Nurburgring _ New Ferrari store

Ferrari announced today the opening of its latest store near the famous Nurburgring race track in Germany. The opening of the Ferrari Nurburgring Store in the presence of Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen who raced in the Sunday Grand Prix.


The Ferrari Nurburgring Store has 240 square meters and was developed by Studio Iosa Ghini. It offers various Prancing Horse products and has a lounge with a business section.

The new Ferrari Nurburgring Store is part of a bigger project that aims to transform the track into an all-year round leisure and business center.
via:zercustoms




Press Release

THE NEW FERRARI STORE OPENS AT THE LEGENDARY NÜRBURGRING CIRCUIT

The first Ferrari Store in Germany was officially inaugurated today at a very special location: the Nürburgring, which nestles in the gentle Eifel hills and provides the fascinating venue for the German Grand Prix. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen, who had already been out on the track in the run-up to Sunday's Grand Prix. This is also the first Ferrari Store to open at a circuit and comes as part of an ambitious expansion plan to turn the Nürburgring complex into an all-year round leisure and business centre. With this in mind, major new structures are being added, including the shopping centre housing the Ferrari Store, an events centre, a conference centre and hotels.

The 240 square metre Nürburgring Ferrari Store is spread over a single track-level floor. Developed entirely by the Studio Iosa Ghini, its concept sees it as much as a homage to the history and spirit of Ferrari's twin souls of racing and luxury as a straightforward store. Each area has thus been carefully designed as a special, one-off space in which shoppers can truly embrace the Ferrari experience. It will offer a wide selection of products from the Prancing Horse ranges for GT car clients and enthusiasts, and Ferrari tifosi. This latest Ferrari Store will also include an elegant lounge with a business section for meetings and a relaxation area directly overlooking the track itself.

The Nürburgring Ferrari Store joins the other prestige Prancing Horse retail locations around the world, including those in Milan, Rome and Venice (Italy), London (UK), Barcelona (Spain), San Francisco and Miami (USA), Macao (China) and Abu Dhabi (UAE). It was created and will be managed by the Zender Group, which operates in the automotive sector, and has owned the official Ferrari dealership at Mülheim-Kärlich since 1981. The Ferrari Store development programme includes plans to bring the number of openings to more than 40 over the next three years in Europe, America, and the Middle and Far East.

Nurburgring _ Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin was sure to be on hand at the Formula One Grand Prix Germany event at the Nürburgring circuit over the weekend with its new One-77 model.


The presentation also helped promote Aston Martin's new store on the Nürburgring Boulevard. Aston Martin's new supercar may not be F1 competitive with its 7.3 liter naturally aspirated V12 pumping out 700 hp, but it can make up what it lacks in power with some serious cabin luxury.


According to our photographer, the One-77 on display was the first production model ever constructed by the luxury British automaker and has been used for testing by Aston Martin.


The One-77, conceptually conceived as a DTM racer, will also feature a six-speed sequential (automated) manual gearbox and something called Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve damping, meant for the supercar to keeps its head with all that power thrashing it about.


The rest of the One-77's performance data is something Aston Martin is not yet willing to share, except to say that the 0 to 100 km/h sprint will be in under 3.5 seconds and top speed will surpass 200 mph (320 km/h). But construction details give us some hint as to how well the car will boogie, as weight will come in at a sprightly 1,500 kg with the One-77's carbon fiber monocoque chassis.
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Spied: Next Gen VW Passat Mule at Nurburgring

The spies on the 'Ring caught another glimpse of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat test mule. Although wearing the skin of the current Passat, we are able to glean a few details of the upcoming big seller.


With the elongated body we can expect to see more cabin room inside the new Passat, but not just legroom for the rear passengers. Wider fenders indicate the possibility of a little more elbow space as well. The spy believes Volkswagen will make more use of lightweight materials this time around, meaning the bigger body may not translate into more weight. We hope that a bigger model is not the only change to the exterior styling, and that VW makes the new Passat more bold and less dull.


Look for the 4Motion all-wheel-drive to be available for this Passat, as well as the eight-speed DSG transmission. Automatic parking, parking cameras, airless tires, and windshield cleaning sans wipers. Another rumor going around is the use of magnetic, low-voltage paint that allows the driver to change color by adjusting the current.


Several rumors abound about engine choices for the car. Many expect a 3.0-liter V6 petrol model producing 280 horsepower, but some expect to see a large diesel version that produces about 300 hp, while a hybrid edition using the 3.0-L V6 could also be on the horizon.
Source:World Car Fans

Lexus Releases LF-A Race Car Images Ahead of 24-hour Nürburgring Race

Lexus has finally released official photos of their LF-A prototype which will compete in the grueling 24-hour endurance race at Germany's famous Nürburgring.


Although the company is keeping details a closely guarded secret, they did state that the 200+ mph supercar is powered by a 4.8 liter V10 engine which produces 500 bhp. The sleek carbon fiber LF-A prototype will be entered by Japan's Gazoo Racing team and will be driven by a variety of professional race car drivers, Toyota engineers, and Lexus dealers.








Press Release

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

The Lexus LF-A concept car has never been camera shy, but it has not been seen like this before. Here for the first time is not one, but two of the sleek V10, 500bhp sportcars pictured parked side by side and in race livery ready for this weekend's Nürburgring 24-hour race.

Entered by Gazoo Racing, the team hopes to repeat its class winning form in the 4-hour race earlier in the year. The team, made up of professional drivers, Toyota test drivers, dealers and one very enigmatic driver known only as "Morizo", is tackling the race as part of the development programme for the 200mph+ car.

Gazoo is a Japanese market, Toyota-owned, e-commence website that aims to "create a new relationship between automobiles and people in the new IT era". Gazoo has its own racing team and this will be the third attempt at the famous German race.
via:World Car Fans

First Nurburgring Spy Photos for 2010 Saab 9-5

The new car is clearly larger, with a long wheel base that suggests ample rear-seat legroom. Speculation calls for the new 9-5 to be almost six inches longer than the current car.

The size increase will enable it to compete with vehicles like the Cadillac STS, BMW 5-Series and Audi A6, not to mention the Volvo S80. The wheels and vehicle silhouette visible in these photos suggest that the STS and A6 are targets. The use of LED taillights is again visible, though the new 9-5's overall look seems to be conservative and evolutionary rather than radical.


Clearer images have surfaced of the heavily-disguised 2010 Saab 9-5 caught on video recently during winter testing. The next-generation 9-5 was spied at the Nurburgring, wearing the same dazzle camouflage and heavy cladding, but some details are nonetheless visible.


No mechanical details have escaped as yet, but Saab still has access to GM's stable of engines for the time being, whatever the brand's future may be. That means a range of 2.0 liter gasoline and diesel engines, with about 210 horsepower from the turbocharged 2.0 gasoline four-cylinder. A 3.6 liter V6 and turbocharged 2.8 liter V6 are also possibilities. A choice of front- or all-wheel drive is likely, in keeping with Saab's current lineup.


The 2010 9-5 is due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show later this year.
Source:World Car Fans



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Aston Martin Returns to Nürburgring 24-hour race with New V12 Vantage

Aston Martin will return to the starting grid of Germany’s Nordschleife for its fourth consecutive year of the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance challenge, which kicks off on May 23rd. The carmaker will be using its latest super-sports car, the all-new V12 Vantage coupe, which will be kept in near-standard specification for the event.


Press Release

ASTON MARTIN RETURNS TO NÜRBURGRING 24-HOUR RACE WITH NEW V12 VANTAGE

Gaydon, Warwickshire 24 April 2009. Aston Martin will return to the starting grid of the legendary Nordschleife for the fourth consecutive year at the 37th ADAC Nürburgring 24-hour race on 23/24 May 2009 with the new V12 Vantage. Joining the marque's latest model will be ‘Rose', the yellow V8 Vantage that was first entered into the race in 2006.

Headlining this year's factory effort and aiming to repeat Aston Martin's untarnished record of finishing the 24-hour race, will be the marque's new V12 Vantage in near-standard specification driven by Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez and representatives from the company's engineering team. Premiered at the Geneva Auto Salon in early March, the V12 Vantage is the ultimate incarnation of the Vantage range featuring a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (517 PS) and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque. With just minor modifications, the standard car is being readied to compete in the most demanding of endurance races.

Dr Ulrich Bez who will be driving in his fourth consecutive 24-hour race, said: "This is the final engineering durability test for the V12 Vantage programme. We will be subjecting the car to the toughest assessment yet under public scrutiny as we successfully did with the Vantage N24 programme.

"We already have a proven track record at the Nürburgring racing our road cars with limited modification and in 2009 we also celebrate our 50-year anniversary of winning the ADAC Nürburgring 1000 km with a DBR1."

The V12 Vantage race car will be close to production standardwith only essential safety modifications, reduced weight and re-tuned suspension with no additional aerodynamic enhancements. Production tyre partner Pirelli has specially selected P Zero Circuit Racing slick tyres to enhance performance, ensuring consistency and to provide a tangible performance link to the V12 Vantage road car.

Aston Martin is expecting a number of customer teams to join the V12 Vantage on the starting grid. ‘Rose', the yellow V8 Vantage and original inspiration behind the N24/GT4 programme will also be making a return to the Nordschleife having now clocked up four 24-hour race finishes and more than 20,000 endurance miles.
Aston Martin's Head of Motorsport, David King said: "The Vantage N24/GT4 programme has been a huge success to date. Since its inception in 2006, no standard N24 from the factory or customer team has failed to finish a 24-hour endurance race in 13 starts around the world - a remarkable testament to the durability of the Vantage."

The 37th ADAC Nürburgring 24 hour race will take place on 23/24 May 2009.
via:motorauthority


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