TAG Heuer Baselworld 2008 : From F1 to GT cars

TAG Heuer 
Unveils a New Watchmaking World First at Baselworld 2008:
 
A 
futuristic high performance eco-responsible GT Concept Car inspired by a new 
stunning TAG Heuer Concept Chronograph, the Grand Carrera Calibre 36 Caliper 
!
 

Mastering 
Time, Embracing Innovation, 

Partnering 
with top designers

FROM F1 TO GT 
CARS

 

TAG Heuer launches premium upgrades to its major Formula 1, SLR and 
Grand Carrera GT and motor-racing-inspired collections and sets a new milestone 
by integrating its latest Concept Chronograph, the Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 RS 
Caliper, into the dashboard of a 
Ken Okuyama-designed and TAG Heuer-inspired GT 
sportscar.
 
  
For any picture or text to download please 
visit:

http://www.tagheuer.com/the-collection/baselworld-2008/baselworld-2008-press-kit/press/index.lbl

 

         
From 1860 to 1/10,000th of a second. From Scuderia Ferrari to 
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. From five-time Grand Prix Champion Juan Manuel Fangio 
in the 1950s to FIA 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen. From F1 to the most 
prestigious GT sports cars on the open road…When it comes to true motor-racing 
lineage and racing DNA, TAG Heuer outpaces the 
pack!
         
At 
Baselworld 2008, TAG Heuer extends its lead even further by pushing its 
avant-garde motor-racing lines into the outer reaches of luxury, and by 
partnering with Ken Okuyama to create a watchmaking world first: a futuristic 
high performance eco-responsible GT Concept Car inspired by a TAG Heuer Concept 
Chronograph!
 

TAG 
Heuer Formula 1: Four F1 Drivers and one Indy 500 female Driver to wear all-new 
upgrades of motor-racing’s coolest casual sportswatch!

Back 
in the 1980s, the original TAG HEUER FORMULA 1 helped establish the brand as a 
world leader in the prestigious sports watch market. Now completely revamped and 
redesigned, it will star in the 2008 Formula 1 racing season on the wrists of 
four F1 heavyweights: 2007 FIA World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, runner-up and best F1 
rookie ever Lewis Hamilton, new 
Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes teammate Heikki Kovalainen and new Scuderia Toro 
Rosso driver Sébastien Bourdais, a 
4-time consecutive ChampCar world series champion and longtime TAG Heuer 
ambassador. It will also star in the IRL and Indy 500 championship on the wrist 
of female driver Sarah Fisher.

One 
chronograph, 5 drivers – a world racing first!

 

New 
features include a large 44mm case, an oversized dashboard counter at 6 
o’clock, a double gradation semi-circular counter at 9 o’clock; and large date 
display at 12 o’clock. The Classic TAG Heuer Six features are all here: “Easy 
Grip” screw-in crown; titanium carbide coated unidirectional turning bezel with 
raised fine brushed steel numbers; 200 meters water-resistant; luminescent 
markers on hands and indexes; anti-scratch sapphire crystal; rubber strap or 
steel bracelet with double safety clasp and extension system. Another 
racing-inspired feature:  steel 
titanium carbide-coated bumper protecting the crown and pushbuttons. 


 

New 
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Grande Date Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen Limited 
Edition 


To 
celebrate Kimi Räikkönen’s extraordinary career, and in particular his 2007 FIA 
World Champion title with Scuderia Ferrari, TAG Heuer launches an limited 
edition of the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 
Grande Date Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen Limited Edition. Sleekly aerodynamic, 
with a black dial sublimely touched with red, TAG Heuer logo and Kimi Räikkönen 
inscription, as well as precise to 1/10th of a second, it is 
available with a classic steel bracelet or a brand-new two-tone (red and black) 
rubber strap. 

 

New 
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Grande Date Chronograph INDY 500 


To 
celebrate its long-term partnership with the Indy Racing League and the Indy 500, where as Official Timekeeper, TAG 
Heuer has mastered the challenge of accurate measurement to 
1/10,000th of a second, TAG Heuer is proud to present the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Grande Date Chronograph 
INDY 500 Special Edition accurate to within 1/10th of a second. 
The polished bezel with authentic red “INDY 500” sports a tachymeter scale. The 
pearled dial, in “Black Gold” or silver plate, is also adorned with the “INDY 
500” logo. This new Chronograph will be worn by female driver Sarah Fisher at 
the 500 miles of Indianapolis as well as during all the Indy Racing League races 
of the 2008 season. Sarah became the youngest ever driver to participate in the 
Indy 500 at the age of just 17, and has been a TAG Heuer ambassador since 2002. 
She was voted IRL’s most popular driver in 2001, 2002 and 
2003.

 

New 
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Grande Date Chronograph  

This 
new addition to the TAG Heuer Formula 1 line is endowed with an oversized case 
(44mm). Five new chronographs accurate to the 1/10th of a second are 
available, with an all-black version at the front of the pack: black titanium 
carbide-coated case, bezel, crown, pushbuttons, black dial and rubber strap. 
Also available with polished steel case, titanium carbide-coated bezel, crown, 
and pushbuttons and a choice of black or silver dial and stainless steel 
bracelet or black rubber strap. 

 

 

TAG 
Heuer SLR Laptimer 1/100th of a second: the most innovative and 
accurate car-racing chronograph, celebrating McLaren-Mercedes SLR GT cars as 
well as Juan Manuel Fangio

From 
zero to 80 kmh in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 300 kmh, the Mercedes-Benz 
SLR McLaren, launched in 2004, is one of the world’s most powerful and exclusive 
sports cars. 

The 
first SLR chronograph, produced in 2004, marked the next step in a successful 
partnership that has linked Mercedes with TAG Heuer since 1995 (and McLaren 
since 1985) These high-luxury brands share the same core values: performance, 
design, prestige, innovation, and, of course, a passion for car racing. The 
mutual history and heritage goes back even further, to 1955, the year TAG Heuer 
Ambassador Juan Manuel Fangio drove the first Mercedes SLR (Sports, Light, 
Racer) “Silver Arrow” around the hairpin bends of the Mille Miglia,” one of the 
most hair-raising and breathtaking circuits in motor racing. Fangio was wearing 
on his wrist that day, just as countless Formula One drivers ever since, a TAG 
Heuer timepiece – called Heuer at the time. 

 

THE 
SLR: A Brief History of a Dream Watch celebrating a Dream 
Machine:

 

2004: 
The SLR Chronograph Calibre 36 R by TAG Heuer 

This 
limited edition is exclusively reserved for the owners of the SLR dream car. 
Like the ultra-luxury sports car that inspired it, is an audaciously high-tech 
creation with the look and allure of a true classic. Still in production and 
regularly acquired by new SLR owners, the SLR Calibre 36 R is powered by the 
36,000 beats/hour superlative TAG Heuer mechanical chronograph movement 
exclusively equipped with a regulator plate separating the hour hand from the 
minute hand, hence faithfully reflecting the SLR dream car 
dashboard.

 

2006: 
TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz Enthusiast Chronograph Limited Edition 


An 
all-new upscale chronograph with a 43mm dial and a powerful design capitalizing 
on the most distinctive SLR chronograph elements: pushbuttons on the top of the 
case, Mercedes star logo on the dial, and distinctively shaped hands. This 
chronograph, dedicated to dream car lovers and sportswatch connoisseurs, comes 
in an exclusive limited edition of 3,500 pieces – equal to the number of SLR 
cars to be manufactured. 

 

2007: 
TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz Limited Edition

The 
next stage in the evolution of the SLR series, this model combines a much more 
complex and aggressive look with a larger dial (45mm) and two avant-garde 
features specific to the SLR series: crown at 9 o’clock and patented pushbuttons 
set at a 45° angle. For the first time, it is also available 
with a rugged, powerful steel bracelet in addition to the rubber 
strap.

 

2008: 
Introducing the TAG Heuer SLR Calibre S Laptimer 1/100th of a second 
Chronograph! 

The TAG Heuer SLR Calibre S Laptimer 
Chronograph (47mm) is the first SLR that is not a limited edition. An 
important new permanent entry in the TAG Heuer catalog, the Laptimer 
1/100th also represents a new advancement in TAG Heuer’s exclusive 
Calibre S movement. The revolutionary Calibre S has been further evolved to 
create a unique motor–racing inspired mechanism: combining 1/100th of a second 
“flyback” chronograph, memory and 
indication up to 20 laps, and direct access to best lap time, the new chronograph 
meets the highest expectations of the true racing aficionado.  Like the revolutionary and Geneva 
Watchmaking Grand Prix awarded Microtimer in 2003, it’s not only an 
ultra-accurate wrist chronograph but also a timekeeping system on the wrist, 
this time with analog time indications display. Along with the Carrera Calibre 
360 and the Link Calibre S, the SLR Calibre S Laptimer is TAG Heuer third 
1/100th second analog chronograph, making TAG Heuer more than ever 
the master of ultimate precision in the field of luxury 
watches.

 

 
 
From CARRERA to Grand CARRERA: the Premium Avant-Garde TAG Heuer 
Collection inspired by contemporary GT cars is now inspiring a new futuristic GT 
Car! 
The 
original CARRERA was born in the pits and paddocks of the Twelve Hours of 
Sebring in 1962, where Jack Heuer, Official Timekeeper of the event, first heard 
of the legendary Carrera Panamericana 
Mexico Road Race, the racing world’s most grueling endurance test. Launched 
in 1964, the original CARRERA also served as a prestigious tribute to Juan 
Manuel Fangio, the TAG Heuer ambassadorial hero who won the Mayor class of the 
fourth running of the Carrera in 1954. In 1969, a CARRERA automatic chronograph 
was added to the pack; in 1996, the entire line was revamped inside and out – a 
bold reinterpretation of classic luxury watchmaking with a distinctly modern and 
timeless aesthetic inspired by the technical and design advancements in 
automotive engineering. 

         
In 2004, TAG Heuer’s multi award-winning R&D Team began working on an 
even more prestigious incarnation of the CARRERA: the Grand CARRERA. Launched to great 
acclaim and commercial success in June 2007, the Grand CARRERA draws 
its inspiration from modern GT cars. It is powered by the first mechanical line 
of movements with Rotating System, 
an exclusive new function that enables the user to read easily and intuitively 
small seconds, a second time zone (GMT) or chronograph time by displaying the elapsed 
time.

         
All models are "Côtes de Genève" decorated on the Rotating System, with 
polished, beveled edges complemented by curved, faceted horns on both case 
sides, a curved, sapphire crystal with double antireflective treatment and a 
double sapphire crystal caseback sealed by six screws. Curved faceted markers on 
the dials and oversized screw-in crowns and pushbutton clasps complete the 
sophisticated look.

 

At 
Baselworld 2008, TAG Heuer introduces 2 ultra-luxury diamond editions of the 
acclaimed Grand CARRERA Collection…

 

TAG 
Heuer Grand CARRERA Calibre 6 RS Diamond Bezel

Bejeweled 
with 68 Top Wesselton diamonds (1.13 carats) on its polished fixed 
stainless-steel bezel, the new unisex Grand 
CARRERA Calibre 6 RS 
is classically elegant and subtly daring, with a brown dial and a choice of 
steel or alligator strap with solid steel folding clasp. The 40.2mm diameter 
timepiece is equipped with a TAG Heuer Calibre 6 RS movement, with Rotating 
Small Second System at 6 o’clock decorated with “Côtes de Genève” and diamond 
polished facets. Other features include solid steel folding clasp with safety 
pushbuttons and applied TAG Heuer logo.

 

TAG Heuer Grand 
CARRERA Grande Date GMT Calibre 8 RS Diamond Bezel 

The 
first-ever TAG Heuer automatic movement with a “large date” now proudly sparkles 
with 72 Top Wesselton diamonds (1.2 carats) on its polished fixed 
stainless-steel bezel. The hand-applied “Grand Date” is visible through a 
beveled aperture at 12 o’clock. Ideal for chic globetrotters, the bigger, 42.5mm 
case also displays a Rotating GMT System (2nd Time Zone) at 6 
o’clock. The Calibre 8 RS sports a black dial and a steel bracelet or black 
alligator strap with solid-steel folding clasp featuring safety pushbuttons and 
applied TAG Heuer logo.

 
A 
new ultra-luxury chronograph…
 

TAG 
Heuer Grand CARRERA Chronograph Calibre 17 RS Rose Gold Limited Edition 

A 
COSC-certified chronograph in solid 18-carat rose gold: the larger (43mm) 
stopwatch size, screwed-in crown, screw-in pushbuttons and hand-applied date 
window at 6 o’clock, give it the distinctive look of a classic TAG Heuer 
chronograph. Two limited editions of 500 are available with hand-sewn brown 
alligator strap, solid 18-carat gold pin buckle, and a silver or brown dial 
equipped with 2 Rotating Systems in solid 18-carat rose gold (small seconds at 3 
o’clock; chronograph minute at 9 o’clock).

 

 

… 
and finally, the ultimate in premium avant-garde design and 
technology:

 

The 
Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 RS Caliper Concept 
Chronograph

as 
featured on the dashboard of the limited edition Ken Okuyama-designed K.O. 7 
futuristic, high performance and eco-compatible sportscar. Indeed Ken Okuyama 
has managed to design an high performance GT sportscar with a limited 
environmental impact thanks to the systematic use of advanced light weight 
materials such as aluminum, titanium and carbon, enabling him to achieve an 
extraordinary horsepower to weight relationship. It offers a chance to enjoy the 
thrill of stunning accelerations as well as the pleasure of sporty driving while 
being environmentally responsible! Ken Okuyama’s vision and commitment as shared 
by TAG Heuer may well become a must-have factor in the GT car industry in the 
near future.

 

Japanese 
Car Designer Ken Okuyama: 


 “The interior of the K.O. 7 was inspired 
by the Grand Carrera, and we mounted the extraordinary Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 RS Caliper Concept 
Chronograph on its dashboard. TAG 
Heuer chronographs are constructed in rich lightweight materials of the finest 
quality. Like the K.O. 7, their powerful proportions catch your eye first, and 
then you discover the depth of refinement, the beautiful craftsmanship, and the 
attention to detail.

Collaborating 
with TAG Heuer made it possible to demonstrate something in common between our 
two industries: an endless quest for quality, performances and design 
innovations driven by new technologies.”  

 

The 
first mechanical automatic chronograph that measures and displays 
1/10ths of a second…and the only timepiece in history to inspire and 
feature in a GT sportscar!

 

TAG 
Heuer has pulled off yet another world first: powered by a column wheel 
movement, the Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 
RS Caliper Concept Chronograph is the only automatic chronograph capable of 
measuring and displaying 1/10ths of a second! Visible through a 
tinted double sapphire crystal, the COSC-certified movement oscillates at an 
astonishing 36,000 vibrations per hour. This enables the central seconds hand to 
tick off 1/10th second intervals, giving at-a-glance readings of an 
unparalleled exactitude – an engineering 
feat of the highest level.

The 
breathtaking new creation has a stylish 43mm, black titanium carbide-coated 
case, and a Calibre 36 RS movement with power reserve and two “Black Gold” 
Rotating Systems indicating the chronograph minutes at 3 o’clock and the 
chronograph hours at 6 o’clock. It also features a Linear Second at 9 o’clock. 
Another principle design innovation is the way in which it displays this 
information. TAG Heuer has developed an exclusive Rotating Scale that permits a 
precise reading of 1/10th of a second – magnified 10X! The new 
Titanium carbide-coated and rubber bracelet with folding buckle is another 
stunning innovation.

         
The super-sleek K.O. 7 sportscar was launched at the 2008 Geneva Motor 
Show together with the K.O. 8 coupé on March 4th, 2008 in the presence 
of Jean-Christophe Babin, TAG Heuer President & CEO and Ken Okuyama. 
Available in an exclusive limited edition of 99 vehicles, it will be showcased 
at the TAG Heuer booth throughout Baselworld 2008. An exceptional momentum 
celebrating TAG Heuer’s unique racing DNA as well as passion for advanced 
technology and design and unparallel support to avant-garde 
designers!

 

Ken 
Okuyama has 
worked as a Design Director and Chief Designer for General Motors, Porsche AG 
and Pininfarina S.p.A. He has overseen design for Ferrari Enzo, Maserati 
Quattroporte and many others. Alongside "Ken Okuyama Cars” and his various 
consultancy practices, Ken produces several premium avant-garde design products, 
including "Yamagata Koubou" furniture and the "Ken Okuyama Eyes" eyewear series. 
The author of several books on design, he is currently a visiting professor at 
the Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, California), Tama Art University, 
Kanazawa Art College, and the Nagoya University of Arts (Japan). He is also Vice 
Chairman for the "Good Design Award."

 

A 
dream machine for a dream chronograph… A unique momentum to celebrate TAG 
Heuer’s unique racing DNA and commitment to design, technology and environmental 
responsibility!

 

  

International 
Press Relations Manager: Valentine E.BALMAT

Valentine.balmat@tagheuer.com