Posts Tagged supercar
Is Aston Martin DB2 A True Supercar
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 23, 2010
In 1953, the Aston Martin DB2/4 was the first comprehensive revamp of the DB2 car, because the car needed to evolve. But the DB2 would always be known as the car that single handedly revived Aston Martin’s career and pushed it on to greatness. The DB2 was replaced in the autumn of 1953 by the new look and feel DB2/4, and was praised for being better than its predecessor by far. The DB2/4 name meant that it was very much an Aston Martin, David Brown creation but just with four seats. But although it was four seats instead of 2, it was not a more spacious vehicle at that because the wheelbase remained unchanged, so a lot of close accommodation and shuffling around were necessary for a not so comfortable fit. As a matter of fact there was really no kind of room for the back passenger’s legs with the front seats pushed almost all the way to the back. That was a poor “development” factor by Aston Martin for an otherwise superb car.
Aston Martin DB2/4 possessed a flush and contoured fastback design that was viewed as a bit more practical due to the fact that back seats and top hinged back hatch lengthened the car by 9cm more than the DB2. The top hinged hatchback was the biggest enhancement to the sports car, and the first time it was ever done, resulting in a larger luggage space. There were both coupe and convertible body-styles of the DB2/4, but the coupe’s look was slightly altered from the convertibles’. The difference was a one-piece windshield displacing the previous divided glass, and the rear roof structure was humped, in order to provide some sort of headroom and comfort to those unlucky enough to have to ride in the back.
The transmission was a four speed manual David Brown, with drums for both back and front brakes, because the technology of disc pads was in its beginnings and not at yet ripe. The body of DB2/4 is made out of aluminum, and it features an independent chassis, and peculiar trailing-link suspension. The dimensions of the car are a weight of 1257kg, a wheelbase of 2515mm, a front and back track of 1372mm, a length of 4305mm, a width of 1651mm, and a height of 1359mm.
The DB2 Vantage 125 horsepower 2580cc DOCH straight 6 engine has now become standard within this vehicle, thus making this a very fast car by 1950s criteria, achieving a top speed of 111.2mph (179km/h) and acceleration of 0-60 in 12.6 seconds, and the 0-¼mile in 18.9 seconds, plus a torque of 195Nm (143.8ft-lbs) at 2400rpm. The designers also repositioned a smaller fuel tank above the spare. The overall result is a versatile and exciting sports tourer that exceeds all expectations. Sales of the DB2/4 skyrocketed and it was in high demand, so much that in mid-1954 a bigger capacity engine was offered 2922cc with 140bhp output.
DB2/4 third body layout came out in 1955, a notch-back coupe interpretation of the convertible, and with this change came a traditional front fenders and hood affixed to the chassis. The different DB2/4 generations were referred to as Mark Is, Mark IIs, and the eventually Mark IIIs in the wings. And the overall production of the cars were very low by any standard, at its highest the DB2/4 was being manufactured at six or seven cars per week, being a rigidly a hand-built car although it was in high demand. The car was an extreme successful for Aston Martin, and it was really still only the beginning.
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How to Define a Supercar?
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 21, 2010
Have you ever wondered, what makes a car a supercar?
Asking what makes a car super is like asking, what makes a woman beautiful – everyone has its own opinion.
A term supercar was coined to describe extremely expensive, extremely beautiful and extremely fast cars. But the proper use of this term is often subjective and disputed, especially among enthusiasts. There is no clear definition of what characteristics a car must have to be a supercar. What constitutes a supercar is often a matter of opinion. Also, the use of the term is heavily dependent on the era – a car that is considered to be a supercar at one time may lose its superiority in the future.
It is also important to know that the term supercar refers to factory-built, usually unmodified, street-legal cars. Heavily modified and potentially street – illegal vehicles do not fall into the supercar category. Supercars are not muscle cars or tuned up sports cars. And there is no such thing as a cut price supercar.
A supercar is a car that combines speed, handling, unique design and represents the pinnacle of the automaker’s art. Supercar is the car equivalent of a supermodel or a race horse. There are, off course, some basic criteria for measuring whether a car should be considered a supercar or not. Things to consider: design, acceleration, top speed, handling, power-to-weight ratio, style, rarity, price – all of these has to be super in a supercar.
Want an example? Here is a prime example of a supercar – The Bugatti Veyron.
The Bugatti Veyron is currently (2007) the most expensive (around $1.5 million) and fastest fully street legal car in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records included Bugatti Veyron under the heading – Fastest Production Car. With 1001 horsepower this supercar champion features all the most recent automotive advancements and is able to achieve a top speed of 253 mph (407km/h). This is faster than any production car ever made, it’s actually faster than Formula 1 cars. Supercars are not just fast, they are blazingly fast.
Other supercars include: Koenigsegg CCX, Pagani Zonda, McLaren F1, Saleen S7 Twin Turbo, Enzo Ferrari, Lamborghini Murcielago and so on.
On the fun side, if you ever doubt whether a car is a supercar or not, consider this: A car might be a supercar if – you have a wallpaper or a poster of it, it’s worth more than your house, you drool when you see one, it can break the speed limit in 1st gear, you will probably never own one, but if you do, you would never give the keys to the valet.
In conclusion, a supercar is a car that changes your idea of what a car is and what a car can do.
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A Supercar for a Super Pa!
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 16, 2010
With its front-pivoting doors, sleek lines and race-tuned engine, the only reason you wouldn’t want to own a Lamborghini Murcielago is if you lived on the wrong side of a humped-back bridge. Sadly, most of us probably think we’re priced out of the dream and are resigned to never owning one.
But believe it or not, if you’re prepared to buy the car in kit form and assemble it yourself, it’s surprisingly affordable. Oh, and if you’re about an inch tall with a normal-sized and very patient friend.
That’s because this Lamborghini Murcielago is a “pull back and go” model and is 12 cm long from nose to tail. It really does come in kit form too, and you even get the screwdriver to fix everything in place.
Gift retailer GettingPersonal.co.uk has this beautiful piece of miniature engineering in stock in anticipation of a rush on unique Father’s Day Gifts. As well as giving the joy of constructing it, the finished model is also a tough and shapely little (12cm) ornament or executive toy.
