2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster is going to be one of the most exclusive, expensive, and blindingly quick convertibles when it comes to market. Revealed for the first time, this ultra-exotic comes powered by a 700-bhp 6.5-liter V-12 engine, coupled to an ISR 7-speed transmission. Forming the core of the Roadster is a carbon fiber tub, which in the Aventador coupe weighs a scant 324.5 lbs. According to Lamborghini’s stopwatch, this all-wheel-drive mega-convertible accelerates from 0 to 62-mph in 3.0 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 217 mph. This kind of performance comes with a price, specifically one just north of $380,000 per vehicle.

The reason to buy the Roadster versus the Aventador hardtop is the top, or more specifically, the lack thereof. In the case of this drop-top Lambo, the two-piece convertible top is constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber and is removed manually, with storage provided in the front luggage compartment. It’s worth noting that the McLaren MP4-12C Spider also features a folding carbon fiber lid, but one that neatly disappears with the push of a button. The manual labor required in the Lamborghini does at least result in an even more ravishing shape than the already outrageous-looking hardtop variant.

Morgan EvaGT Concept Car Makes its Debut at Pebble Beach

The Morgan EvaGT 2+2 concept car broke cover at Pebble Beach, California, during this August’s Monterey Weekend festivities. Charles Morgan is the grandson of H.F.S. who founded this 101-year-old British sports car maker. Hence, he has an excellent idea of what made Morgans special. But Charles is also shrewdly aware of the 21st century and its fresh design demands.

The EvaGT is based on the Morgan Aero, and shares the latter’s bonded aluminum chassis—retaining bits of ash superstructure here and there—and superformed aluminum bodywork. Its powertrain, sourced from BMW, features a 3.0-liter direct-injected twin-turbo inline-6 teamed with a choice of 6-speed transmission, either manual or (gad!) automatic. Such is its 306 bhp combined with a projected weight of 2755 lb. that stellar performance is expected: a predicted 0-62-mph acceleration of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 170 mph.

In possibly the understatement of the year, there’s no mistaking the EvaGT 2+2 for my own 1965 4-Passenger Family Tourer (although their shared sporting familial intent is acknowledged). In fact, the EvaGT’s styling has evolved very nicely from that of the Morgan Aero. The EvaGT is a more sculpted design with tautly controlled razor edges, all paying less homage to classic lines of traditional Morgans. The front end is particularly striking, its recessed grille shape being to Malvern Link what the Bugatti Veyron’s horseshoe counterpart is to Molsheim.

A concept car at the moment, the EvaGT is said to satisfy Euro 5 and 6 regulations as well as relevant U.S. standards. There’s no particular reason the car couldn’t be added to Morgan’s decidedly 21st century product line.

2014 SRT Viper Roadster - First Look

Still fresh from its dramatic debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the 2013 SRT Viper appears ready to stage a two-pronged (or double-fanged?) attack on the sports car market. These artist illustrations depict the upcoming SRT Viper Roadster, expected to go on sale next year. Chrysler was keeping quiet in New York about specifics regarding the Roadster, but it doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to realize a drop-top variant is an integral part of the Viper range.

After all, the original Viper, the 1992 RT/10, was a no-frills roadster. That first model’s top was notoriously flimsy and difficult to install, and the side windows were nothing more than fabric and clear plastic. Most owners wisely removed the top once, and left it off. Since the first Viper lacked any form of traction control, or even ABS brakes, it was highly unlikely anyone would willingly drive the car during inclement weather anyhow.

Honda AC-X Concept

The Honda AC-X Concept is a family-size plug-in hybrid that may point to a future design direction for the Accord. Its sleek design is almost a one-box fastback shape that appears to be an evolution of the current fuel cell-powered Clarity. 

One of the key features of the AC-X Concept is its autonomous drive mode.

The car features a bold front graphic with a large single bar and prominent Honda logo. The front fascia, side skirts and rear diffuser are moveable, lowering to improve the car’s aerodynamics at speed. The sides of the vehicle are defined by sharp character lines housing ambient lighting that carve a cove from behind the front wheels out through the rear deck.

Dacia SHIFT Concept

The dacia shift is a concept hybrid car by liviu tudoran, a design student studying at the institute of european design in turin, italy. the compact two-seater car has a very fluid form with a full glass top.

The car would be powered by an atypical combination of electricity and hydrogen. the undercarriage would use hydrogen fuel cells to power electric batteries.

These batteries would supply energy to the car’s front mounted electric motor. this formation would allow user to charge their car using electricity or swap out hydrogen for more travel time