The sight and sound of nearly 17-litres and 2,000 bhp barking a tuneful chorus would be quite a spectacle, but for the time being we’ll just have to make do with the FF on its own, with of course former World Rally Champion Markku Alen behind the wheel.

The venue for the video below was the Arjeplog track, in Northern Sweden, about 100 km South of the Arctic Circle. The track is probably the most challenging surface for Ferrari’s latest 12-cylinder which features an innovative 4RM four-wheel drive system that was highly praised by Markku Alen, the Finnish ice track specialist and winner of the World Rally Championship in 1978.

At temperatures between -15° and -30° Celsius on the steep inclines and challenging corners of the 14km “Forest” track, Markku was able to test the FF in conditions that few (if any) owners are ever likely to experience.

Traction was at a premium on the extremely low-grip surfaces, but thanks to the FF’s 47/53 front/rear weight bias and its clever differentials, the car (and driver) were able to demonstrate its safety, stability and performance to great aplomb.

Even more impressive, given the scenario painted in the introductory paragraph, the FF was fitted with standard Pirelli Sotto Zero tyres. Not studded or skinny winters. In fact Ferrari tell us that the FF on standard Pirelli Sotto Zeros can perform a full throttle standing start on a 20% (1 in 5) incline on snow, with no wheel spin. Impressive eh?

Markku commented afterwards that the FF is especially enjoyable to drive, even for a former World Champion – but then he would say that wouldn’t he? What’s not to like about driving a £200,000+ supercar on snow and ice?

And whilst Bentley still produce the 6-litre W12 Continental GT, the new V8 models are likely to become the biggest sellers in the range.

Both GT (coupe) and GTC (convertible) V8 models will debut at the North American International Auto Show, Detroit next January and offer exceptional power-to-emissions performance (for a Bentley), although interestingly Bentley fail to provide any specific numbers on what to expect. They do however state that the V8 model Continental is 40% more fuel efficient than the W12 flagship, which should be more than enough incentive to bring new customers to the brand.

With a power output of 500bhp at 6000 rev/min and peak torque of 660Nm (487 lb ft) which from 1700 to 5000 rev/min, the V8 engine is 67bhp and 29 lb ft down on its W12 sibling, but presumably the new engine will be slightly lighter even though both V8 and W12 powerplants share the same capacity.

Combined with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission, performance translates into a 4.6 second acceleration time for the 0-60 mph sprint and a top speed of around 188mph. So, with the W12 engined Continental quoted with a 4.4 seconds 0-60 mph potential and 198mph top speed, customers are unlikely to notice much difference on anything other than a 2-mile airstrip.

To illustrate the Continental GT V8′s new frugality, Bentley say it can travel over 500 miles (800km) on a single tank of fuel, which will come as something of a shock to past and present W12 owners who will have been more used to filling their tanks every other day.

The new V8 engine features what’s called a variable displacement, with a highly sophisticated engine management system ensuring a seamless and imperceptible transition from V8 to V4 mode under light throttle loads. The high-techn V8 also features high pressure direct injection, low friction bearings, thermal management, energy recuperation via the charging system, and innovative packing of the turbocharger for greater efficiency.

Distinguishing features

First and foremost, Bentley encourage us to point out how differently the V8 powered Conti sounds from its W12 stable mate – whereas the W12 is smooth and unobtrusive, there is more of a growl to the V8′s soundtrack.

The V8 powered Continental GT and GTC models are distinguished by a black gloss matrix grille with chrome frame and centre bar, a red enamel Bentley ‘B’ badge, and a black matrix three-segment lower front bumper divided by distinctive body-coloured strakes.

At the rear, unique chromed ‘figure eight’ exhaust tailpipes, a dark lower valance and red enamel ‘B’ bootlid badge emphasise the sporty, contemporary identity of the new V8s.

Both models are specified with 20-inch alloy wheels as standard with an optional 21-inch six-spoke design which is available in dramatic Diamond Black (exclusive to the Continental V8) or Diamond Silver finishes.

Inside the cabin, an Eliade cloth headlining, new contemporary Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneers, optional two-tone leather colour split and short centre console continue the fresh, sporting design theme.

Both new models continue to use the Continental’s all-wheel drive transmission system, which employs an advanced Torsen differential and a 40:60 rear biased power split.

Further details and UK pricing will be released in early 2012.

Gallery

The video campaign ‘Jump for JOY’ was BMW’s attempt to highlight the character and fun-loving nature of their customers, but couldn’t resist having a poke at boring stuffy Audi in an extended version of the video (below).

The “Jump for Joy” commercial spawned an ‘extended’ version where an Audi A4 owner tries to copy his BMW-owning neighbours – unfortunately he botches the attempt and ends up crushing his privates in the process. Click through to 1:13 to watch the painful moment..

So, with Audi’s current promotion of the R8 GT they’ve obviously decided to return the favour. Produced by Tonic International of Dubai, the message is simple, “..forget all this marketing fluff from BMW, with the R8 GT Joy finally has meaning”.

Audi’s £144,000+ R8 GT is the car maker’s fastest and most expensive model, using a 552 bhp V10 FSI powerplant it can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 3.8 seconds and to reach a top speed of 197mph. And rarity will be one of the reasons for joy if you’ve bought an R8 GT, with a worldwide production of just 333 units they will be a special sight on our roads.

BMW have been slow to respond to the R8 since it arrived on the scene 4 years ago, with nothing even remotely close within its range, so it’s no surprise to see Audi making hay in their latest ads.

Download a copy for your own use by clicking on the links below:

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]]> http://skiddmark.com/2011/10/iotd-audi-r8-gt-jooooy-finally-has-meaning-wdownloads/feed/ 0 http://skiddmark.com/2011/09/mclaren-automotive-sets-its-sights-on-becoming-a-multi-billion-dollar-business-wvideo/ http://skiddmark.com/2011/09/mclaren-automotive-sets-its-sights-on-becoming-a-multi-billion-dollar-business-wvideo/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:31:38 +0000 Steve Davies http://www.skiddmark.com/?p=25155 This weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix was a fitting occasion for McLaren Automotive to announce that its Asia Pacific network will be managed from a wholly-owned McLaren subsidiary, McLaren Automotive Asia Pte Ltd, based in Singapore.

McLaren Automotive Asia Pte Ltd will be responsible for all of McLaren Automotive’s regional operations throughout its Asia Pacific network including importation, distribution, logistics, sales, marketing, technical support and financial services for McLaren’s range of high-performance sports cars.

The wholly-owned McLaren subsidiary will be based in Singapore with an initial team of around 10 McLaren Automotive employees managing retailers in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. Plans are under consideration for expansion into mainland China.

McLaren already have a strong reputation in the region from its Formula One success, having won races in the Asia Pacific region every season since 2007.

One fascinating statistic revealed last night is that around a quarter of all existing McLaren F1 road cars have their homes in the Asia Pacific region, so McLaren Automotive naturally assume existing owners will be keen to add an MP4-12C to their collection and indeed this is borne out by news that the 5 McLaren Automotive retailers in the region already hold an 18 months order book on average.

Ron Dennis, the company’s Chairman, also made his ambitions clear at a press conference last night – to grow into a multi-billion dollar business within the next 10 years.

Dennis confirmed that McLaren’s future was still very much in F1, but that racing would only account for around 10 per cent of the group’s income as other divisions expand.

They aim to sell around 4,000 cars each year (around 1,000 cars have been sold in the MP4-12C’s first trading year), with 43 per cent of sales in North America, 35 per cent in Europe and the rest in the Middle-East and Asia Pac. This compares with around 7,000 cars sold by Ferrari today, although their President Luca di Montezemolo has previously stated their ambition to reach 10,000 cars within the decade.

Dennis is determined to “..reach a turnover in the billions” and he said “we will achieve it.” Watch out Ferrari..

What better excuse to wheel out McLaren’s new supercar, the MP4-12C and cruise around the town pursued by Milan’s indigenous paparazzi.

If you’ve ever been to Monza circuit then you’ll probably have visited the remains of the heavily banked section of the old track, as it gently decays in the surrounding woodland. I’m fortunate to have visited a great many tracks around the world, but Monza is the only one that sends chills down my spine whenever I visit, especially on a non-race day.

To describe the sensation as haunting would be an understatement, there’s something so steeped in history about the place that you can almost still hear Fangio and Moss dicing just inches apart as they fight for the win. Little remains of the 4.25 km high-speed banked ‘speed circuit’, but you get the feeling that what does, retains the very essence of motor racing – all the reasons why young men risk their lives in pursuit of the chequered flag. Distilled into one stretch of track.

So, it’s fitting that we look upon a photo of McLaren’s MP4-12C, a car which in McLaren’s own words, “..captures everything McLaren has learned in Formula 1 – distilled into a road car”.

I like to imagine Fangio looking on at this image, knowing that it was men like him who contributed to making modern supercars, like the MP4-12C, the great machines that they are.

Feel free to download a copy of the image for your own personal use, and then immerse yourself in the full gallery of McLaren’s MP4-12C in Milan.

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Bonus Gallery

The company’s first high-end luxury vehicle will be called Hemera, which looks to be a 5-door shooting-brake design along the lines of Ferrari’s FF. No word on power plant or drivetrain, but its engine makes a promising sound in the video below.

The company invite you to register your interest to receive all the latest news leading up to the launch, in the meantime we await further news.

UPDATE (16:00 hrs Friday 5th): Atkinson has now been discharged from hospital, leaving via a back door of Peterborough City Hospital flanked by four security guards. The actor declined to comment, but it is reported that security guards tussled with a waiting cameraman as he left in a Harley Street private ambulance. Atkinson was in a wheelchair, but we understand that was just a standard precaution – Atkinson is believed to have suffered a shoulder injury and light bruising after the crash yesterday evening.

The tabloid newspapers have as usual been besides themselves competing for the most sensational headline, singling out the McLaren’s 240+ mph top speed and claiming that “.. the car burst into flames”. The other popular headline is that the TV actor “cheated death in a high-speed accident” or my favourite, “Rowan Atkinson escapes fiery crash”.

In reality it’s nothing quite so dramatic and I’m sure Rowan is more concerned about damage to his car than himself. I live not far from the A605 and it’s a fast open road, with dual-carriageways in several places – not the sort of road where a driver of Rowan’s calibre ‘loses control’ without some other mitigating factor. The roads were wet earlier in the day, but by yesterday evening conditions were dry and visibility was good.

On arrival, police and paramedics found that the car had left the road, but was otherwise intact – if it had ‘caught fire’ as some have reported, then it must have been a small one.

Picture: via Northampton Chronicle.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service was quoted in the local CambsTimes newspaper as saying: “One crew from Stanground, one crew from Dogsthorpe and a rescue vehicle from Dogsthorpe were called to a report of a car fire on the A605 near the Haddon services.

This was a fire caused by a single vehicle road traffic collision. The driver of the vehicle was out of the car before the arrival of firefighters and crews extinguished the fire using just one hose reel.”

Atkinson was taken to the newly opened Peterborough City Hospital where he was described as suffering from shoulder injuries.

The Blackadder and Mr. Bean star appeared on Top Gear a few weeks ago, setting the fastest time around the TG track for a ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’. Atkinson has owned the F1 for 14 years and spoke fondly of his pride and joy when interviewed by Jeremy Clarkson on the show.

Unlike most owners, Atkinson uses his F1 regularly, having clocked up over 37,000 miles and is both familiar with the car and the roads he was driving on.

We wish Rowan a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him in his new film, Johnny English 2 Reborn, which will be released later in the year.

In some respects we’re glad Etorre is no longer around, for he would be tormented to see what’s happened to the marque he so lovingly fostered. A few days ago Katie Price, formerly known as Jordan, posted this tweet..

Sadly this could be the end-of-the-road for this once-proud marque, to be paraded in the tabloids as Katie’s latest trinket. In pink no less.

I’m sure Katie would argue that it’s her money and she can do what she wants with it – but think of the children – you know, those ones with Bugatti Veyron posters who’ll be ripping them down from their bedroom walls now that the fastest car in the world has lost its cool..

To remind you what a real Bugatti is like, take a look at the following video..

Now take a look at Afzal Kahn driving Katie’s new Veyron

Whilst the SLS AMG is often compared with rivals sports cars from Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini, the company are clearly feeling confident enough that such a comparison is no longer valid – “The car in front is an SLS AMG, with the rest only visible in its rear-view mirrow.”

Do they have a point, or have they been sipping a few too many schnapps?

Whilst affordability and peace of mind are key attributes of the rest of Nissan’s range, we think it sits a little uneasily alongside a car which can lap the Nurburgring in less than 7 minutes and 30 seconds, but hey, let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.

The deal now being offered by Nissan is a free three year servicing plan, along with three years RAC cover, for the 2011 version GT-R.

The free offer of the servicing plan is included when purchasing a GT-R through Nissan’s own personal contract plan (PCP) known as Preferences. However if you choose to finance your car any other way, or indeed you already have a 2011 GT-R, then the servicing plan can be purchased for a one-off payment of just £499.

Nissan’s new servicing plan applies only to the 2011 version of the GT-R and covers a three year period or up to the equivalent mileage of 27,000. All labour, parts, oils and fluids required to carry out the routine maintenance, by a Nissan High Performance Centre, are fully covered by the policy.

All Nissan High Performance Centres (NHPC) are specially trained and equipped to look after the Nissan sports car range and are sole suppliers of the GT-R, so with 19 of them located across the UK you’ll not have too far to travel.

This offer is for a limited period of time and further details can be obtained from any of the NHPCs.