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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport top speed run and Stig track lap
One-off Pagani Zonda HH
It turned out to be even cooler, though. I have basically commissioned Pagani to build me a special one-off that is going to be called the Pagani Zonda HH. It will use most of the bodywork of a Zonda F Roadster, but have the upgraded 680hp Cinque engine as well as the carbon-titanium tub, ceramic coated titanium exhaust, etc. The car is going to weigh around 1210kg (2670 pounds). I am currently in the midsts of designing this car with Mr. Pagani and his team of designers. It is going to be complete this year.
Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I certainly don’t fit the standard profile of Zonda owners these days. The majority of recent customers either run their own countries, are part of some royal family, sheiks, or distinctively old money. So I think it is been fun for the Pagani team to deal with someone who actually still have to worry what stuff costs and is about the same age as many of the employees.
The color is likely going to be Monterey Blue or a close variety of that. I have wanted a Lamborghini in that color since forever, but it never came to pass, so now I am trying it on the Zonda. We are currently playing with a few yellow highlights as well, but that is not a sure thing yet.
The design and the specs are indeed an open buffet of everything Pagani has worked on with the Zonda for the last 10 years. I have been picking and choosing stuff. My car, I believe, is going to be the only stick car mated with the new, more powerful engine. Most of the recent cars have been paddle cars. Which is kinda funny, because usually I love paddles, but for the Zonda, it seems to fit very well as a manual. The car is very much a simple, mechanical car. Not a lot of computers in there, so a stick seemed to fit it as well.
The default choice, though, is to use the newest of everything. So center-lock wheels, the new F1-based ceramic coated titanium exhaust system (it is stunning, same system as you can see on the Zonda R), carbon-ceramic brakes, the carbon-titanium tub (only road car in the world using that, it’s about 30% lighter than carbon-fiber and even stronger), and of course the new 680hp AMG V12. We are currently trading renderings back and forth. They will send me a rendering and I will draw some ideas on it and we will bounce back and forth. I am hoping that we will have the visual design locked down by next week and I can share some final pictures. It is going to look like a cross between the Cinque and the F. I am not going to have the Cobra-style air intake on top (that was a little much!) and the front is F too.
Also, I am definitely buying this to drive and keep it forever. It is not going to merely sit in a garage museum somewhere, which unfortunately is true of a fair number of Zondas. Although, even at this stratospheric pricing, the Zonda has been doing very well on resale. The incredibly few cars that have come up for sale has been going for 20-30% over their sales price. But short of falling on hard times, I don’t really care. To me, this is the best looking, best driving car ever made in the history of cars. Why would I want to sell that?
So far, Pagani has made 118 Zondas. Three of them has been totalled, so there are currently 115 left. He is currently wrapping up some of the special editions, like the Zonda R and Tricolore, but the new car is coming soon, so they estimate that no more than 120-125 Zondas will ever be made. That is about the same number of cars as McLaren made of the F1.
2011 Tesla Electric Sports Cars Roadster 2.5
‘Goodwood is one of the most beloved motoring events in the world and a highlight of the English summer – so it’s only appropriate that this iconic celebration will be the public launch of the latest Roadster,’ said Cristiano Carlutti, Tesla’s Vice President of European Operations.
Its two newest Tesla Stores–in Newport Beach, California, and Copenhagen, Denmark–will open with evening receptions. Both will have the Roadster 2.5 on display. The 2011 Tesla Roadster 2.5 features improvements in design and technology, including a new front fascia, rear diffuser, improved seat comfort, sound dampening and an optional large touch screen navigation system with back-up camera.
Inside, the most significant alteration is undoubtedly more comfortable seats, which have larger bolsters and now include a lumbar support system. Interior noise has been reduced in several ways, including new sound-suppressing front fender liners.
Finally, Tesla has further modified the Roadster’s power-control system, adding unspecified hardware to permit “spirited driving” (which we presume means maximum electric power) in exceptionally hot climates.
Prospective customers can see the Tesla Roadster 2.5 at Goodwood or at the London showroom at 49-51 Cheval Place in Knightsbridge, near Harrod’s. Tesla is now delivering this latest version of the car in all Tesla markets in Europe, Asia and North America.
2010 Ferrari Sports Cars 612 GTO Concept Cars
Monday, July 26, 2010
Bugatti Sports Cars Type 12-2 Concept Car
Bugatti Type 12-2 concept has been created as a 2+2 sports GT for the Bugatti brand. it is not intended for production. Designed as an example of a luxurious four seater GT, the type 12-2 is the artwork of Reuben Zammit.
The idea is to use a VW derived W12 engine with a twin turbo layout hence the name 12-2. Although not as extravagant as the W16 used in the Veyron, there would be enough power to propel the Type 12-2 to over 200 mph. Every time it competed with 4 different demo cars in 2 different classes for bodystyling.
On the subject of performance, things get considerably more hypothetical. This being purely a design study (and not even a Bugatti-commissioned one) any power-train speculation should be taken with more than a few grains of salt. Racer X's specified FR configuration seems to eliminate the Veyron's all-wheel drive, quad-turbo W-16 configuration. Meanwhile, the name "12-2" seems to hint at a 12-cylinder mill sleeping beneath the coupe's hood.
Bugatti Sports Cars Type 12-2 Concept Car
Sunday, July 25, 2010
2011 Ferrari Sports Cars 458 Challenge 4497 cc V8 Engine
Coming just a few months after the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the Ferrari 458 Italia on which it is based, the Ferrari 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use. Ferrari 458 was presented the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show. Lately, the Ferrari 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting.
With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients - professional and gentlemen drivers alike - a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world's leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari's one-make championship.
The Ferrari 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use. This car use the direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to assure gamier torque at bluer revs. The Ferrari 458 dispute are as well equipt with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going adaptation, a 1st for Ferrari’s track-only automobiles.
Important work has also come in abbreviating the auto angle. This centered both the exterior and interior with Ferrari’s engineers boiling down particularly about abbreviating the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight cloths, such carbon-fibre and Lexan.