Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Venet

This Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is uniquely painted by French artist Bernar Venet, who is based in New York. The "fastest artwork ever" will be displayed from December 6 - 9 at Art Basel festival in Miami Beach. What is truly special about the art displayed in this Bugatti Veyron are the mathematical and scientific formulae used by Bugatti engineers in developing the Veyron across its front fascia and over its flanks. Definitely a collectors item.

Bentley-branded Christmas Gift Ideas

Weekender Leather Bag

Bentley has unveiled a top drawer range of Bentley-branded accessories and gift ideas, which are definitely a chic choice for any enthusiast or aspiring owner. We chose a couple of our favourites to share with you.

Backgammon Set by Geoffrey Parker for Bentley

Breitling for Bentley Desk Clock

Cufflinks: Break Pedal, Oil Cap, Wheel Spinner

Ferrari as the Top International Luxury Brand

Britain’s luxury industry, represented by the Walpole association, proclaimed Ferrari as the “Best International Luxury Brand 2012” at this year’s Walpole Awards for Excellence. 

Ferrari was assigned the award as the non-British luxury goods company that has had the greatest impact around the world in terms of sales, innovation, customer service and visibility. 

The award was received by Andrea Perrone, Ferrari’s Brand Senior Vice President. Perrone stated that “Walpole has recognised the uniqueness of Ferrari as a company and a brand with a significance that goes well beyond the production of dream cars. Ferrari injects luxury, exclusivity and innovation into everything it does, and has always combined the best traditions of Italian manufacturing with an ability to look to the future." 

The London-based Walpole Association was established in 1990 to promote British luxury around the world. Every year since 2001, the association has held the “Awards for Excellence” to celebrate British and non-British companies and people who stand out in the promotion of excellence through activities in the field of global luxury, design and culture.

Emirates Palace hosts Swiss artist Dante

This December, Emirates Palace – Abu Dhabi’s iconic and luxurious 5-star destination - will host a spectacular exhibition by award-winning Swiss artist Dante. Following the excitement of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Emirates Palace will race into December with a showcase of Dante’s critically-acclaimed sports car series, including a unique interpretation of the legendary Lamborghini Miura P400 SV. 

From 10th to 16th December 2012, a collection of seven magnificent limited edition gold sculptures - including interpretations of Picasso’s Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, the Aston Martin DB5, made famous in 1964’s Bond film Goldfinger, and the ‘most expensive car in the world’ the Ferrari 250 GTO – will reside in the beautiful palatial surroundings of Emirates Palace.

The highlight of the collection is set to be the unveiling of Dante’s unique 1:24 scale interpretation of the legendary Lamborghini Miura P400 SV: the fourth sculpture in Dante’s series. The world premiere of this exceptional piece will take place in the presence of Swiss Ambassador to the region, H.E. Andrea Reichlin at a glamorous cocktail reception and VIP launch in the stunning domed atrium of Emirates Palace.

Other high-profile events taking place during the exhibition include those in association with the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (11th December) and Ferrari World (13th December), alongside a number of special afternoon teas and early evening cocktails. Over the six days, visitors and guests to Emirates Palace can enjoy an exclusive opportunity to purchase their own bespoke silver and 24 carat gold or solid 18 carat gold sculptures, individually created by Dante. For more information, please visit www.kempinski.com/en/abudhabi/emirates-palace/welcome or www.dantedesign.ch

Run to Monaco Supercar Adventure

Run To Monaco, the luxury supercar adventure, is delighted to announce its route for 2013. With a fully vetted fleet of 30 super cars, The Run To will host the most exclusive rally from London to Monaco ending with a once in a lifetime opportunity to race the Monaco Grand Prix circuit with an F1 driver. With years of involvement within the F1 industry, Run To Monaco was born to create the ultimate Grand Prix experience, inviting entrepreneurs, business luminaries, stars from music and film, and individuals at the top of their game to take part in the finest of supercar fleets. Run to Monaco’s itinerary far surpasses any other supercar rally’s programme with each entrant experiencing the very best in hospitality, access to exclusive luxury events, the finest in wine and gastronomy and the adventure of a lifetime. 

Main highlights of the itinerary are a private Eurostar to Calais, Michelin starred restaurant lunch, exclusive hotels with stupendous views of French landscape, test-drive of the ultimate race car Radical SR8 RX, picnic in the Alps, helicopter ride over Monaco, private beach party, Monaco Grand Prix seats at "The Champions Lounge" and evening spent on a super yacht and at VIP tables at Amber lounge. 

Probably the most exciting part of the Run to Monaco is, that the applicants have the enviable chance to lap the closed Monte Carlo Street Circuit just moments before the serious action begins in a £250,000 supercar driven by a former F1 star, hurtling past super yachts, spectators and RasCasse.

Post Run To Monaco, all cars will be transported home whilst guests will be flown back to the UK by private jet. For further information please contact the Run to Monaco team on +44 (0)207 706 8502 or email info@therunto.com.

Princess Diana's 1979 Rolls-Royce

Princess Diana's Armored 1979 Rolls Royce Shadow is up for auction. This car carried Princess Diana and Prince Charles to the White House to meet the US President Ronald Reagan back in November of 1985.

This is a truly historic car, documented in American and British history as the Britain's official embassy car. The car is estimated to be worth $2 million and will be on auction with the Volo Auto Museum on November 9th.

RM Auctions Annual Sale generated £14,266,030

Continuing a six-year track record of achieving fantastic results, RM Auctions’ annual Battersea sale generated an incredible ￡14,266,030 in sales with an impressive 84 percent of total lots sold before a packed house in central London this week (31 October). The top performer of the evening sale was the simply beautiful and extraordinarily rare 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’, which attracted spirited bidding from eager collectors, selling for a strong ￡1,960,000.

Proving that Italian exotics still reign supreme in the desirability stakes, the gorgeous 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa, driven to Tourist Trophy glory by the great Tazio Nuvolari, sold for ￡784,000 to secure the position as the night’s second biggest seller. The British cars stole their share of the limelight too, with Aston Martins continuing to shine in the market. Headlining the group of 11 Astons on offer was an elegant 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, which achieved a highly impressive ￡632,800 to round out the night’s top three sales.

1964 Aston Martin DB5 (copyright: Tim Scott Fluid Images)

One lot attracting significant pre-sale interest was the wonderful and historically significant 1964 Aston Martin DB5, delivered new to Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney and owned by him for some six years. Presented in fabulous, restored condition, the car achieved ￡344,400, reinforcing its significance to collectors and the enduring appeal of Beatles-related provenance.

Paul McCartney's Aston Martin For Auction

This is one of Aston Martin's most iconic models, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, and was originally ordered by Sir Paul McCartney. This November, it will be put on auction at RM Auction's London, where over 90 collector cars will be crossing the block. 

Jaguar F-Type "Best in Show"

The all-new two-seat convertible Jaguar F-Type was awarded with the 2012 Autoweek Editors Choice Award for Best in Show at the Paris motor show. Featuring a soft-top, lightweight aluminum architecture and rear-wheel drive, the F-Type is undeniably a true high-performance sports car. It focuses on performance, agility and driver involment, which are all signature for the Jaguar brand. 

"The all-new Jaguar F-TYPE, our first new two-seat sports car in 50 years, is incredibly important as it returns Jaguar to the heart of the sports car market and creates a new emotional fulcrum for the entire brand,” said Andy Goss, President Jaguar Land Rover North America. Three models of F-Type will be available in Summer 2013 starting at $69,000. With the 340hp and 380hp versions of Jaguar's new 3.0-litre V6 engine and a new derivative of its 5.0-litre V8 unit, this model is sure to deliver a dynamic and stunning performance.

New Rolls-Royce Phantom Aviation Coupe

Rolls-Royce introduced 35 new Coupe Aviation Collection models, which feature a suite of exclusive design concepts, color combinations and new materials. The inside of the car is done in wood and metal, which reminds us of a cockpit theme. Upper fascia is in metal, while the lower one in veneered in mahogany. The leather-lined glove compartment includes an embossed Charles Rolls quote: "The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man."

To round up the aviation theme, collection cars commemorate the S6B aircraft with transmission tunnel in anodized aluminium with exposed torx fixings and swage lines that mimic the oil cooling veins on the S6B fuselage side - same highlights are mimicked on collection car armrests.

All in all, another beautiful creation from the uber luxurious Rolls-Royce.

The most expensive SUV for $1 million!

Feeling paranoid much? This is THE luxury car for you then. It combines the luxury of a RollsRoyce, the strength of a Hummer, safety of a military vehicle, equipment of James Bond's Aston Martin and on top of all uniqueness and speed of a Bugatti! This is PROMBROM by Dartz:

4 tons that can run 200 km/hour easily, 550 horsepower engine and 60 mm thick glass to protect you from anything as small as a bullet to something as big as a rocket grenade explosion. The luxury version's interior is entirely made from leather titanium and white gold. There are 6 cameras which constantly record every angle and send info to your security - if you are buying this car, you have security. This is indeed a purchase for the super rich and celebrities - no stalker nor assassin can do much against this luxury tank. "Only" $1,000,000 or $1,500,000 if you go for the MONACO RED DIAMOND edition, emblems made of diamonds and gold. 

No matter which edition you choose, you will get a complementary bottle or two of the worlds most expensive vodka RussoBaltique, which bottle is made out of pure silver and coated with gold. Just in case you need another silver-gold bottle in your collection...

Rare 1955 Aston Martin may sell for £2.5 million

A rare 1955 Aston Martin may sell for a staggering £2.5 million pounds when it goes to auction next month, making it potentially one of the most expensive British cars ever sold.

This incredible car is one of only 21 ever built by the iconic British sport car maker Aston Martin, with this particular model being the DB3S.

The rather bright orange version of the luxury car has been described by experts as a 'masterpiece.'

This particular car was bought new by a Dutch motorsport ace Hans Davids who raced it in England before the car was later shipped to the USA. This will also conclude the reason as to why the car was painted in his incredible orange finish.

The car will go under the hammer at RM Auctions' Monterey sale on August 17 with experts estimating it could fetch up to £2.5 million.

This will make it one of the most expensive British cars ever publicly sold, putting it on equal billing with James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 which fetched £2.6 million in 2010.

The car which goes under the chassis name 118, is fitted with a 3-litre engine which develops around 210bhp.

Whoever ends up buying this car will be owning a fine piece of British motoring history, an utter classic that can't be denied.

For more information, please visit www.rmauctions.com

Silver by Aston Martin

Celebrate the summer season with 'Silver by Aston Martin'

'Silver by Aston Martin' launches its elegant Aston Martin picnic hamper in time for the English summer season.

Designed for two, the 28-piece Aston Martin picnic hamper combines luxury and functionality to complement the lifestyle of its owner. The stylish outdoor dining service will be sought after at every high society event this summer, from Royal Ascot to Henley, Goodwood Festival of Speed to Glyndebourne.

The hamper is part of the exclusive 'Silver by Aston Martin' collection designed by the fine London silversmith Grant Macdonald, and is available online and through the W-One Aston Martin showroom. Hand-crafted by Grant Macdonald's expert silversmiths the silver collection fuses premium technology and traditional craftsmanship, celebrating the very best in contemporary British design.

The inspiration for the collection is the elegance, craftsmanship and engineering excellence that has been built into every Aston Martin since 1913. This simple yet enduring design ethos influences every piece within the hamper, from the sleek stainless steel cutlery set to the Irish damask linen table cloth, Scottish lambswool rug and fine bone China plates.

The 'Silver by Aston Martin' luxury picnic hamper retails at £2,750 and is available from www.grantmacdonald.com/astonmartin/ and at selected Aston Martin dealers.

For further information, visit www.grantmacdonald.com/astonmartin/

Custom leather exterior with a difference on this Ferrari F430

Leather interiors are the norm on most super-cars, that just comes as a given. But for this Ferrari F430, the leather is on the outside, not in.

This custom leather wrap is the wishes of a wealthy owner in the South of France, and it took a staggering 16 days to complete.

Clearly this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but according to the Latvian company Dartz who did the job, the owner gets what the owner wants!

Aston Martin unveils the Vanquish

Tonight saw London's finest flock to the London Film Museum for the hugely anticipated launch of Aston Martin's newest sports car - The Vanquish. Sitting proudly at the pinnacle of the luxury British car maker's sports car line-up, this breath-taking new grand tourer showcases an exciting and confident future for this historic brand.

Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin says: "the Aston Martin range is stronger now than at any time in our 99-year history. This new halo car represents the perfect way to signal the beginning of our centenary celebrations next year."

It was truly a boys night out as the event saw stars from the world's biggest television shows, including Dominic West from "The Wire", Jeremy Piven from "Entourage" and Charles Dance from "Game of Thrones", gather together, excitedly awaiting the grand reveal of the stunning new edition to the Aston Martin family.

As the silk was lifted gasps were heard around the party from all the attendees, with music legend Jools Holland, and chef Marcus Wareing discussing the amazing heritage and exciting new future of Aston Martin with CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

Fresh from filming, the boys from Downton Abbey, Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) and Downton's chaffeur and real life car lover, Tom Branson chummed up with fellow period actor Sam Hoare (from BBC's Bertie and Dickie) all of whom were overheard discussing their love of Bond and offering themselves as Mr Craig's replacement should he wish to retire.

In the girls corner, a flurry of creative belles also attendeed - Mischa Barton dazzled in Temperley, and Lady Natasha Rufus Issacs, founder of the label of the moment BEULAH London, discussed 'The Kate Effect' and the amazing uptake her fledgling label has seen with stylist Grace Woodward and Model Tolila Adeyemi.

Guests at the event were treated to Louis Roederer Champagne, Johnnie Walker Gold Label cocktails and sumptuous canapes, whilst enjoying a live DJ set from Isaac Ferry.

What they ate: Prawns in sweet chilli and soy; Mini mozarella, tomato and basil skewers; Thyme and goats cheese souffles; Seared scallops with creme fraiche and sweet chilli Sauce; Fresh berries and cream..

What they drank: Johnnie Walker Gold Label 'Golden Sazerac' cocktails - Golde Label Reserve mixed with Angosturra bitters, syrup and green chartreuse Louis Roederer Champagne.

The even took place on Wednesday 4th July 2012 from 6:30 to 10:30pm.

The location was at The London Film Museum, 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7BN.

The Aston Martin Vanquish is the new epitome of luxury grand touring. Cloaked in a stunning carbon fibre skin, and boasting a powerful 6.0 litre V12 engine, this new super GT sits proudly at the top of the Aston Martin range. It is available to order now, and is priced in the UKat £189,995 RRP.

For more information, please visit http://www.astonmartin.com/

Unique £1.6 million Bugatti Veyron comes to London

A one off Bugatti Veyron has hit London for the first time ever. The £1.6 million hypercar was previously seen in Paris, but has now descended to the UK.
The 1000bhp machine was seen parked outside The Dorchester hotel in Mayfair, and is owned by a wealthy man from Saudi Arabia.
What makes this car so unique, is only 1 has ever been made in such a style. Parts of the car have been made from entire Porcelain, culminating with the unique two-toned styled paint job of white, blue, and gold.
The 8-litre W16 engine can make the car hit 60mph in just 2.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 253mph.
The full name for the car is the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L'Or Blanc, a limited edition by name and nature. It's thought this won't be the last of the 'limited edition' models made by Bugatti, with many more customers wanting their own unique piece of history.

Ultra rare Mercedes set for auction

An ultra rare unearthed 1928 Mercedes-Benz S Type is set for auction this September, and is widely expected to reach in and around £1.5 million.
The Mercedes, that has been owned in the same family since new. has been hidden away for 60 years, but still runs perfectly despite not being used since the 1950's. The car was one of the fastest available at the time, with speeds capable of 100mph.
No one knows quite how the uneartherd treasure remained secret for so long, but it's certainly quite a find, given how rare this particular model is.

For more information, visit http://www.bonhams.com/

Lamborghini uncovered

There's not many bigger names in the auto industry than Lamborghini, and lucky people in the London area will next week be able to see some of the rarest and most stunning Lamborghini's that have ever graced the tarmac.
The Lamborghini museum in Bologna are handing over their prized jewells in an utter exclusive event that hasn't ever been seen before in the UK, and won't be seen again.
Some of the cars include the Lamborghini 350 GTV, of which only 120 units were ever built. The Lamborghini Diablo will also be making an appearance, as will Lamborghini's latest showpiece model, the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4.
This will be an utter one off exclusive, and entrance is free, so get yourself down there to fully appreciate this Italian legend.

Locations and dates:
Monday 18th June - Duke of York Square, Kings Road, SW3
Tuesday 19th June - Duke of York Square, Kings Road, SW3
Wednesday 20th June - Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate, EC2
Thursday 21st June - Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate, EC2
Friday 22nd June - Potters Field Park, London, SE1
Saturday 23rd June - Marble Arch, London, W2

For more information, visit http://lamborghiniuncovered.hrowen.co.uk/

One of a kind

A piece of automotive history is currently available at Aston Martin's Park Lane showroom, the Aston Martin One-77. Not only has production been limited to an exclusive 77 models, but this particular car remains the only brand new unsold unit in the world.
But if that doesn't feel exclusive enough, the car is packed with £500,000 pounds worth of extras, including a custom paint job, custom wheels, custom exhaust tips and mirrors, and a custom interior, all excelling in every single fine detail.
The story behind these tailored extras are due to a middle east businessman who bought not one, but three One-77's. In the end he decided the two were enough, and decided not to complete the sale of the third.
So if you can spare a cool £1.4 million, this utter piece of exclusivity can be yours.

For more information on the car, visit http://www.stratstone.com/dealers/aston-martin-dealer-london-391.html

Ferrari do an online auction for the earthquakes

Ferrari will open an international on-line auction to raise funds for the families of the victims of the earthquakes that have rocked the Emilia-Romagna region since the 20th of May.

In the days leading up to the auction next week, www.ferraristore.com will dedicate a section to this important initiative which sets out to contribute significant sums to those families who have lost loved ones.

The auction will include important and rare items, such as a 599XX Evo, the extreme, non-homologated sports berlinetta with a commercial value of €1.3 million. This extreme sports car incorporates the very best of Ferrari technology, the result of on-going Research and Development activities in the GT division and advanced experimentation in F1. The 599 XX Evo features a package of performance-enhancing technical features for the exclusive, dedicated track-based research and development programme for the 2012-2013 seasons.

There will also be a strong Formula 1 theme, starting with a V8 engine along with racing suits and helmets donated by the Scuderia’s drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, as well as numerous items of memorabilia from the works racing cars from past seasons.

Also featuring in the auction will be a selection from the Ferrari Store, including Prancing Horse watches.

As soon as news about the earthquakes came out, Ferrari clients and collectors from around the world spontaneously contacted the Maranello headquarters to offer their contribution. Once again the generosity of Ferrari’s enthusiasts will enable the company to provide support to those most hit by the tragedy. A demonstration of solidarity that, in recent years, has contributed to the reconstruction in Abruzzo after the earthquake, as well as the building of two after-school facilities in Ishinomaki in Japan after last year’s disaster for which Ferrari contributed over 80 million Japanese yen. 

See http://www.ferrari.com/English/Pages/Home.aspx for more information.