Building Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

This is the result of a serious labor of passion. 

It was one of the stars of the LA Auto Show, and having revealed the one-off Benz in the metal, Mercedes has released a making-of video detailing how the AMG Vision Gran Turismo quickly went from the sketch pad to show floor.

More than just a virtual plaything for Gran Turismo fanboys, the concept was ultimately brought to life, albeit without an engine. The designers were encouraged to let their imaginations go wild given the car was never destined for the road, yet the Benz boys worked hard to make the car attractive to gamers.

So as well as giving it drop-dead gorgeous looks with plenty of futuristic styling, the Vision GT comes with a twin-turbo V8 rated at 577-hp and 590 lb-ft of torque that makes all the right sounds.

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Mercedes-AMG C63 scores one for drivers - BBC

Until recently, it would have been the last place on the Iberian Peninsula to spot a Mercedes-Benz sedan. But the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S, a 503-horsepower bully itching to punch rival sedans in the nose – including BMW’s vaunted M3 – feels right at home.

Vital Stats
2016 Mercedes-AMG C63, C63 S, C450 AMG Sport

Base price: TBA
Price as tested: TBA
EPA fuel economy: TBA
Powertrain: 3-litre twin-turbo gasoline V6 engine (C450); 4-litre twin-turbo gasoline V8 (C63 & C63 S); seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; all-wheel drive (C450); rear-wheel drive (C63 & C63 S)
Standard equipment: TBD
Major options: TBD

Parked near the Autódromo paddock is a convoy of C450 AMG 4Matic sedans. First in a coming line of AMG Sport models, this 362hp C-Class serves as a more affordable entryway to the company’s AMG speed division. Faster than standard Benzes but not quite full-fledged AMG cars, they are analogues to Audi’s mid-priced S or BMW’s M Performance models. Expected to start in the low $50,000s in the US, the 2016 C450 AMG will replace the current C400, absorbing a stronger version of that car’s biturbo 3-litre V6 engine and a generous spread of go-fast gear.

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DBX is Aston Martin’s shock SUV concept - BBC

The Aston Martin DBX is like no other SUV-crossover we've yet seen. There are shades of Spyker's D12 crossover, and perhaps the loopy Audi Nanuk concept of a couple of years ago. But on the whole, the DBX is a far more cohesive bit of design than we dared hope for.

While it's a crossover in height, it's more sports car in shape, though Aston promises comfortable seating for four adults. The shape of the grille and the rear light design bear resemblance to current Aston products, though equally this appears to be an expressive design exercise for Aston's next phase of cars (not least inside).

This concept is electric-powered and all-wheel drive. Quite what follows in production form remains to be seen. But an Aston SUV will happen, something of a change of heart.

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Top 10 cars at the 2015 Geneva motor show - BBC

Koenigsegg looked to the Swedish word for “to reign” for its latest hyper-confection, as the company expects the Regera to dominate the market for what it calls “megacars”.

Where Koenigseggs have traditionally been track-focused cars, the Regera aims to expand that remit by adding such creature comforts as sound deadening.

Interestingly, the Regera saves weight by dispensing with the traditional multi-gear transmission. Instead, the 1,100-horsepower 5-litre gasoline V8 connects to the rear wheels using a direct drive that benefits from the assistance of another 400 horsepower worth of electric motors.

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Ford to price GT in Lamborghini Aventador territory - BBC

Speaking at the Geneva motor show, where the new carbon fibre twin-turbo GT made its European debut, Ford's performance bosses announced that GT prices would mirror Sant'Agata's hero. The Aventador starts around £260,000 (in US, around $400,000).

Production of the supercar will begin in 2016, with production limited to just 250 cars each year. That means this new generation of GT is considerably more expensive and exclusive than the last Ford GT, long a Clarkson favourite.

You'll know the salient details: out goes the supercharged V8 of the old car, and in comes a motorsport-derived, twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine mounted in the middle, powering the rear wheels to the tune of over 600bhp.

The GT is constructed largely of carbon fibre and aluminium to reduce weight: think carbon passenger cell and chassis components, which, in Ford's own words, give it "one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car."

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FarmDogg blends robotics with rutabagas - BBC

There are, however, against-the-grainers such as Melissa Brandao, a technology veteran who took the proverbial road less travelled. The 46-year-old founder and chief executive of Ashland, Oregon-based Rogue Rovers is bent on using her business acumen – gleaned at Apple and a global data collection firm, among other stopover points – to develop a fully electric, semi-robotic all-terrain vehicle, or ATV. This machine would not be for joyriding, mind, but for use by specialty farmers. Her slightly anthropomorphised vision? The FarmDogg.

Related: Kulan is an all-electric beast of burden.

Given Brandao’s background in personal computing and global data, one might expect such an individual to found a Tesla Motors-rivalling EV startup,  But to hear Brandao tell it, she is quite content to help farmers and vineyard operators instead of building a sexy beast to challenge the Model S.

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