Land Rover

Even though there are many (some, like us, might argue far too many) Americans who are obsessed with celebrities and every infinitesimal thing they do, we doubt there are many folks who wonder “What do celebrities do with their cars when they’re done with them?” The answer, of course, is that they usually sell them, be it to a dealer, friend, relative, agent, publicist or some other member or their inner circle. Sometimes, though, star cars and trucks escape to the real world, and sometimes they show up on eBay. But we can’t remember the last time a star was selling a vehicle on the perennially popular auction website himself or herself. Leave it to one Pamela Anderson (no relation) to be the exception to the rule.

The world’s favorite chesty Canuck is looking to unload her 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged. This white-on-cream SUV is mostly stock, with a supercharged 4.2L V8 (borrowed from corporate sibling Jaguar) under the bonnet and belting out 400hp to a 6-speed automatic transmission and super sophisticated four-wheel-drive system. It won’t win any stoplight grands prix with the likes of a Cayenne Turbo S or Grand Cherokee SRT8, but it’s more than capable of getting out of its own way. Plus it will get over damn near any terrain short of molten lava.

A new year is very nearly upon us (and in some parts of the world, it already is), and while it’s a good time to look forward to what 2012 will bring, it’s also a good time to take stock of 2011’s happenings. Modified and tuned vehicles are, if you haven’t noticed, near and dear to our heart, and the last 364 days have seen some downright dandies debut. But if we listed all the tuner cars, trucks and SUVs that scratched our itch, you’d be reading until at least half your friends and family broke their resolutions. Ergo, we’ve decided to cap this list of 2011’s top tuned rides at 10, meaning that only the cream of the last 52 weeks’ crop made the cut. Here they are...

Even though it’s arrival is being greeted with howls of protest from Land Rover purists (who are easy to spot since they never leave home without their Leatherman multitools, pith helmets and a jar of genuine Lucas Replacement Wiring Harness Smoke), the Range Rover Evoque appears to have hit the ground running. The turbocharged soft-roader has already bagged Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year Award, and tuning companies seem to be lining up for a crack at crafting their own spins on the stylish new cute ute.

We’ve already seen what Arden has cooked up for the Evoque, and we rather liked it. Now up-and-coming British tuning house Merdad Collection offers its take on Land Rover's new baby. While the name of this package leaves something to be desired (Mer-Nazz? Really?), we do like what we’re seeing in these renderings.