The Most Expensive Vintage Ferrari Auctions For $11 million: Chris Evans

Once owned by U.S. actor James Coburn, the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, fetched $11 million at an auction in the luxury sports carmaker’s hometown of Maranello. The proud owner is a British national radio DJ celebrity Chris Evans. 
The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.

Designed for export to America, the 1957 250 GT California Spyder was Scaglietti's interpretation of an open-top 250 GT. Aluminium was used in the hood, doors and trunk lid, with steel specified elsewhere for most models, though a few aluminium-bodied racing versions were also built. The engine was the same as in the 250 Tour de France racing car with up to 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp). All used the long 2,600 mm (102.4 in) chassis.
45 were made before it was replaced by the SWB version in 1960, and it remains highly valuable for automotive collection, with one example auctioned on August 18, 2007 at Monterey, California for $4.9 million.

Replacing their LWB California Spyder with a SWB version, Scaglietti showed a new 250 GT Spyder California at Geneva in 1960. Based on the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, it also introduced disc brakes and a 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) version of the 250 V12. About 55 were built.
A fiberglass-bodied replica of a 1961 250 GT Spyder California, based on an MG, was featured in the 1986 hit film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
A record price for a 250 GT at auction was set on May 18, 2008 when a black 1961 SWB example that had been owned by The Magnificent Seven star James Coburn was sold for 6.4 million Euros/£5.5 million/$10,894,900 (€7,040,000 including fees). The buyer was Chris Evans, a British radio DJ.














[Ferrari's Home Page]

The five most expensive cars: Bugatti Veyron 16.4, Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Zonda, Koenigsegg CCX and Porsche Carrera GT.

1. Bugatti Veyron, $1.7 million

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and sold under Bugatti marquee. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. 

  [Bugatti's home page]

2. Ferrari Enzo, $1 million

The Ferrari Enzo is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a downforce of 775 kg (1709 lb) is reached at 300 km/h (186 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that down force.
Motor Trend Classic named the Enzo as number four in their list of the ten "Greatest Ferraris of all time". 

 [Ferrari's Home Page]

3. Pagani Zonda C12, $741,000

The Pagani Zonda is a mid-engined sports car produced by Pagani in Italy. It debuted in 1999 and continues through the present, with production proceeding at roughly 10 cars per year. As of April, 2008, 91 Zondas had been built. Both 2-seat coupe and convertible versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber.
Some early Zonda engineering was done by Formula One champion, Juan Manuel Fangio. The car was originally to be named for him, the "Fangio F1", but the name was changed upon his death in 1995, renamed after an air current above Argentina. 

 [Pagani's Home Page]

4. Koenigsegg CCX, $600,910

The Koenigsegg CCX is a supercar from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg, to replace the Koenigsegg CCR. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X, the X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be suitable for the United States market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations. A base model CCX costs approximately US$ 540 000 (€ 395 000) but with all optional extras the car costs US$600 000 (€440 000).

 [ Koenigsegg's Home Page]

5. Porsche Carrera GT, $484,000

The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h (209-212.5mph).

[Porsche's Home Page]

. 

NEW 8C Spider Alfa Romeo LIMITED EDITION

(8C Spider Alfa Romeo)

Production of the 8C Spider began in 2009, in Modena, with Maserati in charge of building the cars. As previously announced, 500 cars will be built, each priced at €175,000 (US$241,000) excluding taxes. The production version was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. 35 of 500 Spiders are going to United States.
Alfa Romeo claims that the 8C Spider's top speed is 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph), which makes it slightly slower than the coupe version. The brakes on the Spider are Brembo carbon-ceramic units. The Spider has a two-layer electrically operated fabric roof. The windshield frame is made of carbon fiber to try to maintain a 50/50 weight distribution.
The Spider version of the super sports car, designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Center, and derived from the Alfa 8C Competizione, the Gran Turismo model that has been so successful throughout the world.
This new car highlights the excellence of the brand in this sector, in the same way that several of its Spiders from the past are acknowledged as being some of the most beautiful cars in the world, cars such as the Giulietta Spider from the 1950s or the legendary Duetto, made famous by the 1967 film ‘The Graduate’, starring a young Dustin Hoffman.
The distinctive feature of the 8C Spide is its fold.away roof, available in a choice of colours and fitted with an electrohydraulic system activated with the simple push of a button on the dashboard. The roof consists of two overlapping fabrics: a weather-proof multi-layer outer fabric and an inner layer ensuring total acoustic comfort in the cabin. The result is the last word in style, aerodynamics, practicality and comfort.
Its engine: Type V8 -90º / Displacement (cc) 4691 / Location Front Longitudinal / Max. power (bph) at (rpm) 450 (7000) / Max. Torque (Nm) at (rpm) 480 (4750) / Specific output (bhp/l) 96 / Maximum revs per minut 7500.
Its gearbox and transmission: Architecture transaxle / driver wheels – torque splitrear / gearbox MTA / Numero of speed 6 / Limited slip differentia.
Its chassis and body: Chassis architecture steel frame/ body material carbon / dashboard carbon / front suspension double wishbone / rear suspension double wishbone / front brakes (mm) 380x32 / rear brakes (mm) 360x32 / standard front wheels 245-35R20 / standard rear wheels 285-35R20.
Dimension and Weight: Overall length (mm) 4381 / Overall with (mm) 1894 / Wheelsbase (mm) 2645 / Fuel tank capacity (lit) 88 / Weight distribution 49%-51%

Maximum speed: (km/h) 290
Acceleration 0-100 km/h(s) 4.4
Braking 100-0 km/h (m) 33[Source: Alfa Romeo Web Page

[Source: Alfa Romeo Web Page]

Best Driver's Car 2009: The Lotus Evora

On 12 August 2009, British Car Magazine Autocar named the Evora as Britain's Best Driver's Car 2009. In order to win this price, The Evora had to compete with 29 rivals (like Lamborghini, Porsch, Aston Martin or Ferrari) in a specific series of tests in which cars were driven by the Le Mans winner, Darren Turner.

(Lotus Evora)

The Lotus Evora is a sports car produced by British car manufacturer Lotus. The car, developed under Project Eagle name, was launched as the Evora on 22 July 2008 at the British International Motor Show.

Lotus Evora is based on the first all-new vehicle platform since the introduction of the Lotus Elise in 1996 as the Exige, introduced in 2000, and the 2006 Europa S are both derivatives of the Elise. The Evora is the first vehicle of three vehicles to be built on the same platform.
The Evora, weighing an estimated curb weight of 1,350 kg (3,000 lb), it is currently the only Lotus model with a 2+2 configuration, although it has been announced that it will also be offered in a two-seater configuration, referred to as the "Plus Zero" option. It is also the only 2+2 mid engined coupé on sale. "Evora" keeps Lotus’ tradition of beginning model names with an "E". The name is derived from the words evolution, vogue and aura.

Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 162 mph (261 km/h)
CO2 emission: 205 g/km
Fuel consumption: 32.5 miles per imperial gallon (8.69 L/100 km; 27.1 mpg-US)
Drag coefficient: 0.337

Manufacturer Lotus Cars Parent company Proton Production start 2009 Assembly Hethel, Norfolk Class Sports car Body style(s) 2- or 2+2-passenger coupé Layout Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive Engine(s) 3.5 L Toyota 2GR-FE V6(280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp)) Transmission(s) 6-speed manual Wheelbase 2,575 mm (101.4 in) Length 4,342 mm (170.9 in) Width 1,848 mm (72.8 in) Height 1,223 mm (48.1 in) Kerb weight 1,350 kg (3,000 lb) 2-passenger variant1,380 kg (3,000 lb) (2+2-passenger variant) Designer Russell Carr.

.

Mid-September: Peugeot's RCZ Sports Car is up to make its final debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show

Peugeot's RCZ sports car is up to make its final debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September. First unveiled as a concept two years ago, this unique model with such singular shape houses some remarkable technology: F'rinstance, an active rear spoiler, a Twin-Scroll turbocharger, direct petrol injection, variable valve lift and variable valve timing, Hill Assist to facilitate maneuvers on steep gradients, an intelligent traction control system (ASR), electronic brake force distribution (EBFD) and emergency brake assist (EBA). There's also a concept RCZ Hybrid4 which uses a 120 kW 2.0-liter HDi FAP diesel engine at the front and a 27 kW electric motor at the rear to deliver 70 mpg.

Lexus LF-A

Lexus LF-A

Racing toward its 2010 model year debut, the Lexus super car, spied during testing at the famed Nurburgring, is being developed to compete with no less than the Ferrari F430 and other high-strung sports cars.
About the same size as the F430, the LF-A is about two inches shorter than a Porsche 911, but has about nine extra inches of wheelbase.
According to its power plant, even it was originally conceived as a tribute to Toyota's Formula One prowess, even the team hasn’t yet scored a victory . The rumored 500-plus-horsepower V-10 might instead be a twin-turbo V-8 based on the LS' 5.0-liter engine. It needs at least 600 horses and a top speed of about 200 mph to play in the ultra-sport field.
2010 gets to be the model year debut, the Lexus super car, spied during testing at the famed Nurburgring, is being developed to compete with no less than the Ferrari F430 and other high-strung sports cars.












.

Rolls Royce 200EX

Riding on the new BMW 7-Series platform the 200EX is 435mm shorter, 42mm narrower and 84mm lower than the Phantom. At 3295mm, the wheel base is longer than the extended wheel-base 7-Series. The 200EX provides the same level of comfort and space as the Phantom. Other features included in the 200EX are rear doors that open rearward and close at the push of a button.

Finally, it can now be confirmed that the 200EX will feature a completely new 500hp V12 unit separate from the one in the Phantom.

The Rolls Royce 200EX goes to Geneva for its first public exhibition during the first week of March. It’s estimated cost is: $ 270.000

Omega Speedmaster Legend & Michael Schumacher

Omega Speedmaster Legend

Ref.: 321.32.44.50.01.001

Michael Schumacher was born 3 January 1969, in Hürth-Hermülheim, Germany. He is a former Formula One driver and also a seven-time Formula One world drivers' champion. Nowadays, he is a current advisor and also an occasional test driver for Ferrari. He is the only German that won the Formula One World Championship. In a 2006 FIA survey, Michael Schumacher was voted the most popular driver of the season among Formula One fans.

After winning two championships with Benetton, Michael Schumacher moved to Scuderia Ferrari in 1996 and won five consecutive drivers' titles with them from 2000–2004. Schumacher holds many records in Formula One, including most drivers' championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, points scored and most races won in a single season. Schumacher is the only Formula One driver to have an entire season of podium finishes, a feat he accomplished in 2002. After the 2006 Formula One season Schumacher retired from race driving.

Schumacher is an ambassador for UNESCO and a spokesman for driver safety. He has been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts throughout his life and donated tens of millions of dollars to charity. He is the elder brother of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, currently racing in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). They stand as the only brothers in F1 history to have both won races and scoring the first ever 1-2 finish in Formula One.

Michael Schumacher has been OMEGA’s ambassador since 1997.

Omega Speedmaster Legend Technical Specifications:

Ref.: 321.32.44.50.01.001

Steel on rubber strap
Reference: 321.32.44.50.01.001

MOVEMENT

Caliber: Omega 3313
Self-winding chronograph movement with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial Escapement for greater precision stability and durability of the movement. Free sprung balance, with date, hour, minute and continuous small seconds hands, central chronograph hand.
Power Reserve: 52 hours

CRYSTAL

Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment inside

CASE & DIAL

Stainless steel case
Black dial

WATER RESISTANCE

Down to: 100 meters
Case Diameter: 44.25 mm

.

World Debut at the 79th Geneva Motor Show 2009: Rinspeed iChange

The Swiss auto powerhouse Rinspeed presented, at the Geneva Motor Show 2009, the ‘iChange,’ the world’s first car whose body adapts to the number of passengers on board.

In seconds a streamlined one-seater sports car transforms into a comfortable car with ample room for three. The trick: At the push of a button the rear end of the teardrop-shaped car magically pops up.




The basic idea behind the “iChange”: The energy demand of a vehicle depends mostly on its weight, the type of engine it uses, and its aerodynamic properties. The engineering-services company Esoro has built an extremely lightweight car weighing in at only 1’050 kilograms. To power the car, the Swiss specialists chose an electric motor. The idea of the pop-up rear end was conceived to account for the sizeable effect aerodynamics play in fuel consumption.





The “iChange“ features an adaptive body. The sole driver is conveyed in a teardrop-shaped car that offers optimal aerodynamic properties and thus minimized energy consumption. If more than one person need to be transported the expanding rear provides room for two passengers.





The energy for the electric motor comes from lithium-ion batteries that are available in two different stack configurations for short- and long-distance driving. The electric motor of the “iChange“ produces 150kW, capable of propelling the car to a top speed of 220 km/h. The sprint from rest to 100 km/h takes just slightly over four seconds. This impressive performance is made possible with the help of a six-speed pre-selector gearbox from the Subaru WRX car. The gearbox and drive train are lubricated with eco-friendly lubricants from Motorex. Custom-made lightweight 17” and 18” forged wheels with aerodynamic shrouds are supplied by light-alloy wheel specialists AEZ. Pirelli P Zero tires in size 215/40-17 in front and size 245/40-18 in back provideoptimal grip.





The concept car has no doors. The entire electrically powered roof section of the car measuring just 1.03 meters in height tilts forward to allow passengers to board.














.