The other day we told you about the Sultan of Brunei's incredible 7,000-strong, multi-billion dollar car collection, boasting among other things some 450 Ferraris. Apparently the collection has been reduced by at least one – the filthy rich ruler's custom 1996 Ferrari F50 has just been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList. The price is undisclosed but we expect the rare auto, one of only two right hand drive factory-built F50's in existence, to be worth at least $1 million. Custom made for the Sultan, one of only 359 F50s ever produced, it has 5,000 miles on it. The F50's V12 engine kicks out 513 hp at 8,500 rpm with a torque of 470 nM. It does 0–60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 202 mph. Don't worry too much about the Sultan losing one the prize pieces from his collection, however; according to reports he should still have two more F50s in the garage – not to mention the 600 Rolls-Royces....

Back in February we reported on the mysterious filthy rich individual who purchased 10 Aston Martin One-77 supercars, limited to just 77 examples, for $1.7 million apiece or $23 million in total including fees. Now educated insiders are speculating that the Sultan of Brunei bought the cars to add to his multi-billion-dollar, 7,000-strong car collection, the world's most expensive auto hoard. According to Guinness World Records the Sultan's collection includes over 600 Rolls-Royces, more than 450 Ferraris, 570 Mercedes-Benzes, 380 Bentleys, 170 Porsches, dozens of Koenigseggs, and 20 Lamborghinis to name a few. He owns several rare custom, one-off and concept cars, some worth tens of millions apiece, including a Ferrari Mythos, a Jaguar XJ220 by Pininfarina, a Bentley Java, a Bentley Dominator SUV, bespoke Rolls-Royce and Ferrari station wagons, a Porsche Carma and a Koenigsegg Agera. Known for buying multiple models of supercars in order to have one in every color, he owns several McLaren F1s, six Ferrari FXXs, four Ferrari F40s and three Ferrari F50s. The Sultan, who's worth an estimated $20 billion, stores the collection in five heavily-guarded airplane hangars and employs a team of mechanics and specialists to keep the cars in perfect working condition.

The Volkswagen Jetta is the company's best selling car in the U.S., and it has of late been revealed that the 2010 Jetta is the final branch in one evolutionary tree. The 2011 version is a thing apart, an all-new sapling pollinated by a rethinking of what the Jetta needs to be. The key words in that new philosophy are bigger, lighter, faster, with better fuel economy and better features. And for all that, it's also less expensive. This is not a connect-the-dots evolution of the Jetta. In truth, it should be called the Quantum Leap Edition.

Photos of the new Audi A7 Sportback have leaked out a day ahead of its official reveal on Monday and as expected it's pretty much unchanged from the Sportback concept that Audi showed at the Detroit Auto Show last year. The platform is believed to be shared with the next generation A6 sedan and unlike BMW's 5 Series Gran Turismo it has a similar height to sedan siblings giving it much more attractive proportions.

Power will come from the usual Audi array of gas and diesel powerplants including a new 3.0-liter normally aspirated V6 with 290 horsepower and the latest generation clean-diesel V6. The A7 wouldn't be an Audi without Quattro all-wheel-drive and we'd expect the 7-speed dual-clutch S-Tronic gearbox that we loved so much in the S5 Cabrio to be part of the mix as well.

The A7 gets a similar new interior style to the recently introduced A8 sedan with a pop-up navigation screen that drops into the dashboard when not in use. The A7 will be unveiled live online from Munich on Monday.



[Source: CarScoop]

The star car at this year's Fairfield Concours d'Elegance will wears the Spirit of Ecstasy on her hood and no less ecstatic design all along her body. The 1939/47 Rolls-Royce Phantom III "Vutotal" Cabriolet by Labourdette, now in the John Rich Museum collection, started off as a standard Phantom III designed by Henry Royce. It was re-envisioned by coachbuilder Hooper and Co. in 1938 with a Sedanca de Ville for the chassis, then showed off in Europe before being tweaked for the U.S. market.

When that show car ended up in the Parisian studio of Henri Labourdette in the forties, he threw out everything but the running gear and rebodied the car gold-plating-and-brass-adorned aerodynamic bodywork that swooped back into a boattail. He also got rid of anything that identified it as a Rolls, save for its mascot and a couple of interior trim pieces. The final detail: the Vutotal windscreen, a thick slice of glass that appears to support itself. The conversion cost $44,000 at a time when the average price of a home was about $4,000.

Elsewhere on the Concours docket, featured judging classes will include Porsche, Bugatti, Period Hot Rods and Custom Cars from 1948 – 1964, there'll be regional vintage club gatherings, an auction conducted by Bonhams, and photographer Jesse Alexander will be the featured artist. The Barn Find category is a new one this year and is still accepting submissions to go with dusty, rusted hulks including the 1949 Willys Panel Wagon and 1961 AC Greyhound. The seventh annual Fairfield Concours opens its lawn on Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Well-known designers Miguel Galluzzi (who penned the original Ducati Monster and Aprilia RSV4) and Pierre Terblanche (who designed the classic Ducati Supermono, 999, Multistrada 620 and 1000 and Hypermotard) set out to redefine Moto Guzzi, a classic Italian motorcycle marque known these days more for building somewhat stodgy machines instead of anything overtly modern or sporty, with a trio of concepts bikes late last year. We'd say the duo succeeded.

Hell For Leather's Wes Siler got the inside scoop from the two designers, and he's documented it all via an interview and the first studio shots ever taken of the V12 Le Mans, Strada and V12 X. Both concepts are visually interesting, though we find the X particularly stunning with its supermoto-inspired styling and blacked-out details.

Take a look at both bikes in our high-res image gallery below, and check out HFL for more details on the Strada, V12 X and Le Mans.



[Source: Hell For Leather]

Ducati has managed to refine its already formidable middleweight sportbike for 2011 by adding more power via all new cylinder heads, pistons, throttle bodies and camshafts. According to the Italian manufacturer, horsepower is up six ponies to 140, which, when coupled with the 369 claimed weight, means the new 848 EVO is the most powerful bike in its class and even has a better power-to-weight ratio than the 2005 999.

Other top-level components include the massive Brembo Monobloc front braking calipers and a cross-mounted steering stabilizer, both of which are said to have been developed through racing feedback. The bike should get its official unveiling this weekend from the MotoGP race in California and sales are slated to begin later this summer. Asking price stands at $12,995 for the blacked-out Dark Edition or $13,995 in bright Ducati Red.



[Source: Ducati]

Ducati, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer known for producing some of the highest performing race-bred motorcycles in existence, is apparently looking to branch into new and untapped markets. Evidence of such can be seen in the sketch above, which is said to have been leaked by a dealership that was privy to the company's future plans.

It's expected that Ducati will introduce the world to its power cruiser concept at the EICMA motorcycle show in Italy later this year, but the image above gives us some hints as to what we can expect. First and foremost, a liquid-cooled Testastretta V-twin engine with the Multistrada 1200's 11-degree valve overlap angle will be featured. The mill should pump out 150 or more horsepower and will be controlled by a ride-by-wire system with traction control.

Perhaps the most controversial feature amongst Ducati fans is sure to be the massive rear tire, which is held firmly in place by a single-sided swingarm. Spy shots indicate that the rear hoop may be as wide as a 240, which will certainly have negative effects on the bike's handling characteristics. In contrast, inverted front forks and monobloc calipers are up-level items included up front.

As always, Ducati will use its trademark trellis chassis, and the power cruiser will reportedly sport a reasonable 40-degree lean angle. Stay tuned for more as the EICMA Show gets closer.

[Source: Ducati.ms via Asphalt & Rubber]

Opinion is divided as regards the styling of Ferrari's newest model, the 458 Italia. Regardless of your views vis-a-vis its aesthetic shortcomings, it's hard to argue that the famed marque's just-unveiled Challenge version of the supercar is a real looker. The track-only berlinetta is slated to compete alongside its predecessor the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli's 2011 season. In order to lower the vehicle's weight and get the most from its 570 hp V8 engine, Ferrari engineers reduced the thickness of the bodyshell panels using carbon fiber and tweaked the gearbox. As with previous Challenge models the 458 version will be available to both gentleman racers and pros with "the time and money to drive the car during race weekends on the world's leading circuits."

A British car design expert named Richard Sauter known for several important innovations has adapted the latest in green automotive technology to create the world's first zero carbon superyacht. The design for the lightweight 160-ft. yacht employs both Mercedes-Benz's BlueTec clean diesel engines and the KERS (kinetic energy regeneration) system used by Porsche in its new 918 Spyder hybrid supercar, along with solar power. Dubbed Transcendence, the sleek, high-performance yacht will be capable of 25 knots under full power using what Sauter claims is the cleanest marine propulsion system in the world. Solar cells situated on PV deck spoilers in addition to the KERS and plug-in sources of energy charge a lithium ion storage system that runs all the yacht's services including AC, day and night. The system allows Transcendence to achieve her maximum speed under peak loads and to navigate in and out of harbors with zero emissions under battery power alone. Inside are luxe accommodations for 10 guests as well as 12 crew, fitted with the latest high-end sustainable materials.

[via JamesList]

Between the Pink and Diesel editions, buyers looking at the Fiat 500C but looking for a little added dose of style have where to look. And now they've got another option, thanks to Italian customizers Romeo Ferraris.

The tuning house may be known for more hardcore models, but in the case of the limited-edition 500C Sardinia, has gone a decidedly more style-conscious route. Only 50 examples of the Fiat 500C Sardinia by Romeo Ferraris will be made, each featuring a unique shade of green inspired by Italy's emerald coast, offset by gold accents and sand-colored roof and leather interior with a cork dashboard. 16-inch wheels and a new exhaust are the only performance modifications, but you can see it all in the high-resolution image gallery below.

UK ultra-luxury publisher Kraken Opus, known for using real blood in some of their outlandish tomes, plans to charge $40,000 for a forthcoming book on Ferrari. The epic volume, which will be limited to just 399 copies, is signed by all living Ferrari champion racing drivers. The text is contributed by the world's finest automotive writers and interviewers, accompanied by hundreds of rare and previously unpublished archival images, including unseen pictures of Enzo Ferrari's villa and action inside Formula One racing pits, along with specially-commissioned photographs and illustrations. Opus uses special color processes and only the highest grade paper stocks, and each book is individually hand-bound and designed to stand the test of time and increase in value. A hedge-fund manager has already ordered 20 copies of the book (or $800,000 worth) and will pay Kraken a quarterly fee to store them in a climate-controlled facility, Karl Fowler, CEO of parent company Opus Media Group, tells the Wall St. Journal. Of course, for $40,000 you could buy a real Ferrari, albeit an older model like a 308 or Mondial.

It's not every day that the Queen's limousine is offered for sale. That day came a few months ago in the UK, where Her Majesty's 2001 Daimler Majestic V8 went up for sale. Now comes to consignment of Her Majesty's previous vehicle, the 1984 Daimler Double Six Long-Wheelbase Saloon you see here, marking the first time a royal limousine has been offered for sale publicly in the United States.

Built specifically for Her Majesty's use, this Daimler underwent over 2,000 miles of testing to iron out any kinks and was fitted with a series of special features before being delivered to Buckingham Palace, upon which it became the Queen's personal transport. Her Majesty was known to drive it around herself much of the time rather than take a back seat to an official chauffeur, driving herself along with princes and prime ministers around London and to her palaces across the kingdom. After being retired from service, it was returned to Jaguar where it became part of the company's museum.

Jaguar says that this will be the last of its royal limousines offered for sale, offered as it will be at the upcoming RM Auctions event in Monterey, California, during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, with pre-sale estimates placing its value between sixty and eighty thousand dollars.

Rare Aston Martins, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and more will make an impressive showing at Russo and Steele's sale during Monterey Classic Car Week in California on August 12–14. The top-riced lot is a 1963 Shelby Cobra CSX2009, specially built for the FIA/SCCA racing circuit with many victories to its credit from 1962–1971, estimated at $900,000–$1.2 million – but it's not our favorite car on offer. That would be this stunning 1968 Aston Martin DB6, originally owned by Volkswagen AG President Heinrich Nordhoff, estimated at $230,000–$310,000. Also on offer in the alluring auction: another Shelby Cobra, this one from 1965, a late production Mk 1 in impeccable condition, estimated at $450,000–$550,000; a beautiful 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, one of the most original models in existence, estimated at $225,000–$290,000; a handsome 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4, estimated at $100,000–$125,000; and a stunning early production concours-winning 1966 Lamborghini 350GT, estimated at $350,000–$425,000.