Automobile News

After keeping every one hooked for a long time the Stile Bertone Mantide was finally revealed to the waiting eyes of car freaks. The momentous occasion was shared by the lucky few at the Shanghai Motor Show 2009. And from every count the long awaited debut was worth the wait.

The hypercar has been based on its donor car, the Corvette ZR1. The newer one is huge improvement over the older one and that is true about the price tag as well. The Bertone Mantide hypercar is going to cost remarkably high at £ 1.3 million which would be approximately 12 times as high as the Corvette ZR1.

One thing that is demanded from such cars always is the exclusivity, and rightly so. After all if someone were to shell out in excess of £ 1 million for a car he or she would be totally justified in asking for some kind of uniqueness. On the same line this hypercar is not going to disappoint any of its would be proud owners. The expected number of Bertone Mantide hypercars is not going to be more than ten.

For Jason Castriota who headed the team involved in designing the Bertone Mantide though designing masterpieces is more of a habit. For someone to be only 34 and still have the legacy of cars like Rolls-Royce Hyperion and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and even single exclusive cars like the eye candy for American James Glickenhaus, this spectacular and impressive  offering was all but expected.

Technologically the car is absolutely marvellous. The body is made from high-end material like carbon-fibre and magnesium. As compared to the earlier car the weight has been reduced by as much as 100 kg. The car is able to move faster and more smoothly due to the reduction in drag by 25% and increase in the downforce by 30%. The hypercar also has enhanced manoeuvrability and easy handling making it a dream to drive.

With the highly targeted audience it would be a treat to watch who all are going to be proud owners of the Bertone Mantide hypercar.

British sports car makers Lotus and Ginetta have recently announced that they are looking forward to expanding their business sphere in the current year by building road-going electric cars. The announcement has generated a mixed response and there are many who are against this move, especially in case of Ginetta who is a total novice concerning the logistics behind the production of the announced cars.

Lotus is in a better proposition to deliver goods, as the Hethel-based outfit has already been rolling chassis for the Tesla Roadster, known as the ‘leccy Elise’, apart from building the Dodge EV for Chrysler, codenamed ‘leccy Europa’. It theregore appears a bit logical for Lotus to take the next step in the direction of expanding the company wings.

Regarding the recent developments, Lotus Chairman Michael Kimberley, while speaking to Financial Times asked the discerning public not to be taken aback when they see the company’s electric model, which he added will be launched shortly. He also expressed the hope that the model will unveil the latent potential that lies with electric vehicle technology.

Critics have however derided the tactics of the company saying that the new models are nothing, but a comparatively poor version of some range-extended vehicle like the Chevy Volt or Fisker Karma, and in no way accepted as a purely electric plug-in as per the Tesla. There are also claims doing the rounds that the new versions take the concept from a forthcoming car by the name Evora, and you shouldn’t be surprised if it goes to even earlier models for inspiration, like the Geneva Motor Show held in March.

Mercedes has made its intent to seize the latent potential of the market at the higher echelons very clear with the launch of its latest model. This model is considered to be the most hardcore version of its iconic SLR super car yet. The launch will also signify the end of production of the company’s next generation super sports cars, which is currently under production by its racing unit, HWA, as well as its in-house tuner, AMG, who is the manufacturing partner of MacLaren. The new version will have an initial production of just 75 units, with the provision to increase it depending upon the market response.

The latest version called the SLR Stirling Moss is a class apart from the current model on which it is based. Customers will be blown away by the Mercedes-McLaren SLR’s rather uncharacteristic but appealing specifications, as it features an open-top design, which radically incorporates a roofless design, and is, bereft of any windshield or for that the contemporary vertical lifting doors. The design to an extent resembles the C16 Speedster based on the Corvette from Callaway that was launched last year.

The car is provided with the discretion to zoom to 100 km/hr from standstill in 3.5 seconds flat, and has an equally impressive top speed of 350 km/h, which is a notable 13 km/hr faster than one of its earlier models the SLR 722. Meanwhile, the heart of the engine is powered by a supercharged 5.5L V8 engine which remains at a heady 650hp.

The performance of this scintillating device is further boosted by the lighter kerb weight, which helps it in shedding as much as 300kg of the excess baggage.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, a company spokesman revealed that the model is specially designed to suit the needs and comfort levels of the elitist customer who is ever ready to splurge that additional buck to get the same.

Porsche is on the threshold of unleashing the company’s first four-door sports car, the Porsche Panamera, which incidentally will be the fourth vehicle in the German luxury carmaker’s lineup. The details of this new development were released by Porsche SE on the 24th November, 2008. Company sources also added that the teardrop shaped Panamera sports has front air intakes instead of the traditional radiator grille model.

The model measures 76 inches in width and 55.8 inches in height which is comparatively wider and lower compared to similar other models by the other companies.

The production of this new model will be carried out at the company’s plant in Leipzig, Germany, with a slated world wise release in the spring of 2009. The first models of the car will however be released in the US in the fall of next year.

The car is actually based on the V-engine model and will be available in either a V-6 or V-8 configuration, and will have an output range of between 300 and 500 horsepower. We can also expect the car model to include numerous luxuries, such as a voice guided sat nav, handsfree kit, quality seats, and more. On the sidelines of the release of this model, the company also hinted that it will very soon come up with a more fuel-efficient version replete with a hybrid powertrain.

The Panamera, in addition, will feature all-wheel or rear-wheel drive models the detail of which, including pricing and other vehicle specification will be available in spring.
It is important to note that Porsche has seen a sharp decline in fortune in recent times, with unit sales tumbling by a precarious 23% in the current year. Nevertheless, the company has managed to withstand the disaster all thanks to its stake in Volkswagen AG, where it earned a reported profit of 52%.

Electric cars seem like the new hot trend. Gordon Brown is saying the country should completely switch to them by the year 2020, and electrically powered sports cars, like the Tesla Roadster, or even the 500 horse power SSC Ultimate Aero EV, are showing people just how powerful the technology can be. Even so, the technology still has some notable drawbacks, such as expense or time spent charging the battery, that are preventing it from completely and immediately taking over the auto combustion engine world. However, one car currently being presented at the British Motor Show in London, might at least put one of these concerns to rest.

The Electric Lightning sports car, from the Lightning Car Co., was unveiled yesterday at the British Motor Show. Aside from its high performance, a key feature of the car is the battery technology it employs, which is actually quite revolutionary. Most electric sports cars, or indeed all electric cars, use lithium-ion technology, the same as is commonly found in mobile phone batteries. The Electric Lighting on the other hand, makes use of new and far more efficient lithium-titanate battery technology. In fact, the new battery technology is so efficient that the entire car can be charged in a matter of minutes (no more than 10 minutes), while drivers of ordinary electric cars typically have to charge their vehicles overnight or at least wait for many hours. This vast improvement in charging time completely eliminates one of the inconveniences associated with the electric car, namely, the time it takes to charge.

Such an innovation clearly gives the Electric Lightning an advantage over its competitors and, should the technology prove to be reliable, will probably be the future of electric cars. Of course the company themselves assert that the technology has been tested and is full-proof. Should this in fact be true, then we can get excited over a huge innovation in the electric car industry and look forward to faster charging cars in the future.

Electrically powered super sports cars are currently the favourite goal for many small car manufacturers. The American company Shelby Super Cars (SSC) wants to gain some attention through their announcement of a new model with up to 1000 HP. The Ultimate Aero EV should come onto the market in the beginning of 2009 and at first only possess an electric engine with 368 kW/ 500 HP; but later it should add an additional engine to double its performance. The battery technology is said to be truly revolutionary: according to the company, the power accumulator only needs to be charged after a few years of use.

The technical feasibility of such a car remains in doubt, but SSC is clearly appealing to a new trend. After the Californian company Tesla began building their own super fast electric sports car despite multiple delays, other companies are following suit with similar models. LCC already introduced an electric model at the London Motor Show with 700 horse power, and Fisker wants to build a luxurious Gran Turismo with a hybrid engine.

After the super sports car Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren was phased out of production, an extreme high performance version of the SL roadster has stepped up to fill its shoes. The Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series comes with a supercharged 12 cylinder petrol engine, complete with a 493 kW/ 670 HP performance and torque of 1,000 Nm. The car also uses the 6.0 litre driving gear from the SL 65 AMG, but with enhancements, including a different bi-turbocharger and a modified exhaust system.

The new model is 280 kilograms lighter than the standard version, because of the decision to manufacture numerous car body panels from lightweight carbon fibre. The sports car can go from zero to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, while the top speed has been electronically restricted at 198 mph. An automatic 5 gear system provides the transmission on the rear axle. The suspension has been reworked, and limited slip deferential on the rear axle should help provide for extra traction.

The open two-seater is immediately distinguishable by its expanded wings, wheel-away back spoiler, and a rear apron with fins. The completely black interior is marked by a sports car bucket seat, black speedometer, and a white RPM meter. The first editions will be released in November and, although the prices remain unknown, we can expect something in the £215,000 range.

The Italian sports car manufacturer is complimenting their Gran Turismo series with a new top model: the Maserati Gran Turismo S. The high performance version differentiates itself optically with an integrated spoiler on the boot door and newly formed swells along the sides. The £100,000 rear-wheel drive vehicle is propelled by an extra 35 HP, due to the 4.3 litre V8 petrol engine, which manages a total performance of 324 kW/440 HP. An automated six gear transmission is located on the rear axel. The car’s top speed is 183 mph, and the vehicle should also be able to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds. The luxury two-seater is equipped with a high performance break system from brembo, in case it needs to slow down.

Ferrari has shown us the first pictures of the California, which is not available until autumn this year, with the roof closed. The three seater – yes, there is third seat behind the driver and front seat passenger – manages 460 HP and is 4.56 metres long.

The California is the first Coupe-Cabriolet from Ferrari. The electric fold-away hardtop closes in 14 seconds. This is the first time the Italian sports car manufacturer is including a seven gear double clutch transmission in a street legal vehicle. Ferrari puts the consumption at 8.1 litres per mile.

The Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Roadster is now available in a version distinguished by the addition of the luxury brand name Versace. The sports car’s interior is covered in leather and decorations of the signature Versace Greek frieze. The 417kW/ 640 HP strong V12 engine is located behind the car seats under a transparent cover. The vehicle is only manufactured upon order and a price has not yet been given. But we can expect it to be substantially higher than the £230,000 demanded for a standard model.