SSC Ultimate Aero TT, Faster Than the Bugatti Veyron?

The SSC Ultimate Aero TT may be the only rival to the Bugatti Veyron.
In road tests, the SSC turned in a 254.88 mph top speed compared to the 253 mph of the Veyron.
But the Ultimate Aero accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.78 seconds which is slower than the Veyron's 0-60 in 2.46 seconds.
The engine in the Ultimate Aero model is a supercharged 387.2 cu in (6.35 L) V8 engine rated at 1,183 bhp , with 1,094 ft·lb of torque.
Amazingly, the first production 2007 Ultimate Aero TT car was sold not in a show room, but on eBay for $431,100.
Yes eBay.
And I forgot to mention that the SSC Ultimate Aero TT is built by Shelby SuperCars.
And that NASA (yes NASA) put the car in a wind tunnel testing facility and proved that the SSC Aero could be aerodynamically stable enough to reach speeds up to 273 miles per hour.
And to be as Green as anyone else, this supercar will soon be available in an electrical version.
Of course this SSC will be the fastest electric car on the market, powered by a 500 horsepower electric motor. Yes I said a 500 horsepower ELECTRIC motor.

Bugatti Veyron, the World's Fastest Bugatti?

The Bugatti Veyron may not only be the world's fastest Bugatti, it may be right up there as the world's fastest production car period.
This Bugatti Automobiles SAS produced land rocket has some pretty impressive figures.
It's powered by a W-16 engine that basically looks like two V-8s stuck together. As clumsy looking as that may sound, this configuration gives the Veyron 987 horsepower!
Yes that's right, 987. But get this, some people think that figure is low, and that the Veyron actually puts out over 1000!
What does that translate to on the pavement?
Try 0-60 in about 2.46 seconds!
(Yes I know I'm using a lot of exclamation points)
Top Gear and Car and Driver have both verified a top speed of around 253 mph.
And when Road & Track tested it, the Veyron turned the quarter mile in 10.2 seconds at 142.9 mph.
But now for the brutal truth.....
Mileage?
Ummmm.....7 miles to the gallon city, 10 miles to the gallon highway.
Price?
Sit down.
The Veyron lists for $1,600,000.

In the Cosmic scheme of things there is a balance though.
The over a million dollar Bugatti Veyron pulls a 10.2 second quarter mile at 142 mph.
But the 1968 Plymouth S/S Barracuda with a 426 Hemi V8 pulls a 10.5 at 130.
Now if you can just find a 68 Plymouth S/S Barracuda for under a million......

The Worlds Fastest Lamborghini ?

The worlds fastest Lamborghini may be a toss up.
In one corner we have the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640.
The Murciélago is powered by a 6.5-litre Lamborghini V12 engine.
The Murcielago LP640 can 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds, 0 to 100 in 8.1 seconds and turn the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds at 126 mph.
It has a top speed of around 219 mph.



It's rival is the Lamborghini Reventón.
The Reventón is powered by the same 6.5-litre Lamborghini V12 engine.
It's 0 to 60 time is the same as the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 that it's based on.
But with a 1.4 million dollar price tag on the Reventón compared to the $318,800 for the LP640, I'm gonna have to go with the Murciélago.
Not to sound cheap, but shelling out the extra money for the same performance?

The 2000 BMW Z8, the fastest BMW?

Not counting concept cars like the Nazca, the 2000 BMW Z8 may be the fastest BMW ever produced.
Powered by a 4941 cc(4.9 L)V-8 engine producing 394 bhp, this BMW could cover the quarter mile in 12.6 sec at 112 mph.
It's zero to 60 was 4.2 seconds, and going into hyper drive, it could run 0 to 100 in 10.2 seconds.
The top speed is listed at 155 mph, but I'm guessing it's a tad higher, barring any electronic governors.
The price for blasting around the country side at warp speed?
Around $128,000.
That, of course, is not counting how high your automobile insurance would go up!
The car was featured in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough in 1999.

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Is this the fastest Mercedes-Benz ever made?
Probably.
Is it the fastest automatic transmission car in the world?
Possibly.

The SLR (Sport, Leicht, Rennsport) is a limited run (about 500 cars a year) car developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive.
Is this car quick?
Well the power plant is a 5.4-litre (331.9 cu in), supercharged, all aluminum, single overhead camV8 engine.
This little technological marvel puts out around 626 bhp in a 3898 lb car!
In tests conducted by Car and Driver, this sleek little beauty hit 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds.
The SLR then turned in a quarter mile time of 11.6 seconds at 125 mph.
When Road and Track tested it, they turned 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and pulled 0 to 100 mph in 7.5 seconds.
And I remind you, this is with an automatic transmission.

The price for blasting around in this little rocket?
It starts out at around $ 495,000.
Hey, you gotta pay if you wanna play.

The BMW E63 M6

Possibly the fastest BMW ever made is the E63 M6.
This " Velvet Hammer"can hit 0 to 60 in about 4.6 seconds.
This land rocket has a speed limiter that keeps it at 155 mph.
BUT, with the limiter removed, the M6 can hit around 205 mph.
With the cool little "power button" the BMW jumps from 399 hp to a full 500 hp!

The Jaguar Mark IV

The Jaguar Mark IV, pronounced mark four, was a saloon (sedan) car built by Jaguar from 1945 to 1949.
It was a relaunch of a pre World War II model made by SS Cars Ltd from 1936.

Before World War 2 the name Jaguar was the model name given to the complete range of cars built by SS Cars Ltd. The saloons were titled SS Jaguar 1½ litre, 2½ litre or 3½ litre. The two seater sports car was titled the SS Jaguar 100 2½ litre or 3½ litre.

After the war the company name was changed to Jaguar Cars Ltd. While the post war saloons were officially the Jaguar 1½ litre, 2½ litre and the 3½ Litre, the term 'Mark IV' was applied by the trade simply to seperate them from the officially named Mark V.

http://www.saloondata.com/ is an online site that keeps track of all the Classic Jaguar Saloon's still around.

You can also get a ton of info on the early Jags here:
http://www.jag-lovers.org/firstcats/mkiv.php3

Jaguar recalls some XFs for faulty seat belts

Jaguar recalls some XFs for faulty seat belts

If you have a 2009 Jaguar XF, you should hop down to your dealer to have the rear safety belt assembly looked at. Jaguar is recalling 7,900 of the '09 cars because in an accident the rear occupants might not be properly restrained.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/29/jaguar-recalls-some-xfs-for-faulty-seat-belts/

Now would this have happened when Jaguar was still British owned?

Jaguar XK60

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the launch of the XK120, Jaguar is launching a special series of the current XK for the UK market – the aptly named XK60.
XK60s will be built from July 2008 and include 20-inch Senta alloy wheels, a sporty alloy gear knob and selector-gate surround, plus distinctive body enhancements: a new front spoiler and rear valance panel, chrome-finished side vents and bright upper and lower front grille meshes, special tailpipe finishers and appliqués on both sides of the car.

The Jaguar XK , part 3

In Europe the 4.2-S was unveiled at Geneva on March 1, 2005. This was the last XK to be rolled out that was based upon the original 1996 design. Features for the 4.2-S Four included new exterior and interior colours and two distinct veneer options for the instrument panel, polished door treadplates with chequered-flag emblems and embossed, leather-edged floor mats. The revised white Jaguar badge on the bonnet also feature chequered accents. New 19" Atlas wheels plus cross-drilled Brembo brake discs, red wheel badges and red brake calipers were also fitted.
Jaguar also produced a concept car called the XKR-R which was very similar to the production XKR, but boasting a more powerful 450 bhp (340 kW) engine, a manual gearbox, a limited-slip differential and improved handling. The naming convention is similar to that of the S-Type R special edition. Unlike the S-Type R, it will never be realised on a Mk.1 XK chassis although a model of the same name could appear on the Mk.2 XK later this year.

The Jaguar XK , part 2

Both the XK8 and XKR are electronically limited to a maximum of 155 mph, lower than the top speed of its predecessor. The XK8 heralded a change in direction for the company, resulting in the S-Type and X-Type.

The XK8 and XKR come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, and 19 and 20-inch wheels are available for additional cost. A navigation system and self-leveling xenon headlamps come standard with the XKR and as options for the XK8. Jaguar's Adaptive Cruise Control is an optional feature available on both models. Both come with all-leather interior, burl walnut trim, and side airbags. Jeremy Clarkson, during a Top Gear, a UK motoring magazine/TV show, test-drive, likened the interior of the original XK8 to sitting inside Blenheim Palace. In 2005 the grille design of the XKR was refreshed.

Only 600 XKR Silverstones were made, in celebration of Jaguar's return to F1 racing in 2001. It featured a Platinum paint finish, high-performance package (with the same engine as the standard XKR, but improved transmission, suspension and brakes), 20" Silver BBS "Detroit" wheels and a custom interior.

Built to celebrate the centenary of Jaguar's founder, 500 'XKR 100' coupés and 500 convertibles were made in 2002. The XKR 100 featured an Anthracite paint finish, Recaro seats, 20-inch BBS alloys, Brembo brakes, and custom interior.

The convertible-only Portfolios were produced in 2004 exclusively for the US market. Of the Portfolio models, 100 featured unique Red paint with matching Recaro sports seats and interior, whilst the remaining 100 had Blue paintwork and interiors.

There is also a 2008 Portfolio model planned which will be available worldwide, featuring the most powerful brakes featured on any production-line Jaguar.

The Jaguar XK

The Jaguar XK series (XK8 and XKR) is a grand tourer produced by British carmaker Jaguar since 1996. The car was introduced in Geneva Motor Show on March 5th 1996. It is the replacement of the XJS, and is available as a coupé and convertible. Currently in its second generation, the XK8 was the first 8 cylinder vehicle produced by Jaguar, when the Jaguar AJ-V8 engine was introduced.
The 1997 XK8 (project code X100) was available in coupé or convertible body styles and with either a supercharged 370 hp (276 kW) or naturally aspirated 290 hp (216 kW) engine. The supercharged variant is known as the XKR. The first-generation XK series shares its platform with the Aston Martin DB7. Both cars are derived from the Jaguar XJS, though the platform has been extensively changed.

Jaguar and Lotus to develop biofuel engine

Jaguar and Lotus to develop biofuel engine

Luxury car manufacturer Jaguar and Lotus Engineering are to partner for the development of an advanced internal combustion engine optimised to run on bioalcohol fuels. According to Automotive News Europe the two will work on a single cylinder engine project known as Omnivore, in conjunction with Belfast University.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080814/business/jaguar-and-lotus-to-develop-biofuel-engine

Jaguar XJ-S, part 4

lynchauto.net/_wsn/page3.html

Having been in production for over 20 years, the Jaguar XJS today can vary in price from $400 - $700 for an older coupe, to over $38,000 for a late V-12 Convertible.
In the United States, the coupes can be had in rough shape on a regular basis for $800 - $1,000 and convertibles bring anywhere from $4,000 - $15,000 depending on year and condition.
In the UK the best of the market is often considered by enthusiasts to be the mid-80's coupes. The rare 6.0 liter cars usually command a premium price in the US market with a 6.0 liter convertible bringing top dollar.

Jaguar XJ-S, part 3

The XJ-S was re-engineered in 1991 and renamed XJS, with a convertible waiting one year. The rear windows were enlarged, though the flying buttresses stayed, as designer Geoff Lawson argued that they were part of the car's character. The car got a new 4-litre version of the AJ6, and the V12 was upped to 6 litres in 1993/1994 (227 kW (304 hp)). At the same time the car benefited from a revision to the rear brakes, they were now fitted with outboard rear disc brakes, instead of the more complicated inboard items on previous models. With the introduction of the 6.0L V12, the transmission was also updated to a GM 4L80E with a 4th gear overdrive. These changes begin the "face-lift" for the aging XJS. A 2+2 convertible was also introduced, as was a customized insignia line. In 1994 the car received more aerodynamic front and rear bumper fascias, which completed the face-lift. 1994 was the only year the 6 cylinder with 5 speed manual transmission XJS was exported to the United States. Exact production figures are unknown, though it is likely there are fewer than 10. In 1995 substantial revisions were made to the 4-litre AJ6 engine which became the 4.0L AJ16 with coil on plug ignition being the most noticeable change. The car was discontinued in 1996, after 21 years in production. It was replaced by the XK8.

Jaguar XJ-S, part 2

From July 1981 on, XJ-S got the new High-Efficiency engine for much better economy; as a by-product, power was increased to 220 kW (295 hp) or 196 kW (263 hp) in North America. ( Yes, better economy AND 295 hp!) Also the XJ-S received changes to its exterior and interior (new five-spoke alloy wheels, chrome inserts on the upper part of the bumpers, wood inserts on dashboard and door cappings). In 1982, the new V12 XJ-S won first and second at the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone.

Throughout the life of the XJS, British company Lynx sold a high-quality four-seat full convertible conversion. Lynx also produced 67 hand-built two-door estate/shooting brake/station wagon versions of the XJS marketed under the name of "Lynx Eventer". The Eventer was a very elegant model, which succeeded in the overall design because it removed the flying butresses, incorporating them into the estate design. Jaguar were urged to market their own version but never did. Most Eventers are believed to still exist although build quality, especially on the early versions, was at best variable. ( Strange looking, but still very cool)

Jaguar XJ-S

The Jaguar XJ-S, later the Jaguar XJS, was a luxury grand tourer produced by Jaguar. The XJ-S replaced the legendary E-Type (or XK-E) in September 1975, and was based on the XJ saloon. It was developed as the XK-F, though it was very different in character from its predecessor. Although it never had quite the same sporting image, the XJ-S was a competent grand tourer, and more aerodynamic than the E-Type. The last XJS was produced on April 4, 1996, with the XK8 taking its place.

First, the XJ-S appeared in 1975 as a 1976 model. Power came from the Jaguar V-12 with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, but the manual was soon dropped. V-12 automobiles were unusual at the time, with notable others coming from Italian luxury sports car makers Lamborghini and Ferrari. The specifications of the XJ-S compared well with both Italian cars; it was able to accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.9 seconds and reach 142 mph (229 km/h). The first series of XJ-S cars had a Borg-Warner Model 12 transmission with a cast iron case and a bolt-on bell-housing. In 1979 GM Turbo-Hydromatic 400 transmissions were fitted. The TH400 transmission was an all aluminum alloy case with an integrated non-detachable bell-housing.

Jaguar's timing was not good; the car was launched in the wake of a fuel crisis, and the market for a 5.3-litre V12 grand tourer was very small. The styling was also the subject of criticism, including the "flying buttresses" behind the windows.

Jaguar seized promotional opportunities with the television series The New Avengers and Return of the Saint. The New Avengers featured Mike Gambit (Gareth Hunt) who drove an XJ-S. Reliability issues meant that three XJ-S cars were used. Return of the Saint saw Simon Templar (played by Ian Ogilvy) driving an early XJ-S with the number plate "ST 1". Miniature versions were made by Corgi and proved popular. A decade and a half before, Jaguar had turned down the producers of the earlier Saint series when approached about the E-type; the producers had instead used a Volvo P1800.

Responding to criticisms that the XJ-S was not a worthy E-type successor, Pininfarina revealed a sporty show car in 1978 based on XJ-S mechanicals and called Jaguar XJSpider. The car never went into production.

Jaguar Lightweight E-type

Jaguar Lightweight E-type

This was an evolution of the Low Drag Coupé. This Jaguar made extensive use of aluminium alloy in the body panels and other components. However, with at least one exception, it remained an open-top car in like the D-type to which this car is a more direct successor than the production E-type which is more of a GT than a sports car. The cars used a tuned version of the production 3.8 litre Jaguar engine with 300 bhp (224 kW)) output rather than the 265 bhp (198 kW) produced by the "ordinary" version. At least one car is known to have been fitted with fuel-injection.

The cars were entered in various races but, unlike the C-Type and D-Type racing cars, they did not win at Le Mans or Sebring.

Bob Jane won the 1963 Australian GT Championship at the wheel of an E Type.

The Jaguar E-type was very successful in SCCA Production sports car racing with Group44 and Bob Tullius taking the B-Production championship with a Series-3 V12 racer in 1975. A few years later, Gran-Turismo Jaguar from Cleveland Ohio campaigned a 4.2 L 6 cylinder FHC racer in SCCA production series and in 1980, won the National Championship in the SCCA C-Production Class defeating a fully funded factory Nissan Z-car team with Paul Newman.

Jaguar E- Type, Low Drag Coupé (1962)

Jaguar E- Type, Low Drag Coupé (1962)

After the introduction of the E-type, Jaguar wanted to investigate the possibility of building a car more in the spirit of the D-type racer from which elements of the E-type's styling and design were derived. One car was built to test the concept designed as a coupé as its monocoque design could only be made rigid enough for racing by using the "stressed skin" principle. Previous Jaguar racers were built as open-top cars because they were based on ladder frame designs with independent chassis and bodies. Unlike the steel production E-types the LDC used lightweight aluminium. Sayer kept the original tub with lighter outer panels riveted and glued to it. The front steel sub frame remained intact, the windshield was given a more pronounced slope and the rear hatch welded shut. Rear brake cooling ducts were located next to the rear windows,and the interior trim was discarded, with only insulation around the transmission tunnel. With the exception of the windscreen, all cockpit glass was plexi. A tuned version of Jaguars 3.8 litre engine with a wide angle cylinder-head design tested on the "D" type racers was used. Air management became a major problem and, although much sexier looking and certainly faster than a production "E" type, the car was never competitive: the faster it went, the more it wanted to do what its design dictated: take off.

The one and only test bed car was completed in summer of 1962 but was sold a year later to Jaguar racing driver Dick Protheroe who raced it extensively and eventually sold it. Since then it has passed through the hands of several collectors on both sides of the Atlantic and now is believed to reside in the private collection of the current Viscount Cowdray.

The Jaguar E-type (1971-1975)

A new 5.3 L 12-cylinder Jaguar V12 engine was introduced, with uprated brakes and standard power steering. The short wheelbase FHC body style was discontinued and the V-12 was available only as a convertible and 2+2 coupe. The convertible used the longer-wheelbase 2+2 floorpan. It is easily identifiable by the aggressive, slatted front grill in place of the mouth of earlier cars, flared wheel arches and a badge on the rear that proclaims it to be a V12. There were also a very limited number of 4.2 litre six cylinder Series 3 E-Types built. These were featured in the initial sales literature. It is believed these are the rarest of all E-types of any remaining.