Rolls Royce Phantom Convertible

Rob Good:The long-awaited Phantom Drophead Coupé has been released. This Rolls-Royce’s first such car since the Corniche of 2002 and was formally unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show.

It’s no surprise that the Drophead Coupé is a spectacular feat of engineering and design. Clearly a development of the current Phantom, the new two-door, four-seat convertible nevertheless uses 1300 newly-developed parts, including a number of features first seen on 100EX, the experimental model shown by Rolls-Royce in 2004. Immediately noticeable are the brushed steel bonnet and A-pillar, plus the teak decking for the rear hood cover.

Front opening coach doors have been homologated for the new car and add considerably to the ease of access to the rear seat, as well as to the overall aesthetics. Unique to Rolls-Royce, the doors dramatically transform the Phantom Drophead Coupé’s looks, giving a side profile reminiscent of classic sports cars of the 1960s. They are also important in aiding the overall stiffness of the body, as the rear hinged doors allow for an uninterrupted A-pillar.

Power is supplied by the same 6.75-litre naturally-aspirated V12 found in the current Phantom, giving a 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds.
Production of the new car will start in the summer of 2007, hand-built alongside the Phantom at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ manufacturing plant at Goodwood.

The car is a beauty. I particularly like the color they choose in these photos. I am guessing that the new Rolls Royce will be close to $400,000 when they arrive. Beverly Hills, Palm Springs and Miami are tipped to be the best markets in the US for this car.....
Now all they need is a turbo charger or two and close to 600 HP. :-)

Fisker Artega GT

Rob Good:This is the new Artega GT Coupe which has been showcased at the Geneva Motor Show. It is equipped with a VW-derived 3.6L V6 and power will be about 300 hp. That isn't very much HP, but this Fisker isn't very big. It is 13 feet long and 6 feet wide, the Artega is about the same size as a Mazda MX-5 Miata and at less than four feet tall it is about the same height as a Lamborghini Gallardo. Top speed of the Artega GT Coupe is estimated at 165 mph which is up there.

Henrik Fisker helped design many of the current Aston Martins on the road today which makes every future vehicle he pens worth mentioning. The Fisker Tramonto and Latigo CS are great looking vehicles, but their basic shape and stance were borrowed from the Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG and the BMW M6. The Artega GT Coupe is definitely a departure from what Fisker has done in the past, but it just isn't ground-breaking. Production is expected to reach 500 units per year and the price tag should be around $100,000.

Looking good...

BMW 7-Series

The latest 7 series still unreleased is to have an 8th gear added to the transmission with the theory it will increase fuel efficiency. No futher information known at this stage.

***Further Updates to follow as information comes to light***

Robotic Cars

Engineers at Stanford University have plans to have an unmanned robot car ready to hit the highways within the next year.
Dubbed as 'Junior' the 2006 VW Passat wagon is the latest vehicle in the race to develop the first official unmanned car on local roads.

A photo is posted above

2008 Audi S5 - Update

"Yummy yummy yummy I got love in my tummy...."


This is Audi's new launched model for a series expected to segment the market.
This elegant design incorporates the same initiatives taken on in the the A series and more importantly for a coupe is self distinquished from the TT models.
An extreamly sophisticated sporty style shows that Audi are pushing themselves into a new category of high performance coupes with all the technology and luxury synonomous with the Audi name.
The V8 drives its power from the FSI direct injection technology with high compression and optimum fuel mixture with a six speed manual gearbox.
354bhp and 0-62 in 5.1seconds.

The S design series 5 is due for release very shortly.

2007 Maserati Edo Competition MC12 XX

What can I say other than I'm at a loss for words. At first the colour scheme got my attention dropping my eye brows down with a curious frown in suggestion that this was an Italian Batmobile. How ever unlike the original bat mobile from the popular original TV series this has a 6.3ltr V12 engine and no afterburner. But can accelerate 0-62 in 3.2 seconds so who needs a rocket.

Stat's

**220 lbs reduced weight
**Tire pressure control system detailing pressure and temp for each wheel
**ceramic sport break system with 396mm brake disc fron and 360m rear to match the special break pads
**Exhaust volume adjustable with push button
**Power increase 170bhp from new steel sylinder and piston same as the Ferrari FXX
**New Cam shafts and Titan Valve Springs and connecting rods
**New oil cooling piston pipes
**new exhaust manifolds

2007 Audi S3 by MTM

"High Five" borat would scream from behind the wheel of this little monster.

Motoren Technik Mayer (MTM) of Wettstetten, Germany have taken this model to a whole new level internally within the corporation of VW and externally with other european cars. The Turbo charged inline 4 TFSI motor borrowed from VW (Parent Company)direct off the production line already holds an impressive 265bhp. Reports indicate that this is not much of a wow factor however with replaced motor electronics power is increased to 310bhp with 295lb-ft of torque. There are front and rear silencers which add several more bhp to the mix and run the car too 330bhp with a top speed of 164mph and 0-62 in 5.1 seconds with the ensurance of durability in all parts.

Experienece comes to light showing that simply implementing power upgrades alone would be irresponsible and total disregard to safety without installation of a specifically designed braking system. The S3 has 8-piston fixed clipers and 330x32mm diameter sized semi-perforated brake disks for as we know "Races are won on brakes".
These increase the performance of the small yet powerful car by allowing proper braking in, around and out of corners.

The bonnet looks a little plain but smoooooth, yet just love the grill and inlets.

2008 Audi S5

Rumoured to be unveiled at the Geneva car show next month as noted on several websites, speculation is rife as conflicting information denotes it'll be shown as smaller car fairs. Several photo's have already circulated the globe only moments after they were initially released.

The S5 is expected to house a V8 engine as a step up on the 4.2 ltr current to increase power output.

www.f1grandprixmanager.com

Rob Good:If you are into F1 and want to try your hand as a F1 boss, then join up now. I have played this game for the last 3 years and it is a lot of fun.