Porsche Panamera

The Supervisory Board and the Board of Management of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, gave their approval today for the development and production of another Porsche model line. To be called Panamera, the new car will be a premium-class sports coupe with four seats, four doors, and a choice of front-mounted engines driving the rear wheels.

Scheduled to enter the market in 2009, the Panamera will be the fourth model line from the Stuttgart carmaker following the 911®, the Boxster® and the Cayenne®. The new car's name is derived from the legendary Carrera Panamericana long-distance race.

Production of the Panamera is to be in Leipzig, where Porsche already builds the Cayenne SUV and the Carrera GT® supercar. The final decision will require further detailed talks between the Board of Management of Porsche AG and the Management of Porsche Leipzig GmbH with representatives of the employees. Porsche's total investment in the new model line, including development, will be more than Euro 1 billion and will come entirely from the company's own funds. Expected sales are at least 20,000 units a year.

'The Panamera is a perfect fit for Porsche,' said Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, the President and CEO of Porsche AG. 'It has all the typical DNA characteristic of a genuine sports car. In terms of performance, design, and driving dynamics, it meets Porsche's high standards in every respect. Through this sports coupe we are making our customers a highly attractive offer in the top performance segment.'

Porsche will develop and build the Panamera using the company's own resources. 'We will be developing a separate platform for our fourth model line at our Weissach R&D center,' said Wiedeking. 'There are no plans for a joint venture with another car maker, but to ensure the profitability of this new model line we will cooperate more closely than so far with selected system suppliers.'

Production of the Panamera in Leipzig would potentially create some 600 new jobs there. In the course of the project, approximately 400 more new jobs will be created at Porsche's original plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, where the engines for the fourth model line will be built, and at the Weissach Development Center.

Like the 911, the Boxster and the Cayenne, the Panamera will bear the 'Made in Germany' stamp of quality. Domestic share of the Panamera's overall assembled value will be approximately 70 percent.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 208 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

Hamann Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

- Aerodynamic-components provide impressions of racing motor sports
- double-pipe stainless steel rear silencer
- Wheels 'Edition Race' in 20 inch
- Carbon-look interior set
- Complete interior kits to customer preferences on individual basis

It looks like a Stealth-Bomber on four wheels. It is one of the most masculine looking sports car and it is fast. The Lamborghini LP640 through its appearance gives a clear impression it's not just for show. Hamann decisively set its goal to send a clear message and sharpened the Italian steer's horns. Hamanns modifications through look, driving dynamics and sound create a distinct difference.

Maintenance of road contact is most essential when one is pushing a super sports car to the limit. To achieve greater downforce on the front and rear axle Hamann offers a front spoiler as well as a rear wing. Whoever prefers to show their affiliation to motor sports can order the parts in Carbon-Kevlar instead of the fiberglass version.

Hamann applies further aerodynamic components in form of a two-part rear diffuser with additional air hoses for the extendable side air intakes, side sills as well as a two-part front wing and Carbon-pendants for the original side intakes in the sills in front of the rear wheels. Furthermore, a central running air box on the roof brings back memories of past Lamborghini Diablo GT-R days. Naturally, these parts are also available in Carbon-Kevlar or fiberglass.

Impressive sound and stunning rims

The Hamann double-pipe stainless sports rear silencer (2x120mm end pipes) emits a sound similar to that generated from race tracks announcing the arrival of the blood-curdling steer. Positive side effect; an even sportier rear look. Export customers can extend their exhaust system with a Hamann sport metallic catalytic converter.

Also for individualization of vehicles within this high performance calibre, a choice of new wheel design is inherent. Hamann suggests its own creation 'Edition Race'. This multi-pieced, forged light alloy metal wheel with black wheel spider, 'Y' spoke design, Titan bolts and high polished rim flange utilized for Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 comes in the combination 8,5Jx20' front and 13,0Jx20' rear. As expected, Hamann also offers here a complete wheel set with typical tires sizes 235/30 ZR 20 (FA) und 325/25 ZR20 (RA).

Hamann prepares the cockpit of the Super-Lambo providing even more sports racing atmosphere. For this, the tuners from Laupheim, Germany offer an 8-part carbon-look interior set. The race car look is established through instrument cockpit bordure, the air bleed jet, the gear shifting panel as well as the cigarette ashtray console. Naturally, Hamann offers each Lamborghini customer preferred alterations on an individual basis. For instance, extravagant leather furnishing in a variety of colours is possible or additional of multi-media articles.

Story by Hamann at: supercars.net

Bertone Barchetta Concept

Bertone presents the Barchetta concept car in celebration of its 95th anniversary. Based on the floorpan and mechanicals of the Fiat Panda 100 HP, the Bertone Barchetta is an open-topped strictly two-seater sports car that calls to mind the Italian racing cars of the 1950s. In this case, the design explicitly cites the Fiat 500 with Barchetta bodywork created by the young Nuccio Bertone in 1947 as a one-off for his personal use in races.
The decision to celebrate the company's 95th anniversary with a minimalist yet sophisticated model is perfectly in keeping with the Bertone philosophy. Since its very earliest days, the company has interpreted cars by Italian car makers with an elegant style that emphasises their personality and technological content, with an unparalleled passion for sportiness.
Bertone's choice of the Fiat brand to celebrate its 95th anniversary was both natural and emotional. Natural because Fiat is the Italian brand par excellence. Emotional because the birth of Bertone as a coachbuilder of 'special' vehicles is closely linked to the history of the Fiat brand. The historic relationship between the two companies has lasted for more than eighty years and has generated more than fifty highly successful models counting concept cars, one-offs and production cars, from the 850 Spider to the X1/9, from the Ritmo Cabrio to the Punto Cabrio.

Styling
The Bertone Barchetta is the product of innovative styling which still manages to evoke the historic traditions of the company. The compact, muscular body, with its high, taut waistline, is defined by two aluminium shells joined by a large glazed surface that crosses the doors and extends into the bonnet join line before spawning the low, wraparound windscreen.
The first impression is of a tensed body, characterised by fluid volumes and clean-cut lines, creating classic, dynamic proportions. The result is a car which, in keeping with the best Bertone traditions, is completely above fashion; if anything, it makes its own fashion statement with an uninhibited, futuristic style that projects the concept of the Barchetta – a historic icon in the legend of Italian motorsports – into the future with purposeful elegance and sophisticated irony.
The exterior
The upper shell is entirely hand beaten and polished by the master panel beaters still working for Bertone today. This single piece of aluminium extends like a cloak from the front tip of the bonnet to embrace the upper part of the sides and rear arches, terminating in the tail. In the side view, the aluminium sheet twists at the level of the rear wheelarch, creating a muscle that melts away into the tail volume. This is a typical Bertone styling cue, imbuing the car as a whole with a powerful sense of sporting aggressiveness.
The lower shell originates from a large sideskirt that tapers towards the rear wheelarch, contributing to the sloping effect of the side.
The decision to extend the glazing to the doors was taken for both functional and emotive reasons. Functionally, it improves visibility, whereas emotively, the solution emphasises the sensation of freedom that only open-topped driving can produce.
The rearward opening scissor doors, hinged around the rear wheelarch, are a Bertone patent. This is in keeping with the company's historic attention to the specific issue of accessibility, interpreted always with surprising solutions, such as the cockpit canopy of the Testudo (1962), the double gull wings of the Marzal (1967), the hinged windscreen of the Stratos 0 (1970) and the large gate-like sliding doors of the Villa (2005).
The front features LED lights and a closed, floating grille embossed in the metalwork. The rising bonnet line is interrupted by an air vent for the engine. The rear volume is framed by LED lights which point up the muscular width. At the centre of the tail volume is a small luggage compartment, with a cover trimmed in the same leather used for the interior.

The cabin
The cabin, delimited by the wraparound windscreen and rear roll bar and furnished with sophisticated minimalism and minute attention to detail, is directly inspired by the 1947 Fiat 500 Barchetta. The anatomic seats, upholstered in natural leather, are fixed and sculpted directly into the metalwork. A console area between the two seats includes a stowage tray and an iPod dock.
The adjustable dash is anchored to two exposed rails and painted in glossy white. The instruments are essential and easy to read, with a speedometer, gauges for water and oil temperature and a fuel gauge.
Air flow within the cabin is assisted by two centrally mounted exposed fans, covered by a protective grille The gearlever is machined from a solid billet of aluminium and is hand polished. As with competition ‘Barchetta' models, the driving control mechanisms are all exposed.

2008 Volvo C30

Introduced as a concept car a few years ago in Geneva, Volvo has not only announced the production of the sporty C30 hatchback, it has announced that this car will come to America later this year.Due in showrooms in summer 2007 as a 2008 model, the C30 is a three-door hatchback that's some 9 inches shorter than Volvo's current small car in the U.S., the S40 sedan.Targeted at young and young-at-heart drivers, the C30 will be powered by a 218-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder T5 gasoline engine with 236 lb-ft of torque available from 1500 to 4800 rpm.According to Volvo officials, the turbocharged engine makes the lightweight C30 accelerate from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in 6.2 seconds.At the North American debut in Los Angeles, Volvo Cars of North America President Anne Belec said the company wants "to bring new customers in when they are young" and hope to keep them in Volvo vehicles over the years.The C30 seats four, with individual, bucket-style, back seats that are moved a bit toward the center to provide forward visibility around the front seats.Belec said Volvo will offer a variety of accessories for young, active buyers, including snowboard and bicycle racks. Also offered will be optional two-tone body kit combinations that can add contrasting-color lower body pieces.Volvo's Senior Vice President and Design Director Steve Mattin said the company decided to put this option into production after receiving good response on the subtle two-tone appearance on the C30 concept car.As with all Volvos, the C30 will offer plentiful safety features including curtain airbags, anti-whiplash front head restraints and advanced body structure.
The company will announce pricing closer to the C30 on-sale date.