First Drive

I’m seated with one of Jaguar’s top brass. A mere 14 seconds later he wants to throw me out a window. I notice a pair of SAS types in the shadows politely looking this way. I’m certain these men are going to beat the stuffing out of me, politely of course. The English and their lovely manners.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Jaguar XJL Supersport – First Drive – European Car Magazine

Volkswagen’s design team does more than just vehicles. This is the Spaceleader watch-or should that be chronograph?-made in conjunction with Swiss horologists, Fortis. Those cool black and white details are encased within mirror-finished polished steel, protected by an anti-dazzle sapphire glass and worn with a black strap fashioned from coautchouc rubber. No, we have no idea how to pronounce coautchouc either. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Spaceleader from winning things like the iF Product Design Award 2010, the Good Design gong from Chicago’s Athenaeum Museum, and an honorable mention from Red Dot. Which counts for something, apparently. Only 2,012 examples will be made, and although they’ll cost more than a Casio, they should go for less than $4,000.

Photo Gallery: Volkswagen Fortis Spaceleader Watch – European Car Magazine

Photo Gallery: Volkswagen Fortis Spaceleader Watch – European Car Magazine

Volkswagen has confirmed it will be fielding a trio of diesel-powered Touaregs in the 2011 Dakar Rally. The company will be hoping three is the lucky number, since it has won the event in 2009 and 2010, the latter providing a clean sweep of the podium with racing legend Carlos Sainz on the top step. Being in Africa, Dakar is nowhere near the rally’s current route that stretches between Argentina and Chile, but the event is dangerous enough-indeed deadly-without the added threat of terrorist attacks.

Photo Gallery: Dakar Rally Volkswagen Touareg TDI – European Car Magazine

Photo Gallery: Dakar Rally Volkswagen Touareg TDI – European Car Magazine

If we can’t indulge in a little car porn now and then, what’s the point? Here’s the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, kitted out to compete in GT3 class racing. There’s a whole heap of carbon fiber involved, especially concerning the aerodynamic treatments. Dig that big rear wing. The fenders have been flared to make way for wider racing tires. In keeping with GT3 rules, the engine is largely the same as the production 6.2-liter AMG V8 that makes 563 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The engine is set lower in this car and is connected to a six-speed sequential racing transmission that turns a carbon fiber driveshaft. This customer racecar should be competing next year. Can’t wait to see it. Can’t wait to hear it.

Photo Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – European Car Magazine

Photo Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – European Car Magazine

When is a wagon not a wagon? When it’s a shooting brake. Or in this case, the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept. And no, that’s not a spelling mistake. Historically, huntsmen would break in a horse by hitching it to a (real) wagon, then go off shooting game. Or people, if they were Dick Cheney’s ancestors. But hence the use of “break” over “brake.”

Photo Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept – European Car Magazine

Photo Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept – European Car Magazine

Alfa Romeos are heading for the States with an ETA of 2012. Meanwhile, Fiat/Chrysler has announced that the 2012 Giulia sedan and wagon, along with the 2013 Spider soft-top, will be based on a rear-drive Chrysler platform. Is anyone wondering which rear-drive Chrysler platform that would be? That’s a good question. Looks like it’ll be the one on which the 300 sedan is built, which comes from a previous-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Not exactly brave new world stuff, but we live in the hope that it will turn out OK. The 300’s not bad, after all. Nor was the old E-Class. There’s also the chance that Lancia cars may become available here, badged as Chryslers. We’re still not sure if that’s a good thing, although we’ll look forward to finding out.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Alfa Romeo Spider – European Car Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Alfa Romeo Spider – European Car Magazine

This is the fastest road-going Ferrari to date. It’s the 599 GTO and it does 208 mph, after smacking 60 mph on the nose in 3.5 seconds. It can do this because it has a 6.0-liter V12 making 670 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque, and it weighs a relatively spry 3,538 pounds. Plumpness is avoided by using composite materials, along with thinner aluminum and glass. Naturally, there’s some race-bred tech in there, with a six-speed paddle-shifting transmission that sends power to the rear wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, and a suspension that uses magneto-rheological dampers. Only 599 will be made.

Photo Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO – European Car Magazine

Photo Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO – European Car Magazine