2011 RSC Raptor GT

Manufactured in Germany, RSC’s newest supercar sports a front-mid-engine design and is rear-wheel drive. The RSC Raptor GT is powered by a 2.6-liter rotary engine that's available in four versions, with power outputs ranging from 500 hp, to 1,200 hp. The RSC Raptor GT S is the base model, equipped with Dry Sump, it develops 500 hp. The RSC Raptor GT RS has a water-to-air turbocharger system and develops 800 hp and the RSR has a twin-turbo and outputs a massive 1,200 hp.

The Raptor GT will be sold with different spec-variants called the GT S, RS, RSR and N-spec. Depending on which model, engine configurations vary and include a water-to-air inter-cooled turbo or a bi-turbo system. The engine is coupled to an 8-speed RSC R-Shift transmission with a hydraulic shift mechanism which makes gear changes in 25 to 35 milliseconds.

Inside, the RSC Raptor GT is also said to feature a pair of seven-inch digital displays coupled with a five-inch tachometer, gear indicator and shift lights, the entire package supposedly weighing in at a claimed 2,425 pounds. RSC also plans an all-wheel drive, mid-engine project with similar specs, which seems like a lot to bite off while they still appear to be chewing on this one.

Depending on the model, the body is of 80% glass fiber or carbon fiber and differs in details in the form and aerodynamics. The interior will get two 7" full-graphic-Diyplays, high-quality materials like carbon fiber, brushed aluminum and various types of leather.





Press Release

Rotary Super Cars Germany is a young company with the goal of offering symbiosis of high performance vehicles and active environment to create new benchmarks in the areas, power efficiency, value for money or the use of high-tech materials.

Since there is no vehicle that meets all these requirements, the construction of the RSC Raptor GT™ started in 2009. Systems such as the VAS (variable aerodynamic system) were developed and brought to small series production. This vehicle meets all requirements or exceed them. With enthusiasm and passion of our team involved in the development and production of the Raptor GT™. We guarantee the best workmanship and highest individuality. The selective use of proven components increases the active/passive safety while reducing production costs, which ultimately benefits every buyer.

With the Raptor GT™, we give our customers the opportunity to experience the unique combination of high end components and environmental protection on the roads and racetracks of the world. The Raptor GT™ doesn't follow the standard in many areas, he goes a very unique way with his drive and approach design. Each vehicle is handmade and unique, which corresponds exactly to the needs and wishes of the owner.

Drivetrain:
The RSC Raptor ™ GT S, RS, RSR and N-Spec does not have a conventional drive system as used in most of today's super sports cars. He has a self-developed and heavily modified, based on parts of the Mazda 13B MSP, high-performance engine with four rotors (4-Rotor rotary engine) and, depending on the model, a water-to-air intercooled turbo or biturbo system. This engine is the heart of the RSC Raptor GT™ and gives him his very special temperament. The power output of a rotary engine uniformly grows with increasing rpm. The high-performance engine in the RSC Raptor GT™ has the redline set depending on the selected driving mode, up to 7,500 rpm or 9000 rpm. The fuel E85 is used, which is produced from rapeseed. By using this fuel to reduce the emissions by about 90% is feasible.

The sequential 8-speed RSC R-SHIFT transmission in the RSC Raptor GT™ is controlled by a hydraulic shift system with shift times of 25-35 milliseconds. Furthermore, each RSC Raptor GT™ has a carbon-aluminum drive shaft, and an electronically controlled rear axle differential.

The powertrain is controlled by an engine management system, specifically developed from Bosch Engineering GmbH for the RSC Raptor GT™, including a complete electronic system consisting of ESP, ABS, EBD, VAS, R-TRAC (traction control), R-DIFF (electronic differential) and a Launch Control. The RSC Raptor GT™ RSR and N-Spec also has an active suspension. All electronic systems can be easily operated via the buttons on the steering wheel.

Body/Chassis:
Depending on the model the body of the RSC Raptor GT™ is of 80% glass fiber or carbon fiber and differs in details in the form and aerodynamics. Furthermore a wide range of special equipment is available. Starting with the rims, complete body equipment packages up to the painting - the customer has no limits.

The RSC Raptor GT™ also has the RSC VAS™ (Variable Aerodynamic System), a system that changes the aerodynamics and the aerodynamic properties of the RSC Raptor GT™ to generate more downforce at high speeds. This system include SBS (Speed Brake System).

Interior:
The RSC Raptor GT™ has two 7" full-graphic-Diyplays, where various telemetry data such as speed, mileage, temperatures, pressures, and the chosen vehicle settings and many other data, are available. These displays create exciting visual effects that show the high-tech genes of the RSC Raptor GT™. They are placed on the left and right of the large 5" tachometer with digital gear indicator and shift light. The driver is always looking at the relevant information and driving a RSC Raptor GT™ becomes a special experience.

The cockpit offers an unique combination of high-quality materials like carbon fiber, brushed aluminum and various types of leather. Many interior equipment packages are available. There also no limits for the customer.

Production levels of the RSC Raptor GT range from the base 500 hp 2.6L 4 rotor rotary to 800 hp turbo and 1.200 hp twin turbo variants. The cars are built in Germany. They are available in left- and right-hand drive configuration.

VelociRaptor:
The second car which is currently in the construction phase. The main facts: Mid-engine, AWD, 8-speed sequential RSC R-SHIFT transmission, RSC VAS, 90% carbon fiber, over 1.200 hp and a weight under 1.100 kg.
This car will set new benchmarks...

Rotary Super Cars Germany
(+49)1511 75 500 98

2011 Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans

Entrepreneur Don Panoz, founder of the American Le Mans Series, has unveiled his latest automotive creation, a limited-edition 600-horsepower exotic car called the Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans. The first of a limited run of 81 cars is slated to be delivered in 2013.

The hand-built Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans will be built with an engine that produces over 600 horsepower (447 kW / 608 PS) and up to 590 ft-lb (799 Nm) of torque.  Developed by American niche manufacturer Panoz, the car will be limited to 81 vehicles, and is guaranteed to be street legal in Asia, Europe, Middle East and South America.

Only 81 Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans will see the daylight, for which production will stretch on the next three years and all of the future customers will get their cars delivers at the Le Mans circuit where the automaker is also throwing in a free driving course.

The 2011 Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans will introduce the a three-stage TRIFECTA COOLING technology that improves engine performance and efficiency. The body of the 2011 Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans is built using the REAMS material technology - or Recyclable Energy
Absorbing Matrix System - that promises to offer environmental, performance and structural advantages.




Press Release

PANOZ MAKES HISTORY WITH ABRUZZI 'SPIRIT OF LE MANS'

New supercar quite appropriately unveiled at Le Mans

LE MANS, France - Don Panoz again has captured the Spirit of Le Mans. This time, one of the world's most forward-thinking entrepreneurs is pairing his newest automotive masterpiece with the legacy of the world's greatest auto race. The Panoz Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" broke cover today at the Circuit de La Sarthe, an appropriate venue for the world debut of a ground-breaking automobile with a very appropriate delivery and acquisition program for its customers.

"This is culmination of equal parts time, effort and dreams," said Panoz, founder of the Panoz Motor Sports Group. "The Panoz brand always has prided itself on hand-building and delivering an exotic automobile and experience to our customers. Our new offering takes this to a completely new level."

The Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" is more than a technological masterpiece from Panoz Auto Development (PAD), based in Hoschton, Ga. It represents a new chapter in automotive production and delivery, tied into the world's most demanding auto race.

The super sports car will be offered as a strictly limited edition. Only 81 Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" vehicles will ever be produced, corresponding to the number of Le Mans 24 Hour contests between the inception of the race in 1923 and the race to be held in 2013.

Abruzzi: The Car
The hand-built Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" is a unique, front-engine, rear-transaxle and rear-radiator super sports car - road-legal in Europe and many countries of Asia, the Middle East and South America. The powertrain will deliver 600-plus HP with 590 ft.-lbs. of torque. Advanced design and aerodynamics offer astounding downforce and road-holding.

Performance is just one facet that sets the Abruzzi apart from other exotics. It also breaks new ground in environmental design and construction starting with the unprecedented implementation of the R.E.A.M.S.® - Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System - body system that offers environmental, performance and structural advantages like no other automobile body system on the planet. Never used before on any road-going automobile, the multi-layer composite system is lighter than carbon fiber yet equally strong. Unlike carbon fiber however, it is dent-resistant, shatter-proof and recyclable.

Abruzzi also introduces TRIFECTACOOLING® technology. In addition to a normal high-efficiency radiator, there are stage two and stage three systems that lower coolant temperature on both the inflow to and the outflow from the radiator.

"These are advancements that will open up a new era of automotive design," Panoz said. "Dating back to our first road car - the AIV Roadster - PAD has been a believer in efficient construction and design. This philosophy continues with our Abruzzi."

Abruzzi: The Experience
The Panoz Abruzzi harkens back to a day where drivers would pilot their cars to Le Mans, race it twice around the clock then drive back home. It essentially captures the "Spirit of Le Mans" with a never-before-seen acquisition program that sets a new standard for personalization and delivery.

Given the roots of Panoz's automotive dreams, it is only appropriate that the Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" will be delivered to its owners at the famed Circuit de la Sarthe, shipped directly there from the Panoz factory. Each automobile will be linked to a specific Le Mans 24 Hour race, with the chassis number also containing that specific race date and the initials of the winning drivers and the history of that year.

Professional drivers will instruct owners in driving the car on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans. Service and repairs also will be attended to at the ACO facilities of the Circuit 24 Hours of Le Mans.

New vehicle owners also will be invited to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as guests of the ACO and Panoz at the ACO's hospitality facilities in the "Model Sportif" at the circuit. New owners also will have the unique opportunity to drive a parade lap of the full 8.3-mile circuit at that year's event.

During the Le Mans race week a "Spirit of Le Mans" reception will be held at the clubhouse of the famed Golf Des 24 Heuers in the historic town of Arnage. The new owners for that year will be the guests of the ACO officials and past "Spirit of Le Mans" award winners such as Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell.

"Being associated with the ACO and Le Mans is something very special to me," Panoz said. "Being able to stand side-by-side with the heroes and legends of Le Mans gives me a sense of appreciation and passion for this grand event. I felt it was important to give our customers the same experience, and I am grateful to our partners at the ACO for helping make this happen."

Panoz Auto Development produces leading-edge, fully certified automobiles and is best known for the first US-manufactured AIV (Aluminum Intensive Vehicle) - the Panoz AIV Roadster. The Panoz Esperante body and chassis also extensively employs aluminum for performance, safety and efficiency. The Panoz Esperante GTLM earned world-famous stature as a race car by winning the GT2 category at both the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a single year - 2006.

New details for Gordon Murray's T.27 City Car

Gordon Murray has long been considered one of the most innovative engineers and designers in the automotive world. The latest project from the mind that created the McLaren F1 supercar is the new T.27 electric city car. The T.27 is the battery powered variant of the T.25, a model that will debut shortly with a gas engine. Both models use the same basic architecture, and like the seminal supercar, they feature a three seat layout. That's largely where the similarities end, however.

Essentially an electric version of the T.25, the T.27 features a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery and a small electric motor with 25 kW (34 hp / 34 PS) and 875 Nm (645 lb-ft) of torque. This allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 15 seconds, before topping out at 105 km/h (65 mph). While it's not fast, the 680 Kg (1,500 lb) T.27 will have a range of 129-161 kilometers (80-100 miles). More importantly, "projected emissions, using a UK energy mix, are 48g/km CO2 for the combined cycle and 28g/km CO2 for the urban cycle alone, with zero emissions at the point of use.  Full lifecycle CO2 damage will be 42% less than the average UK car," according to the press release.

T.27 has a length of 2.50m, width of 1.30m and height of 1.60m, and it offers s wheelbase of 1.78m. The car’s turning circle is 6.0 meters and the weight including the battery is 680Kg.





Press Release

Gordon Murray Design announce the Specification and Performance Targets for the T.27 City Car, a pure electric drive vehicle designed to fully optimise packaging, weight and performance. The announcement marks an exciting leap forward in efficiency for electric vehicles and working closely with their powertrain partner, Zytek Automotive, a brand new, innovative, lightweight and fully integrated electric motor, control system and battery will be designed to ensure that maximum efficiency is achieved.

Projected emissions, using a UK energy mix, are 48g/km CO2 for the combined cycle and 28g/km CO2 for the urban cycle alone, with zero emissions at the point of use. Full lifecycle CO2 damage will be 42% less than the average UK car.

Vehicle Specification

eMotor:	25kW	Height:	1.60m
Battery Type:	Li-ion	Weight:	680Kg (incl. battery)
Battery Spec.	12kWh	Wheel Base:	1.78m
Length:	2.50m	Turning Circle:	6.0m
Width:	1.30m

Performance Targets

Top Speed:	105kph
0-100kph:	Less than 15 seconds
Range:	80 – 100 miles

The T.27 vehicle concept closely follows the layout and geometry of Gordon Murray Design’s innovative T.25 city car, an MPV with 6 possible internal layouts.

The efficiency in cost, weight and performance comes in part from the ‘clean sheet of paper’ approach, part from the full integration of the powertrain and also from the low energy manufacturing system developed by Gordon Murray Design called iStream®.

iStream® massively reduces the capital investment required to produce the vehicle and also the energy required for manufacture plus the flexibility of the iStream® process would also allow the petrol powered T.25 and the T.27 to be manufactured at the same plant.

The 16 month programme started in November 2009 with a running prototype scheduled for completion in April 2011 and is supported with a 50% investment from the Technology Strategy Board. The next phase in the programme will include a push to secure partners and funding for UK manufacture. A UK partner or consortium to produce the city cars in the UK would keep the technology at home and could create 6,000 jobs.

Professor Gordon Murray, CEO of Gordon Murray Design said:

“The Technology Strategy Board have been incredibly supportive of the T.27 programme and together we are working to keep this in the United Kingdom. It is a great opportunity to work with Zytek Automotive and our other partners on this very exciting programme. We always strive to lead the way in automotive design and our current goal is to maximise efficiency of electric vehicles.”

Bill Gibson, Chairman of Zytek Automotive said:

Zytek’s new innovative powertrain, developed from our substantial experience of EV and hybrid vehicle production programmes, will substantially reduce the weight and cost of the electric engine, whilst delivering the quality, refinement and driving experience that T.27 customers will demand.”

Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board said:

"This is another example of the UK positioning itself to benefit from the economic opportunities offered by the emerging low-carbon vehicles market.It’s great that the T.27, a fantastic example of smart engineering and sustainable design, is at the forefront of this. We are also glad that we were able to support a project that enabled Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive and the other partners to work together to be truly innovative.”

Orders Open for the Hulme CanAm Supercar

Hulme Supercars the makers of NZ’s first Supercar the Hulme CanAm have just announced plans for a 20 unit limited production run. To reserve a Hulme CanAm Supercar you need to make a 10,000 GBP and the final Hulme CanAm price is set to 295,000 GBP, without local taxes.

Powered by a 7.0-litre V8 Chevrolet LS7 V8 worth 600 bhp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 600Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque at the rear wheels, the car is said to be capable of sprinting from 0 - 100km/h in under 3.5 seconds. Top speed is over 200 mph (322 km/h). Mated to the engine is a close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox. A sequential manual shift option will be available.

Hulme will put the deposits in a trust account that will be returned for any prospective customers that decide to cancel. For those that decide to take delivery, the $700,000+ purchase price includes two business class tickets to Auckland, New Zealand for final fitting of the car and some local driving time. Once the customer is satisfied, the car will get shipped to its final destination.




Press Release

HULME CANAM SUPERCAR OPENS TO ORDERS

A limited run of just 20 New Zealand-designed and built Hulme CanAm supercars ensures extreme rarity value.

The developers of the eagerly-awaited 200+mph Hulme CanAm Supercar, named in honour of New Zealand racing legend and F1 World Champion, Denny Hulme, have announced an attractive proposition for those wishing to purchase an option to order one of an extremely limited production run.

The Auckland based Supercar developer-manufacturer, Hulme Supercars, has launched a package which is designed to guarantee rarity value by offering options to purchase the total production run of just 20 Hulme CanAm supercars, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The only production road car to bear the name of a F1 World Champion,

The Hulme CanAm is an ultra high-performance, mid-engined roadster. Created for both road and track use, the car blends the raw flavour and appeal of a Formula racing car with dramatic design, superb craftsmanship, exceptional performance and a thrilling and achievable driving experience.

An order for the CanAm will be secured by the deposit of £10,000 which, as Jock Freemantle, Hulme Managing Director, explains, is fully-refundable if the option is not converted to an order.

"Deposits will be held in a Trust account", he confirms, "pending a private viewing and driving experience of the car at or before the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed for those who have purchased an option to order. Following that, if anyone does not wish to proceed, the terms on which the deposit is paid will provide a guarantee that their total deposit will be returned immediately."

The 20 customer cars will be coach-built and equipped to customer order, with delivery commencing in the UK in the Autumn of 2011 and into 2012, the 20th anniversary of Denny Hulme's death.

Those who proceed to purchase are promised an experience as unique as the Hulme CanAm itself. Having determined the specification of their car, Hulme customers will enjoy two Air New Zealand Business Premier (Full flat bed) return tickets to Auckland, New Zealand, with one-week luxury accommodation, for their final fitting in the car and further road and circuit driving, before the car is shipped to their chosen destination.

All production cars will be numbered, with a guaranteed certificate of authenticity, and a 1/8 scale exact replica, finished in the same livery and specification, plus a full photographed dossier of the car's build.

For Freemantle, the purchase offer is a significant milestone in the development of the Hulme CanAm:

"The concept car, in coupe form, was first revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2006. Such was the interest that we conducted extensive research to assess demand, culminating in the decision to initially offer an open-top CanAm version, celebrating Hulme's victories of the "Can Am Championship" in 1968 and 1970," he said.

Development of the ultra-sleek F1-inspired CanAm car continued, with a finished prototype extensively tested on both road and track before the decision was made to accept orders.

Designed and hand-built by the Hulme Supercars technology team in New Zealand - including members who were responsible for the nation's America's Cup triumphs - the road-legal "Hulme CanAm" features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite tub and bodywork, and race-orientated chassis, suspension and braking.

To honour Denny's CanAm Championship wins in McLaren CanAm cars powered by Chevrolet V8's, the Hulme CanAm is powered by a 7-litre (427cu.in) Chevrolet LS7 V8 developing 600bhp and 600Nm torque, fed through a close-ratio, six-speed CIMA manual gearbox (Paddles or Sequential shift will be options available). As a consequence of its lightweight construction, the Hulme CanAm weighs in at less than 1,000kg. This combination promises a sub-three and a half second sprint to 100kph, and top speed in excess of 200mph.

Despite its ultra-performance and emphatic race car credentials, the Hulme Supercars' design and development focus has been on driveability, with power delivery and handling dynamics optimised for maximum driving enjoyment on track and on the road.

For Greeta Hulme, the widow of Denny - who passed away in 1992 - the announcement of the Hulme CanAm's production is warmly welcomed: "Jock Freemantle's desire to honour Denny's life with this unique car has been matched by his irrepressible enthusiasm and passion to create it. I am both proud and immensely impressed with what he and the Hulme Supercars team have achieved."

The purchase price of the Hulme CanAm will be fixed at £295,000 (plus local taxes) on receipt of an order, including delivery worldwide.

To purchase one of only 20 options available, e-mail Jock Freemantle at jock.f@hulmesupercars.com or write to Hulme Supercars Limited, P.O.Box97853,ManukauCity2241,Manukau,New Zealand.

The final vehicle specification, customer options included in the sale price, and details of the order and payment terms, will be confirmed before the options are converted to an order. Development specifications are available now from Hulme Supercars by e-mail to jock.f@hulmesupercars.com or from Hulme Supercars Limited, P.O.Box97853,ManukauCity2241,Manukau,New Zealand. and from the website. www.hulmesupercars.com.

Hulme CanAm Standard Specifications

Body & Chassis
Chassis:	Carbon Fibre/Composite construction
Body:	Carbon Fibre/Composite construction
Engine & Transmission
Type:	General Motors LS7 V8
Cylinders:	8
Displacement:	427 cu.in /7,000cc
Stroke:	4.0” /100cm
Power:	450Kw (600 HP)
HP/Litre:	85.7
Torque:	600 Nm at rear wheels
Configuration:	Mid-longitudinal
Transmission:	CIMA 6-speed, transaxle with LSD
Drive Wheels:	RWD
Suspension
Front:	Double Wishbone & Pushrod
	Inboard Coil-over damper & anti-roll bar
Rear:	Double Wishbone & Pushrod.
	Inboard Coil-over damper & anti-roll bar
Braking
Front:	Ventilated discs (362 x 32mm), AP Racing 6-Piston Calipers.
Rear:	Ventilated discs (362 x 32mm), AP Racing 6-Piston Calipers.
Steering
Type:	Progressive power-assisted
Wheels & Tyres
Wheels:	Front: 8.5” x 19” alloy Centre lock
	Rear: 11” x 20” alloy Centre lock
Tyres:	Front: 245 x 40 x 19 Pirelli P.-Zero Rosso
	Rear: 315 x 35 x 20 Pirelli P-Zero Rosso
Dimensions
Length:	4712 mm / 185.5 inch
Width:	1958 mm / 77 inch
Height:	1095 mm / 43 inch
Wheelbase:	2830 mm / 111.42 inch
Front Track:	1665 mm / 65.55 inch
Rear Track:	1605 mm / 63.19 inch
Kerb Weight:	980 Kg / 2160 lbs

New Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Concept unveiled at Villa D'Este

The Zagato-designed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa has been unveiled at the Villa D'Este concours, and frankly, it's spectacular. Driven by the Alfa 8C Competizione's V8, the TZ3 is very much in keeping with its 60s-era predecessors, the TZ1 and TZ2, sporting similar detail elements and the same near-breadvan profile. Also like the originals, this is a legit racing car. Unlike its forbears, however, the new machine wears aluminum bodywork stretched over a tube frame and carbon-fiber chassis. Power, as indicated before, is also of thoroughly modern origin.

Zagato says the TZ3 was commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp as a special celebration of 100 years of racing from Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Corse, Autodelta, and Scuderia Zagato. On that "special" bit, we think it's safe to say, "mission accomplished" - with class and panache to spare. Official PR pics are in the gallery below, and a full live gallery is posted at OmniAuto. Be sure to pay them a visit as well.

via:autoblog





Press Release

Show full PR text
Milano, April 2010: Zagato Atelier announces the introduction of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa at
the XII Villa D'Este Concours d'Elegance.

The TZ3 Corsa is not a design exercise.
It does not take inspiration only from the 90 year collaboration between the two brands, neither only
from the Milanese conjunction between Alfa Romeo and Zagato.
The TZ3 Corsa is a race car, honouring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th
century.

It celebrates men and machines of the Alfa Romeo Zagato common tradition:
Scuderia Ferrari of the 20's and 30's, Alfa Corse of the 40's and 50's, Autodelta of the 60's and
70's up to the latest Scuderia Zagato of the 80's and 90's.

Recalling these racing emotions, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a mono shell carbon fibre tubular
chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body.
It boasts Technical Partners such as OMP and Pirelli.

Following Zagato's gentlemen-driver heritage, the car has been commissioned by the Alfa Romeo
Zagato collector Martin Kapp, during the Zandvoort Tribute to Zagato event, where more than
130 Alfa Romeo Zagatos were celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the brand.
Martin Kapp owns, among his Alfa Romeo Collection: SZ coda tonda and SZ coda tronca, TZ
and TZ2, Junior Z and S.Z..

Tribute to the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo's Racing Heritage:
Alfa Romeo and Zagato achieved the best results since the beginnings thanks to the Mille Miglia
victories of the 1500 6C, the 1750 GS and the 8C 2300 Zagato of the Scuderia Ferrari. Already
in 1933 an official advert of the Alfa Romeo 8C proclaimed: "The Spider that, with the trio Alfa
Romeo - Scuderia Ferrari - Carrozzeria Zagato, brought countless victories in the homeland and
abroad for the honour of Italy."

Even the grandiose Quadrifoglio Verde was placed on the bodies of Zagatos of the Alfa Corse
team numerous times. Among the most glorious moments is the victory of the Formula 1
championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa Romeo 159 bodied by Zagato, as well as
the victorious Alfa Romeo 3000 CM bodied in 3 samples by Zagato.

During the 60's, the list of absolute victories of the Giulia TZ and TZ2 by Zagato for the Autodelta
of Ing. Carlo Chiti, was never-ending. Some of the most memorable victories included the 1964 12
hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nurburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans.
The single-brand Alfa Romeo S.Z. championship emphasized the Alfa Romeo ES30's
(Experimental SportsCar 3000) technical and dynamic abilities. The S.Z. delivered, and continues
to so today, constant performance and driving pleasure to the Gentlemen drivers of the Alfa Zagato
team, across the most important racetracks in Europe.

2010 Caterham Seven Lambretta Special Edition

English car company Caterham Cars will be releasing a special edition of the Caterham Seven later this year.

The Lambretta Special Edition uses a 1.6 liter Ford Sigma powerplant, which delivers 125 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque. The unit is matted to a five speed manual gearbox and pushes the car to 60 mph in six seconds. The trendy Caterham uses a “purposeful chassis” that allows it to offer exceptional handling.

The Caterham Seven sportcar from Lambretta features a unique body paint, a combination of red, white and blue, based on the Union Jack. The same combination is used on the decals and livery, leather seats, dash, carpets and boot allowing for a proper homage to the heritage of the U.K.


Caterham Special Edition Seven exterior features a unique paints that includes with decals that matches leather seats, dashboard, carpet and boot.

The price for this special edition is £26,995.





Press Release

LAMBRETTA'S TAKE ON A CATERHAM SEVEN

Caterham Cars has teamed up with another iconic British company, Lambretta Clothing, to give its legendary Seven sportscar a visual overhaul for a unique 2010 Special Edition.

The British-owned fashion label, which is based in London's famous Carnaby Street, has drawn on its characteristic flair and rich heritage in popular culture to create a bespoke, custom-tailored Caterham, which screams ‘Britannia'.

The body paint, decals and livery leave you in no doubt of its geographic heritage with the Union Jack's unmistakable hue of red, white and blue dressing the paintwork.

Naturally, the theme continues inside with a matching colour scheme spanning the leather seats, dash, carpets and boot. Hand-stitched seat piping, embossed Lambretta motifs and a stylish Moto-Lita steering wheel finish the interior detailing.

Under the skin, the engineering is pure Caterham.

Powered by a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, which pushes out 125bhp, the Lambretta Special Edition can call upon 120lbs ft of torque to propel its lightweight frame to 60mph in six seconds. The marriage of a quick-fire five-speed gearbox, with a purposeful chassis, provides the responsiveness and handling characteristics every Seven is famous for.

Available immediately, the Caterham Seven Lambretta Special Edition is priced at £26,995 OTR.

Lambretta's managing director, Rob Harmer explained: "Designing the exterior and interior of a car is an entirely different challenge to our core business of fashion and accessories, but there are clearly some shared philosophies between the two companies, which made this collaboration so exciting."

Lawrence Tomlinson adds to growing automotive portfolio

Iconic British car marque Ginetta, has extended its road car proposition by acquiring Bath-based supercar manufacturer Farbio Sports Cars. Driving the potential deal is Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson, who acquired Ginetta in 2005 and has pushed the sports car maker to new levels.

With three highly successful one-make championships and the GT winning G50 which has beaten the likes of Aston Martin, the Leeds-based manufacturer has become a major player on the global motorsport scene.

Meanwhile, Farbio, which was established in 2005 by former racing driver Chris Marsh, offers a stunning lightweight British supercar in the form of the Farbio GTS and its enhanced performance models the GTS350 and GTS400. The cars unique selling point comes in its ground-breaking carbon fibre body which is manufactured at specialist facilities at Farbio's Bath factory - and ensures that the cars are lighter than an average Ford Fiesta at just 1048 kg.


With the top of the range GTS400 reaching an impressive 410bhp, Farbio has produced a super quick road car with the handling of a race car. It has received phenomenal press reviews, with the Sunday Times calling the GTS400 "one of the best cars this country has ever produced". Farbio has already set up an impressive worldwide Dealer Network and the fusion of the two marques will add to the global presence of the automotive group. A rebadged Ginetta F400 was unveiled today at Silverstone by Tomlinson and Marsh

Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson said: "I have been continually impressed by Farbio - Chris Marsh and his team have established a car which incorporates complex design with obvious beauty. The acquisition by Ginetta will mean that we can further develop on the existing carbon fibre component facility which is housed at Bath whilst using Ginetta's considerable motorsport credentials and inherently strong brand identity to propel a road car to international acclaim. I am very confident that bringing Farbio under the Ginetta marque will be an incredibly positive move."

Managing Director, Chris Marsh has followed the Ginetta brand since its acquisition by Tomlinson. He added "The accomplishments that have been made by Ginetta have been fantastic. I have been following Lawrence's achievements over the past years, having been at Le Mans for his first win in 2006 and am very much looking forward to working with him and his team to expand and develop the brand. Both companies will mutually benefit from their individual qualities and strengths resulting in a strong and enhanced global position in the sports car market".

Chris Marsh will remain as Managing Director with the existing team set to expand significantly. The Farbio brand will be re-named Ginetta.


About Ginetta

Ginetta is an iconic British sports car manufacturer which has been building road and race cars since 1958.

Today the Yorkshire-based company is a major player on the motorsport scene in the UK and abroad. Its own three single-make Championships, two of which support the prestigious BTCC series, are renowned for their entertaining close racing.

Multi-marque racing at GT level with the G50 and the Ginetta-Zytek's LMP1 and LMP2 cars complete the career ladder opportunities starting from 14 years old in the Ginetta Junior car.

In 2008 Ginetta Cars was awarded the title of ‘Small Business of the Year' by the Motorsport Industry Association and in the same year the Ginetta G50 was crowned Autosport's Car of the Year. In June 2009, Team LNT raced a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S in the premier LMP1 class at Le Mans with Formula One icon Nigel Mansell competing in the same car at the Le Mans Series finale in September.

Ginetta's latest launch the G40, was unveiled to international acclaim at Autosport International in January 2010. The multi-platform road and race car will hit grids in April 2010.
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Geneva 2010: NLV Quant Concept

The second generation NVL Quant made its public debut in front of media yesterday in Geneva, bringing with it what NVL Solar, its creator, calls "a breakthrough the market eagerly has been anticipating for years." While this last statement is a matter of interpretation, the Quant does bring a range of interesting features. The most exciting thing about it, however, is the promise to turn production version rather sooner than later.


Set to be production ready next year, the Quant was designed to prove "cutting-edge supercars can combine speed, comfort and enjoyment with environmental integrity." It features two different battery systems ("a long-life metal-air battery or a rechargeable redox flow cell"), four torque-vectoring electric motors, a full carbon fiber chassis, and a revolutionary thin-film coated photovoltaic body.


The Quant has some initial performance figures which would give a regular, internal combustion engined supercar, a good run for its money: 2.8 seconds 0-100 km/h acceleration time and a top speed of 377 km/h (234 mph).


The latter converts light into electricity to supply the operating electronics and the battery. While it's a bit technical, NLV says the coating has "an average photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 38%, depending on ambient conditions, and a peak performance of over 50%." More importantly, the company believes they can tune the material's absorption characteristics to create multiple layers with their own unique absorption frequency. As impressive as this is, NLV estimates the film will have a degradation coefficient of only 5-6% over 20 years.


The Quant comes with four airbags, ABS and ESP, two infotainment panels for the rear seats, zone Climate Control system, LED front and rear lights and, la piece de resistance, NLV photovoltaic thin film solar coating all over the body of the car.


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Press Release

NLV Solar AG, a pioneer in photovoltaics and accumulator technology, have joined forces to create the Quant sport. The brainchild of this marriage of power and energy is a four-seater electric car - a breakthrough the market eagerly has been anticipating for years. A prototype is to be unveiled at the Motor Show Geneva 2010, with currently working to scale up for series production.

The NLV Quant is an exciting, revolutionary automotive project. Within the coming year, the NLV Quant will be fully engineered and ready for production. You can follow the last few stages. The design, drive system, range and photovoltaics of the Quant are already spectacular and record-breaking as individual components, and we believe that together they will mark a milestone in automotive history.

Technics

The NLV Quant is proof that cutting-edge supercars can combine speed, comfort and enjoyment with environmental integrity. It implents the mobile energy technology of the future. The NLV Quant has two different battery systems, a torque vectoring with 4 electric motors and a full carbon chassis. A thin-film coated photvoltaic car body supplies the operating electronics and also supports the battery. Gull-wing doors provide easy access to all four passengers.

Carbon Chassis

A reason for the car's low weight is the utilisation of a carbon-fibre monotube backbone chassis, construction, which houses the FAES system safely inside the centreline of the car at the lowest possible position, bringing down the centre of gravity and central mass point.

Using tradition lay-up, the vacuum bag generates the pressure for consolidating the carbon plies. In RTM process there are two moulds and the pressure comes only from the resin pump. The design becomes quite critical as inner and outer skin has to be perfectly defines in order to have a designed volume matching exactly the tooling volume. The risk is to have voids generated by not precise fitting of the inner cores.

Thin Film

The NLV Quant is coated with a thin film made of pyrite, which converts light into electricity to supply the operating electronics and also support the battery. This innovative pyrite technology is cost-effective, efficient and ecological.

NLV Solar AG has developed an iron-sulphur composite semiconductor using digital prototyping, with very promising results. The research indicates:

• an average photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 38%, depending on ambient conditions, and a peak performance of over 50%

• the possibility of fine-tuning the material's absorption characteristics by modification of its crystal lattice structure using ion implantation; stacked in a multilayer thin-film cell, it would be possible to tune each layer to a different target absorption frequency

• as a thin-film cell, the material could be applied to substrates in a transparent, semi-transparent or tinted coating

• the projected degradation coefficient is only 5-6% over 20 years

Electric Power

The NLV Quant allows for the modular installation of either a long-life metal-air battery or a rechargeable redox flow cell. These are both future-oriented, secure energy sources which help give the Quant exceptional power and range.

Speed

The projected curb weight of 1680 kg is very light considering that it is a battery-powered, four-seater, luxury performance car. This is partly due to the four-motor installation- a remarkable achievement which allows the NLV Quant to deliver 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 377 km/h.

Gullwing

The gull-wing doors set the NLV Quant apart from any other four-seaters on the market. As well as being a stylish feature, they also make entry to the car more ergonomic, thanks to the lack of B-pillars. They provide easy access to both the front and rear passenger seats. The unique split side-lite feature allows either passenger to open and close the front and rear side windows separately, despite the fact that there is only one door per side.

Preliminary Specs

• Power: 600 kW ( 4x 150 kW), 800 bhp
• Rotation speed 12'000 U/min
• Torque: 1500 nm
• 0-100 km/h: 2,8 seconds
• Top speed: 377 km/h
• Curb weight: 1680 kg
• Wheelbase 3102 mm
• Track - Front: 1730 mm; rear: 1729 mm
• Wheels/tyres ? front: 245/35 - 23"; rear: 285/30 - 23" - low friction tyres
• Width: 2016 mm incl. rear-view mirrors; length: 4879 mm; height: 1335 mm
• Rear-wheel drive
• Four-wheel brake regeneration
• Minimum 4 airbags, ABS and ESP and torque vectoring
• 2 infotainment panels Adjustable rear seats
• 3 zone Climate Control system
• Generous leg room in the rear
• LED front and rear lights
• Body covered in NLV photovoltaic thin film solar coating
• Accumulator with cooling liquid (weight ca. 500kg)
• Operating voltage 420 V
• Inverter voltage 350 V
• Price: TBD

Features

• NLV Quant has two different battery systems: on the one hand, purely conventional accumulator technology with a transition metal and air mixture, and on the other hand, a pure redox flow cell

• Thin-film photovoltaic coating of car body and windows

• Torque vectoring with 4 electric motors for wheel-specific torque distribution to enhance the vehicle's agility and stability

• Full Carbon chassis and carbon body

• Minimised running and manufacturing costs thanks to new technology

• Optimised safety

• Unique/functional design, vehicle comfort and loading capacity