2015 BMW M4 Spy Photos

What It Is: A coupe companion to the recently launched IS that may be badged as the RC. Lexus holds trademarks on both “RC350” and “RC F,” and such a change to the two-door IS’s moniker would make sense considering the trend in this direction—the coupe version of Audi’s A4 being called A5, and BMW recently opting to launch the latest 3-series coupe as the 4-series. This particular example is a step up from the 306-hp IS350 F Sport not just in performance, but in attitude. That’s evident in the flared fenders hiding under that cute curlicue camo, the functional hood scoop, an abundance of oversized intakes and vents, and the lip spoiler.

Why It Matters: Lexus’s vice president of international operations, Mark Templin, told Automotive News, “The coupe market is . . . not an enormous market, but it's an important segment in terms of what it does for image. I think a coupe could change perceptions of our brand." He’s right. And taking the fight to AMG, M, and Quattro is a fine place to start.

Platform: The RC F will make use of the same humble architecture as does the IS350 F Sport and the standard IS, which is a truncated version of the GS’s underpinnings. The IS’s double-A-arm front suspension and multilink rear setup will have spent a substantial amount of time at the Nürburgring being optimized in order to match the times of the RC F’s German competition.

Powertrain: The 5.0-liter V-8 that motivated the IS F likely won’t live to see Lexus’s new-gen F offerings. With the eight-pot unlikely to meet Euro 6 emissions standards, we expect a switch to a forced-induction version of the 3.5-liter V-6 used in a number of “350”-badged Lexuses. This engine features a unique twin-injection setup—that’s direct and port—and was previously supercharged for Toyota’s Japanese-market Mark X +M Supercharger model. In that application, the mill produced 360 horsepower but expect Lexus to get output nearer 450 horses. There is some question, however, as to whether the brand will continue development with the supercharger or if a switch to turbocharging is in the works. Judging by the video below, however, it sounds as though a new-generation V-8 could be powering Lexus's new breed of F variants. But without a clearer audio sample or witnessing the RC F's bark in person, we believe that it's possible that this is the growl of the brand'sbaritone 3.5-liter V-6 in a heavily modified state of tune.

Don’t expect anything other than an automatic—Lexus previously told us it estimated it sold just one manual-equipped IS in all of 2012—and a return of the eight-speed in the current IS F wouldn’t be surprising. It’s possible that Lexus will turn to all-wheel drive, although we believe that with such an emphasis being placed on this car’s emotional component, rear-wheel drive will be the only way to go.

Competition: Audi RS5, BMW M4, Cadillac ATS-V, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe.

Estimated Arrival and Price: We hear that the RC will bow this fall. There happen to be two shows opening simultaneously in November: Los Angeles and Tokyo. Considering the former is of utmost importance to the brand and the latter is its home market, we’d put our money on one of those two—if not a joint debut. The F variant, however, likely won’t be revealed to the public until some months thereafter. Lexus will have the Germans firmly in its sights, and a base price in the low-$60,000 range—the norm for the segment—seems logical. 

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Son of Supra

Rumors of a 500-hp supercar from Toyota have been floating about for the past year. One insider suggested the car wouldn't launch until Toyota's Formula 1 fortunes include some podium finishes. So, given last season's undistinguished F1 performances, the supercar may still be a way off. Nonetheless, Toyota crews were recently spied testing a prototype on the road.

From these images we can glean that the supercar will be Toyota's most outrageous project to date. Early reports suggested the car would be powered by a mid-engined, detuned version of the Formula 1 V-10. The latest intelligence indicates the engine will be mounted in front and will be a 4.5-liter V-10 jointly developed by Toyota and Yamaha. It won't be related to Toyota's F1 V-10.

The supercar's engine is expected to produce at least 480 horsepower, possibly even 500. One source hinted that the supercar may employ hybrid technology, which would boost fuel economy as well as torque, but we couldn't confirm that.

Problems can arise from such sleek, low-slung bodies, requiring some clever packaging solutions. Even experienced eyes have been stumped by spy photos that show insufficient front air intakes or cooling ducts necessary for a 500-hp engine. The absence of these items seems to indicate a rear-engine placement, but in fact, the engine is in front, and the radiators are in the rear fenders, just below the tacked-on taillights. Camouflage attempts to hide these ducts. These renderings show ducting up front, but we were told it will be for aerodynamics and brake cooling.

Just as Toyota is developing a supercar to take on the likes of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Ferrari, and even the upcoming 450-hp Nissan Skyline GT-R, internal dissension threatens the existence of this project. One faction is concerned that a company so rooted in hybrid powertrains and fuel economy will damage its image by producing a ridiculously high-powered two-seat vehicle. The opposing faction welcomes the supercar but is hotly debating whether to use a high-output version of the 5.0-liter V-8 from the upcoming redesigned Lexus LS sedan or build the V-10. Arguably, the V-10 would give the supercar a bit more prestige and distinction, but a V-8 would cost less, perform similarly, and likely swill less fuel.

So we know there is a V-10 lurking under the hood of the prototypes, but will that change before the $100,000-to-$120,000 car goes on sale as early as 2006? One thing is certain: If the Toyota Formula 1 effort snatches a couple of victories, Toyota will want to celebrate in a big way. What could be better than a supercar?

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Lexus GS

What It Is: A completely undisguised Lexus GS sedan prototype decked out in high-performance, F-style gear. Lexus’s high-performance F sub-brand is similar in concept to BMW’s M or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG, but has thus far only churned out the IS F sedan and the LFA supercar as full-fledged models, as well as a passel of F Sport–branded trim levels for theIS, GS, and LS. Currently, the GS sedan lineup consists on the GS350, GS350 F Sport, and GS450h hybrid.

Why It Matters: If this test mule indeed previews a production GS F sedan, it would continue the mainstream expansion of Lexus’s F sub-brand, which will also launch the RC F—the F variant of the IS’s coupe sibling—next year. Furthermore, a true supersedan from Lexus finally would give its customers an alternative to stuff like the M5, the E63 AMG, or the Audi S6.

Platform: The GS F would get a completely worked-over chassis, and perhaps even some enhancements to the body structure to further stiffen things up. You can count on the sedan spending a decent amount of time circling Germany’s Nürburgring circuit, because, well, you can’t put out a performance variant anymore without claiming it was tuned on the ’Ring. Visually, the GS F will be set apart by subtly pumped-up styling, some of which is visible in these photos. The stacked exhaust finishers are an F signature, and the rear diffuser element and rear lip spoiler are spicier than even those of the GS F Sport. The front of the car can’t be seen in these shots, but look for the front clip to get sassier.

Powertrain: When our spy photographers recently captured the smaller RC F coupe testing, they managed to snag a video of the car in motion. The audio for that clip seemed to indicate eight-cylinder power, which could mean a V-8 will slide into the larger GS F, too. Currently, no GS offers more than six cylinders. An eight-cylinder engine would go a long way to differentiate the GS F and give it a fighting chance at taking on the M5, S6, and E63 AMG, all of which are powered by twin-turbo V-8s. We expect the Lexus to be rear-drive, but it could potentially incorporate theGS350 AWD’s four-wheel-drive components to better match up with the S6 and E63 AMG 4MATIC.

Competition: Audi S6, BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

Estimated Arrival and Price: This GS F prototype seems pretty far along in its gestation, which indicates its reveal is just around the corner. We expect a debut next spring, and it should hit dealer lots a few months later as a 2015 model. Expect to pay a hefty premium over the GS350 F Sport, with the starting price approaching $70,000.

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Porsche

What It Is: Porsche’s upcoming mid-size SUV, the Macan, caught testing wearing almost no camouflage. The Macan, which carried a code name of Cajun—short for “Cayenne Junior”—is smaller than the Cayenne and designed to bring even more buyers into the Porsche fold. Our spy photographers previously captured a Macan prototype out for testing, but it had considerably more camouflage than the car you see here. We’ve also gleaned new details about the Macan’s powertrain in the interim.

Why It Matters: Although brand purists will cry foul, the Macan is poised to become quite the moneymaker for Porsche. Of course, this cash flow will help bankroll the cars these purists love—the excellent Cayman,Boxster, and 911—in a similar fashion to the successful Cayenne and Panamera. The smaller, more affordable Macan also gives Porsche a seat at the table in the ultra-hot luxury-crossover segment.

Platform: If the Porsche Macan’s basic stance and profile seem familiar, that’s because underneath, it’s an Audi Q5. Some dimensions will be altered for the Porsche, including its width (which will grow) and height (which will shrink). As is visible in these photos, the Macan will have Porsche-specific styling, right down to its sporty door mirrors and intake-riddled front end. This prototype is wearing odd headlight and taillight stickers intended to throw off an examination of those critical styling elements, but the cut-line for the front peepers is visible and roughly mimics those of the Cayman and Panamera. The fascia carries a heavy Cayenne vibe, as do the body sides and roofline. Out back, the rear window is steeply raked, and the fast D-pillar is stylishly thick, if detrimental to blind-spot visibility. Overall, the car closely imitates the Cayenne, but with smaller, tighter, and even sportier proportions.

Powertrain: The Macan will come in two trim levels: S and Turbo. Both will be powered by versions of Porsche’s new twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine, which was introduced via the 2014 Panamera. Expect the base S variant to make 340 horsepower, while the more powerful and sportier Turbo will get a solid 400. (Based on the big wheels, red brake calipers, and quad exhaust outlets on the test car pictured here, it’s a good bet this is the zestier Turbo model.) Look for all-wheel drive to be standard, as it is in the Cayenne. As for the transmission, a seven-speed dual-clutch unit is most likely.

Competition: Audi Q5, BMW X3/X4, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes-Benz GLK-class.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The Macan will be introduced this fall at the Los Angeles auto show, and should go on sale shortly thereafter at a starting price of around $45,000. Actual transaction prices, of course, will depend heavily on how deep customers plunge into Porsche’s vast options and personalization catalog. A well-optioned Macan Turbo could pack an eye-wateringly expensive sticker. 

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BMW Z4 sDrive18i

The BMW Z4 sDrive18i convertible is the entry-level model in BMW’s facelifted Z4 range.

 

 

It uses a lower-output version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine found in the sDrive20i and sDrive28i, resulting in a less expensive list price of £27,615.
Opting for the sDrive18i saves approximately £2100 compared with the previous base model, the sDrive20i, but it also dispenses with some of the kit. Dual-zone climate control and rain-sensing wipers are, for example, optional instead of standard.
As well as the new engine option, the facelifted Z4 benefits from small cosmetic tweaks to keep it fresh among rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK. These include white LED ‘corona’ rings around the headlamps and a smattering of chrome trim.

Under the BMW’s bonnet, you’ll find a 154bhp 2.0-litre ‘TwinPower Turbo’ engine, which features a single twin-scroll turbo and variable valve lift and cam timing control. The combination of these technologies allows it to generate 177lb ft between 1250rpm and 4400rpm.
Although its modest power output translates to a tame but acceptable 0-62mph time of 7.9sec, its wide spread of torque means that the BMW feels flexible and punchy, even in higher gears.
It sounds moderately potent, too, with frequent flutters from its wastegate, audible turbo spooling and a satisfying burble on overrun.
There are no improvements in efficiency, though. The sDrive18i’s combined 41.5mpg and 159g/km of CO2 are the same as the 181bhp 20i’s and 241bhp 28i’s.
Drive is transmitted to the rear by a six-speed manual gearbox. It offers a decent selection of ratios and a short and swift shift action, allowing you to make good use of the power on offer, but its action is baulky and notchy.
The car we drove had several options, most notably 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive M Sport suspension, sports seats and a Comfort pack that includes a rear wind deflector.
Although the Z4 has sporting pretensions, it doesn’t quite deliver on the road. The steering is precise and has enough weighting to avoid feeling nervous, and there’s plenty of grip, but it lacks feedback or consistency as you apply lock. This can make the BMW feel a little disconcerting around high-speed corners.
The ride, although firm, is tolerable. The BMW Z4’s brakes are also strong and progressive, the clutch smooth and the throttle precise and easily modulated. The quality and layout of the cabin is good, too, the kit levels are acceptable and the folding hard-top drops quickly at the press of a button. In terms of usability, the Z4 is excellent.

Overall, the BMW Z4 sDrive18i is tempting option. For one thing, its stylish looks garner it plenty of attention. It’s also quite fun to drive, comfortable, relatively frugal, well built and refined – even with the top down at motorway speeds.
It’s ideal for those more interested in ease of use and appearance than outright performance. Be careful with options, though, or the final price will quickly spiral. You'll pay £27,615 for the standard model but our test car, with several options, was priced at £36,420.


BMW Z4 sDrive 18i
Price                                   £27,615;
 0-62mph                              7.9sec; 
Top speed  ;                         137mph
 Economy                            41.5mpg (combined);
 CO2                                  159g/km;
 Kerb weight                       1505kg;
 Engine                                4 cyls in line, 1997cc, turbocharged, petrol;
 Power                                 154bhp at 5000rpm; 
Torque                                 177lb ft at 1250-4400rpm;
 Gearbox                             6spd manual

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Vauxhall Adam

Vauxhall Adam gets new 1.0-litre engine

New three-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 113bhp, expected to average over 50mpg and claimed to be as refined as a four-cylinder

An all-new three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is being added to the Vauxhall Adam line-up next year.

The 1.0-litre unit is the first in Vauxhall's new SGE (Small Gasoline Engine) family and will spawn other lightweight aluminium three and four-cylinder petrol engines of between 1.0 and 1.6 litres.
Vauxhall's 1.0-litre Adam produces 113bhp and 122lb ft of torque (available at 1800-4700rpm), and will partner a new six-speed gearbox.
The new 1.0-litre engine, which has a lightweight aluminium cylinder block, uses direct injection and continuously variable valve timing to help deliver the required performance and efficiency.
Countering the typical offbeat running characteristics of a three-cylinder engine is a chain-driven balancer shaft mounted in the sump. Noise reduction features include acoustically-optimised engine covers, a specially tuned intake system and a low-hiss turbocharger compressor.
Refinement is said to match a four-pot’s, while economy is claimed to beat the 44.1mpg of the Astra’s naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine by 20 per cent, suggesting an combined fuel consumption of around 53mpg.
"In developing this small engine, we not only set out to to minimise fuel consumption and CO2 emissions but we also wanted to demonstrate that three cylinders can be just as refined as four or more," said Dr. Matthias Alt, chief engineer of Vauxhall's Small Gasoline Engines division.

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New Jaguar F-Type

It's a cloudy, muggy, rainy day here in Mumbai, but we've got our own little ray of sunshine today – Jaguar's fabulous new F-Type. Now we already know this is a stunning sportscar, and looking at the spec sheet we can tell it’s going to be seriously quick too. Question is, how well does it work as a GT and a sportscar? And more importantly, how well will it work in Indian conditions? Will it be both useable on a regular basis as well as a hoot to drive when the opportunity arises? Those are the answers we are looking for during our first drive of this car on Indian soil.
The conditions the new F-Type has to face on Mumbai’s streets are nothing short of challenging. With our monsoon-damaged roads looking like they’ve recently been the recipients of a carpet bombing, and traffic at its snarly worst, this 488bhp rag top has its work cut out. There are a couple of areas in and around the island city where we will be able to give this car a brief workout, and we’ll be headed there as well. But enough perspective; now let’s dive straight into the car.

 

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

V8 S: Rs 1.61 crore, V6 S: Rs 1.37 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai)

Engine

Fuel	Petrol
Installation	Front, longitudinal, RWD
Type	V8, 5000cc

Transmission

Type	8-speed automatic

Dimensions

Length	4470mm
Width	1923mm
Height	1296mm
Wheel base	2622mm
Boot volume	196litres

Suspension

Front	Double wishbone, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear	Double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar

Brakes

Front	380mm ventilated discs
Rear	376mm ventilated discs
Anti-lock	Yes

Economy

Tank size

72 litres



 

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BMW 1-series

BMW will launch the 1-series in India on September 3 with petrol and diesel engine options. Pre-bookings for the car are on.

 

 

The 1-series will come with two engine options, a petrol and diesel. The 118d is powered by the 1997cc diesel motor that we have seen in other BMW models. The motor is, however, detuned to 143bhp for the 1-series, and that gives it an edge over Mercedes' A 180 CDI.
The petrol motor is also a hi-tech 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection motor that also powers the Mini Cooper and Cooper S. The engine in the 1-series develops a healthy 136bhp of power. BMW claims that the diesel engine-equipped 1-series will return 20.58kpl, whereas the petrol will return16.28kpl. The car will also come with auto Start/Stop function, which should boost efficiency.
Both motors will come mated with 8-speed automatic gearboxes only. BMW will also tweak the suspension of the 1-series to cope with Indian roads.
The 1-series, true to BMW genetics, has a longitudnal engine, rear-wheel drive layout and 50:50 weight distribution, and will surely spice up the luxury hatchback segment here. The German carmaker has already started testing the car in India.
BMW has already begun accepting pre-bookings for the 1-series. What's more, the carmaker is also offering its 'BMW Service Inclusive Plus' package free of cost for the first 100 customers. According to the carmaker, this includes services "as often as necessary" within the inclusive period, with the added bonus of avoiding the inconvenience of discussing cost estimates and undertaking financial transactions at every workshop visit.
The car would be locally produced at the BMW plant in Chennai, so expect prices to be in the range of around Rs 20-25 lakh.

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Jaguar C-X75

he Jaguar C-X75 prototype supercar won’t go into production, but Jaguar has released a new behind-the-scenes video that gives a tantalising glimpse of what might have been, and which also shows the extensive development work that went into creating the hybrid-powered supercar.

Jaguar unveiled the C-X75 concept car in 2010, and it eveloved from a design study to a fully working prototype in just two years. In that time, Jaguar and development partner Williams Advanced Engineering created an four-wheel drive, plug-in parallel hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with Jaguar’s first carbon composite monocoque chassis.

The C-X75 has a combined power output of more than 850bhp and dvelops 738lb ft of torque. Its powertrain comines a 1.6-litre turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine plant that generates 502bhp with two electric motors – one for each axle – that give a further 385bhp.

Jaguar claims the C-X75 can accelerate from 0-100mph in less than six seconds, thanks in partly to a seven-speed automated transmission that with gearshifts that take less than 200 milliseconds. Top speed is expected to be about 220mph.

Despite its performance, Jaguar says the C-X75 can run for about 30 miles in pure electric vehicle mode, while overall CO2 emissions are less than 89g/km. Jaguar took the decision not to build a production version in 2012.

It’s a pity they scraped the project, we hope to see it again some day especially as it could have given real competition to the likes of Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1!

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Bentley Continental Supersports

Bentley Continental

       

The current Bentley Continental Supersports was released in 2009 and for the 2014 model year Bentley is working on a new high-performance flagship coupe, according to sources from Bentley. The new model will be placed between the current GT Speed that delivers a total of 616 horsepower and the upcoming road-going Continental GT3 rumored to deliver a total of 675 horsepower.

The new Continental Supersports will feature carbon-fiber panels, stiffer suspension and a twin-turbo W-12 engine that will deliver around 650 horsepower. As you can see, the output will represent a modest increase of just 30 horsepower over the GT Speed model, but Bentley officials confirm that "Supersports wouldn’t be all about pure power."

The company will also focus on reducing the car’s total weight, revising the chassis settings and improving braking power. Rumors suggest that in order to reduce the car’s weight Bentley could also drop the rear seats, while the front ones will be made in lightweight composites.

Hit the jump to learn more about the Continental Supersports.

Updated 04/02/2013: Today we have created a very nice rendering for the upcoming Continental Supersports. Let us know what do you think in the comments section below.

History

            

Bentley unveiled the Continental Supersports at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show and it arrived on the U.S. market in the summer of 2010. The model was not only the most powerful Continental ever launched, but also the first Bentley capable of running on both petrol (gasoline) and biofuel (E85 ethanol).

The model was offered in both coupe and convertible models and shortly after the convertible arrived on the market, it set a new world record on ice, as it hit a top speed of 205.48 mph on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea. In order to commemorate this event, Bentley offered a special Supersports ’Ice Speed Record’ convertible that was limited to just 100 units.

Competition

Usually Bentley models aim at models from Rolls Royce, but the Supersports version has raised the performance bar pretty high, causing a change of direction.

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Aston Martin DBR1

As promised at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin unveiled today, May 19, 2013 at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race the exceptional CC100 Speedster Concept - a vehicle specially designed to celebrate the company’s centenary. The CC100 made its debut by lapping the the circuit together with the 1959 DBR1 - the model that inspired. Behind the wheel was Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

The new CC100 measures 4,5 m (177.16 inches) in length and 2 m (78.74 inches) in width, and, according to the first details offered by the company it features hint at potential future design direction.

Aston Martin DBR1

                      

Starting in 1956, Aston Martin built the DBR1 to race in the World Sportscar Championship and other races of the era. The DBR1 came with a 250-horsepower 2.5-liter straight-six-cylinder engine, which had a lot to do with its 1959 victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Following the 1959 victory, the DBR1 project was scrapped and the remaining models were sold off to private owners. Its last victory came in 1960 when a privateer piloted the DBR1/2 to a first-place finish in the 1960 Rouen Grand Prix. The DBR1 models lasted another two years in the racing scene until retiring after the 1962 season.

The DBR1 is now one of the most sought after Aston Martin collector cars.

Press Release

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in world-class style with the debut today (19 May) of the exceptional CC100 Speedster Concept.

                      

Created as a stunning celebration of the great British brand’s 100 years of sports car excellence the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 – Aston Martin’s greatest sporting triumph on the track – and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction.

The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept car today makes its world debut by completing a lap of the famous Nordschleife at Germany’s ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. It is lapping the circuit together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1 with British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. It is the most tangible expression yet of the brand’s year-long 2013 centenary celebrations.

                      

Viewed by tens of thousands of lucky spectators in Germany, the radical speedster is being driven today by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. He said: “CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. It represents our fantastic sporting heritage, our exceptional design capability, our superb engineering know-how and, above all, our adventurous spirit!

“I have nicknamed it ‘DBR100’ because of its affinity to the great 1959 race-winning cars and, of course, our 100-year anniversary in 2013.

“But this car is more, even, than a simple ‘birthday present’ to ourselves: it shows that the soul of Aston Martin – the thing that differentiates us from all the other car makers out there – is as powerful as ever and I very much hope that everyone who catches a glimpse of it at the Nürburgring today enjoys seeing it.”

                      

Designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects and Motorsport Director David King, the finished look of the two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand’s Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.

Miles explained: “The brief was very simple, yet enormously testing: create something that reflects the 100 years of Aston Martin heritage and signals the future of the brand.

“The idea of an iconic speedster concept that nods to the Le Mans − and Nürburgring – winning cars of 1959 soon came, and we have had complete freedom to shape this car.”

   

Marek Reichman said: “I’m extremely proud of the entire team at Gaydon for creating this remarkable sports car concept in such a short time.

“The need to create a truly fitting tribute to 100 years of the Aston Martin brand has brought out the creativity and talent that makes Aston Martin such an exceptional luxury sports car maker.”

Measuring almost four and a half metres nose to tail, and more than two metres wide (including mirrors) the Speedster Concept body is a classic example of the almost infinitely flexible nature of Aston Martin’s trademark Vertical Horizontal engineering philosophy.

With a body and interior crafted from carbon fibre, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, the CC100 utilises the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. Controlled via steering column-mounted paddle shifts the lightweight ‘box delivers truly sporting changes perfectly suited to the Speedster’s track-focused nature.

                      

The drivetrain will power the CC100 from rest to 62 mph in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph.

Dr Bez added: “The future of Aston Martin is, very clearly, more exciting now than perhaps at any time in its history and I’m looking forward to seeing the excitement and anticipation that CC100 creates among Aston Martin owners and enthusiasts worldwide.”

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DC Avanti

Overall

India is certainly very excited to get its very own supercar. DC Design revealed DC Avanti, which is India’s first ever supercar at the Auto Expo 2012, which was held in New Delhi in the month of January 2012. The car got an amazing response at the expo and the company is very keen to bring it into the Indian car market by 2013. The major highlight is the price of DC Avanti. DC Design has announced that the price tag of this new supercar will range between Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh.

The production of DC Avanti will begin in 2013 as confirmed by DC Design. At the launch of the project, Mr. Dilip Chhabria of DC Design, the firm was extremely excited to bring in DC Avanti to the Indian market. India’s very own supercar is certainly sleek, stylish and agile in all ways. The design of this supercar is very stylish and the car is developed under the keen surveillance of DC Design’s highly qualified engineers. Currently, the company aims to produce about 300 units of DC Avanti in 2013-14 and if all worked according to the plan then the firm will certainly rev up the production to touch the four figures every year. DC Design aims on manufacturing 200 cars a year, which means it would produce one car every two days. They also have plans to slowly expand that number to 2000 cars annually.

Talking about the engine and power of the supercar, DC Avanti will be blessed with the revolutionary Ford EcoBoost 2.0 litre of four cylinder DOHC 16 valve engine with variable valve timing technology, which in turn will help the engine to deliver high class power and torque. This 2.0 litre of EcoBoost engine keeps the ability to churn out maximum power of 240 BHP at the rate of 5500 rpm along with generating 366 Nm of peak torque at the rate of 3500 rpm that will aid the car to improve the thrust and tractability. Besides the powerful and strappy engine, the new DC Avanti will also feature the latest electronics that will assist to deliver well on the mileage front. The engine is Euro 4 and 5 compliant, which mean it, would be perfect for the export markets as well.

The engine is intelligently mated with six speed manual gearbox. This six speed transmission is reliable and robust and certainly performs very well. In future, the DC Design will also offer six speed dial clutch power shift unit that would further enhance the driving experience for the owner considerably. Coming to the design part of DC Avanti, this supercar is certainly light weight but comes with a strong frame chassis that uses a perfect mix of square, round and rectangular sections to provide more rigidity and strength across its dynamic spectrum. With 19 inches of tyres, this supercar will zoom away with the top speed of 250 km per hour.

To make DC Avanti a safe ride, the engineers are working on its safety features, which would include in anti lock braking system along with SRS air bag technology. The ride and handling will also be flawless as it is being done by global experts. All this and more will be offered in DC Avanti thereby making it the best in the country.

DC Avanti Models

DC Avanti Models

DC Avanti 2.0 L

DC Avanti Mileage

Being a supercar, high mileage is not expected from DC Avanti. But, as DC Avanti is an Indian supercar, it will manage to generate a decent amount of fuel economy. India is a country where people are obsessed with mileage therefore; the new DC Avanti is expected to churn out about 10 to 14 km per litre of mileage, which is certainly very impressive. With the 2.0 litre of EcoBoost engine churning out maximum power of 240 BHP accompanied with 366 Nm of peak torque the fuel economy is likely to be inspiring. What further enhances the mileage is the six speed manual transmission that will be mated with the 2.0 litre of petrol engine.

Power of DC Avanti

Recently introduced India’s very own DC Avanti Supercar was a surprise for the Indian consumers. DC Design’s DC Avanti came up to be terrific so far. Under the bonnet, the car comes with a powerful and responsive Ford’s 2.0 litre of EcoBoost four cylinder DOHC 16 valves petrol engine that has been blessed with VVT or variable valve timing technology. This technology assists the car to deliver about 240 BHP of peak power at the rate of 5500 rpm accompanied with 366 Nm of peak torque at the rate of 3500 rpm. Such amount of power and torque furthermore helps the car to enhance the thrust and tractability. The engine has been intelligently coupled with six speed manual gearbox that will moreover make the entire driving experience awe-inspiring and utterly delightful. The engine of DC Avanti is Euro 4 and 5 compliant that means it would be ideal for exports also.

DC Avanti Colours

These colors are available with all variants of DC Avanti

 
Red Metacllic

Acceleration & Pick-Up

For any supercar, it is extremely important to have great acceleration and pick-up and DC Avanti is no different. DC Design have put in a lot effort in each department be it the exteriors, power or the acceleration. The car is powered with 2.0 litre of DOHC 16 valves 4 cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine that is capable of producing 240 BHP of maximum power along with 366 Nm of maximum torque. The six speed manual gearbox helps the car to have great speed and acceleration. DC Avanti has a top speed of 250 km per hour and it merely takes less than 7 sec to touch the mark of 100 km per hour on the speedometer. The 19 inches of tyres further assist in smooth and pleasurable ride even on the rough and rugged Indian terrain.

DC Avanti Exteriors

View DC Avanti Exterior Pictures

According to reports, the car has been named after the Studbaker Avanti that appeared in Tintin comics. The idea behind the Avanti, which means 'forward' in Italian, is to make affordable supercars and the car is expected to be priced at Rs 30 lakh. It is acquired that body and interiors of DC Avanti are being manufactured at DC's Talegaon unit in Pune. The body shell is made of aluminium, while the body panels are made of GRP. It competes with Lotus Evora in looks. Till now DC Design was noted for its design and customization but now they added complete engineering and prototyping to their roster of services.

It is very important for any car to have looks to kill for, only then it is successful in luring the consumers towards it. Therefore, DC Design hasn’t compromised on this point at all. The DC Avanti sports car looks fabulous and is a head turner for sure. The design is sharp, crisp and edgy. Just one look at the car and you would surely fall in love with it starting with front end; DC Avanti’s low slung silhouette is interesting, whereas the sporty amalgamation of convex and concave surfaces is pure delight in every way. With a very proud and impressive stance, DC Avanti comes with flowing strength similar to a wild animal, which is waiting to coil on to its prey. The car is animalistic yet very aesthetic in its look as the highly qualified engineers of DC Design has put in all its heart and soul and finished the car with top-class craftsmanship across the entire DC Avanti. The head lights on the front are stretched out in a very parallelogram pattern and appear to be the strong eyes for DC Avanti. On the rear end, the edgy and sharp curves are accompanied with stylized tail lights giving it a look of a devil in disguise.  This 1562 kgs of supercar by DC Design appears to be inspired from Lotus Evora and not like Ferrari 458.

Exterior Measurements

Talking about the measurements of the stunning DC Avanti, DC Design has made it spectacular as well. DC Avanti has a length of 4623mm accompanied with 1967mm of width and 1213mm of height. The front and rear over hang measures to around 993mm and 930mm respectively. DC Avanti a decent ground clearance of 155mm and wheelbase of 2700 mm. It measures 1560 kg in weight and looks like a rocket propeller from rear.

DC Avanti Interior

View DC Avanti Interior Pictures

India’s very own supercar, DC Avanti is an impressive one for sure. Besides the strappy engine, the car has comfortable and modish interiors, which make sure to provide the passengers with a sporty and lavish feel altogether. Starting with seats, the upholstery is of high quality, which makes the car comfy, relaxing and extremely stylish. The effective air conditioning on the inside makes sure that the drive for the owner is without any trouble or discomfort. Furthermore, company has designed the supercar with utmost care and concern and therefore have provided sufficient amount of headroom and legroom so that a tall person can also adjust inside without of any kind of uneasiness.

DC Avanti Engine and Performance

DC Avanti is India’s first ever supercar and DC Design has not left any stone unturned. DC Avanti promises to deliver an awesome performance in all aspects.  According, to our information, the engines are being tuned in the UK and will be shipped to India in crates where they will be installed the Avanti cars.The car is powered with Ford’s EcoBoost 2.0 litre of DOHC 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine that is very strong, brawny and responsive. The engine proudly produces 240 BHP of maximum power along with 366 Nm of maximum torque. The performance is further enhanced with the six speed manual transmission. What is more interesting here is the mileage delivered by the supercar. DC Avanti engine is powerful and strappy that helps the car to deliver an impressive mileage of 10 to 14 km per litre. It would be really exciting to see how DC Avanti actually performs on the Indian roads when it is launched in 2013. In future one could also expect a six speed dual clutch automatic transmission. It is also speculated that after the Ford’s petrol engine, a turbo V6 Honda engine will also be installed in DC Avanti.

Wheels

DC Avanti will come with strong wheels, comprising of 255/35-19 sized wheels on the front and 295/30-19 on the rear. The front tyre has a track of 1680 mm and rear track is 1660 mm. These tyres help the owner to have smooth, fast and less bumpy ride.

Braking & Handling

DC Avanti supercar is fast, quick and swift in every aspect. To keep a bit of control on the speed, DC Design has provided the supercar with 330mm wide ventilated disc brakes with seized AP Racing Callipers that come as OE fitment. The suspension of the supercar is inspiring and comes with unequal length double wishbones that work in collaboration with coil cover shock absorbers. The hydraulically assisted rack accompanied with pinion steering gear is impressive as well. The anti lock braking system developed by Bosch will be a standard features. Coming to the ride and handling of DC Avanti, it would be well tuned by international experts in this empire and the body has been done by DC Design itself, which is strong and strappy. The Jig built and TIG welded chassis of DC Avanti is based on Tubular space frame.

Handling & Safety

India’s first supercar, DC Avanti is a fast pace car and keeping in mind the top speed of 250 km per hour, DC Design has been blessed with numerous safety features, which ensure the security of the car as well as the passengers inside. The handling of the DC Avanti is being done by international experts, whereas the 19 inch tyres ensure a smooth and safe ride. On the inside the anti lock braking system along with dual SRS airbags that would prevent the driver and co-passenger from major injury in case of any collision or accident.

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