News

2008  |  2007  |  2006  |  2005  |  2004  |  
Jan  |  Feb  |  Mar  |  Apr  |  May  |  Jun  |  Jul  |  Aug  |  Sep  |  Oct  |  Nov  |  Dec  |   

•  Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead
  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its new Phantom Drophead Coupe at the Detroit Motor Show on Sunday, January 7. Production of the new car will start at Goodwood in the summer of 2007.
  
  
  The two-door, four-seat convertible is a less formal interpretation of classic Rolls-Royce design. Using the lightweight rigidity of an all-aluminum spaceframe, it marries modern technology to a sleek, streamlined convertible body.
•  Wallpaper
  A new wallpaper section has been added to the website. Though wallpaper has been apart of this site for a number of years, it is now easier to access those photos. The lists are organized by manufacturer and a quick-link section. The quick link section allows for access to wallpaper based on popularity. 'Most Popular', 'Popular Super Cars', and 'Popular Concept Cars'. A link has been added to the Main Menu Bar located near the top of the screen. There is over 30,000 wallpaper in various sizes on this site - please enjoy.
•  Concept Ocean Drive design study the most comfortable and elegant modern-day convertible
  At the North American Auto Show Detroit, Mercedes-Benz is adding to its reputation as a pioneer and design trendsetter among premium carmakers with the presentation of its Concept Ocean Drive four-door convertible. This study is a one-off creation by Mercedes-Benz which revives the tradition of large luxury convertibles. Not having to work to a design brief or production specifications left the designers free to get on with the job of developing the world's most comfortable and elegant convertible.
•  The 21st annual Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction
  The Pebble Beach Weekend is one of the most exciting times for any automotive enthusiasts. Not only is there the most anticipated concours of the year, but multiple activities that lead up to that day such as historic races, five auctions, various other car shows, events, and happenings. One of those auctions was the 21st annual Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction, which was so large that it was held on two nights. The cars were on display in downtown Monterey at the Fisherman's Warf with the auction held at the adjacent Portola Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. There were four separate catalogs to detail the over two-hundred vehicles on display and up for auction. A new record was set for the event, with combined sales totaling almost $43 million dollars for the two days.
•  MINI Convertible Sidewalk
  MINI will be unveiling a new addition to its Convertible range at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), when it presents the Sidewalk model for the first time on January 6 in Detroit.
  
  
  MINI Convertibles have always combined great handling characteristics with the thrill of open-top motoring, but when the Sidewalk hits MINI dealers from April 2007, MINI fans will have the opportunity to get their hands on a fresh model boasting a raft of luxurious design enhancements.
•  Hamann Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
  Ferrari and Hamann – a combination to set the pulse racing of all fans of Italian sports cars. The vehicle tuning specialist from Laupheim, Germany, has various new details and a power boost up its sleeve for the latest model from the Maranello stable.
  
  The power is produced by fitting an Hamann high-performance sports header (export only), including racing catalytic converters, to generate an extra 53 bhp. This takes the peak power output of this V12 engine, already familiar from the Ferrari Enzo, up to a majestic 673 bhp. You will rarely encounter more power than this on the open road. As a result, Hamann has reduced the power-to-weight ratio from 2.5 to 2.3 kg per bhp.
•  The XC60 Concept: A glimpse of the next Volvo XC
  Volvo Car Corporation today released the first official images of the XC60 Concept that will be unveiled at the upcoming North American International Auto Show. Scheduled to be shown to the world January 7, 2007, the XC60 Concept looks towards Volvo's future on two significant fronts: it offers the world a sneak preview of the next XC model to come from Volvo Cars and it reveals several design elements that will be part of future Volvos.
  
  Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin and his team have designed the XC60 Concept while keeping their eyes firmly focused on one clear goal. 'In recent years we have successfully emphasized the Scandinavian characteristics that base prestige on timeless, functional elegance. Now we're elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally pumping up our cars' visual volume,' says Mattin. 'With more expressive, emotive shapes, it will be a magnet for the viewer's eyes. If a Volvo is recognizable from 100 feet away today, I want to get to the point where you will instantly spot it from twice that distance in the future.'
•  Fernando Alonso: Shedding the Paradigms of a Champion
  If, while watching a Formula One race, you see one car in particular losing parts, and yet, seemingly going faster, you've found Fernando Alonso. Sometimes it would appear the aerodynamically sensitive pieces, like the barge boards and diffuser strakes, only slow Alonso down. No matter what, this twenty-five year old double-world champion makes Formula One fun again. Breathtaking speeds and pieces of bodywork slung off in all directions like a sparkler on the fourth of July all add to the spectacle that is Fernando Alonso; it is what makes watching him amazing and fun.
  
  But it isn't merely bodywork Fernando has eliminated to enable himself to go faster. In only four years of competition in Formula One Alonso has also destroyed the norms; the apparent qualifications that are necessary before a driver can be considered a viable contender for world champion. Alonso is one of Formula One's prodigies; a talent beyond his years.
•  Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival
  This year's honored marque at the 5th Anniversary of the Hilton Head Island Concours was the cars of Indiana which included cars from the Golden Age of manufacturing such as Auburn, Duesenberg, Cord, Stutz, and Studebaker. With more than four-hundred cycle-cars, automobiles, and trucks produced or assembled in Indiana, they were a formidable contender to Michigan as the automotive Mecca of the world. In the early 1900's, the Hoosier state had more automobile assembly plants than Michigan.
  
  Warm and sunny weather in November is enough to bring a smile to most peoples faces. Fill their view with some of the greatest cars ever produced and you have the ingredients for a successful, popular, and enjoy event. In its fifth year, the Hilton Head Concours is continuing to prove that their event is one of the most anticipated of the year. The Worldwide Group Auction, held in conjunction with the concours, assembled a very impressive display of automobiles that pleased many buyers and entertained the spectators. The hard work and dedication of the 300-plus volunteers was evident. The planning and organization was top-notch. The carefully selected group of automobiles that graced the lawn of Honey Horn was a sight to behold.
  
  The coveted Best In Show went to the 1931 Chrysler Waterhouse with the very rare Convertible Victoria body. It was also awarded Best in Class in the American 1916-1931 category. There were many suitable candidates for this prized title, but the judges felt that the Waterhouse bodied Chrysler was the most elegant, of the highest quality, and carried the most historical significant. The 1914 Locomobile Berline was awarded the People's Choice award, Fifth Anniversary Award, and Best in Class for the Brass Era Pre 1916 category. In its day it was considered by many the 'American Rolls-Royce' in standard.
•  The New Cayenne: More Performance, Less Consumption
  The Cayenne is starting a new chapter in its success story: four years after the model's launch, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, is presenting the second generation of its sporty SUV. The new, attractively designed Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo models have been given more powerful, direct gasoline injection engines. These are known at Porsche as Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), and they lower the fuel consumption of individual models by over eight percent (NEDC). In real driving conditions, savings of up to 15 percent are possible. The new Cayenne will be in Porsche showrooms from February 24, 2007.
•  Essen Motor Show
  At the Essen Motor Show on December 1-10, around 40 world, European and German premieres will be displayed by automobile manufacturers, tuners and automobile designers. In this respect, attention should focus on the world premiere of the VW Passat R 36 as well as on the European premieres of the Audi TT roadster and of a new design study by Giugiaro. Both the latter innovations will give their European premiere in Essen just fifteen hours after their world premiere in Los Angeles.