automobiles

Ridiculously Sparkly Mercedes-Benz at the Tokyo Auto Salon

Filed under: Wheels

This is ridiculous.

Remember the $350,000 Swarovski-studded Mercedes-Benz at the 2007 Moscow Millionaire Fair? Well, they've done it again.

The above photo is from the Tokyo Auto Salon 2009, and it features a customized Mercedes-Benz SL600 (aka the Luxury Crystal Benz) covered in 300,000 Swarovski crystals. We don't know how much it costs, but frankly, we weren't about to purchase it.

Even Barbie wouldn't get in that gaudy thing.

[via Luxury Launches]

Tags: 2009, auto show, automobiles, AutoShow, benz, car, cars, mercedes, mercedes-benz, swarovski, tokyo, tokyo auto salon, TokyoAutoSalon

Italian Police Get New Lamborghini

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels

I've seen the occasional Mustang or Camaro police car before and thought that the cop driving it must feel pretty special, but that's nothing compared to how awesome the Italian police must feel: they just got a brand new Lamborghini Gallardo.

The Gallardo LP560-4 is all decked out with the usual police decals and lights, plus they managed to squeeze in all the high tech police equipment like radio and video equipment, gun racks, and even a cooler (for body parts?!).

It's not Italy's first law enforcement Lamborghini (Rome has had one for awhile) but still! Pretty awesome.

Gallery: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia

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Tags: auto, automobiles, autos, car, cars, gallardo, lamborghini, lamborghini gallardo, LamborghiniGallardo, wheels

Lux Tip: Drive a Luxury Car for Less

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels, Lux Tips

Want to drive a luxury brand automobile but can't afford it? You might be surprised to find that many luxury brands (like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Lincoln) offer vehicles that start in the low 30s. Just by foregoing a few extras like a bigger engine and built-in GPS you could be driving a new luxury car for about the same as you'd expect to pay for a nice Toyota or Honda. It really comes down to deciding if the term "fully loaded" is really that important to you -- do you have to have that gas-guzzling V8? If the answer is 'no' then you suddenly have a lot more options.

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Tags: audi, auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, bmw, car, cars, lincoln, lux tip, lux tips, LuxTip, LuxTips, mercedes, mercedes-benz, tip, tips, wheels

Aptera: Hovercraft-Chic

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Journeys, Wheels, Wings

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!

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Tags: aptera, automobiles, back to the future, BackToTheFuture, cars, hovercraft, motors

Renting a Car the High-Class Way

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wheels

I think having an excuse to rent a car is fun, and what makes it even funner (yeah, I know that's not really a word!) is to get a really nice car that's comfortable and fun to drive. Now for some people a Mustang convertible might be the height of car-renting luxury, but for others names like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Bentley are what really sound good. Car clubs and car rental agencies that specialize in high-end luxury automobiles have seen major growth over recent years, resulting in more opportunities for those car lovers who, for whatever reason, just aren't looking to commit to a purchase.

And who doesn't want to be that person spotted in a new luxe car?

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Tags: automobiles, car, car club, car clubs, CarClub, CarClubs, cars, rent, rental, rentals, renting, wheels

Drop in Demand for Luxury Cars Continues

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels

Do luxury markets really hold up better than others during an economic crunch? Many experts say no, and it would seem the steady decline in luxury auto sales is backing them up. Estimates say that automobile sales fell in March, which would mark the 5th straight month of decline and could result in the lowest numbers since 2005. Analysts speculate the drop in auto buyers has to do with several factors, including higher-end buyers holding onto their vehicles longer (waiting for the market to improve) and fewer entry-level lux auto owners being able to afford to buy right now due to increasing costs in other areas of their budget.

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Tags: auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, economy, luxury, luxury market, LuxuryMarket, money, shopping, spending, wheels

What Your Expensive Car Says to Your Dates

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels

So if you're single chances are you've either got a big date tonight/this weekend, or you wish you did. It's a story lived by millions everyday all over the world who are looking for love. We tend to worry and agonize over what we wear and what we do in an attempt to make the right first impression, but have you ever thought about what the car you drive is saying to those potential dates? From "well-rounded and stylish" to "determined and driven to succeed" it may be telling them a lot before they even get a chance to meet you in person. Check out some of these examples and see if your car is saying what you thought it was.

Gallery: What Your Car Says About You

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Tags: automobiles, cars, dating, love, relationships, Valentine, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, wheels

Simon Cowell Picks Up A Bugatti Veyron

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels, Celebrity Shopping

Simon Cowell blew some serious cash on some serious wheels recently when he had some spare time on his hands (and apparently some spare cash) due to a week off work for the Rugby World Cup. He dropped over £1,000,000 in LA on two new cars: a £750,000 Bugatti Veyron and a £400,000 Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Somehow this doesn't surprise me. Simon Cowell hardly seems to shy away from flash and attention, and although fast cars don't necessarily mean an ego problem (I would love to have a Veyron myself!) I think in his case they might!

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Tags: auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, bugatti, bugatti veyron, BugattiVeyron, car, cars, cowell, ferrari, phantom, phantom coupe, PhantomCoupe, rolls royce, RollsRoyce, simon cowell, SimonCowell, veyron, wheels

Luxury Car Condos and Extreme Garages

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wheels

The thing about collecting cars is that storage easily becomes an issue -- you can't leave a 1956 Mercedes-Benz sitting out on the street. But if you're regular garage is already full of other vehicles, what's to be done? Usually cars end up in storage garages or in public parking facilities, but obviously sitting an investment like that in a corner somewhere under a tarp collecting dust is hardly ideal.

Enter the Taj Garage (I can't help but smile at the name), and other companies like it springing up across the country. They will work with you to create a customized car-storage experience -- basically a beautiful, clean condo for your vehicle(s) to live in complete with bathroom, wet bar, 24 hour security, and maybe even a private rooftop club for socializing with your car-minded condo neighbors. Now it can't get much better than that.

Via Trendir

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Tags: auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, car, cars

The Colorless Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels

I love a shiny red sports car as much as the next person, but here's something completely different: how about getting a new Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang and passing on the paint job altogether? The colorless design ends up two-toned, and highlights both the functionality and artistic beauty of the vehicle. The dark carbonfiber down the center covers the W16 engine, passenger cell, crash box, and linkages to the wheels while the shinier aluminum sides give the car its sleek shape and silhouette. The car will be available in limited edition for about 1.4m euros.

So what do you think? I love it.

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Tags: auto, automobiles, bugatti, bugatti veyron, BugattiVeyron, car, cars, pur sang, PurSang, veyron, wheels

The Most Envied Cars

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels

The cliché "money can't buy everything" is true, and we're not just talking about love or happiness. Money may not be able to buy you the car you want either, depending on exactly which one it is. According to this list the most sought after and coveted car in the world is the Aston Marton DBS. Have one? Be proud, because if you don't not only will you have to dish out $265,000 but you'll also have to spend 28 months or more on the waiting list.

Other cars with enormous "envy" factors include the Morgan Aeromax, the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, and the Ferrari F599 GTB Fiorano.

I am so green right now.

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Tags: auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, car, cars, covet, coveted, desired, envied, envy, exclusive

Rocky Mountain Concours D'Elegance

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Journeys, Wheels, Events

The latest resort spot to host a Concours 'Elegance is Colorado Springs. The inaugural Rocky Mountain Concours d' Elegance at the The Broadmoor hotel is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend. The two-day event begins with the "Tour of the Gods" with a parade of automobiles and motorcycles to Glen Eyrie Castle. That evening there is a gala dinner which includes a display of rare cars and motorcycles as well as a live auction. The Concours is scheduled for Sunday at the Broadmoor's West Golf course. The event will include selections from the Otis Chandler collection, Rudyard Kipling's 1916 Pierce–Arrow limousine, author Clive Cussler's 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K, John Lennon's 1965 Rolls Royce Limousine and "The World Fastest Indian," the 1920 Indian Scout built by Burt Munro of New Zealand, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the recent movie. Admission to the Concours is $40 at the gate. Tickets to the gala dinner are $175.

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Tags: automobiles, collectible cars, colorado springs, ColoradoSprings, concours

The Latest High-Tech Amenities For Luxury Cars

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wheels

Remember when getting a CD player in your car meant an upgrade package? These days it's almost impossible to find a car that doesn't come with one standard. And extras that used to only be available on luxury cars, like heated leather seats and GPS, are now available for reasonable prices on much more economical car brands. So this leaves the luxury car companies hustling to come up with the latest and baddest technology to set their cars apart from the masses. So what are they coming up with? Some good stuff:

Night vision A small dashboard screen shows the driver thermal imaging of people, animals, and other heated objects in the area.
Broadcast TV, because regular 'ol DVDs just aren't good enough.
Brand name sound systems including names like Mark Levinson, Bang & Olufsen, and Bose.
Spa seating, which means cooled seats in the summer (and of course heated in the winter), seats that recline with pop-up footrests, and built-in shiatsu massagers.
HD Radio Suddenly your local radio stations can sound as crisp and clear as your CDs or your satellite radio favorites.
Smart warning systems, which include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, blind spot warnings, and collision warnings.

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Tags: amenities, automobiles, autos, car, cars, extras, luxury, vehicle, vehicles, wheels

BMW Welt. BMW's Fancy New Palace Of Cars

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wheels

BMW Welt, or BMW World in English, is located in Munich Germany and is designed to present new BMW owners with their vehicles in the best light possible -- literally. After purchasing a new BMW, owners will have the option of passing on picking up their car the boring way (at a local dealer) and can instead head over to get the full treatment at BMW Welt. Their car will be gleaming and glittering under a spotlight while spinning slowly on a turntable -- what better way to see your brand new purchase for the first time?

Of course there's a lot more going on at BMW Welt than just cars on turntables, although with 170 cars being delivered there daily come October there's got to be a lot of turning going on.

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Tags: auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, bmw, bmw welt, bmw world, BmwWelt, BmwWorld, car, cars, drive, drivers, germany, munich, wheels

The DeLorean is Coming Back

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Deloreans are still quite popular these days, especially considering they were a fairly short-lived and limited brand that went out of production way back in 1982. Of course the movie Back to the Future can claim most of the credit for the cult following the car received, but the gull-wing doors and space-age design is what got it chosen for the movie in the first place. And now the thousands of refurbished and rebuilt DeLoreans on the roads will have to share the street with new models, because the DeLorean is going back into production.

A new car company comprised of devout DeLorean fans who have been refurbishing them for years is planning to begin building brand new DeLoreans sometime next year. Called DeLorean Motor Company (yep, they got the rights to the name) the cars will be very exclusive with only 20 or so made per year. And pricing? Well back in 1982 they went for around $25,000...do you think we could be so lucky? Yeah, I think not.

Via Gizmodo

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Tags: auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, Back to the Future, BackToTheFuture, car, cars, DeLorean, DeLoreans

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