Luxist

The Eleanor Mustang

Deidre Woollard — 2008-07-20T16:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

Our siblings at Autoblog covered this way back in February but if you are looking a sexy ride like the one Nicolas Cage drove in "Gone in 60 Seconds" you can get your own version of the Eleanor Mustang. Classic Recreations, a custom supercar shop in Oklahoma, creates the special-edition Eleanor Mustangs which are available in a fuel-injected version with 535hp for $139,900, or a supercharged 770hp fuel-injected version for $189,900. The car is built with brand new bodies and modern sports car suspension for a racear feel.

The car has performance features such as as sequential fuel injection, giant cross-drilled Baer brakes and a custom 410cid Keith Craft Racing engine. It also has keyless entry, an in-dash DVD, five-point racing harnesses and custom leather interior. It takes approximately four months to build these turn-key muscle cars and each one has an original serial number.

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Résidence Supérieur "Extreme Luxury" Concept

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-07-20T14:03:00 00:00

Filed under: Decor, Journeys, Wheels, Real Estate Developments

Financial whiz turned "lifestyle designer" Richard Nilsson apparently felt that plain old luxury had lost its luster, so he decided to focus on "extreme luxury." When he was running a business empire Nilsson was only able to take one week off per year, so for his first project he came up with the "Résidence Supérieur" concept as an ultimate retreat where vacationing moguls and movie stars could pack as much luxury and privacy into their vacation as possible, cost be damned.

The first RS is the Villa Oxygene in Cannes on the French Riviera. In addition to ultra-luxe surroundings, it includes exotic sports cars, a private jet and helicopter, yacht, butler, chef, bodyguards and basically anything else you could wish for. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria recently shot an ice cream commercial there, and Nilsson is now planning other equally outrageous outposts. See the gallery for pix.

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iPhone Pouch Premieres At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin

Tracy Chait — 2008-07-19T15:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Gadgets, Wheels

3G iPhone, check. Mercedes GLK, check. How to merge the two? Enter a new exclusive "pouch" (more like a Birkin for your cell phone), crafted from white napa leather and glittering in Swarovski crystals to stash your phone. Currently even trickier to come by than an iPhone last Friday, the pouch has been released in a group of just 40 limited editions to be raffled off during this week's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. But they'll come to market in October 2008, along with the GLK, the "compact SUV" (oxymoron, anyone?) that made its stylish debut driving Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall to her first Berlin fashion show.

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San Diego Auto Museum's $75 Million Ferrari Exhibit

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-07-17T08:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels, Events

To celebrate its 20th anniversary this fall, the San Diego Automotive Museum (SDAM) is staging a a $75 million Ferrari exhibition. Ferrari: Cavallino Rampante will run from October 1st through the end of the year. Over 30 classic Ferraris will be on display, some for the very first time, during the exhibit which is being mounted in partnership with the Ferrari Owners Club of America.

SDAM will host a variety of events during the three-month show, including a two day Autostrada dei Deserto (From Shore to Sands) rally on Oct. 10-11 complete with a lavish party at the chic W Hotel San Diego. The first half of the exhibit will feature historic racing Ferraris, and the second half will focus on classic touring vehicles including a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L "Lusso", valued at over $2.5 million, and the beautiful 1965 275 GTB pictured above. See the gallery for more.

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Benz, Bugatti & Jag at Meadow Brook Auto Auction

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-07-16T12:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

On August 2nd, RM Auctions will sell of a stunning selection of classic cars, including a coveted Mercedes-Benz Gullwing (above), at the annual Meadow Brook Concours d'Élegance in Michigan. The event takes place at Meadow Brook Hall, the historic 110-room Tudor Revival mansion built in the 1920s by auto heiress Matilda Dodge Wilson. In May, RM set a world record by selling the 1961 Ferrari formerly owned by James Coburn which we wrote about for $11 million.

The Mercedes, a beautiful black 1956 300SL, is estimated at $575,000 - $675,000. We prefer it to the other, slightly more expensive Mercedes on offer, a 1936 500K three-position drophead coupe by Corsica, est. $600,000 - $750,000. Also included in the stunning sale: a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupe, est. $475,000 - $575,000; a 1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan by Castagna, similar to the one featured in Sunset Boulevard, est. $400,000 - $600,000; and a 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster, est. $80,000 - $110,000. See the gallery for more.

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Overfinch Country Pursuits Concept Car

Laura Malesich — 2008-07-15T15:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

Recently launched at London's Salon Privé on July 2nd, the Overfinch 'Country Pursuits Concept Car' is meant to attract the luxury-minded of the sporting class. With a 4.2-litre supercharged V8, Brembo brakes, an on/off-road adjustable suspension system, bespoke Nappa leather interior and olive ash veneer accents the vehicle is built for the refined sportsman who will remove their mucky boots before dashing inside. Hauling your like-minded comrades is sure to be festive with built in drink compartments for bubbly or what-have-you and the built-in rear storage for a gun case, cartridges and crystal drinking set gives your organized trunk a bit of panache. Personally I enjoy the Aubergine (that's a shade of purple for those of you who stick to the nine crayon box) look but I'm not sure most men would agree.

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Bonhams' Porsche and Lotus Auction

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-07-15T08:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

On July 26, London auction house Bonhams is staging a sale of Porsche and Lotus motorcars at the Silverstone Classic, one of the UK's premiere motor sport events. Unlike some auctions, the Silverstone sale skews to the more affordable side, without any million-dollar motorcars. In fact, most lots are priced below $100,000, yet there are several beautiful examples of highly collectible classics and contemporaries from the two famous marques.

For instance, the gorgeous 1959 Porsche 356B coupe pictured here, which is estimated at only $36,000 - $40,000 and is in impeccable condition. Also on offer: a legendary 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS touring coupé, est. $220,000 - $260,000; a 1972 Porsche 911 3.0-litre rally car, est. $80,000 - $100,000; a 2007 Lotus Exige Cup 255 coupé, est. $90,000 - $110,000; a 1967 Porsche 911 2-litre coupe, est. $64,000 - $72,000; and a 1973/2006 Lotus Elan +2 Spyder Zetec coupe, est. $40,000 - $50,000. See the gallery for pix.

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Ferrari Is In The Custom Car Business

Laura Malesich — 2008-07-14T14:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

Custom luxury cars are no longer limited to just Pininfarina or Carrozzeria Touring because the delightful customization of Ferrari's own has begun. Have two million euros? Check. Choose a Ferrari chassis and powertrain of choice? Check. Customize your very own prancing horse sportscar...intriguing. There are a couple of limits, like no SUV's, wagons or sedans, and I am sure there is a level of taste expected since the company wouldn't want to place their emblem on just any crazy concoction but beyond that the possibilities are endless.

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Maserati: Low Gas Mileage, Hot Sales

Deidre Woollard — 2008-07-12T15:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

Just last week I mentioned the poor sales for the Hummer and speculated that gas prices could have something to do with it. How then to explain the high sales of the Maserati, a car known for its sleek looks and high price but not its gas mileage? Bloomberg reports that sales of Fiat's Maseratis jumped 20 percent in the U.S. last month and are up 16 percent in this year when sales of all luxury cars are down 15 percent.

Auto analyst Wes Brown says that Maserati fills a niche, it's a bit more distinctive than a Mercedes but not quite as pricey as a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Maserati says that the average purchaser is a 54-year-old male with household income of $750,000. These gentlemen certainly aren't getting fuel economy. The 405-horsepower Maserati GranTurismo coup gets 13 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Quattroporte, with a list price starting at around $120,000 gets 12 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. Not exactly fuel saving numbers but then again, buyers aren't looking for a workhorse for their commuting needs, this is a pleasure vehicle.

Is this just more of the continued high spending at the top of the luxury market or is there something special about the Maserati that makes the buyer want to throw caution, and sidelong looks at gas pumps, to the wind?

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2009 BMW 7 Series Revealed

Laura Malesich — 2008-07-07T12:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

Recently the fifth-generation of the BMW 7 series was secretly unveiled in Munich but don't worry it will soon be publicly presented in Paris in September. As the first car to offer full on-demand internet access which allows passengers to surf the web via an iDrive system, complete with color monitor and rotary controller, the new BMW 7 Series for 2009 is high tech, fast and fashionable. The new ride even sports rear-wheel steering...how does that work?! Surely, BMW has always been a desired automobile but I have to say the internet on the road, plus the usual classy luxury and high performance engine, make the new 7 Series one of the must-haves of this coming year.

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$4 Million Jaguar Headlines Goodwood Auto Auction

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-07-07T08:01:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

An ultra-rare 1955 Jaguar D-Type (above), the first production example ever made, is being auctioned off by Bonhams during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Sussex, England on July 11. The car, which carries an estimate of $4 - $5 million and has a colorful racing history, is one of the most coveted sportscars ever produced; a similar one was owned by Steve McQueen.

Also featured in the historic sale: a super-cool lime green 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S Series II Berlinetta similar to those owned by Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis, est. $440,000 - $500,000; a rare 1968 Bizzarrini GT Strada 5300 coupé, exhibited at the first Louis Vuitton Concours D'elegance in 1990, est. $400,000 - $500,000; a 1962 Cooper-Climax Type 61 'Monaco', raced by several famous name and one of only three believed to be in existence, est. $300,000 - $360,000; a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 competition saloon, est. $200,000 - $240,000; and more.

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Hard Times For Hummer

Deidre Woollard — 2008-07-06T16:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

For years, the Hummer from General Motors has been a symbol of American exuberance. The beefy road-dominating car was a freeway favorite for its spacious interior even spawning a whole fleet of Hummer limos. But with gas and oil prices at all time highs, the brand is in big trouble. In an article in the Baltimore Sun, new figures from Autodata show that sales of the SUV are down 40 percent through June. The Hummer has the dubious honor of being the worst selling car brand in America right now. Hummer owners are also facing increasing scrutiny from the more environmentally-minded drivers who see the car as a vehicular affront to green values.

Still, there will always be Hummer fans. Those who are very tall and those who have money to spend on big cars with low gas mileage such as professional athletes will always have room in their garage for this car. The Hummer's brash masculine style still drives people to showrooms but the recent economic woes have weeded out those who are not hard-core enthusiasts.

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Generation Y's Hunger For Luxury Cars

Rigel Gregg — 2008-07-02T11:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

Generation Y is commonly touted as the generation of entitlement and immediate gratification, and although some might argue it seems luxury car sales and statistics are backing up the "I want it now" trend of young people. BMW's M3, for example, is a car that starts at $54,000, and although that price tag would normally mean an older and wealthier demographic its most popular buyer is in their mid-20s. It seems the young people of today not only want high-end luxury cars but they're stretching themselves and scrimping in other places to have them. Brands across the board are noticing the trend, which in today's economy is a little surprising (and scary!).

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Pininfarina Building Custom Rolls-Royce Hyperion

Rigel Gregg — 2008-06-30T19:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is the basis for a privately commissioned one-off to be built by Pininfarina. The buyer/collector remains anonymous at this point, and although there aren't many details available we do know that the car will be named Hyperion (of Greek mythology) and the inspiration for the car's style will be pre-war Rolls-Royce models.

Look for the car to debut in August at Pebble Beach. Maybe then we'll get to see the who the mystery owner is? (And find out how much this baby cost!).

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Tour Italy at the Wheel of a Ferrari

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-06-30T08:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Journeys, Wheels

A while back we told you about Itlay's poshest places to stay; now we'll tell you about the poshest way to get to them - Red Travel Italia has upgraded their Ferrari tours we first mentioned last year. At the wheel of the Ferrari of your choice - their new models include the 430 Scuderia F1, 599 GTB Fiorano F1, F430 Spider, and 612 Scaglietti F1 - you can tour regions such as Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, and cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence and Naples, with five-star stops along the way. Itineraries ranging from one to eight days are custom-tailored for a "subtle blend of art, gastronomy, fashion, architecture, and spectacular scenery." And now an assistant in an Alfa-Romeo will follow at a discreet distance to attend to your every need and make sure you don't get lost en route. Visit www.red-travel.com and see the gallery for more.

[Via UrbanDaddy]

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Astor Collection Auto Auction This Weekend

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-06-27T12:06:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

Renowned entrepreneur and broadcast veteran Art Astor is selling off part of his famous car collection in Anaheim, California this weekend. The sale, conducted by RM Auctions, mainly features American cars with a few classic imports of the kind we're partial to thrown in. We're particularly fond of this 1970 Jaguar XKE Series II Roadster, for example, which with an estimate of only $40,000 - $60,000 is something of a bargain. Also included in the sale: a 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I "Playboy" roadster which was used as a movie car and has been driven by Bette Davis and Robert Redford, est. $175,000 - $250,000; a 1968 Jaguar XKE Series I.5 2+2 Fixed Head Coupe, est. $30,000 - $40,000; a 1961 Jaguar XK150 3.8 Roadster, est. $80,000 - $120,000; a rare 1941 Chrysler Town & Country Nine-Passenger Estate "woody" wagon, est. $250,000 - $300,000; and a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster. est. $125,000 - $150,000. See the gallery for pix, and place your bids online at LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Bonhams' $2 Million Motorcycle Auction

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-06-26T16:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

On Monday, Bonhams will auction off an astounding collection of vintage motorcycles worth $2 million at the Royal Air Force Museum in London. The sale represents the largest single-owner collection of motorbikes ever to come to auction; all 300 machines are from the Professor Fritz Ehn Motorcycle Museum in Austria. Our favorite lots are two wicked - and wickedly fast - British-made Vincents: the 1955 998cc Black Prince, pictured here, est. $56,000 - $64,000; and a 1952 998cc Black Shadow, the fastest road-going vehicle of its time, est. $44,000 - $56,000.

Also included in the historic sale: a 1935 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp, ak.a. the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" as driven by T. E. Lawrence (the famous Lawrence of Arabia), est. $50,000 - $60,000; a 1927 BMW 500cc R47, est. $36,000 - $44,000; a 1937 Ariel 995cc Square Four Model 4G, est. $20,000 - $24,000; as well as many other examples by Harley Davidson, Ducati, Triumph and more.

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Nurburgring Driving Experience

Deidre Woollard — 2008-06-26T14:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Journeys, Wheels

If you are a serious racing enthusiast there are certain places that you dream of driving in order to test your mettle. One of them is the Nurburgring racing circuit in Germany. It is one of the longest and most challenging race courses in the world including 170 turns and 1000 feet in elevation changes.

Distinctive Driving Tours, which operates luxury driving tours, is now offering an all-inclusive track tour of the Nurburgring racing circuit, this August. The experience costs $8,000 (without airfare) and includes transportation to and from the airport, accommodations (based on double occupancy), breakfast, lunch and a cocktail reception. Guests will also receive instruction from International Drivers Training and track time in 10 different vehicles, including the Lotus Exige, Porsche 911, Audi TT, Renault Megane Sport, Volkswagen Golf GTI and BMW's 120i, 135i, 320si and 325i. Use of a Porsche GT3 RS is available for an extra $2,200 to $4,400 (half day or full day) supplement.

Distinctive Driving Tours offers a variety of other driving adventures including a Nascar experience and driving getaways in Arizona and California as well as annual trips to the Monaco F1 and LeMans.

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Versace Ltd. Edition Lamborghini to be Available in Fall

Jared Paul Stern — 2008-06-25T18:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Apparel, Wheels

The limited-edition Lamborghini by Versace which we first wrote about plans for in 2006 is finally going into production for fall. The car, which will be a convertible in contrast to the coupe originally developed, will be a bright pastel white with a black-and-white leather interior. The price of the special-order Murciélago LP 640 Roadster Versace has yet to be named, but expect to pay a healthy premium above the model's already hefty base price of $358,000. The V12 roadster, designed by Donatella Versace and just unveiled in Milan during Men's Fashion Week, will feature a see-through engine bay cover and the fashion house's signature Greek key motif on the doors, front fascia and nappa leather seats. Versace has also designed an accompanying line of black calfskin accessories including luggage, wallet, gloves, driving shoes, hat and even a pair of leather jeans all bearing an engraved metal Lamborghini Versace tag.

[via Kempt & Autoblog]

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BMW's GINA Concept: A Whole New Kind of "Convertible"

Rigel Gregg — 2008-06-24T14:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Wheels

The new GINA Light Visionary Model concept by BMW is a whole new kind of convertible that's a shape-shifter of sorts. The body of the car is made up of a flexible fabric that's stretched over a movable metal frame, so the car actually changes it's shape based on what features you activate. For example if you turn the headlights on the front end rearranges itself to expose the them and allow the light to reach the road, but when you're not using the headlights they remain hidden. Same with the doors, you can't see them unless you're using them.

No word on when (or if) this car will go into production, and when (or if) it does what kind of price point we're looking at. But if it does ever come into existence will you be interested in owning one? I kinda would be, as long as all that fabric doesn't start to flap around and make noise when driving at interstate speeds. %Gallery-25944%

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