I really want to like convertibles/roadsters/drop tops….but i’m not a person who really desires to have THAT much sun…..i’d prefer to be in shady places rather than with the sun gleaming down on my forehead……I also think that the concept of a roadster just doesn’t suit my aesthetic likes or my style in general. That being said, I have come to grips to appreciating the idea of roadsters….and can appreciate how others like them…
That being said, my wife loves the BMW Z3 and Z8—-and this photo is for her!
a 2010 concept by Citroen called the Survolt. This is the kind of insanity I expect from Citroen. Madness and over the top goodness! 2 electric motors, 300hp. If this is the future of the sports car and it’s electric—-i want in!
The photos here have been REMOVED due to their unoriginal effects as I was informed by the photographer (Anke Luckmann). The ORIGINAL PHOTOS have now been uploaded into a new post, thanks to Ms. Anke Luckmann for sending me her original versions of these photos:
Well this is a bit sad, isn’t it…..recently Peugeot pulled out completely from Le Mans 2012 and as an Audi Sport fan, I was very let down by this news. Peugeot and Audi had such a fantastic rivalry over the past few years, and it really made for great sporting and great racing. Le Mans has been uber exciting to watch the past few years, and last year’s Le Mans will go down in history as one of THE most exciting races ever run at the La Sarthe.
Since then, i’ve heard of Peugeot selling their entire Paris offices, and liquidating lots of their assets. GM now owns a fraction of the company, and It’s hard to figure out exactly how fast Peugeot-Citroen are falling—-however it’s plain to see they are.
Next up on the chopping block? Some of their endurance racers. This is the 2007 Peugeot 908 HDi Fap that is going up on RM Auctions. I’m tired of hearing people long for the ‘older’ Le Mans cars saying that modern Le Mans cars aren’t that cool….nonsense! Modern Le Mans cars are amazing, and this is a great example of why. It is, however, sad to see Peugeot selling their history.
Some notable achievements of this #2 car:
• 2009 Le Mans Works entry • 1st Overall at Monza, Silverstone and Spa • Groundbreaking HDi diesel-powered V-12 engine • Run by the Works-Peugeot factory race team
Auction estimate? 1.5 to 1.8 million Euros. I guess it’s time to cancel my Veyron order….
From the foto of the day to the video of the day—-another Aston Martin. Today in traffic I saw a newer model Aston Martin V8 Vantage and was reminded of just how beautiful that car is. It’s been around for a few years now, and people have lots of opinions about it—-but does it really matter when a car looks THIS good and sounds THAT good? Nope!
This is the promo video unveiled in Paris for the 2012 Paris Auto Show of the 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
This really shouldn’t work…..but oh man does it work! Aston Martin V8 Vantage with Gulf livery. Beautiful….one of my most favourite coupe designs ever…
I went to an Audi GTG yesterday featuring a number of new TT-RS picked up by their customers. Good turn out, but I found these 2 parked next to each other to be quite an interesting matchup. the BMW 1M and the Audi TT-RS.
I love Audis and all….but that 1M is just irresistable!
My mind is having slight difficulty digesting this, however I find it quite imaginative either way! Who would have ever thought “BMW 2002” and “rat rod” together….well somebody did, and dare i say it sort of works!
We all know that F1 drivers are ‘compact’ and lightweight, like the cars they race——but this photo really did crack me up this morning! Yao Ming (NBA) and Lewis Hamilton from F1.
I can’t help but find myself daydreaming about the fantastic Alpine A310 after watching the excellent Wheeler Dealers episode with the car earlier today. Here’s a 1977 car in all its wedge glory!
I had read several months ago what the UK show Wheeler Dealers was going to do an episode about the Alpine A310—–and i’ve been looking very forward to it for a while! A couple of reasons why: (A) there really isn’t too much in terms of videos, information, or documentation of the A310, at least not in english anyways, (B) the A310 is on my list of cars I want to own in the next 20 years, so i’m super interested, and (C) because I usually enjoy Wheeler Dealers anyways, and putting an Alpine on there is just icing on the cake!
It’s 1952, and Volkswagen is doing all sorts of projects trying to figure out a replacement for the VW Beetle. Mysteriously they had a design study done by Pininfarina, entitled the “EA41”. It sure looks a helluva lot like the Lancia Aurelia B20 Coupe from the rear end, but there is a Beetle hiding under there somewhere. I’m not sure if this car was from scratch or not, but i’m guessing this was merely a design study for which Pininfarina was hired to propose.
Lancia Aurelia B20 Coupe, also designed by Pininfarina around that time:
So as VW was searching for a viable alternative, they also happened to do a bunch of different design studies of a rear-engined new alternative……what did Porsche come up with? the Porsche 555!!
and this! the only photo i’ve been able to find of an actual Porsche 555 that was made….looks fantastic and I must admit I am very intrigued. I am also, however, bothered by the lack of information about the car—-but obviously as this was only a design/concept study it likely disappeared like most ideas did back then!
Porsche 555
eventually influencing the Porsche 356 “notchback” Coupe:
This is such a great ‘period’ documentary/commercial issued by Porsche about their new 928. Obviously Porsche had grand hopes regarding the 928 when it was launched, and was touted within the company as the successor to the Porsche 911—–obviously we all know how that turned out!
That’s not to say that the 928 was not successful—-because it was successful as a front-engined sports car. I have to say as a kid, i think i loved the 928 more than i loved the 911 of that era (early 80s). The 928 had the most wicked rear end, and had a lot of presence on the road—-whereas the early 80s 911 had big bumpers and looked sort of like a cartoon. Fast forward to 2012, I think the 911 of that era has aged quite well (maybe because it is timeless?) whereas the 928 looks like it is trapped in the time of that era.
Either way—–enjoy this video presented in 4 parts. It has nice features, including lots of people with moustaches and/or mullet-y hair!
These days i’m really annoyed by media photography; everyone goes to the same car shows and takes the same, typical, unstimulating, booooring photos of cars. I went in the search of more ‘experimental’ auto show photos and happened to find taken by Kai Petermann.
To be honest, I find them interesting….moderately dizzying, moderately useless, however reasonably entertaining! I believe the 2nd photo is of the new Dodge Dart, however I cannot be entirely sure!
Leonello Design is a design company affiliated with the likes of Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, Zagato, and Touring Superleggera—-working on scale models and designs for them and other projects.
I’m not sure if any of them are available as prints or not, as not much is mentioned on their site.
If you haven’t seen the original “Truth In 24” you are really missing out. There is no reason you should NOT have seen the original! It is an amazing piece of filmmaking and a must-see for anyone into motor racing.
The exciting news is that part 2 is coming out about the R18 TDI’s dramatic win at the 2011 Le Mans. Very exciting stuff. That race was remarkable and now its been documented and will be released to coincide with the upcoming 2012 Le Mans!
Go here and watch the trailer for Part 2 and if you haven’t seen part 1, it is available FREE as a download through iTunes at the Audi USA site HERE
Let me be honest in that quite frankly I was blown away the first time I saw photos of the Fisker Atlantic; Unfortunately IEDEI was not able to cover the NY Auto Show this year due to work schedule (yes, i also have a proper job!).
I really dislike Tesla, however I find myself fond of Fisker. Why? It’s not JUST because they use extensive Alcantara in their interior….but it’s because Fisker actually DESIGNS their cars rather than puts out a regurgitated Lotus Elise. The Karma, whatever your final thoughts are, is a pretty fascinating car to look at…..swoopy, long, with lots of presence.
The Karma is expensive….the Atlantic though—-well they are targeting the $45k to $55k range! If this car makes it to production for that price, it will surely be THE best looking sedan out there. I’m not crazy about the front end styling, but the proportions, side profile, rear, and roofline are just beautiful.
So……is the Atlantic the car that gets me interested in electric cars? Yes it just may be…..this or the upcoming Audi e-tron range….either way, it just might be possible eventually someone will start building an electric car with some passion, soul, and style——i’m hoping the Fisker Atlantic is the first one to really get the ball rolling…..
So Fisker…..Give me one to drive so I can see for myself.
Here’s the video from the premiere of the car at the NY Auto Show:
IEDEI 
