Lincoln MK-9E coupe. Plug-in Sports Luxury

Lincoln MK-9E—This is my attempt at adapting Lincoln's current design language to the proportions of the late, and lamented, Marks VII and VIII. RWD and AWD would be available, as well as a Twin-turbo V8 or Plug-in hybrid with range extending EcoBoost 3 liter V6. Power Panoramic roof is standard, as are highly detailed wheels with body-color anodized as well as polished- and brushed-alloy wheels. The Eighties and Nineties are retro-ed in various ways, it's not too early, lol! The unique door handles resemble those on "suicide" door sedans, but in this case, the chromed portion mounted on the body next to the door is the receiver for the Smart Key and is touch-sensitive, descending quickly into the body revealing a clean, and, chromed, fingergrip for the door. The doors are power soft-opening-and-closing like the finest über German luxury cars.

I created this new Mark 9E, and made it this color, because of a cool Lincoln Mark VIII I used to see almost daily at my local grocery store. It belonged to a young man that works there, inherited from his late Dad. I took quite a few pics of his car, which while not perfect was quite a nice example. I thought I'd post those photos along with this chop when I finished, but of course, "the best laid plans of mice and men..." I've combed my eFolders going back a year and I can't find ANY of the photos I shot of his car. I have no idea where they may be. Since I can't find any of them, I'm thinking I must have put them all in a separate folder with some arcane name that made sense at the time, but which I can't recall right now. I only have about 35,000 photos to go through, so I'm not sure I'll ever find them, lol. Since I shot them, the car has died and was too expensive to repair. Let this Photoshopped Mark 9E be an homage to that once and beautiful automobile!

Happy Veterans Day 2013! New MKZ Continental

What started out as a quick chop to add more glass to the MKZ's cool fastback roofline, ended up being a second generation dual hatchback with electrically-assisted "clap-hand" doors. To manage the rear trunk cutline better, I made this glass-roofed sedan a hatchback. moving the cutline up into the roof pillar matching the existing rear door's cutline. Using an existing division on the edge of the trunk, I've made it a cutline as well. Picking up an idea from a Lincoln concept car of several years ago, instead of opening the entire hatch, a small "drawer" at the edge of the trunk would slide open with a fob button, revealing a beautifully finished luggage drawer complete with secondary top. Once the packages were stored, the top would lower ensuring all would fit nicely as it all glides back into the trunk. I sectioned the body a few inches, an old hot rod trick, making the body sides lower and less massive, and added that flowing third window.

This Pucci edition recalls the great Marks of the '70s and '80s. It comes in a very subtle two-toned Aubergine and Smoke Pearlescent with micro-thin areas of gold dust embedded into the paint at the color breaks. The effect of the pearl and gold clear-coat layers is a magnificent color shifting of all panels making the transitions even more subtle. A 24k gold Lincoln "Star" is embedded in the rear side glass, not only evoking those classic opera window logos, but is also taxed as a piece of jewelry recalling the early 1960s Imperial Crown gold crests. It is this American/European mix of function and style that lead me to name this hatchback MKZ, the Continental Touring Sedan. It signals the rebirth of the Continental nameplate. In addition there would be a flagship sedan, The Continental Town Car, as well as a new Continental Mark coupe.

I dedicate my newest Lincoln chop to America's veterans. I chose The American Luxury Car, and a European designer to celebrate Veterans' Day. We saved Europe and have gone through Hell and high water with them. I think this union of American luxury and European fashion celebrates what our veterans fought for. My dad served for almost 23 years and I know the cost of that service. Today my heart goes out to all, as always.

Lamborghini LMPV-003 for 2015

artandcolour's 2006 Delivery Van Replaced

 

Reprising the original Muira's "eyelashes" over the headlights, my 2015 Lamborghini minivan, the LMPV-003, takes over for my original Lambo minivan I created way back in 2006. This new rendering is basically drawn in with flat shapes and then airbrushed into a rendering. I like the rawness of it. The roof would be carbonfiber opening accordion style. Closed it would riff on the the classic Lambo engine venting. Drivetrain would be premium VW/Audi with a triple-turbo V6 up front and 9 speed automatic transaxle in the rear.

Lincoln Continental Starts Off the New Year Right!

My latest Lincoln chop utilizes a 1950s Lincoln tagline, the "Living Garage" concept. The car itself is a low and wide luxury sport sedan. The aero rear deck is accentuated to imply the famous Continental "hump" and doors are center opening in the traditional manner. High-powered gas and plug-in electric drivetrains would be available, as well as electronic all-wheel drive. Click on the image to enlarge and you'll notice the rear window is divided like the classic Continentals of the late '50s (and the Breezeway sedans from Mercury in the 1960s). The center section would retract slightly to enhance airflow, just as the originals did.

Lamborghini

It might be odd to think of farm equipment when one hears the word Lamborghini, but this is exactly what Lamborghini started out as - A farm equipment company called Lamborghini Trattori. The founder of the company was Ferruccio Lamborghini who in the 1960's bought a Ferrari with the profits from his successful farm equipment company. Life changed for Lamborghini when he met Enzo Ferrari, the founder of Ferrari.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was a man that demanded high quality and he felt that his Ferrari was not meeting his expectations and he thought he could do better. He shifted his focus away from farm equipment and onto producing high performance automobiles.

The first real contender that they produced in the exotic car market was the Miura. The Miura was a mid engine, V-12 sports car that commanded a heft price tag of $20,000 which is equal to over $100,000 in today's economy. During its 6 year production run, 764 Lamborghini Miura's were built. Following on the success of the Miura was the highly successful Lamborghini Countach. This was the dream car for many from the mid 70's to 1990 when production concluded. This car was beautiful and had aggressive styling that had never been seen before.

No one thought the Countach could be topped, but Lamborghini did it one more time and created the highly successful Lamborghini Diablo. From 1990-2001 almost 3000 Diablo's were made and during their first year of production, a Diablo could be bought for $240,000 U.S. This was certainly not a luxury car and did not have many features for a car of it's price. It did however have incredible performance. The V12 engine allowed it to go from -60mph in just over 4 seconds!

Following the success of the Diablo would be hard, but the Lamborghini Murcielago went even further at showing the world that Lamborghini was a serious contender in the exotic sports car world. It continued the tradition of aggressive styling and super high performance and added four-wheel-drive when it was released in 2001. To this day the Murcielago is produced with over 3000 of them already sold to their wealthy customers.

In 2003 Lamborghini introduced the Lamborghini Gallardo, which is a "cheap" Lamborghini, as compared with it's more expensive sibling, the Murcielago. While the Murcielago costs about $315,000 U.S., the Gallardo is available at just over $200,000. Don't think that you have to give up performance when buying a Gallardo and not a Murcielago though. The Lamborghini Gallardo is quite capable with a 0-60mph time of around 4 seconds, depending on which particular variation. Unfortunately the Gallardo doesn't come with Lamborghini's signature scissor doors that open upward, but this hasn't hurt sales since the Gallardo is the high volume car that Lamborghini has ever made.

Over the years Lamborghini has suffered some financial problems and has been bought and sold a number of times and is currently owned by Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen. Lamborghini makes some of the most beautiful and sought after exotic cars available today and should be on everyone's list of favorite exotic car makers.

Ferrari F430

It probably comes as no surprise that in the 1930s Enzo Ferrari was a very successful works team manager for the Alfa Romeo. However it wasn't until 1947 that Ferrari produced a car under his own name and so began one of the most successful and famous marques ever conceived.

People able to afford and enjoy a Ferrari F430 are privy to a unique motoring experience because very likely they, better than most, will understand why Ferrari is so different to any of the other sports luxury cars available. Ferrari genuinely offer uniquely designed sensational looking sports, luxury road cars at equally sensational prices. However the high price in this instance is deserved because Ferrari provides its models with the latest engineering technology inspired from successful Formula One experience.

The Ferrari F430 has arguably the most breathtaking appearance of any Ferrari currently in production. The sleek aero-dynamic design cannot help but attract attention, and whether it comes in red livery or another colour, everyone immediately recognises it as a Ferrari. The Ferrari F430 Spider will likewise set hearts racing as it offers open air motoring from inside a practical, but sophisticated luxury cockpit.

A long experience devoted to the development of super-fast luxury cars is a niche market that Ferrari has managed to develop with only a few serious rivals. At £118,500 for a new Ferrari F430 Coupe the F430 could never be considered cheap, but to understand the cost you need to appreciate what it is that you're actually buying.

The Ferrari F430 is an accomplishment of a company whose history spans a large proportion of the twentieth century developing Formula One and Super Fast Road Cars. The road cars have also been luxuriously appointed in order that Ferrari attracts the kind of clients able to afford as well as enjoy their products, and thereby generate the finance for developments to a range of models probably unequalled anywhere on the planet. Luxury cars such as Ferrari are worth every penny because they genuinely support a sphere of development that other manufacturers cannot hope to focus on. Currently the Ferrari F430 is the ultimate road machine offered by this Italian marque.

The Engine

There was a time when Ferrari was associated with V12 engines only, but time has moved on and in respect to the Ferrari F430 a 4.3 litre V8 is present. With around 490 horsepower produced at 8,500 rpm it is easy to understand how this super-fast machine is capable of almost 200 mph and soars between 0-60 in just 4.0 seconds. The fact that the Ferrari F430 is able to handle this kind of power without drama identifies what some of the high initial cost is spent on.

The Drive

Climb out of your hot hatch and in behind the wheel of the Ferrari F430. OK, so the first thing you probably notice is that you're sitting a little lower than usual, or you just might be too excited by the Ferrari logo on the centre of the wheel hub to think of anything other than the fact that you're sitting in one of the fastest road cars on planet earth! Fire up the engine and the howl from 490 horsepower is enough to bring home the fact that your sitting in something that makes sounds faster than your hot hatch can move. You will also have noticed that everyone within a square mile knows that you exist. The sound of the V-8 4.3 litre engine can be intimidating first time you hear it because if ever any engine could be compared to a raging bull, this is it. A six speed manual transmission supplied either through a Formula One paddle or the standard Ferrari open-gate. The F1 paddle is for drivers who don't want to waste precious seconds changing gears, while the standard open-gate is for those with time on their hands. However, a very special feature of the F430 is its electronic differential which allows a driver to push this Ferrari harder than most through bends. Knowing all this is good, but experiencing it is, sensational.

With a straight road ahead push the throttle to the floor and amaze yourself at how quickly the straight road ahead suddenly becomes a bend. Straight-line performance is awesome, pushing you firmly back in the seat so that the thrill of acceleration is almost lost as you attempt to focus well ahead of where you are pointed. Just as you begin to ease off and do a little recovery from the G Force pounding of a straight line power burst, a curve demands that you think about turning the wheel in your hands. Amazingly all you need do is think and follow the line of the bend because the F430, with all its clever Formula One development, helps you round, and as it does so you realise that you're having to get accustomed to another set of G Forces which few people ever experience. The temptation to drive fast is a constant companion, but so is the fact that you're driving one of the safest super-fast cars ever built. The Ferrari F430 is an involving experience, built to provide drivers who enjoy motoring an opportunity to escape the limitations imposed by lesser machines. The only experience to top a drive in the Ferrari F430 would be a drive in a Ferrari F430 Spyder with the top down.

Ferrari

When Enzo Ferrari created his company Scuderia Ferrari in Italy in 1929 his intentions was to sponsor amateur race car drivers and invent racing cars, and it would take more than 15 years before Ferrari began to create their own road cars in 1946. Ferrari is still devoted to the creation of racing cars and high performance sports cars and do not create other types of cars. Scuderia Ferrari is still the widespread name for Gestione Sportiva, the part of the Ferrari company that works with racing. Scuderia is an Italian word and means "stable", but Scuderia Ferrari is sometime also translated as Team Ferrari.

During the early years, Scuderia Ferrari sponsored race car drivers that were driving Alfa Romeo cars. Scuderia Ferrari would prepare Alfa Romeo cars before the race, and in 1938 Enzo Ferrari became officially employed by Alfa Romeo's racing department. Two years later Enzo Ferrari found out that Alfa Romeo was planning to absorb Scuderia Ferrari, a plan which Enzo Ferrari strongly opposed. He instantly left his job at Alfa Romeo, but his contract restricted him from being involved with racing for several years. He changed Scuderia Ferrari into "Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari" and officially manufactured aircraft accessories for a few years. Enzo Ferrari did however create a race car during this restricted period. The Tipo 815 debuted at the Mille Miglia race in 1940, but the race was hampered due to World War II and Tipo 815 encountered no real competition. In 1943 Enzo Ferrari moved his factory to Maranello in Italy and one year later the factory was bombed. After the end of World War II, Enzo Ferrari rebuilt his factory and now the Ferrari factory was capable of construction road cars as well.

Ferrari constructed its first road car in 1947. The 1947 125 S Ferrari had a 1.5 L V12 engine and the whole car was considered very beautiful and well designed. Enzo Ferrari was still more interested in race cars and the Ferrari road cars was merely a way for him to fund his work with the Scuderia Ferrari. His distaste for the road car customers became famous and he even accused them of buying Ferrari cars only as status symbols. It is true that the Ferrari road cars grow to fame not only due to excellent performance but also thanks to their stylish elegance. Pininfarina, Bertone, Ghia, Scagliette, Touring and Vignale are all examples of design houses that have worked with Ferrari.

In November 1961 a dispute between Enzo Ferrari and his sales manager, Girolamo Gardini, turned into a crisis. Girolamo Gardini threatened to leave the company. Enzo Ferrari responded to the threat by throwing out Girolamo Gardini, and several employees who agreed with Girolamo Gardini were also ousted. Among them were Romolo Tavoni, manager for Scuderia Ferrari, Giotto Bizzarrini, the chief of the experimental sports car development, and Carlo Chiti, the chief engineer. This was naturally a huge loss for the Ferrari company and the crisis deepened when those who had been thrown out formed their own company - Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS). ATS even managed to take over Scuderia Serenissima, a very successful racing team, from Ferrari.

A younger engineer, Mauro Forghieri, and an experienced racing bodyman, Sergio Scaglietti, assumed responsibility and tried to finish the projects that the leaving employees had left behind. One of the most important tasks was to finish the development of 250 GTO; a new 250-based model that could compete with the Jaguar E-type. The 250 GTO was finished in time to participate in the Sebring race and place itself first in class, driven by Phil Hill. Throughout 1962, the 250 GTO continued to win the races and it is still one of the most well known race cars in history. The crisis turned out to be something good for Ferrari and the 1960s became a very good decade for the company.

Until the 1980s when Ferrari began to use fuel injection in the road cars, the Ferraris were known as rather temperamental cars. They could be very unreliable, but would still attract a large group of dedicated fans that viewed this unpredictability as "character" rather than a problem. Today, FIAT controls 56 percent of the Ferrari stocks. The rest of stocks owned by Enzo's con Piero Ferrari and by Commerzbank, Mediobanca and the Lehman Brothers. Maranello is still the home town for Ferrari.

Audi Q7

If you are planning to buy the used car then go with the used Audi Q7 Car. Many of us thought that buying the used car will create negative impact on their status but buying a new luxurious car doesn't suit to their pockets. So to maintain your status in the society opt for the expensive used cars like the used Audi Q7 Car. Yes it is used by someone else, so what; still you can enjoy and experience the luxury ride with pride.

The Used Audi Q7 Car will offers you the same features as you get in the new one but in much affordable price. In other words you can say that "one arrow two targets" means the two purposes will be solved one is it's suits you budget and another is it's will retain your status. Well buying the Used Audi Q7 Car is the fruitful options for the rich people who are buy the cars just for their fetishes.

The used Audi Q7 car is available in the various variants such as Audi Q7 3.0 V6 TDI, Audi Q7 4.2 V8 TDI, Audi Q7 3.6 VR6 and the Audi Q7 4.2 FSI, and Audi Q7 5.0 V12 diesel. The some awesome features you may also get in the used Audi Q7 car are New Instrument Cluster, New Leather Seating, Ambient Door Lighting, New Trim, MMI Control System, Chrome Accents, Body Styling in the Front and Rear etc.

Audi Q7 is ideal for five passengers who provide the comfortable ride with your friends and family on all those exciting off roads journeys. The Q7 car is give the similar performance whether it is be rain, snow or rocky roads. The car is truly amazing at every aspect. The Audi Q7 car will show off your sporty side too. Before buying the used Audi Q7 car take the trained car engineer along with you who will guide you for the right and perfect used car.

Audi A3

Audi launched the A3 in 1996, there has been two Audi A3 models both are based on VW Groups A platform, the same platform as Audi TT, VW Golf, VW Caddy,VW Touran as well as the Seat Leon, Seat Toledo and the Skoda Octavia.

The first generation of Audi A3

The very first Audi A3 or Typ 8L had its European launch in 1996, signalling Audi's return into the smaller car market, It was the first VAG model to be deployed on the "PQ34" or "A4" platform, based losely on the main contemporary, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4. When first launched the only model available was the three-door hatchback body, This was Audi attempt to offer a more sporty image than that of the VW Golf, launched as both both front- and four-wheel drive. Every engine used the inline four-cylinder configuration, using a transversely mounted engine, A transverse engine is an engine that is mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. With the launch of the the Audi A4, the Audi A3 switched to the five valves per cylinder engine.

In 1999, Audi increased the number of engine sizes available introducing much more powerful versions: a 1.8 Turbo rated 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp), and a 1.9 TDI diesel engine with Unit Injector "Pumpe Düse" (PD) technology and variable geometry turbocharger. The four-wheel-drive A3 1.8T quattro used either the 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) or 180 PS (130 kW; 180 hp) engine, and the same Haldex Traction-based on-demand four-wheel drive system as the Audi S3 and the Audi TT. 1999 also saw Audi bow to the pressure of market demands and launch a five-door model, this had never been considered by Audi as a good idea and they had no plans of producing one, But demand was so high that this could not be ignored.

The third quarter of 2000, the Audi A3 received it first facelift with new headlights and new rear light clusters, added other minor cosmetic changes, an improved interior, and the arrival of a six-speed manual gearbox, on the 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp) 1.8 Turbo and the brand new 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) 1.9 TDI.

Audi's Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), traction-control and brake force distribution computer became standard equipment in some countries.

Production of the Typ 8L Audi A3 was stopped in Europe during 2003, But Audi continued to sell the Typ 8L in undeveloped countries. When production of the Typ 8L model was stopped in Brazil, the retail price increased by nearly Forty percent from £19,434 to £32,389.

Second generation Audi A3 (Typ 8P/8PA, 2003–present day)

In 2003 the Geneva Motor Show was where, Audi unveiled the updated second-generation of Audi A3, the Typ 8P, designed by Walter de'Silva. Initially launched as a three-door hatchback with a four cylinder engines, featuring a new automobile platform ( PQ35 platform), a new more spacious interior, new larger petrol engines with Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), and standard six-speed manual gearboxes (excluding the base 1.6 model).

The summer of 2003, saw the arrival of two sports-influenced models, the 2.0 Turbo-FSI version rated 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp), and a huge 3.2 VR6 engine (for the first time) with 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp). Haldex Traction-based quattro on-demand four wheel drive, and the S-Tronic semi-automatic gearbox were introduced as options (quattro is standard on the VR6) on every model with engine over 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp).

The five-door Audi A3 Sportback model arrived in mid 2004. Audi A3 Sportback has a body that is s 80 mm (3 inchs) longer than the base three-door body, also benefits from improved rear interior space and a much larger rear luggage compartment (370 litres). It also was the first Audi A3 to get the "single frame" front grille that was originally on the Audi A8, Due to the rave reviews and the positive response