Wanderlust

Tag: red

  • The Limited Edition Audi R8 GT is Most Powerful RWD Audi Ever

    The Limited Edition Audi R8 GT is Most Powerful RWD Audi Ever

    • Limited to 150 units in U.S. with consecutive numbering and exclusive content
    • 602 horsepower 5.2-liter V10 FSI engine combined with RWD 
    • New Torque Rear drive mode enables precise and controlled oversteering on a track

    [source: Audi of America]

    HERNDON, VA – Today, Audi of America pays tribute to the first generation Audi R8 GT from 2012 by announcing the arrival of the all-new R8 GT. The naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine now comes with 602 horsepower – making it the most powerful rear-wheel drive series production model in the brand’s history. A new Torque Rear drive mode was developed exclusively for the R8 GT to provide for more precise and controlled oversteering when driven on a track. The R8 GT demonstrates the consistent transfer of technology from motorsports to series production. The R8 GT will be limited to just 333 units worldwide, of which 150 units will come to the United States market. 

    A motorsport legend: 5.2-liter V10 engine
    No other Audi is closer to motorsports than the R8. The R8 V10 engine is nearly identical to the R8 LMS racecar engine developed in parallel with only specific regulation adjustments made on the racecar. Compared to the R8 V10 performance RWD model with 562 horsepower, Audi Sport GmbH engineers heightened the performance of the R8 GT model to 602 horsepower – now matching the R8 performance quattro model.

    An unmistakable engine tone resonates from the high revving 5.2-liter 10-cylinder engine that produces 413 lb-ft. of torque and a max engine speed of up to 8,700 rpm. As a result, the new R8 GT accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and reaches a top track speed of up to 199 mph. One unique design element of the R8 GT is the valve covers of the engine that are painted in black.

    New Torque Rear Drive Mode
    For the first time, Audi Sport GmbH is offering a Torque Rear mode on the R8. Drivers can access seven characteristic curves stored in the traction control system (ASR) offering different levels of support – Level 1 provides maximum support with reduced engine torque, which leads to a low level of wheel spin, while Level 7 provides only minimum support with increased engine torque, which leads to a high level of wheel spin.  

    The desired Torque Rear mode level can be set by turning the control satellite on the Alcantara® wrapped steering wheel. This function adapts to the progressive driving skills and road conditions presented on the road or on the track, while rapidly calculating data from the wheel speed sensors, steering angle, accelerator pedal position, and the selected gear. The incremental adjustment allows the drivers to gradually increase their own skills.

    Another distinctive addition to the R8 GT is a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with even faster shift times – allowing drivers to choose their personalized level of ESC support, enabling controlled and simultaneously precise oversteering. The gearbox allows for an even more impressive acceleration in all gears thanks to an altered gear ratio compared to the R8 performance RWD models.

    Lightweight engineering
    The R8 GT remains largely produced by hand at Böllinger Höfe, and shares the same assembly line and similar engine as the R8 LMS racecar. Compared to the R8 V10 performance RWD Coupe, various weight saving measures have resulted in an overall weight reduction of around 55 pounds, producing a total curb weight of 3,516 pounds. The LMS racecar inspired lightweight 20-inch 10-spoke milled-cut forged wheels in high-gloss black, are combined with high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires designed for road and racetrack use. The forceful ceramic braking system with red calipers, which is standard equipment in the R8 GT also saves additional weight compared to steel brakes.

    Additionally, lightweight R8 GT bucket seats are finished in leather and Dinamica and feature integrated speakers as part of the Bang & Olufsen sound system. The standard sport suspension features a CFRP anti-roll bar, made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic, while the two coupling rod connections are made of red anodized aluminum to protect against corrosion. This dynamic suspension reduces weight, while increasing road-holding and cornering dynamics. 

    A conspicuous presence
    In order to differentiate the new Audi R8 GT from its relatives, the special model is equipped with exclusive add-on parts. First, all of the exterior emblems are painted in black including the distinctive “R8 GT” lettering in the rear. The track inspired Carbon aero kit is finished in high gloss, and was initially developed in the wind tunnel to improve aerodynamics and increase down force at the front and rear axle – generating better stability and faster cornering speeds on the track. In total, the Carbon aero kit consists of the following attachments: front splitter, flics, side skirt covers, cW-elements on the sides of the rear bumper, a diffuser, and a rear wing with gooseneck suspension, which ensures optimum wing underflow improving aerodynamic efficiency.

    The new R8 GT is available in three colors, totaling 50 of each: Tango Red Metallic, Daytona Gray Metallic, and Mythos Black metallic. For the interior, Audi Sport GmbH continues to praise its homage to the first R8 GT from the 2012 model year. The interior is crafted with an Audi exclusive interior in a combination of black and red. This includes red seatbelts – only previously available in the R8 GT from 11 years ago. The floor mats and the R8 bucket seats feature the lettering of the special model in black and red. Customers can also find the sequential numbering of their R8 GT in the middle of the selector lever, partially matted in the carbon inlay.

    Compared to the global setting, the U.S. market adds several components that amplify the performance character and equipment level of the R8 GT. Carbon side blades, door side sill inlays, and exterior mirrors housings complete the motorsport touch to the exterior. Further added equipment includes a sport exhaust system, Audi laser lights, dynamic steering, Bang & Olufsen sound system, and an Audi exclusive diamond stitched headliner with red contrast stitching.

    The Price
    The new Audi R8 GT will start arriving at dealerships in early 2023. The MSRP starts at $249,900 plus destination, paint, and gas guzzler tax.

    At Audi of America, we believe the Future is Electric. By 2025, our U.S. model lineup will be 30 percent electrified, including fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Globally, we are committed to net CO2 neutrality by 2050. In 2021, Audi sold 196,038 vehicles in the U.S. and more fully electric models than ever before, with electric vehicle deliveries up by more than 50% over 2020. Learn more about who we are and how we’re working to create a more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive future at audiusa.com or media.audiusa.com.

    This information and any vehicle specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

    Always obey local speed and traffic laws.

    Top track speed electronically limited in U.S. Obey all speed and traffic laws.

    Always pay careful attention to the road, and do not drive while distracted.

  • Ferrari SP51: The 812 GTS-Inspired Roadster is Maranello’s Latest One-Off

    Ferrari SP51: The 812 GTS-Inspired Roadster is Maranello’s Latest One-Off

    • A new Ferrari One-Off designed around its owner’s requirement
    • The SP51 is a thoroughbred roadster based on 812 GTS architecture 

    [source: Ferrari]

    Maranello, Italy – The latest addition to the Prancing Horse’s One-Off series, the Ferrari SP51, was unveiled today and joins the most exclusive group in Maranello’s range: unique, absolutely bespoke cars crafted to the specifications of a client, making them the very pinnacle of Ferrari’s customisation scope and range.

    Designed by the Flavio Manzoni-headed Ferrari Styling Centre, the SP51 is a front-engined V12 spider based on the 812 GTS platform from which it inherits its layout, chassis and engine. At first sight, the stunning new car’s most striking characteristic is its total absence of a roof, making it an authentic roadster in every respect, accentuating both its sporty character and ability to captivate both visually and in terms of en plein air driving exhilaration.

    Unsurprisingly, the SP51’s aerodynamics required meticulous honing in a process involving CFD simulations, wind tunnel and dynamic testing to guarantee not just the ultimate in comfort in the cabin, but also the same standard of acoustic comfort and wind feel as the car that inspired it.

    The SP51’s styling is both powerful and harmonious, thanks to its seamlessly muscular, undulating surfaces. Its forms are modern, sinuous and sensual at once, in great part as a result of the extensive use of bare carbon-fibre both on the exterior and in the cabin. The trim on the bonnet is particularly striking as it dynamically frames the two air vents.

    Another of the SP51’s most captivating features is its new Rosso Passionale three-layer paintwork – the colour was developed specifically for the car and gives it an elegant yet imposing character that also exudes authority. This impression is further enhanced by the blue and white livery inspired by a legendary 1955 Ferrari 410 S which not only runs the length of the car, but is also referenced in the interior.

    At the front, specially-designed headlights give the SP51 an instantly recognisable and forceful identity all of its own. Also noteworthy are the wheels, which are specific to the car and have carbon-fibre wing profiles on each of the spokes which also feature a sophisticated tone-on-tone diamond-cut finish on the forward-facing section.

    The rear of the car is dominated by an arched theme with the taillights inset below the spoiler. Immediately behind the cabin are two flying buttresses that are visually softened by two deep carbon-fibre scoops. Between these two elements stretches a transverse, carbon-fibre wing, the profile of which folds over the buttresses. The resulting effect is vaguely reminiscent of a Targa-type car in which the flying bridge elegantly conceals the anti-roll hoop, a nod to the solution adopted on Ferrari’s early-1960s Sports Prototypes.

    That said, the very pinnacle of the meticulous honing process, in which the client was involved every step of the way, has to be the cabin where dizzying new heights of craftsmanship and creativity have been reached.  Its personalisation pivoted around two clever ideas: the decision to use the same Rosso Passionale colour custom-created for the exterior as the main colour for the Alcantara® trim, and the effective idea of extending the lengthwise exterior livery into the cabin. Its white and blue stripe, in fact, both appear on the central tunnel and the fascia between the two seats on the firewall, as well as on the steering wheel stitching, creating a sense of seamless continuity between exterior and interior in which the car’s roadster architecture played a vital role.

    The special finish for the door panels, the lower section of the dashboard and the sides of the seats, comprising a blue Kvadrat® insert with white cross-stitching, also picks up the livery. Glossy carbon-fibre trim has been extensively used throughout the interior where it pairs very harmoniously with the Nero Momo Opaco elements. This stylishly elegant and authoritative look is further enhanced by several white embroidered details (including the Prancing Horse and car logo, also found on the lower rim of the steering wheel).

    The Ferrari One-Off, SP51, was designed for a longstanding Taiwan-based client who is also one of our leading collectors. It is a successful roadster take on Maranello’s first front-engined V12 spider in 50 years. Its bold styling captivates at first sight. However, it brilliantly retains the signature elegance of its inspiration, the 812 GTS, whilst pushing the boundaries by offering a whole new way of enjoying en plein air driving.

    SPECIAL PROJECTS

    The Special Projects programme is aimed at creating unique Ferraris (the so-called “One-Offs”) characterised by an exclusive design crafted according to the requirements of the client, who thus becomes the owner of a one-of-a-kind model. Each project originates from an idea put forward by the client and is developed with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre; having defined the car’s proportion and forms, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before starting the manufacturing process of the new One-Off. The entire process takes around two years on average, during which time the client is closely involved in assessing the design and verification phases. The result? A unique Ferrari sporting the Prancing Horse logo and engineered to the same levels of excellence that characterise all of Maranello’s cars.

  • Ferrari SP48 Unica: A New One-Off from Maranello

    Ferrari SP48 Unica: A New One-Off from Maranello

    • A unique new Ferrari designed to a client’s brief
    • The SP48 Unica is a two-seater sports berlinetta powered by the same twin-turbo V8 as the F8 Tributo
    • Bespoke design and aero modifications give the SP48 Unica a sporty and dynamic look

    Maranello, 5 May 2022 – The Ferrari SP48 Unica, the latest addition to the Prancing Horse’s One-Off series, was unveiled today and joins the most exclusive group in Maranello’s entire production: unique, absolutely bespoke cars crafted to the specifications of a single client and designed as a clear expression of their own individual requirements.

    The SP48 Unica, designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer, is a two-seater sports berlinetta developed on the F8 Tributo platform. Its taut lines and aggressive stance make it instantly recognisable with respect to the original model, and it is unmistakable too, thanks to its arrow-shaped front profile. Central to achieving this effect was the redesign of the headlights and the subsequent relocation of the brake air intakes.

    A pivotal aspect of the design of this unique new car is the extensive use of procedural-parametric modelling techniques and 3D prototyping (additive manufacturing) which enabled the Ferrari Styling Centre designers and Maranello’s engineers to completely redesign the front grille and engine air intakes. This advanced production process resulted in perfect 3D grilles that seem carved from a solid volume creating a sense of seamless continuity and dynamic fluidity.

    The procedural graphic solutions adopted on the bodywork dialogue directly with the grilles and influence the SP48 Unica’s overall design:  the transition from black – which includes the windows, roof and engine cover – to the body colour is especially clear.  The striking visor effect of the front is further heightened by the reduction in the size of the side windows and the elimination of the rear screen, highlighting the powerful muscularity of the SP48 Unica which seems sculpted from a single block of metal.

    The plan view emphasises the central section of the roof which includes a graphic representation of the air intakes set into the rear part of the carbon-fibre engine cover before the rear wing. This angle allows the viewer to appreciate the styling research that went into the SP48 Unica and reveals the sophisticated interplay of symmetries and intersecting lines created by its forms.

    The SP48 Unica’s thermal-fluid-dynamic design has been honed and perfected to guarantee it satisfies all cooling requirements in addition to delivering a different aerodynamic balance. The biggest changes compared to the F8 Tributo’s styling include the air intakes for cooling flows for the engine on the front bumper and beneath the rear spoiler. Each has a deep procedural grille, every section of which is optimally angled to maximise the amount of air passing through. The car’s configuration also allowed the engineers to locate an intercooler intake immediately behind the side windows, which in turn enabled them to reduce the dimension of the intakes on the flanks. The longer rear overhang reduces suction from the roof area, boosting rear downforce.

    Although the cabin retains the F8 Tributo’s technical identity – excluding the rear screen – meticulous development work was lavished on achieving the perfect combination of colour and trim to reflect the SP48 Unica’s  sleek, sporty and aggressive personality.  A good example is the specially developed black laser-perforated Alcantara® used on the seats and most of the cabin trim, beneath which are glimpses of iridescent reddish-orange fabric that match the exterior colour. Its motif picks up the hexagonal motif of the grilles and the procedural livery on the roof, creating an appealing continuity between the car’s interior and exterior.  In the SP48 Unica cockpit, the eye is immediately drawn to the polished sill covers with the same laser-embossed hexagonal motif. Matte carbon-fibre imbues the cockpit with a sense of technicality and exclusivity, and is complemented by the Grigio Canna di Fucile accents.

    Designed for a long-standing client who was deeply involved in every step of its creation, the one-off Ferrari SP48 Unica is a bold interpretation of a sports car and cleverly enhances its racing soul and vocation for speed. The SP48 Unica achieves its goal of transforming an existing model to masterful effect, taking inspiration from and paying homage to the company’s core values of innovation and passion.

    SPECIAL PROJECTS

    The Special Projects programme creates unique Ferraris (so-called “One-Offs”) characterised by an exclusive design crafted around the requirements of each individual client to ensure each one becomes the owner of a genuinely one-of-a-kind model. Each project originates from an idea put forward by the client and then developed with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre. Having defined the car’s proportion and forms, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before the construction of the new One-Off begins. The entire process lasts more than a year on average, during which time the client is closely involved in assessing the design and verification phases. The result? A unique Ferrari sporting the Prancing Horse logo and engineered to the same standard of excellence as every car that rolls off the Maranello assembly lines.

  • Bell Sport & Classic Completes Concours-Level Restoration of Rare Ferrari Dino 246 GT L Series

    Bell Sport & Classic Completes Concours-Level Restoration of Rare Ferrari Dino 246 GT L Series

    • Originally appearing on Ferrari’s stand at the 1969 Frankfurt Motor Show, this remarkable Dino 246 GT L Series has been meticulously restored to concours condition
    • Four year strip down and rebuild to Ferrari Classiche standard by Bell Sport & Classic restoration team
    • Iconic model represents seminal period in Ferrari history
    • Arguably now the best Dino in the world, it is the latest demonstration of the  benchmark-setting levels of finish Bell Sport & Classic applies to every restoration

    [source: Bell Sport & Classic]

    Markyate, Hertfordshire, UK – Bell Sport & Classic is delighted to reveal the latest example of its exceptional in-house Ferrari restoration expertise: a complete, ground-up, concours-level restoration of the original 246 GT Dino L Series that debuted on Ferrari’s stand at the 1969 Frankfurt Motor Show.

    A seminal model from marque’s history, this significant car has been the subject of Bell Sport & Classic’s benchmark-setting standards, blending originality and the utmost attention to detail with the very latest restoration techniques to create arguably the best Dino on the planet.

    Leaving the Maranello factory in 1969 and exhibited at that year’s Frankfurt Motor Show before being delivered to a customer in West Germany, it was the first Dino to be sold in the country and the seventh L Series ever made by Ferrari. Today, this concours-condition, low-mileage, early left-hand drive car represents an exceptionally rare opportunity for an aficionado to add one of the most important models built by Ferrari to their collection.  

    Fitting tribute and lasting legacy
    “Enzo Ferrari first used the ‘Dino’ name to denote a range of V6 Formula 1 and Formula 2 racing engines as a tribute to his first son Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari, helped develop the engines, but tragically succumbed to illness at the age of 24 in 1956,” recounts Tim Kearns, Managing Director of Bell Sport and Classic. “When Ferrari launched its first V6-powered, mid-engined road car in 1968, it did so under the ‘Dino’ brand. And instead of the traditional Cavallino Rampante or Prancing Horse Ferrari badge, the Pininfarina-designed cars carried the signature of Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari.”

    The first Dino launched was the 206 GT variant, powered by a 2.0-litre V6 engine. A year later, this model was followed by the 246 GT L, which featured a 60mm longer wheelbase and boasted a more powerful 2.4-litre engine – as did the 246 GTS targa model. Maranello built just 357 examples of the L-series Dino, before following it up with the M and E-series variants, which were produced in greater numbers.

    In 1969, the highly respected motoring writer and racing driver Paul Frère summed up the Dino 246 GT L’s exceptional driving attributes: “The Dino is most fun to drive on roads with lots of bends and good visibility. I know of very few cars that offer as much driving enjoyment through this type of terrain as this one does.” 

    Frère was far from alone in his enthusiasm for the Dino. “Critics and customers alike loved the way the Dino looked, sounded and drove. The car soon became acknowledged as a ‘lifestyle’ icon, even achieving fame in the cult classic detective television series ‘The Persuaders’, in which Tony Curtis drove a 246 GT,” reveals Tim Kearns.

    “It’s remarkable to think that at the time the car made its debut, Enzo Ferrari was adamant that his road-going creations should only be fitted with V12 engines and launched the new V6-powered Dino as a sub-brand. Yet today, Ferrari has closed the circle and returned to the V6 engine format, albeit in turbocharged guise, with its new 296 GTB.”

    Improving standards, respecting authenticity
    Before arriving at Bell Sport & Classic’s extensive restoration facilities in 2017, the Dino 246 GT, which carries the chassis number 00436, confirming its status as the 7th of 357 examples built, had been moved around the globe, spending time with owners in Germany, France, Canada, and the US. Despite the car’s far-flung travels, it had accrued only 53,400 miles (86,000km) over a period of forty-eight years. But it was, however, in a very sorry state of disrepair.

    “To be honest, I doubt if many other proper restoration companies would have even considered taking this project on. The tired state the Dino was in, it just didn’t look economically viable to attempt to return it to its former glory,” recalls project leader Peter Ensor, who along with Marc Holden, Elliot East and technical director Attilio Romano formed the key team responsible for the Dino’s restoration.

    “The car had been restored twice before in its life already, but lacked real care and precision. It was painted Rosso Corsa red instead of the original Rosso Dino, which has a more ‘orangey’ hue, the leather trim was incorrect too – it was black and red as opposed to the black with orange seat towelling interior fitted at the factory. And that was just for starters. When we delved deeper, we realised that there were plenty of other problems to address too.”

    Rust plagued the inner wings and the misshapen front and rear valances. The ‘scoops’ on the door panels did not align with those on the body, neither in terms of height nor angle, the wheel arch heights didn’t match from one side of the car to the other and the rear roofline was off-kilter. “And those were just the things we could see,” adds Elliot East wryly. “We also found that at some stage replacement front wing panels had been welded on top of the original items. The same ‘technique’ had been used on the sills and rocker panels, which meant the seam lines had been lost and rust had been locked in underneath.” 

    The full extent of the perilous state of the car was only revealed when Bell Sport & Classic completed a full strip-down to the steel monocoque. This process took several months, with the team carefully removing the aluminium panels, doors, glass and all mechanical components. Only then did it become apparent just how much effort, time, and skill – not to mention expense – would be required to restore the Dino. Yet, in some ways, the poor state of the car made it an ideal project for Bell Sport & Classic to exercise its renowned bodywork, mechanical and interior trim refurbishment expertise upon. The company prides itself in setting standards that are unmatched across the industry and deliver a level of finish significantly superior to that with which the vehicle would have left the factory in period, while fully respecting the car’s originality.

    Working to the very highest standards and having gained the coveted Ferrari Classiche certification for its impeccable work restoring previous Ferrari models, Bell Sport & Classic was eminently qualified to undertake the Dino project. But despite its exceptional knowledge and experience bank, the company left no stone unturned by seeking the expertise of Matthias Bartz, a highly respected author, and the world-leading authority on the Dino model. This enabled the vehicle’s authenticity to be determined beyond any doubt, and detailed information on the original factory specification to be obtained.

    Obsessive level of detail
    The team fully stripped the 2.4-litre V6 engine, triple Weber 40 DCF carburettors, five-speed gearbox, all-round disc brake system, front and rear coil spring, and double-wishbone suspension.

    Each component was painstakingly restored to original specification, with all worn parts refabricated or replaced as required. Once rebuilt at Bell Sport & Classic’s own specialist engine workshop, the V6 was tested on a dynamometer and bench-run for a day. After being reinstalled in the car, the engine was re-tested on a rolling road and fine-tuned to ensure it produced the precise 191bhp it left the factory with.

    Using the specialist information supplied by Bartz, the Bell Sport & Classic team went to extraordinary levels of meticulous detail to ensure they restored the Dino to the highest possible specification. “For example, there is a panel seal that runs along the sill underneath the doors. On sub-standard Dino restorations, it’s all too easy for this to fill up with paint, so the detail gets lost,” explains Ensor. “That might only be a minor thing to some people, but little things like that are everything to us. Call it obsession if you like, but on our Dino, there is not a single spec of paint on the panel seal, and the detailing is perfect.”

    The team took a similar fastidious approach to the Dino’s iconic air intake scoops, which cut elegantly into the doors and carry on along the rear panels to ensure the mid-mounted V6 engine has a plentiful supply of cool air. “Back in the 1960s, the people building these cars at Maranello did not have the technology at their disposal that we do today and so fit and finish were often not what they could have been,” continues Ensor. “When chassis number 00436 left Maranello in 1969, it did so with a slight mismatch on the position of the door scoops, a common enough problem at the time. We have spent hundreds of hours ensuring that the scoops are now correct.”

    Achieving symmetrical perfection required the wheel arches to be reformed and new sills to be fabricated and fitted. “Once we had the body panels perfect, we still had the issue of ensuring the scoops on the doors would align correctly with those on the body panels. That meant refabricating the doors and aluminium-welding the original scoops into the new skins,” reveals Ensor.

    Dry build for perfect finish
    Bell Sport and Classic is adamant that restoration is both a science and an art. It does not consider the process to be a matter of simply replacing damaged panels and worn-out parts. Even though doing this can save time and money, the team believes that the greater the number of new components fitted to a vehicle, the greater the risk its originality becomes depleted.

    Instead, the team uses its technical excellence, outstanding craftsmanship, and often its sheer patience in the passionate pursuit of perfection, carefully restoring and refurbishing every component to avoid needing new parts where possible. “Of course, lavishing attention to detail on every individual component makes the rebuild process even more challenging,” explains Ensor. “No car ever goes back together easily, and the more thorough the restoration, the more demanding the rebuild is because every single part of the car has been completely reengineered.” 

    The delicate and painstaking rebuild process is where the team’s skill and experience truly came to the fore, with near-constant minute adjustments of components such as body panels, window frames and sills required to ensure the perfect finish.

    “It took two weeks before we were completely satisfied that the doors opened and closed correctly and that the scoops on the doors aligned absolutely perfectly with those on the rear body panels. We spent a similar amount of time fitting the curved rear screen. That’s a very tricky job because the screen is actually bigger than the space it is going into. The only way to fit it is to put one side in first and then flex the screen ever so slightly to get the other end in,” recalls Ensor.

    More days and weeks ticked by with endless hours lavished on countless tasks such as repairing and polishing the front grille and ensuring the perfect positioning of the front sunken indicators. No component, no matter how small, escaped Bell Sport & Classic’s famous obsessive attention to detail. 

    Even the thin aluminium shell of the interior mirror had two days of polishing lavished upon it to attain perfection.

    The Dino 246 GT 00436 has been gloriously returned to its Rosso Dino (rosso dino; non-metallic Uni; 350; Ferrari) paint finish, which involved first applying the period-correct grey primer followed by a Rosso Corsa undercoat with Rosso Dino final coat. This painstaking, multi-tone process ensures the rare and desirable Rosso Dino is shown most effectively. The seats have been reupholstered in period-correct black leather complete with orange towelling inserts, and beautifully installed along with a newly built dashboard. Even the engine cam covers have been restored to their original bronze colour, ensuring the car is precisely as it left the factory in August 1969 – only better.

    Tim Kearns, Managing Director of Bell Sport and Classic, said: “Like every project we undertake, bringing the Dino 246 GT back to be life has been a true labour of love and most definitely not a clock-watching exercise. No amount of time, expense or attention to detail has been spared in ensuring the car is now in even better condition than when it left the factory. Along with its concours condition, the car’s low mileage adds to its considerable allure. With its mid-mounted V6 engine, the Dino differs from the Ferrari V12 GT models that preceded it. It represents a seminal point in the company’s history and stands as a fitting tribute to Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari. There will always be an air of intrigue to this car too, as one cannot look at it without wondering what direction Ferrari may have taken if Alfredo had lived to take over the company’s reins from his father, Enzo. And that makes the Dino an exceptional car.”

    About Bell Sport & Classic 
    Bell Sport & Classic is a team of experts who have come together to provide customers unrivalled expertise across the sales, service and restoration of the world’s most revered classic and modern classic cars, specialising primarily in notable Ferraris but also Aston Martin and Lamborghini and other leading marques.

    Authenticity, originality and quality are the bedrocks of the business; Bell Sport & Classic prides itself on sourcing the ultimate in collector cars and bringing new standards to classic car restorations. Bell Sport & Classic stands apart in the classic car world as an innovator and leader in customer service.

  • Audi USA Celebrates Final Model Year of TT RS with Limited “Heritage Edition”

    Audi USA Celebrates Final Model Year of TT RS with Limited “Heritage Edition”

    • Audi TT RS no longer offered after the 2022 model year in the U.S.
    • Five Audi heritage colors celebrate legendary five-cylinder engine and bids farewell to pinnacle performance of a design icon in the U.S. 
    • Limited number of just 50 (10 of each) color combinations available

    [source: Audi of America, Color Code Information Researched and Provided by Tailored Driver]

    HERNDON, VA – Today, Audi of America announces a limited offering of 50 special units of the 2022 Audi TT RS Heritage Edition that combines the power of the emotive Audi five-cylinder engine heritage along with the storied paint colors that once adorned the Audi Ur-quattro. While still available outside of the U.S., the 2022 Audi TT RS Heritage Edition signals the appropriate farewell to the remarkable high-performance coupe following the 2022 model year. The TT and TTS models will continue to be available in international markets and in the U.S. market.

    Five heritage color combinations celebrate the legendary five-cylinder engine
    For the 2022 model year, a limited number of just 50 highly collectible TT RS models will be available with the Heritage Edition nomenclature that blends five different exterior paints of the past that celebrate the heritage of the Audi Ur-quattro. The legendary Ur-quattro was powered by the storied Audi five-cylinder engine of its time with the modern version supporting the high performance Audi TT RS today. The limited TT RS Heritage Edition is available in five different color combinations, listed below in the five-cylinder firing order, and is limited to only 10 units of each.

    1. Alpine White (alpinweiß; non-metallic UNI; L90E; Audi) with Ocean Blue leather and Diamond Silver stitch
    2. Helios Blue metallic (heliosblaumetallic; metallic UNI; LA5Y; Audi) Diamond Silver leather and Ocean Blue stitch
    4. Stone Gray metallic (steingraumetallic; metallic UNI; LY7U; Audi) with Crimson Red leather and Jet Gray stitch
    5. Tizian Red metallic (tizianrotmetallic; metallic UNI; LB3V; Audi) with Havanna Brown leather and Jet Gray stitch
    3. Malachite Green metallic (malachitgrünmetallic; metallic UNI; LY6A; Audi) with Cognac Brown leather and Black stitch

    The interior leather and contrast stitching combinations are leveraged from the current Audi exclusive portfolio of upholstery selections, and include several first-time color combinations for the U.S. market. To further underline the exclusivity of the limited edition model, the TT RS Heritage Edition exhibits an understated, yet distinctive etch of “HERITAGE EDITION” script followed by the firing order of the five-cylinder engine “1-2-4-5-3”, underlined by a “quattro” script in the rear quarter glass on the right side of each car.

    Additionally, the TT RS Heritage Edition presents an exclusive list of standard equipment:

    • 20” 5-arm cutter design wheels in bi-color anthracite finish
    • Audi exclusive etching in rear quarter glass
    • 174 mph top speed limiter
    • Alcantara covered steering wheel with 12 o’clock marker in leather color
    • Alcantara covered shift lever
    • Alu-optic exterior elements including mirror housings
    • OLED taillights
    • RS logo floor mats with contrast stitching
    • Sport exhaust with black tips
    • Electric spoiler / rear wing delete

    Hear that heritage sound? It’s legendary performance.
    The five-cylinder engine has deep historical roots in Audi’s DNA, and is a fundmental pillar of the emotional connection to the Audi Sport brand. The engine has achieved countless victories in motorsports from courses in rally around the world to the tarmac in the IMSA GTO and at the Nuerburgring in the legendary 24-hour race, the 5 cylinder has prevailed. It even earned the  “International Engine of the Year Award” nine times in a row since 2010. Yet – it is the unique and distinctive sound of the five-cylinder engine that has captured the emotion of enthusiasts. Due to the odd number of cylinders, and more specifically, the 1-2-4-5-3 firing order, the Audi five-cylinder engine’s sound is unmistakable and presents a symphonic rhythm that is accompanied by deep tone characteristics. 

    Besides its visibility in motorsports, the legendary engine harkens back to the Ur-quattro coupe from the 1980s, and has been a part of just two U.S. market Audi products over the last few years – the Audi TT RS Coupe and RS 3 Sedan. The engine remains one of brand’s more powerful engines with 394 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque that brings the TT RS Coupe from 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds.

    The return of the five-cylinder. A social network comeback
    Until 2012, the five-cylinder engine remained absent from the Audi portfolio for nearly 30 years. In 2009, the first Audi TT RS made its global debut in the world markets, and was only a dream to drive on the roads stateside, until Audi of America took a stance to get the car to the U.S. In 2011, Audi of America would exhibit a signed petition on Facebook to bring the first generation TT RS to the U.S. market – the petition resulted in an astounding 12,000 signatures in just one month.

    After the success of the social media campaign, Audi of America brought the product in limited production run for just two model years, 2012-2013. In both years, Audi of America offered a total of approximately 1,200 highly collectible TT RS models properly outfitted exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, which became the final manual transmission offer in any Audi RS- model, globally.

    Fond farewell
    While 2022 is the last model year for the TT RS in the U.S., the model will live on in other international markets for some time. The 2022 Audi TT RS Heritage Edition and the 2022 Audi TT RS model are expected to go on sale in the U.S. toward the beginning of 2022. The TT RS celebrated its 10 year anniversary since its introduction as a 2012 model year in the US market. 

    The limited edition model, no doubt to become a sought after model for enthusiasts and collectors alike, celebrates the victory, performance, and expansive history of the legendary five-cylinder engine for the Audi brand which will continue to be available once the all-new RS 3 goes on sale next summer in the U.S.

    MSRP pricing detail

    Model 
    2022 Audi TT RS Heritage Edition$85,350
    2022 Audi TT RS$73,200

    Prices exclude $1,045 destination charge, sales taxes, title, options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

    At Audi of America, we believe the Future is Electric. Our U.S. model lineup will be 30 percent electrified, including fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, by 2025, and globally we are committed to net CO2 neutrality by 2050. In 2020, Audi sold 186,620 vehicles in the U.S., and this year, we look forward to the next chapter in our journey to reinvent premium mobility with the arrivals of the fully electric Audi e-tron GT and Audi Q4 e-tron. Learn more about who we are and how we’re working to create a more electric, innovative, and inclusive future at audiusa.com or media.audiusa.com.

    This information and any vehicle specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

  • Expedition Motor Company with Flawlessly Restored Rubellite Red “Wolf” G-Wagen

    Expedition Motor Company with Flawlessly Restored Rubellite Red “Wolf” G-Wagen

    Expedition Motor Company Unveils Newest Military Pedigreed G-Wagen for Sale After More Than 1,000 Hour Restoration Project

    [source: Expedition Motor Company]

    FRENCHTOWN, NJ – Expedition Motor Company is proud to introduce a newly restored 1990 Rubellite Red (rubellitrot; 660; metallic UNI, Mercedes-Benz) Mercedes-Benz 250GD Wolf to its celebrated series of vintage G-Wagen builds. With more than one thousand restoration hours dedicated to the new red Wolf truck, Expedition Motor Company has once again manufactured an effortlessly cool looking G-Wagen more than capable of conquering any terrain in its path. Expedition Motor Company specializes in preserving vintage examples of one of the world’s most celebrated utility rigs in the venerable G-Wagen. With more than 41 years of history as an on-road SUV staple, Expedition Motor Company offers clients what has quickly established itself as one of the most refined, sophisticated vintage trucks available in the marketplace today. 

    “Our 250GD G-Wagen restorations are amazingly versatile, and Expedition Motor Company’s new 1990 Rubellite 250GD rig is no exception,” comments Expedition Motor Company Founder Alex Levin. “A vintage G-Wagen looks sharp just about anywhere it goes, and quickly sets itself apart from some of the other classic vintage trucks that have been commonly acquired by enthusiasts. Whether clients are in the city or out adventuring in the mountains or beaches, our trucks feature more modern capabilities in a sophisticated rig that immediately commands respect out on the road wherever it goes.”

    Expedition Motor Company’s Rubellite Red 1990 Mercedes-Benz 250GD Wolf is powered by a durable 0M602 diesel engine mated to a 5-speed 711.117 manual transmission. The result is a tough powerhouse that turns this former military machine into a peerless adventure rig.

    The frame and interior of Expedition Motor Company’s Wolf series is what sets an Expedition Motor Company G-Wagen restoration apart from the competition. The vehicle’s interior is finished with go-anywhere, easy to clean brown vinyl-covered seats and doors complemented with bright orange stitching as well as a sleek, spartan dashboard that’s period correct to the original 1990 build. The new Expedition Motor Company 1990 250GD features a brand-new Vintage Air HVAC system, as well as a modern entertainment system that includes Bluetooth, USB and device plug-in features. The frame of this Rubellite 250GD Wolf maintains its crisp, distinctive aesthetic by incorporating the iconic fold-down windshield and 2-door convertible/cabriolet soft-top body configuration. 

    Expedition Motor Company made sure this spectacular 1990 Mercedes-Benz 250GD Wolf underwent a thorough build process. Everything was taken apart and stripped down to bare metal beginning with the body of the vehicle. Anti-corrosive primer is applied after the entire vehicle is disassembled, cleaned, and carefully inspected. All components are completely restored, including the transmission, brakes, suspension and steering to assure every part of the vehicle is upgraded to modern-day standards of performance. Expedition Motor Company finished this 1990 250GD with a stunning Rubellite red exterior paint scheme. 

    Expedition Motor Company’s Rubellite G-Wagen is available now for interested automotive enthusiasts at a price of $102,150. For more information or to commission another vintage 250GD G-Wagen, please contact Expedition Motor Company at (267) 714-4112 or visit the company at www.expeditionmotorcompany.com.

  • Ferrari Omologata: A New One-Off-Creation

    Ferrari Omologata: A New One-Off-Creation

    • Fiorano sees the premiere of the 
    • 10th one-off crafted over a V12 platform

    [source: Ferrari]

    Maranello, Italy – A unique Ferrari has been seen lapping Fiorano today during a brief yet intense shakedown. While the V12 engine note reverberating around the track may have sounded familiar, the car’s arresting looks are unique although guaranteed to strike a chord with the marque’s aficionados. With its Rosso Magma finish and sophisticated racing livery, the new Ferrari Omologata is a clear descendent of Ferrari’s great GT tradition spanning seven decades of history.

    Commissioned by a discerning European client, the latest offering in Ferrari’s line of unique coachbuilt one-off models is a vibrant evocation of the values that define Ferrari in relation to GT racing: a car that is equally at ease on the road as it is hitting the apex on the track in the hands of a true gentleman driver.

    The Ferrari Omologata project took a little over two years to complete from the initial presentation of sketches, starting with images that covered a variety of inspirations, from racing heritage to sci-fi and references to modern architecture. The idea from the onset was to create a futuristic design with distinctive elements reinterpreted in a fresh manner to provide potential for a timeless shape that is certain to leave a lasting impression.

    To achieve this, the designers unlocked every possible area of freedom from the underlying package of the 812 Superfast, keeping only the windscreen and headlights as existing bodywork elements. The objective was to exploit the proportions of the potent, mid-front layout to deliver a very sleek design defined by smooth volumes and undulating reflections, uplifted by sharp graphics with sparingly distilled surface breaks wherever dictated by aerodynamic functions. The trickiest aspect was striking the ideal balance between expressiveness and restraint: the Omologata had to ooze street presence whilst maintaining a very pure formal language.

    The designers carefully studied the stance and attitude of the car from all angles, defining a tapering front volume from the flattened oval grille. The rounded section over the front wheelarches, emphasized by a contrasting stripe wrapping across the bonnet, seems to naturally extrude from the grille. Rear of the door, the flank develops into a very potent rear muscle that neatly blends upwards into the three-quarter panel. The entire volume is rendered deliberately imposing through the elimination of the rear quarter light, while three horizontal transversal cuts in the fastback volume visually lower the rear mass. The tail is surmounted by a prominent spoiler which adds not only downforce, but a more aggressive, sporty stance. Overall, the car appears to be poised to attack the tarmac even at a standstill and, seen from the rear, the deeply set single taillights underline the tension.

    Uniqueness in more than name

    Satisfying every safety constraint for road homologation without interfering with any of the usability and tractability of a Ferrari is always a huge challenge for the design team led by Flavio Manzoni, the more so when starting from an existing platform. Omologata was indeed a keyword that resonated throughout the development of this, the 10th front-engined V12 one-off Ferrari has delivered since the 2009 P540 Superfast Aperta. Beyond the clear instructions coming from the client and down to every detail on the car, the designers effectively took into account countless variables to make this a bespoke model through and through, one which could easily find its place in any Ferrari showroom. The quest for the ultimate touch went as far as developing a new shade of red just for the livery, to match the fiery triple-layer Rosso Magma over darkened carbon-fibre finish.

    Inside the car, a plethora of trim details suggests a strong link to Ferrari’s rich racing heritage. The electric blue seats, finished in a tasteful combination of leather and Jeans Aunde® fabric with 4-point racing harnesses, stand out against a full black interior. In the absence of rear quarter lights and screen, the atmosphere in the cabin is purposeful, reminiscent of a bygone era. Metal parts on the dashboard and steering wheel are finished with the crackled paint effect associated with the great GT racers of the 1950s and 1960s as well as with Ferrari’s engine cam covers. A hammered paint effect so often used in cars such as the 250 LM and 250 GTO finds its way on details such as the inner door handles and on the Ferrari F1 bridge.

    A fitting one-off exercise, the Omologata manages to encompass a range of subtle Ferrari signature design cues without falling into nostalgia. Its hand-crafted aluminium bodywork is sprinkled with almost subliminal details, in a way that challenges the enthusiast to identify the various sources of inspiration that played a part into its inception.

  • Paying Tribute to Tradition: The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition

    Paying Tribute to Tradition: The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition

    Porsche presents the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition, a state-of-the-art 911 with design elements from the 1950s and early 60s and the first of four collector’s pieces of the Heritage Design strategy.

    [source: Porsche AG]

    Historical exterior and interior design elements have been reinterpreted and combined with the latest technology in a special limited edition from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. The new model is available to order now and will be in dealerships from autumn 2020. Only 992 examples will be built, matching the internal model series code. Along with the introduction of the special edition, selected interior elements will be available as part of the Heritage Design package for all current 911 models. Porsche Design has also created a high-quality chronograph, to be built in restricted numbers as well, exclusively available to purchasers of the new limited edition model.

    “With the Heritage Design models, we are evoking memories of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s in customers and fans alike. No brand can translate these elements into the modern day as well as Porsche and, in this way, we are fulfilling the wishes of our customers. We are also establishing a new product line that represents the lifestyle dimension in our product strategy with these exclusive special editions,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG.

    Exclusive paintwork in Cherry Metallic or the four other exterior colours that are available, combined with gold logos, creates an authentic look in true 50s style. The exterior of the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition features stylish livery in white, with a historical design. The spear-shaped graphic motorsports elements on the front wings are particularly striking, recalling the early days of Porsche competition history. A further highlight is the Porsche Heritage badge on the rear lid grille, which is reminiscent of the one that was awarded back in the day when a Porsche 356 reached the 100,000 kilometres mark. This seal of quality from the past – with a modern twist – will grace the rear of all four Porsche Heritage Design models. The connection between past and present is also emphasised by the 1963 Porsche Crest on the bonnet, steering wheel, wheel centres and vehicle key. The historical motif is also embossed on the head restraints and key pouch. Further emphasis is provided by the new model’s standard 20/21-inch Carrera Exclusive Design wheels and classic-look brake callipers finished in Black.  

    The interior also pays tribute to the past with the exclusive two-tone leather interior combining Bordeaux Red leather with OLEA club leather in Atacama Beige or Black leather with OLEA club leather in Atacama Beige. The use of corduroy on seats and door trims signals the return of a material used in the Porsche 356, reviving the zeitgeist and fashion of the 50s. The classic looks of the green-illuminated rev counter and stopwatch underline the emotive nature of the concept in the same way that the perforated roofliner in microfibre fabric and extensive Exclusive Manufaktur leather trim do. A metal badge on the trim panel of the dashboard records the individual limited edition number.

    The first Heritage Design model is based on the new 992 generation 911 Targa introduced just days ago and has been equipped with the latest technology for chassis, assistance systems and infotainment. It is powered by a high-tech 331 kW (450 PS; 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition: Fuel consumption combined 10.3 – 9.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 235 – 227 g/km) biturbo boxer engine which, in combination with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, accelerates the 911 Targa (with Launch Control) from 0-100 km/h in less than 3.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 304 km/h.

    Porsche Heritage Design strategy: re-interpreting classic design elements

    The Heritage Design models emphasise the lifestyle dimension that represents particularly emotive concepts within the Porsche product strategy. In this case, the Style Porsche design department and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur are reinterpreting iconic 911 models and interiors of the 50s through to the 80s, bringing period characteristics of those times back to life. The Heritage Design package for the 2019 911 Speedster provided an initial preview of this strategy and Porsche will, in time, produce a total of four special limited edition models.

    911 Targa 4S Heritage Design edition chronograph: the watch to match the car

    In the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition Chronograph, Porsche Design has created a high-quality timepiece exclusively for owners of the new car. This mechanical watch has an elegant and clean design and, just like the car, is limited to 992 units. Again just like the car, the designers have drawn their inspiration for many of its details from the legendary Porsche 356 and iconic Porsche 911 Targa. For example, the design of its watch face, with its white second hand and Phosphorus Green rings, is inspired by the cars’ speedometer and rev counter while the hours on the watch face are inscribed in a font that is deeply characteristic of Porsche. The new watch’s strap is made of genuine Porsche interior leather and the way that 911 is embossed in it is a further tribute to the iconic sports car.

  • The BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage

    The BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage

    BMW M GmbH continues the series of attractive edition models with 750 limited-edition BMW M4 Coupes – body colours in special exclusive M colours and a unique interior design to match – world premiere during the DTM racing event on the Nürburgring.

    [source: BMW AG]

    Munich. With the forthcoming races on the Nürburgring the current German Touring Car Masters (DTM) season will finally reach its decisive phase. Moreover, during the DTM weekend being held from 13 to 15 September 2019, visitors can expect a further attraction. The BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage (combined fuel consumption: 10.0 – 9.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 227 – 213 g/km) will make its world debut on the legendary racetrack in the Eifel. The special edition of the BMW M4 Coupe, which forms the basis of the BMW M4 DTM deployed by BMW M Motorsport, fascinates with an exclusive exterior and interior look reflecting the impressive tradition of the high-performance racing cars. The BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage, powered by a 331 kW/450 hp straight six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology will be produced and sold worldwide between November 2019 and April 2020 as an edition model limited to 750 units.

    Light blue, dark blue and red – these are the colours by which motorsport fans immediately recognize the BMW M GmbH logo. Immediately after the founding of the BMW Motorsport GmbH in 1972, the characteristic colours already adorned these racing cars, which were based on the BMW 3.0 CSL and became highly successful in touring car racing. Since then, the distinctive stripes in the three classic BMW M GmbH colours have stood for exhilarating performance and exclusive design also on the road. The BMW M4 Edition///M Heritage takes up this unmistakable colour combination on unique exterior and interior design features. There is a choice of the three body colours Laguna Seca Blue (lagunasecablau; non-metallic uni; 448; BMW), Velvet Blue metallic (velvetblau; metallic; 379; BMW) and Imola Red (imolarot; non-metallic uni; 405; BMW) available for the edition model. Furthermore, the two-seater’s carbon-fibre reinforced plastic roof boasts a striking decorative strip in the BMW M colours, which is integrated into the CFRP composite at the factory using a special manufacturing process. Likewise unique are the forged, 20-inch M light alloy wheels in a star spoke design featuring the colour Orbit Grey matt and fitted with mixed tyres. 

    The interior of the edition model is also characterised by an exclusive selection of colours and materials. The spectrum of equipment includes model-specific full leather M seats in a bicolour design and with prominent openings within the area of the seatbacks. Each seat colour is oriented towards the exterior paint and is complemented by partly bicoloured contrast stitching. In conjunction with the exterior colours Laguna Seca Blue and Velvet Blue metallic, the seats come in Silverstone/Black with turquoise stitching or Velvet Blue and Orange respectively. With the exterior finish Imola Red, the seat colours Red and Black correspond with yellow and red contrast stitching.

    The both appealing and exclusive colour scheme continues with interior carbon trim strips designed exclusively for the BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage and whose CFRP structure incorporates the stripe design featuring the three characteristic M colours. Both the interior trim strips and the door sills bear emblems with the imprints “Edition ///M Heritage” and “1/750” as an indication of the limited edition of this model. The lettering “///M Heritage” – in turquoise, orange or red respectively – is also to be found on the front headrests. 

    The BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage offers a particularly exclusive opportunity to experience the handling characteristics of a high-performance sports car marked by dynamics, agility and precision. At the same time, with this model, the BMW M GmbH is continuing the tradition of exclusive special editions, a tradition that has been cultivated now for several model generations. They reflect the enthusiasm for exceptional sporting successes or awareness of the history of selected models, of which many have become much sought-after collectors’ items in the course of time. 

    Expressive paint finishes and a characteristic interior design were already hallmarks of the BMW M3 Edition of the year 2009. At that time, with the variants Alpine White, Black, Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue there were as many as four body colours available for the edition model based on the fourth generation of the BMW M3. In the year 2012, BMW Motorsport’s successful comeback in the DTM triggered the production of the BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition. During the first season following an almost 20-year break, BMW came first in the manufacturer’s rating, with the BMW Team Schnitzer winning the team classification. Moreover, the Canadian Bruno Spengler seized the driver’s title. Only 54 units of the edition model were produced – one for each racing victory BMW was able to clinch in the DTM by then. And there were several more in the years that followed. In the 2016 season, it was the German BMW Motorsport works driver Marco Wittmann in particular who was hard to beat and who eventually became the new DTM champion. The BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition, which was limited to 200 units, was brought to market in his honour. The strongly racing-oriented special edition not only exhibited exclusive design features but, above all, was provided with numerous innovations that had previously helped the 368 kW/500 hp BMW M4 GTS achieve its outstanding performance.

    The same year, BMW M GmbH also presented an edition model of the BMW M3 Sedan in memory of the BMW M3, which had made its debut three decades previously. The special edition 30 Years M3 was finished exclusively in the colour Macao Blue metallic and produced in a limited quantity of 500 units. The latest example to date of a fascinating combination of performance and exclusiveness is the BMW M4 Convertible Edition 30 Years. This open-top high performance sports car was produced in a limited edition of 300 and presented in 2018 – three decades after the premiere of the first-generation BMW M3 Convertible. This edition model also featured exclusive paint finishes – namely Macao Blue metallic and Mandarin II uni – and a specific interior design, providing for unique and aesthetic driving pleasure both on country roads and on the racetrack.

  • Ferrari P80/C – The Most Extreme One-Off Design Ever

    Ferrari P80/C – The Most Extreme One-Off Design Ever

    Maranello, Italy – Creating an entirely new and modern take on the Ferrari sports prototype concept is both an ambitious and complex undertaking. But it was in this spirit, and with very specific input from the client, that the new Ferrari one-off, the P80/C, was conceived. The Ferrari Styling Centre, under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, and the engineering and aerodynamics team worked hand-in-glove with the client, sharing principles and visions in order to create a new “Hero Car” with an absolutely unique and authentic soul.

    The client, a great connoisseur of the Ferrari world, comes from a family of long-time Prancing Horse enthusiasts and admirers, and is himself a highly knowledgeable, discerning Ferrari collector. He was thus the perfect partner with whom to craft such a demanding project which required the highest level of interaction as well as emotional   involvement.

    The client’s basic brief was to create a modern sports prototype inspired by iconic models from Ferrari’s history: the 330 P3/P4 on the one hand and the 1966 Dino 206 S on the other.

    The P80/C thus set the Ferrari Styling Centre an ambitious target: to develop a new kind of product that simply did not exist in the current Ferrari range: a sports prototype inspired by the cars that essentially wrote their own styling rules becoming, in the process, famous icons that, although conceived as track cars, also went on to influence a whole series of elegant road cars. A case in point is the very close relationship between, for instance, the Dino 206 S racing car and the production Dino 206/246 GT. Both versions share a common DNA despite having a different styling lexicon: Ferrari racing elements appear in the case of the former while the latter have the more sober, refined lines of the road cars.

    The Ferrari Styling Centre’s goal was to create a resolutely modern car that made no major concessions to the past, apart from attempting to recreate the sensual shape of those iconic models through more muscular wings formed by the intersection of concave and convex surfaces.

    Kicked off in 2015, the P80/C project had the longest development time of any Ferrari one-off made to date. This highly intense gestation period was the result of in-depth styling research and lengthy engineering development, with meticulous analysis of performance parameters as well as scrupulous aerodynamic testing, all with a different approach than taken by Ferrari with its one-off cars in the past.

    Normally speaking, this kind of car tends to be a stylistic reinterpretation of models in the current range – a new concept or basic idea that marks a departure from the donor car is built on existing running gear. The glorious history of Italian coachbuilding is just that: a wealth of exceptional cars based on the same chassis, but bodied by different coachworks.

    The P80/C, however, is radically different. It is a track car, which means that performance is a major factor so this not only pointed the design team in the direction of a design that was absolutely unique, but also forced them to make radical changes to the running gear of the donor car. This involved introducing specific features required to guarantee a captivating marriage of style, technical prowess and aerodynamics.

    The decision was made to use the 488 GT3 chassis as a basis, not only for its performance, but also for its longer wheelbase (+ 50 mm compared to the 488 GTB) which allowed more creative freedom. With respect to the Ferrari 488’s classic layout in which the cockpit tends to be placed centrally, the GT chassis allowed the designers to emphasis a cab forward-effect in which the rear is elongated, lending the car a more aggressive, compact character. This was one of the cornerstones of the P80/C’s styling from the early stages of the design process.

    A decisive wedge shape dominates the side view at the front of the car. The muscular forms of the front and rear wings with the cockpit set in between are emphasised by very broad buttresses that expand towards the side air intakes. This gives the impression that the cabin is completely fused with the body, and is accentuated still further by the wrap-around windscreen which references the iconic look of sports prototypes of the past. The flying buttresses converge towards the roof underlining the visor effect of the greenhouse. All of these features are references not only to the 330 P3/P4 but also homage to the Dino and the 250 LM berlinettas.

    The side windows merge graphically with a wide pocket created by the side air intakes giving a dynamic downward movement to the rear flanks. This disruptive line balances the wedge-shaped front flanks and visually separates the rear section from the rest of the car.

    Seen from above, it is clear that the bodywork is widest over the front axle, but then narrows sharply, creating a tightly sculpted waistline around the rear door before broadening out again dramatically at the tail. This particularly iconic kind of architecture is also emphasised by flying buttress-type C-pillars which are physically detached from the cabin. On the one hand, the C-pillars wraparound the intercooler air intakes, while on the other, they accentuate the sharp drop in height between the roof and the surfaces of the rear engine cover. Compared to a more normal continuation of the roofline over the engine cover, a more extreme solution was preferred, creating a large void rear of the cockpit with a vertical rear screen.

    Aerodynamic development was based on the experience gained with the 488 GT3, but was not governed by the restrictions imposed by international regulations. Thus the front splitter is specific and, while the expansion curve and vortex generators of the rear diffuser are the same as those used on the GT3, the external surfaces are all unique to the P80/C. The result is an improvement of around 5% in overall efficiency, required to make full use of the unrestricted engine.

    The objective was to balance the upper bodywork’s downforce evenly over the two axles, making full use of the 488 GT3’s underbody. The configuration of the rear bodywork required the adoption of an aerodynamic profile that sits immediately rear of the trailing edge of the roof to provide a strong recompression of the flow rearwards, reinforcing the downforce generated by the tail and the wing. This aerodynamic profile was inspired by the T-wing adopted in Formula 1 in 2017 and here is designed to reduce the length of the flow over the rear, creating the effect of a very short ‘virtual’ rear windscreen and an extremely limited separation bubble.

    The front of the car has a catamaran-style formal geometry. The jutting effect of the nose is underscored by its almost wing-like shape which the interplay of voids highlights very effectively. The large radiator air vents are located just behind this wing-like structure and these outlets over the front bonnet underline the powerfully muscular wings.

    The fact that the P80/C is homologated only for track use meant that it could do without components that would be deemed vital in a road car, and which would also heavily influence its styling. Classic head lights have essentially disappeared. Or rather they have been reduced to mere slits set into niches at the front of the car reminiscent of the air intake housings in the grille of the 330 P3/P4. Unlike the 330, however, in the P80/C, said housings are not set into an oval grille but look more like two pockets carved out of the front of the car.

    The same styling element reappears at the rear of the car. The rear spoiler is very wide to meet aerodynamic requirements and incorporates the two signature tail lights in a way that makes them look like air vents, thus perfectly reflecting the design of the front.

    Even the rear fascia, which leaves the running gear fully visible, has a catamaran-type architecture.  This allowed the inside to be completed devoid of bodywork. In fact, its sole occupant is a grille to help evacuate heat from the engine bay. The space left is occupied by a huge rear diffuser which seems almost to be separate from the rest of the car.

    The adoption of a concave rear windscreen and aluminium louvres on the engine cover, a reference to the 330 P3/P4, gives the P80/C’s tail an instantly recognisable and unique look.

    At the client’s request, the car was designed with a dual soul: a racing set-up, which includes quite a showy carbon-fibre wing and 18” single-nut wheels, and an exhibition package complete with 21” wheels but devoid of aerodynamic appendages, to highlight the purity of its forms.

    The P80/C’s design language was crafted to be instantly clear. Although made entirely from carbon-fibre, only the parts with strictly technical functions have been left bare, while the main car body has been painted a bright statement Rosso Vero. The name was chosen by the client, proving that his loyalty to Ferrari’s sports prototype tradition extends all the way to colour.

    The interior is very much the same as that of the donor car with a roll cage integrated into the bodywork. The side sections of the dashboard have been redesigned from the version seen on the 488 GT3, as have the seat upholstery and door panels – the latter are now carbon-fibre shells and no have no impact on the car’s weight.