For all the grief that Porsche gets for building such, erm, untraditional vehicles as the Cayenne and Panamera, the company deserves a big pat on the back for still keeping core models like the 911, Boxster and Cayman in its portfolio. And while many examples of those models are purchased mainly for the looks and the badge, there are still people out there who buy Porsche’s core models for driving enjoyment.
For these non-posseurs, Porsche makes a handful of truly hard-edged models, none more so than the current ruler of Zuffenhausen’s performance roost, the 911 GT2 RS. It’s one thing to read or hear this thing’s numbers bandied about: 620hp, 3,020 lb., 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, 205 mph top speed, only 500 copies made worldwide, blah blah blah. However, it’s another kettle of fish to see those numbers in action, so grab some tartar sauce and feast your peepers and ocular receivers on the video after the jump.

Led by engineer Dave Born, who worked on the version of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 used in the F-150, the turbo Cobra Jet project makes its debut at this week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Coyote now breathes through a pair of Borg-Warner turbos that are based on the unit used in the new Focus ST. The turbine wheels are made of titanium to reduce weight and therefore lag, and the integrated, electronically-controlled wastegates are similar to those being used on the various four- and six-cylinder production EcoBoost engines. The turbos themselves sit very low and far to the front, to allow fresh air to go straight through openings in the front bumper and into the inlet side of the turbos. From there, the air is shoved into a massive, front-mount intercooler, and after that it goes up and back through a single tube past the throttlebody and into the intake manifold.

Outside, all the enhancements of the regular Cobra Jets are easy to spot. Tiny front wheels and tires, fat rear wheels and tires, rear quarter window slats and bold graphics that incorporate the Cobra mascot and Ford Racing’s new global blue-and-black stripe scheme. The gutted interior includes a full roll cage, lightweight Recaro seats with five-point harnesses, quick-release steering wheel, and a big tachometer mounted atop the dashboard right in the driver’s line of sight.
Alas, the Mustang Cobra Jet Turbo is officially just a concept at this point. Worse still, Ford isn’t quoting any power figures or quarter-mile speeds or elapsed times. Then again, considering some supercharged Cobra Jets are running in the eights, we can safely assume that this turbocharged tease isn’t too far off that pace. In any event, we’d love to see a handful of Cobra Jet Turbos made and sold to racers, if only to goad Dodge and Chevrolet into building Drag Pak Challengers with the new SRT Viper’s V10 and COPO Camaros with a turbocharged Gen V LT1. And maybe that would inspire the NHRA to make its Pro Stock class about stock (or stock-based, anyway) cars again, rather than the gas-burning-funny-cars-with-doors they have now. Hey, we’re allowed to dream, right?

Vast Orange

While we’re baffled by the staying power of matte finishes and all-black “murdered out” color schemes, we’re fairly confident we know at least one of the chromatic fads that will replace them once they do fall out of vogue. And its name is orange. The color-that-rhymes-with-nothing (though, come to think of it, the same can be said of purple) is being very well represented in Sin City, particularly by this sick widebody GT-R. Clearly, the Ornch Car Cult’s master plan is working perfectly.

Thinking Small

With the line graph for gas prices of late looking like a ride design the bigwigs at Six Flags rejected as “too hardcore,” subcompact cars – and now sub-subcompact cars like the Fiat 500, Scion iQ (shown) and recently introduced Chevrolet Spark – are starting to gain a foothold here in the land of Suburbansaurus Rex with ordinary consumers and tuners alike. This isn’t terribly surprising, as their affordable purchase prices leave buckets of baksheesh leftover for personalization. Combine that with fantastic fuel economy and maneuverability and these little runabouts become very attractive.

Toyobaru FTW

Anyone who didn’t expect the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ tag team to be the darling of the tuning community right out of the gate clearly doesn’t know how the car enthusiast brain works. The mere idea of a small, light, cheap-ish rear-wheel-drive coupe is all it takes to perk up almost every pair of ear in these circles. But to build such a marvelous machine and offer it for sale? You bet your backside us gearheads are going to be all over it. And SEMA Show organizers were all over it, too: They named the FR-S the Hottest Sport Compact of this year’s event.

Intergenerational Hybrids

No, don’t worry, we aren’t talking about dropping a third gen Prius’s battery pack into first gen model. We are, however, talking about mixing the DNA of modern muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro with that of their predecessors. Some use the bones of the classic originals and give them modern mechanical and cosmetic touches; the Mustang above features a 2012 nose and roofline on a 1968 body. Others start with modern cars and graft classic body parts onto them. The latter seems more popular, especially with new Camaros being restyled to look like the fifth generation Pontiac Firebirds and Trans Ams that woulda/coulda/shoulda been.

Big Old Trucks, Big Bucks

Finally, continuing with the theme of mixing old with new, SEMA 2012 is the coming out party for a couple of classic crew cab Dodge pickups with modern innards. Icon put together a lovely white 1965 Dodge D200 riding atop a modified late model Dodge Ram 3500 chassis and powered by a Banks Power tweaked 5.9L Cummins inline-six turbodiesel putting down 975 lb.-ft of torque. Legacy Classic Trucks, meanwhile, is showing off a big green Power Wagon – the famous WWII era 4×4 brute – with a gaggle of modern bits aimed at improving capability and reliability, including beadlock wheels and a 3.9L Cummins inline-four turbodiesel generating 480 lb.-ft. These king-sized, king’s-ransom-priced trucks certainly aren’t for everyone, but we’re thinking they are about to become the it toys of the rich and famous.

It’s taken about a fortnight, but we’ve finally made a full recovery from our SEMA Show hangover. So…now what? Well, after going through our notes and editing our pictures, we realized that there was an absolute glut of customized cars and trucks squeezed into the Las Vegas Convention Center. Such a glut, in fact, that we wouldn’t have any trouble compiling a list of the top 20 vehicles from the show.
So that’s exactly what we’ve done. And when our friends at Nitto Tire got wind that we were working on this, they decided to throw their support behind it. Thanks guys! Anyway, here, in no particular order, are our favorite dozen plus eight rides from SEMA 2012.

Toyota DragQuoia

For this year’s SEMA Show, Toyota asked four of its pro drivers to customize a new Toyota vehicle, with the winner of a fan vote getting $50,000 for the charity of his or her choice. This insane fat-tired, giant-winged, supercharged Sequoia, conceived by NHRA Top Fuel ace Antron Brown, did not win. But don’t feel sorry for Mr. Brown: This past weekend, at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, he became the first African-American champion of a major auto racing series. And having interviewed him a couple times in a previous journalistic life, we can confidently say it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

Trans Am Depot Hurst Edition Trans Am

Pontiac may be dead, but that hasn’t stopped the aftermarket from keeping the Firebird and Trans Am alive by restyling the current Chevrolet Camaro. Trans Am Depot, as its name suggests, specializes in doing exactly that, and the offering that had us staring the most longingly is the Hurst Edition Trans Am. Basically a love letter to the 1977 Special Edition Trans Am that starred alongside Burt Reynolds and ensemble in Smokey and the Bandit, it features that car’s immortal black and gold color scheme, giant “Screaming Chicken” hood decal, and t-tops. Alas, a trunk full of Coors and a CB radio are not included.

Bisimoto Hyundai Elantra GT

The Hyundai Elantra GT is a fine five-door compact, but it’s a little light on horsepower. Tuner Bisimoto fixed that problem, and then added a few hundred extra horsepower for good measure. The total output figure for this wildly decorated runabout? Six-hundred angry ponies. Yeah, yeah, we know, that’s way too much for front-wheel drive. But on a flat surface, with the steering wheel perfectly straight, we wouldn’t mind one attempt at uncorking that turbocharged fury.

Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition

Most of us car guys fell in love with cars thanks to Hot Wheels, and Chevrolet is no doubt banking on that to drive sales of the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition. The 21” redline wheels are a shoutout to the ones on the early Hot Wheels offerings, and there are numerous Camaro ZL1-inspired body add-ons, and a fat, matte black stripe across the hood, trunk and, in the case of coupes, the top. And if you can’t afford a new Camaro plus the $6,995 (*barf*) MSRP of the option package, you can buy a 1:64 scale Camaro Hot Wheels Edition from (duh) Hot Wheels.

Fatlace Nissan GT-R

SEMA was hardly short on modified Nissan GT-Rs, but this widebody number from Fatlace, in our opinion, was a cut above its peers. The restrained stripe scheme, fat wheels and tires, and a widebody kit that seems to be a modern take on the flared Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines of the early ‘70s all make a fantastic ensemble. We’d love to give this thing a workout, if you know what we mean. And we really do mean we’d like to give it a workout. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Toyota Rowdy Edition Camry

So if Antron’s DragQuoia didn’t win the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge, what did? That would be the Rowdy Edition Camry, the “Rowdy” being NASCAR star Kyle Busch. Based on the hot dog SE V6 version of America’s favorite transportation appliance, Kyle’s design adds oodles of black (with some red pinstriping), hood scoops, rear diffuser with integrated exhaust tips, and a NASCAR-style rear spoiler. It’s concrete proof that just about any car can be made cool.

Icon Dodge D200 Reformer Series

Icon 4×4, best known for crafting modernized Toyota Land Cruisers and Jeeps, wowed SEMA attendees with this big, white Dodge crew cab. In traditional Icon fashion, the styling may be classic, but what’s underneath is most certainly not. The frame is a modified late model Ram 3500 unit, and the engine is a 5.9L Cummins inline-six turbodiesel that’s been tweaked by Banks Power to make 975 lb.-ft of torque. It cost a pretty penny to put together, but every one of those pennies was well spent.

Chevrolet Malibu Turbo Performance Concept

The new Chevrolet Malibu is a nice midsize sedan, but it doesn’t really set our tongues a-wagging, even in top-drawer Turbo form. This Malibu Turbo Performance Concept, on the other hand, is a rather tasty morsel. A handsome bodykit, big hoops and matte blue paint dominate the exterior, while blue suede interior trim and Recaro bucket seats spice up the interior. If you ask us, a production version would be a nice foil to the Camry SE.

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Twin Turbo Concept

The Ford Mustang Cobra Jet is the original 21^st century turn-key drag car. And the latest version, with either a normally aspirated or supercharged 5.0L “Coyote” V8, is quite the quarter-mile monster. So what does that make this prototype turbocharged Cobra Jet? We’re going to go with quarter-mile Cthulhu. Where are your gods now, Camaro COPO and Challenger Drag Pak?

Fiat 500 Café Racer Concept

What happens when you chop the top and gut the interior of a Fiat 500 Abarth? You end up with something like the Fiat 500 Café Racer Concept. By itself it’s a cool ride, yes. But throw in the trailer and the matching, Abarth-scorpion-adorned custom motorcycle it carries? Well, then you have the hottest hoonage rig this side of the Adriatic Sea.

Porsche Cayman R

While some purists are apparently quite horrified that the “R” designation is being applied to a Porsche other than a 911, it’s simply impossible to badmouth the Cayman R’s bona fides. The 3.4L pancake six serves up 330hp (up 10 from the Cayman S), while about 120 lb. of fat has been trimmed from the curb weight. Revised bodywork with retro rocker panel stripes and super-lightweight 19” wheels round out this mid-engine switchback-slayer. Thinking of it as a Boxster Spyder for climates less temperate than ours wouldn’t be too far off the mark.

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept

Even though going way-the-hell downmarket (via a gilded Chevy Cavalier) severely tarnished its reputation back in the day, Cadillac has decided to at least give the world an idea what an even more modest Caddy might look like. Called the Urban Luxury Concept, this little scissor-doored runabout crams the brand’s Art and Science design language into a 151” long, two-box package.
Power comes courtesey of a turbocharged 1.0L three-banger mated to a dual-clutch transmission, automatic stop-start, electric assist and regenerative braking to yield an estimated 56 mpg in the city and 65 mpg on the highway. Assuming the rather terrifying fuel economy legislation being bandied about in Washington becomes reality, pygmy luxury cars like this (and Aston Martin’s Cygnet) could become the rule rather than the exception. At least this thing looks pretty sharp.

Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R is already a legend of our time, but what would happen if Godzilla were to be endowed with, oh, 45 more horsepower and 54 more lb.-ft of torque? What if Nissan also added a revised front bumper, a revised diffuser and underbody paneling to improve cooling, add downforce and reduce drag? Or even lighter RAYS wheels? You’d probably have the 2012 GT-R. With 530hp on tap, Nissan says its AWD supercoupe should now be able to blast to 60 mph in less than three seconds. Oh, and it’s still cheaper than Mothra, er, the Porsche 911 Turbo, with the base model set to retail for $89,950. Sweet.

Honda Fit EV Concept

Not content to let rival Nissan have the all-electric small five-door market to itself, Honda announced plans to have a battery-powered Fit ready for the 2012 model year, and showed off a concept version to prove just how serious the company is. Honda expects the lithium-ion battery pack and three mode drive system (based on the one found in the CR-Z hybrid) to return a range of 100 miles per charge, which just so happens to be the same as the Leaf. The Fit EV also features a special remote that allows you to track charging progress, initiate charging, and turn on the air conditioning. All this begs the question: How long before Toyota rolls out an electric B-segment hatch?

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

Even though Mercedes-Benz pulled the sheet off the second generation of its popular CLS-Class four-door coupes a while ago, the speed demons among us were told to wait to feast our peepers on the AMG version. Well the wait is over and, if you ask us, it was well worth it. The new CLS’s more sculpted sheetmetal is treated to more aggressive front and rear styling, 19” five-spoke wheels and other visual tweaks, but the real news is under the surface. The new AMG-designed 5.5L twin-turbo V8 lurks under the hood, just waiting for you to summon its 518hp and 516 lb.-ft of twist, or 550hp and 590 lb.-ft if you spring for the AMG Performance Package that also gives you 4.3 second 0-60 times and a (limited) 186 mph top speed. A special matte gray-finished “Launch Edition” will also be available when the CLS63 AMG storms into showrooms next summer.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Speaking of summertime, Chevrolet has a new weapon in its aresenal for waging the Pony Car Wars in the form of the Camaro Convertible. As with the coupe, buyers will be able to choose from a 3.6L 312hp V6 or a 6.2L 426hp V8 (400hp if you opt for an automatic transmission) and a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Like its arch nemesis Mustang, the droptop Camaro uses a fabric top that’s lighter, cheaper and more space-efficient than the folding hardtops found on many foreign convertibles. Even so, the Camaro’s structure is actually stiffer than that of the al fresco BMW 3 Series, which features a folding hardtop. America, #@%$ yeah!

Ford Focus Race Car Concept

While we’re pretty impressed with Ford’s soon-to-arrive 2012 Focus, the initial versions aren’t exactly going to set the pavement on fire in terms of performance. Thankfully, the turbocharged Focus ST will be headed Stateside. But what if even that’s not hardcore enough? What if you want something you can only use on the track?
That’s where this thing comes in. While the Focus ST’s 247hp 2.0L EcoBoost four remains untouched, the interior has been gutted and fitted with a full roll cage, Recaro racing seat and other safety gear. Outside you’ll find lowered suspension, slick tires, and tow hooks front and rear. Ford says it hopes to build and sell something similar for customers to race in various touring car and endurance series worldwide. We say we want to see it happen too.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante

Over the last few years, there have been plenty of special hardcore versions of sports cars released: Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari F430 Scuderia, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, etc. However, much to the dismay of sun-worshipping speed freaks, the overwhelming majority of them have had roofs of the immovable variety. This makes sense to most performance junkies, since coupes offer better chassis stiffness and often lower weight than their convertible companions.
Now Lamborghni says “So what?” to all that scientific mumbo-jumbo by revealing the Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante. Extensive use of carbon fiber for the special bodywork (including a fixed rear wing) and lightweight wheels drop the curb weight by 143 lb. over the regular Gallardo Spyder. It also packs a 570hp whollop from the 5.2L V10. If this sounds like the recepie for a topless Superleggera, give yourself a cookie, because even Lambo basically cops to it in the press release. But you know what? We’re totally cool with it.

Toyota RAV4 EV

In the mid- to late-1990s, when the State of California required automakers to gear up to build a certain number of zero-emissions vehicles per year, Toyota responded with an all-electric version of its compact RAV4 SUV. Fleet buyers (not to mention many celebrities) loved them, and Toyota says about half of them are still on the road today. Toyota’s preparing a new RAV4 EV for 2012, but this time around they’re getting some outside assistance.
The new RAV4 EV’s drivetrain is being developed by Tesla Motors under Toyota’s supervision, and while a current RAV4 is considerably bigger and bulker than the original RAV4 (or the Tesla Roadster, for that matter), Toyota and Tesla are still shooting for a range of 100 miles per charge, even under less-than-ideal conditions. What’s more, no cargo space has been sacrificed, meaning the RAV4 EV will still be great for grocery retrieval, soccer team shuttling, and whatever other, um, fascinating activities in which crossover drivers partake.

Buick Regal GS

Say “hot Buick” to the average consumer and they’ll probably think of a mid-‘90s Park Avenue that does 55 mph in the fast lane with the hazard lights on instead of 50 mph with the left blinker on. Insensitive agist kidding aside, Buick has made its share of performance cars over the years, from the original prewar Century (which combined the bigger, brawnier straight-8 engine of the senior Buicks with the bodies of the smaller, lighter junior Buicks) to the 5.3L V8-powered LaCrosse Super offered last year and the year before.
Now there’s an edgier version of the European-bred Regal, reviving the Regal GS moniker. The 2.0L Ecotec turbo-four produces 255hp and 295 lb.-ft, which is sent to the front tires through a 6-speed manual transmission (A 6-speed auto will be optional later.). That sounds like it would lead to an orgy of torquesteer, but Buick’s innovative HiPerStrut front suspension should help keep the snout pointed where you want it in most situations. Do we wish Buick had brought the drivetrain of the Regal GS’s Opel Insignia OPC cousin (a 325hp 2.8L turbo V6 and all-wheel-drive) over? Of course. But who’s to say they aren’t planning a Regal GSX?

Audi presents the E-Tron Spyder, it is without doubt, their most advanced development and at the same time, the strongest expression of the companys new design. This super two-seater is equipped with a twin-turbo V6 TDI engine of 300 hp at the rear axle and two electric motors on the front axle, which produce a total of 64kW. The combination of a lightweight car with a high torque motor and two electric motors result in amazing 0 to 60mph in under 4.5 seconds.

Ducati presented on Monday, in Milan, Italy, the amazing new 1199 Panigale. The 361-pound machine features a twin-cylinder engine that generates 195 horsepower. The sports bike has ABS, traction control, suspension with electronic settings, electronic throttle control, and quick-shift - a system that optimizes the gear shifts. The bike arrives in stores in early 2012 and will have three versions available: 1199 Panigale - $17,995, 1199 Panigale S (sports version) - $22,995 and 1199 S Tricolori Panigale (with special painting) - $27,995...