You Don’t Have to be an Idiot But it Helps

Despite the best intentions of Ron Dennis and Luca di Montezemolo and the aspirations of teenagers this only goes to show that the majority of people who buy supercars are nothing but idiots.  The only criterion that you have to meet is being rich.  Imagine if Civil Aviation worked like that!

What Monster Saw

Monster Tajima is the first person to do Pikes Peak in under 10 minutes.  This is what he saw…a really scary hill climb.  Forget the ‘Ring this is absolutely the outer edge of reason for road cars:

PistonHeads Headlines - Chrysler Engines For Maserati Saloons?

For all the gory details see:

PistonHeads Headlines - Chrysler Engines For Maserati Saloons?

A Maserati with a Chrysler engine…surely not!  (calling it a cinquestella doesn’t fool anyone Mr Mopar). But wait it’s worse…a Maserati with a diesel ?  Could this really be the end of civilisation as we know it?  Not so much Stealing Beauty but rather Flushing Beauty Down the Toilet.

Spy Shots: Latest look at Porsche's upcoming 911 Turbo — Autoblog

Why do the Elves of Zuffenhausen bother trying to disguise their “new” cars.  They all look the same and have for years.  I suppose some people like that kind of certainty

Autoblog has the story at Spy Shots: Latest look at Porsche's upcoming 911 Turbo — Autoblog

BMW 6-series coupe revealed - Shanghai motor show 2011 - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

New BMWs are becoming anodyne and so similar that they’re really hard to tell apart.

 

Come back Chris Bangle all is forgiven.  Your cars may have been ugly but at least they were interesting and distinctive!

The Germans now seem to lack any imaginative creativity for their production cars. Or are they specifically targeted at a particularly boring clientele?

BMW 6-series coupe revealed - Shanghai motor show 2011 - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

A New Caterham

Like the appearance of Halley’s comet or the discovery of donkey horse droppings a completely new Caterham is the rarest of automotive events.  The UK manufacturer of niche sports cars has announced a brand new car at the Autosport International show at the NEC and incredibly exciting it is too.  For all the details see PistonHeads Headlines

This is just so different from the Lotus 7 inspired Caterhams that we all love and that go like stink but, if truth be known, are now just a tad old fashioned.

But the new Caterham changes the game and has so many firsts for the company.  Stunning looks, even more stunning performance and  an emphasis on track days and motorsport. 

Can’t wait to see the UK model.  Regrettably it is certain that I won’t be able to afford it.

Arriving at the Pub

When I was living in Surrey I used to frequent the Noah’s Ark in Lurgashall West Sussex, one of the most picturesque pubs you could imagine, situated on the perfect English village green where the gentle click of willow on leather can often be heard on the long Summer evenings.

I often wondered what car would be best to arrive in at the pub to create the maximum attention.  After much contemplation of the usual suspects: RR Silver Ghost London to Edinburgh, Jaguar XKSS, AC Cobra 427, Tipo 61 Birdcage Maserati, P4 Ferrari etc, etc. I concluded that something out of the ordinary would be better.  So I decided on a J2 Allard which seemed to me to fit the bill – masculine, loud and very hirsute.

I  have only ever seen one and that was at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu so my ambition seemed doomed.  But now a Canadian company is making replicas so good that they could be like a sort Sanction 2 a la Aston Martin DB4GT  Vantage Zagato. See: PistonHeads Headlines

Now all I need is the dosh and I can knock ‘em dead art the Noah’s Ark!

Goodwood Revival 2010 - pics - Motoring - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

Autocar has published a gallery of evocative  pictures of clasic sports and racing cars (plus a couple of warbirds, some buses and motorbikes) taken at the Goodwood Revival meeting.
Go on take the challenge and identify all of them (there are no captions!) – just click this link:
Goodwood Revival 2010 - pics - Motoring - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

Porsche 918 Spyder will be made

Porsche 918 Spyder will be made: "Porsche has confirmed the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar concept will be put into production." (from Autoblog)

The news that Porsche will make its 918 Spyder show car from Geneva is welcome news.  All the right ingredients: electric motors, 500BHP petrol engine, gigantic price for a new hypercar for the 21st Century, embracing the now desiderata.  Only one real problem.  It looks like a can opener!

Now that Volkswagen has bought Italdesign - Giugiaro there is some hope that Porsche will no longer make the ugliest cars..........in the World.

458 Challenge debuts at Maranello

Ferrari debuts the 458 Italia Challenge, a sort of souped up version.  And doesn't it look great!

458 Challenge debuts at Maranello: "Maranello – The 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting, a traditional event that brings together the representatives of Ferrari’s international sales network."

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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este

 Zagato is clearly undergoing a bit of a renaissance.  Following on from the gorgeous Ferrari 550 GTZ Barchetta this stunning new take on the Alfa Romeo TZ cars is most welcome.  Will it, like the iconic Alfa Romeo Montreal unveiled at Geneva in 1970,  make it to production.  Come on Alfa, you know you want to do it!

Autoblog takes up the story:

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este: "
Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo, Racing

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Zagato-designed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa has been unveiled at the Villa d'Este concours, and frankly, it's spectacular. Driven by the Alfa 8C Competizione's V8, the TZ3 is very much in keeping with its 60s-era predecessors, the TZ1 and TZ2, sporting similar detail elements and the same near-breadvan profile. Also like the originals, this is a legit racing car. Unlike its forbears, however, the new machine wears aluminum bodywork stretched over a tube frame and carbon-fiber chassis. Power, as indicated before, is also of thoroughly modern origin.



Zagato says the TZ3 was commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp as a special celebration of 100 years of racing from Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Corse, Autodelta, and Scuderia Zagato. On that 'special' bit, we think it's safe to say, 'Mission accomplished.' With class and panache to spare. Official PR pics are in the gallery below, and a full live gallery is posted at OmniAuto. Be sure to pay them a visit as well. Thanks for the tip, Claudio!

Gallery: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa

[Source: Zagato (PDF link) via OmniAuto.it]
Continue reading Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dennis: 'Veyron is pig ugly'

Last week Ron Dennis expressed his views on the aesthetics of the Veyron, curiously timed to coincide with the unveiling of his own supercar the McLaren MP4-12C

Dennis: 'Veyron is pig ugly': "McLaren Automotive boss Ron Dennis has described the Bugatti Veyron as 'pig ugly'." (posted by Autocar)

Now I am no great fan of the Veyron as you will know but I find Ron's somewhat intemperate language a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

McLaren is not renowned for producing beautiful cars - brilliantly engineered cars yes but beautiful certainly not. The F1 was an automotive tour de force but its looks were the elephant in the room and as for the the new MP4 it's really rather.. er.. derivative. If I had enough money to buy a McLaren I certainly wouldn't.  Far too common.  But I guess most will buy it for its badge.

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Revealed on www.ferrari.com: the new 599 GTO - The fastest ever road-going Ferrari will be unveiled to the public at the Beijing Motor Show

Well it's finally official after much speculation.  Built around the 599 Fiorano, the new GTO is now the coolest car from the coolest marque on the planet (BBC-speak for "in the world").  Not quite as luscious as the original GTO (particularly in GTO 64 guise) the newbe is nevertheless fantastic.  Now how can I get hold of one?

Revealed on www.ferrari.com: the new 599 GTO - The fastest ever road-going Ferrari will be unveiled to the public at the Beijing Motor Show

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Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

You may be forgiven in asking what on Earth happened to Aston Martin.  Latest news is that AM could build a hybrid badged as a Lagonda.  So in the last 50 years AM has gone from:

A paragon of sports cars - fast, gorgeous and a race winner

to this:

Lardy, ugly and a vulgar heap of metal that looks like it was penned by Subaru (no insult to Subaru - they make excellent cars but  good looking ones: you cannot be serious!).

Is this the end of Civilisation as we know it?

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Revealed: the new Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta one-off

One-off custom Ferraris seem to be alive and well.  Following the recent  Zagato 550 GTZ Barchetta comes this little beauty based on the 599 GTB Fiorano and similar to the equally exotic 1961 250 GTE Fantuzzi NART Spyder, the Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta is in the great tradition of the Carrozzeria-built Ferraris of yesteryear on which I have blogged previously.  These one-off cars were built for not only the rich and famous but also for the true tifosi.  They are what Ferrari is all about.

Revealed: the new Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta one-off: "The first shake-down has been held at Fiorano of a very special one-off, the P540 Superfast Aperta"

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Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?

The fabulous Ferrari 250 GTO of the early Sixties was a true iconic sportsracing car along with others like the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR, D-Type Jaguar and Ford GT-40.  Every schoolboy knew all about the 250 GTO. Its designation, originally standing for Gran Turismo Omoligato, meaning it was approved for GT class racing by the FIA, was hijacked by lots of other cars in a show of the sincerest form of flattery e.g. the Pontiac GTO and the incredibly unlovely Mitsubishi Gallant GTO etc, none of which were remotely as great.  Ferrari used the designation only once more for the 288 GTO, an over-hyped ancestor of the great F40.  Ferrari GTOs don't come round too often!
So it is little wonder that the rumour of a a new GTO sets the automotive world's collective pulses racing.  Following on from the FXX Evoluzione, itself a road going derivative of the Enzo, the 599 GTO would be based on the gorgeous 599 GTB.  If it were to happen it would bring back some much needed style to fast Ferraris.  The Enzo and its ilk might be the last word in technology but they look like they belong in a Transformer movie.
So let us hope...
Rumormill from Autoblog
Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?: "
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari, Rumormill

Ferrari 599XX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.



Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a '599 GTO Limited Edition', named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.



Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599xx

[Source: Autogespot]

Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII R Cobra kickstarts our hearts

This is from Autoblog.  Whilst not the most beautiful car to me (unlike to the Autoblog team) this is what a real sportscar should look like.  And go like.  Now if only Ferrari would build retro cars like, for example the 250LM...

Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII R Cobra kickstarts our hearts: "
Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Quick Spin

Superformance MKIII R Cobra - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's mea culpa time. While it's probably best not to begin a review with an apology, this author would be fairly derelict in his auto bloggin' duty if he didn't admit that not only does this review represent his first time in a Cobra - ever - but that he went in wanting to love the car. After all, not only is the Cobra Daytona Coupe the single greatest car yours truly has ever driven, but it's fair to call me a Shelby-head. At least once a week, the fiancee is hollering to put one of several several Shelby books back in the bookcase. But still, before today, these hands and feet had never driven a Cobra.
Of course, purists will argue that's still the case. This gunmetal gray beauty wasn't built on Princeton Ave. in Venice Beach. Nor was it built at Shelby America's hanger near LAX. In fact, it wasn't even built in America. No, this particular Cobra - the Superformance MKIII R, a special version of their MKIII - is built in South Africa. Recently, too. The MKIII R actually has a modern, square-tube spaceframe chassis with different hard points and suspension than you'd find underneath a classic Cobra's skin. Perhaps it's not a 'real' Cobra, but here's what Carroll Shelby has to say about Superformance's efforts, 'It's not a true Shelby, but I've endorsed and licensed the car for being as close to correct and well-built as possible.' Good enough for us.

Gallery: Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII-R

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII R Cobra kickstarts our hearts

Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII R Cobra kickstarts our hearts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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