V12 Vantage
And......... The Bond's car is back in action!!!!!
Aston Martin has pulled the wraps off of its most potent production sports car in the brand's 95-year history. What was merely a concept just over a year ago is now the 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage.Essentially, Aston wanted to add some pungency to its product line so the company took its lightest, most nimble coupe and shoved in its biggest engine. The result is a car the size of a V8 Vantage with the V-12 grunt of the DBS.
Unfortunately, the 6.0-liter under the hood of the V12 Vantage doesn't make the expected 600 hp of the concept. However, it does turn out 510 hp. Aston claims that power will launch the car to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and give it a top speed of 190 mph.
As shown by the pictures, the mighty engine wasn't the only enhancement. To bring all that power to a halt, the V12 Vantage has added vented carbon ceramic brakes that span 15.7 inches in the front and 14.2 inches in the rear. It also wears 19-inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels shod with Pirelli PZero Corsa tires to help it put the power to the pavement.
Visually, the V12 Vantage is distinguished by a vented hood, carbon-fiber front and rear splitters, and more aggressive side skirts. The aerodynamic bits on the car result in a 64 percent reduction in total vehicle lift, increasing the car's high speed stability.
Inside, the cabin is a sea of Alcantara and stitched leather. As an option, hard-core drivers can opt for carbon-fiber and kevlar seats which save nearly 40 pounds.
The V12 Vantage was officially debutd at the Geneva Auto Show. Word on the street is that the new sports car will not be making its way to North America due to concerns about emissions and crashworthiness. Pricing was announced at the show and topped $200,000.
ASTON MARTIN ONE-77 Although it may seem ludicrous to launch a $1.9 million supercar in today's economic climate, the 2009 Aston Martin One-77 serves as a halo car for the iconic British brand. "Quite simply it had to be the ultimate expression of Aston Martin," said CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez. "As you can now see, we have achieved that goal in magnificent style." We'd have to agree. Though the sharp edges, quirky headlamps, and ribbed side panels may spur debate among Aston enthusiasts, the One-77 is refreshingly unique. Certain cues - notably the fluted grille and wrap-around taillights - are still present, but the car can't be mistaken for a "pedestrian" Vantage, DB9, or DBS. The powertrain, it seems, is equally unique. Aston Martin engineers contracted with the geniuses at Cosworth Engineering to take the company's existing 6.0-liter V-12 as far as it can go. The result is a new 7.3-liter V-12, which Aston claims is good for 700+ hp. Incredibly, Cosworth also managed to reduce the engine's mass by 25 percent, helping improve the One-77's weight distribution. Don't, however, look to row your own gears. The V-12 still sends its power to the rear wheels, but manages to do so via a new six-speed sequential manual transmission, complete with shift paddles mounted on the steering column. Although similar transmissions are offered on other Aston Martin cars, we're told this one was developed exclusively for the One-77, and may trickle down into the rest of the lineup. We wouldn't expect a supercar to be without race-bred technologies, and the One-77 is no exception. Fully adjustable dampers, tuned for each customer prior to delivery, are standard equipment, as are carbon ceramic disc brakes. The latter will be particularly important, given the One-77 is expected to hit 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 200 mph. If this sounds like your kind of car, it's probably too late to get your hands on one. In spite of the $1.9 million price tag, we hear most, if not all, of the 77-car production run is already spoken for.
Aston Martin DBS Volante
Want a convertible that leaves you both shaken and stirred? Look no further than the 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante, which makes its world debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show.
Built upon the already potent DBS coupe (Aston's current top offering and James Bond's latest ride), the DBS Volante mixes some open-air fun into the cocktail. In place of the slinky fastback roof is a power-folding cloth top, similar to those used on both the DB9 and V8 Vantage Volantes. We're told it can retract underneath a voluptuous tonneau cover in as little as 14 seconds, and adds only 253 pounds to the DBS' curb weight.
From the beltline on down, the DBS Volante is virtually identical to its coupe siblings. A 517 hp, 6.0-liter aluminum V-12 lurks underhood, and is coupled either to a six-speed manual transmission or an optional ZF-sourced six-speed automatic. Expect to see typical Aston luxuries inside, including a Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, iPod connector, and sumptuous leather trim as standard equipment.
Aston Martin claims the DBS Volante can reach 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds, a figure that's mysteriously equal to that of the lighter DBS coupe. Aston hasn't announced pricing as of yet, but expect to see early examples arrive in the U.S. by the third quarter of 2009.
BENTLY CONTINENTAL
For 24 months a small group of engineers and designers worked on a special project to reduce the weight and increase the power of the Continental GT. What you see before you is the result. The Continental Supersports - the name comes from the original 3-liter model introduced in 1925 - will be the fastest road-going car in the company's 90 year history.
How fast is it? Bently's initial performance figures say that the sprint to 60 mph takes only 3.7 seconds and it'll top out at 204 mph. Those figures best the current quickest Bentley, the Continental GT Speed, which takes more than 4 seconds to reach 60 mph and hits top speed at a mere 202 mph.
Part of the improved acceleration comes from the revised 6.0-liter W-12 engine. The engine is the company's first flex-fuel-capable power plant. It now produces 621 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Inside the fuel tank is a sensor that detects the ratio of gasoline to E85 and reports back to the ECU to ensure that the engine's output remains the same regardless of the mixture.
Bentley knocked a few more ticks off the acceleration times with a new 'Quickshift' transmission that cuts former shift times in half. The entire car has also been lightened by 243 lbs. To bring it all to a halt, the Supersports uses the largest and most powerful carbon ceramic brakes fitted to a production car.
Handling is improved thanks to an array of chassis enhancements. Lighter weight components were used and the steering, dampers, and anti-roll bars were all retuned. Bentley further improved the agility by implementing a 40/60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system, a wider rear track, lightweight 20-inch wheels and a revised electronic stability program.
Inside, the cabin was designed to give occupants a sporty feel and it also contributes the to weight reduction theme. First off, you'll notice that the rear seats have been replaced by a storage deck and a carbon fiber luggage retaining beam. Also, the fancy woodwork around the cabin is replaced by carbon fiber and the same material is found on the lighter weight front sport seats. Finally, the rest of the inside is trimmed in Alcantara and 'soft touch' leather.
Expect the fastest Bentley yet to reach worldwide audiences in fall of this year. While it will be FlexFuel compatible in most markets at the time of launch, North American cars will not offer the capability until the summer 2010 because of pending regulatory approval.
LAMBORGHINI MERCIELAGO LP 670-4
Imagine, if you will, placing Lamborghini's million-dollar Reventon into a blender with a brand-new Murcielago LP 640-4, and pushing the button marked "blend." Although we wouldn't perform such a sadistic act on our own accord, we've no doubt that the result would look something like the 2010 Lamborghni Mercielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce.
But the latest iteration of the Murcielago is more than simply a cosmetic refresh. Although the Italian term Superveloce translates to "high speed," when applied to the legendary Miura and Diablo, it came to represent a hardcore supercar with heightened levels of performance. From what we've seen about the new LP 670-4 SV, that tradition continues.
Engineers first reworked the Murcielago's aluminum-block 6.5-liter V-12 engine. At first glance, it differs little from those in the LP 640 and Reventon, but thanks to a new intake manifold, exhaust system, engine computer, and optimized valvetrain, the engine now pumps out a substantial 670 hp - 10 hp more than the Reventon and 30 hp over a Murcielago LP 640. Unlike the Diablo SV, which eschewed the Diablo VT's all-wheel-drive system in favor of a rear-wheel-drive setup, the Murcielago LP 670-4 SV continues to send power to all four wheels via either a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual.
With power increased, the team in Sant'Agata Bolognese looked at decreasing weight. Although a base Murcielago already used a considerable amount of carbon fiber throughout the car, its 3670-lb curb weight isn't the definition of svelte. As such, Lamborghini worked on cutting weight out of multiple components. That new exhaust system may help boost power, but it's also 22 lbs lighter than before. Switching to a high-strength steel for the tube frame chassis sheds 44 lbs, while increasing torsional rigidity by 12 percent.
Although it's still well appointed, the Murcielago's cabin isn't spared from the crash diet. Sport seats are requisite for a sports car, but those in the LP 670-4 SV are fashioned from carbon fiber. They're also trimmed in Alcantara, a material Lamborghini claims is much lighter than leather hide. Don't look for any audio or navigation systems, either - unless specifically requested by customers, they're purged in the pursuit of a lighter car.
Designers also had some free reign to revise the Murcielago's form. A new chin spoiler, side skirts and intakes, rear diffuser, and spoiler may seem as if they're merely design tie-ins to the ultra-rare Reventon, but they're so much more. Each part plays a big part in adding downforce, something many Lamborghinis sorely lacked. A fixed rear spoiler plays a big part in keeping the rear end planted to terra firma, but an even larger unit (pictured) is also available. Although the LP 670-4 SV is available in seven different colors, Lamborghini seems intent on painting the new body kit in a contrasting black hue.
The end result is a lighter (3450 lbs), meaner Murcielago that's ready for either road or track. Lamborghini claims the SV-spec Murcielago can hit 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 212.5 mph. That's certainly fast, and we expect the entire production run (limited to 350 examples) to sell out just as quickly.
INFINITY ESSENCE
Infinite power. Infinite style. Infinite looks. Infinite attractions. Infinite world. This has been the code of conduct of Infinity when it introduces any father of super cars to the modern world, and "Infinity Essence" is no exception.
The Infinity brand launched in Europe during the Geneva motor show last year. This year Infiniti brought its Essence to the show. The Infiniti Essence concept is supposed to look back on the 20 years of Infiniti's existence and also hint at the future of the brand. Some of Infiniti's key traits are technology, design, and performance - and the Essence embodies all three qualities. To start, the Essence is a rear-wheel drive coupe with a hybrid powertrain. The gasoline engine is a twin-turbo 3.7-liter V-6 rated at 434 hp. There's also a starter-generator stuck between the engine and seven-speed automatic transmission and it adds 158 hp to the total output. Power for the electric motor comes from a lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk. Infiniti's press release claims the car is "capable of vast speeds where conditions allow, zero emissions where they don't." Not a bad compromise, really. Of course the powertrain doesn't matter in the least once you lay eyes on the car - the Infiniti Essence is stunning in the sheetmetal. The curves are very sexy and the car has an air of elegance that also carries over to the interior. Inside, the driver's portion of the cabin is black and the passenger's left with a lot of red. Supposedly the driver isn't inundated with controls and technology - all the expected functionality remains hidden until the driver chooses to use items like the stereo. Sadly, the Essence stands no chance of being produced. Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning, said "Essence is a brand icon... It isn't a teaser for a new model. It is solely dedicated to Infiniti brand promotion, to demonstrate and advocate the Infiniti unique values." While the Essence itself may not enter production, we do expect the design cues to filter down to actual production vehicles. Finally I will conclude with the best wishes for everyone and the "dying" auto industry. Don't forget to post!!! See Ya!
