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Saturday in L.A. Part 1

MotorDan — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:51:07 +0000

One of the greatest things about living in Southern California, is the access to so many cars. Now some may see the cars as a bad thing, and don’t get me wrong…traffic sucks. But the benefit of having a gazillion people jammed into one area…is that there are literally millions of people who are motorfanatics, and the diamond in this situation is that many of them have the money to act on it.
As members of the automotive press, there are also many perks, and this last weekend was a great example of that. We where invited to tour 3 private car collections on Saturday, the catch was that we weren’t allowed to know where we where going until that morning. Unfortunately for my partner in crime, he was in Michigan doing among other things, testing his dads DSG transmission, and driving their project car. But you’ll read about that later. Anyway, Chris couldn’t make the tour and the friend I invited to go with me, had a late night on Friday as well. So I struck out alone to the address I was given, not knowing what to expect.
When I pulled up to the security gate, in an industrial area of Torrance, I knew it was about to get good. The first stop turned out to be Dave’s Garage. Dave is the founder of Pelican Products Inc. For those of you that know photography or video and film, or are just into protecting your gear, you’ll immediately recognize the name as the same one on your dream cases. Pelican cases are the high standard in the gear hauling world, and the success of the company has allowed Dave to build an incredible car collection. Most of the cars in Dave’s collection are obviously cars he dreamed of as a kid….50’s, 60’s & 70’s American cars dominate. There are a few cars that don’t fit that criteria, but not many. The thing that immediately hit me was….”why doesn’t public school teach you how to make and sell your own products?” That’s how you do it! Make an awesome product and sell it! Cheers to Dave, he is living the dream.
Dave’s collection set the bar extremely high, right of the bat, and I think my personal favorite was the Corvette that Dave drove to the garage….it’s the black one parked outside…and it was nuts.
Have a look at the gallery here. Stop 2 coming soon.

All I want 4 Christmas…

MotorDan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:16:28 +0000

As they say “Tis the Season”….well, here at motorfanatics, ’tis the season to be dreaming. Dreaming about fantasy shopping binges. Yesterday, Chris and I went for lunch..and after a quick bite to eat, we decided to do some window shopping. I quickly remembered the BRABUS showroom in Newport Beach, and we headed over. As we pulled in, it occurred to me that it had been a while since I looked in the window. BRABUS was gone, but there was a Rolls Royce Phantom staring out the window with a big bow on top, so we knew we’d still get to see some goods. Inside we found another ½ dozen rolling palaces, in various colors and configurations. All equally extravagant, and excessive. But in the back we found the cars more our style. The first being a black Carerra GT, a car that Chris and I both put at the top of our fantasy car shopping list. This one was a 2005, and had about 8900 miles on it. We figured about 350k for that little piece of magic. Unfortunately we missed their Spyker, but they did have a handful of options in the Lotus family. We quickly became bored with the place when the sales guy contradicted what Chris knew as fact, and said its not a problem using the Lotus windshield as a pressure point when maneuvering in and out of the little track demon. It is a problem. So with a sour taste in our mouths, we split.

Next stop, PCH. Window shopping on the Pacific Coast Highway can be pretty fun. No matter what your looking for, you can find something to your liking on the highway along the coast in Newport Beach. Finding a red 993 Turbo was a score, both Chris and I love the classic design and at the time, it was the fastest production car in the world. Even to this day it would scare the living bujeeeezez out of most drivers.

The sight of the night had to come when we stopped at the Porsche dealership, and walked next door to the Bentley store. The Bentley Continental Supersports, OH MY GOOOOOODNESS! Maybe the best execution of style, power and exclusivity that we have ever seen. 621Bhp, striking good looks, comfort, class, this car has it all. Chris is sold that it would be his daily driver if the finances allowed…and I’ve tried, but I can’t think of a car that would be a better choice. The car is absolutely incredible.

Continuing along on our Christmas dream cruise, we saw a Maserati Gran Turismo, Multiple Ferrari 599’s, 430 Scuderia’s, and a banquet of Porsches. Then, we decided to roll into one of the largest Mercedes dealerships in the US, Fletcher Jones Motorcars. Now, until a few weeks back at track day, we both looked at Mercedes with a bit of a snark. Yeah, go ahead and pay that, I never would. But after spending some quality time on the track in a SL55 AMG, our opinions towards the 3 point moniker started to shift. That car was spectacular. Incredible power and agility, comfort was obvious..but we found ourselves with new found respect for Mercedes. Even if the prices are outrageous. Well, on the theme of outrageous, as we pulled up…we immediately saw not one, but 3 McLaren SLR convertibles in a row…next to 2 SL65 AMG Black Series vehicles. Now the Black Series is silly, 661hp, and roughly $300 grand? Are you kidding me? The real cough came a few seconds later, when we spotted another SLR inside and Chris walked around to look at the sticker. WOW! Seriously, he looked a little pale, and about to faint…and he was rendered speechless for a few seconds. They had 3 new SLR roadsters at the dealership, all priced the same, at just under $550,000. Yes, that is a very nice home. This was enough to set our evening strait, we decided to head home and catch our breath on the way.

It occurred to me this morning when I was reliving our adventure that there is a reason I can’t afford all these cars. Its because I’m a dreamer. If I actually had all of that, what would I dream of? My life would have to completely change. I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Almost daily I have the “what if” discussion with someone and for me it’s entertainment, fantasy, and imagination all mixed into one. I dream of acres of land with an airstrip for my jets, a track for my cars, karts, motorcycles and toys of more varieties than I can even remember. I guess when it is all said and done, I benefit as much as anyone who actually buys these toys. I get to dream. I get to bounce from one amazing toy to the next without the costs. Seriously, Chris and I had a blast last night. Did we stomp on the accelerator of any of these cars? No, we didn’t even sit in a single one of them. But are our cheeks sore from the smiles on our faces? You bet they are, and that is what its all about. So enjoy the holiday, Merry Christmas, and rather than wishing that all your dreams come true, I hope you keep your dreams alive and vibrant, because that’s really what its all about.

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The Super-Model of Super-Cars

MotorDan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:22:05 +0000

These are the stories that we live for as MotorFanatics. After browsing most of my automotive news outlets for the day, I ran over to check on the British fanatic site Autoexpress…and was met with this little jem.   The concept and theoretical successor to the Ferrari Enzo…the code named, and jaw dropping Ferrari F70. First thought..DAMN!   Seems that Ferrari is getting tired of all these “Did you hear about the Veyron?” stories, and is working on something more than the 458 Italia. Well aware that the Ferrari mad scientists are always mixing and experimenting, I knew that the day would soon be here when we could actually start looking forward to something tangible from Ferrari, and the start of the next chapter of the supercar wars.
Todays world makes it difficult to build, and even harder to license, let alone sell a supercar for profit. Regulations have all but squashed all of the options, and unless you are a well established builder, with money to burn on R/D, it just isn’t going to happen. So when Ferrari says they are going to not only build a faster, but more fuel efficient supercar…we are eager to see, hear, smell, and feel what they have to offer.   The word is (besides bird) that the Enzo successor will not have the same screaming V12, but rather a smaller more efficient twin-turbo V8 throwing it down the street. The no frills Ferrari is should be a lighter (805lbs) vehicle, but with roughly the same 660hp, it should make the F70 a 3 second 0-60 runner, and push the top speed far past the 200mph mark, Autoexpress guesses the top speed to be somewhere around 230mph.
You know, we rarely get our hands on a Ferrari, luckily a couple years a go, I got some seat time in an Enzo….and it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I’ll leave it at that. Hopefully the supercar gods will bless Chris and I, and someday we may be graced with the experience of the F70…no matter what its final name becomes.   We will wait eagerly with you, for more on this one.

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Maranello Dream Cake – Ferrari 458 Italia

MotorDan — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:50:55 +0000

Well as in years past when Maranello speaks, we listen. Today was a pleasant one…receiving the email from the Ferrari PR machine that our speculations in recent months are right on track for this fall’s release of the replacement of the F430. Ferrari dubs it the 458 Italia, with a sure to be screaming 562 hp engine that they say will be redlined at 9k rpms….yes, 9k.

At first glance, and traditionally not a big fan of the dancing horse, Chris almost soiled himself. “Now thats a Ferrari I would own.” Yes, he said it. I on the other hand would own as many as I possibly could afford to. But the point of this post is just to let you all take a look.

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Continue for the official words .

TALIA – Ferrari’s innovative new V8

The 458 Italia is the latest incarnation of the mid-rear engined berlinetta and will be unveiled at the next Frankfurt Motor Show

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher – who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project – played an invaluable part.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

The car’s soundtrack is also typical Ferrari, with an exciting, powerful growl emerging from the engine before it channels through to the exhaust’s three rear tailpipes.

The 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

This new Ferrari is also a major leap forward when it comes to cutting emissions. Despite the fact that the new engine is significantly more powerful than the V8s that preceded it, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment.

The engineers also focused on weight reduction during the design phase for similar reasons. Consequently, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h.

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industry-derived manufacturing and bonding techniques.

With regard to vehicle dynamics, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling. Along with a more direct steering ratio, the 458 Italia thus offers extremely rapid turn-in and body control whilst maintaining superior ride comfort.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The evolution of the control logic, with even faster and more accurate calculation of levels of grip, ensures even greater roadholding, better handling and ease of control on the limit.

The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s interior is another area of the car that exalts its sporty personality. The driver is welcomed by a new layout and a revolutionary ergonomic interface where the main controls are all clustered on the steering wheel.

With the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.

Ferrari 458 Italia – Technical specifications

Dimensions

Length 4527 mm (178.2 in.)

Width 1937 mm (76.3 in.)

Height 1213 mm (47.8 in.)

Wheelbase 2650 mm (104.3 in.)

Dry weight 1380 kg (3042 lbs)*

Weight/power ratio 2,42 kg/CV (7.16 lbs/kW)

Weight distribution fr/r 42%/58%

Engine

Type V8 – 90°

Displacement 4499 cc (274.5 cu in.)

Maximum power 570 CV (425 kW)** @ 9000 rpm

Maximum torque 540 Nm (398 lbs/ft) @ 6000 rpm

Specific power output 127 CV/l

Compression ratio 12.5:1

Tyres

Front 235/35 ZR20 8.5″

Rear 295/35 ZR20 10.5″

Performance

Maximum speed >325 km/h (>202 mph)

0-100 km/h

Fuel consumption + emissions

Fuel consumption*** 13.7 l/100 km

Emissions*** 320 g CO2/km

Gearbox

Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Electronics

E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

* With forged wheels and Racing seats

** Including 5 CV of ram effect

*** Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC)

300k in a day

MotorDan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:35:11 +0000

I would imagine, that back when transportation fantasies consisted of a healthy horse, and fertile hunting grounds…guys still stood around and said…”If you had 2 gold pieces and you had to spend it on horses, what would you get?”
Because, I’ve played that game since I was a kid, and I can’t imagine variations of the discussion ever not existing. Its kinda like space….its always been there in some form…and it will continue long after we are all dead and gone. So this morning, Chris and I had the conversation…and I just happen to have the transcript….

me: So, if you had 300g’s and you had to spend it all on cars. what would your first purchase be?
Christopher: it was given to me today?
me: yep. you get a check at lunch.
Christopher: FIRST
I’d go straight to the auto gallery and pay cash for that GT3RS
without thinking. it’d be a reflex
me: how much do that have that listed for? I think you could get them to come down some. its been sitting there a long time.
Christopher: yea,it’s been there forever and I’d be paying cash.
it was at 120 I believe
or maybe 140
anyway
I’d get em down to 110
guaranteed
cash speaks
so that leaves me 190
me: yes it does, it looks like the black one, with orange accents is listed for 159
Christopher: hmmm
yikes
well
maybe more realistic is 130
getting them to come down 30 would be a tough sell
but I bet I could get them to squeak it by
me: lets just say 135 then, so what next?
Christopher: hmmm
well…
I’d really want something to put together
something to play with
a project really
so, once the GT3RS is in the garage
I’d order one of these:
http://www.factoryfive.com/hotrodhome.html
the kit’s 20
there’s probably another 20 in bodywork
and then I’d max the drivetrain and powertrain for another 20 probably
doing all the work myself
me: nice, what motor would you put in it?
Christopher: I’d actually buy a wrecked last gen mustang GT
cobra
so
I’d get the supercharged 4.6
and 6 speed
manual
me: nice
my tally is 195 spent, 105 left to go
hmmm
me: right
Christopher: while I think about my last choice, why don’t I turn this back on you
what would you do?
me: well….I think i would start with a used 997S…i think i could get that taken care of for about 70
Christopher: yes
that sounds about right
me: so I’d have a cayenne, a 997, I think then….i’m not sure
Christopher: hahha
you’ve got 230 to go!
me: I think i might get down with a V8 vantage….
so scratch another 100, because I wouldn’t spend more than that on one
Christopher: good call
I like that
me: now is where it gets tricky
Christopher: yea
I know, I’m in the same boat
me: I think I might go off course here
I’ve got about 130 to spend
Christopher: that’s cool
right
me: I think i would go pure track car
Christopher: like what?
like a classic dedicated race car?
or build a track car?
me: well, like this
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/porsche/1234918483/1234918483ss.htm
83k
Christopher: ahhhh
nice
me: I could spend the 83, and then still have nearly 50 left, and with that, i could buy a used tow vehicle and trailer
something like a tahoe
Christopher: yep
and a maxed out trailer
me: soooo….i would have a 997S, an Aston Martin, a dedicated GT3 cup car..a tahoe and a maxed out trailer
and my cayenne
i’d be pretty f-ing stoked!
Christopher: hahahaah
yea
that would pretty much be the dream
and I think that might be where the rest of my money would go
I think I’d pay off and mod the GTI a tiny bit
so, 20 gone
and then spend the last 85 on something to haul everything around in
me: yeah, it makes sense to have a hauler. but where the hell are we going to keep all this stuff!?
Christopher: that’s what I was just going to say
can I spend some on a warehouse?
a warehouse/workshop
me: its our fantasy, lets just say we already bought a warehouse
Christopher: ok

So there you go. Some would say that the conversation accomplishes nothing, but that’s where they would be completely wrong. Its discussions like this that prepare us. Chris and I most likely, will never be handed $300,000 to blow on toys. (here’s the photos) As much as it pains me to write that last sentence, it’s just not likely. That is why it’s called a fantasy. But if it ever did happen, well, we would be prepared, just like all those other car guys out there in the world, waiting to pounce on a once in a lifetime opportunity.

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Is that a Lincoln in your pocket?

MotorDan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:03:44 +0000

So yesterday, Chris and I made a trip to the post office…great right? Well, yes, it turned out to be a gem of an outing. As we pulled into the parking lot, we saw a sparkling 88 Ford Crown Victoria LTD. No, its no supercar…and it doesn’t handle the canyons well…or really at all. But it DOES have space…and plenty of it. So after spending a few minutes talking to the old lady that owned it, we found out it only had 44K miles on it, and it had been driven to the gas station, the grocery store, and the car wash. Thats it.
The little lady was so eager to tell us about her car, about how she could fit her mothers wheel chair in the trunk, no problem, and how she could still fit all her groceries in there as well. Anyway, on the drive back to the office, Chris and I really starting thinking, that a car like that would be so fun to drive..because its not what everyone is doing. Its not expensive, its not fast…and by commercial standards, its not cool. But it totally is.
Immediately upon our return, I jumped on Ebay in my quest for the elusive Crown Victoria LTD. Now, for some reason there just aren’t that many available…no sure why. Maybe because no one sells one, until they die. During my search, I remembered my grandfather having an old Lincoln Mark V when I was a kid. The thing was bigger than my dad’s suburban, and was as plush as you could get. I used to jump in and push all the buttons just to see what they would do. When my grandpa would pick us kids up, we could all 5 sit in the front seat together. It was awesome.
Well ebay presented this crown jewel to me. MY OH MY! Baby blue….entirely. 53k miles on the 1978 Mark V……coupe! And it has the 460 in it! WAHOOOOO! I have to buy it!
Now here’s the thing, for all you out there who are single. As a married guy, you really have to fly these purchases by the little lady, and I think I’m going to try that. I haven’t done it yet, because I don’t know how to answer the questions. Like, where are you going to keep that? I don’t know, on the street in front of the house? Uh, not likely. Garage? not even close. I’ve got a 2 car garage, but in Orange County, the garages are really small, it would be like trying to park a big rig in a McDonalds drive through. The thing is, my wife is awesome…so if I can get her to understand how much fun that thing would be…I think I can make the sale. I’ll keep ya posted. Until then, imagine the fun……

Saturday in L.A. – Completed

MotorDan — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:39:46 +0000

So starting the day out with a walk through one of the best car garages that I’ve ever been in was a pretty amazing thing. When I saw that the next stop was going to be at the Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing headquarters, I knew it was going to stay good. So after lingering at Dave’s garage for as long as I could, I finally made my way over to the Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing building. Once again the parking lot was filled with collector cars, but the real treasures where inside the building and upstairs. There where old race cars that had been piloted by Al Unser & Mario Andretti and there was a Bronco that had been raced and won multiple Baja events. Its hard to imagine a vehicle that could withstand multiple races down in Mexico…let alone one that could win the 1000 2 years in a row, and then the third year win the 500….that’s pretty impressive. The vintage race cars where also incredible (speaking of vintage racing….Chris and I have some future plans along those lines) which sparked a little browsing online yesterday for some used Indy cars….THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!
Anyway, after spending about a half an hour at Vel’s Parnelli Jones, I headed to the last and final stop of the day, the private collection at Honda. Inside they had samples of most of their historic landmark vehicles… as well as some legendary Honda Racing cars and motorcycles. Now, I realize that we probably wouldn’t put an 1985 Accord in our personal collections but for Honda, we get it. These are the cars that made Honda what they are today. So have fun cruising the gallery…there are some pretty legendary vehicles in there.

Fanatic Dreams

MotorDan — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:19:04 +0000

As MotorFanatics, we are many things. We are enthusiasts, we are participants, and I believe the most important part, we are dreamers. We dream of roads and cars, and that day in the future where our dreams will be reality. Maybe we already have our dream car and we are dreaming of later that day, or maybe the scheduled drive next weekend. Some of us dream of a 69 Camaro or a 32 Ford and cruising the old strip. Others dream of high priced exotics that many have never seen in person. Whatever your dream, we all share the common bond that is the automotive fantasy. While most of us will realize our dream in one way or another, there are a few companies out there who have decided to make your automotive dreams their business. I know, how intrusive. Over the last few years, I’ve had a chance to talk to a few of these outfits, and they offer a pretty interesting option for MotorFanatics of all types. About 2 years ago, I was put to the task of creating a video piece for myride.com on this subject. So we decided to head up to San Francisco to check out one of these businesses that prey on the dreams of so many, Club Sportiva. Here’s the resulting video. If your not ready to commit to a video…we understand. I’ll just say Gallardo, F430, and Golden Gate Park.
Last year I also made a couple trips to New York and once again, I wanted to visit some purveyors of dreams on the east coast. Both Gotham Dream Cars, and The Classic Car Club of Manhattan caught my attention.

Since I was in Manhattan, it was easier to visit The Classic Car Club of Manhattan in the Tribeca neighborhood. The guys where kind enough to show me around, and take me for a hot lap of lower Manhattan in their Ford GT. One of the things I learned is that they all offer very similar deals. You pay and you play…for less than it would cost to buy one of these cars. Recently Gotham Dream Cars let us know about a special event they are hosting in June, called the “Legends Dream Car Tour.” Gallery here Participants pay $1495 and get to drive a planned drive route that is Led by famous Lamborghini test-driver Valentino Balboni. The tour will put participants behind the wheel of five different Lamborghinis including the Gallardo LP 650-4 Spyder and Murcielago LP 640 Roadster, and also time riding shotgun with Balboni, on more than 150 miles of scenic, open road in Northern New Jersey and New York.
So the point is this: $1495 for a day is a chunk of change for anyone, but for that price… you’d be behind the wheel of a couple million dollars worth of cars….not a bad way to spend a Saturday. If Italian supercars aren’t your thing, there are a million ways to get your but seated in a dream car of your own…even if it’s just for a day.

Italian for Awesome?

MotorChris — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:17:57 +0000

We’re pretty lucky to have an office across the street from some silly rich guy’s car collection. While some may argue that a car collection is a frivolous spend of money, we couldn’t think of a better way to blow a huge wad of cash. Housed in a decent sized warehouse, we’ve seen everything from a Porsche 959 to a vintage racing Mercedes parked out front, and a little while back, on our way out to lunch Dan spotted a new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione sitting out front.

On paper, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione might almost look like a let-down. Don’t get me wrong, 444 hp, 12.4 1/4mile, 0-62 in 4.2 seconds all wrapped in a package that weighs about half of my GTI is appealing, but the quarter million dollar price tag makes the dream car status even more lofty. So for 250g’s, I can think of many other super cars that are in the 8C’s performance territory and are more readily available (less than 100 8C’s will touch US soil) for maybe even less money. But none look anywhere near as good. Just look at the friggen thing, it’s unbelievably gorgeous and that’s why it lands on the wish list.

Seeing the thing in person, in the real world, it’s ungodly. Simply breathtaking, it was immediately evident that it was a wish list car. Now, it’s at this point where you probably expect me to word vomit some adjective rich jargon attempting to explain the styling and striking presence of this car. Not here at MotorFanatics, we put together a video instead…it speaks FAR louder than words. Enjoy.

One Bad Aston

MotorDan — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:35:17 +0000

There are certain things in this world that are just the best. The ultimate in their world. True, the best is often subjective, and for me, it seems to change all the time. But one thing that continues to just be the best at what it is, is the Aston Martin. No, not the fastest, and not the prettiest, and frankly not the right car for the majority of drivers. But they are always the BEST cars. Confused? well I lost myself a little on that stream too…so here’s the photos of the Aston Martin One-77, take a look and you’ll understand my spinning head.

For those that want the technical stuff…here’s the press release from the brits themselves.

The One-77 is Aston Martin’s definitive sports car, one that epitomises everything Aston Martin from technology, the hand-craftsmanship of the hand rolled aluminium panels to the attention to detail. A culmination of all the marque’s know-how, the One-77 delivers effortless beauty guaranteed to stir the senses with performance potential eclipsing any previous Aston Martin.

With the performance and durability phase of the One-77’s intensive development programme soon to commence, the 79th Geneva Auto Salon provides the perfect stage on which to reveal the remarkable engineering, advanced technology and exotic materials that lie beneath the One-77’s extraordinary exterior.

For Aston Martin’s Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, revealing the One-77’s secrets is a proud moment: “Right from the very beginning of the project the vision for One-77 was very simple: It had to combine high-technology with hand-built craftsmanship, and demonstrate the unique capabilities and passion of our designers, engineers and technical partners.

“Quite simply it had to be the ultimate expression of Aston Martin. As you can now see, we have achieved that goal in magnificent style.”

Chris Porritt, One-77 Programme Manager continued: “We wanted to create something that wows you as much when you see what’s under the skin as the exterior styling itself. We started by identifying the most technologically exciting front-engined, rear-wheel drive cars in the world: those from the DTM race series. We then applied the principles and technology that feature heavily in their design and translated it to a road car application.”

Consequently the One-77’s structural core is a lightweight and immensely rigid carbon fibre monocoque. Conceived and designed at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ, the monocoque, or ‘tub’, has been built in partnership with Multimatic (MTC). As world leaders in carbon composite technology, advanced vehicle analysis and dynamic simulation, MTC brings unrivalled specialist capabilities to the exacting challenge of the One-77 programme.

Employing the classic formula of double wishbones at each corner, the One-77 features inboard suspension front and rear, with pushrods employed to transfer vertical suspension movements to the horizontally mounted spring/damper units. A practice taken directly from racing car design, the main advantages of inboard suspension are a reduction in unsprung weight and the ability to package the suspension components more effectively.

The dampers are fully adjustable and feature advanced Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) technology; a world-first for a road car application. These special valves are state-of-the-art even at the highest levels of motorsport, and use high-precision machined components to enable the shock-absorbing characteristics of the damper to be changed without having to remove them from the car, as is the norm.

Underlining the truly bespoke nature of the One-77, once delivered to its owner, the car’s suspension characteristics will be precisely set-up by Aston Martin engineers to suit their exact requirements, from settings suitable for the ultimate long-distance GT, to a machine capable of conquering the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

While functionality and efficiency are paramount in the design and construction of the One-77’, so too is aesthetic beauty. To this end every single component has been crafted from the finest materials with absolute attention to detail. From the mesmerising weave of the glossy carbon fibre tub and the abstract, sculptural beauty of the dry sump’s oil reservoir, to the unerring precision of the billet machined aluminium suspension mounts, the One-77’s rolling chassis is an automotive masterpiece.

Of course the irony is that the vast majority of these exquisite components will be hidden from view in the finished car, yet each and every piece is a work of art in its own right. It’s this extraordinary workmanship and money-no-object commitment to quality that makes the One-77 unique.

Naturally, such a spectacular chassis demands – and gets – an equally exceptional drivetrain. It comes in the form of an immensely potent 7.3-litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine. Thanks to the adoption of a dry-sump oil system the engine is mounted 100mm lower than in any previous V12-engined Aston Martin road car, which helps keep the One-77’s centre-of-gravity as low as possible. To further aid agility and endow the One-77 with progressive handling and stable, predictable on-limit behaviour, the engine is also mounted 257mm aft relative to the front wheel centreline. In so doing the front-mid-engined layout shared by all of Aston Martin’s current road car range has been taken to a new level.

The One-77’s magnificent power unit is an extreme evolution of the 6.0-litre V12 engines fitted to the DBS, DB9 and new V12 Vantage models. Like the collaboration with MTC for the build of the chassis, Aston Martin has chosen a world-leading partner with which to develop the motor: legendary engine builders, Cosworth. It has proved to be the perfect collaboration, as Chris Porritt explains.

“Our brief to the engine team was for them to take the 6.0-litre V12 as far as it could go, both in terms of output and weight reduction. The targets were a power output of no less than 700bhp with a 10 per cent reduction in engine mass. Incredibly, the Aston Martin and Cosworth engineers achieved a mass reduction of some 25 per cent, and although we’ve yet to complete the final engine calibration work, I’m confident we’ll see in excess of 700bhp. It’s an awesome accomplishment, but one that’s typical of the One-77 project, for it has consistently brought out the very best in everyone involved.”

Wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres (255/35 ZR20 front, 335/30 ZR20 rear) developed specifically for the One-77, all 700+bhp is transmitted to the road through the rear wheels via a new six-speed gearbox. Controlled via column-mounted paddles behind the steering wheel, this robotised sequential manual is a new generation of Aston Martin’s familiar transmission. Though it is made specifically for the One-77 and features specially strengthened internals to cope with the tremendous power and torque, the lessons learned in its development will ultimately find their way into the company’s series production models.

It’s a mark of the inherent capabilities of Aston Martin’s acclaimed lightweight Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake technology that it has been used as the basis for the One-77’s braking system. The internals of the calipers have been re-engineered to transmit less heat from the brake pads into the brake fluid, while the discs themselves have been developed to ensure the maximum possible contact area between the face of the disc and the brake pads for improved stopping power. Due to the One-77’s increased performance, special attention has also been paid to brake cooling, as the brakes have less time to cool between bursts of acceleration.

With a projected weight of 1,500kg the One-77 will occupy the very highest echelons of road car performance. Top speed is confidently predicted to be in excess of 200mph, with a 0-60mph time in approximately 3.5sec. Perhaps more importantly, thanks to the purity of a front-engined, rear-drive layout, the responsiveness and immense tractability of a naturally aspirated V12 and the low mass, high-rigidity properties of a carbon fibre chassis, the One-77 promises a driving experience of unrivalled intensity and excitement while representing the world’s most desirable automotive art form.