AB Crome Modification: September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

New Sport Maserati set to unveil GranCabrio at the Frankfurt Motor Show

Just when the list of vehicles set to make their debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show isn’t mouth-watering enough, Maserati is joining the party with the introduction of the GranCabrio.

It took a while for Maserati to finish tweaking the car – a couple of years, in fact – but the wait should be worth it. The car is expected to roll out of the production and into dealerships sometime in March of 2010. In the meantime, fans of the Italian marquee should all look forward to Frankfurt to catch the first glimpse of the GranCabrio in person.

The GranCabrio is expected to come with a more powerful engine than its predecessor, the GranTurismo S, thanks in large part to the 4.7-liter V8 engine housed under its hood, capable of producing speeds of as much as 433bhp at 7000rpm and 362lb ft at 4750rpm.

New Sport Owner picks up first purchased Lotus Evora at the factory

The first of Lotus’ latest creation, the 2010 Evora, has been delivered to one Matthew Melling of Twickenham in the U.K. and it is a Storm Titanium beauty. Along with the honor of picking the car up at the factory in Norfolk, where the Lotus team has already constructed a five month’s supply of the new hand built mid engine 2+2, Mr. Melling was presented the keys to his new car by the Director of Lotus Cars Limited, Luke Bennett, who had this to say, “It is quite an emotional time to deliver the first Lotus Evora to Mr. Melling. The whole team has worked incredibly hard to design, engineer and produce such a stunning and high performing sports car and is a great feeling… I am sure that each customer who receives their car will be delighted with their purchase.”

New Sport Steenstra Styletto is poised to take the eco-supercar world by storm

Tesla may have been a pioneer as far as zero-emission sports cars are concerned, but it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any up-and-comers determined to give Tesla some much-needed competition.

And if Tesla is looking for a rival, they have found one in Steenstra GCM. Founded by Cornelis Steenstra, a prominent auto designer and industry consultant, Steenstra is looking to dive in and take a piece out of the pie that Tesla has hogged for itself by releasing its very own zero-emission sports car.

While details surrounding this sports car, but rumors abound that the car is being billed as the first 200-mph sports car to be built in California. As the company continues to build its brand, Steenstra has nevertheless set its sight on bigger fishes than Tesla, namely the Ferraris and McLarens of the world.

Then again, that seems to be how Steenstra is wired. In his press release, he said, "I grew up with a passion for transportation and motor racing, and have always felt that people should and could enjoy driving passionate performance automobiles while still retaining their responsibility toward the environment. These are desires that can very well be enjoyed together".

New Sport Wiesmann MF5 Roadster is money well-spent

There’s something about a car that’s decked in red and white color schemes that we find oddly attractive.

Whether it’s the pearly white exterior finish or the red upholstered interior, the Wiesmann MF5 Roadster look every bit like the car all of us have been pining to have. And now that it’s been unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the craving and yearning for this car has gone through the roof.

Sure, only 55 models are set to be released and each car costs a staggering $278,000 so there’s a big chance that we’ll never get to sit behind the wheel of one.

Then again, Wiesmann only creates cars for the big boys so you should have expected the MF5 Roadster to bring it. And ‘bring it’ it does. The car’s BMW-powered 5.0-liter V10 engine, which if you must know, can rip out 507 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque, sitting under its hood is nothing short of monstrous. Likewise, the MF5 Roadster is capable of acceleration from a 0-100kmh in just a shade under 4 seconds and topping out at speeds of well over 300 kmh.

New Sport Ferrari 458 Italia online configurator

Shortly after debuting the all new 458 Italia to the world, Ferrari has launched an online configurator for their newest sports car. The web site allows you to custom tailor your berlinetta with options like metallic colors, nonmetallic colors, classic colors from the 1950s and 1960s as well as an infinite assortment of special ordered shades. New car shoppers can choose from either the standard 20 inch painted wheels or the sleeker forged sport rims.

New Sport Mitsuoka releases next-generation

After what seemed like ages, Japanese car maker Mitsuoka is finally releasing its next-generation Viewt. Now, if you’re wondering who or what Mitsuoka is, they’re a local car brand from Japan that caters only to the Japanese market. What’s unique about Mitsuoka is the fact that they build modern cars that resemble those old-time British automobiles from the 50s and the 60s.

As you can plainly see with the new Viewt, Mitsuoka is continuing on that legacy. Underneath the vintage-looking exterior is actually a production-made Nissan Micra so you can be sure that while the look is vintage, the performance is not. Mitsuoka did alter a few of the design elements of the car like the integration of the front bumpers to the front end panels.

It’s been a while since we last saw Mitsuoka grace our presence with a car so the release of the new Viewt came at just the right time.

New Sport Onuk Sazan - Turkish supercar

It seems like the world of one off super cars has just received a new member hoping for a production vehicle future. We have already seen the Spanish Spano GTA and the latest true American super car, the Devon Motorworks GTX.However this new Turkish speed machine does away with the three letter moniker and instead caries the nickname of its creator’s late offspring, much like Enzo Ferrari did with the Dino. The Onuk Sazan is in every aspect a bona fide super car, the body is made from intricately worked composite materials, each pony only has to lug around about four pounds and the asking price is a cool €200,000.

Dr. Onuk is better known for creating some of the world’s most impressive water craft, the Sazan is an homage to the Doctor’s son, Kaan who lost his life in a tragic car accident back in 1996. Sazan, as he was known by his fellow classmates, thus became the only name that Onuk could consider for his latest creation. At the moment the prototype version of the Sazan is powered by a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 sourced LS7 V8 engine that has been slightly tweaked to deliver a maximum output of 512 HP. When the new Turkish super car does indeed go into production, you can expect to see a turbocharged version of Nissan’s award winning VQ series V6 engine under the deck lid tuned to put down around 485 HP to the rear wheels. Although we don’t often hear of automobiles coming from this Eurasian region, make no mistake and don’t discount the Onuk Sazan as a world class super car.

New Sport Lee Noble announces his latest super car creation: Fenix Automotive Limited

When Lee Noble decided to make a living for himself, the highly motivated Briton decided that designing, building and selling his own brand of affordable super cars would be a good idea. A handful of speed machines later, including the original Noble M12 and even an Ultima GT-R, Mr. Noble’s high performance coach builders are hard at work coming up with the next generation of every man’s super car.

Mr. Noble has just announced his all new endeavor: Fenix Automotive Limited. With the line’s first launch scheduled for the end of 2010, Lee promises an ultra powerful mid engined V8 super car that can accelerate from 0 to 100 MPH in under 7 seconds and cost less than £75,000. According to the man himself, "Our new car will offer buyers performance and dynamics that they’d normally have to spend well over £100,000 to experience, but at a far more affordable price...It will combine simplicity, strength and agility, while its two-seat, closed body will ensure sensible levels of refinement for road use." With a new plan under his belt and a more than a quarter century experience honing his craft, we wouldn’t bet on Fenix Automotive to fail anytime soon.

New Sport Ferrari confirms new Enzo for 2012

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat SpA, has finally announced details of Fiat’s aggressive five-year plan today and, we have to admit, we are very excited about them. We are not going to prolong the information with a lot of fancy talk about the history or expectations of these new models because we don’t have to. Forget the potatoes, salads, and other side dishes, here’s the beef: a new Enzo in 2012, an open-top Spider variant of the 458 Italia due in 2011, a 458 Scuderia in 2013, a V12-powered 612 Scaglietti, a new 599, and a facelift version for the California. That’s, count ’em, six new cars before 2013. Ahhh, we love the smell of new car in the air.

The new Enzo will be powered by a direct-injection twin-turbo V8 or a direct-injection twin-turbo V6. It will also feature Ferrari’s new-generation aerodynamic technology, including ‘active aerodynamics’ that pump air out through the body to influence the way air flows over and under the skin. Details on the other models have not yet been revealed, but updates will come as soon as those details have emerged.

Not only is Ferrari working on new models, but Maserati is also currently working on a sub-Quattroporte sedan that will compete with models like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. Following that is this little tidbit; a new Quattroporte is also said to be in the works.

New Sport Jaguar C-Type expected to be sold for $3.7 million at auction 1952

London is already going to be seeing a beautiful Pagani Zonda R at this year’s Automobiles of London event held by RM Auctions on October 27th, but one rare vehicle isn’t enough for the auction house. In fact, the very rare 1952 Jaguar C-Type is expected to fetch even more than the Pagani; the Jaguar is expected to bring in $3.7 million. Predicting such a high return on this classic may sound a little ridiculous to some, but this vehicle has an incredible history. This 1952 Jaguar was driven by Masten Gregory, who came out victorious at the Golden Gate Nationals.

Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe, said: "Specifically designed to win the Le Mans 24 hour race, the legendary C-Type Jaguar is one of the most desirable sports racing cars ever built."

The C-Type features a 210 bhp, 3,442 cc double overhead camshaft inline six-cylinder engine with two SU carburetors mated to a four-speed manual transmission. It has an independent front suspension with upper and lower wishbones, torsion bars and hydraulic dampers, live rear axle with trailing arms, a ‘double-action’ torsion bar, and a torque reaction member. The final features are the hydraulic dampers and four-wheel Lockhead hydraulic drum brakes.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

The LP570-4 Blancpain Edition was presented today by Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, and Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, at the final race weekend of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in the “Piero Taruffi” circuit, Vallelunga. The road-legal Blancpain Edition celebrates the two-year relationship between the Italian supercar brand and the watchmaker. Lamborghini’s partnership with Blancpain, the watch maker, is no longer limited to the Super Trofeo racing series as they unveiled together the first road-going Blancpain edition Lamborghini Gallardo.

The new features of the 2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition are easily noticeable. It comes with a huge front bumper, massive rear spoiler and diffuser, and new side skirts. These bits are all inspired by the actual racing car, but they look a bit too aggressive for a road car. One other feature derived from the racing model is the new engine cover, which is optimized for better ventilation, and looks superb!

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

“Lamborghini super sports cars is extremely happy about its cooperation with Blancpain. In just its second year, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo has established itself in the premier league of gentlemen’s racing,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “Each race is a battle of dedication and passion for every single hundredth of a second – something that characterizes both of our brands. The Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition demonstrates the close bond between our road-going super sports cars and the race car.”

The engine that powers the Gallardo Blancpain is the same V10 unit from the series Superleggera production car which churns out 570 hp. Given the 1340 kilograms (2954 lb) weight of the car which results in power-to-weight ratio of 2.35 kilograms (5.18 lb) per hp, this car is capable of going from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and flies past the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark only 6.8 seconds later, ultimately exceeding 320 km/h (199 mph).

Blancpain is the title sponsor of the successful Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series. The cooperation between these two brands brings together the highest levels of engineering excellence from the automotive and chronometry industries. Blancpain has been producing innovative masterpieces of watch-making art in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux since 1735. Each timepiece is assembled by one single watchmaker, reflecting the quality and individual attention with which Lamborghini builds its super sports cars for the road, and its 570 hp Super Trofeo race cars.

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

Abaut Lamborghini Gallardo : The Lamborghini Gallardo (Italian pronunciation: [ga'?arðo][citation needed]) is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production. Each car costs about $180,000 to $210,000. The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull. The Spanish word gallardo translates into "gallant".

The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional (H-Box) six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled semi-automatic robotized manual, which Lamborghini abbreviates to "E-gear". The "E-gear" allows the driver to make shifts much faster than a manual transmission would. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, but also has an automatic mode.

The car will be exhibited at the Paris Motor Show.

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

The LP570-4 Blancpain Edition was presented today by Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, and Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, at the final race weekend of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in the “Piero Taruffi” circuit, Vallelunga. The road-legal Blancpain Edition celebrates the two-year relationship between the Italian supercar brand and the

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

The car will be exhibited at the Paris Motor Show.

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

2011 Lamborghini Super Sport Cars Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

The car will be exhibited at the Paris Motor Show.

New Sport Dodge Viper can double as an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione 2012

As you already know Dodge has already showed a concept version of the next generation Viper to selected dealers about a week ago and, although previous statements were devoid of any criticism, rumors are now flying that the next Dodge Viper may be looking into its Italian heritage. Okay, so Dodge doesn’t exactly have an Italian background, but rumors have stated that the concept looks to have shared a face with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.

Apparently, the future Viper will not only share design elements with the Italian model, but it will also be built on the same platform.

Ralph Gilles, Dodge CEO said when talking about the 2012 Viper: "We had been debating this particular nameplate for a long time, and every time I just could not get there. And then one morning the product committee went into the dome and saw it, and we all knew we were in front of something magic, unique. It took less than five minutes for the committee to fund the initiative. Not a negative comment, not a remark, not a single question. And so I leave you with this. The 17th car in the lineup, in select dealers in 2012."

New Sport Peugeot EX1 2011

After teasing it for a while, Peugeot has released today the official details on the EX1 electric concept that will make its world debut at the Paris Auto Show. The concept was created as a celebration of the Marque’s 200th anniversary.

The EX1 is a two-seater roadster that combines the “floating” front grille and flowing contours from the SR1 concept, with polished aluminum components adorn the door surrounds from the RCZ and BB1. A particular feature of this concept is the reverse-opening door that gives access to the two sports bucket seats. There is also an instrument panel screens for each occupant showing in particular the vehicle’s instantaneous performance.

the concept is powered by two electric motors, one on each axle, each with a peak output of 167 HP and a maximum torque of 240 Nm at the front and rear.

"The EX1 concept car benefits from characteristics that give it a high enough level of performance not only to leave behind the city center, the preferred territory of electric vehicles, but also to challenge acceleration records. Its lightness, weight distribution and aerodynamics, the torque and power of its two electric motors and its high-output lithium-ion battery are just some of the characteristics that make this a car capable of lightning acceleration: the latter can exceed 1 G of gravitational force."

New Sport Lotus Elite Track Version

A few days ago, Lotus released the initial details of their future hybrid supercar, the Lotus Elite. Being since this is one of the first cars Lotus has introduced as part of their brand reinvention, it comes as no surprise that artists have already taken the vehicle to the next level by providing us with a rendering of what the Lotus Elise would look like if it was bound for the track. Maybe even a trip to LeMans.

This rendering takes the supercar to the next level by providing it with what looks like touches of carbon fiber throughout the length of the car, more than likely to help reduce the car’s weight. New side vents have also been added, as well as a new hood vent to help cool down the engine. This photo also shows a new front grill, rear spoiler, and side skirts. The yellow from the standard model’s brake calipers has been extended to dual yellow stripes going down the car’s bonnet.

The standard Lotus Elite comes powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces around 500-plus horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds and a top speed of just under 200 mph at 196 mph. We would obviously expect the track version of the Elite model to produce slightly higher numbers than these

New Sport Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition 2011

Lamborghini has unveiled today the special edition Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain, a model built to honor huge success of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo racing series.

This special edition will be distinguished by a mighty rear spoiler, an engine optimized for ventilation, Skorpius wheels with yellow-painted brake calipers and discs made from carbon-ceramic composite, a matte black paintwork and carbon fiber made diffuser and mirror casings. The interior gets black Alcantara with yellow accents and visible carbon-fiber, and of course Blancpain logo placed on the exterior and also featured on the seats and cockpit in yellow stitching.

Under the hood there is a 570 HP V10 engine, that sprints the 2954 lb supercar from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, to 124 mph in another 6,8 seconds. Top speed is 199 mph. Also the supercar delivers a power-to-weight ratio of only 2.35 kilograms (5.18 lb) per hp.

New Sport Exagon Motors Furtive e-GT

As you know, the Paris Auto Show is scheduled to start at the end pf this week and it seems it will be all about electric cars this year with a few electric examples being the Kia Pop Concept, the Smart Electric, and MINI Scooter E Concept. Today we bring you details of another electric model that will debut in France at the end of this month. It was developed by Exagon Motors and is called the Furtive e-GT.

The Furtive e-GT is powered by two electric motors developed by Siemens. The two engines develop a total of 340 HP and sprint the electric car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph, but after removing the limiter, top speed goes up to 186 mph. The electric model will be equipped with a generator that recharges the battery and offers an autonomy of 700 to 800 kilometers.

Exagon announced that the car will go into production in 2012 with production limited to 100 units a year.

New Sport Ferrari SA Aperta Online Configurator

Okay, we might have fibbed just a little bit. The official web page for the Ferrari SA Aperta doesn’t exactly have a configurator, but it does list details for five different models, each with a different exterior color and a variety of interior combinations. For example, an SA Aperta painted in Nero Stellato will also get Chrome shadow rims, Rosso Corsa brake calipers, and Sabbia color with black straight stretch combined with ecrù stitching for the interior. The interior also gets a black wrinkled dashboard and an F1 dashboard along with radio doors/panels and a collar badge in varnished black. Customers can also opt for a Blu Elettrico, Giallo Tristrato, Rosso Fuoco, or Rosso Dino exterior color. For the interior, there is a choice of black with red straight stretch and white stitching or black with straight stretch followed with the central part of the seat and central part of the panel in orange leather.

The SA Aperta is powered by a V12 engine that delivers an impressive 670 HP. It features a low-slung windscreen, a redesigned chassis. Its profile arches back from the A-post to two aerodynamic fins beautifully integrating the two roll-bars which themselves cleverly mimic the outline of the seats.

New Sport Bugatti 16C Galibier will be less powerful but more luxurious than Veyron

Believe it or not, Bugatti’s successor to the vaunted Veyron supercar will be less powerful than its predecessor. That’s the word coming out of the Volkswagen’s exotic auto brand after Bugatti has made it clear that it wants a different direction for the 16C Galibier four-seater sedan: less power, more luxury.

The 16C Galibier, which was made entirely from carbon fiber and aluminum, is expected to go on sale sometime in 2013 where only 300 models will be built. The four-seater sedan will come with the same 8.0-liter W16 engine that powers the Veyron with the big difference being that unlike the latter, which employed turbochargers, the 16C Galibier will ‘only’ come with superchargers that will produce somewhere around 800 horsepower.

We’re not sure how 800 horsepower qualifies as ‘less powerful’, but given that the Veyron was once the fastest production car on the planet, we’re going to take their word for it – ridiculous as it sounds.

New Sport Pagani Zonda R up for auction

For those of you that will be cruising around in London on October 27th with about an estimated $2.2 million of extra cash in your pocket, boy do we have a deal for you! One of the 15 - chassis number five, to be precise - Pagani Zonda R models are up for auction during RM Auctions’ Automobiles of London event at Battersea Evolution.

This incredible automobile is powered by a V12 AMG sourced engine producing 750 hp at 8000 rpm and 524 lb. ft. of torque. This calculation is about 100hp faster than the Zonda F! It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.7 seconds and can hit a top speed of 233 mph. With a time of six minutes and 47 seconds on the Nurburgring, this supercar beat out the time of six minutes and 58 seconds achieved by the Ferrari 599XX! It may look like every other Zonda out there, but the R version only uses about ten percent of the Zonda F’s components. Bringing originality to the table are the car’s new suspension forged in Avional (aluminium alloy), a new Pagani six-speed transversal sequential gearbox, and a carbon fiber monocoque chassis.

New Sport Fiat Could Sell Part Of Stake In Ferrari

Chrysler’s new owners, Fiat, might not be the most exciting car company in the world for most Americans. However, many don’t know that Fiat owns an 85 percent share of the most iconic exotic sports-car maker in the world, Ferrari.

If these new rumors coming from Il Corriere della Sera are true, Fiat might sell some of its share in Ferrari. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has just cast a huge vote of confidence in Chrysler, as he looks to sell part of Ferrari to get a large stake in the American automaker. Currently, Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler, and Marchionne is looking to up that to around 35 percent.

Fiat won’t sell all of Ferrari, but they will drop their stake down to 51 percent. That percentage is worth around $3.1 billion. We doubt that this drop in stake will affect Ferrari’s current lineup, but we will wait and see the effects on their future models.