We headed out to sunny California this week to drive the latest Ferrari California T. Despite being the entry-level prancing horse, the California T packs a healthy 552 horsepower, and it also sounds like a proper Ferrari even though its engine is turbocharged—just listen to it wail in our video.
5.2-liter V-8 from the the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
The Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] this week finally confirmed specs for the Mustang Shelby GT350’s new 5.2-liter V-8. The flat-plane crank engine is the most powerful naturally aspirated unit fitted to a Ford road car, and it has an incredible 8,250 rpm redline. It certainly looks like a beast in the official photos.
2016 Lamborghini Aventador SuperVeloce (SV)
We also drove Lamborghini’s latest supercar this week, the Aventador LP 750-4 SuperVeloce. The car packs a 739-horsepower version of Lambo’s 6.5-liter V-12 and was recently clocked lapping the Nürburgring under the magic seven-minute mark! We hear that all 600 examples of the car have already been sold, but if you missed out don't sweat it as an open-top Aventador SV Roadster is in the works.
Bentley Continental GT3-R, 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Another car we recently drove was Bentley’s Continental GT3-R. The car is a track-focused version of Bentley’s luxurious grand tourer that comes with more power and less weight—yes, a winning formula in pretty much anyone’s book. Sadly, just 99 of them reached the U.S.
2016 BMW X1
BMW this week took the covers off its second-generation X1. The latest compact crossover goes on sale this fall, as a 2016 model, taking on the likes of the Audi Q3, Lincoln MKC and Mercedes-Benz GLA. Given BMW’s designs of late, the relatively handsome second-gen X1 is a pleasant surprise.
2016 Opel Astra
Opel's new Astra was revealed this week, ahead of the car’s official debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Despite the car shrinking in size and its weight reduced, it offers more space and tech than ever before. While we won’t see it here, the good news is that the car's D2XX platform is found in new versions of the Cruze and Volt from Chevrolet and it will also end up in the next-generation Buick Verano.
Quantum Performance Vehicles' GP700
This track beast is called the Quantum GP700, and it’s one of the fastest kit cars money can buy. The car tips the scales at just 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds) and produces 700 horsepower, giving it a power-to-weight ratio that rivals Koenigsegg’s One:1 supercar.
SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo
SRT this week unveiled not one but three new digital creations for the Vision Gran Turismo design challenge. SRT’s design team came up with the Tomahawk—no, not the V-10-powered suicide machine of our dreams—which the company says is a vision of the high-performance auto of the future.
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