We all know that automakers have slowly begun to pay more attention to consumer goods as a way of branching out their business models, but in the case of Porsche Design - Porsche’s styling arm - they might have taken it to a whole new level by diving into real estate development.
No, they’re not building their own theme park like Ferrari did, but they did build a new condominium project in the heart of Miami Beach.
The building is set to be christened the "Porsche Design Tower" and will be a collaborative project between the company and real estate developer Gil Dezer. The new condominium is expected to rise on 2.2 acres of real estate along Collins Avenue in Miami, making up 132 housing units on the 57-story building. One of the most fascinating features of the Porsche Design Tower is the inclusion of three robotic car elevators that will allow you to actually bring your own car up to your condos without, apparently, needing your own basement parking.
We’re more than interested to see how the whole set-up is going to work, but we have neither the car nor the funds to make a play for one of those units, which, we expect, will sell for more than what our bank accounts can handle.
But hey, the whole idea of bringing your car up to your condo unit is pretty sweet in its own right. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about it being stolen in the basement.
The 2011 LA Design Challenge produced some pretty interesting and futuristic Hollywood rides. But after the dust had settled, we had a repeat winner taking home the 2011 title.
The Smart 341 Parkour, which was designed by folks from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Sindelfingen, Germany, won the LA Design Challenge, on the back of a clever Hollywood story involving Annie Angle and her super sleuthing skills in Carntpark City.
This is the second year in a row that Smart has won the LA Design Challenge. Last year, the Smart 454 WWT shared top honors with the Cadillac Aera after judges declared a tie on a four-passenger car being built under the premise that it tips the scales at just under 1,000 lbs.
This year’s theme involved not just developing a perfect Hollywood car of the future, but also about inventing a story that puts the car in the forefront. With the 341 Parkour, Smart conveyed the theme to a tee by designing a car that combines innovation and functionality with an exciting film plot.
Just in case you’ve forgotten the capabilities of the 341 Parkour, the designers envisioned this revolutionary ride using parkour as an inspiration. So instead of people jumping in and around whatever obstacles in a given location, the 341 Parkour does all of that itself.
Congratulations to the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios for their back-to-back LA Design Challenge titles. Now the pressure’s on to hit a "three-peat" in 2012.
The Fiat line-up that’s headed to the 2011 Bologna Motor Show will also include a special edition 500 model that has been designed to commemorate the car’s introduction to the US market.
The special edition Fiat 500 model is called the "Nation Limited Edition" and it will come in hard-top and cabrio trims. As far as the former is concerned, Fiat dressed it up in an "America Blue" exterior paint finish and it comes with a bevy of unique trims, including a "Stars & Stripes" package on the sides and on the mirror casings, and a new set of 16" alloy wheels.
Meanwhile, the 500C version will come in a "Tri-Coat White" exterior paint finish and will also feature the same "Stars & Stripes" package on the sides and the mirror casings, as well as a new set of 16" alloy wheels. A different wrinkle on the 500C is the red soft-top roof, further enhancing the color scheme of the car as a celebration of our beloved land.
Powertrain figures for both the 500 and 500C remains the same - a 1.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine with state-of-the-art MultiAir technology that delivers 101 horsepower and 98 lb/ft of torque - although customers who opt for the 500C will have to shell out more money to be able to buy one.
Both models will be limited to 500 units apiece with the hard-top version coming with a price tag of €14,500, which is about $19,500 based on current exchange rates. As for the 500C, that one will cost you €18,000, which when converted, hits $24,200.
The Zenvo ST-1, a Danish supercar of Bugatti Veyron proportions, is getting ready to make its US debut and to give it the proper introduction to the American market, Zenvo founders Jesper Jensen and Troels Vollertsen turned to a man that’s considered one of the foremost authorities on automobiles in the US: Jay Leno.
The ST-1 recently made an appearance on Jay Leno’s Garage, marking the first time the comedian/auto enthusiast has come face-to-face with the Danish supercar.
Just a refresher: the ST-1 is powered by a 7.0-liter V8 engine that produces 1,100 horsepower, enough juice, in fact, to challenge the almighty Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. All that power translates to break-neck speed, too, as the ST-1 is capable of hitting 233 mph without even breaking a sweat.
Only 15 of these models will be built, with the US only getting three of them. We’re pretty sure that Leno will end up with one of them, especially after he seemed to blush every time he mentioned the ’ST-1’ name.
In case you have $1 million lying around your house, you can be one of only three people in this country that can boast of owning a Zenvo ST-1. Go and watch the episode of Jay Leno’s Garage and maybe he can convince you to fork over that cash.
The teasing was long and arduous, and at some point, it might have been even a little too drawn out. But finally, the Mosler Raptor GTR is getting ready to draw its claws and show off its fangs.
Once teased as the Mosler Raptor, this Florida-based supercar has officially taken the name ’Raptor GTR’ and true to all our expectations, it really does pack a wallop.
The cheesy introductory video featuring model Abby Cubey didn’t do it any real favors as far as first impressions go. But once you get past that, the sheer performance numbers of the Raptor GTR will surely make you stand up and take serious notice.
The American supercar will be carrying the long-rumored 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 powertrain. But instead of carrying 650 horsepower, the Raptor GTR will be unleashing a chilling 838 horsepower from under its hood. Together, the supercar’s massive powertrain and its carbon fiber body and chassis weigh in at only 2,580 lbs, ensuring that the Raptor GTR will be able to deliver a power-to-weight ratio that’s 36 percent higher than the Bugatti Veyron. All that translates to a 0-60 mph time of just 2.6 seconds with a top speed of 240 mph.
About the only downside to the Raptor GTR, at least as far as our bank accounts are concerned, is that it comes at a jaw-dropping price of $700,000. But if that’s within you price range - and you’re not cool with "just" 838 ponies - Mosler will be offering 12 buyers a $70,000 CubeyGTR upgrade package that brings the output to well over 1,200 horsepower, with a 0-60 mph time of just 2.2 seconds.
You don’t need Abby Cubey to tell you how sick that is.
