Browsing category

Movies

Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition Goes From The Silver Screen To Your Garage

The latest James Bond film No Time To Die was originally supposed to make its debut over a month ago, but the rapidly evolving situation surrounding the novel COVID-10 outbreak forced its premiere to be postponed until fall. Despite this, some of the product tie ins that were bundled in with the movie are still moving forward with their original time tables. One of these is the all new Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition which will serve as the most compelling preview of the movie (for now) when it makes its way to Triumph showrooms. The most immediate differences that will …

Keep reading

2017 Nissan ROGUE ONE Star Wars Edition – Review By Ben Lewis

  We had mixed feelings about testing the 2017 Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition Rogue. Nissan has made some notable improvements on its popular crossover, and we were looking forward to testing it. Then they announced the Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition model. Since they both had the name “Rogue” it kind of smacked of opportunism. Cue rolling of eyes. So, the question becomes, is The Force with the new Rogue, or just the farce? Well, since we don’t want to spoil the ending, let’s start with what’s new for Rogue. Already a crisp design, we have a …

Keep reading

RM Monaco 2016 – 1965 Porsche 911 Art Car 007 By Peter Klasen

Vivid airbrushing, wild colors and a vaguely sexualized — yet also high-tech and militaristic — themes pop from every side of this 1965 Porsche 911. The one-off art car will cross the block in Monaco, celebrating Peter Klasen’s remarkable career as an artist since his birth in 1935. The 007 911 will not be to everyone’s taste, and has a strong late-80s vibe to some of its imagery.  The importance and originality of this piece as rolling artwork, however, should still see at least a $300k premium over a similar 911 from this era.  The race-prep seats, bodywork and roll …

Keep reading

Own the ONLY 2016 Aston Martin DB10 – SPECTRE Hero, Vulcan, DBX and DP-100 All Slightly Awful, Though

The DB10 is finally available to buy! But not for you.  =] Just ten of the bespoke 007 rides were created ahead of the film. It was not immediately clear if that ten included the movie stunt cars, or how the ten DB10’s would be sold. We now know.  Eight were used to film the movie, while two stayed in pristine and brand-new condition. Aston is keeping one of the new cars for itself to enjoy.  And that last one? Up for grabs!  Christie’s auction house is selling the DB10 on February 24th to benefit MSF, or Doctors Without Borders …

Keep reading

Mecum Florida Favorites – 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi Superleggera Coupe Is Ultimate Old-Money Villain

Part of the joy of owning and driving a vintage exotic is how rich they make you look.  Of course, a modern supercar leaves few doubts about your large account balance, sure. But for a real old-money glamour among those who have seen and done it all?  A vintage exotic has few peers — it is so inherently extra, superfluous and special. This breathtaking 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi certainly impresses at all times. More than external vainty, though, the 3500GT makes you feel quite special inside. That gorgeous oval grille with oversized Trident badge as large as a dinner plate. The …

Keep reading

Is Hollywood Co-Promotion Worse Than Brand Integration? Star Wars and FCA to Find Out

Product placement in movies has evolved radically since Bumblebee Camaro raced back into our hearts — and many driveways — following the 2007 Transformers remake. In the last 20 years, paid PP was all about screen time and brand impact.  The challenges were to say the name of the product on film and have it be a hero type of character.  Without appearing saccharine.  (Bad examples include Acura and Sony in every Hollywood media program they have ever done.) For ‘good’ results, it was about showcasing the car organically throughout the film, with real-life displays of prop replicas generally involved …

Keep reading

RM NYC 2015 – 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ‘Roy Rogers’ Nudie Mobile

  This outrageous Bonneville is the real deal: an authentic piece of memorabilia from the original Hollywood merchandising phenom: Roy Rogers. The iconic cowboy led a global trend spanning most of the 1950s and 1960s, when parents sought to avoid glamorizing WWII via the previously-ubiquitous soldier toys. The Bonneville here is shocking outside, yes, with guns replacing the door handles and an extra train-load of chrome all around its white bodywork. Giant steer horns lead the charge in front, of course. But if the outside is striking, the cabin will make you faint. The custom leatherwork makes the entire giant …

Keep reading

Jaguar Land Rover – James Bond Launch Party 2015 – 120-Photo Mega Gallery

Updated 9.18.15 with 120 Photos from Frankfurt and James Bond events Balls-to-the-wall action in this new SPECTRE trailer! JLR is clearly featured throughout the film, coming this October, but these three cars are particularly integral to the plot. Which we can now see includes a madcap car chase through Rome: DB10 evading CX-75.     But also waist-deep powder in the mountain scenes! A perfect showcase for craftily Q-ed special Jags and Landies. A particularly proud moment, this film, in the Bond franchise already. For the first time in ages, the film is really ‘coming home’ in terms of UK car …

Keep reading

007 SPECTRE Bond Cars – Jaguar CX-75, Defender and RRS in Mouthwatering 99-Photo Closeups

Balls-to-wall action in this new SPECTRE trailer! JLR is clearly featured throughout the film, coming this October, but these three cars are particularly integral to the plot. Which we can now see includes a madcap car chase through Rome: DB10 evading CX-75. But also waist-deep powder in the mountain scenes! A perfect showcase for craftily Q-ed special Jags and Landies. A particularly proud moment, this film, in the Bond franchise already. For the first time in ages, the film is really ‘coming home’ in terms of UK car stars. Which all three of these certainly are. Enjoy a few custom …

Keep reading

2016 Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition – 150-Unit Special Wears SPECTRE Silver, Custom 007 Touches

Aston just rolled out a new special to celebrate the new James Bond film, SPECTRE, debuting this fall. For all the shared cache among Bond and Aston, we cannot recall another specifically badged Aston model with the Bond name. This is likely down to simple licensing costs, or brand covetousness within Sony pictures. An Aston Martin wearing 007 James Bond badges will always have a huge built-in fanbase, though, and the time is right to co-brand. A far cry from the DB10 prototype in the film, the DB9 GT Bond Edition is still fairly special in its own right. A …

Keep reading

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan JUKE Nismo RS Manual

Imagine a core group of Nissan GT-R engineers, drivers and designers set loose on the Nissan Juke NISMO. Task? Take the quickest and most performance-focused crossover, and make it truly track-tight in every way. That is how the Juke Nismo RS came into this world — with astounding results. The speed, style and drive experience of the Nismo RS is absolutely incredible versus its $28k competitors — and even versus pricier cars like the AMG GLA45, WRX or Mustang EcoBoost. The Juke Nismo RS is incredibly focused from first sitting in its racing Recaro hard-back bucket seats. A pair of …

Keep reading

Miami Vice Ferrari 512 TestaRossa Bringing Coked-Up 80s Cool to Mecum 2015 Monterey Auctions

What was the epitome of South Beach chic in the 1980s? White. White car, white house. White blazer and belt. A white “carphone” to match. All bought with an empire of white powder. To fit the profile, the detectives in Miami Vice had to live the part of druglords as their undercover personas. Fast cars and fast women… all wrapped up nicely with a solved case at the end of the hour. Perhaps even more iconic than the art deco beachfronts and rampant turquoise from the show? The Ferrari 512 TR hero car of the show. Unlike Hawaii 5-0 Magnum …

Keep reading

1976 Porsche 930 Turbo – Steve McQueen Special on Video + 150 Photos

    Here is a fantastic way to kick off LeMans weekend: with a fabulous inside look at Steve McQueen’s last special-order Porsche. This 1976 930 Turbo was one of the very first forced-air 911 Carrera’s ever made — and was at least partially put into series production at the urging of the acting and racing badboy. Like McQueen himself, the 911 Turbo would become far more than just a badge or a nameplate. It has come to represent the ultimate in man over nature; speed against all odds, and the joys of being a badass. How badass? McQueen had …

Keep reading

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, G63 6×6 and Unimog U5023 Star in Jurassic World

Update1 – With Selected Photo Credits to Baptiste Coudert It has been almost 20 years since the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class made a silver-screen debut in Jurassic Park 2 in 1997 — best known for spinning all four wheels in reverse while trying to pull a research trailer back from the edge of a cliff. The Mercedes SUV product-placement offensive has continued in the X-Men films and a few other since then, but never with the same action-packed, memorable drama as the ML320 in Jurassic Park: The Lost World. The fact of the matter is that the Mercedes SUVs in movies have …

Keep reading

Mecum Indy 2015 – 1993 Toyota Supra Official Fast Furious Movie Car Seeking $150k+

Movie cars sometimes have a hard life after the filming stops. They have sometimes been abused to the point of no return – with only one or two of the original six-pack of action stars making it to the premiere on four wheels. This 1993 Toyota Supra is the exception. Thanks to fairly gentle use in The Fast and The Furious, this Paul Walker whip survives today in perfect condition. One of one, this Supra is a perfect slice-of-life from the early 2000’s SoCal car scene. The time is right for a big-money sale in 2015, 14 years after the …

Keep reading

2015 Ferrari California T by Tailor Made Evokes Hollywood Royalty of ‘Grigio Ingrid’ 375MM

There is a timeless elegance associated with Hollywood and the global jetset enjoying 1950s Italy. Thanks to commercial aviation — the world’s elite could now, for the first time in history, vacation in far more exotic locales efficiently and without any month-long boatrides there and back. This magical era of big-budget Hollywood movies also was the first time films would be distributed globally as well, thanks to advances in projector and film reel affordability. Upon arrival in Capri or St. Tropez, the stars of the day fell hard for all the accoutrements of the Italian luxury lifestyle — including Ferrari’s. …

Keep reading

LeMans Homologation Specials – 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR SuperSport

The CLK GTR has an altogether less impressive record than the McLaren F1 GTR and Porsche 911 GT1 it was designed to beat. The CLK GTR was the most eagerly-sought road model, however, with 300 buyers trying to own one of the 25 road cars to be produced by AMG and the re-established M-B factory racing team. Re-established? Mercedes took the ultimate in gentlemen’s intermissions from LeMans after the tragic accident of 1955 killed dozens of spectators. A car out of control and taking flight before a huge crash was too similar to the 1930s Silver Arrows accidents, wherein famous …

Keep reading

RM Andrews 2015 – Real 2011 TRON Light Cycle EV Bike – Just 25k!?

Fan of the 2011 movie or not, this TRON light cycle custom is a sweet bike. A fully operation electric motorcycle, this one-off recreation is the LED-lit dream bike for its incredible riding position, huge power from a 96-volt direct drive, and massive grip and stability thanks to the super-wide tires. The estimate is remarkably affordable: no reserve and a sale between $25k and $40k when it crosses the block in May at the Andrews Collection RM Auction. Here are a few photos of TRON Legacy movie bike for comparison. Near-exact, but with a real rider — maybe you…!   Real …

Keep reading

2015 W Motors Lykan HyperSport – Watch The Furious 7 Hero Car In Action!

Why do car brands love product placement? Let us count the ways! The most powerful effect can be instant and global — delivering a lift in brand awareness and consideration that would otherwise take 50 agencies, localized creative and perhaps $100-million in measured media spending. When done right, it really is magical. Crossing borders and languages instantly, becoming part of the cultural zeitgeist and a piece of cinema history for all time. In addition, weaving a car into the plot of a film can show off its performance, dynamic poise, interior and exhaust/engine notes simply by driving the car on …

Keep reading

Jaguar Land Rover Reveals its 007 SPECTRE Cars: C-X75, Range Rover Sport SVR and Defender Big Foot

The irony of Jaguar Land Rover partnering with the ultimate secret agent is deep. First off, the entire script of SPECTRE was stolen in the Sony hack in late 2014. Then, a garage full of Range Rovers was also pinched from a garage somewhere in Europe ahead of production. So … not exactly a secret that JLR would be a strong player in the next Bond film. But we had yet to get confirmation that the C-X75 would be the baddie’s car of choice, nor seen the RRS and Defenders that will be used alongside the Aston Martin DB10. Just …

Keep reading

Houston Auto Show Customs – 1960s TV Batmobile by Tony Gullo

Of all the Batmobiles, the 1960s TV show version has to be the all-time favorite for most people. Bubble roof, wild colors, fins and details unlike anything else…. This display at the Houston Auto Show was a real crowd-pleaser, with great workmanship by Tony Gullo Customs. 1960s TV Batmobile by Tony Gullo  

HD Video Walkarounds + Gallery – Wellborn Musclecar Collection at Mecum Florida 2015 Auctions

  We chatted our way past the nylon ropes to secure some up-close and person looks at the headliners of the recent Mecum 2015 Auctions in Florida. These pristine MOPAR muslcecars are some of the finest in the world, and the Chevelle SS, Buick GSX, Mustang Boss 429 and Pontiac Firebirds are a welcome bit of nostalgia as well. Also included below are 60 new photos of these cars in person. Enjoy!     Wellborn Musclecar Collection at Mecum Florida 2015 Auctions     1970 Mustang Boss 429 Fastback – $425,000 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona – $900,000    

1967 SHELBY GT500 Eleanor Mustang Headlining MECUM Austin Auction This Weekend

Your chance to own not just an incredibly upgraded Mustang GT500 with custom widebody, aero pieces and mechanical improvements throughout — but a famous movie hero as well? This Mustang GT500 is one of three driven by the stars in the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds. Yes, that means Angelina Jolie will have driven your car! The Mecum Austin auction is the first-ever event for the powerhourse auction specialist. More than 600 cars are set to be sold this weekend, December 12th and 13th, starting on Friday — just two days from today! 1967 SHELBY GT500 Eleanor Mustang   …

Keep reading

1970 Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R Hakosuka Is Ultimate 4DSC Grand Master

This is the second GT-R from RM Auctions recently — with the 1972 H/T coupe earning an impressive $242,000 at RM’s Monterey 2014 auction. That car is its two-door profile is more in line with the eventual GT-R lineage, but looks less like a Bond henchman’s ride than this G-man special. This Skyline GT-R sedan may find fewer general-interest fanboys, but among the cult of the Nissan 4DSC, it is the one to have. Nissan is eagerly cultivating the Hakosuka’s US descent’s return to 4-Door Sports Car glory with the 2016 Maxima, widely expected to debut in Detroit in January …

Keep reading

2016 Aston Martin DB10 for 007 in SPECTRE + 10 Street Cars Available

Bond is back in a new film, Spectre, in November of 2015 about a year from now. To equip the world’s favorite tinker-tailor/soldier-spy, Aston and EON productions just revealed the very tasty new DB10. The name is confusing for a few reasons, and we only have a single official photo of the car so far. But here is the skinny: Based on the V12 Vantage chassis, perhaps running new turbo AMG engines underneith. Wider and lower grille opening may indicate intercooler breathing room, plus a taller hood for packaging reasons? Unknown as of now. The car will be sold to …

Keep reading

2016 Kia Sorento X-Men Custom For Wolverine at Australian Open!

Kia’s new X-car Sorento for the X-men will bring out the inner comic book nerd in all of us. Set to attend the Australian Open in Jabuary, the Sorento X-Men model ties in with the blu-ray release of the latest film in Australia. The 2016 Sorento just made its US debut in LA – stay tuned for details in a different article. Pretty cool – but not sure if it would pass pedestrian safety regulatory approval with those adamantium blades on each side of the nose… =] 2016 Kia Sorento X-Men ‘X-Men’ inspired Kia Sorento to debut at the Australian …

Keep reading

2016 Toyota Mirai FCV Gets Race-Prepped As Japanese Rally Championship PreRunner

  The world’s first hydrogen racecar? Not exactly. But certainly one of the first hydrogen rally cars — that is a sure thing. As the course pre-runner for the Japanese Rally Championship in Shinsiro, this TMG-tuned Mirai is a fresh take on the Prius EV and hybrid theme. So, if the Mirai did not actually compete, what is the point? The point is that the Mirai is absolutely ready for primetime. It has been exhaustively crash-tested and this rough-course racing environment is a huge vote of confidence from Toyota in the Mirai FCV’s essential Toyota-ness: the core tenets of Quality, …

Keep reading

BRABUS ML-Class Mercedes-Benz Increases Speed, Exclusivity and Cabin Luxury

UPDATED for the ML-Class — and this all certainly applies to the five-seat Benz SUV as much as it does the seven-seater!   Who are we to judge a megalux custom SUV? Nobody – that is who. At least, nobody with anywhere near the wealth or status to feel let down by the factory ML-Class AMG from Mercedes-Benz. But in certain worlds, the factory model is just too plain, and too similar, to even find in a Brentwood organic produce parking lot — let alone feel passionate about. BRABUS takes things up a notch in every regard. More premium, much …

Keep reading

186MPH 7-Seat SUV? BRABUS B63S 700 Widestar for Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Who are we to judge a megalux custom SUV? Nobody – that is who. At least, nobody with anywhere near the wealth or status to feel let down by the factory GL63 AMG from Mercedes-Benz. But in certain worlds, the factory model is just too plain, and too similar, to even find in a Brentwood organic produce parking lot — let alone feel passionate about. BRABUS takes things up a notch in every regard. More premium, much faster, more exclusive and *much* more expensive. But these upgrades are so deep and thorough that they have a definite value proposition in …

Keep reading

2014 Nissan NC2020 VGT In 12 New Photos Ahead of Goodwood Display Tomorrow

  Update2 – June 26, 2014 The concept model of the spell-binding Nissan NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo is set for display this weekend at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed. Being up close and personal with the NC2020 VGT will be a visual feast for showgoers, to be sure! Ahead of seeing the NC2020 out in the sun of Lord March’s estate, Nissan has released another photo set of the car for those of us who are thousands of miles from Goodwood. Hopefully some real photos of the machine in the sunlight, on the grass from Nissan in the next …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback – 2001 Peugeot Moonster Is Nuclear Fuel-Cell Lunar Lander

Nuclear fuel cell? That is pretty modern indeed! In fact, the Moonster has no detailed powertrain and is simply an object of pure fantasy. Even so, the craft is clearly designed for the most all-terrain of any surface — something like we might find on another planet. Here is an exclusive rendering of how the suspension might look extended – to give a higher ground clearance. Nuclear fuel-cells are generally the briefcase-sized reactors that keep many spacecraft in operation for years at a time. When paired with solar energy harvested via photovoltaic cells, the combination keeps our satellite television stations …

Keep reading

Prediction: Bumblebee Chevrolet Camaro Gone After Transformers 4 RoboTrumble + Info About 1967 Z/28 and Nicola Peltz

Who would have thought that Bumblebee would outlast almost all the other actors, cars, trucks and bots in the Transformers films when the first move debuted the new Camaro to global excitement in 2007? Transformers 4: Age of Extinction is in theaters on June 27th – starring not one Camaro, but two. Both the revised and upgraded 2014 Camaro concept as well as a a 1967 Camaro Z/28 will appear in the film, which stars Mark Wahlberg (catchphrase: ‘huh!? wha? what’s happening?’ or ‘say hi to your mother for me.’) and a new roster of supporting actors that includes neither …

Keep reading

2014 BRABUS 700G 6×6 Is A Bond Villain’s Dream Truck

A bit of visual and intellectual candy to start this Friday morning – from the fun-loving minds of Brabus in Germany. The 700G 6×6 takes the already-bonkers G63 AMG 6×6 and really goes wild. There is not one angle or touch point that has not been fully overhauled – and the result makes a regular G550 look like a Corolla by comparison. The huge width and track stretch is perhaps the most notable element on first inspection – and it also bodes well for the 700G’s ability to handle all this new power in the corners. Versus the standard G-wagen …

Keep reading

2014 Nissan GT1 Concept Details Revealed – NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo

2014 Nissan GT1 Concept Details Revealed – NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo Update1 – June 16, 2014 The details are out! But they are not complete yet – no specs accompany this brief. Stay tuned. Last week’s teaser image created quite a media buzz, with everyone speculating left and right about this machine as ‘the next GT-R’ in headlines. It is tempting to do! These ideas are seriously fresh,and these three more high-res angles confirm it is a front-midship design. That was not certain from the front three-quarter teaser last week. DESIGN BRIEF Low-drag but high-downforce. The design is so aero-focused …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback – 2013 Audi Fleet Shuttle Quattro

How did this one slide past me? Not only do I not really recall seeing this October 2013 concept, but I have not even heard of the movie in which it was featured! Ender’s Game is the title – came out on November 1, 2013?? It may be a German-language film, which would make sense as to why Americans might not have been the target market for the film, or the concept car. So what is this thing? It is a low and long sedan, much in the same style as the A7 Sportback. Does it matter? Yes. Maybe. Yes, …

Keep reading

2014 Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo Concept? Mysterious Teaser Shows Hypercar Proto

Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo What is this high-performance creature!? I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this photo on Nissan’s press site today. The car could be dubbed the GT1 or perhaps the NC2020 — short for Nissan Concept 2020, we imagine. Nothing is certain. The only word is that Nissan will tell us more next Monday, June 16th. Our hunch is that this might be the next installment of the Vision GranTurismo concept car series – liket he VW Vision GTI Roadster and dozens of other custom machines made for GT6 drivers. This would make sense …

Keep reading

Transformers 4 Truck Called Hound is Oshkosh Defense M1157 A1P2

The GMC TopKick had a really good run with the Transformers franchise, surviving through the end of the third movie on the strength of Ironhide’s close friendship with our hero. But General Motors quietly exited the C4500 – C8500 truck classes altogether in 2009. Most of the larger trucks were absolutely ancient. Imagine a Frito-Lay extra-long delivery truck, and you’ve got it. The TopKick was a strong option for the films: huge, versatile with a dump-truck rear end, and looked great. Ironhide outlived the Hummer H2 BayWatch car and Jazz, the oft-mocked Pontiac Solstice character with a somewhat racist accent. …

Keep reading

Transformers 4 Truck Called Hound is Oshkosh Defense M1157 A1P2

The GMC TopKick had a really good run with the Transformers franchise, surviving through the end of the third movie on the strength of Ironhide’s close friendship with our hero. But General Motors quietly exited the C4500 – C8500 truck classes altogether in 2009. Most of the larger trucks were absolutely ancient. Imagine a Frito-Lay extra-long delivery truck, and you’ve got it. The TopKick was a strong option for the films: huge, versatile with a dump-truck rear end, and looked great. Ironhide outlived the Hummer H2 BayWatch car and Jazz, the oft-mocked Pontiac Solstice character with a somewhat racist accent. …

Keep reading