2014 Mercedes SL 63 AMG Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg Edition

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating its triumph in the Formula 1 World Championship with two exquisite special models of the SL 63 AMG – co-created by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Lewis Hamilton, who became the Formula 1 champion for the 2014 season after a series of memorable duels, proposed black as his base colour. Nico Rosberg, his fiercest rival in this season’s races, chose white as his colour theme. Mercedes-Benz is only producing 19 of each model. And each model in the “World Championship 2014 Collector’s Edition” is effectively one-of-a-kind: for each individual vehicle is dedicated to one of the 19 Formula 1 race tracks used this year and is unmistakeably identifiable as such through some of its equipment and appointment details.

Lewis Hamilton: The Formula 1 champion Hamilton demonstrated his penchant for glamour and the exceptional with a black SL – athletically challenging. This vehicle comes in the special paint finish designo night black magno which can be found on such detachable body parts as the exterior mirrors, door handles and rims as well. Gold-coloured lettering, fins and stripes on the rear bumper impart a feeling of power. The tailpipe trim is in chromed black.

Black and gold dominate the interior, too: gold-coloured stitching adorns the seats in black nappa leather, the instrument panel and centre console are also covered in black designo Exclusive nappa leather, with the trim parts gleaming in gold.

Nico Rosberg: Rosberg’s SL provides an elegant contrast. With the main body finished in designo cashmere white magno, the detachable body parts such as the door handles, wheels, lettering, fins, the insert in the front bumper, surround for the daytime running lamps, window trim and the spoiler lip in the boot lid provide a finely-judged contrast in designo himalayas grey. Both Formula 1 drivers were in agreement when it came to the tailpipe trim: it is in chromed black for the white car, too.Designo Exclusive Style leather in titanium grey sets the tone for the interior in the Nico Rosberg model. It adorns the seats, which have basalt grey topstitching, the steering wheel, the door beltlines, the soft-top cover and also the upper part of the instrument panel. The lower part of the instrument panel is finished in deep white nappa leather, as are the centre console and the door panels. The trim parts gleam in designo cashmere white magno.

The AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine in both Mercedes-AMG SL 63 special models has an output of 585 hp and torque of 900 newton metres, giving them breathtaking thrust. The top speed limit of both has been raised to a championship level of 300 km/h, making them true high-performance roadsters. Both the Lewis Hamilton and the Nico Rosberg model have the same top-flight specification. It includes the AMG Driver’s package, numerous assistance systems, AMG sports suspension, AIRSCARF, the Bang & Olufsen B&OSound AMG sound system, a panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, as well as AMG sports seats and much, much more.

The World Championship 2014 Collector’s Edition thus offers the legend amongst sports cars that is the SL in two top-class versions. They reflect both the sporting rivalry and the goal shared between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The price for the strictly limited-edition and unique pair of vehicles, both of which immortalise the exciting duels fought through this Championship, is €629,510. A single vehicle costs €320,000 (250.000£)

Ferrari California T

Ferrari has joined the turbo revolution with its comprehensively overhauled California thanks to a new V8 that churns out a thumping 560bhp and improves the economy at the same time.
The new Ferrari California T, expected to cost around £155,000, retains the folding hardtop roof for the same coupe/convertible dual personality that made the current California so popular. However it now goes a lot harder thanks to the addition of the new engine Ferrari also shares with stablemate Maserati.

The turbo not only boosts the power from 490bhp in the old car, but massively ramps up the torque from 372 lb ft to 557lb ft. It also has the practical advantage of being able to shave off half a litre in the capacity and improve the claimed economy from 22mpg to 27, thanks in part to an engine stop/start function at idle.

All this means the California T, due to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March, now accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.6sec against 3.8 for the old car and on to a top speed of 190mph.

Ferrari promises all that visual sharpening comes with greater dynamic sharpness too. A new steering box is said to improve response for less input, and new active dampers are claimed to respond 50 per cent faster for more precise handling while still offering enough comfort for the California not to fail in its all-important boulevard cruiser role.

In the same vein the remodelled cockpit is lined in sumptuous leather and offers a useful separate access to the boot via the rear seats, but head out on to a track and the racing tradition comes to the fore with easy access to paddle shifters behind the the flat-bottomed steering wheel to operate the dual-clutch gearbox.

Keen drivers can access engine information from the new circular touch screen dubbed Turbo Performance Engineer that slots between the two centre air vents. Underneath there’s new infotainment screen that’s also touch sensitive but in the more traditional rectangular style.

The new California goes on sale in the autumn and comes with a free seven-year unlimited mileage maintenance package.

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Ferrari California T, ecco la novità di Maranello per il Salone di Ginevra previsto per le prime settimane di marzo. Uno dei cardini delle future berlinette del Cavallino Rampante risiede nel motore; si tratta di un nuovo V8 turbo (ecco spiegata la T) che appaia le stradali alle monoposto di F1. Un V8 sovralimentato esclusivo per Ferrari, da non confondere col V8 turbo delle Maserati, che sviluppato dalla Casa del Tridente (ing. Martinelli) nasce a Maranello, ma è letteralmente di un’altra parrocchia. A partire dalla cilindrata differente (3799 cm3 per Maserati, 3855 cm3 per Ferrari) e da una serie di specifiche tecniche, che fanno orgogliosamente dichiarare a Ferrari di avere a disposizione: “Un motore completamente nuovo, con spinta sempre crescente e un suono entusiasmante come mai nessuno turbo è riuscito a fare fin’ora“.

Il V8 a iniezione diretta è montato in posizione anteriore-centrale ed eroga una potenza  di 560 cavalli a 7.500 giri (potenza specifica di 145 cv/litro) e una coppia  di 755 Nm. Notevolissima l’accelerazione: da 0 a 100 km/h in soli 3″6. Velocità massima di 316 km/h.

Il V8 turbo California T beneficia di alcune delle soluzioni applicate alle monoposto F1 come le turbine twin scroll di dimensioni ridotte e bassissima inerzia per minimizzare i tempi di risposta. Anche alcune fasi produttive, come le fusioni, utilizzano impianti e metodologie della Scuderia.

La Ferrari California T non cambia in dimensioni, ma l’estetica è aggiornata. A partire dallo stile della fiancata, ispirato al celebre parafango “a pontone” della 250 Testa Rossa. Il posteriore presenta un nuovo diffusore a tre derive.

Parlando dell abitacolo la novità è al centro della plancia sulla quale svetta il Turbo Performance Engineer (TPE), che attraverso il display digitale fornisce indicazioni su come sfruttare al meglio le prestazioni del V8 sovralimentato. Nuovo anche l’impianto infotainment, con uno schermo da 6.5’’ HD, utilizzabile sia attraverso i comandi che il touch screen.

Rimane ovviamente la dote conosciuta della California, il tetto rigido ripiegabile, che in 14” trasforma la vettura da coupé a spider.

Il nuovo gioiello di casa Ferrari sarà disponibile entro fine estate ad un prezzo compreso tra 180.000 e 200.000€.

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F14T

After the new McLaren MP4-29, showed in the headquarter of Woking, which will be drive by Button and Magnussen; Maranello decide to present the name of the new Ferrari for the F1 championship 2014. The Ferrari Formula One racing car this season will be called F14T, after an online vote by fans decided the name.

The team website announced the results of the poll on Friday, with the winning name polling 32.9 per cent of the vote. This was 3,69,711 votes from a total of 11,23,741 which were cast.

There were five names nominated for selection with F166 Turbo being second (31.2 per cent).

Ferrari are the only team this season which boasts two former World Champion drivers in Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, who returned from Lotus after last season.

Ferrari will unveil their car on Saturday for the season starting on March 16 in Melbourne. Pre-season testing starts on Tuesday.

 

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Dopo la presentazione della nuova McLaren MP4-29 con la quale correrranno per la stagione 2014  Button e Magnussen è stat la volta della casa di Maranello la quale, prima di presentare la macchina per la nuova stagione, ha svelato il nome.

Hanno deciso i tifosi. E come dice Stefano Domenicali, «è bello sapere che sono stati loro a scegliere il nome». La nuova Ferrari F1 che verrà presentata via web il 25/01/2014 alle 14,30 si chiamerà F14T. Una sigla semplice, che richiama l’anno in cui correrà e la motorizzazione turbo. I Piloti alla guida saranno Alonso e Raikkonen

Più di un milione le preferenze mandate al sito della Rossa. Per l’esattezza1.123.741 voti. Il nome scelto ha avuto appena 19104 preferenze (pari all’1,7%) sull’altro “candidato”, ovvero F166 Turbo. Più indietro le altre preferenze: F14 Scuderia con il 18,8%, F14 maranello con il 12,3%, F616 con il 4,8%.

I voti sono arrivati davvero da ogni angolo del mondo: 208 i diversi domini di provenienza di chi si è collegato col sito dedicato alla nuova monoposto durante i nove giorni in cui è stata aperta la consultazione. Spetta all’Italia il primato, seguita dalla Spagna e poi dagli Stati Uniti, dal Regno Unito e dalla Francia. Ottimo il piazzamento della Finlandia, ottava, mentre fra i BRICS prevale la Russia (settimo posto), davanti a Brasile (undicesimo), India (tredicesimo), Cina (quindicesimo) e Sudafrica (trentunesimo). Fra le new entry dell’ultimo minuto va segnalato l’arrivo di Cuba, Groenlandia, Palau e Guinea Equatoriale.