Only 12 months after the newly formed McLaren Automotive launched its first model, the well-received MP4-12C, the British company is now getting ready for its second product in the form of the open-roofed 12C Spider.
McLaren will fully reveal the new Spider on July 3, but to whet our appetites, the automaker released a single cropped image showing part of the car with the roof open along with a video of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 driver, Jenson Button talking about the sensation of having an unobstructed view of the sky.
We still don't know if the new MP4-12C Spider will feature a rolling soft top or as some sources have suggested, a three-piece roof made of aluminum and plastic that fold into a compartment between the passenger area and the engine.
The Woking-based automaker noted, however, that the Spider will be equipped with the same updated 3.8-liter V8 turbo with 616hp (625PS) found on the 2013 MP4-12C.
Audi is trying to lure customers into its showrooms with a new special edition version ofthe TT Coupe named S Line Competition.
The new trim model is available worldwide with all engine versions up to 208hp (211PS). Depending on the market, these include the 158hp (160PS) 1.8-liter TFSI, 208hp (211PS) 2.0-liter TFSI and the 168hp (170PS) 2.0-liter TDI diesel. The S Line Competition essentially combines all the elements of the S line sport package and the S line exterior package and then some more for a price of €4,300 in Europe (U.S. pricing has not yet been announced), which according to Audi, saves customers around 50 percent over ordering the components separately.
On the outside, the package brings specially designed bumpers, air inlets and side sills, S line badges, tailpipe trims, a bespoke rear diffuser, a fixed rear wing similar to the one found on the TT RS and Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Other exterior features that come with the Competition package are the 19-inch black alloy wheels paired to 255/35 series tires, a black finish for the radiator grille, license plate frame, the applications on the front fog light surround, exterior mirror housings, the blade below the front bumper, the diffuser insert, the tailpipe trims and the rear wing spoiler. Buyers can choose from four paint finishes named Samoa Orange (metallic), Glacier White (metallic), Daytona Gray (pearl effect) and Misano Red (pearl effect), all of which are offered at no extra charge.
Inside, there are special door sill trims, sport seats in perforated Alcantara upholstery and black leather with silver contrast stitching, and aluminum-look decorative trim. Finally, the package incorporates the tauter S line sport suspension, which lowers the chassis by 10 millimeters (0.39 mm).
During the past couple of weeks, spy photographers and eagle-eyed individuals alike spotted two similar but visibly different Lexus LFA prototypes with the AD-A and AD-B monikers respectively undergoing tests in and around the Nürburgring in Germany.
Their bespoke styling parts and colors suggested that Lexus may be readying a handful of special edition versions of the LFA to mark the end of the supercar's production.
Well, as it turns out, that's not the case. In an email to the Lexus Enthusiast website, Etienne Plas, senior manager of product communications for Lexus Europe, said that the company does not plan to present any kind of special edition version of the LFA.
"These LFA units spotted at Nürburgring are one-off vehicles developed by the TMC technical division, and are currently being tested for technical purposes only," said Plas. "We have no plans to produce and sell any new special edition of the LFA."
