Prodrive To Tweak 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

UK rally specialist Prodrive is readying a performance package for the all-new 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (see Euro spec model here) that will include power and chassis upgrades. According to a report from Brit magazine Autocar, the 2008 STi’s 296 Hp 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine (lightly modified version of the previous STi’s engine) will likely get a boost of 100 Hp offering supercar-level performance. Along with the engine upgrade Prodrive will also enhance the 2008 STi’s brake and suspension components.

Via: Autocar

Brisk RS 01 WRC: Prodrive Developed Skoda Fabia Coupe With A 500Hp 2.0TFSI Engine

Apparently this isn’t a typical road-going Skoda; it’s a unique rally car created by Czech spark-plug manufacture Brisk in collaboration with Prodrive. Albeit Brisk’s spec-sheet is available only in Czech, it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to make ends meet. Based on a first generation Fabia, the RS 01 WRC gets a coupe body that actually doesn’t look half-bad and a supped-up 2.0TFSI engine -yes, the same as in the VW Golf GTI and Audi S3 models among others, producing 500Hp @ 7.800 rpm and 600Nm @ 3.700 rpm. Combine that with a weight of just 1.000kg or 2.200 pounds and the 2.7 sec time for the 0 to 100km/h (62mph) that Brisk announces makes (some) sense.

According to the Czech spark-plug manufacture, the RS 01 WRC is ready to be tested in rallies both nationally and abroad. In addition, Brisk says that promotional events and test drives for journalists and the general public have been planned for the immediate future. -Full Image gallery and the specs after the jump

SPECIFICATIONS: BRISK RS O1 WRC

Sportovní závodní automobil určený pro automobilové soutěže s konstrukcí podle řádu FIA, přílohy J, bez homologace. Celá konstrukce vozu vychází z koncernových dílů Škoda a VW.

KAROSERIE

Typ karoserie - samonosná, ocelová, tvořená příhradlovou konstrukcí

z vysokopevnostních ocelových trubek,

doplněná o panely z kevlaru, karbonu a skelného laminátu.

MOTOR

Typ - zážehový, přeplňovaný výfukovým turbodmychadlem,

se samostatným obtokovým ventilem, sekvenční dvojité

vstřikování paliva, bezdotykové zapalování

Zapalovací svíčky - BRISK Racing DOR 1O DS EVO 2

Zdvihový objem motoru ( cm3 ) - 1998

Počet válců - 4

Max. výkon ( kW/k/ot/min ) - 368 / 500 / 7800

Max. točivý moment ( Nm/ot/min ) - 600 / 3700

Příprava směsi - sekvenční dvojité vstřikování

Přeplňovací tlak ( MPa ) - 2,5

PŘEVODOVÉ ÚSTROJÍ

Typ převodovky - sekvenční, přímo řazená, s posilovacími magnety

Počet převodových stupňů - 6

Spojka - suchá, dvoukotoučová, keramická

DYNAMIKA

Max. rychlost ( km/hod ) - 200

Zrychlení z O na 1OO km/h ( sec.) - 2,7

HMOTNOSTI

Pohotovostní hmotnost ( kg ) - 1000

ROZMĚRY

Celková délka ( mm ) - 4 002

Celková šířka ( mm ) - 1 890

Celková výška ( mm ) - 1 270

Rozvor ( mm ) - 2 500

Rozchod vpředu ( mm) - 1 670

Rozchod vzadu ( mm) - 1 620

PODVOZEK

Přední / zadní náprava - nezávislé zavěšení kol, trojúhelníková ramena,

pérování tlumiči Proflex

Přední / zadní brzdy - čtyřpístkové o průměru 330 mm /

čtyřpístkové o průměru 320 mm

všechny brzdy kotoučové, značky Porsche

Diferenciály - mezinápravový i pasivní nápravové s omezenou svorností

DALŠÍ VYBAVENÍ

18ti palcová kola, hasicí systém, bezpečnostní nádrž, intercom, vyspělá diagnostika pro snímání telemetrie - v první fázi na motoru, ve druhé fázi ve vývoji telemetrie podvozku.

Technorati: Brisk+RS+01+WRC, Skoda+Fabia, Tuning, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Breaking News: Aston Martin Sold to a consortium led by Prodrive’s David Richards for 925 million USD

We had already prepared you about this sale last week, so it’s not much of a surprise. The deal went down at £479 million - $925 million - 705 million EUR and as part of the transaction, Ford will retain a £40 million - $77 million - 59 million EUR investment in the British car maker. Aston Martin’s new owner is a consortium comprised of: David Richards, founder and chairman of UK Prodrive; John Sinders, Aston Martin collector and a backer of Aston Martin Racing; and finally, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co, international investment companies headquartered in Kuwait.

“This is an incredible opportunity – Aston Martin is one of the world’s most iconic brands,” said David Richards. “We are confident we now have all the right ingredients to take Aston Martin to even greater heights.” On Ford’s behalf, CEO Alan Mulally stated, "The sale of Aston Martin supports the key objectives of the company, to restructure to operate profitably at lower volumes and changed model mix and to speed the development of new products" -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see Ford’s & Aston Martin’s Press Releases

ASTON MARTIN PRESS RELEASE

Gaydon March 12, 2007: Aston Martin is pleased to announce the start of a new chapter in its illustrious history following the announcement today that the prestigious sports car manufacturer has been sold to a consortium led by David Richards, John Sinders, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment, ending almost twenty years as part of Ford Motor Company.

The consortium is a group of sophisticated investors who are committed to the brand, its success and existing business plan which envisages growth, profitability and new products, including the much acclaimed four door concept Rapide, shown for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006.

With the full support of the investors, Dr Ulrich Bez remains committed to the future success of Aston Martin and will lead the management team into a new era as its Chief Executive. Since his appointment in 2000 he has overseen a period of growth and investment, steering Aston Martin to its unparalleled status in the world luxury sports car market. During the past six years the company has seen a tremendous change with new headquarters, exciting new products, a successful motorsport programme and a strong corporate identity throughout the expanding dealership network.

Leading the investors is David Richards, founder and chairman of Prodrive, a world leading motorsport and automotive engineering company. He will be joining the board of Aston Martin as non executive chairman in a personal capacity.

“This is an incredible opportunity – Aston Martin is one of the world’s most iconic brands,” said David Richards. “We are confident we now have all the right ingredients to take Aston Martin to even greater heights.”

John Sinders, a banker in finance and shipping from Houston, Texas and Dubai UAE, is an Aston Martin owner with a great affection for the brand on both road and track.

Investment Dar, a Kuwaiti company, is the largest listed investment company in the Gulf. It owns and manages a group of companies including banking, finance, investment and asset management, real estate, insurance, banking, and logistics. Investment Dar has total assets of US$ 3.66 billion, with net income of US$ 317.3 million in 2006.

Adeem Investment is a Kuwaiti company and owns companies in the banking and finance, real estate and hotels, transport and logistics, food and telecoms industries. It has become the fastest growing investment, corporate finance and asset management company in Kuwait with assets under management in excess of US$ 1.5 billion.

Jefferies & Company acted as financial adviser to the Consortium.

“This new partnership is a tremendously exciting opportunity for Aston Martin,” said Ulrich Bez. “Under the ownership of Ford we have become a successful, profitable company and I will be working with the new owners to build on this great foundation. It is a new beginning which will give the company the opportunity to attain an even higher level of excellence.

“This next stage in the company’s history promises to be the most exciting yet. David Richards and I have a great deal of mutual respect for each other and we are equally passionate about realising the brand’s full potential.”

Aston Martin will remain at its high tech production facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire, a purpose-built facility where a skilled workforce of 1800 employees have helped gather numerous awards from the automotive and design industries in the past five years. Aston Martin has also enjoyed considerable success on the track and the company’s sporting heritage continues to infuse every model.

Aston Martin is one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers. Founded in 1914 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford the company has been responsible for some of the most evocative automobiles of all time. Aston Martin has evolved into a prestige manufacturer with class-leading products and perhaps the most high profile automotive brand name in the world.

The current model line-up of the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9, DB9 Volante and Vanquish S and V8 Vantage Roadster will soon be enhanced by the eagerly awaited high performance DBS model. Voted the UK’s coolest brand in 2006, Aston Martin has a fast-expanding dealership network of 126 dealers representing in 27 countries.

FORD PRESS RELEASE: FORD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO SELL ASTON MARTIN

DEARBORN, Mich., March, 12, 2007 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Aston Martin, its prestigious sports car business, to a consortium comprised of David Richards, John Sinders, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co. This transaction is the result of Ford's decision, as announced in August 2006, to explore strategic options for the Aston Martin business as the company restructures its core automotive operations and builds liquidity.

The sale is expected to close during the second quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. The transaction values Aston Martin at £479 million ($925 million). As part of the transaction, Ford will retain a £40 million ($77 million) investment in Aston Martin. Other terms and conditions specific to the sale are not being disclosed at this time.

"The sale of Aston Martin supports the key objectives of the company, to restructure to operate profitably at lower volumes and changed model mix and to speed the development of new products," said Alan Mulally, Ford's President and chief executive officer. "From Aston Martin's point of view, the sale will provide access to additional capital, which will allow Aston Martin to continue the growth it has experienced under Ford's stewardship. Today's announcement is good for Ford Motor Company, good for Aston Martin and good for the UK. We wish Aston Martin every possible success for the future."

The new owner of Aston Martin is a consortium comprised of: David Richards, founder and chairman of Prodrive, a world-leading motorsport and automotive technology company; John Sinders, an avid Aston Martin collector and a backer of Aston Martin Racing; and Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co, international investment companies headquartered in Kuwait.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

Technorati: Ford, Aston+Martin, Prodrive, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, images, pictures, 2007

Breaking News: Aston Martin sale to a Prodrive led consortium to be completed by tomorrow

And this time, it looks like it’s for real as according to a report from Daily Telegraph UK, the deal will be signed on Friday in Detroit. "It's a done deal. All that remains is to cross the t's and dot the i's," quoted an unnamed senior source to the newspaper. The buyer is a consortium of business interests from America and the Middle East, led by David Richards, head of the UK motor sport organisation Prodrive.

We remind you that Prodrive has been a long-term partner of the British sports car maker and it runs Aston Martin's racing team. As for the price, it is rumoured that the deal will close at around 500m BP (1bil USD or 750m EUR) meaning that Ford has cut its expectations to half of what it was asking for Aston Martin when it put the British company up for sale last year. Via: Daily Telegraph

Technorati: Astion+Martin, Prodrive, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, images, pictures, 2007