We've got some exciting news on the BMW front. Sources over at Germancarzone, say BMW is planning a GT version of the next-gen BMW 6 Series. They also claim BMW is working on a Z2, to be introduced later this year, a 3 Series Supersports, and a new MINI model.
Just a short while after the introduction of the BMW 5 Series GT, the German automaker looks to be in the concept development stage of a BMW GT 6. This concept would be based on the platform for the new 6 Series, expected to hit the market at the end of 2010. Look for it to have some design cues similar to the on-again-off-again BMW CS Concept, with suicide doors in back. The rear-hinged doors should make entering and exiting the car very easy for backseat passengers, while maintaining a flowing look thanks to the elimination of the B-pillar. If it goes to dealerships, a 6 Series GT would be a natural competitor to the Audi A7 Sportback, the Mercedes-Benz CLS, and the forthcoming Porsche Panamera.
BMW Developing 6-Series GT, Z2, 3 Series Supersports & New Mini Variant
First Look: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" is one of the coolest sports cars of all time. So named because of its unique, roof-hinged doors, the Gullwing was the Enzo of its era: stupendously fast, outrageously expensive, and styled to make an entrance. Clark Gable owned one; Andy Warhol painted one; Ava Gardner crashed one. No Mercedes sports car since, not even the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, has come close to matching the Gullwing's iconic appeal.
The SLR was a bastard-child of a supercar that neither McLaren nor Mercedes-Benz engineers truly felt was their own. McLaren's Gordon Murray, designer of championship-winning Brabham and McLaren grand prix racers, driving force behind the McLaren F1 supercar, thought the SLR overweight and overwrought; the antithesis of his personal automotive design philosophy. For their part, the Mercedes-Benz engineers were uneasy with McLaren's free-wheeling, fast-moving development culture, and skeptical of its methods. The culture-clash car that resulted was blindingly fast and supremely robust, but oddly styled and strangely uninvolving to drive.
Geneva Motor Show 2009: Bleu who? Mansory Linea Vincero more our style
The Bleu Centenaire wasn't the only limited edition Veyron on the floor at the Geneva Motor Show. While Bugatti has created a wide array of individualization programs for its supercar, German tuner Mansory saw fit to create its own and displayed a revised version of the Veyron dubbed the Linea Vincero. We got our first look at the car back in December when it was mysteriously pictured on a dealer web site, but with its official unveiling we now have full details from Mansory. Exterior modifications are relatively subtle and include a new front fascia, shorter hood, LED daytime running lights, side skirts, a diffuser, larger side and rear air outlets and new forged wheels. The interior features carbon fiber accents, special leather seating and trim and an ambient lighting system utilizing LEDs. Unlike the other Veyron models, the Vincero comes with a power upgrade, up to 1109 bhp and 967 lb-ft torque, thanks to an upgraded cooling system and exhaust system. With a total of three planned for production, the Linea Vincero could very well be one of the more popular color combinations out there.
"Vincerò! Vincerò! ¬– I will win", that is the self-confident exclamation from Nessun Dorma, probably the most famous tenor aria from Giacomo Puccini´s opera Turandot. And Vincerò is also the name of the latest automobile accessory line by refining specialist Mansory. Mansory already finds many parallels for the new name: The plot of the aria stems from a Persian tale of 1001 days which also relates to the standard motorisation of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with 1,001 hp. On the other hand, it should also refer to the origin of Kourosh Mansory, the founder and CEO of Mansory Corporation. And the opera has another reference to the offered product portfolio by ending after three acts. The LINEA Vincerò edition is also not infinite – the project is strictly limited.
It goes without saying that such a sonorous name is only suitable for an absolutely high-quality programme. Already the Bugatti Veyron serial edition sets standards in terms of price, maximum speed and engine power and leaves its competitors far behind when a contender for the super sports car is to be crowned. Whoever now thinks that everything possible has been achieved, can be proved wrong. Already visually, the changes clearly show. The front part gets a comprehensive face-lift including modified wings, a shorter hood and a striking front apron. The LED daytime running lights integrated in the front mount and the implemented stylised "V" as a special tribute to the name "Vincerò" draw even more attention to the car. The newly developed side skirts are the visual and aerodynamic connection between the axles. Larger air outlets at the sides and at the back render optimal engine cooling and in combination with the new diffuser, they underline the powerful car design. Mansory manufactures nearly all auto body parts from ultra-light and high-strength carbon. The applied hardening technique with strong pressure and high temperatures in the autoclave thereby enormously improve the material quality.
In order to perfect the entire visual appearance, Mansory devised new, striking fully-forged turbine-design wheels for the Linea Vincerò in serial dimensions.
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Also, the power engine is refined by Mansory. Technical innovation is combined with technical expertise and thereby, an increased cooling air supply and optimised exhaust system produce an unbelievable 1109 hp and 1310 Nm.
The interior is exclusive and yet functional. Also here, Mansory understands how luxury and technology can be harmonically combined. When traditional craftsmanship, selected materials and stylish design merge, the result is an interior of automobile excellence.
This mainly shows by the LED lights of the new Ambiente-Illumination-System which are fitted in the seats, door linings and the dashboard. The entire passenger compartment glows in a soft light which does not only render a comfortable feeling, but also emphasises the high-quality carbon applications and the especially grained leather. The ergonomically designed airbag steering wheel is both sportive and particularly pliable and is equipped with rocker switches.
The Mansory individualisation programme for the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is offered in a limited edition via the Middle East partner "Prestige Cars Abu Dhabi".
New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Revealed Before Geneva Debut
Here comes the E-Class Coupe as will be seen when its takes its first public bow at the Geneva motor show next month.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is meant to replace the discontinued CLK, so Mercedes has a lot riding on the success of this model.
With the new design, Mercedes says the E-Class will be the "world's most aerodynamically efficient series-production car." That's a bold claim to make but one can see in the newly acquired sleekness of the body that things have changed. This Coupe, in its slight form with no B-pillars and completely retractable side windows, creates a drag coefficient of just 0.24.
Geneva Motor Show 2009 Preview: Aston Martin DBS Volante the ultimate in alfresco 12-cylinder motoring
Thanks to the embargo-breaking crew at World Car Fans, we can finally give up the details on the 2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante. The drop-top version of Bond's uber-Aston features a fabric roof that can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph and supposedly looks just as good with the top up as the top down. Motivation is provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the standard DBS, putting out 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to a rear-mounted six-speed manual or "Touchtronic" sequential gearbox. The run to 62 mph is dispatched in a scant 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 191 mph. Aston says it was able to keep the weight down (the DBS Volante tips the scales at 3,990 pounds) through the use of a lightweight roof mechanism, along with a carbon fiber hood, front splitter and trunk lid. The standard carbon ceramic brakes – pulled directly from the fixed-roof DBS – reduce unsprung weight at all four corners and provide the neck-punishing stopping power you'd expect. We'll get our first look of the DBS Volante at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but in the meantime, get all the details in the press release below the fold.
Rendered Speculation: Corvette Stingray C7.R
While the Corvette Stingray Concept (a.k.a. Autobot Sideswipe) introduced at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this month sports heritage-inspired cues, its futuristic styling could also hint at the design of the next-generation model. GM made no comment on whether any of the concept would find make its way into the C7 Corvette, but there will doubtless be plenty of people willing to speculate. The gang at BadBoyVettes.com have taken it one step further and have come up with what the C7.R would look like if the Stingray went to production as-is. Using one of our live shots from the show, they've added the Corvette Racing livery, complete with the "Jake" skull mascot featured prominently on the hood. We think they did a good job, which is to be expected, since BBV helped put together the design schemes for the actual C6.R racers. In full race livery, the Stingray looks like it'd be equally adept at chasing down Gulf-liveried Aston Martins or battling giant evil robots. After all, Jake plays no favorites; he's an equal-opportunity intimidator.
Geneva Motor Show 2009 Preview: Giugiaro concept claimed to be the world's fastest hybrid
Giorgetto Giugiaro has a series of successful concepts under his belt, including the Ferrari GG50 and his own interpretation of the Mustang. But his most recent design exercise -- the Italdesign Quaranta, shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show -- was a clear indication that he was moving beyond bespoke bodywork and taking a long look into the future of the automobile.
At this year's Geneva expo, he'll take the wraps off another hybrid concept that appears to evolve the Quaranta design and the (theoretical) drivetrain underneath. Judging by the teaser, it's decidedly more sleek than its predecessor, dropping the blocky '80s aesthetic of the Quaranta and packing a powertrain that will supposedly propel the gas-electric coupe to 186 mph. If the same 270 hp, 3.3-liter V6 hybrid employed on the Quaranta migrates to this new concept, expect an all-wheel-drive system with a duo of electric motors powering the front wheels and a claimed 0-60 time of around four seconds.
