Grand Prix Greatness
Embodying the true essence of what makes a Porsche the greatest driver’s car ever made, the 964 Carrera RS Lightweight is the ultimate iteration, boasting maximum driver feedback and uncompromising driving dynamics. Despite being immensely popular among Porsche collectors, a mere 1,930 examples were built, and only 242 finished in Grand Prix White, making this Austrian example a hot commodity. Delivered as the ultimate Christmas gift back in 1991, this example has been cherished its entire life, displaying a mere 11,211 kilometres on its odometer!
One Tarif or Ten Rapides?
We bet you’ve never been asked that question before, and if you have, we’d like to speak to your accountant. Four decades after the original Aston Martin Lagonda redefined presence and exclusivity for the sedan, Aston revealed its successor that would herald in a new era for Lagonda, the ultimate fusion of speed and opulence. On debut, the Lagonda Taraf's $1 million price confirmed its place at the very summit of the luxury sedan market, and years later, it still commands a healthy sum due to its rarity and presence. It got us thinking, with the Rapide being Aston’s other four-door saloon alternative, a car which is somewhat of a bargain in today’s market, would you rather a handful of those or arrive in this complete show-stopper?
The ultimate Q car
By now, we all know the stories, the journey which this flared-arched masterpiece took in order to become the ideal choice for those looking to blast along at eye watering speeds in complete ease, but that will never stop us from talking about just how good the Mercedes-Benz 500 E truly is. This example is just about as good as it gets, too, finished in the highly desirable Bornite Metallic, and comes complete unbadged, making it one of the best ‘if you know, you know’ cars around. To the uninitiated, this may look like your grandmother’s ideal daily driver, but under that long bonnet hides a 5.0-litre V8 ready for action!
Peak BMW M3?
This year marks 40 years of the E30-generation M3, a car widely regarded as one of the greatest performance cars ever built. Some argue its successor, the E36 was a better car, others contest the E46 rules over them all, but for sheer driving pleasure, it would be tough to beat the E92 M3, especially in its rarest and most potent form, known as the GTS. Lovers of the number four will revel in the car’s figures, 444 horsepower is produced from a 4.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox, with much of the usual comforts found in M Cars left on the factory floor. If you’re looking for one of the most intoxicating driving experiences fresh out of the box, the GTS is that car, and one that is rocketing in value year on year!
Triumphant TDI
The words Le Mans and Diesel aren’t usually ones said together, unless you’re discussing the BMW 320d Touring you comfortably drove in from the UK to the famed circuit ready for the race. These two words, however, were all anyone could talk about in June of 2011, though, as Audi showcased their clean-sheet successor to the open-cockpit R15, the R18. It was Audi’s first closed-coupé prototype since 1999 and the final non-hybrid Audi to compete at the pinnacle of Le Mans prototype competition.
Power was provided by a compact 3.7-litre turbocharged V6 TDI engine, featuring a hot-vee configuration with the Garrett turbocharger positioned between the cylinder banks for optimal efficiency and packaging. The carbon-fibre monocoque chassis was paired with a closed cockpit to significantly improve aerodynamic efficiency, while innovations included an electronically actuated transmission and the first use of full LED headlights at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although conceived as a combustion-powered prototype, the R18 was engineered with electrification in mind. This forward-thinking approach would culminate in the hybrid R18 e-tron quattro introduced in 2012, rendering the 2011 R18 TDI Ultra the last of Audi’s purely combustion-powered LMP1 cars!
