Sports Cars Archives - Page 13 of 29

Bugatti plans plug-in electric Galibier for 2012

The rumor has been around for a while, but Bugatti has confirmed it will soon a offer a plug-in hybrid. Wolfgang Durheimer, the Bugatti CEO said the luxury automaker will debut, likely in 2012, a 1.4 million super car based on the 16 C Galibier concept that debuted in 2009. The four-seat sports sedan will feature 16-cyclinder engine, with the plug-in hybrid option possessing a 25-mile radius in electric-only driving. Durheimer didn't report if Bugatti hybrid engine will be downsized, but he commmented Bugatti hopes to sell around 1,500 units during car's yet-to-be determined tenure. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.

Luxury cars

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Ferrari 360 an eBay no-sale but still for sale at Sacramento Maserati dealership

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's 10-year Ferrari 360 didn't sell during its recent auction on eBay, but the pristine high-powered machine is still for sale. According to Andrew Lyon of Sacramento Maserati, the 2002 vehicle formerly owned by the former Governor of California attracted some international attention, but there were no potential buyers on eBay from the United States. The listing for the car on eBay ended Nov. 1. Schwarzenegger had listed the Ferrari 360 Spider, via the dealership and eBay Motors for $92,450. The convertiable Ferrari features a 3.6-liter, eight-cylinder, 400-horsepower and has silver exterior and black interior. The vehicle has been driven less than 13,000 miles. In 2002, the list price for the car new was $161,475. Lyon said

Specialty cars

2012 Toyota Camry gets duties as Daytona 500 pace car

The 2012 Camry Pace Car, a specially equipped 2012 Toyota Camry SE that will start the field for the 54th Daytona 500 next February 26, will be on display Nov. 1-4 at the 2011 SEMA Show Toyota exhibit. It will be the first time a non-GM, Ford or Chrysler nameplate has paced the Daytona 500. The Camry Pace Car is based a 2012 Camry SE, which features a 268 horsepower V6. It is specially equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric tires mounted on BBS RS 8.5 x 19 wheels, a StopTech Big Brake Kit, TRD custom stainless steel exhaust and Tein adjustable suspension. Safety equipment includes a roll cage, four-point Simpson racing seat belts, Whelen LFL Liberty LED lightbar, and

Specialty cars

Ferrari fantasy: How about owning a F430 for a $1 donation?

The owner of a new charity website called TheFreeFerrari.com is likely offering the best fantasy car prize ever — a Ferrari F430. It could be won by someone who donates as little as $1. Brian McLane, whose brother was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma, initiated the site, the proceeds of which will go The Cancer Patient Relief Foundation (https://www.TCPRF.org). With as little as a $1 donations, entrants' chances grow exponentially via the link they receive just by donating via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites. When their friends click, the donors receive additional entries for every entry their friends get. More sharing means more chances to win, and more money raised for charity. “For as little as

Automotive Reviews, Specialty cars

Audi TT RS, 2012: New coupe a sports car racehorse

Those who can't afford a really hot sports car such as a Porsche 911 Carrera S should check out the 2012 Audi TT RS, which brings Audi's much anticipated hot rod RS nameplate back to America. The racy looking new Audi TT RS is a breathtaking new high-performance addition to Audi’s accomplished TT line. While docile on public roads, I found the TT RS acted like a thoroughbred on the challenging Witzig Raceway track during a media preview of the car that began near Hartford, Conn. The high-quality TT RS is an exclusive model at the top of the TT line because Audi spokespersons said at the preview that only approximately 1,000 TT RS models will annually be sent to

Specialty cars

2012 Fiat 500 gets rare tiny car bravado, top IIHS safety pick

After modifications to improve driver's seat protection in frontal and rear crashes, the 2012 Fiat 500 has received a rare designation for a subcompact car — Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The designation applies only to Fiats built after July 2011, and the minicar joins the 2011 Ford Fiesta among the few small cars to receive the top safety classification. According to the IIHS, the award requires a car to earn the highest ratings–known simply as "good" — in front, side, rear, and rollover tests. Top honorees also must include a standard electronic stability control system, now a Federal requirement. The front crashworthiness evaluation uses a 40-mph offset crash, while the side evaluation slams

Celebrity Cars, Specialty cars

Arnold Schwarzenegger has 'mint' 2002 Ferrari 360 on eBay

Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, actor and purveyor of the finer and not-so-fine things in life — expensive cigars, expensive divorces, expensive fine cars — is selling his 2002 Ferrari 360 Spider. The 3.6-liter, eight-cylinder, 400-horsepower Ferrari less than 13,000 original miles and features a silver exterior and black interior. The two-door convertible has a clean title and will be on sale for 15 days. It can be purchased now for $92,450 and is being offered by Maserati of Sacramento. Here are the Ferrari 360's Facts & Figures: Make, Ferrari; Model 360; Year, 2002; VIN, ZFFYT53A920127992; Stock Number, UM5291; Mileage: 13,000; Transmission, Manual; Engine: 8 Cylinder, 3.6 liter; Exterior Color, Silver; Interior Color, Black; Title: Clean. In 2002, the

Rare-Vintage, Specialty cars

World's oldest running car sells for record $4.62 million

A 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, the world's oldest running car, attracted twice its predicted value and sold for $4.62 million Oct. 7 before a packed house at RM Auctions in Hershey, Pa. The sale price is a world record for an early motor car sold at auction. Commissioned by French entrepreneur, Count de Dion and named ‘La Marquise’ after his mother, the 127-year-old vehicle drew a standing ovation from the audience as it drove onto RM’s Hershey auction stage. Attracting a starting bid of $500,000 and immediately jumping to $1,000,000, bidding moved swiftly to applause from the crowd, with the gavel eventually falling at an extraordinary $4,200,000. The final sales price of $4,620,000 includes a

Specialty cars

Danica Patrick: Out with the old (Indy), in with the new (KC)

While the end is near for Danica Patrick in one facet of her racing career, she's also facing a new challenge while continuing another career chapter. Patrick has raced six times on the Kansas Track in the IndyCar Series, including a pole (2005) and four top-10 finishes. But the 29-year-old driver is make her ninth Nationwide start this season on Oct. 8, and it's her first in Kansas City. In August, Patrick announced she was leaving the IndyCar series to join Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports’ Nationwide team fulltime in 2012. She'll conclude her IndyCar career Oct. 15 at Las Vegas before transitioning fulltime to NASCAR Nov. 5 in Texas. Patrick also plans to enter eight-to-10 Sprint Cup races, often

Celebrity Cars

Kim Kardashian dumps Range Rover for Ferrari Italia 458

If celebrities and superstars — Michael Jordan to Ralph Lauren and Eric Clapton to Nicolas Cage own Ferraris — then Kim Kardashian has to own one, too, right? According to the online site of X17, the celebrity photo agency, Kardashian recently traded in her Range Rover SUV for a white Ferrari 458 Italia. The much-revered Ferrari can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about three seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph. The site reported Kardashian bought the customized Ferrari for $300,000 with the specialty work completed by Platinum Motorsports, a custom shop that caters to celebrities. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly

Specialty cars

Senna: Famed F1 driver film in Academy Award pole position

"Senna" is a documentary about Formula One race car driver Ayrton Senna of Brazil, the three-time world titlist who died in a racetrack crash in 1994 at age 34. The film has several edge-of-your-seat driving scenes that alone justified the admission. But like other great sports-themed documentaries ("When We Were Kings" comes to mind) Senna transcends sport. A moviegoer without any knowledge of the top level of auto racing can and likely will appreciate the detailed biography of Senna as a driven driver. The boxing movie examines the personalities of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman and their intense, complicated relationship. Likewise "Senna" is more about the famed Brazilian underneath the racing helmet as well as his rivalry with long-time teammate

Specialty cars

Scion debuts 2012 limited production models in Texas

The Scion 2012 xD Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) and xB Series 9.0 (xB RS 9.0) debuted Sept. 29 State Fair of Texas, with limited release models featuring as standard equipment a new Pioneer audio system that features Bluetooth hands-free, streaming audio and HD Radio technology. The two Scions will begin arriving at dealer showrooms in October and the debuting will be available for viewing at the Scion booth at the State Fair of Texas until October 23. The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) comes exclusively in a premium Blizzard Pearl exterior paint and is upgraded with 16-inch alloy wheels finished in a smoked platinum color. Scion will only build 800

Specialty cars

Camaro ZL1, 2012: Rick Hendrick gets No. 1 for $250,000

Several days after the announcement of the public sale of the first production model of the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, more details of the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas are available. To wit: * Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, a the NASCAR team that employs several drivers, including Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, purchased the car for $250,000; * The proceeds of the sale will benefit the YMCA of Southern Nevada; * Hendrick will take delivery of the 69th ZL1 coupe (to commemorate the 1969 Camaro ZL1, of which only 69 were ever produced) and the only one painted in Carbon Flash Metallic, in winter 2012; * The 2012 ZL1 has a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 with for 580 horsepower

Specialty cars

Dodge Viper blazes to record lap at famed Nurburgring

The Dodge Viper and the Nurburgring Nordschleife track in Germany share iconic but unrelated speed status in the automotive world. Now the famed racetrack and the fastest factory built street legal race car share more. The Dodge Viper SRT10, with its 600HP V10 engine, recently set the record lap time of 7 minutes, 12.13 seconds on the famed 12.9-mile track. ViperExchange sent two new Viper ACR cars from Tomball Dodge in Tomball, Texas to Germany where one was piloted by GT class driver Dominik Farnbacher to the record. The Viper ACR held the record on the track previously with a time of 7:22.1, a record that stood through most of 2011. The Viper ACR holds records at 19 different racetracks

Specialty cars

Ferrari unveils 458 Spider price: 257K in U.S, 309K in Europe

The Ferrari 458 Spider, which replaces the 430 Spider and features an aluminum retractable hardtop, will be priced at $257,000 in the United States and will be available to the public in January 2012, according to the Italian manufacturer. In Europe, where sales of the car begin in October, the Ferrari 458 Spider will cost 226,800 euros or about $309,000 with current exchange rates. Ferrari customers in Europe also usually spend the equivalent of 15-20 percent on top of the car’s list price to purchase personalization items from the company’s Carrozzeria Scaglietti program. These items include carbon fiber seats ($7,800) and a rearview camera ($3,600). The aluminum top replaces the canvas top offered on its predecessor. Webasto AG supplies the

Sports Cars

Unique Carbon Camaro ZL1, 2012 sells for $250,000

The first and only 2012 Camaro ZL1 with a carbon exterior has been purchased in Las Vegas for $250,000 by Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. The transaction occurred at the Barrett-Jackson auction Sept. 23 when the iconic Camaro was offered by Fairway Chevrolet-Buick-GMC. One hundred percent of the auction proceeds benefitting the YMCA of Southern Nevada. Hendrick expected to take delivery of his new Camaro in the first quarter of 2012. It will be the 69th ZL1 produced at the Oshawa Assembly Plant, in tribute of the legendary 1969 Camaro ZL1, of which only 69 were produced. "Like the original, the 2012 Camaro ZL1 introduces a performance benchmark for the street and the track," said Russ Clark, marketing director

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