Geneva Motor Show
October 25th, 2011 by NZ Classic Car
Morgan has just announced that it will be releasing a new version of the its Plus 8 ahead of next year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The reworked Plus 8 sports car will feature wheels borrowed from the Series IV Aero 8 along with air conditioning as standard equipment. Those who love their retro-styling but don’t like manual transmissions will now be offered an automatic transmission. Otherwise, the vehicle remains fairly close to what we’ve come to expect from the iconic 8. The new model will be offered in a total of eight colors along with various wood finishes on the interior.
According to unconfirmed reports the new Morgan 8 will cost around £71,000 ($141,500 NZ). Final production figures on the Plus 8 models is unknown but it’s likely the production run will be limited.
February 24th, 2011 by NZ Classic Car
Aston Martin has just revealed the first images and details of its new Virage Coupe and Virage Volante.
Both models are based on the automaker’s VH architecture and are destined to exist between the DB9 and the DBS in the Aston range.
The Virage Coupe and the soft-top Volante are both powered by the company’s well known 6.0-litre V12 engine. This powerplant produces 355kW in the DB9 and 385kW in the DBS, so it’s expected that the Virage’s V12 would fit in between in terms of output delivering around 370kW.
The standard transmission is a six-speed automatic “Touchtronic 2″ gearbox, which will allow the Virage a 0-100kph sprint time in the region of 4.5 seconds and will top out at around 300kph.
The suspension is double-wishbone on all four corners, and the Virage features Aston Martin’s Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Sport mode as standard equipment.
In terms of exterior design the Virage has a new aluminum front grille inspired by the One-77 and LED lights on the front skirting. Wheels are 20-inch alloys, mounted over carbon ceramic disc brakes at all four corners, with Pirelli P Zero tyres as standard. Read the rest of this entry »
January 26th, 2011 by NZ Classic Car
Ferrari enthusiasts have been hanging out for a replacement to the 612 Scaglietti and it has finally come in a very surprising form. Taking over as Ferrari’s flagship grand tourer the new beast is named the FF, which is an acronym for Ferrari Four. The new FF is quite possibly the Italian company’s most practical-focused production model ever featuring seating and luggage space for four occupants, a new all-wheel drive system and a shooting brake body style. Only three photos have been released 
for now with the model scheduled for debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show with sales to follow later in the year.
Penned by famous design house Pininfarina, the FF is a large sports car measuring almost 5 meters in length and 2 meters in width. The long roofline, rear quarter styling and the car’s general proportions are classic in shape bringing to mind the legendary Ferrari 250 Breadvan. But under the sheetmetal it’s all modern and while there is no photos of the interior yet apparently the FF can take four occupants and offers 450 litres of cargo space in the hatch which expands to 800 litres with the rear seats folded down.
There is also various custom options for the FF including six model-specific exterior colors and interior trims.
It’s not just the styling that has tongues wagging with the FF introducing Ferrari’s first ever production four-wheel drive system. Named 4RM, it is said to weigh 50 percent less than other four-wheel drive systems, meaning a near perfect weight distribution of 47:53 has been maintained. Read the rest of this entry »
March 15th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Citroën’s high performance coupe, the SM, is celebrating its 40th birthday.
The luxury sports tourer, an alliance between Citroën and Maserati, was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 11th March 1970 – 40 years ago.
Technically innovative, with a dynamic, yet supremely comfortable ride experience, the Citroën SM was highly regarded for its futuristic styling, prestigious quality, ‘magic-carpet’ suspension and outstanding performance – a unique combination of characteristics not available in any other car at the time.
Officially recognised as a truly exceptional vehicle in the early 1970’s, the SM placed third in the European Car of the Year Awards in 1971 – the winner was Citroën’s GS. The SM also received the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in the US in 1972.
Powered by a Maserati V6 engine, the SM was one of the fastest front-wheel drive cars of its day, with a top speed in excess of 220km/h (137mph). A competitive performer in motorsport, the SM won its first race at the Morocco Rally in 1971.
Pioneering innovative technology, the SM introduced a new type of variable assist power-steering, which made it easier to manoeuvre at lower speeds and provided greater resistance at higher speeds for improved control and handling.
The car also featured hydro-pneumatic suspension with automatic height correction and six headlamps with automatic levelling. Four power-assisted disc brakes, with independent front and rear circuits, automatically adjusted brake power according to vehicle load and weight distribution.
Renowned SM owners have included U.S. comedian Jay Leno (who owns one of almost everything), Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, author Graham Greene and actor Lee Majors. French Presidents from Georges Pompidou to
Jacques Chirac used two specially modified 4-door convertible ‘presidentielle’ models, created by coach builder Henri Chapron.
Click on the link below to see more images of the Citroen SM.
Read the rest of this entry »
March 5th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
A bespoke Bentley named the Continental Flying Star has been unveiled this week at the Geneva Motor Show. It’s a shooting brake version of the 2-door coupe and features an expanded roof line with more expansive interior dimensions.
The Flying Star is based on the chassis of the Continental GTC and is powered by Bentley’s 6.0-litre, W12 engine that develops 560HP and 650 Nm of torque. Interestingly the Flying Star can also be built on the base of the GTC Speed which develops 610 hp and 750 Nm of torque. The special vehicle retains the all-wheel drive system and also the 6-speed automatic transmission and can reach a top speed of 322 km/h with a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 4.8 seconds.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet.
March 4th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Bertone, one of Italy’s legendary styling houses, is celebrating 75 years of collaboration with Alfa Romeo by showing the Pandion concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. It’s an aggressive yet stunning coupe designed as a tribute to Alfa Romeo’s one hundred year anniversary.
The Pandion is an extreme and controversial sports car in typical Bertone fashion. The size of the concept car (4620 mm in length, 1971 mm wide, 1230 mm high, 2850 mm wheelbase) offers a compact sports car external dimensions with a large sports car interior feeling, all powered by a 4.7 litre, 450 CV 8-cylinder Alfa Romeo engine.
The partnership between Bertone and Alfa Romeo dates back to the early 1930s and is one of the most famous partnerships in the history of car design due to its incisive draughtsmanship. These characteristics have been applied to 23 models, including one-offs and production cars constructed over the last 75 years.
The Pandion is the first car produced by Mike Robinson in his new role as Design and Brand Director at Bertone. A pure ‘dream car’, the Pandion takes its rightful place as a member of Bertone’s historic Alfa Romeo family: cars that have often been style icons, influencing the history of the automobile and Italian craftsmanship in their design quality.
The name comes from the animal world, as Pandion Haliaetus is the scientific name for an Osprey: a sea hawk that nests and lives in coastal areas. The designers, led by Mike Robinson, have drawn inspiration from the wings of this predator to invent the scissor door opening mechanisms, and from the hawks’ facial markings to project the traditional Alfa family feeling into the next era of design.
In almost a century of Bertone tradition, it is not the first time that natural wonders have inspired the names of concept cars. There was the Corvair Testudo (1963) and, by no coincidence, the Alfa Romeo Canguro (1964), Carabo (1968) and Delfino (1983).
To find out more read about the history between Alfa Romeo and Bertone below.
February 26th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
German tuners Mansory are out to prove that no one can destroy the understated charm of the Rolls-Royce Ghost as well as them. Painted in gold and blue, the car is designed to attract the eye of customers in the United Arab Emirates, Middle East, and parts of Eastern Europe.
While the rest of the world is left asking why, they will still take notice of the performance upgrades on offer. Horsepower is pushed up by over 26% to a massive 710 hp from the standard 562 hp, and torque is increased from 780 Nm to 1,020 Nm. These figures are achieved by larger turbos, a sports manifold, new catalysers, and a remapped computer.
The upgrades have lead to a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 4.4 seconds, shaving a half-second off the same measure for the stock Ghost. The Mansory Ghost can apparently hit a top speed of 310 km/h.
New blinging monoblock wheels measure 9×22 at the front and 10.5×22 in the back. The gold wheels are shod in Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires. If you can ever look further than the paintwork other exterior mods include changes to the front, side, and rear skirting. A new spoiler and exhaust system has also been fitted.
Interior appointments include quilted leather, suede roof liner, and trick LED lighting. There is bamboo trim inside that is matched on the steering wheel.
The Mansory Rolls Royce Ghost is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in the next few days. Get your order in later this year.
February 3rd, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Mazda’s MX-5 has traveled a long way in the past two decades here in New Zealand. Once shunned as a hairdressers car, lacking in power and serious street cred, Mazda have turned it into a razor-sharp handling, mean machine. Now, to celebrate the MX-5′s 20th birthday, Mazda will unveil a special anniversary edition of its rear-wheel drive roadster at the Geneva Motor Show this March. Not so creatively named the MX-5 20th Anniversary Edition, the vehicle will have a limited production run of just 2,000 units and will only be available in Europe.
Based on the 1.8-litre model, the limited edition MX-5 comes with a unique exterior styling package that includes chrome grille, door handles and headlight fascia along with silver fog lamp surrounds, 17-inch alloy wheels and 20th Anniversary badging.
It’s to be produced in thre available exterior colors – True Red, Crystal White Pearl and, specific for this edition, a new Aurora Blue, with matching body-color painted interior trim.
A front suspension bracing bar and a scuff plate in stainless steel with its unique serial number (from 1 to 2000) round off the special treatment.
