The Aston Martin Vantage has always been a great looking car and with the N340 certainly doesn’t disappoint with head turning looks and increased performance and power.

The N430 has been fitted with sharper suspension compared to the standard V8 as well as a little more horsepower; 430bhp to be precise.

It also comes in a broader selection of colours, including shades apeing its racing siblings, has unique dark-finished alloy wheels and lightweight buckets seats all as standard.

The N430 sits a little lower to the ground and the dark alloy wheels are a pleasing touch. The contrasting yellow nose and roof details might not be to all tastes but they are optional

Where some of its rivals might seem like obvious choices, it’s hard to knock the Aston Martin image as it mixes Britishness, Bond and motorsport to great effect.

Space and practicality

It’s clearly a sports car at heart so you’ll only be sharing the pleasure of the N430 with one other lucky person. Space for you and your passenger is reasonable but not exceptional; the roof is low and the transmission tunnel is relatively wide. However the standard carbonfibre bucket seats are very supportive.

The boot is big enough for a fun weekend away or a reasonable shopping trip – and there’s an Aston Martin umbrella in there too of course – but don’t waste your time shopping when you could be out driving it.

Behind the wheel

Some of the N430’s key rivals are significantly younger, but rather than leaving the Aston feeling dated it instead makes you realise that progress isn’t always a good thing. For starters it has a very mechanical feel; the steering is relatively heavy, the gearbox needs a firm hand and the pedal actions are all weighty. That means precision is required, making the experience all the more rewarding.

That lusty 4.7-litre V8 sings a glorious tune and although there is plenty of torque it thrives on revs, building to a crescendo as you reach the red line. The suspension is unquestionable firm, but the way it tracks the undulations of the road and is balanced through the bends makes it worthwhile. It’s a car to make you travel hundreds of miles just to try it on the right kind of road.

Value for money

At a fraction under £90,000 the N430 is far from cheap, but the standard specification is generous and you’ll want for very little indeed. Also comparable cars from Germany are more expensive right from the off, even before you delve into the realms of long option lists.

Source – https://uk.cars.yahoo.com/news/drive-aston-martin-v8-vantage-n430-190500221.html

If you think that Ferrari could not be more exclusive then think again because they have just launched a new car that is aimed at only the super rich.

Only 6 have been made and to get one you have to be personally invited by Ferrari. Not surprisingly Ferrari have already spoken to their chosen few and all six have been snapped up.

The super car known as the Ferrari Sergio,is a concept car was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

It was designed in collaboration with Italian firm Pininfarina, and each model is expected to sell for millions, though Ferrari would not disclose an exact price.

Ferrari, which is owned by Fiat (FIADF), has built a world-class name for itself based on its reputation for exclusivity.

It capped production at 7,000 cars per year to ensure demand consistently outstrips supply, making its cars all the more desirable.

However, after a recent management shake-up, the company said it will ramp up production by 5% this year to ensure its waiting list doesn’t get out of control.

While vehicle output may be increasing, limited production cars like the Sergio help Ferrari keep its exclusive edge.

The automaker also offers a “one-off” program where rich car collectors can buy a completely original car that they help design themselves. Each car costs millions.

It’s as far removed from mass production as you can get,” said a Ferrari spokesperson.

Ferrari has only created about a dozen of these bespoke cars since the “one-off” program launched a few years ago, but it said the program is gaining traction, which could be helping the company’s bottom line.

Ferrari reported record revenue in the first six months of this year, up nearly 15% compared to the same period in the previous year, even as it sold fewer cars. Profits for the period also rose by 10%.

Source – http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/27/luxury/ferrari-car-sergio/index.html

The new owners of the Sergio can expect delivery in early 2015

There are just some Super Cars that you can’t take your eyes off and this is why some of the super rich are deciding to install a glass garage in their homes where you can stare longingly at your baby from the comfort of your sofa.

In Knightsbridge a house has gone on sale for £16.5m which, alongside the swimming pool, spa, bespoke wine cellar and media room that are now a given at the top of the property market, features a glass wall in the study offering a view of the garage.

James Forbes, partner at Strutt & Parker in Knightsbridge, the estate agent selling the four-bedroom Park Lodge, says he has seen a number of properties refurbished to include high-end garages. “People who are buying these properties often like cars and want to look after those cars and keep them off the street,” he says. As a result, developers have been fitting “leather dado-rails, heating and lights to guide you in”.

Clearly the developers didn’t picture this particular garage as somewhere to store a clapped-out chest freezer and some old wellies; they were probably imagining a Bugatti Veyron or a vintage E-type. However, Forbes says they have thought of everything: “What they’ve cleverly done here, something I’ve not seen before, is make it so the glass can be opaque if you need it to be. If you’ve got your grubbly old mountain bike in there after a trip round the park you don’t have to look at it.”

If, however, your Porsche is parked in there, a flick of a switch makes it visible beneath the bookshelf.

Tracy Kellett, a buying agent for wealthy clients in London, says fancy garages “are certainly a selling point for the high-net worths … if you’ve spent millions (not uncommon) on cars, you want to be able to show them off to friends in a suitable showcase”.

She adds that she’s seen heated and white-floored garages designed for those who want to display their collection. Meanwhile, Joe Burns, of super-prime property developer Oliver Burns, says one home he developed included a glass showcase for a car, another a display for motorbikes.

Forbes says that in these prime London properties “parking doesn’t necessarily add a lot of money but it is a very desirable feature”. And, strangely, it seems that it can be more desirable the closer it is to the living room.

Source – http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/oct/24/park-supercar-luxury-home-livingroom

Well it’s better that watching most of the rubbish on the TV these days.

This month has seen the annual Paris motor show were all the major car brands showcase their latest offerings. There are many different categories to look at but here at HPI Luxury Car Hire we are only interested in the best luxury and Supercars models.

Here are 5 new ones that are getting us excited

Ferrari 458 Speciale A
Ferrari chose to premiere this new supercar in Paris. Powered by a 605hp V8, the Ferrari 485 Speciale A will be produced in a limited series of 499 units. The most powerful convertible ever produced by the Italian manufacturer, the model rockets from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds.

Lamborghini Asterion
For its part, Lamborghini revealed the Asterion LPI 910-4 concept, a sports car with a total output of 910hp from its 5.2-liter V10 engine teamed with three electric motors. The combination enables a top speed of 320km/h and 0 to 100km/h acceleration in 3 seconds.

Maserati Alfieri
The third Italian car in this selection, the Maserati Alfieri concept is a tribute to the founder of the brand, which is celebrating its centenary in 2014. Designed as a study for a future coupe, the Alfieri is more aggressive and compact than the current GranTurismo and packs a 4.7-liter V8 engine with 460hp.

Bentley Mulsanne Speed
The latest model from the British car maker is presented as the world’s most powerful luxury car, boasting a 6.75-liter V8 with 537hp. Slated to go on sale in early 2015, the car boasts a top speed of 305km/h and goes from 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

Mercedes-AMG GT
Presented in person by Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche in Paris, the new Mercedes-AMG GT is due to go on sale in spring 2015. Under the hood, the sports car has a new 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 engine with 462hp, enabling 0 to 100km/h acceleration in 4 seconds and a top speed of 304km/h

Source http://www.ctvnews.ca/autos/paris-motor-show-5-must-see-sports-cars-1.2044731#ixzz3FeqOIklR

All of them look fantastic and I am sure will be sold out as soon as they become available.