Welcome to the Hooniverse News! This is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or the bull. I also throw in a little opinion of mine, just because I can. This week:

• Aston Martin celebrates 100 years again with CC100 Speedster

• McLaren celebrates 50 years with limited edition models

• Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV is the family man’s Raptor

• Lotus reveals new Exige S Roadster

• Ford to cease manufacturing in Australia by 2016 

 

Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept

Aston Martin’s year-long 100th anniversary celebration is still in full swing with the unveiling of one of the company’s most radical concepts to date: the CC100 Speedster Concept. This concept offers a glimpse into the possible future of Aston Martin’s design language while also taking inspiration from the DBR1, which Aston Martin refers to as its greatest sporting triumph on the track.

Designers were tasked with creating something that honored the brand’s historic Le Mans race cars and signaled its future, and they did so in only six months. The fully carbon fiber body hides, among other things, the 6.0-liter AM11 V12 and the 6-speed sequential gearbox attached to it. 0-60 takes just four seconds and the car’s top speed is limited to 180 mph, which makes this one-off birthday present a very track-focused one. Hell, its first time outside was spent at the Nürburgring with Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel.

[Source: Aston Martin]

McLaren 50 12C and 12C Spider

Another British company is celebrating something this year as well. McLaren is marking its approaching 50th anniversary with a limited-production run of the MP4-12C Coupe and Spider that offer bespoke styling and specification enhancements. Just 50 12C Coupes and 50 12C Spiders will be produced in this specification.

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) is in charge of the 50 12C/12C Spyder, which has been given a remodeled Computational Fluid Dynamics-optimized front bumper with carbon fiber air intakes, unique McLaren 50 Ultra Lightweight wheels finished in satin black (19″ front/20″ rear), carbon fiber trim pieces, and full leather upholstery inside along with special badging. Each model will also receive carbon ceramic brakes, available on the standard car as well, for enhanced braking performance. 

Just three colors are offered: Carbon Black, Supernova Silver, and heritage McLaren Orange. Each car will come with a custom car cover, limited edition key with its own carbon fiber presentation box, and a specially commissioned print signed by McLaren Automotive Design Director, Frank Stephenson. Only UK pricing has been announced so far, with a price tag of £196,000 (~$295,880) for the Coupe and £215,500 (~$325,320) for the Spider.

[Source: McLaren]

Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV conversion available

Hennessey Performance (HPE) has announced that the VelociRaptor SUV conversion kit is now available for sale. The VelociRaptor kit is an SUV conversion kit based off the hoontastic F-150 Raptor that converts the crew cab into an 8-passenger SUV. Pricing starts at a modest $149,500 and just 30 units per year are scheduled.

In its base same-price-as-a-V8-Vantage-S-Roadster-trim, the VelociRaptor comes with no performance, mechanical, or electronic enhancements over the standard Raptor. The stock 6.2-liter V8 produces 411 horsepower at that price, but throw in the cost of a Subaru BRZ (more or less) and HPE will give you the VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged upgrade which bumps output to a nice 600 horsepower. The conversion adds about 600 pounds to the truck’s SUV’s overall weight, which means its 0-60 mph time has been increased to 7.5 seconds with factory power output. The VelociRaptor 600 package reduces the time to 5.9 seconds. But off-road performance is what counts on a truck SUV like this, right? Unfortunately, Hennessey has not thoroughly tested the VelociRaptor SUV’s abilities off-road after all the structural changes, so they advise buyers to stick to paved roads and relatively easy-going paths into the wilderness as opposed to 100 mph runs through the sand dunes.

Other optional goodies include a Brembo front brake upgrade, larger wheel and tire package, LED lighting upgrades, bespoke interior and electronic upgrades, and even security and armoring systems. The Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor SUV can be ordered directly through HPE or through select Ford / Hennessey dealers.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Lotus Exige S Roadster

Our European and Asian readers might be pleased to know that there’s a new roadster joining the Lotus lineup. North American readers, on the other hand, are out of luck. The Lotus Exige S Roadster is based off the freshly restyled Exige S (which evidently isn’t on sale here either) but benefits from a removable cloth top.

Power comes from a supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota-sourced V6 that produces 345 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, which allows for a 0-60 mph time of just 3.9 seconds thanks in part to its sub 2,600-pound weight. Top speed is limited to 145 mpg. The only transmission available is a 6-speed manual, but Lotus claims that paddle shifters will be considered depending on customer demand. The Exige gets to play with a fully independent double wishbone suspension, Bilstein dampers with Eibach springs, four-piston brake calipers and cross-drilled rotors from AP Racing, and Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires.

The Lotus Exige S Roadster will start at just under £53,000 in the UK or approximately $79,800 US. The only way Americans can buy a new Exige is to pick one of two racing variants – the Exige V6 Cup and V6 Cup R – which cost $98,950 and $109,950.

[Source: Lotus via Autoweek]

Ford’s Australian manufacturing to end in 2016

Ford Australia has announced the impending end of an era. All Ford manufacturing in Australia will cease in October of 2016 due to falling sales, high costs, and great financial losses (600 million Australian dollars over the last 5 years), ending a nearly 90 year manufacturing presence down under. 

That also means the beloved Ford Falcon will be retired as well (until something gets rebadged) along with its Ute counterpart and the Territory SUV which are all assembled at the Broadmeadows plant. All new Fords sold in Australia after 2016 will be imported through 230 dealers, including the Ranger, Kunga, and Focus. Before the homemade cars die, they’ll be updated in 2014.

In a statement, Ford Australia CEO Bob Graziano said “our costs are double that of Europe and nearly four times Ford in Asia… The business case simply did not stack up. Manufacturing is not viable for Ford in Australia.” Ford’s R&D branch in Melbourne will remain open.

So in short, if you’re in Australia and have been longing for a new Falcon, hurry up.

[Source: Ford Australia, Autoweek | Image: Autoweek]