Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the most expensive car of the world, reaches 9.02 million euros in auction

In May 2008, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder sold for 7.04 million euros, what made it become the world's most expensive car. Ever. In May 2009, another Ferrari, but this time a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for an even higher price, 9.02 million euros. The title of most expensive car of the world, as you may have already figured out, is now in other hands.



It is no surprise the 250 Testa Rossa has reached this price. It was designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti and only 22 units of it were ever produced. These cars were used in 19 international races and won 10 of them, what made the unit that was auctioned especially interesting for car collectors all over the world. RM Auctions did not reveal the name or from where the winning biddor was, what is no surprise at all, considering the car's price. Anyway, we are almost sure to hear from it again in this year's edition of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The most expensive car of the world has a V12 engine with 2,953 cm³ and six Weber 38 DCN carburettors to produce 300 bhp at 7,200 rpm, conducted by a four speed manual transmission. Although the car could surely accelerate a lot, its four drum brakes were also sure to heat up and lose efficiency as fast as the car could hit 100 km/h. This is certainly what made some of the guys that have driven this machine be considered heroes. Or totally out of their minds...
















Source: RM Auctions

Veritas RS III will have its official debut at London Salon Privé

Some of you may remember we have already presented the Veritas RS III, a supercar aimed solely at being fast (and gorgeous). There is no other seat than the driver's and the whole car has been designed to make its only passenger to feel at home in a road or in a race track. After a short period of wait, the official presentation of the car has already been scheduled. It will happen from June 22 up to June 24 at London Salon Privé, a highly exclusive event where they make sure visitors are also able to buy the exposed cars. Otherwise, the only reasonable explanation for a 125 pound one-day ticket is that they are in desperate need of money.



Produced by Vermot AG, the RS III is 4.99 m long, 0.97 m high and 1.97 m wide, with a wheelbase of 2.84 m wheelbase, necessary to have enough room for the mid 5-litre V10 engine. It is the same one used by BMW M5, but, instead of 507 bhp, it pumps out 600 bhp. The car weighs 1,170 kg and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 3 s and reach a top speed of 320 km/h. Only 50 people will be able to own this car, at a cost of 320,000 euros each. Since this will become a collectors' piece, more people will eventually have the chance to buy it, but certainly at a much higher cost.





Source: Autoblog

Fiat Linea may be sold in the USA as the new Dodge Neon

Fiat and Chrysler alliance may take 18 months to produce its first cars, but Autocar has already anticipated one of the possible vehicles to come up from that marriage: a new Dodge Neon. The car would be based on the Fiat Linea. If Autocar has stated that, we have no reasons whatsoever to doubt it. And the talented designer Theophilus Chin has given us his vision of what the car may look like, and we are very inclined to think he has hit the nail in the head.



Fiat Linea uses two engines in Brazil, a 1.9-litre flexfuel unit and a petrol turbocharged 1.4-litre, known as T-JET. In Turkey, where it is also produced, the car is powered by the T-JET, a petrol 1.4-litre engine and two diesel engines, the 1.3-litre Multijet and a 1.6-litre unit. We expect the USA version to use the 1.9-litre engine, as well as the T-JET with some improvements. Meanwhile, have a look at what may appear in a Dodge dealer next to you (the one that remains open until that, of course; let's hope them to be many).




Source: Theophilus Chin

Watch the new 2010 Opel Astra in motion in its first official video

Picutres and details on the new 2010 Opel Astra have been revealed in the post OFFICIAL! - Opel presents its VW Golf beater, the 2010 Astra. Now see the car in motion in the video below, the first official one released by Opel:



Source: Opel

OFFICIAL! - Opel presents its VW Golf beater, the 2010 Astra

The recent leaks have warned us: the 2010 Opel Astra was about to appear in an official way. This has been confirmed today, when Opel released the first images of the car, which promises to be a real VW Golf beater.



The presentation of the new midsize hatchback, built over the Delta platform, has been a little late, in fact. The car was expected to appear in March, at this year's edition of Geneva Motor Show. Even so, the car presents interesting characteristics. It is 4.40 m long and has a 2.69 m wheelbase. The rear Suspension, unfortunately, still counts on a torsion beam instead of independent multilink as in Ford Focus and VW Golf

The new car will be equipped, at first, with 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines. The entry level will present a naturally aspirated 100 bhp 1.4-litre. There will also be a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine that is not related to the entry level unit, which will have two versions. The first will generate 120 bhp and 175 Nm and the second will will produce 140 bhp and 200 Nm, while the 1.6-litre will also be turbocharged, but will present a much more interesting output: 180 bhp.

Diesel options, all of them turbocharged, will range from 95 bhp to 160 bhp, with a 95 bhp 1.3-litre, a 110 bhp 1.7-litre and two 2-litre units producing 130 bhp and 160 bhp. Besides the hatchback model, both in three and five-door versions, we can expect to see a coupe-cabriolet, a station wagon, the new Zafira, which we have already presented to you, and, according to CarScoop, a sedan version. Considering Cruze uses the same platform, this last version seemed to be less likely, but the oncoming Opel sale makes it make perfect sense.







Source: CarScoop