Zenvo TS1 GT - named ‘Sleipnir’

Zenvo Automotive presents the '10th Anniversary TS1 GT'

The car is a unique, one-off, bespoke TS1 GT which has been built specifically to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the company. Zenvo has specified and built the car to reflect the heritage of the company and its founders from Denmark. This historic TS1 GT has been named ‘Sleipnir’ [pronounced: “Sleep-near”] after the eight-legged horse ridden by Odin, the King of the Norse gods in ancient Scandinavian mythology. Sleipnir was ‘the fastest and best horse among gods and men.’
 

The recognition of the heritage of Scandinavia and its historical significance does not stop there. This very special TS1 GT has been painted in ‘Fjord Blue’ and highlighted by copper-bronze strips on the hood and roof of the car which are set into the bare carbon-fibre panels as well as contrasting copper highlights both inside and outside of the car. The use of copper-bronze recognizes the technological advancements by ancient Danes in exploration, trading and commerce extending from North America to Russia and the Middle East. In the pre-history of Scandinavia, Bronze was the most advanced material available. It was used in multiple applications including the design and building of chariots. Bronze was the carbon-fibre of its age and provided a technical advancement which allowed the unparalleled growth of the Vikings and the Scandinavian region.

The application of advanced technology within the region continues with the production of some of the most technically advanced hypercars in the world. Using extensive lightweight carbon-fibre and other hybrid composite materials as well as a unique proprietary drivetrain with ultra-fast advanced gear-shift, traction control and ESC technology, the quality of Zenvo engineering and the precision quality of production are the worthy successors of our innovative ancestors.
 

“Presenting this car at Geneva and celebrating our tenth anniversary makes me very proud and humble”, said Troels Vollertsen, Technical Director and Founder of Zenvo Automotive A/S. “We have achieved so much with a small team of highly dedicated and capable individuals. All of us recognize our heritage as pioneers of technology and remain totally committed to continue to produce and develop Zenvo cars which provide our owners and drivers with a sensational experience of performance, quality and perfect driving pleasure which is the DNA of our brand and our cars. We look forward with great excitement to the next ten years.”

The heart of the beast

The TS1 GT is a technical tour-de-force and our Hyper GT.  Using Zenvo’s extraordinary 1,163bhp engine with twin superchargers, the TS1 GT incorporates a newly developed gearbox with Zenvo ultrafast gearshifts that change gears at speeds not far off a Formula 1 car.

The entire shift system and linked engine management software were designed in-house at Zenvo, The TS1 GT is the most awesome Grand Tourer capable of a limited top speed of 375kph and a 0-100kph of only 2.8 seconds but providing the most effortless and luxurious cruising comfort that can only be experienced in a Zenvo TS1 GT.

The Interior

 The interior is completely original with an asymmetrical design leather and carbon fibre.  Switches and instrument surrounds are in copper and rhodium with these parts alone costing the same as a Porsche 911R.  Every single part is individually handmade and hand finished over nearly 8,000 man hours.  There are no materials which could give the impression that this car is anything other than totally bespoke, a masterpiece of quality, detail and engineering made to measure, literally, for the customer.

 

 

ABOUT ZENVO AUTOMOTIVE A/S

The Company was formed in 2007 as a channel for the aspirations and ambitions of a small group of highly talented Danish engineers and designers with extensive experience gained from working with Italian and German automotive companies. Led by powertrain specialist, Troels Vollertsen, with the design and styling vision of ex-RCA graduate Christian Brandt, the team wanted to realise long-held passionate ambitions to build a car which combined the traditional skills of Danish styling design with German-derived high performance technology.

Functionalistic and immediately aesthetically iconic, the Zenvo ST1 was developed over six years to demonstrate the use of ultra-lightweight composite materials in the design realisation of a car capable of performing alongside contemporary iconic supercars. A uniquely designed and engineered engine of 6.9 litres was produced for the ST1 incorporating both supercharger and turbocharger delivering 1120PS in a car made extensively from Carbon Fibre but featuring an aluminium and steel safety cell which, when tested, provided the ideal passenger environment for safety and comfort.

In 2016 Zenvo presented their revised hyper-GT, the TS1 GT, along with its racetrack-bred sibling, the TSR. A completely new engine of 5.8L capacity with twin superchargers had been developed now producing more than 1165PS. The new engine boasts a dry sump and flat-plane crankshaft configuration allowing the engine to spin more freely, rev much higher, produce power more efficiently and be mounted lower in the body for improved handling. Uniquely developed software running the Zenvo-designed high performance gearbox provides one of the fastest-shifting powertrains in existence confirming the on-going technological progress of Zenvo Automotive.
 Source: http://www.zenvoautomotive.com/

Maserati Mostro Zagato Coupe - A concept with history

 Developed to celebrate the centenary of the House of the Trident. What a "monster" this Mostro!

If you're into old school, chances are you are aware of the 1957 Maserati 450S Costin Zagato Coupe and its marvelous styling. A thoroughbred racing car turned grand tourer, chassis #4501 and Stirling Moss were a great team back in the 1950s.

Based on the racing pedigree and bewitching lines of the 450S Costin Zagato Coupe, the Italian marque and similarly Italian coachbuilder joined hands yet again to create a venerable successor to the veteran 450S.

The jaw-dropping gorgeous Maserati Mostro is the latest creation of Zagato's "Iconic decade," whatever that means. Don't try to look for a meaning to those words because it's a typically Italian thing. Slated to premiere at the Concorso d'Elegance Villa d'Este, this partnership between Zagato and Maserati will spawn 5 examples of the Mostro breed, all of them already spoken for.

Developed to celebrate the centenary of the House of the Trident, all Maserati Mostro units will be delivered before December 2015, at the end of the automaker's anniversary year and just in time for Christmas Eve.

A track-only machine with monstrous (no pun intended) performance, the two-seater super GT uses a carbon fiber chassis coupled to a mid-structure made of steel tubes and a subframe that sustains the fuel tank, rear suspension, transmission and exhaust. The body shell of the Italian GT is 100% carbon fiber.

The Engine

Animated by central-front mounted Maserati V8 with dry-sump lubrication, the Maserati Mostro's naturally aspirated tower-of-unspecified-power is mated to a semi-automatic six-speed transmission.
Chassis-wise, the 19-inch alloy wheels hide a track-focused pushrod suspension. If you're remotely curious about the pricing of this thing, tough luck with that. Told you this is how the cookie crumbles in Italy.

 

Zagato confirms that the Mostro is designed for the track, but will be "ready for street homologation." While its makers promise that like the original "il Mostro" it will dominate a racing circuit, it will be totally road legal too and it’s understood that the huge, fixed rear wing is removable for a better cruising aesthetic. The carrozzeria will build five examples before Maserati's current centenary year is over. Each has already been spoken for, though none are headed to customers in the US. Coachbuilders seldom reveal pricing for this type of project (particularly when they've all been pre-sold), but we're told that "none of Zagato's atelier cars exceed 1 million. As collectible cars, the value of a Zagato typically overcomes the purchasing price within a few years."

 The Interior

Sources: http://www.maseratimarin.com/blog/2015/may/22/maserati-mostro-zagato-production-limited-to-5-units.htm and http://fabwheelsdigest.blogspot.pt/2015/06/2015-maserati-mostro-zagato-coupe.html

New Honda NSX 2017

10 years waiting for the new NSX...it worths, or not?

After nearly a decade in the making and more than 250 prototypes, the all-new Honda NSX 2017 is finally here.

On the 16th of November 2016, Crown Honda history was made when the first batch of NSX supercars in the UK was delivered to our Hendon dealership. As the home of the NSX, we have NSX specialists and technicians on-hand who have received bespoke training on the supercar in institutions as far away as Japan.

A completely new sports car concept

The new NSX connects you to the road like no other. It’s a refined breed of supercar, precise in every detail, which combines real-world driving with fiery performance on the track.

The NSX strikes a perfect balance between form and function. The aerodynamic lines of the NSX create a strong presence on the road, effectively maximising downforce at high speeds. What’s more, the A-pillar design was inspired by the ancient art of origami. The unique three-dimensional forming and tempering process gives the NSX the lowest centre of gravity in its class and is a world first in the automobile industry.

The NSX is almost thrice as stable as its rivals thanks to a process whereby molten metal is poured into sand and then blasted with water. It’s the first time ablation casting technology has been used in the production of a car.

The petrol engine and the electric motors

The engine is a turbocharged, 3.5-litre V6 that produces 550bhp and can do 0-62mph in under three seconds. Every engine is custom-built by the hands of one of six master builders. It's this human touch that brings the NSX to life.

Three electric motors combine with a V6 engine to drive all four wheels, rendering each individual wheel more powerful and precise. The all-wheel drive and electric motor combination is another world first that serves to make your mind and body feel as though they are wired to the supercar. The response from the NSX is instantaneous – think about turning and it turns, an extension of your own will.

"Possibly the most important consideration for me and the team when it came to the power unit was how to make the performance of the car accessible at all times. The power unit we have used gives the driver instant response, particularly in those first few milliseconds after the driver has made any input – whether that be acceleration, braking or turning. By directly supporting all driver demands – the throttle, braking and especially the steering, the handling of the car just comes alive." - Honda engineer Ted Klaus

Quick shifting

The nine-speed Dual Clutch Transmission synchronises beautifully with the V6 power plant and Direct Drive Motor unit, making full use of the power output and broad power band of the NSX. Gear shifting is lightning fast when you need it and combines with the NSX’s rapid response; it’s perfect for a track day and seamlessly smooth on the road, too.

Twin-turbochargers

Through smaller, lighter turbochargers more output is achieved by using two unique ‘Electronic Wastegate’ types of unit. These compact turbines save space and regulate maximum boost pressure for less delay and greater performance.

Aerodynamics and performace

Like a living organism, the NSX inhales air through the Total Airflow system to maximise performance and to cool the brakes, thermal units and powertrain components, and exhales air through vents to minimise drag.

But it’s not just the performance of the NSX that will set your pulse racing. The NSX is a mobile VIP lounge, with leather upholstery and high-tech audio.

The infotainment system can read and write your text messages and you can play all of your favourite tunes hands free on an eight-inch TFT display that features maps, audio, integrated Carplay and Auto.


The Total Airflow Management system allows you to tune the NSX to suit your perfect driving mode, be it:
Track mode - this is where the NSX reveals its racing DNA. With the sport hybrid system working to its full capacity, you’ll experience spine-tingling acceleration, cornering and braking. Point the NSX to where you want it to go, and it goes.

Dynamic Mode Control - the driver-centred cockpit puts you at the very heart of the NSX driving experience, instantly connecting you to the different driving modes.
Sport mode - this setting affords you the perfect blend of sound from the V6 engine and tailored performance for driving on normal roads.


Sport+ mode - this level stiffens up the steering and provides quicker shifting through the Dual Clutch Transmission, encouraging you toward the NSX’s red line.

Quiet mode - the NSX can run quietly on electric power alone over short distances for when you need silent running.

The Interior

Seats, door panels and the centre console are all shaped to hold the driver and the passenger securely in place. It’s a cockpit designed for comfortable everyday driving, as well as providing the physical connection you need on the track. Fit for all types of driving, we've even thought about boot space, too – it has the largest capacity in it's class.

The interior is holistic, an all-embracing combination of the tiniest details. The touch and feel of the NSX from the driving position is unique – higher levels of involvement – something you have to experience yourself to fully appreciate and understand it.

Source: http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/nsx/overview.html

Fernando Alonso Indianapolis 500 first tests - Info + Video and Pics

Fernando Alonso will drive today, for the first time, the new McLaren Indy challenger for the 2017 race. The covers are off and the car, in orange, looks fantastic. The number 29 will be the lucky number to Alonso's premiere in Indianapolis 500!

To review the livestream video of the tests just click play bellow:

If you missed it. Bellow are the first laps of Fernando Alonso around Indianapolis Oval Motor Speedway on the 2017 Indy 500 car:

Before Alonso gets in the car, Marco Andretti will shake the car down. Andretti told us at Phoenix how he got selected for the opportunity.

“It’ll be fun,” he said. “They know I can get up to speed; I’m always sort of the one picked to do that kind of thing. Basically, I’ll make sure he has a real comfortable balance for his first run.”

Alonso is trying to win the second leg of auto racing's Triple Crown, which includes the Indianapolis 500, Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alonso won at Monaco in 2006 and 2007.

Fernando Alonso completed the Rookie Orientation Program with success running the 3 phasis stints with the programmed lap speeds and with no problems.

In the end Fernando Alonso completed 110 laps and a fastest unofficial lap of 222.548mph (358.166kph).