How Much Torque!

Apparently the One:1 is going to Geneva and reading the official press release the statistics are mind blowing, check out the "Torque" figures below, but the most interesting part of the One:1 for me was the use of 3D printed parts. 3D printing is not new, but when I started to read that Koenigsegg were using it to manufacture parts in their hyper-car I thought that this is a great step forward. The internal parts to the variable geometry turbocharger are 3D printed and in addition to the internals of the turbocharger, 3D printing is used on the exhaust tip. In fact, this exhaust tip is the largest piece of 3D printed titanium ever built.

 

It only takes three whole days to produce 3D printed parts, which helps Koenigsegg reduce its business killing costs but not enough to price it near a Ford Fiesta ST yet! I cannot wait for the day where I have a 3D printer and I go to the Ford website to download a spare part for my Focus?

 

 

 

 

From maRUSSIA with Love!

Enjoying the winter Olympics in Sochi this week so I thought I would see if Russia has any hyper car offerings? I must admit I am a big admirer of Russian Engineering and how they always come up with great innovative solutions with very little finance, a lesson to us all?

The only Russian car manufacturer of note I could find was "Marussia Motors" and their B1 and B2 creations. Well here is the B2, not sure if it meets all of the "6 Pillars of a Hyper Car"  but I would not mind seeing what it can do?

Lamborghini Aventador
Yes, again but can you blame me for posting this gorgeous picture?

A work colleague of mine (Mr.Torti) summed up the Lambo picture nicely with a Homer Simpson image...perfect!

NEW Porsche Hyper Car - 2018

Never Give Up!

I watched my favourite show last night, Top Gear, love it and yes I am one of those sad people who watch the re-runs on 'Dave' I cannot get enough! Last nights show featured the Zenvo ST1, an unknown Danish auto manufacturer who has tried its hand at making a hypercar. Well, the ingredients are right, 6.8-litre, 1,104bhp, 233mph four-wheeled monster, however the execution as seen on TG last night was not what was expected. On reflection I think it is easy to put the boot in and say, "you have built Frankenstein's monster", but I don't want to do that, what I want to say is "don't give up", because it takes real courage to design and Engineer a car that wants to compete with Lamborghini and Pagani. We want, we need another obscure hypercar manufacturer, a manufacturer that meets all 6 of the hyper car pillars (Blog post 1).

So, Mr. Zenvo Automotive, keep going, don't give up and aim for the very top, aim for the Lamborghini's, McLaren's, Pagani's, Ferrari's of this world, as a world without difference is quite frankly rather boring!

 

 

 

McLaren P1

 

Ferruccio Lamborghini

 

Ferruccio Elio Arturo Lamborghini was born in Italy on April 28th 1916, his first company was Lamborghini Trattori which produced agricultural equipment including tractors. In 1963 Ferruccio Lamborghini set up Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini S.p.A, with the aim of creating refined grand tourers that would compete with offerings from established marques such as Ferrari.

Ferruccio Elio Arturo Lamborghini we pay tribute

 

April 28, 1916 – February 20, 1993

 

Lamborghini Ferruccio Concept

Thank you Lamborghini for making life that little bit more interesting, take note all you other boring auto manufacturers out there, you know who you are?

1



BIG HART AND LOVE IN ROMA



Pagani Zonda R (6:47)

 

Let's put this in simple terms, I love this car, it is in my "3-car garage", brutality and simplicity in perfect harmony. I don't want f8cking heated door arm rests thank you Mercedes (S-class 2014), my forearms never get cold! I want to push the green button and be entertained!

 

The sound is epic!

 

*Pagani Zonda R - official commercial*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYOundkNxGE

Koenigsegg One

Check this little beauty! Apparently the name has some significance, as it refers to the power to weight ratio of the car.

 

Power Output 1,322bhp (1,340hp) approx

Kerbweight = 1,340kg approx

NOBLE M600

Price £200,000, Max power: 650bhp at 6800rpm, 0-62mph: 3.5secs, Engine type: 60 degree V8, mid, longitudinally-mounted, twin-TC , 4439cc, Fuel delivery: Injection, Driven wheels: Rear, Top speed: 225mph, Weight  1250kg

I want to drive my car, if I wanted to sit there and be driving around I'll get the bus!

Battle of the Hyper Cars 2014
Contender #3

McLaren P1

 

 

Price: £866,000; 0-62mph: sub-3.0sec (claimed); Top speed: 218mph (limited); Economy: na; CO2 emissions: “Under 200g/km”; Kerb weight: 1395kg (dry), 1490kg with fluids; Engine layout: V8, 3799cc, twin-turbo, petrol, plus electric motor; Installation: Mid, longitudinal, RWD; Power: 903bhp at 7500rpm; Torque: 664lb ft at 4000rpm; Power to weight: 606bhp per tonne; Specific output: 237bhp per litre; Compression ratio: na; Gearbox: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; Length: 4590mm Width: 1946mm; Height 1170mm; Wheelbase: 2670mm; Fuel tank: na; Range: na; Boot: 120 litres; Front suspension: Double wishbones, hydraulic springs, anti-roll bar, electronic adaptive dampers; Rear suspension: Double wishbones, hydraulic springs, anti-roll bar, electronic adaptive dampers; Brakes: Carbon-ceramic discs; Wheels: 19in (f), 20in (r); Tyres: 245/35 ZR19 (f), 315/30 ZR20 (r), Pirelli P Zero Rosso Corsa;

Battle of the Hyper Cars 2014
Contender #2

Ferrari La Ferrari

 

 

 

Price: 1.2m euros; 0-62mph: sub-3.0sec (claimed); Top speed: na; Economy: na; CO2 emissions: 333g/km; Kerb weight: 1255kg (dry), approx 1345kg with fluids; Engine layout: V12, 6262cc, petrol, plus electric motors; Installation: Mid, longitudinal, RWD; Power: 950bhp at 9000rpm; Torque: 715lb ft at 6750rpm; Power to weight: 707bhp per tonne (with fluids); Specific output: 152bhp per litre; Compression ratio: 13.5:1; Gearbox: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; Length: 4702mm; Width: 1992mm; Height: 1116mm; Wheelbase: 2650mm; Fuel tank: na; Range: na; Boot: na; Front suspension: Double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, electronic adaptive dampers; Rear suspension: Double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, electronic adaptive dampers; Brakes: Ventilated carbon-ceramic discs; Wheels: 19in (f), 20in (r); Tyres: 265/30 ZR19 (f), 345/30 ZR20 (r) Pirelli P Zero Rosso Corsa;

Battle of the Hyper Cars 2014
Contender #1

Porsche 918 Spyder

 Price: £682,000; 0-62mph: sub-3.0sec (claimed); Top speed: 202mph (limited); Economy: 94.1mpg (NEDC combined); CO2 emissions: 70g/km; Kerb weight: 1665kg with fluids and Weissach Package; Engine layout: V8, 4600cc, petrol, plus electric motors; Installation: Mid, longitudinal, 4WD; Power: 795bhp at 8500rpm; Torque: 575lb ft at 4000rpm; Power to weight: 477bhp per tonne; Specific output: 173bhp per litre; Compression ratio: na; Gearbox: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; Length: 4643mm; Width: 1940mm; Height: 1167mm; Wheelbase: 2730mm; Fuel tank: 70 litres; Range: na; Boot: 110 litres; Front suspension: Double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, electronic adaptive dampers; Rear suspension: Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar, electronic adaptive dampers; Brakes: Carbon-ceramic discs; Wheels: 20in (f), 21in (r); Tyres: 265/35 ZR20 (f), 325/30 ZR21 (r), Michelin Pilot Cup;

Lamborghini Countach (Hyper-Car "Legend")

Today's hyper-cars are well refined, comfortable and focused in other words if they were a film star they would be someone like Pierce Brosnan or Timothy Dalton (bad JB's!). Hyper-cars of yester-year such as the "legend" that is the Lamborghini Countach were not refined, in other words if the Countach were a film star it would be Chuck Norris and you better have b**** of titanium to drive it!

Lamborghini Egoista

 

 

This car meets all of the "Six Pillars of a "Hyper-Car" (Page 1 of Blog)!

1.     MINDSET: From people who think differently (we thank you!) - "If it makes sense it is not a hyper-car".
2.     "PERICOLO"/"PELIGRO": A menace to society?: "Danger is my middle name"
3.     DESIGN: Nonconformist: "It does not conform to any ideal, that is, it is unique, it is art, heads must turn"
4.     POWER: Ferocious (savagely fierce): - "Enough power to re-start a dead planet"
5.     EXCLUSIVITY: Ltd production: "In real-life you will see one as often as you will win the lottery to buy one"!
6.     WEALTH: Feel like a King - "The hyper-car will make you feel like the "King of Monaco" until you get out of course!

McLaren P1 vs La Ferrari

Where's the Porsche 918 gone?

McLaren P1 ("The Widowmaker")

When I am president of Europe (2018). One of the first things I will do is bring in the "Hyper-Car Mandate" which will stipulate certain rules. One of the first rules will be, "If a Lamborghini is damaged in an accident the vehicle must take priority over the driver and any passengers. The Lamborghini must be taken immediately to a specialist garage to undergo repair. The driver will be fined accordingly and will also be responsible for any additional costs to the surrounding environment, e.g. damage to public transport, roads, verges, etc. The driver will also be banned from owning a Lamborghini for two years and will have to conduct a period of community service at Lamborghini's head quarters, washing cars, etc." 

 

 

 

Pagani Huayra (y-rah)

Bugatti Veyron - "Fire" and "Ice"

Koenigsegg Agera R

 

 Christian Koenigsegg launched the "Koenigsegg" car company when he was 22!

I saw this picture yesterday and it reminded me of owning a hyper-car, this is not fact of course but how I see it...

 

 

"The matador stands in the middle of the arena staring at the bull, he is confident in his own ability to defeat the bull yet he knows of the unpredictable ferocious nature of the bull, he must keep his wits about him at all times as a slight lapse in concentration will result in the ultimate penalty!

 

 

Lamborghini Miura

The world's first "Hyper-Car"?