joi, 19 iulie 2012

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale – The most extreme Gallardo ever

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., is presenting at the Volkswagen Group Night in Frankfurt the most extreme Gallardo ever: the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale. Automobili Lamborghini is bringing motor racing excitement directly to the road. This new and most extreme top model in the Gallardo lineup is based on the successful race car from the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, the world's fastest single make series.

The car will be produced in a limited run of 150 numbered units. The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championship brings professional racers and gentlemen drivers face-to-face in fiercely fought battles on Europe's most challenging racetracks such as Monza, Silverstone and Hockenheim. There are many similarities between the racing and road versions of this super sports car. For example, they both share the same V10 powerplant, which is used in the racing version wîth no modifications. An enormous and manually variable rear spoiler for increased dynamic load Right from first glance, these similarities are even more evident in the new Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale. In fact, it is equipped wîth the
same rear spoiler that offers greater aerodynamic load – reaching in the best aerodynamic condition 3 times the load of the Gallardo LP 560-4 – for increased dynamic stability during tight, high-speed driving. As in the rac cars, the rear spoiler can be varied manually in order to let the driver optimize the car's performance according to the track or road characteristics.

Another element taken directly from the racing version is the removable engine hood wîth quick-release system. Both the spoiler and the hood are of course made of carbon composite material, as are a host of other components on the SuperTrofeo Stradale. Together wîth aluminum, carbon fiber is the basis behind the extremely lightweight construction of Gallardo's new top model.

Lightweight construction through consistent use of carbon fiber The Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale boasts a maximum dry weight of 1340 kilograms. It beats the already lean Gallardo LP 560-4 by 70 kilograms, which gives the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale a stunning power-toweight ratio of 2.35 kilograms per HP for breathtaking performance. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds and reaches 200 km/h just 10.4 seconds later. Its forward thrust finally tops out at 320 Km/h.

'Rosso Mars' stands for Italy's racing tradition
The Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale sports a brand new 'Rosso Mars' finish that underscores the special connection between ultimate race track performance and Lamborghini's 'Italianness'. The 'Rosso Mars' color symbolizes Italy's traditional racing red, as established at the beginning of last century in motor racing, when the home nations of the competitors were indicated by the color of the paint on the vehicles. Dark green stood for Great Britain, blue was for France, white (and silver later on) represented Germany, white and blu stripes for ÚSA, and red was the color of all race cars from Italy.

Vital Stats
Engine : 5.2 L., 10-cylinder
Power: 4570 hp
Torque: 398 ft-lbs
6-speed Manual
Red, black and carbon fiber characterize the exterior
The exterior appearance of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is perfectly accentuated by a matte black finish on the large rear spoiler, the engine hood and the front air intakes, which contrasts wîth the 'Rosso Mars' paint. The forged wheels are painted in high-gloss black, a color that is also
available on the roof as an option. The rocker panel covers, impressive rear
diffuser and outside mirror housings are made of carbon fiber polished to a high gloss, while the brake calipers are accented in red for the first time on a
Lamborghini. It's a perfect match wîth the exterior color and racing concept of
this new super sports car. And besides the historically suggestive 'Rosso Mars',
the new Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale is also available upon request in 'Grigio
Telesto' or 'Bianco Monocerus' wîth the roof available in gloss black as an option, as mentioned above.

Minimalist sporty interior
Black and red, the perfect combination of sporty minimalism, are the dominant
shades inside the Super Trofeo Stradale. The most broadly used materials are Alcantara - in 'Rosso Mars' on the underside of the dashboard, the central part
of the seat cushion and the backrest - and extremely lightweight carbon fiber.
Black Alcantara wîth contrasting red top-stitching is used to finish the other
parts of the interior. The §teering wheel is upholstered in black suede and also
features red top-stitching. The door panels, the monocoque racing seats and the center console cover are made of carbon fiber, the construction of which Lamborghini has achieved a world-leading expertise. Discreet sporty accents
are provided by dark chrome visible metal parts.

Úpon request, an interior layout including elements made of carbon fiber, such
as the handbrake frame, the middle of the center console, the lower rim of the
§teering wheel, the decorative frames around the main and secondary instrument panels, the door handles, and the handle for opening the glove box (also available upon request), can be ordered.

Phenomenal powerplant
Like the Super Trofeo competition version, the new Super Trofeo Stradale is based on the Gallardo Superleggera technical approach. The V10 powerplant generates 570 HP, equivalent to 419 kW, which is fully available at 8000 RPM. The maximum torque is equally impressive, wîth the torque curve peaking at 540 Nm at 6500 RPM. The V10's unique firing order delivers the striking sound you hear in motor racing.

Transmission 'race tested' in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championship series
Like the race car, the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale offers the robotized egear
six-speed transmission controlled by §teering wheel paddles as standard equipment. This electronically controlled system shifts through its six gears smoothly and much faster than any human being could. And for maximum acceleration from a standing start, the transmission can be set to the 'Thrust Mode' – a program that allows to reach the best performance possible executing a racing start wîth minimal tire slippage at an initial engine speed of approximately 5000 rpm.

Permanent all-wheel drive for maximum traction in any situation
Every kilometer in the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is packed wîth sheer excitement, in part due to its unrelenting grip in virtually all situations
thanks to all-wheel drive. At the end of the day, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo
is the only single-brand racing series in the world that features all-wheel drive
race cars. The Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale is a highly concentrated driving
machine offering a truly stunning driving experience wîth breathtaking cornering speeds and fast, immediate response. Its road manners are always precise, stable and completely safe.

Suspension wîth unmatched precision
The layout of the suspension is directly derived from motor racing, wîth a double aluminum wishbone guiding the wheels. Precise rack-and-pinion §teering gives the driver a very close connection to the road. As is true for the Gallardo Superleggera, the vehicle is specially set up to take full advantage of its dynamic potential. No other model in the Gallardo line is as close to being a true race car. Another great feature is the ultra-lightweight 19-inch wheels, which alone save some 13 kilograms. The lightweight and sturdy wheel bearings and bolts are made from titanium and high performance Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires are fitted.

Brakes wîth unmatched stopping power
Behind the massive wheels are brakes designed for unmatched stopping power, as controlled by the ESP stability control system, which is standard equipment. The front axle is equipped wîth aluminum calipers wîth eight pistons each, and the calipers on the rear axle have four pistons each. The ventilated discs on the front and rear measure 365 and 356 millimeters, respectively. Úpon request, Lamborghini will install a carbon-ceramic brake system. The carbon-ceramic discs measure 380 mm for the front wheels and 356 mm for the rear wheels.

Racing-type options
The optional equipment designed wîth racing in mind includes not only the carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs, but also a tubular interior roll cage, 4-point safety belts and fire extinguisher. On the other hand, those who want comfort can equip their Super Trofeo Stradale wîth a satellite navigation, wîth Bluetooth connection for mobile phones, an anti-theft system, and a lifting system that raises the front axle.
Source - Lamborghini

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Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Lamborghini , 2012

Porsche GT3 Tuning

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Wheelsandmore Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Green Beret 2012

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Wheelsandmore Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Green Beret 2012

Vencer Sarthe 2012

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Following in the trail blazed by the likes of the Savage Rivale GTS and the Spyker C12 Zagato comes another super car bearing the proud colors of the Oranje.

This new piece of four-wheeled exoticness goes by the name of Vencer Sarthe, a hand-built model by the fine folks of Vencer, who apparently want to break into the growing super car market of the European country.

Despite looking a little bland for a super car - the rear end looks like a boring mess of blah - the Sarthe boasts of the finest materials that are "supercar worthy." For example, the entire body is made out of carbon fiber - always a good thing - while also carrying a space frame chassis that’s been built of steel and chrome-moly tubing. It rides on a new set of either 19" or 20 alloy wheels. Again, that’s cool to know.

More than that, the Sarthe’s calling card - as with any other exotic for that matter - is its power train. Packing a mid-mounted V8 engine, the Dutch super car is capable of producing 503 horsepower and 480 lb/ft of torque while mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Those figures translate to a 0-62 mph time of just 3.8 seconds with an impressive top speed of 202 mph.

As with most niche super car models, don’t expect a mass produced Sarthe anytime soon. Vencer has already said that production will be very limited and we’re not about to start questioning that decision.

After all, for a company that’s still looking to break into an extremely competitive industry, testing out the waters sounds like a pretty good idea.

Lexus GS 450h FSport 2012

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Lexus GS 450h FSport 2012

This is the fourth generation Lexus GS, but it’s not about to take on the hegemony of Audi, BMW and Mercedes in Europe as there are still no plans for a four-cylinder diesel. There /is/ a new 2.5-litre V6 petrol but, officially, it’s dirtier and less fuel efficient than the headline-grabbing hybrid version, the GS450h. It’s the hybrid we’ve tested here – read on for CAR’s first drive review of the new Lexus GS450h.

So if the Lexus GS450h is Toyota’s latest hybrid, presumably it produces some pretty stellar official figures?

The GS450h features the second generation of Lexus Hybrid Drive, but it’s more evolutionary than revolutionary: the batteries remain nickel-metal hydride (but now stand vertically instead of horizontally to the boon of 60% more boot space), and the 3.5-litre V6 engine is still naturally aspirated (albeit now with direct fuel injection). Combined with the electric motor, the maximum power output of the hybrid system is up versus the old GS450h: 292bhp @ 6400rpm is now 338bhp @ 6000rpm. And yet torque is down: 271lb ft @ 4800rpm has dropped to 254lb ft @ 4600prm.

Officially, thanks to the electric tech, the GS450h achieves 137g/km and 47.9mpg on the combined cycle, which means emissions have been reduced from 179g/km and consumption is cut by 23%. So it’s cleaner and more economical than any petrol 5-series – and the 530d – while the (unchanged) 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds means it’s on par for pace with the 535i.

How has the new Lexus GS changed inside and out?

The styling is sharper – but you really need the optional F Sport kit (an estimated £2500) to make the GS look mean rather than meek. And besides the beefier bumpers, F Sport trim adds interior upgrades (excellent 16-way adjustable front seats and various trim tidbits), plus revised shock absorbers, stiffer rear suspension bushes, and bigger front brakes. Two-stage Adaptive Variable Suspension is thrown in too, and on F Sport models you can spec Lexus Dynamic Handling (an estimated £1700), effectively a rear-wheel steer system. More of which later…

Refinement and quality levels are high, but the graining of the plastic has that unique Toyota/Lexus ability to instantly date the interior by about a decade and any superiority Lexus once enjoyed over the Germans is slipping away. But it now leads all rivals in one way: the LCD multimedia screen is, at 12.3in, the largest ever fitted to a production car. Controlling it is the second-gen Remote Touch Interface, the Lexus take on iDrive. The rollerball controller no longer acts like a mouse with the cursor flying across the screen as you battle against the oversensitivity; instead each nudge of the RTI left or right or up or down moves the pointer to set positions. Works well, but the rotary dial favoured by the Germans is a slicker solution.

And how does the new Lexus GS drive?

Like all hybrids you start the GS450h and it’s instantly into EV mode. Then there’s that smug smile as you glide away from your parking space and into urban traffic in near silence. Plant your right foot and the petrol engine seamlessly joins the fray; the extra power is instantly obvious, and the electrical assistance means diesel-esque mid-range overtaking ability. Lift, and as long as you’re not asking too much, the V6 shuts down and you coast along on electric power once more. Which is much like the previous Lexus GS450h.

What’s different is a Drive Mode Select dial with Sport S and Sport S+ settings, plus the F Sport’s adaptive dampers and the rear-wheel steering system. Sport S sharpens the throttle, Sport S+ quickens the steering (and adjusts the dampers and the rear-steer settings) and with all four wheels swiveling the GS turns in keenly, feels very nimble, and only on the worst roads and in the stiffest setting does the ride lack a little composure. There’s a little initial deadness to the steering, but while it’s a little light and synthetic, it’s sharper and more incisive than on non-F Sport models – and much better than the old GS.

Verdict

The new GS is still fast and refined, and now (in full F Sport-spec GS450h guise at least) it’s fun to drive too. Alas the lack of a small diesel and the expense of the hybrid version – lots of kit will be standard but reckon on paying £50k – means it’ll remain a bit-part player, despite potentially having the wherewithal to challenge German domination.

Ferrari 599XX Evo up for auction

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Ferrari 599XX Evo up for auction

Online auction hosted by Maranello set to raise funds for families of victims of Italian earthquakes

Ferrari is set to offer up rare items for sale next week to raise funds for the families affected by a series of devastating earthquakes that have paralysed northern Italy.

Maranello will host an online auction, offering up the new Ferrari 599XX Evo - the most extreme 599 ever built - along with other items including a V8 engine, racing suits and helmets donated by Scuderia drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, and memorabilia from works racing cars from history.

There will also be a selection of items from the Ferrari store, including Prancing Horse watches.

The first quake struck the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy in the early hours of 20 May and measured 6.0-magnitude, while a second earthquake - measuring 5.8 - was recorded just yesterday.

Scientists believe aftershocks could continue around the region for years to come, due to the pressure of the Apennine mountains pushing north under the Po valley.

Ferrari report that clients and collectors from across the globe contacted Maranello straight after the earthquakes struck to offer their support. "Once again the generosity of Ferrari's enthusiasts will enable the company to provide support to those most hit by the tragedy," said Ferrari.

Interested? The auction will be hosted at ferraristore.com