Sunday, June 21, 2015
2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Read to : 2015 Ferrari 599 GTO Limited Edition New Price
Photos of the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Swedish man bests Kobe Bryant by jumping speeding Lambo
Way back in 2008, Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant created a minor uproar with a viral video filmed and released by Nike. In it, the 16-time NBA all-star vaulted a moving Aston Martin. The promotional plug of the whole thing was that Bryants ups were courtesy of his new Nikes, although he later admitted that "Hollywood" had a big part in the video.
This new video is allegedly real, though, and comes without the help of a promotional plug for a basketball shoe. It stars a Swedish man named Al the Jumper. Rather than an Aston Martin, Al jumps a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, which is heading right for him at 80 miles per hour. It is, if its as real as claimed, a very impressive feat, especially after seeing how handily Al clears the Lambo.
Scroll down for the video and then head into Comments and let us know what you think.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Muscle cars donuts burnouts and fireworks these guys really love America
Its early July and that means that its time to celebrate our nations independence. Of course, we all observe the holiday in our own way. For some its just nice to sit outside with a cool beverage and enjoy the outdoors. Of course, if youre like the guys from Bullet Motorsports, the best way to honor the country is to get into a big American muscle car, shoot off some fireworks and do a big smoky burnout to the straining voice of Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen. Sounds perfect to us.
If you ever listen to the verses of Born in the USA, its not really the patriotic anthem that its chorus might suggest. However, these guys get a pass just for the awesome burnout and donuts in a 66 Chevrolet Impala in front of some of its compatriots. Plus, stay until the end to get a brief tribute to that American classic â€" The Dukes of Hazzard. Scroll down for a smoky dose of automotive patriotism.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Geneva Italdesign Giugiaro Clipper MPV Concept can take six people in all electric luxury
Italdesign Giugiaro has turned its design talents to Volkswagens MQB platform, revealing this, the Clipper MPV, at the Geneva Motor Show.
The three-row, six-passenger Clipper boasts an all-electric powertrain that is capable of covering 540 kilometers (335 miles) between charges. The grunt is provided by two 110-kilowatt electric motors, with one mounted on each axle, making the Clipper essentially an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
The exterior highlight is the Clippers unique door setup - there are butterfly doors and the front and gullwing doors at the rear, meaning that when the doors are open, the entire cabin is visible. The b-pillars are actually integrated into the rear set of doors.
For the interior, Giugiaro teamed with Alcantara to develop a new print for the artificial suede. On the tech front, there are four Apple iPad Minis integrated into the Clippers seats, while a large central display can display different images to the driver and passenger.
We have a full gallery of live images of the Clipper, along with the press release and stock images from Italdesign Giugiaro. Have a look below.
VERSATILE AND ECO-FRIENDLY, QUIET AND STREAMLINED
LIKE THE SAILING SHIPS ITS NAMED AFTER
Embargo: 4th March 2014
Geneva, March 2014
In a world preview, Italdesign Giugiaro presents its brand new concept car, Clipper: a sporty, versatile MPV which is also eco-friendly, thanks to the all-electric drive and power source.
Clipper is the result of a study in style and engineering focusing on tomorrows world and cities: this sporty MPV has a technological spirit and a green heart. Thanks to the versatile MQB modular platform developed by Volkswagen Group, it can accommodate up to 6 people, seated in three rows of two seats; it features an electric powertrain comprising two 110 kW engines, housed one up front and one at the back, guaranteeing a range of 540 km. It has four-wheel drive with fully independent wheels. The battery packs are housed in the floor, specially designed to afford maximum protection against accidental impact from the road while driving.
"This year", states Giorgetto Giugiaro "we wanted to focus our styling and engineering research on a project for a deliberately not futuristic car. The only concession to exotic styling lies in the door opening mechanisms, with "butterfly" doors at the front and "gull-wing" at the back.
We concentrated instead on devising an architectural solution to satisfy the need for a spacious, comfortable interior, also exploiting the advantages of the technology at our disposal today. An example of this is the flat floor, typical of electric vehicles, and the mobile modules of the interior which can be modified, with the controls and dashboards developed in line with the "touch feeling" concept so that the compartment adapts to the needs of driver and passengers. As always, the name of the vehicle hints at its personality traits: "clipper" ships enjoyed their heyday in the latter half of the 19th century; quiet and streamlined, they transported precious cargo like spices".
Clipper was designed, engineered and built at the Italdesign Giugiaro plant in Moncalieri (Turin).
DESIGN OF THE INTERIORS
The design for the passenger compartments outfit of Clipper represents the true revolutionary element of this concept car. Effective use of space, combined with original and highly innovative architectural solutions, not to mention the use of brand new technology that emphasises user-friendly, intuitive design, makes Giugiaro Clipper a veritable automotive research & design lab.
The six occupants can all get into the car at the same time thanks to the simultaneous opening of the doors and the absence of the B-pillar: with this architectural solution, Clipper offers one single, wide opening for access to the interior.
The interior design team at Italdesign Giugiaro designed the instrument panel with one watchword only in mind: lightness.
The central instrument cluster, based on the latest digital interfaces, does not rest on the dashboard as is usually the case, but is floating and attached to the upper part of the instrument panel. Driver information is displayed on two screens, one positioned in the classic spot, recessed in the dashboard; the other, meanwhile, is housed in the upper part of the instrument cluster and projects the information onto the perspex cover of the first monitor, titled at an angle of approx. 45°. The information from the two screens is complementary and the overall effect created for the driver is similar to a 3-D holographic projection.
Three screens are integrated in the section of instrument panel in front of the passenger: the first, farthest left, shows the images from the camera which replaces the rear-view mirror; the other two, meanwhile, provide the usual information relating to navigation and infotainment.
For passenger compartment climate control, a sleek aperture runs the entire width of the instrument panel.
The typical electric vehicle architecture with flat floor allowed the designers to exploit the space between the seats and create an innovative mobile tunnel with 11" touchscreen.
The almost complete absence of conventional buttons, replaced by graphic touchscreen interfaces, has made it possible to exploit the latest available technology, for lighter surfaces and simpler controls. The touchscreen on the central tunnel groups together all the climate control and infotainment controls. The only buttons present are the start/stop button for the powertrain, that for gear selection and the electronic handbrake, integrated in the armrest. To the side of the armrests are the door opening buttons.
The tunnel can be fully adjusted electronically by means of two buttons located on the front seats: the touchscreen folds down for discreet storage under the cushion; the tunnel structure has a stroke of 50 cm and can be slid fully back to facilitate movement between the drivers seat and the passenger seat, a useful option in the event of an obstruction preventing exit from one of the doors.
Four iPad Minis are integrated in the headrests for passengers seated in rows two and three. The seats of the two back rows can be folded flat to create one large load platform offering a total volume of around 900 litres.
The steering wheel is multifunctional and, here too, the buttons have been replaced by two mini touch pads that replicate the main control functions and allow the direction indicators to be activated.
The external lights and windscreen wipers activate automatically.
The collaboration with Alcantara
For the upholstery of the interiors, the Color & Trim department of Italdesign Giugiaro developed a new project, in partnership with Alcantara, which enhances the welcoming yet hi-tech feel of the interior, emphasizing the innovative, light architecture.
The result is a geometric diamond pattern in Castel Rock grey, digitally printed on a white Alcantara ground, which gradually opens into a looser mesh design, creating an interesting optical effect that graduates from dark to light. The digital print is applied to the Alcantara ground without detracting in any way from the aesthetic, tactile and functional characteristics of the material, which remains smart and stylish, soft and pleasant to the touch, yet light and incredibly hard-wearing. This exclusive version of Alcantara is used for several prominent areas of the interior: it can be seen on the instrument panel, steering wheel, central tunnel, oddments compartment and the back shell of the seats.
Carlink
The very essence of this hi-tech, electric vehicle designed to accommodate up to six occupants means that Clipper is perfectly in step with the times. Thinking of a world that is constantly connected and always interacting, Italdesign Giugiaro developed an app that allows car occupants to stay connected with each other and the outside world: Carlink.
Occupants can activate the app on the tablets and access a private network that allows them to share documents and diaries, chat or play in multiplayer mode with the other occupants in the car.
DESIGN OF THE EXTERIOR
The cars entirely electric set-up and the use of the MQB platform with its flat floor dictated the overall look of Clipper also in terms of the design of the exterior.
Clipper has a deliberately functional setting which is designed to make the best possible use of interior space, so the driver and passengers are guaranteed the highest level of comfort.
"We rationalized like never before, while designing Clipper" explained Giorgetto Giugiaro, "and we built the car as if it were, in theory, close to the production level, apart from a few necessary modifications. The only "exotic" license we allowed ourselves was to eliminate the conventional B-pillar and design the car with "butterfly" doors at the front and "gull-wing" doors at the back".
The B-pillar is actually integrated in the structure of the back doors, concealed below the windows: this solution guarantees a single, large opening for access to all three rows of seats in the passenger compartment, further facilitated by the automatic and simultaneous opening of front and back doors on the same side.
When exiting the vehicle from the rear seats, the electronic system guarantees safety at all times by releasing and lifting the front door first, followed by the back door.
The electric engine dictated the design of the front: with no need to incorporate a front grille for radiator cooling as required in cars with endothermic engines, two air intakes were positioned vertically between the light clusters and the wheel arches; another two were included horizontally just under the headlights to channel the airflow under the floor where the battery packs are housed, for the purpose of cooling. Two similar vents are positioned at the back of the car for extraction of the air flow.
The curve of the waistline traces a sleek line from the front bonnet along the side of the car all the way to the C-pillar, giving Clipper a dynamic, sporty look, further emphasized by the design of the wheel arches, which merge progressively into the side.
The panoramic windscreen sweeps all the way back to the rear spoiler, ensuring even passengers in the back row of seats enjoy superb visibility.
The generously sized rear tailgate sports integrated light clusters whose main functions are duplicated, when the tailgate is open, by additional lights built into the rear bumper, ensuring the vehicle is perfectly visible and the passengers safe at all times.
Below the C-pillar are two concealed vents that ensure a constant supply of fresh air inside the passenger compartment.
CLIPPER DUCATI VERSION
The versatility of the Clipper project is illustrated by the Ducati version, a great attraction at the Italdesign Giugiaro booth at the Geneva Motor Show.
In this "vanette" version, Clipper features doors of a different design and a slightly different C-pillar compared to the original outfit.
This variant is dedicated to Ducati, one of the most prestigious Italian brands, famous around the world, which together with Audi, Lamborghini and Italdesign Giugiaro, makes up the Audi Group.
The livery thus sports the official Ducati colours and graphics in a tribute to the imminent world championship season.
The Italdesign Giugiaro style centre has also designed an original towing trailer for the Ducati Panigale 1199 S which complements the style and performance of all models to leave the Borgo Panigale plant: a good omen for a year of even better results.
THE COLLABORATION WITH LANIFICIO CERRUTI CONTINUES
For the presentation of the new Clipper prototype, Lanificio Cerruti has developed an exclusive fabric in the finest cashmere for Italdesign Giugiaro, featuring impermeability and breathability performance which is unique for this type of material.
These technological characteristics are achieved by applying a special film at the back of the fabric, which makes it impermeable yet preserves its breathability. Nor does this alter the natural softness of the cashmere, which is bathed in Teflon as a surface treatment.
Lanificio Cerruti and Italdesign Giugiaro have taken the particular characteristics of this fabric and used it to create a line of exclusive products for the Clipper.
ALCANTARA®
Registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A. and result of a unique and proprietary technology, Alcantara® is a highly innovative material, offering an unrivalled combination of sensory, aesthetic and functional qualities. With many attempts of imitation and among the Made in Italy excellences in the world, Alcantara® defines a product category of its own: the material, in fact, originates from a sophisticated technological know-how, unparalleled still today. Elegant, soft, lightweight, resistant and Carbon Neutral certified, Alcantara® is the preferred choice of the most important designers throughout the world, finding application in several industries: from automotive to interior design, from fashion to accessories, passing by marine, aviation and consumer-electronics.
LANIFICIO F.LLI CERRUTI
The Lanificio F.lli Cerruti S.p.A. wool mill was established in 1881 in Biella, the cradle of the Italian textile tradition, by brothers Stefano, Antonio and Quintino Cerruti, descendants of a family dedicated to textiles since the 18th century. The companys growth was constant over time, and after WWII it focused production exclusively on the finest quality fabrics.
Since 1951, the wool mill - which now boasts approximately 400 employees - has been managed by Nino Cerruti who, after 40 years as a major fashion brand, transfers his experience to the Mens, Womens and Parcour fabric collections intended for the most demanding and sophisticated clientèle. Nino Cerruti, with his son Julian and the entire wool mill give life to an alchemy of relentless creativity, constant innovation and pure excellence. The finest yarns, artisanal perfection and fabric which becomes art, in the continuous pursuit of beauty and expression of the evolution of time. These are the products from Lanificio F.lli Cerruti which have portrayed the origins of the wonderful world of fashion for over 130 years.
ITALDESIGN GIUGIARO
The roots of the Italdesign Giugiaro Group go back to February 1968 when Giorgetto Giugiaro set up a design studio that represented an innovative formula for the car industry: a firm set up to act as an independent service company, with the aim of delivering creativity, engineering, construction of preseries prototypes, production start-up assistance and all the support required to put a new product into production.
Italdesign Giugiaro has been a part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010.
Since 1968, some 300 car models have been created that have spawned 50 million standard production units produced by leading international car manufacturers.
Further information on the website www.italdesign.it
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
2014 Kia Cadenza Review Release Date
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2014 Kia Cadenza Review & Release Date |
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2014 Kia Cadenza Review & Release Date |
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2014 Kia Cadenza Review & Release Date |
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
2014 Honda Civic SI Specs Price
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2014 Honda Civic SI Specs & Price |
Monday, June 15, 2015
2015 Scion XB Release Date And Concept
Learn more about 2015 Scion XB Release Date And Concept
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2015 Scion XB Release Date And Concept |
Sunday, June 14, 2015
2010 VW Beetle Owners Manual
Review of 2010 VW Beetle
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| 2010 VW Beetle Owners Manual |
2010 VW Beetle Owners Manual
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Report VW makes 9 2B offer for rest of truckmaker Scania
Volkswagen owns or has controlling interests in three commercial truck operations: besides its own, VW began buying shares in Swedens Scania in 2000 and now controls 89.2 percent of its shares and 62.6 percent of its capital, then bought into Germanys Man in 2006 - in order to prevent Man from trying to take over Scania - and now owns 75 percent of it. The car company has managed to work out 200 million euros in savings, but believes it can unlock a total of 650 million euros in savings if it takes outright control of Scania and can spread more common parts among the three divisions.
It has proposed a 6.7-billion-euro ($9.2 billion) buyout, but according to a Bloomberg report, Scanias minority investors dont appear inclined to the deal. Although effectively controlled by VW, Scania is an independently-listed Swedish company, and a profitable one at that: in the January-September 2013 period its operating profit was 9.4 percent compared to Mans 0.4 percent. Some of the other shareholders believe that Scania is better off on its own and will not approve the deal, some have asked an auditor to look into the potential conflict of interest between VW and Man, while some are willing to examine the deal and "make an evaluation based on what a long-term owner finds is good," which might not be just "the stock market price plus a few percent." The buyout will only be official assuming VW can reach the 90-percent share threshold that Swedish law mandates for a squeeze-out.
Many of the arguments against boil down to investors believing that Scanias Swedishness and unique offerings are what keep it profitable, and ownership by the German car company will kill that. (Have we heard that somewhere before?) If Volkswagen can buy that additional 0.8-percent share in Scania, perhaps its buyout wrangling with Man will give it an idea of what its in for: "dozens" of minority investors in the German truckmaker have filed cases against VW, seeking higher prices for their shares. It is likely only to delay the inevitable, though. If VW is really going to compete with Daimler and Volvo in the truck market, it has to get the size, clout and savings to do so.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Tips pouring in but missing Sebastian womans whereabouts remain unknown
SEBASTIAN, Fla. -- Dozens of calls are pouring into tip lines every hour to find a missing Sebastian mother who has not been seen in 12 days.
Sebastian Police say they have no solid leads as to her whereabouts, or if her son is in fact a suspect.
Sebastian Police say 67 year-old Patricia Harrison came home from a Christmas party December 19th, left her cell phone, keys, purse and car at home and disappeared.
Her son, Al Geary, was home at the time with his girlfriend. All three lived together on Carnation Drive. Police say Als girlfriend, Liz Ranahan, a former caregiver for Patricia, was medicated in her sleep at the time and is not a suspect. Patricias son said he woke up at 3 that morning and Patricia was missing. He later told detectives he thought she was out Christmas shopping.
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Al Geary was a person of interest in her disappearance, but then he shot and killed himself Sunday as police were headed to their home to collect DNA evidence.
Now the lead detective on the case, Detective Todd Finnegan, said, "I dont know if Al was distraught over his moms disappearance, or committed suicide out of guilt, over something he did to her or what have you." Finnegan said they need the public to call with any information on this case.
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"One person said they heard a women screaming by a lake in her house, tips like that--nothing substantial I can go to a location and start a search for her," Det. Finnegan said. "Many are calling the tip line to tell us about Patricias character and that she was a nice person. Theres no real solid leads from that."
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Detective Finnegan said they are subpoenaing to search Als computer and cell phone records, as well as his bank accounts, a process that could take days to acquire the subpoena and then allow several more days to find the data.
CSI teams are processing key pieces of evidence taken from the property, including two canoes and Patricias car.
Detectives tell us it may be weeks before all the forensic tests are back on these items as well.
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If you saw anything suspicious in Sebastian on December 19th, call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 273-TIPS.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
1995 VW Jetta Owners Manual
Review of 1995 VW Jetta
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| 1995 VW Jetta Owners Manual |
1995 VW Jetta Owners Manual
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
French police charge 10 for warning motorists of speed cameras via Facebook
Yesterday, we reported on a man in Ohio who was ticketed for holding a sign alerting other motorists of a DUI checkpoint. Apparently, the French take their speed cameras every bit as seriously as we take drunk driving. The local prosecutor in the Aveyron department of France is charging 10 people for documenting the locations of speed enforcement areas on a Facebook group, and the move is causing a heap of controversy.
The dispute in this case stems from th e definition of a radar-detecting device. In 2012, the France passed a law banning radar detectors and GPS equipment that identified the location of speed cameras, according to The Local. The Facebook group in question started in 2012 to collect photos and locations of the cameras and spot police.
At this time, the page is still up and posting pictures of the cameras. It currently boasts nearly 9,000 members, but its not clear how many of those are newcomers since the brouhaha.
The areas prosecutor finally got fed up and charged ten of the members with using an illegal device, according to The Local. He claimed that the they breached the law because people could look up the page on their smartphone while driving to access the location of the cameras and speed traps.
That seems like a creative reading of the law to some, but the trial doesnt start until September 9, according to French newspaper Le Figaro. If convicted, the accu sed could face their drivers licenses being revoked and each receive a fine of up to 1,500 euros â€" over $2,000. Thats a mighty stiff penalty for using Facebook.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Report Is the 1 4M LaFerrari sold out
If you look at the stratospheric sticker prices on the latest generation of hypercars and wonder how an automaker could possibly justify it, bear in mind a few factoids. For one thing, even when the sticker prices start lower, they quickly balloon past the million-dollar mark. For another, automakers charge that much because they can, and dont seem to have much trouble selling them all.
Case in point: the new LaFerrari. While presenting the state-of-the-art supercar on CNBC, Ferrari North America CEO Marco Mattiacci revealed that all 499 examples that will be made of the hybrid hypercar â€" including those 120 earmarked for North America â€" have already been spoken for. This despite the $1.4 million asking price that makes it the most expensive Ferrari ever made.
Or the most expensive new Ferrari, we should say, because prices for the most collectable machines ever to roll out the gates at Maranello continue to rise. Figure youll save a little and get LaFerraris predecessor? Trading hands these days at prices approaching $2 million (around three times its original $660k MSRP), the Enzo is even more expensive. And thats just the scarlet tip of the iceberg.
A classic 250 LM recently sold at auction for $14 million, a 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder for $27.5 million and the most recent 250 GTO to have changed hands sold for a reputed $52 million. Heck, even a wrecked Dino 308 GT4 sold for a quarter million, which suddenly makes LaFerrari seem like a bargain. Shame theyre all spoken for...
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Whats the Best Car Manufacturer
Friday, May 22, 2015
2015 Acura NSX Review
Thursday, May 21, 2015
2008 VW Golf Owners Manual
Review of 2008 VW Golf
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| 2008 VW Golf Owners Manual |
2008 VW Golf Owners Manual
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Official Mercedes shows Granturismo of the seas yacht form in Monaco
A year after showing off its extraterrestrial, 46.2-foot yacht concept, Mercedes-Benz Style and Silver Arrows Marine have a revealed a two-meter mock-up of the watercrafts final exterior, along with detailed interior design renderings. Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show going on right now, the boat even has a name: the Arrow640 â€" Granturismo.
Other blanks have been filled in from last year as well: its design represents "sensual purity," the interior is an open-plan concept for up to ten passengers with a dining table and bed that "slide into position" when either is needed, materials include nubuck leather and eucalyptus wood paneling set off by "sophisticated color combinations," window glazing will control light penetration according to the suns intensity, and the decking is composed of "a high-tech synthetic material." It will be powered by two diesel engines producing a total of 940 horsepower and will cost 1.25 million euros ($1.69M US). First deliveries are slated for 2015.
The order book for the Edition 1 version of the Arrow640 â€" Granturismo opens at the Monaco show, with the limited-to-ten series including everything but air conditioning and premium audio. You can expect it to cost more.
Besides the yacht, Mercedes-Benz Style will present its entire design portfolio on the Upper Deck Lounge, from the Eurocopter EC145 to its furniture line to a luggage collection that will go on sale later this year. A press release below has more info.
Stuttgart/Monte Carlo, Sep 26, 2013 - Premiering at the Monaco Yacht Show from 25 to 28 September 2013, one year after the presentation of the first design drafts, Mercedes-Benz Style and Silver Arrows Marine are presenting the final exterior and interior design of their new luxury motor yacht â€" the ARROW460 â€" Granturismo. The motor yacht combines hallmark design features of Mercedes-Benz automobiles with unrivalled innovations in the boat building industry. The result is a fascinating luxury yacht offering a new dimension in aesthetics and comfort. At the Monaco Yacht Show Mercedes-Benz Style and Silver Arrows Marine will present a two-metre long model and detailed renderings of the 14-metre long Granturismo of the seas. Silver Arrows Marine is also opening its order book for the Edition 1, a special limited-numbers launch edition to mark the arrival of the ARROW460 â€" Granturismo. In addition to the model yacht, Mercedes-Benz Style is showing its entire product portfolio at the Upper Deck Lounge of the Monaco Yacht Show.
"This new motor yacht with its emotional and high-tech features embodies our Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of sensual purity and is a perfect expression of modern luxury," says Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design at Daimler AG. "Under the label Mercedes-Benz Style we develop highly exclusive design products beyond the automobile, thereby bringing our sensual, clear and progressive design idiom, into other spheres of life."
Exterior design: expressive surfaces perfectly harmonise with dynamic lines for a striking and progressive overall appeal
"We have created something unique with the ARROW460 â€" Granturismo. I am convinced that for many years to come the yacht will be an eye-catching addition to the seas and yacht marinas of the world," says Ron Gibbs, Chairman of Silver Arrows Marine Ltd.
The final design impresses with its clear contours and smooth surfaces as an expression of refined sportiness. The muscular, stretched hull symbolises the sensual purity of the design: dynamic but not aggressive, sophisticated but not subject to fashion. With its long foredeck, a flowing, arched roofline and a slightly descending rear, the design is inspired by classic automobile proportions.
A feature line descending gently towards the stern distinguishes the yachts profile in just the same way the hallmark Mercedes "dropping line" distinguishes the cars. The concave and convex interaction along the entire flank creates a hull that conveys both dynamism and serenity. Underlining the yachts design uniqueness, the bow section is upright and emphatically three-dimensional.
The overall composition is accentuated by elegantly styled yet functional fittings while attention to detail is second to none. The handrails, for example are perfectly integrated into the exterior.
Interior design: innovative space concept with exquisite materials
The guiding hand of the automobile designers is also evident in the interior. The hallmark values of a Mercedes-Benz automobile predominate here: comfort and a familiar feeling of a Mercedes-Benz interior. Complementing exquisite materials such as nubuck leather and eucalyptus wood panelling, as well as sophisticated colour combinations. Mercedes-Benz designers have developed an innovative space concept for up to ten passengers. The concept combines the characteristics of an open boat, with its close connection to the sea and the sky, with those of a cabin cruiser with a generous interior space and more private areas.
The 14-metre long Granturismo is therefore suitable for both day trips and overnight excursions. The yacht offers outstanding versatility. The large side windows slide open and the front window can be raised, allowing passengers to sit comfortably inside, but still enjoy an all-round view and the feeling of being outside. The glazing automatically controls light penetration depending on the intensity of the sun. The yacht decking is made out of a high-tech synthetic material which enabled the designers to create an entirely new look.
The generously dimensioned interior dispenses with a traditional motor yachts compartmentalisied layout and instead features a multifunctional and largely open-plan area. Dining table and bed slide into position as and when they are required. Superior comfort and total privacy are assured by a luxurious bathroom unit and separate utility-room. The special Edition 1 version comes with every feature an owner could wish for as standard. Apart from air conditioning and a premium audio system, the yacht will be equipped with a wine "cellar" and an ice-making machine.
The ARROW460 â€" Granturismo is powered by two diesel engines developing 353 kW (480 hp) each. The yacht is being launched with the Edition 1 model which will be built as a limited edition of ten units. This exclusive version of the "Granturismo of the seas" can be ordered directly from Silver Arrows Marine at a price of € 1.25 million (plus VAT). The first units will be delivered to customers in early 2015.
Technical data of the ARROW460 - Granturismo
Overall length
14.14 metres
Hull length
13.85 metres
Draft
0.93 metres
Maximum beam
3.97 metres
Maximum displacement
13.58 tonnes
Fuel tank capacity
1200 litres
Water tank capacity
500 litres
Engines
2 Yanmar 6LY3-ETP diesel engines each developing 353 kW (480 hp)
Cruising speed
28 to 30 knots (in calm seas)
Top speed
40+ knots (in light ship conditions)
Design category
Class B
The product world of Mercedes-Benz Style
In addition to the model yacht, Mercedes-Benz Style will be showing its entire product portfolio at the Monaco Yacht Show. The first design project, the Eurocopter EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style, was launched in 2011, and accounts for four deliveries to date. Production of the fifth order has already begun. A model of this luxurious helicopter for business and private travel will be shown in Monaco.
Other products on display include the comprehensive furniture collection created by designers of Mercedes-Benz together with the Formitalia Luxury Group. These highly attractive furniture items have been on sale since their world premiere at the Milan Furniture Show in April 2013. An essential feature of the furniture collection is the unique design, which is characterised by its individuality. Ideal proportions and the use of shapes and surfaces in a way which is typical for Mercedes-Benz Style, illustrates modern ease and avant-garde. In addition Mercedes-Benz Style will be presenting its Eyewear Collection developed together with the renowned glasses manufacturer Rodenstock. All models display the hallmark Mercedes lines and combine the unmistakable look with the innovative surfaces, colours and structures of select materials. The all new Mercedes-Benz Style Leather and Luggage Collecion produced by the French TWC-LAmy Group is displayed on preview and will celebrate its market premiere at the end of 2013.
About Mercedes-Benz Style
Since 2010, in addition to classic automobile design, Mercedes-Benz designers have also created the designs for other products in cooperation with selected partners under the label Mercedes-Benz Style. The aim is to transfer Mercedes-Benzs unmistakable, progressive design idiom and high standards of luxury and aesthetics to other spheres of life. All these designer products excel with uncompromising quality and carefully selected, exquisite materials finished to perfection. The complete portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Style can be seen at www.mercedes-benz-style.com.
About Silver Arrows Marine
Registered in Great Britain, Silver Arrows Marine works with internationally renowned designers, marine architects and engineers to bring to market high-end motor yachts that avoid traditional compromises and introduce a new gold standard of elegance, practicality and user-friendliness. More about Silver Arrows Marine can be seen at: www.silverarrowsmarine.com.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
I wasted my last hour with the 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale pacing the polished concrete floor of Home Depot. My quest was to find an industrial-strength adhesive that would permanently bond me to the bright-red Italians carbon-fiber racing seat. At that moment, I was determined to spend the rest of my life with this Ferrari â€" glued behind its F1-inspired steering wheel â€" selfishly dismissing trivial matters like eating, bathing and all future interaction with my wife and kids.
After reviewing literally hundreds of exceptional vehicles, many considered the finest enthusiast offerings each automaker has to offer, I had finally found my mechanical soulmate â€" the limited-production 458 Speciale. I somehow became convinced that cementing myself within its spartan cabin would ensure that our love affair would never end. My plan was ingenious, assuming the hardware store still had a large bottle of Gorilla Glue on the shelf.
Simply put, there is no better way to start a weekend than with a gassed-up Rosso Corsa Ferrari 458 Speciale parked in your driveway and instructions to "Enjoy!"
Burdened with such a monumental assignment, I slithered into Speciales drivers seat and pulled the featherweight door shut firmly behind me. My right hand inserted the key into the steering column, while my left pressed the red start/stop button on the steering wheel. After a brief mechanical whirl, a hand-assembled 4.5-liter V8 barked to life just a couple feet behind my spine. Mere seconds later, as warm oil filled its sump, the engine settled down to a raspy idle accompanied by a frenzied exhaust note.Those seeking a street-legal racecar from Ferrari need look no further.
The Ferrari I found myself encapsulated within was launched at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show as a faster, more compelling version of the 458 Italia â€" the automakers range-topping V8 model. Targeting uncompromising enthusiasts with a proud nod to the 360 Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia (its noted predecessors), the low-volume model relinquishes amenities and adds capability in pursuit of agility and speed. Those seeking a street-legal racecar from Ferrari need look no further.
To reduce mass, the cockpit of the 458 Speciale does not contain an audio system, navigation, cruise control, glovebox or armrests. The seats are covered in mesh fabric and the door panels are paper-thin carbon fiber. There is no carpet, with only coldly textured aluminum plates on the sills, kick panels and underfoot. Also gone is the center console, with its three obligatory transmission buttons now elegantly suspended on a featherweight carbon-fiber blade. The cabin is minimalist, yet it has lost none of its visual impact.
The driving position is low, but surprisingly comfortable and supportive considering that the form-fitting seats only offer minimal adjustments. Practically every operating control that the driver needs, from engine start to turn signals and high beams, is on the multi-function steering wheel â€" its ergonomics initially appear haphazard, but everything is logically placed for immediate access. A quick tug on the right column-mounted paddle engages first gear, and the Speciale awaits for foot pressure on the accelerator before it automatically releases the clutch and the two-seater pulls away.With a bit of justified arrogance, this Italian relishes attention, yet all it really wants to do is run free.
To increase power over the standard Italias 562 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, the 4.5-liter V8 in the Speciale is fitted with shorter intake runners, higher-lift cams, new intake ports and modified piston geometry that boosts compression from 12.5:1 to 14.0:1 (the pressure inside the cylinders rises by a whopping 145 psi). While maximum torque remains the same, its spread more widely across the engines operating range and output rises to 597 horsepower. The standard seven-speed F1-inspired dual-clutch gearbox has been remapped for 20-percent quicker upshifts and downshifts are now 40-percent more rapid. Gone is the three-pipe exhaust system, replaced by a high-flow, twin-pipe setup with weight savings and improved packaging in mind.
This Ferrari has a difficult time fitting in with more mundane vehicles on the road. The issue isnt just its iconic, bright-red paint (which looks wet up close), but its implausibly clamorous exhaust note â€" the Speciale sounds like a track-only 458 Challenge thats escaped the paddock. Neighbors are awakened at night and dogs bark during the day as it roars by. Everyone turns their heads. With a bit of justified arrogance, this Italian relishes the attention, yet all it really wants to do is run free.
With that in mind, its positively agonizing driving the Speciale in urban traffic, as theres so much pent-up potential that both operator and machine quickly become frustrated. To reduce stress, I switch the five-position Manettino (Wet, Sport, Race, CT off and ESC off) to Sport and press the transmissions Auto button. The Ferrari acts as if I had just tossed a Xanax into its intake, with its exhaust note subsiding and the gearbox shifting up a few gears. Tranquility is restored as I continue crawling towards more challenging roads far less traveled.I do what any warm-blooded enthusiast would do â€" I mash the throttle to its stops.
Enthusiasts will recognize the Speciale from a distance. Its signature stripes are a dead giveaway, but so are its new front, side and rear fascias, all tuned to carefully balance downforce and reduce drag. While keeping the coupe planted is crucial at circuit speeds, there are active motorized flaps in the nose and at the tail that reposition above 140 mph to reduce drag. Thus unburdened, the 458 Special will run to more than 200 mph. Even its tail has been sculpted a bit taller to properly manage the wind.
Finally free of the congestion, and with nothing but empty Southern California coastal canyon roads in the windshield, I switch the Manettino to Race and toggle the gearbox to Manual mode. It takes but a second for the Ferrari to clear its throat and resume its audible barrage. I do what any warm-blooded enthusiast would do â€" I mash the throttle to its stops.
Without so much as a pause, the Speciale catapults forward. The acceleration is accompanied by a shrill wail that drowns out everything, including my ability to process thought. There is a brief loss of traction as the rear wheels look for grip, and then the rush continues. The transmissions lower gears are short, requiring my right fingers to work the paddle rapidly as the red sequential LEDs sitting atop the steering wheel warn of each impending redline. Some supercars are elegant, but this Ferrari is purely, thrillingly savage.Some supercars are elegant, but this Ferrari is purely, thrillingly savage.
According to Ferrari, the Speciale is 200 pounds lighter than the standard Italia. Some of this weight loss is attributed to the aforementioned removal of passenger amenities, but the model also sports gorgeously thin forged wheels, a lighter roof, a carbon-fiber intake, thinner glass and a plastic rear window.
In the city and on the highway, the Speciales lack of insulation and lighter construction understandably translates to a much more audible driving experience. The engine wails, the wind rushes and the tires howl. Every noise is transferred directly into the passenger compartment seemingly unfiltered. While this can grind at the senses over time, none of the cacophony is unwelcome in the canyons or on the track, when the clamor signifies additional agility and faster speeds.
Ferrari has partnered with Michelin to wrap ultra-sticky Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires around each 20-inch wheel (245/35ZR20 front and 305/30ZR20 rear). They work with the Speciales stiffened springs and standard adaptive magnetorheological dampers to deliver hallucinatory levels of lateral grip that seem to best anything else I have ever driven on public roads. The mid-engine vehicle feels absolutely neutral, rotating around an invisible pin in the center of the chassis, with only the slightest hint of easily corrected understeer. It sticks tenaciously to the pavement, yet its attitude can be easily managed with the throttle.The Speciale will hang out its tail and power out of each corner with the gracefulness of a jet boat on a glassy lake.
There is more to its cornering prowess, too, with the magic arriving in the form of electronic chassis management that Ferrari calls Side-Slip Control (SSC). The system uses a complex set of algorithms to determine if the driver is seeking agility or stability, and it manages the electronically controlled locking differential accordingly. What this means in real-world driving is that the Speciale will hang out its tail and power out of each corner with the gracefulness of a jet boat on a glassy lake. The driver must possess real skill to use SSC to its fullest, but add talent and the results are positively Biblical.
Mounted inside each wheel is a massive carbon-ceramic drilled brake rotor clamped by a multi-piston Brembo caliper. Initially, the oversized pads need a bit of heat to operate optimally, but once at temperature, they are very easy to modulate and theres no hint of fade. As is often the case with exotics, the Speciale has more braking capability than grip, but the anti-lock braking threshold is surprisingly high, the chassis tracks straight and stopping distances are remarkably short.
Im a manual transmission junkie, yet this Ferraris dual-clutch gearbox has started to win me over for all the right reasons. Diving into a corner, the DCT will drop one, two and then three ratios quicker than you can belt out a two-word profanity. Its lightning-quick shifts are much more rapid and smoother than any human could replicate, allowing the driver to flirt with any specific gear for a few fleeting seconds just to extract a couple more miles-per-hour before catching the next cog. For the first time in print, I will call a dual-clutch gearbox in manual mode emotionally rewarding.For the first time in print, I will call a dual-clutch gearbox in manual mode emotionally rewarding.
Corner after corner, I weave the Ferrari along the wandering asphalt with its signature exhaust note wailing off the canyon walls. The steering is telepathically communicative, with a very quick ratio, requiring only the slightest movement to alter trajectory. Even in the tightest of corners, my hands never leave the wheel and my arms never cross. The accuracy is spot-on, so putting an errant wheel off the line is nearly impossible â€" the tires only cross the painted yellow stripes as I slow to make ample room for avid cyclists (who offer smiles, not curses, as the Ferraris exhaust note rushes over them).
This two-seater is equally as capable on the straights, even when the pavement is less than optimal. Ferrari offers a comfort mode with its electronic dampers (termed "Bumpy Road"), but it didnt prove necessary, even when soaring over broken concrete, cracks or seams. The chassis is drum tight, and even though body roll is almost imperceptible, the wheels absorb everything without a crash transmitted to the passengers. Never once did I bottom out or scrape its front splitter, regardless of how challenging the sections were.
Through it all, the digital oil and water temperature gauges hardly moved around their faces. But after a couple hours of constant Jedi-like focus, I was physically and mentally drained. Few vehicles accelerate with such immediacy, turn-in with equal quickness and decelerate with as much might â€" all while encouraging the driver to push harder. Driving the 458 Speciale through a familiar canyon at speed is more wondrous than your prom, wedding night and birth of your first child combined. Consider that an understatement.A single drive proves that its astronomical pricing is completely justified.
It is difficult to not be infatuated with the 458 Speciale. As the world of supercars accepts all-wheel drive and hybrid powertrains as its norm, the Speciale is old-school traditional â€" there is nothing else with a naturally aspirated powerplant and rear-wheel drive that can touch its specific output, track performance, on-road driving dynamics or sexy appearance. It will never be accused of hiding behind the Prancing Horse on its nose, and a single drive proves that its astronomical pricing is completely justified.
Sadly, Home Depot was uncharacteristically out of Gorilla Glue, forcing me to climb out of the drivers seat and hand over the keys when Ferrari came calling just a few minutes later. But, Ive learned my lesson and ordered a small bottle for a future rendezvous. Next time, Im not giving it up.