One company that doesn't seem to have felt the financial pinch yet is Rolls-Royce. The luxury car company delivered 129 vehicles in September, which is up 7.5% over last year bringing total deliveries since the start of the year to 827. Rolls-Royce cites emerging economies including India as their strongest markets. The company hasn't released details on how many current orders it has but has said it remains confident about the future. The next move is the plan for the "baby" Rolls known as the RR4 which will be available in 2010. The push to bring car deliveries up to close to 2,000 by then has necessitated the creation of 200 additional jobs at the factory at Goodwood, East Sussex.
On October 29, RM Auctions will present an amazing collection of classic sports cars, including several stunning multimillion dollar Ferraris, at their Automobiles of London event. The star of the sale is a highly-prized 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California, estimated at $5 million - $6 million. Other hot-ticket Ferraris on the London block include a 1965 250 LM Berlinetta, est. $4.3 million - $4.8 million; a 1959 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, Est. $3 million - $3.8 million; and a gorgeous black 1968 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta (above), est. $1.3 million - $1.4 million. Also on offer is the ex-Park Lane 1997 McLaren F1, the last roadgoing F1 ever produced, est. $1.9 million - $2.4 million; and an ultra-rare 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante, est. $970,000 - $1.1 million. See the gallery for pix.
A 1928 Type 35B Bugatti has sold at auction in London for £2.5 million. It is believed to be the highest price paid for a Bugatti of this type, which in its day raced the first Monaco Grand Prix. Amazingly, the rare Bugatti still has all its original components, perhaps due to its move to Switzerland during the Second World War.
Auctioneer Chris Routledge was clearly impressed by the car. "It is an extraordinary piece of engineering," he said. "When you open the bonnet it is like looking inside a Swiss watch."
Its prior owner was the notorious former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee, who earlier this year was under investigation for using company funds and later found guilty of financial wrongdoing.
Aptera motors is gearing up to bring you the hovercraft you've always wanted. It's amazing, no? The way the wheels are positioned (using the same sophisticated technology that once brought you the tricycle), it appears to just glide down the road--or rather, above the road. Fascinating!
The best thing about the hovercraft (sorry, the Aptera) is its efficiency. This vehicle, though its appearance may be somewhat smoke, mirrors, and Back to the Future, gets 230 miles per gallon. That's pretty darn good, and you don't have to run it on trash or even power from the clocktower when struck by lightning.
The hybrid Aptera will begin production in 2009 and cost about $30,000. That's just around 8,500 gallons of gas!
All connoisseurs of beautiful design and objects, be they motorcycle enthusiasts or not, will appreciate The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence, just out from Motorbooks. There over 100 of them in the stunning volume, as lovingly photographed as any assemblage of supermodels by Henry Von Wartenberg. Though the book covers the whole of the marque's illustrious history - all 85 years - author Peter Gantriis focuses on BMW's incredibly gorgeous pre-World War II models, many from the incomparable Peter Nettesheim Collection, such as the awesome R32 from 1925 (above). These are bikes of almost sculptural beauty - but don't take our word for it, see for yourself in the gallery.
RM Auction returns to Hershey, Pennsylvania this week for the second annual Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction. On October 10th at Hershey Lodge, the auction will coincide with the AACA Eastern Division Fall Meet. The star attraction is a 1933 Duesenberg La Grande Phaeton, shown above, which is considered one of the rarest and most desirable of the open bodied Duesenbergs. It is estimated to sell for$1.8 to $2.4 million. Other cars on the block include a 1938 Packard Twelve Series 1608 Collapsible Touring Cabriolet by Brunn and a fully restored 1913 Locomobile Model M-48-3 Four-Passenger Baby Tonneau. The auction event will also present a series of individually customized pedal cars by some of today's leading automotive restorers and designers. The series of miniature classics have been specially handcrafted for the Hershey auction and proceeds from their sale will support the Antique Automobile Club of America.
At the Paris Motor Show, Maybach announced it was taking orders for its new open-topped Landaulet at $1.4 million a pop. The car, first floated as a concept at last year's Middle East International Auto Show, seems calculated to appeal to oil-rich sheikhs. In Paris the company displayed its one-off example in Gulf-friendly white with a two-tone Grand Nappa leather interior - black for the chauffeur's compartment and white for the passengers, reinforcing the fact that this car is made for those who do not have to drive themselves.
The hand-built to order Landaulet, ready for delivery later this fall, harkens back to the open-topped limousines that popes and kings used to be driven around in. It's based on the Maybach 62 S, billed as the world's most powerful series-produced luxury saloon. At $1.4 million, the Landaulet, Maybach's fifth model, is second only to the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport in terms of the world's most expensive production cars. No doubt they're hoping the economy improves so they can sell some of them.
Our sister site Autoblog is at the Paris Motor Show checking out the newest models. One of the most anticipated is the Ferrari California. The California is a new design that takes inspiration from classic Ferrari designs from the 1950s but with a modern Pininfarina spin. Under the hood there is a direct-inject, 460-hp version of the company's 4.3L V8. It is a performance machine but with a little more room and a more street-friendly style than some other Ferraris. So far the public seems to approve, the retractable-hardtop GT is already sold out until 2011.
Possibly the finest example extant of Jaguar's famed E-Type, aka the "automotive sex symbol of the '60s," will be auctioned off by Bonhams at The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Mass. today. Estimated at $120,000 - $150,000, making it one of the most expensive E-Types ever offered at auction, this 1967 roadster finished in the classic combination of British Racing Green with tan leather interior has captured several Best of Show and class wins and 100 point scores, from Amelia Island to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the E-Type's legendary power to attract the opposite sex was phrased best by American motoring writer Henry Manney III, who dubbed it "The greatest crumpet-catcher known to man." 1967 was the last year before Federally-mandated regulations tampered with the E-Type's perfection, increasing this example's desirability. In one ownership for 16 years, this model was exquisitely restored down to the last nut and bolt, taking an estimated 3000 hours of restoration time and at a cost of over $200,000; in other words, let your conscience rest easy while bidding - it's also a good deal.
At the Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini just unveiled its highly-anticipated four-door concept car, the Estoque (above). Designed for everyday use with seating for four adults and a roomy trunk, it's expected to sell for about $200,000. When it goes into production the Estoque, named for a short sword used by matadors in bullfights (referencing Lambo's bull logo), will be the luxury marque's third model following the Gallardo and Murcielago, and its first four-door aside from the former LM002 SUV. The 500 h.p. sedan is expected to hit a top speed of about 180 m.p.h. "We looked into the entire market and we saw what was missing was a limousine which is at the same time elegant but very sporty," Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann tells the IHT. Its release date will depend on "the reaction and on the developments in the market," he says.
Remember that Aston Martin DBS we told you about that got accidentally trashed during the filming of the new James Bond flick Quantum of Solace? Well now a fan has splashed out $350,000 for the wreck - about $120,000 more than a new DBS would cost. The supercar, one of six used on the Quantum set, was written off when technician Fraser Dunn crashed it through iron railings and into Lake Garda in Italy. The Aston had been slated for a scene in which Bond roars away from an explosion.
Now 007 star Daniel Craig has revealed the remains ended up in a collector's hands. "I think somebody paid about £200,000 for this written off Aston Martin," Craig tells the Glasgow Daily Record. "It was a Bond aficionado." Recalling the accident, Craig said, "It was early morning. It was a winding road, it was wet and I think he just lost control. But who cares? Because [Dunn]'s fine and it's only a car. I saw him the other night and shook his hand."
For the price of a $160,000 membership plus a $6,500 annual fee, you can get 50 days of high-speed driving in a fleet of supercars at Spain's lavish Ascari Race Resort. Situated in the dramatic southern Andalusian mountains, the Ascari consists of a luxury resort complex adjacent to a 3.4 mile racetrack designed to replicate famous Formula 1 courses. The resort features of a ten-villa luxury hotel, spa, salon, clay shooting range, pools, bars and a helicopter pad to take guests to a beautiful beach 15 minutes away. The fleet of cars ranges from several race-prepped Lotus Elises and BMWs to ex-Formula 1 machines and Ascari's own brand of supercar. However, they can procure Ferraris, Lamborghinis or "just about anything you could wish to drive on the circuit, given time and sufficient credit card headroom," BusinessWeek notes. See the gallery for more.
Boosted by its partnership with the James Bond franchise, Aston Martin has been named the coolest brand in the UK in CoolBrands' annual ranking. Aston, which has captured the top spot for three years running, soundly thrashed Ferrari (13th place) and Lamborghini (20th place), the other luxury car marques on the list. iPhone, Apple and Bang & Olufsen won the 2nd, 3rd and 4th spots, while the top fashion brand on the list is sexy lingerie purveyor Agent Provocateur at No. 8, beating out Rolex, No. 9.
"With excitement surrounding the release of the new film reaching fever pitch it is clear this is really contributing to Aston Martin's cool status," states CoolBrands council chairman Stephen Cheliotis. "The brand is indelibly linked with James Bond because of the past success of the films and not only how they're still hugely popular - but how the film and James Bond sums up a lot of what it means to be smooth, stylish and cool."
Ducati North America has announced the latest additions to their Monster line of craveworthy motorcycles, the Monster 1100 and 1100 S models. The Monster 1100 weighs only 371 lbs (369 lbs for the S version), making the lightest bike in its category.
The Monster 1100 S has 43mm titanium nitride coated Ohlins forks and progressive Ohlins rear shock absorber with adjustable pre-load and return damping. Carbon fiber cam belt covers, silencer guards and front fender shave the weight by a further 2.2 lbs. Both versions of the new Monster 1100 have removable single seat covers and are powered by the two-valve 1100cc Desmodromic twin-cylinder engine that boasts 95hp at 7500rpm and 79.5 lb/ft of torque at 6000rpm. The first chance to check out the new Monster 1100 in the U.S will be at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show in Phoenix Arizona; October 31- November 2nd. To tide you over until then check out a couple of big high-res pictures in the gallery below.
All phases of Dal Toro, Lamborghini's 20,000-sq.-ft., $30 million megaplex showroom / restaurant / boutique / nightclub / art gallery at the Palazzo Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas, are now open for business. Designed by renowned Italian architect Paolo Cortese, the 300-seat restaurant with its backdrop of supercars features black-and-white marble floors, wall-to-wall black leather paneling, silk fabrics, and glass-enclosed wine cellars with private dining tables.
The venue boasts over $2 million worth of artwork including the Charging Bull - the same as the famous one on Wall Street, and identical to the Lamborghini logo - by renowned Italian artist, Arturo di Modica, and paintings by German contemporary artist Horst Kohlem. There's also a club called the UltraLounge in the lower level, and the world's first Lamborghini fashion boutique carrying everything from polo shirts to iPod cases. And if you really want, they'll even sell you a Ferrari or Bugatti instead.
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