2012 Ferrari 458 Italia China Special Edition
Engine: 4.5L V8
Horsepower: 570HP
0-60: -3.4 seconds
Top speed: 202mph+
“Ferrari celebrates its 20th anniversary in China with an important exhibition and a special edition of the 458 Italia
Shanghai, 10 April - This year marks the 20th anniversary for Ferrari in China since the first Ferrari, a 348 TS, was ordered in Beijing. To celebrate this historical milestone, in a few weeks time Ferrari will inaugurate its first ever permanent brand exhibition outside of Maranello at the Italia Center of Shanghai World Expo Park. Covering 900 square metres the Ferrari Exhibition will last for three years and will feature some of the best collections from the Maranello Museum divided into five topics, including Ferrari in China, Green Technology, Product, Design and Racing.
Along with current and past Ferrari models, visitors will gain first-hand experience with a rich selection of images and videos made especially for this exhibition.
Another important element for the 20th anniversary celebration is the introduction of the 458 Italia special edition of only 20 cars dedicated exclusively to the China market. The car’s livery is characterized by unique Chinese elements and is finished in a brand new colour called Marco Polo Red specially developed for this exclusive car which will be presented at the inauguration of the Ferrari Exhibition at the Shanghai Expo Park’s Italian Center.
The inspiration behind the livery came from the longma theme which is an old Chinese idiom which means “the vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse”. Dragon is a symbol of Chinese culture, standing for courage, passion and success, whilst Ferrari’s prancing horse logo is one of the most recognized symbols in the world representing Italian cultural identity and its unrivalled achievements in the design and engineering fields.
The 458 Italia is a very high performing and exclusive 8 cylinder mid-rear engined car which has won over 35 awards all around the world. The 458 Italia mixes very innovative technology with exclusivity and design and it perfectly encapsulates the passion and vitality of the longma spirit.
The most eye-catching element of the car’s exterior is the golden dragon on the front bonnet, which is offset by gold and black livery stripes symbolizing a racing track. The image of the soaring dragon and the prancing horse on the front bonnet complement each other perfectly, and are the finishing touch to the car’s overall design. The symbols reflect both Chinese culture as well as Ferrari’s constant innovation.
This unique design is enhanced by gold finish to the rims and the aeroelastic winglets. The interior also reflects the unique longma spirit and the celebration of Chinese culture with gold embroidery on the car’s head rests, while the engine start button on each of the 20 cars is inscribed with the simplified Chinese characters for ‘start’, and a ‘20th Anniversary Special Edition’ plaque is set into the dash.”
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
Engine: 4L V8
Horsepower: 420hp
“(from BMW Press Release) Unique: BMW M GmbH develops the world’s fastest pickup. Drive and suspension technology from the BMW M3 – comprehensive testing completed on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife – 420 hp and 450 kg load capacity – world premiere on 1 April 2011.
Munich. Following the BMW M3 Coupé, BMW M3 Convertible and BMW M3 Sedan, a fourth body variant of this globally successful high-performance sports car is about to cause a stir. Under the strictest secrecy, the world’s first high-performance pickup has been created at the BMW M GmbH development centre. The sportiest example by far in this vehicle category, the BMW M3 Pickup will fire the imaginations of all motorists with a deep appreciation of top performance matched by a keen practical bent. 309 kW/420 hp under the bonnet and a rear-axle load capacity of up to 450 kilos take the hallmark BMW M relationship between race-oriented driving pleasure and everyday utility to an entirely new level. This unique vehicle has already completed extensive test and set-up drives on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in advance of its global unveiling on 1 April 2011.
With this vehicle, BMW M GmbH once again furnishes evidence of its exceptional competence in developing and building high-grade, individual dream cars. With a high-revving V8 engine at the front, a generously sized load area behind and a removable Targa roof above, driver and passengers in the BMW M3 Pickup will relish an unprecedented take on the familiar M feeling. Yet this spectacular new development is unmistakably recognisable as a member of the BMW M3 model family. Corroborating this kinship are not just the inimitable power of the engine, but also fine-tuned aerodynamics and a tailored suspension set-up. Measurements in the wind tunnel at the BMW Group’s Aerodynamic Test Centre showed a Cd factor on a par with that of the BMW M3 Coupé. Like every BMW M model, the BMW M3 Pickup has also demonstrated its dynamic potential on the North Loop of the Nürburgring. Official lap times have not yet been released, but the needle in the dial vouched for a top speed of 300 km/h.
The kerb weight of the world’s fastest pickup undercuts that of the BMW M3 Convertible by around 50 kilograms. Removing the Targa roof shaves off a further 20 kg while at the same time lowering the car’s centre of gravity. This most unusual experience of top-down driving pleasure in a BMW M3 thus goes hand in hand with further optimised dynamic handling.
The practical features of the BMW M3 Pickup are no less impressive. Maximum load capacity has been raised to 450 kilograms. The load bed of the BMW M3 Pickup is clad in high-grade structured aluminium sheeting and provides the biggest cargo capacity ever offered on a BMW M vehicle. In terms of the unit of measurement generally applied to premium automobiles, that gives the loading area of the BMW M3 Pickup the capacity to carry up to 20 standard 46-inch golf bags. What’s more, the BMW M3 Pickup is the first BMW M3 variant in the 25-year-plus history of this model range to come with a trailer tow hitch.
Notwithstanding these unquestionable stand-out qualities, the BMW M3 Pickup will not be heading for the golf course or series development, but will retain its status as an exclusive one-off. It is earmarked for use as a workshop transport vehicle for BMW M GmbH. With this in mind, the current BMW M3 Pickup – unlike a similar predecessor built back in the 1980s – has gone through the requisite procedures to earn its road certification. Which makes it officially a truck – but one that puts a whole new spin on the meaning of the word.”
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
Engine: 8.4L V10
Horsepower: 640hp
“(from Dodge Press Release) 2013 SRT® Viper – The Return of the Snake
• Street and Racing Technology (SRT®) brand’s flagship performance machine returns with more power and performance, superior craftsmanship, new technologies and creature comforts
• Two new models include SRT® Viper and SRT Viper GTS
• All-aluminum, mid-engine 8.4-liter V-10 delivers an estimated 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports car engine in the world
• Chassis enhancements bring 50 percent improvement in torsional stiffness
• Triple-digit weight reduction results in Viper best power-to-weight ratio
• Standard safety features include electronic multistage stability control, traction control and new 4-channel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
• All-new, innovative interior designs set new standards with premium materials, new technologies and superior craftsmanship
• All-new carbon-fiber and aluminum skin is sculpted for high-speed stability and a slippery .364 drag coefficient (Cd)
• Timeless exterior design incorporates iconic Viper styling cues with a contemporary execution”
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
“(from Rolls-Royce Press Release) ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST RAISES THE TWO-TONE IN GENEVA
While the launch of Phantom Series II has been making headlines centre stage at the Geneva motor show, a very special Rolls-Royce Ghost has also been winning admirers in the company’s exclusive on-stand guest lounge. Clients, dealers and media guests have been delighted by the presentation of one of the first examples of a two-tone Rolls-Royce Ghost, a bespoke option offered for the first time this year, complementing the popularity of two-tone Phantom models.
Finished in Infinity Black, with a Cassiopeia Silver upper two-tone, the Geneva Ghost features an interior design scheme that perfectly reflects the two-tone theme. Seashell headlining and sumptuous black leather frames black stained ash veneer into which steel pinstripes have been carefully crafted. The final luxury touch is lambswool floor mats into which feet are easily lost at the end of a hard day walking the Geneva halls.
“Whether Ghost or Phantom, any Rolls-Royce is a work of art, taking its place in our clients’ luxury collections alongside yachts, helicopters and fine jewellery,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “So I am delighted that we are now able to offer two-tone options for Ghost as well as for Phantom, features that once again extend the palette upon which a Rolls-Royce masterpiece can be painted.”
A second upper two-tone Rolls-Royce Ghost has recently been commissioned for delivery to a client based in the Middle East. This striking colour scheme starts with Baynunah Brown, with Arizona Sun bathing the car’s bonnet, window surrounds, roof and luggage compartment. A gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy and double coach-line in gold finish the design.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrated a record sales result in 2011 with 3,538 models delivered to clients worldwide, beating the previous sales record held in 1978 when 3,347 units were sold, a period during which Rolls-Royce was under different ownership. 2011 also marked a record for the Rolls-Royce Bespoke personalisation programme, a service with Rolls-Royce’s legendary hand-craftsmanship and attention to detail at its core. Nearly every Phantom family model leaving the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood came with some element of bespoke personalisation, from unique paint colours, interior detailing and embroidery, to exquisite whole vehicle designs including champagne sets, humidors and picnic sets.”
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
2012 Gumpert Apollo Enraged
Engine: 4.2L V8 Supercharged
Break horsepower: 780hp
“(from Gumpert Press Release) Gumpert celebrates two world premieres in Geneva
In the past, the sports car manufacturer GUMPERT has mainly been known for building race cars for the street. At the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show, the exclusive manufacturer premieres the
GUMPERT apollo r, a purebred race car with the brute thrust of up to 860 hp. As the second world premiere, GUMPERT presents the special edition GUMPERT apollo enraged.
As the heraldic animal of the sports car manufacturer GUMPERT, the griffon also decorates the distinctive swing doors of the apollo enraged. The mythical creature is part of the designer paintjob and foils that visually emphasise the link between the enraged and the apollo r. “Even though the apollo enraged is street legal, it nevertheless carries the racing sports genes of the apollo r,” is how Roland Gumpert describes the limited special edition. This genetic connection becomes tangible through a performance boost to 780 hp and a reduction of the dry weight to 1,175 kg. Next to the flag design embroidery on the seat and headrest, the digital LCD instrument panel is the most noticeable special feature on the interior.
“Ok, so perhaps it is a bit crazy to take the most extreme, barely still street legal vehicle and make it even more extreme,” says Roland Gumpert about the limited special edition enraged – the unleashed and furious apollo. “But the idea behind the enraged, just like the apollo r itself, embodies our philosophy and our understanding of PURE GERMAN SPEED with absolute consistency.” GUMPERT intends to prove just how well, or how fast, the two vehicles actually realise this philosophy with another record time on the “Nordschleife” race course this year. And as in 2009 when breaking the record for the first time, GUMPERT will approach this together with its tyre supplier and technology partner Michelin.”
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
1968 Zolland Design Chevrolet Camaro Custom
Engine: Chervolet LS3 V8 supercharger
2006 Anteros XTM Roadster
“(from Anteros Press Release) Anteros Marketing introduces exotic 550 horsepower Supercar at SEMA 2006
Official Return for the Golden Age of Coachbuilding
San Leandro, California, November, 2006 – After an exciting sneak preview at the Monterey Classic Car Show, Anteros Marketing announces the Golden Age of Coach-building is here to stay.ANTEROS XTM is a limited production 2-seat convertible sports car featuring 400 to 600 horsepower, a carbon fiber composite body with a fine leather & wood interior, and state-of-the-art technology throughout.
ANTEROS takes its name from the ancient god of Passion. It is a passionate expression of Automotive Fine Art. Anteros Founders, John Rothman, and son, David Rothman, commissioned a team of talented designers and fabricators to create a brutally elegant car that seamlessly blends both contemporary and classic sports car DNA into a stunning artistic sculptural statement. Anteros uses the base engineering of the C6 platform as a foundation to create this 550 horsepower rolling sculpture in carbon fiber and luxury leather.
“We had a fantastic reaction to the Anteros at the Monterey Classic Car Show, exotic car dealers around the United States are anxiously waiting production slots“, said Mr. David Rothman, President of Anteros Marketing. With pricing between $125,000 and $135,000, the ANTEROS XTM will be manufactured on a semi-custom build-to-order basis.
Anteros Marketing, a California based coachbuilder, also has under development the ANTEROS XTSTarga featuring a removable hardtop. Their future plans are to release the ANTEROS XTR Hardtop based on the ZO6 platform that will feature horsepower of 505 to 655 HP.”
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
2012 Audi A1 Quattro
Engine: 2.0L inline-4 turbocharged
Horsepower: 240hp
0-60: 5.9 seconds
Production: 333
Top speed: 155mph
(Source: seriouswheels.com)
