Out of all of the bespoke options you can choose for your automobile, coating your car in real diamonds has to be among the most exclusive paint jobs out there. World famous tuner Gemballa is now offering a premium paint job which utilizes genuine diamonds. 

Do you know what perfectly complements an Aston Martin? Exquisite diamond jewelery that’s inspired by the luxury automobile.

Lego replicas are usually pretty lame, but this Land Rover Defender 110 proves that a legitimate scale car model can come out of the little plastic pieces with shocking accuracy.

That was exactly the question being posed at the Historic Racing Forum, hosted by the Credit Suisse Drives’ Club, ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix de Monaco Historique.

At the annual Worthersee Tour in Austria,  Audi will be bringing its new e-bike Worthersee prototype which will be on display alongside the Audi Q3 Red Track, Q3 jinlong yufeng and RS Q3.

Back at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Smart unveiled a collection of electric urban mobility products, with the fortwo electric car and ebike already becoming a reality. Next on its list will be the escooter, launching in 2014.

Talk about a cultural divide. While the Fiat 500 struggles to find customers on this side of the Atlantic, in Europe it’s a different story. Over there, the car is a celebrated icon and the original “Cinquecento” was largely responsible for putting Italy on wheels following World War II.

Back in 2009, Jaguar North America launched its first Performance R Driving Academy as  a complimentary course designed to help owners of XFR and XKR models to explore the limits of their cars in a controlled environment.

OnStar is General Motors safety and security service that offers navigation, emergency personnel contact and more, and is now becoming popular in other manufacturers vehicles thanks to the For My Vehicle (FMV) aftermarket mirror. 

To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the world’s most demanding racetrack, Nordschleife has released its 1927 24-hour wristwatches to the general public.

Driving an Ariel Atom is probably about as exciting as riding the world’s fastest roller coaster having never been to an amusement park before. Unfortunately, the Atom’s admission price is an awful lot higher than going to Six Flags.

Tom Tom is a company known for building aftermarket GPS devices. But now, with the new Tom Tom speed camera app, users in Europe can beat the speed traps and save some money. 

Against the odds, a letter carrier in Las Vegas won a Tesla Roadster playing penny slots. Needless to say, the odds of winning a six-figure prize by playing those games are stacked against you. 

Given that that the boxy xB is living on borrowed time and will not be continued with a next generation model, some wags now believe Scion could be heading toward a more mainstream future.

Having renewed its long-term business relationship with GM, Walt Disney Land has renovated, or “re-imagined”, an older test track feature at Epcot for a more up-to-date experience.

With an atmosphere that combines Tron themes and the appearances of a development lab, the new ride incorporates a new design center concept that allows visitors to design and create their own GM vehicles. Guests use interactive design and styling workstations to come up with their own prototypes, and will later hop aboard to experience their thrilling creation first-hand on the twisting and turning Test Track. After the ride, participants can also make their own pretend commercial, or take a picture with the new car.

Sponsored by Chevrolet, the ride is intended to provide a fun learning experience, sharing a look inside the process of vehicle testing and development.

Expect the new Epcot Center Test Track to be revealed this fall. To car enthusiasts planning a fun trip to Orlando, don’t miss out!

Virtual racing fans looking for the most realistic experience outside of a race car should start saving up their dollars. Fanatec, creator of the Porsche branded steering wheel and pedal set for gamers, has evolved one of its best products with its new ClubSport Pedals V2.

Losing an owner’s manual isn’t a big deal anymore. All the information you need is available online, either from the manufacturer or other people who dealt with the same problem, which is why paying $8,200 for such a thing might seem absurd.

As we head towards a presidential election, green vehicle subsidies are proving a political hot topic. One of the latest, concerns Fisker Automotive’s $529 U.S. Government loan to help it move forward with vehicle development and production.

Adoration for Ayrton Senna was rekindled after Asif Kapadia’s film “ Senna” came out in 2010, creating a new following among younger racing enthusiasts and inspiring a fresh group of Formula 1 fans.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the latest addition to the Altitude special edition family from Jeep, and the full details on the new Wrangler are out. 

The Altitude package adds some paint and plastic to give the Wrangler unique style. A body color hardtop, paint matched center bumper sections, 18-inch alloy wheels painted black with a matte Jeep badge make up the Altitude edition package along with a Mopar black fuel door and a black tone on tone hood graphic. Deep cherry red, black, bright white and bright silver metallic are the four paint colors offered with the special edition package.

The latest Land Rover Evoque “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” seems to possess all the right ingredients to become a proper special edition vehicle. The former “Posh Spice” member of the wildly successful Brit pop girl group Spice Girls, a stand-out BFA award-winning fashion designer, and wife of international soccer star David Beckham, Victoria has worked closely with the British Automaker in developing the latest model.

In its latest Victoria Beckham special edition offering, the Evoque features what Victoria described as a “masculine” treatment. Describing her process, Victoria Beckham explained, “When I first started working with the team I did a lot of research, and created mood boards to show the team my love of timeless and classic design. I looked at yachts, luxury jets and classic cars.”

The result is an exterior painted in a stealthy matte gray color scheme accented with a glossy black roof and trim pieces. The 20-inch wheels are black as well, each wearing 245/45 rubber, exclusive to this particular edition Evoque. Lending a softer “Posh” touch, Victoria sprinkled rose-gold accents, painted onto the wheels and plated to additional trim pieces inside and out.

As for the special Evoque’s interior, Victoria Beckham chose “vintage tan” semi-aniline leathers , finishing the seats with baseball stitching a composition that gets Mrs. Beckham to remember her family’s time in California. What’s more, Victoria also chose Mohair Carpets similar to those found in her father’s Rolls-Royce. Finally, no special edition is complete without a bespoke four-piece luggage set to go with the vehicle.

Mechanically untouched, the Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham offers the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four engine producing 240-hp. Land Rover has decided not to tack on a bespoke “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” badge onto the Evoque either, as a long and clumsy moniker won’t do the car any favors anyway. Instead, the limited examples will be distinguished by Beckham’s signature found inside the leather folder for the Evoque owner’s manual.

Only 200 examples of “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” will be produced, beginning sales in the Chinese market first. Prices start at £80,000 to £90,000, or $130,000 to $145,000 after currency exchange. While a 200 percent mark up over a standard Evoque may seem outrageous, no price is too high for the well-heeled.

Check out the Evoque “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” promo video below:

While many businesses had been hurt badly by the tough economic times, some of which have never recovered, British luxury and sports car manufacturer Aston Martin is thriving.

It almost makes sense for automakers and design firms to develop products together given all the effort that goes into making a car, at least that’s what it seems  Mercedes-Benz this thinking.

It unveiled a furniture line earlier this week and now German automaker Audi has teamed up with Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram on its “R18 Ultra Chair.”

Built with loads of carbon fiber, low-profile performance tires and tight gearing ratios, Lamborghini‘s newest transportation costs €20,000 or roughly $26,300, which is close to the soon-to-be-released Scion FR-S.

While you’re not likely to put much track time in unless you live near a velodrome, the newest offering bares the Lambo badge on its front and has a sleek exterior ready for speed.

Get off your lazy butt and drive everywhere. We know that most people would tell you that you can’t stay in shape if you drive all the time, but we beg to differ, now that SUVs come equipped with stationary bikes.

Ford’s documentary series, The Big SHFT: 10 Innovators Changing Our World, goes beyond the automotive sector to put emphasis on people creating sustainable businesses to affect positive change around the world. The short film series will feature game-changing eco-entrepreneurs that have brought innovation in sustainability for areas ranging from food and fashion to urbanization, technology and design.

Utilizing auto insurance is a reality we all must face once and a while, and according to J.D. Power and Associates, the services provided to the public are slowly getting worse.

According to Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Paul James, “Starwood’s luxury brands continues to grow globally and so does the global nature of our guests. We are committed to providing experiences that far surpass their expectations, and this partnership with Bentley enables our discerning guests to explore must-see destinations in unparalleled style.”

Given how a number of states have been following California’s lead in recent years, including the likes of Maryland, New Jersey and New York, there’s a distinct possibility we could see the expansion of zealous zero emissions requirements.

Mercedes-Benz designers are putting their collective skills into an all new segment, the furniture market. 

Now, thanks to the Road, Inc. classic car app, you can touch these cars to your heart’s content… on your iPad. A car museum at your fingertips, the Road Inc. app features an extensive collection of images, videos, sound clips and documentation on 50 carefully selected automobiles, ranging from super cars that broke the status quo to historically significant basic transportation.

For Charlie Mallon, 54, of Downington, Pa., nothing numbers more greatly in life than his collection of Chevrolet memorabilia.

As a life-long collector and avid enthusiast, Mallon amassed 2,181 different Chevrolet items over the past 40 years. After the better pat of a lifetime’s devotion to his hobby, he finally counted up his trinkets to realize there might be a world record in his future.

Mallon spends a lot of his time travelling as a dealership consultant and says he always made a point to find new Chevrolet collectibles during each of those trips. He also scoops new pieces up as he sees them, most of which are Corvettes.

Sounds too good to be true? Well if you’re a racer the news is probably music to your ears. Recognizing how popular the Civic Si has become in motorsport circles, particularly road racing, Honda Racing displayed a 2012 body-in-white Civic Si at SEMA last year and is now offering them up for $3500 a piece.

Following on from a practice used by other automakers, the body-in-white program is available exclusively to bona fide racers, and enables them to get a basic shell along with suspension, differential, brakes and a toe strap.  It’s then up to them to add the rest such as the engine, gearbox, roll cage, instruments, seat, harness and other necessary equipment.

Nothing is certain but death and taxes. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study which consisted of researcher Dr. Donald Redelmeier and colleague Christopher Yanell of the University of Toronto comparing the number of fatalities during each tax deadline day to the number of fatalities occurring on regular days. The statistics show that the number of fatal crashes taking place during tax deadline day was 6 percent higher than the control days.

Dr. Redelmeier says, “Tax Day is one of the few opportunities to study societal stress on a widespread basis because it’s synchronized and it’s recurrent throughout an enormously large community.”

A total of 19,541 individuals were killed in crashes during the 30 tax days and 60 control days. Sorting the numbers, Redelmeier’s study revealed that the 30 tax days accounted for 6,783 deaths, or an average of 226 fatalities per day. In comparison, the 60 control days accounted for 12,758 deaths, averaging 213 fatalities a day. Spread over 3 decades, fatalities on tax deadline day account for an additional 404 fatalities.

Have you always wanted a muscle car or exotic but budget and necessity mean you end up driving a compact or minivan? Well, 2XL Games has a solution, namely in its XLR8 smart phone app.

By downloading it your smart phone, XLR8, reproduces the sounds your vehicle’s engine makes under acceleration, cornering and braking but with a twist. Instead of a buzzy four cylinder, the exhaust note sounds like a muscular V8 running a high-lift cam and open exhaust, perfectly matched to your car’s acceleration, cornering and braking.

It does this via accelerometers and a GPS system inside your iPhone, Android or other portable device. By hooking up the phone to your vehicle’s sound system in much the same way as a MP3, simply choose the app and press the button.

While the Toyota GT86 and Scion FR-S has received a lot of attention from aftermarket outfits during the past couple months, things have been rather quiet from the Subaru BRZ end… until now.

Who ever came up with this idea is a genius. Get a whole slew of classic hot rods and cool rides, gather them all together in one place, then get Metallica to play for all the gathered car enthusiasts. It sounds like every metal and motor head’s dream.

This combination will come to fruition in real life at the first annual Orion music and more festival taking place on June 23 and 24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City.

When it comes to pure electric cars, range anxiety is never far from the conversation. Indeed, here at AutoGuide, we’ve had a number of experiences when cars almost ran out of juice, including the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i.

In the Leaf’s case, getting the car from to and from the AutoGuide office proved to be somewhat unnerving, given the 40-mile distance from house to office alone.

And we’re not alone, anybody driving more than a 30 mile round trip each day is likely to face a similar scenario (Nissan says the car has a range of about 70 miles in real world driving before requiring a charge).

A decade ago, General Motors announced a limited run off of 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo coupes. Know as the SS “Intimidator,” these cars were built as a tribute to the late, great NASCAR legend Dale Earhardt.

Given their limited production and unique trim and color scheme, these cars have become quite prized in certain circles, notably among NASCAR fans and even car collectors. Now one of these cars, in much the same condition as when it first rolled off the line, is being sold for a worthy cause.

It will be auctioned off at the spring Toronto Classic Car Auction with part of the proceeds being donated to a local hospital to help fund a new urgent care unit.

Chances are good that anyone reading this story would probably fork over a Benjamin bill to drive an Italian supercar. If not, you probably know someone who would. 

Thanks to  Gotham Dream Car Sprint, that wish can be a reality — one that can come to fruition in hot cars like a Lamborghini Murcielago,  Ferrari 458 Italia, F430 and others.

The company sets up shop in parking lots and lays out an autocross course where you can take three thrilling laps either behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. In both scenarios, there’s a professional race car driver sitting beside you.

A car choice can reveal a lot about a personality, sometimes even showing off traits that you may not want to broadcast in public.

According to a study conducted by dating website AshleyMadison.com, married men who drive Toyotas and married women who drive Hondas are the most likely to be cheaters in a marriage.

Last year, we reported that Volkswagen was considering a second generation successor to the controversial Phaeton and now it looks like those plans might become reality.

Besides unveiling the production 2013 Lincoln MKZ, the first vehicle to result from the division’s new found “independence,” the New York Auto Show served as a venue for Ford to discuss it’s planned “Lincoln Experience.”

One of the biggest thrusts is really taking the idea of customer service to a new level, so initiatives such as the Lincoln Academy are underway, designed to fundamentally change the way in which Lincoln representatives work with clients. In order to do that, Lincoln is going outside traditional channels, tapping into resources like Les Clef’s D’Or (prounced clay dore or literally translated golden keys), to help train staff in new and unique ways when it comes to customer service.

It looks like the days of plugging in your mobile device to a 12-volt power outlet might soon be over, at least if you drive a Chrysler product. Beginning with the 2013 Dodge Dart, the company has announced it will be introducing a wireless in-car charging system.

Believe it or not, the world’s largest tire manufacturer isn’t Michelin or Goodyear, but LEGO.

Since it’s 2011 refresh, the Ford Explorer has’t really set the world alight, at least among those that remember the old 5.0-liter and 4.6 V8 models that offered both gusto and family practicality.

Having introduced a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder in the 2012 model, Ford decided to kick things up a notch with the 2013 Explorer Sport, launching a 3.5-liter EcoBoost powered flagship Sport model.

Rated at the same 350 horsepower as the Taurus SHO and delivering 350 lb-ft of torque, the Sport is designed to deliver that extra dose of pizzazz without sacrificing fuel economy (Ford says it will deliver a projected 22 miles per gallon on the highway).

At least that’s the case in the U.S. In Europe a production version of this wagon has been on sale for several months, but despite being on display at this year’s New York Auto Show, the official line from Volkswagen was  just a study designed to gauge public reaction.

BMW clearly has a bit of an open air theme at this year’s New York Auto Show. Call it spring fever (the buds are already blooming in Manhattan as I write), or call it simply a more relaxed approach, it’s definitely about going topless.

Besides recently announcing the i8 Spyder, the Munich based automaker has just unveiled a drop top version of the M6, (shown in coupe form in Geneva last month). In terms of specs, the roofless version essentially mirrors its tin top counterpart.

It’s got the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood, cranking out 560 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, it’s got the 7-speed dual clutch transmission with Drive Logic and an active rear differential that can automatically adjust from fully open to fully locked, enabling the back tires to provide the maximum amount of traction depending on the road conditions.

Having shared a gallery as well as a walk-around video of the six concepts featured at the  Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari, new photos have just been released of the Moab concepts in action.

An annual showcase of upcoming, potential Jeep products, the Moab Safari is a great way for the iconic brand to connect with its core audience. Unlike other concepts, however, these Jeeps are not meant to sit in rotating pedestals in convention halls. At Moab, Jeep spent the week demonstrating its vehicles and gained a lot of instant feedback from its die-hard community of Jeep 4×4 fans.

Someone finally released a true automotive enthusiast iPhone case. id America created a brushed aluminum case in the style of an engine head gasket that is a must-have for any car guy.

A suede lining also prevents your phone from being scratched by the rugged-looking shell. The case is Available in six different colors: aluminum silver, titanium gray, modern bronze, vintage gold, jet black, and rally blue – all for $29.95. Each case also comes with front and black clear screen protective film, a squeegee to help you apply it, and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Check out a video review of the id America Gasket iPhone case after the break.

[Source: id America via CNet]

Hot Wheels will introduce a limited-run tribute Dan Wheldon commemorative edition car to simultaneously mark the beginning of a new IndyCar season and to celebrate the life of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon.

To the person (or persons) holding the golden ticket to the $640 million Megamillions Lottery jackpot: here’s a way for you to spend the money.

Last month, a special Ferrari 250 GTO sold for a record $31.8 million US dollars, making it the most valuable Ferrari in the world. Now, imagine a parade full of valuable classic Ferrari GTOs traveling at speed in two lane back roads.

The following video beautifully captures the sights and sounds as a convoy of fire breathing Italian red heads travel along to the annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. What’s more, feast your eyes on other rare metals present at the venue as well.

Enjoy the video below:

While many new plug-ins boast the convenience and simplicity of recharging the car battery from a household wall socket, how many vehicles can claim to provide the opposite? 

The 2013  Lincoln MKZ concept debuted at the Detroit Auto Show and ahead of its official unveil next week at the New York Auto show, Lincoln has released a video that shows us the car’s panoramic glass roof in action for the first time. 

The idea is simple: to get the best of a convertible while retaining the convenience of a full roof. This is the first step in a series of improvements that Lincoln is undergoing to re-introduce the brand as a unique luxury marque.

When fully open the roof sports an opening that is two-feet deep and two and a half feet wide, offering the largest glass roof opening on the market today.

The roof is rated at SPF 100 to avoid passengers being sunburned, and reinforced with a aluminum and boron steel frame that is integrated into the car’s architecture to deal with rollovers and chassis contortion.

The roof will debut on the MKZ at the New York Auto Show next week, probably as an expensive option though likely cheaper than a proper convertible.

Watch the panoramic roof in action in the video below.

Although it’s no secret that most industrialized countries are experiencing ageing populations, which, related to motoring means the average age of drivers on the road is increasing year after year; a study from the University of Michigan has also found, that in many of these nations, younger people are also showing less interest in getting behind the wheel.

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports reported that a brand-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than 200 miles on the odometer abruptly shut down. News of the defect spread quickly, causing Fisker engineers scrambling to identify and solve the problem as soon as possible in an attempt to curb any damage to consumer confidence. Investigators determined the cause of the issue as a flaw in the Fisker’s battery module, which is supplied by A123.

From the Porsche European Delivery Program to the Master Italian Lifestyle Maserati Driving Experience, European automakers go the extra mile to make customers feel special.

Starring Steve McQueen, the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Charger, as well as the hilly streets of San Francisco as the backdrop for the chase, Columbia University professor Emanuel Levy praised, “Bullitt contains one of the most exciting car chases in film history, a sequence that revolutionized Hollywood’s standards.”

Since then, many filmmakers have used Bullitt as a benchmark, applying its techniques to produce car chase sequences of their own. However, no director has attempted to re-create the complete Bullitt sequence again –  until now.

For the season finale of Alcatraz, Detective Madsen stops and requisitions a Deep Impact Blue 2013 Mustang GT coupe and chases down a black Dodge Charger that is driven by her convict grandfather. Symmetry to the original Bullitt play throughout the chase, including scenes of the Mustang’s appearance in the Charger’s rearview mirror, the driver in the black Charger clipping the seatbelt, the iconic reverse burnout, the hill hops, as well as the old Volkswagen Beetle that makes multiple and non-linear appearances.

Check out the entire chase sequence from the season finale of Alcatraz below. 

This year marks Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee, and to celebrate, a gathering of sixty rare and beautiful cars will be brought together at the quadrangle in Windsor Castle in England. 

Only cars of the highest caliber have been invited to the event, and will be arriving at the castle from all over the world. One car from every year starting from 1952 will be featured, representing every year since the Queen was inaugurated. The earliest car featured is a 1952 Bentley R Type(54′ R Type Shown Above), and the newest car will be a 2011 Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari FF or a Porsche 991.

Most of the cars have already been selected, but an open casting call is out right now for owners of specific cars to volunteer to bring their fine machines to the Castle to be displayed for the Queen.

We have to wonder how much the Queen really likes cars? Hopefully she appreciates what she is getting, as this will undoubtedly be one of the nicest gatherings of rare luxury cars ever.

Below is a list of the cars that will be featured at the event. Some of them have been found already, and some haven’t. If you are the owner of one of the cars on the list and would like to participate, click here for more information.