Top Speed Cars Car News

We haven’t come across anything this hilariously weird in quite some time, and for that, we have to give props to Film Riot.

As the folks behind some wildly entertaining online videos, Film Riot took it upon themselves to promote the new Ford Fiesta in a three-minute commercial that can best be described as ‘different’. Different in a good way or bad way? Well, that’s up to you to decide. But it is funny, in a funky kind of way. They did find success in belting out the Fiesta’s features in a catchy rhyme so we have to give them credit for that.

In any case, it is interesting to point out that Ford is actually a sponsor of Film Riot so it wouldn’t surprise us if the Blue Oval had something to do with this commercial on top of its own campaign to promote their quirky new hatch.

Hey, anything to get some mileage on the news, right? And if that was their rationale, well, consider the battle won. And if you can get away with calling the new Fiesta “so pimping and so sexy”, then that’s an added plus.

Promoting the Ford Fiesta, Film Riot style originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 5 September 2010 06:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Not that we condone swagger-jacking a car even for recreational purposes – we really, really, really don’t – but if you’re going to do it, you might as well do a good job of keeping your face seen by a camera. Better yet, cover your tracks and leave the camera at home.

Apparently, this man doesn’t have that thing we call ‘smarts’ in his little head. Working as a security guard at the Dallas Auto Auction in Dallas, Texas, the now former employee of the dealership decided that it would be a good and fun idea to boost a Corvette ZR1 – one that costs around $111,000 – and take it out for a nice little hooning under the warm Texas sun.

But as it turns out, this security guard, for whatever reason other than it was completely and amazingly stupid, decided to videotape the whole ordeal, complete with footage of himself getting out of the jacked ZR1 with his arms raised like Rocky before doing some pistol-preening in front of the camera. And to add insult to his stupidity, he went ahead and posted the video clip on You Tube where his employers quickly got a hold of the video, fired the employee, and are now on the verge of pressing charges against the security guard.

Once again, way to go to, Mr. Security Guard! You managed to get yourself fired and get arrested for your idiocy.

Security guard hoons a Corvette ZR1 without permission then posts the clip on You Tube for the world to see originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 4 September 2010 06:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Spectre Performance’s mission of breaking the 400 mph barrier in a four-wheel, gas-powered vehicle took another turn for the better this week when the team went back to the Bonneville Salt Flats to set a new speed record of 366 mph with their twin-engined 3,500-plus horsepower speedliner. They were even able to set three new world records in the process.

The mark is still well short of their target speed, but it’s also a marked improvement from the car’s performance last year at the SCTA World Finals where it blasted at a top speed of 330.57 mph.

Armed with determination and experience of the task at hand, Spectre Performance, together with driver Amir Rosenbaun, took the speedliner and squeezed every little juice of speed it has, topping it at 366 mph.

Despite the record-shattering run, Spectre Performance is not sitting on its laurels. The goal, after all, is 400 mph, and they’re not about to give up just because they just set new world records. So, the team is setting its sights on the Bonneville FIA Meet on September 20-25 with one goal in mind: breaking the 400mph barrier.

“Speed Week was an incredible experience,” said Rosenbaun. “I joined one of the most exclusive clubs on earth and we set three records – but we remain focused on breaking the 400mph barrier and becoming the fastest gasoline powered car on earth. So we’re going back, in one month, with more power, safer parachutes and one goal: 400mph.”

Press Release after the jump.

Spectre Performance runs 366 mph at Bonneville Speed Week; still falls short of target 400 mph mark originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 09:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

It was back in March that rumors started circulating that the end of Maybach was near. In fact, they had even produced two new facelift models whose purpose was to bring in a huge sales increase to serve as a life preserver for the brand. Now, Daimler is seeing some new opportunities in China, North America, the Middle East, and Russia, so the brand may live on regardless of whether or not the two life preservers do their duty.

With these markets in mind, Daimler is preparing a big revival for Maybach. The new generation will be launched in 2012, on an entirely new platform. There will be five models, including a four-door coupe and a long-wheelbase convertible. For the sake of simplicity, all five models will be powered by the same engine: the faithful 6.0-liter V-12 used in Maybach’s current 62S and Zeppelin editions. This engine produces 545 HP for the base versions and 630 HP for the S ones. There is also a possibility for a more advanced hybrid engine.

Maybach will go on originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 02:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

It was back in March that rumors started circulating that the end of Maybach was near. In fact, they had even produced two new facelift models whose purpose was to bring in a huge sales increase to serve as a life preserver for the brand. Now, Daimler is seeing some new opportunities in China, North America, the Middle East, and Russia, so the brand may live on regardless of whether or not the two life preservers do their duty.

With these markets in mind, Daimler is preparing a big revival for Maybach. The new generation will be launched in 2012, on an entirely new platform. There will be five models, including a four-door coupe and a long-wheelbase convertible. For the sake of simplicity, all five models will be powered by the same engine: the faithful 6.0-liter V-12 used in Maybach’s current 62S and Zeppelin editions. This engine produces 545 HP for the base versions and 630 HP for the S ones. There is also a possibility for a more advanced hybrid engine.

Maybach will go on originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 02:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

In the middle of all the hoopla that comes with the Pebble Beach Concours, one car, that nobody saw, supposedly made an appearance that now has the Internet abuzz.

From what we’ve heard, it looks like the Ferrari 599 Roadster made an appearance at Pebble Beach for a select group of owners, all of whom got a sneak peek at the new Ferrari supercar. Not much was made of the super-duper secret showing during the event, which pretty much explains why nobody even saw the car on the Pebble Beach grounds.

But with rumors circulating that the roadster was, in fact, present during the event, a poster from Luxury4Play uploaded what appears to be a scanned letter from Ferrari North American CEO and President Marco Mattiaci to a certain Nicolas Jimenez – we’re guessing he was one of the select owners that were invited for the sneak peek – where the former thanked the latter for his visit to “our Ferrari 599 presentation at Pebble Beach.”

Mattiaci then goes on and writes “the first feedback from the highly selected group of friends visiting us at Quial Meadows has been enthusiastic on this upcoming limited-edition product,” suggesting that Ferrari may have been asking for some input from its customers regarding the 599 Roadster.

It looks like Ferrari may have pulled a fast one on all of us by keeping this event so tightly guarded. But as is the case in the auto industry, you can’t keep a secret too long and, at some point, something’s going to get leaked out.

Ferrari 599 Roadster made an appearance at Pebble Beach? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 1 September 2010 10:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Mini has just unveiled details on the 2011 Cooper S that will go on sale on September 18, 2010, but we have just received new details on the hatchback just ahead of its sales date. German magazines report that Mini is planning to bring a diesel engine to the lineup.

Right now, the Cooper S comes with a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a new 2.0-liter, but starting next year, customers will also be able to get a diesel engine with their little pride and joy. The diesel engine that will be used is a BMW N47 based engine, with displacement change down to 1.6 L (from 2.0 L). The engine will develop a total of 143 HP and a peak torque of 300 NM. The same sources report that the new engine will also be used for the Countryman S.

It’s true that this new engine will not be able to deliver the same output as the 1.6 Turbo engine, but it will still be a desired engine thanks to its autonomy. It is expected to have a fuel consumption of 4-4.5 liters per 100 kilometers and a CO2 emission of less than 110gr.

A similar engine is being used for both the BMW 1-Series and the 3-Series.

Mini prepares Cooper S diesel originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 09:00 EST.

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Belgian Grand Prix in Spa saw MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finish in sixth and seventh places

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MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg qualify in 11th and 12th places for Belgian Grand Prix

Top Speed Cars Car News

Just when you thought that Toyota was finally turning the corner after all its recall woes this year, here comes news that the manufacturer is once again issuing a (voluntary) safety recall involving approximately 1.13 million units of 2005-2008 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix vehicles.

According to Toyota, the recall is being issued in the US in large part because of a potential defect in the cars’ Engine Control Modules (ECM).

According to Toyota: “On vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive, there is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on the electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM’s circuit board. In most cases, if a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.”

Continued after the jump

Toyota to recall 1.13 million Corollas and Matrix over electronic problems originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 28 August 2010 06:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Finally, we get write a news piece about a Ferrari 458 Italia that’s not on fire! We kind of missed pieces like this, didn’t you? This time, we get to see the Ferrari 458 Italia at the right place: a race track. Let’s just hope that by the end of the video the engine doesn’t get set on fire.

The 458 Italia was put to the test by the British magazine, EVO, at the Bedford Aerodrome. The target was a time of 1:21:07 set by the Scuderia. So, what do you think, will they manage to smash it?

The sports car is powered by a 4.5 Liter V8 engine that produces 570 HP at a rather high 9000 RPM which gives the future super car a power output of 127 HP/Liter. Weighing in at only 3042 pounds, the new Ferrari will rocket from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.4 seconds and won’t stop until it hits a top speed of 202 MPH.

Video: Ferrari 458 Italia on the track originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 August 2010 08:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

At the end of July, Heico Sportiv announced plans to create a tuning kit for the new Volvo S60. Those plans have come to fruition as the tuner has revealed the official details on this package. The tuner has updated both the car’s aerodynamics and output with the package becoming available September 5, 2010.

The exterior package includes a new front spoiler mounted on the original bumper, a PUR-R-RIM rear skirt in diffuser, and left and right oval end-pipes of the quad outlet exhaust system. The package is finished with 18-20″ sport wheels.

In order to upgrade the engine’s output, the tuner is offering ECU upgrades for both D3/D5 diesel engines. For the 2.0 T engine, the tuner managed to squeeze an extra 47 HP, while the T6 has been upgraded to an impressive 330 HP. The result is a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

Press release after the jump.

Volvo S60 by Heico Sportiv – official details revealed originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 26 August 2010 08:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Back in 2006, Korean car manufacturer Kia pulled a masterstroke: It nabbed former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer from Volkswagen AG. Now that four years have passed, Schreyer’s influence on Kia’s design teams can been seen in a lineup of elegant cars. In this article we will take a look at what to expect from Kia over the next few years.

Already on the road is the new 2011 Kia Sportage, and it presents a vastly more elegant look than the preceding model. Besides dripping with style, the Sportage is dripping with available features like a navigation system with Sirius traffic data, LED daytime running lights, heated and ventilated front seats, backup sensors, rearview camera, a panoramic sunroof, and push-button start. The standard 176HP engine will be joined by a turbo offering in the not so distant future.

Next up is the 2011 Kia Optima sedan. Dramatic styling propels this mid-sizer into the big leagues. Like its sister, the Hyundai Sonata, look for naturally aspirated, turbo, and hybrid variants. A configurator is already online for those of you who want to play with the sedan a little early. Could other Optima body styles such as a wagon or coupe be in the wings?

Hit the jump for the full read.

Kia Keeps ‘Em Coming With Swoopy Future Models originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 25 August 2010 02:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

We have to admit, we are a bit jealous! Why does the British press get to test all of the coolest cars out there? For example, the latest model in Autocar’s fleet was the coolest Pagani ever: the new Zonda R. Be honest now, aren’t you just as jealous as we are?

The Zonda R is limited to only 10 units each priced at €1.4 million euro (about $1.85 million at current rates). It is powered by a V12 AMG engine that delivers 750 hp (100 more than the Zonda F) at 8000 rpm and 524 lb. ft. of torque. Although it looks like other Zondas, this only uses ten percent of the Zonda F components. New parts include a suspension forged in Avional (aluminum alloy), a new Pagani six-speed transversal sequential gearbox, and a carbon fiber monocoque chassis.

Check out the video of the record breaking Zonda R as it gets put to work by the gents at AutoCar!

Video: Pagani Zonda R review originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 15:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Let’s face it; there aren’t many people in the world that can afford the Reventon supercar. Not to mention the fact that it is limited to only 20 units. So, in the case that you don’t have an extra $1,200,000 in your pocket to spend or you can’t get on the super deluxe, ultra special list to purchase the Reventon, Lamborghini is offering you the possibility to get an officially licensed RC version, scale 1:10. And what Lamborghini RC car would be complete without its own limited number? In true special edition style, the mini model will only get 65 units.

The RC car was built by De Agostini and has more features than some production models: a two-stroke 3cc petrol engine, a two-speed transmission, and permanent four-wheel drive. For “optimum road holding”, designers installed an independent suspension, hydraulic shocks, and disc brakes.

Of course, it won’t develop a total of 650 HP and won’t hit a top speed of 211 mph, but it will make your dream of getting your hands on a Lamborghini Reventon come to life, in a mini way. If only they would let us know how much it costs.

Lamborghini Reventon gas powered RC car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 August 2010 23:00 EST.

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The 2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG is caught undergoing a round of high speed testing on the world famous Nurburgring

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The 2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG is caught undergoing a round of high speed testing on the world famous Nurburgring

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As Pirelli prepares for its return to Formula One, Nick will join the Italian company for a series of tests beginning in August

Top Speed Cars Car News

A couple of weeks ago, Bugatti made a worthwhile statement with their Veyron SS speed monster. This beast was capable of hitting an average top speed of 267mph, effectively placing it in the Guinness Book of Records. Koenigsegg wasn’t just going to sit back and let Bugatti take all of the glory, so they prepared their new Agera hypercar to effectively beat the Veyron Super sports’ top speed. And who better to test it than the men of Top Gear.

The man behind the Agera super car, Christian von Koenigsegg, isn’t a man to be reckoned with. He’s one of the few people who have both the will and the means to silence Bugatti of its record-topping Veyron SS. According reliable reports, his aim is to do just that, and his new Agera is just the machine to do it.

Coincidentally, it was the men of Top Gear who first gave the news of the Bugatti’s record to Koenigsegg, even though the feat was still supposed to be kept under wraps. Upon hearing the news, Koenigsegg immediately began thinking out loud of places he could test his new supercar.

Bugatti Veyron’s 267mph record on Koenigsegg Agera’s to-do list. originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 August 2010 12:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Seven months after Aston Martin announced its new racing series, the GT4 Challenge, they are coming at us with another announcement. Not only will this be the debut year for the series, but will also be the debut year for Aston Martin’s Design Director. Marek Reichman will make his racing debut in the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain at Oulton Park on Saturday August 21, 2010. The amateur racer will be driving a customized Vantage GT4, a production-based race car eligible for all FIA GT4 races as well as other race series around the world.

A race in the GT4 Challenge will last between 90 and 150 minutes in length with practice, qualifying, and the race happening all in the same day. While talking about the race Marek said: “The design team has been closely involved in the design of all our race cars, from the works LMP1 prototype to the Vantage GT4, but I’ve always longed to get even more closely involved and the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge provides the perfect introduction to GT4 racing for me.”

Chris Porritt will be racing alongside Reichman during the race. Porritt is well known for his racing experience at the Nürburgring, but he says that Oulton Park is his home track. The only difference is that Porritt has never raced an Aston Martin on the track before, but we doubt that will make a huge difference in his performance.

Press release after the jump.

Aston Martin’s Design Director will make racing debut in a Vantage GT4 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 14 August 2010 06:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Take a step back from the SLS AMG and take a look at the old SLR McLaren. It was more of a cruiser than an all-out performance vehicle, but it was pretty good nonetheless. Pretty good, as it turned out, wasn’t good enough.

Mercedes and McLaren took the SLR back to the garage and put their engineers to work and out popped the SLR 722. Taking a fast car and making it faster is the German way and they are at it again with their latest model. Unlike before though, the new SLS AMG GT3 isn’t road legal. This thing is a pure adrenaline pumping race machine.

We liked the basic SLS more than most performance vehicles on the market, including the Lexus LFA, so we should like this new version even more. Sadly, we have no idea how it drives because we aren’t racing drivers, even though we like to think we are sometimes. That’s not going to stop us though, as we take a look at the SLS GT3 and the LFA.

Hit the jump to find out.

Performance Car Comparison: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 vs. Lexus LFA originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 August 2010 08:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

A little while ago, we wrote on the possibility of a mid-engine Corvette. Karl Stracke, General Motors Vice President of Global Engineering has just denied these rumors when he spoke to Automotive News and Autoweek.

“There is no mid-engine in the plans,” said Stracke.

The mid-engined Corvette has been in our minds for years, almost as long as the car has been around. There have been numerous concepts and different sketches that keep our minds focused on this possibility. The latest machine was the CERV-III concept that debuted in 1990.

Stracke also put down the possibility of a V6 Corvette, as GM has just created a new small-block V8 that might find its way into the sports car sometime in the future. He did say that a hybrid might come along eventually, but we can only imagine how that would go over with the Corvette faithful.

Let us know what you think down below. Do you think there should be a V6 in the Corvette or a hybrid? Or do you think the engine should be in the middle?

GM Denies Rumors Of The Mid-Engined Corvette originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 12 August 2010 08:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

There are much better ways to drive around without getting noticed and driving around in cars that cost well over what any of us make isn’t one of them.

Our cars – a Mercedes-Benz S600 AMG, BMW 760Li, Jaguar XJ and the Audi A8 – are dressed in their best colors with the waxed paint job glimmering in the evening sunlight. Driving through the heavily used highways around the Cleveland area is prime gawking time for motorists. At first, the stares and pointing fingers can make you feel a bit uncomfortable, but can you blame them? It isn’t everyday that you see a luxury barge roll through a relatively poor city, especially now that LeBron James is gone.

These four sedans might be large in stature, but one nudge or poke in the wrong place and its goodnight in one impressive display. So, with more onlookers than a Thanksgiving Day parade, we are obliged to find the best luxury sedan among the four.

Hit the jump to continue.

Luxury Machines: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, Audi A8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 08:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

At the beginning of this year Toyota has unveiled the GRMN Hot Hatch Concept. At that point no one expected to see it make it to production. But today AutoCar reports that the Japanese company is already testing the future car: a low-cost, rear-wheel-drive coupe.

And believe it or not, the future car will deliver more affordable performance and desirability than the FT-86. It will be a front-engined, rear-drive model aimed especially for younger customers. The project was started by Hiromu Naruse, who died at the wheel of a Lexus LFA he’d been testing. He said he wanted to build “a car that is a blast to drive and rear-wheel drive. And priced low enough to get younger buyers into it.”

The future model will be powered by a Daihatsu-sourced 1.5-litre engine that drives the rear wheels. The car will go on sale in 2012 and will cost with around $15,000 less than the FT-86.

Toyota works on low-cost, rear-wheel-drive coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 20:08 EST.

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Eight Iconic Mercedes-Benz Vehicles at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Showcase a Tradition of Super Sports Car

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We’ve got an inside look at the Mercedes AMG Driving Academy PRO Training – what may be the nation’s preeminent driving program

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Racing touring car of 1971, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, and the S63 AMG showcar together with matching paint

Top Speed Cars Car News

Mercedes is preparing to wage war against the Audi RS5 and the new M3 with a sleek and sexy C-Class coupe.

The two-door coupe will launch in the United Kingdom late next year and it will go by the name, C63 AMG Coupe.

Under the hood will be the old 6.2-liter V8 with a seven-speed multi-clutch transmission. This is the same setup that will be in the next-generation C63 sedan. The coupe will obviously be a rival to the RS5 and the M3 and Mercedes officials will gladly admit it.

“We’re looking to up the power beyond that of today’s C63 AMG. It’s safe to say it will be the most powerful of the three,” said an AMG source.

If buyers want a little more power from their steroid injected Merc, they can get the optional performance package that takes power up from 450 horsepower to 480. That is 36 horsepower more than the RS5 and 66 more than the M3.

There is even a chance for a Black Series C63 AMG Coupe, but don’t expect that for a few years, as the Black division is currently working on the SLS63 AMG Black.

Mercedes Working On C63 Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 5 August 2010 16:00 EST.

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Top Speed Cars Car News

Jeremy Clarkson is no stranger to driving fast cars and he’s certainly not one to sugarcoat his opinions, especially when he’s got some pretty sharp criticism of the vehicle he’s driving.

Recently, the outspoken and often times hilarious host of Top Gear got a chance to drive the Ferrari 458 Italia, a car that everyone seems to be in love with. For his part, Clarkson took a few shots at a disturbing – as far as he’s concerned – part of the new Ferrari supercar: the steering wheel.

According to Clarkson, Ferrari’s decision to put a boatload of controls on the 458, including the turn lights, the wipers, the traction control, and the headlights, makes it a little more difficult to use when the car is in motion because, well, the wheel moves a lot.

But despite that little bone, Clarkson had no problem going gaga over what he claims to be the “prettiest Ferrari” to come along since the iconic 1975 Ferrari 308. And much to his delight, the 458 Italia is far from being just a pretty Ferrari.

Using James May’s very own Ferrari 430, Clarkson took the wheel of the 458 Italia and raced it with the 430 that was piloted by no less than resident driver The Stig. No sooner than the start of the race did the 458 Italia immediately display its mind-blowing power over the ‘outdated’ 430, humiliating the latter in spectacular fashion and proving without a tinge of doubt that the 458 Italia, despite the complicated wheel, is a Ferrari super car for all ages.

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson gets his hands on a Ferrari 458 Italia originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 4 August 2010 22:00 EST.

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Wald set out to change viewers first impression of the Black Bison Mercedes-Benz S-Class from being aggressive to being stylish