Aston Martin Rapide - WOW

Another car which makes me feel tremble every time I see it is Aston Martin. So I'm interested in everything related to this wonderful car.



Aston Martin came under the auction hammer, but did not lose its face and pride. A four doors concept car Rapide, shown in Detroit, will go in the series production. British are planing to produce one or two thousand of this car per annum, thus, the total production amount of Aston Martin reaches 7,000 vehicles per year. Rapide will compete with Porsche Panamera, Quttroporte Maserati, Mercedes CLS and sedan, based on Spyker C12, if the last one appears indeed.



Ulrich Betz, who, regardless of the sale, still keeps his position as a head of the company, hinted that in the foreseeable future, a legendary model of Aston Martin, Vanquish, will find a decent replacement in the person of DBS, that one, which was used by James Bond in the last film.



It seems Ford Motor Company, which kept only 8% of the British company, will regret for it shortly.

Ferrari for $3000000

American director and producer James Glickenhaus, who made his fortune by the second class action movies, has spent three million dollars to purchase unique Ferrari.

The first step to learn about the purchase, American journalists asked the Glickenhausa whether he was sorry for that amount of money. The millionaire said that you won't be able to take three million dollars with you, when you die and he would like to enjoy the purchase here and now.

And indeed there is a lot to enjoy. The car, ordered by director was named Ferrari P4/5 and is Ferrari Enzo model, which appearance was fully reworkede by Pininfarina. The fact that Ferrari has no plans to issue more then four hundred copies of Enzo and that with this amount of production the car could be considered as collection car, did not appear too convincing for James, and he had paid three million American dollars for stylization of car's body to look like Ferrari model from the mid 60th of last century.

Enzo Ferrari - is an object of worship of many auto fans. It's one of the most famous super car of the planet, from a technical point of view and one of the fastest production cars now. Glickenhaus did not wish to make any changes in technical abilities of the original car, but there was a joke that the eccentric collector in a private conversation asked to increase the power 12-cylinder engine with 660 to 666 horsepower, perhaps in the hope to negotiate with a representative from the "other side" and take the car with them in otherworldly place.

Joke is a joke, but carbon body of the car changed very significantly. One of the conditions of the transaction was to create a completely original appearance. As a result, Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina there aren’t any exterior details, which could be found on any, even on very rare series of Ferrari. Chopped brink Enzo were transformed to smooth contours of “consmic” design. Aerodynamics of the car was completed by Pininfarina in Turin, and developers say, that its aerodynamics is much better than the base model’s one. This is quite obvious, since the body has better aerodynamics, but also has much lighter weight, which is just 1,200 kilograms (165 kg lighter then Ferrari Enzo). A dynamic performance most was affected the most. Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.55 seconds, and reaches maximum speed of 362 km/h. In comparison, acceleration of Enzo, is 3.65 seconds, and its maximum speed is 350 km/h.

Wizards from Pininfarina also improved interior of the car - mostly in the cockpit’s area. They also set up new exclusive seats and appliances with new scales. The first official car show scheduled for August, when he will participate in the contest elegance Workshop in California Pebbl-bic city. Glickenhaus which is not yet clearly describe the future of his car, I am confident of the victory of his car in the competition, and contends that if the competition between the Ferrari Enzo and Bugatti Veyron for both cars was a lot of fans, the same Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina to date simply does not exist.
The owner of this, probably, the most expensive Ferrari insists that there aren’t any cars from this class, which could compete with his treasure.

Lamborghini Diablo is Coming Back

You've, probably, heard about Argentine businessman Geoana Ferchi, picked up by unknown ways the rights to use brand-name Lamborghini. Ferchi was going to build a new coupe based on Diablo, and is likely has started doing this, because, after only two weeks, the Argentine design office provided the first pictures of the machine.
But opinion of the automotive society about Alar has been divided into two parts, the first one is thinking that this is a disgusting monster and the second one is delighted with Ferichi's creation.

We don't want to take any part in these debates, and will just mention that the legendary Lamborghini will be equipped with 700 horse power engine. It's unclear yet whether it is going to ne Italian one, or not. Premiere of Lamborghini Alar will take place in Buenos Aires in the beginning of April. Appearance of Lamborghini Alar is very controversial, but we know for sure that it is very different from the original draft pictures.

BMW X6 is Coming Out...

BMW is planning to start production of X6 in 2008. Apparently, crossover will be based on X5's platform, and its extention will be more spacious, powerful and luxurious. The company hasn't provided any information regarding technical specification for this car. BMW reported in an official statement that production of the new SUV will take place in the United States, on a factory, based in South Carolina. Bavarian managers predict a good pace of sales of X6, especially in America, because his predecessor X5 has already forced mentioned factory, to increase production facilities.

Sbarro’s Turbo S20 Barchetta

A group of 20 students known from Sbarro design schools joined their forces to create a sport concept-car. Geneva show is “home” exhibition for Swiss studio, so they simply had to prove and show their achievements there. The car, which was given by students, a sophisticated and attractive body of Barchetta type(from Italian word "boat"), is driven by 5-litres V8 engine with 300h.p., from the classical Porsche 928. The car turned out to be not easy boy, but it promises an excellent controllability. By good traditions of all sport concepts, all of them always wear giant disks and modern tyres. This time, the students used 20 inches disks from OZ Botticelli and Michelin PS2 tyres. This nice car will hardly to be seen on race tracks or on public roads, but definitely Turbo S20 Barchetta is a vivid example of what the talented people can achieve, even with very limited funding.

New BMW M3

The view of this car, as well as its technical ability has been astonishing speed lovers for many years, so appearance of a new generation of BMW M3 will be a significant event for a large number of people. The only thing that can make life of the legendary car more complicated is increased competition in its class. Indeed, in addition to the perennial competitor, Audi RS4, capable to surprise even the most callous people, the new bomb of Geneva show, which I was writing about earlier, new Audi S5 will appear on the roads very shortly. But to be a real competitor it would need more letters in its name -RS5. But the new coupe from Audi is really magnificent, largely echoing Bavarian BMW 3 Coupe. It’s strange enough, but appearance of the new M3 completely different from the original car BMW 3 Coupe. In general, only things, which haven’t changed in comparison to the coupe, in the new M3 are just few details of the body, such as doors and front lights – everything else has been changed, making this car very beautiful and desirable.
Except of external view this car got a brand new engine. It’s the 3.2l V8 device. Creation of this new engine is a necessary measure. Previous M3 has 343hp and speeds up to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. But it’s not enough to beat the main competitor in the form of Audi RS4, with its capacity of 420hp and with just 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h. So, we are expecting a lot from this new model. Lets wait…

Bentley Brookland – Back To Future

Bentley couldn’t afford not to show anything on the famous motor salon in Geneva. A new great coupe, Brookland, was brought by British to Switzerland. It was named in honour of a racing track with the same name, where Bentley could afford to condescend to such kind of competitions. It’s very hard to speak about its appearance, because it hasn’t been changing significantly for many years.
In short word, Bentley, as Bentley, unless the exorbitant size, giant wheels, embittered air inlets, filling all the front bumper, and the lack of frames around the side windows, all of this, on fair belief of designers from Albion, are classical features of legendary sports cars of Britain from different ages.
So, lets talk about everything in the order. As to the sizes, then to characterize the scheme of Brookland’s interior as 2+2, you just won’t find a word, Shakil O’Neal and Kobi Brayant will easily fit the rear seats.
Huge wheels of Bentley gain from 20” disks. And windows without frames, are explained as a classical coupe tradition, which in the distant past wasn’t called coupe, but Gran Turismo and has exactly this type of windows.
Such a mastodon needs a very, very productive engine, so 6.75 litres V8 meets all the requirements. At least, 500h.p. and 1085 Nm is a serious request to get a right place in Bentley’s history of speed.
The British melancholy will be embodied only in 505 copies of Brookland, which, possibly, will make this model one of the most expensive cars all over the world.

Jaguar XKR Portfolio

Jaguar has brought to Geneva special edition of XKR, called XKR Portfolio. The name of the car hints at its bright appearance. And indeed, appearance of Jaguar is dandified - the sated black color with sparks of dark blue, aluminium fringings of air inlet cuts and 20" disks do their effective business in a right way.
Certainly, to emphasize the car, experts of the British brand had to give the most steadfast attention to interior. The best and more expensive were used to decorate it.
From functional additions XKR Portfolio gains from a multimedia LCD-monitor, displaying the basic information concerning to work conditions of the most important car's equipmentfor.
The value of audio-system Dolby Pro Logic II surround, humouring hearing of passengers with 525-watt sound, is impossible to underestimate. It was developed by Bower&Wilkes company, specially for Jaguar. Besides essential devices interior of XKR equipped with a lot of trifles, addressed to vanity of the owner, for example, tablets with Portfolio inscriptions or mats with trade marks of the manufacturer.
There is a brand new engine under a bonnet of the English handsome man, with which Jaguar is planning to equip restored XJ and XF series. Buyers haven't seen this engine yet, but engineers from the islands are very proud of it, probably, not vainly - 4.2-liter V8 makes 420 h.p. With such a power stuffing XKR Portfolio speeds up to 100 km/h for only 4.9 seconds and the maximal speed is limited to 250 km/h by uncompromising electronics.
So, Jaguar XKR Portfolio is a classical example of the big English coupe.

Redesigned Audi TT - Audi TT R8

And one more short news about Audi. Actually it's not exactly about Audi, but more about Ravasicorse design studio. Ravasicorse decided to use strong corporative design from Audi and created hybrid, based on Audi TT. The improvements don't relate to engine and other technical gadgets , but to the car's view. In this model they combined designs of Audi TT and of top model Audi R8. The main changes are related to huge plastic and ribbed air intake parts and elongated front and rear lights. The work of Ravasicorse studio is rather original, but I'm not sure whether it worthed to to change the view of Audi TT, which looks very good itself.

Audi A5 - Final Appearance

I was writing before about the most desirable car, at least for me, Audi A5. Finnaly this world has seen it on motor show in Geneva. It seems, thet the only niche, where Audi hasn't been represented by any of its models is filled. So, enjoy...

Opel GT Convertible - The Best Car of This Year

The most famous auto show, which is taking place in Geneva now declared Opel GT Convertible as the best car of this year. An international jury, which consist of journalists from over the world, gathered to look at the best news of automotive industry, were astonished by the new concept car from German concern, Opel GT, so they assigned to it this nomination. This car will go into serial production this spring, but it will be available only for European countries. It has a new 264 hose power SIDI-turbo engine and it takes just 5.7 seconds for this car to reach speed of 100 km/h. Maximum speed of this cabriolet is 250 km/h. Finally and the most interesting thing for us as consumers is its price. Recommended price of this car for some European countries will range from 30,675 euros.

The Most Expensive Luxury Car

The most expensive luxury car in the world is being created in the United States. It is going to cost $2 million and the name which it was given is Natalia SLS 2. In fact, the idea of such a vehicle, which will leave behind even magnificent Veyron (by the price, and as expected by Technical characteristics), came to Alfred Dimor’s head back in the 1970s, but he didn’t have any chance to realize it. But today (or it’s better to say tomorrow) 6 meter, with 4 doors sports sedan Natalia combines the most advanced automotive and computer technologies. It has got 14 liters V16, 1200 horse power engine, called "Volcano". It is also will be equipped with 60 on-board computers. They are going to be responsible for controlling all electronic systems of the car. To avoid problems with all those computers at the same time Natalia SLS 2 is using an aviation system of immediate disconnection of duplicate subsystems. Space technologies have found their right place in this luxury as well: super light materials, used in aerospace, intended to reduce the weight and fuel consumption.
And of cause you can’t imagine this Natasha without computer with Internet access and portable printer and without individual TV-monitors for passengers. Built into the car biosensors will be able to measure driver’s pulse, temperature, blood to adjust music volume, solon temperature and lighting, depending on the results. Creators didn’t forget about passengers on rear seats. The seats will be with embedded massage facilities. They also will be surrounded by shining ashtrays, by decoration from Italian nut and with mats of yellow fur on the floor. Color of upholstery will change completely independently: in cold times it will be black or dark blue, and when it’s warm it’ll become white. Natalia SLS 2 should appear on the market at the beginning of 2008 and first ten orders have been already signed. It’s planned to produce up to 50 car on the first year.