Special Edition Bugatti Veyron at Geneva

Rumors say that Bugatti is going to come with a special edition of the Veyron at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show. They’ve teamed up with the French saddle maker Hermès to bring back the relationship between Emile Hermès and Ettore Bugatti from the `20s. Considering all these I’d bet my horses that it’s going to be come with a modified interior designed by the Paris based company and some minor exterior mods.

I expect it to sell out in days if not hours after they announce it, just like the Pur Sang.

BMW M3 Race Edition

Where are my pills? I definitely need to take some hear pills right away after seeing the new BMW M3 Race Edition. This Le Mans series eight cylinder baby (can’t call it BMW or car) looks great and I’m drooling already. Built with the help of BMW’s racing division and Rahal Letterman Racing, the M3 Race Editions was presented yesterday in Chicago during the Auto Show.

If the picture is not enough, and if you really wanna cry how about some specs. It’s much more powerful, adding 65 hp getting to a total of 485 hp from the 4 liter aluminum DOHC V8 engine with four valves per cylinder and 368 lb-ft/500 Nm torque.

Here is a full list of the new BMW M3 Race Edition specs, but before that, see the two other images above.

BMW P65 Engine

Type: Eight cylinder, V-configuration
Capacity: 3999 cc
Bore x stroke: 92 x 75.2 mm/3.62 x 2.96 in.
Max. output: approx. 485 bhp
Max. torque: approx. 368 lb-ft/500 Nm
Cylinder block: Aluminum cylinder block construction with bed plate lower section
Crankshaft: Steel crankshaft
Pistons: Forged skirt pistons
Conrods: High-performance steel
Cylinder head: Aluminum DOHC (Double Over Head Camshaft); four valves per cylinder
Valve train: Four overhead chain-driven camshafts, valve actuation via rocker arms
Intake system: Eight throttle valves, made of CRP with load-charge optimized ram tubes
Exhaust system: Headers, mufflers
Fuel system: Single cylinder multi-point injection
Lubrication: Dry sump lubrication
Cooling: Water/air cooler and oil/water heat exchanger

Electrics/Electronics

Engine management: BMW Motorsport ECU 408 with two high-performance micro-processors; Individual cylinder injection and ignition; BMW Motorsport Lambda Controller Pit speed limiter, Quick Shift function; Engine data memory system
Energy management: Electric energy management and monitoring with BMW Motorsport POWER400 control unit, networking of all sensors and actuators through bus system
Wiring harness: Weight optimized
Ignition coil: Eight high-performance pencil coils with integrated ignition drivers
Spark plugs: High-performance spark plugs
Cockpit: Free programmable LCD Display with integrated shift indicators
Steering wheel: Quick release multi-function steering wheel w/ integrated display unit

Corvette ZR1 - The American SuperCar

America has a SuperCar, or at least this is what Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper is saying (thinking) after showing to the public the new Corvette ZR1 at the Detroit Auto Show. Corvette is deep inside he blood of every American that needs speed and looks, but the we ZR1 is really business. It comes with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that sports 620 hp and a 823 NM (595 lb/ft) torque, being able to hit the 200mph speed, while the speedometer has a 220 mph on it.

Corvette’s ZR1 basic stats include a manual six-speed gearbox (race hardened), a high capacity dual-disc clutch or larger brake calipers. The design is great, with a raised carbon-fiber hood and carbon fiber panels prominent inside on the fenders, the roof and front splitter. Consider 19-inch or 20-inch chrome wheels and a dark color for the American SuperCar and it’s looking furious.

via WordCarFans

Convertible Maserati GranTurismo in 2009

Supercars never cease to amaze me when released. But what about future supercars? Our sources from Automotive News Europe announced that Maserati is going to offer a convertible version of the GranTurismo coupe, for a whopping price of course, in March 2009.

The Italian manufacturer planned to sell 12,000 pieces yearly by 2011 so you can be sure that the new convertible GranTurismo is going to help them. Though it’s expected to hit roads in March 2009, we may get to see it before, maybe in Paris?

One last thing, if you were hoping for a folding hardtop, you may be disappointed, because the new Maserati convertible will use a soft canvas top.

via WindingRoad

9FF GT9 almost breaks world speed record : 409 km/h

The current world record speed for the fastest production car was set by the SSC Ultimate Aero that topped at 255.83 mph which is 411.71 km/h. Recently the 9FF engineers tried to beat that with their modified GT9 but couldn’t do it. They only managed to make it run at 409 km/h at a track in Papenburg on 10th April.

9FF’s GT9 was based on the Porsche 911 GT3, but lower and longer. The interesting part is that the car has the engine in the middle (not the rear) for better weight distribution. Now that I mentioned the engine, the beast outputs 987 bhp from a 4L flax six twin turbo and a six-speed transmission.
Though they couldn’t beat the world record, 9FF guys can stand proud because they managed to take on the Bugatti Veyron which topped at 407 km/h. The GT9 however, is not as fast as the Veyron : 0 - 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.

via WCF

Update: Renault Laguna Coupe New Image Gallery

This past Saturday, Renault took the occasion of the 61st international film festival in Cannes and the Monaco Grand Prix to present its new Laguna Coupe that will compete against the likes of the Peugeot 407 Coupe and the BMW 3-Series Coupe.

The French carmaker came out today with pictures from the presentation at the Cannes Film Festival along with several images that were shot at the track of the 66th Monaco Grand Prix. In particular, two Laguna Coupes completed several laps of Monaco's legendary circuit in the hands of ING Renault F1 Team test drivers Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grosjean.

Rolls Royce RR4: Official Sketches of Baby Phantom

These are the first official sketches of Roll Royce’s new entry-level model, the RR4 luxury sedan that will sit right below the Phantom in the British marque’s range. Due to be launched in 2010, the RR4 will be smaller than Phantom and powered by a new engine, that will be unique to Rolls-Royce. The RR4 is believed to share many common components –including the platform- with the next generation BMW 7-Series. According to Rolls Royce, further design and engineering details will be announced during the course of 2009.

Chief designer, Ian Cameron, said, “Effortless performance and standard-setting levels of comfort and efficiency, executed with the utmost care and attention, remain fundamentals of Rolls-Royce design. The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense.”

“RR4 will mark a milestone in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” Chairman, Ian Robertson added. “The business continues to go from strength to strength and the introduction of this new model will expand the appeal of the brand. We look forward to this next chapter with anticipation and confidence.”