Car of the Day - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG F1 Safety Car 2010

Car of the Day - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG F1 Safety Car 2010

Mercedes Benz have supplied the safety cars for the F1 Championship for the past 14 seasons. This year sees the introduction of the fastest and most powerful model to ever be used for this important role, the AMG SLS Gullwing.

The enviable job of piloting the SLS is with Mercedes DTM driver Bernd Maylander, with Pete Tibbetts from the FIA as the co-pilot. They will get to lap all circuits of the 2010 Championship at close to race speed. The role of the Safety Car is to control the F1 pack in the event of accident or adverse weather conditions. and as such the car needs to be able to maintain a speed fast enough to ensure the F1 cars tyres do not cool too much and that the engine gets enough cool flowing air to not overheat.

The potent 420 kw (571 hp) 6.3 litre AMG V8 supplies ample power for the 1620 kilogram SLS to be able to maintain the consistent high speed required without any modification necessary to the standard production build. The only changes to the car are new carbon-fibre exterior mirrors and an all-new carbon-fibre hood with optimised airflow to allow for the inclusion of the aerodynamic roof light bar. The safety light bar for the first times features an all LED lighting solution. It also houses an integrated TV camera.

The lightbar has two centrally located green lights that are illuminated when the Safety Car joins the field and needs to overtake the F1 cars in front of it. Once the SLS AMG has reached the leading position, the outer orange flashing lights are switched on to signal to the drivers that no overtaking is allowed. The white stroboscopic lights in the headlamps and tail lights perform a general signalling function in that they always flash whilst the safety car is deployed.

A special number plate at the rear, with “Safety Car” lettering and 700 LEDs, provides additional safety in darkness or wet weather. A reversing camera is integrated to the left of the number plate, allowing those in the cockpit to keep an eye on the Formula-1 cars behind via monitor.

The only change to the powertrain is a new rear silencer, which gives the spectators a sound in keeping with the aural delights expected as part of the F1 circus, it also allows the AMG V8 to breathe more easily.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Classic Recreations Shelby GT500CR Mustng 2010-1967

Car of the Day - Classic Recreations Shelby GT500CR Mustng 2010-1967

Shelby licensed Classic Recreations last year to build an official continuation 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang. The whole replica/continuation thing has been a contentious area for almost as long as there have been successful and desirable cars. Products have varied between the Good, the Bad and the downright Ugly. While the good have seen factory endeavours from numerous original manufactures, especially British Marques, the practice itself has been a minefield. The vast majority are no more than cheap rip-offs. Even reputable people such as Carroll Shelby have found themselves caught up in less than desirable situations.

While the debate regarding the value and place of recreations has raged for years and is just simply one of those grey areas, there are some absolutes. There is a market for them and some are very, very good. Such is the case for the GT500CR. This is not a recreation that can be passed off for an original, it is in fact with regard to performance, fit and finish better than the original.

If you were the owner of a concourse original - wouldn’t you want one of these as your daily driver.... The GT500CR is a handbuilt masterpiece that takes 2500 man hours to complete. Once complete it receives an official Shelby serial number, badges and inclusion in the Shelby World Registry.

The GT500CR is available in three levels of performance, starting at the base 545 horsepower Performance Model and going through to the 780 horsepower supercharged Venom. The enhancements over the original are both extensive and desirable. There is a new tube subframe, new rack and pinion steering, coil over suspension, Baer brakes, nine-inch rear end and Tremec gearbox.

Visually there are 17 inch wheels and fiberglass body components with the fit and finish better than on the original Other than that the exterior looks the same - why would you change anything...

The interior is beautiful and combines the best of the past with what is obviously hand finished components made by people who love their work.

At the heart of the car as should be with any American Muscle is the engine. In the case of the Venom a supercharged 427 crate engine with enhancements. The Mass Flo Fuel Injection and F1-R Procharger with Intercooler and 17PSI of boost make for some serious improvements over the 1967 version.

So the question is with such a desirable car - will we see replicas of this recreation - off course. Guys who can’t afford the 200k outlay will be building their own version in their garage for years to come.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Pagani Zonda Tricolore

Car of the Day - Pagani Zonda Tricolore


Pagani will feature at this years Geneva show what must be the ultimate run-out model, the 1.75 million dollar Tricolore. While Pagani have stated they will continue to build Zondas on a special order basis for special clients, the Tricolore marks the end of the production line for the highly successful (in relative terms) first model for the worlds leading boutique car manufacturer.

Named in honour of the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Airforce aerobatic team, the Tricolor is not a limited production edition as much as it is a one-off.

The overriding feature of this stunning vehicle is the carbon fibre finish. The beautifully laid weave gets a featured blue clear lacquer over most of the upper body. This lacquer is more of a strong tint that still lets the weave feature as well as having the strength of the hue change with the varying degree of light available.

A green white and red stripe runs either side of the nose cone over the bonnet and the front also features new LED lights. As always with a Pagani the interior is stunning, featuring carbon fibre and blue and cream leather in a mixture that manages to make “busy” very stylish.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Dodge ASC Diamondback Viper

Car of the Day - Dodge ASC Diamondback Viper

Dodge originally enlisted the help of ASC (American Specialty Cars) in the development of the Viper, so the ASC Diamondback project is a fitting development of the original Viper philosophy of a huge engine in a sportscar just large enough to cope.

ASC have taken an already extreme car and made it more so as a showcase for their OmniCarbon process ( a compression-molding process for carbon-fibre). The Viper has been re-skinned with new carbon-fibre roof, rear deck, rockers, fascia inserts, body trim and hood. The result of this extensive use of carbon fibre is a 85 pound reduction in weight, the carbon hood weighs half that of the production version.

ASC enlisted Mclaren Performance Technologies (no relationship to McLaren England) to develop the already potent V10. The result is a visual treat with the 10 chrome intake trumpets standing proud through the hood.

The result of the weight reduction and engine enhancements is among other things a 0-60 time of 3.5 and a power to weight ration of Power to weight 0.4 bhp / kg.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition

Car of the Day - Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition
Maserati must obviously be working on the replacement for the Quattroporte, but why rush. At six years old the design that put Maserati into the top league of manufacturers of prestige sports sedans is still great,still looks fabulous and has reached a refinement level that is second to none. That refinement gets further enhanced with the next special addition model to be launched at the Geneva Motor Show.

To celebrate the 56 significant awards Maserati has received for the QP they have made the performance focused sedan even more stylish. Nothing too outlandish just subtle refinement of finish that shows the best of Italian style.

The “Awards Edition” takes the GT S and gives it a very elegant new finish and color set. There is the new Quarzo Fuso – a unique to this edition pearlescent metallic grey with a golden hue – exterior color that is complimented by a burnished treatment on the exterior chrome. The 20-inch Multi Trident wheels receive the same treatment and behind those sit a set of Brembo brakes that get a new hand polished mirror finish.

The interior finds the Alcantara used not only for the headliner, but also added as a feature to the Poltrona Frau leather seats, The aluminum door sills get a brushed finish to compliment the burnished exterior metal pieces and the wood is finished in piano black satin. The boot receives black trim with chrome details and a leather side pocket.

There are some cars that as they reach their end of new lifecycle become somewhat less desirable and buyers hold off for the next launch. Such is not the case with the Quattroporte, it is a true classic.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Audi TT RS

Car of the Day - Audi TT RS

Audi - a turbocharged 5 cylinder engine - and Quattro drivetrain, enough said really. It is a combination that is both unique and hugely successful. The legacy of the original fire-breathing Quattro Rally Cars is continued in a package that is far more beautiful than originals ever were.

The TT supporters have been screaming for an aggressively focused performance version since the original generation one car was first shown. The TT style has always been love it or hate it and while the second generation design may have toned down that polarity somewhat, the fact that the performance has never really lived up to the sporting looks has given the detractors plenty of ammunition to disparage the car.

Now with the new 2.5 litre in-line 5 cylinder that has found its place in the TT RS there is power to match the looks. The turbocharged engine develops 250 kW (340 bhp) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. That torque is available from 1,600 through to 5,300 rpm making the acceleration range wide and the car always ready for any passing or overtaking maneuver. Specific output is an impressive 100.8 kW (137.1 bhp) per liter.

Audi have managed to keep the weight down with the Coupe version of the RS tipping the scales at 1,450 kilograms (3,196.70 pounds) and the convertible comes in at 1,510 kilograms (3,328.98 pounds) The body and “Audi Space Frame” are constructed predominantly of aluminium. This lightweight construction coupled with the 250 kW available gives a 0 -60 of 4.5 seconds.

If only Audi Sport did a full customer Rally version.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang SVT 2011

Car of the Day - Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang SVT 2011

Ford - are finally giving the Shelby GT500 Mustang an alloy block for 2011, not that there was all that much wrong with the old cast-iron lump from a power perspective. The problem was just weight, and therefore efficiency. Given that efficiency is the name of the game in this age the move is somewhat overdue.

The new 5.4 litre engine is based on the block form the Ford GT however that incarnation of the engine was never considered suitable for the GT500 as it was not deemed strong enough for the drag race set to modify in the way they are accustomed to. That and the fact that it was set up for dry sump lubrication. What has changed in recent times is that Ford has developed a new cylinder bore coating process for alloy blocks called, Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA). This process involves heating a steel coating material to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit and then spraying it onto the aluminum cylinder bores to a thickness of 150 micron. Nissan licensed the process from Ford for the GT-R’s V6

The result of replacing the steel cylinder liners with PTWA means the new V8 engine is 102 lbs lighter than 2010 cast iron engine, while still being at least as strong and suitable for drag race style modifcation and power output. The PTWA costing also aids efficiency and output with peak power now at 550 hp, a 10 increase in horsepower Overall there has been a 120 pound weight reduction The new wheels from the SVT Performance Package are 4.7 pounds lighter each at the front. The rears are now 20 inches and 2.8 pounds lighter than the old 19’s. The weight reduction both over the front axle and to the unsprung weight has obvious benefits to handling and dynamics and helps give the new GT500 a more balanced feel.

The SVT package includes a 3.73:1 rear axle to cater to the larger rear wheels and the suspension has been modified to take advantage of the reduction of weight over the front axle. The front springs on the SVT are 20.5-percent stiffer while the rear are 9.5-percent. The GT500 is now 11 millimeters lower at the front and 8 mm at the rear.

For those that love the sunshine, one of the most important changes for the 2011 model line is that SVT have significantly increased the convertibles body rigidity, bringing it much closer to the Coupe in overall performance and feel.

Of great significance as well is that the efficiency of the new coating on the cylinders as well as the weight reduction has resulted in the 2010 GT500’s fuel economy (?) of 14 mpg city and 22 mpg highway see a 1 mpg improvement in each area which is just enough for it to be excluded from the EPA’s $1,000 gas guzzler tax

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Bentley Continental GTZ Zagato

Car of the Day - Bentley Continental GTZ Zagato

Bentley CEO, Dr. Ing. Franz Josef Paefgen and Zagato President Dr. Andrea Zagato met at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance and agreed to a deal for the Carrozzeria to design a limited production car on the Continental platform. Undoubtably the success of the Ferrari 575 GTZ, which was presented at the 2006 Villa D'Este Concourse helped in this decision.

Zagato followed the 2006 Ferrari GTZ with the 2007 Maserati GS Zagato, again presented at Villa D'Este. The Maserati used a different design language to the Ferrari, while still a beautiful car it was a nowhere near as successful a design. The styling cues of the 575 GTZ were not only carried over for the Bentley, it actually looks like the original design was ovelayed on the Continental profile and stretched to meet the envelope and then the Bentley front fascia added. Obviously the proportions of the Bentley do not allow that design to be as sleek and it was not as well recieved when unveiled at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show in 2008.

Perhaps suffering from the obvious comparision to the Ferrari, the Continental GTZ is still a stunning and individualistic car. The car itself is imposing and the design obviously Zagato, a design I feel will age well and become a classic of the start of a modern period of renewed interest in carrozzeria style production.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Gumpert Apollo

Car of the Day - Gumpert Apollo

Gumpert is managing to put itself well into the spotlight as a builder of hyper performance cars, if not a builder of good looking ones. It seems these days no matter the uncertainty of global economics there is a market for hyperexotic hypercars and their builders seem to be able to sustain a business on 50 car per year or less. I guess it doesn’t hurt that the company was formed by Roland Gumpert, former manager of the Audi Sports department, as well as other ex-Audi employees Under Gumperts management Audi scored 25 victories in World Championship races and gained 4 Rally World Championship titles with the legendary Quattros.

Gumpert first debuted it’s Apollo at the Geneva’s International Motor Show in 2006. While I wouldn’t call it ugly, it certainly is no beauty. The people that are buying a Gumpert are not buying them for their looks though. It is the shear unadulterated performance. In its current guise the Apollo can achieve 0-60 in under three seconds while going onto a top speed of 232 mph. It lapped the Top Gear test track in 1:17.1 pushing the Ascari A10 from top spot. And the big one - it lapped the Nurburgring in 7:11.57 in the hands of Florian Guber taking the “production car” lap record.

What makes it so fast - a 800-hp, biturbo Audi 4.2-liter FSI V8 and a weight of just 1200 kg. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder one thing is an absolute, and that is form follows function. The Apollo is a race car for the street, and the design exercise was more about taking existing race car technology and knowledge and building it into a street legal car. Priority was also put into making this a safe street legal race car with the chrome-molybdenum tubular space frame integrated with a monocoque fabricated in carbon-fiber passing all crash-tests regulations. There is a cashbox that offers additional protection.

The Apollo is available in 650hp base, 700 hp Speed and 800 hp Sport options with the base version just shy of 300k Euro.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Car of the Day - Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Bentley build big, - very big, sports cars. The introduction of the new Continental in xxxx took Bentley out of the doldrums that was the Rolls Royce period and firmly put them back on the map as builders of big GT's - sportscars even - cars that Woolf Barnato would be comfortable in. The latest derivative of the mighty Continental will be launched shortly at this years Geneva Auto Show. The Supersports Convertible is no less than the fastest manufacturer produced 4-seat convertible ever.With 621 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, the twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 powered monster can reach 60 mph in 3.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 202 mph. It can do this whether you are using E85 or Premium, it doesn't matter.

Any Bentley is special, this one is more so. As the name suggests the focus is on performance and Bentley have achieved considerable improvements over the already impressive Continental performance figures through several means, not the least of which is a weight saving program. It is though pretty easy to be over indulgent and stack that weight back on via the Bentley options menu. The Supersports is 90kg (198lb) lighter than the GTC Speed, 45kg (99lb) of that comes from the lightweight, carbon fibre, front sports seats, unlike its Coupe sibling the Convertible retains its four seats. Another 20kg (44lb) comes from the carbon-ceramic brakes that are standard on the SS. These also give the added advantage of fade-free braking and a reduction in unsprung mass.A further weight saving of 10kg (22lb) comes from the 9.5Jx20-inch forged alloy 10-spoke wheels designed to also offer improved brake cooling. Again these also help reduce unsprung weight. Those wheels by the way are shod with 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tyres.

Exterior changes include larger air intake and vertical grilles that provide 10% more volumetric air flow to the turbocharger intercoolers, plus bonnet vents to help extract hot air from engine bay. There are newly tooled side panels to accommodate the increased rear track. The "bightware" gets a new 'smoked steel finish' as well as the application of 'Physical Vapour Deposition' to stainless steel. At the rear there are new larger, twin elliptical tailpipes plus a new rear valance with a vertical divider and a fixed rear bootlid spoiler. To go with the more extrovert nature or the Supersport Bentley have added six new colours (Citric, White Satin, Kingfisher, Magenta, Orange Flame and St James Red Pearl)

Even with the focus on performance Bentley does not neglect its standard of luxury and craftsmanship and the interior displays this differently but just as well. In the case of the SS there is a satin-finish carbon fibre, Alcantara™ and 'Soft Grip' leather.

Other features that set the SS apart are new 40/60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive, giving the driver more feedback and control aking to a rear wheel drive GT. There is also a Continuous Damping Control (CDC) system, stiffer suspension bushes and uprated rear anti-roll bar. The rear track has Increased by 50mm. Very importantly the FlexFuel technology offers a reduction of up to 70 percent in CO2 emissions. The big Bentley is becoming both meaner and greener.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Lotus Elise 2011

Car of the Day - Lotus Elise 2011

Lotus are introducing styling elements from the Evora for the first significant change to the Elise in 7 years. The first generation Elise was launched 14 years ago, so with this essentially third generation re-style, we must now undoubtably be looking at the British equivalent of the 911 - a car that becomes an icon with a layout and style that is still recognisable through shifts is company design language.

What will never change with the Elise is its focus on efficient performance. The styling changes to the nose, tail, headlamps, grill and side vents are far from just cosmetic and have resulted in a 4 percent reduction to the Cd. The new look gives a wider, more purposeful stance. Whilst instantly recogniseable as an Elise the changes are considerable, but it is all about evolutionary detailing. There is a new “twin-spine” engine cover, new rear diffuser and rear bumper that now includes the licence plate. The new headlamp units get sculptured LED lighting guides (with daytime running lamps). Also at the front the Lotus “mouth” gets crisper detailing and new lightweight aluminium mesh grill.

For 2011 the base model gets a new 1.6 litre Valvematic engine, Toyota sourced of course, (without a sticky accelerator pedal). While 200cc smaller than the outgoing engine it produces similar power (136 PS, 100 kW, 134 hp at 6800 rpm) and maximum torque is 160 Nm, 118 lb-ft at 4400 rpm. There is a big advantage for this engine though with a 23% improvement to fuel economy, now 6.14 litres / 100km (46 mpg). This is a phenomenal figure for such a high performance car. Further efficiency improvements are seen with a 13% reduction in CO2. The new engine is mated to a new 6-speed manual gearbox, with closer and more performance orientated ratios than the old 5 speed box.

The R and SC version get the same Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter with 192 hp in naturally aspirated form and 217 hp with the supercharger.

The new 2011 model year Elise is set to debut at the 80th International Geneva Motorshow.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Porsche Cayman - 2009

Car of the Day - Porsche Cayman - 2009

Porsche presented their second generation Cayman at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show. The Cayman was presented alongside the matching new Boxster for the 2009 model year. In typical Porsche fashion it was a visually subtle work over of an already highly finessed design. Importantly, there was an increase in performance while also offering improvements in efficiency and fuel economy. With the second generation models Porsche also further distinguished between its two mid-engine models with differences to styling as well as providing a greater performance bump for the Coupe.

The new Cayman received a 20 bhp increase in output for the base 2.9 litre flat six engine. Now at 265 bhp (195 kW), the Cayman also received a 10 bhp increase over the Boxster. Also available was the 320 bhp 3.4 litre “S” option - up 25 bhp over the first generation model . Both engine choices could be coupled to Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe transmission (PDK, double clutch), or the standard 6-speed manual. The PDK option offers improved acceleration and better fuel economy and for the first time came in under the 9 litre mark at 8.9 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 26.4 mpg US) . The Cayman S with PDK also broke the 5 second mark for 0-100 kph at 4.9 seconds. Additional performance options include active suspension (PASM) and ceramic brakes (PCCB), these are available as part of one of the optional Sports Chrono Packages .

The steering and suspension were not neglected, both were refined and the steering valve control was re-mapped to reduce force and provide more spontaneous feedback.

Visually the Cayman received refined front and rear fascias with new halogen headlights featuring integrated indicators and at the rear new LED taillights. At the side, the new air intake design further differentiated the Cayman from the Boxster. Inside there is a new CDR-30 CD radio and the option of the PCM Porsche Communication Management system that can control all audio, communication and navigation features.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Mini Coupe Concept

Car of the Day - Mini Coupe Concept

Mini - or BMW that is, has carved a very successful niche for it’s contemporary retro brand. Unlike the original, which was a model within a brand, BMW are moving to significantly expand MINI as a stand alone manufcturer with a model line featuring a range of derivatives and variations on the theme. While Austin, Morris and Leyland had the Clubman, Cooper, Convertible, Wagon and Moke, BMW are about to add a Coupe and Speedster to those established names.

The Coupe was first shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009, less than a month after images were presented to press on 26 August 2009. That date was significant as it marked exactly the fiftieth anniversary of the original Alec Issigonis designed Mini being presented to the public.

Undoubtably, when finally released the Coupe will have a performance focus, and it will be strictly a two seater. Expect at least a 1.6-litre turbo in various states of John Cooper Works tune. Promised is a “driver’ focused car featuring lightweight construction and a lower centre of gravity. This compact two-seater measures 3,714 millimetres (146.2”) in length, 1,683 millimetres (66.3”) in width and is 1,356 millimetres (53.4”) high. With the current top of the line engine the raked windscreen chop top would have 155 kW/211 hp on tap and 260 Newton-metres/192 lb-ft of torque when utilsing the overboost function.

Practicality is not completely forgotten with a luggage capacity of 250 litres or 8.8 cu ft. To access this there is a large wide-opening tailgate. Hinged above the roof spoiler, the entire tailgate including the rear window swings up, coupled with a low loading sill, access is easy even for heavy and bulky objects. Not that it will be utilised for that sort of work much, it would be more like a couple of soft bags for a fun weekend away.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Porsche GT3 variants page

Car of the Day - Porsche the GT3 variants

Click the image to go to the relevant COTD page to download the PDF Profile.

For the main Porsche archive page click --HERE--

Car of the Day - Porsche 997 GT3 R Hybrid

Car of the Day - Spyker Aileron Spyder

Porsche are taking their first step into a new age of motor racing with the GT3 R Hybrid. With the FIA undoubtably moving to incorporate more hybrid and green technology into International racing there will undoubtably be more to come from the Worlds leading performance and race car manufacturers. Ferrari are also known to be working on a hybrid version of the 599 Fiorano.

While KERS may not have been an unqualified success in Formula One it has at least helped with the development of this new race car. Porsche have brought in Williams technology for their first foray into this new style of powertrain utilising a modified version of their regenerative power solution. The system utilises a 60 kw motor on each of the front wheels. These motors supplement the 480 hp flat six of the GT3 R on which this car is based. That boost can last for 6-8 seconds under driver control and in effect is more like a Nitrous Oxide boost than any common battery powered hybrid solution.

While the Willians F1 system was used to add a power boost via the gearbox, Porsche have transferred the power directly to the two supplemental motors. These motors also act as a regenerative power supply under braking. At the heart of the system though is an electrically driven flywheel that sits where the passenger seat would normally be. The flywheel can spin at up to 40,000 rpm and is made of a composite material infused with magnetic particles that acts as the permanent magnet for the motor. This new material also works essentially as an ultracapacitor, and while as such energy can only be stored for a short period of time it does provide a significant advantage over a normal battery hybrid solution by keeping the weight significantly down.

Porsche have not released performance figures to date and we will have to wait until May 15th and 16th when it will be entered in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring to get a complete picture of its overall performance. The system not only has the added short burst of power up to a total of 640 hp but also should be able to provide some advantages in fuel economy. Porsche have said they don’t expect to win any races soon with the new power solution, they see this rather as a “rolling laboratory”.


Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Spyker Aileron Spyder

Car of the Day - Spyker Aileron Spyder

Spyker -- is an interesting company,... from the failed F1 adventure to a possible buyer of SAAB, only to be rejected by GM due to the involvement of Viktor Antonov, to what looks like final success with a re-negotiated deal after a buyout of Antonov. On top of that a recent announcement of a move of manufacturing from Zeewolde in the Netherlands to Coventry England. What a year.

With the move in manufacturing comes the obvious “re-structure” and reduction in head count. Not surprising really as Spyker built just 45 customer cars in 2009 and the company employs 145 people, just over 3 people to build one car a year. At the equivalent of 210-280,000 dollars US per car, after wages it does not leave much for design and materials ... oh and the Lotus engineering costs. No wonder they want to buy SAAB, they need to buy SAAB in order to diversify and bring Spyker car development costs in-house. Ultimately this slice of automotive history will make for a great book. No matter what, we are all the better for niche car manufacturers such as Spyker.

Individualism is what Spyker id all about. They may not be a Ferrari, or Lamborghini or Pagani for that matter, but a Spyker is definitely a car with appeal. Aviation heritage, unique design and beautiful craftsman are the hallmarks of a Spyker.

The new Spyder is an obvious next step development of the C8, which itself is the second generation model of the new iteration of Spyker. Drivetrain and chassis remain essentially untouched and details can be found in the companion COTD on the Coupe version. First announced at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in March, the C8 Aileron Spyder gets a high-quality, handmade semi-automatic folding canvas top that when retracted is completely hidden within the body of the car. The roof’s operation is electric/hydraulic, secured by one central latch operated manually. The roof retracts under an aluminium tonneau, with two buttresses upholstered in quilted Hulshof leather (matching the car’s interior) and featuring the company’s motto “Nulla Tenaci Invia Est Via” (“For the tenacious, no road is impassable”). The soft top has a glass rear window and is available in eight colours.

A notable feature of the Aileron Spyder is the luggage rack which is CNC-machined from solid billets of aluminium, mounted immediately behind the roll hoops, on which a wing-shaped aluminium case is strapped. The case is trimmed in the same quilted leather as the interior and buttresses.

Optional features include a turned aluminium dashboard fascia, 19-inch directional rotor wheels, branded Rotorblade(TM), quilted leather detailing for the cockpit and Chronoswiss dashboard instruments. Additionally, complete custom and unique finishes are available as well as a 5-piece Louis Vuitton luggage set exclusively made for Spyker..

The C8 Aileron Spyder is available in 16 standard colours, but customers can choose any colour they wish as an option, as well as the Spyker Squadron GT2 colour scheme. Which makes an already visually loud car .... much louder.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Porsche 911 Turbo S - 997 2011

Car of the Day - Porsche 911 Turbo S - 997 2011


Porsche has re-introduced the Turbo S after a five year absence. Duly taking the crown at the top of the model line, the new Turbo S beats the latest GT2 to 100 kph by 0.4 seconds, a substantial achievement. Porsche have been focusing development lately not only on performance but equally on efficiency. The new S showcases that development by squeezing 30 extra horsepower out of the twin turbo flat six without any increase to fuel consumption.

All 911 Turbos are special, in the case of an S derivative, just that bit more so across the board. Items that are optional on the base Turbo become standard on the S. In this case standard kit includes;
- Dynamic Engine Mounts
- Launch control
- Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) including a mechanical differential lock on the rear axle.
- 7- speed Porsche - Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK ) dual clutch gearbox
- Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive
- Dynamic Bending Lights
- 19-inch wheels in RS Spyder design with centre locking nut.
- Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB)
That is a whole lot of TLAs and FLAs beginning with P, what they add up to is one dynamic driving experience.

A the heart of all Porsche Turbos though is the flat six boxer and in this tune it is outputting 530 hp (390 kW) and a mighty 700 Newton-metres (516 lb-ft) of torque. Driving thought the 7-speed PDK, with PTV and PTM assisting the Turbo S reaches 100 kph in just 3.3 seconds and 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds. Luckily it has PCCB to bring it down from its 315 km/h (195 mph) terminal velocity.

The Turbo S will be available in Coupe and Cabriolet versions from May 2010. For those that only the best will do ..., they will need to hand over €173,241 for the Coupe and €184,546 for the Cabriolet. (inc 19% VAT)

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 1952 Gullwing

Car of the Day - Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 1952 Gullwing

Mercedes Benz by 1950 were starting to re-build an international reputation after the wake of WW2.

A modern performance oriented sports car capable of succeeding in world class race and rally events was required to elevate the company profile further. Mercedes wanted to re-establish the position they held in International Motorsport pre-1939.

The now iconic gullwing design first made its appearance in this less well known competition version. The 1952 300SL featured the unique door configuration more out of necessity than visual appeal. The equally legendary Mercedes engineer Rudolph Uhlenhaut dictated a lightweight tube spaceframe with great torsional strength for the new car. The result was a cross braced grid and ladder arrangement with an outer longitudinal section that required a higher position for the bottom of the doors. The spaceframe box that runs down the sides of the car also required quite a step to enter and exit the vehicle. The unique solution to the problem of designing a door around the chassis struck a cord with the public and raised the profile of Mercedes new sportscar. Almost 60 years on Mercedes AMG have returned to the configuration with a thoroughly modern re-interpretation.

Ulenhaut also naturally called for a lightweight body to clad the new spaceframe and assigned Untertarrkheim and Sindelfingen the task of designing the new car. The curvaceous shape foretold the ultimate 300SL design of 1955 and was from a drag efficiency standpoint a huge success, the designers delivered to brief with a lightweight body with an equally lightweight drag coefficient of Cd 0.25.

The low bonnet line called for the M194 (a development of the M186) 3.0 litre engine to be slanted at a 50 degree angle. This heavily slanted engine in turn called for the development of a new overhead cam cylinder head arrangement that in sectional view is more triangular than box shaped.

The 1952 300 SL achieved enormous success in competition (a full race history is planned for part 2 of this COTD), the most notable victory however is the 1-2 finish at the 1952 running of the 24 hours of LeMans.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - BMW GINA

Car of the Day - BMW GINA

BMW pushed the boundaries of innuendo, technology and mind set with the 2008 GINA (Geometry and Functions In “N” Adaptions), in this case surely a reverse engineered four letter acronym. The concept undoubtably has merit and the use of new materials in automobile manufacture with be a rapidly developing area as nanotechnology passes through its infancy.

Whether a material is developed that either makes a seamless skin practical, or can be used as a wrap and then chemically hardened, there is potential advantages in many areas. Part rolling sculpture, part research test bed, the GINA’s overall design if produced in metal would be in keeping with the current BMW design language. The continuous one piece skin wraps a form meeting current two seat sports car proportions, but refined to make one seamless uninterrupted flowing form.

The flexibility of the material opens up new possibilities for the future with the potential for a design to be able to morph to meet aerodynamic or aesthetic requirements. As it stands the headlights, air ducts, rockers and rear spoiler are all electro or electro-hydraulicly controlled to allow their form to change to meet the current driving style or required function.

While it may look like some talented German designers drew the idea on a coaster in German Beer Hall after a night at their favorite fetish club, the underlying concept offer great potential for future design and manufacture. Do you think the BMW board got the name when they approved it?

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - Ferrari - Rear Engine V12's

FERRARI - Front engine V12's are --HERE--

FERRARI - The V8's are --HERE--

Car of the Day - Ferrari Enzo



Car of the Day - Ferrari FXX SuperEnzo



Car of the Day - Ferrari FXX Evoluzione



Car of the Day - Ferrari P4/5



Car of the Day - Ferrari P4 - 350 Can-Am

Car of the Day - BMW M1 Hommage

Car of the Day - BMW M1 Hommage

BMW presented the M1 Hommage at the 2008 Concorse d’Elegance Villa d’Este to mark the 30th anniversary of the original M1. Spawned from the 1972 BMW Turbo designed by one of my favorite designers, Paul Braq, the original M1 was a seminal design by Giorgio Giugiaro. The Italian influence did not stop with Giugiaro for the original as BMW partnered with Lamborghini to help develop their first mid-engine exotic. Built between 1978 and 1981 the M1 was a huge marketing success for BMW, being used in one of the earliest one make race series supporting the F1 Championship in the guise of the M1 Procar.

Naturally with such a successful and high profile design each ten year anniversary should be a time to celebrate it. With just 457 of the original M1’s built it’s importance to BMW does not relate to profits but rather on going prestige. The hope for enthusiasts is that one day BMW will follow through and deliver a “new” M1.

This is actually a “not quite” a Car of the Day as BMW did not release any specifications or possible specifications and as can be seen from the images there appears to be no interior. That being said and important aspect of Car of the Day is automotive design, of which this is an outstanding example.

Rod Halligan

Car of the Day - BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

Car of the Day - BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

BMW showcased it’s “EfficientDynamics” engineering philosophy – which they state as “the pursuit of an enhanced, athletic driving experience while simultaneously lowering the consumption and emissions of each vehicle”, with a 2 + 2 Sportscar at Frankfurt in September 2009. Aptly named the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, the technology tour de force is a plug-in full-hybrid with M performance and fuel economy exceeding the current crop of fuel efficient small cars.

The Vision’s powertrain combines “ActiveHybrid” components which includes an electric motor on each axle, with a 1.5 liters 3-cylinder turbodiesel. Together the system provides an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph, zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and an average fuel consumption equal to 62.6 mpg. The Vision Concept is a stunning visual treat to promote the launch of the production ActiveHybrid X6 and 7 series shown at Frankfurt in 2009.

Overall the combined power output is 356 hp and maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. The special arrangement of the two motors and diesel engine allows all-wheel drive when driving in all-electric mode. The power delivered by the turbodiesel is conveyed to the rear axle by means of a double-clutch transmission (DCT), while the electric motors use a combination of a hybrid synchronous motor on the front axle and a full-hybrid system at the rear. With this system the rear electric motor is positioned between the diesel engine and the DCT and outputs a consistent 33 horsepower with a peak of up to 51 hp and 214 lb-ft. This either supports the diesel engine or is used independently for all electric motoring. Additionally when coasting or applying the brakes, the electric motor re-generates power back to the lithium-polymer battery. The electric motor on the front axle is of the hybrid synchronous variety and provides a continuous output of 80 horsepower and peak torque of 162 lb-ft, with 112 horsepower available in 30 seconds burst and 139 hp for short 10-second bursts. The power is transmitted through a 2-stage, single-speed reduction gearbox.

The powertrain provides the ability to run under just electric power, combine electric and internal combustion, or an infinite combination of the three power sources. The two electric motors may be used for accelerating or regenerating power when applying the brakes and coasting. Lithium-polymer battery for electrical energy.

The battery cells are housed in a in a central chassis tunnel. There are 98 lithium-polymer cells, each offering a capacity of 30 amp/hours and developing continuous output of 600 Amps at a voltage of 3.7 V. For the 30 second short burst periods each cell is able to output 1,200 Amps.

Both the exterior and interior have a strong design presence. Lightweight materials are used throughout and BMWs motor sport experience feeds in all areas. The transparent and airy design expounds efficiency and form in this case definitely follows function with numerous aerodynamic components styled into cohesive elements of the design.

The Vision is 181.1” long, 74.8” in wide and 48.8” high. It has a luggage capacity of 5.3 cu ft and provides room for two sets of Golf Clubs. With an drag coefficient of 0.22 and a curb weight of 3,076 lb the performance would undoubtably be dynamic.

Hybrid M Series car are looking good for the future.

Rod Halligan