There is no shortage of extreme machinery on offer at the 2018 SEMA Show, but this latest offering from Wisconsin-based SpeedKore could take some beating.

Officially titled as ‘Evolution’, this 1970 Dodge Charger has certainly undergone a process of development. The car first found fame in The Fast and Furious movie, wearing the name ‘Tantrum and powered by a 1,650hp 9.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine.

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However, SpeedKore promises that the changes are huge, and that Evolution represents “the most advanced 1970 Dodge Charger” anywhere on the globe. A bold claim, but one that is backed up with fastidious engineering.

Turned down for what?

In a world where adding more power seems a natural occurrence, the Evolution Charger bucks the trend.

Outgoes the previous Mercury Racing engine, and in comes the 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 from the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. It has been upgraded from the stock 840hp, and now produces a verified 966hp at the rear wheels.

Whilst that may be almost 700hp less, SpeedKore maintains that this makes the Evolution easier to drive. And don’t worry, 1,000hp is still capable of offering “tremendous acceleration” according to SpeedKore Vice President Dave Salvaggio.

Classic lines, modern materials

Aiding that performance is a complete overhaul of the Charger’s construction. Lightweight carbon fibre is employed extensively, matched with bespoke billet aluminium components, to meet a target weight of 1,450kg (3,200 pounds).

Much like SpeedKore’s lightweight Demon, carbon fibre is used to create every body panel on the Charger. That includes a single one-piece carbon fibre roof, created in a special autoclave, along with the doors, bumpers and quarter panels.

All the carbon fibre panels are left with a polished clear coat, allowing the natural weave to be seen. The billet aluminium pieces, including the exquisitely detailed door handles, have a bronze-nickel coating to make them stand out.

Devil in the detail

Whilst the Evolution Charger might be impressive as a whole, delving into the individual details demonstrates the thoroughness of the build process.

Those door handles feature a narrow strip of carbon fibre running through them, whilst the boot is lined with meticulously stitched leather. In fact, the entire interior features a custom remake, with a bespoke dashboard, CNC-milled steering wheel, and Recaro bucket seats.

SpeedKore also produced a custom 14-point roll cage, mounting fuel and oil lines hidden inside to keep the carbon and leather clad interior neat. Even the classic Charger pistol-grip shifter gets a carbon makeover, connected to a Tremec six-speed gearbox.

Show stopper

All other major components feature motorsport-inspired upgrades. This includes the Penske adjustable coilover suspension, Brembo GT brakes, and HRE alloy wheels. The latter feature the same bronze-nickel colour, and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres.

SpeedKore won a Best in Show award at the 2017 SEMA Show, claiming the prize for a special Ford Mustang, created for Robert Downey Jr. Given the attention to detail applied to the Evolution Charger, it would seem a safe assumption that this carbon-clad muscle car will collect more silverware this year.

The new McLaren Speedtail is the latest (and one of the most controversial) in a long line of whale tail wonders. Indeed, cars have used big bums to stay steady at serious speeds, both on and off the track, for more than 50 years. These are some of the greatest whale tails in motoring.

McLaren Speedtail

The Speedtail, McLaren’s latest entry into the long tail club, isn’t actually called a ‘Longtail’. Lord oh lord, does it have one, though. It’s a full 17 feet long. All in the name of stability at speed, of course.

Porsche 935 GT2

The reborn 935 was Porsche’s gift to itself for its 70th birthday, built in tribute to the original whale-tailed Moby Dick racer of the late 1970s. Just 77 of these track-only specials will be built, each based on the 991 GT2 RS. Perhaps the most obvious modification is that extended backside.

McLaren P1 GT

Lanzante’s last (for now) fettled P1 is a tribute to the original ‘Longtail’ McLaren F1 GT of the late 1990s. It looks properly cool with a few extra inches at the rear, a fixed wing and four exhausts. Lovely green colour, too, also courtesy of the original Longtail GT.

Koenigsegg Regera

The Koenigsegg Regera employs a lightly extended rear end to help house electrical systems and extra cooling. Koenigsegg is proud of its hypercar’s gearless direct-drive transmission. Like the Speedtail, the hybrid Regera is also a ‘hyper GT’ rather than a track-focused supercar.

Hennessey Venom GT

The Hennessey Venom GT is a bit of a barn door hypercar, being, to all appearances, a heavily modified Lotus Exige. But 1,200hp courtesy of a twin-turbo V8 is as serious as any factory effort. Beautifully extended carbon fibre bodywork helps keep this 260mph+ hypercar on the straight and narrow.

Maserati MC12

The Maserati MC12 put the wing in whale tail. Essentially a Ferrari Enzo re-purposed for GT1 racing, the big Maser features a suitably engorged rump to hang serious aero from.

Nissan R390

Nissan’s little-known GT1 racer is perhaps the coolest unicorn on this list. Once again, it features that long, swooping teardrop style, designed to help the car remain rock-solid at speed. There’s more than a little of this in the new Speedtail.

McLaren F1 GT

The original Longtail, the racing F1 GT was a response to the Porsche 911 GT1 and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, and an effort keep the ageing hypercar competitive at Le Mans. Just three homologated road cars were made.

Jaguar XJ220

The Jaguar XJ220 was arguably the first mid-engined hypercar aimed primarily at top speed. The clue is in the name. This long-bottomed beauty came out somewhat half-baked, however. The promised V12 and four-wheel drive were swapped for a V6 twin-turbo engine and rear-drive. That promised 220mph top speed fell to 212mph, too.

Porsche 935 ‘Moby Dick’

The original Moby Dick is one of the most legendary racers ever made, in spite of it not being the success Porsche had hoped. ‘Moby Dick’ was a nickname given by Porsche engineers, given its extended whale tail appearance.

Ferrari 512 BBLM

In typical Group 5 racing fashion, the Ferrari 512 BBLM is a hare-brained exaggeration of the road-going Berlinetta Boxer. That includes an extended tail (in which you can see gorgeous snaking exhaust manifolds), plus ground-hugging bodywork. One of Ferrari’s coolest sports racers.

McLaren M6 GT

Before Speedtail, before the F1, there came the M6 GT. Bruce McLaren’s plan was to turn the abandoned prototype into one of the first bona fide supercars. Running a tuned Chevrolet V8 and wearing svelte, wedge-shaped bodywork (complete with a lengthy backside), the M6 GT was a knockout. The project was permanently shelved after Bruce’s death in June 1970, however.

Porsche 917 Langheck

Langheck, or ‘Long Rear’ in English, is the name that defined a body style. Extended tail gave the 917 the profile it needed to knock on the door of 250mph at Le Mans in 1970. This tapering tail has featured on countless Porsche racers since.

Ferrari 512 Coda Lunga

Locked in the heat of battle with Porsche, Ferrari’s own Long Tail (‘Coda Lunga’) took the fight to the Langheck. Like many of the Scuderia’s sports cars of the era, though, it wasn’t the runaway Maranello had hoped for.

Ford F3L P68

A longtail in form but not in name, the P68 Group 6 prototype was an attempt to carry on the legend of the successful Ford GTs. Hiding an F1-proven Cosworth DFV engine under swooping bodywork, it wasn’t exactly a smash hit on the circuit, but it’s an unforgettable shape nonetheless.

Read more:

• Land Rover builds Selfridges Edition Defender… in Selfridges
• The UK’s most dangerous places to own a car revealed
• Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag special edition celebrates sports car landmark

A special one-off Selfridges Edition Land Rover Defender Works V8 is now on permanent display in the London store – after being disassembled, hoisted through a first-floor window 11 metres off the ground and rebuilt on the shop floor.

The new exhibit for the Oxford Street store’s Designer Street Room menswear department will be left unlocked for visitors to sit in. Selfridges’ Sebastian Manes says the Defender will “act as a platform for our art and fashion partners and is a key feature within this dynamic space”.

It’s going to be an “ongoing relationship that will celebrate creativity and design in an unexpected way,” he added. Sounds like there’s plenty more to come.

Which will be just reward for the team of Land Rover Classic technicians who worked flat-out to build the Defender from a rolling chassis in just four days. It took more than 930 man hours to create the vehicle, said Land Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic director, Tim Hannig, said: “This may be the most quickly-assembled one-off Defender in the world, but it will be on display at Selfridges in London long enough for customers to enjoy.”

Prior to the V8 conversion, it was a 2016 Defender 110 2.2 TDCi Pick up. Five months of craftsmanship at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works saw it turned into the one-off Selfridges Edition.

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The 405hp V8 gives it a 237 percent power boost, and bespoke Selfridges features include Bronze Green metallic paint, branded hood in Selfridges yellow, retro seats and plenty of Selfridges badges. There are 25 bespoke parts over and above the 70th Edition Works.

It’s a prime bit of product placement for Land Rover: an estimated two million Selfridges customers will see it each year, and it’s likely to form a key part of the store’s 110th anniversary next year.

Land Rover Selfridges Edition Defender: in pictures

70 years of Jaguar sports cars is being marked with a new special edition, the F-Type Chequered Flag. It’s on sale now with prices starting from £62,335.

The car that celebrates 70 years since the launch of the Jaguar XK 120 is itself marked out by a number of chequered flag logos: on the rear, the steering wheel and seats. 

It’s all pretty subtle, but the Windsor leather interior is more standout (pick contrast stitching in either red or cirrus). Performance Seats are fitted, there’s an Ebony suedecloth rooflining and dark brushed aluminium centre console to complement them, plus a steering wheel with a red ‘top centre’ marker. 

Colours? Caldera Red, Fuji White or Carpanthian Grey. All are fitted with Chequered Flag-unique gloss black 20-inch wheels with diamond turned finish, and coupes get a gloss black contrast roof.

There’s a new treat for the Touch Pro infotainment system too: the 10-inch touchscreen comes as stadnard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (following its JLR introduction on the I-Pace earlier this year), plus a fancy Meridian sound system. 

Jaguar offers the Chequered Flag either with the 300hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, or the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 in 340hp or 380hp all-wheel drive guise. 

“In creating the Chequered Flag,” said Jaguar design director Ian Callum, “we’ve focused on details which enhance the F-Type’s presence and promise of performance – and in doing so, made a fitting celebration of 70 years of beautiful, fast Jaguar sports cars.”

Jaguar F-Type: 20MY changes

Jaguar has announced other tweaks for the F-Type range, as part of a 20MY (2020 model year) upgrade. Standard fitment to all F-Type is a rear parking camera and front park aid. 

The F-Type R has been given the damping tune of the higher-performance SVR, improving ride quality at lower speeds. There’s up to 24 percent less damping force at slow speed, but up to 30 percent more stiffness at higher speed.

The SVR’s rear upper ball joint has also been fitted to the R, plus modified rear knuckle and upper control arm. 

The 20MY Jaguar F-Type range is priced from £51,925 and is open for ordering now.

Prices: 20MY Jaguar F-Type

P300

• F-Type auto: £51,925
• R-Dynamic auto: £55,625
• Chequered Flag auto: £62,335

P340

• F-Type: £54,925
• R-Dynamic: £58,625

P380

• R-Dynamic: £65,675
• Chequered Flag auto: £72,715

P380 AWD

• R-Dynamic: £72,325
• Chequered Flag: £78,095

550hp AWD

• R: £93,215

575hp AWD

• SVR: £113,395

Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag: in pictures

Caffeine and Machine is a new coffee house, bar, restaurant and B&B that celebrates cars and motorcycles in the most unashamedly passionate way – and proof that petrolheads are already embracing the concept has come from the crowds flocking to its opening weekend.

Located in Ettington, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Caffeine and Machine has seen a local B&B and restaurant , The Houndshill, transformed into a destination for enthusiasts of every persuasion. Everyone is welcome, nothing is frowned upon: “No judgement, no sneering, no worries.”

The main house has been fully redeveloped in an exhaustive (and high end) refurbishment, and the grounds remodelled to be car- and motorcycle-friendly. Supercar friendly at that, judging by the number of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches who were there for the opening day.

Outside, a huge marquee tent supplies the caffeine to complement the machines, fuelling what will surely be regular ‘cars and coffee’ meets at the site in months and years to come. Non-drivers could grab a beer from the main house, and the Caffeine and Machine Roadhouse cooked up food that the owners say will have “even die-hard foodies coming back”. I can vouch for how amazing the burgers looked.

Motoring journalist and TV star Tom Ford is one of the partners in the project led by successful businessman Phil McGovern. On the opening day, he was busy. “I don’t know where to put them all!” he said, as another Ferrari and another Lamborghini turned up on site. With a look of delight, he agreed it was a nice problem to have.

Caffeine and Machine is already on the map, judging by the crowds in attendance, the full car parks, the breathtaking variety of cars that turned up, the dozens of cars parked on the verge outside and in the lanes surrounding the site. The Ace Cafe of the Midlands? The Goodwood of the north? It will be fascinating to see how it develops.

Having visited it, I can say excitement that everything Caffeine & Machine speaks of on its website appears to be true. I can’t wait to go back. Be sure to visit when you can, and look out for an events calendar to come at some point. It’s everything an unashamed petrolhead like me loves, and I’m certain you’ll feel the same.

“Caffeine and Machine offers everything you expect from a modern member’s club – except you don’t have to be a member to enjoy it”, say the owners. Nailed it: bravo, guys.

Where is Caffeine & Machine?

For those who find the standard 840hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon just a little too tame, Wisconsin-based SpeedKore Performance Group has developed an epic solution.

Dispensing with the supercharger attached to the 6.2-litre Hemi V8, and replacing it with a twin-turbocharger setup, has unleashed gigantic power from the muscle car.

Despite making use of the standard Dodge engine block, the pair of Precision Engineering turbochargers create a total of 1,203hp at the rear wheels. As a reminder, that’s an output greater than a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

At present, the engine breathes through holes cut into the bumper, with the exhaust system also exiting just ahead of the front wheels. Sadly this setup, despite being impressive, is not street legal but a traditional rear exhaust version is under development.

Added lightness

SpeedKore specialises in carbon fibre bodywork, with the twin-turbo Demon being no exception.

The lightweight material is used for the front and rear bumpers, wheel arches, quarter panels, roof, and boot. In fact no panel is spared from the carbon fibre makeover, shaving some 113kg from the Challenger.

A neat touch is the Demon logos fitted to the side of the Challenger are now illuminated. A potential warning to anyone who comes across the twin-turbo machine at night…

Setting records

To test the performance of the twin-turbo Demon, SpeedKore asked professional drag racer Leah Pritchett to tackle the quarter-mile at the Great Lakes Dragway.

Despite a chilly October day making the surface less than perfect, Pritchett was able to set a new record for a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Covering the quarter-mile in just 8.77 seconds, with a terminal speed of 161.57mph, meant a considerable step up from the regular car.

In fact, Pritchett had set the previous record for a standard Demon at 9.65 seconds with a speed of 140mph.

Scariest of all is that this only marks the beginning of the SpeedKore twin-turbo Demon story. Upgraded internals for the engine will allow for more power, whilst warmer temperatures next Spring should produce even faster times at the drag strip.

The twin-turbo Demon will make its public debut at next week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. SpeedKore has previously produced a special Ford Mustang for Robert Downey Jr, and a modified Chevrolet Camaro for Captain America star Chris Evans.