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Ahead of its official debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next month, Mercedes Benz has unleashed its new SL63 AMG. With less weight, more power, and an advanced multi-clutch transmission onboard, the new model offers prospective buyers and car enthusiasts an impressive package.
One of the major issues that plagued the last generation model was its weight, which saw the two-seat convertible weigh in at about the same as some full-size SUVs. To remedy this, the new model, which benefits from the same lightweight aluminium construction underpinning the regular 2013 SL Class on which it’s based, weighs in at 4,059 pounds. While this is still considerably heavy for a two-seater it’s now 275 pounds lighter than the model it replaces. This improves performance across the board including faster acceleration, shorter stopping distances, better handling and increased mileage.
Maserati is planning to replace its aging GranTurismo S in the form of a new Gran Turismo Sport that will make its debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show next month.
The car is essentially the coupe version of the GranTurismo Convertible Sport that was launched last year and offers the same 450 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque 4.7-litre V8. Drive is sent strictly to the rear wheels via a ZF six-speed automatic transmission or an optional sequential manual unit with the same number of gears as the automatic. Both units also come with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, though on the automatic they’re an option.
While final numbers will be confirmed closer to its Geneva debut, the Sport’s drivetrain package provides a 0-60 mph acceleration in under 5.0 seconds and a top speed in excess of 177 mph.
Differentiating the new Sport from the current GranTurismo are new, aerodynamically-enhanced bumpers, revised headlights with LED detailing and darkened tail-lamp elements. The interior cabin also receives a new pair of seats and a sports steering wheel.
While Maserati has issued no price or performance details for the GranTurismo Sport it is expected to hit UK showrooms before the end of the year.
Source: Motor Authority
As the sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week currently taking place in New York City, Mercedes decided to shoot a video, discussing the the interior design details of the brand new 2013 Mercedes SL Class.
In the video, Nicola Ehrenberg-Uhlig, the manager of colour and trim for Mercedes-Benz explains that the design team wanted to highlight the personality of the new SL Class by using special types of materials. Both the interior and exterior design reflect the speed of the vehicle and the inspiration of aviation, a symbol of clear design, functionality and power. The vehicle’s air vents are inspired by aeroplane turbines and the dashboard by its wings.
The attention to detail and excellent execution of the car’s interior and exterior design reflects the luxurious style associated with Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz says fashion gives inspiration and insight for their design. Trying to align what they feel the owners of the vehicles are looking for along with the tradition thatmakes a Mercedes-Benz what it is.
Ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Audi has revealed the images and details of its new RS4 Avant which may be as a result of images having been leaked to the public yesterday.
The RS4 Avant generates its personality from a hand built 4.2-litre V8 engine that produces 450PS ( 331kW / 444 hp ) and 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) of torque. This enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0-100kph in 4.7 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kph. For those unsatisfied with the limit, drivers can request to have the speed limiter removed to raise the top speed up to 280kph. The performance figures are even more impressive when you consider that the fuel economy stats reflect that the vehicle consumers 11 litres per 100km.
The official press release states that, “Like every RS model from Audi, the RS 4 Avant comes standard with quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The heart of this system is the crown-gear center differential. This compact and lightweight component can vary the distribution of power between the front and rear axles immediately, smoothly and over a wide range, with up to 70 percent flowing to the front or as much as 85 percent to the rear. The default 40:60 ratio of the rear-biased configuration ensures sporty handling.”
BMW has unveiled the new 2012 M6 in Munich this past weekend. In essence, a two-door M5, the new super coupe will be one of the latest models to feature at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The M6 takes the same bi-turbo 4.4-litre V8, blown to produce a stout 552bhp at 5750rpm and 502lb ft at just 1500rpm. This means no more of the high-revving shriek of the old V10, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the V8 is high on performance, if lacking in some of the fizz of the old V10. As far as speed goes, the coupe passes 62mph in just 4.2 seconds and 124mph (200kph) in 12.6 seconds. Top speed is to 155mph, although the M Driver’s Package will increase that to 189mph.
In addition to the larger engine, the new M6 has a carbonfibre reinforced plastic roof to lower the centre of gravity that was first introduced on the M3 CSL. BMW claims the new M6 is a third less heavy on petrol than before, quoting a 28.5mpg combined economy figure with the seven-speed twin-clutch transmission assisting with this. Switchable dampers come standard and you get the M5′s Active M Differential as standard too. To simplify the multiple choice of which electronic modes to select, you can pre-programme your favourite settings in two M buttons located on the steering wheel.
Aston Martin has just unveiled the production version of its V12 Zagato which is headed for its official debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle is being built to mark the 50th anniversary of the lovely DB4 GT Zagato, first shown in 1961 but entering showrooms half a century ago.
The Zagato was previously seen as a racer at the 2011 Villa d’Este concours and at the 24-hour Nurburgring race last year. Not much has changed in transitioning the vehicle from a prototype racer to the road-going production version with Aston Martin taking the V23 Vantage running gear and redressing it in a sharp exterior created by CPP in Coventry.
Following in the tradition of the exclusive One-77, the V12 Zagato will take more than 2,000 man-hours to manufacture thanks to hand-hewn body panels, including the hood, roof and doors and in line with its exclusivity, Aston Martin will only be building 150 of them. Aston Martin has created four new colours especially for the V12 Zagato, and paint alone takes 100 hours to complete. Inside, it takes a full seven hides to cover the cabin in hand-stitched, quilted leather.
Abdullah Al Ketbi is the owner of Dubai’s Alain Class Motors and what could very well be the best supercar dealership in the world. Abdullah gave Top Gear access to this extraordinary showroom filled with the world’s most rarified supercars where a Ferrai FF is tucked against a F430 Scuderia, which is nuzzling into a Versace edition Murciélago. Turn around and you’re staring at a Reventon – Lamborghini’s most expensive road car ever – Ferrari 458 Italia, Maybach 57S and Mercedes C63 AMG Black.
Abdullah says that Alain Class Motors has “five people full-time to wash and wax as the cars get very dirty outside and the cheaper ones need cleaning two or three times a day.”
And by cheaper he, of course, means ridiculously expensive. Braving the 30 degree weather outside is a Mercedes SLS, a brace of Porsche 911s, a genuine Shelby Mustang GT 350, a triplet of Porsche Panameras, a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Hummer H1 and a Baja-spec V8 dune monster. “We also need two people full-time to park them. It is a very hard job.”
The dealership is running out of space to house these magnificant vehicles and will be moving into bigger premises. “We have five places in Dubai and Alain at the moment, but we need space. This is 4,000 square feet, the new one will be 10,000. Business is good,” comments Abdullah.
View some of the supercars found at Alain Class Motors in the gallery below:
General Motors has recently launched the production model of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the next chapter of the re-introduction of the Camaro. The spiritual seccessor to the Z28, the production model was launched at the company’s assembly plant in Ontario.
Under the hood, the vehicle is powered by a supercharged 6.2 litre engine that produces 580 hp (432 kW/588 PS) and 556 lb-ft (754 Nm) of torque. It is mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. When equipped with an automatic transmission, the model can accelerate from 0 to 96km/h in 3.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 296km/h. With the six-speed manual, acceleration time is 0.1 seconds slower and top speed is 290 km/h.
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