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Cars For Stars Rolls Royce Phantom features in new MunkE ft. BarnB music video ‘CEO’

MunkE-CEO-AlbumCoverThe borough of Hounslow in West London is the birthplace of many huge names in the world of music, and now there’s one more to add to that list. Barnaby Offei, who is known by his rap name BarnB, is the latest talented artist to emerge from Hounslow. Rita Ora, Jay Sean and M.I.A. are just a few of the other globally successful urban artists that were either born or brought up in this part of London.

BarnB, 26, is the brainchild of brand new rap song ‘CEO’, which he both raps in and wrote the lyrics for. It’s released today (11th July) by new and cutting-edge record label MunkE Music, and sees him collaborate with DJ/Producer, MunkE, to create this catchy tune… and it’s expected to break download records and pose a serious threat to the likes of Tinchy Stryder and Dizzee Rascal.

The video for CEO is full of swanky possessions – all of which you’d expect to be owned by a Chief Executive Officer – including a Rolls Royce Phantom which was incidentally hired from leading luxury car hire company, Cars For Stars. The character in the video, a chauffeur parading around as a rich CEO, is only found out to be a fake (in a comedic twist) when we see him jumping out from the back seat of the Phantom whilst entertaining a lady with some champagne, only to open the door for the real CEO!

BarnB describes his style of music as current, urban, and very club-driven. He both raps and sings, so is very adaptable to many different genres, all of which he likes to experiment with. The spectrum of bands and solo artists that inspire BarnB is anything but limited – the list includes everything from Oasis to Bob Marley to Kanye West to Blink 182.

Although there’s no specific message behind CEO, BarnB likes his lyrics to have some kind of motive behind them. He’s inspired by reggae king Bob Marley in this way, whose lyrics always had a meaning and message behind them. ‘CEO’ has an extremely catchy beat, and its lyrics are full of current references (things people want to talk about), such as the Champion’s League and other recent events.

The song pays tribute to iconic figures from the world of music and sport, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ric Flair, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix, all of who BarnB sees as CEOs in their own way – whether this is the conventional meaning of a CEO or someone who commands great respect and gravitas. Of Ronaldo, BarnB said: “I really respect him as a footballer and wanted to mention him in CEO, he’s a fantastic player and brought flair back to the game, in the same way the Brazilian dream team did back in the day. He has all the characteristics of a true ‘CEO’.”

BarnB is currently working with top record label and production company MunkE Music to create more fresh-cutting edge tracks to be in the pipeline. So keep an eye out for this rising Hounslow-raised music star through record label MunkE Music or BarnB’s official Facebook page. You can watch the brand new music video featuring the Phantom below! Don’t forget to download CEO from iTunes here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuWdEGCtXmI

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All-German Champion’s League Final looking likely

Uefa-Champions-LeagueWith just two matches left before the UEFA Champion’s League Final on May 25th, it’s going to be a tough couple of games for Real Madrid and Barcelona, who will both have to really pull their socks up if they’re going to make get a much-coveted place in the final. After having been beaten by Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich 4-1 and 4-0 respectively, both teams now have their work cut out if they don’t want to get knocked out. The first of the penultimate two matches (Real Madrid v Dortmund) kicks off tonight at 7:45pm from the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. After gaining one away goal in Germany, Real Madrid stand a slight chance of making a comeback, whereas the likelihood of Barcelona knocking out Bayern Munich at tomorrow’s game is nearly negligible.

So with an all-German final looking highly likely, thousands of Germans will be flocking to the capital for the big game, which is again being held in Wembley.

The luxury car hire industry goes through the roof during events like this, especially when two non-British teams reach the final of such a prestigious tournament, and it’s being held in Wembley. Public transport can be unreliable and hectic, overcrowded and inconvenient, so many turn to luxury car hire to get them to and from the stadium for the match, or to and from the airport.

Cars For Stars is the UK’s leading luxury car hire company, and covers everywhere in the UK. So if you’re one of the lucky fans going to cheer on your team at the Champion’s League Final 2013, have you considered hiring one of Cars For Stars’ chauffeur-driven vehicles to add that extra bit of luxury to your day? So call them today on 0844 567 9000 to book your swanky and dependable transport for the 25th May – the Champion’s League Final!

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Will.i.am shows off his latest head-turning ride

william carSolo artist and member of pop group Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am, has combined his love for cars with his love for comics by having a car custom built based on the comic strip Dick Tracy. The car enthusiast unveiled his brand new $900,000 vehicle when he cruised out of LAX airport this week.

The extravagant metallic purplish-blue car attracted some rather incredulous looks from spectators. The unique car was custom-made by company West Coast Customs, who became famous for their impressive work, through popular car-revamping show Pimp My Ride, which was shown on MTV.

The curvaceous bodywork of the car incorporates an aluminium interior, aluminium dashboard, suicide doors and custom door panels. It also has a sloping front grille and bold whitewall tires. Its bucket seats make for comfortable high-speed driving.

Will.i.am himself was kitted out in a trendy, slightly eccentric, all-black ensemble of beanie hat, leather jacket, shorts and some funky gold and white trainers.

The singer and producer also owns another futuristic custom-built car – a white coupe with Delorean-esque door, which cost a mere $700,000.

In May, William will be presented with an honourary award for creative advertising at the CLIO Awards, it was announced on Monday. It has previously been handed out to Anthony Bourdain and Annie Leibovitz, and is designated for people who have pushed the boundaries of creativity.

Will.i.am’s fourth album #willpower is due out today.

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Rolls-Royce make one-off pink Ghost

pink ghostRolls-Royce have joined the club of luxury car manufacturers who have produced a pink version of one of their models. The first ever pink Rolls-Royce Ghost has been designed and made especially for the cause of UK charity, Breast Cancer Care. The pink sedan, which has a custom extended wheel-base, hopes to raise £1 million for the cause.

Other luxury car companies such as Lamborghini, Bentley, Chevrolet, Seat and Lexus have all previously brought out limited edition pink versions of some of their most sought-after models, and now Rolls-Royce has got on board too.

The car was commissioned by an organisation called FAB1, which is owned by the ginger-haired TV presenter and DJ Chris Evans (who is also a noted Ferrari collector). The number plate is incidentally “FAB1”, which is the same as Miss Penelope’s from 1960s TV show Thunderbirds.

The FAB1 Million project aims to raise the million pound target by having the eye-catching car appear at various breast cancer charity events across the country, as well as being available to hire throughout the year – with all proceeds going towards the fund. Those philanthropic people who choose to hire out the pink Roller will be treated to a luxurious experience – it boasts hand-veneered picnic tables, a Blushing Pink and Crème Light leather clad interior, personal 9.2 inch LED screens and a champagne cooler. Other exclusive features include pink-accented umbrellas, hand-embroidered headrests, pink floor mats made out of lambs wool and FAB1 tread plates.

The pink Roller’s year-long charity tour has started in Land’s End at the very south of the country, and will go on to chauffeur a number of celebrity passengers up to John O’Groats in the very north of Scotland. The celebrities taking a ride in the Ghost include pop-singer Gary Barlow, Top Gear’s James May, Professor Brian Cox and cook Mary Berry.

Despite the daring colour, which looks seemingly very much like the iconic model has had a pink paint job, the effect is actually achieved using an impressive vinyl wrap, provided free of charge by a vinyl car wrap company. Who would’ve known?!

To hire a regular Rolls-Royce Ghost, check out the Cars For Stars gallery and call the team for a quote.

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Aston Martin prepares to celebrate 100 years of excellence

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary with a racing event unlike any other! The luxury automobile maker has announced that the largest collection of its prestigious racing cars will gather for a race of a lifetime as they compete against each other on a single track at the Brands Hatch in July 2013.

In creating this one-off racing event, Aston Martin has managed to create excitement amongst fans and the media alike who are keen to be part of the carmaker’s centenary celebrations. Boasting 100 years of automobile excellence, Aston Martin’s racing event will recognise and pay tribute to the company’s achievements in sports car racing over the past century. The race car collection will boast the many Aston Martin sports cars over the century from those manufactured in 1922 to the latest models in its luxury sports car range.

The race series in Kent will be held on the 6th and 7th July and will bring together Aston Martin race cars from nearly every decade. The cars will race on the Brands Hatch Indy and Grand Prix circuits and the two day event will also host two special centenary races – one covering the pre-war era to the mid 1960s and the other open to all Astons from the mid-sixties. The latter will include the latest Aston Martin GT1, GTE, GT3 and GT4 cars, all of which will compete in a single race on the Grand Prix circuit.

There will also be additional races that will include pre-war Astons and it is rumoured that Lagondas and Bentleys will take part in these as well.

Other events scheduled for the brand’s centenary celebrations include two rounds of the 2013 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain, examples of nearly every Aston Martin racing car ever produced, display of its finest road machinery, and on-track demonstrations that will host everything from pre-war Ulsters to Nimrods and the Aston Martin AMR1.

The event will also boast a James Bond showcase celebrating the history of the partnership between the carmaker and the 007 agent with Aston Martin cars on display from the DB5 featured in the 1964 Goldfinger to the most recent appearance in Skyfall.

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Mansfield manager Paul Cox wins Aston Martin in bet

In what is seen to be one of the most expensive sporting bets this year, Mansfield owner John Radford has bought team manager Paul Cox an Aston Martin after Mansfield won 8-1 against Barrow.

After the non-league team won 5-0 against Dartford last weekend, Mr Radford decided to raise the stakes promising the manager one of the world’s most expensive cars in return for Mansfield scoring five in the first half of the Blue Square Premier game against Barrow. Even though the Stags had won in the game against Dartford, Mr Radford’s bet looked the promising winner as this was the team’s first time hitting five in a match all season.

However, the game against Barrow seemed to swing in Mr Cox’s favour, as goals from Lee Stevenson, two from Matt Green and one from Colin Daniel meant Mansfield was 4-1 after half an hour into the game. This was quickly followed by Adam Murray scoring a goal before the break to win the bet for Mr Cox as Mansfield led the game 5-1.

Mr Radford, who was returning from a trip to Ireland and missed the first half of the game, rushed to meet with Mr Cox and reiterate his promise to buy the manager an Aston Martin DB9. The impact of winning the bet was visible not just for the lucky manager but for the entire team as Mansfield went on to win 8-1.

Mr Cox, still apprehensive about receiving one of the world’s finest sports cars, said: “As for the car, I’m not sure if it is wind-up. Maybe I’ll get into the car park and it will be a bicycle with some stabilisers on it.”

However, Mr Radford delivered on his promise when an Aston Martin DB9 arrived at the One Stadium on Saturday night – complete with the personalised number plate MT51 COX.

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New one-of-a-kind Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse supercar revealed

A new supercar will soon cruise the roads as luxury car firm Buggati announced their plans to launch an exclusive one-off edition of the world’s fastest convertible – the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Inspired by the Grand Prix winning sports car from the 1920s, the Type 37A, the one-of-a-kind Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse will cost a staggering £2 million and has already been sold to its only customer.

From the house of Buggati Automobiles S.A.S., the French subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse has already created waves for committing to beat the T37A’s supercharged 90bhp speed by being at least 13 times more powerful. That’s an astonishing 1200bhp giving this four-wheel exclusive supercar top speeds of 255mph – more than three times the UK speed limit!

This luxury supercar, which recently made its global debut at the Doha Motor Show in Qatar, has already been sold to an anonymous customer. The owner of the original Type 37A race car, however, is US chat show host and comedian Jay Leno who prides on displaying this top car in his multi-million pound automobile collection.

The Grand Sport Vitesse is an upgraded version of the Veyron Grand Sport and while its top of performance has been increased by 199bhp so has its design. Bugatti has revamped the vehicle’s exterior with bodywork modifications in order to aid the car’s handling and aerodynamics. This is a truly spectacular automobile jewel and one lucky individual can claim ownership of this one-of-a-kind Buggati exclusive.

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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.

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Jay Leno rides in sports car to cast his vote for US elections

King of late night comedy Jay Leno was recently seen heading to the US polls to cast his vote. The television personality lived up to his reputation by arriving in style in an exclusive sports car worth a staggering $200,000!

Leno was pictured walking out of his McLaren MP4 as he made his way to the polling station in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The high-end automobile is a celebrity favourite and boasts ‘butterfly’ doors to add to its sleek make. The McLaren MP4, from the house of the iconic UK Formula One company, complimented the American stand-up as he sported a casual look in a denim shirt, trousers and black suede shoes.

Leno is no stranger to luxury cars and is reported to own a shocking 100 cars hosted in a massive garage. His extensive fleet includes a roadster that was once owned by Howard Hughes. Leno’s collection of automobiles is recognised by the Peterson Automotive Museum where they are regularly on display.

In a recent classic car auction, two cars donated by Jay Leno – a New Holland Tractor and a 2012 Fiat 500 Prima Edizione – were sold for $535,000 and $350,000 respectively. The tractor was previously used for towing cars around Jay Leno’s garage.

Leno is the face of NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno which he has hosted since 1992.

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Paul McCartney vintage Aston Martin sells for £344,400 at auction

The Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney’s vintage Aston Martin sold for a staggering £344,400 at an auction on Wednesday. The 1964 sports car was offered as part of the RM Auction London sale and was estimated to fetch over £300,000.

The Aston Martin DB5 was bought by Sir McCartney in the summer of 1964, between completing filming for A Hard Day’s Night and embarking on The Beatles 1964 world tour, and was in his possession for the next six years. Canadian auction firm RM Auctions believes that The Beatles star put some 40,000 miles on the car during this time.

Wednesday’s auction was not the first time that the Aston Martin DB5 has been in the news. A 1967 Time magazine profile on Paul McCartney described “Bachelor Paul” as a “movie addict, loves ‘the look of London’, and tools around town in a spiffy blue Aston Martin DB5.”

This particular DB5 is painted Sierra blue and came with options such as chrome wire wheels, black interior leather, a Motorola radio and a unique Phillips Auto-Morgan record player. According to the auctioneers, Sir McCartney ordered for the leather interior to be patterned with musical notes. However, this upholstery has since been replaced.

Before the iconic sports car went under the hammer, Peter Wallman who co-ran the bidding for RM Auctions said: “I’m not going to predict that happening here but if somebody collects Beatles memorabilia and just really wanted to have Paul McCartney’s Aston Martin then it could go crazy.”

According to service records and other reports, Paul McCartney sold the car in 1970. The musical icon continued to own a number of other Aston Martin makes.