Video: Ferrari 599XX at the Nurburgring

So before you think that the Ferrari 599XX has broken all the previous 7:something lap times of production vehicles, keep in mind that the 599XX isn’t a production car.

However, it can stake a claim at being the fastest production-derived sports car to ever lap the ‘Ring at an astonishing pace of 6:58:16.

The 599XX is derived from the 599 and is the basis of the 599 GTO. It’s powered by a 6.0L V12 that dishes out 700 hp. Its F1-derived gearbox gives it shifting times of 60 milliseconds.

Check out the video below:

Mercedes-Benz Shooting Brake Concept

Just a month ago, Merc teased us about a shooting brake concept that’s supposed to hint on the new CLS. And boy do the Germans work fast.

Here’s the Shooting Break Concept that’s set to debut in the upcoming Beijing Motor Show.

The car’s powered by a new 2.5L V6 that dishes out 306 hp and a max torque of 273 lb-ft. The powerhouse also sports Merc’s BlueEFFICIENCY technology for better fuel economy.

As for the styling, the Shooting Brake Concept offers a very modern take on the shooting brake structure. The Concept seems to have drawn from the F800 Style and the SLS AMG.

The slew of quality concepts to be unveiled at the Beijing show does affirm China’s role in the automotive industry.

Ariel Atom V8 at Final Stages of Development

The Ariel Atom has been nothing short of face melting. So when news of an Ariel Atom V8 emerged, we can just all speculate what it’d do to the driver’s face should that poor bastard decide not to wear a helmet.

Anyway, the question would probably be answered real soon as the car gets to its near-production stage.

Powering the Atom V8 is a 3.0L supercharged V8 from Hartley. Ariel, however, modified the engine extensively to get a power output north of 500 bhp. Ariel initially intended supercharging a 2.4L V8 but wasn’t satisfied with the power output.

The engine, combined with the Atom’s light weight, the car can get to 60 mph from standstill in less than 3 seconds and blow past 200 mph.

Ariel claims that it can produce more power from the engine but balanced it out for the sake of usability. The car is expected to cost £110,000.

Mini E Racer Takes on Nurburgring

If you think that electric cars have no business being driven around the Nurburgring, then you have to check out the Mini E. Yes, that’s right. An EV around the ‘Ring.

In these days where 7 minutes-ish is the de-facto standard for performance car lap times, you can’t expect that’s much from a Mini. Heck. No matter how zippy Minis are, they’re still Minis. And this Mini E’s electric.

Still, the car was able to clock in 9 minutes, 52 seconds. And that, by EV standards, is quite something.

The car is powered by an electric motor that dishes out 201 bhp. Never mind if it lugs around the weight of 5088 lithium-ion batteries. The power from the engine plus lightweightedness allows it to be quick and agile.

The car also sports uprated tires, brakes, and suspensions to help cope with the racing demand.

Video: Audi R8 Spyder Iron Man 2 Ad

Iron Man 2’s out soon and Audi’s back to provide Mr. Tony Stark with his new ride. We’ve seen the title character driver the R8 in the first movie. In the new movie, he’ll be driving one of these top-down R8s. Check out the video of the ad below.

The Audi R8 Spyder packs a 5.2L FSI V10 that dishes out 525 hp and a max torque of 391 lb-ft. The engine’s mated to a choice between a 6-speed proper manual and a 6-speed R-tronic automatic gearboxes.

Even with the structural reinforcements, the Spyder can get to 62 mph from stand still and go all the way to 194 mph.

BMW 5-Series xDrive Gran Turismo Revealed

BMW keeps its model lien fresh with the unveiling of the BMW 5-Series xDrive Gran Turismo.

The model comes with two variants both equipped with the xDrive all-wheel drive technology. One packs a diesel and the other packs a gasoline engine.

The all-wheel drive system guarantees an “appropriate distribution of drive power front-to-rear in every situation.”

Current variants are only for the 530d and the 550i. xDrive Gran Turismos for the 535d and the 535i will come in September.