www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgFqgpoHQGM

Honda has unveiled the much anticipated NSX Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today. It has been shown as an Acura model, which is Honda’s US luxury brand but in the rest of the world it will be sold as a Honda NSX. The concept shows what we can expect from the new NSX which is scheduled to be made in Ohio and launched sometime within the next 3 years.

Styling-wise, we think it’s a great looking car. It manages to look very stylish, sporty and classy without any obviously derivative styling cues from other cars in the genre. At a push we’d say there’s a hint of Audi R8 in the profile but they have managed to avoid the Audi’s overly long middle and awkward proportions.

Just like the original NSX from the early 1990s, the next-generation supercar will have a mid-mounted V6 engine, make use of lightweight materials and have incredible handling, but this time there will be a technological edge as it will include a version of Honda’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system.

Honda hasn’t released any performance specs but previous reports have stated the NSX will have around 400 bhp from the V6 engine and the two electric motors will be placed in-wheel and contribute another 100 bhp bringing the total to 500 bhp. 0-60 mph should arrive in less than five seconds.

The hybrid drive unit will have a next-generation VTEC V6 engine with direct-injection and 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit as Honda refers to it. Transmission will be a dual clutch unit with a built-in electric motor to create the kind of acceleration numbers that are in supercar league but while offering excellent economy.

Speaking at the Detroit Motor Show, Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd, who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, explained the values of the new NSX, “Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.”

One are that is a worry is the weight of the new NSX. The old NSX was a very lightweight car, meaning that it handled with pinpoint precision and gave very impressive performance even though it only had 276 bhp. The fact that the new car will have almost twice the power means that it will invariably weigh a lot more, though Honda have pointed out that they are intent on making it as light as possible.

Plus Honda know a thing or two about making a car handle well so we will have to wait a little while to see what they come up with. But after years and years of concepts we just hope that this really does turn into a production car. Honda really need an exciting car in their lineup again, and hopefully this may pave the way for a new generation of Type-R models.

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GT-R Track Pack

First up there is the Track Pack, an option pack available for all GT-Rs owners that want to have a more focussed edge for their car. There are no mechanical changes, not that there were any needed with the storming 542 bhp twin turbocharged 3.8 litre V6 engine. Instead there are a host of visual and dynamic upgrades which combine to create the most hardcore GT-R yet.

Nissan says the model is a response to requests from GT-R owners who want an extra edge on the race track. Chief vehicle engineer for the GT-R, Kazutoshi Mizuno, claims that the Nissan GT-R Track Pack should be able to lap the Nurburgring “in less than seven minutes”.

Externally the main difference is the addition of lightweight gloss black six-spoke 20″ RAYS alloy wheels first seen on the Spec-V model. Harder to spot are the additional carbon fibre brake cooling ducts in the lower front spoiler, and addition brake cooling vents behind the rear wheels.

There are some dynamic changes to the suspension, making the ‘Sport’ setting even more track-focussed and gives the GT-R a harder edge. In ‘Comfort’ mode the car retains the standard settings, so you can drive to the track without ruining your spine.

Inside the Track Pack brings with it special lighter Recaro seats and the rear seats are deleted completely. These changes, plus the lighter wheels mean that the Track Pack equipped cars tip the scales around 40 kg lighter than the standard car. However Nissan still claim the same incredible 0-60 mph time of 2.7 seconds.

The Track Pack costs an additional £10,000 on top of the standard car which retails at £74,450.

GT-R VVIP

The second edition comes in the form of the VVIP, an ultra-exclusive limited edition for the Middle East.

The VVIP is distinguished from lesser GT-Rs by the pearl white paint, naked carbon rear wing and bronze gold alloy wheels. Oh, and the small matter of the 24ct Gold plated front grille and side strakes.

The interior gets the most work though, with quilted leather covering every surface giving a much higher quality feel. There are 12 interior colour choices available. Nissan Middle East claims that this edition of the GT-R has been “exclusively created by Takumi, or ‘master with greatest skills’ “. Also, the Bose sound system is individually tailored to the driver’s seating position to ensure the best sound possible.

Despite the initially ‘bling’ look of the car, we actually like the VVIP, and it’ll certainly sell well in the Middle East, even given the expected 50% premium over the standard car.

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So after we revealed the Toyota GT 86 yesterday Subaru must have been feeling a little left out, so they have today released images and details of their version – the BRZ Coupe.

BRZ stands for ‘Boxer engine, Rear drive, Zenith’ – referring to the fact that a low set engine and rear wheel drive are the best possible attributes for a small coupe. Subaru are certainly rolling out the cheesy lines though with this car – the ‘product concept’ of the BRZ is ‘Pure Handling Delight’.

So, the BRZ is PHD. OK?

The styling is surprisingly similar to the Toyota GT 86; many thought there would be at least a different headlight and tail light design with some more light bodywork changes to differentiate the cars, but it seems as if Subaru and Toyota were very familiar with CTRL+C and CTRL+V on the keyboard as the cars are nearly identical, right down to the wheel designs.

The BRZ gets a less aggressively styled front bumper and a less pronounced rear diffuser, and does without some of the more ‘aftermarket’ looking add-ons the GT 86 has such as the rear spoiler and does look a little more ‘pure’ as a result. We haven’t seen the inside yet but we can assume it will be very similar to the GT 86.

The engine, transmission, suspension and drivetrain are all identical to the Toyota as well which means a 197 bhp flat four boxer engine available with 6spd manual or 5spd auto gearboxes.

We will update when more information becomes available including pricing and the interior.

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After teaser shots, leaked images, spyshots and brochure leaks, the long awaited day has finally arrived.

Toyota has today revealed the first pictures and details for the hotly anticipated GT 86 sports car, the production version of the FT-86 concept.

The GT 86 is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru and will eventually spawn 2 additional models: the Subaru BRZ which will be available globally and the North American market Scion FR-S. All the cars is their base forms will share the same engine and brand new rear wheel drive chassis complete with drift-friendly limited slip differential.

Power comes from Subaru’s new horizontally opposed 2.0-liter flat-four boxer engine that has been enhanced with torque-enhancing D-4S injection technology by adding a Toyota developed head which also gives a higher redline. Maximum power is rated at 197 bhp at 7,000 rpm with the maximum torque of 151 lb-ft reached at 6,600 rpm. All models will be available with either a six speed manual gearbox, or a five speed automatic with steering wheel mounted shift paddles.

The GT 86 measures 4,240mm long, 1,285mm high and 2,570mm wide making it the most compact four-seater sports cars on the market. A near perfect balance has been achieved with a weight distribution ratio of 53:47 (front-to-rear). The flat-four engine format and low driver position has also enabled the GT 86 a very low centre of gravity of just 475mm which will help with the handling. Power may not be overly high, but as the GT 86 only weighs 1180kg it still has a power to weight ratio of 166 bhp/tonne which is the equal of some hot hatchbacks.

With the suspension setup, Toyota is instead focussing on handling prowess with this car. relatively small 21q5mm wide tyres on 17″ rims mean that there isn’t too much grip, and drivers can fully exploit the RWD chassis. Initial drive reports put the handling comparable to the Porsche Cayman which is high praise indeed.

Interior wise there are leather/alcantara bucket seats and a simple centre console, with a clear infotainment touch screen system.

Buyers may have been able to overlook the performance shortfall if they price had been close to the originally mooted £22,000, but with the press release comes news of the targeted price of around £28,000. In our opinion that is far too high, as it places the GT 86 against rivals with much more firepower – the 320 bhp 3.7 litre V6 Nissan 370Z is one example that costs only £1000 more.

The new Toyota GT 86 will be unveiled for the first time at the Tokyo motor show at the end of the month.

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No doubt spurred on by the extra attention the Toyota FT-86 has been getting lately, Subaru has decided to release some images of their BRZ sister car.

Admittedly this isn’t the production version, this is their STi Concept, but it gives a very clear indication that contrary to earlier rumours Subaru have not given the car unique styling. In fact what we can see from the images is that the BRZ uses all the same body panels, lights and even grille treatment. The STi Concept adds a large rear wing, front splitter and side skirts all in carbon, which point to how a potential performance version may look.

The BRZ is set to be launched with the same engine as the FT-86, which is a 2.0 litre horizontally opposed four cylinder boxer engine producing around 200 bhp. Rumours still persist however that the BRZ will have closer to 250 bhp to differentiate the models and justify a higher price point.

The use of a boxer engine means that the powerplant is mounted much lower in the car which gives a lower centre of gravity. This gives the car, according to Subaru a ”Pure Handling Delight” driving experience. Combined with the RWD drivetrain, these two small coupes should be the sports car hit of 2012.

Prices have yet to be revealed, but the Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ are set to cost between £20,000 – £25,000, with the Toyota at the lower end and the Subaru at the higher.

We look forward to seeing the final production images for both, and we’ll publish them as soon as they land in our email inbox.

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The first pictures of the Toyota FT-86 have leaked to the web, ahead of its unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Apparently taken from an upcoming Modellista brochure (aftermarket tuners for Toyota brand), the images reveal a sporty coupe with a three piece body kit. The overall appearance mimics the FT-86 II concept, but the front end has been significantly revised to be less aggressive and more attractive, more like the original red concept car.

Inside, the cabin is relatively straight forward with simplistic gauges, minimal controls and a basic design. Notable highlights include two-tone seats, a prominent center console and a large steering wheel.

Sadly, there’s no technical data but the FT-86 is expected to feature a Subaru 2.0-liter Boxer engine with approximately 250 hp (149 kW / 203 PS) and a kerb weight of less that 1300kg which should give it a decent turn of speed and tight handling.

The FT-86 is being jointly developed with Subaru, who will be launching their take on the small coupe – the BRZ at the Tokyo show as well. No concepts have been shown of that car, but rumours say that it will have more power than the Toyota, and be more overtly sporting. It will not, however, have a turbo or AWD which is a first for Subaru.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_N10bqx2W8

Lexus has today revealed the GS350 F-Sport. Until now the GS range has been rather staid and boring in its lineup, but Lexus has decided that there is a market out there for a sportier version to take on the BMW 5-Series M-Sport and the Mercedes E-Class Sport. Designed to “engage driving enthusiasts with factory engineering,” the model is distinguished by new styling modifications.

Up front we have a new bumper with lots of aggressive vents and slashes to aid cooling. The main grille gets chromed ‘pinches’ at the sides which again aid the aggressive look, and there is aluminium mesh in all the openings for a race look. At the rear there is a new bumper with a faux diffuser and twin exhaust outlets and a subtle boot spoiler.

On the handling front, the car is equipped with thicker anti-roll bars, larger front brakes, an Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system and exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the cabin features perforated leather seats, a black headliner and alloy pedals. There’s also a sport steering wheel and aluminum trim which all combines to give this GS one of the nicest interiors in the segment. In our eyes it is now the 2nd best looking interior behind the Jaguar XF, certainly better than the BMW 5er and Mercedes E.

The F-Sport package will be available on all engine variants, but in this case power comes from a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 306 hp (228 kW / 310 PS) and 277 lb-ft (375 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission which enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. In terms of efficiency, owners can expect to average 20 mpg city / 27 mpg highway (RWD) or 18 mpg city / 25 mpg highway (AWD).

The GS with F-Sport package will feature two new colors: Riviera Red and Liquid Platinum, and also be available in Starfire Pearl, Nebula Gray Pearl and Obsidian. Vehicles in Riviera Red will benefit from glass flakes incorporated into the coating that adds a high level of brilliance to the paint.

More images are available in our Gallery:

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Peugeot EX1

First up, in May 2011 Peugeot took their electric concept car, the EX1 to the ‘Ring. Piloted by Stéphane Caillet, the one-off prototype completed the 20.8 km (12 mile) Nordschleife in 9 minutes and 1.3 seconds at an average speed of 138.3 km/h (85.9 mph):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAPdMC0y9Wk

The EX1 concept is powered by two electric motors that produce a combined output of 340 PS (250 kW / 335 hp) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque.

Toyota EV P001

Next, Toyota took their EV P001 vehicle, which is basically a Radical track/road car with a Toyota electric powertrain to the ‘Ring, aiming to smash Peugeot’s record. And smash it they did:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9GR9EVsk-g

The EV P001, Jochen Krumbach completed the 20.8 km (12.9 mile) long course in 7 minutes and 47.794 seconds which buried the previous record by Peugeot.

According to Rob Leupen, Toyota Motorsport’s Director of Business Operations, “This is a very impressive achievement which really shows the huge potential for electric powertrains to deliver fast, exciting action on the race track. There’s no doubt that electric motorsport can be every bit as thrilling as traditional racing and it was an amazing sensation to watch the TMG electric vehicle fly past on the Nordschleife, with only the sound of wind rushing past and tires squealing.”

The P001 features a 41.5 kWh lithium-ceramic battery which powers two electric motors that develop 381 PS (280 kW / 375 hp) and 800 Nm (590 Nm) of torque. This setup enables the 970 kg (2,138 lb) car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph).

Electric RaceAbout (E-RA)

And finally, taking on the big-boys, the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences has announced the Electric RaceAbout (E-RA) has set a new street-legal electric vehicle lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGob7Gs44ZA

Driven by Ralf Kelleners, the student-designed prototype completed the 20.8 km (12.9 mile) long course in 8 minutes and 42.72 seconds. This means it was slower than the Toyota EV P001, but faster than the Peugeot EX1 which did the same task in 9 minutes and 1.3 seconds. But they claim the Toyota entry wasn’t street legal, so claim the record as their own.

As previously reported, the E-RA has a 33 kWh lithium-titanate battery which powers four-electric motors that develop a peak output of 408 PS (300 kW / 402 hp) and 3,200 Nm (2,360 lb-ft) of torque. This enables the 1,700 kg (3,747 lb) prototype to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in six seconds, hit a top speed of 244 km (152 mph) and travel approximately 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge.

With technology in Electric Vehicles progressing at an incredible rate, we can expect the EV ‘Ring lap record to end up being just as hotly contested as the fossil fuelled battles in years to come. Almost every manufacturer will have a fully electric vehicle within a couple of years, so there will doubtless be records for production EVs, racing EVs, and prototype EVs. We look forward to seeing them all.

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The majority of the Super – and Hyper – cars all arrive in one massively long convoy from a secret meet in the morning where they can do a hill climb in their pride and joy should they feel like it. The cars this year surpassed all other shows though, with an array of cars worth well over £1m including the Bugatti Veyron, Aston Martin One-77, Pagani Zonda F Roadster Final Edition and Koenigsegg CCXR Edition. There were also numerous modern Ferraris to the tune of 4 x 458′s, 3 x 599 GTO’s and 2 x Enzo’s. But for us here at BOTB News, our favourite car of the show was one that was barely even noticed in relation to the modern metal. Sitting alone in the centre of a field, not roped off, was a 1960 Ferrari 250 SWB look utterly stunning in traditional Ferrari red. Such  an amazing looking car, and to be able to look at it without crowds or ropes around it was an honour and a privilege. And the price tag for this piece of Italian history? A cool £2.5m…

Take a look at the best of the cars on display, the Supercar convoy arriving and lots of shots of the 250 SWB in our rather large Gallery:

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Every year the Goodwood Festival of Speed brings together hundreds of the world’s best supercars of past and present, and invites the public along to watch them attack the famous track up the Goodwood Hill. It brings famous names and even more famous cars to show their stuff, and is unlike any event anywhere else in the world in that the public can see the cars up close in the display areas, and then see them again out on track doing their best to entertain visually and aurally.

This year saw cars from the road and race tracks, including Ferraris old and new, McLarens old and new, Porsches (you guessed it) old and new etc. It shows how varied the FoS is each year when in a matter of minutes you can have an Audi R18 Le Mans winning car followed by a Bowler Nemesis going up a race track.

At the bottom of the page you’ll find our Gallery of the best of the show, but first up thanks to friend of BOTBNews Shmee150, we have some fantastic videos of the FoS stars in the paddock and out on track:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LyM1Ak3tho

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l51FP9Chg_w

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu2917BM2bM

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg5L7R7zTn4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX2FaNBuvfQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG9-o8aW8qY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGU-2lRUc7M

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5RzLzY54U

Amazing footage we’re sure you’ll agree!

Here’s the Gallery of the best bits of Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011:

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