The Artega GT is a mid engine, rear wheel drive, two passenger sports car produced by the German automaker Artega Motors. Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, the limited edition Artega GT is restricted to only 99 units and retails starting at €79,790. The Artega GT is powered by a 3.6 Liter V6 that delivers a maximum output of 296 HP and a peak of 258 lb-ft of torque. This allows the GT to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in under 5 seconds and reach a top speed of 167 MPH. The affordable exotic features unique paintwork, diamond polished Artega forged alloy wheels, individually numbered plaques on the side panels, and shift console as well as custom velour and leather trim to finish off the interior.
A few years ago, an ambitious company – Paragon Parts Group – tried to make its mark on the auto industry with the Artega GT, a Volkswagen-sourced V6 engine sports car that produced well over 300 horsepower. At that time, it was PPG’s hope that the Artega GT would catch the attention of car enthusiasts - particularly those from Europe – and signal the arrival of the Artega GT to the sports car segment.
Fast forward to present times and the only attention the Artega GT has received recently is news that owner Klaus Frers has decided to sell the car brand to one of its private investors, Tresalia Capital.
A lot of you may not be familiar with Tresalia Capital – neither were we – but upon further investigation, we learned that the company is one of Mexico’s leading investment firms and is led by one of the country’s most powerful women, Linda Alvarado, who is actually the grand-daughter of Felix Aramburuzabala, the founder of Grupo Modelo, which introduced to the alcohol-consuming population Corona, Modelo, and Pacifica.
This is probably the only situation where the words ‘sports car’ and ‘beer’ mentioned in the same sentence isn’t exactly a bad thing.
In any case, as far as the production of the cars are concerned, the turning-over to a new ownership won’t affect the scheduled 500 units that are currently being built at its plant in Germany and, unfortunately, despite having its new owners near local soil, the Artega GT is still not expected to be shipped in the US anytime soon.
The Artega GT Coupe may be losing its top sooner than expected. Back in the fall we heard rumors that there would be a drop top of this small batch sports car, and now we may get the first opportunity to see it at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
The coupe version has so far been officially only sold in Europe, but the same rumor about the convertable also pointed to a possible U.S. distribution. If the Artega GT is a officially sold here, it may have an up hill battle. Its Volkswagen-sourced 300 hp 3.6-liter V6 makes it competition for cars like the Porsche Cayman, but its €75,000 (about $100,000 at direct current rates) prices it more in Porsche 911 Carrera 4S territory. The saving grace may be that the car is rare with only 500 units planned per year.
Over the past few days we have seen some new information about production beginning for the Artega GT. Now its time to see the hand-built budget sports car in action taking some laps at the Nardo ring in Italy.
In an interview with CarMagazine, The budget-minded, small batch sports car maker Artega announced its future plans. After the GT ends its run, Artega will build a smaller model that will have a lower price and the ability to be exported to the U.S. by 2010.
The new model will feature a lighter and more economical four-cylinder engine. Also, by 2010 Artega will launch a soft-top version of the current Artega GT. The Artega factory will officially open in September 2008 when the first dealer demonstrators are to roll off the line. By the end of the year, the batch of limited-edition ‘Intro 2008’ models will be completed, plus perhaps 50 built-to-order customer cars.
The Artega GT will be a serious competitor for the Porsche Cayman when it will go on sale early next year. Karl-Heinz Kalbfell said the Artega GT will be limited to only 1000 units a year and admitted an open-top version is also planned.
The Artega, designed by ex-Aston Martin design chief Henrik Fisker, was revealed at the 2007 Geneva Show as a coupé, but it will eventually be available as a convertible too. The chassis is an aluminium spaceframe with a supplementary frame made of high-strength steel to support the carbonfibre body.
The transverse, mid-mounted engine is a 3.6-litre V6 unit from the VW family, with 300bhp driving through a six-speed, twin-clutch, paddle-shift gearbox.
The car has several eye-catching properties that will prevent it being seen as “just another sports car”, Kalbfell claims. The first is a target weight of 1100kg, undercutting rivals by at least 250kg to the benefit of agility and performance (170mph, 0-62mph below 5.0sec).
Artega unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show the Intro 2008 Special Edition. This limited edition Artega GT will be limited to only 99 units and will go on sale at a price of €79,790.
The Artega GT Intro 2008 will feature unique paintwork, diamond-turned Artega forged alloy wheels, individually numbered plaques on the side panels and gearshift console, as well as custom velour and leather trim.
The Artega GT is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 that delivers 296 hp at 6600 rpm and a peak torque of 258 lbs-ft at 2400 rpm. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in less than 5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 167 mph.
On the last grand trade fair before delivery of the first customer automobile the Artega GT rolls in at its final series version. At the 78th Motor-Show Geneva from the 4th to the 16th of March 2008 specialists and prospects can catch up on the independent technique an production quality of the Artega GT by means of a serial chassis frame. Sales will begin at 63.010 euro+VAT.
The Artega GT is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 that delivers 296 hp at 6600 rpm and a peak torque of 258 lbs-ft at 2400 rpm. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in less than 5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 167 mph.
The production version of the Artega GT was unveiled this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now the company is working on a new factory to build its GT model. The GT will go into production in May 2008, with 170 units in the first year rising to 320 in 2009. Prices will start at €75,000.
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The idea for developing the Artega GT can be considered the “dream order” for a highly motivated team: to develop an extraordinary sports car with entirely unique special accents quasi as calling card of the internationally successful electronics supplier paragon AG. Artega GT will go on sale starting spring of 2008 at a price of 63.010 euro+VAT
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