Fenice Gold And Diamonds Fiat 500C【Video】

A Chinese businessman, who wants to remain anonymous, commissioned the Italian coach Fenice Milano a Fiat Abarth 500 C, with various elements in gold and diamonds, inspired by the prototype ‘La Dolce Vita’, presented last October.

The model was commissioned from Italian design house Fenice Milano which has labelled it "La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp". Even the outside of the car features 24K gold particles in the golden pearlescent white paint and there's a gold thread finish to the hood too. But that's just the beginning.

This Fenice Fiat 500C uses 24K gold on everything, from the instrument panel, to the dashboard and other trim parts.

The interior of the Fenice Fiat 500 Convertible Abarth has been decked out with teak inserts, special leather and diamonds. The console is embellished with a gold framed instrument panel and teak and 24K gold inserts dashboard, whose profiles are hand-shaped by Fenice Milano’s artisans.





Press Release

€ 500,000 for a gold and diamonds 500C commissioned to Fenice Milan and Stuart Hughes

After the great interest achieved from the presentation on the market in September 2010, Fenice Milano (www.fenicemilano.com) receives a commission from a wealthy Chinese businessman to build a special version of its "little one", which adds exclusivity and determination to the retro charm of the initial project. The new, unique model was named "La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp". A name that, by itself, sais it all and briefly describes the extraordinary budget that justifies a price of almost €500,000.

Further improved in performance thanks to the recently established partnership with the famous car technician Romeo Ferraris (www.romeoferraris.com) - specialized in car engine modifications and road racing since 1959 - and enriched by the installation of new electronic devices such as the prestigious "Supreme gold and diamonds Ipad" produced by the English Atelier of Stuart Hughes (www.stuarthughes.com).

The starting point for this event is the 500C Abarth, fully mechanically revised, to reach the extraordinary level of 200Hp, and whose precious finishes result in a real jewel of style and Made in Italy workmanship.

Thanks to its compact size (355cm long, 165cm wide and 149cm in height), this little jewel is ideal to comfortably move in the city, without sacrificing the luxury and exclusivity guaranteed by several inserts of precious materials, such as 24K gold and quality woods such as teak, entirely handmade by Fenice Milano's artisans. Pleasure and excitement in driving are guaranteed, due to an increase of 68hp from the original, permitted by the new ECU and exclusive use of an increased turbine entirely developed by Romeo Ferraris' Factory, combined with pipes and fittings made from scratch, as well as the complete exhaust system with 200-cells catalytic converter designed to improve engine performance. To add security, the brake system has also been completely revised, in order to balance the increased power obtained. The front axle has in fact been provided with an improved kit by Brembo equipped with adjustable dampers able to tame the exuberance of 'La Dolce Vita' and making it both safe and fun.

Inside, the redesigned steering wheel has the outer ring made of the teak and the interior one made in leather with controls in 24K gold, even the original carpet floor was replaced with teak. The console is embellished with a gold framed instrument panel and teak and 24K gold inserts dashboard, whose profiles are handshaped by Fenice Milano's artisans.

The last major innovation provided in "La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp" is in fact the placing in central position of an Ipad Supreme Edition made in 24k gold and diamonds by English designer Stuart Hughes, specialized in developing technological applications in precious materials. Especially designed for those who want to make the most of innovation and exclusivity in the onboard control instruments, the space for the Ipad provides a complete interaction of the device with the car, which is fitted with a GPS navigation system, a last generation hi-fi that can handle MP3 and all Ipod features and also an internet connection run by wi-fi and a appropriate sim card.

The golden pearlescent white painting includes 24K gold particles. The electric hood is provided in technical natural colored fabric with gold thread finished. The redesigned seats are also sewn with the precious material, the interior elements are full grain leather and natural-colored Alcantara with handmade on sight stitching.

Curiositiy:
The future owner wants the delivery of its new "little treat" to be made in absolute concealment, in a jewelry shop owned by a friend, as depicted in the animation video.

Ciento Once by GWA

GWA Tuning, a North American firm, has revealed the images of the Ciento Once. The prototype is still under development and is a revival of a famous Mercedes Gullwing prototype from the 70s. GWA has created a modern take of the same vehicle.

The Ciento Once is built upon a tubular space frame chassis, but instead of the original Wankel diesel that powered the concept car it gets aMercedes V12 with with 408 HP mounted in the middle visible through the glass hood. It is backed by a 6-speed Cima H type transaxle and a special tuned exhaust.

Wheelbase is slightly shorter than the original at 103 inches (2616 mm) and weight is similar at 1,400 kg (3086 lbs). Brakes are the same as on the S55 Mercedes-Benz.

The interior of the GWA Tuning Ciento Once offers carbon fiber seats, brushed aluminum pedals and illuminated door sills. the car has the same wheel-tire setup as the Mercedes SLS AMG (19x9 wheels with 265/35/19 tires at the front and 20x11 wheels with 295/30/20 tires at the rear.)






Exterior and Interior

The Ciento Once will come with a body made out of high-grade aluminum and an electrically operated rear adjustable wing. Other elements that will be added to this one-off vehicle include a swooping front hood, front spoiler with large air intake, a rear diffusor, and of course, those gull wing doors.

Comparing it to the 1970 Mercedes-Benz C111 from which it was based on, the Ciento Once will come with a slightly shorter wheelbase at 103 inches while maintaining the same weight – around 1,400 kg – as its inspiration. The one-off car also runs on GWA Type A wheels, 19X9 front and 20X11 rears, with 265/35/19 and 295/30/20 rubber.

As for the interior, GWA Tuning gave the Ciento Once a modern take while also taking into account a vintage retro feel. Modern items include carbon fiber seats covered in plaid, an instrument panel that’s been modeled after a W120R MB, modern dashboard accents, illuminated door sills, and brushed AMG aluminum pedals.

Performance

GWA Tuning certainly made sure to give the Ciento Once an engine worthy of its one-off status. Housed in a tubular space frame chassis, the car’s power plant is derived from a M120 Mercedes V12 engine that produces a robust 408 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed Cima H-type transaxle and a special tuned exhaust. Even better, the car’s powerful engine can be seen through a glass on the rear deck, making for some nice ‘ooohing’ and ‘aaahing’ from passersby.

Pricing

No word yet on how much it’s going to cost, but considering it’s most likely going to be a one-off vehicle, there’s a very big chance that it’s going to come with a steep price tag. How steep? Well, we wouldn’t be surprised if it punches a number north of six digits.

Competition

Scoff if you want, but if you’re in the market for a one-of-a-kind Mercedes with gullwing doors to rival your neighbor’s SLS AMG, then GWA Tuning’s Ciento Once is the perfect candidate for that. Just make sure you call ‘dibs’ on the car before everybody else.

2011 Rinspeed Bamboo Concept

Swiss design company Rinspeed will releases its newest concept car, called the BamBoo, which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show

Designed by pop artist James Rizzi, the BamBoo was created to evoke memories of summer days spent on the beach in 1970's St. Tropez. Despite the retro inspiration, the car has a composite body and a high-tech "Identiface" grille which can display Facebook messages, websites, and other internet content. There's also a two-piece removable roof and 17-inch AEZ aluminum wheels with Goodyear EfficientGrip tires.

Driving, it appears, is less important than comfortable beach living. Power is provided by a 54-kilowatt (72 horsepower) electric motor, ensuring the 2400-pound BamBoo will be only slightly quicker than the two-cylinder Mehari. Rinspeed shies from battery details, but notes the BamBoo can travel 60 miles on a single charge.

The interior includes an HTC tablet PC with a docking station located in the glovebox. The inflatable rear seats are stored in aluminum cases and can been taken out of the car to be used as chairs.

In addition, both rear seats are inflatable and stored in two aluminum cases on the open cargo bed, and – they too can be taken to the beach. Another notable feature is the dashboard that is said to open "in breadbox fashion" revealing the control elements and the futuristic VDO display on the driver side, and a glove box that houses a seven-inch HTC tablet PC “Flyer” with docking station on the passenger side.




Press Release

"BamBoo" - A Taste of this Summer!

Open Speedster for the Extroverted Communicator - Seamless High-Tech, Purism and Lifestyle.

This car irritates. Could be that it's the ingenious crafted creations of world-renowned New York pop artist James Rizzi. In any case, Frank M. Rinderknecht‘s latest work "BamBoo" lets the sun rise over the over-engineered metal creatures at the Geneva Motor Show, whose single purpose is to never touch anything other than black asphalt. Yes, this is a taste of summer. A taste of beach and sand, of the lightness and lightheartedness of southern latitudes. It is a reminiscence of the Seventies, of the south of France, of St. Tropez. Its colors range from salmon to lobster and yellow, shimmering in the sunlight, staged perfectly by color- and adhesive-repair-specialist ("StickerFix") AkzoNobel. And one would expect to find Brigitte Bardot behind the wheel with playboy Gunther Sachs at her side heading towards Tahiti beach. But at the same time this car points to the future with clever innovations such as a communication display in place of a radiator grille and an inflatable roof that also serves as a beach blanket. Yes, this sun & fun car will blow the roof off!

Anyone who might think that this is simple retro design underestimates the boss of the Swiss concept powerhouse. He reinterprets the automotive references of days gone by and evolves them into the future. He plays with man's yearning to get back to the roots, often paired with the desire to be in harmony with creation. That makes electric drive, also for the onboard foldable two wheeler for the last "mile", a must. More than just about anyone the Rinspeed boss knows how to play on strong emotions and dreams beyond the macho horsepower affectation. This is the fundamental reason why Rinderknecht is considered an automotive visionary by many.

The latest creation from Rinderknecht - jointly developed and built by Swiss engineering firms 4erC and Esoro - resembles a grown-up golf cart at first glance. But one that offers a firework of innovation and design. This successful combination is most evident in the canopy-like inflatable roof developed by Swiss company Tecnotex. It is covered with water-resistant „Skai Neptun Caleri" with nano coating supplied by the Hornschuch Company. It protects the interior against possible morning dew. Nothing but air lends the two-piece waterproof design its rigidity. While the outside of the roof is decorated by a giant Rizzi beach scene, the inside is refined by visionary spinning mill Schoeller from Bregenz with thread made from genuine bamboo. No doubt, anyone going to the beach with this mattress will easily outshine any folding convertible roof, no matter how elegant and will instantly be in conversation with their beach chair neighbors.

In any case, "Bamboo" is the fitting sun & fun car for the extroverted communicator. Personal messages for the people in the vicinity of the car are displayed on the innovative "Identiface." This screen-based section, developed by Daimler subsidiary MBtech in Stuttgart, replaces the radiator grille, which is mostly redundant on an electric vehicle anyways. Thanks to its Internet connectivity "Identiface" can display the occupants' Facebook pages, news from around the world, the manufacturer's logo or an offer for a ride from A to B. Engineering service provider Helveting with support from Zurich Versicherung custom-developed the "BamBoo-Community" platform. This platform also offers additional practical features centered on social networking, sustainability and optimal driving behavior. In combination with the famous color-changing "Rizzi bird" on the rollover bar (green = I am single; blue = I am in party mood; orange = I need a break) it creates an entirely new automotive form of communication beyond deafening noise attacks. "Rizzi bird" instead of flipping the bird.

Simple but highly refined is the interior of the "BamBoo." It's all in a name: The sides of the Bordeaux-red bench are decorated with the "BamBoo" logo and the "Rizzi bird," artfully woven with bamboo thread by Zurich weaver Weisbrod. The center seating surfaces are decorated with Rizzi drawings, and are made from breathable high performance synthetik „Laif" material. And both rear seats are inflatable and stored in two aluminum cases on the open cargo bed. You guessed it - they too can be taken to the beach.

The puristic dashboard is in the shape of a giant breadbox - and the fine cover made from braided plastics supplied by polymer manufacturer Ticona - opens in breadbox fashion to reveal the control elements and the futuristic VDO display. The far right of the glove box houses a seven-inch HTC tablet PC "Flyer" with docking station. In keeping with the times the tablet PC and the occupants' smartphones guarantee that the "BamBoo" and its passengers are always connected everywhere. The elongated "bread bin" is flanked by Harman JBL GreenEdge speakers in an avant-garde design. The world's leading provider of premium sound and infotainment systems is focusing on connectivity with its scalable entertainment system and the "Aha Radio" application. And in the center thrones the vent of the electric high-voltage heater from German supplier Eberspächer catem. By the way the "BamBoo" is started with an army knife. Typically Swiss.

With all this nicely packaged lifestyle the underlying technical specifications of the "BamBoo" are easily overlooked: The four four-seater features an electric motor from the German Fräger Group (German e-Cars) with 54 kW of power. This high-torque motor "made in Germany" accelerates the 1,090-kilogram vehicle to a top speed of 120 km/h. Lightweight construction does its part: The steel chassis with horizontal shock absorbers carries a sturdy composite body combined with the use of polymer plastic materials. Henkel supplies the structural foams as well as sealants and adhesives. The entire thing sits on 17" AEZ three-spoke billet aluminum wheels with painted inserts and eco-friendly Goodyear "EfficientGrip" energy-saving tires in 17". And the operating range? The battery's capacity is enough for 105 kilometers - plenty for a fun car for short-distance traffic between hotel, beach and restaurant visits in the evenings. Speaking of range: Rinderknecht has also partnered with energy giant RWE, whose "intelligent" charging station demonstrates how an innovative infrastructure specialist tackles the issue of e-mobility. The advanced charger communicates with the car across all borders.

And what effect will "BamBoo" have in Geneva? "BamBoo" will push the reset button in the head of the observer, clearing the mind for a new way of automotive thinking. It exhibits simple, crisp lines; nothing is redundant - aesthetics in their purest form. Close your eyes and you'll find yourself cruising through pine forests and lavender fields in your mind. The little car was made for the beautiful beaches and vacation spots of this planet, making the "BamBoo" sort of a world car. No wonder that bustling Frank M. Rinderknecht wants to seize this chance as figurehead of Swiss watch manufacturer C.F. Bucherer and thinks aloud about a series production. Rinderknecht will only say this: "Yes, there have been constructive talks for some time with a number of potential manufacturers." To be on the safe side, the Düsseldorf consulting firm A.T. Kearney already has manufacturing and company concepts for a series production in the drawer.

At the Geneva Motor Show even visions have to be communicated visually in top quality with HD displays and Blu-ray players from Sharp and advertising support from "Die Agentur" based in Germany's federal state of Saarland.

BAC Mono track car revealed

A British sports car maker by the name Briggs Automotive Company has announced a new lightweight, single-seat road racer that would compete with the likes of Caterham and Airel. Known as the BAC Mono, the car is for “drivers who seek a purist driving experience and for whom design, engineering excellence and performance are of paramount importance.”

The BAC Mono track is a single central-seat featuring an aggressive design. It is constructed from high-strength carbon fiber composite and is powered by a 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 280 HP. This engine sprints the car to an impressive top speed of 170 mph.

BAC says the Mono's mid-mounted 280 horsepower inline four-cylinder will send the car to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, hit 170 mph top speed, and do it all for £66,625--about $108,000. That's still pricey--beyond Nissan GT-R territory and into Corvette ZR-1 range--but it's sure to offer lateral acceleration that will make you forget all about 200-mph top speed dreams.

Suspension is a fully-adjustable pushrod suspension with damping elements made by SACHS Racing. Fitted with 295mm ventilated discs, AP Racing brakes provide stopping power. The Mono sits on 17-inch O.Z. Racing HRT alloy alloy wheels wrapped in Kumho tires.

The MONO is priced at £79,950 (€91,998 / $128,513), including taxes in the U.K.




Press Release

BAC MONO - AN ENTHRALLING NEW SINGLE-SEAT PERFORMANCE CAR DESIGNED AND BUILT BY ENTHUSIASTS FOR ENTHUSIASTS

Enthusiasts the world over dream of designing and building their own car. What set the Cheshire-born brothers Neill and Ian Briggs apart from most, is that they had the automotive qualifications and experience to do just that, and put the result into production for others to enjoy - enter the BAC MONO.

MONO (as in monoposto, or single seat) was designed to bring formula race car levels of handling, performance and thrill to the public road, but it's also the perfect trackday tool, racing school car, one-make series racer, etc. At 520 bhp / ton, its power to weight ratio surpasses that of the Bugatti Veyron and it can accelerate to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, 100 mph in 6.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 170 mph. The car is also an object of engineering perfection and desire, courtesy of the Briggs brothers' 15 years experience of the motor industry, during which time they've handled design and engineering consultancy projects for the likes of Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, through their company Adaptive Space.

Of British conception, MONO combines the very best of all automotive worlds. Its aerodynamics were optimised using CFD in partnership with Stuttgart University, while its list of suppliers reads like a Who's Who of the international motorsport industry. The vehicle is constructed in carbon fibre with a tubular steel driver safety cell, complete with FIA-compliant roll over protection system - similar in concept to a DTM race car. Power comes from a 280 bhp, normally-aspirated 2.3-litre Cosworth unit mounted longitudinally and mated to an electronically-controlled, paddle-shift, six-speed sequential Hewland transmission with limited-slip differential. The rose-jointed, aero profiled pushrod suspension features adjustable Sachs Racing dampers derived from the heat of competition. The braking is by AP Racing, the bespoke HRT alloy wheels by OZ Racing, the purpose-developed, street-legal track tyres by Kumho, and the vehicle electronics and instrumentation by GEMS.

The driver is secured by a full six-point racing harness by Willans and there is a secure locker in which to store a helmet and the detachable steering wheel when parked. The seat is fixed for safety and optimum weight distribution (48/52 front to rear), and drivers of varying shapes and sizes can be readily accommodated thanks to the fully adjustable pedal box and steering column that can be altered for both height and rake. There is even the option of an F1-style fully-profiled seat.

Said Ian Briggs (BAC stands for Briggs Automotive Company): "MONO is the culmination of a 12-year dream for us - the car we wanted to own but nobody else made." Neill Briggs added: "All cars are built to order on a first-come, first-served basis and our flexible production facility has the capacity to manufacture between 50 and 100 vehicles per year - or more if demand requires. All I can currently say is, the early response has been extremely encouraging."

At £79,950 (including UK taxes), the BAC MONO is not only highly desirable but eminently affordable. For further details, log onto www.bac-mono.com.