Dec 15 2014
LaFerrari UK Car Review
The most powerful model to ever exit the factory in Maranello, the LaFerrari was especially built to celebrate 70 years of racing heritage and bears tribute to the founder of the company, Enzo Ferrari. Combining intense, sculptural lines while remaining faithful to tradition, it blurs the boundaries between mechanical masterpiece and a work of art.
On the first official unveiling of the hypercar, on March 5th 2013, the then president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, declared: “The name of the car is LaFerrari. La Ferrari means the excellence of Ferrari and an iconic name for a car which put together all our excellences: extreme performance, technologic innovation, futuristic style and last, but not least, driving emotion and fantastic drivability.”
Arguably a name not that enjoyed by the public, it was eventually accepted, as the aspect and extreme performance of the car exuded awe and respect. The decision to build only 499 examples was a difficult one, as more than 700 written orders have been recorded prior to the unveiling, but in order to keep the tradition and the exclusivity of both the marque and the model, the pronouncement was to limit the production, a common practice of Ferrari.
The design was realized in house, by Ferrari Styling Centre. This constituted a break from the previous celebratory editions, which were penned by Pininfarina. The car’s unmistakable contour belongs to Flavio Manzoni, the lead designer. The overall profile bears resemblance to the brand’s racing heritage of the 1960’s, while the balanced proportions and the supple lines make sure that this remains a powerful statement of elegance for years to come.
The front nose cone was inspired by Formula 1 race cars. Unlike the one from the Enzo, it slopes at a more aggressive angle, being narrower and having a central air outlet to expel and channel the air stream over the canopy. The door mechanism has also changed, being now computer controlled, unlike the manual version on the previous car. Protruding into the surface of the canopy, they open upwards and tilt to the front, providing a stunning visual experience; the deeper cut subsequently lead to an easier entry and exit from the cockpit. The complete electro chromatic glass top enclosure sits on a carbon fibre frame, embracing the occupants and enhancing all round visibility. An overall reduction in dimensions as compared to the Enzo (-40mm in width) helped in obtaining a lower frontal surface area in order to reduce drag and a lowering of the centre of gravity (-30mm in ride height), lead to a notable increase in performance.
Ferrari LaFerrari – 5 Point Review
Design
Benefiting from valuable input from Ferrari’s Formula 1 drivers, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, the engineering department designed the cockpit around the driver.
Subsequently, the driver’s position is lower compared to the Enzo (-30mm) and more reclined, the lowered centre of gravity contributing to a better distribution of weight and greatly enhancing stability. The individual seats were eliminated and replaced with carbon fibre moulds glued directly to the floor; each model will have bespoke specifications, as per customer dimensions. In addition, the entire steering column and the pedal assembly are fully adjustable in depth, as well as in height. The dashboard has a customizable instrument cluster, the traditional gauges being replaced by an LCD display, which is able to record telemetry data such as track time, acceleration and lateral gravitational forces, among others.
Driving
Cured in the same autoclave as the Formula 1 chassis, LaFerrari’s body shell benefits from the exact same technology and production techniques as the company’s most advanced, track oriented vehicle do; being a first for the automotive industry, this lead both to innovation and a significant reduction in weight. As opposed to the Enzo, the new model’s curb weight is 2,766 pounds, being over 10 per cent lighter, in spite of having a much more complex architecture than the previous example.
One of the most interesting features of the new limited series model is the engine, which is constructed on hybrid architecture: a naturally aspirated internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
The main power plant consists of a central mounted 6.3 litre naturally aspirated V12 with a rating of 800 horsepower, which reaches an impressive 9,250 revolutions per minute, a first for Ferrari. Connected to the engine is a dual-clutch, 7 speed semi-automatic F1 gearbox. Complementing this array is a new electric motor that develops a further 163 horsepower, the total power rating of the LaFerrari being 963 horsepower, making it the most extreme and powerful model ever to be produced by the Maranello factory. Acceleration from 0 to 62 happens in 2.9 seconds, while the estimated top speed is thought to be “over 218mph” although more precise measurements weren’t provided by the factory. However, considering that the Enzo, with a 660bhp engine reached 355 on the Nardo circuit, we would expect the LaFerrari to easily top that record, considering it has over 300bhp more, as well as more advanced aerodynamics. Automotive journalists have praised it for its aggressive character and extreme performances, stating that it felt very close to a 458 Italia on steroids as far as its on-road behaviour is concerned.
Reliability
Thus far, no instances of a breakdown have been reported, but several years of development have been invested in its making, so we would expect near perfect behaviour as the car is supposed to go over the 218mph mark numerous times over the course of its life without displaying the slightest sign of weakness.
Running costs
The original price tag of a new LaFerrari was over £1 million, with the condition that the future owner already had in his or her possession another 5 examples of the marque’s vehicles, an exclusivity clause that is still not officially recognized by the brand. Add to that the fact that Ferrari had to turn down 200 potential owners (of the 700 which registered for the car), then it becomes obvious that the criteria were extremely selective. Buying a new example is no longer possible, as all have been sold prior to the 2013 unveiling, so a used one would be the safest bet, but the disadvantage would be that the price will likely jump the original 1 million, as the LaFerrari has become a collector’s item, with only 499 in existence.
At the time of writing, Ferrari unveiled a track only based version of the LaFerrari, dubbed the FXXK (XX being the name of the non-road legal, race only oriented program reserved to customers and K representing the kinetic energy regeneration system, part of the car’s hybrid architecture). No pricing details have been released, nor any performance figures, save for the power output, now rated at 1,036bhp. A vastly more aerodynamic profile, as well as a more aggressive body kit as well as a lower ride height and less weight should mean that it will be blistering fast.
Practicality
The LaFerrari is not the most practical thing in the world, especially since it is part of the new breed of hypercars. It has no boot, so if you’re planning to go to work in it (which you will not, because 499 examples) you will have to put your briefcase on the passenger seat; should you happen to have a passenger, you may either put your briefcase in his or her lap or simply eject them out – no other storage spaces are available.
Hungry for more information right now? then check out this link to the Official LeFerrari Website
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Mar 3 2015
Mercedes McLaren SLR
Quite possibly one of the most controversial sports cars that Mercedes has produced to date, the Mercedes McLaren SLR was a curious crossbreed between a GT and a pureblood supercar.
With incisive looks, but burdened by excessive weight, the Mercedes McLaren SLR, despite its carbon fiber construction, was not considered a part of the supercar clan, which, at the time, included the Porsche Carrera GT, the Lamborghini Murciélago and the Ferrari Enzo.
Its inception is related to a collaboration between Mercedes Benz and McLaren Automotive, in an effort to create a high performance automobile that could benefit both from German craftsmanship and McLaren’s Formula 1 experience. Unlike the F1, which brought the British marque worldwide acclaim, the SLR was not meant to be a record setting machine. Safety, comfort and usability were deemed as priorities, while the super sport capabilities were secondary. As a result, the car was rather slow – accelerating to the top speed of 208 miles per hour only lead to gluing your eyeballs to the rear window, instead of ripping them apart. Which was acceptable.
Its looks were inspired by the stunning 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SLR, which won the World Sportscar Championship of that year. With a more modern twist, the 2000’s Mercedes McLaren SLR was an aggressive shark mouth monster. The cabin, unlike that of its competitors, was pushed as far back as possible, a counter reaction to the cab forward design charactering the majority of the supercars. The long bonnet featured a phallic central snout ending with the tri-star badge on it. A reference to Formula 1, it created an arresting visual effect on the onlooker. The subtle grille with two small finlets on either side was flanked by the double oval headlamps, a characteristic of Mercedes vehicles of that time, but here in a more back-swept manner. Below, a huge front bumper with an uncanny resemblance to a shark’s mouth also housed two small, circular fog lights.
Integrated in the front wings were two air expellers shaped in the form of shark gills, with two horizontal metallic shards breaking the monotony of the lines. This feature was also mirrored on the bonnet, where two high airflow vents allowed the engine to evacuate heat. Just below the shark gills, the short exhaust tips resided: this not only produced thunderous barks, but also meant that your foot could get burned from all the heat expelled through there.
The Mercedes McLaren SLR was produced in Woking, Surrey, from 2003 up to 2010, when the last example rolled off the production line. Manufactured in both coupe and cabriolet (with a soft top) form, the SLR, aside from the special 722 series (640 horsepower as opposed to the regular 617), also had a McLaren produced variant, in late 2010. Limited to just 25 vehicles, the final edition boasted a modified body kit, smoked headlamps, custom made wheels, McLaren badges finished in red and a sports exhaust.
Mercedes McLaren SLR – 5 Point Car Review
Design
The instrument panel was finished in matte chrome, while the swing-wing doors were capable of pivoting both forward and upwards for the ultimate “in your face” impression.
Driving
On the road, however, few were able to keep up with it. A 5.5 litre supercharged V8, capable of 617 horsepower at 6,500 RPM was sitting under the bonnet. Max torque was quoted as being 575lb ft, available from 3,200 to 5,000 RPM. The sprint from 0 to 62 took a mere 3.8 seconds, while the speedometer needle topped out at 208 mile per hour.
Reliability
The best thing of all? The car could be serviced at a local authorized Mercedes dealer. Oh, and the ceramic brakes would glow red and catch fire if you pushed them.
Running Costs
While at first you were forced to stay at home looking at the calendar as your name got closer to the top of the waiting list, you are able to snag one from the used market. Unlike the Enzo, which has risen well above its initial selling price, the SLR was not as fortunate and depreciation eventually occurred. As a result, coupes retail for about 180,000 and roadsters revolve around the 200/250,000 mark. Better deals can be made, but beware of hidden faults and remember that even though it has a Mercedes badge, at the end of the day it’s a supercar – and they don’t come cheap!
Practicality
If in need of more information on the Mercedes McLaren SLR? Then click this link to find out more.
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By Lee Porter • Car Reviews • 0 • Tags: car reviews, Formula 1, mercedes car review, supercars