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Sunday, March 9, 2008

Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina

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The Ferrari P4/5 (officially known as the Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina) is a one-off Super Car (Sports Car) made by Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari but redesigned by Pininfarina for film director and stock exchange magnate James Glickenhaus.

The car was an Enzo Ferrari but the owner James Glickenhaus preferred the styling of Ferrari's 1960s race cars, the P Series. The project cost Glickenhaus US$ 4 million and was officially presented to the public in August 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance, but in July 2006 some images were leaked and Glickenhaus allowed Ultimate Car Page to show the early designs.

Development
In March 2005 James Glickenhaus, stock exchange magnate and known car collector, was approached by Pininfarina who asked if he was interested in commissioning a one-off car. Andrea Pininfarina, grandson of the company’s founder later said "The Ferrari 612 Kappa and this P4/5 are the first. But we want to grow this business." indicating that Pininfarina is interested in producing other unique cars.

Glickenhaus replied that he would like a modern Ferrari P and in June of that year he signed a contract with Pininfarina to produce the car including the price, approximately US $4 million though in an interview he said "I feel they gave me more than I expected".

Glickenhaus purchased the last unsold Enzo Ferrari and upon receipt of the car he took it to Pininfarina to be redesigned similar to the 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 which he also delivered to Pininfarina. Pininfarina's styling team leader, Ken Okuyama said that "Pininfarina wanted to stay away from retro design and move towards a more forward thinking supercar" as they were excited by the opportunity to build the car, not just design it.

Its design began in September 2005 with sketches by Jason Castriota moving through computer aided sculpture and stringent wind tunnel testing. More than 200 components were designed especially for the car though the engine, drivetrain and many other components are simply modified from the original Enzo Ferrari.

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is unchanged from the Enzo it was derived from. The P4/5 was publicly revealed on August 18, 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance and shown again at the Paris Motor Show in late September.

Upon seeing P 4/5 Luca di Montezemolo felt that the car deserved to be officially badged as a Ferrari and along with Andrea Pininfarina and James Glickenhaus agreed that it's official name would be "Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina". Ted West wrote an article in "Car and Driver" about how this came to be: "The Beast of Turin".

Interior Ferrari P4/5
The interior of the P4/5 was designed by Glickenhaus himself with an iPod nano stereo and a tablet PC which features not only GPS but a 3D model of the car as well as a complete parts list and manual for easy servicing. The P4/5 also sports improved air conditioning over the Enzo and a high-strength alloy roll bar redesigned because the original was too thick and obstructed Glickenhaus' view.

The seats are custom built, Glickenhaus' and his son's bodies were scanned so Pininfarina could mould the seats for their comfort, accessibility and view of the road (as with race cars). With a frame of carbon fibre composite, the seats are covered with a black rubber mesh and red leather as selected by Glickenhaus' daughter. Pininfarina rearranged the wiring of the Enzo so as to make the car easier to service and 270 kilograms (595 lb) lighter than the Enzo.

Exterior Pininfarina
The exterior of the car is made entirely of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and is similar in shape to the Ferrari 330 P4 as Glickenhaus requested, however it has been called a "rolling history of Ferrari-racing-DNA" sharing elements from several historic Ferrari vehicles, not just the 330 P4. The rear window is similar to that of the Ferrari 512S, the side vents are similar to the Ferrari 330 P3 and the nose is similar to that of the Ferrari 333SP which improves cooling and the car's frontal crash safety.

The butterfly doors (similar to those of the McLaren F1) are designed such that even at 260 kilometres per hour (160 mph) there is no wind noise. The improved aerodynamics have proven themselves, giving the car greater downforce at the same time as less drag than the Enzo also making the car more stable than the Enzo at high speeds.

Video Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Porsche 911 GT2 (997)

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With a stunning 530 turbocharged horsepower and the most revolutionary design in the industry, Porsche revealed its most powerful production 911 ever on September 11, 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 will easily ascend to lead the impressive Porsche family of vehicles.

New features such as large air intakes at the front and the rear wing, coupled with the rear-wheel drive and manual six-speed gearbox, express the elite performance abilities that are exclusive to this outstanding model.

This high-performance athlete accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and reaches a top track speed of 204 mph.

530-Horsepower Twin-Turbo Engine
The power unit of the new 911 GT2 is based on the six-cylinder boxer engine of the 911 Turbo, with air supply driven by two exhaust gas turbochargers featuring variable turbine geometry (VTG).

The 3.6-litre boxer engine achieves a maximum output of 530 (SAE) horsepower, an increase of 50 horsepower from the previous 911 GT2.

The power increase is provided by two turbochargers with a larger compressor wheel and a flow-optimized turbine housing raising turbocharger pressure to an even higher level.

Decreased Fuel Consumption
The new 911 GT2's expansion intake manifold, which uses oscillating air in the intake during the cooler expansion phase, keeps the temperature of the fuel/air mixture even lower than in the 911 Turbo.

This results in a significant increase in all-round efficiency, with fuel consumption down by up to 15 percent under full load despite the increase in engine output. This is a genuine innovation for turbocharged power units.

Functional Design Features
A number of elements set the new 911 GT2 apart including the new achievements in emission management and control.

This is the first Porsche homologated for the road to feature a muffler and tailpipes made of titanium as standard equipment.

This expensive material reduces weight by approximately 50 percent vs. a comparable component made of stainless steel.

The new 911 GT2 comes as standard with PCCB brakes featuring brake discs made of a composite carbon fiber/ceramic compound ensuring highly consistent and maximum stopping power.

Also standard is the electronically controlled Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system.

The GT2 comes on 19-inch light-alloy wheels filled with 235/35 ZR19 front sport tires and 325/30 ZR19 rear sport tires. It is scheduled to make its North American debut in early 2008 at a US price of $191,700.

Video Porsche 911 GT2 (997)
Promo

Test drive from Autocar

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

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With the Gallardo Superleggera, Lamborghini presents an uncompromisingly high-performance sports car. Thanks to 10 additional horsepower and a 154 lbs weight reduction, the new range-leading Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera offers even more excitement and driving pleasure.

The Superleggera also has the fastest acceleration in its class. It needs only 3.8 seconds to go from 0 to 62 mph; 0.2 seconds less than the basic model, and boasting speed and grit under other driving conditions.

The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera is an extremely high-performance car: it includes a standard robotized mechanical ‘e-gear’ gearbox that guarantees shifting without removing hands from the steering wheel.

The car can be ordered through the dealer network starting March 2007. Production volumes will be restricted to lower numbers than the standard Gallardo.

The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera’s engine is the latest version of Lamborghini’s well-known 5.0-liter V10. The increase in power (to 530 bhp) was made possible by the engine’s improved volumetric efficiency through reduced intake load losses and by exhaust backpressures, together with optimized electronic control.

Advanced Technology Helps Reduce Weight.
Lamborghini engineers decreased the Lamborghini Gallardo’s already low weight when empty by another 154 lbs using advanced materials and technologies.

The engine hood is made of visible carbon fiber and transparent polycarbonate, a type of material that guarantees lightness and also shows off the magnificent V10.

The rear diffuser and underbody covering, the rearview mirrors, door panels and the central tunnel’s covering are also made of carbon fiber. Further reductions in weight were achieved by replacing certain glass surfaces with transparent polycarbonate.

For the interior, monocoque carbon fiber sports seats covered in Alcantara were chosen to ensure restraint of the driver and passenger during the intense lateral accelerations that the Gallardo Superleggera is capable of achieving around curves.

Exclusive Options
A comprehensive specification and extensive range of options will be available, with some exclusive to the Superleggera. The Superleggera comes with robotized mechanical e-gear as standard; a sports package including shock absorbers; and special suede-covered steering wheel.

The car is available in four colors: Midas Yellow, Borealis Orange, Telesto Gray and Noctis Black. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires (standard) on new Scorpius forged rims accentuate the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera.

A few of the options that can be requested include the multimedia system with navigator and CD-changer; a rear video camera to make parking easier (with optional rear wing only); a Carbon accessories kit for the interior; a fixed rear spoiler; a four-point seatbelt (not for USA); tubular rear frame or fitting points for later inclusion (not for USA, Japan or Middle East); and carbon-ceramic brakes.

Video Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
Test Drive from Fifth Gear

Test on Top Speed - 340 km/h