cars

Ridiculously Sparkly Mercedes-Benz at the Tokyo Auto Salon

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

The Swarovski-Encrusted Lexus SC430

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Talk about a great way to ruin a beautiful car -- paste pink Swarovski crystals on every visible surface. More than 300,000 crystals cover the car's hood, trunk, license plate, and even wheel rims, forming roses, hearts, ribbons, and lots of general over-the-top girliness to symbolize the beauty of marriage. Even the interior features crystals next to the shift knob and on front and backseat throw pillows (what?).

Designed by Zheng Zhiren the car is currently on display in Taiwan and is apparently a big hit. It's valued at approximately $306,000.

Gallery: Swarovski-Encrusted Lexus SC430

Source

Tags: auto, autos, car, cars, japan, lexus, swarovski, wheels

Indy Race Car Experience Opens At Disney World

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The latest tourist attraction at Walt Disney World in Florida is a treat for the grown-ups The Indy Racing Experience lets parkgoeers get behind the wheel of an Indy racecar that were used in past Indianapolis 500 events. The Walt Disney World Speedway is a one-mile, paved tri-oval located just outside the gates of the Magic Kingdom. that is also home to the Richard Petty Experience Participants are suited up in authentic driver fire suits and aafter being strapped in by the Indy Racing Experience pit crew, they get to feel the speed, g-forces, and the pressure that comes with IndyCar racing. Those who prefer not to drive can take a ride in a two-seater driven by an Indy Racing League driver. The driving experience costs $399 for eight laps. The passenger experience is $109 for three laps.

[via The Guardian]

Source

Tags: cars, disney, race car driving, RaceCarDriving

Auto Shows Cutting Back

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Detroit Auto Show in January was once the place to see all the hot cars for the next model year but things are changing. This year three marquee brands, Land Rover, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce have opted out of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January. Why the change? Partly it may be because these brands don't sell a lot of cars in the Midwest. While the show offers a chance to impress journalists from around the world, they can probably pick up many of those same journalists at the Los Angeles show or in Europe. Not that Los Angeles is immune either. It is said that the L.A. show will have nearly 20% fewer exhibitors than it did last year. Exhibits are also less lavish and automakers are cutting back on the perks they offer for dealers as well as for those in the automotive media industry such as dinners, parties and sometimes hotel rooms for the shows. The Chicago Auto Show will also shrink in size by 15,000 square feet for its 2009 show and there are cutbacks planned for the New York show as well.

Source

Tags: car shows, cars, CarShows, detroit car show

Mercedes-Benz is Dreaming of a White Christmas

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Holiday Guides, Children

Mercedes-Benz Unveils New Gift Collection In Brilliant White For The Holidays

Mercedes-Benz makes holiday gifts for the whole family.

New this year, Mercedes-Benz has released a new gift collection in Brilliant White, with many items perfect for kids.

This little car will make any rugrat smile as he or she scoots around the brick driveway in style. Brand loyalty starts in the cradle, as they say, and this is a smart move for Mercedes-Benz.

"The high-profile whisper wheels fitted as standard on genuine Mercedes-Benz multi-spoke rims minimize the noise level."

The Brilliant White collection also features bicycles, hats, clothing, and a really great sled. See the gallery below for Luxist's favorite items from the new collection.

[via eMercedesBenz]

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Brilliant White Collection

Tags: brand loyalty, BrandLoyalty, cars, gifts, kids, mercedes, mercedes-benz, sleds, toys, white

Lamborghini Plans One-Make Race Series

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

Lamborghini is planning a single-make race series and the star of the show will be a competition-spec Gallardo LP560-4 called the Super Trofeo. It's all decked out with race-specific goodies like special adjustments to the chassis, ABS brakes, and wheels plus a more powerful 570hp engine (weee!). The series starts in May and each race will include 30 cars owned privately and by dealer teams, plus one celebrity-driven vehicle that will change at each event. €200,000 will get you in with a car and parts package, plus trackside support and admission to the luxury Lamborghini Village at each location.

Source

Tags: car, cars, lamborghini, lamborghini gallardo, LamborghiniGallardo, race series, RaceSeries, super trofeo, SuperTrofeo, wheels

Will Rolls-Royce Make An Electric Phantom?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

It looks very likely that in the near future Rolls fans will have the option of owning an all-electric version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Tom Purves, the Rolls-Royce CEO, has revealed that he'd not only like to build an electric Phantom but thinks it would fit in perfectly with what a lot of Rolls customers are looking for. Thanks to the technology used in the new BMW Mini-E the hard part of developing an electric engine that measures up is already done -- it's really just about refinement and tweaking a few technology details.

No word yet on when an electric Phantom can be expected but it sounds like it could be as soon as the next few years.

Source

Tags: auto, autos, bmw, car, cars, eco-friendly, electric, electric car, ElectricCar, green, mini cooper, mini e, MiniCooper, MiniE, phantom, rolls royce, rolls royce phantom, rolls-royce, RollsRoyce, RollsRoycePhantom, wheels

Italian Police Get New Lamborghini

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

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

Source

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: Luxury Cars & Autos, 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.

Source

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, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, 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!

Source

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

Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

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.

Gallery: Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey

1913 Locomobile Model M-48-3 Four-Passenger Baby Tonneau

1938 Packard Twelve Collapsible Touring Cabriolet

1936 Packard Twelve Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton

1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drophead Coupe

Source

Tags: car auction, CarAuction, cars, hershey, vintage cars, VintageCars

Diamond Europa Celebrates 60 Years of Lotus

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Our sister site (brother site?), autoblog, a few days ago posted the news that British sports car manufacturer Lotus celebrated its 60th birthday on September 14 at its Hethel headquarters in England with a special edition of the Europa. Specially configured for the diamond anniversary to appeal to the socialite-type set, the special custom gear shift lever and other switches are in-set with diamonds in black metal. The high-gloss black paint has tiny bits of glass in it, boasting more sparkle than an average metallic finish. The Europa also gets some unspecified performance upgrades that give it a sub-five-second 0-60 dash and 146 mph at the top end. We don't know, though, if this £150,000 Europa is a one-of-a-kind or if Lotus is planning to build more. Autoblog has the full press release.

Tags: car, cars, Europa, Lotus, Lotus 60th birthday, Lotus60thBirthday

Aston Martin To Revive The Lagonda Name

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

A celebrated British car brand is about to return to production. Lagonda will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and Aston Martin will bring back the brand which produced cars independently until 1947 when it was bought by Aston Martin. After that Aston used Lagonda as a model designation from 1976 to 1989 creating a boxy four-door car. The last model Lagonda produced was the 1961-65 Rapide, a nameplate which Aston used on its upcoming four-door coupe model under the Aston Martin name. The concept car for the new Lagonda will be be unveiled at the Geneva show next March. Autoblog's sources say that the new car may be a sedan competitor aimed at Bentley and Rolls-Royce but focused on more on performance than long distance cruising.

Source

Tags: aston martin, cars, england, lagonda

The Sound of Luxury Cars Rev A Woman's Engine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Men sometimes buy luxury cars partly based on the response from women. Now here comes the science to back up that behavior. British psychologist, David Moxon has performed a study for auto insurer Hiscox which says that the revving of a luxury car engine is sexually arousing to women. His research involved having 40 adults listen to recordings from Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari engines using the sound of a Volkswagen Polo for contrast. His team used saliva samples to measure the level of testosterone before and after listening to each car.

Moxon found that all the women had a significant increase in testosterone levels after listening to the Maserati engine but only half of the men marked an increase. By contrast the Volkswagen Polo led to a decrease in testosterone for some in the study. So maybe instead of putting on soft music when you want to get romantic you might want to try the throaty rumble of a Porsche instead.

Source

Tags: arousal, cars, lamborghini, porsche, science, women

Ferrari Monza, Too Fast For Human Hands

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Perhaps spurred on by too many crashes, Ferrari has created a new car that takes human error out of the equation. The Ferrari Monza concept was designed by Iman Maghsoudi. It can hit traveling speeds of 125 mph and is designed to be operated by a computer because the human brain is not fast enough to keep up with it. When it is traveling more slowly the driver can pilot it but once it shifts into high speed the computer changes the look of the car, angling those wing-like pieces known as canards over the front wheels to make sure the car doesn't take flight. It's still just an idea at this point but one that makes speed demons a little light-headed just thinking about it.

Source

Tags: cars, exotic, ferrari, monza

← Previous Page|Next Page →

cars

Featured Galleries

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

Also on AOL