Although reports from elsewhere that Ferrari sales are OK, Lamborghini doesn’t seem to be as lucky in weathering the current economic downturn. 2008 was actually a record year for the Bologna based super-car builder, but only three short months into 09, and things aren’t looking so good.
At the Geneva Motor Show this past Wednesday, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that his company has started to receive a significant number of order cancellations.
Rolls-Royce will unveil their latest experimental model at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March. Rolls doesn’t like to call these cars “concepts” because they’re fully functioning. Dubbed the 200EX, the concept shows Rolls-Royce’s design direction for the upcoming RR4 sedan which will debut for 2010.
The 200EX will be noticed as a Rolls-Royce at first glance, but as you can see, is a bit less formal than other models. You can attribute this partially to a more raked A-pillar, a shorter front overhang, aggressive headlights, and a sleeker tail. The rear doors open in a rear-hinged, or “suicide” fashion for those who are too rich to open their own doors. The exterior is finished in “Darkest Tungsten” paint (of which there is no darker, apparently,) which contrasts rather nicely with the silver satin finish on the hood and A-pillar. Continue Reading…
Bentley announced they will be unveiling their latest concept car at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in March. Unimaginatively dubbed “Extreme Bentley,” the new car will be based on Bentley’s new-ish belief in biofuel. This ethanol-guzzling concept looks to be based on the Continental GT, but will beat the GT’s 4 second 0-60 time and 202 mph top speed, becoming the “fastest, most powerful production [Bentley] ever” according to Bentley.
Ethanol-based fuel such as E85 may be cleaner burning, but it gets significantly worse fuel economy than gasoline alone. While I applaud Bentley for thinking ahead with alternative fuel, I’m not sure this is the right time to be releasing a supercar that gets much worse fuel economy than an already fuel inefficient supercar.
Keep reading for Bentley’s teaser video for the Extreme Concept: Continue Reading…
Here’s something I didn’t expect to see on a stand at this years Geneva Motor Show, not one but TWO Honda F1 cars, and even cooler, one of them is from 1967!
Bitchin’!
The folks at AutoBlog had the shots and info.
Personally, I remember it being a big deal when John Surtees of all people decided to go race for the Honda team back then. It would be like Fernando Alonso going to Toyota this year. Sure, back then, Honda was pumping a lot of money into its F1 efforts, and they were really innovative in a lot of ways, but for a racer with the talent and accomplishments of Big John to go over, that was a risky move and could just end up making everyone look bad.
But first time out with the new car, at Monza no less, Surtees won!
I remember people being really impressed by that, but sadly, it wasn’t indicative of things to come. Honda was up and down for the next bunch of seasons, but never was a real threat to the big boys (Lotus, Tyrell, Ferrari and Brabham). It would take until the 1980s and a whole lot of effort for Honda to become, first, a threat, and ultimately THE standard for race engines.
Honda dominated the late 80s and into the early 90s, then left, then sort of came back, then REALLY came back, building it’s own chassis and dumping in hundreds of millions of dollars into its F1 efforts. Sadly, the have come to naught … but they seems to be getting more and more serious, hiring no less of a talent than Ross Brawn to run the team this year.
Time will tell …
More pictures after the jump.
Well alrighty then … Lamborghini, those fine folk from Sant’Agata Bolognese that can’t get over a grudge (who’d a thunk it, Italians that can’t let go) have taken the wraps off the latest Gallardo, named or designated or something LP560-4.
Yeah, looks a lot like a Lamborghini, doesn’t it. Smaller & lighter than it’s bigger brother, it still packs a wallop with a (purportedly) 560 HP engine, which should move it down the road with ease. Having all wheel drive will make it a less hairy experience from Lambos past.
It also tips the scales at a light for Lambo measurement of 3102 pounds. Sadly, that’s the dry weight, so at the curb, ready to go, with your couch-shaped butt ensconced in it’s “Luxurious individuality” & “Workmanship of the highest quality” seats, that figure would probably be around 3500? Anyway, a lot.
The full press release with specs and another shot after the jump: Continue Reading…
The Geneva auto show is always an interesting event. For some reason, it always seemed to have a lot of British involvement; like they were trying to show the boys on the continent what the Brits could do, maybe it has something to do with Swiss neutrality, I don’t know.
At any rate, Roll Royce has decided to show a coupe variant of their Phantom at this years show in Geneva.
That, in and of itself, should have something to do with Bentley, and their Continental GT, Roll’s response to that upper end market segment etc., etc., etc., but it seems to be more than that.
All the specs, such as they are, are quite impressive. No doubt the power is listed as “adequate” or “more than adequate”. And it’s got enough creature comforts to make the Sultan of Brunei blush. Since it’s a coupe, however, there’s the implicit notion that “you’re driving this one yourself, guv’nor.
After all, how does m’Lord & m’Lady extricate themselves from the rear seats in a two door?
Perish the thought … best not to think about it and all that … obviously this is a vehicle intended for a self driven tour of points Continental, and a Gentleman would find the need to do that on occasion, one would have to admit.
And one would have to admit this would probably be a blast to do it in.
Now if they could just do something about that front end treatment.
