Motor Authority - blog Tag: spy_shots

Espionage isn't just restricted to the James Bond and John Le Carre figures of the world - we already saw industrial espionage taint the image of Formula 1 a couple of years ago with two Ferrari F1 employees being handed jail sentences in the matter. In a strange twist of events, this time Ferrari is at the losing end of some corporate espionage undertaken by rival manufacturer Aston Martin - although this time it wasn't in the F1 paddock.

Reports are circulating that the owners of a New York based car dealership, that specialized in selling Bentleys and Aston Martins, have been accused of conducting corporate espionage against rival ... Espionage isn't just restricted to the James Bond and John Le Carre figures of the world - we already saw industrial espionage taint the image of Formula 1 a couple of years ago with two Ferrari F1 employees being handed jail sentences in the matter. In a strange twist of events, this time Ferrari is at the losing end of some corporate espionage undertaken by rival manufacturer Aston Martin - although this time it wasn't in the F1 paddock. Reports are circulating that the owners of a New York based car dealership, that specialized in selling Bentleys and Aston Martins, have been accused of conducting corporate espionage against rival Ferrari and Maserati dealers. The charges relate to some illegal 'e-mail tapping' undertaken by the Bentley/Aston Martin dealer, during which they gained unauthorized access to a New York Ferrari dealer's email server around 2,500 times in a period of about 8 months last year. Not only were the Bentley/Aston dealers reading the emails, they were also contacting customers of Ferrari that were negotiating with the Prancing Horse. In one case, a customer was attempting to purchase a Ferrari Enzo from the New York Ferrari dealership when the Bentley/Aston dealers contacted the customer offering help. While the current charges may seem a bit more blasè than other espionage cases we've heard of, the maximum penalty if the Bentley/Aston dealer is found guilty could still amount to a whopping 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Ouch. Read More

The all-new E-Class was just revealed last month at the Detroit Auto Show, bearing a brand-new face and an updated platform. Today our spy photographers have captured images of a stretched-wheelbase limousine variant in testing.

Clearly sporting the new E-Class face, the limo spied is still in the earlier stages of testing, judging by the mis-matched character line along the side of the car. The car is believed to be a test mule for an upcoming long-wheelbase (LWB) variant.

Little is thus far known about the car, but it can be expected to use the same running gear found throughout the rest of the new E-Class lineup, though likely only... The all-new E-Class was just revealed last month at the Detroit Auto Show, bearing a brand-new face and an updated platform. Today our spy photographers have captured images of a stretched-wheelbase limousine variant in testing. Clearly sporting the new E-Class face, the limo spied is still in the earlier stages of testing, judging by the mis-matched character line along the side of the car. The car is believed to be a test mule for an upcoming long-wheelbase (LWB) variant. Little is thus far known about the car, but it can be expected to use the same running gear found throughout the rest of the new E-Class lineup, though likely only paired with the larger engines. Probable candidates include the upper-end V8 petrol engines and the range-topping diesel V8 generating up to 354hp (264kW), found in the E500. A V6 petrol-electric hybrid powertrain similar to the one featured in the S400 hybrid could also be employed, though that system isn't due to hit the E-Class until after 2010. A previous aftermarket stretch-limo E-Class built by Binz featured a choice of E220, E270 or E350 diesel powerplants, however, indicating that any of the current E-Class crop of engines may be up to the job.Spy shots: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Limousine Read More

There’s something very puzzling about Nissan’s all-new GT-R supercar. Its official output figures read 480hp (358kW) and 588Nm (434lb-ft) of torque and its mass registers at 1,723kg, but the car can still outrun the 911 Turbo around the notorious Nurburgring by a healthy margin despite the Porsche weighing less and producing more torque (1633kg and 457lb-ft respectively).

Nissan’s official lap time for the Nurburgring is a blistering 7m 29s, set back in May. The lap times were for a stock-standard base specification GT-R fitted with the same Japanese market tires as the cars in showrooms, according to claims by Nissan.

... There’s something very puzzling about Nissan’s all-new GT-R supercar. Its official output figures read 480hp (358kW) and 588Nm (434lb-ft) of torque and its mass registers at 1,723kg, but the car can still outrun the 911 Turbo around the notorious Nurburgring by a healthy margin despite the Porsche weighing less and producing more torque (1633kg and 457lb-ft respectively). Nissan’s official lap time for the Nurburgring is a blistering 7m 29s, set back in May. The lap times were for a stock-standard base specification GT-R fitted with the same Japanese market tires as the cars in showrooms, according to claims by Nissan. Porsche, however, claims Nissan falsified these numbers and posted the quicker times because of semi-slick race-style tires. The German sports carmaker even purchased its own GT-R and set about testing it against both the 911 Turbo and GT2 and in both cases it claims the GT-R was the slowest. The laps were run by one of Porsche’s chassis development engineers and not its regular tester, former world rally champion and race winner Walter Rohrl. Speaking with Australia’s CarsGuide this week, Porsche’s 911 product chief August Achleitner said the GT-R used by Nissan to post its official times could not have been a regular series production car. He said Porsche took a standard GT-R bought in the United States and running on regular road tires, and was tested on the same day as the pair of 911s. According to Porsche, the GT-R posted a time of 7m 54s, with the 911 Turbo managing 7m 38s and the GT2 getting down to 7m 34s.Nissan GT-R in depth Read More

Nissan has finally revealed its new GT-R SpecV. Click here for all the images and details.

Nissan execs have confirmed the existence of a Spec-V GT-R, a lighter and more powerful version of the already extreme Japanese supercar, and latest speculation suggests the car could make an appearance at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

Late last month Nissan, through its official in-house tuner Nismo, revealed a new upgrade package for the GT-R, which included a titanium exhaust system, six-spoke Rays alloy wheels and revised underbody panels. GT-R prototypes have once again been spotted at the Nurburgring, and this time they feature the same... Nissan has finally revealed its new GT-R SpecV. Click here for all the images and details. Nissan execs have confirmed the existence of a Spec-V GT-R, a lighter and more powerful version of the already extreme Japanese supercar, and latest speculation suggests the car could make an appearance at next month’s Paris Motor Show. Late last month Nissan, through its official in-house tuner Nismo, revealed a new upgrade package for the GT-R, which included a titanium exhaust system, six-spoke Rays alloy wheels and revised underbody panels. GT-R prototypes have once again been spotted at the Nurburgring, and this time they feature the same Nismo upgrades. According to previous reports, Nissan will showcase a special edition GT-R in Paris but whether or not it will be the Spec-V or simply the Nismo model is still unknown. The show car is still expected to develop 100hp (75kW) more than the standard GT-R and be fitted with an uprated drivetrain and new aerokit. Spec-V attributes will be a lighter kerb weight brought about by the use of carbon-fiber for some of the body panels and internal structure. Extra power will be courtesy of increased boost pressure and fine-tuning of the ECU and exhaust system. Nissan execs, meanwhile, have confirmed that the GT-R is an unprofitable model but the introduction of vehicles based on the same platform will help change that. In addition to the Spec-V, the platform is expected to yield a model for Infiniti due for release in less than a year.2010 Nissan GT-R V-spec spy shots at Nurburgring Read More