Autoblog

Is Spyker's new B6 Venator merely a reskinned Artega GT?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Design/Style, Luxury, MISC

If you thought the recently unveiled Spyker B6 Venator held a few familiar lines, you aren't alone. The keen-eyed crew at AutoBild noticed the new Swedish sportscar looks an awful lot like the new defunct Artega GT. The German manufacturer went bankrupt last year and may have sold off the GT platform to pay off its debts. Given the fact that the B6 Venator cropped up fairly quickly, critics assumed Spyker grabbed the machine's platform from some outside source rather than build the car's bones in house. Putting two and two together doesn't take a sleuth, but Spyker is remaining tight-lipped about the situation.

Autoblog reached out to Spyker for a comment, but company spokesperson Ali Gogarty simply said, "I apologize that I can't be more help, but at this time it is just too early to comment on any specific details beyond what is in our press release."

That's pretty far from an outright denial, but it's also well short of a confirmation, too. The similarities between the B6 Venator and the Artega GT could be more than just skin deep, however. Both creations make use of a V6 engine mounted amidships, and while Spyker has yet to say where the six-cylinder engine in the B6 hails from, Artega used Volkswagen powerplants.

Is Spyker's new B6 Venator merely a reskinned Artega GT? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Paragon AG buys bankrupt Artega but doesn't plan to resume production

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:46:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Earnings/Financials, MISC

Artega has been bought by automotive supplier German firm Paragon AG. The fledgling sports car builder filed for bankruptcy in July, and while its staff and facilities have been saved, the Artega GT has not. Paragon makes a range of components from sensors to windshield wipers, but is expanding its EV and kinematics parts development and will use Artega's infrastructure to assist. The slinky, Fisker-designed, Volkswagen-engined, 300-horsepower coupe is not part of those plans.

The Artega website has already been turned into a splash page, with Paragon reassuring GT owners that it will continue to provide service and replacement parts.

Farewell, Artega.

Paragon AG buys bankrupt Artega but doesn't plan to resume production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega files for bankruptcy

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Earnings/Financials, MISC

At the Geneva Motor Show just a few months ago, we noted the fact that Artega, the small German car company selling a single Henrik Fisker-designed coupe, was still a going concern. It even brought an Artega GT with a panoramic roof to the show. According to a short notice posted on its website, however the company remains a going concern, but it's now an insolvent one: Artega has filed for bankruptcy.

Sale of the company to an Asian investor fell through, which necessitated the move. Two years ago, the company was sold to a Mexican beer baroness, and the notice on the site about her purchase declares that it "bought with it sufficient funding to secure the increased serial production and the sale launch of the model," that it would enable an electric version to come out, and that Tresalia Capital - her investment company - wasn't in this for short-term success. What a difference two years makes.

The company remains open and is looking for new investors.

Artega files for bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watch this Artega GT blast around an unfinished track filmed with a quadrocopter

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, MISC

You don't hear too much about the Henrik Fisker-designed Artega GT, but its occasional appearances are always welcome. In this episode of Where's Artega Now?, the folks at eGarage worked with Germany's Christopher Kippenberger, who make a quadrocopter designed for capturing aerial footage.

A day was spent at Germany's Blister Berg Drive Resort, essentially a German version's of Spain's Ascari Race Resort. One slight difference: Blister Ber's track isn't finished, so the Artega was left to drift it out over the construction site threading around haulers and front-end loaders.

Kippenberger's quadrocopter is of his company's design, meant to bring both Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and helicopter shots into the range of the enthusiast video shooter. At $5,000, it's not cheap, but that's a steal compared to other UAVs - and just pennies compared to a helicopter - and each unit is built-to-order.

But enough reading. Have a look at what it and the Artega GT can do in the video below.

Continue reading Watch this Artega GT blast around an unfinished track filmed with a quadrocopter

Watch this Artega GT blast around an unfinished track filmed with a quadrocopter originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega still alive, fits GT with panoramic roof

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:33:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show

You know things aren't going to well for Artega when one of the bullet points in its press release is "a completely redesigned infotainment system - and smaller mirrors." But the ambitious niche automaker is still plugging along, preparing to expand its dealer network beyond Europe and into Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China later this year.

In addition to the new infotainment systems and mirrors, Artega is adding another model to its GT range, this time with a glass panoramic roof - the closest thing Artega will get to a convertible.

Power is still provided by a VW-sourced 3.6-liter V6 mounted amidships and sending power to a six-speed DSG. The all-electric Artega SE is still under development with no firm on-sale date, but reps we spoke to at the show continue to claim there's plenty of consumer interest, even if Artega has only offloaded a few hundred GTs in the past several years.

Continue reading Artega still alive, fits GT with panoramic roof

Artega still alive, fits GT with panoramic roof originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega to unveil new roadster in Geneva

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, MISC

The Artega GT has no lack of fans in the ranks of the Autoblog editorial staff. With a shape that shows the likes of the Lotus Evora and Porsche Cayman how things ought to be done and a 3.6-liter V6 with 300 horsepower, the Artega never fails to attract our glances when we see it on the European show stands. But this year, the small German manufacturer is tipped to have a surprise up its sleeve.

According to reports, Artega is preparing to unveil a roadster version of the shapely coupe at the fast-approaching Geneva Motor Show. Mechanics are expected to stay the same, but without a roof, this highly desirable sportscar could get even more so.

Artega to unveil new roadster in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega sold to Mexican beer baroness

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:58:00 EST

Artega GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Considering everything that's gone down with the world economy in the last two years, you couldn't pick a worse time to launch a new exotic car brand. But that's exactly what the Paragon Parts Group did when it trotted out the Artega GT a few years back.

Powered by a Volkswagen-sourced V6 mounted amidships and sending over 300 horsepower to the rear wheels through dual-clutch gearbox, the Henrik Fisker-designed $90,000 (estimated) coupe went on sale last year in Europe, but failed to set the world - or the motoring press - on fire.

So when a little birdie told us last month that Klaus Frers, owner of both Paragon and Artega, was looking to sell all his interests in Artega, we weren't entirely surprised. Fast-forward to today, and it's official: Mexican private investor Tresalia Capital (which has held a stake in Artega since October of 2008), has taken complete control of the automaker.

Interestingly, Tesalia Capital is one of Mexico's leading investment firms and is headed-up by Linda Alvarado, considered the country's most powerful woman. How powerful? She's the granddaughter of Grupo Modelo co-founder Felix Aramburuzabala, the company responsible for your favorite Mexican brews (Corona, Modelo and Pacifica).

According to the release after the jump, production of the Artega GT will continue, with 500 units being built each year in Delbrück, Germany, and Dieter Frers giving up control of the company to Wolfgang Ziebart, a former chairman of Infineon and ex-BMW engineer. And no, there's no word yet on U.S. sales.

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

[Source: Artega via Autoblog Espanol]

Continue reading Artega sold to Mexican beer baroness

Artega sold to Mexican beer baroness originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega GT roadster rumored to appear in Geneva

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Artega GT

Of all the European auto shows, we enjoy the Geneva Motor Show the most. Not because we get our French food fix or adore the train ride along the lake after a grueling day at the show. No. We love Geneva because of its neutral nature, where no automaker can be considered the "home team" and that no matter the marque, each gets their time in the in the lime light. Case in point: The Artega GT. Over the past few years, the Henrik Fisker-designed coupe has made an appearance; first in conceptual form in 2007, then in production guise in 2008. This year, Artega's parent company, Paragon, will bring the next iteration of the GT to Geneva, and if the rumors are true, the coupe will lose its roof.

The same Volkswagen-sourced 3.6-liter V6 will be mounted amidships, sending 300 horsepower through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox on its way to the rear wheels. Both left- and right-hand-drive versions will be available, and - depending on whether Artega opts for a soft-top or retractable hard-top - the curb weight shouldn't be significantly higher than the 2,400-pound GT. Paragon has made it clear that the Artega GT's success is dependent on global availability, and the U.S. market is the linchpin. Rumor has it that the first Stateside order has already come in from a customer in NYC, so we might see the Artega - in both coupe and cabrio form - here in the States after all.

Gallery: Artega GT - Intro 2008 Edition

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

[Source: GlobalMotors]

Artega GT roadster rumored to appear in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega GT to get lightweight four-cylinder, sales in the U.S. "a must"

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Artega GT

Production of the Artega GT is set to begin later this month and even though the budget Cayman competitor is limited to 500 units per year at the automaker's current plant, Artega has plans to expand beginning with new variants of the GT.

Within the next two years, Artega will offer a lightweight, four-cylinder version likely to be powered by one of Volkswagen Auto Group's turbocharged 2.0-liter engines, while a soft-top is slated to go on sale sometime in 2010. The current production center can't handle the increased capacity of two additional models, but an Artega exec says that the company owns enough land to build an extension next to the main plant.

Speaking with CAR, Karlheinz Kalbfell said, "Mid-term U.S. sales are a must. But since we need to prepare ourselves well for this important move, late 2010 looks like the earliest possible date." That's about the same time the convertible should be available, and according to Kalbfell, since "roadsters have traditionally always done well in the U.S.", it would be the perfect time to launch the brand in the States. Needless to say, we're looking forward to getting behind the wheel.

Gallery: Artega GT - Intro 2008 Edition

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

[Source: CAR]

Artega GT to get lightweight four-cylinder, sales in the U.S. "a must" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega GT priced at ?75k

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Europe

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Artega GT

As production ramps up on the impossibly gorgeous Artega GT, parent company Paragon has announced that the compact sportscar will sell for €74,983 across the pond. The pricing makes it compelling competition for a well-equipped (and similarly proportioned) Porsche Cayman S. As we previously reported, final assembly is scheduled to begin this summer at a rate of two per day, ramping up to 20 per week for a total production run of just 500 vehicles.

Among those will be a right-hand-drive model for the UK market, as Artega establishes a British dealer base. The vehicle initially unveiled as a concept in Geneva 2007 and in production form a year later is powered by a mid-mounted, Volkswagen-sourced 3.6-liter V6 coupled to a DSG transmission. 300 horsepower driving the rear wheels is all that's needed to propel the Fisker-designed (think BMW Z8 and a handful of Aston Martins along with his own line of coach-built SLs and M6s and the Karma hybrid super-sedan) to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than five seconds.

We're still waiting to see if Artega will go through the pains of homologating the GT for the U.S. market, but a convertible version is said to be in the works. Until then, we invite you to feast your eyes on the images in the galleries below.

Gallery: Artega GT - Intro 2008 Edition

[Source: AutoBild via eurocarblog]

Continue reading Artega GT priced at ?75k

Artega GT priced at ?75k originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega GT production beginning this summer, convertible version planned

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, UK

Click above for a high-res gallery of the production Artega GT.

Artega's parent company, Paragon, is getting ready for its assault on the Porsche Cayman this summer, when it finally begins production of the Artega GT. The seductively small coupe will be built in an all-new factory in Westphalian, and Paragon expects two vehicles per day to roll off the assembly line, with a plan that would produce 20 cars per week within two years.

The automaker is in the process of setting up a dealer network in the UK, and along with a right-hand-drive model, it intends to offer a convertible version in the future.

The Artega GT, originally show in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007 and followed by the production version earlier this year, is powered by a VW-sourced, 3.6-liter V6, mounted amidships and sending 300 hp to a six-speed, twin-clutch gearbox. Penned by Henrik Fisker, the GT will tip the scales at around 2,400 pounds, thanks to an aluminum spaceframe and carbon fiber body panels. Unfortunately, there's still no word on whether it's coming to the U.S. We wouldn't hold our breath.

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

[Source: Autocar]

Artega GT production beginning this summer, convertible version planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geneva 2008: Weak in the knees for the Artega GT Intro 2008 Edition

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Europe

Click above for high-res gallery of the Artega GT Intro 2008 Edition

What started as an innocent crush last year in Geneva and blossomed into a budding romance in Frankfurt, has finally turned into a full-blown obsession. Our first introduction to the Artega GT proved love isn't blind, particular when Henrik Fisker pens it. The sensuous curves of the initial prototype had us drooling from across the room, and after seeing the production version late last year in Frankfurt, it quickly found a slot in our dream garage.

One year later, we're still smitten. The combination of the Artega's small footprint, 300-hp rear-mounted DI V6, and carbon fiber bodywork has us on pins and needles. And for the 99 lucky souls that got their orders in early, they'll be receiving a limited edition "Intro 2008" model swathed in either Vanillegelb or Tiefseeblau, a bespoke interior and lightweight, five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in Pilot Sport PS2 Michelins. The cost of entry is just under 80,000 euros and if you've got the coin to purchase one of the 170 models Artega is expected to produce annually, you can pour over all the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Artega GT - Intro 2008 Edition

Continue reading Geneva 2008: Weak in the knees for the Artega GT Intro 2008 Edition

Geneva 2008: Weak in the knees for the Artega GT Intro 2008 Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega GT coming in 2008, right-hand drive model a possibility

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe

Click the image above for a gallery of high-res pics.

We've only seen the Artega GT twice, but both times we came away completely smitten with the svelte, MX-5-sized coupe. It has everything we love in an automobile: lightweight (through the use of carbon fiber body panels and an aluminum space frame), power (a 300 hp, 3.6-liter rear-mounted V6) and achingly gorgeous lines (it was penned by ex-Aston designer Henrik Fisker). What more could we ask for? Well, for starters, we'd like to have it here in the States, but that's not likely to happen in the first few years of production. And apparently, it won't be selling in the UK until Artega is able to recoup the costs of converting the GT to right-hand drive.

Regardless of the logistical downsides, everything is a go for sales to begin in May of next year. The company has begun work on its factory and with its new digs running full bore, Artega expects to produce 170 units in 2008 and 320 the following year.

[Source: Autocar]

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

Artega GT coming in 2008, right-hand drive model a possibility originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2007: Production perfection - Artega GT

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe

Click the image above for more shots of the production Artega GT.

We're a pretty jaded bunch here at Autoblog HQ, so when it comes to a new automotive offering, the cynics among us have a tendency to dismiss some vehicles as unworthy of our attention, let alone affection. The Artega GT is the exception to the rule.

Designed by Henrik Fisker of Aston Martin fame, the Artega GT has proven that automotive perfection is still attainable in a world rife with mediocrity. The exterior styling speaks for itself, so we'll let you peruse our gallery to draw your own conclusions. Its small footprint (74 inches wide and 157 inches long) combined with a midship drivetrain will surely prove worthy when the going gets twisty. And with a DSG-controlled, VW-sourced 3.6-liter V6 sitting behind the driver, it's pure engineering perfection. Inside, the Paragon-styled interior gets a host of high-class touches, particularly the combination tach/speedo setup and minimalist switchgear.

If we had the talent, motivation and funding to design our own ideal ride, the Artega GT would be it. Thankfully, it's been slated for production and beginning next spring drivers in Europe can pony up the €70,000 cost of entry for one of the most inspiring bespoke coupes to come to market in a decade.

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: Production perfection - Artega GT

Frankfurt 2007: Production perfection - Artega GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Artega won't stop, can't stop: GT is only the beginning

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:24:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show

Click the image above for a gallery of live shots from the Geneva Motor Show.

After our Geneva-induced jetlag subsided, we were able to take stock of what vehicles struck us as the showstoppers. Some were obvious, while others were more unlikely; the Artega GT remains one of them.

However, when we discovered that the Henrik Fisker-designed podium princess was strictly a shell, lacking a functional drivetrain and interior bits, the wind quickly left our sails. Even worse, according to an article in AutomobilWoche when the GT goes on sale, the Germans will be the only ones able to pick up one of the 500 models produced.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. The article states that Artega's coupe will come equipped with a 3.6-liter VW VR6, complete with a DSG gearbox, and will tip the scales at a paltry 2,400 pounds. Even better: with the backing of Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, formerly of BMW, Maserati and Rolls-Royce, Artega plans on offering a roadster model that will be sold in Asia, the Middle-East and even here in the States.

There's no word on when we'll see the next model from the niche manufacturer, but if we had to put money on it, we'd plunk down a twenty-spot for Geneva '08.

[Source: AutomobilWoche via Motor Authority]

Gallery: Artega GT

Artega won't stop, can't stop: GT is only the beginning originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geneva bound! Henrik Fisker's Artega GT Coupe

Chris Shunk — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Supercars

New models scheduled for Geneva are beginning to pile up and the Autobloggers headed to Europe are looking luckier and luckier by the day. We told you a few months back about an upcoming Fisker supercar, and it looks like the Artega GT Coupe is that vehicle. Equipped with a VW-derived 3.6L V6, power will come in at around 300 hp. Those are some pretty lousy numbers for a supercar, but this Fisker isn't very big. At 13 feet long and 6 feet wide, the Artega is about the same size as a Mazda MX-5 and at less than four feet tall it is about the same height as a Lamborghini Gallardo. Top speed of the Artega GT Coupe is estimated at 165 mph.

Henrik Fisker helped design many of the current Aston Martins on the road today which makes every future vehicle he pens worth mentioning. The Fisker Tramonto and Latigo CS were great-looking too, but their basic shape and stance were borrowed from the Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG and the BMW M6. The Artega GT Coupe is definitely a departure from what Fisker has done in the past, but it just isn't ground-breaking. No word yet if the Artega will share a platform like the Tramanto or Latigo but we think there's a good chance that's the case. Production will reach 500 units per year and the price tag should be around €75,000.

[Source: Auto motor und sport via Motorauthority.com]

Geneva bound! Henrik Fisker's Artega GT Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments