After officially revealing its MP4-12C exotic several months back, McLaren Automotive has now announced estimated performance numbers and they’re as shockingly amazing as the rest of the car. The British sports car maker and Formula 1 team claims a 0-60 mph time of less than 3.0 seconds. The elapsed time to 124-mph (200 km/h) is set at under 10 seconds.

How does the car achieve such an astonishingly low time. Well, its a combination of light weight and horsepower. McLaren has already released that the MP4-12C’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 makes 600-hp and 433 ft-lbs of torque and will come with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. No curb weight numbers are yet available, but a dry weight (without fluids) is set at 2,860 lbs – meaning it should still only to out at 3,200 lbs total. Much of this has to do with the car’s ultra-light carbon monocoque chassis.

In terms of acceleration, the MP4-12C (according to McLaren, of course) is faster than the Corvette ZR1, Ferrari F430 Scuderia and Porsche GT2.

But how does it handle? See after the jump for video of McLaren F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button driving the MP4-12C on the track.

Watch out Ferrari.

[Source: Car & Driver]

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Legendary Mustang tuner ROUSH has build a special Barrett-Jackson Edition ‘Stang that will be auctioned off in April at the 8th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Palm Beach, Florida, which runs from April 1-3. The car is technically being billed as a concept car, which will be followed by 25 production models based on the 2010 Mustang and an additional 25 models based on the 2011 car.

The production models will sell from $41,495 (plus the cost of a Mustang), although the auctioned model is likely to fetch considerably more. It will, however, be put on the block without a reserve bid.

Each car will get 540-hp and 510 ft-lbs of torque thanks to a R2300 ROUSHcharger and new forged internals. Other highlights include 20-inch wheels and high performance Cooper RS3 tires, along with a fully modified suspension, upgraded brakes and a complete aerodynamic package. Owners will be able to pick from a wide variety of colors.

“The 2010 Barrett-Jackson Edition ROUSH Mustang ties two leading automotive brands together in an amazing package combining performance and unique styling,” said Jack Roush. “People who drive a regular production ROUSH Mustang are used to getting plenty of second looks.  But with the custom Barrett-Jackson paint in such gorgeous colors, these owners will experience envy on an entirely new level.”

The ROUSH Barrett-Jackson Edition Mustang Concept is painted “Back in Black” with “Red Hot Chili Pepper” stripes and is expected to hit the block on April 3rd.

[Source: RoushPerformance]

Official release after the jump:

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After its debut at the Geneva Auto Show just a few weeks ago, Lexus has now officially announced it will sell the CT200h hybrid hatchback in the United States. The CT200h will be the first full hybrid offered in the premium compact class.

Power comes from a version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system using a 1.8-liter VVT-i 4-cylinder, however, Toyota has yet to announce any engine output numbers. A similar setup used in the Prius makes just 134-hp, but we’re hoping for something closer to the HS250’s 187-hp. Lexus claims a fully electric range of 1.2 miles in EV mode at speeds up to 28 mph, while driver’s can also select Normal or Sport driving modes. The CT200h is a front-wheel drive model and runs 17-inch wheels.

The interior is certainly of a reasonably premium level, with some typical Toyota hybrid touches like the small gear shifter and push button ignition. The dash is divided into two “zones” with a Display Zone for vehicle information (which includes an 8-inch LCD screen) and an Operation Zone, which includes the Lexus Remote Touch mouse control. As a hatchback, Lexus rates the car’s storage capacity at roughly 12 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a total of 25 cubic feet with those seats folded flat.

Notable safety features include traction and stability control, eight standard airbags and an optional Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

The CT200h will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2011 expanding the dedicated Lexus range of hybrids to two models (the HS250h) being the other, and expanding the total number of Lexus hybrid models to five.

AutoGuide will bring you full coverage of the car’s debut at the NY Auto Show starting March 31st. Follow the link below to see our live coverage starting on the 31st.

2010 New York Auto Show Coverage

GALLERY: Lexus CT200h

Official release after the jump and find more info at CT200hForum.com:

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You knew it would only take time before General Motors took on Ford and its EcoBoost engine, and that time has just about come reports GMInsideNews. According to GMI’s sources inside General Motors, the automaker is currently in development of a 3.0-liter V6 with twin-turbochargers. There’s no word on actual output, but the same sources say it should rival the larger (3.5-liter) Ford powerplant. Ford’s EcoBoost engine makes 365-hp in the SHO and was designed as a V8 replacement.

The engine’s code is LF3, in direct reference to the LF1 direct-injection 3.0L V6 currently offered in several GM products.

Currently GM offers a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 in the Cadillac SRX (above), which makes 300-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque, so a reasonable bump over that output is certain.

This new twin-turbo V6 is expected in the flagship Cadillac XTS around 2012 and is likely to be used in several other GM products, including the upcoming 3 Series fighter, the ATS. In addition, there’s even a strong possibility that such a motor could find its way into the Camaro – something which was previewed at last year’s SEMA Show, when GM showed a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 stuffed under the hood of the muscle car.

[Source: GMI]

Rumors about Mazda importing the CX-7 diesel to North America just won’t go away, leading to increased speculation that one day the more fuel efficient models will eventually arrive. The latest bit of info comes from Road & Track, claiming that the Japanese automaker continues to mull the decision. While the upcoming 2016 fuel economy standards will be tough for all automakers to achieve, Mazda will have it particularly rough as the company’s models are often a bit more performance oriented than their competitors, meaning they’re also slightly less fuel efficient.

Currently, Mazda offers a CX-7 equipped with a 2.2-liter turbodiesel in Europe. It makes 170-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque and get a an average of 31.4 mpg on the European test cycle. However, if and when a diesel CX-7 makes its way to North America, it will get Mazda’s new Sky-D diesel engine, with more power, improved fuel economy and likely a new dual-clutch automatic transmission.

If Mazda does move ahead with plans to bring the CX-7 diesel to North America, it would be the first diesel model in the compact crossover category.

[Source: Road & Track]

Ford is looking to turn “the world’s fastest half-mile” into the world’s slowest and most fuel efficient half-mile as the automaker plans to drive 1,000 miles on the Bristol Motor Speedway oval track in the new 2011 Mustang. Aiming to promote the car’s best-in-class 19 mpg city and 31 mpg highway fuel economy figures, the 305-hp V6 Mustang will take to the track on June 23.

This marketing gimmick follows after a similar test for the Ford Fusion Hybrid when it debuted. The hybrid managed an incredible 1,445 miles on just one tank of gas – a feat which took 69 hours to complete.

“We all know how much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today’s market it’s also about fuel economy,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “By going 1,000 laps or more on one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, we expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can be mean and green.”

To help promote the 1,000-Lap Challenge, Ford has launched a website where you can enter and guess the total number of laps the Mustang will run. Entries can be made from March 21st to June 23rd and the winner will take home a brand new 305-hp V6 Mustang.

See the link below to enter:

www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com

Official release after the jump:

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A company doesn’t usually send out a press release to announce production of a new engine, but these days Chrysler can use all the good press it can get. And good press this most certainly is, as the new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 marks the first real step in the rebirth of Chrysler.

The new V6 engine will significantly reduce overall costs as Chrysler will replace seven different V6 engines currently used across the company’s lineup with this one motor. Chrysler also claims it will reduce fuel consumption by at least 25 percent. Power output will also increase considerably, with 280-hp and 260 ft-lbs of torque available from the V6 when it debuts later this year in the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Afterwards, it’s slated to arrive in the new mid-size D-Class models, mated to a six-speed Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDCT).

But the best news of all is confirmation that Chrysler has built the engine to be compatible with more advanced technologies, meaning that in the future it will get Fiat’s Multiair variable valve timing, direct-injection and turbocharging.

Previously it was thought this technology might only be used in pricey European models (Alfa Romeo perhaps?), but the fact that Chrysler thought to mention it speaks volumes. Perhaps, the company is looking to follow after Ford’s EcoBoost plan and bring a Turbo Pentastar V6 to market as a V8 alternative?

Official release after the jump:

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Chrysler has announced that thanks to a government grant it will build a test fleet of hybrid Ram pickups. Chrysler had initially planned to build a Ram HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) for 2011, but those plans were canceled when market demand was shown to be too minimal. The new truck, under the new Ram brand, will be a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), using a lithium-ion battery, electric motor, 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a two-mode hybrid transmission. Chrysler claims a 20 mile emissions-free range, with an improvement of 65 percent over the current Ram 1500.

The $48 million grant comes as a part of a $2.4 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act DOE Vehicle Electrification program, from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

A total of 140 Ram PHEVs will be built to test market demand as well as the durability of such a truck. “DOE-support for domestic advanced technology is an important enabler for Chrysler Group and its key suppliers in order to understand and test customer acceptance and the capability of PHEV systems in a variety of real-world conditions,” said Paolo Ferrero, Senior VP of Powertrain technology at Chrysler.

It’s not clear how soon the trucks will hit the road, but Chrysler is looking to do a three year test of the vehicles before making any decisions.

Official release after the jump:

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Fiat will bring a fully-electric version of the 500 to market, with production starting in 2012. The result of the Fiat/Chrysler alliance, the Fiat 500 EV will use a high-tech lithium-ion battery pack. It will also be developed and engineered by Chrysler at the company’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

No information regarding power, acceleration, range or recharging time has been released, but Chrysler has said it will be priced competitively with other vehicles in the market.

“The alliance with Fiat presented new opportunities to merge Chrysler Group engineering knowledge with new platforms and the Fiat 500EV is an outstanding example of our efforts,” says Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President Engineering—Chrysler Group LLC. “The Fiat 500 is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology.”

Chrysler will also look to develop an EV-charging infrastructure and is currently looking for partners.

The Fiat 500 gasoline version will debut later this year for sale starting in 2011.

Official release after the jump:

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Porsche will not bring a smaller SUV to market fearing it may cannibalize sales of the popular Cayenne. According to a report by AutoCar, Porsche officials have studied the sales numbers for Audi’s Q5 and Q7 and suggest the new Q5 may be stealing away customers from the larger, more expensive SUV. The Cayenne is also a very profitable SUV, representing 50 percent of Porsche’s profits.

Porsche is hoping that the new 2011 model will cater to the needs of a more varied customer base by offering numerous engine options, including V6, V8, Turbo, Diesel and, for the first time, a hybrid model. Along with added power, the new Cayenne lineup is also lighter and more fuel efficient. The standard Cayenne is powered by a new 300-hp V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while Cayenne S models get the same 4.8-liter V8 with power upped to 400-hp. The Turbo makes 500-hp from a twin-turbo version of the 4.8-liter V8 and the Cayenne S Hybrid gets a 3.o-liter V6 engine that supercharged and mated to a 47-hp electric motor for a total of 380-hp and 427 ft-lbs of torque. Porsche claims the Cayenne S Hybrid can travel up to 40 mph on just electric power and can cruise on pure electric power at speeds of up to 97 mph.

Pricing and official fuel economy numbers for the new 2011 Cayenne have yet to be released but we expect to find out more when the second-gen SUV makes its North American premiere at the New York Auto Show next week.

[Source: AutoCar]