They are selling for $1M each right or am I confusing it with something else. I know the Lambos are $4M each.
Those limited edition Lambo cheese graters you like are 5 mil. The LaFerrari is about 1.7 mil down here, apparently.
I'd like one of these. Can't believe they are cheaper than a Falcon.
should be getting them here in 2015...just in time for the current work car to be turned over...
I know nothing about cars, but I love my Pop's Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint Veloce I just love love love love.
Could well do on track. No doubt it'll be a magnificent machine. But to me, saying would you prefer a McLaren or a Ferrari is like saying would you prefer a Swiss watch or Cameron Diaz. And frankly - no matter how nice, you can bang the watch up your clacker. :P
I'm probably perverse but I would take a McLaren F1 over just about any car in existence.
Beautifully proportioned, untouchable in its time & classic.
Christ that's ugly.
Functional ugliness. Not ugly in the true sense of the word, like F1 cars for example.
I'm not sure all of that Lambo is functional. It looks more like the excited sketches of an 11 year old, imho. It probably has 13 exhaust pipes as well.
Those limited edition Lambo cheese graters you like are 5 mil. The LaFerrari is about 1.7 mil down here, apparently.
So much hate... :(
It's what bobo said though. It's the design and drawing that you would have done when you were a kid.
Maybe it's cause I like the odd shapes. Like I love the shape of the formula 1 cars.
I'd still have the DBS if I had the choice :)
I only want a Tesla, why aren't the other manufacturers rushing to outdo them?
Because ther aren't enough mindlessly trendy californians to buy them.
OK, guys: list your 5 car dream garage. Must include:
- daily driver
- exotic
- classic (15+ years old)
- Aussie produced (any era or model)
- 1 more of your choice
No budget.
I only want a Tesla, why aren't the other manufacturers rushing to outdo them?
Because ther aren't enough mindlessly trendy californians to buy them.
I'm not sure about mindless 'Boot. The Model S is awesome.
1 Like
OK, guys: list your 5 car dream garage. Must include:
- daily driver
C63 AMG
- exotic
Pagani Zonda
- classic (15+ years old)
1968 Dodge Charger
- Aussie produced (any era or model)
2013 HSV GTS
- 1 more of your choice
Porsche 911 Turbo (preferably the 930)
No budget.
Very clever gearbox.
Rolls-Royce has held the international launch for the new Wraith coupe through the sinuous roads of the Austrian alps, an extremely unlikely place for any modern Rolls to be put the test.
The new model combines an almost 1970s hardtop roof with the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production car adorned with the flying lady, or “spirit of ecstasy†(a 465kW twin turbo V12).
The two-door, four-seat Wraith is hardly an out-and-out sports car, but can handle winding roads with aplomb partly because of a gearbox that can take its instructions from satellites.
Although that sounds like the stuff of science fiction, it is merely an ingenious linking of the navigation system with the sophisticated “self-learning†eight-speed ZF gearbox, via some clever software.
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“It is a nice, elegantly engineered technology because we don‘t need any new parts,†says Wraith product manager Dr Philip Harnett, who came to the brand after many years with BMW in F1.
At this stage the gearbox won‘t actively kick down as you approach a corner – though that would be possible in the future – but it has an uncanny ability to put you in the right gear when you come out of one.
The system comes into effect when a driver lifts his or her foot from the accelerator.
“We don‘t want to take control away from the driver,†says Harnett.
“But say for example you‘ve put your navigation destination in, alternatively you are going down the road and are turning onto a motorway entrance or exit, and you put your indicator on, alerting the system…
“If the car didn‘t have satellite-aided transmission, it would probably be thinking, ‘now he‘s taken his foot off the transmission, he‘s probably reached touring speed, so I‘ll shift up to the highest gear, reduce the revs, make everything nice and smooth and quiet‘.
“But if it knows what you are going on to the slipway, it will keep you in that gear, maybe it will shift down a gear. You go around the corner and, when you want to accelerate onto the motorway, you are in exactly the right gear.â€
That‘s the theory, and the practice is remarkably on message: there is no hesitation, no searching for gears, no panicked kickdowns.
The box seems to know exactly what‘s best for the situation, and is at its most impressive through sweeping curves. Austria, fortunately, does a good line in exactly those sorts of curve.
Gearbox aside, the Wraith takes most of its parts from the Ghost sedan (on which it is based), though with a power boost (45kW extra) and a completely different body with a lower roofline and wider rear track.
The wheelbase is shorter than the Ghost‘s, but because of the long overhangs, the overall length is similar.
It is in the words of spokesman Richard Carter, “the Rolls-Royce with a little bit of noir, a bit of menaceâ€.
Although it is the most sporting model yet, there are no gear change paddles. Rolls-Royce argues that at this level of luxury the car should choose the right gear as well as the correct suspension settings for the driver.
That may make the car a fraction slower point-to-point, though few will quibble with the acceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds.
This is a seriously quick car, with 800Nm of torque launching the big rear-driver with as much drama as you want from almost any speed.
There was a bit of wind noise around the top of the windows at expressway speeds, exaggerated perhaps because the engine, gearbox and everything thing else is so eerily quiet.
The engine only really makes itself heard under heavy acceleration, at which point it emits a pleasing roar.
The interior is as sumptuous as you‘d expect, though all round visibility isn‘t a strong point. Those thick A-pillars and simply monumental C-pillars often get in the way.
Many of the interior features such as the “open pore†wood panelling and vastly ungraded communications/entertainment system underscore that Rolls is looking for younger drivers with this car.
Grip levels are high with massive tyres and clever electronics. The steering proved a little too light in traffic but stiffened admirably during spirited driving.
The satellite-aided transmission was the most impressive new technology and it is easy to believe similar system will soon be widely used across the market.
Research began in the hybrid drivetrain division of Roll-Royce‘s parent company BMW, as a possible way of letting the car decide on the most efficient places to switch between petrol and electric power.
Harnett became aware of it, and of its potential to improve what he describes as a Rolls-Royce‘s “effortlessness†and “waftabilityâ€.
“We decided we were going to take this technology, develop it for Wraith and spearhead it for the BMW Group.â€
Rolls-Royce isn‘t quite the first to exploit the idea. Audi claims to have linked the satellite navigation and transmission on its latest A8 but has provided few details (there is no mention of it in the specifications on any official Audi website).
It is Mercedes-Benz trucks that have made the most extensive use, taking further advantage of the elevation details in some sat-nav systems to aid fuel economy. Harnett says that is a future possibility for Rolls-Royce too.
Until then though, our car used a healthy 18 litres per 100km in a mix of conditions.
The first Wraiths will be with customers in Australia in November.
Curiously, the price of $645,000 (including road costs) is the same as for the Ghost sedan despite the Wraith having a higher equipment level and a coupe body that would normally attract a Rolls-Royce-sized premium.
Daily driver: 80 series Landcruiser. Useful car without much to go wrong, unlike a rangie.
Exotic: Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32). Godzilla!
Classic: Bugatti Type 57SC.
Aussie: Elfin Mallala.
Bonus: Final Objective. Registered '55 Chev with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84
Whats everyones thoughts on the MB CLA45 AMG, looks like it could be a WRX for grown ups.
Daily ride
Mustang Gt500
Exotic
De Tomaso Pantera
Classic
Bad ■■■ Impala (or 55-57 Chev, Road Runner, Charger, Challenger, Barracuda)
OZ
Sandman (apologies to Pontiac G8)
+1
Never have too much American muscle
Corvette 560hp…
Ok…this is not where I belong…but seriously I have a question for all you car guys.
Why is it that when you are driving along and the fuel light comes on and you think…’ Ok, at the next opportunity I shall fill up’ …this is acceptable
Yet when you are driving along and the OIL light comes on and you think…’ Ok, at the next opportunity I shall grab some oil ’ …this is not acceptable
Oh…and whilst I am on the subject
SHAME ON YOU ALL FOR PRAISING ANY CAR THAT IS NOT A KIA…SHAME
Too vanilla, need excitement!
Two lights that show two very different things. You should never see the oil light.Ok....this is not where I belong...but seriously I have a question for all you car guys.
Why is it that when you are driving along and the fuel light comes on and you think...' Ok, at the next opportunity I shall fill up' ..this is acceptable
Yet when you are driving along and the OIL light comes on and you think...' Ok, at the next opportunity I shall grab some oil ' ...this is not acceptable
Oh...and whilst I am on the subject
SHAME ON YOU ALL FOR PRAISING ANY CAR THAT IS NOT A KIA.....SHAME
Ok....this is not where I belong...but seriously I have a question for all you car guys.
Why is it that when you are driving along and the fuel light comes on and you think...' Ok, at the next opportunity I shall fill up' ..this is acceptable
Yet when you are driving along and the OIL light comes on and you think...' Ok, at the next opportunity I shall grab some oil ' ...this is not acceptable
I am not a car guy but I would think it's a lot less of a hassle to run out of gas and have to walk / cab to get some more fuel than it is to run out of oil and have to replace your totally ■■■■■■ engine. Might be a slightly different total expenditure as well.
- Subaru 22B STi
- Pagani Huayra
- Lancia Delta integrale Evo II
- XY GTHO Phase 3
- BMW M3 E30
This guy is a lot like me
- Subaru Liberty Gen 4 H6
- Pagani Huayra
- Mazda RX3 Sedan
- Never saw an Aussie car I remotely liked
- BMW M3 Coupé or Austin Martin Vantage