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BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Convertible, Performance, BMW, Luxury, Racing

2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its historic victory in the famed Mille Miglia automobile race in Brescia, when the classic BMW 328 not only finished in first place but also in third, fifth and sixth places, thereby ensuring overall team victory as well, the German automaker has announced that it will build just 99 examples of the limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia.

Setting this car apart from other Z4s, each Mille Miglia edition will be finished in a coat of matte Polaris Metallic with a blacked-out front grill, an M aero kit and 19-inch wheels finished in Dark Chrome. Inside, the seats and steering wheel will get a dash of red stitching. And of course, the limited edition model will also get unique badging inside and out.

Power will come from the standard 340-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, mated up to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. In somewhat related news, BMW has also recreated a classic 328 Kamm Coupé to take part in this year's Mille Miglia festivities. Check out the press release after the break for more.

Gallery: 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition

Gallery: BMW 328 at the 1940 Mille Miglia

[Source: BMW via BMWBlog]

Continue reading BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia

BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar 75th anniversary continues with 27 car entry in Mille Miglia

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Jaguar

With Jaguar celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, honoring the automaker's motorsports heritage surely has to play a big part in the party. With that in mind there are 27 Jags of various vintages entered in this year's Mille Miglia revival. The factory and Jaguar Heritage Trust are bringing a team of six XK120s, C-Types and D-Types for the 1,000 round trip tour from Brescia to Rome and back.

The current Mille Miglia is open to cars that competed in the original race between 1927 and 1957 as well as other examples of the same model and vintage. In addition to the Jaguars, this year's field includes the usual suspects like Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari as well as makes you've likely never heard of. Those more obscure brands include OM, Morettini (based on a Fiat) and Siata. The 2010 Mille Miglia began yesterday and runs through May 8th.

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading Jaguar 75th anniversary continues with 27 car entry in Mille Miglia

Jaguar 75th anniversary continues with 27 car entry in Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jody Scheckter launches Lormarins 1200 with £10m in classics

Noah Joseph — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Jaguar, UK, Celebrities

Lormarins 1200 launch in London - Click above for image gallery

If you're into classic cars and vintage rallies, you know the Mille Miglia, but you likely haven't heard of the Lormarins 1200. Not yet, at least, because it was just announced and has yet to take place. Unlike the Mille Miglia, upon which it's modeled, the Lormarins 1200 is a new event and not a revival. The inaugural running is scheduled for October in South Africa's Western Cape wine region, and to announce it, organizers brought out the big guns.

Former F1 world champion Jody Scheckter took the wheel of a 1952 Jaguar C-Type and lead a £10 million convoy of classics through London's Mayfair district. South Africa's ambassador in London, Dr. Zola Skweiyiya, rode shotgun. They were joined by a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza and a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France - one of only seven ever made. But that's nothing compared to the 40 to 50 cars expected to take part in the full rally. In the meantime, you can check out the details in the press release after the jump and the photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lormarins 1200 launch in London

[Source: Lormarins 1200]

Continue reading Jody Scheckter launches Lormarins 1200 with £10m in classics

Jody Scheckter launches Lormarins 1200 with £10m in classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW to bring back 328 Kamm Coupé at Villa d'Este

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows, Racing

BMW 328 Kamm Coupé - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has a treat planned for this year's Villa d'Este on Italy's Lake Como to celebrate the 70th anniversary year of the Munich firm winning the Mille Miglia - and it's not the 328 Mille Miglia Concept Coupé. Instead, the swoopy steel form of the 328 Kamm Coupé will grace the sun's rays after 40 years in obscurity and a rebuild in the works since the last millennium.

Once a representation of the finest in BMW's aero and construction ideas, the Kamm was owned by the German gent Ernst Loof, who founded Veritas (yes, that Veritas), but fell in shambles on the scrap pile in the fifties. BMW resurrected it and has been piecing the racer together for more than a decade, all for this moment. Follow the jump for a press release on the Kamm Coupé's return, and check it out in the gallery of high-res historical pics below.

Gallery: BMW 328 Kamm Coupé

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW to bring back 328 Kamm Coupé at Villa d'Este

BMW to bring back 328 Kamm Coupé at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: 1957 Saab 93 rally headed for Mille Miglia with Spyker and Saab CEOs at the wheel

Chris Paukert — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:38:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Saab

1957 Saab 93 rally car replica - Click above for high-res image gallery

As car guys, we want to see Saab succeed at the hands of its new owners, Spyker Cars. And while the brand faces an uphill battle to reach profitability, its new masters are at least showing signs of understanding the Swedish automaker's rich past. The latest proof? Spyker CEO Victor Muller and Saab CEO Jan Åke Jonsson will take on Italy's famed Mille Miglia road race in this 1957 Saab 93, a replica of the car that won the Finnish 1,000 Lakes Rally that year.

The 750cc three-cylinder two-stroke engine has been tuned to Group 2 specification, producing 55 horsepower - 22 horsepower more than the standard car. So-equipped, the robust racer is said to be good for 62 miles-per-hour in 13 seconds and a top speed of 93 mph.

While racing in May's historic recreation of the Mille Miglia might not generate much in the way of brand buzz, if nothing else, it strikes us as a nice acknowledgment of the company's past by the keepers of its future. Could there be more than just a history lesson at work here? Late last month, Autocar reported that Saab is proceeding with plans for a new entry-level model, the 9-2, that will reportedly be influenced by Saab's 1950's 'teardrop' design. High-res gallery of live shots from here at the Geneva Motor Show below, official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: 1957 Saab 93 rally car

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Geneva 2010: 1957 Saab 93 rally headed for Mille Miglia with Spyker and Saab CEOs at the wheel

Geneva 2010: 1957 Saab 93 rally headed for Mille Miglia with Spyker and Saab CEOs at the wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Miglia - Slot car version of classic race to benefit Alzheimer's research

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Event Alert

The Mini Mille Miglia -- Click above for image gallery

This weekend saw the running of the first Mini Mille Miglia. No affiliation to the famous touring event, the Mini Mille is a greatly scaled down version of the race. How scaled down? Well, it's run on a digital Scalextric track for 1/32-scale slot cars in Umbria, Italy. Put on to benefit Alzheimer's research, the Mini Mille was a full 3-day program of public activities, including 14 different races throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Event founder Graham Lane built a 30-meter track tucked amid an Italian countryside: 20 meters of it is a central circuit, sightseers can dip off into a 10-meter loop into a forest-lined valley and over an aqueduct. Participants could either go with their cars to Umbria to race in person, or could send their cars and have them driven -- and photographed and videotaped -- just for the experience.

While it's too late to enter this year's race, it's not too late to start prepping your miniature runner for next year's Mini Mille Miglia. Nor is it too late to have a gander at the gallery of images below.

Gallery: Scalextric Mini Mille Miglia

[Source: Mini Mille Miglia via Pistonheads | Photo credit: Jaak Beentjes]

Mini Miglia - Slot car version of classic race to benefit Alzheimer's research originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar to headline this year's Mille Miglia

Noah Joseph — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Jaguar

1953 Jaguar D-Type (above), 2009 Jaguar XKR and XFR (below right) - Click on either image to view in high resolution

The Mille Miglia is one of those iconic races that, even though it's not run anymore as a contemporary competitive race, is still celebrated every year with a retrospective historic rally along the original route through the Italian countryside. Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Maseratis typically make up a healthy portion of the field, but this year Jaguar will be out in full force with a factory-backed contingent.

The Jaguar Heritage Trust is bringing out a fleet of some of its most iconic classics, including a long-nose D-Type (pictured above), the C-Type which raced the 1953 Mille Miglia, plus three more vintage C-Types and a Mark VII saloon. Jaguar will also be sending a fleet of new XKRs and XFRs (pictured right) to support the event, but classic Jag racing lovers will undoubtedly be looking forward just as much to seeing Norman Dewis, the legendary Jaguar factory test driver who co-drove with Sterling Moss at the event in 1952. Altogether an impressive array of classic Jaguar workhorses to celebrate the marque's heritage.

[Source: Octane]

Jaguar to headline this year's Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa building super-limited Spider Mille Miglia edition

Alex Nunez — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Alfa Romeo, Specialty

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Alfa Spider Mille Miglia

The 500 Abarth Asetto Corse isn't the only limited-edition Fiat Group vehicle that'll be available for order at this year's Mille Miglia. Alfa Romeo will also be taking orders for the 11 Spider Mille Miglia editions it's building to commemorate the 11 times it's won the race. Setting the cars apart from standard editions are Rosso 8C paint, Quadrifoglio shields on the fenders and a red-accented black interior. Translation: it's a super-exclusive paint-and-badging special.

Each car is, of course, individually numbered, and their unique ID plates note a different Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia victory. We can totally envision some eccentric collector ultimately securing all eleven rides one day just to have the complete set. Power comes from the automaker's 3.2L V6 producing 260 horses. Price? We don't know, but we'll bet that it more than covers the costs of the model-specific paint and a few extra badges.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Spider Mille Miglia

[Source: Alfa Romeo]

Alfa building super-limited Spider Mille Miglia edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse revealed at Mille Miglia

John Neff — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat

Click above for high-res gallery of the Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse

Fiat is in attendance this week at the famous Mille Miglia in Brescia, Italy and it brought with it a whopper of a small car to impress the crowd. On hand is the Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse, a full race version of the little iconic car that sports a screaming 200-hp turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder that also produces 220 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through a six-speed gearbox on its way to a set of 17-inch track white ultralight racing wheels that totally look the part. Make no mistake, this is a real race car and a special one-make championship series is being planned that will put it on the most famous race tracks across Europe next year. Only 50 will be made, however, so entry is exclusive.

While we don't know the price yet, your bag of Euros will get you a 500 that's kitted out with an aerodynamic package that adds a front spoiler, big rear wing, fender flares at all four corners and two new hood-mounted air intakes to feed the turbo. The interior has been stripped to save weight, which now stands at just 2,050 lbs., and a racing roll bar has been installed to protect the driver who now sits closer to the center of the car to improve weight distribution and driving feel. The Asetto Corse gets big Abarth badges all around and a pastel grey with red striping livery. The one on hand at the Mille Miglia is No. 00/49 and a pre-production prototype, so there are still plenty left for those who've always wanted a 500 race car.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse

[Source: World Car Fans, Italiaspeed]

Continue reading Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse revealed at Mille Miglia

Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse revealed at Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 May 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi dusts off six classics for the Mille Miglia

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Audi

This year's Mille Miglia will be partially sponsored by Audi and the quad-ring crew is tapping Audi Tradition to pull six vehicles from the automaker's storied history out of the museum and onto the road. In attendance this year will be three Wanderer W25s from 1936, 1927 and 1938, each powered by the original, 55 hp engines, along with one DKW 3=6 and two DKW Monzas. With that kind of historic iron participating in the 1,000-mile rally, Audi needs competent drivers behind the wheel. While we can't attest to the driving prowess of Rupert Stadler, Audi's board chair; Stephan Grühsem, VAG's head of communications; famous German actor Tomas Heinze; or Toni Melfi, head of communications for Audi, we're sure that two-time World Rally Champion Christian Geistdörfer won't have a problem piloting any of the vehicles that helped to forge Audi's legacy.

Hit the jump for all the details on the drivers and the cars.

Continue reading Audi dusts off six classics for the Mille Miglia

Audi dusts off six classics for the Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mussolini's Alfa on the auction block

Noah Joseph — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Alfa Romeo

Who would have guessed, but Benito Mussolini was a certified car guy. At least we can surmise that much from his car: the Alfa Romeo roadster you see above was once owned by the Italian dictator, and is now destined for the auction block.

Il Duce ordered this Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder in 1935. Before it was delivered, he had custom coachwork with an auxiliary jump-seat crafted for it by Carrozzeria Touring. Underhood, he had the engine tuned to 95 horsepower from the standard 68. Naturally, the father of fascism didn't drive himself, but he didn't get any ordinary chauffeur either: he hired Ercole Boratto, a former Alfa Romeo factory test driver. In 1936 Boratto even took the car to the famous Mille Miglia street race, where he and the dictator's Alfa finished third in class.

Now, there are cars with provenance, and there are cars with provenance. As if its infamous first owner and its race history weren't enough, chassis 700635, with matching numbers, was awarded top honors at the 2005 New York Concours d'Elegance and second in class at Pebble Beach the same year. H&H auction house is putting it up on the block at England's Cheltenham race course on February 27, 2008, where it is expected to fetch between six and eight hundred thousand pounds sterling (approximately one and a half million dollars).

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Mussolini's Alfa on the auction block originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren "722 Edition"

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Paris Motor Show, Supercars, Mercedes-Benz

Our team in Paris just sent us some live shots of the updated Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. As we reported back in July when it was announced, this is a more powerful and sportier variant of the SLR McLaren called the "722 Edition." Produced to honor Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson's 1955 Mille Miglia victory, the "722" is a reference to their 300 SLR's start number 722 (which corresponded with its 7:22 AM start time).

The SLR's power has been boosted to an even more impressive 650 hp, and the suspension has been tweaked to give the car an even more sporting character. Additionally, the front air dam and rear diffuser get slight makeovers to improve aerodynamics. Black wheels and red "722" badges will help distinguish it from lesser SLRs. Lots of carbon fiber, leather/alcantara seating and a new racecar-type steering wheel complete the package.

Many more pics from Eric Bryant and M-B, plus the original release after the jump.

Continue reading Paris Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren "722 Edition"

Paris Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren "722 Edition" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW unveils stunning Mille Miglia Concept Coupe

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 11 May 2006 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, BMW

As the 2006 edition of the Mille Miglia historic auto race prepares to kick off, BMW has unveiled this stunning concept car to commemorate its involvement with the classic road races.

The BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia 2006 evokes the lines of the classic BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe, which won the Mille Miglia in 1940. The Touring Coupe reasserted its mastery of the classic road race in 2004, when it claimed victory in the Mille Miglia storica - the reincarnation of the event for historic racing cars.

The carbon fiber bodywork of the Concept Coupe is a modern aerodynamic interpretation of the aluminum-bodied Touring Coupe, and wraps around the capable chassis and drivetrain of the BMW Z4 M Coupe.

The Mille Miglia Concept Coupe is a pure styling exercise - BMW has no plans for a production version.

The BMW press release follows the jump, with lots of pictures of this unique car.

Continue reading BMW unveils stunning Mille Miglia Concept Coupe

BMW unveils stunning Mille Miglia Concept Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 May 2006 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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