Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS Concept

At the official opening of Aston Martin’s first ever dedicated design center in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600 bhp performance concept car; the V12 Vantage RS.The V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin’s critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company’s design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 liter V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focused on extreme performance and dynamics.

Engine

Displacement cu in (cc): 362 (5935)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 600(448) / 6250
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 509(690) / 5000
Type:V12

Acceleration:0-62mp/h-4.0

In a speech to the assembled guests, Ulrich Bez said: “Over the last five years, we have established a reputation for presenting fully functional, feasible concept cars, and the V12 Vantage RS is no exception. We will listen with interest to feedback on this concept and, as ever, if there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low volume production run in the near future with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.“With our dedicated production facilities, our own engine plant, our own unique vehicle architecture and now a dedicated design studio, we have the ideal framework to bring new models such as this to market and to further establish Aston Martin as the ultimate independent luxury sports car company.”Although the 600 bhp power output of the V12 Vantage RS concept will be the focus of attention, just as significant is the level of weight reduction achieved by Aston Martin’s engineering team. With a kerb weight of less than 3500 lbs, the RS concept underlines Aston Martin’s continued commitment to intelligent use of materials and weight reduction as a means of achieving improved efficiency and performance.

In common with the recently launched DBS, the bonnet and trunk lid are moulded in carbon fiber and the concept also adopts motor sport-inspired carbon ceramic brake discs.The subtly aggressive exterior appearance is driven by function. The dramatic bonnet louvres extract air from the fully ducted cooling pack and the trunk lid features a deployable spoiler that rises automatically at high speeds to increase rear down force. The front bumper features cooling ducts for the carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fiber splitter to balance down force.Director of Design, Marek Reichman, commented: “Much of Aston Martin’s recent success has come from the ability of our designers and engineers to work hand-in-hand to optimize form and function. Our new dedicated design centre will take this process to a new level and I am delighted that the V12 Vantage RS is the first car to stand on the turntable in the studio.”The 600 bhp 6.0-liter engine featured in the V12 Vantage RS concept has benefited directly from the race development of this acclaimed power unit. It features a dry sump lubrication system, tuned length exhaust manifolds, forged pistons and steel con-rods, revised lift and duration camshafts and modified cylinder heads.

Peak power is achieved at 6250 rpm and peak torque of 509 lb-ft is at 5000 rpm.With a power-to-weight ratio of over 375 bhp per ton, the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company, capable of reaching 62 mph from rest in 4.0 seconds and 100 mph in just 8.5 seconds.The unveiling of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept concludes a remarkable year of new product announcements for the British manufacturer. In the last twelve months the company has launched two of the most eagerly anticipated sports cars of the year – the DBS and Vantage Roadster – and announced details of the DB9 LM and V8 Vantage N400 special editions which celebrate the company’s racing successes at Le Mans and the Nurburgring. All of these models now join the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9 and DB9 Volante models in production at the company’s Gaydon headquarters.

BMW M3 Race Version

BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) from 2009 onwards. The car is based on the fourth generation of the BMW M3, the high-performance sports car produced by BMW M GmbH.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen says: “With the sporting genes of the production BMW M3 being clearly evident, developing a racing version of the car was the next logical step. The fact that the road-going vehicle is fitted with a V8 engine as standard provided us with an ideal base. However, the BMW M3 is more than a race car, it has achieved legendary status amongst race fans across the globe. I am convinced that this unique story of the BMW M3 racing cars will now be expanded upon by the addition of further chapters.”

“We are very pleased to be returning to the American Le Mans Series with our latest generation BMW M3,” states Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW of North America. “Sports car racing has been part of BMW of North America’s history practically from day one. Just two weeks after the company was formed in March 1975, a BMW CSL won the 12-hours of Sebring. We are confident that the fourth generation M3 will continue the legacy of its two predecessors which combined to win six manufacturer’s championships over nine seasons. As it has been in the past we believe the ALMS is the ideal venue to showcase the potential of the newest BMW M3.”
BMW’s 2009 entry into the Sports Car Championship will be overseen by the United States-based Team Rahal Letterman operation. “BMW has an illustrious racing heritage,” says co-owner and US motorsport legend Bobby Rahal. “Rahal Letterman Racing is eagerly anticipating, not only becoming part of that heritage, but helping to enhance it. Our dedication to this project will be without equal and we look forward to racing at the front of the grid with BMW in the years to come.”

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BMW AC Schnitzer ACS3 Sport

When beads of perspiration form on the brow of experienced sports car drivers, it's not necessarily down to a faulty air conditioning system. With the 420 bhp V8 of the BMW M3, the ACS3 Sport catapults even its keenest challengers into the rear view mirror. The sporting coupe is ideal for anyone seeking to gain advantage on twisting tracks. A normal M3 would be a tough competitor here, because in comparison with the "civilized" 3-series Coupe it has a totally different axle construction. With racing suspension developed on the legendary Nürburgring, AC Schnitzer has succeeded in refining the handling potential of the chassis even further. And fitted with the Short Shift from Aachen, the ACS3 Sport becomes the automotive hero of the day: No-one is changing gears faster!Best of all: The vehicle loses nothing of its qualities as a daily driver. Instead, AC Schnitzer inserts even more M-otion into everyday life, for example when the Aachen exhaust system plays its bewitching baritone in a road tunnel. The left/right system with two tailpipes per side, linked into a horizontal figure of eight, is however a visual work of art. In a play on the mathematical symbol for "infinity", at the same time it symbolizes the powerful reserves of the vehicle which reaches 60 mph from a standing start in an effortless 4.6 seconds. No less carefully arranged are the aerodynamic attachments, which for AC Schnitzer are always more than mere visual decoration. At the rear, a diffuser of visible carbon presses the car down onto the tarmac as if there were magnets below the road surface. The front spoiler is also made from this high quality material, and is supported against the front skirt with alloy struts as in motorsport. Further downforce is provided by a subtle rear roof spoiler and rear wing which also give the body exciting new contours. Side skirt extensions, in particular when combined with the white paint of the photo model, give the profile an aura of stature and dynamism. Finally the AC Schnitzer racing rims Type VI embody pure culture, on the ACS3 Sport in sizes 9.0J x 20" on the front and 10.5J x 20" on the rear. The combination of Y-spokes and contrasting five fork spokes superimposed in two planes, produces a design that is as exciting as it is elegant.Further highlights of course include the forged wheel Type V in 20". With its strikingly curved, interrupted spokes, it not only looks superb but thanks to the lightweight construction method, keeps the unsprung weight to a minimum. A no less attractive alternative is the Type IV racing wheel in silver - and with trendy black finish as "Magic Black”.And naturally AC Schnitzer continues the theme of sports performance in the driver's workplace, offering attractive and ergonomically perfect aluminum controls for the gear knob, handbrakehandle, pedals and i-Drive controller. A carbon interior trim and sports airbag steering wheel are also available on request.

Audi R8 Fast Car Built Slow

Audi UK is investing more than £6 million to support its R8 high-performance sports car with one of the most ironic claims in the history of advertising: "the slowest car we’ve ever built". The new campaign featuring the sought-after all-aluminium, quattro four-wheel-driven, V8-powered two-seater breaks this week, and represents the largest investment ever made by Audi UK in the launch of a new car.

The R8 is, of course, anything but slow off the mark: it is the fastest production car Audi has ever produced, but because each one is constructed with painstaking precision, largely by hand, it actually has the by far the slowest build process of all Audi models. Only 450 cars will be delivered in the UK this year, and 750 in 2008, with prices starting at £77,000.

“The R8 is the epitome of Vorsprung durch Technik – it embodies everything it stands for – advancement through technology," explains Peter Duffy, Audi UK’s Head of Marketing. "It also symbolises progressive design, our pursuit of perfection and unrivalled handling built from our motorsport history. We had to tell the story of how the car is built."

That story will be told in a 90-second commercial developed by creative duo Richard McGrann and Andy Clough of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), Audi’s long-standing creative partner and the agency responsible for encapsulating its values in the UK through the ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ catchphrase. It uses a filming technique developed by director Olivier Gondry, and observes a group of real Audi mechanics over a number of days as they construct the vehicle from the very first bolt to the finished car.

“We wanted to make a film which made the process of constructing an R8 as beautiful as the car itself,” explains Richard McGrann. The effect captures the workers’ movement through time – each frame measures a point in time compressed into one shot. Filming took place over eight days in Germany, with each frame requiring a minimum of 20 different shots and four layers to achieve the unique visual effect.

The soundtrack for the commercial is provided by critically acclaimed folk singer Simone White, whose pure vocals and haunting melodies have had both critics and listeners spellbound. The beautiful track, ‘The Beep Beep’, is taken from Simone’s new album – ‘I am the Man.’

The multi-channel campaign breaks on 17 October at 1855hrs during the England vs Russia football match on Sky Sports One*. From 16 November, the commercial will also be aired in cinemas across the UK around quality films such as American Gangster – the latest offering from Ridley Scott starring Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. Around this time a ‘making of’ programme will also be broadcast on the Audi Channel on Sky 884, and the R8 will begin making two-day appearances on the concourses of major UK stations to give travellers a glimpse of the finished article.

HR BMW M3 Coupe

Here's some news to delight M3 fans - right from the launch of the new M3, H&R has sporty components to make it even more agile. Some test drivers believe the car's tuning places too much emphasis on comfort in comparison with its competitors – this can be sharpened up by adding an H&R spring kit. The spellbinding steering precision right from the factory can be improved a few shades more by the 25-millimetre lower suspension setting at the front axle and 15-millimetre lower suspension at the rear. The H&R development team has also taken care to ensure that the spring kit harmonises perfectly with the adjustable dampers, an optional extra, so you can be sure of a comfortable ride, even with the sporty setup. Better traction also facilitates higher cornering speeds – even on hairpin bends and when changing direction quickly. The lower suspension gives the car a wider look, even making it seem a touch more masculine. The wheel spacers, which can be combined with the series and aftermarket rims, take care of the rest, putting the icing on the cake of this chassis package.

H&R-Spezialfedern isn't neglecting those who like to race for fun or glory either. Coilovers and additional stabilisers will soon be available to make the V8 M3 once again the king of all racetracks in its category in the future.

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 240 hp

The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI with 240 hp of output and 406 lb.-ft. of torque – the latest version of the incredibly powerful 3.0 TDI six-cylinder engine is now available in the Audi Q7. The ultra-modern compression-ignition engine with Common Rail fuel injection system and piezo injectors impresses not only with its sheer power, but also, and even more so, with its remarkable efficiency. On average, the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI requires a mere 9.8 liters of diesel for every 100 kilometers traveled. This means that the new version needs 0.7 liters less than its predecessor, despite the significant increase in power output and torque.

Under the hood of the new Audi Q7 3.0 TDI is the very latest series production diesel engine the brand has to offer. The latest generation of the V6 celebrated its debut in the A5 Coupé and recently also became available in the new A4 saloon. It produces a peak torque of 406 lb.-ft., more than 90% of which is available across a broad speed range from 1,500 to 3,250 rpm. The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI accelerates from standstill to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds. The six-cylinder engine is able to fully exploit its superb pulling power at any speed.

The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI transmits its power through a six-speed tiptronic gearbox and a sportily configured quattro drive train. In normal operation, this transmits 40 percent of the drive force to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear wheels. In addition to steel springs, the optional pneumatic adaptive air suspension is also available – this marries dynamic handling with the ride comfort of the luxury class.

The beefed up bestseller in the Audi Q7 range, the 3.0 TDI, accounts for more than 80 percent of all Audi Q7 vehicles sold in Germany.

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