Ferrari 488 Challenge race car 2017

After the 488 Spider of the last post, the brand new 488 Challenge race car. It was unveiled at the end of 2016 and it was at the Manchester dealership last weekend, just as I was there! Unlike the GTE and GT3 which are both more hardcore race versions of the 488, the Challenge is heavily based on the stock car, stripped out of course for the track, to allow race enthusiast (and rather wealthy) customers to take part in the Ferrari Challenge series. It has the same 3.9 V8 engine with 660bhp as the 488 GTB, which has been remapped for the track. In terms of performance, I cannot yet find any specifics as all data are still to be confirmed.

Ferrari 488 Spider 2017

As I am off work today, I thought I would go on a tour of the local dealerships. I ended up in Ferrari Wilmslow where they had some interesting cars, including this grey 488 Spider. I think the colour suits the car to perfection! The Spider has the same 3.9 twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the coupe, which produces 661bhp. 0-62mph takes 3.0 seconds and the top speed is 202mph or 325km/h. 

Aston Martin DB11 2017

My first proper sight of the brand new Aston Martin DB11 in Manchester city center yesterday. I did spot one on the motorway a few months ago, probably a test car, but this is the first one I see on the road since it was released. The DB11 is the replacement for one of my favourite cars around, the DB9. It has a 5.2 V12 engine which produces 600bhp. 0-62mph takes 3.9 seconds and the top speed is 200mph or 322km/h.

I must say, I wasn't really a fan of the new shape compared to the DB9 but I think it is progressively growing on me... It will be time for me to go to the dealership and have a closer look at it!

Ferrari 328 GTS 1980's

Seen in Ferrari Manchester a few months ago, this is a 328 GTS. It has a 3.2 V8 engine, which produces 270bhp, with a 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 163mph or 262km/h. The GTS is the Spider version of the GTB (Berlinetta).

Bentley Continental GTC V8 2016

Not the first one on the blog, but a more recent version: the Bentley Continental GTC spotted in Manchester a few weeks ago: Twin-turbo 4.0 V8 which produces 500bhp, 0-62 in 4.7 seconds and top speed of 187mph or 301km/h. 

I am not sure if I mentioned it before, but if I haven't, here is a geeky tip for you. If you struggle to differentiate a V8 Continental from a W12, look at the exhaust tips. If they are shape as an 8 (well more of an infinity sign), it's a V8, if they are full oval, it's a W12!

Maserati Ghibli 2015

After the pictures I posted when the Ghibli was launched, I realised I never photographed one on the street. There are not huge numbers of them around but I have started spotting a few more lately. This one is not in my mind the nicest colour out there but it's a start! Like most Ghiblis sold I suspect, this one has the 3.0 V6 diesel engine which produces 275bhp. 0-62mph takes 6.3 seconds and the top speed is of course limited to 155mph or 250km/h. A few years ago, I felt that the Maserati brand was pretty much dying (in the UK at least). The dealership disappeared from Manchester and you didn't see many around. The Ghibli with its diesel engine might have been the saviour for Maserati. 2/3 of the Ghiblis for sale in the UK at the moment, are powered by the 3.0 diesel V6 and a brand new dealership has reopened in Manchester. Let's hope the brand recovers fully and brings out some more awesome cars like the MC12 or the Granturismo MC Stradale!

Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Avio 2016

A bit of a limited edition today with this Lamborghini Huracan Avio presented in Blu Grifo. I obviously did not spot it on the street but at the brand new Lamborghini dealership in Manchester. The Avio serie is limited to only 250 cars and is inspired by fighter jets. The Huracan has a 5.2 V10 which produces 602bhp. 0-62 takes 3.2 seconds and the top speed is 201mph or 323km/h. The Avio Huracan is available in 5 different liveries and having seen a few others, they all look pretty good!