Gereden: de BMW M3

Eindelijk is het dan zo ver: rijden met de vierde generatie BMW M3. Onze hooggespannen verwachtingen komen grotendeels uit. Wat een briljant gumapparaat is het geworden!

De nieuwe Audi A4 DTM

Vorige week is in Genève de nieuwe A4 DTM onthuld. Het is de vierde generatie van deze DTM racer en draagt intern de code R14. De auto is een stuk lichter gemaakt en de V8 heeft een vermogen van 460 pk.

De A4 DTM is een racewagen met het silhouet van de nieuwe Audi A4 en zal dit jaar de titel gaan verdedigen. De bestuurder zit in een “carbon safety cell”, vergelijkbaar met een Formule1 monocoque. De gehele body is sowieso gemaakt van carbon om gewicht te besparen. Het debuut van de A4 DTM zal plaatsvinden op 13 april, tijdens de race op de Hockenheimring. Voor die tijd zal de race-A4 duizenden testkilometers gaan afleggen.

Bugatti Type 12-2 Streamliner Concept

Terwijl we wachten op het volgende model van Bugatti duiken er constant nieuwe designs op via het almachtige interweb. De laatste is deze “Bugatti Type 12-2 Streamliner Concept” van Racer X design (bekend van de Cobra KC-427). Het lijkt een beetje een combo tusen een Veyron, een 599 en een GranTurismo?

De streamliner is niet bedoeld voor productie, het is slechts één van de vele designstudies van Racer X. De naam is gelinkt aan het idee om een W12 met twinturbo te gebruiken (12-2), iets minder snel en exclusief dan de Veyron maar wel genoeg vermogen om minimaal 200mph (320 km/u) aan te tikken.

Racer X Design is zich steeds meer aan het specialiseren op individueel design: “We are now offering various design services ranging from show car design to full concept car design to any individual whether he needs to modify a car for competition use, or companies looking for a design that can meet their needs.” Dit lijkt me een leuk visitekaartje.

Vermom je auto als paashaas

Deel 1 uit onze serie “Tien tips om snelheidsboetes te vermijden”.

Vermom je auto als paashaas. Grote kans dat de diender die verantwoordelijk is voor het beoordelen van de flitsfoto’s er compleet van in de war raakt. De flitsfoto’s wordt vervolgens vernietigd, omdat een dier per ongeluk de flitser heeft laten afgaan. De hele kit is te bestellen voor $ 15,95 (ongeveer 50 eurocent) en bevat 40 cm grote oren en een 10 cm grote neus. Kopen kan hier! (via)

F1 2008: Mercedes C63 AMG Medical car en SL63 Safety car

Bij een nieuw F1 seizoen hoort ook een nieuwe Safety Car en een nieuwe Medical Car. Mercedes tekende wederom voor beide bolides en zette daarvoor een C63 AMG Estate en een SL63 AMG in.

Met name de SL63 is stevig aangepakt door het AMG ontwikkel team en de AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO. Zo krijgt de 6,2 liter grote en 525 pk sterke V8 van de SL63 AMG nog meer ruimte om zijn oorlogsbrul te laten horen door het speciale uitlaatsysteem. Om ook tijdens extreme tropische temperaturen netjes koel te blijven, krijgt de SL63 extra grote koelers voor motoroilie, transmissie olie, koelwater en de stuurbekrachtiging. Ondanks het toevoegen van grotere remmen, de lichtbak op het dak en diverse communicatie apparatuur is de SL63 maar liefst 220 kg lichter dan de standaard straat auto (hoor ik daar iemand “Black Series” fluisteren? Deze gewichtsbesparing werd gehaald door het weglaten van isolatiemateriaal, vervangen van diverse plaatdelen door carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) en het weglaten van mechanische en hydraulische componenten om het dak te openen en te sluiten.





Melbourne/Affalterbach – With the new Official F1™ Safety Car and the new Official F1™ Medical Car, Mercedes-AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, is launching into the 2008 Formula 1 season. The Safety Car, based on the SL 63 AMG, and the Medical Car, derived from the C 63 AMG Estate, have the task of ensuring maximum safety at all 18 Formula 1 races. The two specially prepared AMG high-performance automobiles will be on duty for the first time when the Grand Prix season kicks off in Melbourne, Australia (March 14 to 16, 2008). The specialists from the AMG development team and the PERFORMANCE STUDIO are responsible for the development, production and servicing of the vehicles.

The Official F1™ Safety Car is immediately on hand whenever the safety of a race is threatened by accidents, adverse weather conditions or other hazardous situations. After receiving his instructions from the race management, Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the Safety Car, must go to the head of the Formula 1 field and safely guide the world’s fastest racing drivers around the circuit. Fast lap times are a must for the Safety Car, because otherwise the sensitive Formula 1 engines would overheat – and their tyres and brakes would cool down excessively.

In the 2008 Formula 1 season, Mayländer, 36, will be behind the wheel of a new Official F1™ Safety Car, the SL 63 AMG. This high-performance roadster, which was presented to the public just a few days ago at the Geneva Motor Show, has the finest of pedigrees for its challenging assignment: its AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine has a power output of 386 kW/525 hp, providing acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. A newly developed AMG sport exhaust system with larger pipe diameter and new rear silencers allows the high-revving AMG naturally aspirated engine to breathe even more freely. Both the motor sport fans at the racetrack and also those at home in front of their TV sets are captivated by the vehicle’s special sound tuning.

Special cooling measures and heavy-duty composite braking system
In the interests of best possible reliability even at tropical ambient temperatures, the vehicle incorporates large-size, additional coolers for engine oil, transmission oil, cooling water and power steering. Outstanding driving dynamics are guaranteed by the newly developed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with column shift, which makes it possible to change gear in just 100 milliseconds. The combination of 3-stage ESP® and rear-axle differential lock with 30 percent locking effect provides optimum traction in all weather conditions. Not only the newly developed thread chassis, which has proved its worth in races, guarantees ideal racetrack performance, optimal road feel and sportscar-like cornering and over/understeer characteristics, but also the numerous adjustment possibilities for ride height, track width and camber enable the chassis setup to be customized to the particular racetrack.

The front and rear axles feature 19-inch extra-light AMG forged light-alloy wheels. The 8.5-inch (front) and 9.5-inch (rear) rims are fitted with tyres of size 255/35 and 285/30, respectively, from Formula 1 tyremaker Bridgestone. The design of the rims, with their intricately styled double spokes, optimizes both the cooling of the highly stressed braking system and the specially engineered cooling-air flow. Optimum fading resistance and best-possible deceleration values are among the self-evident characteristics of the AMG high-performance braking system, which is equipped all round with internally ventilated composite brake discs. The front axle is fitted with six-piston fixed callipers and discs of size 390 x 36 millimetres, while the rear axle features four-piston fixed callipers with brake discs of size 360 x 26 millimetres.
220 kilograms lighter than the series-production vehicle thanks to targeted lightweight design measures

Like its predecessor, which was based on the CLK 63 AMG, the SL 63 AMG Safety Car weighs in lighter than its series-production counterpart thanks to targeted lightweight design measures allied to the selective omission of some comfort features on account of the vehicle’s specific mission – and this despite a larger braking system including brake cooling, additional cooling measures, lighting system and communications equipment. In order to deliver top-drawer racetrack performance, the specialists from AMG have produced the engine bonnet, front and rear aprons, front wings and luggage compartment lid from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), a material that has been tried and tested in motor sports. Since the Safety Car is always driven with its top up, it has been possible to dispense with all the mechanical and hydraulic components of the Vario roof. Likewise, the sound-absorbing materials, which serve primarily to improve the ride comfort, have been removed. The result is a weight reduction of 220 kilograms, with the Safety Car weighing in at just 1750 kilograms (with a full tank and without occupants).

Apart from its roof bar and F1 logos, the SL 63 AMG Official F1™ Safety Car is distinguished from the standard-production AMG high-performance roadster by a newly designed front apron with larger cooling-air openings. A prominent feature at the rear of the vehicle is the modified diffuser insert in the rear apron, which incorporates the active rear-axle cooling, this compensating for temperature peaks in the highly stressed differential housing. The white LED flashlights in the headlamps and tail lamps are always in operation whenever the vehicle is in use and have a neutral signalling function. An all-new feature is the number plate with Safety Car lettering: illuminated by means of 672 LEDs, it guarantees even greater safety, particularly in rain or darkness.

Interior with undiluted motor sport flair
The inside of the Safety Car is dominated by an atmosphere of undiluted motor sport flair. The workplaces of Bernd Mayländer and his co-driver feature two AMG sports bucket seats with 4-point seatbelts, trim parts in real carbon fibre, black leather appointments and the AMG performance steering wheel with its 365-millimetre steering wheel rim, flat underside and AMG aluminium shift paddles. The centre console is equipped with two monitors for supervising the action on the racetrack, and the two-way radio system allows the crew of the Safety Car to remain in contact with the race management. A roll-over bar serves to increase both the safety of the occupants and also the stability of the vehicle.
C 63 AMG Estate: the new Official F1™ Medical Car

Alongside the SL 63 AMG Safety Car, a second AMG high-performance automobile will celebrate its premiere at this season’s first Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia: the C 63 AMG Estate Official F1™ Medical Car. At the start of every Grand Prix, the high-speed AMG estate car will follow the Formula 1 field on the first lap. This is because the first lap represents a critical phase of the race in which the field of Formula 1 vehicles is especially tightly bunched. Also in the event of an accident during the race, the Medical Car is the first vehicle on the scene and is able to guarantee the fastest possible emergency treatment.

This quite special C 63 AMG Estate has excellent credentials for such a challenging task, where literally every second counts: the high-performance estate vehicle is powered by the AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine, which delivers 336 kW/457 hp and 600 Newton-metres of torque. The AMG sport exhaust system boasts larger pipe diameters and new rear silencers, this resulting in a considerably more distinctive sound that comes out of the two chrome-plated dual tailpipes. In order to guarantee greater reliability, the cooling of coolant, engine oil, transmission oil and power steering has been optimized, this being visible also from the new AMG front apron with its considerably larger cooling-air openings. The power from the engine is transmitted via the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC PLUS, which blips the throttle when changing down for even greater smoothness. Perfect traction is guaranteed by the combination of 3-stage ESP® and differential lock with 35 percent locking effect.

New thread chassis and AMG high-performance braking system
Like the SL 63 AMG Safety Car, the C 63 AMG Estate Official F1™ Medical Car also features a newly developed thread chassis combining sportscar-like driving dynamics with versatile adjustment possibilities, thus additionally allowing the chassis setup to be customized to a specific racetrack. Equally responsible for perfect road feel is the selected wheel/tyre combination: the 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels of 8.5-inch (front) and 9.5-inch (rear) width are fitted with Pirelli tyres of sizes 255/35 and 285/30, respectively. Concealed behind the attractive multi-spoke wheels is a powerful AMG high-performance braking system, which guarantees extremely short stopping distances with its internally ventilated and perforated composite brake discs on the front axle of size 360 x 36 mm with six-piston fixed callipers together with 330 x 26 millimetre, internally ventilated and perforated discs on the rear axle. The newly developed cooling system for the especially highly stressed front-axle brakes optimizes the fading resistance of the braking system at high ambient temperatures.

F1 logos, roof bar and flashlights as distinctive marks
At first glance, the C 63 AMG Estate Official F1™ Medical Car closely resembles its standard-production counterpart. However, a closer inspection reveals the new AMG front apron with its larger cooling-air openings. At the rear, the cooler which has been integrated into the diffuser insert points to the active cooling of the rear-axle differential. Like the Safety Car, the Medical Car, too, draws attention to its special role on the track through its F1 logos, roof bar and strobe-like LED flashlights at front and rear. Enhanced visibility in darkness or bad weather is ensured by the LED-illuminated number plate with Medical Car lettering on the boot lid tailgate.

The Official F1™ Medical Car is driven by Dr. Jacques Tropenat (France), who is a medic and amateur race driver. His co-driver is Dr. Gary Hartstein (Belgium), who is the official FIA Grand Prix Chief Medical Officer. Both of them are accommodated in AMG sports bucket seats with 4-point seatbelts, as are the two medical assistants in the rear. Two monitors in the centre console help the crew to supervise the action on the racetrack, while an on-board two-way radio system is responsible for communication with the race management. The functional feel of the interior is marked by black leather appointments and carbon-fibre trim parts. The 365-millimetre AMG performance steering wheel with its flat underside on the steering wheel rim and AMG aluminium shift paddles guarantees perfect control over the vehicle. With its unrivalled volume of 485 litres, the luggage compartment offers ample space for the full complement of emergency equipment, including defibrillator and respirator.

Transfer from motor sport to series production
Both the SL 63 AMG Official F1™ Safety Car and the C 63 AMG Estate Official F1™ Medical Car impressively document the transfer from motor sport to series production. With reference to the example of the SL 63 AMG, numerous components in the Safety Car are available straight from the factory. The AMG Performance Package for the SL 63 AMG includes, for instance, the 360-millimetre composite disc brakes on the front axle; the rear-axle differential lock; the 19-inch AMG light-alloy forged wheels and the AMG performance steering wheel. The same is true of the Medical Car: the AMG Performance Package for the C 63 AMG (saloon and estate models) includes, for example, the composite disc brakes on the front axle of size 360×36mm and the rear-axle differential lock. The 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels are optionally available.

AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO responsible for development
The development, track-testing and production of the two Safety Cars and the two Medical Cars – in both cases, there is one emergency vehicle and one replacement vehicle available – is carried out by the specialists from the AMG development team and the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO. This involves drawing on over 40 years of know-how from the field of motor sport as well as the wealth of experience in the design of high-performance sports automobiles. Numerous test drives were carried out on various Formula 1 racetracks in order to tune the suspension and verify all the systems and components.

Since 1996: eight generations of safety cars from AMG
For 12 years AMG has continuously provided the Official F1™ Safety Car in the top flight of international motor sport. The Official F1™ Medical Car has carried the AMG insignia since 1996.

All AMG Safety Cars at a glance:
1996: C 36 AMG (W 202)
1997: CLK 55 AMG (C 208)
2000: CL 55 AMG (C 215)
2001: SL 55 AMG (R 230)
2003: CLK 55 AMG (C 209)
2004: SLK 55 AMG (R 171)
2006: CLK 63 AMG (C 209)
2008: SL 63 AMG (R 230)

All AMG Medical Cars at a glance:
1996: C 36 AMG (W 202)
1997: E 60 AMG (W 212) starting with Grand Prix in Imola (Italy)
1998: C 55 AMG (S 202)
2001: C 32 AMG (S 203)
2004: C 55 AMG (S 203)
2008: C 63 AMG (S 204)

As early as 1984, an AMG E-Class Coupé with V8 engine was used occasionally as the Medical Car. Consequently, the activities of the Affalterbach-based company are also evidence of Mercedes-Benz’s long-standing commitment to Formula 1.

Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R [updated]

Naast de C8 Aileron heeft Spyker nog een tweede nieuwe model meegenomen naar Geneve. Namelijk de raceversie van de C8 Laviolette. Daarmee zullen ze dit jaar gaan deelnemen aan de Le Mans Series en de 24 Uur van Le Mans.

Het Spyker Squadron zal 2 auto’s inzetten en het Zwitserse dealerteam Speedy Racing zet eveneens een auto in. Het is trouwens maar goed dat ze met een nieuw model gaan racen want de auto waar ze vorig jaar mee reden is gister uitgefikt.



Squadron

Spyker Squadron – the factory GT2 team -, in partnership with its title sponsor SNORAS Bank and Speedy Racing, is proud to present its latest GT2 racer for the most famous and grueling race on the planet: the 24-Hours of Le Mans. In 2008 and 2009 Spyker Squadron will compete with two Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2Rs in both the Le Mans Series (LMS) and the 24-Hours of Le Mans.

The Laviolette GT2R replaces the successful Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R, the first Spyker that earned podium positions for the Dutch manufacturer of exclusive sports cars in the international GT arena. The new Laviolette has been built from the ground up around on a much stiffer, aluminum spaceframe with better aerodynamic qualities. Based on the team’s knowledge and experience with the previous C8, a long list of components have been changed or improved. The new car is an excellent platform to continuously develop and improve pace to reach the ultimate goal: a podium position at Le Mans.

Spyker Squadron welcomes Lithuanian SNORAS Bank, as its title sponsor for the upcoming season. Like last year Spyker Squadron partners with Alexandre Pesci’s Swiss dealer team Speedy Racing, sponsored by LEMO and Rebellion Horlogerie.

Car number 85 will be driven by Alexei Vasilev (RUS), Ralf Kelleners (GER) and Peter Dumbreck (GBR). The second car, number 94, will be piloted by Andrea Chiesa (SUI), Benjamin Leuenberger (SUI) and Philippe Camandona (SUI).

Both at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series the team will use Michelin tires.

After two earlier tests in Estoril and Le Castellet (Paul Ricard) the team will head to Barcelona, Spain within three weeks for the first 1000km race this season: the LMS 1000km de Catalunya.

Bugatti Veyron Fbg in Genève

Als exclusief merk moet je goed je best doen om niet de magie of het ongrijpbare van je merk te verliezen. En wanneer je door velen als maatstaf wordt gebruikt is het moeilijk om met wat nieuws te komen. Gelukkig zijn er altijd nog de ’special editions’ die het je wat makkelijker kunnen maken. Ziehier de Bugatti Veyron Fbg.

De Fbg is gemaakt in samenwerking met het chique Parijse Hermès. Door de auto heen is de hand van Hermès duidelijk te zien in vele details. Zo wijken onder andere de deurgrepen, het interieur en de grille af van het origineel. De kleurencombo donkerrood-beige ebony - étoupe staat de auto niet beroerd.

Dit is overigens niet de enige niet-standaard Veyron: in Frankfurt kwam Bugatti met de gelimiteerde Veyron Pur Sang, en van een particulier was al een keer een exemplaar gespot, die de naam ‘Pegaso-edition‘ meekreeg.

Deze Fbg moet aan het eind van dit jaar geleverd kunnen worden. Er hangt een prijskaartje van 1,55 mln euro aan, en dat is exclusief belasting….



Het persbericht:

Emile Hermes and Ettore Bugatti

1956 saw the last Molsheim-built Bugatti pass through the factory gates of the famous Alsatian car manufacturer. Fifty years later, in the spring of 2006, the first of the new generation of Molsheim Bugattis, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, was delivered to its owner.

Ettore Bugatti and Émile Hermès met in the 1920s, when Ettore ordered a bespoke suitcase for his first Bugatti Royale. Almost eighty years later, at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance, representatives of Bugatti and Hermès met again. And this encounter turned out to be the beginning of a new collaboration between the two houses.

The revival of this relationship may initially appear surprising, as the association between the renowned luxury house and the legendary car manufacturer in today’s automotive context would not immediately spring to mind. It confirms that heritage is able to survive over a time span of several decades.

“Art-Forme-Technique”, the mythical legacy of Bugatti underlines that strong brand values and a total commitment to excellence are as valid today as they were when Ettore Bugatti and Émile Hermès met for the first time. And today’s exchange of expertise, skills and craftsmanship, common to both houses in their respective fields, is still as exciting and rewarding as at the time of Émile and Ettore’s first encounter.

What had begun as a personal friendship has now turned into a modern industrial design project and an important part of Bugatti’s new individual-isation programme. The new Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès is a milestone in Bugatti’s renaissance and an enthusiastic and promising partnership between Hermès and Bugatti – between a “car-loving saddle- maker” and a “horse-loving carmaker”.

Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen
President
Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

The meeting between Émile Hermès and Ettore Bugatti, at the beginning of the 20th century, marked an epoch-making encounter between a prestigious Parisian saddler with a passion for cars, and an exceptional carmaker with a passion for the world of horses. The result was a friendship nourished by shared enthusiasms, respect and admiration, and a common vision of the importance of innovation, creativity and modernity.

The Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès revives the historic links between Bugatti and Hermès, demonstrat¬ing the enduring power of their shared values, in the pursuit of contemporary excellence.

Since its beginnings in 1837, Hermès has always sought to accompany people on the move: on horseback, by car, by plane or most recently by helicopter… Elegance, functionality, creativity and extreme attention to quality are the principles shaping the design and production of everything we make. The Bugatti Veyron was, then, studied, “tamed” and rethought. At the invitation of Hermès Artistic Direction, designer Gabriele Pezzini worked with our craftsmen to create a car that is just as much Hermès as it is Bugatti.

The utmost attention has been paid to the reworking of the interior and exterior alike. A highly detailed approach, reflecting the spirit of excellence underpin¬ning the collaboration between teams from Bugatti and Hermès on this shared project. Handcrafted leatherwork by Hermès is to be found throughout, even under the hood.

This exceptional car has been invested with an aura of serenity and refinement that accompanies it wherever it goes, from country lanes to city streets. In Paris, we shall be delighted to see it glide, astonishingly acquiescent, along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

Patrick Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
Hermès

The”Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès”

On the occasion of the 78th Geneva Motor Show (from 6 to 16 March 2008), Bugatti and Hermès co-present the fruit of their partnership: the “Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès”, associat-ing Bugatti’s technical performance with the expertise of Hermès and its craftsmen. In partnership with Hermès, designer Gabriele Pezzini has married the distinctive Hermès style to the legendary Bugatti Veyron 16.4, magnifying the car’s personality.

This remarkable car features an array of excep¬tional characteristics: the innovative alliance of a technologically advanced engine, deliver¬ing 1001 horsepower, with an understated yet uncompromising silhouette reflecting the high performance capacities of state-of-the-art engineering and design, and above all, the pleasure these inspire in every Bugatti owner.

The fascination exerted by this sports coupé, capable of reaching 407 km/h, is due in large part to its unique alliance of the very finest motor-racing technology with comfortable handling for everyday driving. The 16-cylinder “W” configuration engine is fed by four turbochargers and features 64 valves, generating 1001 horse¬power at 6000 rpm. The engine draws on its 8-litre displacement to deliver a maximum torque of 1250 Newton-metres between 2200 and 5500 rpm. With full-time all-wheel drive, the car’s phenomenal power produces breath-takingly dynamic handling, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 benefits from aeronautical and aerospace technologies, making it the fastest production car ever made. The car also features a braking system designed to deliver unprecedented powers of deceleration, establish¬ing a new industry benchmark. The carbon-fibre discs provide brake pressure of up to 180 bars, combined with eight-piston monobloc callipers and titanium pistons fitted with fine steel heads and ceramic heat protectors. Apply the brakes at speeds above 200 km/h, and the rear wing acts as an airbrake, positioning itself at an angle of 113 degrees in less than 0.4 seconds, augmenting the Bugatti Veyron’s already impressive stopping power. The airbrake increases negative lift at the rear of the car to 300 kg, enhancing the braking torque on the rear axle. At 400 km/h, emergency braking will bring the sports car to a complete halt in less than 10 seconds.

This, the world’s most fascinating car, has pushed back the limits of physical engineering to offer a completely new sensation for driver and passenger alike. But it has also adopted a radically different stance to that of other sports cars: its features and finish are sure to impress the most demanding clientele. Hermès and designer Gabriele Pezzini have lavished attention on the interior and exterior of this exceptional car, to create the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4: the “Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès”

A harmonious design, inside and out
The official name of the highly exclusive Bugatti Veyron “Fbg par Hermès” refers to the historic Hermès headquarters on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of Paris’s eighth arrondissement: the “Fbg” appellation evokes the house’s “faubourg” address.

With the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès, the exacting standards of Émile Hermès and Ettore Bugatti come together for the first time, in an exceptional collaboration: the culmination of their extreme attention to aesthetic and techno¬logical quality and performance.

Gabriele Pezzini has reinterpreted Bugatti’s tradi¬tional two-tone carriage work, fostering a fluid, harmonious transition between the car’s exterior and interior design. The colour of the hood extends to the interior of the cockpit, and re-emerges behind, at the level of the rear wing.

As a tribute to the celebrated 1924 Bugatti Type 35, undoubtedly the most famous of all time, thanks to its many successes on the racetrack, the new Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès features eight-spoked wheels in polished aluminium, central butterfly wheel locks branded with the letter H, and air vents around the rims repro¬ducing the characteristic appearance of Hermès saddle-stitching. The horseshoe radiator grille, and the lateral ventilation grilles flanking it, are made from lightweight alloys with a design of interlocking H’s evoking the Hermès “signature”.

A refined formal vocabulary
The inner surfaces of the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès have been designed and sheathed in bull calfskin by the Hermès workshops in Paris. The care and attention to detail observe an extremely refined, minimalist formal vocabulary, reflecting the tradition of the very first Bugattis and the fundamental design principles of the house of Hermès. The door handles echo the fluid forms of handles on Hermès travel bags and luggage. And the dashboard, traditionally finished in brushed aluminium, is here clad entirely in bull calfskin. Passengers aboard the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès will find a dashboard glove compartment designed to hold a selection of small travel accessories and a zipped Hermès wallet. Both seats are covered in two-toned bull calfskin, and the panel separating the cockpit from the central rear engine – traditionally made of carbon fibre – is covered in the same fine leather. The leather-lined trunk holds a specially-fitted “Toile H” and leather case, hand-made by craftsmen from the Hermès workshops.

This exceptional model – in toning colours of ebony and étoupe, or ebony and brick – is priced at 1.55 million euros (not including tax), available at the end of 2008.

Spyker C8 Aileron [updated]

Spyker mag dit jaar dan wel dik verlies gemaakt hebben, maar in Geneve presenteren ze toch (zoals beloofd) een compleet nieuw model. De C8 Aileron.

Het gaat hier om een LWB versie van de al bestaande C8 Laviolette en is dus in feitte een doorontwikkeling van de C8 Double12 S. Onder de glazen motorkap ligt dezelfde 4.2 V8 Audi motor met 400 pk die we ook in de overige C8 modellen vinden. Prestaties? Een top van 300 km/u en 0-100 in 4.5 seconden.



Verder herken ik de velgen van de C12 Zagato en komt het dashboard ook verdacht veel overeen (alleen missen de klokken aan de rechterkant). Ook is er beduidend minder chroom aan de buitenkant dan we van Spyker gewend zijn. Ook zal de Aileron de eerste Spyker zijn die leverbaar zal worden met een automaat. Productie zal naar verwachting starten halverwege 2008.



Het persbericht:

Spyker C8 Aileron unveiling

Spyker Cars, manufacturer of premium sport cars, unveiled its second generation C-line sports car at the Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva, Switzerland today: The all aluminium Long Wheel Base model is called Spyker C8 Aileron and will come with both a manual as well as an automatic gearbox.

Architecture

The C8 Aileron continues Spyker’s signature architecture (applied since its inception in 2000 with the C8 Spyder) of a mid-engined configuration in an aluminium space frame, clad in aluminium body panels.

The Aileron’s space frame is a development of the original space frame of the first generation cars: its torsional rigidity, however, was improved by 40% without adding any weight. Its dimension have changed though, the wheelbase increasing by 10 cm / 4.5 inches for improved road handling and more cockpit space. Also its front track was widened and as a result the car is virtually ‘square’.

Design

Designing a successor of a first generation car is no mean feat. Spyker’s design philosophy has always been to create timeless designs, contemporary but classic.

In the first generation cars the leading design cues were Spyker’s aviation and racing heritage. The propeller design consistently applied to many elements of the cars ( such as the Aeroblade wheels ) since 2000, was up for refreshment though: And in aviation the propeller engine was succeeded by the turbine engine so Spyker adopted the turbine as its “leitmotiv” for the Aileron.

The signature Spyker polished air inlets in aluminium were converted into turbine engine shaped scoops reducing the “bling” element considerably, which reflects a trend Spyker sees in general: more sober designs, less exuberant. The scoops have polished alloy nacelles which may be colour coded with the interior as an option. The airflow around the car was redesigned so that the shark-like gills of the first generation cars (no less than 17 on a C8 Spyder) could be abandoned giving the Aileron a cleaner, smoother appearance.

The radiator opening was enlarged in anticipation of more horsepower requiring additional cooling. The mesh is V-shaped as on the first generation cars, a direct reference to the Spykers of the previous century, but angled forward giving the car a somewhat more aggressive stance.

Also the headlight units were reshaped to follow the body design more closely. LED lights are incorporated in the units for indicators as well as Xenon lights (which are standard now).

The glass jet brighten inspired canopy, first introduced on the C8 Laviolette in February 2001, was extended backwards, reducing drag and increasing cockpit headroom. The signature air inlet atop the cockpit remained save that is now turbine shaped.

With the increased wheelbase (10cm / 4.5 inches) the doors grew by the same length allowing for more comfortable in- and egress.

Unfortunately practicality sometimes gains over design: The first generation cars have split side windows which were not optimal in terms of sealing (wind noise and water management). The Aileron has single pane side glass that drops when the door is opened and closed, creating improved comfort level.

The rear diffuser was redesigned for improved functionality. The redesigned rear lights are LED units.

The outside mirrors were redesigned and the cone is mounted on two turbine fan blades, standard in body colour (but available in polished aluminium as an option)

Power train

The Aileron will continue to use the Audi 4.2 litre V8 giving 400 BHP. This state-of-the-art 5 valve 4 cam engine is now mated to a 6 speed Getrag manual or a 6 speed automatic ZF gearbox. This is the first time a Spyker is available with such an automatic gearbox as standard equipment.

Wheels and suspension

The Aeroblade ™ (5 propeller) wheels of the first generation cars are – logically – replaced by a 10 blade rotor wheel called ‘Rotorblade’ ™. They come in 19” all round and are made in left and right hand turning versions.

The Aileron’s suspension was developed from scratch and has double wishbones both front and rear. Shock absorbers are now placed vertically within the wishbones.

(Carbon Ceramic ) Brakes

Brakes are supplied by AP Racing, a Spyker partner from day one. Colour coded callipers with Spyker script are available as an option. The Aileron is available with carbon ceramic brakes as an option as well.

Interior

The interior of all Spykers is clad in the highest quality leather the industry has on offer. The Dutch Tannery of Hulshof provides the six hides used for an Aileron interior in 14 standard colours, which is fitted by Ellemeijer. Any other colour so desired by the customer is available as an option.

Chronoswiss Dials are available as an option as well.

Audio System

When Spyker started production in 2003 80% of the customers ordered their cars without any audio system, the basic reasoning being that the engine provided all the sound one could possibly wish for. However, with larger numbers of cars going into the market, the demand for a standard sound system increased and cars were fitted with the system chosen by the owner. With the ever increasing success of the I-pod and similar products, the demand for a standard sound system fitted by the factory has increased to the point that every Aileron will be equipped with a Kharma sound system, incorporating a GPS system, Bluetooth, CD player and an I-pod jack. It is paired to 7 Kharma loudspeakers
(see separate chapter press release).

Exterior Colours

The Aileron is available in 14 standard colours but as an option customers may elect to have the car painted any colour they whish. The Spyker Squadron GT2 colour scheme with big “S”s is available as an option as well.

Lekkers van de Aston Martin stand

Helaas geen babes bij Aston Martin op de stand, maar wel een gefacelifte DB9 die ik jullie toch echt niet wilde onthouden. De wijzigingen zijn niet schokkend, maar slijpen de diamant wel op een mooie manier fijn.





Verder staat er nog een groene DBS die ik jullie natuurlijk niet kan onthouden.







Ook staat er nog een lekkere V8 Vantage Roadster. Wanneer lepelen ze daar nou eens een V12 in?