Ferrari 575M Maranello (2002-06)

When I first spotted this, I couldn't tell if this was either a 550 or 575M that I was seeing; both the 550 and 575M look very similar. One noticeable difference between the two is that the 575M has a more modern, decent-looking front fascia. Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V12 with 508 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque. I don't have much else to say about this car, except it's a very nice car and there are less of these on the road than the typical mainstream Ferrari. Also, these are the only two photos I have taken of the Ferrari 575M. In a head-to-head comparison between this and the Lamborghini Murcielago, I'd probably choose the latter.

Finally, this is somewhat off-topic, but it has been confirmed that Ferrari's future lineup will consist of turbocharged V8s and hybridized V12s, if I didn't say it already. The switch to turbocharged V8s began with the new California T, and next in line will be the 458 successor, rumored to be called the M458-T. On the other hand, Ferrari began to utilize hybrid technology in the LaFerrari and plans on doing so with other V12 models, such as the F12 and FF. I'm not entirely satisfied with this even though Ferrari is doing its best to move along with the times and comply with stricter fuel emissions regulations across the globe without sacrificing performance. I think naturally aspirated engines give Ferraris character and tend to sound slightly better than if there were added turbos or electric motors. However, what's great about turbos and electric motors is that they add horsepower and torque while increasing fuel economy. Believe it or not, in general, implementing fuel-saving techniques contributes to the long-term survival of a car company.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG/GT (2011-14)

 

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG isn't just one of my favorite Benzes ever made, it is one of my favorite cars of all time. As I had mentioned in an earlier post, the SLS and its 6.3-liter V8 are being phased out this year, which still upsets me. Once again, its replacement will be the Mercedes-AMG GT that will utilize a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and compete against the likes of the Porsche 911. The SLS successor will have in the neighborhood of 510 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. It will hit 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 193 mph, which also puts it in the same league as the Corvette Stingray. I hope Mercedes-Benz is understating the performance specs for this car as they normally would for their cars before they debut. The AMG GT will have its official unveiling September 9. Back to the SLS, its original inspiration was the 300SL of the 1950's. It has similar design elements from the original 300SL like the gullwing doors, long bonnet, and grille. From its introduction in 2011 to 2012, it was known as the SLS AMG; in 2013, the SLS was updated and referred to as the SLS AMG GT until the 2014 model year. Other than the standard SLS AMG/GT, there was the track-oriented SLS Black Series and the economical SLS Electric Drive. The Black Series variant is differentiated from the standard model by a carbon fiber wing, other carbon fiber bits and pieces, and special badging. It has 622 horsepower and is a tenth of a second quicker than the standard SLS. Also, the Black Series variant of the SLS will remain one of my favorite cars ever produced for a very long time. It finished second in last year's Motor Trend Best Driver's Car Competition, behind the Porsche 911 (the SLS Black should've won in my opinion). The Electric Drive is powered by four electric motors with a combined output of 740 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. I don't think the SLS Electric Drive ever made its way across the Atlantic, but still it's a neat car nonetheless. Both the Black Series and Electric Drive are limited edition vehicles and were introduced for the 2013 model year. Lastly, the SLS was sent off with a bang with the Final Edition late last year. The Final Edition is distinguished from the other SLS models by a carbon fiber hood and a carbon fiber wing. There are still a few Final Editions available on dealer lots, so if you want one of the few remaining new SLS's, you better act fast. In all, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is possibly one of the world's greatest cars. It looks gorgeous from every angle and is easy to live with on a day-to-day basis. Also, this car will command a huge sum of money in the not-too-distant future. Photos of the last one (in red) were taken in Beijing during my trip to China almost three months ago, the others were spotted in Beverly Hills early this year.