With every major city and race track around the globe seemingly eager to host a Formula One race, it's been a while since we've kept up with all the rumors and conjecture. But reports persist on the prospect of a street race in Rome, punctuated this week by news that prolific track architect Herman Tilke is in the Italian capital planning layouts.
The idea is being proposed by superbike promoter and former F2 driver Maurizio Flammini, and he reportedly has the support of Rome's city hall. The proposed street circuit would run through the city's southwest EUR district and would cost some €50 million ($64 million USD) to execute if it joined the calendar for 2010 or 2011.
There have been previous attempts to host an F1 race in Rome, but the closest it has ever gotten to realization was when Shell shut the city down to film a commercial (pictured above). This time around, plans are far from definite, with certain elements within Italy's motor racing community opposing the idea. Organizers of the current Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza, are wary of losing their event. Ferrari, which owns the Imola circuit previously used for the San Marino Grand Prix, says the idea makes no sense when the country is packed with empty tracks. Yet the prospect holds merit, and Tilke probably wouldn't be in town if F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone hadn't sent him there...
[Source: Autosport and F1-Live]
Thursday, May 14, 2009
When in Rome: Italian capital could host F1 street race
2009 Geneva Motor Show Early Run-Down
The Geneva Motor show seems like a spectacle of many Luxury brands in rare form in addition to some that we didn’t expect such as from Nissan. Some of the upcoming highlights this week include the introduction of the following:
- Aston Martin One-77
- Audi TT RS
- Bentley Continental SuperSports
- Bugatti Veyron Blue Centenaire
- Ferrari 599 GTB HGTE
- Ferrari 599XX
- Gumpert Apollo Speed
- Infiniti Essence Concept
- Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air
- Nissan Qazana Crossover Concept
- Opel/Vauxhall Ampera
- Rinspeed iChange
- Rinspeed’s Abarth-based E2 Concept
- Rolls-Royce 200EX
- Volkswagen Polo / Polo BlueMotion concept
- Zagato Perana Z-One
- And a lot more…
This is just an early run-down of a few Geneva Motor Show cars showcased this week. Below are several images of the cars listed above.
Novitec TuLesto Pictures & Details
Novitec is a world famous Ferrari tuner with several performance tuning packages for the Ferrari F430. To celebrate their 20th anniversary they have created their own supercar called the Novitec TuLesto and is based on the Ferrari F430, a car they have a tonne of experience tuning.
Novitec made some noise with their Novitec Tu Nero F430 with 707 bhp and was presented at the IAA. It was built for Darth Vader and featured matte black paint and sported twin superchargers. The same car was later seen in the guise of the Novitec Ferrari F430 RACE that had the same power and could do 348 km/h! Novitec finally laid their hands on the most exclusive race bred F430, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. The Novitec 430 Scuderia made 717 bhp and features similar performance to the cars above.
The Novitec Tulesto features heavy visual modifications but the shape is still very much a Ferrari F430. The Ferrari F430 is an extremely well built supercar to begin with so lets see how the Tulesto differs from the original. The Tulesto features a bored out 4.4L V8 (up 100cc from 4.3L) with twin superchargers which deliver an Enzo busting 777 bhp @ 8,200 rpm and 536 lb-ft @ 6,300 rpm! The entire car is made of lightweight aluminum and carbon fibre that can get it from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 sec flat with a top speed of 350 km/h. A 6-speed semi-automatic paddle shift is the sole transmission option.
While it is very similar to the F430 to look at, a closer look reveals that all the panels are completely different. Each has that little bit more in terms of cuts and lines. The front fenders for example sport new vents and there are also all new wing mirrors. The vent on the roof is new that flows into a completely new rear end. The rims are slick and look very race ready in black with red piping and house the massive ceramic brakes with 6-piston brakes.
While this is more of a track car than a daily driver, it does get some sensibility for that occasional trip to the city. You get an on demand push buttom adjustment system to lift the nose by 4 inches for tackling speed bumps and driveways. It also gets fully adjustable double wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers and sway bars in case you want some serious tweaking to shave your track times.
If you are interested in buying one, you better be quick as only 11 will ever be made each probably costing a fortune. So get your AMEX BLACK CARD ready for a swipe.
PRESS RELEASE
The World’s Most Exclusive High-End Sports Car:
The NOVITEC TuLesto with 777 hp and a Top Speed of More than 350 km/h. There are many fascinating automobiles money can buy but its spectacular design, its uncompromising high-performance concept and its limited edition of just eleven cars make the new NOVITEC TuLesto the most exclusive high-end sports car in the world.
The mid-engine racer is 204 centimeters wide and weighs in at just 1,260 kilograms. It is built by German automobile manufacturer NOVITEC in Stetten in Bavaria. At the heart of the two-seater is a V8 engine with dual superchargers and a rated power output of 777 hp / 571.8 kW. Thanks to its carbon fiber and aluminum construction the coupe has an excellent power-to-weight ratio of just 1.62 kg/hp. The result is driving performance that only very few super sports cars can match: The sprint from rest to 100 km/h takes less than 3.4 seconds, and the NOVITEC TuLesto reaches 300 km/h after just 22.6 seconds. Top speed is more than 350 km/h.
The new high-end sports car represents NOVITEC’s first proprietary car and marks the company’s 20th anniversary. “With the NOVITEC TuLesto we transform our collective know-how from two decades of automobile tuning into an uncompromising high-performance sports car for eleven of our long-time customers from around the world,” says NOVITEC managing director Wolfgang Hagedorn. “The TuLesto offers an optimal symbiosis of exceptional driving dynamics and exciting yet aerodynamically efficient styling.”
Light-weight construction was one of the main goals from the very start of the project. The designers’ materials of choice are normally found in racecars. The chassis and the integrated safety cell are made entirely from aluminum, making them extremely light while at the same time giving them extraordinary rigidity.
The striking design of the sports car is the result of a cooperation between NOVITEC and the Italian design studio Luca Serafini Stile in Modena. The unmistakable shape of the TuLesto was created using state-of-the-art CAD and CFD technologies, further augmented by the use of the wind tunnel. The TuLesto is 462 centimeters long, 204 centimeters wide and has a height of 122 centimeters.
The spectacular curves of the fenders, the front apron, the shape of the rear and the smooth underbody with integrated venturi tunnel and diffuser were calibrated in the wind tunnel to create an optimal aerodynamic balance.
For perfect weight distribution the NOVITEC TuLesto was designed with a classic mid-engine layout. The 4.4-liter four-valve V8 engine with dual superchargers is installed directly behind the cockpit. The high-tech engine produces a maximum power output of 777 hp / 571.8 kW at 8,200 rpm and a peak torque of 727 Nm at 6,300 rpm.
Motorsports was also the inspiration for the power transfer: The six gears of the semi-automatic gearbox with integrated anti-slip differential are shifted with carbon-fiber paddles behind the steering wheel. An adjustable traction control system with launch control for perfect starts guarantees maximum driving safety on the road and on the track.
The NOVITEC engineers and technicians also used racing technology on the suspension: As in GT-series racing, the TuLesto features double-wishbone suspension front and rear, height-adjustable struts with various selectable damping rates, and adjustable sway bars. For easy negotiating of underground parking ramps or similar obstacles the TuLesto front can be raised four centimeters at the push of a button. The anti-lock braking system features ceramic composite discs and six-piston fixed calipers front and back for maximum stopping power and endurance.
Another elementary contribution to the superior driving dynamics of the NOVITEC TuLesto comes from its ultra-light light-alloy wheels with diameters of 20 or 21 inches. These wheels were custom-developed for this coupe and are fitted with semi slicks up to 355 millimeters wide on the rear axle.
The interior design has a decidedly sporty nature but also offers creature comforts such as a climate-control system and a high-end sound system. Lightweight carbon fiber plays a dominating role in the interior as well: It is used for dashboard, center console and door trim as well as for the bucket seats which will be custom-fitted in form, shape, size, color and upholstery to each of the eleven future owners.
The creation of the eleven Limited Edition NOVITEC TuLesto super sports cars can be viewed in a web
special at www.TuLesto.com
REPORT: Audi R8 Spyder coming in 2011
Pacified as we've been by the appearance of the 5.2-liter FSI V10 and LMS competition spec versions of the Audi R8, it's been a while since we've heard anything about the roadster version. But reports citing unnamed company insiders suggest that the ruthless roofless supercar is scheduled to hit the market by 2011.
Since Ingolstadt opts to stick with soft-tops on its other convertible models, the R8 Spyder is expected to follow suit in order to save on space and added weight. Earlier reports suggested a partial convertible targa-style roof opening, but the drop-top flagship is likely to get a more conventional and complete solution. The big question mark remains over whether the convertible variant will be limited to the V8 powertrain or whether it will get the more potent 5.2-liter V10... we'd hope that if they can manage to pack it all in behind the buckets, a V10 roadster would prove a delectable alternative to the likes of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster and Ferrari California, to say nothing of the R8's own sister Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder.
Last unit of the Ferrari F430 to be auctioned off to benefit Italy earthquake victims
Ferrari announced today that it will be auctioning off the very last F430 at the RM auction due to be held this coming Sunday. The last unit of the Ferrari F430 will leave the production line at the end of this year and will be auctioned off to raise money for rebuilding the Abruzzo, Italy area which suffered significant destruction by the earthquake on April 6.
The last Ferrari F430 will feature a two-tone body that pays tribute to the colors of Aquila, the city most hit by the earthquake. It will feature a certificate signed by Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo with a dedicated plate to commemorate the donation.
The winner of the auction will be invited to Maranello to choose the final specs.
Click through for the press release.
Press Release:
Ferrari contributes to rebuilding the Abruzzo region after the devastating earthquake
Ferrari has announced that it will offering a very special car at the RM Auction due to be held this coming Sunday. The car, the very last F430 to leave the production line towards the end of this year, will be auctioned to raise funds for rebuilding in Abruzzo, central Italy, which was devastated by the earthquake on the 6th of April. Ferrari will liaise with the local authorities to ensure that the funds will go towards the most needy.
The F430 will feature a special two-tone livery which recalls the traditional colours of Aquila, the city most hit, and will be consigned with a certificate signed by Ferrari Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, with a personalised dedication plate to commemorate the generous donation.
The client adjudicating the car will be invited to Maranello to choose the final specifications and Ferrari has also offered to equip the car with a number of options from its extensive Carrozzeria Scaglietti catalogue.
The F430
First launched in 2004, the F430 represents the peak of Ferrari’s development of the mid-engined V8 berlinetta. Every inch of the car was inspired by the engineering research carried out at Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva F1 racing division. The result is a highly innovative car that offers outstanding performance thanks to cutting-edge technology, such as the electronic differential (E-Diff ), initially developed by Ferrari for its F1 single-seaters, and the manettino switch on the steering wheel which directly governs the vehicle’s dynamic set-up.
Ferrari F450 Concept Photos
Here are some Ferrari F450 concept photos which I have gathered over the last couple weeks from various websites. My guess is that the final production will most likely resemble a healthy cross between the blue concept photo (above) and the black one below the jump. I have heard rumors that the car will be revealed at this years 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show during the last 2 weeks of September 2009.
the Ferrari Sport-Futility Vehicle
Click above to view the rendered Ferrari Sport-Futility Vehicle in high resolution
Sport Activity Coupe. Progressive Activity Sedan. It seems like BMW gets to come up with all the new high-minded vehicle segments, but we're going to submit one of our own: the Sport-Futility Vehicle. And this will be its purest application: the rumored Ferrari SUV. We call it a Sport-Futility Vehicle because it just won't happen. Ferrari's pledged it won't even make a sedan, much less a truck. Now we know what you're thinking. Porsche, Lamborghini, Spyker... they're all sportscar companies that have dabbled in sport-utes, and in some cases have even toyed with the idea of a sedan after their SUV had already established itself. But Ferrari has never offered (not in serial production, anyway) anything aside from two-door sportscars, and that's not about to change. But still, that won't stop people from spreading rumors or rendering their speculation. And this is the latest such effort.
Rendered by Edmundo Canno of Mexican car site Automovil, the concept drawings seem to blend elements of the Ferrari California with a Mazda CX-9 in a reasonably convincing package, except that the idea will never get off the drawing board. Power could theoretically be provided by the California's 450hp 4.3-liter V8 or the Fiorano's 612hp 6.0-liter V12, driving to all four wheels. Noting that Porsche collaborated with Volkswagen on the Cayenne/Touareg project, our friends south of the border surmise that Ferrari could share the costs of the SUV's development with sister brands Alfa Romeo and Maserati, or even with Fiat's new ally Chrysler, which seems about as likely as... well... Ferrari making an SUV, leaving this as nothing more than an exercise in the sport of futility.
Gallery: The Ferrari Sport-Futility Vehicle
Acer's latest Ferrari 1200 laptop
While Ferrari prepares the replacement to the F430 and its racing team continues to fine-tune the new F60 ahead of the Formula One season opener, the company's tech partner Acer has released the latest addition to its Prancing Horse-emblazoned laptop range.
Called the Acer Ferrari 1200, the new ultraportable succeeds the 1100 (pictured above) introduced last year. It comes packed with an AMD Turion X2 Ultra CPU, four gigs of RAM, a SATA HDD, 12.1-inch LED-backlit screen, WiFi, fingerprint reader, bundled Bluetooth mouse and optional VOIP one, all packed inside a partial carbon-fiber case, with vents supposedly inspired by an F1 exhaust and an anodized metal touchpad styled after the pedals on a Ferrari sportscar. A load of BS? That depends entirely on your perspective, but Acer and Ferrari have lead a trend in automotive-themed laptops, and you can bet they're going to push through every corner to stay ahead of the pack. Pricing has yet to be released as the laptop nears market launch in the UK, with the rest of the world to follow.
Ferrari 599 HGTE to debut in Geneva
Ferrari is like any other company, at least when it comes to keeping its models fresh. The 599 GTB has been in the store window for three years now, so it's about time to give it a little extra help to keep the wealthy interested. Ferrari will soon offer a new package for the 599 called HGTE (H-handling, GT-gran turismo, E-evoluzione). We should get our first glimpse of the HGTE package at the Geneva Motor Show, which will include 20-in three-piece wheels, upgraded suspension, retuned (...)
The Ferrari F430 (NOVITEC TuLesto) with 777 hp and a Top Speed of More than 350 km/h
There are many fascinating automobiles money can buy but its spectacular design, its uncompromising high-performance concept and its limited edition of just eleven cars make the new NOVITEC TuLesto the most exclusive high-end sports car in the world.
The mid-engine racer is 204 centimeters wide and weighs in at just 1,260 kilograms. It is built by German automobile manufacturer NOVITEC in Stetten in Bavaria. At the heart of the two-seater is a V8 engine with dual superchargers and a rated power output of 777 hp / 571.8 kW. Thanks to its carbon fiber and aluminum construction the coupe has an excellent power-to-weight ratio of just 1.62 kg/hp. The result is driving performance that only very few super sports cars can match: The sprint from rest to 100 km/h takes less than 3.4 seconds, and the NOVITEC TuLesto reaches 300 km/h after just 22.6 seconds. Top speed is more than 350 km/h.
The new high-end sports car represents NOVITEC’s first proprietary car and marks the company’s 20th anniversary. “With the NOVITEC TuLesto we transform our collective know-how from two decades of automobile tuning into an uncompromising high-performance sports car for eleven of our long-time customers from around the world,” says NOVITEC managing director Wolfgang Hagedorn. “The TuLesto offers an optimal symbiosis of exceptional driving dynamics and exciting yet aerodynamically efficient styling.”
Light-weight construction was one of the main goals from the very start of the project. The designers’ materials of choice are normally found in racecars. The chassis and the integrated safety cell are made entirely from aluminum, making them extremely light while at the same time giving them extraordinary rigidity.
The striking design of the sports car is the result of a cooperation between NOVITEC and the Italian design studio Luca Serafini Stile in Modena. The unmistakable shape of the TuLesto was created using state-of-the-art CAD and CFD technologies, further augmented by the use of the wind tunnel. The TuLesto is 462 centimeters long, 204 centimeters wide and has a height of 122 centimeters.
The spectacular curves of the fenders, the front apron, the shape of the rear and the smooth underbody with integrated venturi tunnel and diffuser were calibrated in the wind tunnel to create an optimal aerodynamic balance.
For perfect weight distribution the NOVITEC TuLesto was designed with a classic mid-engine layout. The 4.4-liter four-valve V8 engine with dual superchargers is installed directly behind the cockpit. The high-tech engine produces a maximum power output of 777 hp / 571.8 kW at 8,200 rpm and a peak torque of 727 Nm at 6,300 rpm.
Motorsports was also the inspiration for the power transfer: The six gears of the semi-automatic gearbox with integrated anti-slip differential are shifted with carbon-fiber paddles behind the steering wheel. An adjustable traction control system with launch control for perfect starts guarantees maximum driving safety on the road and on the track.
The NOVITEC engineers and technicians also used racing technology on the suspension: As in GT-series racing, the TuLesto features double-wishbone suspension front and rear, height-adjustable struts with various selectable damping rates, and adjustable sway bars. For easy negotiating of underground parking ramps or similar obstacles the TuLesto front can be raised four centimeters at the push of a button. The anti-lock braking system features ceramic composite discs and six-piston fixed calipers front and back for maximum stopping power and endurance.
Another elementary contribution to the superior driving dynamics of the NOVITEC TuLesto comes from its ultra-light light-alloy wheels with diameters of 20 or 21 inches. These wheels were custom-developed for this coupe and are fitted with semi slicks up to 355 millimeters wide on the rear axle.
The interior design has a decidedly sporty nature but also offers creature comforts such as a climate-control system and a high-end sound system. Lightweight carbon fiber plays a dominating role in the interior as well: It is used for dashboard, center console and door trim as well as for the bucket seats which will be custom-fitted in form, shape, size, color and upholstery to each of the eleven future owners.
The creation of the eleven Limited Edition NOVITEC TuLesto super sports cars can be viewed in a web special at www.TuLesto.com.
Ferrari 550 2008 Wallpapers
Ferrari 550 2008 wallpapers
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Ferrari 550 2008 wallpapers
Ferrari have prepared the fastest 599 Fiorano!
About prepare to build a new super car on the basis of 599 Fiorano, Ferrari have mentioned on the Geneva motor show, then the majority of journalists has reflected into account 599 Scuderia, but after the lapse of only several months "red" have presented to Internet public something more hot - concept 599XX.
As well as its senior brother Enzo FXX, the beginner is not intended for public roads. The place fighting 599th is exclusive on a racing track where it can gambol own 700 h.p. which get down to business, having picked up spout, only on 9 000 rpm. Naturally,bolid Ferrari technologically a little than we will distinguish from bolids the first formula by which gears it is stuffed on the roof. In particular, aerodynamics of the car for the speed of 200 km/h creates clamping force in 280 kg, and for the speed 300 in 630 kg. Robotised box is capable to gearing drives for 60 msec. Well and about superclever, maybe even ingenious electronics it is not necessary to tell .
599 have a little facilitated, having fed metal carbon to analogues and definitively having selected at a coupe radio tape recorders everyone there, climate controls and other superfluous things on a racing line.Exit date in, so to say, series is not called, no less than the price, but, by itself, anti-recessionary it don't name.
2009 Ferrari California
(from Ferrari Press Release)2009 Ferrari California is an exceptionally innovative car whose philosophy takes its inspiration from the spirit and emotions of one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California, a superbly elegant open top car designed for the track, which has, over the years, come to symbolise not only superior sportiness and performance but also exclusivity, craftsmanship and faultless sophistication.
This new car joins Ferrari's 8-cylinder range which is made up mostly of very high performance models. It also flanks the 12-cylinder flagship 612 Scaglietti in the Grand Tourer category. The Ferrari California is a car with the track in its DNA. It is enormously innovative and will more than fulfi l the expectations of even our most discerning clients, offering breathtaking driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel as well as extreme versatility of use and in-car comfort. It is available exclusively as a convertible with retractable folding hard top in either a two-seater version with a traditional rear bench or in the 2+ version which sees the rear bench equipped with seating for one to two passengers.
In line with Ferrari tradition, this model positively brims with innovative features. In addition to its retractable hard top and the aforementioned original 2+ concept, the new Prancing Horse car also offers: a new direct injection V8 engine, a 7-speed gearbox with steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles coupled with a new dual clutch, a new suspension system (double wishbones at the front and multilink at the rear), the new evolved F1-Trac traction control system and Brembo brakes with CCM (carbon ceramic material) discs as standard (this latter feature is shared by the other models in the current range).
Ferrari 599XX Official Photos Updated
Ferrari is touting this 599XX as an extreme track car and it really does look like no street-worthy compromises have yet been made on this concept model.
The 599XX "technical study" was introduced at the Geneva auto show this past March and is based on the 599 GTB Fiorano. What Ferrari will make of it they don't say, but salivating speculation includes the possibility of a 599 Scuderia.
This 599XX comes with 700 hp at 9,000 rpms and an aerodynamic system that greatly increases downforce to 280 kg at 200 km/h and 630 kg at 300 km/h. The Actiflow system includes fans in the rear boot to channel air from beneath the car through two grilles at the back and synthetic jets at the rear also smoothen air flow and reduce drag.
Performance is also maximized on this 599XX by means of the "High Performance Dynamic Concept," which aligns the mechanical limits of the car to electronic controls. Weight is kept down using carbon fiber components and the gearbox has been tweaked to cut shift times to 60 milliseconds.What Ferrari is doing here is building a track car for a race with no rules using a street car that is not yet street worthy. Makes perfect sense.
Well, we can only guess that all this fancy performance enhancement will indeed trickle down into some variant of a 599 that Ferrari will introduce sometime soon and that will sell remarkably well, because, you know, rich people don't run out of money so easily.
For the rest of you, enjoy the pics.
[Source: Ferrari]
Maserati GranTurismo by Project Kahn
It almost seems like the tuning world is saying that Maserati knows how to make a beautiful car body, but it lacks skills with the wheels. After seeing Hamann's new wheels for the GranTurismo last week, now Project Kahn is having its turn with the Italian. Project Kahn mounted 20-inch Kahn RS-V wheels to the GT. The company says serves a real purpose by improving stability at high speeds. That could also be attributed to the suspension upgrade that is needed to properly facilitate (...)
Maserati Granturismo Spyder spy shot
Maserati has a lot on its plate for a small car manufacturer. There are rumored plans for new "S" sport models GranTurismo, a GT Spyder version, a new baby coupe and sedan, as well as its already shown off a racing version of the GranTurismo. The Italian boutique Italian firm has so many projects going on, we sometimes question if it will be able to go through with them all. So we are a little comforted to see progress being made on one of the more obviously needed projects, the (...)
Maserati GranTurismo S MC Sport Line
Maserati has chosen the GranTurismo S, their popular two door grand tourer as the platform for their first entry in the newly announced MC Sport Line performance catalogue.
The MC Sport Line customization program focuses on Maserati's racing heritage fresh from its latest international triumph in the FIA GT championship with the Bertolini-Bartels duo in Argentina, the land of Juan Manuel Fangio.
Modifications include aerodynamics, using front and rear carbon fiber spoilers to optimise the vertical load, and the side skirts add a dynamic look, especially with that matte black finish. Carbon fiber appears on mirror housings and door handles, while the black 20-inch rims match these dark finishes.
Matte black Maserati GranTurismo
We like matte black cars especially on an exotic Italian, and it looks like we're not the only ones. Design house Italia Independent used a Maserati GranTurismo to gain attention at last year's Pitti Uomo fashion expo to gain attention for its clothing featuring "natural" colors. Because having one cool Italian in an ultra-cool paintjob wasn't enough, they also painted a Fiat 500 and Vespa scooter in the lack-luster finish to complete the effect. (...)
Maserati to roll out GranTurismo GTS, convertible
Click above for a high-resolution gallery of the Maserati GranTurismo
For an automaker with only two model lines, Maserati is certainly keeping busy. One of a handful of luxury carmakers to improve its sales figures in 2008, the Trident marque is undoubtedly looking to build upon its growth with an eye towards setting yet another sales record. Fortunately that push is product-driven, prompting Modena to improve upon its already-mouthwatering offerings and give us something new to drool over, too.
First up is the Quattroporte GTS, the sportiest version yet of Maserati's performance luxury sedan, which debuted at the Detroit show and goes on sale next month. That will reportedly be followed by a similarly-equipped version of its two-door counterpart. Called the GranTurismo GTS, we can't help but wonder if it was named by someone with a stutter... or maybe by former UN sec-gen Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Naming aside, the high-spec GranTurismo is expected to ditch the robotized manual in favor of the performance-tuned automatic coupled to the 433-hp, 4.8-liter V8 from the Quattroporte GTS. Other changes will include a tighter suspension and sporty touches all around.
The bigger news, however, will be the debut of the new Spyder. While a smaller sports car has been speculated, sources expect this Spyder to be GranTurismo-based, retaining its four proper seats under the open sky. The new Maserati Spyder could make its public debut as soon as Frankfurt later this year, so stay tuned.
Maserati Quattroporte Centurion for American Express Black Card holders
The Centurion Card, known as the Black Card, is a credit card issued by American Express to the very elite. To become a Black Card holder, one must meet a strict criteria by American Express and must pay an annual and initiation fee. It comes with a lot of benefits, which now includes a limited-edition [...]
The Centurion Card, known as the Black Card, is a credit card issued by American Express to the very elite. To become a Black Card holder, one must meet a strict criteria by American Express and must pay an annual and initiation fee. It comes with a lot of benefits, which now includes a limited-edition Maserati Quattroporte.
Unveiled at Forbes House in London to an exclusive audience of Black Card holders, the Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion special series is exclusively built to order. The model is finished in metallic Nero Carbonio (carbon black) with a Bianco Polare (polar white) Poltrona Frau leather interior with embossed Centurion logo on the headrests. It also has a bespoke numbered plaque, titanium colored trim and 20-inch wheels.
Power comes from a 4.2L V8 making 400-hp allowing Black Card holders to go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 167 mph. There is also a Quattroporte for Centurion 4.7 which is powered by a 430-hp allowing for a 0 to 62 mph time of 5.4 seconds.
Pricing starts at £88,315 ($124,352 USD) for the Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion 4.2 and £94,185 ($132,617) for the Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion 4.7.
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Review
Road test
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S
18 out of 20
£89,860
Driven March 2009
This is the finest large sporting saloon in the world. It sits at the top of a distinguished and expensive heap, including the V10 Audi S8, the 525bhp Mercedes S63 AMG and the all-new BMW 7-Series V8 twin turbo, and it trounces them all in different ways.
High praise indeed, but this new Quattroporte Sport GT S is that good. All the planets seem to have aligned at Maserati with this car, and the combination of a raft of small changes makes it completely rock.
First, a catch-up with the Maserati model line-up, in case it's overtaken you lately. Anything with an ‘S' means the new wet-sump 4.7-litre V8 is under the nose. So, the GranTurismo coupe comes in standard (4.2-litre) and S (4.7) forms. The coupe S uses a version of Ferrari's F1 ‘flappy paddle' robotised manual 'box, fitted at the rear in a transaxle layout.
This Quattroporte Sport GT S gets a very similar 4.7-litre engine, tweaked to give 433bhp (8bhp more than the standard QP S and 38bhp more than the 4.2) but mated to a conventional ZF automatic gearbox - the same 'box you'll find on Jags, Mercs and BMWs, but tweaked to Maserati's high-revving requirements. It is a fantastic auto - quick to change in manual mode, and smooth and direct in automatic, a perfect match for the car's character.
One more feature worth noting is that this QP Sport does not get the adaptive ‘Sky Hook' suspension of other Masers - it gets stiffer springs all round and sits lower, but you can't adjust it. Fine. We'll take what the engineers think is best. Cosmetic changes like darkened headlight lenses, black concave grille spars and oval pipes complete the picture.
At the end of all that, what you have is a striking-looking and strongly built saloon with tremendous handling, a car that can be quiet and comfortable when it needs to be. Then, hit the Sport button, and some flaps open in the exhaust to send the sound straight through. This is one of the very, very greatest engine sounds - a delectable V8 howl, a spine-tingling note that will have you driving through towns in Sport mode with the windows down in first gear at 4,500rpm, just to hear the sound bouncing off the walls.
Then there's the handling, aided by an engine that sits entirely behind the front axle line, effectively making the car front-mid-engined. Its ability from turn-in to apex is electric and instant, with steering that gives you plenty of feel. Weight balance is 49 per cent front, 51 per cent rear, aided by a fuel tank that sits behind the rear seats and cuts into the boot. Who cares? Not us.
Bring on the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Rapide. The Quattroporte Sport GT S awaits them, unblinking and unafraid. No full-sized four-door car goes harder or better