Browsing Category

Uncategorized and off topic

michael-jordan-mercedes

Mercedes Benz owned by Michael Jordan up for sale

Legendary basketball player, Michael Jordan, has put his stunning Mercedes Benz SLR 722 up for sale after clocking up just 962 miles in the top class super car.

The basketball start turned businessman is a big fan of sports cars, and it’s rare for him to sell one of his much loved vehicles. Jordan only bought the Mercedes McLaren in 2007 paying $475,000 for sports car from new. Just three years on, the sportsman is hoping his ride will bank him $430,000.

Despite being three years old, the credentials of the Mercedes SLR 722 have not diminished one bit and it is still highly regarded as one of the fastest cars in the world. With a 5.5 litre V8 engine and the ability to hit 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 209mph, this Mercedes sports car really packs a punch. Plus, with less than 1,000 miles on the clock, there’s plenty more miles left in this superb super car.

Not surprisingly, this vehicle attracted a great deal of attention when it was put up for sale on the online auction site EBay. The Mercedes sports car is well on its way to achieving the expected price of $430,000 as bids have already hit the $400,000 mark.

1930-bentley-speed-six

94k awarded to classic Bentley owner after the car turns out to be fake

A court has ordered a Bentley car dealing specialist to pay a customer £94,000 in damages after the vehicle he sold the classic car enthusiast turned out to be fake.

Mrs Brewer paid £425,000 for what she was told was a rare 1930’s Bentley Speed Six, one of only 177 vehicles to have ever been made. However when the 67-year-old American Lawyer came to sell the vehicle, she was given an estimate of just £300,000.

It transpired that the classic car had undergone a great deal of modification over the years and the only original Bentley part which remained on the car was the chassis.

The Bentley Speed Six was first introduced in the 1920’s and is revered as one of the best vehicles ever produced by the luxury car maker.

Mrs Brewer took the car dealer to court, and the judge ruled in her favour this week. The court found that due to the extent of modifications the vehicle had undergone, it could no longer be accurately described as a 1930’s Bentley Speed Six, which was the description given when Mrs Brewer purchased the car back in 2007.

However the dealer who sold the vehicle, who has been selling and racing Bentleys for 25 years, says he acted in good faith and that he plans to appeal against the ruling.

porsche-hybrid

Porsche to introduce a hybrid version of each of their models

The development chief at Porsche has revealed the luxury car maker’s plans to offer a hybrid version of each of the company’s models.

The announcement comes after the renowned car manufacturer revealed its first ever eco-friendly vehicle, the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, earlier this year. It’s believed the Porsche Panamera Hybrid will join the Cayenne and will be available for sale sometime next year, after which a 918 Spyder hybrid model is planned for 3-4 years time.

The green Panamera will have full electric driving ability and will provide up to 6km of fuel-free driving, according the development officer at Porsche, Wolfgang Duerheimer.

Porsche’s commitment to offering drivers a hybrid version of each of their models extends as far as their most sporty vehicles. In the future, the luxury car maker plans to offer both its Boxster and 911 models with hybrid engines.

The move to introduce more eco-cars comes after the European Union issued Porsche with a fleet emission restriction with a reduced target of emissions which must to be achieved by 2015. In order to meet the emissions target set by the EU, Porsche have had to come up with new ways to create their world renowned vehicles, in a more environmentally friendly way.

In some cases Porsche will have to reduce the size of the engines used in some of their vehicles, however the company stress that this will not be done to detriment car’s performance, as this is Porsche’s main priority.

self-driving-car

German scientist creates car that acts as its own chauffeur

Scientists in Germany have designed a car which drives itself, making it the second self-driving car concept to be revealed this month after we brought you news last week that Google are working on a similar project in California.

Germany’s self-driving car, known as the MIG (Made In Germany) was masterminded by computer scientist Raul Rojas and created along with his team at Berlin’s Free University.

The inconvenience of forgetting where you parked your car will become a thing of the past thanks to the new technology used in the design of the MIG. Using an iPad or smartphone, the new design car will track the signal using its inbuilt GPS system to locate where the call is being made from. The car’s computer then plans a route, and provides the caller with an estimated time of arrival.

The autonomous car works by creating a 3D image of its surroundings which allows it to navigate around other road users and objects. The car is fitted with sensors to detect objects to avoid collisions. According to the makers of the MIG, it has been equipped with the artificial intelligence to adhere to the Highway Code enabling it to give way to traffic, for example. It’s also able to navigate traffic lights independently.

The car’s self-driving system can be overridden via the iPad which can be used to turn the technology off and enable it to be driven by a human. Mobile devices can be used to link up to the car’s electronic system creating a remote control access to the car’s system.

It’s not known when, or even if, this kind of self-chauffeuring car will be available for legal use on roads. It’s believed further trials will be needed and also changes in the law before the self-driving car can become a reality.

fake-travellers-cheques

Chauffeur warns of travellers’ cheques scam

A self-employed chauffeur from Aberdeen has come forward to warn other drivers about a fake travellers’ cheques scam which would have cost his bank thousands of pounds.

David Craig advertises his chauffeur services on online, and was contacted by a potential customer via the driving site. Using the name Kelvin Moore, the man stated he would like to employ Mr Craig as his chauffeur while he was visiting Aberdeen for research purposes from Nigeria.

The customer then offered to pay the 66-year-old chauffeur an advance payment of £300 and sent over three travellers’ cheques, worth €1,500. However Mr Craig became suspicious when the customer then asked for him to cash the cheques at a Western Union branch, take out his share for his chauffeur services, and transfer the rest of the money back to him to pay for “airport fees.”

Suspecting there was something amiss, the chauffeur took the cheques to the bank where they discovered they were indeed fake. However the bank believe the cheques stood a high chance of being cashed at a Western Union branch, and should this have happened, the bank would have been thousands of pounds out of pocket.

The chauffeur from Aberdeen decided to come forward with his story to warn other chauffeur who could well find themselves in a similar position.

The incident has been reported to the police. They believe Mr Craig could be one of thousands of people in the UK who are targeted by Nigerian gangs to have money sent out to them through the use of forged cheques.

bugatti-super-sport-car

The 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport car is revealed

With a starting price of $2.5 million, a top speed of 268mph, and boasting 1.200bhp, the new 2011 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is most definitely not for the faint hearted.

The brand new offering from Bugatti was unveiled for the first time at the prestigious motor show, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the US this summer. The new 2011 model replaces the older version, the 2005 Veyron, and aims to offer its customers a driving experience like no other.

It’s not surprising to learn that this super car has already broken records, namely the Guinness land speed record. With Bugatti test driver Pierre-Henri Raphanal behind the wheel, the 2011 Veyron succeeded in topping the land speed record back in July of this year by clocking up an impressive 267.81mph which is a new world record for a production car.

This super-charged sports car is equipped with 4 fuel pumps and is capable of achieving 0-62mph n 2.5 seconds and 0-189mph in an eye-watering 14.6 seconds; it’s no wonder it’s been named by hit BBC motoring show Top Gear as their Car of the Decade (2000-2009).

Bugatti plans to make between 30-40 of the new 2011 model super cars, and with prices ranging from $2.5 million to $3 million, it’s surely worth it for the fastest production car on the planet?!

cheap-coach-hire

Brand new state of the art coach hire website launched

A brand new coach hire website offering unbeatable deals on top quality transport has just been launched. Cheapcoachhire.co.uk is the latest coach hire website to be launched in the UK, specialising in the provision of luxurious chauffeur driven coach hire at a low cost rate across the whole of the country.

Whether you require a double-decker bus to transport you on a school excursion in Chester, a standard size coach for a works outing in London, or a minibus to transfer you to Manchester or Heathrow Airport, http://www.cheapcoachhire.com/ will ensure you receive the exact service to suit your needs, at a rate that won’t break the bank.

With a wide range of immaculately maintained coaches and minibuses to choose from, you’re bound to find exactly the right vehicle for your coach hire trip when you enlist the expert help of cheapcoachhire.co.uk.

Choose from 8-seater minibuses with leather upholstery, to 24-seater mini coaches with air conditioning, to standard size 40-seater executive coaches with reclining chairs and plasma screens, to 80-seater double-decker coaches with onboard W.C facilities; in short, there’s something to suit every size party and every type of trip amongst cheapcoachhire.co.uk’s extensive fleet of vehicles.

It couldn’t be easier to receive a free low cost coach hire quote with cheapcoachhire.co.uk’s brand new state of the art website. Simply complete the enquiry form with your basic information, and the team will search through stacks of transport providers in your chosen area until they find the cheapest possible rate. Click on the following link to learn more about this exclusive new coach hire service http://www.cheapcoachhire.com/

google-car

Google trials robot chauffeurs

Soon the use of a private chauffeur may not be restricted to the rich and famous as Google has come up with a concept which could change the way we travel forever. The organisation has recently confirmed their plans to create the world’s first self-driving car.

A prototype robot chauffeur created by Google has already been in use on roads in California and according to the bosses at Google, the self-driving vehicle has over 140,000 test drive hours under its belt.

The Toyota Prius has been used to experiment with the new concept. The vehicles have been driven using the robot chauffeur technology between Google’s head quarters in Mountain Valley, California, to the company’s other office in Santa Monica.

According to Google, the test drives have gone ahead successfully, with minimal human input. The cars were driven with a technician at the wheel in case of any technical issues. The only accident which was reported using a self-drove Google car came about as a result of another car driving into the rear of the vehicle while stopped at a set of traffic lights.

The software equips the vehicle with artificial intelligence which enables the car to stop, start, and turn without instruction from a human being. Google’s concept has the potential to revolutionise the way we use the roads as the search engine giant believes the use of the self-drive car would cut down on accidents, free up people’s time, and also help cut carbon emissions.

edinburgh_castle_30

Luxurious limo hire offers available for city breaks in Edinburgh

Whether you’re planning a night out to celebrate a hen or stag party, a shopping spree with friends, or a weekend away with a loved one, Edinburgh is a great city to visit as it has a raft of superb attractions to offer with something to suit every occasion.

Cars for Stars is offering a range of low cost deals on limo hire in Edinburgh so now you can see all the beautiful Scottish capital has to offer from the comfort of your own chauffeur driven limousine.

With a wide range of top of the range limousines to choose from, including sleek black Lincoln Town Cars, pink hummer limos, and the elegant Rolls Royce Phantom, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the right limo for your big event.

Cars for Stars is offering affordable limo hire all over the Edinburgh area, so whether you require a chauffeur driven limo to transport you to your wedding in Newhaven, a birthday bash in Dalkeith, an anniversary celebration in Craigleith, or a corporate event in Livingston, or a function in Musselburgh, you won’t find a better deal anywhere else.

If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the very first time you’ll be amazed by the number of great things there are to see and do in the city. If you’re looking for a great night out, check out the many bars at clubs in the Grassmarket or Cowgate area of the city. For a shopping spree to remember, head to Princes Street, and to get a taste of Edinburgh’s rich history take a stroll down the Royal Mile and visit the majestic Edinburgh Castle.

With the largest fleet of top class limos to choose from for your special occasion in Edinburgh, all of which are available at unbeatable rates, you won’t fail to have a limo hire trip to remember when you enlist the expert services of Cars for Stars. Get in touch now to receive a free quote.

Mercedes-benz-iPad

Mercedes set to introduce iPad docking stations

Mercedes Benz has revealed plans to introduce an iPad docking system which will be installed in the headrests of the front seats.

BMW were the first luxury car manufacturer to launch an in-car iPad docking system. The car maker unveiled the new system at the recent Paris Motor Show.

Not ones to be left behind, Mercedes-Benz set to work on creating their own version, the exact details of which have just been revealed.

Mercedes plan to offer iPad docking stations in the headrests of the front seats for use by passengers travelling in the rear of the vehicle. It’s expected the iPad docking system, which allows the device to be operated and charged, will be especially popular with business people as it will allow them to work while on the move, and also with families as the iPad can be used as a form on in-car entertainment to keep children amused on long journeys.

It is thought the iPad docking system onboard Mercedes models will be a great asset for private hire chauffeur drivers as it offers an extra onboard service for paying passengers.

Concerns have been raised as to whether the positioning of the iPad docking station in the rear of the front headrest is the best idea as it could be uncomfortable to operate while sitting back in the rear seats.

The inclusion of Apple device accessories in vehicles is becoming a common occurrence as car makers seek to include these added extras in new models to add another selling point to their vehicles.