By 1987, Porsche loyalists had begrudgingly accepted the 928's egg-shaped styling and blasphemic front-engined layout; but Porsche had grasped that it would never gain the cult following of the 911 it was intended to replace. Rather than forging ahead along an ever-narrowing path, the Zuffenhausen marque instead decided to build upon the 928’s GT credentials by experimenting with a four-door version in the style of a shooting brake.
Investindustrial pledges to work in partnership with the brand’s existing Kuwaiti shareholder, Investment Dar, “to achieve a similar transformation and rejuvenation that we achieved with Ducati, by expanding the model range and strengthening the dealership network, throughout the world”.
It’s been rumoured for a while, but now BMW has confirmed that the three-door versions of its most popular model will be renamed 4 Series to differentiate their more sporting character – mirroring the role the 6 and 8 Series have traditionally played to their 5 and 7 Series brethren.
All too often, the appearance of an RS version is bad news for the model range – suggesting it’s nearing the end of its production run and the RS is just to keep buyers interested. But not this time. This is no last-ditch attempt to keep the A6 fresh but a proper ‘executive class’ RS Avant super-estate with the right mix of ingredients.
Porsche's Chief Technology Officer Wolfgang Hatz left no room for confusion: “The Sport Turismo will not replace the Panamera as we know it. Rather, it will complement it.” So it’s not cannibalism, but a peaceful co-existence – one that should take shape within the next four years, although officially nothing is set in stone just yet.
It was a metallic brown 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S, the car you see here, and one which will be auctioned by the British house Coys at its 4 December, London sale.
If any car could personify the jet-setting lifestyle of the time, it was the Miura. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1966, one of Bertone’s finest-ever designs (it was from the pen of Marcello Gandini) could stop traffic in the best streets of New York, London or Paris.
What’s in a name; are we talking about the Caped Crusader?
Well, no. ‘BAT’ is not a reference to Gotham City; it stands for ‘Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica Alfa Romeos’.
So how did they come about?
What started as a carriage-builder at the dawn of the motor car developed into one of the world’s greatest design houses, with standard-setting work completed for Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Lancia amongst others. Bertone’s sole production work for Ferrari, however, was its wedge-like 208/308 GT4 of 1974.
This might not be the exact Mini that Lennon once owned, but it’s only one step removed. This is the unique 1969 Wood & Pickett Margrave Mini Cooper S (note the S: it’s believed to be the only one that Wood & Pickett ever built) that was bought three times by the same person – John Hammel, long-time guitar technician to Paul McCartney, among others.
To be marketed solely in the USA, it was the Zagato-designed DB AR1.
Such was the British company’s commitment to the genre that - apart from a simple cover, which had to suffice to protect the car’s sumptuous leather interior if it rained - it had no roof.
In 2001 Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, met Andrea Zagato at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The pair decided to reprise the two companies’ famous association of the early 60s and produce another ‘Aston Martin Zagato’, this time based on the DB7.