Luxury cars are expensive and come in all shapes: sedan, coupe or convertible. They offer all the comfort, luxury and performance but you will have to pay premium price. German cars like BMW or Mercedes are the first brand that come to our mind but nowadays nearly all car makers offer nice and comfortable models that enter in the luxury car category.
We get the whole idea of dressing up a car like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe with a comprehensive bodykit, but given what the Rolls already stands for, it does seem like a little too much, doesn’t it?
The people over at Wald International beg to disagree because they’ve just released a pretty daft package for the British luxury car. No matter the consternation we have for such a program, you can’t deny the skills of Wald International, especially when it comes to dressing up cars that are as exclusive as the Phantom Drophead Coupe. To their credit, the Japanese tuner fitted the Rolls with a comprehensive body kit, complete with a new front bumper that comes with a set of vertical LED running lights. The kit also has new air vents that have been cut into the fenders. There’s also a new front lip, mesh air intake inserts, new side skirts, and a new rear bumper that comes with a small rear diffuser with dual exhaust pipes.
All in all, it’s pretty extensive. Maybe even a little too extensive. But give Wald International credit; these guys know how to catch attention with their projects, especially when they use one of the most luxurious cars on the face of the planet.
So what if the holiday season has come and gone? For some folks, the season extends longer than just the turning of the calendar year and in the spirit of this ’extended’ season, German tuning firm Carlsson has decided to give their CK63 RS some Christmas-themed enhancements.
Their name for it? The CK63 RS Santa Edition. If only Santa used this car instead of his usual sleigh...
The whole idea behind Carlsson building a specially-themed program was to build a concept to present something for the season and, boy, did they ever. The engine specs of the car remain the same as that of the CK63 RS, which means that the car’s 5.5-liter bi-turbo V8 engine saw a noticeable bump in output, from the standard 557 horsepower and 590 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 652 horsepower and 663 lb/ft of torque, with the improvements giving the CLS63 AMG a faster 0-62 mph time of just 4.1 seconds.
Likewise, you’ll also see the same aerodynamic package, one that features a new carbon fiber front spoiler, a new spoiler lip, a new trunk lid spoiler, a rear skirt insert and diffuser, and a new set of 20" Carlsson 1/10 Brilliant Edition lightweight alloy wheels. What makes this special CK63 RS so unique is that it’s been dressed with a Diamond White Metallic paint finish that matches the Nappa Exclusive leather interior trim that comes with a "Santa Red" color.
According to Carlsson, a similar specially-themed CK63 RS will be headed to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this March, which means that we might have more than just one of these unique bad boys on tap.
British automaker Aston Martin is about as exclusive a niche brand can get, catering only to an exclusive group of people, particularly those considered gentlemen of the highest order.
Maybe its image has been shaped and sharpened by its extensive partnership with the James Bond franchise and anybody that has ever driven an Aston Martin wants to exude the same kind of debonair-ish confidence inspired by Bond himself.
The new "Love" commercial from Aston Martin only strengthens that notion. Whereas other ads will go for the comedy routine to get their point across, Aston Martin is a little more straight-forward in their approach: show the car attract women the way no other automaker can.
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the appeal of Aston Martin, especially to the fairer gender. Even better is when a woman leaves a little kiss mark to show just how much she loves your ride.
Something tells us that a lot of men will be trooping to Aston Martin dealerships after watching this add. The only question now is if the cost is right up their price range.
The current BMW X5 went on sale back in 2006 and after what will end up being eight years, BMW will finally release a brand-spanking new generation X5 in 2014, and we were able to grab some spy shots of its first tests. The new model will be completely redesigned, much lighter compared to the current model, and powered by more fuel efficient engines.
It’s no surprise BMW will be working on their X5, considering Audi and Landrover have announced they will be focusing on lighter models for the future. BMW is matching these statements with a 330 lb drop for the new X5, compared to the current model, through the extensive use of aluminum. It will be offered with the company’s latest turbocharged engine in a smaller capacity and an improved fuel economy. The top version, however, will still enjoy its usual 4.4 liter V8 engine, but with improved figures. It has been rumored that BMW will also offer a hybrid X5.
In addition to the weight drop and engine modifications, the next X5 will also get a revised suspension, improved xDrive all-wheel-drive technology, and systems like lane departure warning and compensation, night vision, park assist, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, and active cruise control.
After releasing a video showing off the sound of Bentley’s new V8 engine, the company has officially announced details on the new Continental GT V8 before its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9, 2012. The new 4.0 liter, twin turbocharged V8 engine will be offered for both the CT coupe and GTC convertible models and will go on sale in the summer of 2012.
The new V8 engine delivers 500 HP at 6000 rpm and 487 lb-ft of torque available between 1700 to 5000 rpm. The models equipped with this new engine will be offered with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, while top speed will go up to 180 mph. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions have been improved significantly, but official figures will be released in early 2012. Bentley has promised that when equipped with the new V8 engine, the Continental models will be capable of traveling over 500 miles (800km) on a single tank of fuel.
"With the new 4.0 liter V8 engine we are widening the appeal of the latest generation of Continentals, introducing a completely new driving experience. The new engine will have all the exhilarating power, drama and performance you would expect from a V8 engine sporting the famous Bentley wings, effortlessly delivered with our characteristic ‘wave of torque’. This is complemented by innovative powertrain technology that delivers exceptional fuel efficiency and emissions," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors.
UPDATE 12/20/2011: A leaked pricing reveals is offering us the European prices for the new Continental GT models. The coupe version is priced at 161,840 euro (about $211,600 at the current exchange rates) and the convertible version at 178,024 euro ($232,700).
UPDATE 01/12/2012: Bentley has unveiled a new video presenting the new Continental GT V8 in action. Enjoy!
