Liking what you see but curious how much it costs? Well, Chevrolet is finally here with some price announcements regarding the new Corvette Stingray and its Convertible sibling. Before giving you the exact numbers (enjoying the suspense?) we should tell you that even though specifications have been significantly improved, the prices haven’t soared in a spectacular manner. More specifically, the new coupe is just $1,400 pricier, while the convertible version is $2,395 more expensive than the previous generation.
And now for the actual prices: the Stingray Convertible has a base price of $56,995, and the Stingray Coupe has a MSRP of $51,995. These are, however, only the starting points, as more options will mean more money, and they could up the cost to as much as $20,000. A lot, we know, but even so, the Stingray is reportedly more affordable than rival luxury sports coupes (such as the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911).
So what will the base version bring to the table? Apparently plenty of cool stuff. The convertible will get a removable roof panel made of carbon fiber, and a smart key fob that enables the driver to lower the roof from a distance.The coupe will flaunt HID headlight with LED running lights, a seven-speed manual transmission, and a cool Bose audio system. While the standard version is not at all a bad choice, we believe many of the available options will prove too tempting for most buyersto resist.
When you are rich enough, it would be perhaps be a perfect match to have everything in a private collection, most of which would otherwise be public area? Whether it’s the homes and estates, the luxury yachts, or even private islands, the super rich will perhaps go the extra mile in order to flaunt and take into procession large rare portions of the earth, which other people who just dream of visiting in their lives. Now there is one such opportunity where the legendary German Formula 1 racetrack, called the Nurburgring, is up for sale for a private buyer. There is also news that there could be a serious discussion with a handful of interested parties, who are perhaps trying to work around the $161.39 million (€125 million) price tag of this famed circuit. Jens Leiser, the appointed liquidator also says that the ring could be sold in parts, or whole, and also that none of the parties in talks now are oil sheikhs or Russian oligarchs.
Named after one of the fastest, strongest and most aggressive fighting bulls ever, here’s an ultra-exclusive Lamborghini Veneno, a road-going Italian super sports car and racing prototype which will celebrate its first-ever public appearance at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show as a tribute to the Automobili Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary. Limited to just 3 unique examples to be built and sold for as much as $3.9 million, the Lamborghini Veneno boasts a design focused on optimum aerodynamics and cornering stability, giving this powerful machine the real dynamic experience of a racing prototype, yet making it fully homologated for the road. After already being sold to customers at a price of $3.9 million, this street-legal racing car becomes the world’s most expensive Lamborghini which with a maximum output of 552 kW / 750 hp accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a whip of 2.8 seconds, while offering the top speed of 355 km/h.
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.
Launched in September 2012, the emission-free Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive which is described as the ‘world’s most powerful series production electric car’ has now inspired the creation of “Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept” engineering design, the latest development of Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing which will be launched at the Miami International Boat Show. Described to be the world’s most powerful and fastest electric drive powerboat electrified by Mercedes-Benz, the 38 foot long Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept with an output of 2,200 hp and a maximum torque of 3000 Newton meters is truly a fascinating new concept that cruises with a speed of 160 km/h. Cigarette Racing is however been working closely with Mercedes-AMG for several years, and has delivered impressive speedsters of the waters like the Cigarette racing boatsinspired by Mercedes Benz AMG Black series, the Cigarette 46’ Rider XPspeedboat, and the 46-foot Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Cigarette boatwhich took its inspiration from Mercedes’ SLS AMGsupercar, to name a few.
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.
Founded back in 1913 by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin as ‘Bamford & Martin Ltd’, the iconic British sports car brandAston Martin, which is known for designing stylish hand-built sports cars with highly competitive performance aspects, has now launched its year of centenary celebrations with a return to its roots. The luxury brand marked the start of its birthday celebrations on January 15th with the unveiling of a bespoke, special, new Centenary Edition of its ultimate GT, the Vanquish. Representing an exclusive new celebration of the automaker’s 100-year history, the Centenary Edition Vanquish boasts an exceptional graduated paint finish, a hallmark, and sterling silver Aston Martin wing badges. However, the opportunity to own and enjoy such an incredible piece of Aston Martin’s rich heritage has been made ultra-exclusive as only 100 examples of this machine will be produced.
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
The Chevrolet Corvette is as American as a cheeseburger with fries or fireworks on the Fourth of July.
A motoring icon and for many the only true US sportscar that can be mentioned in the same breath as the raging bulls of Lamborghini or prancing horses of Ferrari, it’s hard to believe that the two-seater V8 turns 60 years old in 2013.
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.
For the likes of the most avid McLaren owners, fans or those most focused on enjoying the thrill of the open road, the British manufacturer of luxury, high-performance super car McLaren Automotive has now launched bespoke merchandise inspired by its highly advanced and lightning-fast road-going super car MP4-12C. Exclusively available at the McLaren eStore, the versatile range of fashionable products which primarily focuses on the passion of driving, includes a variety of stylish accessories, clothing and high-end luggage-set which has been designed in collaboration with the McLaren Automotive design studio to maximize the 144-litres of space beneath the bonnet of the 12C. Notably, the luggage-set crafted out of carbon-fiber was also included in the special-edition of the 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider ‘Volcano Red’ that was the part of the annual Neiman Marcus Christmas Book 2012.
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.
Discerning car collectors now stand a rare opportunity to become one of an elite few to be able to join the distinguished Ford GT40 owner’s club, as a rare 1965 GT40 with chassis No. P/1034 is being offered by RM Auctions. This high-performance British-American sports car originally produced to win long-distance sports car races against Ferrari, and is the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 4 consecutive times, is actually the most celebrated and highly sought after in collector circles. Finished in Pine Green color, this ultra-rare Ford GT40 that actually revolutionized America’s stance in the supercar segment is expected to fetch as much as $3 million at the RM auction scheduled to be held on January 18th in Phoenix, Arizona. However, auctioneer RM Auctions’ at its Monterey Auction also earlier offered two rare Ford GT40 racing cars, includinga remarkable 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight racing car with chassis P/1074, which went on to sell for a record $11 million price to become the most expensive American carsold at auction.
It sounds simple enough, but the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving has pulled out all the stops to get you there. Everything we do is geared toward instilling The Bondurant Method within you. In order to promote our method, we push ourselves to bring you the best of everything – the finest facility, the most up-to-date supercar and equipment, the most qualified staff, the best training methods, and the highest standards in order to help you reach your goals – whatever they may be.
Bespoke 1.6-mile track on a 60-acre facility, designed by world champion driver Bob Bondurant himself? Yes. Classroom facilities to instill some car-control basics? Yes. A couple of hundred late-model GM cars to select from, depending on what course you take – all of which have fully-functional, ice-cold air conditioning for your complete comfort? Yes. A complete, dedicated, on-site maintenance facility that checks, replaces and repairs any items that have worn out? Check. A staff of long-term, knowledgeable, enthusiastic instructors – guys who are in it because they love to drive and love to teach? Yes. Pitside classroom? Yes. Driving suits and helmets that will fit 99 percent of the head and body types in America today?Yes. A first-class crew of people behind the scenes working to make sure that you have the time of your life? Yes.
Apr 19 2013 ·
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