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Leather Ferrari takes luxury to new level

After a bulletproof SUV with seats covered in whale foreskin and gold-plated luxury cars, Latvian luxury car customisation specialists Dartz have unveiled their latest creation – a £135,000 Ferrari wrapped in a sleek leather exterior.

The Ferrari F430 has been covered in a lustrous coat of real leather, after being commissioned by an anonymous client based in the French Riviera. Having previously grabbed headlined with their £1 million SUV with wale foreskin seats and Sasha Baron Cohen’s three gold-plated Aladeen Edition Prombons, the luxury car customisation specialists began a 16 day three-man effort to cover the Ferrari in its unique leather jacket.

Dartz owner Leonard Yankelovich said: “One of our very rich customers from the Cote d’Azur wanted a leather exterior and knew we could deliver. It took three of my staff 16 working days to apply the leather and finish. He was more than happy when he picked it up.”

When it comes to the material, Mr Yankelovich explained that the leather was real and not vinyl, as previously speculated by the media. And to keep matters mysterious, Mr Yankelovich hinted that it was “something inbetween”.

Mr Yankelovich was unwilling to disclose the price for customising a Ferrari F430 with a leather cover. When asked about the process behind such exquisite and fine coating, the customisation expert simply revealed it as “Dartz know-how”.

The customer for the leather Ferrari remains anonymous, but the upgrade to the world’s supercar has been met with approving nods from the media and automobile fans alike.

by shayJuly 25, 2012no comment

Gordon Ramsay buys fastest Ferrari model ever

One of Britain’s favourite chefs has a passion for fast cars. Gordon Ramsay, known for his culinary skills and 13 Michelin stars, is also a collector of Ferrari models and recently the chef purchased a spanking new F12 Berlinetta worth a staggering £250,000.

Ramsay, known for his temperamental and no-nonsense attitude in the kitchen, is reputed to have owned six of the Italian carmaker’s designs at one time, although some newspapers report his latest buy to be his 15^th Ferrari.

And it doesn’t get faster than this. The F12 Berlinetta is reported to be Ferrari’s fastest model yet and is equipped with 740bhp V12 engine.

Despite being a long time Ferrari fan, Ramsay only recently toured the Maranello Factory. Along with a personalised tour of the production facilities and its in-house restaurant il Podio where the British chef sampled the day’s entrees, Ramsay also met Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa who introduced him to the F12 Berlinetta. He then took the “fantastic sexy car” on a test drive with test driver Raffaele de Simone around the company’s Fiorano test track before he made his purchase.

Ramsay said: “I work for perfection every day and winning three Michelin stars was a dream, but my second biggest dream was having my first Ferrari. From the minute you step inside to the minute you get out of the car and of the factory, you have one word in mind: perfection. I mean perfection 100 percent – absolutely incredibly. And the passion… you can feel the passion in every corner of Ferrari from all the staff: from the stitching, to putting the engine together and to these amazing text drivers.”

Ramsay posted a photo of himself alongside his new car on microblogging website Twitter with the caption:”I’m in love”. However, the chef will have to wait a while before he gets to drive his beauty on the roads. He is on a 12-month waiting list as the F12 Berlinetta is scheduled to enter the UK market next year.

by shayJuly 17, 2012no comment

BMW and Toyota hint at developing “sustainable” sports car

Welcome to a new whole new chapter in sports car history. If news is to be believed, we could soon be seeing the birth of the very first BMW-Toyota sports car!

Yes, that’s right. At a recent meeting at BMW’s headquarters in Munich, the motoring giants have signed a memorandum of understanding for joint development of a fuel cell system, power electrification, development of lightweight technology and the development of a future sports car. Even the thought that the two automobile greats might “explore the possibility” of building a vehicle together has left sports car fans excited in what could only be a milestone in automobile history.

Toyota boss Akio Toyoda and BMW chief Norbert Reithofer signed the MoU in June this year.

BMW have already signed a deal with Toyota agreeing to supply diesel engines from 2014. According to a binding agreement signed in March 2012, not only will the German firm supply Toyota Motor Europe with diesel engines from 2014, the Toyota and BMW have also agreed on collaborative research in the field of next generation lithium-ion battery cells.

Reports hint that the companies are looking to develop a “sustainable sports car”. BMW chief Reithofer said that the firms were looking to “shape the iconic change [in industry] as pioneers, in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

Similarly Toyota boss Toyoda said: “Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells. I believe BMW’s strength is developing sports cars. They know how to make a car perform. I get so excited thinking about the cars that will result from this relationship.”

Will the BMW-Toyota relationship develop something as spectacular as the recent Toyota offerings – the GT86 and BRZ? Toyota’s joint project with Subaru produced the mechanically similar cars that have been regarded as some of the world’s finest sports cars.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

by shayJuly 3, 2012no comment

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New supercar on the block: AM 310 Aston Martin Vanquish

Get ready for the next level in supercars – the AM 310 Aston Martin Vanquish. The luxury car firm have unveiled their latest high-end car model today which will cost a whopping £189,995.

The Vanquish has been designed and hand-built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, and claims top spot in a range of sports cars which include the DB9, V8 Vantage and four-door Rapide. The luxury car is predicted to follow in the company’s “enviable tradition of producing some of the most beautiful sports cars in the world.”

Aston Martin chief executive officer Ulrich Bez said: “Bearing the same name as the iconic original Vanquish that did so much to cement Aston Martin’s reputation as a maker of great GT cars in the modern era, I believe the car unveiled today once again puts this great British brand at the top of its class.”

The new Vanquish is the brand’s most potent offering yet, powered by a six litre V12 petrol engine and capable of climbing from 0 to 62mph in 4.1 seconds, boasting a top speed of 183 mph. The powerful model is second only to the strictly limited edition of the One-77 supercar that costs £1.2m.

Product communications manager for Aston Martin, Scott Fisher, said the Vanquish would occupy top place on the company’s model range: “In terms of open-ended production, the Vanquish is the most expensive Aston Martin in the range. There are already indications that the car is being very well received. The first cars are scheduled to be in production in the next couple of months and there should be the first customer deliveries by the end of the year.”

AM 310 Vanquish has already garnered a lot of interest from the UK, Europe and the US.

by shayJune 20, 2012no comment

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Kim buys rare Lamborghini Aventador for beau Kanye

Talk about expensive birthday gifts! The controversial Kim Kardashian is back in the news for surprising boyfriend Kanye West with a rare Lamborghini Aventador on his 35th birthday.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, worth $750K, was named after a star bull from the world of bullfighting. Entering into battle on October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, the bull earned the title of “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera” for outstanding courage.

This rare automobile beast boasts a high speed of 350 kilometres per hour, with a motor that can do 0-60 in 2.9 seconds.

Unfortunately for the rapper, who is currently touring with Jay-Z in Ireland, there is still some time before he can get set his eyes on his luxury on wheels that was bought for him in LA.

It is reported that reality TV star Kim, who flew out to meet Kanye in Dublin as he performed in his ‘Watch the Throne’ tour, has recorded a video of the vehicle to show to her beau. The couple were joined by Beyonce, Jay-Z and their baby Blue Ivy.

In an update on microblogging website, Twitter, Kanye wrote: ““Thanks to all my fans. I am tweeting under the stage while Jay is rapping in Dublin on my birthday. You guys make all my dreams possible.”

Kim and Kanye, nicknamed “Kimye” by the tabloids, began dating earlier this year and since have become paparazzi obsessions. The two were spotted at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and celebrity gossip website TMZ recently reported both Kanye and Kim have put their LA homes up for sale, fuelling rumours of the couple moving in together.

by shayJune 11, 2012no comment

Natalie Wood’s Mercedes up for sale in Hollywood mega auction

More than 30 years after her death, Hollywood icon Natalie Wood’s vintage Mercedes Roadster will be up for auction in July this year. Auctioneer Profiles in History announced on Monday that Wood’s white 1967 Mercedes 250SL Roadster Coupe automatic will be a part of their July Hollywood memorabilia mega auction.

The Mercedes, purchased new in 1967 in Santa Monica, California, is upholstered in black vinyl and has been restored to near perfect condition. It comes with a certification card, has 106,000 miles on the clock, and is expected to fetch between US $30,000 – $50,000.

This famed 250SL, one of the most popular cars that Mercedes-Benz have ever built, boasts some fantastic features. ZF four-speed automatic transmission with floor shift, power steering, air conditioning, removable hardtop and a hidden soft top, the car also comes with copies of Natalie Wood’s 1968 California Registration and window sticker. This particular Mercedes is quite ahead of its times, with four-wheel disc brakes, all-independent suspension, a 2.5-liter sohc, mechanically fuel injected, and a six-cylinder engine. The250SL is one of the rarest of the W113-bodied cars, having been built only in 1967 and 1968.

Wood is best known for her playing memorable roles in Hollywood classics such as West Side Story, Miracle on 34th Street and Rebel Without A Cause. She died at the age of 43 when she drowned off the California coast in 1981. Her death, which was initially ruled as accidental drowning, was investigated again with her case being reopened in November 2011. At the time, Los Angeles police is believed to have received new leads when the captain of the yacht that the actress was travelling on confessed that he had lied to authorities in 1981.

In spite of all this, no charges have been brought against anyone.

by Simon BerryJune 1, 2012no comment

Porsche announce special edition model to celebrate 60th anniversary of Porsche Club

Luxury car maker, Porsche, have announced plans to create a special edition model to mark the 60^th anniversary of the Porsche Car Club which was launched in May 1952. In homage to 13 members in Germany that set up the first ever Porsche Club, just 13 units of this special edition Porsche will be created, with car club members being entered into a ballot to win the chance to purchase one of the specially created models.

Only 12 of the 13 models will be available for Porsche club members to purchase as one vehicle is being held back by the luxury car maker to go on display at the Porsche Museum. All Porsche club members can put their name in the hat for the chance to buy one of the 12 available 911 Club Coupé models, although the prize draw is not open to club members living in Asia or India.

If your name is chosen as one of the 12, you will have the opportunity to buy one of these rare special edition Porsche models which have a starting price of €142,831 plus VAT.

The Porsche Club Coupé will be based on the Carrera S Porsche and will feature Brewster Green paintwork and colour match 20 inch wheels. A power kit upgrade will also be made available to the 12 owners of the special edition Porsche sports cars to up the vehicles power to 430bhp. A number of special touches will be added to these sought after Porsche sports cars including a switch panel strip which with the wording, “911 Club Coupé – personally built for…” followed by the name of the lucky owner.

The ballot is open to members of the Porsche Club which is inviting members to register their interest now.

by Andrew LloydMay 28, 2012no comment

WeddingCarHire.com launches mobile friendly website

Wedding car hire just got simpler! WeddingCarHire.com, the UK’s national car hire specialists, has today launched their state of the art website that specifically caters to web users on the go. With more users browsing the Internet from their mobile devices than ever before, WeddingCarHire.com is the perfect resource to find your dream car for the big day while out and about.

A recent study by Google has found that 59% of UK smartphone users access the Internet from their mobile devices each day. Stats published on ‘Our Mobile Planet’ indicate smartphone penetration currently at 51% with a 500% increase in mobile search in the past two years alone.

WeddingCarHire.com understands this trend and has developed a mobile optimised website with a user-friendly interface to ensure browsing with minimum hassle. Gone are the days of zooming and navigating through image libraries with difficulty from your mobile phone! WeddingCarHire.com is a super responsive website that adapts to individual mobile devices ranging from smartphones, iPhones and Androids to notebooks, Kindles and iPads, providing an optimised user experience. This is crucial especially when on the lookout for chauffer-driven wedding cars, and the team at WeddingCarHire.com understand the importance of your big day. Every measure has been taken to reduce the stress of finding that perfect car, and users can now enjoy a smooth, visually rich online experience along with a streamlined quote and booking form, all while on the go!

With Google’s study revealing that a staggering 85% of UK mobile users source their local information from their smartphones, and 81% taking action using the local information found, WeddingCarHire.com is the one stop website to find chauffer-driven cars in all parts of the country. Whether you’re in London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Brighton or Cornwall, the people at WeddingCarHire.com will find the perfect car for you to hire. As specialists in their field, not only will they answer all your pressing questions, but WeddingCarHire.com will also source a car to your taste so that you can make that dazzling entrance. With a range of wedding cars on offer ranging from the latest Rolls Royce Phantom and Baby Bentley limo to classic luxury cars like the Beauford and the Daimler limo, there is something for everyone.

Take a look at the brand new website WeddingCarHire.com now to try out the mobile optimised features for yourself and request a free quote for chauffeur driven wedding car hire.

by Andrew LloydMay 22, 2012no comment

Jaguar confirm F-type model which takes inspiration from iconic E-type Jag

Luxury car maker Jaguar have confirmed plans to create a new sporty model the F-type, which will take its inspiration from one of the British brand’s most iconic and successful motor cars, the E-Type Jag.

The E-Type Jaguar has topped numerous polls having been voted the Greatest Ever British Sports Car and Greatest Car Ever amongst other accolades. Jaguar is planning to build on the E-type’s popularity by creating a new model which takes its inspiration from the classic sports model.

Jaguar unveiled their plans for the new F-Type model at the New York Motor Show this week, revealing an exclusive snap of the prototype model as part of the grand unveiling. The car is expected to go into production at the end of the year, with engineers at the Jaguar plant in Birmingham expected to start work on the new F-type Jaguar.

The new Jaguar F-Type is expected to rival the likes of the Mercedes Benz SL and the Porsche 911. The new sporty Jaguar will have a starting price of £50,000 and will boast a top speed of 180mph and a 0-62mph acceleration of less than 5 seconds. The F-Type convertible with fabric topped roof will be arriving in showrooms in the UK by June 2013, while a coupe version is expected by 2014.

by Tony RobertsApril 5, 2012no comment

Eric Clapton splashes out £3 million on bespoke Ferrari

Music legend Eric Clapton has reportedly splashed out a whopping £3million to have a state of the art Ferrari custom made.

The 66-year-old musician is a massive fan of the luxury car brand and boasts some of the most sought after Ferraris ever made amongst his private collection. However the latest addition to Clapton’s sports car collection will put all of his other cars in the dark as Ferrari say they will never build another car like the one just delivered to Clapton.

The Ferrari Special Projects team created the car especially for Eric Clapton using the body of a Ferrari 458 Italia, however the finished article is said to hark back to the 1970’s Ferrari 512 model which is said to be one of the musician’s favourite vehicles.

The custom made sports car bears a very special registration plate as well, SP 12 EPC, which stands for “special project” and then the music star’s initials. The unique car boasts a top speed of 202mph and 0-62mph of just 3.4 seconds.

While Ferrari have refused to discuss the project publically so as to respect the privacy of their famous client, however it’s been reported that the bespoke Ferrari would have cost in the region of £3 million, making the sports car six times more expensive than the most expensive production car from Ferrari, the Enzo.

by Tony RobertsApril 2, 2012no comment

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