Technorati: Lexus, Lexus+IS220d, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles
Friday, June 1, 2007
5th Gear Tests The Lexus IS220d And Compares It To BMW’s 320d
Breaking News: Porsche Asks European Commision’s Permission To Take Over VW!
The never-ending Porsche-Volkswagen story has got a new twist in it as according to a report from Reuters, Porsche asked the European Commission for permission to take over Volkswagen. The E.U. has a time frame of one month (until July 2) to consider whether the deal should win competition approval or requires further investigation.
Porsche has unsuccessfully tried several times this year to take over VW. Just two days ago (May 29), VW’s second-largest investor, the German state of Lower Saxony bought 376,000 shares worth €41 million euros ($55 million) to protect its holding as employees exercise options. Why? Because VW is protected from a hostile takeover by a 47-year-old German law that allows anyone with a 20 percent holding the right to block major decisions. As we’re speaking, Porsche's total stake in VW accounts to 30.92 percent of the voting rights. We’ll get back to this developing story later on the day. Via: Reuters
Technorati: Porsche, VW, Stocks, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles
Lamborghini LM400 Concept: Proposition For LM 002 Successor
Penned by Rene Harrigan, a BA of Automotive Design at Harrigan’s proposition for a spiritual successor to the LM 002 cuts all military connections though, as the LM 400 is nothing more, nothing less than a modern SUV projected to spend most, or rather, all of its time on and not off, road. Its designer says that it would be based on the Audi Q7 / Porsche Cayenne ? VW Touareg platform using V8, V10 and V12 units. What do you think about it? (Images: Rene Harrigan) Continued: Click “Read More…” for the image gallery
Via: carbodydesign
Rolls-Royce Phantom Silver: Limited Edition For Silver Ghost’s 100th Anniversary
In commemoration of the Silver Ghost’s 100 th anniversary, Rolls-Royce has produced a limited edition of its snobby limo dubbed, Phantom Silver. As if the Phantom isn’t limited enough itself, only 25 Phantom Silver units will leave Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory. Apart from the bespoke Ghost Silver paintwork, the limited edition’s standard features include 21-inch alloys, Roseleaf or Crème light leather interior trim, a solid silver and enamel Conway Stewart pen along with a solid silver key fob and Spirit of Ecstasy, Phantom Silver tread plates, white instruments and some other elements that we’re too bored to mention at the moment. Theoretically speaking, the Phantom Silver will cost you an additional $45.500 / €32.400 / £22.000 over the standard Phantom price (£219,975 / US$333,350 / €328,000). Still interested or curious? Follow the jump for the image gallery along with the press release.
Technorati: Rolls-Royce+Phantom, Silver+Ghost, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles
PRESS RELEASE: PHANTOM SILVER MARKS 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SILVER GHOST
Rolls-Royce has produced a limited edition, named Phantom Silver, to mark the 100 th anniversary of the Silver Ghost. The special model, of which only 25 will be made, pays homage to one of the most famous automotive names of all time.
First built in 1906, specifically to publicise the then new Rolls-Royce 40/50 h.p. six-cylinder model, the Silver Ghost established the Rolls-Royce reputation for reliability and engineering excellence. The name was coined in 1907 by Rolls-Royce Managing Director, Claude Johnson, by virtue of its silver coachwork and its ‘extraordinary stealthiness’. The original Silver Ghost, registered AX-201, competed in the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial, for which it won the gold medal in its class for hill climbing speed and reliability. The Silver Ghost went on in that year to break the world record for a non-stop motor run, covering a
More than 6,000 “Silver Ghosts” were built between 1907 and 1925, and sold in every corner of the world. The majority are still in good running order.
In tribute to the specifications of the original, the Phantom Silver is finished in a new Bespoke paint, Metallic Ghost Silver. The 21-inch wheels have chrome centres and on top of the grille sits a hallmarked solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy. Inside, Rose Leaf or Crème Light leather is accompanied by seat piping and headrests embroidered with the Rolls-Royce interlinked RR badge. Straight grained Santos Palissander wood veneer is used throughout. The same veneer is also used on a specially designed presentation box that houses the key, two solid silver key fobs and a specially commissioned solid silver Conway Stewart fountain pen.
Rolls-Royce Chairman and Chief Executive, Ian Robertson, said, “The Silver Ghost is such a significant model in the history of Rolls-Royce that we felt marking its 100 th anniversary was entirely fitting. Its extraordinary reliability, refinement, comfort and virtually silent running were as important to Rolls-Royce in 1907 as they are today.”
Phantom Silver specification
- Bespoke Ghost Silver paintwork
- 21-inch alloy wheels chrome centre caps
- Roseleaf or Crème Light leather interior trim
- Santos Palissander veneered wood
- Coolbox
- Solid silver and enamel Conway Stewart pen
- Solid silver key fob
- Solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy
- Bespoke drinks holder
- Bespoke champagne flutes and tumblers detailed with silver
- White instrument dials
- Bespoke clock matched to instrument dials
- Phantom Silver tread plates
Lamborghini: Commemorative stamp issued by the Italian Post Office
Being an amateur collector myself –not a stamp, but a die-cast car collector, I fully understand how many chaps must feel seeing this particular postage stamp issued by the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane) that's dedicated to the Lamborghini Miura. The €0,85 stamp that features a reproduction of the distinctive Sant’ Agata Bolognese mark, can be purchased along with a limited number of ‘first day covers’ from Italian post offices. The first day cover includes a booklet introducing the stamp and the legendary Lamborghini story, signed by the company’s CEO, Stephan Winkelmann. The Lamborghini stamp belongs to the ‘Made In Italy’ series with an anticipated production of around 3,500,000 stamps. Lexus Sues Porn Web Site For Illegal Name Use!
Seem like Lexus Cash and her girlfriends Tasty Martina, Voluptuous Valerie and ginger haired Heidi finally ticked off Lexus’ parent Toyota Motor Company who filed a federal suit in Mama Toyota had warned those “bad people” back in December, 2006 by sending a "cease and desist" letter to the owners of LexusCash, Mario Mendoza, 26, and Katie Lynn Krzywdzinski, 24, charging intellectual-property rights infringement. According to the suit, the porno site "uses the mark Lexus in an unwholesome and unsavory context" and "is likely to tarnish and blur the distinctive qualities" of Lexus.
Clearly for reporting reasons –one has to see both sides of a story (…), we took a tour of the porno site to investigate whether Lexus Cash and her voluptuous pals could potentially tarnish the luxury Japanese carmaker’s name. In all honesty, we couldn’t quite figure out how mama
Peugeot 308 CC Rendering
With the all-new Peugeot 308 compact hatch programmed to be unveiled in a few days from now -we mean official presentation as we’ve already showed you a set of leaked pictures, artists are concentrating their photoshop’s attention on the upcoming hardtop convertible version. This particular CGI looks like its pretty close to what we’ll see in 2008 when Peugeot takes the wraps off its second-generation mid-size 2+2 CC that’ll succeed the 307 CC. As with the 207 CC, we suspect that the French carmaker will unveil a near-to-production concept at the 2007 Geneva Show (March) of the 308 CC before its official debut at next year’s Paris Show in September. Via: Autoblog.itTechnorati: Peugeot, Peugeot+308+CC, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles