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Rolls-Royce unveil the Ghost Series II at the New York Motor Show

Rolls Royce launched the Ghost in 2009 and now they have unveiled the newest version at the 2014 New York Motor Show.

We already have the Ghost and Phantom available to rent from us, but we like the look of the Ghost Series II and may have to make room for one here

The Ghost was billed as the ‘baby Rolls-Royce’ and designed  to nestle below the imperious Phantom in the  famous British brand’s small but ultra-exclusive model range. By offering the  Rolls-Royce experience for ‘only’ £200,000, the more compact Ghost has been a  major driving force behind the brand’s recent growth and its manufacturer chose to reveal a comprehensively refreshed version of the  luxury saloon to keep that momentum going.

The changes are subtle as you might expect. New daytime running lights adorn  the LED headlights at the front above re-sculpted bumpers designed to produce a  wider, sportier look. The bonnet has also been tweaked with a strong “wake  channel” running from the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy statute back to the base of  the windscreen. More paint and wheel options increase the mind-boggling  personalisation potential of the car.

Inside, the Ghost’s all-encompassing front seats now have extra electrical  adjustments and the rear seats have been rearranged so it’s that bit easier to  hold a civilised conversation in the back. Tweaks to the beautiful central  dashboard clock will go unnoticed by all but the biggest Roll-Royce aficionados,  or those in possession of the press release, and there’s yet more ways to boost  the incredible amount of wood and leather on show via the options  list.

The new headlight design on the Ghost isn’t just for show. The latest tech is  now built in so that the lights swivel with steering inputs and automatically  dip when other vehicles approach. Rolls-Royce engineers even claim to have made  the Ghost more comfortable and composed to drive with new hydraulic rear axle  bearings enhancing the quality of the ride. There’s a Dynamic Driving Package  too though. This offers more dynamic steering and suspension settings that come  into their own when the chauffeur takes a day off.

Perhaps most impressive is the new Satellite Aided Transmission that uses GPS data to read the road ahead and make sure the Ghost is always in the correct gear to tackle inclines, roundabouts or motorway exits. Of course, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II uses the same 563bhp V12 petrol engine with 575lb ft of torque on tap, so the 8-speed automatic gearbox can virtually take its pick of gears in most situations.

Performance for the short wheelbase version remains sharp for a 2,470kg hunk of luxury like the Ghost. It will ease up to 60mph in 4.8s and on to a 155mph artificially limited top speed. The long wheelbase model is scarcely any slower and still offers the same 20mpg combined fuel economy with 329g/km emissions as the SWB car.

Source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/rolls-royce/ghost/86659/rolls-royce-ghost-series-ii-unveiled-at-new-york-motor-show#ixzz2z9Unj4wH

Aston Martin unveils 2 special editions for the North American market

Aston Martin are hoping to boost sales in North America by creating special editions of the V8 Vantage and the DB9, which will only be available in the North American market alone.

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd., the British maker of the luxury sports cars driven by James Bond, is unveiling two special edition vehicles at the New York International Auto Show this week.

Aston Martin will debut a GT version of its V8 Vantage, starting at $99,900, and a carbon edition of its DB9, which begins at $199,995, according to an e-mailed statement. Both cars will go on sale in the third quarter, Julian Jenkins, Aston Martin’s president of the Americas, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

“We’d like to sell a few more cars and we believe this will offer an opportunity to broaden our appeal and bring a few more customers to the brand,” Jenkins said in the interview.

Aston Martin sold 4,200 cars last year, 11 percent more than in the prior year. North America represents about 30 percent of its sales.

The Vantage GT will come in either a coupe or a roadster body style with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. Both powertrains will have a top speed of 190 miles per hour.

The Vantage GT automatic gets 16 mpg in combined driving. The carbon edition of the 12-cylinder DB9 starts at $199,995. Aston Martin doesn’t list the mileage for the DB9.

Aston Martin is the rare global luxury-automaker that doesn’t belong to a larger manufacturing group. The company said last year that Germany’s Daimler AG will own as much as 5 percent of Aston Martin as part of a deeper agreement to share technology with the British sports-car maker. Daimler is an investor in electric-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), which aims to begin deliveries in China this month.

Daimler’s Mercedes-AMG high-performance division will help develop V-8 engines for Aston Martin’s next-generation models. The Stuttgart, Germany-based maker of Mercedes-Benz vehicles will receive shares without voting rights in the non-cash deal.

In January 2013, Aston Martin said it planned to invest 500 million pounds ($819 million) over the following four years. The carmaker is backed by London-based Investindustrial, a private-equity fund whose previous assets include high-end motorcycle maker Ducati, which Volkswagen AG’s Audi bought in 2012

Source – http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-15/aston-martin-unveils-sub-100-000-edition-for-north-america.html

Have Maserati looked to its past and future for the concept of the Alfieri?

Maserati have recently pulled away from the sports car image they do so well, to concentrate more on passenger cars — luxurious ones at that, and fast ones as well — but not sports cars as you’d traditionally define the term.

Think of the name Maserati and you’ll likely be picturing glamorous sports cars roaring up the Autostrada and cruising down Mediterranean coastlines. And that’s still largely the case, except for the sports car part of it all, until now. The Alfieri is the long over due comeback for the sports car we all love!

The latest vehicles released by the Modenese automaker are the Quattroporte and Ghibli — both four-door sedans — and its next one will be the Levante crossover. Its only two-door model, the GranTurismo, has been on the market for longer than it should by now. But Maserati aims to correct that wrong with the reveal of their Alfieri concept at the Geneva Motor Show this year.

Named after the company’s founder (and its most notable engineer), the Maserati Alfieri concept is based on the aforementioned GranTurismo, but is more stylish, more compact, and altogether more modern. Its wheelbase has been shortened by nearly 10 inches, while the 4.7-liter V8 engine remains, driving 460 horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission. State-of-the-art carbon-ceramic brakes feature at each corner to keep the power in check

The technical details are all well and fine, but what sets the Alfieri apart is its design. It was overseen by Lorenzo Ramaciotti, chief designer for the Fiat Group that owns Maserati and former chief designer at Pininfarina, the design house that’s penned a fair few Maseratis over the years. It draws its inspiration from the 1950s-era Maserati A6 — one of the Trident marque’s earliest creations – and wears a liquid-metal finish, bi-xenon and LED headlamps, and 21-inch wheels. The interior is decidedly modern but no less luxurious with aniline leather furnished by Portrona Frau, copper-tone billet aluminum trim, and high-tech TFT (thin-film-transistor) displays.

The Alfieri is a transition point between 100 glorious years of history and the future that is opening up before us. I sincerely can’t say that we’ll see this car in production in two years-time, but I’m certain we’ll see something very similar,” says Ramaciotti. “We wanted the Alfieri to test future design paths. The car is very aggressive but still sober in style, forceful but understated.”

Source http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/luxury-cars/feature-1954193.php

The Bugatti Veyron becomes a work of art

We see more and more luxury cars getting an artistic makeover these days than ever before! The rich and famous want to make their cars stand out and be a one of a kind design that no one else will have.

It’s know surprise then that Bugatti have created a limited edition ‘piece of art’ to satisfy their fans out there.

Without putting too fine a point on it, Bugatti appeals to a pretty select clientele. Nevertheless, its product planners grapple with the same challenge that faces every automaker: When you’re spending multi-millions to achieve exclusivity, you don’t want to see a mirror image of your Veyron motoring around every corner. Right?

Bugatti’s answer to this problem is a series of 18 limited-edition Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse roadsters—Les Légendes de Bugatti. The series consists of six three-car groups, each named for famous figures from Bugatti’s glory years, and this one, fourth in the sequence, is called Rembrandt.

The name suggests artistic inspiration, which is true, but it’s not the Rembrandt you might expect. This Rembrandt was Rembrandt Bugatti, brother of company founder Ettore, and a well-known sculptor. Although Rembrandt won fame for his work with bronze sculptures, he’s celebrated in Bugatti family lore for creating the dancing elephant logo that adorns the grille of the princely Type 41 Bugatti, better known as the Royale.

Commemorating Rembrandt Bugatti’s favored artistic medium, the latest Vitesse Legend sports bronze-hued clearcoat carbon fiber on its upper half contrasting with a light brown lower portion. The wheels are two-toned in colors Bugatti head designer Achim Anscheidt calls “noix” and “firefinch,” and Rembrandt’s signature has been laser etched onto the gas cap and oil-filler cover.

Inside, the special-edition Vitesse is distinguished by cognac-colored leather, a bronze-hued carbon-fiber console emblazoned with a cast bronze version of the Type 41 dancing elephant logo, and the signature and portrait of Rembrandt Bugatti on each door sill.

Naturally, the Rembrandt Vitesse has all the go-fast hardware that makes this the fastest production roadster in the world, according to Bugatti: 1184 horsepower and 1106 lb-ft of torque from a quad-turbo W-16 engine, yielding a 0-to-62-mph sprint in 2.6 seconds and a top speed of 254 mph.

Previous special editions have honored Jean Bugatti, son of the company’s founder; Jean-Pierre Wimille, who drove Bugattis to two victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans; and Bartelomeo “Meo” Costantini, another factory driver who went on to manage the works racing team from 1927 to 1935.

On display at the Geneva auto show, the Rembrandt Bugatti carries a sticker price of €2.18 million (roughly $3 million at today’s exchange rates)—almost a half-million more than the standard Grand Sport Vitesse. We suspect this is a no-haggle price. If any of the nine previous Legends are any indication, you better hurry—all nine of the previous special editions have been sold.

Source http://blog.caranddriver.com/bugatti-veyron-rembrandt-legends-edition-what-to-buy-when-a-standard-veyron-is-too-ubiquitous-2014-geneva-auto-show/

Rick Ross’ Gets Red Forgiato Wheels For His Ferrari 458 Italia

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a beautiful car, but some people still feel the need to make it stand out in the crowd even more.

Rick Ross certainly isn’t a man to go unnoticed. Thanks to his large frame, heavily tattooed body and most importantly to us, his impressive exotic car collection, you can always be assured that Ross will make a big appearance wherever he goes. And thanks to a new set of bright red wheels on his Ferrari 458 Italia, he’ll stand out from the crowd even more.

These new wheels come courtesy of Forgiato and while they certainly aren’t to everyone’s taste, there is no doubt  they catch your eye!

3 Ways Digital Innovation Is Driving Engagement In The Luxury Car …

If you like to keep up to date on the latest gadgets and technology AND like stylish luxury cars, you need to read The Future of Luxury’s 3 ways  luxury car manufacturers have harnessed digital platforms as part of a strategy to tackle poor performance in the luxury car market.

The luxury car sector has long been a leader in adopting the latest technology for design, manufacture and in-car systems however, luxury car brands are now increasingly turning to digital tech to entice customers before they’ve even taken a test drive in a bid to create powerfully engaging experiences.

1. Porsche – Augmented Reality App

Designed to support the launch of the Panamera in the Middle East, Porsche’s augmented reality iPad app gives potential customers a chance to explore the car’s capabilities through a highly interactive experience. Using augmented reality enables Porsche to bring the vehicle’s features to life in a more meaningful and impactful way than a simple brochure description could ever hope to achieve.

 

Steve Blyth of Engage, creators of the AR app, described it as providing “a unique and immersive experience” created to achieve the objectives set by Porsche of  “a high-level view of the product and brand as well as an introduction to the Panamera’s features.”

In the showroom, car each feature 5 markers that trigger the iPad app to provide detailed content about the car’s features in the form of texts, images, animations and video.

Online and offline are connected through data capture, with additional information revealed to users who supply their email address via the app. This data is then used by Porsche sales teams to follow up leads.

2. Audi – Digital Showrooms

Earlier this year, in addition to locations in London and Beijing, Audi opened another of its digital showrooms in Berlin. Featuring  interactive touchscreens, the showrooms allow customers to explore the range by personalising  Audi cars to their own specifications. A significant advantage of the digital showroom for both customers and brands is the lack of space restrictions. Although only 4 models are on display in the showroom, all 49 models in the Audi range can be viewed and interacted with using the multi-media screens.

 

Creating immersive experiences is central to success in today’s market; Audi’s head of sales in Germany, Wayne Griffiths commented,  “staging the brand is becoming so much more important.”  The success of this venture has been reflected by the footfall generated with Audi Beijing reporting 8,000 visitors per week , 60% of whom were new to the Audi brand.

3.   Volkwagen Group – Mobile Game

Mobile gaming was recently used by the Volkswagen Group to bring consumers closer to their premium sports car brands which includes a roll-call of some of the world’s most sought after cars – Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche.

Designed to bring each car to life through immersive gameplay, the ‘Sports Car Challenge 2’ app (available on android and iOS 7), allows  consumers to engage with vehicles through hyper-realistic, 3D product interaction.

 

Game features include the ability to compete for a position on the global leader board and a chance to take part in time trials with the ‘Ghost race’ feature helping to build racing talents. In addition, the immersive experience lets users customise gameplay through a choice of racing environments, driving conditions as well as offering the ability to customise the cars themselves.

Kristien Wendt of Proelios, creators of the ‘Sports Car Challenge 2’ app,  highlighted the growing importance of mobile platforms to increase customer engagement, “Because of the accessibility, brand engagement, reach, measurement through data analytics and the hugely realistic worlds we can now create on mobile, clients are looking at how we integrate mobile gaming into campaigns, how we can connect, measure and interact with offline media such as outdoor posters and print advertising, and how we can use the gaming platform to generate greater consumer loyalty.”

Gamifying the app drives repeat engagement with consumers, creates greater reach opportunities, lets users build an affinity with the vehicles and ultimately, bridges the gap between virtual and real-life brand interaction.

http://thetoptier.net/index.php/home/luxury-vehicles-a-sports-cars/2947-3-ways-digital-innovation-is-driving-engagement-in-the-luxury-car-market

Jaguar XFR-S at the Geneva International Motor Show

Jaguar is set to unveil its 2015 model year XF Range at the Geneva International Motor Show 2014 in Switzerland. “The 2015 XF model range has an incredibly wide breadth of capability. From a blistering 0-60mph time of only 4.6 (4.4 for the XFR-S Saloon) seconds to emissions figures of just 129g/km from the XF R-Sport 2.2 Diesel – with 1675 litres of loadspace for all Sportbrake models – there’s a Jaguar XF to suit every taste.” Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar

 

JAGUAR’S 550PS XFR-S SPORTBRAKE: POTENT PERFORMANCE MEETS EVERYDAY PRACTICALITY

 

At-a-glance… The XFR-S Sportbrake is the first high-performance sports estate car to be produced by Jaguar The XFR-S Sportbrake builds on the already acclaimed XFR-S saloon – boasting the same power figures and levels of agility – with increased versatility and practicality Its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 delivers 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque with the added benefit of 1675 litres of rear load space when the rear seats are folded flat.

The XFR-S Sportbrake will sprint from zero to 60mph in 4.6 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h) An eight-speed transmission with ‘Quickshift’ functionality enables optimal acceleration throughout the speed and rev ranges The XFR-S Saloon’s chassis has been specifically retuned for the XFR-S Sportbrake Active electronic differential and Dynamic Stability Control systems from the XFR-S Saloon enhance the XFR-S Sportbrake’s handling characteristics Aerodynamic changes reduce lift compared to the standard Sportbrake and give the XFR-S Sportbrake an assertive appearance 20-inch ‘Varuna’ forged alloy wheels – the same as those fitted to the XFR-S Saloon – are shod with bespoke tyres to maximise grip Exclusive interior materials include carbon leather and contrasting highlight micro-piping and stitching “Combining real-world versatility with electrifying performance, the XFR-S Sportbrake brings Jaguar’s sporting character to life in a truly engaging car that will satisfy the most demanding of drivers while fitting into the most active of lifestyles.” Dean Murden, Vehicle Programme Director, Jaguar Summary.

 

The third model in Jaguar’s ultra-high performance R-S range, the XFR-S Sportbrake joins its XFR-S saloon sibling in the exclusive 300km/h club and is a vivid expression of Jaguar’s longstanding and legendary sports saloon lineage. The XFR-S Sportbrake incorporates engineering features from both the XKR-S and the all-new F-TYPE two-seater sports car to create the most driver-focused, agile and responsive iteration of Jaguar’s award-winning XF model range.

 

The XFR-S Sportbrake’s R-S powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enable the car to push the performance boundaries. Electrifying performance is provided by the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, which now boasts 550PS and 680Nm – up 40PS and 55Nm respectively over its XFR installation. The increases have been achieved through revisions to the engine management system and optimisation of the flow of air both into and out of the engine. Fitted with an eight-speed transmission incorporating Jaguar’s ‘Quickshift’ technology (developed for the F-TYPE), the increase in engine output allows the XFR-S Sportbrake to accelerate to 60mph in 4.6 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h).

 

In order to manage the extra rear mass of the XFR-S Sportbrake while retaining the sharp turn-in and response of the XFR-S Saloon, the Sportbrake’s rear suspension has been modified with revisions to both rear spring rates and the adaptive damper tune. These revisions work together to increase the feeling of connectivity with the road surface, allowing for confidence-inspiring handling and a supple, controlled ride. Recalibrated active electronic differential and Dynamic Stability Control settings have been tuned to work with the XFR-S Sportbrake’s modified rear suspension to allow the enthusiastic driver to make the most of the car’s huge potential. Design Reflecting the changes under the skin, the appearance of the XFR-S Sportbrake has been subtly modified in order to allow the car to achieve its full potential.

 

As with the standard Jaguar Sportbrake, the combination of a flowing rear window graphic, rising waist and estate roofline lends the XFR-S Sportbrake a dynamic, broad-shouldered stance, while the extended roofline affords rear-seat passengers an additional 48mm of headroom and the seats offer both a 60:40 split fold function and integral ski hatch.Remote-fold levers inside the load-space opening allow the seats to be stowed flat quickly and easily, creating a cargo volume of up to 1675 litres. Rear lift has been reduced through the fitment of a spoiler mounted on the top of the rear hatch to manage the airflow off the top rear surface of the car. The new, deeper front bumper incorporates larger lower central and side air intakes – the former framed in carbon fibre – in order to provide adequate airflow into the engine bay.

 

A front splitter at the lower edge of the bumper provides the first of a number of aerodynamic changes designed to smooth the passage of the car through the air at very high speeds. The extended side sills and aeroblade mouldings behind the front wheels serve to create a sharp break-off point between the lower bodywork and the road surface in order to keep the airflow attached to the car’s sides for as long as possible. The same thinking dictated the deeper side mouldings behind the rear wheels. This extended rear bumper also incorporates a central, carbon fibre diffuser, deeper than the item found on the XFR and which travels further under the rear of the car to reduce lift. The wider, six-spoke, 20-inch lightweight Varuna forged alloy wheels provide the XFR-S Sportbrake with a purposeful, broad-shouldered stance and come as standard with a dual finish. A ceramic polish is applied to the outer surfaces, its eye-catching appearance contrasting with inner gloss black areas. As an option the wheels can be supplied in either full gloss black or technical grey finishes.

 

The assertive appearance of the XFR-S Sportbrake is further enhanced through the use of gloss black trim in place of chrome around the grille, within the side vent, around the front and rear screens, windows and across the bootlid. The mesh in the front grilles is also a purposeful gloss black. XFR-S Sportbrake customers can choose from an exterior palette comprising five colours: Ultra Blue, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Polaris White and Italian Racing Red. This colour palette is complemented inside the XFR-S Sportbrake with Warm Charcoal leather trim on the seats and doors enhanced through the use of carbon effect leather.

 

Exclusive to R-S cars, this is used on the seat bolsters and arm rests and reflects the use of exotic carbon fibre on the aerodynamic elements of the car. The seats themselves are embossed with the R-S logo and can be finished with a choice of contrast colour micro-piping and stitching in either red, blue or ivory. The same subtle enhancement runs across the top of the dashboard, the fascia of which is finished in a Dark Aluminium unique to the R-S, complete with badging. Performance The XFR-S Sportbrake features Jaguar’s acclaimed 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine in its most potent form matched to an eight-speed transmission with Quickshift functionality.

 

This all-new combination provides a visceral blend of vivid acceleration, driver involvement and control plus entry to the exclusive 300km/h (186mph) club of ultra-high performance cars. The all-aluminium quad-cam engine delivers not only extreme performance but also tremendous efficiency thanks to the technologies incorporated into it, including spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) and dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT). The high-pressure die-cast lightweight aluminium block is stiffened with cast iron liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps, providing refinement to match its power.

Ferrari 458 Spider Rear Ended by Police Car

A blurry cellphone video just captured in London shows a police BMW 5 Series sedan crashed into a Ferrari 458 Spider. According to the guy who uploaded the clip, the police was trying to make a u-turn on the street and rear-ended the yellow Ferrari, which was trying to park.

Regardless, we have a funny clip of a police car with the lights flashing, wedged into the rear quarters of a Ferrari. I wouldn’t want to be the guy who has to pay the repairs for this one. That will never buff out!

Source: supercarsoflondon you tube channel