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Ferrari reveals its most powerful road car ever

Ferrari unveiled two new car models on September 18 2018. They are titled the Monza SP1 and Monza SP2.

Ferrari has debuted two brand new road cars, claiming they are fitted with the most powerful engine ever built by the Italian car maker.

The luxury sports car maker took the wraps off the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 at the firm's famous Maranello factory in Italy on Tuesday.

Ferrari said in a press release that the latest models are first in a limited series called “Icona”. The name has been chosen to reference the firms famous racing cars of the 1950's. The SP1 has only one seat while the SP2 allows for one passenger.

The interior of the Ferrari Monza SP2. The car houses the Italian firm's most powerful ever engine built for a road car.

The firm said the V12 810 brake horse power engine housed in both models is the most powerful motor drive ever built at Maranello. Other official statistics published by the firm said either car can reach 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 2.9 seconds. Ferrari said the limited edition would run to a maximum of 500 cars.

The Monza's bodyshell is built entirely from carbon fibre and neither model comes with a roof or windscreen. Ferrari said a “virtual wind shield” is placed behind the instrumentation panel to push air flow above the driver who is sat in a Formula 1 style cockpit.

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The cars were unveiled at the end of the firm's first capital markets day since the passing of former CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Shares in the supercar maker see-sawed after the company announced a new earnings target range for 2022 of between 1.8 and 2 billion euros ($2.1 -2.3bn).

That represents a pull back from the 2 billion euro target put in place by Marchionne but new boss Louis Camilleri described it as “ambitious but doable”.

A bird's eye view of Ferrari's Monza SP1, unveiled on September 18 2018.

DBZ Centenary Collection: Classic joins contemporary in unique centenary tribute

Published: Sep 18, 2018

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by
Neil Allison

In 2019, legendary Italian design house Zagato celebrates its centenary. For 58 of those hundred years, Aston Martin and Zagato have enjoyed a remarkable creative partnership. One in which these two iconic brands have created some of the world’s most desirable and stimulating cars, from the first DB4 GT Zagato to the latest Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake.

19 September 2018, Gaydon: In 2019, legendary Italian design house Zagato celebrates its centenary. For 58 of those hundred years, Aston Martin and Zagato have enjoyed a remarkable creative partnership. One in which these two iconic brands have created some of the world’s most desirable and stimulating cars, from the first DB4 GT Zagato to the latest Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake.
To commemorate this landmark year, Aston Martin and Zagato are continuing their historic partnership with a truly unique collaboration. One that will come to fruition in Zagato’s centenary year with the remarkable DBZ Centenary Collection – a unique project that pays tribute to an icon of the past and creates a classic of the future.
Speaking of the DBZ Zagato Collection, Andy Palmer, Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer, added: “The partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato is one of the most fruitful and enduring in the automotive world. With Zagato celebrating its centenary next year, what better way to celebrate this landmark – and the long-standing bond between our two great companies – than creating these 19 pairs of cars. As an engineer I would always say my favourite Aston Martin is the next one, but I have to say I’m struggling to think of a finer two-car garage than this!”
Andrea Zagato, the head of the Milan-based design house, founded by his grandfather in 1919, continued: “Great Britain has always appreciated our work. In particular, I must say I’m honoured and very proud that Aston Martin has chosen to celebrate our long-standing partnership with this unique DBZ Centenary Collection.”
With a build run strictly limited to just 19 pairs, this exceptional duo comprises a new, track-only DB4 GT Zagato Continuation and a new, road-legal DBS GT Zagato. The DB4 GT Zagato will be built at Aston Martin Works, Newport Pagnell – the original home of the DB4 – while the new DBS GT Zagato will be produced at Gaydon, Aston Martin’s global headquarters. Perfectly bookending Aston Martin and Zagato’s shared history, the DBZ Centenary Collection will be sure to take their place amongst the most coveted cars in the world.
Built to race against the might of Ferrari in the 1960’s, the DB4 GT Zagato was a thoroughbred machine. Evolved for the rigours of motor racing and blessed with breath taking beauty, just 19 were built. Drawing on Aston Martin Works’ unrivalled knowledge and expertise the 2019 DB4 GT Zagato Continuations will be completely authentic and meticulously crafted cars that are true to those original Zagato-bodied DB4 GTs produced by Aston Martin and Zagato in 1960.
Now the largest, best equipped and most knowledgeable Aston Martin restoration centre in the world, the invaluable and highly specialist skills nurtured at Aston Martin Works are perfectly suited to Aston Martin’s celebrated Continuation projects. Each of the 19 DB4 GT Zagato Continuation cars will be built to the highest possible quality using a blend of David Brown-era old world craftsmanship, with the sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements.
Originally built as an evolution of the short-chassis DB4 GT, the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation follows the same recipe, with thin-gauge aluminium body panels, dressing a lightweight tubular frame. To improve the accuracy and consistency of the panels, the continuation car’s bodywork uses state-of-the-art digital scanning technology, before being hand-finished in time-honoured tradition. Beneath the bonnet sits a version of the celebrated Tadek Marek-designed straight-six cylinder engine with two spark plugs per cylinder, transmitting its 380bhp to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, for an authentic and unforgettable driving experience.
Paul Spires, Managing Director at Aston Martin Works, said of the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation: “It has been my pleasure and privilege to oversee many exceptional projects here at Aston Martin Works, but creating nineteen DB4 GT Zagato Continuations as one half of the DBZ Centenary Collection is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We will bring all our hand-craftsmanship and expertise to bear in building these nineteen Continuation cars, sympathetically incorporating the very latest engineering advancements and performance enhancements, but remaining true to the purity and authenticity of the original design”.
The second half of the DBZ Centenary Collection is the DBS GT Zagato, which takes Aston Martin’s most potent series production car – the brand new DBS Superleggera – as the starting point for Aston Martin and Zagato’s latest and most exclusive offering.
Created to embody the next evolution in Aston Martin Zagato design language, the exterior of the car will be characterised by a new proportion featuring a fresh interpretation of the iconic double-bubble roof. Together with a striking front grille treatment and a dramatically truncated tail the DBS GT Zagato will present an amplified physique and an unmistakable presence. One that combines classic Zagato hallmarks with spectacular new signatures. Paired to the build run of 19 DB4 GT Zagato Continuations, the DBS GT Zagato will also be the rarest of all the modern-era Aston Martin Zagatos.
Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, said: “Aston Martin and Zagato is a uniquely dynamic union. One that unites the former’s love of proportion and clean, simple forms with the latter’s daring and maverick eye. Never afraid to push the boundaries, the partnership has resulted in some fabulous cars. Most recently the quartet of Vanquish Zagatos, which spanned the extremes of design expression with Coupe, Roadster, Speedster and Shooting Brake versions. However, Zagato’s centenary demanded something extra special, and the Zagato Collection is just that: One car that pays tribute to a timeless icon; another that writes a fearless new chapter for future generations to admire.”
The DBZ Century Collection will be priced at £6m plus taxes. First deliveries to customers will commence QTR 4 2019 for the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation and QTR 4 2020 for the DBS GT Zagato.

Paolo D’Ettore: Director LCV Business Unit Nissan Europe

Who is Paolo D’Ettore? Paolo is currently Director of the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Business Unit at Nissan Europe. He leads a team of 20 people across Europe and is responsible for the profit, sales, marketing, product planning and overall program management of the LCV range. The role is varied and can range from managing… Continue reading Paolo D’Ettore: Director LCV Business Unit Nissan Europe

New limited edition Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 models revealed

Ferrari has unveiled two new limited edition vehicles, the Monza SP1 and SP2. They are the first models to be launched under the Italian firm’s new ‘Icona’ line-up, which will celebrate some of Ferrari’s most famous models. • Best supercars currently on sale Both the SP1 and SP2 are a nod to Ferrari’s racing Barchettas… Continue reading New limited edition Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 models revealed

Ferrari plans 15 new models, SUV to deliver earnings growth

MARANELLO, Italy (Reuters) – Ferrari (RACE.MI) plans 15 new models, including hybrids, a utility vehicle and special editions in its drive to hit a softened but still exacting mid-term earnings target. The Italian supercar maker on Tuesday shifted to an adjusted core earnings forecast range of 1.8-2.0 billion euros ($2.1-2.3 billion) by 2022, rather than… Continue reading Ferrari plans 15 new models, SUV to deliver earnings growth

Ferrari pre-sells entire new supercar model despite £1m+ price tag

Luxury goods sector Luxury carmaker calls new Monza models the ‘closest driving experience to F1’ Ferrari is banking on selling more limited-edition cars to boost profits. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP Ferrari has announced a new open-top supercar it describes as “probably the closest and purest driving experience to Formula 1” – and has already pre-sold the… Continue reading Ferrari pre-sells entire new supercar model despite £1m+ price tag

Ferrari investors want assurance on targets and SUV plans

MILAN (Reuters) – Ferrari’s (RACE.MI) new boss has his work cut out on Tuesday to convince investors that the supercar maker can hit mid-term targets he described last month as “aspirational”. FILE PHOTO: The new Ferrari 488 Pista during a presentation at the 88th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2018.… Continue reading Ferrari investors want assurance on targets and SUV plans

Farasis Energy Raises $1 Billion To Increase Lithium-Ion Battery Production

3 H BY MARK KANE Farasis Energy raises capital, builds 20 GWh battery factory and expands to Europe. Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer Farasis Energy (founded in 2002) announced that the C-round financing resulted in raising more than $1 billion for further global growth. The company already has two production sites in China (Ganzhou and Zhenjiang), employs more… Continue reading Farasis Energy Raises $1 Billion To Increase Lithium-Ion Battery Production

German authorities uncover emissions-cheating collusion among diesel automakers

2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec 4Matic
New documents revealed in a German investigation into diesel emissions cheating show that German automakers, including Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz may have colluded to limit the amount of emissions-cleaning AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid the cars used.

The news was reported by the German newspaper Handelsblatt on Tuesday.

The AdBlue urea solution was contained in tanks too small to last the specified distance between refills, internal company documents reveal. In one 2008 email, an Audi engineer wrote that if customers had to refill their tanks every two months, “it would be a disaster for the entire clean diesel strategy in North America…. This assessment is shared also by VW, BMW, and Daimler.” (Daimler is the parent company that produces Mercedes-Benz cars.)

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The documents were revealed as part of a criminal investigation in Germany of 39 Volkswagen executives for fraud and deceptive advertising.

An Audi presentation uncovered last year referred to a “commitment of the German automotive manufacturers at board level” to using smaller urea tanks and making them last longer.

All three automakers, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, along with Volkswagen and its luxury division Audi, submitted documents to German regulators showing that the cars would use 0.26 gallons (1 liter), of urea fluid in 1,000 miles of driving, when it fact it would take 0.78 gallons (3 liters) of the fluid to neutralize emissions for that distance.

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The documents show email exchanges among the companies discussing a German investigation into “defeat device software” used to minimize urea consumption and flout emissions laws when the cars were driven on the road, and still meet the requirements when the cars were tested.

All three automakers, plus Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, used emissions hardware and software from German supplier Bosch, which has also been sued for its role in the scandal.

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The emissions cheating led to a historic settlement with Volkswagen that has cost the automaker an estimated $30 billion, including buying back most of the diesel models it sold in the U.S.

Bosch has settled lawsuits against it in relation to the scandal.

Class-action lawsuits are outstanding against BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and FCA.

Chevy recalls some Bolt EVs, Volts over supplier brake issues

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Chevrolet this week recalled three to four months worth of production Bolt EVs and Volt plug-in hybrids over a potential brake issue that could increase stopping distances of the small vehicles.

The recall affects 2018-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2018-2019 Volt models sold in the U.S. and Canada.

General Motors' filing with federal regulators doesn't specify the number of cars or say when owners should begin receiving mailed notices for the proposed fixes, and Chevrolet was unable to confirm those details immediately. Affected Bolt EVs were produced between March 27, 2018 and July 17, 2018 and affected Volts were produced between March 27, 2018 and June 20, 2018.

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According to GM, rear brake pistons that were improperly chromed and tempered could leak and trap hydrogen gas in the brake lines and could lead to soft or spongy brake pedals.

The faulty brake systems could stretch braking distances of the affected models. Officials said drivers should notice the spongy brake pedal within 15 days of the vehicle's assembly. Dealers were instructed to bleed the brake system to relieve any trapped hydrogen gas.In its filing, GM said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the defect.

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The defective brake pedals are part of a larger recall affecting Mercedes-Benz vehicles and could be related to a similar recall by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. German supplier ZF said it was aware of the issue, but in its filing GM said the supplier did not notify it that the issue could affect Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.

GM issued the recall this week for more than 230,000 vehicles that also included Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Impala, and Malibu sedans and crossovers; GMC Terrain crossovers; Buick LaCrosse, and Cadillac XTS sedans.