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Sunday 5 August 2012

Best Handling: 2012 Porsche Cayman R


Like fine food or artwork, handling is a subjective thing. You can quantify a suspension's performance, measuring lateral acceleration, but you can't stick a number on how easy a car is to drive quickly. Or how it makes you feel.

Except with the Porsche Cayman R. You know that bit in Spinal Tap when Nigel Tufnel brags that his amps go to 11? The 330-hp, 2,855-pound R goes to 11. Or 12, or 200. This is the rare machine that makes gods of ordinary men, a comfy-riding, unflappable corner monster that even a professional racer would have trouble finding fault with. And it's as forgiving of mistakes as they come: If you crash this, you are the type of person who could set yourself on fire making soup.
The kicker here is that the base Cayman is itself impossibly good. Which makes the R model the equivalent of sharpening an eight-inch Wüsthof to the point where it can saw through the USS Iowa. The R — depending on whom you ask at Porsche, the letter stands for Racy, Refined, or just Really Fking Good — was created through subtle changes: aluminum door skins here, stiffer springs and dampers there, and so on. But like all great cars, it's more than the sum of its parts. It's a singular, connected piece, a mid-engined rock star that snarls and dances its way into your heart.
$67,250
29/20 MPG)


Read more: http://www.esquire.com/features/cars/best-designed-cars-2011#ixzz22fXNIbLf

GHOST

Ghost

Six Decades of Ferrari at Mecum's Daytime Auction



PDF
1954 Monza Spyder ScagliettiMecum Auctions will present its 4th annual Monterey Daytime Auction, Aug. 16-18, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf course, featuring some of finest machines Ferrari has ever produced headlined by a 1954 750 Monza Spyder Scaglietti. 
By turns part of the Engelbert Stieger, Brando Wang, Walter Burani and Roberto Crippa collections, 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder Scaglietti S/N 0462MD (Lot S97) has been campaigned extensively for many years at the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, the Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge, the Monterey Historic Races and the Mille Miglia rally. This great Ferrari sports racer has been maintained for years by GTO Engineering in the UK and displays a charming patina that serves as testament to its extensive racing career. It is always welcome at prestigious events around the world and remains very competitive in its vintage class.
A fully-documented factory alloy Longnose version retaining its original matching-numbers three-carburetor V-12 engine and drivetrain, the 1966 275 GTB Alloy Berlinetta S/N 08143 (Lot S95) was sold new in Rome, Italy. Reconditioned and detailed in 2011, its original V-12 engine was completely rebuilt by Ferrari expert John Hajduk, with final sorting and chassis detailing by Chris Campbell of Vintage Connection in Oklahoma City. Their combined talents were rewarded with Best in Class in the Sports Cars 1960-1973 category at the Concours d'Elegance of Texas.
A premium example of the exceptionally rare 1972 Daytona Spyder, S/N 14857 (Lot S151) was previously owned by noted Ferrari Daytona expert Steve Hill. Wrapped in a gorgeous Pininfarina-styled body and bestowed with 4-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel Dunlop vented disc brakes and a race-bred four-cam V-12 engine, this brilliantly detailed Daytona Spyder is perfectly completed with chromed Borrani wire wheels fitted with correct high speed Michelin radials.
The lithe and athletic Ferrari 512BBi Berlinetta Boxer, S/N 046117 was the pre-eminent supercar of its time, combining a race-proven Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injected flat-12 engine with purposeful Pininfarina styling and 4-wheel independent suspension. Finished in beautiful Rosso Corsa with a gleaming Tan interior, the low-mileage (35,370) example offered as Lot F121 is one of only 1,007 very desirable fuel-injected Boxers produced.
Mecum’s Daytime Monterey Auction will also offer pristine low-mileage examples of more contemporary Prancing Horse classics. Lot S175 is a premium all-matching-numbers 1990 Testarossa S/N 082987 retaining its original 5.0 liter flat-12 engine and 5-speed manual transmission. Finished in its original White with Tan leather interior, it received a fresh major service, including an engine-out belt replacement, in June 2012. Lot S154, a 4,600-mile 1999 Ferrari 355 Spider S/N 115352, is powered by the original 3.5 L/375 HP V-8 driving a 6-speed transaxle. Well equipped with factory air conditioning, power steering and brakes, power windows, locks, seats and top and the original Ferrari sound system with CD player, it has just had a $9,000 engine-out belt service completed in June 2012.
There is no mistaking the Ferrari F430 Spider’s Formula 1 pedigree, which is evident in every aspect from its howling 4.3 L V-8 and electronically-controlled F1 gearbox, awe-inspiring handling and power to its aerodynamic shape and Sharknose-inspired elliptical front air intakes. Lot S89 is a highly optioned 2007 Ferrari F430 Spider S/N 154061 showing just 1,788 original miles, a fact reflected in its excellent overall condition.
Mecum will offer a total of twelve outstanding collector Ferraris over the course of the three-day Monterey Daytime Auction, during which 750 specialty and collector vehicles will cross the block. 
The Mecum Monterey Daytime Auction is open to the public with complimentary general admission.  Gates open daily at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. Discovery’s Velocity Network will broadcast 18 hours of live coverage from the Del Monte Golf Course. For more information, and to learn how to become a registered bidder go to www.MECUM.com or call 262.275.5050.
Monterey, CA The Daytime Auction
August 16-18, 2012
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
1 Old Golf Course Road
Monterey, CA 93940

Preview: Gates open at 8 a.m. Thursday through Saturday
Auction: Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m.
Live TV Times: Thursday thru Saturday 12-6 PM
1966 575 GTB2007 F430 Spider1990 Testarossa512BBi Berlinetta Boxer 1972 Daytona Spyder

Design Calendar 2012



Design Calendar 2012
Design Calendar 2012
Design Calendar 2012
Design Calendar 2012
 
39,00 EUR
Number:

Design Calendar 2012

Bugatti's chief designer, Achim Anscheidt, has designed the calendar along with his team. Each piece carries his signature. In a limited edition of 500 pieces, this calendar is now available exclusively for you!

Ettore Bugatti 125



Ettore Bugatti 125 Set
Ettore Bugatti 125 Set
Ettore Bugatti 125 Set
 
399,00 EUR
Number:
Colour:
Size:

Ettore Bugatti 125 Set

Fascinating personality: To commemorate the 125th anniversary of Ettore Bugatti, a strictly limited collection of accessories for devotees – consisting of a decorative pin, a key ring and a pair of cufflinks – has been created in the form of the famous Bugatti insignia, the initials “EB”. The signet has been cast in solid sterling silver in a flexed mould – lending this unique monogram a stylish elegance and appeal. Every item in this commemorative anniversary edition is engraved with the number 125 to mark the jubilee and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Veyron 16.4



Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition
Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition
Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition
 

Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition

This model of the Bugatti Super Sport World Record Edition, in a scale of 1:43, is a valuable collector's item from the house of Looksmart Models.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport achieved a new land speed world record for production series cars, on the proving grounds of the Volkswagen Group at Ehra-Lessien.
Paying tribute to this event Bugatti started the Super Sport series with a special limited edition of five cars, the so-called World Record Edition.

The model consists of over 150 components from photo-etching and turned parts in white metal, to decals. A five-layer coating ensures that a reflective layer is formed.
The car windows are reproduced in very fine acetate of 0.1 mm thickness, giving an incomparable realism. The various microscopic details both inside and outside the car, are attched with different types of glue which is completely invisible.

The model is available in limited series.

149,00EUR

Bugatti Royale 1930



Bugatti Royale 1930
Bugatti Royale 1930
Bugatti Royale 1930
Bugatti Royale 1930
Bugatti Royale 1930
 

Bugatti Royale 1930

Bugatti Royale Coupe de Ville 1930: This preassembled, die-cast model is a milestone in model manufacture. This 1:18 scale model reconstruction of the legendary Bugatti Royale Type 41 Coupe de Ville is made up of more than 1,300 individual parts, and is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. 18 different materials went into the making of this model, and all parts were assembled piece-by-piece by loving handwork. The die-cast metal body can be removed from the chassis with just a few manipulations, giving you a unique view of a scaled version of the nearly 1.5 meter long original engine. The 1.85 kg weight is exceptional for a 1:18 scale model – as was the deadweight of the original car, which weighed more than 3,000 kg. The model comes with a highquality wooden base and mirror.

499,00EUR

Saturday 4 August 2012

2013 Ford Taurus SHO Review


Most people think that the Ford Taurus SHO story started back in the 1980s, but in a way it can be traced much further back than that.

FAST FACTS

1. 2013 SHO models get updated styling updates including a more aggressive front fascia with a mesh grille and larger splitter, plus 19-inch wheels, LED taillights and a decklid spoiler
2. A new Performance Package adds 20-inch wheels with high performance tires, an improved cooling system, performance brake pads, a tighter steering ratio a true traction control off mode and a 3.16 final drive ratio for better acceleration.
3. Powered a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and using AWD, the SHO makes 365 hp and can hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.
4. SHO models start from $39,200.
In the 1960s, after a botched attempt to buy Ferrari, Ford management asked its engineers to design and build a racing car that could beat Ferrari, particularly at Le Mans. This gave birth to the original GT40, a car that ended up winning the 24-hours of Le Mansendurance race a total of four-times, consecutively, starting in 1966.
Ford laid low for two decades only to then look into the idea of making a mid-engined sports car for the road to compete with cars like the Ferrari 308 and thePorsche 911. This project, which was internally known as GN34, was to use a 60-degree, 3.0-liter, V6 engine that was developed by Yamaha.
Sadly, the mid-engined sports car project was killed off, however, Ford had made a deal with Yamaha to produce a certain number of engines and there was no way to back out of that contract. Now Ford needed to find a home for these 220-hp motors and rather than stick this engine in a Mustang or Thunderbird, someone at Ford came up with the idea of turning the hugely successful Taurus into a sports sedan. Everyone at Ford backed the idea and hence gave birth to the 1989 Taurus SHO (Super High Output). It might have been a last minute idea to salvage a large number of high performance engines, but it worked.
Even when Ford stopped producing the SHO version of the Taurus between 2000 to 2009, the SHO cars still had a strong following, which was hard for Ford to ignore. So when Ford got to work on a new Taurus for the 2010 model year, a Taurus that was to get a high-output, twin-turbo, V6 motor, it was time to bring the SHO back. Upon its return, the SHO has done quite well; well-enough to keep the project going.

NEW-ISH LOOK

 

2013 Taurus SHO front driving rain

So with the arrival of an updated Taurus for the 2013 model year comes a new Taurus SHO. But is the new car worthy of the SHO badge or is it just a marketing scheme, playing more on emotion than engineering? We were invited by Ford to see for ourselves if this is a true performance sedan, or just pretender.
2013 Taurus SHO back lake

First thing you should know is that the 2013 Taurus SHO is not an all-new car. It shares its underpinnings and most of the body and interior with the 2010-2012 model year car. But there are quite a few changes on hand also.
From the outside, you’ll find a new, much more aggressive nose with a mesh grille (instead of the horizontal bars on the previous model) and a more pronounced splitter.From the side, you cannot ignore the new 19-inch alloy wheels (standard), which trust us, look much better in person than they ever do in pictures.
Around the back you’ll find new LED taillights and a sleeker rear spoiler. To be able to see better while backing up there is a new reversing camera, which now shows graphics based on your steering angle, rather than just straight lines.
2013 Taurus SHO interior

Climb inside and you’ll find that the interior volume has remained exactly the same, but the finishing is a bit nicer. There’s an updated infotainment system, plus all the old buttons and knobs have now been replaced by a soft touch panel which controls your HVAC and stereo system. This looks very impressive, but is not as satisfying to use.

ADDED PERFORMANCE

 

2013 Taurus SHO lake

Pick the SHO Performance Package from the options list and you get an Alcantara suede wrapped steering wheel and on the outside are added even nicer 20-inch alloy wheels with black painted spokes wearing summer performance tires. Also included are upgraded performance brake pads with larger brake rotors both front and back. Gone, however, is a spare tire. Instead there’s a kit to help seal a puncture.
2013 Taurus SHO back driving rain

But wait, there’s more! You now also get sport calibrated steering for better feel, stiffer springs, tuned shocks and stiffer stabilizer bars to give you a more connected feel with the road, plus the AdvanceTrac traction and stability control device now also gets a “Track Mode” with a “True Off” setting, for when you’re feeling a bit naughty.
Not to worry about over-heating when you’re having fun, the package also adds an upgraded cooling system. Plus now you get a 3.16 final drive ratio for quicker off the line acceleration. Our test car had the ‘Performance Package’ option and trust us when we tell you, it makes a world of difference.
The acceleration off the line is truly stunning thanks mostly to the 3.5-liter, twin-turbo, V6 (EcoBoost) motor, which produces 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered to all-wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters plus with the new final drive ratio it now delivers a seriously impressive 0-60 time of just 5.2 seconds.
But more than anything the area the new SHO will outshine its predecessor is on a handling circuit. Standard on all new Taurus models is Ford’s ‘Curve Control’ and ‘Torque Vectoring’ system which will not only slow the car down if its going too fast for a corner, but will also balance the car by braking and transferring power to the wheels that can best use it. Both systems work quietly in the background making you feel like a pro.
2013 Taurus SHO fast wet

One thing we complained about on the regular 2013 Taurus was a lack of steering feel, as the front wheels are too disconnected to give positive feedback. The SHO model with its sport calibrated steering does go a long way to improve this, while the larger wheels with summer tires on the ‘Performance Package’ also help.
Still, this isn’t the kind of car you feel like chucking through the corners just for fun, due mostly to its size. The 2013 SHO is a big car (202.9-inches in length) and it doesn’t feel like it shrinks around as you increase the pace.

THE VERDICT

 

We like the new Taurus SHO. It looks better than ever now and it’s packed with technology. However, we do wish it was more special than it actually is. You see, what set the original SHO model apart was its unique engine. As good as the 3.5-liter, EcoBoost V6 is, it can be found in a variety of other Ford and Lincoln products.
2013 Taurus SHO big splash

For a starting MSRP of $39,200 the SHO is quite a lot of car for the money, and will for most people be a very satisfying car to own. But while the new SHO can fulfill the needs of many, we don’t desire one, like we desired the original.

2013 Ford Taurus 2.0L EcoBoost Review


Just a few years ago the very notion of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in a full-size car that weighs around 4,000 lbs would have been absolutely absurd. In fact, it still is. And yet here we are, behind the wheel of just such a machine.

FAST FACTS

1. The 2013 Taurus 2.0L EcoBoost is certified as the class leader in the full-size sedan segment with a 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway rating and 26 mpg combined.
2. Like the rest of the 2013 Taurus lineup, the 2.0L model has both Torque Vectoring and Cornering Control to help optimize handling through bends.
3. With class-leading fuel economy the Taurus 2.0L also delivers impressive power numbers with 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.
4. Pricing is for the 2.0L model starts at $33,995, just $995 more than the base V6.
The 2013 Ford Taurus, equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, might appear to echo the slow-selling Five Hundred from 2005, a car that was not only virtually invisible in the marketplace, but which was powered by a 3.0-liter V6 that developed a meager 203 horsepower.
And yet in the new Taurus, when punching the throttle in order to merge with traffic on the Southfield Freeway in Dearborn, there’s definitely a decent amount of pep under that contoured hood.
According to Raj Nair, who’s succeeded Derrick Kuzak as Ford’s vice president of Engineering and Global Product Development, the 2.0 EcoBoost powered Taurus is aimed at people “who want fuel-efficient vehicles but don’t want to sacrifice power, cargo space or convenience preferences to get them.”
Besides Taurus, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder motor is offered in the Explorer, Escape and also the high performance Focus ST hot hatch.

LIGHT AND TORQUEY

2013-Ford-Taurus-EcoBoost
For starters, using an aluminum block and cylinder head, it weighs around 55 lbs less than the regular Taurus’ 3.5-liter V6. Featuring a relatively high compression ratio (10.0:1) and high pressure fuel system with seven jets for each injector, plus a Honeywell turbocharger with a low inertia rotor that spins at speeds of up to 195,000 rpm, boost builds up rather quickly at low rpm, to the point that this engine is making its maximum 270 lb-ft of torque at 3000 revs.
Even a decade ago, the very notion of a high compression, turbocharged engine, especially one that can deliver that kind of V8 like thrust at low rpm, would have been barely conceivable, especially in a full-size, production sedan like this.
However, according to Taurus program engineer Robert Kay, forcing fuel at high pressure directly into the combustion chamber, combined with the small diameter turbocharger, essentially mitigates the chance of detonation while improving airflow and burning. As a result, higher compression ratios can be utilized in conjunction with relatively high boost levels (16 psi). To give you an idea, on Ford’s very first turbocharged engine, the 2.3-liter Lima four, which debuted for 1979 in the then new Mustang, boost was limited to just 6 psi to prevent knock. Perhaps even more impressively, the 2.0 in the Taurus has also been designed to run on regular grade fuel, just like every other EcoBoost engine.
In an effort to maximize efficiency and fuel economy, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost sports a one-way alternator clutch and a low-tension accessory drive, plus Ford’s Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to reduce parasitic loss on the engine.

BEST-IN-CLASS FUEL ECONOMY

2013-Ford-Taurus-2.0L-EcoBoost-Interior

The result is that the Taurus is able to deliver an EPA certified 32 miles per gallon highway fuel economy rating and 26 mpg combined city/highway figures; seriously impressive for a full-size sedan.
Ford also says that by utilizing low-friction 5W30 oil in the 2.0-liter EcoBoost, the engine is able to do 10,000 miles between oil changes, enabling customers to save a bit on maintenance as well as at the gas pump.

A WORTHY ALTERNATIVE TO THE V6?

During our drive route, which took in approximately 50 miles around Southeastern Michigan, the Taurus 2.0L felt decently responsive through most normal traffic situations; the power and torque is there when we needed it and yet despite being a four-cylinder it doesn’t feel too buzzy under load, especially considering the size and girth of the car this engine has to haul around.
The six-speed automatic transmission definitely helps its cause, with gearing that enabled us to observe close to 30 mpg on the open road and over 21 on city streets. Perhaps the only down-side we noted is that the combination of an automatic transmission, plenty of weight and a turbocharger meant that heavy throttle application is met with significant delay in power delivery.
2013-Ford-Taurus-2.0L-EcoBoost-Rear

Thanks to slightly less weight on the nose, the four-cylinder Taurus is a little bit lighter through the corners than its V6 counterpart and the EPAS steering is one of the better electric setups we’ve sampled amongst current offerings on the market. On center feel is pretty good and turning input provides good feedback.
The EcoBoost 2.0L is offered in all three trim levels of the regular Taurus (SE, SEL and Limited), though perhaps in an effort to tread cautiously (at least for now) Ford has elected to make the engine an option, rather than standard (the 3.5-liter V6 remains the base engine).
That said, the 240 horsepower EcoBoost four does carry a $995 premium over the base motor, which might put off some buyers, though Ford is adamant that by touting healthy fuel economy numbers and delivering more torque (270 lb-ft versus 254 lb-ft), it should attract a following in much the same way as the EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 did for the F-150, versus the 5.0-liter V8. Of note, based on current fuel prices it would take just under two years for motorists to recoup that $995 premium on the four).
2013-Ford-Taurus-2.0L-EcoBoost-Driving

That said, the V6 has received a few improvements of its own for 2013, namely improved breathing via its Twin independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) setup. The result is slightly better fuel economy, though still significantly less than the new EcoBoost four (19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway).

THE VERDICT

Obviously skeptical that the small engine would really be able to pull its weight in a car like the Taurus, during out (admittedly brief) first test it appears to be more than up to the job.
The rear-drive Chrysler and Dodge full-size twins are close in terms of fuel economy with a 31 mpg highway rating thanks to an 8-speed transmission mated to a V6 engine, while a new Chevy Impala for 2014 is shaping up to be seriously solid competition.
Until then, if the looks, ride and features of the Taurus already have it on your shopping list, then opting to down-size what’s under the hood in order to add both power and fuel economy is a no-brainer.


2012 Ford Mustang

                                       2012 Ford Mustang
2012 Ford Mustang TrimsMSRPFuelEngine
2dr Cpe V6
$22,31019 / 29 mpgGas V6 3.7L/227
2dr Cpe V6 Premium
$26,31019 / 29 mpgGas V6 3.7L/227
2dr Conv V6
$27,31019 / 29 mpgGas V6 3.7L/227
2dr Cpe GT
$29,71017 / 26 mpgGas V8 5.0L/302
2dr Conv V6 Premium
$31,31019 / 29 mpgGas V6 3.7L/227
2dr Cpe GT Premium
$33,71017 / 26 mpgGas V8 5.0L/302
2dr Conv GT
$34,71017 / 26 mpgGas V8 5.0L/302
2dr Conv GT Premium
$38,71017 / 26 mpgGas V8 5.0L/302
2dr Cpe Boss 302
$40,31017 / 26 mpgGas V8 5.0L/302
2dr Cpe Shelby GT500
$48,81015 / 23 mpgSupercharged Gas V8 5.4L/330
2dr Conv Shelby GT500
$53,81015 / 23 mpgSupercharged Gas V8 5.4L/330