Aston Zagato V12

Is this the perfect marriage between power and beauty? We got our first glimpse of Aston Martin’s jaw-dropping V12 Zagato at the Villa D’Este Concours in Italy two weeks ago, but what Aston didn’t tell us was that the story doesn’t end there.

Looking stunning in its eye-popping, Kermit-green paint, this fully fledged race car is one of two V12 Zagatos that have been track prepared. And they won’t be on parade for the spectators’ benefit, either, as both are set to compete in the gruelling Nürburgring 24-Hour race on 25-26 June.

In the build-up to their endurance test, the cars – nicknamed Zig (seen here) and Zag (a modified version of the red model seen at Villa D’Este) – will take it in turns to complete a four-hour race each at the famous German race track.

Among the drivers will be Aston CEO Dr Ulrich Bez and Richard Meaden from our sister title evo magazine. Modifications include more aggressive aerodynamics that feature a jutting front lip, a huge rear wing and diffuser.

The exact spec of the V12 Vantage 6.0-litre engine remains a secret, but the transmission is a six-speed manual. Bez has confirmed that a strictly limited run of road cars will be produced, too, costing around £200,000 – £65,000 more than the standard V12 Vantage. Although designed by Zagato, the V12 special will be built at Aston HQ in Gaydon, Warks, rather than being shipped to Italy in order to have its hand-beaten aluminium panels fitted.

2011 Lamborghini Aventador

It's the fastest and most powerful Lamborghini ever! Meet the Aventador LP700-4 – the Italian maker’s eagerly awaited Murciélago replacement. And now we've met the latest raging bull face to face, we can confirm that it has all the drama you'd expect from Ferrari's cross-town rivals.

As you can see, it’s a striking design – especially painted in vibrant Argos Orange, named after the Greek city. The shape pays homage to its dramatic Diablo and Countach predecessors, but is heavily influenced by the sharp, edgy look of the limited-edition Reventón, with the rear end of the Estoque four-door blended in.

Under the skin is a one-piece tub constructed entirely from new-generation reinforced carbon fibre. It tips the scales at 147kg, while the whole chassis including aluminium front and rear crash structures weighs only 229kg. And it’s twice as torsionally stiff as the Murciélago’s.

Thanks to that carbon fibre cell, the Aventador is 90kg lighter than the car it replaces, at 1,575kg.

Power comes from a new 691bhp 6.5-litre V12 engine. This is 18kg lighter than the Murciélago’s, and sits 70mm lower in the chassis. It’s nine per cent more powerful and promises a 20 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. But it’s still thirsty, with the manufacturer claiming returns of 16.4mpg on the combined cycle. It also puts out 398g/km of CO2.

Huge performance is guaranteed. Bosses claim 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and a 217mph top speed – although insiders say the car has already eclipsed 220mph. By comparison, the ultimate

Murciélago, the LP670-4 Superveloce, offered 3.4 seconds and 212mph.

The new engine revs to 8,250rpm, while there’s much more flexibility in the middle of the range, plus greater low-down torque. Further improvements come from the new seven-speed automated manual box. In its fastest mode, this changes ratios in only 50 milliseconds. It weighs half as much as the old E-gear automated manual, too.

The suspension is a clever F1-style inboard push-rod spring and damper set-up, while a new all-wheel-drive system is more biased towards the rear. Fresh wheels – 19-inch front and 20-inch rear – and huge ceramic brake discs are standard.

Inside are a dramatic centre console, bright digital readouts and touchscreens, and race-style seats. Material quality is improved throughout, while the car gets an electronic handbrake for the first time.

Lamborghini Limo in coming!

Move over, Aston Rapide – the Lamborghini limo is on the way!

The Italians’ fast, edgy Estoque is back on the cards after senior executives at owner Audi threw their support behind the four-door supercar last week.

Lambo first revealed the 
model at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, before putting it on the back burner. But now, senior sources at the German marque have stated that the Estoque is exactly what Lamborghini needs to more than double sales, and gain financial independence.

But Audi has done more than simply comment on the Estoque. By unofficially confirming plans 
for its own A9 limo-coupé, it has 
also given Lamborghini the 
perfect production chassis.

Our source confirmed: “Designing a supercar from a clean sheet of paper is one thing, but a limousine that people 
will drive to work every day... 
well, that’s a different thing, 
and Lamborghini doesn’t have the resources to do it by itself.”

“[Lamborghini boss] Stephan Winkelmann has said the brand needs a third model to give it a product cycle with fewer gaps.”

The super sedan is likely 
to be offered with V10 and V12 engines, and will have the Italian maker’s usual all-wheel drive.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

This is the new 2012 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - the most powerful road car ever to wear the prancing horse badge, thanks to a 545kW, 6.3-litre V12 engine.

Making its debut at next week's Geneva motor show, the front-engined, rear-drive two-seater has a striking aluminium body that mixes cues from the current 599 with a grille and headlight combination inspired by the FF.

It's more compact than its predecessor, at 4.62m long. That means it is 47mm shorter than before, as well as being 20mm narrower and 63mm lower. Thanks to an all-new aluminium spaceframe chassis, it also weighs 70kg less, tipping the scales at just 1525kg in dry trim.

Expertise gained from Formula One and the 599 XX has been applied to the body, too. The sweep running from the top of the wing is not just for show. Called the Aero Bridge, it channels air away from the bonnet to reduce drag.

In addition, the F12's Active Brake Cooling system uses flaps in the front wing edges which open at speed to cool the carbon-ceramic brake discs.

At the top of the rear wing is a vent. Although it hasn't been confirmed, it is thought that a fan is located in the rear wing, which draws air through the vent to the rear, creating an F1-style blown diffuser.

All these tweaks reduce the aero Cd drag coefficient to just 0.299, while the shape produces real downforce - 123kg at 200km/h, up 76 per cent on the 599 GTB.

Together with a lower overall weight and extra power, the F12 Berlinetta is enormously fast. As well as producing 545kW at 8500rpm - up 88kW on the 599 GTB - it has 690Nm of torque, an increase of 83Nm, which Ferrari claims is available from 2500rpm through to the 8700rpm redline.

Hooked up to a development of the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox in the FF and California, with shortened ratios, the F12 Berlinetta does 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds, with a top speed of 340km/h. It can also accelerate from 0-200km/h in just 8.5 seconds.

With lower weight, better aerodynamics and stop-start, it's also more efficient than the old 599 GTB, claiming 15 litres/100km, up from 17.8 litres/100km, with CO2 emissions of 350g/km, down from 415g/km.

Standard equipment includes the latest evolution of Ferrari's magnetic damping system, along with an electronic differential. As a result of the lighter weight and increased power, Ferrari says the F12 Berlinetta can lap the Fiorano circuit in just one minute 23 seconds, making it faster than any other Ferrari road car.

The cabin is inspired by the FF. Ferrari says it incorporates all-new leather, plus new carbon fibre and aluminium air vents. Most of the car's controls are located on the steering wheel. It should be reasonably practical, too, with a hatchback tailgate and space behind the rear seats for luggage.