The magic of James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and if we will see it on screen again?

It’s not the first car named in Skyfall–that’s a black Audi–or even the second. But there’s only one car you’ll remember from the latest Bond film.

An immaculate 1965 Aston Martin DB5. Silver. The theater audience roared with approval last night when it came on the scene.

This also led to one of the most emotional cinematic moments for me was the brutal end the Aston Martin DB5 in Skyfall, and like a true hero it went down like a true patriot, serving and dying for its master. But as the cloud of emotion slowly lifted off my mind sudden panic struck. Was this the end of James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5?

Actually, there were two DB5s in Skyfall. One belongs to EON Productions, the 51-year-old company that owns the Bond franchise. That car was cloned from the original, which belongs to a private collector, in order to provide a body double for filming. Directors in the Aston Martin heritage program had searched extensively to find the perfect vehicle for the movie, and they transformed the one they found from green with a beige interior into a Silver-Birch painted car with black trim distressed to add the patina of age.

In the history of big-screen product placement, the Aston Martin DB5 from the 1964 film Goldfinger, is perhaps the most successful. The combination of beautiful Italian design, British engineering and clever gadgets from special effects expert John Stears set the tone for Bond films and the publicity almost certainly saved Aston Martin from one of its perennial financial crises.

“An ejector seat? You’ve got to be joking,” says Sean Connery as Bond when the Aston is introduced by Desmond Llewelyn as Q.

“I never joke about my work 007,” he coldly replies.

With the Second World War only 19 years previous, you could see where Stears derived inspiration for the Aston Martin’s armament; twin Browning .303 machine guns just like those that spat rounds from the leading edge of a Spitfire’s wings, the bullet-proof rear screen, too, echoed that fighter’s pilot protection.

And the vicious-looking tyre slashers? As Llewelyn wrote in the introduction to Dave Worrall’s book The Most Famous Car in the World: “They’re just a variation of the chariot wheel scythes of Ben Hur, and gangsters in the Prohibition era resorted to oil slicks when driving their getaway cars.”

However, it was that ejector seat that captured the imaginations of generations of small children from my Fathers generation. The Corgi model of the Bond Aston was the company’s most successful ever and is still in production. Auto Art’s version of the James Bond DB5 is perpetually sold out.

It has often been said that it was the gadgets which were actually more famous – compared to the car.

There’s also a mystery surrounding the Goldfinger Aston Martins, almost worthy of the plot of a Bond film itself. At the beginning there was one, the special effects or gadgets car, based on a prototype DB4 but virtually identical to a DB5 and ingeniously fitted out by Stears and his team of craftsmen at Pinewood Studios.

Then, after producer Harry Saltzman expressed disquiet at “this $45,000 little bag of tricks” being thrown around public roads in the high‑speed sequences, Aston Martin lent Eon Productions a second, standard production DB5 registered FMP 7B for the high-speed work.

That is this car, which went under the hammer at RM Auctions’ sale in Battersea Park on October 27. It was expected to fetch about $5million, which, considering its owner, Philadelphia businessman Jerry Lee, paid just $12,000 in 1969, must be considered a good investment.

So how did FMP 7B come to be fitted with all the Stears gadgets? Here the story gets complicated. As a high-speed film car, FMP 7B proved useless. Its German ZF gearbox failed during filming in Switzerland, which meant it was actually the precious gadgets car, driven with considerable verve by stunt driver Bill Baskerville, that we see chasing Tilly Masterson’s Ford Mustang through the Alps.

After filming was completed, the gadgets car was sent on a two-year, around-the-world publicity tour. With Eon Productions starting filming the next Bondathon film, Thunderball, Aston Martin decided to retro-fit

FMP 7B with replica Stears gadgets with a few changes to make them more reliable. So, in 1965, in the opening credits of Thunderball, when Sean Connery uses his Aston’s water cannons to scatter his assailants, it is this car that is attached to the fire hoses of the French pompiers.

Weirder and weirder, the original car was eventually stripped of its Stears gadgets by Aston Martin and sold to Kentish businessman Gavin Keyzar. He had facsimile gadgets refitted and sold the car on to Richard Loose in Utah in 1971. In 1985, it was sold by Sotheby’s New York to Anthony Pugliese, who used the car for promotional work. It was stolen from an aircraft hanger in Boca Raton airport in Florida in 1997 and the insurance settlement was rumoured to be about 80 per cent of the car’s agreed value of $4.2 million.

To cope with the demands of the promotional circuit after the success ofGoldfinger and Thunderball, Aston Martin built two replicas, which became known as the press cars. These, too, were sold on, initially to Anthony Bamford, who swapped one of them for a Ferrari GTO, arguably the best piece of trading he ever did. One of those cars now resides in the Dutch Louwman museum in The Hague, the other was sold in 2006 for $2.09million by RM Auctions in Arizona to a private buyer.

So, FMP 7B might not be the first Bond DB5, and it proved pretty useless as a high-speed film car, but its provenance makes it the closest thing to the original Stears gadget car. It was driven by Sean Connery, it appeared in two Bond films and, in the absence of the original, it is the nearest thing to what Q issued to an insouciant Bond all those years ago.

Quite what you do with it is a different matter. It’s not a desperately good Aston Martin and its value makes it difficult to use much. Astons are nosebleed expensive to keep on the road and the gadgets make this car even more so. Stears’s special effects are undoubtedly impressive, but we need to remember that none ever worked in the true meaning of the word. The machine guns never fired, the bullet-proof screen was anything but and that ejector seat was an expertly filmed mock-up.

James Bond is the fantastical Peter Pan of spies. If he was 30 in 1964 he’d be 76 now, hardly an age to be leaping about foiling Auric Goldfinger or Smersh. Yet the super-spy is still a highly potent myth - no surprises that a number of over-rich, overgrown schoolboys are still lining up to buy a bit of the myth at every given opportunity.

Will the car be reviewed like The Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger that refuses to die? Will it be back?

I sure hope so.

Film appearances by Aston Martin DB5

Goldfinger 1964

Thunderball 1965

Carry On Doctor 1967

The Cannonball Run 1981

Goldeneye 1995

Tomorrow Never Dies 1997

The World Is Not Enough 1999 (scene cut)

Catch Me If You Can 2002

Charlie's Angels – Full Throttle 2003

Double Zero 2004

The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers 2004

Casino Royale 2006

Skyfall 2012

The rarest cars in the world - The Bugatti Type 41

The Bugatti type 41 known as Bugatti Royale was produced in 1927-1933. 

Made only 6 from originally planned 25, Bugatti Royale is now one of the rarest cars in the world. Bugatti firstly intended to sell the Royale cars to royalties, as the cars’ name suggests. However, even royalties could not afford to buy such luxurious cars in time of Great Depression. Only 3 of 6 cars finally managed to find their buyers, none of them were royalties.
The Royale is a large luxury car with a 4.3 m wheelbase and 6.4 m length. It weighs about 3175 kg and uses a 12.7 L (12 763 cc/778 in ³) straight-8 engine.By comparison, the Royale is about as heavy as a large, modern commercial pickup and a Ford Super Duty F-450, but it is about 10% longer. In the modern Rolls-Royce Phantom is compared, it is more around 20% and more than 25% heavier.

Design

The Type 41 was invented by Bugatti as an answer to the comments of an English lady who compared his cars unfavorably with those of Rolls-Royce.The prototype had a nearly 15-liter engine. The production version, the stroke of 150 mm (5.9 in) reduced to 130 mm (5.1 in) has a capacity of 12.7 liters.  The engine is a large block was built, and (4.5 ft. APX. long x 1.1 ft high), is one of the largest automotive engines ever made, producing 205-223 kW (275-300 hp). His eight-cylinder, 125 mm (4.9 in) drilled and with a stroke of 130 mm (5.1 in), each displaced more than the engine of the contemporary Type 40 touring car. (Two intake points: a trap) IT 3 valves per cylinder and had a centrally positioned single overhead camshaft driven. Nine camps were given for reliability, but only own a carburetor was needed. The engine was an aero-engine designed for the French Air Ministry, but never in this configuration is based.The chassis was understandably great, with a conventional semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension system on front. On the back of the forward-looking Bugatti Elliptic quarterfinals by means of half set in front of the rear adds Massive pads were mechanically operated by cables. The brakes were effective, but without the power assistance required considerable energy of the driver. The car cast “Roue Royale” wheels measured 610 mm (24 inches) in diameter.Reflecting some traditional forms of the time, whalebone knobs were presented for the driver, while the steering wheel was covered with walnut.All Royales were built in different and unique bodies with a sculpture of an  elephant on the top of the radiator. The elephant sculpture was made by Ettore’s brother, Rembrandt Bugatti.

Production

In 1928 Ettore Bugatti claims that “this year will be King Alfonso of Spain got its Royale,” but the Spanish king was deposed without ever having it, and the first of the Royales to find a customer was not delivered until 1932. The Royale which its basic chassis was priced of $ 30,000, was launched as the world economy collapsed in the year of 1930. Six Royales were built during 1929-1933, with only three sold to external customers. Ironically, none of the buyer was a royal. Bugatti even refused to sell one of the Royale to King Zog of Albania, claiming that “The man’s table manners are beyond belief!”All six production Royales still exist (the prototype was destroyed in an accident in 1931) today. Each chassis has a different body and some have been rebodied several times.

41.110 – Coupe Napoleon

- The first car is chassis number 41.110 - Known as the Coupe Napoleon. - This car was the larger 14.7-liter prototype engine. - It was originally a Packard body, but was rebodied by Weymann as a two door car. At various stages it was also slipped into other bodies. - The Coupe Napoleon was used by Ettore Bugatti, and in his later life was his own car. It remained in the possession of the family, kept at their castle Ermenonville chateau. The car was finally sold due to financial difficulties in 1963 to a Bugatti obsessive Fritz Schlumpf. - Crashed by Ettore Bugatti in 1930 or 1931 when he fell asleep while driving home from Paris to Alsace, a major renovation was then needed. - Stored with 41.141 and 41.150 in the Second World War at the home of the Bugatti family Ermenonville to avoid being claimed by the Nazis. - Sold by L’Ebe Bugatti in the early 1960s to the Schlumpf brothers. - Located in the Musée National de l’Automobile de Mulhouse in addition to 41,131 which the Schlumpf brothers had bought from John Smurf Shakespeare.

41.111 – Coupe de Ville Binder

- The second car built, but the first one to find customer, chassis no.41.111. - Known as the Coupe de Ville Binder. - Sold in April 1932 to French clothing manufacturer Armand Esders. It was Ettore’s eldest son, Jean, who fashioned the car with a dramatic two-seater open body with extravagant, full wings and an old fashioned rumble seat room without headlights. In this form it was known as the Royale Esders Roadster. - Acquired by the French politician Paternotre, the car was rebuilt in the Coupe de Ville style by Henri Binder. Since then, it is known as Coupe de Ville Binder. - Never be able to reach the King of Romania because of the break of World War 2, it was the hidden from the Nazis by storing it in the sewers of Paris. - Recently found its way to the United Kingdom after the second World War, and was subsequently purchased by Dudley C. Wilson of Florida in 1954. After his death in 1961, the car went to banker Mills B. Lane of Atlanta in 1964 in the Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada. - Sold in 1986 to California, collectors, homeowners and Air Force Reserve Major General William Lyon, he offered the car in 1996 Barrett-Jackson private auction, where he refused an offer of $ 11,000,000; the car was sold at $ 15 million. - In 1999, the new owner of the Bugatti brand, Volkswagen AG, purchased the car for a reputed $ 20,000,000. Now used as a vehicle to promote the brand, it travels to several museums and other attractions.

41.121 – Weinberger Cabriolet

- The third car is the chassis no.41.121. - Known as the Weinberger Cabriolet. - Sold in 1932 to build on the German obstetrician named Joseph Fuchs, the body manufacturer in Munich Ludwig Weinberger him an open convertible. Painted in black and yellow color, the car was sent to Dr. Fuchs in May 1932. - As political tensions rose in the pre-war Germany, Fuchs moved to Italy then Japan, before finally moved to New York around 1937, bringing the Royale with him. - Charles Chayne, then head of General Motors later found the car in a junkyard in New York to buy it for $ 400 in 1946. - Chayne customized the car so it became more road-friendly. It was completed in 1947: a brand new intake manifold with four carburetors, replacing the original single carb setup, a new color scheme of the oyster white with a dark green cover and convertible roof. - In 1957, after using the car for 10 years, the car was donated by Chayne to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, where it still lies.

41.131 – Limousine Park Ward

- No.41.131 chassis as the Park Ward saloon known at home in the Musée National de l’Automobile de Mulhouse - The fourth car is the chassis no.41.131 - Known as the car or limousine Foster Park Ward - Sold to Englishman Captain Cuthbert W. Foster, heir to a large department store in Boston USA, through his U.S. mother in 1933. - Foster had a limousine body on the car of Park Ward, in the style of 1921 made Daimler he had ever owned. - Acquired in 1946 by the British Bugatti seller Jack Lemon Burton, who was forced to replace the tires with large piece of artillery which made him to remove the skirting from the fenders. - Sold in 1956, the American collector John Shakespeare who at that time had the largest Bugatti collection. - As the effect of financial problem in 1963, Shakespeare sold his all collection to a willing buyer, Fritz Schlumpf. - Part of the Schlumpf Collection. - Located in the Musée National de l’Automobile de Mulhouse.

41.141 -Kellner car

- The fifth car, the chassis no.41.141. - Known as the Kellner car. - Not sold, owned by Bugatti. - L’Ebe Bugatti sold it 41,150 in 1950 to the American Le Mans racer Briggs Cunningham in exchange for a small but unspecified amount of money, plus a few new General Electric refrigerators, will not be available in postwar France. - After closing his museum in 1986, in 1987 the car was directly sold by Christie’s of the Briggs Cunningham’s collection of 5.5 million pounds, or U.S. $ 9,700,000 at the Royal Albert Hall, the Swedish real estate magnate Hans Thulin - The car was offered for auction in 1989 by Kruse in Las Vegas, Ed Weaver car to attempt to keep $ 11,500,000, which was rejected by Thulin, was $ 15,000,000. The collapse of its empire Thulin sold the car in 1990 for a reported $ 15,700,000 in the Japanese conglomerate Meitec Corporation and its modern building basement, before the sale for 10 million euros of Bonhams & Brooks offered by private treaty in 2001 stayed . - Owner is not known.

41.150 – Berline de Voyage

- The sixth car, the chassis no.41.150. - Known as the Berline de Voyage. - Not sold, owned by Bugatti. - L’Ebe Bugatti sold it with 41.141 and 41.110 in 1950 to the American Le Mans racer Briggs Cunningham in exchange for a small but unspecified amount of money, plus a few new General Electric refrigerators. - Upon their arrival in the United States sold 41,150 Cunningham, which was went to the Harrah Collection. The car then auctioned in 1986 where Jerry J. Moore paid $ 6,500,000 to get it, he kept it for one year and then sold the car to Tom Monaghan at $8.1 million. - In 1991, Berline de Voyage was sold to Domino’s Pizza’s founder, Tom Monaghan for $8,000,000. - The car was then sold to Blackhawk Collection in Danville, California. 

The on-screen chemistry of the Aston Martin DB5 and James Bond

In the history of big-screen product placement, this car, the Aston Martin DB5 from the 1964 film Goldfinger, is perhaps the most successful. The combination of beautiful Italian design, British engineering and clever gadgets from special effects expert John Stears set the tone for Bond films and the publicity almost certainly saved Aston Martin from one of its perennial financial crises.

“An ejector seat? You’ve got to be joking,” says Sean Connery as Bond when the Aston is introduced by Desmond Llewelyn as Q.

“I never joke about my work 007,” he coldly replies.

With the Second World War only 19 years previous, you could see where Stears derived inspiration for the Aston Martin’s armament; twin Browning .303 machine guns just like those that spat rounds from the leading edge of a Spitfire’s wings, the bullet-proof rear screen, too, echoed that fighter’s pilot protection.

And the vicious-looking tyre slashers? As Llewelyn wrote in the introduction to Dave Worrall’s book The Most Famous Car in the World: “They’re just a variation of the chariot wheel scythes of Ben Hur, and gangsters in the Prohibition era resorted to oil slicks when driving their getaway cars.”

However, it was that ejector seat that captured the imaginations of generations of small children. The Corgi model of the Bond Aston was the company’s most successful ever and is still in production. Yet how many sofa backs would yield up the tiny blue plastic spy lost after a successful ejection through the roof of the silver birch Aston?

As Llewelyn wryly observed: “It was the gadgets which were actually famous – not the car.”

There’s also a mystery surrounding the Goldfinger Aston Martins, almost worthy of the plot of a Bond film itself. At the beginning there was one, the special effects or gadgets car, based on a prototype DB4 but virtually identical to a DB5 and ingeniously fitted out by Stears and his team of craftsmen at Pinewood Studios.

Then, after producer Harry Saltzman expressed disquiet at “this $45,000 little bag of tricks” being thrown around public roads in the high‑speed sequences, Aston Martin lent Eon Productions a second, standard production DB5 registered FMP 7B for the high-speed work.

That is this car, which went under the hammer at RM Auctions’ sale in Battersea Park on October 27. It was expected to fetch about $5million, which, considering its owner, Philadelphia businessman Jerry Lee, paid just $12,000 in 1969, must be considered a good investment.

So how did FMP 7B come to be fitted with all the Stears gadgets? Here the story gets complicated. As a high-speed film car, FMP 7B proved useless. Its German ZF gearbox failed during filming in Switzerland, which meant it was actually the precious gadgets car, driven with considerable verve by stunt driver Bill Baskerville, that we see chasing Tilly Masterson’s Ford Mustang through the Alps.

After filming was completed, the gadgets car was sent on a two-year, around-the-world publicity tour. With Eon Productions starting filming the next Bondathon film, Thunderball, Aston Martin decided to retro-fit FMP 7B with replica Stears gadgets with a few changes to make them more reliable. So, in 1965, in the opening credits of Thunderball, when Sean Connery uses his Aston’s water cannons to scatter his assailants, it is this car that is attached to the fire hoses of the French pompiers.

Weirder and weirder, the original car was eventually stripped of its Stears gadgets by Aston Martin and sold to Kentish businessman Gavin Keyzar. He had facsimile gadgets refitted and sold the car on to Richard Loose in Utah in 1971. In 1985, it was sold by Sotheby’s New York to Anthony Pugliese, who used the car for promotional work. It was stolen from an aircraft hanger in Boca Raton airport in Florida in 1997 and the insurance settlement was rumoured to be about 80 per cent of the car’s agreed value of $4.2 million.

To cope with the demands of the promotional circuit after the success ofGoldfinger and Thunderball, Aston Martin built two replicas, which became known as the press cars. These, too, were sold on, initially to Anthony Bamford, who swapped one of them for a Ferrari GTO, arguably the best piece of trading he ever did. One of those cars now resides in the Dutch Louwman museum in The Hague, the other was sold in 2006 for $2.09million by RM Auctions in Arizona to a private buyer.

So, FMP 7B might not be the first Bond DB5, and it proved pretty useless as a high-speed film car, but its provenance makes it the closest thing to the original Stears gadget car. It was driven by Sean Connery, it appeared in two Bond films and, in the absence of the original, it is the nearest thing to what Q issued to an insouciant Bond all those years ago.

Quite what you do with it is a different matter. It’s not a desperately good Aston Martin and its value makes it difficult to use much. Astons are nosebleed expensive to keep on the road and the gadgets make this car even more so. Stears’s special effects are undoubtedly impressive, but we need to remember that none ever worked in the true meaning of the word. The machine guns never fired, the bullet-proof screen was anything but and that ejector seat was an expertly filmed mock-up.

James Bond is the fantastical Peter Pan of spies. If he was 30 in 1964 he’d be 79 now, hardly an age to be leaping about foiling Auric Goldfinger or Smersh. In what appears to be the end of the James Bond and his DB5 partnership, in the last  Bond film 'Skyfall' the Aston Martin is mercilessly destroyed by the evil  Raoul Silva for faithfully defending its master till its very end. My heart cried out during the rather emotional action sequence and I secretly whispered to myself  'Get the bastard for that James'.

Film appearances by Aston Martin DB5

Goldfinger 1964

Thunderball 1965

Carry On Doctor 1967

The Cannonball Run 1981

Goldeneye 1995

Tomorrow Never Dies 1997

The World Is Not Enough 1999 (scene cut)

Catch Me If You Can 2002

Charlie's Angels – Full Throttle 2003

Double Zero 2004

The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers 2004

Casino Royale 2006

Skyfall 2012

HM Ambassador... The evolution of a car that has been in production since 1957

The Ambassador, has been in production since its inception in 1957, with very few changes to its frame to the current date.


This famed car which was once a default for any car buyer in India has managed to stay alive even today. Known once as the Indian government man’s official car, it is now a practical, relatively easy to run and maintain classic car - a vintage that you can buy new from a showroom and drive anywhere. Lets take a look at the evolution of this iconic model and its history in India.

Hindustan Motors was formed in 1942 by Mr B M Birla but production of the first car, the Hindustan 10 which was based on the British Morris 10, did not start until 1949.

This was followed in 1950 by the “Baby Hindustan”, a car based on the Morris Minor, and the Hindustan 14 which was based on the Morris 14. These were popular and sturdy cars, we can still find a number of immaculately restored 'Hindustan 14's' and 'Baby Hindustan's' on Indian roads.

An immaculately maintained Hindustan 14 - based on the Morris 14

The 1954 Morris Oxford series II in India was licence-built at Uttarpara, West Bengal, three years after its debut in England and labelled as the 1957 Hindustan Landmaster. It had a rounded rear squab and a curvaceous sloping hood.




Morris Oxford Series I  - The Hindustan Landmaster (below) was of the clone of the Oxford









In 1957 a tool line of the Series 3 Morris Oxford was transferred to India and production of the Ambassador car started in 1958. Styling changes from the Morris Oxford series II (Landmaster) to Morris Oxford series III (Ambassador) included deep headlamp cowls and small rear wing "tail fins" – all the rage in 1956. The dashboard and steering wheel were completely redesigned. The Landmaster's flat-plane two-spoke steering wheel gave way to a stylish dished steering wheel with three spokes made-up of four wires per spoke, for the Ambassador. Also a new, dimpled hood made its debut. These models had a 1,489 cc side-valve BMC B series petrol engine. In 1959 the side-valve engine was replaced by a 1489 cc, 55 bhp overhead-valve BMC B series petrol engine.

The Morris Oxford Series III 1957 - The present day Ambassador's parent.

From 1958 to 1993 the Ambassador was fitted with a 1,489 cc engine. In 1993, as a result of emission regulations, a 1,800 cc Isuzu engine was fitted to the 1800 1SZ model.


By 2004 nearly four million Ambassador cars had been sold. In 2006 HM introduced the Ambassador Avigo. The Avigo is a slightly modernised version with a retro touch to the old Ambassador. The Avigo features modern comfort features and some additional safety features, making it more practical to a classic car enthusiast.

The refreshed Ambassador Avigo introduced in 2006

HM has also recently added a pick up version to its current line up of the Ambassador series called the ‘Veer’ aimed at the rural consumers. A product that is a little late for its time by about 25 years.

 The ‘Amby’ lives on and production of this iconic car continues to the current day in India, and by the looks of it has another decade of production ahead of it.

The Ambassador pick up 'Veer' recently indroduced - A good concept 25 years late 

An original 1956 Morris Oxford Series II pick up

India's Auto Expo 2012 - A sneak peak

The New Year bash would actually begin with the Auto Expo on 5th January 2012 at Pragati Maidan,New Delhi where new launches will be the show stoppers. One of Asia’s biggest auto shows, will be participated by 30 countries with new launches and variants with over 2100 exhibitors.

Hyundai Motors the country’s second largest auto maker and Maruti Suzuki are on their way to debut the concept of a compact SUV at the expo. Maruti will also remove wraps from its all new ‘Ertiga’. The luxurious car makers Audi will flaunt their new line up of SUV Q3 as a concept car and S6 sedan.

The Maruti Ertiga - made its debut as the RIII concept in the 2010 Auto Expo

BMW will remove wraps from its Mini Cooper and launch it during the expo. Mercedes Benz will showcase its B-Class premium hatchback. Peugeot Citreona and Ferrari who are the new entrants will also exhibit their products and announce expansion plans for India.



The Mercedes Benz B-Class will be the most affordable in the mighty Merc range



Force Motors that have entered the passenger car segment ofIndiawith their ‘Force One’ will showcase two variants of the new model at the Auto Expo 2012. “We will show a four-wheel drive and a concept luxury weekend getaway versions at the Auto Expo, with the latter having luxurious interiors. We will also show a new 26-seater monocoque bus which will go into regular production by April 2011,” said Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors.

Ford Eco Sport a premium SUV under the flagship of FordIndiawill also be one of the SUVs that will be unwrapped at the Auto Expo 2012 inNew Delhi. Renault will Another launch to watch out for will be the Renault Duster, Making its Indian debut at the Expo, this mini-SUV is expected to be launched by July 2012.



The Renault Duster -  if priced right can be Renault's super hero in India

Mahindra and Mahindra plans few surprises for the customers as Pawan Goenka president of the automotive sector M&M said, “We will be displaying some relevant products and some surprises from Mahindra two wheelers, the Navistar JV, Mahindra and Mahindra and Ssangyong.” Also another launch to watch out from the Mahindra stable will be India's only pure electric cars - The new Reva NXR



The REVA NXR - Can this be the Indian alternatie to the Nissan Leaf ?



Bike manufacturers will surely get themselves noticed. NK Rattan, vice president of marketing and sales at Honda and scooter India said, “We will display our first 100cc category motorcycle which is really good. We will also showcase scooters and motorcycles for mass production and some other interesting things.”

Harley Davidson and Triumph, the cult bike brands will also exhibit their new model line for next year.

Cant wait to be there for this mega event.



The mouth watering Triump RIII Rocket



Ralph Lauren's Incredible Car Collection

American fashion designer Ralph Lauren owns one of the most distinctive car collections in the world. Seventeen of his striking models, selected from the 1930s until present day, were on display at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from April 28 to August 28 2011. Each magnificent vehicle was handpicked by curator Rodolphe Rapetti.

Visitors were rewarded with a far-ranging collection that includes some of the most singular and iconic examples ever produced by top marques: Ferrari, Bentley, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, and a host of others. The exhibition marked the first time Lauren's collection had been shown in this fashion in Europe.

“Strangely enough, I really don't like to drive the cars when people are around,” Lauren says. “As it turns out, I don't really want to be seen in the cars. There's a part of me that likes the privacy, so the more garish the car, the less I want to drive it. On weekends, depending on the weather, I love the Jaguars, the XK120 or XK140. I love the Mercedes Gullwing and roadster and the Porsches.” Modest?... actually a perfect blend of flamboyance and class.  Some of my favourites from the display.

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, 1958

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931

Bentley Blower, 1929

Bugatti 57 S(C) Atlantic, 1938

Bugatti 59 Grand Prix, 1933

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, 1960

Jaguar XK120 Roadster, 1950

Mercedes Benz SSK Comte Trossi, 1930

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Papillon, 1955

The Zenvo ST1, a Danish Super Car?.... Yep not a Cup Cake, not Beer a Super Car

Normally when someone says Denmark the images that come to your mind are things like Vikings, Lego, Bang and Olufsen, Carlsberg, and open sandwhiches. But looks like people back there have decided to have a sudden change of image and have decided to do so with a supercar. Yes I know... a Danish super car. Super cars are supposed to be Japanese, American, Italian, German, maybe even French and English – but Danish? Things change, the Zenvo ST1 is a real Danish supercar with mountain moving power; a V8 1,250 horsepower engine to be exact. The turbocharged 7.0 liter engine coupled with 6 speed manual gearbox pushes the Zenvo ST1 from 0-96 Km/Hr in just 2.9 seconds. For safety and legal reasons, the car is electronically limited to 518 Km/Hr. Of course I forgot to mention one small fact - it will cost INR 5.70 Crores ($1.8 million) and this is for the base version. Upgrades like ceramic brakes, paddle-shifting transmission, carbon wheels, a roll-cage, a car cover and customised leather interior cost much, much more.

 

A car that fast needs major brakes to stop it and this baby uses a set of ventilates 380 mm disc brakes and 6 piston calipers up front, 355 mm discs gripped by 6 piston calipers at the rear. Made entirely of a steel frame wrapped in a carbon fiber body, the styling is striking and contemporary. A head turner for sure and pretty much unlike any other recognizable super car on the road.

The interior continue the excitement. It’s pure luxury – strange for a super car. The alcantara leather trimmed interior hosts a bevy of high-tech niceties like dual zone climate control, full set of airbags, cruise control (who would need cruise control at 500 Km/Hr), keyless entry, racing seats and a G-force meter for all you gear heads.

 

Only 15 of the ST1 will be made. Those specimens have already generated plenty of interest from high profile figures, as you can well imagine, but the bulk of the buyers will be anonymous. All I can say is Zenvo, Du er sexet.