Luxury Lifestyle, Design & Architecture blog

Your wallet will definitely go lighter if you are a dedicated collector and if you happend to stop by Shelby’s to have a dekko at the new CSX 9000 Daytona Cobra Coupe MKII. But we are told that this roadster at $89K is far cheaper than the other six original Daytona Coupes which are expected to bring in $7million at an auction to be held at the end of this month. Please understand that this modernized version of the legendary Coupe can never be the actual car it tries to imitate but it undeniably has it own identity of a cool, sporty car. The car also gets the CSX 9000 series chassis number and place in the esteemed Shelby World Registry. The performance is good too. It includes improved cooling, modified air intakes behind the rear windows and an improved suspension to give you an extra smooth ride. The touch of the modern is evident with the larger interior, exterior door handles and power windows. So far, Shelby has thought of manufacturing only two of thes...

What better way for Ferrari to celebrate it's 16th Formula One Constructors Championship win, but to launch the open top version of the F430 Scuderia this week. The much-awaited hot wheels, the Scuderia Spider 16M has the same features as the lightweight Scuderia coupe like the 510 hp 4.3L V8 and the 6-speed F1 paddle shift gearbox. According to Ferrar i, Scuderia Spider is apparently the fastest open top model to be ever tested by them around the Fiorano test track. And the best part is that Scuderia is 176 lbs lighter than a standard F430 spider at 2954 lbs dry. That is believed to be very good to support a sprint of 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds with a terminal velocity of 195.7 mph. Ferrari is presenting this wonder car as a limited series model, as only 499 SCuderia Spders will be built. You can look forward to enjoying a carbon fiber shell around the roll bar, number plaque on the sah and the ultra cool interior trim packages. The car is priced at a h...

The stress, while designing this car, must have been on being different. No doubt it is different than anything you might have seen before but that doesn’t make it better necessarily. It is a customized 1990 Chrysler LeBaron and is currently up for sale on eBay . The design seems to be more of a cut and paste job than an original design. It seems to be a random mix of bits and pieces from numerous eras and styles. But unfortunately what emerges in the end is neither attractive nor impressive. Our point of view is strictly from a design perspective but it could have an appeal for those who like to be different just for the sake of being different. The seller of the automobile has positioned it on eBay as a head-turning   advertising vehicle, parade car, custom collectible, or just a conversation piece for the auto shows. And they are right to the extent that it is capable of attracting attention because of its ungainly and unusual looks. The bright red paint scheme, ...

Abu Dhabi Motor, a UAE based motor company, had made the grand announcement a few years back about creating the largest BMW showroom in the Middle East. As expected, the project has taken its time as it required elaborate planning and significant investment. The wait is over now as the grand showroom has finally opened its doors. It has been dubbed as the world’s largest showroom for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and BMW motorcycles. It is a stunning showroom spread over 35,000 square meters and has cost the company all of AED 300 million which is close to $81.68 million. It is the most comprehensive showroom the car maker has anywhere in the world. The customers looking for BMW cars and motorcycles will have access to the brand’s complete line-up, including all the color and package options. With the space available in the showroom, at least 70 automobiles and 10 motorcycles will be on display at any given time. There will be a division in the showroom to sell pr...

An Aston Martin will always be an Aston Martin. Before you think we have gone ga ga in the head (like a certain madam who sometimes sings when she isn’t flaming controversies), let us tell you that a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible is making news. The beautiful car is one of the nine ever produced and eats rare status earned it a remarkable price tag of £551,500. The sale took place at the Bonhams annual Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobile auction at Goodwood Festival of Speed. As automobile enthusiasts would already know, the Vantage engine is extremely powerful. So you know that the car comes with a strong make. It has seen three owners with two comprehensive restorations. In fact, we even got to see it at the prestigious, invitation-only Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este last year. The Aston wasn’t the only thing that went under the hammer. There was a 1937 Bentley (featured in the Bond film “Never Say Never Again”) that was sold for £221,500. A rare Liste...

Rolls Royce 200 EX: Contemporary, Signifying Class It’s the next Rolls Royce version, that could make your heart skip a beat. Compact. Contemporary. Yet as classy as its classic versions and the other models that rolled out in recent years. It is bound to make you dream of it just like its earlier models did. Brand Rolls Royce has always spelt excellence. This one will be no less, while adapting new features and look.  Rolls Royce 200 EX: Contemporary, Signifying Class Christened Rolls Royce 200 EX, it looks more casual than its previous models and widens its range of use as well. It is a smaller version of Phantom which is scheduled to hit sale counters in 2010, and the fourth version to roll out ever since BMW took over the firm in 2004.  Rolls Royce 200 EX: Contemporary, Signifying Class Rolls Royce 200 EX: Contemporary, Signifying Class Its prototype will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. In the words of Director of Engineering Helmut Reidl, Rolls Royce 200...