Cars for Stars News

92k Audi R8 goes up in flames

An Audi R8 estimated to be worth £92,000 mysteriously went up in flames over the weekend while its owner was taking it for a spin on Sunday morning in the US.

The luxury car is reported to have been completely destroyed by the blaze. It seems the fire department and the police are at a loss to determine what caused the fire and are likely to claim the fire was accidental.

The exclusive Audi was owned by a US lottery winner who scooped $24 million on a powerball jackpot back in 2009. It’s understood that the lotto winner had only just purchased the car, having collected the vehicle a week prior to the fire incident.

It’s believed lottery winner, Rahul Patel, had taken his new ride for a spin on Sunday morning in Connecticut when he glanced in the rear view mirror to see smoke billowing out of the back end of the Audi.

At this point, Patel pulled off the road and jumped out of the luxury vehicle to investigate the cause of the smoke. After getting out of the Audi, Patel noticed flames shooting out of the rear of the car, which is where the engine is situated.

The fire services were called, however the Audi R8 became consumed by flames and has been totally destroyed by the fire.

At present it is not known what caused the fire, although reports suggest the fire department are likely to class it as accidental.

Warning over car hire charges for child seats

Car hire customers who are travelling with children are being warned to check the cost of hiring children’s seats with their rental provider to avoid being stung by high rates.

According to research from travelsupermarket.com some car rental companies in Europe are charging up to £60 more for hire of a child seat compared to other car hire providers.

The research discovered that car hire company Europcar was charging £62.32 for a week long hire of as child seat from Palma Airport, while Expedia were charging just £11.62 for the rental of the child seat, leaving from the same airport for the same length of time.

Destinations across Spain where the research discovered the highest charges for child seat hire included Majorca, Alicante, and Malaga while the cheapest was found to be from Nice airport in France.

The advice being given by car hire experts is for customers to budget for extra add-ons for the vehicle rental so as not to be caught out by unexpected charges. It’s also highly recommended to shop around for car hire using price comparison websites and to include any extras you may require during your trip when requesting a quote.

Selected airlines don’t charge for transporting child seats so it’s often worth taking your own on holiday to avoid paying to hire one while abroad. However some airlines do charge to carry child seats, so it’s advisable to check with your carrier before you travel.

Custom made Rolls Royce Phantom golf buggy revealed

More commonly seen chauffeuring brides to weddings or businessmen to important meetings, the Rolls Royce Phantom is not a familiar sight on the golf course, however that maybe about to change with the launch of the Phantom golf cart.

Introducing the custom made Rolls Royce Phantom golf buggy. Luxury Carts is responsible for creating the custom made golf buggy which is a mini replica of the ever popular Rolls Royce Model.

The attention to detail in the design of the luxurious golf ride is superb. The bespoke electric powered cart even bears the famous Rolls Royce grille, and the RR badge so it’s instantly recognisable as being part of the luxury brand.

With room onboard to transport 6 passengers, you can bring a gang of friends along for a chauffeur driven round of golf when you take a ride in the Phantom buggy. The luxury cart also features 15 inch chrome wheels, leather seats, two tone exterior trim, and LED headlights so you’ll be treated to a sumptuous round of golf when you take to the fairway in the back of this exclusive golf buggy.

As well as the Rolls Royce golf buggy, Luxury Carts also offer a range of other custom made golf vehicles including miniature versions of the Bentley, Mercedes Benz and Cadillac Escalade to name but a few.

Car hire business booming in Turkey

The car hire business in Turkey is booming this year with rental rates set to rise again just as the peak holiday season gets underway.

As a result of the surge in business, vehicle rental prices have shot up as car hire providers struggle to cope with demand which has resulted in the inflated rental rates.

It’s been estimated that the amount of business produced by car rentals in Turkey has risen by 50% this year. This has had a knock-on effect on the price of car hire which has also increased by approximately 30%. This increase in car hire prices is predicted to continue right through until the autumn.

More tourists visiting the country has been the main cause of the boom, although one car hire owner in Turkey says there is another reason why the demand is so high this year.

It’s been suggested that Turkish expats who may be living in countries such as Germany or the Netherlands would have previously driven to Turkey for a home visit during the year. However with the increased fuel prices and low airline fares, more and more are opting to fly home to Turkey and then hire a vehicle for the duration of their stay.

The condition of hire cars in Turkey is fair with the average vehicle being between 1 and 3 years old. Most are fitted with satellite navigation systems. In order to be eligible for car hire in Turkey you must have held a valid driver’s license for at least two years.

Sales of luxury German cars on the rise

The German car makers of luxury car brands such as Audi, Rolls Royce, and BMW have reported very healthy half year sales with countries such as China and the US coming out as the biggest consumers of these vehicles.

The BMW group, which also owns Mini and Rolls Royce, reported that sales during the month of June increasing by 12.2% on the year which equates to 145,157 vehicles being delivered.

Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen AG is one of the biggest success stories of the year having reported a massive 61.6% rise in car sales in China and an overall year on year increase in sales of 8.7% The Audi A3 and the mid-size Audi A5 have been the biggest sellers for the brand over in the US with sales of these vehicles doubling during the month of June according to statistics released on July 1st.

The BMW group is also doing well in China having more than doubled sales to the country in the first half of this year with 75,615 vehicles being delivered. A Marketing Executive at BMW says the company has a series of plans in place to ensure this upward trend continues through into the second half of the year.

Experts say the reports of sales increases from luxury car makers is a sign that the economy in countries such as the US and China is more robust than initially thought, and is also recovering a lot quicker than previously anticipated.

Beyonce’s chauffeur driven Mercedes involved in London crash

Grammy-award-winning singer Beyonce was described as being “lucky to be alive” after a black cab smashed into the side of her chauffeur driven Mercedes just as she was stepping out of the vehicle.

The Crazy in Love singer was leaving the Silver Mercedes S-Class and was about to make her way into the world’s most luxury department store, Harrods, when the collision occurred. Her husband, Jay-Z was said to have been onboard at the time as the couple had planned a quick shopping trip before dining out at Knightsbridge restaurant, Zuma.

One eyewitness told a UK tabloid paper that the accident was “terrifying to watch” adding that the collision had happened very quickly as “the taxi came out of nowhere.”

It’s been reported that the black cab came flying around a corner, ploughing into the side of Beyonce’s Mercedes, ripping the open door off its hinges as the superstar was attempting to get out.

Beyonce was reported to have been unharmed, although shaken following the accident.

The couple decided to abandon their Harrods shopping trip in light of the accident, and so a replacement car arrived and transported the pair to the Knightsbridge eatery instead.

Electric urban car created by top F1 designer is revealed

A brand new design for a cutting edge electric urban car created by a former Formula 1 designer has been unveiled. Gordon Murray is one of the UK’s most renowned motor car designers and has been responsible for some of the most successful Formula 1 cars ever including the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

Now Mr Murray has turned his attention to creating an eco-friendly car for the 21^st century. The result is the T.25 which has been designed with city driving in mind and features a number of innovative elements.

Side mirrors have been integrated into the car so as to minimise the potential for damage, plus the fuel cap can be accessed from both side of the vehicle for added convenience. The car will have the capability to reach maximum speeds of 80mph.

The T.25 measures just 2.4 metres in length and is 1.3 metres wide meaning it’s super easy to park on city streets. Plus the small compact design enables two of these vehicles to be parked side by side in an average sized garage.

Three people can be transported in T.25 although the interior can be adapted to carry less people and more stowage instead. The lightweight design aids fuel consumption meaning it’s very economical to run. In fact the whole design has been created with affordability in mind and the entire car will cost no more than £6,000 to produce, although the actual retail price is yet to be disclosed.

Peugeot launch new vehicle rental scheme in London and Bristol

Peugeot have unveiled a brand new rental scheme which offers customers an extensive range of vehicles and other articles for hire via an online system.

The pilot scheme in the UK is taking place in London and Bristol. Named the Mu mobility rental program, customers will be able to hire all kinds of modes of transport including bikes, scooters, a range of cars, MPVs, vans and also accessories such as roof racks, and child booster seats. The scheme will also offer electric powered eco-car hire once Peugeot’s iOn electric car is launched.

To make use of the new scheme customers must first become a Mu account holder. This can be done online and you will be sent your new Mu card. Credits can be bought online which are then exchanged for rentals. You don’t have to be a Peugeot customer to be eligible for the Mu card and the rental scheme.

Two participating Robins and Days dealerships in the cities are currently offering the rental service. A dedicated Mu reception area has been set-up for rental customers at each centre.

Peugeot are offering a variety of flexible hire packages for all of its vehicles and accessories.

The hire program has been running successfully in various parts of Europe including French destinations such as Paris and Nantes, and also locations in Germany, Spain, and Italy. By 2011 Peugeot plan to open a further 9 outlets across Europe.

Watch mechanics repair your car with Audi Cam

If you’re one of those people who worry about handing your car over to a mechanic for fear it won’t be handled well, then Audi have just come up with a solution which will provide you with total peace of mind.

Introducing the Audi Cam. The device allows customers to watch the mechanic working on their car through a webcam which is attached to the mechanic’s head. The car owner is able to sit in the waiting room and watch exactly what is happening to their car via the Audi Cam.

The customer and mechanic are also connected through a two-way radio which allows the technician to get in contact easily with the owner to check details of the car’s history or to clarify the exact details of the problem affecting their Audi.

Although the vast majority of Audi mechanics are highly professional and competent, the introduction of the Audi cam will at least help to put the mind’s of anxious customers at rest who feel uneasy when handing over their car to a stranger for repairs or service.

At present the service is only available in Europe, however if the pilot scheme is deemed a success, we could see it making its way over to the UK in the very near future.

Rolls Royce launch custom made picnic sets for the summer

Rolls Royce has unveiled a line in custom made picnic sets for their dedicated customers just in time for the summer. The extra feature is introduced by Rolls Royce’s Bespoke Program which endeavours to create special touches to enhance every owner’s enjoyment of their Rolls Royce.

The new 4-person picnic set has been designed by in-house craftsmen and designers and is finished to the very high standard expected from a Rolls Royce product. The set is finished in polished aluminium with wood veneer and leather, perfect for al-fresco dining during the warm summer months.

The Bespoke Program has just 100 especially designed items in its collection, including the recently launched picnic set. The scheme aims to create extra features to complement its cars, and also serve the individual needs of each of its customers by adding a personal touch. Other articles which are offered through the Bespoke Program include personalised tread plates, specially made interior seating fabrics, and unique paint for the exterior amongst other features.

The latest addition to the Bespoke Program, the 4-person picnic set, is making its debut at the UK’s exclusive Salon Prive at London’s Hurlington Club on July 21^st – 23^rd.