[Video] Ferrari 599 China Edition for 1.2 Million Euros

A one-off Ferrari has been auctioned off for €1.2 million, including taxes. The Ferrari 599 China was snapped up by an anonymous, silent auction participant based in Shanghai.

Chinese artist Lu Hao designed the 599 with pottery patterns from the Song Dynasty before it was shown off at the automakers' fundraising dinner at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing. The automaer has distributed a 2:23 video detailing the entire process. The video is insightful, but uses somewhat overly dramatic music for a relatively lighthearted affair.

Proceeds from the sale provide funding for Tsighua University auto engineering students and teachers to study at the Politecnico di Milano university in Italy. Scholarship winners will also get the opportunity to intern at Ferrari.

Other items auctioned off included a Michael Schumacher-signed helmet and model car, and race-worn overalls from F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella.

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Lamborghini Gallardo LP 620 YarroW

Here's another variation on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. This one, called the YarroW, is from German tuner Wheelsandmore.

First up, power on this Lambo is amped up to 620 hp and 580 lb-ft of torque (785 Nm). Wheelsandmore achieves this increase by means of ECU tampering, a carbon airbox and a stainless steel exhaust system with valve control.

The YarroW also comes with a beefed-up brake system to match those extra horses. 8-piston calipers are fitted at the front and 6-piston ones for the rear wheels, with 14.96 and 14.17-inch discs at front and back, respectively.

20-inch wheels are also part of the tuning kit, wrapped in 235/30/20 Dunlop Sport Maxx tires at the front (for the 8.5 x 20" rims) and 305/25/20 at the back (11.5 x 20"). The 3-piece forged rims are lightweight and come in various color and surface configurations.

The suspension gets a special coilover installed that goes up to 1.77 inches by hydraulic lift.

Carbon parts added to the exterior include a rear diffuser, frontflap and side mirrors. Carbon finish is also part of the interior redecorating.

Prices?

Engine tuning: 12,500 euros.

Brake kit: 13,998 euros.

Suspension: 8,999 euros.

Wheels: 11,400 euros.

[Source: gtspirit.com]

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Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neimen Marcus Edition

Jaguar has announced the limited edition 2010 Neiman Marcus XJL Supercharged sold out in four hours and four minutes.

All 50 cars featured an exclusive Celestial Black metallic paintjob, custom navy and ivory leather upholstery, Zebrano matte wood trim, and 20" alloy wheels.

Power comes from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 470 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque. Backed up by a six-speed automatic transmission, the car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. If you keep your foot planted, the XJL Supercharged will top out at an electronically limited 155 mph.

While you may have missed out on a $105,000 special edition, Jaguar will happily sell you a standard XJL Supercharged for $90,500.

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Minor Updates for 2010 Volvo XC90

Volvo has announced plans to make some minor changes to XC90 for 2010.

While it's hard to be certain (our Swedish is a little rusty), it appears the model will only be offered in a seven-seat configuration. This makes sense because it helps to differentiate the XC90 from the five-seat XC60.

Depending on which country you are in, the XC90 will be offered in five different trim levels. 'Kinetic' models receive bright exterior accents (aluminum-look roof rails and additional chrome detailing), 18-inch alloy wheels, and a navigation system. Other variants are outfitted with exclusive leather upholstery and various exterior design tweaks.

As before, engine options include a 175 kW (238 hp) 3.2-liter V6, a 232 kW (315 hp) 4.4-liter V8, and a five-cylinder turbo-diesel with 136 kW (185 hp).

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Maserati Sponsors Debutante Ball

The UK's first drive of the Maserati GranCabrio in 2010 was won in a charity ball auction undertaken during the revival of the Queen Charlotte's Ball. Said Queen Charlotte founded the Ball over 250 years ago to raise funds for mothers and babies. The Ball went back to London after a 12-year absence. The event marks the traditional "coming out" ceremony also known as the Debutante Ball which was also used to mark the beginning of the season.

Beautiful young ladies wearing Pronovias white gowns entered the Durbar Court venue in chauffeur driven Maserati Quattroportes. Their Mikimoto diamonds and pearls made them look even more radiant. HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, HH Princess Olga Romanov and Their Graces The Duke and Duchess of Somerset were there to receive the classy girls.

Maserati GB and its London distributor HR OWEN Sports Cars supported the Ball during which £60,000 was raised. The money is earmarked for the Wolfston and Weston Research Centre for Family Health at the Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Hospital site of Imperial College London. About £500,000 a year is needed to help in the research of premature birth, miscarriage and infertility, so if you can donate a little bit go ahead.

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Tata to Close Jaguar or Land Rover Factory in UK by 2014

Tata Motors announced today plans to close one of two Central England Januar Land Rover facilities within the next five years. The Indian-based Tata said they will likely close either the Jaguar plant in Castle Bromwich, where 2,000 people work, or the Land Rover plant in Solihull, which houses 5,000 jobs.

The official announcement, and which facility is cut, will be announced by July 2010. The two sites are separated by about eight miles.

It was not all bad news for the two English brands. The company owns a factory in Halewood, Northwest England, which will begin expansion by 2011. That site was chosen to be the home of a diminutive SUV supposedly based on the Land Rover LRX concept, which was confirmed for production today.

2009 has been a particularly bad year for the firm. 2,500 jobs have already been cut at Jaguar Land Rover, while production has been decreased by over 100,000 units in 2009 alone.

The decision to close one of the Central England sites was to stem red ink. Jaguar Land Rover lost about $100 million (pre-tax) in the last quarter. Vehicle sales for the last quarter were down roughly 52% versus the previous year. Because of the decreased demand, the three factories are running at a combined total of less than 60% capacity.

In 2008, Tata paid $2.3 billion to Ford for Land Rover and Jaguar.

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Lamborghini LP560-4 Superleggera Spotted?

Could this be the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Superleggera? The "regular" Gallardo Superleggera was cancelled last year, but these shots caught by Autogespot fuels rumours a new iteration could be on the way.

The very lightweight model could keep Lamborghini to its commitment of introducing a new model at every big-time auto show in the near future; a difficult task, considering the state of the global economy.

A Superleggera model of the Gallardo came near the end of that car's life-cycle, just a year before the introduction of the Gallardo LP 560-4. It had 520 horsepower 10 hp more than the "base model," while weighing 100 kg less.

If the car does not exist, we can certainly dream of a Lamborghini LP 560-4 Superleggera.

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