Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

THAT is just Criminal!!!

This makes me so unhappy...

This however . . . yummy!

This makes me very happy :)

http://www.marlinsportscars.co.uk/forsale/

320bhp, mid-engined, £14500 ex-demo. Something of a bargain.

Looks like a re-hash of a Strathcarron SC from a couple of years back. They were bike engined and truely shit. This looks more promising !!

Marlin have been going forever - the Sportster is a sort of larger, more civilised Caterham based on BMW running gear. They had a demo with the M3 engine/gearbox at one point which was quite awe-inspiring - a bit like a Westfield SEight that actually made sense. I love the retro/bonkers looks of the Sportster too:

I saw TWO NSX's tonight!!!!!

TWO!!!!!

I didn't even know that many were sold!!!!!

these?

saw them frequently in aus, lots of jap imports though

Yep, bloody gorgeous cars, always loved them, such a shame they were never really a success.

Surprised we didn't see those roof scoops of Corsas/Saxos =P

see them on a lot of MR2's, on the side

Yeah but at least they're actually doing work =P

Unlike the roof scoops on Corsas/Saxos/Civics that you see all too often.

You don't see roof scoops like the NSX's on anything else but single seaters.

if you love the 599 GTB like me, then this is the next step up...very limited #'s will be made...599XX
700bhp @ a whopping 9000 RPM!... can you imagine that?? ..the bodywork... its all about carbon! .... fitted with 19inch racing slicks..

better then the FXX?

Now THAT is a diffuser!

Looks much better than the FXX and i'd definitely prefer that over the FXX.

On the subject of diffusers, since the Clio 197 came out I predicted that we'll see rear diffusers popping up all over your local Halfrauds/McDonalds car parks attached to Corsas/Saxos/Civics and whatever else, hasn't seem to have caught on that much yet, but mark my words they'll be making an unwanted appearance near you =P

P.S. I can't tell if those are exhausts or rear lights either side of the boot, they certainly look like exhausts.

I agree, much nastier then the FXX... :)

heres some of the press release...

While based on the 599 GTB Fiorano with the same transaxle layout and engine type, this prototype is an extreme track car. Ferrari's engineers have carried out extensive work on the engine's combustion chambers and inlet and exhaust tracts. These modifications, combined with the fact that internal attrition has been reduced and the maximum revs have been boosted to 9,000 rpm, helped achieve the target power output of 700 hp at 9,000 rpm. Particular attention was also paid to cutting the weight of the engine unit components. This was achieved both by optimising forms - as in the new crankshaft - and adopting exclusive materials, as in the carbon-fibre used for the intake plenums. A new gearbox shift strategy cuts overall gearchange times to 60 ms.

The 599XX is characterised by an innovative electronic concept called the "High Performance Dynamic Concept" which has been designed to get the maximum performance from the car by managing the combination of the car's mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. The mechanical and electronic systems work together to get the maximum performance from the car under extreme high performance driving, for consistent lap times. The sporty handling has been improved thanks to the adoption of second generation SCM suspension system. Track usage is also made easier thanks to the new "virtual car engineer", a screen in the car that provides a real-time indication of the vehicle's efficiency.

The 599XX's aerodynamics were honed in numerous wind tunnel test sessions with the result that the car now boasts 280 kg of downforce at 200 km/h (630 kg at 300 km/h). The front underside of the body is completely faired-in and the vents that channel hot air from the engine bay have been moved to the bonnet.

The "ActiflowT" system increases downforce and/or cuts drag depending on the car's trim cornering conditions, courtesy of the use of a porous material in the diffuser and two fans in the boot which channel the air flow from under the car out through two grilles next to the tail-lights. Winglets have been added to the rear buttresses to increase downforce. while synthetic jets have also been incorporated into the rear of the car to control and smooth the air flow and to reduce drag.

Ferrari's engineers have also used F1-derived "doughnuts" which partly cover the brake discs and wheel rim. These have the dual function of improving both aerodynamics and brake cooling.

In terms of the bodywork, composites and carbon-fibre have been widely used and the engineers drew on their experience in working with aluminium to reach the weight target. The development of increasingly high-performance materials has also benefited the carbon-ceramic material braking system. The brake pads are now made from carbon-fibre which means that the calipers are smaller whilst guaranteeing the same efficiency. The new racing carbon ceramic braking system also delivers shorter braking distances and is generally more efficient due to the weight saving.

The 599XX comes with slick tyres (29/67 R19 Front and 31/71 R19 Rear) specifically developed to maximise stability in cornering and increase lateral acceleration. They are fitted to 19 x 11J wheel rims at the front and 19 x 12J at the rear.

P.S. I can't tell if those are exhausts or rear lights either side of the boot, they certainly look like exhausts.

Now don't you gainsay the way of innovation. They had simply exhausted all other design options. ;)

I see Ferrari are still adamant that those wheel covers aid brake cooling =P

Possibly the only better looking diffuser made (if anyone guesses it consider themselves owed a beer):

(Just realised there's quite an obvious clue in the pic)

Mazda Furai Concept

Consider yourself owed a beer =P

Awesome. I love the Mazda Furai, it looks great and it's fast.

Fingers crossed they'll put it into production and race them, looks like a pretty slim chance though.

were mazda rx3's (lesser extent rx4's) ever popular over here? they are massive cult rotary car in aus

Not that i'm aware of, seems like the Japanese Cortina/Escort, looks very nice!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Mazda-rx3-1st-generation01.jpg

yeah, they were generally considered a small granny car. as with any turbo rotary engine, engine once you wind up the boost they are friggin fast. common mod is to upgrade the 10A to a 13B (from rx7's)
http://www.rotorheads.com/visitorscars/rx3/toy12a-8.jpg

evolved into rx7
http://www.shannons.com.au/library/images/auctions/TQF7D22X831E81B9_medium.jpg

My favourite out of all the RX cars:

YouTube - Mazda rx 7 fc drift

I definitely prefer FDs. I drove a cabrio FC for a while and it was fun but the FD was nicer inside.

The FDs with no rear spoiler look really strange though.

That is true, which is why you get an FD with a spoiler. However, this looks lovely for an FD without spoiler: