Home / Posts tagged 'Luxury'

• Review: 2013 BMW 640i Coupe w/ M Sport Package

  In Road Tests / By Ari Cox / 28 April 2013

  

  The original 6 Series was introduced in 1979 as BMW’s ‘executive’ coupe and was iterated until 1989 when production ceased after an arguably solid run. There was then a long hiatus until 2003 when the 6 Series re-emerged like a lazy ex-prizefighter with a bloated physique, as if during its dormant state it had been eating Bratwurst and Mettbrötchen while binge drinking Oettinger beer.

  Now, in its 3rd generation, the new F12 model looks like GSP at a UFC weigh-in: athletic, chiseled, lean and ready to battle the competition. It’s hard not to be drawn to the 6 Series’ sleek, sculpted flanks, sharp grill and sweeping roofline. The 2013 BMW 640i sits low and wide with excellent proportions, really an aesthetic marvel.

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• Cadillac Goes Racing: From V-Series to Pirelli World Challenge & Back Again

  In Motorsports / By Ari Cox / 24 April 2013

  

  There was a time when Cadillac was synonymous with white wall tires, flashy old men and giant road-hogging boats of epic proportion. But over the last decade the brand has executed an enormous transition to high-tech and uber-luxury. In a stalled economy, while other manufacturers played it safe, Cadillac took risks, shook things up and launched an aggressive approach to grabbing market share. That effort is best exemplified by their V-Series line of high-performance vehicles.

  But just making a car with a massive engine (in this case a 556 hp supercharged V8) and a host of high-grade components (like Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, a limited-slip diff) doesn’t provide a lot of street cred unless you prove to be a solid contender on the racetrack as well. And so Cadillac went racing to showcase the capabilities of its luxury techno-beast and demonstrate that it was clearly more than the sum of its parts.

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• Review: 2013 Acura ILX Premium 6MT

  In Road Tests / By Ari Cox / 12 April 2013

  

  Acura has had a tough run during the past decade– from working through a styling identity crisis to peddling an arguably uninspiring lineup of vehicles to dealing with the financial fallout precipitated by the latter. But that hasn’t stopped the company from taking a long, hard look at their performance and making a concerted effort to re-establish the brand, which has come on especially strong the past two years. The most recent example of these efforts can be clearly seen in the all new 2013 Acura ILX Premium.

  We can’t help but call up memories of the Civic-derived Acura Integra when thinking about the ILX. In 2002, the exalted Integra was discontinued as Acura tried to switch the brand’s market perception from premium beer to elegant wine. And while models like the TSX attempted to fill the void, the sheer size and weight of that vehicle led to its instant disqualification as an enthusiast favorite.

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• Luxury Sports Cars: The Most Fun Money Can Buy

  In Sponsored / By Staff / 5 April 2013

  

  If your wallet is fat enough to make you sit tilted to one side of the chair and this is an ongoing problem, you have enough money to afford a luxury sports car and the auto insurance rate that goes with it. Ferraris, Porsche and Mercedes Benz make cars that stun the heart and thrill the senses. Let’s take a look at several of the very best.

  The Audi R8 costs $114,000, less than other super-luxury sports cars. Audi put all-wheel drive in the car along with a 525 horsepower, 5.2 liter engine and a comfortable interior. Audi installed adaptive suspension which adjusts to the road and the way you drive while the car is moving. It’s fast enough to be a delight to drive while being reliable enough to take to work every day.

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• Sub5Zero Exclusive: Aston Martin Planning a Preppy People Mover

  In Auto News / By Tom Anderson / 1 April 2013

  

  When Aston Martin revealed the Lagonda SUV concept in 2009, the sounds of people inside the auto industry and those who watch it from the outside alternating among gasping, invoking the name of their favorite deity and dry heaving (lots of dry heaving) could be heard from space. Aside from disproving what had to that point been taken as absolute scientific fact, it showed the outside world that the storied British nameplate was at least contemplating adding a 4×4 to its portfolio. It’s just a shame that it had to look like a dog’s breakfast. It wasn’t entirely a coincidence that it was the first nominee on our 25 atrocious concept cars list a couple years ago, you know.

  However, Aston Martin is still very much committed to adding a vehicle with oodles of room for people and stuff to its stable. After all, even the Rapide, extra doors and all, is rather intimate for humans at or above average stature. But thanks to a well-placed source inside the company who is feeding intel to us – and only us – we can report that Aston is removing its focus from the SUV and crossover segments (at least for now), and instead turning its attention to a different segment of people and cargo mover. Moreover, it’s doing so with help from a fellow automaker with which it already has a business relationship.

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• DMC Duro is a Bolder, Badder Bentley Continental GT

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 21 March 2013

  

  Back on Monday, we brought you news of a new tuning package from Anderson Germany for the new generation Bentley Continental GT. And while the cosmetic changes were fairly restrained and tasteful (other than some unfortunate Carquest-fabulous underbody lighting), the engine upgrades definitely weren’t. Bottom line: We’d be happy to leave the accent lighting turned off as we uncork those 671 horsepower on our favorite freeway onramp.

  But what about the people who speak loudly and carry a small stick? Or as it relates to this discussion, people who want a tuned Gen 2 Conti GT that places more emphasis on show than go? Well people in this position can now rejoice, for DMC is releasing its own parts and pieces for the new Bentley coupe.

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• Anderson Germany Bentley Continental GT Adds Fast and Flash

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 18 March 2013

  

  We don’t have very many bones to pick with the current, second generation Bentley Continental GT. Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, many of them are driven by people who can at best be referred to as flaming tools. But the Continental GT has so many things going for it – classy styling, a lavish interior, and brawny V8 and W12 engines – that those few demerits are easy to ignore.

  And if you want to make those strengths, er, stronger, the tuning experts at Anderson Germany have parts and pieces aimed at doing exactly that. And while it may not look dramatically different from the way it does when it rolls out of the factory in Crewe, the way it responds to a jab of the gas pedal most assuredly is different.

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• Sub5Zero Fantasy Collection: Marmon HCM V12

  In Featured / By Tom Anderson / 19 February 2013

  

  When locked in a life-and-death struggle, you don’t act like it’s business as usual, do you? Or “phone-it-in” when wrestling the force or entity trying to kill you? Of course not. The same has often been true of car companies fighting for survival in the marketplace. And during the Great Depression of the 1930s, nearly all of America’s automakers – particularly builders of luxury cars – found themselves treading water in a seemingly infinite ocean of economic malaise.

  One company that found itself aboard the S.S. Wall Street when it started taking on water was Marmon. Founded in Indianapolis by Howard Marmon in 1902, the company quickly garnered a reputation as a builder of fast, high quality cars. Marmon’s victory in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 – with Ray Harroun driving the Wasp, which was based on the production Model 32 – garnered the brand even more respect and notoriety. But some bad timing and grandiose product planning would end up bringing the firm to its knees.

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• HAMANN BMW 6-Series Gran Coupé M Aero Package

  In Tuning / By Ari Cox / 26 January 2013

  

  Back in December 2012, German tuner HAMANN presented their styling package for the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. Now they have extended that offering to include some individualization bits for the M version.

  HAMANN’s components are adapted to the original M aerodynamic front and rear valances and include a competition front spoiler for increased downforce and a rear bumper insert with spacing for the four exhaust tail pipes.

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• Hamann BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is a Rich Chocolate Fashion Statement

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 11 December 2012

  

  When Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLS in 2004, it opened the floodgates for other manufacturers to jump in and offer their “own four-door coupes.” Sister brands Volkswagen and Audi have gone after slices of the pie with the CC and A7 (plus the not-for-America A5 Sportback), respectively, and BMW has just recently thrown its hat into the ring with the 6 Series Gran Coupe. While we certainly question the need for a longer-wheelbase, more-door version of BMW’s big coupe, we don’t have any trouble noticing how freakin’ great it looks.

  Of course, as pretty as it is, it isn’t very flashy or mean looking. Even the yet-to-be-officially-revealed M6 Gran Coupe will likely look fairly tame if its two-door and convertible stablemates are any indication. However, it looks like there will be no shortage of cosmetic customization options will be available to spice up the stock Bigger 6er’s lines, including the package from Hamann seen here.

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