Europeans get speed freak on
Los Ang eles – While other automakers may have been catering to Californians’ greener sensibilities, a few European automakers got their speed freak on, showcasing unbridled horsepower in sleek, expensive machines.
BMW i 3 Conce pt Coupe
The première of the i3 Concept Coupe sees BMW unveil a closer-to-production version of its idea for sustainable “premium-class” motoring with zero local emissions.
The Coupe is powered by an electric motor that develops 170 horsepower and peak torque of 184 pound-feet, channelling its lithium-ion battery power delivery to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission.
Jaguar X FR- S
Jaguar hypes the XFR-S as the fastest and most powerful sedan it has ever produced. With just 100 being offered for the 2014 model year in the U.S., the 550-horsepower, supercharged 5.0L V-8-powered XFR-S will do zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds with an electronically limited top end of 300 km/h. The XFR-S gets a beefed-up ZF eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters and automatic throttle blipping on downshifts. Both front and rear suspension systems have been updated and tuned.
Porsche Cayman
The 2014 Cayman is as stunning as its convertible Boxster kin. It is lower and longer, lighter and faster, more efficient and more powerful than ever. And, like the Boxster, the Cayman gets that gorgeous indentation in the door, which guides the air to the intake in the rear side section.
The base model sees a 2.7L six under its engine cover delivering 275 hp. The Cayman S’s 3.4L flat-six sees output bumped to 325 hp.
Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Black Series
The 2014 SLS AMG Coupe Black Series boasts a 631 hp, 6.2L V-8 that, Mercedes says, will accelerate the Black Series to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. The engine is mated to an enhanced AMG SpeedShift DCT seven-speed transmission.
To pare down the car’s weight, numerous body pieces are now made from carbon fibre.