| Big wheels keep up to the marque by buying flash
AS ECONOMIC barometers go, there could hardly be any more dashing a $580,000 status symbol on wheels and at least 80 Australians have already placed their order for Ferrari's slick new model, the F430 Scuderia. The latest street incarnation of the world's most famous motor racing emblem is an eight-cylinder, 503-horsepower, high-performance vehicle its Italian makers would seem wholly justified in touting as a "unique supercar perfect for passionate and sporty customers". Then there's the Porsche 911 turbo, retailing at $370,000. More than 100 Australians put themselves behind the wheel of one last year, and others are queuing to take delivery of the next generation GT2 priced at $425,000. Property developer Zac Brankovic, 38, who has been driving Porsches for about five years, shelled out $260,000 for his Porsche Carrera S convertible.
Man who organised theft of own Porsche exposed
A judge has rejected a Christchurch man's story that he got back his Porsche 911 after it was car-napped and sold to him on a riverbank for $2000. Instead, Judge David Saunders has found police had proved a charge that Carl Edwin Loader was a party to the burglary, where his Porsche was taken from a garage where it was being repaired and payment for the work was in dispute. But he has not convicted Mr Loader for taking his own car. In the Christchurch District Court today he discharged the 43-year-old car salesman without conviction on condition that he pay $9508 for the work done on the Porsche, and another $500 for the cost of the prosecution. The case had a hearing before Judge Saunders on Monday and he gave his reserved decision today. He ordered that Mr Loader pay $2000 of the outstanding bill within a month, and have the rest paid by January 31.
Jaguar XK wins 'Car of the Year' and 'Best Coupe' awards
The XK Coupe also topped all cars in its category as the 'Best Coupe', out-beating competitors in the BMW 6 Series and the Porsche 911. The launch of the new XK earlier this year marked the beginning of an exciting era for Jaguar in terms of design and engineering which further extenuates the brand's reputation for building beautiful, fast cars that are thrilling to drive and gorgeous to look at. This award is yet another feather in Jaguar's cap as the new XK was awarded the 'Most exciting car to be launched in 2006' awarded by What Car? Magazine, the 'Engineering and Technology Award' at the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards and the 'World Traffic Safety Symposium's Traffic Safety Achievement' Award in the Automaker category. It has been recognized for an all-new industry-leading feature - the pedestrian deployable bonnet which is designed to help mitigate the severity of injuries to pedestrians in the event of a collision with a car.
Little Fiat sexiest car ever
Top Gear magazine has voted the humble Fiat 500, which looks like a cross between a Mini and a VW Beetle, No 1 for setting pulses racing. It tops a list of 100 sexiest cars because the mag claims anyone behind the wheel looks sexually charged ? even a nun. Contributing editor James May defended the bizarre choice yesterday, saying: The Fiat 500 advertises nothing about its owner, except that its someone who doesnt need to try. Top Gears top ten sexiest cars: 1. Fiat 500; 2. Aston Martin DBS; 3. Maserati Quattroporte; 4. Chevrolet Camaro; 5. Citroen C6; 6. Lincoln Continental; 7. Bentley Continental S1 Fastback; 8. BMW M1; 9. Rolls-Royce Phantom; 10. Sally the Porsche 911 Carrera (from the animated film Cars). .
Toyota unveils hybrid sports car
TOYOTA has launched a new vehicle that combines the slickness of a sports car with a petrol-electric hybrid engine. The car manufacturer launched its Future Toyota Hybrid Sports (FT-HS) concept yesterday and said the vehicle would provide both ultra-high performance and ultra-low fuel use and emissions. Toyota manager of product development Doug Soden said the new vehicle showed hybrids could be made not only for the masses but from a sports perspective as well. "There is a stronger need for hybrid vehicles to be on the market, or much more fuel- efficient vehicles," Mr Soden said. "Whichever way you look at it, whether it is a petrol-electric or hydrogen-electric, there needs to be that hybrid interface." Produced by Toyota's research and design team in California, the FT-HS mates an electric motor to a 3.5-litre petrol engine.
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