Carson's Car Pics

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Apollo Intensa Emozione

The Apollo IE has made an appearance at Exotics on Broadway for the third consecutive year in the form of a third different example than the ones from the previous two years finished in a shade of purple. First, a brief overview: German boutique supercar manufacturer Apollo Automobil debuted the IE, short for Intensa Emozione or "Intense Emotion' in Italian, in 2017, with production officially kicking off in 2019. Motivating the IE is a naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V12 sourced from Ferrari with 780 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque mated to a Hewland six-speed sequential manual transmission. The launch from zero to 60 mph in the Apollo IE occurs in 2.7 seconds, while its top speed is rated at 208 mph. The Apollo IE was co-developed with HWA AG, Mercedes-AMG tuner and racing team, and inspired by the GT1 racing class from 1994 to 2012. It features a lightweight carbon fiber chassis and body panels plus a flashy interior adorned in leather and carbon fiber trim to complement its eye-catching exterior design.

Apollo built only ten examples of the IE, with each unit starting at $3 million when new. I have now seen three of the ten total Apollo IEs in person after attending this year's rendition of Exotics on Broadway. Like the CLK GTR Roadster from a recent previous post on this site, this particular Apollo IE example was one of a few rare exotic supercars brought out to the biggest show of Monterey Car Week by Boden AutoHaus, an aftermarket firm based in Orange County that specializes in rare exotic supercars. Out of the three Apollo IEs I have seen up close so far, I would have to say that this purple one is the most flamboyant of the trio. In all, the Apollo IE is an amazing, bonkers, fascinating, and unreal ultra-exclusive supercar, and its styling, specs, and performance are simply ridiculous in the best way possible.

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Monday, October 14, 2024

SSC Tuatara Aggressor

The Tuatara is the latest supercar from SSC North America. It was first showcased in concept form in 2011, while the production version debuted in 2018 as the successor to the Ultimate Aero, SSC's first supercar. Production for the Tuatara, along with deliveries to customers, officially began in 2020. Motivating the SSC Tuatara is a twin-turbo 5.9-liter V8 churning out 1350 horsepower and 984 pound-feet of torque on 91 octane and up to 1750 horsepower and 1322 pound-feet of torque on E85 ethanol, sending power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automated manual gearbox. It can launch from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of over 280 mph, easily making it one of the fastest cars on the planet. The SSC Tuatara's body is completely constructed of carbon fiber and underpinned by a carbon monocoque chassis. This specific Tuatara pictured in this post is the most-extreme Aggressor version, which features the same additional aerodynamic components on the high-downforce Striker but can be optioned with track-only extras such as racing seats and an engine upgrade capable of producing 2200 horsepower. It is also painted in a dark green exterior finish with orange accents and a bare carbon stripe down the middle of the vehicle.

SSC North America plans to build only 100 units of the Tuatara, with pricing for each example starting at close to $2 million. This marks just the second SSC Tuatara I have ever seen in person, with the first one occurring at last year's Exotics on Broadway show. SSC also provided a clamshell of the Tuatara pictured in the fourth photo in addition to the Tuatara Aggressor as part of its display at Exotics on Broadway this year. Overall, the SSC Tuatara is a truly insane, amazing, and extraordinary supercar. It's difficult to compare and rank the Tuatara to other supercars of its caliber, but its unbelievable performance figures, pure speed and adrenaline, and incredible styling make the newest creation from SSC a great proposition in the pool of high-end, ultra-rare, and record-breaking supercars.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Roadster

The Venom F5 is the newest in-house supercar and the fastest, most powerful vehicle from Houston-based aftermarket firm Hennessey Performance. It entered production in 2020, while the version pictured in this post, the Revolution Roadster, was introduced and added to the Venom F5 portfolio last year. Motivating the Venom F5 is a twin-turbo 6.6-liter V8 with 1817 horsepower and 1193 pound-feet of torque mated to a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission. It blasts from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, zero to 124 mph in 4.7 seconds, and boasts a top speed of over 311 mph. The Venom F5's body and chassis are constructed of mostly carbon fiber. Its interior is more comfortable and spacious than it appears, capable of accommodating drivers and passengers of every height and size. The cabin also features a yoke/racing-style steering wheel, a 9-inch center touchscreen infotainment system, and a digital gauge cluster that is a bit smaller than the infotainment screen.

As for the Venom F5 Revolution, this specific version is lighter and more focused on handling and track driving than the base Venom F5 coupe and roadster, sporting a large adjustable rear wing, an air intake mounted on the vehicle roof, and an extended front splitter and canards for optimized aerodynamics and downforce. In addition, the Venom F5 Revolution weighs about 50 pounds less than the base Venom F5, bringing the Revolution's total curb weight to under 3000 pounds. Its rear wing generates over 800 pounds of downforce at 186 mph and 1,400 pounds at 249 mph. Some Venom F5 Revolution examples have patriotic stars-and-stripes endplates on their rear wings, which are excellent added touches and design aspects to an already phenomenal vehicle.

Hennessey Performance will build only 90 units of the Venom F5, spanning all variants including 24 Coupes, 30 Roadsters, 24 Revolution Coupes, and 12 Revolution Roadsters. Pricing begins at $2.1 million for the base Hennessey Venom F5 and $2.7 million for the Venom F5 Revolution. Two new variants were added to the Venom F5 lineup this year: the Stealth Series, an ultra-limited special edition of the Revolution model, and the F5-M Roadster, which contains a gated six-speed manual gearbox and a large fin extending from the roof scoop over the engine cover. This year's Exotics on Broadway show displayed just one Venom F5 example, a Revolution Roadster finished in light blue with a red, white, and blue stripe running down the center of the vehicle. Compared to this year's show, Hennessey Performance brought out six different Venom F5 examples to Exotics on Broadway last year and four different examples two years ago. In all, the Hennessey Venom F5 is an absolutely amazing and underrated supercar and one of the coolest and greatest American cars ever created. Despite there being only one Venom F5 example at Exotics on Broadway this year, this particular Revolution Roadster looks stunning in its light blue exterior finish and American patriotic center stripe.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Lotus Evija

The Evija is the first-ever electric hypercar and the latest halo model from famed British sports car manufacturer Lotus. It was first unveiled in late 2019 and officially entered production in 2023. Powering the Evija is four electric motors producing a combined 1972 horsepower and 1254 pound-feet of torque paired to a single-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels, making it one of the most powerful production vehicles ever made. It launches from zero to 60 mph in under three seconds, zero to 186 mph in under nine seconds, and has a top speed rated at 218 mph. The Evija weighs in at around 3700 pounds, which currently stands as the lightest electric vehicle to enter production. Other standard attributes on the Evija consist of active aerodynamics, torque vectoring across its axles, butterfly doors without door handles, and a traditional hydraulic steering system. As for range and charging, it can travel an estimated 250 miles on a single charge and accomplish an 80% charge level in 12 minutes. Inside, the Evija's cabin contains a design mixed with retro and modern elements and standard equipment such as electrically adjustable seats, climate control, and a premium infotainment system.

Lotus plans to build only 130 examples of the Evija, with pricing starting at approximately $2.3 million a pop. However, the Evija is not street legal in the U.S. Like the two ultra-rare supercars from the two previous posts on this site, this year's Exotics on Broadway marked the first time I ever saw the Lotus Evija in person. This was also the first rendition of Exotics on Broadway to display the Evija and one of a few new Lotus models I saw in and near Monterey on the Saturday of Monterey Car Week. Overall, the Evija is the coolest, most insane, and most intriguing Lotus production vehicle of the past 15 years. It may not have been the greatest draw of the latest Exotics on Broadway show, but the Lotus Evija was certainly another of many top highlights from the biggest event of Monterey Car Week due to its impressive design and unbelievable performance figures, and it being one of several first-time experiences seeing particular vehicles up close.

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster

The CLK GTR is one of the coolest, rarest, and most insane Mercedes-Benz vehicles ever made. It was initially created and developed with AMG and HWA to compete for the FIA GT1 racing class. The CLK GTR's production run of 20 coupes lasted from 1998 to 1999, while the remaining CLK GTRs resumed production as roadsters in 2002. Powering the CLK GTR is a 6.9-liter V12 sourced from the SL600 with 622 horsepower and 539 pound-feet of torque in the coupe, and 604 horsepower and 572 pound-feet of torque in the roadster, both of which were paired to a six-speed sequential manual gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 199 mph. Unlike its race car counterpart, the road-going CLK GTR features a softer suspension and a more luxurious interior. It rides on a carbon and aluminum monocoque chassis with an adjustable ride height, while its body is constructed entirely of carbon fiber. Other standard features on the CLK GTR include anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, an audio system, and a luggage set. As for the roadster specifically, it contains side air intakes, a fixed rear wing like that of the CLK GTR race car, a revised front grille design, side mirrors mounted on the doors, and an integrated rollbar behind the seats. On the other hand, the road-going CLK GTR coupe contains an integrated rear wing, a roof-mounted air intake, side mirrors mounted on the front fenders, and a more traditional Mercedes-Benz front grille design.

Only six Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadsters were built for the entire world, with pricing starting at around $1.7 million when new and current values appreciating to at least $3 million. Mercedes-Benz never modified the CLK GTR to meet US safety regulations, so the few examples that made their way Stateside close to when it was new arrived under the federal show and display exemption. The CLK GTR Roadster pictured in this post appeared at this year's Exotics on Broadway show in Monterey back in August, marking my first time ever seeing any form of the CLK GTR in person. It was one of a few vehicles brought out to Monterey Car Week by Orange County-based tuning firm Boden AutoHaus. Overall, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster is an absolutely bonkers and incredibly amazing race car for the road. Besides certain vehicles from Koenigsegg, Pagani, and Bugatti, the CLK GTR Roadster was one of the top vehicles from this year's Exotics on Broadway that I was looking forward to seeing up close for the first time the most. Like many of the ultra-rare supercars on display there, viewing and photographing this one-of-six masterpiece at Exotics on Broadway about two months ago was a completely unreal experience.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Rimac Nevera

The Rimac Nevera is one of the coolest, craziest, and most intriguing electric supercars right now. It was introduced for 2022 from the Croatian EV supercar startup company and is powered by four electric motors, with one motor at each wheel, producing a combined 1813 horsepower and 1741 pound-feet of torque paired to a single-speed direct drive transmission. Most of the 1813 combined horsepower from the Nevera is generated at the rear wheels, which should not be all that surprising. According to Rimac, the Nevera can launch from zero to 60 mph in a blisteringly quick 1.85 seconds, hit the quarter-mile in 8.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 258 mph, making it the fastest production EV to date. It uses a 117-kWh battery with a range estimated at 205 miles. The Nevera rides on a carbon monocoque chassis, and its cabin is lined in carbon fiber, alcantara, and aluminum trim. Three digital display screens are standard inside the Nevera, which consist of a larger central display that can be folded up for additional storage space, one in the gauge cluster, and a smaller, narrower one on the passenger side.

Rimac will build only 150 total Neveras, with each unit carrying a starting price of approximately $2.2 million. Two other special and limited editions were added to the Nevera lineup during its production run in the Time Attack and 15th Anniversary Editions. About a month ago, Rimac unveiled a follow-up to the Nevera known as the Nevera R, which takes the specs, performance, and insanity of the original Nevera to the next level. This year's Exotics on Broadway in Monterey back in the middle of August marked my first time ever seeing the Nevera in person, which displayed three different examples provided directly by Rimac. Each example looked fantastic, but the green Nevera with bronze alloy wheels stood out to me the most of the three. Overall, the Rimac Nevera is an impressive and incredible electric supercar. Ever since it was announced, I have been looking forward to seeing the Rimac Nevera up close for the first time, and I am grateful that I finally got my chance to do so at the greatest car show I attended and will attend this year.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport/Super Sport

Featured here are two distinct versions of the Bugatti Chiron: the track and handling-focused Pur Sport and the fastest, most powerful Super Sport. Bugatti introduced the Chiron in 2016 as the successor to the Veyron, while the Pur Sport was added in 2020, the 300+ version of the Super Sport in 2019, and the non-300+ Super Sport in 2021. Powering the Chiron is an 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 producing 1500 horsepower and 1180 pound-feet of torque in the Pur Sport. The Super Sport increases that horsepower figure to 1578, while its torque figure remains unchanged from the base Chiron and Chiron Pur Sport. The launch from zero to 60 mph occurs in 2.3 seconds for the Chiron Pur Sport and 2.2 seconds for the Chiron Super Sport, while top speed is capped at 261 mph for most Chiron models and 273 mph for the Chiron Super Sport. Every version of the Chiron sends power to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Every Bugatti Chiron example regardless of version comes standard with a luxurious, timelessly-designed cabin, quad LED headlights, full power accessories, a body constructed of carbon fiber, and an independent suspension. The Pur Sport's distinct styling elements consist of a big fixed rear wing, specific larger front grille design, lightweight titanium exhaust, unique front fender vents above the front wheels, and an increased use of aluminum, alcantara, and titanium trim in the interior. On the other hand, the Super Sport contains a unique grille design that is larger than that of the base Chiron and an extended front splitter for improved cooling and aerodynamics. The Super Sport also gains about ten inches in length over other versions of the Chiron, multiple small vents clustered together above the front fenders, a unique exhaust setup, and specific wheel options that cannot be found on other Chiron models. In addition, the Chiron Super Sport boasts a 0-200 km/h (124 mph) acceleration time of 5.8 seconds and a 0-300 km/h (186 mph) time of 12.1 seconds.

Bugatti made only 60 Chiron Pur Sports and 80 Chiron Super Sports, with the last Chiron ever, dubbed the Super Sport L'Ultime, rolling out from the factory earlier this year. The French boutique supercar manufacturer announced and unveiled the Tourbillon as the Chiron's successor back in June of this year, which features an all-new design and components, including an 8.3-liter V16 mated to three electric motors. Production for the Tourbillon is slated to begin in 2026. Pricing began at $3.6 million for the Chiron Pur Sport and close to $3.8 million for the Chiron Super Sport, while current values for each of these versions have risen to $4 million and up to $5 million respectively. This year's Exotics on Broadway show displayed one Chiron Pur Sport and two Chiron Super Sports, marking my first time ever seeing the latter in person. The two-tone black-and-yellow Pur Sport returned to Exotics on Broadway from last year's show, and I was blown away by each of the three Chirons that appeared at Exotics on Broadway in 2024, especially the two Super Sports. Overall, the Chiron is one of the greatest, coolest, and most impressive Bugattis ever created. While the Chiron Pur Sport is absolutely amazing, the Chiron Super Sport represents the pinnacle of Bugatti performance and engineering to date. The Chiron's combination of speed, elegance, and timelessness is phenomenal and unbelievable, which very few cars can match.