SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute - SAAB Supercar

Paying his tribute to the SAAB Spyker Automobiles, Swedish designer Eduard Gray has come up with a vehicle concept called the “SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute” that is not only pleasant to watch but to drive as well. Combining the elements of a mid-engined SAAB with the Spyker platform, the new supercar featuring low down aerodynamics will possibly generate power from an Audi-sourced V8 engine. Touting a big windshield that extends to complete the roof, the Saab Spyker 9+ Tribute allows a wider view to the commuters. His long, lean two-door Saab Spyker 9+ concept car imagines an evolution of Saab's Aero-X enhanced by some of Spyker's exoticism.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

The ink is barely dry on Dutch supercar marque Spyker’s deal to buy Saab, but speculation as to what sort of alluring automotive offspring might arise from the union has already begun. Eduard Gray, an industrial designer educated at Coventry University in the UK and now based in Trollhättan, Sweden, has come up with a concrete vision.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

The union of Saab and Spyker presents a unique opportunity to create a design that takes the best of each brand and distills their qualities into a single product," he said. Gray, who is Dutch and English, points out that a truly unique car can be assembled with the low-slung mid-engine Spyker supercar chassis and the design language at Saab. Spyker lends us its supercar chassis with a mid-mounted engine and low down aerodynamics while Saab contributes with the style, character and engineering making for a design that is as pleasant to look at as it is to drive.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

Indeed, his six drawings of the Saab Spyker 9+ Tribute shows elements of both companies. Gray calls the work "a quick expression of my optimism for the future of the brand."

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

The distinctly Scandinavian design features a Spyker chassis with a mid-mounted engine and low down aerodynamics, including a system to reduce friction in straight line driving whilst increasing traction in cornering and braking. An enormous panoramic glass roof gives it something of a targa feel as well. Envisioned as a 2+2 model in the storied GT tradition, engine-wise it’s speculated to house a V6 bi-turbo capable of producing over 600 hp, perhaps powered purely by ethanol – we’re talking about the future after all.

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

Hennessey Performance Engineering today announced that it is introducing the company's first The Venom GT. Penned by British auto designer, Steve Everitt, the Venom GT would incorporate Hennessey's potent Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Viper V10 powerplant into a light weight mid-engine chassis weighing "under 2,700 lbs". Power would be run through a 6-speed transmission or optional sequential gearbox. With a power to weight ratio of just 2.7 lbs per bhp Hennessey estimates that the Venom GT could attain 0 to 100 km/h times in less than 2.5 sec. and a 0-300 km/h time of around 14 seconds.

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

“This is not the first time that Britain and America have joined forces to produce a weapon of mass propulsion”, said company founder and president, John Hennessey. “Over fifty years ago the American-built P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft was flown into history powered by a British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Today the Hennessey Venom GT promises to set a new standard of power to weight ratio in the rarefied air of today's supercar market.”

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

In the case of the Venom GT, less weight means more performance. The Venom GT will have a production curb weight of less than 2,400 lbs (1,071 kilos) aided by its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels. Stopping power is delivered via Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers in rear clamping down on 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors.

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

The Venom GT’s base power plant is the supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 V8 (the same as in the Corvette ZR1) tweaked by Hennessey to 725 bhp. The company will also be offering 1000 bhp and 1200 bhp twin turbo V8 engine variants. The mid-engine V8 will transmit its power to the rear tires via a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox.

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

Hennessey plans to manage power output by using a programmable traction control system. CFD (computational fluid dynamic) tested bodywork and down force will also help keep the Venom stable at speed. An active aero system with adjustable rear wing will deploy under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack. An adjustable suspension system will allow ride height adjustments according to speed and driving conditions. Finally, power will be put to the ground via massive Michelin PS2 tires.

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

Hennessey will be building the power plants at its Texas facility. The engines will then be air freighted to the company's assembly facility near Silverstone, England where the Venom GT is built and tested. Venom GT buyer will be offered a 1-day driver orientation and instruction program by a Hennessey factory test driver, at a track in the UK or USA prior to delivery.

Venom GT Hennessey Supercar

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This 2002 edition of the only complete new-car buying guide includes profiles and photos of new models, retail and dealer invoice prices, mileage ratings, warranties, and safety features. Also includes consumer tips on shopping, leasing, lemon laws, insurance, and much more.

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Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

The possibility of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider sporting a folding hardtop roof has already become a topic of widespread and serious debate. Ferrari boss Lucas di Montezemolo though has confirmed the existence of the 458 Italia Spider but has never spent any word on whether the Spider would sport a folding hardtop, which is further reason for the debate to continue unabated.

The first racing car with the Prancing Horse up front to have a folding hard top was the Ferrari California. The F430 Spider was later outfitted with a soft top so as to save weight with its high performance variant the Scuderia 16M too being meted out the same treatment later on. While this also allowed for the engine to be visible at all times top up or down position, the addition of the hard top to the 458 Italia would certainly rob the car of this feature.

The hard top feature however adds to security as well as comfort that’s lacking with a soft top. A hardtop also adds a touch of solidity to the lines of the car when it is up, something that’s never to be taken lightly for a marquee as image conscious as Ferrari. This would also add credibility to the spy images of the hard top F430 Spider that had been flashed way back in the 2008. Previous versions were more focused towards weight and space saving techniques which the soft top offered while now it has been performance oriented designs that holds sway. The hardtop all in all goes well on the California and Ferrari has the options open for switching over to the soft top version for the Scuderia model of the 458 Italia Spider.

Zagato Alfa Romeo Sports Car TZ3 Corsa

Alfa Romeo and Zagato finally revealed the highly anticipated TZ3 Corsa at the Concours d’Elegance Villa D’Este, and boy is it special. Every line in this car’s gorgeous body is drawn with Alfa’s 100 years of heritage in mind, it screams passion! This priceless one-off is a racing car inspired by the early TZ models and features mono shell carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body. It’s commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp, and he is now officially the world’s coolest man!

Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa

The Zagato-penned and developed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, which has been rumored for a while, was rolled out in a world premiere at this past weekend’s esteemed Villa D’Este Concours. And please be aware that this is not a show pony. Zagato pointed out, the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is not simply a design exercise, but a one off race special commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp.

The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa was inspired by its 1960s ancestors, the first Alfa TZ and TZ2, the TZ3 Corsa. The current iteration is based on a mono shell carbon fiber tubular chassis (whatever that might be), joined with a tubular frame and a drop dead gorgeous lightweight aluminum body. It’s proportions are just spot on perfect, and the rear has a certain Kamm tail/GTO breadvan look to it.

Power comes from the Alfa 8c Competizione's 4.2-liter V8 engine. Situated under the alloy hood of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, said mill develops 420-horsepower. Zagato says the racing car tips the scales at a lightweight 850kg or 1,874 lbs. Combine that little weight with that much engine, and the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in under 3.5 seconds topping out in excess of 300km/h or 187mph. Or so says Zagato.

The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa by Zagato is not a design exercise, nor does it take inspiration from the 90 years of collaboration between Zagato and Alfa. The TZ3 Corsa race-car is basically a gift from Zagato to Alfa Romeo honoring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th century.

The TZ3 Corsa weighs in at only 1,870 pounds and is powered by a 4.2L dry sump V8 engine making 420-hp. Mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox. the TZ3 Corsa goes from 0-62 mph in less than 3.5 seconds with a top speed of more than 185 mph.

Tribute to the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo’s Racing Heritage:

Alfa Romeo and Zagato achieved the best results since the beginnings thanks to the Mille Miglia victories of the 1500 6C, the 1750 GS and the 8C 2300 Zagato of the Scuderia Ferrari. Already in 1933 an official advert of the Alfa Romeo 8C proclaimed: “The Spider that, with the trio Alfa Romeo – Scuderia Ferrari – Carrozzeria Zagato, brought countless victories in the homeland and abroad for the honour of Italy.”

Even the grandiose Quadrifoglio Verde was placed on the bodies of Zagatos of the Alfa Corse team numerous times. Among the most glorious moments is the victory of the Formula 1 championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa Romeo 159 bodied by Zagato, as well as the victorious Alfa Romeo 3000 CM bodied in 3 samples by Zagato.

During the 60’s, the list of absolute victories of the Giulia TZ and TZ2 by Zagato for the Autodelta of Ing. Carlo Chiti, was never-ending. Some of the most memorable victories included the 1964 12 hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nurburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans.

The single-brand Alfa Romeo S.Z. championship emphasized the Alfa Romeo ES30’s (Experimental SportsCar 3000) technical and dynamic abilities. The S.Z. delivered, and continues to so today, constant performance and driving pleasure to the Gentlemen drivers of the Alfa Zagato team, across the most important racetracks in Europe.