The Long Valley, NJ based specialist vehicle manufacturer has taken its design inspiration from Jean Bugatti's legendary Type 57S coupe of the 1930s and ‘40s and modified it to fit a stretched and widened platform.
Using cutting edge materials such as carbon fibre and polished aluminium, Delahaye USA’s describes their new offering as, “much more than a replica”.
With air conditioning, power brakes and steering, electric windows and a choice of engine and transmission options, this certainly appears true.
The Bella Figura Type 57S is available in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive in turnkey complete, turnkey minus (that is, no engine and transmission), roller body (body, chassis and wheels only) and self-assembly kits both in the U.S. and the UK.
The world premiere of the CX-5 will take place at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show that opens on September 13 and will go on sale in early 2012.
Mazda says the CX-5 is its first production model to adopt the new “KODO – Soul of Motion” design theme that we saw in the Minagi and Shinari concept cars. The highlights of this new theme are a prominent front fascia and a more dynamic styling which the company says conveys "a strong sense of vitality and agility”.
The CX-7’s smaller “brother” is also the first Mazda model to adopt the full range of the firm's SKYACTIV technologies.
Depending on the market, the CX-5 will be available with gasoline and diesel engines hooked up to manual and automatic transmissions.
The European version will be offered with the SKYACTIV-G gasoline 2.0-liter engine and the SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter diesel in two configurations, Standard and High Power, which emit less than 120 g of CO2 per km.
In the Edge, the EcoBoost four-cylinder engine produces 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm. Power is transferred to the wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
For 2012, all FX trim models are now offered with standard heated front seats, while other enhancements include a new exterior color (Graphite Shadow replaces Platinum Graphite); a new 20-inch wheel design for the FX35 Deluxe Touring Package; the addition of Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) to the FX50 Sport Package, and a shift of the quilted leather climate-controlled front seats to the FX35 Deluxe Touring Package from the Premium Package.
Infiniti has also introduced a new Limited Edition model based on the all-wheel drive FX35 model. It features an available exclusive Iridium Blue exterior color along with 21-inch alloy graphite finish wheels shod in P265/45R21 V-rated all-season tires, smoked out headlamps with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) and auto-leveling, and dark tinted side air vents and lower door trim.
Other standard features on the FX35 Limited Edition include aluminum roof rails and roof rail crossbars with graphite finish, aluminum pedals, graphite floor mats with bespoke blue piping, Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System and Around View Monitor (AVM).
There are no changes to the engine range as the FX continues in 2012 with a choice of two powerplants, a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 303-horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque in the FX35 and a 5.0-liter V8 producing 390 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque in the FX50.
The 2012 FX will go on sale in the U.S. in October.
Julliana Cho’s Porsche 929 concept study builds on this tradition while also weaving aerodynamic styling, the brand’s design heritage and an innovating car sharing program into the mix.
The 929’s theoretical dimensions make it smaller than the Porsche Panamera but larger than the 911. Aside from the design itself, what makes the 929 stands out from the pack is Cho’s imaginative (though possibly impractical and expensive) car sharing scheme.
Interested parties join the Porsche Car Sharing club and receive a smart key in the mail. They then activate their smart key and finalise their personal details online before moving on to the next step.
Here, club members can specify everything from body shape to interior configuration as well as wheel design, exterior paint and material options. Once these details have been saved, club members locate their nearest charging station where their car is quite literally assembled before their eyes. When finished, the cars are returned to the charging station and disassembled ready for the next customer.
At least, that’s what I gathered from the young female designer's illustrations. I may be wrong, and welcome any corrections Cho or our readers care to provide.