If you grew up in the UK in the 80′s, you pretty much lusted after one of these or a Renault 5 Turbo (or both). So when they show up in this condition, and with a “special switch” for additional entertainment, you tend to pay attention… 

First time I’ve seen a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS in person and it didn’t disappoint. First time I’ve seen a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS in person and it didn’t disappoint. First time I’ve seen a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS in person and it didn’t disappoint. First time I’ve seen a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS in person and it didn’t disappoint. First time I’ve seen a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS in person and it didn’t disappoint.

First time I’ve seen a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS in person and it didn’t disappoint. 

Errr, this is a bit of a thing (although I’m a little wary mixing electric and gas like they do, but I guess that’s “progress” these days. Official blurb below but the power/torque figures are ballistic and the 4 wheel drive is nice in keeping up... Errr, this is a bit of a thing (although I’m a little wary mixing electric and gas like they do, but I guess that’s “progress” these days. Official blurb below but the power/torque figures are ballistic and the 4 wheel drive is nice in keeping up...

Errr, this is a bit of a thing (although I’m a little wary mixing electric and gas like they do, but I guess that’s “progress” these days. Official blurb below but the power/torque figures are ballistic and the 4 wheel drive is nice in keeping up with the M’s 

The new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE is a game-changer in the 55-year history of AMG. It brings state-of-the-art technologies derived directly from Formula 1™ to the road. A two- speed electric motor positioned on the rear axle supports the most powerful production four-cylinder in the world, a Handcrafted AMG 2.0-Liter turbocharged engine that is mounted longitudinally at the front.

Power delivery and torque build-up occur spontaneously and without delay: as in Formula 1™, the electric support of the exhaust gas turbocharger eliminates the turbo lag of the combustion engine, while the electric motor at the rear axle pushes powerfully from a standstill. The electric powertrain and 400-volt high-performance battery are AMG-exclusive, in-house developments and underline the engineering prowess of the Affalterbach-based developers. Just like in Formula 1™, the battery is specifically designed for fast power output and draw with innovative direct cooling of the cells. The combined system output is 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. These are new benchmarks for the C-Class.

For the first time in a C 63, the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive transfers power to the road and includes a Drift Mode for even more driving pleasure. Added to this is the standard-fit active rear axle steering, another unique feature in this segment.

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I bought a new thing. Kinda like the old thing, but a little different.

Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.
The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with... Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.
The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with... Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.
The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with... Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.
The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with... Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.
The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with... Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.
The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with...

Well, the new GT3 RS was announced today, and it’s a little special.  

The 518 hp road-legal high-performance sports car takes full advantage of technology and concepts from motorsport. Even beyond the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with racing DNA and intelligent lightweight construction, it is, above all, the cooling and aerodynamic systems of the 911 GT3 RS that connect it most directly with its motorsport brother, the 911 GT3 R.

A drag reduction system (DRS) is fitted in a production Porsche for the first time. To achieve low drag and higher speeds on straight sections of the track, the DRS allows the wings to be flattened out at the push of a button, within a specific operating range. During hard braking at high speeds, the airbrake function positions the wing elements at the front and rear to support deceleration by maximize aerodynamic drag.

The 911 GT3 RS offers three driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track. In Track mode, the basic settings can be individually adjusted. Among other settings, the rebound and compression damping of the front and rear axles can be adjusted separately and in several stages. The rear differential can also be adjusted via rotary controls on the steering wheel. This is done quickly and intuitively with an operating and display concept also borrowed from endurance racing. Four individual rotary controls and a button for the Drag Reduction System (DRS) are located on the steering wheel. These rotary controls appear in the instrument cluster during the adjustment process. The 911 GT3 RS also features the track screen already familiar from the 911 GT3. At the touch of a button, the driver can reduce the two seven-inch side displays to essential information only. The gearshift indicator lights to the left and right of the analog tachometer have also been taken from the 911 GT3.

The 4.0-liter high-revving naturally aspirated engine has been further optimized compared with the 911 GT3. The increase in power to 518 hp (911 GT3 – 502 hp) is achieved primarily via new camshafts with modified cam profiles. The single-throttle intake system and the rigid valvetrain are derived from motorsport. Like the 911 GT3, this engine also has six individual throttle bodies; one per cylinder. The seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) has a shorter overall gear ratio than the 911 GT3 and is aided by air intakes on the underbody to ensure that the transmission can withstand even extreme loads during frequent use on track.

The 911 GT3 RS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds (911 GT3 – 3.2 seconds) and reaches a top speed of 184 mph in seventh gear. Six-piston aluminum monobloc fixed-caliper brakes and brake discs with a diameter of 408 mm are used on the front axle. Compared with the 911 GT3, the piston diameters have been increased from 30 to 32 mm. In addition, the thickness of the discs has been increased from 34 to 36 mm. The rear axle continues to be fitted with 380-mm brake discs and four-piston fixed-caliper brakes. The optionally available Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) use 410-mm discs on the front axle and 390-mm discs on the rear axle. The new 911 GT3 RS also comes standard with forged light-alloy center-locking wheels. Street-legal Ultra High Performance tires measuring 275/35 R 20 at the front and 335/30 R21 at the rear provide a high level of mechanical grip.

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Not sure I’ve ever seen one of these before, but I’m a sucker for anything in the Gulf colors

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Fun weekend seeing lots of cool cars

Aston Martin released official pics of it’s new Formula 1 car as it re-enters the premier race championship this season. There’s been a few recent releases, and all in preparation for the (slightly delayed) start to the F1 season. Personally, I can’t wait - Bahrain on March 28th is the first race of the season!  

Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered... Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered... Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered... Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered... Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered... Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered...

Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered to offer the ultimate on-track driving experience.

Like the T.50, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been designed and engineered without compromise, but with an even more extreme specification. It weighs just 852kg and will be powered by a substantially redesigned version of the T.50’s Cosworth-engineered 3.9-litre V12, producing 725bhp, revving to 12,100rpm and going through a newly-designed Xtrac six-speed paddle-shift gearbox. Advanced aerodynamics, aided by a 400mm rear-mounted fan, will produce up to 1500kg of downforce for optimum track performance.

Just 25 T.50s Niki Laudas will be made, costing £3.1m (before taxes). Production will start in January 2023 at Gordon Murray Automotive’s manufacturing centre in Dunsfold, Surrey, UK, after the run of 100 T.50 supercars is completed.

  • Hundreds of components changed to optimise the car for track use
  • Engineered without compromise, weighing just 852kg
  • Powered by a 725bhp naturally aspirated V12 engine which weighs only 162kg and revs to 12,100rpm
  • Named after legendary three-time F1 world champion and Gordon Murray’s former Brabham teammate, Niki Lauda
  • Car unveiled on Niki Lauda’s birthday
  • Offers a unique and highly personalised ownership experience, with each chassis named after one of Gordon Murray’s grand prix victories