2011 Aston Martin Vantage V8 by Wheelsandmore

German tuning specialists, Wheelsandmore, have taken an Aston Martin Vantage V8 as their next project, giving the British supercar a well-rounded set of upgrades that include a new set of wheels, a new suspension, and a slight increase in power.

As the name of their company suggests, Wheelsandmore is no stranger to having some of the best rims on the market. For the Vantage V8, they decided to dress it up with a new set of handcrafted 21" three-piece 6Sporz² forged rims wrapped in 55/30/21 tires at the front, and 295/25/21 tires at the back. To go with the new set of gorgeous rims, Wheelsandmore also gave the Vantage V8 a new suspension kit courtesy of KW that comes with a rebound and compression adjustable stainless steel coilover suspension variant 3. Lastly, Wheelsandmore gave the supercar a new 200 sport catalysts and flip-controlled exhaust system, giving the Vantage’s 4.7 Liter V8 engine an increased output of 460 horsepower and 369 lb/ft of torque, up from the standard model’s 420-horsepower output.

All told, it’s not the most extravagant tuning program done on the Aston Martin Vantage. But in terms of subtle improvements all the

Source : http://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2011-aston-martin-vantage-v8-by-wheelsandmore-ar109571.html

Read more »

2011 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept

Aston Martin will be celebrating the iconic DB4GT Zagato’s 50th anniversary with a new concept car developed in collaboration with the Italian design house Zagato. The concept car made its first appearance at the Villa D’Este Concours on May 21st, 2011 and will make its racing debut at Nürburgring on May 28th.

Dr. Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive said: "The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world’s most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration. Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time."

The original Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato made its first appearance in 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was essentially a much lighter DB4 GT that got worked on by the Italian Coachbuilder to include a 3670 cc straight-6 DOHC engine that produced 314 HP with a top speed of 154 mph.

Exterior and Interior

The new V12 Zagato is based on a V12 Vantage model, but incorporates the technologies applied in the One-77 supercar. The model is built on a handcrafted aluminum body, which allowed the team to easily model the car’s form. The result of this work is a car with a beautiful and muscular design.

Each front wing alone comprises seven separate pieces of aluminum, combined and then hand finished to give one flowing form. Another iconic Zagato design cue is the double bubble roof created, in this case, from five separate pieces illustrating further the intensity of craftsmanship involved in the construction of the V12 Zagato.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman said: "The Design team at Gaydon spent time refining the concept using a mixture of the latest computer based modelling techniques along with crafting traditional clay models to give a real world idea of proportion, stance and detail. The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car’s racing credentials."

Engine

Under the hood, the V12 Zagato features a 6.0-liter V12 engine that delivers a total of 510 HP and 420 lb ft of torque. The engine is mated to a rear mid-mounted, six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual/select shift manual (ASM/SSM) electric hydraulic control system that sends the power to the rear wheels.

Pricing

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato will make its first appearance at the Lake Como, Italy at the Villa D’Este Concours tomorrow and then its first race debut will be at the Nürburgring 24 hour race on June 25-26, 2011. The model will be followed by a production version, in extremely limited numbers. Expect that production version to appear sometime next year.

Competition

The one thing limiting the Aston Martin V12 Zagato is the number of production units. Other models such as the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche Turbo S will deliver the same performance as the Aston, but these models are available for anyone with the money to purchase them.

As a reminder, the Ferrari 458 Italia is powered by a 4.5 Liter V8 engine that produces 570 HP and sprints from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.4 seconds to a top speed of 202 MPH. The Porsche 911 Turbo S is powered by a six cylinder boxer engine with an output of 530 HP. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and can reach a top speed of 195 MPH.

Source : http://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2011-aston-martin-v12-zagato-concept-ar109458.html

Read more »

Sporty Supercar Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Made of Carbon Fibre

It is made entirely of carbon fibre. Carbon, if you were unaware, is the Sesto Elemento on the periodic table: the ‘sixth element’. This concept signals Lambo’s intention to withdraw from the Top Speed War which the world’s supercar makers have been embroiled in for some time, and instead focus on something much more doable – power-to-weight. Top speed is ‘over 186mph’. But, says Lambo, “what the figures cannot convey is the Sesto Elemento’s razor-sharp handling, voracious turn-in and huge braking power”. Lambo Sesto Elemento. The concept gets four-wheel-drive, Lambo’s E-Gear auto box and, alongside the extensive carbon fibre, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), including the insides, which are as spartan as the looks are outrageous.

Source : http://automodifiedesign.com/sporty-supercar-lamborghini-sesto-elemento-made-of-carbon-fibre.html

Read more »

2011 Scion FR-S Concept : The Pure Balance Inspired by the AE86

Scion has unveiled the 2011 Scion FR-S Concept at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. FR-S is stand for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport.2011 Scion FR-S Concept is rear-wheel drive sports coupe car with compelling style, exceptionally balanced performance and handling, flexible utility and surprising MPG. The 2011 Scion FR-S Concept is built to achieving “pure balance”.

The 2011 Scion FR-S Concept is most inspired by the AE86 generation of the Corolla, the front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe was lightweight and well balanced, making it a solid choice for driving enthusiasts.
2011 Scion FR-S Concept Engine.

2011 Scion FR-S Concept is powered by 2.0-liter front boxer engine combined with a rear-wheel drive system. This 2.0-liter boxer engine is set up lower and further back to giving the car a lower center of gravity and a dynamically favorable front-to-rear weight ratio. This engine is the first boxer to incorporate Toyota’s D4-S injection system, an addition that results in both direct and port injection. All this means is that the 2011 Scion FR-S Concept will get increased horsepower and torque without having to deal with the loss of fuel efficiency, a big plus when dealing with these mounting gas prices.

2011 Scion FR-S Concept is available in six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission controlled by sporty shifts that are initiated by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The manual transmission offers quick and precise shifts with a short-throw, while the automatic transmission features aggressive. Power is distributed effectively via a limited-slip differential.

The pure balance is further realized by the 2011 Scion FR-S Concept‘ lightweight design and short wheelbase. The combination allows the 2011 Scion FR-S Concept to be quick and nimble into and out of any corner, with dynamic maneuverability and confident stability.
2011 Scion FR-S Concept Exterior and Interior.

The 2011 Scion FR-S Concept on display at the New York Auto Show is shown in a bright Code Red exterior paint and displays the profile inspired by the Toyota 2000GT. The hoodline dips low and then opens up at the vehicle’s wide mouth and angular headlights featuring bright LED clusters. The solid panel roofline is sleek, lightweight and rigid, slotted with an aerodynamic shape that channels air cleanly over to the top.

The rear fascia sits low and wide, with extensive lower treatments that surround the dual exhaust exits and contribute to excellent aerodynamics. LEDs illuminate both the edgy taillights and the bold “SCION” logo.

The final touch is made by a new set of massive monoblock Five Axis wheels, size 20×8.5-inch front and 20×10.5-inch at the rear. The wheels are combined with four-piston-caliper front brakes and 18-inch annular carbon ceramic matrix rotors attached to the wheels à la motorcycle style.

The 2011 Scion FR-S Concept is layered in rich coats of Code Red, the appropriately named color that consists of a custom blend of candy and a developmental additive from BASF called Mearlite SSQ.
2011 Scion FR-S Concept Price.

The estimated price for 2011 Scion FR-S Concept is around $25K, which matches what Toyota’s version is rumored to cost.

Source : http://automodifiedesign.com/2011-scion-fr-s-concept-the-pure-balance-inspired-by-the-ae86.html

Read more »

Futuristic Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept Car Integrates Ecology and Emotion

Pairing a potent hybrid powertrain with essential sports-car fundamentals, the Sporty Futuristic Toyota FT-HS Concept Car is a mid-priced sports car that integrates ecology and emotion in a concept that addresses the question, “What is a suitable sports car for the 21st century?” Toyota will step up this year and present its FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept, a futuristic sports car that would be powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain. Of course, the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept is just a concept, little more than a container for the overheated dreams of a bunch of designers at Calty Design Research, Toyota’s design studio in Newport Beach, California. The Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept is a sports car concept which could fill a gap in Toyota’s model lineup left vacant since 1997 and the passing of the Toyota Supra. The technical challenge presented by a hybrid sports car isn’t small. Built as Toyota’s Detroit show star, the FT-HS is designed to showcase Toyota’s leadership in hybrid powertrain technology.

Source : http://automodifiedesign.com/futuristic-toyota-ft-hs-hybrid-sports-concept-car-integrates-ecology-and-emotion.html

Read more »