Autoblog

Italian border agents find $6M in gold bars hidden in car [w/video]

Chris Tutor — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Government/Legal, Videos

Border police in Italy struck gold when they dug a little further into a car trying to pass into Switzerland.

The car's occupants, a family of five, claimed to be on an Easter vacation. But police said their nervous behavior prompted them to go on an Easter egg hunt. The officers eventually found a dozen gold bars worth at least $6 million hidden in a storage compartment.

Police say the 53-year-old driver of the car was a legal representative at a Swiss company and couldn't provide an explanation for where the gold originated or why it was in his car. The police confiscated the gold and the family's car. The driver faces charges of money laundering.

Based upon our extensive experience with gold smuggling, we recommend that next time, he form the gold into body panels for his car. It's a much more effective strategy. At least until a double-nought spy comes looking for you. For more, watch a news report video below.

Continue reading Italian border agents find $6M in gold bars hidden in car [w/video]

Italian border agents find $6M in gold bars hidden in car [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

What's ex-CEO Wendelin Wiedeking doing after Porsche? Pizza

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe

Three years after an oversize corporate appetite resulted in him departing the CEO's throne at Porsche, Wendelin Wiedeking is back in the hunger business having announced a chain of pizza and pasta restaurants called Vialino. The eatery business isn't new to the former Porsche boss, nor are business interests far from the automotive sector: the former Porsche boss made his first million in real estate before he was 30, owns a restaurant now, and still owns stakes in companies that make shoes among other holdings.

Perhaps more surprisingly, Vialino is controversial before its opened its first outlet. Another Italian chain, Vapiano, is miffed at the similarity between its established name and Wiedeking's brand new one. Wiedeking's response is that his restaurants will have table service, which Vapiano lacks, and that they'll be more rustic in comparison to Vapiano's modern glass frontages. A second Italian chain, L'Osteria, said it opened its books to Wiedeking in 2011 when the exceedingly wealthy entrepreneur was considering buying in, but now that he's gone his own way L'Osteria feels that Wiedeking might just have been sniffing around for some insider context.

With no legal action planned, Vialino remains set to open its first store next month in Ludwigshafen, Germany. After that it plans to expand in Germany, then to Austria and Switzerland.

What's ex-CEO Wendelin Wiedeking doing after Porsche? Pizza originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Subaru XV is currently the top-selling car... in Switzerland

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe, Subaru, Volkswagen

Seems that the Swiss Family Robinson has stopped throwing its francs at the Volkswagen Golf, and is instead pelting the Subaru XV Crosstrek with its hard-earned geld. According to the Australian blog Best Selling Cars, the Volkswagen Golf has likely been the number one seller in Switzerland every single month since the hatch was first launched in 1974, except for when the Mercedes-Benz W123 sedan briefly deposed it in 1980.

In August, however, the Golf's dictatorship of the number one spot wasn't toppled by the Skoda Octavia, "the usual number two" that remained there ahead of the Golf, but by the XV, which ascended to the peak after having been Switzerland's fourth best selling car in July. The XV notched 722 sales and 3.2-percent share, ahead of the Octavia with 661 sales and the Golf, at number three, with 625 units sold.

True, the XV is the new hotness while the MkVI Golf plays its endgame. But the Subaru isn't exactly coming from nowhere from the standpoint of small-market popularity: it was the ninth best selling vehicle in Norway in July. Along with that fourth-place in Switzerland, they were the top sales rankings for the XV anywhere in the world. So take that.

Subaru XV is currently the top-selling car... in Switzerland originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Louis Chevrolet honored with giant chrome bust in Swiss home town

Noah Joseph — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Chevrolet

Sure, we think of Chevrolet as an American automaker. One of the most American, at that. But its eponymous founder wasn't born in these United States. He was born in Switzerland. La Chaux-de-Fonds, to be exact, and so to celebrate the brand's 100th centenary, it has commissioned a local artist to erect a statue of Louis Chevrolet in his hometown's Parc de l'Ouest.

The giant polished steel bust was created by budding artist Christian Gonzenbach, whose design was selected by an international jury from among four finalists. Measuring five meters (16.4 feet) tall, the oversize bust was commissioned by General Motors and will remain in the park as a permanent tribute to the man whose name has become an international fixture in the automotive industry and a veritable household name. Press release after the jump.

Continue reading Louis Chevrolet honored with giant chrome bust in Swiss home town

Louis Chevrolet honored with giant chrome bust in Swiss home town originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Translogic gets inside look at Rinspeed's concept shop

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Technology, Videos, Specialty

Another week brings another action-packed episode of Translogic. Our sister site continues its tour of Europe with a trip to Switzerland's Rinspeed. If there's a car builder that more resembles a toy company for adults, we can't imagine it.

Host Bradley Hasemeyer got a full demonstration of several remarkable vehicles during his visit. The sQuba submarine car is straight out of James Bond, though it's based on a more modern Lotus than the famous Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me. The similarly amphibious Splash can operate as either a car, boat or hovercraft. The X-Trem is an oddly styled pickup that can load and unload - you guessed it - a hovercraft from its truck bed. Similarly, the Tatooo carries an underwater scooter.

But Rinspeed isn't just about wet and wild concept cars. The company has been pioneering alternative fuel vehicles, like the R One, a biofuel-powered roadster. It's also built the Presto, a frankly remarkable car in that it can transform from a compact two-seat roadster to a full four-place vehicle with the press of a button. The UC is a small electric car built out of a Fiat 500, controlled by a joystick and designed to be carried on a commuter train for urban use.

Click past the jump to watch the episode in its entirety.

Continue reading Translogic gets inside look at Rinspeed's concept shop

Translogic gets inside look at Rinspeed's concept shop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jenson Interceptor FF and Ferrari FF take to the slopes of St. Moritz

Noah Joseph — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Ferrari

The Jensen Interceptor FF and the Ferrari FF share two letters, but the commonality extends far beyond a nameplate. Both cars are exotic GTs, both have rather unusual roof profiles and 2+2 seating, both are pioneers in all-wheel drive... and both would be fantastic for a trip through the Swiss alps.

To put that last bit to the test, Classic Driver took the pair up to St. Moritz, and brought along a video crew to document the encounter. Follow the jump to see what they captured.

Continue reading Jenson Interceptor FF and Ferrari FF take to the slopes of St. Moritz

Jenson Interceptor FF and Ferrari FF take to the slopes of St. Moritz originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Snow Drift: Ferrari California frolics in the white stuff

Zach Bowman — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Luxury

We blame "The Dukes of Hazzard". The formative years of our youth were spent soaking up images of a 1969 Dodge Charger blasting through fences, careening through fields and generally powering over terrain no street vehicle was ever meant to endure. Since then, we've had a soft spot for high-horsepower cars frolicking in places they have no business frolicking. That's exactly why find footage of the Ferrari California going all out in the snow so compelling. Whereas there are plenty of Ferrari owners who wouldn't so much as submit their pride and joy to a light rain, images of the Italian Exotic pounding over uneven snow are the kind that bring a smile to our faces.

Ferrari shot this footage at the company's test track in St. Moritz. Apparently, Ferrari Switzerland gathered a few owners for some fun on the powder. Color us jealous. Hit the jump to check out all of the beautiful sideways action for yourself.

Continue reading Snow Drift: Ferrari California frolics in the white stuff

Snow Drift: Ferrari California frolics in the white stuff originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan's mind-reading cars will predict your mistakes

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Technology, Videos, Nissan

There's a long press release and a video after the jump with scads of information, but it distills to this: controlling machines with your brain. José del R. Millán, a researcher at Switzerland's EPFL, has been developing the technology both for communication and mechanical-control purposes, and Nissan Europe has partnered with the lab with an eye on taking such technology to cars.

Nissan's take, for instance, is that as you "think about turning left ahead... the car will prepare itself for the maneuver, selecting the correct speed and road positioning, before completing the turn." Our take is that you can stay tuned for 2050 when your car realizes you're about to scrap it, and the police pull you over for thinking about speeding. Until then, your future is spelled out in words and a video after the jump.

Continue reading Nissan's mind-reading cars will predict your mistakes

Nissan's mind-reading cars will predict your mistakes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

European car-jackers hit with import duties on stolen exotics

Noah Joseph — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, BMW, Bugatti, Ferrari

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Bleu - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tax evasion. It's how they got Al Capone, and it's how European authorities are pinning down a team of car-jackers who made off with a trio of top-end automobiles.

The thieves reportedly broke into a house in Switzerland and drove off in the proprietor's BMW 750Li, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Bugatti Veyron. Not just any Veyron, either, but the ultra-rare Grand Sport Sang Bleu.

According to reports, they drove the cars through Germany on the way to Poland, and were easily spotted along the way. A million-dollar chromed supercar does not exactly blend into traffic, after all, the way a Volkswagen Golf or Toyota Camry would. The drivers of the Bugatti and BMW were apprehended by German police, and the Veyron was unfortunately scraped up in the process. The driver of the Ferrari reportedly escaped, however, ditching the car at a railway station and disappearing into the crowd.

Now the two apprehended thieves are being hit with a half-million-dollar tax bill. That's right, they're being charged for importing the stolen cars into Germany from Switzerland, which is not part of the European Union. That, and probably a count or two of grand theft auto...

European car-jackers hit with import duties on stolen exotics originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: swissRoomBox turns any vehicle into a motor home

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:17:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Videos, Design/Style

swissRoomBox - Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Swiss are masters of precision. The world's most elegant timepieces hail from Switzerland. The multi-purpose and compact tool known as the Swiss Army Knife is praised throughout the world for its utility and dependability. Swiss-made products carry their label as a badge of honor that commands respect.

Philippe Perakis, a former mountain bike racer, is carrying this ethos into an amazing product designed for the outdoor enthusiast. Perakis has created the swissRoomBox, and its simple name belies a complex and mechanically beautiful product. The swissRoomBox is essentially a motor home squeezed into a few boxes, which fit neatly into the back of any mid-size hatchback, wagon, crossover or SUV.

The name of the game here is "ease of use," and the swissRoomBox delivers. Initial setup requires connecting a supplied cable to the battery and mounting the unit to four anchor points in the back of the car. It can then be installed or removed within ten minutes. Once in, however, it transforms your car into a mini RV. The swissRoomBox can be used to cook food, take a shower, and provide power and drinking water. It can even be detached to create seating or sleeping space.

It's an amazing piece of engineering that provides an endless amount of useful features. The swissRoomBox goes on sale in October 2010 but pricing has yet to be announced. Bonus: The company has stated that they are able to ship to the United States - get ready, Honda Element owners. Want to see one put to use? We have video of the swissRoomBox in action on the other side of the jump.

[Source: swissRoomBox via The Adventure Life]

Continue reading Video: swissRoomBox turns any vehicle into a motor home

Video: swissRoomBox turns any vehicle into a motor home originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford Suisse rolls out special edition Focus RS WRC

Noah Joseph — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Ford Focus RS WRC special edition for Switzerland - Click above for image gallery of livery proposals

While the rest of us think "rallying", the Swiss look at their snow-capped mountains and think "skiing". That's largely because the Swiss are not known to be car people. But for every rule there's an exception.

In Switzerland those exceptions include the efforts of notable speed-freaks like Peter Sauber (of F1 fame), Frank Rinderknecht (Rinspeed) and Franco Sbarro (the flamboyant coachbuilder - not the food-court pizza guy). And we can now add Ford to that list, as the Detroit automaker's Swiss subsidiary is rolling out a special edition Focus RS to pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the company's iconic RS division, exclusively for the Swiss market.

Although mechanically identical to the existing Focus RS - not much change needed there - the Focus RS WRC edition wears a special livery submitted and chosen through an online forum. Black and green decals overlay a white background, complimented by blacked-out 19" OZ Superturismo GT alloys, while inside, a special plaque carries the Hancocks of Ford's top rally ace Mikko Hirvonen and his co-pilot Jarmo Lehtinen.

Only 50 examples will be offered, exclusively in Switzerland at a price of 55,900 Swiss francs - equivalent to about $53k in American greenbacks and representing a 2000-franc premium over the standard Focus RS. We'll see if we can grab a closer look when we descend upon the multilingual alpine nation for the Geneva Motor Show next month, but in the meantime you can view the top liveries proposed in the gallery below and, if your French, German or Italian is up to the task, check out the press release after the jump. After all, while "speed" is not among the languages commonly spoken in Switzerland, neither is English.

And if some of you longtime readers think that a 50-unit Focus WRC special edition sounds familiar, well, it should. Back in 2007, The Euro Oval did a similar package based on the Focus ST.

Gallery: Ford Focus RS WRC Swiss livery proposals

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Suisse rolls out special edition Focus RS WRC

Ford Suisse rolls out special edition Focus RS WRC originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Swiss Ferrari driver hit with record $290,000 speeding fine

Chris Shunk — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Ferrari

Switzerland doesn't mess around when it comes to speeding tickets. Get caught with a lead foot in the land of Alpine vistas and serious chocolate and the cost of your transgression won't be based on a flat rate for the infraction, it will be based on how wealthy you are. An unnamed driver of a Ferrari Testarossa found this out the hard way when he was caught driving 85 miles per hour through the village of St. Gallen. According to the BBC News, the driver was a repeat offender and his crime was going 35 mph over the speeding limit.

The punishment? How about £180,000 ($290,000 in U.S. funds), or enough money to purchase two or three Testarossas on eBay. That ungodly sum is reported to be more than double the previously costliest ticket, though we're pretty sure the new record holder probably isn't celebrating. Don't feel too bad for the unnamed offender, though, as he is reportedly worth $22.7 million and he owns a villa and five luxury cars. We don't know about you, but we've certainly pulled back our tears. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: BBC News | Image: Andrew Reddington/Getty]

Report: Swiss Ferrari driver hit with record $290,000 speeding fine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geneva 2009: Production Chevrolet Spark hanging out at airport, ready for takeoff

Chris Paukert — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Green, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM

Click image above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevrolet Spark

We've just disembarked from our transatlantic journey, and we haven't even managed to exit the airport here in Switzerland without stumbling into show-related news. The folks at Chevrolet have thoughtfully set up a surprisingly cozy lounge right in the outer concourse of the Geneva International Airport for media members, complete with a pair of attractive models standing by um... errr... an attractive young model - in this case, the production version of the 2010 Chevrolet Spark.

While we are evidently not allowed to sit in the Spark (let alone rap on the dashboard and check out interior materials and fits), we have been able able to open up the five-door and peer inside, and it appears to be surprisingly capacious for both front- and rear-seat passengers, and the cargo looks right-sized as well.

Better still, the roadgoing version of 2007's New York Auto Show star (then dubbed "Beat") promises to return 47 miles-per-gallon (U.S.) on the combined cycle while emitting less than 120 grams-per-kilometer of C02, regardless of whether the 66-horsepower, 1.0-liter four-cylinder or the 78-hp, 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine is fitted.

The Palexpo press preview doesn''t officially start until tomorrow, so consider the Spark galleries below (and the press release after the jump) to be a tasty amuse-bouche before the parade of Swiss delights that we will be bringing you over the next couple of days. Enjoy.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Chevy Spark

Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Geneva 2009: Production Chevrolet Spark hanging out at airport, ready for takeoff

Geneva 2009: Production Chevrolet Spark hanging out at airport, ready for takeoff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geneva Preview: Mighty Morphin' iChange proves Rinspeed is up to its old tricks

Chris Paukert — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Technology

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Rinspeed iChange

From the gloriously fertile mind of Frank Rinderknecht comes the Rinspeed iChange, a shape-shifting zero-emissions concept car. As its name suggests, the iChange actually morphs its body shape depending on how many people are going to be onboard, thus optimizing its aerodynamic profile around the passenger load that is called for.

The Swiss auto designer's creations have always been a highlight of the Geneva Motor Show, from outsized roadsters with crazy paint jobs to cars that run on garbage and have tilting occupant cells to exoskeltal minimalist roadsters to Lotus Elise-based roadgoing submarines. Next month, we expect the iChange to be no different.

In the main, the lightweight (1,050 kilograms, or 2,315 pounds) zero-emissions iChange starts off as a one-seat sports car that is capable of changing to a three-seat coupe thanks to a pop-up rear end.

In the drivetrain department, the iChange is motivated by a 150-kilowatt motor, whose power is routed through a six-speed "pre-selector" gearbox which Rinspeed says is borrowed from Subaru's WRX. Juice storage is provided by one of two stack configurations of lithium-ion batteries, depending on whether short- or long-distance driving is planned. So-equipped, the iChange will whir its way to 100 kilometers-per-hour (62 miles-per-hour) in just over four seconds, topping out at 220 km/h (137 mph). The car's pure-electric drivetrain is further supplemented by a roof shingled in solar panels, which generates power that is stored in the batteries and also helps operate cooling fans to vent the interior.

Click on the jump for more details and a stupendously-large press release, and check out the 70+ image high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Geneva Preview: Rinspeed iChange concept

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Mighty Morphin' iChange proves Rinspeed is up to its old tricks

Geneva Preview: Mighty Morphin' iChange proves Rinspeed is up to its old tricks originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Switzerland considers banning sportscars SUVs everything

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

Switzerland is not the most car-friendly place on earth. (Odd, then, that after Monaco, the mountainous country is one of the most popular residence choices for F1 drivers.) But this just puts it over the top. The Swiss Green Party is proposing legislation that would effectively ban supercars. Most sportscars, actually. And SUVs. More than a few luxury sedans, too. Even some small hatchbacks.

The proposed regulations would ban any vehicle over 4800 lbs in weight, producing more than 250 grams of CO2 per kilometer, burning diesel without a new-fangled particulate filter or possessing a front end deemed less than optimal for pedestrian impact. Many of the vehicles on the proposed list of non-compliant new cars would seem logical, according to the Green Party mindset: Aston Martins, Bentleys, HUMMERs, pretty much anything from Italy bigger than a Fiat Panda, most American cars offered in Europe... but wait a second, the Hyundai Getz? Kia Rio? Nissan Micra? Even the Dacia Logan. Somebody's getting carried away in Switzerland, and we hope with the country's populist approach to governance that the Swiss populace will keep their tree-hugging elements in check. Otherwise, we might be riding bikes to next year's Geneva show.

[Source: Asphale.ch via AutoblogGreen]

Switzerland considers banning ~~sportscars~~ ~~SUVs~~ everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video)

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:13:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Trends, Tuners, Performance, Supercars, Porsche

Looking at this custom Porsche, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Swiss army had ordered up a fleet of military-spec 911s. Then you'd quickly realize that while it may be a versatile sports car, the 911 would not be the Porsche most utile for military applications, compared with, say, the Cayenne.

In reality what you're looking at is a "civilian" 911 tuned by aftermarket specialist, Sportec. Never mind the 800-horsepower engine this brat is packin', the real highlight is the original paint job. This 911 Sportec SPR1 is decked out in matte green, with dark wheels and a Swiss flag painted on the roof. The paramilitary hue might make it even harder to spot as it sprints to sixty in three seconds flat, that is assuming the Swiss machine can shift out of neutral.

Follow the jump to watch the video of the Porsche 911 Sportec SPR1 undergoing high-speed testing at Nardo.

[Source: The German Car Blog]

Continue reading Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video)

Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Crazy rich guy attempts to legalize Ferrari FXX for the street

Dan Roth — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Supercars, Ferrari

Hey, wait a minute - we thought you couldn't actually purchase the Ferrari FXX, let alone take one out to cavort on the streets of Switzerland. The way it was originally explained, people with 2.5 million dollars to dispose of could purchase the privelege to plant their hindquarters in the driver's seat for Maranello-sanctioned track events. You've got to have some serious juice to get an FXX to begin with, and then to get it legalized for use in Switzerland takes even more pull. When we say "crazy rich" we don't mean nutty with lots of money. "Crazy rich" in this instance means Scrooge McDuck style swimming in dubloons. Looking in the background of these pictures, you can see lesser vehicles fleeing for their lives. The FXX is keeping a particularly close eye on a tasty Fiat at one point. What's apparently going down in the photos is an FXX getting legally tagged for street driving after being gone over by inspectors in Zurich. The price of the inspection and tags was reportedly around $250,000, a mere ten percent of the initial cost. With an FXX as your personal car, you won't have to worry about blending in, and we must say it's refreshing to see a Ferrari in a color besides Rosso Corsa.

Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: Final Gear, Photo: Iwan]

Gallery: Street-bound Ferrari FXX

Crazy rich guy attempts to legalize Ferrari FXX for the street originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIP: Baron Emmanuel Toulo de Graffenried (1914-2007)

Noah Joseph — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics

One of the oldest surviving grand prix racing drivers has left us for the Big Pit-Stop in the Sky. Baron Emmanuel "Toulo" de Graffenried - yes, he was an actual Swiss baron - has died at the ripe old age of 92.

De Graffenried raced before and after the Second World War, achieving notable success and victories in the earliest days of Formula One. In 1948, the Baron won the first British Grand Prix, crowning his numerous podium finishes at races from Monaco to Zandvoort and from Geneva to Interlagos, competing mostly in Alfa Romeo and Maserati racing cars. He stood in for Kirk Douglas in The Racers (1955), and retired from racing at 42 to focus on his garage in Lausanne where he sold Alfas, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces. In the 70's he was back in the paddock as longtime racing sponsor Marlboro's F1 ambassador, its parent company Philip Morris being based in Lausanne.

Toulo was born in Paris in 1914 and grew up in Switzerland, where the de Graffenried family was one of the most prominent families, tracing all the way back to circa 1270. With him dies a simpler, more majestic age of motor racing long since lost to the commercialization and regulation of grand prix racing.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

RIP: Baron Emmanuel Toulo de Graffenried (1914-2007) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments