New Cars

McLaren MP4-12C: So, McLaren has finally launched a new sports car years after the illustrious and all-conquering F1, which was essentially Gordon Murray's project. The new car is quite a different beast and it features a 3.8 liter V6 which has a flat-plane crankshaft (a la all mid-engine Ferrari V8s), and a mid engine placement with around 600 horsepower with some 400 pound-feet of torque. The McLaren is available with all the latest technology, including a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, adjustable suspension, and a variety of other exciting technical features. These include pro-active chassis control, which McLaren claims improves ride comfort and handling, adjustable roll control, which replaces traditional anti-roll bars and brake steer, which adds brake force to the inside wheel. These, as well as a minimalist cockpit and interior that will nonetheless be beautifully detailed, and a price somewhere north of $200,000, suggest that this will be a fabulous and fantastic sports car. Frank Stevenson, the former Mini-Ferrari-Maserati designer, now works for McLaren and has worked the car over designwise to reach its final stage. The MP4-12C goes on sales in 2011, and I imagine that the first versions will get to the States around that time. This is going to be one exciting ride. Place your order early. Mercedes Benz SLS AMG: The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG is the first real complete sports car from Mercedes in-house tuning arm, AMG. Certainly, AMG provides not only hand-built engines, but performance and interior modifications for most of the line of Mercedes Benz cars, and has been doing so very successfully. The regular AMG-tweaked Mercedes Benz cars are among the finest on the planet, witness the CLS 63, the E 63, and the SL 63. But now, AMG has come up with an entirely new version of their own car, and, in a nod to the iconic 300 SL GullWing, they have called the car the SLS and brought it in with gullwing doors. This car features a version of the 6.3 liter AMG hand-built V8 that comes with other Mercedes models, but the engine has been rebuilt to be more bespoke and to produce more horsepower, approximately 570, and approximately 480 pound-feet of torque. Moreover, this is the first AMG car of any iteration to feature a DSG 7-speed gearbox, and a unique independent suspension, as well. The car looks to be an absolute smash. Initial reports from Europe suggest that this car handles with a lightness and alacrity not previously seen in AMG products before, and still produces the massive grunt and tarmac-wrenching performance that AMG cars are known for, while at the same time providing all the creature comforts, stability, and wonderful mod cons of any normal Mercedes Benz. It sounds like quite a combination, and I can't wait to drive it. This car will be coming to the United States in the spring of next year. It is important that you contact Dream Drives at this time if you intend to place an order for any SLS to be delivered in the first twelve months. Ferrari 458 Italia: The Ferrari 458 Italia is the latest mid-engine V8 two-seat Ferrari that essentially goes back to the 308 GTB of 1975. This line of cars has always been Ferrari's bread and butter car, their biggest seller, and, in addition, their most popular model. Certainly, the 458 Italia looks to be a smashing success. For one thing, it looks spectacular. I was never a fan of the modifications to the 360 Modena that produced the F430. I thought the modifications were aggressive and spoiled what was essentially a very beautiful and harmonious shape that was the F360. Thus, it was with great joy and relief that I looked at the 458, seeing it as a modern, yet beautiful and evocative shape, everything that a current Ferrari should look like, and yet filled with high-tech, spectacular innovations which should make the car an absolute drug addiction to drive. This car, features a mid-engine 4.5 liter V8 (hence, the name), with 570 horsepower, but the key stat is 9000 RPM. This engine revs to 9000 RPM and should be spectacular at the upper end, especially because it comes with Ferrari's new dual-clutch transmission, which was first seen in the California. So, the 458, with an aluminum body, enclosed in the most beautiful Pinninfarina body work, double wishbone suspension, and adjustable dampers, suggests that it will be the sine qua non of performance machinery for the year 2010. The price for the 458 should sticker at about $225,000 to $250,000, but be forewarned, the demand for this car will be extremely high. Please contact Dream Drives immediately to have us arrange a car for you to be delivered, in all likelihood, early next summer. JLS:M&M: