Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder Confirmed

Ferrari has only recently launched the 458 Italia and began the requisite promotional campaign for it. The automotive industry always thrives on the next thing, and reports are surfacing already about the 458’s model derivative, the Spyder, being confirmed by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo.

To me though, it isn’t a surprise. Was there ever any real doubt Ferrari wasn’t going to produce it? That would have been the real shock. There was some noises about the possibility Ferrari would skip the 458 Italia Spyder because of feared cannibalization of the recently-introduced California drop-top. The 458 Italia is the bread and butter though, and that is what Ferrari will focus on above all else.

As is the usual with Ferrari Spyder derivatives, there won’t be a fancy retractable hardtop – it will be a conventional folding soft-top to save weight. Expect timing to follow a similar pattern to other releases – midway into the car’s life cycle it will be debuted to spark interest once again, after some of the initial hype from the first coupe model fades.

Fernando Alonso Joins Ferrari

It has now happened. Fernando Alonso had dropped about as many hints as it was possible to do without giving away the “secret.” But now, between the Singapore and Japanese Grand Prix in the early hours of the morning in Japan, Ferrari has announced that Alonso will be racing for the team next year, alongside Felipe Massa.

So that means Kimi Raikkonen is going elsewhere. This must all mean that the championship is almost played out. The final pieces of the puzzle of who is going where have begun to fit together - with no real surprise. We heard, after all, that Kimi Raikkonen might go to McLaren, that Nico Rosberg might go to Brawn and that Rubens Barrichello might go to Williams. Busy time between these two races that are only a week apart!

Here is an Alonso statement from Ferrari:

“Fernando Alonso, just announced as the new official Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver, who will drive next to Felipe Massa as of the 2010 season, spoke to Ferrari.com: “I’m very happy and very proud to become a Ferrari driver. Driving a single-seater from the Prancing Horse is everybody’s dream in this sport and today I have the opportunity to make this dream come true. Above all I want to thank Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who really wanted this 3-year contract. We already had an agreement this summer starting in 2011, but then, the last days, the picture changed and we decided to anticipate my arrival in Maranello by one year.

“The years at Renault were fantastic: together we won four World Titles (two Drivers’ and as many Constructors’ Championships) until this day, 21 Grands Prix. I wish the team all the best and let’s hope we gain some good results in the last races this year.

Honda FR-V photo gallery

HONDA FRV Honda FR V Honda FR-VHonda FR VHonda FR-VHonda FR-VHonda FR V InteriorHonda FR V 2004Honda FR V InteriorHonda FR VHonda FR-VHonda FR-VHonda FRVHonda FR V 2004Honda FR V NewHonda FR V 2005Honda FR V 1.8Honda FR-VHonda FR V minivan 1.8 ATHonda FR VHONDA FR VHonda FR V DieselHonda FR-VHonda FR VHonda FR-VHonda FR-VHonda FR VHonda FR V New EngineHonda FR VHonda FR VHonda FR-VHonda FR-V

Honda Accord photo gallery

Honda Accord Coupe 2008Honda Accord LX P 2008Honda Accord 2.4 AT ExecutiveHonda Accord (2009)HONDA ACCORDHonda AccordHonda Accord CoupeHonda Accord Tourer ConceptHonda Accord 2008Honda AccordHonda Accord 2008 sedanHonda Accord 2.4 MT Type SHonda AccordGalpin Honda Accord CoupeHonda Accord 2008Honda AccordHonda Accord 2008Honda AccordHonda Accord TourerHonda AccordHonda Accord 2.4 MT SE Type

2009 Sport Car Renault Megane Trophy

The 2009 Megane Trophy will go on sale at the end of the year in the form of kit after the completion of its development programme which will enable existing cars to be upgraded.
The 2009 Renault Megane Trophy is based on the new Megane Coupe which is powered by the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s mid-rear 3.5-liter V6 24V engine that produces 360 hp.
The front and rear light units and windscreen are from the Megane Coupe road car while flowing lines of the bodywork was designed from digital simulation technology to improve the aerodynamic.
The Renault Megane Trophy features front splitter which channel air flow to the extractors and rear diffuser and wing that generated downforce. Downforce has improved by 20 % with the refinements to the set-up and drag was reduced by 15 % , which together, represent a gain of almost 40% in terms of the new car’s aerodynamic performance over the previous generation vehicle.

Apart from that, the Megane Trophy also features butterfly doors reminiscent of the world of GT and sports-prototype racing. The V6 3.5 24V engine is mated to a semi-automatic gearbox with the same mechanical features as the current car, including an FIA-homologated sports-prototype tubular chassis, steering wheel-mounted paddle shift, double wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers, 18-inch wheels and Michelin tires.
The power of the standard 330 hp engine was boosted to 360 hp with the help from the new inlet manifold. Rebuild is still at every 5,500 km for the car’s reliability. According to Renault, with the new aerodynamic gains, the extra power from the engine will enable the 2009 Renault Megane Trophy to lap in similar times to those of a Porsche GT3.

2009 Sport Car Renault Megane Trophy

The 2009 Megane Trophy will go on sale at the end of the year in the form of kit after the completion of its development programme which will enable existing cars to be upgraded.
The 2009 Renault Megane Trophy is based on the new Megane Coupe which is powered by the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s mid-rear 3.5-liter V6 24V engine that produces 360 hp.
The front and rear light units and windscreen are from the Megane Coupe road car while flowing lines of the bodywork was designed from digital simulation technology to improve the aerodynamic.
The Renault Megane Trophy features front splitter which channel air flow to the extractors and rear diffuser and wing that generated downforce. Downforce has improved by 20 % with the refinements to the set-up and drag was reduced by 15 % , which together, represent a gain of almost 40% in terms of the new car’s aerodynamic performance over the previous generation vehicle.

Apart from that, the Megane Trophy also features butterfly doors reminiscent of the world of GT and sports-prototype racing. The V6 3.5 24V engine is mated to a semi-automatic gearbox with the same mechanical features as the current car, including an FIA-homologated sports-prototype tubular chassis, steering wheel-mounted paddle shift, double wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers, 18-inch wheels and Michelin tires.
The power of the standard 330 hp engine was boosted to 360 hp with the help from the new inlet manifold. Rebuild is still at every 5,500 km for the car’s reliability. According to Renault, with the new aerodynamic gains, the extra power from the engine will enable the 2009 Renault Megane Trophy to lap in similar times to those of a Porsche GT3.

2009 Sport Car Audi R8 GT3

Audi Sport will offer a racing sports car specifically developed for customer use in the form of the powerful 500 hp plus GT3 version of the Audi R8 which will be available from autumn 2009. The logistics and factory space required for the AUDI AG customer programme will be created over the next few months in Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm and Györ.
The Audi R8 conforms to the production-based GT3 regulations allowing the car to be fielded in numerous national and international race series.
Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive the Audi R8 comes with the typical GT rear-wheel drive. The power is transmitted via a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox. The suspension uses almost exclusively components from the production line. A comprehensive list of safety equipment guarantees the highest-level of passive safety. A modified front end and a large rear-wing generate the required downforce for the race track.
The Audi R8, which bears the project name “R16” within Audi Sport, was developed under the direction of Audi Sport. Mid August, the first prototype successfully completed a roll-out in the hands of Audi factory driver Frank Biela.