Think of a Bentley Continental GT with the addition of two more doors and a slight makeover to keep this auto inline with the stylings of 2012. With a W-12 twin-turbocharged engine to motor you to your destination and “Series 51” highlights, customers will find they have an auto in front of them begging to be taken home.

While Bentley has stuck with it’s single engine offering, it’s more than enough to smoke most cars on the street. We’re talking a twin-turbocharged 6.0 liter W-12 engine (552 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque) which accelerates the CFS from 0-60 within 5 seconds, maxing out at 194 mph.

Not fast enough? The CFS Speed has an upgraded engine to propel you from 0-60 in a mere 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 200 mph. Don’t thank us, you can thank the 6.0 liter W-12 engine belting out 600 horsepower and 554 pound-feet of torque.

Would it be a Bentley without a distinctive look matched to the owner? Of course not! Customers will be able to choose from 14 different Series 51 designs including special badges, alloy wheels and a variety of paint finishes. After all, you’re not so much buying a car as you are an extension of yourself.

The overall style, performance and craftsmanship which has gone into the Bentley CFS keeps it on par with it’s rivals while ensuring you’re smiling in comfort whenever you’re behind the wheel.

The Porsche Cayenne, currently within its second generation of production, wasn’t exactly met with fanfare over ten years ago when it was released. But the unlikely speed and handling capabilities have made it a consumer darling. Porsche announced in January 2012 within a year of sales, it has rolled out 100,000 second-gen Cayennes.

The Cayenne was redesigned top-to-bottom in 2011 limiting the updates to look forward to in 2012, but Porsche has provided enough options to keep fans of the respected SUV happy.

Drivers with the environment on their minds will want to look at the Cayenne S Hybrid. The hybrid vehicle marries a 333-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 to a lithium-ion battery powered 47 horsepower electric motor. Mash from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds while reveling in the respectable 20/24 city/highway mpg (a Cayenne Diesel is also in the works for 2013 which promises even greater economy than the hybrid!).

If you have a need for speed, we’re going to point you in the direction of the Cayenne Turbo. With a top speed of 172 mph, the Turbo will launch you from 0-60 in under 6 seconds. If you can meet the price tag of just a bit over $100K, you’ll feel where your money went the moment you hit the gas pedal.

Four different power trains are available. Choose from a starter 300-horsepower 3.6 liter V-6 or take it to the limit with a 500-horsepower twin-turbo-charged 4.8-liter V-8 beast. Hey, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out which engine we’d go with!

Far from a bulky beast, the 2012 Porsche Cayenne is an agile creation thanks to the standard all wheel drive, low mass centering and a lighter body structure. The result is exceptional handling and road-grip making any Cayenne model a great SUV choice for families and serious Porsche enthusiasts alike.

The announcement came on January 9th at the North American Auto Show hosted in Detroit, MI. Beating out the BMX X3 and the Honda CR-V, the Evoque came out on top based on a range of categories including innovation, dollar value, safety, handling and overall driver satisfaction.

Andy Goss, president of Jaguar Land Rover North America was pleased by the award, stating: “This recognition is in keeping with the overwhelmingly positive global response from consumers who are selecting the vehicle for its ideal combination of luxury and capability, within a sustainable package.”

This award is no “gimme” either. The Evoque was subject to review by 50 automotive journalists hailing from the US and Canada. These jurors evaluated the Evosue along with other ten trucks, rated them in various categories on a point system and then submitted their ballots to Deloitte and Touche in Detroit. From there, 3 finalists were selected and voted on to determine which contender would be the North American Truck of the Year.

When the dust settled, the Evoque stood alone thanks to being possibly the lightest and most fuel-efficient offering from Range Rover yet. Despite the compact nature of the vehicle, designers and engineers didn’t surrender any of the luxury, performance or multi-terrain capability Range Rover drivers (and of course Ghost Motorsports) have come to expect.

First, let’s talk performance. The S4 has a supercharged 3.0 liter V-6 engine with 333 horsepower. While not on par with Audi’s edgier RS models, the S4 still can whip to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, up to a limited 155-mph top speed. Right there it’s on an even keel with it’s BMW and Mercedes counterparts.

A Quattro all-wheel drive system comes standard with the S4 and owners can opt between a standard six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual clutch.
While both are sound choices, the dual clutch does offer some advantages including smoother gear swapping and enhanced fuel efficiency (Up to 18/28 mpg city/freeway.)

While the performance is impressive, we know the S4 is, at its heart, a genuine luxury vehicle. Amenities include the Audi MMI controller (Operating audio, climate and navigation functions), enhanced steering wheel, standard leather interior, connectivity for your Bluetooth devices, music ports for your favorite audio player, xenon headlamps, keyless entry and more.
Audi is also making a number of other options available to S4 owners including navigation, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning system and a 505-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Style paired with a sound performance and drive system makes the S4 an Audi offering we can’t wait to take for a spin. Stop by Ghost Motorsports, you’re welcome to join us!

With a present model line-up occupied only by the Gallardo and Aventador LP700-4, speculation is high as to what Lamborghini will be laying out for enthusiasts.

One possibility is the Geneva debut of the Aventador Roadster, an open-top version of the companies flagship model featuring a retractable, carbon fiber roof. Inside sources have confirmed the model as “ready to go” based on press photos.

There’s a chance attendees might be seeing a production version of the Sesto Elemnto Concept car? While the Sesto was given the go ahead for production last year, no confirmed sighting have been forthcoming making Geneva a likely place for it’s big debut.

Perhaps the most exciting possibility is Lamborghini unveiling an all-new model bringing the present brand line to three distinct models. While rumors have been circulating about a new addition for a while, it won’t be until March when we all find out whether it’s truth in speculation or just a lot of wishful thinking.

Ghost Motorsports will be following the newswire closely as this one develops, so keep checking back with us!

In 2012, unlike anytime before, forced induction is the name of the game. BMW, Mercedes and a variety of other European and exotic car manufacturers have decided to ditch naturally aspirated engines in favor of boost-craving monsters.

Mercedes recently rolled out a new turbo motor that’s being used in AMG models, including the E63 and CLS63, which has performance-craving enthusiasts drooling. BMW has taken the turbo craze one step further by offering boosted engines in a variety of models, including the 335i, 550i, 750i and many others.

In the past if you wanted big power you had to do a considerable amount of work, but now things are much easier. In 2012, the best performance upgrades for BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles will be software tuning, exhaust and intake modifications. Simply tuning a turbocharged car will produce excellent results.

We’re excited to see how things progress and we’re particularly interested in getting our hands on a 2013 BMW M5. We have purchased a 2012 Mercedes CLS63 as a project car, which will be arriving soon. Updates on the CLS63 project will be posted regularly, so stay tuned!

The other day we had the pleasure to work on a new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 that a customer brought in, which really surprised us.

The styling of the new SRT8 Charger is much more aggressive than the previous model, and best of all it has gained 40 horsepower. The new 6.4-liter motor adopted from the Challenger SRT8 392 not only sounds good, but performs.

So far we’ve added a custom Borla exhaust system to the car as well as an Arrington Performance carbon fiber cold air intake. We’re also in the process of developing performance software for the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 (and other models), though nothing is finalized yet.

With exhaust and intake, the car is currently putting down 425RWHP. We’ll release final numbers in the near future.

Enjoy the video!

We all know that the Mercedes SLS is the creme de la creme of luxury sports cars, but what about the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 race car? Oh boy!

At Ghost Motorsports we’re huge Mercedes fans, and when we first saw the SLS AMG GT3 in 2010 we were hooked. It is truly a work of art, and shows how Mercedes ingeniously blends classic styling with state of the art technology.

According to Motor Trend, “Underneath the hood and behind the front axle is the same 6.2-liter V-8 you’ll find in the standard car. This one however connects via torque tube to a sequential six-speed gearbox, gear whine and shift paddles included. Another change: The V-8 makes 10 less horsepower than the road-going version, thanks to air inlet restrictors required by the FIA that level the playing field. Nevertheless, thanks to its sub-3000 pound weight, the GT3 boasts the same 5.3 pound-per-horsepower ratio as a Corvette ZR1.”

With enormous tires measuring 12 inches wide upfront and 13 inches out back, this car is made for business. We can’t wait to see how the SLS AMG GT3 performs on the track over the next few years. Check out the above video as a teaser.

One of the biggest changes to the classic SL is the engine. Before only the SL65 had a turbocharged engine (V12 bi-turbo) with the SL55 getting a supercharged powerplant. Yes, the SL55 made good power, but a supercharger pulley upgrade, software, and cooling modifications were needed to squeeze the most out of the car.

With the new twin-turbocharged engine in the SL, the standard SL550 (U.S. model) rivals performance of the SL55 and the new SL63 is going to be an absolute monster. A few small modifications, such as software, will easily increase horsepower by 50+ and torque by even more. We’re predicting a tuned 2013 SL63 will produce 70+ horsepower/torque over stock numbers.

To manage all of the power, Mercedes spruced up the chassis in a big, big way. The new SL’s chassis is 20% stiffer than the previous SL (R230) thanks to large, lightweight cast aluminum pieces. According to Mercedes, the firewall is largest piece of cast aluminum found on any production car. In total, 89% of the chassis is made from aluminum.

Aside from improvements in the power and suspension departments, the look and feel of the 2013 SL has been greatly improved. A broader, more aggressive front fascia exudes a mean, powerful aura. I, personally, love it.

Until the Detroit auto show debut in January, prototype photos will have to do. I know all of you Mercedes fanatics want to see more, but unfortunately you must hold your horses.

As with previous years, the event has been a huge success and automotive manufacturers are gaining massive exposure for their newest creations. In particular, 5 vehicles stand out from the crowd:

1) 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG — Sporting the new 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged powerplant now found in the E63, CLS63 and other models, Mercedes-Benz has turned an already fast SUV into a rocket ship. Not only are track times improved, but the twin-turbocharged engine will surely increase towing capacity. Range Rover, Porsche, BMW and others should be shaking in their boots.

2) 2013 Shelby GT500 — A Mustang with more horsepower/torque than exotic cars… and it’s from the factory? Yes! The new 2013 Shelby Gt500 Mustang boasts a whopping 650 bhp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. If that doesn’t make you happy, I don’t know what will.

3) 2012 Jaguar XKR-S — Taking the sporty XKR to another level, the XKR-S is for true performance enthusiasts. Power was increased to 550 bhp and a much sportier, aggressive aerodynamics kit has been added.

4) 2013 Audi S7 — If you’re an Audi enthusiast, you know the S-models mean business. Kicking a luxury sedan up a notch, Audi stuffed a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 engine under the hood, which is a pleasant upgrade from the 3.0-liter supercharged engine found in the A7. The S7 spits out 420 bhp and nearly the same torque.

5) Subaru BRZ Concept STI — Subaru WRX owners who’ve wanted a more sporty 2-seater have had their prayers answered. Unfortunately power numbers haven’t been released, but the fact that it’s rear wheel drive is quite promising.