Special Editions and limited production cars. Those cars usually offer packaged options and interior trims to celebrate special events such as model anniversary, movie release, celebrity signature or co-branding. They usually come up a few month to a year before the car get a more serious facelift
Mercedes has expanded its C-Class lineup with the addition of a new "Edition C" package that requires an additional €1,785 ($2,400 at the current exchange rates), or €1,011 ($1,300) if you opt for a C-Class Avantgarde. This upgrade can be applied to all sedan, coupe and station wagon variants.
On the exterior, the new Edition C adds an exclusive grille with high-gloss black louvers and chrome trim flanked by darkened headlamps; AMG-styled front apron, side sill panels and rear apron; and, of course, "Edition C" badge on the wing. There is also an exhaust system with chromed tailpipe trims, 170inch five-spoke alloy wheels in a high-gloss black on the sedan and estate models.
For the interior, the model adds sports seats in black ARTICO manmade leather and DINAMICA microfiber with two-tone (blue/alpaca grey) contrast stitching and dark-aluminum trim. Also added in is a three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel covered in Nappa leather with alpaca grey contrast stitching, a DINAMICA-microfiber-trimmed door center panels with alpaca grey contrast stitching and a gearshift knob featuring the same alpaca contrast stitching.
As standard, the Edition C includes an 11.4-inch multifunction color display that includes ATTENTION ASSIST to make sure your attention is always focused on the road ahead.
Hit the jump to read more about the Mercedes C-Class.
Art cars have long had a history with BMW; after all, one of the most famous of these creatively designed models was made by Jeff Koons when he not only decked a BMW M3 GT2 in full artistic regalia but also proceeded to race it at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where it eventually crashed.
Now new BMW Art Car, one for the BMW 3-Series, was unveiled recently. This one, though, doesn’t have ties to BMW; instead, it’s the work of a BMW dealership from the Czech Republic in collaboration with local artist, Andy Reiben. It’s quite psychedelic, if we do say so ourselves.
We all know that graphic designs on a car’s body are what make an art car. Forget about engine upgrades; these models are all about aesthetic enhancements and while some have failed in capturing our imaginations, others have succeeded in doing so.
And as far as details are concerned, the work done on this 3-Series, which has been re-christened as "Fluidum,” is pretty spectacular. The first order of business was to wrap the 3-Series in matte vinyl. From there, Reiben generously sprayed copious amounts of paint before finalizing the colorful details with a brush to go with a glow-in-the-dark treatment.
Pretty sweet art car, if you ask us, something Reiben should be very proud of. Heck, if this car ended up for sale, we might take a crack at purchasing it.
Or at least take lots of pictures with it.
Click past the jump to see a pair of BMW Art Cars that have graced our presence over the years.
Bugatti may have officially lost the fastest production car record, but it certainly appears that the French automaker isn’t too bummed out about it.
Nope, Bugatti’s got more important things to think about these days and just today, it gave us an idea of what important things it’s up to with the release of a mysterious teaser on its Facebook page.
The automaker’s keeping mum on details, opting only to say that "It’s almost time for us to share the latest example of exceptional Bugatti performance".
Immediately, we thought about the 1,600-horsepower Bugatti SuperVeyron, a vehicle that first made headlines last year and has since become one of the most eagerly anticipated supercar debuts of the year.
Bugatti’s message on the social media site also included a little piece of nugget, telling us to "keep a close eye on Facebook over the next few days".
Something tells us that we’re all in for a pretty interesting week if Bugatti lives up to its word of showing us the "latest example of exceptional Bugatti performance".
In the meantime, click past the jump to check out what we think of the Bugatti SuperVeyron.
The British market has received a new special-edition smart fortwo. It is called Edition21 and can be financed for as little as £79 ($120.25 at the current exchange rates) per month for clients aged over 21. The model is priced at £9,575 ($14,400 at the current exchange rates) for the coupe and £11,075 ($16,700) for the convertible. It will be built in limited numbers.
This special edition will be distinguished by a black tridion safety cell (white as an option), black mirror caps and a set of sharp 15-inch three-double-spoke alloy wheels. In order to further identify it, the model will also get special "Edition 21" logo on the mirror triangles and a choice of black or white body panels.
For the interior, the Edition 21 adds black fabric or leatherette upholstery and a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles.
This special edition will make use of smart’s 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 71 horsepower.
This is not the first time that Lancia has collaborated with MomoDesign, but if you ask us, this latest Delta S special edition is one of the best results. Customers interested can already order the new Delta S by MomoDesign and prices will start from €23,400 (about $30,000 at the current exchange rates).
This special edition is designed especially for those male customers that are looking for a distinctive style. According to Lancia, the S in the title stands for the car’s three main values: Style, Substance and sports Seduction.
The model is distinguished by dark-chrome finishes, burnished headlights and 18-inch wheels finished with dark shadow treatment. For the interior, the two companies have combined a stylistic elegance with the sportiness required by the S models. Customers receive a gloss-black central console, speedometer with yellow shades and special sporty leather.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Lancia Delta S by Momodesign.
Those Camaro Hot Wheels models have proven to be quite a hit in the box office. From a concept model that we first saw at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, the Camaro Hot Wheels model has evolved into a coupe model and most recently, a convertible model.
The latter is set to show its face this week at 500 Festival at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the lead-up events for the annual Indianapolis 500 race.
As for the Camaro Convertible Hot Wheels Edition, Chevrolet wanted it to be as distinguishable as its coupe counterpart, so it set out to do just that. The same Kinetic Blue exterior paint finish can be found on the convertible model, as are the matte-black touches on both the hood and taillight surrounds.
New components have also been added, including a new rear spoiler, an upper grille, a front splitter, side skirts, and a new set of 21-inch wheels.
Seeing as this is a Hot Wheels model, you’ll find plenty of brand badging all throughout the vehicle, including special graphics and Hot Wheels flame badges on the exterior, and a black leather trim with red and black stitching with an embroidered Hot Wheels logo.
The special-edition Camaro Convertible Hot Wheels Edition will serve as the Official Vehicle of the Indy 500 before a limited, one-time production run arrives in Chevy dealerships in a few months.
In case you need a refresher, you can find out some details about the Chevrolet Camaro Coupe Hot Wheels Edition after the jump
Rolls Royce has unveiled in Hong Kong the special-edition Ghost Extended Wheelbase Art Deco. The new Ghost Extended Wheelbase Art Deco Edition will be limited to only 35 units and will be offered exclusively for the Chinese market..
The model continues the tradition started by the cars like the Year of the Dragon Collection and will be offered in two different exterior colors: infinity black or arctic white. The two exterior colors will be combined with dual bespoke coach line and illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy.
For the interior, Rolls Royce will offer handcrafted Art Deco inlays, Olympia-inspired motifs on tread plates highlighting "China Limited Collection – One of Eight" and headrest embroidery. Customers will also get a black and white interior scheme featuring a choice of four seat piping colors taking inspiration from the color palette of the era.
Hit the jump to read Rolls Royce’s press release and to read more about the model.
Irmscher is among the first automakers to start preparations for the convertible season. The new Roadster Turbo Sport 45 has been built to pay tribute to the company’s 45th anniversary and will be limited to only 7 units.
The model features an aluminum-plastic body and has been developed on a solid steel tubular lattice frame. Under the hood, the model receives a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot that delivers a total of 265 horsepower and a peak torque of 295 pound-feet. With a total weight of just 1,598 pounds, the new Sport 45 will run from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds.
The model is equipped with a waterproof soft top, five-star Revo rims and for the interior, high-quality leather offered in a color that matches the exterior look. A special "Sport 45" logo on the dashboard and a certificate both confirm that you are indeed driving a unique model.
We may be imagining things here, but this sure does look a lot like a tuned up Caterham 7 Roadsport or Superlight...
click past the jump to read more about the Irmscher Roadster Turbo Sport 45
Volvo’s trio of R-Design models that we saw at the New York Auto Show are all interesting in their own right. No, you won’t see any radical changes nor will you see an interior cabin glittering in gold.
What you will see are subtle modifications and upgrades that makes the V60 look cleaner and more sophisticated while also improving the car’s handling capabilities and, for a little premium, performance credentials.
All that can be had with the V60 R-Design and the best part is, we don’t expect any significant financial repercussions that you’ll have to be responsible for should you decide to put money down on a Volvo.
Overall, the V60 R-Design fits right into what Volvo has become within the industry. It’s a reflection of a company that shuns the bombastic razzle dazzle in favor of something a little more functional with sprinkles of edginess mixed in between.
Find out more about the Volvo V60 R-Design after the jump
The latest installment of Kia’s superhero lineup was finally unveiled at the New York Auto Show.
This time, DC’s Wonder Woman was the recipient of the Korean automaker’s superhero-themed vehicles.
The Sportage Wonder Woman is actually the seventh of an eight-vehicle partnership between Kia and DC and for what it’s worth, it’s one of the better ones we’ve seen come out of the unique collaboration.
The exterior of the Sportage features a truly unique aerodynamic look with a red and blue exterior scheme that comes accented with the same stars Wonder Woman has in her get-up. Notice also the gold trim found throughout the vehicle; that’s a nod toward the heroine’s golden lasso. On the front, Wonder Woman’s famous eagle chest plate is prominently featured and integrated into the Sportage’s grille with matching blue headlight beams representing her eyes.
Rounding out the exterior modifications is Wonder Woman’s tiara, which is clearly visible on top of the Sportage’s windshield. The chrome side panels on the vehicle that serve as graphical interpretations of her invisible jet and the five-spoke wheel design complete the wonderful work done on the exterior to pay homage to DC’s resident super heroine.
Moving inside, Kia continued the Wonder Woman-inspired theme with red upholstery and dash pieces, as well as blue LED lighting to match the exterior treatment. There are also custom seats bearing Wonder Woman’s costume with embroidered logo prominently featured. Last but not least is the cargo area of the Sportage, which has a see-through panel displaying Wonder Woman’s full list of crime fighting accessories, including her tiara, bracelets and a glowing Lasso of Truth.
