Tag: aero

Video: XCAR loves the Morgan Aero Coupe and so do we

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, UK, Luxury, MISC

XCAR Morgan Aero Coupe parked on street - front three-quarter view - video screencap

If you listen to the accountants of the world, the Morgan Aero Coupe simply shouldn’t exist. With a production run of around 100 units, this car is the very definition of boutique. It reeks of nonsensical transportation. It isn’t the fastest. It doesn’t handle the best. It isn’t even the most luxurious. As such, there simply isn’t a business case for the car on paper. Count us among the thankful that human desire has nothing to do logic. XCAR recently took the time to get personal with the Aero Coupe by exercising the machine through downtown London at night. The result is some beautiful videography of what Morgan calls “automotive theater.”

It’s a damn fine way to spend six and a half minutes of your day. You can watch the clip below for yourself to see what we mean. Just don’t blame us if you start looking at your daily ride with a more jaundiced eye.

Continue reading XCAR loves the Morgan Aero Coupe and so do we

XCAR loves the Morgan Aero Coupe and so do we originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero II: More images and info

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style

2011 SSC Ultimate Aero II

2011 SSC Ultimate Aero II – Click above for high-res image gallery

Top Gear has let loose another batch of pics showcasing the SSC Ultimate Aero II. In addition to the tantalizing imagery, we get some facts and figures. For starters, this new Ultimate Aero is powered by a 6.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that can scream up to a 9,000 rpm redline. Power? 1,350 horses, every last drop of which will be needed to hit the targeted top speed of 275 mph. Obviously, this rocketship won’t be available for short money; it’s going to cost $970,000.

SSC aims to recapture the production car speed record it initially took away from Bugatti, which responded this year by building the Veryron Supersport just to get it back. Shelby Supercars believes the Ultimate Aero II will once again allow it to take back the speed crown.

SSC team isn’t simply relying on monster power and a slick Jason Castriota-styled exterior. In a nod to Colin Chapman, the new Aero weighs much less than a Veyron thanks to a handful of engineering feats. The wheels are the world’s first one-piece carbon-fiber units and tip the scale at just under 13 pounds. In fact, there’s carbon-fiber all over the Ultimate Aero II, with the exception of some aluminum bracing for added safety in the event of a crash. Overall, the car weighs about 2,600 pounds, giving it a power-to-weight ratio nearly double that of the Bugatti Veyron. Those specs pretty much say that it isn’t so much a question of whether the SSC Ultimate Aero II car will set a record, only when it’ll finally happen.

Gallery: 2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II

2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II

[Source: Top Gear via Motor Authority]

SSC Ultimate Aero II: More images and info originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero II: More images and info

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style

2011 SSC Ultimate Aero II

2011 SSC Ultimate Aero II – Click above for high-res image gallery

Top Gear has let loose another batch of pics showcasing the SSC Ultimate Aero II. In addition to the tantalizing imagery, we get some facts and figures. For starters, this new Ultimate Aero is powered by a 6.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that can scream up to a 9,000 rpm redline. Power? 1,350 horses, every last drop of which will be needed to hit the targeted top speed of 275 mph. Obviously, this rocketship won’t be available for short money; it’s going to cost $970,000.

SSC aims to recapture the production car speed record it initially took away from Bugatti, which responded this year by building the Veryron Supersport just to get it back. Shelby Supercars believes the Ultimate Aero II will once again allow it to take back the speed crown.

SSC team isn’t simply relying on monster power and a slick Jason Castriota-styled exterior. In a nod to Colin Chapman, the new Aero weighs much less than a Veyron thanks to a handful of engineering feats. The wheels are the world’s first one-piece carbon-fiber units and tip the scale at just under 13 pounds. In fact, there’s carbon-fiber all over the Ultimate Aero II, with the exception of some aluminum bracing for added safety in the event of a crash. Overall, the car weighs about 2,600 pounds, giving it a power-to-weight ratio nearly double that of the Bugatti Veyron. Those specs pretty much say that it isn’t so much a question of whether the SSC Ultimate Aero II car will set a record, only when it’ll finally happen.

Gallery: 2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II

2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II

[Source: Top Gear via Motor Authority]

SSC Ultimate Aero II: More images and info originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero II flashes backside for Top Gear

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style

SSC Ultimate Aero rear end

SSC recently teased us with shots of their new would-be Bugatti assassin, the Ultimate Aero II and Shelby Supercars has allowed Top Gear to provide the world a new angle with which to view their exotic road warrior.

The SSC Ultimate Aero II is designed by skilled artisan Jason Castriota, who his now putting his pen to paper for Saab. The design of the front is a beautiful mix of flowing lines with subtle, hard creases. The rear end seems much more alien, but equally stunning. The previous SSC vehicle, the Ultimate Aero TT, bested the Bugatti Veyron in the all-out speed competition at 256 miles per hour. This all-new Ultimate Aero II looks like it already beat that mark while simply posing for pictures. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if someone handed us the keys then told us “where we’re going… we don’t need roads.”

Our one nitpick? The eventual damage to the exhaust area. It already looks like that rear pod is sitting on the deck so it’s unlikely the SSC will make it through the local Wal-Mart parking lot. Oh well, time to put the checkbook back in the drawer. We’ll just wait for the Saab equivalent.

Gallery: 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero

SSC Ultimate Aero II flashes backside for Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero II: Red, white and blue Bugatti killer

SSC Ultimate Aero II – Watch the “unveiling” teaser video after the jump

Shelby Supercars’ Ultimate Aero TT used to be the fastest production car in the world, its 256-mph record speed eclipsing even the mighty Bugatti Veyron. Then, as of a few weeks ago, Bugatti got its act together and topped SSC’s number with the new Veyron Super Sport – to the tune of 267.81 mph.

In August at Monterey, the Ultimate Aero successor, the Ultimate Aero II – penned by new Saab design chief Jason Castriota (he of Bertone Mantide / Ferrari P4/5 fame) – was unveiled in a private ceremony captured on YouTube. It was all a tease; the car was never actually shown in the “unveiling” video, only the attendees’ reaction to it. Suffice it to say, the car was well-received.

And now we know why. Jalopnik has secured a pair of leaked images slated to appear in Top Gear magazine in conjunction with the car’s official launch next week. As you can see, Castriota’s influence is plainly visible in the Ultimate Aero II’s detailing. It’s got an edgier, more assertive appearance than its predecessor, and we can only assume that it has the power to back up its menacing new looks. We can’t wait to get the scoop on September 8 when SSC releases full details.

In the meantime, head over to Jalopnik to see the second leaked photo and follow the jump to watch the teaser video filmed at the Ultimate Aero II’s private Monterey unveiling.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Continue reading SSC Ultimate Aero II: Red, white and blue Bugatti killer

SSC Ultimate Aero II: Red, white and blue Bugatti killer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby Supercars teases new 2011 Ultimate Aero

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Specialty, Design/Style

Shelby Supercars 2011 Ultimate Aero teaser

Shelby Supercars 2011 Ultimate Aero teaser – Click above to enlarge

Nobody is disputing that Shelby Supercar’s Ultimate Aero is fast. In fact, it may very well be the fastest production car in the world, though Bugatti is sure to raise an eyebrow to that notion. In any case, no matter how aerodynamic it may be, the Ultimate Aero is also ultimately ugly. And we mean really unattractive in an I-drew-this-at-recess sort of way.

Hopefully, that ugly truth is soon to be jettisoned via some well-deserved Jason Castriota love. That’s the news that’s been floating around the interwebs over the last few months, and the resulting car was apparently shown to a small, private party over the course of the festivities in Monterey.

Now SSC is teasing its next supercar for a September debut. All we get to see for now is an up-close shot of what appears to possibly be part of the front fascia, though we can’t really be sure. We wish we could tell you more, but at least we can all rest easy with the knowledge that it couldn’t hardly be any worse, right? Here’s hoping it’s much, much better.

[Source: Shelby Supercars]

Shelby Supercars teases new 2011 Ultimate Aero originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IndyCar offers fans a chance to design 2012 aero kits

Filed under: Motorsports, Design/Style


2012 IndyCar Concepts – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Indy Racing League announced a “new”chassis for the 2012 season, but left open the possibility for other companies to design the “clothes” that chassis will wear. The hope was that some new names will enter the running if the teams only have to spend development dollars on the aero bits rather than designing and building a whole car. So far names like Boeing, Honda and Lotus have been mentioned, but there could be dozens of entries by the time the 2012 season starts. Would you like to add your own name to that list? The IRL has posted several renderings of the new Indy Safety Cell and is allowing you to post your designs in a gallery for all the world to see. The top design could make some hitherto unknown graphic artist famous.

You can click over to the IndyCar website to get more details or check out our gallery to download the renderings and get started on your 2012 IndyCar. The basic chassis will still be built by Dallara, which is going to open a new plant right alongside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It will be sold to teams for a fraction of what the current chassis costs, but the teams will also have to buy a new engine and bodywork to complete the package. The whole setup will still cost teams far less than in the past, with the hopes that more businesses will find it affordable to enter the 2012 IRL championship… and save open-wheel U.S. racing in the process.

Gallery: 2012 IndyCar aero kit concepts

[Source: Indy Racing League]

IndyCar offers fans a chance to design 2012 aero kits originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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