It turns out we were not the only ones to catch an Aston Martin testing in the Alps this weekend. One of our friends on PureGT stumbled upon this Aston Martin Rapide at an Italian petrolstation. The licenseplate suggests it’s the same Aston Martin Rapide mule that was filmed while testing on the Nurburgring two months ago.

The V12 version of the Aston Martin Rapide spotted here will have an estimated output of 500 hp or more. The car was totally full of test gear including screens and computers monitoring everything from engine and parts temperatures to performance. A huge pipe is sticking out the front passenger side window which might have something to do with cooling of the V12. There was a big difference in temperatures between the bottom of the mountains and the top, making it ideal circumstances to test all systems in the new Rapide.

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Techart released their new Techart GTstreet RS model based on the Porsche 997 GT2. A great number of visual and performance upgrades turned the standard GT2 into a 700hp Techart GT Street RS. The GTstreet RS immediatly set a an impressive best time of 1.06:811 minutes on the short course of the German Hockenheim circuit: 2,9 seconds a lap quicker than the standard Porsche 997 GT2.

The performance upgrades installed on the GTstreet RS include a new sports air filter, carbon sports pipes, high performance intercooler and header, Techart turbocharger, upgraded engine electronics and a Techart sports exhaust with flap system that allows you to control the volume.

The optical and aerodynamical changes range from a new front apron with carbon splitter, Aero bonnet, carbon roof spoiler, rear spoiler GT and a GT RS rear apron with carbon diffuser and air outlet to new 20 inch Techart Formula III forged light metal wheels. The price for the new Techart GTstreet RS will be close to 350.000 euro.

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Aston Martin confirmed the production of the V12 Vantage RS soon after they revealed the V12 Vantage RS concept at the Geneva Auto Salon in March of this year. All we could tell you then was that the production of this 600 hp V12 Vantage RS would start as early as 2009 and be see only a very limited number of V12 RS models build.

This weekend an Aston Martin DBS popped up in our rear view mirror on the way to the top of the famous Stelvio pass in Italy. Only moments later the infra-red DBS was overtaken by a black Aston Martin that looked very similar to the DBS but moments later turned out to be the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS. The RS we spotted looks exactly the same as the RS concept car presented by Aston Martin at the Geneva Auto Salon and we didn’t see any external test gear or electronics.

The V12 Vantage RS looked as production ready as it could be and didn’t struggle at all going up the Stelvio pass. We look forward to see it go into production soon and can’t wait to drive one up the Stelvio ourselves.

Time for aftermarket article of the week… The Konigseder Porsche GT kit. Although only 1270 Carrera GT’s were produced, and the production run is well and truely over, Konigseder feels that there is enough demand to create a custom aerodynamic kit. The pictures are photoshops of previous Porsche press releases however the company is adamant a production ready version will be shown in spring 2009. Konigseder’s aggressively styled bodykit is made up of a new pointy front bumper, a huge rear wing, side skirts and faux air intakes on the roof. We don’t like it but perhaps others do??

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IFR Automotive (a Spanish design and technology company) took the oppertunity of the London Motorshow to debut their new luxury sports car in the shape of the ‘Aspid’. It’s powered by a 400bhp supercharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine, combine this with a curb weight of just 699kg, and the Aspid can pull off an amazing 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds. IFR are adament the car is luxury despite the impressive weight claims, space age materials have been used to create the reductions at no expense to the occupants comforts. The weight has been kept down to around 85kg in the chassis and all electricals have been simplified while still maintaining a lot of luxury equipment, such as the sat-nav. This will be another one we’ll look out for tommorow!

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Today at the press day for the London Motorshow at Excel, the Lotus Eagle project was officially unvieled as the Lotus Evora. The car weighs just 1349kg and has a 3.5litre V6 Toyota engine with a power output of 276 hoursepower. The interior is a massive improvement from what we have come to expect from Lotus, this marks a real step by the company to promote their cars in the US market. The functionality of the car does not stop at a comfortable interior however, its a 2+2 which means theres plently of space, something which the US market apparently demands…

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We don’t know much about this one but whilst searching the web we discovered some pictures from a truely extraordinary meeting at Luxautica of Florida. A huge line up of Supercars where outside the car rental shop including A normal Bugatti Veyron and Pur Sang edition, two MC12’s, a Lamborghini Reventón, two Enzo’s an F50, Saleen S7 and what appears to be a Ford GTX1 hiding in the background. Enjoy the pistures below.

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Whilst having a little play on the Isle of Man, Top Gear magazine reportedly caused some minor damage to a brand new Nissan GT-R. Details are scarce but the GT-R apparently out braked an Audi R8 whilst the magazine where shooting for an article. Top Gear are no strangers to crashing expensive cars, having crashed a Koenigsegg a while back…

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The Pagani Zonda has been around for almost ten years since the first concept was introduced at the 1999 Geneva Motorshow. In this time the company have gone from strength to strength in capturing a spot in the top tier of supercar producers. These latest pictures show what Pagani are currently working on to make the car more competitive with other new comers and convince wealthy customers to part with their cash.

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Yesterday we reported on the SSC Ultimate Aero EV which was rumoured to be in development, featuring an electric engine. Today these rumours were made official by SSC in a press release obviously propted by the leak. They clim that the car will be ready by late next year and will feature a 500bhp electric engine which will hold its charge for years according to SSC. There are plans for when this engine is complete to create a dual engined 1000bhp version also. We’re dubious as to whether the car will actually be available next year however it is a highly ambitious project. The lack of clear details also hints that the project is not far into the development stages.

[Via Jalopnik]

This video was shot along the French Route Napoleon and showcases the stunning sounds that the Challenge Strandale Ferrari 360 makes. Although it has now been supassed by the 430 Scuderia, the sound it makes as it passes the camera man is stunning. Enjoy this video with the speakers turned up to maximum.

Part 1

Part 2

This weeks Top Gear sees Jeremy and James in ageing luxury cars, a Mercedes 600 ‘Grosse’ and Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupe respectively, bought for the same price as a Ford Mondeo for the weekly funny feature. The cars go through a series of tests to see if they are any good. The stars in reasonably priced cars are Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis. And the GT-R sets a lap time on the Top Gear track.

Download the full fifth episode of season 11 here or visit bbc.co.uk/topgear for more Top Gear!