Seat Time
Mini Cooper Convertible
Too much fun
Mini ran a radio ad a few months ago on the convertible, something about a "top-down patrol" who would go around and harass those convertible drivers motoring with their tops up. It's true, it seems a shame to drive a convertible on a nice day without feeling the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. A convertible Mini in particular. This example was equipped with the JCW tuning package; along with the convertible top, it will run you about $11K more than a base Cooper S. Other than that, heck, what a great little car. The biggest downside to this package, other than added cost, is the miniscule storage space in back when the top is in fact down. But if you're looking to buy a convertible, this is something you should have already considered. -Karl Funke
From The Hip
+ Supercharged power, signature handling, sun on your face -
Skimpy storagewith top down
Gear
The latest great stuff for your car and lifestyleDeliver the best stopping power to your BMW M5 or M6 with new RD Sport brake assemblies. The front assembly has six-piston aluminum calipers and 15- inch cross-drilled rotors, and four-piston calipers with cross-drilled rotors are in the rear. The piston sizes have been engineered to provide the best performance for the suspension geometry and weight of the M cars, unlike other heavy eight-piston systems. MSRP starts at $4,500.
RD Sport
877.RDSPORT
www.rdsport.com
First Look
Limited Edition Touareg-450-horse W12
Looking to make those trips to the grocery store a bit faster? Consider Volkswagen's factory-tuned Touareg Sport. Stuffed with a tweaked version of VW's massive W12 powerhouse, the limited edition SUV is the ultimate grocery-getter. Imagine the bewildered Cayenne driver after being smoked by a Touareg. Thanks to a blistering 5.9-second 0-62-mph sprint, it's in the bag.
The 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine produces an impressive 450 bhp and a hefty 442 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a smooth six-speed auto with Tip.
The Sport package also includes a more muscular appearance with widened wheel arches and sills, roof spoiler, and big 20-inch alloy wheels. Darkened rear and side windows, a silver-colored roof rack, and color-coded bumpers further denote its unique styling, while quad tailpipes with a sound-tuned exhaust give more than a hint to the sinister beast lurking from within (the engine, that is).
Consistent with the rest, the interior boasts, as standard, Napa leather-upholstered seats, aluminum door and dash trim, a 320 km/h (200 mph) speedo, dual-zone climate system, premium audio/video, and NAV with multi-function color display and more.
The downside is the Touareg Sport is not available in the U.S. To order in Europe, expect to pay 96,300 euro or about $120K. Bragging rights come at a price.
First Look
Forcefed 380R
Insanity has a name, and it is called 380R. John Modica and Forcedfed has developed a complete performance package to transform your Elise into a track-day terror, with 380 bhp and 280 lb-ft of torque in a package that still weighs less than 2,000 pounds. The package includes complete engine prep, including a rebuilt and balanced bottom end, modified lube system, Garrett ball-bearing turbo system, and completely revamped engine management. The end product takes a claimed 3.1 seconds to get to 60 mph from a standing start and runs a heart-stopping 10.8-second quarter-mile elapsed time. Priced at $43,995 installed, this package will net you a race car for less than a hundred grand, including the car's initial cost-not bad if you ask us.
Test
ContiSportContact 3
Continental unleashes its new weapon
With more than 31.7 million units sold, the ContiSportContact 2 is one of the most successful tires ever, and after years of development Continental has finally released its third generation, the ContiSportContact 3. A ribbed pattern contributes to reduced deformation and greater stability during high-performance driving. Fine sipes in the tread ribs were added so that the tread elements support each other and distribute braking forces across the entire tread rib. The new compound is also softer, which further betters wet and dry performance.
Continental will be offering the ContiSportContact 3 in sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches, profiles from 25 to 50, and widths starting from 205mm all the way to a beefy 325mm. It will be sold at the same price as the ContiSportContact 2. A "Vmax" version rated for 360 km/h (225 mph) will also be available for autobahn thrashers. Audi already likes the tire so much it was approved for the new TT, A6 and RS4 models.