UgoColombo | Ugo Colombo | The Collection

01 Mar

Aston Martin DB11 Convertible Teaser Images for Spring 2018

If you’ve ever loved Aston Martin, you may want to take a gander at their Facebook page where they recently shared some images for the new DB11 Volante.

Volante is a four-passenger convertible line with the 2018 DB11 Volante as the newest addition. The preview images posted on Aston Martin’s Facebook page are all saying “Opening Spring 2018” in big stickers on the car, so we won’t get a lot of details yet.

This new edition will probably have the same 5.2-liter twin turbo v12 found in the current DB11 coupe. Output should be steady at 600 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, and it may only come in an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The coupe starts currently at $214,820, so the new DB11 Volante will probably be higher, closer to the $250,000 mark.

Take a look at the teaser images and let us know what you think!

19 Feb

Aston Martin’s Push Towards New Markets

The luxury car maker, Aston Martin, will soon shift its focus from the auto industry and branch out to sell a wide variety of new items. These items include furniture, eyewear, yachts, and even a luxury baby stroller.

Aston Martin’s efforts to broaden their horizons comes after the economic crash which left the car industry in a state of volatility. It’s look into new markets is its way of enlarging its customer base from solely car enthusiasts.

Aston Martin’s wide variety of products attracts everyone who is familiar with the company but unable to fully afford the price of their vehicles. Currently, Aston Martin is working on creating a sports Yacht, but so far it’s having more success in the apparel and furniture markets.

Aston Martin isn’t the only one shifting from a Luxury car brand towards a luxury brand, Bentley & Ferrari are both branching out as well.

Aston Martin believes that their push towards new markets will offer an access to a lifestyle and way of living previously only available for those who could afford their cars.

08 Feb

Maserati restyled its new Quattroporte

The Maserati Quattroporte received a full new makeover in order to create a new product experience for Maserati enthusiasts.

This new design still embraces Maserati’s signature elegance, but underlines a push towards a futuristic sleeker look.

The new well known Maserati model offers additional high-tech features including: a high resolution 8.4” screen with multi touch function, a redesigned central dashboard, and a new infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone functions.

Let’s not forget to discuss the Maserati Quattroporte various exterior touch-ups. Maseratidrivers are given the choice of choosing between the Gran Lusso trim which blends a luxury look with a sporty feel, and the Gran Sport trim that has an aggressive racing exterior with a worthwhile racing feel.

Maserati continues to represent the perfect mixture of luxury and sportiness thanks to its race-bred engineering roots.

Read more at: http://www.maserati.com/maserati/international/en/news/The-New-Quattroporte-restyling-and-range-strategy-for-a-new-product-experience

22 Jan

Pushing the limits of vehicle control with Porsche’s Upgraded Stability Management Systems

Hazardous road scenarios threaten all drivers around the globe, that can be blamed on the increase in inclement weather and the rapid decay of our infrastructure. This is pushing many automotive manufacturers to increase research towards adding more safety features into their car models.

The tragedy in adding extra safety features is that it takes away the thrill of driving from car enthusiasts. Porsche is one of the few leading automotive manufacturers that has been able to bypass this with their unique control system.

One of Porsche’s leading safety feature is their stability control system. Porsche’s Stability Management System or (PSM) helps stabilize the vehicle by using sensors to continuously monitor the speed, velocity, and direction during hazardous road scenarios. However, Porsche has added an upgrade to this safety feature which will allow enthusiastic drivers to continue challenging the roads with speed and agility while also maintaining control of their vehicle.

The PSM Sport will allow for a quick gentle transition from instability to stability to occur while driving at performance limits. The PSM Sport works by detecting when the driver is close to oversteering. The focus on increased traction control rather than braking for stability allows for an increased feeling of freedom for the driver.

The Porsche 911 Turbo is one of many models that Porsche will be implementing their upgraded Sport Stability Management System on. Other models include the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Cayman, which will allow a larger consumer group to try out this sport stability control feature.

Porsche continues to amaze car enthusiast by pushing the limits of their vehicles. while also being a leading advocate for increased automotive safety features.

10 Jan

Electric Ferrari Race Cars?

When you think about Ferraris, one of the furthest things from your mind might be an electric-powered Ferrari. While Ferrari race cars can be electrifying to watch on the race track, how would it even be possible to have an all-electric Ferrari?

According to digitaltrends.com, this idea might not be as farfetched as one might think. There are some hurdles involved, but they’re not insurmountable. In fact, Ferrari is seriously considering entering the Formula E race series.

One of the considerations is, of course, battery life. Right now, batteries have to be changed out mid-way during the races.

Another consideration is standardization: all race cars must use the same chassis and powertrain specifications. Still, those rules may change in the upcoming years. The major sports manufacturers seem to be on board for modifications to the rules, but it will be a matter of time to see if the rule changes come to fruition.

12 Dec

The Reviews are in for the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

“In the not too distant future, it’s likely that many if not most of us will never actively drive a car again. Fortunately, we’re not quite at that final place yet and there remain a handful of virtually unfiltered driving experiences like the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.” – Forbes Magazine, 10/17/2016.

It’s been two years since Alfa Romeo has returned to North America, and it’s surprising that only just over 1,000 Alfa Romeo 4C Spiders have been sold. It’s a pity because the car is nothing short of extraordinary. The small, two-seat sports car, which starts at $56,000, uses a carbon-fiber structure found in much more expensive cars. It’s powered by an aluminum four-cylinder, 1.7 liter 237 horsepower engine, and has a six-speed, dual clutch transmission. It’s EPA fuel ratings are 24mpg city/34mpg highway.

This car, which some reviewers have called a “baby Ferrari”, is especially noteworthy because of its flawless handling of curves and its acceleration.

12 Nov

McLaren Leadership Shakeup?

According to The Guardian, McLaren’s President Ron Dennis, whose 35-year association with the company has propelled McLaren into multiple F1 victories on the race track, is in for a bumpy ride for the foreseeable feature. With a proposed 1.2 billion purchase of McLaren that has been put on the table, things aren’t looking good for him.

Dennis isn’t the primary shareholder; he only owns 25% of the business. The remainder of the shares belongs to his business partner and a Bahrain investment company. Shareholders have pushed for his removal, and as of last week, Dennis, whose contract expires in January of 2017, has been in court seeking an injunction to the proceedings.

What would McLaren, who has been in the forefront of the F1 scene, look like with someone else at the helm? Would McLaren still be a force to be reckoned with on the racing circuit? Only time will tell, and time may not be on Dennis’s side.

15 Oct

The New Ferrari 488 GTB continues to amaze

Many consider the new Ferrari 488 GTB to be a shift into a new chapter of 8-Cylinder sports power.

Ferrari has done it again – the new Ferrari 488 GTB balances extreme performance with sheer elegance. This super car’s 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine outputs 661 horsepower and is capable of reaching 60 mph in three seconds.

Topstitching, sleek carbon fiber, and black leather, down to the very stitching Ferrari ensured that this vehicle’s uniqueness is obvious to any car enthusiast.

The Ferrari 488 GTB has been a recipient of several awards, and is considered the supercar of the year. Ferrari’s new supercar performs at record-breaking efficiency while instilling pure fun behind the wheel.

The Ferrari “Prancing Stallion” emblem perfectly symbolizes the 488 GTB performance and superiority among others supercars in the market.

06 Aug

The Porsche Boxster Does it Again!

Source: Chronicle Live

When the first generation of the Boxster was introduced in 1996 there were serious concerns about whether a much-cheaper, open-top model would undermine the credentials of the Porsche brand. The Boxster won its’ critics over and proved it was an automobile with dynamics that were worthy of the Porsche name.

Now Porsche – and the Boxster – are at it again! The Porsche Boxster was exclusively a six-cylinder model for 20 years, but now it’s been moved to four-cylinder turbocharged power plants. This is part of Porsche’s overall mission to maintain performance while also reducing emissions and improving fuel economy.

But do not fear and fret! Porsche has beautifully crammed more power into its smaller turbocharged engine. The power shows itself when you go for hard acceleration. The Boxster was proven to be about 1.5sec faster than the Audi TTS to 60mph. The Boxster has a turbo engine with a slight lag yet it pulls harder once it’s past 2000rpm.

The Boxster remains a sensational driver’s car, especially with the reconfigured suspension, upgraded steering, and the improved brakes. Among the elite drivers, only the Mazda MX-5 compares in terms of sports-car focus and driver involvement. And hat’s off to Porsche meeting its eco-obligations. We’re glad to see the Boxster is still an awesome piece of automotive machinery!

25 Jul

Saying Goodbye to the Aston Martin DB9

After 13 of years of production the Aston Martin DB9 has come to an end. Originally tasked with replacing the Aston Martin DB7, the DB9 launched at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, where the design created by Ian Callum and Henrik Fisker stunned everyone!

To celebrate the car that kept the company afloat when Ford sold the British marque in 2006, the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ division has added some ‘last of 9’ detailing on the final nine DB9s that came off the line.

Farewell to an icon. The last nine Aston Martin DB9s are now ready for final inspection. pic.twitter.com/arpi2NPus7

— Aston Martin (@astonmartin) July 22, 2016

In its first iteration, the DB9 was capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 299km/h. The platform of the DB9’s VH soon formed the basis of the DBS, Virage, Rapide, V8 Vantage and V12 Vantage, and the Vanquish over the next 10 years.

Ugo Colombo Says Goodbye to Aston Martin DB9

Source: Car Advice

Since its first iteration in 2003, the DB9 was provided with a number of significant updates. One of the most significant ones occurred in 2013 when it included a revised version of the 5.9-litre V12 thus bumping outputs to a heftier 380kW of power and 620Nm of torque. Coupled with an updated ‘Touchtronic 2’ 6-speed automatic tranny, the 2013 DB9 could spring from 0-100km/h in only 4.6 seconds.

Aston Martin created 150 special edition DB9s in 2015 to celebrate their relationship with the James Bond franchise. They boosted the V12 by 22 kW (30 hp), there’s gun barrel embroidery, a numbered sill plate, and a special startup on the touchscreen infotainment system so the driver could feel more like 007.