Aston Martin Rapide S

Download Aston Martin Rapide S photo. Find Aston Martin Rapide S images.

Wallpaper Aston Martin Rapide S

Among all the car brands and models the current market offers, there are lots of very traditional ones and many others which have received much bigger changes through their history. Dealing with this tradition – or its lack – is one of the automakers’ several struggles when creating a new vehicle, because making right or wrong decisions imply receiving excellent or terrible acceptance. After studying press and public’s opinions for Rapide, Aston Martin now gives it the half-age facelift trying to hit the best possible formula.

There are very few brands like Ferrari or Lamborghini, which prefer to stabilish an identity among its cars by implicit items such as the colors, the engine sound or the overall shape of several external parts. On the other hand, the English automaker here referred is much more similar to Porsche, for example. Since Aston Martin maintains even some of the car names through decades, it’s not hard to expect its vehicles to have very little changes. The problem with that is these cars have started to look too much like versions of a single vehicle, even with their size and price differences. So the automaker decided to follow the path of applying small facelifts, in order to avoid the expenses of new projects too early and only give a different look to cars which, as a matter of fact, have already been approved by everyone when it comes to the other aspects. The four-door’s name received the “S” as standard, not as a new trim level. The biggest external update is at the front grille, which changed the two-part design for a bigger single element paired with a new hood. Besides, the aerodynamics was improved with a new rear spoiler. Aston Martin has managed to make its luxury sedan look young again, not as a whole new model but with an interesting renewed impression, pretty much like what Porsche Panamera will receive with its own facelift, planned to the next months.

But a luxury sports car isn’t made only of style. The sophisticated part is made with an improved acoustic treatment and lots of items such as the Carbon Exterior package, which brings rear diffuser, rearview mirror caps and tail light surrounds using the mentioned material. Not to mention the Piano Black package for the interior, sports perfored two-colored leather seats and all the custom options for colors and materials which are usually offered by the high-end automakers. Besides, the performance part is taken care by the V-12 5.9L engine, which is now mounted in a lower position to meet the current European safety regulations. It was improved to achieve 550 hp and 457 lb-ft, an 80-hp and 14 lb-ft increase from the last phase: Aston Martin states its 0-60 mph time became 0s4 better, with the top speed getting to 190 mph – the consumption rate stays at 14.3 l/100 km, though. The driving has borrowed the Adaptative Damping System from DB9 and Vanquish, allowing the driver to select between three modes: Normal, Sport and Track, but operates along with road condition detectors in order to always find the best possible combination of the driving settings.

Like? Aston Martin Rapide S for wallpaper? Shar this image to Aston Martin Rapide S for your friend.

Audi RS7

Download Audi RS7 photo. Find Audi RS7 images.

Wallpaper Audi RS7

Do you remember what Audi used to do with its sporty line until the early 2000s? The only odd-numbered vehicle was A3 which, in turn, was also one of the Germans’ three “exceptions”: A2 never achieved success and TT seemed to be enough among the sports cars, so the several S-number were only sedans and wagons and there was only one RS at a time. The current market has brought enormous changes to this brand’s showroom, though, and one way of illustrating this event is presenting this article’s vehicle.

There’s no argument that Audi can create really good cars, but this one can also be seen as a very accurate example of how the automakers are always getting divided into two groups: it starts when someone comes up with some kind of innovation, whether in luxury, mechanics or even a whole car concept. If it obtains good acceptation, this brand can enjoy some months of excellent sales exclusively for itself, but soon all its competitors start to release their versions of the same idea. Some better than the original and some worse, but all with the same essence, which leads to divide the customers once again. This is what Audi has been doing with its cars for some years, in fact. They’ve followed BMW and Porsche with a luxury crossover and later with creating smaller sizes of it, and also Mercedes-Benz with both the four-door coupes and its own supersports line. Besides, after A7 received the always-expected S7 trim, now it’s time to copy every single urban Audi but A8 and release a RS7. Sports versions are always great, but the problem with this one is that Audi is decharacterizing it. The original strategy was always to give huge powertrain upgrades with slightly visual changes to its urban cars but as the S version, leaving RS as one single very special car like RS2, the very first of them. However, since today almost every Audi offers both sporty versions, they both seem pointless.

After all, the customers who look for high performance cars at Audi’s price range wouldn’t take the “second best” trim only to avoid the price difference in favor of S. On the other side, there are so many RS cars that they’ve lost that uniqueness which in 1994 made that wagon worldwide famous. In other words, it would make much more sense to go back to offering only one line… just like BMW M or Mercedes AMG, by the way. Strategy issues aside, RS7 is the very latest Audi to receive the best performance upgrades these Germans offer. This aggressive design packed with beautiful 20” wheels really go much better with the casual very-high-end Audi than with its sedan sibling A8, also because now there’s a competitor for CLS 63 AMG and the recent M6 Gran Coupé. The driving can be customized with optional air suspension, sports rear differential and variable-ratio steering, stability control with sport option and “off” button and many others, making an already indefectible driving more suitable to each driver’s style. The common item is the twin-turbo V8 4.0L shared with RS6 Avant, delivering here 560-hp power and 516-lb-ft torque commanded by ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro AWD system – this car goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3s9. The top speed, in turn, varies with the optional item packages which bring several improvements in style, handling and aerodynamics… and take the car from the 155-mph top speed to 174 mph or 190 mph.

Like? Audi RS7 for wallpaper? Shar this image to Audi RS7 for your friend.

Chevrolet Corvette C7

Download Chevrolet Corvette C7 photo. Find Chevrolet Corvette C7 images.

Wallpaper Chevrolet Corvette C7

Here it is. After several months of spied prototypes, leaked pictures of external parts and related material, some official teasers and dozens of computer projections, this is the real deal. Corvette has become one of the most famous symbols of North-American vehicle performance of all times, so its fiftieth birthday deserved that Chevrolet once again faced the task of not only improving this car in every possible way but also of finding the right way to do it. The meaning of this expression is what you’ll discover with this article.

Chevrolet’s task is even harder than Ferrari’s, for instance, because the traditions it maintains are heavier. Some of the sports cars automakers have built their reputation around several vehicles, like the mentioned Italian one, but there are others which prefer to dedicate themselves to improving one single car over the years. These are exactly opposite strategies, but the chances of success and failure are the same for both – it only depends on their execution. Corvette is an undeniable example of the second one, just like 911 is for Porsche. And also like with the German coupe, dealing with such a huge tradition became a true challenge for its brand because whenever it’s time to perform changes the same question appears: “Would it be better if it looks like the previous generations, or is it time to create a whole new car?”. Nevertheless, the last years showed that while the European sports cars started to focus at the future, with new design languages and even new car categories, the North-Americans decided to work looking back. The 2000s were full of past-inspired cars like Chevrolet SSR and Plymouth Prowler, and some of them resist until now: once again it’s possible to decide between Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang and notice that all of them expose retro designs. So it turns very surprising to observe that Corvette wants to break this “rule”, like Dodge has recently done with their own super sports car, SRT Viper.

Some people won’t take long to claim the seventh Corvette looks too much like the new Viper. Others will go further by remembering that since Viper received some criticism of becoming too European, Corvette would have become an US-made Ferrari. But the fact is Chevrolet decided to express this car’s big traditions in a less obvious way. Investing so hard at resembling forty, fifty years old cars reduces the designing freedom, therefore avoiding to improve the car’s performance – which is an extremely important aspect for a sports car. So the new Vette became more aggressive, with plenty of strong creases and a beautiful selection of acute-angled shapes, which all contribute to a very modern look, much different from the smooth lines seen until C6. But the mentioned past references are still easy to observe: the front is elevated at the center but even more at the extremes as in C3, but with the headlights far from the center, as from C4. And the rear windshield creates a triangular shape that ends at an abruptly cut rear only reminds what’s seen since C2. The tail lights, however, brought a fascinating combination: they still use double units like in every Corvette, but lost the round shapes in favor of rectangles, to go better with the overall style and resemble Camaro. Even the front grille’s chrome line could give a hint of Chevrolet’s current design language for this item.

Looking to this car’s roof is another interesting ambiguity, in fact. Although the black spot here means a removable roof, having it next these black-painted A-pillars makes it impossible not to remember the 1990s futurism of Lumina APV. The other meaning is that roof represents the cutting-edge technologies received by this car. The console uses a modern interpretation of Corvette’s typical driver-centered interior design, now filled with some aluminum and carbon fiber details and several coating options. The big touchscreen summarizes that this car now brings all the current trend items, like multimedia sound system, and it’ll be possible to choose between comfortable daily-use seats or competition ones. Even the quickest glimpse at the tech specs sheet will reveal enormous structural improvements, which managed to improve aspects like body stiffness and weight, Brembo braking system, suspension, wheels (with specific tires) and efficiency. C7 Vette proves it deserves using the Stingray name also with the powertrain: the naturally-aspirated small-block V8 6.2L hasn’t left the front section, and produces 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of power and torque. It’ll also features cylinder deactivation with active exhausts system as a standard item – using an automatic six-speed transmission or the manual seven-speed gearbox, the result of all that is a 0-60 mph done in about four seconds and better emissions and consumption rates than C6’s. Pretty good use for those four exhaust pipes, right?

Like? Chevrolet Corvette C7 for wallpaper? Shar this image to Chevrolet Corvette C7 for your friend.

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

Download Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible photo. Find Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible images.

Wallpaper Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

How about starting the new year reading about what’s claimed as the fastest four-seat convertible in the world? Bentley’s modesty must have expired with 2012, but the fact is this car really stimulates big expectations. The first ones were made some weeks ago, when the first official pictures were released with no technical information. But now the English automaker has finally given the remaining data about this stunning dark-pink cabriolet. That’s what you’re going to read at this blog’s very first 2013 article.

You surely must’ve read about the current trend of the visual identity. This consists in a particular brand applying some design rules to its upcoming vehicles in order to make them look more alike to each other, and therefore more different from their competitors. So if Ferrari decided to use some kind of futuristic shapes, Lamborghini sticks with the folded-paper volumes and Maserati dedicates itself to more organic designs, Bentley seems to bet at imponence. From every angle you look there’s a solidness impression, a big-car look brought by plenty of smooth surfaces and very clean lines. Some may point this design gives a mass impression which could be inappropriate for a sports car, but this big contrast is what makes this brand’s style. They offer the best trim levels and the best engines like every other competitor, but here this package receives a much more classical “wrapping”. Continental GT’s aerodynamics has been continuously improved, but it’ll never lose the simple shapes and the smooth design, completed with the round double headlights. It’s hard to notice, though, the little style updates this car received for this version: both bumpers were slightly redesigned, now using darker grilles and new exhaust tips.

However, this car makes up for the little design investment when its hood is opened. There’s a huge W-12 6.0L with two turbines, capable of producing 616 hp. Increasing 50 hp from the V-8 option’s power doesn’t exactly shower the bigger engine with efficiency trophies, but brings an even more solid performance. The torque is bigger and comes at a smallar rpm rate, helping this Continental to ignore the convertible body’s worse aerodynamics and allowing it to obtain a 0-60 mph in 4s1 and a 0-100 mph in 9s7, not to mention the 202-mph top speed achieved with its gorgeous engine sounds. This performance also gives a lot of credit to the ZF transmission, an automatic eight-speed gearbox who can even skip some gears upon driver’s request. When it comes to the handling, the all-wheel-drive gives traction priority to the rear axle, the suspension became lower and stiffer, the wheels now use 21” and high-performance tires, and the stability-control system was reprogrammed to become more permissive. Everything to match Bentley’s opulent way of ignoring the enormous weights and delivering an addictive performance, capable of match the opulent style which has characterizing Continental GT since its first phase, released ten years ago. This car will hit the streets in a few months.

Like? Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible for wallpaper? Shar this image to Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible for your friend.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Download Aston Martin V8 Vantage photo. Find Aston Martin V8 Vantage images.

Wallpaper Aston Martin V8 Vantage

How about starting 2013 with a big photo gallery? The last year gave this car some design updates that surely improved its imponent, unmistakable Aston Martin design but focused at the aerodynamics, in order to achieve better driving dynamics. Besides, the entry-level 4.7L V8 has been reworked to become more efficient. It generates 420 hp now and uses a manual six-speed transmission, but offering an optional Sportshift II seven-speed gearbox. Clicking at the picture will take you to more official photos.

Like? Aston Martin V8 Vantage for wallpaper? Shar this image to Aston Martin V8 Vantage for your friend.

BMW M6 Gran Coupé

Download BMW M6 Gran Coupé photo. Find BMW M6 Gran Coupé images.

Wallpaper BMW M6 Gran Coupé

The German automakers’ tradition with sporty versions became so solid that in nowadays those are expected right after each new release. After all, while the traditional sedans and coupes are supposed to improve what they’ve been offering in all those years, the market can always create some space for new well-accepted cars, even though they would’ve never been thought of four or five years ago. Few months after BMW announced its debut among the four-door coupes, it’s time to quench the public’s second thirst.

This category’s concept is already known: it’s the same luxury and technology wrapped in a much more casual design, in order to please the customers who need a four-door car but would love to distance themselves from that “limousine look” given by most of the luxury automakers’ sedans. That’s what Mercedes-Benz invented with CLS and the VW group repeated with Audi A5 Sportback and A7 and Volkswagen Passat CC. But BMW not only refused to create a four-door of their own at this initial moment, as also seemed to keep being outside it when those two brands presented those cars’ second phases. Considering all of that and remembering that this is the automaker who created X5, X6 and even dared to develop sporty versions for both, it wouldn’t be crazy to expect that those Germans had bigger plans. So they didn’t lose the opportunity to overcome the cars which inspirated this one. Instead of an innovation attempt which could easily be rejected, such as 5-Series Gran Turismo, this new car focused at improving its original concept. There are plenty of sportiness and casuality all over this car, but without relying on a fastback-wannabe rear design. This one looks much more like a casual sedan than a formal coupé, using smoother shapes combined with strong details to give a classy impression – it may become harder to sell M5 from now on.

The M version brought very similar changes to what was seen at coupé and convertible M6. There are the traditional exclusive bumpers, side spoilers and fiber carbon roof. But that mentioned “discreet sportiness” can be found at items such as the four exhaust pipes, the black-painted roof or even at the Motorsport division’s logo, discreetly placed at the gorgeous 20” alloy wheels’ center. This proves that M6 paid a lot of attention to the details, instead of only the overall impression. This idea becomes even stronger when entering the car, because BMW didn’t restrict itself to create only one more interpretation of their current interior design’s rules. There still are the big console and lots of other elements that highlight this car’s big width, but it also received details such as Merino leather seats, roof coating using Alcantara, Motorsport’s special steering wheel and much more – another big difference between these cars and the conventional sedans is that these ones’ customers would never hire particular drivers, because they are very aware of the additional driving pleasure found at them. M6 Gran Coupé, for instance, will use the V8 4.4 twin-turbo, with 560 hp and using the M Double Clutch seven-speed automatic transmission. This car also brings sporty suspension and active differential to achieve 0-60 mph in 4s2 and two top speeds: there’s an optional item package which will bring ceramic brake system, multifunctional seats, GPS navigator, Bang & Olufsen sound system… and will raise the top speed from 155 mph to 189.5 mph.

Like? BMW M6 Gran Coupé for wallpaper? Shar this image to BMW M6 Gran Coupé for your friend.

Acura RLX

Download Acura RLX photo. Find Acura RLX images.

Wallpaper Acura RLX

Twenty years ago, who could imagine that LEDs would become such an important component even at car illumination? These little devices have proven themselves resistant enough to bigger uses than at home appliances, while the massive production has taken care of reducing their cost. From a more decorative debut than actually working, their use in cars evolved into providing the daytime lights, and now there’s this Acura enabling them to give one more big step. This article will introduce you to the first car to use 100% LED illumination.

Planned to arrive in 2013, this sedan will replace RL as Acura’s flagship car. This means RLX will be the responsible of competing with Germans like Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Italians like Maserati Quattroporte, Koreans like Hyundai Equus and compatriots such as Lexus LS. Since there’s never enough luxury for these cars, each automaker needs to find other ways of taking the attentions, specially from the Europeans’ and North-Americans’ worldwide huge appeal. That’s why Nissan’s high-end division uses a much more refined interpretation of their design identity on Infiniti cars while Toyota has created an entirely different style for Lexus’ cars using aggressive sporty lines – on the other hand, Hyundai and Kia’s of also creating luxury divisions reveal they seem to have finally understood that it’s impossible to attract wealthier customers with the same brands that sell cheap vehicles. And Honda restrain their Japanese style to their own cars, letting Acura follow a more classic path, being elegant without seeming old-fashioned. And this is the reason you won’t see strong cuts and creases in RLX, for example. Instead of turning all the necks like a Cadillac, this sedan uses imponent volumes created with discreet lines, resulting in a very classy car. The more observant looks may find German inspirations, but the fact is this sedan has its own personality.

Have you seen how many cars are using big LCD touchscreens at the central console? Well, if using one of those has become common for you, RLX uses two: one of them allows you to control the entertainment system, while the other works exclusively for the GPS navigator. This anticipates this car’s trim level, which includes tri-zone air-conditioner, AcuraLink traffic monitor, 18” or 19” wheels and a sound system with up to fourteen speakers. When it comes to the safety, this car brings lane-changing alert, adaptative cruise control, panoramic reverse-gear camera and anti-collision systems. And opening the hood reveals a V6 3.5, which uses direct injection to produce 310 hp, and three-cylinders deactivation to achieve the 23.52 mpg consumption rate, always using a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel traction. These are Acura’s first information for RLX, but there was also announced a hybrid version for soon, which will bring a double-clutch seven-speed transmission to command three electric engines and even a rear steering axle. Always with the beautiful headlights which use ten very sophisticated LEDs each, being capable of emitting up to twenty light beams in four different angles… and giving the definitive dismiss to the lamp illumination.

Like? Acura RLX for wallpaper? Shar this image to Acura RLX for your friend.

Chevrolet Impala 10

Download Chevrolet Impala 10 photo. Find Chevrolet Impala 10 images.

Wallpaper Chevrolet Impala 10

Happy times for the automakers were the 1950s, and they didn’t realize it. There was plenty of space for newcomers, each brand had to please only their homeland and some neighbor countries, and since cars were a luxury item there wasn’t any concern of reducing the costs. However, today’s scenario is so competitive that it’s necessary even to “divide” a car’s release, from teasers to the sales start, to multiply its attention from the media. Here you will see why the new Impala deserves each and every one of these spotlights.

Impala is such an important car not only for the five decades of selling in the North-American market, but for what it represents for GM. While this group has always had Cadillac at the high-luxury market, the car initially sold as coupe and convertible could find its way to the success for being a halfway between what was already offered at that time, using the best quality Chevrolet could offer (it came above the very famous Bel-Air) but without a price overlap with the richer brothers that would stop Impala’s sales in favor of them. Besides that, it’s very nice to observe that this car was always up-to-date with each moment’s conceptual trends: the first generation, for example, offered lots of colors options, both inside and outside. The second one came already two years later and already completely restyled, using a very opulent design characterized by tailfins and huge sizes both in length and engine options. In 1961 there were some style containments which were followed by the fourth generation, making Impala finish this decade with a very classy and elegant style, including the famous Coke bottle trend. The 1970s began with much more straight lines and still lots of V8 engines, but the sixth generation suffered downsizing in order to meet the current demands. At that time, this car was starting to forget the coupe’s origins in favor of the sedan and station wagon’s sales.

However, since Chevrolet had been selling Caprice above Impala since the 1960s, it was needed a whole new strategy to keep both excellent sales. The two sedans received a huge restyling in the early 1990s, dropping the straight lines in favor of a more aerodynamical design. But since they would compete for almost the same public, it was decided to sell Impala only at the sporty version SS, as a high-performance option for Caprice. Both were discontinued after some years without successors, but the Impala badge was resurrected in 2000. There were more efficient engines, reduced sizes and even front-wheel traction, all because the car received a whole new platform. This modern idea was updated with the ninth-generation in 2006, including a new SS version, a 50th anniversary edition and even a Flex-Fuel version, prepared to use E85. But the times started to change very fast in the latest years, and Impala needed to follow them. The original idea was to go back to the rear-wheel-drive, but GM decided to use the very modern Epsilon II platform. This means Impala is able to bring all the cutting-edge technologies already developed by the group and to receive the future ones: this includes hybrid engines, comfort items such as the new MyLink entertainment system and all kinds of safety equipments.

The tenth generation is by far the best Impala ever produced. The new price list wants to reduce the overlapping with Malibu in order to separate each one’s public, giving the more classic customers to what is now the biggest Chevrolet sedan available. This car will start from US$ 27.535 at the LS version, US$ 30.760 at LT and US$ LTZ, initially only with the 3.6 V6 of 300-hp. Later, there will be a smaller 2.5 with 195 hp and even the eAssist version, using an 185-hp 2.4 option, but there isn’t much known about it so far. The pictures reveal a very spacious interior, with a very elegant interpretation of Chevrolet’s double-cockpit concept in two colors. Impala shows that even a classic car can take the advantages of the modern times, including the new MyLink version in a big touchscreen, a very beautiful dashboard and even the blue night internal lights, to give a more creative illumination than what’s usually seen. There are notable price differences between the trim levels, but even the cheapest one dazzles the customers with 18” alloy wheels, ten airbags and automatic six-speed transmission – the LTZ level is the red car seen at some of the pictures. Impala will wait until the next March to hit the streets in this new generation, and it’ll compete with other very traditional sedans: its main competitors are Dodge Charger and the also recently-restyled Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon.

Like? Chevrolet Impala 10 for wallpaper? Shar this image to Chevrolet Impala 10 for your friend.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Can-Am Edition

Download McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Can-Am Edition photo. Find McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Can-Am Edition images.

Wallpaper McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Can-Am Edition

Thirty units. After exposing the concept-car at the last Pebble Beach concours, McLaren has decided to sell a limited edition of their dazzling orange and black car. The fans can go crazy as much as they want because the Can-Am Edition will be almost fully reproduced, and this means an astonishing performance under many aspects. The pictures will show what made this car so adored by everyone since the mentioned North-American event, and what will certainly build its way to increase the super sports cars’ history.

McLaren has always been distinguished from the rival automakers about their focus when building a high-performance car. Since they are a competition constructor who also builds street cars, the differences start when remembering that MP4-12C is only their second street car, succeeding only F1 and SLR, but this one being projected in partnership with Mercedes-Benz. So they don’t have to worry with maintaining a fashion image such as Ferrari or Porsche, following a strong visual identity like Mercedes-Benz or even with sharing another cars’ projects because the brand belongs to a big group, like Lamborghini. It’s undeniable that the English car seen at these pictures is as expensive as those brands’ sports cars, but McLaren Automotive can take advantage from this lack of strings to deliver a different perspective of this kind of car. That’s what they made with F1 in the 1990s, which not only kept the Fastest Production car record for many years as also stills surprise the world by construction exclusivities, such as the central driving position, with two occupants travelling behind the driver. This car’s successor doesn’t bring creative innovations like that, but represents the best of today’s technology when it comes to driving performance.

The Can-Am edition honors Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme taking inspiration from the GT3 competition version. It means that this car uses lots of carbon fiber parts, not only in visual parts such as the rearview mirrors but specially at the structural ones, like hood, side radiator and the big rear airfoil: that size comes to generate 30% bigger downforce. This car shares MP4 coupe and roadster’s chassis but received special track wheels, while the huge changes to the exhaust system illustrates how big are the differences under the hood: the twin-turbo 3.8 V8 received a special configuration to deliver 638 hp, making this MP4 the most powerful one ever made. Actually, this car is so powerful that it was decided to keep it away from the streets: as FIA has licensed it only to tracks, they will receive a car with behavior optimized to them: the race car steering wheel is only the first part of a complete competition-like cabin: there are small side windows and special Recaro seats, with much better body support. This car is expected to hit the customers’ garages (unfortunately not the streets) in next March, under the price of 375.000 euros.

Like? McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Can-Am Edition for wallpaper? Shar this image to McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Can-Am Edition for your friend.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

Download Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series photo. Find Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series images.

Wallpaper Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

It must be impossible to exist a car enthusiast who is indifferent to the sports cars. Each one can prefer off-roads, limousines, crossovers or another particular style, but there’s always a high-performer to build a taste intersection. This is one explanation to the huge expectation created among both the press and the public specially by the big automakers. Now it’s Mercedes-Benz’s  time to direct the spotlights to this very important car: it’s the famous Black Series coming to one of their most charismatic products.

Although each and every sports car has plenty of reasons to attract a customer, there are so many brands and models of them that it becomes very hard for a particular one remain taking the public’s attention through the years. This must be the reason to the arrival of so many special series. They can come to celebrate special events, begin the application of new components or only to spice up the car’s sales – Bugatti Veyron already had dozens of them, for instance. But Mercedes’ Black Series is already known due to the reputation brought by being an improvement of the AMG division, which already represents the high-performance versions of all the brand’s cars. This recipe resulted so attractive that has deserved to be extended to several cars. Therefore, after the huge success with the C-Class Coupé, it was time to see what would happen by combining it to the most powerful car of their showroom. These pictures begin to describe the wonderful result achieved, with the addition of imponent spoilers and bigger air intakes which give an excellent first impression: the car does look different from the conventional SLS, but without the cliché of attempting to resemble a race car. However, the irony of seeing those cars’ official pictures in lots of colors but black may come from avoiding too much resemblance with the famous Brabus special adaptations.

The most fanatic enthusiats already know that all this aerodynamic kit has much more functions than to make the car take the attentions at the street, though. The Black Series came with several components made of titanium and carbon fiber (the Germans wouldn’t be cruel to the point of only painting those external details in that particular gray) in order to reduce weight, and at the same time there was an engine improvement. Therefore, these three very effective ways of optimizing the performance have maximized the power of the 6.2 V8, which by the way now delivers 622 hp. Using a seven-speed transmission, this car has lowered its own 0-60 mph record to 3s5 and raised the top speed to 196 mph. All of that comes, of course, with a fully-equiped interior, including racing seats with red belts. But driving a car from this level requires bigger concerns with a perfect handling and even better safety, and that’s when Mercedes answers with items such as the modified suspension, to deliver much better behavior, and ceramic calipers to improve the brake system, because of the excellent reputation of these components concerning their operation in high temperatures. This car will hit the European streets only in next June, so there’s no official price defined yet. The SLS AMG must follow the other Black Series members and be sold as a limited edition.

Like? Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series for wallpaper? Shar this image to Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series for your friend.

Maserati Quattroporte

Download Maserati Quattroporte photo. Find Maserati Quattroporte images.

Wallpaper Maserati Quattroporte

After lots of speculations of many kinds, the Italian luxury automaker decided to release the first official information of their famous sedan. Looking at these pictures leads to think about how nice it is to change some parameters from what we see every day. When something is said about sports cars, for instance, the very first word that comes to many minds is “Ferrari”. And when it comes to luxury cars, the German trio doesn’t take long to appear. But how about finding out what happens when we invert those relations?

Maserati is a very traditional brand, both among urban and race cars. They have decades of expertise not only at their cars’ performance and a irresistible style, most with the urban ones, but specially at conciling it with elegance. Maybe this impression comes also from the fact that this brand was never too much disclosed. There were many Maserati sports cars which became very famous, such as Bora, Ghibli and Merak, not to mention Quattroporte (Italian for “four doors”), but they never became too famous – that point where everyone knows it and has posters, desktop wallpapers and similar stuff with it, like Ferrari F40 and F50 at the 1990s. With that, their cars avoid the excessive exposition, and therefore maintain a distinct value. This is very appreciated for most of the luxury customers, who prefer the discretion when driving their cars, rather than taking all the attentions wherever they go. This makes them deserve a deeper look, because this set of characteristics is very hard to find at the current cars. With Quattroporte you can forget the strong straight lines of the German cars, along with the clean shapes and the names involving letters and numbers. And at the same time, this sedan proves that an Italian car doesn’t need to come in bright red or yellow, and not necessarily uses the coupe or convertible body style.

This sedan brings a very classy design, with organic lines creating all the needed surfaces smoothly, without many cuts and folds, but this description could actually fit the previous Quattroporte without problems. What is impressive to see is how the Italians achieved to reinterpretate that style in a way that looks modern but never forgetting from whom the inspiration was taken. Maserati proves one more time that if a style has earned the customers’ approval, staying up-to-date doesn’t need to imply heavy changes. The biggest changes were at both its front and the rear, whose new lights and bumpers received a more aggressive design than the 2004’s ones, resulting in a more casual look. Those details earn big importance when remembering a constant problem faced while drawing every top-class sedan: the enormous internal space demands a big length, which is hard to draw without making the car look like an old-fashioned limousine. The Germans solve this problem with those strong lines and some spoilers to give a more dynamic look, but Maserati leaves the explicit sportiness to GranCabrio and GranTurismo, and gives to their sedan well-sculpted volumes in order to give both solidness and dynamism to the overall appearance.

Quattroporte has changed its platform, with new materials to lose weight and some dimension changes: it became 6.3 inch longer and 2.5 inch wider than the previous generation. When it comes to engines, the most recent information reveals that the entry trim level will have a gasoline 3.0 V6 with 400 hp, capable of taking this sedan from 0 to 60 mph in 5s1, with 177 mph of top speed. But if you want even more power, the attentions should go to the 3.8 V8 twin-turbo, whose 520 hp takes those records respectively to 4s7 and 191 mph. Both engines will be controlled by an automatic ZF eight-speed transmission using rear-wheel traction, but the smaller option can also use AWD: this will be the first Maserati to ever bring this kind of traction.

Like? Maserati Quattroporte for wallpaper? Shar this image to Maserati Quattroporte for your friend.

Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom

Download Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom photo. Find Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom images.

Wallpaper Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom

Chegamos ao topo. Depois das primeiras especulações feitas meses atrás, hoje foi inaugurada a primeira revenda na América Latina de um dos fabricantes automotivos de maior prestígio do planeta. Não era arriscado apostar que essa honra caberia ao Brasil, que agora dispõe de uma concessionária Rolls-Royce em uma área nobre da capital paulista. Neste artigo você verá o que faz essa marca tão importante e destacada em todo o mundo, e ainda vai conhecer a interessante oferta que ela preparou para o nosso mercado.

Neste blog normalmente se começa descrevendo a questão do design do carro, depois se começa a falar do interior e se termina com as especificações técnicas, alternando com relatos sobre a história do carro ou sobre sua imagem no mercado. Isso levaria a falar que o Ghost e o Phantom são a expressão moderna do conceito de limusine, com linhas retas e clássicas aliadas às idiossincrasias da marca como a estátua acima da grade dianteira, para em seguida tentar abreviar uma lista quilométrica de itens de luxo e conforto e terminar descrevendo o desempenho do carro, mas aqui se tem um caso muito especial. A Rolls-Royce coleciona décadas de admiração e respeito porque vai além de vender carros com luxo. Sua estratégia não se baseia em propagandas, interação em redes sociais ou parceria com grifes de moda ou pessoas famosas porque seu prestígio não vem da exposição massiva, muito pelo contrário. A concepção de um carro desses tem como meta principal exaltar seu cliente, no sentido de que o carro melhore sua vida em todos os aspectos que puder. Trata-se de uma lealdade digna de mordomos, que muitas vezes não se compreende de imediato pelo simples infortúnio de que esse padrão de vida é muito distante do da maioria da população.

Um exemplo de todo esse tratamento dos Rolls-Royce aos clientes está na construção artesanal: a qualidade chega ao ponto de que existem muitos modelos de décadas atrás rodando até hoje, e com a mesma qualidade de quando eram novos. Este é o tipo de carro que se compra para usar as poltronas traseiras, mas sua dirigibilidade provoca suspiros tanto do dono como de seu sortudo chauffeur: os ajustes de direção e suspensão dão a sensação de se viajar flutuando, sem falar no isolamento acústico inacreditável. Além disso, produzir cada unidade individualmente ainda traz o louvável aspecto da personalização, que será amplamente explorado na revenda paulista: os interessados terão direito a visitar o famoso Customer Lounge, sala em que se expõem os diversos tons de couro, madeira e tecidos que se podem utilizar em qualquer modelo da linha. Também existe um telão para que o cliente configure seu carro com a ajuda de um funcionário, porque há uma série de possibilidades tanto para equipamentos extras quanto detalhes como o padrão da costura dos revestimentos internos. Toda essa atenção especial se conclui com a personalização que se pode criar: o cliente pode pedir excentricidades como pintar o carro da forma que desejar, e será atendido.

Contudo, é mais do que óbvio que isso tem o seu custo, não só preço final como também na espera pela entrega, que começa em quatro meses mas pode se estender de acordo com o que o comprador pediu. É interessante notar como se preservam várias tradições da marca até hoje: sempre produzidos na Inglaterra (cidade de Goodwood), até o painel de instrumentos contribui com a elegância geral, porque expressa a contagem de giros em forma implícita: exibe-se a “reserva de força” do carro, num medidor de porcentagem. Fora o detalhe de que eles desprezam os exageros típicos das limusines customizadas americanas: não se veem acabamento em ouro com pedras preciosas, estátuas de materiais nobres ou qualquer outro monumento ao mau gosto em um carro, mas sim um requinte discreto, formando um ambiente de altíssimo nível. O espaço da marca se encontra na Av. Cidade Jardim n° 691 e tem os modelos trazidos pela Via Italia, o mesmo importador oficial de Ferrari, Lamborghini e Maserati. Um destaque muito louvável é que a Rolls já começa oferecendo a linha completa, que inclui o Phantom em versões cupê, cabriolet e sedã com entre-eixos normal ou estendido, e o Ghost nas duas últimas opções. Na ordem, os motores são 6.7 de 453 cv e 6.6 biturbo de 563 cv, ambos V12. O Ghost começa em R$ 2,3 milhões e já tem unidades para pronta entrega.

Like? Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom for wallpaper? Shar this image to Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom for your friend.

Mercedes-Benz SL

Download Mercedes-Benz SL photo. Find Mercedes-Benz SL images.

Wallpaper Mercedes-Benz SL

Agora a alta sociedade brasileira conta com mais uma opção para deslocar-se em grande estilo. Em continuidade ao plano de expansão da linha no país que se iniciou com a chegada da nova Classe B, a Mercedes-Benz agora inicia as vendas do membro mais elegante da sua linha de “descapotáveis”, nome que esta categoria recebe em Portugal. Lançada no início deste ano, a nova geração do SL recebeu melhorias que só reforçam sua proposta de criar um irresistível meio-termo entre a pompa da Classe S e o charme do SLK.

Uma primeira vista pode alegar que oferecer o SL não preenche nenhuma lacuna significante, já que o SLS Roadster tem o apelo emocional de um superesportivo e o SLK custa menos, mas a diferença entre eles vai muito além disso. Basta analizar a questão da proposta que cada conjunto traz, de acordo a aspectos mais subjetivos como a proporção das linhas ou a lista de motores. O SLS surgiu como um topo-de-linha em desempenho e dirigibilidade, de forma que seu tipo ideal de comprador costuma levá-lo a passeios mais “apimentados” em circuitos de corrida, e até então se via indeciso entre Porsche, Ferrari ou Lamborghini, por exemplo. Já o desenho compacto do SLK evidencia que seu foco maior é o estilo. Sua fórmula de linhas fortes aliada a itens como ao já clássico teto rígido de acionamento elétrico até oferece versões de alto desempenho para agradar aos homens, mas é o público feminino quem se delicia mais com o charme do seu visual bem-feito concentrado em um tamanho reduzido. A linha SL, portanto, consegue se diferenciar porque foca na elegância. Seu desenho tem a mesma identidade estabelecida entre os Mercedes-Benz pelo SLS, mas aqui se vê aplicada a uma carroceria larga e um tanto longa, que lhe dá um ar bem mais classudo.

Ele chega ao país em duas versões com públicos bem diferentes, mesmo dentro da proposta comum já mencionada. A versão SL350 traz um 3.5 V6 que gera potência e torque de 306 cv e 37,7 kgfm que, aliado ao câmbio 7G-Tronic Plus de sete marchas e ao menor peso da carroceria feita em alumínio, leva o carro de 0 a 100 km/h em 5s9, com velocidade máxima limitada em 250 km/h. Aqui o destaque maior fica para o capricho do interior, com revestimentos em várias opções de cor e a fartura de itens de luxo, segurança e tecnologia típica dos carros da marca, mas dessa vez em um espaço restrito a duas pessoas. Já o outro rouba as atenções com o que traz sob o capô: basta dizer que se trata de SL 63 AMG para dar brilho aos olhos dos aficionados. Além da cabine recheada de equipamentos, ele traz o pacote AMG Performance de série, capitaneado pelo 5.5 V8 biturbo de 564 cv e 91,8 kgfm, mais do que suficientes para que ele cumpra as marcas já mencionadas em 4s2 e 300 km/h, esta novamente limitada eletronicamente. Tanta diferença em desempenho sinaliza que a primeira versão tem como principal ponto forte as vantagens de vir da marca que vem, o que permite inferir níveis muito altos de qualidade e sofisticação, ao passo que a outra procura seduzir os amantes da velocidade (e como consegue…). O SL 350 custará US$ 269.900 e o SL 63 AMG passa a US$ 399.900.

Like? Mercedes-Benz SL for wallpaper? Shar this image to Mercedes-Benz SL for your friend.

Audi R8 Special Edition

Download Audi R8 Special Edition photo. Find Audi R8 Special Edition images.

Wallpaper Audi R8 Special Edition

É interessante como o esforço de uma marca em exaltar um modelo cresce de forma quase exponencial, à medida que a faixa de preço aumenta. Por mais que vários carros mais acessíveis também tenham uma história repleta de edições especiais com os mais diversos temas, sobretudo na Europa, os superesportivos são campeões nisso. Suas marcas aproveitam que esses carros possuem valor emocional enorme, então sempre buscam novas formas de aumentar a sensação de “topo do mundo” que acompanha suas chaves.

Para os compradores de carros mais convencionais realmente se torna difícil de entender o que ainda é possível fazer em carros de mais de meio milhão de reais com a tal finalidade de que eles se distingam ainda mais, mas o fato é que parte dessa resposta se encontra na própria pergunta: quanto mais dinheiro se tem envolvido, mais fácil fica atingir um objetivo determinado, pelo menos neste caso. Assim como um Land Rover retribui seus preços com um desempenho off-road incomparável ou um Rolls-Royce se paga com a classe e a durabilidade já lendárias, os esportivos de nível mais alto buscam justamente oferecer uma performance indefectível. O trabalho que a Audi vem fazendo com o R8 merece aplausos não só pelo produto em si, como principalmente pelo contexto que ele na verdade não tem. Porque não se trata de uma marca com a tradição da Porsche ou uma cujo foco é outro mas tem todo um histórico no ramo dos esportivos, como a Mercedes-Benz. A Audi sempre se especializou em requinte e qualidade geral, e mesmo que seu êxito com as linhas S e RS seja grande, o R8 é um caso totalmente diferente. Um esportivo de nascença foca em um público muito diferente, que se dispõe a pagar muito mas também exige muito mais que os que levam uma versão preparada de um dos carros de rua.

Parte desses requerimentos especiais é que o carro não só corra muito como o faça muito bem. Estilo e luxo interior são itens de lei mas não as prioridades, e é isso que explica o fato de o R8 SE ter ganhado tão pouco na parte visual: ele vem apenas na cor branco Ibis e traz rodas aro 19” em preto fosco com pinças vermelhas. Entretanto, se por fora ele pode ser confundido com um R8 comum, basta dirigí-lo para começar a sentir as diferenças. Este modelo parte da versão V8 e tem como destaque o kit de itens de performance da empresa MTM (Motoren Technik Mayer), uma das melhores preparadoras alemãs. Temos filtros especiais para maior admissão de ar e escapamento esportivo, que traz ponteira dupla e abertura de válvulas a partir de 3.000 rpm, conseguindo um som de motor mais encorpado – aí está uma prova da importância do tal quesito emoção. Falando em motor, o 4.2 FSI passa a gerar potência e torque de 450 cv e 45,9 kgfm, força que lhe permite aceleração de 0 a 100 km/h em 4s2 e velocidade máxima de 310 km/h, sempre com câmbio manual e na carroceria cupê. O pacote de equipamentos completo termina de justificar os R$ 558 mil que este carro pede. Ele vem em tiragem de apenas quinze unidades, com direito a plaqueta numerada no painel.

Like? Audi R8 Special Edition for wallpaper? Shar this image to Audi R8 Special Edition for your friend.

Aston Martin Vanquish

Download Aston Martin Vanquish photo. Find Aston Martin Vanquish images.

Wallpaper Aston Martin Vanquish

Much is said about English cars, and even more is said about top-notch sports cars in general. But the Queen Elizabeth’s four-wheeled countrymen who are receiving all the most recent spotlights have a MINI badge in front of them, while the most famous sports cars usually are the ones from Germany, Italy, Japan and United States. So how would it be to read about an English first-level sports car? That’s what you’re gonna read about at this article, along with finding out that this country has a whole world to offer also in this subject.

If we pay more attention, it’s easy to see that each country has a particular way of making their sports cars. This fact goes beyond the differences of each brand, and bases itself on the emotional side of this car category: as they don’t have to satisfy daily needs such as the ones fulfilled by minivans or pick-up trucks, their companies become totally free not only to express their ideals, but also to express a little of the culture of their own country. For example, the German car usually stand out by the mechanical excellence, with all sorts of state-of-the-art technology to improve as many aspects of the car as it is possible. On the other side, nobody masters the design part as France, whose cars are always showing a new way to dazzle everyone with bold and futuristic lines. And about the Italian cars, we can start saying that “they have style”. From the weird look of the first Fiat Multipla to the plastic string which opened Ferrari F40’s doors, it’s nice to see how intensely they focus at their proposals, even if it means committing a few mistakes. But, again, how about the English? The cars from Hitchcock’s country are elegant, classy. Since the charismatic Mini Cooper, including the extreme luxury of Rolls-Royce and ending with Aston Martin.

Totally restyled, Vanquish has improved in many ways, but specially much more appealing. The muse now was One-77, which gave to the older brother this better sculpted design, with plenty of strong folds to bring a more imposing appearance. And of course, this “genetic connection” actually links Vanquish to all of the most recent Aston Martins and escapes from solutions such as the straight lines of Lamborghini, the round lines of Bentley or all those innovation attempts who characterize Ferrari’s cars in nowadays. Vanquish literally evolves the previous generation’s concept, because the new one reminds it in every angle from which you look it but at the same time gives the impression that everything got better. Which is a very pleasant fact, and the pictures prove it: the new car makes much clearer that the older one’s lines were too clean, precisely without some strong details to make it more attractive. So, if that one looks a little older than it really is, if we put it right next to the new one this difference seems huge. The front end and its double-deck bumper with big air intakes, the sides with a strong line born at the air exhaust and the wide fenders, and a rear who takes all the attentions to the boomerang-shaped lights, it’s really easy to fall in love with this car.

The interior is another delight, starting with the space: this car can be purchased at the 2+2 option, which takes two children at the rear seats, or the 2+0, dedicated to those who prefer to achieve high speeds with only one passenger. The pictures anticipate that this car does remind of that level of luxury so typical of Rolls-Royce and  the now extinct Maybach, where the customer can choose colors and materials to its exact wish. Maybe Aston Martin won’t paint it in yellow with purple dots and red triangles, but there are a lot of options both to the coating and the details, allowing contrasts with Alcantara seats and details in black piano or everything in leather. There are plenty of security items, but the weight is kept under control due to the large use of carbon fiber. This car uses a V12 6.0, which generates 573 hp and turns Vanquish into the most potent production car ever made by Aston Martin. This super-engine takes it at the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 4s1 and to the top speed of 295 km/h – only One-77 is faster than it. This car will start its sales at Europe in a few months, and at the United States in early 2013, with suggested price of US$ 295.000.

Like? Aston Martin Vanquish for wallpaper? Shar this image to Aston Martin Vanquish for your friend.

Volkswagen Touareg R-Line

Download Volkswagen Touareg R-Line photo. Find Volkswagen Touareg R-Line images.

Wallpaper Volkswagen Touareg R-Line

“O cliente sempre tem razão”. Uma das máximas que regem o mundo dos negócios vem recebendo mais atenção também no mundo dos carros, mas com um crescimento maior do que nunca. Se as crises vêm afastando o setor dos seus melhores momentos, é interessante de ver que as vendas estão cada vez mais apoiadas na inovação. Qualidade quase todos já provaram que conseguem oferecer, então a mina de ouro passou a ser encontrar uma forma única de cativar. Uma tentativa disso é o mais novo Touareg a chegar ao país.

Falar em inovação entre carros é pedir para relembrar vários momentos de várias décadas, que com certeza fazem a alegria de qualquer aficionado pelo assunto. Como exemplos, o começo dessa história teve Citroën Traction Avant e Ford T inovando respectivamente com tração dianteira e produção em série ao passo que, décadas depois, Renault Espace e os três modelos do Grupo Chrysler agraciaram as famílias com as minivans. Depois disso as evoluções não deixaram de aparecer, mas sem inovar; o mercado parecia ter se acostumado às divisões que já tinha. Mas é possível afirmar que a mudança dos anos 2000 teve seu começo fortalecido com BMW X5 e Volvo XC 70. Ver duas marcas tão ligadas ao requinte urbano aplicando sua qualidade ao mundo off-road – e obter enorme aceitação – não demorou a despertar a mesma o resto do mercado mundial. E a partir daí surgiram os diversos exemplos de seguidores, cuja proliferação não ousa parar. Aliás, o Touareg é um deles, mas, ao contrário do Phaeton, ele conseguiu convencer que vale a pena abrir mão de Audi, BMW ou Mercedes-Benz (isso para ficar nos alemães) para investir valor parecido numa marca cuja fama tem origens em Fusca e Kombi.

Agora, a versão R-Line chega para deixar ainda mais informal um modelo que desde o início é o “traje esporte fino” entre os crossovers. Já não vale a pena procurar adjetivos para descrever a dianteira que só falta contagiar a Kombi, então foquemos no demais: as laterais do Touareg seguem a legítima escola alemã, abrindo mão de excesso de vincos para formar a esportividade com relevos conseguindo assim um desenho simples mas de ótimo gosto, que vai demorar muito a aparentar idade. A traseira concentra a atenção nas vistosas lanternas, mas vale a pena comentar como os itens R-Line colaboram. Estão lá spoilers dianteiro e traseiro, saias laterais, belas rodas de liga leve exclusivas de 20” e ainda grade em preto brilhante, mas nada disso chama mais atenção do que deveria: a elegância vem de que esse kit não atrai os olhares para si; seu propósito é complementar o estilo original do carro. Essa concepção claramente foi herdada das três conterrâneas citadas no parágrafo anterior, que oferecem pacotes similares mesmo para seus carros mais acessíveis, aproveitando o gosto pelo estilo mais arrojado mesmo naqueles que não podem levar um membro das divisões esportivas.

Como era de se esperar, a cabine não perdeu atenção alguma. O modelo, cujo nome homenageia o mesmo povo que uma canção da Gal Costa de 1969, traz pacote de itens completo. Seu espaçoso interior recebeu o melhor que a VW pode oferecer, e isso se traduz em itens como acabamento geral em couro, bancos, pedaleiras e volante esportivos, central multimídia com DVD, GPS, e disco rígido de 60 GB usando touchscreen 3D no console, detalhes em alumínio e sistema de som premium – a segurança mostra que não fica atrás ao contar com assistência em subidas e descidas, controles de estabilidade e tração, farois bixenônio direcionais e vários airbags. Porém, há um detalhe que não chega ao horror, mas certamente mancha a reputação de um carro deste nível: o ACC, um controle de cruzeiro que usa sensores e câmeras para monitorar o trânsito próximo e regular a condução do carro, sai sozinho por R$ 12 mil. O desempenho conta com o V8 4.2 com 360 cv e torque de 45,4 kgfm, que lhe leva de 0 a 100 km/h em 6s5, câmbio de oito marchas, tração 4Motion e suspensão pneumática. Analisar o Touareg por si só revela o produto fabuloso que ele é. O problema é que entre R$ 333.700 e R$ 360.590 (completo com pintura perolizada) existem opções de prestígio muito maior.

Like? Volkswagen Touareg R-Line for wallpaper? Shar this image to Volkswagen Touareg R-Line for your friend.

Land Rover Range Rover 4

Download Land Rover Range Rover 4 photo. Find Land Rover Range Rover 4 images.

Wallpaper Land Rover Range Rover 4

Every carmaker has already had at least one special model. Like that first movie which finally gives worldwide attention to a particular actor, cars like Beetle, Mustang and Sonata were responsible, each one at its time, not only for taking their brands out of the ostracism but also giving them fame attached to some special factor – the three examples above would be durability, performance and style. Land Rover, on the other hand, achieved fame with the best combination of luxury and off-road performance ever seen.

We can say that Range Rover’s fame came not only for two reasons, but two opposite reasons. The specialized press has already repeated a lot of times that he was the forerunner of the current trend of urbanizing the SUVs, applying refinements until then restricted to the sedans at a car class which main vocation were the heavy duties. This car has always specialized itself at the art of being a typical off-road vehicle in the outside, with robust construction and lots of technology to overcome the worst obstacles, while the interior reveals a paradise of sophistication and high quality – in nowadays there are many luxury rivals and many brave rivals, but any of them join this duality with this English’s mastery. However, the curious part comes with the fact that Range Rover’s excellent reception ended turning the revolutionary into traditional. All those years saw this car evolve a lot at the technical part and receive many special series and versions, but it’s really interesting to notice how, besides its main proposal, its design remained intact: with generations lasting about ten years each, the fourth one that arrives now takes this fascinating paradox to a whole new level.

Range Rover was transformed into a very well-tasted reinterpretation of the original 1970s style: all the straight lines were smoothened, and the line that has always circled the entire car is now the same detail which limits head and tail lights, both using LEDs but with the last ones inspired at the subversive brother Evoque. The high front end contrasts with the aerodynamic help of the rear spoiler, while the very inclinated rear windshield disguises the age by using the optional roof painting entirely in black. But to make this complete dive into modernity requires to mention that this car now uses a whole new platform, built in high-resistance aluminum. There were so many improvements that some of its versions have lost 926 pounds (420 kg) comparing to the previous generation, and this brings much better numbers at fuel consumption and emissions. Under the hood, we already know that it’ll use the 3.0 TDV6 and 4.4 SDV8 with diesel, and the 5.0 V8 with gasoline, always with the ZF automatic eight-speed transmission whose debut was made a few months ago. The off-road facet shows its strength with the air suspension, which was completely reprojected, and the new generation of the famous Terrain Response system. Through an easy button adjustment at the console, you can change a big series of driving parameters to suit each and every running condition.

The interior pictures could easily have come from some sort of limousine without many problems. There were added five inches to the wheelbase to increase the rear seats’s space, and the much modern project received a much better soundproofing. Range Rover will have multizone air-conditioner, bi-xenon headlights, LCD screen to the dashboard, leather electric seats and full entertainment system at any version, but Vogue adds bigger wheels, heated steering wheel, Camera Surround system with 360° vision, keyless door opening and TV receptor. But the state-of-the-art is held by Autobiography, which brings panoramic sunroof, 21” alloy wheels, heated seats, leather roof and Meridian Premium sound system, with 825 W. According to Land Rover, the 3.0 will come with Vogue and HSE, with 258 hp, 7s9 at the 0-60 mph (96 km/h), top speed of 130 mph and 7,7 L/100km. The 4.4 will equip Vogue and Autobiography, but with the respective numbers of 6s9, 136 mph and 9,1 L/100km, while the 5.0 comes with Supercharged Vogue and Supercharged Autobiography, improving the performance to 5s4, 140 mph and 14,3 L/100km. The prices will float between 98.500 and 145.600 euros, according to each market.

Like? Land Rover Range Rover 4 for wallpaper? Shar this image to Land Rover Range Rover 4 for your friend.

Audi R8 GT Spyder

Download Audi R8 GT Spyder photo. Find Audi R8 GT Spyder images.

Wallpaper Audi R8 GT Spyder

Esportivos são a categoria mais emocional entre todos os carros. Desde a associação às competições à simples ideia de maior força, eles podem não ser o segmento que mais vende, mas com certeza estão entre os que mais atraem. É uma febre que vai desde os modelos de rua com simples acessórios estéticos, passa pelas versões com parte técnica exclusiva e vão até os superesportivos. Neste artigo você verá por que este pomposo nome combina tão bem com o mais novo modelo da Audi a chegar ao país.

Superesportivos se podem definir como o meio-caminho entre os carros de rua e os de corrida. Eles são homologados para trafegar nas cidades, mas eles não hesitam em passar a sensação de que seu real desejo é devorar as pistas. Seja pelo desenho opulento e aerodinâmico, pelos bancos esportivos em geral apenas para dois ou pelo trem-de-força de alto desempenho, seu preço é muito alto porque eles não só carregam o melhor da engenharia de suas marcas como têm todo um apelo de imagem. Os fabricantes como Ferrari e Porsche apenas reforçam a tradição com esses carros, enquanto marcas de outros segmentos lhes aproveitam para associar esse valor especial a seu portfólio. Não há dúvidas que a Audi é o segundo caso, mas os R8 que aqui aparecem são ainda mais distintos. A série GT chegou antes do recente face-lift do modelo, mas terá tiragem limitada a 333 unidades. O cupê chegou ao país em três unidades no ano passado, e se venderam muito rápido. Já o Spyder vem agora em duas, que estarão expostas em São Paulo nesta semana.

É interessante de ver como a Audi conseguiu aliar seus próprios elementos de estilo a outros que vêm caracterizando esportivos de alto nível há anos. A dianteira resolveu a necessidade de grande entrada de ar criando três elementos negros, os dois laterais englobando os farois com detalhes em LED. Esse desenho encontra uma agradável resposta com a traseira, conferindo ao carro uma aparência agressiva e muito imponente. Porém, as laterais divergem mais: o cupê tem uma grande tomada de ar em cor contrastante, enquanto o Spyder tem várias saídas de ar no capô atrás da cabine, para reforçar que ali é onde entra o motor. Este, aliás, é uma versão melhorada do 5.2 V10 que já se vendia no país: seus 560 cv chegam às 8.000 rpm e o torque de 55,7 kgfm às 6.500 rpm, números suficientes para que ele faça 0 a 100 km/h em 3s8 e chegue à velocidade máxima de 317 km/h. Temos câmbio de dupla embreagem e tração integral quattro, mas é claro que essa exclusividade cobra seu preço: o Spyder sai por R$ 1.200.000.

Like? Audi R8 GT Spyder for wallpaper? Shar this image to Audi R8 GT Spyder for your friend.

Lexus LS 2013

Download Lexus LS 2013 photo. Find Lexus LS 2013 images.

Wallpaper Lexus LS 2013

A noite de ontem foi importante para a Lexus. Num evento grande a ponto de merecer transmissão ao vivo pela internet através do Facebook, finalmente se fez o lançamento da nova fase do maior sedã de uma marca cujo foco é aliar o luxo a uma interessante dose de estilo. O face-lift teve como principal objetivo sintonizar o carro com as mais recentes regras de estilo dos carros da marca, mas também dotá-lo de novos itens de requinte e segurança. Afinal, ele tem rivais do naipe de Audi A8 e BMW Série 7.

Pode até parecer estranho que todo esse alarde se faça apenas para um redesenho de meia-vida, mas fato é que ele mudou bastante. Mais de três mil peças, segundo a Lexus. Essas mudanças começam a se fazer notar na dianteira, que passa a usar a imponente grade com formato de dois trapézios unidos. É interessante notar que ela traduz muito bem a dupla origem da marca, porque as linhas imponentes típicas dos carros ocidentais agora formam um contraste de muito bom gosto com a profusão de recortes e vincos pronunciados que tanto caracteriza os carros japoneses, com os quais os Lexus tem forte parentesco. Já a traseira tem sua dualidade de valores expressada não em lugares, mas sim em épocas: as lanternas agradam pela modernidade do uso de LEDs, mas ao mesmo tempo são unidas por um filete cromado acima da placa que remete aos sedãs de vinte anos atrás. Esse item já é famoso nos sedãs justamente por causar essa impressão conservadora que agrada à maioria dos seus clientes. As laterais exibem linhas limpas mas muito elegantes, que combinam muito bem com as rodas enormes. Ele preserva a opção da carroceria alongada.

Por dentro temos novos quadro de instrumentos, revestimentos das portas e console central, numa cabine que conclui o ar de sofisticação com iluminação branca. O console, aliás, não só segue a tendência de oferecer uma completa central de entretenimento como o faz por uma touchscreen de alta definição de surpreendentes 12,3 polegadas. A extensa lista de mimos ao motorista inclui ar-condicionado digital e bancos com regulagem de temperatura individual, entre vários outros. Fora o detalhe das cinco opções de revestimento (cinza, caramelo, marfim, marrom topázio ou preto) para combinar com as quatro opções de madeira. Já a área da segurança melhorou com os novos sistemas eletrônicos, como o de monitorar pontos cegos acima de 16 km/h, ajudar o motorista a se manter na faixa da rua ou o que previne colisões iminentes parando o carro por completo se estiver abaixo de 39 km/h. Com essa lista de itens de série, os opcionais são sonhos como a suspensão aérea, que soma os modos de direção Confort e Sport S+ no seletor de comportamento, além de Eco, Normal e Sport. Já os bancos podem fazer nada menos que massagem shiatsu.

Todo esse preparo é necessário para conter a força dos dois motores que o LS oferece. A versão de topo se chama LS 600hL porque é híbrida, e traz um V8 5.0 de 445 cv associado ao motor elétrico. Este sempre vem com câmbio CVT e tração integral. Já os LS 460 e LS 460L usam o 4.6 V8 com potência e torque de 387 cv e 50,7 kgfm, usando câmbio automático de oito marchas e ganhando opção de tração traseira. Este último, aliás, também equipa a principal novidade da linha 2013 do sedã. A versão LS 460 F-Sport foi a primeira a aparecer oficialmente, e se destaca pelo pacote esportivo de ótimo gosto: ele teve a suspensão rebaixada, ganhou parachoques mais agressivos, diferencial Torsen quando usa tração traseira e rodas de 19”, tendo as dianteiras pinças Brembo. A cabine tem acabamento em alumínio, bancos esportivos e paddle shifts para as trocas de marchas. O lado bom é que a Lexus brasileira já confirma a vinda do modelo re-estilizado para novembro, apesar de que apenas na versão LS 460 L. Ainda não se sabe o preço que terá.

Like? Lexus LS 2013 for wallpaper? Shar this image to Lexus LS 2013 for your friend.

Ferrari F12berlinetta

Download Ferrari F12berlinetta photo. Find Ferrari F12berlinetta images.

Wallpaper Ferrari F12berlinetta

Surgiram mais fotos e vídeo do último lançamento da Ferrari. Ela chegou com o nobre objetivo de ser a mais nova representante dos italianos no segmento dos “grand tourers”, cupês que ocupam o topo da linha. Trazem o máximo do requinte na cabine, mesmo que alguns levem apenas duas pessoas, mas em momento algum esquecem a prioridade do desempenho espetacular. Com isso, já era esperável que os exemplares mais novos usem doses de tecnologia embarcada cada vez maiores, para atender aos dois focos.

Este conceito também ganha a adesão dos clientes mais puristas, que em geral não vêm aprovando a tão recente quanto intensa mudança de valores que os fabricantes apresentam. De fato, por maior que seja a qualidade desses projetos inovadores, realmente não soa nada natural ver um SUV da BMW, sedã da Porsche ou modelos de luxo da Volkswagen, porque essas marcas formaram décadas de história focando em modelos completamente diferentes. Portanto, é dessa ânsia pela volta às origens que a nova macchina italiana ganha o seu público. Enquanto a irmã FF se vale de sua subversiva carroceria tipo shooting brake para seduzir os clientes mais desligados dessas tradições, a irmã que já ganhou a alcunha de “F12” foge dessa linhagem mais moderna que já teve 612 Scaglietti e 456 GT como representantes. Ela mantém o conceito de cupê de luxo com excelência mecânica que já pertenceu a ícones como 599 GTB Fiorano e 575M Maranello mas trazendo uma extensa série de evoluções, em todos os aspectos.

Um deles é o desenho, que ficou em perfeita sintonia com a linguagem de estilo que a Ferrari vem adotando em sua linha. As formas ficaram mais recortadas, mantendo os relevos de sempre mas com limites formados por vincos mais pronunciados. Isso ganha um resultado interessante porque a impressão final é de o carro lembrar as antecessoras e ao mesmo tempo dar ideia de inovação, porque evoluiu em qualquer ângulo que se olhe. Enquanto a 456 GT apostava nas formas orgânicas e suaves tão típicas dos seus anos 1990, a F12 busca impressionar (ainda mais) pelo jogo de luz e sombra que conseguiu. Repare na dianteira, por exemplo: a maior parte da iluminação fica com o musculoso capô e os farois, formando clara separação visual da ampla grade. Ela se dá porque surge ali uma forte dobra, que acaba por ser o elemento que define o estilo do carro: a lateral se divide entre a luz que ajuda a capota a exibir seu formato todo arredondado tão usado pelas Ferrari e uma saída de ar que decora desde antes da porta até o paralama traseiro bem abaulado, outro traço típico. Esse encanto termina com a traseira, que mistura as clássicas lanternas circulares com os vincos em T que concluem uma personalidade muito marcante.

A profusão de itens de luxo e conforto que envolve a cabine desse carro dispensa apresentações. Aliás, também não se faria necessário comentar sobre as velocidades que esse carro alcança. Mas a diferença da F12 é o que justifica o fato de seu segundo ensaio de fotos se dar ao natural, no lendário circuito de Fiorano: com o tempo de 1m23, a Ferrari anunciou que ela é simplesmente a detentora da melhor marca entre todos os modelos já produzidos pela empresa. E quem é o responsável por tal façanha? O motor 6.3 V12 aspirado, de posição dianteira com tração traseira. Essa usina de força gera nada menos que 740 cv de potência 70,4 kgfm de torque, o que lhe torna o modelo de rua mais potente já produzido por eles. O câmbio semiautomático de sete marchas faz sua ajuda com borboletas no volante e dupla embreagem para que ela faça as seguintes acelerações: 0 a 100 km/h em 3s1 e 0 a 200 km/h em 8s5, além da velocidade máxima de mais de 340 km/h. Como se não bastasse, ela ainda se vale de tecnologias como a start/stop para conseguir o objetivo de consumir e poluir menos que a 599. Bela maneira de se encaixar nas tendências, não?

Like? Ferrari F12berlinetta for wallpaper? Shar this image to Ferrari F12berlinetta for your friend.