August 26, 2008

Test Drive: Audi A5 and S5

Audi’s new A5 and S5 make it hard not stare. Sensational from any angle, these new coupes from Ingolstadt, Germany, possess a sort of urbanity and easy charisma that is positively magnetic.

We sampled both an A5 3.2 Quattro ($48,365, as tested) and an S5 ($56,215), similarly equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, Audi’s Multi-Media Interface and DVD-based navigation system, and a marvelous 505-watt Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. The standard A5 features a 3.2-liter direct-injection V-6 engine producing 265 horsepower. Decidedly more comfortable in the role of relaxed grand tourer than that of hard-charging autobahn stormer, the six-cylinder A5 still manages to find 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and press on to an electronically limited 130 mph. For those desiring more brawn with their beauty, the S5 packs Audi’s 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8, good for 354 horsepower. So equipped, the coupe will hit 60 mph in a scant 4.9 seconds and cruise to a governed top speed of 155 mph.

The A5 shares its platform and power train with the forthcoming 2009 A4, and that’s no bad thing. But vastly more than a sedan with two fewer doors, the coupe has an identity that is entirely its own. That sensuous, low-slung shape rides atop a surprisingly long wheelbase (fully 4.1 inches longer than the sedan), creating ample space for four adults and imparting impeccable stability at speed and a silken highway ride.

Both cars are generally unflappable during normal driving, thanks in no small part to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive and a sophisticated, aluminum-intensive suspension, but with less weight over the front wheels, the A5 3.2 is the more balanced of the two. The V-8-powered S5 (not unlike the current S4 and RS4) can feel a bit nose-heavy during more enthusiastic cornering, although it redeems itself with pony-car straight-line acceleration and a positively glorious exhaust note.

Admittedly, a considerable amount of the attention our A5 and S5 garnered can be traced to a cameo appearance in a certain summer blockbuster, but even without big-screen product placement, this car has genuine star quality. “I am convinced that the A5 is the most beautiful car I have ever designed,” gushed Audi design chief Walter de’Silva. We’re convinced he’s right. (www.audiusa.com)

—Matthew Phenix

August 12, 2008

Ferrari’s New California Baby

It is not every day that Ferrari pulls the wraps off an all-new model, particularly one that evokes one of the brand’s most hallowed names. Ahead of October’s Paris Motor Show, the artisans in Maranello, Italy, have revealed the sensational new Ferrari California grand tourer. Inspired by the 250 GT California Spyder from 1957 and intended to slot below the F430 as the Ferrari range’s value leader, the California nonetheless distinguishes itself with an appropriately seductive profile and stellar performance, along with a surprising degree of utility.

Motivation comes courtesy of a front/mid-mounted 4.3-liter V-8 with direct fuel injection producing 454 horsepower at a howling 7,500 rpm. The engine is matched to a brand-new dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. Similar to Porsche’s new PDK transmission, Ferrari’s twin-clutch seven-speed promises lightning-quick gear changes with no hiccup in the flow of torque during full-throttle acceleration. The company claims the California will bolt to 60 mph in less than four seconds. The aluminum-bodied model features a retractable hardtop that opens or closes in just 14 seconds and an unexpectedly capacious trunk (a set of custom-fitted Schedoni luggage is an option). Ferrari is calling the car’s cabin a “2+” concept, but two plus what remains to be seen. Company insiders suggest buyers will be able to specify either a parcel shelf behind the front seats or a pair of vestigial rear buckets with three-point seat belts.

Ferrari hasn’t yet revealed an on-sale date or pricing for the 2009 California, but expect the Golden State’s dazzling new namesake to slip in just below the $200,000 mark when it rolls into American showrooms next year. (www.ferraricalifornia.com.)

-Matthew Phenix

July 29, 2008

Mercedes Updates Its Iconic G-Class

July 15, 2008

Porsche Dials the 911 for 2009

You may have to look twice to discern the changes to the Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S Coupe and Cabriolet for the 2009 model year; the big news lies beneath the skin. There are new LED driving lights on a restyled front bumper and bright LED tail lamps at the rear, along with bold oval exhaust outlets for the Carrera and four round tips for the Carrera S that not so subtly trumpet improved power from the horizontally opposed six-cylinder engines. Now equipped with direct fuel injection for sharper response, enhanced efficiency, and lower exhaust emissions, the Carrera’s 3.6-liter six enjoys an additional 20 horses, for a total of 345, while the S-spec 3.8-liter engine jumps by 30 horsepower, to a stout 385.

More notable, however, the 2009 911 Carrera and Carrera S are the first models to offer Porsche’s lightning-quick double-clutch automated manual transmission. Dubbed the Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), the seven-speed gearbox supplants the long-serving six-speed Tiptronic S manu-matic. It employs a servo-operated dual clutch pack that can anticipate and preselect the next gear before the current gear is disengaged. When an up- or down-shift is ordered—by the computer in automatic mode or by the driver in manual mode, via switches on the steering wheel—the process is as simple as opening the first clutch and closing the second. This allows near-instantaneous gear changes, with no discernable interruption to the flow of torque during acceleration. In the Carrera S Coupe, the PDK gearbox helps enable a 4.3-second sprint to 60 mph—two-tenths of a second faster than a car equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

The 2009 911 Carrera and Carrera S models reach Porsche dealerships in America later this year, and are priced from $75,600 to $96,800. The PDK transmission is expected to add about $3,000. (www.porsche.com/usa)

—Matthew Phenix

July 1, 2008

Rolls-Royce Previews Its New Baby

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has released renderings of its forthcoming “entry-level” model, code named RR4. The sedan is expected to revive one of the company’s bygone Silver monikers when it debuts in 2010 (Silver Ghost and Silver Shadow are prime candidates), but unlike its plush predecessors (and the current Phantom), the RR4 will eschew isolated opulence for sporting manners and driver involvement. Small only by Rolls-Royce standards, the car will share chassis with the new-for-2009 BMW 7-series sedan, but will distinguish its English pedigree with suitably aristocratic interior appointments and a more classically upright profile, complete with rear-hinged coach doors in back.

What lurks beneath the RR4’s long hood remains a mystery. Rolls-Royce CEO Ian Robertson insists that the car’s engine will be unique to the British automaker, not merely a transplanted BMW unit. At launch, expect either a gasoline V-8 with twin turbochargers or a normally aspirated V-12, smaller than the Phantom’s 6.75-liter engine. There are strong indications that Rolls-Royce is contemplating a fuel-efficient clean-diesel engine for the RR4, with a derivation of the 4.4-liter BluePerformance V-8 from the European-market BMW 745d the likeliest contender.

On the subject of price, look for the RR4 to slot halfway between BMW’s 12-cylinder, $124,000 760Li and Rolls-Royce’s $340,000 Phantom—making it considerably more dear than its prime rival, the $170,000 Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Nonetheless, Robertson expects the RR4—which is to be assembled alongside the three Phantom variants at the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Goodwood, England—to more than double Rolls-Royce’s annual sales, which last year topped 1,000 cars for the first time in the make’s 102-year history. (www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com)

 —Matthew Phenix

June 17, 2008

On the Auction Block

May 27, 2008

Test Drive: 2008 Aston Martin DBS

The Aston Martin DBS made quite a theatrical debut: James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, flipped it seven-and-a-half times in Casino Royale. But this car was not built to act; the aggressive front fascia, growling V-12, and secret- agent sex appeal shifts from the silver screen to the real world as a 2008 model. Aston Martin delivered its new flagship to the Robb Report Malibu, California, office for an in-seat evaluation.

Driving through Malibu, the DBS received several admiring glances and befuddled stares, but it was likely due to its vibrant red coat and yellow British license plates. The DBS tries to distinguish itself from its lesser siblings with its carbon-fiber front spoiler, flared wheel wells, and vented hood, but the added styling cues are relatively tame and easily overlooked.

It is a different scene from behind the wheel, however, as several interior treatments provide the perfect balance of British-royal elegance and British-racing intensity. Molded of stainless steel and sapphire, the key actually becomes a part of the starter button and glows red when the car’s engine turns. The chrome shift lever is large and mechanical, but it is surprisingly easy to throw between all six gears. And most apparent is the suede-swathed upholstery and headliner, which receives a royal treatment in deep merlot.

But how does it drive? There lies the $265,000 question. This car reaches 60 mph in just over 4 seconds and can carry on to a top speed of 191 mph. Even at triple-digit speeds, the DBS retains a sense of refinement that makes it both a supercar and everyday driver. Sadly, the car does not handle as well as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, but its low profile and stiff suspension—after depressing the center console switch—do keep the car grounded and confident through every turn. In fact, Casino Royale actually destroyed three DBS prototypes in an attempt to roll this well-balanced car before using an explosive piston get it off of the ground.

Although the 2008 Aston Martin DBS does not come with a portable defibrillator in the glove box, it does come with enough style and speed to make your heart skip a beat. (www.astonmartin.com)

―Paul Meyers

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