XJ-S

Forse per sottolineare il grande passo avanti rispetto alla DB7...

(08:30 Aug. 20, 2003) Aston Martin set to unveil three all-new aluminum-chassis sports cars By JULIAN RENDELL FORD-OWNED ASTON Martin is just weeks away from unveiling the first of three all-new aluminum-chassis sports cars. Aston’s DB9, its replacement for the DB7, debuts at September’s Frankfurt motor show. The DB9 Volante soft-top bows at the Los Angeles show in late December. Rounding out the trio is the V8 Vantage, Aston’s $70,000 Porsche 911-chaser, due late next year. V8 Vantage (Photo © 2003 John Johnson) The three represent a significant overhaul of Aston’s model line under former BMW and Porsche engineer Ulrich Bez. All three are based on the same lightweight bonded and riveted platform as the new Vanquish, with styling work by Henrik Fisker, Aston’s design boss, who recently returned to California to oversee Ford’s advanced concept studio. The prototypes show the taut dimensions of the new Aston look, which updates the styling developed in the mid-’90s by Ian Callum, now at Jaguar. The DB9 Coupe is a major step forward from the DB7, Aston’s staple model since 1996, which traces its platform to the 1970s Jaguar XJS. Occupying the same road space as a DB7, the DB9 2+2’s wheels are pushed farther toward the corners to free up interior space and improve handling and high-speed stability. The body of bonded alloy extrusions and exterior panels is much stiffer than the DB7, creating a rigid platform for the new independent suspension. The curb weight is targeted at 3740 pounds, 220 pounds lighter than a Vanquish. DB9’s power comes from an updated 5.9-liter Cosworth-designed V12, with peak output in excess of 440 hp, mated to either an automatic or six-speed manual. A top speed close to 180 mph and sub-5.0-second 0-to-60-mph times are expected. DB9 Coupe sales start next spring in Britain, with the Volante following about six months later. DB9 Coupe (Photo © 2003 John Johnson) The role of sharp, driver-focused two-seater will fall to the V8 Vantage. The finished car is very close to the V8 Vantage concept named AutoWeek’s Most Fun when it was unveiled at the Detroit show last January. Pitched squarely at the Porsche 911, it will feature V8 power from an Aston-engineered version of sister company Jaguar’s AJ V8. Aston sources claim the engine is “virtually all-new” and promise some technical “surprises.” Peak power is expected at around 360 hp, which should propel the approximately 3100-pound V8 Vantage to Porsche-rivaling velocities. A soft-top V8 Vantage Volante also is approved for production in early 2005. Fonte: AutoWeek.com

Bentornata Croma!

L'anno prossimo non ci sarà il salone di Francoforte... La Serie 7 facelift verrà presentata al più tardi al salone di Detroit nel prossimo gennaio.

Personalmente trovo interessante questa interpretazione della prossima 3er Touring. Peccato per i cerchi. La vera incognita, comunque, sarà il frontale.

Riepilogando, a luglio 2004, in base alle anticipazioni di Taurus, questa sarà la gamma motori della Lancia Thesis: 2.4 20V 190CV 2.0 T 20V 205CV 3.2 V6 24V 230CV 3.6 V6 24V 275CV circa 2.4 JTD 20V 175CV 2.4 JTD 20V 200CV Le versioni d’ingresso della gamma Thesis a benzina sono il 2 e il 2,4 litri 5 cilindri; a mio parere c’è una stonatura nella gamma attuale e continuerà ad esserci in quella futura: il 2.0, pur essendo il motore di cubatura inferiore, è turbocompresso, e pertanto risulta più potente del pari frazionato, ma aspirato, 2.4. La produzione del 2.4 aspirato è più economica di quella del 2.0 turbo, e da questo deriva il rispettivo posizionamento commerciale, ma ciò non toglie l’incongruenza di fondo. Escludendo la possibilità di montare un 2.0 aspirato sulla Thesis, avrei visto con favore il 2.4 aspirato affiancato dalla rispettiva versione turbocompressa, con potenza nell’ordine dei 155kW/211CV, al posto del previsto 2.0 T da 205CV.

Evito di fare commenti...

Reports: Leach to head Fiat Auto Automotive News Europe / August 13, 2003 MILAN (Reuters) -- Fiat is expected to hire Martin Leach, who this week quit his post as Ford Europe president and chief operating officer, to head Fiat Auto, two Italian newspapers reported on Wednesday. Il Giornale quoted an unnamed source as saying Fiat Chief Executive Giuseppe Morchio had been asking Leach to join Fiat for some time and he had wavered, but now having left Ford Europe, Leach was likely to join the loss-making car maker. Ford Europe said on Tuesday that Leach had decided to leave the company just a month after it posted a shock loss for the second quarter. Ford Europe said Leach made the decision to leave but the company declined to say what Leach's future plans were. La Repubblica, without quoting a source, said talks were under way to get Leach on board to replace current Fiat Auto head Giancarlo Boschetti, due to step down next year. Fiat declined to comment on the reports. Automotive News reported last month that Fiat had hired a Paris-based headhunter to find a replacement for Boschetti. It said the firm had presented a shortlist including Leach; Mark Fields, chairman and CEO of Ford's Premier Automotive Group; and Frederic Saint-Geours, Peugeot's managing director. Industry sources have said most car executives have contract clauses which prevent them from joining competitors for some time. Il Giornale said Leach could join Fiat Auto before the end of this year.

E' questo il mestiere degli uomini del marketing. Al di fuori della cerchia degli appassionati, il grande pubblico crederà che i nomi Nuvolari e Audi siano indissolubilmente legati.

So che si tratta di una vecchia concept, ma ho voluto creare un nuovo topic perchè il suo nome potrebbe tornare presto d'attualità e perchè credo che in molti l'avessero dimenticata.

L'Audi Rosemeyer, mossa da un W16 da 8 litri, è ispirata alle Auto Union da corsa dei tardi anni 30, alcune delle quali avevano motori a 16 cilindri.