Ferrari California for sale! Now doesn’t that sound better than Ferrari F149 for sale?

I wrote a while back about my dislike for car numbers instead of car names, and it looks like Ferrari were listening! The first details on the new Ferrari we wrote about last month have now been released and, as we expected, this is a baby 599.

This is going to get really interesting. With a 450bhp V8 and great 7-speed dual-clutch box, not to mention the first folding metal roof on a Ferrari, this is aimed fair and square at Aston Martin, Porsche and the top end SLs. And if the target price of £125k is right, it is going to see a lot of sales going to Italy.

Looking at the picture you can see how much like the 599 it is, and with the trademark round lamps at the back and 4 pipes, no one is going to mistake this for anything other than a Ferrari. The engine is in the right place and performance is suggested to be sub 4 seconds to 60.

More details when we get them. I can’t wait!

Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang for sale. Now there’s a phrase you’re guaranteed not to see very often. We’re big admirers of the Veyron (it really is in a different league from any other hyper car on the market), and we couldn’t see how any car could offer more (or in this case less, at least in weight). But the Pur Sang does.

Only 5 Pur Sangs are being made, so they make your regular Veyron look as common as a mini. And it really does stand out, with a very pure aluminium bodyshell, a carbon fibre monocoque and no paint! And all this means a weight saving of almost 100kg, making this an even faster Veyron than the ’standard car’.

Even though we deal in Veyrons regularly, it really is rare to have a Pur Sang. It’s hard to believe that these cars (remember, there are only 5 in the world) sold out in just 24 hours. But the Bugatti is very special, and the Pur Sang even more so.

There is no point espousing the virtues of the Veyron again. They’ve been expressed here on more than one occasion, and in countless other places far more eloquently than I can. Enough to say this is the ultimate road car. The ‘Concorde’ of the automotive world. And this is the ultimate iteration of the marque.

If you want it, be quick!

I know, we do cars. But actually, there are two reasons for featuring this incredible machine. The first, and most important, is that this is an absolutely awesome piece of kit. As the makers say “The Veyron of the Sea”. The second is that we are branching out! Over the next few months we will be launching a site dedicated to all things boats (well, the interesting stuff at least), another for planes/helicopters and a third for property. That’s going to keep us occupied through the summer. But we know there’s a big demand for us to do what we’ve done for cars in these areas. Should be fun!

Where do we start with the boat? 0-60mph? Haven’t a clue. Top speed? Ah, I know that - 100mph bar a whisker! Now that’s a bit quicker than a banana boat! Power? Now I do know that - 1600hp. A serious amount of power. And this isn’t some stripped-out hull. It has beds and luxury and toys and everything the serious speed-freak could want. I’m starting to see the appeal.

So, we have the XSR48 for sale, but when can you have it? Well, the waiting list is currently 3-4 years, but who wants to wait that long? Fancy it for this summer? You can have it in August! So, we can do the same thing with boats that we do with cars. Give our clients what they want, when they want it.

To quote the makers, XSMG:

The XSR48 is a supercar on water, a luxury powerboat with supercar looks. With a total of no less than 1600hp from two bi-turbo diesel engines, the XSR48 has supercar acceleration to match its stunning appearance.

But style has not been sacrificed for speed. The XSR48 combines the DNA and high performance of a supercar with superyacht styling making it the ‘Bugatti Veyron’ of the sea.

The XSR48 has been developed in collaboration with a number of world class design and construction partners including legendary hull designer Fabio Buzzi, award winning superyacht designers Redman Whiteley Dixon and High Modulus the world’s leading exponent in composite marine structures. The XSR48 will be manufactured at the internationally renowned Berthon Shipyard in Lymington.

I think this boat is going to cause a few waves (pun intended!) so if you seriously want to be blasting round the seven seas this summer, give us a call!

The growth of mid-range 4×4s carries on apace, with the first official pictures and specifications coming from Mercedes.

This spurt in the mid-size 4×4 offerings is a very sensible move by the manufacturers. There is no way that the green lobby is going to stop the proliferation of 4×4s, but making smaller offerings is one way to take the edge of the ramblings about environmental damage. Anyone with a brain knows that the whole man-made climate change lobby is about as believable as the assertion in the seventies from the same ‘authoritative’ sources that we were about to slip in to an ice-age. But as long as the media continues to give coverage to the nonsense it is sensible to have options. And these smaller 4×4s are very good options.

I wrote a week ago about the new Q5 from Audi, and that for me seems to be the pick of the bunch. But Mercedes is playing the game with the new GLK. Expect to see the Mercedes GLK for sale in Europe, at least in its less powerful guises, before the end of the year. But don’t expect to see it here. Why, I hear you cry. Well, quite simply, Mercedes doesn’t think the UK market is important enough, so it’s made a car that will cost it a chunk of money to make in RHD form, so it’s going to let the sales run in the rest of the world to see how it goes. It’s is even apparantly considering a RWD only option for the UK. Shame on you Mercedes. The UK is one of your most important markets, and consumers won’t take kindly to being excluded from the GLK. They will simply opt for the Q5 and stary there. And that will mean a big trade-off when people consider other vehicles in the range. Once they’ve got used to Audi build quality and their exceptional interiors, a Mercedes is going to seem a much less enticing option. Not a good plan.

Anyway, what has the GLK got to offer. At launch expect to see an entry-level 2.1 diesel witn around 170bhp and 40+ mpg. In addition there will be 3.0 Diesel and a couple of petrol engines - a 3.0 and a 3.5. It is rumoured there will also be a GLK AMG63 at some point in the future. The usual range of sport and off-road options are available, as are a range of gearboxes. But none of that matters, because it won’t be coming to the UK until at least 2010.

Bad move, Mercedes.

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

Almost everything Audi has done in the last few years has worked. Late to the party with a big SUV? Don’t worry, we’ll make the sector our own when we get there (Q7). Show Porsche how to do it? No problem (R8). An object lesson in executive cars? This is how you do it (A6). And now we add the Q5. Is the Audi Q5 for sale yet? No, but as soon as it is (first models should be available in September) there are going to be some seriously worried manufacturers out there (think Land Rover with the Freelander, BMW with the X3 and Mercedes with the upcoming GLK).

The Q5 is a shade longer than its rivals, but it would seem, a darn sight more sporty, with a few new toys and suspension choices to hand. A trio of engines is available at launch, but I think it’s a fair bet we’ll be seeing a high-performance version in 2009. For now the 2×2.0 litre cars (a petrol and a diesel) are a good entry point, but the 3.0 TDI is the choice. This engine does a great job in the A6, and not such a good job in the Q7. But in the Q5 it will offer 0-60mph in a little over 6 seconds and 30+mpg. This car is going to be unbeatable in its sector.

I have become a big fan of Audi in the last few years but, although I’ve driven my fair share, I’ve never owned one. But, so long as the Q5 drives as well as I expect, I think this is the perfect car for Carla (L&M). Beautifully made; high driving position (for the less than confident driver); great auto-box (7 speed twin-clutch S-tronic) ample room for the dogs and decent fuel consumption. And, just to make it ideal, a decent turn of speed for when I have to drive it!

Well done Audi. Cracked it again!

Lamborghini LP560-4 for sale. I actually prefer Lamborghini Gallardo for sale. I don’t think Lamborghinis should be all numbers, like a run-of-the-mill BMW or Mercedes. I feel the same about Ferraris too. I thought Ferrari had realised their mistake when the F60 became the Enzo instead. But apart from that we haven’t had a named car in years, and that’s sad. It takes away the soul. But no matter, the LP560 is what the Gallardo should have been in the first place. A proper Lamborghini (even if it doesn’t have scissor doors).

When Audi first got it’s hands on Lamborghini, the afficienados were up in arms. “That’s the end of Lamborghini” they cried. But they were wrong. The first car to come along after Audi took over was the Murcielago (now the LP640). A barn-storming brute of a car. A proper hairy-chested monster. And the only thing Audi actually seemed to do is make sure it was built properly. So, round one to Audi. But the second car was the Gallardo, and the doom-mongers had some ammunition. Not a lot, mind you. The main cry was that Audi had taken away the heart. I think they just meant it didn’t have scissor doors and didn’t break down every other day. But you could sort of see what they meant. It felt ’safe’. Well not any more!

The starting point for changes is the bodywork. Round the back it becomes a baby Reventon. It’s squatter than before; more purposeful. The back-end was always my least favourite angle on the Gallardo, and this is a big improvement. The front goes the same route, with new air intakes and a more aggressive look. And all that playing with the Reventon has had a great impact on the carry-over work here. The LP560-4 is over 30% more aerodynamic than the Gallardo. Not only does that help fuel economy (which is improved by 18%, as are emissions) but the LP560-4 is more planted. Add to the mix an extra 32bhp and 23lb ft of torque and this is the car the baby Lambo should always have been.

So now I’ve whetted your appetite, you’re wondering how long the waiting list is. Well, I doubt you’ll get one out of Lamborghini until summer 2009, but we’ve got a build slot for Oct/Nov this year, so if you want to be first - be quick!

I get emails all the time asking if the cars I write about are real or if we just make them up? As I’ve said time and time again, I have never written about a car we don’t have. It wouldn’t be fair, and we wouldn’t do it. I know, I’ve said all this more than once before, but I wanted to say it again, because I am about to reveal that we have an incredible 11 Bugatti Veyrons for sale at the moment!

Car 1: Early Build Slot Sept Build - The Current wait for a Bugatti is around 12 – 18 Months. We have an early build slot. You will be able to spec the vehicle and it will be built Sept 2008.

Car 2: Limited Edition - Specs on the limited edition car are as follows: 5 cars for the World, 3 already sold: Black carbon over black unit, tangerine interior, black intakes, black filler caps (EB logo is aluminium), black door handles, black headlamps, black centre console. All grilles except centre front are black, centre grilled polished aluminium.

Car 3: Black and Silver Car With Black seats – Brand New Unregistered

Car 4: Fully Black Car – With Black Seats – Brand New Unregistered

Car 5: Bugatti Racing Blue and Black Car – 2006 Car – 285Miles

Car 6: 2008 - Has 580 miles on it - Black & Silver

Car 7: 2008 NEW Black with Black with black interior with red stitching

Car 8: 2008 NEW Red / Black with red/grey interior

Car 9: 2008 NEW Red / Red with Black interior and silver stitching

Car 10: New Veyron Unregistered - Gold / Cream Limited Edition

Car 11: Two Tone Silver / blue Leather – 2006 Car – 404 Kilometres

The Veyron is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best car ever made. Nothing comes close. And in some ways it’s sad that so many are available. So what’s the reason? Well, contrary to what the cynics out there may say, it’s probably not due to the sub-prime fiasco in America that’s reverberating round the world. Sure, there’s going to be an element of that in there, but I know for a fact that more than one of these is available because the guy’s second one is about to be delivered. I know, a different planet! And this car is out of reach for most of us.

But there are a big chunk of people out there who can buy a Veyron with pocket change. For example, there are 1,000 dollar billionaires in the world. To them spending around £750k on a Veyron is the equivalent of your bog-standard millionaire spending £750 on a car! And how many millionaires do you know who drive around in a Mk3 Cortina? And when you start on people worth more than $100 million, you’re certainly running in to the tens, if not hundreds of thousands round the world. To them, a Veyron is the same as your average millionaire spending £7500 on a car. A millionaire driving a Fiesta?

So there’s a big market all round the world to fill. Let’s hope we can with this little lot!

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

We’ve been waiting for some time for Ferrari to put up the ‘Ferrari F149 For Sale‘ signs. Well now they have; sort of.

Luca di Montezemolo has always been a law unto himself, and this time he’s even managed to catch out his own PR team, by announcing that the new Ferrari F149 will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October (thank you Evo for the original story).

The motoring press has been trying to guess what the F149 was all about for quite some time. Most of the speculation has centred around the possibility that this will be the Dino for the 21st century. Personally, that always seemed a little like wishful thinking (an easy sentiment to put in writing after the event, but honest, Guv, it’s what I thought!). I can’t see Ferrari going down-market. The reason they sell, and the reason they’re so profitable, is because they stubbornly refuse to compromise on price and quantity. A lesson they have learned very well from Porsche. There will be no ‘cheap’ Ferraris. There may be Ferraris that cost less, but believe me they will be very profitable.

And I think Ferrari is far too shrewd to pop a cheaper mid-engined car in to the mix. For a start, it would threaten the F430 but, probably more importantly, it would pop a new Dino bang in the firing line of the Audi R8. Now that is a very dangerous place to be.

So, the new F149 is going to be a Front-engined, V8. Yes please! I have never been a huge lover of the mid-engined Ferraris; much preferring the engine up-front. And the idea of a front-engined, sensibly priced (by Ferrari standards) 2+2 is very appealing. And there seems to be the possibility that the F149 will come with a folding metal roof. Now that will be interesting, and a big seller in the UK (which buys more convertibles than anywhere else in Europe. We are an optimistic bunch!).

I think Ferrari will have a real winner here. It won’t take sales away from the existing line-up, but it will pull sales in from other marques. And this should complete the Ferrari line-up for the foreseeable future. Oh, apart from the SUV (believe me, it will happen!).

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

Bugatti Veyron for sale. I love that. The best car in the world and someone, somewhere is getting one. And it’s even better when we have it for sale.

On the whole, we don’t do the big “We have a 2008 Bugatti Veyron for Sale” because we source the cars our customers want when they get in touch. But as I’ve said before, we always have a pretty thorough list of what we can lay our hands on very quickly, from Enzos and MC12s to Bugattis and Reventons, via Scuderias and Superleggeras! Oh, I do like looking at what’s around.

But just lately I have been taken to task by some of the guys on the Pistonheads forum for always using library pictures. It’s not true of course, I don’t always post with library pictures, but it’s hard enough finding the time to write here without actually having to grab the camera and play at David Bailey. So on the whole I do take the easy option and use library images. Let’s face it, you all know what the car should look like, and a library picture is probably better shot than I could manage in the time I have (even though I once made my living taking photos - Oh, I’ve lived a varied life!). But I thought I’d make an exception to appease the detractors!

So here we have an ‘08 Bugatti Veyron. This car is the actual one for sale. And with any luck I’ll get to go and deliver it when it gets sold. But in reality it will probably be trailered.

Oh, well, it’ll save being surrounded by crowds with camera phones every time I stop!

It’s been a busy old week or two - not enough time to do anything, not even keep up to date here. Strangely, we’ve had a real surge in enquiries lately (I say strangely, because the papers seem to be full of sales falls and credit crunches - but not here). And it’s not just been the more regular stuff either, oh no! We’ve had a spate of calls asking if we have a Zonda for sale of all things. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but we normally don’t get more than one serious enquiry for a Zonda a month. We’ve had 4 this month already. Maybe people have realised that this really is a future classic, and the current crop of 25 Zonda F are the last of the Zondas. There’s a new model in the planning, but it won’t be a Zonda.

One of my favourite cars has had its first real tweak in nearly 5 years. So if you’re looking for an Aston Martin DB9 for sale from now on you get something even better than before - if that’s possible.

First and foremost, you get more power - up by 20bhp to 470bhp - which means a new top speed of 190mph and a 0-60 time of just 4.6 seconds. What an elegant way to fly this is! The Volante gets a stiffer setup (which is needed) and the Coupe gets tweaked suspension to give a better quality ride (which was already impressive) with sportier handling (which, once you’ve driven a DB9 with the sports pack, you will appreciate it needs). There’s a new standard 19″, 10-spoke alloys, new door mirrors and new grill. Really minor stuff on the exterior and a few tweaks, including the ‘Crystal’ keys from the DBS and a new centre console, on the interior - but why mess with perfection.

The DB9 was the car that set Aston Martin alive, and these tweaks are enough to see it through another 5 years. The DB9 has now become the single most successful model in Aston’s history, and deservedly so.

Here’s to the next five years.