Tech.Wapline

Time to call in that favor from Santa. Pratt & Miller Engineering will begin taking orders for its Corvette C6RS this December, confirming rumors of a production version after its official debut last week at SEMA.Deliveries of the 600-hp, 600 ft-lbs. monster ‘Vette will begin in April next year, as long as you can provide a donor car (C6 coupe, convertible or Z06) and the $185,000 necessary to complete the build.

In addition to the Katech-modified 8.2-liter V8, copious quantities of carbon fiber replace many of the standard components, while 18×11-inch wheels up front and 19×13.6-inch BBS wheels out back cling to the corners of the C6RS, which is a full 1.6-inch wider than a standard Z06.

The Lamborghini Reventon is among the rarest and most exotic cars on Earth, and it’s 650-hp V12 and lightweight components make it one of the best performers, too. Unfortunately, the Italian automaker has decided to produce only 20 examples of the $1 million supercar, and the closest we’ll likely ever get to the stealth-inspired rocket is YouTube.

The scholastic studs over at Popular Science got time behind the wheel of the Reventon, and they had their cameras rolling. The sound of the V12 parked in the back of the Italian supercar will never be mistaken for anything built here in the States, as its eager whine sounds more like a crotch rocket than anything powering four wheels. The video can be found after the jump, and though the camera work may not be very good, we imagine it’s tough to keep a steady hand in a vehicle that can surpass 200 MPH and hits 60 in just 3.4 seconds.

In Europe, no niche remains unaddressed, it seems. Business owners looking for a hottish-looking ride in their delivery vehicles were offered the Transit SportVan earlier this year by Ford.

It combined the utility of the Transit with the optics of a Focus ST, what with its Performance Blue paint, snowflake-pattern rims, and Le Mans stripes. We’re sure the 500 owners who scored one of the limited-edition trucks are pleased with their selections. Ford isn’t alone in addressing this segment, however.

In the Netherlands, Opel has gotten into the game with the Vivaro VPC. The Vivaro is, like the Transit, a panel van. Apparently, GM sees an opportunity to sell 100 tricked-out versions (at € 34,900 each) to Dutch commercial customers who wish to make their delivery rounds in something more sporty-looking than the average panel. It comes in the same blue paint used on the Opel OPC cars, rolls on OPC wheels, and wears a full appearance package including color-matched everything, an aggressive front fascia with intrgrated foglights, and dual, trapezoid-shaped exhaust exits in the rear. The VPC moniker is the final, and most obvious, hat tip to the OPC performance wing of the car division. A 2.5L CDTi turbodiesel with 143 horses supplies the power, and it’s mated to a 6-speed manual. As for the driver, the cab’s no penalty box either, as evidenced by two-tone leather and Alcantara Recaro sport seats that look as if they’ve been pilfered from a GT1 car. Delivering goods has never been so good.

It looks like General Motors is anticipating big numbers for the new Chevy Malibu. Production just started at the Fairfax Kansas assembly plant a few weeks ago, and they’re already gearing up to add more capacity at a second facility.

The company informed employees at the Lake Orion, MI plant this week that they will start building Malibus alongside the Pontiac G6s they already produce beginning next spring. The current plan is to add about ten to twenty-five percent more Malibu capacity from Lake Orion. Maxed-out, the Michigan plant could build up to 100,000 Malibus on top of the 150,000 G6s it churns out.

The sorcerers at Germany’s Edo Competition have cast their spells on the Ferrari 599 GTB, and as usual, the results are impressive. The Edo Competition GTB comes in two flavors, but let’s cover the common ground, first.

The car gets lowered 40mm in back, 40 mm in front, and gets added stick courtesy of an Edo/KW adjustable sport suspension. 20″ wheels with stainless outer rims can be custom-painted in any shade the owner desires, and the V12’s song is newly amplified thanks to a sport exhaust with a driver-controllable butterfly valve. Want it to be louder? Just dial it up, baby.

Of course, the most important piece of the puzzle is the 6.0L Enzo-derived V12 under that long hood. In stock trim, it blasts out 620 horsepower. Edo customers can opt for the Level 1 “F599 GTB” engine upgrade, which combines intake and exhaust work with ECU reprogramming to boost output to 650 horses. Those with deeper pockets and/or looking for a more extreme level of tune can opt for the Level 2 “630 GTB” package. This elevates the Ferrari’s power levels from the sublime to the ridiculous thanks to a 6.3L FXX engine conversion. Edo estimates 750 HP for the Level 2 option, which is, you know, not bad.