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The Pebble Beach Concours might be the most prominent event during the Monterey Car Week, but the hottest ticket in town is to the Quail Motorsports Gathering. Set on the picturesque lawn of the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, the event follows the mantra of “less is more” – fewer people and fewer cars, all in the name of exclusivity. The result is that you don’t have to rub elbows with fellow spectators to look at the cars, every one of which is spectacular.

As with many other events this week, Jaguar played a large part of the Quail. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E-Type, some incredible examples were on display, and even a few of the race cars from Laguna Seca took a trip down to Carmel Valley to make an appearance at the show.

Legendary American race car driver Phil Hill was also honored with 2011 marking the 50th anniversary of his Formula 1 championship. On display were a Ferrari TR/59 that he drove at Riverside in 1959, as well as the 1950 Jaguar XK120 that he piloted to victory in the very first Pebble Beach Road Race.

Additional highlights included a a class dedicated to the Ferrari Superamerica and a Bugatti Veyron gathering.

You can see all of these cars and more in the high-res gallery above.

2011 Quail Motorsports Gathering

A few years ag,o we spotted four Bugatti Veyrons outside the Pebble Beach Lodge. Since only 300 examples will ever be built, we thought that to be a pretty rare sight. Consider that trumped.

At the Quail Motorsports Gathering yesterday, no fewer than ten Bugatti Veyrons were parked on the grass. Four “regular” Veyron models, three Grand Sports, two Super Sports (including a World Record Edition) and the L’Or Blanc Edition were all present. Many of the cars were brought by U.S. owners, but customers from Europe – Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland – also made the trip.

The collection of Bugattis was certainly impressive, but don’t take our word for it. You can see it for yourselves in the high-res gallery above.

Bugatti Veyrons gather at the Quail

Leave it to the Germans to build one of the best-looking Ferraris at this year’s Concorso Italiano. When we first walked past this 599 in the Meguiar’s booth we initially mistook it for the race-only 599XX. And that’s the point. Deutsch aftermarket company Vörsteiner felt the Ferrari 599 GTO didn’t look aggressive enough and developed a body kit for the standard 599 GTB Fiorano to make the car look more like its track-going brother. The result is the Vörsteiner Ferrari 599-VX.

The makeover is achieved via an eight-piece body kit that includes a new front end, hood, side skirts, rear decklid, rear intake panel and rear bumper with integrated diffuser. All components are constructed in lightweight carbon fiber, and a closer look revealed that the fit and finish is top notch and worthy of the Italian marque. Everything is finished off with a beautiful matte white vinyl wrap from 3M.

You can take a closer look at the Vörsteiner Ferrari 599-VX in the high-res gallery above.

Vörsteiner Ferrari 599-VX stands out among the crowd of exotics

At yesterday’s Legends of the Autobahn event, BMW – easily the largest marque represented on the lawn – rolled out the 328 Hommage for its first appearance on North American soil.

Built to celebrate the original 328’s 75th birthday, the Hommage concept is both an advanced styling exercise and four-wheeled exploration of lightweight materials. Like its great, great grandfather, which was composed primarily of aluminum and magnesium, the Hommage is an incredibly svelte roadster, coming in at 1,720 pounds thanks to its carbon fiber body, passenger tub and wheels. Appropriately and predictably, power is provided by a 3.0-liter inline-six of undisclosed output, while a single set of gauges and a pair of contoured leather buckets make up the spartan interior.

When the concept debuted earlier this year, we weren’t particularly smitten with the Hommage’s styling, but in person (and alongside the 328s of yore), it’s a thing to behold. The crossed-out headlamps and leather hood ties smack of nostalgia-infused kitsch, but the silver carbon fiber wheels, exposed weave, double bump rump and – yes – even the elongated kidney grilles give it a presence that’s both menacing and sophisticated. Judge for yourself in the gallery of live pics above.

BMW 328 Hommage Concept touches down in Monterey

In addition to the JX Concept, Infiniti has rolled out another new model here in Monterey: the 2013 IPL G Convertible.

Like its coupe sibling, the IPL (for Infiniti Performance Line) is more about handling and appearance than outright power. The 3.7-liter VQ37HR V6 benefits from the same breathing mods, delivering 348 horsepower and 276 pound-feet of torque through either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox. The body has been festooned with the same angular front and rear fascias, along with 19-inch wheels and a reworked suspension with stiffer springs at all four corners.

The IPL G Convertible concept that debuted in Paris earlier this year (and pictured above at Infiniti’s tent in Pebble Beach) is almost exactly what will be available when sales begin in the spring of next year. Hit the jump for the full details.

Continue reading Infiniti announces IPL G Convertible in Monterey

Infiniti announces IPL G Convertible in Monterey

There are literally hundreds of Lamborghini models of all ages and description at Concorso Italiano, so how does one stand out? Surely not with a bright color, as that would just blend in with the crowd. No, you go for a color that no one else has. Like brown.

Now, some will say that such a “boring” color doesn’t belong on an exotic car like the the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SV. Others will say it’s more than acceptable. We think it’s awesome.

This car started out with a pearl white paint job, but the owner of the car, Cats Exotics, a dealer specializing in high-end sports cars, wanted it to match one of their other Lamborghinis, a Diablo 6.0 SE finished in brown. A matte brown wrap was created especially for the car, the wheels were changed to a gold finish, with a matching SV logo on the doors.

Check out our photos of the car in the gallery above and let us know what you think of it by leaving your comments.

The world’s only matte brown Lamborghini Murciélago LP700-4 SV

There are plenty of events going on in Monterey this week, from car shows to races to auctions, but you don’t even have to be at one of these to see amazing cars. Even if you just hang out near the events you’re bound to see rare exotics and coveted classics.

Take, for instance, the Quail Motorsports Gathering. You don’t even need to be inside the show to get your fill of sports cars. Simply walking through the parking lot is like going to an amazing car show, with exotics like the Porsche Carrera GT, Ford GT, Ferrari 599 GTO and Porsche 911 Speedster strewn across the grass.

Don’t believe us? Check out the high-res gallery above.

The parking lot of the Quail is a car show in itself

Delahaye USA has been at work developing and building the Bella Figura, a modern tribute to the Bugatti Type 57S, for more than three years. The company has finally (mostly) finished the prototype, and presented it to the public for the very first time at this year’s Quail Motorsports Gathering.

Built on a custom chassis developed by the Roadster Shop in Mundelein, IL, the Bella Figura is available as a complete car, a turnkey-minus (without engine and transmission) or as a rolling chassis. Delahaye USA also offers right or left hand drive versions, and either a composite or aluminum body.

Company founder Terry Cook tells us that they’re currently taking orders and should be able to deliver the first customer car by the end of the year. As for pricing, the Bella Figura starts reasonably but can be as expensive as you want to make it. A chassis and low-cost composite body runs under $50,000, but Delahaye USA says that a complete, alloy-bodied car will cost around $450,000. You can view more details and options over at www.DelahayeUSA.com.

Delahaye USA debuts Bugatti-inspired Bella Figura prototype

The Legends of the Autobahn has returned for its third year and the BMW-centric event has opened up its lawn to both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche for the first time here in Monterey.

The German-car-only concours, born out of 2007’s rather disastrous event at a local airport, has swollen to over 400 cars and doubled in attendance since 2008.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the E30 BMW M3 was the featured model and over 30 examples littered the grounds of the Rancho Cañada golf course outside Carmel, CA. But as good as the E30s were, the collection of pristine 328s, Isettas, 2002 Turbos and an immaculate 1982 Alpina B7S Turbo, one of only 10 remaining of the 30 produced, did the Roundel proud.

The Mercedes and Porsche contingent was out in force as well, with a handful of 300SL coupes and roadsters, 356s, dozens of 911s from every era, and our personal best-in-show, a 1954 Mercedes-Benz Renntransporter hauling a 1952 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing prototype.

Unfortunately, Legends was lacking in NSU love, although according to Frank Pateck, one of the lead organizers through the BMW CCA, while Audi hasn’t officially hopped on board with the show, local clubs could bring the four rings to the links next year.

We’ve assembled 80 pics from yesterday’s concours, complete with year, make and model information embedded with each image. Check it out in the gallery above.

2011 Legends of the Autobahn

Concorso Italiano is a celebration of all things Italian. That means plenty of amazing cars, delicious food and drink, and good music. It’s mostly about the cars, though. Ferrari and Lamborghini dominated the lawn, but spectators are also able to enjoy dozens of Maseratis, De Tomasos, Alfa Romeos and Fiats.

Previous years of Concorso Italiano saw several changes of venue, but 2011 marked the third year that the show was hosted at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch. That stability seems to have helped the event, and the organizers have started to figure out how to make things run smoothly. Parking was a breeze (for us, at least), and the organization of the cars was the best it’s been in several years.

The last two years of Concorso have featured gatherings of Ferrari supercars – 288 GTO in 2009 and F40 in 2010 – and this year an F50 reunion was announced. Unfortunately only three cars were in attendance, although one was the ultra-rare F50 GT.

Other features of this year’s Concorso Italiano included the 40th anniversary of the De Tomaso Pantera and a collection of original-condition and barn-find cars, our favorite being an aluminum-bodied 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB still in the same condition it was found after being stored since the early 1970s.

You can see those cars and more in our high-res gallery above.

2011 Concorso Italiano

To date, RM has auctioned off 199 vehicles priced over one million dollars. And here’s number 200.

Tonight in Monterey, RM Auctions put Steve McQueen’s 1970 Porsche 911S on the block and after a starting bid of $200,000 the Porsche’s price shot up to over one million before slowly coming to rest at $1.1m. Then $1.15, $1.2 and finally $1.25 million.

The 911, seen in the opening scenes of the racing epic, LeMans, was McQueen’s personal car throughout the filming and has racked up a total of 112,000 miles over the last 41 years. We don’t know who the final bidder was, but we do know she’s here in the States, despite several overseas bids.

Steve McQueen’s 1970 Porsche 911S goes for $1.25 million at RM

Since its inception, Rolls-Royce has made a living making its customers feel very, very special. Given the average net worth of its buyers and the custom-tailored nature of their vehicles, this sort of approach makes good business sense. That said, some customers are clearly more special than others. Michael Fux, a businessman and philanthropist who commissioned the unusual purple Phantom Drophead Coupe seen here, is clearly one of the latter.

Fux is one of Rolls’ very best customers, and he’s also known for being one of its most outlandish, perpetually giving Goodwood’s Bespoke department specialists a workout. Rolls has debuted one-off Fux cars during past Monterey weeks, and this year, they’ve teamed up again to reveal this striking purple and white Phantom. While the visuals that Fux pushed for certainly won’t be to everyone tastes (we’re more accustomed to seeing these sort of aesthetic choices among aftermarket firms like Mansory), there’s no denying the quality of the workmanship, from the matching purple roof to the customized engraved sill plates and relentlessly white leather interior. And Fux isn’t the only Rolls buyer whose tastes require an increasing degree of personalization – earlier this month, the automaker announced plans to double the size of its Bespoke operations to keep up with demand.

Fux’s custom Rolls-Royce commissions have never been known for their subtlety. In the past, he’s ordered a screaming yellow Phantom Convertible (shown in Pebble in 2008), as well as a candy red Drophead that featured Rolls’ first-ever black-and-red carbon fiber inserts. That car was such a test for the English automaker’s bespoke team that they not only named the paint for Fux (and guaranteed its exclusivity), they produced a 2010 video about it that you can watch after the jump.

Continue reading Rolls-Royce once again proves its Bespoke department knows no bounds

Rolls-Royce once again proves its Bespoke department knows no bounds

At first glance, this Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport appears to be one of those special chrome-clad customs giving off a series of strange, wavy reflections from a series of overhead lights. Upon closer inspection, however, that’s not the light playing tricks on you – it’s the two-tone finish, which looks like it’s been spread across the Veyron L’Or Blanc by a cake baker’s frosting knife.

This one-off “white gold” Grand Sport is the result of Bugatti working with Germany’s Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur, a centuries-old porcelain producer based in Berlin. In addition to the special two-tone paint, pieces of ceramic trim have been fitted to the car’s exterior, and the fragile, creamy white stuff is slathered inside of this €1.65 missile, too.

The Veyron L’Or Blanc was first shown in late June at KPM’s operations before being brought to America for display at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Monterey.

No word yet on whether this particular car has found a buyer, but given Bugatti’s penchant for creating a seemingly endless stream of “limited-edition” Veyrons, we’re confident they’ll find a way to build you one if you flash them enough cash.

Bugatti Veyron L’Or Blanc drips exclusivity

The Kia Soul, otherwise known as Korea’s answer to the Scion xB and Nissan Cube, has sold 65,118 units so far this year, close to twice as many as last year, and is now consistently racking up sales every month of over 10,000 units. The refreshed 2012 model will throw gasoline on the fire with updated engines, styling tweaks and new infotainment options, and Kia has confirmed it won’t be messing too much with one of the Soul’s best selling points: its low price.

A base 2012 Kia Soul will start at $13,900, not including a $750 destination charge, which is $600 more than a 2011 model. Kia can justify the price difference because it’s upgraded the Soul’s anemic 1.6-liter base engine with the company’s GDI direct injection technology that not only makes it more powerful, but also helps it reach 35 miles per gallon on the highway, four mpg more than before. The five-speed manual transmission has also been ditched for a six-speed, and you can now order the base Soul with an automatic transmission for the first time: a six-speed unit that replaces the prior four-speed. The new base Soul with the six-speed automatic starts at $15,700.

Kia has discontinued the range-topping Soul Sport model for 2012, which leaves the Soul + (Plus) and ! (Exclamation) models above the base Soul. A Soul Plus with a more powerful 164-hp (+22 hp) 2.0-liter engine starts at $16,300 for a manual and $17,300 for an automatic, while the Soul Exclamation now starts at $19,600. Each Soul costs a little more than last year’s model, but they all still fall under the all-important $20K mark and come well equipped before options, including new ones like an ECO package, the brand’s UVO infotainment system and a rear-view camera.

Kia has also confirmed that the Soul will get “Idle, Stop and Go” (ISG) technology, essentially a start/stop system, later in the model year that will further improve its fuel efficiency numbers.

Continue reading 2012 Kia Soul priced under $14,000, start/stop coming later in year

2012 Kia Soul priced under $14,000, start/stop coming later in year

Designer Min Seong Kim envisions a rather interesting world where Hyundai, alongside its automobiles and heavy equipment, also builds motorcycles.

The structure of the bike is, in true conceptual fashion, made of a material that can tighten or relax, which the designer believes would aid in steering similar to the way our muscles aid in… well, pretty much everything we do. There’s a cage around the rider, apparently to aid in protection, but we wonder how easy that would be to see around. The six-cylinder powerplant sports bold HYUNDAI lettering across the valve covers, and probably comes with a great warranty as well.

We do have a problem with the rider, however, who is clearly rooting for a different motorcycle manufacturer. There’s nothing wrong with Suzuki bikes, but if you’re going to be shilling for a futuristic manufacturer, you should also be wearing their branded leathers. Regardless, the concept is interesting from all angles, and you can check it out for yourself in the gallery.

Designer imagines a motorcycle for Hyundai

Designer Min Seong Kim envisions a rather interesting world where Hyundai, alongside its automobiles and heavy equipment, also builds motorcycles.

The structure of the bike is, in true conceptual fashion, made of a material that can tighten or relax, which the designer believes would aid in steering similar to the way our muscles aid in… well, pretty much everything we do. There’s a cage around the rider, apparently to aid in protection, but we wonder how easy that would be to see around. The six-cylinder powerplant sports bold HYUNDAI lettering across the valve covers, and probably comes with a great warranty as well.

We do have a problem with the rider, however, who is clearly rooting for a different motorcycle manufacturer. There’s nothing wrong with Suzuki bikes, but if you’re going to be shilling for a futuristic manufacturer, you should also be wearing their branded leathers. Regardless, the concept is interesting from all angles, and you can check it out for yourself in the gallery.

Designer imagines a motorcycle designed by Hyundai

What kind of person would order an $8 million Maybach? The same sort who’d take another Maybach and hack it up with a saw and blowtorch. That’s right, a hip-hop mega star.

Long before Jay-Z and Kanye West shot the music video for “Otis”, Bryan “Birdman” Williams had placed his order for his very own Maybach Exelero. The price tag: a whopping $8 million. Pocket change for a guy worth over $100 million with a Veyron and a Landaulet in the garage. But now he seems to be running into some trouble.

Apparently, Birdman still owes money on his other seven-figure rides, and has yet to fork over the eight mil to the Exelero’s current owner Arnaud Massartic. Until he does, it remains the European entrepreneur’s property, though Birdman very well might find a way to work it into his next video just the same.

Birdman can’t pay for his new $8 million Maybach Exelero

Think you know everything there is to know about the redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza? If you read our deep dive on the model, you’re probably right. Except for one important tidbit: its price.

Subaru has announced that it is holding the line on the Impreza, with the 2012 starting at $17,495 (*plus $750 for destination). That’s the same price as the older 2011 model. Those wishing for a five-door hatch bodystyle in place of the standard four-door sedan will need to spend an extra $500.

Those base prices include a five-speed manual transmission, which can be replaced with a completely new CVT automatic for an additional thousand dollars. Buyers can opt to upgrade their rides with the 2.0i Premium package ($18,795), Sport Premium ($20,295) or Limited ($21,595), each with additional content over the package it replaces.

Naturally, all Impreza models feature the company’s excellent all-wheel-drive technology, and they’ll be in dealerships in November of 2011. For all the details, feel free to check out the complete press release after the break.

Continue reading Redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza retains $17,495* starting price

Redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza retains $17,495* starting price

Displacement, Replaced

For over a decade, only one premium automaker has offered a four-cylinder in the U.S. And while the recent rise of Audi in the States isn’t solely because of its 2.0T engine, it’s obvious that luxury buyers are finally coming around to the idea of a fuel-sipping four-pot. As a matter of fact, they’re starting to demand it. And BMW is heeding the call.

Next year, BMW will begin offering its turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine on the 3 Series and 5 Series, matching Audi car-for-car in the entry-level and mid-size segments. But before the sedans arrive on U.S. shores – nixing the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six in the process – BMW is slipping its TwinPower four-cylinder into an unlikely host: the 2012 Z4 sDrive28i.

Continue reading 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i

2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i

Every year on the Thursday before the Pebble Beach Concours, each of the entrants is given the opportunity to prove its roadworthiness on the scenic roads of 17 Mile Drive and Highway 1. A good selection of cars are usually up to taking on the challenge, although some are better equipped than others.

The Tour d’Elegance, as it’s known, also provides car enthusiasts the opportunity to get a look at the all of the amazing vintage metal without having to pay the $175 ticket that allows access to Pebble Beach’s 18th fairway on Sunday. Many would also argue that seeing the cars out on public roads is better than seeing them parked in rows on grass.

The big news for this year’s Pebble Beach Concours is the 50th anniversary gathering of the Ferrari 250 GTO, and several stunning examples participated in the tour. Fortunately we’ll see more of the cars throughout the next few days including on track at Laguna Seca and on the lawn at Pebble Beach on Sunday. You can see the 250 GTOs and more cars from this year’s Pebble Beach Tour in the high-res gallery above.

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance