The new Volvo XC-90 First look (Interior) PIC HEAVY - Stunning, just stunning.

TMW THOUGHTS

WOW, if the interior of the new Volvo XC-90 is anything to go by, then the exterior will be just as stunning, the removal of all the controls and placing them in a Tablet is bang up to date, the brilliant use of the wood, leather and crystal goes to show that, yes, we have waited 12 years for an all new XC-90, but the wait has well been worth it. I look forward to August when the exterior reveal will be made, and then Volvo will have a world beater again, and about time too.

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• First look at the new interior
• Full external reveal will be made in August

One of the most anticipated car launches of recent years – Volvo’s all-new XC90 – begins today. Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) has created a launch programme that will unveil the car from the inside out, meaning that it will start by disclosing the many new interior features of the car and culminate in the full external reveal in August.

The original XC90 was launched in 2002, and it revolutionised the SUV segment with its combination of space, versatility and safety. It went on to become a global sales phenomenon. As will be made clear in coming weeks, the all-new XC90 will also be a transformational vehicle in its market segment.

As a taste of what is to come, today, Volvo Cars provides the first glimpse of the interior of the car.

The new interior is the most luxurious to have been designed for a Volvo, taking its inspiration from the country of Volvo’s birth, Sweden, which has a global reputation for integrating the latest technology with design that is clean, beautiful and crafted from the finest materials.

“The most striking feature is a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design of Volvo Cars. This system is virtually button free and represents an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services.

The new XC90’s interior combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details including a gear-lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glass maker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.

“These details are designed to become the jewels of the interior. They add a bit of exclusive playfulness rather than pure functionality,” said Robin Page, Volvo Cars’s Interior Design Director.

The all-new XC90 is the first Volvo to use the company’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which creates a far wider range of design possibilities, improves driveability and permits the inclusion of the latest safety features and connected in-car technologies, while at the same time increasing interior space.

“Our new interior architecture is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect,” said Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development of Volvo Cars.

The story of the latest advancements within safety and interior air quality will be released in late July/early August, while the reveal of the technology highlights, including chassis and powertrains, will start in mid-July and continue throughout the summer until the exterior launch at the end of August.

“The customer and the customer experience are at the heart of everything we do at Volvo Cars. We don’t do technology for technology’s sake – everything in a Volvo is there to make our cars safer and more pleasurable to drive,” said Alain Visser, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service of Volvo Cars.

Goodwood's Cartier Style et luxe concours d'elegance to surprise and wow again

Now in its 19th consecutive year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show, the annual Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance has gathered hundreds of the world’s finest, most beautiful, valuable, distinctive and sought-after cars over the years, all competing for the coveted Overall Winner award, as voted by a distinguished panel of judges.

This year the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ is set to be truly exceptional as Goodwood celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Speed.  In line with the 2013 Festival ‘Best of the first 20 years’ theme, the eight vehicle classes and cars on display at Goodwood will reflect many of the greatest machines that have graced the tranquil Cartier Lawn over the last two decades.

The Cartier vehicle classes will be made up of around 50 beautiful cars, plus one spectacular and memorable beast, only seen at Goodwood once before!  The eight classes will include a number of striking pre-War decedent automobiles, including the stunning 1929 Bugatti Type 41 ‘Royale’ with Coupe de Ville coachwork by Binder, plus an unusual coachbuilt Vauxhall 30/98, to help mark the centenary of Britain’s 100 mph car. 

A mouth-watering array of pre-War streamlined automotive art will include a beautiful 1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic, plus a real beast; the one-off Phantom Corsair that first came to Goodwood in 2006, when it proceeded to gently move across the Cartier lawn by itself in the middle of the night with the engine off, the car in gear, and the handbrake firmly on!  The aptly-named Phantom was a six-seater coupe designed by Rust Heinz of the famous Heinz (57 Varieties) family.  Built in 1938, Rust Heinz lost his life in a car crash the following year, and many subsequent guardians of the Phantom have meet with unusual and untimely ends, leading to the car often being labeled as cursed!

Post-War beauties will include a class of sublime 1950s grand tourers, such as the one-off 1954 Fiat Turbina and 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Competition Tour de France Speciale, as well chic drop tops for the rich and famous, including a 1954 Maserati A6 GCS Frua and rare Jaguar XKSS. 

A class of Sixties Sensations will include a number of iconic favourites, from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar and others, whilst a class of 911 derivatives will help celebrate the legendary Porsche’s 50th anniversary.

The two final classes will see an unparalleled selection of rarely-seen concept cars and pin-up supercars from the past 50 years, ranging from Peugeot and Vauxhall, to McLaren and Lamborghini.  Full details of all of the vehicles set to compete for the prestigious Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ Best of Show award will be confirmed over the coming weeks, along with the list of distinguished judges.

During the Festival weekend, a visit to the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ is made all the more enjoyable by a superb soundtrack of live jazz playing on the bandstand on Saturday and Sunday, making this is an unmissable occasion for anyone who appreciates the inherent creative magnificence of great automobiles.

Yes Mr Bond, Its a Range Rover Sport

• Daniel Craig drives the All-New Range Rover Sport in live reveal through New York  
• Manhattan comes to a standstill as spectacular drive closes down the city’s streets
• New York is Range Rover Sport’s biggest metropolitan market and the US its best selling country
• The All-New Range Rover Sport is the fastest, most agile and technology packed Land Rover ever
• British actor stars in short film by acclaimed Hollywood director Jonathan P. B. Taylor

In a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, actor Daniel Craig revealed the all-new Range Rover Sport as part of a dramatic drive through one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

The fastest, most agile and responsive Land Rover to date was put to the test by the British actor, who was entrusted to deliver the vehicle for its first unveiling to the world.

After skilfully handling the car and driving it through closed off streets, Craig delivered the all-new Range Rover Sport to a packed crowd of guests including Zara Phillips MBE, Jade Jagger and Yasmin Le Bon at the Skylight at Moynihan Stationon 8th Avenue, where the vehicle was officially revealed for the first time.

The dynamic and thrilling drive was filmed as part of a short film titled ‘The Delivery’.  It was broadcast live by Land Rover at www.newrangeroversport.com and saw the British brand stage a global reveal live on the streets of its biggest market.

Directed by action film 2nd unit director Jonathan P B Taylor, lauded for his work on Fast & Furious, Spiderman, Captain America and more recently Die Hard, the film tells the story of a driver tasked with delivering a top secret package.   Starting at the Land Rover manufacturing plant in Solihull, UK, the car is shipped under the cover of darkness in a large container over to Manhattan.  It is then unveiled and driven expertly through the streets of the city, over Manhattan Bridge and through a closed off tunnel, in a bid by its driver, Daniel Craig, to get it to the launch venue on time.  

Craig was attracted to working with Land Rover not only because of his love for the British brand and its vehicles – but also because both he and the brand share a link with the charity S.A.F.E., of which he is a patron. Land Rover, having previously donated a Land Rover Defender to the Kenyan NGO and UK Charity 4 years ago, is delighted to continue its support and is donating an additional vehicle to the charity later this year.

The donated Land Rover will be used by the S.A.F.E. team to assist in accessing hard-to-reach areas to educate, inspire and deliver social change.  Using accessible, mobile street theatre and community programmes, S.A.F.E.’s team of local professional performers educate their communities on an array of issues, from HIV to female circumcision to safe drinking water. S.A.F.E. founder Nick Reding attended the event in New York with Craig to talk about the charity and said: “Land Rover has generously given us a vehicle in the past, and this event is a great global platform for us to reach out and talk about our work. Land Rover is helping us get the message about what we do and why it works out to so many more people around the world than we could usually hope for.”

Speaking ahead of the official world premiere at the New York International Auto Show, Land Rover Global Brand Director John Edwards said:

“The All New Range Rover Sport is an extraordinary car and we have revealed it in an extraordinary way – live on the streets of its biggest selling market. It turned heads and it stopped traffic in one of the world’s most dynamic cities in the world.

The new Range Rover Sport represents a step change in engineering and technology; it is almost half a tonne lighter resulting in significant CO2 savings and its faster, more agile and more dynamic than ever.”

The all-new Range Rover Sport will go on sale during the third quarter of 2013. Full information including the full film ‘The Delivery’ is available to view at www.newrangeroversport.com now.

All-new Range Rover Sport

Developed alongside the highly-acclaimed Range Rover, the all-new Range Rover Sport now delivers the brand’s best-ever on-road dynamics together with class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability, while presenting customers with a more assertive and muscular exterior, more luxurious interior and the flexibility provided by the option of occasional 5+2 seating.

Exploiting Land Rover’s breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies, the new Sport’s all-new, first-in-class aluminium architecture achieves a weight saving of over 500kg (comparing four cylinder petrol with current V8 petrol).

Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the new model will be produced in a state-of-the-art low-energy manufacturing facility at Solihull, UK.

The all-new Range Rover Sport will ultimately be introduced in 169 markets worldwide.

Jonathan P B Taylor – 2nd Unit Director

Jonathan Taylor has spent a lifetime in the movie business. Starting in the camera department, he rose quickly through the ranks to become a world-leading Director, specialising in action unit work.  He has worked extensively on over 50 major action movies and has a long-standing partnership with action unit Director, Vic Armstrong – best known for his Indiana Jones and James Bond films.  Since 2009, Jonathan has performed the role of Director and Director of Photography in the action units for all the films Armstrong has worked on.  Jonathan created the storyboard and coordinated the whole Monaco sequence for Iron Man 2, and conceived and directed all the complex action sequences for Captain America. In the recent Die Hard movie, Jonathan ran the complete action unit responsible for all the major set pieces.  Jonathan was also responsible for major action scenes in Fast and Furious, and the iconic ‘fight on the train’ scene in Spiderman.

GENEVA - Ferrari launches best ever car, its a STUNNER

An iconic name for a car that encompasses the very best of Prancing Horse passion, technology and exclusivity

On display the most comprehensive and acclaimed Ferrari range ever

The wraps are finally off the LaFerrari. The Prancing Horse’s eagerly-anticipated limited-series special, of which just 499 will be built, made its world debut today at the Geneva International Motor Show. 

“We chose to call this model LaFerrari,” declared Ferrari’s President, Luca di Montezemolo, “because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company – excellence. Excellence in terms of technological innovation, performance, visionary styling and the sheer thrill of driving. Aimed at our collectors, this is a truly extraordinary car which encompasses advanced solutions that, in the future, will find their way onto the rest of the range, and it represents the benchmark for the entire automotive industry. LaFerrari is the finest expression of our company’s unique, unparalleled engineering and design know-how, including that acquired in Formula 1.

For Ferrari the development of a limited-series special like the LaFerrari represents an opportunity to experiment with all the technological solutions that will later filter down onto the production cars. Of particular significance in this context is the introduction of the hybrid system which, making full use of the Scuderia Ferrari’s F1 KERS know-how, has resulted in a solution that exalts Ferrari’s fundamental values – performance and driving thrills.

The hybrid technology used, known as HY-KERS, represents the perfect combination of maximum performance and lower emissions. LaFerrari in fact emits just 330 g/km of CO₂ but without resorting to electric-only drive which would not fit the mission of this model. The HY-KERS system is, however, designed so that in future applications a car can be driven using exclusively electric power for a few kilometres and, during development testing, a full-electric version of LaFerrari achieved just 220 g/km of CO₂ emissions on the combined cycle.

The LaFerrari is equipped with dynamic controls that are integrated for the first time ever on a Ferrari road car with active aerodynamics and the HY-KERS system. Thanks to Ferrari’s proprietary logic which govern all the systems, the car can achieve absolute levels of performance, aerodynamic efficiency and handling without any form of compromise in any area. A very advanced and uncompromising approach was also taken with the interior design which features an HMI inspired by F1 single-seaters.

Architecture

The LaFerrari’s architecture posed the first challenge for the Prancing Horse team at the planning stage of the design. The aim was to achieve ideal weight distribution (59% at the rear) and a compact wheelbase despite the extra bulk of the hybrid system. The result is that all of the masses are situated between the car’s two axles and as close as possible to thefloor to lower its centre of gravity (by 35 millimetres) and thereby guarantee dynamic handling and compact dimensions.

The layout of the cabin made a significant contribution in this regard. The seat is fixed and tailored to the driver while both the pedal box and steering wheel are adjustable. The driving position is similar to that of a single-seater and was designed after consultation with the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who played an active role throughout the entire development process.

The LaFerrari’s chassis features no less than four different types of carbon-fibre, all hand-laminated and autoclave-cured in the racing department using the same design and production methods as the Formula 1 car. This helped optimise the design: various functions were integrated (e.g. seats and battery compartment) into the chassis to improve torsional rigidity (+27%) and beam stiffness (+22%) whilst cutting weight. 

Powertrain

The LaFerrari is the first car in Ferrari history to be powered by the HY-KERS system. The ICE represents the pinnacle of engine development and research, with a 6262 cc V12 that punches out 800 CV and revs to a maximum of 9,250 rpm, a record for an engine of this displacement. It also features a very high 13.5:1 compression ratio and a high specific output equal to 128 CV per litre. The engine is coupled with a 120 Kw (163 CV) electric motor, giving it a combined power output of 963 CV.  

The high torque levels available at low revs from the electric motor allowed the engineers to optimise the internal combustion engine’s performance at higher revs, thus providing a constant supply of exceptional power throughout the rev range. Total torque generated is in excess of 900 Nm.

The hybrid system is composed of two electric motors developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli – one powering the driven wheels and the second the ancillaries – and a battery pack attached to the floor of the chassis consisting of cells that are assembled in the Scuderia Ferrari department where the KERS for the F138 is also made. The Scuderia’s expertise allowed considerable savings in weight and size of the individual components and the batteries weigh just 60 kg while providing the highest energy density possible for this kind of application.

The batteries are charged in different ways: under braking (even hard braking with the ABS active) and every time the V12 produces more torque than required, such as in cornering. In the latter instance, rather than the being sent to the wheels, the excess torque is converted to energy and stored in the batteries.

The electric motor is coupled with the F1 dual-clutch gearbox to the benefit of optimal weight distribution, but also to boosting energy efficiency as torque is instantly available to the wheels and, vice versa, from the wheels to the electric motor in recharging.

Aerodynamics

Active aerodynamics play an essential role, as they allow a complete adjustability of the car’s configuration to attain LaFerrari’s exceptional performance.

The engineers’ aim was to deliver the highest degree of aerodynamic efficiency ever achieved with any road car, with a coefficient of nearly 3, thanks to technical solutions honed with CFD analysis and fine-tuned in the F1 Wind Tunnel.

To boost efficiency, the LaFerrari sports active aerodynamic devices front (diffusers and guide vane on the underbody) and rear (diffusers and rear spoiler) which generate downforce when needed without compromising the car’s overall drag coefficient. These devices deploy automatically on the basis of a number of different performance parameters which are monitored in real time by the car’s dynamic vehicle controls, thus guaranteeing the ideal configuration on the basis of the driving conditions.

Control systems

One further innovative aspect of the LaFerrari is the integration of its active aerodynamics and hybrid system with the other dynamic control systems aboard. This means the car responds intelligently to driver inputs, making for a seamless blend of unprecedented performance and unparalleled driving emotions. 

Proprietary Ferrari algorithms deliver optimal integration of the electric motor and V12 for instantaneous response.  In cornering, for instance, the HY-KERS keeps the V12’s revs high to guarantee better acceleration on exit.

The LaFerrari’s Brembo braking system is also integrated with the hybrid system, and incorporates several new features, including new lightweight callipers designed to guarantee correct cooling and carbon-ceramic material (CCM) discs featuring a new composition. 

The car’s extreme performance potential called for a different tyre set-up, with 265/30 R 19 Pirelli P-Zeros on the front and 345/30 R 20s on the rear.

All in all the car guarantees maximum driving thrills in every situation and performance levels are top level: 0-100 km/h in less than 3 seconds and 0-200 km/h in under 7 seconds, a lap time at Fiorano of under 1’20” – 5 seconds faster than the Enzo and over 3 seconds faster than the F12berlinetta. LaFerrari is thus the fastest road car in Maranello’s long history.

Styling

The Ferrari design team led by Flavio Manzoni developed the LaFerrari’s styling working in close synergy with the engineers to emphasise the exacting link between form and function. The result is an extreme, innovative design which retains close links to the marque’s tradition. This is most evident in its side profile: the car has a sharp, downward-sloping nose and a very low bonnet which emphasises its muscular wheelarches, a clear nod to the gloriously exuberant forms of late-1960s Ferrari sports prototypes.

The LaFerrari’s body has been given a sculptural treatment heavily influenced by its clearly F1-inspired aerodynamics and a tail section that exudes uncompromising sportiness.

Inside there’s a newly-designed steering wheel sporting all the major commands, and the gear-shift paddles are now longer and more ergonomic. The signature bridge on which the F1 gearbox functions are clustered has taken on a sleek, suspended wing-like shape.  The whole interior, in fact, has a fiercely track-inspired, pared-back allure.   

The Ferrari range

Aside from the new limited-series special, the Ferrari stand also features the complete range which is the most wide-ranging and critically acclaimed in its entire history.  The five models all share the same Ferrari DNA in terms of performance, driving pleasure and technology, yet each one has its own strongly unique identity, in line with the company’s philosophy of “different Ferraris for different Ferraristi”.  

Ferrari’s 12-cylinder GT sports car prowess is represented at Geneva by the FF, the very first four-seater and four-wheel drive in Prancing Horse history. It will be sporting a Grigio Ingrid livery with an elegant glass roof and Iroko interior. The FF is also now seamlessly integrated with Apple technologies, thanks to direct access to the infotainment system via SIRI voice commands and the adoption of two iPad Minis as the entertainment system of choice for the rear seat passengers.  

Blistering performance and sublime driving pleasure even at low speeds are assured behind the wheel of the multi-award-winning F12berlinetta, which is powered by a mid-front V12.  Unique handling characteristics, extreme aerodynamics and an innovative yet classic design are its signatures. The car on show at Geneva has a Grigio Silverstone livery and a Sella di Cavallo interior.

Moving on to the 8-cylinders, the California 30, in sophisticated Nero Stellato with a Crema interior, is a convertible GT that uncompromisingly marries sportiness and versatility. The California’s already-massive popularity with both press and public alike grew still further after its V8’s output was upped by 30 hp to 490 hp, and 30 kg was slashed off its overall weight.  

The blistering 458 Italia is a sublime, thoroughbred sports car. It and its drop-top sibling, the 458 Spider, are equipped with the same extraordinary mid-rear-mounted V8 engine which was named International Engine of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. These two models continue Ferrari’s glorious tradition with this particular layout. The coupé seen at Geneva sports an aggressive Bianco Avus livery and sleek black interior with carbon-fibre trim, while the Spider, which dominates the Tailor-Made extreme personalisation area, takes its inspiration from the legendary 1957 250 Testa Rossa that sold for a record 16 million dollars at auction at Pebble Beach in 2011. It has the same red and blue livery and a host of competition car details in its cabin, not least of which are suede-upholstered seats and Alutex trim.  

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

HY-KERS system

Total maximum power	963 CV
Total maximum torque	>900 Nm
V12 maximum power*	800 CV @9000 rpm
Maximum revs	9250 rpm
V12 maximum torque	700 Nm @6750 rpm
Electric motor output	120 Kw (163 CV)
CO2 emissions**	330 g/km

Performance

Maximum speed	over 350 km/h
0-100 km/h	<3 sec
0-200 km/h	<7 sec
0-300 km/h	15 sec

ICE

Type	65-deg. V12
Bore and stroke	94 x 752 mm
Total displacement	6262 cc
Compression ratio	13.5:1
Specific power	128 CV/l

Dimensions

Length	4702 mm
Width	1992 mm
Height	1116 mm
Wheelbase	2650 mm
Weight distribution	41% fr, 59% r
Gearbox
7-speed DCT

Suspension

Front	double wishbones
Rear	multi-link
Tyres (Pirelli P-Zero)
Front	265/30 - 19
Rear	345/30 - 20
Carbon ceramic brakes (Brembo)
Front	398 x 223 x 36 mm
Rear	380 x 253 x 34 mm

Electronic controls

ESC	stability control
High perf ABS/EBD	Performance anti blockage system/electronic brake balance
EF1-Trac	F1 electronic traction control integrated with the hybrid system
E-Diff 3	third generation electronic differential
SCM-E Frs	magnetorheological damping with twin solenoids (Al-Ni tube)
Aerodynamics	active

* with dynamic ram effect
**Undergoing homologation