Aston Martin Vantage AMR range launched

Aston Martin has launched its first range of road-going high-performance AMR models, the Vantage AMR. Bringing a bit of Aston’s title-winning FIA WEC sportscar racers to the road, the firm plans to make 200 V8 Vantage AMRs and just 100 V12 Vantage AMRs. They will cost from £97,995 and deliveries will begin later in 2017.

The AMR range was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in March: it’s designed to accentuate Aston’s sportiness by bringing to the road inspiration or direct influence from the track. There will be two levels of AMR, as seen with this new Vantage range: entry-level Vantage AMR models and more extreme Vantage AMR Pro versions that have extra work by the bespoke Aston Martin Q division.

Pick from four colours for the Vantage AMR: Stratus White with orange graphic, Ultramarine Blue with blue graphic, Zaffre Blue with red graphic and Scintilla Silver with grey graphic. There’s also an AMR Halo Pack, which mimics the 2016 Vantage GTE World Endurance Championship racer: it’s Stirling Green with Lime Green accents. It even has a Union Jack AML wings badge on the nose.

There are complementary colours inside, including more Lime Green for the Halo Pack, and optional lightweight carbon fibre seats for the purists. They can also choose from either a six-speed manual with the 430hp V8 Vantage or seven-speed manual on the 595hp V12 Vantage (that’s 30hp up on the regular 565hp), although most will probably go for a paddleshift auto. You can also have either as a coupe or a roadster.

“It’s a real thrill to see our first AMR model go into production said Aston president and CEO Dr Andy Palmer. The Vantage is “the perfect model with which to introduce the exciting AMR range. Unmistakable in look and feel, the Vantage AMR will appeal to our most enthusiastic customers. These are people who love our cars for their motorsport pedigree, and for their unmistakable dynamic and emotional qualities.”

There’s more on top: Aston’s offering an AMR Accessories range, with cool things such as an Aston-branded GoPro track day camera. But Aston reckons the AMR Aero Kit is the coolest. Developed in conjunction with the Aston Martin Racing team, the carbon fibre kit includes front splitter and dive plates, side sills and a fixed rear spoiler. Pair it with forged alloy AMR Vantage wheels and a 14kg-lighter titanium exhaust for racing perfection.

Consider the Vantage AMR range a run-out special; the new Aston Martin Vantage arrives in 2018, complete with V8 engines from Mercedes-AMG. Expected launch location? Quite possibly the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. 

Source:www.msn.com

Camaro ZL1: Most Powerful Camaro in history

The 2017 Camaro ZL1 is poised to challenge the most advanced sports coupes in the world with unprecedented levels of technology, refinement, track capability and straight-line acceleration. In the Middle East, we will be able to ride the most powerful Camaro in history, and learn the real value of big power, big noise, and total control in the first half of 2017. 

The ZL1 delivers significantly enhanced performance in a more aggressive body and a lighter architecture. Needless to say, sports enthusiasts won’t be disappointed, as the supercharged coupe delivers more power than any other Camaro to date and features the most comprehensive aerodynamic package.

And the fact that it is about 90 Kg lighter than its predecessor adds to the thrill and sets a new benchmark in the supercharged muscle car market.

The 2017 Camaro ZL1 sports an excellent stylish design which gives the car a purposeful, super aggressive attitude. The sports car sits on unique, staggered 20-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar tires.

“The Camaro ZL1 is designed to excel at everything, delivering on design, dependability, quality and performance,” said Abdallah Madhoun, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Chevrolet, GM Middle East.

Functionality defines the Camaro ZL1’s form, with the exterior shaped during more than 100 hours of wind-tunnel testing and on-track validation to improve aerodynamics and cooling for track use. Accordingly, its exterior elements all play a part in managing airflow over, under and through the ZL1.

The lower grille opening, for example, offers greater airflow compared to the Camaro SS, and the upper grille incorporates a new version of the “flow-tie” open bowtie insignia. There’s also a new hood, with a carbon fiber insert and heat extractor that pulls hot air from the engine compartment.

Inside, there are standard Recaro front seats, along with a suede flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob. Chevrolet’s Performance Data Recorder is available.

The ZL1, available as a coupe and a convertible, shares with the Corvette Z06 its herculean power-plant, the supercharged LT4 6.2L V-8 engine. It is rated at 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque (881 Nm), making this the fastest Camaro ZL1 in the vehicles 50 year history.

Its 0-100 Km/h time is a mere 3.6 seconds, and it can complete the quarter mile in 11.4 seconds at a speed of 204 Km/h.

The Camaro ZL1 is the first production car to use a new, advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox, which offers strong economy and performance benefits. It is also available as a six-speed manual.

The 2017 Camaro ZL1 comes standard with customizable launch control, which allows drivers to adjust launch rpm and wheel slip to dial in the perfect start.

Moreover, a cohesive suite of performance technologies tailors ZL1’s performance for street and track. Features include an updated Magnetic Ride suspension, Performance Traction Management, electronic limited-slip differential and Driver Mode Selector. It also has a stronger power-to-weight ratio than its predecessor, weighing 200 pounds less, while offering approximately 60 more horsepower and 80 more pound-feet of torque.

The result is a one-of-a-kind driving experience.

Finally – and unlike some competitors – there’s no need to purchase an optional package to make the ZL1 track ready. Track capability comes standard, with features including an impressive 11 heat exchangers for optimal powertrain cooling. Camaro ZL1 should scare the best of the best.

Source: http://www.msn.com

W-Motors Lykan Hypersport, the Middle East’s take on the supercar

Over the years, we’ve seen many iterations of the world’s most expensive vehicle and motor companies are always trying to out-do one another. While the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Mclaren have been fighting it out for years, some newer companies have joined the fray recently. Some succeeded, such as Hennessey, but most others never made it to production. However one stands out from the rest.

Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, W Motors have created the Lykan Hypersport which is the first Middle Eastern Supercar. It’s coincidentally one of the world’s most expensive retailing cars at a whopping 3.4 million U.S Dollars (approx.12.4 million AED) and has been receiving a lot of attention after appearing in films like Fast & Furious 7 and video games like Driveclub and Project Cars.

The Lykan Hypersport is currently the third most expensive car in the world. Ahead of it is the Lamborghini Veneno of which four were built and three were sold for 4.6 million U.S Dollars (approx. 16.8 million AED) as well as the one-of-a-kind Maybach Exelero which cost 8 million U.S Dollars (approx. 29.8 million AED. Originally a test mule for tyres but was eventually sold to a customer.

Why so expensive? The headlights may look like standard adaptive xenon and LED headlights on the W Motors Lykan, but with a closer look you’ll find that they have titanium plates which are encrusted with 420 diamonds! If diamonds aren’t your thing, you can choose from a variety of other precious stones such as rubies, emeralds or sapphires. The entire body of the car is made from carbon composite to reduce the weight of the car. Inside it gets better, LED ambient lighting with a carbon fiber finished centre console with all the standard features such as navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, which are displayed on a 9″ holographic mid-air display with gesture recognition. The dashboard instrument panel is fully digital and shows all relevant information such as speed, what gear the car is in and the revs as well as other information such as efficiency and engine performance.

When it comes to the seats and dashboard, they’re completely customisable. For the seats there’s a choice between Alcantara or leather in any colour with single or double stitching with gold wire, that are placed in a carbon fibre mold to keep the driver and passengers body and neck stable at high speeds.

Why so expensive? The headlights may look like standard adaptive xenon and LED headlights on the W Motors Lykan, but with a closer look you’ll find that they have titanium plates which are encrusted with 420 diamonds! If diamonds aren’t your thing, you can choose from a variety of other precious stones such as rubies, emeralds or sapphires. The entire body of the car is made from carbon composite to reduce the weight of the car. Inside it gets better, LED ambient lighting with a carbon fiber finished centre console with all the standard features such as navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, which are displayed on a 9″ holographic mid-air display with gesture recognition. The dashboard instrument panel is fully digital and shows all relevant information such as speed, what gear the car is in and the revs as well as other information such as efficiency and engine performance.

When it comes to the seats and dashboard, they’re completely customisable. For the seats there’s a choice between Alcantara or leather in any colour with single or double stitching with gold wire, that are placed in a carbon fibre mold to keep the driver and passengers body and neck stable at high speeds.

Only 7 W Motors Lykan’s will be built, one W Motors Lykan is for sale in Dubai, which is number 1 of 7. Even the Abu Dhabi Police has recently acquired one into its police force. Although there may not be any space to put the bad guys in the back, it’s sure to turn a head or two or at least stop some speed demons and reckless drivers.

Source: www.dubicars.com

The Chevy Camaro Track concept is a 1LE by another name

For the 2017 Geneva auto show, Chevrolet has trotted out a big, green, track-ready Camaro that isn't called a 1LE. It's called the Camaro Track concept. It also has a different graphics package consisting of unique black stripes on the hood and roof. They're paired with a custom "satin green" paint job.

These are just cosmetic differences, though. Mechanically, this Camaro Track is basically a US-spec Camaro SS 1LE, which we've confirmed with Chevrolet is currently a vehicle exclusive to the US. It has the FE4 suspension package from that car, as well as the ZL1, which includes magnetic shocks, and revised springs and sway bars.

It also gets the SS 1LE's electronically-controlled limited slip differential, Brembo six-piston front brakes, and extra coolers for the engine, transmission, and differential. Even the tires are the same. At all four corners are Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires in the same widths as the 1LE. The only major difference is that this Track concept has an 8-speed automatic transmission. In the States, all three levels of 1LE are exclusively manual.

Inside, it features suede on the steering wheel and center console, comes with Recaro seats, and the pedals are aluminum. Outside it has a front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler that also appear to be cribbed from the 1LE. Chevy also added black bow-ties and smoked taillights that are available as Camaro accessories.

According to Chevrolet, a number of the accessories on this car are US-exclusive, but some of them will be available in Europe in the near future.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com