Hot Cars

Rolls-Royce Opens For Business In Dresden

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has opened a new showroom in Dresden, Saxony/Germany. The authorised dealer Thomas Exclusive Cars GmbH, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dresden, celebrated the opening of its new facilities in Radebeul near Dresden, by unveiling the new Phantom Drophead Coupé.

This latest Rolls-Royce model was making its official German debut, following motor show appearances at Detroit and Geneva.

Sibylle Thomas-Göbelbecker, dealer principal of Thomas Exclusive Cars said, “We are proud to represent the most luxurious automotive brand here in Saxony – and we are pleased to host the German debut of the new Rolls-Royce convertible.”

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, Axel Obermüller, said, “We see Dresden as an ideal location for the extension of our European dealer network, based on the fact that Germany is our strongest market in Continental Europe. Our experience here over the past months has proven that Saxony is not only founded on a strong history in terms of culture and cars but as well on a remarkable business development.”

In Continental Europe there are now 19 Rolls-Royce showrooms.

This year the brand will have a three model line-up, as the new Drophead Coupé joins the Phantom and Phantom Extended Wheelbase. First deliveries of the Phantom Drophead Coupé to German customers will start in August.

Driver Loses Control of Car and Falls into the River

GM Daewoo Matiz Wins Energy Grand Prix Award

The GM Daewoo Matiz mini-car has won the Energy Grand Prix award presented by Consumers Korea. Founded in 1983, Consumers Korea is a non-profit organization that helps protect the interests of local consumers.

Since 1997, it has annually presented the Energy Winner Awards, honoring products and organizations that contribute to the saving of energy. The three most energy-efficient products and activities are honored with the Energy Grand Prix award.

During this year’s 11th Energy Winner Awards, winners were selected in five categories: Green Equipment, Green Lighting, Green Building/Architecture, Energy-Efficient Vehicle and Energy-Saving Activity. GM Daewoo was presented its award during an official ceremony today

“The Energy Grand Prix award proves once again the outstanding value offered by the Matiz,” said GM Daewoo Vice President of Engineering Steve Clarke. “The Matiz epitomizes GM Daewoo’s engineering capability and accumulated technology in developing fuel-efficient, practical mini vehicles, which have been awarded by GM appointing GM Daewoo to be the global base for the development of its mini cars.”

Since its launch in 1998, more than 2 million Matiz cars have been sold around the world. The best-selling mini-car in Korea and abroad, the Matiz has received numerous awards. They include the Auto Design Award from IBCAM and Best Mini-Car from Italy’s Automobile. The Matiz also has finished first in its segment in surveys carried out by J.D. Power & Associates in Mexico, China and India.

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology was established in 2002. It has five manufacturing facilities in Korea as well as an assembly facility in Vietnam. In addition, GM Daewoo provides market and brand-specific vehicle kits for assembly at GM facilities in China, Thailand, India, Colombia and Venezuela. In 2006, GM Daewoo sold in Korea and exported more than 1.5 million vehicles.

GM Daewoo vehicles are now offered in more than 150 markets on six continents under several GM Group brands. Imported GM products from the Cadillac and Saab premium brands are sold in Korea through GM AutoWorld retailers.

Volkswagen EOS Named One Of The Sexiest Cars Of 2007

Volkswagen of America, Inc. has announced that ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine has named the Eos convertible one of the top 10 sexiest cars for 2007. In the 11th annual Sexy Car Buyer’s Guide, ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine (RTM) cites the Eos, with its coupe-sunroof-convertible (CSC)TM and price under $30,000, as “the best of all worlds.

A road runner with simple, elegant lines [and] just enough trim in the right places.” Open top motoring, combined with the powerful 2.0T, 200 horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 3.6 L 250 hp V6 engine mated to the dual-clutch, DSG® six-speed transmission makes the Eos an exciting vehicle and fun to drive.

“We’re very proud of the Eos and the recent accolades it has received from the automotive industry, including a strong showing in the J.D. Power APEAL study and now from ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine,” said Susan Kelke, North American launch and model manager. “It has become a strong halo vehicle for Volkswagen, representing the best of German engineering and styling and a fun-to-drive quotient for consumers.”

“The July ‘Romance Issue’ (http://www.roadandtravel.com/) provides a full review of the top ten vehicles and what makes each specific automobile sizzle and satisfy,” said Courtney Caldwell, editor-in-chief, ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine. “Test driven by RTM editors, these revved-up roadsters are sure to leave drivers (and readers) reeling and writhing for more.”

ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, established in 1989, is a comprehensive online, in-market lifestyle magazine specializing in a wide variety of automotive and travel topics.

Primarily geared towards women, RTM was the first publication to specifically address women’s automotive needs and concerns, providing a resource from which they could make informed decisions regarding purchases and personal safety.

Porsche: 100,000 Units Of The Latest 911 Generation Built

Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, is enjoying another high in the success story of its 911: a little over three years since production started in April 2004, the 100,000th vehicle in the current Eleven series (Type 997) has rolled off the production line at the company’s main plant in Zuffenhausen.

Porsche has been manufacturing the 911 since 1963, but never in all that time have so many of these sports cars been produced so quickly as with the sixth generation. The “record” Eleven, a guards red Carrera S with manual gearbox, is to be delivered to a customer in the Frankfurt/Main area within the next few days.

Over the past 40 years or so, the 911 has become the quintessential sports car. From fall 2007, a total of 16 different Eleven models will leave the production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen alongside the newly unveiled 911 Turbo Cabriolet and the racing derivatives, the 911 GT3 Cup and the 911 GT3 RSR. By July 31, the end of the 2006/2007 fiscal year, Porsche will have placed around 36,000 units from the 911 series on the global market – yet another record in the history of the Eleven.

Castagna Aznom

One of the most exciting recent developments in the industry, by this writer’s account at least, is the re-emergence of the coachbuilding industry.

Cars like the Fisker Latigo and Zagato Ferrari 575 GTZ have heralded a revival of the long-lost segment that inherently gives birth to some of the most unique automobiles on the road. It was only a matter of time until the Italians picked up where they left off by crafting unique Corvette-based sportscars.

Italian coachbuilder Castagna Milano, originally founded way back in the 1850s and revived in the 1990s, has created a number of bespoke models, including the Imperial Landaulet concept and a slew of custom Minis.

The carrozzeria’s latest offering, the Castagna Aznom, was previewed in skeletal form back in April at Monaco’s Top Marques show, and the firm has now released further details and images.

Based on the Corvette Z06, the Aznom also draws on retro Corvette styling elements, blended with thoroughly modern design features to create a heart-stopping supercar. The egg-crate grille is drawn from the original ‘53 Vette, slab-sided flanks from the ‘58 Stingray and fenders from the ‘56 SR-2 Sebring race car.

On the contemporary side of things, LED rear lights, retracting rear wing, three-section rear diffuser and F1-style fender-mounted carbon-fiber wing mirrors round out the design.

Those sharp five-spoke wheels measure 20 inches, shod in 285/30 and 335/30 Pirelli PZero rubber front and rear respectively, housing 356mm cross-drilled discs with six-pot calipers fore and 340mm discs with 4-pot calipers aft. The cockpit even features a Google Earth-powered sat-nav system.

Whether you love or hate the unique styling, the Aznom has the “go” to back up the “show”. Castagna has thoroughly massaged the Z06’s 7-liter V8 from 500 horsepower to a whopping 750, and with the use of carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium bodywork, has trimmed the weight down to 1,400 kg.

With that magical formula of more power and less weight, the carrozzeria puts the performance figures at 0-60 in a scant 3.4 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 217 mph.