McLaren
Premium
- 46,390
- Texas
Cadillac CTS-V:
600 Horsepower
Supercharged V8
Due 2008
-Cadillac WANTS to destroy BMW's M5 with the next-generation CTS-V and so has shoehorned a version of the Corvette SS's supercharged V8 under the hood. Sources suggest 550 to 600 horsepower is likely. Track is wider than the new CTS, with pumped fenders covering the tires. Note the buldge in hood to clear supercharger and integrated intake-manifold intercooler.
Corvette SS:
600 Horsepower
Supercharged V8
Due 2008
-The most powerful production Corvette ever is based on the Z06. Engine will be hand-assembled at the GM Performance Center, and no more than 2000 will be built a year. Price is likely to be close to $100,000. Production version will have a new hood with integral power buldge to clear supercharger, possibly carbon fiber to reduce weight.
Lexus LF-A:
600 Horsepower
Twin-Turbo V8
Due 2009
-Instead of a 500-horse V10, the LF-A is now rumoured to have a 600-horsepower twin-turbo V8. Toyota's global design chief Wahel Hirai told Motor Trend, "It was designed as a Lexus. If the marketing people want to call it a Toyota, I'll start again from a blank sheet." He already has: A Toyota-badged high-performance sports car is already under study.
Nissan GT-R
450 Horsepower
Twin-Turbo V6
Due 2008
-First shown as a concept at the 2001 Tokyo show, the GT-R's long gestation may see it overshadowed by higher-powered rivals before it's even launched. Nissan is relying on the car's high-tech intellgient all-wheel-drive system to give it a handling edge, however. Big question is: Can U.S. Nissan dealers really sell a $55,000-plus car?
My take:
Cadillac has got the right idea. But how much? A 400 horsepower CTS-V runs $54,000 right now. Increasing 200 horses isn't going to keep it close to $60,000 imho, and get it near M5 territory. Now, 600 to 500 is a good deal, but does Cadillac honestly think
A) It can afford to start selling cars at such prices? The XLRs don't even sell well at $70,000 and
B) That BMW will just sit back and watch? Let's not forget the M5 E60 hasn't really changed in 5 years. If Caddy does go through with this, it's quite obvious that not only BMW, but Mercedes-Benz and Audi as well could follow suite with 550 horsepower models of their own.
Corvette SS:
Still name changing, though the car is still out there. My question...near $100,000? A lot has changed it seems since the '77 Vette price of what? $20,000-$30,000? What also is going to be a huge competitor is Dodge at $90,000 accordingly. Will Dodge take the place as the Best Bang for your Buck if Chevy produces a Vette $5,000-$10,000 more?
And 2,000 per year? I know that's not a lot, but a lot of folks aren't going to think of paying for a $100,000 Corvette, esp. not one more expensive than a Viper.
Lexus:
This is another car that's like Duke Nukem Forever. Been in development for the longest time, and now finally expected out in 2008. The spy shots still show most of it covered up. With all this testing, here's to hoping its twin turbo V8 can keep up with the best.
Nissan:
I think MT's question was a good one. It's much like Toyota who will have a hard time selling a car way over the top of the line's $25,000 mark.
Nissan's top of the line cars are the Z and Maxima at $30,000. Having such a big jump over the original top of the line may be hard to sell.
It's got 1 thing working well for it, and one that doesn't. It's got the Skyline fame though it's not a Skyline to help sell it, but like Toyota, most people in the US don't think Nissan=performance vehicle manufacturer.
I think the biggest thing is probably Dodge and Chevy, though the CTS-V and M5 will be something to watch.
600 Horsepower
Supercharged V8
Due 2008
-Cadillac WANTS to destroy BMW's M5 with the next-generation CTS-V and so has shoehorned a version of the Corvette SS's supercharged V8 under the hood. Sources suggest 550 to 600 horsepower is likely. Track is wider than the new CTS, with pumped fenders covering the tires. Note the buldge in hood to clear supercharger and integrated intake-manifold intercooler.
Corvette SS:
600 Horsepower
Supercharged V8
Due 2008
-The most powerful production Corvette ever is based on the Z06. Engine will be hand-assembled at the GM Performance Center, and no more than 2000 will be built a year. Price is likely to be close to $100,000. Production version will have a new hood with integral power buldge to clear supercharger, possibly carbon fiber to reduce weight.
Lexus LF-A:
600 Horsepower
Twin-Turbo V8
Due 2009
-Instead of a 500-horse V10, the LF-A is now rumoured to have a 600-horsepower twin-turbo V8. Toyota's global design chief Wahel Hirai told Motor Trend, "It was designed as a Lexus. If the marketing people want to call it a Toyota, I'll start again from a blank sheet." He already has: A Toyota-badged high-performance sports car is already under study.
Nissan GT-R
450 Horsepower
Twin-Turbo V6
Due 2008
-First shown as a concept at the 2001 Tokyo show, the GT-R's long gestation may see it overshadowed by higher-powered rivals before it's even launched. Nissan is relying on the car's high-tech intellgient all-wheel-drive system to give it a handling edge, however. Big question is: Can U.S. Nissan dealers really sell a $55,000-plus car?
My take:
Cadillac has got the right idea. But how much? A 400 horsepower CTS-V runs $54,000 right now. Increasing 200 horses isn't going to keep it close to $60,000 imho, and get it near M5 territory. Now, 600 to 500 is a good deal, but does Cadillac honestly think
A) It can afford to start selling cars at such prices? The XLRs don't even sell well at $70,000 and
B) That BMW will just sit back and watch? Let's not forget the M5 E60 hasn't really changed in 5 years. If Caddy does go through with this, it's quite obvious that not only BMW, but Mercedes-Benz and Audi as well could follow suite with 550 horsepower models of their own.
Corvette SS:
Still name changing, though the car is still out there. My question...near $100,000? A lot has changed it seems since the '77 Vette price of what? $20,000-$30,000? What also is going to be a huge competitor is Dodge at $90,000 accordingly. Will Dodge take the place as the Best Bang for your Buck if Chevy produces a Vette $5,000-$10,000 more?
And 2,000 per year? I know that's not a lot, but a lot of folks aren't going to think of paying for a $100,000 Corvette, esp. not one more expensive than a Viper.
Lexus:
This is another car that's like Duke Nukem Forever. Been in development for the longest time, and now finally expected out in 2008. The spy shots still show most of it covered up. With all this testing, here's to hoping its twin turbo V8 can keep up with the best.
Nissan:
I think MT's question was a good one. It's much like Toyota who will have a hard time selling a car way over the top of the line's $25,000 mark.
Nissan's top of the line cars are the Z and Maxima at $30,000. Having such a big jump over the original top of the line may be hard to sell.
It's got 1 thing working well for it, and one that doesn't. It's got the Skyline fame though it's not a Skyline to help sell it, but like Toyota, most people in the US don't think Nissan=performance vehicle manufacturer.
I think the biggest thing is probably Dodge and Chevy, though the CTS-V and M5 will be something to watch.
