Tag Archive for: car

2022 deliveries: Porsche posts a slight increase
, , , , ,

2022 deliveries: Porsche posts a slight increase

2022 deliveries: Porsche posts a slight increase

Porsche put in a robust performance in fiscal year 2022, with a slight increase in deliveries. The sports car manufacturer delivered a total of 309,884 cars over the past 12 months, 3 per cent more than in 2021 – despite several global crises.

Porsche fulfills the dreams of its customers, as strong delivery figures and the continued good order situation for fiscal year 2022 demonstrate. Worldwide, the sports car manufacturer delivered 309,884 vehicles to customers last year, an increase of 3 per cent over the previous year.

Detlev von Platen, Executive Board Member for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG

“The many challenges caused by the war in Ukraine, interrupted supply chains and the ongoing semiconductor crisis have shaped the past year and put us to the test,” says Detlev von Platen, Executive Board Member for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. “So I am all the prouder of the entire Porsche team. In this difficult environment, we have succeeded in fulfilling the dream of owning a Porsche for more customers than ever before.”

Deliveries in Europe 7 per cent above previous year

In the Europe sales region, Porsche delivered 62,685 cars in 2022. This is 7 per cent more than in the previous year. In its home market of Germany, 29,512 customers took delivery of their cars – an increase of 3 per cent. In North America, Porsche recorded 79,260 deliveries, matching the previous year’s level. This was a particularly strong performance in view of logistical and supply challenges that started the year. In what remains the biggest single market, China, 93,286 cars were delivered to customers     (-2 per cent). The slight dip here is mainly due to the effects of the COVID pandemic. Waves of infection, COVID-related lockdowns and logistical challenges affected the deliveries. The Overseas and Emerging Markets sales region continues to develop positively with an increase in deliveries of 13 per cent. Some 45,141 cars were delivered to customers in this region during 2022.

SUVs remain popular among customers

The models with the highest demand again in 2022 were the brand’s SUVs: the Porsche Cayenne was delivered a total of 95,604 times. The Macan followed in second place with 86,724 units delivered. With 40,410 deliveries (+5 per cent) the Porsche 911 remains very popular as well. The sports saloon Panamera was delivered to 34,142 customers (+13 per cent).

The Taycan remains at a high level of orders. In 2022, Porsche delivered 34,801 cars from the model line worldwide (-16 percent). The decline was due to supply chain bottlenecks and limited component availability. Both issues affected the electric sports car in particular. Customers took delivery of 18,203 units of the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman models.


Taycan GTS and Taycan GTS Sport Turismo

“On the sales side, results have been positive in 2022,” says von Platen. “Porsche is in a solid position. And we’re building on that basis.”

Porsche AG
Deliveries		 January – December
2021 2022 Difference
Worldwide 301,915 309,884 +3%
Germany 28,565 29,512 +3%
North America 79,166 79,260  0%
China 95,671 93,286 -2%
Europe (excluding Germany) 58,576 62,685 +7%
Overseas and Emerging Markets 39,937 45,141 +13%

Disclaimer

This announcement contains ‘forward-looking statements’ that reflect the Porsche’s current view of the future events.

Words such as ‘will’, ‘presume’, ‘as a goal’, ‘could’, ‘possibly’, ‘should’, ‘believe’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘in preparation’, and ‘aim’ are used to indicate statements relating to the future. These statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialise or if the assumptions underlying Porsche’s forward-looking statements should prove unfounded, the actual results could differ significantly from the ones that Porsche has expressly or implicitly assumed in these statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release are based solely on the circumstances pertaining on the day of publication.

These forward-looking statements will not be updated later. These statements are true on the day of publication and may be overtaken by later events.

www.porsche.com
/by
, , , ,

Pagani Huayra Codalunga Is a $7.4 Million

Pagani Huayra Codalunga Is a $7.4 Million

Pagani has revealed a very special Huayra, which will be sending off the marque’s current flagship in style with a limited run of five units. This streamlined beauty is the Huayra Codalunga, paying tribute to the long-tailed sports racers of the 1960s.

As limited-run Paganis go, this one takes the opposite approach to what we’ve seen before. The fussiness and addenda are stripped back, as the bodywork itself is elongated and smoothed.

“The Huayra Codalunga comprises very few essential elements,” Pagani has said of the project. “We have taken away rather than added. Simplifying is not at all straightforward, and this vehicle is, above all, the result of a complex pursuit of simple ideas.”

Indeed, there are no spoilers, no canards and barely a drop of garish exposed carbon fibre. 

Instead, it gains 360mm of length, most of which is in the engine cover and tail, while that tail has been stretched and redesigned, with the lights rearranged from their triangular formation into an upward-canting line. The clam engine cover now spans a monster 3.7m2, which is to say, don’t lift without assistance. Amazingly, but entirely in keeping with Pagani, this Huayra with all that extra bodywork weighs just 1,280kg.

At the front, the Huayra has been modernised and simplified. The very Zonda-esque integrated light units courtesy, we think, of the upcoming Huayra replacement, the C10, replace the four-per-side arrangement of the normal Huayra. The oval ‘mouth’ is retained – albeit with no aggressive splitter element below – as are the active winglet elements, which are also retained at the rear.

The Codalunga also inherits the buttress inlets first seen on the Huayra BC Roadster, which are also expected to feature on the C10. They’ll be feeding the 6.0-litre twin-turbo Mercedes-AMG V12 from the Huayra Tricolore that’s good for 841PS (618kW), which is also expected to live on in the C10. There are no performance numbers, but minus the drag of the usual Pagani aero frippery and with the added stability of an elongated rear end, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is a 240mph car.

The project was the brainchild of two particularly enthusiastic and persistent Pagani customers who’ve been nurturing the idea for some time. It’s proved the perfect breakout model for Pagani’s new Grandi Complicazioni division for special projects. The Codalunga has a price befitting a special project with so much new design and homologation required: £6million each and yes, all five are sold.

Autor: Ethan Jupp

/by
THE PAGANI HUAYRA R
, , , ,

THE PAGANI HUAYRA R

THE PAGANI HUAYRA R

SCULPTED IN PERFORMANCE

  • The most extreme Pagani Hypercar made exclusively for use on the track
  • The new Pagani V12-R, the exclusive beating heart of the Huayra R
  • A naturally aspirated V12 generating 850 HP output and 750 Nm of torque
  • Maximum track performance up to the red line of 9000 rpm
  • A laboratory car that incorporates the technology of future Pagani models
  • Celebration of performance, technology and art applied to a track car
  • The pinnacle of Pagani Automobili technological development, packed into just 1,050 kg
  • Safety at the highest standards
  • Arte in Pista: a new, exclusive chapter of tailor-made customer experiences
  • Limited to just 30 examples
  • Base price: EUR 2.6 million + TAX

San Cesario Sul Panaro, 18 March 2021 – On the wings of a wind that blows ever-stronger, the Huayra R is released to express its full character in total freedom. Pure, passionate, mighty and captivating. It knows no limits.

The new track-focused Hypercar from Pagani combines the highest level of automotive engineering and aerodynamic know-how with unprecedented aesthetic sensitivity in an exercise of style that represents the full expression of Pagani Automobili’s technological development.

Legend meets passion

What is freedom, if not the courage to dream and choose to surpass oneself and one’s limits, the need to express an emotion that refuses to be constrained? A concept that by its very nature escapes definition and labels, but which has always deeply moved the human spirit and determined its needs and intuitions.

The profound need for creative freedom at the heart of the Huayra R is embodied by the clean lines and timeless appeal of the Le Mans and World Sports-Prototype Championship cars of the 1960s and 1970s. Symbols of freedom par excellence and protagonists of an era of motorsport that was synonymous with battles and tension, tears and triumphs, ecstasy and sweat; endurance races that turned drivers into heroes and sensational cars into eternal legends. This concept of freedom and purity inspires the bold lines of the Huayra R, a quintessential celebration of performance, technology and art applied to a track car.

“ Today’s racing cars are focused exclusively on aerodynamics and are largely the product of the wind tunnel. In the 60s and 70s, however, the cars were very fast, certainly dangerous, but beautiful. Prototype sports cars like the Ferrari P4 or the Ford GT40, or the Le Mans cars, had extremely attractive lines, which are still a huge source of inspiration for our cars today. The Porsche 917 is my favourite, with its romantic yet bold shape, which gives the impression of a very fast car. It is beautiful, elegant and timeless. From this desire for freedom, and from the experience of the Zonda R and the cars of the past, came the idea of the Huayra R, like a breath of fresh air.” Horacio Pagani

The Huayra R is a celebration of passion – an extreme, untamed car, developed free from rules except for safety, with the sole aim of offering uncompromising performance. But first and foremost, it was designed to excite.

From tradition to innovation 

“Creativity is the result of curiosity and the quest for something that does not exist.”

Taking up increasingly demanding challenges in order to define new goals and pushing new boundaries to test one’s ability has been in the DNA of Pagani Automobili from the very start. This is what happened towards the end of the 2000s when an exciting new project landed on the Atelier’s doorstep and triggered an unprecedented journey of research to create the first Pagani track car, a car that Horacio Pagani thought should incorporate the best racing technology of the time, combined with the beauty and attention to detail typical of all of the brand’s creations.
The Zonda R, created with cutting-edge materials derived from the aerospace industry and from F1, was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009 where, under its refined, but bare natural carbon fiber surface, it embodied the pinnacle of Pagani Automobili technological development, combined with unprecedented attention to aesthetics for a track car. Offering a driving experience and performance simply impossible on the road, the Zonda R demonstrated its full potential, attaining major milestones on the world’s most prestigious circuits and was celebrated on many covers of the main magazines of that time.

Deeply inspired by its racing predecessors, after more than ten years, the Huayra R is reintroducing that same bold and audacious essence, once again combining maximum technical refinement and attention to detail, in a car of outstanding personality that incorporates the technology of Pagani cars of the future. And like all the creations of the Atelier, it is made to measure.

“In 2008 we were working on the Huayra, a very challenging and demanding project from an engineering and stylistic point of view. After so many years, I felt an overwhelming desire for freedom and that’s how the Zonda R came about, a track car free from constraints and regulations. Beautiful, high-performing and safe. The Huayra R, just like the Zonda R, is the freest, most extreme and performance-oriented Pagani car of all time.” Horacio Pagani

Engine – The Pagani V12-R

Much more than an intellectual exercise, the Huayra R is a car packed with innovative solutions developed to achieve maximum performance and is the result of 100% dedicated engineering know-how. The project was not based on any production model, which allowed development targets for each individual component to be raised significantly, forcing the team in San Cesario Sul Panaro to tackle a number of technical challenges. First and foremost, the development of the most powerful, naturally aspirated internal combustion engine in the history of the Atelier.

The Pagani V12-R – the beating heart of the Huayra R – is a 12-cylinder, 6-litre, naturally aspirated racing engine, designed from the ground up in partnership with HWA AG specifically to meet the Atelier’s need to equip its new creation with the lightest, most powerful and efficient track-ready V12 ever created. This need emerged to address the strong desire of Pagani’s customers, who dreamed of an incredibly powerful high-performance, naturally aspirated V12 engine for their new projects.

“The new engine had to have the charm, romance, sound and simplicity of the F1 engines of the 1980s, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology available today.” Horacio Pagani

Equipped with the latest technology derived from the world of racing, the new powertrain delivers 850 hp (625 kW) at 8250 rpm and maximum torque of 750 Nm – already available from 5500 to 8300 rpm – while the 200 bar direct injection system optimises performance by ensuring maximum efficiency in terms of thermodynamics and autonomy.

The Huayra R was created to offer the ultimate experience for anyone who wants to enjoy peak performance on the track up to the red line of 9000 rpm. For the engineers at HWA AG and Pagani, this objective meant not only focusing on increased power as a key element of research, but also prioritizing lightness. This challenge was embraced by Affalterbach engineers without hesitation and after more than two years of design and development, the powerful Pagani V12-R tipped the scales at a total weight of 198 kg (436 lbs), placing it at the top of its category.

Attached to the central monocoque, with which it forms a structural element capable of supporting the transmission system and the chrome-molybdenum alloy steel subframes, the new engine is exceptionally efficient and easy to run, with service cycles only every 10,000 km.

Transmission

The cutting-edge components especially created for the Huayra R include the brand new six-speed sequential gearbox which has been designed, along with the Huayra R’s engine, in collaboration with HWA AG to complete a tailor-made powertrain.

Driven by a 3 sintered metal disc racing clutch, the new non synchronized dog ring gearbox guarantees 95% friction efficiency, offers maximum shift precision, extremely reduced shift times and a total weight of just 80 kg (176 lb). Securely attached to the monocoque as well as the engine, contributing to the overall rigidity of the chassis and withstanding heavy dynamic loads, the complete transmission system is designed to integrate structurally with the entire suspension unit through dedicated attachment points in order to maximise the architectural efficiency of the car.

Exhaust System

The result of meticulous acoustic and technical planning and extensive research of materials, geometries and sound design, the new exhaust system developed specifically for the Huayra R guarantees rapid and effective evacuation of exhaust gases, allowing the Pagani V12-R to deliver all of its incredible power, while ensuring minimum back pressure. Made from Inconel 625/718 alloy, with tubes one-third the thickness of those normally used in road car equipment, and coated in ceramic to protect the engine bay and ensure better heat dissipation directly to the outside, the entire system boasts an extremely lightweight construction, developed not only to guarantee maximum aerodynamic performance, but also to give the Huayra R’s occupants an unprecedented acoustic experience. The soundtrack of this racing thoroughbred is indeed pure emotion, thanks to the unique design of the manifolds and tailpipes, with identical length exhaust pipes for all twelve cylinders allowing the V12-R to roar like a F1 car of the past. The car is also equipped with mufflers that can be fitted as required, ensuring that noise emissions are reduced to within the FIA limit of 110 decibels for noise restricted tracks.

Chassis and Materials 

The Huayra R’s monocoque is the result of specifically dedicated development to guarantee its occupants the total involvement and driving experience of an authentic racing car.

HWA’s vast experience in fine-tuning and production of racing cars and components, together with Pagani Automobili’s 30 years of know-how in the development of advanced composite materials, made it possible to apply structural principles and innovative engineering solutions from the world of motorsport to the Huayra R chassis to produce a safe structure suitable for track use.

Manufactured using the latest composite technologies developed by the Atelier, such as Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62, the new monocoque incorporates the seats fully, guaranteeing maximum protection together with specific shock-absorption side structures and the roll-bar, while maintaining easy access to the cockpit. The front frames, made of chrome-molybdenum alloy steel, benefit from the development experience and crash tests carried out to fine-tune the Huayra project, while also being designed specifically for the track. The rear frame, in conjunction with the powertrain unit, forms an integrated structure with the monocoque, helping to maximise the mechanical properties of the chassis, resulting in a 51% increase in flexural rigidity and 16% increase in torsional rigidity compared to the road version.

The combination of new structural principles and materials specially developed for the Huayra R design, together with the resulting enhancement of the mechanical properties of the structure, means that the new car tips the scales at a dry weight of 1,050 kg..

Safety

The comfort and performance of a sports car only acquire value when combined with an environment that offers maximum protection. This is an aspect on which the team in San Cesario Sul Panaro never compromises and which is a fundamental and indispensable part of every project undertaken by the Atelier. Careful design and meticulous research conducted on the materials, bodywork and roll bar structure were central to the development of the Huayra R in order to give customers not only the most thrilling track driving experience, but above all, to provide a safe car that meets the most stringent FIA requirements for GT vehicles.

The heavy-duty safety cage integrated into the central monocoque incorporates special absorption structures, made from composite materials, at the front, sides and rear of the car which are specifically designed to absorb kinetic energy in the event of impact or rollover.
Inside the passenger compartment, the extinguishing system is activated automatically in the event of a fire, while the seats, which are fully integrated into the carbon monocoque, are equipped with six-point safety belts and covered in Nomex flame retardant material. The special Ener-Core EC 50, FIA approved foam padding ensures an optimal driving position, adapting perfectly to the body shape of the occupants, while the carbon fibre headrests are also fitted with dedicated lateral protection.

Aerodynamics

For Pagani Automobili, building complex cars, rich with technological and innovative solutions requires not only brilliant minds, but true artists. For the skilled craftsmen involved in the development of the Huayra R, this mission entailed intense study and research to combine the most technical and performance aspects with the utmost formal elegance.

Every line and surface of the Huayra R is, in fact, designed to generate maximum aerodynamic load, with an initial development target of 1000 kg of downforce at 320 km/h (2204 lb at 199 mph) and a ground clearance that allows maximum aerodynamic performance to be achieved, guaranteeing safe and predictable behaviour under all conditions. An ambitious goal, but one that was quickly achieved with excellent results right from the first aerodynamic tests, during which the car showed great stability and balance in line with the set target of 46%-54% downforce distribution throughout the entire speed envelope, while maintaining reduced sensitivity to ground clearance.

An exciting result, although not enough to win the full approval of the team led by Horacio Pagani, who wanted a more sinuous and captivating aesthetic treatment for the Huayra R; a design even more focused on emotion. For this reason, further research was undertaken on the design and stylistic elements of the car, which led the design team to a curious and unexpected discovery: as the aesthetics of the car changed, performance and aerodynamic efficiency improved, demonstrating the importance, in every aspect of design, of the quest for beauty interpreted as the most perfect union of form and function.

Contributing to reliable performance of the car, there are two new side air intakes at the front to ensure maximum cooling efficiency for the front wheel braking system, as well as channelling the outgoing airflow towards the side of the car, minimising turbulence and helping to generate maximum downforce.
Ensuring adequate cooling of the powerful engine required relentless work on the radiator and internal fluid dynamics, while new wing profiles were introduced on the front bonnet to improve air extraction speed and create greater stability at the front. New air vents above the wheel arch and the generous side outlet allow even more effective channelling of air to flow to the rear aerodynamic appendages.

The new roof scoop, with its integrated centre fin, guarantees maximum intake efficiency for the Pagani V12-R. The flat bottom, in combination with the rear diffuser and the distinctive wing, help to generate maximum downforce.

Suspension

The sophistication of the suspension system of Pagani cars has always been a source of pride for the Atelier. The result of more than 30 years of research and development, this technical and technological prowess, subject to incessant experimentation, found an important test bed with the Zonda R. This led to the definition of highly innovative technical solutions that would soon afterwards equip the Huayra Coupé. Similarly, the new kinematics and sophisticated geometry of the suspension unit developed specifically for the Huayra R are the result of one of the most intense design and experimental phases ever experienced by the Atelier, and represent the future of Pagani Automobili on the track.

With suspension made of forged aluminium alloy, independent double wishbone with helical springs and electronically controlled active shock absorbers, the entire configuration of the new system with rigid mounting points, not only allows all the power and the extraordinary torque of the Pagani V12-R to be transferred to the ground, but also offers unprecedented driving precision. In fact, the Huayra R’s advanced and refined elasto-kinematics allow for greater camber recovery and optimised dynamic bump steer correction to guarantee ideal grip for the slick tyres in every situation and allow the driver to attack the ups and downs of Eau Rouge without losing a single millisecond.

Interconnected with the active aerodynamic system, the active suspension ensures that the Huayra R responds appropriately in all conditions, allowing perfect balance when entering and exiting corners and maximum stability when braking, for precise and always predictable behaviour.

Brakes

There is a long-standing relationship between Pagani Automobili and Brembo, which has always focused on equipping Pagani Hypercars with state-of-the-art braking systems to ensure maximum performance, perfectly integrated design, safety and unprecedented lightness.

The Huayra R boasts world-class braking power thanks to the brand new CCM-R self-ventilated carbon-ceramic discs coupled with racing pads. Specially developed to allow the new car to exploit the best available technology, the new CCM-Rs have significant advantages in terms of thermal conductivity and maximum braking power, typical of carbon used in competitions. Characteristics that allow for greater rigidity and lower operating temperatures in extreme track use while, at the same time, helping to extend the life cycle of the system.

Tyres and wheels

With its unparalleled experience in motorsport, international GT3 and single-make championships, and a glorious racing past and present rooted in the famous victory in the very first F1 race at Silverstone in May 1950, Pirelli has dedicated the last 110 years of its history to developing the best racing tyre technology to enhance the performance of the world’s best sports cars.

The long process of research and development carried out in partnership with Pagani Automobili resulted in a slick version of the P Zero tyres that offers maximum precision and a feeling of total control even to the non-professional driver, ensuring exceptional braking behaviour and optimal traction.

With standard sizes dictated by the world of racing, to ensure the greatest advantage in terms of cost and availability for customers, this P Zero slick version will benefit from all future Pirelli developments on motorsport tyres that can be fitted on the car without any problem. Available in Dry and Wet versions, specially designed to allow the Huayra R to attack the tarmac in all conditions, Pirelli’s new tyre is designed to provide the grip needed to allow pin-point precision on every curve.

The monolithic rims, custom-designed in conjunction with APP Tech and forged from aluminium alloy, were designed to achieve maximum lightness in 19 inches.

The interior – One with the Driver

Inside the Huayra R, every detail is designed for all-round involvement and maximum adrenaline, for a raw, thrilling and unfiltered driving experience.

All essential controls, such as traction control, ABS map selection, radio communication and other important functions are immediately available on the quick-release, height and length adjustable steering wheel, which can be pulled out for easy access to the cockpit. The gearshift paddles are mounted at the rear of the steering wheel.

Secondary controls such as lights, engine maps, suspension maps and brake balance selector are available on the centre console. A high resolution, fully customizable, motorsport dashboard display feeds the driver with the necessary information to  monitor the status of the vehicle. The onboard telemetry logs all vehicle data, enabling the driver and pit crew to analyze performance, find the perfect vehicle settings for any given track, and monitor the vehicle.

To perfectly match the driver’s ergonomics, the adjustable pedal set has been custom-designed in partnership with AP Racing exclusively for the Huayra R and incorporates the principles of lightness and style that are at the essence of this car. Crafted with the quality of finish and aesthetic attention typical of all the Atelier’s creations, the Huayra R’s cockpit cannot fail to impress thanks to the meticulous design of every screw, lever and surface, making its extraordinary concentration of speed-focused technology an ideal driving environment, tailor-made for each driver.

Arte in Pista

An essential part of the Pagani experience are the meet-ups and shared moments dedicated to the members of the exclusive family of customers, eager to participate in the different events organised by the brand each year on four different continents to offer an experience of full immersion in the Pagani world. These started with the Pagani Raduno, a highly personalised event, and now an established tradition in the history of the Atelier. For more than 16 years, the various editions of this event have combined days of driving along iconic routes and breathtaking landscapes, with unique lifestyle experiences, often ending with an entire day dedicated to top performance on the world’s most prestigious circuits.

With Arte In Pista (“art on the track”), the Pagani Atelier seeks to take the experience to a new level, offering a calendar packed with personalised events that will allow Huayra R owners to enjoy the full excitement of driving a Pagani Hypercar, pushing it to its maximum performance, with the dedicated assistance of the Pagani Team and the support of professional drivers. From individual track days at internationally renowned circuits to group events, tailor-made for customers in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East: each occasion combines moments of leisure in beautiful locations with the raw excitement of driving one’s own Pagani on the track.
“A car sculpted in performance. Not just a track car, but a very intimate club of true adrenaline seekers.” Horacio Pagani

– TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS –
ENGINE: Pagani V12-R – 6.0 litres – naturally aspirated 12-cylinder V
POWER: 850 HP (625 kW) at 8250 rpm
TORQUE: 750 Nm from 5500 to 8300 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Rear-wheel Drive
GEARBOX: 6-speed sequential, non-synchronized dog ring gearbox
BRAKES: Brembo CCM-R ventilated discs: Front 410×38 mm with monolithic
6-piston calipers; Rear 390×34 mm with monolithic 6-piston calipers
WHEELS: APP forged monolithic aluminum alloy: Front 19 inches;
Rear 19 inches
TYRES: Pirelli P Zero slick version – Dry and Wet: Front 275/675 R19; Rear 325/705 R19
SUSPENSION: Forged aluminum alloy independent double wishbone with helical springs and
electronically controlled shock absorbers
CHASSIS: Monocoque in Pagani Carbo-Titanium HP62 G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62 with front
and rear tubular subframes in CrMo alloy steel
DRY WEIGHT: 1050 Kg (2314 lb)

/by
, , , , ,

Rolls-Royce’s Coachbuilt – masterpiece Boat Tail makes global debut at villa deste

COACHBUILT MASTERPIECE ‘BOAT TAIL’ MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT AT VILLA D’ESTE

Rolls-Royce’s coachbuilt masterpiece Boat Tail makes its global public debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 2 October 2021. The car will be unveiled at 11.30 local time on the Mosaic Lawn by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

  • Unique coachbuilt ‘Boat Tail’ makes its first-ever public appearance at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 2 & 3 October 2021
  • Boat Tail on view to guests and media for two days only on the Mosaic Lawn within the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy
  • Exhibited four years after the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, Sweptail, was launched at the same event in 2017


“It is a wonderful privilege to reveal this unique Rolls-Royce to the world for the very first time. Although images have been widely shared, the car itself has not been displayed in public before. The Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza is the perfect occasion, bringing together leading international media alongside knowledgeable motoring experts and discerning luxury aficionados, on the glamorous shores of Lake Como. There is also a pleasing symmetry in that we launched the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, Sweptail, at the 2017 event.

“It is a truly historic moment for the marque. We are leading a modern coachbuilding movement that takes the wider luxury industry into an entirely different space, where hyper-personalisation and contemporary patronage provide essentially limitless possibilities.”Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars


Rolls-Royce’s coachbuilt masterpiece Boat Tail makes its global public debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 2 October 2021. The car will be unveiled at 11.30 local time on the Mosaic Lawn by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It will then be available for guests and journalists to view for two days only, before returning to the privacy and seclusion that have surrounded it since it was formally revealed in May 2021.

Images of the car have been shared and admired around the world; however, this is the first time Boat Tail itself has been displayed in public. It is a unique opportunity for guests and journalists to examine the car’s remarkable coachbuilt construction and extraordinary Bespoke detailing, which were designed and hand-built at the Home of Rolls-Royce in a highly demanding technical and creative project lasting almost four years.

Boat Tail marks a seminal moment in the annals of Rolls-Royce, demonstrating the marque’s commitment to coachbuilding as a central part of its future direction and portfolio. It continues and accelerates a contemporary coachbuilding movement that began with Sweptail, the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, which also made its first public appearance at Villa d’Este back in 2017.

Boat Tail represents a pivotal moment for the wider luxury goods sector.  As a truly hand-built, one-of-a-kind creation, in which both the bodywork and interior are designed and produced to the client’s specification, Rolls-Royce Coachbuild redraws the boundaries of luxury and opens vast new possibilities for patrons of contemporary design and fine craftsmanship.

First staged in 1929 on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is one of the most important and glamorous occasions on the international lifestyle calendar. Normally held in May, the 2021 event takes place from 1-3 October 2021, with Boat Tail presented to the world, for the first time, on 2 & 3 October only

/by
, , , , , , , ,

Bugatti Presents the Centodieci at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021 and celebrates 30 years of the legendary Bugatti EB110

Bugatti Presents the Centodieci at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021 and celebrates 30 years of the legendary Bugatti EB110

With its timeless beauty, Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como has provided a residency for the aristocracy, princesses, marquises, sultans and tsars for centuries. Considered one of the most breath-taking architectural works of the sixteenth century, every year, this elegant five-star resort welcomes automotive enthusiasts from all over the globe to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Here, they can appreciate the spectacle of some of the finest automobiles and motorcycles, in both production and prototype form, ever created. This year, visitors could also enjoy Bugatti’s stunning Centodieci, which the French luxury brand was presenting in the ‘Concept Cars & Prototypes’ category over the previous weekend from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd October 2021.

With its timeless beauty, Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como has provided a residency for the aristocracy, princesses, marquises, sultans and tsars for centuries. Considered one of the most breath-taking architectural works of the sixteenth century, every year, this elegant five-star resort welcomes automotive enthusiasts from all over the globe to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Here, they can appreciate the spectacle of some of the finest automobiles and motorcycles, in both production and prototype form, ever created. This year, visitors could also enjoy Bugatti’s stunning Centodieci, which the French luxury brand was presenting in the ‘Concept Cars & Prototypes’ category over the previous weekend from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd October 2021.

Bugatti unveiled the Centodieci – which translates as 110 in Italian – during Monterey Car Week in California at the Quail in 2019 to celebrate the company’s 110th anniversary. Inspired by the legendary Bugatti EB110 of 1991 and powered by the 8.0-liter W16 engine producing 1,600PS, just 10 Centodieci units will be hand-built at Bugatti’s Molsheim Atelier and be delivered to customers next year. All ten Centodieci models had already been accounted for by customers prior to the car’s unveiling.

A Concours d’Élégance for automobiles was first held at Villa d’Este back in 1929, and Bugatti has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the event. Recent highlights have included the Bugatti La Voiture Noire taking the premiere prize in the ‘Concept Cars & Prototypes’ category the last time the event was held in 2019. Models from Bugatti’s illustrious past, such as the 1937 Type 57S four-seater sports tourer, the 1934 Type 59 Grand Prix car and the 1938 Type 57SC Atlantic, have all been awarded significant accolades in recent years.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Bugatti EB110. The groundbreaking and first supercar of its time represents the mid-period of Bugatti’s history, when Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. was based in the famous ‘Blue Factory’ in Campogalliano in Italy under the stewardship of Romano Artioli. Introduced in 1991 to mark 110 years since the birth of Ettore Bugatti in 1881, the EB110 elevated the supercar genre to a new level. It featured a revolutionary engineering package that included a carbon fiber chassis and a 3.5-litre 12-cylinder engine with five valves per cylinder and quadruple turbochargers. The transmission was also incorporated within the engine block to create more space for cabin occupants. Exemplary grip, traction and safety were delivered by four-wheel-drive, another key D.N.A. strand that remains pivotal to today’s production Bugatti models.

The historic supercar model – a blue (originally silver painted in “Grigio Chiaro metallizzato”) EB110 SuperSport – presented at Villa d’Este in the class “The Next Generation: Hypercars of the 90s” was formerly owned by Romano Artioli. The Italian entrepreneur, who relaunched Bugatti as Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. in 1987, prior to the company’s closure in 1995, has fond memories of the development of this revolutionary supercar. “While we were at the premiere of the EB110 in Paris in 1991, the engineers back at Campogalliano were urging us to return swiftly to the Blue Factory, as they were eager to begin work on the EB110 Supersport version. Everyone was focused on reducing weight and boosting power, while keeping in mind that I was ferocious that the safety characteristics of the car be upheld.”

The final result was a quite remarkable weight reduction of nearly 150kg from the original configuration, and an increase in performance from 560PS to 612PS, with the engine developed entirely in-house at Campogalliano. Immediately after the EB110 SuperSport was presented to the world’s press at Salon de l’Automobile in Geneva, the team took the car to the Nardò circuit in the South of Italy, to carry out the homologation tests.

“After a warm-up lap we set the world record with a speed of 351 km/h and an acceleration of 3.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km,” recalls Artioli proudly. And it didn’t stop there. The car also set a speed record on snow and ice at 296km/h, while a Bugatti EB110 GT powered by natural gas achieved at top speed of 344.7 km/h.

“I left my heart in my Supersport. No other car gives the same sensation of power, control and safety in every road condition as the EB110 – and with such beautiful style. I could not be more proud for “her” to be at the Concours d’Elegance in Villa D’Este.

“The Centodieci Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este is one of the jewels in the crown of the automotive season,” explains Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. President Stephan Winkelmann. “After the event was lost to the pandemic in 2020, it is even more special for Bugatti to return to the wonderful location of Villa d’Este and present our Centodieci to customers and friends of the brand from all around the globe. And of course, the event is even more exciting with the presence of the personal Bugatti EB110 Supersport “America” owned once by Romano Artioli himself. This seminal supercar represents the second period of Bugatti’s history, and gave our designers and engineers the inspiration for the Centodieci.”

The Bugatti Centodieci was presented as a static display within the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este ‘Concept Cars & Prototypes’ area on Saturday 2nd October and again on Sunday 3rd October, the car also participated in the dynamic presentation parade.

 

 

/by
, , , , ,

Audi skysphere concept – The future is wide open 2021

Audi skysphere concept (2021)

Audi has unveiled the first member of a new family of concept vehicles, a spectacular roadster. Audi skysphere concept is the name of the electric-powered, two-door convertible whose lines lead directly to the Audi design of tomorrow. With it, the brand is illustrating its vision for the progressive luxury segment of the future, in which the interior becomes an interactive space and the vehicle a platform for captivating experiences. This is being made possible thanks to autonomous driving, a revolutionary redesign of the interior, and a seamless digital ecosystem.

The Audi skysphere concept shows how the brand is redefining luxury in the future – it’s no longer just about driving. The concept car was designed with the clear objective of offering its occupants captivating and world-class experiences.

Static photo,
Colour: Stage Light

To give passengers the maximum amount of freedom, the Audi skysphere concept was designed for two different driving experiences: a grand touring experience and a sports experience. This makes use of a spectacular technical detail – the variable wheelbase. Electric motors and a sophisticated mechanism with body and frame components that slide into one another make it possible to vary the wheelbase itself and the exterior length of the car by 250 millimeters. At the same time, the vehicle’s ground clearance is adjusted by 10 millimeters to enhance comfort and driving dynamics.

With the touch of button, the driver can take advantage of their freedom and choose their own driving experience– either they pilot their 4.94-meter-long e-roadster themselves in “Sports” mode with a reduced wheelbase, while the rear-wheel steering ensures that the vehicle remains extremely agile despite its dimensions. Or they can choose to be chauffeured around in a 5.19-meter GT in the autonomous “Grand Touring” driving mode while enjoying the sky and the scenery, maximum legroom, and the services offered by a seamlessly integrated digital ecosystem.

In this mode, the steering wheel and pedals move into an invisible area; the feeling of space in the concept car opens up completely new realms of possibility for such a sporty convertible. Meanwhile, the Audi skysphere automatically keeps an eye on the road and traffic with its sensor system and drives the occupants safely to their destination.

Static photo,
Colour: Stage Light

Similar to how the interior design offers a new, contemporary interpretation of luxury, digitization and the ecosystem open up unprecedented levels of freedom and worlds of experience for the vehicle’s passengers. Thanks to Audi’s own services and the ability to integrate digital services, the possibilities are nearly endless. In addition, the passengers can share their experience on the road with friends via social media, with images of the interior and the surrounding area. The vehicle also takes care of everyday tasks that go beyond the ride itself. For example, the autonomous Audi skysphere concept picks up its passengers with information about their current destination and independently handles parking and charging.

Static photo,
Colour: Stage Light

Audi skysphere to be unveiled on its home turf in California

The Audi skysphere concept will make its public debut on August 13, 2021, as part of Monterey Car Week – on the legendary fairways of the Pebble Beach golf course. This means the vehicle’s unveiling in California is taking place more or less on its home turf. This is because the concept car was conceived and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu, just a stone’s throw away from the Pacific Coast Highway, the legendary coastal road that connects the suburbs of Los Angeles with northern California. Studio manager Gael Buzyn and his team are the creative minds behind the project. A legendary classic model from the company’s own history – the Horch 853 roadster – served as the inspiration for the new groundbreaking model. The impressive convertible, which is also around 5.20 meters in length, was not only the definition of modern luxury in the 1930s, but also won the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach in 2009.

But the visual inspiration from its predecessor is limited to the concept car’s dimensions and typical proportions with a rather compact cabin and long front end. A look under the hood of the Horch reveals an imposing straight-eight engine with a displacement of 5 liters. The Audi skysphere, on the other hand, mainly has electric drive components between the front axle and the windshield, such as the charger and the DC/DC converter, plus the actuators and electronic and mechanical components for the adaptive wheelbase. It also features a spacious trunk filled with two golf bags specially designed for the concept car.

Static photo,
Colour: Stage Light

The drive system: 465 kW of power

“New technologies like electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving gave us the opportunity to create an experience that goes way beyond the one that typical roadsters offer today,” said design project manager Gael Buzyn.

An electric motor positioned on the powered rear axle is responsible for delivering power to the wheels of the Audi skysphere. A total of 465 kilowatts of power and 750 Newton meters of torque have an easy time with the roadster, which only weighs around 1,800 kilograms. The weight distribution of around 60 percent on the powered rear axle results in ample traction and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just four seconds, if required.

The Audi skysphere’s battery modules are primarily positioned behind the cabin – an ideal configuration for the vehicle’s center of gravity and agility. Further modules can be found between the seats in the center tunnel of the skysphere interior – another position chosen in favor of vehicle dynamics. The battery’s capacity is expected to be more than 80 kWh, giving the car a range of more than 500 kilometers according to the WLTP standard, at least in the economical GT mode.

Static photo,
Colour: Stage Light

The chassis: rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension

The vehicle features double wishbone axles in the front and the rear. The upper and lower wishbones are forged or cast from aluminum. Steering takes place via a steer-by-wire system that controls both the front and the rear wheels. Because the system is not mechanically connected to the front axle, the driver can select different steering ratios and steering settings – all at the touch of a button. This allows the steering to be adjusted from extremely direct to comfortable, but also from high self-aligning forces to minimal self-aligning forces, for example when parking. The rear-axle steering and adaptive wheelbase also contribute to the car’s small turning radius.

A long-established Audi chassis technology ensures that the suspension delivers the necessary level of versatility – the latest evolutionary stage of Audi’s adaptive air suspension has been implemented in the concept car and features three independent air chambers to provide a comfortable base suspension. Individual chambers can be deactivated for a more sporty ride with fast acceleration. The result is that the characteristic curve of the spring becomes more progressive, reducing roll and pitch to a minimum. Lowering the body by 10 mm reduces aerodynamic drag – particularly relevant when driving long distances.

The Audi skysphere’s active suspension plays a key role in the versatility of the car’s handling characteristics. When simply coasting along, the individual wheels are selectively raised or lowered to compensate for unevenness and undulations in the road surface – the result of a symbiosis between the navigation system’s digital predictions and the active chassis’ sophisticated control and actuation systems. Mounted on aerodynamically styled 23-inch alloy rims, the 285/30 tires strike a perfect balance between suitability for long-distance trips thanks to minimal rolling resistance and a sporty, active driving style with high longitudinal and lateral acceleration.

Design Sketch

The exterior: reverence without retro

When it comes to their footprint – 5.23 meters in length versus 5.19; a width of 1.85 versus 2.00 meters – it is easy to see the similarity between the legendary Horch 853 convertible and the Audi skysphere. A striking difference, on the other hand, can be found in their height – the legendary Horch, with its iconic design, towered up to 1.77 meters depending on the body shape, while its autonomous descendant, the Audi skysphere, ducks down to the road in Sport mode at 1.23 meters flat, with an optimized center of gravity and aerodynamics. The concept car pays its respects to the classic model without merely remaining a retro imitation.

After all, apart from its dimensions, it’s the lines that make a real difference. With its wide curved and flared wheel arches typical of the brand, the skysphere emphasizes the wide track – a visible indication of its dynamic talents. Viewed from the side, the proportions are impressive with a long hood and – especially at the front – a short overhang. The surfaces of the wheel arches and front hood are organically curved. The rear end was developed in a wind tunnel and combines elements of a speedster and a shooting brake with large glass surfaces in a traditional streamlined design. Two overnight bags designed specifically for the Audi skysphere find space under the glass, and are held in place with straps that are stretched in a crosswise pattern.

The front end – although no longer serving as a radiator grill – clearly features the brand’s typical Singleframe and the three-dimensionally designed, illuminated emblem with the four rings. The entire Singleframe and also the adjacent surfaces on the sides are designed with white LED elements to literally act as a stage for visual effects – both functional effects as well as moving welcome sequences when the vehicle is opened and closed.

Detail

Gentle dimming and a structured, rhythmically pulsating light produce an elegant effect. The daytime running lights in the side front sections, in turn, give the lighting units a resolute, focused “gaze.” If the wheelbase is changed, the LEDs in the front and rear display a specially composed dynamic sequence.

The rear end is also dominated by a digitally controlled LED surface that extends across the entire width of the vehicle. Countless red LEDs are scattered like rubies across the vertical rear surface. Reflections create dynamic lighting and shadow effects when the lighting units are switched on and off.

Upon changing the wheelbase and thus the operating mode from GT to Sport, the light signature also changes and sends a clear indication of the changed character of the Audi skysphere concept, particularly in the area around the Singleframe.

A characteristic feature of the side view are the rocker panels, which seem to protrude into the rear wheel arch – a necessary feature when varying the wheelbase actually pushes it backwards. The rocker panel is attached to the front end of the car, and as it moves, the panel also slides to the rear under the fixed door. In the process, the wheelbase is reduced from the standard size of an A8 L to the significantly more compact size of the curve-compatible Audi RS 5 – 25 centimeters make all the difference. And not just technically, but also visually and, above all, in terms of the driving experience.

There’s no doubt that the Audi skysphere concept has two personalities – a GT and a luxury sports car. The key differences, however, can only be enjoyed in the interior, because here, behind the rear-hinged and wide-opening doors, the Audi skysphere offers highly contrasting experiences.

The interior: two spheres of experience in one

When it comes to the three upcoming concept cars Audi skysphere, Audi grandsphere, and Audi urbansphere, the brand is placing the space that surrounds the passengers (“sphere”) and which becomes an experience for them – the interior – at the center of its designs. This is because all three vehicles are designed for level 4 autonomous driving – meaning that in certain defined road and traffic situations, the driver can delegate complete responsibility to the car and no longer has to intervene.

As a result, control elements such as the steering wheel and pedals can be swiveled into an invisible position and thereby completely removed from the interior. And passengers, including the one in the front left seat, can enjoy a new form of freedom – the freedom to relax in the open air, enjoy the scenery and the wind, or interact with the Internet and the world thanks to the connection with the digital ecosystem in the Audi skysphere.

Free of controls, the interior appears as a light, spacious environment, inspired in many areas by the Art Deco universe. The comfortable seats boast the visual elegance of designer furnishings, yet they fulfill the functions of an car seat in driving mode without any compromises – side support and safety features are part of the package. They are upholstered in sustainably produced microfiber fabric and, thanks to their variable position in the interior, offer the kind of freedom to move and legroom that can otherwise only be experienced when flying first class on an airplane. Environmentally certified eucalyptus wood and synthetically produced imitation leather are other sustainably manufactured materials that contribute to creating an unparalleled experience in the vehicle’s interior.

Should the Audi skysphere concept be used in driver-operated mode, then the interior transforms into an ergonomically perfect driving machine cockpit. Together with the chassis and body, the instrument panel and the monitor panel on the center console also move to the rear. The driver finds all the controls, including the steering wheel and pedals, in the position that best suits them.

Large touch monitor surfaces – 1415 mm wide, 180 mm high – on the dashboard and in the upper area of the center console are used to operate the vehicle and infotainment systems. In Grand Touring mode, this can be used to display content from the Internet, video conferences, or streamed movies. Small touch panels in the doors are used to operate the air conditioning.

A high-quality sound system – befitting of this luxury convertible – delivers concert hall audio quality even when the vehicle is in motion. The speakers are hidden behind the door panels; a few more in the rear interior wall even produce surround sound. The shape of the headrests prevents turbulence and also annoying wind noise.

The vehicle experience: luxury without limits

Audi skysphere, Audi grandsphere, and, coming in 2022, Audi urbansphere are the three concept cars that the brand with the four rings is using to showcase its vision of progressive luxury. In the process, Audi is creating a vehicle experience that goes far beyond the purpose of merely spending time in a car to get from point A to point B, and even far beyond the driving experience itself.

These concept cars feature a new design that ultimately reimagines the interior, the passenger compartment, as the center of the vehicle and no longer subordinates the passenger experience to the requirements of the technology. This is reflected in the variable layout of the interior, the disappearance of the controls, and the sheer expanse of the cabin. In Grand Touring mode, this not only allows both passengers to enjoy a smooth and pleasant journey, but also combines it with new service offerings. These can be used to access a variety of service options related to the current trip – such as designing a spectacular scenic route, as well as restaurant or hotel options.

Customized infotainment options are also available, such as linking the on-board streaming service to music and video providers used at home. And in a further step, Audi also aims to provide personalized and exclusive options for users of its luxury cars in the future – such as concerts, cultural events, or even sporting events that are only available upon special invitation. In this way, a vehicle like the Audi skysphere concept will become a platform for experiences that expand horizons beyond the mere ride in just a few years.

/by