About.com Exotic Cars

SEMA 2009: The Lexus LFA

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:16 +0000

SEMA 2009 is humming along, and I've got pictures to prove it. Check out the super spendy supercar from Japan, the Lexus LFA. Images are up right now; details will come as soon as I've had some lunch.

What do you think of Lexus's entree into the exotic car market? Let us know in the comments.

SEMA 2009: The Lexus LFA originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 15:45:16.

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$400k for a Lexus? Meet the Lexus LFA Supercar

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:15:22 +0000

Luxury car maker Lexus has officially entered the exotic car realm with the Lexus LFA, a V10 supercar with a carbon-fiber reinforced polymer body. Production begins in December 2010, with finished cars limited to 500.

The engine is a 4.8-liter V10 with 552 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, pushing the LFA to a top speed of 202 mph. All those Lexus hybrids are going to have to sell like hotcakes to make up for this kind of power, which just screams, "Come and get me, greenie!" It's really hard to hug trees at 200 mph.

There's a special web site set up for the Lexus LFA, should you want to configure one on your coffee break today.

$400k for a Lexus? Meet the Lexus LFA Supercar originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 14:15:22.

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Lotus, I Am Your Father: Lotus Exige Scura

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:13:12 +0000

The 2009 Tokyo Motor Show saw the debut of the Lotus Exige Scura, a special edition kitted out in matte black and carbon fiber. When you're used to seeing candy-colored Lotuses on the streets, the Scura ("dark" in Italian) is like an evil twin. Even the Lotus press release says the car allows you to "indulge your dark side."

The car is limited to a run of 35, which will be sold globally. There are three high-gloss "Phantom Black" stripes that run the length of the car, with carbon fiber bits like the air scoops and rear spoiler adding to the black-on-black theme. The interior gets in on the game with carbon fiber seats and console, and black anodized hand brake and gear shift knob.

The Scura has the 260-hp engine, with a 0-62 time of 4.1 seconds. The dark side is fast.

Lotus, I Am Your Father: Lotus Exige Scura originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 14:13:12.

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Exotic Car Candles Make the Holidays Bright

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:44:08 +0000

The holidays must be approaching, because the exotic and luxury car makers are bringing out their wish-list-ready home furnishings and fashions. Lamborghini leads the pack this year with fashions for home and body.

The marketing team in Sant'Agata would like to entice you with its Valentino Balboni-inspired candles and Christmas tree balls. Both come in Blue Caelum and White Monocerus, colors exclusive to the special-edition Gallardo that bears the Lamborghini test driver's name. There are also sweatshirts and faux-fur hooded jackets to keep you toasty, and Reventon-inspired polo shirts to "ease the disappointment of not finding the real car under the Christmas tree," according to the press release. Yeah, a polo shirt would make me feel better about that.

Exotic Car Candles Make the Holidays Bright originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 13:44:08.

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Audi eTron Becomes 2012 Audi R4

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:26:12 +0000

The all-electric Audi eTron that made a splash at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month will indeed make it to the streets -- though it'll be a little smaller than the eTron concept or the Audi R8 it was based on, and carry the name Audi R4.

The R4 will be available with a gasoline engine (likely from the TT) or a set of four electric motors for emissions-free motoring. According to Edmunds' Straightline blog, the R4 will come in coupe or convertible. It should be on sale by late 2012.

Audi eTron Becomes 2012 Audi R4 originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 13:26:12.

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Extra! Extra! Lamborghini Gets Awful Gas Mileage!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:51:20 +0000

The EPA released its lists of best and worst fuel economy, and guess what? The Lamborghini Murcielago sucks the most gas of any car out there -- more, even, than the 1001-hp Bugatti Veyron. It's in good company, though. The "Top 10" list actually has about 30 cars on it, mostly exotics, since so many tied for low mileage.

I'm willing to bet fuel economy is not a consideration for anyone with the cash and prestige to buy one of 20 Lamborghini Reventons. Should fuel economy be a consideration for supercars? Vent in the comments after reading the list, with city and highway miles per gallon.

Lamborghini Murcielago (manual): 8/13
Bugatti Veyron: 8/14
Lamborghini Murcielago (auto), Lamborghini Reventon Roadster: 8/14
Bentley Azure and Brooklands: 9/15
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (auto): 10/17
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (manual): 10/15
Maybach 57 and 57 S: 10/16
Bentley Continental Flying Spur, GTC, and GT: 10/17
Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG and G 550, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano: 11/15
Aston Martin DB9 and DBS; BMW M5 and M6; Maserati Quattroporte; Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG, CL 600,� S 600, S65 AMG; Porsche Cayenne: 11/17

Extra! Extra! Lamborghini Gets Awful Gas Mileage! originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 14:51:20.

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UPDATE: Jaguar XJL Neiman Marcus Sells Out

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:49:21 +0000

Well, kids, if you weren't one of the lucky 50 who bought their 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition in the first four hours it was available, it's going to be one sad Christmas at your house this year.

All 50 examples of the limited edition sedan were snapped up in the first four hours and four minutes of the sale, at the bargain price of $105,000. Phone lines opened at noon Eastern time, and the deals were done before happy hour. Don't worry, though. The new XJ will be at your local Jag dealer in 2010 -- but not wearing the exclusive Celestial Black paint.

UPDATE: Jaguar XJL Neiman Marcus Sells Out originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 19:49:21.

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Green Biofuel Bentley Delayed in the U.S.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:29:22 +0000

If you were waiting for the biofuel, E85-capable Bentley Continental Supersports to arrive in the U.S. before making your supercar buying decision, you're going to have to wait a little longer. The car is still coming -- fear not. It'll just be limited to gasoline in the tank. Bentley blames red tape and engineering challenges, according to the Green Car Advisor blog. The first 200 Supersports to reach our shores will not be able to run on E85, but after that, the cars will be good to green.

Keep in mind, with 621 hp in a W12 engine, the Bentley Continental Supersports is not going to give the Toyota Prius a run for its money in the mpg department. But with a top speed of 204 mph and a price tag near $300,000, the Supersports isn't exactly competing in the same segment as the hybrid gas-sipper.

Green Biofuel Bentley Delayed in the U.S. originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 13:29:22.

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Ferrari 599 Limited Editions Auctioned in China

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:59:32 +0000

Ferrari has been officially selling its cars in China for five years now, and in celebration, they're auctioning off limited-edition Ferrari 599GTB Fioranos, including one painted to look like cracked porcelain.

The paint was hand-applied by artist Lu Hao to mimic the deliberately cracked pattern of ancient Chinese pottery from the Song Dynasty known as Ge Kiln. The car will cross the block November 3 in Beijing, with proceeds to benefit "an educational sponsorship program targeted at Chinese students."

Besides the crackled paint, the one-off 599 has a jade stop/start button designed by an Italian jeweler. The words "Start" and "Stop" are written in Xiao Schuan script, as are the number one through ten on the speedometer. A small plaque with the word "China" in the same script is fixed behind the rear window. It also comes with bespoke Italian luggage to symbolize the Silk Road, which connected Italy to China.

Ferrari 599 Limited Editions Auctioned in China originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 12:59:32.

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All I Want for Christmas Is an XJL

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:49:33 +0000

When I was a kid, my brother and I would mark up the big, holiday Sears catalog, putting our initials next to nearly every toy in the book. This year, kids of all ages can put their initials next to the new Jaguar XKL Supercharged in the Neiman Marcus Christmas book.

The Neiman Marcus Edition of the latest sedan from Jaguar will be limited to 50 vehicles, sold only through the retailer, and will carry a price tag of $105,000. It's not the first time Jag has been in the book -- in 1968, and XKE Grand Touring Coupe was offered, and in 1997, an XK8 convertible. It's probably worth noting that none of these cars were Barbie-sized.

A few high points of the 2010 Jaguar XKL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition:

Celestial Black metallic paint
Navy and ivory leather interior
20-inch double-10 spoke alloy wheels
Nameplate with production number

All I Want for Christmas Is an XJL originally appeared on About.com Exotic Cars on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 12:49:33.

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