Pagani Zonda R Coming in a Street Legal Form?

I’m sure you’ve probably heard about Pagani offering up the R version of the Zonda, constructed of carbon fiber and sporting a 750hp V-12 power plant and a staggering price tag in the 1.2 million dollar range.  Well hold on to your snow cones kids, word is that Pagani will be offering a VERY limited run of 5 street legal editions of the Zonda R.  The car is rumored to be appropriately will be named after the Italian name for five, ‘cinque.’ Weather this is just a pipe dream or actual plans is quite fuzzy at the moment.  But if it was up to CarFront…well you know that what would happen then.

[Source: TeamSpead, AutoBlog]

Rent a Bugatti Veyron

There is a huge demographic of people that will never have the chance to sit behind the wheel of the worlds greatest super cars. Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Aston Martin’s… they are ‘untouchable’ for the majority because they could simply not afford to buy or lease one. High end rental agencies are slowly bringing that opportunity to more and more people as they are becoming more widely available, easier to actually rent, and a greater variety of cars are being offered.

Up until late, the standard ‘baller’ cars that could be found on rental lots catering to those looking for something a little flashier and faster than the PT Cruiser, were the Ferrari 355 and the 360, and assortments of Porsche’s. That has changed quite a bit over the past year or so, we now have Lamborghini’s being offered, and not just the Gallardo either.

But Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car has truly stepped up the game. Offering the all mighty Bugatti Veyron to the likes of all. Well all who have $25,000 to spend on the car for a 24 hour rental of the mega car. We at CarFront were quite intrigued, and phoned up Beverly Hills to get some more information, and find out answers to pertinent questions like:

Is doing 250mph+ frowned upon?

How many supermodels can fit comfortably and uncomfortably in the car.

I’ll give you my wife, house and first born… how about we call it square?

But unfortunately I didn’t even get the chance to ask my pressing questions as their customer service seemed a tad below helpful, after getting transfered around for information. At my last stop I was told to simply send an email, two days later, I’m still waiting.

Veilside Murcielago

This is the first Murcielago we’ve seen, and the first one in Asia. The full carbon fiber kit, #30/300 is a bit Reventon-esqu. But no doubt does give the car an overall menacing look. Details are still a tad sparse, but we know you just want to look at the pictures anyway…

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Getting Beefed Up

Aston Martin has decided that the original V8 Vantage was a bit to tame for  their liking, to remedy their situation they have made a few changes where it counts; which we will be seeing on the 2009s. They bored and stroked out the displacement, from the original 4.3 liters to a now 4.7 liter V8.  The result being 420bhp, an 11% increase and 347 lb-ft of torque, a 15% jump.  Even though you will be getting more power out of your Aston, you will be getting 13% better fuel economy.

Aston Martin didn’t stop with the engine either. Either of the optional  transmissions have been tweeked for your liking. They have gone through the programming on the Sportshift automatic to provide you with smoother shifts, and the 6-speed manual has received a modified clutch and flywheel, reducing a bit of weight and making clutch efforts easier. As it goes with the suspension, we can expect stiffer spring rates, stiffer bushings in the front suspension and improved steering geometry. All of which should make your spirited cruises in those windy canyon roads much more precise.  Inside the car, they have done away with the standard key, and put in an ECU to handle that. They’ve also reworked the center console finish in graphite silver.  To my relief and I’m sure yours as well, they will leave the sexy lines of the Vantage alone, though you will have the option of adding a new 20 spoke 19” wheel when you place your order.

Full press release can be read here

[Read more]

Ferrari IMAX Movie

The IMAX production team are hard at work on a new masterpiece, Causing all the 2008 movies that I’m waiting impatiently to see, to be bumped down a notch. To bad I will need to wait until 2009 and fly to Abu Dhabi to see it.

Ferrari has released  these three images of a helicopter whizzing over Fiorano. In CarFront’s opinion, taking in the sweetest sights ever to hit the IMAX lens.  The movie will be used at the Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi, opening next year.  I wonder if there will be a midnight release party?

Jaguar XF-R Spy Shots

Many are saying the Jaguar XF is the greatest model to be turned out from the company. Well, how about a sedan that thats in the ranks of Germany’s ’super sedans; the XF-R is exactly that beast. The spy photographers over at CarMagazine.co.uk have caught a prototype during testing.  looking at the pictures, and the camo’d car, it looks like we can expect to see a rear spoiler, possibly a rear diffuser, larger air intakes on both sides of the bumper and hood vents that tease us with what it’s covering. Car is speculating a direct injected 5.0 liter V8 that’s supercharged. Rumored to be in the 500+ horsepower club.  We can also expect to see color matched side sills, and a new 20-inch wheel design, also a some menacing quad pipes out the back. Word is we will be seeing the XF-R making it’s official appearance sometime in 2009.