Ferrari preview, first on its annual session dealer in Italy earlier this fall. The 458 Challenge races in the 2011 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series determined. It is the fifth race in the Ferrari designed Pracing Horse’s make cup series.

The new 458 Challenge is a mix of stocks 458 Italia and new competition-spec upgrades. The 4.5-liter V-8 road car legal and develops the same 562bhp at 9000rpm a neck-tingling, but it will float in this epic Redline frequently with shorter gears.

The dual-clutch gearbox is calibrated to provide more torque at low speeds, too. But amateur race hands are relieved: the E-Diff electronic remain on hand for the worst tail slides to brake on the track.

So what makes the Ferrari 458 Challenge, a racing driver?

One of the main differences between the 458 Italia Road Car Racer Challenge and this is a diet, says Ferrari, although there is still an empty weight problem. The body panels are thinner in most places and replaced most of the glass works of Lexan plastic.

The challenge is to introduce mandatory driving lanes corner, thanks to a thorough revision of the already not-at-all-shabby suspension. Out go the rubber bushings from solid aluminum bushing replaced the springs and dampers are stiffer newly calibrated, the ride is dropped 50mm all round, and Pirelli slicks are adapted to the new Quick Release 19 “wheels. Brembo brakes from the latest CCM2 599XX are donated to the 458 Challenge wipe away all that speed. And to help you pile on the clicks again, an updated F1-Trac traction control is added with dry and wet settings to put the ponies at the track. Even more settings on the steering wheel manettino confuse the driver mid corner …

Cue obligatory lap time at Fiorano …

Oh yes. Since you asked the 458 Challenge 1min 16.5sec a round that up to 1.6 g in the fastest corners brings. That’s two seconds per lap faster than the previous generation, Challenge Racer, says Ferrari. To work, the Enzo in 1min 24.9sec lapped in 2002. Should be sufficient to achieve the professional and masters racers to get their checkbooks. Which is much room for zeros must, as the 458 Challenge is probably by far exceed the price tag £ 169 546 Italia. The 430 Challenge will cost around £ 185,000 (including the first this year’s race entry fees) compared to the F430’s £ 145,000 price tag.

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If the Lotus Evora Cup 2010 just adapted and adjusted street car?

Among the impressive Epsom Green Solar Yellow paint and stripes, the Cup is still basically the same as a road-going Evora – this is not a silhouette racer. That means double wishbones all round and a bonded extruded aluminum chassis and weighs a middle V6.

But has his hands on the Lotus racing Evora and stood again, they worked for GT4 race. Here is a new, dry-sumped 4.0-liter V6 is coming – the road car has a 3.5 V6 – with “more than 395bhp and a Cima sequential six-speed box. Develops additional carbon wing and channels of the aerodynamics package received from Italian manufacturer Dallara race cars and more than 200 kg was cleaved from the Evora – the Cup weighs less than 1200kg. There are also adjustable shock absorbers, larger brakes, a fire extinguisher and an electrical cut-off system.

What about the Type 124?

The endurance racer – introduced last year at the IAA in Frankfurt – the highlight Hethel ideas for the Evora, Lotus has since, however, create, move the cup. Final details and specifications will be released at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but the prices are announced – £ 120k plus taxes – and drivers can register their interest in www.lotusevoracup.com. Lotus Evora Cup 2010

Besides the possibility to compete in various motorsport events around the world, in 2010, there are two festivals, where Lotus Evora Cup drivers compete for a prize fund of nearly £ 90k during 2011, the introduction will see one of you, make-Evora Cup series in Europe.

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The photo above are recently spy shots of the upcoming Lotus Eagle – an Elise-based 2+2 sports car. Actually the production version will be unveiled in July at the London Motor Show, and sales will start toward the end of the year.

Essentially a stretched version of the highly successful roadster, the hard-top Eagle features room in the back for two small passengers and swaps the Elise’s four-cylinder engine for a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6. Looking forward to the auto show..We will have more information then..

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Mercedes’ upcoming new super car: Mercedes Gullwing was undergoing some handling test at Germany’s famous Nurburgring.

The SLC prototypes seems using Dodge Viper body panels, but rest assured that the similarities end there. The prototype uses a 106-inch long wheelbase, which happens to closely match the SLR’s wheelbase and in the process debunks any rumours about a smaller SLR based on the R230 SL-Class platform. The new Mercedes turning into a mid-engined car seems very distant now.

Weird car so far from the photo…

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Aston Martin’s latest four-door car has been spotted lapping the famous Nurburgring in Germany. As you can see in the photo below, and as the spy photographers noticed something different with this Rapide prototype : a glass roof. The transparent canopy extends from the windshields to the back hatch, which is certainly is impressive if you consider the length of this car’s wheelbase.

Well, it seems that Rapid is progressing very fast from a concept to production. This model might be the first all-new car to debut under the company’s new ownership.

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Photo by Brenda Priddy

There are a few weeks left until the 2009 Infiniti FX will make its official debut in Geneva but a lot of prototypes are out for a ride as we speak. Brenda Priddy caught a copper-colored example in LA yesterday. From what we can see in those pics, the car’s basic overall shape remains the same but it features a few changes such as : the pronounced grill that dominates the protrunding nose, the angry-looking reshaped headlamps and others.

Photo by Brenda Priddy

Brenda also reports that the new FX is slightly longer than the one it’s set to replace. We should expect an FX37 model with at least 300 hp as is as a step-up model sporting a 5.0 or 5.5-liter V8 marking something around 375-400 horses. We’ll find out more at the Geneva Auto Show.

Source [autoblog]

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