luxury

All posts in “luxury”

Zombie cars: 9 discontinued vehicles that aren’t dead yet

Image Credit: Dodge

Like zombies, these dead cars still sell among the living

Car models come and go, but as revealed by monthly sales data, once a car is discontinued, it doesn’t just disappear instantly. And in the case of some models, vanishing into obscurity can be a slow, tedious process.

That’s the case with the nine cars we have here. All of them have been discontinued, but car companies keep racking up “new” sales with them.

There are actually a lot more discontinued cars that are still registering new sales than what we included here. We kept this list to the oldest and most unlikely vehicles still being sold as new, including a couple of supercars. Every car on this list was discontinued at least two years ago. We’ve ordered the list in order of fewest vehicles sold. Click on the image above to get started.

Last updated January 2019

Image Credit: Dodge

2014 Dodge Avenger: 1 sale

Wow. We’re truly amazed. Someone actually bought a brand new 2014 Dodge Avenger in 2019. The Avenger was uncompetitive when it was new, and it’s woefully uncompetitive now. Here’s hoping the sole individual who parked a new Avenger in their driveway in 2019 got a smoking deal.

Dodge Avenger Information

Image Credit: Lexus

2012 Lexus LFA: 3 sales

The first supercar on this list (which otherwise is full of highly lackluster automobiles) is the Lexus LFA. It’s an exhilarating car to drive, and is packed full of interesting technology. Lexus sold a total of 3 LFA coupes last year to what we have to guess are very satisfied customers. By our count, there ought to be 5 more unsold LFAs sitting somewhere on dealer lots in America.

It’s also worth noting that Lexus only sold the LFA for two model years, 2011 and 2012, which means it is by far the oldest new vehicle on this list.

Lexus LFA Information

Image Credit: Chrysler

2016 Chrysler Town & Country: 5 sales

The Chrysler Town & Country was already an old vehicle when it was officially killed off in 2016. The basic van was introduced for the 2008 model year, and saw only refreshes until its conclusion eight years later. Some of those updates were helpful and kept the car at least somewhat competitive.

Still, we’re thankful Chrysler replaced it with the Pacifica, a superb van that is arguably the best in the segment. And if you do happen to really like Chrysler’s older minivan offering, the Dodge Grand Caravan is still on the market.

In any case, Chrysler managed to sell five of these minivans so far this year. Here’s hoping the buyer scored a great deal.

Chrysler Town & Country Information

Image Credit: Dodge

2017 Dodge Viper: 5 sales

The second supercar on our list out is one that we love. We don’t think there are a bunch of unsold Dodge Viper coupes sitting on dealer lots all across America. Nevertheless, five lucky individuals managed to bring new Vipers home in 2019.

At least we know those buyers are out there having fun!

Dodge Viper Information

Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz

2017 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive: 8 sales

Mercedes-Benz sold the B-Class Electric Drive in the United States from 2013 through 2017. Though the rest of the world gets other versions of the B, only the electrified variant was sold here in the States. And it was never a big seller — just over 3,500 were sold over its production run in America. Now that 2019 has come to a close, we can add eight more to the total.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Information

Image Credit: Dodge

2016 Dodge Dart: 25 sales

Dodge discontinued the compact Dart back in 2016, just three years after its launch. The automaker just wasn’t able to compete with the segment leaders like the Honda Civic or the sales juggernaut that is the Toyota Corolla. Despite the fact that it’s been dead for several years, Dodge managed to sell 25 Darts in 2019.

Dodge Dart Information

Image Credit: Jeep

2017 Jeep Patriot: 27 sales

The Jeep Patriot initially launched back in 2007 alongside its more car-like Compass sibling, but while that vehicle got a redesign and is still on sale in Jeep dealerships, the boxier Patriot ended production in 2017.

Apparently there are a handful of Patriots still collecting dust on dealership lots in America, because the automaker tallied 27 total sales last year.

Jeep Patriot Information

Image Credit: Chrysler

2017 Chrysler 200: 48 sales

The Chrysler 200 is actually a pretty nice sedan, with good looks and decent driving dynamics let down by a lack of roominess, particularly in the back seat. Chrysler never really found its footing in the ultra-competitive midsize sedan segment, but apparently has a bunch of leftover 200s floating around in America with a total of 48 sold in 2019.

Image Credit: Volkswagen

2017 Volkswagen CC: 58 sales

Volkswagen discontinued the CC in 2017, and the slinky coupe-shaped sedan recently got a replacement in the form of the 2019 Arteon. Here’s hoping last year’s 58 CC buyers managed to get a good deal on their new old sedans.

Volkswagen CC Information

January 6, 2020 / Comments Off

678

Lamborghini Huracan Evo Rear-Wheel Drive promises lots of oversteer

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

January 5, 2020 / Comments Off

434

Ferrari Roma platform to underpin Purosangue SUV, as product roadmap takes shape

To create the Roma, Ferrari started with the platform used for the Portofino convertible. Engineers strengthened and lightened the architecture and made it modular, so that it will support the company’s range of front-engined vehicles included in CEO Louis Camilleri’s near-term product roadmap of 15 new vehicles over the next three years. Auto Express reports one of those products will be the Purosangue SUV – or FUV, Ferrari Utility Vehicle if you heed the carmaker’s marketers – expected to debut in 2021 before going on sale in 2022 or 2023. The breadth of possibility built into the platform means it can swallow Ferrari’s range of V8 and V12 engines, as well as the coming V6, plus plug-in hybrid equipment and all-wheel drive mechanicals.

Although observers figure a V12 Purosangue will grace the lineup eventually, models with smaller engines braced with hybrid assistance are expected first. The V12, in fact, is unlikely to get a hybrid form if Ferrari can help it, the brand’s marketing manager saying, “To be honest, electrifying a V12 means creating, very probably, a heavy and big car. So electrification ideally should be coupled with smaller engines.” Absent Ferrari’s righteous 6.5-liter V12, Ferrari’s head of technology says there will be other ways the vehicle codenamed “175” distinguishes itself from V8-powered super-SUV competition, but wouldn’t clarify what those ways are.

We’ll guess the people-hauler slots into the company’s GT vehicle classification alongside the GTC4Lusso, Portofino, and Roma. In the next decade, the GT category grows with a new supercar that marks “the return of an elegant model” cued off classic, mid-20th-century Ferrari Gran Turismos, as well as a battery-electric car after 2025. The Sport Range includes the 812Superfast and 812 GTS, 488 and 488 Pista, and SF90 Stradale. The Icona line kicked off with the Monza SP1 and SP2, and will expand with “timeless design[s] of iconic Ferraris reinterpreted with innovative materials and state of the art technologies.” One-offs like the F12 TRS, SP12 EC and SP38 form the Special Series. The carmaker’s entire range will be split across two modular platforms, one for front-engined placement, one mid-engined.

At the pointy end of the product roadmap, it’s thought Ferrari’s already begun development of its LaFerrari successor. Said to use a naturally-aspirated V12 without electric help, it will produce less output than found in the 986-horsepower, hybrid-V8-powered SF90, while at the same time Ferrari says the new model will be faster than the hybrid-V12-powered LaFerrari. Due sometime after 2022, the new small-run screamer will focus on lightness, controllability and aerodynamics.

December 26, 2019 / Comments Off

685

Top Gear magazine climbs all over the McLaren Elva

Top Gear deputy editor Jack Rix took a camera crew to McLaren’s Technology Center for a closer look at the Elva roadster. Not only did Rix provide his usual, thorough once-over and explanation of design features, but thanks to the magic of moving pictures, we get graphic demonstrations of how the Elva’s most interesting feature works. McLaren engineers needed to figure out a way to protect helmetless occupants from getting their faces painted with bugs and detritus at speed. Their solution is the Active Air Management System (AAMS), composed of a deflector and a network of vents that create a “bubble of calm” around the passenger cell. Unlike the rest of the Elva, the AAMS ain’t pretty, but beauty always loses tie-breakers to effectiveness in Woking.

For a vehicle with so little to it, including the number of body panels, there’s a ton going on all around the open-top. The rear mesh is 3D-printed titanium. Short seat squabs combined with a moving steering wheel and gauge cluster improve ingress and egress. Four high-flow exhaust pipes are placed in two locations and pointed two directions in order to separate tones as if the exhaust were an audio system – because, in truth, it is. And there’s more, but we’ll let Rix explain.

As an aside, for all the Elva does have, we think it’s a shame the roadster doesn’t have a roofed version. Digital artist Nikita Aksyonov drew up an Elva Coupe, and we’re fans. Better looks than the McLaren GT, in a package that appears more compact than the 720S, with a more powerful engine than the Senna? Yes. All day yes.

But we digress, so check out Rix’s take in the video.

December 23, 2019 / Comments Off

547

Production Rimac C_Two coming next year in Geneva, with prototypes testing now

Rimac likes to make sure we don’t forget about them. The company consistently shares intriguing bites of news with us, like behind the scenes aero development or crash tests for its upcoming $2.1 million electric hypercar. Rimac is doing the same today, as it announced that Rimac C_Two prototype testing is beginning at various tracks and testing facilities. This will be followed by a pre-production phase starting in early 2020.

Rimac says it’s going to make 17 prototype vehicles in total. As of now, Rimac has plans to produce and sell 150 C_Twos, so 17 separate cars for testing purposes is a significant amount. As one would expect, each of the prototypes will be made with different testing purposes in mind. For example, Rimac says one will be tortured in chassis rigidity testing, while another will be used for high-performance autonomous driving development.

The final production version of the C_Two is set to be unveiled at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, where Rimac will give the car a proper name — C_Two has only been a placeholder. Rimac went on to say that the production car will differ from the concepts we’ve seen in 2018 and 2019 “with improvements in design, ergonomics and performance.” Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2020.

The predicted power figures are still the same as before, as Rimac claims the C_Two will make 1,914 horsepower and 1,696 pound-feet of torque from its four electric motors.

December 17, 2019 / Comments Off

458

McLaren Senna Can-Am and XP special editions honor two racing icons

McLaren produced 500 examples of the Senna road car, and the entire run sold out immediately. This year it added the more powerful, track-only Senna GTR, selling out of all 75 units instantly. That’s not the end of the Senna line, however, with 26 more units divvied up between three special editions. The most numerous is the Senna LM, a street-legal version of the GTR supposedly put together by McLaren Special Operations. The bodywork’s been toned down a touch by dropping the aero flics on the front bumper and the GTR’s extended rear wing, and the LM fits a less aggressive rear diffuser. Interestingly, a spy shot shows the Senna LM also going without the windows in the lower portions of the doors. There’s no reliable intel on the engine yet, but it’s hoped that the LM fits the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the GTR, producing 814 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The LM is reputed to cost £1.3 million ($1.7 million U.S.)

CarBuzz reports that another special edition will be based on the Senna LM, having received an anonymous tip from a reader with one of the cars on order. Called the Senna Can-Am, McLaren would only say that this model was commissioned by a dealer. As the name implies, the coupe celebrates the legendary Can-Am cars that terrorized the series in the late 1960s and 1970s, and that are responsible for giving us the trademark orange hue McLaren remains known for. The Senna Can-Am is a specific homage to the M8B, called “the perfect race car,” that started on pole and won all 11 races during the 1967 season with Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme driving.

In CarBuzz‘s rendering, the Can-Am is done up in McLaren orange with Canadian flags on the front fenders, and number roundels on the rear fenders along with the signatures of McLaren and Hulme. Instead of the “LM” logos on the wing endplates and embroidered into the headrests, “Can-Am” appears instead, the M8B’s race record appears on the door sills, and a black anodized throttle pedal gets the Can-Am logo. CarBuzz‘s source said the Senna Can-Am is “due to be delivered in two to four weeks,” and cost $1.5 million.

The final three special-edition examples (pictured) come from early in the life of the Senna. Beverly Hills managed to acquire three of the experimental prototypes that McLaren used to develop the Senna, and commissioned three builds now known as the Senna XP. Each car gets a name and celebrates a Formula One race track where Ayrton Senna scored an especially outstanding victory. All three are dressed in gloss black carbon fiber, accented with the colors of the F1 circuit’s country, and adorned with Ayrton’s car number on the wing endplates. The “Master of Monaco” lauds Senna’s six victories in the principality; “Lap of the Gods” hails Senna’s opening lap in the wet at Donnington in 1993 when he drove from fifth place to first in less than a lap; “Home Victory” relishes Senna’s 1991 win in Brazil.

The Senna XP uses the standard Senna’s 3.9-liter V8 with 789 hp and 590 lb-ft, costs $1,435,328, and naturally, is sold out.

December 13, 2019 / Comments Off

699

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition Is An Exciting Tribute To Supersonic Flight

Aston Martin is a brand that makes some of the world’s sexiest supercars. Not only that but the British marque also has ties with the James Bond franchise. This makes its machines some of the most desirable ones out there. Once in a while, carmakers create limited-edition models that become highly collectible for certain individuals. We’re happy one was recently in the news and it surely does not disappoint. This is the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition and it looks ready to go supersonic.

For our readers who can still remember a little bit of history behind this awesome tribute, good for you. Meanwhile, let’s get the others up to speed, shall we? Aston Martin is dedicating this exclusive ride in memory of the only supersonic passenger plane that was in service. This remarkable airliner had a seating capacity of up to 128 passengers and boasted a maximum speed of double the speed of sound.

Aston Martin pays homage to the aircraft that was eventually grounded for good in 2003. What the designers came up with is to give the interior and exterior a familiar detailing that resembles the livery of the turbojet. While it’s mostly in white, there are other elements such as British Airways colours that add a little contrast.

Meanwhile, a silhouette of the Concorde sits on top of the carbon fibre roof. Moreover, the diffuser and strake likewise bear the same outline of the passenger aircraft. Finally, the cabin features luxurious Alcantara on the headliner, Mach Meteor embroidery, and a special pair of paddle shifter. According to Aston Martin, these are fashioned from titanium sourced from the compressor blades of the Concorde. Only 10 examples of the DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition will be available for purchase.

More details: here

Images courtesy of Aston Martin

December 5, 2019 / Comments Off

340

Bugatti Chiron Noire only slightly less exclusive than ‘La Voiture Noire’

Bugatti has only constructed one La Voiture Noire, the homage to the Jean Bugatti’s now-lost 57 SC Atlantic, and as far as we know, Bugatti will only build one. The Molsheim manfuacturer has come up with a way to spread the sheen of The Black Car to a few more Bugatti owners with two versions of a single special edition. The Chiron Noire Elegance and Chiron Noire Sportive are two ways to dress the hypercar up in black, the difference being that one presents a gleaming black objet to admire, the other opens two doors to a singularity and perhaps a portal to the Planet of the Apes.

The Elegance is the showy black one, all of its bodywork done in exposed carbon fiber. Two new mesh designs cover the front radiator grilles, highlighted by a Bugatti badge worked up in solid silver and black enamel. Matte polished aluminum caps the C-line swooping around the doors, tying in with the polished aluminum on the side mirrors and engine cover. Lower down, the word “Noire” on the rear fenders, scripted in black, of course, gives away the coupe’s exclusive identity, as do the black brake calipers. Inside the black leather interior, silk-matte aluminum highlights the C-line between the seats, and Noire badging decorates the center console, armrest, and door sills.

The Chiron Noire Sportive is the shadowy black one, all of its bodywork and normally metallic jewelry slathered in matte black, including the C-line and tailpipes. Bugatti appears to have dipped the interior in a tub of black, so not only is the leather the color of night, so too are all the usually aluminum parts; the C-line, the steering wheel, the center console, switchgear, buttons and knobs on the dashboard and the door handles, all of them want to swallow all the light.

Bugatti will sell only 20 of this Chrion Noire special edition, builds to begin in the second quarter of next year. Either package can be ordered for the base Chrion for three million euros ($3.3M U.S.), or added to the more expensive Chiron Sport for an additional 100,000 euros ($110,865 U.S.).

December 3, 2019 / Comments Off

475

Join The Dark Side With The Oris Prodiver Star Wars Darth Vader Limited Edition

The Force is growing stronger each day as the premier of the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker edges closer. As such, being the geeks that we are, the hunt begins for some of the coolest gear that pays homage to the franchise. Earlier, Men’s Gear brought you the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Star Wars Special Edition, which is definitely on our wish list. Other items you might have seen grace our pages include furniture, footwear, fitness equipment, robotic vacuum cleaners, and awesome LEGO sets. Now, Oris joins the fun and brings glory to the empire with Star Wars Darth Vader Limited Edition.

This ominous offering takes the Prodiver model and coats it in a menacing dark tint that will make fans swoon. Let’s face it, the baddies always look cooler than the good guys and we love how it carries over to the timepiece. Unless you stare at it closely, Oris did a fine job balancing the Star Wars elements as not to make the watch too tasteless for some. The titanium case measures 49 mm and sports a stylish shade of black plating. The bezel, dial, and hands are likewise in black save for the second hand which is in red.

The Oris Prodiver Star Wars Darth Vader Limited Edition features a silhouette of the Death Star and the Imperial crest on the dial. You really need to look closer to see it, but the iconic TIE Fighter of the supreme commander sits on the 12 o’clock marker on the bezel. Another cool element is on the case back which shows Darth Vader’s helmet. The watch runs on an Oris 748 calibre with a 38-hour power reserve. Finally, the black silicone bracelet completes the ensemble.

Get it here

Images courtesy of Oris

December 2, 2019 / Comments Off

280

Soundcheck: Aston Martin Valkyrie begins to scream

In July, Aston Martin published the first video of the Valkyrie on track at Britain’s Silverstone Circuit during the Formula One Grand Prix weekend there. Test driver Chris Goodwin didn’t push the 1,160-horsepower coupe to its limits, merely massaging the throttle for the camera a few times. The English carmaker headed back to Silverstone this month with a group of guests in tow, and this time the test driver put a little more muscle into the fly-bys. Since the track was wet, the soundtrack still can’t be considered the ultimate experience, but even so, the 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 sounds exceptionally good.

This new video injects a high-pitched wail that was missing in July, the kind of wicked, soaring keen that jellies one’s organs and notifies the mind of blinding terrors on approach. In fact, the Valkyrie now makes all the noises Formula 1 fans wished the F1 race cars could make. That’s no hyperbole, either. Compare the modern Cosworth to the 3.5-liter Honda V12 in the 1991 McLaren MP4/6, the resemblance is clear. Remove the street-legal equipment on the Aston Martin and let Goodwin uncork it, as we expect to happen in next year’s World Endurance Championship, and it’s clear the WEC might have the best sounding racers in all of motorsport.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin before the end of the year, so Aston Martin should be wrapping up its validation testing on Verification Prototype 1 if it hasn’t already. After that come competition entries into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). And after that, someone will need to convince at least one owner to drive the Valkyrie on the street so that we can all enjoy the noise.

November 30, 2019 / Comments Off

460

New C8 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 engine rumor posits 900 horsepower

Let’s just go ahead and plan to feast on C8 Chevrolet Corvette rumors for the next few years. Two new reports have come out that drop new info on the ZR1 and gobs of details about what could turn into multiple hybrid Corvette models. Starting with Motor Trend, the magazine cites “a senior official at GM” for confirmation that the coming ZR1 will produce “an even 900 hp” from a performance-oriented hybrid powertrain. Displacement of the gasoline engine component remains a mystery. MT writes that the “ZR1 will build on the Z06’s all-new engine” with a block anywhere from 4.2 to 5.5 liters of displacement, but the potential vibration issues make the larger end of that range unlikely if the rumored flat-plane crank is involved.

Motor Trend sticks by sister publication Automobile‘s story that the Z06 will use an 800-hp twin-turbo engine based on the naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 in the C8.R. Countering that, Muscle Cars & Trucks believes the Z06 will go down to around 600 hp and use a naturally aspirated V8, with only the ZR1 getting the two turbos.

MT didn’t get any specs on the ZR1’s hybrid component, but Bozi Tatarevic happened upon internal GM documents that potentially fill in a swath of the picture. In a lengthy report for Jalopnik, Tatarevic suspects there could be “both a hybrid ZR1 and a hybrid base model Corvette.” The documents, along with cutaway models of the mid-engine sports car, show how the front area could house a single electric motor driven by a 1.94-kWh battery pack and power electronics packaged in the center tunnel. The e-motor, which is listed as running through an open differential, would produce about 114 peak horsepower and more than 880 lb-ft of torque after an 8:1 reduction gear. Being oriented toward performance, a pawl clutch would disconnect the motor and gear reduction from the front axle for better fuel economy. Said to be offered in coupe and convertible forms, the base Stingray with the LT2 V8 and hybrid system would throw something in the “mid-to-high 500 HP range if not more.”

Paperwork appears to show the motor would be mounted low enough in front for the Corvette to retain its frunk. In order to fit the shaft through the space currently occupied by the front dampers, the hybrid system will require split yoke dampers akin to those used on AWD versions of the Tesla Model 3. It’s possible magnetic dampers will be standard fit, as well as an electronic limited-slip differential running through a 3.797 final drive. Wheel sizes for what we’ll figure is the ZR1 would increase an inch front and back to 20 and 21 inches, respectively, with respective tire sizes of 275/30 and 345/25. According to codes in the document, carbon-ceramic brakes would be standard.

We only have a few more years to figure out where all these pieces go, so while you wait, check out Tatarevic’s in-depth report for cutaway images and loads more details on issues like weight balance and benchmarking against the Acura NSX.

November 27, 2019 / Comments Off

451

The Lamborghini Lambo V12 Vision Gran Turismo Is The Digital Hypercar Of Our Dreams

If you spend your time browsing automotive news, it gets to a point wherein the designs seem uninspired. It’s either sloping curves, sharp angles, LED lighting, and others more. However, after stumbling upon an image of the Lamborghini Lambo V12 Vision Gran Turismo, we are genuinely awestruck by its aesthetics.

What’s even more amazing is that anyone with a copy of the critically-acclaimed driving game can take it for a drive. Unfortunately, it will be virtual of course. Despite existing in digital form only, fans of the Italian marque are praising the vehicle’s impressive form factor. Additionally, the spec sheet is equally notable as well.

This hypercar apparently made its debut at the Gran Turismo Championships World Finals. The show was held in Monaco and saw some of the world’s best players compete in the FIA sanctioned event. Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi was also in attendance as Automobili Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali took the covers off the life-size mockup of the Lambo V12 Vision Gran Turismo.

The single-seat cockpit features a virtual instrument panel that the system projects in front of the driver. Lamborghini is taking the hybrid V12 powerplant from the exclusive Sian. According to the carmaker, this will give the hypercar around 808 horsepower at its disposal. Players can use it to race in the virtual tracks of the Sony-exclusive racing title.

The Lambo V12 Vision Gran Turismo will make its debut in Gran Turismo Sport around spring 2020. Moreover, this partnership would likely feature the vehicle in other events for next year. The game is famous for featuring some of the most jaw-dropping concept cars over the years and will continue to do so in the future.

Check it out here for more details

Images courtesy of Lamborghini

November 27, 2019 / Comments Off

315

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition celebrates airspeed

This year is the 100th birthday of British Airways, as well as the 50th anniversary of the first flight for the Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde supersonic passenger jet. Today marks the 16th anniversary of the Concorde’s final hop, when Concorde 216 registered as G-BOAF flew from Heathrow to Bristol, England, with 100 BA employees on board, to roll into a display space at the Aerospace Bristol museum. That same plane was the last Concorde built, coming off the line in 1978 at BAC Filton Bristol. To celebrate the plane and BA and its aerospace neighbor, Aston Martin Bristol commissioned 10 special editions called the DBS Superleggera Concorde. Pieced together with the expertise of Q by Aston Martin, the coupe is the latest in Aston Martin’s aviation-inspired Wings Series specials, following the Vanquish S Red Arrows Edition, Vantage Blades Edition, and V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80.

Dressed in white, the coupe gets ornament in British Airways livery colors on the front splitter, roof strake, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and inside the Aston Martin wings badge. A Concorde graphic decorates the black, carbon fiber roof, and a Concorde-shaped chunk of solid aluminum streaks through the side strakes. The British Airways “Speedmarque” logo is on the front fender above the black enamel Q by Aston Martin badge, the rear fenders wearing registration G-BOAF.

Printed Alcantara on the Superleggera’s cockpit headliner displays a sonic boom graphic, the front visors get mach meter graphics, the front seats show off Concorde and Speedmarque logos. Pieces of titanium compressor blades from the supersonic bird have been turned into paddle shifters, and embossed solid aluminum seatbelt buckles shine the Concorde again. The floor mats adopt a design by Sir Terence Conran, he being one of three designers commissioned to upgrade the Concorde’s interior not long before the jet went out of service.

The 5.2-liter V12 engine holds steady at 710 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, plenty of thrust for booming travel on the ground. Aston Martin Bristol says it will donate part of the proceeds from each sale to the Air League Trust, a nonprofit that teaches underprivileged children how to fly and helps open doors for them into engineering professions.

November 26, 2019 / Comments Off

483

New Porsche hypercar could use F1-spec hybrid powertrain

Not long after the Porsche 918 Spyder went out of production in 2015, the automaker began internal debate about what kind of powertrain it would use in the follow-up. Four years later, the debate is ongoing. In 2017, Porsche voiced its desire to move its hypercar game on with a battery-electric powertrain, beyond the hybrid 918. The problem — echoed by McLaren — was that battery technology wouldn’t make such a BEV possible until at least the middle of the 2020s. In 2019, the same issues remain, with solid-state battery tech not progressing as quickly as hoped. Autocar reports that Porsche could switch to Plan B in the meantime, that being an as-yet-unused 1.6-liter V6 hybrid engine Porsche Motorsport developed in order to return to Formula One as an engine supplier.

Porsche has been mentioned as a potential new F1 entrant for years, but uncertainty at the Volkswagen Group and in the F1 rulebook compelled the German sports car maker to walk away from the opportunity, opting for Formula E instead. However, after leaving LMP1, 40 Porsche engineers from the Le Mans effort began working on a six-cylinder version of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid from the 919 Hybrid. That work turned into the creation of a 1.6-liter V6 hybrid along the lines of an F1 engine but without “the complex and expensive” MGU-H unit that converts exhaust heat into electrical energy. Motorsport chief Fritz Enzinger says that engine is still in development, having got as far as running on a test bench for “analysis with regard to series production relevance.”

There’s no info on the hybrid component yet, but Stefan Weckbach, who oversees Porsche’s EV projects, said the company could turn to its partnership with Rimac for that aspect.

Even though Porsche has a motor ready, the board hasn’t decided on whether to go electric or hybrid, and sports car boss Frank-Steffen Walliser says he doesn’t care what kind of powertrain goes into the car as long as it can tick off a 6:30 lap time at the Nürburgring. So according to Autocar, what kind of bodywork might surround this powertain “remains at conceptual stage, with an introduction unlikely before 2023 at the earliest.” We don’t think the 917 Concept from 2014 would be a bad place to start. If Porsche goes with the 1.6-liter hybrid, though, the market would get a clearer competitor to the Mercedes-AMG One, and the platform could provide entries to the ACO’s new so-called Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship and to IMSA’s Daytona Prototype class.

November 26, 2019 / Comments Off

661

The Louis Vuitton Sneaker Trunk Is The Classiest Storage For Your Kicks

Sneakerheads are in for a big treat as a luxury marque is planning something awesome for collectors. If you’re thinking of an exclusive collaboration with a major footwear brand, then you’re wrong. Snatching up the latest limited-edition kicks are already a costly endeavour for most people. Thus, Louis Vuitton is upping the ante even further with a swanky new Sneaker Trunk that holds up to 14 pairs. We believe this is perfect for those who prefer to travel in style and show off their sizeable collection of shoes.

For now, the only image available for this product shows it in full glory. Of course, the sneakers on show are unmarked for specific purposes but still looks classy, nonetheless. The two sections that swing out on each side can hold up to six low to mid-top kicks. These are likewise sitting on swing-out acrylic enclosures, which looks absolutely cool by the way.

The middle section, on the other hand, can store up to eight more sneakers — from high-top to low tops. Moreover, it does so with drawer box containers unlike the previous two. We love the attention to detail the designers have with this particular product. If you look a little closer, each of acrylic sections, it features etchings of the Louis Vuitton monogram.

The official product description reads, “Combining Louis Vuitton’s classic art of trunk craftsmanship with contemporary design, Louis Vuitton’s Sneaker Trunk is the newest addition to the House’s iconic hard-sided collection.” This would pair nicely with the Bisten Monogram Titane suitcases for your next trip.

Here’s more from the luxury brand

Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

November 23, 2019 / Comments Off

308

Singer Reimagined Is Offering Only 25 Units Of The Track1 Emirates Edition

Not many can pull it off, but we are making an exception with the Singer Reimagined Track1 Emirates Edition. What we’re talking about is figuring out how to properly take the khaki green colour and breathe elegance into it. We are impressed at how the watchmaker perfectly combined various visual elements to craft this stunning timepiece. The striking contrast of colours, materials, and finishes on this limited-edition item is remarkable. Too bad there are only 25 examples up for grabs worldwide and we’re guessing all of which might be spoken for already.

Nevertheless, let’s check out what makes this sophisticated timekeeper so special shall we? The 43 mm case is ceramic-aluminium and gives it a matte finish. It serves as a striking backdrop to the grade 5 titanium sporting a golden hue from the zirconium treatment. The khaki green dial of the Singer Reimagined Track1 Emirates Edition blends perfectly with the black outer rings. Don’t let the appearance fool you because what you think is the main complication in the middle is actually something else.

Singer Reimagined designers want to draw your attention to its chronograph functions. Therefore, it takes the stage front and centre. Meanwhile, to tell the time, one simply has to look for the orange index at the 6 o’clock position. What looks like the bezels are actually two rotating disks for the hours and minutes. The Track1 Emirates Edition runs the brand’s 6361 automatic mechanical movement with a 55-hour power reserve. Rounding it all off is a khaki green technical textile strap. It features zirconium-treated grade 5 titanium screw-down rivets and steel folding buckle with black DLC coating.

Learn more about this timepiece here

Images courtesy of Singer Reimagined

November 21, 2019 / Comments Off

263

BMW M boss gets closer to confirming a standalone M flagship

We’re leaning ever closer to official confirmation of a standalone screamer from BMW’s M division. Auto Express spoke to brand boss Markus Flasch during the L.A. Auto Show, the German saying, “I can think of doing standalone M-cars – I like the idea, and I think we’re going to do something in this direction.” Under further questioning, specifically about whether M might have an SUV in mind for the putative offering, Flasch replied, “I don’t know. … Well I do know, but I’m not saying yet!” Other sources inside the Munich automaker apparently told Auto Express “a new car could be seen by 2021″ and bring some sort of electrification with it.

This represents noteworthy movement from BMW’s position in June, when Flasch told Australian outlet Car Sales, “We are investigating M variants that may also be standalone, that don’t have a predecessor.” At the time, a company insider said everything was in “a very early stage” of examining body styles, and Flasch said qualified the push by saying a potential model may be a product of M division, as opposed to based on a BMW offering.

The 2021 dates carries significance because 2022 marks the M division’s 50th anniversary as an independent company. If M plans to debut something roadworthy and with production intent before the end of 2021, prototypes are no more than a year away. That means BMW has decided on the fundamentals and will be sorting out how to make them work together. The plug-in hybrid Vision M Next sounds like a long shot, though, even if BMW design chief Damagoj Dukec would like the 600-horsepower show car to get the nod, saying, “We have a heritage of bringing art cars and race cars together with M. I am convinced that this [Vision M Next] is the right way.” Flasch, however, explained that the halo “doesn’t necessarily have to be a mid-engined supercar,” only that “it has to stand out from the crowd.”

Closer to production reality, Flasch also said an electrified M car is “not too far away.” At the same time, he cautioned that adding electric aids is no panacea; “electrification is not rocket science, and it’s not the game changer [in] that people think it’s an easy answer to every question.”

November 21, 2019 / Comments Off

465

Karma Revero GTS and SC2 concept plot the way forward

The Karma Revero GTS and SC2 concept occupy two places in the automotive spectrum, but point to a single destination for Karma Automotive. In their ways, Karma has designed them to exhibit the brand’s intent to expand beyond the mechanics of electric car production. The Revero GTS pushes the Revero GT further, using the same 536-horsepower twin-motor setup and Karma-designed inverters integrated with the motors. The sprint to 60 miles per hour has been cut by 0.7 seconds to 3.9 seconds, top speed increases five miles per hour to 130 mph. Dynamic improvements include new suspension bushings and valving for more supple damping.

Changes are subtle throughout, nothing but a splash of carbon fiber exterior trim and GTS badging appearing to separate the hotter sibling from the GT. The interior is fitted with haptic steering wheel switchgear, Karma’s proprietary 570-watt Soloscape audio, ventilated seats, and Bridge of Weir leather. Preorders are being taken now for $149,950 before destination, a $15,000 bump over the Revero GT. Production will begin in the first quarter of 2020.

The Vapor Gray SC2 concept strikes us as the second coming of the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, and we’re totally OK with that; the pure electric hypercar puts a roof on the SC1 roadster concept Karma took to Pebble Beach this year, and looks more well-proportioned for it. In the previous teaser photo, we thought we were in for another set of gullwing doors, but those long, unfurling, insectoid wings would make a set of gullwings shy. And check out what looks like a piece of integrated luggage set into the front fender under the door. The interior is all the sharp-edged, color-keyed, future-cool minimalism tomorrow’s hitman could want. Entry is done through fingerprint and facial recognition, the seats and steering wheel respond to biometrics, fiber optics run through the headliner, and the side glass is electrochromatic.

A mongo, I-shaped 120-kWh battery powers electric motors delivering 1,100 hp and 10,500 lb.-ft of torque, said to be good for a 0-60 mph blast of less than 1.9 seconds, that time having become the magic benchmark for EV screamers. Claimed range is 350 miles, not that you’d ever get that far thanks to acceleration runs and the promise of exceptional handling thanks to a pushrod suspension.

Another piece of in-house tech is the Drive and Play technology. The SC2’s HD camera and lidar sensors capture a 360-degree rendition of the environment during a spirited drive, and a data logger records driver inputs. The drive can then be played back as theater using an adaptive laser projector inside the cabin, right down to the temperature and playlist. A smartphone mount above the windshield even acts as a rearview mirror for verisimilitude.

This SC2 previews Karma’s future design, and the electronic bits give a glimpse into Karma’s ideas for wider interactions with EVs. There’s a brand new platform on the way come 2021, so we’re looking forward to what filters through to production.

November 20, 2019 / Comments Off

517

Bugatti considering electric four-seater as second model

Bugatti’s long-rumored additional model could run on electricity rather than gasoline, according to a recent report. The company is tentatively planning a downward expansion without diluting its image.

Downward is a relative term when spoken in the same sentence as Bugatti. The company isn’t interested in chasing volume with an alternative to the Volkswagen GTI. Instead, Bloomberg wrote it’s envisioning an electric four-seater priced between 500,000 and one million euros, sums that represent about $555,000 and $1.1 million, respectively. Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann told the publication that convincing parent company Volkswagen to fund the model requires a “hard fight,” however.

“The industry is changing fundamentally, and we have to address what opportunities there are to develop Bugatti as a brand going forward,” he explained. Releasing a second, cheaper model would mark a dramatic shift for the prestigious automaker, which has stuck to a one-core-model strategy since its renaissance in 1998. The EV could bump its annual output from about 100 to 600 cars.

Winkelmann was the driving force behind the Urus when he ran Lamborghini, which has led to speculation that Bugatti’s second model will be an SUV. Speaking to Autoblog, a spokesperson for the company again doused cold water on the rumors. “It would not be an SUV,” we learned.

The representative stressed nothing has been decided yet, so it’s still too early to tell precisely when the second model would enter production if it receives the proverbial green light for production. Less than 100 Chiron build slots remain available, but the French company has its work cut out for the coming years. It will deliver the first of 40 planned examples of the Divo in 2020, send the one-off La Voiture Noire to its mysterious new home in 2021, and build the first of 10 Centodiecis (pictured) in 2022. Additional Chiron variants (like the record-breaking 300+) aren’t out of the question, either.

The idea of an electric Bugatti isn’t without precedence. In 1931, company founder Ettore Bugatti built a battery-powered runabout named Type 56 to drive on his property. It was never meant to be a production car, but requests from wealthy clients (including Belgian king Leopold III, who wanted one for his wife Astrid) convinced Bugatti to make 10 examples between 1931 and 1936. Four remain in 2019, including one in original condition that Autoblog got the opportunity to drive in 2018.

November 19, 2019 / Comments Off

479

Caviar Gets Extra Fancy With the AirPods Pro Gold Edition

Apple products have always been sitting on the top shelf when it comes to pricing and quality. As such, we are expected to part with a lot of cash to own any of the items in the catalogue. This has been the ongoing trend for a while now and we won’t be seeing it change anytime soon. Nevertheless, the Caviar AirPods Pro Gold Edition is on an entirely different level.

There’s this thing where certain upscale services take ordinary gadgets and turn them into luxurious pieces of technology. We’ve seen multiple iPhone models undergo the treatment as well as the AirPods. Now, Caviar is turning its sights on the AirPods Pro and the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping.

An ordinary pair of Apple’s latest cordless earbuds will run you around $249, which is already a premium cost. However, after it undergoes the luxury treatment from Caviar, you’re looking at a $67,780 audio accessory. This is for the people who have money to burn and desire precious metals on all of their stuff.

The establishment’s skilled staff know their way around most products hailing from the Cupertino-based company. Therefore, buyers can expect remarkable craftsmanship from any angle Gone are the plastic housing of the AirPods Pro and in its place is 750-content gold.

Caviar made sure that everything matches, which is why the charging case gets the same treatment. The Gold Edition, as the name implies, even comes with a fancy emblem to set it apart from the rest. ColorWare can only go so far when it comes to customizations, which is why these golden AirPods Pro are special.

Get it in gold here

Images courtesy of Caviar

November 19, 2019 / Comments Off

341