2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost
Friday, 11 September 2009
Rolls-Royce has announced at the Shanghai auto show that its new Bentley Continental–fighting sedan, which was previewed by the 200EX concept at the 2009 Geneva auto show and has been known only as the RR4, will be called the Ghost. Production will commence later this year at the company’s Goodwood plant in the U.K., and European deliveries will begin shortly after. Sales in the U.S. and Asia will wait until the second quarter of 2010. Base price for the Ghost here will be $245,000, plus taxes and delivery.
Rolls also announced final specifications for the new car. The 6.6-liter turbocharged V-12 will pump out 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque and will mate to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Zero to 60 mph is said to take 4.8 seconds, and the top speed will be governed at 155 mph. Likely to be shown in production trim at the Frankfurt auto show in September, the 2010 Ghost will slot below the current Phantom range and gives Rolls-Royce a more attainable model to compete against the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, as well as the upcoming 2010 Aston Martin Rapide. At 212.6 inches long—with a 129.7-inch wheelbase—76.7 inches wide, and 61 inches tall, the new Rolls is slightly longer and taller than the Bentley, but a smidge narrower. The Continental lineup also includes GT coupe and GTC convertible versions, and we expect two-door and droptop iterations of the Ghost to launch after the sedan.
Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves said the Ghost name is fitting for the new model because it evokes a sense of “adventure and technical innovation,” as well as “flair and style.” The latter elements shouldn’t be an issue, as the Ghost will share the Goodwood plant’s paint, wood, and leather workshops with the Phantom (vehicle assembly will be handled by a separate production line). Stay tuned for more details closer to the unveiling.
Rolls Royce Logo
Rolls Royce is a global power systems company ‘providing power for land, sea and air, with leading positions in civil aerospace, defence, marine and energy markets’. Rolls Royce Ltd. laid its foundation in 1906, when the founders of the company, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, agreed to work together on a range of Rolls Royce cars. Since then, Rolls Royce has become a ‘motoring legend’.
The Rolls Royce logo consists of two ‘R’s or doubles ‘R’ which apparently stands for Rolls and Royce. Though the Rolls Royce logo was simply designed, the name is so powerful that the Rolls Royce logo looks attractive and distinctive. There is, however, an ambiguous quality to the Rolls Royce logo that is often neglected. The name “Rolls Royce” in the Rolls Royce logo is always written complete with a hyphen. That’s because ‘the hyphen’ symbolizes the partnership or the link between the two founders. In a more profound meaning, the hyphen in the Rolls Royce logo represents Claude Johnson, ‘a recognized authority on motoring matters at the time of the company’s formation and the man who is accredited with building the name into what it is today’.
Rolls Royce MascotAlthough not used with the Rolls Royce logo, “The Spirit of Ecstacy” or “The Flying Lady” is also an important element of Rolls Royce. It was designed by Charles Sykes as a statue to embellish Rolls Royce cars. The mascot was commissioned by Claude Johnson to ‘counteract a craze among motorists for fixing golliwogs, toy policemen and other unseemly objects to their cars’.
Bentley Logo History
Prior to the Great War the Bentley brothers sold the DFP that they imported from France. Walter Owen Bentley extracted more power from the engines and successfully raced these cars.The first Bentley was made in 1919 but not available until 1921. This 3 litre four-cylinder car was built in several versions.
In 1930 the famous 4.5-litre was introduced using a development of the 3 litre engine. Fifty cars were built with the supercharger to meet Le Mans requirements for all competing cars to be available for sale to the public.By 1931 the company was in financial difficulties and was taken over by Rolls-Royce.
A few cars known as the Mark V were built prior to the Second World War. After the war the Mark VI was introduced and in 1951 was fitted with a 4.5 litre engine and some versions were designated the R-Type.1955 saw the S-Type with an enlarged six-cylinder engine and a V8 from 1959 to 1965.
2010 Bentley Continental Supersports
For 24 months a small group of engineers and designers worked on a special project to reduce the weight and increase the power of the Continental GT. What you see before you is the result. The Continental Supersports – the name comes from the original 3-liter model introduced in 1925 – will be the fastest road-going car in the company’s 90 year history.
How fast is it? Bentley’s initial performance figures say that the sprint to 60 mph takes only 3.7 seconds and it’ll top out at 204 mph. Those figures best the current quickest Bentley, the Continental GT Speed, which takes more than 4 seconds to reach 60 mph and hits top speed at a mere 202 mph.
Part of the improved acceleration comes from the revised 6.0-liter W-12 engine. The engine is the company’s first flex-fuel-capable power plant. It now produces 621 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Inside the fuel tank is a sensor that detects the ratio of gasoline to E85 and reports back to the ECU to ensure that the engine’s output remains the same regardless of the mixture.
Bentley knocked a few more ticks off the acceleration times with a new ‘Quickshift’ transmission that cuts former shift times in half. The entire car has also been lightened by 243 lbs. To bring it all to a halt, the Supersports uses the largest and most powerful carbon ceramic brakes fitted to a production car.
Handling is improved thanks to an array of chassis enhancements. Lighter weight components were used and the steering, dampers, and anti-roll bars were all retuned. Bentley further improved the agility by implementing a 40/60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system, a wider rear track, lightweight 20-inch wheels and a revised electronic stability program.
Inside, the cabin was designed to give occupants a sporty feel and it also contributes the to weight reduction theme. First off, you’ll notice that the rear seats have been replaced by a storage deck and a carbon fiber luggage retaining beam. Also, the fancy woodwork around the cabin is replaced by carbon fiber and the same material is found on the lighter weight front sport seats. Finally, the rest of the inside is trimmed in Alcantara and ’soft touch’ leather.
Expect the fastest Bentley yet to reach worldwide audiences in fall of this year. While it will be FlexFuel compatible in most markets at the time of launch, North American cars will not offer the capability until the summer 2010 because of pending regulatory approval.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers
Evidently not content with all the positive spin that the Camaro’s starring role in the Transformers movies has garnered, Chevrolet has taken the inevitable (and rather predictable) step too far by introducing the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition. Yep, you too can turn that Rally Yellow Camaro you were about to order into a fake Bumblebee with the Transformers Special Edition option package. It includes nothing more than Autobot shields on the fenders, wheel center caps, and center armrest, as well as Transformers logos on the door sill plates and embedded within the black center rally stripes.
Does that seem worth $995? It does to some people, according to Chevrolet. “When the first Transformers movie was setting box office records, we had countless customers asking to purchase the ‘Bumblebee’ Camaro,” said Karen Rafferty, product marketing director for Chevrolet. “Now, they can buy one with the new Camaro Transformers Special Edition. Streets all over North America will be buzzing in no time.” Ah, so punny.
The cheesy package is available on any Camaro LT or SS, with or without the RS appearance package, so long as it is Rally Yellow. We suggest starting with the 400-plus-hp, V-8–powered SS model if you want your “Bumble” to “rumble.” And if you’re going to get one, we suggest doing it soon, while Transformers is still getting a lot of “buzz.”
Chevrolet (Chevy) Logo
The Chevrolet (Chevy) logo at first glance may seem ordinary. A simple cross in traditional metallic colors to represent the automobile industry but that is its brilliance. The logo is so simple it cannot be forgotten and once seen makes an impact on the human mind in a very subtle way. As it is so common it aims at all segments of the population, through its flashy colors it targets the youth and through its traditional symbol it aims at the conventional segment of dwrivers who look for stability in an automobile.
A logo is the chief weapon used to promote an organization and its products. Chevrolet, colloquially Chevy, is a brand of automobiles, produced by General Motors, one of the world’s most dominant carmakers. Chevrolet is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Louis Chevrolet teamed up with a man named Durant, to establish this car company in 1911.
Designing of Chevy Logo:
There is some dispute as to where the Chevy logo originated. Some resources suggest that Louis himself designed the logo, being inspired of the Swiss cross, while others say that Durant designed it after being inspired by a wallpaper pattern in a French hotel. This logo is one of the world’s most recognized trademarks since 1913, when William Durant introduced the company symbol for the first time.
Features of the Chevy Logo:
Color: The most common colors dominating the automotive industry logos include black, red, blue and green because they lend a feeling of excitement and adventure. In the Chevy logo, the yellowish golden color is used for the image and black for the text, making the logo very trendy and flashy. These colors create a feeling of relaxation and sportsmanship. Yellow is considered an optimistic color symbolizing innovation and buoyancy, while black evokes authority and boldness.
Fonts: The Chevrolet logo reads the company name evidently, making it a kind of Logotype. A unique font or exceptional layout style always produces a great logo. The oversized and simple text is making the logo memorable and unique. Celtic and Gothic fonts are usually used for automobile logos. The name “Chevrolet” has become a sign of recognition for common people. Its serifs are clean and bold, making the name very prominent and outstanding. If analyzed, it seems the text is overpowering the image in the logo, which makes it easier to remember the company name. Stylish and understandable fonts make the Chevy logo worthwhile.
Shape: No matter, from which angle we see the Chevrolet logo; it is easily recognized. This logo is often referred as the Chevy bowtie, although it does not look like a typical bowtie. In the logo, the bow is vertically stacked with the company name, giving it a very decent look. The conventional shape aligned with the trendy colors give the logo a vast target market.
Image: Logos of many big companies have generic images that do not suggest the line of business the organization is involved in. However, these images play an important role in making the company’s name memorable to the viewer. The image used in Chevy Logo is easy to remember and leaves a lasting impact on the viewer’s mind. The simple cross in traditional metallic colors, gives a new identity to the automobile industry.
The Chevy logo, is widely appreciated for is simplicity and creativity. It does not need any introduction or explanation. All the elements of the logo have been amalgamated in an ingenious way, making it a pioneering symbol in the industry of automobiles. The logo of a company aims at expressing the philosophy of the company and the generic Chevy logo proves it true by creating a global image that has been accepted worldwide.
Lexus Logo History
In 1986, Toyota’s longtime advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi formed a specialized unit, Team One, to handle marketing for the new luxury brand. Image consulting firm Lippincott & Margulies was hired to develop a list of 219 prospective names; Vectre, Verone, Chaparel, Calibre, and Alexis were chosen as top candidates. While Alexis quickly became the front runner (also associated with the Alexis Carrington character on the popular 1980s primetime drama Dynasty) and later morphed to Lexus, the name has been attributed to the combination of the words “luxury” and “elegance”, and another theory claims it is an acronym for “luxury exports to the U.S”. According to Team One interviews, the name has no specific meaning and simply denotes a luxurious and technological image.
Just prior to the release of the first vehicles, database service LexisNexis obtained a temporary injunction forbidding the name Lexus from being used as they stated it might cause confusion. The injunction threatened to delay the division’s launch and marketing efforts. Upon reflection, a U.S. appeals court lifted the injunction, deciding that there was little likelihood of confusion between the two products.
The original Lexus slogan, developed after Team One representatives visited Lexus designers in Japan and noted their obsessive attention to detail, became “The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection”. The Lexus logo was developed by Molly Designs and Hunter Communications. The final design for the Lexus logo featured a stylized “L” within an oval, and according to Toyota, was rendered using a precise mathematical formula. The first teaser ads featuring the Lexus name and logo, designed by Team One, appeared at the Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York auto shows in 1988.
BMW Logo History
The true meaning of the ‘sky blue and white quartered’ BMW logo is the most controversial issue of the company. According to Dr. Florian Triebel, Executive Board Member of BMW AG, “There are two traditions concerning the significance of the BMW logo and trademark, offering two different interpretations of its sky blue and white fields. One interpretation points to a rotating propeller. The other relates the BMW logo to Bavaria as the place where the products are manufactured”.
About BMW: BMW AG is a German company and one of the leading manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world. Founded in 1916 and based in Munich (state capital of Bavaria), Germany, BMW is also the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. BMW AG stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, or Bavarian Motor Works/Company in English.
The BMW Logo: The BMW logo consists of a thick black ring encircled by a silver lining. The letters ‘BMW’ are inscribed in a non-serif font in the top half of the black ring. The gap within the ring is divided into four equal alternative blue and white quarters. The BMW logo, commonly known as “roundel”, was created and registered in 1917. The logo is remarkably simple and projects an identity that is smart, clear, sporty and image-conscious. It is one of the most distinctive logo designs in the world, speaking highly of a brand-led company. The 1929 Dixi was the first vehicle to carry the famous BMW logo.
The BMW logo has been altered very rarely and minutely and has maintained its original look throughout the company’s history। Here are some of the logos that have been used since 1917.
The Controversy: One version of the ‘sky blue and white checker box’ BMW logo myth connects it with a shining silver/white rotating propeller that the engineers of BMW were working on. The other relates the BMW logo to Bavaria as the place where the products of the company are manufactured and with the national colors of Bavaria (sky blue and white).
The SHINING PROPELLER Theory: The current BMW logo is said to be inspired from the circular design of a rotating aircraft propeller. The white and blue checker boxes are supposed to be a stylized representation of a white/silver propeller blade spinning against a clear blue sky.
The theory is further strengthened with the statement that the image has its origins in World War I in which the Bavarian Luftwaffe flew planes painted in blue and white। It also reflects the origins of BMW as a military aircraft engine maker during WWI and the belief that BMW started as an aero engine manufacturer.
According to the company’s journal, “BMW Werkzeitschrift” (1942), the BMW logo emerged when a BMW engineer was testing the company’s first 320 bhp engine. He admired the reflection of the shining disc of the rotating propeller that radiated like an aura of two silver cones. In between the two cones, the blue from the sky shined that made the ‘rotating propeller into four areas of color – silver and blue’. The engineer, who envisioned this image, also saw three letters – B M W – reflected on the propeller. Thus, the BMW logo was born.
However, according to a BMW spokesperson, the BMW logo does not symbolize a spinning propeller (although the imagery did appear in post-WWI advertisements)। On other note, this statement is considered by many as merely a bogus claim made by the company to give a logical explanation to the public about the BMW logo’s creation. In fact, the first BMW aero-engine test took place in March 1918 – six months after the BMW logo had been created. Additionally, the founding myth of the BMW logo, the propeller, was a component of the engine that was never manufactured by BMW.
The BAVARIAN FLAG Theory: For BMW, it was ‘a happy coincidence’ that the BMW logo symbolized the Bavarian flag colors and represented the company’s origin. When the BMW logo was first created, it was prohibited by the Trademark Act to feature ‘national coats of arms or other symbols of national sovereignty’ in a trademark. This led the BMW marketers to come up with a solution of ‘incorrectly configuring the color elements in the BMW logo from a heraldic perspective’, while also keeping its relationship with Bavaria evident.
Conclusion: There is every reason to conclude that the BMW logo was created to signify the company’s origin – Bavaria as the BMW production site. And despite growing hype about the true meaning of the logo design, the BMW logo has become one of the world’s most recognized symbols that exemplifies class, personality and sophistication.
Bugatti Veyron - Larger than life!
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Although we’re all set to pick up a new car next week, we’re pretty sure that if you ever see us driving a Bugatti Veyron ($1.2 million) we either stole it or just won the lottery. The car, while sporting its heart-breaking price tag, also packs an astonishing 1001 horsepower under the hood, gets from 0-60 mph in less than three seconds, and has an absolutely astonishing top speed of 253 mph. Also, be sure to check out the slick Bugatti Veyron Configurator, which lets you choose between a rainbow of two-tone paint combos and matching interior.
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