The Barrett-Jackson auctions are famous for selling rare exotic cars for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Usually the cars that command the highest prices are limited production Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and Aston Martin’s.

Now a British tuning shop by the name of Frontline wants to bring you the old with a some new technology, so you can enjoy your classic on the road, rather than it steaming on the hard shoulder.

Rolls Royce has decided to offer its British customers a very special Phantom Drophead Coupe that “was designed to capture the essence of a perfect weekend get-away, offering drivers and their passengers the ultimate luxurious and relaxing experience in roof-down motoring.”

BMW has officially initiated a recall of certain diesel X5 vehicles due to a component manufacturing error at the supplier, affecting the welds in the belt tensioner that could have incipient cracks.

Stop/Start technology will more than triple in five years as automakers worldwide seek better fuel efficiency. This function allows a car’s engine to shut off when the vehicle is at rest, for example, at a stop light, and the engine restarts when the gas pedal is pressed.

Audi donated two chrome R8s for the Elton John Aids Foundation that were auctioned off at the annual White Tie and Tiara Ball on Thursday June 23rd.

BMW UK has released another dramatic video detailing the 2012 M5. The M5 won’t go on sale until spring 2012, so we still have nearly a year before it hits the streets but this commercial is getting us very excited.

The famous 1991 24-Hours of Le Mans winner, the Mazda 787B will be featured at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Ex-Formula 1 driver and Le Mans veteran Mike Wilds and current Mazda works driver Mark Ticehurst will be racing the 787B up the hallowed Goodwood hill for the festival this weekend. The race car returns to mark the 20th anniversary of its famous victory in the demanding 24-Hours of Le Mans.

Saab‘s parent, Swedish Automobile (formerly Spyker Cars), announced that an unnamed Chinese company will purchase 582 Saab cars at a total value of 13 million Euros ($18.4 million) in order to help the automaker pay wages to its employees and part of the money it owes to suppliers.

Lotus has officially confirmed the use of its own V8 engine which will first be featured in the 2013 Esprit. Lotus is following its ‘New Era’ plan to launch five new models with less reliance on Toyota engines.

Sales for the Fiat 500 are picking up after a slow start in the US market. The Mexican built US version was off to a slow start after only selling 3,141 units through the end of May, but the cute Italian car is gaining momentum. Chrysler has just 70 Fiat dealerships nationwide however there are plans to open another 60 by the end of the year, which should help move more units.

MINI has recently released the all-new 2012 Coupe and it will pack a serious punch. The company’s racing heritage will continue with this sporty two-door in the John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance. This race car has been developed to compete in this weekends 24-hour Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit. MINI will race the “Green Hell”, as the track is affectionately known with two cars wearing numbers 146 and 147. Three other MINI teams will also track two cars each, making for eight MINI’s in a race of 250.

The race car gets a specially-tuned version of the factory produced John Cooper Works engine, packsinga 1.6-liter four cylinder equipped with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection. The car will produce 250-hp with an over-boost function cranking out 330 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 240 km/h.

The car looks and sounds great in the video and looks very quick. The exhaust system sounds mean and the minute and a half long video is definetly worth watching.

Check out the video after the jump!

Now according to some reports, the 550 name is about to make a comeback in 2014 on a new entry-level model which will be positioned below the current Boxster line-up.

BMW will unveil its M3 DTM car next month to compete in next year’s DTM touring car race series. The Bavarian automaker has not competed in the series for 18 years but feels its car will pack a serious punch.

A new drifting record was set last weekend by Mauro Calo totaling 7,572 feet  in a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG around a skidpad. 2010 Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. said that after watching the C63 circle the concrete pad for more than two minutes, he was unimpressed.

“There are about 60 drivers that show up to Formula Drift every month, as well as thousands of grassroots drifters, that can do giant donuts until the tires pop, as well.” Gittin held the original record of 6,285 feet set in December 2008. Now we come the the question of what is a “world record” drift? Guinness World Records defines drifting as, “driving a car with rear slip angle that is greater to the front.” However Gittin would call that a donut.

Gittin has suggested that Guinness World Records rephrase the definition of drifting to put credibility back in to attempt. Gittin believes the definition should be “drifting without intersecting your drift line.” Gittin feels “This result would be a record that took a lot of skill, balls, and wouldn’t put you to sleep watching the video of it.” He’s got a good point.

Check out Mauro Calo’s record setting drift after the jump!

The young and wealthy of New York gathered in the Park Avenue Ferrari showroom in Manhattan on Tuesday to ogle a new coffee-table book that traces the history and heritage of the automaker in words and exclusive photos. Marco Mattiacci, the president of Ferrari North America, was also there to greet the chic crowd, most of them current or prospective Ferrari owners.

The car carrying the exclusive 300,000 build number was a platinum silver Boxster Spyder model with a red leather interior. It is intended for a customer in Germany.

Dany Bahar, the man responsible for running Lotus at the moment, has his fair share of critics. However, he is moving the brand forward through expansion, and his latest move is to give this famed British marque a brand new test track.

MINI has been know to have fun with their commercials and they definitely pulled it off with their newest ad.  In this latest commercial entitled “Another Day. Another Adventure” the coupe tours around through Iceland, Rio De Janiero and Hong Kong in less than a week.

Should Maserati build an SUV? Well, that doesn’t really matter because they will and it won’t be what you’re expecting. One would imagine the SUV would be dripping in fine Italian materials but the underpinnings of this truck will be very American. The  vehicle will be based on the brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, but insiders have said it will be hard to spot the resemblance. The interior will be fitted with plush Italian leather as well as wood accents throughout the inside.

Aston Martin is preparing two V12 Zagato Concept vehicles for the 24-hour Nurburgring race this weekend.

German driver Andre Lotterer will be racing one of two Lexus LFAs that will compete in this weekend’s race, marking the fourth consecutive year that the Japanese supercar is competing in the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race.

The next-generation BMW M5 has finally arrived and looks fantastic. The car won’t actually go on sale until spring 2012, so we still have nearly a year before it hits the streets but photos and this commercial have been released and portrays this BMW as a beast.

It’s been more than 15 years since a new Alfa Romeo was last sold in the United States. However, that’s all expected to change next year, as the brand returns to our market, with a production version of the 4C concept (shown) plus a new premium compact, the Giulia.

BMW is getting ready to launch a more affordable sports car for 2014 called the Z2. The Z4 was a fabulous roadster however it has moved upmarket and BMW is hoping to produce a simpler successor to the original Z3.

Audi is planning on launching the Q2 and Q6 sport oriented SUVs by 2016. Along with the Q2 and Q6 will be the new Q4 and today’s Q3, Q5 and Q7 to complete Audi’s lineup.

Being referred to as the Grand Evoque at the moment, this model will be around 12-inches longer with half the space going towards extending the rear-seat legroom and half going towards a longer cargo bay. It will also gain about 4-inches in height over the standard Evoque.

Saab’s ongoing drama will remain at a standstill for another two weeks. Saab’s Trollhattan factory in Sweden, has not produced vehicles for most of April and May because of issues regarding paying suppliers. The factory bounced back in late May, but was quickly forced to stop production when part supplies ran out yet again.

Porsche may be bringing back the old-school Targa top in the next-generation 911 after rumours have spread that the current sliding-glass assembly has become too heavy and expensive. Porsche stopped producing the old-school set up after the 1996 993 model came out featuring an electronic system. After a 15 year hiatus, we may see the old targa set up make a comeback.

The Aston Martin Rapide is partaking in a 24 hours endurance run on June 25 at Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch in Nevada. The Rapide will do the run simultaneously with Aston Martin’s participation in the Nürburgring 24-hour race in Europe. Aston Martin hopes to show to the public just how powerful and durable the four door sports coupe is, while raising money for charity.

The eagerly awaited Volkswagen GTI Edition 35 may not after all, be coming to North America. According to an insider at Volkswagen of America, the U.S division is not interested in the GTI Edition 35.

Sports car commercials are usually very entertaining. This latest Audi R8 GT Spyder commercial is different though.  Instead of hearing the high performance engine, we hear this outdated heavy metal soundtrack and the video is also somewhat repetitive. If you don’t agree, check out the new BMW 1M commercial for a tutorial on how to shoot a great ad.

The Spyder itself looks very impressive. Production is limited to only 333 units and this car is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 317 km/h. The Spyder will be powered by a V12 5.2-liter FSI engine producing 560-hp. The transmission will be an automatic R-Tronic 6-speed. The car will cost a cool € 207 800 or $295 782.52 in USD.

Check out the videos after the jump!

Mercedes-Benz is planning to take on the BMW X6 with it’s own sporty SUV called the GLS. The GLS is scheduled for launch in 2014, and will be a new four-seater built around the same unibody platform that makes up the third-generation M-class (shown above) and the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee. The GLS will have less cargo room (compared to the M-class)thanks to a sporty roof line similar to the CLS sedan.  Audi and Range Rover are also launching new models to compete with the sporty X6 SUV.

Lotus has officially announced that Lotus is opening dealerships in China. Lotus China Symphony will be appointed as the official distributor for the British sports cars in China. The dealership will be based out of Beijing and will offer a full range of Lotus sports cars including the Evora, the Elise and the Exige.

Audi has priced the 2012 Audi A6 2.0T for $42,575 . The A6 will come equipped with a front-wheel drive turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The powerplant will crank out 211-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and get 33 mpg on the highway.

Audi is planning to rival the Range Rover Evoque with it’s own fastback-styled, sporty version badged as the Q4. Audi will likely launch the Q4 in 2014/2015 and will cost around £30,000 ($47,500).

The next generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class will make its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, however photos have been leaked, and we have them.

On Tuesday, June 21, McLaren Automotive will officially launch it’s new world wide retailer network, with the opening of it’s flagship store in London’s posh Hyde Park district.

On August 19th at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey California, Concorso Italiano will open the traditional Monterey/Pebble Beach Weekend. The event will feature more than 800-1000 beautifully designed Italian cars on display. Enthusiasts can engage in conversations with fellow car lovers and enjoy Italian fashion, food and art. There will no doubt be an astonishing variety of Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Maserati’s, Alfa Romeo’s, Pagani’s, and Lancia’s on display  The event will run from 9:00am- 5:00 pm and admission will cost $130 per person.

According to the CEO Lotus, Dany Bahar, the new Lotus Esprit will offer a more “authentic” driving experience than its rivals, the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C. Bahar has also claimed that the Esprit will “have the character and emotion” that McLaren lacks.

Aston Martin has decided to reduce production on the Aston Martin Rapide in order to match output to sales. The British company said they will now produce around 25 cars per week, making 1250 cars a year. Initially, Aston Martin envisioned producing 2000 cars in 2007/2008.

Lamborghini and Porsche are allegedly teaming up to build Lambo a 4×4 SUV. Even though the two car brands produce very different sports cars at the opposite end of the spectrum, Porsche has agreed to lend its existing expertise to the Italian automaker to produce a SUV. This is not Lamborghini’s first time building a 4×4 however. The automaker built a series of 4x4s for military use, that were named the Cheetah, the LM001 and the LM002 (aka Rambo Lambo) during the late seventies and  eighties.

Jaguar’s new high performance XKR-S is the fastest car in its lineup since the XJ220 supercar built twenty years ago. Jaguar is now considering installing the same 542-hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8 in the XK convertible and XF sedan. The XKR-S convertible and coupe will have identical aerodynamic upgrades feauturing front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers as well as extra front air scoops and wider fender arches. This Jaguar is capable of reaching 186 mph and looks absolutely fantastic.

Car enthusiasts from around the world are marking their calendars off with big red Xs as BBC’s Top Gear returns. The first episode of season 17 will air in just eleven days with the trio will back in the drivers seat and up to their usual shenanigans driving exotic cars in exotic locations.

Top Gear has just released this montage commercial showing little segments of what will happen in the series. We know for sure that Jeremy Clarkson will be driving the all-new McLaren MP4-12C, James May will be riding shotgun in the MINI WRC car paired against a luge racer and Richard Hammond is driving some massive dump truck on top of passenger cars through a city street.

It looks like we are all in for a treat! Check out the video after the jump:

Recently, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer commented on how the MINI brand could expand to as many as 10 different models, sadly, however, it looks like the Rocketman concept will not be among them.

For those wanting an oil burning Tiguan in the United States, it seems that Volkswagen is full of empty promises. When its baby SUV was first introduced here in 2008, execs said that adding a diesel variant to the U.S. line up was a possibility.

Ferrari is holding a world design contest to develop the Ferrari of the future. Ferrari, in collaboration with with Autodesk, the technical partner and supporter of the project, is challenging students to develop the Ferrari hypercar of the future with the latest generation technologies and materials, while preserving the iconic performance and elegance associated with the legendary Italian automaker.

Rapper Flo Rida (real name Tramar Dillard) received a DUI in his $1.7 million black 2008 Bugatti Veyron last night, after police observed the car swerving in and out of lanes. During the 3:30 AM downtown Miami stop, the police could smell the odor of alcohol, so the rapper was given a field sobriety test and failed. Flo-Rida’s blood alcohol level was .185 which is more than twice the legal limit.

Mercedes-Benz has recently unveiled its new M-class SUV and there has been confirmation that several variants for this crossover will be included.

This super-green version might have been good for the environment, however it had its limitations, like taking 24-hours to fully charge from a household outlet (or eight-hours by using an induction charging system developed by Rolls Royce), and having a range of just 125-miles.

Tesla Motors has planned to begin building prototypes of its Model S electric sedan in the third quarter at the NUMMI plant located in Fremont, Calif, which was acquired from Toyota last year.

The Japanese Earthquake disaster of March 11, 2011, has wreaked havoc all around the world and has affected Volkswagen by interrupting supply of their backup cameras. Consumers that want a rear view camera fitted to their VW may have to wait for shipments to resume.

In a report released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers of sport-utility vehicles, had the highest instances of death in crashes because of rollovers, however they are now those with the highest probability of survival.

In this latest BMW commercial, the Bavarian automaker depicts the 1M as a seriously performance oriented machine. The minute and a half long video shows the 1M burning rubber and drifting through concrete barriers at a high rate of speed. We think the ad hits the nail on the head as far as target demographic goes – anybody buying a 1M is going to be using this car for much more than going to the store for a jug of milk.

BMW will offer 600 to 800 units in the U.S. by the end of this year, according to the automaker.

BMW admits that its latest high performance two door rocket will have a very limited run of one model year. With limited production in place, the $46,135 price tag may be a bargain should this car appreciate in value in the future. BMW stated that “less than 1,000 units” will be produced in 2011.

Check out the video after the jump!

Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage Zagato race car will be heading to the infamous Nüburgring this weekend for a warm up race as the works team prepares for the 24 hour endurance event on the 25-26 June.

The RSRNurburg school runs a fleet of brand new Lotus cars at the Nurburgring and Spa-Francorchamps for those feeling the need for speed. Based out of Nurburg, Germany, the company allows drivers to sample a new Lotus Exige S’s and track the car on both the Nuburgring in Germany and the Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Saab halted production yesterday at its Trollhattan plant in Sweden after operations were disrupted by problems with supplier deliveries. Saab resumed production on May 27 after shutting down from April to May due to non existent operating capital. Suppliers became worried about receiving payment and stopped supplying the Swedish plant.

Volkswagen has officially announced pricing for the 2012 Beetle. Pricing will start at $18,995 for the base model equipped with a 170-hp, 2.5-liter five cylinder engine ($19,765 including $770 in destination charges). The Beetle is capable of 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway when equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission.

Volvo has just released a fascinating new version of their OnCall app for iPhone and Android phones that provides the owner with a range of beneficial features. The features include a car locator, incase you forget where you parked, remote door lock or vehicle health check. This app works on 2012 Volvo models and can be downloaded for free.

Prestige automaker Aston Martin has confirmed that it will be moving production of it’s four-door super sedan, the Rapide from the Magna Steyr facilities in Graz, Austria, to Gaydon, Warwickshire, in the United Kingdom.