Friday, March 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The German company that brought us the extreme Apollo hypercar teamed up with Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera to create the Tornante, a more refined, GT-style version of the Apollo, that will go on sale in 2012.
The design and body engineering are the work of Touring Superleggera, a company which is also known for the Bentley Continental Flying Star shooting-brake. The 2-seater Tornante builds on the style of the Apollo, yet its appearance is less edgy and more luxurious.
Details that underline its Gumpert DNA, such as the huge frontal and lateral air intakes have been reshaped in a more pleasant way for the eye, while the racing-style cabin, the high-sitting rear-view mirrors and the gull-wing doors have been retained. At the rear, the Apollo's huge wing gave way to an elegant extension of the cabin, whose main attraction is the split rear window.
Design refinement aside, Touring Superleggera also worked on improving passenger and luggage space, comfort, access and ventilation, and noise levels.
Gumpert's engineers used an Apollo-derived space frame chassis with the same central engine layout for the Tornante. Thanks to various weight saving measures, the Tornante tips the scales at only 1,300 kg (2,866 lb), which means its should be only marginally slower than its more extreme sibling.
It has the same Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V8 biturbo engine that has been completely reworked by Gumpert engineers, producing 700 ponies. Mated to an automatic six-speed gearbox that changes gears faster than the blink of an eye (40 milliseconds), the unit produces a hefty 900 Nm of torque (663.7 lb-ft) at 4,000 rpm. Performance figures have not yet been revealed, with Gumpert only saying that the car can reach speeds of over 300 km/h (186 mph).
By Dan Mihalascu
TECHNICAL DATA
2-seater sports car with a mid-engine arrangement, chrome-molybdenum steel chassis with an integrated safety cell, doors and the boot lid open with gullwings, carbon body, 100 l stainless steel tank behind the passenger cell with integrated catch tank, long and pushrod-operated double transverse control arm suspension with fully adjustable dampers front and rear and anti roll bar in front, ground clearance adjustable between 60 and 140 mm, two circuit ABS brake system with six piston callipers, inside ventilated discs (378 x 32 mm) at front and rear.
Dimensions and Weight
Length - 4,475 mm
Width - 1,971 mm
Height - 1,215 mm
Wheelbase - 2,700 mm
Track front / back - 1,648 / 1,600 mm
Boot volume - ca. 200 liters
Kerb weight (depending on equipment components) - 1,300 – 1,400 kg
Engine
V8-cylinder-Biturboengine with 90° cylinder angle, Closed-Deck light metal crankcase, light metal cylinder heads with five valves per cylinder, four overhead camshafts, variable time of ignition (Vario Cam direct) on the intake, hydraulic valve clearance compensation, dry sump lubrication, double-flow exhaust system with 3-way catalytic converter, four Lambda probes for gas mixture and diagnostics, On-board diagnostic system, 2 Intercoolers, electronic ignition with a rested ignition distribution (eight ignition coils), sequential multipoint fuel injection, electronic accelerator system (drive-by-wire)
Cylinder / type / valves per cylinder - 8 / 90°-V/5
Cubic capacity - 4,163 cm³
Stroke – Bore - 93 / 84,5 mm
Nominal output (kW / HP at rev / min) - 515/700 at 6,500
Max. torque (Nm / lb ft at rev / min) - 900/663.7 at 4,000
Maximum rev – 7,400 rpm
Litre performance (kW/l / HP/l) - 123.7 / 168.1
Compression / recommended fuel type - 9.3 / 98 ROZ / 88 MOZ
Emission standard - Euro 5
Gearbox - Automatic six-speed gear box TT40e with synchronization and oil cooling, operated with paddle shift controls, twin plate clutch configuration (diameter 240 mm), Torsen differential lock
Wheels/Tires - Michelin Pilot Super Sport front 265/35 ZR19, back 345/30 ZR20
Wheel dimension- front 10 J, back 13 J
Wheel rim type - Aluminum cast or forged wheels with centre lock
Performance Figures
Top speed (est.) - above 300 km/h (186 mph)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Simply numbers, performance data or technical specification may seem impressive, but are not successful in capturing what exactly is needed for Spyder for reaching at the top. What's missing is the style. Pak your R8 at any sports car parking area and Audi is certain to attract just like the Ferrari 458 Italia or Lamborghini Gallardo.
The inside of Spyder is similar to coupe, which means long legged persons are going to have hard time accommodating. However, the seats are quite comfortable and adjustable, offering sufficient side bolstering. Soft-top, fortified in magnesium, remains stable and quiet even when the vehicle is speedy. At 80 mph, it is easy conversation is possible.
Most of Audi R8 Spyder interior features are quite similar to that of coupe. It means, Spyder too features 465 watts of Bang & Olufsen goodness with mated to about 12 speakers. It is not up to sonorific splendor that B&O system of A8 is. However, it proves sufficient enough for the R8's small cabin. The LCD screen of the navigation system is quite small, which further makes it difficult for viewing junctions and turnings. It features only 3.5 cubic feet cargo at the up front, which is as big as to accommodate two laptop bags only. Trip for two could be best reserved for a tropical climate.
Again like Audis, Spyder too surpasses the competition while speaking of finish and comfort inside the cabin. The seat is leather covered and comes in good quality too. Instrument gauge design seems to be pleasing and switchgear can be operated at ease. Audi Spyder has tightest grip between stowable roof and windshield frame, if compared to any recent convertible. For the Spyder's looks, you might consider going back to launch of Lamborghini Countach for getting a more of dramatic and positive response to the car. Spyder captures the adoration, the reason for which coupe version has remained famous. The sloping roof has been replaced in this new version with tonneau cover and soft-top. However, the side blades dominating coupe's side view are not present in this model and in its replacement is the great swallowing air in takers. However conventional they may look, they definitely are attractive too. Tonneau cover is an addition that gives aggressive appearance and features several vents on twin humps.
Anyone who is looking at R8 coupe ownership, but is enamored of the al fresco driving, is certainly going to be a fan. Nevertheless, anyone should be considering a Lamborghini, Porsche or Ferrari. Audi offers better performance and is excessively less expensive as compared to any of the above-mentioned Italian alternatives.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
It's been rumored for a while now that Audi was exploring the possibility of adding a four-door sedan body style to its A3 range, but today, the German firm officially confirmed the news with the release of the first official sketches of the A3 Concept ahead of its world premiere at the 81st International Geneva Motor Show in early March.
Its main purpose is to preview both the saloon variant and the styling direction of the next A3, which is scheduled for a rollout in 2012 and will also include the successors to today's three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback and the two-door convertible models.
"The four-seater notchback sedan offers a glimpse of the future expansion of the A3 family," Audi said in a statement.
The A3 concept measures 4.44 meters (14.57 feet) long, 1.84 meters (6.04 feet) wide and just 1.39 meters (4.56 feet) high, meaning it's slightly smaller than the new Volkswagen Jetta (4.64 m long).
The sedan study embodies Audi's latest design language as seen on the recent A8, A6 and A7 Sportback models featuring a single-frame grille with tapered upper corners, angular headlights with LED technology and taut body lines.
The show car is fitted with an upgraded version of the 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine found under the bonnet of the current RS3 and TT RS models, producing a peak output of 408-horses. The five-pot distributes power to all four wheels through a seven-speed S tronic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive.
We'll have more details on the A3 Concept from the Geneva Motor Show in March.
