Super Cars

Geneva 2014: McLaren 650S Spider Drops Its Top (VIDEO)

As if the launch of the McLaren 650S at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show wasn’t enough, the crew from Woking brought along a convertible Spider version. The 650S’ P1-inspired styling is made all the more dramatic with a removable roof.

DON’T MISS: 1,340-Horsepower Koenigsegg One:1 Supercar: Live From Geneva

As with the MP4-12C Spider with which it shares a platform, the 650S Spider features a retractable hardtop that effectively makes it a coupe with the roof fitted. The roof takes 17 seconds to raise, a task that can be accomplished at speeds up to 19 mph.

McLaren says the car’s carbon fiber MonoCell chassis did not require any additional strengthening, despite the removal of the roof. The weight penalty over the coupe is about 88 pounds. The 650S Spider comes equipped with the coupe’s lightweight alloy wheels, Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, and carbon ceramic brakes.

Also unchanged is the 12C-derived 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, which produces the same 641 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque it does in the 650S hardtop. That allows the 650S Spider to do 0-62 mph in 3.0 seconds, 0-124 mph in 8.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 204 mph.

That’s 0.1 second, 0.2 second, and 3 mph behind the coupe, respectively. It doesn’t look like convertible buyers will sacrifice much in the way of performance.

MUST SEE: Fifth And Final Pagani Zonda Revolucion: 2014 Geneva Motor Show Live Photos

McLaren says the 650S Spider will also return the same 24.2mpg on the European combined cycle as the coupe. That number will be significantly lower in U.S. EPA testing, though.

There’s also no shortage of convenience features in the Alcantara-trimmed cabin. The 650S Spider comes standard with Bluetooth, IRIS satellite navigation, SIRIUS satellite radio, and voice controls.

Sales begin later this year.

Once you’re done with the video and gallery, head over to our dedicated hub for more 2014 Geneva Motor Show coverage.

via Motor Authority

The Koenigsegg One:1 Hypercar Is 1,340HP Of Pure Awesomeness

Attention One-Percenters, your latest ultra-exotic, limited-edition hypercar is finally here, revealed in full ahead of a debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. It’s called the Koenigsegg One:1, and it should be an insane road-going time machine that transports you to future sections of roads in the blink of an eye. We first brought you details on the One:1 as far back as November 2012. Since then there have been plenty of rumors but now we have the definitive details on the world’s newest supercar.

ALSO SEE: McLaren 650S Performance: 10.5 In The Quarter-Mile, 0-60 MPH In Under 3 Seconds

Marking 20 years since the formation of the Koenigsegg skunk works in Sweden, the One:1 is very much a Koenigsegg product, one based on the Agera line of supercars recently launched in the U.S.. However, numerous upgrades mean it’s virtually an all-new car.

The car gets its name from the fact that it produces one horsepower for every kilogram of weight. Koenigsegg calls it the world’s first production ‘Megawatt’ car, because of its 1,000-kilowatt power rating. For readers in the U.S., that translates to about 1,340 horsepower, which means, you guessed it, the car weighs just 1,340 kilograms (2,954 pounds)–taking into account all necessary fluids and even the weight of an average size driver. This was achieved via a 20 percent lighter chassis and body compared to the Agera, made using advanced carbon fiber.

By comparison, the world’s fastest production car, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (according to Guinness) develops only 1,183 horsepower and weighs more than 4,000 pounds. Performance, as you would expect given the insane power to weight ratio of the One:1, will be nothing short of amazing. Koenigsegg is confident the car will set new acceleration records for 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph), 0-300 km/h (0-186 mph) and even 0-400 km/h (0-248 mph) sprints. The latter could be as quick as 20 seconds.

As for top speed, Koenigsegg says that’s not a priority for the One:1, since it is a track-focused car. However, the company is confident the One:1 could eclipse the Veyron Super Sport’s 267.8 mph speed record and go on to pass 273 mph!

DON’T MISS: The Stress Of Loading A $4.1 Million Lamborghini Veneno Onto A Truck Will Kill You: Video

But if you’re thinking the One:1 won’t be able to handle corners like its Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1 rivals, then you’d be wrong. The vehicle is capable of developing up to 2 g of cornering force and at speeds in excess of 160 mph its trick aerodynamics allows it to produce 1,344 pounds of downforce, which is comparable with the P1. The aero setup is fully active and consists of independent left and right front flaps under the front splitter and hydraulically-actuated rear wing.

The engine fitted to the One:1 is Koenigsegg’s own twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V-8 design. It uses variable geometry turbochargers also designed by Koenigsegg and whose housing is constructed using a 3D printing process. The exhaust, a titanium setup, is also 3D printed. Drive goes to the rear wheels only, via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that was also designed by Koenigsegg.

In the cabin, things are equally advanced. There is an active chassis system that can adjust the ride height and shock absorbing level based on data collected from 3G and GPS services. Koenigsegg says the setup is even effective when at the track. The seats, meanwhile, are carbon fiber and feature memory foam.

Only six examples will be built, and all of them have been been pre-sold. Not like it matters now, but the going price is believed to be around $2 million.

On August 12 of this year, Koenigsegg officially turns 20. For those unfamiliar with Koenigsegg, the company was founded by Swede Christian von Koenigsegg. He was just 22 when he started the company, setting out with an idea to create a sports car

that was like nothing in existence, and that would be desired.

The concept, which remains to this day, was for a lightweight mid-engined car with a detachable, stowable roof. It also had to have a wraparound screen for good visibility and aerodynamics. Finally, it had to have a timeless and efficient appearance that would age like good wine, and so it has, since Koenigsegg’s first car, the CC8S, right up to the latest One:1.

via Motor Authority

Volvo’s New Rumoured Concept Model for Geneva Looks Like a Shooting Brake Coupe (PHOTOS)

Volvo’s rumoured Geneva Motor Show unveil has got people talking and it has got people excited too. If this is it, it is going to be awesome.

Carscoops say:
We know for a fact that, Volvo will complete its trilogy of concept cars that started with the Coupe in Frankfurt last year and continued with the XC Coupe crossover in Detroit, all sporting a fresh design language and based on the brand’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, with a new model at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The photos show a Shooting Brake Coupe model that appears to be based on the Concept Coupe, itself a modern take on the P1800. If true, the third study would pay tribute to the ES Shooting Brake version of the P1800 from the 1970s (see a virtually brand new example of that car here).

We’re told that the new concept study may be released as early as this weekend.

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Latest Release

Teased: Subaru offers glimpse of Viziv 2 Geneva concept

Subaru clearly sees something special in its Viziv crossover concept. After debuting it at last year’s Geneva Motor Show and evolving it for the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese brand is bringing a Viziv 2 concept to this year’s Geneva show on March 4. It also has a few other cards up its Swiss sleeve, too, as it has plans to display its new WRX STI road car and racecar for the Nürburgring 24 Hours this summer.

The third iteration of the Viziv gets reshaped boomerang headlights and new LED foglights, but that’s all we know for the moment, because Subaru has only released a single teaser rendering along with a tantalizing claim that the showcar “signifies a future path” for the brand’s next models.

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Latest Release/ Super Cars

The Zenvo ST1 Supercar Is Finally Set To Make Debut At Geneva Motor Show

Six years ago a new supercar was introduced to the market, namely the Zenvo ST1. The Danish manufacturer aimed back then to make one of the most exclusive and powerful cars globally and it did!

The car was equipped with turbocharged 7.0 liter V8 engine which produced 1104 hp (810kW) and 1055 lb-ft (1430 Nm) of maximum torque. These figures speak of only exhilarating performance. The acceleration time here for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is 3.0 seconds, while the top speed is 375 km/h. Furthermore, the car was “eco-friendly” because it used both regular gasoline and E85 bio-ethanol fuel. But were these details enough for the super-high price tag of $1.8 million dollars?

Unfortunately, since the introduction of the initial model we haven’t heard much from Zenvo. Until now. The brand came out of the dark and disclosed that the ST1 hypercar will be making its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show!

See more at: automobilesreview.com

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News

2014 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe Revealed (VIDEO)

It’s finally here: BMW’s four-door-coupe version of a coupe derived from a sedan. If that is a bit confusing, you’re thinking too hard. Just go with it.

BMW’s answer to a question no one knew to ask, the 2014 4-Series Gran Coupe puts a sleeker, trimmer look on the four-door F30–or adds a couple doors to the two-door F32, looked at from another angle. Whatever angle you approach the new 4-Series Gran Coupe from, however, you’re likely to find something worth looking at.

That’s right–to our surprise, we completely understand why BMW built this car. It’s not that the 3-Series isn’t comely enough, it’s that the 4-Series coupe’s lines translate so well to the four-door format. The result is a strikingly good-looking car that commands attention just as it defies categorization.

Inside you’ll find the familiar design and equipment shared with the 3-Series sedan and 4-Series coupe.

The only real difference is in the back seat, where slightly snugger, more bucket-like seats and handy 40:20:40 split-folding seatbacks combine utility and style–with perhaps a bit less headroom than you’d find in a true sedan.

Like its two-door 4-Series coupe counterparts, the 2014 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe will be available in both 428i and 435i specifications. The 428i gets BMW’s 2.0-liter, 240-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the 435i uses the 300-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six. At launch, the 428i Gran Coupe will also be available with xDrive all-wheel drive. An eight-speed automatic transmission is the sole option on all U.S.-market models, with standard manual-mode paddle shifters and several shift modes selectable via the Driving Dynamics Control in the center console.

BMW says the 428i Gran Coupe will hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and achieve gas mileage ratings of 23 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. The more powerful 435i Gran Coupe runs to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and is expected to rate 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

Though you’d think BMW would have to lengthen the 4-Series coupe to add the extra doors, the 4-Series Gran Coupe shares its overall length, wheelbase, and track width with the coupe.

The only exterior dimensional changes are a roof that’s 4.4-inches longer, and 0.5-inches higher for greater rear-seat headroom.

Features, options, and trim lines closely mirror the 4-Series coupe range, with Sport Line, Luxury Line, and M Sport packages available to customize the look and feel of the car.

The 2014 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe will make its global debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show next month, followed by a U.S. debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show. Pricing starts at $41,225 (all prices include destination) for the 428i Gran Coupe; the 428i xDrive Gran Coupe starts from $43,225; and the 435i Gran Coupe will run at least $46,725. Retail sales will start in early summer 2014.

via Motor Authority