BMW M COUPE

BMW M COUPE

The BMW M Coupe was a high performance vehicle built by BMW and based on the M Roadster. The coupe is 2.7 times torsionally stiffer than its convertible counterpart, making it more stable and able to handle harder cornering. A number of engines were available for the M Coupe, but the S54 engine was the most powerful.The S54 had a power output of 315 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. The unique styling of the M Coupe made dealers weary, and they opted to sell the more profitable M3 models to consumers. This makes the M Coupe a rarity and sought after by performance enthusiasts, especially certain color combinations. The M Coupe is a great example of a superb car that was released before its time.

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JAGUAR XJ X300

JAGUAR XJ X300

The Jaguar XJ (X300) is a luxury saloon manufactured by Jaguar between 1994 and 1997. It was the first XJ produced after Ford took ownership of the company, and can be considered an evolution of the outgoing XJ40 generation. Like all previous XJ generations, it features the Jaguar independent rear suspension arrangement. The design of the X300 placed emphasis on improved build quality, improved reliability, and a return to traditional Jaguar styling elements. The X300 series is the result of a £200 million facilities renewal program by Ford, paving the way for Jaguars return to the great car it once was. To honor the achievements made by Jaguar, Queen Elizabeth II visited the factory in 1994, and ordered a British Racing Green XJ for her personal use.

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FERRARI F355

FERRARI F355

The Ferrari F355 was built between 1994 and 1999. It was an evolution of the Ferrari 348 and was replaced with the Ferrari 360. Design emphasis for the F355 was placed on significantly improved performance, as well as drivability across a wider range of speeds and in different environments (such as low-speed city traffic.) One of the main changes to the engine from the 348 was the introduction of a 5-valve cylinder head. The new design offered better intake permeability and resulted in a more powerful engine capable of producing 375 horsepower. Ferrari spent over 1,300 hours doing wind tunnel analysis to improve the aerodynamic design of the F355. The vehicle incorporates a Nolder profile on the upper tail and a fairing on the underbody that increases downforce.

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CORVETTE ZR-1

CORVETTE ZR-1

After acquiring Lotus in the late 80’s, GM’s Corvette division approached Lotus with the idea of building the world’s fastest car. With help from GM, Lotus designed a new engine for the current C4 Corvette, dubbed the LT5. Shortly after, the ZR-1 was born. The ZR-1 was available only as a coupe and was distinguishable from other Corvettes by it’s wider tail section and larger rear tires. The ZR-1 had amazing acceleration and handling capabilities. The 375 horsepower engine was able to hit sixty mph in 4.4 seconds and had a top speed of 175 mph. A total of 6,939 ZR-1s were made over the six year period it was available, before being discontinued due to lack of interest. Later the Z06 became the spiritual successor to the ZR-1.

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FERRARI F50

FERRARI F50

Introduced in 1995, in celebration of their 50th birthday Ferrari created the F50. Only 349 models of the vehicle were produced. The engine used in the F50 was the same one used in Ferrari’s 333 model. The car had a fixed roof, large rear spoiler, new front spoiler and many other adjustments. The 4.7 litre V12 engine was tuned to generate around 750 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque. The suspension was tuned to handle both aggressive street driving and the race track, giving the vehicle the ability to handle hard corners with ease. The look of the F50 was another point of praise for the vehicle. The low stance, removeable top, and aggressive aerodynamics made the vehicle a sight to behold.

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