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What's New
by Jon Winding-Sørensen
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Ferrari 460
There can be only one explanation for this unorthodox introduction of a new 2+2 Ferrari, and that is spelled Bentley Continental GT. With the release of some Pininfarina sketches and a certain degree of mystique the message is clear: The W 12 Twin Turbo 300kmh-plus Grand Tourer will not rule for long. The world’s fastest four seater will soon again be Italian.
The Bentley will start trickling out to customers soon. The new Ferrari will debut at the January 2004 Detroit Auto Show, and presumably be available within a year.
Even if nothing much is said about the car, it is generally supposed that it will be named 460, it will replace the more than ten year old 456, it will certainly have a front-mounted V12 engine, presumably four wheel drive with a huge centre tunnel effectively dividing the two rear seats.
The sketches show a classic Ferrari interior with toggle switches and round instruments. The 'normal' gear selector gate hides the fact that the six speeder will also have an auto-mode. Exterior sketches shows a very muscular car with pronounced hips – the thoughts are of course directed more towards the famous 1964 250 GTO models than Pininfarinas famous 1962-1964 250 GT 2+2 Ferraris.
Nothing is yet known about the performance, but it is a safe bet that they will look better than the Bentley’s, on the paper. What is more surprising is that it looks like Pininfarina once more creates a Ferrari shape, that may well become another classic – stale is definitely not a word to be used here.
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Rover Streetwise
Soft Roaders are often a big joke. Big cars with enormous ground clearence – and the wildest nature they have seen is Hyde Park, from the outside of the fence!
Rover seems to have made their own comment on the phenomenon. Together with their version of the Idea designed Tata Indica (called CityRover) they have launched a new car named Streetwise.
Plastic cladding have transformed the Rover 25-based vehicle into an aggressive looking urban warrior. All the stylistic ingredients are here: raised suspension, bigger wheels, dramatic front and rear in contrasting colour, accentuated wheel arches – also done with plastic parts, and huge side rubbing all contributes to a real tough road guerrilla.
In-your-face exterior colours might give the game away, serious soft roaders from BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and all the others are either metallic silver or grey, or some dark, discreet hue. Here we haveTrophy Yeallow or an electric blue paint. Inside there are four separate seats and (very) blue instruments.
Off road capabilities are nil, but who cares – the only point here is max street cred. And the Streetwise gets some additional points for sublime irony.
Or did it fool me, is it for real?
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BMW X3
After the xActivity concept from Detroit (and later shown at Geneva) this year, the production BMW X3 is disappointingly conventional. Hardly any traces of Chris Bangle’s 'flame surfacing' or concave/convex treatment which would have been very interesting on big areas as those presented by a SUV. A series of strongly defined bodyside lines and stepped surfaces, the most striking feature of the vehicle, show some hints of Z4-like surfacing, primarily in the upper bodyside.
We are treated to a new double kidney grill, but nothing as radical as on Bertone’s Birusa. The headlamp and rear lamp treatment bear traces of new thinking, and the kink in the rear side windows is classic, but at the same time fresh.
Flared wheel arches, an aggressive front and a very confident rear give an aura of domination, the impression a serious off-roader is meant to give. Long wheelbase, short overhangs and a fairly prominent slope of the roof adds a dynamic message. This car seems to mean business.
The xActivity concept car was designed and built in Germany with Belgian Pascal Tanghe in charge of exterior design and Oliver Sieghart responsible for the interior. Also on the Xactivity design team were Nader Faghih-Zadeh (interior) and Corona Döhring (colour and trim).
Geoff Velazco, an American working at Designworks in California is credited with the X3 exterior, but we suspect that much of the concept team was involved in the production version too.
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Maserati Quattroporte
Now I know why Frank Stephenson – ex Mini designer, now styling coordinator for Ferrari and Maserati – was the busiest man at the Geneva Motor Show. Recently appointed to a job that had never existed before, he should introduce a new feel for perceived, and real, quality in current production models and at the same time liaise with several design houses and also finalise the Quattroporte for production (and follow the development of the coming 460).
We were able to exchange some words with him, enough to expect great things from these companies fairly soon. Exciting products they have, but not exactly with Audi-type interior or BMW-standard shut-lines. Part of Stephenson's job will be to bring some of the German quality to the Italian factories, and make the fact very obvious for the customers.
The Quattroporte will be his first big challenge. This is Maserati's fifth four-door since the first, of 40 years ago, and will meet cars like the Audi S8 and Mercedes-Benz CLE head on. To judge from the released photos the new prestige Maser must offer more than design to attract customers. But we are assured that the photos do not do the car justice. The sheer size of the vehicle makes it much more impressive than in the photos, a wheelbase of more than three metres is more than an S-Class offers, and even with the massive V8 engine behind the front axle there will be ample legroom both front and rear. At five metres plus, the total length puts the car in the upper luxury class.
This is Pininfarinas first Maserati since 1953, and we have to reserve judgement until the car is seen in metal in Frankfurt in September. But we are also told that it looks aggressive, has an impressive stance and not at all predictable as the photos suggest. Those who liked the first concept model better should be relieved to know that it gives a truer indication of the finished car. The interior is said to be especially impressive. Leather, light-coloured wood and titanium-look with a very obvious superb finish will dominate the impression.
Maserati first revealed plans for the Quattroporte in late 2001. In the meantime a new factory has been built and the car is nearing production. The first units will be handed to the customers in April next year.
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