Blending innovative design, advanced technology and versatility, the 2014 Audi A7 model line includes the all-new Audi RS 7. Act quickly when you see one: They’ll be moving fast. Debuted at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Audi RS 7 is the most powerful RS ever offered in the U.S. The five-door sedan is fitted with the twin-turbo TFSI V-8 engine, producing a potent 560 hp — a reported 133.3 percent more than the average for sedans. This delivers 0–60 mph in just 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Maximum torque is 516 ft-lbs […]
KEEP READING >Presence and Power: The new BMW 4 Series Coupe. The fourth generation of BMW’s sporty mid-size is larger in width and wheelbase than the BMW 3 Series Coupe, and it rides lower to the road. BMW’s short overhangs, an extended hood, the signature double-kidney grille, twin circular headlights, a large upfront air intake, drag-reducing air breathers and a lowered rear: All provide ties to the previous Coupe generation while affirming the uniqueness of the new. Moving Forward The two-door will be available with a high-performance six-cylinder in-line for the BMW 435i Coupe; a four-cylinder in the BMW 428i Coupe; and the […]
KEEP READING >007 will get his man— and women— much quicker with the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage S. Excepting the company’s 700-horsepower One-77 hypercar, this is the fastest street Aston Martin yet — celebrating 100 years of the great marque. The new AM28 all-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve V-12 doesn’t stop until 205 mph, delivering 565 bhp at 6,750 rpm and 457 lb/ft peak torque at 5,750 rpm. With low-rev performance also improved from the previous Vantage, the torque curve has both flattened and fattened, says Aston Martin — significantly improving driveability compared with the former V-8 Vantage S. Among the performance […]
KEEP READING >Three engineering priorities — “Intelligent Drive,” “Efficient Technology” and “Essence of Luxury” — propel the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class to a higher level of automotive excellence. “As with every generation before it, the customers expect the new S-Class to set standards across the board to retain its accolade as ‘the best automobile in the world,’” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were ‘the best or nothing’ in every respect,” he adds. “No other car stands […]
KEEP READING >The all-new 2014 Range Rover Sport — the fastest, most agile and responsive Land Rover ever — debuted at the New York International Auto Show in March. The new model, developed with the 2013 Range Rover, joins the flagship Range Rover Evoque models to form a strong triumvirate for the luxury Land Rover marque. The new Range Rover Sport retains its all-terrain capability and offers technological, stylistic and functional advances, including an optional 5+2 third-row seating for occasional use. The new aluminum unibody produces a weight savings of approximately 800 pounds compared with the steel unibody on a full-frame chassis of […]
KEEP READING >In their state-of-the-art facility in Scottsdale, you could say Walt and Addison Brown are living their dream. From a small garage just a few years ago to 18,600 square feet today, the Browns have combined their passion for cars with a commitment to superior quality, unsurpassed attention to detail and dedication to customer service. The result is a thriving business that has captured the attention of classic car enthusiasts across the country. The new space has also allowed for the expansion of services the company can offer, evolving from the original concept of buying, restoring and selling classic cars to now […]
KEEP READING >Coming fast, and soon — the F12berlinetta, the quickest Prancing Horse road car ever. “This car is a technical marvel,” said Gary Simon, sales manager for Scottsdale Ferrari-Maserati, during the supercar’s Valley debut, March 2, at Silverleaf Country Club in north Scottsdale. Overseen by General Manager John Schlitt, the dealership, 6825 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, is part of the worldwide Penske Automotive Group. Collaboratively designed by the Ferrari Style Centre and Pininfarina, the F12berlinetta, Ferrari’s replacement for the 599 GTB, was first shown to the public, March 6, 2012, at The Geneva International Motor Show. Immediately, admirers noted the aerodynamic hood […]
KEEP READING >For over 20 years, Luxor Auto Group has been incorporating its refined style into luxury and exotic vehicles. Their newest endeavor, Couture Customs, a unique concept luxury boutique, mixing customized exotic automobiles and fashion in one breathtaking 14,000 sq ft designer showroom, opens in Scottsdale February 15th. In high fashion, Couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing; a couture garment is made specifically for the wearer’s measurements and body stance. Couture Customs takes the same couture approach when custom fitting and customizing a vehicle for the most discriminating owner. Buyers like Alicia Keys, who just picked up her customized […]
KEEP READING >Holy Bat-Auction! No joke or Joker: Barrett-Jackson returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale, Jan. 13–20, 2013. The 42nd Scottsdale edition of “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™” will bring to the block 1,200-plus classics, exotics, muscle cars, hot rods, resto-mods and contemporary collectibles — almost all at No Reserve. And the original Batmobile. This will be the last Scottsdale auction in the big top tent, as next year’s event will be held in a new 120,000-square-foot permanent structure, now under construction at WestWorld. SPEED will broadcast over 40 hours of live, high-definition TV coverage of the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, Tuesday through Sunday, […]
KEEP READING >Ferruccio Lamborghini, Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster, Beli Merdovic Hats off, and tops down, to the House of the Raging Bull. Fifty years ago next year, industrialist and car enthusiast Ferruccio Lamborghini, annoyed with his treatment at Ferrari, released the now legendary 350 GT. This year, on Nov. 12, 2012, the magicians from Sant’Agata Bolognese released, on line, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster — what the company is calling a new world standard for open-top luxury super sports cars. Consistent with Lamborghini’s high-performance tradition, the car celebrates the great Aventador, a trophy-winning bull from Spanish bullfighting some two […]
KEEP READING >The sixth-generation Maserati Quattroporte is coming — lighter, longer, stronger. The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte will debut in January at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, Detroit, with sales of the luxury sports sedan scheduled for spring in Europe and summer in the United States. “I’m very excited about the car,” says Gary Simon, sales manager at Scottsdale Ferrari-Maserati-Lotus, a Penske Automotive Dealership, 6825 E. McDowell Road. “With the production of the first Quattroporte in 1963, Maserati introduced the world to the concept of a four-door sports sedan, a car that combined the looks, speed and handling of a sports car […]
KEEP READING >Inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 race car — already a winner in 37 races this year — the 2014-MY SLS AMG Black Series from Mercedes-AMG combines superlative design, driving dynamics and lightweight construction. To be released mid-year, the fifth Black Series model weighs 3,417 pounds while delivering a power/weight ratio of 5.49 lb/hp — the best by far of all AMG Black Series vehicles to date. The lighter-weight AMG 6.3-liter V-8 generates 622 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 468 lb/ft of torque at 5,500 rpm. Zero to 60 mph is accomplished in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 196 […]
KEEP READING >Recently, Highline Autos had the opportunity to interview Diko Sulahian, the owner of WTW Corp. just weeks in advance of the 2012 SEMA Show. Diko was gracious enough to share his thoughts on the challenges and successes his wheel company has seen as they celebrate their 15th year in this industry, and look forward with us at the direction he sees for high-end wheels in the future. What was the first car you fell in love with as a kid? A Trans Am, which I was never able to convince my father to buy me. He said, “it was too much […]
KEEP READING >Performance, luxury, craftsmanship, engineering and technology: The Bentley EXP 9 F SUV should soon be available at Bentley Beverly Hills, an O’Gara Coach Company, 8833 W. Olympic Blvd. Bentley unveiled its concept Sport Utility Vehicle at the Geneva International Salon d’Auto in March; at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in April; in England at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed, June 29 to July 1, in Crewe, the operations home for Bentley; and at the Concours d’Elegance, Pebble Beach, in August. When it appears, the EXP 9 F SUV will offer world-class luxury and all-terrain capability — a Grand Touring Bentley as appropriate at […]
KEEP READING >The Viper is back, with more sting and stryke than ever. Revealed in April at the New York International Auto Show, Chrysler Corporation’s two-seat sportscar, first produced in 1992, will be available in two 2013 models: the SRT Viper and the SRT Viper GTS. The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based company’s Street and Racing Technology division creates the flagship Viper and other high-performance vehicles. In June, the first production-model 2013 SRT Viper GTS was auctioned for $300,000 at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County to benefit The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. The two models will be hand built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant […]
KEEP READING >Ettore Bugatti, Pierre Veyron and Jay Leno will be there — and Bugatti Beverly Hills. Especially built for 2012 Pebble Beach, the 2013 Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse reaffirms, with power and panache, the legendary craftsmanship and innovation of Bugatti (1881–1947), the company founder who vetted buyers for their qualifications to own his extraordinary cars. What’s more, the 1200-horsepower 16-cyclinder hard-top convertible — the world’s fastest production car — reprises the blue-and-white livery of the supercharged 1928 Bugatti Type 37A owned by Leno, known as widely for his passion for cars as his comedic gifts. Leno’s classic two-seater, with its signature horseshoe […]
KEEP READING >The 2013 XTS luxury sedan has arrived at Lund Cadillac Company — delivering the marque’s signature luxury and latest technology to one of the Valley’s most distinguished car dealerships. Opened by John Lund in 1987, Lund Cadillac, 1311 E. Bell Road, is minutes from the Loop 101. The award-winning Phoenix dealership has sold and serviced more new and used Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, and certified pre-owned cars than any other Arizona Cadillac dealer. Elevating even the celebrated Cadillac portfolio, the new front-wheel-drive XTS offers space, elegance and dramatic presence with technically advanced systems and components for today’s digital-age customers. “XTS redefines the […]
KEEP READING >The Fisker Karma has arrived in Scottsdale. The Penske Automotive Group announces the newest member of its family: Fisker of Scottsdale, which opened May 28 this year, is the exclusive Fisker Authorized Dealer for Arizona and now offers the eco-friendly Karma. Fisker is an Anaheim-Calif.-based car manufacturer founded in 2007 to produce electric vehicles with extended range (EVer™) while delivering “Uncompromised Responsible Luxury™.” Showcasing the Karma, Fisker of Scottsdale shares its space with the Lotus of Scottsdale at 6855 E. McDowell Road, adjacent to Scottsdale Ferrari/Maserati. All are part of the Penske Automotive Group, offering sales, service and financing on site. […]
KEEP READING >The Ferrari 458 Spider debuts in June at Scottsdale Ferrari Maserati, and a Maranello new arrival on McDowell may never have looked so exhilaratingly sexy and classically beautiful. Customers at the Penske Automotive dealership, 6825 E. McDowell Road in Scottsdale, will be able to see and drive the world’s first mid-engine spider with a retractable hard-top. Base price will be $263,762. “We’ve all been waiting for this gorgeous car, and the wait has been worth it, I’m sure Ferrari lovers will agree,” says John Schlitt, general manager for the dealership, one of more than 150 Penske locations nationally and 325 worldwide. […]
KEEP READING >Twenty years in any business is quite the accomplishment these days, but this is especially true in the ultra-competitive and fast-paced world of luxury automotive sales. When brothers Hamid and Sy Salari first began Luxor Auto Group in 1992 Chrysler still owned Lamborghini and customizing your car meant adding a racing stripe on the side. These days any independently owned dealership looking to thrive has to not only be able to sell a client the vehicles of their dreams, but also personalize those cars to mirror the client’s individual personality as well. As part of Luxor’s celebration, Hamid, Sy, and company […]
KEEP READING >If you thought the Swedes produced beauty only in the form of Scandinavian winterscapes and statuesque blondes, consider — for a quick moment — the svelte Koenigsegg Agera R. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, the new standard in hypercars showcases Christian von Koenigsegg’s most recent innovations as well as celebrates its current world records, which will rev any car lover’s rpms: 0–200 mph in 17.68 seconds; 200–0 mph in 7.28 seconds; and top speed, as yet unverified, or, better, dared, 273 mph. And, last September, in Ängelholm, Sweden, headquarters of Koenigsegg Automotive, The Guinness Book of World […]
KEEP READING >Carroll Shelby should be particularly proud of the new 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Test driven by the racing legend when it was in planning four years ago, it’s now available as a hardtop or convertible — with the most powerful production V-8 in the world. Top speed for the coupe is 200-plus from the 650-horsepower aluminum 5.8-liter engine, assisted by a TVS series 2300 supercharger with 2.3 liters of displacement. Built at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich., and debuted at the LA Auto Show, the new top-of-the-line Ford muscle car will also thrust you from stop to 60 mph […]
KEEP READING >Craig Jackson went back to his company’s roots to plan Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2012. To celebrate the 41-st annual event, Barrett-Jackson Auction Company is debuting its Salon Offering Collection — one-of-a-kind cars that are among the world’s most valuable and collectible. These include a 1947 Bentley Franay Mark VI cabriolet, a 1948 Tucker Torpedo and a 1957 DeSoto Adventurer convertible. These signature vehicles will cross the block Jan. 20, 2012, from 5–7 p.m. at WestWorld of Scottsdale. They join 1,200 exotics, customs, classics, resto-mods, hot rods and other original collector vehicles at the lifestyle event, which includes vendors and events such as […]
KEEP READING >The original Prototype 427 Shelby Cobra, CSX3127, and the “Noland Adams” 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, an NCRS Duntov Award winner, are among the more than 700 European sports and American muscle cars, hot rods and custom automobiles headed for the blocks at the Russo and Steele Scottsdale Arizona Auction, Jan. 18–22, 2012. This year’s 12th annual auction is in the traditional location as last year’s event, the southeast intersection of Scottsdale Road and the North Loop 101 Freeway, but auction founder Drew Alcazar has significantly improved the site following a long-term agreement with the city. “We’re very excited about what we’re doing,” […]
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