Luxury Cars

All posts in “Luxury Cars”

1994 Venturi 400 GT Trophy Coupe

Now up for auction is this sleek 400 GT Trophy Coupe from 1994, made by French supercar legend Venturi.

The sportscar brand flourished for 16 years before being acquired and reinvented as an electric car company. While now a Formula E team, its legacy is never forgotten amongst the automobile crowd.

Most notably, it was only one of the few companies that were able to create a true rival to Porsche Ferrari in the ‘90s. That includes the 400 GT you see above, with its twin-turbo V6 engine made by Renault, Peugeot, and Volvo. It tops up to a horsepower of 402 and reaches zero to 60 in under 5 seconds. It’s also got a top speed of 181 mph. Such numbers put it on par with Ferrari cars back in its heydays, although it remains impressive today.

More specifically, this Venturi 400 GT is the 25th Venturi ever built and is 1 of 76 race-converted models. It received a fresh coat of paint in 1995 by renowned artist Jean-Yves Lacroix. Beyond the looks, though, it’s got a stupendous racing career. Later in its life, the car was adjusted for road-legal specifications and has been well preserved and serviced since.

RM Sotheby’s will auction off the car this February 6. The estimated price is between $137,000 to $228,000. That’s quite a wide window, most certainly, but just par for the course since the Venturi 400 GT isn’t just a car. It’s also a testament to a thrilling period in the French automotive history.

UP FOR AUCTION

Photos courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

January 28, 2019 / Comments Off

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Ferrari 812 Superfast By Novitec

Novitec is a custom shop that believes fast cars can be faster. Its latest handiwork? The Ferrari 812 Superfast, which, already beastly enough as it is, got an extra boost, at least visually, thanks to the crafty (and perhaps mad) folks at Novitec.

Unfortunately, this customized car doesn’t have more power than a regular 812 Superfast. In other words, Novitec did a purely visual upgrade. However, the shop says its engineers are working on a “performance upgrades” for the ride’s base 6.5-litre V12 engine.

If true, that means we could be getting something even faster than the machine’s standard 789 horsepower, and perhaps something more impressive than its already amazing 0 to 60 acceleration in just under three seconds.

So yes, it’s a bummer Novitec didn’t make a faster car out of a fast car, but don’t fret. It did make an already cool-looking ride even cooler. Novitec swapped out huge body parts in favor of carbon fiber ones. Among them are the wind-tunnel-developed chin spoiler and front grille attachment, rocker panels, a rear spoiler lip, and the rear fascia.

You can take that even further with an optional shocks package. It lowers the whole ride to 1.37 inches. On the other hand, there’s also a hydraulic lift that can raise the front end by 1.57 inches. Pricing information is yet to come, unfortunately. Expect the cost to be astronomical, of course. Certainly much more expensive than a regular 812 Superfast. We’ll update this article once we learn more, so stay tuned.

MORE INFO HERE

Photos courtesy of Novitec

January 24, 2019 / Comments Off

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Maserati Quattroporte GTS Nerissimo

Unlike Ferrari and Lamborghini, one prestigious Italian carmaker managed to create a model that accommodates more than two people. We are aware that supercars are normally two-seaters with some exceptions. Yet, one brand intentionally breaks the mold with its four-door performance catalog. What we have here is the Maserati Quattroporte GTS Nerissimo and boy does it look stunning.

The marque plans to keep production small with only 50 units available globally. Its exclusivity will likely bump up the level of desire for collectors to own one immediately. This exquisite machine holds a 530-horsepower V8 engine that pushes out 650 Nm of torque. Additionally, the assembly uses a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers outstanding performance and control.

Talking about control, the driver can choose from various operating modes such as ICE (increased Control & Efficiency), Manual Normal, Manual Sport, Auto Sport, and Auto Normal. Armed with cutting-edge adaptive software, the system adjusts according to its operator’s driving style.

This luxury sports sedan is dressed to the nines—since Maserati wants to turn heads with the Quattroporte GTS Nerissimo. Furthermore, the interior is bedecked with plenty of carbon fiber and lavish hand-stitched leather upholstery. The craftsmanship and quality of this four-door transport even show on the companion accessories that come with the package.

Ride in Style with Maserati

Photos courtesy of Maserati

January 7, 2019 / Comments Off

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A 1945 Jeep Willys Once Owned By Steve McQueen

Up for auction now is a 1945 Jeep Willys once owned by “The King of Cool” himself. That’s right: Legendary Oscar-winning actor Steve McQueen. His passion for cars, or really anything with wheels and a motor, was well-known, even to this day. McQueen once owned a Ferrari 275 GTB/4, for instance. And, well, also nearly every car or motorcycle worth driving during his time.

While the Jeep Willys obviously isn’t as monstrous as some of the other cars in McQueen’s stash, it’s still an icon of cool. This Jeep was sold as Lot 532 at the “Steve McQueen Estate Auction” in November 1984 at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, the lucky bidder paying about ten times the regular price.

Purchase this and not only will you get to own a piece of history, you’ll also receive a Bill of Sale signed by Kenneth Zifferen. He’s a co-trustee of the McQueen Children’s Trust, in case you didn’t know. Also included is the Certificate of Authenticity from the Steve McQueen Estate Sale in Las Vegas. Plus the original auction catalog from the Estate Sale. And also the original advertisement flyer.

This Jeep Willys has been renovated and fully recommissioned the way it would have been in McQueen’s ownership by marque specialists and leading Jeep experts. In a sense, it’s like getting a brand-new car.

The price is expected to go as high as $100,000. But that’s nothing for the incredible historical value you’ll get your hands on. Now’s the time to empty some space out in your garage for this cool car once owned by the coolest man in Hollywood.

ON AUCTION HERE

Photos courtesy of Silverstone Auctions

January 5, 2019 / Comments Off

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1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

Heads up, vintage car fans: Here’s another classic you’ll surely salivate over. Check out this pristine 1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350, a gorgeous-looking automobile decked with a clean aesthetic but with a nostalgic appeal. It’s comes in a lustrous “Nightmist” blue coating accented with white racing stripes.

American Classics fully restored this Mustang GT350 back in 2003. It still boasts its original V-8 engine with 306 horsepower and 329 foot-pounds of torque. That’s paired with a 715 CFM Holley carburetor and a Cobra aluminum intake manifold. Also included is a fiberglass scooped hood, dual side scoops, ducktail trunk lid, and rear-quarter extensions. Of note is the ride’s rear panel, featuring horizontal 1967 Cougar tail lights for a bit of classic, sophisticated flair.

We’re talking a Cruise-o-matic C6 FMX transmission, 10-spokes Shelby Aluminum wheels, a shoulder harness, an extra cooling package, a sport deck rear seat, power steering, and all sorts of goodies added in. Not only that, but you’re getting Mustang’s Deluxe interior with the signature aluminum trim. Plus a fold-down rear seat and an 8,000 RPM in-dash tachometer. Shelby also added a wood-rim steering wheel and under-dash pod with Stewart Warner oil pressure and ammeter gauges. Add to that Gabriel adjustable shock absorbers, a hefty front sway bar, and you’ve got yourself one supremely classic ride.

If you’re interested to have this in your garage, you can contact the dealer to get a price request. It’s in Barcelona, though, so prepare to travel far to see the car in action.

SEE MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Classic Driver

December 28, 2018 / Comments Off

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Limited Edition 2019 Porsche 935

Moby Dick is back. As part of Porsche’s 70th birthday celebration, the carmaker has unveiled a modified variant of the 911 Turbo-based 935 race car based on the iconic 70s staple. Here comes the Herman Melville-inspired car afresh, developed exclusively for track use.

As for brute, the revival now comes with a 700 horsepower turbocharged flat-six engine and a double-clutch transmission. As for beauty, you’ll find liberal use of carbon fibre throughout plus a striped interior. The new Porsche 935 weighs just 1,380 kilograms, a lot lighter than the car on which it’s based, the 911 GT2 RS.

It features a wider, lower, and longer-than-stock front end and throws away the 911’s archetypal round lights. It’s the same for the back end, now much wider and longer as well. Porsche threw in a tall wing for additional downforce. That plus LED lights that call back to the 919 Hybrid LMP1-spec prototype.

The Porsche 935 is nostalgia on wheels — and speaking of wheels, they’re a modern reinterpretation of the ones you’ll find on the 935/78. The twin titanium tailpipes reference the 1968 908, while the door mirrors come from the 911 RSR. The homage continues inside. You’ll find a stripped cockpit, a laminated wood gear knob, and a steering wheel sourced from a 911 R race car. You’ll also find roll cage and six-point harnesses, given that this is a track-only model.

There are only 77 units being built, unfortunately, so you have to act fast if you want one on your garage. Prepare to shell out $815,000 for this bad boy.

MORE INFO HERE

Photos courtesy of Porsche

December 4, 2018 / Comments Off

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Privacy Suite

Rolling up to the neighborhood in the back of Rolls-Royce Extended Wheelbase Phantom? You must be a pretty big deal. Perhaps you’re a businessman or a scion who wants every bit of privacy as you can get while out and about.

Thankfully, Rolls-Royce has introduced a Privacy Suite package for the Extended Wheelbase Phantom. This variant sections off the rear compartment from the front seats. If that’s not enough, there’s also a layer of electrochromic glass behind the driver’s seat for added privacy. This way, your driver won’t see whatever you’re doing back there. You can turn this protective layer off at the touch of a button, too. Draw curtains to prevent onlookers from gawking at you inside, even.

Moreover, in case you need to hand over something to your driver or vice versa, there’s an illuminated “large aperture” connecting the front and rear cabins. This, by the way, can only be opened from the back. The passenger cabin is soundproof, no surprise there. If you wish to say something to the driver, there’s an intercom system that lets you do so.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Privacy Suite is all about, er, privacy, but it boasts a custom entertainment system as well, which includes two high-definition 12-inch monitors linked to the main infotainment system, along with an HDMI port for syncing electronics.

Rolls-Royce isn’t mincing words about where it got the Privacy Suite idea from — it was supposedly inspired by “power brokers and history makers” who have made negotiations in the backseat of a Rolls-Royce. If you’re a big shot always making landmark deals and want to keep those hush-hush, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Privacy Suite is definitely for you.

LEARN MORE FROM ROLLS-ROYCE

Photos courtesy of Rolls-Royce

November 10, 2018 / Comments Off

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Porsche Project Gold 993 Turbo S

It appears the retro bug has finally bit Porsche. Here’s a look at the latest car to emerge from one of the company’s more specialist divisions, Porsche Classic. This unit deals with older models and now it has unveiled Project Gold, proof that it can also ride the nostalgia wave.

Porsche based Project Gold on the 993-generation 911 Turbo S, the last air-cooled Porsche 911. Until now, that is. Porsche happened to stumble upon a 993 body shell and decided to reconfigure it into a 993 Turbo S. It used all-new parts from its Classic division to create a one-off, track-only restomod.

The body shell is the only original part carried over, and Porsche newly produced the rest (some 6,500 parts). That includes the 44bhp twin-turbo 3.6-litre flat six engine, four-wheel drive system, and gearbox.

Project Gold, as the name suggests, comes decked in a lustrous yellowish-gold colorway, an homage to the more recent 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series. The interiors feature predominantly black upholstery with gold stitching, matching the exterior’s black wheels and gold accents.

And since the Project Gold has an identical engine as the original 993 Turbo S, it has identical performance figures, with a 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds.

If you’re a Porsche diehard, you know only 345 Turbo S units were ever produced; Project Gold makes number 346. To boasts its rarity, the car even comes with a “1 of 1” plaque, so you can hit the road and show everyone they will never have what you have. The vehicle will make its debut at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in Laguna Seca, United States on Sept. 27 and is headed for the auction block at the Porsche Experience Centre in Atlanta the following month.

LEARN MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Porsche

November 1, 2018 / Comments Off

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Bugatti Divo

The Chiron, probably the fastest car in Bugatti’s lineup, boasts a maximum speed of 261mph with “Top Speed” mode enabled. However, the carmaker claims it could still reach somewhere north of 280mph if tested properly.

You might be a tad disappointed that Bugatti’s latest limited-run super sportscar, called the Divo. For one, it’s far more expensive yet slower than the Chiron.

You can only go as fast as 236mph driving the Divo. That’s the same speed of a standard Chiron without Top Speed mode enabled. This will definitely irk Bugatti fans, but the carmaker says speed isn’t the point — it’s crisp handling and excitement.

The Divo is 77 pounds lighter than the Chiron and sports the same quad-turbo 8.0-litre W16 engine. Even still, it can generate 1,005 pounds of total downforce through aerodynamic changes. Bugatti’s engineers implemented topnotch suspension and aerodynamic design revamps. You’ll find new inlets and vents to maximize airflow for downforce, for instance. The result is a car that’s nimble and better suited for tracks and twisting roads. In fact, Bugatti president Stephan Winkelmann says the Divo is “made for corners.” He also claims it can lap the famous Nardò Handling Circuit eight seconds faster than the Chiron.

“The Divo has significantly higher performance in terms of lateral acceleration, agility, and cornering,” he says.

It’s no surprise that all 40 units are now sold out. That’s right — all units are now claimed even before an official public unveiling can occur. So you can keep that €5 million in your bank for now. Production of the Bugatti Divo starts soon in Molsheim, France.

Bugatti Divo

Photos courtesy of Bugatti

October 31, 2018 / Comments Off

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1965 Shelby Cobra Original 289 Dragonsnake

You can be one of the only four would-be owners of the 1965 Shelby Cobra Original 289 Dragonsnake, one of the most iconic race and street cars in automotive history.

Any motorsport enthusiast worth their salt need not be introduced to the baby you see above. However, here’s a refresher just in case. Shelby first introduced the Dragonsnake series in 1963. It marked the automaker’s perfect model for automotive enthusiasts who preferred the quarter-mile, not Cobra’s normal road course roots.

Later on, an order came to reconfigure the original Cobra Team race car into a “Stage II Dragonsnake” with special modifications. Among such changes include a 3.77 rear end, Koni Shocks instead of drag type, and a Stewart Warner Tachometer. That’s not all. The order also called for a Chrome Roll Bar, heater, radio, FIA style wheels, shoulder harnesses, and stock car tires rather than drag specific tires. Finally, the order specified a Berry Hardtop with deluxe side curtains, plus a modified Roll Bar so the top will fit.

All told, Shelby only produced only eight Dragonsnake vehicles. Four of them are 289ci models, including the one pictured above. Needless to say that they’re some of the rarest Shelby offerings in existence.

Purchasing this car not only nabs you a gorgeous and sleek road racer. It also lends you its sterling track record. Included is an SVRA logbook which documents all the car’s racing history back to 1968. For you to relish the glory days. Act fast if you want to be one of the only four owners of the 1965 Shelby Cobra Original 289 Dragonsnake cars in the world.

BUY IT HERE

Photos courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers

October 31, 2018 / Comments Off

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2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford’s first win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in a fiercely high-octane battle with Ferrari that remains one of the motorsport’s most iconic stories, the carmaker has announced its 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition, a tribute to the GT40 that won Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.

The car’s paint scheme harkens back to Gulf Oil’s Heritage Blue and Heritage Orange, the very same colors that have adorned many a race car for decades. It gets an exposed carbon fiber trim, special 20-inch wheels, orange brake calipers, and silver exterior mirror caps. The interiors feature blue and orange stitching to match the exterior, with various cabin components covered mostly in black alcantara. Of note is the seat embossment, which is said to be inspired by the No. 9 GT40 of 1968.

The 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition boasts no mechanical changes whatsoever — not that it really needs to. It has the same 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine as the original, which produces 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, channeled to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Ford’s latest GT Heritage Edition will have a two-year run: The 2019 model will get the No. 9 graphics based on the 1968 Le Mans winner, while the 2020 model will get the No. 6 decals of the 1969 winner.

As always, you can’t just phone up Ford and have them deliver a newly-minted GT to your home; customers will have to prove their loyalty to the brand before they can purchase the vehicle. An application process is expected to open later this year, so keep an eye out for that.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Photos courtesy of Ford

August 31, 2018 / Comments Off

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