Mansory Rolls Royce Ghost Front Three Quarters Passenger
We thought owning a Rolls-Royce Ghost would be a privilege in itself, but if that’s not exclusive to you, renowned tuner Mansory may have just the solution.
These renderings reportedly preview a customized Ghost Mansory will showcase at the 2010 Geneva motor show. We’re not fans of the wild color scheme, but there’s no arguing it sets this Ghost apart from its stock brethren. Mansory claims the gold-on-blue paint job accentuates the Ghost’s bold lines, but that may be a bit of an understatement.
Those bold lines are made more athletic with the inclusion of a full aerodynamic kit consisting of front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear diffuser, and trunk lid spoiler. Look closely and you'll notice the slight differences versus the stock form. Monstrous 22-inch one-piece wheels match the Ghost's equally enormous personality.
All show and no "go," you may scoff. Not exactly. Mansory replaced the 6.6-liter V-12's twin turbochargers with bigger units, reflashed the ECU, and bolted on an exhaust. Forget the usual 563 horsepower with a corresponding 575 pound-feet of torque. Say hello to 720 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of pulling power. Zero to 62 mph takes only 4.4 seconds (a stock Ghost takes 4.8 seconds to get to 60 mph). Mind you, this British brute weighs in at around 5450 lbs.
Rolls-Royce’s interiors already sport some of the best materials known to man, but somehow Mansory has one-upped the brand once again with suppler leather hides, smoother ultra suede, and exquisitely patterned carbon fiber. Owners can also specify bamboo trim if desired.
The Mansory Rolls-Royce Ghost will make its debut......
I sometimes wonder why the generally held conflict still exists…who builds the better cars??? American?...German?...Italian?...Asian? As I’ve grown to know and love this concept car (which would go into production if prayers get answered!), I can’t help but wonder if an American equivalent has been kept in hiding from me?! Lamborghini is a company that is far from a stranger to controversy. From an inception based on an insult, the house of the Raging Bull has smashed so many barriers in accepted automotive thought; I believe that they hold the patent. This vehicle may seem fresh and new in the sheetmetal but, it’s a soul that’s been here before in the form of the Espada.
The Estoque (named after the fighting sword used by matadors engaged in the bullring) is a four-door sedan with a coupe-like profile. This layout is becoming more and more popular and I will be reviewing the current crop of offerings in this category soon. While the lines are vaguely reminiscent of what would be a four-door corvette, the Estoque brings a slightly more muscular DNA sourceline to the party! There’s definitely a vibe here that the Corvette simply can’t evoke.
Could an American company have produced a machine such as this? Of course we could have! But, the same corporate genius that was at the helm for the launch of the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Neon was still in place for that platform’s reincarnation as the PT Cruiser. These would’ve been the same collective group that warmed seats before Congress requesting a bailout to right their bonus-laden wrongs! Personally, I say let Free Market reign! If your company isn’t making what the public wants you can either bow out of the competition or change your ways. But I digress…
Had America taken the time to fully develop the Pontiac Fiero with as much care and attention has was taken with the flailing Ford Mustang… and what may have become of the Chevy Camaro if it had garnered as strong a following as the Corvette? Even within the same division we find instances of missed opportunities that have left us vulnerable in our own yards!
This may come as a huge surprise to some but, where did the Chrysler/ Dodge Intrepid design come from?
Thankfully, the fine folks at Lamborghini were willing to part with their Portofino design concept!
My dear readers, we stand to lose the race on our own tracks. No one should know and understand the American buying public better than we should. Yet companies such as Honda, Toyota, BMW and now even Kia can engage us in this fight toe-to-toe, go the full 12 rounds and in some cases WIN!!!
Perish the thought that I may in any way, shape or form, be a detractor of progress. In all honesty, I’m quite possibly the staunchest advocate of progress in all forms. Here comes the inevitable “but”….wait for it…wait for it….but, as an automotive enthusiast I find myself regretting the advance of electric driveline technology. Walk with me for a moment. How many times have you encountered a child at play, pushing a Hot Wheels vehicle from room to room making that tell-tale sound (vvrrroooooom…vvrrrooooooom) of a motor building up speed. Not only have I been a witness but, at more times than I care to admit, that child was ME!
Looking back just a few years ago, the demise of Vrooom was looming on the automotive horizon for different reasons. Honda had developed a marketable transmission known as a “CVT”. This stands for Constant Velocity Transmission. This system allowed the vehicle’s motor and transmission to maintain a nearly equivalent power transmission ratio. Typically, a transmission works through a series of gears, each progressively drawing closer to the diameter of the input gear. As this ratio approaches a near 1-to-1 level the motor can work easier while delivering an optimum amount of power to the vehicle. CVT systems replace the gears with belts and an output cog that can vary in size based on load. By keeping an optimal ratio at all times, there’s no need for the transmission to escalate in tone as the higher gears are selected. It’s quite amazing in theory and in practice….it’s also pretty quiet!
Enter the electric motor. While electrics are nowhere near to being a new entry in automotive powerplant options, the current increase in their applications is heralding something which can be deafening…driveline silence! Am I the lone contender lamenting the passing of such a staple of automotive performance??? Not hardly. Electric manufacturers, realizing the aesthetic connection we have with vehicles, have gone so far as to offer an exhaust note simulator option with some vehicles! Let’s keep it real!
There are some companies that will supplement the lack of a genuine exhaust note with something far more tangible…horsepower! Enter the Tesla…
While there are a growing number of manufacturers offering their version of the concept, it wasn’t until the realization of the planet’s demise at the hands of we who enjoyed the vroom that the concept began to seriously take root. The transition to electric still required the gentle nudge of the gas-burning opposition in the form of Hybrids that shared the burden between fossil-fuel and battery packs and generators. Technological advances have shown that going purely electric has more merit than drawback and while the loss of auditory feedback will be missed, the increased power (over 1000 ft. lbs. of torque from Audi’s e-tron!) more than makes up for it!
If this first round of contenders prove anything at all, it would have to be that not only is the future looking bright…it’s charge is strong and long lasting too!!!
The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron shows another variant of an electric vehicle developed by Audi
Audi is showing an uncompromising purist compact sports car with all-electric drive at the first major auto show of 2010. The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron is the name of this 3.93 meter (154.72 in) long and 1.78 meter (70.08 in) wide but just 1.22 meter (48.03 in) tall two-seater; just a few months after the debut of the Audi e-tron at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, this is now the second electric concept vehicle from the brand with the four rings.
Coupled with the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron's low gross weight of around only 1,350 kilograms (2976.24 lb), high-torque power units driving the rear wheels guarantee commensurate road performance. Two electric motors with a combined output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 2,650 Nm (1954.54 lb-ft) accelerate the coupe with ASF-design aluminum body from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 5.9 seconds. The Audi e-tron accomplishes the sprint from 60 to 120 km/h (37.28 - 74.56 mph) in a mere 5.1 seconds.
The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron is able to distribute its electric motors' high torque between the wheels entirely as required. Its 'torque vectoring' is the key to a thrilling level of active precision and excellent traction. Thanks also to its low weight, short wheelbase and perfect weight distribution for dynamic handling, the Audi e-tron has all the drivability of a go-kart – agile, good on bends and neutral right up to the very high handling limit.
Lithium-ion batteries, located for an optimal center of gravity behind the passenger compartment and ahead of the rear axle, make an effective energy content of 45 kilowatt-hours available. This makes an operating range of up to 250 kilometers (155.34 miles) realistically possible.
As previously with the first e-tron concept car shown in Frankfurt, Audi again bases all components in this electric vehicle on an integral concept with many revolutionary details: a heat pump as an efficient means of heating up and maintaining the interior temperature. The drive system, power electronics and battery have innovative thermal management – crucial for maintaining a high operating range coupled with outstanding interior comfort.
Design and package
Audi is presenting a further variant of an electric vehicle in the form of the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron. The vehicle body has a powerful, wide and muscular stance on the road, and looks extremely compact and puristic not least thanks to the typically short sports car wheelbase of just 2.43 meters (95.67 in) – a whole 22 centimeters (8.66 in) shorter than the R8.
The sweeping line of the front end and the flat curved roof immediately identify the two-seater as an Audi. The sides reveal familiar contours: The way the dynamic line is tailored above the sill and the prominent wheel arches, as is typical for an Audi R, combine the front, side and rear into a monolithic entity and strongly emphasize the typical Audi feature of round wheel arches enclosing the large 19-inch wheels. The highly tapered front end gives the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron distinctly wedge-shaped basic proportions.
1.78 meters (70.08 in) wide, just 3.93 meters (154.72 in) long and 1.22 meters (48.03 in) tall – those are the classic proportions of a sports car. That leaves space ahead of the rear wheels for the 399 kilogram (879.64 lb) battery unit, with converter and power electronics.
The two electric motors, which have their own cooling system, are mounted on the rear axle. This special package, featuring a 40:60 weight distribution, ensures perfect balance, which contributes to the driving dynamics of the Audi e-tron.
The trapeze of the single-frame grille dominates the distinctly wedge-shaped front end and is flanked by two large air intakes. The top of the grille merges into the flat strips of the adaptive matrix beam headlight modules with their clear glass covers. All light units use ultra-efficient LED technology.
The headlights are the core of a fully automatic light assistance system that reacts flexibly to any situation. The new technology recognizes weather conditions and adapts the illumination to rain or fog. The technology at the heart of the light assistance system is a camera that works together with a fast computer to detect oncoming traffic, recognize lanes and measure visibilities, such as in the event of fog.
If there is oncoming traffic, the high beams are turned off in the corresponding section of the illumination field. The cornering light system analyzes data from the navigation system and illuminates corners before the driver steers into them. The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron does not have conventional fog lamps that consume additional power. It intelligently varies the low beams instead; in fog, for example, it produces a wider, more horizontal illumination field, thus significantly reducing the glare from the car's own lights.
The variability of the headlights is also reflected in their design. The LED elements change appearance and thus the character of the front end of the vehicle depending on the speed driven and the ambient conditions. The innovative lighting technology now offers the Audi designers almost as much design freedom as the shape of the body does.
One design element that is specific to electric vehicles developed by Audi – such as the Audi e-tron – are the air intakes in the single-frame grille and behind the side windows on the C-post. They are closed flush under normal circumstances and opened by retracting slats when additional cooling air is required. The slats above the drive unit then also open to provide a better through-flow of air. These measures, too, maximize efficiency – the concept car is outstanding for an already low drag coefficient that is further improved when the flaps are closed.
One fairly controversial mixed blessing of Atlanta life is a little stretch of road which we lovingly refer to as “The Perimeter” or “The Loop” – Interstate 285. I-285 is a loop of asphalt that encircles the Metro Atlanta area and covers approximately 64 miles. For many, it’s the shortest route between home and work. With the average Atlanta commute time of about 30 – 45 minutes, this length of pavement is a heaven send for most…under good conditions.
It’s along this same black ribbon of exits, Bots-dots and well manicured medians that I witnessed the road-going prowess of long-wheel based cars firsthand. There’s little else to compare with the sight of a well-designed automobile soaking up the ruts and irregularities the pavement can offer at speed. The following examples are available for your enjoyment: the Audi A8L W12, the Jaguar XJ8L, and the Maybach 62. While I struggled to find an American marquee to include, the closest contender, the Cadillac STS sedan seems most fitting for inclusion.
The Audi A8L W12
Sporting a lengthy name to match its long wheelbase, the Audi A8L W12 is an all-wheel drive sedan powered by a 6.0 liter 12 cylinder powerplant. Utilizing a weight-saving aluminum spaceframe, the big-bodied sedan is motivated by an equally unique source; itsW-12 motor. This groundbreaking engine design allows its 3 banks of 4 cylinders to share a common crankshaft that positions them in a ‘W’ arrangement as opposed to the more common ‘V’ setup. This makes for a compact and powerful unit capable of propelling this over 4000 lb sedan from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds and runs through the ¼ mile run in 13.8 seconds at 102mph. The L is 5.1” longer than the standard A8 and rides on a 121.0” wheelbase with a total length of 204.4”.
While it’s electronically governed to 130 mph, this sedan delivers the goods with pure style and respectable fuel economy turning in 15mpg in city driving and 21mpg over the highway. The A8L W12 is the Morehouse educated linebacker in the tailored 3-piece suit. The interior coddles its occupants in high style with radar-based lane departure systems and what seems like acres of leather and wood. The optional ventilated sunroof will keep the interior cool on its own and the full-length center console allows adequate space to house the various electronic gizmos such as the Bang & Olfusen sound system and the optional refrigerator. The MultiMediaInterface (MMI) system has proven to be more intuitive than competitor BMW’s 7-Series systems, it still requires a flattening of the learning curve. Depending upon where you chose to purchase this vehicle, you’ll find prices ranging from $111,693 to $114,479. Bear in mind that if AWD is important to you, the A8L W12 is the only German model available with all-wheel drive standard.
The Jaguar XJ8L
The Jaguar XJ8L brought the Coventry-based manufacturer into the fray in 2005. Adding to the already long list of standard amenities, the XJ8L smoothes the ride by spreading the bumps of the road across its 124.4” wheelbase. The big cat’s body being made almost entirely of aluminum, the British sedan is stretched to a langly 205.3” in length. Jaguar has long been known for their subtle mastery of luxury in all that they offer. Having taken a stumble with the Type X range of cars, the company known for their Leaper is experiencing record sales and showing signs of a return to power.
Motivated by a 4.2 liter V-8, the XJ8L surrounds its occupants with British leathers and polished Burl Walnut wood trim. While the ride may be considered soft or overtly plush by some, Jaguar knows and fully understands its target market. This car was never intended to be a speed-demon though definitely up to the task of getting its riders to their destination on time. Acceleration figures show the big cat moving from standstill to 60mph in 5 seconds and going on to a speed-governed top end of 150mph, all the while delivering fuel economy of 16mpg city and 25mpg highway. Good enough.
The Maybach 62
The Maybach 62 sits at the head of the class with quite possibly more panache than any other attribute. Reincarnated through Mercedes Benz, the family resemblance is uncanny and somewhat welcome. The true purpose of the 62 leans more towards the chauffeured group. With reclining rear seats, privacy side curtains and fold-down tray tables, mistaking this ride for a private jet is understandable. As far as speed is concerned, that’s an even closer call!
Maybach has endeared the 62 with a high-output 5.5liter V-12 producing 543 bhp and nearly 664 foot pounds of torque. While most consumers read horsepower numbers, it’s the torque that we feel during the test-drive that makes the grand statement. As each car is handmade and tailored to each client, the chances of finding two alike are slim. Any conceivable option is possible and if not readily available from the factory, Maybach will custom build it for you!
Any of these ultra-lux means of transpo are typically the ride of choice for older, well-heeled individuals, but riding in high-style is no longer reserved for CEOs and heads of state alone. Prices may be a filtering factor on inclusion in this carpool with the “average” Maybach price to play falling between roughly $409,000 - $448,000!
