Mansory Siracusa

Most attempts to modify a supercar are going to be controversial, as are the efforts of German tuner Mansory. Combine the two then, and it’s very likely that the outcome is going to divide opinion.



For the Siracusa - based on the Ferrari 458 Italia - Mansory has adopted its usual procedure: replace as much bodywork as possible with carbon fibre, fiddle with the aerodynamics, boost power, re-trim the interior and then apply a ‘unique’ colour scheme.

Some visual elements don’t work particularly well, for example the revised headlights and the various carbon fibre addenda stuck onto the side skirts and front apron. But the claimed results are more down-force, better cooling and a car that’s 70 kg (154 lbs) lighter.



Combined with a modest 2% increase in power to 581 bhp (434 kW / 590 PS) - thanks to a tweaked engine management system, replacement air filter and a sports exhaust - the Siracusa will accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).



Impressive performance, although it should be remembered that the standard 458 Italia does the same sprint in 3.4 seconds and maxes out at 202 mph (325 km/h). So it begs the question: what’s the point for such insignificant gains?



Of course, it might be that the Mansory has a notably improved mid-range, while the lowered suspension and more effective spoilers unite to considerably enhance handling. The only way to tell would be to pitch the Siracusa against a stock 458 Italia on a track.



Related post:

MP4-12C versus 458 Italia

World Car Awards top three

Following the announcement of the World Car Awards finalists at the beginning of February, the jurors have voted once again to decide the top three candidates in each category.



There’s now a short wait until the New York International Auto Show, which begins on 22 April, to find out the winners.



The three models up for each award - in alphabetical order - are:



2011 World Car of the Year



· Audi A8

· BMW 5 Series

· Nissan Leaf

BMW 5 Series Saloon

The outsider here is probably the Audi, but whether enough jurors have been swayed by the Leaf remains to be seen. Many might have been reluctant to give their votes to the Nissan because, despite its green credentials, it nevertheless represents first generation electric car technology which comes with associated issues of purchase price, recharging time and range.



2011 World Performance Car



· Ferrari 458 Italia

· Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

· Porsche 911 Turbo

Ferrari 458 Italia

It’s difficult to foresee the Ferrari not winning this category.



2011 World Car Design of the Year



· Alfa Romeo Giulietta

· Aston Martin Rapide

· Ferrari 458 Italia

Aston Martin Rapide

Perhaps the surprise here is that the Citroën DS3, which was in the top ten shortlist, hasn’t make it through to the top three. Naturally this is a very subjective category but, from an aesthetic perspective, surely the Aston Martin just about beats the other contenders?



2011 World Green Car



· BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition

· Chevrolet Volt

· Nissan Leaf

Chevrolet Volt

This award is hard to predict, because the three finalists represent three very different technologies: internal combustion, range extender and pure electric. However, because the Volt combines the benefits of battery power with a total absence of range anxiety, it deserves to clinch the title.



Related post:

World Car Awards finalists

Mansory's Ferrari 458 Italia

Mansory's products are always eye-catching (if not necessarily attractive), whether they be a clear coat carbon Aston Martin named Cyrus or that silly pink Bentley. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder. That being said, allow me to introduce you to the Siracusa. Rant and rave in the comments below.

Underneath all the new and revised carbon fiber body panels (now with more louvers!) is a Ferrari 458 Italia. Named after a Sicilian raceway, the Siracusa has received a respiratory performance boost to 590 horsepower / 434 kW and 560 Nm / 413 lb-ft representing gains of + 20 hp and + 20 Nm / 15 lb-ft over the standard model.
Thanks to the bump in power and drop in weight, Mansory claims the car will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and attain a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).
The Siracusa rides on 20- and 21-inch wheels (f/r) sheathed in Michelins, while inside is the same old tuner car song: carbon fiber, leather, and ultra-suede. Also, a new suspension setup lowers the car 20 mm. Next!
 

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Novitec Rosso 599 GTO

Arguably, the last thing that the Ferrari 599 GTO needs is more power.



That hasn’t stopped tuner Novitec Rosso though, which has lifted the GTO’s outputs from 660 bhp (493 kW / 670 PS) and 620 Nm (457 lb/ft) of torque to 875 bhp (653 kW / 888 PS) and 862 Nm (635 lb/ft).

Those are enormous increases, achieved by reworking the twin superchargers, fitting high-flow air filters and fuel injectors, replacing the exhaust system and fiddling with the engine’s ECU.



The end result is, well, rather underwhelming. Whereas the standard GTO will accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.35 seconds and to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 9.8 seconds, the Novitec version does each sprint in 3.2 and 9.1 seconds respectively. Improvements that hardly embarrass the stock car, then.



Top speed also gets a similarly slight increase, rising from ‘over’ 208 mph (335 km/h) to ‘more than’ 211 mph (340 km/h).

Completing the conversion are lower sports springs, a front axle lift function to help negotiate speed humps, lightweight five-spoke alloys and wider Pirelli PZero tyres.



Perhaps the nicest thing about the Novitec Rosso 599 GTO is the colour scheme. Inspired by the Écurie Nationale Belge 250 GTO that won the 1964 Tour de France in the hands of Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger, it features silver paintwork with a distinctive Belgian racing yellow stripe across the bonnet.

VIDEO: New Ferrari FF

With the recently unveiled all-wheel drive FF (as in Ferrari Four), Ferrari has opened a new chapter in its history. And to prove that they’re confident in the modern “breadvan’s” 4x4 capabilities, the Italians have released a series of photos with the FF being driven on snowy roads. Now, a new video has surfaced on Youtube showing the exotic GT as it’s put through its paces on snow once again. While there’s no impressive sideways action involved, this is the clearest footage of the FF yet. Hit the jump to see the video.
We’ll remind you that the FF is replacing the 612 Scaglietti and it’s the first ever all-wheel drive model to be manufactured by Ferrari. Boasting a 6.3-liter V12 engine producing 660HP, the FF is said to complete the 0-to-100 km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 335 km/h (208 mph). The FF will make its first official public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

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Credo E-Bone Designer Takes on the Ferrari Enzo

Remember the humorously named yet somewhat plausible Credo E-Bone? It was a design study for a hydrogen powered bus from Hungarian artist Peter Simon, and with a name like "E-Bone", who could forget?
Well, Simon is back, only this time he's taking on something a little more exotic than public transport: he's envisioning the next generation of Ferrari's legendary Enzo. An ambitious task, though one the Hungarian takes on with a plomb.
With more of his trademark organic styling and a design philosophy that both incorporates and rebuffs Ferrari's past and present models, Simon's Enzo is a wonder to behold. From the look of it, Simon's Enzo was hatched, not styled. I can't help but be reminded of the Mitsuoka Orochi: another organically-styled sports car with love it or hate it styling.
A successor to the original Enzo, of which just 400 were produced between 2002 and 2004, has long been rumored though never confirmed by the Italian automaker itself. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit: Peter Simon's Enzo is an interesting response to that brief.

 photos

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MP4-12C versus 458 Italia

With a price tag of £168,500 in the UK, €200,000 in the Eurozone and $229,000 in the US, there was only ever going to be one car that the McLaren MP4-12C would be compared against: the incredibly talented, £173,132 Ferrari 458 Italia.

 

So, what’s the verdict? Judging by the reviews in Autocar, Evo and Car, McLaren has succeeded in eclipsing the Ferrari, thanks to an innovative chassis and usable performance from its 3.8 litre twin-turbo engine. The MP4-12C’s looks might have received some criticism for not being dramatic enough, but it’s still a very attractive design.



On paper the McLaren also has the upper hand, boasting more power, lighter weight, faster acceleration, a higher top speed and lower emissions:

McLaren MP4-12C versus Ferrari 458 Italia
Parameter	MP4-12C	458 Italia
Engine
Capacity (litres)	3.8	4.5
Cylinders	V8	V8
Power (bhp / kW / PS)	592 / 441 / 600 @ 7,000 rpm	570 / 425 / 577 @ 9,000 rpm
Torque (Nm / lb/ft)	600 / 443 @ 3,000 - 7,000 rpm	540 / 398 @ 6,000 rpm
Transmission
Gearbox	7-speed dual clutch	7-speed dual clutch
Performance
Acceleration (0-62 mph (100 km/h) seconds)	3.3 (3.1 with Corsa tyre option)	3.4
Top speed (mph / km/h)	205 / 330	202 / 325
Efficiency
Combined cycle (mpg (UK) / l/100km)	24.2 / 11.7	21.2 / 13.3
CO2 emissions (g/km)	279	307
Dry weight (kg / lbs)	1,336 / 2,945	1,380 / 3,042

McLaren Automotive has released videos of its MP4-12C undergoing virtual testing at the McLaren Technology Centre, as well as it being driven during the recent media test drive event at the Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal. The journos were also treated some properly quick laps with Jenson Button behind the wheel, something that not all of them seemed to enjoy as much…

Related posts:

McLaren MP4-12C GT3

458 Italia wrecked

Spec a McLaren MP4-12C