Convertibles auto news

Exclusive: Hennessey Venom GT Spyder pops in at Cars & Coffee

Our own lensman Drew Phillips caught sight of this at Cars & Coffee in Irvine, California: the 2013 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. This is the first time it's been seen on our shores. The targa version of the Venom GT packs the same 1,200 horsepower as the coupe - which also debuted at C&C, one year ago - but adds $150,000 to the price.That means you'll need $1.1 million for that wind-in-your-very-rich-hair feeling.

We still don't have exact specs on the car beyond a very limited build and its "enhanced driving sensations," but the high-res gallery of photos above should fill in enough blanks for now.

Mansory channels Enzo styling in Ferrari 458 Spider Monaco Edition

Say what you want about the German-based tuner Mansory, but the company definitely has a style all its own. The same can be said for their latest creation, the Ferrari 458 Spider Monaco Edition, which is channeling quite a bit of the Ferrari Enzo on its snout.

Mansory says that the new body panels, all of which are constructed of lightweight carbon fiber, save a little over 130 pounds, and with power boosted to 590 horsepower the car is capable of hitting 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in 3.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 205 mph. The interior of the 458 Spider Monaco Edition gets the Mansory treatment as well, with custom upholstery done in leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber in a combination of red and white.

Mansory says it will produce just three of the Monaco Edition Ferrari 458 Spiders. No word on pricing, although we can't imagine the changes come cheap. Scroll down below to read the official details from Mansory.

Continue reading Mansory channels Enzo styling in Ferrari 458 Spider Monaco Edition

Spy Shots: Supercharged Jaguar F-Type R spotted testing?

Our spy photographers appear to have grabbed the first glimpse at Jaguar's upcoming F-Type R. Judging by the not-so-subtle "F" camouflage and quad exhaust outlets, odds are this is the more high-strung version of the next convertible from Jaguar. What exactly is under the hood? That remains to be seen, though early reports suggest its something other than the tried-and-true blown 5.0-liter V8 we've come to know and love. The base F-Type will get along with a turbocharged V6, and the brawnier R model will likely bow with something packing eight cylinders and power figures in the neighborhood of 500 horsepower.

So, when can we get our hands on this creation? A final launch date is murky at best, though there is some indication Jaguar could hold onto the V8 F-Type until later in the model's lifecycle, but doesn't quite dovetail with the fact that Jaguar is already road-testing the machine. Chances are we'll see the F-Type R earlier than expected.

First Drive: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

Saint-Tropez is a charming town in southeastern France nestled along the Mediterranean Sea. Internationally recognized as a summer playground for the wealthy and famous, it is also famed for its "clothing optional" beaches where more than just noses and shoulders get burned in hot weather. While still a couple months shy of warm weather and the influx of tourists, Mercedes-Benz chose to get an early start on the topless party by flying us to the Côte d'Azur for some seat time in its newest high-performance droptop, the 2013 SL63 AMG Roadster.

Our first taste of the new SL-Class was behind the wheel of the standard SL550 in Spain less than two months ago. The two-seater impressed us with its stout chassis, strong engine and lavish appointments - but it failed to stir our emotions. The base SL long ago steered away from being a driver's car, and its latest incarnation proved no different. It was, in effect, just a very capable and posh GT.

But the SL63 AMG, boasting upwards of 557 horsepower thanks to a burly twin-turbocharged V8, still seems promising. Its luxury appointments are nearly identical, yet it wears AMG attire and its entire powertrain has been upgraded to appease warm-blooded automotive enthusiasts. Do fresh duds and a new muscular system make a more compelling athlete? We roughed in the French Riviera to find out.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

Official: BMW launches 2013 135is coupe and convertible

Let's get one thing straight: We'll never complain about a new BMW 1 Series performance model, and on paper, this new-for-2013 135is sure seems like a total hoot. But you have to understand, we're still mourning the loss of the 1 Series M Coupe, a one-year model that we absolutely fell in love with when it debuted last year. To quote BMW, the 135is is the "top performance model 1 Series for 2013," and awesome as it may be, it just makes the 1M's death seem all the more permanent. Le sigh.

Still, there's plenty to be excited about with this new 135is. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles, the hotter 1 Series uses a more powerful version of the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six from the 135i, boosted to 320 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque here - upgrades of 20 and 17, respectively, over the standard car. Both a six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission are available.

A revised sport suspension comes standard, as do visual upgrades like new 18-inch alloy wheels, a blacked-out grille and black mirror caps, in addition to all of the usual M Sport cosmetic changes.

The 135is is available to order as you read this, with the first deliveries taking place in the fall. Pricing starts at $44,195 for the coupe and $44,895 for the convertible, including the $895 destination charge. Give the 1 Series M a final wave goodbye and scroll down to take in all of the details about the 135is in BMW's press blast.

Continue reading BMW launches 2013 135is coupe and convertible

Official: Porsche shows off 918 Spyder Prototype

Porsche has officially put the finishing touches on the first prototypes of the company's 918 Spyder, complete with a black-and-white livery scheme that pays homage to the 917 racers of old. Production is set to commence in a little over a year, and the German sportscar manufacturer says buyers can look forward to taking possession of the first examples by the end of 2013. The plug-in hybrid will command a heady price tag, though. Porsche has confirmed the company will ask a whopping $845,000 per model, each with a 500 horsepower 4.0-liter V8 engine and two electric motors.

Altogether, the gas-electric drivetrain should be good for a 3.1-second 0-60 sprint and a top speed of 199 mph. Perhaps even more impressive is the news that the 918 will be able to propel itself with electric power at speeds of up to 94 mph. That little fact helps account for the news that the vehicle should be able to return around 78 miles per gallon on the EU cycle. Scroll down for the brief press release, but not before checking out the high-res gallery.

Continue reading Porsche shows off 918 Spyder Prototype

Report: McLaren MP4-12C Spyder coming this year

Our friends at Car and Driver recently spent some time poking and prodding around McLaren headquarters in Woking, England, and they have confirmed plans for a convertible MP4-12C. This isn't exactly earth-shattering news, having been rumored since 2009 and even spotted earlier this year, but it does suggest the program is on track for a public reveal this year. The MP4-12C Spyder is expected to be mechanically identical to its hard top cousin, which means buyers can look forward to finding twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 with 593 horsepower kicked out through the rear wheels.

The report says McLaren designed that engine along with its partner, Ricardo, to serve as the beating heart behind more than just one model. In addition to the lidless MP4-12C, McLaren is hard at work on a true successor to the F1. That machine will feature more conventional side-by-side seating and a dual-clutch gearbox bolted to a higher-output version of the same 3.8-liter engine. McLaren also has its heart set on creating a full product line. What does that mean, exactly? Car and Driver says we can forget purist-affronting models like an SUV or a sedan, but the odds are fairly high that the stable will swell beyond the three models mentioned here. Color us excited.

First Drive: 2013 Ferrari California [w/video]

Every time I travel to Maranello for a test drive, the three hours or so prior to turning the red key are driven in a U.S. Interstate-style straight line along Italy's A1 autostrada in my 99-horsepower 2001 Opel Astra station wagon with five-speed manual. It's just about the perfect antithetical setup for the unleashing of the hounds that awaits just over the hills south of Ferrari HQ.

This trip over was for the midlife upgrade of the Ferrari California for our 2013 model year, a car that promises to weigh less, deliver more horsepower and torque, and go quicker.

Continue reading 2013 Ferrari California [w/video]

Followup: Aston Martin prices limited-edition DBS Ultimate

If you want to get your hands on the Ultimate version of the Aston Martin DBS, you'd better act fast, and come with cash in hand.

The DBS Ultimate, as you may recall, is Gaydon's way of saying goodbye to what has been (notwithstanding the comings and goings of the One-77 and V12 Zagato) its mainstay flagship model for five years now. It's distinguished by such special touches as a painted rear decklid spoiler, carbon-fiber wing mirror caps, darkened grille, smoked taillamps, Zircotec-coated tail pipes, special badging, and a choice of yellow, black or red brake calipers.

Its interior has likewise been upgraded with red or silver diamond-quilted stitching on the leather seats and Alcantara headliner, and can be ordered in manual or automatic, coupe or Volante convertible, and in one of three colors: Carbon Black II, Quantum Silver or Silver Fox.

Aston has now confirmed that only 100 examples will be offered globally, on a purely first come, first served basis, with no specific allotments for individual markets. The order books are open now with production slated for early June, with American pricing pegged at $287,576 for the coupe and $302,576 for the Volante. Aston also released a fresh batch of images, which you can browse above.

Report: BMW 2 Series coming in 2014

CAR magazine reports BMW is hard at work on crafting the next-generation 1 Series Convertible. When it bows, the machine is expected to carry with it an all-new nomenclature, doing away with the 1 badge in favor of a new 2 Series emblem. This isn't the first time we've heard of BMW filling in its model line with both 2 and 4 Series models, nor the first hint that the 1 Series Convertible will be reborn as the 2 Series. CAR does supply a few more details however, stating that the 1 and 2 will be separated largely by a few sheetmetal tweaks. That means we can expect to see more or less the same engine options behind the headlights.

Why bother changing the naming structure at all? According to CAR, BMW is attempting to get its fleet more inline with those of Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which use a hierarchical structure to differentiate less premium models from pricier hardware. The report suggests buyers can expect to see the new 2 starting in 2014, complete with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox.