Tag Archive for: autos

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ASTON MARTIN V12 SPEEDSTER: a puristic limited edition for the most demanding drivers

Wednesday 4 March, Gaydon: The Aston Martin V12 Speedster has made its global debut today, with just 88 examples of this puristic limited-edition model set to hit the road.

Created by luxury British marque’s bespoke customisation service ‘Q by Aston Martin’, the Aston Martin V12 Speedster is a truly visceral driver’s car that draws inspiration from both the brand’s rich racing history and aeronautical design. Today’s example is showcased in a conceptual F/A-18 livery, also curated by the same artisans.

ASTON MARTIN V12 SPEEDSTER: a puristic limited edition for the most demanding drivers

Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “It makes me enormously proud to reveal Aston Martin’s latest, most exciting special model today. The V12 Speedster is an incredible demonstration of the breadth of capability and determination from the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ team, who have worked tirelessly to create this stunning, two-seat sports car aimed at our most demanding and enthusiastic customers.”


Conceived a little over 12 months ago, the V12 Speedster has undergone an intensive development programme, going from drawing board to production reality within that short period. Demonstrating the skills and meticulous planning of ‘Q by Aston Martin’ and Aston Martin Design, the V12 Speedster is a living show car, underlining the company’s commitment to deliver customers a stunning driver’s car, using the engineering ingenuity and advanced materials evident throughout the entire Aston Martin range.


Utilising Aston Martin’s latest bonded aluminium architecture, the V12 Speedster utilises elements from both the DBS Superleggera and Vantage model lines to create its own unique platform. With independent double wishbone front, and multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and adaptive damping offering Sport, Sport+ and Track modes, the V12 Speedster also benefits from standard 21-inch forged centre lock alloy wheels. Carbon Ceramic Brakes of 410mm on the front axle and 360mm at the rear are also standard equipment.


Over the V12 Speedster’s unique chassis is a bespoke body constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre. Miles Nurnberger, Director of Design, Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “With the V12 Speedster we do go back a step and look into our past for inspiration. Since the DB11 launch, everything has been focused and very forward looking. Here though, we find a different tempo. There’s clear lineage from the 1959 Le Mans winning DBR1 to our Centenary celebratory CC100 Speedster Concept in 2013. There is also a bit of 1953 DB3S in the mid-section, so it really is our latest incarnation of the Speedster concept. It’s also inspired by fighter jets as much as it is by our history, and it has been created to deliver an incredibly visceral experience, hence why it is a V12, rather than a V8. With the V12 Speedster we are amplifying all the emotional strings that we can to the absolute maximum.”

Nurnberger adds: “No roof or screen, a big engine, low, with broad shoulders and exaggerated and emotional styling with twin humps and the spine separating the driver and passenger. The light, low, rear end contrasts with the bold, enlarged grille, unique headlights and bonnet nostril at the front. The bonnet nostril we haven’t done in a very long time, but we’ve brought them back. It’s a neat trick visually to allow us to win some space for the V12. It creates this iconic looking vent.”

The interior specification pushes new boundaries, using a mix of traditional and modern materials. Structural satin carbon fibre, contrasts with traditional hand-crafted Saddle Leather, chrome, aluminium and even 3D printed rubber. Visually and physically the interior reduces mass, for a leaner, efficient style, but one that retains all the emotion and craftsmanship Aston Martins are renowned for. In front of the passenger is a removable leather bag in place of a traditional glove box, while there’s additional storage space under the rear bumps for luggage.

Unveiled here today at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ, the V12 Speedster has been shown in a conceptual specification that is inspired by the legendary F/A-18 and will be available for customers to order. Born from an exciting new collaboration with Boeing and created by the brand’s bespoke customisation service ‘Q by Aston Martin’, this striking livery takes the legendary fighter jet for inspiration and is finished in Skyfall Silver, with contrasting satin black on the exhaust tips, vent grilles and vanes. The dark theme is carried through to the interior, with satin dark chrome, machined aluminium, black leather, black technical textile, black carpets and vivid red Aston Martin scripted door pulls, creating a purposeful look for this conceptual styling.


Powering the V12 Speedster is Aston Martin’s scintillating 5.2-litre, Twin-Turbo V12 engine, with a peak output of 700hp1 and 753Nm1 of torque. Front mid-mounted, the all alloy, quad cam 48-valve engine is mated to a ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission with a limited-slip differential driving the rear wheels. The V12 Speedster is able to accelerate to 62mph (100km/h) in 3.5 seconds on the way to a limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h)1.


The iconic V12 engine promises scintillating performance, but further underlining the V12 Speedster’s abundant character and unparalleled commitment to a thrilling drive is an even more invigorating aural signature. To create this Aston Martin’s engineers have created a bespoke stainless-steel exhaust system exiting centrally into the diffuser surface at the rear of the car for an even more rousing, characterful sound from the drivetrain. With the V12 Speedster, every element of the drive is experiential, most obviously the removal of the windscreen adding to the visceral engagement, heightening the driving experience to new levels.

Matt Becker, Aston Martin Chief Engineer, said: “for raw, driving thrills the V12 Speedster is unparalleled, the fully open element of the car adding a new dimension to the experience. It engages on every level, delivering a precise, involving driving experience, with agility and poise backed by abundant power from Aston Martin’s twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12. Driving doesn’t get any purer than this.


 
Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “nothing demonstrates Aston Martin’s commitment to providing unique, special models to its customers more than the V12 Speedster. The 88 hand-built cars will be sought after by driving enthusiasts and collectors alike all around the world. I’m excited not just about what they offer drivers, but of what it represents. The V12 Speedster not just showcases our incredible engineering capability and ambition, but also celebrating Aston Martin’s rich heritage.”

Orders are now being taken for the V12 Speedster, with pricing starting at £765,000 including VAT and deliveries expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021.

www.astonmartin.com

 

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-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman
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Maserati celebrates the 60th anniversary of the launch  of the 5000 GT 2+2 coupé at the Turin Motor Show

Maserati celebrates the 60th anniversary of the launch  of the 5000 GT 2+2 coupé at the Turin Motor Show

Modena, 29 November 2019 – Sixty years ago, the 5000 GT, a 2+2 coupé, was presented at the Turin Motor Show and was the undisputed star of the event.

-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman

-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman

Maserati ahora celebra el aniversario de este extraordinario automóvil, construido a pedido específico del Shah de Persia, Reza Pahlavi. Solo 34 automóviles de este modelo fueron construidos en la planta de Viale Ciro Menotti en Módena, con la carrocería agregada por los mejores carroceros italianos de la época.

-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman

-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman

Reza Pahlavi, the then Shah of Persia, and a great enthusiast of high-performance sports cars, test-drove a 3500 GT towards the end of 1958 and was delighted with it. However, he requested an increase in performance, and Giulio Alfieri, Maserati technical director at the time, realised that the car would have to be completely redesigned to satisfy this prestige customer’s demands.

 

The resulting AM103 project, continued through during 1959, and was in effect a new car and not merely a customisation: the heart of the design was the V8 engine of the 450S (the famous Maserati racing barchetta), with its bore increased to upgrade its displacement to almost five litres.

 

The 5000 GT, a prestigious  2+2 coupé, was born.

The car, of which the first bodywork was built by Carrozzeria Touring, was launched at the 1959 Turin Motor Show, and received the nickname “Shah of Persia” in honour of this unique customer. Only three of that special version were ever produced.

The next year, in 1960, the 5000 GT was exhibited on the stand at the Geneva International Motor Show, with a few revisions to the engine.

El hecho más interesante del Maserati 5000 GT fue que fue construido con carrocería por casi todos los principales autocares italianos de la época: de Allemano, Pininfarina, Monterosa, Ghia, Bertone y Frua, sin mencionar Michelotti para Vignale.

-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman

-Maserati5000GT-1959MichaelFurman

Su gran éxito condujo a la producción de una serie de automóviles para clientes de prestigio, incluidos el Príncipe Karim Aga Khan (automóvil con carrocería de Carozzeria Frua), el jefe de Fiat Gianni Agnelli (Carozzeria Pininfarina), el industrial Ferdinando Innocenti (Carrozzeria Ghia), la estrella de cine Stewart Granger (Carrozzeria Allemano) y el presidente mexicano Adolfo López Mateos (Carrozzeria Allemano).

Su gran éxito condujo a la producción de una serie de automóviles para clientes de prestigio, incluidos el Príncipe Karim Aga Khan (automóvil con carrocería de Carozzeria Frua), el jefe de Fiat Gianni Agnelli (Carozzeria Pininfarina), el industrial Ferdinando Innocenti (Carrozzeria Ghia), la estrella de cine Stewart Granger (Carrozzeria Allemano) y el presidente mexicano Adolfo López Mateos (Carrozzeria Allemano).

Detalles técnicos

 

Model Type 5000 GT
Production period 1959/1964
Engine Eight cylinders, V – 90°
Displacement 4937,8 cc (from 1960: 4941,1 cc)
Bore and stroke 98,5 mm x 81 mm (from 1960: 94 mm x 89 mm)
Power 325 HP a 5500 rev/min. (from 1960: 340 HP a 5800 rev/min)
Compression ratio 8,5:1
Valves train Dual overhead camshafts per bank
Valves Two per cylinder
Ignition Double with two Marelli or Lucas distributors
Engine lubrication Forced with pressure pump
Clutch Dry twin discs
Gearbox Four speeds + R (from 1963: five speeds + R)
Frame Tubular
Front suspensions Coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers
Rear suspensions Semi-elliptical leaf springs and telescopic shock absorbers
Brakes Power-assisted front discs and rear drums
Wheelbase 2600 mm
Track Front 1390 mm ; Rear 1360 mm
Body Two doors Coupè, 2+2 seats
Dry Weight 1500 Kg
Max. Speed 260-270 Km/h

Maserati S.p.A.

Maserati produces a complete range of unique cars with an amazing personality, immediately recognisable anywhere. With their style, technology and innately exclusive character, they delight the most discerning, demanding tastes and have always been an automotive industry benchmark. Ambassadors of this heritage are the Quattroporte flagship, the Ghibli sports sedan, the Levante, Maserati’s very first SUV, and the GranTurismo and GranCabrio sports cars. A range complete as never before, with petrol and diesel engines, rear and all-wheel drive, the finest materials and outstanding engineering.  A tradition of successful cars, each of them redefining what makes an Italian sports car in terms of design, performance, comfort, elegance and safety.

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THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM
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THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

An enchanting new Rolls-Royce Phantom has been commissioned by a Stockholm-based entrepreneur with an extraordinary passion for flowers. The patron, with a wife and two of four children named after flowers, challenged the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective comprising designers, craftspeople and engineers, to envision a car that immerses its occupants in a beguiling floral scene. The result is a sanctuary of true luxury, a vision of flowers, created with a million embroidered stitches.

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM carpeta

Torsten Müller Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented, “The Rose Phantom is a stunning iteration of a contemporary Rolls-Royce. Our extraordinary craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce have achieved, with this car, something which can only be described as sublime.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

The work of our Bespoke Collective is the best in the world. When I look at creations like this car, it is with a sense of pride that I know that these skills could not be replicated anywhere else in the world.

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

This is undoubtedly one of the greatest Rolls-Royce Phantoms of its generation.”
The Rose Garden at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, served as the primary point of inspiration for Ieuan Hatherall, a Bespoke Designer for Rolls-Royce. This Rose Garden is the only place in the world that the Phantom Rose is grown. Bred exclusively for Rolls-Royce by British Rose Breeder Philip Harkness of Harkness Roses, the Phantom Rose grows in the courtyard of the marque’s Global Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence at Goodwood in West Sussex, England.

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

Ieuan Hatherall commented, “There is a transcendent beauty when a rose garden is in full bloom. The patron wanted to create that same feeling of awe; an abundance of flowers to lift the spirit and celebrate nature’s decadent beauty, in the Rose Phantom’s serene interior.”

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

The Peacock Blue exterior of the Rose Phantom is punctuated with a Charles Blue twinned-coachline that intertwines organically like the stem of a rose, combining to introduce the rose motif, an indication of both the colours and the treatment within. The wheels echo the design and are embellished with a twinned pinstripe, also in Charles Blue.

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

On opening the coach doors, one first encounters the embroidery on the inside of the rear doors, but it is not until entering the rear cabin that one fully encounters the extraordinary extent of the satin stitch creation. The Phantom Rose is illustrated in varying stages of maturity, from bud to full bloom, in an asymmetrical design that appears to grow across the roof lining, from the rear of the car. The marque’s fabled starlight headliner illuminates the scene as the roses are interspersed with individually placed fibre-optic lights.

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM interior

In the rear compartment, Serenity Seating with a soft calf rest cushion adopts the inverted colour-way of the exterior as sumptuous Charles Blue leather is accented with Peacock Blue piping. From here, one can admire Phantom’s Gallery, created as a centrepiece of the interior. Stems of embroidered roses climb through the glass fronted fascia, providing a spectacle for the motor car’s occupants.
At the request of the patron, colour is introduced in the form of Peacock and Adonis Blue butterflies, imbuing movement to the elegant motif. The patron’s family also played a creative role; his wife designed the umbrellas whilst his daughter, Magnolia, defined the exterior hue of this Phantom. The patron commented, “I wanted to have flowers and roses everywhere. It became an amazing piece of art.”

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