RM Auctions sells 1952 Jaguar C-Type for record $2,530,000

After selling off the Nick Alexander Woodie collection on Thursday, RM continued with their Sports & Classics of Monterey auction this past weekend. The sale was highlighted by a 1952 Jaguar C-Type that was originally owned and raced by the late Phil Hill. The legendary driver's son, Derek Hill, drove the car up on stage where bidding immediately passed $1,000,000 on its way to a $2,530,000 final selling price.

Despite the downward trend of the collector car market, RM managed to sell 85% of the 239 cars it offered last weekend. In addition to the C-Type, several other notable cars found new homes, including a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S that sold for $1,980,000 and a Duesenberg Model SJ Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe with a final sale price of $1,430,000. Some of the no-sales included a 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with a top bid of $900,000, a 1938 Talbot Lago T120 that went unsold at $950,000, and a 1953 Ferrari 166MM Spider Scaglietti that didn't meet its reserve despite being bid to $1,100,000.

PRESS RELEASE:

MONTEREY, California –The legendary Phil Hill's son, Derek, drove the historic 1952 Jaguar C-Type, s/n XKC-007 to an auction world record last night, selling for $2,530,000 at RM's Sports & Classics of Monterey event in California.

XKC-007 was one of the first C-Types delivered to North America. In 1952, a young Phil Hill – then just 25 – drove the car at Elkhart Lake to claim the C-Type's first North American victory, before going on to achieve further success at Torrey Pines that same year.

"With over 85% of the 239 cars sold, including the very exciting 1952 Jaguar C-Type, and a current sales total exceeding $34 million, we are pleased with the weekend's results which reflect our consistently strong sell-through performance year to date," said Ian Kelleher, President & Chief Operating Officer of RM Auctions.

"The global interest and enthusiasm in our 2009 Monterey event led to a packed sales room of active bidders each of the three evenings, and RM is confident that throughout the course of the next few days several other major transactions will take place and continue to elevate these numbers in excess of the anticipated pre-sale expectations," Kelleher added.

Additional top-sellers at RM's Sports & Classics of Monterey event included two other million-dollar cars - a race-bred 1955 Aston Martin DB3S, which brought an impressive $1,980,000, and a stunning 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe for $1,430,000.

A further highlight was the sale of a factory-original 2005 Ford GT super car, offered on behalf of the Ford Motor Company and selling for $181,500 with a portion of the sale proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). To coincide with the offering, Mr. Edsel B. Ford II, Board Director, Ford Motor Company and his son, Henry, joined a group of local Monterey JDRF youth ambassadors to witness its sale.

"Once again the Ford Motor Company's long-standing relationship with RM Auctions proved to be a wonderful opportunity to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation amidst a crowd that appreciates all the great things our employee driven Ford Global Walk Team does for children around the world," said Mr. Ford following the auction. "We were thrilled to work with the team at RM Auctions once again in this capacity to continue our support of JDRF and its mission to find a cure for diabetes and its complications."

A 1939 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon, the final lot of the Nick Alexander Woodie Collection reserved for Saturday night's sale, exceeded its original high estimate to bring $215,000 hammer price. This amount will be donated to the Midland School in Santa Barbara, California by Nick Alexander, in addition to the 10% buyers premium of $21,500 and other monies raised which will be donated by RM. This lot capped off the extremely successful single-owner offering of $7.3 million.

"I am thoroughly pleased with the overall sales results and consider the auction to be a true success," said Nick Alexander. "RM Auctions did an amazing job representing all 52 cars consigned from my collection and I am delighted that all are going to such great new homes," he added.

RM will return to California, September 26th for the highly anticipated Icons of Speed & Style event at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. This single-vendor collection will present an eclectic range of historic American racing cars, vintage hot rods and custom show cars, along with 'kustom kulture' memorabilia - all offered without reserve. For further information on this exciting event, please visit http://www.rmauctions.com/Default-RW.cfm?SaleCode=RW09.

Official results from this weekend's Sports & Classics of Monterey event will be posted online at www.rmauctions.com.

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Porsche unveils sportier 2010 911 GT3 RS

Hot on the heels of introducing its latest 911 Turbo model, Porsche has unveiled details and photos of its 2010 911 GT3 RS. The new model gets a host of upgrades that should make it even more potent, including an additional horsepower from a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six (previously 3.6-liter) that brings total output to 450 bhp –15 more than its GT3 counterpart. As expected, power is routed through a six-speed manual transmission with shorter ratios than the one in the GT3.

Handling has been further improved with a purpose-built PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) suspension, a wider track both front and rear made possible by larger wheel arch covers, and dynamic engine mounts that are able to adjust their stiffness and damping effect depending on driving conditions.

For the exterior, the new RS is by far the most outrageous looking car Porsche has ever built with large-and-in-charge graphics, revised front and rear fascias consistent with Porsche's current design themes, and a new carbon fiber rear wing mounted on aluminum supports. Lowering weight was also a priority, and the new GT3 RS gets an optional lithium-ion battery that saves 22 pounds over the standard unit and a lightweight titanium exhaust system. Pricing is listed as $132,800 for the U.S., with an official introduction coming at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

[Source: Porsche]

PRESS RELEASE:

Delivering even more engine power, lower weight and shorter transmission ratios, as well as upgraded body and suspension components than all previous GT3s, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS sets the foundation for homologating the race version of the 911 GT3 and will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 17-27, 2009.

The heart of the new, uncompromising GT3 RS is the power unit. Like the engine featured in the 911 GT3, the naturally-aspirated RS power unit now displaces 3.8 liters and delivers even more power, while revving up even faster to its 8500 rpm redline. It now delivers 450 horsepower, 15 more horsepower than its 911 GT3 counterpart. Even with a specific output of more than 118 hp per liter from the six-cylinder boxer engine, the power unit in the new GT3 RS remains fully suitable for everyday use.

The new 911 GT3 RS comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox optimized for short gearshift travel, low weight and high efficiency. To enhance the level of performance throughout the entire range of engine and road speed, the transmission comes with shorter ratios than found in the 911 GT3, deliberately conceding an even higher potential top track speed.

Dynamic engine mounts are standard and serve to improve the car's handling to an even higher level. Depending on driving conditions, the mounts change in their stiffness and damping effect, improving the connection between the engine and the body when driving under very lively conditions, yet allow for more comfortable conditions during everyday street use.

Porsche is also introducing another new option in 2010 for the GT3 RS, a lithium-ion battery. Delivered with the car and, when replacing the conventional lead-acid battery, it reduces the weight by more than 10 kg or 22 lb and is mainly intended for the track.

To further improve its sporting behavior, the new 911 GT3 RS comes with a purpose-built and specially set up PASM suspension, a wider front and rear track and corresponding bodywork.

The front axle comes with nine-inch-wide wheels running on 245/35 ZR 19 sports tires while the rear axle features twelve-inch-wide wheels incorporating 325/30 ZR 19 sports tires.

The new 911 GT3 RS shows its close connection to motorsport through its dynamic looks, in particular by its low ride height, the new, extra large carbon-fiber rear wing and titanium exhaust system.

The 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale in the U.S. in early spring of 2010 and will be priced at $132,800.

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Noble unleashes 225 mph M600 supercar

British car builder has finally released official images and details of its latest model, complete with a Volvo-based twin-turbo V8 producing 650 horsepower. Pricing is expected to be around £200,000 (roughly $328k USD), more than twice that of previous models, and customers waiting on the now-extinct M14 and M15 can request for their deposits to be returned if they don't wish to purchase the new car.

As the high price tag suggests, the M600 brings much more to the table than past Noble models. The car is constructed from a stainless steel tub, tube skeleton and chassis, clad with carbon fiber body panels for a curb weight of just 2810 pounds. The 4.4-liter V8 (a first for Noble) has been fitted with twin Garrett turbochargers, and the driver can change between three output settings - 450, 550, or 650 horsepower - with max torque output of 618 lb-ft. Performance will be more than up to supercar standards, with 60 mph reachable in 3.0 seconds flat, 100 mph in 6.5 seconds, and a top speed of 225 mph.

As with past models, Noble aimed to make the M600 a purist driver's car. The traction control system can be completely deactivated, and there is no ESP system or anti-lock brakes. Shifting will be done old school with a six-speed manual gearbox and no paddle shifters will be offered. The M600 will make its public debut at the Goodwood Revival on September 19-21, but in the meantime, you browse the photo gallery below. We'll try and scrounge around to see if we can get some high-res versions.

[Source: Noble via Autocar]

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Bordeaux one of three Bugatti concepts proposed for next model

For some time now speculation about Bugatti's next megacar has been running rampant. The car world got nice and teased recently when a "teaser" shot of a new Bug got itself "leaked." Named the Bordeaux, very little is known about the concept past the point that it has eight tailpipes. However, Dr Franz-Josef Pfaegen, lord of Bugatti's Molsheim manor, sat down with Autocar and spilled some high priced beans.

Turns out that the Bordeaux is in fact most likely a four-door, and Bugatti will be showing the car to existing customers to gauge their reaction and make sure the Bordeaux is the type of vehicle the company should be building. That said, Pfaegen wants to crush rumors that the Bordeaux will share parts with the new Bentley Mulsanne into dust. Says Pfaegen, "A Bugatti saloon will have different dimensions and be a completely different concept. In fact it's hard to find any similarities at all [with the Mulsanne]."

However, as both high end marques are owned by Volkswagen, we wouldn't be surprised if a bit of platform sharing took place beneath the surface. Whatever it is, the eight pipes lead us to speculate that high performance is the Bordeaux's raison d'etre. Especially as it will probably be packing the Veyron's quad-turbo, 8.0-liter 1,000+ hp W16.

We don't have any info on the other two concepts at this time, except that one of the three will indeed be Bugatti's next model. We'll go ahead and guess that one of the remaining two is Veyron 2.0. Especially as the Grand Sport Sang Bleu is the last of the special edition Veyrons. Plus, with 250 out of the 300 total Veyrons already built and sold, mega-performance hypercars might just be Bugatti's preferred niche. As for the possible third concept, we don't know. Though, if we were in charge of conceptual Bugattis, a new Royale would be in the works. If you have any guesses as to what the third Bugatti concept might be, shout it in the comments below.

[Source: Autocar]

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Bugatti Grand Sport Sang Bleu the last special edition Veyron?

That's it, ladies and gents. The seemingly endless train of special edition Bugatti Veyrons has ended. Allegedly. After taking the wraps off the Sang Noir, Pur Sang, Fbg by Hermes, Grand Sport, Bleu Centenaire and the quartet of individual Centenaire tribute editions, to say nothing of the individual specials in between, Auto Motor und Sport says that the Sang Bleu edition of the Grand Sport which Bugatti unveiled at this past weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be the last special edition Veyron that Molsheim will build. With a reported 250 out of the 300 Veyrons initially earmarked for production now built and sold, Bugatti's moving on to its next project, tentatively dubbed Bordeaux. At which point the whole shpeil will presumably start all over again.


[Source: Auto Motor und Sport – translated]

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Hyundai Equus is a high horse looking for its Praetorian Guard

The Hyundai Equus is doing its homework on the American market before it arrives in the fourth quarter of 2010. We took a ride in the upscale sedan during the Pebble Beach weekend in Monterey, and from our brief time aboard, we guess that, if it's priced right, it will do just as well as its only-slightly-less luxurious kin, the Genesis.

Hyundai looks to be breaking from its American past in a way that could leave future drivers incredulous when they hear about a thing called the Excel. With the Genesis and now the Equus – and what's to come after – it's like Hyundai has risen from vaudeville actor to perform Hamlet for the queen. If you told the monarch who only knew the actor as Hamlet, "You know, that guy used to wear a clown suit and get sprayed with seltzer water?," she'd laugh, thinking it was a joke.

But it isn't. When we asked Jim Trainor, Hyundai America's head of PR, what impelled the company's turnaround, he said it was the 100,000-mile warranty. "If we didn't want to lose a fortune on repairs, we had to start making quality cars."



In the Equus is contained everything Hyundai knows about quality. Said Joel Ewanick, Hyundai America's marketing chief, "The Equus is the culmination, the pinnacle of everything Hyundai knows about engineering and building cars," and that's from the manufacturing all the way through to the touchpoints.

"Lexus" could be the word that comes up most often when discussing the Equus, and there is more than one reason for that. However, for all of the styling details that the huge horse might have taken from the Lexus playbook, the Equus actually didn't remind us of the LS 460 in person – and while we waited for the Hyundai to arrive, we sat on a bench right in front of an LS 460 parked curbside. The Equus is brawnier, with deeper sides, a more pronounced shift in height from front to rear, and elements that stress its dimensional qualities. As soon as the Lexus left our sight, we never thought of it again in the company of the Equus.



The convenient hook for the Genesis was BMW 7-Series roominess and luxury, 5-Series sportiness, and a 3-Series price. The Equus simply goes for everything 7-Series, S-Class, and LS, save for price. Ultimate-in-luxury features include butter-smooth leather all over, a suede headliner, double-pane glass all 'round sandwiching a layer of glazing material (à la Rolls-Royce), an Auto Hold feature that keeps the car still until you press the accelerator (even on flat roads), a front-view camera that comes on at or below 5 mph, a lane-departure warning system that works with white and yellow lines and tugs on your seatbelt after an audible warning, the steering wheel is heated and the front seats have three settings for backside warming and cooling.

The only two questionable features that stood out for were that the front passenger seat doesn't have memory settings, and how certain plastic surfaces are textured. As for the seats, if it's any consolation, the rear seat passenger can move the front seat, surely a concession to the car's strong limousine aspirations in its home market. On the issue of plastic, we'd rather the surfaces were smooth, as they are on all of the competitor cars at which the Equus is aiming.



We can't really comment on the suspension because the car was fitted with the South Korean setup, which is much softer than what we'll get here, even when set on Sport. But as for interior tactile sensations, the car is really there, especially when it comes to the buttons and trim. The contrast of gloss black button surfaces, metal trim and leather is superb. Again, since we were in the Korean-market Equus, we weren't able to sample a lot of the buttons, but they look fabulous.

The laminated windows and bodyshell stuffed with sound deadening material makes the Equus exceptionally quiet. You can hear the car when driving, but only just. At idle, it's damn near silent – we turned the car off, thinking it was on, when we got in.



Other details will follow, including the car's official name. So where the word "Equus" is embossed in the seats, you can expect to find something, but perhaps not the word "Equus." The hood ornament wasn't going to make it over, but initial reaction has shown that potential customers have liked it, so Hyundai is considering whether to make it an option, like the Jag's leaper. As for that suspension, Ewanick said "It will be somewhere between the LS and the S-Class. We realize we're dancing on the head of a pin there, but that's what the engineers are going for."

What Hyundai is sure of is that they want to provide more car for less money. Depending on the price and that final suspension calibrations, as of now all signs are looking good for delivery on that.

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Rolls-Royce launches limited-edition Phantom Bespoke Collection in the Persian Gulf

While Rolls-Royce prepares to roll out the new downsized Ghost model, in the Middle East demand still soars for the full-size Phantom. But with every sheikh and his cousins driving – or more likely, being driven in – the big Rolls, the automaker has announced a new Bespoke Collection exclusively for the Persian Gulf region.

Enabling wealthy clients to specify all manner of trim and color options beyond the usual range of choices, the Phantom Bespoke Collection will deliver just six special vehicles to customers in the Middle East. Following the gold-finished DHC delivered last year, the first example in the new line – pictured here – is decked out in two-tone Arizona Sun over English White paint, with Creme Light and Saddle Tan leather interior complimented by handmade silk rugs and mother of pearl inlays. So you'd better wipe off your sandals before stepping foot inside, habibi.

[Source: Drive Arabia via Autoblog.nl]

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