Roaddog Car Blog

Ferrari has the automotive world buzzing again since rumors about the production of new models crept up in the rumor mill. While we couldn’t wait to see what Ferrari has in store for us in the next few years, sometimes, we are fortunate enough to get glimpse’s of what future Ferrari models will look like.

First on the rumor agenda is the talk about Ferrari presenting the new 458 Spider model during this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The 458 Spider stems from its not-so-successful predecessor, the 430 Spider. The 458 Spider is rumored to have a top-down hard top and we just couldn’t wait to see how that will turn out. There’s also rumor circulating about a hardcore variant of the 458 Spider that will wow us in 2013. Experts assume that the hardcore variant would carry a different name.

We all remember the Ferrari California with is V8 engine located at the mid-front, right? Rumor is that it will be heavily redesigned in 2013 while the Ferrari Italia will be revamped in 2014, even though the Italia just rolled out into showrooms last year. A little premature for redesign but no official word yet.
The sports car brand is also said to make a replacement of its 599 GTB Fiorano sometime next year with the proposed replacement vehicle under the codename F152, which will get a V12, direct injection power plant.

Lastly, word is that the successors to top Ferrari models—Enzo, 288 GTO, F40 and F50—will make its debut any time in 2012.

Recently, we have only seen the initial batch of the design renderings of the Pantera Supercar. But a few more months and the world will finally get to see the unveiling the of so-called supercar during the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September. Reports from Auto Bild, a leading German automobile magazine, the reborn Pantera Supercar will roll out with a V-8 supercharged engine with 600 horsepower from American carmaker General Motors Inc.

De Tomaso Automobili SpA, an Italian carmaker, has created a good reputation with for its two-seater models. While no specific details of the Pantera Supercar have been released by De Tomaso, rumors arise that the reborn supercar will get an aluminum body. Speculations also favor that the curb weight of the Pantera will most likely be about 1,200 kilograms. Recently, the Pantera Supercar has been spotted doing a full test drive.

There were rumors that the Pantera Supercar was set to make its first appearance during the 2011 LA Auto Show but the recent news just confirmed that the media will catch its first glimpse on September 13th during the International Frankfurt Motor Show. The viewing for the general public will take place on the 15th.

While we wait for the Pantera to roll out into showrooms, we can always salivate for De Tomaso’s Deuville model which has been built in the 1970s. This vintage 5-seater beauty is packed with a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 engine with 300 ponies and 295 lb.ft. Sometime in the next year, De Tomaso will also include a limousine model in its product line up.

A lot of people have been waiting for quite some time and finally Noble unveils the new M600 ready to hit the production line. The British made sports car will have body made of carbonfiber and a 4.4: V8 twin turbocharged powerplant mounted in the middle. The engine sourced from Yamaha can give out a max of 650 horsepower while revving at 6,800 rpm and a torque of 604 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm. The power of the engine is transferred to the wheels through the six-speed Graziano manual transmission.

The M600 comes with an APC or Adaptable Performance Control. The APC manages the power output, throttle response, traction, and boost curve. The system allows the driver to select different modes ifrom 650 hp down to 550 hp or 450 hp.

The M600 tips the scales at 1,200 kilograms or about 50 kilos lighter than the prototype model. This feature gives the car an excellent power-weight ratio of 520 hp per ton. Noble claims that the M600 can achieve 0 to 120 miles per hour in a matter of 8.9 seconds going to a top speed of about 225 mph or 362 kph.

A nice touch inside the driver’s cabin is the “missile switch” which controls the Traction Control.

The M600 is scheduled to go on sale before summer. We can expect the tag price to be announced near the date of the roll out.

Illnois-based tuning firm GTHaus joins the bandwagon of making the BMW M3 even look nicer. GTHaus recently released the details about their latest street legal project fitting the BMW coupe with a wide bodykit made from carbon fiber.

The creation of GTHaus is obviously inspired by the M3 that recently conquered 24-hour race at Nurburgring and joined the 24h Le Mans. The re-styled bimmer gets wider rear fenders, reworked front bumper that has splitters, vented hood, chunkier side skirts, and rear bumpers designed with air vents. This whole package will cost roughly $12,500.

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When I was growing up, I had a guy that lived next to me who restored old cars – classic cars.  I swung by my childhood home last week and one of the cars that this guy spent years restoring is now selling one of his classic cars most likely for cheap.  Classic cars are something that can not be replaced – they are so different, so unique, so awesome that honestly, if you have a classic car … you need to make sure that you keep it.

More and more, with people trading in their cars for newer ones, the classic cars are being put by the waste side and that is not what should be happening.  Classic cars are cars that you can never, ever get again.  Personally, I would love to own an old-time car and sometimes drive it around … not all of the time, just sometimes and it is hard to find one!

The moral of the story?  If you have a classic car – make sure that you hang onto it … honestly, it is a classic and you shouldn’t get rid of it!