Ferrari removes bar code design

Ferrari began Friday practice for the Spanish Grand Prix without a controversial bar code design on its chassis, following suggestions it was subliminal advertising for Marlboro cigarettes.

The Formula One team said the decision was taken "to remove all speculation" that the large bar code on its paintwork was associated with its princial sponsor. However Ferrari said the idea of the design being advertising for Marlboro was "ridiculous."

Cigarette sponsorship in F1 was once common but has all but disappeared due to advertising bans in most countries where races are held. Ferrari are the only team that is still sponsored by a tobacco company. It's official name Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.

2010 Sbarro Autobau Sports Cars Concept

Swiss performance car and replica builder Sbarro introduced another new concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show this year.  Powered by a 500-horsepower 12-cylinder engine from Ferrari, the Sbarro Autobau is certain to tear up the pavement.

2010 Sbarro Autobau

Whether you love it or hate it, the Autobau is the only car of its kind at Geneva. While we mention the three-pointed front end, a la Speed Racer, it has also been compared with the Cylon Raider from Battlestar Galactica and the Pink Panther-mobile.

Designed by Frank Sbarro, the one-off concept is just wrong from every conceivable angle. The recessed front end looks like something out of a horror film, complete with what appear to the naked eye as limb-shearing saw blades. The flat windshield. The flaring nostrils. The up-swinging cockpit entry. Wrong, wrong and wronger.

The only thing right about the concept is the 550 hp Ferrari V12 engine fitted in back. But even that waste of a good engine should be construed as indisputably wrong.

Wow, we thought we’d seen some weird, head-jerking concepts and sports cars in Geneva already, but this one takes the pie–probably the entire bakery. The car was built as a piece of hate-art an homage to Swiss racing legend Fredy Lienhard.

Some of us were just barely mastering our Big Wheels back in the 1970s, but we imagine most of the concepts at those Salon de Geneves all looked hairy and wild. You know what we're talking about. Star Trek meets George Barris design language, lower than your waist, nonsensical ingress/egress mechanisms, $5 afterthought interiors and colors pulled from the center of only the finest quaalude trips. Kinda like SEMA cars actually, but with European sensibility and sophistication.

Meet the Sbarro Autobau, a concept car we know almost nothing about but really enjoy looking at. Yes, it's totally non-conventional (hey, it's a Sbarro), and according to the Francais-only marketing material the Autobao is a tribute to Swiss racing stud Fredy Lienhard. It's also (supposedly) packin' 12-cylinders, 500 horses and weighs about 3,200 pounds.

Sbarro designed the 1,500-kilogram car in the memory of his friend, Fredy Lienhard. The Swiss driver of car races has competed since the 1970s. He has had outstanding victories at the 24 Hours of Zolder in 1997 and 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002.

Ferrari 458 Italia Oakley Design

Ferrari 458 Italia Oakley Design

The tuners at Oakley Design have released the updates for the Ferrari 458 Italia package that will increase the production to seven cars, instead of the previously planned five. High demand for this unique Ferrari car has pushed the tuning company to make a couple more, and each will hold an individual numbered plaque. A new carbon fiber front spoiler lip was installed, which increased the downforce by 25kg after some wind tunnel testing. A rear spoiler added an additional 23kg to the rear axle, and both of these test were completed at 150 mph. Other exterior modifications include the Oakley Design carbon fiber roof panel, mirror covers, and engine cover below the rear window glass.

New lightweight HRE forged wheels were installed, saving 5kg of weight per each rim. Oakley offers a 20×9 and 20×11 wheels for the Ferrari 458 Italia, which come wrapped in high performance Pirelli Trofeo tires. Performance improvements include a modified throttle response and larger carbon fiber air intake box. An ECU recalibration optimizes the fuel output and ignition curves, that result in a power increase from 570 bhp to 623 bhp.

At the track the custom Ferrari 458 acceleration was improved with a 0 to 100 k/h time of 3 seconds flat. The top speed for this car was recorded at 335 km/h or 208 mph. For the hardcore track day drivers, a bespoke suspension kit is in development at Intrax, who are the suspension partner with Oakley Design. For customers looking to complete the whole package, a matching Ducati 1198 “Carbon Edition” is included for the full Italian package.

Honda FC Sport Hidrogen Fuel Cell The fastest Sports Cars

Honda FC Sport Fuel Cell

The FC Sport can be summed up like this: Imagine beating your best lap time while hearing nothing but the tires rubbing the tarmac and the quiet buzz of the high-torque electric motors. Picture a true no-holds-barred supercar with all the speed, handling and sleek looks of today's fastest sports cars, yet without the noise, heat, vibration and emissions of the internal-combustion engine.
Built as a design study, the FC Sport demonstrates Honda’s vision for making environmentally responsible vehicles that are also fun to drive. The "FC" stands for "Fuel Cell" as in hydrogen fuel cell—the same technology powering the FCX Clarity. With a 3-seat, driver-centered cockpit, a fuel cell powerplant opens the door for unprecedented engineering flexibility, allowing for a lower center gravity than any modern, piston-engined sports car. The FC Sport is symbolic of a future in which alternative fuel and zero emissions will rule the sports car world.

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There is also key lockout protection, which deactivates the door lock switches if the key is left in the ignition. In addition, there are programmable power door locks. To top it off, for all those who get annoyed at drivers who "forget" to turn their signals off when they change lanes, there is a chime that will activate after 3/4 of a mile. All aesthetically placed and convenient. Bottom Line:

Carrera Facelift Porsche 911 Sports Car.

Carrera Facelift Porsche 911 Sports Car.

MANSORY Switzerland The High-quality refining programme for the new Porsche 911.
The company Mansory is situated in Bavaria and one of the top addresses for refining premium sports cars. Whether Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Ferrari or Porsche – the refining specialist shows its technical talent for every automobile. The subsidiary company Mansory Switzerland AG, the in-house expert for Porsche cars, presents a comprehensive tuning programme for the model 911 from the recently revived Porsche Type 997 series at the Geneva Auto Salon 2009. This tuning programme mainly focuses on improvements concerning the aerodynamics, engine performance and handling of this sports car icon.
When developing the 911-programme, the Mansory engineers attached great importance to an individual design, but also aerodynamic efficiency. In order to save weight and guarantee highest quality standards, the body components are made of composite also, parts of the serial auto body are made of this resilient and inherently stable material. The core part of the body kit is a lift-reducing front mount in a sportive-dynamic look. In connection with the hood, the front apron offers various design possibilities. On the one hand, it forms the perfect symbiosis with the serial hood, as an especially designed inlay allows a seamless junction. And on the other hand, the apron can be combined with the Mansory carbon hood whose striking side beads demonstrate individuality and underline the sportive character of the modification. The rear apron is not less impressive: it accommodates the new four-pipe exhaust system and therefore renders a harmonic rear finish. The visual perfection of the aerodynamics pack is accomplished with the side skirts which also fulfil functional tasks. They significantly calm the air flow between both axles.
The power engines also profit from the comprehensive changes of the 911 engine range. But here, the engineers do not perform any excessive open-heart surgery, but only replace existing parts by modified proprietary developments. A new sport air filter and a new exhaust system come into operation. Especially the exhaust system renders an optimised exhaust gas flow. This enable the 911 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h even faster than the serial versions.
But the special highlight of the exhaust system is the integrated throttle system which - if desired - can also be operated by remote control and allows changing the sound scenery.
The refining specialist developed a forged wheel with an exclusive design which was tailor-made for Porsche requirements. The one-piece wheel with five double spokes measures 8.5 x 20 inches at the front and 12 x 20 inches the back. Not only its sportive look, but also its excellent manufacture makes it so impressive. The reduction of unsprung masses by the exceptional and elaborate production technology does not only lead to a shorter braking distance, but also improves the acceleration and the handling of the car. For best possible grip, Mansory uses Michelin Pilot Sport wheels sized 245/30 at the front and 325/25 at the rear. Moreover, the newly developed running gear which lowers the car´s centre of gravity by 30 millimetres also sets sportive accents.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Special Edition

Mercedes-Benz Auto Car : 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Special Edition



Mercedes-Benz Auto Car : 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Special Edition



Mercedes-Benz Auto Car : 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Special Edition



Mercedes-Benz Auto Car : 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Special Edition



Mercedes-Benz Auto Car : 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Special Edition