joi, 31 mai 2012

Wheelsandmore Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Green Beret 2012

15:53 No comments

Wheelsandmore Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Green Beret 2012

Vencer Sarthe 2012

15:51 No comments

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

15:50 No comments

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

15:49 No comments

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