Ferrari 458 Challenge at Vallelunga

The fine tuning of the newly born Ferrari 458 Challenge continues and, based on the production 458 Italia, is already undergoing testing to help get it ready for full competition. The test site: Vallelunga. The drivers: Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo.

No matter, considering any word on the latest challenge car from Maranello is worth noting. The lighter track model is based on the production 458 Italia, which 0-60’s Chris Harris recently called “a paradigm shift in the way Ferrari approaches the subject of performance cars.” Look for the first 458 Challenge to grace future rounds of Ferrari’s one-make championship series.




Press Release

The fine tuning of the newly born Ferrari 458 Challenge continues and, as from yesterday, it was at the Vallelunga circuit for a test, with two drivers, the Italian Maurizio Mediani and the Argentine Jaime Melo, taking on the role of test driver, as they took turns at the wheel of the Prancing Horse sports car. At the end of two days at the Roman circuit, both men were pleased with what had been achieved.

According to Mediani the 458 Challenge is “very quick and extremely good fun,” its handling inherited from the road going car from which it is derived, combined with modifications made for its specific use in racing. Melo, just back from the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series, in which he races a F430 GT2 run by Team Risi Competizione, highlighted how much the driving experience is enhanced by the electronics systems operated with the now classic manettino on the steering wheel, a first for a car used in the Ferrari one-make series. “I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with this car,” commented the Argentine before leaving the circuit to prepare for the next ALMS round, which takes place on 7 August at the Mid Ohio circuit.

2010 RDX RACEDESIGN Seat Ibiza

RDX Racedesign has Releases a new body kit for the Seat Ibiza / Ibiza SC (6J).

RDX’ kit consists of a 169 Euro front spoiler which can be fitted to all model expect Cupra and FR, 35 Euros headlight covers, 129 Euro side skirts, rear bumper extension with mesh grille for 189 Euro, and a roof spoiler which costs 149 Euro. This kit can be fitted to both 3 and 5-door models.

Since every individual component is made of high quality PU/ABS, perfect fit is guaranteed along with low weight, optimal elasticity, and high material stability. This quality is guaranteed by RDX RACEDESIGN with a 14-day cancellation right and a two year warranty.

The RDX RACEDESIGN Seat Ibiza price, which includes all the body parts mentioned above, minus the wheels, is 671 EUR.




Press Release

RDX RACEDESIGN makes the Seat Ibiza 6J & 6J sc more temperamental

• Complete body kit gives the Spanish super-mini a sporty look

• TÜV parts certification or TÜV approval of all parts (no registration required)

• Made of PU/ABS for a perfect fit

RDX RACEDESIGN gives the little Spaniard a sporty flair. The new program for the Seat Ibiza 6J from the body kit specialist makes the Spanish car a racy hit.

The new front spoiler for all Ibiza models except FR and Cupra (169 Euro including VAT) extends the model's lines almost down to the pavement. Together with the headlight covers (35 Euro) it creates a more aggressive looking front section.

The side skirts (set for 129 Euro) lengthen the body between the wheels for a sporty look. This is emphasized by the recess that ends in two grids in front of the rear wheels.

RDX RACEDESIGN makes the rear end look more athletic. This is achieved by the rear bumper extension (189 Euro for all models except FR and Cupra) with its two large grids separated by a striking brace.

The sporty conversion is complemented by the new roof spoiler (149 Euro) that adds a striking accent to the transition to the tailgate.

All components of the new RDX RACEDESIGN body kit are available for the 3-door and the 5-door Seat Ibiza 6J.

The front and roof spoiler package includes a TÜV parts certification, so there is no problem registering them in the vehicle's documents. All other components of the RDX body kit are exempt from registration and do not need to be presented to the inspector.

Since every individual component is made of high quality PU/ABS, perfect fit is guaranteed along with low weight, optimal elasticity, and high material stability. This quality is guaranteed by RDX RACEDESIGN with a 14-day cancellation right and a two year warranty.

For more information on all products of the body kit specialist for Audi, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Fiat, Ford, Opel, Peugeot, Seat, Skoda, Toyota, and VW RDX RACEDESIGN is available by phone at +49 (0) 9172 700 78-0 or on the internet at www.rdx-racedesign.com

1,000 MPH Bloodhound SSC Jet Car Unveiled [Video]

The Bloodhound project is aiming to build the world's first 1,000mph car - and this is exactly what it will look like. The technical lozenge pictured here is a full sized replica unveiled today, 19 July, at Farnborough International Air Show.

The model’s unveiling coincides with the news that the Bloodhound project team has signed a deal with aerospace manufacturer Hampson Industries. The firm will be responsible for building the rear of the real Bloodhound next year.

The Bloodhound SSC show car is 12.8 meters long and a result of three years of aerodynamic study with the goal to brake the current standing world land-speed record of 763 mph (1.228 km/h). If all goes the Bloodhound SSC will reach 1,000 mph (1,609 km/h)

The Bloodhound team has also confirmed two key developments in the project. Hampson Industries has been named as the latest sponsor to the project; the engineering firm will be responsible for building Bloodhound's rear fuselage.

Unfortunately, it's not the complete car, lacking the mechanical underpinnings and 133,000-horsepower drivetrain, but a 1:1 replica of the real deal. While it may be just a shell, it displays the aerodynamic work the team has done to attempt its maximum design speed of 1,050 mph, or Mach 1.4.

A further four Intel Atom chips will help the driver, Wing Commander Andy Green, keep the Bloodhound on the road. That's probably just as well for Wg Cdr Green -- our experience with Atoms is that when used in isolation, Atom chips get bogged down even when running something as basic as Internet Explorer.




Press Release

BLOODHOUND STARS AT THE FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

The BLOODHOUND Project today announces the achievement of significant milestones in this iconic engineering and education adventure:

• 1.5 million school children in the BLOODHOUND Education Programme
• Life size Show Car makes world début at Farnborough
• BLOODHOUND Driving Experience - launched
• 50% of the fuselage build now secured thanks to key product sponsor Hampson Industries
• Three new sponsors sign up
• EJ200 record engine test 100% successful

The BLOODHOUND Project is a World Land Speed Record attempt aiming to inspire young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM subjects) by show-casing them in the most exciting way possible - by building a car capable of reaching 1,000 mph.

1. The 1.5 million pupils join the BLOODHOUND team

As of this week (19thJuly 2010), 3471 primary and secondary schools, 229 further education colleges and 40 universities are signed up to the BLOODHOUND Education Programme, gaining unique access to this world class research and development programme. The BLOODHOUND Education Programme produces curriculum resource materials for all levels of education. This means that circa 1.5 million primary and secondary school pupils are now exposed to real world case studies based on the jet and rocket powered car to bring their Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) lessons to life.

An independent study by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) concluded that the BLOODHOUND Education Programme provides a genuine hook to get children interested in science and engineering. The study found that children of both sexes engaged with the exciting subject material and that it helped inspire them to think about science and engineering in new ways.

"The Farnborough International Airshow provides us with an amazing opportunity to show young people, their teachers and the World's leading aerospace companies how the BLOODHOUND Engineering Adventure has started to influence so many pupils in a very short period of time." Said Dave Rowley, Education director, "The uniqueness of being able to share such leading edge technology with pupils from five years of age, when they are at their most receptive, is starting to have a positive effect on them considering STEM related career options."

Chief Executive Philip Harrison said ‘Protocol National is proud to be the official FE partner of The BLOODHOUND Project as it attempts to break the World Land Speed Record and reach over 1,000 mph. It's a journey that really engages FE learners and inspires a generation to pursue the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.'

2. World début of the full size show car

12 noon Monday 19thJuly at our stand, OE16

Today the BLOODHOUND team unveils, for the first time, the complete life size Show Car, which at 12.8m, is longer than four Minis parked end to end.

The 1:1 replica is the result of three years of aerodynamic study and ten exhaustive design evolutions to perfect the shape and aerodynamic package of the planet's ultimate car.

World class aerodynamic research using Computational Fluid Dynamics was conducted by Swansea University, MathWorks and EPSRC, and at key moments the Project utilised more computing power than the Met Office (courtesy of IT Partner Intel). The BLOODHOUND aerodynamic team, lead by Ron Ayers, generated millions ofmathematical equations to investigate how the air around the car would react as the car accelerates to its maximum design speed of 1,050 mph. Using this information they then designed the an efficient shape that would be stable at supersonic speeds, and controllable a sub-sonic velocity.

The Show Car started life as 5 x 2m3 polystyrene blocks, which were then cut into bucks and moulds using 3 axis machining by Baker Patterns of Birmingham. Fibreglass and resin was then laid over the bucks in a process that took many thousands of painstaking hours to hand finish. The work was done by CHW Composites and Mike Horne Design on the Isle of Wight, who previously worked on ThrustSSC - still the only car in the world to have officially gone supersonic. The BLOODHOUND model was then given the six coats of Akzo Nobel aerospace paint by Jon Benton and his team at Aero-Composites, who are more used to painting military and civil aircraft than forty-four foot long ‘streamliners'. The 950kg showcar, which separates into three sections, was then transported to Farnborough by hauliers G&J Lockwood Ltd.

3. The BLOODHOUND Driving Experience - launched

Imagine travelling ten miles in just one hundred seconds... Thanks to the BLOODHOUND Driving Experience, débuting at FIA, you can get behind the wheel of the world's ultimate racing car and find out just what it takes.

This immersive experience was developed with the help of IT Partner Intel, the Universityof Southampton, Cursive Simulation, The Race Centre, the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE) and Escape Studios. The BLOODHOUND Driving Experience is powered by an Intel® Core^TM i7 processor, specifically designed for multimedia applications and enabling the system to deliver stunning graphics accurately representing life at 1,000 mph.

The state-of-the-art graphics are delivered by the Gamebryo Lightspeed game engine from Emergent Game Technologies, an award-winning platform most commonly used in chart-topping console games and ultra-realistic military training simulators.

Taking Andy Green's place in the cockpit, visiting test drivers will face the ultimate multitasking challenge: monitoring and controlling three separate engines whilst keeping the 133,000thp (thrust horsepower) car on course on the way up to Mach 1.4.

Virtual land speed racers will have to balance the jet and rocket thrust, accelerating the jet and firing the rocket at precisely the right time to reach maximum speed in just four and a half miles. Drivers will need lightning-fast reflexes to mitigate the effects of crosswinds and surface changes, then juggle air brakes, parachute and wheel brakes to haul the 6000kg car down from fifteen times the national speed limit to standstill, to finish at an exact location in the desert.

4. Major new sponsors announced

BLOODHOUND is delighted to announce a NEW product sponsor: Hampson Industries. World leaders in the design and manufacture of close-tolerance tooling and assembly systems for composite and metallic aero structures, Hampson will manufacture the primary rear structure of the supersonic car from a combination of steel, titanium and aluminium. This will involve both traditional skills along with the latest high speed machining technologies and utilise some of the largest stretch forming capabilities in Europe.

"With Hampson Industries on board we have secured the build of half the Car's fuselage: this marks a huge step in the life of the project," said Richard Noble, Project director, "Hampson Industries is representative of the wealth of skills we have here in the UK and underlines the importance of maintaining this expertise."

The rear structure of the car is of critical importance: it has to handle the 9 tonnes of jet thrust from the EJ200, plus 12 tonnes of thrust from the Falcon hybrid rocket, the vibration and high temperature from both jet and rocket, the suspension loads. And then, when the thrust stops, there are 9 tonnes of brake chute drag.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has joined the Project as a stripe sponsor. Its strap line "Improving the world through engineering" fits very well with the BLOODHOUND Project ethos.

Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: "We are delighted to be a partner in the BLOODHOUND project in what is undoubtedly a shining and leading example of the exciting, world-beating modern engineering going on in Britaintoday."

"This is all about inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists and it doesn't get more exciting than this. With over 90,000 of our members across the world, BLOODHOUND supports our own vision to encourage and build upon the incredible engineering talent we have, not just in this country but in all corners of the world. There is an untapped talent pool of young scientists and engineers out there and through this partnership we will be reaching out to them."

Promethean, a global leader in interactive learning technology, has become the official interactive education technology partner of the BLOODHOUND Project. The BLOODHOUND Education team will work closely with Promethean to deliver its international education programme, reaching beyond the 1.5 million pupils currently using BLOODHOUND education resources, Promethean is giving teachers and students access to a wealth of new curriculum-based interactive STEM educational resources on www.PrometheanPlanet.com/Bloodhound.

Promethean will be installing its ActivClassroom technology in BLOODHOUND's forthcoming education centres, creating the ‘classroom of the future' and will be equipping BLOODHOUND's education ambassadors with relevant software and resources for use in schools.

"In the 1960s, the goal of putting a man on the moon inspired an entire generation to take interest in STEM. We hope BLOODHOUND will have the same ‘Apollo Effect' for this generation," says Jim Wynn, Chief Education Officer at Promethean.

5. EJ200 record engine test 100% successful

Last week the Eurofighter Typhoon jet engine that will be used during the landspeed record-attempts successfully completed a rigorous test session.

The EJ200 will be used to power BLOODHOUND SSC from 0 to 300 mph during its desert runs in 2012. Prior to being put on show at FIA, it was driven to full power on reheat in a series of controlled bench-tests, producing a maximum thrust of 90 kN (20,000 lbf) with no problems.

Having completed its life as a development engine for the Typhoon programme, the 1.5 tonne engine is now on loan to the BLOODHOUND Programme. It will partner the largest hybrid rocket ever designed in Europe to produce a combined thrust of 212 kN (47,500 lb) - the equivalent to 180 F1 cars - and propel driver Andy Green from 0 to 1,000 mph in 42 seconds.

"Seeing our EJ200 run on the test bed was an amazing sight, and marks a significant milestone in the development of BLOODHOUND SSC." Said Mark Chapman, Chief Engineer, "There's a feeling in the team that everything is starting to become very real and that BLOODHOUND SSC no longer exists just on a computer screen."

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi unveils its Attractions and Rides

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi announced on Monday that the park will open in 100 days featuring a record-breaking roller coaster ride meant to emulate the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car.

The Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is located next to the futuristic Yas Marina circuit that hosted Abu Dhabi's first Grand Prix race in November 2009, and is housed under a massive triangular red roof stretching over 200,000 square meters.

One of main attractions will definitely be the Formula Rossa rollercoaster ride which outruns most Ferraris, reaching a speed of 240 km/h in under five seconds. Able to carry 16 passengers (on four cars), the roller coaster accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 2.0 seconds and climbs to a maximum height of 52 meters (171 feet). The 2.07 km (1.29 miles) long course also features a series of "sharp turns and sudden drops" which generate 1.7 Gs.

Visitors will find a stash of other Italian-flavored takes on the typical theme-park fair, including a log-flume type ride that allows riders to experience the thrill of going through a V12 engine. That sounds fun and all, but we're more interested in an exhibit that the company is calling "Galleria Ferrari." Think of it as a walk through the pages of Ferrari history, one classic model at the time.




Press Release

World's First Ferrari Theme Park Opens in 100 Days - Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Unveils all Attractions for the First Time

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 20 July 2010 - The countdown has started and in 100 days, at noon on 28 October 2010, the world's first Ferrari theme park, and the largest of its kind, will open its doors to the public. Today Ferrari World Abu Dhabi unveils its exciting and unique attractions, designed to tell the Ferrari passion, excellence, performance and technical innovation together with its story, to families and fans of all ages and interests.

With more than 20 rides and attractions lying beneath the iconic 200,000 m² red roof, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will offer guests the time of their lives with a host of attractions that indulge the senses in ways never experienced before. With the thrill of some of the world's most inventive rides, eye-catching surroundings, authentic aromas and distinctive sounds of Italy, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will have something for everyone.

Some of the state-of-the-art attractions on show include the fantasy world of ‘Nello' at Speed of Magic, as the mischievous racing driver leads guests on a fantastic 4-D adventure through deep green jungles to icy caves and ravines. Guests can also go faster than anyone has ever been before on a roller coaster when they ride Formula Rossa, which powers them to 240 kmph in less than five seconds. Discover what only Ferrari owners have before, with a tour through the Maranello factory aboard the Made in Maranello attraction and gain an insight into the making of the world's most sought-after cars. Viaggio in Italia, provides a breath-taking bird's eye view of Italy, as you follow a Ferrari California through the scenic countryside and famous Italian landmarks.

"The opening of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will revolutionize the way visitors and people in the region spend their leisure time," said Mohammad Al Mubarak, Chairman of the park's operating company, Farah Leisure Parks Management. "It is a great testament of Abu Dhabi's capacity, and the region's potential, as a world class tourist destination."

"Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will provide an enthralling experience that will appeal to all audiences, including families and enthusiasts," said Claus Frimand, General Manager, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. "With just 100 days to go until we open the park to the public, all of our staff is committed to delivering one of the most spectacular entertainment venues in the world."

"I can't wait until we open our doors on October 28th and welcome our guests to this entertainment experience where they will discover the unique world of Ferrari," he added.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has come a long way since the laying of the first stone back in November 2007 to become the world's largest indoor theme park.

Rides and attractions:

• Formula Rossa - The world's fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds of 240 kmph.

• Speed of Magic - A fantasy 4-D journey following the adventures of a young boy as he travels through a kaleidoscopic dreamscape of natural and phenomenal environments, where no Ferrari has gone before.

• Made in Maranello - A virtual trip behind the walls of the famous Ferrari factory in Maranello, taking guests through the intricate process of making the world's most sought after car.

• V12 - An exciting flume ride to the heart of a 12 cylinders engine.

• G-Force - A thrilling tower ride that will shoot thrill-seekers through the red roof and 62 meters in the air before plummeting back to Earth, experiencing the actual G-force of a Ferrari, in a seat directly inspired by the Ferrari Enzo.

• Scuderia Challenge - Cutting edge racing simulators similar to those used by the drivers of the Scuderia Ferrari in training.

• Viaggio in Italia - A virtual aerial voyage over Italy's cities and their main monuments, mountains and coasts pursuing a Ferrari.

• Fiorano GT Challenge - A unique dueling rollercoaster with Ferrari F430 Spiders twisting and turning through tight corners on a sprint to the finish line.

• Bell'Italia - A miniature recreation of Italy's most famous locations, from the picturesque Portofino and the Amalfi Coast to Monza racetrack, the Colosseum in Roma, Venezia and Maranello, the heartland and home of Ferrari.

• Paddock - A re-creation of the Ferrari motor home including garages, transporters & hospitality suites with interactive shows offering fans a taste of the true action behind the scenes on a Grand Prix race day.

• The Pit Wall - An interactive theatre that allows guests to test their judgment in realistic racing scenarios.

• Galleria Ferrari - The world's largest Ferrari gallery outside Maranello, showcasing the most exclusive range of classic and contemporary Ferrari's from all over the world.

• Junior GT - A driving school for children with expert instruction where they will drive reduced scale F430 GT Spiders on an equipped driving course.

• Junior Grand Prix - After the Junior GT driving experience, budding F1^TM drivers can enjoy the race track in scaled down Ferrari F1^TM racers.

• The Racing Legends - A ride through Ferrari's greatest racing moments starting from the first races all the way to today's F1 victories.

• Driving with Champions - An interactive 3-D show which follows the adventures of a young engineer who is taken on the ride of a lifetime with a racing champion on his first day working at the Ferrari factory

• Cinema Maranello - Ferrari World's own theatre showing ‘Coppa di Sicilia', a short film that tells one of the many inspiring stories from the life of the legendary Enzo Ferrari.

• Junior Training Camp - An interactive play area for children where they can engage with a waterless car wash, become custom ‘constructors', climb up the grandstand, pilot remote cars, peddle their own miniature Ferrari and play with an F1^TM car made of soft, guest-friendly foam.

• Carousel - Featuring never-before-seen Ferrari prototypes based on winning designs from a Ferrari competition.

• Dining and Shopping - A range of concept restaurants and cafes offering authentic Italian dining experiences, in addition to unique shopping locations.

Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at Maranello

Ferrari has officially unveiled today the 458 Challenge racing prototype that will compete in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season.

Based on the 458 Italia, the Challenge features a modified dual-clutch F1 gearbox, an 'E-Diff' electronic differential, and an 'F1-Trac' traction control system with settings for wet / dry conditions. Other goodies include a race suspension (with solid aluminum bushings, stiffer springs, and single-rate dampers), high performance Brembo CCM2 brakes (from the 599XX), and 19-inch wheels outfitted with Pirelli tires.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations – low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.

The 458 Challenge is also much lighter than the 458 Italia, thanks to a thinner body shell and the extensive use of carbon fiber and Lexan.

The 458 Challenge will run alongside its 430 Challenge predecessor in the 2011 Series, while the latter is phased out. Ferrari also plans to expand its Ferrari Challenge series next year, adding a new series in the Asia-Pacific region.


Press Release

The 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting, a traditional event that brings together the representatives of Ferrari’s international sales network.

The new berlinetta, which will flank the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season, is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its one-make championship which, next year, will be extended to include a new Asia-Pacific series.

Coming just a few months after the Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the 458 Italia on which it is based, the 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.

The direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. The 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari’s track-only cars.

Significant work has also gone into cutting the car’s weight. This focused on both the exterior and interior with Ferrari’s engineers concentrating in particular on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations - low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.

Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. Developed in-house by Ferrari, the F1-Trac system constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations – wet and dry - have been developed for this application, with control logic and strategies derived from Ferrari’s extensive racing experience in the F1 and GT championships. The F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration out of corners.

The required ABS, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this solution has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series. The driver can thus either chose from the WET or DRY configurations. In high grip conditions it is also possible to select CT-OFF to de-activate the F1-Trac traction control.

In the course of the intensive development sessions involved in honing the 458 Challenge for the track, the engineers also managed to improve the car’s lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1’16.5”. Equally impressive is the amount of lateral grip the new car generates – up to 1.6G.

With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients - professional and gentlemen drivers alike - a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world’s leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari’s one-make championship.

Rolls Royce White Ghost Limited By Mansory

The MANSORY Rolls Royce Ghost White is strictly limited to a white exterior paint finish and includes both styling and performance upgrades. The MANSORY Rolls Royce Ghost White is powered by the model's standard engine that has been tweaked and now outputs 638 PS (469 kW) at 5700 rpm and 860 Nm of torque. The standard queen-mobile develops 570 PS (420 kW) and 780 Nm of torque.

The engine has been optimized to deliver a total of 638 HP at 5700 rpm and a peak torque of 860 NM up from the standard 563bhp and 780 NM of torque. The result is a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a slower 4.5 seconds, but a top speed of 180 mph (up from 155mph).

Inside, the cabin is outfitted with leather / Alcantara upholstery, a sports steering wheel, bamboo wood trim, and LED ambient lighting.

The Mansory Rolls Royce White Ghost features subtle changes that give the British luxury saloon a touch of sportiness through elements like the slightly redesigned front end with LED daytime running lights and vertical air outlets on the sides, new side skirts, a new rear spoiler and apron with integrated diffuser plus the dual pipe exhaust system. 





Press Release

Three of a kind

MANSORY upgrades the „little" Rolls-Royce to the strictly limited White Ghost Limited

Based on the Rolls-Royce Ghost concept, the vehicle-customizer Kourosh Mansory presents one of the three limited luxury-car specimens. Subtle modifications designed to increase the car's elegance and add a touch of sportiness are priority. The latter especially, is achieved by adapting the engine-electronic in an impressive manner, which results in increased overall performance. A unique overall concept with exclusive features emerges.

Sophisticated elegance characterises the White Ghost's Limited image. The name ties into the theme here: MANSORY wraps the Rolls-Royce's silhouette in a subtle white hue. It accents the car's body style as well as its understated upgrades in an optimal and stylish manner. The new front-end featuring additional LED daytime running lights and vertical air outlets on the sides, directly beneath the serial cooling grill are distinct eye-catchers. This is in perfect harmony with MANSORY's side skirts, the rear view mirrors on each side, the rear spoiler as well as the rear apron with implied diffuser and dual sport-exhaust-system.

The sportiness implied by the exterior-kit is also emphasised under its long hood. The optimised engine map as well as the dual sports exhaust system enhances the Rolls-Royce's performance significantly. Instead of the standard 570 PS (420 kW) MANSORY's upgraded White Ghost Limited series now features a powerful 638 PS (469 kW) at 5700 revolutions per minute (RPM). The engineers in the Bavarian city of Brand near Bayreuth enhanced the maximum torque from 780 to an amazing 860 Newton metre. This enables the engine to accelerate the 2360 kilogram vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in only 4,5 seconds and therewith saves 0,4 seconds in comparison to the serial version. Thanks to the revoked speed limit, acceleration is no longer limited to 250, but rather to 290 km/h.

Upon improved performance the wheel dimensions have also grown. MANSORY created a new design especially for the White Ghost Limited. Its innovative configuration harmonises perfectly with the design of White Ghost Limited. The massive compact wheels with a diamond-polished surface measure an impressive 22 inches. The 9 inch front axle wheels are equipped with 265/35 Dunlop SP SportMaxx high-performance tyres, while the rear axle features 10.5 inch wheels with a tyre size of 295/30.
In cohesion with the exquisite exterior upgrades, the interior is an oasis of luxury. Large parts of the interior are covered in high grade leather with a cross-stitched pattern and enhanced by a headliner and dash board made of Alcantara. The sports steering wheel together with the light colours bamboo inserts creates an unsurpassed exclusive atmosphere. The illuminated entries and implemented ambiance lighting effects are another addition: Seats, door panels and dash board feature LED's which provide pleasant lighting throughout the entire interior.

The company's founder Kourosh Mansory has again excelled in upgrading a vehicle of the upper luxury class to unsurpassed heights. Featuring the new upgrades, the Rolls-Royce Ghost represents itself in a new character. Technology and luxury are in perfect synergy and proudly demonstrate the distinguishable design.

The cost for the White Ghost Limited upgrade starts at 119.800 Euro plus basic edition. Additional information regarding the exclusive Rolls-Royce Ghost program is available on the website www.mansory.com

Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010

The new Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible made its first public driving debut at 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed moving motor show, With several charging runs up the famous driveway, it proved to be quite the hustler when it comes to on-track agility and overall driving performance. Throughout the weekend, the Supersports Convertible – with its top

Throughout the weekend the Supersports Convertible, which is capable of a potential top speed of 202mph and a 0-60mph sprint time of 3.9 seconds, was piloted by the racing legend and honorary ‘Bentley Boy’ Derek Bell who used his expert knowledge of the climb to set a series of typically rapid ascents and give the Goodwood spectators plenty to talk about.

Those performance numbers are provided courtesy of the twin-turbo W12 engine producing 630 PS (621 bhp / 463 kW) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque.

Both the Continental Supersports Coupe and Convertible are now on sale with first deliveries of the convertible due later this summer.




Press Release

BENTLEY'S SUPERSPORTS CONVERTIBLE MAKES RAPID DEBUT AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

(Crewe, England. 5 July 2010) Bentley's Continental Supersports Convertible, the world's fastest production drophead, made its official public driving debut at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed. With several searing runs up the famous hill, it forcibly underlined its supercar performance credentials.

Throughout the weekend the Supersports Convertible, which is capable of a potential top speed of 202mph and a 0-60mph sprint time of 3.9 seconds, was piloted by the racing legend and honorary ‘Bentley Boy' Derek Bell who used his expert knowledge of the climb to set a series of typically rapid ascents and give the Goodwood spectators plenty to talk about.

The Supersports Convertible was joined in the supercar paddock by its equally powerful and capable coupe stablemate - the 621bhp Bentley Continental Supersports which returned to Goodwood after making its own debut in 2009.

Whilst Bentley's flying Supersports models powered up the hill there was also the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Crewe's new luxury flagship, the Mulsanne, at this year's Festival of Speed.

Over 170 hours - almost half the entire build process - goes into handcrafting the Mulsanne's luxurious interior which combines the traditional wood veneers and leather hides Bentley is renowned for with the latest in-car technology and the world's most powerful in-car amplifier (offering 2200 Watts) produced in partnership with Naim Audio.

Both Continental Supersports models are now on sale with first deliveries of the convertible due later this summer. The new Mulsanne, which is about to enter full production at the company's Crewe headquarters, has received an extremely positive reaction and Bentley has already received significant expressions of interest that will account for production through 2011. The first deliveries of Mulsanne will arrive this coming Autumn.

Bugatti has unveiled the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport [Video]

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport achieved a new landspeed world record for production cars. the Veyron Super Sport set an average top speed rating of 431,072 km/h (268 mph). Piloted by Bugatti test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel, with German inspection officials (TÜV) keeping watch, the car topped out once at 428 km/h and second time at 434 km/h. A representative of the Guinness Book of Records was on hand to witness the new world record.

With output bumped up from 1,001 horsepower to 1,200 horsepower, torque swelling to 1,106 pound-feet and a revised aerodynamic kit, Raphanel managed runs of 265.9 and 269.8 mph for an average terminal velocity of 267.81 mph and a new world record for a production car.

The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport comes with four enlarged turbochargers and bigger intercoolers that have been used to boost the power of the 16-cylinder engine to a total of 1200 HP, the chassis

Out go the large overhead air scoops, replaced by deep air ducts. The front air intakes are wider, the rear diffuser is larger and the double exhausts are now big enough for large animals to hibernate in. And get this: Bugatti has played with the engine to develop even more power.
The headline figures: 1183bhp, 1106lb ft, 268mph

The new Super Sport, which Bugatti plans to produce in a limited run of no more than 30 units, is set to be the last hurrah for the Veyron 16.4, taking overall production of the flamboyant, quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter 16-cylinder supercar to 300 units since its introduction in 2005.




Press Release

Land speed world record with the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

The new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport takes production sports cars to a whole new dimension

Wolfsburg/Molsheim, July 4, 2010 - on a beautiful sunny day at 25 degrees the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport achieved a new landspeed world record for production cars, on the proving grounds of the Volkswagen Group at Ehra-Lessien (nearby its headquarters at Wolfsburg). In the presence of the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) and a representative of Guinness Book of Records the Super Sport achieved an average top speed of 431 km/h.

Saturday, 2 pm - Bugatti's Pilote Officiel Pierre Henri Raphanel puts his helmet and gloves on, pulls the safety belts tight whilst the engineers check the car a very last time: tyre pressure, temperature, all systems go. Then the orange black Super Sport crosses the light barrier, from now on the time will be taken, within one hour the car has to drive from South to North and then in the opposite direction. No one but the driver is allowed to touch the car during this time. The tension rises. A few minutes later we can hear from the left side the sound of a starting jumbo jet coming closer towards us. First we perceive the headlights of the Veyron, then we can recognize the shape of the car, a loud wooosh.... and Raphanel dashes in top speed past us. The GPS-tachometer stops at 427, 933 km/h. Now the same procedure from the opposite direction. This time the car reaches 434, 211 km/h. As average top speed the representatives of the "TÜV"and Guinness generate a value of 431, 072 km/h (268 mph). This even hit Bugatti's engineering team by surprise.

"We took it that we would reach an average value of 425 km/h," explains Bugatti's chief engineer Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, "but the conditions today were perfect and allowed even more."

The climax of the Veyron series: the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Had a model been especially popular or highly successful in races, Ettore Bugatti's customers often pushed the master to tease out of the engine a few horsepower more for their future car. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. had been in a similar situation when their existing customers asked the companyto not only design their second model optically differently but to also create a version with a sportierand more extreme driving experience. The result is a car with a uniquely high performance of1,200-hp (882 kW) offering experienced drivers a whole new dimension of excitement, with a maximum torque of 1,500 Newton metres and a limited top speed of 415 km/h (to protect them tyres) but, the technique of the Super Sport is identical to the record car. The first five Super Sports to come off the production line will constitute a special series of their own, with the same configuration as the landspeed record car.

The Super Sport is a consequent of the further development of the classic exclusive 1,001-hp Bugatti Veyron 16.4, launched in 2005. This model offers a stunning set of specifications, such as the twin clutch gearbox with seven speeds, the extraordinarily precise driving performance in bends and excellent stability when braking and accelerating.

Continuous work in extreme performance ranges lead to constantly new conclusions, which enabled the engineers at Bugatti to develop the Veyron into a direction in which the driver can reach new dimensions. Every modification is designed to produce an even more powerful car for an agile ride. Four enlarged turbochargers and bigger intercoolers have been used to boost the power of the 16-cylinder engine, and the chassis has been extensively redesigned to maintain safety at extreme speed - thanks to slightly raised main-spring travel, stronger stabilisers, and new shock absorbers with a complex architecture originally developed for racing cars. This gives noticeably more precise control of the wheels and the car as a whole. With lateral acceleration of up to 1.4 G and improved interaction between the tyres and the intelligent all-wheel drive system, the Super Sport offers perfect handling and even more powerful acceleration of 1,500 Newton metres on corner exits.

The body has been fine-tuned to improve aerodynamic efficiency and maintain perfect balance in every situation, while the new fibre structure of the all-carbon monocoque ensures maximum torsion rigidity and passive safety - at reduced weight. The skin is made entirely of carbon-fibre composites, and the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is available in 100 per-cent clear-lacquered exposed carbon on request.

Dynamic exterior

Every detail of this car, and not just its use of advanced motorsport technology, harks back to the pioneering spirit of company founder Ettore Bugatti. This brilliant designer came from a family of artists, and his philosophy was always to combine mechanical perfection and exterior beauty. This ethos remains alive and well at the company, and the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is wholly unmistakeable, with every external modification serving to coax greater performance from the car.

The Super Sport's flat, elongated silhouette is immediately recognisable. The 16-cylinder engine gets its air from two NACA ducts integrated into the roof, rather than from scoops above the engine. The front air intakes have been expanded and reshaped, with the lower one extending elegantly around the sides to the wheel arch. The revised back looks sportier due to the double diffuser and a centrally arranged exhaust system.

Bugatti has a tradition of making super-sport versions of successful models, usually with racing chassis and supercharged engines. These cars were considered as true racing machines for diehard Bugatti devotees. The most successful were the type 55 and type 57S; only around forty of each were built.

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. has sold 260 Veyrons and 35 Grand Sports by now, of which 249 Veyrons and 22 Grand Sports had been delivered. The Super Sport will begin production this autumn at Molsheim along with the Veyron and the Grand Sport. The first five cars - known as the World Record Edition – are in a special black exposed carbon and orange finish and have already been sold.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport will appear for the first time in public in California at the Pebble Beach Concours weekend in mid-August and will be featured at The Quail, Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca and on the concept lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.