So Mercedes think they can produce more exotic, exciting, exhilarating and better accelerating cars than their German rivals do they?
Well lets take a look at the latest efforts from Merc: –
The fabulous Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has a 6.3 litre V8 engine which delivers 571 BHP and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This monumentous partnership translates into chest crushing acceleration from 0 – 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. This performance is matched with a stunning body and of course, Gullwing doors.
You may have also noticed the latest track prepared SL keeping the F1 cars at bay on the safety car laps. A volcanic roar that perhaps the road version doesn’t have, but you can have the same looks and similar performance.
Mercedes really is on form this year, I would put them above BMW and Audi in terms of looks and performance but not quite sure if the handling is there yet. There is a sense of the traditional Mercedes-Benz comfort element retained with automatic boxes fitted even in their sports models.
The latest news I read from Porsche is all to do with their hopes of buying Volkswagen, then getting into too much debt, being refused a loan by the Government and then selling back up to Volkswagen. Not to distract away from their business as a stock broking company, we have seen some real dogs released such as the Panamera and the new Cayenne. Lets try and breath some racing pedigree back into the name and look at the best moments by one of my favourite sports car makers:
The movie Bad Boys really showed off the perfectly spec’d 964 turbo in black with the Porsche Cup splits. A close competitor to the 930 in terms of Porsche’s finest moments:
The porsche 968 one of the favoured starts to Porsche track days due to a near 50/50 weight distribution, front engine rear wheel drive layout and exceptional handling escpecially in Club Sport spec. A brief spell of motorsport in a turbo spec club sport brought a very limited run of the 968 turbo:
Picture from Carfolio
Ah the Carrera GT:
Picture from Porsche
Let us hope Porsche start producing more cars like these worthy of the bedroom wall poster caliber!
The BMW M3 is one of the best all rounders on the market today. Available in Saloon and Coupe form, the E92 M3 can frighten the life out of you on country roads pumping out in excess of 400 bhp through the rear wheels but it’s also perfectly at home on the daily commute or pootling around towns. This seems to have caused a problem – is the latest Munich Monster too accomplished that it has lost some of the ‘rawness’ of the E30 and E46?
Picture from BMW
I’m still partial to a bit of E46. The E36 had good power and handling but it was a bit too smooth and soft to be a real sports car. The E30 is one of my all time favourites and one of our users has this meticulously maintained example:
Yes, they’re convertibles and I have just been talking about the E92 loosing some of the rawness. So really we have a variety of sports saloons, coupe’s and convertibles for anyone to enjoy.
The Festival of Speed, more commonly known as FoS is one of the most prestigious motoring events in the world. It’s not hard to see why with all the different generations of automotive heritage to keep all ages entertained and with the location by the famous Goodwood racecourse even the weather cannot ruin the picturesque hillside.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled there latest SLR Roadster in partner with Mclaren, Alfa Romeo showed off the stunning Competizione and as roomers have it the Italian master piece is already sold out before release. For me though, the best part of the day was seeing a Bugatti Veyron for the first time in full motion – truly awesome.
Picture from Carfolio
Picture from Porsche
Picture from BMW
