Reporter and photographer Sebastian Geisler brings us these stunning images and information about the latest cars to be found at the Geneva motor show this week.
Artega GT
The people behind the project are the director Klaus-Dieter Frers (Head of Paragon, a supplier for the car industry), consultant Karl-Heinz Kalbfell (ex-Maserati, BMW, Rolls-Royce), and design by Henrik Fisker, ex-Aston Martin.
They plan to make 500 cars a year, it'll cost about €75,000 Euro (about £51,000), generates 300bhp from its 3.6-litre VW V6, uses a DSG, and weighs around 1,000 to 1,100Kg. Performance is said to be 0-62mph in under five seconds, and a Vmax of about 170 mph. Production will start at the end of the year, first customer cars are scheduled for summer 2008.
Aston Martin DB9 Volante by Mansory
The tuner replaces the front spoiler and grille, adding a more aggressive look. The brakes are upgraded to Brembo 405mm with six-pot calipers (front) and 405mm with a four-piston calipers (rear).
Mansory reckoned it adds more feel via new, forged aluminium 20-inch wheels wrapped in 255/35/20 tyres at the front and 285/30/20 tyres at the back. The suspension is lowered by 25mm and stiffer springs are used.
Other details include side skirts with carbon flanks and air intakes together with a boot lid spoiler. Chromed details include the exhaust tips, a boot trim strip and carbon fibre lamp covers. The bonnet sports anodised aluminium air outlets.
The inside's been redone too, with a mix of maple wood, carbon fibre and Alcantara, along with a new steering wheel, carbon fibre trim, aluminium pedals and handbrake handle.
Conquistador
The Conquistador is Mansory's take on the Rolls Royce Phantom.
It starts with a new front spoiler with integrated LED daytime running lights and elongated grille stripes, new side skirts with aluminium flanks and grilles, wing mirrors with integrated flasher lights and a rear with new stainless steel exhaust tips, plus a small bootlid spoiler.
It sits on mighty 24 inch forged wheels with tyres sized at 305/35/24 front and rear.
Power is up to 490bhp (from 453bhp in standard form) with a maximum torque of 575lb-ft at 3,920rpm (was 531lb-ft at 3,500rpm). The Vmax speed limiter now kicks in at 168 mph and the 3,000Kg-plus behemoth is reined in by a new high performance brake system by Brembo with front discs of 412mm with six-piston calipers (front) and 405mm with four-pots (rear).
The windows' transparency glass is user-controllable -- it uses suspended particle device glass so occupants can regulate the transparency via a remote control.
Inside carbon fibre and maple wood inlays abound, as well as ambiance lighting. There are new sill plates, chequered quilted designs for the seats, Alcantara roof lining and dashboard and electrical business tables in the back with seat-integrated multimedia monitors.
TechArt GTstreet
The new TechArt GTstreet is based on the 911 Turbo (997) and starts at €245,000 (£166,700).
The 3.6-litre twin-turbo boxer engine is modified to develop 630bhp at 6,800 rpm, up from the standard 480bhp. Peak torque increases to 602lb-ft at 4,500 rpm.
The TechArt TA 097/T3 engine conversion comprises two special VTG turbochargers, a new air box with sport air filter, high-performance manifolds, intercoolers and a stainless-steel sport exhaust system with high-performance catalysts. The interaction of all modifications is ensured by a newly programmed engine management system.
Power is transferred to all four wheels via a modified transmission with a short-shifting TechArt gearstick.
The TechArt GTstreet delivers performance 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 215mph.
The body kit for the TechArt GTstreet was created in the wind tunnel for optimised downforce and minimal drag. The front fascia and large intakes of the GTstreet with retractable carbon-fiber splitter produce downforce on the front axle and provide radiator, oil coolers and brakes with more cooling air. The auxiliary headlamp units with daytime running lights and fog lamps improve active safety. They also give the car even more passing clout.
The flares on the front arches add 10 mm to the width, while air outlets behind the front wheel arches optimise brake venting with larger air ducts in the rear sidewalls providing engine and intercoolers with a larger supply of cooling air. For an optimal transition between front and rear, there are rocker panels along with ne mirrors and headlamp mouldings.
The roof spoiler extends the roofline and optimises airflow to the adjustable rear airfoil while an integrated carbon-fibre diffuser contributes to downforce on the rear axle.
You can choose one of several designs from the company's selection of 20-inch wheels and colour combinations. TechArt fitted ContiSportContact 3 tyres in sizes 245/30 ZR 20 (front) and 325/25 ZR 20 (rear) to this example. The bigger wheels provide space for the new brakes -- six-piston aluminium calipers and 390mm discs (front) and 365mm discs and four-piston calipers (rear).
TechArt's VarioPlus coil-over suspension is based on the electronically adjustable PASM damping system of the 911 Turbo. This chassis allows individual ride-height lowering by up to 25mm with push-button selection of two different damper settings, Normal or Sport. However, the dampers are not limited to these presets. Sporty driving automatically results in firmer damper settings in both modes, thus combining excellent ride comfort during normal driving with agile and responsive handling during fast cornering.
The cockpit of the GTstreet also differs distinctly from the standard 911 Turbo. Among the differences is an exclusive leather interior with colour-contrasted stitching and CarboBlack highlights. The coupé gets a TechArt sport steering wheel, aluminium foot pedals, foot rest and gearstick, plus illuminated door sills sporting the TechArt logo.
There's more to come from Geneva -- this is part one of a multi-part report...