Self-drive holidays have been a popular vacation choice for decades and with destinations ranging from luxury camping parks to extreme and untouched wilderness, road-trips can be as laid-back or exciting as you choose.

Imagine the scenario, you’ve just arrived at a beautiful location, it’s time to eat and there is the most amazing sunset across the mountain ranges.

But instead of having to haul your chairs, table and BBQ outside, you simply push a button and in less than 20 seconds you are looking at the view from your own private veranda.

Country Coach’s Veranda series of luxury motor coaches incorporate a veranda which is designed to transform your living area into a luxury suite with a view. The veranda is essentially a 4.6 foot wide by 13 foot deep steel desk with railings.

It is created by lowering the coach’s side wall and is separated from the interior by 12-foot, three-section glass doors, which can be opened wide to increase the living space.

The deck is designed to bear 3000 pounds of weight and the railings are built to residential code. The dual-layer steel deck floor is covered in easy-to-clean vinyl and can be lowered in less than 20 seconds and raised in under 30 seconds.

There are a number of floor plans available and standard features include side-opening bay windows, a utility plug-in with 120 volt power receptacle and power-roller day and night shades for the doors. Optional extras include a 37” LCD high definition television, stainless steel bbq and outdoor folding table and chairs.

The Veranda is currently in limited production. For more product details, got to
Veranda Country Coach

The SSC Aero is an American-built mid-engine sports car by Shelby Super Cars (SSC). The SSC (Shelby Super Cars) Ultimate Aero is the higher-performance limited production version.

Many car experts feel the Bugatti Veyron is the fastest car on the road but it’s not, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

In March 2007 it tested the American-made SSC (Shelby Super Cars) Ultimate Aero and crowned it the Fastest Production Car in the world.

The $654,400 twin-turbocharged car boasts a top speed of 257 mph and goes from 0 to 60 in 2.78 seconds. Snagging this title marked a first for a U.S. auto manufacturer since the Ford GT40 claimed the Guinness record in 1967 with a top speed of 167 mph.

The Aero and the Shelby Super Cars company are the brainchildren of Jerod Shelby, who spent over seven years designing the car.

Only twenty-five Aeros are to be produced and it’s unclear how many will be the Ultimate model.

The Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans is apparently the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance road going sports car. So with a 6.0-liter diesel under the hood, this R8 concept car will generate around 500 HP and 737.56 lb-ft of torque.

Audi is presenting a revolution in the top class – the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance road going sports car. The V12 TDI with a displacement of six liters powers a concept car based on the Audi R8. This unit generates a huge 500 hp and 1,000 Newton-meters (737.56 lb-ft) of torque.

Audi is writing a new chapter in diesel technology with this power unit. Equipped with the expertise that Audi has built up through its motor sport activities, the R8 TDI Le Mans in Brilliant Red embodies superb road handling, pioneering technology and fascinating design.

The V12 TDI is closely related to the engine in the Audi R10, the two-time Le Mans winner – so it catapults the Audi R8 into super car terrain concerning performance too. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 300 km/h (186.41 mph). The peak torque, reached at only 1,750 rpm, paves the way for effortless acceleration that is unrivaled even at this level.

For all the subtle smoothness that typifies this design principle, the twelve-cylinder unit is full-bodied and equipped with energetic overtones that make no secret of its performance potential.

Thanks to their high performance and pulling power, all Audi TDI engines are ultra-dynamic sources of power. The brand has often enough demonstrated its sporty character in its production cars, especially the six- and eight-cylinder 3.0 TDI and 4.2 TDI.  Full article

2009 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a two-plus-two-seater. The V-12 flagship grand touring coupe has been overshadowed the past two years by the 599GTB sports coupe, so the 612 was chosen as the debut vehicle for Ferrari’s new customization program, called Ferrari Atelier.

This is a new, organized marketing effort to allow Ferrari customers to have their 612s tailor-made to their specific tastes.

In other 612 Scaglietti news, the car has been fitted with the latest version of the F1 SuperFast automated manual paddle-shift transmission, so 612 drivers now enjoy the same gearshifting times – about 100 milliseconds – as 599GTB drivers.

The 612’s steering wheel now has the Ferrari manettino switch, which controls stability control and other chassis systems, on the right spoke, plus a red engine start button on the left spoke. (You can still get a manual transmission for the 612, in theory, but virtually no one does.)

Carbon ceramic brakes are now standard, as they have been on all other Ferraris since October 2007 production. The 612 also gets a new, standard, full-glass roof with electrochromatic tinting.

By: automobilemag.com

As we all know, gas prices continue to skyrocket and the economy is sputtering. down. For people who have the “need for speed”, the only thing that matters is going extremely fast down the road.

Now if you’re looking a fast car that you can also haul 6 people, or store lots of groceries, you’re out of luck “speed racer.”  These cars are built for speed and looks, and not much else.

For example, the French-made Bugatti Veyron races from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and effortlessly cruises to a top speed of 253 mph.

Tom duPont, who’s the publisher of duPont Registry, a gallery of fine automobiles, cautions that superfast cars “aren’t for the faint of heart financially or physically.”   Full article

For all those drivers that hate parallel parking and anything else that requires the reverse gear, Nissan could one day have the car for you.

The leading Japanese carmaker recently unveiled the Pivo 2, a battery-powered concept car with a fully rotating cabin that makes going backwards obsolete, since the driver can turn to face the direction they need to go.

Its wheels also turn 90 degrees, making parking easier.

“With this easy-to-handle car, you can feel comfortable while driving,” said Masahiko Tabe, senior manager of the advanced vehicle development group at Nissan Motors.

“You can go everywhere without worrying about your driving skills.” The car is as yet not for commercial sale.

The futuristic, three-seat car also comes with a robotic device that Nissan said monitors the driver’s expression using censors and tailors its conversation accordingly.

The device, able to converse in English and Japanese, can help an angry driver overcome road rage or wake you up if you’re prone to dozing behind the wheel, the car makers said.

“Are you sleeping? There’s a cafe 500m ahead,” the device said during a demonstration of the car last week. The Pivo 2 will be showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.  Story by Rueters

The all-new, second-generation 2009 Infiniti FX, which goes on sale at Infiniti dealers in the United States and Canada in June 2008, is a radical expression of sport and utility — offering exceptional levels of power, refinement and driving exhilaration.

“While continuing to offer Infiniti’s class leading technological advances, the all-new 2009 FX is, like it’s predecessor, a unique blend of sports car performance and SUV functionality,” said David DeFilippo, Circle Infiniti, West Long Branch.

“Although pricing has not yet been announced for the 2009 FX, the vehicle has always been an outstanding value when compared to other luxury crossover vehicles, such as the BMW X5, the Lexus RX350, and the Acura MDX It offers an unmatched level of aggressive styling, performance, and luxury car comfort.”

Created as a fusion of luxury, performance and the utility of an SUV, it offers head-turning styling and an advanced sports platform, along with a choice of a new 390-horsepower 5.0-liter 32-valve DOHC V8 engine with VVEL (for Variable Valve Event & Lift) or 303-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6.

Each engine is paired with standard 7-speed automatic transmission featuring Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and available solid magnesium paddle shifters.

The 2009 FX is also offered with available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, double-wishbone front/multi-link rear suspension and large four-wheel disc brakes, along with available Continuous Damping Control (CDC) suspension system, Rear-Active Steer and 21-inch Enkei super lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels.

“The Infiniti FX combines sporty performance with the utility of an SUV — an unbeatable combination that we’ve taken to even higher levels with the new second-generation FX design,” said Mark Igo, vice president and general manager, Infiniti. “For 2009, FX continues the technology leadership that was a hallmark of the original, including a new, advanced 5.0-liter V8 design, 7-speed automatic transmission and an incredible array of innovative safety features designed to reduce the stress of everyday driving.”

What luxury car we drive often tells the world more about us than we think. Do you sit behind the wheel of a fast, sporty vehicle or ride in comfort in a timeless classic car? As 2008 begins zooming forward, let’s take a look at what are the top 10 luxury cars from ForbesAutos.com.

As people shopped for luxury cars on ForbesAutos.com during 2007, they looked into the future for a taste of what they desire. During the fourth quarter, three vehicles not even on sale yet were among the top 10 most researched luxury vehicles on the site.

Two of the future models, the 2009 BMW M3 and 2009 Jaguar XF , were ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. The third ’09 model, Audi’s upcoming remake of its best-selling A4 Sedan, earned sixth place in the popularity contest for October, November, and December, despite not going on sale until the fall.

The remaining entries on the Forbes’ latest list of vehicles most researched on ForbesAutos.com were consistent with those choices from prior periods.  Full article

The S-Type successor, the 2009 Jaguar XF,  will be the first Jag to hit the road under new post-Ford ownership.  Price tag: $49,975 (300-hp V-8) to $62,975 (420-hp supercharged, tested).

Of course, every car comes with its own set of pluses and minuses. Pluses are Aston Martin like LED taillights,  radar-powered blind-spot warning sensor, excellent touchscreen system with voice activation, and One-touch interior overhead lights.

The negatives are no lightweight aluminum body, no all-wheel-drive system, and a driver display that is devilishly difficult to read in strong sunlight.

Full article

As the new CTS sport sedan earns accolades and new owners, Cadillac takes the next leap forward by premiering the 2009 CTS-V, the brand’s ultimate expression of performance and luxury.

Launching in the fourth quarter of 2008, the all-new CTS-V intends to combine the serious performance of an elite sports car with the poise and elegance of a prestigious luxury sedan.

“The CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities,” says Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “The V-Series takes the award-winning CTS sport sedan and elevates it to a position within the club of the world’s most exclusive and capable cars.”

Full article

When we sampled Rolls-Royce’s delectable Phantom Drophead Coupé (the perfect complement to warm Tuscan sun), the Goodwood-based manufacturer was already putting the finishing touches to the final piece in the Phantom fleet. Joining the Drophead, and sitting alongside the hugely accomplished saloon and extended wheelbase versions, is this new Drophead Coupé, a peerless four-seater based on the 2006 101EX concept.

While the Drophead had more than a hint of nautical elegance, with its teak rear deck and sisal floor mats, the Coupé is a more elegant, sporting affair, if something with the inherent grace and presence of a Rolls-Royce could be defined as sporting. Ample power is provided by the company’s vast 6.75-litre V12 (kiss goodbye to your congestion charge discount), giving the car performance that belies its hefty proportions.

The company’s designers have done well to soften the bulk, creating flowing lines that accommodate rear-hinged doors (with push-button closing, naturally), and a drop down picnic boot for two. Forward vision at tricky junctions is provided by a bumper-mounted camera, while there’s the option of having a ’starlight headlining’, a fibre-optic light show embedded in the roof lining.

Craftsmanship, engineering, materials and finish are all first rate. Although Rolls-Royce are readying a more mass-market saloon to tap into the sub £200,000 market, the Phantom Coupé demonstrates more than ever that their core customer base has no need to fret.

Photo courtesy of: Jeff Voth – CarNews Media