Seat Ibiza SportCoupe Image Gallery Update

Seat has released further images of its new Ibiza SportCoupe that’s set to go on sale in European markets this summer. Furthermore, the Spanish automaker announced details on the three-door hatchback’s engine line-up that will initially consist of three petrol units; 69Hp 1.2-liter, 85Hp 1.4-liter and 105Hp 1.6-liter, and three diesel engines; 80Hp 1.4-liter, 90Hp 1.9-liter and 105Hp 1.9-liter.

In 2009 the Ibiza SportCoupe’s range will be enhanced with the addition of the highly anticipated FR and Cupra sport versions equipped with the VW Group’s TSI turbocharged petrol engines. -Image gallery after the jump

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/seat-ibiza-sportcoupe-image-gallery.html?m=0

OMG! N.C. DMV Site Samples WTF License Plate – LOL!

Last July, a 60-year-old teacher from Fayetteville in North Carolina (N.C. for short) complained to the state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV for short) about her “WTF” (what the f… for short) licence plate after being tipped off by her grandchildren. In response, the N.C. DMV notified around 10,000 holders of the license plates with the allegedly offensive letter combo that they can replace them for free.

End of story, lesson learnt? Not exactly as this week N.C. DMV officials were informed that the same letters appeared on the agency's own web site on a sample personalized plate (WTF-5505). “I can't believe it," DMV Commissioner Bill Gore told reporters when he was informed about the online hitch. "Obviously, I didn't know it was there."

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/omg-nc-dmv-site-samples-wtf-license.html?m=0

Prodrive Gives Police Officers Lessons on the Subaru Impreza GB270

The “loveable” fellas at the UK Essex Police ANPR (Automatic number plate recognition) team, also known as the ‘Interceptors’, have been taking high performance driving tuition from motorsport specialists, Prodrive. The Interceptor team, which consists of 21 members, recently replaced its front wheel drive cars with the Prodrive prepped Subaru Impreza GB270s that are equipped with a turbocharged boxer engine developing 270Hp.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/prodrive-gives-police-officers-lessons.html?m=0

Why the Corvette Z1’s Nurburgring Time Shouldn't be Compared with the Nissan GT-R

We’ll give GM plenty of kudos for creating a sports car that officially lapped the famous Nurburgring in a mere 7 minutes and 26.4 seconds as it puts plenty of supercars costing double its price to shame, but ultimately, its somewhat unfair to compare the Corvette ZR1 with the Nissan GT-R. True, in our article on the ZR1’s Nurburgring time we mentioned that GM’s sports car beat the Nissan GT-R (7 minutes and 29.03 seconds), but we only did it to give you a comparable example of how good the Corvette is.

However, we must put things into perspective. The 640Hp Corvette ZR1 is priced from $103,300, the 480Hp Nissan GT-R from $69,850. That’s a huge price difference -$33,450 or nearly 50% more. Practically, the GT-R should be compared with the 505Hp Corvette Z06 that starts from $72,125. Although this is not an official time, various sites (including Motortrend) have stated that the Z06 lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 42 seconds or 13 seconds more than the GT-R. -Continued

But to be totally honest, a sportscar’s Nurburgring time would be the last thing that would matter if we were in the market to buy one. Well before that we’d take into consideration a variety of factors including the emotional impact that the car has on us, the way it communicates with us on the road -maybe even on the track, and of course, the price tag. (Pic: Carscoop)

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-corvette-z1s-nurburgring-time.html?m=0

Lotus Eagle Teaser Picture – Official Debut at British Motor Show

The first all-new model to come out of the Lotus factory in 13 years, the Eagle, will be revealed on July 22 when the British Motor Show in London opens its doors to the members of the press. However, we managed to discover an official teaser image of the mid-engined 2+2 sports car that is rumored to be powered by a modified version of the Toyota Camry’s 3.5 V6 engine that in stock form produces 268Hp at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. at 4,700 rpm.

Inside sources told Carscoop that the Japanese V6 engine will be offered in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The Eagle will essentially replace the top-of-the-line Esprit that went out of production in 2004 as Lotus will market the 2+2 lightweight coupe above the Elise, Exige and Europa. -Continued

Talking about lightweight construction, the Eagle will utilize the proven technology used in the Elise family of vehicles as well as the Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) shown as the APX (Aluminium Performance Crossover) Concept Vehicle.

At the Geneva Salon in March, Lotus showcased the front module of the Eagle’s chassis which consist of three distinct parts, with the centre occupant section being the largest. Bolted to this centre section are the rear sub frame to which the engine and rear suspension are attached and the front module that incorporates the bumper beam and side members.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/lotus-eagle-teaser-picture-official.html?m=0

Seat Ibiza SportCoupe: New Image Gallery

The SportCoupe is the three-door variant of the new Seat Ibiza hatchback that will make its first public appearance at next month’s British Motor Show in London. While these new pictures aren’t of the best quality, they do give us more views of the 3door Spanish hatchback, the first official images of which were released earlier this month.

The Seat Ibiza SportCoupe will be initially offered with two petrol engines, a 105Hp 1.6-liter and an 85Hp 1.4-liter along with a 90Hp 1.9-liter turbo diesel unit. Not exactly the sporty engine range we were expecting from Seat. Hopefully, the Spanish carmaker will not make the mistake and wait a couple of years before it starts offering the VW Group’s 1.4 TSi turbocharged petrol engine line-up. -More pics after the jump

Thanks for the pics Adam!

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/seat-ibiza-sportcoupe-new-image-gallery.html?m=0

2009 Chevrolet Traverse Crossover Priced from $28,990

The newest addition to GM’s line-up of crossovers, the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse that will go on sale in the U.S. this fall, will carry a base MSRP of $28,990, including a $735 destination charge, for the 2WD LS model. Chevrolet will offer the Traverse in LS, LT and LTZ models in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, however detailed pricing will be announced at a later date. -Continued

The Traverese that can fit up to eight passengers in three rows of seats (2+3+3) is powered by a direct injection 3.6-liter V6 engine with 288Hp that’s matted to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/2009-chevrolet-traverse-crossover.html?m=0

Bell Aurens Longnose: Custom Made Land Rover with 235 to… 1,500+ Hp!

The Bell Aurens Longnose is the byproduct of two German Land Rover enthusiasts, Thomas Bell and Holger Kalvelage who got together through an online forum creating this one-of-a-kind off-roadster version of the classic Landie. Under the Bell Aurens Longnose’s never-ending bonnet lies a choice of two Rover V8 engines, a 4.6-litre with 235 Hp and a 5.0-litre delivering 280 Hp.

The German duo is also working on a V16 engine created by joining two Rover V8 engines. If the latter meets German MOT standards, it will be offered as 8.0-liter producing 420 Hp and a 10.0-liter with 700 Hp. However, the ultimate version (and probably the company’s ultimate promotional vehicle) will be powered by a 27.0-litre supercharged V12 engine, the Merlin, produced by Rolls-Royce to power an airplane, with a little over… 1,500Hp! -Continued

The basic price of a Bell Aurens Longnose with standard tail and a 4.6-liter V8 engine will be around €125,000 (plus tax). The German company will hand-build 10 cars a year with each model taking about 4 to 6 months to be delivered.

Via: WFC , Source: Bell Aurens

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/bell-aurens-longnose-custom-made-land.html?m=0

Tres Chic VW Beetle Trailer

When a person has taste, even a trailer can become a piece of art. Created from a chopped classic VW Beetle, the elegantly styled motorcycle/scooter trailer was apparently spotted somewhere in France.

Thanks for the tip Pete! , Via: Motorbiker

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/tres-chic-vw-beetle-trailer.html?m=0

Hamann Porsche 911 Turbo Stallion with 630Hp & 359km/h Top Speed

The Porsche 911 Turbo Based Stallion is the latest development to come out from the German tuning house Hamann Motorsports. The thoroughbred is equipped with a modified version of the 911 Turbo’s twin turbocharged 3.6-liter boxer engine producing an impressive 630Hp (from 480Hp). The result is a staggering 3.3 seconds for the 0-100km/h (62 mph) sprint which is six tenths of a second faster than its serial counterpart while its top speed is a whopping 359 km/h or 223 MPH.

Of course, Hamann couldn’t resist upgrading the 911 Turbo’s appearance. The Stallion’s most prominent features are of course its gull-wing doors and the chopped roofline that has been lowered by 80mm or 3.4-inches. Moreover, Hamann added an aggressive bodykit combined with 20-inch rims in 245/30ZR20 tires in front and 325/25ZR20 tires at the back. -Continued

Via: Motorpasion

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/06/hamann-porsche-911-turbo-stallion-with.html?m=0