Part 1
They sound glorious when they roar. They burn rubber with their prodigious power. Their styling is gorgeous enough to make each one of them, well, almost, into subjects for pin up posters that make us petrolheads drool and dream of owning one. They are better and far more exotic than ordinary cars. They are the sportscars and supercars.
Like at any other motor show, they were in full attendance at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. In the following pages we bring you the new range of the breed – the automotive equivalents of pin up girls.
In accordance with current concerns about damage to our environment, apart from being very fast and looking exquisite these cars also comply with all new global emission norms.
So buckle up and get ready for one wild ride as we take a close look at the super and sportscars that had us on our knees during this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.
THE SPYDER is just one hell of a looker. Audi has given it full LED headlamps, done away with the side blades behind the doors and taken the roof off. But taking the roof off isn't as easy as it sounds. The sills, centre tunnel, rear wall, A- and B-pillars had to be strengthened and that adds weight. But in the Audi, the body weighs just 6kg more than the coupe.
The roof on the other hand is made from a leak proof textile which folds away into a compartment over the engine in 19 seconds. Being made of cloth, it helps keep the car light since it weighs in at just 30kg.
But none of the luxury is cut down. You get a fl at bottomed steering wheel, finest Nappa leather and the mind blowing Bang & Olufsen music system. And we haven't yet got to the best bit, the engine. A 5.2-litre V10 sits behind the driver belching out a tyre burning 525bhp. This translates into a 0-100kmph dash in 4.1s and a 200kmph dash in 12.7s. Top speed? 313kmph!
THE name Aston Martin is synonymous with beauty and elegance and it is no wonder that the Rapide holds on to the same philosophy. But don't let the leather and walnut trim, four heated seats, lots of boot space and the four-door set up fool you. At heart this newest of Astons is a true sportscar.
With a front mid mounted V12 developing 470bhp, the Rapide zips to 100kmph in just 5.1 seconds.
THE birth of a new Ferrari is always special. On top of that if you hear that it laps Ferrari's own Fiorano circuit in 1 minute 25 seconds, it's bound to be exciting, considering the Enzo does it in 1 minute 24.9 seconds. Behold, the Ferrari 458 Italia.
Designed by the famous pens at Pinninfarina, the 458 looks quite like a smaller Enzo. The sweeping headlights add to the fl air and so does the nose which features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. Inside, you get leather trim for the dash and aluminium shells for the instruments.
But supercars are generally about improbable numericals and the 458 Italia is no exception in this aspect. Behind the driver is a 4.5-litre V8, belching out 570bhp. The results of that is a 100kmph sprint time of 3.4s and a 200kmph dash in 10.4s. Top speed, 325kmph.
Part 2
IF it is exclusivity you are looking for, this has to be the one. Only 20 of these 6.5-litre, 670bhp monsters will ever be made. This powehouse blitzes to 100 in 3.4s and does 380kmph!
Lambo engineers have stiffened the chassis but that has not affected the weight much as this open top is just 25kg heavier than the coupe. Lambo has also given it the shade of Reventon Grey in a matte finish to differentiate it from the glossy one of the coupe. Even the wheels, which are designed to resemble airplane propellers, help channel air to cool the massive brake discs.
Inside, the dash gets an airplane mode, where the display resembles that of a cockpit. You can revert to a standard look as well.
Little wonder that one has to shell out close to 1.1 million Euro to park this one in the garage. If you are one of the lucky 20 that is.
STYLED by Pinninfarina, this was surely a showstopper at the show. The Gran Cabrio gets a cloth roof that places itself over the passenger compartment, saving both weight and space. In fact, it's the fi rst four-seat convertible in the company's history. Maserati also claims that it is the longest four-seat convertible available in the market today.
Moving on to performance, the Gran Cabrio is powered by a 4.7-litre engine whichoffers 440bhp on tap. Top speed though is 283kmph and that too if you have the roof up. A 0-100kmph dash on the other hand will take 5.4s.
MAZDA celebrates 20 years of the MX5 brand with this superlight version. To keep it light weight, Mazda has stripped down the MX 5 of even a windscreen and the retractable roof. The removal of the windscreen required the extension of the original aluminium bonnet into the cabin with a lightweight carbon fibre sheet that provides a "hood" for the dashboard frame. A filigree aluminium, wide-angle mirror is also added for practicality's sake. A pair of rollover bars are fitted which prevent wind turbulence around the heads of the occupants and the car also gets LED brake lamps.
Under the bonnet is a 126bhp, 1.8- litre four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The result is the Superlight goes to 100kmph in just 8.9 seconds.
Part 3
THE motoring press around the world is showering praise on the Gullwing and even Mercedes is certain that it will clinch the 'Supercar of the century' again with it. So what does this car have other than fancy doors?
The design to begin with seems like a pure yesteryear design touched up with all the modern bits and pieces. The long bonnet, the low greenhouse positioned far back, and the short rear with the extendable rear spoiler symbolise dynamics, as do the long wheelbase, the wide track, and the large wheels.
The SLS AMG is the fi rst ever Mercedes- Benz whose chassis and body are made of aluminium. This helps in keeping the weight in check.
But power is essential and with the AMG badge in the vicinity, it shouldn't be a worry. An eight-cylinder engine displacing 6.3 litres and producing 571 horses powers the SLS. No wonder the 1,620kg supercar blitzes to 100kmph in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 317kmph.
But all that power doesn't come cheap. Mercedes has announced that the Gullwing will sell for an amazing 1,77,310 Euro.
ONE of the hottest exhibits at Frankfurt was the Wiessman MF5 roadster. This handcrafted beauty features a true classic design with a low slung andsporty stance.
The small doors allow easy access inside, where your are greeted by sporty red upholstery and a steering wheel facing your chest. The dials, fi nished in white and with chrome rings, face the driver in true classic appeal. The long bonnet up ahead gives a clear view and the headroom can be miles high even if you have the roof down.
But don't think this one is just a show car. Wiessman will be making 55 of these and they will be putting a menace under the hood. A V10 powerplant producing a massive output of 507bhp in car which weighs just 1,395kg.
The result is an astonishing figure of 3.9 seconds to 100kmph and a top speed of 310kmph.
But another fact that will keep the Wiessman MF5 roadster exclusive is its price. At 1,89,500 Euro for the basic version, it has the potential to be one of the most expensive supercars on sale in markets today.
