The Rarest of All Supercars

This American / Italian hybrid is the rarest of all

The Vector M12 was the Nineties supercar that sadly never had a chance. Just 14 were made before the company went under. Why was the M12 so awesome? It shared theLamborghini Diablo’s V12 along with many other essential components, and thanks to that completely insane fiberglass body, it looked like nothing else on the road and years ahead of its time. It was pretty much an American supercar with an Italian engine. It even has scissor doors.

If you’ve never seen the gorgeous bespoke exotic in action, here’s your chance to see not one, but two Vector M12’s strut their stuff on the open road. Believe us, even capturing these supercars on video is a rare thing.

 

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The Rarest of All Supercars

I Think It"s Sexy

Post by Prestige And Sports Auto.

I Think It"s Sexy

AUDI AG: Global Sales Up

Audi’s figures are looking good

In February, AUDI AG delivered around 117,500 cars to customers around the world, 6.8 percent more than one year ago. Since the beginning of the year, the company’s unit sales have thus increased by 9.3 percent year-on-year to around 242,400 deliveries. Audi sales figures once again climbed in all regions around the world last month. Around one third of the volume growth was achieved in Europe. With significant increases in Germany, the UK and Italy, there was a 5.3 percent increase for the region. In China, Audi completed the sales month – shortened considerably by the New Year holiday – with a 6.9 percent increase over the February 2013 level.

“Audi continued the positive start of the year in February despite noticeable non-recurring effects in important overseas markets,” says Luca de Meo, Member of the Board of Management for Sales at AUDI AG. “In Europe, several markets are gaining stability at what remains a low level. In this region we are already scoring with the new A3 Sedan*, which will also be launched in China and the United States, its two most important sales markets, in the upcoming weeks.”

AUDI AG: Global Sales Up

The Rolls Royce Wraith, in England Colours

This article is just for those with a stiff upper lip.  (Actually, I don’t really know what a stiff upper lip is…except that it’s associated with proper English Gentlemen).

The Rolls-Royce Wraith represents everything associated with the brand but with a twist and hint of sportiness. The Wraith is powered by a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12, the same that can be found under the bonnet of the Ghost. The engine in the Wraith has been given a healthy boost up to 632 hp, making this the most powerful road car Rolls-Royce has ever made. We found the power to more than adequate for the size of the car when we tested it.

Here we have a Wraith that has been finished in a very attractive configuration. The majority of the car has been specced in Ensign Red, a deep shade that is almost blood red. The bonnet roof and boot lid of the British car has been painted in a contrasting English white. This is one of the best combinations we have seen and the interior follow the same theme with Hotspur Red leather and Seashell highlights.

Despite the mammoth power and endless torque the Wraith has not sacrificed a drop of class or drama. The car looks fantastic and commands attention and presence like no other, party due to the car sheer size and mass. This example has been finished in a very regal deep purple that look fantastic on the raked roofline and sleek body, a very suiting colour on the 2.5 tonne beast.

 

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The Rolls Royce Wraith, in England Colours

The New Batmobile

Who hasn’t fantasised about driving The Batmobile?

From 50s television to 21st century gaming, we’re pretty sure no generation of kids (and kids at heart) can be defined without referencing Batman and his famous crime-fighting vehicle. Without a doubt, the best one yet has been the Tumbler, one part tank and another part stealth fighter on wheels.


As the franchise seems to be steering away from Christopher Nolan’s vision of a realistic crimefighter back into the Disney style (with Ben Affleck as a leading man), our attention turns towards the world of video games where something amazing appears to be happening.

A new game called Batman: Arkham Knight has just been announced by developers Rocksteady. As car lovers, what we need to know is that this will basically be your first chance ever to drive a Batmobile, a really cool one at that. We might even go as far as to say it’s much cooler than the Tumbler. Even people who don’t engage with console games or superheros are going to love it for sure!

This new game’s focus IS the Batmobile, with wider streets added to a huge Gotham City map. It’s going to be like Grand Theft Auto only more sinister and with hand-to-hand combat. For an epic trailer and plenty of shots of the new Batmobile, look no further than the section below. Arkham Knight is due for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One on October 14.

Editor’s note: “May content inappropriate for children”? Yeah right, Batman is the role model of a generation!

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The New Batmobile

More Popular Away From Home

Tesla’s popularity continues to grow

This week Tesla Motor reported it would open 30 new stores and service centers in Europe while it expands its Supercharger network to make way for increased Model S sales in global markets.

The American electric automaker, which Americans are still learning about, said on Tuesday it expects this year to sell double the number of cars to Europe and Asia as it will in the U.S., having begun sales in some countries already.

This spring right-side drive Model S versions will be made available in the UK, and Tesla has already reported some successes in Germany, Switzerland, and elsewhere.

In January, Tesla reported Superchargers now connect Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich as well as from Germany to Amsterdam, Zurich, and Innsbruck.

“By the end of March 2014, 50 percent of the German population will live within 320 km of a Supercharger,” said Tesla in Januar. “and 100 percent of the population will be covered by the end of the year.”

Last year Tesla sold 22,477 units globally, and most were to the U.S.

Plans for China are also in the works, as this too promises a growing market.

Tesla has said it will not gouge on the price, saying this is a practice other automakers participate in, but it would refrain.

Instead, the China Model S sedans would be priced the same as in the U.S. but with import duties and taxes added, as well as shipping costs.

Tesla’s stock price is hovering in the $253 range today.

The post Expanding Overseas, Tesla To Open 30 New EU Locations This Year appeared first on HybridCars.com.

More Popular Away From Home

The Best Stands at The Best Show

The Cars are works of Art. And the Displays themselves are might impressive

When you come to Car and Driver for our auto show coverage, you see each and every new car relevant to U.S. enthusiasts sparkling under the dazzling lights of the automaker’s stand. What you don’t see, though, are the stands themselves. And as we found ourselves ogling Euro-market minicars on bright, colorful stands not seen at our international shows in L.A., Detroit, or New York, we felt it our duty to share with you what we think are the best—or at the very least, most interesting—auto show stands of the 2014 Geneva motor show.

Hyundai

So, Hyundai’s stand may not have the sex appeal of many other manufacturers in Geneva, but what it lacks in supercar sizzle, it makes up for in . . . well, white, amorphous, three-dimensional flying blobs of light. The blobs do serve a practical use, at least in our eyes, as their reflections on the windshields and hoods underneath give us an idea of what Hyundai’s wares might look like should an albatross unload on them.

Citroën

Have we mentioned that we love French manufacturers? Who else tells visitors to feel good and then names their new offering after a plant covered in sharp, painful needles. Besides, we captured this gentleman with a scarf posing for us without even asking—bonus points are awarded for such a feat throughout Europe.

Bentley

Not only are Bentley’s cars luxurious, its stand is, too. In speaking with the brand’s CEO, Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, he told us that his mobile showroom/bar/boardroom is comprised of the materials most associated with the luxury-car maker. Throughout the lounge and boardrooms, tables are crafted from fine wood and furniture upholstered in leather, much like you’d find in the interior of today’s Mulsanne; while a polished-metallic diamond-quilted pattern—representing the brand’s alloy finishes, if not sheer power—overlays enormous semi-opaque screens that are backlit by constantly changing colors.

Renault

A wall of LEDs is continuously altering hues at the backstop of the Renault stand. Row after row of glowing orbs—also lit by what we presume to be LEDs—follow suit in a complementary fashion, and do so while hypnotically rising and falling from the sky in a ballet of color. To witness this while awash in a sea of French compacts is dream-like for those of us with U.S. passports.

Volvo

No manufacturer has a more direct link between the styling of its cars and the styling of its show stand than Volvo. Not only is the stand composed of rich wood, clean lines, and a clearly Scandinavian influence—we must’ve missed this furniture set during our last expedition to Ikea—but it features the brand’s previous two knock-out concepts: the Concept Coupe and the Concept XC Coupe, both of which themselves are fresh, modern takes on the most classic of the Swedish manufacturer’s styling heritage. Keep doing what you’re doing, Thomas Ingenlath.

The Best Stands at The Best Show