BREAKING: The all-new eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom raises the bar for pure automotive opulence

One of the world’s leading icons in automotive opulence transitions into its next-generation. Where’s the Grey Poupon?

What’s going on?

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VII has been with us since 2003, bearing a backbone based on the BMW 7-Series and enough sheetmetal to build a new city. That means today, in 2017, it’s sustained its current guise for 14 years, a very long time for any automotive life cycle.

But no need to despair! Rolls-Royce just introduced an all new, next-generation Phantom VII.

Built to fulfill Sir Henry Royce’s original quest to build “The Best Car in the World,” with the Rolls-Royce Phantom in 1925, this latest version fully embodies this philosophy. It once again raises its own bar of setting the benchmark for pure, unadulterated, automotive luxury.

Fancy. What’s cool about it?

Given Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ corporate pairing with BMW AG, this latest Phantom starts life as a BMW 7-Series platform, like the outgoing one. However, engineers designed the chassis to a new philosophy, the “Architecture of Luxury.” This basically translates into the Phantom’s use of a revised all-aluminum space frame body. This means it ditches the classic “monocoque” design. It’s lighter, but also 30 percent stiffer.

Combined with Rolls-Royce’s new “Magic Carpet Ride” adaptive air suspension, the new Phantom sounds it’s set to become the world’s most comfortable car as well.

What powers it?

In keeping with tradition, the Phantom gets a six-and-three-quarter (6.75L) engine. But that’s all that’s traditional as it’s BMW-based 6.75L V12 with two turbochargers to produce 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as early as 1,700 rpm. Channeling that power to the wheels is a new ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic.

As with luxury these days, technology complements

As with any other car expected to cost as much as a really nice house, there’s plenty of tech to accompany. Using BMW’s parts bins, the Phantom comes with many passive and active safety systems such as Night Vision, radar-guided cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane departure assist and warning, and more. That’s on top of being the world’s most expensive moving WiFi hotspot and home theater.

How much will it cost?

Do we really have to answer this question for you? The official starting price wasn’t announced. But c’mon, it’s a Rolls. It’ll certainly cost more than a ham sandwich. Way more.

– By: Chris Chin

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The all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom Photo Gallery

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2018 Ford Mustang GT breaks the 4-second 0-60 barrier

The now-quicker Ford Mustang GT gets a power bump and a new transmission.

It’s easy to get bogged down in comparing the ‘5-0 V8 in the new Ford Mustang GT with Chevy’s 350 V8—they belong in museums, not modern cars, some might say—but it’s equally easy to shunt those remarks. The new ‘stang will get to 60 miles per hour in under 4 seconds in a new “Drag Strip” mode and a new 10-speed automatic transmission. In common terms, the new mode is Ford’s label for “launch control”. The tuned and fettled V8 gets a bump from model year 2017’s ‘paltry’ 435bhp and 400 ft-lbs of torque while managing to get improved fuel economy, though no hard-and-fast numbers yet are available from Ford.

It’s pretty hard to get around how far the ponycar has come in its most recent generation:

• This is blinding acceleration from a car that goes for the average transaction price in the US at just a shade over $33,000.
• The EcoBoost 4-cylinder model gets a 30-ft-lb torque increase.
• The car now pulls 0.96 g on the skidpad and (finally) has independent rear suspension.
• On one hand, the GT and lower variants are plain-vanilla cars available at a car rental agency near you, on the other, something that does all of the above is available for a relatively small outlay per day.

FoMoCo has only just released this luscious tidbit of information, so it’s likely we will learn in the coming days what the conditions are of this recent conquest in acceleration statistics (temperature, tires used etc.).

For more information, check out the press release below:

“DEARBORN, Mich., July 24, 2017 – Ford’s most advanced and powerful Mustang GT is also the fastest ever, achieving 0-to-60-mph in less than four seconds in Drag Strip mode.

The new Mustang is also faster than a $94,000 Porsche 911 Carrera, which Carl Widmann, Mustang chief engineer, attributes to five factors:

• Improved horsepower and torque output of the redesigned 5.0-liter V8
• Maximum acceleration of available Drag Strip mode
• Quicker, smoother shifting of the available 10-speed SelectShift^® transmission
• Optimized traction courtesy of the available custom-designed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires on new Performance Pack

“Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time,” said Widmann. “In Drag Strip mode, the engine torque doesn’t drop when you’re shifting. You get peak engine torque and horsepower straight through thanks to our new Ford-built 10-speed transmission.”

The car’s 5.0-liter V8 now features dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection technology for increased power and efficiency. The engine’s 460 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque represent improvements over the current model’s 435 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. The result is an engine that delivers robust low-end torque, high-rpm power and improved fuel efficiency.

Drivers of EcoBoost^®-equipped Mustang also will feel increased power on the strip. The retuned EcoBoost four-cylinder generates 310 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque – a 30 lb.-ft. gain over the current model. In Drag Strip mode with Performance Package and the 10-speed automatic, the 2018 EcoBoost-powered Mustang posts an impressive 0-to-60-mph time of under five seconds.

Drag Strip mode – one of five driver-selectable modes available for 2018 – has been designed to provide maximum acceleration and performance for straight-line driving. Drag Strip mode is primarily controlled by the transmission and delivers a significant acceleration boost, eliminating the lost time usually associated with automatic shifting.

The new 10-speed transmission, with a wide-ratio span and optimized gear spacing, helps deliver higher average power for acceleration – resulting in improved responsiveness and performance. The 10-speed architecture features Ford-patented power-flow and Ford-patented direct-acting hydraulic controls. It’s designed for optimum ratio progression and efficiency, and provides more accurate, quicker upshift and downshift capability.

In addition, an all-new electronic control system features real-time adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms engineered to help ensure the right gear is engaged at the right time, including skip-shift and direct downshift capability.

Compared to the outgoing six-speed, the new 10-speed automatic has quicker shift times and better low-speed tip-in response. It’s uniquely tuned for all five drive modes – normal, sport, track, Drag Strip and snow/wet. Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles allow drivers maximum manual control.

“Gearing matters, and in Drag Strip mode, this car launches better than ever off the line,” said Widmann.

Fans will be able to build and price their very own 2018 Mustang from July 25 by visiting http://ford.to/2vFeytV. New Mustang is due to reach showrooms this fall.”

-By: Sawyer Sutton

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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2utyO31

2018 Ford Mustang GT & EcoBoost Power Figures!

2017 Honda Civic Type R Test - A Closer Look

Report: Maserati to drop sports cars for now, focus on crossovers, EVs, and hybrids

Sports cars might be absent from Maserati’s lineup for a couple of years as they focus on things that sell, crossovers and sedans.

What’s going on?

Things are going a bit rough at Maserati as they still struggle to meet sales goals. Hopefully, the introduction and launch of the new Levante crossover changes that. Though because of this, Maserati is preparing support a lineup without any sports cars for a couple of years, focusing on crossovers and sedans.

This means replacements for the GranTurismo and GranCabrio will be on the back-burner until around 2019 or 2020. Production is slated to end in 2017.

What’s left?

While sports cars drop down on the priority list, crossovers and sedans rise, or basically, the cars that sell and turn a profit. Once production for the GranTurismo and GranCabrio end, that leaves the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte.

Should you fear absolutely not. They will return, it will just be a while.

Does this mean the Alfieri is also delayed?

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Ah yes, the beautiful Alfieri. Unfortunately, that’s a future sports car for Maserati so yes, that will be delayed as well. But Maserati promises it will come and it’s just in a “holding pattern,” according to CEO Reid Bigland.

We can expect some all-electric Maseratis as well. The company continues to investigate hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and 48-volt EV powertrains, accoriding to managing director of Maserati Europe, Giulio Pastore.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: CAR Magazine

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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2ufQtJT