Seen by approximately one in every three Americans, Super Bowl 46 in Indiana’s Lucas Oil Stadium was a closely matched showdown between two NFL football teams with only victory in mind. On the field, the New York Giants resisted the last-second charge of the New England Patriots for the glory of this Sunday sporting classic. Apart from the battle on the gridiron, corporations have been spending on average 3.5 million dollars for every 30 seconds of commercial time in order to win over the vast television viewing public.

Auto companies again utilized breaks during this big game as an attempt to woo purchasers of what is often their second-most costly expenditure. For the 2012 game, Chevrolet bought several commercial spots, an Audi S7 Sportback inadvertently battled vampires and Mathew Broderick took a day off with the 2012 Honda CR-V. For the second year in a row, Chrysler’s Super Bowl advertisement garnered an MVP award-worthy play during halftime of the Big Game.

Compiling the revered “Imported from Detroit” marketing campaign into a two-minute spot for the 2011 Super Bowl, it was unarguable that Chrysler advertisement ran on emotions rare conveyed by a commercial. To the musical background of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”, a Chrysler sedan roared down the Detroit streets implying a shared sense of deviance to surrender to the worst of a broken economy. For the 2012 ad titled “Halftime in America”, Chrysler’s message was sent poignantly to an entire country.

Narrating and appearing in the Chrysler commercial was true American fixture Clint Eastwood. Through his signature raspy, low-toned voice, Eastwood initiated the Chrysler spot stating “It’s halftime”. Suggesting the NFL Championship at hand, television viewers were quickly introduced to halftime being a grander, symbolic reference. “It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.” Eastwood declared. In the advertisement, a visual of Americans from many walks of life. Instead of the chorus resisting failure on last year‘s ad, Chrysler’s 2012 Super Bowl commercial leaves on a note of rallying optimism with Clint Eastwood saying, “This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines.”

Though possessing a primary purpose of luring customers to buy Chrysler Group products, the spirit and words of the 2012 Super Bowl commercial is profound enough to motivate the general American public searching for the strength inside. Advocating the notion of an entire nation acting as one to combat even the most difficult decisions for a country, this attitude of some political pundits following the Sunday night Super Bowl commercial deeply contrasted the message. On Monday, several news shows read the Chrysler advertisement as a politically motivated act. Rather than showing the progress that Americans in the auto industry have made in only a short time, analysts and commentators felt the message was instead a shaming of those who did not support the United States auto company in its time of need. It seems disappointing that the accomplishments for a large group of people rising up in a tough economy (labourers, engineers, designers, accountants, salespeople and even the executives) has become another casualty of a presidential election year’s selfish, hurtful politics.

David Kelleher, President of Chrysler’s National Dealer Council representing 2,300 dealership outlets shared a statement February 8th relating to the “Halftime in America television ad. Kelleher stated the commercial theme was “… simply a recount of the achievement of Chrysler, and its dealers who sacrificed and drove to take this American icon from depths during the national economic downturn to the success we have accomplished to date.“ The statement ended with David Kelleher saying, “We have no doubt that this ad had no political agenda of any kind but rather a statement of fact and hope for the future for all of us and America.”

The spokesperson of the commercial Clint Eastwood was also confronted with questions that the Chrysler message demonstrated his so-called political leaning. Eastwood was required defend himself against words indicating no direct political message. For those who wanted to bring Clint Eastwood’s political past (that included serving as a mayor of Carmel, California) into the debate of this Chrysler commercial, he has shown an unapologetic ability see both sides of the story. Like so many Americans, Clint Eastwood overall appears only to support ideas, not parties.

A third and final detail of the 2012 Super Bowl ad considered Chrysler’s claim of nationality. On YouTube, there was at least one comment aware that the promotion the United States in the television ad does contain a taste of irony. Realizing that Chrysler is majority owned by Italy’s Fiat Group, Chrysler is not a purest’s idea of an American auto company. In an auto sector where global diversity is being exercised to build cost effective, reliable vehicles, every car brand can carry many flags. The recent automotive marketplace has become a situation where product nationality considers the people who build and sell a vehicle.

As inspiring or controversial the commercial “It’s Halftime in America“ is overall, Chrysler appears determined to continue fighting its game that has netted some major advances. Chrysler was able to boast the efforts of the company, employees and the loyal customers succeeded together to refire the automaker’s production engines. Leaving 2011 with year-end sales 26 percent higher than 2010, the regenerated Chrysler Group left the year posting the highest 12-month increase of the Detroit Three auto companies. Chrysler products enter this year 44 percent more customer sales in January 2012 than compared to a year ago. This 2012 Super Bowl Chrysler commercial promotes an auto company ready to introduce new products such as the Dodge Dart and SRT Viper less than three years following the near ruins of bankruptcy.

Information, video and photo source: Chrysler Group

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Every year, many people’s favorite part of the Super Bowl are the commercials. Year after year, it seems like more and more automotive-related commercials are being aired. For 2012, the Super Bowl XLVI didn’t disappoint, with a range of funny car commercials. Check them all out below:

(if the videos fail to load at first, click here to reload the page)

Chevy Sonic “Stunt Anthem”

Hyundai Veloster Turbo – “Cheetah”

2012 Acura NSX – “Transactions” (Jerry Seinfeld)

Chevy Silverado – “2012″ (The one Ford asked Chevy not to air)

Cars.com – “Confident You”

2012 Honda CR-V – “Matthew’s Day Off” (aka “Honda’s Ferris Bueller Commericial”)

2012 Audi S7 – “Vampire Party”

2012 Toyota Camry – “It’s Reinvented”

Hyundai Genesis Coupe – “Think Fast”

2012 Kia Optima Big Game – “A Dream Car. For Real Life.”

Cadillac ATS – “Green Hell”

Suzuki Kizashi – “Sled” (with 50 Cent)

2013 Lexus GS – “Beast”

Fiat 500 Abarth – “Seduction”

Chrysler – “It’s Halftime in America”

2012 Volkswagen Beetle – “The Dog Strikes Back”

Bridgestone – “Performance Football”

2012 Toyota Camry – “Connections”

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Many of you seen the Lamborghini special of Ultimate Factories, or many of the other “How Lamborghinis are Made” videos floating around, but not nearly as many videos have been made about the actual history of the Italian company, and even fewer go into detail about specific models and the culture surrounding them.

Car-News.tv just released a 45-minute, seven-video series outlining all of that and more, delving into the newest model – the Lamborghini Aventador – as well as concepts and older models.

Check out each video in the series below (despite the names, many of the videos cover more than just what’s said in its title):

Lamborghini History – Part 1 – Lambo Aventador

Lamborghini History – Part 2 – Lamborghini Murcielago

Lamborghini History – Part 3 – Lambo Meeting

Lamborghini History – Part 4 – Making a Lambo

Lamborghini History – Part 5 – Lambo Gallardo

Lamborghini History – Part 6 – Lambo Museum

Lamborghini History – Part 7 – Lambo Sesto Elemento

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A common consensus among automotive analysts (and most importantly customers) is Honda’s recent styling direction have been seen as too conservative. Still regarded as a builder of mechanically sound and liveable vehicles, Honda is being affected by the same pattern that Ford Motor Company encountered in the late 1920s with the Model T. An automobile must project a distinct character in order to be noticed in an active marketplace. While underwhelming in the styling department, the 2012 Honda CR-V crossover utility vehicle will have to benefit of a slick TV commercial officially making its debut during the 2012 Super Bowl.

One of the most coveted television advertising spots of the year, the championship game of the National Football League has only grown as marketing venue for major companies. With some ad spots costing up to 3.5 million dollars this year, these brief interruptions from the game action requires a strategic, memorable advertisement to grab viewer attention. When Honda purchased a 2012 Super Bowl spot for to show off the all-new Honda CR-V, the automaker’s dull image will be livened-up by the theme of the 1986 comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.

For the Honda commercial, Matthew Broderick reprises the adventure without necessarily continuing his famous movie character. Instead of playing the devilishly cunning Ferris Bueller, Broderick‘s “Day Off” with the Honda CR-V revolves around the actor playing hooky from a film executive. Though the Honda commercial relives many scenes from the original 1986 movie, the entire 2-minute, 25-second spot is a fresh piece of entertainment. Thanks to the direction of Todd Phillips (director/producer of Old School and the Hangover movies), Broderick and the Honda CR-V have wonderful comedic chemistry through this leaked Super Bowl commercial.

Beyond reviving the “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” adventure, the Honda advertisement presses the auto company’s new “Leap List”. The Leap List campaign is Honda’s attempt to encourage the Generation Y buyers to follow through with their aspiration. Of course, Honda intends for that the CR-V crossover vehicle will fill the criteria needed for extraordinary personal adventures.

In risk of giving away too much of this clever advertisement, I invite you to check out Honda’s Youtube link for a preview screening of the commercial. During the 2012 Super Bowl, football fans will see Matthew Broderick’s Day Off with the Honda CR-V in the fourth quarter of New England Patriot versus New York Giants.
Official 2012 Honda CR-V Game Day Commercial – “Matthew’s Day Off” Extended Version

Are you still reading this article? Please, read something else on Automoblog.net.

Information and photo source: American Honda Motor Company

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The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is the last remaining great open road race. Once it enjoyed the company of The Targa Florio, the Carrera Panamericana, The Dundrod Tourist Trophy and the great Mille Miglia, but now the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy stands alone.

But wait, isn’t the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy a race for bikes? Indeed it is. Some would call it the craziest motorcycle race on the planet, and others would call it simply the craziest race on the planet, period. Run on closed off public roads, the TT curse makes the Nürburgring look like a kid’s go kart track. 37 miles to the lap, the “mountain course” (as it’s known to the locals) has so many lethal dangers it’s almost had to list them all.

There are sections where the road is bordered on one side by rock walls and on the other by unpadded fence posts, taken at speeds way past the ton-and-a-half. Other sections are flat out through quaint little towns with curbs, then sidewalks, then stone buildings for “run-offs”.

Fatalities are far too common, yet the folks on The Isle of Man let the race continue and actively promote it. It is a helluva tourist draw, so what’s a few flying/smashing/caroming bikers?

And, as it turns out, Subaru will be a major sponsor of the Isle of Man TT for 2011, which, even though it is an open road race for bikes, it didn’t stop rally driver Mark Higgins from having a go at the full course in his slightly modified Subaru. Higgins took on the full might of the Mountain Course and had no problem in setting a new four-wheeled lap record around 37-mile mountain loop. He made it in just 19:56.7 with an average speed of 113 miles per hour in a WRX STI sedan.

It was not a drama free run though. Higgins set the record time on what was officially termed a “practice lap”, but on other circuits, there was a bit of excitement.

At one point, he barely manages to keep his STI on the road calling the near miss the “moment of his life.” What is even more interesting is, as you can see in the video here, is that Higgins’s passenger, Chris Cantle, stays cooler than a bug on ice as they both stare down what would have been an horrific 150-mile-per-hour crash. Sure, they had prepped the STI with a roll cage, racing harnesses and a fire extinguisher, but at these speeds on this type of terrain, they would have had better survival chances by racing through a minefield.

Of course, as fun as this all is to do and to watch, it does bring up a whole slew of tantalizing possibilities and questions. For one, would the good folks on The Isle of Man consider hosting a car race? Perhaps a round of the World Rally Championship? Most likely no. The speeds reached would be monumentally fast, meaning that any “incidents” would most likely be fatal. Meaning governing bodies (such as the FIA) probably wouldn’t sanction it. Also, as you can see from the videos, the roads can be frighteningly narrow. So passing would be problematic at best.

The most realistic and enticing possibility flows from what Higgins has just done. Once someone has set a speed record, whether it’s at Bonneville the Nürburgring or now, here at the Isle of Man’s Mountain Course, you know that can motivate other racers and car builders to want to give it a go themselves. Look at what happened at The ‘Ring between Corvette, Porsche, Nissan and Ferrari not all that long ago.

True, setting a lap record at the Nürburgring, a track which is effectively a public testing facility for major auto companies these days, is much more logical and justifiable than unloading your ride from the hauler for the TT course.

But it does give one food for thought, no?

Source: Autoblog

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I had heard that Morgan was bringing back their venerable, quirky Threewheeler some time ago. Brought a smile to my face, it did. And when I read that they were going to be using an American built S & S V-twin in place of the JAP V-twin (that’s JAP for JA Prestwich Industries, by the by), I thought, well, they should even be more reliable.

But I was still worried about the handling. These things are sketchy to say the least. I remember seeing a whole gaggle of these things in a race years ago, and to say their handling was “iffy” would be a huge understatement. Frightening was more like it. They seemed skittery and leaned at odd angles at odd times. And if you were to get too far out of shape and ball it up … well, let’s just say they didn’t seem like the most structurally robust designs on the track that day. They seemed, and still do seem, to be like a Sopwith Camel with the wings removed.

Or perhaps I should now say they WERE sketchy in the handling department.

That’s when I saw the video that I’ve included here. Not only is it fun in general to watch someone hoon around and do doughnuts, but boy the new Moggy Threewheeler looks as flat and stable as an enduro kart. The guy at the wheel displayed great control, and could twist the pint-sized trike around at will.

And the S & S plant sounds very, very nice as well. Which got me to thinking that the reborn Morgan Threewheeler could make an interesting alternative to a Lotus Seven. Sure, they will be asking $40K for it when it rolls out (at current exchange rates), which is about what a fresh Lotus (nee Caterham) would set you back, and, sure, you’re getting 25% less wheels, but it does look like fun.

What would be less fun would be getting in an accident with this thing. I was going to say something about getting hit by a semi, but that’s just stating the obvious. Getting hit by a bottom of the barrel Kia would most likely wad the thing up kill you. Hell, getting hit by a shopping cart strikes me as an iffy proposition, now that I think about it.

Still … Wouldn’t it be a total hoot to get a couple of these things and go tear-assing up some mountain road, or down the coast with a friend on some early summer Sunday morning? And of course in that situation, safety would not be in the forefront of my mind. Commuting, on the other hand … not the way the idiots on the roads around here drive. Hell, I could be driving a Stalin III tank and I’d still be nervous sharing the roads with these numbskulls.

One thing I can’t find in the company literature is whether the Threewheeler will be licensed as a car or as a motorcycle. Normally, anything with three wheels here in the good old U.S. of A. counts as a bike. Which should make for some interesting discussions with the cops that will, undoubtedly, pull you over.

So yeah, qualms about size and “safety” and all that aside, sign me up.

Source: AutoBlog

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Must suck to be the Nissan GT-R. Yeah, it’s a fantastic car and a true track superstar, but being the best also comes with the burden of being the benchmark – the car that gets picked on and constantly compared to. The worst is when you – a supercar – are compared to the epitome of big-honkin’ SUVs – the Cadillac Escalade.

Of course, this is no typical blinged-out Escalade, it’s been given the Hennessey treatment with their new “HPE1000″ upgrade package. That means it boasts, among many other engine upgrades, two turbochargers allowing the engine to produce just over 1000 horsepower from its 6.2-liter V8. The first thing that makes me wonder is how they’re able to get more power than the Bugatti Veyron with half the number of cylinders and turbochargers. It also makes me wonder why you’d want over 1000 horsepower out of an already overpriced family-hauler. Aside from the fact, of course, that you could beat a Nissan GT-R in a drag race. Check out the video below for that little spectacle:

So that’s impressive, but there are a couple caveats here. First, the Caddy only beat the GT-R by a tenth of a second, and that includes the couple tenths head start it got off the line. Second, they aren’t using the new and improved 2012 GT-R, which happens to be able to hit 60 mph from a stop in only 2.9 seconds.

But still, a ridiculously heavy Cadillac Escalade beating a supercar at anything aside from amount of cargo space and size of its “dubz” is an impressive feat, so we give Hennessey props for that.

The HPE1000 kit is available for any 2007 to 2011 GM SUV or Truck using the 6.2-liter V8, so if you happen to own a Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado, Yukon, Sierra, Escalade or Hummer H2, you could (in theory) beat an (older) Nissan GT-R in a straight-line drag race. Check out some more pictures below, including a dyno chart:

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Providing a brief teaser video in their Facebook page, Chevrolet readies the launch of their most important mid-sized sedan, the 2013 Malibu. Giving a momentary peek at the next generation family sedan, styling input was clearly garnered off the preciously regarded Chevrolet Camaro (inspiration that needs no apologies). Lead exterior designer of the upcoming Chevrolet Malibu Dan Gifford narrated the intent for the new car’s shape as being more “athletic” and “aggressive“. Focused on “strong wheel-oriented forms“, Gifford continued describing the benefits of the 2013 Malibu’s additional width. The hood and deck lid are also detailed by featuring “dynamic surfaces” which will manipulate light.

Chevrolet has also detailed the powerplant expectations for the next Malibu as derived from a family of four-cylinder engines. To be built on the same Epsilon II platform as the Buick Regal, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is likely to feature a turbocharged and eAssist model. All engines will run through one of the 2013 Malibu’s 6-speed transmissions (assume both a manual and automatic option).

As Chevrolet continues to assert itself as a global brand, the next generation Malibu is positioned for an important role as a world car. Forecasted for nearly 100 markets around the globe, the auto company took special considers for the official unveiling their sedan with equal regard across the planet. Using a location where much of the world shares easing access, the Internet will be the site where General Motors opts to introduce potential customers and automotive fans to the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on April 18th. Most specifically occuring on April 18th at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, Chevy’s social network page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/chevrolet) as well as Apple iPad and iPhone devices will offer live streaming of the 2013 Malibu’s grand exhibition.

Born as a dressed-up version of the Chevrolet Chevelle, the Malibu name borrowed from a sunny locale within California. Outliving the Chevelle, the Chevrolet Malibu would endure from 1964 to 1983 as a hot-selling workhorse for the popular American auto brand. The Chevrolet Malibu was forced in 1984 to give way to the front-wheel drive Celebrity as marketing slowly began to retire the brand’s longer running nameplates in favour of newer, fresher model names.

In the mid 1990s, Chevrolet had second thoughts on populating their model line-up with newer, unfamiliar names. In 1997, Chevrolet resurrected the Malibu name to be worn on the brand’s Corsica sedan replacement. A welcomed return in the 1997 model year, the Chevrolet Malibu’s qualifications as a solid mid-sized sedan was never enough to match wits with inside the highly competitive North American family car category. Faced against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, neither the 1997 reintroduction nor the 2004 redesign massively penetrated the Japanese sedan’s US sales success. Massive improvements in 2008 saw the Malibu gain significant ground on the Camry and Accord inside a now even more competitive market.

Debuting to the world on-line, the first physical auto show presence of the 2013 Malibu will be on April 19th at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show in China. The first time North American auto fans will be able to witness Chevrolet’s mid-sized refit is set for the 2011 New York Auto Show starting on April 23rd.

Not only having to live up for a series of well-received new product releases including the Camaro, Equinox and Cruze, the additional marketing pressure of almost 100 countries has the days for the next Malibu far from a relaxing trip to the beach.

Information and photo source: General Motors

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The Need for Speed team just released a new video showing some behind the scenes footage of what went on in the making of their newest simulation racer – Shift 2 Unleashed. The graphics on this game look unbelievable, and all the small details behind the playing experience are what really makes it unique.

Racing is exhausting. Racing is violent. Racing is fluid. Racing is not muted, static or uninspiring. When you take to the track SHIFT 2 Unleashed for the first time, you’ll feel a rush you’ve never felt before in another racing game.

Top racecar drivers, including Tommy Milner, Edward Sandstrom and drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. all spent a great deal of time with the team at Slightly Mad Studios, helping make SHIFT 2 Unleashed the most realistic racing game you’ll ever play.

If you wanted an authentic racing experience, look no further than SHIFT 2 Unleashed. The new ‘helmet cam’ view puts you inside the heads of the best racecar drivers, who are always plotting their next move on the track, and drifters, who need to avoid walls at all costs.

As you’ll see in this video, no detail was too minute, nothing was left to chance and every possible element of real racing was covered during the development of SHIFT 2 Unleashed. Take the most realistic racing game on the planet for a spin on March 29 and you’ll see what we mean. SHIFT 2 Unleashed is real racing.

Preorder NFS: Shift 2 Unleashed at Amazon.com for release on March 29th, 2011 and get a $10 credit for a future Amazon purchase.

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In the United States, historically wagons have just never have fared well. For the most part they have a stigma that is similarly shared with hatchbacks and minivans. In Europe however, wagons are best sellers in the marketplace.

As such, for instance Jaguar is placing a high priority on launching a new XF wagon (“estate”). Saab is also doing the same with the new 9-5 that launched last year. With goals for higher sales in 2011, Saab is counting on new models like the SportCombi to help boost sales in Europe.

Its clear that the modern wagon entries are nothing like their predecessors, and Saab proves that a wagon can indeed by very good looking with the 9-5 SportCombi. If any car can change perceptions about wagons, this should be it.

There isn’t details revealed about the car yet, but Saab has taken the wraps off a few pictures as well as dropping a short video revealing the car in a menacing black color. It’ll be interesting to see if the car is sold in the U.S and how it fares if it does. With vehicles like this, Saab deserves a comeback in 2011.

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This year’s Super Bowl XLV is set for February 6, 2011, to be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. You know what that means don’t you? Why, a whole bunch of new car commercials floating around, of course.

With everyone glued to televisions, automakers often unleash a significant amount of money purchasing spots during the most expensive time of the whole year. General Motors recently announced it would be making a return to advertising at this year’s games.

Audi, who just broke it United States sales record in 2010, has been a prominent sponsor at the games over the past few years. Its past spots have generated a lot of new publicity. This year, with strong momentum it is set to do it again, introducing a spot showing off its new A8 luxury sedan.

It is dubbed “Goodnight” and is a play off of the children’s book “Goodnight Moon.” It is in a similar theme to Cadillac’s “Red Blooded Luxury” commercial, and it is quite well done. Check it out below and let us know what you think of it in the comments.

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Sometimes automakers release teasers that make us highly anticipate the new vehicle, creating a lot of suspense around the introduction. Other times, there is too much done over a such a long period, to the point where a lot of the buzz dissipates. BMW would have to fall in the previous category with the 1-Series M.

Audi even had time to preempt BMW with the launch of the RS3 Sportback, which won’t be making its way to the United States. Initially, news about production of an M model for the current generation 1-Series was a surprise – many expected the M model not to launch until the next generation car arrived.

The new 1-Series M has the distinction of the M designation being applied behind its name, unlike the M3 and M5. This is due to BMW’s reluctance to call the car M1. To that, we say good move BMW – save that name for a new supercar, or never use it again. Regardless, the 1-Series M looks to be more of a successor to the original M3 than the current M3. The M3 has gotten bigger over time.

After many different shots shown previously with camouflage, we get to see a glimpse of the 1-Series M totally uncovered in a new video from BMW. Horsepower figures have yet to be revealed – the information trickle isn’t over yet. Expect the 1-Series M to make a debut at next month’s North American International Auto Show.

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Ever since the Audi A5 debuted, the rumor mill has swirled about the possibility of a new Quattro model based on the platform. Originally, many thought it would basically be a more extreme RS5. However, Audi had different plans with its surprise introduction of the Quattro Concept at the Paris Auto Show.

The car is far more than a warmed over RS5, with a completely new body and powertrain. As far as styling, the Quattro Concept is every bit modern Audi, but with strong echoes of the original. The look is fantastic and in our opinion the stunning design would mark the best-looking production Audi.

With the anniversary of the Quattro all-wheel drive system, the car would be a fitting commemoration of Audi’s past and a tribute to the original Quattro Coupe.

The car uses existing parts sourced from Audi’s deep performance parts bin – a shortened version of the RS5 platform and the 2.5-liter 5-cylinder sourced from the TT-RS and pushed out to 408 horsepower and 354 pound feet of torque. 0-60 time is just 3.8 seconds and with those figures, the Quattro Concept offers a R8 5.2 FSI-like power-to-weight ratio.

Do we want it to see production? Oh yes. Reports have indicated that is a likelihood, and Audi’s actions seem to point to that as well. The brand has talked about it endlessly and has released a new video showing off the Quattro Concept and the original 1984 Quattro Coupe together. It is a must watch. Check it out below.

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While Porsche has long branched out into sport utility vehicles and even a more handy sedan, loyalists to the two-door sports car lifestyle may feel somewhat disrespected. Their concern is the core values of the German car builder is conceding to new markets as well as the increased reliance on comfort-based electronics. Thankfully, over the past year, racier editions of the Porsche 911 (Carrera GTS and the Speedster) has invigorated the essence of sports car performance.

Revealed in a Peridot Metallic colour at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, Porsche has torn the covers off their newest edition vehicle. Exploiting many of the technical advantages used to construct the Porsche Boxster Spyder, the Porsche Cayman R is a pure, bare bones sports car.

Much like the Porsche GT3 RSR and Porsche Cup competition cars which make ongoing assaults on sports car racing’s more popular victory lanes, the 2012 Porsche Cayman R immediately makes the brand’s entry-level coupe a true looker. Wearing a standard front and rear spoiler obtained through the existing Cayman Aerokit. Standard on the Porsche Cayman R, the Bold “PORSCHE’ branded striping is not required to remark the brilliance and beauty of the classically derived sports car shape, the company often defines their proudest achievements within racing stripes. Black headlamp frames and mirrors completes the 2012 Porsche Cayman R styling.

In creating the 2012 R version, the Porsche Cayman’s body now rests 0.79 inches lower than the Cayman S thanks to a specialized sports suspension. Holding tighter to the ground, improved center of gravity translates into fluid handling in corners and more aerodynamic utilization in a straight line. Lightweight 19 inch wheels reduces the unsprung weight of the vehicle further enhancing the Cayman R’s manners. Also driven by the initiative of reducing weight, the Porsche Cayman R replaces door panels with aluminum reducing the weight by 33 pounds.

For premium car buyers who justify their new car purchases with the latest in convenience technology, the 2012 Porsche Cayman R jazzy, multi-colour interior is fueled by the outer performance desires. Notable absences inside the Porsche Cayman R is cup holder and the stereo system (though a premium audio system and a navigation computer can be optioned). The Cayman R’s sport bucket seats featuring carbon fiber backing and Alcantara construction is said by Porsche to have shaved 26 pounds from the vehicle’s total weight.

With all the weight-shaving attention, curb weight of the Porsche Cayman R is 2,855 pounds with a 6-speed manual or 2,910 fitted with the 7-speed, twin-clutch PDK transmission. In translation, this Cayman R model weighs less than a base Porsche Cayman.

Coupled with the aerodynamic enhancements, the power to the ground is left as the only ingredient in making the 2012 Porsche Cayman R a full package. Featuring a careful performance tweak of 10 horsepower to 330 with the 3.4 liter flat-6 engine, the Porsche Cayman R reduced overall weight pushes the car’s weight-to-power balance to just 8.58 pounds per horsepower. Launched with 273 foot-pounds of torque, acceleration and speed is given a healthy bump. The Porsche Cayman R strips two-tenths of a second off the Carrera S times with a 4.7 second 0-60 mile per hour time achievable with the manual. The PDK transmission paired with the optional Sport Chrono package moves at a lightning fast 4.4 seconds. Top speed of up to 175 miles per hour is on tap with the 2012 Cayman R edition.

Entering the 197 Porsche dealerships of the United States for February 2011, the 2012 Porsche Cayman R will start at a $66,300 base price.

Information and photo source: Porsche Cars North America

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Aston Martin just released this new high-def promo video for the limited-edition V8 Vantage N420. Make sure to watch it in full-screen HD, it’s a nicely put-together film. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 builds upon the standard V8 Vantage, but is based on the N24 race car that James May begrudgingly drove across Europe in an attempt to find the best driving roads in the world on Top Gear.

Although the V8 Vantage N24 produces no more power than the standard Vantage (420 hp,) it’s quicker due to its lighter weight (60 lb savings,) “sports” exhaust system, and upgraded suspension. The interior has also been revised with special trim, “Race Track” stitching, carbon fiber seats, graphite instruments, and leather- or alcantara-covered steering wheel. On the outside, buyers get new black 10-spoke wheels, a few exterior trim changes, and some special color choices.

Check out the video below:

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