Arash AF-10
Arash is a heroic archer in Iranian folklore, and the name today literally means “swift arrow.” That is no doubt the best translation to words of the Arash AF-10, which appears to be finally headed to production after years of research and development. The AF-10 combines a lethal dose of carbon fiber (almost all of the chassis and bodywork) with the venerable Corvette LS7 engine, tuned to produce 500bhp. The Ferrari Enzo-styled beast also boasts 19 and 20-inch wheels that shield cripplingly huge 8 and 6-pot carbon ceramic calipers. The boutique British firm promises that only 70 will made it to the streets after a five year run, and it’s just as well; the exclusive exotic will retail for over $500,000. Arash has also gone on record as stating the eventual availability of a supercharged 800bhp engine and a 1000bhp version as well. Swift arrow indeed.
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2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder
When Porsche introduced the Panamera, many felt that the boys from Zuffenhausen had lost their minds, and, in the spirit of the Cayenne, has continued to drift away from the motoring ideals that the company had once stood so stoically by. All the naysayers will surely sleep soundly after reading the latest press release about Porsche’s newest toy, the Boxster Spyder. Porsche has returned to its original recipe for success that started with the 550 Spyder, and in doing so has created one of its best cars in decades. The 550 Spyder was the first car Porsche created to meet homologation rules, and in doing so, the public benefited enormously from their efforts, and was essentially able to purchase a race-worthy production vehicle. Set above the ‘S’ in Boxster trim levels, the Spyder is both the lightest and most powerful car in the lineup; it has shed 80kg over the S yet boasts an additional 10bhp for a total of 320. The mid-engined roadster also has a more aggressive suspension and will be available with Porsche’s exquisite PDK transmission. It will hit showrooms in February 2010.
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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in 2010
Finally, a theme park for gearheads, albeit with a 215-foot Ferrari logo on the roof. Fittingly, it also happens to be constructed in an area that will soon surpass Las Vegas in terms of excess, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Adjacent to Yas’ opulent marina, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will be, at 200,000 square feet, the world’s largest indoor theme park. The park will be created by the heralded design firm Benoy, who cite the classic double curve of the Ferrari GT as their primary inspiration for the mindblowing design. The centerpiece of the 20-odd rides will be the world’s fastest rollercoaster (simulating an F1 car and reaching speeds of over 200kph), but the park will also feature shopping and other hospitality options. Thankfully, you do have time to save for those pricey tickets to the UAE; the grand opening is slated for mid-2010.
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Triumph Bonneville Heuer Motorcycle
We simply don’t have enough time to tell you how cool Steve McQueen was. Thankfully, Triumph and Tag Heuer will do that for us; they have created a one-of-a-kind motorcycle to pay tribute to the influential actor and race enthusiast. Inspired by the classic McQueen race film Le Mans, the Bonneville Heuer shares the familiar Gulf Oil blue and orange paint scheme with McQueen’s famous Porsche 917. For those of in the know, McQueen also flashed a Heuer Monaco watch several times throughout the movie. With that, and the upcoming anniversaries of 40 and 50 years for the Heuer Monaco and Triumph Bonneville respectively, what better way to collaborate and honor the heritage of two hugely influential designs?
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50th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept
There aren’t many automotive designs that have endured as well as the Corvette Stingray. Now, 50 years later, some design challenges and tributes have started to trickle through to commemorate one of the great sports cars of all time. The design here pays homage to the classic shape of the Stingray with the long, sleek hood and bulging fenders. It also appears to take some design cues from the one-off Bertone Mantide as well as the Cadillac Sixteen Concept, which was also an internal GM design. From an overhead view, one spies the trademark teardrop shape towards the tail of the car, culminating with the iconic split-window rear windshield. Other design touches include a clamshell hood, scissor-style doors, ergonomic seats, rear-view camera with night vision enhancement, and a high performance hybrid drive. If Chevy is looking for inspiration for their C7, we think they should start here.
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Koenigsegg Trevita CCXR
The Trevita CCXR is the latest limited edition of Koenigsegg’s CCXR supercar. Trevita, in Swedish, means “three whites,” a reference to the number of cars planned for production. The limited production is due to the method and material employed in the manufacturing of the car’s bodywork. In-house Koenigsegg engineers developed a special type of carbon fiber whose fibers have been coated with a diamond finish, creating a metallic white (as opposed to traditional black) color. Dubbed the Koenigsegg Proprietary Diamond Weave, the material retains the typical, interwoven carbon fiber pattern, but with a unique, sparkling finish. Other upgrades over the standard CCXR include a double carbon wing, paddle shifters, an upgraded exhaust system, carbon ceramic brakes, and an infotainment system. The 1018 horsepower 4.7 liter engine is carried over from the standard car. Pricing has not been announced, but expect a considerable premium over the CCXR’s $1.2 million price tag.
2010 Vyrus 987 C3 4V Supercharged
Yes, you read the name correctly. Italian specialty tuners Vyrus have added another carbon-fiber laden superbike to their stable. The 987, their newest example, holds the distinction of being the most powerful production motorcycle in the world. The base model uses a Ducati 1198 engine that produces 170bhp; the bike itself weighs only 359lbs. Vyrus will also make available an ‘R’ model, boasting 14 more ponies and shedding 11 pounds (from where, we’re not sure). The cream of the crop, however, appears to be their supercharged version, which is clearly not for the faint of heart. This street-legal monster claims an output of 211 horsepower despite a curb weight of a mere 339lbs. Such numbers put the Vyrus in direct competition with Ducati’s heralded Desmosedici RR. Aesthetically, the Vyrus looks like a carboned and overengineered version of Bimota’s Tesi 3D, which speaks directly of the bike’s lineage. Both the Vyrus and the Bimota can be linked to the famed Massimo Tamburini; they were developed virtually side-by-side and share the ‘wasp’ look, minus the fairings for the Vyrus. Carbon fiber jokes aside, we love the look of the Vyrus; it is brutal and direct, and shows off all of the bike’s options without any pretense. It is a machine built purely for speed and is priced accordingly-the supercharged version tops out at lofy $112,000, nearly double the price of the base model.
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Veritas RS III
Veritas might be the oldest company no one has heard of. After a 50 year hiatus from successfully tuning prewar BMW 328s, the boutique firm has fully completed its comeback after debuting the ‘RS3 Concept’ in 2001. After years of testing and research, Veritas is poised to begin production on their RS III Roadster. The single-seater supercar will total 30 in number, and each vehicle will be assembled completely and painstakingly by hand over an 8 week period, courtesy of the company’s small 15-man staff. In the 40s, Veritas was reprimanded by BMW for unauthorized use of their prodcuts; ironically, a familiar 5-liter BMW V8 will power the RSIII over 60 years after first drawing the ire of the Munich-based marque. Weighing only 2,391 pounds and making great use of every one of its 507bhp, Veritas’ one-man racer promises to produce staggering acceleration numbers: the company claims a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 219mph. Cosmetically, the roadster looks like a caricature of a sea creature, at least from ground level. From many perspectives, the car appears to be looking back at its observers, thanks to its unique headlights. An angular, sloping nose and the sharp headlights frame the whale shark-mouth grille. While the vertically lined grille might have some thinking Maserati, but it is actually a tribute to the older Veritas models, having incorporated an almost identical look. The no-nonsense rear end, highlighted by a sharp crease at the beltline, triggers thoughts of old 60s Stingray Corvettes, minus the chrome of course. We think it looks pretty cool…maybe some other car makers should try taking a few years off.
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Suzusho Supasse V
The international motor shows will always give us a lot to talk about, and Toyko’s is rife with funky homegrown creations. Japan’s own Suzusho will debut their Supasse V, a car that draws inspiration from, well…everything. The Lotus-sized two seater has a positively McLaren-esque windshield and cockpit, is positively Panoz-like from the side profile, and has unmistakable Ferrari taillights. Looking futher down the Supasse’s list of borrowed equipment, one finds Mazda’s new turbocharged 2.3 liter (sourced from the new Mazdaspeed 3) mounted amidships. Tipping the scales at a mere 850kg, this mini-supercar promises a terrific power-to-weight ratio. Look for it in the upcoming Tokyo show; Suzusho hopes it will hit showrooms by mid-2010.
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2010 Kawasaki Concours 14
Kawasaki has made some great changes to their top-shelf sport tourer, the Concours 14. Most notably, the Concours gains a complete traction control system, along with revamped fairings and a larger windscreen, and second-generation ABS. It appears that the engineers over at the Green Machine were working overtime to update their biggest bike for the upcoming model year; while most other manufacturers were content to leave their motorcycles virtually unchanged, the Kawasaki also boasts heated grips, a fuel-economy management system, and a neater fit and finish compared to the outgoing model. While the engine and power output remain unchanged, gas mileage improves significantly, as does the two-wheeler’s handling. Aesthetically, the Concours seems to suffer from side-vent overkill, but we are willing to make an exception due to the overwhelming number of high-tech options offered. All this technology comes at a price though-the Concours 14 with ABS starts at $15,299.
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