La Dolce Veloce

This batmobile-like car is the Tramontana R Edition, made in Spain…and has a Mercedes V12 producing 760bhp! Yikes. That’s sure to be one exciting ride, though I wonder if that’s just too much power for a small car like that (only weighs 1259kg). Read more at PistonHeads.

The Perana Z-One isn’t officially unveiled yet, but what we do know is that Zagato designed the body, and it’s powered by a 6.2 liter Corvette V8. It’s build in South Africa by a new company called Perana Performance Group, and we expect full details to be announced at the Geneva motor show. (via Jalopnik)

Fans of the Zonda will love this video…it features some great footage of the Zonda R, well really more like great SOUNDS the car makes. It’s truly more of a race car than street car (but that doesn’t make me want one any less). (via Evo)

The new Ford Focus RS is, quite simply, a great example of what’s wrong with the American auto industry. 300bhp, 0-60mph in under six seconds, in an economical hatch design. It’s just fantastic. And Ford doesn’t import it to the US. More pics over at AutoExpress.

Here’s a leaked image of the new roadster version of the LP-650, set to debut at Geneva in March. Only 50 will be built, and feature 650bhp and all sorts of cosmetic enhancements (paint, alcantara, etc).

Shown here is the front view of the iChange from Rinspeed, which is about the only angle from which it looks good (you can see more pictures in the gallery at Jalopnik). But then, this car isn’t about looks, it’s about imaginative concepts in automotive design. When a single occupant is riding in the car, the aerodynamics are optimized for that. If one or two passengers need to ride in the car, the rear end rises up to provide space for them. Drag is increased, but only when it’s necessary for it to be so. Clever. Not surprisingly, this concept car features an electric powertrain with fantastic performance, and an array of cool electronic gizmos (such as, using your iPhone as a key). Placing the driver’s seat along the vehicle’s centerline opens up nice possibilities for enthusiast driving, as well as simplifies requirements of selling such a car in multiple countries (no need for RHD and LHD versions). Like most Rinspeed concepts, it’s really just that, a concept. Don’t expect to see this on the roads. Continue Reading »

The Tesla Model S electric sedan is moving closer to production, having secured a $350 million loan from the government to help it build a factory to produce this car in 2011. The Model S will be unveiled in full on March 26th.

(Via Treehugger.)