Well, you’re probably all too drunk to be reading this, but maybe you’ll catch it in the morning.

As you and your liver know, it’s St. Patrick’s Day today! St. Partick’s Day started when…huh? Yeah, pass over another Guinness!

Enough talking – check out the gallery below and let us know what green supercar is your favorite. Feel free to share your own in the comments!

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Modern supercars have incredible features that are bringing these vehicles closer to jets on wheels. The speeds have gotten so incredible that there is now a new class of supercar: hypercars.

The trend has been to develop more lightweight vehicles made of composites with ridiculously powerful and highly tuned engines.

Here is a list of the ten supercars to watch for in 2013. As you’ll see, the trend for extreme speeds and high prices looks set to continue. For the dreamers we added one concept car that we would love to see developed and manufactured.

DC Avanti – $57,387

India has developed its first supercar with the DC Avanti. It has a wide smiling front with a crisp, efficient, compact shape. India has a large population with more wealth to spend on exotic cars, but the DC Avanti may be one of the most affordable on the list. This supercar is based around a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine delivering 261 horsepower. It goes from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 7 seconds, which is just a smidgen faster than your typical family SUV!

Pagani Huayra – $1,360,000

The Pagani Huayra bursts with energy and looks like a power plant ready to explode. The lightweight carbon-titanium chassis weighs less than 3,000 pounds. This machine is built for pure speed with its 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V12 engine. The Huayra reaches 230 miles per hour with 700 horsepower.

Koenigseggs Agera R – $1,611,000

The Swedish Koenigsegg Agera R has a race car design with enhanced aerodynamics. It looks like it is about to pop a wheelie. It reaches 273 miles per hour. It is run on a 5.0-liter V8 DOHC for 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. It can use E85 or E100 biofuel. Its one-piece exhaust outlet is unique.

Porsche 918 Spyder – $845,000

The Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid has a 4.6-liter, V8 engine delivering 800 horsepower. This Porsche hybrid has three electric motors reaching 198 miles per hour. This exotic mainstay runs from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3 seconds. Only 918 units will be made, so you can expect demand to be strong. At least you know the resale value will be strong.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta – $330,000

Ferrari has achieved a well-deserved reputation for motoring excellence. The efficient Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 6.3-liter, V-12 engine reaches 731 horsepower. The Berlinetta goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.0 seconds. Immediate acceleration is delivered by this well-made famous model. The steering is delicate to provide great control for the driving elite. This superfast Ferrari has arguably the most bang for the buck out of this bunch.

Lamborghini Aventador GT – $387,000

Since 1963, Lamborghini has set the standard for many supercars with its jaw-dropping appearance. The Lamborghini Aventador GT has a powerful mid-mounted 6.5-liter, V12 engine. This unique model is a four-seat supercar with shortened scissor doors. Now the entire family can enjoy the supercar’s speed. With 700 horsepower, the Aventador GT is expected to launch at the March 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

McLaren 12C Spider – $211,839

Since 1989, McLaren has been setting speed records for the supercar, street-legal class. The McLaren 12C Spider comes in a convertible or coupe version for 2013. Its 6.0 liter, V12 engine goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds. With 510 horsepower, it is less potent than competitor models. The McLaren’s top speed is 183 miles per hour.

Tramontana XTR – $800,000

The Spanish Tramontana XTR generates 888 horsepower. This bull is run by a Mercedes-Benz 5.5-liter, V-12 twin-turbocharged engine. It is a 2-passenger supercar going from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds. The Tramontana XTR has a top speed of 200 miles per hour. Look for this model at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2013.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport – $2,725,000

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport features a 1,200 horsepower 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder engine that can power the car up to 268 mph. In other words – it packs a punch. It is after all, the fastest production car in the world right now.

Aston Martin One-77 – $1,850,000

Does the idea of owning an Aston Martin get old? Not in our opinion. There will only be 77 of this car made, hence the name “One-77.” if you have an extra $1.85 million lying around, you might want to visit your nearest dealer. Imagine driving 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds, and powered by a 7.3 litre 12 engine that delivers 750 hp. Not only will you arrive at your destination quickly, you will arrive in style. The One-77 might be the best looking car on this list, and as you can tell, one of our favorites.

Lamborghini Estoque – Concept

The Estoque is one of the rare front-engine supercars built by Lamborghini. Its 5.2-liter, V10 engine has 6 speeds. This model has a lightweight aluminum architecture with carbon-fiber and all-independent, double-wishbone suspension. This full-size luxury car has a base curb weight of 3,850 pounds and height of 53.2 inches (1.35 meters). Sounds nice but at this point making it to the showroom floors anytime soon might be a stretch. The Estoque is not yet approved and would need at least four years to make the four-door sedan a reality. Economics may be part of the issue, but we will hold on to the vision a little while longer.

Are there any upcoming or current supercars you’re excited to see in 2013?

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Koenigsegg, the Swedish supercar maker, debuted an updated model of their most extreme car to date – the Agera R – at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The example you see in these pictures featured a gorgeous matte blue finish with carbon fiber (no paint) hood stripe and side, along with carbon fiber accents abound. The interior also shows off plenty of bare carbon and the seat leather matches the exterior. I think I’ll take mine just like that. If that configuration isn’t your thing though, check out Koenigsegg’s Agera R Configurator – you can get it pretty much however you want, choosing from unlimited colors and variations in brightness and saturation.

One of the most noteworthy changes to the 2013 Agera R are the new wheels Koenigsegg developed. Called “Aircore,” the wheels are completely hollow carbon fiber, bringing a new meaning to lightweight wheels, saving nearly 44 lbs of unsprung mass. That’s a big deal. You can see a closeup in the image gallery below.

Along with the new wheels, they managed to increase power even more by developing a new engine management system and raising the rev limiter on the twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 from 7250 rpm to 7500 rpm, effectively increasing horsepower from 940 to 960hp, or if you use E85 gasoline, you get a massive 1140hp, up from 1115.

Other changes to the 2013 Koenigsegg Agera R include a new lightweight rear exhaust, new front/side winglets to create more downforce and less drag, and a new “Triplex” suspension, developed in partnership with Swedish shock manufacturer Öhlins Racing.

So, what do all those changes get you? The 2013 Agera R can hit 62 mph from a stop in a mere 2.9 seconds, go on to 200 mph in only 14.78 seconds longer, moving on to a top speed of around 273 mph (although that’s yet to be proven.) That sort of performance and you still get a detachable hardtop (meaning this car is a roadster.) Out of all the cars at the Geneva Motor Show this year, I want to drive this one the most (and let’s fill it up with some E85 first.)

Originally posted on

This past February of 2012, the Earth took part in an event occurring one every four years. Given an extra day on the calendar, many of us were propelled by the thoughts for what we should make of the February 29th day. Was it just another day where we go to work and/or school? Maybe it was something more special provoking us to consider the 366th day as the extra time to achieve a special goal.

For me, it called for an automotive-related article that related to this leap year of 2012. Instead of boring some with history of February 29th, I thought the day should operate as a time to recognize some of those high-flying road rockets. The following list is a sample of automotive creations overachieving on four wheels in their effort to redefine the “Leap Year” term:

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Acceleration time: 2.5 (0 to 62 miles per hour)

When Volkswagen Group bought the beleaguered Bugatti auto company in 1999, their immediate intent was to develop the world’s most powerful, most exclusive ride. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport doesn’t exist as simply another supercar; it exists as ‘the’ production supercar.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 debuted in 2005 as a dream car few people with under $1,700,000 will have the thrill of occupying (let alone drive). The car’s numerical badge identifies the 8-liter engine’s 16-cylinders and four turbochargers. A rare production car presenting horsepower in the four-digit range, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 initially presented a 1,001 horsepower top-level plateau. In 2011, the Veyron 1.64 Super Sport model larger turbocharging system and improved exhaust allowed up to 1,183 horsepower to bellow under the mid-engined carbon fiber bodywork. The Super Sport package on the Veyron 16.4 supercar upgrades the aerodynamics of the Bugatti with a sleeker profile made possible by the reconfiguration of the air inlets. The combination of the increased engine power and the enhanced exterior design, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport sails to a near 258-mile per hour top speed. An electronically limited top speed in position to protect tires, the Veyron 16.4 in Super Sport trim keeps the Bugatti name in the extreme production car spotlight.

Nissan GT-R

Acceleration time: 2.9 (0 to 60 miles per hour)

Originally, the GT-R lettering was meant almost exclusively for the Japanese marketplace as a designation for Nissan’s high-performance version of the Skyline. However, thanks to the exposure of the sport compact craze in the late 1990s (later the over-exposure in the Fast and the Furious movie franchise), a car like the Nissan Skyline GT-R became too big for one country. Affixing the GT-R badge to a stand-alone high-performance vehicle, Nissan introduced the one of the meanest twin-turbocharged V-6 engines to the global market in 2009.

Three years in the marketplace, the factory has taken a page from the sport compact tuners by adding some extra punch to the 2012 Nissan GT-R. Upping the horsepower from 485 to 530 horsepower chiefly by increasing the turbocharger boost pressure, the 2012 Nissan GT-R is reshaped for an improved 0.26 drag coefficient. Operating on the AT-TESA-E-TS all -wheel drive system, the Nissan GT-R spins Dunlop tires with the efficiency of a top.

Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4

Acceleration time: 2.9 (0 to 62 miles per hour)

Lamborghini’s regenerated flagship supercar, the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 has been given the task of demonstrating the very best of the Italian automaker’s passion for building fast vehicles. Involving Lamborghini’s most extensive use of carbon fiber for weight-savings and structural integrity, the Aventador LP-700-4 mid-engined supercar preserves the essence of past Lamborghini masterpieces. Scissor doors open to a typical snug supercar cockpit while the characteristic wedge-like shaping are maintained on the new Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4. Receiving 700 horsepower from Lamborghini’s newest version of their 6.5 liter V-12 engine, the Aventador LP-700-4 is matched with a unique 7-speed transmission using independent shifting rods.

Lighter weight and more powerful than its predecessor’s base model, the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 fulfills its promise for being a faster supercar. 700 horsepower flowing through the all-wheel drive Haldex generation IV system sends the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 up to 217 miles per hour.

Koenigsegg Agera

Acceleration time: 3.0 (0 to 62 miles per hour)

Missing the ‘opportunity’ to buy Saab in 2009, Koenigsegg decided to maintain their core car business model. A Swedish company surprising the supercar world with a line-up of powerful machines, Koenigsegg has evolved significantly since launching towards development of their first vehicle is 1994 by then 22-year-old founder. Koenigsegg’s latest step forward in creating an adored street demon was the Agera.

Premiering at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010 as a pre-production car, the Koenigsegg Agera will make its arrival as a 2013 model year vehicle. Designed through a “less is more” philosophy process, exterior styling for the Koenigsegg Agera (promoting a 0.33 drag coefficient) insures the supercar gracefully cuts through air. Built on a carbon fiber chassis, the Agera weighs a lean 2,932 pounds overall less vehicle fluids and occupants. Featuring advanced technologies, the Koenigsegg Agera is equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, an electronic differential and specially mated Michelin tires. With every refinement, it is the Koenigsegg Agera’s 5-liter V-8 engine erupting as a pure animal. Thanks to twin turbocharging, the Agera rips into the road surface with 960 horsepower.

Preparing for customer sales, the Koenigsegg brand now holds leverage of having the world’s fastest production car. As of late November of 2011, their Agera R supercar recorded a Guinness-recognized fastest 0 to 300 kilometer per hour acceleration taking just 21.19 seconds.

McLaren MP4-12C

Acceleration time: 3.2 (0 to 60 miles per hour)

In order to gain a tactical advantage over competitors in Formula 1 and sports car racing, New Zealand-born race car driver Bruce McLaren began building his own vehicles in the 1960s. Making final preparations to join the marketplace during the McLaren race team’s 45th year of competition, the MP4-12C takes the racing-inspired engineering of McLaren back to the streets.

Assembled in the factory that previously constructed the constructed the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren supercar, the McLaren MP4-12C is an unhindered exhibition of a small car builder’s effort to create a drive-oriented, high-performance product. Using their long-time expertise in developing carbon fiber for Formula 1 cars, McLaren employment of the exotic material resulted in a monocell (interior surrounding) weighing just 176 pounds. Magnesium and aluminum is also used in the McLaren MP4-12C accomplishing a total vehicle weight around 1,400 kilograms (3,086 pounds). A small displacement V-8 engine matched with two turbochargers propels the rear-wheel drive MP4-12C with 592 horsepower. The well-balanced horsepower and weight insures the McLaren MP4-12C has stellar acceleration and a 205-mile per hour top speed.

Information source: Automobili Lamborghini, Bugatti, Koenigsegg Automotive AB , McLaren Automotive, Nissan North America

Photo source: Chris Nagy, Newpress.co.uk

Originally posted on

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.

Originally posted on

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:

Originally posted on

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

Originally posted on

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.

Originally posted on

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

Originally posted on

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.

Originally posted on

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

Originally posted on

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 Ã…ke 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

Originally posted on

Koenigsegg CCX

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

Originally posted on

Back in March I wrote a post listing the 10 Fastest Cars in the World. It was hugely popular (and still is,) but I’ve received so many comments telling me that the list isn’t accurate anymore. I plan to do another comprehensive post on this in the future, but for now here is a quick update on the fastest production cars in the world, ranked by top speed. On the last post, I also received a lot of comments about cars such as the Lingenfelter Corvette being faster. Just like the last list, this is only for production cars. Fastest cars in the world:

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.

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So here we are, the list of the top 10 fastest production cars in the world, ranked by top speed. All the cars you would expect are on the list, ranked from fastest to slowest (though calling any of these cars slow is blasphemy.) We start the list with the king of fast. Keep in mind this list only includes production cars. I’ve had a lot of comments mentioning faster cars, which aren’t actually in production.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Top Speed: 267.8 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.

Hennessey Venom GT

Top Speed: 265.7 mph

1244 Horsepower

The relative newcomer from Texas-based car tuner-made-manufacturer Hennessey is an impressive machine, to say the least. Sporting a twin turbo 7.0-liter V8 producing a massive 1,244 hp, the Venom GT beat a world record set by the Koenigsegg Agera R in February as being the fastest accelerating production car in the world when it did a run from 0-300 km/h in 13.63 seconds. That’s fast. Technically, the Venom GT is faster than the Bugatti Veyron above, because the production version of the Bugatti is limited to 258 mph from the factory, but since what’s official is official, we still have to put the Venom below the Veyron. But only for now; Hennessey claims that given a longer track (this one was 2.9 miles long and Bugatti had 5.6 miles to hit their speed,) the Venom GT can hit over 275 mph. Plus, if you have $1.2 million, a Venom GT can still be yours.

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.

Pushed off the Top 10 List:

Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV – 213 mph
Porsche Carrera GT – 209 mph
McLaren Mercedes SLR – 207 mph

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