HOT WHEELS

 

The Porsche Tapiro was designed in 1970 by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ital Design. It was Giugiaro’s 4th prototype at Ital and one of his favourite at the time. It was based on the Porsche 914/6 platform and featured a mid mounted 2.4 litre flat 6 cylinder Porsche engine, giving 220 bhp and 7200 rpm.

There car had gullwing doors and the profile of the windscreen was almost the same angle as the bonnet. It’s dimensions were 4060 mm long, 1760 mm wide and 1110 mm high.

The notion of an entry-level Porsche roadster -- built with some help from Volkswagen -- wasn't a horrible idea, but the blocky styling used on the 914 was divisive, to say the least.

 

Giorgetto's solution was simple: take one 914/6, strip it down to the floor pan, and replace the awkward bodywork with a sleek coupe body.

The "folded paper" look may have been commonplace in the 1980s, but a decade prior -- when the Tapiro was unveiled at the Turin motor show -- the result was rather groundbreaking.

 

Gullwing doors provided access to not only the interior, but also the engine compartment and luggage bay -- a subtle nod to the DeTomaso Mangusta which Giugiaro himself styled during his tenure at Ghia.

Unlike many concepts, which are little more than large plaster models, the Tapiro was a fully functioning automobile.

 

After two years of touring the auto show circuit, Italdesign sold the car to a Spanish industrialist.

 

Legend has it the Tapiro served as his daily driver until it was bombed by a group of striking workers.

 

The remains - which were never reassembled -- currently rest in Italdesign's corporate museum.

 

 

The TechArt Magnum is a high-performance luxury SUV based on the Porsche Cayenne. As with other TechArt products, the Magnum has added features such as a bodykit, interior refitment, and engine and suspension upgrades.

To the standard Porsche Cayenne turbo, TechArt has added a radical bodykit made of PUR-RIM plastic, which includes new high-downforce air dams, side skirts, and aero hood. Also added are 22 inch (556 mm) TechArt Formula II alloy wheels and ContiCrossContact UHP tires, and interior trim of the customer's choice (with the "de Sede of Switzerland" being the highest trim level available, built in cooperation with the furniture manufactuer of the same name). The most significant changes, however, are in the engine and suspension.

The stock 4.5L (274.6 cu in) V8 turbo has been modified with larger turbochargers, stainless steel exhaust, and an upgraded ECU chip, bringing output to 600 horsepower (447 kW) and 645 lb·ft (875 N·m) of torque, both at 3440 rpm.

The Magnum is also lowered up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) with adjustable performance air-ride suspension, which greatly aids handling for the heavy vehicle. With the full set of upgrades, the Magnum costs about $204,000 USD.,premier league defender Micah Richards who plays for Manchester city had one imported to the U.K.

Specifications

Weight: 5,245 pounds (2,379 kg)
Power: 600 hp (447 kW) @ 3440 rpm
Torque: 645 lb·ft (875 N·m) @ 3440 rpm
Specific output: approx. 133.3 hp (99 kW) per litre
Power to weight ratio: approx. 8.74 pounds (3.96 kg) per horsepower

Performance

0-60 mph (97 km/h): 4.2 sec
0-100 mph (161 km/h): 9.5 sec
Quarter mile: 12.7 sec @ 108.9 mph (175.3 km/h)
Top Speed: 181 mph (291.3 km/h)
Braking, 60 mph (97 km/h)-0: 128 feet (39 m)
Braking, 80 mph (129 km/h)-0: 222 feet (68 m)
Lateral acceleration: .90g

 

 

With the new Gemballa GTR 650 Avalanche, based on the Porsche 997 Carrera, the Leonberg, Germany Porsche conversion specialist Gemballa has created THE absolute dream car for the 2006 sports car year, optionally on 19 inch or 20 inch wheels. With this refined, ultra-sporty and equally reliable automobile, Gemballa is continuing in its very own great tradition of sports car construction. The Gemballa Avalanche, Mirage and Cyrrus models from the 80's didn’t earn their legendary reputation for no reason.

The performance of the 2006 dream car is already the first attention-getter. The Gemballa GTR 650 Avalanche's motor boasts a breathtaking 650 hp. Part of the motor's conversion by the Gemballa engineers included eliciting an impressive 820 Nm torque, guaranteed to bring a satisfied smile to the driver's lips already at 4800 RPM. In comparison, the standard Porsche 997 model features maximum 400 Nm torque at 4600 RPM. The difference puts the GTR 650 Avalanche's sprinting qualities in a class all their own. The GTR 650 Avalanche reaches the 200 km/h mark in only 11.2 seconds, and its top speed leaves doubters in the dust: The irrepressible GTR 650 Avalanche engine delivers a maximum tempo of up to 335 km/h.

But peak performance wasn't the only item at the top of the Gemballa engineers' spec sheet. The Porsche conversion specialists placed just as much emphasis on the safety and durability of the Avalanche. Titanium piston rods, an intake system specially developed by Gemballa, three intercoolers and a special turbo configuration ensure Gemballa pleasure for a long time to come. And its lucky owner only has to share this pleasure with one passenger, because for safety reasons, from 650 hp the GTR 650 Avalanche is only available as a two-seater.

Massive eight-piston brake calipers
 and accordingly sized 380 millimeter diameter perforated disk brakes make sure the Avalanche also slows to a safe stop. The GTR 650 Avalanche sits on 19 inch wheels with tires sizes of 235 (front) and 315 (rear). The new 20 inch racing wheels are also optionally available, with tire sizes of 245 (front) and 325 (rear). For the particularly ambitious driver who would like to push the GTR 650 Avalanche's envelope, for example on the Nordschleife, Gemballa also offers an optional roll bar.

The new Avalanche's body and interior are equally as exclusive and unique as its driving performance and safety components. All of its add-on components are made of carbon. Fenders and sidewalls are all metal. And the future owner of the GTR 650 Avalanche can also look forward to Gemballa sport seats, a Gemballa sport steering wheel and aluminum pedals. Starting at 240,000 Euros, the new Gemballa dream car becomes tangible sports car euphoria.