Lamborghini Aventador SV roadster: a good old-fashioned Lambo?

Ah, a car that the majority of you will hopefully see on the road or at a car show at some point in the future. not some start-up racer. A proper Lamborghini. And, not only that but an SV too. Goody. But is this a full-blooded Lamborghini? This car is a roadster that wears the SV badge, only the 4th to in 44 years. So will this be a car that doesn't live up to it's badge? Let's see.

The engine remains the same as in the standard Aventador, the 6.5 litre V12, but the SV does benefit from a completely new exhaust system, which makes it sound like the inside of an active volcano. Other small tweaks result in a 49BHP boost on the original, with the overall power rising to 740BHP. 0-62MPH takes 2.9seconds, which may be a tenth down on the normal SV but who really notices? The top speed remains the same as the normal SV, at 217MPH.

Furthermore, by removing the entertainment system and installing carbon shell bucket seats (amongst a lot of other carbon elements), the overall weight has been reduced by 50KG on the standard Aventador, but remains 50KG heavier than the normal SV, because of the structure bolstering needed for the convertible roof.

So. A hard-core Lamborghini which definitely hasn't lost it's edge along with it's roof, but remains as focused as ever. I did mention in my review of the new Huracan that it seemed to be lacking a bit of the old Lamborghini flair. In my opinion this car serves to dissolve these comments that Audi are starting to have an effect on the cars. Even the price is typical Lamborghini: £350,000

Nev

Rezvani Beast X: just another lightweight racer?

I don't know, all these new companies coming up with lightweight racers. Just when you thought that surely there is no-one left that wants a bite of the cherry, here comes another. this here is a hardcore version of an already speedy racer from the California-based supercar company Ruzvani. it is essentially an Atom with the modesty to cover up, with the chassis of an Atom but panels to cover up the rather bare structure of the Atom. And, as a covered-up Atom, it definately beats the Atom in a beauty contest, in my opinion. So, let's dive under the bonnet...

...And what we find is no less than astounding. under the bonnet is a Honda 2.4 litre four cylinder K24 engine, which on its own is not breath-taking. But, as the 'X' version, there are also two high-powered turbochargers, which means that the power figure is 700BHP. I can only surmise that some sort of witchcraft has happened here, either that or incredible engineering. Being an Atom with clothes does mean that the Atom is lighter, but the Rezvani is still very light, at 839KG. Surely you can see where this is going. High power + lightweight=blistering pace, right? Correct. 0-60MPH in 2.5 seconds, to be exact. And Rezvani doesn't really believe in driver aids, and because of this there are none, with the exception of two carbon fibre rear wings.

However. I feel an enormous sense of deja vu here. How man times have I been here and said something like 'we'll just have to hope this company flourishes.' And, sad as it is, usually no-one hears from them again. And, with only 5 Rezvani Beast X's being made, and at a price of £215,000, this will probably be another. And that is sad.

Nev

Hyundai 2025 Vision Gran Turismo: a new direction?

 Hyundai. A manufacturer which has made a name in family cars which are affordable. But do we imagine Hyundai ever making a performance car? Not necessarily. But now, it seems, Hyundai want to. This car is the latest concept, a car which appears to be vaguely similar to the upcoming Bugatti hyper car. Despite being a concept, this car seems to convey an attitude of willingness to enter the performance sector. 

Well, for starters this car is the first to feature a mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell system, which means zero-emissions. Along with the fuel cell is 4 electric motors, one for each wheel. Combined power output (the fuel cell-and supercapacitors- and the motors) is 859BHP. Also making an appearance is regenerative braking , which alone can generate 198BHP. And through the use of a carbon monoquethe overall weight of the thing is 972KG, which is very impressive for a fuel cell car. Furthermore, this low weight plus high horsepower leads to a shocking power to weight ratio: 898BHP/tonne, to be exact.  Which leads me to think that this will never reach the road, especially looking how it does in the pictures. 

So. Is this a glimpse of a high performance future from Hyundai, or simply a vision of what they could do. The figures this car generates seems to me to suggest that a demonstration of might is all this car is. But then again I haven't been able to rid myself of the image of the Hyundai Creta while writing this. 

Nev

Honda project 2&4: new life to Honda?

So. As far as promises and ambition go, Honda has had a lot of Ambition but no actual delivery on its promises. At the start of the year, we had the promise of a McLaren-Honda F1 team ( which at the time I predicted could lead to dominance. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't predict things any more) and the looming revival of the Honda NSX, a car I also looked forward to. So what happened? No one can wear a McLaren-Honda shirt without being laughed out of wherever they are, and the NSX has been delayed again into next year. It seems that Honda needs a pick-me-up. 

Now enter the Project 2&4, the concept that won the Honda Global Design Project this year, and is a collaboration between the Honda motorcycle design team and the Honda automobile design studio. Whilst there are no plans to build the thing you see here, you must admit that it is a promising proposition. There are many comparisons between this and the Ariel Atom, which also uses a Honda engine (albeit a 2-litre one). The 2&4 uses detuned RC213V V4 motorbike engine, the same as powers Marc Marquez's MotoGP bike. Now this doesn't sound particularly fast, especially when you add in only 212BHP, but this car weighs just 405KG, and is 370mm shorter and 200mm lower than the Atom. So despite only having 212BHP, it has a power-to-weight ratio of 532BHP per ton, which is staggering. And, mainly due to the bike engine, peak power arrives at a very racy 13,000RPM.

But mainly this concept really embodies all that (used) to be good about Honda. And if it was made, maybe Hondas year won't be all bad

Nev

Bentley Bentayga: the SUV to rule them all?

And so here it is: the Bentley SUV. Before its official release a the Frankfurt motor show. A car that aims to be 'the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV going'. A bold statement, and one no doubt aimed at the likes of the Range Rover sport and the Porsche Cayenne. So how does this, the newest edition to the SUV family, compare?

Well, for starters the power thing is more than addressed, with the engine in this being a new 6-litre twin-turbo W12, which manages the colossal task of propelling the 5.1 metre, 2347kg giant from 0-60MPH in 4 seconds, which I find mind-boggling. And a top speed of 187MPH doesn't do much to help.

But don't go thinking that Bentley has forgotten about the other aspects of an SUV. This car aims to have a class-leading interior, and because it is a Bentley you cant help but believe them. And the off-roading has also been addressed, with a permanent four-wheel drive system with a Torsen centre-diff, and multi-link front and rear suspension. Furthermore, air suspension which is self-levelling too.

So, another addition to another crowded sector. And this one aims to be the best. We'll see.

Nev

Mercedes AMG C63 coupe: superior to the M4?

So, In response to the new BMW M4 (a fantastic car, I must add) Mercedes have retaliated. Big time. And it is with this, the new C63 AMG. A car which looks like a (beautiful) mix of AMG GT and S-class. But for most people the main concern that they have with this car will be the absence of the old 6.2 litre naturally aspirated V8, an engine which sounded a lot like an enraged Lion. Well, that engine is not under this bonnet. What resides there in this new car is the brand-new 'hot-v' twin turbo V8. Except for the fact that, as the knowledgeable amongst you may have noticed, that the engine is the same as the one in the AMG GT, which I wrote it seems like an age ago.

Looking at the figures, and it looks as if the Merc beats the BMW. It boasts 469BHP (versus 425BHP), 4 seconds-62MPH (4.3 seconds). The only issue that I can see on paper that the BMW holds the cards for is weight; 1645KG for the Merc and 1537KG for the BMW. And I'm thinking that this may affect the sharpness of the cars on the roads. But will the superior power figures trump the extra bulk? We will find out when the Merc comes out later this year.

Nev

Lotus Evora 400: a new dawn?

During the years of upheaval at Lotus, the models were left as they were, with no refreshes to keep them cutting edge. This was none more so than the Evora, which had not seen a refresh in 6 years. However, now that things have calmed down, the Evora has been completely overhauled, so that the car you see here is very much improved. The Evora 400 is named because of the BHP of the car, which is impressive because the engine is the same as before, the Toyota V6. To squeeze this number of horsepower out of that engine,there is a new supercharger, plus a chargecooler, both of Lotuses own. 

The weight is another aspect that has been addressed in this new version, with the new car standing at 1395kg. And this impacts on the acceleration, to. 0-62MPH in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 186MPH just shows the progress that has been made. Indeed, this new car is about as quick round a track as the Exige S, and way faster than the outgoing Evora. Other improvements? The interior feels a lot more superior and well made, and the suspension is firmer.

So, there you are. The new Evora, a car that has been brought up to date in almost every respect. And a kick start for a new Lotus.

Nev

New Audi R8: just a facelift?

So, Audi just gives the R8 a facelift to help it shift some more units, right? Wrong! The car you see here is almost completely new, with a new tub and structure. Despite most of the frame remaining as aluminium, there are quite a few panels that have been replaced by carbon fibre ones. This helps the weight to be reduced to only 1555kg, which isn't much considering the V10 and the Quattro system. Another thing that has changed is the absence of a V8 option, which is because the majority of the last R8's were sold as either V10's or V10 plus's. For this reason, this new car is available as either a V10 (with 533BHP) or a V10 plus (with 603BHP), with a V8 version probably coming later. 

The engine, a 5.2 litre naturally aspirated V10, also has one of the best soundtracks. It is certainly a wake up call to some other cars with forced injection (*cough* Ferrari 488 *cough*). However, without the aid of forced injection this is a car that needs to be kept in a certain band for maximum thrust. And all the reworked aero on the cars means that it boasts figures that are definitely supercar-y. For the V10 plus, 0-62MPH is achieved in 3.2 seconds and it will go on to top out at 205MPH.

And obviously, this being an Audi, inside is everything you would expect from a typical German product. So, in conclusion, this is still very much the everyday supercar. Just vastly improved.

Nev

Alfa Romeo Giulia: a kick-start or a false-start?

So, Alfa Romeo has been reborn. Parent group FCA has decided that Alfa Romeo should be given a new lease of life. And this is the first of Alfa's new models, the Giulia, which should pave the way for seven new models in the next three years. It's a model that will square up to the Mercedes C class and the BMW 3 series in the executive salon sector. But this car will have to be quite something in order for it to out sell the well rounded C class or the 3 series. So let's have a look.

The Giulia, which will also yield a Quadrifoglio model with 503BHP to try and beat the M3 and C63, will have the longest wheelbase in its class, even longer than the C class. But despite this the Quadrifolglio model has had its engine developed by people with Ferrari knowledge, meaning that it is propelled from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, nearly half a second quicker than a manual M3. And, weighing in at 1500kg, it is 155 kg lighter than a C63. This lightness has been achieved through the use of aluminium and carbon fibre. And the long wheelbase means that the Giulia will hopefully be perfectly balanced and comfortable, as well as having a weight distribution of exactly 50:50 on all of the models available. And because of the wizardry of the steering, it will apparently not be far off the amazing steering of the Ferrari 458. The interior of the car will probably resemble a Ferrari-ish cabin, but Alfa haven't released a picture of it yet.

But the main purpose of this car will be to sell. According to the Alfa CEO the cars that the Giulia will rival have become too similar and replaceable. This car will feel decisively different to them, 'an extension of the drivers soul'. Alfa's past have always felt passionate to drive. But this one has the fate of the Make on its head as well.

Nev

Lotus 3-eleven: the lightweight car to have?

And so, my point has been proven. Just weeks after claiming that England is becoming known for its lightweight racers in my last post on the Elemental, Lotus have unveiled their new lightweight racer: the 3-Eleven. Clearly the successor of the 2-Eleven, this car can be bought in race spec or normal. And, although there is a resemblance to the exige, the car is about 90% new. All the work on this car has been to reduce weight and therefore increase acceleration. Indeed, the body itself weighs just 47kg thanks to the use of glass fibre. And a dry weight of under 900kg for the race car. Which is pretty impressive, even if the second seat isn't there in the race spec. 

All this attention to detail has resulted in some impressive performance stats. As a car it is over 3 seconds around a track than the Evora GT4 car, which is pretty mind-boggling! The horsepower is around 430 but may change, and it has 332lb ft of torque. The 0-60 mph figure has not been released yet, but will certainly be below 3.2 seconds. And a top speed of 180mph is quite frankly scary for a car with no roof!

However, all of this does come at quite a high price. The price of the car will be £82000, which is a lot for a car that will only really be used on track days. But I suppose the real question we should be asking is: will this be the best in it's class?

Nev 

Elemental RP1: just another light weight road racer?

As most people will already know, England is fast becoming a breeding ground for start up companies intending to make cars that are lightweight, track cars which are also road legal. There are already companies such as Ariel that have begun life this way. And here is another such company, which hopes to break into the pocket rocket market: Elemental, a company which consists of 6 people, made up of engineers, designers and business specialists. And here is the car itself: the RP1. A car that is three years in the making.

With cars like this one, normal reviewing rules do not apply. Engine size and horsepower are a lot less significant in this sector. So the RP1's 280BHP Ford ecoboost turbo four cylinder is hardly likely to get you frothing at the mouth. However, the things that do matter with these cars are things like weight. And aerodynamics. And, maybe the most important, the power to weight ratio. And in this department the RP1 looks like a much tastier prospect. The impressive new chassis, made by an ex McLaren employee, is a carbon and aluminium 60 kg job, which is very innovative. What is more impressive is the estimated 500BHP/ tonne power:weight ratio, which is very akin to that of the Ariel atom. And this car has two seats, not one. And a 580kg weight helps the RP1 a 0-60 mph time of just 3.1 seconds. As a new company, Elemental know that they won't immediately be shifting thousands of units, and that is why their sales projections are at 40 units per year, ideally. And, by having two seats as opposed to its rival the BAC mono, it is already ahead in my mind!

Nev

Glickenhaus SCG003: a millionaire's dream car?

When people like us come up with something in the car world that isn't to our taste, for example the fact that normal cars look nothing like race cars, we may grumble on to anyone that will listen for a while, but on the whole there is nothing we can do about it. When James Glickenhaus has this thought, he takes a different approach: he creates his own company in order to address this issue. Cue 'scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus' a company that seeks to minimalist the differences between his road car and his N24 racer. Both are called the SCG003, and theoretically you could change the road car into a racer by changing only the engine, gearbox and rear subframe. 

Being very close aesthetically to its racer cousin, the figures on the road car are as aggressive as the car looks. The downforce figure, for example, is 900kg. That's about 300 more than a McLaren P1 makes. And the weight is also superior to the hypercars of last year. The weight estimate is about 1100kg, considerably less than the P1 or Laferrari. The engine which will be used is still in question, with Maserati's twin turbo V8 maybe fit for the purpose. The horsepower figure is currently being given at 650bhp, but it may be more. All of these mean that the estimated Nurburgring time for the road car is about 6minutes 30seconds, which is race car fast. 

So, to sum up, a very fast car from a very rich man. Also a very large price tag for the car. Namely $2.5 million. About the same as the Koenigsegg one:1 I reviewed a while ago. So way, way out of reach for most of us. But at least it's nice to know that having money can allow you to solve your worries.

Nev

Mclaren 570s: family resemblance or cheaper twin?

So here it is: the long-awaited 'baby' McLaren, designed to sit below the 650s on the McLaren ladder. Priced at £50,000 below the 650s at £145,000, it tries to make McLaren accessible to more people while still having a family resemblance. But does it try too hard? This car has all the looks of a supercar but for less money. But with figures still definitely in supercar territory, has McLaren differentiated enough?

For starter's, its weight is about as much as a Golf GTI, with McLaren using the carbon tub chassis. This means that it weighs as much as the VW, but with A LOT more power. which obviously leads to some frightening figures. the engine is a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8, which here produces 562BHP and 0-62MPH in 3.2 seconds. Light as a GTI with double the power? Why would you want anything else? The performance of this car puts it just faster than a 911 turbo S, but which one would you prefer? One with the looks of a sports car or one with the looks of a supercar? Hard choice, isn't it! And the engine means it will hit a 204MPH top speed.

But with figures like this, it does start to ask questions of the 650S. Is it worth £50,000 more? Have McLaren failed to distinguish their ladder? Is the 570S (I hate to say this) too good? Sales will start later in the year. I wonder how it will get on?

Nev

Bentley EXP10 speed 6: new direction or identity crisis?

Yet another controversial concept recently released was this, the Bentley EXP10 speed 6. It is extremely intriguing because it suggests that Bentley is becoming more and more interested in the idea of producing a sports car. This will be a strange new segment for a company that has always done the GT and luxury car thing. But at the moment Bentley seems to be trying to get in on various sectors that it hasn't before, and sports car is one of them.

Now let me set this out so no one is under any illusions. This car is a concept car, and as of yet there is no concrete plans to build anything like this, it just seeks to show that Bentley wants to expand their range. This could be the template for the fifth model line for Bentley, and the EXP10 speed 6 shows what a potential Bentley sports car would look like. But does the DNA of a sports car for well with the DNA of Bentley? No doubt that Bentley will want to make this car very luxurious, but that means weight, and while weight is not an issue in a luxury cruiser it definitely is in a sports car. Bentley has put all its usual work into the quality of the car, but can this car realistically compete with the likes of the Mecedes AMG-GT or the Aston Martin Vantage? We will have to wait and see.

Nev

Aston Martin DBX: new prosperity or dead end?

Another car to be shown at the recent Geneva motor show was this, the first look we will get of the upcoming Aston Martin SUV, although a look is all it will be as it isn't due for production until 2020. The purpose of this car is for Aston to be able to reach out its customer base and sell its cars in more places than before, to a wider audience than before. This SUV is supposed to increase sales of Astons to Russia, China and women. Another reason why the DBX has been created is to reduce the overall CO2 of the marque, as the DBX is targeted to be an all electric car (which can also be chosen as a V12.) as you may remember, Aston has tried to do the 'make one car produce less emissions so overall we produce less CO2' route when it launched its Cygnet city car. Obviously that car was a failure and had to be scrapped, and so here we are with a similar proposition, only in the form of a electric SUV.

This concept, which will be the base of the SUV we will see in production in 2020, promises to have all the attraction of a normal SUV (eg high ride height etc) but also with the style people have come to associate with Astons. It promises not to be as bulky or as big as some of the other SUVs (maybe the upcoming Bentley SUV?) so that more people will buy. But will this increase sales dramatically or drive people away? We will have to wait and see. And don't worry: it's a long way off

Nev

Koenigsegg Regera: The first hyper hybrid?

Oh, I do love writing about super Koenigsegg's. They are just so mad and outrageous, with every fact making you double check. As some of my loyal readers may remember, last year I wrote about the limited run Koenigsegg One:1, a car with a seriously frightening power: weight ratio. Well, now Koenigsegg is planning a car using some of the tech on the One:1, and was unveiled at the recent Geneva motor show. It's called the Regera, and believe me, the stats are even more scary.

Firstly, the looks. It keeps the traditional Koenigsegg loos but with a modern twist, looking like a modern Agera. But the people at Koenigsegg have obviously desired more power than is possibly necessary. And here comes the most shocking figure: the horsepower. Wait for it...it has all of 1800bhp. I'll just give you a minute to digest that fact. 1800. More than a Veyron by about 700. Is it really necessary. And it's a hybrid. It has a modified 5 litre V8, and also two electric on each rear wheel. The twin turbo B8 generates 1100 BHP alone, and the motors another 700. The weight of the hybrid system does mean that the 0-62 time is not as low as it could be, at a relatively sluggish 2.7 seconds. But, after 30mph, the power really takes off. Top speed? 255mph. 0-250mph? Under 20 seconds. That is insane! 

I don't think I have to say anymore. I'll just leave you with those facts again. 1800bhp, 2.7 seconds, 255mph. I hope it arrives as soon as possible.

Nev

Ford Focus RS: Future leader of the (large) hot hatch family?

Over the past few years, the market for hot hatchbacks has increased dramatically. As a continent, Europe now has something of a reputation for them. And one of the very first manufacturers for these cars: Ford. But how do you keep at the front of a market evolving so quickly? Even if you were there at the very beginning, how do you create a product that is better than all the others?

Well, here is Ford's attempt to blast back into the sector and kick rivals like the Audi RS3 and the Honda Civic Type-R back into the corner. The new Focus RS. A car that has a lot of form, and has now arrived in its 3rd gen. guise. However, Ford are currently very secretive about any figures, knowing that if they announce they are in front they are most likely to be bettered. A horsepower figure of 'At least 320' has been released, but figures like weight and 0-62MPH are not being disclosed. But perhaps the most important fact about this new car? It will be AWD. Leading many of us to reminisce about hot Fords of old. AN dont think it's going to be a flappy paddle 'box. A manual remains. The engine under the bonnet is a variant of the new Mustangs 2.3 litre ecoboost, but modified in such a way that means it will have less mid-range lag and more top-end kick. Another interesting point is the fact that the rear axle is driven by clutch packs, meaning that, if both are open, it will be 100% AWD but, as the gearing is different, it is also possible to have a 70% rear biased. meaning the possibility of big skids. And unnecessary looning around. And the time we have to wait for this re-incarnation? 2016. And hopefully soon we will know some more juicy figures.
Nev

Mazda MX-5: can it beat it's predecessor?

When most people think of a sportster, there is usually only one that springs to mind. A car that has sold almost a million units since the first gen model of 1989. This new fourth-gen model is practically all-new, and therefore has a massive responsibility to better an already near-perfect sportster.

This new car attempts to achieve the task of bettering its predecessor by capitalising on the very things that made it so popular in the first place. It is lighter by over 100kg, by shedding a few grams off all of the components, which all adds up to the new car losing 10% of the old car's weight, which wasn't very much anyway. Also the fourth generation is shorter than its predecessor, meaning that overall the weight distribution is even more balanced, and the centre of gravity is even lower, meaning even more agility and handling prowess. The engine remains as a small 1.5 litre four-cylinder, with only 129 BHP, but the engine  manages very good economy, even when it is driven like it should be: flinging it around all over the place. And despite the prices starting at around £19,000, the interior isn't exactly lacking in gadgets, and definitely doesn't feel cheap.

So, the new MX-5. a car that manages to be smaller, lower and lighter than the original, while staying true to the original by retaining a small engine. And with that lightly aggressive styling, I think the hairdresser car stereotypes are a thing of the past.

Nev

Ferrari 488 GTB: New era or start of the end

It's going to be an exciting year for Ferrari. Here is the new 458 replacement which, after last years Californina T, is the car in which Ferrari is bringing the turbocharger to its mid-engined supercar sector, it's heart. And it's doing everything to show that this new turbocharged era will be better than the natural one. So, the car. In my opinion the styling is spot on, and the addition of the air vents and active flaps only serve to make it look ready for purpose.

The new 3.9 litre ( below 4 for tax reasons) twin-turbo motor makes 661 BHP, which is considerably more than the 458 Speciale and just more, suspiciously, than the Mclaren 650S, clearly its biggest rival.  Not only that but it also weighs in at 10kg lighter than the standard 458 and manages to drop 15% of its CO2 emissions as well. A pretty impressive feat, I'm sure you'll agree. From an impressive car. All of the hard work from the Ferrari engineers has meant that it is supposed to feel more like a naturally aspirated car too. 0-62 is achieved in 3 seconds (admittedly the same as the 458 Speciale) but when the two cars reach 124 the 488 will be 1 whole second in front! Top speed is 205. Plus some physics warping by the engineers, with the 488 achieving more downforce yet reduced drag. How is that possible? Anyway, lots of trickery.

And the 488 will be ready for production this summer. So not long to wait. To see whether 458 owners will be kicking themselves or not.

Nev



 

2016 Ford GT: A realistic Ferrari rival?

Somehow Ford have managed to keep this a secret for 14 months, until all was revealed at this years Detroit motor show. Journalists were promised a 'fast Ford' but were expecting a Focus RS and not a full on supercar. The reason for its being is that next year is the 50th anniversary of the Le Mans winning streak with the Ford GT40. So, to commemorate, here is a new GT, which loses a lot of GT40 styling clues for a very modern approach. The engine is not the 6.2 V8 from the previous Ford GT of 2005 but instead a new twin-turbo ecoboost V6, which will have purists up in arms. But the new engine is more powerful than the V8 and more high tech, so we won't be too disappointed. 

There is also a lot of aerodynamics at work on the new body. Air ducts everywhere and air channels ensure that the drag is low. And don't go thinking that this is one of the new hybrid cars such as the Honda NSX I talked about in my last post. No siree. The engine (producing around 600BHP) is driving the rear wheels via a seven speed gearbox, meaning no excess battery and motor weight. Ford claim that it will have one of the lowest power to weight ratios around, meaning it could weigh in at around 1,200kg. Unfortunately most details regarding speed have not been released yet, before the cars final production version next year, but expect 0-62 in under 3.3 and a top speed of over 200mph. 

The bad part is that the numbers will be reduced from the previous incarnation, meaning 100s and not 1000s, and the price will reflect this exclusivity, meaning a price of around 200,000-250,000- around the same as a Lamborgni Aventador of Ferrari 458 Speciale. We'll just have to hope it is worth the price when it lands in 2016

Nev

New Honda NSX: worth the wait?

This post is for grandad, who was oh-so-eager for another post. Enjoy!

At last, the promised replacement of Ayrton Senna's favourite car has been revealed in its performance form. And my, does it look good. You can see that Honda haven't been half hearted about this resurrection. 

Basically, it is a four wheel drive hybrid supercar for a cheaper price than its Italian rivals. It incorporates a twin turbo V6 that drives the rear wheels, but also 3 electric motors. Two for the front two wheels, one to fill in for the turbo time. The engine itself bears resemblance to the new Honda formula 1 engine used by Mclaren in this years formula one season ( more on that in a future post). So did Honda plan for this car to incorporate some of its newly discovered racing tech? This new NSX also incorporates A LOT of complicated electric systems, making it all very difficult to simply explain here. Just know that there are a lot of driver assists, distancing it from its old-school predecessor. On the plus side, these systems result in a 0-60 time of under 3 seconds, making it faster than even a Nissan GTR! This is curtesy of over 550 BHP, but this could be combined or purely the V6. 

The use of extremely low weight materials mean that the car has a very low overall weight and centre of gravity. And, even after all the tech, the price will also be very cut-price compared to its rivals. A price of about 150000 when it comes to the UK price. So will this car prove as incredible as its predecessor? We will have to wait and see when it lands in the summer

Nev

Ps. It will have a Honda badge in the UK,as opposed to the Acura badge you see here