Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Ferrari working on radical new door opening]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-ferrari-working-on-radical-new-door-opening/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-ferrari-working-on-radical-new-door-opening/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-ferrari-working-on-radical-new-door-opening/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As if scissor doors, gullwings, butterflies and those crazy Koenigsegg pivoters weren't enough to separate exotics from lesser cars, Ferrari is said to be working on another new door design that is both radical and practical. Go figure.

Autocar came across a patent filing showing a few diagrams depicting this unique door setup. What sets it apart is the fact that the new Ferrari door includes part of the front fender and hinges upward like the butterfly door from a LeMans racer. Apparently the opening is large enough and shaped in such a way that "occupants can place their foot directly behind the front wheel."

According to the patent application, that will make ingress and egress much easier for passengers in low-slung supercars, though the new door design is said to work just as well on front engined cars as it does for vehicles with their engines mounted aft or amidships. Even better, this design and its unique hinges are reported to be "easy and cost-effective to make," which should make it easier for the Dodge Chargers of SEMA circa 2012 to get in on the fun too.

We're still seeing an issue with the A-pillar and windscreen, but it looks interesting. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for any photos of these funky doors, but for now we're stuck wondering how hard it was for Ferrari engineers to use the supplied British sports car diagram in order to submit their application form.


Gallery: Ferrari's radical new doors


[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Ferrari working on radical new door opening originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exoticexotic carexotic carsExoticCarExoticCarsFerrariFerrari doorFerrari doorsferrari patentFerrariDoorFerrariDoorsFerrariPatentreportsports carsports carssportscarsportscarssupercarsupercarsFri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[VERITAS RS III Roadster ready for production]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/veritas-rs-iii-roadster-ready-for-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/veritas-rs-iii-roadster-ready-for-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/veritas-rs-iii-roadster-ready-for-production/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Veritas RS III - Click above for high-res image gallery

After an eight-year buildup, the Veritas RS III has finally slithered into series production in Grafschaft-Gelsdorf, Germany. Just like the Dutch firm Spyker, Vermot AG has resurrected the post-war German racing marque that sold a few road-going versions of their racers to a handful of lucky enthusiasts. Now, the new company is doing less racing and more street scorching, and the RS III is its first foray into the world of production cars.

In Monterey this past August, we caught our first glimpse of the finally-ready-for-production Veritas RS III. With its newly revised front end (now with 50 percent more serpent!) it looks even more like a BMW Z8 on acid. Which is totally appropriate, because this retro rocketsled is powered by the same 5.0-liter V10 engine found in the M5 supersedan. With 500 hp propelling a scant 2,400 pounds, the 30 insane lucky folks who plunk down a million bucks for one of these can look forward to a 0-100km/h dash of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of more than 215 MPH.

That's Enzo-like performance for an Enzo-like price, but it offers ten times the exclusivity -- not to mention Veritas started operating the same year as Enzo Ferrari in 1947. The difference is that this serpent lay dormant for almost 50 years, getting ready to strike. Vermot has released a slew of new photos and additional details about the car, which you can find in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Veritas RS III


[Source: Veritas]

Continue reading VERITAS RS III Roadster ready for production

VERITAS RS III Roadster ready for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exoticexotic carexotic carsExoticCarExoticCarsexoticsroadsterroadsterssupercarsupercarsveritasveritas rs 3veritas RS IIIveritas rsIIIVeritasRs3VeritasRsIiiVermot AGVermot AG Veritas RS IIIVermotAgVermotAgVeritasRsIiiMon, 19 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[200 mph supercars featured at the 2nd Annual Caruso Concours]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/200-mph-supercars-featured-at-the-2nd-annual-caruso-concours/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/200-mph-supercars-featured-at-the-2nd-annual-caruso-concours/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/200-mph-supercars-featured-at-the-2nd-annual-caruso-concours/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

2nd Annual Caruso Concours - Click above for our high-res image gallery courtesy Greg Grudt

The 2nd Annual Caruso Concours was held this past weekend at The Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale, California. Put off a bit by threatening skies, we didn't make it out there ourselves, but luckily, Autoblog friend and shutterbug Greg Grudt was there to capture all of the excitement for us. This sophomore outing was once again put on by The Petersen Automotive Museum, and as was the case last year, a brace of incredible vehicles showed up to this fitting but unorthodox locale. Showgoers could peruse the cars for a bit and then pick up a Tiffany necklace on their way out.

This year's gathering focused on supercars - in particular, supercars capable of 200 mph. Not meant to be an exhaustive showing of double-century barrier breakers, it nonetheless attracted an impressive array of cars capable of close to, if not over, the magic mark. The fun part was just seeing them all together in one place. Judging by Grudt's images, it looks like the Americana also happens to be hosting a few of those Toyota solar sunflowers, which made for an interesting juxtaposition.

Supercars right off the showroom floor mingled with old-timers from as far back as the Eighties. For instance, the display included not just the Bugatti Veyron, but also its forebearer, the EB110. The list of cars in attendance read like a roster of World's Fastest Cars contenders. Ferrari was represented by an Enzo, F50, F40, 288GTO, 16M, and a SuperAmerica. The Lamborghini cluster was comprised of an LP670-SV, LP640-4, LP560-4 and even a Countach. There was also a Mercedes-McLaren SLR, CLK DTM, Ford GT, Dodge Viper, Cizeta V16t, Maserati MC12, Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and even a Jaguar XJ220, which complemented the long flowing bodywork of the adjacent Maser quite nicely. They even dragged out the AREX Concept which was supposed to be good for 214 mph.

All-in, it appears to have been a great way to bring exotics to the people. Be sure to check out Greg's pics in the gallery, and check out a larger gallery by clicking here.

Gallery: 2nd Annual Caruso Concours


Photos copyright (C)2009 Greg Grudt/Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: socalspeedzone.com]

200 mph supercars featured at the 2nd Annual Caruso Concours originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car showcar showsCarShowCarShowsCaruso ConcoursCarusoConcoursConcoursConcours dEleganceConcoursDeleganceexotic carexotic carsExoticCarExoticCarspetersen automotive museumPetersenAutomotiveMuseumThe Americana at BrandThe PetersenThe Petersen Automotive MuseumThe Petersen MuseumTheAmericanaAtBrandThePetersenThePetersenAutomotiveMuseumThePetersenMuseumThu, 15 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Official Cash for Clunkers trade-in list reveals oddities too strange to believe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Cash for Clunkers claimed some really interesting vehicles - Was a Buick GNX among them?

Mixed reaction has surrounded the government's Cash for Clunkers program, but after spending around $2.8 billion, some 700,000 new vehicles have found homes. But what got traded in? We've heard some horror stories, but now that the full list of executed vehicles has been released on the Cars.gov website and we've listed some of the oddities we found while snooping around. Many are down right hard to believe, suggesting either errors in the submission process, typos in the list or even some fudging by dealers who clunked a few vehicles that weren't eligible. After the jump is a list of "Clunkers" that stood out. We can't guarantee these all really went to the crusher, but they do appear on the list.

Follow the jump for a recap of the program's eligibility requirements for trade-in vehicles and our full list. And we'd suggest having a box of tissues nearby.

[Source: Cars.gov]

Continue reading Official Cash for Clunkers trade-in list reveals oddities too strange to believe

Official Cash for Clunkers trade-in list reveals oddities too strange to believe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersclunkersexoticexotic carexotic carsexotic clunkersExoticCarExoticCarsExoticClunkersexoticsrare clunkersRareClunkersThu, 24 Sep 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[The valet's guide to driving exotic cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/the-valets-guide-to-driving-exotic-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/the-valets-guide-to-driving-exotic-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/the-valets-guide-to-driving-exotic-cars/#commentsFiled under: ,



Don't screw it up -- the likely mantra of any conscientious valet. Beyond that imperative, what's a carhop to do when flipped the keys to something truly exotic? A Murcielago is, of course, impressive when parked, but sliding into the driver's seat for the first time can be intimidating. Where are all the controls? How the heck do you even put it into reverse? Exotics are not like other cars, and you'll certainly miss out on a tip if you crack up Michael Bolton's Lamborghini.

The Valet Spot is coming to the rescue of confused parkers everywhere. The site has launched a new resource section that offers instructions on how to wrangle various high-buck exclusive rides. So far there's not a lot of depth there, with instructions for driving the Bentley Continental, Rolls Royce Phantom and Lamborghini Gallardo, but we know the next time we get the chance to drive one of these cars, we'll have a place to turn so the auto transport guys don't laugh at us. Hat tip to Ian.

[Source: TheValetSpot, Photo by Paul Schreiber | CC2.0]

The valet's guide to driving exotic cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exoticexotic carsExoticCarshow to drivehow to drive an exotic carHowToDriveHowToDriveAnExoticCarvalet parkingvalet parking guideValetParkingValetParkingGuideFri, 20 Feb 2009 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Gumpert Apollo Speed promises ludicrous velocities]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/gumpert-apollo-speed-to-debut-at-geneva-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/gumpert-apollo-speed-to-debut-at-geneva-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/gumpert-apollo-speed-to-debut-at-geneva-show/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above to view the Gumpert Apollo Speed rendering in high resolution

Despite economic conditions, the upcoming Geneva Motor Show promises to be a rip-roaring cacophony of high-end machinery, with independent German sportscar firm Gumpert taking its shot at the slowing economy with an even faster version of its Apollo supercar. Called the Apollo Speed, the revised supercar features a reduced ride height and revised aerodynamics to deliver blistering performance numbers.

The Gumpert Apollo Speed is capable of hitting 100 kilometers-per-hour (62 miles-per-hour) in three seconds flat and 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 8.9, en route to a claimed 360 km/h (224 miles-per-hour) top speed. And that's in 700 horsepower trim - the twin-turbo V8 is also available in 650 and 800 horsepower specifications, promising devastating performance at any level.

A new induction system delivers fresh air to the engine, while revised wheel arches, rear end and an adjustable spoiler direct the air over the slick body with increased efficiency. Inside, the cabin can be outfitted in leather or Alcantara trim, with a competition-style removable steering wheel and four-point harness securing the driver. So far, Gumpert has only released the teaser rendering you see above, but the new Apollo Speed, in a Bugatti Veyron-style two-tone paint scheme, will be unveiled in Geneva on March 4, so stay tuned. Full details are available in the meantime in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Gumpert Apollo Speed


[Source: Gumpert]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Gumpert Apollo Speed promises ludicrous velocities

Geneva Preview: Gumpert Apollo Speed promises ludicrous velocities originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apollo speedApolloSpeedBugattiBugatti VeyronBugattiVeyronexotic carexotic carsExoticCarExoticCarsgeneva motor showGenevaMotorShowgumpertgumpert apollogumpert apollo speedgumpert genevaGumpertApolloGumpertApolloSpeedGumpertGenevasupercarThu, 12 Feb 2009 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[duPont Registry's 11 "Best of" cars set horsepower, price records]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/dupont-registrys-11-best-of-cars-set-horsepower-price-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/dupont-registrys-11-best-of-cars-set-horsepower-price-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/dupont-registrys-11-best-of-cars-set-horsepower-price-record/#commentsFiled under: ,



The duPont Registry has listed the best cars in eleven categories, and taking the cake for 2009 Car of the Year is the Bugatti Veyron Gran Sport. Other winners, like the ZR1 for Bang for the Buck and Continental Flying Spur Speed for Performance Sedan, make up the usual murderers' row of marques and models. What isn't usual is that in just one year, the total price of all the cars jumped 200% to $4.5 million because of a certain Bug and a Koenigsegg, and that the total horsepower climbed 57%, from 4,276 to 6,723.

Oddly, though, duPont says that the era of hi-po supercars may have peaked, and things could be going green - but neither the list nor the facts on the ground bear it out. Of the eleven cars, only the Tesla and the Ronn Motors Scorpion could be considered green, and one of them doesn't even exist yet. As for the rest, we don't know what the opposite of green is, but none of the nine other cars are expected to have less horsepower in their follow-up guises. Which means there's still time to get some thrills in, as long as you've got at least $110,000 to spend... Check out the full press release after the jump.

[Source: duPont Registry]

Continue reading duPont Registry's 11 "Best of" cars set horsepower, price records

duPont Registry's 11 "Best of" cars set horsepower, price records originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dupont registryDupontRegistryexotic carsExoticCarslistssupercarstop tentop ten listsTopTenTopTenListsThu, 09 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: truTV breaks into an exotic car dealership]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/07/video-trutv-breaks-into-an-exotic-car-dealership/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/07/video-trutv-breaks-into-an-exotic-car-dealership/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/07/video-trutv-breaks-into-an-exotic-car-dealership/#commentsFiled under: ,

Don't worry, it's not what it sounds like. No laws were broken in the making of this video. Symbolic Motors in La Jolla, CA wanted to test out its security systems and hired the "Tiger Team" to see if they could break into their showroom full of exotic cars. truTV watched on with video cameras in hand to see if they could do it undetected. Despite what seemed like fairly fortified defenses full of alarms, trigger systems, and dozens of security cameras, the team broke into the dealership and drove off in a Lotus Elise without being caught. Click on the image above or on the link below to view the video and see how they did it.

VIDEO: truTV breaks into an exotic car dealership originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are a myriad of choices available to the average traveler when four-wheeled transportation is required. But to the discerning car connoisseur, the prospect of being trapped within a Caliber, Impala or other nondescript people mover is as unconscionable as choosing Denny's over Per Se.

Enter rentexoticcars.net, a website whose sole purpose is to provide the automotive world's most elite rides, for a price. Surprisingly, the cost of such exotica may be within reach to those of you who can afford the rental fees, insurance and have a sizeable chunk of change available on your credit card to cover the security deposit.

The website allows users to select their destination city and then lists what high end machines are available for rent. The choices span the range from Mini Cooper drop-tops to Hummer H2s to Ferrari 360 Spyders. Whatever the taste, they have the flavor.

The interface is easy to work, provides hours of day dreaming entertainment and, our favorite feature, has an RSS feed of anything dealing with supercars from yours truly, Autoblog.

Enjoy, but make it a point to keep you credit card out of reach, preferably in the next time zone.

Exotic car rentals get organized originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Aug 2006 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car rentalCarRentalexotic carsExoticCarsferrarihummermini cooperMiniCooperrentexoticcars.netSun, 13 Aug 2006 18:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes lists the world's 10 most expensive cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/29/forbes-lists-the-worlds-10-most-expensive-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/29/forbes-lists-the-worlds-10-most-expensive-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/29/forbes-lists-the-worlds-10-most-expensive-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have more money than you know what to do with? We wish we did, so we'll have to settle for gawking at the descriptions and pictures of Forbes' 10 Most Expensive Cars of 2006. It's a list that makes the Porsche Carrera GT look like a bargain at just #9 on the list, and when you don't see vehicles like Aston Martins or Ferraris, you know you're among high rollers. The winner is the Bugatti Veyron at a price of $1,192,057, with the Pagani Zonda Roadster F C12S 7.3, Clubsport version and the SSC Ultimate Aero coming in a not-so-close second and third, respectively. Enjoy the show.

Thanks to Bob for the tip.

[Source: Forbes]

Forbes lists the world's 10 most expensive cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exotic carsExoticCarsexpensive carsExpensiveCarssupercarsworld's mostWorld'sMostWed, 29 Mar 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Laboratori Bebi's Quercianella]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/21/laboratori-bebis-quercianella/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/21/laboratori-bebis-quercianella/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/21/laboratori-bebis-quercianella/#commentsFiled under: , ,

New Swedish carmaker Laboratori Bebi isn't pulling any punches as it attempts to enter the supercar world. Its Quercianella, named so for legendary designer and Quercianella contributor Giotto Bizzarrini, has a 2.4L V8 according to a post on Inside Line's blog, which is capable of launching the vehicle from 0-60 in about 3 seconds thanks to its weight of 1147 lbs. We're thinking that's either a typo or some info is missing, like what kind of forced induction is feeding that tiny air pump. Top speed is 300 km/h, or about 186 mph for us Yankees.

Give us a car like that and we'll be your Laboratori Bebies too.

Laboratori Bebi's Quercianella originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exotic carsExoticCarssupercarsTue, 21 Mar 2006 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Koenigsegg CCX won't challenge Bugatti Veyron]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/27/koenigsegg-ccx-won-t-challenge-bugatti-veyron/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/27/koenigsegg-ccx-won-t-challenge-bugatti-veyron/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/27/koenigsegg-ccx-won-t-challenge-bugatti-veyron/#commentsFiled under: ,



More official info has been made available about the Koenigsegg CCX that will debut in Geneva, and it's now clear that the CCX won't have the cajones to challenge the Bugatti Veyron for the top-speed title.

The CCX will not come with the erroneously reported 900bhp we mentioned earlier, but will rather sport the same specs as the CCR: 806bhp from a twin-supercharged V8. This means that its performance numbers will also remain the same as the CCR's with a blast to 62 mph taking 3.2 seconds and the party ending around 245 mph, which is well short of the Veyron's best run of 252.9 mph.

David Naylor has pics of the car's official brochure on his blog, and he points out that the CCX does sport significant changes that make it more U.S. friendly, including 50mm more headroom (most likely to increase helmet clearance) and an increase in length of 88mm to aid in US rear crash regulations. The engine has also been retuned to favor the U.S. flavor of 91 octane.

Koenigsegg CCX won't challenge Bugatti Veyron originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exotic carssupercarsMon, 27 Feb 2006 10:00:00 EST