Autoblog

At 6:30 this morning, a stunt driver shooting a scene for the upcoming James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, lost control of an Aston Martin DBS while filming a chase scene and plunged into Lake Garda in Italy. The film's executive producer, Anthony Waye, said that the scene was being shot in the pouring rain, and although the DBS didn't survive it's unplanned excursion into the water, the driver sustained only minor injuries and was released from the hospital earlier this afternoon. MI6 declined to comment on the incident, but a spokesperson for the agency remarked that the submersible kit for the Aston was under development. Too little, too late Q.

Thanks for the tip MaTTia.


[Source: Reuters.it - translated]

Most people just have a spare tire or a can of fix-a-flat and an auto club card when they hit the road. But as we all know, they do things bigger in Texas, so when some guy from Texas goes for a drive around Rome, he brings along a spare stretch armored limo!

As President George Bush and his entourage approached the US Embassy in Rome this weekend, his custom Cadillac DTS limo decided to pack it in. .After attempting to restart, Bush ultimately got out and walked through the embassy gates, later using the backup limo for the rest of his appointments.

The video after the jump shows the crowd's reaction to Bush's limo breaking down, which was comprised mostly of laughter when the driver attempted to restart the car without success. Nevertheless, the President was cheered when he ultimately exited his stage coach and began to hoof it.

[Source: Reuters via OmniAuto.it]

Every time we think we've seen the ultimate in over-the-top bling and luxe, somebody manages to come up with something even more outlandish. This time, it's a custom Maserati Quattroporte crafted by Studio M especially for the "Scrigno Tesori d'Italia" (roughly translated as the Italian Treasure Chest), a luxury show taking place at the Spazio Etoile & Palazzo Ruspoli in Rome from the 16th to the 18th of March.

We've yet to start an Autoblog Italian, and online translators will only take you so far, but here's what we could gather about the bling on this Trident. Most noticeable is the special paint job that blends actual 24-karat gold powder – similar to the silver powder technique used in collaboration with Fiat on the Panda Luxury – giving this Maserati what is undoubtedly an unrivalled luster. This Quattroporte is also fitted with some custom bodywork, and with bigger Trident badges, just in case anyone would miss it rolling by. Inside, of course, the premium touches continue with every surface covered in ultra-soft leather and Alcantara trim, even the trunk. The cabin is also highlighted by lacquered French briar wood panels, though Studio M can also outfit customer cars with woven panels of gold or platinum. The back of the front headrests are fitted with individual LCD panels with USB jacks and SD card readers, almost a foregone conclusion on modern pimped-out rides.

No word on how much this entire treatment would add to the cost of a Maserati Quattroporte, but pushing the limits of good taste as it does, any customer will likely be glad to tell you emphatically.

[Source: La Repubblica]