The 406 km/h Bugatti Veyron may have been the most powerful supercar at the Frankfurt Show, but it didn’t hog all the limelight… Audi, Lamborghini and Ferrari made sure of that.
The 406 km/h Bugatti Veyron may have been the most powerful supercar at the Frankfurt Show, but it didn’t hog all the limelight… Audi, Lamborghini and Ferrari made sure of that.
Originally due to go into production earlier this year, the Veyron appears unlikely to reach customers until next August – 12 months behind schedule. Problems with the reliability of the Veyron’s eight-litre W16 engine and seven-speed gearbox were said to be behind the launch delay.
And, while the embattled Bugatti EB16.4 Veyron was prominent at the Frankfurt Show, it certainly didn’t get all the attention. Presenting the…
Audi Le Mans concept
Sources at Audi’s Ingolstadt headquarters say the Le Mans forms part of a range of new models chairman Martin Winterkorn has already granted the green light for production. It is also a clear indication that Audi wants take on the Porsche 911 Turbo with a twin-turbocharged five-litre V10 powered supercar borrowing mechanical components from the recently introduced Lamborghini Gallardo.
The Le Mans, with a curb weight of just 1 527 kg, is powered by a longitudinally mounted V10 twin turbo with Audi’s FSI direct fuel injection producing 455 kW and 750 N.m of torque. The car also features a clutchless six-speed manual gearbox with shift paddles behind the steering wheel and a permanent four-wheel drive system, capable of varying the split between the front and rear axles.
Automotive design guru Walter de Silva, who formerly headed up Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile design, provided the Le Mans with a Bauhaus inspired appearance similar to that used on the TT, with a prominent cab forward stance and hi-tech detailing, reported.
The nose is dominated by a striking grille bisected by a space reserved for the registration plate and flanked by two generous air intakes and slim line headlamps. Other typical Audi styling cues include prominent wheel arches, high waistline and a curved roofline. Large side ducting along the trailing edge of the conventionally hinged doors reportedly channels cooling air into the engine bay.
The rear wing adjusts to increase downforce, deploying at 120 km/h and lowering again below 80 km/h. And performance claims? Zero to 100 km/h should take 3,7 seconds and standstill to 200 km/h 10,8 seconds.
Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT
The R-GT could be the most extreme Lamborghini ever created! It uses the Murciélago’s 6,2-litre V10 engine, but its output has been boosted from 433 to 447 kW. The stripped-out machine weighs less than 1 100 kg, and engineers believe it’s capable of rocketing from zero to 100 km/h in about 3,5 seconds.
Unlike the standard car, which has an all-wheel drive system, the R-GT is rear-wheel drive and features a minimalist interior. The carbon fibre panels are unpainted as engineers believe leaving the Lamborghini in its natural state will keep its weight to a minumum.
Sales will be strictly limited, with only invited customers getting the opportunity to buy one. The price? About R4,44 million.
Ferrari 575 GTC
Developed by the Scuderia’s client racing division, the GTC uses the 575M Maranello’s 12-cylinder engine, albeit tuned to give nearly 447 kW and mated to a sequential gearbox.
The GTC has a widened track, larger disc brakes and a lighter body than the regular road car and an elaborate rear spoiler to aid aerodynamics. The interior has been fitted with race seats and harness safety belts. It’s expected to make its debut in the FIA GT Championship before the end of this season.
