Just a few years ago, a relatively new supercar maker, Koenigsegg, came onto the scene and broke the top speed record for the fastest production car in the world with the CCR. The Swedish brand has since developed faster and faster cars, and still holds the title of one of the fastest cars in the world.

And what is the next logical step when dealing with one of the fastest cars in the world? Make it faster, of course!

German tuner edo competition has a reputation of making super-fast cars even faster, and their latest victim is the Koenigsegg CCR. How did it start? Turns out a current CCR owner got power-envy of the newer Koenigsegg CCX line, and was unhappy with his measly 806 horsepower. After visiting edo, he left with a car that’s faster, more drivable, and looks more like the CCX.

To make the changes, edo contacted Koenigsegg themselves to help out with the modifications of the drive ratio and ECU remapping. After focusing on the setup of the two superchargers, they made sure that they could produce maximum power while giving it a broader torque range across the powerband, hitting maximum torque earlier and actually decreasing the rev limiter to 7200 RPM. The new tune allows the V8 engine to produce up to 891 horsepower now – not a bad increase for just a few modifications.

They also modified the transmission to help with smoother shifts by disassembling the entire thing and replacing the plastic bushings with Uniball units. Additional performance changes include better brakes, more stability, with a top speed that is actually reduced slightly (but really, who’s going to hit 242 mph?) in the name of increased acceleration. I’d say it’s a good trade-off.

A few changes were made on the exterior to keep the car looking modern. They painted the existing wheels charcoal, gave the front-end a new bumper with fog lights, and fitted the interior with a new Pioneer entertainment system, Alcantara, and a redesigned center console.

Related posts:

1. eBay Watch: 2007 Koenigsegg CCX For Sale
2. Dealer Crashes Ultra Rare Koenigsegg CCX
3. Koenigsegg Agera Unleashed at Geneva

Any time Koenigsegg unveils a new car, it’s a truly special occasion. The Swedish supercar company just unveiled their latest creation at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – they call it Agera.

Agera is a Swedish term that translates into English as “to act.” And act it does. The Agera is fitted with an incredibly powerful twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine producing 910 horsepower (!) and 811 lb-ft of torque – all while running on regular-grade gasoline. The Agera rockets from 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds, going on to 124 mph in only 5.8 more seconds, eventually hitting its top speed of 245 mph-ish. Holy crap this thing is fast!

Koenigsegg says they like to stick with tradition, which is why the Agera looks suspiciously like the CC lineup, first developed 15 years ago. A few tweaks and modern interpretations later, the car still looks futuristic.

Of course a lot of new technology went into the Agera, many of which is the first in the industry. They’ve went so far as to develop a new type of interior lighting they call “Ghost Light.” Through the use of invisible nanotubes, the lighting shines through what appears to be solid aluminum buttons. This is the stuff of concept cars, and only Koenigsegg would put it into production. The rest of the center console is carbon fiber, as is most of the car itself. A customizable display will show a range of metrics from G-forces, power, sat-nav, music, as well as a lap timer for those brave enough to take it to the track. Koenigsegg also claims their traction control system is the fastest adapting system available, auto-adjusting for different road conditions, driving styles, and of course it’s customizable.

Naturally, the Agera is a two-door, two-seater, and yes, it features their specialty dihedral synchro-helix doors. The car will be put into production in about six months and will be built right next to the incredible CCX and CCXR. Check out more pictures below:

Related posts:

1. eBay Watch: 2007 Koenigsegg CCX For Sale
2. Dealer Crashes Ultra Rare Koenigsegg CCX
3. Koenigsegg Backs Out of Saab Deal

Well, that’s it then: Saab is dead. Or at least it will be very dead soon. GM couldn’t make the numbers work with selling a brand they had no business buying in the first place, and seemingly had no idea how to run or market, and now a very good an innovative car company, that was also one of the people that put international rallying on the map, is dead.

Bad news.

The title of the General Motors press statement tells you more than you need to know: “Saab Sale Cannot Be Concluded”

What the hell does that even mean? Could you guys sound any more like a much of mealy-mouthed, corporate-speak soul-less dorks? Yeah, you probably could, but you couldn’t even gin up the energy for that, now could you?

And why? Really, honestly, why did Saab have to go this way? Sure, they were quirky, like having the ignition key down there between the seats. And yes, they did have some glaring reliability issues (transmissions, mainly, if not solely). But it’s not like being a little on the quirky side is a death sentence (Subaru is still here, right?) and reliability issues can be overcome. Or at least you think they could be overcome by somebody with the engineering might of GM… but no.

You can look at this as yet another sign that General Motors is a pathetic and lazy giant, and has been for some time. Yeah, they’ve been able to have great successes when all they had to do was manufacture cars that were more based on style and marketing and catchy advertising campaigns than any real substance.

When it came to tail fins on popular new colors or making bigger, more opulently well appointed SUVs, GM was always at the top of their game. But make them have to hit a fuel economy standard, or build a car that was smaller than Camaro, and they were out of their element entirely.

And that’s only in the cases of government regulation. Give them some real, free market competition from the likes of Toyota or Honda or, shoot, seemingly anyone else, and we know how that story ends.

The General had first tired to unload Saab to Koenigsegg last month, but that fell through. And then it seemed as if Spyker was going to be able pick up Saab (hey, Spyker is Dutch, that’s pretty close to Scandinavia), but, as GM puts it, “During the due diligence, certain issues arose that both parties believe could not be resolved.’

Details? None, up to this point … but you have to figure it’s either Spyker not having enough cash on hand, or GM asking for too much of it (or maybe both, if I want to continue speculating on a hypotheses)

“Despite the best efforts of all involved, it has become very clear that the due diligence required to complete this complex transaction could not be executed in a reasonable time. In order to maintain operations, Saab needed a quick resolution. We regret that we were not able to complete this transaction with Spyker Cars. We will work closely with the Saab organization to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner. This is not a bankruptcy or forced liquidation process. Consequently, we expect Saab to satisfy debts including supplier payments, and to wind down production and the distribution channel in an orderly manner while looking after our customers,” said GM Europe President Nick Reilly. “

Yeah, blah blah blah Nick.

Saab will continue to honor warranties, while providing service and spare parts to current Saab owners around the world.

Source: GM

Photo from Flickr user: saaby

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1. Spyker & Saab CEOs To Run 57 Saab 93 In Mille Miglia
2. Koenigsegg Backs Out of Saab Deal
3. Saab’s Not Dead! Saab’s Not Dead! Saab’s Not Dead!

GM just announced that Koenigsegg backed out of their deal to purchase Saab. Not much information about it was given, and there is no word from Koenigsegg regarding why they decided not to purchase the GM subsidiary.

GM President and CEO, Fritz Henderson said:

We’re obviously very disappointed with the decision to pull out of the Saab purchase. Many have worked tirelessly over the past several months to create a sustainable plan for the future of Saab by selling the brand and its manufacturing interests to Koenigsegg Group AB. Given the sudden change in direction, we will take the next several days to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps next week.

We’ll keep you updated on any more information regarding this decision.

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3. Here We Go Again: Saab Inks Tentative Deal With Chinese Distributor Pangda

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know the Koenigsegg CCX is my all-time favorite car, above anything else. I nearly cried when I saw the picture above.

A dealer in New York decided it would be a good idea to take one of his customer’s cars for a spin around town. The half-million dollar 2008 Koenigsegg CCX isn’t your typical car, with only around 25 made per year worldwide, so when this guy crashed it into a guardrail taking out a Porsche GT2 in the process, I couldn’t imagine how he was feeling.

I imagine the owner was fairly upset.

source: WreckedExotics

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2. Koenigsegg Trevita – The Shimmering Diamond
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In Koenigsegg’s latest press release for the new Trevita, they say “When sunlight hits the car, it sparkles like millions of silvery white diamonds infused inside the visible carbon fiber weave bodywork.” I hear that kind of stuff all the time in press releases – a manufacturer trying to make the car sound amazing and poetic – nothing new. Thing is, this is for real. The Koenigsegg Trevita is coated in ACTUAL diamonds. Over the top and gaudy? Actually…no, not in this case.

Let me explain. Koenigsegg’s cars, as far as I can tell, all have bodys made completely from carbon fiber. Nothing new on a 200+ mph supercar, but that naturally isn’t enough for the Swedish brand. They’ve found a way to coat the fibers in a diamond finish, which as you could imagine, makes the car sparkle “like millions of silvery white diamonds infused inside the visible carbon fiber weave bodywork.” Indeed. I’m sure pictures do the finish absolutely no justice.

Trevita, in case you were wondering translates into “three whites” in Swedish. Appropriate, since only three of these cars will be made, sold to very, very rich customers. Price was not disclosed on the press release, but rest assured it is WAY out of our price range.

The Trevita is based off of the CCXR, which is the biofuel version of the CCX, producing an incredible 1018 horsepower. Equipment, other than the 4.7-liter twin-supercharged V8 engine includes the pictured double carbon rear wing, paddle shifters, exhaust system, carbon ceramic brakes, hydraulic lift system, and a chrono instrument cluster. Take a look at the pics below. Chances are, we’ll never see one in real life to see how the finish actually looks in person.

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Last week we learned that Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg made a promise to buy lagging Swedish passenger car maker Saab, who is currently wholly owned by GM. Considering the other cars that Koenigsegg makes, what could come from this acquisition? Koenigsegg’s slowest car – the CCX – produces a minimum of 806 horsepower for a 0-62 mph run of only 3.2 seconds and an incredible top speed of 250 mph.

So take this technology and put it into a Saab – a company known for their practical family sedans, and what do we have?

David Weaver – creator of the excellent Chevy El Camaro has created the above rendering based off the Koenigsegg CCX and the very cool Saab Aero-X Concept from 2006.

The stubby little KoenigSaab would surely be a blast on the track. Although it wouldn’t have the top speed of the excellent CCX, it would run around the track quite nicely.

Higher res image of the Koenigsaab

Related posts:

1. Koenigsegg Backs Out of Saab Deal
2. eBay Watch: 2007 Koenigsegg CCX For Sale
3. Koenigsegg Buys Saab

Well this comes as a bit of a surprise. Scandy automaker Koenigsegg, most well known for making a two-seater supercar of prodigious performance, has just put the final ink on the contract to buy Saab. What’s most interesting to us, the gearhead, is that Koenigsegg makes fast cars, and Saab has been known to make a fast car or two in the past. So what will the future hold?

General Motors made it official this morning that a consortium representing Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg will purchase the beleaguered Saab unit that GM bought a while back for no clear logical reason. At the moment, this is “just” a signed a memorandum of understanding, the big business equivalent of a promise ring, but barring some huge money problems, the deal is most certain to go through.

In the short term, this means that officially, Saab will once again be a fully Swedish automaker, which is good. I don’t like it when Group Of Rich Guys from Foreign Country “A” end up owning Lotus or Bugatti or, for that matter, Saab. It’s sort of like an NFL franchise leaving the city it started in, it just feels wrong.

Jan Åke Jonsson, Managing Director of Saab Automobile AB said, “The proposed agreement will enable us to maximize the brand’s potential through an exciting new product line-up with a distinctly Swedish character. Today’s announcement is great news for Saab’s current and future customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe,”

Under the terms of the memorandum, signed by all three automakers, Saab, GM & Koenigsegg, General Motors will continue to provide architecture and powertrain technology for a “defined time period.” Which is a polite and legalese way of saying that what is already in the works will stay on path. So, Saab’s 9-3, the next-gen 9-5 and forthcoming 9-4x, all products of existing GM technology, will all roll out as scheduled.

Via a GM-only news release, it was announced that the next-generation Saab 9-5 will be built in Saab’s Trollhättan, Sweden, assembly plant. Assumedly Koenigsegg will take possession of that historic auto plant, which is cool on a number of fronts, most of all because it’s named Trollhättan.

The deal should be done by Q3 of this year and it’s anticipated that a $600 million commitment of funding from the European Investment Bank will also come along with the deal. Saab is putting up some money, but just how much is unknown at this point, as is the price of the sale to Koenigsegg.

So this is good news over all. Good news for Saab, good news for Koenigsegg and it is very, very good news for GM

In the past two weeks, GM has: Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, sold Saturn to Penske Automotive Group, sold Hummer to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery in China and offloaded the majority of Opel to Magna Styer.

Busy, busy, busy ….

Source: LeftLaneNews

Photo from Flickr user henley_regatta

Related posts:

1. Koenigsegg Backs Out of Saab Deal
2. Saab Dead
3. Spyker & Saab CEOs To Run 57 Saab 93 In Mille Miglia

You don’t see this every day – a real live Koenigsegg CCX for Sale on eBay. Man if I had an extra $400,000, this would be mine in a New York minute.

For those of you not familiar with the Koenigsegg CCX, it’s a supercar made in Sweden, and holds the second fastest official top speed record in the world for a production car, reaching over 250 mph. It goes from 0-62 mph in only 3.2 seconds, carries a twin-supercharged 4.7-liter V8 producing 850 horsepower, and has one of the best engine noises in the world. According to Koenigsegg, the CCX can reach a top speed of 259 mph, but this has not been officially verified.

See below for more pictures:

The car in the auction is located in Tokyo, Japan and has a Buy-it-Now price of a (relatively) reasonable $400,000.

Those who know me are familiar with the Koenigsegg CCX being my all-time favorite car, as I am fully prepared at any moment to ramble on endlessly about how great it is.

eBay Auction: Koenigsegg CCX – auction no longer active

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3. Koenigsegg Backs Out of Saab Deal

SSC Ultimate Aero

Top Speed: 256 mph

Horsepower: 1183

Torque: 1094lbs

On September 13th, 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero broke the official top speed world record, traveling 256.18 mph down a closed section of a Washington State highway. Impressive, considering the Ultimate Aero’s engine is only a twin-turbo V8 – half the size and turbo count of the Veyron below.

Bugatti Veyron

Top Speed: 253 mph

Horsepower: 1001

Torque: 479lbs

No introduction is needed for the amazing Bugatti Veyron. Powered by a W-16 style, quad-turbo engine, the Veyron is commonly considered the Ultimate Supercar.

Koenigsegg CCX

Top Speed: 250 mph

900 Horsepower

My personal favorite of the bunch, the Swedish Koenigsegg CCX is pure adrenaline. I’d probably give up a kidney to own one.

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

Top Speed: 248 mph

750 Horsepower

The popular Mustang tuner Saleen has really made a name for themselves in the Supercar world with the amazing S7. The Twin-Turbo version really steps up their game. It should be exciting to see where they go from here.

McLaren F1

Top Speed: 240.14

620 Horsepower

Probably the most amazing car on the list, the McLaren F1 was first built over 13 years ago, and is still on this list.

Ferrari Enzo

Top Speed: 217 mph

657 Horsepower

I wonder how Ferrari felt when they sold the car for $660,000 new and were immediately sold second-hand for over $1.3 Million each.

Jaguar XJ220

Top Speed: 217 mph

549 Horsepower

Along with the McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220 has been around for a long time (1992,) and it’s amazing that it’s still on the list. Be sure to check out the Pininfarina version as well.

Pagani Zonda F

Top Speed: 215 mph

602 Horsepower

Right up there with the Koenigsegg on my “first cars I would own if I had the money” list, the Pagani Zonda F is one awesome car. The Zonda R is still close on the horizon, so expect to see the Pagani name higher up the next “fastest cars” list.

Hopefully that satisfies you all until the 2008 Fastest Cars list. Perhaps by then Pagani will build the Zonda R, McLaren will have made a decision on their next Supercar, and maybe Bugatti or Koenigsegg will decide it’s time to overtake the Ultimate Aero.

Related posts:

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2. 2007 Hyper-Cars: What’s New?
3. Update: Barabus TKR

Last update to this list: December 8, 2010

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Top Speed: 268 mph

1200 Horsepower

Not to let SSC’s Ultimate Aero supercar keep Bugatti in second place for long, the French supercar company slapped bigger turbos and intercoolers on their previous world record holding Veyron to produce a seriously impressive 1200 horsepower. The Veyron SS still houses the same 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine, but now produces 200 more horsepower. To handle the extra speed and power, Bugatti also had to revise the chassis and suspension. Only 30 Veyron Super Sport models are expected to be produced. Interestingly, the 30 cars sold to the public will be electronically limited to “only” 258 mph.

SSC Ultimate Aero

Top Speed: 256 mph

1183 Horsepower

Boutique supercar maker Shelby Super Cars (SSC) unleashed the Ultimate Aero in 2007, destroying the more expensive Bugatti Veyron’s top speed record. The car in question was a 2007 model – since then, SSC has upgraded the Aero to include an all-new twin-turbo V8 engine (half the size of the Veyron,) producing 1287 hp, giving the car a theoretical top speed of 290 mph. Nope, that’s not a typo. It’s also theoretical. SSC says given a long enough road, they could get the car up to 270 mph. That would break the Veyron’s record again, but let’s see if they ever get around to it.

Koenigsegg CCXR

Top Speed: 250 mph

1018 Horsepower

Although the Koenigsegg CCR broke the top speed record in 2005 on a totally unfair circular track, the updated CCXR has a better engine, aerodynamics, and, well, pretty much everything else. I’d love to see the Swedish company get this out on the VW test track, which is the same track on which the Veyron was tested (and a straight line, not a circle.)

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

Top Speed: 248 mph

750 Horsepower

Saleen’s first car not based on an existing model, the S7 supercar grabbed a lot of attention when it was released in 2000. An updated Twin-Turbo model followed shortly afterward, providing 750 hp and a 248 mph top speed. Saleen offers a competition package increasing power to 1000 hp, which brings the top speed up to a rumored 260 mph. Interest has dropped for the S7, but if they can come back and claim a top speed close to Bugatti and SSC, we might see some more of Saleen’s supercar in the near future.

McLaren F1

Top Speed: 240.14

627 Horsepower

Can you believe this? The McLaren F1 was made in 1994, and it’s still one of the fastest cars in the world. This happens to be the first car on this list I would purchase if I had the cash. Produced from 1993 to 1998, the F1 still sells for well over $1 million each, and I have a feeling it will only appreciate over the years. This is a timeless car and will remain on the all-time greatest car list for decades to come. Even though it’s no longer the fastest production car in the world anymore, it’s still the fastest naturally-aspirated road car in the world, sporting a special 6.1-liter V12 capable of biting your head off.

Ferrari Enzo

Top Speed: 226 mph

651 Horsepower

Ferrari’s most recent mega-car seems to have people crashing it left and right, but the drivers always walk away fine (physically.) With only 400 Enzos ever made, the value of the car goes up with each wreck. Sporting a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12, the Enzo is beginning to show its age, but remains one of the fastest cars in the world. Until Ferrari’s next mega-ultra-super-duper-car, of course.

Aston Martin One-77

Top Speed: 220 mph

750 Horsepower

The newest entry in our list, the Aston Martin One-77 is a very limited edition (only 77 made, who’d have thought?) supercar. Originally the top speed was estimated at a relatively paltry 200 mph but later tests confirmed a top speed of 220.007 mph. The 3,307 lb car can rocket from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds thanks to its 750 horsepower, 7.3-liter V12 engine and six-speed automated manual gearbox.

Pagani Zonda F Clubsport

Top Speed: 215 mph

640 Horsepower

Powered by a 7.3-liter AMG-built V12, the 640 horsepower Pagani Zonda F Clubsport created ripples in the car community when it lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife test track in only 7:24.7 seconds. A very impressive car – I’m actually confused as to why it’s not higher on the list, although Pagani claims that without the car’s aerodynamic equipment (added to increase cornering ability,) the Zonda F Clubsport would have a top speed of 220 mph.

Jaguar XJ220

Top Speed: 213 mph

549 Horsepower

Even older than the McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220 has been on this list since 1992. Sporting a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, the XJ220…wait…a 3.5-liter V6? 217 mph in 1992? That’s some seriously impressive engineering. Be sure to check out the Pininfarina version as well.

Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV

Top Speed: 213 mph

661 Horsepower

Another car I’m surprised isn’t higher on the list. The Murciélago LP 670-4 SV is not only the fastest Murcielago ever produced, but the fastest car Lamborghini has ever made, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds and hitting that 213 mph top speed. This is the last Murcielago variant Lambo is making – there have been plenty of rumor of a successor.

Pushed off the Top 10 List:

Porsche Carrera GT – 209 mph
McLaren Mercedes SLR – 207 mph

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2. 2007 Hyper-Cars: What’s New?
3. The Ten Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure in 2011

Supercars.net just released their 3rd annual “Top 10 Supercars” list for 2006. First place is a no-brainer, but there are a couple of surprises. Keep reading for the list:

Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina

The car has been designed, engineered and built entirely by Pininfarina, bringing to life something that, just a few months earlier, was just a dream and creating a sort of symbiosis between the customer and Pininfarina along the path leading to definition of this astonishing model. Starting from a Ferrari Enzo, the aim was to produce a sole vehicle inspired by sport racing cars with extreme vocations: not just a show-car but a vehicle to be enjoyed on the road.

After freezing styling with various touch-ups to the initial sketches, the surfaces were defined using CAS modeling, then moving on to actual construction and assembly. More than 200 components were specifically developed through constant interaction between styling and design: from the bi¬xenon lighting clusters specifically designed with an innovative system of yellow and white leds to the alloy wheels – 20-inch aluminum – milled from the block up to and including the aluminum and special steel in-sight hinges.

Caparo T1

As the world’s first road car to exceed 1 000bhp per tonne, the Caparo T1 will surely grab attention. Currently being developed by engineers that helped deliver the iconic McLaren F1, the T1 concept is a road going, two seat sports car using formula racing technologies whilst delivering safety and accident protection.

”To demonstrate our understanding of these fundamental vehicle engineering issues we set out to design an optimum package for delivering 1,000bhp-per-tonne,” says Caparo co-founder Ben Scott-Geddes. ”Interestingly, the sweet spot on the curve that satisfies many of these issues is 500 horsepower in a vehicle with a mass of 500kg.”

Gemballa Mirage Evolution

Gemballa USA is seriously representing that they are going to modify a Carrera GT in much the same way they push out the current 911 to make over 750 bhp. That is, attach twin turbochargers and make a 1000 bhp monster.

However, Gemballa’s ambitions don’t end there. This hypothetical makeover also includes a gullwing doors and a new carbon fiber roof, tested in the wind tunnel for 250 mph crusing.

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Underneath its purposeful skin, the 599 retains the same front engine V12 layout which the 550/575 Maranello line successfully reintroduced, and to make up for its longer chassis, the 599 uses a 6.0-liter engine engineered from the same one found in the Enzo supercar that can reach 612 bhp and 8400 rpm! With it, the 599 is the most powerful front engine Ferrari!

Attached to this engine and sitting in the rear, is a considerably upgraded flappy paddle transmission called the ‘F1-Superfast’ that changes gears in just 100ms. This is a huge improvement compared to 250 ms in the older roadcar systems, but lags behind the 80ms FXX and 30ms Formula One unit it’s named after.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

Designers and engineers have not only focused on reworking the engine, suspension, gearbox, exhaust system, brakes and electronics, but also the interior and exterior design. In their reinterpretation of the Murcielago, the designers at the Lamborghini Style Centre have made the LP640 even more aggressive.

The new car features a ton of new bits which include front and rear bumpers, a single exhaust tip incorporated in the rear diffuser, new rear lights, improved mirrors, improved windscreen wipers, revamped instrument panel lights and aerodynamically defined front and rear wings. For those wishing to flaunt the heart of their Murcielago LP640, on request an engine hood made of transparent glass can be supplied.

The engine of the new Murcielago LP640 has undergone radical modification. The increased bore and stroke have boosted the displacement of the classic 60° V12 from 6.2 litres to 6.5 litres (6496 cc). Thus, the already extraordinary 580 hp has now been elevated to an impressive peak of 640 hp (471 kW) at 8,000 rpm. This means the LP640 can now accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 3.4 seconds (0.4 seconds faster than the previous model), with a top speed of over 200mph.

GM EcoJet

-Looks a lot like a Cadillac Cien to me, doesn’t it?

The 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) Leno original is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle’s shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar.

Mosler MT900 GTR

The GTR takes all the design hallmarks of the original MT900 concept and pushes them to the limit. Specifically, the reliable seven liter engine from the latest generation Corvette Z06 is included as well as all the racing components that help the track version endure at the top level of motor sports. This is probably why Mosler of Germany (also a huge TVR outfit) calls their GTR the ”fastest production car for the track.”

While the exterior mimics the racing MT900s, including their huge carbon fibre wings, front splitters and rear diffusers, the GTR is much more civil inside. Here we have electric windows, remote locking, air-con, Recaro seats and a specially fitted Alpine stereo with carbon fibre speakers. Additionally, Mosler UK crafted up a new dashboard, instruments, carbon-fibre bits a new steering wheel with the script ‘MT900′ across the top.

Since the MT900 GTR borrows heavily from the Z06 it qualifies for the strict emissions regulations in the USA, but probably only in a normal state of tune. While the only one GTR is being flaunted in Germany, it is only a matter of time before the other headquarters in England and Florida begin to follow suit and include the Corvette LS7 engine in their lineup.

Koenigsegg CCX

The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations.

The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 engine based on the Ford Modular architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 825 hp (634 kW) on 110 octane (Euro rating, 95 octane US rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel, this making it a unique flexible-fuel engine in the sense that it actually produces more power while running on biofuels.

SSC Ultimate Aero TT

Using SCC’s proprietary twin-turbo design, the Ultimate Aero TT’s power plant has surpassed its original design specifications in all areas, producing a nasty 1180 bhp at 6750 rpm and 961 ft lbs of tarmac tearing torque while maintaining a paltry 2750 lbs of curb weight. The meticulously manufactured carbon fibre composite body harnesses a motor that has a wonderful idle, incredible daily drivability characteristics, runs on 91 octane pump fuel, easily handles the rigors of long term redline usage while delivering and incredible 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Further establishing its place among the supercars, the Ultimate Aero TT produces more emissions legal horsepower than any other production automobile in the world, thanks in the large part to the tireless efforts of the design team.

Noble M15

With a 455bhp version of the tried and trusted three-litre twin turbo engine Noble has come to rely on, this is also the quickest car ever to emerge from Barwell, Leicestershire. With the complementary figure of 455lb/ft of torque, all In a car that weighs slightly more than 1200kg, the M15 is devastatingly fast.

The M1S accelerates from 0-60rnph in less than 3.5 seconds and 10 l00 mph in less than 8s. It keeps going all the way to 185mph, too, and has been tuned for rapid acceleration throughout the range rather than an easily achievable 200mph top end speed.

Supreme cornering skills and a confidence-inspiring chassis are part the DNA and, in this respect, the M15 promises to be the best yet. The spaceframe chassis with integral rollcage is 57 per cent stiffer than the M12 that has won plaudits throughout the world and intensive development has ensured that the fabled Noble handling on the limit is even better than before.

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Ferrari…Lamborghini…Aston Martin? These are all child’s play when you put them next to a hyper-car; a different breed of supercar exclusively for the ultra-rich, usually costing over $350,000 or so. Ferrari makes one (the Enzo) and so does Porsche (Carrera GT,) but usually they are from car makers with names you don’t hear in normal conversation. Almost always made in very limited editions, you cannot turn to your car dealers or normal car review websites for information regarding these fantastic machines.

So for those who are familiar with these cars, how do you keep up on the news regarding them? Well, you turn here of course, at AutomoBlog.net Anyway, what’s the news on these cars? Read on…

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Not only is this the most expensive production car ever made, it’s also the fastest (although a couple cars are giving it a run for it’s money, keep reading for those.) Priced at approximately $1,700,000 this car has a W-16 style engine with 4 (yes, that’s four) turbos, pushing an amazing 1001 hp. So what’s new for 2007? Absolutely nothing. Most of us will never see one in our lifetime anyway. Sorry to be a Negative Nancy on that one.

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

So what are the cars giving the Bugatti a challenge? The $589,950 Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo is one of them. Powered by a 750 hp twin-turbo V8, this funky looking car can rocket to 60 from a standstill in only 3.4 seconds. Still slow when compared to the Bugatti’s 0-60 time of 3 seconds flat, but a rocket-ship by any other standards. How does it do this with half the Bugatti’s cylinders and half the turbos? Well, partly because the Saleen only weighs 2950 lbs, while the Bugatti tips the scales at 4162 lbs. Plus, look at all the alien-looking vents on the S7, every one of those are functional.

Pagani Zonda F

The first time I saw the Pagani Zonda was actually on Gran Turismo 3 for the PlayStation 2 and I was instantly amazed. “Look at the exhaust, look at the two spoilers, the headlights, the shape” and so on. This car is awesome, and has only been getting better over the years. It’s ultra-rare, and costs anywhere from $614,268 to $719,644 at today’s exchange rate. The picture above is from the awesome Zonda F, with a Mercedes-built 650 hp V12 that helps the car move from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds. And in case you’re wondering, the Zonda F weighs 2711 lbs, less than even the Saleen S7 TT covered above.

Koenigsegg CCX

Last but not least in this story in the Koenigsegg CCX, quite the beast of a machine. I just posted an article about the lucky bastards from Autoblog getting to test drive this car, and I’m still jealous. Check it out here. It’s the most likely contender with the Bugatti Veyron, as it’s 0-60 time is only 3.1 seconds, weighs only 2601 lbs and has 806 hp from a Supercharged V8. It just came to America only to be sold at one dealer in Las Vegas for a measly $700,000. Out of all these cars, I would feel the most comfortable calling this one a bad-ass. The road test I saw from Top Gear was amazing, and that was from the 2002 Koenigsegg CC, not the recent CCX.

I know you’re saying “where is such-and-such car,” but I decided to stop here because these four cars were the most popular of the hyper-cars and are currently available for sale. There are a lot of cars in this category I would like to cover like the Enzo, Carrera GT, McLaren F1 and the Mercedes SLR, but they are older models and will be saved for another article.

Did I miss out on any you would have liked to see? What are some of the other hyper-cars from years past that you are a fan of?

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I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say “You lucky bastards.” The folks from AutoBlog were recently invited to test the Koenigsegg CCX, now available in the USA (but only in Las Vegas.) If I had an extra $700,000, you better believe this car would be at the top of my list to buy.

“The car is a beast on paper. Capable of returning us to Southern California from Las Vegas in exactly one hour at its claimed top speed, we aren’t really sure how they had decided to let us drive it. But drive it we did. And boy oh boy did we enjoy our seat time. Racer Justin Bell helped us learn the track and the specifics about what to expect once it was our turn behind the wheel. 800 horsepower and nearly 700 pounds of torque are nothing to be toyed with, especially when there are no electron-inspired safety nets in place. But from the way he made it sound, this would be a cakewalk.”

Click Here for the whole story at AutoBlog

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