The black car, with its characteristic ‘Shelby’ yellow stripe, carries a genuine CSX chassis number as it is one of a series of cars produced by Shelby American Inc., a division of Carroll Shelby International, Inc., the company founded by Carroll Shelby.
The name might be a bit of a mouthful (and that’s leaving off the oft-quoted ‘short chassis’ bit), but the rare – only eight were commissioned by Aston’s very best clients – cars were the very last V8s built at Newport Pagnell, in the year 2000. As such, they represent a defining moment in the company’s history.
And by ‘limited’ we are talking just 101 examples, nearly all of which have been sold. There’s no denying that the vast majority of these will be destined for sunnier climes. But the British enjoy a fine tradition for healthy open-air motoring – witness a typical early spring Vintage Sports Car Club meeting, with Barboured and flying-helmeted drivers braving the elements en route to a day on the track.
We’re a tough breed.
The latest coupé-with-extra-doors-and-seats-and-a-powerful-motor is BMW’s equivalent of the Mercedes-Benz CLS tuned by AMG, the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Audi’s forthcoming RS7. Broadly, it shares the powerplant and running gear of the M5 saloon. So buyers will enjoy a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox and a twin-turbocharged, 4.4-litre engine.
With 552bhp, and torque of 502lb ft available between 1500 and 5750rpm, it will be immensely fast. Top speed is limited to the dreaded 155mph – with a ‘de-restriction’ option that includes special high-speed tyres.
Initially intended exclusively for the 2013 Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the new ‘Type 991’ edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the race version of the forthcoming 911 GT3 road car. It also claims to be the first race car based on the seventh-generation of the 911. Powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six engine, it promises 10HP more than its predecessor: 460HP at 7,500rpm. This is transmitted via a six-speed ‘dog-type’ gearbox with, for the first time in a Porsche Cup race car, shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The decision was taken in the light of a worldwide economic downturn - and despite its competitors (Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren) soon to be launching incredibly fast, state-of-the-art hybrid supercars.
The trucks are built in the heart of pioneer country, Jackson, Wyoming. Legacy Classic Trucks takes an original Dodge Power Wagon – the famous all-wheel-drive truck produced from the closing stages of WW2 to 1980 – and then totally rebuilds it with all mod-cons: air-conditioning; modern, three-point seatbelts; four-wheel disc brakes; power steering; a 16,500lb winch; and much more.
The chances are that if you’re planning a winter break in your favourite skiing resort, you’ve already anticipated some pretty demanding weather conditions. Those with an aversion to the typical SUV solution have, until now, mainly opted for AWD versions of German saloons and estates – anyone brave enough to take on the elements in a luxury rear-wheel-drive car would probably have spent much of their precious downtime performing the automotive equivalent of treading water.
The snow crunches under our shoes and our breath is visible in puffy clouds. Snow and ice will be the theme for the next two days, as our sturdy Freelander leaves the metropolis of Montreal and heads for the Quintessence hotel, picturesquely situated on the edge of Lake Tremblant in the mountains of Quebec.
As is so often the case, it was motor racing’s homologation process that gave birth to the F50 GT - and was also the reason for the project’s cancellation. This was despite some blistering testing times for the 750bhp machine set by factory test driver, Nicola Larini.