Subcompact Supercar: Road Race Motorsports Fiat 500 M1 Turbo Tallini Competizione

Is this the most wicked Fiat 500 yet? It certainly may be. Built by Road Race Motorsports, the 500 M1 Turbo Tallini Competizione makes 247 horsepower, 250 ft/lbs. of torque, and will do 0-60 in under six seconds—and still displaces 1.4 liters.

Other goodies include a carbon fiber body kit, limited slip differential, improved brakes, tuned suspension, carbon-kevlar clutch, and host of other upgrades, such as stiffer bushings, upgraded sway bar, Bilstein shocks, and 16x9 wheels with 225/40/16 Toyo Proxes tires. Curb weight is down 120 lbs from stock, too.

Of course, in stock form the Abarth is a kick in the pants. This? This would be flat-out ridiculous in a totally awesome way. This amazing creation, which bears the last name of the company's owner, Rob Tallini, is limited to 50 units, with prices going all the way up to $100,000 for a fully built, customized model. This is one bad-ass subcompact supercar.

You can read the full press release about the car below after the jump.

VIDEO: SR20DET-powered Toyota Echo Drift Car

Back in March of 2010 we showed a pic from a magazine of a drift Toyota Platz (aka Toyota Echo). Today I stumbled upon a video of the car in action via Yarisworld.com. It's certainly not every day you see a pink SR20DET-powered RWD Toyota Echo drift car, is it? I think the announcer pretty much sums it up at 4:25 by saying in a poorly translated Japanese subtitle, "I think that it is cool. I would also be the weirdo?"

For Sale: 357 Horsepower Toyota Yaris

Garm of Micro Image is selling his Toyota Yaris liftback. This built three-door turbocharged subcompact supercar runs a 12-second quarter mile, makes 357 hp on pump gas, and is built with top-notch parts. There's all kinds of info on it on both the Micro Image site and YarisWorld.com. He's asking $9,500 and the car is located in Canoga Park, California. Frankly, I think that's a great price for this badass little Toyota. If I had the cash, this would be mine!

Subcompact Supercar: Nissan sells first production Juke R

Nissan said that if you stepped forward and paid the the $645,160 price for a Juke R (that's the base price, mind you), they'd gladly build you one. Well, someone has. The vehicle you see above is Juke R #001. Apparently Juke R #002 is already in production.

In case you'd forgotten, the Juke R is powered by a Nissan GT-R engine cranking out 545 horsepower to all four wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox. The 0-60 times are said to be at 3.0 seconds, and the top speed is 170 mph. That is definitely one subcompact supercar.

I can't stop looking at the bottom cowl, though. It loos so much like a mouth I can't stand it, especially if you squint. I keep trying to pin down what it looks like. Angry sea creature? Forgotten Pokemon character? Japanese horror movie monster? Or maybe ...

Classic Style, Modern Power for you original Mini

By Scott Araujo

As an owner of a classic English motorcycle powered by a modern engine I can appreciate the marriage of old and new. Give me the roadgoing romance from back in the day without the mechanical hassles of what it was really like back in the day. Well, I'm not alone. It seems a few southern boys feel the same way.

Mini Tec in Royston, GA has created some great little bits to tack on to your classic Mini Cooper. Rear suspension not up to par? How about a bolt in rear coil over subframe? Reliability and anemic power got you down? How about a kit to bolt in a fresh Honda VTEC B, D, or K series engine? Having trouble getting all that reliable power to the ground? How about a kit to bolt in a complete Honda CR-V drivetrain with AWD?

I have to say I'm impressed. They offer bare kits, extended front clips so you can fit some of the larger alternatives in there and still look stock, and full kits including the engine, drivetrain, and all the little bits to tie it all together. All this gearhead talk got you hot and bothered? You can get A/C too.

Their info page says it all: UP TO 45MPG! 0-60MPH in less than four seconds! I'm betting that's an either or choice but neither option is bad.

What? Don't like classic Minis and you want a more modern high tech performance option? They're working on a 270hp mid-engined VTEC powered Insight, the aptly named Frank-Insight.

Subcompact Supercar: 12-second '93 Eagle Summit Wagon is my dream project

I've always wanted to swap in a 4G63T out of an Eclipse or EVO into a Mitsubishi Expo LRV/Eagle Summit Wagon/Colt Vista. Well this guy's done it, is making 303 horsepower, and is running 12s. He's also added suspension goods like custom Tein coilovers and bigger brakes. He kept the AWD on his essentially making it an EVOIII tall wagon. Not only an I impressed, I'm in love. Someday I will do this, mark my words. So awesome.

SOURCE
4g61t.org

Subcompact Supercar: Nissan Juke-R to go into limited production

Want to buy a Nissan Juke-R?  You know, the Nissan GT-R-powered, 545 horsepower subcompact crossover. Well you can for a measly $590,000. Hell, I'll take two. Okay, maybe not, but Nissan has found two buyers in Dubai already. Nissan has said it'll build more Juke-Rs upon request. You could also buy about six GT-Rs, but they're sooo played out, right? And, of course, the Juke-R can haul way more cargo. One thing's for sure: The Juke-R is likely the fastest odd-looking new car you can buy.

Gareth Dunsmore, Marketing Product Manager for the Juke, said: "The Juke-R was originally intended as a one-off concept to marry two of Nissan's most innovative models. But the reaction we had to the car in Dubai was amazing—people were making offers for the original on the street!"

According to Nissan, anyone wishing to register an interest in purchasing Nissan's most innovative Crossover yet should contact Juke-R@Nissan.co.uk.

Nissan is showing off the subcompact supercar in this video where it's being pitted against some world-class sports cars

On a side note, I'd love to see one available in Gran Turismo 5.

Subcompact Supercar: GSX-R-powered Fiat 600

Yes, I would love to have an original Fiat 500 or 600 Abarth someday. I've always loved the rear engine cover that sits open, and the overall small but racy shape.  As witnessed in this video, someone in Europe has installed a 1,000cc Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle engine into a Fiat 600. The video's poster claims the car will do 0-62 in about 4.5 second. I don't doubt that for a second. What a sound.

Subcompact Supercar: Is this the world's fastest Fiat 500?

This very well may be the world's fastest Fiat 500. It's apparently powered by a Honda S2000 engine and built for the drag strip.

The 12.95 E.T. at 101 MPH shown in this video is pretty impressive. However, there's a video on YouTube of this pocket rocket going 10.44 at 138.9 MPH.

So, 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, eat your heart out ... at least until ther first sharp corner.

Subcompact Supercar: Nissan Juke R

I just got done driving the 188 hp. Nissan Juke for a week. It was pretty quick for what it was, and I really liked it (the review will be posted soon). However, Nissan is building the Juke R concept, which is the beast you see above. This is a Nissan Juke powered by a 480 hp. Nissan GT-R engine, which also uses a GT-R AWD drivetrain, too. Holy hell.

Here is a picture of the finished product. If you search Google for Nissan Juke R, you'll find various build photos and videos. Pretty darn impressive. I'm looking forward to watching it hit the track. FYI, Nissan is building two of these concepts: A right-hand drive, and a left-hand drive version. The Juke R concept is being built in the UK.

Subcompact Supercar: 500hp MTM Audi A1

Remember the 500 hp Audi A1 Clubsport Concept we posted here a while back? Well, here is a real version built by MTM in Germany. Here's a vid of it being flogged on the Autobahn. Not much to say about it other than it appears damn fast: 201 MPH (324 KMH).

Thanks for the tip, Thomas!

LINK
MTM

Yaris driver participates in land speed races; sets class record

Does the notion of a Toyota Yaris land speed car sound crazy to you? Me too, which is why I love it.

Adrian Tauer of Caribou, Maine entered his turbocharged 2007 Yaris S sedan into the LTA (Loring Timing Association) Land Speed Races, specifically their Harvest Event, outside of Limestone, Maine. The race is held at the former Loring Air Force Base, which features a two-and-a-half mile strip of asphalt, making it the longest asphalt land speed track in the world. These events are all about top speed: You get 1.5 miles to accelerate, and one mile to decelerate.

Subcompact Supercar: Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept

What's not to love about a 500 horsepower direct-injected 2.5-liter turbocharged five cylinder engine in a small car? The answer is nothing. Audi is claiming the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept will go 0–60 in 3.7 seconds, 0–125 in less than 11 seconds, and a top speed of 155 MPH. Wow. It will wear 19" wheels wrapped in 255/30/19 tires, and wears a matte finish.

Although a concept, you'll be able to drive the car ... in a video game. Need For Speed World will have the A1 Clubsport available as rental when the game bows tomorrow (June 1). No word on when the vehicle will make its in-person debut.

Thanks to Thomas for the tip!

Subcompact Supercar: Tubbed-out Geo Metro is probably faster than your Metro

I don't know anything about this Metro/Swift other than it looks mighty fast and a bit scary. With what I assume is a V-8 under the hood, a tubbed-out rear end, and a 93.1" wheelbase, I'd be willing to be this Metro is a handfull—assuming that isn't just a fake carb setup atop the G10 1.0-liter three-cylinder (which I'd be willing to bet it isn't) Looks fun to me.

I found this picture while cruising the Geo Metro Forums. I love their slogan: "I can't drive 55 - seriously."

Subcompact Supercar: Buy Me! 1985 Renault R5 Turbo II... in Oregon

This has to be my ultimate subcompact collectible: A Renault R5 Turbo II. Rare, fast, and sweet looking. I've only seen one of these in real life (it was at Road America in Wisconsin). Check it out on Autoblog! Truly a subcompact supercar.

LINK
Buy Me! 1985 Renault R5 Turbo II... in Oregon

Subcompact Supercar: SR20DET-powered Dift Platz

Recipe
1 Toyota Platz (aka Toyota Echo)
1 Nissan SR20DET engine
A few quarts of rose-metallic paint
A metric shit ton of work to convert it to rear-wheel drive

Drift the Platz until tires produce a nice blue smoke. Be sure to maintain sideways momentum as long as possible. Park until cooled. Repeat.

More pics at Marlon's awesome site, OMG Pancakes.

Subcompact Supercar: Twin-engine CRX

Okay, so it isn't as super as some supercars, but it's still pretty super, especially for the time. Take one 75-horsepower Honda CRX, and add a second 75 horsepower engine. I know, I know: 150 horsepower isn't that much. However, putting two engines in an '85 CRX, especially at the time, was pretty impressive.

The whole thing was done by Car and Driver in 1985, and was known as the "heavy Honda." I'd love to see a more modern version with two K20s or two B-series engines, say to the tune of 300 horses. Or how about a twin-engine Honda Fit? Yes please ...

Check out the entire story at carlustblog.com.

LINK
Car Lust: Twin-Engine Honda CRX (carlustblog.com)

Subcompact Supercar: Festiva Shogun

I'm sure everyone remembers the diminutive Ford Festiva (no, not the Fiesta). However, do you remember the crazy V-6-powered Festiva Shogun? Powered by the Yamaha-made Ford Taurus SHO engine, which was located in the rear, this little vehicle got up and went. Above is a neat little video from the show Jay Leno's Garage, where Jay talks about his Shogun (number 3 of 7). I'd say this car definitely qualifies as a subcompact supercar.

Video: Twin-engined VW Lupo

From the insanity files comes a 12-cylinder Volkswagen Lupo allegedly from Croatia. The subcompact has been fitted with two VW VR6 engines and both were turbocharged. It certainly makes a beautiful sound. I'm sure it's fast as hell, too! A number of other goodies have been added as well. Check out the vids!