Welcome to the Hooniverse News – Not Jeff Edition! After a week “off” (I wish it was actually just that), the intrepid news hound is back with plenty of automotive news to share for all six of you. Some awesome, some sad, and some meh, and most that we can’t afford. Sounds like a pretty normal week then. This week:
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Porsche adds GTS variants to Cayman and Boxster
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2015 S63 AMG is as mad as it needs to be
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Bertone reportedly facing bankruptcy
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SRT to halt production of the Viper amid slow sales
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Bentley teases a less polarizing SUV
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How Ford plans to celebrate 50 years of the Mustang
Porsche Cayman and Boxster GT
If you’ve been longing for the chance to buy the latest versions of Porsche’s Cayman or Boxster but wish it had just a little more to offer you, then you’re in luck here. Porsche announced this week that the Cayman and Boxster would get their very own GTS variants for the first time. We’ve seen GTS versions of other Porsches already so the thought of that level of extra sportiness coming to an already sporty group of cars should be enough to make us swoon – let’s see if it does. It also happens to be the first time a GTS badge has been fitted to a mid-engine Porsche since 1963.
In the Porsche lineup, the GTS badge brings with it some extra performance capabilities that are aimed at bringing out the inner hoon in all of us. While not as fast as any Turbo variant, GTS models have just enough extra capabilities to make them quicker and more fun for the person who doesn’t need twin-turbochargers for a rush. In the case of the Cayman and Boxster, just enough translates to a 15 horsepower boost, small torque boost, more performance features as standard, and couple of unique styling enhancements to help distinguish it by.
Both cars share the same 3.4-liter flat-six engine and both see the same 15 horsepower and 7 lb-ft of torque bump, which means the Boxster GTS has a total of 330 horsepower with 273 lb.-ft. of torque and the Cayman GTS can play with 340 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque (vinyl tops reduce horsepower, some more stickers will make up for it). The standard six-speed manual transmission is still available but the lightning fast yet silky smooth seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung – sigh, let’s just call it PDK – transmission is an option. The Sport Chrono package is standard in the GTS, which adds a Sport Plus drive selection mode which makes the entire car noticeably more aggressive as well as a lap timer, which will come in handy during the “Who Gets to Jail First” competition.
With the PDK transmission and Sport Plus activated, the Cayman GTS will tackle the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.3 seconds with the Boxster GTS only a tenth of a second behind. Top track speed is 174 mph in the Boxster GTS or 177 mph in the Cayman GTS when equipped with the manual transmission.
The list of what makes the Cayman and Boxster GTS unique goes on for long enough. They both come standard with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management which allows for the ride settings to be switched from comfortable to track attack in an instant. Twenty-inch Carrera S wheels are wrapped in high performance tires for added grip. Sport exhaust is standard which allows the flat six to sing through centrally-mounted black twin pipes. The interior is loaded with Alcantara because reasons. Unique GTS front and rear fascias are blacked out for a more sinister look. And they both start around $73,000. Yep, they’re Porsches.
[Source: Porsche]
Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG
It might as well be a rule by now that every time a new Mercedes-Benz model is released, in this case the S Class Coupe from just weeks ago, an AMG model will follow very soon. And once it does, it will be powerful enough to destroy worlds. What we’ve got here is the 2015 S63 AMG Coupe, which is a large, modern, high end luxury vehicle with the kind of performance once reserved for racecars.
The source of this awesome power is a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 which produces 577 horsepower and an incredible 663 lb.-ft. of torque. I want to know what that feels like. Now. This power is sent to either just the rear wheels or all four through a seven-speed AMG MAGIC Speedshift automatic transmission. Word is though that the S63 will only be offered in 4Matic all-wheel drive in the U.S. Probably because they don’t trust us. Power is one of the only figures that has increased, as the overall weight of the S63 is 143 pounds lighter than the car it replaces thanks to aluminum construction.
It’s still not necessarily skinny though, as the weight loss brings it down to still nearly 4,400 pounds. Not exactly athletic. But given that the S63 is still capable of 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds (AWD) or 4.3 seconds (RWD), I think we can let it slide on the weight. Its efficiency has also increased with a European estimate of about 23 mph combined.
To prove that this isn’t a car reserved exclusively for death row inmates, AMG has also upgraded the suspension significantly to cope with the extra power. Suspension geometry up front is tweaked for added agility and cornering grip while the rear is simply strengthened. Unsprung weight is reduced as well thanks to nineteen inch alloy wheels. RWD S63 AMGs come standard with AirMatic suspension and Benz’s Magic Body Control system (just stop it with the Magic stuff already… please?) for a refined ride with adjustable settings for when the time is right. It sounds like the 4Matic S63s we’re stuck with will get a more conventional suspension, for better or worse.
Of course, typical AMG fashion dictates that the exterior styling should be more aggressive and feature a big quad-exhaust system. Check and check.
No word on when the S63 AMG Coupe will arrive or how much it will cost. Expect some more info to arrive when it is officially debuted at the New York auto show.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Autoweek]
Bertone facing bankruptcy
The legendary Italian coach builder and design studio Bertone has reportedly declared bankruptcy after many months of financial troubles. This report, which was announced by Autocar, states that the company had narrowly escaped bankruptcy a few times prior, but this time they may not be so lucky. 16o workers have reportedly been let go “recently” and many of their suppliers or employees have not been paid for some time even though Bertone still reported a profit of 20 million Euros last year.
This story is almost a bit like Saab’s extra long death and resurrection story. As of now, there is no official word from Bertone on the subject and the future of the design studio that brought us the Lamborghini Miura, Countach, Lancia Stratos, and that shooting brake Aston Martin Rapide we all fell in love with remains uncertain.
[Source: Autocar via Autoblog | Image source: NetCarShow]
SRT halts Viper production
The sad news doesn’t stop in Italy, unfortunately. Or maybe it does. SRT has announced that production of the Viper will be suspended for at least two months as a result of slow-ish sales and growing unsold inventory. The lack of new Vipers until late June is far from the worst part about this story though. That title goes to the some 91 employees at Chrysler’s Conner Avenue Assembly plant in Detroit who are expected to be laid off during this time.
SRT has reported sluggish sales of the Viper for quite some time, but I think we all knew the Viper would never sell as well as the Corvette or other sports cars would. No more than 100 Vipers have been bought since the beginning of 2014 and as a result dealers reported an unsold inventory totaling 756 cars. At the rate which they’re selling, SRT wouldn’t need to produce any more Vipers until 2015 and they could still keep up with demand. The hellish winter we’ve been experiencing in the last two months is one of the things Chrysler says is responsible for this year’s poor sales. So now might be the time to buy the Viper you’ve been dreaming of for a better price. You’ll certainly have plenty of time to think about which color you want.
Production of the SRT Viper will be halted on April 14th and is scheduled to resume on June 23rd.
[Source: Chrysler via Autoweek]
Bentley teases new, less polarizing SUV
It might be painful, but think back to 2012 when Bentley introduced their concept for the company’s first production SUV. It was called the EXP 9 concept and it might just be the single most polarizing concept car in history. The styling was…. unique and the very idea of an SUV with a flying B badge was bad enough. Just a few days ago though, Bentley released this teaser image to let the world know that the Bentley SUV will be a thing and it might look normal.
It’s clear that Bentley has chosen a more traditional design for the nose and it really looks like a taller Continental GT from what little we can see of it. So pretty much exactly what we would have expected it to be. There’s no word yet on when we’ll get to see the full thing revealed, but Bentley is aiming for production by 2016. My guess is that Bentley will organize an auto show in Beverly Hills – not LA, just Beverly Hills – which would be a showcase of every stereotypical rich folk’s car with this SUV being the star of the show. It would be the one tucked way in the back so that no commoners could see it from outside. It would have the biggest crowd around it and everyone would be waiting for their turn to step inside.
Fathers would bring their children up to it, point, and say to them lovingly, “One day, after you’ve graduated, worked hard all your life, pursued your dreams, and I’ve given you half of my fortunes, this is the car you’ll buy”. The kid would then stare at it, mesmerized by its non-exclusivity and dullness. “Really?”, the boy would ask, “You think I could do it?” The father would smile and say “If you put your mind to it and never give up on your dreams, I know you can, my son”. The boy would reflect on the words his father had just told him, feel confident and inspired, and think about all his chances to succeed in the wonderful life that laid before him. He would never want to stop looking at it either; he’d picture himself driving it down Rodeo on the way to his mansion, where it would be parked out front and always within sight so he can be reminded of his success. After a while, the father would say it was time to leave and eventually the boy would finally start to walk away with him to the exit. But every couple of steps he took, he’d stop and gaze back at it – admiring, wondering, dreaming. Even once they make it to the door, he’d have one last look back at it… just one… last… look. And he’d think to himself, “One day… I’ll be just like everybody else”.
[Source: Bentley]
How Ford will celebrate 50 years of the Mustang
In April, Ford will begin their celebrations for the Mustang’s 50th birthday as will millions of other fans of the original pony car. Since 1964(and-a-half), the Mustang has been one of the most iconic cars in history, selling millions making fans all around the world. For Ford and their fans, the 50th year of the Mustang is so big that the main celebration is being split up into two locations simultaneously.
From April 16th to the 20th, Ford and the Mustang Club of America will be hosting two celebrations at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Main events will include car cruises, live bands, ride-and-drives, exhibits, celebrities (meh), and feats of strength on the track. Both events are open to everyone no matter if you’re a Mustang owner or not. So far, attendees from sixteen countries (some of which will be driving) are confirmed and will highlight the Mustang’s international appeal.
Those who want more information or live updates on the celebrations, check out www.mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com.
[Source: Ford]
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