BREAKING: Coventry Prototype Panels Buys Zagato Italian Design House

The UK-based coachbuilder Coventry Prototype Panels CPP have acquired the Italian design house Zagato, their acquisitions list for the Birmingham based firm is impressive and their portfolio contains the likes of Spyker,Bowler and a close relationship with Aston Martin. (Which would explain the Aston Zagato entry in the N24).

Also Aston Martin have released pricing of the Zagato which is based on the v12 Vantage and a limited number of only 150 pieces and with a quite reasonable price of 330k Gbp will leave the one-77 owners writing another check to Aston Martin

The question is what is CPP up to and when are we going to see some new marques coming out to stalk the Black Country in middle England.

by pistonspy.com

ImageGallery: 2012 Zafira

BREAKING NEWS: Volvo interested in SAAB

From Reuters:

 ‘Volvo is interested in Saab ‘

LONDON (Reuters) – The Swedish carmaker Volvo expects soon a “request” of the Swedish government to take over Saab.

This is reported bij De Financiele Telegraaf (DFT), which relies on anonymous sources within Volvo. Swedish government officials would already have held discussions with the management of Volvo, which would not be unsympathetic to acquiring Saab.

For Sweden, acquiring Saab by Volvo, which since last year is in the hands of Chinese car maker Geely, gives more certainty about the repayment of the loan of 400 million euros that the European Investment Bank has provided to Saab. The Swedish government guarantees the loan.

Saab was acquired early last year by Dutch luxury sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars, but is in serious financial trouble. Production came to a standstill in recent weeks because suppliers refused to supply spare parts due to late payment.

Updated

Volvo Cars denies report of possible Saab bid

(Adds Spyker declining to comment)

(Reuters) - Chinese-owned Swedish car maker Volvo has had no talks on possibly buying rival Saab and none are planned, the company said on Friday, denying a Dutch newspaper report.

De Telegraaf had cited unnamed sources close to Volvo as saying the Swedish government was talking to Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely, about the latter's possible interest in bidding for Saab.

"No such talks have been going on and no such talks are scheduled," said Volvo Cars spokesman Per-Ake Froberg.

The newspaper said the Swedish government was interested in Volvo taking over Saab as it could mean a greater assurance that a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted to Saab and guaranteed by Sweden would be repaid.

Saab has run into a cash crunch in its first year of ownership by Dutch niche carmaker Spyker (SPYKR.AS) after its 2010 sales fell short of forecasts. It has halted production after suppliers went unpaid but Sweden has approved a financing deal which still needs approval from the EIB. [ID:nLDE73K0PM]

Victor Muller, chief executive of Spyker, declined to comment, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

Geely, parent of Geely Automotive Holdings (0175.HK), took over Ford Motor's (F.N) Volvo car unit in August 2010, in China's largest acquisition of a foreign car maker.

Earlier this week Saab Chief Executive Victor Muller said the Swedish car maker is negotiating with a wide range of Chinese car makers about a tie-up. Both Saab and Volvo Cars had spent a long time owned by U.S. carmakers -- Saab by General Motors (GM.N) and Volvo by Ford (F.N), but the U.S. owners sold out amid the global financial crisis. 

(Reporting by Patrick Lannin in Stockholm and Roberta B. Cowan in Amsterdam; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter and David Holmes)
reuters

8.9

I'm not Japanese, but I respect them and I'm truly sorry for what happened there. The footages and the images are shocking. The infrastructures are damaged, many people are missing, many are dead. The major companies like Sony and Toyota are shut down. Hopefully the situation won't get worse by a nuclear catastrophe as the reports claim one plant is seriously affected. Earthquakes like this will occur. Who knows, California might be next...     

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 – A new reference among super sports cars

• Innovative concept and phenomenal performance redefine the pinnacle of the super sports car segment

• Entirely new technology package, unique and powerful functional design language
• Innovative carbon-fiber monocoque
• New twelve-cylinder engine with 515 kW / 700 hp
• Super-fast shifting ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) transmission
• Pushrod suspension
• The very finest equipment and trim, extensive individualization

With the Aventador LP 700-4, Automobili Lamborghini is redefining the very pinnacle of the world super sports car market – brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering and phenomenal handling precision are combined with peerless design and the very finest equipment to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. With the Aventador, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future – and building on the glorious history of the brand with the next automotive legend. The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 in late summer 2011.

The technology package of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is utterly unique. It is based on an innovative monocoque made from carbon-fiber that combines exceptional lightweight engineering with the highest levels of stiffness and safety. The new twelve-cylinder with 6.5 liters’ displacement and 515 kW / 700 hp brings together the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with astonishing low-end torque. Thanks to a dry weight of only 1,575 kilograms (3,472 lb), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 2.25 kilograms per hp (4.96 lb/hp). Even the fantastic 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration figure of just 2.9 seconds and the top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) do not fully describe the Aventador’s extreme performance. And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 percent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (+8%).

The ISR transmission is unique among road-going vehicles, guaranteeing the fastest shifting time (only 50 milliseconds) and a highly emotional shift feel, while the lightweight chassis with pushrod suspension delivers absolute handling precision and competition-level performance. The expressively-designed interior offers hi-tech features ranging from the TFT cockpit display with Drive Select Mode system. The Aventador will be built to the very highest quality standards in an all-new production facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese.

“With the Aventador LP 700-4, the future of the super sports car is now part of the present. Its exceptional package of innovative technologies is unique, its performance simply overwhelming,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, it’s the result of an entirely new project, but at the same time it’s a direct and consistent continuation of Lamborghini’s brand values. It is extreme in its design and its performance, uncompromising in its standards and technology, and unmistakably Italian in its style and perfection. Overall, the dynamics and technical excellence of the Aventador LP 700-4 makes it unrivalled in the worldwide super sports car arena.”

Aventador: the name of one of the most courageous of all bulls

According to its tradition, Lamborghini’s new flagship bears the name of a bull – naturally, a particularly courageous specimen from the world of the Spanish Corrida. Aventador was the name of a bull that entered into battle in October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera” for its outstanding courage.

A sculpture of extreme dynamics

For Lamborghini, design is always the beauty of aggressive power, the elegance of breathtaking dynamics. From the very first glance, the new Aventador is unmistakably a Lamborghini, clothed in the brand’s characteristic and distinctive design language – with its extremely powerful proportions, its exact lines and precise surfaces, and with taut muscularity in every one of its details. The designers in the Centro Stile Lamborghini have carefully developed this design language to give the Aventador a significant new edge. It is an avantgarde work of art, an incredibly dynamic sculpture, from the sharply honed front end through the extremely low roofline to the distinctive rear diffuser. Every line has a clear function, every form is dictated by its need for speed, yet the overall look is nothing less than spectacular and breathtaking.

The doors open upward – of course

Truly impressive proportions come from an overall length of 4,78 meters (188.19 in.) matched with an impressive width of 2,26 meters (88.98 in.) including the exterior mirrors, and further accentuated by an extremely low height of just 1.136 mm (44.72 in.). It goes without saying that both doors of the carbon-fiber monocoque open upward – a feature that was first introduced in the now legendary Countach and then used for subsequent V12 models such as Diablo and Murciélago. However, the Aventador also evokes its immediate predecessor the Murciélago – electronically managed air intakes open depending on the outdoor temperature and the need for cooling air,ensuring maximum aerodynamic efficiency. And for those whishing to flaunt the heart of their Lamborghini, the optional transparent engine bonnet exhibits the twelve-cylinder engine like a technical work of art in a display case.

Exclusive and high-tech interior

The Aventador’s spacious interior combines the fine exclusivity of premium materials and perfect Italian craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology and generous equipment. The red switch cover on the broad center tunnel encloses the start button used to awaken the twelve-cylinder. The interior is dominated by a next-generation dashboard – as in a modern airplane, the instruments are presented on a TFT-LCD screen using innovative display concepts. A second screen is dedicated to the standard-fit multimedia and navigation system.

Carbon-fiber monocoque

The new Lamborghini flagship has a full monocoque. The entire occupant cell, with tub and roof, is one single physical component. This ensures extreme rigidity and thus outstanding driving precision, as well as an extremely high level of passive safety for the driver and his passenger. The entire monocoque weighs only 147.5 kilograms (325.18 lb).

The monocoque, together with the front and rear Aluminium frames, features an impressive combination of extreme torsional stiffness of 35,000 Newton meters per degree and weighs only 229.5 kilograms (505.9 lb).

Maximum revs, amazing sound

For the Aventador LP 700-4, the engineers in Lamborghini’s R&D Department have developed a completely new high-performance power unit – an extremely powerful and high-revving, but very compact power unit. At 235 kilograms (518 lb), it is also extremely lightweight. A V12 with 515 kW (700 hp) at 8,250 rpm sets a whole new benchmark, even in the world of super sports cars. The maximum torque output is 690 Newton meters (509 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm. The extremely well-rounded torque curve, the bull-like pulling power in every situation, the spontaneous responsiveness and, last but not least, the finely modulated but always highly emotional acoustics are what make this engine a stunning power plant of the very highest order.

Innovative transmission for maximum performance

Engineers at Lamborghini have created the perfect mate for the new twelve-cylinder engine with the highly innovative ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) transmission. The development objective was clearly formulated – to build not only the fastest robotized gearbox, but also to create the world’s most emotional gear shift. Compared with a dual-clutch transmission, not only is the ISR gearbox much lighter, it also has smaller dimensions than a conventional manual unit – both key elements in the field of lightweight engineering for super sports cars.

Refined and safe with all-wheel drive

This kind of extreme power must be delivered reliably to the road. The driver of the Aventador LP 700-4 can depend fully on its permanent all-wheel drive – indicated by the 4 in the model designation. In the driveline, an electronically controlled Haldex coupling distributes the forces between front and rear. In a matter of milliseconds, this coupling adapts the force distribution to match the dynamic situation. A self-blocking rear differential together with a front differential electronically controlled by ESP make for even more dynamic handling. The Drive Select Mode System enables the driver to choose vehicle characteristics (engine, transmission, differential, steering and dynamic control) from three settings – Strada (road), Sport and Corsa (track) – to suit his individual preferences.

Pushrod suspension

Lamborghini has equipped its new V12 super sports car with an innovative and highly sophisticated suspension concept. The pushrod spring and damper concept was inspired by Formula 1 and tuned perfectly to meet the needs of a high-performance road-going vehicle. Together with aluminum double wishbone suspension and a carbon-fiber ceramic brake system, this lightweight chassis represents a further aspect of the new flagship’s unique technology concept.

Extensive assistance and safety systems

In the hands of its driver, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is a high-precision machine – spontaneous, direct and always reliable. The driver is also assisted by the latest electronic systems such as the incredibly sporty, adjustable ESP system. When it comes to passive safety, front, head-thorax and knee airbags play their part alongside the extremely stiff carbon-fiber cell.

A rich and wide-ranging individualization program

A Lamborghini should always fit perfectly with the style and preferences of its owner. To this end, the range of individualization options is virtually inexhaustible. There is a selection of 13 production paint colors to choose from, three of which are highly sophisticated matt tones. A choice of two-tone interiors are offered with the “Sportivo” and “Elegante” versions, while a premium audio system and reversing camera are among the many technology options. And of course, the “Ad Personam” individualization program knows no limits when it comes to colors and materials.

The price of the Lamborghini Aventador and market delivery
UK: GBP 201.900,00 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
Europe: € 255.000 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
USA: 379.700 USD (suggested retail price – GGT included)
China: RMB 6.270.000,00 (suggested retail price taxes included)
Japan: YEN 39.690.000,00 (suggested retail price taxes included)

Aventador. Again. And Again. And Again.

from EVO carmagazine, Facebook

Wallpapers by cardesign

BREAKING: Spyker sold to CPP

CPP SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO BUY SPYKER LUXURY SPORTSCAR BUSINESS
* CPP Global Holdings Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy the Spyker luxury sportscar business
* Purchase price is 15 million Euros plus a 17 million Euros six-year earn-out
* Acquisition comes as production of Spyker C8 Aileron flagship supercar ramps-up

Coventry, UK, 24 February 2011 – CPP Global Holdings Ltd, a premium coachbuilding company based in Coventry, UK, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire the assets of the Spyker luxury sportscar company from Spyker Cars N.V. – the Dutch EURONEXT-listed holding company which currently operates the Spyker and Saab Automobile businesses.

The purchase price would be 32 million Euros, 15 million Euros of which would be paid immediately upon the finalisation of the deal, with the remaining 17 million Euros to be paid over a six year 'earn-out' period.

CPP is a world-class British coachbuilding company with a workforce of 250 highly skilled automotive specialist designers, technicians and craftsmen. It has vast experience working with global luxury car brands, by adapting standard vehicles, or undertaking full production of ultra-low volume standalone models. Over the last 16 years, CPP founder and Managing Director, Brendan O'Toole, has grown the Coventry-based business continuously, and the partnership and support of Vladimir Antonov has seen this growth accelerate within the last two years. The Spyker acquisition is yet another milestone towards a world-class automotive specialist in Coventry, creating more jobs directly at CPP, and indirectly, through the wide range of automotive specialists based in the area.

CPP will structure Spyker's assets into a new subsidiary company, to be based at CPP's Coventry headquarters. CPP has produced chassis and body panels for Spyker since the brand's re-introduction in 2000. In 2009, it signed an agreement with Spyker to undertake full vehicle production of the C8 Aileron and all future Spyker models at a new and dedicated facility in Coventry. Production of the C8 Aileron for customer deliveries is currently being ramped-up.
Vladimir Antonov, said: "Having created an enviable portfolio of premium, world-class automotive companies and brands over the past two years with CPP, we are convinced that Spyker will flourish within the CPP Group. We are delighted to be bringing more investment and job opportunities to Coventry, and we hope that this further cements its reputation as the heartland of the automotive industry in the UK."

Brendan O'Toole, Managing Director of CPP Global Holdings Ltd, said: "This acquisition is very positive news for everyone connected to Spyker. We're absolutely confident that independent ownership will enable us to rapidly progress an invigorated business plan, to which CPP is fully committed.

"The management of CPP is very excited about the acquisition of the Spyker sportscar business, and the brand is entering a period of major development," continues O'Toole. "Production of the new Spyker flagship supercar, the C8 Aileron, is progressing well and we are ramping up production of customer cars at our new purpose-built facility in Coventry. We have well-developed plans to expand the product range further, and the future for the Spyker brand is incredibly exciting."


source: autoblog

Breaking: Here it is, Meet the Aventador!

BREAKING