New Umbrella Girls: February 2010

Ferrari Calavera

The Ferrari F430 is on its way out, making way for its replacement tipped to debut at the Frankfurt show. Ferrari itself is saying goodbye with a special edition to be auctioned off for charity, but a pair of German firms has collaborated to send off the F430 in its own unique brand of style. A joint effort by a company called Unique Sportscars and the Novitec Rosso tuning house we've come to know for its turbo- and supercharged Prancing Horses, the F430 Calavera seems to answer questions nobody was asking, namely, what would a Ferrari look like if it spent too much time on Venice Beach? Well here you have it.

Ferrari F430 Calavera comes with an airbrushed exterior prominently boasts a large skull on the hood, darkened taillights, tinted windows, and 20-inch wheels. The interior also gets a modest makeover with embroidered seats, an elongated center console, and iPod connectivity. The Calavera is powered by a twin-supercharged version of Ferrari’s 4.3-liter V8 engine which produces 707 horsepower and 712 Nm of torque. The Ferrari F430 Calavera rockets from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 348 km/h (216 mph). Unique Sportcars Ferrari F430 Calavera also comes with other performance kits include a Novitec Rosso front spoiler and rear wing, revised gear ratios, and a lowered sports suspension.

Peugeot SR1

The SR1 concept car also blends styles in terms of its technical characteristics. For example, it incorporates HYbrid4 technology, which will be available in the Peugeot 3008 from 2011. On the SR1, at the front, a 1.6 litre THP petrol engine with a power output of 218 bhp is combined with a rear electric motor developing 95 bhp. In electric only mode, the car becomes a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), with a combined cycle fuel consumption of 57.7 mpg or 119 g/km of CO2. When the two power trains operate simultaneously, the SR1 develops a potential maximum power output of 313 bhp, while benefiting also from four-wheel drive.

With the use of HYbrid4 technology, which will eventually be available on different models in the Peugeot range, the SR1 concept offers convincing proof that driving enjoyment can be combined with environmental friendliness. The vehicle’s dynamic efficiency is enhanced by a rigid, lightweight structure comprising of a one-piece body incorporating a tubular chassis onto which are mounted the mechanical components and suspension.

Exploiting the best of existing technology to offer road holding worthy of this exceptional concept, the suspension consists of double wishbones with drop links at the front and the rear. For even greater driving precision, the SR1 innovates also through the adoption of four-wheel steering. Motorised links on the rear suspension wishbones control the turning angle of the rear wheels as a function of vehicle speed, giving the vehicle superb agility under all circumstances.