Friday, March 30, 2007

SPYKER C12 ZAGATO

Spyker C12 Zagato manu
Geneva, Switzerland, 6 March 2007 Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars, and Andrea Zagato, CEO of Zagato, today unveiled the Spyker C12 Zagato at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show. Norihiko Harada, Zagatos Automotive Chief Designer, and Muller co-operated closely to design this limited edition of 24 sports cars to be delivered from March 2008 onwards. The world premiere of this ultra-exclusive version of the C12 range celebrates Spykers entry into the world of Formula One and marks the first integration of design elements and styling cues from the Spyker F8-VII Formula One car into the Spyker road car range. This point was underlined by the unveiling of the car being performed by Spykers Formula One race driver, Adrian Sutil.

Partnership Spyker and Zagato

Victor Muller comments:

At the age of 18 I acquired my first Zagato bodied car: a Lancia Flavia Zagato rally car in dire need of restoration. Ever since that date, some 30 years ago, I have been in love with the unique and distinctive designs penned by this noble design house. Many Zagato bodied cars have followed the Lancia Flavia and I am proud to still have a number of Zagatos in my collection.

The co-operation and partnership between Spyker and Zagato is entirely logical if one looks at the rich heritage both companies share in the fields of aviation and racing. A better fit of aesthetics, skill and passion would be hard to find.
Spyker C12 Zagato manu
Two brothers, Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, coach builders in Amsterdam, built their first Benzengined motor car in 1898 and won immediate acclaim for the supreme craftsmanship of their bodywork. In the period prior to World War I, a worldwide slump in the luxury car market meant that Spyker had to diversify its production, and so it merged with the Dutch Aircraft Factory N.V. This combined company evolved its business model and started developing and building aircraft. After the war Spyker was able to return to its roots and resumed car production in 1919. True to its motto Nulla tenaci invia est via (For the tenacious no road is impassable), Spyker continued building record-breaking cars which now featured extensive aircraft influences, including sophisticated aerodynamics absorbed from the aircraft building years.

Similarly, Zagato was established at the end of World War I by Ugo Zagato, putting aircraft industry construction techniques to use in the expanding market for passenger vehicles. Just like the Spyker cars, Zagatos cars were advanced in design and became synonymous with light weight and excellent aerodynamics.

Spyker C12 Zagato: the rationale

Victor Muller continues: Andrea and myself have known each other for many years and met at events such as Pebble Beach Concours dElegance and Villa dEste Concorso dEleganza on numerous occasions. Last April, at Villa dEste, we sat down and discussed the increasing market demand for truly one-off and limited edition super sport cars. In a certain sense the modern market is not unlike the 1930s, where wealthy customers would order exotic bespoke designs from high-end coach builders on Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Delage, Delahaye and Isotta-Fraschini chassis, just to mention a few.Spyker C12 Zagato manu

Zagato established its name by designing exquisite cars for Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari in particular, but it is probably the Aston Martin DB4 Zagato that best represents the artistic expertise of what they do. Andrea and I agreed to meet each other in Arese and to define what a Spyker Zagato would have to embody. In view of market demand, it was decided to use Spykers flagship chassis, the C12, as a basis -its space-frame being exceptionally suitable for crafting a bespoke body onto.

After the initial design meeting in July 2006, it became apparent that Spyker would succeed in acquiring the Midland Formula 1 team and design activities were suspended until early October when that transaction had been consummated. With the F1 team part of the Spyker Group it was decided that the C12 Zagato should embody as many of the Formula 1 design cues as practically possible so as to set a new design vision for future Spyker road car models.

In the months following, Spyker and Zagato finalized the design and the manufacturing of the C12 Zagato was entrusted to Spykers long time fabrication partner, Coventry Prototype Panels in Coventry, UK. Under the guidance of Brendan OToole, CPPs Managing Director, and tienne Beijersbergen van Henegouwen, Spykers Project Manager, the vehicle was built by a dedicated Spyker and CPP crew from aluminium in an amazing 4 weeks.

Spyker C12 Zagato: the vehicle

The Spyker C12 Zagato is an all aluminium rear wheel drive sports car, based on the Spyker C12 Spyder. The C12 is powered by the 6.0 liter, 12 cylinder, 500 bhp W12 engine from Volkswagen AG and accelerates from 0-100 km (0-60 mph) in 3.8 seconds. The Spyker C12 Zagato is equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic gear box with F1 style shifting, Chronoswiss instruments and a Zagato designed full leather interior with brushed aluminium instrument panel. The C12 Zagato has an aluminium body with stainless steel roof rails and has many F1 derived design details such as an F1 nose, air scoop, chimneys, mirrors, rain light, fuel flap and diffuser. It has a panoramic roof that features the Double Bubble, a typical Zagato style element. The Spyker C12 Zagato has a length of 4.5 m, a width of 2.02 m excluding mirrors, a height of 1.25 m and weighs 1480 kg. The fuel tank capacity is 70 litres (15.4 gallons). Top speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).
Spyker C12 Zagato manu
The Spyker and Zagato Atelier brands perfectly align because of their common aeronautical origins and because of the shared passion of Victor Muller and myself for sports cars states Andrea Zagato. Nevertheless Victor, before starting this extraordinary adventure with Spyker, was a Zagato collector owning cars like the Flaminia SS and TZ. Together with our neo-classical approach, this Spyker C12 Zagato shows the capabilities of Zagato Atelier for innovative and non conventional solutions.

Norihiko Harada, designer of the new Spyker C12 Zagato, adds: All Spyker cars have their own very unique style: the aeronautical retrospective style co-exists with craftsmanship and elegance. The new Zagato body becomes even more unique, aggressive and sensual at the same time. It features a new double bubble panoramic roof , F1 influenced nose and air intakes, chimney and a coda tronca, the typical Zagato cut off tail end.

Maintaining Spykers styling philosophy, Zagato design put all these elements together and created an extremely stimulating example of contemporary exotic high performance sports car by using typical modern Zagato lines which started from the Raptor Zagato in 1996.

The Spyker C12 Zagato will retail for EUR 495,000 (excluding any taxes, ex factory).

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

2008 Honda Accord Coupe Concept Unveiled VIDEO


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2008 Porsche Cayenne



So, there I am, ripping down a Spanish autovia, twin-turbo V-8 wailing away, wind whistling past the roof rails. There I am, downshifting through a roundabout, flat-footing that direct-injected lump and using errant Peugeots as apexes (“Si, policia! Un Porsche grande!”). There I am, doing 150 mph. And not having very much fun.

How did we get here? Ten years ago, sport-utility vehicles didn’t walk all over sports cars, and it was impossible not to have a good time in a Porsche. Since then, we’ve watched a host of manufacturers build apex-inhaling, racetrack-lapping trucks, and we’ve seen most of those trucks prove an important maxim: capability and sheer speed aren’t always everything.

In spite of its impressive performance and record-setting sales, the first-generation Porsche Cayenne was a little lacking in character. Unfortunately, the 2008 Cayenne continues that theme. It has a new face, mildly reworked interiors, and revised engines, but little else feels or looks different. The Cayenne S and Turbo are even more muscle-bound than before, with power increasing from 340 and 450 hp to 385 and 500 hp, respectively. Porsche says that highway fuel economy for is up 15 percent for the Cayenne S and 11 percent for the Turbo, thanks to new direct injection. The base Cayenne is no longer a gutless wonder, since its Volkswagen-supplied V-6 has been enlarged from 3.2 to 3.6 liters for an additional 43 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque. Finally, active antiroll bars are now available on air-suspended models.

All of these changes should add up to a truck that’s better to drive, and they do. Trouble is, while Porsche’s SUV is amazing, it still isn’t particularly entertaining. Yes, it’s fast as stink, and, yes, it does things no 4800-pound vehicle should be able to do. (Wheel control and chassis composure on undulating pavement will blow your mind.) But once the novelty wears off, boredom sets in. The Cayenne is so good, so capably idiotproof, that the driver is all but left out in the cold. Oddly, the V-6-powered, manual-transmission Cayenne is now the most involving driver’s car of the bunch. The engine doesn’t outshine the chassis, the steering is light and responsive, and you find yourself giggling as you heel-and-toe around every bend.

Absurdly potent? Yes. Hard-core enthusiast’s dream? Not so much. But then, if it were, it probably wouldn’t sell as well. What a shame.
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2008 BMW M3 Concept


There's no question about it, the M3 is one of only a handful of cars on just about every enthusiast's dream list for the last twenty years or so. The reason for that is simple: It uses the BMW 3-series-the best sports sedan in the business-as a starting point, and trims the fat even farther.

Since the first M3 debuted in 1988, it has grown in just about every way, and the new M3 is no exception. It has twice the amount of cylinders as the first M3 and more than twice the horsepower. Luckily, it doesn't weigh twice as much weight.

That means this M3 will be the fastest one yet. We're still waiting for BMW to release final numbers, but under the hood resides a 4.0-liter V-8 that we expect to make about 415 horsepower. That's 115 more horses than the twin-turbo 335i, which is already almost as fast as the last generation M3.

It used to be that quick cars made 115 horsepower - not 115 more than other ridiculously fast cars. Here's to wretched excess! Sign us up.

The car you see in these photographs is being shown in Geneva as a concept, but expect the production car to look the same. Changes relative to the coupe include the power dome hood, unique front and rear fascias, rear diffusers, a carbon fiber roof, and the vented front plastic fenders. In fact, the only body parts the M3 shares with the standard 3-series coupe are the angel-eye headlights, taillights, doors, deck lid, and glass.

The nineteen-inch, sixteen-spoke forged alloy wheels should make it to production, and we expect they will be connected to the high-revving V-8 by way of either a conventional six-speed manual transmission or a new twin-clutch unit a la DSG. SMG is, thankfully, dead.

But the M3 is very much alive.

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Monday, March 19, 2007

Aston Martin Rapide concept




With the sales success of the sub-$200,000 Bentley Continental Flying Spur ultra-luxury sedan, it was just a matter of time before another exotic nameplate showed its hand and made a foray into this very lucrative market. And who better than another exclusive low-volume Brit builder than the legendary Aston Martin.

Looking essentially like a stretched AM Vantage luxury sports coupe, the attractive Rapide is the first 4-door for the venerable brand since the Lagonda.

A good sign that the Rapide is well on its way to production is that the show car at Detroit drove onto the stage under its own power for the unveiling ― a mechanically-functional show car.


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Friday, March 9, 2007

Noble M15 specs



Top Speed: 175 mph / 282 km/h
0-60 mph: 3.3 seconds
Engine: 3-liter V6 Twin-Turbo 455 HP

The Noble M15, a supercar for 2007, promises speed and power with its modified three-liter Ford V-6 engine. Although this racing car is similar to the M12 and 400 in performance, it has two additional turbo chargers to accommodate the bigger overall specifications and provide equal or more acceleration than the M400. Lee Noble, British designer and engineer, has always emphasized high standards and individuality in his sports cars and the M15 is no exception.

With the same wheelbase as earlier Noble exotic cars and an improved suspension, the new and stronger steel and aluminum frame chassis of the M15 meets worldwide crash test rules and regulations. The V-6 engine is placed front to back, rather than crosswise, which is different from earlier models, and along with the customary six-speed transaxle and forged pistons, it has numerous new components. The larger Pirelli tires and wheels easily accommodate the heavier engine and the overall weight of the supercar, 2,750 pounds, which is much less than the Porsche or Aston Martin.

The exterior of this exciting new race car features lots of angles, similar to the Ferrari and Lamborghini sports cars, with twin air intakes, oversized air outlets behind the wheels, distinctive L-shaped headlamp covers, long wedge-shaped fenders, an almost flat rear window, and a high rear spoiler.

The M15 exotic car compares favorably with its competitors, the Porsche Carrera S and the Aston Martin V 8 Vantage in custom features, but surpasses its predecessors in comfort and convenience for the sports car enthusiast or race car driver. Lots of bells and whistles have been added to this supercar including ABS, Sat navigation, traction control, and electric windows. In addition, Noble has brought in more new touches including air conditioning, heated mirrors and windscreen, and an MP3/DVD player. In comparison to other mid-engine race cars, there are two luggage compartments, one in the rear, and one between the twin radiators in the front for extra convenience.

Noble has introduced a superior race car, with a distinctive style and increased performance. The M15 supercar is practical, reliable, and easy to handle with a fast, smooth ride.
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Koenigsegg CCR specs



Top Speed: 242 mph / 395 km/h
0-60 mph: 3.2 seconds
0 - 1/4 Mile: 9 sec. @ 146 mph (235 km/h)
Engine: 4.7-liter V8 806 bhp

Koenigsegg CCR – the new champion


Koenigsegg CCR is better known as the 'record-breaker'. Yes, the CCR beat the The McLaren F1 supercar, the fastest production car ever built, at Italy's Nardo Prototipo on February 28th 2005, with a breath-taking performance at 387.87 km/h, a 15 km/h increase from the later's past record.

Koenigsegg is an exclusive manufacturer of super sports cars, the latest being the Koenigsegg CCX with a performance speed of 403 km/h. The CC (Competition Coup) led by Koenigsegg is unlikely to be defeated in the near future. The McLaren F1 and Ferrari Enzo supercars still have to come a long way to prove superior in the squad of Production cars. The performance speed of McLaren F1 is 372 km/h and that of Ferrari Enzo is 355 km/h as per the results at Nardo/Prototipo.

Koenigsegg CCR is synonymous with speed. The engineering and design of this sports car substantiate this fact. The aerodynamic body and the lightweight chassis display the main purpose of the vehicle, the speed. The front bumper reminds you the cutting shark with pointed face and deep nostrils. The materials of the body are the lightweight carbon fiber compounds reinforced with Kevlar and aluminum honeycomb. These features ensure the complete safety along with the super speed even in extreme driving conditions. A feather-touch driving experience from Koenigsegg!

Koenigsegg CCR is specially designed considering the tastes of the sporty car customers. The low and broad appearance of the body adds a pleasant feeling of safety; added to this is the fashionably designed semicircular windscreen and organically shaped rear hood. Under roofless driving conditions, the hardtop can be turned to fit under the front bonnet. The whole chassis can be exposed when the hoods and the roof are open; this adds a lot of convenience while inspecting the body.

The most important feature of any sports car is the design of its body. Koenignsegg CCR's body is perfectly symmetrical adding a sense of equilibrium while driving. The gear lever is located at the center point of the supercar. All other important mechanisms are mounted around the steering so as to have a good control over them, and these instruments are visible from the upper spokes of the wheel avoiding unnecessary acrobatics while driving.


A lot more technological additions, such as the cutting edge brakes, new racing shock absorbers, CCR advanced throttle, a monocoque carbonfibre intake plenum, and 19" front wheels, etc., are applied to make Koenigsegg CCR the choice of the leaders.

Thanks to Joachim Nordwall, the designer who made the racing car CCR a champion on the roads. He is fascinated by its compelling 'predator' look with the diamond-shaped eyes searching for the prey. Why not take it out for a hunt?

The drive never ends at Koenigsegg!

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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren specs




Top Speed: 207 mph / 334 km/h
0-60 mph: 3.6 seconds
0-100 mph: 7.6 seconds
0 - 1/4 Mile: 11.6 seconds
Engine: V8 5.5 liter 626 bhp @ 6500 rpm

A blast from the past and a taste of the future, this might just be a good description of the latest sports car that came out from a collaboration of Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, two big giants in the car manufacturing industry. We're talking about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. This sports car combines the old yet astounding SLR race cars of the 50s and the latest and meanest technology of high-performance supercars. With the power of race cars and the sleek, curves and designs of a luxury car, the combination from the two car manufacturers is hard to beat.

This supercar is definitely fast. SLR McLaren sports a 626-horsepower supercharged 5.5-liter V8. Also, it has a full carbon-fiber monocoque, features crash structures and body panels. And with the supercharge V8 engine, you can see the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren go from naught to 60 miles per hour in less than 3.6 seconds. Top speed has been measured to exceed 200 mph, a feat that can only be achieved by very few even among the high performance sports cars. It was the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz which created the V8s. The AMG were the ones who hand-build the supercharged V8 engines with top notched precision and quality. It is not at a big surprise to see the supercharged 5.5 (5439 cc) liter dry sumped 90 degree V8 engine to produce around 466.8 kW at 6500 rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 - 5000 rpm. The numbers maybe daunting but the sound of the engine will appease the minds of those who long for the perfect high performance cars.

Mounting that V8 engine into the body of SLR exotic car is also not as traditional as one would like to expect. The engine in SLR sports car is placed in a front mid-engine position just behind the front wheels. Instead of using the traditional oil-pan, dry-sump lubricants are used. With this innovation, it is highly possible to mount the engine to a level that used to be unachievable. Because of the low position of the engine in the supercar's body, the results are more than one hoped. The new Mercedez-Benz SLR McLaren race car has better aerodynamics and better handling due to the lower center of gravity.

Not only does the mean features of the sports car that attracts attention but how the two car companies were able to fuse their own traditions and expertise into a single exotic car. For one, McLaren's expertise in Formula 1 has been imbibed wholly by the SLR's design. The composition of carbon fiber material that was used in the body of the new SLR sports car is so Formula 1. Because of this body, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has become more rigid and surprisingly strong.

But not to be outdone, counterpart Mercedes-Benz has also put a few tricks of its own. The German car maker added features that are deemed essential to the most important part of the vehicle: the passengers. Due to backgrounds in mostly luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz has ensured maximum occupant protection and safety. To my knowledge, the SLR is the only car so far that utilizes front crash structure made entirely of carbon fiber. The importance of this carbon fiber design can only be appreciated in actual crash test simulations. What the front carbon fiber crash structure does is it absorbs crash energy, four - five times more energy than ordinary steel structures actually, during a severe frontal collision. This protects the passengers during such accidents four times more than traditional steel structures found in other sports cars and supercars.

The SLR also has a five speed automatic transmission. There are modes, the Sport, Comfort and Manual which basically covers every known driving style. Sport is for everyday use, Comfort for bumpy or slippery roads, and Manual gives you control over the gears either through the touchpad or the levers on the steering wheel. When you use Manual, you open up three more modes, namely Sport, Supersport and Race. Speed increased significantly as you go up shifts.

Other notable features in this sports car include the high-performance technologies of ceramic brakes. The SLR uses ceramic reinforced with fiber on its brake pads. This technology allows this exotic car to have astonishing stopping power, and extraordinary high resistance to heat, exceptionally strong structure and long service life for the brakes.

With all these features it is not surprising that the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is classified as a sports car and a supercar. Remember to get this right, though, the "SLR" does not stand for "Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport" which is German for "Sport; Light; Racing" as most people think. Its real meaning is "super-leicht, Rennsport" which means "super-light, racing." The sports car is being sold with a base price of €443,066 £300,000 or $450,000.
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Maserati MC12 Corsa specs



Top Speed: 202 mph / 326 km/h
Engine: V12 6.0 liter 756 HP

Maserati MC12 Corsa supercar is a new $1,7 million (1,3 million euro) track-only version of the World Championship winner road legal Maserati MC12. This could as well be called Maserati's version of the Ferrari FXX. Corsa is powered by its V12 6.0 liter engine that is capable of producing 756 horse power. It will only be sold to the most valued customers of Maserati who will be restricted to driving this fancy exotic car on private tracks, because Corsa isn't a road legal car. Total production of the Italian supercar MC12 Corsa will be limited to 12 units worldwide making it a true collectible gem.

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Porsche Carrera GT



With its V10 engine providing more than 600 horsepower and with an array of cutting edge technologies including a ceramic composite clutch and brakes beneath its carbon-reinforced body, the Porsche Carrera GT uses the undiluted qualities of a genuine racecar to provide an unprecedented driving experience on the road.

Beautiful Design and Engineering, and 605 Horsepower

The Porsche Carrera GT, which was introduced as a 2004 model, is a low, sleek, lightweight roadster that is as beautiful to the engineer as it is to the eye. Foul weather protection is also available in the form of two removable panels that can be stored in the front trunk.

Among the car’s unique features are its 5.7-liter, 605-horsepower V10 engine, its monocoque chassis with Porsche-patented engine and transmission mounts made of carbon-reinforced plastic and the first use of a ceramic composite clutch in a production car. The Carrera GT’s aerodynamic and race-bred suspension package provides safe and stable travel at speeds of up to 205 mph (330 km/h). The Carrera GT features the extensive use of lightweight materials, such as magnesium for the car’s substantial wheels and the frames of its special sport seats.

The result of such artistic and athletic equipment is a car that accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph (100 km/h) in only 3.9 seconds, reaches 100 mph (160 km/h) in less than seven seconds, 125 mph (200 km/h) in less than 10 seconds, and can achieve a top test-track speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

Purebred Racing Engine

Porsche’s development center in Weissach, Germany, built a 5.5-liter, normally aspirated V10 engine for racing, and that engine’s bores have been enlarged to displace 5.7 liters in the Carrera GT. Maximum output is rated at 605 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, with peak torque of 435 lb-ft. The engine has a very low center of gravity, a 68-degree V angle and four valves-per-cylinder heads. The engine block serves as a load-bearing part of the chassis structure, yet is so strong that there is no distortion to the cylinder bores. Using dry-sump lubrication reduces the number of engine components and seals and also helps optimize weight and reliability.

The engine has a closed-deck configuration, a principle carried over from motorsports. This closeddesk architecture enables the cylinders to be cooled by internal water chambers that directly surround the cylinders. Three front-mounted radiators and cross flow cooling ensure optimum heat transfer even under high engine loads.

The engine weighs only 472 pounds (214 kg). The block, crankshaft and camshafts are all made of light alloys. The crankshaft is designed to operate at speeds of up to 8,400 rpm and is both forged and designed for minimum mass inertia and thus offers maximum torsional stiffness.

Race-winning Suspension Design

The chassis and suspension of the Porsche Carrera GT are based on the architecture of the Porsche GT1, the car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1998. For example, as on the GT1, the rear track control arms of the Carrera GT are made of aerodynamically designed steel tubes. However, Porsche engineers did not forget the need for driving comfort on the street when they adapted such racing-bred systems for the road-going supercar.

Like a racecar, the Carrera GT uses pushrod suspension with double-track control arms at all four corners to give the Carrera GT its refined response and behavior, feeding forces smoothly and efficiently into the car’s chassis. Where many cars use MacPherson spring struts, the Carrera GT’s spring and damper elements are operated by stainless steel pushrods and pivot levers, which separate the guidance function from the spring action.

Functional Ambience is Interior Theme

Even with its racing-quality performance, the Porsche Carrera GT has a cockpit characterized by functional ambience and the extensive use of high-tech materials. Carbon, magnesium and leather dominate interior materials, with composite components either in their natural state or painted to match the magnesium pieces.

The car’s center console is made of composite materials covered in galvanized magnesium and features the chassis number imprinted on the surface. The shift lever is positioned about halfway up the console directly next to the steering wheel.

The seats are finished in smooth leather and have manual adjustment (fore, aft and height) because power motors would add unnecessary weight. The seats are made of a composite carbon shell. Each seat weighs only 23.6 pounds (10.7 kg.), compared to 44.1 pounds (20 kg.) for the seats in a typical Porsche 911.

Air conditioning is optimized for weight and the car comes with a standard air filter system. A glass screen is mounted between the supplemental safety bars to help reduce wind buffeting. Even though the Carrera GT is a serious performance car, it can be equipped with many comfort features, including a navigation system and Bose audio. A battery trickle-charger is included as standard equipment.

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Jaguar XKR specs



Top Speed: 155 mph / 250 km/h (limited)
0-60 mph: 4.9 seconds
Engine: Supercharged 4.2-liter 420bhp V8

Aficionados of car sports always crave for more power; so is the case with sports car making companies. Adding to this race for power is the 2007 Jaguar XKR.

The new Jaguar XKR derives all its excellence from its predecessor, Jaguar XK luxury car, and at the same time presents a 'more powerful' identity with its innovative engine technology, adding new dimensions to the power definitions of the sports GT cars showing on the roads. The 'beautiful and powerful' XKR has got a lot of features to be proud of.

The body of Jaguar XKR is made of the aluminum monocoque, the latest development in the automobile technology. The supercharged 420 bhp, V8 engine with its six-speed automatic transmission capability is one among the many features that make this young Jaguar sporty on its wheels.

Of course, this fast car can enhance your sporting thrills. The perfect sport-compliant fitting such as the front bumper, aluminum grilles and the bonnet louvers, 19/20-inch wheel design and the quad-exhaust system, etc., make its performance worthy of competition.

You can have a good control too! No need to worry about the road conditions or the demanding speed. XKR is capable of delivering instant acceleration the moment you require it. You may use it for a grand tour or as a sports car. The perfect suspension set-up and the steering control make this change of roles possible for the little Jaguar with ease.

The classic design of Jaguar has always been a passion to the car lovers. Jaguar XK has proved it. Now with contemporary additions to the existing XK style, the new Jaguar XKR is the talk among the funky car aesthetes.

Come to the interior of the luxury car XKR. You will be surprised to see the highly sophisticated cabin that contains the world-class instrument panel and the dashboard. The seats are designed to suit the purpose of the car. They are provided with extra support from the sides for the driver and the front-seat passenger. The 'weave' design of the interior veneer is another noticeable feature of the Jaguar XKR.

For the company, Jaguar XKR is more than a sports GT. With 120bhp (SAE) more power achieved than the earlier 4.2L-XK engines, the XKR has rewritten the technical history of the existing cars. Also the XKR offers 36% more torque than the XK. As a result, the power-to-weight ratio has been increased by 12% and torque-to-weight ratio by 7.7%. All this upgrading is done at the cost of a mere weight increase, about 154lb (70kg).

The lightweight eight-cylinder engine powered with Eaton supercharger is responsible for the better performance. The twin air inlets and a variable inlet camshaft timing system are the main features of the XKR engine that contributes to greater engine efficiency in different driving conditions.

No doubt that the number of fans for the Jaguar fleet is going to be multiplied with the addition of another classic model, Jaguar XKR.

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Orca SC7 specs



Top Speed: 248 mph / 400 km/h
0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds
Engine: Audi Twin Turbo V-8

Orca (much like in Pagani Zonda) uses super-light materials to reduce the weight of this supercar as much as possible. The result is obvious, SC7 weights just 850 kg. Its engine produces 738 ft lbs at 4200 rpm torque and outputs 850 horsepower, which sets power to weight ratio to 1 bhp:1 kg. The production of this Swiss supercar is limited to only 7 automobiles.

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Ferrari FXX specs

0-60 mph: 2.8 seconds
Engine: 6.2 liter V12 800 bhp @ 8500 rpm

The Ferrari FXX supercar is manufactured in Italy, along with all other Ferrari's, and was under production by the end of 2005. This sports car is a great display of new car technology, which includes innovations from Ferrari, along with other companies that have continuously contracted parts in association with the Ferrari brand. The Enzo is the supercar that the FXX is based on, but there are specific functions found on the FXX, that are not found on the Enzo, which makes the FXX a complete car of it's own accord. The engine, and other standard operating systems for the car, are modeled after the Enzo as well, but have been modified to accommodate differing fuel standards, and other technological restrictions.

The FXX boasts a very low gear shifting time (under 100 ms), which is essential for a sports car of this high magnitude. The brake pads have also been tweaked in order to create a safer atmosphere for the driver, while still making the car just as superficially viable as its predecessor. The tires are another feature that are highly touted as an individual characteristic of the car, and are custom made only for the Ferrari FXX, not for any other vehicle. Like the Enzo, the features of the Ferrari FXX's interior are custom made for the user, which means that every driver is measured specifically measured for the car upon purchase.

The Ferrari FXX is definitely a supercar that cannot be mass-produced, mainly due to production costs, but also due to the fact that only a select few are willing to purchase such an exotic car due to the extensively high $ 1,773,000 / 1,500,000 euro price. Thus only 29 units of this sports car were built. The Ferrari FXX computer technology held inside the car also makes for a great driving experience, and tells the driver how their technique can be improved to assist their ability to function along with the car.

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Super Ron Fellows Z06 Corvette


History was made last week in Chicago with the introduction of the Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06, the first signature-series production model to honour a Canadian race driver.

"I'm honoured and flattered to have my name on a car of any type, let alone this very special Corvette," says Fellows, who was born in Windsor and lives in Mississauga, Ontario.



"This is very cool."

Key role in Corvette racing triumphs
Fellows has played a major role in both the development and racing success of the Corvette at Le Mans and in the American Le Mans Series, where the team has won six consecutive GTS/GT1-class manufacturer's championships.
"The special signature-series Z06 model that bears his name will forever link him to one of the greatest eras in factory racing," says Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager.
Fellows helped test and develop the first Corvette C5-R race car and recorded the team's first win in 2000. He also won the ALMS GTS class championship in 2002 and shared that position in 2003 and 2004, as well as recording class wins at Le Mans in 2001 and 2002.
Fellows says that when the idea of the signature-series model was first proposed to him last fall, his response was: "You want to do what?"
But he enthusiastically agreed and took part in the design reviews as the concept progressed through the fall and winter.
He says the designers quite effectively captured his personality with the graphics treatment. "It's subtle, not super-loud."
Fellows is particularly pleased that the car features a full-width rear spoiler, which will be a very valuable asset for racing, he says.
He expresses his thanks to everyone at Corvette production for making the car a reality, adding that it is also an honour for his family.

All 399 cars ‘autographed’ at the factory


The Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06 is distinguished by Arctic white paint (including the door handles) that is accented with a racing-style red fender stripe and Fellows' autograph. The front fender graphics are reminiscent of those on the Corvette GT1 race car and include callouts of the championship years when Fellows was at the wheel.
There is also a maple leaf logo motif incorporated with the graphics, a nod to Fellows' heritage. As well, the car's paint and graphics use a red-over-white colour scheme.
The car's special red interior includes tech-pattern trim and a red leather-covered armrest with a Corvette-signature "cross flags" logo that is hand-signed and numbered by Fellows.


The reality of the project "really hit home" a couple of weeks ago, Fellows says, when he visited the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to see the first three models come off the line.
It took Fellows half a day to sign all 399 cars in the series – a real workout for his arm, which is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
The Ron Fellows Z06 is the first signed special edition in Corvette's 54-year history, and is the first Arctic White Z06 ever offered.
If you want one, you'd better get your order in quickly. Only 399 are planned for production, of which just 33 will be destined for Canada. “When they're gone, they're gone”, the company says. The price? Ahem: $100,795 a copy.
Appropriately, No. 001 in the series – the car unveiled last week – will be Fellows' own.



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2007 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500


The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Mustang ever to roll off Ford's assembly line. Racing legend Carroll Shelby and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) jointly designed this vehicle to make it special. Forty years following the Cobra's introduction, it remains among the most brutish cars ever produced. Just like the old days, the Shelby GT500 is available in a coupe and a convertible. The engine was upped to a 5.4-liter, V-8 block with overhead cams and four valves per cylinder with a supercharger and an intercooler, giving the GT500 500 horsepower. Its transmission is a six-speed manual and, believe it or not, it gets over 20 miles per gallon on the highway.

The suspension, which is the same setup that brought Ford the 2005 Grand-Am Cup, coupled with stiffer stabilizer bars and coil-over MacPherson struts with reverse ensures smooth, stable handling. Eye appeal and functionality are balanced well. The rear spoiler is designed to provide substantial downforce at high speeds and the heat extractors on the hood, albeit great visually, are there to maximize displacement of the heat generated by the monstrous engine.

The fabric top of the GT500 convertible is made from the same material as used on the Jaguar XK. The top is available in black only, matching both the black-and-crimson and the black-and-crimson interior packages. The tachometer is on the right instead of the left to offer the driver a better view of the levels while shifting gears. All gauges are light-faced to ensure easy visibility, and the front seats are bolstered compared to other Mustangs to improve lateral support.

A cobra is displayed on the airbag cover of the steering wheel and embossed onto the front seats. A GT500 Performance Interior Trim Package is optional. It features a leather-wrapped and stitched instrument panel brow and a center console. Upgraded door armrests and aluminum pedal covers also are included.

This car is awesome!

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Dodge Demon Concept


THE PONTIAC Solstice and Saturn Sky are affordable two-seat sports cars, but they're not, strictly speaking, Miata-fighters. They're a half size bigger, they're heavier, and they need the optional turbo engine to provide enough fun to match the World's Most Popular Sports Car, which conversely is designed more for handling than for speed. Chrysler's Dodge Demon concept, making its debut at the Geneva motor show and named after a tarted-up early 1970s Dodge Dart, may ultimately become the sports car GM's Bob Lutz says he's dreamed of since his Chrysler days.

As a just-shown concept, the Demon isn't ready for evaluation drives. Even given the chance to wring it out on a twisty road, the oversize 19-inch wheels and tires don't leave enough room in the wheelwells for a claimed 32.9-foot turning circle, which, coincidentally, splits the difference between the Miata's 30.8 feet and the Solstice's 35.1. For now, accept design chief Trevor Creed's word that the Demon is designed to be a tighter, lighter sports car more in the mold of the Mazda and less so the Pontiac and Saturn. Its "production" weight of an estimated 2600 pounds with 50/50 distribution also splits the diff between the Miata's 2476 and the Solstice's 2878. And it has a trunk, not a mail slot nor a rearward-placed glovebox-a trunk that takes a set of golf clubs, thanks to Goodyear P225/35R19 runflats and a tall rear cowl section that packages the big, 17-gallon fuel tank and hard tonneau stack. This leaves room behind the tonneau and fuel tank for a fairly large, deep trunk.

Other Demon numbers also are Miata-esque: It's 156.5 inches long on a 95.6-inch wheelbase. Front and rear track are 58.7 inches, width is 68.3 inches, and height is 51.8 inches.

A multilink rear suspension is set low to make room for the big tank and top combo. A kick-up in the profile at the rear cowl helps. The Demon starts out thin, low, and slinky in front, while the sheetmetal behind the doors is somewhat chunky. Especially with brake ducts in the rear fenders that look like engine air-intake ducts, the back of the car comes off as a combo Porsche Boxster/Ford Ka/Audi TT.

Actually, the concept is all carbon fiber, not sheetmetal. And it shows off a carbon-fiber-look windshield header, seatbacks, and dual individual rollbars.

The Demon's nose combines a "crosshair" grille above front brake ducts (not too big, this time, thank you), with "cat's-eye" headlamps and a hood that looks a bit more Jaguar XK8 than Dodge Viper, the latter the inspiration for much of the profile and front-end styling. Look more closely, and you'll see added curves and angles in the front clip. The profile starts with that homage to the Viper and a squared-off wheel opening and a beltline that drops off quickly through the door to those rear brake ducts. Walk around the car, and the falling beltline shapeshifts as the Bright Amber Pearl paint plays with the light. Dodge Avenger and Razor concept designer Jae Chung's lines provide a lot of drama.

Not so designer Dan Zimmerman's (Jeep Rescue concept) interior. It's as realistic as any you'll find in a concept car, with familiar Dodge/Jeep switchgear and three-spoke steering wheel. It's a purposeful interior, offering sturdy, well-bolstered cloth seats.

How realistic is this concept? The Demon's unveiling at Geneva hints at production viability. Chrysler has been playing around with small, affordable four-cylinder sports cars since 1998. With Chrysler/Dodge's push into Europe, such a car becomes more economical because a "world market" sports car could have demand of about 40,000 units, double, at least, North American demand.

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