Mobile Magazine » sports car

Lamborghini To Unveil ‘Batmobile’ Of A Car At Geneva Motor Show

Leslie Pulipa — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:27:16 +0000

Batman won’t have to go into his cave and hunch on his drawing-room table to design an upgraded ‘Batmobile’. He just needs to walk into Lamborghini.

At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini will unveil perhaps its most cutting edge, yet literally down to earth (read: ground hugging design) variant in the Aventador line – the Aventador J.

The Aventador, especially the LP 700-4 launched last year, coupled good old performance under the hood with the cutting edge design Lamborghini is known for. With the Aventador J, the designers and engineers at Sant’Agata Bolognese have pushed the envelope a bit further in materials used as well as shape, coming out with an “open” car.

The obvious thought that comes to the mind after first glance of the ‘J’ is that the engineers have simply cut the top and windshield off the previous Aventador. But there is more to it than what meets the eye.

The entire bodywork is new, had to be, for the ‘J’ has a lower than low profile, ground-hugging in fact, with just 1110 millimetres (44 inches) of carbon fibre and space age materials separating the top of the roll-over hoops from the ground. Naturally, it had to be low as it is competing in the ‘batmobile’ segment.

But batman will have to do without the satnav system and air conditioning. Being open to the elements and fresh air, a/c won’t be missed, but satnav? Well, at the speeds the ‘J’ is capable of, who would have time to look into the satellite navigation screen. So the designers disposed of the system altogether to save weight. Lamborghini has also used a lightweight carbon fibre fabric called “Carbonskin” for seats and interior surfaces to take weight-saving to the next level.

The front of the vehicle is narrower than a regular Aventador. The designers could have done away with the rear view mirrors in the front though, which are not likely to be used by the driver, who would be strapped in the cockpit like a jet fighter pilot wearing specially designed helmets to keep the vision clear. Two small glass air-deflectors rise in front of the pilot and co-pilot seats: too small to be windshields, too big to be designer sunglasses!

Like all beautiful creations, the best part of the ‘J’ comes at the rear end. It houses the stock 700 bhp Aventador 6.5 liter V12, topped with a carbon-fibre wing to keep under/over steer at bay. The rear also has massive splitter and grill containing four tailpipes. Wheels had to be made of Aluminium for this baby. The ‘J’ is also armed with carbon wings to cool the brakes.

Though the numbers are not out, it is evident that the speeds this thing is capable of will be insane. The human element on the wheels will probably limit the top speed of this toy meant for the super rich. But apparently even the billionaires will have to keep their fingers crossed to get their hands on this one.

The pictures displayed here are from the one and only car artists from Sant’Agata have made so far and it has already been reportedly sold for Euro 2.1 million ($2.75M).

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a production variant of this one-off wonder from Lamborghini.

The post Lamborghini To Unveil ‘Batmobile’ Of A Car At Geneva Motor Show appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Scion FR-S Concept Coupe Borrows Boxer Engine from Subaru

Michael Kwan — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:01:01 +0000

That partnership between Toyota and Subaru is finally starting to bear some fruit, but all of it is still of the concept vehicle variety at this point. The latest to join that theoretical stable is the Scion FR-S concept… and yes, it’s “friggin’ really sweet.”

That’s how Scion VP Jack Hollis describes it, but the name is actually supposed to stand for “front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport.” Powering this sporty coupe is a 2.0L boxer flat-four from the Subaru side of the equation (no turbo option… yet), but the styling is supposed to borrow from the legendary AE86, as well as the 2000GT.

Personally, I think at least the front looks like it would belong better in a Mazda dealership, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is one hot beast. I don’t mind the RWD, since it’s possible that the Subaru-branded model in this partnership is more likely to do the AWD thing.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about those massive 20-inch wheels, they’re actually functional. The Scion FR-S wheels are hiding ginormous 18-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors that are fixed to the wheels a la motorcycle style. Hot.

I think I like the FR-S better than the Toyota FT-86 II shown off last month. What do you think?

Photo: Joe Polimeni

Scion Introduces FR-S Sports Coupe Concept at 2011 New York Auto Show

• Rear-wheel drive concept makes world debut
• Design focus of Pure Balance
• Boxer engine utilizes Toyota’s D4-S direct and port injection system

April 20, 2011 – New York – Scion unveiled the rear-wheel drive FR-S Concept sports coupe today at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The concept, which sets out to stimulate the souls of true driving enthusiasts, will be at the Scion display through May 1. The FR-S Concept will inspire a new model coming to the Scion brand next year.

The FR-S Concept, which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport; is Scion’s definition of an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with compelling style, exceptionally balanced performance and handling, flexible utility and surprising MPG.

“Scion is always experimenting with new things,” said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. “The brand is iconic with the xB, adrenalized by the tC, and groundbreaking with the iQ. The FR-S will expand the brand into yet another new dimension that I know it is truly destined for.”

The FR-S is a true “scion,” born into a lengthy history of Toyota performance cars and motorsports. The sports coupe is most inspired by the AE86 generation of the Corolla, better known as the Hachi-Roku, meaning “8-6” in Japanese. The front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe was lightweight and well balanced, making it a solid choice for driving enthusiasts.

Inspired by the AE86, the FR-S is built around the core goal of achieving “pure balance,” which begins with the strategic placement of a flat 2.0-liter boxer engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration. The engine’s compact size and shape allows the FR-S’ powertrain to be mounted lower and further back towards the rear, giving the car a lower center of gravity and a dynamically favorable front-to-rear weight ratio.

The FR-S’ naturally-aspirated engine is innovative, being the first boxer to incorporate Toyota’s D4-S injection system, which utilizes both direct and port injection, resulting in increased horsepower and torque throughout the entire powerband, without sacrificing MPG.

The flat-four can mate with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The manual offers quick and precise shifts with a short-throw, while the automatic transmission features aggressive, sporty shifts that are initiated by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Power is distributed effectively via a limited-slip differential.

The idea of “pure balance” is further realized by the FR-S’ lightweight design and short wheelbase. The combination allows the car to be quick and nimble into and out of any corner, with dynamic maneuverability and confident stability.

“Akio Toyoda has mentioned that he is going to bring the fun-to-drive spirit back to Toyota,” Hollis said. “I know that the Scion FR-S Concept is one of the ways that he plans to accomplish that.”

The fierce exterior of the FR-S is a good reflection of its inner power. The intimidating proportions of the concept give it a dominant stance that bleeds performance. The profile, inspired by the Toyota 2000GT, reveals a hood-line that is remarkably sleek and low, made possible by the boxer’s architecture.

The low stance continues to exaggerate the FR-S’ menacing face, which is made up of sharp lines, a wide mouth and angular headlights that include bright LED clusters.

The solid panel roofline is sleek, lightweight and rigid, slotted with an aerodynamic shape that channels air cleanly over to the top.

The front fenders protrude upward, making space for the massive monoblock Five Axis 20×8.5-inch wheels, while the muscular rear fenders are widened to house the 20×10.5-inch wheels, emphasizing the FR-S’ staggered stance and rear-wheel-drive setup.

The rear fascia sits low and wide, with extensive lower treatments that surround the dual exhaust exits and contribute to excellent aerodynamics. LEDs illuminate both the edgy taillights and the bold “SCION” logo.

The concept features four-piston-caliper front brakes that clamp down on monstrous 18-inch annular carbon ceramic matrix rotors that are fixed to the wheels in a motorcycle-fashion.

The FR-S Concept is layered in rich coats of Code Red, the appropriately named color that consists of a custom blend of candy and a developmental additive from BASF called Mearlite SSQ.

Concept Dimensions
Length – 168.2
Width – 71.5
Height – 47.4
Front Track – 61.8
Rear Track – 59.9
Wheelbase – 101.2

The post Scion FR-S Concept Coupe Borrows Boxer Engine from Subaru appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Toyota FT-86 II Concept Marks Beginning of New Supra-esque Sports Car

Michael Kwan — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:22:11 +0000

Ever since Toyota decided to retire the Supra back in 2002, there’s been a hole in the hearts of motor enthusiasts all around the world. The Celica and MR-S just didn’t cut the mustard and even those aren’t around anymore. Well, Toyota is finally starting to shake off its currently boring philosophy with the rise of FT-86 II Concept.

If you’re thinking that this story sounds familiar, there’s a reason. For quite some time, we’ve been hearing rumblings about a joint project between Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) to build a compact, rear-wheel drive sports car. The FT-86 II Concept is the latest iteration in this partnership and it really could see the return to a Supra-esque vehicle… or at least a RWD take on the Celica.

Forget about the LF-A for a moment, as that’s a whole other league of vehicle. With the FT-86 II Concept, you could almost say that they’re trying to harken back to the days of the AE-86 Trueno. It could be the return to fun, but the overall styling is almost a little too Tiburon-esque, don’t you think?

Toyota is staying pretty mum about the precise specs, but we do know the Subaru-sourced high-revving boxer engine will be in the front and it’ll be mated with a six-speed manual transmission. For the time being, there’s no AWD option courtesy of Fuji. In any case, I’m glad that Toyota is restoring its previous claim to fame in the compact sporty market. They’re expecting the new model (which will likely get a new name in the process) to launch in Europe in 2012.

PASSION IS BACK: TOYOTA UNVEILS THE FT-86 II CONCEPT
Show car paves the way for launch of new Toyota sports model in 2012

KEY POINTS

- World premiere of sports concept car at Geneva motor show
- Design and engineering pay homage to great Toyota sports cars of the past
- Strongest indication yet of how new Toyota production model will look
- Designed and engineered for excellent power-to-weight ratio and balance
- Compact, lightweight powertrain features boxer petrol engine and six-speed manual transmission
- Front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration
- New model, jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, to be launched in 2012

The new FT-86 II Concept makes its world debut at the Geneva motor show, giving the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota’s next sports car. It marks a return to the passion for driving that has inspired great Toyota cars of the past, starting with the legendary 2000 GT in the 1960s.

With its long, low bonnet, high wings and rear-set cabin, the FT-86 II pays homage to Toyota’s sports car history and is an entirely driver-oriented concept. It was created at Toyota’s European design studio ED2, where its styling was dubbed ‘functional beauty’: its bold, sweeping form has been generated purely according to the constraints of function and aerodynamics.

The low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell is stretched tight over the engineering hard points, with the muscular bodywork rendered as compact as possible. The concept measures 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and 1,270mm high, with a long, 2,570mm wheelbase.

Rather than using a heavy, large displacement powertrain to secure performance, the FT86 II returns to Toyota’s sporting roots by combining a free-revving boxer petrol engine with a compact and lightweight six-speed manual transmission and a low centre of gravity to achieve the best possible power to weight ratio.

Both the powertrain and the driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimise balance for maximum poise, high-speed stability and agility. With a front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration, this gives the car lively, accessible performance that is easy to harness and enjoy.

The FT-86 II Concept is the latest stage in the development of a new, compact rear-wheel drive sports car that is being jointly developed by Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru). The new model will be launched in Europe in 2012.

The post Toyota FT-86 II Concept Marks Beginning of New Supra-esque Sports Car appeared first on Mobile Magazine.