German Car Forum

Yeah, I wondered what happened during the transition from Ferrari's F1 gearbox to Maserati's Cambiocorsa/DuoSelect,

The normal automatic Quattroporte will be out next year, I actually have a thread here about it, though it's a little quiet:

http://www.germancarforum.com/maserati/6949-automatic-maserati-quattroporte-unveiled-details.html

He is expecting to receive the car in mid January 2007.

Why would it be suspicious? As 7.3 AMG has pointed out, the Quattroporte has already proven itself with the B5... It's no major surprise here that it has outrunned the M5. This just further confirms the QP's position right up there with the big boys.

Nice thread I can't wait for the automatic Quattroporte, it would easily be my choice for this vehicle.

Pictures and videos !!!

Definitely.

My apologies, bad chose of words.What I was trying to say was with the extra horse power & lighter weight I was surprised that the Quattroporte was able to post a better time then the M5.

in Sportauto the M5 was faster than the quattroporte. Some car suit one track better than another track, simply as that.

and regarding B5, the car prior comfort over sport. In fact, B5 is more like the E55, more comfort than sport. So with softer suspension, worse laptimes.

I'm surprised as well.

You took the words out of my mouth.

Yes, the B5 is a more based on comfort rather than sportiness, still with a huge 100bhp more, 188kg less and brakes which are stronger the Quattroporte's, the Maserati does a great job of fighting it off. However i'd say the E55 is a slight bit sportier than the B5, after all it did achieved 1:17.6 on the Hockenheim (maybe it's done faster..) which as you can see is 1.3 seconds faster than the B5. However in the B5's defense it has better brakes and engine flexbility.

If a car has soft suspension and another 1880 extra horse wont help. Bedford is not a big track, better suspension is more important than speed on this track. A B5 would do much better on a high-speed track than on short-track.

and regarding Sportauto, the B5 has only been tested one time when cars like E55 and M5 has been tested several times. Im certain if the B5 was tested several times we would see faster laptimes.

No it's not guaranteed to make it win, just give it a better advantage. As you said, the Bedford isn't a big track, nor is the Hockenheim so i completley agree, on a higher speed track the B5 would do better.

I just looked, they have tested the B5 twice (two tests) but only once on the Hockenheim.

One time on hockenheim for the B5, cars like E55 and M5 has been tested several times with improved laptimes. Im certain if the B5 was tested another two or three times I bet we would see faster laptimes.

Agreed.

Why don't I see anyone mentioning the fact that the Quattroporte's dynamic prowess can largely be attributed to its superb front to rear weight distribution courtesy of the transaxle configuration of the gearbox?

Maybe because noone knows that?

haha Tycoon...So true.

Uhh are there any more track times for the quattroporte? I cant stand it being in front of the M5....frankly its pissing me off
However it doesnt seem like this is the best track for the M5 because the M3 beat it along with the Z4 M-which has a very impressive time by the way.

Im still stunned how many complexed words you can use in one single post

Because cars like the LS460 can have good weight distribution (almost close to that of the QP's) without even needing to modify the gearbox. Heck, even the bread-and-butter 3er has good weight distribution. I see DuoSelect more of a liability than anything else.

Just updated:

1:31.70 - Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG (2007)
1:43.20 - Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9

Updated:

1:17.10 - Radical SR3 1300
1:19.00 - Caterham R500 EVO
1:19.60 - Ariel Atom Supercharged
1:19.60 - Caterham CS6 260
1:19.70 - Dax Rush MC
1:20.20 - Porsche Carrera GT (2nd attempt)
1:21.20 - McLaren F1
1:21.30 - Ferrari Enzo
1:22.25 - Litchfield Type-25
1:22.40 - Lotus Exige S

Thanks Bruce... I'm still waiting for my subscription to come thru in the Xmas mail. Grrr - I hate waiting and I'm paranoid that my collectors edition of EVO issue 100 has been lost forever.

Back to those times - I'm amazed by a couple of things:
1, the Enzo being fractionally slower than the Macca F1 - astonishing really considering that the Enzo should have the edge in just about every area except outright thrust. It's got carbon-ceramic brakes, F1 paddle-shift transmission and much lower profile tyres and yet... the decade-old McLaren still shows it a trick or two. How good was the McLaren F1? We're only starting to appreciate that now.

2, Litchfield did say that his Type-25 was heavily track-biaised and it shows in this excellent showing at the 'Drome. Sadly, it did poorly at the EVO CotY because it lacked finesse and on-road useability.

3, Carrera GT. A pinnacle point-to-point car that's now the stuff of legend. We all know it's the 'Ring King but the CGT continues to impress on any circuit. It's out of production now, but current owners would be well advised to hang on to what has to be the greatest car in the world in getting from A to B.

4, Can't wait for a 599 GTB laptime...

I had heard the McLaren F1 had a number of modifications: stiffer suspension, different tyres and more power.

However, I cannot comfirm this completely. I'll have to wait 25 or so days to see this issue (We get them a month late )

Ferrari 599 GTB - 1:23.10

Drat - a little slower than I'd hoped, still not bad for a GT that weighs more than a Murcielago! My subscription is in the mail - I can't wait to check it out.

Shot Bruce. You legend.

Oh yes, Carrera GT killed the Macca and the Enzooooooooooo ....