BMW X2 - Concept Car

The BMW Concept X2 fuses the flat silhouette of a coupé with the robust build of an X series model. The result: an awesome, sporty and unconventional ride in Luminous Red. Sporty and urban, compact and high-tech – a perfect match for action-seekers wanting Sheer Driving Pleasure with a function.

This SUV was recently revealed in Paris. It's the BMW X2, a Concept Car that introduces significant differences in style and design compared to his brothers X3, X4, X5 and X6. Apparently the reception was a success and the market is waiting for an untwisted version of this beautiful concept. The X2 is coming to the market eventually during 2018.

"The BMW Concept X2 combines the fast-moving body language and low-slung proportions of a coupe with the robust construction of an X model. This is a sporty vehicle with a bold character, and it allows us to open up some fascinating new design possibilities for the BMW brand," said Karim Habib, head of BMW Design.

The BMW Concept X2 – it’s like the BMW X series all pumped up. With the rear end’s dynamic lights, robust design language, beefed up curves yet with subtle edges, it’s no wonder all eyes are on the BMW Concept X2.

The flat headlamp tubes have broken away from the traditional BMW dual round lights and are now hexagonal in shape, while also featuring the characteristic blue X in the middle. This treasure is naturally never overlooked thanks to the use of BMW Laserlight technology. 

Source: http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/bmw_concept_x2/bmw_concept_x2.html

Alpine A110 - Renault Alpine

The unnecessarily long striptease that is the unveiling of Renault’s Porsche 718 rival is nearly over. We already know the Alpine will have a gorgeous, slippery body unsullied by wings and aerofoils, and that said body and chassis will be made mostly from aluminium.

Tipping the scales to 1080 kg, the Alpine A110 is a light car. To add to this featherweight, the A110 is powered by 252 hp produced by the 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which is hooked up to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Sorry purists, but there is no manual option. The engine churns out 320 Nm of torque. This power the car from 0 to 100 kph in 4.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 249 kph.

First, what it looks like. Ahead of next week’s Geneva Motor Show, Renault has finally issued us with two images of the Alpine in what looks like production-ready guise. And what it looks like is rather gorgeous. Almost exactly like the concept that previewed it, in fact, making the Alpine an early contender for best-looking, somewhat attainable best-of-show.

Second, we’ve finally got confirmation that the mid-engined 4C rival will be called the Alpine A110. It’s an homage to the A110 Alpine launched in 1961 – the car that won the first ever World Rally Championship in 1973, and perhaps Alpine’s best-known car. The name reflects “the timeless principles of compact size, light weight and agility” that made the old car so successful, says Renault.

 Last year, Renault presented the concept Alpine Vision. The evolution from that style concept is very subtile and the production car is pretty much similar to the concept Vision. Look below the presented Vision.

The Alpine A110 is re-introduced to the world with a Premiere edition which will be limited to just 1955 units. It adds 18-inch forged aluminum wheels with a matte black finish, Focal stereo, leather-upholstered Sabelt one-piece seats. The left-hand drive examples of the Premiere edition meant for sale in Europe are all sold out. The Alpine A110 will be arriving in some parts of Europe by 2017 and in UK and Japan by 2018.

The interior

The sound and the motion

Sources: https://www.drivearabia.com/news/2017/03/30/renaults-alpine-a110-sportscar-debuts/ and  http://www.topgear.com/car-news/geneva-motor-show/say-hello-alpine-a110

Peugeot Instinct - Concept Car

Over the decades, Peugeot has earned a reputation for developing zany concept cars, like the Jetsons-like 1986 Proxima, the rocket-shaped Asphalt, the Onix, or Moovie — an urban two-seater that looks more like a computer mouse than an actual car. The French manufacturer's new Instinct concept, unveiled at Mobile World Congress today, doesn't look as wildly futuristic as some of its previous creations — but according to Peugeot’s design team, that’s exactly the point.

"In the future, maybe you will have cars that can be only autonomous, and it will be forbidden to drive anymore,” says Matthias Hossann, head of concept car and advanced design at Peugeot. “But this transition will be very long, and what we wanted to illustrate here is part of this transition, because this will take time.”

The Instinct is certainly a nice looking car, and the design of its interior seems particularly clean and intuitive. But like many other connected car concepts, so much of its promise — the idea of cruising around in an autonomous, intelligent remote home that talks to all of your other devices — is predicated on a near-future that is still hard for most consumers to envision.

Speaking to journalists at Peugeot’s design complex outside Paris last week, Hossann said that unlike previous concept cars, the Instinct was designed from the inside-out. The idea is that drivers will be able to choose how much control they want to cede to the car — there are two self-driving modes and two active modes — and that the car, in turn, will be able to adjust its driving based on data collected from connected devices. (The car is designed to integrate with Samsung’s Artik IoT platform.) If you just logged a hard workout on your smartwatch, for example, the Instinct could automatically shift into an “autonomous soft” mode to let you relax.

The plug-in hybrid’s interior design is clean and austere, with a more pared-down version of the i-Cockpit that Peugeot first announced in 2010. The steering wheel and gas pedal are both retractable, and the center console consists of a large screen and an “i-Device” — a small, mouse-like handle that drivers can use to adjust interior controls or switch between driving modes. The floors are finished with a thin concrete layer, and its four seats are made of 3D mesh that is designed to adjust to the contours of a passenger’s body.

The Instinct’s exterior is a combination of sharp angles and curves — the company says it was inspired by its “great coachbuilding tradition” — though it wouldn’t look entirely out of place on roads today. (It’s about the same size as Peugeot’s 308 hatchback). The car’s large, five-spoke wheels convey a powerful aura (it makes 300 horsepower), and there are colorful lighting flourishes under the grille and taillights. 

An air duct system has also been subtly integrated into the car’s body for enhanced aerodynamics.

“When you see a car with aerodynamic features, it looks like add-ons put on the car, so it’s difficult to have something simple and really elegant,” Hossann said.

The Instinct will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, though Peugeot says that the technology underpinning the car likely won’t enter production until 2025 at the earliest. 

The Interior

Sources: http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/27/14743922/peugeot-instinct-concept-car-mwc and www.netcarshow.com

Aston Martin DB11

 

A DESIGN EVOLUTION

Instantly recognizable, DB11’s design looks inherently right, yet utterly different. Its form develops organically from nose to tail; muscle and sinew building volume and shaping surface details, with classical proportions providing the perfect bone structure beneath.

 

ENGINEERED TO EXHILARATE

The DB11 exploits its inner strength and immense V12 performance with completely re-worked chassis, suspension, steering and electronics. All-new suspension with adaptive damping and multiple driver-selectable dynamics enrich the DB11’s adaptability.

TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

An immersive private space awaits inside the world’s finest sporting Grand Tourer. DB11’s sumptuous natural materials, the highest levels of craftsmanship and state-of-the-art climate control and infotainment technology provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience.

 

Interior

 Engine Specs

• All-alloy quad overhead cam, 48 valve, 5.2l bi-turbo, V12 with stop/start cylinder de-activation
• Water to Air Charge Cooling
• Front mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with cross pipes
• Compression ratio 9.3:1
• Dual Variable Camshaft Timing
• Knock-sensing
• Fully CNC machined combustion chambers
• Electrically controlled exhaust 
• 115 bhp /litre at 6500rpm
• Maximum power: 447kW (600 bhp / 608 PS) at 6500 rpm
• Maximum torque: 700 Nm (516 lb ft) from 1500 rpm
• Acceleration: 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds
• Maximum speed: 200 mph (322 km/h)

Source: http://db11.astonmartin.com/ and  http://oman.astonmartindealers.com/home/models/db11

Ferrari 812 Superfast

 

The new Ferrari 812 Superfast, extreme performance V12 berlinetta, was presented at the 87^th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show. The car is being launched in a special new colour, Rosso Settanta, which marks the company’s 70^th anniversary.

 

 

Maranello, 16 February 2017 – Ferrari has selected Geneva for the world premiere of the new 12-cylinder berlinetta, the 812 Superfast, the most powerful and fastest Ferrari in the marque’s history. This new car not only introduces a plethora of innovative features but is also particularly significant as the V12 series marked the official start of the glorious Prancing Horse story in 1947, 70 years ago this year.

The 812 Superfast thus ushers in a new era in Ferrari 12-cylinder history, in doing so building on the invaluable legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf.

It is aimed at clients demanding the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in the range: an uncompromising sports car that will deliver exhilarating driving both on road and track yet also be comfortable enough to allow its owners to enjoy it as an all-round experience.


The Interior

Technical Specifications

Engine

Type	V12 – 65°
Overall displacement	6,496 cc
Maximum power output *	588 kW (800 cv) at 8,500 rpm
Maximum torque *	718 Nm at 7,000 rpm

Weight and dimensions

Length	4,657 mm
Width	1,971 mm
Height	1,276 mm
Dry weighto**	1,525 kg
Weight distribution	46-53% front/rear

Performance

Maximum speed	>340 Km/h
0-100 km/h	2.9 sec

Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions ***

Fuel consumption	14,9 l/100km
Emissions	340g CO2/km

Source: http://auto.ferrari.com/en_EN/sports-cars-models/car-range/812superfast/

Cristiano Ronaldo tested the new Bugatti Chiron

Cristiano Ronaldo, aka CR7, recently tested the new Bugatti Chiron. We're positively sure that a Bugatti Chiron will be in the "The Best"'s garage in no time. See it below.

The Bugatti Chiron has been reviwed recentely in our blog. Check it in the link below:
http://ultimatecarsandbikes.blogspot.pt/2017/02/bugatti-chiron.html

Yamaha M1 MotoGp 2017

In January the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team gave racing fans from all over the world a first glimpse of its team colours for the new season during the official team launch at Telefónica’s headquarters in Madrid, to kick-start their 2017 campaign.

The Italy-based team travelled to Madrid in the last week of its ‘winter break’ before heading overseas for the first official IRTA MotoGP pre-season test of 2017 in Sepang. During this on-track outing, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales will help Yamaha’s engineers fine-tune the development work of the YZR-M1 that was carried through during the “off-season”. The Valencia test already showed great promise for this formidable team; all members are eager to reclaim the MotoGP World Championship crown.

Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi impressed chasing the premier class trophy in the last three years, securing the Vice-Champion Title every season. He is determined to compete once more at the front this year and his fans from all over the world will be cheering him on as he pursues his quest to make his title win tally a nice round ten.

Last year Rossi meant business right from the start of the season and in Argentina he climbed the rostrum for the first time. Though struck by external circumstances on occasion, ‘The Doctor’ never lessened his attack and went on to secure nine further podium finishes, with wins in Jerez and Catalunya, remaining a key protagonist in the 2016 challenge until the overseas leg at the end of the year. His and his teammate’s consistent drive brought Yamaha its seventh FIM MotoGP Team Title.

Young Spanish talent Maverick Viñales is a fresh face in the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team. He joins the Factory crew after gaining two years of experience in the premier class. His 2016 season highlights included a superb win at Silverstone and three third places, in France, Japan and Australia, allowing him to finish fourth in the final standing. He followed up his strong end of the season with a stunning debut on the YZR-M1 at the Valencia test, topping the time sheets both days, establishing that his switch to Yamaha was the right decision.

See the first test action in Australia

Source: https://www.yamahamotogp.com/

Ferrari F1 2017 SF70H

The new Ferrari F1 car, code named SF70H, a reference to this year's being the 70th anniversary of the sportscar company, was launched this week and next week will be at Barcelona to perform the public fist tests of the new 2017 F1 season. Vettel and Raikkonen will be at the Catalunia circuit to collect data to tune and evolve the new car.

"You can see it is a step forward and you can feel it is a step forward," Vettel said.
"It is fun to drive. The car looks big and strong. The first impression is the right one. It was a good start."

There are unusually high and square air intakes into the sidepods, which are integrated with airflow conditioners in a region of the car in which many teams have exhibited intricate and complex bodywork parts aimed at maximising airflow and aerodynamic downforce.

The car features a 'shark-fin' engine cover, at the rear end of which is a high-mounted narrow wing that is expected to feature on most of the cars. Already labelled a T-wing, it exploits a loophole in the bodywork regulations and cleans up the airflow in the region of the rear wing.

The 63rd single-seater designed and built by Scuderia Ferrari to take part in the Formula 1 World Championship is born out of a regulation change that is without precedent in this category of motor sport. Generally, in the past, regulations went in the direction of slowing down the cars. However, this year, the rule changes go in the opposite direction, meaning the cars have more aerodynamic downforce and more mechanical grip.

Sources: http://sf70h.ferrari.com/en/ and http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula-one/39075277

Red Bull F1 RB13 2017

 

Red Bull have released details of the new F1 car RB13 with which Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen will mount their 2017 world championship bid, as the team look to take the fight to Mercedes after finishing second last year.

Designed and built to comply with this season’s heavily revised aerodynamic regulations, the RB13 features Renault’s latest power unit - badged TAG Heuer - and, like all its rivals, will be significantly faster than its 2016 predecessor.

The first obvious detail to note on the car - which will make its official track debut when pre-season testing begins at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Monday - is the protruding hole in the tip of its nose.

Red Bull are the eighth team to release their challenger for the new season with sister team Toro Rosso and Haas F1 scheduled to follow suit later today.
The Milton Keynes outfit are hoping the RB13 can take them back to championship glory, having watched Mercedes dominate the grid for the last three years.
"It feels like we are building momentum," told Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

Sources : https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/2/red-bull-reveal-the-rb13.html and http://www.redbullracing.com/

Lamborghini Veneno Roadster

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster takes the aerodynamic efficiency of a racing prototype onto everyday roads. This super sports car is characterized by optimal aerodynamics in order to guarantee stability in fast curves and a behavior like a racing prototype. All of this on a car devised for the road. The perfect car for sports-driving lovers.

DESIGN A masterpiece of power and lightness inspired by aeronautics.

Here are the technical specifications of the new Veneno: with a 6.5 liter aspirated V12 engine and a top speed of 355 km/h, this Lamborghini concept car represents state-of-the-art design inspired by aeronautics, capable of giving you the indescribable feeling of flying on the road.

Faithful to the Lamborghini lines, the Veneno is characterized by extreme proportions, emerging in the forceful arrow-shaped front as well as alternating razor-sharp lines and sleek, tight surfaces.

 Interior

Technical specifications

    ENGINE TYPE
    V12, 60°, MPI (Multi Point Injection)
    DISPLACEMENT
    6.498 cm³ (396.5 cu in)
    BORE x STROKE
    95 mm x 76,4 mm (3.74 x 3.01 in)
    COMPRESSION RATIO
    11,8:1
    MAX. POWER
    750 CV (552 kW) @ 8.400 rpm
    MAX. TORQUE
    690 Nm (507 lb.-ft.) @ 5.500 rpm
    WEIGHT-TO-POWER RATIO
    1,99 kg/CV (4.35 lb/CV)

    TRANSMISSION TYPE
    Electronically controlled all-wheel drive system (Haldex gen. IV) with rear mechanical self-locking differential
    GEARBOX
    ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) gearbox with 7 speeds

    MAX. SPEED
    355 km/h (221 mph)
    ACCELERATION 0-100 KM/H (0-62 MPH)
    2,9 s
    ACCELERATION 0-200 KM/H (0-124 MPH)
    N.A.

    CHASSIS
    Monocoque in carbon fiber
    BODY
    Exteriors in carbon fiber
    OPENING ROOF
    Open roof with fixed roll-bar system
    EXTERNAL MIRRORS
    Electrically operated, heated and foldable
    AERODYNAMICS
    Spoiler manually adjustable with 3 position; completely panelled underbody

    RIMS - FRONT
    20'' specific forged rims; 9J x 20 ET32.2
    RIMS - REAR
    21'' specific forged rims; 13J x 21 ET66.7
    TIRES - FRONT
    255/30 ZR20
    TIRES - REAR
    355/25 ZR21

    CONTROL SYSTEMS
    Electronic Stability Control (ABS e TCS integrati)
    SUSPENSION TYPE
    Push rod passive mono-tube front and rear suspension with horizontal dampers and springs
    SUSPENSION GEOMETRY
    Double wishbone fully independent suspension
    STEERING TYPE
    Hydraulic assisted power steering
    STEERING SYSTEM
    Servotronic
    DYNAMIC OPTIONS
    N.A.

    BRAKES
    Carbon-ceramic brakes with fixed calipers monoblock in aluminum with 6 pistons (front) and 4 pistons (rear)
    FRONT BRAKES
    Carbon-ceramic discs ventilated and cross drilled with 400 mm diameter and 38 mm thickness
    REAR BRAKES
    Carbon-ceramic discs ventilated and cross drilled with 380 mm diameter and 38 mm thickness

    LENGTH
    5.020 mm (197.64 in)
    WIDTH EXCL. MIRRORS:
    2.075 mm (81.69 in)
    HEIGHT
    1.165 mm (45.87 in)
    WHEELBASE
    2.700 mm (106.30 in)
    DRY WEIGHT
    1.490 kg (3,285 lb)
    WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION (FR. - REAR)
    43 / 57

Source: https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/models/one-off/veneno-roadster

Pagani Huayra

The Pagani Huayra (Italian pronunciation: [ˈwai̯ra]) is an Italian mid-engined sports car produced by Pagani. Succeeding the company's previous offering, the Zonda, it had a base price of €850,000. It is named after Huayra-tata, a Quechua wind god.The Huayra was named "The Hypercar of the Year 2012" by Top Gear magazine and received a very positive review when tested by Richard Hammond on Top Gear.

The Huayra was previously the fastest road car to go around the Top Gear Test Track, setting a time of 1:13.8, beating the previous record of 1:15.1 set by the Ariel Atom V8 in January 2011, but was beaten by the McLaren 675LT in June 2016 that set a record of 1:13.7.
On February 11, 2015 it was reported that the Pagani Huayra has been sold out. The Huayra was limited to just 100 units as part of Pagani's agreement with engine supplier Mercedes-AMG.

Performance

The Huayra uses a twin-turbo, V12 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG specially for the Huayra. The Huayra's 6.0-litre engine, the M158, produces 730 PS (720 hp, 539 kW) and 811 lb·ft (1,100 N·m) of torque. Its top speed is about 238 mph (383 km/h) and it has a 0-60 acceleration time of 2.8 seconds. Using Pirelli tires, the Pagani Huayra is capable of withstanding 1.66 g of lateral acceleration at speeds of up to 230 mph (370 km/h).
The Pagani Huayra uses a seven-speed sequential gearbox and a single disc clutch. The choice not to use a dual-clutch in an oil bath was due to the increase in weight of over 70 kg (154 lb), thus negating any advantage of the faster gear changes in a double-clutch transmission.As a result, the entire transmission weighs 96 kg (212 lb).
The car is equipped with Brembo brake calipers, rotors and pads. The calipers have four pistons in front and four in the rear. The rotors are drilled carbon ceramic, 380 mm (15.0 in) in diameter and 34 mm (1.3 in) thick.

 

Engine

Mercedes-Benz's AMG division provides the engine of the Huayra which is hand-built. The 5,980 cc, twin-turbo, 60° AMG M158 V12, has been designed at the request of Pagani to reduce turbo lag and improve response, realized with smaller turbos, a different intercooler configuration and re-programmed ECU settings.
Like many high-performance cars, the Huayra uses dry sump lubrication. This has several key benefits including guaranteeing oil flow even when the car is subjected to extreme lateral acceleration, preventing "oil surge" which allows the engine to operate more efficiently while the lack of an oil pan allows mounting the engine lower, lowering the car's center of gravity and improving handling. The fuel consumption of the Huayra is 10 mpg (23 l/100 km) in city and 14 mpg (17 l/100 km) in highway (EPA testing).
A water / oil heat exchanger reduces engine warm-up times on cold days and helps maintain a stable temperature for refrigerants and lubricants.
To minimize the use of pipes and fittings (and the overall weight of the vehicle), the expansion tank is mounted directly on the engine. Intercooler fins act as an expansion tank circuit at low temperatures.

Interior

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagani_Huayra and http://www.pagani.com/it/huayra/