Daily Archives: March 9, 2017
Ferrari 812 Superfast is as Its Name Claims
The Ferrari 812 Superfast makes its way to the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. It looks like the car definitely lives up to its name.
Engine
The 812 Superfast possesses a 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine beneath its hood. As the name of the car implies, it is capable of producing up to 812 hp at 8,500 rpm. Its 718 Nm torque can also be reached at 7,000 rpm. The power of the auto is distributed to the rear wheels via a dual-clutch transmission.
The 812 Superfast can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds. The top speed of the auto is around 211 mph.
Design
The 812 Superfast is the successor of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Therefore, the new car carries over many styling elements found in its predecessor.
What makes the exterior of the 812 Superfast stand out against the F12 Berlinetta though is the new car’s smoother shape and body lines. The cosmetic changes makes the 812 Superfast appear more balanced and have better proportions than the F12 Berlinetta. Then, the fascia of the new car gives it a more aggressive look than the model it replaced.
The 812 Superfast is inspired by the 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” as well. The rear of the auto brings back the traditional round taillights of the classic car.
The interior of the 812 Superfast show huge improvements too. The seats of the car are revamped for a sportier setup and it offers several upgrades in its infotainment system.
What’s in the Name?
Aside from the very obvious high-performance feature of the 812 Superfast, its name can be traced back to the time when Enzo Ferrari fitted a huge V12 intended to a smaller vehicle to his prototype muscle car. He would call the car the Ferrari 4.9 Superfast according to the interview of Flavio Manzoni, head of the Ferrari Design Center.
Photos
Check out the pictures of the Ferrari 812 Superfast at the 87th Geneva Motor Show in the gallery below:
Flying Car Shown at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show
Aerospace industry leader Airbus together with design and engineering company Italdesign just unveiled a flying car at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle is called “Pop.Up”.
Pop.Up is a concept for a futuristic autonomous transport vehicle that can travel through land and air. It uses a modular passenger capsule that can be attached to a four-wheel base for land trips and to a quadcopter for flight. As its name “Pop.Up” implies, the capsule easily snaps with the wheeled or aerial modules depending on its user’s preferred mode of travel.
The flying car features an artificial intelligence system that allows its self-driving and auto-pilot functions. It can be commanded by the user with a smartphone or tablet. The video of the concept vehicle also shows a potential technology within the auto that previews the facial recognition system of its onboard sensors.
The vehicle is environmentally-friendly. It uses electric motor, which allows it to have a zero emission value.
Airbus envisions Pop.Up as a part of its network of shared vehicle platform that offers easy commuting options to the public. The company aims to lessen traffic congestion with its flying car.
The idea of a flying vehicle may be too good to be true for now, especially that automakers are still racing to make road-worthy self-driving cars. It should be noted too that there are expected legal hurdles when it comes to unleashing autonomous cars on the road—let alone a flying car. Furthermore, a lot of public infrastructure may not be suitable for a vehicle capable of low flight.
Mathias Thomsen of Airbus made a bold claim that the technology in Pop.Up will be available in the next five to ten years. He said that the problem is not so much in the public infrastructure. However, he explained that the flying car can only be seamlessly used with careful urban planning. He expects significant changes in regulatory environments once the flying car is already available for public use.