Which Make Makes the Best Luxury Car? March 2011 Poll

Well, you guys have voted, and the results are in.  The Poll for March 2011, "Which make makes the best luxury car?" you guys have voted Mercedes. Yay! for Mercedes.

Most Ugly Camry Modified

Wire wheel covers: check. Colored tape on the headlights: check. Mass amounts of chrome trim: check. Fake triple side-exit exhaust: check.

I swear this guy isn’t even a teenager. The owner is almost eighty years old and is retired. At least it sounds good, even great. But still...

More Pics ---> Cardomain

2009 Maserati Gran Turismo MC Sport Line

Looks like Maserati is getting into some territory usually reserved for the customizers when it unveiled a new special edition at the Bologna Auto Show, the MC Sport Line. Starting with a GranTurismo S, Maserati adds front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers, side skirts with a matte black central panel, carbon fiber mirror housings and exterior door handles, and glossy black 20" wheel rims.



Maserati also added performance enhancing elements. The suspension has been upgraded to stiffer springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. There’s also new software for Maserati’s Stability Program, which the company says allows the driver "more freedom".

Because this comes directly from Maserati everything is done in good taste. This makes it a much harder sell for some of the custom jobs out there. Although this MC Sport Line is based on the GranTurismo S, Maserati says it will bring the Sport Line features to the GranTurismo and then the entire Maserati line-up in 2009.

More pics ---> Top Speed

Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $28.5 million!

A Ferrari 250 GTO just took the honor of being the world’s most expensive car after it was sold for $28.5 million (that's more than a Buggati). The car is now in England with its new owner, and you can imagine he wants the exact location of his new treasure to remain secret.

There were only 39 GTOs ever produced (most cars in its class have over 100 examples produced at the time,) and monay experts say that the 250 GTO is one of the most most desirable Ferraris ever.

The 250 GTO is powered by a 3 liter (180 cubic inches) engine, a version of the Gioacchino Colombo short-block designed V12. All engines were tested on a dynomometer and found to achieve between 290 to just over 300 horsepower, peaking at around 7500 rpm. The car is capable of a top speed of 174 mph and makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.4 seconds. Pretty good for such an old car.

Source: Top Speed

Cadillac XLR-V by D3

D3, is a tuner from California that has unveiled to us a new masterpiece. The new customization kit for Cadillac XLR-V. The kit includes a new chrome grill, corsa muffler tips, a set of 19 inch alloy rims. The main boos is that of the new intake air system, modding of the ECU system which has boosted up the horsepower to 525 hp.
Even though it seems like enough, D3 also has an option of upgrading to stage 2, boosting up to 575 hp and also a stage 3 having a total horsepower of 600. Making it a true American sports car.

Total Price: $117,735

ASI's 800hp Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT

What does SEMA mean to you? For most of us, it's a place for the country's top tuners to show their wares to a power-hungry public. But the dark side of SEMA never ceases to rear its ugly head, and further proof will be available at the Toyo booth where the Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT will be displayed.

The unholy brainchild of Japanese tuner ASI features a custom carbon fiber wide-body kit that makes ASMA's unfortunate creations look demure in comparison. The two-tone paint scheme... uhhh... compliments the massive haunches, deep side skirts and GT-style wing, while 22-inch blingalicious rollers prove that chrome is still in high demand... unfortunately.

According to Modified Luxury and Exotics, only 29 Tetsu GTRs will be produced, each putting out over 800 hp. We'll be on hand to provide live shots of the other five vehicles featured at the Toyo stand, assuming our camera lens doesn't crack when we zoom in on the GTR's gaudy fascia.

Source: Luxury Exotics

Pirelli Is Rolling Out The Intelligent "Cyber" Tyre

Pirelli has announced a further innovation in the ongoing quest to remove the driving from driving. Sensors have been stashed in tires already for the hasty implementation of TPMS, but Pirelli has taken it a step further, putting a sensor package on the tire carcass itself. One implementation of the "Cyber Tire" is the "Lean," which harnesses power from the vibrations of the vehicle and beams information including tire pressure, temperature, and load to the vehicle's computer.

Cyber Tire Lean is setting things rolling for the eventual trotting out of full-blown Cyber Tire, which will be built into the tire. The high tech rubber will be more sophisticated and capable of communicating directly with stability control and anti-lock brakes to improve the effectiveness of dynamic safety systems. Cyber Tire will also carry a three-axis accelerometer that will facilitate real-time calculations of friction coefficients, contact force, and load. Pirelli is most proud of the edge the Cyber Tire will give the nanny systems to catch and correct idiotic driving faster than ever before.

p.s. Pirelli tires are the best tires I have ever bought for my car.

Source: Auto Channel

The Golden Roller: Rolls-Royce Golden Drophead Coupe

It's a truth universally acknowledged that the most extravagant examples of over-blinged, taste-deprived millionaire-mobiles tend to come from aftermarket tuning houses.

But, as proof that a reputation for taste and class doesn't preclude the occasional dalliance into ghastly over-the-topness, this delicious little number, this golden Drophead Coupe, comes straight from Rolls-Royce.

It was created as part of the Rolls-Royce 'Bespoke Programme', which allows customers to have pretty much any colour scheme and interior choice, no matter how hideous. Surely there are laws against this sort of thing.

As you've probably guessed, this golden Roller is headed for the Middle East: Abu Dhabi to be precise.

Our favourite touch? The gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy on the bonnet. How long do you reckon that's going to last?

Source: Top Gear

2009 Audi RS 6 - Twin Turbo V10, AWD, Coming to the United States!

The 2009 Audi RS6 is among the most beautiful luxury sports cars in the world. In the German horsepower war that is now bordering on ridiculous, Audi has positioned the RS6 against mid-size super luxury sport sedans from BMW M-Power and Mercedes-Benz AMG. Audi's RS line falls somewhere between the BMW ideal, that is to say making complete, well-tuned drivers cars with servicable amounts of power, and the AMG model of outputting as much horsepower as possible, and then trying to surround the AMG dream motors with components that can handle that incredible thrust.

Audi's RS6 Sedan, complementing the Avant, a wagon model that has been released in Europe, has been long awaited by Audi fans worldwide. The 2009 RS6 has styling following Audi's new design direction. All of the German luxury automakers are shifting away from the design fad toward shapely -- if perhaps overstyled -- models in favor of a more simple and clean designs. The RS6 does a performance number on the Audi A6 and S6 models, managing to look refreshingly exciting without screaming, "Hey, look at me, I have money and my car is faster than yours!" 2009 RS6 performance numbers are astounding. The mid-size luxury sedan, which can hardly be called a sleeper but will still surprise many a hardcore tuner at a stoplight fight, runs the 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, according to Audi. Real-world tests are not yet available, but as the RS6 has 580 horsepower on tap from a twin-turbocharged V10 (!!) it is possible that the RS6 will run slightly quicker numbers than Audi admits.

Like nearly all German performance cars, the Audi RS6 is electronically limited to 155 mph, but for those speed buffs who want to utilize the whole force of this sweet V10, Audi offers a performance boosting option for the RS6 that will raise the governer to 174 mph. Read on for the official Audi news release, with all the details on the forthcoming RS6 luxury sport sedan.

Engine

Power bhp: 580

Torque lb-ft: 479

Type: Twin Turbo V10

Performance

Acceleration 0-62 mph: 4.6 Seconds

Top Speed: 174 mph

Rolls Royce Silver... Bullitt with 1040 Hp Hemi V8

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this kitschy Silver Shadow isn’t your typical chauffeur driven Rolls Royce. The custom made limo is equipped with a 592 Hemi V8 that with the help of a dual stage nitrous system pumps out a mouthwatering 1040Hp. Leaving aside the pimp-my-Impala steering wheel, another interesting detail is the roll cage that’s wrapped around with leather and contrast stitching.

British Luxury: The Bentley Azure

The Azure name is most notable for being convertible versions of already present Bentley sedans. Chopping the top, changing the visual look and making the sedan into a two door coupe are what the changes basically represent. From 1995 to 2003, the Bentley Azure was a convertible version of the Continental sedan. In 2006, the name was resurrected for a convertible version of the Arnage sedan. Both cars had 6.7L V-8 engines but with different outputs. The Old Azure made 400 horsepower except the T edition which made 420; the Azure that it currently being produced makes 450 horsepower.

Project Kahn Bentley Continental GTS ‘Black Edition’

Project Kahn is proud to announce the launch of the new Bentley Continental GTS ‘Black Edition’.

The ‘Black Edition’ has an eight-piece body consisting of a three piece rear valance, two side skirts, a two piece front valance and a rear boot spoiler. This kit has been developed by our Project Kahn design team and has undergone many hours of testing not only to ensure safety but also to ensure that a perfect fit is achieved for each car.

The ‘Black Edition’ package contains a full interior styling program which includes a bespoke Project Kahn Luxury Leather upgrade and high gloss piano black interior fascia panels with the optional extras of either a high gloss piano black steering or a carbon fibre finish steering wheel. Each car comes with privacy tinted glass perfectly matched to compliment the cars exterior. To complete the ‘low to the road’ aggressive stance the ‘black edition’ is fitted with a Project Kahn electronic lowering module. As standard the suspension is lowered by 20mm but this can be adjusted according to the customers’ requirements.
Each ‘Black Edition’ is fitted with the Project Kahn GTS sports exhaust system which provides a slight increase in performance whilst accelerating but more importantly emits a unique sound emanating from the car as a deep rumble.

However the most unique feature of the ‘Black Edition’ is the addition of the new ‘Silver Mist’ alloy wheel.

Source: Tuning News

2008 B&B Audi S5

The new Audi S5, tuned by B&B, reaches in the B&B level 1 modification having 300 hp and impressive 325 hp in level 2, as 3.0 TDI version. The classical Audi S5 4.2 V8 can be optimized in 5 stages up to a maximum of power of 400hp. This allows speedup to 62 mph in under 5 seconds and possible top speed of 175 mph in association with the annulment of the speed limiter.

To stabilize the A5 steering performance B&B uses a special sport chassis which reduces the height of the original chassis by max. 40mm. In combination with the new B12 wheels in
9” x 20” with maximum tyres in 255/30-20 the whole modification allows higher rates of turn and a firmer handling of the car.To meet the risen requirements an adapted aerodynamic program including B&B sport end pipes “RS-Style” is as well available and finishes the aesthetical appearance of the Audi A5.

2009 Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe

As if we didn't have enough already with the four door Roll Royce Phantom. This 2 door coupe is more than enough to satisfy the needs of the rich and not so famous. Superior styling as always and a superior V12 engine pulling out 453 horsepower and 531 lb-ft torque going from 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. The Rolls Royce phantom is for those young professional people who don't have a family yet but want to roll in luxury. Or for the man who wants to go on a special trip with his wife alone on the weekend.

Engine

Power bhp: 453

Torque lb-ft: 531

Type: V12

Performance

Acceleration 0-60 mph: 5.6 Seconds

Top Speed: 155 (electronically limited)

Base Price for 2009 Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe: $412,000

2007 BMW Alpina B7

The effect is one of subtle performance emphasis, fully appropriate to the 7 Series’ elegant and substantial presence but leaving no doubt that this is a special performance 7.

Inside the B7: Special Instrumentation and Controls Any

7 Series BMW offers its driver and passengers lavish luxury, fine materials and tasteful design. To this sumptuous ambiance, Alpina adds its own touches, both ergonomic and esthetic; the level of regular-production BMW standard equipment has been raised considerably as well.

Special Alpina features. First and foremost, it’s performance that characterizes the B7. And once seated behind the special Alpina steering wheel, the B7 driver is quickly and keenly aware of this emphasis.

Upon stepping in over the handsome B7 doorsill trims and setting his or her foot on the fine floormat with its Alpina logo, the driver can assess an instrument cluster with the traditional Alpina Blue as its background color and Alpina lettering at bottom right. Four readings from the iDrive system’s On-board Computer can be called up conveniently via a button on the turn-signal stalk: remaining fuel in tank, range on fuel, distance to destination and a digital display of current vehicle speed.

The steering wheel itself presents distinctive visual character and function: in its center, the Alpina logo; on its rim Lavalina leather and special stitching, plus symbols for the SWITCH-TRONIC transmission’s upshift and downshift buttons. These “+” and “-“ inscriptions are in Alpina Blue, and denote the actual locations of the shift buttons on the wheel’s forward side (away from the driver).

Engine

Power bhp:500

Torque: 516

Type: Supercharged V8

Performance

Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.8

Top Speed: 186

2008 Lexus IS-F

Lexus has built a rival that competes with the new BMW m3. The Lexus is also fitted with a V8 just like the m3, produces 400 horsepower from a 5.1 liter engine. It is the world's first eight speed direct sport-shift transmission. The Lexus IS-F produces what it promises, 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds with smoothness provided by the eight speed transmission. The styling is Japanese but with the luxuries of a Lexus.
Engine

Power bhp: 400

Torque lb-ft: 350

Performance

Accelaration 0-60 mph: 4.6

My Rating: ****/******

Base Price: 2008 Lexus IS-F - $56,000

2008 Bentley Continental GT

A coupe worthy of the GT name. Inspired by the grace and power of Bentley’s thoroughbred bloodline, the Continental GT and new Continental GT Speed combines phenomenal power, class-leading performance and contemporary design with hand craftsmanship in true tradition.

The Continental GT Speed is the most powerful production Bentley ever and the first to top 200mph (322km/h). A potent addition to the Continental Series, the GT Speed extends the appeal of the Continental GT coupe to driving enthusiasts who place a high value on outright performance and agile handling. Even more breathtaking. In even less time.
Engine
Power bhp: 552
Torque lb-ft: 479
Type: W12 Twin-Turbo

Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
Top Speed: 200 mph

My Rating: ****/*****

Base Price: 2008 Bentley Continental GT - $175,990

2007 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

A genuine four-seater Ferrari, the all-aluminium 612 Scaglietti is the result of an avant-garde design that guarantees the pure, thoroughbred performance demanded by Ferrari combined with uncompromising driver and passenger comfort. For four passengers.

Engine
Power bhp: 540
Torque lb-ft: 434
Type: V12

Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.2 seconds
Top Speed: 196 mph

My Rating ***/*****

Base Price: 2007 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti - $250,509