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Avert Your Eyes: The World's Ugliest Ferrari

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Art, Video


Digital art innovator Laurence Gartel has had his work exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art among others and is known for creating custom pieces for the likes of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.

His latest "masterpiece," however is rather abominable -- the world's ugliest Ferrari. And he claims it's worth $1 million.

We don't think Gartel, whose work is in the permanent collection of Smithsonian's Museum of American History, set out to make the luxury car unattractive. He transformed a $300,000 Ferrari F430 Scuderia into a moving canvas using every color imaginable in a nightmarish combination, apparently commissioned by "art social network," Artfellas.

Check out a video of the emetic supercar above, but be forewarned -- Ferrari lovers might cry, and the rest of you will probably need a bucket.

Video: Girls of the Geneva Motor Show

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Video


While we're enjoying the latest luxury and supercar news from our correspondent at the Geneva Motor Show, here's a video clip of some of the beautiful models who attracted the most stares. We're not talking about the machines themselves but rather the bevy of beauties hired to show them off to advantage. The Geneva show sees the debut of some of the world's hottest cars so the competition is fierce. While many spectators take the girls for granted, a sort of added attraction or sideshow to the main event, as The Classicist noted in this 2009 column car show girls are in fact carefully chosen "tools to present the [car brands'] corporate image in a very distinctive way." Our advice: don't read too much into it, just enjoy the show.

Qatari Pagani Zonda Uno Listed for Sale at $2.3 Million

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

Qatari Pagani Zonda Uno Listed for Sale at $2.3 Million
A one-of-a-kind Pagani Zonda Uno custom-built for Qatar's royal family – the ones who recently paid $2 billion for Harrods – has been listed for sale in Italy via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $2.3 million. As my colleague Noah Joseph reported last summer, the supercar borrows elements from the exclusive Zonda Cinque and blends them with parts from the track-only Zonda R (see video below) for a truly unique creation. The 690-horsepower 7.3-liter V12 engine paired with plenty of carbon fiber make it a barely street-legal beast that burns fuel like mad but has lots of fun doing it. It's painted a pretty garish shade of turquoise like all the Qatari royal vehicles, including the Lamborghini they crashed back in November. We have no idea why they're selling this one but we somehow doubt it's because they need the cash.


The Classicist: London's Luxe Salon Prive Comes to 'Gosford Park'

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events, The Classicist

gosford park
The Salon Privé, Europe's finest and largest dedicated display of supercars, exotics, classics and luxury goods in an English garden party setting, is moving to an amazing new venue this summer to house the largest exhibition to date and an incredible auction alongside. Syon Park (above), the sprawling London estate of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have lived there for over 400 years, is best known as the mansion used in the movie Gosford Park and is the last surviving ducal residence retaining its country estate in Greater London, making a fitting new setting for the five-star event slated for June 22nd – 24th.

To mark the occasion, RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house, has selected Salon Privé as the venue for its third annual European sale. Themed 'Quintessentially English' and scheduled for June 23, the new RM sale is set to become a regular fixture on the company's global events calendar, catering specifically for collectors with an affinity for British marques. Also joining the luxe event, now in its sixth season, for the first time is Land Rover who have confirmed that they will show the new Range Rover Evoque models which guests will be able to test drive.

2011 marks a return to the event for Porsche alongside such brands as Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Morgan and Rolls-Royce. In addition to the stunning display of modern super and luxury cars, the event's internationally renowned Concours d'Elégance returns with seven new categories and a display of some of the rarest and most valuable cars in the world. Examples of this year's categories include Ferrari 250 Competizione, Historic Grand Prix Single Seaters, Grand Routier, Oddballs, Motorcycles from the Steve McQueen era and a collection of stunning Rolls-Royce models to celebrate the 100 year centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy. [cont'd]

Le Mans-Winning Aston Martin That Inspired Bond's DBS for Sale at $1.5 Million

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos


The incredible Aston Martin DBR9 race car (above) that was the 2008 Le Mans GT1 class winner and fifth vehicle overall is a pretty mean piece of machinery in its own right. But the car, which was built in 2006, has an even more impressive item on its resumé: the DBR9's styling lead to the ultra-cool Aston Martin DBS driven by Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale. Now the iconic DBR9 has been listed for sale in the UK for about $1.5 million. Based on the DB9 road car, the name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title. The DBR9 features custom carbon fiber composite body panels for racing to help make the most of the 600 hp engine along with some other modifications built for speed. The racing history of the car with its famed blue and orange Gulf livery is varied and successful with 3 wins and 2 second places in the 2006 American Le Mans Series, and a win in the FIA GT1 Championship at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as well.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento for Sale at $2.5 Million

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos


The super-cool Sesto Elemento concept car unveiled by Lamborghini at the Paris Motor Show in September has been listed for sale by a Moscow exotic auto dealer via online global luxury marketplace JamesList for about $2.5 million. Though not exactly street legal, that's of no consequence if you're an oligarch with your own a private racetrack, of course. The name Sesto Elemento stands for the sixth element in the periodic table, i.e. carbon, and references Lamborghini's mastery of carbon fiber technology.

The supercar weighs only 999 kg making for an impressive power-to-weight ratio of just 1.75 kilograms per hp in conjunction with the V10 powerplant producing 570 hp. It can do 0 – 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds and hit a top speed of nearly 190 mph, though with lower fuel consumption and thus lower emissions than a heavier vehicle. The carbon fiber theme carries over to the interior as well, finishing the doors, cockpit and center console. Lamborghini has said that the car may go into a limited production run of 20 examples for track use only, but that will likely take a while.

$44 Million Yacht Tops Robb Report's 'Ultimate Gifts'

Filed under: Jewelry, Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Holiday Guides, Wealth


It seems that Robb Report, the glossy chronicle of the filthy rich, has come back down to Earth a bit after last year's offering of the world's most expensive Christmas present, a matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million. Each year the profligate publication features an Ultimate Gift Guide, a seasonal offering of over-the-top exclusives. This year's sybaritic selections top out at a measly $44 million, which gets the recipient Aquos Yachts' 164-ft. expedition superyacht Star Fish to be delivered in 2012 and a luxurious three-week, 10-person charter trip aboard her sister ship, the 148-ft. Big Fish, while you're waiting. Among the other big ticket items for the price-is-no-object set:

VIDEO: Proof that the Bugatti Veyron is a Powerful Aphrodisiac

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth, Video



Yes, it's true: if you drive a Bugatti Veyron women will literally throw themselves at you even if you look like Barry Diller on a bad hair day. We're not merely speculating, either - this is an actual video clip of just such an occurrence. The episode in question features an elderly fellow in a $2 million Veyron Grand Sport cruising one of London's poshest shopping districts. The senior citizen, who is obviously as flush with cash as he is follicularly challenged, attracts the notice of a lithesome twentysomething blonde in very short shorts who approaches the vehicle as a taxi idles behind. Less than a minute later she has asked for the driver's phone number which he happily inputs into her cell phone. His somewhat blasé expression during the transaction, which doesn't even require him to pull over, suggests this sort of thing happens to him all the time. Maybe she just liked the way the all-white Grand Sport matches her all-white outfit, but more likely it was the seductive roar of its 1,001 hp quad-turbocharged DOHC 64-valve W-16 engine – and the man who can afford it.

[via JamesList]

Qatar Royal Crashes Lamborghini in London

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Qatar Royal Crashes Lamborghini in London
Back in August we told you about the Qatar royals' $2.5 million in customized baby blue supercars which were clamped by the cops in London outside Harrods, which they bought for $2.2 billion last spring. Now a member of Qatar's ruling Al-Thani clan has crashed one of them, the $550,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce (above) in London as well. The car was nearly totaled at Hyde Park Corner after a high-speed chase involving a white BMW M5, which got the worst of it. "The BMW smashed into the central reservation, bounced off and then hit the Lamborghini," an eyewitness told the London Evening Standard. "Both cars were definitely traveling very fast." There were no injuries and no arrests following the incident, which came after most of the Arab playboys had taken their toys home again after a high octane summer. "We thought it was going to quieten down but it's picking up again," solicitor Bruce Beringer, who lives in the posh neighborhood, told the paper. "It's like a second season. We are kept up until 4 am because of the noise of these people revving their engines and racing down the street. These Bugattis and Ferraris make a huge amount of noise."

Lamborghini Discontinues the Murcielago

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos



After nine years and 4,099 examples built, the Lamborghini Murcielago has reached the end of its line. The final example – an orange SuperVeloce model – was built last week at the company's factory at Sant'Agata Bolognese in northern Italy. And there will be no more.

In its place, Lamborghini is anticipated to launch an all-new model that promises to eclipse the Murcielago with higher power and much lighter weight. The latter is expected to be achieved through the widespread use of carbon fiber, whereas the outgoing model was built on a steel chassis.

Pagani Zonda RAK

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

zonda rak

Have a spare $2.5 million sitting around? Then this one-of-a-kind Pagani Zonda can be yours. Called the Zonda RAK, it's been commissioned by Auto Salon Singen, a dealership in Germany, which has put it up for sale.

Like the PS, Uno, Tricolore, HH and 750 specials we've reported on previously, the RAK edition is a one-off, based essentially on the Zonda Cinque and decked out this time in yellow from exterior and the brake calipers to the top-stitching on the interior.

$2 Million Bugatti & Three Other Supercars Smashed in Wild Autobahn Weekend

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Crimes and Misdemeanors


A recent weekend in Germany saw the wanton destruction of a small fortune in supercars in a series of unbelievable smashups on the Autobahns. In the space of a mere 48 hours a Bugatti, two Lamborghinis and an Audi R8 were all totaled while traveling at eye-popping speeds. The first two casualties were a rare $2 million Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport (above) and a Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster, involved in separate incidents mere hours apart. The Lamborghini was driven by a 32-year-old who lost control of the car in Vaterstetten in lower Franconia but miraculously walked away unharmed. The driver of the Grand Sport lost control while passing another car at 125 mph, causing some $560,000 worth of damage. Then a black Lamborghini LP670-4SV driven by a couple of mechanics who'd just performed an oil change on the vehicle spun out and got pretty badly banged up. And finally a limited edition $200,000 Audi R8 GT, one of only 333 built, burned to cinders after crashing near Denkendorf on the A9.

Pagani Zonda 750

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos



Another day, another special edition of the Pagani Zonda. This time it's been commissioned by an unspecified Middle Eastern buyer. Called the Zonda 750, it's based on the limited-production Zonda Cinque, but is further distinguished by its unique purple paint scheme and a specially-designed rear window to accommodate the big overhead air intake.

With few details revealed with the trio of images, speculations circulating is that the 750 denotes the horsepower figure on the Mercedes AMG-built 7.3-liter V12, which would certainly push the Zonda's already unworldly performance into the next dimension. And of course there's no telling how much the customer paid for the privilege of owning a bespoke supercar tailored to his exact specifications, but as the old adage goes, if you have to ask....

Strand Craft Yacht & Supercar for Sale at $27.5 Million

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos, Architecture & Design


The Strand Craft 122 superyacht / supercar combo we first told you about back in May has moved beyond the concept stage into a production-ready rocketship. The first example has just been listed for sale by Sweden's Gray Design via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $27.5 million, with a slated delivery date of October 2013. The sleek 125-ft. craft will be able to reach a top speed of 55 knots with the use of her optional Rolls-Royce KaMeWa boosters kicking out over 14,000 hp. High gloss mahogany inlays on the foredeck and all-glass atrium covering the cockpit deliver the best facets of both open and closed yachting in one razor sharp high-tech package.

The retro-futuristic Art Deco interior features four large, bedrooms, reception and leather-upholstered salon areas alongside comfortable crew cabins. Elliptical bulletproof windows that stretch halfway across the hull and enough Greek marble to recreate Athens round out the fancy finishes. The specially handcrafted carbon fiber supercar that comes with it is a completely one-off design closely resembling the genetic form and fashion of the mothership. With a rear mounted, 880hp twin-turbo V12 engine it has an estimated 375 km/h top speed and a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds. A hydraulic garage door raises upwards and deploys a retractable ramp to become a dockside driveway.

VIDEO: Arab Playboys Race Their Supercars Around London

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth, Video


It seems that Bloomberg News finally caught up with our report last month on the cabal of mega-rich Arab playboys who made London the world's supercar capital this summer, shipping an estimated $80 million worth of eye-popping vehicles to the city while waiting out the heat in the UAE. As we noted at the time, Bugatti Veyrons have been seen cruising in Knightsbridge and making Mayfair seem more like Le Mans, while both the Bugatti a Pagani Zonda Cinque, one of only five in the world, are often parked at the Dorchester Hotel where some of the super-rich studs are staying. Rolls-Royces, custom Mercedes-McLaren SLRs, Lamborghinis, Koenigseggs, Ferraris and more are commonplace in certain posh neighborhoods, where protest groups have been formed to combat the problem. Of course, all those powerful machines in a densely populated area sometimes leads to trouble. Check out some of the video footage assembled by Bloomberg on the subject.

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