vette6799

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/08/m...mages-surface/

monaroCountry

Just wow, still, they should have used CC brakes and CF body panels.

Looks a bit like the new Ferrari though, but better.

vette6799

The body panels are CF or composite. Ceramic brakes are an option, but add weight. I didn't see the weight listed - early in the morning - but I'd bet it will be light. HP/weight might be very interesting. They also use a 3.8 liter engine but still get a ton of HP and very good torque.

02MillenniumVette

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/othe...w-mclaren.html

DSOM Z06

I'll take one please.....

quick04Z06

Great timing...for the Middle Eastern and the Chinese buyers.

Migs08

No thanks. Looks like an Eclipse.

wickedness

x2.

Onerareviper

Probably an awesome car, but not digging the door inlets thingies... Looks more like the new Lotus Evora than anything. And I hate the fact many of these 'newer' exotics have paddle shift only, which will more-than-likely be the case with this car. At least 'offer' a stick shift for those that want to drive the car vs. car drive me.

Lotus Evora

bizaro

That can eat crackers in my bed anytime. Wait, what.....

vette6799

For serious track racing, sequential auto transmissions of the "F1" type are simply better than any manual. They are faster, more accurate and allow the driver to focus on other things beside working a clutch and gear shift lever. Don't knock 'em until you have tried them.

By the way, don't think the Lotus is close to the McClaren in terms of side detail.

02MillenniumVette

Those "side inlet thingies" are there for a reason, not just for looks. It does look similar to the Evora but Id take the McLaren over any new car including the ZR1.

Onerareviper

And how many of us do 'serious track racing' with out cars? That is, racing for money or where a second per lap means the difference between winning and losing? For those that do, yes, these "F1" type shifters are better. I won't argue. For the other 99.9% of buyers, I suggest a manual is MUCH more satisfying. At least for me.... There's something about pushing a clutch, shifting gears, rev matching/heal-toe, etc... When you do it yourself (and get it right/perfect), it is soooooo satisfying. Heck, even revving the engine while moving past something/someone (clutch in) or dumping the clutch to smoke the tires (quick u-turn) is fun from time-to-time. To each his own, but on the street paddles are boring IMHO. A small step above driving an auto.

Onerareviper

Oh, I have no doubts about that..... Like I said, I'm sure it's an awesome car. I just don't 'love' the way the car looks. At least the side view (due to doors + rear quarter). Just doesn't seem to 'flow'. That being said, a dark color could fix many of these problems. I'll take one in black with a custom installed manual.

vette6799

As you said, to each his own...thought the way you did until I drove an F430 a few years ago with an F1 tranny. Changed my mind in about five minutes. There is a reason why supercars are all heading in the same direction with the type of transmissions they use. You could also say the same thing about AH or modern braking systems, etc. Turen them off and eliminate them and safety aside, they rely much more on skill and provide a much wilder ride.

Ferrari still offers a choice of transmissions, although most cars are sold with the F1's, at least as far as the 430's go. Don't know what they will offer with the latest version, but I suspect sooner than later they will eliminate the manual version altogether.

jvp

It's scary that of all the sequential/F1-style transmissions out there in various cars, only Ferrari and Lamborghini "get it" as far as lever placement:

KEEP THE F'ING LEVERS STATIONARY ON THE GOD DAMN STEERING COLUMN!

*ahem* Sorry.

Most of the rest of the F1 transmissions I've seen, the levers (or buttons, or triggers, or..) are attached to the steering wheel, not the column. So they move with the wheel. And that's just bad ergonomics.

Ferrari gets big points for that one, IMHO.

jas

02MillenniumVette

You mean something like this?

1985 Corvette

I agree with OneRareViper. Paddles are nice and I appreciate the technology. Then again, I always think with the frame of mind "how can you fix that when something goes wrong?". The majority of us make fun of those driving automatics but turn around and applaud those that just keep their foot on the gas and pull back on a lever.

Inferior it may be, but there's something awesome about the interface a driver has with his driving machine while detaching the trans and engine from one another to select a gear then slam them back together, instead of a computer doing it.

02MillenniumVette

If you can afford a $1million car then I dont think you have to worry about how much it would cost to get it fixed.

1985 Corvette

Again, it's the frame of mind, which is why I have a never ending appreciation and respect for vintage Ferrari/Lamborghini owners that fix their own cars in their garages. Even if I were a multi millionaire, you can rest assured all of my toys would have a clutch pedal. I appreciate cars packed with technology but I personally don't like the idea of owning a car I have to ship back to NASA to have them fix it because it's too complex for me to tackle.

And I said it before and I'll say til I'm dead, the metallic "clicking" sound a gated shifter makes shifting gears from a classic Ferrari or Lambo alone is enough for me to want one that way. That sound always makes me smile.