While this car is still only a concept, both companies are seeking more funding to put it into production.  I sure hope they find it, because this car is gorgeous!

Source: NewLaunches.com

Η Bugatti παρουσίασε επισήμως την ανοιχτή εκδοχή της Veyron, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport στην έκθεση Concours d’Elegance που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Καλιφόρνια. Η ανοιχτή Veyron θα εφοδιάζεται με μια ελαφριά διάφανη αποσπόμενη οροφή αλλά και με μία υφασμάτινη "έκτακτης ανάγκης" που θα αποθηκεύεται στο πορτ-μπαγκαζ. Κατά τα άλλα διατηρεί τον 16κύλινδρο κινητήρα της κλειστής έκδοσης με την εξωπραγματική απόδοση των 1001 ίππων και την τελική των 406km/h (349 km/h χωρίς οροφή και 130 km/h με την υφασμάτινη).

[photos via carscoop]

Source: AutoBlog.com

They couldn't be more wrong.

At a time when many say that the USA is going into recession, the classic car market has not been recorded at a stronger point in the last 12 months, especially with the most recent auction results.

Sure, there may be certain distress sales, but when your talking about pure classics and muscle, you better bring a good bank account with you to the table, as the bidding is going through the roof. Alternatively, if you have been sitting and converting your hard earned cash into Euros - you bet well and can buy more.

SCM and its analysts have a great few things to say about what is and what isn't hitting the mark in terms of estimates for certain Hemi packed cars or Cobra stinging AC's  going up on the auction block. Have a look at what they have to say here in an article entitled "Recession Proof Muscle Cars"

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/articles/archives/1429

If you need more convincing, how about a $ 1 Million Ford while youy here? Think I'm joking? Think again. Have a look here:

http://money.cnn.com/video/#/video/fortune/2008/03/13/fortune.callaway.ford.fortune

But to top it all off, a ginger haired ex- Radio DJ from UK has gone and done what no man has done before. That is to buy a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder for over $ 11 Million (previously owned by a certain J Coburn). The Internet still burns with stories covering the event itself. No doubt, the man loves his cars, but paid perhaps a tad too much we think.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/19/1961-ferrari-california-spyder-sells-for-record-10-894-900/

http://uk.reuters.com/article/motoringNews/idUKNOA03787520080520

http://www.luxurylaunches.com/auctions/ferrari_fetches_11_million_at_an_auction.php

There have been numerous records set and many broken this year, in fact so many, I didn't want to list them just yet.

 We do still have 5 months left in 2008 and I will post the most exciting ones for last.

Till then,

Enjoy.

Or is the classic car market really bubbling over into the new age market ?

A Challenger for every budget

Dodge recently launched a new microsite to help hype the 2009 Challenger.

photo courtesy Dodge

Rumors about the Dodge Challenger have been flying around since the concept first made its debut, at the New York International Auto Show, Chrysler unveiled its full 2009 Dodge Challenger model lineup which will include the SRT8 with a 425hp, 6.1-liter Hemi, the R/T with a 375hp, 5.7-liter Hemi and the SE with a 250hp, 3.5-liter V-6.

“Our all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger is a modern-day muscle machine representing the best from the past and present,” said Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge and SRT Global Marketing. “Thirty-five years following the debut of the original, we are bringing Dodge Challenger back and loading it with essential hardware, styling and technology desired by today’s buyer.” Numbers have yet to be revealed, but officials are saying that prices will start in the low $20,000s for the SE.

For complete information about the entire 2009 Challenger lineup, check out the elaborate microsite Dodge has set up.

Lamborghini LP640: 6.5 liter, Naturally Aspirated V-12 producing 633 bhp. Curb weight is 3,671 lbs.

Nissan GT-R: 3.8 liter twin-turbo V-6 producing 480 bhp. Curb weight is 3,814 lbs.

Doesn't sound like a fair fight, does it?

The buzz on the net is that this is, in fact, a Veyron Killer. I respectfully disagree...while the 9ff is a fast car, the Veyron cannot be bested. It is the divine example a Supercar you can actually use in everyday life: the ride is comfortable, the interior is lavish and elegant, and the way the Veyron operates is unlike any other. You can take the Veyron to the track, to it's top speed on the autobahn, or to the grocery store to pick up supper and it'll do all of those tasks equally well. The Porsche has a bare bones interior, an unfinished exterior, a wooded floor, and no safety features other than a roll cage and a 5-point harness... hell, it doesn't even have a crumple zone for an impact. Air bag, you don't need no stinking airbag. Sure, it's 1 MPH faster at top speed, but does that really matter when you're butt hurts because the ride quality is terrible and the road noise is deafening? It wouldn't matter to me.

Source: TimesOnline.co.uk

My fave is the black LP640 with the pink interior. It had a matt black paint finish with gloss black rims. An absolute stunner.

- Power increased to an advertised 520 bhp (at 6500 rpm) and 440 lb.-ft. of torque peaking from 3200–5200 rpm, but as we know, when a Spec V gets put on the dyno, it'll probably turn out to be much more than that.

- Extensive use of carbon fiber will drop about 200 lbs, putting the curb weight at 3,615 lbs.

- It's only going to have two seats, not four.

- Subtle exterior changes like different wheels and tweaked aero bits.

- Official acceleration stats haven't been released, but it'll get to 60mph faster that 3.5 seconds and should run a quarter mile around 11.0 seconds flat.

- Nurburgring times will be sub-7:29 seconds. Early estimates put it at the 7:25 mark.

- Purchase price approaching $130,000: Nearly twice what a standard GT-R costs.

Source: RoadandTrack.com

Audi is boasting that the V10-powered R8 will beat out Chevy's current record-holding production car run on the 'Ring of 7:26.4. This is a bold claim on Audi's part considering that the V8-powered R8 ran the 'Ring in 8:04. Hopefully Audi can pull this off as it'll put even more pressure on other auto manufacturers to develop faster cars with more advanced chassis's and more highly tuned engines.  To help wet your appetite, here's a short video of the R8 doing test laps round the 'Ring.

Source: MotorAuthority.com

Here's another look with a bigger view of what the camera's captured....

Pictures courtesy of http://englishrussia.com/