2006 Mercedes Benz SLK55 AMG

That AMG, the high-performance wing at Mercedes-Benz, has a pretty good handle on engine tweaking—just look at its spring catalog. AMG offers up 14 models, each packing no fewer than eight cylinders and outputs ranging from 355 horsepower to a mind-boggling 604 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.

And although we've rarely knocked an AMG vehicle for lack of straight-line juice, neither have we been known to heap praise on the entire package, as it's been our experience that these souped-up cars are sometimes overweight and underperforming on the skidpad and during back-road boogies. Now, lest you think we're making excuses for this new SLK55, AMG's least-powerful car, let us introduce a previously unused AMG performance trick: Mercedes' seven-speed automatic. The German automaker introduced this transmission for 2004, but until now the most powerful engine it was bolted to was the company's 302-hp, 5.0-liter V-8, so all AMG models had to rely on the five-speed automatic. So what are a couple more gear ratios going to do? Let us explain.

The previous-generation car, the SLK32 AMG, had a supercharged and intercooled 3.2-liter V-6 putting down 349 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. The last one we tested ["Topless Toys," C/D, August 2001] weighed 3265 pounds, scampered to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and crossed the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds at 110 mph. Now, the SLK55's 24-valve, 5.4-liter naturally aspirated

V-8 cranks out just six more horsepower—but an additional 54 pound-feet of torque. Still, the new car's weight is up 190 pounds to 3455, so the power-to-weight ratio has worsened slightly.

2002 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning Maisto Escala 1:21

The Ford SVT Lightning is a sports/performance version of the F-150, developed by the SVT (Special Vehicle Team) division of Ford. For 1999, the second generation of the Lightning was released using the PN96 platform, after a three-year hiatus of the model line. As with its 1993-1995 predecessor, the Lightning was based on the F-150; all versions were produced with a regular cab, rear-wheel drive, and a 6½-foot bed length. In sharp contrast to its predecessor, the 1999-2002 Lightning was given a payload of 800 pounds (half the payload of a Ranger); for 2003, the figure was raised to 1,350 pounds.

While the first-generation Lightning chassis was a hybrid of the F-150 and F-250, to save weight and lower its cost, the second-generation adopted the stock F-150 frame. To improve handling, while the stock short/long arm front suspension configuration was used, the Lightning was lowered one inch with a 31mm stabilizer bar; the rear solid axle with leaf springs was lowered two inches, using a 23mm stabilizer bar. Monroe shocks were used from 1999 to 2001; Bilstein shocks were used from 2002 to 2004. In place of the 17-inch wheels of its predecessor, the second-generation Lightning was given 18-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 directional tires developed for the truck.

The second-generation Lightning was powered by a 5.4 L Triton SOHC V8 equipped with an Eaton M112 supercharger. At its launch, the Lightning produced 360 hp (268 kW; 365 PS) and 440 ft⋅lbf (597 N⋅m) of torque, increased to 380 hp (283 kW) and 450 ft⋅lbf (610 N⋅m) of torque in 2001. The supercharged V8 was paired with a 4-speed Ford 4R100 overdrive automatic transmission (shared with the 5.4L V8, 6.8L V10, and 7.3L diesel). From 1999 to 2000, the rear axle ratio was 3.55:1, shortened to 3.75:1 in 2001. The same year, a 4.5-inch aluminum driveshaft replaced a 3.5-inch steel unit.

Following the 2001 drivetrain revisions, Car and Driver magazine tested a Lightning, accelerating from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.2 seconds.

During its production, the 1999-2004 was offered in a limited variety of colors. Initially produced in Bright Red, Black, and White, for 2000, Silver was introduced. For 2002, True Blue (a very dark blue) was introduced, but was replaced by a lighter Sonic Blue for 2003, along with Dark Shadow Gray.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Escala 1:18 Maisto

El Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG es un automóvil deportivo Gran Turismo de lujo​ biplaza de 2 puertas de ala de gaviota,​ desarrollado por Mercedes-AMG, filial del fabricante alemán Mercedes-Benz en sustitución del Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

Es el primero diseñado en Mercedes-AMG y es descrito por Mercedes-Benz como un sucesor espiritual del 300 SL Gullwing. Se presentó en 2009 en el Salón del Automóvil de Fráncfort y se empezó a vender en 2010.

Fue diseñado en 2007 por Mark Fetherston para ser un renacimiento moderno del Mercedes-Benz 300SL.6​ Tiene un largo capó, el habitáculo está cerca del eje trasero y la parte trasera del vehículo es corta.

Fue desarrollado en conjunto con el Dodge Viper que, en teoría, no tiene nada que ver con el SLS. Sin embargo, un rumor apunta a que sí hay una parte bastante fundamental que comparten ambos bólidos: el chasis. Parece ser que todo comenzó cuando Dodge se encontraba desarrollando el chasis de aluminio que sustentaría al Viper. En aquel momento, Dodge y Mercedes-Benz estaban relacionadas debido a la alianza entre el grupo Daimler y el Grupo Chrysler, actualmente separados y por lo visto los ingenieros de Stuttgart consideraron que la plataforma estaba muy bien desarrollada y la tomaron “prestada”.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Burago 1:24 Made In Italy.

From Wikipedia:

The Ferrari 250 GTO is a GT car produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964 for homologation into the FIA's Group 3 Grand Touring Car category. It was powered by Ferrari's Tipo 168/62 Colombo V12 engine.

The "250" in its name denotes the displacement in cubic centimeters of each of its cylinders; "GTO" stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, Italian for "Grand Touring Homologated."

Just 36 of the 250 GTOs were manufactured between 1962 and 1964. This includes 33 cars with 1962-63 bodywork (Series I) and three with 1964 (Series II) bodywork similar to the Ferrari 250 LM. Four of the older 1962-1963 (Series I) cars were updated in 1964 with Series II bodies.

When new, the 250 GTO cost $18,000 in the United States, with buyers personally approved by Enzo Ferrari and his dealer for North America, Luigi Chinetti. This model has since become highly desired by automobile collectors and sales have repeatedly set price records. The current record for world's most expensive car was set in June 2018 when a 1963 250 GTO (chassis 4153GT) was sold in a private sale for $70 million.

In 2004, Sports Car International placed the 250 GTO eighth on a list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s, and nominated it the top sports car of all time. Similarly, Motor Trend Classic placed the 250 GTO first on a list of the "Greatest Ferraris of All Time." Popular Mechanics named it the "Hottest Car of All Time."

2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder Crossfire 1:24 Jada Import Racer

The Toyota MR2 is a line of two-seater, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports cars, manufactured in Japan and marketed globally by Toyota from 1984 until 2007 over three generations: W10 (1984–1989), W20 (1989–1999) and W30 (1999–2007). It is Japan's first rear mid-engined production car.

Conceived as a small, economical and sporty car, the MR2 uses simple but effective design elements, including an inline-four engine, transversely mounted in front of the rear axle, four-wheel disc brakes, and fully independent coilover suspension – MacPherson strut fronts and Chapman strut rears.

The name MR2 stands for either "mid-ship run-about 2-seater" or "mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater". In French-speaking markets, the vehicle was renamed Toyota MR because the abbreviation "MR2" sounds like the profanity "merde" when spoken in French.

The MR2 derived from a 1976 Toyota design project with the goal of a car which would be enjoyable to drive, yet still provide good fuel economy – not necessarily a sports car. Design work began in 1979 when Akio Yoshida from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate alternatives for engine placement and drive method, finalizing a mid-transverse engine placement. Toyota called the 1981 prototype SA-X.

From its original design, the car evolved into a sports car, and further prototypes were tested both in Japan and in the US. Significant testing was performed on race circuits including Willow Springs, where former Formula One driver Dan Gurney tested the car.

All three generations were in compliance with Japanese government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement. The MR2 appeared around the same time as the Honda CR-X and the Nissan EXA from Japan, the Pontiac Fiero and Ford EXP from North America, and about a decade after the VW Scirocco and Fiat X1/9 from Europe made their debut.

Toyota debuted its SV-3 concept car in October 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show, gathering press and audience publicity. The car was scheduled for a Japanese launch in the second quarter of 1984 under the name MR2.