La Dolce Veloce

Most car nuts have either dyno’d their car, or have witnessed another car being tested (for you non car nuts, read the rest of this post for an explanation of what a dyno test is). Ever wonder what would happen if one of those straps broke? Check out this video (right click and do ‘save as’), and read more about it here. The cause was supposedly a combination of extreme power (1200hp with nitrous, 900hp without!) and the exhaust gas being directed right at the straps.
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As previously reported here, Lamborghini is set to release a new, limited edition version of its Gallardo, to be called the Gallardo SE (shipping in September). Only 250 units will be produced, all with permanent all wheel drive, 6 speed gearbox, aluminum frame, ESp, ASR, ABS, ABD (brake distribution), AC, airbags, etc etc. Color options are two different shades of gray, white, yellow, orange, or green (all of which with a black roof and black engine cover). A sportier suspension is standard, as is a shorter ratio gearbox. Cars equipped with Lamborghini’s paddle shifter transmission (known as e.gear) get a feature known as ‘thrust mode’, which optimizes engine and transmission parameters from a standing start to maximize acceleration. Gotta love that! Those owners who are brave (or stupid) enough to parallel park their Gallardo SE (and risk damage, especially to the low front end, from SUVs ‘parking by braille’) will benefit from the standard rear view camera, as the view from the mirrors is sure to rank up (down) there with other supercars. Optional equipment includes a nav system, heated side mirrors, powered and heated seats, a winter package, and a lifting system for those with steep driveway approach angles. See the rest of this post for more pictures, or read the article at ItaliaSpeed for more information.
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Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, in his recent speech, stated that the replacement for the NSX would be a ‘super sports car’ powered by a V10 engine, and would be introduced in three to four years.

Auto Motor & Sport reports that BMW is working on a mid engined convertible supercar, to be powered by either a V8 or a V10. The image shown is obviously photoshopped, so draw too many conclusions from that. I think all that we really can believe here is that BMW is working on a new supercar, likely to be named the Z9 and be a convertible. My guess is their choice of engine will mirror what they use in Formula 1, which by the time this car is introduced, will be a V8.

Jetta recently introduced its fifth generation Jetta to the US market, and soon to follow will be the fifth generation Golf (already on sale in the rest of the world). Well, rumor has it that VW is planning to announce several Golf variants at this fall’s Frankfurt motor show. There will be the all wheel drive R32, a GTi sometime next summer (with around 240hp and perhaps some weight reduction features), and an even more powerful R36 with close to 300hp following much later, in 2007. VW will also be producing the GTD, powered by their excellent diesel motor.

A prototype Lotus GT was spied recently, as shown in this photos. That’s definitely not a Toyota four cylinder motor under the clear glass engine cover; can anyone identify that? As previously reported, this four seater coupe is expected to be powered by a V6 and to be somewhat more expensive and more refined than the Elise. See the rest of this post for more pictures.

EDIT: upon further review and feedback from others, it seems more likely that this is a sports car destined to be sold under the Proton nameplate (Proton owns Lotus). It doesn’t appear to offer enough space for rear seats, it has what appears to be a removable top, and the styling just doesn’t make sense for a Lotus.
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As this photo shows, the M version of BMW’s recently revamped 3-series is nearing production! The styling of this new M3 is even more aggressive than in the past; this autobahn screamer will be powered by a 400hp V8.