Autoblog

It looks like Cadillac will be the first company to offer the new Gracenote music library database in a car. Buyers of the new 2008 CTS will be able to get the system when the car goes on sale in August. Gracenote points out this will be the first time the MusicID database and Playlist products have been paired with an in-car entertainment system for the North American market. Sounds like a technicality, but it's a pretty sweet system.

What this means is that you can load all of your CDs into the system, have them copied, and then during playback the unit accesses a huge database to add track info. Things like album, artist and track names are a given, but the Gracenote system adds additional proprietary data like genre, artist type, era and region of origin. And then your personal collection can be searched and custom playlists developed using the data. How very iPod. Similar systems exist, but none are quite like Gracenote, and none have been factory available in the States until now.

[Source: just-auto - sub. req.]

One of the main static display areas at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed is the Cartier "Style et Luxe" concours. As the press release tells us, "The Cartier 'Style et Luxe' is possibly the world's most coveted car design competition." Not only does it celebrate beauty, imagination and innovation, but it uses non-traditional judges to choose the award winners in 10 or so different categories. It's about art and inspiration and is fittingly judged by artists. That can mean actors, musicians, directors, artists, and even journalists. But not us. We had to walk in like every other general admission ticket holder. You enter the area and are greeted by an artistic reinterpretation of the buried Cadillacs one can find along old Route 66 near Amarillo, Texas. Right away you feel a sense of detachment from your current place and time. And the amazing journey just keeps surprising at every turn. Check out the gallery to see what we mean.


All photos © 2007 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

For the Lamborghini owner on your Christmas gift list (we all have one, don't we?), here's yet another branded item to make sure everyone knows who left the LP640 with the valet.

Our friends at Luxist.com turned us on to the new limited edition Nokia 8800 Sirocco phone that features a stainless steel casing that is etched with Lamborghini's charging bull logo as well as the words "Automobili Lamborghini". The Lamborghini branding doesn't end there, either. The phone also comes with Lambo wallpaper graphics, engine-inspired ringtones and a short video documentary about their cars. Most notably, according to the press release, "ball bearings crafted by Lamborghini have been used, allowing a sophisticated slide mechanism". One can only ponder the cost of that clearly relevant engineering feat.

Nokia will only produce 500 of these exclusive phones, which will be sold through selected Lamborghini dealerships.

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Luxist.com]

Spotted at our sister site, Luxist, his is one of those obscenely expensive, supremely useless trinkets that adorn the shelves of executives in their old-world offices that look like something out of The Hudsucker Proxy. We want one.

The Blue Car, made by Magic Super Toys (sir, what is in a name?) is certainly intended for grown-ups. Anything that comes with a set of gloves so you don't leave greasy pawprints on the "Azure blue and pale blue 4-layer-lacquering with high mirror-finished sheet" is aimed at the same crowd who own those 100-point original musclecars but never drive them. The flowery prose and arty photography they're using to sell this thing for the swoon-inducing price of €1900 makes us want to get down and take 'er for a spin on the berber and hardwood. The model is very pretty, based off the striking lines of the classic Talbot-Lago, and the level of detail is high. While it would be cool to have one of these individually-numbered 12-pound collectibles sitting on its own shelf in the living room lit by its own baby spot like the piece of art it is, you can get a whole car for that kind of money. You know, one you could actually drive. Still, there's no denying the appeal of an old-world crafted exclusive piece of Automobilia. Santa?

[Source: MST via Luxist]

The Hot Import Nights group just held their second annual VIP Auto Fashion Show this weekend, and it was a bit of a mixed bag. Lots of over-the-top blinged-out rides and plenty of cute models as would be expected, but some things just didn't gel.

This year the show moved from Orange County to L.A. and perhaps the crowd was a bit more jaded than the O.C. crew was last year. Besides the few sponsored lounge areas, there wasn't a whole lot of energy in the hall. Follow the jump for a full gallery and more details.

Just a photoshop, we think, but this image from WorldCarFans gives us a peek at what the 2008 Veyron Roadster might look like. As we reported in July, Bugatti has moved forward with plans for a targa version of its luxury supercar. Rather than a true drop-top, a laminated glass roof panel has been developed by the same people who brought us the folding hardtop with sunroof on the Volkswagen Eos. With no room to store that panel onboard, speculation is that a temporary fabric panel is being engineered to cover the interior in an emergency situation.

As you might imagine for a car capable of 400 km/h, the Veyron Targa will need some beefing up when it loses its roof. Windshield pillars, as well as the chassis will need some additional strengthening. To compensate for that extra weight, Bugatti will most likely use carbon fiber to build the doors and hood. A freshening of the grille and the headlights is also expected. Those lights, btw, will now be doing a Lexus, and turning with the front wheels. The other major change is that the Veyron Targa's top speed will be reduced to a mere 217 mph.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

The McLaren F1, Koenigsegg CCX and Bugatti Veyron all held claim to the worlds fastest car title for at least a short time, by they ain't got nothin' on the Moller M400. Moller M400? Yeah, the Moller M400. It isn't just inching past them either. It will literally fly past these three supercars like they are standing still. It can outpace them by a good 100 mph. Heck, its cruising speed is 275! And it will do it with some added versatility that puts it miles above the competition. Well, 36,000 feet above them anyhow. The Moller M400 is the funky looking Skycar developed by Moller International Inc. and promised to be the next big thing for commuters tired of increasing traffic congestion.

Until now, a few orders were taken and the prototype was demonstrated, and the car even appeared in last year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Perhaps not as stylish as the special edition M6 convertible in this year's catalog, but it can fly, remember? And now one lucky owner will actually be able to get his hands on a functioning prototype! You see, company principle Paul Moller has decided to put one up on eBay starting Monday. Starting bid will be $4 million. The company has had some problems recently and is selling this "car" to help clear a debt backlog. Paul himself has given up about $1.5 mil in salary to help out.

Besides being well-heeled, we are guessing that you'll need at least a pilot's license if you plan to actually use it. You'll also probably have to fly out of airports, rather than from the freeway whenever you feel like it. Well, technically the car isn't even road legal just yet anyhow. So maybe this isn't for everybody. Maybe you'd prefer spending your 4 extra-large on something more like the Ferrari 612 P4/5. Or a Veyron and a Cessna or two. But come on people, who wouldn't want a flying car? And since we were among the first to tell you about it, whoever gets this has to take us for a ride.

tip: Andrew

[Source: Sacramento Business Journal]

We just showed you spy shots of a heavily disguised 7-series a couple of weeks ago, but here is an artist's interpretation of the new 7 in the raw. With an oh-so-sexy 6-series nose grafted to the formidable sedan, it makes quite an impression. Losing some of the flame-surfacing that Chris Bangle has made into a household joke name, at least among car geeks, the more subtly styled 7 appears to be taking the more conservative road, leaving rival Mercedes alone on the cutting edge, or the cutting room floor depending on your perspective. Indeed, with the new S-class now more closely resembling its big brother Maybach, this 7-series update might actually appear old-fashioned to some.

On the market since 2002, with a nip tuck in '05, the current 7-series has been praised for everything except its looks, and BMW has decided 2008 is the time to change that. Everybody seems to refer to this redesign as a toned-down shape for BMW, but the truth is that it is at the same time sexier and more elegant, making the 7 look more like the new 3- and 6-series, which isn't a bad thing at all. Click the read link for more photos and info.

[Source: Auto Express]

Building on Lamborghini's already high look-at-me factor, this collaboration between Gianni Versace SpA and Lamborghini was built to celebrate Milan Fashion Week. Based on the fire-prone fire-breathing LP 640, this is another in a line of limited edition Lambos that have made their way to market over the years. Italians love a reason to celebrate, whether it be anniversaries, partnerships, or fashion.

Black, full grain nappa leather features the Greek fret motif, the trademark emblem of Maison Versace. Outside the motif continues in black on the white "Isis" paint. The Versace LP640 also includes a bespoke luggage set of his and hers suitcases, specially sized to fit in the boot.

The lucky few who get their hands on one will also get something for their wrists as well. A Donatella Versace designed DV One Chrono Matt "Soft Touch" ceramic watch comes with the car. Black "Hermera" wheels, carbon fiber trim, and the e-gear semi-automatic gearbox with sequential shift round out the package. Maximum production on this even more special Murci will be 10 cars. No word on price, but as they say, if you have to ask...

(Live and press photos after the jump)

Thank God it's for charity. Now we don't have to laugh as loud at the guy who just paid more than 73 large for a 2001 Lincoln Town Car on eBay. OK, this wasn't just any used TC, it belonged to financial guru and billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett. 19 People placed a total of 63 bids with the winning high at $73,200 by 'billzanker.' Bill Zanker is president and founder of The Learning Annex, which sponsors educational seminars around the country.

Bill's also the guy who forked over 60 grand to have lunch with Rupert Murdoch a couple of years ago. So at least this time he gets something that will last a little longer than an hour. The 2001 Lincoln wasn't being used much by Buffett since he recently picked up a Cadillac DTS and had only accumulated 14,000 miles. The vehicle comes complete with the "Thrifty" vanity license plate and an etched brass plaque bearing his Buffett's signature. Buffett has even promised to greet the winning bidder at the Omaha airport wearing a chauffeur's cap.

The money raised in the auction will go to help Girls Incorporated, which runs educational programs for girls aged 6-18. Particularly in at-risk communities.

[Source: MSNBC]