Lamborghini Urus Concept Presented at the Beijing Motor Show
by Kimatni D. Rawlins, Automotive Rhythms
It’s the raging bull’s latest SUV concept, yet the Italian connoisseur of extreme exotics from Sant’Agata Bolognese is no stranger to the SUV scene. Remember the LM002 from 1986? The 12-cylinder off-roader (300 models were made) left an impression on the auto industry up until 1992. Today, Lamborghini presents the Urus, which could see a production run of 3,000 annual vehicles. Think of the super-luxurious SUV as Clay Matthews on a go-cart: powerful, fast and aggressive. Its athletic equation consists of 600-horsepower, permanent AWD, a dual– clutch transmission, carbon fiber materials and 24” rims. “The Urus is a very concrete idea for the future of Lamborghini – as a third model line and as the perfect complement to our super sports cars,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea.”
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse at 82nd Geneva Motor Show
by Kimatni D. Rawlins, Automotive Rhythms
For the 82nd presentation of the International Geneva Motor Show, one of the main attractions was Bugatti’s up to 1,200 horsepower Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse which has entered a new stratosphere of droptop performance.
After a few drives in the base 1,001 horsepower Grand Sport, Haute Auto attests to its performance dominance and entitlement as the greatest high-performance vehicle of all time (GOAT). Visually attached to the Veyron Super Sport, which holds the current world speed record, the Vitesse shows off with consistent dynamic driving characteristics. Bugatti’s engineers have developed the current GOAT into an even more powerful vehicle with a maximum torque of 1,500 Nm. The increased power of the roadster’s 16-cylinder engine is made possible by four distended turbochargers and intercoolers and its chassis has been tuned to handle the added power. “Once again our engineers worked hard to demonstrate that Bugatti is able to constantly redefine the boundaries of what is technically feasible,” reveals Bugatti President Wolfgang Dürheimer.
2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II
by Ashley joy parker
Phantom Series II’s drive-train has also been enhanced by the addition of a new 8-speed automatic gearbox with the V12 direct injection engine.
When the Rolls-Royce Phantom debuted back in 2003, it signaled the 21st Century renaissance of the world’s most famous luxury automobile brand. Nearly a decade later, the Phantom is still the pinnacle of effortless luxury and performance. For the 2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II, the automaker has debuted four new models: The standard Phantom, the Phantom Extended Wheelbase, the Phantom Coupé and the Phantom Drophead Coupé.
The Phantom Series II models are adorned with Rolls-Royce signatures such as the Pantheon grill, monogram hubcaps and a long rear over-hang. The new models feature an updated modern front face featuring rectangular LED headlamp clusters. In fact, Rolls-Royce is the first car manufacturer to offer full LED headlamps as standard, incorporating curve light functionality and adaptive headlamps for enhanced road illumination.
Phantom Series II’s drive-train has also been enhanced by the addition of a new 8-speed automatic gearbox with the V12 direct injection engine. Fuel consumption also improves by 10 percent on the new models. The 2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II hits the market this fall. Prices start at $398,970 for the standard Phantom, $470,295 for the Phantom Extended Wheelbase , $429,295 for the Phantom Coupé and $469,900 for the Phantom Drophead Coupé.
Street Smarts: The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta makes its first appearance at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show
by Alison Cavatore
The most powerful street-legal Ferrari to date was unleashed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, designed by Iacoski Design, has a top speed of 340km/h and can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.1 seconds.
The Ferrari Berlinetta is reportedly the most powerful road-legal Ferrari available, featuring a 6.3-liter V12 engine with 730 horsepower. Ferrari is reporting that the F12 Berlinetta can lap the Fiorano test circuit in 1 minute and 23 seconds, which is 3.5 seconds faster than its predecessor the 599 GTB.
The F12 employs a new chassis design, with various aluminium materials and aeronautics industry technologies to decrease weight and improve structural rigidity. With a redesigned hood, the F12 is more than twice as aerodynamically efficient as its predecessor and it is also shorter, lighter and more low riding. Due to the combined effect of the F12’s lighter weight and improved aerodynamics, the car reduces fuel consumption by 30 percent and produces relatively low carbon dioxide emissions.
