BMW had their Art Cars and Mini has specialty celebrity designed automobiles, but Bentley decided to take things a step further and recruit contemporary artist Romero Britto to create the centerpiece for their “Come to my world” exhibition in Germany. The English automaker provided Mr. Britto with a Continental GT as a canvas, prepared with a Bentley Blue base coat for the South Florida artist to get to work.
The car is covered in colorful, comic-like figures featuring a large multi colored flower on the hood, winged heart on the driver’s door, ladybug inspired door mirrors and a few orange and purple stars. The negative space is covered with Britto’s recognizable signature, similar to the mathematical symbol for pi; it is consists of a “T” followed by a squiggly line that sometimes goes down like a backwards “J” and other times is just a continuation of the character before it. The entire feeling of this piece of 200 MPH artwork is that it is as playful as the GT is fun to drive.
Press release after the jump.
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The world’s oldest retailer of the lightweight English sports cars, Bell & Colvill Lotus are offering some very reasonable special edition of the automaker’s Elise model. The new Elise Black & White Editions are available in both the R or SC spec and offer quite a bit of kit for the money. The more sinister Lotus Sport Black version and comes with a trio of Phantom Black stripes running the length of the car, while the Aspen White version wears the same stripes in Ice White. One would think that the combination of choice would be white with black stripes or black with white stripes, but the black on black and white on white treatment sets these Elises further apart from the Lotus crowd.
The interior features a microfiber trimmed dash and similar treatment on the sport bucket seats and door skins. The value package also adds a set of black forged wheels wrapped in ultra sticky rubber while out back there is an all new diffuser. Other additions are traction control, air conditioning and a compulsory option for the Lotus Sport base paint. The retailer sells this package for about a $3,000 premium over a standard Elise R or SC, but I all the options were added individually, the sum would be closer to $8,200. Whether you choose Black or White, these dealer direct special edition Elises are a tremendous savings over buying the options one by one. Bell & Colvil are now taking orders.
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It is lamentable that European Nissan enthusiasts don’t have the opportunity to try out the Nismo 370Z. However, they are receiving a special edition that looks pretty good! The new Nissan 370Z Yellow will be available in limited numbers starting in September with prices ranging from a manually shifted £31,650 to £33,050 for an automatic.
The 370Z Yellow is painted in the sun inspired color and wears a set of 19 inch RAYS forged alloy wheels, but what really sets this Z car off are the 1970s Porsche RS inspired side stripes that spell out exactly what is driving down the road. Both items set off the gleaming yellow body to perfection.
The interior is another story all together, consisting of black leather and suede, the inside of the Yellow 370Z is both comfortable and grippy. Electronics consist of an integrated satellite navigation system and a BOSE audio with eight speakers and a built in six disc CD changer. Touches like illuminated entry plates and special mats greets the driver as he or she enters and sits back in the heated racing buckets. This 370Z includes the speed limiter and all the other features from the 370Z GT Pack on which the special Yellow model is based.
Press release after the jump.
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The Italian super car manufacturer who relies on Mercedes Benz for their power plants, Pagani, has just unleashed an all new roadster version of the stunning Zonda R. The new Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster, as it is known, will be a very valuable commodity, limited to only 5 units priced at 1.3 million Euro each.
Behind the driver’s head in the Pagani Cinque Roadster is a hand built twin turbocharged AMG V12 engine that makes 678 HP. That tremendous amount of power lets the rocket ship inspired vehicle to sprint to 60 MPH from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds and hit 200 km/h in under ten seconds and it won’t stop until it reaches a top speed of 217 MPH.
As the coupe version, the roadster features a ceramic-coated titanium exhaust system, the same magnesium/aluminum rims and the same magnesium/titanium suspension.
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With prices starting from $27,895, the 2010 Honda Pilot keeps offering practical SUV capabilities with the driving sophistication and refinement that people expect from a Honda. For 2010, the Pilot if being offered in four trims: EX, LX, EX-L and Touring with either 2WD and 4WD configuration.
Every Honda Pilot is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers an impressive 250 hp and 253 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-Speed Automatic Transmission with Grade Logic Control. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated4 city/highway/combined fuel economy of 17/23/19 mpg on two-wheel-drive models and 16/22/18 mpg on four-wheel-drive models.
This transmission uses the engine’s broad torque curve for brisk acceleration, optimal fuel economy and smooth-shifting characteristics. Grade Logic Control improves efficiency under a wide variety of driving conditions, such as uphill/downhill and city-traffic driving. It "knows" when the Pilot is on a hill and automatically holds the engine in a lower gear for better climbing power and increased engine braking when going downhill. This decreases annoying "gear hunting" that can often occur with other automatic transmissions in these situations.
Press release after the jump.
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If there is one thing we can say about the 2009 Infiniti G37, it is that we liked it. We really liked it. Our Athens Blue Coupe could put a smile on your face and instantaneously make you forget about any troubles that might be clouding your day.
The car is beautiful on the inside and out, the handling is amazing and the exhaust note is nicer than the VQ35 powered Nissans, especially when you get higher up in the rev band. Our four passenger GT car is powered by a 3.7 Liter V6 with VVEL variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts to make an astounding 330 HP and 270 lb-ft of torque and shifted through a 7 speed automatic transmission.
Once you are behind the wheel you forget about the 19 inch sport rims or the chrome front grill, even the HID headlamps won’t seem impressive when you are sitting in the Stone leather seats, gripping one of the most comfortable leather wrapped multifunction steering wheels on the market, because all you will be able to think about is the road. The G37 engages you in a way that only a fun car can.
Continued after the jump.
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The smallest SUV in BMW’s line-up made today its official debut. Set for a first appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new BMW X1 will go on sale in Europe by the end of the year, while in the USA it has been confirmed for 2011.
In Europe the new SUV will be offered with a choice of four engines - one gasoline and three diesels - and will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations.
The BMW X1 xDrive28i is powered by a straight-six gasoline engine that delivers 258 hp and a peak torque of 228 lb-ft. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds and reaches a top speed 127 mph, all this with a fuel consumption of 30.0 mpg.
The BMW X1 xDrive23d is powered by a 2,0 liter four-cylinder diesel engine that develops 204 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds and reaches a top speed or 127 mph. The X1 xDrive20d delivers 177 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and can hit a top speed of 127 mph.
The BMW X1 xDrive18d and the BMW X1 sDrive18d deliver 143 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque and sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 10.1 seconds and 9.6 seconds respectively , while top speed if 121 and, respectively, 124 mph.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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The German variant of General Motors, Opel, has already released a green version of their popular four door Insignia model wearing the ecoFLEX badge, but that was it. Well now there is good news for fans of environmentally friendly wagons and estates, because Opel has just announced that their ecoFLEX Insignia will soon be available as a Sports Tourer.
The green five door is powered by a 2.0 Liter CDTI engine with the Clean Tech System producing 160 HP and an impressive 280 lb-ft of torque. The fuel efficient diesel burning drive train is complimented by a six speed manual transmission, complete with a higher final drive to allow highway cruising at lower engine speeds. The result is a Sports Tourer that can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 9.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 133.5 MPH, if those numbers don’t seem too impressive, than consider the vehicle’s fuel mileage of 44 MPG.
If only drivers here in the U.S. could learn to appreciate different things like sports wagons and diesel burning power plants. If we hadn’t attached such a lasting stigma to either of those two items then maybe we could enjoy a spirited ride in an ecoFLEX Insignia Sports Tourer, try getting that kind of performance and economy from a gasoline powered vehicle.
Press release after the jump.
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The artisans from J.E. Design have unleashed their paintbrushes on another one of the European exclusive members of the Volkswagen Family. The SEAT Leon recently underwent some reconstructive surgery in order to give the Spanish sports car a facelift. J.E. takes the entire process a step further with a complete reworking of the Leon’s exterior.
The tuners started out with a ground effects kit consisting of a set of side skirts as well as new front and rear aprons that bring the body closer to the road. Out front the factory SEAT grill has been replaced by a badge less matte black mesh unit. Above the driver’s head sits a rally inspired roof scoop which is quite possibly more about form than function, and finishing off the bodywork, J.E. has added a very racy rear wing.
J.E. equips the Leon with their signature rim in sizes ranging from 17 inches to 19 inches in diameter. Wheel gap is decreased thanks to a set of sport lowering springs, but even more ride height adjustment is available with a set of J.E. Design coil-overs. Finishing off the tuning package is a free flowing stainless steel exhaust that gives off a distinguished roar to let people know that something special is approaching. As soon as the new Leon hits the market, J.E. will be waiting with their aero kit.
Press release after the jump.
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The ex-English automaker, Jaguar, has prepared a very special version of their two door coupe, the XK, for this weekend’s Festival of Speed. On July 3-5, the Earl of March will open up his estate to almost 200,000 automotive enthusiasts and spectators. The Jaguar XKR Goodwood Special will be powered by a supercharged 5.0 Liter V8 pumping out 510 HP. The sleek Jag will also feature a throatier exhaust note thanks to a some free flowing pipes.
It will be hard to miss the hardtop XKR painted in a shocking lime green when it has a go at this hill in the Sunday Times Super Car Run up the 1.16 mile course. The equally menacing front fascia made up of a new satin graphite grille, headlamp surrounds, flat painted mirrors and even the louvers on the forward opening hood set this ferocious feline apart from other Jaguars. The XKR Goodwood Special also receives some upgraded rolling stock in the form of a set of signature 21 inch rims.
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