The specialists at Famous Parts have turned the stock Mercedes-Benz CL 500into a better looking and more appealing ride, dubbed Black Matte Edition. Rolling on 21-inch Brabus Monoblock E alloy wheels and sporting a matte foil finish, it has a menacing and very attractive stance.
If features a Prior Design wide body kit, which includes new side skirts, larger wheel arches, trunk-mounted spoiler, ventilated hood, and a new aggressive front bumper. Also part of the tuning project are the LED daytime running lights, the electronically lowering module, a CL 63 AMG-sourced sports exhaust system, and new Continental Sport Contact tires. No word on its price yet.
DC Design plans on opening its fourth manufacturing facility in India, with a capacity of 3,500 cars. Dilip Chhabria, the founder of the company, told the Economic Times of India that the new plant will be erected in Sanand, Gujarat, India, with production is expected to start in 2014. It will reportedly roll out 2,500Avantis, and maybe a new SUV that the manufacturer intends to launch next year. Also scheduled for production are 1,000 units of the already existing DC models.
About the Avanti sports car, even though some have been referring to it as a supercar, its specifications don’t really make it fully worthy of that designation. However, DC has a very special way of making the car extra appealing: the company will only create 4,000 examples of its every model, and then move on to a new one. Powered by a265 horsepower2.0-liter FordEcoBoost engine, we believe that the Avanti is worthy of a special place in a diehard car collector’s garage.
When the name Bugatti Veyron comes up, the word speed automatically comes as a recall to it’s most endearing feature. The fastest car in the world seems to be very speed thrill seeker dream, and it is for this reason that the vehicle gets it’s popularity. However, there are only a few who actually manage to get hold of one of these, as most are special editions with design tweaks on the original offering, with a heftier price tag than the normal. Now to please another elite bunch, the company has showcased their next creation, the 8 special edition Veyron world record versions of the car at Shanghai Motor Show 2013. With the speed factor being the main focus, the Grand Sport World Record edition has been known to touch speeds of 408.8 kmph, which makes it the fastest road legal convertible in the world.
Subaru has unveiled its new WRX concept in New York and even though official information is scarce, the design features of the ride are suggestive of pretty cool performance and power figures as well. Low, wide and menacing looking, this sedan says a lot only by its looks.
First of all, you can’t overlook the hood scoop and the power bulge that pushes outwards and makes room for the new engine with turbocharger and intercooler. Then your eyes will definitely linger on the carbon fiber-only roof, a detail which reduces weight and also helps lower the car’s center of gravity – an essential thing at high speeds.
The sculpted air intakes in the new front fascia suggest a powerful engine that needs a lot of ventilation. They also play an important role in generating downforce. Clear indicators of muscle and speed can be seen at the rear as well: quad tailpipes and a new curved trunk lid spoiler.
The four blistered wheel arches indicate that an all-wheel-drive configuration will ensure excellent traction, and we like that detail too. Another feature that you might like is the new set of 245-section Dunlop tires wrapped around 20-inch BBS wheels. For more visual enjoyment check out the gallery below.
The Middle East is a place where appearances are a little bit more important than in other areas of the world, and this amazing police car is an excellent proof of that. It is not every day that we see Lamborghini Aventadors on the street, but it is even more uncommon to see them bear the police emblem and lights.
For Dubai, however, having a luxury supercar in the police fleet is not that big a deal. After all, they also have several other stunners like a few new Chevy Camaros. Even though it makes sense to use the 700 HP Aventador in police chases, the car will apparently only be used as a display vehicle intended to impress tourists. Glam police patrols actually sound very Dubai to us.
And let’s not forget that this is a prohibitively expensive supercar (around $400,000), so crushing it in a chasing that went bad is not exactly an option.
The FAB1 Million Project is a bold initiative to raise £1 million to help fight breast cancer. Chris Evans, the head of the project, contacted Rolls Royce and made them a very interesting offer: to create a bespoke luxury car that would help this charity action. Jolyon Nash, Sales and Marketing Director at RR was thrilled by the idea, and after “countless hours” of hard work, this magnificent Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbasewas born.
Sporting the ‘FAB 1’ writing on the treadplates, and the pink ribbon emblem embroidered on the headrests, this luxury cruiser is a real work of art. A superb Crème Light interior with Blushing Pink accents is meant to provide memorable rides to all those who step inside. Being an extended wheelbase model, the car provides generous legroom to the rear passengers, but the luxe experience doesn’t stop at this.
The FAB 1 Ghost boasts a champagne coolbox, 9.2 inch LCD screens, hand veneered picnic tables, 600 Watts surround sound with 16 speakers and 10-channel amplifier, lambswool footmats, and other exquisite touches of excellence. The car will help raise money for the breast cancer care by being available to hire over the next year, starting this month. Actually, the official launch of the project is today (April 18).
The competition seems to be raging wild in the electric car segment. To set the bar of capabilities for the category of electric cars even higher, the Detroit electric SP:01 is set to compete with Tesla Roadster, to become the fastest production electric vehicle currently available. The emission-free car has been fitted with a 150 Kw engine, which can take the traveling speed from 0 to 100 kmph within just 3.7 seconds, and the top speed pegged at 249 kmph. Also, with a single charge, one can cover a distance of 290 kms at a stretch. The SP:01 also carries a limited edition production run of 999 units, with a price tag of $135,000 for each unit.
To speed up a 4-wheeler to such speeds with an electrical engine, isn’t short of anything of a total genius. To ensure that the numbers match up, the body of the SP:01 has been crafted out of the same carbon fiber grade seen in F1 racing cars. The major benefit has been the 2,354-lb body weight, making the car agile for its dimensions. However, the framework on which the body chassis has been set, has been crafted with high grade aluminum which gives the necessary stability to the chassis. Also, there has been plenty of work on the new performance tuned suspension, steering, and braking systems, which aide proper handling of the SP:01.
The electric motor fitted in engine of the race car, is come fitted with batteries which take 4.3 hours for a single full recharge. It has a capacity of 37 Kwh, and generates an output power of 201 BHP, enabling to build up a top speed of 249 kmph, and take just 3.7 seconds to travel from 0 to 100 kmph. The innovation which takes the SP:01 to the levels of any racing super car, is the electromagnetic field which builds around the rotor-shaft thus pushing the wheel to travel at various levels of speed. There is the option for drivers to try the varied selection of gearing ratios, which will help them drive optimally under different surfaces and conditions, without having to change gears very frequently.
Presenting a unique character defined by power, style and drama with just a hint of the noir, here’s the ultimate gentlemen’s ‘fastback’ gran turismo, the Rolls-Royce Wraith, which at its heart features Rolls-Royce attributes of luxury, refinement and hand-craftsmanship. With striking fastback silhouette, this exclusively-new and much hyped about model from the world’s pinnacle ultra-luxury marque is described as the most potent and technologically advanced Rolls-Royce ever built, and impressively embodies the spirit of Charles Stewart Rolls and promises the sense of adventure and speed that drove the British auto manufacturer’s founding forefather. Officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show after a seemingly endless stream of teasers and sketches, the Wraith as a magnificent addition to the already eclectic Rolls-Royce product range, is now all set to compete with the Bentley’s most powerful 4-door model 2014 Flying Spur and Bentley’s world’s fastest four-seat Continental GT Speed Convertible.
Carrying the V12 engine married to 8-speed automatic ZF transmission that delivers 624 horsepower, the Wraith makes its 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.4 seconds compared to 4.7 seconds for Rolls-Royce Ghost.
The specialists in producing customized luxury coaches for the likes of countless celebs, Hollywood elites, professional athletes and government officials across the globe, Lexani Motorcars now launched its Y4 GMC Yukon XL Motorcoach. Featuring plush Italian leather seating, custom-raised ceiling, and an ambient environment, it has been especially designed to make it easy to forget that the one is not in a private jet. Notably, the GMC Yukon XL Motorcoach has been extended 30-inches providing extra room for passengers to move around the cabin to work, play or watch a favorite movie, and has also been crafted with the highest quality materials, furnishing, and accessories that clearly showcase the manufacturer’s meticulous attention to detail.
Speaking about the luxury features, the Lexani Y4 GMC Yukon XL Motorcoach offers 2 six-way power executive leather seats, 2 executive leather seats, Alcantara suede headline, luxury bar station, Logitech touchscreenmanagement system, LED TV, PlayStation 3, Alpine audio system, Maybach ceiling, gold plated accents, Apple Mac Mini computer with wireless keyboard, and custom luxury burl wood accents.
Noted for its designing and manufacturing philosophy focused solely on performance, the Scanian manufacturer of high-performance andmost expensive super sports cars built to highest possible standards Koenigsegg Automotive is now celebrating its 10th year of production with the unveiling of one-off Agera S special edition. Historically, Koenigsegg Automotive delivered its first production car back in 2002; that is after 8 painstaking years of constant development after its establishment in back in 1994. And 10 years later, in September 2012, the first carbon prepreg pieces were cut on the routing machine for Koenigsegg’s 100th production car, which has been duly named ‘Hundra’ (Swedish for 100). In short, a unique one-off Agera S was being built for a high-heeled and excited car collector. And fast forward to March 2013, the collector’s-edition Hundra is finished in time for Geneva Motor Show. Also a special-edition coffee table book “0 to 100 in 10 Years” has been created to commemorate this historic occasion, along with limited edition photographs signed by company’s founder Christian von Koenigsegg.
British designer Afzal Kahn of A. Kahn Design have turned his car obsession into something which is majorly sought after by the wealthy luxury car buyers. He has previously given high end styling makeovers to luxury cars. This time it is the turn of the Lamborghini Aventador, which has turned into a simplistic yet a sportier edition of its original existence. While the exterior has seen a few changes, but the major additions as one will notice, has been on the interiors, which has been give the premium treatment, at least considering the premium quality leather fabrication.
The interior are actually a showcase of the British designing house with the color black, which has been generously splattered all over the place. The seats are crafted from black nappa leather with contrasting white stitching, the most artistic edition of which is seen on the steering wheel with the Lamborghini monogram at the centre. However, word has it that one can choose the color and fabrication too, but this combo of black and white is known to be Kahn’s signature one.
This edition reportedly costed $4.7 million, which perhaps tells us that if one has the money, the ways of spending them rather lavishly outnumber them far and wide.
The obsession for exclusivity via various personal renderings even with high end vehicles, seem to be a continuing trend worldwide, which is showing no signs of slowing down anytime. After buying a high end brand, the richer car geeks customize their vehicle as per their whims and fancies. Now Hamann is the next label which has put up its Chrome Pink edition of the luxury SUV at 2013 Geneva Auto Show.
For those who have a fetish for the color pink, and that too with a mirror finish to bring in a glitzy appearance, the ‘Mystere’ edition seems like a must have. The body kit is a carbon composite 4-part set, which has managed to add around 80mm to the overall width of the luxury SUV. The paintjob has indeed been a premier highlight of the Mystere, which adds lots of bling with the pink shade, thus adding a mirror effect and a very ‘barbie doll’ like feel to the overall aesthetics.
Hamann has managed to load a decent bit of machinery under the hood as well. Mystere Range Rover will be sporting a 5.0-litre V8 engine. To ensure that the vehicle runs just as smooth, while also serving the purpose of an overbearing presence, there are 23-inch Continental modified wheels. However, the additions have also ensured that the chassis has lowered a bit closer to the ground by 40mm, thus compromising on ground clearance.
Representing the third evolutionary stage of the German automaker Volkswagen’s 1-liter car strategy, here’s the most aerodynamic production car XL1 which will be impressively produced by handcrafting-like products methods. Set to become the world’s most fuel-efficient production car with a fuel consumption value of 0.9l/100 km as soon as it hits the road, this futuristic two-seater VW XL1 with its plug-in hybrid system can also cover a distance of up to 50 km in all-electric mode and therefore with zero local emissions. Notably, this vehicle is an automotive hero that follows pure sports car design principles, which includes being low-weight and boasting perfect aerodynamics and a low center of gravity, thus giving it the ability to cruise on the road at a constant speed of 100km/h using just 6.2 kW / 8.4 PS. And in all-electric mode, the XL1 requires less than 0.1 kWh to cover a driving distance of over one kilometer.
Limited edition Bentleys are the best! The automaker’s latest extremely exclusive creation is the beautiful 2013 GTC V8 Beverly Hills Limited Edition Bentley Continental, which boasts a bright and very eye-catching body color called Celeste Pearlescent. The hue is inspired by the luxe Tiffany & Co. color, which makes it extremely appealing to connoisseurs.
The car was manufactured in only 3 examples (one coupe and two convertibles) for Bentley Beverly Hills. The dealer selling them is O’Gara Coach, the fabled luxury car dealership where Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Bentley always feel at home. Priced at $224,215 each, the cars come with many exclusive features, but no change in the engine department. They are still powered by a 500-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
So here is what the buyers will get with their exquisite Beverly Hills edition Bentleys: personalized Beverly Hills limited edition treadplate plaques, dual tone 3-spoke hide-trimmed steering wheel, neck warmers, massage seat & seat ventilation for the front seats, power boot opening and closing, rear view camera, space-saving spare wheel, and of course the Celeste Pearlescent paintjob. There are also some options available for these babies, such as Piano Black Veneer, Light Grey Roof Interior, Black Roof exterior, and Home Link System.
As a final touch, Bentley gave the cars new CEC C881 wheels in either liquid silver or mate black finish. They measure 22 inches in diameter and are wrapped with Continental Extreme Contact ultra-high performance tires that are excellent for all seasons.
For the likes of discerning individuals and auto enthusiasts with a penchant for blinged-up autos festooned with gold, diamonds and precious stones, the premium car styling specialists WrapStyle has now created a gold-wrapped Nissan GT-R. However, this version certainly reminds us of the custom-edition $100,000 gold-plated GT-R ‘Bolt Gold’ which the Japanese multinational automaker Nissan auctioned to develop to benefit the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt’s Foundation, as a recognition of Jamaican Olympic phenomenon’s contribution to athletics and his automotive enthusiasm. This particular car by WrapStyle comes fitted with a gold vinyl wrap, wheels also finished in a gold paint, and the windows are also tinted in a complementary gold dust theme, giving the supercar a complete gold look.
Inspired by the irresistible Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, the new C63 AMG Edition 507 is a true stunner, recently unveiled by the German automaker for its most discerning fans. The car is only 10 hp and 10 Nm less powerful than the Black Series, being powered by an upgraded 6.3-liter V8 engine that can put out 507 hp at 6,800 RPM and 610 Nm at 5,200 RPM.
The Edition 507 also flaunts advanced technologies borrowed from the SLS, including forged pistons, lightweight crankshaft, and connecting rods. It is mounted on new 19-inch wheels that come with high performance suspension system and composite braking system, 360 x 36 mm disks, and red calipers.
Other alluring elements include new ECU, titanium gray variable intake manifold, rear axle locking differential, special exterior mirror housings, a trunk lid spoiler, radiator grille surrounds, Black Series borrowed hood, and a lavish interior with leather upholstery in various design options, plus an Alcantara steering wheel.
When the car will become available for purchase on April 8, it will come in three body versions: coupe, sedan and estate. The first two will complete the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.2 seconds, while the latter will need 0.1 seconds more to finish the same task – unnoticeable difference, really.
The world’s new most luxurious hyper car comes from none of the brands that have just popped into your mind! Called LykanHypersport2013, this stunning ride is a creation of W Motors, the Middle Eastern coach builder that worked for 6 years on this incredibly bold project.
The car really has it all: looks, performance, and a truly powerful wow factor. It will debut tomorrow (January 29) at the Qatar Auto Showand it will only be produced in 7 examples. The ultra elite buyers of the car will spend no less than $3.4 million on it, which will instantly turn them into the proud owners of the world’s new most expensive car.
Together with the ride itself, W Motors will offer a $200,000 Special Edition Cyrus Klepcys Watch, also limited to 7 units. The designer of the car is the automaker’s CEO and Chairman, Ralph Debbas. His name has been associated with some really remarkable projects and very important names of the industry: he created concept cars for the likes of Land Rover and Aston Martin.
LykanHypersport is powered by a 750-hp engine and needs only 2.8 seconds to go from 0 to 62 mph. Among its numerous stunning features we mention the reverse door opening system, top-notch innovative ID4Motion Interactive Dashboard, interior with gold stitching, tri-dimensional Virtual Holographic Display with Tactile Interaction, and luxe diamond-encrusted LED lights.
In the history of Hollywood, only a few celebrities have ever amassed a car, motorcycle and airplane collection as impressive as that of Steve McQueen who was not only Hollywood’s highest paid actor, but he was also a truly talented two or four wheels racing driver on sand, road, track and everything in between. Be it theFerrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta which was auctioned for $2.3 million, the 1970 Porsche 911S sold for $1.375 million, and the iconic 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage that got sold for whopping $11 million; McQueen’s cars are not only legendary and highly valuable, but have also been extensively written about. And like McQueen’s earlier cars, a highly reliable and classy 1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe Convetible Coupe owned and driven by Steve McQueen frequently in the final movie of his illustrious career ‘The Hunter’ in 1980 is now expected to fetch huge prices at the auction block. A this pale yellow Chevy which was also included in the 2007 book ‘McQueen Machines: The Cars and Bikes of Hollywood Icon’ by Matt Stone is now being offered for grabs by RM Auctions’ on March 22-24 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“Pebble Beach is the most beautiful meeting of land and sea in the world,” Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry Karges said Thursday. The car show and race likewise bring out “the most beautifully designed and built cars in the automotive world.” While Pebble Beach usually plays host to golfers, once a year every August it is taken over by classic cars which are perched precariously on the perfectly manicured green lawns far above the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean far below.
The Concours d’Elegance is the crown jewel of over a week of auctions, races and parties all over the Monterey Peninsula. The Councours and Monterey Car Week have become their own annual ecosystem in the classic car world as high value and rare vehicles cycle through private collections and auctions. “A lot of people that get to come out as a spectator, and you get to see some of this at our auction, you get to see them [classic cars] more from collection to collection,” Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. chairman and CEO Craig Jackson said Monday.
For many, the Concours d’Elegance and Auto Week are their only opportunity to some ultra-rare vehicles. Several years ago, Pebble Beach succeeded in gathering all six Bugatti Royales, the only time in history they have all been in one place. “It’s a real feat. I don’t think you’ll ever see that again.”
Collectors bring their cars to the Concours each year to win several coveted class and overall awards which boost the prestige, and value, of their cars. “You can count on your hands the number of collectors who have these [Concours d’Elegance winners] in their collections,” Jackson said. However, many of the cars passed through restoration houses like Barrett-Jackson and the auction houses before winding up in private collections and on show at Pebble Beach. “I get to see these cars at Pebble Beach … I’ll remember the car from the ’60s,” Jackson said.
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has been occurring annually since 1950 and the combination of ultra-rare and classic cars, racing and an incomparable automotive social scene have drawn attendees back year after year. An annual party, Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival, at the Monterey Jet Center brings out many of the leading collectors for what Jay Leno has called “tailgating for billionaires,” according to Karges.
“If you didn’t have any other eason to go to Monterey, wouldn’t you want one?” Karges said. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, races and parties prove to be too much for many wealthy collectors to avoid given the plethora of hotels, lodges and gourmet restaurants that dot the peninsula. “It’s a pilgrimage, literally,” Karges said. Both Karges and Jackson have been attending the Concours d’Elegance for decades.
The 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and accompanying festivities of the Monterey Car Week and The Quail motorsports gathering concluded Sunday after drawing the finest classic cars, ultra-luxury models and most distinctive vehicles in the world to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula of California. According to some, the events of the Monterey Car Week have been called “tailgating for America’s billionaires” by none other than the nation’s pre-eminent gearhead, Jay Leno, but it has taken years of hard work and a heady mix of automotive iron and stunning Pacific Ocean vistas to keep the world’s wealthy car collectors coming back each year.
At this year’s Concours d’Elegance, RM Auctions put 120 cars on the block, 13 of which sold for more than $1 million, fetching a total of $35 million, including a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder that sold for $8,580,000. At another Monterey area car auction over the weekend, Gooding & Company sold more than $60 million worth of cars, including another Ferrari, a 1960 250 GT LWB California Spider for $11,275,000. Gooding & Company also sold a first edition Fiat 500 (initially valued at around $35,000) owned by Leno for $385,000, and the legendary von Krieger Special Roadster for $11.77 million.
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the centerpiece of a series of classic car races and auctions, cocktail parties and gatherings for enthusiasts, car shows, and debuts by the world’s most rarified luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz. Rolls-Royce for its part debuted two different vehicles, the 2013 Ghost and the Phantom Coupe Aviator, Cadillac teased a new concept car, and Bentley held the North American debut of the 2013 Continental GT Speed. The Concours d’Elegance and other events of the Monterey Car Week draw such high-value classic cars and luxury debuts every year by means of a very simple formula of strong personalities, an impressive environment and the momentum that years of tradition brings.
Created by renowned customizer George Barris, the original #1 1966 Batmobilewhich is regarded as an icon, and one of the world’s most popular and recognized pieces of entertainment history, has now got sold for whopping $4.2 million at auctioneer Barret-Jackson at its 42nd annual Scottsdale auction.
Bought by an Arizona man, this original Batmobile which was based on 1955 Lincoln Futura, and was heavily modified by legendary auto-customizer George Barris to be featured in the iconic TV series Batman, along with the movie adaptation, comes loaded with a number of Batman worthy gadgets.
This superb Range Rover Evoque is a limited edition version that can currently be admired at the 2013 Brussels Motor Show. It is based on the Evoque Dynamic, and its moniker is Sicilian Yellow Limited Edition. Available in two versions – with thee or five doors – the car boasts a lovely Sicilian Yellow exterior that contrasts beautifully with the Santorini Black roof, the black grille, the black bumpers, and the 20-inch black alloys.
Also part of the new Black Design package are the darkened headlamps and fog lights, and the new rear spoiler. A vice-versa color scheme will also be available, where the body is black and the roof is yellow. The interior was designed to perfectly match the exterior design, meaning that it sports yellow stitching over black leather, visible on the seats, central fascia, central storage area, and door trims.
When the Sicilian Yellow Limited Edition Range Rover will be launched on the market in May, it will be priced at about $70,300.
The passionate tuners at DMC have completed a new amazing project: a remarkable upgrade for the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. For a more aggressive look, it received a carbon fiber kit comprised of a roof scoop, prominent lip spoiler, spoiler wing, new side skirts, diffuser plates, and even a carbon fiber hood.
Also part of the upgrade are a new set of alloy wheels, measuring 21 inches at the front and 22 inches at the rear. They are wrapped in performance rubbers: 332/25 and 255/30. In terms of performance, the Berlinetta is now more ferocious, being capable of putting out 764 hp (24 extra hp) from its 6.2-liter V12 engine. It also received a custom titanium exhaust, and this helps it reach up to 217 mph.
We love our cars in Phoenix. With the spread of the land we occupy, how could we not? Miles upon miles are covered with various modes of transportation that represent our personalities, lifestyles, and a way to get from point A to B. History and innovation have spawned thousands of enthusiasts, collectors, and connoisseurs of four-wheeled acceleration, and there’s a place that brings them together in an annual gathering of awe.
The Barrett-Jackson car auction will start right up and run smooth at Westworld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road, Sunday, January 13, through Sunday, January 20. Since 1971, the auction has drawn in fans from all over the world to witness offerings of master craftsmanship that revisit the past in spectacular fashion. From the elegance of a 1939 Bentley to the raw muscle of a Mach 1 Mustang, these beauties will leave you tempted to take out a second mortgage.
Not that it needed any improvements of any kind, but the superb Lamborghini Aventador LP760-4 has just gotten more appealing. Thanks to some special attention from Oakley Design and Refined Marques, the ride boasts better aerodynamics, new wheels, and extra muscle.
To match all these changes, the tuners gave the car a new name as well: LamborghiniAventador LP760-4 Dragon Edition. Only ten units will ever reach production lines, and they will be equipped with new body kits that include a number of carbon fiber accents, fixed rear wings, and new front bumpers. Matching these changes are the HRE Wheels with red brake calipers.
Powering the car is a 6.5-liter V12 engine capable of 760 HP and 745 Nm of torque. Also part of the upgrade is the remapped ECU and the new titanium exhaust system, as well as the lower overall weight: 77 lbs less than the original version. For the inside, the Lamborghini received embroidered dragon figures and number plaques
South Korean carmaker Hyundai on Friday revealed their ”Connected Car concept” that uses NFC technology to allow users to open and close doors with their phone.
The system allows the driver to lock and unlock the car with an NFC-enabled smartphone and then, once inside, dock the device to activate the car’s telematic systems and to upload the driver’s personal profile — such as seat position, favorite radio stations, satellite navigation history and climate control settings.
The profile information is streamed to the vehicle’s 7-inch touch screen which also mirrors the smartphone’s content so that the driver has hands-free access to their contacts and address book.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “Hyundai’s Connectivity Concept showcases the brand’s philosophy of making tomorrow’s technology accessible to a wide range of customers.
With this technology, Hyundai is able to harness the all-in-one functionality of existing smartphone technology and integrating it into everyday driving in a seamless fashion.
As the technology continually develops there will be capabilities to store driver’s seating positions and exterior mirror settings, providing customers with a comfortable and individual driving environment.”
Enthusiasts and discerning car collectors now stands an exceptional opportunity to grab some of the rarest, best of category examples, and hand-picked selection of approximately 80 automotive icons, classics that have actually transcended the collector car hobby, at the RM Auctions’ Arizona sale on 18th January, 2013, held annually at the beautiful and majestic Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. Headlining early entries is a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘Competizione‘ which is simply irresistable to any serious Ferrari collector, the 1935 Cadillac Series 40 convertible featured the movie ‘The Artist’, an ultra-rare 1965 Ford GT40 which is estimated to fetch as much as $3 million, the 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster from the collection of John Pascucci, the 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Corto Spider, the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 R, and the 1962 Shelby ‘Factory Competition-Speciffication’ Cobra, to name a few.
You buy a Ferrari when you want to be somebody. You buy a Lamborghini when you are somebody,” said America’s evergreen icon Frank Sinatra, who counted a 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S among his fleet of luxury sedans and sports cars.
Now, Manoj Lulla is not much of a ‘do-be-do-be-do’ man, but the Chennai-based businessman sure knows he is a ‘somebody’.
Trouble is there are way too many ‘somebodies’ in post-reforms India—158,000 millionaires to be precise, as per a latest Credit Suisse report. So how do you stand out? Lulla decided to promote his garage: these days he drives his Lamborghini Gallardo home, literally, and parks it in the living room of his Chennai house, where he has made an extension with special track lighting to house the machine.
Well, there are more ways to stand out. Like the one followed by Lulla’s uber-rich brethren in the western part of India: For instance, you can embed the emblem of that other snob king-on-four wheels, Rolls Royce, with pure diamonds. The proud owner of Rolls Royce has got the Spirit of Ecstasy—the emblem—studded with 1,640 real diamonds.
“These are special customers. They are always on the lookout for something exclusive. One of our customers got a special paint created for his car—the specific red he wanted was not part of the colour options we have on offer. Then there is a customer who got the entire veneer in the car studded with mother of pearls. It took us four months to deliver,” says Sharad Kachalia, one of the leading dealers of Rolls Royce, about this extremely high net worth phenomenon.
Diverse Buyers
The craze is now leaving even the age factor behind. One of the new Lamborghini owners is a 16-year-old kid from the outskirts of Mumbai, who, thankfully, utilities the services of a driver.
“The profile of our car buyers shows that awareness and love for Lamborghini cars run deep. With regard to the 16-year-old, we have been assured by the family that he won’t drive till he is legally eligible to drive. We will train him, once he reaches that requisite age,” says Pavan Shetty, head of operations, National Sales Company for Lamborghini in India. Super car are not exactly a prerogative of celebrities and industrialists; the profile of some of the buyers and the places they come from reveal an all-new potential, he says.
“One of our owners lives in a place where there is no proper road to drive,” says Pratik Desai, VP at Exclusive Motors, a dealer of Bentley super-cars.
Boom In Ultra HNI Club
You can imagine the aspiration to own a brand like Bentley. For sure, economic growth is putting money in the hands of people. We have had customers walking into the showroom in the morning and driving out with the car in the evening,” adds Desai.
Wilfried Aulbur, former MD of Mercedes Benz India and now a managing partner at leading consultancy firm Roland Berger, who knows the luxury car market well, is not surprised. “Wealth is distributed across India. Some of them have made money in areas that are not necessarily every day in the newspaper, so you never know how the next Bentley owner may be,” he says.
According to Credit Suisse Research Institute’s Global Wealth Report, the number of millionaires in India stands at 158,000. And this number is likely to jump over 50% to 242,000 by 2017. The report says India has 237,000 members among the top 1% of the global rich club. There are 1,500 ultra-high net worth individuals with estimated wealth of over $50 million (around 700 of them with a net worth of over $100 million)
Widespread Demand
According to industry estimates, the market for super-luxury cars priced at Rs 1-2 crore stood at around 250-300 units in 2011, and the segment is expected to grow at over 50% with as many as eight cars being launched in 2011 and many brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati among others setting up base here. About 100 units of super super car like Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari and Porsches were sold, besides over 150 units of super-luxury saloons like Rolls Royce and Bentley last year.
“We are getting very good enquiries from Hyderabad, Cochin, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Baroda, Ahmedabad; you have some of the tier II-III towns we did not even expect and we hope to close some of this next year as we get more cars for 2013,” says Shetty. He already has 10 bookings on hand.
Aulbur says the overall penetration rate of super-luxury cars in India is still low compared with Russia and other markets. He counts lack of infrastructure and traffic congestion as major impediments. If these are taken care of, the market for luxury cars in India can explode like China did a decade ago, say experts. “It is just a matter of time before the sentiment improves and people start buying again,” adds Desai of Bentley.
Irresistible to any serious Ferrari collector; promising thrilling performance and future exhibition acclaim, the 17th of the 72 aluminum-bodied Competizione-specification SWB examples, known as one of the marque’s most prized berlinettas, is now being offered by RM Auctions at its Arizona sale. The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘Competizione’ by Carrozzeria Scaglietti’ on sale is just four owners from new, and has been exhibited at Pebble Beach, the Quail, and Villa d’Este. Described to be race-ready, this particular example ‘chassis #1905GT’ boasting an incredible provenance and originality has won multiple FCA Platinum awards, and is a recognized example of the rare alloy-bodied SWB. Also known to be one of the world’s most expensive vintage cars, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB is regarded as a grand touring car for really serious road racing. Besides, the auctioneer RM Auctions’ for the likes of astute collectors, will also be offering important, hand-picked selection of the world’s automobiles like the 1935 Cadillac Series 40 convertible featured the movie ‘The Artist’, the 1968 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 Coupe, 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe, to name a few. Any of these cars would look great in our Ferrari Themed Garage.
BMW has launched a 4G LTE hotspot for its cars, giving users high-speed mobile internet on the road.
The device, which works like a router, is designed to give passengers internet access whether using a smartphone, tablet or notebook and can support up to eight devices simultaneously.
It also has a built-in battery pack, meaning that it can be removed from the vehicle and used on the move for up to one hour before recharging.
The device’s range can be adjusted from three meters to up to 10 meters, meaning that the hotspot can stay in the vehicle but users can still access the internet when standing outside of the car.
“The very fast bit rates and extremely low latency mean that an internet connection supported by the BMW Car Hotspot LTE is often even faster than a PC connection in the home,” says Markus Dietz, Project Manager BMW Car Hotspot LTE Development.
Compatible with any new or existing BMW with a BMW telephone docking station, the LTE hotspot works via an LTE-compatible SIM card. Once inserted, each device needs to be registered via an eight-digit code and then it is ready to use.
However, because the LTE Hotspot also supports NFC (Near Field Communication), if a user’s device supports the technology, simply touching it against the hotspot will authenticate it and establish a high-speed internet connection. BMW claims that this is the first time NFC functionality has been offered in a production car.
“‘Plug and play’ is something of an overworked term, but this is the genuine article,” says Markus Dietz.
But maybe the best feature is that although it is designed to work seamlessly with a BMW car, because it can be connected to a vehicle via USB and has an input for an external power supply, the LTE Hotspot could potentially be used with any vehicle.
After about two decades of absence, the BMW Motorsport division has re-entered the DTM track, and quite successfully so. Bruno Spengler won the driver’s title, and the BMW Team Schnitzer also received a high ranking among teams.
The new BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition was developed specifically to celebrate this success, as a limited edition model with only 54 units scheduled for production. The car features a Frozen Black metallic paint job, matt black wheels, a series of dark chrome elements, and a set of “go faster” stripes that go along the CFRP roof and the trunk lid. The exterior is completed with a number of logos that speak of the car’s origins and source of inspiration.
On the inside, the M3 DTM Champion Edition features black Novillo leather upholstery, heated seats, Alcantara steering wheel, carbon fiber trims, embroidered handbrake, and custom sills with design inspiration from Bruno Spengler’s helmet. Other noteworthy features include the Park Distance Control system, M DCT Drivelogic, Competition package, M Drive, M Driver’s Package, and navigation system.
The new super car will hit the market in February 2013, it will flaunt quite a hefty price tag of €99,000 (about $128,500). Buyers will also receive the possibility to attend the BMW M Fascination Nordschleife driver training course at the Nürburgring.
German tuner Andreson took the R8super carfrom Audi to a whole new level. They intervened on every level, inside, outside and under the hood. The body kit includes a new front lip spoiler, a new large rear wing and an aggressive rear diffuser. Its new Hyper Black color matches perfectly with the smoked tail lights, the tinted windows and the 19-inch alloys with carbon fiber accents.
The new Audi R8 Hyper Black Edition also got an ECU remap and a new sport exhaust system which add 63 more horsepower to the 5.3-liter V10 engine and gives it a total of 581 horsepower. Inside, Anderson added some Alcantara, carbon fiber and orange accents. New leather seats are also part of the customization program.
Holy Grail of TV Star Cars to be Sold for First Time January 19, 2013 in Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson, the World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, announced today that it will offer one of the most recognized and popular pieces of entertainment history worldwide, at its 42nd annualScottsdale auction in January – the only 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car which was heavily modified by legendary customizer George Barris to become the original 1966 Batmobile in the live action TV series Batman, as well as the movie adaptation, starring Adam West. The car will cross the block alongside Barrett-Jackson’s 5000 Series on Saturday, January 19th from approximately 5:00pm – 9:00pm.
Still as striking as when it first came out of the paint shop, the original Batmobile has been a part of Barris’ personal collection since he first bought it from the Ford Motor Company for a dollar in 1965. Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction will mark the first time the car has gone up for sale since then.
We would love to do a Batman Themed Garage! Let us know if your interested!
Apr 26 2013 ·
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