< Previousautobabes.com.au CAR PARTS Ferrari 458 MM Speciale Ferrari has unveiled its latest One-Off creation during the car’s first shake- down on the Fiorano circuit in the hands of Ferrari’s chief test driver Dario Benuzzi and the car’s enthusias- tic British owner. Designed in-house by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the 458 MM Speciale was built on the chassis and running gear of the 458 Speciale. Stylistically, the client was looking for extremely sporty lines and specified a ‘visor’ ef- fect for the glasshouse: a black-paint- ed A-pillar, very much in the style of the 1984 Ferrari GTO, helps provide a wraparound solution between the windscreen and side windows which thus meld into a single, seamless glass surface. This solution simultaneously lowers the roofline and lends an aero- dynamic sleekness to the full volume of the swept-back C-pillar. Finished in Bianco Italia and complete with a livery that pays homage to the Italian flag, this unique coupé features all-new bodywork, handcrafted in alu- minium with composite carbon-fibre bumpers front and rear. The 458 MM Speciale also boasts a new side air scoop, one of the most distinctive ele- ments in an extensive revision of the aerodynamic package. The radically modified aerodynamic solutions are already evident on the front of the car, where the bodywork hugs the coolant radiators which are more steeply inclined and mounted closer together than on the 458 Spe- ciale. The side intakes were devised to allow direct additional cooling of the engine bay to compensate for the different rake of the rear. The tail features a spoiler which balances the downforce evenly and also completes the theoretical beltline that sweeps back along the side from the front wheelarch, giving the car a powerful and athletic stance. The 458 MM Speciale sits on specific wheels exclusive to this very unique car, and an additional touch is the adoption of modified front and rear light clusters. Inside the cockpit up- grades include to an enhanced audio system and trim definition to match the owner’s specific wishes. The Cioc- colato leather upholstery with white stitching is elegantly accented by a slew of neat touches such as the satin white rings around the tunnel controls.autobabes.com.au “ Finished in Bianco Italia, this coupé features bodywork hand-crafted in aluminium with composite carbon-fibre front & rear bumpers.autobabes.com.au “ BMW 2002 Hommage large spoilers at the front and rear team up with the profusion of air in- takes to optimise airflow around the car and maximise downforce in every driving situation. Inspired by the signature chrome strip that ringed the 02 in its day, a horizon- tal carbon band wraps itself around the shoulderline of the BMW 2002 Hom- mage and splits the body visually into separate sections. The upper tranche of roof, bonnet and boot lid has matt paintwork to prevent reflection of the Exactly 50 years ago, the 02 range kick-started an era of success for BMW. This compact coupe is one of the vehicles which made the brand what it is today The BMW Group has created a very special car for this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to pay tribute to one of the most significant models in its history. First and foremost, the BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the extraordinary feats of engineering behind the BMW 2002 turbo - and re- imagines them as a design study for our times. “Exactly 50 years ago, the 02 range kick-started an era of success for BMW. This compact coupe is one of the ve- hicles which made the brand what it is today,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group De- sign. “The 2002 sat at the top of the range and was the first series-produced car anywhere in Europe to come with turbo technology. That set the seal on the coupe as a genuine sports car. At the same time, the 2002 turbo was at the technological vanguard of engine development at BMW. The BMW 2002 Hommage is our way of raising a glass to all these achievements.” “The eye-catching design of the BMW 2002 Hommage employs a very dy- namic, striking use of forms for its own take on what is, for me, one of the most iconic vehicles in BMW his- tory,” says Karim Habib, Head of De- sign BMW Automobiles. “At the same time, it encapsulates BMW’s major mo- tor sport triumphs, which were made possible by turbo technology. As such, the Hommage car brings together the past and future of BMW into a confi- dent statement of unadulterated driv- ing joy.” The sporting silhouette of the BMW 2002 Hommage lies low against the road. Its compact proportions, com- plete with long wheelbase, short over- hangs and prominent “shark nose”, promise a driving experience that thrills with irresistible dynamics and agility. Aerodynamic details like the autobabes.com.au sun’s rays - in a reference to racing cars of yore. The body’s lines here are minimalist, clearly drawn and flowing in nature. The lower section creates a definite contrast, with its high-gloss paintwork, very bold, sculptural sur- faces, and distinctive lines that infuse the flanks with a contemporary flavour and draw the eye to the driven rear wheels. The Space Race Metal paint- work drapes itself over the BMW 2002 Hommage like liquid metal. In both its matt and gloss form, the light metallic blue finish changes in appearance from a brightly fluorescent blue to grey, de- pending on the incidence of light, and lends the surfacing a dynamic sense of depth. As a result, the car’s whole body brims with power and energy. A particularly striking feature of the car’s flanks are the voluminously moulded wheel arches, which frame the body like four brackets and add stature. In the process, they recall the homologated version of the BMW 2002 turbo, which needed broad extensions bolted onto its body to accommodate a significantly wider track. The Hom- mage car integrates this detail neatly into flanks designed with clear dedica- tion to the job at hand. Slick surfacing and precisely chiselled lines envelop the powerful wheel arches and hand them a starring role. 20-inch light-alloy wheels in bi-colour design round off the styling as the car meets the road. The modern looks of these lavishly milled, multi-spoke items recall the racing rims of bygone eras, while gold- coloured brake callipers bearing the M logo add an extra stamp of class. The front end of the BMW 2002 Hom- mage is a confident and extravagantly dynamic affair; its styling bridges a gap of 50 years in combining the char- acteristic, horizontal graphic of the 02 range with modern elements of BMW design. The front end is framed visu- ally by the prominent wheel arches. And the wide track and low-slung body provide an ample canvas for generous- ly-sized surfaces. In its lines and form, the bonnet references the “spear” con- tour stretching down the centre of the 02 models that swells slightly into a surround for the BMW logo as it ap- proaches the kidney grille. Further pre-autobabes.com.au cise lines lend structure and definition to the matt surface. Occupying centre stage at the front end is the familiar BMW kidney grille. Here, it takes the form of a low-standing, connected unit, offering a flesh slant on the kidneys’ historical rendering as a cohesive design element. Sculpted, black double-bars add finesse to the details of the broad-set grille. Like the BMW 2002, the BMW 2002 Hom- mage also has two single headlights that provide the striking front end with its outer limits. The headlights are bordered by reflectors, whose gold colouring is a pointer to the “golden” 50th anniversary of the BMW 2002’s launch. The reflectors also reprise the yellow hue commonly found in the headlights of racing cars back in the day. An unbroken black strip creates a fitting visual platform for the kidneys and headlights, brings together the stylistic elements of the front end and, in so doing, underlines the car’s wide and athletic stance. Those with a keen eye will also pick out the turn signal re- peaters, which - like those of the car’s forebear - are located separately from the headlights and embedded into a full-width strip (in carbon on the Hom- mage car) above them. The large front apron, a stylistic nod to those models of the 1970s, shortens the visual distance between the BMW 2002 Hommage and the road and shines a bright spotlight on its driver focus. Together with the car’s wide, sporting stance, this technically inno- vative, forward-thinking design sends out a message of top-class roadhold- ing and handling flair through fast corners. Now, as in the heyday of the BMW 2002, design excellence and tur- bo technology bring unsurpassed lev- els of fun to twisty race tracks, country roads and mountain passes alike. The BMW Motorsport livery of the front apron and its “turbo” lettering in mirror writing casts the mind back to the orig- inal decals of the 2002 turbo, as does the exterior mirror cap on the driver’s side. Accent surfaces in exposed car- bon mark the point where the front apron and side skirts hand over to the road, and also provide a technically al- luring contrast to the body-coloured surfaces. The rear-end design of the BMW 2002 Hommage also calls on elements of the 2002 turbo. For example, the hori- zontal sub-division of the car’s gener- ous surfaces and its clear lines make a width-emphasising and thus suitably dynamic statement, laced with mod- ern feel. The form of the rear lights is inspired by the same historical blue- print. The almost rectangular lights provide a stylistic border for the rear end. The glass covers have a contem- porary black-panel look and only offer a view of the inner workings when the lights illuminate. All you can see when they are dormant is an unbroken black surface. As at the front of the car, this strengthens the impression of a strip wrapped around the car. The BMW logo to the right of the li- cense plate between the two rear lights is likewise a characteristic ele- ment of 02 rear styling. The muscular wheel arches bookend the rear section and accentuate the wide track, while precise spoiler lips bring a modern edge to the car’s detailing. A carbon diffuser integrates the now familiar two sets of twin exhaust tailpipes and wraps up the rear styling with a sport- ing flourish. BMW’s fresh interpretation of the BMW 2002 adopts the form of a compact sports coupe in the classical tradition of BMW Hommage cars. But more than that, the BMW 2002 Hommage repre- sents a clear statement of how pure driving pleasure is defined in 2016.autobabes.com.auautobabes.com.au Porsche 718 Cayman S The fourth, redeveloped generation of the mid-engine sport coupé has a more striking, athletic and efficient appear- ance. Just a few weeks after the debut of the new 718 Boxster, the new 718 Cayman is extending the new model series. For the first time, the hard-top is priced below the roadster - in a simi- lar way to the 911 models. 718 Cay- man pricing starts at 51,623 euros in Germany, and the 718 Cayman S costs from 64,118 euros, each including VAT and country-specific features. The same new four-cylinder flat en- gines with turbocharging as in the 718 Boxster are being deployed in the 718 Cayman. As a result, coupé and roadster have an identical engine out- put for the first time. The entry-level version starts with 220 kW (300 hp) from two litres of displacement. The S model delivers 257 kW (350 hp) with a displacement of 2.5 litres. This repre- sents 18 kW (25 hp) more power com- pared to the predecessor models with an NEDC fuel consumption of 8.1 to 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres. The tremendous torque of the new engines in the 718 Cayman promises driving fun and agility even at low revs. The two-litre engine of the 718 Cayman achieves a torque of up to 380 Nm (plus 90 Nm), which is available between 1,950 rpm and 4,500 rpm. The 2.5-litre engine of the 718 Cayman S features a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (VTG), a technology hitherto used exclusively in the 911 Turbo. In the 718 Cayman S, the VTG charger additionally has a wastegate for the first time. It delivers up to 420 Nm (an extra 50 Nm) to the crankshaft at engine speeds between 1,900 and 4,500 rpm. For the driver this means even better torque in all engine speed ranges. The 718 Cayman with PDK and optional Sport Chrono Package sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The 718 Cayman S completes this sprint in 4.2 seconds. The top speed of the 718 Cayman is 275 km/h, and the 718 Cayman S can reach a speed of 285 km/h.autobabes.com.au “ In terms of their driving dynamics, the new 718 Cayman models follow in the tracks of the classic 718 cars. Thanks to their outstanding agility, the historic mid-engine sports cars won numerous races in the 1950s and 1960s such as the Targa Florio and Le Mans. Lateral rigidity and wheel tracking have been improved in the completely retuned chassis of the 718 Cayman; springs and stabilisers have been designed to be firmer and the tuning of the shock absorbers has been revised. The steering, which has been config- ured to be ten per cent more direct, enhances agility and driving fun. The rear wheels, which are one-half of an inch wider, in combination with the re- developed tyres result in an increased lateral force potential and hence in greater cornering stability. Driving dynamics options such as the Sport Chrono Package and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) allow the sporty character of the 718 Cayman to be further customised. Another available option is PASM with a ten- millimetre lowering of the ride height and additionally in the S model PASM sport suspension with a 20-millimetre lowering of the ride height for the first time. As in the other Porsche sports cars, the Sport Chrono Package can be adjusted via the programme switch on The 4th, redeveloped generation of the mid-engine sport coupé has a more striking, athletic & efficient appearance, & for the first time, is priced below the roadster. autobabes.com.au the steering wheel. Supplementing the previous settings of “Normal”, “Sport” and “Sport Plus” is the “Individual” programme, which is able to call up previously programmed individual set- tings for various systems. On account of the car’s greater driv- ing performance capabilities, stronger brake systems are now in use with 330-millimetre brake discs in front and 299-millimetre discs at the rear. The 718 Cayman now has the brake sys- tem that was previously used in the Cayman S. The 718 Cayman S, on the other hand, uses the four-piston calli- pers of the 911 Carrera combined with six-millimetre thicker brake discs. The new 718 Cayman has been fur- ther developed as comprehensively in its design as in its technology. The taut proportions, prominent air intakes at the front and sides and low side profile underscore the boost in dy- namics. The nose has a much sharper profile, which gives the front end a wider and more masculine appear- ance. The ultra-slim front lights above the air intakes, which contain the park- ing lights and indicators, further rein- force this impression. Rounding off the front end of the 718 Cayman, are the significantly larger cooling air intakes and bi-xenon headlights in their new design with integrated LED daytime running lights. LED headlights with four-point daytime running lights are available as a new option. Viewed from the side, the new sport coupé reveals its striking wings and side sills. The re- designed rear has a much wider look due to the accent strip in high-gloss black with integrated Porsche badge between the tail lights. The tail lights have been completely redesigned and are distinguished by the three-dimen- sional technology and four brake spots that appear to float freely. Inside, revisions are visible for both the 718 Cayman and the 718 Boxster. The upper part of the dash panel in- cluding air vents is new. The new sport steering wheel in the 918 Spyder de- sign as well as the extensive connec- tivity options have now been added to the 718 cockpit along with the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) as a standard feature. Mobile phone preparation, audio interfaces and the 150-watt Sound Package Plus are all part of this standard. Options are avail- able to extend the PCM. The Connect module, for example, includes special extensions for smartphones, such as the USB port, Apple CarPlay and Por- sche Car Connect. Another available option is the navigation module with voice control, which makes it easy to input driving destinations. If the Con- nect Plus module is selected, this can be extended with real-time traffic in- formation. Drivers can also make use of additional comprehensive services via their smartphone, which include the Porsche Connect App and Porsche Car Connect App.autobabes.com.au Engine ConfigurationB4 LocationMid, longitudinally mounted Constructionaluminium block and head Displacement2,500 cc / 152.6 cu in Valvetrain4 valves / cylinder, DOHC Fuel feedDirect Fuel Injection LubricationDry sump AspirationTurbo Power344 bhp / 257 KW Torque420 Nm / 310 ft lbs @ 1,900 - 4,500 rpm BHP/Liter138 bhp / liter Drivetrain Front Brakesventilated discs, 330mm (13 in), 4-pot caliper, ABS Rear brakesventilated discs, 299mm (11.8 in), 4-pot caliper, ABS GearboxPDK 6 speed Automatic DriveRear wheel drive Performance figures Top Speed285 km/h (177 mph) 0-100 km/h4.7 sNext >