Comes this from the Daily Mail: soccer ace Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand-spankin’ new Lamborghini Aventador broke down and wound up on the back of a tow truck. Or, as they say, a Lambo’s natural habitat.
It's matte black, sleek, and like most Lambos...it doesn't run.
This 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is quite possibly the coolest automobile in the world. It’s been sitting outside in the California desert for more than 25 years and it’s been “sandblasted” smooth. Moreover, since the climate was dry, there’s no sign of rust and everything is almost perfectly preserved.
This super-rare ‘Stang will NOT be restored to a showroom-fresh finish. Instead, the new owner intends to keep it in this condition and–get this–actually drive the beast.
Read the full story here, complete with some incredible photos.
Like a pair of well-worn jeans, one just can't buy this sort of patina.
The following article was published in Elements Magazine in 2006.
Believe it or not, the two cars profiled here are related, yet they are as different as day and night. Bentley and Lamborghini are both owned by Volkswagen and you can buy these babies at the same dealership on Long Island. Yet, that’s where the similarity ends and the distinctiveness begins.
BENTLEY AZURE
A proper and "real" Bentley--the British designed and built Azure.
Traditionally Speaking
There are some designs that are classic, and they are hardly meddled with: the Levis 501 jean; the Rolex Oyster wristwatch; and the Mont Blanc fountain pen, to name a few. Add to the list the Azure, the top-of-the-line convertible produced by Bentley in one variant or another since 1995. (The Azure took some time off in 2002 and has re-emerged this year, much like your neighbor after a visit to a Park Avenue plastic surgeon, with more vim and vigor than ever.)
This brawny Bentley’s lines are not “space-age” nor does it feature a bevy of aerodynamic add-ons and spoilers. In fact, Azure shares its face with the Arnage range of super sedans and is unmistakably “Bentley.” No complicated folding hard top on this baby, either: an electrically-operated, three-layer fabric roof (with a heated glass window) disappears under a leather-trimmed tonneau cover in about a half-minute.
The Azure is veddy British, which means it’s mechanically “traditional.” Propelling this hand-built car is a twin-turbocharged, 6.75-liter V-8 engine making 450 horsepower. This range-topper sits regally on 19-inch wheels and relies on a four-speed automatic transmission to get that power to the pavement. While the Azure may be one of the only flag-bearers for “tradition” in these modern times, it doesn’t eschew high-tech. The first use of carbon fiber in a Bentley appears on the Azure in the form of chassis braces to aid structural rigidity, yet you’ll have to crawl under the vehicle to see it. This contributes to the new Azure being about 300 percent more stiff than previous incarnations of the model.
Few cars can approach this level of decadence.
Inside, Bentley’s best is befitting of the breed. There’s a choice of premium wood veneers; a selection of luxuriously lush leathers in 21 colors; a dual-zone and split-level climate control system that features a dehumidifier; and of course, wool rugs that you’ll want to go barefoot on. In the end, that’s what tradition is about: it’s more than sight, it’s sound; it’s more than mere touch, it’s “feel.” For those who yearn for the days when ladies and gentlemen still drove in motorcars, this Bentley’s for you.
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO SPYDER
A Lambo fit for Rambo--the brutish Gallardo Spyder.
La Dolce Rapidamente
Compared to Ferrari, Italy’s Lamborghini has a reputation of being a younger, crazier, louder, and flashier brand. While Ferraris have dominated racing circuits for more than a half-century, Lamborghini focused on being a more “style-oriented” brand. With Lambo’s latest offering, the Gallardo Spyder, little has changed and its style is at the “red line.”
Topless, at speed.
The Gallardo series is Lamborghini’s newest line of bahn-burners, and the Spyder has all the features that made the Gallardo the choice of hip-hoppers and pro athletes. There’s a 5-liter V-10 engine hurling 520 horsepower, a six-speed paddle-shifted transmission (a $10,000 option over the manual gearbox, but an alternative that most buyers will choose, according to the factory), and most surprisingly, four-wheel-drive. Putting power to the road with only two wheels would make the Gallardo a devilish handful; all four wheels providing traction harnesses and directs those 520 ponies in a safer manner. Massive Brembo brakes and 19-inch tires further attempt to control this bullish steed.
It's no Bentley inside, but at least it's faster.
The Gallardo Spyder’s fabric roof is raised or lowered via the touch of a button, but the absence of a lid doesn’t impact structural rigidity, due to extra bracing. When the roof’s down, the V-10’s song is the only thing the two passengers hear, as whispers and gasps of pedestrians are drowned-out. Those lucky two are treated to buttery-soft Italian leather seating, door surfaces, and well, pretty much leather everything. The fact that VW, Lambo’s parent, is a master at interior ergonomics is not lost on the Gallardo: this is no 1970s-era rattletrap with unmarked toggle switches. In fact, VW’s famed Audi Multi-Media interface makes operating the Spyder’s myriad electronic bells and whistles a breeze. Speaking of breezes, a rear window that doubles as a wind protector makes the cockpit a rather pleasant place at speed.
Delivering better reliability than Lambos of yesteryear, with an appearance that makes even Ferrari drivers take notice, there are many reasons to blow the kids’ college fund on a Gallardo Spyder. Besides, wind in the hair, a V-10’s wail, and racecar handling are more fun than getting some silly degree.
Bentley Azure
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
This is an Elf (French national petroleum company) produced movie depicting the run-up to the 1985 Grand Prix of Monaco.
If you’re an F1 fan, like me, it’s simply stunning. A young Ayrton Senna also makes an appearance in his Lotus.
Enjoy!
Some people have guts. Some people are stupid. Some people are lucky.
Fortunately, the rider of this Yamaha R1 possesses all three traits.
Enjoy.
I came across Michael Degusta’s blog, The Understatement, because of an article he wrote about the Tesla Roadster, one of the first all-electric sportscars.
In the piece, Degusta uncovers a very serious problem that plagues this $100,000 bauble of the rich, famous, and “green.” It seems the car can be “bricked” when the battery pack completely discharges.
Tesla's Roadster: sleeker than a brick.
When I say “bricked,” I mean it–it’s as if the car is a giant clay brick. It cannot be restarted, recharged or even MOVED when it has 0 battery life. Y’know, like a brick.
Moreover, Tesla charges $40,000 for a battery pack replacement–and it’s not covered by a warranty or, or…anything.
So far, this has allegedly happened to five cars, out of an estimated 2,200 sold to date.
Whoa--that battery pack is 40 grand?!
It seems that Tesla Motors not only is aware of this problem, but the company may, in fact, be monitoring customer cars via GPS without their consent.
It’s a very interesting article and I suggest you read it.
This article is from a 1938 issue of Modern Mechanix magazine.
Here’s an article about a 911 pilot trying to get one over on traffic, in San Francisco….
Probably an orthodontist.
This article previously appeared in Colorado Springs Style Magazine in December, 2010
Colorado Springs Style November/December 2010
Honda kicked-off the hybrid vehicle game in the late-20th century, with their Insight two seater. Toyota took the ball and ran with it, producing three generations of Prius models that came to symbolize the genre. Now, Porsche has “taken the ball,” and they didn’t just run with it—they supercharged it, in their new, leather-lined 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid!
A Second-Generation First
The Porsche Cayenne sport-utility vehicle debuted to perplexed audiences in 2003. “A Porsche…truck?,” they asked. It was an unusual move for a company that only produced small sports cars. Yet, the Cayenne proved to be a hit, winning over the well-heeled who desired the road manners of an “autobahn stormer” but also wanted a dose of practicality—especially in mountainous and wintry locales such as Colorado Springs. Over the years, the first-generation Cayenne was improved upon with new models, such as the low-to-the-ground GTS and the super-fast Turbo S. For 2011, the Cayenne range is now in its second generation and Porsche, the company, has taken a more responsible approach to performance with their first-ever hybrid vehicle.
The battery pack hides in the rear.
Nobody Does It Better
While the Turbo model sits at the pinnacle of Porsche of Colorado Springs’ Cayenne lineup, the new Cayenne S Hybrid is the vehicle that’s setting the car (and truck) market on its ear. Simply put, nobody does “performance” like Porsche and no hybrid SUV behaves quite like the Cayenne S Hybrid. Unlike a fully-electric vehicle that must be plugged-in (a la the Chevrolet Volt or Nissan Leaf), the Cayenne S Hybrid couples a supercharged V-6 engine to an electric motor. There’s nothing to plug in–except a gasoline hose when the tank is dry. In other words this “gentle giant” delivers the performance of a V-8 with the fuel economy of a V-6.
Once upon a time, Porsches used to have air-cooled gas engines in the rear...
Highway Sailing
The combined engines’ output of 380 horsepower is channeled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, dubbed Tiptronic, because of its sporting abilities. This, in turn, connects to a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system that is the bedrock of the Cayenne’s off-road prowess. Furthermore, the vehicle’s hybrid arrangement is unlike any other because it can power the truck in either full-gasoline mode; via the electric motor only; or a combination of both. Most hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, get better fuel economy in city driving, because the electric motor propels the car more often than the gas engine; the Porsche, on the other hand, is quite different. When the Cayenne S Hybrid pilot lifts off the accelerator at speeds up to 97 mph, the gasoline engine can be completely switched off, enabling the vehicle to “sail” along without combustion or electric power. This delivers a significant reduction of fuel consumption at highway speeds. As soon as the driver presses the accelerator to pass another vehicle, the gasoline engine quickly starts back up and begins doing its job.
Porsche boasts a fuel economy improvement of about 25 percent over the gas-only Cayenne. When one considers that this is a truck capable of transporting a family of four and their luggage over rough roads, and not a two-seat, Japanese econo-box built for asphalt-only duty, the feat is even more impressive.
Tautly Teutonic
The exterior of the Cayenne range has been re-shaped with tauter and more athletic lines; the headlamps are reminiscent of sportier Porsche models and generally the vehicle appears sleeker than its predecessor. Remarkably, the new Cayenne is larger than the first-generation. Yet the redo goes deeper than the skin: Porsche overhauled the Cayenne’s interior to mimic that of their first-ever sedan, the Panamera. The previous Cayenne’s cabin lacked a certain flair. Now, the center console has less of a plasticky “SUV vibe” and more of a sleek, “Learjet feel,” with polished black switchgear and up-to-the-minute Euro design. If it feels larger inside, it is, because there’s more space for rear passengers and the cargo area has been enlarged.
The Cayenne range's interiors have been renovated.
Porsche, a company notorious for “nickel and diming” when it comes to options, has given the Cayenne a standard audio system with iPod interface, standard Bluetooth connectivity, and there’s even a glass moonroof, gratis. Notable options include radar-activated cruise control, a blind-spot warning system for safe lane changes, and a trick headlamp arrangement that adapts illumination for highway or around town driving! Unique to the Cayenne S Hybrid is an instrument panel display that allows the driver to monitor the hybrid system and to see how “green” the truck is when motoring along.
This ain't your Aunt Hildy's Porsche gauge binnacle.
Trailblazing Ahead
Like any company entering a new market niche, Porsche wasn’t perfect with their first-generation SUV. Yet, less than a decade later, they’ve singlehandedly created a new niche, that of a performance hybrid SUV. Frankly, nothing less was expected of such a legendary automaker. Time to add some planet-friendly spice to your driving!
2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid
This article appeared in the Americana at Manhasset’s Concours d’Elegance publication in 2011.
Audi turned racing on its ear once again, with the R10 TDI.
Let’s get something straight: car manufacturers race to win. They want to win on Sunday and sell out the showroom on Monday. They enter the sport of automobile racing for the publicity it brings. Not only do their wares gain valuable seconds of TV and newspaper exposure time, but manufacturers can also claim that “competition furthers the breed.” In fact, it does and many important items on one’s street car first debuted on a racetrack, such as the rearview mirror or disk brakes. However, one of Volkswagen’s strongest arm’s, Audi, is doing something different. And they’re winning.
What Audi has done, since 2006, is nothing short of remarkable—and gutsy. You see, auto racing is the domain of largely one type of power plant: the gasoline internal combustion engine. Everywhere from the Indy “500” to a local drag strip, gas is king. Yet Audi sensed a change in the air, due to environmental groups who called on the sport to be more ecologically responsible. In short order, this Ingolstadt-based rebel dropped gas engines and fielded a car equipped with a diesel..!
This ain't your Aunt Rita's diesel Oldsmobile engine.
Americans tend to think of diesel engines as suitable only for large trucks and 1982 Oldsmobiles that were shaped like a fat man’s wallet. Yet, Europeans have been enjoying a diesel renaissance, led by such high-performance builders as BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and even Porsche. Moreover, a diesel can be expected to offer at least a 25 percent gain in MPG. Audi’s R10 TDI boasts a 12-cylinder engine with two turbochargers, delivering over 700 horsepower in peak tune.
Audi’s statement, by racing their diesel car, resounded through the halls of European automakers. How could such an established company take such a giant risk—after all, no manufacturer had even done this before, let alone captured any trophies. But why? After all, Audi was king of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, dominating the event with their gas-powered beauties for over a half decade, beginning in 2000. There was no reason for them to “upturn the apple cart”—especially when they built and owned that cart.
Yet, some within Audi recognized that switching to diesel was a “win-win’ situation before the first green flag fell on the R10 TDI. The opportunity to make the racing community reassess its environmental impact, starting with fossil fuels, was too great to ignore. It’s also great publicity for VW’s marketing machine. When the green flag did drop on the R10’s career, Audi was prepared. The R10 TDI won its maiden race, at the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring. Such a feat is incredible in the racing world because usually, a new car has a lot of “kinks” to work out; much of the time it won’t even finish a race. Even more incredible is that the R10 TDI handily won the 24 Hours of Le Mans just three months later. For the first time ever, a diesel-powered automobile won the most prestigious endurance race on earth, clocking up more than 3,000 racing miles in exactly one day. Audi also placed third in the event with another R10 TDI.
LeMans 2007: another win for Diesel power.
Since that historic race, the Audi R10 TDI went on to victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice more, in 2007 and 2008. Speaking of Audis “statement” to other manufacturers: rival Peugeot soon hopped on the diesel bandwagon and their car won Le Mans in 2009. However, the following year and this year, Audi diesels have once again earned the winner’s trophy at the world’s oldest endurance contest. Few racing cars have taken a permanent place in the automotive world. Usually, today’s race winner is tomorrow’s obsolete “used car” and they’re discarded. Audi’s R10 TDI, on the other hand, is legend of modern times for many reasons. At the Americana at Manhasset’s Concours event, one only has to focus on its sheer beauty.
AUDI R10 TDI RACING CAR
SIDEBAR
AUDI: NO STRANGER TO BLAZING A NEW PATH
Masterful Michele.
Audi hasn’t dominated just one class of auto racing, such as the endurance series. In fact, in the early-1980s, Audi was a veritable “Goliath” in the world of rally racing. Their pioneering Quattro all-wheel drive system turned the sport on its ear. Audi’s lead driver was also a pioneer: Michele Mouton was a French woman who showed the boys her Audi’s derriere. Mouton won four events and finished runner-up in the championship in 1982. Three years later, Michele also conquered Colorado’s most famous race, the Pike’s Peak Hillclimb. These days, the 60 year-old lives a more sedate life and she just received France’s Légion d’honneur.
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