Det är inte alltför långt kvar till varken julafton eller till bilentusiastens LA Car Show. Båda äger rum i December och erbjuder trevliga överraskningar och glada miner. Å LA Car Shows vägnar kommer bland annat Porsche presentera sitt senaste barn; Porsche Boxster Spyder. Det kanske inte låter så märkvärdigt men det finns en och annan intressant detalj att poängtera. Den främsta skillnaden från den vanliga Boxster S är att Spydern har en lägre vindruta som gör att bilen får en slimmare look när suffletten är uppfälld. Vidare har Spydern två pucklar, eller utbuktningar om man så vill, som gör att Spyderns silhuette för tankarna till Carrera GT.

Under huven sitter en 3.4 liters direktinsprutad V6 som producerar 320 hk, dvs 10 fler än hos Boxster S. Porsche har även tuffat till fjädringen och i samma veva sänkt bilen med drygt 2.5 cm. Vi kan även påpeka att detta blir den lättaste Porschen på marknaden med en vikt på 1 275 kg. 0-100 km/h tar 4.6 sekunder och topphastigheten, med taket nedfällt, är 166 mph, drygt 265 km/h. Det är tänkt att Spydern kommer börja saluföras under februari nästa år och med ett utgångspris på 61 200 USD.

Källa: Leftlanenews

Denna härliga bildserie publicerade nättidningen realtid.se tillsammans med en mer eller mindre onödig redogörelse om ägaren Urban Edenström.

Urban har dubbelparkerat sin bil mitt inne i Stockholms innerstad. Men ett samvete har han ändå då han förbarma sig mot den inparkerade. Han la en 20-lapp under vindrutetorkaren (på sin egen bil). Eller kan det vara en direkt muta till en förbipassande ilsken lapplisa?

Edenström svarar: ”ingen kommentar”

Autostrada säger: ”Edenström är skön”

Nu ska några av världens dyraste bilar gå under klubban hos det berömda aktionsverket RM Auctions Automobiles hos Sotheby’s.

De två bilarna som ska auktioneras ut är en Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster och en Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupé. Båda är teknisk sett lika med en 6.9-liters V12:a på 612 hästar med en sekventiell sexväxlad låda som kontrolleras med paddlar vid ratten. Bromsarna är av kolfiber. Båda bilarna är högerstyrda och är i princip nya. Coupén har rullat ynka 25 km och Roadstern 34 km.

Inköpspriset för Coupén var 1 miljon Euro (10,1 mkr) och roadstern köptes ursprungligen för 1,3 miljoner Euro (13,2 mkr). Priset för bilarna förväntas bli 4,4 – 4,7 miljoner kr för Coupén och 5,1 – 6 miljoner kr för roadstern. Det gäller att passa på då det endast finns 25 exemplar av dessa skönheter tillverkade och av de 25 är endast 3 stycken en Roadster.

Källa och bilder: RM Auctions

En baby-Ferrari? Nja, så nära du kan komma åtminstone. Fiat’s Abarth har gått ihop i ett samarbete med Ferrari för att göra en specialutgåva av 500 för att hedra Ferrari:s hemstad Maranello. Denna ”mini-Ferrari” har en 1.4 liters 16-ventilers turbo fyra trimmad av Abarth tillsammans med Ferrari:s ingenjörer som producerar över 180 hk. Exteriört får den 17-tums scuderia-inspirerade fälgar och får även äran att bära en Scuderia röd färg med de gråfärgade racing-stripes’en.

Källa: Abarth/Ferrari Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

The Abarth 695 ”Tributo Ferrari”

The Abarth 695 ”Tributo Ferrari” makes its world debut at Frankfurt. This new performance version of the Abarth 500 confirms the link between Abarth and Ferrari based on shared values that include a passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail and Italian style.

Abarth and Ferrari are two great names that have contributed, with conviction and dedication, to the legend of Italian racing that is known around the world. The legendary men behind both marques followed very similar careers: first drivers, then tuners and finally heads of companies that command genuine respect in the world of motor racing. These extraordinary men were associated in the past: in 1953, for example, a unique Ferrari-Abarth was born, the Ferrari 166/250 MM Abarth. The car raced in various international trophies including the legendary Mille Miglia. The tie between the two companies has been reinforced above all by the exhaust systems designed by Abarth specifically for the cars built at Maranello: numerous exhaust systems have been made for various Ferrari models, some of which have won World Championship titles.

The two brands have recently renewed their collaboration. The first result of this was the supply of a limited and numbered series of Abarth 500’s to Ferrari’s European dealers in recent months for use as ”courtesy cars”.

Now, attention turns to the new Abarth 695 ”Tributo Ferrari”, an exclusive vehicle that not only enables Abarth to extend its range by entering into the luxury sports car market, but also offers Ferrari customers a small but exciting small car for all their mobility needs, including practical urban mobility.

The new Abarth 695 ”Tributo Ferrari” is distinguished by a number of stylistic changes, but more importantly by substantial modifications developed by Abarth and Ferrari engineers. The engine, for a start, is a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v, tuned to develop over 180 HP. This is combined with an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) electromechanical gearbox with race-inspired paddle gearshift that makes full use of the engine’s performance by reducing gearshift times.

To improve acceleration, the car is fitted with performance tyres on 17” alloy wheels featuring a design inspired by Ferrari wheels. The suspension and braking systems have also been strengthened to cope with the extra power: 284 mm multi-section discs with fixed four-piston calipers, both by Brembo, and special shock absorbers let you enjoy performance in total safety.

And of course there is a ”Record Monza” variable back-pressure ”dual mode” exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound over 3,000 rpm.

On the outside, the car is finished in Scuderia Red, with carbon fibre door mirrors and with details like the wheels and rear air intakes in Racing Grey. This new Abarth is equipped with Xenon headlights with dipped and main beam functions for improved light emission and excellent efficiency under all weather conditions. Made by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting, these elements deliver three times the light intensity and duration of standard halogen lamp headlights.
The interiors are also personalised and demonstrate the attention to detail and the sporting style that are common to both brands. ”Abarth Corsa by Sabelt” seats are fitted and finished in black leather with a shell and seat base in carbon fibre. These seats offer a perfect blend of racing characteristics – light weight (10 kg less than the standard seat) and the ability hold the body steady against lateral and longitudinal forces, thanks to body support elements filled with crush-resistant foam – with the ergonomics and comfort of road seats.

The black leather steering wheel is characterised by red leather inserts and a tricolour hub on which the MTA gearshift paddles are mounted, while the instrument panel is specially made by Jaeger, and inspired by typical Ferrari instrumentation. Attention to detail has gone into the floor too: the foot wells are covered entirely in non-slip aluminium and the racing pedals are personalised with the Scorpion logo. The interior is embellished with other details too, like special kick plates and a plate bearing the vehicle series number.

Bentley Mulsanne, så heter uppföljaren till den utgående Arnage, och med denna modell strävar Bentley att ta upp kampen mot Rolls-Royce Phantom. Ryktet gick att modellen först skulle döpas till Grand, men så blev det inte. Mulsanne sägs vara inspirerad av grundaren, W.O. Bentleys, Bentley 8.0 litre från 1930-talet. Bilen presenterad för första gången under Concours D’Elegance i Monterey, Californien. Under kommande bilmässa i Frankfurt planerar Bentley att släppa mer information om modellen. 

Källa: Bentley

BENTLEY PRESS RELEASE

NEW BENTLEY MULSANNE MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE, CALIFORNIA

16 August, 2009 (Bentley Motors, Crewe, England) Today, Bentley Motors unveiled the Mulsanne, the companys all-new flagship grand tourer, at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in Monterey, California. The Mulsanne is inspired by the company founder W.O. Bentleys crowning achievement in 1930, the 8-litre. And it was W.O.s own sensitively conserved company car that shared the podium with the new Mulsanne in Pebble Beach. This early motoring masterpiece represented the last big Bentley that was designed, engineered and built from the ground up by Bentley engineers – until now.

Nearly 80 years later, while paying respect to this illustrious past, the new Mulsanne is a thoroughly modern statement of luxury driving and grand touring. Conceived, styled and engineered entirely at Bentleys headquarters in Crewe, England, the Mulsanne, with its completely new and unique platform, goes into production next year in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility within the Crewe factory.

Introducing the Bentley Mulsanne at Pebble Beach, where Bentley was the featured marque, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said:

The challenge we set our engineers was to create a new grand Bentley that would stand as the pinnacle of British luxury motoring, offering the worlds most exclusive driving experience. They have responded to this challenge with real passion and the result is a luxury grand tourer that sets new standards in terms of comfort, effortless performance and hand-crafted refinement the very qualities for which Bentley is renowned.

The Bentley design team, lead by Dirk van Braeckel, have created a flagship that offers the classic sporting, styling cues long-associated with Bentley – expressed in a thoroughly contemporary way.

From the very first hand sketches in the styling studio, we were inspired by the traditions of the grand touring Bentleys and have sought to evolve this story for a new generation of Bentley enthusiasts.

The return of the Mulsanne name to a car carrying Bentleys iconic Winged B emblem underlines the companys racing pedigree and nowhere reflects that heritage better than the famed Le Mans circuit, the scene of no fewer than six Bentley triumphs. Few places offer a stronger or more emotive connection with the Bentley marque than the famed Mulsanne corner.

The Bentley 8-litre displayed alongside the Mulsanne in California was first shown at the 1930 London Motor Show. It was the second-built and was W.O. Bentleys company car for two years. Capable of reaching more than 100 mph, the 8-litre demonstrated W.O. Bentleys ambition and ability to build a grand luxury car capable of surpassing every other leading manufacturer of the day. A total of 100 cars were built in 1930 and 1931.

The 8-litres breathtaking performance and quality was perhaps the finest example of a pure grand Bentley. Every mechanical detail carried W.O. Bentleys unique stamp and it was the clearest demonstration of a car built without compromise, commented Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board Engineering.

The Mulsanne has been designed with exactly the same guiding principles, so it is entirely fitting that these Bentleys from different eras share the same stage.

The Bentley Mulsanne will go on sale from mid 2010. It will also be displayed at the forthcoming IAA Frankfurt Motor Show (15-27th September, 2009) where Bentley Motors will provide additional product information.