BMW 6 Series

 

BMW 6 Series refers to several generations of executive coupés produced by BMW.

The first was the E24, being derived from the E12 & E28 5 Series 4-door sedans. The E24 launched in 1976 to replace the 3.0CS & 3.0CSi (E9). 14 years later, in 2003, BMW released the all new E63/E64 which was available as a coupé and convertible, based on the chassis of the E60 5 Series sedan. Models were the 645ci (later replaced with the 650i) and the 630i. The highest performance 6 series is the BMW M6. The third generation F12 and F13 6 series is scheduled for release in 2011 for the 2012 model year, sharing a platform and some engines with the 7 Series (F01) and 5 Series (F10).

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Pagani Zonda

 

The Pagani Zonda is a mid-engined sports car produced by Pagani in Italy. It debuted in 1999 and continues through the present, with production proceeding at roughly 17-19 cars per year. As of June 2009, 206 Zondas had been built, including test mules. Both 2-seat coupe and convertible versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber.

Some of the early Zonda engineering was done by Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. The car was originally to be named the "Fangio F1" after him but, following his death in 1995, it was renamed for an air current above Argentina.

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Bugatti Veyron

Specifications and performance

The Veyron features a 16 cylinder engine , equivalent to two narrow-angle V8 engines mated in a W configuration. Each cylinder has four valves for a total of sixty four, but the narrow staggered V8 configuration allows two overhead camshafts to drive two banks of cylinders so only four camshafts are needed. The engine is fed by four bi-turbochargers and displaces 7,993 cubic centimetres (487.8 cu in), with a square 86 by 86 mm (3.4 by 3.4 in) bore and stroke.

The transmission is a dual-clutch direct-shift gearbox computer-controlled automatic with seven gear ratios, with magnesium paddles behind the steering wheel and a shift time of less than 150 milliseconds, built by Ricardo of England rather than Borg-Warner, who designed the six speed DSG used in the mainstream Volkswagen Group marques. The Veyron can be driven in either semi- or fully-automatic mode. A replacement transmission for the Veyron costs just over $120,000. It also has permanent four wheel drive using the Haldex Traction system. It uses special Michelin PAX run flat tires, designed specifically to accommodate the Veyron's top speed, which reportedly cost $25,000 U.S. per set.^[8] The tires can be removed from the rims only in France, a service which reportedly costs $70,000. Curb weight is 2,034.8 kilograms (4,486 lb).^[8] This gives the car a power to weight ratio, according to Volkswagen Group's 1,001 metric horsepower (736 kW; 987 bhp) figures, of 446.3 metric horsepower (328 kW; 440 bhp) per ton.

The car's wheelbase is 2,710 mm (106.7 in). Overall length is 4,462 mm (175.7 in), width 1,998 mm (78.7 in) and height 1,204 mm (47.4 in).

The Bugatti Veyron has a total of ten radiators.^[9]

• 3 heat exchangers for the air-to-liquid intercoolers.
• 3 engine radiators.
• 1 for the air conditioning system.
• 1 transmission oil radiator.
• 1 differential oil radiator.
• 1 engine oil radiator.

It has a drag coefficient of 0.41 (normal condition) and 0.36 (after lowering to the ground),^[10] and a frontal area of 2.07 square metres (22.3 sq ft).^[11] This gives it a drag area – the combination of drag coefficient and frontal area, represented as C_dA - of 0.74 m² (8.0 sq ft).

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Maserati GranTurismo

Specifications

Engines

The engines are from Ferrari/Maserati V8 family.

Model	Years	Type	Power, torque@rpm	Redline
GranTurismo	2007-	4.2L 4,244 cc (259.0 cu in) 90° V8	405 PS (298 kW; 399 hp) @7100, 460 N·m (340 lb·ft) @4750	7250
GranTurismo S	2008-	4.7L 4,691 cc (286.3 cu in) 90° V8	440 PS (324 kW; 434 hp) @7000, 490 N·m (360 lb·ft) @4750	7500
GranTurismo S Automatic	2009-	4.7L 4,691 cc (286.3 cu in) 90° V8	440 PS (324 kW; 434 hp) @7000, 490 N·m (360 lb·ft) @4750	7200
GranCabrio	2010-	4.7L 4,691 cc (286.3 cu in) 90° V8	440 PS (324 kW; 434 hp) @7000, 490 N·m (360 lb·ft) @4750	?

Transmissions

Model	Years	Type
GranTurismo	2007-	ZF 6-speed automatic
GranTurismo S	2008-	6-speed sequential robotic with twin dry-plate clutch and paddle shifter
GranTurismo S Automatic	2009-	ZF 6-speed automatic
GranCabrio	2010-	ZF 6-speed automatic

ZF transmission includes Auto Normal Mode, Auto Sport Mode, Auto ICE Mode, Manual Mode. Auto Normal mode shifts gears automatically at low rpm to achieve the most comfortable ride and at higher rpm when driving style becomes more sporty. Auto Sport Mode changes gears 40% faster than in Normal Mode, downshifts when lifting off as a corner approaches; then it activates the stability control, stiffening Skyhook suspension, and opening exhaust valves when engine is over 3000 rpm (in GranTurismo S Automatic). Auto ICE mode reduces maximum torque at the wheel, prevents 1st gear starts, and only allows gear changes below 1000 rpm.
Sequential robotic transmission includes Manual Normal and Manual Sport, Manual Sport with MC-Shift, Auto Normal, Auto Sport, Auto ICE modes.

Performance

Model	Years	Acceleration 0–100 km/h (s)	400 m	1000 m	Top speed	Acceleration 80–120 km/h (s)	Braking 100–0 km/h (m)
GranTurismo	2007-	5.2	13.4	23.9 s @ 225 km/h (140 mph)	286 km/h (178 mph)[10]	3.7	35
GranTurismo S	2008-	4.7	13	23 s @ 234 km/h (145 mph)	296 km/h (184 mph) [11]	3.5	36
GranTurismo S Automatic	2009-	4.9	13.2	23.3 @ 228 km/h (142 mph)	296 km/h (184 mph)	3.3	35
GranCabrio	2010-	5.2	13.2	23.3 @ 227 km/h (141 mph)	285 km/h (177 mph)	3.3	35
GranTurismo MC Stradale	2011-	4.5	12	?	302 km/h (188 mph)	?	?

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Ferrari 458 Italia

Engine

The 458 Italia is powered by a 4,499 cc (4.499 L; 274.5 cu in) V8 engine derived from a shared Ferrari/Maserati design, producing 570 PS (420 kW; 560 hp) at 9,000 rpm (redline) and 540 N·m (400 lb·ft) at 6,000 rpm with 80% torque available at 3,250 rpm The engine features direct fuel injection, which is a first for Ferrari mid-rear engine setups in its road cars

Transmission

The standard transmission is a Getrag dual-clutch 7-speed transmission, similar to the Ferrari California^.There is no traditional manual option, making this the fourth road-car after the Enzo, Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia not to be offered with Ferrari's classic gated manual. It is the first mainstream model to not be offered with a manual transmission. 

Handling

Ferrari 458 Italia pictured in Australia

The car's suspension features double wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear, coupled with E-Diff and F1-Trac traction control systems, designed to improve the car's cornering and longitudinal acceleration by 32% when compared with its predecessors^.

The brakes include a prefill function whereby the pistons in the calipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied This combined with the ABS has reduced 100–0 km/h (62-0 mph) braking distance to 32.5 metres (107 ft)

The adaptive magnetorheological dampers were co-developed with Delphi.

Performance

Ferrari's official 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration is under 3.4 seconds,while top speed is over 325 km/h (202 mph), with a fuel consumption in combined cycle (ECE+EUDC) 13.7 L/100 km (20.6 mpg_-imp; 17.2 mpg_-US) while producing 320g/km of CO₂.

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Aston Martin DBR9/02

 

In 2004, Aston added to this pantheon with the DB9 2+2 Coupe, a 12-cylinder grand tourer that replaced the 10-year-old DB7. Largely attributed to the poetic pen of designer Ian Callum, the DB9's design was finished by his successor, Henrik Fisker, following Callum's move to Jaguar.

Fisker states, "Aston Martins are not edgy. They don't have sharp surfaces or pronounced power domes. The bodywork is gently curved, like an athlete with great muscle tone."

The long hood, of course, is not strictly a styling affectation. It is there to cover a significant lump (Brit slang for engine) in the form of a mid-front mounted 5.9-litre V12 taken from the Vanquish (2001-2007). This all-alloy DOHC 48-valve V12 currently makes 477 hp and 433 lb.-ft. of torque. The gearbox (six-speed manual or six-speed auto) is mid-rear mounted for improved weight distribution.

The DB9 was developed under Ford's stewardship and was the first Aston to use Ford's aluminum VH (vertical/horizontal) platform, and first to come from the new plant in Gaydon. The body is rendered in aluminum and composites, bonded with adhesive and mechanically fixed self-piercing rivets.

The DB9 Coupe has spun off a few other models. The DB9 Volante (convertible) arrived a year after the coupe, sporting a fabric top that looks good up, but when stowed showed this Aston was born to be topless, too. Stunning. A trendy retractable hardtop was never in the cards, because accommodating all that folding metal would have compromised the DB9's picture-perfect posterior.

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