All posts tagged roadster
Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster to auction after lake discovery
A Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster from 1925 was recently fished out of Italy’s Lake Maggiore and will now go on auction. The historic Bugatti is not exactly in mint condition but auctioneers Bonhams believe it could be restored.
The Type 22 Brescia Roadster will start at a price of about 95,000 euros. It apparently ended up in the lake back in 1936 and is quite deteriorated, although you can still see some of the original blue tint on the bodywork.
The roadster was first spotted in the lake back in 1967 by a submarine, and was the property of a Swiss architect from Polish background, Max Schmuklerski. It’s not known exactly how the car ended up in the lake, although evidence points to a customs tax dispute. The Type 22 will go under the hammer on January 23rd at Retromobile in Paris.
Source | Autoblog.it
BMW Z4 sDrive35is video
The new BMW Z4 sDrive35is video shows the new Z4 which, while it’s unlikely to have an M-Sport version, is still a higher performance vehicle than previously with plenty of ‘M’ spirit. The sDrive35is has 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque, or 500 when using the Overboost function. These impressive performance figures are matched by environmental features with the Efficient Dynamics function contributing to fuel consumption of just nine litres for 100 km and CO2 emissions of 210 grams.
The video is not bad (though the voice over is bit like an armageddon announcement), and we get a close-up of the BMW Z4 sDrive35is engine and the elegant interior. If you want the details of the modifications made to build this new Z4, check it all out in the video, and see here for the sDrive35is press release.
New BMW Z4 roadster high performance 2010 model
The new BMW Z4 sDrive35is will debut at the next Detriot auto show as a 2011 model. The new roadster will have a six cylinder, 3.0-litre engine with 335 hp and 451 Nm of torque. The torque can be increased to 501 Nm when using the overboost function. Other features include double clutch transmission, EPS, and M Sport kit.
The M Sport upgrades include aerodynamics and suspension modifications, 18-inch alloy wheels (optional extra includes 19-inch wheels), alluminium trim bars and bumpers and a rear diffuser. Performance figures of the new Z4 roadster are a top speed of 250 km/hr and a 4.7 second time to reach 100 km/hr.
The interior is unsuprisingly elegant and luxurious with leather finishes and sport seats. The Z4 sDrive35is will be available from spring next year. More details are the after the jump in the press release (US) and see the full gallery below for more pics.
Continue reading: New BMW Z4 roadster high performance 2010 model
Mercedes: the lastest SLR McLaren will be orange
The latest Mercedes SLR to come out of Woking will be a Roadster in a dashing orange, which will honor the historic color adopted by McLaren Automotive since its founding.
In anticipation of the presentation of the next P11, McLaren is continuing production of the latest prototypes of the supercar designed with Mercedes. In the meanwhile, construction has begun on the 75 super-exclusive cars dedicated to Stirling Moss, who raced the fasted time ever in the Mille Miglia in 1955 with a Mercedes 300 SLR. The career of the SLR coupe began in 2003 and ended in 2007. As expected, the production of the Roadster ended in 2009.
For the debut of its new supercar, Mercedes calculated a potential demand of 3500 total specimens, but since then it seems clear that they were being rather optimistic. As of today, in fact, just over 2200 SLRs have been sold, which is a considerable amount given the level (and price) of the car, but which is not good enough for some people who had been misled by the initial predictions.
From AutoTelegraaf
Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster repeats historic trip made by Bertha Benz in 1888
In 1888, Bertha Benz, Carl Benz’s wife, has tried to prove her husband’s invention was safe travelling from Mannheim to Pforzheim with their two sons in the Patent Motor Wagon, recognised as the world’s first automobile. In 2009, Mercedes-Benz has repeated the historic journey with the F-CELL Roadster, a vehicle created by more than 150 trainees from Daimler AG in order to pay homage to the first vehicle of the world and to make a parallel between combustion engines at that time and fuel cells today.
Believed to be the most fuel efficient means of powering a vehicle, fuel cells need to have a hydrogen refuelling network, just like combustion engined cars need petrol refuelling stations nowadays. Back in 1888, Bertha Benz had to stop at a drugstore in Wiesloch to buy Ligroin to refuel her car. This substance is now called petrol. That drugstore still exists and proudly names itself the first filling station of the world, what is absolutely right.
F-CELL Roadster is able to reach a top speed of 25 km/h and can travel as far as 350 km, powered solely by its fuel cells, able to produce 1.2 kW. There would be no need to stop in Wiesloch, this time, but that was for the sake of old times.
Source: Daimler AG
Continue reading: Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster repeats historic trip made by Bertha Benz in 1888
Nissan 370Z Roadster and Nismo at New York
The New York show will have the spectacle of both the Nissan Roadster and Nissan Nismo being presented, one all elegance, and the other all substance. Above is a reconstruction of what the open top will look like.
It’s a bit gaudy for our looking, with the floating stars, and the rear wheels don’t even touch the ground. But criticism aside, this render generally reflects the new Roadster style, while for the Nismo we’ll have to wait for details from the show.
Source | Autoblog.com
Rumours: Lamborghini to produce Reventon Roadster
According to recent reports, Lamborghini is preparing a Reventon Roadster, that could be the swan song of the Murcielago project. It would be a final union of the extreme and rare for the world’s richest collectors. The Reventon coupè style would be combined with the LP670-4 SV engine in a special series that would be produced in just nine cars.
The price could be upwards of the one million euro mark, though no confirmation or denial from Lamborghini has been released. Anyone who still wants to turn heads, spending half that amount, can always purchase the LP650-4 Roadster.
Source | Worldcarfans
Tesla Roadster Sport pics
Here are some new shots of the Tesla Roadster Sport, special version of the American electric spider. As already anticipated, the Sport will be 15 percent more powerful than the standard model (which may receive an upgrade all the same), and is sold for a price of 112,000 euros.
Excluding the special colouring and new carbon fibre details, the most important news is in the driver’s compartment. New sports seats have been added, along with a new dash with updated battery display in the centre, central console with new single-gear feature (rather than the previous gear shift) with keyboard set-up.
Volkswagen may bring the 914 back with BlueSport
When Porsche and Volkswagen started getting too close, some have eagered to see at least one past joint project arise again. It was Porsche 914, a mid-engined compact roadster that was produced in the 1970’s and that was a very nice driving machine. Some have said Volkswagen would present in Detroit a roadster that would eventually become this 914 of the XXI century. If it is really going to be a new compact roadster signed both by Porsche and Volkswagen is something that is yet to be confirmed, but VW really has presented a car that suits that description in Detroit. And its name is BlueSport.
The new compact roadster is 3.99 m long, 1.26 m tall, 1.75 m wide and has a wheelbase of 2.43 m. It is called “blue” because it has a very fuel efficient engine, a four-cylindre 2-litre 180 bhp TDI engine. Its fuel consumption is estimated at 23.3 km/l, but the car is not only about low emissions. It is also very fun to drive. As an example, it can reach 100 km/h, from standstill, in 6.6 s. Top speed is 226 km/h.
BlueSport shares more details with 914, such as being a rear-wheel drive car with its engine in a mid-rear position. All power is guided to the rear wheels with the help of a six-speed automated dual-clutch gearbox, also known as DSG. But it may also be named PDK, the way Porsche decided to call its dual-clutch transmission. Let’s wait to see where BlueSport will end. Hopefully, in streets, roads and a lot of parking spots around the world.
Continue reading: Volkswagen may bring the 914 back with BlueSport
New BMW Z4 videos
We’ve seen plenty of images of the new BMW Z4, but to really enjoy this BMW (and be particularly jealous) we have to check it out in motion. In the following BMW Z4 videos after the jump, you can see the roadster soul reaching a more mature and refined style.
While this car has a long list of positive aspects, the only fault we can find is the weight; the Z4 weighs 1,480 kg for the S-Drive23i and 1,585 kg for the twin-turbo. The increase compared to the first version is about 150kg, but we think the evolution justifies it. Though maybe we’re being picky - if someone happened to offer me one, I wouldn’t say no.
100th Tesla Roadster delivered
The 100th Tesla Roadster has been delivered in the course of this last week, showing that perhaps there is still a market out there for the Californian company that specialises in electric cars. While it’s an expensive vehicle at 109,000 USD, a recharge of the battery costs between $2.50 and $5.50 and gives a range of 244 miles.
Difficult times for Tesla have seen a lag in production from the 30 cars a week initially expected to be produced, down to 15. The original target of 30 was set to be reached by spring 2009. As long as the Roadster has its problems, the second model from the company, the Model S sedan, is unlikely to ever see the light of day.
The Tesla company is holding out for some government funding to continue production, which could be difficult in current economic times. Strange though, that governments are prepared to make anti-pollution laws but are often less prepared to finance the very projects that may achieve those aims.
Porsche: purchses Tesla Roadster to study
Porsche has apparently purchased a Tesla Roadster in order to study the secrets of the competition, comparing them to its own technology. The news comes from Edmunds Inside Line, and indicates that Porsche alternative fuels could be in development.
Porsche hybrid models, available on the Cayenne and Panamera for example, show that the company is moving towards more ecological vehicles, as seen also in the future four-cylinder Boxster. Is this a matter of survival in Kyoto times for Porsche?
The engineers should be able to have a good look at the American Roadster when one is actually in their possession - waiting lists for the Tesla Roadster mean that all 250 models on the European market will already be delivered in 2009 having previously been ordered as the Signature Edition at 99,000 euros. If not among the first exclusive clientele, Porsche may have to wait.
Source | Edmunds Inside Line
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