ferrari

Fiat Hopes To Attract Luxe Buyers To $17,000 Fiat 500 With Style

Can a car priced between $15,500 and $17,500 be of much interest to the typical luxury buyer?

It can if it's Italian and will soon be offered as a convertible and electric vehicle.

The new car is the Fiat 500, and it will start showing up in Fiat "Studios" any day now, starting in Los Angeles, and extending to 130 dealerships by the end of the year. Fiat USA's website has a full list of dealer locations.

The 500, of course, is the U.S. version of the Fiat Cinquecento that is offered today in Europe. The car seats four, has a 1.4 liter multi-air engine and comes offered in ten exterior colors and ten interiors. If you want to have a totally unique Fiat 500 in your neighborhood even if you aren't the only one, then it will be more than possible.

The entry-level car, the 500 "Pop," comes with a manual transmission, as does the mid-level version, the 500 "Sport." if you must have the automatic transmission, then you'll have to go for the top of the line "Lounge" edition.

The automatic was perfectly adequate during Luxist's drive of the car around San Diego, CA. But the manual will provide more driving enjoyment for those who like and can drive with a clutch and shifter.

The 500's EPA ratings are 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on highway. That's for the manual.
Cars equipped with the six-speed self-shifter will only achieve 27/34 mpg.

Fiat is making its re-entry to the U.S. after a 27 year hiatus. The Italian automaker in 2009 took control of U.S. automaker Chrysler as part of the company's bailout from the U.S. government and subsequent bankruptcy reorganization. Fiat is leveraging the Chrysler dealer network to re-introduce Fiat to American consumers, though the Fiat studios are, in many cases, in separate buildings from the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep lineups.

Tags: alfa romeo, Chrysler, design icons, Ferrari, Fiat, Fiat 500, Lancia, Maserati, MINI Cooper

Continue reading “Fiat Hopes To Attract Luxe Buyers To $17,000 Fiat 500 With Style”

EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist, Wealth

Last summer we reported that Mohamed al Fayed had sold famed London department store Harrods to Qatar's royal family for $2.2 billion. Now the ultra-rich businessman, equally well known as the father of the late Princess Diana's lover Dodi Fayed, is selling off his incredible car collection, featuring stunning custom classic Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and more. There are ten cars in all from al Fayed's collection starring in Bonhams' Paris sale of Motor Cars at the Grand Palais on Feb. 5 - chief among them being the 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 originally owned by John Lennon, expected to fetch up to $220,000, which we can now exclusively reveal comes from al Fayed's collection and was in fact owned by Dodi Fayed.

Next up are a remarkable pair of classic Rolls-Royce motorcars which al Fayed has refinished in custom Harrods Green livery, one with a royal pedigree. The 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine (above) was the property of H.R.H. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent until al Fayed acquired it in 1996, and is expected to fetch up to $200,000. The Duke of Kent's Rolls, which was originally painted black, still has its blue bullet lamp on the roof signifying Royal ownership. There's also a matching Harrods Green 1969 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine, estimated at up to $240,000. Read on for the full list of al Fayed's cars being offered for sale, including several other Ferraris:

Gallery: Mohamed al Fayed's Car Collection at Bonhams

Ex-Duke of Kent 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V

Tags: auctions, Bonhams, British royalty, classic cars, department store, Dodi Fayed, Ferrari, Harrods, London, mohamed+al+fayed, mohamedalfayed, Mohammed al Fayed, Paris, Princess Diana, Rolls-Royce, royalty, UK

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection”

Rare $5 Million Ferrari Stars in RM's Villa d'Este Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Rare $5 Million Ferrari Stars in RM's Villa d'Este Sale

A rare 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta by Pinin Farina (above) is expected to fetch up to $5 million at RM Auctions' debut sale during the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Lake Como on May 21. Resplendent in two-tone ivory and metallic blue, the unique Ferrari, s/n 0490 AM, was the last 375 MM built and reportedly the last Ferrari to carry the famed 'Mille Miglia' designation. Displayed on the Ferrari stand at the Turin Motor Show in 1955, its first owner was official Ferrari dealer and gentleman racer Inico Bernabei. 0490 AM was later acquired by Count Antonio Naselli before being exported to the U.S. In 2003, it was the recipient of an extensive, concours-quality restoration returning the car to its Turin Motor Show specifications. It has since been displayed at a number of the world's most prestigious concours events, including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2004 where it was judged 'Best in Class', as well as the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2005.

Tags: classic cars, Ferrari, Ferrari 375, Lake Como, RM Auctions, Villa dEste

New Ferrari Flagship Grand Tourer Coming Soon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

New Ferrari Flagship Grand Tourer Coming Soon

Ferrari is preparing to debut a new model this Friday. The car in question is set to replace the flagship 612 Scaglietti with a new "shooting brake" body-style and a 670-horsepower V12 engine with the reportedly possible addition of all-wheel drive, a Ferrari first.

The new model is set to be unveiled to select clientele the morning of Friday, January 21 before it gets its anticipated public debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. We'll be watching.

Source

Tags: 612 scaglietti, ferrari, ferrari 612 scaglietti

Ritz-Carlton Residences at Singer Island Host Grand Opening

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Luxury is on the rise in Palm Beach once again. Lionheart Capital, owner of The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singer Island, is hosting the official grand opening of the 8.8-acre oceanfront property on January 21. The two tower complex is one of only six stand-alone residential properties managed by the Ritz-Carlton brand worldwide. In June 2010, Lionheart, in partnership with Elliott Management Corporation, closed the $120 million bulk purchase of the remaining inventory at 2700 North Ocean (a total of 146 units in the 242-unit project). The property converted to The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singer Island, Palm Beach on November 1. Real estate in South Florida continues to struggle but news from this property is strong so far, with only 60 days on the market as a Ritz-Carlton, the property has already logged $20 million in sales.

The opening celebration includes accreted indoor/outdoor art tour featuring works from the private collections of Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz, Ella Cisneros Fontanals, Marvin and Elayne Mordes, Jane Holzer and Beth Rudin DeWoody, as well as pieces on loan from Art Palm Beach by Litvak Gallery and Albert Paley, among others. The event will include the unveiling of the Signature Residence models as well as samplings of food prepared by the property's new chef.

Tags: Ferrari, florida real estate, palm beach, palm beach florida, palm beach real estate, ritz-carlton, ritz-carlton residences, ritz-carlton singer island, singer island

Continue reading “Ritz-Carlton Residences at Singer Island Host Grand Opening”

Vertu Ascent Ti Ferrari Edition

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Cars & Autos

Luxury phone brand Vertu is back with another Ferrari-themed device. Based on the recently updated Ascent Ti, the Ferrari edition features a matte black PVD-coated titanium case with a sapphire crystal display, quad-band 3G connectivity and of course Vertu's trademark 24/7 concierge service to arrange everything from roadside assistance to the best nightspots for owners to be seen climbing out of their exotic supercars.

The special edition is further differentiated by red accents from the leather trim on the back to the crackle-finish side grips inspired by a Ferrari engine's cam cover, with the requisite Prancing Horse logo front and back. Only 2,011 examples will be offered this year, with prices expected to reach well into the thousands.

Source

Tags: ascent, ascent ti, ferrari, mobile, mobile phone, phone, vertu, vertu ascent, vertu ascent ti, vertu ascent ti ferrari, vertu ascent ti ferrari edition

Maserati Plans SUV Made In Detroit With Ferrari Engine

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

How is this for a mixed pedigree? Chrysler, which is managed by Fiat executives these days, plans to build a Maserati SUV in Detroit at an assembly plant that kicks out Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos, which are built on an engineering platform developed with Mercedes-Benz for its M Class SUV stemming from when Chrysler was owned by Daimler.

Now comes word that the forthcoming Maserati SUV will be fitted with a Ferrari engine. Fiat also owns Ferrari, which has supplied engines to Fiat's Lancia, Alfa-Romeo, Maserati cars, as well as Formula One teams.

"It will be a rock and roll engine," said Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. It may come in both a V-8 and a V-12 version, said the CEO in a roundtable interview at the North American International Auto Show that included Luxist.com

The SUV should be ready for Maserati showrooms worldwide in 2012.

Tags: Ferrari, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Maserati SUV, North American International Auto Show, Sergio Marchionne

Winning Ferrari F1 Car Listed for Sale at $3 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The amazing 2006 Ferrari 248 F1 racer (above) that was Philip Massa's No. 1 car for the 2006 Grand Prix season has been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $3 million. The car, designed by Rory Byrne and Aldo Costa featuring a 785 hp V8 engine, won seven of the last nine races of the '06 season; overall, the 248 gave Ferrari nine race wins and four pole positions, and second place finishes in both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. It's just one of the rare Ferrari F1 cars listed on the site by the UK's Red Dog; also up for grabs is a 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 F1 car for $2.2 million; a 1984 Ferrari 126 C4 F1 car for $940,000; and a 1994 Ferrari 412 T1 for $810,000, all with various victories under their bonnets. Gentlemen, start your engines.

Tags: F1, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula One, grand prix, JamesList, motor racing, race car, racecar, racing

Bonhams Auctioning Off John Lennon's Ferrari

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

If you were just getting your driver's license now, what car would you buy? John Lennon got a Ferrari. This is the one, and it's going up for auction.

The Beatles frontman didn't get his license until he was 25, rich and famous, and when he did, local car dealers lined up outside the gates of his Kenwood residence with an array of cars to choose from. He ultimately selected this French racing blue Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, and though it was soon joined in the motor pool by a Mini and a Rolls-Royce, this will always remain the first car of the rock & roll legend.

Destined for the auction block on February 5 at the Grand Palais in Paris, Bonhams estimates its value between €120,000 – 170,000 ($155-220k).

Gallery: John Lennon's 1965 Ferrari 330 GT

Tags: auction, bonhams, ferrari, ferrari 330 gt, john lennon, lennon

Amelia Island Concours to Celebrate Ferrari 250 GTO's 50th Anniversary

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

The legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, built between 1962 and 1964, is a holy grail for car collectors. The last one that came on the market is said to have sold for about $28 million. Ralph Lauren has one of course, as does Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, UK Ferrari maniac Chris Evans, and many men whose fortunes exceed all measure of normality. Now the renowned Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Florida has announced plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic car at its 2012 show. The organizers are hard at work delving into the history of the incredible vehicle in order to properly honor significant milestones in its evolution. The 250 GTO's anniversary will be celebrated at the event by figures who participated in its storied past, and an eye-popping assortment of the cars will be on display. Meanwhile the 2011 Concours is slated to take place from March 11–13 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

Gallery: 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO

Simon Clay c 2010 courtesy of RM Auctions

Tags: Chris Evans, classic cars, concours delegance, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GTO, Florida, Ralph Lauren, Ritz-Carlton

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Comte Noir by Graf Weckerle

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

A German tuning house has started up, and their claim to fame is intricately crafted wheels with a fleur-de-lis pattern. The ones on this Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, called the Comte Noir edition, take 20 days to make, forged as they are from titanium and aluminum.

Graf Weckerle has also given the Ferrari a boost in output from 620 horsepower to 835, along with suspension upgrades. The result is the Comte Noir edition – French for "black count" – and it's available for order now.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Comte Noir by Graf Weckerle

Source

Tags: 599, 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari, ferrari 599, ferrari 599 gtb fiorano, Graf Weckerle

Ferrari Enzo Prototype For Sale at $1 Million

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you're in the market for a million-dollar Ferrari supercar, the Enzo ought to do the trick and then some. And unless you live in Monte Carlo or Abu Dhabi, you're unlikely to see another one on the road. But if you want something even more rare, look no further than the vehicle you see here.

Developed as a prototype for the Enzo, this one-of-a-kind test mule may look like nothing more than a modified 348 (one of the least loved Ferraris of all time), but then that's what they said about the 288 GTO that gave birth in similar fashion to the legendary F40.

The prototype packs a 670-horsepower V12 lifted from a Scuderia Ferrari F1 race car with a six-speed sequential transmission, and is available for sale from German dealership Modena Motorsport for 750,000 euros – equivalent to approximately $1 million.

Source

Tags: enzo, ferrari, ferrari 348, ferrari enzo, ferrari prototype

A Look Inside Ralph Lauren's Billion-Dollar Garage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

We've written before about the automotive treasures in Ralph Lauren's car collection; now Vanity Fair has gotten an inside look at the lavish garage / gallery the designer recently built near his posh Westchester, NY estate to house them. Lauren transformed a former car dealership's storage facility into a shrine to the best in automotive design, with rooms dedicated to famous marques; the Ferrari room is pictured above, with a rare 1958 Testa Rossa taking center stage. The 60-plus ultra-valuable vehicles are all kept registered and ready to drive anytime the designer feels like going for a spin.

The eye-popping collection includes a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic worth an estimated $40 million alone – the world's most expensive car – a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix, a 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia roadster, the world's only 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi" roadster, a 1957 Jaguar XKSS, a McLaren F1, a 1929 "Blower" Bentley, a Ferrari 250 GT, and the only Lamborghini Reventon Roadster in the U.S. All have been maintained carefully since new, or restored to perfection – and "sometimes beyond perfection," the magazine notes, as some have been painted in colors that the billionaire decided were better than the originals.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, car collection, classic cars, designer, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GT, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz, Ralph Lauren, Vanity Fair, wealth, Westchester, worlds most expensive

Hugh Grant Has a Breakdown in His Ferrari California

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Hugh Grant had an embarrassing incident on the way to a posh golf club in Kent, UK the other day when his $220,000 Ferrari California broke down leaving him stranded on the roadside. Grant purchased the flashy car for his 50th birthday in August but seems to have ended up with an expensive lemon. The actor was on his way to play golf at the nearby Royal St. George's club when the Italian stallion stalled out, the London Daily Mail reports. He tried to rev the engine back to life, leaving the fast lane blocked and forcing passing cars to swerve out of the way. Unable to get it started again he eventually managed to pull off to the side of the road, where he then called a tow truck. After a long wait during which the actor answered a call of nature in the bushes as drivers gawked at the spectacle, he eventually he had to beg a ride from a passing VW van in order to make his tee time. Grant later took the car in to a Ferrari dealership in London where he read them the riot act.

Tags: car crash, celebrity, Ferrari, Ferrari California, golf, Hugh Grant, London, UK

Gooding's Time Capsule Cars for its 2011 Scottsdale Auctions

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events

Gooding will be unearthing some vintage competitors and a barely used road car to its 2011 Scottsdale Auctions next month: a barn find 1964 Shelby Cobra and 1965 Shelby GT350 R, 1964 Porsche 904, 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, the purported lowest-mileage unrestored Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster anywhere.

Said to be the only unrestored Cobra in blue and red livery, the '64 snake spent 33 years in "storage" yet comes off as surprisingly lustworthy in spite of that. It began life as Carroll Shelby's promo car at SoCal racing venues, it was dredged up from the deep to do the Postwar Preservation Class at this year's Pebble Beach, and now expects to find a good home for somewhere north of $525,000. The '65 Shelby GT350 R is a one-of-26 was campaigned and did plenty of winning in the B-Production Championship in the sixties.

Another serious racer was the four-cam, fiberglass-bodied '64 Porsche 904. The one up for auction was used to beat Phil Hill, who was driving a Cobra, at Candlestick Park in 1965. Finally, the '62 Mercedes 300SL has so few miles that it could qualify for a barn find: 7,367 original miles in 48 years and still in the care of its original owner. And isn't there always a yellow Ferrari lurking anywhere there's a high-dollar party? This one's a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, and it just goes to show that some thing never change. The bidding will begin when the gavel goes up, January 21-22 next year. (Images © Alejandro Rodriguez/Gooding, © Pawel Litwinski/Gooding, © Scott Nidermaier/Gooding)

Gallery: 1962 Mercedes 300SL