Car Reviews | Cars for Stars News

Batmobile sells at auction for $4.2 million

Taking the love for Batman and Robin a step further, an ardent fan has purchased the original Batmobile for a whopping $4.2m (£2.6m) at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. Rick Champagne, a logistics company owner from the Phoenix area, bought the iconic automobile that transported the superhero and his sidekick in the Batman series featured on television from 1966 to 1968. The show starred Adam West and Burt Ward with the Batmobile based on the concept car, 1955 Lincoln Futura, built by Ford Motor Co in Italy.

This was the first time that the Batmobile was put up for public sale. Mr Champagne will have to pay additional costs of $420,000 in premiums as well as the $4.2m auction bid price.

50-year-old Mr Champagne said: “I really liked Batman growing up and I came here with the intention of buying the car. Sure enough, I was able to buy it. That was a dream come true.”

The legendary luxury car boasts a V8 engine and instruments in its steering wheel along with innovations like the push-button transmission. The car was initially bought for a nominal $1 by famous customizer George Barris who had 15 days to work his magic and transform the concept car into the historic Batmobile for the TV show. He worked from a budget of $15,000 to create the original Batmobile and since the transformation and its rise to fame, Mr Barris has continued to own the vehicle until the Barrett-Jackson auction. The car is well-loved for its state-of-art gadgets that include a car phone, twin rear parachutes for quick Bat turns and the ability to deploy oil, smoke and nails to stop villains in their tracks.

Since the series ended, the Batmobile has toured the United States and has also featured in a movie. Soon after, the car was housed in a private showroom in California and Mr Barris now feels that it is the right time for the car to be in the hands of a new owner.

Rolls-Royce announces launch of Rolls-Royce Wraith

British luxury car maker Rolls-Royce has announced the addition of a brand new model to its fleet of envy-inspiring automobiles. The Rolls-Royce Wraith, touted to be “the most powerful Rolls-Royce”, will be revealed to the public at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show to be held in early March.

Details surrounding the Rolls-Royce Wraith are being aggressively protected but we can expect it to be a coupe version of the car maker’s prestigious Rolls-Royce Ghost. According to sources, the Rolls-Royce Wraith will be “the most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine”.

Rumours making the rounds suspect that the new Rolls-Royce model will boast a V12 engine which is expected to produce in the region of 600bhp.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, discussed the choice of name for the new model. The Wraith name was first used by the Rolls-Royce brand in 1938 when we saw the production of the Silver Wraith that ceased to exist in 1959.

Mr Müller-Ötvös said: “Wraith alludes to an almost imperceptible but powerful force, something rare, agile and potent, a spirit that will not be tethered to the earth. It is the perfect name for our new model.”

The first Wraith cars will be delivered to customers at the end of the year.

The car maker, based in Goodwood in West Sussex, is owned by BMW. It has recently been in the news for its record sale of cars that rose from 1,002 in 2009 to 3.575 in 2012.

Rolls-Royce reports record sales three years in a row

BMW owned Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has reported record sales making this the third consecutive year for the car maker with increased sales. The company recorded a 1% growth in 2011-2012 with sales increasing from 3538 cars to 3575 cars in one year.

However, this was a lower growth rate that those recorded in the last two years that saw the company report sales growth of 31% and 150% respectively. The increased sales for 2011-12 can be attributed to expansions into newer markets with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars now selling luxury cars to Latin America, among other new areas. Another emerging but lucrative market for the car supplier is Saudi Arabia which reported a 63% increase in Rolls Royce car sales with automobile enthusiasts snapping up the luxury vehicles.

CEO of Rolls-Royce, Torsten Muller-Otvos, said: “Middle Eastern customers are completely different from British customers, and for that reason you might see more shiny, different colours in the Middle East.”

Sales in Europe rose 21% while Asia reported an increase of 18%. UK sales, however, were broadly flat that was partly brought on by an overhaul of the London dealership.

In the United States, sales of Rolls-Royce vehicles were spectacular with the country overtaking China as the luxury car maker’s top market. Mr Muller-Otvos said: “The United States proved to be quite strong at the end of the year, and we’ve had a certain slowdown in the Chinese market.”

According to Mr Muller-Otvos, the company has managed to rise above its challenges: “We are the pinnacle of all luxury brands in the world. We are interested in constant growth over the years to come, but sustainable growth.

“We had an outstanding year in spite of the challenges.”

New paint job makes McLaren car fastest artwork on roads

We’ve all heard of car makeovers but this one takes “giving your car a paint job” to a whole new level. A German tuning company has revamped the world’s fastest car to the world’s fastest artwork after it gave a McLaren MP4-12C a £90,000 multi-coloured makeover.

Hamann Motorsport has transformed the iconic British supercar, which usually retails at £175,000, into a psychedelic adventure inspired by the classic BMW Art Cars of the 1970s. After the expensive paint job, the 12C that was built in Woking, Berkshire and named the memoR, now boasts a price tag of more than £265,000. The tuning firm’s artwork is a far cry from the traditional colours that the McLaren usually comes in such as blue, black, silver and white.

Hamann Motorsport specialises in souping up cars and described the McLaren in its new avatar as “an exquisitely colourful piece of art”. If you’re thinking of purchasing this expensive psychedelic ride, you’ll be sure to get your money’s worth as the £265,000 also comes with a ‘bodykit’ of new exterior accessories including bumper, new lights, new rear spoiler called the ‘wing’ and a set of 21-inch alloy wheels to compliment the paint job.

The tuning firm is located in Laupheim in southern Germany. Discussing the rainbow McLaren, the company said: “Grass-green Porsches, neon yellow Lamborghinis and even luminous red Ferraris will soon fade away into the background on most streets, as the latest creation from Hamann Motorsport steals the show.

“With the stage set like this, the refined two-seater will transform ugly streets into palatial catwalks, clothing its passengers in magnificent haute couture.”

Now that’s adding colour to your ride!

Nissan to introduce steer-by-wire cars in 2013

A future with driverless cars may not be as far-fetched as you think! Japan automobile giant Nissan have revealed their plans to integrate steer-by-wire technology to cars rolled out to showrooms in 2013 – a significant development that could be the precursor to such fantasies as driverless cars.

Steer-by-wire technology involves electronic signals being sent from the steering wheel of the car to a computerised unit in control of the movement of the tyres. This technology is unlike mechanical links and are commonly used in aeroplanes. This is the first time that the steer-by-wire technology has been extended to mass-produced cars, and by doing so Nissan will set a new benchmark in the automobile industry.

This week, Nissan Motor Co announced its intention to incorporate the steer-by-wire technology to its brand of luxury cars, Infiniti, within a year. This technology would not only allow for a future with cars controlled by joysticks but also pave the way for an environment where car crashes can be avoided automatically.

Nissan engineer, Masaharu Satou, said: “In the future, if we are freed from that, we would be able to place the steering wheel wherever we like, such as in the back seat, or it would be possible to steer the car with a joystick.”

Other carmakers, like Audi’s A2, have already introduced the steer-by-wire technology to their concept cars. However, Nissan is the first to apply the technology to mass-produced cars.

Tetsuya Iijima, a Nissan engineer, said: “We are thinking about the essentials — what kind of a tool should cars be for humans? By controlling its hands and feet, as well as the eyes and the brain, cars are on its way to becoming an extension of robots.”

McLaren to unveil “ultimate supercar”, the McLaren P1

British sports car maker McLaren is geared towards its next big launch in a week’s time when it unveils its first supercar, the McLaren P1. The McLaren P1, touted to reach speeds of over 200mph, is set to be the “ultimate supercar” and probably one of the most expensive ones with a price tag of £800,000.

The automobile beauty will be revealed at next week’s Paris Motor Show 2012 and although the exhibit P1 is a design study, McLaren is confident of a production version that will be available next year with the supercars rolling out to the market in 2014.

The P1 boasts an acceleration of 0-62mph in three seconds and aims to become the world’s best “driver’s car” in regular production whether on road or on a track.

Automobile supremacy is not unfamiliar to the team at McLaren who built the world’s fastest car two decades ago, the McLaren F1, and have since reigned supreme with Grand Prix championships over the years. The McLaren F1 held the title of ‘fastest production car’ with top speeds of 240mph for 13 years until it was overtaken by the 254mph Bugatti 16.4 Veyron.

The McLaren P1 is following in its predecessor’s footsteps with reports suggesting that it has already smashed the best lap time for road-legal cars at the Silverstone circuit ahead of its Paris debut.

McLaren Automotive Executive Chairman Ron Dennis said: “The McLaren P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage. Twenty years ago we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with the McLaren P1 is to redefine it once again.”

Managing Director Antony Sheriff said: “Our aim is not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed but to be the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit.”

The McLaren P1 will be unveiled to an international audience in Paris later this month.

Dudley limo company fined; caught without private hire licence

Splash Limousines, a Dudley-based limo hire company catering to school proms, have been fined £1000 for not possessing a private hire licence or a valid insurance. The limo hire company were caught during a council sting operation that revealed their lack of a private licence invalidated their insurance policy.

Lee Jeavons and Rachel Marson, owners of the company, have denied any wrongdoing stating that they were under the impression that the council authorities did not require a private hire licence. They have also told Dudley Magistrates Court that their company may face closure due to the court proceedings.

Splash Limousines defence Mr Shabir Qureshi said: “Five years ago there was a lot of talk among other limo companies that a private hire licence may be required, but Miss Marson was given the clear impression that there was no need for this in Dudley.”

However, enforcement officer Trevor Parkes told the court that Dudley council had started licensing limousines three years ago after a change in law. He also said that Splash Limousines should have been aware of this development and made changes to their licence as required.

Prosecuting, Tim Holder said that the company insurance policy only covered private hire cars. The lack of a private hire licence nullified the policy, leaving Splash Limousines without a valid insurance.

The entire matter came to light when the parent of a student, looking to book a limo hire for his daughter’s school prom, enquired whether Splash Limousines hold a licence. Mr Jeavons and Ms Marson, who also drove the limousines, told the court that they believed that they were covered by their insurance policy. The couple also claimed that they had only been sent licensing information relating to taxis and Hackney carriages by the council.

New Audi supercar to host digital rear-view mirror

Supercars are always on the verge of innovation – creating vehicles that are more exclusive, with better features and increased efficiency. Leading groundbreaking research, automobile powerhouse Audi are quickly adapting their racing technology to production cars, creating the first of a new generation of supercars that benefit from professional competitive driving techniques.

Audi have a string of technology under their belt that have created some of the fastest racing cars in the world. These include quattro, Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) and ultra lightweight technology. And now, Audi are bringing their latest innovation to their production line promising customers the next step up in luxury supercars.

Audi’s brand new R18 Le Mans prototype that won the prestigious 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race will now feature in the upcoming 2013 Audi R8 e-tron. The R18 Le Mans prototype is unique in that it has no rear window. However, piloting this advanced technology is easier than it sounds – Audi engineers have installed a digital rear-view mirror that transfers videos picked up by a small camera attached to the rear of the vehicle onto a 7.7-inch screen.

The small camera that is barely a few millimetres in diameter picks up a greater range than a traditional rear-view mirror. Along with the increased scope of vision, the tiny camera also has mechanism in place that keeps it warm during cold winter months.

The digital screen relaying images to the driver is created from AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) elements, developed by Samsung and self-illuminating at a low voltage. What this means is that the screen doesn’t need backlighting, and boasts the option for dimming or deactivating the display at any time.

The Audi R8 e-tron will be released later this year.

Polish supercar to be named ‘Hussarya’

Polish supercar firm, Arrinera, have revealed computer renderings of their upcoming project named the Hussarya. Touted as Poland’s first supercar, the Hussarya has been named after the famous 16^th century Polish Hussar cavalry.

While some critics have commented that the name is resoundingly similar to the new Pagani Huayra, Arrinera insists the supercar has been named after the country’s cavalry that were famed for their beauty, strength and manoeuvrability.

The new images display spanking new exteriors that are similar to traditional mid-engine supercar proportions much like the Lamborghini. However, new tail and headlights render the Hussarya an edgier more glamorous look.

Reports suggest that the Hussarya will be powered by a Corvette ZR1-dervied 485kW 6.2 litre supercharged LS9 V8 that can accelerate the Polish supercar to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and reach top speed of 340km/h.

Arrinera have revealed the involvement of British engineer Lee Noble for the design and optimisation of its high tensile-strength tubular steel chassis and all-independent multilink suspension. Mr Noble is recognised as the creator of the Ultima GTR and Noble supercars.

The Polish firm has also disclosed how the shape of the Hussarya has been the subject of 14 months of research at the Warsaw University of Technology.

Arrinera plans to build an initial fleet of 33 examples available for delivery by late 2013, before starting mass production. The cars will be priced at $160,000 each.

Get ready to hit the roads in style in Poland’s first supercar – sleeker, more glamorous and road-ready for some serious luxury!

BMW releases exclusive 3 Series range in India

Luxury automobile powerhouse BMW have released their new 3 Series range of luxury sedans in India, taking on competitors Audi and Daimler who already rule the market in the country. Brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar unveiled the BMW vehicles at the much-awaited launch that has already created a flurry of excitement among luxury car aficionados across the country.

Starting at $52,000, the BMW 3 Series will sell in both diesel and petrol makes across India’s many showrooms. The new 3 Series will be competing with Audi’s A4 sedans Daimler’s C-class sedans sold under its Indian flagship arm, Mercedes-Benz.

The German automaker released its upgraded 3 series among a frenzy of media attention in an exclusive launch in Mumbai, featuring Indian cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar, known for his prowess on the cricket pitch and his appreciation for fast cars, said: “I drove this car this month in London. It felt incredible. To me above all being a car enthusiast, safety is also equally important. I am really impressed. It is absolutely stunning and the interiors are unbelievable. It has got a lot of space. Compared to the earlier ones, this is far more spacious.”

President of BMW Group India Andreas Schaaf told a press conference: “The all-new BMW 3 Series is a vehicle that has an unbeatable profile and is born from pioneering technology, a beautiful design and a lot of passion.”

The BMW 3 Series will be available in two exclusive design schemes — Sport Line and Luxury Line.

The cars are available in a variety of colours including Alpine White and Melbourne Red, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, Havanna, Imperial Blue Brilliant Effect and Mineral Grey with a metallic finish.