Some of us live in the real world, while other spend time in Fantasyville. Jon Sibal falls into the latter, and we're happy for it. The talented illustrator had given us glimpses of upcoming supercars – including the Ferrari Scuderia Spider, Mercedes SLR Speedster (later revealed as the Stirling Moss edition) and Aston Martin One-77 – before the manufacturers have released official pictures. So what would Sibal drive himself? Well, needless to say, it doesn't exist (yet), but while you might think it'd be some fantastic derivative of an upcoming supercar, what Jon has picked out for himself is a BMW M3 Touring wagon.
The current-generation M3 is currently made in three bodystyles: the E90 sedan, E92 coupe and E93 convertible. If you were high astute enough to follow the psychedelic pinball counting cartoon on Sesame Street as a child, you'll have noticed that the E91 is missing from the equation. That's the designation for the current 3 Series station wagon. BMW's anticipated to roll out an M3 wagon sometime in the next few months, but Sibal's not waiting around, and has given us these renderings to hold us over. While he was at it, he dropped the ride height down to the floor with a KW coil-over suspension, fitted a titanium exhaust, AC Schnitzer spoilers front and back, BBS mags coated in Yokohama rubber and Brembo eight-pot brakes, then added a supercharger to the M3's V8 and painted it satin white for good measure. Not too shabby, and not too far-fetched, either. Who knows, if Sibal earns what he deserves, maybe this fantasy can become reality when BMW unleashes the latest M3 Touring on the world.
BMW M3 Touring renderings @ carwallpaper
Aston Martin could be repossessed by banks
Aston Martin chairman David Richards has admitted that his company is in danger of a "technical breach of its banking covenants" sometime later this year. The situation could, technically, lead to the banks which financed the acquisition of the British sportscar-maker repossessing it.
Now we're not experts in finance. Not by any stretch of the imagination. So we couldn't tell you specifically what terms of the particular agreement between Aston's owners and its financial underwriters the company is in danger of breaching. But we take some comfort in the use of the contingent term "technical" in connection with the dire term "breach". At this point it would seem that the breach is only a possibility, not an eventuality, and that in such a circumstance the bank would have to be motivated to take control of the company. (We won't tell them if you don't.) But hopefully the Kuwaiti investors propping up Richards will work out a solution before it ever reaches that stage. Otherwise, Aston Martin could end up changing hands yet again.
Oddest casino prize of the month YES! Roadster Live
The first time I ever walked into a casino, there was a BMW Z3 sitting on a turntable atop a bank of slot machines. All I needed were three red sevens and I could drive it right out of the Rio in Las Vegas. I played those slots exclusively because the prospect of a free BMW was too great to pass up, and as you probably guessed, I didn't win. Cars are a great draw on the casino floor, and the Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek, FL has quite the unique roadster to draw in gamblers.
The car in question is a YES! Roadster Turbo S, which is apparently the only model of its kind on US shores. The 415 horsepower, turbocharged ragtop, which is valued at over $100,000, is guaranteed to be drawn on January 29. The Turbo S weighs in at just over 2,000 pounds, with an aluminum space frame and a rear mounted 3.2L V6 driving the rear wheels. The German automaker claims 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and a 200 mph top speed. Does that make it worth the gamble for the chance to win? That's up to you, but we'd probably give it a spin given the chance. Hat tip to reader Mattro.
Lamborghini Reventon up for sale
Even with a limited run of 20, a seven-figure price tag and ten making to the United States, you can bet there were more people who wanted to get their hands on a Lamborghini Reventon than there were examples on the market. However, one man's loss will be another man's gain, and a Reventon has just popped up for sale in California.
For those who've forgotten already, the Reventon was a special rebodied version of Lamborghini's flagship Murcielago supercar. It was named after a famous matador-killing fighting bull, painted any color the customer wanted (as long as it was grey – Grigio Reventon to be specific), treated to the very best the company had to offer and slapped with such a mark-up it'd leave a handprint on your face. But even with such a gargantuan sticker price, buyers knew it was bound to become an instant collectors' item. Case in point: this example, originally purchased eight months ago in St. Louis, has only 73 miles on the odometer, which we think is criminal. Let's hope someone buys it and drives it like it's meant to be driven.
UK Garage Lotus Extrema @ carwallpaper
The UK Garage (based in... Italy) and its Lotus Extrema has taken Colin Chapman's philosophy to a level the old man never could have imagined. Built atop a Mark I Exige, UK Garage widened the track, stretched the wheelbase and created a custom Mark II body kit to fit more rubber and make room for a range of mid-mounted engines.
On the low end of the spectrum, customers can equip their Extrema with a GM-sourced, turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 putting out 350 hp and tipping the scales at just over 1,800 pounds. A Superlight variant is also available, weighing in at 1,650 pounds and equipped with either a 2.6- or 3.4-liter V8, producing 360 or 450 hp, respectively. For those who want to go full (big) bore, the Extrema can be had with almost any GM-supplied V8, ranging from two LS3s producing either 420 or 500 hp, the 520-hp LS7 or the Corvette ZR1's 638-hp, supercharged LS9. With only 2,138 pounds to motivate, the range-topping Extrema is claimed to hit 60 in 2.9 seconds, blow through the 100 mph mark in under seven seconds and on to a top speed of 200 mph.
In addition to the engine upgrades, UK Garage can equip any model with a manual or sequential transmission, along with an Ohlins suspension, four-piston AP Racing brakes, roll cage and other safety systems. Both race-ready and road-legal versions are available with prices starting at €66,000.
Shelby Supercars promises breakthrough EV @ carwallpaper123
Shelby Supercars has just issued its second release this week about its miraculous new project, the Ultimate Aero EV. As we read the announcement, it was obvious that it was exactly the same release from just a few days ago and the hyperbole was in no way toned down. They are promising to deliver a working prototype by February of next year, followed by full production examples by the fourth quarter of 2009. That, in and of itself, is highly improbable, but it just gets better from there. The performance the company is promising is insanely impressive and about as likely to come to fruition as airborne swine or your fairy godmother.
SSC promises two, 500hp electric motors equipped with a triple disc clutch and a six-speed gearbox. As Tesla found out the hard way, making a gearbox last with an electric motor is tough, even with half as much power. But it gets better. SSC promises a power source with extended times between charges, perhaps as long as several years. We're still confused, but we don't think it's a coincidence that the company is making this announcement in the same week it announced its hopes of securing new venture funding.
Building a car powered by an internal combustion engine to go 250 mph is less of a big deal in this day and age. You just need an engine with enough power and a slippery shape. Building the kind of electric car that SSC is promising involves invalidating the most fundamental laws of physics. So for the time being, we remain comfortable skeptical.
2010 VW Golf GTI VI Photos @ cybercars
Volkswagen's public UK site has uploaded a new set of photos depicting the production version of the 2010 VW Golf GTI VI. But wait; didn't the Germans introduce the production model at last year's Paris Show, we hear you ask? The answer is sort of as VW unveiled the near-to-production GTI VI. And the differences are? Well, if our eyes aren't playing games with us, the only visible changes we see by comparing these photos with the ones from last year's show car are the more-production like headlamps and the blacked out front lip spoiler that was painted white on the Paris Show Golf GTI.
For more detailed information and photos on the sixth-generation Golf GTI, click here for the 3-door variant and here for the more practical five-door model.
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and Ralliart at carwallpaper123
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart 240HP 2.0-liter Turbo 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
The new Lancer Sportback and its 240HP Ralliart sibling make their world debut at the Mondial De L’Automobile in Paris, Mitsubishi released a full set of images of both versions of the 5door Lancer hatchback or as we prefer to call it for apparent aesthetic reasons, hunchback. Hit the jump to check out our high-resolution image gallery or click here to read the initial details on the new Lancer Sportback range.
