New & Noteworthy

May 13, 2008 New Luxury at Lincoln With its leather upholstery and elegant interior accoutrements, the Lincoln Town Car has remained one of the best-selling American luxury sedans since its introduction in 1981. Sadly, due in large part to its blasé exterior styling, most sales went to chauffeur-driven limousine companies, and Lincoln’s consumer image suffered in the luxury market. But that is the past: The 2009 Lincoln MKS combines traditional design cues with future technology, and it’s intended to reestablish the Ford luxury brand as a legitimate competitor against European and Japanese automakers. The chrome grille evokes the front fascia of the 1941 Lincoln Continental, while large C-pillars convey a throwback to the third-generation Continental of the 1960s. Fob-activated keyless entry and a push-button starter allow the driver to enter the car and start it without ever taking the key out of pocket. Front-mounted sensors enable the adaptive cruise control to adjust to the flow of traffic by braking and accelerating without driver intervention. Lincoln has also taken the interior technology to next level by incorporating the second-generation of Sync—Ford’s vastly popular voice-activation system—and a 14-speaker THS surround system. Real-time traffic reports are displayed on an eight-inch navigation screen that can be activated through touch-screen or voice-command functions. Lincoln hasn’t forgotten its role in the chauffeur marketplace either: Heated rear seats come standard, and the rear bench is lifted to emulate theater-style seating for better forward visibility. The Lincoln MKS will arrive in showrooms late this summer with a 3.7-liter V6 producing 270 horsepower and a base price of $38,000. An optional twin-turbocharged, direct-injection Eco-Boost power-plant system will offer better fuel mileage and up to 340 hp for the 2010 model. Says Lincoln spokesman, Octavio Navarro, “This is the future of Lincoln, and all of our new cars will begin to adopt this DNA.” ―Paul Meyers
April 22, 2008 From the Showroom to the Street Luxautica Ultimate Car Club recently opened its doors at the former Millenia Art Gallery adjacent to the Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Florida. The building, which once housed rare German paintings and Italian glass sculptures, underwent a $2 million renovation to make room for more than 20 German and Italian sculptures of a different kind. The impressive in-house display features two Ferrari Enzos, two Maserati MC12s, a Bugatti Veyron, Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, and Spyker C8 Laviolette ―just to name a few. “The difference between us and others like us is the caliber of car,” says Payam Matin, general manager. “Our [Porsche] Carrera GT is the only one that wears Scuderia red paint, and one of our Enzos only has 900 miles.” The incredible automotive collection and a wide selection of membership packages allow patrons to tailor a specific plan to fulfill individual preferences. The standard memberships start at Silver for $38,500 and 1,200 points and end at Platinum for $99,500 and 3,750 points. Your membership level determines your point tally, and each car carries a different value. For instance, a Bentley GTC or Lamborghini Gallardo is yours for the weekend at 30 points per day, while the Bugatti Veyron, Maserati MC12, and Ferrari Enzo are valued at 1,000 points per day. An Ultimate membership is available nationwide with priority access to all of the cars and free delivery anywhere in America. With the luxury of swapping automobiles every three months, these members can select up to four supercars on an annual basis or two vehicles on a six-month basis. Costs for this membership are negotiated based on the variety of cars requested, and all memberships require a $15,000 initiation fee. “By servicing and maintaining all of the cars, we take the hassles and headaches out of owning a supercar,” says Matin. (877.666.6878, www.luxautica.com) ―Paul Meyers Photo by Ric Fogel/Sportfolio
April 8, 2008 New York’s Finest A decade before he started his own limousine service in 2003, Johan Nijman committed himself to being the best taxi driver in the city. He walked the city streets of Manhattan in his off hours to memorize the most efficient routes to and from various destinations in the city. It is this sort of attention to detail and commitment to excellence that sets Johan’s Limousine Service Inc. apart. Sporting a fleet of premier Mercedes vehicles, Johan’s goes beyond standard limousine service by also providing a concierge component. Whether a client needs hotel reservations, a gourmet sandwich in between meetings, a spare tie waiting at arrival, tickets to a Yankees game, or even last-minute dinner reservations at one of the city’s most sought-after venues, Nijman’s team tries to satisfy any request. He’s ushered customers through appalling lines at JFK, and he’s even managed to help clients bypass the check-in process at luxury hotels by greeting them at the airport with their room keys in hand. While traditional limousine services simply provide a means of transportation, Johan’s defines luxury travel. (877.879.5642) ―Daniel Curtis
March 25, 2008 The Ultimate Driving School Because any machine capable of reaching 253 miles per hour should come with lessons, Bugatti Automobiles is now offering an appropriately nonpareil driving academy for buyers of its $1.6 million Veyron 16.4 supercar. Participants are treated to a daylong romp on the gorgeous Anneau du Rhin (Rhine Ring) racing circuit in Colmar, France, not far from the German border. Former Formula 1 driver–turned–Bugatti product specialist Pierre-Henri Raphanel guides the one-on-one session, during which the driver has the opportunity to practice a range of high-performance exercises (behind the wheel of a Bugatti-supplied car, of course), including full-throttle acceleration, emergency braking, and slalom maneuvers—on both dry tarmac and, using the facility’s artificial-rain system, wet. The day concludes with a high-speed blast around the 1.8-mile main track and a relaxed “debriefing” dinner with Raphanel. Bugatti will gladly arrange hotel accommodations in or around nearby Strasbourg as well as set up a factory tour in Molsheim. (www.bugatti.com) —Matthew Phenix
March 11, 2008 Rinspeed Dives Underwater with the sQuba Thirty years ago, James Bond drove under water through the magic of animation in The Spy Who Loved Me. Rinspeed has turned Hollywood fiction into reality with the power of innovation, imagination, and ecological awareness. The sQuba, which debuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show this month, is a versatile concept car that can travel up to 33 feet under water. Since the sQuba is an amphibian vehicle, it features an electric motor with powerful torque to drive the rear wheels as well as two propellers ensuring momentum in the water. Aside from being an imaginative invention, the sQuba also boasts zero emissions and zero pollution preserving the air above and below water. (www.rinspeed.com) ―Alyson Gerber
February 26, 2008 Rolls-Royce Delivers Limited Edition Tungsten The latest work of art from the famed Rolls-Royce Bespoke Department is the limited-edition Phantom Tungsten, which delivers many of the exotic design touches previewed by the company’s 101EX convertible concept that was unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. In addition to its 21-inch seven-spoke forged aluminum wheels and exposed chrome tailpipes, the Phantom Tungsten wears a brushed-aluminum hood and an appropriately spectacular paint job created with a special Xirallic pigment made with actual metallic particles—aluminum oxide platelets coated in titanium dioxide—for a crystalline glimmer that appears nearly three dimensional. Inside, straight-grained East Indian rosewood complements smoke-gray leather with navy blue accents—Goodwood’s artisans use as many as 18 hides to craft the interior of each car. The sensational feature on the $397,250 car, however, is its “starlight” headliner, in which some 800 fiber-optic lights simulate a swath of night sky over the rear seats. (www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com) —Matthew Phenix
February 12, 2008 Ferrari Makes Ceramic Brakes a Standard After scoring a double victory in this year’s Formula 1 championship, taking home both the driver’s and constructor’s trophies, Ferrari has decided to celebrate by making carbon ceramic disc brakes standard on all of its 2008 models. Until now a popular option across the Italian automaker’s road-going range (though hardly an inexpensive one, adding a cool $18,550 to the price of the 599 GTB Fiorano, for example), the Brembo system debuted in 2003 on the $660,000 Enzo supercar. The black discs are made by exposing carbon-fiber-reinforced resin to extreme pressure and heat for days at a time, until the desired density and hardness are achieved. In addition to lasting some four times longer than conventional cast-iron discs and cutting unsprung weight by 33 pounds, ceramic discs offer unparalleled stopping power, fade resistance, and wet-weather performance—certainly useful traits in a car capable of flirting with 200 miles per hour. (www.ferrariusa.com) ―Matthew Phenix
January 29, 2008 Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR Beget Even More Exotic Editions As if Sweden’s rakish and handcrafted Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR supercars weren’t rare enough, each has now spawned a limited-edition model. Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Koenigsegg Edition CCX and flex-fuel-capable CCXR boast a range of track-themed upgrades, including unique forged alloy wheels, stiffer suspension settings, and an unpainted carbon fiber composite body structure, as well as an adjustable rear wing, a larger front splitter, and side strakes for increased down force at speed. And what speed it is. Both cars employ Koenigsegg’s astonishing 5.0-liter twin-supercharged V-8, delivering 888 horsepower in the CCX (up 82 from the standard car) and 1018 horsepower in the CCXR, which is equipped to run on E85 bioethanol fuel. The company claims that both models can reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds—the CCX runs out of steam at only 249 mph, but the CCXR will press on to an incredible 259 mph. A mere 14 editions of the Koenigsegg Edition CCX and 6 of the CCXR will emerge from the factory in Ängelholm, Sweden, priced at 1,330,000 euros and 1,500,000 euros, respectively (about $1,970,000 and $2,220,000). Koenigsegg automobiles are available in the United States exclusively through Exotic Cars at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. (702.735.7700, www.koenigsegg.se, www.ecacp.com) —Matthew Phenix
January 15, 2008 Porsche Readies Limited Edition Boxster Porsche is celebrating a pivotal moment in its storied racing history with the release of a limited-edition Boxster, inspired by a one-two finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in 1960 — a victory that laid flat some giants of the motorsports world, including Ferrari and Maserati. The 2008 Boxster RS60 Spyder takes its name from the Type 718 RS60 Spyder driven by the race winners German Hans Herrmann and Belgian Olivier Gendebien. The Boxster features unique 19-inch Porsche SportDesign wheels and a GT silver paint job contrasting brick-red leather cockpit trim and a matching convertible top or dark gray leather with a black top. A new instrument cluster evokes the racer’s dashboard, and modifications to the exhaust system liberate an additional eight horses from the Boxster S’s 3.4-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, bumping output from 295 to 303 horsepower. The Boxster RS60 Spyder will debut at the New York Auto Show in March and lands in Porsche showrooms this spring, priced at $64,900. Fittingly, production is limited to 1,960 cars worldwide, a scant 800 of which will make the trip to America. (800.767.7243, www.porsche.com/usa) — Matthew Phenix
January 2, 2008 Putnam Leasing Delivers the Lamborghini Reventón With a limited run of 20 vehicles and jet-inspired bodywork that makes the Lamborghini LP640 look docile, the Lamborghini Reventón is one of the most coveted supercars in the world. But the ubiquitous flux of international currency rates coupled with the car’s 1 million euro price tag place this exclusive exotic beyond the reach of most auto aficionados and private collectors. Enter Putnam Leasing. The Connecticut-based firm is currently offering an 84-month payment program for the 650-hp Reventón, which requires a $300,000 down payment and $14,869 per month. “Without doubt, the Reventón is the top car to lease in 2008,” says Steven Posner, CEO of Putnam Leasing. “We are currently the only company to offer a six- or seven-year lease of this nature, but the core of our company is dealer business.” Putnam Leasing services more than 750 dealers throughout the U.S. and will customize a lease on any exotic or collector car, regardless of brand. So whether you’re looking to lease a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing or an Aston Martin DBS ($55,000 down payment, $3,050 per month, 84 months), Putnam offers an affordable alternative. (866.905.3273, www.putnamleasing.com) —Paul Meyers
December 11, 2007 The Maybach Landaulet Delivers the Sky and More Perhaps the only way to enhance the traveling experience in the back of a Maybach 62 S is to provide an unobstructed view of the stars above. This is what Daimler’s superluxury brand has achieved through the Maybach Landaulet Study: a concept car for cloud dreamers. Reviving the tradition of the landaulet, a popular convertible style in the 1920s and 1930s, the retractable rear roof gives the passenger access to the sky overhead, while the driver’s compartment remains closed. The rear of automobile retains all of the comforts of the Maybach 62 S, including the large single reclining seats and the state-of-the-art entertainment and communications system. The interior styling of this concept car, though, is more unique. A piano-black lacquered trim stands in striking contrast to the Seychelles white leather appointed with gold. The car is powered by an authoritative V12 engine developed by Maybach engineers alongside Mercedes AMG specialists for both the Maybach 57 S and Maybach 62 S. In January, the landaulet will make its auto-show debut in Detroit. While Maybach has no formal plans to offer this car in the States, the landaulet is available as a build-to-order in European markets for 900,000 euros. (www.maybach-manufaktur.com) —Daniel Curtis
December 4, 2007 Barrett-Jackson Has a Blast at Annual Auction The Blastolene B-702 custom roadster, hailed a “rolling sculpture” with its hand-formed aluminum body, glass grille bars, handblown glass taillights, and custom chassis that is entirely nickel-plated or powder-coated, will be a featured automobile at Barrett-Jackson’s 37^th annual Collector Car auction held January 12-20 in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Our cars turn adults into four-year-olds,” says Randy Gruff, a partner with Michael Leeds in Blastolene Brothers, who are known throughout the automotive world for their innovative, large-scale custom-built cars. This is the first public offering of a newly created Blastolene car. The duo’s first project, the Blastolene Special, a 22-foot-long model weighing nearly 9,000 pounds, was sold to comedian Jay Leno. The second project, the Indy Special, was sold to a private investor before the public had a glance at its length and detail. “The world has never had a crack at one of these,” says Gruff about the B-702, which is powered by a mammoth 702cid V12 engine originally produced by GMC from 1960 to 1965 for a 2.5-ton medium-duty truck. The roadster, at 19.5 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4,800 pounds, produces 650 feet of torque at 850 rpm on regular gasoline. (www.blastolene.com) —Alexandra Foster
November 20, 2007 Driven Green Henrik Fisker, the man who designed the acclaimed BMW Z8, the Aston Martin DB9, and the V8 Vantage, has gone green. His newly established company, Fisker Automotive, will debut a four-door plug-in hybrid sports sedan at the January 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Fisker’s environmentally-conscious automobiles, which reach speeds similar to that of the BMW 5-Series cars on pure electric charge, employ Quantum Hybrid, cutting-edge hybrid technology developed by Quantum Technologies for Fisker Automotive. Starting at $80,000, the as yet unnamed luxury car will be available in late 2009. (714.888.4255, www.fiskerautomotive.com) —Alexandra Foster
November 1, 2007 Fast, Furious—and Environmentally Conscious Sportier, more powerful, and with better handling than its predecessors, the 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS is proof that a sport vehicle can be green. The GTS, which starts at $69,300, incorporates the latest technology with direct fuel injection, meeting strict emissions standards and reducing fuel consumption by increasing the speed at which the engine heats. This Cayenne will be road ready in March. (www.porsche.com/usa) —Alexandra Foster
November 1, 2007 Feeling the Need for Speed? Maserati combines premier sport performance and luxury with the 2008 Quattroporte GTS. A new 4.2 liter V8 engine and a revamped braking system results in a quieter and more powerful sport vehicle, and enthusiasts will be impressed with the details. The stitching of the leather gives the Q-porte a bespoke touch, while drivers will feel right at home with the sport power button that instantly accesses increased speeds. The Quattroporte Sport GTS starts at $128,165, with delivery available for early January 2008. (www.maserati.com) — Alexandra Foster

May 13, 2008

New Luxury at Lincoln

With its leather upholstery and elegant interior accoutrements, the Lincoln Town Car has remained one of the best-selling American luxury sedans since its introduction in 1981. Sadly, due in large part to its blasé exterior styling, most sales went to chauffeur-driven limousine companies, and Lincoln’s consumer image suffered in the luxury market.

But that is the past: The 2009 Lincoln MKS combines traditional design cues with future technology, and it’s intended to reestablish the Ford luxury brand as a legitimate competitor against European and Japanese automakers. The chrome grille evokes the front fascia of the 1941 Lincoln Continental, while large C-pillars convey a throwback to the third-generation Continental of the 1960s. Fob-activated keyless entry and a push-button starter allow the driver to enter the car and start it without ever taking the key out of pocket. Front-mounted sensors enable the adaptive cruise control to adjust to the flow of traffic by braking and accelerating without driver intervention. Lincoln has also taken the interior technology to next level by incorporating the second-generation of Sync—Ford’s vastly popular voice-activation system—and a 14-speaker THS surround system. Real-time traffic reports are displayed on an eight-inch navigation screen that can be activated through touch-screen or voice-command functions. Lincoln hasn’t forgotten its role in the chauffeur marketplace either: Heated rear seats come standard, and the rear bench is lifted to emulate theater-style seating for better forward visibility. The Lincoln MKS will arrive in showrooms late this summer with a 3.7-liter V6 producing 270 horsepower and a base price of $38,000. An optional twin-turbocharged, direct-injection Eco-Boost power-plant system will offer better fuel mileage and up to 340 hp for the 2010 model. Says Lincoln spokesman, Octavio Navarro, “This is the future of Lincoln, and all of our new cars will begin to adopt this DNA.”

―Paul Meyers

April 22, 2008

From the Showroom to the Street

Luxautica Ultimate Car Club recently opened its doors at the former Millenia Art Gallery adjacent to the Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Florida. The building, which once housed rare German paintings and Italian glass sculptures, underwent a $2 million renovation to make room for more than 20 German and Italian sculptures of a different kind. The impressive in-house display features two Ferrari Enzos, two Maserati MC12s, a Bugatti Veyron, Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, and Spyker C8 Laviolette ―just to name a few. “The difference between us and others like us is the caliber of car,” says Payam Matin, general manager. “Our [Porsche] Carrera GT is the only one that wears Scuderia red paint, and one of our Enzos only has 900 miles.”

The incredible automotive collection and a wide selection of membership packages allow patrons to tailor a specific plan to fulfill individual preferences. The standard memberships start at Silver for $38,500 and 1,200 points and end at Platinum for $99,500 and 3,750 points. Your membership level determines your point tally, and each car carries a different value. For instance, a Bentley GTC or Lamborghini Gallardo is yours for the weekend at 30 points per day, while the Bugatti Veyron, Maserati MC12, and Ferrari Enzo are valued at 1,000 points per day. An Ultimate membership is available nationwide with priority access to all of the cars and free delivery anywhere in America. With the luxury of swapping automobiles every three months, these members can select up to four supercars on an annual basis or two vehicles on a six-month basis. Costs for this membership are negotiated based on the variety of cars requested, and all memberships require a $15,000 initiation fee. “By servicing and maintaining all of the cars, we take the hassles and headaches out of owning a supercar,” says Matin. (877.666.6878, www.luxautica.com)

―Paul Meyers

Photo by Ric Fogel/Sportfolio

April 8, 2008

New York’s Finest

A decade before he started his own limousine service in 2003, Johan Nijman committed himself to being the best taxi driver in the city. He walked the city streets of Manhattan in his off hours to memorize the most efficient routes to and from various destinations in the city. It is this sort of attention to detail and commitment to excellence that sets Johan’s Limousine Service Inc. apart. Sporting a fleet of premier Mercedes vehicles, Johan’s goes beyond standard limousine service by also providing a concierge component. Whether a client needs hotel reservations, a gourmet sandwich in between meetings, a spare tie waiting at arrival, tickets to a Yankees game, or even last-minute dinner reservations at one of the city’s most sought-after venues, Nijman’s team tries to satisfy any request. He’s ushered customers through appalling lines at JFK, and he’s even managed to help clients bypass the check-in process at luxury hotels by greeting them at the airport with their room keys in hand. While traditional limousine services simply provide a means of transportation, Johan’s defines luxury travel. (877.879.5642)

―Daniel Curtis

March 25, 2008

The Ultimate Driving School

Because any machine capable of reaching 253 miles per hour should come with lessons, Bugatti Automobiles is now offering an appropriately nonpareil driving academy for buyers of its $1.6 million Veyron 16.4 supercar. Participants are treated to a daylong romp on the gorgeous Anneau du Rhin (Rhine Ring) racing circuit in Colmar, France, not far from the German border. Former Formula 1 driver–turned–Bugatti product specialist Pierre-Henri Raphanel guides the one-on-one session, during which the driver has the opportunity to practice a range of high-performance exercises (behind the wheel of a Bugatti-supplied car, of course), including full-throttle acceleration, emergency braking, and slalom maneuvers—on both dry tarmac and, using the facility’s artificial-rain system, wet. The day concludes with a high-speed blast around the 1.8-mile main track and a relaxed “debriefing” dinner with Raphanel. Bugatti will gladly arrange hotel accommodations in or around nearby Strasbourg as well as set up a factory tour in Molsheim. (www.bugatti.com)

—Matthew Phenix

March 11, 2008

Rinspeed Dives Underwater with the sQuba

Thirty years ago, James Bond drove under water through the magic of animation in The Spy Who Loved Me. Rinspeed has turned Hollywood fiction into reality with the power of innovation, imagination, and ecological awareness. The sQuba, which debuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show this month, is a versatile concept car that can travel up to 33 feet under water. Since the sQuba is an amphibian vehicle, it features an electric motor with powerful torque to drive the rear wheels as well as two propellers ensuring momentum in the water. Aside from being an imaginative invention, the sQuba also boasts zero emissions and zero pollution preserving the air above and below water. (www.rinspeed.com)

―Alyson Gerber

February 26, 2008

Rolls-Royce Delivers Limited Edition Tungsten

The latest work of art from the famed Rolls-Royce Bespoke Department is the limited-edition Phantom Tungsten, which delivers many of the exotic design touches previewed by the company’s 101EX convertible concept that was unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. In addition to its 21-inch seven-spoke forged aluminum wheels and exposed chrome tailpipes, the Phantom Tungsten wears a brushed-aluminum hood and an appropriately spectacular paint job created with a special Xirallic pigment made with actual metallic particles—aluminum oxide platelets coated in titanium dioxide—for a crystalline glimmer that appears nearly three dimensional. Inside, straight-grained East Indian rosewood complements smoke-gray leather with navy blue accents—Goodwood’s artisans use as many as 18 hides to craft the interior of each car. The sensational feature on the $397,250 car, however, is its “starlight” headliner, in which some 800 fiber-optic lights simulate a swath of night sky over the rear seats. (www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com)

—Matthew Phenix

February 12, 2008

Ferrari Makes Ceramic Brakes a Standard

After scoring a double victory in this year’s Formula 1 championship, taking home both the driver’s and constructor’s trophies, Ferrari has decided to celebrate by making carbon ceramic disc brakes standard on all of its 2008 models. Until now a popular option across the Italian automaker’s road-going range (though hardly an inexpensive one, adding a cool $18,550 to the price of the 599 GTB Fiorano, for example), the Brembo system debuted in 2003 on the $660,000 Enzo supercar. The black discs are made by exposing carbon-fiber-reinforced resin to extreme pressure and heat for days at a time, until the desired density and hardness are achieved. In addition to lasting some four times longer than conventional cast-iron discs and cutting unsprung weight by 33 pounds, ceramic discs offer unparalleled stopping power, fade resistance, and wet-weather performance—certainly useful traits in a car capable of flirting with 200 miles per hour. (www.ferrariusa.com)

―Matthew Phenix

January 29, 2008

Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR Beget Even More Exotic Editions

As if Sweden’s rakish and handcrafted Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR supercars weren’t rare enough, each has now spawned a limited-edition model. Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Koenigsegg Edition CCX and flex-fuel-capable CCXR boast a range of track-themed upgrades, including unique forged alloy wheels, stiffer suspension settings, and an unpainted carbon fiber composite body structure, as well as an adjustable rear wing, a larger front splitter, and side strakes for increased down force at speed. And what speed it is. Both cars employ Koenigsegg’s astonishing 5.0-liter twin-supercharged V-8, delivering 888 horsepower in the CCX (up 82 from the standard car) and 1018 horsepower in the CCXR, which is equipped to run on E85 bioethanol fuel. The company claims that both models can reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds—the CCX runs out of steam at only 249 mph, but the CCXR will press on to an incredible 259 mph. A mere 14 editions of the Koenigsegg Edition CCX and 6 of the CCXR will emerge from the factory in Ängelholm, Sweden, priced at 1,330,000 euros and 1,500,000 euros, respectively (about $1,970,000 and $2,220,000). Koenigsegg automobiles are available in the United States exclusively through Exotic Cars at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. (702.735.7700, www.koenigsegg.se, www.ecacp.com)

—Matthew Phenix

January 15, 2008

Porsche Readies Limited Edition Boxster

Porsche is celebrating a pivotal moment in its storied racing history with the release of a limited-edition Boxster, inspired by a one-two finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in 1960 — a victory that laid flat some giants of the motorsports world, including Ferrari and Maserati. The 2008 Boxster RS60 Spyder takes its name from the Type 718 RS60 Spyder driven by the race winners German Hans Herrmann and Belgian Olivier Gendebien. The Boxster features unique 19-inch Porsche SportDesign wheels and a GT silver paint job contrasting brick-red leather cockpit trim and a matching convertible top or dark gray leather with a black top. A new instrument cluster evokes the racer’s dashboard, and modifications to the exhaust system liberate an additional eight horses from the Boxster S’s 3.4-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, bumping output from 295 to 303 horsepower. The Boxster RS60 Spyder will debut at the New York Auto Show in March and lands in Porsche showrooms this spring, priced at $64,900. Fittingly, production is limited to 1,960 cars worldwide, a scant 800 of which will make the trip to America. (800.767.7243, www.porsche.com/usa)
— Matthew Phenix

January 2, 2008

Putnam Leasing Delivers the Lamborghini Reventón

With a limited run of 20 vehicles and jet-inspired bodywork that makes the Lamborghini LP640 look docile, the Lamborghini Reventón is one of the most coveted supercars in the world. But the ubiquitous flux of international currency rates coupled with the car’s 1 million euro price tag place this exclusive exotic beyond the reach of most auto aficionados and private collectors. Enter Putnam Leasing. The Connecticut-based firm is currently offering an 84-month payment program for the 650-hp Reventón, which requires a $300,000 down payment and $14,869 per month. “Without doubt, the Reventón is the top car to lease in 2008,” says Steven Posner, CEO of Putnam Leasing. “We are currently the only company to offer a six- or seven-year lease of this nature, but the core of our company is dealer business.” Putnam Leasing services more than 750 dealers throughout the U.S. and will customize a lease on any exotic or collector car, regardless of brand. So whether you’re looking to lease a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing or an Aston Martin DBS ($55,000 down payment, $3,050 per month, 84 months), Putnam offers an affordable alternative. (866.905.3273, www.putnamleasing.com)

—Paul Meyers

December 11, 2007

The Maybach Landaulet Delivers the Sky and More

Perhaps the only way to enhance the traveling experience in the back of a Maybach 62 S is to provide an unobstructed view of the stars above. This is what Daimler’s superluxury brand has achieved through the Maybach Landaulet Study: a concept car for cloud dreamers. Reviving the tradition of the landaulet, a popular convertible style in the 1920s and 1930s, the retractable rear roof gives the passenger access to the sky overhead, while the driver’s compartment remains closed. The rear of automobile retains all of the comforts of the Maybach 62 S, including the large single reclining seats and the state-of-the-art entertainment and communications system. The interior styling of this concept car, though, is more unique. A piano-black lacquered trim stands in striking contrast to the Seychelles white leather appointed with gold. The car is powered by an authoritative V12 engine developed by Maybach engineers alongside Mercedes AMG specialists for both the Maybach 57 S and Maybach 62 S. In January, the landaulet will make its auto-show debut in Detroit. While Maybach has no formal plans to offer this car in the States, the landaulet is available as a build-to-order in European markets for 900,000 euros. (www.maybach-manufaktur.com)

—Daniel Curtis

December 4, 2007

Barrett-Jackson Has a Blast at Annual Auction

The Blastolene B-702 custom roadster, hailed a “rolling sculpture” with its hand-formed aluminum body, glass grille bars, handblown glass taillights, and custom chassis that is entirely nickel-plated or powder-coated, will be a featured automobile at Barrett-Jackson’s 37^th annual Collector Car auction held January 12-20 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Our cars turn adults into four-year-olds,” says Randy Gruff, a partner with Michael Leeds in Blastolene Brothers, who are known throughout the automotive world for their innovative, large-scale custom-built cars. This is the first public offering of a newly created Blastolene car. The duo’s first project, the Blastolene Special, a 22-foot-long model weighing nearly 9,000 pounds, was sold to comedian Jay Leno. The second project, the Indy Special, was sold to a private investor before the public had a glance at its length and detail. “The world has never had a crack at one of these,” says Gruff about the B-702, which is powered by a mammoth 702cid V12 engine originally produced by GMC from 1960 to 1965 for a 2.5-ton medium-duty truck. The roadster, at 19.5 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4,800 pounds, produces 650 feet of torque at 850 rpm on regular gasoline. (www.blastolene.com)

—Alexandra Foster

November 20, 2007

Driven Green

Henrik Fisker, the man who designed the acclaimed BMW Z8, the Aston Martin DB9, and the V8 Vantage, has gone green. His newly established company, Fisker Automotive, will debut a four-door plug-in hybrid sports sedan at the January 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Fisker’s environmentally-conscious automobiles, which reach speeds similar to that of the BMW 5-Series cars on pure electric charge, employ Quantum Hybrid, cutting-edge hybrid technology developed by Quantum Technologies for Fisker Automotive. Starting at $80,000, the as yet unnamed luxury car will be available in late 2009. (714.888.4255, www.fiskerautomotive.com)

—Alexandra Foster

November 1, 2007

Fast, Furious—and Environmentally Conscious

Sportier, more powerful, and with better handling than its predecessors, the 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS is proof that a sport vehicle can be green. The GTS, which starts at $69,300, incorporates the latest technology with direct fuel injection, meeting strict emissions standards and reducing fuel consumption by increasing the speed at which the engine heats. This Cayenne will be road ready in March. (www.porsche.com/usa)

—Alexandra Foster

November 1, 2007

Feeling the Need for Speed?

Maserati combines premier sport performance and luxury with the 2008 Quattroporte GTS. A new 4.2 liter V8 engine and a revamped braking system results in a quieter and more powerful sport vehicle, and enthusiasts will be impressed with the details. The stitching of the leather gives the Q-porte a bespoke touch, while drivers will feel right at home with the sport power button that instantly accesses increased speeds. The Quattroporte Sport GTS starts at $128,165, with delivery available for early January 2008. (www.maserati.com)

— Alexandra Foster