by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Entering the final year of production, the 2022 Ford GT Heritage Edition supercar pays homage to the 1964 Ford GT prototypes that led to America’s only Le Mans®-winning supercar, with wins from 1966 to 1969, and again in 2016
- Ford GT Heritage Edition is a modern interpretation of the original, combining classic Ford Performance features such as Wimbledon® White paint and a triple racing stripe with contemporary touches including exposed carbon fiber behind Antimatter Blue-painted carbon fiber wheels and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara® suede seats
- Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition debuts at Monterey Car Week alongside the sole surviving 1964 Ford GT prototype, chassis GT/105, in original livery at The Quail and on the concept lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® this week
As a tribute to the Ford GT supercar, the prototype vehicle that gave life to the program more than a half-century ago, Ford is introducing the 2022 Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition.
The limited-edition vehicle is inspired by the 1964 Ford GT prototype that debuted at the New York International Auto Show on April 3, 1964 and went on to become America’s only Le Mans-winning supercar.
“This is the first Ford GT Heritage Edition that goes beyond celebrating race wins – this one goes deep, and honors the earliest of Ford supercar heritage,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition is a modern interpretation of the original, with no mistaking what this car is paying tribute to.”
The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition is sharing the spotlight at Monterey Car Week, with the only remaining 1964 Ford GT prototype, GT/105, still wearing the original livery.
Limited-edition run honoring the five original GT prototypes
The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition supercar wears Wimbledon White paint with Antimatter Blue graphics, including an over-the-roof triple racing stripe. Exposed carbon fiber components are prominent, including 20-inch Antimatter Blue-painted carbon fiber wheels, a touch unique to Ford GT, as well as an exposed carbon fiber front splitter, side sills, mirror stalks, engine louvers and rear diffuser finished in gloss. Brembo® brake calipers lacquered in silver with black graphics, plus black lug nuts further modernize the aesthetic.
Carbon fiber carries into the cabin as well, with carbon fiber door sills, lower A-pillars and console, along with matte carbon fiber registers. Lightspeed Blue Alcantara®-wrapped carbon fiber seats feature silver stitching, while seating surfaces and head restraints are embossed with the GT logo. The instrument panel is wrapped in Ebony leather and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara, while pillars and headliner are wrapped in Ebony Alcantara. Antimatter Blue appliqués on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace are coordinated with the unique wheels. The steering wheel is finished in Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, while dual-clutch paddle shifters are clear and polished.
“There are a lot of milestone moments in the history of Ford GT that we’ve celebrated, but the team was unanimous in believing the original prototype was the right vehicle this time around,” Severson said. “That 1964 prototype unleashed the creative genius of the Ford Advanced Vehicles team and paved the way for the Ford GT program. It put all of this in motion.”
Original Ford GT prototypes underscore ingenuity and speed
With the objective of beating Ferrari® and winning Le Mans, Ford began development of its own race car in 1963, and less than a year later, the Ford GT prototype (chassis GT/101) was revealed at the 1964 New York International Auto Show.
Five GT prototypes were built – the first Ford models to use deep aerodynamic analysis to optimize high-speed performance. These are some of the most significant cars produced by Ford, marking the foundation for the GT program that culminated in the company’s 1-2-3 sweep at Le Mans in 1966. The cars symbolize the groundbreaking engineering that continues at Ford with the 2022 Ford GT Heritage Edition.
Of the five Ford GT prototypes built, chassis GT/105 is the only one to survive and wear the period-correct livery.
Chassis GT/101 and GT/102 were scrapped after Le Mans and Monza crash testing, but that testing was critical in making significant improvements to GT/103, GT/104 and GT/105. Marking the first GT victory, GT/103 won at Daytona® in 1965 with Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby behind the wheel, while GT/104 placed third with Bob Bondurant and Ritchie Ginther. Both GT/103 and GT/104 have been repainted and are exclusive displays at the Shelby® Museum in Boulder, Colorado.
Building on the Heritage Edition series
The Ford GT Heritage Edition series has celebrated landmark moments, and of course Le Mans-winning titles. To date, the new 2022 Ford GT ’64 Heritage Edition marks the sixth in the ultra-limited-production series. These include:
- 2021 Ford GT ’66 Daytona Heritage Edition
- Honoring the Ford GT MK II No. 98 race car
- In production
- 2020 Ford GT ’69 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
- Honoring the Ford GT40 MK I 6 race car that was victorious at 1969 Le Mans
- Only 50 built
- 2019 Ford GT ’68 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
- Honoring Ford GT40 MK I 9 race car that was victorious at 1968 Le Mans
- Only 50 built
- 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
- Honoring Ford GT40 MK IV No. 1 race car that was victorious at Le Mans in 1967
- Only 39 built
- 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition
- Honoring Ford GT40 MK II No. 2 that Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon drove at 1966 Le Mans
- Only 27 built
- 2006 Ford GT Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
- Commemorating GT40’s back-to-back 24 Hours of Le Mans titles in 1968 and 1969
- Only 343 built
The 2022 Ford GT is available to order for approved Ford GT customers. Production is scheduled to begin in January. Click here for more information.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Combination of F1® inspired aerodynamics and performance combined with open roof driving epitomises true Formula One® car experience, on the road
- Removable roof panel offers ultimate sensory immersion for driver and passenger
- New Valkyrie Spider is a thrilling next step in the progression of the Aston Martin Valkyrie bloodline and is the fastest, most extreme open top Aston Martin to date.
- Production limited to 85 units worldwide and deliveries scheduled to begin H2 2022
The new Valkyrie Spider, unveiled today at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is a thrilling next-step in the progression of the Aston Martin Valkyrie bloodline.
It promises an even more intense experience. One shaped by the unbeatable sensory stimulus that comes with roof-off driving in one of the world’s most extreme hypercars. One that delivers the most comparable experience to that of an F1® car, not limited to the track.
The pursuit of open-top luxury comes with the challenge of ensuring the core experience remains true to Aston Martin and Adrian Newey’s exacting performance objectives for the original Aston Martin Valkyrie programme. As these positioned Valkyrie at the very cutting-edge of hypercar design and engineering it means the Valkyire Spider has benefitted from unique engineering solutions born from the combined talents of Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT).
While the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s unique 1155PS hybrid V12 powertrain remains unchanged, the Valkyrie Spider has received revisions to its carbon fibre structure, plus precise recalibration of both the active aerodynamic and active chassis systems. All with an eye to maintaining optimal Valkyrie performance when driven in a roof-off condition.
Key to Valkyrie Spider’s unprecedented performance is the ultra-lightweight construction and high downforce aerodynamics package. The upper body surfaces of the teardrop-shaped cockpit and lower tub contours follow the envelope of space available between the huge full-length Venturi tunnels that run either side of the cockpit floor. Drawing huge quantities of air beneath the car to feed the rear diffuser, these tunnels are the key to generating Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider’s extraordinary levels of downforce – >1400kg at 240km/h in track mode – while keeping the upper body surfaces free from additional aerodynamic devices that would spoil the purity of the open-top styling.
By following the same exacting Valkyrie ethos, and with just a marginal weight difference to the Coupe, Valkyrie Spider remains a quintessential package of efficient and lightweight solutions. Capable of achieving a vMAX of 330km/h+ with the roof removed (350km/h+ with roof on), its the fastest and most extreme open-top, road-legal Aston Martin ever built. Delivering LMP1 levels of performance, Valkyrie Spider is simulated to set impressive lap times, not normally achievable in a road-going car.
The same driver focused cabin sits at the heart of Valkyrie Spider. F1® inspired low hip-to-heel height and near-central seat positioning, along with a 6-point safety harness to keep the occupants safely in the car. A centre rear-view camera system along with front and rear parking sensors will aid the driver at both high and low speeds, with displays sitting just above the Instrument Panel.
Valkyrie Spider features a bespoke, removable lightweight roof comprising of a carbon fibre central panel, latching onto the tub at the rear and to the windscreen surround at the front, along with a pair of polycarbonate roof windows, hinged on either side. On opening the doors, the roof can simply be lifted off and stowed away. Modifications to the carbon fibre tub have been made to support the removable roof panels and the luxury open-top layout, as well as new doors. The now front-hinged dihedral doors, which are unique to Valkyrie Spider, have been redesigned to tilt forwards.
The task of implementing these changes will be completed by Aston Martin’s engineering team, who are also responsible for managing the test and verification process. Extensive use of powerful simulation tools means development of the Valkyrie Spider is already well underway, ahead of the build and physical testing of the first development prototypes.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Moers said: “The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the product of incredible innovation and technology, but above all it has always been about emotion. With the Valkyrie Spider we are taking that passion and emotion to the next level. The driving experience promises to be truly sensational. The sound of that 6.5-litre V12 engine revving to over 11,000rpm with the roof removed is something I cannot wait to hear.”
Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey said: “Right from the very beginning of the Aston Martin Valkyrie project we were driven by exacting targets that went way beyond any previous road car and the Valkyrie Spider brings that same ethos to the open cockpit hypercar category. What you see is a simple removable roof panel, but the challenge of remaining true to the Valkyrie concept was anything but. Maintaining aerodynamic performance with the roof removed was of paramount importance, likewise keeping any unavoidable weight gains to an absolute minimum whilst maximising enjoyment for the driver.”
Following unprecedented demand, the 85 examples of the Valkyrie Spider are over subscribed and allocations will begin shortly, available in both left and right-hand drive derivatives, with first deliveries scheduled for H2 2022.
Valkyrie Spider will be on display at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California (USA) from 12 August – 15 August 2021, viewing by invitation only.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Ten years after opening first global retailer, McLaren prepares for 100th global retail opening which will be in China
- A decade of McLaren innovation from the 12C to the all-new McLaren Artura, McLaren’s first series-production High-Performance Hybrid supercar, and the 765LT Spider whose production allocation is already sold out for this year
- McLaren’s soon to be 100 strong retailer network now operates in 40 markets with vision to expand organically as part of second decade Horizon2030 business plan
Ten years after opening the doors of its first global retailer in London, British luxury supercar manufacturer McLaren Automotive announces that its 100th retailer is set to open in China later this year.
McLaren Automotive’s first retailer opened in the summer of 2011 and allowed customers and fans to discover the company’s first supercar, the 12C.
In the decade since, McLaren has continued to grow its retail presence to over 40 territories worldwide and has marked the decade with much-admired supercars such as the benchmark-setting 720S and the seminal 675LT – the first of the modern-day McLaren Longtails – the McLaren P1TM which was the world’s first hybrid hypercar as well as the GT and ultra-exclusive Ultimate models, the McLaren Senna, Speedtail and, more recently, the Elva roadster.
Fittingly given the global reach of the brand and in line with the brand’s ambitious Horizon2030 business plan, McLaren will open its 100th retailer in China later this year.
McLaren offers the full modern luxury experience to an increasing number of its customers with the opportunity to personalise their supercar through the in-house bespoke arm of McLaren Special Operations (MSO) which allows them to bring their unique vision and creation to life working with a dedicated team of designers, engineers and artisans.
Also in the first decade, McLaren opened its second facility – the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) – in Yorkshire in 2018. The MCTC innovates and creates low-weight, well-packaged carbon fibre architecture. First deployed in the all-new series hybrid Artura supercar, that architecture is helping to realise the company’s electrification ambitions for the next decade as it seeks to drop weight to maintain and improve the agility and attributes customer’s demand of a McLaren.
And the most recent chapter in the Longtail story in the form of the just launched 765LT Spider has seen production capacity for the rest of this year already sold out as the brand continues to maintain existing and attract new fans.
“In just 10 short years we, together with our dedicated retailer network, have grown from our first retailer in London to opening our 100th retailer which will be in China later this year, a market which has been growing very strongly and winning many fans.
“It is also fitting given the very global nature of our company and ambitions and our second decade is an intensely exciting and innovative one not only for McLaren but also for the wider automotive world. As we embrace a future of electrification with the all-new and lightweight McLaren Artura, we’ll continue to push the boundaries in the pursuit of creating the world’s finest drivers’ cars.”
Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Flying Spur Mulliner builds even further on “the best car in the world”
- Available with Bentley’s all-new V6 petrol Hybrid, or sublime V8 and W12 petrol powertrains
- Third member of Bentley Mulliner Collections portfolio, announced at Monterey Car Week
- Exquisitely appointed sedan is ultimate expression of modern craftsmanship and breath-taking luxury
- Designed and hand-built by Mulliner – Bentley’s bespoke division and the oldest coachbuilder in the world
- Unique exterior includes Double Diamond front grille, unique 22-inch wheel design and elegant Mulliner detailing
- Handcrafted interior features tri-tone colour split, diamond milled finish centre console beautiful details
Bentley Mulliner today announces the new Flying Spur Mulliner – the ultimate in four-door luxury Grand Touring and Mulliner’s first electrified Bentley.
Whether enjoying the technically advanced V6 Hybrid powertrain, the emotional V8 or endless waves of torque from the W12, customers will still benefit from the exquisite detailing offered by the latest Mulliner product.
Revealed at the prestigious Monterey Car Week in California, the elegantly appointed sedan sits at the pinnacle of the Flying Spur family, combining the very finest in modern craftsmanship and breath-taking luxury.
The most luxurious Flying Spur to date has been created and developed by Bentley Mulliner and designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain. Taking its place as the flagship of the Bentley range, the new Flying Spur Mulliner will appeal to customers who desire an even greater focus on elegant details.
Beautifully appointed detailing includes exclusive Mulliner 22-inch wheels, in a grey painted and polished finish, with self-levelling wheel caps that remain upright as the wheels rotate. A “Double Diamond” front grille and chrome front lower grille are matched by bespoke Mulliner branded wing vents and Satin Silver painted mirror caps. The iconic Bentley Flying B is electronically deployed and illuminated, while the Flying Spur Mulliner also features jewel fuel and oil caps.
Mulliner illuminated outer treadplates and deep-pile Mulliner overmats welcome passengers inside the ultimate Flying Spur cabin, which offers a Mulliner curation of eight custom-made, three-colour combinations. The sumptuously trimmed cockpit is complemented by accent colour piping and unique Mulliner embroidery to the hand-stitched seats.
An example of one of the curated interiors – Ascot – is a combination of Imperial Blue leather to the instrument panel, door trims and headlining while a light tan leather called Camel, emphasises the style of the seats. White micro-piping, embroidery and accent line combines a third colour into the unique Mulliner interior.
Further combinations such as Flare and Sirius add bolder combinations including Hotspur and Beluga, and Linen and Brunel both with a silver accent.
The Mulliner Driving Specification is fitted as standard, bringing the “Diamond-in-Diamond” quilting to the seats, and three-dimensional leather to the doors. Contrast seat piping matches the accent that surrounds the occupants from the centre console, around the instrument panel and finishes beneath the door waistrail, highlighting the Bentley B chrome inlays.
The luxurious Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting involves an embroidery process that alone took 18 months to develop. Each diamond contains exactly 712 individual stitches – each one aligned to the exact centre of the diamond it creates.
Modern craftsmanship and breath-taking luxury combine in the diamond milled technical finish that is applied to the centre and rear consoles. The centrepiece feature on the dashboard alongside chrome bullseye vents is a stunning, brushed silver Mulliner clock.
The classic Bentley theme continues in the LED driver’s instrument panel, with stylish new and exclusive Mulliner graphics. The now famous Bentley Rotating Display, sports pedals, heated duo-tone 3-spoke steering wheel and panoramic sunroof further add to the luxurious ambience.
Unique Mulliner electrically-operated picnic tables are mounted to the rear of the front seats and can be deployed with a single press of a button. The veneered tables, which feature unique overlay, lower and self-level to reveal a leather-trimmed surface with a recess for a pen or stylus. Holding the button down returns the table gracefully to its home position.
Flying Spur Mulliner customers receive leather-bound keys in a unique, Mulliner-branded handcrafted presentation box, which matches the three-colour cabin configuration of their car. The two keys are provided in similarly colour-matched cases with contrast stitching.
The Flying Spur Mulliner is available with Bentley’s V8 and W12 powertrains, as well as the new V6 Hybrid. When equipped with Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12, the Flying Spur Mulliner accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds) and is capable of a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h). The new generation 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 delivers a top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds). The new V6 Hybrid accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds) with a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h).
Bentley Mulliner
Bentley Mulliner is Bentley’s highly-acclaimed, bespoke commissioning division and the oldest coachbuilder in the world. Synonymous with luxury, the new Flying Spur Mulliner is just the third member of the newly-created Bentley Mulliner Collections family alongside the sublime Continental GT and Continental GT Convertible.
In the world of Mulliner, anything is possible. Established to respond to the requirements of Bentley’s most discerning customers, the bespoke division is renowned throughout the automotive world for crafting some of the most individual Bentleys ever created.
An experienced team, supported by in-house engineers and designers at Bentley headquarters in Crewe, prides itself on a long history of fulfilling the desires and demands of every Mulliner customer.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Automobili Pininfarina and BOVET 1822 confirm new partnership at Monterey Car Week, marking the world premiere of the first production-specification Battista pure-electric hyper GT
- Collaboration will see a ground-breaking new timepiece unveiled later this year in celebration of the Battista – the first car to wear the Automobili Pininfarina badge
- First production-spec Battista features stunning black exposed signature carbon fibre bodywork, precision-polished forged aluminium alloy wheels and Iconica Blu interior highlights
Today, a new chapter in the history of BOVET 1822 and Pininfarina is being written with the announcement of the partnership between BOVET 1822 and Automobili Pininfarina, celebrating the creation of the first automobile designed and completely assembled in Cambiano – the exquisite new Battista pure-electric hyper GT.
The new collaboration was officially launched at an exclusive event at Monterey Car Week in California and will see a unique new timepiece revealed later this year.
Automobili Pininfarina is taking the next step to delivering its pioneering pure-electric hyper GT at Monterey Car Week, where the first production-spec example made its world premiere, alongside the US debut of the exclusive Battista Anniversario.
Per Svantesson, Automobili Pininfarina CEO, said: “In creating Battista, Automobili Pininfarina established itself as the world’s first pure-electric luxury car company. We have welcomed clients to our family who are excited by our mission to create sustainable yet collectible art forms. We have challenged our own team members to ensure Battista is beautiful by design, combining seamlessly evocative, pure lines which complement perfectly the most advanced electric powertrain technology in the world.
“Since the day we first connected with Pascal Raffy and the artisans of BOVET 1822, we felt mutually inspired by the opportunity to create another art form for clients desiring the pinnacle in design and watchmaking. With the unveiling of our first timepiece together later this year, we aim to showcase another step forward in the world of artisanal horology.”
Pascal Raffy, BOVET 1822 owner, said: “The 11-year partnership with Pininfarina is a key foundation for BOVET 1822, and the collaboration with Automobili Pininfarina is a continuation of this. Since the start, we have been working together in design, technology, and engineering, while at the same time utilising the artisanal nature of BOVET 1822 manufacturing. We are two houses sharing the same values, and now we are heading into the future.
“The world is becoming more sustainable, and the future is definitely in electric cars. This is what is so exciting about the beautiful Battista, which combines engineering excellence with hand-made attention to detail, like the fine timepieces of the House of BOVET. The Battista is a hypercar of stunning design, with almost 1,900 hp, yet it is sustainable and 100 per cent electric. We all need to move in this direction, and Automobili Pininfarina is inspiring us to use new methods and materials and look at our processes with an eye to sustainability as well.
“We are working on projects that celebrate the Battista and introduce concepts and forms that we have never used before in our timepieces. The Battista is the car of tomorrow, so we are breaking new ground with everything, which fits this incredible partnership.”
Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Group, said: “The partnership with BOVET 1822 – started in 2010 – is far more than a collaboration. It’s a commonality of vision based on our passion for beauty, technology and craftsmanship. The masterpieces born in the last 11 years are the expression of this vision and the blend of our skills matured throughout a long history and the passion for future. Today we are proud to write a new chapter of our story thanks to the contribution of Automobili Pininfarina. The new timepiece embodies the same spirit that led to the conception of the Battista with Automobili Pininfarina: an outstanding piece of design, high performing and created with a sustainable approach.”
The rich history of BOVET 1822 and Pininfarina SpA
During an initial meeting with Raffy in 2010, Paolo Pininfarina recognised a kindred spirit with shared values, and the decision was made almost immediately to work together to magnify the legendary past of each House while proposing a shared vision of the future.
In contrast to the notion of a private label, from the very start the concept was based on an active and equal partnership, marrying the specific strengths of the designer and watchmaker, while taking into account the constraints of their respective activities. This was the only way to achieve a perfect symbiosis of technical virtuosity, performance and beauty without compromise, and the partnership continued this way until today.
Throughout this 11-year history, BOVET 1822 and Pininfarina have debuted a number of timepieces, all cutting edge, infused with the spirit of Pininfarina design and underpinning the foundation of BOVET 1822 heritage and tradition. Timepieces realised include the Ottanta, Ottantadue, Ottantatre, Ottantasei, Cambiano, Sergio, and Novanta.
The Future is Now
Moving forward, the Automobili Pininfarina and BOVET 1822 partnership will continue the unique pioneering story between Pininfarina and Bovet, pushing each other to new heights of innovation and design excellence, while at the same time evolving the nature of such a partnership. The new Automobili Pininfarina x BOVET 1822 timepiece will debut later this year.
