As expected Rolls Royce has debuted its new “baby” Roller at Frankfurt. So, if this is the baby, it’s one big baby, especially in the engine department. Outside of the engine department, it’s all Rolls Royce with a big hulking presence lots of wood, leather and all around opulence more befitting an English gentlemen’s club than a car.

This car was rumored for a very long time … The Paris show of ‘06 to be precise, so to see it finally rolled out is a bit of a relief. Not to mention just how slow things move at the RR factory. But anyway, here it is, the new “entry level” or “baby” Rolls. Although how many car companies can produce a car that costs in the six-Euro range and call it entry level. Or for that matter, stuff a twin turbo V12 into the engine bay and say that it’s the “baby.”

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We’ve been talking about the Aston Martin Rapide for a long time now, and Aston Martin has finally decided to officially unveil the car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Most of what we said was negative, exclaiming about how we don’t think the car should be made, but they’re doing it nonetheless. Just like the Porsche Panamera and Lamborghini Estoque four-doors, these companies are about sports cars - not luxury sedans - and these four doors dilute the brand image.

The Aston Martin Rapide will feature a 6.0-liter V12 engine producing 470 hp, just like the DB9 coupe. A paddle-shifting six-speed “Touchtronic” automatic gearbox is standard. Almost like it’s a sports car or something… Continue Reading…

Finally, Ferrari unveils the long-awaited 458 Italia, the replacement for the F430. The 458 Italia is replacing the F430 as the next iteration in the line of Ferrari V8 GT cars. The 458 Italia is all-new from the ground up, not using a single element from the outgoing F430.

It will feature a 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 capable of about 570 hp - quite a jump from the F430’s 483 hp - and sports a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox, which maximizes torque at lower RPMs. 80% of the car’s 398 lb-ft is available at only 3,250 RPM. This allows the 458 Italia to reach 0-62 mph in under 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 202 mph - the first V8 GT Ferrari in the 200 mph club. Continue Reading…

Now it’s officially official, as they say. The long rumored, we know it’s coming anyway drop top version of Audi’s R8 has finally broken cover. “Breathtakingly dynamic open-top driving,” says Audi, and I’m not going to argue. The “normal” R8 is pretty impressive, especially when you consider what they sell for; which in the super car world, is sort of a bargain.

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way right off the top: That root beer brown color is terrible. That was a shade that barely worked in 1975, by now, it shouldn’t be anywhere near a new car, let alone the highly anticipated Audi R8 Spyder.

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Mazda is celebrating its 20th anniversary of the first MX-5 Miata roadster by creating yet another special edition. Unlike the production 20th Anniversary Edition, this MX-5 Superlight Edition will not be produced, but was created as a show car to demonstrate “how individual mobility can be maintained in a way that uses fewer natural resources,” according to Mazda.

The MX-5 Superlight Edition was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show today and shows off the possibilities and character of the MX-5 by coming in at under 1000 kg (2,204 lbs.) This is helped, of course, by the lack of a top, windshield, or windshield frame. The completely open top allows for other show-off attributes such as no door handles or side windows. Continue Reading…

Maserati is set to unveil the third model (third prong, if you will) in their line-up at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The GranCabrio, as you might expect from the name is a convertible version of their excellent GranTurismo.

The Maserati GranCabrio, just like the GranTurismo S, will be powered by their smooth 4.7-liter V8 producing 433 horsepower. Maserati is sticking with a canvas top, which while generally not as attractive as retractable hardtops, is lighter, cheaper, and keeps with tradition more so than the rigid alternative. You won’t be driving this around with the top up anyway. Continue Reading…