Well, as it’s Friday and the end of the traditional working week, we thought it would be fun to do an update on the cars that you really, really want, but most of us can’t possibly afford. Still, if you’ve not got a bank balance to match David Beckham’s there’s always the £125 million Euromillions lottery rollover next week…..
Audi R8
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Looking for a new car then why not start with a glossy brochure?
When can I expect it? : December
How much is it going to cost me?:TBC
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What’s being said about it?:
It’s official - the new Audi sports car will be called the Audi R8. Presented two years ago as the ’Le Mans quattro’ concept study at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi has now taken the decision to build its new sports car.
All is being prepared for the series production at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm which is due to start in the final quarter of 2006.
There is an awful lot at stake with 28 million euros being invested in this production line. Development and test construction are already underway and there are around 250 employees working on the production of the R8.
“Through the R8 we are looking to build on our successes in motorsport and carry them over to series production. This model represents Audi’s very own interpretation of sportiness," says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of AUDI AG, about the new member of the Audi model range.
The Audi A2, A6 and A8 were all developed at the Aluminium Centre in Neckarsulm and the R8 will be relying on an intelligent, lightweight design which is the core area of expertise at the plant.
The Audi R8 is expected to do 0-60mph in under 5 seconds, reaching a top speed of over 180mph. There is a strong possibility that the Audi RS4’s three-litre V6 FSI unit will be an option to create an entry model.
Good news is that if you fancy one, there’s plenty of time to dig out your chequebook - the market launch is expected sometime around late 2006/early 2007.
Aston Martin DB9 RS
When can I expect it? :On sale now
How much is it going to cost me?:around £206,000
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What’s being said about it?:
BBC’s flagship motoring show Top Gear ran a feature recently that asked the question ‘What would Jesus Drive?’ A popular answer was the stunning Aston Martin DB9RS, the gas guzzling, dynamic show-stopper with the ability to make heads do a full on exorcist 360 style spin and provoke a reaction. It probably wouldn’t look out of place in the Garden of Eden and if it had been parked there, Adam and Eve may have avoided the eternal damnation of man. Or maybe they would have fallen out over who was going to drive it instead.
Carrying on the religious theme, you’re bound to hear people saying ‘My God, it’s gorgeous’. But then, like miracles, sightings of the DB9 RS going past you on the motorway aren’t likely to happen very often and even then if you blink you’ll probably miss it.
This is a machine for people who want all the thrill of a GT but don’t have a truckload of mechanics driving behind them. It’s built using the road-going DB9’s aluminium bonded chassis and borrows the V12 engine.
It’s a relatively lightweight 1,230kg (Astons aren’t the lightest of cars), and the RS now has a power-to-weight ratio of nearly 430bhp per tonne. The RS can be ordered with a six-speed H-pattern gearbox with shorter ratios, or you have the option to upgrade to a full sequential racing gearbox.
The problem is that for this iconic machine, you’re looking at a price tag of around £206,000. That’s double the standard DB9 and that’s before all the extra’s go on. It costs more than the Porsche 911 GT3 which could pose a problem for it.
The DB9 RS is built from expensive lightweight materials, making use of carbon composite materials for all the body panels (barring the roof). It’s been built to leap into for a weekend’s racing. The seat and steering wheel are adjustable and this is easy to do. The body panels are removable should you get involved in a racing tangle and worryingly comes with a package of spares.
Aston Martin V8 Volante
When can I expect it? : Winter
How much is it going to cost me?:TBC
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What’s being said about it?:
Well you can’t just have one Aston in a dream car feature!
For the longest time, car mags and websites have been full of ‘spy shots’ of the V8 Vantage coupe, but there has been absolutely no sign of a convertible Volante version. Up until now, the only indication that one could be built was a prototype that was seen in a background shot of the Aston Martin design studio on a DVD available in Marks and Spencer around late 2003. I bet Aston were chuffed when that one was spotted. What DVD was it? We don’t know.
But it has now been confirmed that the soft-top version of the super-slinky V8 Vantage should be with us in 2007, possibly as a 2008 model.
AM’s entry Volante will be powered by the same 380bhp 4.3-litre V8 as the coupe, it’s been trademarked and should be selling for around £80,000, adding £5,000 to the price of the hard-top.
Ferrari FXX
When can I expect it? : You can’t - unless you’re disgustingly rich and popular with Ferrari
How much is it going to cost me?:a staggering £950,00
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What’s being said about it?:
This one is really a dream car and it will have to stay that way because they aren’t actually available to purchase.
But it’s ok. You didn’t really want one of these anyway. You can’t drive them on the roads, and you can’t race against other cars. The FXX is the most advanced GT ever created at Maranello and its mission is to involve the marques most valued clients and get them to be test drivers. There will be a wealth of data gathered during this very special programme.
If you’re not one of the 20 selected clients already contacted by Ferarri, then you’re not going to get one. I like to think that they’ve mislaid my number but I’ve started to accept that maybe, just maybe, I’m kidding myself. The 20 recipients of this supercar have to submit data to Ferrari as part of it’s development plan.
So. Let’s get this straight. You pay £50k short of a million quid, and YOU do Ferrari’s work for them. The cars are fitted with a telemetry system to monitor everything and this data will be analysed by Ferrari technicians. Along with the car, you also get a truck to transport it to various Ferrari events where you will actually be able to drive your car.
Depending on your cashflow, it could be a good idea. The FXX will be a once in a lifetime driving experience - and as you can’t drive them on the roads, you may well only get to drive it - once in your lifetime. Michael Schumacher has been involved in the development and it comes from a 6262cc version of the Enzo’s V12 producing more than 800bhp at 8,500rpm. The FXX will hit 62mph in an estimated 3 seconds and has a 200mph-plus top speed.
Another perk - you can put Ferrari test driver on your CV/hobby sheet (admit it - that would be very cool!) and you will also be given first refusal on the car should it ever actually be confirmed....
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
When can I expect it? : Spring
How much is it going to cost me?:TBC
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What’s being said about it?:
The Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder will be available to customers in the UK from Spring 2006 priced at around 12% more than the coupe version of the Gallardo, and is the fourth model in Lamborghini’s super car range.
The Spyder isn’t just an open-topped version of the coupe. It’s a totally new model. A product of the partnership between the Lamborghini Centro Stile and R and D engineer it continues the Lamborghini trademarks; looking athletic and sharp with a strong aeronautic pronuniciation in it’s build. The front screen has a strong slant and tensed pillars adding to the cockpit-like design.
There are two push buttons in the centre of the dashboard, and pressing these will raise or lower the fabric roof in just over 20 seconds.
There has been a strong focus on safety evident in the structural design of the new Spyder. The space frame has been reinforced in the area of the sills and the A pillars have been strengthened and an automatic roll-over protection system has been adopted, which integrates with the air bag sytem. The Spyder also features permanent four-wheel drive and benefits from aluminium bodywork as does the rest of the range.
Extras include a video camera on the rear spoiler, new colour/perforated leather combinations for the dashboard, seats and trim, with contrast colour stitching. Also available are heated mirrors, on-board computer, anti-theft system – the list goes on and on.
Dodge Challenger
When can I expect it? : Next Year
How much is it going to cost me?:TBC
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What’s being said about it?:
Ok, so I’m cheating with this one, because it’s not available this year but this feature is about dream cars, and the DC is one of mine!
The designers at Chrysler Group’s West Coast Pacifica Studio were faced with a less then enviable task. They knew they had a rich and vibrant history and heritage to draw from when they were given the job of creating the new Dodge Challenger concept car, but they also knew that people would be expecting great things from them.
The designers were told to come up with a hot-looking performance coupe using Chrysler Group’s advanced rear-wheel drive LX platform and it’s HEMI(r) engine. They explored a variety of options, and decided on something for the Dodge brand due to it’s exciting performance image. They idea of bringing back to life the popular and much missed Challenger must have jumped into their minds quite quickly.
The Dodge Challenger concept is a modern take on the classic US muscle car Inspired by the 70’s Challenger of it boasts aggressive styling with the signature crossbar Dodge grill and the four deep-set headlamps in the front of the car. The engine delivers 425bhp from the 6.1-litre HEMI V8 petrol unit.
Vice-President of Advanced Vehicle Design Tom Tremont said "Challenger draws upon the initial 1970 model as the icon of the series." What they have tried to do with this concept is to build up a new Challenger, that looks much like the one the imagination conjures up, but without all the imperfections. Tom continues "We wanted the concept car to evoke all those sweet memories…everything you thought the Challenger was, and more."
The Challenger will go on sale in 2008 in the US and it will be entertaining to see if it immediately locks horns with the Ford Mustang, bringing back to life a rivalry dating back to the 60’s.
The bad news is that Dodge is keeping quiet about when and if the Challenger is coming to the UK, but the recent moves to officially import the SRT-10 and Ram pick-ups should bode well for British muscle fans.