Business Day - Motor News

RUMOUR HAS IT...

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reports, the engine in this test mule sounds turbocharg­ed, suggesting it is a version of the 3.9l twin-turbocharg­ed V8 already fitted to the GTC4 Lusso T.

In the meanwhile, the latest spy video at least confirms that Ferrari is indeed busy with fitments and research of a Ferrari in hiking boots. The link to the YouTube video is: https://goo.gl/QmdKVz

WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT

Imperial Russia’s longstandi­ng and highly sought-after Farberge eggs, the most famous being the 50 “Imperial” eggs made for Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers, are among the most coveted collectabl­es on earth.

Responding to demands of a patron, Rolls Royce has announced the “Spirit of Ecstasy” Fabergé Egg.

For the first time in history, an iteration of the Spirit of Ecstasy, the company’s bonnet mascot since 1911, is cocooned in a contempora­ry Fabergé Egg.

The egg rests on an engineturn­ed, hand-engraved, purple enamel guilloché base of 18 carat white gold. Arms of rose gold define the shape of the egg, acting as a protective chamber for the egg’s mascot, which is made of frosted rock crystal. The rose gold vanes, embellishe­d with nearly 10 carats of diamonds, resolve into swathes of amethyst weighing more than 390 carats.

Fabergé CEO Sean Gilbertson said: “A unique moment in both our companies’ history, the creation of the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ Egg represents the meeting of two masters of unrivalled quality and design, showcasing two globally recognised symbols — the Fabergé Egg and the Spirit of Ecstasy.”

LAMBO TO CHALLENGE VALKYRIE?

When the Aston Martin Valkyrie goes on sale next year it will be gunned along by the most powerful normallyas­pirated engine yet seen in a production car.

Its Cosworth 6.5l V12 will produce 843kW of punch, which makes it a contender to beat a Nurburgrin­g production­car lap record recently set by the Lamborghin­i Aventdaor SVJ. But Lamborghin­i won’t necessaril­y give up its record without a fight. Autocar reports that the Italian firm may be considerin­g a limited-edition Lambo to challenge the Valkyrie.

Lamborghin­i has made previous low-volume cars such as the Centenario, of which only 40 were built to celebrate Ferrucio Lamborghin­i’s 100th birthday, while only five units of the Veneno were made.

Autocar reports a Valkyriech­allenging Lambo might follow a similar path as the Centenario and Veneno, which means it would be based on an existing Lamborghin­i V12 platform. It would need to take a serious horsepower jump, which could mean a turbocharg­er or possibly a hybrid system.

Right now it’s just rumours, but lately we’ve seen a renewed attack on Nurburgrin­g lap records by sports car firms.

 ??  ?? Disguised vehicle reveals the new Defender will have the iconic boxy shape.
Disguised vehicle reveals the new Defender will have the iconic boxy shape.
 ??  ?? When your Rolls-Royce just isn’t special enough, it calls for a Faberge bonnet ornament.
When your Rolls-Royce just isn’t special enough, it calls for a Faberge bonnet ornament.

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