Painted and styled much like the JCW Countryman we saw in Geneva, MINI has announced its John Cooper Works GP today.

As the fastest MINI ever built, the JCW GP will go on sale later this year in a run limited to 2,000 units worldwide. This is the second time the company has offered such a car, but this version is by far better than the last, lapping the Nurburgring a whole 19 seconds faster for a brand-best time of eight minutes and 23 seconds.

To give that number some context, it’s faster than a BMW 335i Coupe (8:26) or the BMW E36 M3 (8:22), showing just how potent a package the new MINI JCW GP is.

Final performance figures aren’t available yet, but the company says they will easily best the previous 214-hp that the MINI Cooper S with a full John Cooper Works package had on tap.

What we do know is that the new JCW GP comes with a full body aero kit including a front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser and a carbon fiber rear spoiler. It also gets an exclusive powertrain, new brakes and a special chassis meant for track handling, which is complimented by the bespoke sport tires meant for increasing grip during performance driving.

Expect more details on the limited edition MINI JCW GP in the near future as its release approaches.

GALLERY: 2012 MINI John Cooper Works GP

Forgoing its sometimes confusing naming structure, BMW decided to move its coupes away from the 3 Series badge, referring to future versions as a 4 Series instead. 

Last month our spy photographer caught one of the 4 Series test mules taking its top off in a parking lot, but the pictures were taken through a fence and didn’t really show much. As our mothers were fond of saying, all good things come to those who wait. The same is true in the autos world and this time we’re getting a look inside the new 4 Series.

In the pictures, we see the 4 Series wearing BMW split five-spoke wheels and an awful lot of swirly camouflage. The same headlights reminiscent of the gun ports for a WWII German fighter plane are also intact but inside most of the car is covered in a black cloth wrap. We can, however, pick a few things out. There’s an LCD screen mounted mid dash showing the predictable iDrive system as well as a mostly black interior with silver accents.

When it debuts, the new 4 Series Bimmer line is expected to source power from the BMW 328i and 335i with a 240-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and turbo 302-hp 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder respectively.

2013 BMW 4 Series Spy Photos:

A tiny car with big personality, Morgan CEO Charles Morgan announced that the radical Three-wheeler will be offered in the U.S. through the distribution channel of three select U.S. dealerships.

Blurring the boundaries of car and motorcycle, the retro-style Three-wheeler was inspired by the three-wheel sports cars that Morgan originally produced between 1911 to 1953. Featuring a 2.0-liter V-twin engine that sits between the front wheels and ahead of the snout, power is transferred to the single rear wheel via a Mazda Miata 5-speed gearbox.

Although the V-twin motor only produces about 80-hp, the three-wheeler’s minuscule dimensions and 1,155-pound curb weight allows the vehicle to rocket from 0-to-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

Seemingly simple and straightforward, the Morgan is actually handcrafted, featuring leather upholstery, an alloy steering wheel, wire wheels up front, polished exhausts down the side and aluminum aircraft-style toggle switches across the dash. In total, the Three-wheeler will set you back a steep $40,000.

Tailored for the more wealthy and whimsical buyer, Charles Morgan confirms that the Three-wheeler will be a low-volume affair. One of the three dealerships is confirmed to be located in Seattle while the remaining two dealers are expected to be located in California and somewhere on the East Coast.

To promote the Three-wheeler’s U.S. debut, CEO Charles Morgan will drive the car in next month’s 2012 Gumball 3000 rally. An infamous New York-to-Los Angeles road rally that accepts the entry of the most exotic of automobiles, the wealthy and adventuresome participants of the Gumball 3000 should possess just the right amount of extravagant folly for Morgan to find its perfect clientele.

GALLERY: Morgan Three-wheeler

[Source: InsideLine]

Aspiring Canadian racers have something to look forward to this summer as Scion announces its plan to sponsor motorsports drivers for the second year in a  row. 

Timed to coincide with the 2013 FR-S release, the company will hold a series of racing events. Those who wish to participate will need to contact Scion Canada to register. In order to qualify, those participants need to run in at least two races, which will include a slalom, time-attack, drag racing and more.

All of the events will happen under Scion supervision in the spirit of encouraging amateur racing. While it’s an almost laughably small prize, first place winners will be awarded up to $500, second place is good for $300 and $125 for third.

A division champion will also be crowned to receive an extra $800 as a prize. It seems that Scion recognizes the likelihood for its predominantly young, male  target market to want to race the new sports car and is trying to offer a safe venue for the activity.

“The all-new FR-S is a legit sports car – a car that is light, nimble, sleek, sporty, and offers a pure driving experience on the race track,” said Larry Hutchinson, senior executive director of Scion Canada. “We’re excited about the contributions that both the FR-S and Scion Racing contingency program will be able to make to enhance Canadian motorsports.”

There wasn’t any word on the other competitions, but given its track prowess we can’t help but wonder if a drifting competition will number among the undisclosed contests.

If so, it could lead to some interesting YouTube videos courtesy of our neighbors from the north. If nothing else, the boy-racer community will have a closed-course outlet for it’s fast-and-furious imitation. Hopefully that will be enough to contain the hooning.

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com.

GALLERY: 2013 Scion FR-S

Simon Butler, affectionately known as the “Racing Reverend” as well as the Associate Rector of Ashtead Parish of Surrey, England, started racing in karting leagues at an early age. “I think I’m the only Anglican clergyman who has ever driven a modern Formula 1 car, but this will be my first experience in the historics,” Butler admits. “The C-type is owned by one of my parishioners, Tony Allen, and he invited me to share the car with Jonathon Crouch for the full series of Woodcote Trophy races.”

The backstory behind the 1952 C-type is perhaps even more interesting. Painted in a French racing blue, chassis number XKC 016 was originally supplied to a French Jaguar importer. When it competed in the Mille Miglia in 1953, a brutal crash killed driver Pierre Gilbert Ugnon and seriously injured team-mate Luc Descollanges.

According to Butler, the damaged C-type was then left abandoned in a yard for almost 20 years before it was painstakingly restored, piece-by-piece, in the 1970s. Since then, it has enjoyed many years of racing.

Known for its fast and fiercely competitive nature, the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy poses a true challenge for the Reverend. Addressing his level of confidence, Butler said, “Historic cars have no brakes! Seriously, though, I’ve really enjoyed the transition to historics, so much so that I might not go back. With a historic car, you need to keep it moving around a lot; there’s still a lot of precision needed, but it’s a different sort of precision.”

The first Woodcote Trophy race will be held at Donington Historic Festival from May 5-6. Races to follow include the Brands Hatch GP circuit, the Silverstone Classic, as well as the Spa Six-Hours Meeting in September.

Donington will be a home race for Reverend Simon Butler, as his previous parish is just 15 miles from the circuit, at West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire.

Honest business: 1, international crime syndicate: 0. Eric Blumberg owns Rent-In-Style, an L.A. based high end rental car company, which offers clients an opportunity to take out premium luxury and performance vehicles for a couple hours or even a week.

However, when Blumberg rented out his 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia fleet car, a red flag was raised when instead of cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, Blumberg noticed the Italian sports car had been sitting still for a few days since it was rented.

Equipping his line of prestigious fleet cars with GPS tracking devices, Blumberg contacted California police, leading to the car’s last known location at a warehouse by a Los Angeles port. However, by the time the police finally found the Ferrari, it was already in a Cargo ship, labeled as “used fitness equipment”, and sent on its way to Hong Kong. Fortunately, the cargo ship was turned around.

Blumberg’s ordeal revealed an incident that’s actually much larger in scale – they were dealing with an international crime syndicate. In total, authorities found more than 15 stolen vehicles, worth a total of $1.5 million, that were headed to Asia.

According to investigators, prices for these stolen cars could be sold overseas for up to twice the intrinsic value. Unfortunately, no arrests were made, but at least the accounted vehicles are back with the original owners, and the bad guys had a bad day.

Check out the video clip of the CBS This Morning feature after the below. 

Expectations are high for the successor to the iconic Ferrari Enzo and early reports suggest that the future flagship will not disappoint. Featuring a trick HY-KERS gas-electric hybrid system, Ferrari claims that not only will the application demonstrate an incredible 40 percent decrease in CO2 emissions, the system boasts superior performance numbers as well. Additional components add an extra 120 kg (265 lbs) of weight, but in a side-by-side comparison against a “standard” Ferrari, the HY-KERS sports car reached from 0-to-200 km/h (124 mph) a full three seconds faster.

Compensating for the extra heft from the Samsung-supplied batteries for the electric hybrid system, Ferrari looks to cut fat elsewhere by using Formula 1 grade carbon fiber for the construction of the new supercar body and chassis. Compared to the carbon fiber in the previous Enzo and F50, this new material promises to be both lighter and stronger.

Other Formula 1 derived technologies include highly advanced longitudinal and lateral dynamic management software to improve handling. Physics-defying devices include advanced torque management, traction control, and brake distribution systems.

No word on the curb weight or performance output of the upcoming Ferrari yet but early reports have predicted performance figures to reach as high as 920-hp.

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[Source: Automotive News]

The new Acura NSX concept has been shown off around the world at Auto Shows since its original debut last January in Detroit, but all of the examples we have seen so far have shown up in one of the most boring colors: grey.

GALLERY: Red Acura NSX concept

Most recently for the Beijing Auto Show, Acura built a red version of the concept car, further pronouncing the design. While the color obviously doesn’t affect the performance of the mid-engine hybrid supercar, it’s a refreshing change from the drab grey version that ran the rounds at every other auto show this year.

From Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L’Or Blanc and Grand Sport Vitesse to everything in between, there is no shortage of special edition Veyrons produced. A natural progression, Bugatti has joined the likes of the Jeep Wrangler Dragon and has unveiled a China-exclusive special edition vehicle for the 2012 Beijing Motor Show – the Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long.

Built to commemorate the Chinese year of the Dragon, Bugatti has tapped porcelain specialists Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur Berlin of L’Or Blanc fame to create an underlying Chinese theme across the special edition exotic, fitting several high-quality porcelain dragon motifs with deep Chinese cultural roots for both the interior and the exterior of the car.

Locations of these ornate pieces of porcelain (also known as china in China) include the center wheel caps, the fuel filler cap, the rear Bugatti badge, the center console, as well as the centerpiece plate between the seats. Complementing the white porcelain is a pearl white paint scheme as well as a contrasting red interior, a popular color in Chinese culture that represents luck and fortune. On the pair of headrests, Bugatti also features  an embroidery of the Chinese character for “dragon”. Finally, the dragon theme extends to hand-crafted pure silk floor mats, also embossed with dragons.

The one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long costs approximately $2.08 million and is already called for. However, you can still enjoy the Wei Long in the gallery below!

GALLERY: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long

The latest Land Rover Evoque “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” seems to possess all the right ingredients to become a proper special edition vehicle. The former “Posh Spice” member of the wildly successful Brit pop girl group Spice Girls, a stand-out BFA award-winning fashion designer, and wife of international soccer star David Beckham, Victoria has worked closely with the British Automaker in developing the latest model.

In its latest Victoria Beckham special edition offering, the Evoque features what Victoria described as a “masculine” treatment. Describing her process, Victoria Beckham explained, “When I first started working with the team I did a lot of research, and created mood boards to show the team my love of timeless and classic design. I looked at yachts, luxury jets and classic cars.”

The result is an exterior painted in a stealthy matte gray color scheme accented with a glossy black roof and trim pieces. The 20-inch wheels are black as well, each wearing 245/45 rubber, exclusive to this particular edition Evoque. Lending a softer “Posh” touch, Victoria sprinkled rose-gold accents, painted onto the wheels and plated to additional trim pieces inside and out.

As for the special Evoque’s interior, Victoria Beckham chose “vintage tan” semi-aniline leathers , finishing the seats with baseball stitching a composition that gets Mrs. Beckham to remember her family’s time in California. What’s more, Victoria also chose Mohair Carpets similar to those found in her father’s Rolls-Royce. Finally, no special edition is complete without a bespoke four-piece luggage set to go with the vehicle.

Mechanically untouched, the Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham offers the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four engine producing 240-hp. Land Rover has decided not to tack on a bespoke “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” badge onto the Evoque either, as a long and clumsy moniker won’t do the car any favors anyway. Instead, the limited examples will be distinguished by Beckham’s signature found inside the leather folder for the Evoque owner’s manual.

Only 200 examples of “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” will be produced, beginning sales in the Chinese market first. Prices start at £80,000 to £90,000, or $130,000 to $145,000 after currency exchange. While a 200 percent mark up over a standard Evoque may seem outrageous, no price is too high for the well-heeled.

Check out the Evoque “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” promo video below:

GALLERY: Land Rover Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham

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Mercedes-Benz revealed images and a video of its latest Concept Style Coupe design study earlier this week, but the concept’s rollout accelerated as the Mercedes CSC exhibit headlined yesterday’s Transmission LA:AV Club at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles.

A 17-day art event featuring concerts, DJ nights, performances and installations, the Transmission LA:AV Club is curated by Mike D of the iconic Beastie Boys rap group. While the Mercedes-Benz CSC concept only officially bows at next week’s Beijing Motor Show, this LA sneak preview provided a welcome closer look at the car.

Based on the Mercedes-Benz small car MFA platform, the CSC features a sleek, compact, CLS-style silhouette mixed with dramatic design details including interesting A-Class headlight and front fascia treatments as well as a SL-Class taillight treatment. Large, stylish 20-inch wheels look like they were borrowed from the Maybach Exelero and should prove quite effective at extracting heat from hard-working brake discs. The CSC also features a roof length panoramic glass panel to provide an airy environment inside the cabin.

Under the hood, the concept features a turbocharged four-cylinder producing approximately 211-hp. A dual-clutch 7-speed gearbox transfers power to deliver to all four wheels through Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic all-wheel drive setup.

Check out the Transmission LA:AV Club promo video featuring the Mercedes-Benz CSC below, and watch AutoGuide for more details on the CSC as we draw nearer to the upcoming Beijing Auto Show.

GALLERY: Mercedes Benz Concept Style Coupe (CSC)

Hinged on a technicality, the M135i concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show is based on a 1-Series hatchback layout exclusive to the European market. However, a recent interview between BMWblog and Nitschke revealed that an M135i tailored for the North American market will be available. Rather than a hatchback format, the American M135i will likely adopt a coupe or convertible layout.

No word on the official release date for the hot little Bimmer, but its arrival should come well after the standard second-generation 1 Series in 2013. BMW is refraining from revealing official performance numbers as well, but we expect the solid twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six to produce roughly 340 hp.

GALLERY: BMW M135i Concept

[Source: BMWblog.com]