We have already mentioned this amazing-looking Bugatti Divo in our article ‘The Million dollar option‘, but just now Bugatti published a press release on this rather unique, bespoke build, keeping in mind only 40 Divo will be built, the last ones being delivered at this moment we’ve heard, and with a base MSRP of €5,000,000, these cars were ordered by some rather discerning customers, and that came with challenges never seen before, especially on this ‘Lady Bug’.
When the Bugatti Divo was introduced in August 2018, one customer located in the USA came up with a great idea: ‘a geometric-dynamic algorithmic fading pattern on the bodywork’. So he got in touch with Bugatti design to first decide on which shades to use … they created two special colors for this customer, ‘Customer Special Red’ (I guess they ran out of names) and ‘Graphite’, both metallic paints. But now came the hard part, designing a diamond pattern to run from the front over the sides of the Bugatti Divo.
The customer wanted to emphasize the silhouette of the Bugatti Divo with this gradient pattern, but it took the Bugatti design team over 18 months to develop and later achieve the correct look and feel on a real Divo. It’s easy to create a diamond pattern on a computer in CAD, but the problem comes when you apply that pattern onto a 3D, very round Divo body. The ‘diamonds’ get distorted, and it starts to look strange, although perfectly geometrically correct on the computer, even the slightest offset putting it onto the car ruined the look.
In the end, it would take approximately 1,600 diamond shapes, almost no two alike, to create exactly what the customer had in mind, and every single one of these had to be put in their perfect spot along the roofline, on the doors and rear fender edge in order to make sure it all looked right and created that perfect fade on the side of this unique Bugatti Divo.
At one point Jörg Grumer, Head of Color & Trim at Bugatti Design almost wanted to say: “We cannot meet the customer’s request’, however, it is our profound conviction that we should never give up and that our foremost motivation should always be to make the impossible possible for the customer.”
At Bugatti design they actually used 6-meter long film and did several trial fittings on one of their in-house test cars, only after several weeks, they managed to get it right and applied the bespoke diamond pattern onto the customer’s Bugatti Divo without any distortion or folds. After that, it took the Bugatti employees several more days to make sure every single diamond was positioned accurately, some of them were manually trimmed, some were even replaced at this stage.
After everybody was happy with the film on the car, it was time to paint … which involves not only applying the Graphite over the Customer Special Red but also meticulously removing every single diamond film, all 1,600 of them, without damaging the paint. After that, the paint gets sanded, smoothed, checked, retouched where necessary only to be re-sanded again. After applying the clearcoat another session of wet sanding and buffing goes on to create that deep, wet-look finish and gloss … it took months of hand craftsmanship to create this car.
March 3, 2021 / Comments Off on The Bugatti Divo ‘Lady Bug’
If you’ve never heard of SWAE, don’t feel too bad, they are a new company located in the Rocky Mountains not far from Glacier National Park that just released images of their first tuning package, and it’s for the McLaren 720S, which isn’t too bad straight from the factory, but SWAE takes it to the next level, both in looks and in performance.
First, you notice there is something different about this SWAE McLaren 720, and it’s a widebody kit you are admiring, with a new front lip and intakes on the front fenders, the rear fenders are widened too, and a massive rear wing is added too. While most parts seem to be made from carbon fiber, SWAE took the 3D printing route for the struts on the rear wing, made from titanium.
Bespoke, 10-spoke SWAE wheels complete the look of this $500,000 McLaren 720S, and the best is yet to come … engine tuning that delivers over 900 hp to the rear wheels from the twin-turbocharged 4-Liter V8, keep in mind this could mean the SWAE tuned V8 comes with over 1,000 hp at the crank.
SWAE says this McLaren 720S is just a ‘proof-of-concept’ at the moment, showcasing what they can do when combining carbon fiber and 3D-printing technology to create a bespoke car for the discerning customer, chasing dreams at all costs.
“SWAE operates in a space beyond luxury- enhancing each caliber of craftsmanship to create a sum greater than its parts,” said Rosie Wolkind, SWAE director of operations.
This new SWAE McLaren 720S Widebody was recently unveiled in Miami, but it isn’t clear if this specific car is for sale, or was built on commission for an existing customer, or if it’s just a demonstrator for SWAE … only time will tell.
In the world of SUVs, there was a time the Range Rover Vogue or the Mercedes G-Wagon was the ultimate ‘look at me’ car, these had amazing off-road capabilities, but most of them rarely left paved roads or got a spot of mud on them, and while the G-Wagon was initially a military vehicle, the later models were high-end luxury cars that could go off-road.
In the United States of America, you had a full-size SUV like the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator to take these big vehicles into the luxury segment … but over the years things started to change a bit and other big names in the industry came up with their own SUV, like the Bentley Bentayga that some might not like design-wise, but it is an ultra-high-end luxury SUV with some sportiness to it, perhaps a segment lower, but also very impressive was the Porsche Cayenne and the ‘Bull in the Chinashop’ … the Lamborghini Urus.
But then came another player on the SUV scene … Rolls Royce, with their massive Cullinan, taking its place as the most exclusive factory-made, production luxury SUV, and to make it interesting for those with lots of money but still craving for a little touch of sportiness, Rolls Royce came up with their ‘Black Badge’ series. Ditching the chrome-plated Spirit of Ecstasy for a glossy black finished lady, note you could get that beautiful bonnet ornament sculpture in just about any finish, they even offered it in actual crystal with illumination for a while, but they were forced to discontinue this $4,000 option because there’s a law against illuminated hood ornaments in Europe now.
As the name suggests, a Rolls Royce Black Badge Cullinan is a breed apart from the regular Rolls Royce models, the world-famous front grill is also finished in black, as are most of the otherwise chrome trim around the windows … and no, you can actually order a Black Badge in another shade too … even white. And a Black Badge Cullinan is so ‘un-British’ it almost hurts … but it doesn’t, and I like the idea behind it, the black finish makes the car appeal to a younger crowd, and the Black Badge even comes with a harsher suspension … on a Rolls Royce mind you!
The difference between a Rolls Royce Cullinan and the Black Badge version is about $150,000, and that’s without a trip to SPOFEC in Germany to get their OVERDOSE tuning package, SPOFEC is part of the NOVITEC group by the way, just so you know you are dealing with people that have been in this business for many years.
And before we talk about the exterior of this SPOFEC OVERDOSE, let’s take a peek under that large hood. From the factory, the Rolls Royce Black Badge Cullinan comes with a 6.7-Liter twin-turbo V12 engine you hardly hear when it’s running and has a power output of 600 hp and 900 Nm of torque (the regular Cullinan has 563 hp and 850 Nm of torque for comparison). But SPOFEC offers the N-TRONIC plug-and-play auxiliary ECU, by remapping the injection and ignition and a small increase in turbo boost, the figures are now 707 hp (520 kW) and a peak torque of 1,060 Nm at 1,800 rpm.
Despite the massive size, and weight of 2.7 metric tons, the SPOFEC OVERDOSE can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in only 4.5 seconds, the top speed is however still restricted to 250 km/h, and while we are still talking about an SUV, the SPOFEC suspension module allows a 40 mm lower ride height for added looks and a lower center of gravity.
But SPOFEC also turns the Rolls Royce Black Badge Cullinan into a ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ sorts of car … where the Rolls Royce is almost as silent as a whisper, with the SPOFEC exhaust, including actively controlled flaps, you can make this Rolls Royce sound like a sports car, there is nothing discreet about the SPOFEC OVERDOSE.
You can just imagine the marketing meeting at SPOFEC when they were discussing the OVERDOSE: “So discretion is out of the windows, let’s change the exterior too, and make it even wider” … they’ve added 10cm (4 inches) width to the front and 12cm (nearly 5 inches) to the rear fenders! This makes the OVERDOSE in total 212cm wide (83.46 inches), which also required a new set of side sills to connect those wide fenders with each other, and while they were at it, they replaced the entire front bumper with a new design, added a spoiler lip at the liftgate, and finished it off with a race-inspired rear diffuser. Precise-fit detachable parts create harmonious transitions from the fascia to the rear flares.
And with all this going on, you just can’t resist replacing the factory original wheels with these new SPOFEC SP2 forged wheels in 10×24 inch configuration, specially created in corporation with Vossen to handle the wider wheel arches, monstrous 295/30 R 24 high-performance tires cover these impressive wheels consisting of nine pairs of twin-spokes and with the wheel bolts disappearing behind a center cover.
The official SPOFEC press release on the OVERDOSE doesn’t list any prices for all these beautiful tuning options … but you know what they say: ‘if you have to ask’ …
March 1, 2021 / Comments Off on The SPOFEC OVERDOSE
Everyone has been awaiting the arrival of Maserati’s GranTurismo and may not have to wait much longer. A test mule has been spotted on the roads of northern Sweden.
The test mule, in this case, looks to be an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio but do not let the exterior fool you. Test mules often use the body of an existing model to test out the mechanics of a vehicle awaiting final production approval.
Taking a closer look at the test mule, it’s apparent that the Giulia has been modified to have a longer wheelbase and hood along with stretched wheel arches and added venting on the vehicle.
Maserati presented a teaser shot of the Grand Turismo last September and stated plans for its release in 2021. This took place while unveiling the Maserati MC20 supercar. The teaser shot pointed to the new GranTurismo to have a cleaner, more flowing aesthetic just like the MC20.
The new GranTurismo will likely be powered by their new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that is featured in the MC20. According to MotorAuthority, the GranTurismo may come with a mild-hybrid setup and potentially a fully electric model.
The GranTurismo’s official reveal is set to take place this year, sales will likely be held in 2022, and deliveries likely to take place in 2023 for the US market.
March 1, 2021 / Comments Off on 2023 Maserati GranTurismo Test Mule Spotted in Sweden
We all remember the very impressive Ford GT40 from the 1960s, winning Le Mans four consecutive years from 1966 to 1969, I guess most of us have seen the movie about the competition between Ford and Ferrari at that time, and to celebrate Ford’s centennial they created a more modern interpretation of those glorious race cars … the 2005 and 2006 Ford GT, in just two years of production they made a total of 4,038 units, making these modern-day classics rare, and expensive today, and they weren’t cheap to begin with, the MSRP was $149,995 in 2006.
The ‘new’ Ford GT came with a dry-sump 5.4-Liter V8 engine fitted with a twin-screw supercharger from Lysholm delivering 550 hp to the rear wheels only, a six-speed transmission was fitted, acceleration figures were 3.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph with a top speed of 205 mph … this was a very fast Ford back in 2005.
If we look at listings for a 2006 Ford GT the price has doubled since new, most of them are around the $300,000 mark today, some a little cheaper, most of them near $350,000 and more … in 2006 a total of 2,011 Ford GT were made, but for that final year there was a special option available, the limited-production Heritage Paint Livery Package edition … only 343 units were sold with this specific option.
If you selected this option, your Ford GT would be finished in ‘Heritage Blue’ and feature those impressive ‘Epic Orange’ stripes, the cars also came four white roundels to which the owner could add a number of their liking. This special livery took inspiration from the GT40 that won Le Mans in both 1968 and 1969, chassis number 1075, which featured the now famous ‘Gulf Oil’ sponsorship.
And if you missed out on the Ford GT back in 2006, you now have a second chance as RM | Sotheby’s has one of these Ford GT Heritage listed for their Amelia Island auction on May 22, 2021. What makes this specific Ford GT Heritage, chassis 1FAFP90S26Y400783 even more interesting, is the fact it only has 2.7 miles on the odometer, this is basically a brand new, time capsule 2006 Ford GT Heritage, and it’s only 1 of 50 that were available in Canada.
This specific Ford GT Heritage was sold in Canada, which makes it slightly different from US market cars, all Canadian cars were sold with the optional forged wheels, the gray-painted brake calipers, and the regular stereo, Canadian customers couldn’t request the ‘stripe delete’ option, nor the McIntosh CD stereo system. On the other hand, Canadian Ford GT all came with daytime running lights, different foam in the front bumper, and a rear bumper that protrudes more than on US-spec models.
This is one of only a handful of remaining Ford GT that are still considered to be ‘new’, this specific one still has the driver’s seat, the steering wheels, and the door sills protected by the factory–original wrapping, it doesn’t get any newer than that. Naturally, all the original factory documentation is still present, as are the keys and user manuals … but also the original box of accessories that came with the car when new, including the set of roundel numbers in their original box.
At the time of writing, I found one other 2006 Ford GT Heritage listed for sale, in West Palm Beach, FL (which makes it a US-Spec car probably), a car with 978 miles, listed at $479,900. And while there isn’t an estimate listed for the RM Sotheby’s auction listing yet, I wonder if this Canadian one with even fewer miles will reach that number, or sell for an even higher amount.
February 27, 2021 / Comments Off on 2006 Ford GT Heritage
We have only just learned about the Aston Martin Valhalla that was introduced back in 2019 already at the Geneva Motor Show, will be postponed to 2023, that’s a four year development, but that’s apparently not the worst for all those people that have signed up to buy one of these hypercars from the Gaydon carmaker.
Things might not be looking too bright for the bespoke built V6 hybrid engine that was developed to power the new Aston Martin Valhalla, and that showed similarities with the unit we’ve just seen in the new McLaren Arturo. This 3.0-Liter V6 engine would have been completely developed in-house by Aston Martin, a first since their 5.3-Liter V8 engine back in 1969, and with the addition of hybridization this engine would become the most powerful ever in an Aston Martin, which means it would have become more powerful than the 1,160 hp engine in the Valkyrie.
But 2020 has been a disastrous year for Aston Martin, losses quadrupled due to the COVID pandemic and dropping sales figures, and while they hope their DBX will continue to gather sales, for the Aston Martin Valhalla this meant a return to the drawing board, and a one-year postponement on deliveries of the 150 units limited production run.
Tobias Moers, Aston Martin’s current CEO, confirmed they have an agreement in place with Mercedes-Benz to supply the engine for their Valhalla, it will still be a hybrid model, as Aston Martin plans to have a 90% electric line up by 2030, but the in-house V6 engine that sounded so amazing back in March of 2020 will be shelved and in comes, probably, an AMG unit.
And here comes the catch … which engine will Aston Martin use, as Moers stated “everything is a reasonable cost situation” during an interview, so will they go with the massive V8, 4.0-Liter twin turbo hybrid that will be introduced in the upcoming AMG 73 models, rated at 800 hp or more … or will they go for the much smaller M139 four-cylinder engine that will power the new AMG C63 with hybrid addition putting down about 500 hp?
Mercedes actually owns 20 percent of Aston Martin thanks to a recent technical partnership between the two, and part of that deal included using a German sourced engine for the new Valhalla, and, to be honest, with a price tag of $3,000,000 for each of these Aston Martin Valhalla … as a customer I wouldn’t be too happy with a four-cylinder engine, even if they manage 600 or 700 hp … that’s still a far cry from the ‘more than 1,160 hp’ they mentioned before.
February 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Aston Martin Valhalla, powered by Mercedes?
Some collectors insist on a factory original, un-restored car so they can admire the patina it gathered over the decades and enjoy their car ‘as is’, while others have their pride and job go through a painstakingly expensive restoration to make their classic car look exactly how it left the factory doors over half a century ago … and then you get to the Restomod crowd.
Restomods are intended for a special breed of car owners, people that love their classic cars, but don’t want to forfeit on modern commodities like big horsepower and a big disc brake setup … and Ringbrothers, the world-renowned custom car builders and parts manufacturer, caters to those exact customers with their latest latest creation.
Their new 1968 Mercury Cougar was first taken through a full ‘frame-off’ restoration, where she received a completely new floor pan and transmission tunnel. The car itself had to be in perfect shape for what Ringbrothers had in mind … installing a massive Ford Coyote 5.0-Liter, V8 engine delivering 460 hp coupled to a Ford F-150 Raptor sourced, 10-speed automatic transmission, complete with paddle-shifters.
To keep all this extra power safe, Ringbrothers added a DSE suspension, performance brakes and a stunning set of HRE Series C1 C103 Forged 3-Piece wheels wearing top of the line Michelin tires, the thunder is brought to the outside world through a a custom Flowmaster exhaust.
“We put our heart into each car we build, and this Cougar is no exception,” said Ringbrothers co-owner Jim Ring. “The finished product is mild and classy, yet any enthusiast instantly knows it’s not stock. I imagine this is what Mercury designers would have come up with if they were building the Cougar today.”
A classic 1968 Mercury Cougar usually needs new or redone bright-work, Ringbrothers installed a new bumper, new grille (remember these flip up to unveil the headlights, and this mechanism usually needs a lot of work during restoration) … and to really make that dark green BASF paint come out perfectly, all badges are new too.
This was the first time Ringbrothers took on the project of a Cougar, and while they would have loved to showcase their work at the SEMA Show, this unfortunately couldn’t happen at this point in time, but Mike Ring, co-owner of Ringbrothers, hopes they can have their latest masterpiece on display to the public soon.
February 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Custom 1968 Mercury Cougar
Aston Martin’s new CEO Tobias Moers has just given an update on one of Aston’s latest hypercars named Valhalla. Previously, deliveries were said to take place in mid-2021 but that was pushed back to 2022.
Originally, the Valhalla (under the code name “AM-RB 003”) was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show as a concept. It was to be released as a hypercar you could actually get your hands on, unlike the Aston Martin Valkyrie due to the limited production of just 150 cars. The Valhalla was said to have a 500 car production and have deliveries take place in early 2022.
According to MotorAuthority, Moers has pushed back the delivery date to the last half of 2023. The reason for this additional delay is so the Aston Martin team can “reassess” the hypercar’s design, inclusive of the powertrain. The revised Valhalla will be ready for viewing for potential buyers within the next four months according to a report from Autocar.
The original powertrain design of the Valhalla was similar to that of the recently released 2022 McLaren Artura. The Valhalla was to be comprised of a V-6 engine combined with a hybrid powertrain. The V-6 was going to be a brand new engine developed in-house at Aston Martin, but it’s been said Aston Martin may be sourcing a Mercedes-Benz powerplant instead.
Mercedes-Benz owns 20% of Aston Martin and currently supplies them with V-8 engines from the AMG division. Mercedes is also supplying Aston’s F1 team with engines for the 2021 season. With all of that in mind, it would not be unusual for Aston Martin to source a Mercedes-Benz V-6 for the Valhalla.
February 25, 2021 / Comments Off on Aston Martin Pushes Valhalla to Launch in 2023
For a list price of $73,500 (excluding $1,495 destination), you can order the brand new 2021 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 392 launch edition, which not only comes with a host of options as standard but also with a 470 hp, 6.4-Liter V8, making this the fastest and most powerful Wrangler ever.
This full-time 4×4 Wrangler 392 receives a 6.4-Liter V8 engine capable of not only 470 hp, but also 470 lb.-ft. of torque, a functional hood scope, a performance exhaust, and many premium options, this is a factory model with V8-performance and a 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 4.5 seconds.
“Our Jeep enthusiasts asked us for a Wrangler powered by a V-8 engine, and we listened. The result is the quickest and most powerful Jeep Wrangler yet, loaded with standard off-road performance features that make this Jeep Wrangler incredibly capable of covering the most rugged terrain,” said Jim Morrison, Vice President, Jeep Brand North America
With the hood scope, the Wrangler 392 can wade through water up to 32.5 inches deep, helped by a 2-inch factory lift, beefier frame rails, and FOX shocks, while an active dual-mode exhaust lets the V8 breathe and release the right sound to onlookers, even when you master low-speed downhill descents by using the V-8’s engine braking, revised transmission torque converter lockup control and a 48:1 crawl ratio to manage vehicle speed without needing to touch the brake pedal.
For the interior of the Wrangler 392 you get leather seats as standard, and these come with bronze stitching, which is only available on this version of the Jeep, a special steering wheel with additional bolsters is also added, and it comes with paddle shifters … we all like those, don’t we.
But on the Wrangler 392 Launch Edition the list of standard features continues on with: Body-color hardtop, Body-color flares, Infotainment Group, HD electrical switch bank, Steel Bumper Group, Cold Weather Group, LED Lighting Group, Remote proximity entry, and both the Safety Group and the Advanced Safety Group.
In case you really want to go all-out on your Jeep Wrangler 392 Launch Edition, you can check the option boxes for the Dual Door Group, Dual Top Group, Sky One-Touch Power Top and Integrated Off-road Camera, Trailer Tow Package, and make a choice between the 285/70R17C BF Goodrich KO2 All-Terrain Outline White Letter tires or go for the 285/70R17C Falken Wildpeak M/T tires.
The new 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is scheduled to start arriving in dealerships this quarter already.
February 25, 2021 / Comments Off on Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392
If you are a fan of the Land Rover Defender, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to learn they’ve just launched the most powerful model in history, a supercharged V8 version that delivers 525 hp and can get to 60 mph from standing still in only 4.5 seconds, and it still has exceptional off-road capabilities!
The new Defender 90 V8 will reach a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h) thanks to its 5.0-Liter engine which continues a heritage set as far back as the Seventies when the first V8 was shoehorned into a Land Rover off-road vehicle. Combining this kind of performance with the award-winning off-road capabilities is even further refined with the flagship Defender V8 Carpathian Edition, note that the V8 engine is available in both the 90 and the 110 versions.
By now the Defender First Edition will be surpassed by a new XS Edition with bespoke design and improved specifications both inside and outside, and you get even more exterior ‘packs’ now … names like ‘The Bright Pack’, ‘Extended Bright Pack’, and ‘Extended Black Pack’ allow you to create a special Defender that matches your taste perfectly.
David Hemming, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The introduction of our V8 powertrain adds a new dimension of driving engagement and off-road capability to Defender. Fast and fun to drive, it represents the pinnacle of the Defender family and is as rewarding on the road as it is capable off it. We’ve also broadened the appeal of the entire Defender line-up with new derivatives, option packs and enhanced connectivity, so there really is a Defender for everyone.”
Naturally, the more powerful V8 engine requires a bespoke tuning for both the suspension and the transmission, with new rates for the springs and the dampers used to make sure the Defender’s unstoppable capabilities remain with the new 5.0-liter V8 supercharged petrol engine, which produces 525HP, 625Nm of torque and drives through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
If the impressive sound of the V8 engine isn’t giving away this new model’s power, the distinctive tell-tales on the outside should make it easier … how about not one, not two, but four exhaust pipes at the rear, complete with distinctive tailpipes, or the special 22-inch lightweight wheels finished in a satin dark grey … and there are V8 badges to be found too.
For the outside, customers can go for one of three shades, Carpathian Grey, Yulong White, and Santorini Black, apart from the black one, you can also ask to have the roof finished in Narvik Black for some added contrast.
Inside, Defender V8 features seats trimmed in unique Ebony Windsor Leather with Dinamica® suedecloth and Robustec accents, while the Defender’s exposed Cross Car Beam has a special Satin Black finish. The four-spoke steering wheel is enhanced by an Alcantara rim and tactile satin chrome gearshift paddles, which are unique to V8 models. Leather covers the airbag housing and gear lever, while illuminated treadplates are completed with a V8 script.
If you opt for the new Defender V8 Carpathian Edition, you’ll take the 525 hp model to the next level of performance, durability, and design … this is the ‘top-of-the-line version which as the name would suggest, is only available in Carpathian Grey, and always comes with the Narvik Black roof, bonnet, and taildoor, the latter being a first on the New Defender.
Straight from the factory, this edition also comes with a Satin Protective film applied to the body, creating a semi-matt look, both for protection and for additional aggressiveness, add the blue front calipers and satin black towing eyes, and this Carpathian Edition looks mean.
Prices for the New Defender V8 start at £98,505 for the 90 and £101,150 OTR for the 110 in the UK, pricing for the US market, and when the new V8 will be available hasn’t been mentioned in their press-release yet.
February 25, 2021 / Comments Off on The new Defender V8
Since revealing the renderings, specification ethos, and registering significant customer interest for its Moderna-codenamed project, GTO Engineering has confirmed a pivotal development stage has been completed for its new car, and confirmed production.
Keeping to the promise that its new car will be a celebration of the best of Sixties motoring with a modern and motorsport-derived engineering twist, the quad-cam V12 engine that will be at the heart of GTO Engineering’s all-new vehicle is getting closer to being finalized and built. Likewise, the outer design modeling is about to commence as the team finalizes the drawings of the body shell, which still maintains a mix of modern and period features as seen in the initial sketches. The engine development and design styling are both centered around GTO Engineering’s commitment to creating a sub-1,000 kg sports car with a manual gearbox and a naturally aspirated engine, devised around a visceral experience in and out of the car.
With a track record of building cars from the ground up, either with restorations or its popular Revival series vehicles, GTO Engineering’s development of the Moderna project is led by Founder Mark Lyon who said, “After the exceptional reception from interested owners and fans who would like to own a car such as ours, we’re now making it happen and publicly documenting the development process. For our team, the engine and the aesthetics are two of the most important parts of any car, especially this one, which is why we were keen to start here.
“The quad-cam V12, with the help of our specialist in-house engine builders, is beginning to be finalized. At the same time, our designers have been working with us on the outer body to finalize the surfaces before transferring them to modeling. To ensure we keep to our goals we’re working around a custom ‘muletto’ chassis, which is situated in the GTO Engineering workshops. It’s a daily reminder of how we need to not only keep the design’s proportions right, as well as weight distribution and ergonomics. People have got a little taller since the Sixties, so we’re looking at the packaging with the design too, ensuring that the driver and passenger have enough room in the cabin and ample luggage space in the car.”
GTO Engineering’s team has chosen to maintain a traditional tubular steel chassis while adding modern, lightweight but high-strength aluminum subframes. Its development chassis, nicknamed ‘muletto’ is the formation of the packaging and design layout for the Moderna-codenamed project. It sits in the firm’s UK HQ and is used as a layout buck to ensure the packaging and size of the new vehicle are optimized for weight distribution as well as driver and passenger ergonomics and storage.
This development update follows the initial renderings and intentions for the new vehicle, which was initially announced in November 2020. Since then, the team continues to grow with in-house and external consultants collaborating together, all working on the same goal to create one of the most exciting enthusiast cars of the decade.
February 24, 2021 / Comments Off on The GTO Engineering Project Moderna
I don’t know about you, but I have spent way too many hours online in configurators (or visualizers) for some of the world’s most exclusive car makers, I just love to play around with options on cars I will probably never be able to afford anyway, but it’s so much fun putting dreams together on a computer’s screen, this went so far as me actually designing and programming my very own Lamborghini virtual configurator because I felt the factory one didn’t go far enough.
Now it seems management at Bentley in Crewe, UK, had the same sentiment, they just released their Mulliner visualiser to have customers create their very own, bespoke car by using an application together with their retailer or with a designer from Bentley, without leaving the comfort of their house.
From within the Mulliner virtualiser, the customer can view their new car, both from the outside and on the inside, complete with their selected choice of paint and upholstery, it is even possible to color match the hides on the interior to the outside, and have the correct color code sent directly to Bentley Mulliner for the dye on the leather.
Naturally the choice of stitching options is almost endless, and now the client can even specify how the veneer inside his (or her) new Bentley will be finished, Mulliner offers the fascias and waist-rails painted to the same piano-finish standard as the exterior, in any one of the scores of colors on offer.
I know for a fact the list of paint colors on a Bentley is daunting to say the least, it contains 62 colors, and with the new Mulliner visualiser, things get even more complicated with the addition of 26 more shades, fifteen of those are solid or regular metallic, but Mulliner also offers 4 new satin finishes and no less than seven complex, pearlescent three-layer paints, all applied in a combination of hand spraying and robot technology for the best possible finish … the ‘stock’ pallet of Bentley colors is one of the largest in the industry.
Some of the additional paints from Mulliner:
First created in the 1960s, Oxford Blue is a stunning solid paint and one of the darkest blues in the Bentley palette. This mesmerizing Mulliner paint recalls the power and elegance of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Viridian
Viridian is the latest metallic paint to be introduced and is a modern take on the traditional British racing green. This mysterious dark emerald is inspired by the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car shown at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2015. The deep green with light green and blue undertones creates depth and a sporting dimension, while flecks of amber and gold embody the character of luxury.
White Sand Porcelain – White Sand was the launch colour for the Continental Flying Spur. A silky, creamy colour, it is created by blending two hues to a warm finish.
Snow Quartz is a modern white three layer pearlescent paint, which creates a simple and fresh silhouette. The finely layered pearl effect creates a beautiful shimmering and lustrous whiteness, providing an infinite amount of opportunities to complement interior color combinations.
The glimmering surface of Extreme Silver has been given a striking new finish to create Extreme Silver Satin. This distinctive Mulliner Paint alters the character of this warm silver almost beyond recognition, replacing the metallic gleam with a subtle satiny sheen that brings the sharp Bentley design lines to the fore.
Storm Grey – Storm Grey has appeared on several Bentley models since its introduction in the 1990s. It blends hints of blue into a strong grey base to create a powerful and eye-catching finish.
And if that doesn’t fit your specific needs, no problem, Bentley’s personal commissioning division can color-match virtually any sample provided, using innovative color recognition software to analyze the composition of the sample provided and reproducing it to perfection.
Radium – A Mischievous sporty and youthful colour, with a superfine metallic effect, invoking the feeling of confidence.
February 23, 2021 / Comments Off on The Bentley Mulliner visualiser
Gordon Murray Automotive has just unveiled the T.50s Niki Lauda, a track-focused car that was developed in parallel with their T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed, and engineered to offer the ultimate on-track driving experience.
T T.50s Niki Lauda weighs just 852kg and will be powered by a substantially redesigned version of the T.50’s Cosworth-engineered 3.9-litre V12, producing 725bhp, revving to 12,100rpm, coupled to a newly-designed Xtrac six-speed paddle-shift gearbox. And yes, the 400mm fan at the rear is still present, together with advanced aerodynamics to produce up to 1500kg of downforce for the best track experience yet.
Production has been limited to 25 units of the special T.50s Niki Lauda, each with an MSRP of £3,100,000 before taxes (about $4,400,000), and you’ll have some time left to come up with that kind of money as production only starts in January 2023, after the run of 100 T.50 supercars is completed.
Professor Gordon Murray CBE:“The T.50 is the ultimate road-going supercar, but I always dreamed of taking it one step further… to build a version that will deliver an on-track driving experience like no other car in history.”
With the T.50s Niki Lauda they had no interest in achieving the ultimate lap time or creating an over-engineered spaceship looking vehicle at the expense of the driver, the T.50s Niki Lauda can be driven by someone who isn’t a professional F1 driver, and still be able to get the best out of the car.
Just like an F1 car, and the legendary McLaren F1 road car, the T.50s Niki Lauda comes with a central driving position, and a high-revving V12 engine just inches behind the driver, delivering more than 700 hp. Maximum downforce has been set at 1,500 kg for a car that itself weighs less than 900 kg …this is a track-day beauty you can drive without an entire support team, just show up, and drive!
With 725 hp in a car that puts only 852 kg on the scales, you are looking at a power to weight ratio that’s better than a naturally aspirated LMP1 car, and it drives like an F1 car too … and with a 12,000 rpm engine and next to no silencers, it will scream like an F1 car too.
Starting with a car like the T.50 and making it even more impressive might not be a simple task, but Gordon Murray and his team managed just that when they created the T.50s Niki Lauda, and they still kept it classic. A massive central fin stretching from the top of the roof to the rear lip of the car, not only adds vertical stability at speed, but it also allows to show the Niki Lauda logo, a bigger rear diffuser, and a new rear wing, inspired by the front wing on Murray’s 1983 Brabham BT52 Formula One car, changes the looks even further from the road car.
Naturally at the front things were modified for the T.50s Niki Lauda too, improved airflow into the side intakes, but also a special splitter, all inspired by aerodynamics, in fact, not a single body panel from the T.50 road car has been used on this track-only version, the intention is to create 25 individual car by offering a plethora of choices for both paint and liveries.
While the T.50 also uses a Cosworth-designed V12 engine, the one for the T.50s Niki Lauda is almost completely different, capable of hitting the rev-limiter at 12,100 rpm, the use of a roof-mounted, RAM induction airbox can increase the maximum power output to 725 hp with a compression ratio of 15:1, maximum torque of 485 Nm is achieved at 9,000 rpm … and with a ‘straight-through’ exhaust you might want to consider earplugs.
At this point, the lightest V12 road-going engine weighs 178 kg, this new Cosworth GMA V12 puts only 162 kg in the car, this is achieved by using titanium valves, and no, there isn’t a variable valve timing system here because that would be too heavy, instead, there are 12 individual throttle bodies on top, fed by a race-inspired airbox. No catalytic converters, thin Inconel tubing, and small silencers … the T.50s Niki Lauda isn’t intended to be silent.
Gordon Murray and Dario Franchitti
A bespoke Xtrac IGS (Instantaneous Gearshift) six-speed paddle-shift gearbox is fitted, designed to fit the exacting packaging and weight demands of the T.50s Niki Lauda. As part of Xtrac’s efforts to minimize weight wherever possible, even the gears are lighter, contributing to a 5kg total weight reduction. Both the gearbox and the clutch are electronically actuated.
Ratios have been chosen to optimize on-track performance and driver enjoyment and engagement, delivering a top speed of approximately 200-210mph. A set of closer ratios optimized for shorter circuits will also be offered, allowing owners to make the most of all six gears via the steering column-mounted paddles. In this configuration, the T.50s Niki Lauda will reach around 170mph flat-out.
Just about the entire T.50s Niki Lauda is made from carbon fiber, from the lightweight carbon fiber monocoque to the bespoke body panels. The chassis is actually carbon fiber wrapped around a honeycomb aluminum center, there is even an F1-style ‘passenger safety cell’, while all the glass has been made thinner compared to the T.50 road car, to make this car as lightweight as possible, without compromising on safety.
The T.50 already comes with Brembo sourced carbon ceramic disk brakes (six-piston 370mm x 34mm front/ four-piston 340mm x 34mm rear), and with their 3.5G deceleration, they were deemed enough for the T.50s Niki Lauda, for the latter they did add modified ducts for better cooling. Covering these impressive brakes are bespoke, 18-inch forged magnesium, center-lock wheels that wear Michelin slicks, 250 mm at the front and 300 mm at the rear (25/64 18” and 30/68 18” respectively) … naturally ‘wet track’ tires are also possible.
Both the chassis and the aero parts on the T.50s Niki Lauda can be adjusted for a perfect balance on whichever track you want to tackle, by adjusting the fins at the front, and the rear wing, you can raise or lower the downforce, lowering the car’s ride height further increases it’s performance.
Professor Gordon Murray CBE:“When we first ran the CFD we were already ahead of our downforce target. At one point we were achieving 1,900kg of downforce, but we backed it off to 1,500kg to make the car more manageable for the owners.”
The T.50s Niki Lauda comes with a central seating position, the ‘pilot’ has a full racing carbon fiber seat with minimal adjustment, secured by a six-point harness. But the T.50s is a two-seater only, there is a fixed passenger seat to the left of the driver, which also comes with a four-point harness, but on the right side of the driver, you’ll find a fire extinguisher system and a vertical switchgear panel inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR. You can even order the T.50s Niki Lauda without a passenger seat to really turn it into a lightweight race car.
The dashboard inside the T.50s Niki Lauda consists of a single digital screen showing essential data on the car itself and the high-revving V12 engine, added with aero info, the gearchange indicator, telemetry, lap time, tire pressures/temperatures, g-forces, and a camera video feed.
Professor Gordon Murray CBE:“Engineering the ultimate track-focused supercar has to start with the driver. It was essential that we retained a central driving position, with every control arranged within easy reach and with no distractions or unnecessary information on display. And in my opinion, you don’t get a better view than that from the central driving position, one which allows you to place the T.50s Niki Lauda with millimeter precision on any circuit. You are left with nothing to take away the pure pleasure of pushing this car as hard as you can on your favorite race circuit.”
By now you probably gathered this new T.50s was named after a Formula One legend, none other than three-time world champion Niki Lauda, but it doesn’t end there, each individual car will be named after one of Gordon Murray’s Grand Prix wins on different circuits. The first car will be designated Kyalami 1974 and further cars will be named after the 24 subsequent wins in chronological order. Each car will also come with a specially commissioned book about the race that it is named after, with Murray’s view and memories of the victory.
Each of the 25 individually specified cars will be bespoke, both in setup and in the choice of colors and liveries, a Trackspeed package will also be included which comprises both engineering support and all the equipment needed to run the car at a track, including a full set of pit tools and refueling equipment. Each customer will receive a track day so that ‘his’ car is configured perfectly to their driving style and capabilities.
February 22, 2021 / Comments Off on The T.50s Niki Lauda
After finishing the worst year of his F1 career, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will no longer be racing for Ferrari. He will also be cutting ties with his amazing Ferrari collection he had gathered throughout the years. He will begin a fresh start for the 2021 season with Aston Martin.
Vettel’s Ferrari collection currently rests in Switzerland at his home and they are now for sale through veteran supercar dealership Tom Hartley Jnr located in the United Kingdom.
Though the split between Vettel and Ferrari is said to amicable, it does seem like Vettel is throwing away all memories and making way for his new love. This comes as no surprise as the Ferrari’s in his collection were acquired after his start with the Italian F1 team in 2015.
Image from: Tom Hartley Jnr
Vettel has also been seen sporting the Aston Martin DBX SUV in promotional footage. He could be making room for some new British supercars in the near future.
Vettel will be driving alongside Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll. Aston Martin will be unveiling its new F1 car on March 3rd and complete official testing on March 12-14. The first race of the F1 season will be the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28. Ferrari has since replaced Vettel with Carlos Sainz who will be alongside Charles Leclerc for the 2021 F1 season.
February 22, 2021 / Comments Off on Vettel Sells Ferrari Collection for a Fresh Start with Aston Martin
When you are a high-net-worth individual, life is different compared to other people, you’ll probably live inside a large mansion with security guards and camera surveillance, and when you leave this compound, you’ll be driven around inside an armored vehicle, most likely even with one or more additional cars around you.
The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY
You can opt for one of the Mercedes-Benz Guard versions, the world’s widest ex-factory range of special protection vehicles … or you can turn to Brabus for one of their Invicto models, a series made up of three different versions to cater to the customer’s wishes, discreet, rugged, or luxuries …
All three versions come with the ‘Invicto Shelter Cell’, a self-contained, self-supporting and bolted-down protective cell. In addition, there are further protective elements that are in part produced using a special 3D printing process and, of course, all-around extremely tough bulletproof glass.
Based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the Invicto can resist 7.62×39 caliber bullets, used in the AK-47 for instance, but also being hit with hand grenades, and even 12.5-kilogram PETN explosive charges, this certifies the Invicto per the VPAM BRV 2009 and VPAM ERV 2010 standards, all while remaining discreet, and nearly invisible from the outside.
The BRABUS INVICTO bulletproof glass
Sometimes this kind of car requires making a fast getaway when faced with intrusion, therefore the BRABUS Invicto comes with a special suspension and high-performance braking system to cope with the additional weight of the armoring, but the 20-inch Invicto wheels come with special run-flat tires.
Because of the required performance, BRABUS advises using either a Mercedes G500 or the G63 as a base for their €345,600 Invicto protection package, but it can be ordered with other gasoline engines from the G-Class model range.
The armor meets the VR6 Plus ERV standard, the same standard that protects many limousines of heads of state, to meet the requirements the doors and hatch are now fitted with new protective elements, all the glass is replaced with extra tough bulletproof material, which required an innovative structure for the frames to be developed by BRABUS.
The BRABUS INVICTO Shelter Cell
The Invicto Shelter Cell is unlike other vehicles where the armor is retrofitted, this BRABUS system is a self-contained, self-supporting, and bolted-down unit. This design makes it possible to put it into the body shell of the G-Class part by part and then assemble and fasten it. To this end, the company manufactures precise-fit, hot-rolled steel armor plates and additional protective elements made from materials such as carefully selected fabric and fiber structures as well as from ceramic and metal composite materials.
Among the many special constructive features of the “INVICTO Shelter Cell” is the fact that there is no narrowing of the door openings whatsoever. Getting in and out of the vehicle comfortably is crucial for many owners of a G-Class. In addition, the protective cell has a zero-gap design. This means that the individual components of the armor are installed without any gaps between them, which is of elementary importance for providing maximum security under small arms fire or an explosive attack. This is achieved by means of material overlaps and the so-called labyrinths.
The BRABUS INVICTO PURE
Surprisingly enough, the entire BRABUS Invicto protective armor only adds about 1,000 kg on top of the base Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, but it still required both the front and rear suspension to be completely modified by the BRABUS engineers, even the frame of the G-Wagon needed to be reinforced at key points to support the additional weight, but still be agile enough for maximum security and durability.
A high-performance braking system with vented 402-millimeter discs and six-piston brake calipers at the front as well as 380-millimeter rotors and four-piston brake calipers on the rear axle is another major factor in the outstanding active safety of the INVICTO.
BRABUS fits Invicto 9.5×20 inch wheels specifically developed for the higher wheel load rating, large 275/50 R 20 W113 high load rating tires are fitted, BRABUS even developed a new run-flat system for their Invicto, even with completely destroyed tires, this car can continue for another 50km at a speed of 50 km/h.
The BRABUS INVICTO PURE
The BRABUS INVICTO PURE
This model has been created by BRABUS for those customers that need protection, but don’t want to stand out in traffic, the Invicto Pure looks exactly like a factory original Mercedes-Benz G-class … this is protection in her purest form, both the exterior and the interior of the Invicto Pure are visually unchanged.
The BRABUS INVICTO PURE
The only visible changes are the new Invicto wheels in 20-inch, required to fit the BRABUS run-flat system, but other than that, this version is “undercover” as much as possible.
The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION
The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION
The Invicto Mission edition is not intended to have the high-net-worth individual in the rear seats, this version is made for the security guard companies that accompany that person, possibly even armed forces, or police and emergency services. Based on the Mercedes G500 or G63, the Invicto Mission includes not only the 20-inch off-road tires with the run-flat capability and a winch at the front this edition also comes with a powerful LED headlamp assembly at the front of the roof rack, flashing beacons behind the windshield, remote-controlled rotating searchlights at the rear, and even an armored escape hatch on the roof.
The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION
The original seats have been replaced by four custom bucket seats, designed in such a manner they allow the security detachment to wear protective vests inside the vehicle, five-point seatbelts keep them in place, even during high-speed, spirited driving.
The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION
But the Invicto Mission doesn’t stop there, it comes complete with a fresh air system with NBC filter for the interior, or how about an infrared package complete with night-vision together with an elaborate monitoring and navigation system, even the doors and backrests are fitted with the MOLLE system (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) to secure equipment.
The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION fresh air systemThe BRABUS INVICTO MISSION
The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY
The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY
This is the most exclusive version in the Invicto series, based on either Mercedes G 500 or the Mercedes-AMG G 63 with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo eight-cylinder engine and 430kW / 585hp, this model offers 850 Nm of torque to offer impressive active safety, the 20-inch run-flat tires do require a limitation of the top speed to 210 Km/h.
The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY
The Invicto Luxury also stands out, this is not the model for the owner that wants to travel unseen, incognito … BRABUS fits the WIDESTAR body on this model, optionally even with clear carbon fiber components, remember the Invicto Shelter Cell sits on the inside, which gets refined with a BRABUS interior made from the finest leather and Alcantara to suit the owner’s personal color and design preferences.
If the owner wants to have some more power to get out of any dangerous spots, he or she can opt for the BRABUS 800 engine, with an output of 588 kW / 800 hp at 6,600 rpm and a peak torque of 1,000 Nm at a low 3,600 rpm.
The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY
It is clear BRABUS isn’t focusing on their usual customer that wants to turn a standard, factory Mercedes-AMG into a high-performance supercar with their Invicto model, this car is intended to offer the best protection possible for those that require it … but still want to travel in style.
The INVICTO special protection vehicles as per VR6 Plus ERV standard are built in small-series production at the plant of BRABUS Automotive in Bottrop, and while these three versions should already cater to the most discerning customer, BRABUS is always open for individual requests, as long as it doesn’t jeopardize the initial goal: protection and driving safety.
February 21, 2021 / Comments Off on The BRABUS Invicto
I have to admit, I rather like the Shelby Cobra, putting a massive V8 engine into a lightweight body, styled like these are … a Cobra looks sexy. And they are demanding a serious bank account to add to your garage, just read up on our story on Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra Chassis CSX3178, that sold for $5,940,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January 2021 … but this one might fetch an even higher bid at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in late March .
This car is a unique Cobra, CSX 3015 is one of only 23 original 427 Competition Roadster, and it is the only surviving 1966 Super snake, back in 2015 this specific car sold for $5,100,000 at auction, we’re six years down the road now, so chances are this Guardsman Blue beauty will be even more expensive this time around.
Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson:
“This is the ultimate, it was made to go kick Ferrari’s ass on the street after just doing it on the track.”
Not only does this specific Shelby Cobra come with a 427ci V8 engine, it also has two Paxton superchargers fitted by Caroll Shelby himself, because of the massive power, he also had to fit a 3-speed automatic transmission … this Super Snake was fast … extremely fast … 190 mph is no problem at all behind the wheel of this Super Snake.
Chassis CSX 3015 was actually shipped to the UK in September 1965, together with CSX 3014 and two R-model Shelbys, both CSX chassis were original 427 Competition roadsters, these didn’t have mufflers, nor a windshield, nor any bumpers, these were Competition models, race cars … and these weren’t street legal.
The CSX 3015 came back from Europe in late 1966, still in her factory original Competition form, but in 1967 Caroll Shelby turned her into a Super Snake, and turned her into a Cobra 427 SC model (for Semi-Competition), adding mufflers and a windshield, thus making the car legal to drive on the open road. In fact all Cobra 427 SC models were street-legal, but most of them only saw a track during their lifetime.
There was a second Super Snake built, based on a 1967 427 road car, chassis CSX 3303 was initially a public relations car, but Shelby America converted her into a Super Snake too, sold to a dealer in San Fransisco after which she ended up with Tony Maxey … unfortunately both Tony and CSX 3303 got involved in a serious, lethal accident, the car was a total-loss, which makes CSX 3015 the only Super Snake in the world.
Today chassis CSX 3015 is considered a genuine Competition roadster with original body (which is different from other Cobra 427 SC models), and includes the 1967 Super Snake hood, the Girling CR and BR calipers are still date coded to 1965, and the original 377 rear end with oil cooler and pumps are genuine 427 Competition spec.
The 5m17 427ci V8 engine block is date-coded to December 17, 1965, with the original headers and those impressive, chrome side pipes … the estimate for this unique Cobra 427 Super Snake is set between $5,000,000 and $8,000,000 … and I couldn’t have put it any better than Craig Jackson himself, when he stated:
“This car is a very special car, it’s Carroll’s personal car, one he built for himself. You just don’t get any rarer than that.”
February 20, 2021 / Comments Off on 1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE
Anyone who followed the ‘World Championship of Makes’ (essentially an International championship for long-distance Sports Car racing), will remember their surprise at the shape of the new Porsche 935 when it first appeared at Mugello in March 1976. Subsequently, these ‘Flatnose’ 935s and 936s (in Group 6) were to prove very competitive in the hands of Ickx, Mass and Stommelen and during the next two seasons managed four victories in eight World Championship races and a triumph at Le Mans in each year.
However, Porsche began to worry that all these victories by the works Flatnose cars might alienate the vast number of private clients who were investing their own money in conventionally-shaped competition 911s, and decided to restrict their efforts for 1978 to an entry at Le Mans.
The distinctive look of the “Flachbau” (literally translated as Low Build) obviously retained its appeal in the minds of their road car customers and, from 1981 until early 1989, Porsche 930 Turbo buyers could specify their car in this style to special order. Just 50 ‘C16’ cars were manufactured for the UK-market, initially equipped with an uprated engine of 330bhp (from 300) mated to a 4-speed transmission. However, at the end of 1988, the uprated 5-Speed G50 gearbox was introduced, dramatically easing the peaks in power delivery by reducing the effects of ‘turbo-lag’. The factory SE also benefited from a dual-exit exhaust system, limited-slip differential, heated front seats and a sunroof.
This example is a genuine, factory-produced, C-16, Porsche 930 Turbo SE G50 Cabriolet built in 1989 under the ‘Sonderwunchprogramm’ (Special Wishes Programme). It’s superbly finished in White Pearl with a matching leather interior and has covered just 33,168 miles in the hands of three private owners prior to spending time in two of the highest-profile exclusive collections in the UK since 2014.
It’s supplied with an extensive history file detailing expenditure of over £45,000 lavished on this stunning Porsche during 2017 to ensure that it presents today in the best possible condition for an enthusiast or collector alike. The history file also contains all its previous MOTs and the service book displays sixteen service stamps helping to corroborate the indicated mileage.
With only seven C-16 examples of this specific model produced in 1989, this really is the ‘Holy Grail’ when considering a 930 and we would welcome any inspection of this rather special Porsche.
The Right Hand Drive on this specific Porsche might limit the possible market for it, but I still think Silverstone Auctions will find a buyer for this one, I personally really love this generation of Porsche, and a Slantnose Convertible is just the ultimate one … I even had a 1/18 scale model of this exact spec, white on white … but it was a LHD.
February 20, 2021 / Comments Off on Porsche 930 Turbo SE G50 ‘Flachbau’ Cabriolet
The head of the Taycan model line, Stefan Weckbach, took on very mildly camouflaged Porsche onto the open roads around Waissach for some real-world testing … boasting a long roofline combined with an increased ride height. And while the front looks like the Porsche Taycan, the rest looks more like the Mission E Cross Turismo concept from 2018.
This is the brand new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, a car for those people that love the Taycan, but need some more space and versatility … this Cross Turismo feels at home on the city streets, but also out in the country on sand roads, and while this model comes with increased ground clearance, it’s not a replacement for a Cayenne … the Cross Turismo is intended to be able to cross gravel roads and some mild off-roading, it even comes with bespoke CUV (Cross Utility Vehicle) driving modes.
Compared to the Porsche Taycan you’ll immediately notice the extended roofline, making it look like a sporty estate, but they also added roof rails for practicality, the rear seats are more spacious and the luggage area has been enlarged to create the Cross Turismo, this is the first all-electric cross utility vehicle from Porsche.
Until now the Taycan Cross Turismo was a closely kept secret beyond the walls of Weissach and the Taycan production line in Zuffenhausen, but the appeal of Porsche’s first all-electric sports saloon will only grow now, taking the Taycan (of which 20,000 units were sold during the first year of production) onto a different market segment, customers who want to take this all-electric Cross Turismo off the streets, onto the open fields.
February 19, 2021 / Comments Off on Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo on the road
Raw, visceral, loud, and low, the Morgan Plus 8 GTR represents what the Morgan Motor Company can create when its design and engineering teams let their imaginations run wild. Limited to just nine examples, it marks the first in a line of Morgan special projects set to commence this year.
The Plus 8 GTR explores design themes such as the high shoulder line, not seen on a traditional Morgan body for decades. Its five-spoke center-lock wheels are reminiscent of Morgan’s 1990s Plus 8 race cars, framed perfectly by subtly re-sculpted wheel arches. Further design elements include a revised rear end, front wings, and front splitter, and the fitment of a hardtop. The model also benefits from the learning and expertise gained by the company since the Plus 8 officially finished production in 2018.
One particular design inspiration was the Plus 8 race car that competed in the GT series throughout the late nineties, more commonly known as ‘Big Blue’. This car served as the testbed for Morgan’s first bonded-aluminum chassis, which would go on to underpin the Aero 8 and ‘Aero-chassis’ Plus 8 models. It seemed fitting, following the recent launch of Morgan’s latest CX-Generation bonded-aluminum platform, to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the car that pioneered Morgan’s use of aluminum structures.
The project has only been possible because of the recent availability of a number of Plus 8 rolling chassis, which have been re-acquired from a third party following a discontinued project. These were all built by Morgan before 2018 and were never used for their intended purposes. All are to be recommissioned and will benefit from the upgrade of selected mechanical components.
As part of their transformation from rolling chassis to the finished vehicle, each GTR will be handcrafted using Morgan’s traditional coachbuilding techniques. In a break from over a century of Morgan tradition, much of this work will be completed not at its famous Pickersleigh Road factory, but at the nearby Morgan Design and Engineering Centre (M-DEC). The Plus 8 GTR runs alongside core programs and is one of several Morgan special projects to be announced this year. It follows numerous special project Morgan models in recent years, such as the Aero GT, SP1, and Aeromax.
These ‘Aero-chassis’ Plus 8s use the Morgan first-generation bonded-aluminium chassis developed initially for the Morgan Aero 8. Previously, from 1968 to 2004, Plus 8 models used Morgan’s traditional steel chassis and were powered by Rover V8 engines.
All ‘Aero-chassis’ Morgan Plus 8s were powered by the BMW N62 4.8-litre engine, and the GTR will be no exception. In its original specification, this unit produced 362 bhp, however, the exact power output for the GTR is yet to be finalized. A choice of a six-speed manual or ZF six-speed automatic gearbox will be available, with fixed allocations for each transmission option.
Just nine Morgan Plus 8 GTRs will be built, with production beginning in summer 2021. The transformed special project will be available in certain worldwide markets, subject to local rules on the importation of European vehicles. As part of the special projects program, customers will be invited to commission their bespoke Plus 8 GTR alongside Morgan’s design team.
Jonathan Wells, Morgan Head of Design, said:
“Reviving a V8-powered Morgan at the current time may not seem like the obvious choice for a manufacturer firmly focused on new platforms and powertrains. However, when the opportunity presented itself to recommission a number of rolling chassis and create an exciting special project such as Plus 8 GTR, we embraced it fully. This project has allowed Morgan’s design and engineering teams to revisit some of their favorite elements of past Morgan models, as well as experiment with some features that we hope will appear on future Morgan cars.”
February 19, 2021 / Comments Off on The Morgan Plus 8 GTR
As a family man you’ll need a big car for the school run and those groceries over the weekend … a Lamborghini Urus might not fit into the budget and an Audi RSQ8 isn’t what you’re looking for … in that case another option from the Audi stable might be just what you need, the $85,000 Audi SQ7.
Considered a mid-size SUV in the United States, over in Europe this is a large car, nonetheless with 500 hp from a V8 engine, this 2.3-tonne beast still takes only 4.1 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill … something a base model Porsche 911 barely manages too.
But a nicely optioned factory spec Audi SQ7 might just be too easy for some customers, in that case ABT can help you out, they are still developing a custom ECU tune to pull more power from the V8 engine, but for now you can already make your Audi SQ7 look more aggressive with a stylish wide-body kit from this German tuner.
Abt is the world’s largest automotive aftermarket and performance parts specialist for Audi and VW, and they offer a new, aggressively designed front bumper add-on, wider wheel arch extensions, side sills, a rear diffuser fin and a set of massive tailpipe covers to fit over the standard ones.
If you’re not into wide body kits, you can also order the ‘narrow’ version that doesn’t include the fender flares. Additional options are possible in the form of a rear wing or fender inserts in either ABS or carbon fiber.
The Audi SQ7 can already come with large 21-inch wheels from the factory, but we wouldn’t be talking about ABT if they didn’t offer bigger, 22-inch replacement units for their customer, a choice between the ABT Sport GR, the ABT HR Aero, or the impressive flow-forming ABT High PerformanceHR-F.
Additional touches of carbon fiber can be added to the interior while some illuminated ABT logo can be fitted for that ‘personal’ touch to your very own ABT SQ7 SUV, I’m sure this will make dropping of the kids at school a lot more interesting …
February 18, 2021 / Comments Off on The ABT SQ7, 500hp and 7 seats
