Archive for Spy Shots
Nissan’s GT-R Racer Spied shakedown testing on the Nordschleife
Posted by: | CommentsOn April 4th Nissan revealed the programe for the Nissan GT-R Team to Compete in the ADAC 24 Hour Race at the Nurburgring.
I’m very proud that Nissan and Mizuno san believe in me for this important project, in which the objectives are to participate in a race held at Nurburgring, where the GT-R has been developed since its launch, with a production-version model, to share the excitement with GT-R fans and to continue to provide “passion & emotion” to customers through further development of GT-R production cars through their ultimate performance.
The 2 cars will be driven both by Nissan and the PS3 Grand Turismo Development teams.
# 23 Team: Team NISSAN GT-R (GT -R Development Team)
# 123 Team: Team GT Academy GT-R (Polyphony Digital Team)
Before 24 hours, I have to compete in 2 of the VLN series races in the Nordschleife. The first will take place next weekend!
I’m really excited for this programe and I can’t wait to get in the GT-R and do my best for the GT-R development team at the 24h.
These pictures are of the 24h racers undergoing shakedown tests at the Nordschleife in Germany. (hence the non sponsorship decals)
This year the Nurburgring 24 Hours takes place from May 17-20.
Audi RS6 Production Prototype – Spyshots (Updated Video!)
Posted by: | CommentsThis morning at a cold and soon to be damp Nürburgring in Germany.
We have spied the new Audi RS6 in full production camouflage unlike our previous sighting of the production mule.
It is expected that the RS 6 will use the same 4.0 TFSI bi-turbo V8 as the S6, S8 and even the new Bentley Continental GT V8.
The new V8 engine is expected to deliver 500 HP and 487 lb-ft of torque throughout most of the power range.
It is rumoured that it will be offered with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.3 seconds.
Detailing is pretty much well hidden apart frrom the chamfers around the front grill which is on all the 2012-2013 facelifts.
Enjoy the pics…
Mercedes SLS Black Series – Winter Spyshots
Posted by: | CommentsHere are the latest photos showing the Mercedes AMG SLS Black Series during cold weather testing in the artic circle.
The car is a direct replacement for the SL65 AMG Black Series from 2008 and we expect it to be as insanely dangerous in this form.
It will be badged as the SLS AMG Black Series and is expected to output around 690 ponies, This is where information is vague as engineering the current 6.2-liter V-8 up is one possibility but unlikely, The other is introducing the new 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8. From the large air intakes on the front of this prototype it could be feeding the Twin intercoolers required for the forced induction.
Also the detailing is showing a wider track along with the usual Black Series aggressive arches along with clever use of composites to reduce weight, we also expect numerous chassis and brake modifications to mate to the increase in power and torque.
This car is still in Prototype mule form from the current SLS and is likely to have another 2-3 months to go before the production prototype will be spotted probably at the Nurburgring in early may.
2014 Maserati Quattroporte – Spyshots
Posted by: | CommentsHere are the latest spy shots of a prototype of the Maserati Quattroporte.
This is a pre-production prototype of a complete new chassis hence the four-door is covered in enough camouflage to hide any detailing and any suggestion of new body work features.
Rumour has it that they are also going down the Ferrari route and is touted to house a similar AWD setup as the Ferrari FF as well as the usual RWD.
This is very early stages to talk powerunits for this car but we expect it to carry on with a reworked version of the current V8 powerunit with additional power along a lighter nimbler chassis.
And I will throw caution to the wind and could there be a v12 offering in the works????
Audi Q5 Facelift Spyshots
Posted by: | CommentsThe Audi Q5 was first revealed in 2008 and now the engineers from Ingolstadt are finalising the face lifted Q5.
The front is getting most work sporting new headlights and a restyled front bumper with the chrome grill getting the corner chamfer similar to the recently unvailed RS4.
The front grill is also rumoured to have the hexagonal pattern but this isn’t the case on this prototype just the very lazy camouflage around the detailed chamfers.
We also think the interior is getting some improvements around the centre cluster as this was heavily covered up in the photos.
The original Q5 debuted at the Beijing Auto Show which begins again in April, that may be a bit too soon for Audi so perhaps we may see it at the Paris Motor Show later in the year.
F80 BMW M Powered 3 Series Winter Spyshots
Posted by: | CommentsHere are the latest spyshots of the next generation F80 BMW M3 Sedan undergoing winter testing in Sweden.
Compared to the previous spyshots, the M3 prototype has lost a some camouflage – showing the rear light clusters as it will look when the car enters production some time this year.
The engine is a topic for much rumor and is expected to be a 3.3l V6 Twin Turbo with an electronic KERS device which is the apparent third turbocharger.
We expect the power to be around 450hp with also additional chassis and engine weight reduction we expect this to be the fastest M3 yet.
Expect a public debut sometime after summer perhaps at the Frankfurt IAA in Production Concept form.
Lamborghini Aventador “Wipeout” Spyshots
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a set off pictures we don’t come across often it shows the current model Lamborghini Aventador testing in the extreme cold climates of Northern Sweden.
After our previous photographs of the Aventador Roadster we thought we had an opportunity in better light to snap the car.
As the car approached the intersection, at a speed that appeared faster than the posted speed limit, the driver lost control, skidded through the intersection and crashed into a large snow bank.
Then the red faced Italian test driver took offence from this rather legendary photo opportunity and approached in an aggressive manner apart from a comedy slippery advance.
The time he got to us he realised that this wasn’t the streets of Corleone and basically retreated back to the vehicle after a few mutterings.
By the time an Audi A6 allroad, equipped with a winch, came to pull the raging bull out of the snow, things had calmed down.
The driver scooped the snow out of the car, gave us a large smile and a big thumbs up, and got back to work! Not exactly the finger we were expecting to see.
Fortunately, the driver, and the car, came away from the mishap totally unharmed.
BMW M 6 Series Gran Coupe – Latest Spy Photos
Posted by: | CommentsThis is BMWs answer to the Mercedes CLS AMG and Audi flagship S7, the M6 Gran Coupe has been spotted in light camouflage during cold weather testing in Scandinavia. With its deep front spoiler and wider fenders it looks really aggressive and the M trademark quad exhaust pipes finish the back off beautifully.
Powered by the same high revving turbocharged V8 engine as the M5 and the just revealed M6 Coupe and Convertible, the M6 Gran Coupe has atleast 560 wild horses to play with. Rumors are even talking on a 20-40 hp power boost for the M6 Gran Coupe, making it 580-600 hp in total.
All this power will be sent to BMW M´s latest seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic.
