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Ferrari 458 Spider CAR review
The new Ferrari 458 Spider is an obvious, and inevitable, extension of the 458 Italia sports car range. Ferrari has always offered a fresh-air alternative to the junior V8 and we all knew it was coming.
But the lack of surprise didn't stop the tongues drooling and eyes goggling when we clapped eyes on the new 458 Spider ahead of its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
The Italia remains our favourite junior supercar, having swept the board at the 2010 Performance Car of the Year test and fought off a challenge from the McLaren MP4-12C. And we fancy now it'll sound even better, with less sound deadening between your ears and the 4499cc flat-plan crank V8 and its angry 562bhp at nine thousand rpm.
Ferrari 458 Spider: the details
Interestingly, the 458 roadster is the first mid-engined supercar in the world to offer a folding hard top. Sadly, no photographs are available of the flop-atop roof yet - they're saving that for the Frankfurt show.
The all-aluminium roof will roll out from below the flying buttresses; we presume there will be a pop-up rear glass window too. The metal hood is 25kg lighter than a canvas roof, says Ferrari, and it'll take 14 seconds to flick between coupe and convertible.
It's said to be compact, too: Ferrari says there is a small luggage bench behind the front seats to carry a few bags.
How fast is the new Ferrari 458 Spider?
Pretty rapid, as you expect. Maranello claims a top end beyond 198mph and 0-62mph in less than 3.4 seconds. Not that economy will be top of your priorities, but the combined average - thanks to stop-start - stands at 24mpg and CO2 is 275g/km.
That lightweight roof is interesting, trimming the penalty for going al fresco in a Ferrari: Ferrari says the Spider's dry weight is 1430kg, compared to 1380kg for the Italia coupe.
And the 458 Spider isn't the only new 458 on the horizon; we reported recently that a Scuderia successor will arrive in 2012.
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 2, 2012
Bentley Continental GTC (2011) first official pictures
Bentley has shown the convertible sister to the new Continental GT coupe: it's the new Conti GTC, due to be unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
The Continental GTC Mk2 is entirely in line with the latest coupe - a sophisticated, subtle update to the 2005 original. There's the same smoother front end styling, the more squinty headlamps and a more exaggerated 'power line' with incredibly sharp creases.
Bentley Continental GTC: first official pictures
Styling chief Dirk van Braeckel gave CAR a guided tour around the new Continental convertible. 'The front end is like the GT coupe's, the large headlamps set into the single piece superformed front wing,' he said. 'The radii of the surfaces along the sides are reduced by half compared with the previous model. It makes a real tension in the surfaces. The stance is wider, the tracks front and rear are stretched and we now offer 20in and 21in wheels.'
The rear deck - now fashioned from SMC composite and incorporating the aerial antenna - is longer, too, an there are new oval LED rear lamps.
And inside the new Conti GTC (2011)?
'The character is completely different inside,' van Braeckel told us. 'It's far more complex as a design. We did a lot of work on the design of the seats - the seatbelts are no longer incorporated into the seats - and there is now 36mm more rear legroom.'
The same new front seats now have 10-bag massage function to wobble your bits every which way, and they're ventilated and boast neck warmers too.
Yet despite a plethora of new gizmos, the Bentley Conti GTC is actually 70kg lighter than before, boosting performance and economy.
Bentley Continental GTC: the engineering story
This is the stiffest convertible in the world, says powertrain chief Brian Gush. It'll help make the Conti rag-top ride and handle better than before, and they've stuck with a three-layer fabric roof to save on boot space (which remains identical roof up or down).
Like in the Conti GT coupe, the 6.0-litre W12 swells in power and torque, now boasting 567bhp and 516lb ft at just 1600rpm and driving through a six-speed ZF auto. It remains flexfuel compatible, although Bentley has decided not to spend any more time engineering biofuel solutions. The future is all hybrid in Crewe under the new management.
The W12 will top 195mph and sprint to 60mph in just 4.5sec (a third of a second faster than before). You'll hit a tonne in just 10.9 seconds, too.
The smaller 4.0-litre V8 will arrive in due course, probably in 2012, stretching both Continental ranges down in to more affordable territory. It has been co-engineered with Audi and will offer cylinder deactivation to pare fuel consumption.
Anything else?
New goodies galore include an 8in touchscreen, a 30GB hard drive and much improved sat-nav functionality, which finally accepts seven-digit UK postcodes.
The new 2011 Bentley Continental GTC goes on sale in winter 2011-2012.
The Continental GTC Mk2 is entirely in line with the latest coupe - a sophisticated, subtle update to the 2005 original. There's the same smoother front end styling, the more squinty headlamps and a more exaggerated 'power line' with incredibly sharp creases.
Bentley Continental GTC: first official pictures
Styling chief Dirk van Braeckel gave CAR a guided tour around the new Continental convertible. 'The front end is like the GT coupe's, the large headlamps set into the single piece superformed front wing,' he said. 'The radii of the surfaces along the sides are reduced by half compared with the previous model. It makes a real tension in the surfaces. The stance is wider, the tracks front and rear are stretched and we now offer 20in and 21in wheels.'
The rear deck - now fashioned from SMC composite and incorporating the aerial antenna - is longer, too, an there are new oval LED rear lamps.
And inside the new Conti GTC (2011)?
'The character is completely different inside,' van Braeckel told us. 'It's far more complex as a design. We did a lot of work on the design of the seats - the seatbelts are no longer incorporated into the seats - and there is now 36mm more rear legroom.'
The same new front seats now have 10-bag massage function to wobble your bits every which way, and they're ventilated and boast neck warmers too.
Yet despite a plethora of new gizmos, the Bentley Conti GTC is actually 70kg lighter than before, boosting performance and economy.
Bentley Continental GTC: the engineering story
This is the stiffest convertible in the world, says powertrain chief Brian Gush. It'll help make the Conti rag-top ride and handle better than before, and they've stuck with a three-layer fabric roof to save on boot space (which remains identical roof up or down).
Like in the Conti GT coupe, the 6.0-litre W12 swells in power and torque, now boasting 567bhp and 516lb ft at just 1600rpm and driving through a six-speed ZF auto. It remains flexfuel compatible, although Bentley has decided not to spend any more time engineering biofuel solutions. The future is all hybrid in Crewe under the new management.
The W12 will top 195mph and sprint to 60mph in just 4.5sec (a third of a second faster than before). You'll hit a tonne in just 10.9 seconds, too.
The smaller 4.0-litre V8 will arrive in due course, probably in 2012, stretching both Continental ranges down in to more affordable territory. It has been co-engineered with Audi and will offer cylinder deactivation to pare fuel consumption.
Anything else?
New goodies galore include an 8in touchscreen, a 30GB hard drive and much improved sat-nav functionality, which finally accepts seven-digit UK postcodes.
The new 2011 Bentley Continental GTC goes on sale in winter 2011-2012.
Mercedes B-class (2012) first official pictures
This is the new 2012 Mercedes B-class, the first in a new family of small Mercs. It presages the new A-class – due later in 2012 – and a suite of new compact models, including a coupe and an off-roader.
So take note of the new B-class. The hardware you see here will pop up across future small Mercedes.
Merc B-class: what’s new for 2012
The styling is in line with today’s B-class, but they’ve made it less wantonly sensible. It’s a couple of inches lower to the ground and there are hints of it being a baby R-class tourer rather than a boxy babywagon van. That’s a good thing, as its sleek 0.26 drag coefficient attests.
Underneath is Merc’s new architecture, the so-called MFA or Mercedes Front-wheel drive Architecture that will power the whole compact family.
For the B-class it remains front-wheel drive (4wd will be offered on sportier and off-road variants).
New engines for the new B-class
If you want a petrol engine in your new B-class, you’ll have to settle for a 1.6-litre direct injection turbo. The B180 musters 120bhp, or pick a B200 for 154bhp. These engines – dubbed M270 - are significant, as they’ll power many future small Mercedes, up to and including the C-class.
Diesel engines come from the OM651 family, the dervs already seeing action in everything from the C-class to the S-class. This is the first time these diesels have been used in a transverse application. At launch, there’s just a 1.8-litre CDI, badged B180 (108bhp) or B200 (134bhp).
New for the 2012 B-class is a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. All engines come with stop-start, and a six-speed manual will be standard on most models.
Can I still move house in my B-class?
Yep. At 4359mm long/1786mm wide/1557mm tall, the B-class is still a packaging marvel. Merc claims legroom is actually better than in an E- or S-class, yet the driver sits 86mm lower than before to remove that sit-up-and-beg van posture of before.
The rear bench slides back and forth to swap space for bodies and bags – the boot stretching between a large 488 to an evil sounding 666 litres’ capacity. Sounds like it’ll be a massive load lugger still.
CAR has already sat in the new Mercedes B-class and can confirm it’s a pleasant environment in there. Some of those details – lovely round chromed air vents, for instance – are snaffled from elsewhere in the Mercedes’ oeuvre (the SLK in that instance).
And there are distinct overtones of large car gadgets too. A radar-based collision warning system is standard, and options include adaptive headlamps, drowsiness detectors, active parking and radar cruise control.
See the new B-class for real at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
So take note of the new B-class. The hardware you see here will pop up across future small Mercedes.
Merc B-class: what’s new for 2012
The styling is in line with today’s B-class, but they’ve made it less wantonly sensible. It’s a couple of inches lower to the ground and there are hints of it being a baby R-class tourer rather than a boxy babywagon van. That’s a good thing, as its sleek 0.26 drag coefficient attests.
Underneath is Merc’s new architecture, the so-called MFA or Mercedes Front-wheel drive Architecture that will power the whole compact family.
For the B-class it remains front-wheel drive (4wd will be offered on sportier and off-road variants).
New engines for the new B-class
If you want a petrol engine in your new B-class, you’ll have to settle for a 1.6-litre direct injection turbo. The B180 musters 120bhp, or pick a B200 for 154bhp. These engines – dubbed M270 - are significant, as they’ll power many future small Mercedes, up to and including the C-class.
Diesel engines come from the OM651 family, the dervs already seeing action in everything from the C-class to the S-class. This is the first time these diesels have been used in a transverse application. At launch, there’s just a 1.8-litre CDI, badged B180 (108bhp) or B200 (134bhp).
New for the 2012 B-class is a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. All engines come with stop-start, and a six-speed manual will be standard on most models.
Can I still move house in my B-class?
Yep. At 4359mm long/1786mm wide/1557mm tall, the B-class is still a packaging marvel. Merc claims legroom is actually better than in an E- or S-class, yet the driver sits 86mm lower than before to remove that sit-up-and-beg van posture of before.
The rear bench slides back and forth to swap space for bodies and bags – the boot stretching between a large 488 to an evil sounding 666 litres’ capacity. Sounds like it’ll be a massive load lugger still.
CAR has already sat in the new Mercedes B-class and can confirm it’s a pleasant environment in there. Some of those details – lovely round chromed air vents, for instance – are snaffled from elsewhere in the Mercedes’ oeuvre (the SLK in that instance).
And there are distinct overtones of large car gadgets too. A radar-based collision warning system is standard, and options include adaptive headlamps, drowsiness detectors, active parking and radar cruise control.
See the new B-class for real at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
Aston Martin V12 Zagato road car (2012) first pictures
Aston Martin showed the new V12 Zagato in race-car spec at the Villa d'Este concours in summer 2011 - but today it's shown the first pictures of the £330,000 roadgoing V12.
£330,000! For a V12 Aston Martin?
Yes. It's expensively rebodied with a little help by coachbuilders at Zagato. Just 150 will be built, from sumer 2012.
It's designed to celebrate the golden anniversary of the DB4 GT Zagato, oft cited as one of the world's most beautiful/desirable cars (delete according to your taste).
And that £330,000 is a starting price. Add in local taxes - a stiff 20% VAT in the UK, for starters - and you'll end up paying nearer £400,000. Yikes.
How does the Aston Martin V12 Zagato justify a £400k price tag?
Well, it's pretty damn stunning, we have to admit. And we're the first to sniff a brand-stretching, money-spinning commercial opportunity.
Aston will take the V12 Vantage and replace its already voluptuous bodywork with a bespoke aluminium and carbonfibre shell.
The 'regular' 6.0-litre V12 remains, cranking out 510bhp and 420lb ft of torque.
V12 Zagato at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show
A pair of Zagatos will be shown at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show: the race car, nicknamed Zig after its successful finish at the 24-hour Nurburgring race, and Zag, the car originally shown at Villa d'Este and now half-converted to road car spec.
The official renderings here show what the £400k roadgoing V12 Zagato will look like when sales commence in summer 2012.
£330,000! For a V12 Aston Martin?
Yes. It's expensively rebodied with a little help by coachbuilders at Zagato. Just 150 will be built, from sumer 2012.
It's designed to celebrate the golden anniversary of the DB4 GT Zagato, oft cited as one of the world's most beautiful/desirable cars (delete according to your taste).
And that £330,000 is a starting price. Add in local taxes - a stiff 20% VAT in the UK, for starters - and you'll end up paying nearer £400,000. Yikes.
How does the Aston Martin V12 Zagato justify a £400k price tag?
Well, it's pretty damn stunning, we have to admit. And we're the first to sniff a brand-stretching, money-spinning commercial opportunity.
Aston will take the V12 Vantage and replace its already voluptuous bodywork with a bespoke aluminium and carbonfibre shell.
The 'regular' 6.0-litre V12 remains, cranking out 510bhp and 420lb ft of torque.
V12 Zagato at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show
A pair of Zagatos will be shown at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show: the race car, nicknamed Zig after its successful finish at the 24-hour Nurburgring race, and Zag, the car originally shown at Villa d'Este and now half-converted to road car spec.
The official renderings here show what the £400k roadgoing V12 Zagato will look like when sales commence in summer 2012.
Audi Urban Concept cars (2011): the first photos
Audi Urban concept Spyder concept car (2011) news
Audi Urban concept (2011) CAR GAMES review
Audi has only teased us so far with sketches of its new city car duo, the Urban Concept and its open-top sister, the Urban Spider Concept. Now it's lifted the lid and issued these first photos of its 2011 Frankfurt motor show debutants.
They're tiny electric runabouts, with two seats and an electric powertrain. Kind of gives us an idea of what a sub-Audi A1 city car could be in future.
So the Urban Concept is Audi's Megacity Vehicle?
Sort of, although there is no production intent as yet.
Tellingly, though, parent company Volkswagen is set to show a single-seat electric project at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, as we reported this week.
They look tiny - how big are they?
They're bijou, stretching to 3200mm long, 1700mm wide and just 1200mm tall. These cars are a showcase for Audi's lightweight knowhow, and they make use of carbonfibre reinforced plastic for a sub-500kg kerbweight, although the exact mass has not yet been disclosed.
Seating is in a staggered 1+1 layout, not unlike the Caparo T1 sports car.
Could Audi build such a thing? Until recently, we might have dismissed such an idea as idle dreaming. But in an age when Renault is launching a Twizy and other manufacturers are scrabbling into new urban solutions, we wouldn't bet against such a prospect in the long run.
Powering the Audi Urban Concepts
A pair of electric motors is driven by lithium ion batteries and Audi claims a 40-mile range for their city car pair.
The Audi Urban Concepts will be revealed in full at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show on 13 September.
Audi Urban concept (2011) CAR GAMES review
Audi has only teased us so far with sketches of its new city car duo, the Urban Concept and its open-top sister, the Urban Spider Concept. Now it's lifted the lid and issued these first photos of its 2011 Frankfurt motor show debutants.
They're tiny electric runabouts, with two seats and an electric powertrain. Kind of gives us an idea of what a sub-Audi A1 city car could be in future.
So the Urban Concept is Audi's Megacity Vehicle?
Sort of, although there is no production intent as yet.
Tellingly, though, parent company Volkswagen is set to show a single-seat electric project at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, as we reported this week.
They look tiny - how big are they?
They're bijou, stretching to 3200mm long, 1700mm wide and just 1200mm tall. These cars are a showcase for Audi's lightweight knowhow, and they make use of carbonfibre reinforced plastic for a sub-500kg kerbweight, although the exact mass has not yet been disclosed.
Seating is in a staggered 1+1 layout, not unlike the Caparo T1 sports car.
Could Audi build such a thing? Until recently, we might have dismissed such an idea as idle dreaming. But in an age when Renault is launching a Twizy and other manufacturers are scrabbling into new urban solutions, we wouldn't bet against such a prospect in the long run.
Powering the Audi Urban Concepts
A pair of electric motors is driven by lithium ion batteries and Audi claims a 40-mile range for their city car pair.
The Audi Urban Concepts will be revealed in full at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show on 13 September.
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