 124mph with a range of up to 344 miles. However, a more potent 470hp GTS will hit 62mph in a scintillating 3.9 seconds - quicker than a Porsche Macan EV by 0.1 seconds - and onto a top speed of 133mph with a range of up to 328 miles. All-wheel drive power comes from three electric motors – one at the front and two at the rear - with energy supplied by an 89kW battery. Prices are expected to start from around £60,000 for the GT version and from around £70,000 for the GTS, with official figures to be announced later. Orders books will open in November with first deliveries expected in spring 2026, with customers who sign up early to a VIP Priority pass being at the front of the queue. Firmly in the sights of the new Alpine A390 are the Porsche Macan EV, which starts from £68,500, but whose 510bhp Macan 4S Electric (costing from £76,900) is considered more of a benchmark in performance terms. Other electric models it hopes to steal sales from include the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, BMW ix2, Cupra Tavascan, Maserati Grecale, Tesla Model Y, and BMW i4 M50. It aims to be the only car under €100,000 (£84,000) with three e-motors and active torque vectoring. The A390 model follows in the wake of the new A290 - which is a tuned version of Renault's 5 E-Tech - and ahead of the all-electric A110 in what Alpine bosses say is the creation of their 'dream garage'. Alpine described the A390 as 'a true sports car' dressed for the road 'like a racing car in a tailor-made suit' noting: 'The A390 is designed to deliver its performance unabated in the most demanding conditions, whether climbing mountain passes or even on the race-track.' At the unveiling of the prototype model ahead of last October's Paris Motor Show, Alpine CEO Philippe Krief told This it Money it has 'a racing soul' and will give drivers 'an exhilarating experience'. Alpine achieved cult status with its sports and racing cars in the 1960s and the brand was revived by Renault as its sporting arm in 2017. The firm says 85 per cent of the design revealed in last year's striking Paris show car has been retained. Integrated handles for the two rear doors help maintain the coupe-like fastback profile. The car's unique lighting signature includes, at the front, a cluster of illuminated triangles called Cosmic Dust which 'evokes a comet piercing the atmosphere'. Alpine notes: 'When the driver approaches the vehicle, they come to life in a welcome sequence. A projection of the Alpine logo surrounded by snowflakes is also directed sideways at ground level.' At the rear, fragmented triangles frame a backlit Alpine logo in complete lettering. Thin light bars front and rear appear 'to slice through the air like a blade' to evoke a sense of lightness. Inside, the dashboard, centre console and door panels are coated in leather and a sophisticated blue-themed lighting atmosphere. The driver-oriented cockpit has 12.3-inch and 12-inch high-definition screens facing 'to immerse customers in the Alpine universe'. And in a victory for drivers concerned about digital distraction, Alpine stresses: 'Physical climate control allows drivers to adjust settings without taking their eyes off the road.' There is also specific switchgear for audio controls. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief said at the Dieppe launch: 'The Alpine A390 shows how to reinvent the spirit of the A110 in a 5-seat sport fastback. 'The A390 is the quintessential Alpine, combining sportiness and performance with technology and refinement, all for a unique driving experience that is equally suited to everyday use and more spirited driving.' He added: 'Inspired by French design expertise, its distinctive styling will delight all lovers of beautiful sports cars, just as Alpine has done for more than 70 years. 'Above all, this all-wheel-drive sport fastback is the finished product from a team of passionate men and women who believe electric sportiness is meaningful and are working hard to do it justice.'
