Everything about favorite cars
11
Jan
Simona Alina
Filed in: Nissan | 2008 | sedan | New York Auto Show | Nissan Maxima
"We’ll show the next Maxima in New York and a couple of other things — but not concepts," Nissan North America spokesman Darryll Harrison told Inside Line. Harrison described the ’09 Maxima as "all new" but would not divulge any other details.
Maxima was initially known as Datsun 810. The "Maxima" name was received in 1982. The last big redesigned was made in 2004.
Source:Inside Line
Source: 2009 Nissan Maxima to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show
11
Jan
Simona Alina
Filed in: Alfa-Romeo | Alfa-Romeo Spider | car tuning
In the last few years all the leading auto manufacturers have made customisation a priority, offering reams of options in every area of trim and finish; however for Autodelta, this is a long-standing tradition, firmly at the core of our philosophy.
One such customer recently approached us recently to create the perfect Alfa Spider, his love and appreciation for the last generation model (Type 916) leading him to seek a special, individual version, with maximum performance capability and truly unique styling. The car of his dreams would combine the thrills of wind-in-the-hair motoring with flair and style.
The brief was to enhance the performance in every area, and to create new styling, unique from anything else we had done before, subtle yet distinct, and of course embedded with Alfa Romeo and Autodelta DNA.
Under the surface the changes were inspired by our bespoke V6 Spider version, with the fitting of the current generation Rotrex supercharger conversion, which raises power from 240 to 341 bhp. Engine changes included upgrading of the fuel injectors, engine mapping and a new free-flow stainless steel exhaust system, which was developed in conjunction with Ragazzon and finishes in distinct quad tailpipes. Autodelta’s bespoke Limited Slip Differential was fitted to allow the additional power to be smoothly and effectively transferred to the wheels.
Height adjustable coilovers from the Autodelta Sportline range were fitted to further cope with the major power increase, while bigger brakes (330 mm ventilated front discs) and larger 4-pot Brembo calipers stop the car effectively. Two more of our technical partners were involved in the project: the car rides on OZ Ultralight Botticelli wheels fitted with Dunlop Sport SP Maxx tyres, which have been developed for Autodelta.
The styling for this particular Spider required a very personal touch. The car’s owner desired a very extreme look, which called for an individual custom styling project. “We thrive on creating a car this extravagant,” comments Jano Djelalian. The project perfectly demonstrates Autodelta’s ability to custom-build a car, tailor-designed to meet a single owner’s own, highly individual, requirements.
Autodelta’s styling team applied their talent on every conceivable area of the car. The front, side and rear received design changes, including the fitment of a high-quality Autodelta Detachable Hardtop.
This particular project was inspired by historical show-stopping prototypes such as the open-top Pininfarina Super Flow of 1956 (pre-study to the legendary ‘Duetto’ Spider model) and the Alfa Romeo Nuvola concept car of 1996. The form-language of the completely bespoke rear bumper and splitter, including the styling of rounded tail-lights, is an area which mostly ties in with the Nuvola. The rear splitter design also traces other extravagant models in Alfa Romeo’s illustrious open-top history, including the sinuous 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS “Flying Star” by Carrozzeria Touring.
In a tribute to the ground breaking Pininfarina Super Flow, and the huge impact it had on Alfa Romeo’s style thinking in the following decades, we have christened this unique one-off car the “Autodelta Spider Superflow”; with the ‘Super’ part of the name also being reminiscent of the traditional denotation for Autodelta’s supercharged cars.
The front of the Spider introduces a new splitter which enhances the form of the Alfa Romeo grille. An inverted “V” section in the centre adds to the dynamic thrust of the styling direction, providing an extra focal point at the base of the Alfa shield. This solution enhances the feeling of speed. Intake sections on either side of the V-form have been incorporated in the traditional Alfa Romeo style with a centre-section intelligently forming the aerodynamic spoiler.
New flank sections behind the front wheelarches include specially designed air vents providing a more technical appeal to this section of the Spider’s styling.
The completely bespoke rear bumper also features dual circular lighting clusters with LED technology. These are the same units fitted to the awesome Maserati MC12 racing car. Additional units for the reverse and fog lights are positioned centrally in the lower section of the bumper in-between the quad exhaust outlets. The exhaust outlets themselves are housed within the bumper for an optimum finish.
In order to enhance the Spider’s rear stance, the number plate surround has also been significantly stretched over the entire width. A separate splitter underneath the bumper provides an interesting aerodynamic solution and further continues the outline of the number plate surround. A ducktail rear spoiler adds to the sportive feel of the rear styling.
New side mouldings have been developed and present a rising crease which is matched at the rear bumper. Autodelta’s Styling Centre provided much attention towards how the individual styling components cosmetically interact with each other, ensuring a logical cohesive design.
The Spider is also presented with Autodelta’s well-known Detachable Hardtop, which was developed specifically as a factory-quality accessory for the 916 Spider model. The Hardtop uses a state-of-the-art sandwich construction for maximum safety and strength, yet the Hardtop is light enough to handle with ease. The Hardtop also provides the following benefits to all-season Spider owners: Highly-effective thermal and noise insulation; improved chassis rigidity: less scuttle shake; protects fabric hood from harsh weather; tinted heated rear window for better visibility; optional protective cover stand for storage; optional buggy & stand; and colour-coded for perfect match and finish.
Made by Autodelta Styling Centre, the Spider Detachable Hardtop is produced to the most exacting tolerances using a variety of materials. The Hardtop uses high-quality components such as toughened tinted safety glass, hardware and Alfa Romeo original equipment rubber seals. The Hardtop is also colour-coded to match the vehicle colour.
11
Jan
Simona Alina
Filed in: Lamborghini | 2008 | Supercars / Exotic cars | Detroit Auto Show
The proposed individualizations are part of the Ad Personam personalization program. The vehicles are based on the concept of "think of the impossible" and offers Lamborghini customers the ability to create their own "original", perfectly tailor-made super sports car.
The Gallardo Spyder will be presented in an innovative Ad Personam matte brown paint, Marrone Apus, now available on standard vehicles in the wake of the enormous success met by the Reventón, the very first Lamborghini offered with a matte finish.
Marrone Apus, an elegant shade halfway between brown and black, gives off exquisite golden reflections in the sunlight due to a pigment able to imbue the paint with an iridescent look.
The interior also exhibits a new shade of brown Alcantara, named Marrone Gaia which is used to upholster the seats. The fabric is combined with Marrone Janus and Bianco Polar leather, with the addition of Pianolac used to cover the center console and steering wheel.
A new shade of light blue, Blu Cepheus, also joins the Ad Personam program. It is proposed for the exteriors of the Murciélago LP640 Coupé and Roadster in Detroit. This pale blue is reminiscent of the naturalistic environment and is deliberately inspired by the purity and transparency of polar ice, in addition to depicting one of the most glamorous shades in fashion today.
This shade also benefits from the same iridescent effects of the matte paint. The same pigment selected for Marrone Apus is used in this case to attain and exalt a more primary blue when reflecting sunlight. Blu Cepheus is iridescent in the light just like icebergs, although it maintains its monochromatic nature.
Another novelty of the Ad Personam program is the leather selected for the interiors of the Murciélago LP640 Roadster. This leather covers the elegant seats of this super sports car, an Italian leather, in keeping with Tuscany’s prestigious tanning tradition. It is untreated, inspired by the natural leather found on horse saddles and leads to natural changes in color over time, a tendency that confirms its natural state and total absence of treatments.
"Lamborghini is strongly focusing on the Ad Personam personalization program due to the importance of offering customers the widest range of possibilities for individualizing their cars. This allows them the ability to reflect their own personality and style," states Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "Many of our customers take advantage of this program as a tool for owning an even more exclusive Lamborghini."