All posts tagged luxury cars
Mercedes to boost production against BMW and Audi
The battle amongst the premium German car brands doesn’t just happen on the luxury front, it appears. You can have all the Bose sound systems and “air scarf” technology you want, but at the end of the quarter, it’s the sales figures that really talk. After trailing BMW and Audi, the latter who robbed Mercedes of the second spot for luxury cars in the US market, Mercedes-Benz has announced it plans to increase volume to compete with its rivals.
Deliveries for the first half of the year are positive, but Mercedes trails the other big two - BMW and Audi. Mercedes registered a 9.7 percent sales increase to 611,000 vehicles, behind BMW’s 18 percent rise to 690,000 and Audi’s 18 percent rise to 653,000.
Releasing its new range of compact cars, of which the Mercedes B-Class will be one, the company plans to build a new production plant in Hungary and expand operations in both China and the US. For the second half of this year, Mercedes has raised sales targets by just 50,000 vehicles, compared to BMW’s 100,000, and more capacity would have contributed to increased sales. CEO Dieter Zetsche says:
We are striving for the highest profitability of the three and we have reason to believe we will get there. We clearly take on the race for volume. Mid-term, long-term, we are sure that we will be in the hunt for the No. 1 position.
Source | Bloomberg
Flavio Briatore's Jaguar XJ220 on sale
An unusual find on the used-car scene is this Briatore-owned Jaguar XJ220 on sale. According to reports from Autoblog.nl, a German dealership specialising in used luxury cars is selling this 1994 Jag, one of the last XJ220 models to have been made as production stopped that same year.
According to the report, the model was once part of Flavio Briatore’s car collection. For now its has 22,000 km on the clock from its 3.5-litre V6 twinturbo engine with 550 hp. That made it one of the fastest cars around at the time, reaching 100 km/hr in 3.9 seconds and having the highest top speed of a production car at 354 km/hr (before the McLaren F1 appeared).
Range Rover Wine Car: picnic with 12 bottles of wine from Range Rover in-built fridge
Land Rover Italy and Aznom have collaborated to produce this Range Rover Spirito DiVino Wine Car which was on show at Italy’s massive Vinitaly wine fair over the weekend. The Range Rover Wine Car is based on the Vogue SE 4.4 TD V8 model with 313 hp. It has been modified to include two refrigerated cabinets in the boot with a capacity for 12 bottles of wine. That’s one serious picnic someone is having.
The refrigerated units in the Wine Car are powered by solar panels which charge the batteries. There is also a socket to connect to an external electric outlet if needed. Another leather-lined storage cabinet in the boot has space for five bottles of red wine and a set of tasting glasses. A new bordeaux-coloured external colour has been developed and the seats have contrasting piping.
Maybach Zeppelin new pics
Maybach has released a new gallery of its Zeppelin super luxury model. It is equipped with the 6.0-litre V12 twin turbo with 640 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque. Based on the Maybach 57 S and 62 S, the Zeppelin’s same engine produces 28 hp more than the standard versions.
The Maybach Zeppelin now appears in two lengths, one at 5.7 metres and the other at 6.2 metres. And when we say “super-luxury”, we’re not kidding. While features include 20-inch chrome wheels, two-tone paint job and Zeppelin lettering, you also get champagne flutes and for a mere 4,000 euros more, a specially created perfume for the interior.
The Maybach Zeppelin will be produced in just 100 units, with prices starting at 406,000 euros for the 57 Zeppelin (shorter version) and 473,200 euros for the longer 62 Zeppelin. Do you think that the boat in the background comes with it?
Maybach will revive the Zeppelin special series
Maybach was revived a while ago, but it still does not enjoy all the prestige Mercedes-Benz aimed to have with it. This is the best reason for the German automaker to bring back to life the special limited series Zeppelin. Only 100 vehicles will bear the noble name, both in 57 and 62 models.
Besides some appearence items, such as a special paintjob and high quality materials in the interior of the cars, the Zeppelin series presents an exclusive perfume atomiser… whatever it is good for. What people that really love cars are interested in is something Maybach also offers: a 28 bhp increase in the 6-litre V12 biturbo engine, able to generate 640 bhp.
The Zeppelin units will be available to order from March 3 on and the first ones will be delivered by September. The Maybach 57 Zeppelin will cost 406,000 euros and the 62 Zeppelin will be sold for 473,200 euros. If you like the idea of the perfume atomiser, it will take 3950 euros more out of your pocket, what does not smell very nice in a car that costs so much.
Source: Maybach
Continue reading: Maybach will revive the Zeppelin special series
BEspoke luxury show: cars on display
At the BEspoke luxury show in Milan, we got the opportunity to check out some luxury cars, and there were plenty of unique examples to see, and we’re not just talking about the price. The first off the rank was from a BMW Milan dealership who, rather than choosing a predictable top-of-the-range BMW model chose to exhibit the Alpina B3 twin turbo Coupé and the Alpina B5 Touring.
At the entrance to the show was also a Wiesmann MF4, with an V8, 4.8L engine at 367hp, and inside the show another Wiessmann, the GT MF5 with a V10, 507hp engine from the BMW M5. Not a bad start to the exhibition. After the jump, we give you more in our gallery.
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