Mr Gasket Shifter Vintage on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes supercars

By Tim Pollard 29 July 2008 09:00 The SLR is the fruit of a strange motor industry marriage. Collaborating as they do in motorsport, Woking and Stuttgart decided to build a road car that showcased their full-bodied technical know-how. Perhaps the mixed messages from F1-centric McLaren and luxury brand Merc, or the untold pressure of the seminal F1, were too much, for the SLR has failed to worm its way into our affections.

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S rips out 550 hp

If you remember nothing else about the updated 2014 Aston Martin Rapide–now with an S added to the name–keep this in mind: Power surges 80 hp to a whopping 550 hp from the naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V12 engine. Aston Martin dipped into its expertise gleaned from the World Endurance Championship GT competition to fortify output and efficiency. Torque increases to 457 lb-ft (from 443 lb-ft), and top speed is pushed 7 mph to 190.

Volkwagen BlueSport Concept debuts with a diesel at the Detroit auto show

Volkswagen's long-rumored mid-engine roadster finally made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. The Concept BlueSport slots its efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder midship in the compact chassis, demonstrating the sporty possibilities of the engine. With 177 hp and a healthy 258 lb-ft of torque, the diesel powerplant propels the 2,640-pound roadster to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds.