public car: September 2010

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Wallpaper

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Wallpaper

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Wallpaper

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Wallpaper

Typically, when an automaker and a watchmaker team up, it's to spec out a special-edition watch. But Lamborghini and Blancpain have already done that. The two marques are also behind the Super Trofeo racing series, which Lamborghini claims is the fastest spec racing series on today's circuits. The season just wrapped up at Vallelunga, where the two companies took the wraps off the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition.

The special-edition Lambo is distinguished from the standard model with such unique touches as a vented engine cover and a big rear wing, along with carbon fiber parts, Skorplus wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes. A matte black finish with yellow accents further set its apart inside and out. The most interesting spec however, is the Blancpain Edition's weight; at 2954 pounds, Sant'Agata lauds it as the lightest vehicle in Lamborghini's roadgoing range. Couple that with the 5.2-liter V10 boosted to 570 horsepower (like the spec racers) and Lambo claims a 3.4-second sprint to 62 mph from a standstill, topping out a hair under the double-century mark.

We're on our way to Paris to get a closer look at this among the myriad other excitements making their debut later this week.

Nissan 370Z Asphalt Surfer Wallpaper

Senner Tuning Nissan 370Z Asphalt Surfer Wallpaper

Senner Tuning Nissan 370Z Asphalt Surfer Wallpaper

Senner Tuning Nissan 370Z Asphalt Surfer Wallpaper

Senner Tuning, probably best known for last year's disastrously named "White Power" RS6, has released pictures and details of its latest project car: the Nissan 370Z Asphalt Surfer.

The German tuning house has modified the 370Z with an ECU tune, sports air filter and cold air intake, boosting power to 365 hp (272 kw) and torque to 400 Nm. Twin 63.5 mm (2.5 inch) sports exhaust, door mirror caps / B-pillars capped in carbon fibre and black painting front / rear splitter round out the exterior package.

Senner has also added 20-inch Barracuda alloys by Tzunamee Racing, which are available in either white or black and wear 9x20" 245/35 R20 rubber at the front and either 10x20" 275/30 R20 or 11x20" with 285/30 R20 rubber at the back.

The interior modifications are more subtle, with carbon fibre added to the instrument barnacle and additional (dash top) gauges.

While you can build up your own 370Z Asphalt Surfer, Senner Tuning said it also offers completed examples of the car.

Senner Tuning Nissan 370Z Asphalt Surfer Wallpaper

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster Wallpaper

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster Wallpaper

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster Wallpaper

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster Wallpaper

There's not much we'd change about the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, as it's compact, stylish and thoroughly addictive already. But that hasn't stopped the British marque from launching a series of updates and upgrades. The latest came in July with the launch of the N420 edition coupe, a race-car-for-the-street variant inspired by the company's motorsports prowess at the Nurburgring. At the time, Aston announced that the N420 – itself the successor to the earlier N400 – would be available in both coupe and convertible bodystyles, but it has only now released the drop-top model ahead of its debut later this week at the Paris Motor Show.

Like the N420 coupe, the roadster keeps the same 420-horsepower V8 engine and the optional Sport Pack suspension as standard, and upgrades with a sport exhaust system, new wheels, aero package and reduced weight as compared to the standard model. Prices should come in around the $145k mark, available with either a six-speed manual or Sportshift automatic.

Exagon Furtive e-GT Wallpaper

Exagon Furtive e-GT Wallpaper

Exagon Furtive e-GT Wallpaper

Exagon Furtive e-GT Wallpaper

Unveiled to a small group of French journalists ahead of its world premiere at this week's Paris Motor Show, is this sleek-looking coupe from Exagon Motors called the Furtive e-GT.

Somewhere beneath the Renault Laguna Coupe-like lines (or is that just me?) are two electric motors from Siemens that are backed up by a gasoline range extender.

With both electric motors working together, the Siemens-powered Furtive is looking to be a real Tesla performance contender (though probably not anywhere near the same price point).

Numbers are estimated to go something like this: 3.5 seconds to 100km/h (62mph), 340 horsepower, and a 400-kilometer / ~ 249-mile electric range (800 km / ~ 497 miles all told with the gasoline mill kicking in).
Exagon Furtive e-GT Wallpaper

Exagon Furtive e-GT Wallpaper

KTM X-BOW R Wallpaper

KTM X-BOW R Wallpaper

KTM X-BOW R Wallpaper

KTM X-BOW R Wallpaper

Austrian motorcycle specialist KTM is hard at work on the 2011 model year version of its X-BOW track-focused sports car, which will gain a higher performance R model. The original 790 kg (1,742 lb) X-BOW is powered by an Audi-sourced 240HP 2.0-liter TFSI. Around 500 have been sold worldwide since it was launched into the market in 2008.

The R model will have an additional 60 hp (45kw) over the standard model thanks to the adoption of the more powerful 2.0 TFSI from the Audi S3, which features changes to the engine electronics and peripherals to bump output to 300-horsepower.

It will be available in two equipment packages: a road legal / homologated "Sport" package and a more track orientated "Race" pack.

Many of the parts that go into the R will be available through X-BOW's PowerParts, so owners can tune their existing X-BOW to Sport and Race specifications.

Pictured in our gallery is a prototype version of the 2011 X-BOW R with the new parts installed undergoing testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Wimmer RS Volkswagen Golf R Wallpaper

Wimmer RS Volkswagen Golf R Wallpaper

Wimmer RS Volkswagen Golf R Wallpaper

Wimmer RS Volkswagen Golf R Wallpaper

Red Devil is the name German tuning firm 'Wimmer RS' chose for its latest take on the Volkswagen Golf R. 'Red' because of the color chosen for the car, and 'Devil' because this Golf R packs a sinister punch under the hood...

In stock form, the all-wheel drive Golf R rolls out of VW's factory with a 2.0-liter TFSI producing 270-hp and 350Nm / 258 lbs-ft of maximum torque. After Wimmer RS's engineers perform their magic, those numbers increase to a whopping 478-hp and 610Nm or 450 lbs-ft.

The extra power comes from a variety of mods including -but not limited to- changes to the turbocharger, ECU, air intake, injection nozzles and exhaust system.

According to the tuning house, the upgraded Golf R can reach an electronically limited top speed of 291 km/h or 181 mph.

Additional performance enhancements include a coil-over suspension set and more potent braking system.