LOTUS Elise

Lotus Elise and Exige RGB Special Editions review:

Roger Becker, former Director of Vehicle Engineering for Lotus is celebrated with a series of special edition versions of the final run of European specification 1.8 litre Elise and Exige sportscars.

In celebration of his now legendary input over the years, Roger Becker (RGB) who retiredinJanuaryfollowing 44 years of service, will have a  series of Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige sports cars in bespoke RGB Special Edition specification produced and set for release from September 2010.

The Elise SC and Exige S RGB Special Editions will both be specified to a high level with Sports and Touring packs as standard. The Elise SC RGB Special Edition has a supercharged 217 hp (220 ps) 1.8 litre engine which blesses it with a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds (0-100kmh in 4.6 seconds). The Lotus Exige S RGB Special Edition uses the range topping 257 (260 ps) supercharged and intercooled 1.8 litre engine which endows it with a 0-60 mph in around 4 seconds and a phenomenal aerodynamic downforce figure of 92.5 lbs (42 kg) at 100 mph (160 kmh).

Roger Becker said, "I am honoured that Lotus has named these two special editions after me, especially as it allows me to offer the customer my favourite specifications. The past 44 years have been an incredible journey and I'm looking forward to watching Lotus progress in the future, I have no doubt that the company will continue to go from strength to strength."

Both the Elise SC and the Exige S RGB Special Editions are available in four colours, Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey and each one is identified by a numbered interior plaque, Roger Becker's signature on the side of the bodywork and special monochrome Lotus nose badge.

At the end of 2010, production of the European versions of the Elise R and SC and the Exige S and Cup 260, which use the 1.8 litre 2ZZ VVTL-i engines supplied by Toyota, will finish due to changes in legislation and the introduction of "Euro 5" Type Approval which does not apply to these cars. Production of the Elise R and SC and the Exige S and Cup 260 will, however, continue for all other markets.

Andreas Prillmann, Chief Commercial Officer for Lotus Cars said, "I would like to thank Roger for his dedication to Lotus It's fitting that an exclusive number of the last of the 1.8 litre Elises and Exiges for Europe are dedicated to Roger, who has been instrumental in the development of so many Lotus cars over the years, in particularly the Evora, the Exige and the recent versions of the Elise. Not only has his extensive knowledge and learning been passed on to our team of talented and skilled engineers, but also his passion for the Lotus brand and heritage has helped Lotus grow into the world class organisation that it is today."

The new, super efficient 2011 Model Year Lotus Elise, introduced to the market earlier this year, will continue for all markets where it is sold including Europe.

The Lotus Elise SC RGB Special Edition in more detail:

217 hp (220 ps) supercharged 1.8 litre engine
Lotus ultra lightweight forged alloy wheels
Sport pack
Touring pack
Four paint colours - Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey
Roger Becker signature on rear of the car
Roger Becker numbered plaque
Monochrome Lotus badges
Air conditioning
Recommended Retail Price:
UK: £38,550 (including VAT)
Euro Zone: € 43,655 (excluding regional taxes)
Switzerland: CHF 71,435 (excluding taxes)
Official European Combined Cycle = 8.5 litres / 100 km (33.2 mpg)
Official European Extra Urban Cycle = 6.4 litres/100 km (44.1 mpg)
Official European Urban Cycle = 11.8 litre/100 km (23.9 mpg)
199 g/km of CO2

The Lotus Exige S RGB Special Edition in more detail:


Standard Features
257 hp (260 ps) Supercharged 2ZZ 1.8 engine
Lotus ultra lightweight forged alloy wheels
Performance pack
Sport pack
Touring pack
Four paint colours - Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey
Roger Becker signature on rear of car
Roger Becker numbered plaque
Monochrome Lotus badges
Structural shear panel which gives increases lateral stiffness to the rear subframe by 30%
Air conditioning
Recommended Retail Price:
UK: £41,950 (including VAT)
Euro Zone: € 50,042 (excluding regional taxes)
Switzerland: CHF 81,887 (excluding taxes)
Official European Combined Cycle = 8.5 litres / 100 km (33.2 mpg)
Official European Extra Urban Cycle = 6.5 litres/100 km (43.5 mpg)
Official European Urban Cycle = 11.9 litre/100 km (23.7 mpg)
199 g/km of CO2End of Lotus Elise and Exige RGB Special Editions review.

FoRd SHelbY GT500 MUSTANG

 
GeigerCars.de - Ford Mustang GT "Shelby"

In the spirit of the Cobra!

Alongside the Ford Mustang V6 and its V8 brother Mustang GT there is the crowning glory of the series the wild Mustang Shelby GT500, which is equipped ex factory with 540 PS, an aggressive body and traditional double stripe paintwork. Anyone who remembe in the same step its 5th and 6th gears were shortened. A 3 disc carbon clutch produces smooth power transmission. A special manifold with racing catalytic converters and customised sport exhaust guarantee that exhaust gases are disposed of properly according to type.

High end chassis engineering

So that so much power can also be transformed in acceleration, GeigerCars.de fitted the Shelby with a special racing chassis as well as a Panhard rod made from chrome-moly steel including polyurethane bushes on the ends to balance the axial offset and new reinforced and adjustable trailing arms for improved rear axle directional stability. For the all-important contact to the asphalt surface four classic OZ alloy wheels in 8.5 and 10x20 inch guarantee adequate grip thanks to Michelin high performance tyres in 245/35ZR20 and 285/30ZR20. The upright Cobra is slowed down using 6 piston high performance brakes on the front axle with 380 millimetre large drilled or optionally slotted brake discs.

Perhaps this Mustang Shelby version would also put the fear of God into the US racing legend Carroll Shelby!

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

Technical data

Engine: 5.4 litre eight cylinder V with modular compressor, Ford GT aluminium engine block, machined cylinder heads, modified injection system, larger throttle valves, sport air filter, 100 mm air flow meter, cold air box, aluminium rocker arm, forged crank drive, 3 disc carbon clutch, reinforced transmission with shortened 5th and 6th gears, increased differential, engine oil cooler, 3.3 l compressor with 1.6 bar supercharging pressure

Power: 810 PS / 541 kW at 6,700 rpm

Max. engine torque: 945 Nm at 4,300 rpm

Maximum speed: 354 km/h

Wheels/tyres: OZ alloys, front 8.5x 20 in. with 245/35ZR20, rear 10x20 in. with 285/30ZR20

Brakes: VA 380 mm slotted discs with Geiger 6 piston brake calipers GT V6, brake hoses

Chassis: racing chassis, Geiger Panhard rod, reinforced and adjustable Geiger trailing armsEnd of Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang by GeigerCars review.

HUMMER H2

 
Hummer H2 Kompressor

Latte Macciatto

The market for American cars has fallen into a sort of lethargy since the insolvency of Chrysler and General Motors. Vehicles like the new Cadillac CTS-V or the new Camaro only find their way over the big pond on the initiative of specialized dealers. But despite the crisis and the un certain future of the American automobile industry, the fan base has not shrunk at all, in contrary the US car scene is as lively as ever.

Karl Geiger, the founder of GeigerCars.de in Munich, has been importing, tuning and customizing American vehicles for more than 30 years. Thanks to a perfect network, the newest models are always available as the first in Europe on the large site in Truderinger Strasse, despite the stuttering US market.

One major enthusiasm of the Bavarian is and remains customizing, and once again Karl Geiger has achieved a masterpiece with this Hummer H2 conversion. The paintwork answers to the name "Latte Macciatto" and is a mix of a noble brown as the base color with many contrast elements in crème-beige. The combination of wheels and tires is exclusive, with 315/30R30 tires on gigantic 30-inch chrome wheels. Behind the almost full wheel rims are Brembo brakes with 380 X 34 mm riveted brake discs and 4-piston calipers at the front, and 380 X 32 mm discs with 2-piston calipers at the back. The chassis receives additional stabilizers, rear axle struts and adjustable sports shock absorbers, including lowering, which is certainly a good idea in view of the extremely high performance of the Geiger Hummer H2.

As is traditional, Geiger has fitted the Hummer motor with a supercharger, which increases the power to a full 547 PS at 5900 rpm and the maximum torque to a brutal 763 Nm at 4500 rpm. So the US giant covers the classical sprint from 0 to 100 kmh in slightly less than 7 seconds, and the forward urge is only gently held back by the air resistance at 228 kmh. In order that the outside world notices the H2 not only visually but also aurally, a special in-house stainless steel sport exhaust system gives out a real thunder.

The inside is pure luxury, because Karl Geiger lines every square centimeter with the finest leather in brown and crème beige. Dashboard, steering wheel, central console and door panels, all glisten in the same color combination as the outside paintwork, which makes the "Latte Macciatto" Hummer absolutely unique. Also remarkable is the fact that Geiger has refinished altogether 400 small parts in the interior with piano lacquer. The A, B and C columns and the underside of the roof have also been lined with finely structured Alcantara. A pioneer sound system including SatNav supplies the passengers with perfect sound and all important information, while a roof-mounted monitor in the back is ideally suited for playing DVDs.

Technical facts

Vehicle type: Hummer H2
Motor: supercharger conversion
Power: 547 POS (402 kW) at 5900 rpm
Max. torque: 763 Nm at 4500 rpm
Acceleration: 0-100 kmh: 6.9 sec.
Top speed: 228 kmh
Brakes: front and back, 2-part riveted brake discs 380 X 32 mm,
front with 6-piston calipers, rear with 4-piston calipers
Wheels/tires: Geiger aluminum wheel, 9.5 X 30 all round with 315/30R30

• 
  High resolution

• 
  High resolution

• 
  High resolution

• 
  High resolution

Chassis: strengthened stabilizers and rear axle struts, lowered
Interior equipment: 2-tone special leather lining, Pioneer sound system incl. navigation, Roof-mounted monitor incl. DVD player, reversing camera in the rear-view mirror
Special features: special paintwork in latte design, Geiger stainless steel sports exhaust system

We recommend all fans of US cars a visit to the interesting homepage of www.geigercars.deEnd of GeigerCars Hummer H2 supercharged - Latte Macciatto review.

Aventador LP700

This is the LB834 ... new better known as the Aventador, the latest and bravest from Sant'Agata, and again this is a true Raging Bull straight from the breeding grounds in Italy. This new flagship will succeed the Murciélago, and because of the sometimes difficult to pronounce name Automobili Lamborghini SpA went for a more straight forward naming this time.

However, rest assured, the name Aventador is again taken from bullfighting, what else, this seems to be a bull from only a few years ago, the early Nineties to be exact, apparently this fierce creature fought in Spain before it will be remembered forever in the shape of the new Italian super car that will shape the future of Lamborghini for years to come … note that an LB834 Roadster is already in the making and should be unveiled within a year or so.

The shots of the press release car are also showing a brand new shade that is now available, Arancio Argos, a name taken from the similar shade oranges grown in the south of Greece … it sure looks impressive in this color, even standing still you can only imagine the brutal force at hand when you slide behind the steering wheel and launch that brand new V12 engine behind you.

We already know this new model uses a carbon fiber monocoque cell to house the happy driver and it’s even happier passenger, stiffness of this cell is over double compared to the Murciélago it is replacing, do note that this cell is built in house at Lamborghini in a brand new factory that is able to produce up to 800 units per year … which works out perfectly as about 600 Murciélago units were built each year in the last decade, so being able to produce 800 Aventadors would be just right to keep the car scarce enough on the open road.

When looking at the Aventador you can clearly recognize some serious family resemblance with the limited edition Reventon (especially at the rear) but also parts of the Estoque concept car can be seen in this 21^st century super car. Note that the Aventador is lighter than the Murciélago, a bit longer and ever so slightly narrower but the height remains the same, add to this the power increase to no less than 691 hp in this new L539 engine and you end up with some pretty amazing figures, the power to weight ratio is right up there with the competition from Bugatti and Pagani … however the new Lamborghini Aventador comes in at about 1/3 their price tag.

It is clear that with the Aventador Lamborghini is setting the benchmark very high, even in house, it is now safe to say the magnificent Aventador will be running circles around the Gallardo, the latter still being an amazing car, but at this moment nothing comes close to the brutal beauty and power of the brand new flagship.

First deliveries into the United States are set for October, still a few months from now, but I’m sure the order book for this powerful Raging Bull will fill up quickly, this is a car that will secure the future of Automobili Lamborghini SpA for years to come, with a Roadster version only a year away and several other evolutions in the pipeline like a GT-R version or a SuperVeloce edition to name a few, the Aventador is the perfect car to succeed the Murciélago.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

Dynamic revisions are central to the Vantage S, with a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 compared to 17:1 on the standard car and a larger diameter front brake disc with new six-piston front brake calipers. New springs and dampers, and wider rear wheels also contribute to chassis revisions. A new dynamic stability control (DSC) system specifically tuned to the Vantage S along with a new brake module providing features such as Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) which provides assistance in emergency braking situations, and Hill Start Assist (HSA). Bespoke tyres have been developed with Bridgestone to optimise road holding enhancing dynamic feel.

At the core of the Vantage S is the new seven speed SportshiftTM II automated manual transmission, offered as standard and delivers exceedingly rapid gear changes, twenty per cent quicker than SportshiftTM. The extra gear permits shorter well-spaced ratios taking advantage of the optimum torque, which combined with a shorter final drive ratio of 4.182:1 delivers quicker acceleration and an enhanced sporting feel. The inherent benefits of a single clutch system reduces complexity and significant weight over a dual clutch solution. SportshiftTM II allows the driver to take an increased level of control, modulating the throttle pedal to achieve the desired type of gear change. In addition, the Vantage S features a ‘Sport' button which quickens the gear changes and gives the driver a more aggressive throttle response while also opening the exhaust bypass valves across most of the engine speed range perfectly characterising the "S" variant.As with every Aston Martin, the Vantage S benefits from its own unique sound with a new exhaust muffler and bypass valve map, creating a very distinctive and highly vocal exhaust note.The Vantage S is instantly recognisable as a true Aston Martin, characterised by its purposeful stance conveying its agility and performance capability. From the front, a new lower front bumper finished in perfectly-aligned carbon fibre houses a larger air intake feeding the engine and front brakes. The splitter combined with the extended deck lid ‘flip' work in harmony to provide increased down force at speed. New 19 inch ‘V' spoke wheel styles are available as standard, while an optional 10-spoke lightweight forged wheel option, reduces unsprung mass further. A new rear bumper and side sills optically widen the car.Bridging the gap between road car and race car, the Vantage S is heavily influenced by the 2011 Vantage GT4 race car. The GT4 takes advantage of the Vantage's immensely rigid bonded aluminium chassis, providing the ideal platform for a race car. Minor racing safety modifications including an FIA approved roll cage and racing ‘bag' petrol tank along with weight saving measures are made to the standard road car to convert it into a class winning race car. In 2010, it won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours following this up with further endurance race wins at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Silverstone 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. It also won its first major international championship victory in the European GT4 Cup.

2009 Mansory LINEA Vincero Bugatti Veyron 16.4

It goes without saying that such a sonorous name is only suitable for an absolutely high-quality programme. Already the Bugatti Veyron serial edition sets standards in terms of price, maximum speed and engine power and leaves its competitors far behind when a contender for the super sports car is to be crowned. Whoever now thinks that everything possible has been achieved, can be proved wrong. Already visually, the changes clearly show.

The front part gets a comprehensive face-lift including modified wings, a shorter hood and a striking front apron. The LED daytime running lights integrated in the front mount and the implemented stylised "V" as a special tribute to the name "Vincero" draw even more attention to the car. The newly developed side skirts are the visual and aerodynamic connection between the axles. Larger air outlets at the sides and at the back render optimal engine cooling and in combination with the new diffuser, they underline the powerful car design. Mansory manufactures nearly all auto body parts from ultra-light and high-strength carbon. The applied hardening technique with strong pressure and high temperatures in the autoclave thereby enormously improve the material quality. In order to perfect the entire visual appearance, Mansory devised new, striking fully-forged turbine-design wheels for the Linea Vincero in serial dimensions. Also, the power engine is refined by Mansory. Technical innovation is combined with technical expertise and thereby, an increased cooling air supply and optimised exhaust system produce an unbelievable 1109 hp and 1310 Nm. The interior is exclusive and yet functional. Also here, Mansory understands how luxury and technology can be harmonically combined. When traditional craftsmanship, selected materials and stylish design merge, the result is an interior of automobile excellence. This mainly shows by the LED lights of the new Ambiente-Illumination-System which are fitted in the seats, door linings and the dashboard. The entire passenger compartment glows in a soft light which does not only render a comfortable feeling, but also emphasises the high-quality carbon applications and the especially grained leather. The ergonomically designed airbag steering wheel is both sportive and particularly pliable and is equipped with rocker switches.The Mansory individualisation programme for the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is offered in a limited edition via the Middle East partner "Prestige Cars Abu Dhabi".The Mansory Cooperation GmbH solely offers proprietary developed modification accessories under the name LINEA Vincero. They do not market entire automobiles and also do not sell any such vehicles.End of Mansory LINEA Vincero Bugatti Veyron 16.4 review.

Aventador

The story

Over the last weeks several images of the new Lamborghini flagship have surfaced on the internet, most of them still with some kind of camouflage on the car, but recently a magazine published the first shots of a red Aventador ahead of the official unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show.

But now things get serious … with work at the Geneva Auto Show underway for the grand press conference on Tuesday, March 1^st 2011 somebody was able to get away with photographing a grey LP700-4 on the stand … without any more covers, we can see the actual car three days too early.

This one is a grey finished model with light wheels, while the magazine car was red with black wheels, the grilles and rubber parts are covered with protective tape on these shots because the car still needs to be fully detailed before we will be able to see it in a few days … in the background we can discover a white car by the way … so there will be at least two cars on display on the ground floor, probably a third will be shown on the first floor, only open on invitation or to VIP.

This is the first time a brand new Lamborghini could be photographed on the stand ahead of the official introduction, and it is an important model this time, the long awaited successor to the by now legendary Murciélago. The Aventador has some serious promised to upkeep, with its carbon fiber monocoque cell and race inspired suspension setup, this new V12 is a serious step ahead in the history of Automobili Lamborghini SpA.

More detailed, high resolution images of the cars on the Lamborghini stand in Geneva will be available in a few days, for now we’ll have to make do with this shots.