Friday 31 May 2013

Insider 9 - Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake



 
Today, we are inside the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake. The CLS has a 5.5l supercharged V8 with 550bhp, which enables the driver to reach 62mph in just 4.4 seconds (as usual, 155mph or 250km/h is the electronically limited top speed) Very decent performance for such a big car!

+Mercedes-AMG 

Thursday 30 May 2013

Abarth 500


 

Spotted today outside the Trafford Centre, a bit of a toy Dream Car, the Abarth 500. This is obviously a beefed up Fiat 500, looking pretty good! Under the bonnet, a modest 1,4l turbocharged 4 cylinder engine with 135bhp. 0-62 takes the 500 7.9 seconds for a top speed of 128mph (205km/h). I know, it cannot compete with a Ferrari, an Aston or even an M3, but I think it is a nice looking, little sporty city car, produced by a make with a great racing history!
 

Wednesday 29 May 2013

A Dream Car Park...

 
 

Imagine if all car parks were like this particular one! How many McLaren, Bentley and Rolls Royce can you spot? What do you mean, these pictures look suspicious? Ah, yes, I remember now, it isn't a "normal" car park indeed, but the car park you find at the back of the Bentley dealership in Knutsford! So once again, I admit, I cheated! 
The pictures themselves aren't of great quality because of the maximum zoom but I thought that was one dream of a car park, too good to miss out! (especially with the burgundy Ford Fiesta at the bottom of the second picture!!!)
 

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Aston Martin DBS


My Dream Car, the +Aston Martin DBS, seen in Manchester on the car park outside the cathedral last year. We have already had one on the blog so to remind you, the DBS has a 6.0 V12 engine with 510bhp. 0-62 takes 4.3 seconds, and the top speed is 191mph (307km/h)
I know the DBS has now been replaced by the new Vanquish but I would still choose one if I had the money! A truly wonderful car!

Monday 27 May 2013

Toyota Supra


This is the car my friends and I wanted to drive in the early version of the video game Gran Turismo, the Toyota Supra. And now here it is, parked in a car park in Lymm. The Supra has a 3.0l twin-turbo straight six engine, which develops 326bhp. It can go from 0 to 62 in just 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 177mph (285km/h).
I know this is a 13 year old Toyota, but the simple fact that it was one of our 'virtual' dream cars makes it worth having it here!
 

Sunday 26 May 2013

Volkswagen Golf R32 Mat


When I said that mat paints were becoming more fashionable... Here is another one, spotted this afternoon coming back from Anglesey. This time, it isn't a BMW but a Volkswagen Golf R32. The R32 is the more muscular version of the traditional Golf, some kind of 'super-Gti'. Under the bonnet, you will find a 3.2l V6 engine with 250bhp, capable of 6.2 seconds for 0-62 and 154mph (248km/h) top speed. Well, I must confess that I have just run a check on my 'Mycarcheck' app, and it turns out that this particular car seem to be an R32 Replica rather than an original one. In other word, it looks like an R32, but under the body kit, you will discover a 105bhp, 1.9l TDi engine, not a V6! Disappointing, I know! However, I promise to find you a real one next time!

I have just realised that the R32 badge seems to be on the wrong side of the car, it is generally found on the left not on the right!
 

Saturday 25 May 2013

Porsche 356


Driving through Lymm this afternoon, is this +Porsche 356. This car was produced between 1948 and 1965 and has a rear-mounted flat-four engine. Horsepower varied between 40bhp for the earlier model and 130bhp for the later models. This is a true icon for all car enthusiasts!

Friday 24 May 2013

Porsche Panamera 4S


 

Spotted on a side street in Alderley Edge a few weeks ago, a +Porsche Panamera 4S in a bronze colour. I have already added a Panamera to the blog some posts ago, but after the V6 Diesel, this time we have the 4.8l V8 Panamera 4S with 400bhp, a top speed of 175mph (282km/h) and 0-62 covered in 5 seconds.

Thursday 23 May 2013

Audi R8 Aluminium

 
I took this picture over a year ago, on Princess Road getting into Manchester. It is an Audi R8 V8 4.2l 420bhp, 0-62 in 4.6 seconds and top speed of 187mph (300km/h). However, what is particular about this car (I know, you have noticed!) is the paint. It is one of the only, if not the only car I have ever seen on the road with a silver/aluminium shiny paint. Very unusual!
I wonder whether that is the kind of paint football players would go for...?
 

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Insider 8 - Ferrari 599

 
We are not on-board a Ferrari 458 this time, but behind the wheel of a 6.0l, 612bhp V12 +Ferrari 599. 3.7 seconds to reach 62mph and 205mph (330km/h) as a top speed! 
Apologies for the not-so-good quality of the picture! As soon as I own one, I promise to take much better pics of the inside!!!

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Ferrari 458 x2


 
No you are not seeing double, it really is a genuine picture with 2 +Ferrari 458! 4.5l V8 with 570bhp, 0-62 in 3.4 seconds and 202mph (325km/h) top speed! And if you look carefully enough, you will even notice the Porsche Cayenne on the first picture and the Range Rover Overfinch on the second!

Monday 20 May 2013

Mercedes 280SL 1968


 
 
Today, an old classic spotted on Deansgate, Manchester, the +Mercedes-Benz 280SL. This car was produced in May 1968 and has a 2.8l straight six engine, which produces 170bhp. 0-62 takes around 9 seconds and the top speed is about 124mph (200km/h) These cars look beautiful in most colours, but I am not 100% convinced by the gold...

Sunday 19 May 2013

Audi S5


Another one in the 'sporty Audi' collection, the S5 5 doors. This one was parked outside the Trafford Centre yesterday afternoon. The S models are sporty versions of the standard Audis, generally recognisable by their sporty body packs, their double exhausts and their chrome mirrors. Some models also have an RS version, which is even more powerful. The A3, A4 and A5 currently have both an S and RS version, but let's get back to the S5. Until 2012, the S5 was available with a choice of engine, the 4.2l V8 and the 3.0l V6 supercharged. This one has the V6 turbo engine. It had 329bhp and can reach 62mph in 5.4 seconds. As usual, the top speed is limited to 155mph (250km/h).
I could be tempted...
 

Saturday 18 May 2013

Aston Martin DB9

 
+Aston Martin DB9 spotted in the Sunset at the Trafford Center a few months ago.! 6.0l V12 with 450bhp. 0-62 in 4.7 seconds and top speed of 186mph (299km/h)
 
 
Aston Martin DB9 au coucher du soleil au Trafford Center il y a quelques mois! V12 de 6,0l et 450ch, 0-100 en 4.7 secondes et vitesse maximum 299km/h

Friday 17 May 2013

Insider 7 - Dodge Viper 2006

 

Inside a beast of a car, the Dodge Viper. This picture was shot during the 2006 Paris Motor Show, so we have the SRT-10 Viper with a huge 8.3l V10 engine with 500bhp. This car is capable of 3.9 seconds to do 0-62 and 190mph (305km/h) as a top speed! Ready to bite you!
 
 
A l'intérieur d'un monstre. Cette photo a été prise pendant le Salon de l'Auto 2006, donc nous avons une Viper SRT-10 avec un énorme V10 de 8,3l et 500ch. Cette voiture est capable de couvrir le 0-100 en 3,9 secondes et d'atteindre 305km/h en vitesse maximum! Elle est prête à vous mordre!

Thursday 16 May 2013

BMW 645Ci Mat


 

A good example of the new trend around here in terms of paint: mat paints, black and grey in particular! Here we have a mat black +BMW 645 Ci (4.4l 333bhp V8, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds)
These paints make an older car like this 2004 6-series that no-one would look at twice, noticeable again! But is it in a good way...?


Un bon exemple de la tendance actuelle en terme de peinture: le mat, noir ou gris en particulier! Nous avons ici une BMW 645 Ci noir mat (4.4l 333ch V8, 0-100 en 5.8 secondes)
Ces peintures rendent des voitures que l'on ne remarquerait plus vraiment, comme cette série 6 de 2004, plus tape à l'oeil! Mais est-ce là une bonne chose...?

Wednesday 15 May 2013

BMW M5 V10


As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, here is the previous M5 model, with a 5.0l 507bhp V10 engine. For most petrol heads, the V10 was a better engine, particularly as far as engine sound is concerned: the real sound of a V10 compared to the amplified, stereo generated engine sound from the V8.
For the performance of the car, 0-62 is covered in 4.7 seconds and, for a non-limited version, a top speed of 205mhp (330km/h)
 
 

Comme j'en ai parlé il y a quelques jours, voici la version précédente de la M5, avec un V10 de 5,0l et 507ch. Les passionnés préféreront le V10, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le son du moteur: le vrombissement du V10 comparé au son amplifié à travers les haut-parleurs du V8.
Pour les performances de la voiture, le 0-100 se fait en 4.7 secondes et, pour les modèles non-limités, une vitesse de pointe de 330km/h.
 

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Rolls Royce Ghost


 
 
 
 
I am still waiting for a picture of a Phantom! But here, we have the Rolls Royce Ghost, parked on a side street in Manchester on Saturday morning.  As I mentioned in a previous post, the Ghost has a 563bhp 6.6l V12. It can accelerate from 0-62 in 4.7sec and reach 155mph or 250km/h (limited electronically)
The car was parked on King Street West at the side of House of Fraser Manchester, which seems to be quite a good place to hang around if you like nice cars. It is indeed the street where I spotted the Ferrari California over a week ago (http://dreamcarspotter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/ferrari-california.html) I will make sure I walk down there next time too!

+Rolls-Royce Motor Cars


J'attends toujours une photo de la Phantom! Ici, nous avons la Rolls Royce Ghost, garée dans une rue de Manchester samedi matin. Comme je l'ai déjà précisé dans un article précédent, la Ghost a un V12 de 6,6l qui développe 563ch. Le 0-100 s'effectue en 4,7 seconds et la vitesse maximum est limitée électroniquement à 250km/h.

La voiture était garée sur King Street West le long du grand magasin House of Fraser à Manchester, qui me semble être une rue plutôt sympa pour repérer de belles voitures. C'est d'ailleurs là que j'ai vu la Ferrari California il y a une semaine. Vous pouvez être sûr que j'y retournerai la prochaine fois! 

Monday 13 May 2013

Insider 6 - Ferrari FF

 
Next Insider post, and we are back with the prancing horse. But which Ferrari am I in?
How well do you know your cars? Leave your answer in the comment section underneath.
Answer in 1 day!

=> For those who knew, it was indeed the Ferrari FF!
 
+Ferrari

Article suivant dans ma série "Insider", et nous sommes de retour avec la marque au cheval cabré. Mais dans quelle Ferrari suis-je?
Vous croyez vous y connaitre en automobile? Laissez-moi un commentaire avec votre réponse alors!
La réponse dans 1 jour! 

=> Pour ceux qui le savaient, c'était bien sûr la Ferrari FF!

Sunday 12 May 2013

BMW M5 V8


 
 
After the M3 and the M6, here comes the new +BMW M5. You will have guessed it with the rain, I was still in Manchester, not in some exotic country!!! I have recently posted pictures of the new M6 followed by the previous version of the car, and I am now doing the same with the M5. The new V8 first, soon followed by the previous V10 generation. As I mentioned in the M6 post, both the M6 and M5 share the same engine: a 552bhp, 4.4l twin-turbo V8. As far as performance is concerned, 0-62 is (slightly) slower in the M5, in 4.4 seconds and the top speed is limited at 155mph (250km/h), but again, you have the option of purchasing the "M Driver's Package" which will override the limiter to take you to 190mph (305km/h). This said, the non-limited top speed of the new M5 is 15mph under the top speed of its non-limited V10 predecessor!

Saturday 11 May 2013

Lotus Renault F1



 


Displayed in the Arndale Centre in Manchester this morning, Kimi Räikkönen's F1 car, a Lotus powered by a 750bhp, 2.4l V8 Renault engine. I know I didn't see it on a street (well, yes, I know, we don't tend to see these on a street!!!) but thought some of you would probably dream of taking out an F1 car out for a spin!

So here it is, in four pictures. Enjoy!
 

Friday 10 May 2013

Mercedes SL500


 

After the Mercedes SL55 AMG here is the SL500 still in Knutsford. The SL500 also has a V8 engine but only a 5.0l with 302bhp. 0-62 takes the SL500 6.1 seconds and 155mph (250km/h) is the limited top speed of the car.
I now need to find an SL with a V12 under the bonnet, a SL600 or SL65 AMG, which are both rarer beasts!

+Mercedes-Benz  +Mercedes-AMG 

Thursday 9 May 2013

Audi TT-RS Red



 
We are once again in one of Manchester's car parks, looking this time at an Audi TT-RS, and this one is the new TT-RS Plus. Why "Plus", simply because the 2.5l turbocharged 5 cylinder engine has been upgraded to 355bhp (from 335bhp). Compare to the standard TT-RS, the Plus is 0.2 second faster on the 0-62 (4.3s compared to 4.5s) and has also a much higher top speed (174mph or 280km/h) as the 155mph electronic limit is removed.
 

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Aston Martin DB7


Seen on Sunday on the Altrincham motorway roundabout, this is an +Aston Martin DB7. I noticed that it had been following us out of the M56 coming from Manchester, and I just managed to take a picture of the car as it went past us on the roundabout heading towards Altrincham.
Looking at the wheels, lights and general shape, I would say that this particular DB7 has a 3.2l straight six engine with 335bhp (compared to later versions which were upgraded to a 6.0l V12 with 420bhp) With the straight six, the DB7 could accelerate from 0 to 62 in 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 165mph (265km/h)

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed


Spotted this afternoon in Altrincham as I left work, this Bentley Continental Flying Spur. The Flying Spur is basically the 4 door version of the Continental GT. This particular model is the Speed version of the car which means that the W12 6.0l engine develops 592bhp compared to 552bhp for the normal version. 0-62 takes the Spur only 4.5 seconds and top speed is 200mph (322km/h).
A very fast saloon indeed!
 

Monday 6 May 2013

Insider 5 - Bentley Continental GT


A new post in the "Insider" series, and again, which car does this steering wheel belong to?
Bentley it is indeed. And yes, if you look at the display screen telling you the boot is open, you will realise that I am inside a Continental GT!
 

Sunday 5 May 2013

Ferrari California


 
 
 

And another one! One more +Ferrari California for the blog. This time, spotted on King Street West in Manchester. Seeing the red paint at the bottom of a street, walking towards it and realising progressively that the car you couldn't quite see before is indeed a Ferrari, is always a nice experience.
As far as performance, it hasn't changed since last time:
4.3l V8 engine with 490bhp, 0-62 covered in 3.8 seconds and top speed of 193mph (310km/h)

Saturday 4 May 2013

Porsche 997 Carrera 4 GTS Convertible

 

Quite a productive trip to Manchester this morning, with a few car snaps. The first one to find its way to the blog is this +Porsche 997 Carrera 4 GTS Convertible. The GTS was produced between 2011 and 2012 and was bridging the gap between the Carrera and the GT3. The GTS has the traditional flat six engine upgraded to 3.8l and 408bhp and has four wheel drive. Performance-wise, 4.6 seconds between 0 and 62mph and a top speed of 186mph (300km/h)
One more to add to our 911 collection!

Friday 3 May 2013

Ferrari 458 Spider


I took that picture about one hour ago coming back from work. I was waiting at the Bowdon traffic lights to turn right towards Dunham Massey when I saw the black bonnet appear from the left. I just had time to grab my phone to take a picture as it drove past. It is a brand new +Ferrari 458 Spider in Black. It has a 570bhp 4.5l V8 engine and can do 0-62 in 3.4 seconds and reach a  top speed of 198mph (319km/h)