Month: January 2019

Following the successful relaunch of Lagonda as the world’s first luxury zero-emission brand and the surprise debut of the Lagonda Vision Concept at last year’s Geneva Show, 2019 sees the reveal of Lagonda’s All-Terrain Concept, to be shown publicly at the 89th Geneva International Motor Show.
The first model Lagonda will put into production, the All-Terrain Concept, bears the bold hallmarks of the Vision Concept. By taking full advantage of its zero-emission platform Lagonda’s design team has created a car boasting extraordinary style and space efficiency combined with a rakish design language that demonstrates the unique freedom afforded by Lagonda’s commitment to zero-emission powertrain technologies.

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President, and Group CEO, said: “The ways in which automotive brands reveal new product has changed beyond recognition in recent years, but there’s still something compelling about the unique atmosphere of a great motor show. Historically Geneva has always been good for us – the buzz surrounding the stand last year when we revealed the Lagonda Vision Concept was truly remarkable – so it’s fantastic to return to the scene of such great success with another world debut. The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept offers explicit clues regarding what will be the first Lagonda model to enter production, and further demonstrates how Lagonda’s zero-emission powertrain enables us to create spectacular cars that will radically redefine their sectors of the market. I’m expecting the Aston Martin Lagonda stand to be busier than ever, and very much look forward to seeing the crowd’s reaction first-hand”.

The 89th Geneva Motor Show runs from 5 March to 17 March 2019.

“Lamborghini is intent on leading the advance to the highest level of super sports car technologies and driving emotion. This is the essence of the new Huracán EVO. It takes the extraordinary abilities of the Huracán Performante and combines state-of-the-art vehicle dynamic control to amplify the everyday Huracán driving experience,” says Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Huracán EVO is the very definition of evolution: it is a step ahead, redefining the segment parameters. It is remarkably easy to drive, while delivering the most responsive, sensory and agile driving experience, in every environment.”

The new Lamborghini Huracán EVO features the 5.2 liter naturally-aspirated Lamborghini V-10 engine, uprated to produce more power as well as an emotional and powerful sound, with titanium intake valves and a lightweight exhaust system. The Huracán EVO produces 640 hp (470 kW) at 8,000 rpm with 600 Nm of torque delivered at 6,500 rpm. With a dry weight of 1,422 kg, the EVO reaches a weight-to-power ratio of 2.22 kg/hp, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and from 0-200 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Braking from 100 km/h to 0 is achieved in just 31.9 m, with a top speed of more than 325 km/h.

The Huracán EVO features new Lamborghini rear-wheel steering and a torque vectoring system working on the four wheels, while at the heart of the car is the new feature of Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI): a Central Processing Unit that controls every aspect of the car’s dynamic behaviour, fully integrating all of the car’s dynamic systems and set-up to anticipate the next move and needs of the driver, interpreting this into perfect driving dynamics. Lamborghini Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI), a comprehensive set of accelerators and gyroscope sensors placed at the car’s center of gravity, has been enhanced to version 2.0. With improved precision, it monitors in real-time the dynamic vehicle attitude regarding lateral, longitudinal and vertical accelerations, as well as roll, pitch and yaw rate. The magneto rheological suspension, upgraded to version 2.0, instantaneously adapts the damping following inputs from the LPI. A new advanced traction control system together with enhanced all-wheel drive and torque vectoring, allows traction to be directed to a single wheel as required.

Enhanced Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS), able to provide higher responsiveness in corners while requiring the lowest steering angles, is now coupled with rear-wheel steering in order to ensure agility at low speed, as well as maximum stability in high-speed cornering and under braking in the most severe conditions. The unique combination of all these systems is governed by Lamborghini’s LDVI to create a super-agile and responsive car with unparalleled level of control. Processing data in real time, the Huracán EVO recognizes the driver’s intentions through steering wheel, brake and accelerator pedal inputs, engaged gear and the driving modes selected via ANIMA controller: STRADA, SPORT or CORSA.

A new 8.4” HMI capacitive touchscreen, located in the centre console just above the start button, puts connectivity at the driver’s fingertips, with multi-finger gesture control. Governing car functions including seats, climate and the status of the LDVI system in real-time it also puts all infotainment, such as Apple CarPlay with smartphone integration, at the cabin occupants’ disposal. A multimedia system incorporates connected navigation and entertainment including web radio and video player. The intuitive interface allows voice commands and puts the driver in touch with Siri. An optional dual-camera telemetry system is also offered via the touchscreen, allowing advanced telemetry recording and analysis, which helps with track driving. An integrated high-capacity hard disk is also available.

Both the exterior and interior of the Huracán EVO are designed to maximize the specification possibilities, with several new options such as a wide range of Style Packs in shiny black and body color as well as Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program, which offers virtually limitless opportunity for owners to customize their Lamborghini. The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Huracán EVO in spring 2019 at suggested retail prices as follows:

UK GBP 165,256 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
USA USD 261,274 (suggested retail price taxes/GST excluded)

More information: www.lamborghini.com

Maranello has put together a special exhibition telling the story of Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary record-breaking F1 career: the German champion won an as yet unequalled seven world titles, 91 victories, and 155 podiums. It opened on January 3rd, Schumacher’s 50th birthday.

The Hall of Victories displays some of the most important Ferrari single-seaters driven in his eleven years with the Scuderia. They range from the F310 of 1996, with which Schumacher won three GPs in his first season with the Prancing Horse, to the F399, the car that won the Constructors’ title in 1999 to set Formula 1’s oldest team off on an exceptional run of victories. There is also the F1-2000 of the legendary ‘Alba Rossa’ (‘Red Dawn’), when at Suzuka Michael secured Ferrari its first the world title since Jody Scheckter 21 years before. Then of course there are the record-breaking F2002 and F2004, and the 248 F1 of 2006, in which he triumphed at the Chinese GP for his 72nd and final victory with Ferrari.

Fans will also be introduced to a lesser-known side of Schumacher, that of developer. Indeed, after leaving Formula 1, the German driver remained at Ferrari not only to help the Scuderia but also to contribute to the development of various road cars, such as the 430 Scuderia in 2007 and the Ferrari California in 2008.

The exhibition will run alongside ‘Driven by Enzo’ and ‘Passion and Legend’, which are already open at the Maranello Museum.

‘Michael 50’ has been organized in partnership with the Keep Fighting Foundation.

More information: www.ferrari.com

Rolls-Royce continues to evolve its innovative Social Hotspot programme in 2019 in the highly exclusive Alpine resort of Courchevel 1850. Here, existing and prospective patrons of the marque can experience the remarkable capability of the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan, on-piste and off-piste, as well as Dawn, the brand’s beautiful Drophead Coupé, in an exclusive environment befitting the brand. The marque will return to the spectacular Le Lana Hotel in the key weeks of the European winter sports season (18 February – 10 March 2019). An exquisite collection of bespoke motor cars and lifestyle accoutrements will be based in this historic former chalet adjacent to the Bellecôte piste in the globally celebrated ‘Les Trois Vallées’ ski region.

By day, clients can experience Cullinan on and off-road, as well as Dawn, the most social Drophead Coupé ever created. By night, guests are invited to join exclusive gatherings, curated to enlighten and inform, in the company of fellow connoisseurs of true luxury. For those compelled to begin their Bespoke journey in Courchevel 1850 itself, a Bespoke commissioning suite is situated at the nearby Six Senses Residences. Crafted from local timber by London-based interior design house Morpheus, the remarkable location provides an exquisite setting from which to create a Rolls-Royce motor car alongside the brand’s peerless design team. In addition, guests of Courchevel 1850’s élite Hôtel Les Airelles will be able to enjoy a chauffeur-driven Cullinan to and from the piste for the duration of the 2019 season.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented, “Connoisseurs of true luxury visit Courchevel 1850 in the pursuit of memorable experiences. Rolls-Royce understands that these are tenets of true luxury and offers to enrich the lives of our clients by hosting this season-long studio in one of the most revered ski resorts in the world.”

More information: http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com