Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

When a hybrid looks and performs like the Porsche 918 Spyder, it makes you wonder why more automotive companies don’t integrate hybrid technology into their high-performance engineering process.  Then again, it’s not that often you find a hybrid with a 500 hp V8 engine capable of propelling said hybrid up to 199 mph, which may also explain why Porsche is considering pricing this prototype (if put into production) at approximately $630,000.  Though its price tag may be exorbitant, the 918 Spyder’s aesthetic is so absurdly fluid and gorgeous (as all supercars should be in our minds) from the Ferrari-esque front fascia to detailed accents such as its exhaust pipes, that one look simply sets the price aside in that other compartment of your brain that doesn’t understand how math works.

Automobiles, Gear, Going green, Sports Cars

Audi continues to push the boundaries of automotive distinction with every iteration of the A5 model (which we believe is one of the most well designed European coupes on the market today).  The S5, with its subtle surface updates and boost in power, provided bit of added performance that was missing from the A5 and now with the singular RS5, a more significant upgrade in power and update in design helps distinguish the RS5 from its siblings (that said, it will only be available in Europe for now).  A 4.2 liter V8 engine boasts 450 hp and takes the RS5 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.  Equipped with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive and further accented by dual oval exhausts and a gorgeously fierce front fascia, the Audi RS5 is one sports coupe whose US release we’re eagerly anticipating.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

It’s hard to improve upon near-perfection.  But the Aston Martin Carbon Black Special Editions (i.e. the V12 Vantage, pictured, and the DBS) compellingly prove it can be done.  It starts with a custom Carbon Black metallic paint that has a depth of color that’s both aqueous and luminous at the same time.  The carbon theme extends beyond the finish as side strakes, anodized black tread plates and sill plaques all share a common carbon bond.  Even the seats are constructed from Carbon Fiber and Kevlar for a combination of lightness and strength, while the interior is swathed in the aptly named Obsidian Black leather, which is further accented by hand-sewn silver stitches.  10 spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels round out the myriad trims and options available, making either of the two Carbon Black Special Editions, the Aston Martin of choice for those who value the inimitable aesthetic power of black carbon.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

Impeccable quality, reliability, and innovation has always defined Lexus as a luxury automobile manufacturer.  And with the introduction of the Lexus LFA (available from Lexus for approximately $350,000), they’ve now compellingly broken new ground in establishing themselves in the supercar arena as well.  With a flawlessly fluid design, the LFA exhibits an aggressive front fascia that’s further accented by side air vents, LED tail lights and a rear triple-exhaust system that has the LFA looking just as incredible going as it does coming at you.  Constructed out of a specially engineered Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic that provides incredible strength while remaining light-weight, the LFA (with a 4.8L V10 engine that puts out 552 hp) accelerates from 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.6 seconds and tops out at 202 mph.  And with only 20 hand-built LFAs being produced each month for 25 consecutive months for a maximum of 500, the Lexus LFA is one limited edition supercar we can’t wait to see out on the road (but with production slated to begin December 2010, just don’t expect a sighting anytime soon).

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

In a time where cars park themselves and use sonar to eliminate blind spots when changing lanes, the editors at DS suspect that as a result of these advances, our senses are being dulled as we rely more heavily on technology to do the work our natural instincts used to handle for us.  In turn, cars are often heavier and less responsive and our ability to enjoy what makes driving so intrinsically liberating is diminished as well.  The Porsche Boxster Spyder (available from Porsche starting at $61,200) exceptionally addresses those very concerns by eliminating the frills and instead allowing the driver to appreciate the fundamental aspects of what driving a true roadster really means.

And that starts with a minimalist approach that many would consider monastically austere.  No radio.  No cup holders.  No air conditioning.  Instead, the Boxster Spyder is equipped with special lightweight 19-inch wheels, aluminum doors, an open roof and even door pulls in place of conventional door release levers, making it the lightest production Porsche available.  Aesthetically, the Boxster Spyder is striking, particularly from the rear fascia perspective as the fixed rear spoiler and two powerdomes immediately set it apart from the regular Boxster.  And one retro detail we love is the 1960s Porsche striping and logo on the side.  The Boxster Spyder’s 320 hp also gets you from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds (4.7 with the PDK), and with its lowered chassis and stiffer suspension, the handling is true Porsche bliss.  Sure, the Boxster Spyder isn’t for everybody, but for the purist at heart, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

The Audi e-tron represents Audi’s first significant foray into the high performance electric vehicle market.  Though still just a concept car, the e-tron is an engineering and design revelation.  The e-tron immediately strikes you with an assertive front fascia that’s compellingly defined by a single-frame grille flanked by two large air intakes.  Adaptive matrix beam headlamps are aggressively designed and powered by high-efficiency LED lights that reflexively change intensity and brightness according to weather conditions.  Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the e-tron accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, has a top speed of 124 mph, and has a travel range of approximately 150 miles on a six to eight hour charge (using a household current via a cable and plug).  Two electric motors are mounted on the front axle and another two are mounted behind the rear axle, thereby achieving true quattro performance as torque flows distinctively to each wheel based on driving conditions.  With similar design lines to the much loved R8, but with zero emissions, the Audi e-tron is hopefully an auspicious presage of a production vehicle in the near future.

Automobiles, Gear, Going green, Sports Cars

Some acts are virtually impossible to follow.  So when Mercedes-Benz reinterpreted the iconic 300 SL with an updated model, we were curious to see how it was going to stack up against the original.  Simply put, we were left speechless.  The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (price TBA) is one of the most stunningly gorgeous automobiles we’ve ever seen.  With an aluminum space frame body housing an AMG 6.3 liter, V8 engine putting out 571 hp, the SLS AMG is capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, while being electronically limited to a top speed of 197 mph.  And with stylistic elements from the inimitable gullwing doors to the cockpit-like interior, the classic purity of the original 300 SL’s spirit is retained, while its low-slung and aggressive aesthetic, evocative of sleek fighter jets, propels the SLS AMG into the rarefied air of contemporary super sports cars.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

When you take a class to learn something new, you generally want to use the knowledge or skills you’ve just acquired to reinforce what you’ve been taught.  That said, one class where you hope you’ll never have to use your newfound knowledge is the Executive Protection & Anti-Kidnapping Course at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving (four days for $5,925), where you’ll learn how to identify, avert and evade potential on-road conflicts whether criminal or even terrorist in nature.  With General Motors as the official vehicle supplier of the Bob Bondurant School, you’ll spend over 80% of the course behind the wheel of a Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac CTS, receiving hands-on training in mastering maximum vehicle control and counter-terrorist driving skills such as forward and reverse 180s, evading and ramming, cornering and braking techniques, and takeouts/PIT maneuvers, among a myriad of other skills that your high school driving course never taught you.

Adventure, Leisure, Sports Cars, Trucks

As the striking successor to the F430, the Ferrari 458 Italia (price TBA) doesn’t just passively take the place of its predecessor; rather, it dauntlessly takes a new step forward as a completely redesigned car.  With a 4.5 liter direct injected V8 mid-rear-mounted engine producing 570hp, the 458 Italia has an estimated 0-60 time of under 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.  And with all that horsepower being delivered through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as well as having a shell designed by Pininfarina, the 458 Italia represents the stunning synthesis of aerodynamic engineering and the inimitable sense of automotive design we’ve come to always expect from Ferrari.  Expect more information and imagery to follow after its official presentation at the 2009 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

Rims, dubs, wheels—whatever you call them, it doesn’t change the fact that most people judge them almost solely on appearance.  HRE Performance Wheels has distinguished itself from the competition for over 30 years by precisely engineering wheels that not only have inimitable style, but also provide unsurpassed performance and quality.  Using state-of-the-art analysis, each HRE wheel’s strength-to-weight ratio is optimized to ensure outstanding acceleration, braking and handling.  Each wheel is forged out of heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and hand-assembled to guarantee a consistent quality finish.  And every wheel is measured against the highest performance standards to an exactness that borders on obsession—HRE even uses third-party testers to validate that their designs meet, if not exceed these high standards.  However, what makes HRE exceptional is their commitment to providing you with the ability to customize your wheels with options such as custom colors, pinstriping, and various powdercoats ranging from silver to charcoal to black, among others.  Ultimately, every HRE wheel can be fully customized for vehicle fit as well as individually built-to-order so that each style, fitment and finish meets your every desire.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars