We’ve found yet more high-res pics of the Shelby GT500KR that will play KITT in the TV revival of Knight Rider. This new batch finally gives us enough angles of both the KITT Hero and KITT Attack cars, including KITT’s interior, to make a judgment on how successful the transformation is.

One thing we always liked about the original KITT was how simple it was: just a jet black exterior with black wheels.

The GT500KR KITT Hero car conforms to this ethos, with an exterior that doesn’t distinguish itself very much from a standards GT500KR save for the black paint accented by matte black racing stripes and the swooping red light bars in the hood nostrels. But why the chrome wheels ? Read more »

The Lamborghini Reventón has been named L’Automobile più Bella del Mondo. Translation: The World’s Most Beautiful Automobile.

It earned this honor in the Special Models category of this annual automotive fashion show, recently held for the fifteenth time at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy.

There are eleven categories in all, though the Special Models category is generally considered to be the big winner. Other cats include your various sizes of sedans, coupes, convertibles, station wagons, crossovers, sports cars and concept cars. Read more »

Even with more billionaires around then ever, there still appears to be a very limited demand for cars priced upwards of $1 million.

The almighty McLaren F1 was originally planned for a run of 300 cars, but production ultimately ceased after only about 100, including more than two dozen racing models.

The current high-dollar, high-speed champion Bugatti Veyron seems to be having a similarly hard time finding the necessarily well-heeled customers it needs. Read more »

Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles, Inc., has released the first official details on her company’s latest Mustang iteration, the Super Snake GT500. First, you’ll need a Shelby GT 500, the base price of which is $40,930 according to Ford. Now, you’re probably going to want to option that up, and we’re betting no dealer will let you out the door without paying a significant mark up. On top of that, turning your GT500 into a Super Snake will cost at least an additional $28,000.

Sure, that price could buy you a second Mustang, but instead your Super Snake will be boasting 600 horsepower. You can order up to a 725-horsepower Super Snake as well, but the cost will be significantly more and you can kiss that factory warranty goodbye if you go all the way. In addition to the Shelby Supercharger that produces the extra ponies, you’ll also get a cold air intake, Shelby/Baer 6-piston caliper brakes, a Shelby short throw shifter, an Eibach coil-over suspension, sway bars, and a Borla cat-back exhaust. Unfortunately, the Super Snake doesn’t address the Mustang’s weight problem, instead trying to reign it in with a beefier suspension, more power and better stoppers.

More info and the complete specs are after the jump.

[Source: Mustang Evolution] Read more »

When the topic of conversation at the Autoblog bunker shifts to the R8, it’s simply a matter of time before one of us brings up the idea of a diesel version of Audi’s new supercar. With the recent success of the TDI R10, Audi has both the technological prowess and the racing creds to make a serious play towards being the first automaker to offer an oilburner in an exotic. According to Car and Driver, it’s not only plausible, it’s undergoing development.

C & D breaks down the engine choices into ” the good, the bad and the ugly,” with the good going to the 4.2-liter TDI (326 HP and 561 lb.-ft. of torque), the bad being the 3-liter V6 (233 HP and 369 lb-ft. of twist) and the ugly as the twin-turbo V12 found in the R10 racecar. The latter is making close to 500 HP and a kidney-punishing 738 pound-feet of torque, which because of its high weight and intricacies would make it a poor choice.

Notable absent from the mag’s lineup is the 5-liter V10 found in the Touareg that produces 308 HP and 550 lb-ft. of stump-destroying torque, but considering that the 4.2-liter TDI makes more power and more low-end grunt, we understand why it was left out of the mix.

If Car and Driver’s sources are to be believed, expect the TDI R8 to come to market in 2009. That, along with a rumored Targa version supposedly due that same year, would cause the R8 line to swell beyond feasibility. Time will tell, but we like what we hear so far.

[Source: Car and Driver via the German Car Blog]

We certainly don’t want to be called out for complaining about Aston Martin’s current crop of designs. Were we to win the lottery tomorrow, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage would be high up on our list of cars to purchase the day after tomorrow. That said, we’ve lived with the Aston Martin’s corporate style for a few years now, and at some point the next generation needs to be confronted.

When the time comes, Aston Martin should give this guy a call. Ruben Vela is a Spanish designer who just received his Masters Degree in Automotive Design last year from Polytechnic University in Valencia. He created the DB-ONE Concept you see above (and in the high-res gallery below). Vela says that the design’s most important element is "dynamism", kind of a subtle tension between the car’s surfaces and lines that gives it an energy even when static.

The front grille is much larger than current Aston models and becomes the focal point of the DB-ONE’s front end, while the narrow slit headlights ensure that the massive expanse of sheetmetal presents a dominant front end. A true two-seater, the DB-ONE’s windshield extends up and over the cockpit to let the sun shine in, as well. The extremely tapered rear is probably the least production feasible element on the car, though it definitely adds to the "static motion" theme.

Check out more pics of the Ruben Vela’s Aston Martin DB-ONE Concept in the high-res gallery.

[Source: Car Body Design via DieselStation]

Michael Schumacher’s credentials run the gamut: 1995’s youngest double Formula 1 World Champion, most career wins, most wins in a season, most consecutive wins, etc. Now he can add a notch on his belt representing his role as test driver for Ferrari… or at least for a day.

Autocar spies caught a rare sight the other day — a Ferrari 599 GTB on the Nurburgring rather than its test track in Fiorano. After witnessing some pretty serious hot rodding, the photographers zoomed in on the driver… only to see one Michael Schumacher at the wheel. Future profession for Schumi, or entertaining day trip? Hopefully we’ll find out soon. High-res photo available here

Thanks for the tip, Wang Meng!

[Source: AutoCar]