Saturday 13 April 2013

MAYBACH


1909–1940: Early history



Early poster with double M logo
Wilhelm Maybach was technical director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909 he founded the new company, Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH (literally "Aircraft Engine Building Company"), with his son Karl Maybach as director.[citation needed] In 1912 they renamed it to Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH ("Maybach Engine Construction Company"). The company originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for Zeppelins, and then rail cars. Its Maybach Mb.IVa was used in aircraft and airships of World War I.
The company first built an experimental car in 1919, introduced as a production model two years later at the Berlin Motor Show. Between 1921 and 1940, the company produced a variety of opulent vehicles, now regarded as classics. The company also continued to build heavy duty diesel engines for marine and rail purposes.
[edit]1940–1945

MASERATI


History

See Maserati Brothers
The Maserati brothers, Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, and Ernesto were all involved with automobiles from the beginning of the 20th century. Alfieri, Bindo and Ernesto built 2-litre Grand Prix cars for Diatto. In 1926, Diatto suspended the production of race cars, leading to the creation of the first Maserati and the founding of the Maserati marque. One of the first Maseratis, driven by Alfieri, won the 1926 Targa Florio. Maserati began making race cars with 4, 6, 8 and 16 cylinders (two straight-eights mounted parallel to one another). Another Maserati brother, Mario, an artist, is believed to have devised the company's trident emblem, based on the Fontana del Nettuno, Bologna.
Alfieri Maserati died in 1932, but three other brothers, Bindo, Ernesto and Ettore, kept the firm going, building cars that won races.
[edit]Orsi ownership
In 1937, the remaining Maserati brothers sold their shares in the company to the Adolfo Orsi family, who in 1940 relocated the company headquarters to their hometown of Modena,[2] where it remains to this day. The brothers continued in engineering roles with the company. Racing successes continued, even against the giants of German racing, Auto Union and Mercedes. In back-to-back wins in 1939 and 1940, a Maserati 8CTF won the Indianapolis 500, the only Italian manufacturer ever to do so.
The war then intervened, Maserati abandoning cars to produce components for the Italian war effort. During this time, Maserati worked in fierce competition to construct a V16 towncar for Benito Mussolini before Ferry Porsche of Volkswagen built one for Adolf Hitler. This failed, and the plans were scrapped. Once peace was restored, Maserati returned to making cars; the Maserati A6 series did well in the post-war racing scene.
Key people joined the Maserati team. Alberto Massimino, an old Fiat engineer, with both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari experiences oversaw the design of all racing models for the next ten years. With him joined engineers Giulio Alfieri, Vittorio Bellentani, and Gioacchino Colombo. The focus was on the best engines and chassis to succeed in car racing. These new projects saw the last contributions of the Maserati brothers, who after their 10-year contract with Orsi expired went on to form O.S.C.A.. This new team at Maserati worked on several projects: the 4CLT, the A6 series, the 8CLT, and, pivotally for the future success of the company, the A6GCS.
The famous Argentinian driver Juan-Manuel Fangio raced for Maserati for a number of years in the 1950s, producing a number of stunning victories including winning the world championship in 1957 in the Maserati 250F alongside Toulo de Graffenried, Louis Chiron, Prince Bira, Enrico Platé, and a few others. Other racing projects in the 1950s were the 200S, 300S (with several famous pilots, among them Benoit Musy), 350S, and 450S, followed in 1961 by the famous Tipo 61.
Maserati had retired from factory racing participation because of the Guidizzolo tragedy[3] during the 1957 Mille Miglia, though they continued to build cars for privateers. After 1957, Maserati became more and more focused on road cars, and chief engineer Giulio Alfieri built the 6-cylinder 3500 2+2 coupé, which featured an aluminum body over Carrozzeria Touring's superleggera structure, a design also used for the small-volume V8-powered 5000. Next came the Vignale-bodied Sebring, launched in 1962, the Mistral Coupé in 1963 and Spider in 1964, both designed by Pietro Frua, and also in 1963, the company's first four-door, the Quattroporte, designed by Frua as well. The two-seat Ghibli coupé was launched in 1967, followed by a convertible in 1969.

MCLAREN


History: McLaren Cars

McLaren M6GT
The McLaren M6GT project started when New Zealander Bruce McLaren decided to enter Le Mans endurance racing in the late 1960s. The plan was to take an M6 Can-Am car and develop a coupe body that would be competitive in long distance racing. To meet regulations at the time a minimum of fifty cars had to be completed. However, homologation problems lead to the project being scrapped.
Having always harboured an ambition to build his own road car, McLaren wanted to turn the project into the ultimate road car. He wanted to build the fastest and quickest accelerating car in the world that translated their expertise on the race track, to create the definitive road going sports car.
In early 1970 work began on the GT so he could use it on the road in an effort to find out what problems would have to be overcome.
Together with chief designer Gordon Coppuck, Bruce planned to refine the prototype, eventually aiming to produce up to 250 cars per year. In fact, only two M6 GTs were ever built — the original prototype and a second built by Trojan. The original prototype, OBH 500H, became Bruce's personal transportation, and remained so until his untimely death at Goodwood on June 2, 1970 when the road car project died with him.

LAND ROVER


Land Rover
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For more details of the vehicle's development between 1948 and 1985, see Land Rover Series.
Land Rover

Type Private Unlimited Company
Industry Automotive
Founded 1978[1]
Headquarters JLR Gaydon Centre, Gaydon, United Kingdom[2]
Key people Dr Ralf Speth (CEO)
John Edwards (Global Brand Director)[3]
Products Automobiles
Owner(s) Tata Motors
Employees 13,000
Parent Jaguar Land Rover
Website www.landrover.com
Land Rover marque
Owner Tata Motors
Country United Kingdom
Markets Automotive
Previous owners 1948–1967 Rover Company
1967–1968 Leyland Motor Corporation
1968–1986 British Leyland Motor Corporation
1986–1988 Rover Group
1988–1994 British Aerospace
1994–2000 BMW
2000–2008 Ford Motor Company
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover group, a subsidiary of Tata Motors of India.[4] It is the second oldest four-wheel-drive car brand in the world (after Jeep).[5]
The Land Rover name was originally used by the Rover Company for one specific vehicle model, named simply the Land Rover, launched by Rover in 1948. Over the following years it developed into a marque encompassing a range of four-wheel-drive models, including the Defender, Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rovers are currently assembled in the company's Halewood and Solihull plants, with research and development taking place at JLR's Gaydon and Whitley engineering centres. Land Rover sold 194,000 vehicles worldwide in 2009.[6]
Although the brand originates from the original 1948 model, Land Rover as a company has only existed since 1978. Prior to this, it was a product line of the Rover Company which was subsequently absorbed into the Rover-Triumph division of the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BL) following Leyland Motor Corporation’s takeover of Rover in 1967. The ongoing commercial success of the original Land Rover series models, and latterly the Range Rover in the 1970s in the midst of BL’s well documented business troubles prompted the establishment of a separate Land Rover company but still under the BL umbrella, remaining part of the subsequent Rover Group in 1988, under the ownership of British Aerospace after the remains of British Leyland were broken up and privatised. In 1994 Rover Group plc was acquired by BMW. In 2000, Rover Group was broken-up by BMW and Land Rover was sold to Ford Motor Company, becoming part of its Premier Automotive Group. In 2006 Ford purchased the Rover brand from BMW for around £6 million. This reunited the Rover and Land Rover brands for the first time since 2000 when the Rover group was broken up by BMW. In June 2008, Ford sold both Land Rover and Jaguar Cars to Tata Motors. This sale also included the dormant Rover brand[7][8][9]

LEXUS


LEXUS

Type Division
Industry Automotive
Founded 1989
Founder(s) Eiji Toyoda
Headquarters Nagoya, Japan
Area served Worldwide
Key people Kiyotaka Ise (MO)
Vince Socco (VP, Asia Pacific)
Andy Pfeiffenberger (VP, EU)
Mark Templin (VP, U.S.)
Products Automobiles
Services Automotive financing
Owner(s) Toyota Motor Corporation
Divisions F marque
Website Official sites
(select by country)
Lexus (レクサス?) is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States,[1] Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide,[2] and has ranked among the ten largest Japanese global brands in market value.[3] Lexus is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Operational centers are located in Brussels, Belgium, and Torrance, California, United States.
Lexus originated from a clandestine flagship sedan project, code-named F1, which began in 1983 and culminated in the launch of the original Lexus LS in 1989. Subsequently, the division added sedan, coupé, convertible, and SUV models. In 2005, a hybrid version of the RX crossover debuted, and additional hybrid models later joined the division's lineup. In 2007, Lexus launched its own F marque performance division with the debut of the IS F sport sedan, followed by the LFA supercar in 2009.
From the start of production, Lexus vehicles have been produced in Japan, with manufacturing centered in the Chūbu and Kyūshū regions, and in particular at Toyota's Tahara, Aichi, Chūbu and Miyata, Fukuoka, Kyūshū plants. Assembly of the first Lexus built outside the country, the Ontario, Canada-produced RX 330, began in 2003. Following a corporate reorganization from 2001 to 2005, Lexus also operates its own design, engineering, and manufacturing centers, solely responsible for the division's vehicles.
Since the 2000s, Lexus has increased sales outside its largest market in the United States through an ongoing global expansion. The division inaugurated dealerships in Japan's domestic market in 2005, becoming the first Japanese premium car marque to launch in its country of origin.[4] Further debuts in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, and other export regions have since followed. The division's lineup has also been expanded to reflect regional specifications in model and powertrain configurations.Lexus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lexus

Type Division
Industry Automotive
Founded 1989
Founder(s) Eiji Toyoda
Headquarters Nagoya, Japan
Area served Worldwide
Key people Kiyotaka Ise (MO)
Vince Socco (VP, Asia Pacific)
Andy Pfeiffenberger (VP, EU)
Mark Templin (VP, U.S.)
Products Automobiles
Services Automotive financing
Owner(s) Toyota Motor Corporation
Divisions F marque
Website Official sites
(select by country)
Lexus (レクサス?) is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States,[1] Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide,[2] and has ranked among the ten largest Japanese global brands in market value.[3] Lexus is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Operational centers are located in Brussels, Belgium, and Torrance, California, United States.
Lexus originated from a clandestine flagship sedan project, code-named F1, which began in 1983 and culminated in the launch of the original Lexus LS in 1989. Subsequently, the division added sedan, coupé, convertible, and SUV models. In 2005, a hybrid version of the RX crossover debuted, and additional hybrid models later joined the division's lineup. In 2007, Lexus launched its own F marque performance division with the debut of the IS F sport sedan, followed by the LFA supercar in 2009.
From the start of production, Lexus vehicles have been produced in Japan, with manufacturing centered in the Chūbu and Kyūshū regions, and in particular at Toyota's Tahara, Aichi, Chūbu and Miyata, Fukuoka, Kyūshū plants. Assembly of the first Lexus built outside the country, the Ontario, Canada-produced RX 330, began in 2003. Following a corporate reorganization from 2001 to 2005, Lexus also operates its own design, engineering, and manufacturing centers, solely responsible for the division's vehicles.
Since the 2000s, Lexus has increased sales outside its largest market in the United States through an ongoing global expansion. The division inaugurated dealerships in Japan's domestic market in 2005, becoming the first Japanese premium car marque to launch in its country of origin.[4] Further debuts in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, and other export regions have since followed. The division's lineup has also been expanded to reflect regional specifications in model and powertrain configurations.

Monday 8 April 2013

LIFAN

History

A Lifan truck, 2009

Lifan was founded by former political dissident Yin Mingshan in 1992, originally as a motorcycle repair shop with a staff of nine. Mingshan has a long history of conflict with governmental authorities of all stripes but currently enjoys a good relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.[7] The company was originally called "Chongqing Hongda Auto Fittings Research Centre".[8] Lifan had already become a major motorcycle manufacturer when it expanded into building buses in 2003.[9]

Becoming the fifth-largest Chinese motorcycle maker in only seventeen years,[5] the company was renamed Lifan Industry Group in 1997.[8] In 2003, Lifan acquired Chongqing Special Purpose Use Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd.[6]

2005 saw commencement of automobile production, beginning with the LF6361/1010 minivan and pickup based on the 1999 Daihatsu Atrai. In December 2005, Lifan's first independent development, the 520 sedan with a Brazilian Tritec engine, entered production.[9] Lifan's current automobile lineup (as of autumn 2011) consists of the subcompact 320, the compact sedan and hatchback 520, the slightly larger 620 sedan, and the X60 compact SUV.[10]

Lifan made an IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in late 2010.[5] Several years prior, Lifan petitioned the Chinese State to allow the creation of more private banks, in order to allow better investment opportunities for privately run businesses.[7

LOTUS

History

The company was formed as Lotus Engineering Ltd. by engineers Colin Chapman and Colin Dare, both graduates of University College, London, in 1952. The four letters in the middle of the logo stand for the initials of company founder, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman.

The first factory was in old stables behind the Railway Hotel in Hornsey, North London. Team Lotus, which was split off from Lotus Engineering in 1954, was active and competitive in Formula One racing from 1958 to 1994. The Lotus Group of Companies was formed in 1959. This was made up of Lotus Cars Limited and Lotus Components Limited, which focused on road cars and customer competition car production, respectively. Lotus Components Limited became Lotus Racing Limited in 1971 but the newly renamed entity ceased operation in the same year.[2]

The company moved to a purpose built factory at Cheshunt in 1959[3] and since 1966 the company has occupied a modern factory and road test facility at Hethel, near Wymondham. This site is the former RAF Hethel base and the test track uses sections of the old runway.

LANCIA

Lancia Corporate logo

Lancia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A.
Type     Società per azioni
Industry     Automotive
Founded     November 29, 1906
Founder(s)     Vincenzo Lancia
Headquarters     Turin, Italy
Key people     John Elkann (President)
Saad Chehab (CEO of Lancia and Chrysler brand)
Products     Automobiles
Production output     98 000 (2012)
Owner(s)     Fiat S.p.A.
Parent     Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
Website     Lancia.com

Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. (Italian pronunciation: [ˈlantʃa]) is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969.

The company has a strong rally heritage and is noted for using letters of the Greek alphabet for its model names.

LADA

Models
[edit] Current

    * Lada Niva 4x4 (VAZ-2121/2123) - off-road vehicle
          o Lada Niva 4x4 3-doors
          o Lada Niva 4x4 5-doors
    * Lada Samara (VAZ-2113/2114) - economy car
          o Lada Samara hatchback 3-doors
          o Lada Samara hatchback 5-doors
          o Lada Samara sedan (VAZ-2115)
    * Lada Priora (VAZ-2110/2111/2112) - compact car
          o Lada Priora sedan
          o Lada Priora hatchback
          o Lada Priora wagon
          o Lada Priora coupé
    * Lada Kalina - supermini car
          o Lada Kalina sedan
          o Lada Kalina wagon
          o Lada Kalina hatchback
          o Lada Kalina sport
    * Lada Granta - subcompact car developed in collaboration with Renault and based on the Lada Kalina
    * Lada Largus - family car based on the Renault Logan MCV

KTM

KTM X-Bow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
X-Bow
Manufacturer     KTM
Production     2008 - present
Assembly     Graz, Austria
Class     Trackday Only
Layout     Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine     2.0 L turbocharged I4
Transmission     6-speed manual
Wheelbase     2,430 mm (95.7 in)
Length     3,738 mm (147.2 in)
Width     1,915 mm (75.4 in)
Height     1,202 mm (47.3 in)
Kerb weight     790 kg (1,700 lb)
Designer(s)     KISKA
   
KTM X-Bow
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A Kuwaiti-registered KTM X-Bow pictured in London.

The KTM X-Bow (pronounced "crossbow") is an ultra-light sports car for road and race use, produced by Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM. It is the first car in their product range. It was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008.

KTM developed the X-Bow in collaboration with Kiska Design, Audi, and Dallara. The X-Bow uses a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0 litre Audi engine. The 2008 model produces 237 hp (177 kW; 240 PS) at 5500 rpm and 310 newton metres (230 lb·ft) of torque between 2000 and 5500 rpm.[1] and can accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.[2] Its top speed is 217 km/h (134.9 mph). In the 2011 X-Bow R model the Audi engine is further tuned to produce 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS) and 400 newton metres (300 lb·ft) of torque at 3300 rpm.[3]

Originally, KTM planned a production of 500 units per year, however, the company increased production to 1,000 cars a year and built a new plant near Graz due to high demand.[4]

KOENIGSEGG

Company
Koenigsegg CCX

The company was founded in 1994 in Sweden by Christian von Koenigsegg, with the intention of producing a world-class supercar. Many years of development and prototyping led to the company's first street-legal production car delivery in 2002.

Koenigsegg Automotive AB is a non-listed free traded Swedish Public Company. The Company has around 90 shareholders. As the company is free trading the number of shareholders can vary. Christian von Koenigsegg is the CEO and a major shareholder.

In 2006 Koenigsegg began production of the CCX, which uses an engine created in-house especially for that vehicle. The CCX is street-legal in most countries.

Apart from developing, manufacturing and selling the Koenigsegg line of supercars, Koenigsegg is also involved in "green technology" development programmes beginning with the CCXR ("Flower Power") flexfuel supercar and continuing through the present with the Agera R. Koenigsegg is also active in development programs when it comes to plug-in electric cars' systems and next-generation reciprocating engine technologies.

In March 2009 the Koenigsegg CCXR was chosen by Forbes to be one of the ten most beautiful cars in history.[2]

In December 2010 the Koenigsegg Agera won the prestigious BBC Top Gear Hypercar of the Year Award.
[edit] History

KAWASAKI

Aerospace
Main article: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Company
Japanese Experiment Module "Kibō"
Kawasaki XC-2

Kawasaki is active in a diverse range of the aerospace industry. The Company is a contractor for the Japanese Ministry of Defense and has built aircraft such as the C-1 transport aircraft, T-4 intermediate jet trainer, and the P-3C antisubmarine warfare patrol airplane. It is currently developing two large, next-generation aircraft, the XP-1 maritime patrol airplane and the XC-2 transport aircraft. Kawasaki also builds helicopters, including the BK117, jointly developed and manufactured with MBB. It also produces the CH-47J / JA helicopter.

In the commercial aviation business, the company is involved in the joint international development and production of large passenger aircraft. It is involved in joint development and production of the Boeing 767, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 with The Boeing Company, and the 170, 175, 190 and 195 jets with Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica. It is also involved in the joint international development and production of turbofan engines for passenger aircraft such as the V2500, the RB211/Trent, the PW4000 and the CF34.

Kawasaki also work for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The Company was responsible for the development and production of the payload fairings, payload attach fittings (PAF) and the construction of the launch complex for the H-II rocket. It continues to provide services for the H-IIA rocket.

Kawasaki has also participated in projects such as the development of reusable launch vehicles for spacecraft that will handle future space transport, space robotics projects such as the Japanese Experiment Module for the International Space Station, the HOPE-X experimental orbiting plane and the docking mechanism for the ETS-VII.

Main products

    * Aircraft
    * Space systems
    * Helicopters
    * Simulators
    * Jet engines
    * Missiles
    * Electronic equipment

KIA

Kia Motors

Jump to: navigation, search
    This article contains Korean text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hangul and hanja.
Kia KIA motors.png
"The Power to Surprise"
Type     Public
Traded as     KRX: 000270
Industry     Automotive
Founded     June 9, 1944
Headquarters     Seoul, South Korea
Area served     Worldwide
Key people     Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee, President
Products     Automobiles
Revenue     Increase US$ 42.45 billion (2012)[1]
Operating income     Increase US$ 3.16 billion (2012)[1]
Net income     Increase US$ 3.47 billion (2012)[1]
Owner(s)     Hyundai Motor Company (33.99%[2])
Employees     42,000 (as of November 2009)
Website     kia.com
Kia Motors
Hangul     기아자동차
Hanja     起亞自動車
Revised Romanization     Gia Jadongcha
McCune–Reischauer     Kia Chadongch'a

Kia Motors (Korean: 기아자동차, IPA: [ki.a]), headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010.[3] The company is 33.99% owned by the Hyundai Motor Company,[2] the fourth largest automotive group in the world based on annual vehicle sales in 2010 after Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen AG. Since August 2009, the company has been led by Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee.[4]

The word Kia derives from Korean words meaning "to arise to the world from Asia".

JOSS

Features
[edit] Performance Claims

    * 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph): sub 3.0s
    * 0–400 m (quarter mile): TBC
    * Top Speed: 320+ km/h (198 mph)

[edit] Engine/Drivetrain

    * All aluminium V8 DOHC, fuel injected
    * JOSS/Albins bespoke transaxle
    * 350 kW (476 PS; 469 bhp)
    * 572 N·m (422 lb·ft)

[edit] General Data

    * Wheelbase: 2,560 mm (100.8 in)
    * Length: 4,350 mm (171.3 in)
    * Width: 1,860 mm (73.2 in)
    * Height: 1,140 mm (44.9 in)
    * Ground clearance: 110 mm (4.3 in)
    * Frontal area: 1.8m2
    * Curb weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)

[edit] JOSS JT1
Wiki letter w.svg     This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2012)
[edit] Features
[edit] Performance Claims

    * 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph): 3.0s
    * 0–400 m (quarter mile): 11.9 seconds @ 130 mph (210 kph)
    * Top Speed: 300 km/h (186 mph) (estimated)

[edit] Engine/Drivetrain

    * 6.8L all-alloy fuel injected 16V V8
    * 5 speed manual (Porsche G50), triple plate clutch
    * 328 kW (446 PS; 440 bhp)
    * 570 N·m (420 lb·ft)

[edit] General Data

    * Wheelbase: 2,560 mm (100.8 in)
    * Length: 4,320 mm (170.1 in)
    * Width: 1,840 mm (72.4 in)
    * Height: 1,120 mm (44.1 in)
    * Ground clearance: 120 mm (4.7 in)
    * Frontal area: 1.6m2
    * Curb weight: 940 kg (2,072 lb)

JAGUAR

History
[edit] Birth of the company
The 2.5-litre, 68 hp 1935 SS 90

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by two motorcycle enthusiasts, William Lyons and William Walmsley leading to SS Cars Ltd. In 1935 the SS Jaguar name first appeared on a 2.5-litre saloon,[8] sports models of which were the SS 90 and SS 100.

Cash was short after World War II, and Jaguar sold the plant and premises of Motor Panels, a pressed steel body manufacturing company they had acquired in the late 1930s when growth prospects seemed more secure. The buyer was Rubery Owen.[9] Nevertheless, Jaguar achieved relative commercial success with their early post war models; times were also tough for other Coventry-based auto-makers and the company was able to buy from John Black's Standard Motor Company the plant where Standard had built the six-cylinder engines it had been supplying to Jaguar.[9]
SS and Jaguar made 3.5-litre, 125 hp Mk IV drophead coupé

Jaguar made its name by producing a series of eye-catching sports cars, such as the XK 120 of 1949, developed into XK 140 and XK 150, and the E Type of 1961. These were all successful and embodied Lyons' mantra of "value for money".[citation needed] They were successful in international motorsport, a path followed in the 1950s to prove the engineering integrity of the company's products.

Jaguar's sales slogan for years was "Grace, Space, Pace",[citation needed] a mantra epitomised by the record sales achieved by the MK VII, IX, Mks I and II saloons and later the XJ6.

The core of Bill Lyons' success following WWII was the twin-cam straight six engine, a design conceived pre-war and realised while design staff at the Coventry plant were dividing their time between fire-watching (Coventry being a prime target of German bombers) and designing the new power plant.

JEEP

Jeep

Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Jeep (disambiguation).
"General Purpose" redirects here. For other uses, see General purpose (disambiguation).
Jeep Jeep logo
Type     Division of Chrysler
Industry     Automobile
Founded     1941[1]
Headquarters     Toledo, Ohio, USA
Area served     Worldwide
Key people     Michael Manley (CEO of Jeep division)
Sergio Marchionne (CEO of Chrysler Group LLC)
Products     Sport Utility vehicles
Parent     Chrysler Group LLC
Website     www.jeep.com

Jeep is a brand of American automobiles that is a marque of Chrysler Group LLC, a consolidated subsidiary of Italian multinational automaker Fiat.[2][3] The former Chrysler Corporation acquired the Jeep brand, along with the remaining assets of its owner American Motors, in 1987. Jeep's line of vehicles consists solely of sport utility vehicles and off-road vehicles but has also included pickup trucks in the past.

The first Willys MB Jeeps were produced in 1941[1] with the first civilian models in 1945,[4] making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle (SUV) brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover[5][6] which is the second oldest 4-wheel-drive brand. The original Jeep vehicle that first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and Allies during World War II, as well as the postwar period. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles have since been created in other nati

IKARUS

History

Since its founding in 1923, the firm manufactured a number of foreign designs under licence, such as the French Potez 25, Czechoslovakian Avia BH-33 and English Hawker Fury; Bristol Blenheim as well as the locally-designed Ikarus ŠM; Ikarus IO; SIM-VIII; Ikarus IK-2; Ikarus Orkan. All the company's production facilities were destroyed during World War II, but rebuilt in 1946 and nationalised soon thereafter. Significant post-war aircraft included the Ikarus 451M, Yugoslavia's first domestically-designed and built jet plane (1952), the Ikarus S-451MM that set a world airspeed record in 1957, and the Ikarus S-451M that set one in 1960. After that, aircraft production was relocated to a new aircraft factory SOKO at Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From 1954 onwards, Ikarus commenced bus production, originally of Sauer and MAN designs under licence, but eventually the company's own designs. In 1992, the company was privatised, and the following year changed its name to Ikarbus.
[edit] Timeline

INFINITI

History
[edit] The beginning
1990-1993 Infiniti Q45

The Infiniti brand was introduced in the United States in 1989. The marketing strategy was to target the premium vehicle segments in the United States that would not have otherwise fit in with Nissan's more mainstream image, and partially influenced by the Plaza Accord of 1985. The brand was created around the same time as Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda developed their Lexus and Acura premium brands. The Japanese government imposed voluntary export restraints for the U.S. market, so it was more profitable for automakers to export more expensive cars to the U.S.

The Infiniti marque was launched with two models, the Q45, and the M30. The Q45 was based on the all new second generation JDM Nissan President on a five millimeter shorter wheelbase platform at 2,875 mm (113.2 in). Starting with model year 1992, the wheelbase matched the President's wheelbase at 2880 mm (113.4 in). The Q45 included a 278 hp (207 kW; 282 PS) V8 engine, four wheel steering, and active suspension system offered on the first generation Q45t. The car's features would have made it competitive in the full-sized "luxury" segment against the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ and Cadillac Fleetwood.
1990 Infiniti M30

A second model was introduced in 1990, the 2-door M30, a badge engineered Nissan Leopard. It remained in production for three years as an alternative to the Lexus SC. The powertrain was the VG30E 162 hp (121 kW; 164 PS) engine and an automatic transmission. The M30 coupe was underpowered for its stock weight of 3,333 lb (1,512 kg). The M30 convertible weighed even more, due to the required body and chassis reinforcements. The appearance of the M30 had almost no resemblance to the larger Q45, and the interior was almost completely different.

Infiniti did not offer an mid-luxury sedan to match the first Japanese luxury sedan introduced to North America, the Acura Legend, which was later joined by the Lexus GS. Infiniti's first offering in the entry-level luxury segment was the Infiniti J30, which had to compete with the revised 1992 Lexus ES which was much more successful than the J30. There were market-driven requests for Nissan to introduce the very successful Nissan Skyline, Nissan Laurel, or the newly created Nissan Cefiro as an alternative to the Lexus ES or the Legend, but Nissan hesitated until 2003 when the Skyline finally arrived in North America as the Infiniti G.
[edit] 1990s

ISUZU

History

Isuzu's history begins in 1916, when Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. plan a cooperation with the Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. to build automobiles. The next step is taken in 1918, when a technical cooperation with Wolseley Motors Limited is initiated, meaning exclusive rights to the production and sales of Wolseley vehicles in East Asia.[2] In 1922 the first Wolseley model, the A-9 car, is domestically produced. The CP truck follows two years later; 550 of these are built until 1927.[3] In 1933, Ishikawajima Automotive Works merges with DAT Automobile Manufacturing Inc. (a predecessor of Datsun) and changes its name to Automobile Industries Co., Ltd. The products of this company, marketed as "Sumiya" and "Chiyoda",[2] were renamed Isuzu (after the Isuzu River) in 1934, following a meeting with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI). The word Isuzu translated into English means "fifty bells" - hence the focus on "bell" in both the later Bellel and the Bellett.

In 1937 Automobile Industries is reorganized and formed into a new company, Tokyo Automobile Industries Co., Ltd. It was founded with a capital of one million yen. Only in 1949 is Isuzu also adopted as the company name. Meanwhile, in 1942, Hino Heavy Industries was split off from Isuzu, becoming a separate corporation.[4] Truck production (TX40 and TU60) began anew in 1945, with the permission of the occupation authorities.[5] Beginning in 1953 the Hillman Minx passenger car is produced under license of Rootes Group. The Minx remained in production until 1962,[6] after the 1961 introduction of Isuzu's first own car, the Bellel.[2] Being a small producer making cars which were somewhat too large and pricey for the Japanese market at the time, Isuzu spent some time looking for a commercial partner. Under pressure from MITI, who were attempting to limit the number of automobile manufacturers in Japan, a cooperation with Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) began in 1966. The Subaru 1000 was even shown in Isuzu's 1967 annual vehicle brochure, as a suitable complement to the larger Isuzu lineup.[7] This tie-up was over by 1968, when an agreement with Mitsubishi was formed. This ended even quicker, by 1969, and the next year an equally short-lived collaboration was entered with Nissan.[8] A few months later, in September 1971, what was to prove a more durable capital agreement was signed with General Motors.
[edit] Linking with General Motors

HENNESSEY

Specifications
[edit] Chassis

The Venom GT uses a highly modified Lotus Exige chassis. The manufacturer, Hennessey Performance Engineering, claims the modified chassis utilizes components from the Lotus Exige, including but not limited to the roof, doors, side glass, windscreen, dashboard, cockpit, floorpan, HVAC system, wiper and head lamps.[1]

The Venom GT will have a production curb weight of about 2,700 lb (1,200 kg) aided by its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels. The brakes use Brembo 6-piston calipers in the front and 4-piston calipers in the rear.[4] The rotors are 15 in (380 mm) carbon ceramic units provided by Surface Transforms.
[edit] Drivetrain

The Venom GT is powered by twin turbocharged 7.0 L (430 cu in) V8 engine featuring Ball Bearing Turbocharging system. The engine produces 1,244 bhp (928 kW; 1,261 PS) of power and 1,155 N·m (852 lb·ft) of torque. Engine power output is adjustable by three settings: 800 bhp (597 kW; 811 PS), 1,000 bhp (746 kW; 1,014 PS) and 1,200 bhp (895 kW; 1,217 PS).

The mid-engine V8 is mated to the rear wheels with a Ricardo 6-speed manual transmission.[1] Hennessey claims that the car can achieve a top speed of 272 mph (437 km/h), although this has never been tested.

A programmable traction control system will manage power output. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tested bodywork and down force also help keep the Venom GT stable. Under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack, an active aero system with adjustable rear wing will deploy. An adjustable suspension system will allow ride height adjustments according to speed and driving conditions. Michelin PS2 tires will also help put power to the ground.

HYUNDAI

History

Hyundai Santro Xing/Atos Prime is made only by Hyundai Motor India Limited.
Hyundai Motor India Limited was formed in 6 May 1996 by the Hyundai Motor Company of South Korea. When Hyundai Motor Company entered the Indian Automobile Market in 1996 the Hyundai brand was almost unknown throughout India. During the entry of Hyundai in 1996, there were only five major automobile manufacturers in India, i.e. MUL, HM, PAL, TELCO and M&M. Daewoo had entered the Indian automobile market with Cielo just three years back while Ford, Opel and Honda had entered less than a year back.
For more than a decade till Hyundai arrived, Maruti Suzuki had a complete dominance and monopoly over the Passenger Cars segment because TELCO and M&M were solely Utility and Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers.
HMIL's first car, the Hyundai Santro was launched in 23 September 1998 and was a runaway success. Within a few months of its inception HMIL became the second largest automobile manufacturer and the largest automobile exporter in India.Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), South Korea and is the largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer in India. HMIL presently markets 6 models of passenger cars across segments. The A2 segment includes the Santro, i10,eon and the i20, the A3 segment includes the Accent and the fluidic Verna and the fluidic elantra , the A5 segment includes the Sonata Transform and the SUV segment includes the Santa Fe.
HMIL’s manufacturing plant near Chennai claims to have the most advanced production, quality and testing capabilities in the country.[citation needed] To cater to rising demand, HMIL commissioned its second plant in February 2008, which produces an additional 300,000 units per annum, raising HMIL’s total production capacity to 600,000 units per annum.
HMIL has set up a research and development facility in the cyber city of Hyderabad.
As HMC’s global export hub for compact cars, HMIL is the first automotive company in India to achieve the export of 10 lakh cars in just over a decade. HMIL currently exports cars to more than 120 countries across EU, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Australia. It has been the number one exporter of passenger cars of the country for the sixth year in a row.[citation needed]
To support its growth and expansion plans, HMIL currently has a 307 strong dealer network and 627 strong service points across India, which will see further expansion in 2010.[citation needed] In July 2012, Arvind Saxena, the Director of Marketing and Sales stepped down from the position after serving the company for 7 long years.[1]

[edit] Manufacturing facilities

Sunday 7 April 2013

HUMMER

Hummer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the brand. For the Hummer H1, see Hummer H1. For the military vehicle, see Humvee. For other uses, see Hummer (disambiguation).
Hummer Hummer wordmark.svg
Former type     Division
Industry     Automotive
Founded     1992
Defunct     May 24, 2010
Headquarters     Detroit, Michigan, United States
Products     (H1) pickup truck, SUV (H2, H3), Sport utility vehicles
Owner(s)     General Motors
Website     www.hummer.com
2006 Hummer lineup: H3, H1, and H2 (L-R)

Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors (GM) purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were based on smaller, civilian-market GM platforms.

By 2008, Hummer's viability in the economic downturn was being questioned, and it was placed under review by GM management. Rather than being transferred to Motors Liquidation Company as part of the GM bankruptcy in 2009, the brand was retained by GM, in order to investigate its sale.

In 2009, a Chinese manufacturer, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, announced that it would acquire Hummer, pending government approvals, but later withdrew its bid.[1] On February 24, 2010, Reuters reported that the Chinese ministry of commerce had prevented the deal,[2] although a ministry spokesperson denied rejecting the application, which had been stalled for eight months.[3] At the end of February, General Motors announced it would begin dismantling the Hummer brand.[4]

Although the automaker announced two days later that it had been approached with new offers,[5] by April 2010, any sale became unlikely, as inventory was depleted and Hummer dealerships began shutting down.[6] After filling a rental-car fleet order, the last Hummer H3 rolled off the line at Shreveport on May 24, 2010.[7]

HONDA

Honda Siel Cars India  Jump to: navigation, search
Honda Cars India Limited
Honda-logo.svg
Type     Subsidiary
Industry     Automotive
Founded     December 1995
Headquarters     Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Number of locations     Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
Key people     Mr. Hironori Kanayama, President and CEO[1]
Products     Automobiles
Parent     Honda Motor Company
Website     www.hondacarindia.com

Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) is a subsidiary of the Honda Motor Company of Japan for the production, marketing and export of passenger cars in India. Formerly known as Honda Siel Cars India Ltd, it began operations in December 1995 as a joint venture between Honda Motor Company and Usha International of Siddharth Shriram Group. In August, 2012, Honda bought out Usha Internationals entire 3.16 percent stake for INR1.8 billion in the joint venture. The company officially changed its name to Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), which is now a 100% subsidiary of the Honda Motor Company, Japan.

It operates production facilities at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan. The company's total investment in its production facilities in India as of 2010 was over INR16.2 billion.[2]

HOLDEN

HOLDEN

In 1852, James Alexander Holden emigrated to South Australia from Walsall,[1] England and in 1856 established J.A. Holden & Co, a saddlery business in Adelaide.[2] In 1885 German-born Henry Frederick Frost joined the business as a junior partner and J.A. Holden & Co became Holden & Frost Ltd.[3] Edward Holden, James' grandson, joined the firm in 1905 with an interest in automobiles.[4][5] From there, the firm evolved through various partnerships and, in 1908, Holden & Frost moved into the business of minor repairs to car upholstery.[6] The company began to produce complete motorcycle sidecar bodies in 1913, and Edward experimented with fitting bodies to different types of carriages.[7] After 1917, wartime trade restrictions led the company to start full-scale production of vehicle body shells. J.A. Holden founded a new company in 1919, Holden's Motor Body Builders Ltd (HMBB) specialising in car bodies and utilising a facility on King William Street in Adelaide.[8] By 1923, HMBB were producing 12,000 units per year.[6] During this time, HMBB was the first company to assemble bodies for Ford Australia until their Geelong, plant was completed.[9] From 1924, HMBB became the exclusive supplier of car bodies for GM in Australia, with manufacturing taking place at the new Woodville, South Australia plant.[10] These bodies were made to suit a number of chassis imported from manufacturers such as Chevrolet and Dodge.[6] In 1926 General Motors (Australia) was established with assembly plants at Newstead, Queensland; Marrickville, New South Wales; City Road, Melbourne, Victoria; Birkenhead, South Australia; and Cottesloe, Western Australia[11] utilizing bodies produced by Holden Motor Body Builders and imported complete knock down (CKD) chassis.[12] The Great Depression led to a substantial downturn in production by Holden, from 34,000 units annually in 1930 to just 1,651 units one year later.[6] In 1931 General Motors purchased Holden Motor Body Builders and merged it with General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd to form General Motors-Holden's Ltd (GM-H).[7] Throughout the 1920s Holden also supplied tramcars to Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board. Several have been preserved in both Australia and New Zealand.
The Holden 50-2106 utility launched in 1951, three years after the 48-215 sedan.
1940s

GUMPERT

Gumpert Apollo

Manufacturer Gumpert
Production 2005–2012
Successor Gumpert Tornante
Class Sports car
Layout rear-wheel drive
Engine 4.2 L (260 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission 6-speed sequential manual
Wheelbase 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length 4,460 mm (175.6 in)
Width 1,998 mm (78.7 in)
Height 1,114 mm (43.9 in)
Curb weight 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
Designer(s) Roland Gumpert
Roland Mayer
The Gumpert Apollo is a sports car produced by German automaker Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH in Altenburg. Gumpert ended business endeavors in August of 2012, after undergoing bankruptcy. [1]


History

The two Gumpert Apollo Prototypes with an F-4 Phantom II
Pre-production car
In 2000 Roland Gumpert proposed a new generation sports car. One of the first concerns of this car was that it was a street-legal car, ready for the race track. Gumpert returned to Germany at the end of 2001, after more than three years in China. There he was the head of sales and marketing, responsible for the development of the dealer network of the Audi-VW joint enterprise. Just after he returned to Germany, Roland Mayer asked him if he would assist him in building a prototype sports car. Audi approved Gumpert's involvement in this project, on the condition that, if they did eventually develop a new sports car, it would not be a prototype, but a series product.[2]
The company, located in Altenburg, Germany, was founded in 2004 under the name GMG Sportwagenmanufaktur Altenburg GmbH. The technical guidelines were defined and the first designs of the car were drawn by Marco Vanetta. Upon Vanetta's completion of this process, the first 1:4 scale model of Gumpert's car was produced in 2001.
Gumpert continued with the development of the Apollo, along with the Technical University of Munich and the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences. They have assisted with the constructional work, computer simulations, and wind tunnel tests. This research and development helped forming the blueprint for the first 1:1 scale model. Finally, two prototype Apollos were constructed.[3] Production of the Apollo started in October 2005.[4

Friday 5 April 2013

GORDON KEEBLE

Gordon-Keeble


Gordon Keeble
Manufacturer Gordon Keeble
Production 1963-1967
100 produced
Class FR layout
Body style 2-door saloon
Engine 5.4 litre(330CID)300hp Chevrolet V-8.[1]
Transmission 4 speed manual
Wheelbase 102 inches (2591 mm)[2]
Length 184 inches (4674 mm)[2]
Width 68 inches (1727 mm)[2]
Gordon-Keeble was a British car marque, made first in Slough, then Eastleigh, and finally in Southampton (all in England), between 1963 and 1967. The marque's badge was unusual in featuring a tortoise — a pet tortoise walked into the frame of an inaugural photo-shoot, taken in the grounds of the makers. Because of the irony (the slowness of tortoises) the animal was chosen as the emblem.
The Gordon-Keeble came about when John Gordon, formerly of the struggling Peerless company, and Jim Keeble got together in 1959 to make the Gordon GT car by fitting a Buick 215 c.i. (3.5 litre) V8 engine (the engine which would later be developed and used by Rover), into a chassis by Peerless. The car, still at the development stage, was then tried with a 4.6 litre Chevrolet (283 c.i.) V8 fitted into a square-tube steel spaceframe chassis, with independent front suspension and all-round disc brakes. The complete chassis was then taken to Turin, Italy, where a body made of aluminium panels designed by Giugiaro was built by Bertone. The car's four five-inch headlights were in the rare, slightly angled "Chinese eye" arrangement also used by a few other European marques, generally for high-speed cars such as Lagonda Rapide, Lancia Flaminia and Triumphs, as well as Rolls-Royce. The interior had an old luxury jet feel, with white on black gauges, toggle switches, and quilted aircraft PVC.[1]

Front 3/4 view
The car appeared on the Bertone stand in March 1960, branded simply as a Gordon, at the Geneva Motor Show. At that time problems with component deliveries had delayed construction of the prototype, which had accordingly been built at breakneck speed by Bertone in precisely 27 days.[3] After extensive road testing the car was shipped to Detroit and shown to Chevrolet management, who agreed to supply Corvette engines and gearboxes for a production run of the car.
The car was readied for production with some alterations, the main ones being a larger 5.4 litre (327 c.i.) engine and a change from aluminium to a glass fibre body made by Williams & Pritchard Limited.[4] Problems with suppliers occurred and before many cars were made the money ran out and the company went into liquidation. About 90 cars had been sold at what turned out to be an unrealistic price of £2798. Each car had two petrol tanks.[1]

Rear view
In 1965 the company was bought by Harold Smith and Geoffrey West and was re-registered as Keeble Cars Ltd. Production resumed, but only for a short time, the last car of the main manufacturing run being made in 1966. A final example was actually produced in 1967 from spares, bringing the total made to exactly 100. The Gordon-Keeble Owners' Club claim that over 90 examples still exist.
An attempt was made to restart production in 1968 when the rights to the car were bought by an American, John de Bruyne, but this came to nothing, although two cars badged as De Bruynes were shown at that year's New York Motor Show along with a new mid-engined coupé.[5]

References

Gordon-Keeble was a British car marque, made first in Slough, then Eastleigh, and finally in Southampton  (all in England), between 1963 and 1967. The marque's badge was unusual in featuring a tortoise — a pet tortoise walked into the frame of an inaugural photo-shoot, taken in the grounds of the makers. Because of the irony (the slowness of tortoises) the animal was chosen as the emblem.

The Gordon-Keeble came about when John Gordon, formerly of the struggling Peerless company, and Jim Keeble got together in 1959 to make the Gordon GT car by fitting a Buick 215 c.i. (3.5 litre) V8 engine (the engine which would later be developed and used by Rover), into a chassis by Peerless. The car, still at the development stage, was then tried with a 4.6 litre Chevrolet (283 c.i.) V8 fitted into a square-tube steel spaceframe chassis, with independent front suspension and all-round disc brakes. The complete chassis was then taken to Turin, Italy, where a body made of aluminium panels designed by Giugiaro was built by Bertone. The car's four five-inch headlights were in the rare, slightly angled "Chinese eye" arrangement also used by a few other European marques, generally for high-speed cars such as Lagonda Rapide, Lancia Flaminia and Triumphs, as well as Rolls-Royce. The interior had an old luxury jet feel, with white on black gauges, toggle switches, and quilted aircraft PVC.[1]

GINETTA

Ginetta Cars

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Ginetta)
Jump to: navigation, search
Ginetta Cars Limited
Industry Automotive
Founded 1958
Founder(s) Walklett brothers
Headquarters Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Key people Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman
Simon Finnis, Managing Director
Products Sports cars
Parent LNT Group
Website Ginetta.com
1969 Ginetta G15
1974 Ginetta G21
1992 Ginetta G33
1996 Ginetta G27 series 3
2005 Ginetta G20
1997 Ginetta G4R
2006 Ginetta G12 by DARE
Ginetta Cars is a Garforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire based British specialist builder of racing and sports cars.

Contents

History

20th century

Ginetta was founded in 1958 by the four Walklett brothers (Bob, Ivor, Trevers and Douglas) in Woodbridge, Suffolk. The first car, not destined for production, which subsequently became known as the G1 was based on a pre war Wolseley Hornet.[1]
From their original base, the company moved to Witham, Essex in 1962, and between 1972 and 1974 operated from larger premises in Sudbury, Suffolk before returning to Witham where they remained until 1989. Under the Walkletts, Trevers was mainly responsible for styling, Ivor for engineering, Douglas, management and Bob sales.
Following the retirement of the Walkletts in 1989 the company was sold but failed, and was then bought by an international group of enthusiasts, based in Sheffield, and run by managing director Martin Phaff producing the G20 and G33.

21st century

In late 2005 Ginetta was acquired by LNT Automotive, a company run by experienced racing driver and successful businessman Lawrence Tomlinson. His aims remain in line with the original founders of Ginetta, to continue producing innovative, capable and above all, great value sports cars.
In mid 2007 Ginetta moved to a state-of-the-art factory near Leeds, with a target to sell 200 cars a year. Trained engineer Tomlinson himself penned the base specification for the Ginetta G50, which was produced to celebrate 50 years of Ginetta production, and became a successful GT4 and award winning car.
In March 2010, Ginetta acquired the Somerset-based sports car manufacturer Farbio, and re-badged their car the Ginetta F400. In March 2011, Ginetta launched the G55, running in the GT4 Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup and contender for GT3. In October 2011 Ginetta launched the G60, a two-door mid-engined sports car developed from the F400 and powered by a Ford-sourced 3.7-litre V6 engine.[2]
Today, Ginetta have developed a range of award-winning road and race cars, making them a formidable player on the world motorsport scene.

Ginetta Cars

The first car, the G2, was produced as a kit for enthusiasts and consisted of a tubular frame chassis to take Ford components and aluminium body. About 100 were made. The G3 was introduced with glass fibre body in 1959 to be followed by the G4 in 1961.[3]
The G4 used the new Ford 105E engine and had a glass fibre GT style body and the suspension was updated to coil springing at the front with Ford live axle at the rear. Whereas the G2 and G3 had been designed for competition the G4 was usable as an everyday car but still was very competitive in motor sport with numerous successes. Over 500 were made up to 1969 with a variety of Ford engines. In 1963 a coupé was introduced alongside the open car and a BMC axle replaced the Ford one at the rear.[4] On test the car reached 120 mph (190 km/h) with a 1500 cc engine.[5] The series III version of 1966 added the then popular pop up headlights. Production stopped in 1968 but was revived in 1981 with the Series IV which was two inches wider and three inches (76 mm) longer than the III.
The G10 and G11 from 1964 were higher powered versions with 4.7-litre Ford V8 and MGB engines respectively. The G12 was a mid-engined competition car.
In 1967 the G15 was launched with Hillman Imp engine. This two-seater coupé had a glass fibre body bolted to a tube chassis and used Imp rear and Triumph front suspension. Over 800 were made up to 1974 and the car was fully type approved allowing for the first time complete Ginetta cars to be sold. Eight G15s were engineered for Volkswagen engines and called the Super S.
In 1970 it was joined by the larger G21 initially available with the 1599 cc Ford Kent engine or 3-litre Ford V6 engines.[6] The 1725 cc Sunbeam Rapier subsequently became the standard four-cylinder engine for the car. The model was later updated to become the closed G24 or open top G23. The G19 was a Formula 3 single seater but only one was ever made.
Following reorganisation the company moved to Scunthorpe and started making cars in kit form again in the 1980s starting with the G27, an update on the old G4, and the G26 G 28 G30 G31 using Ford parts. It was also decided to re-enter the complete car business with the mid-engined G32 with a choice of 1.6- and 1.9-litre 4-cylinder engines available as a coupé or convertible and the G33 convertible with 3.9-litre Rover V8 capable of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds. In 1990 the G32 coupé cost £13700, the convertible £14600 and the G33 £17800.
After Ginetta was acquired by Lawrence Tomlinson in 2005, the company began work on the design of the Ginetta G50 - a 3.5 litre V6 engine, producing 300 BHP - to celebrate the companies 50th birthday. In 2007, the car competed in its first race in the European GT4 Cup in Nogaro France, where they finished second.
Hot off the back of the cars success, the machine enjoyed its official launch at Autosport International in early 2008 alongside its sister car, the Ginetta G50 GT4. Together, they have become Ginetta’s biggest selling machine, and have raced (and won) in almost every continent, including the Dubai 24 Hour endurance race in 2012.
Keen to expand his business into road cars, in March 2010, Lawrence acquired the Somerset-based sports car manufacturer Farbio, and in doing so inherited the F400, which was subsequently redesigned, redeveloped and rebranded from the Farbio Marque, into a Ginetta G60; a two-door mid-engined powerhouse which shares the same 3.7 litre V6 engine as it’s G55 GT3 stable mate and packs a real punch, capable of 0 – 60mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 165mph.
In the same year, Lawrence was eager to implement a newer, safer car into the existing Ginetta Junior series and in doing so, replaced the old Ginetta G20 race car with a G40J. Staying true to his deep-rooted belief in nurturing young racing talent through the motorsport ladder, today’s G40J is designed to give aspiring young racing drivers the chance to make their first steps into the world of motorsport behind the wheel of a 1800cc, 100bhp racing car, whilst a full integral FIA approved roll cage and fibre- glass shell ensures the 14 – 17 year old drivers enjoy safe, controlled racing.
Following the success of the G40J, Ginetta then decided to introduce a Ginetta G40 Challenge car for the adult racers in its Challenge series. With the same engine as it's little sister, the G40 Challenge car puts out 165bhp as it competes against the existing G20 models. Today, the car features heavily in the Total Quartz Ginetta GT5 Challenge; one of the most popular, cost effective but competitive racing series in Britain.
With unrivalled demand for a G40 race car, Ginetta unveiled its second road car - the Ginetta G40R - in 2011, designed to mimic the Walklett brothers’ original visions of ‘a race car for the road.’ Capable of 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, the G40R shares a number of characteristics with its racing siblings, representing the culmination of Ginetta’s racing pedigree translated into a road car.
2011 also saw the launch of the G55 Cup car, which with it brought an element of excitement to the Ginetta GT Supercup, which, until that point, had only featured the G50 Cup car. Offering a 3.7 litre V6 engine with 380 BHP, the car provided Ginetta with the basis for their Ginetta G55 GT3 Car; a larger spec machine which gives GT teams a 4.35 V8 powerplant, complete with an aggressive-looking body which masks an efficient aerodynamic package.

Ginetta Racing Championships

Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson’s vision for Ginetta is to provide competitive and affordable motorsport for drivers as young as 14 to be able to progress through the Ginetta championships comprehensive career ladder, before ultimately competing in the Le Mans, GT or Formula 1 arenas.
The British sports car manufacturer today runs three single make championships; two of which support the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship - The Ginetta GT Supercup and Ginetta Junior Championship – and one which runs alongside the British GT/F3; the Total Quartz Ginetta GT5 Challenge.

Ginetta GT Supercup

The Ginetta GT Supercup is a one-make racing series based in the United Kingdom, using identical Ginetta G50 and G55 sports cars and supports the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
The championship began as the Ginetta G50 Cup in 2008, supporting the British Formula Three Championship and British GT Championship. In 2009 it moved to support the BTCC. In 2011, with the introduction of the Ginetta G55, the championship became the Ginetta GT Supercup.
The championship aims to keep running costs to a minimum by using control tyres, control fuel and low maintenance costs through clever design. The car and its championship is designed to bridge the gap between single-make sports car racing such as the current Ginetta Challenge championship – and GT cars such as the new GT4 Championship, GT3 and GT2 racing.
In January 2012, Ginetta announced a £100,000 prize fund in an exciting ‘pounds for points’ scheme for the top 10 G55 finishers in each championship race. Drivers will be rewarded with £10 per point, which will be paid out at the end of the season, with double prize money up for grabs during the Knockhill and Croft rounds.
The overall G55 championship winner will also receive an additional £5,000 on top of his existing prize fund whilst the G50 champion can look forward to the use of a Ginetta G55 for the 2013 season.

Ginetta Junior Championship

The Ginetta Junior Championship gives aspiring racing drivers aged between 14 and 17 the chance to take their first steps up the motor racing ladder.
The affordable, one-make series uses the Ginetta G40J car, with its sealed Ford Zetec 1.8-litre engine and tubular steel chassis, full integral FIA approved roll cage and fibre- glass shell which ensures safe, controlled racing.

Total Quartz Ginetta GT5 Challenge

An example of a Ginetta G20 hardtop, used in the Ginetta Junior Championship.
Julien Draper's Ginetta G50 at the 2009 BTCC Festival in Edinburgh.
The Total Quartz Ginetta GT5 Challenge offers a unique, low-cost opportunity to race in a single-make racing championship over seven race weekends supporting the British F3 / GT package.
A popular entry for many GT racers, the series boasts packed grids, full of the light fibreglass bodied, Ford-engined cars which results in close racing and an exciting weekend for racing fans.

Bibliography

  • Walklett, Bob (1994). Ginetta - The Inside Story: 31 Years of British Specialist Car Manufacturer. Bookmarque Publishing. ISBN 1-870519-28-0.
  • Rose, John (1988). Ginetta: The Illustrated History. G T Foulis & Co Ltd. ISBN 0-85429-685-9.
  • Pyman, T (2004). History of the Ginetta G4. Bookmarque Publishing. ISBN 1-870519-69-8.